NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Max-Q vs Lisuan Tech LX ULTRA Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data presents two distinctly positioned mobile and compact graphics solutions. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Max-Q is a low-power, high-efficiency implementation of NVIDIA's flagship Ada Lovelace architecture, designed for thin and light portable devices. The Lisuan Tech LX ULTRA is a larger, higher-power discrete card from an unknown manufacturer, built on the TrueGPU architecture. Both cards occupy the 50th percentile in the database's performance distribution, with average benchmark scores of zero, indicating no recorded performance measurements are available for either unit.

For users constrained by chassis size and power delivery, the RTX 4090 Max-Q is the clear choice. Its 80 W TDP, IGP slot width, and lack of power connectors make it suitable for integrated portable systems where physical space and thermal capacity are limited. The Lisuan Tech LX ULTRA, with a 225 W TDP, dual-slot width, and a 1x 16-pin power connector requiring a 550 W suggested PSU, is a conventional desktop-style card that demands a full-sized chassis and a robust power supply.

The LX ULTRA offers a larger memory pool at 24 GB compared to the Max-Q's 16 GB, which may benefit workloads with extremely large datasets. However, the Max-Q compensates with a wider 256-bit memory bus and higher bandwidth at 576.0 GB/s versus the LX ULTRA's 192-bit bus and 432.0 GB/s. The data shows the Max-Q has more shading units (9728 vs 6144), more TMUs (304 vs 192), and more ROPs (112 vs 96), suggesting higher raw geometry and pixel processing throughput. The LX ULTRA counters with higher pixel rate (192.0 GPixel/s vs 163.0 GPixel/s) and a 2:1 FP16 ratio delivering 49.15 TFLOPS, while the Max-Q maintains 1:1 FP16 at 28.31 TFLOPS.

The choice depends on the platform. The RTX 4090 Max-Q belongs in a portable, power-limited device. The Lisuan Tech LX ULTRA belongs in a desktop or large laptop with adequate cooling and a 550 W PSU. There is no recorded performance data to declare a definitive winner in gaming or compute tasks, so the decision rests on physical form factor, power delivery, and memory capacity.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 4090 Max-Q wins in efficiency and portability. It operates at an 80 W TDP, a fraction of the LX ULTRA's 225 W. It is an IGP form factor, meaning it is integrated into a portable device's board, with no external power connectors required. This makes it the only option for ultra-thin laptops or all-in-one portable systems where a dual-slot, 268 mm long card cannot physically fit. The Max-Q also leads in memory bandwidth at 576.0 GB/s, a 33% advantage over the LX ULTRA's 432.0 GB/s, which can reduce bottlenecks in memory-intensive applications.

The Lisuan Tech LX ULTRA wins in memory capacity and raw pixel throughput. It offers 24 GB of GDDR6 memory, 50% more than the Max-Q's 16 GB. This larger frame buffer is advantageous for large language models, high-resolution texture sets, or multi-stream rendering where capacity exceeds the 16 GB limit. The LX ULTRA also achieves a higher pixel rate at 192.0 GPixel/s compared to the Max-Q's 163.0 GPixel/s, a 17.8% lead, which can improve fill-rate-bound scenarios. Its FP16 compute rate of 49.15 TFLOPS is 73.6% higher than the Max-Q's 28.31 TFLOPS, providing a significant advantage for half-precision compute workloads.

In terms of API support, both cards support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and OpenGL 4.6. The Max-Q supports Vulkan 1.4, while the LX ULTRA supports Vulkan 1.3. The newer Vulkan version on the Max-Q may offer better compatibility with the latest Vulkan-based applications. The LX ULTRA provides four DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, while the Max-Q's display outputs are portable device dependent, meaning the Max-Q relies on the host device's built-in display.

The Max-Q uses the AD103 chip on a 5 nm TSMC process with 45,900 million transistors on a 379 mm² die. The LX ULTRA uses the 7G105 chip on a 6 nm TSMC process with unknown transistor count and die size. The smaller 5 nm node on the Max-Q enables higher transistor density at 121.1M per mm², contributing to its lower power consumption.

