MSI GeForce RTX 5090 VANGUARD 32GB GDDR7 Gray
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5090 WINDFORCE OC 32GB GDDR7 Black
What Buyers Say
MSI GeForce RTX 5090 VANGUARD 32GB GDDR7 Gray
The MSI Vanguard SOC RTX 5090 delivers jaw-dropping performance, often doubling frame rates at 4K compared to previous-generation cards. Reviewers praise its exceptional cooling, quiet operation, and the massive 32GB VRAM for both gaming and professional workloads. Most owners recommend it if you can get it at or near MSRP, noting it's a worthwhile upgrade from a 4080 Super or even a 4090 for max-settings 4K gaming. One user warned it is physically huge, so check your case clearance before buying.
Pros
- Massive performance uplift in 4K
- Excellent cooling and low temperatures
- Quiet operation even under load
- Ample 32GB VRAM for games and work
- Great for professional workloads too
Cons
- Extremely large physical size
- High price even at MSRP
- Unnecessary upgrade from RTX 4090 for most
- May require case modification for fitment
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5090 WINDFORCE OC 32GB GDDR7 Black
The Gigabyte RTX 5090 series is overwhelmingly praised for its exceptional performance, quiet operation, and effective cooling. Users highlight its ability to handle 4K and VR gaming with ease, with many noting a significant upgrade from the RTX 4090. However, a few negative reviews mention missing ROPs and a poor customer service experience with Newegg, though these are isolated incidents. Overall, the card is considered a top-tier choice for enthusiasts, with minor concerns about coil whine and size being largely overshadowed by its capabilities.
Pros
- Exceptional 4K and VR performance
- Quiet operation even under load
- Effective cooling with low temperatures
- Minimal coil whine
- Easy undervolting and overclocking
Cons
- Very high price point
- Large physical size may not fit all cases
- Some units missing ROPs
- RGB can be dim on some models
- Potential thermal putty issues reported
Scores
Specifications
| MSI GeForce RTX 5090 VANGUARD | Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5090 WINDFORCE OC | |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | ||
| GPU Chipset | GeForce RTX 5090 | GeForce RTX 5090 |
| Brand | NVIDIA | NVIDIA |
| Architecture | Blackwell | Blackwell |
| Class | consumer | consumer |
| Process | 4★ | — |
| Memory | ||
| VRAM | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR7 | GDDR7 |
| Memory Bus | ||
| Compute | ||
| CUDA Cores | ||
| Tensor Cores | No data | |
| Base Clock | ||
| Boost Clock | ||
| Performance | ||
| PassMark G3D | ||
| GPU Compute | ||
| Power & Cooling | ||
| TDP | 575 | 575 |
| Recommended PSU | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Power Connectors | 1 x 16-Pin | 1 x 16-Pin |
| Cooler | Triple Fan | Triple Fan |
| Fans | 3 | 3 |
| Connectivity | ||
| Interface | PCI Express 5.0 | PCI Express 5.0 x16 |
| DisplayPort | 3 | 3 |
| HDMI | 1 | 1 |
| USB-C | 0 | 0 |
| Max Displays | 4 | 4 |
| Max Resolution | 7680 x 4320 | 8K (4320p) |
| Physical | ||
| Length | 357 | 342★ |
| Slot Width | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Form Factor | ATX | Full Height |
| Weight | 2.41 kg | 0.87 kg★ |
| Features | ||
| Ray Tracing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Upscaling | DLSS 4 | DLSS 4 |
| AV1 Encode | ✓ | ✓ |
| VR Ready | ✓ | ✓ |
| DirectX | 12 Ultimate | 12 |
| RGB | ✓ | ✓ |
Pros & Cons
MSI GeForce RTX 5090 VANGUARD 32GB GDDR7 Gray
- Strong user sentiment (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong raster (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong compute (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong vram (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Below average affordability (2nd percentile)2nd %ile
- Below average efficiency (25th percentile)
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5090 WINDFORCE OC 32GB GDDR7 Black
- Strong raster (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong ai (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong compute (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong vram (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Below average affordability (3rd percentile)3rd %ile
- Below average efficiency (25th percentile)
Pricing
Verdict
Scores 97 overall, wins 7 of 8 usage categories and 3 of 35 specs.
