Does GTA 6 Lag on RTX 5090? Real Performance Breakdown (2026)
Introduction
GTA 6 is one of the most awaited games of all time, and with every new leak or trailer, expectations rise even higher. But after some recent tests and gameplay footage surfaced, one question has started popping up online:
“Does GTA 6 lag even on the powerful RTX 5090?”
Let’s break this down in simple terms and figure out what’s really going on.
What is RTX 5090?
The RTX 5090 is NVIDIA’s top-end graphics card from the latest 50-series. It’s built for 8K gaming, high-end ray tracing, and real-time rendering with next-gen AI support. This card can easily run most games at ultra settings — including AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring — with no issues.
So the idea that GTA 6 might lag on it feels surprising. But let’s look at the facts.
Why Some People Say GTA 6 Lags on RTX 5090
There have been a few reports and leaked videos where GTA 6 gameplay appeared to stutter or slow down, even with an RTX 5090 setup. But here’s why that might be happening:
1. It’s Not the Final Version
Rockstar hasn’t released the final build of GTA 6 yet. Most “leaks” are from unfinished test versions or developer builds that are not optimized.
2. CPU Bottlenecks
Even with an RTX 5090, if the processor (CPU) is not powerful enough, it can cause frame drops or lag. GTA games are known to be CPU-intensive.
3. Unstable Drivers
The 5090 is a new GPU, and many users may still be running early or beta drivers, which can affect performance until proper updates arrive.
4. Background Tasks & Mods
Some players run heavy mods, screen recorders, or background apps that eat up system resources — which can cause lag even on top-tier hardware.
What You Can Expect in the Final Release
When the official version of GTA 6 is launched:
- It will be fully optimized for modern GPUs like RTX 5090
- Frame rates above 120+ FPS at 4K Ultra should be possible
- Ray tracing, shadows, and reflections will be smoother
- DLSS 4.0 and frame generation will further boost performance
In short, no, GTA 6 will not lag on RTX 5090 if you’re running the final optimized version on a proper high-end system.
Tips to Get Best Performance in GTA 6
If you plan to run GTA 6 on any high-end card (5090, 5080, 4090), here are a few tips:
- Keep your GPU and CPU drivers updated
- Use the latest Game-Ready Drivers from NVIDIA
- Close heavy background apps like OBS or Chrome
- Turn on DLSS / Frame Generation for smoother gameplay
- Avoid early mods until they are stable
Conclusion
GTA 6 does not truly lag on RTX 5090 — at least not under normal conditions with the right setup. Most issues seen online come from early game builds, unoptimized systems, or extra software running in the background.
Once the final game is released, RTX 5090 users can expect next-level performance, visuals, and smooth gameplay — just as expected from a card of this caliber.
