NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
Detailed gaming performance comparison
Reference CPU: Intel Core i5-13400
We compare the RTX 5090 Laptop and the RTX 4090 with real FPS across the most popular games at 1080p, 1440p and 4K, plus specs, launch price and AI upscaling support (DLSS/FSR/XeSS). See at a glance which is better for your resolution and budget.
The RTX 4090 is ~15% faster than the RTX 5090 Laptop on average at 1080p.
RTX 5090 Laptop
- Index (1080p)
- 88/100
- VRAM
- 24 GB
- Price (MSRP)
- —
- Upscaling
- DLSS + Frame Gen
RTX 4090
- Index (1080p)
- 95/100
- VRAM
- 24 GB
- Price (MSRP)
- $1599 · ≈ €1471
- Upscaling
- DLSS + Frame Gen
Average FPS by resolution
Estimated average FPS for each graphics card across the most popular games. The gap usually shows at 1080p and 1440p; at 4K both lose smoothness and upscaling (DLSS/FSR) helps.
| Resolution | RTX 5090 Laptop | RTX 4090 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 119 | 137 | +15% |
| 1440p | 85 | 120 | +41% |
| 4K | 45 | 90 | +100% |
Specifications
Side-by-side specs of the RTX 5090 Laptop and RTX 4090: VRAM, power draw (TDP), performance index and launch price. The better value in each row is highlighted in blue.
| Spec | RTX 5090 Laptop | RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | NVIDIA | NVIDIA |
| VRAM | 24 GB | 24 GB |
| TDP | 175W | 450W |
| Tier | Enthusiast | Enthusiast |
| Score 1080p | 88 | 95 |
| Score 1440p | 78 | 95 |
| Score 4K | 60 | 93 |
| Price (MSRP) | — | $1599 |
Gaming Performance
Per-game FPS detail at 1080p Ultra. The graphics card that wins each title is highlighted in blue.
| Game | RTX 5090 Laptop | RTX 4090 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition | 127FPS | 145FPS | RTX 4090 |
| Grand Theft Auto VI | 83FPS | 94FPS | RTX 4090 |
| Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra | 122FPS | 140FPS | RTX 4090 |
| Marathon | 118FPS | 135FPS | RTX 4090 |
| Gears of War: E-Day | 101FPS | 115FPS | RTX 4090 |
| Onimusha: Way of the Sword | 141FPS | 163FPS | RTX 4090 |
| Phantom Blade Zero | 118FPS | 135FPS | RTX 4090 |
| 007 First Light | 122FPS | 140FPS | RTX 4090 |
| The Blood of Dawnwalker | 95FPS | 109FPS | RTX 4090 |
| Pathologic 3 | 165FPS | 189FPS | RTX 4090 |
Verdict
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 wins in 10 out of 10 games
We recommend NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 as the best option for gaming.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions when comparing the RTX 5090 Laptop with the RTX 4090.
Which is better, the RTX 5090 Laptop or the RTX 4090?
On average at 1080p, the RTX 4090 is 15% faster than the RTX 5090 Laptop. The best one for you depends on your resolution, budget and whether you prioritise ray tracing or price.
Which is better at 4K?
At 4K Ultra, the RTX 5090 Laptop averages 45 FPS and the RTX 4090 90 FPS across the most popular games. For smooth 4K, enabling upscaling (DLSS/FSR) helps on both.
Is it worth paying more for the faster one?
At 1080p or 1440p the FPS gap may not justify the extra cost; at 4K or with ray tracing the faster card matters more. Check the by-resolution table to decide.
Which has better ray tracing and upscaling?
AI upscaling (DLSS on NVIDIA, FSR on AMD, XeSS on Intel) raises FPS on both; for ray tracing, GeForce RTX cards usually lead. See each card’s support above.
How big is the FPS difference between them?
On average across top games, the gap is around 15% at 1080p. At higher resolutions (1440p and 4K) the relative difference usually stays similar.