Gameplay Performance – 4090 DLSS vs 5090 DLSS Latency
*Take Note* – The performance shown below is not FPS, it is in fact PC Latency represented in milliseconds. We utilized NVIDIA FrameView to capture statistics while playing these games, and are showing the AvgPCLatency and MaxPCLatency results as indicated by NVIDIA FrameView data. For Latency, the lower the number, the better. Therefore, we are showing the MaxPCLatency which shows the highest latency number achieved in the run-through, which would be a “bad” result, you really want the Max Latency to be as low as it can be for the best experience while gaming.
Continuing our latency testing, we thought it’d also be a great idea to do a little comparing between the GeForce RTX 4090’s DLSS latency versus the GeForce RTX 5090’s DLSS latency. We can just simply compare DLSS 3 on both the RTX 4090 and RTX 5090, and see if latency has changed between them on the Upscaling component, and Frame Generation component.
Black Myth: Wukong – 4K
In Black Myth: Wukong we are testing at 4K with Cinematic graphics quality enabled, and are using the built-in benchmark for the test, this makes it very repeatable. Firstly, and most interestingly, it appears that at 4K native resolution the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 FE actually has higher raster latency than the GeForce RTX 4090 FE. Indeed, the average latency and max latency is higher on the RTX 5090 versus the RTX 4090 at 4K resolution here.
When we enable DLSS Upscaling, well the GeForce RTX 5090 FE drops down the latency quite a bit here, in fact below the GeForce RTX 4090’s Upscaling latency. When we turn on Frame Generation at 4K, the results are even more odd. The average latency of Frame Gen is lower on the GeForce RTX 5090 compared to the GeForce RTX 4090, but the maximum latency is wildly higher on the GeForce RTX 5090 compared to the GeForce RTX 4090. The results here are interesting, to say the least.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
The other new game that we did this test in was Stalker 2, which inherently relies on the CPU quite a bit. In the graph above we are testing at 4K Epic game settings, and using a manual run-through. Unlike Black Myth: Wukong, the latency on the GeForce RTX 5090 is actually lower than the GeForce RTX 4090 at 4K native resolution, it drops the average and maximum latency, which is great to see. When we enable DLSS Upscaling, it’s also very close between the video cards here, the average is a bit lower on the RTX 5090, but the maximum is the same. When we enable Frame Generation, it’s more of the same, the two video cards are actually very close to each other in terms of latency with Frame Generation.
These games definitely show two very different patterns, Black Myth: Wukong is very GPU-oriented, and Stalker 2 is a bit more CPU-driven. Take that for what you will, but it does show that latency is going to be game-dependent, and which card is better or worse is going to depend on the game itself.
Discussion (19 replies)
Join Discussion →A lot to unpack indeed. I'll be re-reading this review a few times, at least. Thanks @Brent_Justice !
Me too, me too, it's a long one boys! I attempted to include some relevant topics and testing, considering the new technologies. It's just the tip of the iceberg on potential testing. Frame Generation is one of the hardest things to convey.
Nice review I love it . THANK YOU!
Seems to be getting the 9950x3d will be wise for this one... It's been a long time since we've seen a new video card need more than the current gaming champ CPU can push.
Were you all seeing utilization less than 100% in the video card when you called that out?
Is reflex enabled on the native 4k latency tests? they seem quite high.
Except that an AMD exec was quoted a few days ago as saying the performance will more or less be the same. AMD needs to make a CCD with more cores/threads, that or really bump up the clock speeds, or both.
BTW the card kind of looks somewhat small.
That's the magic in their engineering.. It looks like a great card, in that small(ish) footprint..
Do you notice any IQ difference between DLSS4 and DLSS 3? DLSS is supposed to have better IQ
I don't really see a reason it's not somewhat shorter. Pretty much all 3rd party cards I've seen look gargantuan.
Watch the gamers nexus video on the cooling. They are the only source that go's into it and it's actually VERY interesting. That card is engineered very well... from a cooling perspective and density perspective.
Higher density = lower cost because less materials for PCB, but more cost in the cooler itself that was engineered very well by all appearances to be minimal on materials to effectiveness. So in effect they spent a lot to engineer the board but it will pay off in dividends on production costs needing less materials. :)
Really like the angled 12V-2x6 port. Makes so much more sense than previous ports on FE and custom cards.
As much as I want one with an AIO I'm seriously considering this FE version. I normally don't care about FE models but really liking this one. I'll probably still try to get an custom with AIO (MSI more than likely) but feeling tempted by this one.
since nvidia claims the RTX5070 beats the RTX 4090, wouldn't it be fair to claim that the RTX4090 is faster than the RTX5090 (when using dlss 3.5 frame generation vs no frame gen)? :p ;):rolleyes: