Is NVIDIA's New RTX 5090 Worth It?

NVIDIA's RTX 5090 is finally here, and already it's being referred to as the graphics card of kings. But here's the question on everyone's mind: is it worth two grand, or is it all just hype? Let's dive in.

What's Got Everyone So Excited

• Impeccable performance. The 5090 nails 4K games with ease, delivering higher frame rates and smoother action than even the 4090.

• Gigantic memory. It features 32GB of GDDR7 memory, which is more than most gamers will ever require, but great for creators or AI work.

• Next-generation graphics. With cutting-edge ray tracing and DLSS 4, games feel more realistic and perform better at high resolutions.

In short, if GPUs were sports cars, the 5090 is the new supercar on the racing track.

The Downsides

• The cost. This card is pricey at $1,999, more than the cost of an entire gaming PC build for most users.

• Power needs. It needs a high power supply, plenty of cooling, and a case large enough to accommodate it. If your build isn't already high-end, you'll need to upgrade more than just the GPU.

• Overkill for the majority of gamers. If you game at 1080p or even 1440p, the full power of the 5090 won't be utilized.

Not ideal for competitive gaming. Certain features such as frame generation introduce input lag, something that serious esports players will not welcome.

Who Should Really Purchase It

• 4K (or 8K) gamers. If you own a high-res monitor and wish to turn every setting up to the max, then the 5090 is for you.

• Content creators and professionals. The additional memory and power are excellent for video editing, 3D content creation, or AI research.

• Hardware enthusiasts. If you need the cream of the crop and enjoy flexing your build, the 5090 is the final flex.

• Bitcoin miners. Although the 5090 uses a ton of electricity, bitcoin mining is still excellent on it.

Who Should Wait

• 1080p or 1440p gamers. A 4070, 4080, or even a 4090 already tears through these resolutions at a fraction of the cost.

• Budget or mid-range builders. The 5090 will bottleneck if the rest of your build can't catch up.

• Competitive gamers. Lower-latency cards or previous-generation models might actually feel better for action games.

Final Verdict

The RTX 5090 is a straight-up beast, no doubt. If you can afford it, a high-end system, and you actually work or play at ultra-high resolutions, it's worth considering.

But for most players, it's just too much. The 4090 or even mid-range models already provide great performance without tapping into your savings. The 5090 is fabulous tech, but if you don't need every bit of power it provides, it's more luxury than a need.