MSI revives the Lightning series with Special Edition RTX 5090 GPUs

Recently, several AIB vendors unveiled their new RTX 50-based products, but MSI has opted for a different approach, introducing two cards that feature unique cooling designs. The first model utilizes liquid cooling with two fans and integrated radiators, while the second one elevates air cooling by incorporating five fans.

Officially, these two cards, designed around the RTX 5090 GPU, don’t carry specific names; they are simply referred to as “Special Edition,” although their design hints at the Lightning Edition cards that once represented MSI’s top-tier offerings (the promotional images also notably showcase a lightning motif replacing the letter ‘I’).

The first variant is the dual-fan, dual-radiator design that appears relatively modest externally, but it’s the internal specifications that matter: this AIO-based model contains a pair of 120mm radiators to manage the cooling of the GPU core and memory modules through an array of water channels, suggesting that these cards may be utilizing the special center-mounted PCB seen in the RTX 5090 Founders Edition to optimize space for the cooling apparatus.

Regarding the air-cooled variant, it boasts an impressive five-fan configuration – three intake fans located at the front and two exhaust fans at the back – which can only be achieved with the card mounted in the center. The exact cooling efficiency of these designs compared to traditional triple-fan GPUs remains uncertain, as MSI has released limited information; however, it seems these extravagant designs are intended to handle the entire 575 watts of power this GPU can produce while minimizing noise levels.

In addition to the special editions, the company also revealed that its RTX 50 series will feature six designs: SUPRIM LIQUID (RTX 5090 only), SUPRIM, VANGUARD, GAMING TRIO, GAMING VENTUS, and INSPIRE series.

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