NVIDIA has reportedly prohibited partners from sending GeForce RTX 5060 Ti video cards with 8 GB of memory for testing, causing a stir among tech enthusiasts and industry experts alike. Journalists are only receiving the 16 GB version of the card, which has sparked questions about the transparency of the launch.
According to Hardware Unboxed, they were allowed to seek out an 8 GB model, but none of the manufacturers could provide one. This situation raises eyebrows, as it could be due to a direct ban from NVIDIA or simply a lack of ready-made cards. While both versions of the RTX 5060 Ti are set to be released simultaneously, the 8 GB model is expected to hit the market later, approximately in a week. However, NVIDIA has not officially disclosed any release dates and has not explained why there is no separate review program for the 8 GB version.
The situation becomes even more perplexing when considering the RTX 5060 (without Ti), which is scheduled for release in May. The review embargo for this card will be lifted at the same time as the RTX 5060 Ti. This means that there will be no planned wave of reviews for the RTX 5060, and if anyone manages to obtain the card early, they will be free to publish their tests. This strategy suggests that NVIDIA is knowingly launching a product without transparent press support.
Industry insiders speculate that the decision to hide the 8 GB version from the press may indicate potential problems with performance or positioning. The lack of reviews for this model raises concerns that it may not perform as well as expected, leading NVIDIA to limit exposure until further information can be managed.
Meanwhile, reviews for the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB have begun to surface, with various thematic resources providing insights into its performance. Despite the anticipation surrounding this new release, the reviews indicate that the card's performance may not live up to the hype. Priced at $430, the RTX 5060 Ti is reportedly only about 12% faster than the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB in Full HD and approximately 15% faster in 1440p. In 4K resolution, the difference increases to 18%, but this is not a target resolution for this new product.
Overall, the average performance increase in target resolutions is only between 12-15%, which places the RTX 5060 Ti on par with the RTX 3070 Ti and the Radeon RX 7700 XT. However, it falls short compared to other models, such as the RX 6800 XT, RX 7800 XT, RTX 4070, and RTX 3080, which are all faster.
One of the few advantages noted by reviewers is the card's energy consumption, which is around 160-170 watts. Additionally, the RTX 5060 Ti can be overclocked by 15-17%, potentially boosting performance to a level similar to the RTX 4070. Despite these benefits, the general consensus among reviewers is that the card is decent but fails to impress, especially considering its recommended price.
As the launch date approaches, there are still uncertainties regarding the availability of the RTX 5060 Ti and its 8 GB counterpart. The market has seen fluctuations in pricing for previous RTX 50 models, leading to speculation that the actual prices for these new cards may be significantly higher than the recommended retail price. This situation adds another layer of complexity to the product’s launch, leaving consumers and retailers alike in a state of anticipation.
With NVIDIA’s decision to limit reviews and the mixed performance feedback for the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, the tech community is left wondering what the future holds for this new generation of graphics cards. Will the 8 GB version face similar challenges once it is finally released? Only time will tell, but for now, NVIDIA’s strategy raises more questions than answers.
