NVIDIA laptop GPUs fall further behind their desktop counterparts

Summary: RTX 5090 laptops are starting to hit shelves, and the performance is considerably slower than desktop versions of the GPU. In early tests, the laptop version of the GPU is showing huge dips in frame rate in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Dota 2 Reborn.

NVIDIA’s RTX 5090 laptop GPU is slated to be the cream of the crop in terms of performance this generation for gamers on the go. Undoubtedly, it’ll provide some nice performance in games. That being said, it’s worth noting that the laptop version of the RTX 5090 reportedly delivers half the performance of the desktop model.

Granted, NVIDIA’s laptop counterparts of its desktop GPUs have never been able to neatly match up in performance. However, the difference between the laptop and desktop models of the 50-series seems like a huge gap compared to previous generations. How much of a gap? That depends on the game, but in many cases, it seems like the difference is 50%. In a report from Digital Trends based on reviews of the laptops from Notebookcheck and PC Mag, performance tests show a noticeably slower output.

That doesn’t sound great if you’re looking for something to really push the limits. Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean you won’t be able to crank the graphics while still getting high frame rates. And the performance gap is mainly focused on hardware. As DLSS 4 with multi-frame generation is going to help boost the fps in games. Still, RTX 5090 laptops won’t be cheap. With that being the case, you might want to consider whether or not it’s worth upgrading to one.

Is RTX 5090 laptop performance worth the cost?

This will really all depend on a few things. For instance, personal preference. Although the laptop GPUs are slower, they will still perform well. So if you’re ok with that fact, then I’d say spending the money is a sound investment. Of course, this also depends on what sort of machine you’re currently working with. If you have an RTX 4090 laptop, the jump isn’t likely to be big enough to justify the upgrade cost. RTX 4090 laptops are still exceptionally powerful.

This also assumes you’re more inclined to stick with a gaming laptop as opposed to a desktop. Those weighing both options might want to go the desktop route. As they’ll get bigger performance gains while likely spending less money. It’s also worth mentioning that a better option might be laptops with NVIDIA’s other RTX 50-series GPUs inside. Like the RTX 5080 or TX 5070 Ti. These will surely still cost a good chunk of money. However, they will be considerably less than an RTX 5090 model.

Another thing to keep in mind is that these tests were done with the new Razer Blade 16. Though there might not be much of a change, other RTX 5090 laptops might have slightly different performance. In the end, whether or not the purchase is worth it depends on what you’re looking for. That being said, jumping from an RTX 4090 laptop to an RTX 5090 laptop probably isn’t a smart purchase.