Nvidia has made its first major GPU announcement of 2025, introducing the next generation of graphics cards built on the Blackwell architecture. The launch represents a significant step forward in gaming and AI capabilities, though with some notable pricing considerations that may impact potential buyers.
New Blackwell Architecture and Product Stack
The RTX 50 series introduces four new graphics cards built on TSMC's 4nm process. The flagship RTX 5090 showcases Nvidia's most powerful consumer GPU to date, featuring 170 SMs and 32GB of new GDDR7 memory. The lineup continues with the RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5070, each offering varying levels of performance improvements over their predecessors.
Performance comparison chart of the new RTX 5070 Ti against its predecessor, showcasing improvements in various gaming titles |
Pricing and Availability Strategy
Nvidia has positioned its new lineup with strategic pricing adjustments. The RTX 5090 commands a premium at USD $2,000, marking a 33% increase over the previous generation's flagship. However, the RTX 5080 maintains the USD $1,000 price point of its predecessor, while the RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5070 are actually priced USD $50 lower than their previous-generation counterparts at USD $749 and USD $549 respectively. The cards will begin rolling out from January 30, 2025, with the RTX 5070 series following in February.
Introducing the GeForce RTX 4080 Super, highlighting its performance specifications and pricing structure relevant to the new product lineup |
Performance Expectations and DLSS 4
The new generation brings approximately 20-30% raw performance improvements across most models, with the RTX 5090 potentially reaching up to 40% gains over the RTX 4090 in certain scenarios. However, Nvidia's headline performance claims heavily rely on the new DLSS 4 technology, which can now generate three AI frames for every traditionally rendered frame, potentially multiplying frame rates significantly in supported titles.
Relative performance of RTX graphics cards, including the 4090 and 3090 Ti, in various gaming titles, emphasizing the advancements in frame rates and efficiency |
Memory and Power Considerations
The RTX 5090's power requirements have increased to 575W, though Nvidia has managed to maintain a two-slot design for its Founders Edition. Memory configurations vary significantly across the lineup, with the RTX 5090 featuring 32GB of GDDR7, while the RTX 5070 maintains a potentially limiting 12GB configuration that may concern some users given current gaming requirements.
Software Ecosystem and Future Implications
Nvidia is strengthening its software moat with DLSS 4 launching alongside 75 supported games and applications. The introduction of Reflex 2 with frame warp technology and new features like RTX Neural Shaders demonstrates Nvidia's continued focus on both raw performance and feature-based improvements. However, the exclusive nature of some features to the 50-series cards may influence upgrade decisions for current RTX 40 series owners.
A dynamic gaming setup highlighting advanced technology and performance, representing the enhancements brought by Nvidia’s DLSS 4 and new features for gamers |