As the highly anticipated launch of Nvidia's next-generation flagship graphics card approaches, reports indicate significant supply challenges while details of a powerful prototype emerge, painting a complex picture for the upcoming release.
Supply Crisis Looms Over Launch
With just a week until the January 30 launch, major retailers are reporting unprecedented supply constraints for the RTX 5090. Overclockers UK has revealed they have only received single digit quantities of the cards, while US retailer PowerGPU warns of availability issues potentially lasting three months. The shortage is partially attributed to the timing coinciding with Chinese New Year celebrations, which has affected communication between Nvidia and its manufacturing partners in Asia.
Launch Timeline:
- Manufacturing Date of Prototype: July 15-21, 2024
- Official Launch Date: January 30, 2025
- Expected Supply Normalization: Approximately April 2025
Prototype Specifications Reveal Potential Future Model
A recently discovered RTX 5090 prototype suggests Nvidia might be testing an even more powerful variant. The engineering sample, reportedly manufactured in July 2024, features 24,576 CUDA cores - a 13% increase over the standard RTX 5090's 21,760 cores. The prototype also boasts higher clock speeds, with a 2,100 MHz base and 2,514 MHz boost clock, alongside faster 32 Gbps GDDR7 memory delivering 2 TB/s bandwidth.
| Specification | RTX 5090 Prototype | Standard RTX 5090 |
|---|---|---|
| CUDA Cores | 24,576 | 21,760 |
| Base Clock | 2,100 MHz | 2,017 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 2,514 MHz | 2,407 MHz |
| Memory | 32GB GDDR7 | 32GB GDDR7 |
| Memory Speed | 32 Gbps | 28 Gbps |
| Memory Bandwidth | 2 TB/s | 1.79 TB/s |
| TDP | 800W | 575W |
Power Requirements Raise Eyebrows
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the prototype is its reported 800W TDP, requiring two 12V-2x6 power connectors. This represents a 39% increase over the standard RTX 5090's already substantial 575W TDP, raising questions about practical implementation in consumer products. The extreme power requirements suggest this could be an experimental design or possibly targeted at a future RTX 5090 Ti or Titan variant.
Market Considerations
With the standard RTX 5090 carrying a USD $1,999 MSRP, any potential higher-tier model would likely command a price of USD $2,500 or more. However, geopolitical tensions affecting sales in the Chinese market may impact Nvidia's decision to release an even more powerful variant. The combination of supply constraints and market uncertainties creates a challenging landscape for potential buyers as the launch date approaches.