We went hands-on with several NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 GPUs, including the RTX 5090 & its super-compact PCB, during CES 2025.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 GPUs, RTX 5090 Graphics Cards & Ultra-Compact PCB Gets A Hands-On
At CES, NVIDIA unveiled its next-generation GeForce RTX 50 GPUs, including the RTX 5090, RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5070. Of all these cards, the RTX 5090 is probably the most exciting as it is the fastest in the lineup and hosts some incredible engineering feats.
NVIDIA's Next-Gen Founders Edition Is Sleeker & Looks Awesome
While NVIDIA's previous Founders Edition graphics cards within the RTX 30 and RTX 40 series were growing in size, going for a triple-slot and dual axial fan approach, this time, NVIDIA has gone with a sleeker cooler which measures only two slots while making use of two flow-through fans. The new approach is highly welcomed as it allows these cards to be compatible with a wide spectrum of PCs without requiring a lot of space.
Regarding dimensions, the higher-end Founders Edition cards such as the GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 still measure the same in terms of length and width at 304/137mm, but there are two key changes. The RTX 5070 Founders Edition sees a slight reduction to 242/112mm while retaining its dual-slot design.
This is slightly shorter than the 244mm length of the RTX 4070 Founders Edition. It should also be mentioned that all cards except the RTX 5070 Ti will be available in Founders Edition flavors. Custom models with up to five fans are going to be launched later this month.
The first is the aforementioned dual-slot implementation, and the second is the placement of the power connector. All cards use the same 16-pin (12V-2x6) connector, which is a newer design and less prone to thermal issues associated with the first-gen connectors, which caused a fire frenzy on the RTX 4090 GPUs. This new angled placement ensures enough clearance without causing intense bends that could lead to unwanted issues.
The design and feel of the new Founders Edition RTX 50 series is a lot reminiscent of the RTX 30 and RTX 40 series. They do feel like a sleeker and upgraded version of the older design with the same black and silver tones, the exposed heatsink grills with dual flow-through fans on the front that blow air through the heatsink, and multiple exhaust vents on the sides. Each card will come with an RGB-Lit "GeForce RTX" logo on the side and RGB LEDs in the center frame while the card name is etched on the back.
RTX 50 GPUs Adopt The Most Compact PCB Ever
Next up, we have the PCB featured on the new GeForce RTX 50 graphics cards. NVIDIA engineers have shown their expertise in designing reference and compact PCBs this time. The new RTX 50 PCBs are smaller than ever. They are an incredible feat of engineering and remind us of when AMD launched its RX Nano graphics card with a small PCB footprint while packing a flagship GPU.
The main PCB will house all the GPU, Memory, and VRAM components. The configurations will change depending on the GPU, but the PCB form factor is the same across the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 series. For the RTX 5090, we are looking at the gigantic GB202 GPU in the center which was produced in the 38th week of 2024. This chip has a large IHS around the outskirts and 16 GDDR7 memory chips scattered around it.
For power, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090's PCB is equipped with a total of 30 phases. That's an insane amount of power delivery and the angled 16-pin power connector is also placed on the same board.
On the back of the PCB, we can see even more electrical components. The back label confirms the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090's PCB as model version "PG144A". We can also spot two connectors on the back. These are part of the modular PCB design that the RTX 50 Founders Edition incorporates. The need for a modular design arises from the compact PCB solution since you don't see the PCIe connector or any display outputs featured on it. Those two parts are critical for a GPU to work and these are all separated but connected to the main PCB via these tiny connectors.
In terms of design, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition goes for a dual-slot and dual-fan cooling solution which makes use of a double flow-through design with two intake fans on the front and a very compact nature versus the RTX 4090. The FE model will feature 304mm in length and 137mm in height while leveraging liquid TIM and a 3-layered PCB, a first of its kind for a GeForce GPU. The card will also be available in custom flavors from board partners.
With that said, we are also looking forward to updating you more on the internal cooling solution in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for that.
