Nvidia Unveils the RTX 5090: A Mix of Good and Bad News

 

Nvidia has unveiled four new graphics cards from its RTX 5000 series at the CES event in Las Vegas, bringing both good and bad news regarding their prices. The models revealed include the RTX 5090, 5080, 5070 Ti, and 5070, with all four cards set to become available this month.

What Did Nvidia Reveal About the RTX 5000 Series?

Nvidia revealed the pricing and availability of its new RTX 5000-series graphics cards, including the RTX 5090, 5080, 5070 Ti, and 5070, which will hit the market in January.

How Much Will the RTX 5000 Series Cost?

The pricing of these cards is a mixed bag, with some costing more and others less compared to the previous RTX 4000-series. The RTX 5090 is priced at $1,999, $400 more than the RTX 4090’s launch price. However, the RTX 5080 comes in $200 cheaper than the RTX 4080, and the RTX 5070 Ti also carries a $50 discount over the launch price of the RTX 4070 Ti. Meanwhile, the RTX 5070 will cost $549, which is a $50 reduction from the 4070.

This pricing shift may not be what AMD and Intel were hoping for, especially since they’ve focused on the low- and mid-range market with a value-oriented approach to challenge Nvidia’s dominance. The price cut on the RTX 5070 is particularly noteworthy, especially as it could put pressure on Nvidia's competitors in the mid-range market. In short, if you're eyeing the RTX 5090, it will be more expensive than its predecessor, but for the rest, you'll be paying less compared to the previous RTX 4000-series. This pricing is a surprise, especially considering earlier rumors suggesting significant price hikes for the RTX 5090 and 5080. No details have been shared yet about cards below the RTX 5070.

What About the RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti?

The RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 are expected to be announced in the near future, though no details were revealed during the keynote. It’s worth noting that the RTX 4060 and 4060 Ti were not released immediately after the launch of the RTX 4000-series, so we might have to wait a few months for the lower-tier cards to arrive.

The Good News About the RTX 5090

There’s also some positive news regarding the RTX 5090, which is based on Nvidia’s Blackwell architecture. One standout feature is the significantly smaller design of the Founders Edition cooler. Unlike the bulky triple-slot RTX 4090, the RTX 5090 appears to be just a two-slot card, which could lead to more compact models and raise questions about its power consumption and other specifications. This design is in stark contrast to the large Inno3D model revealed earlier this week, and it will be interesting to see whether other partner cards follow suit with similarly slim profiles.

I'll be covering more details of these hardware launches throughout January at CES, including any updates I couldn’t cover here due to time zone differences. Follow me on social media for the latest news and reviews!