The Best RTX 4090 GPUs (2024)

Nvidia's RTX 4090 continues to hold an ironclad grip over the top-tier GPU market in the absence of any real competition from both AMD and Intel. The former has no direct GPU competition that trades blows with the RTX 4090; the RX 7900XTX trades blows with the RTX 4080 (and the recently released $1000 RTX 4080 SUPER) at best.

The latter has its sights set firmly on the mid-range GPU market, where it continues to deliver excellent value. Neither of the two competitors has a BFGPU competitor that exists in the same performance class as Nvidia's RTX 4090, which as a result, stands as the king of the hill with no consumer-grade competition in sight. The RTX 4090 is also available in many prebuilt options for gamers who are unwilling to build their rig. Alternatively, powerful RTX 4090-based gaming laptops take center stage as some of the most powerful PCs money can buy.

Building Around the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090

The Game Rant team has a plethora of guides on offer that advise on how to build around or grab the latest RTX 4090 off a shelf, in a laptop, or simply in a prebuilt PC. This allows users to make a more informed decision using one or more of the following guides and/or reviews:

• The Best RTX 4090 GPUs
• The Best RTX 4090 PC Builds
• The Best RTX 4090 Gaming Laptops for 2024
• The Best RTX 4090 PCs in 2024
• The Best CPUs to Pair With an RTX 4090
• ASUS ROG Strix RTX 4090 OC Review: Good Overkill
• RTX 4080 vs RTX 4090 - Which Should You Buy?

The Best RTX 4090 GPUs

The Best RTX 4090

ASUS TUF GeForce RTX® 4090 OG OC Edition

The OG TUF Play

TheASUS TUF GeForce RTX 4090 OG OC Edition is one of the fastest RTX 4090 SKUs on the market, dwarfed only by its more enthusiast-grade RTX 4090 Strix OC alternative.

It borrows design features from the last generation RTX 3000 series TUF GPUs, making for a great contrast for users wanting a choice alternative from the more subtle design the current generation TUF GPU offers.

The TUF RTX 4090 OG OC is a mouthful, but so is its performance, which sees the factory overclocked GPU rubbing shoulders with some of the best SKUs in the market with relative ease in 2024.

Brand

ASUS

Cooling Method

Tri-Fan Air Cooled

GPU Speed

2235 MHz

Slot Size

Tri-Slot

Interface

PCI Express 4.0

Memory

24GB GDDR6X 384-Bit

Power

450 (TDP)

Boost Speed

Default: 2565MHz, OC: 2595MHz

CUDA Cores

16384

NVIDIA DLSS SUPPORT

DLSS 3/3.5

Display Connectors

2 x HDMI., 3 x DisplayPort

Pros

• is one of the only RTX 4090 offerings with dual HDMI 2.1 ports
• Runs cool and quiet versus most of its competition
• Packs a more aggressive look versus the standard TUF design
• Has better availability and most retailers than the 1st generation TUF RTX 4090

Cons

• Limited RGB lighting
• Considerably large at 3.2 slots and can not fit in most SFF builds

See Also

4K RequirementsRTX vs GTX: Which is Better for Gaming and Why?7 top GPUs of all timeRTX 4090 vs RTX 6000 [1-Benchmark Showdown]

$1800 at Amazon$1885 at Newegg

The ASUS TUF GeForce RTX 4090 OG OC Edition offers a top-of-the-line RTX 4090 experience, sans the premium that comes with its more expensive RTX 4090 Strix SKU. The TUF Gaming-branded OG OC variant clocks in within spitting distance of its more expensive Strix alternative, making it a great GPU to get for those looking for a middle ground between the Founder's Edition MSRP and that of the ROG Strix OC.

It comes with a tri-fan air cooler that leverages a large heatsink along with three capable dual ball-bearing fans that allow it to idle when not in use (under 55 degrees). It also has a generous VRM configuration that allows it to stay ahead of the curve, even as it doesn't match the Strix OC's 24+4 configuration currently. The ASUS TUF GeForce RTX 4090 OG OC leverages a vented exoskeleton that takes advantage of its design to keep thermals considerably lower than the competition while running considerably quieter than most of its peers.

The RTX 4090 TUF OG OC currently trades for around $1800 at most retailers. This is more than the $1600 the Founder's Edition commands but lower than most of its high-end competition, which often pushes past $2000. This does, in effect, also make it a relatively solid contender for the best value RTX 4090 currently, due to other SKUs costing considerably more across a variety of retailers while offering lower or equivalent performance.

