MSI’s RTX 5090 Lightning shatters GPU records before launch — 40-phase VRAM and dual 12V-2x6 connectors turn heads on upcoming overclocking monster
Several benchmark records have appeared online, with users saying they're from the MSI RTX 5090 Lightning, which the company is expected to announce on January 5 at CES 2026.
(Image credit: HWBot)
MSI is apparently getting ready to launch the RTX 5090 Lightning, its new top-of-the-line GPU that will slot above the MSI RTX 5090 Suprim, with new overclocking records that bear the GPU appearing on benchmark sites. A user who goes by Dr. Antoine is the new record holder on 3Dmark’s Time Spy Hall of Fame, scoring 53,207 on January 2, 2026. Their system used an Intel Core i9-14900KF CPU and, more importantly, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPU from MSI. The company makes other RTX 5090 models, though, so we cannot confirm if this is the new Lightning GPU just yet.
Fortunately, we get more clues from HWBot about the GPU being used in these new world records. The current 1st- and 2nd-placers in HWBot’s record-keeping for 3Dmark Time Spy are nv1diafan and oc_windforce, who scored 59,438 and 58,786 points, respectively. While the former did not mention what GPU they used for their run, the latter commented, “Comeback! MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Lightning” in their results. Another user named littleboy ranked 1st on the 3DMark Solar Bay Extreme record on HWBot with a score of 66,977, and, like oc_windforce, they also commented, “MSI RTX 5090 Lightning is Back!!!”
How's the weather there?The weather forecast says that there will be a thunderstorm next Monday...#MSIxCES2026 pic.twitter.com/g8nbpwTp43January 2, 2026
These users apparently already have their hands on MSI’s latest GPU, and it seems an embargo has been lifted, allowing them to share the results of their tests. While the company has not made any official announcement on its website or socials yet, it did post a weather forecast teaser, forecasting lightning and thunder on January 5, the first day of CES 2026. We don’t have any details about the new MSI GPU, though the pictures show that the card seems to require dual 12V-2x6 power connectors.
MSI likely wants to take the top-end of the GPU market by storm by announcing the RTX 5090 Lightning alongside several new world records. However, don’t expect to get the same numbers if you have the money to purchase this graphics card, unless you’re willing to use exotic cooling solutions to put that expensive component through its paces. MSI has used the Lightning branding for its highest-end GPUs in the past, with the coming out in 2017, followed by the in 2019. The company also released the in 2014.
