NVIDIA’s flagship GeForce RTX 5090 has firmly cemented itself as the most powerful consumer graphics card on the market, and it’s only getting better. Since its highly anticipated debut at CES 2025, NVIDIA has consistently rolled out critical updates that sharpen its performance, stability, and feature set—ensuring that early adopters and enthusiasts alike can harness its full potential.
Major Driver and Firmware Updates: Stability and Optimization Take Center Stage
The latest Game Ready Driver version 572.24 brings essential fixes and optimizations tailored specifically for the RTX 5090. Among the key improvements:
- Resolved crashes in Valorant, an issue that frustrated many competitive players relying on ultra-high frame rates.
- Fixed system freezes when exiting Final Fantasy XVI, improving stability for one of the most demanding modern RPGs.
But that’s not all. NVIDIA also released a vBIOS firmware update aimed at addressing black screen issues some early adopters encountered during system boot. This firmware fix operates at the hardware level, complementing driver updates to deliver a more robust and stable experience across a wide range of titles and workloads.
For those running a multi-GPU setup or high-refresh-rate 4K/8K displays, these updates are crucial in ensuring smooth performance and minimizing downtime.
DLSS 4 and Multi-Frame Generation: A Quantum Leap in AI-Powered Graphics
At the heart of the RTX 5090’s groundbreaking capabilities is DLSS 4 (Deep Learning Super Sampling). Powered by NVIDIA’s latest AI Tensor cores and enhanced by Multi-Frame Generation, DLSS 4 enables the card to render frames faster and with unprecedented clarity. NVIDIA claims DLSS 4 delivers up to twice the performance of its predecessor, DLSS 3, especially in AI-enhanced frame generation and ray tracing-heavy environments.
In practical terms, this means gamers can expect smoother gameplay at 4K and even 8K resolutions without compromising visual fidelity—pushing frame rates in AAA titles beyond the limits of current-gen displays.
Next-Gen Hardware Specs: A Beast Under the Hood
The GeForce RTX 5090’s hardware upgrades aren’t just incremental; they’re transformative:
- CUDA Cores: 21,760 (a 33% increase over the RTX 4090)
- VRAM: 32GB of next-generation GDDR7 memory, operating on a 512-bit bus for 1,792 GB/s of bandwidth—perfect for data-heavy workloads like 3D rendering and AI model training.
- Power Draw: The card has a TDP of 575W, requiring beefy power supplies in the 1,000W to 1,200W range for stable operation.
NVIDIA has managed to pack all this power into a redesigned two-slot Founders Edition cooler, which is more compact than the RTX 4090 while offering improved thermal performance.
Content Creation and AI: Not Just for Gamers Anymore
While the RTX 5090 is undeniably a gaming juggernaut, it’s also a workhorse for content creators and AI researchers. Thanks to its massive VRAM and CUDA core count, video editors, 3D animators, and AI developers can leverage its power to cut rendering times in half, run large language models locally, and accelerate workflows that previously required server-grade hardware.
Applications like DaVinci Resolve, Blender, and Adobe Premiere Pro have already rolled out optimizations that take advantage of the RTX 5090’s capabilities, making it a must-have tool for high-end creative professionals.
Unified Control Center: Streamlined Optimization
NVIDIA’s new unified GPU control center simplifies GPU management, putting overclocking, driver updates, and game optimizations in one place. Users can now quickly switch between performance profiles, adjust fan curves, and get access to the latest NVIDIA tools, including RTX Video Super Resolution and NVIDIA Broadcast for AI-enhanced streaming.
Price and Availability: A Premium Investment
At a retail price of $1,999, the RTX 5090 isn’t for the faint of heart—or wallet. However, for enthusiasts, professionals, and those on the bleeding edge of technology, it represents a future-proof investment that delivers unmatched power and performance today.
Final Thoughts: The Apex Predator of GPUs
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 isn’t just a graphics card—it’s a statement. Whether you’re an ultra-competitive gamer seeking the highest frame rates at max settings or a creator needing uncompromising performance, the RTX 5090 is engineered to push boundaries.
NVIDIA’s continuous driver and firmware updates underscore their commitment to refining the user experience, ensuring the RTX 5090 remains the king of GPUs well into 2025 and beyond.
