Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card is incredibly powerful, even when inside the best RTX 4090 laptops. It's the best graphics card and more capable than any other GPU available on the market, but more than a clear mile. It's also incredibly expensive. All that performance will come at a premium and Nvidia will gladly charge you for it. Still, we've rounded up all the best aftermarket RTX 4090s right here for you to choose from.
The very best GeForce RTX 4090 GPUs in 2023
ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC Edition
For those who want the very best RTX 4090
The Asus ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC Edition is an impressive graphics card with beefy cooling and high-quality components. This allows the GPU to run at high speeds, allowing for some seriously impressive gaming experiences.
- Architecture
- Ada Lovelace
- Process
- 5 nm
- Transistors
- 7.6 billion
- Shader Units
- 16,384
- Ray Accelerators/Cores
- 128
- Base Clock Speed
- 2,235 MHz
- Boost Clock Speed
- 2,610 MHz
- Memory Capacity
- 24 GB GDDR6X
- Memory Bus
- 384-bit
- Memory Bandwidth
- 1,008 GB/s
- Power Draw
- 450 W
- Impressive performance
- Excellent cooling
- Strong I/O
- Expensive
- Power draw
Asus did just about everything to ensure the RTX 4090 is capable of running at some seriously high speeds. The Asus ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC Edition is quite simply brilliant. Compared to the reference card from Nvidia, this aftermarket card is capable of running at higher speeds and comes with some seriously beefy cooling. You'll still need around 450W of power available from your PSU to keep this GPU happy, but it will allow you to crank up just about every setting in your favorite games.
Gigabyte Aorus RTX 4090 Xtreme WATERFORCE
Take your gaming to a whole new level
The Gigabyte Aorus RTX 4090 Xtreme WATERFORCE is a premium graphics card that's able to push a little harder than standard air-cooled GPUs. That's because of the connected 360mm radiator and three 120mm fans, connected to the water block with an integrated pump.
- Brand
- Gigabyte
- Architecture
- Ada Lovelace
- Process
- 5 nm
- Transistors
- 76.3 billion
- Shader Units
- 16,384
- Ray Accelerators/Cores
- 128
- Base Clock Speed
- 2,235 MHz
- Boost Clock Speed
- 2,565 MHz
- Memory Capacity
- 24 GB GDDR6X
- Memory Bus
- 384 bit
- Memory Bandwidth
- 1,008 GB/s
- Power Draw
- 450 W
- Excellent performance
- Great thermal headroom
- Two-slot GPU
- Very expensive
- Requires PC case with 360 rad support
What's the best way to cool components? Liquid, of course! That's precisely what the Gigabyte Aorus RTX 4090 Xtreme WATERFORCE offers with its attached 360mm radiator. This allows Gigabyte to include three 120mm fans that can suck through a lot of cool air. A side effect of having a radiator and fans located away from the GPU means the actual card is slimmer, allowing it to fit in more compact cases. Just be sure you have an available 360mm placement.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition
An excellent official reference graphics card
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition is the GPU to buy if you want the Nvidia experience for 4K and even some 8K gaming. This is the best GPU you can buy from this generation, but you'll have to pay for the luxury.
- Brand
- Nvidia
- Architecture
- Ada Lovelace
- Process
- 5 nm
- Transistors
- 76.3 billion
- Shader Units
- 16,384
- Ray Accelerators/Cores
- 128
- Base Clock Speed
- 2,235 MHz
- Boost Clock Speed
- 2,520 MHz
- Memory Capacity
- 24 GB GDDR6X
- Memory Bus
- 384 bit
- Memory Bandwidth
- 1,008 GB/s
- Power Draw
- 450 W
- Impressive performance
- Good cooling
- Expensive
- Power draw
We reviewed the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition and found it to be utterly brilliant. It was vastly overpriced, but what you did receive was something incredible. It's the most powerful consumer gaming graphics card and puts just about everything else to shame. Nvidia's GPU design is also tried and tested, and we're big fans of the current generation, including the RTX 4090. It won't be able to go as fast as some of the aftermarket options, but this is a good choice if you can find one at a reasonable price.
MSI GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming X Trio
If you don't have unlimited funds for a GPU
MSI's GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming X Trio is a fantastically powerful graphics card, considering it's a little less than what one would usually pay for such a beast of a GPU from Nvidia. You'll find the same number of cores, the same clock speeds, and everything else for solid 4K gaming.
- Brand
- MSI
- Architecture
- Ada Lovelace
- Process
- 5 nm
- Transistors
- 76.3 billion
- Shader Units
- 16,384
- Ray Accelerators/Cores
- 128
- Base Clock Speed
- 2,235 MHz
- Boost Clock Speed
- 2,595 MHz
- Memory Capacity
- 24 GB GDDR6X
- Memory Bus
- 384 bit
- Memory Bandwidth
- 1,008 GB/s
- Power Draw
- 450 W
- Impressive performance
- Excellent cooling
- Better value
- Still expensive
- Power draw
The price of graphics cards (and some other PC components) is still ridiculous in places and the RTX 4090 is no exception. Still, it's possible to locate some decent deals on cards, including the MSI GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming X Trio. Somehow, MSI was able to price this GPU below some of the competition, allowing you to save a little yet still receive the same treatment in the form of one of the best graphics cards available. We wouldn't recommend this as "good value" — and we wouldn't dream of adding it to our best budget GPUs list — but it's better than spending more than $2,000.
