It is currently not faster: The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 (Ada chip) sets new standards in benchmarks and the gaming area. It even consumes a little less than the previous top model RTX 3090 Ti (Ampere chip) and also offers DLSS 3.
Nvidia impresses with the new RTX 4000 series and places itself effortlessly and by a long way at the top of the gaming market. However, this applies not only to the performance but also to the purchase price.
For the release there is the Founders Edition from Nvidia itself but at the same time the RTX 4090 models with a custom cooling solution from the well-known Nvidia partners. So there are plenty of opportunities to get hold of one of the new flagships.
In terms of performance, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is the absolute non-plus-ultra. On average, it is almost 70 percent faster than an RTX 3090 Ti, depending on the game a little more or less. Fortunately, it is less heated and at the same time less power-hungry.
Nvidia also has something new when it comes to the power supply: the RTX 4090 graphics cards all have the new 16-pin PCIe 5.0 power connector. A few power supplies already have this with them.
Alternatively, this can be solved using an optionally available adapter, which can be connected to a 3 x 8-pin PCIe or 4 x 8-pin PCIe power connector, depending on the TDP. In summary, a superlative graphics chip actually only has one negative point – the price. If you want to call the new high-flyer your own, you have to pay at least 2000 euros.
The HardwareSchotte editorial team has selected the best recommendations for you from all the RTX 4090 models.
The best high-end graphics cards from nVidia
- ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 24GB GDDR6X White OC Edition
- ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC 24GB GDDR6X
- MSI GeForce RTX 4090 GAMING X TRIO 24G
- MSI GeForce RTX 4090 VENTUS 3X 24G OC
- Palit GeForce RTX 4090 Game Rock
- Gainward GeForce RTX 4090 Phantom
Which power supply do I need for an RTX 4090?
The new Geforce RTX 4090 graphics cards from Nvidia are equipped with a new power connector. If you want to operate an RTX 4090, you have to connect it to a 16-pin PCIe 5.0 connector for the power supply. Only a few power supplies offer these plugs from the factory, these power supplies even have two. Alternatively, you can also use adapter cables with 3 x 8 pin or 4 x 8 pin to 1 x 16 pin.
The RTX 4090 even consumes a little less in direct comparison to its predecessor, the RTX 3090 Ti. But depending on which power limit you set, it can also be more. Officially, Nvidia speaks of a TDP of around 450 watts. Accordingly, you should use a power supply with at least 800 watts to be on the safe side.
What connections do the new RTX 4090 graphics cards offer?
All currently available RTX 4090 graphics cards have one HDMI 2.1 and three DisplayPort 1.3 outputs. If you need a different graphics card connection, you have to work with adapters or buy a new monitor.
How big is the difference between an nVidia RTX 3090 (Ti) and RTX 4090?
The difference in performance from one generation to the next has seldom been so great. On average, the RTX 4090 performs around 70 percent more than the RTX 3090 Ti – and with slightly lower consumption. In our live ranking for gaming graphics cards, all currently available models are also shown in comparison.
How long or big are RTX 4090 graphics cards?
It’s called “make space”. The shortest graphics card listed in our price comparison starts at just under 33 centimeters, and the longest is 35.7 cm. But the new flagships are not only in length but also in height: at least 2.7 to a whopping 4 slots depending on the model are occupied by an RTX 4090. So if you need a new case, here are all PC cases with a supported graphics card length of at least 33 centimeters.
In addition to the slots and the length, the RTX 4090 graphics cards add a new factor, the width. The cards can be up to 18 centimeters wide, which means that they don’t easily fit into every PC case.
Why are the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 graphics cards so expensive?
There are several reasons for this, but above all the chip crisis is to blame for the high prices. It’s more or less over for graphics cards, but during the chip crisis, when prices rose sharply due to poor availability, Nvidia saw that end customers were still willing to pay these high prices despite the high prices. The purchase price for the current flagship has now been set correspondingly high again.
