The Nvidia RTX 4090 remains the most potent graphics card available, even as we approach the next generation. While its initial launch sparked controversy over pricing, the RTX 4090’s performance, particularly with DLSS 3 enhancements, is undeniable. This updated review examines the RTX 4090’s standing in 2024, considering performance, features, and the current market landscape.
Revisiting the RTX 4090 in 2024
This review revisits the RTX 4090’s capabilities in the context of the current market. We’ve updated our analysis to reflect the evolving GPU landscape, addressing features, potential drawbacks, and the realities of RTX 4090 pricing in 2024.
Nvidia RTX 4090 Specifications
The RTX 4090 and RTX 3090 side-by-side.Image: Jacob Roach / MaagX
Built on Nvidia’s Ada Lovelace architecture and TSMC’s 4N process, the RTX 4090 prioritizes clock speed. Maintaining a 450W board power, it boasts a 2.52GHz boost clock compared to the RTX 3090 Ti’s 1.8GHz. This increase is achieved with a substantial core count increase to 16,384 CUDA cores from the RTX 3090 Ti’s nearly 11,000.
| Feature | RTX 4090 | RTX 3090 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ada Lovelace | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC N4 | 8nm Samsung |
| CUDA Cores | 16,384 | 10,496 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 144 3rd-gen | 82 2nd-gen |
| Tensor Cores | 576 4th-gen | 328 3rd-gen |
| Base Clock | 2235MHz | 1394MHz |
| Boost Clock | 2520MHz | 1695MHz |
| VRAM GDDR6X | 24GB | 24GB |
| Memory Speed | 21Gbps | 19.5Gbps |
| Bus Width | 384-bit | 384-bit |
| TDP | 450W | 350W |
While the core increase is significant, its impact on gaming remains a point of discussion, especially considering the lower core counts in the RTX 4080 and 4070 Ti.
Nvidia’s current GPU lineup includes:
- RTX 4080 Super
- RTX 4070 Ti Super
- RTX 4070 Super
- RTX 4070
- RTX 4060 Ti
- RTX 4060
Synthetic and Rendering Benchmarks
RTX 4090 3DMark Performance.Image used with permission by copyright holder
3DMark benchmarks, while influenced by CPU performance, demonstrate the RTX 4090’s scaling capabilities. It achieved a 58% improvement over the RTX 3090 Ti in Time Spy and a remarkable 102% increase over the RTX 3090 in Port Royal. Real-world gaming performance often surpasses these synthetic results, especially in non-ray tracing scenarios.
RTX 4090 Blender Performance.Image used with permission by copyright holder
In Blender, a CUDA-accelerated application, the RTX 4090 delivers outstanding results. It more than doubles the performance of the RTX 3090 and 3090 Ti in Monster and Junkshop scenes and nearly doubles it in the Classroom scene. This showcases the RTX 4090’s optimization for CUDA-based workloads.
4K Gaming Performance
RTX 4090 Geomean at 4K.Image used with permission by copyright holder
Tested with a Ryzen 9 7950X, 32GB of DDR5-6000 RAM, and Resizable BAR enabled, the RTX 4090 dominates 4K gaming. Excluding incomplete data sets, it showed a 68% performance increase over the RTX 3090 Ti and an 89% increase over the RTX 3090. This substantial improvement surpasses the typical generational leap, even before considering upscaling techniques.
RTX 4090 Gaming Benchmarks at 4K.Image used with permission by copyright holder
In Cyberpunk 2077, the RTX 4090 achieves over 60 fps at 4K with maximum settings, a feat previously unattainable without DLSS. Similarly impressive results were observed in Gears Tactics, with a 73% lead over the RTX 3090 Ti. While the gains in Vulkan titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 are less pronounced (52% over the RTX 3090 Ti), they still represent a significant generational advancement.
RTX 4090 Cost per Frame.Image used with permission by copyright holder
Although priced significantly higher at $1,600, the RTX 4090 offers a cost-per-frame comparable to the RTX 3080 10GB at $700. While this metric doesn’t fully capture value, it highlights the relative affordability of the RTX 4090’s 4K performance compared to previous-generation options.
