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The new NVIDIA RTX 50-series graphics range of cards represent a huge leap forward whatever the workloads you’re tackling with your gaming PC, RTX Studio PC or workstation. They introduce the Blackwell architecture to consumer GPUs and bring a number of new or enhanced technologies delivering significant uplifts in performance for a wide range of use cases.
RTX 50-series graphics cards offer increased memory sizes to cope with todays more demanding games and 5th gen Tensor cores optimised for neural rendering and featuring a high-speed format - INT4 - which significantly boosts throughput while reducing memory requirements by half. These are also complemented by 4th gen ray tracing (RT) cores that focus on handling mega geometry more efficiently, processing larger and more complex scenes. To add to this, DLSS 4 uses transformer-based AI frame generation (as opposed to CNN-based upscaling in previous DLSS versions), to rapidly detect and predict in-game patterns, reducing the computational load and latency, boosting framerates.
Finally Reflex 2 builds upon the first iteration of latency reduction by offering 75% faster responsiveness by synchronising CPU and GPU more effectively via a technique called Frame Warp whereby the system records the mouse cursor position and transforms the whole image right before sending it to the screen. Read our RTX gen-on-gen blog to understand more about the gaming benefits of upgrading to RTX 50-series.
RTX 50-series graphics cards feature a wealth of technologies that benefit content creators including improved Shader Multiprocessors (SM) optimised for neural shaders, offering twice the bandwidth and improved throughput for handling complex tasks, especially those involving deep learning and neural shading; a new Neural Radiance Cache dynamically trains a neural network during video playback using the GPU, allowing light transport to be cached spatially, enabling near-infinite light bounces in a scene. Furthermore, RTX Neural Faces leverages subsurface scattering—a technique borrowed from film rendering— to simulate light penetrating and diffusing through materials, delivering a subtle glow in skin tones adding depth and realism to characters in motion.
There’s also support for 4:2:2 video, which offers greater colour depth and improved image quality and sharper edges, especially when working with green screens or fine text details. Also supported is multiview-HEVC (MV-HEVC) for 3D and virtual reality (VR) video, and the new AV1 Ultra High Quality mode. Additionally, due to enhancements in multi-encoder and decoder technology, Blackwell-based GPUs can now handle multiple 4K streams simultaneously. Finally, imminent updates to NVIDIA Broadcast software in February will improve livestreaming capabilities with AI powered Studio Voice, enhancing the sound of a user’s microphone to match that of a high-quality microphone; and Virtual Key Light, able to relight a subject’s face to deliver even coverage as if it were well-lit by two lights.
RTX 50-series graphics cards provide a great platform for AI development, helping simplify this often-challenging process by the introduction of NIM for RTX. NIM (NVIDIA Inference Models) are microservices focussed AI models designed for, and fine-tuned to run, on the latest Blackwell-based RTX GPUs. Each NIM microservice includes numerous models - including both popular community-driven options and those developed by NVIDIA - packaged in pre-built containers that eliminate the need for developers to handle the complex steps of model optimisation, adaptation, and integration.
At the core of what is sometimes termed the RTX AI PC, is the seamless integration of AI workloads into Windows, made possible by WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux). Traditionally, AI development has been predominantly done in Linux environments, but WSL allows you to run Linux command-line tools and apps alongside your Windows command-line, desktop and store apps, and to access your Windows files from within Linux.
Given the host of new features and workload capabilities, you’re sure to want to upgrade to an RTX 50-series card. However, regardless of which card you go for you need to ensure your PC is 50-series ready - the main specs are summarised below.
The GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card has 21,760 CUDA cores, 170 4th gen RT cores, 680 5th gen Tensor cores and 32GB of GDDR7 memory and a TDP of 575W.
The GeForce RTX 5080 graphics card has 10,752 CUDA cores, TBC 4th gen RT cores, TBC 5th gen Tensor cores and 16GB of GDDR7 memory and a TDP of 360W.
The GeForce RTX 5070 Ti graphics card has 8,960 CUDA cores, TBC 4th gen RT cores, TBC 5th gen Tensor cores and 16GB of GDDR7 memory and a TDP of 300W.
The GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card has 6,144 CUDA cores, TBC 4th gen RT cores, TBC 5th gen Tensor cores and 12GB of GDDR7 memory and a TDP of 250W.
These specs may have an impact on the power supply, PC case, motherboard and CPU - let’s take a closer look.
If you’re upgrading to an RTX 50-series card, chances are you might need a bigger PSU for your gaming PC, RTX Studio PC or workstation:
As PSU requirements will vary between graphics card manufacturers you should always check individual graphics card product specifications to ensure compatibility with your other components.
An upgrade to an RTX 50-series card may sound great, but you’d be gutted if you ordered one and found it wouldn’t fit in your system case. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50-series Founders Edition graphics cards are all 2-slot designs with the following dimensions - please note there is no RTX 5070 Ti Founders Edition card.
| Model | RTX 5090 | RTX 5080 | RTX 5070 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCIe Slots | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Length | 304mm | 304mm | 242mm |
| Height | 137mm | 137mm | 112mm |
For other manufacturers of RTX 50-series graphics cards, you will need to check their specs for size, as the dimensions will most likely be different to the Founders Edition cards listed above.
RTX 50-series graphics cards are all PCIe 5.0 connectivity, but are backwards compatible with older (and slower) PCIe 4.0 and 3.0 standards.
RTX 50-series graphics cards do not have any specific CPU requirements, but for the best experience Scan would recommend the below:
| Gaming | Content Creation | AI |
|---|---|---|
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So, there you have it - no matter what graphics cards you currently have, you're going to experience a whole new world of gaming, content creation or AI development by upgrading to a latest 50-series card. The RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 both launch on the 30th January, with the RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5070 both following shortly after in February. All cards will be available either on our GeForce RTX 50-series online shop or by visiting our Bolton retail store. Our full review videos and DLSS 4, Reflex 2 and Broadcast deep dives will be live soon after on the Scan YouTube channel, so make you visit and subscribe now so you don't miss them.
If you're in the market for a new PC rather than just the graphics cards our range of 3XS Systems includes GeForce RTX 50-series models optimised for gaming, graphics, video and AI and will be available to order from 30th January. For laptop users, the wait isn't much longer as laptops featuring the new GeForce RTX 50-series graphics cards will be available to order from February. All these will be available via our GeForce RTX 50-series online shop and at our Bolton retail store.