Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5060 launches May 19 at $299
Nvidia has confirmed that the GeForce RTX 5060 graphics card will launch on May 19, with sales beginning at 9 a.m. EST. This launch coincides with CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote at the Computex trade show in Taipei. On the same day, the laptop version of the RTX 5060 will also hit the market, as revealed in an official Nvidia blog post.
Priced at $299, the RTX 5060 is the most affordable GPU in Nvidia’s RTX 5000 series. Nvidia claims gamers can achieve over 100 FPS in popular titles using DLSS 4, their latest AI-powered frame-generation tool. However, without DLSS 4 enabled, performance gains are modest making the upgrade less dramatic for users expecting major raw power improvements.
Still, this release could appeal to those upgrading from older GPUs like the RTX 2060 or GTX 1660, which were released in 2019 and are still widely used on Steam. Because of this, Nvidia is targeting budget-conscious gamers who are finally ready to upgrade without spending a fortune.
Specs and Performance Considerations
The RTX 5060 features 3,804 CUDA cores, fewer than the 4,608 cores found in the more powerful RTX 5060 Ti. It also comes with 8GB of GDDR7 memory over a 128-bit bus, a spec that raises concerns about its ability to handle 4K gaming effectively. Like its Ti sibling, the RTX 5060 seems better suited for 1080p or 1440p resolutions, where its capabilities are more aligned with gamers’ expectations.
Furthermore, pricing may be a sticking point. Although Nvidia states the base price is $299, third-party sellers could price it higher. This could happen especially in light of the 20% tariff on Chinese-assembled tech products under U.S. trade policy, potentially affecting retail availability and affordability.
What to Watch After Launch
While the RTX 5060 offers a wallet-friendly path into the latest RTX lineup, buyers should weigh the limitations carefully. Performance relies heavily on DLSS 4, and memory constraints might affect longevity. Nonetheless, for those who play at 1080p and want to stay current without overspending, this GPU could deliver real value.
