The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, the more budget-friendly sibling of the RTX 5060 Ti, is now officially available to consumers after being initially announced in April 2025 alongside its higher-tier counterpart. The launch comes following a special announcement at Computex, generating significant interest among gamers seeking a capable 1080p graphics solution.
Priced at an entry-level $299, the RTX 5060 features 3,840 CUDA cores spread across 30 Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs), making it a solid option for Full HD gaming. While this GPU may not be built for ultra settings at 4K, Nvidia emphasizes that it delivers impressive performance at 1080p. For example, the company highlights that with DLSS Frame Generation set to 4x, the RTX 5060 can achieve up to 223 fps in Doom: The Dark Ages at max settings—an eye-catching figure aimed at competitive and high-refresh-rate gamers.
DLSS 4 support, including Multi-Frame Generation, is fully integrated into the RTX 5060 lineup, marking one of the most compelling features of this generation. Even though the card comes equipped with these advanced AI-driven technologies, its 30 SMs do impose certain limitations—especially when compared to higher-end Blackwell models.
It’s also important to note that while the $299 MSRP sets a strong starting point, actual retail prices may vary depending on the manufacturer and model. Some versions will include added extras like factory overclocking, enhanced cooling solutions, or RGB lighting, which can drive the price upward.
Reviews Are Coming… But Not Right Away
Despite its relatively accessible price point, the RTX 5060 still warrants careful consideration before purchase. While Nvidia has made bold claims regarding frame rates and generational improvements, much of that data is based on synthetic benchmarks and scenarios where DLSS Frame Generation is enabled. Real-world performance metrics—particularly in traditional rendering without AI-assisted frame generation—are still unknown.
Adding to the wait, Nvidia has opted not to provide review samples or early access drivers to media outlets ahead of launch. This means comprehensive third-party reviews won’t be immediately available during the first week of the card's release. As seen with previous launches in the Blackwell series, such as the RTX 5090 and RTX 5070, performance uplift hasn't always met expectations—especially in non-DLSS workloads.
In fact, early indications suggest the RTX 5060 could offer a similar uplift to what the RTX 5070 delivered over its predecessor. According to Nvidia, users may see nearly double the performance in scenarios where Frame Generation is active. However, in traditional games without ray tracing or frame interpolation, gains are expected to hover around 20%—and possibly less in some titles.
Given the investment involved, our recommendation remains consistent: hold off on purchasing until independent reviews are published. These assessments will give you a clearer understanding of real-world performance, thermal behavior, and whether this GPU truly offers value for your gaming needs. Rest assured, those in-depth reviews are on the way—they just might take a few days to arrive.
