Nvidia‘s upcoming RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 graphics cards are making headlines with their rumored power demands. According to Kopite7kimi (thanks WCCftech), the RTX 5090 could have a thermal design power (TDP) of up to 600 watts, marking it as one of the most power-hungry GPUs ever. The RTX 5080 isn’t far behind, with a TDP of 400 watts. These numbers suggest a significant increase in power requirements compared to Nvidia’s current generation of GPUs.
New Power Demands and Designs
The RTX 5090’s rumored 600W TDP could max out the capabilities of the 12V-2×6 (16-pin) GPU power standard. This would require a massive cooling solution to handle the increased heat output, which Nvidia’s partners will need to accommodate. Many expect that the RTX 5090 will even come with dual 12V-2×6 power connectors to support overclocking and sustain high-performance levels.
Meanwhile, the RTX 5080 is rumored to have a TDP of 400 watts, only 50 watts less than the current RTX 4090. This indicates a significant performance leap, assuming Nvidia has improved power efficiency with these new cards.
In addition to the power specifications, Nvidia is also planning to release “D” variants of both cards, specifically tailored for the Chinese market. These variants, such as the RTX 5090D and RTX 5080D, are expected to offer enhanced performance features. The designs for these GPUs are reportedly being finalized this month, with a possible launch window set for September.
These developments indicate that Nvidia is pushing the envelope in terms of GPU power and performance. Enthusiasts and professionals alike will need to prepare for the next generation of gaming and computing power with potentially higher costs for power supplies and cooling solutions.
