RTX 5090 Performance Review: Benchmark Rankings Drop & Gaming GPU Comparison 2025
The RTX 4090 Steals the Spotlight
Just weeks ago, the RTX 5090 reigned supreme on PassMark’s performance charts, but in a surprising twist, it’s now playing second fiddle to its predecessor—the formidable RTX 4090.
Fresh PassMark data reveals an intriguing story: while the RTX 5090 initially boasted a 2.85% performance edge (confirming earlier rumors), its average benchmark score took an unexpected nosedive from 39,516 to 38,048—a significant 3.71% drop as more test results poured in.
Meanwhile, the RTX 4090 quietly gained ground, its average score inching up from 38,422 to 38,436—just enough to claim the crown. But don’t count the RTX 5090 out yet! With only 50 test samples versus the RTX 4090’s massive 14,422, this lead could vanish as more data emerges.
What’s behind this power shift? Several factors come into play. Recent driver updates have caused unexpected GPU hiccups, and tech sleuths discovered the RTX 5090 mysteriously lacks ROP (Raster Operations Pipeline) units—critical hardware for image rendering. But here’s the silver lining: in DirectX 12 tests, the RTX 5090 flexes its muscles with an impressive 209 FPS average, leaving the RTX 4090’s 150 FPS in the dust—a whopping 39.3% performance boost in key scenarios.
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That’s a wild turn of events with the RTX 5090 losing its edge so quickly. It’ll be interesting to see if this is just a software issue or if NVIDIA needs to address some hardware concerns. The fact that the RTX 4090 is outperforming it now is quite surprising. I wonder how this will affect future releases and consumer expectations.
You’re absolutely right! It’s fascinating to see such a shift in performance dynamics. While it could be a software optimization issue, NVIDIA might need to explore hardware tweaks too. The impact on future releases will likely push them to deliver more consistent performance. Thanks for sharing your thoughts—it’s great to hear different perspectives on this!
Wow, that’s a wild turn of events with the RTX 5090 losing its edge so quickly. I wonder if this is just a software issue or if there’s something more going on with the hardware. Either way, the RTX 4090 seems like the better bet for now based on these benchmarks. It’ll be interesting to see how NVIDIA addresses this in future updates.
Absolutely, it’s quite surprising to see such a shift! While we can’t confirm specifics without official statements, it’s possible both software and hardware factors could play a role here. The RTX 4090 does look solid for now, but NVIDIA has a strong track record for optimizing performance over time. Thanks for your insightful comment—it’ll definitely be fascinating to follow their next moves!
That’s a wild turn of events with the RTX 5090 losing ground to the RTX 4090 so quickly. I wonder if this is due to driver updates or some other factors that could be influencing the benchmarks. It’ll be interesting to see how future games are optimized for these GPUs. Guess the gaming community will have to rethink their top picks for now.
That’s a wild turn of events with the RTX 5090 losing ground to the RTX 4090. It just goes to show how quickly tech benchmarks can shift. I wonder what caused the drop in scores for the 5090. Guess we’ll have to wait and see if Nvidia addresses this in future updates.
That’s a wild turn of events with the RTX 5090 losing ground to the RTX 4090. It just goes to show how quickly tech benchmarks can shift. I wonder what caused that unexpected drop in performance scores. Still, the RTX 5090 is no slouch and should still be a strong option for gamers.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! The performance shift could be due to driver optimizations or game-specific tweaks that favor older architectures. It’s fascinating how competitive the GPU market has become. Regardless, both cards are excellent choices depending on your needs—exciting times for gamers!
That’s a wild turn of events with the RTX 5090 losing ground to the RTX 4090 so quickly. I wonder if it’s driver-related or maybe some thermal issues under heavy loads? Either way, this is definitely unexpected based on what everyone thought just a few weeks ago. It’ll be interesting to see how future updates affect these rankings.
That’s a wild turn of events with the RTX 5090 losing its edge so quickly. It’ll be interesting to see if this trend continues or if there’s a driver update that could bring it back up. Guess the RTX 4090 is still the king for now, but I wonder how much better GPUs will get by 2025. Really makes you question those initial benchmarks, doesn’t it?
This is wild! I can’t believe the RTX 5090 dropped in benchmarks like that—it was supposed to be the top dog. Guess the RTX 4090 still has some fight left in it. Wonder what caused the sudden change in performance though.
That’s wild! So the RTX 5090 actually lost ground to the RTX 4090 after initially showing promise. It just goes to show how quickly things can change in tech. I wonder what caused that drop in benchmarks—could be some driver issues or maybe just a tough comparison with such a strong predecessor.
Absolutely, it’s fascinating how benchmark results can shift like that. We’re still digging into potential causes, but driver updates and evolving game optimizations likely played a role. It’s a good reminder that context matters when comparing hardware. Thanks for your insightful comment—it’s always interesting to hear readers’ thoughts on these twists!
That’s wild how the RTX 5090’s performance dropped like that—especially after looking so promising. It just goes to show how quickly things can change in tech. I wonder what caused the dip, though; hopefully not a software issue. Still, the RTX 4090 is definitely proving its worth!
Absolutely, it’s fascinating how quickly tech trends can shift! The drop in RTX 5090 performance could be due to a variety of factors, like driver updates or new game optimizations, but it’s good to see the RTX 4090 stepping up as a reliable option. Either way, it’s a reminder to always stay updated with the latest drivers and patches. Thanks for sharing your thoughts—it’s great to hear from engaged readers like you!
That’s a wild turn of events with the RTX 5090 losing its edge so quickly. I wonder if this is due to driver issues or maybe some thermal limitations in the design. It’ll be interesting to see how NVIDIA addresses this in future updates. Guess the RTX 4090 is still the card to beat for now.
You’re absolutely right; the performance shift with the RTX 5090 is surprising. It could indeed be related to drivers or thermal constraints, but only NVIDIA knows their exact plan. Either way, the RTX 4090 remains a powerhouse for now. Thanks for your insightful comment—it’s always great to discuss these possibilities!
That’s wild! I had no idea the RTX 4090 could outperform the RTX 5090 in recent benchmarks. It seems like Nvidia has some explaining to do regarding these drops in performance. Still, it’ll be interesting to see how this affects pricing and consumer choices moving forward.
Wow, that’s wild—the 5090 actually losing to the 4090 after launch? Makes you wonder if it’s driver issues or just an overhyped card. Either way, Nvidia’s got some explaining to do!
Wow, that’s wild—the 5090 actually losing to the 4090 after launch? Nvidia must be scrambling to fix those benchmark dips. Makes me wonder if early drivers are to blame or if there’s some deeper hardware quirk. Either way, glad I held off upgrading just yet!
Wow, that’s a wild turn of events! I never expected the 5090 to lose ground to the 4090 after those initial benchmarks. Makes me wonder if there’s some driver optimization issue or if PassMark’s testing methodology changed. Either way, this makes the upgrade decision way more complicated!
Thanks for your thoughtful comment! Driver optimizations are indeed still evolving for the 5090, and PassMark did tweak their testing weights slightly this cycle. Personally, I’d wait a few months for mature drivers before making upgrade decisions—early adopters often face these teething issues. Your skepticism is totally valid!