A look at some of the top RTX 4090 graphics card options right now.
NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 4090 is currently the best GPU available. With unrivalled traditional rasterization performance and flagship ray tracing and upscaling chops, the RTX 4090 can handle any game thrown at it, at any resolution.
Despite competition from AMD in the form of the cheaper RX 7900 XT and 7900 XTX, the 4090 is still the only GPU that can truly handle high-end 4K gaming.
And, so if you have an unlimited budget and you’re looking for the ultimate 4K gaming experience, the 4090 is the only choice.
In this guide, we’ll look at some of the best RTX 4090 graphics cards on the market right now and go over what makes them great.
Quick Answer:
- The ASUS TUF Gaming OC RTX 4090 offers the best value
- ASUS’s ROG Strix OC Edition is the best 4090 for overclocking
- MSI’s Suprim Liquid X RTX 4090 runs the coolest
- The PNY Verto Triple fan is currently the cheapest option
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1. ASUS TUF Gaming OC
Top 4090 for the money
The TUF Gaming OC 4090 is probably the best value custom RTX 4090 on the market right now, given current prices. It’s not the cheapest, but for what it offers, it’s a solid ‘middle of the road’ card with few downsides.
Its MSRP is $1,799, $200 more than the Founders Edition, and you can currently find it retailing for just over $1,800.
ASUS’s TUF OC version of the RTX 4090 shares many of the FE version’s benefits. It has a pretty good VRM with a max current of 1,260A (18x 70A phases) and a 600W power limit just like the FE, meaning overclocking shouldn’t be an issue.
Of course, this ‘OC’ model comes with its own factory overclock, boasting a boost clock of 2.59GHz, 70MHz higher than the reference model. It’s a card that performs very well straight out of the box because of this, and while it runs a little hotter than many of the more expensive 4090 cards, it should still stay below 70c while gaming if the rest of your setup runs cool.
Apart from all this, and although such a judgment will always be subjective, it also looks fantastic, with just the right amount of RGB lighting splashed in all the right places. It’s also one of the very few RTX 4090s that has two HDMI 2.1 ports for more versatile display connectivity. And it comes with ASUS’s staple 4-year warranty.
If you’re looking for a great ‘plug in and play’ 4090 and you can find it for close to its MSRP, ASUS’s TUF Gaming 4090 OC is stellar value.
2. ASUS ROG Strix OC Edition
Best 4090 for overclocking
Those of you looking to max out your gaming performance should look no further than the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC.
While liquid cooled 4090 cards run cooler than the ROG Strix, the ROG Strix OC has enough other benefits to make it not only great for overclocking but also perfect as an all-rounder.
For starters, it’s got a fantastic VRM setup—almost the best of the 4090 bunch, in fact, with a 1,680A max current (24x 70A phases), a 500W stock power limit, and 600W max power limit. Combine this with its better than average triple-fan cooling setup (which should keep it closer to 60c than 70c while gaming) and it’s an obvious choice for high-end overclocking.
On top of this, though, its fans run quieter than most other RTX 4090 models, it has two HDMI 2.1 ports alongside its three DisplayPort connections, and it has ASUS’s 4-year warranty, just like the 4090 TUF OC. Plus, its 2.64GHz stock overclock (in OC mode) means it can run 120MHz faster than a reference 4090 with no manual tinkering.
It’s not the cheapest RTX 4090 around, with an MSRP of $1,700 and current market price of about $2,000, and its bold red and blue design might not be to everyone’s tastes, but if you’re looking to squeeze every last drop of performance out of the fastest graphics card around, the ASUS ROG Strix OC 4090 is what you’re looking for.
3. MSI Suprim Liquid X
The “coolest” 4090
While this card definitely looks cool, where the MSI GeForce RTX 4090 Suprim Liquid X shines is in its ability to run cool. As in, it has stellar thermal performance. In fact, thanks to its liquid cooling system, it barely breaks a sweat.
There are other liquid cooled RTX 4090s on the market, but the reason this one is on our list is because it combines its outstanding cooling with a truly phenomenal VRM setup. With a whopping 1,820A max current (26x 70A phases), plus its super low temps, this RTX 4090 should have a very long lifespan.
While these things also make it a great card for overclocking, we should note that its max power limit is only 530W, 70W lower than many 4090s currently on the market. However, if you’re willing to flash your GPU’s BIOS, you can get a 600W limit, plus the consensus seems to be that there’s little performance to gain between a 500W and 600W power limit unless you’re into some serious overclocking.
If you’re not looking to manually overclock, the Suprim Liquid X 4090 offers brilliant performance out of the box, with a boost clock of up to 2.64GHz just like the ASUS ROG Strix 4090.
Alongside its air-cooled Suprim sibling, it’s a very elegant looking RTX 4090 with its brushed metal shroud and subtle white lighting. And, thanks to its off-PCB radiator cooling, the card only takes up two motherboard and case slots, freeing up extra space in your build.
For this cool-looking and cool-running RTX 4090, there’s an MSRP of $1,749. But currently, actual market prices have this Suprim X Liquid card retailing at about $2,100. It’s one of the more expensive 4090 cards, but that’s to be expected considering it has the best VRM, some of the lowest temperatures, and one of the most stylish designs.
4. PNY Verto Triple Fan
The cheapest RTX 4090
If you want the cheapest RTX 4090, the cheapest option right now is probably PNY’s Verto Triple Fan edition card. This card has an MSRP of $1,870 but can be found for about $1,800 at the time of writing.
With a boost clock of up to 2.52GHz, this graphics card should offer great out of the box performance.
While it lacks a great VRM and has a relatively low max power limit of 450W, these things are only really beneficial for those looking to squeeze extra raw performance out of their GPU. And while its thermal performance isn’t anything to write home about, its triple-fan setup is more than enough to keep it cool while gaming.
For those who want great plug-and-play performance from a GPU that’s housed in a classy chassis, the PNY Verto Triple Fan is a venerable option considering its current price. Its default boost clock is decent, and its neutral all-black design makes it a solid aesthetic option for minimalist rigs.
Overall, if you’re looking to get an RTX 4090, but you want to save as much money as possible in doing so, this PNY card is currently your best bet.
RTX 4090 Alternatives
For high-end 4K gaming, there really is no alternative to the RTX 4090. But, if you’re looking to game on a high refresh rate 1440P display, or a 360Hz+ 1080P display, you could save some money by opting for a cheaper GPU.
Options like AMD’s RX 7900 XTX or the 7900 XT, or NVIDIA’s RTX 4080 Super, or 4080 would be solid alternatives.
