ASUS PRIME GeForce RTX 5060 8GB OC graphics card: 8 GB of memory is not a verdict?

Recently, the GeForce RTX 50 line of video cards was supplemented by the GeForce RTX 5060 8 GB model with a recommended price of $299. More affordable solutions have always attracted increased attention. What does NVIDIA offer in the new RTX 5060, besides the mysterious lack of drivers for testing on the eve of the official start of sales? We are trying to figure it out during the review of the original ASUS PRIME GeForce RTX 5060 8GB OC model with a three-fan cooling system and additional interesting options.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060

The GeForce RTX 5060 series graphics cards use the GB206 GPU. This is the same chip used in the older model, the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti, as well as the mobile version of the GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop. The GPU is manufactured by TSMC using the 5 nm process, has a die area of 181 mm2, and contains 21.9 billion transistors.

In the case of the GeForce RTX 5060, the GB206-250 modification with 3840 active compute units is used, which also includes 120 texture units and 48 rasterizers. In addition, the processor contains 120 tensor cores and 30 RT cores. Despite the smaller number of functional units than in the case of the modification for the RTX 5060 Ti, the available L2 cache capacity has remained at the same level - 32 MB.

The GPU received a base operating frequency of 2280 MHz and an average boost to 2497 MHz. In the current configuration, the theoretical computing performance is 19.2 TFLOPS (FP32). This is 27% more than the corresponding figure for the predecessor GeForce RTX 4060 - 15.1 TFLOPS (FP32). The latter has a quarter fewer basic functional units and a slightly lower GPU operating frequency.

Like the previous generation model, the GeForce RTX 5060 uses a 128-bit memory bus. But unlike its predecessor, the new product uses GDDR7 chips with an effective frequency of 28,000 MHz, which allows you to count on a bandwidth of 448 GB/s. The GeForce RTX 4060 with GDDR6 chips (17,000 MHz effective) counted on only 272 GB/s. So, the difference in memory bandwidth is almost 65% (!).

NVIDIA's decision to use GDDR7 even for models of this level is an undeniable advantage of the new products. However, when it comes to capacity, there is no reason for great optimism. The GeForce RTX 5060 is offered only in versions with 8 GB of memory.

As for power consumption, the GeForce RTX 5060 has a claimed Total Graphics Power (TGP) of 145 W. The previous generation GeForce RTX 4060 is slightly more economical and has a TGP of 115 W. A certain increase in consumption is generally not surprising, given the virtually unchanged GPU manufacturing process, but the difference in the number of CUDA processors and a slight increase in operating frequencies. Despite the increase in power consumption, the recommendations for the power supply have not changed - from 550 W.

NVIDIA does not offer a reference GeForce RTX 5060, so all models will be original developments from partners. As for the recommended cost, it remained at the same level as its predecessor – $299 for the American market. Probably, as in the case of older models of the GeForce RTX 50 line, the recommended price tag will be relevant only for several of the simplest versions of the GeForce RTX 5060, while forced modifications with improved cooling systems will be more expensive.

ASUS PRIME GeForce RTX 5060 8GB GDDR7 OC (PRIME-RTX5060-O8G)

At the time of the launch of the new line of graphics cards, ASUS prepared several versions of the GeForce RTX 5060 within the DUAL, TUF and PRIME series. It is the older modification from the latter line that we have reviewed today – the ASUS PRIME GeForce RTX 5060 8GB GDDR7 OC.

The OS index in the model name hints at the standard GPU overclocking. Indeed, instead of the recommended 2280/2497 MHz, the GPU uses a frequency formula of 2280/2565 MHz.

The video card uses a three-fan design, however, despite the external similarity with the previously reviewed RTX 5060 Ti model of the PRIME series, the younger modification is significantly more compact - 268 x 120 x 50 mm. But in any case, we are talking about the use of a cooler with three fans, and the overall thickness assumes a 2.5-slot layout. The dimensions of the ASUS PRIME GeForce RTX 5060 8GB GDDR7 OC allow them to receive the "SFF-Ready" label, providing for the possibility of use in compact cases of the corresponding specification.

At the heart of the radiator is a block of aluminum plates, in which heat pipes are used to accelerate heat transfer.

Three fans with a diameter of 75 mm are provided for blowing the module. Models with Axial-Tech Fans technology are used, which involves increasing the length of the blades, as well as their union with a ring on the outer radius. This design feature allows you to emphasize the air flow. Of the features, it can be noted that the fans are equipped with double ball bearings, which usually improve their durability.