The Best Productivity RTX 4090

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition

The Stock Option

NVIDIA's top-of-the-line GPU, the GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition, contains 16,384 CUDA Cores. It can support up to 8K gaming and allows for actual, smooth ray-tracing gameplay. The Founders Edition card is also an excellent GPU variant in terms of cooling, VRMs, and value.

Brand

NVIDIA

Cooling Method

Air Cooled

GPU Speed

2235 Mhz

Memory

24 GB GDDR6X

Power

600W

Boost Speed

2520 Mhz

Interface

PCI-Express 4.0

CUDA Cores

16384

Slot Size

Triple-Slot

Pros

• Premium build quality in terms of cooling and aesthetic
• Excellent 20-Phase VRM for stable power draw
• Performs significantly better than relative last-generation stock options

Cons

• Considered a collectible, so it's harder to find
• Runs warmer than most of its competition
• Lower clocks than most of its competing AIB options
• Significantly worse value compared to other SKUs at its price

$2250 at Amazon$2440 at Newegg

There are no bad choices when it comes to RTX 4090s since all AIB and stock units tested have maintained a certain level of performance while running much cooler than their predecessors. This is partially due to optimizations that have taken place between generations. It also has to do with NVIDIA consistently ramping up the pressure as it ups the ante on its AIBs to improve product design by releasing increasingly competent Founders Edition designs with each iteration, which does in a way turn up the heat on AIBs to deliver better stock and higher-end options of the same.

Despite this, the NVIDIA RTX 4090 Founders Edition is an exception, given how close it is to most AIBs performance-wise. Additionally, it is built to last with performance that does not come at the cost of noise, making it a key benchmark for other RTX 4090 SKUs, which has seen AIB partners follow through. It does run considerably warmer than the competition, however. This does not impede performance, remaining within respectable bounds, even for an RTX 4000 series GPU thanks to Nvidia leveraging a vapor chamber design.

Considering its feature set and design, Game Rant can wholeheartedly recommend it to PC builders and enthusiasts alike as the best value-for-money RTX 4090 out there – but only if it can be found at MSRP. Unfortunately, the RTX 4090 Founders Edition is currently out of stock at Nvidia.com, and third-party retailers and vendors tend to charge a premium.

As of now, the GPU costs more than any of its peers at most retailers that have stock that we track. This means that players might be forced to consider better, faster, and cheaper options than the Founders Edition, including the ASUS TUF model above.

The Best Performance RTX 4090

ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC Edition

ROG Strix Galore

$1980 $2300 Save $320

The ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC Edition may be one of its largest GPUs ever, but the patented design supports the most potent overclocking potential out of its peers.

With a vapor chamber in tow, the ROG Strix comes in both black and white and does not disappoint in either looks or power. It is easily the most powerful 4090 out there, clocking at a stable 3120 MHz in Game Rant's in-house testing.

Brand

Asus

Cooling Method

Air-Cooled w/Vapor Chamber

GPU Speed

2640 Mhz

Memory

24 GB GDDR6X

Power

600W

Boost Speed

2640 Mhz

Interface

PCI-E 4.0

CUDA Cores

16384

Slot Size

Quad-Slot

Pros

• Arguably the fastest readily-available RTX 4090 GPU money can buy
• Excellent overclocking potential
• Dual HDMI 2.1 ports on offer
• 24+4-Phase VRM design is superior to most of its competitors

Cons

• Also one of the most expensive RTX 4090s money can buy

$2195 at Amazon$1980 at Newegg

The ASUS RTX 4090 Strix OC is currently one of the best GPUs when it comes to performance, build quality, and consumer appeal. While the Strix lineup has always been highly sought after, primarily because it is ASUS's most premium GPU variant and goes well with its ROG lineup of components, the RTX 4090 Strix OC is by far one of the most premium GPUs available to consumers this year. It is notoriously hard to get in white at MSRP – and for good reason. It is simply the best RTX 4090 money can buy in a market with limited supply, which allows it to command a higher price.

The OC variant can clock extremely high, in some cases easily breaching the 3000 MHz barrier while sporting a patented vapor chamber that keeps temps far lower than the competition. It pairs extremely well with the ASUS ROG Herculx Anti-Sag Holder and is one of the best-looking cards on the market. It looks to retain that achievement for the foreseeable future.

