Nvidia says 'Press Build'-stamped GPU dies in RTX 5090s are not juiced up — performance is identical to retail counterparts

RTX 5090 Founders Edition
(Image credit: Nvidia)

Speculation has surfaced that Nvidia allegedly sent pre-binned RTX 5090 samples to third-party reviewers, with higher performance than their retail counterparts. Nvidia has shot down this theory, claiming that all RTX 50-series GPUs, including ones marked "Press Build," are not tuned up or pre-binned and feature identical performance to retail RTX GPUs.

We asked Nvidia about the "Press Build" markings seen on some 5090 Founders Edition cards (e.g. at TechPowerUp) iterations of its RTX 50-series (Blackwell) GPUs were higher-performing iterations of its retail counterparts. An Nvidia representative responded to Tom's Hardware that, "Some early GeForce RTX GPUs include a top mark related to intended use. Their functionality and performance are identical to retail GPUs.”

Theories about Nvidia sending juiced-up RTX 5090s to reviewers began circulating when TechPowerUp published its RTX 5090 Founders Edition review. The tech outlet published a PCB shot of the graphics card in its review, showcasing the GB202 die with the words "Press Build" stamped under the GB202-300-A1 model name.

Ian Cutress quipped on X that the "Press Build" RTX 5090 dies were binned dies in response to Andreas Schilling's question about whether there was anything special about Press Build versions of Nvidia's RTX 50-series GPUs. You can see the specially marked chips if you expand the tweet below. 

Aaron Klotz
Contributing Writer

Aaron Klotz is a contributing writer for Tom’s Hardware, covering news related to computer hardware such as CPUs, and graphics cards.

  • edzieba
    Since the FE chips have the 'press build' label and the non-FE AIB ships do not, and reviewers have both in their hands at the same time (non-FE embargo was just set back to a later date) if an actual attempt at golden sampling this would have been the world's absolute least subtle attempt without literally applying gold spray-paint.
    Reply
  • JarredWaltonGPU
    edzieba said:
    Since the FE chips have the 'press build' label and the non-FE AIB ships do not, and reviewers have both in their hands at the same time (non-FE embargo was just set back to a later date) if an actual attempt at golden sampling this would have been the world's absolute least subtle attempt without literally applying gold spray-paint.
    I've been told that it's not even all 5090 Founders Edition cards — I haven't disassembled mine (and don't plan to), but it was apparently a limited number of units produced somewhere that had this marking. Probably something to do with customs or similar is my bet, though I don't have any official word on that.
    Reply
  • Giroro
    As a gamer, it makes no difference to me if the press freebies get different performance than Nvidia's bulk AI customers.
    Because, as a gamer, this product was not made for me. I'm unlikely to ever see one in real life, and if I did I would never buy one.
    Watching influencers complain on twitter is like watching an F1 driver and a commercial airline pilot bickering about whether or not Lamborghini is cheating on their emissions tests. It doesn't affect me.... it doesn't even affect them.
    Reply
  • Heiro78
    Giroro said:
    As a gamer, it makes no difference to me if the press freebies get different performance than Nvidia's bulk AI customers.
    Because, as a gamer, this product was not made for me. I'm unlikely to ever see one in real life, and if I did I would never buy one.
    Watching influencers complain on twitter is like watching an F1 driver and a commercial airline pilot bickering about whether or not Lamborghini is cheating on their emissions tests. It doesn't affect me.... it doesn't even affect them.
    a company lying about this sort of thing could be lying about other matters. Being caught in such a lie should at a minimum have everyone distrust them and their future claims. So it does relate to you since a video card that you'd be interested could have similar lies being put out there.
    Reply
  • uplink-svk
    Since corpos lie, this is just a confirmation that not only Ngreedia, but all AiB's send their best SKU's out of the factory for review. I remember how my 3 units of RTX 4090 Matrix were a total pump noise and coil whine cluster*uck, but in reviews they were sung a song of perfection, absolute silence in both pump acoustics and low/lack of coilwhine.
    Reply