Nvidia's rumored GeForce RTX 5090 SE promises flagship power for $500 less, if you can find one

[DragonSlayer101]

Rumor mill: Nvidia is reportedly working on a more affordable variant of the RTX 5090 graphics card for gamers seeking flagship-level performance without paying the premium commanded by the standard model. Tentatively named the GeForce RTX 5090 SE, the new card is expected to slot between the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090, effectively replacing the cancelled RTX 5080 Ti.

Based on Nvidia's Blackwell graphics architecture, the RTX 5090 SE will reportedly use a cut-down version of the GB202 die, the same silicon found in the standard RTX 5090. It is rumored to feature 14,080 CUDA cores, roughly 33 percent fewer than the 21,760 CUDA cores in the flagship model. The card is also tipped to include 32GB of GDDR7 memory connected via a 384-bit memory bus.

Other rumored specifications include 110 streaming multiprocessors, 110 RT cores, 440 Tensor cores, and 440 TMUs. The total graphics power is expected to be around 500W, approximately 12 percent lower than the RTX 5090's 575W rating. There is no word yet on the ROP count, although online speculation suggests it could come in at around 144.

The report adds that the RTX 5090 SE will carry an MSRP of around $1,500, roughly 25 percent lower than the original RTX 5090's $1,999 price tag. While the lower price sounds enticing, whether gamers will actually be able to buy the card at MSRP remains to be seen. Due to high demand and limited supply, the RTX 5090 rarely sells for less than $3,000, with prices occasionally exceeding $4,000.

Even the RTX 5080, which carries an official MSRP of $999, often sells for between $1,200 and $1,600 depending on the model, largely because of VRAM supply constraints. Nvidia has also shifted its focus toward the more lucrative AI accelerator market in recent years, leading to persistent shortages of consumer GPUs and further frustrating gamers.

Meanwhile, Team Green is also rumored to be working on the RTX 5080 Super, another upper-mid-range graphics card positioned above the RTX 5080 but below the RTX 5090. It will reportedly feature 24GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit memory bus, the same 10,752 CUDA cores as the standard RTX 5080, and a 415W TDP. The card is expected to be unveiled at CES 2027 in January.

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Nvidia's rumored GeForce RTX 5090 SE promises flagship power for $500 less, if you can find one

 

[MSIGamer]

Advertising a fake MSRP should be illegal.
They just make up numbers that don't reflect reality. If you're buying a 5080 for $1500 you're surely not buying the 5090SE at that price.

 

[Hecate91]

It's BS made up news, a VRAM configuration of 32GB of GDDR7 isn't possible with a 384 bit bus.
Although if this were real, Nvidia would probably sell it at the 5090 MSRP, because the jacket man loves product segmentation that keeps every GPU in the lineup pushing you towards the higher end more expensive GPU's.

 

[noel24]

It's BS made up news, a VRAM configuration of 32GB of GDDR7 isn't possible with a 384 bit bus.
Although if this were real, Nvidia would probably sell it at the 5090 MSRP, because the jacket man loves product segmentation that keeps every GPU in the lineup pushing you towards the higher end more expensive GPU's.

New GDDR7 revision supports 3GB modules over standard 32bit bus (50% more), hence recent news of RTX 50XX Super with 50% more memory, or now cancelled 9GB RTX 5050 with 96bit bus. And since GTX 970 with 3,5 + 0,5 GB was a thing... Those would be some otherwise garbage parts of the bin, now repurposed for huge money, rather than cut to RTX 5080.

 

[MasterMace]

I am not buying a card with Nvidia's proprietary Fire Hazard Power connector.

 

[Nobina]

They can price it at $10, it will quickly turn into a $5k if supply is low, and low it's gonna be.

 

[yRaz]

They can price it at $10, it will quickly turn into a $5k if supply is low, and low it's gonna be.

That's more scalpers than anything. AI bots just make it easier.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

Just give me a 6080 with 24GB that matches the 4090 for $1000.

... I know, but a boy can dream right?

 

[Endymio]

Advertising a fake MSRP should be illegal.

Learn the difference between a retail price and a manufacturer's suggested retail price. And no government law can override the laws of economics: when quantities are scarce, the price will rise.

 

[godrilla]

I am not buying a card with Nvidia's proprietary Fire Hazard Power connector.

https://videocardz.com/newz/asrock-...090-power-connector-melted#comment-6899865680

The beta test continues
because because this time is different.

 

[yRaz]

Just give me a 6080 with 24GB that matches the 4090 for $1000.

... I know, but a boy can dream right?

Might nit be far off, nVidias stock price is down 15% back from their all time high back in May. And some interesting information on the investigation into the RAM cartel just came out today. The big 3 have all lowered the amount of wafers they've used by 20% since 2024. So, yeah, not only are they not expanding capacity, they're actively reducing it.

 

[Endymio]

Might nit be far off, nVidias stock price is down 15% back from their all time high back in May. And some interesting information on the investigation into the RAM cartel just came out today. The big 3 have all lowered the amount of wafers they've used by 20% since 2024. So, yeah, not only are they not expanding capacity, they're actively reducing it.

