The Nvidia RTX 5090 Is a Beast of a GPU… That You Probably Don’t Need

by Sacheen · March 26, 2025

So, Nvidia RTX 5090 is officially the king of graphics cards right now. It’s insanely powerful, packed with next-gen features, and priced like a used car at $1,999. But here’s the catch—it’s also kinda overkill for most people. Like, unless your setup is stacked, this card might be flexing way harder than it needs to.

If You Don’t Have a 4K, High-Refresh Monitor… What Are You Doing?

This card wants to be paired with a high-end 4K display, something like 144Hz or even 240Hz. If you’re still gaming on 1080p or even 1440p, you’re not really giving the 5090 anything to sweat over. It’s like buying a sports car and only driving it in a school zone.

To get real value out of it, you need to be throwing it into games like Alan Wake 2 or Cyberpunk 2077 with all the ray tracing and fancy lighting cranked all the way up. It’s perfect for people who just want to install a game, max out every setting, and never think about performance again. If that sounds like you, you probably already bought this card.

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Real Talk: It Didn’t Change My Life, But It Saved Me Time

I’ve been testing the RTX 5090 on a rig with a Core i9-12900K, 32GB RAM, and a 1000W PSU, paired with a 4K MSI OLED monitor. And yeah, everything runs smooth—even stuff like Monster Hunter Wilds, which has a rep for being kinda janky on PC. I didn’t have to mess with settings or worry about stutters. It’s honestly nice. But still… not game-changing.

It’s more about peace of mind than crazy new visuals. That whole “set it and forget it” vibe. Cool? Yeah. Necessary? Not really.

For Most Gamers, It’s Just Too Much

Here’s the thing—you don’t need an RTX 5090 to get the best stuff Nvidia’s offering. Cards from the 40-series already support DLSS 4 and Frame Generation, which do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to smooth gameplay and visuals.

So what does the 5090 add? Basically just extra power and Multi Frame Generation, which boosts frames even more by tossing in AI-generated frames. Sounds awesome, right? But the more you rely on that trick, the more input lag you’ll feel—which kinda sucks in fast-paced games like Cyberpunk.

Yeah, it might make the game “playable” at insane settings, but it also feels a bit like streaming—there’s this slight delay that’s just… annoying. Cool tech, for sure, but not something you need a $2K card for.

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DLSS 4: Looks Slightly Nicer, But You Gotta Squint

DLSS 4 sharpens stuff up a bit more than DLSS 3, especially in motion. I noticed it in games like Alan Wake 2 and Marvel Rivals—raindrops and grass looked crisper—but unless you’re really staring, the difference is small. Definitely not a “drop two grand” kind of difference.

Ray Reconstruction: Finally Makes Path Tracing Kinda Worth It

The one area where the 5090 does stand out is Ray Reconstruction, which is for super intense lighting stuff like path tracing. Lesser cards struggle here, but the 5090 can handle it… barely. You’ll still lose some frames, but not as many. And yeah, things like car headlights or light bouncing off puddles look sick. Just probably not sick enough to justify the price tag for most people.

4090 vs 5090: Not a Huge Leap

Don’t get it twisted—the 5090 is better than the 4090. Games like Diablo 4, Alan Wake 2, and Assassin’s Creed Shadows run better, with frame rates jumping 20-30 fps in some cases. But here’s the thing: most of the time, you won’t feel that difference unless you’re watching the fps counter like a hawk. It’s just not a huge, life-changing leap. If you already have a 4090 or even a solid 4080, you’re chilling.

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So, Who’s the RTX 5090 Actually For?

The RTX 5090 is kind of a flex card. It’s not made for the average gamer or someone upgrading from a 30-series card. It’s for the people who already know they want it, reviews be damned. Everyone else? You’re better off waiting for cheaper versions of this tech to trickle down.

At the end of the day, this card is more like a sneak peek at the future of PC gaming. DLSS, Frame Gen, Ray Reconstruction—all that stuff will be standard eventually. For now, just enjoy the upgrades Nvidia’s already dropped and pretend the 5090 doesn’t exist. Your wallet will thank you.

FAQ’s

Is the RTX 5090 worth it for gaming?

Honestly, only if you’re rocking a top-tier setup (4K, high refresh rate monitor) and playing the most demanding games. For most gamers, it’s way overkill.

What makes the RTX 5090 better than the RTX 4090?

It has got more raw power, better support for things like Multi Frame Generation and DLSS 4, and handles path tracing a bit smoother. But the performance jump isn’t huge unless you’re pushing your system to its limits.

Do I really need an RTX 5090 to use DLSS 4 or Frame Generation?

Nope! Cards from the 40-series lineup can already use those features. The 5090 just gives a little more performance headroom.

Will the RTX 5090 improve my FPS in every game?

Yep, but how much depends on your game setup and the game. You will definitely see gains in super demanding titles, but in older or less intensive games, you might not notice a big difference.

Does the RTX 5090 cause input lag with Multi Frame Generation?

It can. The more you rely on AI-generated frames, the more input delay you might feel, especially in fast-paced shooters. It’s better for slower-paced games or when you’re prioritizing visuals over responsiveness.

Is the RTX 5090 future-proof?

Kind of. It has the latest tech and tons of power, so it’ll last a while. But with how fast GPU tech evolves, “future-proof” is always temporary.

How much power does the RTX 5090 need?

A lot. You’ll want at least a 1000W power supply and a solid cooling system to keep things running smoothly.

Should I upgrade from a 30-series card to the RTX 5090?

Probably not. Unless you’re doing super high-end stuff or content creation on top of gaming, a 40-series mid-range card (like a 4070 or 4080) is a much smarter and cheaper move.

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