I typically buy the latest and greatest PC hardware as soon as it’s released and having done this for awhile, I’m not easily impressed. But the RTX 4090 Founders Edition has me in awe as one of the best generational upgrades ever seen in the PC gaming space. There’s a lot of reasons for this which I’ll cover below, but let’s start by saying this GPU is only going to show significant improvement over a 3080 or 3090 at 4K and high refresh rates above 60Hz. I’m gaming on a 3840x1600p 144Hz Ultrawide monitor so even in some games I’m not getting as big of a % gain compared to 4K. One of the biggest upgrades on the 4090 is the GPU chip itself is being made on TSMC 4nm instead of Samsung 8nm, which is at least a 2 process node improvement. We saw what 6nm did for AMD GPUs allowing them to hit clock speeds over 2.5GHz while Ampere was stuck around 2GHz again. So expectations were high from a clock speed improvement and that certainly is the case with the 4090 able to hit clock speed around 3GHz!!! The change to TSMC and node shrink also allowed improved efficiency which even caught Nvidia off guard as the rumors of 600-900W power consumption were probably based off of Samsung expectations. This also explains the massively over-engineered block coolers you see from Nvidia partners that are not only very long but also 4 slots wide. The 4090FE is actually shorter in length than the 3090FE but it is 3 slots wide instead of the 2.5 slots on the 3090. It is also a little taller (closer to the case) so make sure you have enough room in your case. The good news is the length is much shorter than any other partner designs which allows me to keep using my same case. As mentioned the beefed up cooling and improved efficiency allows the 4090FE to actually run cooler and quieter than the 3090FE even though it can be “unlocked” to use up to 600W of power or 133% of its official TBP of 450W. You can do this by enabling in an OC software like MSI Afterburner and increasing power limit and voltage along with clock speeds if you are OK with overclocking. Also you must have 4x8-pin power connectors at 150W each to enable the 600W power limit, only 3 connectors will limit you to 450W as there is a component in the adapter that detects how many 8-pin adapters are connected. More on the adapter later. So yeah this is an extremely impressive GPU that offers sometimes double the performance for me having a 3090FE. The difference isn’t as big as with the 3090Ti as that was around 15% faster so it eats into some of those gains. If the 3090 was the first true 4K/60 GPU, then the 4090 is definitely the first true 4K/100+ high refresh GPU. It’s truly amazing and just chews through all games at max settings and even maintains high FPS with demanding Ray Tracing effects due to the upgraded RT cores. Now onto some concerns and news headlines: 1. The 12VHPWR connector has some issues with potentially catching fire and apparently there are 2 issues, a cheaper quality cable rated for 150V vs 300V and more recently, the adapter not fully being inserted into the GPU 16-pin connector, causing resistance and extra current to flow through other wires and causing the burning. Make sure to seat your GPU adapter fully!!! The cable adapter is kind of ugly and also comes straight off at a 90 from the GPU, the old method angled at 45 degrees was a better design on the 3090. I plan to get a better quality cable from my PSU maker or cablemod when they become available. 2. Yes, these GPUs are still hard to get even though there is no crypto market to compete with. Part of this is because it seems like the only “real upgrade” in the 40 series lineup and it didn’t come with the crazy markup compared to the 4080. For those getting antsy I would just wait it out and see how the 4080 launch turns out and also see what AMD’s 7900 series turns out in a few weeks. I was very lucky and got an invite through GeForce Experience a few days after launch so I was able to get one about a week after launch. 3. The GPU is very expensive, which is true, but if you’re not on a 4K at 100+ FPS or doing some advanced computing you really don’t need this GPU anyways. But that isn’t expensive nowadays??? 30 series prices are falling and 2nd hand units are going for amazing prices so take advantage of those while you can if you don’t need the latest and greatest, especially when you know the 4080 and 4070Ti are kinda meh in terms of price and performance it’ll be awhile before 40 series prices make sense, if at all. So that’s it in a nutshell, it’s one of the most impressive upgrades I’ve ever seen from an Nvidia flagship and a GPU I could be happy with for a few generations if I really wanted to. Ah who am I kidding, I’m going to want the next 50 series flagship when it launches too!!! PS: I think if you’re willing to wait, a cut down 20GB 320-bit AD102 chip sold as 4080Ti for $1000 or so will be the GPU darling of this generation. Just don’t know how long it’ll take for us to see it, if at all.

Easily runs call of duty modern warfare 2 at 4k ultra around 130fps. It is surprisingly cool and quiet given it's power draw. (250-350 watts running mw2 at 4k ultra) I bought a new power supply with a native 12+4 pin connector than never even felt warm to the touch while running benchmarks. It's pretty thick and heavy but the three slot design keeps it in there steady. It's a beautiful card that does everything I paid for.

