Tested: Most People Should NOT Buy a 5090 (Even if you CAN)
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Description
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Check out the parts from our most average PC: Intel Core i5-12400 6-Core 2.5 Ghz CPU: lmg.gg ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi Motherboard: lmg.gg Samsung 990 Evo Plus 2TB NVME SSD: lmg.gg Corsair RMx Series RM1000x 80+ Gold ATX PSU: lmg.gg Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE V2 CPU Air Cooler: lmg.gg Crucial DDR5 Classic 16GB (2 x 8GB) 5600MHz RAM: lmg.gg Okinos Aqua 7 ATX Mid Tower PC Case: geni.us NVIDIA RTX 3060 8GB GPU: lmg.gg
Promos
Check out the GPUs from the video: MSI Suprim GeForce RTX 5090: lmg.gg ASRock Taichi Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB: lmg.gg Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com ► GET OUR MERCH: lttstore.com ► GET EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ON FLOATPLANE: lmg.gg ► GET A VPN: piavpn.com ► SPONSORS, AFFILIATES, AND PARTNERS: lmg.gg Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. Linus Sebastian is an investor in Framework Computer, Inc CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Intro 1:00 Sponsor 1:22 Baseline performance with a mid-range build 2:16 Upgrading to the RTX 5090 4:45 Pairing the 5090 with a high-end CPU 6:33 What about the AMD 9070 XT? 8:39 A more balanced upgrade approach 9:21 Sponsor 10:18 Credits
The video opens by challenging a common upgrade heuristic: spend big on the GPU while keeping the rest of the PC budget modest. The host establishes a baseline using a mid-range “most average PC” with an RTX 3060 and a modest CPU, then benchmarks the system at 1080p and 4K to show how a top-tier GPU like the RTX 5090 changes gaming performance. Across several games, the 5090 delivers a strong uplift at 1080p, but the gains are highly dependent on CPU power and system balance, revealing significant bottlenecks when paired with mid-range CPUs. The narrative then tests a higher-end pairing, swapping in a Ryzen 7 9800X 3D and doubling RAM, which dramatically improves frame rates at 1080p, illustrating how much CPU and memory upgrades can unlock GPU potential. At 4K, the CPU bottleneck persists for many titles, yet the 5090 still outperforms the mid-range setup by a meaningful margin, while pure price-to-performance appears less favorable for the average gamer. The reviewer then introduces an AMD 9070 XT as a more sensible alternative in terms of price and performance balance, showing that at 1080p the 9070 XT can match or beat the 5090 in several titles when the CPU is not the bottleneck, and at 4K the older-gen advantage of a balanced system becomes apparent. The piece concludes by arguing for a more rounded upgrade strategy beyond chasing the single most expensive GPU, and teases the sponsor while highlighting the practical benefits of better monitors and balanced components as part of a total PC upgrade plan.
Topics · technology · pc_gaming · hardware_reviews · graphics_cards
Questions answered
- What is the main takeaway about upgrading to an RTX 5090 for an average gaming PC?
- Upgrading to a high-end GPU like the RTX 5090 provides significant gains at 1080p when the system is already well balanced, but the improvement is limited if the CPU and other components bottleneck performance, especially at 4K.
- Is the AMD 9070 XT a better value for most gamers based on the video?
- Yes, at 1080p the 9070 XT can match or beat the 5090 in several titles while costing substantially less, particularly when the CPU is not a bottleneck; at 4K the 5090 still has the edge, but the overall value favors the 9070 XT for many builds.