I've been using an RTX 2060 since 2019 and it has handled my 1080p gaming needs well, especially in competitive games like CS2, Valorant, PUBG, and DOTA 2. I mostly play competitive titles, but I occasionally play single-player games and may want to be ready for GTA 6.
I'm considering an RTX 5060, RTX 5060 Ti, or RX 9060 XT. My current system has a Ryzen 7 5700X, 32GB of RAM, a B350 motherboard, and a 500W be quiet! Pure Power 10 PSU.
I'm leaning toward the RX 9060 XT, but I haven't owned an AMD graphics card before. Are the Nvidia features and driver advantages of the RTX 5060 Ti worth paying extra for, or would the RX 9060 XT be the better choice for this system and my usage?
5 Answers
The 5060 Ti 16GB can be a good choice if you find a strong deal, but it isn’t automatically the better purchase. I’d choose it over the 9060 XT only when the prices are close; otherwise, the 9060 XT gives better gaming value.
If your budget reaches the price of a 5060 Ti, it may be worth comparing the RX 9070 XT instead. It is in a much higher performance class and can offer value closer to more expensive Nvidia cards. Nvidia is worth considering for features and software support, but those advantages don’t necessarily justify a $200–$300 premium for gaming alone.
The biggest issue with the 5060 Ti is its pricing. If a 16GB 5060 Ti costs about the same as an RX 9070 or 9070 XT in your area, those higher-tier cards offer substantially more performance. I wouldn’t pay a large premium for the 5060 Ti over the 9060 XT unless you need Nvidia-specific features.
For mostly gaming, especially at 1080p, the RX 9060 XT is probably the better value. The RTX 5060 Ti mainly makes more sense if you specifically want Nvidia features or find it at a similar price. I’d favor the 16GB version of the 9060 XT if you plan to play newer single-player games or might move to 1440p.
For your current competitive games, either the 8GB or 16GB 9060 XT should be sufficient, and the 8GB model may be enough for 1080p. The 16GB card is the safer long-term option, though, particularly for higher settings, newer games, or 1440p. Your 500W PSU should be checked against the specific card’s power requirements before buying.
That’s the part I’m unsure about—the 5060 Ti may be faster or have better features, but I don’t think a few hundred dollars extra would be worthwhile for my mostly competitive 1080p gaming.