AMD launches the "$350" Radeon RX 9060 XT with 16GB of VRAM

[ad_1] Editor's take: AMD has unveiled the Radeon RX 9060 XT, which is available in a foul model and a superb model. The unhealthy model is, in fact, the 8GB mannequin, and the great model – or doubtlessly good, relying on the way it performs – is the 16GB mannequin. AMD has copied Nvidia's RTX 5060 Ti homework right here, giving each fashions the identical identify, which is certain to make it tougher for shoppers to search out the great model.

The Radeon RX 9060 XT will grow to be out there on June 5, priced at $300 for the 8GB mannequin and $350 for the 16GB graphics card. AMD's important focus throughout its presentation was on the 16GB variant, which they're claiming would be the dominant, extra widespread card in western markets, and with this pricing, will probably be the most cost effective current-generation 16GB graphics card.

Primarily, the RX 9060 XT is half of the RX 9070 XT. It makes use of a brand-new Navi 44 die, which has half the core and reminiscence configuration of Navi 48 at almost half the die dimension – it is ended up at 199 sq mm. As an alternative of receiving 4096 shader models in 64 SMs, Navi 44 offers 2048 shader models in 32 SMs. The reminiscence bus has additionally been slashed from 256-bit to 128-bit, although 20 Gbps GDDR6 continues to be being utilized right here. This leads to 320 GB/s of reminiscence bandwidth – once more, half that of the flagship RDNA4 mannequin.

AMD has not offered sport clock data for this GPU but, however the enhance clock is listed at 3.13 GHz, which is somewhat increased than the 9070 XT's 2.97 GHz. We're additionally getting a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface – not x8, which is sweet information for these with older PCIe 4.0 or 3.0 motherboards – together with DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR13.5 and HDMI 2.1. The 9060 XT has one much less show output than the Navi 48 fashions, with one HDMI and two DisplayPorts.

Complete board energy is listed as a variety of 150 to 182 watts. That is as a result of 16GB mannequin having extra reminiscence chips and better general board energy. Nonetheless, we have been instructed the GPU itself is equivalent no matter which reminiscence configuration you get – identical GPU energy, identical core configuration, and clock speeds.

So once more, primarily this card is roughly half that of the RX 9070 XT, particularly for the 8GB mannequin, which additionally halves the reminiscence capability.

With half the {hardware}, it is sensible to anticipate the RX 9060 XT to ship round half the efficiency of the RX 9070 XT. AMD is claiming the 9060 XT 16GB shall be round 6% quicker than the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB on common throughout a 40-game pattern examined at 1440p utilizing extremely settings.

Now, you may discover they're evaluating their 16GB mannequin in opposition to Nvidia's 8GB mannequin – that is as a result of they're the closest in worth. I requested AMD about whether or not that might even be true evaluating 16GB vs 16GB, and so they mentioned we should always anticipate each the 9060 XT and 5060 Ti to supply comparable efficiency.

Based mostly on our testing of different fashions, this could make the 9060 XT about 35 to 40% slower than a 9070 XT – so somewhat higher than half the efficiency from half the die dimension – and comparable efficiency to a Radeon RX 7700 XT from the earlier technology.

When working some calculations primarily based on AMD's claims – which, in fact, it's best to take with a grain of salt – the 9060 XT ought to provide over 20% higher worth than the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB: comparable efficiency, however with the MSRP minimize from $430 to $350.

When working some calculations primarily based on AMD's claims – which, in fact, it's best to take with a grain of salt – the 9060 XT ought to provide over 20% higher worth than the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB: comparable efficiency, however with the MSRP minimize from $430 to $350. In fact, that is assuming each the AMD and Nvidia playing cards shall be out there at these costs, one thing that is not usually the case today, particularly in the US. It must also imply round 15% higher worth than the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB, however with the additional benefit of a extra appropriate 16GB reminiscence capability.

The 8GB card at $300 ought to provide round 20% higher worth than the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB as properly, although this card shall be a lot much less interesting on account of its restricted VRAM at a excessive $300 worth level.

Actually, this card both should not exist or must be priced beneath $200, which might be unrealistic given the efficiency of the GPU itself. As we have mentioned many occasions now, we strongly really feel $300 graphics playing cards ought to have greater than 8GB of reminiscence within the yr 2025. The saving grace right here is that Nvidia continues to be promoting an 8GB GPU for $380, which is even worse, whereas AMD's costliest 8GB card shall be $300.

With the RX 9060 XT positioned as it's, it has the potential to kill your entire RTX 5060 collection. Together with claims of superior worth in comparison with the 5060 Ti, it must be higher worth than the RTX 5060. For an additional $50, evaluating MSRPs, the 16GB 9060 XT ought to provide double the VRAM and a better efficiency tier.

