I just saw the most extreme RTX 5090 GPU at CES — and it definitely won’t fit inside my PC

GeForce RTX 5090 Lighting Z — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The MSI GeForce RTX 5090 32GB Lightning Z might be one of the most extreme GPUs ever released. Unveiled during CES 2026, this graphics card features several “world firsts,” including an 8-inch GPU display, power output beyond 1000W for extreme overclocking, and a full copper, full-cover cold plate to maximize cooling. This card is so power hungry that MSI recommends a 1600W+ power supply. That, my friends, is absolutely insane!

I wasn’t able to independently benchmark the Lighting Z when I met with MSI during CES, but MSI’s internal benchmarks claim some bold numbers. That includes a score of 513,272 on the Geekbench 6 CPU benchmark and 139,907 on the Wildlife Extreme 3D Mark graphics benchmark. Truly staggering stuff!

GeForce RTX 5090 32GB Lightning Z: Specs

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Row 0 - Cell 0	GeForce RTX 5090 32GB Lighting Z
Interface	PCI Express Gen 5x 16
Core clocks	Extreme Performance: 2775 MHz (MSI Center) Boost: 2730 MHz
Cores	21760 Units
Memory	32GB GDDR7
Memory bus	512bit
Output	USB Type-C x 1 (Dedicated for Lightning display panel only), DisplayPort x 3 (2.1b), HDMI x 1 (As specified in HDMI 2.1b: up to 4K 480Hz or 8K 120Hz with DSC, Gaming VRR, HDR)
HDCP Support	Y
Power consumption	OC:800 W EXtreme:1000W
Power connectors	16-pin x 2 (1-to-3 dongle not supported.)
Recommended PSU	1600W
Dimensions	Card: 10.2 x 5.9 x 2.4 inches Radiator: 15.1 x 4.7 x 2.2 inches
Weight	TBD
Maximum displays	4
G-Sync	Y
Digital Maximum resolution	7680 x 4320

On the spec sheet, the boost clock is listed at 2330Hz. Then there’s the “Extreme Performance” profile that can jump to 2775Hz, but you’ll need to enable that through the MSI Center app. There are two settings to choose from, with one being an overclock mode at 800W and Extreme Performance rated at over 1000W. My electricity bill is already screaming at those numbers.

The GPU is huge since it’s an RTX 5090, measuring 10.2 x 5.9 x 2.4 inches. The weight wasn’t disclosed, but it felt heavy when I held it. Connection-wise, the Lighting Z features two 16-pin power connectors. For output, it has three DisplayPorts, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a single USB-C port.

GeForce RTX 5090 Lightning Z — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

I saw the Lighting Z inside the MEG Maestro 900R, but it’s not exclusively for that PC case. But as you might have guessed, you’re going to need a huge PC case of your own to house this beastly graphics card.

Speaking about what's in the MEG Maestro 900R case I saw at CES, it had the MEG X870E Unify-X Max motherboard, which features a slew of overclocking features, a clean, all-black design, and lets you pack 128GB (2x64GB) of RAM.

Lastly, the rig also featured the MPG Ai1600TS PCIE5, which can deliver the 1600W the Lightning Z requires. In addition to being powerful, this PSU also has GPU Safeguard+, which exists to protect your GPU from unexpected threats. It also has stable power delivery, smart thermal regulation, and is built to be durable.

Outlook

MSI didn’t provide pricing, but it said the GeForce RTX 5090 32GB Lighting Z will release sometime in February. Considering how it’s limited to 1300 units, it’s probably going to cost a pretty penny—if you can snag a unit. But even if you can’t, I’m sure you can appreciate that such a powerful GPU even exists.

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Tony is a computing writer at Tom’s Guide covering laptops, tablets, Windows, and iOS. During his off-hours, Tony enjoys reading comic books, playing video games, reading speculative fiction novels, and spending too much time on X/Twitter. His non-nerdy pursuits involve attending Hard Rock/Heavy Metal concerts and going to NYC bars with friends and colleagues. His work has appeared in publications such as Laptop Mag, PC Mag, and various independent gaming sites.

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