I consider myself extremely fortunate to have secured one from what seems to be the last restock on Best Buy in 2023. With a 10% coupon + a 10% rewards bonus and a complimentary copy of Alan Wake 2, this graphics card exceeds expectations. But beyond the bundled perks, it stands out as an exceptional piece of hardware. Given its price point, it's undeniably the most powerful GPU on the market today, and the Founders Edition version is my personal favorite. From the premium packaging to the unique design with fans on both the top and bottom of the card, it exudes quality. What pleasantly surprised me is how quiet and cool it runs despite its immense power. The performance is, without a doubt, top-notch, and in terms of both aesthetics and industry-leading capability, it's a solid 5 out of 5. Now, let's delve into some lesser-known facts. Firstly, there are two LED RGB zones – one being the 'GEFORCE RTX' logo on the side that glows in white, and the other is a 'V' shaped light on the top and bottom of the card. Both sides constitute a single RGB zone, controllable with third-party software like Open RGB. It's a bit peculiar that Nvidia doesn't offer its own software for controlling these lights. Secondly, to fully leverage the GPU's potential, pairing it with the right CPU and likely a 4K monitor is crucial. Bottlenecking is a well-known concept, and having components that can't keep up might not only hinder performance but also introduce stuttering in some games. Despite using a 12700K with a 1440p monitor, I occasionally had to tweak settings for a smoother experience. However, the upside is that the 4090 is future-proof and will likely remain relevant for several CPU and GPU generations. Lastly, there have been concerns about power connector melting issues. Nvidia has quietly addressed this by updating the power connector, and reports of melting on FE cards with the new connector are scarce, if any. Cards manufactured in the last six months or so are likely to have the updated connector, ensuring a safer experience. My personal advice is to avoid random power cables from sources like Amazon and opt for reputable brands or use the provided adapter. Considering the state of the GPU market, the 4090 shines as a standout among the current offerings. While new SUPER level cards are on the horizon, the 4090 remains a solid recommendation if it's in stock. For those willing to wait, the refreshed Nvidia cards in the coming months might offer more options. As for the competition, my loyalty remains with team Green, as I've had consistently positive experiences with Nvidia cards (and not so much with Radeon offerings). Bottom like, don't get this card just because "it's the best". If you don't have the hardware that can keep up with it, you will end up wasting money and possibly getting some headaches in return. Don't forget the PSU requirement of 850W, which is what I use with no issues. If you have a computer that can match it closely enough, and maybe planning on upgrading in the next couple of years, the 4090 is a solid choice. For 4K, it's the obvious choice. For 1440p, it's a great choice with some level of future proofing (even though I know people hate this term). It's a cool product all around.

All the trouble and effort to get one was worth it. My experience is a bit inflated, having come from a GTX1060, but still. It's amazing. I really hadn't expected to fork out this much and get the top GPU, but through research, my discovered that this GPU is at least as good of a value as the other options this time around. usually you have to pay a serious premium to get the top card, and performance per dollar hasn't matched. However, this time, you really are getting every bit of performance for your dollar as any of the other mid to high range GPUs. If you consider the completely superior raytracing performance, the value is there. I totally wish it cost less, but among the options available it's a good choice. I was able to use a 10% off coupon code when ordering this. Needless to say, I can't even use all this card except in benchmarks. Every game I have is running completely maxed out at 4K running at 120 FPS. The graphics this card can create are absolutely amazing. One thing I can fully appreciate is how power and heat efficient this card can be. Everyone heard the rumors that the new Nvidia cards were going to be power hungry, overheating monsters, and AMDs efficiency was going to go through the roof. AMD claim this themselves. The opposite became true. AMD's top card can pull the same voltage as the 4090 but only performs 60-70% of the work. Yes it's a brick, yes You need extra clearance on the side for the special cable, but if you can deal with all that it's a fantastic GPU. I have this in a case with excellent airflow, and the card is barely even audible while benchmarking at 100% load. I achieve this by dropping the maximum power limit to 90% and adjusting the fan curve to a bit more conservative curve. That change only took about 4% of the performance away, but now the card uses nearly 50w less power, barely breaches 60c while at 100% load and remians quiet. My PC is in my living room so that's important to me. This founder's edition is arguably the best card to get, because Nvidia already pushed this card to its limits. You really can't get much more performance out of it with the other models, and this one's less expensive. there is no support bracket needed with this model, and it's shorter than some of the AIB partners, so most will not have any issue with fitting this in a case lengthwise. You will have to consider case width though, especially if you're going to use the included power adapter. cable mod is coming out with a 90° adapter but it's not available yet. I think there are some other options out there. This card is really expensive, but it's also a very powerful, well engineered piece of hardware, that won't become obsolete for years. The only real complaint I have is the packaging. this card comes in a folded cardboard box, with no anti-static bag or any other protection from outside elements. There's a seam around 3/4 of the box, You can literally see the three sides of the card from the outside. So absolutely do not even carry this through the rain for even a second. put it in a bag the moment you purchase, and keep it there until you install it. The packaging choice by Nvidia completely baffles me.

Coming from a 3090 OC I was skeptical of the uplift gen over gen, but I have been thoroughly impressed. The most graphically intense games with ray tracing have doubled in FPS at high resolutions. Cooling is much better over the Ampere 3090 and while AIB cards can be large, the 4090 Founders Edition card is smaller than my 3090. Runs cooler and uses less power in many cases than my 3090. I have since the pic shown added Cablemod’s custom 12VHPWR cable, which looks and performs great. Breaks 35,000 Graphics score in Time Spy. Couldn’t be happier with the 4090 and love the design and quality of the Founders Edition. It feels like a classy 4090 for adults compared to some other design options on market.