Power Play: Anticipating the Nvidia RTX 5090's Soaring TDP and Upgrade Considerations

The excitement building around the Nvidia RTX 50 lineup is building, especially with rumors suggesting a dramatic increase in power requirements. As the launch approaches, particularly for the flagship model 5090, details about its thermal design power (TDP) have emerged, indicating it may reach nearly 575W. In contrast, the previous generation, the RTX 4090, was already notable for its power consumption with a TDP of 450W.

This new power demand nearly approaches the limitations of a single 12VHPWR connector, which is capped at 600W. However, it’s crucial to recognize that a higher maximum power rating does not always correlate with increased power draw during regular operation.

If you are considering upgrading to the RTX 5090, it might be wise to reassess your power supply unit as well. Nvidia currently advises a power supply rated at 850 watts for the RTX 4090, and with the expected rise in power consumption, the recommendation for the newest model could jump to 1,000W. This will undoubtedly have an impact on your energy expenses.

Additional details regarding Nvidia's upcoming graphics cards are anticipated during their keynote event at CES, taking place soon.

What type of graphics card are you currently using in your system, and are you leaning towards an upgrade?