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[Hoddi]

May have to finance my final gpu at this rate. I wouldn't mind it. I just don't feel like throwing out 3grand of more for a gpu. I've been buying gpus for around 30 years. These are unprecedented times.

I see it a bit differently. While the price difference is huge then the actual practical difference between a $600 and $2000 GPU has never been smaller.

Like, sure, if you want to drive a 4k240 monitor then a 5090 might be worth it. But if you're only running a 1440p monitor then you can basically just buy whatever because you won't notice much difference between a 5070 and 5080 with VRR. I bought a 5080 at launch and I'm still kicking myself that I didn't wait for the 9070 XT reviews because I would 100% have bought one instead.

My 5080 might be faster but would I have noticed the difference between 140fps and 180fps or whatever? The answer is simply no.

 

[Gaiff]

I see it a bit differently. While the price difference is huge then the actual practical difference between a $600 and $2000 GPU has never been smaller.

Like, sure, if you want to drive a 4k240 monitor then a 5090 might be worth it. But if you're only running a 1440p monitor then you can basically just buy whatever because you won't notice much difference between a 5070 and 5080 with VRR. I bought a 5080 at launch and I'm still kicking myself that I didn't wait for the 9070 XT reviews because I would 100% have bought one instead.

My 5080 might be faster but would I have noticed the difference between 140fps and 180fps or whatever? The answer is simply no.

If you wanna leverage high quality ray tracing at high frame rates and resolutions, that little 9070 XT won't do. You don't need 4K240 to justify a 5090.

 

[Hoddi]

If you wanna leverage high quality ray tracing at high frame rates and resolutions, that little 9070 XT won't do. You don't need 4K240 to justify a 5090.

Sure, but that's only a small handful of games. Same argument applies to the 5070 Ti for that matter. I would also have bought that instead of my 5080 if I'd known how small the difference was.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

It's not unprecedented when recalling old school SGIs' prices.

US$1999 in 2025 is like US$1000 in 1992.

US$3000 in 2025 is like US$1500 in 1992.

Without competition against level 4090/5090 SKUs, NVIDIA is acting more like SGI.

No. The way these prices unfolded is not normal. I won't go into it, though... because I have been drinking a little.

 

[nemiroff]

I felt like I didn't need a 5090 (I have a 4090 in another computer). But my 4K 240Hz display is glad we got one anyway. It's a beast.

 

[peish]

Looking at how apple made gen on gen uplift to their a17p - a18p - a19p all on the same tsmc 3nm

I can see a 6090 doing 180% better than 5090 in 2027!

 

[Haint]

No. The way these prices unfolded is not normal. I won't go into it, though... because I have been drinking a little.

A very large portion (if not majority) of the demand (and accordingly prices) for the 4090 and 5090 weren't driven by #Gamers. They've been driven up by companies who run AI server farms that sell hourly or per-generation access to 4090/5090's for generative AI, as well as individual AI prosumers and hobbyists. They're the only truly useful consumer cards for AI because of their VRAM pools.

 

[Bboy AJ]

It took over six months, but my watch has finally ended. I have my 5090 founders edition.

 

[FalconPunch]

I keep thinking about buying this card but then I remember the power connector and I come to my senses.

 

[pacman4000]

Looking at how apple made gen on gen uplift to their a17p - a18p - a19p all on the same tsmc 3nm

That is N3B - N3E - N3P, to be precise.
But yes, they are all "3 nm".

 

[Gubaldo]

MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z 800W And 1000W BIOSes Leaked; Works On Non-MSI Models

RTX 5090 Lightning Z 1000W BIOS Uploaded on Techpowerup Database, Allowing Users to Flash it on Different RTX 5090 Models from Non-MSI Vendors

If the 800W leaked BIOS wasn't enough, users can now download the 1000W BIOS file from TechPowerUp for their GeForce RTX 5090 GPU. NVIDIA RTX 5090, which is usually capped at 600W, can now pull significantly higher power using the latest BIOSes, which are specifically made for the latest MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Lightning Z GPU.

MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z 800W And 1000W BIOSes Leaked; Works On Non-MSI Models

Someone just uploaded a 1000W BIOS made for the MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z GPU on Techpowerup, which reportedly works on other models as well.

wccftech.com

Anyone wanna fry their GPU?

 

[Celcius]

MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z 800W And 1000W BIOSes Leaked; Works On Non-MSI Models

RTX 5090 Lightning Z 1000W BIOS Uploaded on Techpowerup Database, Allowing Users to Flash it on Different RTX 5090 Models from Non-MSI Vendors

If the 800W leaked BIOS wasn't enough, users can now download the 1000W BIOS file from TechPowerUp for their GeForce RTX 5090 GPU. NVIDIA RTX 5090, which is usually capped at 600W, can now pull significantly higher power using the latest BIOSes, which are specifically made for the latest MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Lightning Z GPU.

MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z 800W And 1000W BIOSes Leaked; Works On Non-MSI Models

Someone just uploaded a 1000W BIOS made for the MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z GPU on Techpowerup, which reportedly works on other models as well.

wccftech.com

Anyone wanna fry their GPU?

I wonder if this will have any effect on the 2026 Benchmark Wars: https://www.neogaf.com/threads/2026-official-neogaf-3dmark-port-royal-benchmark-wars.1691881/

 

[darrylgorn]

MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z 800W And 1000W BIOSes Leaked; Works On Non-MSI Models

RTX 5090 Lightning Z 1000W BIOS Uploaded on Techpowerup Database, Allowing Users to Flash it on Different RTX 5090 Models from Non-MSI Vendors

If the 800W leaked BIOS wasn't enough, users can now download the 1000W BIOS file from TechPowerUp for their GeForce RTX 5090 GPU. NVIDIA RTX 5090, which is usually capped at 600W, can now pull significantly higher power using the latest BIOSes, which are specifically made for the latest MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Lightning Z GPU.

MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z 800W And 1000W BIOSes Leaked; Works On Non-MSI Models

Someone just uploaded a 1000W BIOS made for the MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z GPU on Techpowerup, which reportedly works on other models as well.

wccftech.com

Anyone wanna fry their GPU?

Or drain their laptop battery?

 

[Three]

MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z 800W And 1000W BIOSes Leaked; Works On Non-MSI Models

RTX 5090 Lightning Z 1000W BIOS Uploaded on Techpowerup Database, Allowing Users to Flash it on Different RTX 5090 Models from Non-MSI Vendors

If the 800W leaked BIOS wasn't enough, users can now download the 1000W BIOS file from TechPowerUp for their GeForce RTX 5090 GPU. NVIDIA RTX 5090, which is usually capped at 600W, can now pull significantly higher power using the latest BIOSes, which are specifically made for the latest MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Lightning Z GPU.

MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z 800W And 1000W BIOSes Leaked; Works On Non-MSI Models

Someone just uploaded a 1000W BIOS made for the MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z GPU on Techpowerup, which reportedly works on other models as well.

wccftech.com

Anyone wanna fry their GPU?

I'd rather not burn down my house.

 

[J3nga]

We thought 600W was well done, turns out it's medium rare.

 

[Gubaldo]

MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Lightning Z 32 GB GPU Review: The Beast Unleashed

MSI's RTX 5090 Lightning Z, a limited edition card with 32GB GDDR7, breaks performance records and offers extreme cooling and features.

wccftech.com

Damn thermals are impressive

 

[Gubaldo]

After 800W And 1000W BIOS Files, MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z 2500W XOC BIOS Leaked

A new way to kill your GeForce RTX 5090 has arrived. Since 800W and 1000W limits weren't enough, a user just uploaded the 2500W BIOS file as well.

Someone Leaked 2500W XOC BIOS for MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z; Users Start Flashing it on Non-MSI RTX 5090 GPUs

Most NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 GPUs are rated at no more than 600W. This huge amount of power goes through a single 16-pin power connector, which has killed numerous GPUs due to an inherent design flaw that causes the connector to melt pretty easily. If you remove the 600W power limit using a non-OEM BIOS to unlock additional GPU power, or resort to shunt modding, the risk of connector melting increases significantly.

After 800W And 1000W BIOS Files, MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z 2500W XOC BIOS Leaked

Someone just leaked the 2500W XOC BIOS for the MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z GPU, which now makes it possible to push insanely high power on non-MSI RTX 5090 GPUs.

wccftech.com

 

[flying_sq]

I know these things are expensive, but I have been debating getting one. Is it me, or is there tons in stock? They used to be impossible to get and people on FB and Amazon are trying to scalp them, but I can go get one from Micro Center at $3,500 anytime I want. I checked a few other cities across the country, and their Micro Centers also have 25+ in stock. My local Micro Centers all have between 18-25+ in stock. As weird as it sound, do you guys think there will be a very very short window where the price will drop then go back up?

 

[Corporal.Hicks]

Anyone wanna fry their GPU?

You mean fracture?

2500 W XOC BIOS Experiment Fractures MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z GPU Die

MSI's "built to be perfect" GeForce RTX 5090 Lightning Z design was heavily showcased at CES 2026, with press material referring to an unusual 2500 W "Extreme Performance OC" (XOC) BIOS. At the time, it was rumored that an official file had been issued exclusively to professional overclockers...

www.techpowerup.com