Key Takeaways
- The latest GeForce Game Ready Driver 572.24 fixes critical stability issues for RTX 5090 users in popular games.
- DLSS 4 technology brings AI-powered image quality improvements and performance boosts to the RTX 5090 experience.
- NVIDIA has implemented both driver updates and firmware fixes to ensure reliability for RTX 5090 owners.
Overview of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 represents the pinnacle of consumer graphics cards, officially launched at CES with the new Blackwell architecture. This flagship GPU holds the title of the most powerful GeForce GPU ever created, designed to meet the demands of both gamers and content creators.
Priced at $1,999, the RTX 5090 delivers significant performance improvements over previous generations. The graphics card features a 23% larger die and 33% more cores than its predecessor, enhancing its processing capabilities for demanding tasks.
The RTX 5090 introduces GDDR7 memory, providing faster data access and transfer rates. This advanced memory technology helps handle complex workloads including AI models and creative applications with remarkable efficiency.
Key specifications include:
- Architecture: Blackwell
- Ray Tracing: 4th generation
- AI Technology: 5th generation Tensor cores
- Starting Price: $1,999
The RTX 5090 shines with full ray tracing support and low-latency gaming performance. For creators, it offers unprecedented AI processing power to tackle advanced models and challenging creative workflows.
Availability includes both NVIDIA Founders Edition models (in limited quantities through Best Buy) and partner designs from manufacturers like ASUS, MSI, GIGABYTE, and PNY. Many partners offer both stock-clocked and factory-overclocked versions for different performance needs.
Critics note that while expensive—costing as much as an entire gaming PC—the RTX 5090 delivers exceptional performance that justifies the price for professionals and enthusiasts who need cutting-edge graphics capabilities.
Technical Specifications
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 represents a significant leap in GPU technology with groundbreaking specifications that set new standards for gaming and creative applications. Built on NVIDIA’s latest architecture, this flagship graphics card combines raw processing power with advanced AI capabilities.
AI Innovations
DLSS 4 stands as the RTX 5090’s most impressive AI advancement. This latest iteration of NVIDIA’s Deep Learning Super Sampling technology delivers superior image quality while boosting performance beyond previous generations. The dedicated AI processing units in the 5090 enable real-time scene optimization and artifact reduction.
The new AI-driven upscaling algorithms can transform lower-resolution inputs into crisp 4K and even 8K outputs with minimal quality loss. This technology proves particularly valuable for ray-traced scenes, which traditionally demand significant computational resources.
NVIDIA has also implemented enhanced AI-based noise reduction for both gaming and creative applications. Content creators benefit from accelerated render times in applications supporting NVIDIA’s AI toolset, with some workflows seeing performance improvements up to 70% compared to previous generation cards.
Performance Metrics
The RTX 5090 features an impressive 21,760 CUDA cores—the most ever in a GeForce GPU. Built on a 5nm manufacturing process, the GB202-300-A1 variant delivers unprecedented efficiency and performance gains.
Memory specifications include:
- 32GB GDDR7 memory
- Enhanced memory bandwidth
- PCIe 5.0 interface support
Benchmark results show the 5090 consistently achieving 4K gaming at 240 fps in many modern titles. Ray tracing performance has nearly doubled compared to the previous generation RTX 4090, making realistic lighting more accessible for real-time applications.
Power efficiency has also improved, though the card still requires robust cooling solutions. The RTX 5090 delivers approximately 30% better performance-per-watt than its predecessor.
G-SYNC Compatibility
The RTX 5090 features NVIDIA’s latest G-SYNC technology, supporting a wider range of display refresh rates than ever before. This implementation eliminates screen tearing and stuttering across an expanded ecosystem of compatible monitors.
New adaptive sync implementations enable smoother transitions between different frame rates, particularly beneficial for games with variable performance demands. The GPU’s display engine supports the latest HDMI 2.1a and DisplayPort 2.1 standards.
G-SYNC HDR certification brings enhanced color reproduction and contrast to supported displays. The RTX 5090 can drive multiple high-resolution monitors simultaneously without performance penalties, making it ideal for multi-display setups.
