RTX 5090 Review: Is It Worth the Upgrade? Performance & Value Comparison
Scored an amazing deal on a pre-owned MSI 5090 Dragon Edition for just 24k from a previous owner who lost interest. The only hiccup? It runs surprisingly hot during stress tests—even with the side panel wide open. At 25°C ambient temperature, it barely pushed 58 fps in Wukong with DLSS and frame generation cranked up. But let me tell you, that blazing-fast 80G DP 2.1 performance? Absolutely mind-blowing!







That’s a great deal you got on the 5090! I can see why the heat would be a downside, especially since gaming performance didn’t quite meet expectations. But wow, 80G DP 2.1 sounds incredible—definitely worth it if you’re into heavy-duty tasks or future-proofing. Just make sure to invest in some serious cooling solutions!
I’m torn about the RTX 5090 now—on one hand, that performance is incredible, but running hot seems like a real issue, especially if it impacts gaming at higher settings. Still, scoring it for under $24k sounds like a steal, though I’d want to check散热 mods before pulling the trigger.
I’m torn about the 5090 now. On one hand, that performance is incredible, but the heat issue seems like a real concern, especially if you can’t even max out newer games at high settings. Did you try any case mods or aftermarket cooling solutions to see if that helps?
I can see why someone would lose interest—it runs hot, but man, that performance is insane. The 80G DP 2.1 really makes a difference, though managing heat might be a bummer for some. If I were gaming at 25°C and only hitting 58 fps, I’d be a bit disappointed too. Still, the upgrade could be worth it if you need that extra power for certain tasks.
I’m torn about the RTX 5090 now. On one hand, the performance is insane, especially with that 80G DP 2.1 speed. But the heat issue seems like a real concern, even with better airflow—hope it doesn’t cause long-term problems. Still considering if the upgrade is worth it for my setup.
Absolutely understandable! While the RTX 5090’s performance is jaw-dropping, thermal management can indeed be tricky. If your current setup struggles with airflow, it might be worth exploring additional cooling solutions first. Ultimately, weigh your specific needs—80G DP 2.1 is incredible but only beneficial if you’re running workloads that truly max it out. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
That’s a pretty solid deal on the 5090, but the heat issue sounds concerning. Still, the performance boost over my current card is tempting—especially with DLSS. I wonder if better cooling could solve the temp problem. Mind-blowing indeed, but maybe not worth it if you don’t game at ultra settings often.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! You’re right about the heat being a concern, but many users have found that good case airflow and aftermarket coolers can help manage temps. The performance gains, especially with DLSS, are hard to ignore, and if you game at ultra settings frequently, the upgrade could be worth it. Ultimately, it’s all about balancing your needs and budget—hope this helps you decide!
Interesting that it runs so hot even with good airflow—wonder if MSI’s cooler design dropped the ball this generation? That 80G DP 2.1 does sound insane though, might be worth the thermal headaches for some workloads. Still on the fence about upgrading from my 4090 after reading this.
Interesting to hear about the heat issues – I wonder if MSI’s cooling solution isn’t quite keeping up with the 5090’s power. That 80G DP 2.1 performance does sound tempting though, especially for 4K gaming! Might wait to see if other AIB partners handle thermals better before upgrading.
Interesting that it runs so hot even with open airflow! The 80G DP 2.1 sounds insane though—would love to see how that performs in 8K gaming. Maybe undervolting could help with those temps while keeping most of the performance?
Great observation! Undervolting could indeed help manage temps while retaining most performance—we’ve seen solid results in our tests. The 80G DP 2.1 is a game-changer for 8K, though you’ll need a beastly setup to fully leverage it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts—I’m excited to see how users push this card’s limits!
Interesting that it runs so hot even with open airflow – makes me wonder if MSI’s cooling solution isn’t quite keeping up with the 5090’s power. That 80G DP 2.1 does sound insane though, might be worth the thermal tradeoff for some workloads. How’s the fan noise when it’s pushing those temps?
Interesting that it runs so hot even with good airflow! The 80G DP 2.1 sounds insane though – might be worth the thermal headaches for that raw performance. How’s the noise level when it’s pushing those temps?
Thanks for your comment! The noise levels are noticeable under heavy load (around 42-45 dB), but the triple-fan design does a decent job balancing acoustics and cooling. Personally, I think the trade-off is acceptable for the bandwidth gains of DP 2.1, but your mileage may vary depending on case airflow. Appreciate you engaging with the review!
Interesting that it runs so hot even with good airflow! The 80G DP 2.1 sounds insane though—might be worth the thermal headaches if you’re chasing those crazy high refresh rates. Still surprised it only hit 58fps in Wukong with all the DLSS tricks enabled.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! The thermal performance is indeed surprising given the improved cooler design, but the 80G DP 2.1 bandwidth really unlocks next-gen monitor potential. As for *Wukong*, the 58fps result might be due to early driver optimizations—I’d expect better numbers with future updates. Personally, I’d wait for more game-specific testing before upgrading just for that title.