Best GeForce RTX 4090 Graphics Cards Available – The Fastest Gaming GPUs obtainable

The GeForce RTX 4090 is the fastest GPU NVIDIA has as of today. It offers a massive improvement over its predecessor, the RTX 3090 and RTX 3090 Ti. It provides better traditional rasterization, ray tracing, and DLSS performance. It’s also more power efficient and has a new DLSS 3 frame generation technology feature. The performance is not the only thing that is doubled. NVIDIA also doubled its video encoder; it now has two AV1 NVENC for faster and better transcoding. It’s not only great for gaming at 4K resolution, but it is also an excellent GPU for content creators. So, if you are in the market for the fastest GPU currently available, check out our list of the best RTX 4090 graphics cards below.

The Best GeForce RTX 4090 Graphics Cards

Starting at $1,600 USD, the GeForce RTX 4090 is not a cheap graphics card. In fact, the XX90 series or the TITAN class was never a value-oriented product in the first place. However, it is the fastest and best GPU that NVIDIA offers to its target market, regardless of the price. Certainly, it’s only a GPU for some. People who buy this, and you know who you are, more or less know what they are getting. They want the fastest GPU for gaming or the best technology currently available, especially if it is used for work and generates income.

In a gist, the GeForce RTX 4090 features 16384 NVIDIA Cuda cores, with 76 billion transistors; paired with 24GB GDDR6X memory running on a 384-bit memory interface. It uses NVIDIA’s latest Ada Lovelace architecture and comes with 3rd generation Ray Tracing Cores and 4th generation Tensor cores. You can check out the rest of its specifications below.

GeForce RTX 4090 Specifications

	RTX 4090	RTX 3090 Ti	RTX 3090
Architecture	Ada Lovelace	Ampere	Ampere
GPU	AD102	GA102	GA102
Fab. Process	TSMC 4N	Samsung 8N	Samsung 8N
Tansistors (Billions)	76.3	28.3	28.3
CUDA Cores	16384	10752	10496
Ray Tracing Cores	128 3rd gen	84 2nd gen	82 2nd gen
Tensor Cores	512 4th gen	336 3rd gen	328 3rd gen
ROPs	176	112	112
TMUs	512	336	328
Boost Clock	2.52 GHz	1.86 GHz	1.7 GHz
Base Clock	2.23 GHz	1.67 GHz	1.4 GHz
Memory Size	24 GB GDDR6X	24 GB GDDR6X	24 GB GDDR6X
Memory Interface	384-bit	384-bit	384-bit
Memory Speed	21 Gbps	21 Gbps	19.5 Gbps
NVIDIA DLSS ver.	3	2	2
Graphics Card Power	450W	450W	350W
Required PSU	850W	850W	750W
Release Date	October 2022	March 2022	September 2020
Launch Price	$1,599	$1,999	$1,499

All GeForce RTX 4090 graphics cards listed below are the best in the market. You simply can’t go wrong with any of them. It just depends on your taste, preference, and budget. They will also perform similarly regardless if it’s an OC or non-OC variant, premium or not-so-premium design. At best, the difference is only 5% (give or take). NVIDIA controls how these graphics cards perform, and they have set a limit. You can get a few more FPS from the premium card, but their difference is negligible and unnoticeable while gaming.

How Fast Is The GeForce RTX 4090

NVIDIA’s flagship GeForce RTX 4090 is insanely fast. It offers more or less a 60% performance improvement from its predecessor in traditional rasterization alone. In some cases, it is double while near double in others. It varies depending on the game or scenario.

However, with ray tracing and/or DLSS enabled, the RTX 4090 offers significant performance improvement over the RTX 3090 (Ti). And the performance gap just widens further when DLSS 3 Frame Generation technology is enabled, with up to 3x. NVIDIA says it can do up to 4x the performance of an RTX 3090 Ti with DLSS 3, but so far, it’s two to three times faster when DLSS 3 is enabled.