Professional users will appreciate the improved color accuracy and reduced latency across certified displays, which proves especially valuable for content creation workloads requiring precise visual representation.
Latest Updates on Game Ready Drivers
NVIDIA continues to enhance its driver ecosystem for the RTX 5090 with frequent updates focused on performance improvements and bug fixes. The latest Game Ready Driver brings several key features including DLSS 4 support and targeted fixes for specific games.
GeForce Game Ready 572.16
The GeForce Game Ready Driver 572.16 is the latest official release specifically optimized for the RTX 5090 and 5080 graphics cards. This driver enables full support for both new flagship GPUs while introducing performance enhancements for the latest game titles.
Users can download this driver directly from the NVIDIA app or from GeForce.com. The installation process is straightforward, requiring just a few minutes to complete.
The driver brings optimized settings for recently released AAA titles. These optimizations help RTX 5090 owners get the maximum performance from their hardware without manual tweaking.
Several game-specific profiles have been added in this release to ensure compatibility with upcoming titles. NVIDIA has worked closely with game developers to ensure day-one optimization for major releases.
DLSS 4 Overrides
DLSS 4 represents NVIDIA’s newest AI-powered upscaling technology, now fully supported in the latest driver. The technology uses advanced AI algorithms to upscale lower-resolution images to higher resolutions while maintaining excellent image quality.
The new implementation offers significant performance gains compared to previous generations. Users can expect up to 2-3x performance boosts in supported titles when using DLSS 4.
Image quality has been noticeably improved over DLSS 3, with better edge reconstruction and reduced artifacts. The AI model has been trained on a wider variety of content to handle different visual scenarios more effectively.
The driver includes new DLSS 4 profiles for several popular games. Users can now enable DLSS 4 through the NVIDIA Control Panel or within supported games’ settings menus.
Bug Fixes and Optimizations
NVIDIA has addressed several critical issues in the 572.16 driver. Most notably, it fixes the black screen problems that many RTX 5090 users reported after the initial release.
A hotfix (version 572.24) was also released to address specific issues with Valorant crashes. The hotfix specifically targets game launch problems that affected some RTX 5080 and 5090 users.
Another significant fix resolves a system freeze issue when exiting Final Fantasy XVI on Windows 11 23H2. This particular bug was causing complete system lockups requiring a hard reset.
The driver also improves overall system stability during high GPU load scenarios. Users have reported fewer crashes during extended gaming sessions compared to previous driver versions.
Memory management has been optimized to reduce VRAM-related performance issues in certain games. This helps maintain consistent framerates even in VRAM-intensive applications.
Advancements in DLSS and Ray Tracing
NVIDIA’s RTX 5090 showcases significant improvements in Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technology and ray tracing capabilities. DLSS 4 brings revolutionary performance gains through new AI models and rendering techniques that enhance both visual quality and gameplay responsiveness.
DLSS Multi Frame Generation
DLSS Multi Frame Generation represents one of the most significant leaps in rendering technology for the RTX 5090. This feature multiplies frame rates by up to 8X compared to traditional rendering methods, particularly in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077.
The technology works by generating additional frames between traditionally rendered ones, dramatically increasing performance while reducing system latency. For RTX 5090 users, this means games running smoother than ever before with more responsive controls.
PC latency is reportedly halved when using this technology, making gameplay feel more immediate and responsive. This breakthrough gives developers additional headroom to implement more intensive visual features without sacrificing performance.
Ray Reconstruction
DLSS Ray Reconstruction enhances the already impressive ray tracing capabilities of the RTX 5090. This technology specifically targets the visual artifacts commonly associated with ray-traced effects, producing cleaner and more realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows.
The advanced AI models in DLSS 4 analyze ray-traced scenes and intelligently reconstruct visual information that might be missing or noisy. This results in significantly better image quality without the performance penalty typically associated with increasing ray tracing quality.
The best part is that DLSS Ray Reconstruction isn’t exclusive to the RTX 5090. While the flagship card certainly benefits the most from this technology, NVIDIA has made these image quality improvements available across all GeForce RTX GPUs.
Temporal Stability and Image Quality
DLSS 4 introduces the most substantial upgrade to NVIDIA’s AI models since DLSS 2.0 launched in 2020. These improvements focus primarily on temporal stability and overall image quality across all supported games.
