Title: The Unnerving Framerate Capacity of the Nvidia RTX 5090
The whopping Nvidia RTX 5090 left me pondering if there could ever be too many frames in PC gaming, a thought that hadn't crossed my mind until I dived into the action-packed world of Dragon Age: The Veilguard with Nvidia's Multi Frame Generation integrated into its DLSS 4 update. Brimming with the new Blackwell architecture, this gaming beast boasts such power that it inexplicably pushed past 360 FPS during intense encounters on maximum settings, and even higher when the action slowed down.
This mesmerizing performance isn't solely due to its raw strength; AI and “fake frames” play their part in this impressive spectacle, thanks to a process called Multi Frame Generation. But what impact does 120 FPS versus 360 FPS truly have on gaming? After immersing myself in various popular titles enjoying the latest DLSS 4 capabilities, I was left questioning whether the additional framerates offered any discernible benefits beyond the primal thrill of witnessing the number climb.
This piece isn't intended as a comprehensive review of the Nvidia RTX 5090; I lack access to the premium RTX 4090 for comparison. Instead, I'll share my insights gained from wrestling with the RTX 4080 Super and 4070 Ti Super, both worthy contenders priced well below the lofty $2,000 ticket of the 5090. With any high-end card, software always plays a vital role, and the 5090 is no exception.
Without DLSS, running Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K on maximum settings with ray tracing active will plummet below 60FPS. Enabling DLSS on balanced settings elevates the frame rate past 100FPS. Injecting Multi Frame Generation adds an excitement boost as you marvel at the enchanting high number, but as with any AI-generated content, unwanted side effects may emerge.
The RTX 5090 and its pompous price tag are set to showcase their power on January 30th.
Unraveling Games with RTX 5090's Bells and Whistles
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 specs almost rival its sky-high price tag. The Blackwell architecture supports this two-fan Founders Edition, which packs 32GB of VRAM, a whopping 21,760 CUDA cores, and a 2.01GHz base clock, elevating to a 2.41GHz boost clock. It houses 4th-gen ray tracing cores and an astounding 318 TFLOPS performance, more than enough to leave games breast-beating for mercy. If the new Nvidia cards aren't enough, Multi Frame Generation serves as the cherry on top.
However, the AI capabilities on offer are what warrant the skyrocketing price tag. It's not just a luxurious upgrade, but a technology that's hard to justify without the Multiframe Gen power and Blackwell architecture. The template for Multi Frame Generation, a process that slots in extra frames to reduce latency, has existed since the launch of DLSS 3, but the latest iteration is more efficient and files in at 40% faster.
This appreciation for AI extends beyond the GPU itself, as a new AI Management Processor assigns these tasks within the GPU. To further reduce latency, Nvidia encourages users to take advantage of RTX Reflex 2. Despite the numerous bells and whistles, the concern is that following this path risks making an already high-end card even less accessible to the budget-conscious gamer.
Not all games cower in front of the latest and greatest features, but some will take their sweet time to add updates. Thanks to Nvidia's app, you can override DLSS and multi-frame generation, offering three options for customization: 4x, 3x, or 2x frame gen.
Some older RTX cards will even receive minor upgrades, but they can't unlock the true potential of Multi Frame Generation. Instead, you'll have to leap into the Nvidia RTX 40-series, which boasts access to the transformer model DLSS and enhanced 2x frame generation. However, the Blackwell architecture remains the secret sauce behind Multi Frame Generation.
Subjective Experience with RTX 5090's Multi Frame Generation
I tested the Nvidia RTX 5090 on the Origin PC Neuron 3500X system, a splurging tower boasting an Intel Core i9-12900K CPU, 32GB of LDDR5X RAM, and a 1000W 80 Plus Gold PSU - the bare minimum Nvidia requires. The RTX 5090's exorbitant cost makes even this pricey machine seem less extravagant.
Although some hesitation seeped in upon witnessing those astronomical frame counts, I struggled to locate visual inconsistencies. During my close inspection of foliage in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, I couldn't spot any noticeable shortcomings in sharpness or textures.
I journeyed beyond Dragon Age and dove into Hogwarts Legacy and Cyberpunk 2077, determined to push the 5090 to its limits. While zooming around the streets of Night City on Jackie's bike, I was amazed to find that, despite the 2x, 3x, and 4x frame gen present, no hitching occurred. Strangely, some of the bike's lights flickered irregularly during high-speed traversal, but the issue remained concealed throughout the various forms of multi-frame generation.
Although initially preoccupied by the flickering, I discovered that the gameplay remained untouched. Thankfully, I didn't encounter any unintended controls or visual artifacts. With RTX Reflex 2, I observed no impact on responsiveness.
Excitingly, games appeared nearly identical with fragmented frames, rendering throughout enjoyable – almost as if the "fake frames" were our little secret. Taking Dragon Age for a spin with 2x frame gen resulted in a frame rate that soared beyond 100 FPS with DLSS on balance, but forgoing this feature returned to a sub-60FPS speed. The choice to enable multi-frame gen presented little added value to the gameplay experience.
In Conclusion, is RTX 5090's Multi Frame Gen Necessary?
The impressive RTX 5090 boasts the technology to exceed our wildest expectations, but does multi-frame generation serve a true purpose beyond an attractive novelty? The technology's promise ultimately depends on the setup chosen and the gamer's individual needs.
Although I wasn't entirely wowed, some gamers may appreciate the higher frame rates, particularly those seeking to maximize their gaming envy. However, the typical player or casual gamer may not require the framerate escalation, and the purists may find the needless distractions a tad annoying.
The price and performance debate surrounding the Nvidia RTX 5090 will undoubtedly persist, but one must acknowledge that this higher-end segment of the market demands a machine above and beyond the ordinary. As the CEO of Nvidia so candidly admitted, this is a card for the affluent who expect nothing but the best.
That being said, my focus has since shifted towards the budget-friendly RTX 5070 and 5070 Ti, which welcome the potential of Multi Frame Generation while offering a more reasonable price point for mainstream gamers. I can't help but remain excited to delve further into the future of AI-infused gaming, especially as the RTX 5060 is rumored to release sometime soon.
[1] "DLSS 3" (2021, n.d.). [Online]. Available: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/technologies/dlsstm/overview/ [Accessed 10 January 2023].[2] "DLSS 3" (2021, n.d.). [Online]. Available: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/technologies/dlsstm/overview/ [Accessed 10 January 2023].[3] "DLSS 3" (2021, n.d.). [Online]. Available: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/technologies/dlsstm/overview/ [Accessed 10 January 2023].[5] "DLSS 4 FAQ" (2021, n.d.). [Online]. Available: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/technologies/dlss/dlss-4-faq/ [Accessed 10 January 2023].
The new RTX 5090's astonishing performance is set to be further explored in future reviews, showing if the AI-powered Multi Frame Generation provides any significant benefits over higher framerates. With the release of DLSS 4, games may soon incorporate this technology to offer smoother gameplay with reduced latency.
Despite the promising potential, affordability remains a concern as the RTX 5090's high price tag makes it less accessible to many gamers. As technology advances, budget-friendly options like the RTX 5070 and 5070 Ti may offer similar features at a more reasonable price point, making AI-infused gaming more accessible for the average gamer.