1440p Gaming Performance
RTX 4090 Geomean at 1440p.Image used with permission by copyright holder
While the RTX 4090 performs admirably at 1440p, it’s less compelling at this resolution. Performance gains over the RTX 3090 Ti and RX 6950 XT are still substantial, but the impact is less noticeable compared to 4K. CPU limitations also become more apparent at 1440p, further diminishing the RTX 4090’s value proposition for this resolution.
RTX 4090 Gaming Benchmarks at 1440p.Image used with permission by copyright holder
At 4K, the RTX 4090 achieves key milestones, such as exceeding 60 fps in Cyberpunk 2077 without DLSS. At 1440p, while frame rates are higher, the practical benefit is less significant.
Ray Tracing Performance
The RTX 4090.Image: Jacob Roach / MaagX
Ada Lovelace brings substantial ray tracing improvements, notably with its redesigned core and Shader Execution Reordering (SER). SER optimizes ray tracing operations for increased efficiency, requiring hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling in Windows.
RTX 4090 Ray Tracing Benchmarks.Image used with permission by copyright holder
The RTX 4090 showcases its ray tracing prowess with significant performance gains, even surpassing its non-ray tracing improvements. In Cyberpunk 2077 with Ultra RT preset, it’s 71% faster than the RTX 3090 Ti and a staggering 152% faster than the RX 6950 XT.
DLSS 3.5 Ray Reconstruction in Alan Wake 2.Image: Jacob Roach / MaagX
The introduction of DLSS 3.5 and its Ray Reconstruction feature further enhances ray tracing performance and visual quality. This AI-powered denoiser improves shadows and reflections without impacting performance, demonstrating a notable improvement in titles like Alan Wake 2.
DLSS 3 Performance
DLSS 3 introduces Optical Flow AI Frame Generation, generating unique frames to boost performance, even in CPU-bound scenarios. While real-world results are less dramatic than theoretical doubling, DLSS 3 remains impressive.
DLSS 3 Performance in 3DMark Port Royal.Image: Jacob Roach / MaagX
In 3DMark’s DLSS 3 test at 8K Ultra Performance mode, the frame rate increased by a remarkable 578%. In A Plague Tale: Requiem, DLSS 3 delivered a 128% performance boost at 4K with maximum settings. However, DLSS 3 introduces computational overhead, necessitating Nvidia Reflex, which cannot be disabled when Frame Generation is active.
DLSS 3 Performance in A Plague Tale Requiem.Image used with permission by copyright holder
While DLSS 3 improves performance, it can introduce image quality artifacts, particularly with HUD elements and fast-moving objects. These artifacts are more noticeable in motion, and although the performance gains often outweigh these drawbacks, DLSS 3 image quality requires further refinement.
Power and Thermals
RTX 4090 Power Connector.Image: Jacob Roach / MaagX
Despite initial concerns, the RTX 4090’s power consumption is manageable, drawing a maximum of 450W for the Founder’s Edition. Testing indicates it can consume less power than the RTX 3090 Ti. Overclocked models will draw more power, however.
RTX 4090 Power and Temperature Charts.Image used with permission by copyright holder
The RTX 4090 maintains reasonable temperatures, peaking at 64 degrees Celsius in testing. The melting connector issue experienced by some users shortly after launch has been addressed with a revised power connector. Ensuring the cable is fully seated prevents this issue.
Should You Buy the Nvidia RTX 4090 in 2024?
Holding the RTX 4090.Image: Jacob Roach / MaagX
The RTX 4090’s value proposition in 2024 is complex. While undeniably powerful, its performance gains may not significantly enhance the gaming experience for many users. Increased demand, particularly from the AI sector, has pushed prices significantly above MSRP, making it even less appealing. With the RTX 50-series looming, waiting for the next generation may be a more prudent decision for most consumers.