Why continually repeat disinformation? The "investigation" is actually a class-action civil suit, intended to enrich tort attorneys and no one else. And total DRAM wafer starts are up substantially in 2026: memory makers pivoted some conventional DRAM starts into HBM ... not that anyone should even need to be told that; why else would conventional RAM prices rise?

 

[Inthenstus]

Make a 5090 with 16 GB of VRAM and call it a day. Anything higher than 16 GB of VRAM would last 4-5 years for 99% of games. It’s just an excuse to charge you more.

 

[Megalomaniac]

Sounds like another paper launch.

Or perhaps it will win the award for "Most Scalped Card in History".

Thank God I got my 5090.

 

[Melkor Unlimited]

Make a 5090 with 16 GB of VRAM and call it a day. Anything higher than 16 GB of VRAM would last 4-5 years for 99% of games. It’s just an excuse to charge you more.

With bus cut down to 384 bit it would be 24GB.

It's BS made up news, a VRAM configuration of 32GB of GDDR7 isn't possible with a 384 bit bus.

Other web described it as 8x 3 GB chips + 4x 2 GB chips instead of 12x 2 GB = 24 GB or 12x 3 GB = 36GB.

Translated to common english
You would get full 384 bit speed up to 24GB
and reduced 256 bit speed for the last 8GB

 

[opckieran]

Maybe this is a hopeful sign that nVidia is about to care about VRAM capacity... If they're willing to make such a weird memory config instead of sticking to a cheaper (and still just as likely to sell out) 24GB config.

 

[The Ghump]

Advertising a fake MSRP should be illegal.
They just make up numbers that don't reflect reality. If you're buying a 5080 for $1500 you're surely not buying the 5090SE at that price.

I'm not sure I would put the blame entirely on nVidia for that one. Not only at least.

Take your preferred manufacturer (ASUS, MSI, ASROCK etc. etc.) and see how many versions they have of the exact same GPU.

Oh but this one has a special sticker of a japanese manga chick on it. We definitely have to charge you $200 more for that!!
And this one is in white. Everyone know how expensive white paint and white plastic is. Go ahead and pay $250 extra for that option.
And for this special card, we made the card with a fan that sounds like a leafblower. It's actually cools worse than the cheaper cards but it makes you think you bought something extra special. Let's charge you $299 extra for that.
And now let's throw it all together in one card, and charge you a bit extra for that service too...

Look at the news from the latest Computex show. They wanted to sell you a GPU that had a gold bar!!! in the box, simply to rise the price of the whole thing to around $5000 for no reason whatsoever.
Pretty much every Motherboard, GPU or whatever from that show was about putting a higher price on the same hardware. And do the spoiled kids of the world protest over those higher prices? No, they scream "I will literally DIE if I cannot have that thing in my useless aquarium pc case".

Don't get me wrong. I'm all for choice. If you have the money or "the need" for it, go ahead. But don't cry because your special edition Ferrari was more expensive than a regular Ford. Because that was pretty much the point of buying it in the first place.

The problem as I see it, is that these days the manufacturers are mostly just making the Ferrari's. They do announce the basic Ford version too. But somehow those cards never make it onto the shelves. And even if they did, many of the consumers actually do pick the special ones over the basic one..... and then go cry over the price after the fact.

 

[OortCloud]

More Nvidia RRP lies and bullsh1t.

 

[toooooot]

Guys I am bringing a shocking news: you won't be able to find one!

 

[godrilla]

I am not buying a card with Nvidia's proprietary Fire Hazard Power connector.

2 stories in 1 week. another bites the dust after blowing up.
ZOTAC RTX 5090 reportedly ‘blew up’ during gameplay - VideoCardz.com https://share.google/FQ2af23aQ5QP6DTMn

 

[Endymio]

2 stories in 1 week. another bites the dust after blowing up.

Did you read your link? Nothing "blew up", and the failure had nothing to do with with the 12V-2x6 power connector, but the PCIe connector itself. And based on the evidence in that link, the failure was likely on the motherboard, because the case didn't properly support a thin pcb supporting a 5 lb graphics card:

"...The owner said the case included an anti-sag support, but it only contacted the rear corner of the card. The system used an MSI X870E Tomahawk motherboard, which may also be sent for inspection because the owner had previously experienced unexplained USB problems..."

 

[godrilla]

Did you read your link? Nothing "blew up", and the failure had nothing to do with with the 12V-2x6 power connector, but the PCIe connector itself. And based on the evidence in that link, the failure was likely on the motherboard, because the case didn't properly support a thin pcb supporting a 5 lb graphics card:

"...The owner said the case included an anti-sag support, but it only contacted the rear corner of the card. The system used an MSI X870E Tomahawk motherboard, which may also be sent for inspection because the owner had previously experienced unexplained USB problems..."

Hey at least I sent the link. Unlike some who read the story an somehow believe it changes the fact the card is still no longer working.
I get it you are in the user error croud.
Update allegedly blew up 5090* Still doesn't change it from not working.

 

[AnilD]

The $1,500 MSRP will be very useful for reviewers, spreadsheets, and exactly seven people who manage to buy one at that price.

 

[Roboyt0]

“Meanwhile, Team Green is also rumored to be working on the RTX 5080 Super, another upper-mid-range graphics card positioned above the RTX 5080 but below the RTX 5090. It”

x80 Super is “upper-mid-range”?

What?