Is the NVIDIA RTX 5000 GPU Worth the Hype? 5 Reasons to Think Twice!

On January 30, NVIDIA unveiled its first RTX 5000 GPUs; later on February 20, the RTX 5070 Ti was introduced. However, I find myself in anticipation of the delayed release of the RTX 5070, so I decided to examine all the problems that have arisen during NVIDIA’s launch process.

As a tech enthusiast myself, let me share my perspective on the RTX 5000 GPU. It’s crucial to remember that it’s your hard-earned money and you have the freedom to spend it as you see fit. That said, I’m offering some compelling reasons why you might want to hold off on investing in NVIDIA’s latest hardware at this moment. Here’s why:

1. Price Point: The RTX 5000 GPU is quite pricey, and given the current market conditions, it might be a significant investment for many. With other options available that offer similar performance at more affordable prices, it’s worth considering your budget before making a decision.

2. Availability Issues: Due to high demand and supply chain challenges, the RTX 5000 GPU might not be readily available, which could delay your gaming or work setup significantly.

3. Software Compatibility: While NVIDIA’s drivers are usually top-notch, there can still be minor bugs or incompatibilities with certain software and games at launch. Waiting a few weeks to ensure a smoother experience might be wise.

4. Future Innovations: The tech world is always evolving, and new, potentially better hardware could be released within the next few months. Holding off on an investment now could mean accessing cutting-edge technology sooner.

5. Environmental Considerations: Manufacturing electronic devices has a significant environmental impact. By delaying your purchase, you’re helping to reduce unnecessary demand and contributing to a more sustainable tech industry.

For those eagerly anticipating their financial readiness and longing to secure the latest RTX 5000 hardware, I’ve prepared some compelling arguments to help you consider investing your $1,000+ in a high-quality leather jacket for NVIDIA’s CEO instead.

By making this purchase, not only will you be supporting a successful business leader who has brought innovative technologies into our lives, but also contributing towards the style and comfort of someone who is shaping the future of graphics processing. Plus, a quality leather jacket can serve as a timeless wardrobe staple that you’ll enjoy for years to come!

5 reasons not to buy an NVIDIA RTX 5000 GPU

If you’re thinking of resisting the urge to get one of NVIDIA’s new RTX 5000 GPUs, it might not be as difficult as it seems. The arguments against are quite straightforward. NVIDIA’s decision to launch in early 2025 has raised some eyebrows, and there are several factors to mull over before making a purchase.

If you’re debating whether or not to get an RTX 5000 GPU from NVIDIA, it won’t take much effort to find reasons. The fact that they’re launching it in early 2025 has left some people wondering, and there are several points to think about before you decide to buy one.

1. NVIDIA’s pricing — What happened to MSRP?

The RTX 5000 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) from NVIDIA, excluding the RTX 5090, were unveiled with appealing Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (MSRPs).

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090: $1,999 MSRP
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080: $999 MSRP
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti: $749 MSRP
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070: $549 MSRP

It’s clear now that securing an RTX 5000 GPU at its Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) is more of a remote possibility, enjoyed only by the fortunate few.

Insufficient inventory is primarily attributed to inadequate advance warning from NVIDIA to its suppliers and unfortunate scheduling conflicts due to the Chinese New Year/Spring Festival.

The main reason for not having enough stock is because there wasn’t much notice given by NVIDIA to its manufacturers, and it coincided with the timing of the Chinese New Year/Spring Festival.

In contrast, NVIDIA’s Founders Edition graphics cards tend to follow the suggested pricing, but it’s common for third-party versions launched by NVIDIA’s partners to come with a higher price tag. This isn’t unusual as these third-party cards often provide additional features and pricing options.

Instead, the impact appears significantly stronger on this occasion. Should you come across an RTX 5000 GPU available at a reliable vendor, it’s likely that it won’t be sold at its original price.

Checking out Newegg’s assortment of RTX 5080 GPUs, priced at $999 MSRP, reveals prices as high as $1,600. At Best Buy, the RTX 5070 Ti, priced at $749 without a Founders Edition, is listed for up to $980.

In simpler terms, scalpers aren’t helping improve the situation, and it’s likely you’ll pay the highest price when trying to purchase from a private sale.

2. Melting power cables — Worth the risk?

After the release of the RTX 5090, it didn’t take much time before early buyers started reporting issues with melted 12VHPWR cables. This problem isn’t new to NVIDIA, as they encountered a similar issue with the RTX 4090 in the past. So, it wasn’t a surprise for the company when this happened.

The issue not only jeopardizes your computer hardware components, such as cables, graphics cards, and power supplies, by causing them to melt or suffer other damage, but it also represents a significant fire hazard and poses a threat to your safety.

In a well-crafted analysis video, YouTuber der8auer pinpoints an issue. The video’s findings suggest that NVIDIA alone is responsible for this problem, as he explains that the RTX 40 and RTX 50 series graphics cards lack the ability to monitor current distribution across their pins.

