Nvidia is rumored to be developing a new GeForce RTX 5090 SE graphics card with significantly reduced core counts and memory specifications. According to leaked specifications, the rumored SE model will act as a step down from the vanilla flagship GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card. Hardware watchers initially expected a Super series refresh, but recent reports point to this new entry instead.
The leaked details originate from Russian outlet GameGPU, indicating that the upcoming model will use a highly harvested Blackwell graphics processor. This development could help Nvidia fill the performance gap between its top two desktop graphics cards.
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Under the proposed specifications, the GeForce RTX 5090 SE has only 14,080 CUDA cores, which corresponds to 110 active streaming multiprocessors. In comparison, the standard flagship model has 21,760 CUDA cores across 170 active streaming multiprocessors. This core reduction places the new model right between the flagship graphics card and the high-end GeForce RTX 5080.
In addition to the core reduction, the memory bus width is said to decrease from a 512-bit width down to a 384-bit interface. Consequently, the memory capacity will drop to 24GB of GDDR7 memory compared to the 32GB of GDDR7 memory found on the full flagship card.
The lower-tier RTX 5080 and RTX 5070 Ti cards both run on a smaller 256-bit interface with 16GB of GDDR7 memory. With a 384-bit interface, the RTX 5090 SE should offer clear memory bandwidth advantages over the 80-tier models. PC builders can expect performance that comfortably sits in the middle of Nvidia’s premium lineup.
If the leaks prove accurate, pricing will play a critical role in how the new card is received by desktop gamers. Enthusiasts looking to upgrade their desktops will have to wait for Nvidia to confirm release schedules and pricing structures.
Source: GameGPU
