The newly released NVIDIA RTX 5090 is currently out of stock, as supply chain sources hint at the availability of the RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 in March 2025. These two entry-level graphics cards, built on the Blackwell architecture, aim to make a mark in the hotly contested mid-range market, boasting GDDR7 memory and strategic positioning.
Leaked information from motherboard manufacturer ChainTech reveals that the RTX 5060 series will continue with a 128-bit memory bus width. Nonetheless, the integration of GDDR7 memory boosts its bandwidth to 448GB/s, marking a 55% increase over its predecessor. Imagine this as adding smart lanes to a highway – enhancing traffic efficiency without widening the road itself.
For gaming enthusiasts, this upgrade promises a frame rate increase of 12-15% at Cyberpunk 2077's 1080p extreme settings. However, TechInsights points out a potential limitation: the 8GB video memory might become a bottleneck at 1440p resolution with ray tracing enabled. As of 2024, data shows that top-tier games require an average of 9.2GB of video memory, leaving the RTX 5060's 8GB just enough to get by.
The revealed specifications suggest that NVIDIA is creating a layered product lineup:
This approach mirrors the "Standard/Pro Version" strategy seen in smartphone markets – using specification differences to anchor prices. However, compared to rivals like Intel's Arc B580 with 12GB and AMD's RX 7600 XT with 16GB, NVIDIA's offerings still seem to be playing catch-up.
Though officially set for a March release, production limitations loom due to factory closures over the Lunar New Year. Initial yield reports for TSMC’s N4P process show that the GB206 core pass rate is at 68%, down 5% from its predecessor, GB106. If yields don’t improve to at least 75% by March, initial supplies could be slashed by 30%.
Adding to the challenge is power consumption management; the RTX 5060 Ti's total board power is estimated at 170W, 20W more than the RTX 4060 Ti. For entry-level cards still utilizing the 12VHPWR interface, it's akin to asking an economy car to perform like a sports car. Engineers are striving to balance performance and power efficiency through dynamic voltage regulation, with 0.5mV precision.
Steam’s hardware surveys reveal stark realities: six months post-launch, the RTX 4060 claims only a 4.3% market share, way below the RTX 3060’s 7.8% in the equivalent timeframe. Besides the significant price hikes faced by graphics cards, there’s a clear preference among entry-level users for AMD or Intel products with more video memory.
The impending DLSS 4 could further widen this gap. As developers highlight, the new AI scene preload feature demands higher video memory bandwidth. Without a unique selling point, the RTX 5060 series might fall into the trap of “great but not favored."
The launch of the RTX 5060 series coincides with a pivotal shift in the graphics card industry: as 4K ray tracing adoption exceeds 35%, and AI enhancement technologies become standard in gaming, simple upgrades to video memory bandwidth alone may not suffice. NVIDIA must exhibit that the Blackwell architecture is not merely a process evolution, but a platform for enhancing user experience. Otherwise, this battle in the mid-range segment may pave the way for AMD’s RDNA 4 to strike back effectively.
