MSI’s insane RTX 5090 Lightning will price greater than a household trip
Abstract created by Sensible Solutions AI
In abstract:
- PCWorld reviews that MSI’s RTX 5090 Lightning Z graphics card is anticipated to price roughly $5,230, making it considerably dearer than customary RTX 5090 fashions.
- This ultra-premium card options excessive overclocking capabilities with 1,000-watt energy draw, superior cooling methods, and an 8-inch monitoring show for fanatics.
- MSI will produce just one,300 models of this restricted version graphics card, concentrating on high-end customers regardless of its household vacation-level pricing.
There wasn’t a lot in the best way of GPU bulletins at (or round) CES earlier this yr, with the built-in graphics in Panther Lake laptops the one actual shocker. However MSI resurrected its top-shelf Lightning model for the RTX 5090, saying a bombastic card with water cooling. The worth was assumed to be excessive, since MSI didn’t set one—and now now we have a minimum of one supply for the approximate price.
MSI posted a promotional web page for the RTX 5090 Lightning on its Taiwanese website, together with a lottery with 10 winners for the cardboard. The “Commodity quantity” for the prize, in accordance with machine translation, is 165,000 New Taiwan {dollars}, together with gross sales tax. At immediately’s change charges, that works out to $5,229.85 USD. Assuming that worth holds, it will be greater than double the MSRP of the usual 5090, and about 10 p.c increased than the Asus ROG Matrix Anniversary Version.
Foundry / Michael Crider
The Lightning has a laundry record of options that MSI is hoping will attraction not simply to avid gamers, however to these hoping to set world overclocking data. By default, it attracts 1,000 watts of energy (virtually double the usual RTX 5090 spec). It may be pushed as much as 2.5 kilowatts should you’re prepared to fry your guarantee and your desktop on the identical time. A fully huge copper warmth spreader covers the GPU and the encompassing RAM, and an 8-inch display rests on the water block, positioned so it may be seen from the outside of the case should you mount it vertically. Twin BIOS choices and a management panel accessible from each net and cell apps will assist you regulate issues.
MSI says it’s solely making 1,300 models of the 5090 Lightning, and albeit even that appears formidable. Adam Patrick Murray was with me on the announcement at CES and remarked that this card is for the Shaquille O’Neal crowd—the type of people that need “the most effective” model of one thing and don’t even hassle to have a look at the value. (Mr. O’Neal, Razer would love a phrase.) The cardboard is anticipated inside the first quarter of 2026, and for the reason that lottery for Taiwanese avid gamers is just open till tomorrow, it looks as if the discharge is imminent.
Surprisingly, the MSI RTX 5090 Lightning is wanting like a greater deal, a minimum of within the context of the present market. Amid rumors of slashed chip manufacturing from Nvidia (in favor of “AI” industrial output, after all), many high-VRAM playing cards are virtually unimaginable to search out. Right here within the US, secondary resellers are slinging 5090 playing cards for $3,600 to $4,500, making a $5,000+ card with all of the trimmings appear virtually affordable.
Paramount Photos
Such is the fact of high-end gaming throughout the present RAM crunch. However hey, a minimum of MSI doesn’t have the most costly RTX 5090. That honor distinction goes to Asus with its $500,000 card made with kilos of precise gold, aimed squarely at Saudi princes who make NBA superstars appear like paupers.
