The next generation of graphics performance is finally in our hands – one of the biggest generational leaps we’ve ever seen. Comparing the RTX 3080 to the RTX 2080 has shown some impressive gains in the past – but considering how the new RTX 4090 compares to previous GPU champions the RTX 3090 and RTX 3090 Ti, the performance multiplier is at a new level . In fact, on a broader level, delivering so much performance actually creates problems for creating a balanced gaming PC: as you’ll see in our analysis, many of the games we’re testing now reach CPU bound. Even at 4K resolution. even at maximum settings. The heaviest ray tracing workload, though? The RTX 4090 is simply phenomenal.
In fact, the power of the new card actually raises some fundamental questions: If the CPU can’t quite satisfy it, will it match the hardware around you well? More importantly, what are the current real-world applications of the card? Ultimately, if you have a 4K 120Hz+ monitor (I’m using a 48″ LG CX OLED), then your monitor is a good match for the hardware capabilities.If you’re gaming at 1440p or lower, or even if you have a 4K 60Hz screen, there’s a good chance the RTX 4090 will just provide Too much Performance…at least in today’s game.
This brings us to the key message Nvidia delivered at the RTX 4000 launch event — one that was overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the RTX 4080’s specs and pricing. The truth is, we’re not out of the cross-gen malaise yet, and one of our hints about the future of gaming comes from Unreal Engine 5 and The Matrix Awakens. UE5 seems to be the engine of choice for future games, and we should see a new wave of GPUs burdened. Nvidia’s ideas don’t stop there, though, combining the extra performance of the RTX 4000 with the new DLSS 3 to make new gaming experiences a reality. We saw the RTX Remix, which modernized older games with full path tracing. We also saw Cyberpunk 2077’s RT Overdrive upgrade. Interestingly, CD Projekt RED and Nvidia didn’t say it outright – but it’s actually another path-tracing upgrade – a remarkable statement of intent.
| RTX 4090 24GB | RTX 4080 16GB | RTX 4080 12GB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| processor | AD102 | AD103 | AD104 |
| transistor | 76.3B | 45.9B | 35.8B |
| Die size | 608mm² | 379mm² | 295mm² |
| CUDA colors | 16384 | 9728 | 7680 |
| boost clock | 2.52GHz | 2.51GHz | 2.61GHz |
| memory interface | 384 bit | 256 bits | 192 bits |
| memory bandwidth | 1018GB/sec | 742GB/sec | 557GB/sec |
| Three Gorges Project | 450W | 320W | 285W |
| Power recommendation | 850W | 750W | 700W |
| power cable | 4x 8 pins | 3x 8 pins | 2x 8 pins |
| price | $1499/£1649 | $1199/£1269 | $899/£949 |
| release date | October 12, 2022 | November 2022 | November 2022 |
In this review, we’ve ticked most of the boxes. We’ll cover rasterization performance and focus on ray tracing with a range of titles, including today’s toughest RT training. We’ll also consider refactoring in games where GPU vendors support the technology – we think this should be a future model. We’ll also show frame rate data on DLSS 3, where you’ll see how the technology goes beyond CPU limits and how it makes the path tracing experience work well on 120Hz UHD monitors.
However, we haven’t touched a fair amount of the RTX 4090, including its creator-focused features. The media engine in the RTX 4090 is unprecedented. Its support for h.264 and HEVC encoding is faster and more comprehensive than anything we’ve seen before, while also supporting the new ultra-efficient AV1 encoding standard. In fact, the RTX 4090 has two AV1 encoders embedded in silicon.
So, aside from the very expensive sticker price, how much does this remarkable feature set cost? There have been concerns about the power consumption of the new generation of chips, and it’s fair to say that the new chips are significantly more expensive to run due to the total board power limit of 450W. If you can afford a $1600/£1650 graphics card in the first place, this might not be a big deal, but in my testing I found that the 450W limit was rarely hit. Even if you’re there or near, the performance you’re getting shows that it’s much more efficient than the previous generation card, as shown in the table below. For the record, I think the RTX 4090 is actually CPU-bound in the Forza Horizon 5 test, and therefore has lower power consumption. Even so, it still runs 75% faster than the RTX 3090! Elsewhere, other tests show that you can manually reduce TGP significantly and still retain up to 95% of card performance.
| GeForce RTX 3090 | GeForce RTX 4090 | Reduced power per frame | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 Ultra RT | 319W – 23.05fps – 13.84 joules per frame | 406W – 46.83fps – 8.67 joules per frame | 37.36% |
| Metro Exodus Enhanced Ultra RT | 343W – 64.59fps – 5.3 joules per frame | 436W – 119.97fps – 3.63 joules per frame | 31.51% |
| Forza Motorsport: Horizon 5 Extreme | 331W – 88.53fps – 3.74 joules per frame | 284W – 154.93fps – 1.83 joules per frame | 51.07% |
All of this sets the stage for the plethora of information and data to come, which may also help put the RTX 4080 offering in context. Nvidia’s benchmarks show that for games that don’t support DLSS 3, the 16GB offering should be somewhere in the middle between the previous-gen flagship and the new GPU king. Most troubling is the $899 RTX 4080 12GB, which Nvidia’s own benchmarks suggest has a higher power level at the RTX 3090 and 3090 Ti levels. Considering the suggested price point, that might make comparisons with the excellent RTX 3080 10GB a little questionable.
However, these are future discussion points once we get our hands on the actual product.Here and now, it’s about the RTX 4090, and it’s definitely a huge leap in performance and Compared to the RTX 3090 and especially the RTX 3090 Ti, the “performance per dollar” has improved. However, even with such calculations, the RTX 3080’s specter is growing — the 3090 is only 15% faster overall, and the 3090 Ti is roughly 25% faster overall. The RTX 4090 may be a great value, but we can’t forget that it’s still very expensive for mainstream users. Is it worth it? The following pages should prove instructive!
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Analysis
- Introduction, Hardware and Power Analysis [This Page]
- Game Benchmarks: Control, Cyberpunk 2077, Doom Eternal
- Gaming benchmarks: F1 22, Forza Horizon 5, Gears 5
- Game Benchmarks: Hitman 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, Shadow of the Tomb Raider
- RT Benchmarks: Control, Dying Light 2, Cyberpunk 2077, F1 22
- RT Benchmarks: Hitman 3, Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition, Marvel’s Spider-Man
- DLSS and FSR 2: Dying Light 2, Marvel’s Spider-Man
- DLSS 3: Marvel’s Spider-Man, Cyberpunk 2077
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090: Digital Foundry’s verdict
