Gaming in 4K is the Holy Grail for many gamers: ultra-fine textures, details, maximum immersion. But it requires serious hardware. The ideal 4K video card must offer raw power, good ray tracing management, good upscaling, and a reasonable performance / price ratio. In this article, I explain why I believe the RTX 5080 is the best choice today, why the RTX 5090 is "too much" in many cases, and why the RTX 4090 from the previous generation remains a credible choice.
Before rushing to a model, here are the important criteria:
| Criterion | Why it's crucial in 4K |
|---|---|
| Number of CUDA cores / raw power | You are pushing a lot of pixels, so heavy computation is needed. |
| Video Memory (VRAM) & Bandwidth | UHD textures require space and high bandwidth. |
| Ray tracing & upscaling technologies | Allows for maintaining stable FPS while enjoying realistic rendering. |
| Power consumption / thermal dissipation | In 4K, the card heats up a lot: good cooling is mandatory. |
| Performance / Cost Ratio | You want a good fps / euro ratio, not just a benchmark beast. |
Why it's a good deal:
The RTX 5080 is based on the architecture Blackwell , with some GDDR7 , a TDP contained at 360 W and incredible 4K performance.
It allows you to play Cyberpunk 2077, Starfield, or Alan Wake 2 in Ultra + Ray Tracing + DLSS 4 at more than 100 fps.
✅ Advantages
❌ Disadvantages
| Game (4K Ultra) | Average FPS | DLSS enabled | Ray tracing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 102 fps | Yes (DLSS 4) | Yes |
| Alan Wake 2 | 98 fps | Yes (DLSS 4) | Yes |
| Starfield | 110 fps | No | No |
| Forza Horizon 5 | 150 fps | Yes (DLSS 4) | No |
| Hogwarts Legacy | 120 fps | Yes (DLSS 4) | Yes |
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The RTX 5090 , it's the ultimate card. 32GB of GDDR7 VRAM, monstrous performance, and a price... just as monstrous.
If you want the top of the top and you don't care about the budget, go for it. Otherwise, honestly, it's "too much".
| Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Monstrous 4K/8K performances | Outrageous price (+70% vs 5080) |
| 32 GB of GDDR7 VRAM | High power consumption (up to 600 W) |
| Ray tracing and AI at the top | Significant noise and heat |
| DLSS 4 ultra smooth | Little interest if your screen is not 4K/240 Hz. |
If you come across a good RTX 4090 used, go for it. It remains formidable in 4K, even against the 5080.
You lose a few percentage points of performance, but you often save several hundred euros.
| Game (4K Ultra) | RTX 4090 (FPS) | RTX 5080 (FPS) |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 90 fps | 102 fps |
| Alan Wake 2 | 85 fps | 98 fps |
| Starfield | 95 fps | 110 fps |
| Forza Horizon 5 | 140 fps | 150 fps |
| Hogwarts Legacy | 115 fps | 120 fps |
If you want to play in 4K If you want a smooth experience without blowing your budget, go for the RTX 5080. The RTX 5090 is dreamy, but unless you have a 4K 240 Hz screen and a monstrous power supply, it's a waste. And for the savvy ones, a well-negotiated RTX 4090 remains an excellent 4K video card.
