What started as a rumor is now almost confirmed behind the scenes in the tech industry: NVIDIA is expected to unveil its new GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 graphics cards in January during CES 2025. This information, reported by Benchlife, is being treated as highly likely by various industry insiders and specialized media outlets.
The Japanese website reinforced recent leaks from well-known leaker Kopite7kimi, confirming that NVIDIA’s new GPUs will soon claim the title of the world’s most powerful gaming graphics cards. Additionally, the report revealed some previously unknown details about the upcoming components, further increasing anticipation.
When will the GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 be released?
There has been much speculation about when NVIDIA will officially unveil its next generation of graphics cards. Initially, some believed the new cards might debut at Computex 2024, but that didn’t come to pass.
It seems almost certain that the two high-end RTX 50 series cards will make their first appearance at CES 2025, scheduled in Las Vegas from January 7th to 10th. According to Benchlife, both the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 are expected to be launched simultaneously to cater to gaming enthusiasts and set the stage for mid-range and mainstream models that will follow.
There’s also speculation that NVIDIA may use the event to announce the RTX 50 series for notebooks, though this is still possible.
This timeline aligns with NVIDIA’s typical release cycle. Recently, reports surfaced indicating that the company had entered the final stages of development for these cards, with the design now complete. Once products reach this phase, it usually takes about two months for them to be fully ready for launch.
If everything proceeds as expected, the RTX 5090 and 5080 should be fully prepped by November or early December, just before the CES unveiling. If the forecast holds, we can expect these cards to hit stores in February 2025.
What will the new GeForce RTX 50 GPUs look like?
The upcoming NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 will introduce a significant redesign that will impact the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) layout, cooling system, and power delivery. One of the most notable changes will be its unique form factor, which features three separate PCBs, each housing different graphics card components.
The main PCB will reportedly include the GPU chip and 16 GDDR7 memory modules, each offering 3 GB of capacity and speeds between 28 and 32 Gbps. This setup will provide the RTX 5090 with a massive 32 GB of GDDR7 VRAM, utilizing a 512-bit memory interface and delivering an unprecedented 2 TB/s of bandwidth—making it the consumer graphics card with the most VRAM ever.
The Founders Edition models are also set for a makeover, moving away from the design seen in the GeForce RTX 30 series. The RTX 5090 Founders Edition is expected to feature a new cooling system with two compact fans, unlike the turbine-style fans on the RTX 4090. This new cooling solution could offer more efficient thermal management while reducing noise.
As for the overall aesthetic, little detailed information is available yet. However, what is clear is that these new models will look distinctly different from the designs of the RTX 30 and RTX 40 Founders Editions, signaling a fresh visual identity for NVIDIA’s flagship cards.
Power supply
The power supply specifications for the GeForce RTX 50 series, particularly the RTX 5090, have been a topic of much speculation. Initially, it was expected that the RTX 5090 would require two 12V-2×6 power connectors. However, recent reports from Benchlife and WCCFTECH have contradicted this expectation.
According to these sources, NVIDIA’s partner manufacturers have confirmed that the Founders Edition and most other models will have a single 12V-2×6 connector. This change suggests that while the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 will still offer impressive performance with their projected 600W and 400W TDPs (Thermal Design Power), the actual power requirements might be lower than initially anticipated.
That said, there will still be specialized models designed for enthusiasts and overclockers that will feature dual power connectors, similar to what was offered with the RTX 4090. This could provide additional power options for users looking to maximize performance through overclocking. These updates indicate a shift in how NVIDIA approaches power requirements for its latest GPUs, aiming to balance performance with efficiency.
PCIe 5.0 and DisplayPort 2.1a support
Along with fresh design and aesthetic updates, the upcoming RTX 50 series will introduce several exciting features for NVIDIA’s gaming graphics cards. One of the most notable additions is support for the PCIe 5.0 standard, a significant advancement in the consumer GPU market.
This upgrade doubles the data transfer speed compared to current models that still utilize the PCIe 4.0 standard. In practical terms, users can expect substantial performance enhancements in resource-intensive tasks such as 3D modeling, rendering, video editing, and artificial intelligence applications.
NVIDIA’s new graphics cards will also be compatible with DisplayPort 2.1, a cutting-edge video standard that allows transfer rates of up to 80 Gbps—twice that of the widely used HDMI 2.1. This means that the new GPUs will be capable of supporting 16K 60Hz HDR monitors and achieving incredible refresh rates at lower resolutions, providing a significant boost for gamers and content creators alike.
What to Expect from the New GeForce RTX 50?
With the GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 launch at CES 2025, NVIDIA reaffirms its commitment to leading the PC gaming market, catering specifically to the high-performance demands of enthusiasts.
While some competitors have shifted their focus toward the mainstream segment, NVIDIA is poised to maintain its status as the go-to brand for gamers seeking top-tier graphics capabilities. Team Verde is well-equipped to set new standards in performance, solidifying its position as the benchmark in the graphics card industry.