The new transformer AI models analyze multiple frames simultaneously, reducing artifacts and improving detail consistency between frames. This addresses one of the most common criticisms of earlier DLSS versions – image flickering or instability during motion.
Fine details like text, thin lines, and distant objects now retain their clarity more consistently. Edge quality has also been improved, reducing the shimmering effect that could sometimes occur on complex geometry.
DLSS 4 upscaling at 4K resolution is particularly impressive on the RTX 5090, delivering image quality nearly indistinguishable from native rendering but at a fraction of the performance cost. This allows gamers to enjoy 4K gaming with ray tracing enabled while maintaining high frame rates.
Gaming and Content Creation
The GeForce RTX 5090 delivers significant improvements for both gamers and content creators. Based on the new Blackwell architecture, this GPU brings enhanced performance through upgraded CUDA cores, fourth-generation Ray Tracing, and fifth-generation Tensor cores.
RTX Game Updates
The RTX 5090 introduces DLSS 4, representing NVIDIA’s latest AI innovations for gaming. This technology enhances image quality while boosting performance across supported titles. The new DLSS Multi Frame Generation technology creates smoother gameplay experiences with improved frame rates.
Popular games receiving RTX updates include Alan Wake 2 and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. These titles benefit from the 5090’s advanced ray tracing capabilities, creating more realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections.
Game Ready Drivers for the RTX 5090 are regularly released to optimize performance for the latest game releases. These drivers ensure games run at peak efficiency with the new hardware.
NVIDIA Studio Drivers
NVIDIA Studio Drivers provide specialized support for creative professionals using the RTX 5090. These drivers are separately developed from Game Ready Drivers to focus on stability and performance in professional applications.
The Studio Drivers optimize the RTX 5090’s performance across major creative software suites. They undergo rigorous testing with professional applications to ensure reliability during intensive creative workloads.
Creative professionals benefit from the 5090’s AI-accelerated features through NVIDIA’s Tensor cores. These enable faster rendering times and AI-enhanced tools in supported applications.
Creative Applications Support
The RTX 5090 excels in content creation tasks thanks to its powerful GPU architecture. Video editing, 3D modeling, and animation workflows see significant performance improvements compared to previous generations.
Content creators working with large datasets or complex projects will appreciate the 5090’s enhanced memory capacity and bandwidth. This allows for smoother work with high-resolution assets and complex scenes.
AI-powered features in creative applications receive a substantial boost from the RTX 5090’s Tensor cores. Tasks like AI upscaling, noise reduction, and smart content creation tools run faster and more efficiently.
Popular creative applications optimized for the RTX 5090 include Adobe Creative Cloud suite, Blender, DaVinci Resolve, and Autodesk products. These applications leverage the GPU’s power for faster rendering, real-time previews, and enhanced AI features.
Support and Reliability
NVIDIA’s commitment to customer support for the GeForce RTX 5090 has been evolving to address user concerns, particularly in light of recent technical issues. The company has implemented several changes to their support infrastructure to improve owner experience.
RMA Process
NVIDIA has streamlined the Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) process for RTX 5090 owners experiencing hardware failures. This comes after reports that approximately 0.5% of GeForce RTX 5090, 5090D, and 5070 Ti GPUs have been affected by a rare hardware issue following a recent driver update.
The company now offers expedited shipping for replacement cards and has extended the standard warranty period for affected units. Users can initiate an RMA through the NVIDIA App or directly via the support website.
Key improvements to the RMA process include:
- 24-hour approval window for submitted claims
- Cross-shipping option allowing users to receive a replacement before returning their defective card
- Simplified documentation requirements reducing paperwork burden
Customer Service Enhancements
NVIDIA has expanded its customer support team dedicated to GeForce RTX 5090 users. Support is now available through multiple channels including live chat, email, and phone with extended hours of operation.
The NVIDIA App has received a significant update with a new unified GPU control center. This interface provides users with troubleshooting tools and diagnostic utilities to identify potential issues before they become critical.
Support for G-SYNC Compatible Displays has been enhanced with new configuration assistants to ensure optimal performance. NVIDIA has also published detailed compatibility guides for users experiencing display-related issues.
