RTX 4090 vs RTX 5090 SE
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | RTX 4090 | RTX 5090 SE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy | 33,032 | 26,776 | +23.4% |
| Avg FPS @ 1080p | 240 | 198 | +21.2% |
| Avg FPS @ 1440p | 153 | 126 | +21.4% |
| Avg FPS @ 4K | 87 | 71 | +22.5% |
| FP32 compute (TFLOPS) | 82.6 | 66.9 | +23.4% |
| VRAM | 24 GB GDDR6X | 24 GB GDDR7 | — |
| Memory bandwidth (GB/s) | 1,008 | 1,344 | -25.0% |
| TDP (W) | 450 | 500 | — |
| Stable Diffusion (it/s) | 33.0 | 26.8 | +23.1% |
| LLM inference (tokens/s) | 80 | 107 | -25.2% |
| Launch MSRP (USD) | $1,599 | $1,499 | +6.7% |
- RTX 4090 averages 153 fps at 1440p versus 126 fps — about 21% faster.
- RTX 4090 draws less power (450W vs 500W).
Verdict: RTX 4090 or RTX 5090 SE?
RTX 4090 advantages
- 1440p gaming (+18%)
- 4K gaming (+18%)
- Synthetic benchmark performance (+19%)
- AI image generation (+19%)
- Power efficiency (+10%)
RTX 5090 SE advantages
- Memory bandwidth (+25%)
- Local LLM inference (+25%)
- Affordability (+6%)
Which should you choose?
- Choose the RTX 4090 if you game at 1440p.
- Choose the RTX 5090 SE if you work with high-resolution textures or memory-bound workloads.
- Choose the RTX 4090 if you game at 4K or drive a high-resolution display.
Value for money
RTX 4090 delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
RTX 4090 vs RTX 5090 SE: which should you choose?
RTX 4090 — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2022, Ada Lovelace) with 24 GB of GDDR6X, averaging 153 fps at 1440p; launched at $1,599.
RTX 5090 SE — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2026, Blackwell) with 24 GB of GDDR7, averaging 126 fps at 1440p; launched at $1,499.
RTX 4090 vs RTX 5090 SE: RTX 4090 is faster for gaming. RTX 4090 averages 153 fps at 1440p versus 126 fps — about 21% faster. RTX 4090 draws less power (450W vs 500W).
1080p, 1440p and 4K
At 1440p — the most common enthusiast resolution — the RTX 4090 averages 153 fps against 126. At 4K (87 vs 71 fps) VRAM (24GB vs 24GB) and memory bandwidth matter more.
AI and creator workloads
Beyond gaming, the RTX 4090 is quicker for AI image generation (33.0 vs 26.8 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 450 W versus 500 W, which affects PSU headroom, case cooling and noise. At launch MSRPs of $1,599 vs $1,499, 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 4090 better than the RTX 5090 SE?
RTX 4090 takes the overall edge, though RTX 5090 SE wins in specific areas worth weighing. RTX 4090 averages 153 fps at 1440p versus 126 fps — about 21% faster.
What is the main difference between the RTX 4090 and the RTX 5090 SE?
RTX 4090 averages 153 fps at 1440p versus 126 fps — about 21% faster. RTX 4090 draws less power (450W vs 500W).
Which is better value?
RTX 4090 delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
Which should I choose?
Choose the RTX 4090 if you game at 1440p. Choose the RTX 5090 SE if you work with high-resolution textures or memory-bound workloads.
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.