RTX 5090 is allegedly 39% faster than RTX 4090 in 3DMark benchmarks — beats RX 7900 XTX by 93%

(Image credit: Nvidia)

The RTX 5090 embargo will be lifted in a couple of days, but Nvidia’s Blackwell flagship GPU benchmark results have already begun to leak. We’ve previously seen Geekbench results for the graphics card, which showed a 27% uplift in performance over the RTX 4090 , while Blender tests show the RTX 5090 getting a 36% higher score. Today, VideoCardz shared multiple test results from 3Dmark, reportedly showing the new GPU handily beating the previous top-of-the-line card by up to 53%.

These tests include Speed Way, Steel Nomad, Port Royal, Time Spy, and Fire Strike, with several conducted in 1080p, 1440p, and 2160p/4K resolutions. The publication also said these numbers reportedly came from multiple sources, meaning they are likely verified and reliable. Nonetheless, we recommend taking the results with a grain of salt.

The RTX 5090 offered the most improvement in Steel Nomad (4K), scoring 14,133 points—some 53% higher than the RTX 4090’s 9,216. The previous-generation card did close the gap in other tests, like Time Spy Extreme (2160p), where the RTX 5090’s advantage dropped to 31% but still gained an average advantage of 39% over the RTX 4090.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
TestGeForce RTX 5090GeForce RTX 4090% UpliftGeForce RTX 4080 Super% UpliftRadeon RX 7900 XTX% Uplift
Speed Way (1440p)14,38310,06543%7,44293%6,349127%
Steel Nomad (4K)14,1339,21653%6,834107%6,595114%
Port Royal (1440p)36,67326,10340%18,288101%16,527122%
Time Spy (1440p)48,73236,32834%30,48260%28,30572%
Time Spy Extreme (2160p)25,48519,46631%15,28867%14,05881%
Fire Strike (1080p)10,176772,88740%72,27541%63,66060%
Fire Strike (1440p)60,7784525734%39,91952%34,00979%
Fire Strike Ultra (2160p)33,11424,82833%20,60361%17,48489%
Average--39%-73%-93%
Launch Price$1,999$1,59925%$999100%$999100%

However, when we compare the RTX 5090 to AMD’s RX 7900 XTX , the card destroys it in 3DMark benchmarks . The Nvidia GPU scored 127% more points in Speed Way (1440p) and 122% higher in Port Royal (1440p). Even if we average all other results, it still shows a massive 93% advantage, showing the separation between the RTX 5090 and RX 7900 XTX in terms of synthetic performance.

However, note that these scores are based on synthetic tests; real-world gaming numbers will vary depending on the rest of your system, the game title, in-game settings, and several other factors. In addition, the RTX 5090 typically performed better in benchmarks than games, with sources claiming that its advantage falls to 20% when used in actual gameplay.

While a 20% uplift in in-game performance might sound decent, you should also remember that you’re paying 25% more for the RTX 5090. Its launch price of $1,999 puts it on par with the RTX 3090 Ti , which was released at the height of the global chip shortage.

Whatever the case, you should wait for official reviews before making a purchase decision. That way, you can check the results of multiple reviewers to help you ensure you’re getting your money’s worth with this GPU purchase.

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Contributing Writer

Jowi Morales is a tech enthusiast with years of experience working in the industry. He’s been writing with several tech publications since 2021, where he’s been interested in tech hardware and consumer electronics.