Nvidia has made headlines today with the announcement of its highly anticipated RTX 5060 family of graphics processing units (GPUs). This announcement comes just one day ahead of the scheduled release of the RTX 5060 Ti, which is set to hit the market on April 16th. Nvidia is launching two variants of the RTX 5060 Ti: an 8GB model priced at $379 and a 16GB version available for $429. Additionally, the entry-level RTX 5060 is expected to be released sometime in May, featuring 8GB of VRAM and a price tag of $299.

The RTX 5060 Ti is equipped with a formidable 4,608 CUDA cores, boasting a base clock speed of 2.4GHz and a boost clock that can reach up to 2.57GHz. The GPU utilizes a 128-bit memory bus and is available in two configurationseither 8GB or 16GB of GDDR7 memory. Nvidia has confirmed that the 16GB version of the RTX 5060 Ti will be released on April 16th, while the 8GB variant will follow shortly after. Meanwhile, the RTX 5060, which features 3,840 CUDA cores, also employs a 128-bit memory bus and includes 8GB of GDDR7 memory.

Both the RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 are designed to support advanced features such as DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation, which can enhance frame rates by up to four times. Additionally, they are compatible with PCI Express 5 and DisplayPort 2.1b. The RTX 5060 Ti has a total graphics power consumption of 180 watts, whereas the RTX 5060 will consume up to 145 watts.

To illustrate the capabilities of the new GPUs, Nvidia has released benchmark results that showcase the impressive frame rates achievable in various popular games, particularly when Multi Frame Generation is employed. The benchmarks, conducted at 1080p resolution with maximum settings, have revealed the following results:

  • Half-Life 2 RTX: 130fps
  • Hogwarts Legacy: 234fps
  • Alan Wake II: 114fps
  • Black Myth: Wukong: 130fps
  • Cyberpunk 2077: 148fps
  • S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: 208fps
  • Star Wars Outlaws: 105fps
  • Marvel Rivals: 330fps
  • Avowed: 220fps

While Nvidia is clearly emphasizing the benefits of the 4x Frame Generation technology with the launch of these RTX 5060 cards, there are also noteworthy performance enhancements in traditional rasterization. According to Justin Walker, Nvidia's senior director of GeForce product management, gamers can expect a performance improvement of approximately 20-25 percent from generation to generation for the RTX 5060, and around 20 percent for the RTX 5060 Ti, even in titles that do not support Multi Frame Generation.

It is important to note that Nvidia will not be producing Founders Edition versions of the RTX 5060 cards, which means the company will have limited influence over the retail pricing set by its board partners. This could potentially complicate the availability of the RTX 5060 at its expected price of $299, particularly given the unpredictable nature of tariffs under the administration of former President Donald Trump.

Pricing may not be the only aspect subject to controversy surrounding these new graphics cards. The decision to provide only 8GB of VRAM on the RTX 5060 has sparked discussion among industry experts and consumers alike. Walker explained, We are trying to optimize price and performance. When you get to a GPU like the RTX 5060, you have to look really hard at trade-offs.

Despite Nvidia's assertion that VRAM does not significantly impact GPU performance and that the company has prioritized pricing with the RTX 5060 series, many gamers are voicing concerns. Current gaming titles often demand extensive memory, which can severely limit the effectiveness of 8GB cards. Walker referenced historical pricing, stating, The RTX 2060 was $349, and that was years ago. The RTX 3060 was $329, and I bet even if you looked back and did the inflation math of the RTX 1660 and RTX 1060, I think youll find that $299 for a GPU is a pretty good price.