RTX 4090: Worth Buying Used?
No retailer we track is selling the RTX 4090 new today, and the last first-party price we verified was about $2,440. That does not make it a bad card - it scores 98/100 on our scale, which is a no-compromise 4K / max-refresh card - it makes the used market the only market. Here is what it goes for second-hand, and what to buy instead if you would rather have a warranty.
Where these actually trade now
New
$2,440
first-party retail
Used on eBay
from $1,450-41%
1,051 listings - ~$2,661 typical
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4090 Aero OC 24G GDDR6X Graphics Card
Used
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition FE 24GB - Mint Condition Complete Box
Used
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 OC 24GB GDDR6X Graphics Card
UsedModels in stock
None
Last verified price
$2,440
Where to get one
Used market
Our GPU score
98/100
Where to get a RTX 4090 now
Nobody is listing one new, so the used market is the route - and the comparison below is what to buy instead if you would rather have a warranty and a returns window.
How the RTX 4090 compares
The cards people cross-shop against it, with the numbers that actually decide it - our gaming score, VRAM, power draw, and what each one costs per point of performance.
RTX 5080
The nearest card below it, if the budget matters more than the frames
- Performance
- 5% slower
- VRAM
- 16GB (-8)
- Power draw
- 360W (-90)
- Price
- $1,479
- Per point of score
- $15.90
RTX 5060
Cheapest performance per dollar in this bracket
- Performance
- 35% slower
- VRAM
- 8GB (-16)
- Power draw
- 150W (-300)
- Price
- $392
- Per point of score
- $6.13
RTX 5070 Ti
Slower, but usually cheaper
- Performance
- 11% slower
- VRAM
- 16GB (-8)
- Power draw
- 300W (-150)
- Price
- $1,080
- Per point of score
- $12.41
Score is our own gaming index (0-100), measured the same way for every card, so the gaps are comparable across generations. Price per point is that score divided by the cheapest live listing - a blunt value check, not a verdict: VRAM, power and features decide plenty that a single number cannot.
Is it right for your PC?
The RTX 4090 is a no-compromise 4K / max-refresh card. Pair it with the wrong CPU and you leave frames on the table - check yours first.
Check this card against your CPU →See it in your games
Want the FPS this card pushes in specific titles at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K? Our per-game pages estimate it.
Browse game FPS estimates →Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a RTX 4090 cost?
Nobody we track is selling the RTX 4090 new at the moment; the last first-party price we verified was about $2,440. That makes the used market the real market for this card - the eBay panel above is filtered to used and refurbished listings, and second-hand prices for a card out of production tend to drift down slowly rather than jump.
What should I buy instead of a RTX 4090?
The cards worth cross-shopping are RTX 5080 (about $1,478.99), RTX 5060 (about $392.49), RTX 5070 Ti (about $1,079.99). The RTX 5080 is 5% slower, so it is the straight swap - the comparison above puts the VRAM, power draw and price-per-point side by side. Buying the RTX 4090 used is the other honest option.
Will the RTX 4090 bottleneck my CPU?
It depends on your processor and the resolution you play at. The RTX 4090 is a no-compromise 4K / max-refresh card (our gaming score: 98/100). Run it through our free bottleneck checker with your exact CPU to see whether they're balanced before you buy.
Are the more expensive RTX 4090 models worth it?
Usually only if you want a quieter/cooler card, RGB, or a factory overclock (typically 2-5% faster - not something you'll feel in games). For most people the extra $100-300 over the cheapest model buys aesthetics and cooling headroom, not meaningful frames.
We keep this page up after a card stops being stocked new, because the question does not go away when the listings do. Used prices come from live eBay listings; the score and comparisons are our own testing model. All listed cards use the same RTX 4090 GPU; differences are cooling, clocks, size, and looks. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.