The LX ULTRA has a base and boost clock that are not recorded in the database, while the Max-Q has a base clock of 930 MHz and a boost clock of 1455 MHz. Both cards use GDDR6 memory at an effective 18 Gbps, but the Max-Q's 256-bit bus yields 576.0 GB/s versus the LX ULTRA's 192-bit bus yielding 432.0 GB/s.

Architecture Differences

The two cards are built on fundamentally different architectures. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Max-Q uses the Ada Lovelace architecture, a generation identified as GeForce 40 Mobile. Its chip is the AD103, fabricated by TSMC on a 5 nm process. The die measures 379 mm² and contains 45,900 million transistors, with a transistor density of 121.1M per mm². This architecture includes 76 ray tracing cores and 304 tensor cores, features that are absent from the Lisuan Tech LX ULTRA's specification sheet, which lists no RT cores and no tensor cores.

The RTX 4090 Max-Q has 9728 shading units, 304 texture mapping units, and 112 render output units. It achieves a texture rate of 442.3 GTexel/s and a pixel rate of 163.0 GPixel/s. Its FP32 throughput is 28.31 TFLOPS, with FP16 at the same 28.31 TFLOPS due to a 1:1 ratio. The architecture supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

The Lisuan Tech LX ULTRA uses the TrueGPU architecture with the 7G105 chip, also fabricated by TSMC but on a 6 nm process. Its transistor count and die size are unknown, and no transistor density is recorded. The card has 6144 shading units, 192 TMUs, and 96 ROPs. Its texture rate is 384.0 GTexel/s and its pixel rate is 192.0 GPixel/s. FP32 performance is 24.58 TFLOPS, while FP16 performance is 49.15 TFLOPS at a 2:1 ratio. The LX ULTRA supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3.

The process node difference is significant. The 5 nm node on the Max-Q allows for a higher transistor density and lower power draw at 80 W. The 6 nm node on the LX ULTRA is slightly less dense but still modern. The Max-Q's 379 mm² die is substantial, but the LX ULTRA's die size is unrecorded, so a direct comparison of chip area is not possible.

The memory subsystems also differ. Both use GDDR6 at 18 Gbps effective, but the Max-Q has a 256-bit bus width and 16 GB capacity, yielding 576.0 GB/s bandwidth. The LX ULTRA has a 192-bit bus width and 24 GB capacity, yielding 432.0 GB/s. The Max-Q's wider bus provides more bandwidth, while the LX ULTRA's larger capacity supports bigger datasets.

The physical specifications are polar opposites. The Max-Q is an IGP with no power connectors and a TDP of 80 W. The LX ULTRA is a dual-slot card measuring 268 mm in length, 112 mm in height, and 40 mm in width, with a 1x 16-pin power connector and a suggested PSU of 550 W. The Max-Q has no recorded dimensions, as it is designed for integration into a portable device.

FAQ

Q: Which card has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Max-Q has a memory bandwidth of 576.0 GB/s, while the Lisuan Tech LX ULTRA has 432.0 GB/s. The Max-Q's 256-bit bus provides 33% more bandwidth than the LX ULTRA's 192-bit bus.

Q: Does the Lisuan Tech LX ULTRA have more memory?

A: Yes, the LX ULTRA has 24 GB of GDDR6 memory, while the RTX 4090 Max-Q has 16 GB. This gives the LX ULTRA a 50% larger frame buffer.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The RTX 4090 Max-Q has a TDP of 80 W and uses no power connectors. The Lisuan Tech LX ULTRA has a TDP of 225 W and requires a 1x 16-pin power connector with a suggested PSU of 550 W.

Q: Which card supports newer Vulkan?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Max-Q supports Vulkan 1.4, while the Lisuan Tech LX ULTRA supports Vulkan 1.3. Both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and OpenGL 4.6.

Q: What are the physical sizes?

