MSI GeForce RTX 5090 SUPRIM SOC review – When the gram costs one euro and puts the FE in the shade

1 - Introduction, overview and technical data 2 - Test system and equipment 3 - Teardown: PCB, components and cooler 4 - Material analysis and heat conducting materials 5 - Gaming performance 6 - Power consumption, load peaks, PSU recommendation 7 - Temperatures, clock rates and thermography 8 - Fan curves and operating noise 9 - Summary and conclusion

Gaming performance

The MSI RTX 5090 SUPRIM shows a slight increase in gaming performance compared to the Founders Edition, which is mainly due to the improved cooling. Thanks to the powerful cooling system, consisting of the large vapor chamber, the optimized core pipes and the efficient fan design, the GPU remains cooler under load. This allows the card to maintain higher boost clocks over longer periods of time. Compared to the Founders Edition, which reaches its thermal limits more quickly due to its cooling system, the SUPRIM manages to mobilize additional performance reserves.

In silent mode, which has the same TDP as the Founders Edition, the SUPRIM shows marginally better energy efficiency. The lower GPU temperatures ensure more stable performance and allow the card to execute more boost steps within the clock frequency. This means that the card works slightly faster with the same power consumption, as the cooling advantage reduces thermal throttling. This advantage is particularly noticeable in scenarios with a moderate load thanks to consistent and efficient performance.

The gaming mode of the RTX 5090 SUPRIM, which unlocks a significantly higher TDP of 600 watts, does not raise the card into a different performance category, but it does get warmer and slightly louder. Due to the aggressive energy supply, the GPU is operated with up to around 150 MHz more clock speed under full load, which increases gaming performance even further. In this mode, the card demonstrates its capabilities particularly in games with high computing power requirements, such as ray tracing or 4K resolutions. The higher clock rate provides a certain advantage over the Founders Edition in all three resolutions tested – 1080p, 1440p and 4K – albeit not a dramatic one. The additional 150 MHz leads to measurable but not revolutionary gains in the average and minimum frame rates, which is particularly advantageous in GPU-limited scenarios.

However, this performance increase in gaming mode comes at a price: the power consumption increases considerably, which is noticeable in a significantly higher heat development and louder fan operation. The card uses an “energy crowbar” to get the maximum possible performance out of the GPU. Nevertheless, the temperature remains well controlled thanks to the superior cooling technology, so that stability is not affected.

Results in Full HD

When evaluating the gaming performance of the MSI RTX 5090 SUPRIM, I focus on four central metrics, which I apply equally to all three resolutions tested – 1080p, 1440p and 4K. I deliberately avoided measurements with DLSS, as these would not provide any additional insights into the raw performance of the GPU due to the interpolation technology. This approach follows the line that I have also consistently applied in previous tests. The metrics mentioned thus represent a direct, redundancy-free analysis of GPU performance and allow a clear assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the RTX 5090 SUPRIM.

These following metrics allow a comprehensive and comparable analysis of the card and its performance under different conditions. The first metric is the normalized gaming performance compared to the RTX 4090, where the performance of the RTX 5090 is compared to the previous generation to illustrate how the SUPRIM positions itself in relation to the established performance class. This metric makes it possible to objectively evaluate the progress of the architecture and optimizations, regardless of the absolute FPS values.

The P1 Low, the second metric, focuses on the lowest 1% of frame rates. This measurement is particularly relevant as it shows how well the card performs in the most demanding moments of a game. A stable high P1 Low is a sign that the GPU performs evenly even under peak loads and that there are no disruptive stutters or dips. The strength of the RTX 5090 SUPRIM is reflected here in particular in its higher clock stability.

The average power consumption across 11 different games is the third key metric. It provides a realistic picture of the card’s power consumption under gaming conditions. This measurement helps to better classify the efficiency and load of the system in practical use, as it forms an average value across different titles and thus compensates for fluctuations in individual scenarios.

The fourth metric is efficiency, which describes the ratio of performance to power consumption. This metric is crucial for assessing the actual value of the card, especially in comparison to other models. Since the RTX 5090 SUPRIM can achieve higher boost clocks with the same or slightly higher power consumption thanks to its improved cooling, this shows its potential to achieve higher efficiency than the Founders Edition, especially in silent mode.

Results in QHD

The metrics explained above apply in the same way to the performance measurements in QHD (1440p). Here too, the values for normalized gaming performance, P1 Low, average power consumption and efficiency show a consistent picture. The corresponding graphics for these metrics are self-explanatory and illustrate the results at a glance. They underline the slight differences between the card and the RTX 4090 as well as the stability and efficiency across all games tested.

Results in Ultra HD

The explanations of the four metrics described above also apply to the measurements in UHD (4K). Even in this resolution, the values for normalized gaming performance, P1 Low, average power consumption and efficiency provide a conclusive overall picture of the performance of the MSI RTX 5090 SUPRIM SOC.

Interim conclusion

The MSI RTX 5090 SUPRIM offers advantages over the Founders Edition in both Silent Mode and Gaming Mode. While Silent Mode increases efficiency with the same TDP, Gaming Mode uses the improved cooling and the higher TDP to achieve an additional increase in performance, which is particularly interesting for enthusiasts with maximum demands on gaming performance. If anyone subjectively notices it at all. The gold ears for audio are then joined by the gold eyes.