It does come with a considerable cost premium, but it's one that most enthusiasts will pay simply due to the promise of better overclocking as well as premium build quality. This makes it a fan favorite for many looking for an RTX 4090 this year, which is already an enthusiast-grade GPU to begin with. The Strix's high-end offering is simply the best of the best on offer for performance alone. For users looking for a white-themed color, ASUS has them covered with a white RTX 4090 Strix OC variant that also comes with a free ROG-themed ring in tow for US consumers.

With that being said, it does seem to be easing back into a sub-$2k price tag after being available nearer $2500 the last few months. This could indicate lower consumer demand or better supply, with the latter being a more probable factor given it is available at multiple retailers that the team currently tracks.

It is also recommended to check out Game Rant's detailed interview of how the ASUS RTX 4090 Strix OC stacks against the competition as one of the highest-end RTX 4090 units in the market.

The Best Budget RTX 4090

PNY RTX 4090 24GB XLR8 Gaming VERTO EPIC-X RGB OC

Overclocked RGB Budget Play

ThePNY RTX 4090 24GB XLR8 Gaming VERTO EPIC-X RGB OC is a flashy, but powerful GPU that also marks PNY's highest-end entry of Nvidia's most powerful consumer-grade GPU to date.

The GPU comes factory overclocked with a better boost clock on offer than the Founder's Edition even as it offers ARGB lighting backed by one of the largest heatsinks one can find on an RTX 4090 GPU out of the box - PNY's offering effectively needs nearly 4 slots of space.

Brand

PNY

Cooling Method

Tri-Fan Air Cooled Vapor Chamber

GPU Speed

2235 MHz

Memory

24GB GDDR6X 384-Bit

Power

450W (TDP)

Boost Speed

2565 MHz

Slot Size

Quad Slot

Interface

PCI Express 4.0

CUDA Cores

16384

NVIDIA DLSS SUPPORT

DLSS 3/3.5

Pros

• Tri-fan air-cooled vapor chamber keeps thermals low and operations quiet
• Considerably better priced than other SKUs
• Much more readily available than the Founders Edition at MSRP
• RGB lighting and a small factory overclock

Cons

• Most of its alternatives offer better boost clocks out of the box
• Considerably large for users aiming to use it in more compact cases

$1730 at Amazon$1750 at Newegg

The factory overclocked version of the PNY RTX 4090 24GB XLR8 Gaming VERTO EPIC-X RGB OC comes with an excellent tri-fan air-cooled vapor chamber that offers solid thermals and a relatively quiet operation while it costs considerably less than most of its competition. PNY offers RGB lighting that can be controlled using its VelocityX software and throws in a free support bracket with the GPU to prevent it from sagging.

PNY's offering comes in a larger form factor than some of its competitors, which could eliminate its use case for SFF or compact builds. It does, however, have much better availability than Nvidia's Founder's Edition, which is regularly trading at a premium at most retailers even as it continues to be sold out on Nvidia's site.

The PNY RTX 4090 24GB XLR8 Gaming VERTO EPIC-X RGB OC comes with a boost clock offering that is relatively conservative when one looks at most of its competition. However, it holds a significant price advantage versus most of its alternatives even as it combines excellent RGB lighting to go with what one can argue is a modest boost clock at best, making it an excellent recommendation for users who want an RTX 4090 while paying as little of a premium as possible in 2024.

The Best Compact RTX 4090

MSI Suprim Liquid X GeForce RTX 4090

Water-cooled, Dual Slot Efficiency

$1860 $1900 Save $40

One of the more distinct cooling designs on the market, the MSI Suprim Liquid X GeForce RTX 4090 takes the top spot for ray tracing graphics cards. This dual cooling system pays off, allowing the 4090 to maintain a high base speed of over 2640 MHz with relative ease. It can be tweaked to as much as 3000 Mhz and above core clocks in some cases.

Brand

MSI

Cooling Method

Liquid Cooled

GPU Speed

2625 Mhz

Memory

24 GB GDDR6X

Power

530W

Boost Speed

2640 Mhz (MSI Center)

Slot Size

Dual-Slot

Interface

PCI-E 4.0

CUDA Cores

16384 Units

Pros

• Unique design allows for smaller cases
• Liquid cooling means more leeway with overclocking and lower temps
• Top-tier 26-Phase VRM
• Premium build quality versus lower-end RTX 4090 offerings

Cons

• Reportedly has higher memory temps than expected
• 530W power limit may be a limiting factor in OC tuning
• Liquid cooling does not bring any performance gains vs air-cooled version

$1860 at Amazon$1900 at Newegg

The MSI Suprim Liquid X RTX 4090 GPU is a unique card in its own right, given its two-slot plus radiator configuration, which allows it to fit in a lot of cases that some of the beefier four-slot RTX 4090 GPUs would never be an upgrade option for. Overall, the liquid-cooled RTX 4090 from MSI is a good-looking minimalist design coupled with the highest base boost clocks available on an RTX 4090. MSI's proprietary Center software makes it possible to achieve these levels.