A: The Lisuan Tech LX ULTRA is a dual-slot card measuring 268 mm in length, 112 mm in height, and 40 mm in width. The RTX 4090 Max-Q is an IGP with no recorded dimensions, designed for portable device integration.

Q: Which card has more shading units?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Max-Q has 9728 shading units, while the Lisuan Tech LX ULTRA has 6144. The Max-Q also has more TMUs (304 vs 192) and more ROPs (112 vs 96).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

No recorded benchmark scores exist for either card in the database. Both have an average benchmark score of zero and no entries in their head-to-head benchmark lists. However, the specification data allows for a direct comparison of theoretical performance ceilings.

In FP32 compute, the RTX 4090 Max-Q delivers 28.31 TFLOPS, which is 15.2% higher than the LX ULTRA's 24.58 TFLOPS. This advantage comes from the Max-Q's higher shading unit count and higher boost clock of 1455 MHz, though the LX ULTRA's boost clock is not recorded. The Max-Q's FP16 output matches its FP32 at 28.31 TFLOPS due to a 1:1 ratio, while the LX ULTRA doubles its FP16 rate to 49.15 TFLOPS. For FP16 workloads, the LX ULTRA is 73.6% faster.

In texture processing, the Max-Q achieves 442.3 GTexel/s versus the LX ULTRA's 384.0 GTexel/s, a 15.2% lead. This is consistent with the FP32 difference, as both are tied to the TMU count and clock speed. In pixel fill rate, the LX ULTRA leads with 192.0 GPixel/s compared to the Max-Q's 163.0 GPixel/s, a 17.8% advantage. The LX ULTRA achieves this despite having fewer ROPs (96 vs 112), indicating a higher effective clock or architectural efficiency in the ROP stage.

Memory bandwidth favors the Max-Q at 576.0 GB/s versus 432.0 GB/s, a 33.3% difference. This can impact high-resolution textures, anti-aliasing, and data-intensive shaders. The LX ULTRA's larger 24 GB capacity may reduce the need for memory swapping, but its lower bandwidth could bottleneck throughput in bandwidth-bound scenarios.

The Max-Q has 76 ray tracing cores and 304 tensor cores. The LX ULTRA has no recorded RT cores or tensor cores, suggesting it may lack dedicated hardware for ray tracing and AI acceleration. This gives the Max-Q a structural advantage in DirectX 12 Ultimate workloads that leverage these features.

The process node difference is 5 nm for the Max-Q versus 6 nm for the LX ULTRA. The Max-Q's 45,900 million transistors on a 379 mm² die yields a density of 121.1M per mm². The LX ULTRA's transistor count and die size are unknown, so density cannot be calculated. The Max-Q's smaller node likely contributes to its much lower 80 W TDP.

The physical constraints are decisive. The Max-Q's IGP form factor and 80 W TDP allow deployment in devices with no PCIe slot or external power. The LX ULTRA requires a dual-slot expansion bay, a 268 mm length clearance, and a 550 W PSU. These are incompatible platforms, so the choice is predetermined by the host system's design.

The LX ULTRA's display outputs are four DisplayPort 1.4a connectors, supporting multi-monitor setups directly. The Max-Q's display outputs are portable device dependent, meaning external display support depends on the host laptop's ports. The LX ULTRA's 24 GB memory is double the Max-Q's 16 GB, which is a firm capacity advantage for large models. The Max-Q's bandwidth advantage remains, but capacity and bandwidth trade off differently across workloads.

The data shows no performance winner, as no benchmarks are recorded. The theoretical compute metrics split: the Max-Q leads in FP32, texture rate, and bandwidth, while the LX ULTRA leads in FP16, pixel rate, and memory capacity. The RTX 4090 Max-Q is a high-efficiency, feature-rich mobile GPU. The Lisuan Tech LX ULTRA is a high-power, high-capacity desktop card with a newer release date of 2026-03-16 versus the Max-Q's 2023-01-02. The release date gap of over three years suggests the LX ULTRA is a newer product, but without benchmark data, its performance relative to the Max-Q remains unverified.