Nvidias triple-fan GPU cooler was one step along the way to a slimmer RTX 5090Nvidias triple-fan GPU cooler was one step along the way to a slimmer RTX 5090 / A leaked quad-slot prototype GPU design from Nvidia was real and informed the modular system used to make the upcoming RTX 5090 smaller than the RTX 4090.By Umar Shakir, a news writer fond of the electric vehicle lifestyle and things that plug in via USB-C. He spent over 15 years in IT support before joining The Verge. Jan 22, 2025, 10:26 PM UTCShare this storyThe RTX 4090 is a lot thicker than the RTX 5090. Photo by Tom Warren / The VergeNvidia has posted a new video showcasing a history of Founders Edition graphics card designs that explores the design of its new RTX 5090 and confirms a previously leaked prototype that used an unconventionally large four-slot design. As noted by VideoCardz,the prototype Titan ADA card first revealed by leaker Kopite7kimi included a triple-fan cooling system, and earlier this month, Gamers Nexus tested and tore down a working version of the prototype.RelatedIn the video published today, Nvidias EVP of system products, Andrew Bell, explains that Nvidia cards were trending larger and larger, and they wanted to change that. We didnt like the idea of it taking up four slots; it was big, it was unwieldy, it worked in a limited number of chassis, Bell said.Bell says that the prototype triple-fan cooling system influenced Nvidias Blackwell architecture. However, the latest RTX 5090 Founders Edition card that we are currently testing achieves its goals through a modular four-part design with a separate I/O board that allows air to flow through for a more efficient and compact cooler. According to Nvidia, these changes are why the new 5090 fits in two slots on the motherboard compared to the previous three-slot 4090. Most PopularMost Popular