While Nvidia is the king of the high-end, it's often on less expensive cards that it leaves the field open to the competition. The RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB represents the greens' first foray into this field in 2025. And what does it give? The answer in our test.
Good. The RTX 5090 has already seduced the most demanding users and SMEs. The RTX 5080 has taken over for hardcore gamers with big budgets. The two 5070s have established their place as the high-end side of gaming. What's left? The mid-range, of course. Or even the entry-level depending on the prism of observation, since the RTX 5060 Ti remains a budget option for a large part of families. The fact remains that to boost 1080p to the max and reach 1440p on the latest AAA titles, this new Blackwell card is expected at the turning point. Rightly so? We took the measurements to determine it.
Price and availability
The RTX 5060 Ti is sold at the recommended price of 399 euros in France for the version with 8 GB of VRAM. Our test version is the Gainward Python III with 16 GB of VRAM, sold at NVIDIA's MSRP price of 449 euros.
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti | |
|---|---|
| GPU (architecture) | Blackwell |
| Fineness | 4nm (4N NVIDIA Custom) |
| CUDA cores | 4608 |
| RT FLOPS | 72 tflops |
| Tensor TOPS | 759 AI TOPS |
| GDDR memory | 16 GB GDDR7 |
| Bus memory | 128 bits |
| Launch Date | April 16, 2025 |
This price is extremely aggressive. For comparison, the RTX 4060 Ti was released at 439 euros for the 8 GB version, and 549 euros for the 16 GB version. So we have a price drop of no less than 90 euros on this 16 GB version, and a difference of only 50 euros between the models which makes us advise against the 8 GB model at release as the additional financial effort is well worth it.
Also note that as a 50th generation card, the RTX 5060 Ti also benefits from DLSS 4 and its Multi Frame Generation, and all the technological advances related to artificial intelligence rendering detailed in our test of the RTX 5090.
Here is our test configuration for the RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB:
- CM: ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9800x3D
- Cooling: Corsair iCue H100i RGB Elite
- RAM: 2x16 GB Corsair Vengeance DDR5-6000 MHz
- SSD: MSI Spatium M580 PCIe 5.0 2 TB
- Power supply: Corsair SF1000L 80 Plus Gold
Design, consumption and heating
As a reminder, the RTX 5060 Ti will not have a Founders Edition version created by NVIDIA itself. For our test, we received the Gainward Python III RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, which will be sold at NVIDIA's recommended price. And as always with these models, it's the discount that counts. Here, the definitely plastic chassis remains quite useful, and the manufacturer even allows itself a little fantasy by imitating snakeskin. Fans will appreciate it, although note that the blades of the three integrated fans are extremely sharp: don't try to put your fingers in them.
The 60 generations tend to be exemplary when it comes to heating, and this RTX 5060 Ti is no exception. At idle, we barely recorded 29°C for the GPU part and 40°C for the integrated GDDR7 memory here. It's simply excellent. Under full synthetic load, the card reaches 68°C on both the GPU and memory, which is again very well controlled.
In terms of power consumption, NVIDIA announces a TGP of 180W, which is never exceeded here. At idle, the card barely sips the power supply with 8 watts consumed on the meter, which is wonderful. And in game, we can see that the card consumes more around 150 watts, which is again very good. The 40 generation was known for its performance in this area, and the RTX 5060 Ti follows the same line, although it should be noted that the TGP is up 20W compared to the previous generation.
Our Gainward Python card integrates a completely ordinary 8-pin PCIe port. Note that here, NVIDIA leaves the choice to manufacturers to integrate the somewhat controversial PCIe Gen 5 port if they wish. With this design and this rachitic consumption, it is a safe bet that most will choose to stay with the 8-pin PCIe, still standard in the industry.
Creative calculations and artificial intelligence
First of all, let us remember, although the 60 series is less concerned in terms of potential buyers, that the RTX 50 now integrates compatibility with 4:2:2 video and photo for greater retention of colorimetric information for professionals. But we're on the RTX 5060, which also means we're only allowed a single 9th generation NVENC encoder/decoder pair.
In photos, the improvement is once again barely noticeable. We see a 4% increase in performance compared to the previous generation, which is anecdotal. In video, however, where VRAM plays an important role, we can see that the 16 GB RTX 5060 Ti blows away the 8 GB 4060 Ti with a 52% increase in performance. Compared to the RX 7700 XT at 12 GB, which is closer in terms of VRAM and therefore more representative of a generational evolution in performance, we are here at an excellent 19%.
On the 3D production tool Blender, NVIDIA continues to impose its style compared to AMD. We note increases of 10% on Monster, 28% on Junkshop and 17% on Classroom which are quite interesting for an evolution from generation to generation.
For artificial intelligence calculations, float 32 calculations do not really evolve and leave a very rare advantage of 4% to the 7700 XT on the WindowsML base which quickly disappears in TensorRT. In float 16, NVIDIA regains its large lead with a 9% evolution of performance from gen to gen. On integers, we find 10% more performance. For image creation, the RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB performs much better with 14% more performance, but this more marked differential can be explained by the larger VRAM in this exercise.
Measurements in 1440p and 1080p VS RTX 4060 Ti 8GB and RX 7700 XT
Let's start slowly with the synthetic measurements on this new card. We once again find Speed Way for ray-tracing performance, and Steel Nomad for pure rasterization.
On Speed Way, we find a 24% increase in performance compared to the two competing cards. On Steel Nomad, the improvement is much less marked at 5% more performance compared to the RX 7700 XT.
