Summary of "Is This a Joke? 5090 vs 4090 Laptop Comparison in 25 Games"
Is This a Joke? 5090 vs 4090 Laptop Comparison in 25 Games
Storyline / Overview
This video compares Nvidia’s latest RTX 5090 laptop GPU against the previous generation RTX 4090 across 25 games at three resolutions: 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Despite the RTX 5090 being newer with better specs on paper, the performance gains over the 4090 are minimal or inconsistent. The video explores real-world gaming performance, power efficiency, battery life, pricing, and the value proposition of each GPU.
Key Findings & Highlights
Specs Comparison
- RTX 5090 features:
- 8% more CUDA cores
- 50% more VRAM (24 GB vs 16 GB)
- 55% more memory bandwidth (due to GDDR7)
- Slightly higher max boost clock
- Both GPUs share:
- Same 256-bit memory bus
- Max power of 175W
Performance
- Synthetic benchmarks (3D Mark Time Spy) show the 5090 scoring 11-18% higher depending on power limits.
- Real-world gaming results are mixed:
- Average FPS difference is very small:
- At 1080p, the 5090 is slightly slower or about equal to the 4090.
- At 1440p, about 0.6-1.3% faster (excluding an outlier).
- At 4K, only about 3% faster on average.
- Only 3 of 25 games showed a 10%+ FPS boost with the 5090.
- Some games like Red Dead Redemption 2 showed worse performance on the 5090 due to lower power draw (~150W vs 170W+ on 4090).
- Titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Space Marine 2 showed notable gains with the 5090.
- Many games showed negligible differences, often within margin of error.
- Average FPS difference is very small:
Power Efficiency & Battery Life
- The 5090 is significantly more power efficient, using about 24% less power in maxed-out games.
- Battery life on the 5090 laptop was 79% longer than the 4090 laptop during gaming.
- The 5090 hits lower power caps in some games, which may limit performance.
Thermals
- The 4090 runs slightly warmer, but both laptops have adequate cooling with no thermal throttling.
Frame Generation (AI-assisted Frame Interpolation)
- The 5090 supports newer multi-frame generation modes (up to 4x), allowing more AI-generated frames than the 4090 (which supports 2x mode).
- While frame generation can smooth gameplay, it increases latency and visual artifacts.
- Frame generation is best suited for single-player, latency-insensitive games running at high base frame rates.
- The video argues frame generation is not a fair performance comparison to traditional rendering and isn’t a must-have feature.
Pricing & Availability
- RTX 5090 laptops are very expensive (~$4,000+) and hard to find due to recent launch and low supply.
- RTX 4090 laptops are also becoming scarce and expensive (~$3,000+), with production slowing.
- Historically, 4090 laptops dropped to ~$2,400 on sale, offering better cost-per-frame value.
- Currently, 4090 laptops offer better value for performance compared to 5090.
Who Should Buy Which?
- Consider the RTX 5090 if you need:
- Extra VRAM (24 GB) for future-proofing or specific workloads.
- Multi-frame generation for smoother gameplay in supported titles.
- Better power efficiency and longer battery life.
- For most gamers, the 4090 remains the better value and performance choice.
- Upgrading from a 4090 laptop to a 5090 laptop is not recommended at this time.
- Waiting for 5090 laptop prices to drop is advised unless budget is no concern.
Summary of Testing Methodology
- Used XMG Neo6 laptops with air cooling for both GPUs.
- Retested suspicious results multiple times, including on MSI Titan 18 with RTX 5090.
- Tested 25 games at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K with and without ray tracing.
- Compared power consumption, thermals, and battery life.
- Included synthetic benchmarks (3D Mark Time Spy) for reference.
Final Verdict
- The RTX 5090 laptop GPU offers only marginal performance improvements over the RTX 4090.
- Its main advantages are better power efficiency and battery life.
- The high cost and limited performance gains make the 5090 a poor value choice currently.
- The 4090 remains the better buy for most gamers in 2025.
- Frame generation is a nice feature but not a game-changer.
- If you own a 4090 laptop, there is no need to upgrade yet.
Sources & Gamers Mentioned
- Just Josh (reviewer confirming power draw behavior)
- Gizmosip Tech (reviewer confirming power draw behavior)
- Tim from Hardware Unboxed (frame generation investigation)
Note: For detailed game-by-game results and deeper analysis, viewers are encouraged to pause the video or visit the linked gaming laptop deals website for updates on pricing and availability.
Category
Gaming
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