Gameplay Performance
In the following section, we will utilize our standard gaming suite. We chose a resolution of 4K (3840 x 2160) as this is the target resolution for the MSI GeForce RTX 5090 32G SUPRIM SOC. Comparison performance in this review is from the MSI GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM X 24G video card. The comparison model was chosen not only for its resolution target, but also because it is one of the best comparisons despite being a “last generation card”.
In the Gameplay Performance section, we set all games at their highest Quality preset. Four of the games utilize ray tracing in some form for lighting effects or “always-on” ray tracing. These games are: DOOM: The Dark Ages, Claire Obscur: Expedition 33, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, and Star Wars Outlaws.
Alan Wake 2
We saw excellent performance natively from both cards. The MSI GeForce RTX 5090 32G SUPRIM SOC holds a 32% better frame rate. This is essentially duplicated and upscaled. Overclocking will gain a modest 3%.
Black Myth: Wukong
This game is very challenging at 4K. The MSI GeForce RTX 5090 32G SUPRIM SOC wants to be playable, but just can’t crack the 60 FPS barrier. Nonetheless, the margin here is 34%, slightly closer upscaled at 22%. The MSI GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM X 24G struggles without upscaling. Overclocking doesn’t help much in this game.
Claire Obscur: Expedition 33
Even in the face of “always-on” ray-traced lighting, both cards are playable and quite smooth. The MSI GeForce RTX 5090 32G SUPRIM SOC has a 21% edge natively and a 14% margin upscaled. The overclock gains 5% in this game.
Cyberpunk 2077
Both video cards play this game with very nice frame rates. You can see there is little to nothing to gain from overclocking here. (We repeated the benchmark three times to make sure) The margin for the MSI GeForce RTX 5090 32G SUPRIM SOC is an impressive 50%. Upscaling doesn’t at all seem necessary, but gives blistering results in this graphically dense game.
DOOM: The Dark Ages
Both video cards are playable here and show excellent response in this frantic game. This is another “always-on” ray-traced game; the visuals are impressive. The MSI GeForce RTX 5090 32G SUPRIM SOC has a 20% margin here. Upscaling is not necessary, but it’s still very fast for both cards. Overclocking gains you 5%.
Horizon Forbidden West
Both cards are quite fast in this game. The graphics are quite stunning, with both cards nearly or over 100 FPS. Upscaling isn’t necessary at all. The margin here is 22% and 17% upscaled. This game will benefit 7% from overclocking.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
This “always-on” ray-traced game does slow the MSI GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM X 24G a bit. The MSI GeForce RTX 5090 32G SUPRIM SOC gives FPS over 100 and shows off the graphics well. The margin is 38% in this game. Upscaling lifts both cards over 100 FPS. Overclocking gets you 3% extra.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
This game is vast, and the graphics are demanding. The MSI GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM X 24G just makes it into playable FPS without some help. Natively, the MSI GeForce RTX 5090 32G SUPRIM SOC has better performance by 34% and the game is very smooth. Upscaled, both cards are near or over 100 FPS, with a 15% margin. Overclocking gains 3%.
Star Wars Outlaws
This is a very graphically busy game. Add to that “always-on” ray-traced lighting, and it can be tough on video cards. Still, both cards are nicely playable. The margin here is 25% natively and 19% upscaled. The FPS increases quite nicely with upscaling, however.