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No. NVIDIA announced the GeForce RTX 5090 at a $1,999 starting price, $400—or about 25%—above the RTX 4090’s $1,599 announced starting price. The phrase “Totally fake” came from a leaker responding to a pre-launch pricing rumor, not from NVIDIA, and the final launch prices show that the increase was real.
What did “Totally fake” refer to?
In an October 14, 2024 report, HotHardware attributed the words “Totally fake” to the pseudonymous GPU leaker kopite7kimi. The remark responded to a report that the RTX 5090 might cost between $1,999 and $2,499. HotHardware also quoted the leaker saying, “I don’t believe there will be a significant price increase for RTX 5090.” These were predictions reported before launch—not official NVIDIA pricing statements. HotHardware’s report
How did NVIDIA’s announced starting prices compare?
| Graphics card | Announced starting price | Availability announced |
|---|---|---|
| GeForce RTX 4090 | $1,599 | October 12, 2022 |
| GeForce RTX 5090 | $1,999 | January 30, 2025 |
NVIDIA announced the RTX 4090’s $1,599 starting price on September 20, 2022, and the RTX 5090’s $1,999 starting price on January 6, 2025. NVIDIA’s RTX 4090 announcement; NVIDIA’s RTX 5090 announcement
The difference is $400: ($1,999 − $1,599) ÷ $1,599 is about 25%. That calculation compares NVIDIA’s announced launch starting prices; it is not a comparison of every card model or what buyers currently pay.
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- AI Performance: 772 AI TOPS
- OC mode: 2580 MHz Default mode: 2550 MHz(Boost clock)
- Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4
- SFF-Ready Enthusiast GeForce Card
- Axial-tech fans feature a smaller fan hub that facilitates longer blades and a barrier ring that increases downward air pressure
Was the rumor accurate?
The rumored range was $1,999–$2,499. NVIDIA’s eventual $1,999 announced starting price matched the lower end, not the upper end. So the upper-end figure was not the announced starting price, but the claim that there would be no significant price increase did not match the launch-price comparison: the announced starting price rose by $400, about 25%, from the RTX 4090.
What the launch-price comparison does—and doesn’t—tell you
A starting price is a historical launch figure, not a guarantee of today’s retail price. The final price of a card can vary by model, seller, geography, taxes, and availability; the announced figures alone do not establish current prices or stock.
Rank #2
- [3352 AI TOPS, 5th Gen Tensor Cores, AI Content Creation] Built for AI-assisted photo and video workflows including upscaling, denoise, background removal, masking, and generative AI creation for faster creator productivity.
- [32GB GDDR7 VRAM, Local LLM Inference, Larger Models] Run local LLM inference and on-device AI tools with massive VRAM headroom for larger models, longer context, and heavier multitasking across AI and creator apps.
- [28 Gbps, 512-bit, 21760 CUDA Cores] High-throughput next-gen memory and core resources for demanding creator projects, complex timelines, large assets, and GPU-accelerated ML experimentation and inference pipelines.
- [Quad-Fan Force, Vapor Chamber, Phase-Change Thermal Pad] Designed for sustained performance under heavy loads with quad-fan cooling, a patented vapor chamber, and a phase-change GPU thermal pad to help lower temps and reduce hotspots.
- [DP 2.1b x3, HDMI 2.1b x2, Bundle GPU Holder] Multi-display ready with up to 4 displays and up to 7680 x 4320 max digital resolution, plus an included GPU Holder to help reduce GPU sag and improve long-term build stability.
Price is only one part of the product comparison. NVIDIA said the RTX 5090 has 32GB of GPU memory, 33% more than the RTX 4090, and claimed performance of up to 2x that of the RTX 4090. Those are NVIDIA’s specifications and performance claims, not an independent assessment of performance across all uses or test conditions. NVIDIA’s RTX 50 Series blog
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4
- Powered by GeForce RTX 5080
- Integrated with 16GB GDDR7 256bit memory interface
- PCIe 5.0
- WINDFORCE cooling system
Rank #4
- Equipped with GeForce RTX 5090 chipset
- Integrated with 32GB of 512-bit GDDR7 memory interface
- WATERFORCE All-in-One Cooling System
- RGB Lighting
- Protective metal back plate
Rank #3
- Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4. System Requirements: Minimum 850W PSU with 16-pin 12V-2x6 (12VHPWR) connector required. Verify before purchasing.
- Military-grade components deliver rock-solid power and longer lifespan for ultimate durability. Compatibility: 348mm (13.7") length, 3.6 slots, 4.3 lbs. Confirm case clearance and slot spacing. GPU bracket included.
- Protective PCB coating helps protect against short circuits caused by moisture, dust, or debris
- 3.6-slot design with massive fin array optimized for airflow from three Axial-tech fans
- Phase-change GPU thermal pad helps ensure optimal thermal performance and longevity, outlasting traditional thermal paste for graphics cards under heavy loads
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
