Recent reports indicate that laptops equipped with the RTX 5060 graphics card may fall short of expectations, potentially being up to 50% slower than anticipated. This news comes just days after the unveiling of the RTX 5090, built on TSMC’s cutting-edge 4nm process at CES 2025. The RTX 5090 is claimed to provide an improvement of 15% to 30% over its predecessor, the RTX 4090, before considering enhancements from DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling). When DLSS is factored in, the performance difference becomes even more pronounced.
However, it is crucial to acknowledge that the performance boost offered by the new GPUs may not be as impressive as one would hope. Benchmarks conducted on RTX 5090 laptops, such as the 2025 Razer Blade 16 and Asus Strix Scar 18, reveal a subpar performance that aligns with some users’ concerns. The observed slowdown is largely attributed to the Total Graphics Power (TGP) limits present in laptops. Laptop GPUs generally have a lower TGP compared to desktop versions due to the need for power efficiency, thermal management, and portability.
Unlike desktops that have access to robust power supplies, laptops rely on batteries or compact adapters, which necessitates a focus on energy consumption. A lower TGP reduces excessive power use, enhancing battery longevity while minimizing thermal stress. Given the tighter confines of laptops, manufacturers employ strategies like lowering clock speeds and employing dynamic power scaling to manage heat. Despite the mobile RTX 5090 being 50% slower, it is designed to operate at 70% less power, presenting a reasonable performance-to-watt ratio.
However, stakeholders must consider that with high prices on the horizon, customers may weigh these performance shortcomings more heavily.