There is a mount on the side for possible installation of an additional fixing bracket. However, the ASUS PRIME GeForce RTX 5060 8GB GDDR7 OC does not come with one, and in general it would be rather unnecessary for this model. The weight of the video card is 765 g, so additional mounting of the adapter would rather be an option for unusual conditions of use of the system.

To connect additional power, there is one 8-pin PCI-E connector. According to the specification, such a connector allows you to supply up to 150 W of power, so this is enough for the video card, even without taking into account the additional power of the PCI-E x16 slot (up to 75 W). The developers recommend using power supplies from 550 W, so there are no differences from NVIDIA's instructions.

ASUS PRIME GeForce RTX 5060 8GB GDDR7 OC has two BIOS chips that offer different cooling system settings. The basic "P Mode" and the "Q Mode" with reduced noise. The toggle switch is located on the top edge of the PCB.

On the back, the video card is covered with a metal plate for additional mechanical protection, strengthening the design, and giving a certain overall integrity to the appearance of the video card.

The aluminum plate features large holes that allow for efficient airflow through the radiator block. Technologies that were first used on high-end devices are gradually migrating to more affordable solutions.

As for the composition of the interface panel, there are no surprises or surprises. The model has a standard set of four digital outputs - three DisplayPort 2.1b and one HDMI 2.1b. A significant part of the steel cover is occupied by through holes for the exhaust of heated air.

Test system configuration

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 9600X (6/12; 3.9/5.4 GHz)
• Motherboard: ASUS PRIME B650M-A WIFI II
• Cooling: ASUS Prime LC 240 ARGB
• Memory: Kingston FURY Beast DDR5-6000 32GB (KF560C30BBK2-32)
• Video card: ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5060 OC Edition 8GB GDDR7 (PRIME-RTX5060-O8G); ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 EVO OC Edition 8GB GDDR6 (DUAL-RTX4060-O8G-EVO)
• Drive: Kingston NV3 2TB (SNV3S/2000G)
• PSU: ASUS Prime 750W Gold
• Case: ASUS A23 PLUS

To test the ASUS PRIME GeForce RTX 5060 8GB GDDR7 OC, we used a system unit from Artline. The available PC was equipped with a 6-core Ryzen 5 9600X (6/12; 3.9/5.4 GHz), which worked in tandem with the ASUS PRIME B650M-A WIFI II motherboard. The power of this CPU should be quite enough to unleash the potential of GeForce RTX 5060-level graphics cards. To further increase the CPU's computing power, we used a mode with a TDP of 105 W, instead of the basic conditions (TDP 65 W). Such a setting is made as easy as possible by motherboard manufacturers. All you need to do is change the appropriate option in the BIOS and save the settings.

Increasing the power limit is guaranteed to improve the performance of the Ryzen 5 9600X by ~15–20% in intensive tasks with multi-threaded load. Most games are not such, but the additional power reserve will not be superfluous. In addition, the ASUS Prime LC 240 ARGB liquid cooling system was used to cool the chip, which allowed us to increase the TDP without hesitation, without worrying about the temperature regime of the processor.

The platform also used a dual-channel DDR5-6000 RAM kit of 32 GB. Kits of this capacity are already practically standard even for entry-level gaming systems. The operating system and all game projects were installed on a Kingston NV3 2 TB. The case when the storage capacity is a priority.

The PC was equipped with an ASUS Prime 750W Gold power supply. In the case of the GeForce RTX 5060 platform, this is an "upgrade" option, since according to NVIDIA and ASUS recommendations, a 550W unit is enough for a system with a video card of this class. However, the power here will not be superfluous, especially considering the possible further upgrade.

The system was assembled in an ASUS A23 PLUS case - a fairly compact Micro-ATX case with a transparent side panel and good internal ventilation, provided by four basic 120 mm fans (3+1).

In operation

Traditionally, we initially determine the temperature regimes of the video card. In idle mode, the temperature of the graphics processor was kept at 29C, while the memory chips heated up to 40C.

Since the video card supports semi-passive cooling mode, the cooler fans stop at minimal load. We note right away that under such conditions the ASUS PRIME GeForce RTX 5060 8GB GDDR7 OC consumed 9 watts of electricity.

During prolonged gaming load, the GPU heated up to 62C, while the temperature of the GDDR7 memory chips rose to 64C. The maximum fan speed is 1600 rpm. As can be seen in the screenshot, the GPU accelerated to a peak of 2835 MHz.

GeForce RTX 5060 Performance

To evaluate the capabilities of the GeForce RTX 5060 8 GB, we compared its performance with that of its predecessor, the GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB, and also added to the charts the results of testing older models with Blackwell and Ada Lovelace architectures – the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB and the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB. The available list of video cards will allow us to fairly accurately determine the position of the new product in the current "graphics landscape" and assess the general prospects of the GeForce RTX 5060 8 GB.

