Launch MSRPs, release cycles and deals windows as of November 9, 2026.
The NVIDIA RTX 4090 (RTX 4000) and NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti (RTX 5000) come from different NVIDIA generations, released 2 years 4 months apart. The RTX 4090 has since been superseded by the NVIDIA RTX 5090. The RTX 4090 is classed Enthusiast and the RTX 5070 Ti High-end. Against the RTX 4090, the RTX 5070 Ti costs $850 less at launch MSRP ($749 vs $1,599, 53% cheaper), has 8 GB less VRAM (16 GB vs 24 GB) and draws 150W less at rated TDP (300W vs 450W).
This GPU is no longer the current generation. It has been replaced by the NVIDIA RTX 5090.
Superseded by RTX 5090
Best for: 4K enthusiasts who can find a well-priced used RTX 4090 and don't need DLSS 4 or Blackwell's efficiency improvements.
Full details →Late in cycle — next generation likely within 12 months
Best for: 4K gamers who want high-end Blackwell performance at a more accessible price than the RTX 5080.
Full details →| NVIDIA RTX 4090 | NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Enthusiast | High-end |
| Generation | RTX 4000 | RTX 5000 |
| VRAM | 24 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6X | GDDR7 |
| TDP | 450W | 300W |
| Upscaling | DLSS3 | DLSS4 |
| Ray Tracing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Launch MSRP | $1599 | $749 |
| Editor score | 9.0/10 | 9.0/10 |
| Released | Oct 12, 2022 | Feb 20, 2025 |
| Cycle length | ~840 days | ~850 days |
| Cycle advice | Superseded | Wait |
| Deals advice | Clearance | Buy |
| Successor | RTX 5090 | — |
More VRAM than the RTX 5080 (16GB), relevant for AI workloads and 4K texture packs even in the Blackwell era.
New retail units are scarce and priced above MSRP. The used market (eBay, local classifieds) is the only viable path to value.
Over 3 years of driver optimizations make this one of the most stable GPUs available.
Same VRAM as the $999 RTX 5080, making it the sweet spot for high-end 4K gaming.
Reasonable power draw for its performance class — runs on a 700W PSU.
Full access to multi-frame generation and all Blackwell AI features.
Released Oct 12, 2022, the RTX 4090 has been on the market for 4 years. It has been superseded by the NVIDIA RTX 5090, which launched Jan 30, 2025, so it's no longer a current-generation buy — new stock is clearance, and the rest of the market is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 Feb 20, 2025, the RTX 5070 Ti has been on the market for 20 months. The next model on our radar: the RTX 5070 Ti Super, expected CES 2027, January 2027 (rumoured) — roughly 58 days out if that date holds. That puts the RTX 5070 Ti about 92% of the way through its current cycle, which our model rates Wait.
On timing, the RTX 5070 Ti is the only current-generation option of the two (Wait), while the RTX 4090 is a clearance or used purchase. Even so, the RTX 5070 Ti is late in its own cycle, so the RTX 5070 Ti Super is worth keeping an eye on.
At launch MSRP the RTX 5070 Ti is $850 cheaper than the RTX 4090 ($749 vs $1,599, 53% less). Per gigabyte of VRAM that's $66.6 for the RTX 4090 and $46.8 for the RTX 5070 Ti — the RTX 5070 Ti gives more memory for the money. Launch MSRP is only a reference point for a superseded card; its real price is whatever clearance or used stock sells for today.
RTX 4090 (deals window to Jun 30, 2027, rated Wait): New units are listed above $4,400 as of October 2026 and used units sell around $2,500–$3,000 — far above the $1,599 MSRP. Only consider a used unit if it comes well below current RTX 5090 street prices. Otherwise, the RTX 5090 at MSRP is better value.
RTX 5070 Ti (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 $749 MSRP. A rumoured RTX 5070 Ti Super is reported for CES 2027. Only buy at or near MSRP.
Next on the deals calendar: for the RTX 5070 Ti, New Year clearance 2027, from Jan 2, 2027 to Jan 20, 2027.
Our pick: NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti
Our pick is the RTX 5070 Ti: it's the current-generation card here, while the RTX 4090 has been superseded by the NVIDIA RTX 5090, and it also costs $850 less at launch MSRP ($749 vs $1,599) and draws 150W less at rated TDP (300W vs 450W). One caveat: the RTX 5070 Ti itself rates Wait on timing, with the RTX 5070 Ti Super expected CES 2027, January 2027 (rumoured) — if you can hold off, that's worth watching.
Go for the RTX 4090 instead if you want more VRAM: 24 GB vs 16 GB, or if you want the higher-tier card: Enthusiast rather than High-end.
Buy/Wait and deals ratings come from release-cycle and pricing data, not benchmarks. How we rate →
Where they're level: editor score (9.0 vs 9.0).