Overloading some pins occurs here, as they’re not designed to manage such heavy loads. Consequently, it results in an unfortunate melting situation.

At this point, there seems to be no clear method for ensuring safety against melted hardware and a significant fire hazard. Even premium power cables have been observed melting. To completely avoid this issue, it might be best to postpone the purchase of the RTX 5090 until NVIDIA comes up with a solution.

3. No 32-bit PhysX support — Do you enjoy certain well-aged games?

For the majority of users, NVIDIA discontinuing 32-bit PhysX support in its RTX 50-series GPUs is relatively unimportant. However, this change may have significant implications for certain individuals.

If there isn’t a PhysX translation layer available for the revised Blackwell CUDA cores, you might miss out on fully appreciating some classic games that have aged gracefully.

If your GPU isn’t compatible with PhysX, the system transfers the PhysX workload to the CPU instead. However, CPUs aren’t designed to handle such tasks efficiently, leading to a significant drop in performance. In fact, it might be more advantageous to turn off these effects for smoother gameplay. You can still play the games, but without the enhanced PhysX features that require a compatible GPU.

Titles that shine with PhysX effects are games like Borderlands 2, Batman: Arkham series, the initial Metro games, and Mirror’s Edge.

If playing your preferred game is compromised with an RTX 5000 graphics card, it might be more suitable to opt for a previous-generation NVIDIA GPU (such as the 40-series or earlier models) as they can still manage 32-bit PhysX.

4. Missing ROPs — Is your RTX 5000 GPU complete?

NVIDIA promptly responded to reports about the absence of ROPs (Raster Operator Processors) in a few RTX 5090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5070 Ti models, which are all part of their Blackwell GPU line. They’ve announced that those impacted should reach out to the board manufacturers for a replacement unit.

Nevertheless, it’s uncertain how smoothly the process will unfold given that it appears that every board manufacturer is currently grappling with the challenge of stocking GPUs on their shelves.

Render Output Units (ROPs), also known as Render Output Units/Raster Operations Pipeline, play a vital role within the GPU architecture. This value should remain constant across different GPUs to avoid any fluctuations. It’s quite astonishing how many individuals might overlook such a potential defect.

NVIDIA asserts they’ve addressed the chip production problem causing the absence of ROPs, however, it’s possible that some graphics cards may still be in transit with a comparable issue. This raises questions about the effectiveness of their quality control process.

5. Mild performance gains — Is it worth it if you have an RTX 40-series GPU?

The RTX 5000 GPUs from NVIDIA boast greater power compared to their immediate predecessors. If this information is sufficient for your needs, feel free to make a purchase. But, it’s worth noting that these new GPUs may not be ideal for everyone.

Windows Central Senior Editor Ben Wilson reviewed the RTX 5090, in which he notes:

Regardless, I stand firm on my belief that gaming doesn’t necessitate it – and the RTX 5080 serves as our top-tier choice in this realm. Despite its stunning makeover, which trims down a colossal precursor into a more streamlined and practical design, it does have its drawbacks, such as higher temperatures and greater power consumption. The DLSS 4 technology is impressive, but it fails to persuade me away from the RTX 4090, especially if NVIDIA reintroduces it to their 40 Series lineup.

Wilson also reviewed the RTX 5080, stating:

The RTX 5080 Founders Edition should be approximately 60% less expensive than its predecessor’s suggested retail price, the RTX 4090 Founders Edition. But finding the latter for under $2,500 is quite rare, so it’s more like a savings of about 150%. Despite a 14% lower performance in gaming, you save around $1,500 by making this trade-off. This allows you to enjoy the advantages of DLSS 4 upscaling and frame generation, which in conjunction with NVIDIA Reflex, effectively eliminates perceptible input latency.

The RTX 5080 and the RTX 4080 Super, both priced at $999, offer similar performance levels. However, finding the RTX 4080 Super might be a challenge. The RTX 5070 Ti, which we didn’t get to test, is expected to perform similarly to an RTX 4080.

What I mean is, you may not have to spend money on an RTX 5000 GPU to achieve similar performance levels. It’s quite challenging to find RTX 4000 GPUs these days, particularly at a fair price, but keep in mind that smart purchasing might yield some good finds.

As an observer, I find myself intrigued by NVIDIA’s strategy to captivate enthusiasts with the Multi Frame Generation (MFG) feature in DLSS 4, a technology currently restricted to their RTX 5000 GPUs. There are whispers that this MFG might eventually make its way onto older graphics cards, potentially diminishing the allure of the more recent hardware.

Remember that AMD is planning to unveil its Radeon RX 9000 series graphics cards on February 28, 2025, with a release date around early March. If these GPUs manage to rival NVIDIA’s mid-range models, such as the RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5070, they might diminish the allure of those cards significantly by comparison.

