Launch MSRPs, release cycles and deals windows as of November 9, 2026.
The NVIDIA RTX 4090 (RTX 4000) and NVIDIA RTX 5080 (RTX 5000) come from different NVIDIA generations, released 2 years 3 months apart. The RTX 4090 has since been superseded by the NVIDIA RTX 5090. Both are classed Enthusiast. Against the RTX 4090, the RTX 5080 costs $600 less at launch MSRP ($999 vs $1,599, 38% cheaper), has 8 GB less VRAM (16 GB vs 24 GB) and draws 90W less at rated TDP (360W 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 It has been replaced by the NVIDIA RTX 5090.
Superseded by RTX 5090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 and creators who want Blackwell performance without the 5090's price and power demands.
Full details →| NVIDIA RTX 4090 | NVIDIA RTX 5080 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Enthusiast | Enthusiast |
| Generation | RTX 4000 | RTX 5000 |
| VRAM | 24 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6X | GDDR7 |
| TDP | 450W | 360W |
| Upscaling | DLSS3 | DLSS4 |
| Ray Tracing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Launch MSRP | $1599 | $999 |
| Editor score | 9.0/10 | 8.6/10 |
| Released | Oct 12, 2022 | Jan 30, 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| Cycle advice | Superseded | Wait |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.
Delivers excellent 4K frame rates at a lower TDP and price than the 5090 — the practical enthusiast choice.
Same DLSS 4 technology as the flagship, dramatically boosting frame rates in supported titles.
Runs on a 750W PSU comfortably, unlike the 5090's 1000W recommendation.
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 It has been superseded by the NVIDIA RTX 5090, which launched Jan 30, 2025, so it's no longer a current-generation buy — new stock is clearance, and the rest of the market is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 Jan 30, 2025, the RTX 5080 has been on the market for 21 months. The next model on our radar: the RTX 5080 Super, expected CES 2027, January 2027 (rumoured) — roughly 58 days out if that date holds. That puts the RTX 5080 about 92% of the way through its current cycle, which our model rates Wait.
On timing, the RTX 5080 is the only current-generation option of the two (Wait), while the RTX 4090 is a clearance or used purchase. Even so, the RTX 5080 is late in its own cycle, so the RTX 5080 Super is worth keeping an eye on.
At launch MSRP the RTX 5080 is $600 cheaper than the RTX 4090 ($999 vs $1,599, 38% less). Per gigabyte of VRAM that's $66.6 for the RTX 4090 and $62.4 for the RTX 5080 — the RTX 5080 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 5080 (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 $999 MSRP. A rumoured RTX 5080 Super is reported for CES 2027. Only buy at or near MSRP.
Next on the deals calendar: for the RTX 5080, New Year clearance 2027, from Jan 2, 2027 to Jan 20, 2027.
Our pick: NVIDIA RTX 5080
Our pick is the RTX 5080: it's the current-generation card here, while the RTX 4090 has been superseded by the NVIDIA RTX 5090, and it also costs $600 less at launch MSRP ($999 vs $1,599) and draws 90W less at rated TDP (360W vs 450W). One caveat: the RTX 5080 itself rates Wait on timing, with the RTX 5080 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 our higher-rated card of the two: 9.0 vs 8.6 editor score.
Buy/Wait and deals ratings come from release-cycle and pricing data, not benchmarks. How we rate →