We all know the RTX 5060 performs across the stage of a 4060 Ti 8GB, however the 9060 XT must be extra like a 5060 Ti, which is 20% quicker. Additionally out there shall be a card with the identical VRAM and worth because the 5060, however a tier increased in efficiency.

The opposite fascinating comparability to make is to the Radeon 7700 XT. Whereas this GPU launched at $450, it rapidly dropped to round $400 and was out there at that worth on the finish of 2024. Primarily, the RX 9060 XT is the successor to this mannequin, providing comparable raster efficiency, higher ray tracing efficiency, entry to FSR 4 upscaling, and an enchancment from 12GB to 16GB of VRAM for a $100 decrease MSRP and doubtlessly $50 decrease actual pricing.

That does not sound wonderful from a worth standpoint, however the 9060 XT is trying like a clearly superior product. Alternatively, it is also an improve from the 7600 XT, which was priced at $330. For $20 extra, AMD is claiming to supply the identical VRAM, higher options, and doubtlessly upwards of 30% extra efficiency.

Primarily, the RX 9060 XT is the successor to the 7700 XT, providing comparable raster efficiency, higher ray tracing efficiency, entry to FSR 4 upscaling, and an enchancment from 12GB to 16GB of VRAM for a $100 decrease MSRP and doubtlessly $50 decrease actual pricing.

Whereas we're actually liking the look of the 9060 XT and its $350 worth level for a 16GB GPU, the 8GB card merely should not have the identical identify – or not less than a reputation that's similar to the 16GB mannequin. This can be a enormous subject we had with the RTX 5060 Ti, the place the existence of a superb mannequin and a foul mannequin with the identical identify made it simple for shoppers to fall right into a entice of buying the horrible 8GB mannequin.

Typically the 8GB card would come up first at retailers when trying to find the 5060 Ti, and since it was the most cost effective model, it might be essentially the most attractive for players who weren't overly accustomed to the variations between 8GB and 16GB. These players would purchase the 8GB card and be left with a mannequin that is immediately out of date.

The very same points shall be current with the RX 9060 XT 16GB and 8GB fashions, and this might have been simply prevented if AMD merely referred to as the 8GB mannequin one thing else, just like the "RX 9060" with out the XT on the finish. Now, possibly they're additionally planning to launch an RX 9060 in some unspecified time in the future, however there's loads of numbers to make use of, and these two playing cards must be extra distinct so players do not fall right into a entice.

That is, in fact, along with the truth that $300 for an 8GB card is an excessive amount of to pay, however I will not go over all of that once more.

On a extra optimistic word, AMD made it very clear that they won't be attempting to bury or manipulate RX 9060 XT evaluations. With the launch date set at June fifth, reviewers may have entry to 9060 XT drivers – for each the 8GB and 16GB fashions – early subsequent week, giving per week and a half of pre-release entry. Samples must also be prepared very shortly, and there shall be no restrictions on 8GB and 16GB sampling; each shall be out there to check earlier than launch on request.

The main target shall be on the 16GB graphics card they insist, however we not too long ago noticed a complete bunch of shenanigans from Nvidia regarding the 8GB RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060, together with stopping 8GB 5060 Ti samples from reaching media pre-launch and never working a overview program in any respect for the 5060. AMD is doing none of that with this launch.

FSR Redstone

The opposite important graphics-related announcement from AMD at Computex 2025 is FSR Redstone, the following evolution of FSR that's coming within the second half of 2025. This can be a set of further options coming to the FSR household, all of that are AI-based: there's neural radiance caching, ray regeneration – a.ok.a. AMD's model of Nvidia's ray reconstruction – and an up to date model of body technology that makes use of AI to boost picture high quality.

We obtained some nonetheless picture examples of how these options will enhance ray-traced gaming. We're anticipating them to supply comparable benefits to different applied sciences in the marketplace at the moment, however for Radeon GPU homeowners.

Supplied these applied sciences work properly, they need to enable AMD to shut the options hole with Nvidia, who depend on tech like ray reconstruction and AI-based body technology for path-traced gaming.

As a result of the expertise is not anticipated till the second half of 2025, it is not clear how FSR Redstone shall be built-in. With FSR 4 upscaling, proper now it is a driver-based toggle that converts FSR 3.1 implementations into AI-based FSR 4.

This may also be potential with AI-based FSR body technology primarily based on what AMD was saying, however different options like neural radiance caching and ray regeneration may require sport integration and extra APIs. So we'll see how that goes later within the yr.

AMD additionally introduced that FSR 4 sport assist shall be increasing to 60 titles on June 5, alongside the launch of the RX 9060 XT, which is comparatively good adoption given we noticed round 30 titles supported on the launch of the 9070 XT.

The largest weak spot AMD has with FSR 4 is not the standard of the expertise itself – which is excellent – however sport assist in comparison with Nvidia's DLSS 4 and DLSS 3. If AMD can proceed this tempo of FSR 4 title assist, that shall be nice information for Radeon consumers.