Nvidia’s latest flagship graphics card, the GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition, has arrived at PC Labs, showcasing groundbreaking innovations in both technology and sustainable design. Set to hit store shelves on January 30 alongside its RTX 5080 sibling, this powerhouse GPU represents a significant leap forward in gaming and AI capabilities.
Built on Nvidia’s cutting-edge Blackwell architecture, the RTX 5090 boasts impressive specifications that set new standards for graphics processing. With 92 billion transistors and 21,760 CUDA cores, complemented by fifth-generation Tensor cores and fourth-generation Ray Tracing cores, the card promises unprecedented computational power. The inclusion of 32GB of GDDR7 memory, capable of 1.8TB per second bandwidth, marks a substantial improvement over its predecessor, the RTX 4090.
Perhaps most notably, Nvidia has reimagined the physical design of its flagship GPU. The Founders Edition features a sophisticated all-metal body measuring 12 inches long, 5.3 inches high, and maintaining a two-slot width of 40mm. This relatively compact form factor aligns with Nvidia’s SFF-Ready initiative, making it compatible with small-form-factor PC cases while many third-party variants shown at CES 2025 opt for larger designs.
The cooling system employs what Nvidia calls a “Double Flow Through” design, featuring two fans and a unified 3D vapor chamber. This innovative approach allows heated vapor to flow directly into the card’s interior heat pipes, with strategic outlet slits directing warm air upward and outward to minimize heat recirculation. The heatsink’s combination of straight and curved fins optimizes airflow patterns.
Nvidia has also revolutionized the card’s internal architecture with a modular PCB layout. The design separates crucial components onto different boards, with the GPU, memory, and power subsystem housed on a central PCB, while the PCIe 5.0 connector and I/O ports reside on separate boards connected via a flexible high-speed signaling board. This arrangement not only enhances thermal efficiency but could simplify future warranty repairs.
The card’s connectivity options include three DisplayPort 2.1b ports supporting UHBR20 and one HDMI 2.1b port, ensuring compatibility with the latest high-resolution, high-refresh-rate displays. A notable improvement appears in the power connector design, which now sits at a 45-degree angle in a recessed niche on the top edge, addressing previous concerns about cable stress and aesthetic appeal.
Power delivery has been thoroughly revised, with the card shipping with a new adapter supporting four 8-pin PCI Express power connectors. The improved cable design features lighter, more flexible materials, making cable management less challenging while reducing stress on the 12VHPWR connector. Nvidia recommends a 1,000-watt power supply for optimal performance.
Environmental consciousness plays a significant role in the RTX 5090’s presentation, with Nvidia adopting eco-friendly packaging materials throughout. The innovative box design uses layered corrugated cardboard and hardboard, completely eliminating plastic while maintaining premium protection for the $1,999 graphics card.
As anticipation builds for the January 30 launch, the tech community eagerly awaits comprehensive benchmarks to validate the RTX 5090’s real-world performance. With its combination of advanced specifications, thoughtful design improvements, and environmental considerations, Nvidia’s latest flagship GPU appears poised to redefine high-end graphics processing for both gaming and AI applications.
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