RTX 3090 vs RTX 5090 D V2
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | RTX 3090 | RTX 5090 D V2 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy | 15,299 | 40,000 | -61.8% |
| Avg FPS @ 1080p | 121 | 286 | -57.7% |
| Avg FPS @ 1440p | 76 | 183 | -58.5% |
| Avg FPS @ 4K | 43 | 105 | -59.0% |
| FP32 compute (TFLOPS) | 35.6 | 104.8 | -66.0% |
| VRAM | 24 GB GDDR6X | 24 GB GDDR7 | — |
| Memory bandwidth (GB/s) | 1,008 | 1,344 | -25.0% |
| TDP (W) | 350 | 575 | — |
| Stable Diffusion (it/s) | 14.2 | 41.9 | -66.1% |
| LLM inference (tokens/s) | 80 | 107 | -25.2% |
| Launch MSRP (USD) | $1,499 | $2,299 | -34.8% |
- RTX 5090 D V2 averages 183 fps at 1440p versus 76 fps — about 58% faster.
- RTX 3090 draws less power (350W vs 575W).
Verdict: RTX 3090 or RTX 5090 D V2?
RTX 3090 advantages
- Power efficiency (+39%)
- Affordability (+35%)
RTX 5090 D V2 advantages
- 1440p gaming (+58%)
- 4K gaming (+59%)
- Synthetic benchmark performance (+62%)
- Memory bandwidth (+25%)
- AI image generation (+66%)
- Local LLM inference (+25%)
Which should you choose?
- Choose the RTX 3090 if you want lower power draw, heat and noise.
- Choose the RTX 5090 D V2 if you game at 1440p.
- Choose the RTX 3090 if you want the better price for the performance.
Value for money
RTX 5090 D V2 delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
RTX 3090 vs RTX 5090 D V2: which should you choose?
RTX 3090 — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2020, Ampere) with 24 GB of GDDR6X, averaging 76 fps at 1440p; launched at $1,499.
RTX 5090 D V2 — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2025, Blackwell) with 24 GB of GDDR7, averaging 183 fps at 1440p; launched at $2,299.
RTX 3090 vs RTX 5090 D V2: RTX 5090 D V2 is faster for gaming. RTX 5090 D V2 averages 183 fps at 1440p versus 76 fps — about 58% faster. RTX 3090 draws less power (350W vs 575W).
1080p, 1440p and 4K
At 1440p — the most common enthusiast resolution — the RTX 5090 D V2 averages 183 fps against 76. At 4K (43 vs 105 fps) VRAM (24GB vs 24GB) and memory bandwidth matter more.
AI and creator workloads
Beyond gaming, the RTX 5090 D V2 is quicker for AI image generation (41.9 vs 14.2 it/s in Stable Diffusion) and local LLM inference (107 vs 80 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. At launch MSRPs of $1,499 vs $2,299, weigh the frame-rate lead against price and power draw for your target resolution.
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 RTX 3090 better than the RTX 5090 D V2?
RTX 5090 D V2 takes the overall edge, though RTX 3090 wins in specific areas worth weighing. RTX 5090 D V2 averages 183 fps at 1440p versus 76 fps — about 58% faster.
What is the main difference between the RTX 3090 and the RTX 5090 D V2?
RTX 5090 D V2 averages 183 fps at 1440p versus 76 fps — about 58% faster. RTX 3090 draws less power (350W vs 575W).
Which is better value?
RTX 5090 D V2 delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
Which should I choose?
Choose the RTX 3090 if you want lower power draw, heat and noise. Choose the RTX 5090 D V2 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.