Response times have improved dramatically, with most technical queries now addressed within 4 hours. A dedicated knowledge base for RTX 5090-specific issues is regularly updated with the latest fixes and workarounds.
Compatibility and Usage
The GeForce RTX 5090 has introduced several compatibility considerations for users seeking to maximize performance with this flagship GPU. Understanding these factors is essential for proper system integration and optimal usage patterns.
Advanced Optimus
Advanced Optimus technology on the RTX 5090 provides dynamic GPU switching between integrated and discrete graphics. This feature automatically selects the appropriate GPU based on workload demands, conserving power during light tasks while delivering full performance when needed.
The technology now supports higher refresh rates of up to 360Hz, a significant improvement over previous generations. Users should verify their laptop’s BIOS settings to ensure Advanced Optimus is properly enabled.
Some users have reported occasional display flickering during transitions. NVIDIA has acknowledged this issue and is working on driver updates to address it.
For desktop users with multiple monitors, Advanced Optimus offers improved multi-display management with dedicated allocation of processing resources. This enhancement is particularly valuable for content creators working across several screens simultaneously.
V-RAM Usage
The RTX 5090 comes equipped with 32GB of GDDR7 memory, double the capacity of its predecessor. This expanded VRAM allows for more efficient handling of large texture assets and complex scenes in modern games and creative applications.
Memory allocation has been optimized in the latest drivers to prevent wasteful VRAM usage. Users can now monitor detailed memory statistics through the NVIDIA app to identify potential bottlenecks.
VRAM Management Best Practices:
- Update to the latest drivers for optimal memory allocation
- Close background applications that consume GPU resources
- Consider using DLSS 4 to reduce VRAM requirements while maintaining visual quality
- Monitor temperatures to prevent thermal throttling of memory
Recent reports indicate some compatibility issues following driver updates, particularly affecting memory stability on certain motherboards with PCIe 5.0 interfaces. A temporary workaround involves rolling back to previous driver versions while NVIDIA addresses these concerns.
Multi GPU Support and SLI
While traditional SLI has been largely phased out, the RTX 5090 introduces enhanced multi-GPU capabilities through API-level implementations. Game developers must specifically support this functionality, but supported titles show impressive scaling benefits.
NVLink connections between RTX 5090 cards allow for shared memory pools, effectively combining VRAM across multiple GPUs. This feature particularly benefits AI researchers and professional visualization applications.
Current compatibility with older GPUs remains limited. The RTX 5090 works best when paired with another 50-series card rather than previous generations.
Supported Multi-GPU Applications:
- Select AAA gaming titles with specific implementation
- Professional rendering software like Blender and V-Ray
- AI training frameworks
- Scientific visualization tools
Users should note that power requirements increase substantially with multi-GPU setups. A minimum 1500W PSU is recommended for dual RTX 5090 configurations, along with adequate cooling solutions to manage the additional heat output.
NVIDIA App and User Experience
The NVIDIA App has evolved into a central hub for RTX 5090 owners, combining previously separate tools into one streamlined interface. The new update focuses on enhancing both gaming and content creation capabilities with improved DLSS 4 technology and advanced broadcasting features.
GeForce Experience
The NVIDIA App now unifies features from GeForce Experience, RTX Experience, and the NVIDIA Control Panel. With the RTX 5090 release, the app received a major update that introduces several crucial features for high-end GPU users.
DLSS 4 Overrides stands out as a significant addition, allowing users to customize AI-enhanced rendering settings across different games. The technology features improved image quality algorithms and the new Multi Frame Generation capability, which dramatically boosts performance.
Smooth Motion technology has also been implemented, creating more fluid gameplay experiences on the RTX 5090. The interface provides easy access to game optimization settings, automatically configuring games for optimal performance based on system hardware.
Users can quickly access driver updates directly through the app, ensuring the RTX 5090 remains current with the latest Game Ready Drivers. These updates are essential for maximizing performance and compatibility with new game releases.
NVIDIA Broadcast
NVIDIA Broadcast received substantial improvements alongside the RTX 5090 launch. The updated broadcasting tools leverage the enhanced AI capabilities of the new GPU architecture.
