Looks like RTX 5090 pre-orders will go live soon, as various retailers now have listings for the Blackwell graphics card. The new flagship GPU will set you back $1,999 if you manage to snag a Founder Edition, but there will also be plenty of custom options by the likes of Asus, Gigabyte, and PNY to choose from when the time comes. Therefore, if you're looking to buy an RTX 5090, now is the time to prep.
Before anything else, you'll want to keep an eye out for RTX 5090 pre-orders. Nvidia's next best graphics card could end up in high demand due to its AI abilities, so it won't just be gamers picking the GPU for their rig. That's why I'm already keeping tabs on the GeForce card at various retailers in the US and UK, as well as pointing you towards the retailers I'd check out first.
The RTX 5090 will arrive on January 30, meaning you have around three weeks to make purchasing plans. Some retailers like Overclockers UK have advised checking listings periodically if you're hoping to pre-order, as each model's out of stock status will change once stock is available. Ultimately, you'll want to sign up for notifications at more than one retailer, as that way you'll be able to hop on whatever site kicks things off first.
Where to pre-order RTX 5090 in the US
Where to pre-order RTX 5090 in the UK
Where to buy RTX 5090: FAQ
How much is the RTX 5090?
RTX 5090 prices start at $1,999 / £1,939, but that's if you can grab Nvidia's Founder's Edition model. Custom variants by the likes of Asus, Gigabyte, PNY and other vendors may set you back more if they include features like a factory overclock, so expect pricing to be higher than the original MSRP.
When will the RTX 5090 officially release?
Nvidia has revealed that the RTX 5090 will launch on January 30, 2025, kickstarting the next generation of Blackwell graphics cards. Those of you looking for extreme 4K performance and cutting edge AI abilities will want to jump on pre-orders ahead of that date, but cheaper options like the $549 RTX 5070 will also arrive in February.
Is the RTX 5090 for gaming?
The RTX 5090 will no doubt serve as a gaming GPU powerhouse, but its AI abilities mean the Blackwell graphics card will be used for much more. Running Steam games is really just the part of this $2,000 model's abilities, and unless you're building a monstrous rig that can pull off flawless 4K results and even next-gen 8K results, you might be better off looking at cheaper options like the RTX 5080 or even RTX 5070.
Is the Is the RTX 5090 better than RTX 4090?
Armed with a shiny new Blackwell Nvidia GPU, the RTX 5090 will officially take the RTX 4090's flagship crown this January. While I'll need to put the new graphics card through my usual benchmark tests to know if it's actually better than the Lovelace model, features like DLSS 4 AI upscaling and GDDR7 VRAM give it more of an edge on paper.
Should you buy the RTX 5090?
The RTX 5090 will undoubtedly change PC gaming when it launches January 30, but its $2,000 price tag means it absolutely isn't for everyone. If you're planning on putting together an absurdly powerful 4K rig that can also venture into 8K territory using the power of AI, you'll ultimately end up eyeing up this card. However, if even the RTX 4090 feels like more than enough juice to run your Steam library, there are far cheaper options this generation.
During Nvidia's CES 2025 keynote, CEO Jensen Huang also unveiled the RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5080. Each class of card should offer up frame rates that scale with price, but even the latter 70-series card can apparently provide Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 performance. Better still, that particular model comes in at $549, so current gen 4K gaming is about to get a hell of a lot cheaper in the generation to come.
Of course, there is a slight catch, as such feats are achieved using new AI tricks made possible by Blackwell. DLSS 4 will effectively give your PC a boost by generating graphics on its behalf, with Nvidia claiming the tool can fill in 33 million pixels for every 2 million generated by your actual hardware. If you'd prefer to keep things native, the results might be slightly less impressive, but you're still going to be getting a huge performance boost across the entire Blackwell range.
It's still early days for the RTX 5090, and I'll be looking to share my own benchmarks soon. That'll ultimate paint a real performance picture that'll help you decide on whether to buy the flagship, but its price tag already suggests it's for power users and extreme PC builders alike.
Looking to build an entire system? Swing by the best CPU for gaming and best RAM for vital rig parts. Alternatively, check out the best Alienware gaming PC builds if you're not into DIY.
