L40S vs RTX 5090
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | L40S | RTX 5090 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy | 32,060 | 40,000 | -19.9% |
| Avg FPS @ 1080p | 234 | 286 | -18.2% |
| Avg FPS @ 1440p | 148 | 183 | -19.1% |
| Avg FPS @ 4K | 84 | 105 | -20.0% |
| FP32 compute (TFLOPS) | 91.6 | 104.8 | -12.6% |
| VRAM | 48 GB GDDR6 | 32 GB GDDR7 | — |
| Memory bandwidth (GB/s) | 864 | 1,792 | -51.8% |
| TDP (W) | 350 | 575 | — |
| Stable Diffusion (it/s) | 36.6 | 41.9 | -12.6% |
| LLM inference (tokens/s) | 53 | 143 | -62.9% |
- RTX 5090 averages 183 fps at 1440p versus 148 fps — about 19% faster.
- L40S draws less power (350W vs 575W).
Verdict: L40S or RTX 5090?
L40S advantages
- Video memory (+33%)
- Power efficiency (+39%)
RTX 5090 advantages
- 1440p gaming (+19%)
- 4K gaming (+20%)
- Synthetic benchmark performance (+20%)
- Memory bandwidth (+52%)
- AI image generation (+13%)
- Local LLM inference (+63%)
Which should you choose?
- Choose the L40S if you play the latest titles at high textures or do GPU-accelerated work.
- Choose the RTX 5090 if you game at 1440p.
- Choose the L40S if you want lower power draw, heat and noise.
L40S vs RTX 5090: which should you choose?
L40S — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2023, Ada Lovelace) with 48 GB of GDDR6, averaging 148 fps at 1440p.
RTX 5090 — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2025, Blackwell) with 32 GB of GDDR7, averaging 183 fps at 1440p; launched at $1,999.
L40S vs RTX 5090: RTX 5090 is faster for gaming. RTX 5090 averages 183 fps at 1440p versus 148 fps — about 19% faster. L40S draws less power (350W vs 575W).
1080p, 1440p and 4K
At 1440p — the most common enthusiast resolution — the RTX 5090 averages 183 fps against 148. At 4K (84 vs 105 fps) VRAM (48GB vs 32GB) and memory bandwidth matter more.
AI and creator workloads
Beyond gaming, the RTX 5090 is quicker for AI image generation (41.9 vs 36.6 it/s in Stable Diffusion) and local LLM inference (143 vs 53 tokens/s), which increasingly matters for creators and developers.
Power and value
Board power is 350 W versus 575 W, which affects PSU headroom, case cooling and noise.
The verdict
Both are credible choices in the graphics card comparison space; the specification table above lays out every metric so you can weigh the trade-offs that matter to you. Pick the one whose strengths line up with how you will actually use it.
Frequently asked questions
Is the L40S better than the RTX 5090?
RTX 5090 takes the overall edge, though L40S wins in specific areas worth weighing. RTX 5090 averages 183 fps at 1440p versus 148 fps — about 19% faster.
What is the main difference between the L40S and the RTX 5090?
RTX 5090 averages 183 fps at 1440p versus 148 fps — about 19% faster. L40S draws less power (350W vs 575W).
Which should I choose?
Choose the L40S if you play the latest titles at high textures or do GPU-accelerated work. Choose the RTX 5090 if you game at 1440p.
Methodology
Graphics cards are compared on 3DMark Time Spy scores, average gaming frame rates at 1080p/1440p/4K, FP32 compute throughput, VRAM capacity and type, memory bandwidth, board power (TDP) and launch MSRP — plus AI workload throughput (Stable Diffusion iterations/s and local LLM tokens/s) where measured. Vintage and server GPUs without modern benchmark results are compared on specifications only, clearly labelled. Frame rates are averages across a game suite at high settings; specific titles vary.