The arrival of NVIDIA’s RTX 5090 graphics card has generated plenty of excitement, especially for desktop users. But when it comes to laptops, there are some concerns about power consumption and efficiency that can’t be ignored. After installing the RTX 5090 into a desktop system, one thing became clear—this card demands serious power.

Power Demands Are Higher Than Ever

To run the RTX 5090 on a desktop, upgrading to a 1200W power supply was necessary. This is because the RTX 5090 pulls an enormous 575 watts, a significant jump from the previous RX 490, which used 450 watts. This increase raises questions about how such power-hungry hardware could work efficiently in laptops, where power and heat management are more constrained.

Interestingly, during NVIDIA’s CES presentation, there was no mention of power efficiency improvements for the RTX 50 series. This omission suggests that the new generation might not be as energy-efficient as previous models, raising concerns for laptop users.

Why Power Efficiency Matters in Laptops

Unlike desktops, where upgrading the power supply is an option, laptops have limited capacity for handling high power demands. Over the years, the maximum power draw for laptop GPUs has been capped at 175 watts. Even high-end gaming laptops like MSI’s Titan and ASUS’s ROG Strix Scar max out at this limit. Lighter models, such as the new RTX 5090-equipped G16, are capped even lower at 130 watts. This restriction limits how much performance NVIDIA can deliver in a laptop form factor.

Node Shrinks and GPU Efficiency

In the past, NVIDIA highlighted energy efficiency improvements when there was a major node shrink in the chip manufacturing process. For example, the GTX 1080 and RTX 40 series benefited from significant reductions in transistor size, leading to better power efficiency and higher performance. However, the RTX 5090 only moved from a 5nm to a 4nm process—a modest change compared to previous leaps.

Without a major node shrink, achieving substantial performance improvements becomes challenging. While desktop versions can use more power to push performance, laptop GPUs remain power-limited. As a result, the performance jump from the RTX 4090 to the RTX 5090 in laptops is likely to be modest at best.

NVIDIA’s Shift Toward AI-Based Improvements

To compensate for the limited raw hardware gains, NVIDIA is leaning heavily on AI-powered software like DLSS 4 and multi-frame generation. These technologies promise improved image quality and better performance through software optimization. DLSS 4, in particular, features double the parameters and a new transformer model, enhancing image clarity in supported games. However, many popular titles still lack support for these AI features, limiting their real-world benefits.

NVIDIA’s marketing for the RTX 5070 laptop GPU has also raised eyebrows. Claims that it delivers RTX 4090 laptop performance at half the power are likely only true in very specific scenarios where DLSS 4 is fully utilized. Such claims can be misleading if you’re comparing raw performance across a wide range of applications.

Should You Upgrade to an RTX 5090 Laptop?

When considering whether to upgrade to an RTX 5090 laptop, the most important factor remains the performance of the games you actually play. If your current laptop handles your favorite titles smoothly, there may be little reason to upgrade. While NVIDIA’s new AI features are promising, their limited support in most games means you may not experience significant benefits right away.

In short, unless your current hardware struggles with the games you want to play, upgrading to an RTX 5090 laptop may not be a game-changer. NVIDIA’s marketing may highlight impressive AI features, but the practical performance improvements, especially in laptops, appear to be modest due to power limitations.

As always, it’s best to prioritize real-world performance over marketing claims when deciding on your next hardware upgrade.