Earlier this year, I got an overview of what I termed the ideal GPU design, which came in the form of the Asus ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 5090. This card was introduced as a celebration of Asus’s 30th anniversary in the graphics card market and has now launched at a staggering price of $4,000.

While this is over $1,000 more than some other RTX 5090 models available, and $2,000 more than the Founders Edition’s MSRP, it is also $3,000 less expensive than the gold-plated RTX 5090 Dhahab OC, which was initially priced at around $7,000 back in May. Clearly, different pricing tiers exist.

The hefty price tag isn’t solely due to its aesthetic appeal, which it has in abundance, or its limited run of 1,000 cards. It also comes from its powerful 800 W power requirement. The standard RTX 5090 nearly maxes out the 12V-2x6 connector’s wattage, necessitating a second power connection to reach the 800 W limit.

To unleash this special edition GPU’s full potential, an Advanced BTF motherboard is required alongside the 12V-2x6 PSU; this setup allows the ROG Matrix RTX 5090 to leverage an extra power boost through the BTF connection via the motherboard and a connector alongside the PCIe slot.

Tech YouTuber der8auer has taken the card apart and tested it, noting that while the performance improvements aren’t substantial when compared to the price tag and the extra energy usage, it consumed about 26% more power for only an approximate 10% speed boost. For instance, Star Wars Outlaws saw a frame rate increase from 89 fps to 98 fps at 4K resolution with the new card compared to the standard RTX 5090.

Asus transparently shares that this setup can provide up to a 10% performance improvement if paired with a suitable motherboard supplying that additional wattage. It’s common for more expensive options in any given product line, such as this, to provide marginal improvements alongside higher costs.

The aesthetic and rarity of the ROG Matrix RTX 5090 certainly add to its desirability. For those who manage to acquire one, prices in the secondary market may very well exceed $4,000 given the demand and the current stock situation.