Just a caution. DO NOT buy an RTX 4090 if you are only gaming at 1080p or have a 1080p monitor. Even with the fastest CPU, like the Core i9-13900K or Ryzen 9 7950X, the 1080p resolution will bottleneck the RTX 4090. I’ve seen people complaining about why they got lower performance when they upgraded to an RTX 4090 or 4080. When asked what the resolution of their monitor is, most of them have a 1080p monitor. Again, please do not buy an RTX 4090 graphics card unless you plan to buy a 4K monitor or, at least, an ultrawide 1440p monitor.

Best GeForce RTX 4090 Cards Summary

“Cheapest” Or Near MSRP RTX 4090 Graphics Cards

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition

NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition is supposed to be the cheapest RTX 4090 in the market. It comes with an MSRP of $1,600. It features an industrial design with a tested and proven unique cooling solution. It’s also a huge graphics card, like most RTX 4090 graphics cards.

The RTX 4090 Founders Edition is certainly among the best RTX 4090 cards in the market. Unfortunately, due to its limited availability, retailers are selling the RTX 4090 Founders Edition at a higher price. You might want to take that chance if you ever spot an RTX 4090 Founders Edition at $1,600 or at least close to its MSRP.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition is available on Amazon.com here.

ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 Trinity OC

The Zotac GeForce RTX 4090 Trinity (OC) is one of the cheapest or closest to MSRP RTX 4090 graphics cards in the market. It may be “cheap” compared to other RTX 4090, but it performs similarly. Thanks to its massive heatsink, it runs silently and doesn’t hit 80°C at all. Usually, its temperature plays around 67°C to 78°C, depending on the load, scenario, and the system’s setup.

The Zotac RTX 4090 Trinity OC has a curvy design with RGB lighting on its front side portion. The cooler shroud is entirely made of plastic, which might turn off some people. However, the back plate is all-metal. Zotac also has the AMP Extreme Airo variant, their flagship graphics card model. The Airo model looks more premium with nice RGB lighting. However, it is also slightly more expensive than the Trinity variant.

However, while Zotac’s RTX 4090 cards will perform similarly to the other RTX 4090 cards listed here, it feels bit cheap on hand. This is due to its plastic shroud.

ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 Trinity OC is available on Amazon.com here.

Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming OC

Next on the list is from Gigabyte, and it’s their GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming OC. Gigabyte’s RTX 4090 is chunky and looks blocky. This card will occupy 4 PCI slots easily, so be sure to have enough room. Like Zotac’s Trinity OC, the front cooler shroud is made of plastic, while its back plate is metal. It also has a dual BIOS feature to switch between normal or quiet BIOS.

Because of its slightly larger heatsink, the Gigabyte RTX 4090 Gaming OC runs slightly cooler than Zotac’s Trinity OC. Aside from the dual BIOS feature, another unique feature is its middle fan spinning in the opposite direction. This reduces air turbulence that may result in (fan) noise. It also has RGB lightning, but only on the rim portion of the fan. The Gigabyte RTX 4090 Gaming OC may not be the best-looking card here, but at least it’s closer to NVIDIA’s MSRP.

Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming OC is available on Amazon.com here.

ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 OC

While plastic materials help reduce a product’s cost, sometimes it makes it feel cheap or “plasticky”. And if you are not a fan of that, the Asus TUF Gaming RTX 4090 (OC) is the next graphics card to consider. It’s also one of the better-looking graphics cards on this list. The Asus TUF RTX 4090 has an industrial vibe or feel, but it’s very sturdy and solid on hand. It features a diecast metal “exoskeleton”, military-grade capacitors, and a triple Axial-tech fan design with dual ball bearings. The middle fan spins in the opposite direction to minimize turbulence and maximize airflow.

There is only a small RGB lighting on the rear-front-side for the TUF Gaming logo. Performance-wise, it is similar to the more expensive (but premium) ROG Strix variant, making the TUF Gaming RTX 4090 better in terms of value than the ROG Strix RTX 4090.

