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No. NVIDIA announced the GeForce RTX 5090 with a $1,999 starting price, compared with $1,599 for the RTX 4090. That is a $400 increase, or about 25% over the 4090’s announced starting price. “Totally fake” was a leaker’s October 2024 response to a pre-launch report—not an NVIDIA statement—and the final launch prices did not support the claim that there would be no significant increase.
What did “totally fake” refer to?
In an October 14, 2024 report, HotHardware attributed the phrase “Totally fake” to the pseudonymous GPU leaker kopite7kimi. The remark responded to a report that the RTX 5090 might cost between $1,999 and $2,499. HotHardware also quoted the leaker saying, “I don’t believe there will be a significant price increase for RTX 5090.” HotHardware’s report documents those remarks; they were predictions about an unannounced product, not confirmed NVIDIA pricing.
How did the announced starting prices compare?
| Graphics card | NVIDIA-announced starting price | Availability announced |
|---|---|---|
| GeForce RTX 4090 | $1,599 | October 12, 2022 |
| GeForce RTX 5090 | $1,999 | January 30, 2025 |
NVIDIA’s RTX 5090 launch announcement gave a $1,999 starting price and January 30, 2025 availability. Its RTX 4090 announcement listed a $1,599 starting price and October 12, 2022 availability. Subtracting the announced starting prices gives a $400 increase; dividing $400 by $1,599 yields about 25%.
The rumor’s upper estimate of $2,499 was not the announced starting price. But the $1,999 launch starting price was $400 above the RTX 4090’s announced starting price, so the no-significant-increase prediction did not match that comparison.
#1 Best Overall
- AI Performance: 772 AI TOPS
- OC mode: 2580 MHz Default mode: 2550 MHz(Boost clock)
- Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4
- SFF-Ready Enthusiast GeForce Card
- Axial-tech fans feature a smaller fan hub that facilitates longer blades and a barrier ring that increases downward air pressure
What does the price comparison—and not—tell you?
These figures compare NVIDIA’s announced starting prices at launch, not what a card costs today. A retail price can differ by model, seller, location, taxes, and availability; the launch announcements do not establish current prices or stock.
The price comparison also does not, by itself, measure performance or value. NVIDIA said the RTX 5090 has 32GB of GPU memory, 33% more than the RTX 4090, and claimed it delivers up to 2x the RTX 4090’s performance. Those are NVIDIA’s specifications and performance claim; the “up to 2x” figure should not be read as an independently assessed result or a guarantee for every workload. See NVIDIA’s RTX 50 Series blog for the memory comparison.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4
- Powered by GeForce RTX 5080
- Integrated with 16GB GDDR7 256bit memory interface
- PCIe 5.0
- WINDFORCE cooling system
Rank #4
- Equipped with GeForce RTX 5090 chipset
- Integrated with 32GB of 512-bit GDDR7 memory interface
- WATERFORCE All-in-One Cooling System
- RGB Lighting
- Protective metal back plate
Rank #3
- Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4. System Requirements: Minimum 850W PSU with 16-pin 12V-2x6 (12VHPWR) connector required. Verify before purchasing.
- Military-grade components deliver rock-solid power and longer lifespan for ultimate durability. Compatibility: 348mm (13.7") length, 3.6 slots, 4.3 lbs. Confirm case clearance and slot spacing. GPU bracket included.
- Protective PCB coating helps protect against short circuits caused by moisture, dust, or debris
- 3.6-slot design with massive fin array optimized for airflow from three Axial-tech fans
- Phase-change GPU thermal pad helps ensure optimal thermal performance and longevity, outlasting traditional thermal paste for graphics cards under heavy loads
Rank #2
- [3352 AI TOPS, 5th Gen Tensor Cores, AI Content Creation] Built for AI-assisted photo and video workflows including upscaling, denoise, background removal, masking, and generative AI creation for faster creator productivity.
- [32GB GDDR7 VRAM, Local LLM Inference, Larger Models] Run local LLM inference and on-device AI tools with massive VRAM headroom for larger models, longer context, and heavier multitasking across AI and creator apps.
- [28 Gbps, 512-bit, 21760 CUDA Cores] High-throughput next-gen memory and core resources for demanding creator projects, complex timelines, large assets, and GPU-accelerated ML experimentation and inference pipelines.
- [Quad-Fan Force, Vapor Chamber, Phase-Change Thermal Pad] Designed for sustained performance under heavy loads with quad-fan cooling, a patented vapor chamber, and a phase-change GPU thermal pad to help lower temps and reduce hotspots.
- [DP 2.1b x3, HDMI 2.1b x2, Bundle GPU Holder] Multi-display ready with up to 4 displays and up to 7680 x 4320 max digital resolution, plus an included GPU Holder to help reduce GPU sag and improve long-term build stability.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
