Four graphics cards to consider as alternatives to the RTX 5060.

      Nvidia's RTX 5060 has officially launched, and many were hoping it would rival some of the top graphics cards. But does it actually deliver? Opinions among reviewers are divided. However, my role isn't to critique the card; instead, I want to present you with some alternatives.

      While Nvidia’s xx60 series cards usually rank among the most popular GPUs in their respective generations, they are not your only options at the moment. The RTX 5060 might not even be the optimal choice within that price range. Below, I’ll outline four GPUs that I believe are better purchases than the RTX 5060.

      Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060

      Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

      It may come as no surprise, but given the current pricing and benchmarks, I recommend choosing the last-gen equivalent instead of the RTX 5060.

      The RTX 4060 is one of the last RTX 40-series graphics cards that are still available near their MSRP. I found one priced at $329 on Newegg, and it’s an overclocked model, meaning it offers slightly faster performance than the standard edition. However, if you come across a used RTX 4060 from a reliable source, it could be significantly cheaper.

      The RTX 5060 and RTX 4060 share many similarities. In terms of specifications, they are not vastly different, though the newer GPU benefits from Nvidia's Blackwell architecture and GDDR7 VRAM, providing it with a bit more power. Unfortunately, both cards are equipped with the same 8GB RAM—an increasingly limited amount for today’s gaming landscape—and a narrow 128-bit bus.

      Some reviewers indicate that the performance gap between the RTX 5060 and RTX 4060 isn't substantial. However, the newer card takes full advantage of Nvidia’s Multi-Frame Generation technology. Overall, their performance is quite similar; if you can find a used RTX 4060 at a good price, I would recommend it.

      AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT (or the RX 9060 XT)

      Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

      I initially didn’t have a high opinion of the RX 7600 XT 16GB at launch, and I still have concerns about that card. Similar to Nvidia's offerings, AMD provided its mainstream GPU with a very narrow memory interface, which limits bandwidth and affects performance. Still, in today's market, I prefer the 16GB with a 128-bit bus over a card that shares that interface but only has 8GB of VRAM.

      The most affordable RX 7600 XT 16GB is priced around $360, and easier to find in stores. However, as with previous options, if you locate a used one from a reliable seller, it might be worth considering, especially if you're on a tight budget. The current GPU market has made me more appreciative of second-hand options.

      The RX 7600 XT generally performs slower than the RTX 5060 and lags in ray tracing, but it offers significantly more RAM compared to Nvidia's card, which makes it a worthwhile consideration.

      AMD's forthcoming RX 9060 XT could also be an excellent choice. I anticipate it will provide improved ray tracing capabilities compared to the RX 7600 XT and will be priced similarly at $300, matching the RTX 5060.

      Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB

      Gigabyte

      If your budget allows for a slight increase, you could opt for the RTX 5060 Ti with 16GB of RAM. Unfortunately, the starting prices are currently around $479, exceeding the MSRP and costing $180 more than the RTX 5060. Nonetheless, you would be acquiring a GPU that is better prepared for longevity.

      With 16GB of video memory and the advantages of GDDR7 RAM, the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB represents an upgrade over its predecessor. However, it still falls short. Reviewers have rated this GPU lower than the RX 9070 non-XT, the RTX 5070, and even the RTX 4070 when evaluating pure rasterization performance, which excludes “fake frames” from Nvidia’s DLSS 4.

      This positions the RTX 5060 Ti in a peculiar situation. Essentially, if your budget permits, the RX 9070 and the RTX 5070 are superior options, though they come at a higher price.

      Intel Arc B580

      Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

      Less demanding gamers might consider the Intel Arc B580. Upon its release, this GPU surprised many with its impressive performance-to-price ratio. However, that ratio has diminished due to unexpected demand and low stock levels, causing the Arc B580's price to rise well beyond its original $250 MSRP.

      The Arc B580 is somewhat slower than the RTX 4060 Ti, which means it will also lag behind the RTX 5060. Additionally, it cannot compete effectively in ray tracing. Still, it remains an affordable