The Suprim Liquid X carries the best-in-class VRM solution for an RTX 4090 with a 26+4 phase solution, further enhancing performance. While this card may be a great option for players looking to push the limits and get the most out of their gaming PC, less technically skilled players who want a high-performance GPU may not find this particular style as convenient as others.

Given its hard 530W power limit, there are concerns that the GPU might be limited in terms of overclocking potential for enthusiasts. People have already found ways around it, making it a safe choice for both people wanting a clean, smaller build and enthusiasts looking to eke out more performance from the card.

At $1900 for one of the best RTX 4090 SKUs in the market that can fit in a variety of PC cases in addition to running quieter and cooler than most (if not all) of its competition, the MSI Suprim Liquid X RTX 4090 GPU cuts above and beyond most of its peers. Simply put, it delivers better value for enthusiasts, gamers, and power users alike.

The Best-Looking RTX 4090

Gigabyte Aorus RTX 4090 Xtreme Waterforce

360MM Liquid-Cooled Monster

The latest generation of GIGABYTE's AORUS GeForce RTX 4090 Xtreme WATERFORCE, this is the best possible already water-cooled graphics card on the market. It's important to note that while it is a relatively slim 4090 compared to the Founders Edition and ASUS ROG Strix, it still requires three fan slots in its eventual PC case.

Brand

Gigabyte

Cooling Method

Liquid-cooled

GPU Speed

2520 Mhz

Memory

24 GB GDDR6X

Power

600W

Boost Speed

2565 Mhz

Slot Size

Dual-Slot

Interface

PCI Express 4.0

CUDA Cores

16384

Pros

• One of the best-looking RTX 4090 SKUs
• Liquid cooling allows lower temperatures to prevail
• 3-slot design allows for slightly more compact cases to fit the card

Cons

• Build quality is slightly inferior to competing products
• Most expensive RTX 4090 on our list, but it's not the fastest

$2340 at Amazon$2400 at Newegg

The Gigabyte Aorus lineup tends to compete directly with MSI's Suprim and Asus's TUF/Strix GPU lineups. The Aorus RTX 4090 Xtreme Waterforce is a worthy competitor that builds on its popular offerings from the last generation, shipping Nvidia's latest in a shell that seems to be a newer iteration of its RTX 3090TI Xtreme Waterforce GPU. It does sport the same configuration too. Three full-sized 120 mm fans cool its full-length 360 mm aluminum radiator.

While a stellar offering from Gigabyte, the company does need to have a more competent software suite. Gigabyte's control center still requires work to get to the same tier of offerings that its competitors already deliver for their products. This is a relatively minor complaint, however.

With a three-slot design and a triple radiator to go with it, the Waterforce Xtreme is not a small GPU and has more than adequate cooling. Despite this, its max boost clock (without end-user tweaks) seems to be somewhat limited. Users have previously raised concerns about build decisions (and, subsequently, quality) on multiple platforms, providing detailed information about how the design could be potentially improved.

All in all, there seems to be plenty Gigabyte can do to narrow the performance gap further while assuaging consumer concerns about their most premium RTX 4090 offering, which is also currently the most expensive RTX 4090 offering on our list. However, with the RTX 4090 Series, there are no wrong choices. This allows users to dip a bit for a better aesthetic choice in 2024.

All RTX 4090 cards, while not created equal, do perform exceptionally well and deliver a very consistent experience. That being said, the RTX 4090 is Nvidia's, and ultimately, the consumer's top-of-the-line GPU to game on. The premium paid to get an RTX 4090 means that users would want to eke out as much performance as possible from the GPU.

How to Pick the Best RTX 4090 in 2024

While Nvidia has consistently been improving its Founders Edition GPU designs over time (and the RTX 4090 FE is nothing to scoff at even versus the highest-end third-party models), multiple AIBs offer their own variants of Nvidia GPUs with different tiers on offer. Some go for a low-profile approach, as opposed to the standard stock unit, which allows for more case options and for Nvidia's most powerful GPU to date to cater to ITX builds.

