Review of the NVIDIA RTX 5060
Introduction: The RTX 5060—NVIDIA's New Mainstream GPU
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, launched on May 19, 2025, is the entry-level GPU in Nvidia's RTX 50 series, targeting budget gamers with a price of $299. Built on the Blackwell architecture, it promises significant performance improvements over its predecessor, the RTX 4060, while maintaining affordability. However, its launch has been controversial due to Nvidia's decision to withhold pre-release drivers from reviewers, limiting comprehensive testing at release and raising transparency concerns (PC Gamer). As of May 21, 2025, just two days post-launch, this review compiles early performance data, user feedback, and insights from sources like Guru3D to evaluate its strengths, weaknesses, and suitability for budget-conscious PC gamers.
Specifications at a Glance
The RTX 5060 is equipped with the following specifications, as detailed by Guru3D:
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| GPU | GB206 |
| CUDA Cores | 3840 |
| Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs) | 30 |
| RT Cores (4th Gen) | 30 |
| Tensor Cores (5th Gen) | 120 |
| Memory | 8 GB GDDR7 |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit |
| Memory Speed | ~28 Gbps |
| Memory Bandwidth | 448 GB/s |
| Boost Clock | Up to 2.50 GHz (MSI Gaming OC at 2625 MHz) |
| Total Graphics Power (TGP) | 145 W |
| Power Connectors | One 8-pin (most models), some 6-pin |
| Connectivity | Three DisplayPort 2.1b, one HDMI 2.1b |
| Compatibility | DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, NVIDIA G-SYNC |
| Price | $299 |
| Release Date | May 19, 2025 |
These specs position the RTX 5060 as a step up from the RTX 4060, with 25% more CUDA cores (3840 vs. 3072) and faster GDDR7 memory, delivering up to 65% more bandwidth. The lower TGP of 145W compared to the RTX 5060 Ti's 180W simplifies cooling and reduces power costs, making it appealing for budget builds.
Performance
Early testing, constrained by Nvidia's strict preview guidelines, focused on optimized games with DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation (MFG) enabled. The RTX 5060 is engineered for 1080p gaming at high settings and lighter 1440p workloads. Here's a breakdown of its performance based on available data:
Game Performance at 1080p (DLSS 4 Quality, MFG Enabled)
- Doom: The Dark Ages: Achieves over 220fps with lows above 200fps on Ultra Nightmare settings, showcasing excellent performance for fast-paced titles (Guru3D).
- Marvel Rivals: Delivers 250-260fps, though beta drivers caused two crashes over two hours of play (Tom's Guide).
- Cyberpunk 2077 RT Overdrive: Averages 121fps but stutters to 30-40fps during intense scenes due to VRAM limitations (PCGamesN).
- Hogwarts Legacy: Maintains 170-180fps with minor screen tearing when using DLSS Override.
- Avowed: Averages 189fps but shows noticeable blurring and artifacting in busy environments.
Comparative Performance
- vs RTX 4060: 17-25% faster in games like Doom: The Dark Ages (17%), Cyberpunk 2077 (25%), and Marvel Rivals (16%) with DLSS and MFG (Tom's Hardware).
- vs RTX 3060: 35-81% faster, with Cyberpunk 2077 showing an 81% improvement.
- vs RTX 2060: Over 3x faster in Doom: The Dark Ages and nearly 4x faster in Cyberpunk 2077.
- vs RTX 5060 Ti: 14-17% slower, with the RTX 5060 Ti's additional VRAM (8GB or 16GB) providing better performance in memory-intensive scenarios (Tom's Hardware).
- vs Intel Arc B580: At 1080p, it's 20% faster; at 1440p, it's ~2fps slower; at 4K, it struggles without frame generation (PC Gamer).
Benchmark Highlights
- 3DMark: Shows a 30% improvement in raster performance and 43% in ray tracing over the RTX 4060.
- 4K Performance: In Cyberpunk 2077, it achieves only 20fps natively but reaches 81fps with 2x MFG, 108fps with 3x, and 138fps with 4x, though with ~60ms latency and visual artifacts.
- Overclocking: Up to 10% performance gain (e.g., +6fps in Black Myth Wukong at 1440p with +300 MHz core and +1000 MHz memory).
The RTX 5060 excels at 1080p but struggles at higher resolutions without heavy reliance on upscaling technologies, which can compromise visual quality. The Guru3D review emphasizes its suitability for 1080p and lighter 1440p workloads, aligning with these findings.
