There aren’t many attractive graphics cards out there. Without a wild case design or a pre-built desktop built to deliver looks and power in equal measure, it would seem overkill compared to other sleek, low-profile components. The Nvidia RTX 5090 Founders Edition, on the other hand, looks downright menacing. It’s a dark gray sheet of metal, a demanding brick-like beetle that’s ready to invade your PSU and completely consume your PC.
Nvidia sent me an RTX 5090 to review, but specified that I couldn’t see it powered up yet. I can’t even see them snuggled up warm inside their desktop cases. So, with these limitations in mind, I would like to share my first impressions below.
The RTX 5090 Founders Edition is approximately 12 inches by 5.3 inches and 2 inches deep. This is about the same length and width as the RTX 4090 Founders Edition with the same 2-fan variant. However, the new card is shorter than the previous one. Although this is a 2-slot card, that doesn’t mean future OEMs will maintain that dimension.
However, it is a heavy card. It had been left in a cold FedEx truck for so long that it was painful to touch the metal. Even at room temperature, the GPU felt chunky, with very little wasted space on this metal and silicone plate. Supported by just a PCIe slot and two screws, it can be nerve-wracking to put this card into a case.
Compared to the other cards I have, the PNY RTX 4080 Super, Asus RTX 4080 Super, and MSI RTX 4070 Ti Super, which all have three fans, the 5090 seems more self-contained. It will take up fewer slots in the case, but the edges that stick out of the motherboard will definitely need some additional support.
Nvidia is adamant that the new cooling system can keep the card cool even under pressure. The card’s air intake is at the bottom, and the exhaust exits through the top vent. This is suitable for most setups where airflow is typically from the bottom to the top.
This weight adds to the overall aesthetic of the Founders Edition. The gray metallic looks intimidating, especially when compared to the silver sides of the RTX 4090. If you shine a light on it, you can see inside the GPU and see the heat pipes running inside. Otherwise, the GeForce RTX logo will light up when you power on the card.
Founders Edition cards come in a cardboard box that is supposed to emulate the footprint of a 5090. Inside is a GPU without an anti-static bag or sleeve. There didn’t seem to be any need for that, as the packaging was securely packed so it wouldn’t move. In addition to the card, the box included one short 4x PCIe 5.0 adapter. According to Nvidia, you’ll need either an adapter connected to four PCIe 8-pin connectors or a 600W PCIe Gen 5 cable.
It also requires at least 1000W of system power, so if you think you’re OK running an RTX 4080 Super on an 850W PSU, you’ll no longer need to upgrade to support Nvidia’s powerful new GPU. One part.
The 16-pin power connection is placed diagonally to the card itself. While this may be a boon for smaller cases, Origin PC’s current setup means that you actually have to twist the power connection to get it into the correct slot. The only ports behind it are three DisplayPort 2.1 and one HDMI 2.1b.
