The Battle is On: AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT vs NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060
June 29, 2025 – AMD recently released the Radeon RX 9060 XT, available in 8GB and 16GB versions designed to compete with the NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti—which also comes in 8GB and 16GB models—and with the RTX 5060.
The Radeon RX 9000 Series GPUs are based on AMD’s new RDNA 4 architecture, which offers faster ray tracing (i.e., more realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections), accelerated AI performance, and overall improved computing efficiency.
Both the RX 9060 XT and the RTX 5060/5060 Ti were introduced as mid-range GPUs and are therefore aimed at budget-conscious gamers targeting 1080p or 1440p resolutions.
Below is a table comparing the main technical specifications of AMD’s new entries and NVIDIA’s direct competitors from the RTX 50 Series.
| GPU | Frame Generation & Upscaling | CUDA Cores/Stream processors | Boost Clock (GHz) | Memory (VRAM) | Memory Bandwidth | Price* |
| RX 9060 XT (16 GB) | FSR 4 | 2048 | 3.13 | 16 GB GDDR6 | 320 GB/s | $349 |
| RX 9060 XT (8 GB) | FSR 4 | 2048 | 3.13 | 8 GB GDDR6 | 320 GB/s | $299 |
| RTX 5060 Ti (16 GB) | DLSS 4 | 4608 | 2.57 | 16 GB GDDR7 | 448 GB/s | $429 |
| RTX 5060 Ti (8 GB) | DLSS 4 | 4608 | 2.57 | 8 GB GDDR7 | 448 GB/s | $379 |
| RTX 5060 (8 GB) | DLSS 4 | 3840 | 2.50 | 8 GB GDDR7 | 448 GB/s | $299 |
Like the other models in the RX 9000 Series, both versions of the RX 9060 XT come equipped with FSR 4 technology, which promises a significant performance boost in frame generation and upscaling (AI-based image quality improvements)—a direct response to NVIDIA DLSS 4.
While the number of main processors in the RX 9060 XT 16 GB and 8 GB versions are not as high as in their NVIDIA counterparts, the RX 9060 XT boast a boost clock frequency about 22% higher than the RTX 5070 Ti (both versions) and 25% higher than the RTX 5060.
In terms of dedicated memory, as already noted, the RX 9060 XT is available in both 16 GB and 8 GB VRAM configurations, matching the two versions of the RTX 5060 Ti. The RTX 5060, on the other hand, has the same amount of VRAM as the 8 GB RX 9060 XT.
While the amounts of VRAM are comparable, it’s worth noting that AMD’s GPUs still use GDDR6 memory, whereas NVIDIA’s 50 Series GPUs utilize the newer and faster GDDR7, which offers higher bandwidth and improved performance in data-intensive tasks.
Regarding price (i.e., manufacturer’s suggested retail price or MSRP), the RX 9060 XT 8GB model is priced the same as the RTX 5060, while the RX 9060 XT 16 GB version undercuts both RTX 5060 Ti models.
So, pricing is attractive but how does the RX 9060 XT fare against the RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 in real-world gaming benchmarks? Let’s find out.
Benchmarking Results
RX 9060 XT (16GB) vs RTX 5060 Ti (16 GB)
Testing Games compared the RX 9060 XT (16 GB) and RTX 5060 Ti (16 GB) in several graphically demanding games at high settings, 1440p native resolution, and with frame generation turned off.
They found that in two out of three games the RTX 5060 Ti outperformed the RX 9060 XT. While the FPS differences were minor in some cases (below 10%), in others they were substantial—e.g., Black Myth: Wukong (22% difference), Silent Hill 2 (19%) or The Last of Us Part II Remastered (18%).
The only game where the RX 9060 XT performed significantly better was Forza Horizon 5, where it delivered a 22% higher average FPS.
Without frame generation enabled, both GPUs struggled at high settings in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, Black Myth: Wukong, and Kingdom Come Deliverance II, where average FPS were well below 60.