Others, however, pack in as many aesthetic gains and cooling solutions as possible to bolster higher sustained clock speeds, as well as to allow gamers to match custom PC themes that suit their needs. This means that there is a wide playing field regarding RTX 4090 variants available for those who are willing to splurge and pick up the latest and greatest GPU available, even if it sets them back as much as $2,500 in some cases.

With the unveiling of the new RTX 4070, 4070 Ti, and RTX 4080 SUPER GPUs in January 2024, which also saw a large price cut for the RTX 4080S, Nvidia's RTX 4090 has a significant price gap before it comes into play. It essentially prices itself out of most gamers' reach except the most enthusiast-grade builds that have budgets to match or for users looking to get the best GPU for deep learning, AI model training, or other productivity-related tasks such as 3D renders.

At the end of the day, picking an RTX 4090 GPU that works for gamers, enthusiasts, and power users boils down to the following factors:

Overclockability: Most RTX 4090 SKUs currently come with a factory overclock compared to the Founders Edition. This does not mean that they have no overclocking headroom beyond that but that they default to a higher boost clock than the latter. Some of the higher-end models can be pushed considerably higher and tend to boost well beyond their rated boost clocks. This is due to a mix of 'binning' a better chip, better power delivery and power limits, as well as better cooling from the get-go for end-users.

Form Factor: The RTX 4090 draws immense amounts of power under load and generates a substantial amount of heat as a result. This requires excellent cooling as part of the package, but also essentially means that the GPU is considerably larger than most of its predecessors. Not all gaming PCs or cases are equipped to deal with most of the RTX 4090 SKUs in the market, which are tri-slot or larger cards, sometimes long enough to rival small cases.

Smaller form factor RTX 4090s are available but generally come in liquid-cooled alternatives, which can cost considerably more and require a 240mm or 360mm mounting area for the radiator and fan components. However, these can be crucial to space-limited PCs looking to pack the best GPU in the business. Gamers and enthusiasts alike need to look into the maximum size and form factor their current PC cases allow and pick a GPU accordingly.

Price: The RTX 4090 is one of the most expensive GPUs intended for high-end consumers. That doesn't necessarily mean that it can't cost even more when it comes to third-party AIBs, many of which have high-end SKUs priced at as much as $2500 at times. At the highest end of the spectrum, GPUs like the limited edition ROG Matrix RTX 4090 can cost as much as $3200 a pop if users can get their hands on them.

This means that despite the high initial cost, finding an RTX 4090 GPU that works for end users can be a journey that can have further increased costs. Finding the right GPU that offers the requisite tier of performance and build quality while matching one's budget is a key factor when picking a suitable RTX 4090 SKU.

Availability: Due to an ongoing US government ban on China and other countries, a gold rush that began in October 2023 for RTX 4090 GPUs at any price has disrupted supply and redoubled demand overnight. The effects linger with many retail RTX 4090 SKUs, especially at the premium end of the spectrum, which is much harder to find at retailers even at the start of 2024.

This does, in a nutshell, mean that users might not find their preferred SKU and have to settle for a different variant in many cases. Likewise, prices and availability will remain in flux until the dust settles, meaning that much of the ability to reserve, price match, or otherwise procure the RTX 4090 may no longer apply to Nvidia's flagship GPUs at many retailers.

At the same time, the availability of the RTX 4080 SUPER at a much more competitive $1000 price tag versus the RTX 4090 does seem to have affected prices for the more premium RTX 4090 SKUs, bringing it lower, possibly due to users having a more viable alternative, at least in local markets when it comes to Nvidia's ultimate consumer-grade RTX 4000 series GPU.

FAQ

Q: Is the RTX 4090 the fastest Nvidia card so far?

Yes, as of today, the RTX 4090 is by far the fastest GPU on the market. Some variants, such as the ASUS ROG Strix, are simply better and faster third-party versions of the RTX 4090 itself.

Q: Are there any RTX 4090s that do not perform well?

No, all RTX 4090s perform at least as well as the Founders Edition. This is because of how Nvidia requires partners to provide SKUs that perform at a minimum tier of performance with their provided GPU chips.

Q: What is the fastest Nvidia RTX 4090?

The fastest available consumer-grade GPU available right now is the Asus ROG Strix 4090 OC or the MSI Suprim X Liquid. Both are listed above. In terms of raw overclockability, the ROG Matrix Platinum GeForce RTX 4090 is the fastest consumer-grade GPU, but it is currently out of stock at multiple retailers, making the former options an ideal choice.

Q: How much VRAM does an RTX 4090 have?

All RTX 4090 cards are uniform in memory specification and come with 24GB of GDDR6X VRAM.