Asus TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 is available on Amazon.com here.

MSI GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming X Trio

Up next is the MSI GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming (X) Trio. Now, oftentimes this graphics card is slightly cheaper than the TUF RTX 4090. However, depending on the retailer, sometimes it’s cheaper or slightly more expensive than the TUF. So better check out the updated prices first.

The Gaming (X) Trio is not MSI’s flagship graphics card but a top-tier model. While its cooler shroud is made of plastic, it doesn’t feel cheap or plasticky compared to Gigabyte’s or Zotac’s RTX 4090. The back plate is metal, though, and a metal support bracket is placed between the heatsink and PCB. The design looks nice and aesthetically pleasing, and its RGB lighting is also not too aggressive. If you like its design and don’t mind paying a bit extra, the RTX 4090 Gaming X Trio is a great option.

MSI GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming X Trio is available on Amazon.com here.

The “Fastest” RTX 4090 Graphics Cards

Now let’s move on to the more premium RTX 4090 cards in the market. These RTX 4090 graphics cards have better design, beefier VRM and power management, great for overclocking, have excellent built quality, and are simply good to look at. However, these cards are on the expensive side since you are paying for the premium look and design, not so much for the performance.

MSI GeForce RTX 4090 Suprim X

The MSI GeForce RTX 4090 Suprim X is the company’s flagship graphics card. It is also one of the fastest RTX 4090 cards out of the box. It has a factory overclock boost speed of 2625 MHz and a massive 26+4 power phase design. When it comes to aesthetics, it features an almost all-metal material. Unlike the Gaming X Trio, whose front cooler shroud is plastic, the RTX 4090 SUPRIM X has a metal shroud. Its design is more intricate, with highlights and details not present on the Gaming X Trio. Holding one in hand feels satisfying, as it’s heavy, built like a tank, and screams premium.

Thanks to its beefier VRMs and power design, you can overclock this graphics card easily. However, honestly, I don’t think it’s necessary to overclock it unless you are trying to break a record. It also has additional accessories, like a mousepad and a nice-looking graphics card support holder. Suppose I was torn between the Gaming X Trio and the Suprim X. In that case, I’d go for the Suprim X. While it’s slightly more expensive than the Gaming X Trio, it looks far better, in my opinion.

MSI GeForce RTX 4090 Suprim X is available on Amazon.com here.

ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC

Another premium graphics card and one of the best RTX 4090 is the Asus ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC. It has a boost clock speed of 2610 MHz, making it one of the fastest RTX 4090 cards out of the box. This graphics card also screams premium with a well-polished design and aesthetics and a massive 24+4 power phase design. Not only that it looks fantastic, but it is also a huge graphics card. It is perhaps one of the largest, if not the largest, RTX 4090 graphics cards.

It has a permanent blue and red accent on its cooler shroud, but it also has RGB lighting on the rear end of the card and the Republic of Gamers logo on the front side. Speaking of its shroud, similar to the TUF RTX 4090, it features a diecast (metal) shroud, frame, and backplate. It also features Asus’ new patented vapor chamber and axial-tech fans.

The ROG Strix RTX 4090 also runs (slightly) cooler than other RTX 4090 cards. If you are looking for a white version of the ROG Strix RTX 4090, you are in luck. Asus also released a white version of their flagship graphics card.

Asus ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC is available on Amazon.com here.
White Asus ROG Strix RTX 4090 OC is available on Amazon.com here.

Best Water-Cooled RTX 4090 Graphics Card

MSI GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM Liquid X

As you may have noticed, all RTX 4090 graphics cards in the market are massive and chunky. They take up a lot of space or PCI slots. If you are looking for a water-cooled RTX 4090, MSI has you covered.