The first gaming "synthetics" in the 3DMark tests demonstrate a very tangible advantage of the new model over its predecessor. The difference in performance is 30–44% with an average value of 35.7%. At all stages, the GeForce RTX 5060 also managed to outpace the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti. In this duel, the advantage of the new product is not so significant (3–10%), but the very fact that they managed to not only catch up, but also leave behind the previous generation model, which is nominally higher in class.

In GeekBench (OpenCL) computational tests, the RTX 5060 had a 21% advantage over the RTX 4060, while in Blender it was 17%. But in V-Ray (RTX), the Blackwell model showed its potential again, immediately adding +30% to the performance of its predecessor.

Gaming in 1080p mode

Maximum attention is focused on the capabilities of the GeForce RTX 5060 8 GB in games. The model is positioned by the developers as a solution for entertainment in 1920×1080 mode. The role of the RTX 4060 was identical. It is interesting what changes can be expected, relying on the new generation solution. For testing, we used conditions with maximum quality settings without the use of scaling technologies. That is, the diagrams show the performance of video cards with "pure" raster performance without DLSS impurities.

Let's start with Dying Light 2, which at maximum settings is a fairly easy walk even for its predecessor, the GeForce RTX 4060, which provided over 100 fps here. In turn, the GeForce RTX 5060 improved the starting performance by 23%, allowing us to count on an average of ~130 fps. Almost identical results are offered by the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB, ahead of the RTX 5060 by several frames/s in minimum performance. The older GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB adds another 11% here.

In Cyberpunk 2077, the GeForce RTX 5060 graphics card significantly improved the performance of its predecessor, surpassing the RTX 4060 by as much as 34%. Moreover, in this game, the new product is even slightly better than the RTX 4060 Ti. At the same time, the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB adds another 19% fps on top. In general, without the super-resource-intensive mode with Path Tracing, the project no longer looks too heavy, so even the RTX 4060 provides a comfortable number of frames/s here. At least when it comes to Full HD mode.

Assassin's Creed Mirage ultimately turns out to be quite "lightweight", allowing us to get good performance on all test models, including the RTX 4060. The situation here is similar to what we saw in Dying Light 2. ASUS PRIME GeForce RTX 5060 8GB GDDR7 OC demonstrates the performance of the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB, outperforming the RTX 4060 by 19%.

Avowed was the first bell and a clear example of the fact that on video cards of this level, even in Full HD, it is not always possible to get an average of 60+ fps. However, in this case, it is not a question of a lack of local memory, because the RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB, despite twice the capacity, had a predicted advantage over the RTX 5060 8 GB and RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB. Here, the limiting factor is the GPU's computational performance. The overall balance of power between the test participants remains - the GeForce RTX 5060 has almost identical performance to the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, and the GeForce RTX 4060 lags behind this pair by ~26%.

Alan Wake 2 became another example of the fact that video cards of the GeForce RTX 4060/5060/4060 Ti level do not always allow you to mindlessly change the settings to the maximum graphics quality, even when it comes to the game at a resolution of 1920x1080. Even the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti in similar conditions fails to get an average of 60 fps, although it was very close to it. As for the GeForce RTX 5060 and RTX 4060 Ti, in both cases you will have to restrain your requests, agreeing to some quality adjustments. Well, for the RTX 4060, you will probably need to connect scaling, or make significant compromises with the basic picture settings.

In the game STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl, the new model is 25% ahead of the GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB, but even this is not enough to explore the outskirts of the Zone with maximum quality settings. In such conditions, the GeForce RTX 5060 8 GB provides an average of 50 frames/s. Considering the rather difficult conditions, the result is not bad, but it still falls short of the relatively comfortable 60 fps. Interestingly, in this project, the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB is 8% faster, both in terms of minimum and average performance. The desired 60 fps is conquered by the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti, while the younger ones will have to give way minimally in quality to reach the same level.

Black Myth: Wukong – a "heavyweight" based on the Unreal Engine 5 engine is so demanding that even higher-class graphics cards do not always manage to get a stable 60 fps in Full HD at maximum settings. So this is more of a test stage for comparison, because for a comfortable game you will probably need to experiment with DLSS modes. As for relative performance, everything is within the already established trend – the RTX 5060 is on par with the RTX 4060 Ti, the predecessor is inferior to both by ~30%, and the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti is 20% ahead.

