The highly anticipated NVIDIA RTX 5090 is finally here. While many flatscreen gamers have been slightly disappointed by the performance boost over the RTX 4090, the verdict is still out on its performance in VR. Below we shared (and will update) the latest benchmark tests for virtual reality with the 5090. We explore how the RTX 5090 performs in various VR applications and compare its benchmarks with previous-generation GPUs.
Key Specs of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- Memory: 32 GB GDDR7
- Memory interface: 512-bit
- Memory bandwidth: 1,792 GB/s
- Total graphics power (TGP): 575 W
- Recommended power supply: 1,000 W
- CUDA cores: 21,760
- Base clock: 2.01 GHz
- Boost clock: 2.41 GHz
- GPU: GB202 (Blackwell architecture)
- Release date: January 30, 2025
- Price: $1999
These specifications suggest a substantial performance leap, particularly for VR applications requiring high frame rates and low latency.
RTX 5090 VR Benchmarks
We here share several reviews of RTX 5090's capabilities in VR and summarize their findings.
Omniwhatever: "Huge gains with the 5090 in VR on high resolutions"
Omniwhatever's channel has a lot of great benchmark studies for VR. His summary on the 4090 versus the 5090: "This card [the 5090] sees the most value for the enthousiast playing on extreme resolutions."
His findings is that playing on a headset such as the Quest 3, the boost compared to the 4090 isn't that big (+25-30% more FPS). But when using a high-res headset like the Pimax Crystal Light, the gains are much bigger. Here you'll see gains of +40-50% in terms of FPS. With the Crystal Super's resolution, gains can get up to 70% in terms of FPS or even more. It's well worth watching the whole video.
See for instance, Red Matter 2, which has 47 average FPS on 6144x6432 per eye on the 4090, but with the 5090, can still maintain 117 FPS.
This is also visible in Metro Awakening. Comparing the 4090 and the 5090 FPS at 5320 x 5568 per eye, the 5090 jumps from an average FPS of 24 to 81, a huge boost.
These findings were also covered by the Overclock forum, as well as Notebookcheck, noting that the 5090 has a "truly impressive generational uplift for the RTX 5090 in a very specific workload: ultra-high-res Virtual Reality."
Here is also Omniwhatever's review with the Pimax Crystal Light:
Corsten's Hangar testing the 4090 vs 5090 in MSFS2024
This YouTube channel tested the two GPUs head to head. Ignoring the flat screen test, one zone using VR (at 3072 x 3216) saw a jump from of +28% FPS when using TAA, +22% when using DLSS 4. A second flight comparison (more buildings) saw a jump of +28% FPS when using TAA, +20% FPS increase when DLSS 4.
Mr Mobs testing the 5090 in MSFS2024
"Pleased with the results. It's an improvement over the 4090. As you can see, I'm getting 60 FPS."
There is, however, in this video, not a direct comparison with the 4090 or other GPUs.
Limitless about DCS in VR
Limitless also reports huge gains with the 5090 and DLSS for VR, which brings a visual delight especially with the Pimax Crystal Light.
See for instance the increase of FPS for Project Cars 2 with the 5090 vs the 4090.
Technikchegger
Der VR Komplize testing the 5090
Der VR Komplize is testing the 4090 vs 5090 in MSFS 2024. In German.
More upcoming
We will add more VR benchmarks as they come in.
