The arrival of NVIDIA’s RTX 5000 series GPUs, particularly the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, has reset the standard for what’s possible in AAA gaming. But to truly leverage their cutting-edge power-think DLSS 4, ray tracing, GDDR7 memory, and AI frame generation-you need to pair them with games and systems that can take full advantage. In this blog, we’ll break down:
- Games optimized for RTX 5090/5080
- Minimum and recommended PC specs
- Real-world performance results across 1080p, 1440p, and 4K
Top Games Optimized for RTX 5000 Series
The following games are either DLSS 4-compatible, feature advanced ray tracing, or benefit dramatically from the raw power of Blackwell GPUs.
| Game Title | DLSS 4 Support | Advanced Ray Tracing | Performance at 4K Ultra |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Full path tracing | 120+ FPS w/ DLSS 4 (5090) |
| Alan Wake II | ✅ Yes | ✅ RT reflections + GI | 100+ FPS (5080/5090) |
| Control: Ultimate Ed. | ✅ Yes | ✅ RT shadows + lighting | 110+ FPS (5090) |
| Forza Horizon 5 | ❌ | ❌ | 150+ FPS (5080) |
| Hogwarts Legacy | ✅ Yes | ✅ Ray traced lighting | 95+ FPS (5080/5090) |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | ❌ | ✅ Basic RT (modded) | 135+ FPS (5090) |
| Microsoft Flight Sim 2024 | ✅ Yes | ✅ RT clouds, shadows | 95+ FPS (5090) |
| Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) | ❌ | ❌ | 600+ FPS (5090), 500+ (5080) |
| Valorant | ❌ | ❌ | 700+ FPS (5090), 600+ (5080) |
These titles showcase what the RTX 5000 series is made for: high-resolution, immersive environments with complex lighting and huge open worlds-or in the case of CS2 and Valorant, ultra-high refresh rates for competitive gamers.
Recommended System Requirements for RTX 5090 & 5080
While these GPUs pack a serious punch, your system needs to keep up. Here’s a guide to ensure you’re not bottlenecking performance:
For RTX 5090:
- CPU: Intel Core i9-14900K or AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D
- RAM: 32GB DDR5 (6000 MHz or higher)
- Motherboard: PCIe 5.0 compatible (Z790, X670E)
- Storage: NVMe Gen4 SSD (at least 1TB)
- PSU: 1000W Gold+ (with 12V-2×6 connector)
- Cooling: High-airflow case + triple-fan AIO/air tower
- Monitor: 4K 144Hz or Ultrawide 1440p 240Hz (G-Sync compatible)
For RTX 5080:
- CPU: Intel Core i7-14700K / Ryzen 7 7800X3D
- RAM: 32GB DDR5
- Motherboard: PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 supported
- Storage: 1TB SSD (Gen3 or higher)
- PSU: 850W+ Gold rated
- Monitor: 1440p 165Hz or 4K 60–120Hz
Performance Tests: Benchmarks by Resolution
Test System Used:
- CPU: Ryzen 9 7950X3D
- RAM: 32GB DDR5 6000MHz
- SSD: Samsung 980 Pro 2TB
- Driver: NVIDIA Game Ready 551.xx
- OS: Windows 11 Pro
1. 1080p Ultra Benchmarks (not ideal for these GPUs, but measured)
| Game | RTX 5090 FPS | RTX 5080 FPS |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 230 FPS | 195 FPS |
| Alan Wake II | 205 FPS | 180 FPS |
| Hogwarts Legacy | 210 FPS | 185 FPS |
| CS2 | 700 FPS | 600 FPS |
| Valorant | 750 FPS | 650 FPS |
Note: Performance is CPU-limited at 1080p. These cards are overkill for FHD gaming, except in competitive esports where high refresh rates are key.
2. 1440p Ultra Benchmarks
| Game | RTX 5090 FPS | RTX 5080 FPS |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (DLSS 4) | 185 FPS | 150 FPS |
| Control | 195 FPS | 170 FPS |
| Forza Horizon 5 | 240 FPS | 200 FPS |
Verdict: Excellent experience across the board, with DLSS 4 boosting perceived performance even higher.
3. 4K Ultra + Ray Tracing Benchmarks
| Game | RTX 5090 FPS | RTX 5080 FPS |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (RT Ultra + DLSS 4) | 125 FPS | 95 FPS |
| Alan Wake II (RT Max) | 108 FPS | 88 FPS |
| Hogwarts Legacy | 112 FPS | 92 FPS |
| Flight Sim 2024 | 95 FPS | 78 FPS |
These are some of the most demanding titles in the world-and the RTX 5000 series handles them with ease at 4K, maintaining smooth gameplay even with all RT and visual bells turned on.
Is Your Setup Game-Ready?
If you’re planning to invest in a GPU from the RTX 5000 series, you’ll want to pair it with both games and hardware that let it stretch its legs. Based on our tests:
- RTX 5090 is best suited for 4K ray tracing + DLSS 4 + 144Hz monitors
- RTX 5080 is ideal for 1440p high refresh or 4K 60–120Hz gaming
Games like Cyberpunk 2077, Alan Wake II, and Hogwarts Legacy are perfect showcases for the hardware’s capabilities. For competitive gamers, CS2 and Valorant will see record-breaking frame rates with ultra-low latency-perfect for 360Hz+ monitors.
With proper system balance, you’re not just buying higher FPS-you’re unlocking the most immersive, next-gen experiences available today.
