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NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 4090 vs NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 5050

Last updated · How Mars Score works
GeForce RTX 4090NVIDIARENDER
Probe A
NVIDIA
GeForce RTX 4090
80.3/ 100A
Benchmarks84· 40%
Core76· 30%
Memory80· 20%
Power & Form· 10%
GeForce RTX 5050NVIDIARENDER
Probe B
NVIDIA
GeForce RTX 5050
52.7/ 100D
Benchmarks51· 40%
Core59· 30%
Memory46· 20%
Power & Form· 10%
Quick verdict

Between the GeForce RTX 4090 and GeForce RTX 5050, the GeForce RTX 4090 comes out ahead in cuda / stream cores and ray tracing cores, while the GeForce RTX 5050 wins on tdp. Overall, the GeForce RTX 4090 scores 80.3 and the GeForce RTX 5050 scores 52.7 on our Mars Score.

Buying advice

Which should you buy?

The GeForce RTX 4090 is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 27.6 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.

Pick the GeForce RTX 4090 if you push the hardware — gaming, on-device AI, heavy multitasking — and the extra compute headroom is worth the trade-offs. The biggest gaps in its favor are cuda / stream cores, ray tracing cores, vram, among others.

Pick the GeForce RTX 5050 if you care most about tdp. Its strongest claims are tdp.

Both ship with comparable dlss, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.

Bottom line: the GeForce RTX 4090 is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.

Why NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 4090 wins

  • CUDA / Stream cores — 540.00% more. 16384 vs 2560.
  • Ray tracing cores — 540.00% more. 128 vs 20.
  • VRAM — 200.00% more. 24 GB vs 8 GB.
  • Memory bus — 200.00% more. 384 bit vs 128 bit.
  • 3DMark Time Spy — 185.71% more. 28000 vs 9800.
  • Boost clock — 2.02% more. 2520 MHz vs 2470 MHz.

Why NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 5050 wins

  • TDP — 320.00 W less. 130 vs 450.
Full readout

Spec comparison

Core

SpecNVIDIA - GeForce RTX 4090NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 5050
ChipsetAD102GB207
Base clock2235 MHz2300 MHzlead
Boost clock2520 MHzlead2470 MHz
CUDA / Stream cores16384lead2560
Ray tracing cores128lead20

Memory

SpecNVIDIA - GeForce RTX 4090NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 5050
VRAM24 GBlead8 GB
VRAM typeGDDR6XleadGDDR6
Memory bus384 bitlead128 bit

Power & Form

SpecNVIDIA - GeForce RTX 4090NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 5050
TDP450 W130 Wlead
Recommended PSU850 W550 Wlead
Length304 mm240 mmlead
Slot size3-slot2-slot

Benchmarks

SpecNVIDIA - GeForce RTX 4090NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 5050
3DMark Time Spy28000lead9800
DLSStruetrue
FSRfalsefalse
Reader questions

Frequently asked

Which has more VRAM, GeForce RTX 4090 or GeForce RTX 5050?+

GeForce RTX 4090 ships with 24GB GDDR6X vs 8GB.

Which scores higher in 3DMark Time Spy, GeForce RTX 4090 or GeForce RTX 5050?+

GeForce RTX 4090 scores 28000 vs 9800.

Which draws less power, GeForce RTX 4090 or GeForce RTX 5050?+

GeForce RTX 5050 draws 130W TDP vs 450W.

Drill down

Spec-level deep dives

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