Nvidia's launch of the RTX 50-series GPUs has been nothing short of tumultuous. Consumers are facing numerous hurdles, from performance and driver issues to the more pressing challenge of purchasing these GPUs at their base price. Despite the ongoing difficulties, Nvidia has made a promise: the launch of the $300 Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 will be different. Set to debut on May 19, the RTX 5060 arrives without pre-release drivers that would allow reviewers to evaluate its performance against competitors.
The RTX 5060 is designed around the innovative Blackwell microarchitecture, specifically optimized for 1080p gaming. While Nvidia announced the card's release date, it wasn't until 12 p.m. ET on the launch day that the company finally rolled out the necessary drivers. Consequently, potential buyers were left in the dark regarding the GPU's performance metrics until the afternoon, when stock was expected to appear on online retail platforms.
Nvidia has assured consumers that it is collaborating with add-in card (AIC) manufacturers to ensure prices remain close to the initial $300 asking price. Ben Berraondo, Nvidia’s director of public relations, stated that there would be Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) models available at launch. The company is leveraging its position as the leading supplier of AI training chips to stabilize its GPU prices, yet it remains to be seen how this will affect the overall market for the RTX 5060.
Nvidia has previously made optimistic claims regarding supply and pricing, as seen during the launch of the $450 RTX 5060 Ti with 16GB of VRAM last month. However, consumers found it incredibly challenging to secure a card at the lowest price point. Currently, the Gigabyte WindForce version of the RTX 5060 Ti is listed at $480 on Nvidia’s website, a stark contrast to its MSRP. In fact, many overclocked versions and stock cards are being sold for $100 to $150 above the base asking price, showcasing ongoing inflation in the GPU market.
Interestingly, the RTX 5060 is already being compared to its predecessors, but the lack of pre-release driver access for reviewers raises concerns about performance evaluations. As of now, no one can definitively assess how the RTX 5060 stacks up against the RTX 4060 family. This absence of early reviews is particularly notable, as it marks the first 50-series release without pre-release drivers. Prospective buyers are advised to hold off on purchases until reliable reviews become available.
Nvidia has touted potential performance increases when comparing the RTX 5060 to the RTX 4060, particularly highlighting its advanced DLSS 4 upscaling and multi-frame generation technology. These features utilize AI to insert frames between rendered images, effectively boosting frames per second. While Nvidia suggests that non-enhanced performance gains could be around 20%, few independent sources have verified these claims.
As of now, many large online retailers in the U.S. have yet to disclose their stock of the new RTX 5060. However, listings from Best Buy provide a glimpse of the GPU landscape, featuring several bare RTX 5060 cards from Asus and an overclocked PNY model. As the launch unfolds, it remains to be seen how quickly the more affordable models will sell compared to their pricier counterparts.
In summary, while the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 launch is aimed at rectifying previous market issues, consumers should remain cautious and informed before committing to a purchase.
