ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming Graphics Card Review

The ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 is a powerhouse of a graphics card designed for the most demanding gaming and content creation tasks. Here’s a detailed review of its features, performance, and overall value.

Design and Build Quality

The ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 boasts a premium design with a well-polished aesthetic. It features a massive 24+4 power phase design, which not only looks fantastic but also ensures stable power delivery. The card measures 357.6 x 149.3 x 70.1 mm and weighs about 2.5 kg, making it a chunky but robust addition to any gaming setup.

Cooling System

One of the standout features of the ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 is its advanced cooling system. It includes axial-tech fans scaled up for 23% more airflow, a new patented vapor chamber with a milled heatspreader for lower GPU temperatures, and a 3.5-slot design optimized for airflow from the three axial-tech fans. Additionally, the diecast shroud, frame, and backplate add rigidity and are vented to further maximize airflow and heat dissipation.

Performance

The NVIDIA Ada Lovelace architecture powers the RTX 4090, offering significant performance improvements over its predecessor. With up to 2x performance and power efficiency, it is well-suited for demanding tasks like 4K gaming and ray tracing. The card also features 4th generation tensor cores, which provide up to 4x performance with DLSS 3 compared to brute-force rendering, and 3rd generation RT cores, which offer up to 2x ray tracing performance.

Benchmarks

In benchmarks, the RTX 4090 consistently delivers high frame rates. For example, it can achieve 74 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K ultra settings, and with DLSS 3 enabled, it can reach up to 3x performance improvement over the RTX 3090 Ti.

Features

• CUDA Cores: 16,384
• VRAM: 24GB GDDR6X
• Memory Bus Width: 384-bit
• Bandwidth: 1,008 GB/sec
• Base Clock Speed: 2,235 MHz
• Boost Clock Speed: 2,610 MHz (OC mode)
• AI Performance: 1,368 AI TOPS
• NVIDIA Ada Lovelace Streaming Multiprocessors: Up to 2x performance and power efficiency
• 4th Generation Tensor Cores: Up to 4x performance with DLSS 3
• 3rd Generation RT Cores: Up to 2x ray tracing performance
• Axial-tech Fans: Scaled up for 23% more airflow
• New Patented Vapor Chamber: With milled heatspreader for lower GPU temperatures
• 3.5-slot Design: Optimized for airflow from the three axial-tech fans
• Diecast Shroud, Frame, and Backplate: Add rigidity and are vented to further maximize airflow and heat dissipation
• Digital Power Control: With high-current power stages and 15K capacitors to fuel maximum performance
• Auto-Extreme Precision Automated Manufacturing: For higher reliability
• GPU Tweak III: For customizable performance settings

Pros

• Exceptional Performance: Handles demanding tasks like 4K gaming and ray tracing with ease.
• Advanced Cooling System: Effective in dissipating heat, ensuring sustained performance during intensive tasks.
• Premium Design: Aesthetically pleasing with a robust build quality.
• High VRAM: 24GB GDDR6X provides ample memory for complex tasks.
• DLSS 3 Support: Offers significant performance improvements with AI-enhanced rendering.

Cons

• Power Hungry: Requires substantial power to operate at its best, which can increase electricity costs.
• Expensive: One of the most expensive GPUs in the market, making it a significant investment.
• Size and Weight: The card is quite large and heavy, which might be a concern for smaller cases.

Verdict

The ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 is an excellent choice for those who demand the best in gaming and content creation. Its exceptional performance, advanced cooling system, and premium design make it a standout in the market. However, its high power consumption and cost are significant drawbacks. If you are using a 4K monitor or a super ultrawide, dual-QHD monitor and want to play games at their higher graphics settings with tracing, the RTX 4090 is definitely the best GPU for the job.

Features Table