RTX 4090 vs M2 Ultra GPU
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | RTX 4090 | M2 Ultra GPU | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy | 33,032 | 22,100 | +49.5% |
| Avg FPS @ 1080p | 240 | 175 | +37.1% |
| Avg FPS @ 1440p | 153 | 125 | +22.4% |
| Avg FPS @ 4K | 87 | 68 | +27.9% |
| VRAM | 24 GB GDDR6X | 192 GB Shared | — |
| Memory bandwidth (GB/s) | 1,008 | 800 | +26.0% |
| TDP (W) | 450 | 100 | — |
| Stable Diffusion (it/s) | 33.0 | 9.8 | +236.7% |
| LLM inference (tokens/s) | 80 | 55 | +45.5% |
- RTX 4090 averages 153 fps at 1440p versus 125 fps — about 22% faster.
- M2 Ultra GPU draws less power (100W vs 450W).
Verdict: RTX 4090 or M2 Ultra GPU?
RTX 4090 advantages
- 1440p gaming (+18%)
- 4K gaming (+22%)
- Synthetic benchmark performance (+33%)
- Memory bandwidth (+21%)
- AI image generation (+70%)
- Local LLM inference (+31%)
M2 Ultra GPU advantages
- Video memory (+88%)
- Power efficiency (+78%)
Which should you choose?
- Choose the RTX 4090 if you game at 1440p.
- Choose the M2 Ultra GPU if you play the latest titles at high textures or do GPU-accelerated work.
- Choose the RTX 4090 if you game at 4K or drive a high-resolution display.
RTX 4090 vs M2 Ultra GPU: which should you choose?
RTX 4090 — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2022, Ada Lovelace) with 24 GB of GDDR6X, averaging 153 fps at 1440p; launched at $1,599.
M2 Ultra GPU — Apple integrated graphics processor (2023, Rhodes) with 192 GB of Shared, averaging 125 fps at 1440p.
RTX 4090 vs M2 Ultra GPU: RTX 4090 is faster for gaming. RTX 4090 averages 153 fps at 1440p versus 125 fps — about 22% faster. M2 Ultra GPU draws less power (100W vs 450W).
1080p, 1440p and 4K
At 1440p — the most common enthusiast resolution — the RTX 4090 averages 153 fps against 125. At 4K (87 vs 68 fps) VRAM (24GB vs 192GB) and memory bandwidth matter more.
AI and creator workloads
Beyond gaming, the RTX 4090 is quicker for AI image generation (33.0 vs 9.8 it/s in Stable Diffusion) and local LLM inference (80 vs 55 tokens/s), which increasingly matters for creators and developers.
Power and value
Board power is 450 W versus 100 W, which affects PSU headroom, case cooling and noise.
The verdict
Both are credible choices in the graphics card comparison space; the specification table above lays out every metric so you can weigh the trade-offs that matter to you. Pick the one whose strengths line up with how you will actually use it.
Frequently asked questions
Is the RTX 4090 better than the M2 Ultra GPU?
RTX 4090 takes the overall edge, though M2 Ultra GPU wins in specific areas worth weighing. RTX 4090 averages 153 fps at 1440p versus 125 fps — about 22% faster.
What is the main difference between the RTX 4090 and the M2 Ultra GPU?
RTX 4090 averages 153 fps at 1440p versus 125 fps — about 22% faster. M2 Ultra GPU draws less power (100W vs 450W).
Which should I choose?
Choose the RTX 4090 if you game at 1440p. Choose the M2 Ultra GPU if you play the latest titles at high textures or do GPU-accelerated work.
Methodology
Graphics cards are compared on 3DMark Time Spy scores, average gaming frame rates at 1080p/1440p/4K, FP32 compute throughput, VRAM capacity and type, memory bandwidth, board power (TDP) and launch MSRP — plus AI workload throughput (Stable Diffusion iterations/s and local LLM tokens/s) where measured. Vintage and server GPUs without modern benchmark results are compared on specifications only, clearly labelled. Frame rates are averages across a game suite at high settings; specific titles vary.