The MSI GeForce RTX 4090 Suprim Liquid X is a water-cooled RTX 4090 with a 240mm radiator. The card itself is also smaller than air-cooled 4090s, measuring only 280mm x 140mm x 43mm, and yes, it is a 2-slot graphics card. This is basically a water-cooled version of the RTX 4090 Suprim X (air-cooled).

While the RTX 4090 Suprim Liquid X runs at slightly lower temperatures than an air-cooled RTX 4090, its performance is similar to most RTX 4090, especially the premium ones. So, despite being water-cooled, there’s no noticeable performance improvement compared to an air-cooled RTX 4090. You are paying for its smaller size and lower temperature.

However, since this graphics card has a beefy 26+4 power phase design and a liquid-cooled GPU, there is more room for overclocking. My only concern with water-cooled cards is the potential pump failure, which may or may not happen. So far, I have yet to hear or read of a bad RTX 4090 Suprim Liquid X.

MSI GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM Liquid X is available on Amazon.com here.

These are the best GeForce RTX 4090 graphics cards available in the market as of to date. If you are torn between an RTX 4090 or RTX 4080, you might want to check out this article comparing the two. It may help you decide which one to get.

Questions About The RTX 4090

What RTX 4090 is the best brand?

Looking at the top brands on the market, most, if not all, are reputable. While I would say that EVGA would be my top choice since their after-market support is excellent, unfortunately, they are out of the graphics card business. MSI, Asus, Zotac, and Gigabyte are great too. They have been in the PC business for several years now. However, even though these are some of the “best brands”, these companies and their products are not infallible.

What RTX 4090 has the best VRM and is excellent for overclocking?

The MSI RTX 4090 Suprim X, Suprim Liquid X, and Asus Strix RTX 4090 OC have the beefiest VRMs and power design, making these graphics cards excellent for overclocking. Zotac’s RTX 4090 AMP Airo also has a massive 24+4 power phase design. But MSI and Asus’ cards feel and look more premium.

What is the best CPU for the RTX 4090?

If you plan to get the fastest graphics card today, it’s only reasonable to pair the RTX 4090 with the best CPU. Honestly, any mid-range to high-end CPU of the current and previous generation would do well for the RTX 4090, especially if you are playing at 4K UHD since it is mostly GPU bound.

However, if you want to maximize everything, the best CPU you can pair with an RTX 4090 are the Intel Core i9-13900K series, AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D, or Ryzen 9 7950X. These are the current flagship CPUs from each company. Note that the 7950X3D is a gaming/productivity CPU. It’s a bit faster than the 7950X (non-X3D) in gaming, but the 7950X is faster in productivity overall.

What is the best PSU for the RTX 4090?

The minimum power supply requirement for the RTX 4090 is an 850W PSU. If you have an 850W or higher PSU, you can use that, but you need four (separate) 8-pin PCIe power connectors.

If you need to upgrade your PSU or buy a new one, you should get the latest ATX 3.0 and PCIE 5-ready PSUs. These PCIE5 PSUs are built and support the latest 16-pin 12VHPWR connector. So you don’t need to use that ugly adapter that requires 4x 8-pin PCI-E power. You only need one 16-pin 12VHPWR connector native to these PCIE5 PSUs.

I currently use MSI’s PCIE5 PSUs – the MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 (pReview here) and the more feature-rich MEG Ai1300P PCIE5. Both PSUs work well, and I have not encountered any issues yet.

What case could support the RTX 4090?

There are plenty of chassis or cases that can support the RTX 4090. Some mid-tower cases may support these chunky and beefy graphics cards, but not all. Since most RTX 4090 cards are huge, you will likely have a clearance issue with a mid-tower’s side panel.

Mind the dimensions of the graphics cards I listed above. The safest case that would fit these RTX 4090 cards is a full-tower chassis. They are big and heavy. 

Here are some chassis that not only support an RTX 4090 card but also look nice and have plenty of features: the MSI MEG Prospect 700R, HYTE Y60, and Corsair iCUE 5000T. These three are all excellent cases for the RTX 4090. They have their own unique look and set features as well.