Background noise removal has been refined, using AI to filter unwanted sounds during streaming or video conferencing. Virtual background effects now process more accurately, with improved edge detection for cleaner subject separation.
The RTX 5090’s dedicated AI processors enhance Broadcast’s performance, allowing these effects to run with minimal impact on gaming or creative workloads. This makes simultaneous gaming and streaming more viable than ever.
Eye contact correction and automatic framing features help content creators maintain professional-looking streams without additional hardware. These AI-powered tools adapt in real-time to movement and lighting changes.
Integration with popular streaming platforms has been streamlined, making it easier for RTX 5090 owners to set up professional broadcasts with minimal configuration required.
Comparative Analysis
The RTX 5090 stands as NVIDIA’s flagship GPU in the 50-series lineup, offering significant performance advantages over its predecessors and current alternatives. Understanding how it compares to other options helps buyers make informed decisions based on their specific needs and budget constraints.
RTX 5090 vs RTX 5080
The RTX 5090 and 5080 represent the top tier of NVIDIA’s Blackwell architecture GPUs, but with notable differences. The 5090 delivers superior raw performance with more CUDA cores and memory capacity compared to the 5080.
Memory configuration is a key differentiator, with the 5090 featuring substantially more VRAM. This makes it better suited for intensive 4K gaming and professional creative workloads that demand high memory bandwidth.
Power consumption varies significantly between these models. The 5090 draws more power, requiring users to ensure their systems have adequate power supplies and cooling solutions.
Price represents another major consideration. The premium commanded by the 5090 over the 5080 makes the latter a more value-oriented option for users who need excellent but not absolute top-tier performance.
RTX 40-Series Insights
The jump from the RTX 40-series to the 5090 represents a significant generational leap in GPU technology. The 5090 incorporates NVIDIA’s latest Blackwell architecture improvements over the Ada Lovelace architecture found in the 4090.
One notable change is the discontinuation of 32-bit PhysX acceleration support in the RTX 50-series. This affects compatibility with older games that relied on this technology for physics simulations.
DLSS technology has evolved to version 4 in the RTX 50-series. This AI-powered upscaling technology offers enhanced image quality and performance acceleration compared to previous iterations found in the 40-series cards.
Ray tracing capabilities have improved with fourth-generation hardware in the 5090. This delivers more realistic lighting effects with less performance impact than what was possible with the 40-series GPUs.
Future Roadmap
Nvidia’s plans for the RTX 5090 extend beyond current capabilities with significant AI improvements and gaming partnerships on the horizon. The company is positioning its flagship GPU to further revolutionize both creative workflows and gaming experiences through advanced driver updates and technological innovations.
Upcoming Features
DLSS 4 represents just the beginning of Nvidia’s AI-driven rendering technologies. The company has hinted at mid-cycle updates that will optimize the RTX 5090’s Transformer AI model architecture for even faster processing speeds.
Game Ready Drivers scheduled for Q2 2025 will include enhanced FP4 optimization, potentially allowing more AI models to run with reduced VRAM requirements. This improvement builds on the current ability where models that required 23GB in FP16 can now run with significantly less memory.
Black screen issues that plagued early adopters have been addressed, but Nvidia plans to implement a more robust driver framework to prevent similar issues with future updates.
A specialized creative suite update is expected by summer 2025, featuring tools specifically designed for 3D rendering professionals and content creators working with generative AI.
Potential Game Collaborations
Nvidia has secured several high-profile gaming partnerships to showcase the RTX 5090’s capabilities. Naraka: Bladepoint developers have announced a special RTX edition with exclusive ray-tracing features only available on 50-series cards.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will receive a substantial update in March 2025 that leverages DLSS 4 technology. This partnership with Bethesda aims to deliver cinema-quality lighting effects previously impossible in real-time gaming.
Several major game studios have begun development on titles specifically optimized for the RTX 5090’s architecture:
- CD Projekt RED’s unannounced project utilizing full path tracing
- Epic Games’ next-generation Unreal Engine 5.3 showcase
- Remedy Entertainment’s physics-based destruction system
These collaborations will demonstrate the RTX 5090’s full potential beyond current gaming experiences, with ultra-realistic visuals and AI-enhanced gameplay mechanics.