The updated version of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered also becomes a real test for the video card, if you use the maximum quality settings. The GeForce RTX 4060 here provides only an average of 38 fps. The successor - the GeForce RTX 5060 - is able to improve this result by 26%. In terms of relative performance, it is quite significant, but there is still room for improvement. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered became one of the few examples where the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti managed to outperform the GeForce RTX 5060 by more than 10%. Obviously, in certain cases, the significantly larger number of computing units (4352 vs. 3840) makes its mark, even if they belong to different graphics generations.

The new DOOM: The Dark Ages based on the id Tech 8 engine with the Vulkan API has quite good optimization, allowing you to get good performance figures. Even in Ultra Nightmare mode, the GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB graphics card offers more than 60 frames/s. The new GeForce RTX 5060 8 GB improves performance by 21%. For Full HD, 8 GB of memory is enough, at least when it comes to the mode without ray tracing and additional frame generation. Unfortunately, we were not able to check the performance of the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti and GeForce RTX 5060 Ti in this project.

Gaming in 1440p mode

The GeForce RTX 5060 8 GB video card is positioned by the developers as a solution for 1080p gaming and is not nominally intended for "heroic deeds" at 1440p. However, these are just conventions that do not prevent us from checking the situation in practice. The settings are identical - maximum graphics quality without using ray tracing, DLSS, frame generation and other optimizers/accelerators. Pure raster as it is.

In general, the situation in the test group has not changed radically. The performance ratio of all test participants is similar to what we saw in Full HD mode. In "simpler" projects, even the GeForce RTX 4060 allows you to get acceptable results. Although in the same Cyberpunk 2077, its capabilities are no longer enough for 60 fps. At the same time, the significant acceleration of the GeForce RTX 5060 in this project (+39%) managed to confidently cross this conditional comfort limit.

In more resource-intensive projects, in modes with maximum quality settings, playability is actually lost. An average of 30 frames/s is probably not the level of performance that a user expects after purchasing a new video card. But it's too early to get upset here. An infinite number of picture quality settings will allow you to find a compromise mode in which you can get the desired level of performance, if necessary.

Regarding the analysis of the obtained indicators. The GeForce RTX 5060 slightly increased its advantage over the GeForce RTX 4060. At the same time, in 1440p mode, the new model was minimally ahead of the RTX 4060 Ti in all projects, with the exception of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, where the representative of Ada Lovelace retained a 6% gap. Although in such conditions, each fps already changes the balance of forces by several percent.

The GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB has minimally increased its advantage over the regular "sixties", but the changes are not radical and are obviously not caused by a lack of memory in these cases. Although certain manifestations of this can be noted, for example, in the game STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl, where the 16 GB model had significantly higher minimum fps.

Of course, 16 GB of memory is a clear advantage over 8 GB versions. But it is fundamentally important mainly for more powerful graphics cards, since it is for them that modes that require more than 8 GB are relevant.

Ray Tracing and DLSS

Ray tracing is a resource-intensive technology that significantly increases the load on the GPU and requires more video card memory. For these reasons, enabling RT on RTX xx60 systems requires experimentation to find a balance between visual changes and their impact on overall performance.

It is when using RT even in 1080p mode that support for scaling technologies can be very relevant for graphics cards of this class. The new DLSS algorithms are able to compensate for performance drops and even improve the initial performance without RT, without critical changes in image quality.

Support for DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation in certain cases can really be the "last hope" and a real opportunity to radically increase performance. Of course, each individual case requires research to meet expectations. But it's good to have something to experiment with.

The situation with Alan Wake 2 after enabling RT at maximum quality is a good example of possible transformations. Acceleration from 19 to 107 fps is a reality. Of course, there are many intermediate options that may better suit personal requirements.

Source: NVIDIA

In its marketing materials, NVIDIA assures that the GeForce RTX 5060, even in heavy projects with RT, can provide more than 100 frames/s. Of course, this refers to modes with DLSS and frame generation. Having received such impressive transformations in practice, we assume that the data presented is true. But here a balance is needed, when the number of fps is not an end in itself, and the almost infinite degree of frame generation does not distort the idea of a comfortable game.

NVIDIA is actively developing its smart scaling and generation ecosystem. Developers claim that over 125 games already support DLSS 4 and FG/MFG. The list is constantly expanding, with both newly introduced projects and updated versions that have received new features.

Overclocking

It was interesting to evaluate the possibilities of additional overclocking of ASUS PRIME GeForce RTX 5060 8GB GDDR7 OC. And the first thing to note here is that the video card quite unexpectedly allows you to increase the power limit up to 117%. Usually for video cards of this level this indicator is lower. We take the opportunity to increase the Power Limit as much as possible and try to get stable operation of the video card at higher GPU/memory frequencies.