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 OC Edition
For those who prefer stealthier PC aesthetic
The ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 OC Edition has everything you need to put together one of the most powerful gaming PCs. It has ample performance so long as your power supply can keep up with the draw.
- Brand
- Asus
- Architecture
- Ada Lovelace
- Process
- 5 nm
- Transistors
- 76.3 billion
- Shader Units
- 16,384
- Ray Accelerators/Cores
- 128
- Base Clock Speed
- 2,235 MHz
- Boost Clock Speed
- 2,565 MHz
- Memory Capacity
- 24 GB GDDR6X
- Memory Bus
- 384 bit
- Memory Bandwidth
- 1,008 GB/s
- Power Draw
- 450 W
- Excellent performance
- Great cooling
- Expensive
- Power draw
Asus makes a few cards of the same GPU and the TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 OC Edition is yet another RTX 4090 from the company that makes our collection. It's cheaper than our top Asus pick, and it doesn't have as much of a flashy design, making it ideal for stealthier PC builds. If you don't need all the additional benefits of going with a flagship GPU, something like this TUF Gaming RTX 4090 OC will work seriously well for high-fidelity 4K gaming.
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 Trinity OC
The RTX 4090 which looks out of this world
Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 Trinity OC is a brilliant RTX 4090 GPU that sports a unique design compared to its previous cards and the competition. If you want to turn all your visual settings up to 11 in style, this is the card to buy.
- Brand
- Zotac
- Architecture
- Ada Lovelace
- Process
- 5 nm
- Transistors
- 76.3 billion
- Shader Units
- 16,384
- Ray Accelerators/Cores
- 128
- Base Clock Speed
- 2,235 MHz
- Boost Clock Speed
- 2,535 MHz
- Memory Capacity
- 24 GB GDDR6X
- Memory Bus
- 384 bit
- Memory Bandwidth
- 1,008 GB/
- Power Draw
- 450 W
- Excellent performance
- Great cooling
- Expensive
- Power draw
The ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 Trinity OC looks other-worldly, thanks to its wild spaceship-esque design. Underneath this whacky (yet attractive) shroud is the same RTX 4090 GPU. This particular card packs a serious punch and will happily chug along at higher clock speeds with an overclock applied. Temperatures are kept in check by the three large blowers and massive heatsink. It not only looks the part but will keep a smile on your face with all settings set to 11.
PNY GeForce RTX 4090 XLR8 Gaming VERTO EPIC-X RGB
PNY's RTX 4090 is among the cheapest
If you want the best GPU but don't have an unlimited supply of funds, we'd recommend checking out the PNY GeForce RTX 4090 XLR8 Gaming VERTO EPIC-X RGB. It's powerful and somewhat affordable compared to some of the cards available.
- Architecture
- Ada Lovelace
- Process
- 5 nm
- Transistors
- 7.6 billion
- Shader Units
- 16,384
- Ray Accelerators/Cores
- 128
- Base Clock Speed
- 2235 MHz
- Boost Clock Speed
- 2520 MHz
- Memory Capacity
- 24 GB GDDR6X
- Memory Bus
- 384-bit
- Memory Bandwidth
- 1,008 GB/s
- Power Draw
- 450 W
- Great 4K performance
- Excellent cooling
- Better value
- Still expensive
- Power draw
- Not the fastest RTX 4090
PNY is another brand offering a somewhat more reasonably priced GeForce RTX 4090. The PNY GeForce RTX 4090 XLR8 Gaming VERTO EPIC-X RGB is a good choice for those who desperately desire the best GPU on the market without having to take out a small mortgage. It's still not the best value in terms of performance and we'd recommend more affordable GPUs if possible, but this is about as good as you'll get for the RTX 4090.
Choosing the best RTX 4090 GPU
The Asus ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC Edition is a fantastic RTX 4090 GPU. Nvidia made a monster and Asus took the reference design and added its own take on the powerful gaming component. If you want the absolute best GPU from this generation of hardware, you'll want to consider this card. It strikes a good balance between performance and price if we weren't already looking at such highly inflated prices, as Asus makes some of the best cards around. Not everyone can afford a flagship RTX 4090, which is where the MSI GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming X Trio comes into play with a serious discount.
No matter which RTX 4090 you choose, you can expect to pay more than $1,600 for the luxury of being able to comfortably play games at high settings and a resolution of 4K. So long as your PC case can hold such massive GPUs, you'll have one of the best gaming experiences possible.
ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC Edition
The Asus ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC Edition is an impressive graphics card with beefy cooling and high-quality components. This allows the GPU to run at high speeds, allowing for some seriously impressive gaming experiences.