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We’re considering RTX 4090 vs PS5, both worthy opponents capable of delivering an incredible gaming experience.
There’s a lot to consider if you’re tossing up between Nvidia’s beastly RTX 4090 graphics card and Sony’s PlayStation 5.
We’ll be addressing the most important differences between the 4090 and PS5, hoping that you’ll come away with a better informed decision on whether a gaming PC or PS5 is right for you. It may also be worth considering how a gaming laptop compares to PS5 if you don’t have a permanent gaming set-up and need the flexibility.
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Although PS5 currently stands as one of the best gaming consoles of all time, let’s be clear that the PS5 is fitted with AMD’s Oberon GPU which is basically equivalent to Nvidia’s RTX 3060 Ti.
However, don’t be put off – it’s still a fantastic graphics card which delivers 4K at 120 fps on PS5. To learn more about its Nvidia equivalent though, check out our best picks guide for the RTX 3060 Ti.
On a surface level, the 4090 obviously comes out with the better performance, literally squashing its console opponent. However, the PS5 has its own unique merits. These include its impressive haptic DualSense controller, exclusive titles & immersive 3D audio. In an exciting development, Sony has also announced their new DualSense Edge Controller will be released on January 26th. We’re also expecting to see the new PlayStation VR 2 headset released shortly, which is definitely making us lean towards PS5 more.
Whatever you choose to game on, we can provide a lending hand in your additional needs. This might be choosing the best TV for PS5, or considering the best PSU to support the 4090.
RTX 4090 vs PS5 – specs
Below we’re listing the important specs for Nvidia‘s RTX 4090 vs PS5.
When it comes to finding out the exact specs of PS5 GPU, it can be a little tricky. On the PS5 blog and PS5 product listing, we get a general overview as, understandably, the typical PS5 owner may not be interested in delving deep into the intricacies of the GPU itself.
That being said, we have come across some sources which appear to give us the information we need for our comparison below. Let’s take a closer look…
| Specs | RTX 4090 | PS5 |
| Memory type | GDDR6X | GDDR6 |
| Max RAM | 24GB | 16GB |
| Memory bus | 384-bit | 256-bit |
| CUDA Cores / Stream processors | 16,384 | 2,304 |
| Thermal Design Power | 180W | 450W |
| Clock speed (MHz) base – boost | 2235 – 2520 | 2233 – 2233 |
| Manufacturing process technology | 4nm | 6nm |
| Length | 304 mm | 390 mm |
As the specs indicate, RTX 4090 boasts significantly higher performance than PS5 at 4K.
Other notable differences include the 4090’s larger RAM. At 16GB of RAM, PS5 users often need to invest in additional SSD cards to store graphic intensive games. Especially as new games tend to take up more storage, it’s worth taking a look at the best external hard drives for PS5.
So, whilst PS5 is generally the choice with much less faff, there is still additional hardware you need to factor in.
In terms of power consumption, there’s no skirting around the fact that the RTX 4090 eats up a lot of power – over 100W more than Nvidia’s previous flagship. In other words, though the 4090 boasts better performance than PS5, there is a clear downside to its gargantuan power in the form of running costs.
Read More: Does PS5 support 8K gaming?
Ultimately, competitive gamers will probably be swayed by the RTX 4090 specs if they can afford it. Simply put, the 4090 is the best graphics card in the business right now. Not everyone needs the best though, especially when PS5 can deliver 4K at 120 fps.
RTX 4090 vs PS5 – price
The bottom line is that both the RTX 4090 and PS5 are fairly big investments.
When considering price, you must consider the upfront cost of the purchase, then factor in hidden costs including:
- The cost of games (including PlayStation Plus monthly subscription)
- Energy running costs
- Additional hardware (external storage, TVs, monitors, PSUs etc.)
Nvidia’s RTX 4090 is often for over $2000, reaching prices of up to $2,500. In comparison, the PS5 costs far less at $499, with the cheaper PS5 Digital Edition option costing $100 less, though comes without a disc drive.
It’s worth mentioning that the PS5 continues to be in high demand, so actually getting hold of the console is potentially not as straightforward as buying the 4090. It shouldn’t be too difficult though, and probably easier than getting hold of the 4090 back in October when it released.
Whilst the PS5 clearly comes out with the friendliest price, it potentially has more add-on costs than the 4090 so long as you’re not building your PC from scratch.
Read more: Best monitor for PS5
However, if you go for the 4090, its high performance might need a new PSU which will add around $200 extra to the bill. If that’s something you’re now considering, we’ve listed the best PSUs for the 4090 to help.
Overall, you’ll probably end up spending less on PS5, at least until the 4090’s price stabilises.
RTX 4090 vs PS5 – game costs
PlayStation Plus subscription starts at $9.99 per month if you want to play online games, with the option of paying up to $17.99 per month for PS Plus Premium. However, your PS5 should last for years to come, which could add hundreds of dollars extra to your bill.
This is where we’re drawn back to the simplicity of PC gaming. You can game online for free via Steam, plus multiplayer games. The main difference then is that whilst paying is optional with PC gaming, you have to pay with PS5.
Read more: Best TV for PS5
That being said PlayStation Plus does entitle you to three free games per month, with additional exclusive discounts and cloud saves. Though in our opinion, this doesn’t compete with the vast library of free games that Steam offers.
RTX 4090 vs PS5 – customization
The RTX 4090 and PS5 vary quite dramatically here. Simply put, you won’t find much in the way of customization from PS5. Depending on the type of gamer you are, this will probably be an important factor for you.
PS5 basically provides a standard gaming set-up. You’re leaving the games to be optimized by the developers, trusting they get it right for you. This is definitely a win if you just want to game without fiddling around in Game Settings.
Read more: Best PSU for RTX 409
In contrast, a PC gaming set up with the 4090 gives you the option for overclocking, and higher frame rates that is a must-have for competitive gamers.
RTX 4090 vs PS5 – durability
How long your GPU lasts depends on how well you look after it. However, with good airflow and regular cleaning of your PC components, you can expect the RTX 4090 to last for years. It truly is a next-gen graphics card.
PS5 similarly won’t be phased out any time soon either given that PS4 continues to be supported for almost 10 years since its release. PS5 will likely have an even longer shelf life.
Final word
Both graphics card and console deliver an incredible gaming experience, fully capable of 4K gaming.
We think PS5 seriously hits the mark for today’s gaming requirements. Unless you’re a competitive gamer, you don’t really need to go above and beyond 4K at 120 fps, especially when you add PlayStation’s immersive 3D audio into the mix.
To us, the RTX 4090 is more like a next-gen graphics card. Its speed is nothing short of godly of course, but do you really need your GPU to cope with gaming in 8K when there are games which don’t yet have native 4K? In our opinion, probably not.
The RTX 4090 costs a great deal more too, so if that’s a major factor then go for PS5 or else consider the RTX 3080 which is more fairly priced and still capable of running games in 4K.
If you do go for the RTX 4090, make sure you have the best case, to go with it.
Frequently asked questions
Is the RTX 4090 worth it?
If you’re somebody with deep pockets who enjoys the best of the best, then it’s a no brainer. For everyone else though, the 4090 is probably overkill, especially when you realise you need to upgrade your PC case and PSU to cope!
Is there PS5 in stock in 2023?
It’s set to be a big year for PlayStation with new hardware releases on the horizon, but for now, PS5 stock shortages are here to stay.
Is PS5 backwards compatible?
Yes – almost all PS4 games can be played on PS5 as well.
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