During the experiments, the base frequency of the graphics processor was increased by as much as +500 MHz, so the final formula changed from 2280/2565 MHz to 2780/3065 MHz. As for the memory chips, there are limitations at the driver level. All that was achieved was an effective 32,000 MHz instead of the standard 28,000 MHz. But +14% will also be useful if maximum performance is required.

After additional overclocking, the GPU peaked at 3345 MHz. Increasing the Power Limit to 117% had a corresponding effect on the graphics card's power consumption, which increased to 171 W under load.

During a long gaming session, the GPU warmed up to 66C, the memory chips to 68C. To keep the temperature of the components at this level, the fan speed in automatic mode increased to ~1800 rpm.

As for performance, in the 3DMark Time Spy Extreme test, the Graphics Score after overclocking increased from 6494 to 7354 points. As a result, we have about +13%. In real games, the number of fps increased by 9–10%. This is not yet the level of the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti, but it is close to it.

Power consumption

The declared level of total power consumption of the GeForce RTX 5060 8 GB is 145 W. However, we are dealing with a somewhat forced modification of the video card, so it is not surprising that the actual figure under gaming load was 151 W.

Apparently, the predecessor of the GeForce RTX 4060 is generally more economical. The model used for testing consumed 124 W. But if we take into account the actual performance of the GeForce RTX 4060 and GeForce RTX 5060, with the latter having an advantage of 25%, then the new product on Blackwell will be even slightly more energy-efficient. The desire to surpass the GeForce RTX 4060 in this indicator until recently seemed futile, at least without switching to a more advanced GPU manufacturing process.

So, the GeForce RTX 5060 consumes more, but justifies this with increased performance. If we compare the indicators with those of the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, with which the new product is very close in performance, then the advantage is on the side of the GeForce RTX 5060.

We also estimated the overall power consumption of the PC during operation. In idle mode, the system required ~75 W. During gaming, depending on the project, the platform's consumption ranged from 245 to 295 W. So, a PC with a similar configuration would indeed be enough for a 550-watt PSU, but a more powerful model would provide a better margin for future upgrades.

Results

Objectively assessing the GeForce RTX 5060 is hampered by its recent appearance. At the initial stage, all participants in the supply chain are trying to get additional profit, which affects the final cost of video cards. If we focus solely on the recommended values ($300), the GeForce RTX 5060 offers a very good price/performance ratio. Especially in Full HD mode, where only the Intel ARC B580 ($250) and the expected Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 GB ($300) can compete with it.

Overall, the GeForce RTX 5060 GB leaves more positive impressions. With an identical recommended price, the new model is noticeably faster than its predecessor, the GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB. The average performance gain of +25% is higher than that of older models during the generation change. The video card supports all NVIDIA technological developments, including DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation, and modern video transcoding units. Power consumption is higher than that of the RTX 4060, but overall energy efficiency has even improved slightly.

Yes, the complaints about having "only" 8 GB of memory in mid-2025 are not unfounded. Indeed, we would like to have an additional reserve here. Considering not only the increase in gaming requirements, but also the active introduction of generative AI applications into everyday life, where a larger video card memory capacity is not just desirable, but sometimes necessary.

Perhaps the ideal option would be the appearance of a conventional GeForce RTX 5060 with 12 GB of memory, which would use four GDDR7 chips of non-binary capacity (3 GB). But such chips are available in limited quantities and are currently only used for mobile graphics GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop.

Perhaps NVIDIA should, as in the case of the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti, offer two versions of the GeForce RTX 5060 – with 8 GB and 16 GB, allowing users to choose the best solution for their needs. Technically, there are no problems with such an implementation, but there are marketing tricks here. Those who want to get a video card with 16 GB are advised to look towards the more expensive GeForce RTX 5060 Ti model.

Are 8GB graphics cards worth considering in 2025? Such devices undoubtedly remain relevant for a very large number of users. Interestingly, AMD representatives have also recently defended the positions of graphics adapters with 8GB of memory, appealing to the huge market demand for such devices. A large number of players still use Full HD mode and prefer competitive games, for which such a memory capacity is more than enough. For more complex projects, there is always the opportunity to optimize the quality settings, and this is an acceptable technique for models for $ 300. So in the niche of entry-level graphics cards there is still a place for graphics cards with 8GB of memory on board. Here, compliance with the recommended cost will be of fundamental importance. If the actual values \u200b\u200bare close to the declared MSRP, we do not exclude that the GeForce RTX 5060 will eventually appear on the first lines in the popularity ratings, as has already happened with its predecessors.