NVIDIA has once again solidified its leadership in the high-performance GPU market with the release of the RTX 5090, a powerhouse designed for professionals seeking cutting-edge graphics processing capabilities. As the newest addition to the RTX series, the 5090 promises to take 3D rendering, deep learning, and high-end gaming to new heights. But how does it stack up against its predecessors, the RTX 4090 and the still-popular RTX 3090? To help professionals and studios make an informed decision, we’ve benchmarked the performance of the RTX 5090 against the 4090 and 3090 in two of the most widely used 3D rendering applications: Blender and V-Ray.
Both Blender and V-Ray are known for their demanding rendering workloads, and are frequently used by digital artists, animators, and VFX studios to produce high-quality visual content. These applications push hardware to its limits, so comparing the performance of these GPUs in such environments provides valuable insights into how the RTX 5090 VS 4090 VS 3090. Whether you’re rendering complex animations, working with high-poly models, or running computationally intensive simulations, understanding the differences between these GPUs will help you choose the right tool for your creative projects. Let’s dive into the benchmark results and see which card emerges as the best option for 3D rendering and professional applications.
Test Setup
To ensure accurate results, we tested all three GPUs on the following high-end system:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- RAM: 64GB DDR5 (Corsair Dominator Platinum)
- Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD (Samsung 990 Pro)
- OS: Windows 11 Pro
Performance Benchmarks
Blender Benchmark Scores RTX 5090 Vs 4090 Vs 3090
We tested all three GPUs using Blender’s built-in benchmark suite:
| GPU | Blender Score |
|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 15,090 |
| RTX 4090 | 11,201 |
| RTX 3090 | 5,272 |
The RTX 4090 delivers more than double the performance of the RTX 3090, while the RTX 5090 outperforms the 4090 by an impressive 35%.
V-Ray Benchmark Scores RTX 5090 Vs 4090 Vs 3090
In V-Ray, the results follow a similar trend:
| GPU | V-Ray Score |
|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 15,033 |
| RTX 4090 | 10,843 |
| RTX 3090 | 4,968 |
Again, the RTX 4090 offers a significant jump over the RTX 3090, with the RTX 5090 extending that lead even further.
Price-to-Performance Analysis RTX 5090 Vs 4090 Vs 3090
Performance is important, but cost plays a crucial role in choosing the right GPU.
| GPU | Launch Price (USD) | Launch Price (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | $1,999 | €2329 |
| RTX 4090 | $1,599 | €1,949 |
| RTX 3090 | $1,499 | €1,499 |
As of 2025, the second-hand market remains highly active, with the RTX 4090 remarkably holding close to its original launch price. Despite being over two and a half years old, the card’s strong demand and limited availability have kept resale values exceptionally high.
| GPU | Used Price (USD) | Used Price (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| RTX 4090 | ~$2100-2150 | ~€1,950-2000 |
| RTX 3090 | ~$800-850 | ~€750-800 |
The RTX 5090 is undeniably the most powerful, but its high price and limited availability make the RTX 4090 the best value option. Meanwhile, the RTX 3090 remains a budget-friendly choice.
Best Choice for Small Studios
For a small 3D rendering studio, the RTX 4090 currently provides the best balance of performance, price, and availability. With many studios upgrading to the 5090, used 4090s can be found at a discount.
If you’re on a tight budget, the RTX 3090 is still a viable option. Its 24GB VRAM ensures it can handle large scenes, even if it lacks the raw power of newer models.
Conclusion
The RTX 5090 has officially claimed the title of performance king, offering unparalleled power for high-end rendering tasks, deep learning, and gaming. However, for most professionals, the RTX 4090 continues to be the smartest and most balanced choice. It strikes a perfect balance between cutting-edge performance and cost, while also benefiting from a strong second-hand availability, making it more accessible for studios on a budget. Despite being an older model, the RTX 3090 remains a viable option for budget-conscious studios, as its performance still meets the needs of many creators and professionals, especially when looking for a solid price-to-performance ratio in the second-hand market. Each of these cards has its place, depending on your project’s scale, budget, and specific needs, with the 4090 continuing to shine as a well-rounded option for most users.
Further Reading
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