This GPU is no longer the current generation. It has been replaced by the NVIDIA RTX 5090 →
No longer the current generation — clearance and second-hand prices are at their lowest. The current replacement is the NVIDIA RTX 5090 →
| AIB Card | Boost Clock | Cooling | TDP | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founders Edition | 2520 MHz | Triple-fan | 450W | Reference design |
| ASUS ROG Strix OC | 2610 MHz | Triple-fan 3.5-slot | 450W | Maximum overclocking |
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 was the Ada Lovelace flagship with 24GB GDDR6X. Now superseded by the RTX 5090, it remains an exceptional 4K GPU. At current street prices well below its $1599 launch MSRP, it offers outstanding value for gamers who don't need DLSS 4 or Blackwell's efficiency improvements.
More VRAM than the RTX 5080 (16GB), making it relevant for AI workloads and 4K texture packs.
Street prices have dropped significantly below $1599 MSRP, offering 5090-adjacent performance for less.
Over 2 years of driver optimizations make this one of the most stable GPUs available.
4K enthusiasts who can find the RTX 4090 at a significant discount and don't need DLSS 4 or GDDR7.
If you find it at a significant discount (30%+ below MSRP), absolutely. It still dominates 4K gaming and has 24GB of VRAM. The RTX 5090 is faster but costs $1999 at MSRP.
The 5090 is roughly 50-70% faster in rasterization and has DLSS 4. But the 4090 at clearance prices delivers ~60-70% of the performance for potentially half the price.
Superseded doesn't mean slow. The RTX 4090 was the fastest consumer GPU for over 2 years. At clearance pricing, it's one of the best performance-per-dollar options available.
Used 4090s can be excellent value. Check for mining wear, verify warranty transferability, and test before buying. The card has proven long-term reliability.