Modded NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 with 48 GB VRAM Benchmarked: Built for AI, Not Gamers
The highly sought-after "modded" NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 with 48 GB of VRAM has finally undergone comprehensive testing, and the results solidify what many suspected: it’s a card tailor-made for AI-intensive workloads, not gaming. This customized variant, recently benchmarked by Russian YouTuber MKA in a detailed teardown and test session, shows how far the AI market is pushing conventional gaming hardware into new territory.
Unlike the standard RTX 4090, which ships with 24 GB of GDDR6X memory, this modded GPU doubles the VRAM to an impressive 48 GB. Achieving that required a custom PCB design, as the reference board does not support dual-sided VRAM configurations. MKA’s sample came in a blower-style configuration, bearing questionable NVIDIA branding and unverified design elements—suggesting a third-party or underground modification effort most likely rooted in the Chinese market.
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Uniengine Synthetic Tests:
While the performance slightly edged out the stock RTX 4090 due to higher VRAM, gaming improvements were negligible.
Noise levels spiked up to 65 dB, making it extremely loud for any gaming scenario.
Thermals ranged from 70°C to 86°C, acceptable but not optimal, especially for long-term gaming sessions.
AI Performance:
The RTX 4090 48 GB excelled in local AI model execution, particularly while running Google’s Gemma-2 (27b parameter model) in LM Studio.
No stuttering, overheating, or bottlenecks were reported—validating its use-case for large parameter LLM inference or AI training tasks.
Bottom Line:
This GPU variant is not meant for gamers, and despite offering double the VRAM, it fails to justify its use in traditional gaming scenarios. However, for AI developers or institutions lacking access to NVIDIA’s premium AI hardware (like the H100 or A100), this custom RTX 4090 presents a viable alternative—albeit one riddled with reliability and support questions. Currently, this modded card is available primarily in China, retailing at approximately $3,400 USD, placing it above the expected price of the GeForce RTX 5090. The trade-off, of course, is VRAM capacity versus validated gaming or driver support
Would you buy a modded RTX 4090 for AI projects, or does the lack of official support make it too risky? Share your thoughts in the comments!
