Mirror Review
May 19th, 2025
NVIDIA has officially entered the latest generation of mainstream gaming with its new graphics card, as NVIDIA launches GeForce RTX 5060.
Priced at an attractive $299, this GPU aims to deliver smooth 1080p gaming experiences, promising over 100 FPS in modern titles with the help of its new DLSS 4 technology.
So let’s explore the 10 essential things you need to know about this new entrant to the GPU market.
10 Key Things About the New GeForce RTX 5060
1. Launch Price and Target Market
Nvidia has set the starting price for the GeForce RTX 5060 8 GB graphics card at $299. Yep, that’s the exact same price as its predecessor, the RTX 4060, launched at.
NVIDIA is really targeting the 1080p gaming crowd here, aiming to give players using older graphics cards a nice, noticeable upgrade.
2. Powered by Blackwell Architecture
The GeForce RTX 5060, along with the RTX 5060 Ti, is built on Nvidia’s latest Blackwell architecture.
Nvidia designed the Blackwell RTX architecture specifically for neural rendering, which is a combo of game-changing AI advancements and cutting-edge graphics technologies.
This architecture optimizes and enhances the hardware to accelerate AI, neural shaders, ray tracing, and DLSS, aiming to deliver new gaming experiences.
3. The Magic of DLSS 4 for High Frame Rates
A major selling point for the GeForce RTX 5060 is its support for NVIDIA DLSS 4. This isn’t just an upscaler; it’s a suite of AI-powered technologies:
- Transformer AI Model: At its heart, DLSS 4 utilizes a new transformer AI model for Super Resolution and DLSS Ray Reconstruction. Trained on super high-resolution game captures, Nvidia states this results in image quality that can exceed native rendering, with clearer text, increased overall clarity, more accurate and stable reflections (especially in motion), and improved temporal stability with less shimmering or artifacting.
- Multi Frame Generation (MFG): A key neural rendering technology within DLSS 4, MFG can generate up to three additional frames for every traditionally rendered one. Working with other DLSS features, Nvidia claims this can multiply frame rates by up to 8 times compared to brute-force rendering and is already available in over 100 games and apps.
- Reduced Latency: A huge benefit is that by running games faster, DLSS 4 also helps reduce PC input latency, making gameplay feel more responsive. Nvidia states that these technologies allow the GPU to achieve over 100 FPS in demanding AAA titles like Alan Wake II, Cyberpunk 2077, and Doom: The Dark Ages at 1080p with max settings.
4. Performance Boost Over the RTX 4060
Nvidia has indicated that the GeForce RTX 5060 offers a raster performance improvement of around 25% over the RTX 4060.
When frame generation is factored in (DLSS 4 for the 5060 vs. DLSS 3.x for the 4060), Nvidia suggests the performance uplift can be even more substantial, potentially doubling the performance in certain scenarios.
However, in games without ray tracing or frame generation, the uplift is closer to 20%, which Nvidia describes as a likely best-case scenario.
Early previews under strict Nvidia guidelines showed the RTX 5060 trailing the RTX 5060 Ti by an average of 15% when using 2x DLSS frame generation.
5. Core Specifications Breakdown
The GeForce RTX 5060 comes with 8 GB of GDDR7 memory, which is the same capacity as the RTX 4060 but utilizes faster memory technology running at 28 Gbps on a 128-bit bus.
This results in a memory bandwidth of around 448 GB/s, a significant 65% increase over the RTX 4060’s 272 GB/s.
The GPU features 3840 CUDA Cores, a 25% increase from the 3072 cores in the RTX 4060.
It boasts 19 TFLOPs of shader performance, 614 AI TOPS (supporting FP4/FP8/FP16), and 58 TFLOPs of RT performance.
The card will use the GB206-250-A1 GPU die on a PG152-SKU25 board.
6. Increased Power Consumption
Gamers should note that the GeForce RTX 5060 will have a higher power consumption compared to its predecessor.
It comes with a 25W TDP increase over the RTX 4060, making its power rating 22% higher.
7. Modern Connectivity and NVIDIA Reflex
The RTX 5060 supports PCIe Generation 5.0 (though with an x8 interface) and incorporates the latest DisplayPort 2.1b outputs, offering UHBR20 for 80.0 Gbps bandwidth. It also features Nvidia’s 9th Gen NV Encoders and 6th Gen NV Decoders.
Further enhancing the gaming experience, the RTX 5060 supports NVIDIA Reflex. This technology minimizes PC latency in over 130 games, including popular competitive titles.
Nvidia states Reflex works with the optimized Blackwell architecture and DLSS-accelerated frame rates to deliver highly responsive gameplay.
8. Desktop and Laptop Availability
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 desktop GPUs are available now, starting at $299. These will be offered exclusively through AIB (Add-In Board) partners, as Nvidia has no plans for a Founders Edition model for this card.
Additionally, the GeForce RTX 5060 is also making its way to laptops, bringing Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4 features to mainstream portable gaming, with prices starting at $1099 USD.
Nvidia claims these laptops will be capable of 144 FPS gaming at Ultra Settings and 8K 4:2:2 video editing.
9. The Curious Case of Early Reviews
Unlike some previous launches, Nvidia did not provide early drivers to a wide range of press outlets for the RTX 5060.
Instead, select media were given access under strict “preview” guidelines, which limited the choice of comparison cards, games, and settings.
GameStar Tech reported, “NVIDIA has decided to only make the driver, which is essential for GPU testing, available in advance under certain conditions and to a very limited number of media outlets worldwide.”
This means comprehensive, independent reviews might take a bit longer to surface.
10. What to Consider: 8GB VRAM and Waiting for Independent Benchmarks
While the GeForce RTX 5060 offers faster GDDR7 memory, the 8GB VRAM capacity remains a point of discussion, as some modern titles can be quite demanding on video memory, even at 1080p.
Given the limited nature of initial “previews” and Nvidia’s emphasis on DLSS 4 performance figures, potential buyers might want to exercise patience.
As one report advises, “As with any expensive tech product, my advice is to wait for reviews to pull the trigger, so that you know you’re getting your money’s worth.”
These independent reviews should provide a clearer picture of its performance in a wider range of scenarios, especially without frame generation.
Conclusion
Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, has a knack for pushing the company toward game-changing innovations.
While NVIDIA launches GeForce RTX 5060, it appears to be a focused offering for the 1080p gaming market. It heavily relies on its Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4 technology to achieve impressive frame rates at its $299 price point.
With increased CUDA cores and significantly more memory bandwidth than its predecessor, the GeForce RTX 5060 seems to be promising.
However, the 8GB VRAM and the controlled nature of early performance information mean that awaiting broader, independent reviews will be crucial for gamers to make a fully informed decision.
