🔹 Introduction
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 launched as the most powerful GPU of its time, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture. While newer models like the RTX 5090 have taken the performance crown, the 4090 still dominates in 4K gaming, ray tracing, and creative workloads. This article breaks down real-world gaming FPS, synthetic test results, power efficiency, and practical comparisons.
🎮 FPS Benchmarks (Gaming Performance)
🔸 Black Myth: Wukong
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4K Ultra: ~67 FPS on RTX 4090
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In comparison, RTX 5080 scores around 58 FPS
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That’s a ~16% advantage for the 4090
🔸 Cyberpunk 2077
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Native 4K Ultra with RT and DLSS 3: around 100+ FPS
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Cyberpunk remains one of the most GPU-intensive titles
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RTX 4090 delivers smooth gameplay with frame generation enabled
🔸 Starfield
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4K Ultra: ~92–100 FPS
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With DLSS 3 enabled, average frame rates reach 120–130+ FPS
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Ray tracing performance remains consistent
🔬 Synthetic Benchmarks
🔹 3DMark Time Spy & Fire Strike
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Time Spy GPU score: among the highest on record
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Fire Strike Ultra: leads 30–40% over RTX 3090 Ti
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Excellent DirectX 12 and Ray Tracing performance
🔹 Blender, V-Ray, and Rendering Workloads
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Real-time viewport rendering performance is exceptional
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RTX 4090 reduces final render times in Blender by up to 40% over 3090 Ti
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24 GB VRAM allows for working with massive scenes
⚡ Power Consumption & Efficiency
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Typical power draw: 400–450W under full load
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Recommended PSU: 850W or higher
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Efficiency: ~0.75–0.80 FPS per watt, slightly below RTX 5090
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Thermal performance: requires high-end cooling, especially in compact builds
📊 Performance Summary Table
| Test/Game | RTX 4090 FPS | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Black Myth @ 4K | ~67 FPS | ~16% faster than RTX 5080 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 @ 4K RT | ~100+ FPS | With DLSS 3 + Frame Generation |
| Starfield @ 4K | ~92–100 FPS | Very stable with DLSS |
| Time Spy GPU Score | 30,000+ | Highest in the Ada generation |
| Blender Render | +35–40% | Faster than RTX 3090 Ti |
✅ Is the RTX 4090 Still Worth It?
✔️ Pros
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Top-tier 4K and ray tracing performance
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Massive VRAM (24 GB GDDR6X) for creators and modders
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Excellent DLSS 3 support and stable frame generation
⚠️ Cons
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High power consumption (up to 450W)
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Still expensive in many markets
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Less efficient than RTX 5090 by ~10–15% in some tasks
