Getting like-for-like performance comparisons across generations of laptop graphics is difficult owing to shifts in specification relating to the CPU or other components. However, someone has now put two systems with fairly close configurations sporting RTX 5090 Laptop and RTX 4090 Laptop GPUs to the test. The results aren’t so flattering for Nvidia’s latest flagship offering.
In a benchmark suite consisting of 25 games, YouTuber Jarrod’s Tech reveals that RTX 5090 Laptop barely moves the performance needle from RTX 4090 Laptop. On average, the newer GPU was just 3.24% faster than its predecessor at 4K, with the gap shrinking to 0.5-0.6% in QHD and FHD results. Worse still, it was actually slower in some instances.
Jarrod’s Tech uses XMG Neo 16 gaming laptops for this comparison and there are a few differences between the two systems outside of graphics. The newer version sporting RTX 5090 Laptop graphics, boasts a Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU in place of its forebear’s Core i9-14900HX. The current generation model also has faster RAM at its disposal, running at 6,400MT/s over 5,600MT/s.
However, as the YouTuber shows via Cinebench 2024 benchmarks, single core performance between the two laptops is within margin of error (135 vs. 134 points). Multi-core capabilities are better on Core Ultra 9 275HX, but this provides less of a benefit to most games.
While RTX 5090 Laptop was basically neck-and-neck with RTX 4090 Laptop in most cases, it falls drastically behind in some games. Red Dead Redemption 2 was the worst offender in Jarrod’s Tech’s suite, with the newer graphics performing 13-24% worse.
The YouTuber believes part of the reason for this is at least partly down to power consumption. Despite RTX 5090 Laptop boasting the same 175W cap as RTX 4090 Laptop on paper, it only hits 160W in practice. More watts means more performance, so it’s no surprise the difference in frame rates is so stark in this case.
Where RTX 5090 Laptop separates itself from RTX 4090 Laptop is in its support for the full DLSS 4 suite, namely Multi Frame Generation. With this feature in tow, the former of the two naturally sails ahead in performance charts as I’ve experienced first-hand in my Gigabyte Aorus Master 18 review.
Of course, not every game supports DLSS Frame Generation, natively or via Nvidia App overrides. As such, this advantage isn’t a silver bullet in plugging the paltry gap between RTX 5090 Laptop and RTX 4090 Laptop.
It’s important to note that these findings are from two individual laptops. However, I’ve little reason to doubt Jarrod’s Tech’s findings given their expertise in testing gaming laptops. All the same, I’m curious to see if other outlets will find similar middling generational uplifts.
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