Nvidia is set to introduce the initial series of RTX 50 “Blackwell” graphics cards at CES 2025. This debut lineup is likely to feature the top-tier RTX 5090 alongside the RTX 5080, which will be powered by the GB203 and GB202 GPUs, respectively. However, a recent leak suggests that buyers may need to shell out a significant amount for the premium performance of the RTX 5090.
Pricing Insights
As per @I_Leak_VN on X, the anticipated price for the RTX 5090 is around $2,000, with a release date expected on or near January 20, 2025. Setting aside the cost for a moment, this timing aligns well since Nvidia is scheduled to hold an event at CES 2025, where they could officially announce the RTX 50 series with the launch following shortly after.
Historical Context
Discussing the pricing, the figure of $2,000 for the RTX 5090 isn’t surprising given Nvidia's trend of pricing their flagship models at a premium. For example, the RTX 2080 Ti was introduced in 2018 at a price of $999, while the RTX Titan, aimed at ultra-enthusiasts, launched at an eye-watering $2,499. In the RTX 30 series, Nvidia priced the RTX 3090 at $1,499 and the RTX 3090 Ti at $1,999.
Although there was no direct successor to the RTX 3090 Ti, Nvidia increased the MSRP of the RTX 4090 by $100 compared to its predecessor, with the Founders Edition priced at $1,599. Unfortunately, finding the RTX 4090 at this MSRP is nearly impossible, as the lowest listed price available is $2,130 on Amazon and $1,950 on Newegg.
Performance Expectations
Considering these factors, it’s reasonable to anticipate that Nvidia will elevate the price of the RTX 5090 compared to the RTX 4090. The upcoming GPU is expected to offer greater performance and will reportedly include an impressive 32 GB of VRAM.
It's important to note that GPU prices aren’t set in stone until Nvidia officially confirms the MSRP. Therefore, treat the leaked price of the RTX 5090 with a healthy amount of skepticism.
Technical Upgrades
As previously mentioned, the RTX 5090 is expected to feature considerable enhancements over the RTX 4090. Current leaks suggest a significant 33% rise in CUDA cores, an additional 8 GB of VRAM, and a 512-bit memory bus compared to the 384-bit used in the RTX 4090. Moreover, reports indicate that the GDDR7 memory in the RTX 5090 will operate at a much faster speed of 28 Gbps, compared to the 21 Gbps GDDR6X of the RTX 4090.
Unfortunately, these upgrades may also bring about a Total Graphics Power of 650 W, which is a 150 W increase from the previous generation.
@I_Leak_VN on X, Newegg, Teaser image: Alexander Grey on Unsplash, edited