Power consumption was also in NVIDIA’s favor: the RTX 5060 Ti consistently consumed less power—on average, 24% less than the RX 9060 XT.
RX 9060 XT (8GB) vs RTX 5060 Ti (8 GB)
Hardware for Gamers compared the 8 GB versions of the RX 9060 XT and RTX 5060 Ti in several graphically demanding games, with high settings and frame generation off.
Their test included both 1080p and 1440p native resolutions. We report primarily on the 1440p results, as they provide a stricter comparison of these GPUs’ actual performance.
These GPUs appear very evenly matched, with performance highly dependent on the specific game. For example, the RTX 5060 Ti clearly outperformed the RX 9060 XT in Assassin’s Creed Shadows (34% higher FPS), Delta Force (24%), Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (17%), and The Last of Us Part II Remastered (23%).
However, the RX 9060 XT won in Call of Duty: Warzone (28% higher FPS), Path of Exile 2 (36%), and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (29%).
At high settings without frame generation, both GPUs struggled in most games (average FPS below 60), except in Call of Duty: Warzone and Delta Force. The RX 9060 XT reached 68 FPS in Path of Exile 2 (vs 50 for the RTX 5060 Ti), but lagged behind in The Last of Us Part II Remastered (47 FPS vs 61).
At 1080p performance improved for both GPUs, with average FPS exceeding 60 in most titles—though exceptions remained, such as Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Oddly, the RTX 5060 Ti also struggled in Monster Hunter Wilds, delivering just 52 FPS.
Power consumption varied significantly by game. In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the RX 9060 XT consumed up to 43% more power. In Path of Exile 2, it was the RTX 5060 Ti that consumed up to 16% more.
RX 9060 XT (8GB) vs RTX 5060 (8 GB)
Testing Games also compared the RX 9060 XT (8 GB) to the equally priced RTX 5060. Tests were again performed at high settings, with frame generation disabled, across multiple games at both 1080p and 1440p. As above, we focus on 1440p results.
Overall, the RTX 5060 generally performed better in most games, albeit by a small margin (under 10% higher FPS). Notable exceptions include Ghost of Tsushima, where the RX 9060 XT was 23% faster, and Red Dead Redemption 2, where it was 10% faster.
Both GPUs struggled to maintain 60 FPS at high settings in Cyberpunk 2077 (with ray tracing), S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.
At 1080p, performance improved, though Kingdom Come: Deliverance II remained demanding, with both GPUs below 60 FPS. The RX 9060 XT also underperformed in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, averaging just 56 FPS.
In terms of power efficiency, the two GPUs were closely matched in half the games tested. In the other half, the RTX 5060 was more efficient, with the RX 9060 XT consuming 13–18% more power.
Conclusions
AMD just added two notable desktop GPU models to the roster of mid-range options for gamers interested in playing at 1080p or 1440p native resolutions.
When it comes to performance against the competition, the RX 9060 XT 16 GB loses to the RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB by a small margin, both in terms of average FPS output and power efficiency. However, its highly competitive price ($349 vs $429) still makes it a very viable option for gamers on a budget who are willing to sacrifice a bit of performance.
Superiority is less clear-cut in the comparison between the RX 9060 XT 8 GB and the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB, as performance appears to be highly game-dependent, with each GPU outperforming the other in different titles. The same applies to power consumption, which also varies widely between games.
In this case, the lower price of the AMD card ($299 vs $379) gives it the overall edge—except for players who intend to play specific titles where the RX 9060 XT (8 GB) is clearly outperformed by the RTX 5060 Ti (8 GB) and who don’t mind the higher price tag.
Regarding the performance of the RX 9060 XT 8 GB against its equally priced competitor from NVIDIA, the RTX 5060, things appear fairly evenly matched in many games.
However, overall, the RTX 5060 outperforms the RX 9060 XT in more titles—not only in terms of average FPS but also in power efficiency. Therefore, the RTX 5060 appears to be the better deal overall, as it consistently delivers slightly superior performance and power efficiency at the same price.
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