3 ways an RTX 5000 GPU makes sense

My intention isn’t to discourage you from purchasing an RTX 5000 GPU, but rather, I’d like to share insights on why it might be prudent to hold off on your purchase until the market stabilizes and NVIDIA addresses some of the initial problems that arose at launch. This way, you can ensure you’re making an informed decision with your valuable resources.

👉 Where to buy NVIDIA’s RTX 5090 and RTX 5080

👉 Where to buy NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 Ti

As a researcher immersed in the world of technology, I understand that some fellow tech enthusiasts are eagerly waiting to get their hands on the latest hardware, regardless of cost or availability hurdles. If this impatient pursuit resonates with you, let me share three compelling reasons why investing in an RTX 5000 GPU could be the right move for you:

1. Unprecedented performance: The RTX 5000 GPU is engineered to handle the most demanding tasks with ease, offering unparalleled processing power that can significantly boost the speed and efficiency of your workflows, whether you’re rendering high-definition videos, developing complex simulations, or pushing the boundaries of gaming graphics.

2. Future-proofing: With its cutting-edge technology and advanced features, the RTX 5000 GPU is designed to stay relevant for years to come. By investing in this powerful piece of hardware now, you’ll be setting yourself up for a seamless experience as new software updates and gaming titles are released, ensuring that you remain at the forefront of technological innovation.

3. Enhanced creativity: The RTX 5000 GPU is not just a tool for high-performance computing; it’s also an essential companion for artists, designers, and content creators. With its dedicated ray tracing capabilities and AI-driven rendering solutions, this GPU will empower you to bring your creative vision to life with unprecedented realism and detail, taking your work to new heights.

In conclusion, if you’re itching to take your tech game to the next level, an RTX 5000 GPU could be the key to unlocking a world of unparalleled performance, future-proof capabilities, and enhanced creativity. Embrace the power of this groundbreaking hardware and make the decision that will undoubtedly pay off in the long run.

1. You’re more than a few generations between upgrades

Regardless of how similarly the RTX 5000’s performance compares to older RTX 4000 GPUs, it’s important to note that the latest hardware currently available offers the highest level of power and performance in the market.

At present, I’m utilizing an AMD Radeon RX 6800 graphics card, and the potential benefits of an RTX 5000 GPU are indeed hard to resist. Similarly, I believe this would hold true for any individual who owns an RTX 30-series or a more ancient NVIDIA GPU in their gaming computer.

Given that RTX 4000 prices continue to remain high and become scarcer, it’s understandable why many individuals are drawn towards the RTX 5000 series. Keep in mind that costs will be steep, but if you have sufficient funds, investing in these models would likely provide excellent performance for years ahead.

2. You want as many frames as possible and don’t care how they’re made

In the realm of gaming, NVIDIA’s DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (MFG) is generating quite a buzz. This innovation represents a significant leap forward, enabling the enhanced “Blackwell” CUDA cores to depend more on artificial intelligence-generated frames compared to previous versions.

In simpler terms, when a GPU generates a single frame, MFG can produce additional frames. This process can greatly enhance the number of frames per second (fps) in games that offer this functionality.

At the CES 2025 presentation, NVIDIA claimed that the RTX 5070 performs similarly to the RTX 4090. The primary factor enabling this claim is MFG (Magic Fusion Grid), a technology used by NVIDIA, which essentially enhances the performance of the RTX 5070 in comparison to its actual specifications, making it seem as powerful as the RTX 4090. However, it’s important to note that while they weren’t intentionally lying, NVIDIA was not entirely transparent about the underlying technology that made this performance boost possible.

In our RTX 5080 review, we found that the average frames per second (FPS) in Cyberpunk 2077, without Multi-Frame Sampled (MFS) activated, were approximately 64 FPS. However, with MFS turned on, performance soared to an astounding 228 FPS. That’s truly remarkable, and I must give a round of applause to the NVIDIA team for their engineering prowess.

Despite significant opposition and numerous claims that it uses “false representations,” Ben Wilson found out that “Cyberpunk 2077 demonstrates no discernible input lag when NVIDIA Reflex is activated.

Is it significant whether the frames are produced in a particular way, as long as there are no major issues? The MFG feature of DLSS 4 is currently exclusive to RTX 5000 GPUs, but this could potentially change down the line. At present, you’ll require the most recent hardware to experience those high triple-digit frame rates.

3. You want the most powerful GPU on the market … period

I’m excitedly counting down to the formal reveal of AMD’s Radeon RX 9000 GPUs. The potential debut of the RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 could see them competing (or even exceeding) the performance of mid-tier NVIDIA graphics cards, a move that would undoubtedly boost the entire GPU market.

As a researcher delving into the latest graphics card developments, it’s evident that AMD’s upcoming Radeon RDNA 4 hardware may not be directly competing against high-end powerhouses like the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090. Conversely, Intel seems to be strategically positioning its “Battlemage” series for the lower end of the market, with these cards optimized for smooth 1440p gaming experiences.

To own the top-tier graphics processing unit currently available, opt for NVIDIA’s RTX 5090 model.

2025-02-25 19:41