NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 SE Leak: 32GB GDDR7, $1,500 MSRP Rumored
Fresh supply chain rumors suggest NVIDIA is preparing a new addition to its Blackwell graphics card lineup: the GeForce RTX 5090 SE. Positioned between the GeForce RTX 5080 and the flagship RTX 5090, the new model is expected to deliver near-flagship gaming performance while targeting a substantially lower price point.
Leaked specifications indicate the RTX 5090 SE will retain many of the flagship architecture’s strengths, including a large memory configuration and the GB202 GPU, making it an attractive option for enthusiasts who want premium performance without stepping up to the full RTX 5090. However, persistent supply constraints across NVIDIA’s consumer GPU lineup may ultimately determine whether buyers can obtain the card anywhere near its rumored MSRP.
🚀 RTX 5090 SE Reportedly Bridges the Gap Between RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 #
According to recent reports, NVIDIA is developing the GeForce RTX 5090 SE as a more affordable flagship-class graphics card.
The model is expected to replace the previously rumored RTX 5080 Ti, filling the performance gap between the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090. For enthusiasts who considered the RTX 5080 insufficient but found the RTX 5090 prohibitively expensive, the RTX 5090 SE could represent a more balanced option.
Rather than introducing a completely new GPU design, NVIDIA is reportedly using a partially enabled version of its flagship GB202 processor.
This approach offers several advantages:
- Shared Blackwell architecture with the RTX 5090
- Mature software optimization across modern games and professional applications
- Reduced development costs by leveraging an existing GPU design
- Higher performance potential than products built on smaller GPU dies
Using the flagship silicon also suggests NVIDIA can improve manufacturing yields by utilizing partially functional GB202 chips that may not qualify for full RTX 5090 specifications.
⚙️ Leaked Specifications Point to High-End Performance #
The leaked specifications position the RTX 5090 SE firmly within the enthusiast segment.
Reported hardware includes:
- 14,080 CUDA Cores
- 110 Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs)
- 110 RT Cores
- 440 Tensor Cores
- 440 Texture Mapping Units (TMUs)
- 32GB GDDR7 memory
- 384-bit memory interface
Compared to the RTX 5090, the RTX 5090 SE reportedly reduces CUDA core count from 21,760 to 14,080—approximately a one-third reduction. Despite the trimmed compute resources, retaining a 32GB GDDR7 framebuffer and a wide 384-bit memory bus should preserve strong memory bandwidth for demanding workloads.
These specifications would make the card particularly attractive for:
- Native 4K gaming
- High-refresh-rate ultrawide gaming
- AI-assisted creative workloads
- Professional content creation
- Large-scale 3D rendering projects
The generous VRAM capacity also provides additional headroom for future titles that continue increasing texture memory requirements.
Power Consumption #
Power efficiency appears slightly improved compared to the flagship model.
Current rumors suggest:
- RTX 5090: 575W Total Graphics Power (TGP)
- RTX 5090 SE: approximately 500W TGP
Although 500W remains extremely demanding by consumer GPU standards, the lower power target should slightly reduce thermal output and ease PSU requirements compared to the full RTX 5090.
Users upgrading from previous high-end systems may also have greater flexibility when selecting cooling solutions and power supplies.
ROP Count Remains Unconfirmed #
One specification that remains uncertain is the Raster Operations Pipeline (ROP) count.
Current rumors suggest approximately 144 ROPs, although NVIDIA has not confirmed this figure.
If accurate, the card would retain substantial pixel processing capability, complementing its wide memory interface and making it well suited for modern high-resolution rendering workloads.
💲 Rumored $1,500 MSRP Offers Strong Value #
Perhaps the most notable leak concerns pricing.
Reports indicate the RTX 5090 SE could launch with a suggested retail price of approximately $1,500, placing it roughly $500 below the standard RTX 5090’s $1,999 MSRP.
On paper, this creates a compelling value proposition for enthusiasts seeking flagship-class hardware without paying NVIDIA’s highest-tier pricing.
If performance scales proportionally with the leaked specifications, the RTX 5090 SE could become one of the strongest price-to-performance offerings in the ultra-high-end GPU segment.
📦 Supply Constraints May Overshadow MSRP #
As with recent GeForce launches, the official MSRP may not reflect real-world retail pricing.
The current graphics card market demonstrates a significant disconnect between suggested retail prices and actual street prices.
Examples include:
- RTX 5090 MSRP: $1,999
- Typical RTX 5090 retail pricing: $3,000–$4,000+
Likewise:
- RTX 5080 MSRP: $999
- Typical retail pricing: $1,200–$1,600
If similar market dynamics persist, the RTX 5090 SE could debut well above its rumored MSRP despite NVIDIA’s intended positioning.
Several factors continue contributing to elevated consumer GPU pricing:
- Limited production capacity
- Strong AI accelerator demand
- Allocation of advanced packaging resources toward enterprise products
- Ongoing shortages across premium graphics cards
Unless NVIDIA significantly expands consumer GPU production, launch-day shortages and reseller markups are likely to remain familiar challenges.
🖥️ RTX 5080 Super May Also Be on the Horizon #
In addition to the RTX 5090 SE, reports suggest NVIDIA is preparing an RTX 5080 Super for release.
Leaked specifications include:
- 10,752 CUDA Cores
- 24GB GDDR7 memory
- 256-bit memory interface
- 415W TDP
Unlike the RTX 5090 SE, the RTX 5080 Super is expected to retain the same CUDA core count as the standard RTX 5080 while increasing memory capacity to better accommodate demanding gaming and professional workloads.
Current reports indicate the card could make its public debut during CES 2027.
📊 Outlook #
Although neither the RTX 5090 SE nor the RTX 5080 Super has been officially confirmed by NVIDIA, the reported specifications present a coherent expansion of the Blackwell product stack.
The RTX 5090 SE, in particular, could appeal to enthusiasts seeking a balance between flagship performance and cost, thanks to its GB202 GPU, 32GB of GDDR7 memory, and lower projected MSRP.
However, pricing will likely depend less on NVIDIA’s official announcement than on market availability. With AI infrastructure continuing to consume significant manufacturing capacity, supply limitations may remain the defining factor for high-end GeForce graphics cards throughout the next product cycle.