Introduction

In a groundbreaking event that captured the tech world’s attention, NVIDIA's CEO Jensen Huang graced the CES 2025 stage to introduce the eagerly awaited Blackwell family of graphics cards. On the same day, NVIDIA briefly achieved the status of the most valuable company in the world, marking a significant milestone for the tech giant.

Pricing and Models

The new RTX 50 series is set to launch in January, with prices commencing at $549 for the RTX 5070, and reaching a jaw-dropping $1,999 for the flagship RTX 5090. Additional models include the RTX 5070 Ti at $749 and the RTX 5080 at $999, making it clear that NVIDIA is catering to a wide range of gaming enthusiasts. For those eager to use these powerful graphics cards in laptops, variants specifically tailored for mobile devices will roll out in March, with the price starting at $1,299 for models featuring the RTX 5070.

Technical Specifications

Diving into the technical specifications, the RTX 5090 Founders Edition is expected to be a powerhouse with 32GB of advanced GDDR7 RAM and an astounding 21,760 CUDA cores. NVIDIA promises a significant performance enhancement with this new series, especially in graphics-intensive games such as "Alan Wake 2" and "Cyberpunk 2077", where users can expect up to double the performance. In a thrilling demonstration, the RTX 5090 achieved a staggering 242 frames per second while running "Cyberpunk 2077," compared to just 109 fps on its predecessor, the RTX 4090.

Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) 4

However, the extent of performance improvements largely hinges on game compatibility with NVIDIA’s innovative Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) 4 technology. This cutting-edge feature can produce up to three additional frames for every frame rendered using traditional techniques, greatly enhancing gaming experiences. Although older RTX models will support DLSS 4, the highly sought-after multi-frame generation capability will remain exclusive to the new 50 series cards.

RTX 5070 and 5070 Ti Overview

The RTX 5070, which is expected to attract significant attention from gamers, will come equipped with 6,144 CUDA cores and 12GB of GDDR7 memory. NVIDIA claims that, with DLSS 4, the 5070 can match the output of the powerful RTX 4090. Meanwhile, the 5070 Ti will reportedly be up to two times faster than the previous generation’s 4070 Ti, presenting a compelling option for gamers looking for high performance at a lower price point.

Power Requirements and Design

While the performance specifications are impressive, the power requirements may raise eyebrows. NVIDIA recommends a robust 1,000-watt power supply for optimal performance of the RTX 5090, which demands 575 watts of total graphics power, confirming predictions that the new series would be power-hungry. On a positive note, all new Founders Edition cards come with a two-slot design, easing installation concerns for many gamers.

Showcase and Conclusion

Kicking off the Blackwell showcase, NVIDIA provided a thrilling demo of a next-generation "Assassin's Creed" game, featuring the most realistic ray-traced graphics seen in the franchise thus far. Huang, donning a trendy snakeskin-like jacket, enthusiastically stated, "All of this, with AI, is the house that GeForce built. Now, AI is coming home to GeForce."

As the excitement for the RTX 50 series builds, stay tuned for more updates on NVIDIA's new GPUs and what they mean for the future of gaming technology!