NVIDIA RTX 5090: Is it the ultimate for VR enthusiasts?
Enthusiasts celebrate, critics moan: This is how the RTX 5090 divides the VR community. We have all the important information for you.
The NVIDIA RTX 5090 - a name that raises high expectations in the gaming community, but also causes skepticism. While some are enthusiastic about the performance promises, others wonder whether the new graphics card will meet the high demands, especially in the VR sector. This article provides an analysis of the RTX 5090, focuses on VR performance and examines the reactions of the community.
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VR benchmarks of the RTX 5090
The benchmark results of the RTX 5090 are impressive in VR, unlike the results known from the flat test. Compared to the RTX 4090, performance increases of up to 300% were measured in games such as "Metro Awakening" and "Kayak VR Mirage" at very high resolutions, as can be seen in the video by Omniwhatever. As such high resolutions are practically unheard of in the flat sector, the VR potential is only now really becoming clear.
- Metro Awakening: The RTX 5090 delivers almost three times the performance of the RTX 4090 at the highest resolution, resulting in a significantly smoother and more immersive gaming experience.
- Kayak VR Mirage: At high resolutions and with MSAA enabled, the RTX 5090 almost doubles the performance of the RTX 4090 and masters even the most demanding graphics settings.
- Project Wingman (with FSR): At 400% resolution, the 5090 outperforms the 4090 by more than 30 FPS and delivered a playable 77 FPS on average.
- Skyrim VR (with mods): While the performance gains here were smaller (22-34% at 100-200% resolution), the 5090 still enabled the ability to play at 400% resolution, which was not possible with the 4090.
- Red Matter 2: At 400% resolution, the 5090 consistently delivered almost three times the performance of the 4090.
Why the RTX 5090 is so superior in VR
The main reason for the leap in performance is the significantly higher memory bandwidth of the RTX 5090, which has increased by almost 80% compared to the RTX 4090, while the pure computing power has only increased moderately. This is particularly noticeable at higher resolutions. The higher bandwidth makes this possible:
- Higher bandwidth = smoother VR experience: The higher bandwidth of the RTX 5090 ensures that the required textures, geometries and other data reach the GPU fast enough to guarantee a smooth display without stutters or delays.
- Higher resolutions possible: With more bandwidth, higher resolutions can also be displayed in VR without any problems, resulting in a sharper and more detailed image and enhancing the feeling of immersion.
- More complex scenes can be displayed: The higher bandwidth enables the GPU to render more complex scenes with more objects and details without any loss of performance.
Another factor that benefits the performance of the RTX 5090 in VR is DLSS 4 (Deep Learning Super Sampling). This AI-supported technology makes it possible to render games in a lower resolution and then upscale to a higher resolution without losing image quality. This can significantly increase performance in demanding titles if they support this technology.
Memory bandwidth explained
A GPU works like a large factory that continuously requires water (data) for production. The VRAM acts as a huge water reservoir that stores all important data such as textures, 3D models and other graphics information.
The memory bandwidth can be imagined as a complex pipe system between the reservoir and the factory. The size and number of these pipes determines how much "water" can reach the factory per second — in other words, how quickly the GPU can access the stored data.
For low graphics requirements, such as games in Full HD or simpler applications, the available bandwidth is easily sufficient. The factory receives enough "water" to work efficiently. However, if the requirements increase, for example with VR gaming or 4K resolution, the limited pipe capacity can become a bottleneck. Even if the reservoir (VRAM) is full to bursting, not enough "water" reaches the factory.
Modern high-end GPUs such as the RTX 5090 have "bigger pipes" (higher bandwidth) and can therefore handle even the most demanding tasks without bottlenecks. This explains why memory bandwidth is a critical factor in the overall performance of a graphics card, especially for high-resolution or complex applications.
What the VR community says about the RTX 5090
The RTX 5090 is causing mixed reactions in the VR community. Enthusiasts celebrate it as an essential upgrade for high-end headsets such as Pimax Crystal or MeganeX 8k to unlock the full potential of their hardware. Impressive benchmarks confirm the card's superiority over the RTX 4090.
However, there are concerns about the price-performance ratio, as many find the card prohibitively expensive. Discussions about the high costs run through the community. In addition, the availability of the RTX 5090 is limited, which exacerbates the situation.
There is a lot of interest in VR-specific benchmarks, especially for flight simulations such as MSFS and DCS as well as modified games such as Skyrim VR and Cyberpunk 2077. Despite the positive performance, there is criticism of the initial driver issues that led to compatibility and performance problems.
The community is divided: Some see the RTX 5090 as a milestone in VR gaming, while others are put off by the high price and driver issues. However, demand remains unbroken and the RTX 5090 remains a hotly debated topic.
Some of the most common concerns from the community:
- Pricing: the RTX 5090 is extremely expensive and unaffordable for many. Prices for top models reach the cost of a cheap used car. This significantly limits the potential buyer base and leads to frustration in the community.
- Availability: Within a very short time, the coveted new graphics card was sold out everywhere and the prices for cards that were still available rose sharply.
- Compatibility: Initial driver issues led to compatibility issues with some VR headsets, especially high-end models such as the Varjo Aero and the Pimax Crystal. The instability is unsettling for potential buyers.
- Driver issues: In addition to the compatibility issues, general driver issues have also been reported, leading to performance drops and instability. Seanmccarty6084 reports severe frame drops in "Metro Awakening" and "Skyrim VR" with mods and suspects that the drivers are not yet fully developed.
Is the RTX 5090 worth the money?
The RTX 5090 is a graphics card for high-end VR. For VR enthusiasts with high-resolution headsets and the budget to match, it delivers unparalleled performance. It enables VR experiences at a level that was unattainable with the RTX 4090.
- For VR enthusiasts: If you are prepared to pay the high price, you will get the best VR performance currently available. The RTX 5090 is an investment in the future of VR and makes it possible to exploit the full potential of high-resolution headsets.
- For users of cheaper VR headsets: The surcharge compared to the RTX 4090 is hardly justified for gaming on cheaper VR headsets. The increase in performance is significantly lower here and the high costs are not worth it.
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