MSI GeForce RTX 5090 SUPRIM SOC review – When the gram costs one euro and puts the FE in the shade

1 - Introduction, overview and technical data 2 - Test system and equipment 3 - Teardown: PCB, components and cooler 4 - Material analysis and heat conducting materials 5 - Gaming performance 6 - Power consumption, load peaks, PSU recommendation 7 - Temperatures, clock rates and thermography 8 - Fan curves and operating noise 9 - Summary and conclusion

Teardown

When designing the RTX 5090 SUPRIM, MSI took care to simplify disassembly considerably. The backplate can be removed with just a few screws, which makes maintenance work or modifications easier. After loosening the slot bracket and disconnecting the five connection cables, the board can be carefully removed by removing the fastening screws and the clamping cross. Care should be taken, however, as a PTM pad, which helps to dissipate heat, may offer slight resistance when removing the board. A careful and even approach is important here to avoid damaging the hardware. This well thought-out design makes both repairs and any upgrades much easier.

Circuit board and components

The board has a solid and fairly durable design and, like NVIDIA’s reference design, relies on three large voltage rails and several smaller ones. The 16 voltage converters for the NVDD as the actual GPU core voltage are nothing new. However, similar to Intel and AMD, NVIDIA now uses separate voltages for the GDDR7 memory (6 voltage converters) and the frame buffer (7 voltage converters). While the voltage rails for the GPU cores and the memory are familiar, the frame buffer is new to NVIDIA in this form.

The frame buffer in a graphics card is a special area of the memory that is responsible for storing the pixel information of the displayed image. It contains data such as color depth, transparency and image resolution and is continuously updated by the GPU to enable image output on the monitor. The frame buffer is directly connected to the graphics memory, which operates under the voltage MSVDD. This memory provides the physical resource that the frame buffer accesses. The 7 voltage regulators could certainly supply an entire high-resolution monitor array, but there are also 4 powerful graphics outputs. In short: FBVDD ensures the stability and accuracy of data transfers between GPU and memory, especially at high clock rates.

The MSVDD voltage, on the other hand, regulates the operation of the memory chips themselves. This voltage directly influences the speed and stability of the memory, as it meets the electrical requirements of the memory cells and the memory controller logic. MSVDD and FBVDD work closely together, as the memory logic and the frame buffer must communicate with each other in order to exchange image data efficiently between GPU and memory. The separate regulation of MSVDD and FBVDD enables precise adjustment of the voltages to the respective requirements. The circuit board is not witchcraft:

The power supply of modern graphics cards such as the MSI RTX 5090 SUPRIM is based on the precise coordination of several control and power components. The MP29816 is a highly efficient and complex PWM controller that takes over the voltage regulation for the GPU core voltage (NVVDD) as well as for the voltage of the memory (MSVDD) and the frame buffer (FBVDD). These components are crucial for the stability and efficiency of the graphics card, as they supply the main load of the GPU and the memory. The MP29816 controls a multi-phase system (IntelliPhase), which distributes the electrical and thermal loads and at the same time enables precise voltage regulation.

The actual power regulation is carried out in all control circuits with higher loads by the MP87993 DrMOS modules from Monolith, which convert the signals controlled by the PWM controllers into the corresponding output voltages. These modules integrate the high-side and low-side MOSFETs as well as the gate drivers in a compact housing and are able to efficiently process the high currents of the NVVDD, FBVDD and MSVDD rails. Their design not only minimizes switching losses, but also saves space on the circuit board. The DrMOS components also ensure that the graphics card is protected by integrated safety mechanisms such as temperature and short-circuit protection.

There is also nothing sensational to be found on the rear. However, MSI, like NVIDIA, has only installed MLCC under the socket and no polymer caps. I already discussed the reasons for this years ago:

Here is a high-resolution microscopic view of all the important components:

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The cooler

The rear backplate is made of aluminum and cools the area under the GPU by means of attached thermal pads and – following my recommendation (remember my RTX 3080 mod) – also the area below the 12V2x6 connector. The backplate not only contributes to mechanical stability, but also improves cooling. Together with the central aluminum frame, the structural integrity of the card is additionally increased, guaranteeing stable operation under high load.

The massive cooler of the MSI RTX 5090 SUPRIM is designed for maximum efficiency and quiet operation, which is achieved through a combination of innovative technologies and high-quality materials. Cooling is made possible by an integrated vapor chamber, which serves as the primary heat dissipation element. It transports the heat directly from the GPU and the VRAM to the so-called core pipes. These square-shaped heat pipes optimize thermal contact and ensure even heat distribution. The heat is then dissipated through a network of precision-engineered fins which, in combination with Wave Curved 4.0 technology, increase the efficiency of the airflow and minimize turbulence.

The cooler’s fans, known as StormForce Fans, are each equipped with seven optimized fan blades that are specially textured to ensure maximum airflow while reducing noise. In addition, the Zero-Frozr function offers the option of stopping the fans completely at low loads to enable silent operation. Another design element is the thermal pads, which I will discuss in more detail, which provide additional heat dissipation from critical components such as the voltage converters.

The cooling system of the RTX 5090 SUPRIM represents a consistent further development and yes, the radiator cover is also supplemented by LED elements that actively assist with cooling. Not.