Launch MSRPs, release cycles and deals windows as of November 9, 2026.
The NVIDIA RTX 4080 Super (RTX 4000) and NVIDIA RTX 5090 (RTX 5000) come from different NVIDIA generations, released 11 months apart. The RTX 4080 Super has since been superseded by the NVIDIA RTX 5080. Both are classed Enthusiast. Against the RTX 4080 Super, the RTX 5090 costs $1,000 more at launch MSRP ($1,999 vs $999, 100% more), has 16 GB more VRAM (32 GB vs 16 GB) and draws 255W more at rated TDP (575W vs 320W).
This GPU is no longer the current generation. It has been replaced by the NVIDIA RTX 5080.
Superseded by RTX 5080
Best for: 4K gamers who can find a well-priced used unit, understanding they miss out on DLSS 4 and Blackwell's efficiency gains.
Full details →Mid-cycle — next generation may be on the horizon
Best for: Content creators, AI researchers, and enthusiast gamers who want the absolute fastest GPU regardless of price or power consumption.
Full details →| NVIDIA RTX 4080 Super | NVIDIA RTX 5090 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Enthusiast | Enthusiast |
| Generation | RTX 4000 | RTX 5000 |
| VRAM | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6X | GDDR7 |
| TDP | 320W | 575W |
| Upscaling | DLSS3 | DLSS4 |
| Ray Tracing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Launch MSRP | $999 | $1999 |
| Editor score | 8.4/10 | 9.4/10 |
| Released | Jan 31, 2024 | Jan 30, 2025 |
| Cycle length | ~365 days | ~850 days |
| Cycle advice | Superseded | Caution |
| Deals advice | Clearance | Caution |
| Successor | RTX 5080 | — |
New units sell around $1,400–$1,600 and used units start around $1,100 as of October 2026 — both above the $999 MSRP. Only worth it if a used unit turns up well below MSRP.
Ample VRAM for 4K gaming and content creation.
Over 2 years of optimizations ensures stability across all titles.
Double the VRAM of the RTX 5080 ensures headroom for 8K textures, AI model training, and multi-monitor setups.
Generates multiple frames per rendered frame, dramatically boosting perceived frame rates in supported games.
New shader cores, enhanced RT cores, and Tensor cores deliver the largest generational leap NVIDIA has shipped.
Released Jan 31, 2024, the RTX 4080 Super has been on the market for 2 years 9 months. It has been superseded by the NVIDIA RTX 5080, which launched Jan 30, 2025, so it's no longer a current-generation buy — new stock is clearance, and the rest of the market is second-hand.
Released Jan 30, 2025, the RTX 5090 has been on the market for 21 months. The next model on our radar: the RTX 6090, expected 2028 (rumoured) — roughly 418 days out if that date holds. That puts the RTX 5090 about 61% of the way through its current cycle, which our model rates Caution.
On timing, the RTX 5090 is the only current-generation option of the two (Caution), while the RTX 4080 Super is a clearance or used purchase.
At launch MSRP the RTX 4080 Super is $1,000 cheaper than the RTX 5090 ($999 vs $1,999, 50% less). Per gigabyte of VRAM that's $62.4 for the RTX 4080 Super and $62.5 for the RTX 5090 — effectively level. Launch MSRP is only a reference point for a superseded card; its real price is whatever clearance or used stock sells for today.
RTX 4080 Super (deals window to Jun 30, 2027, rated Wait): No clearance — new retail prices are ~40–60% above $999 MSRP due to production ending and scarcity, and used units start around $1,100 as of October 2026. Only consider a used unit well below MSRP.
RTX 5090 (deals window to Dec 5, 2026, rated Caution): Black Friday / Cyber Monday 2026 — usually the best annual GPU deals, but analysts do not expect memory supply to normalise before late 2027, so discounts are unlikely to reach the $1,999 MSRP. Only buy at or near MSRP.
Next on the deals calendar: for the RTX 5090, New Year clearance 2027, from Jan 2, 2027 to Jan 20, 2027.
Our pick: NVIDIA RTX 5090
Our pick is the RTX 5090: it's the current-generation card here, while the RTX 4080 Super has been superseded by the NVIDIA RTX 5080, and it also has 16 GB more VRAM (32 GB vs 16 GB) and carries a higher editor score (9.4 vs 8.4).
Go for the RTX 4080 Super instead if you want lower power draw: 320W vs 575W rated TDP, or if you find one on clearance or second-hand for clearly less than the RTX 5090 costs.
Buy/Wait and deals ratings come from release-cycle and pricing data, not benchmarks. How we rate →