Limitations
The RTX 5060 faces several challenges that potential buyers should consider:
- 8GB VRAM: The most significant drawback is its 8GB GDDR7 memory, which struggles with memory-intensive games like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle at high settings, even at 1080p, averaging just 23fps with stuttering (PCGamesN). This limitation is more pronounced at 1440p and 4K, where VRAM bottlenecks necessitate reduced settings.
- Driver Instability: Early drivers are not fully optimized, leading to crashes (Cyberpunk 2077 Photo Mode), stuttering (F1 24 with Frame Gen), and flickering (Ghost of Tsushima). Nvidia has acknowledged these issues, and updates are expected (PC Gamer).
- Frame Generation Issues: DLSS 4 and MFG boost frame rates but introduce latency, shimmering, and occlusion artifacts. For example, Dragon Age: The Veilguard at 1440p with 4x MFG shows visual issues like shimmering grass (PC Gamer).
- Inconsistent Performance: Performance varies across games, and in some scenarios, the RTX 5060 is outperformed by competitors like the Intel Arc B580, particularly at 1440p (PC Gamer).
- Launch Controversy: Nvidia's decision to withhold pre-release drivers has limited independent testing, raising concerns about transparency. This has led to criticism from reviewers and users on platforms like X, with some calling the card "utter garbage" due to its performance and Nvidia's review restrictions (X Post). Many tech outlets were attending Computex 2025 during the launch, further delaying comprehensive reviews (VideoCardz).
Comparison with Alternatives
The RTX 5060 competes with other mid-range GPUs:
- Intel Arc B580: The RTX 5060 is 20% faster at 1080p but slightly slower at 1440p. The Arc B580 offers better VRAM for higher resolutions but lacks Nvidia's DLSS and MFG technologies (PC Gamer).
- AMD RX 9060 XT: Expected to launch around May 21, 2025, with potentially better VRAM options and competitive performance, though detailed comparisons are not yet available (Guru3D).
- RTX 5060 Ti: Priced at $379-$429, it offers better performance with 8GB or 16GB VRAM options, making it a more future-proof choice (Tom's Hardware).
The following table compares key specifications:
| Specification | RTX 5060 | RTX 5060 Ti | RTX 4060 | Intel Arc B580 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUDA Cores | 3840 | 4608 | 3072 | N/A |
| Memory | 8 GB GDDR7 | 8/16 GB GDDR7 | 8 GB GDDR6 | 12 GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 448 GB/s | 448 GB/s | 272 GB/s | 384 GB/s |
| TGP | 145 W | 180 W | 115 W | 190 W |
| Price | $299 | $379-$429 | $299 | ~$279 |
Power and Connectivity
- Power Consumption: The RTX 5060's 145W TGP is lower than the RTX 5060 Ti's 180W, simplifying cooling and reducing power costs. Most models use a single 8-pin power connector, though some may use a 6-pin (Guru3D).
- Connectivity: It supports three DisplayPort 2.1b and one HDMI 2.1b, suitable for multi-monitor setups and high-refresh-rate displays.
User Experiences
Feedback on X and forums is mixed:
- Positive: Some users appreciate the RTX 5060's 1080p performance for its price, with benchmarks showing it meets Nvidia's claims in optimized scenarios (Tom's Guide).
- Negative: Others criticize its 8GB VRAM and Nvidia's review restrictions, with some calling it inadequate for modern games (X Post). HardwareUnboxed and others have expressed concerns about Nvidia's launch strategy, suggesting it may be hiding performance issues (X Post).
Conclusion and Recommendation
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 is a compelling option for budget gamers focused on 1080p gaming, offering significant performance improvements over the RTX 4060 and earlier generations. Its $299 price point makes it accessible, and technologies like DLSS 4 and MFG enhance its capabilities in supported titles. However, the 8GB VRAM limitation and early driver issues pose challenges, particularly for demanding games or higher resolutions. The launch controversy, with restricted driver access, has fueled skepticism, and user feedback reflects mixed sentiments. As of May 21, 2025, gamers should weigh these trade-offs and consider waiting for driver updates to ensure a smoother experience. For those needing more VRAM or planning to game at 1440p, the RTX 5060 Ti, with its 16GB variant, may be worth the extra investment.