To test in real conditions, we used 9 titles:
- Alan Wake 2
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Black Myth Wukong
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Flight Simulator 2024
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Horizon Forbidden West
- Marvel Rivals
- Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart
These games were selected for various reasons. Some, like Alan Wake 2, Black Myth Wukong, or Cyberpunk 2077, push even the latest graphics cards to their limits. Others, like Marvel Rivals, are a good indicator for modern competitive gaming. But above all, all these titles are compatible with a large majority of technologies on both sides, DLSS and FSR. Note that for these comparisons, the lowest common denominator is chosen: if a game supports DLSS Frame Generation, but not FSR3 Frame Generation, then the measurements are made in simple DLSS/FSR for the same basis of comparison. Ray-tracing is always pushed to the limit, or in path tracing when available or similar.
When possible, we will also compare the performance increases between the different DLSS/FSR/XeSS technologies. These scores unfortunately cannot be compared between solution X and solution Y, since they do not have the same impact on performance for the same visual rendering. Comparisons will therefore be made on a similar technology, while the results of other technologies are presented for information purposes only.
Alan Wake 2
On the 1440p definition, the results are not so obvious. For example, in pure rasterization, the RX 7700 XT seems 6% more efficient on average, but the stability of the RTX 5060 Ti on the 1% brings these two cards back to the same level for 22% more performance compared to the RTX 4060 Ti. On incomplete ray-tracing, the RTX 5060 Ti maintains a natural advantage of 15%. And on path tracing, the evolution is even more marked while the RX 7700 XT has no chance of cashing it in when the RTX 5060 Ti moves to a framerate allowing it to rely on DLSS for an excellent gaming experience.
In 1080p, the RX 7700 XT, however, maintains a 13% lead in pure rasterization, which disappears completely as soon as incomplete ray-tracing is used, with 14% in favor of NVIDIA this time. And on path-tracing, the evolution is succulent at 30% more performance for the RTX 5060 Ti compared to the RTX 4060 Ti.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Commenting on the results of Baldur’s Gate 3 is very simple. The RTX 5060 Ti and the RX 7700 XT offer essentially the same performance, while the RTX 4060 Ti is behind by 12% regardless of the definition.
Black Myth Wukong
In 1440p, the RTX 5060 Ti is once again above its red rival by 13% in rasterization. And as always, the RT gives it a big victory, with 25% more performance compared to the RTX 4060 Ti already ahead of the 7700 XT. The evolution in path tracing is again very notable, with an average of 20 FPS guaranteeing a playable experience with DLSS enabled.
In 1080p, the RTX 5060 Ti extends its lead by 17% over the RX 7700 XT in rasterization. But the most impressive thing is that its path tracing score is roughly the same as that of the RTX 4060 Ti in incomplete ray tracing, at an average of 31 FPS for a 1% low of 26 FPS. On both counts, the RX 7700 XT is way behind.
Cyberpunk 2077
In 1440p, we find roughly the same situation as in Black Myth Wukong. Here, the RTX 5060 Ti takes a 10% lead over the RX 7700 XT and leaves the RTX 4060 Ti 8GB far behind. In ray tracing, we even find 25% more performance compared to the RX 7700 XT, which was roughly at the same level as the RTX 4060 Ti. And on path tracing, the average 17 FPS promises a satisfying DLSS experience.
In 1080p, the gap narrows to just 5% in favor of the RTX 5060 Ti on rasterization. But here's the thing: ray tracing is still for the greens, with 22% more performance on an incomplete rendering compared to 14% in path tracing.
Flight Simulator 2024
Here, we can see above all that the RTX 5060 Ti has caught up with the RX 7700 XT and now offers roughly the same performance on both definitions tested. The RTX 4060 Ti is barely behind.
Hogwarts Legacy
In 1440p, the RX 7700 XT maintains a 10% lead over the RTX 5060 Ti in this game, and even offers a much more stable experience on the 1% low which is more than reassuring for gamers. But once ray tracing is enabled, at average quality on this title whose memory optimization is not ideal, the RTX 5060 Ti absolutely puts everyone to shame and is close to doubling the performance of the RTX 4060 Ti before it.
In 1080p, the gap narrows in rasterization performance, but the observation remains the same: the RX 7700 XT comes out on top. In average ray tracing, the RX 7700 XT finally comes out ahead, but the RTX 5060 Ti still offers 13% better performance.
Horizon Forbidden West
Horizon Forbidden West is once again in favor of the red team, although the battle is very close. Here, it is stability that marks the RX 7700 XT's lead, while the average FPS are roughly the same and mainly make up for the delay of the RTX 4060 Ti.
Marvel Rivals
On Marvel Rivals, the observation is easy: it is a pure and simple ex aequo, slightly in favor of the RTX 5060 Ti which develops a 1% higher in the two definitions tested.
Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart
At 1440p, rasterization performance is essentially the same between the 7700 XT and the RTX 5060 Ti, with a slight edge for the 7700 XT in terms of stability. But with ray tracing enabled, we go from a 30 FPS game to a 53 FPS game from the red team to the green team, which is far from easy.
In 1080p, the RX 7700 XT regains a very slight 7% lead over the RTX 5060 Ti, which it loses impressively once ray tracing is enabled. Note that here, the RTX 5060 Ti offers superior performance with ray tracing enabled than an RTX 4060 Ti that does not have it enabled. The VRAM size helps of course, but considering the release prices of both cards… It’s impressive.
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