In recent times, the gaming GPU market has experienced a noticeable surge in high-end graphics card prices. However, the demand for entry-level products remains compelling, driven by numerous players seeking affordable options. This trend hasn't gone unnoticed by industry giants Intel and AMD, leading them to enhance their graphics card offerings for users with limited budgets. AMD, in particular, has announced plans to unveil the Radeon RX 9060 series in the second quarter of 2025.

Leaked information suggests that the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT will be equipped with 12GB of GDDR6 memory, opting out of the higher-end GDDR7. It is expected to feature a 192-bit memory bandwidth with a total bandwidth of up to 468.1 GB/s. For comparison, its predecessor, the RX 7600 XT, had 16GB of memory but offered slightly lower performance. According to tech insider Moore's Law Is Dead (MLID), the RX 9060 XT will outperform NVIDIA's RTX 4060 Ti, positioning between the RTX 4060 Ti and the Radeon RX 7700 XT. Using the 3DMark Time Spy benchmark as a reference point, the RX 7700 XT outpaces the RTX 4060 Ti by about 26%, suggesting that the RX 9060 XT will carve out a competitive niche within this range. Furthermore, should AMD enhance the clock frequency, its performance might rival that of the RTX 4070, presenting an appealing alternative for budget gamers. MLID anticipates an April unveiling for the RX 9060 XT.

Simultaneously, NVIDIA is advancing its RTX 5060 series. Rumors suggest the RTX 5060 will boast 8GB of GDDR7 memory, whereas the RTX 5060 Ti will extend to 16GB, both leveraging the Blackwell architecture and supporting a 128-bit memory bandwidth. Although these models will maintain the memory capacity of their predecessors, the RTX 4060 (8GB GDDR6), the transition to GDDR7 significantly boosts bandwidth. The RTX 5060 is reportedly capable of memory speeds reaching 28 Gbps, translating to a total bandwidth of 448 GB/s - a 65% increase from the RTX 4060's 272 GB/s. This leap in bandwidth not only compensates for the narrow bit width but may also optimize performance further through sophisticated memory compression techniques. Moreover, the RTX 5060 series will be compatible with the PCIe 5.0 interface, showcasing a forward-thinking enhancement over its predecessor's PCIe 4.0. Industry whispers suggest NVIDIA intends to release these new cards at March's close.

Pricing expectations for the RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti are set between $400 and $500. By contrast, the RTX 4060 launched at $299 and the 4060 Ti 16GB at $499. Thus, for AMD to effectively compete, the RX 9060 XT will likely need to be offered below $400. Considering the RX 7600 XT's entry price of $249, the RX 9060 series might position itself between $300 to $350.

Technical specifications for the RX 9060 XT indicate its design is based on the RDNA 4 architecture, manufactured with a 4nm process, and estimated to consume around 150W via a single 8-pin power connector. Comparatively, the RTX 5060 is projected to require 170W, reflecting its 16-pin power configuration, and highlighting each company's differing strategies concerning energy efficiency.

The GPU competition extends beyond mere hardware specifications, encompassing ecological support as well. NVIDIA continues to dominate the mid-range and entry-level markets with its mature DLSS and ray-tracing technologies, while AMD lures budget-conscious consumers with its impressive FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) and increased memory capacities. Furthermore, the recent entry of Intel's Arc B580, featuring 12GB of GDDR6 memory and retailing at $249 (RMB 2,049 in China), has injected fresh dynamics into the market, exerting additional pressure on the established leaders.