AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB Review: 1440p Power for Under $400

[Steve]

AMD's Radeon RX 9060 XT comes in two flavors – only one's worth your money. The 16GB model undercuts Nvidia on price, matches performance, and may be the new go-to GPU for budget-conscious gamers.

Read the full article here.

AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB Review: 1440p Power for Under $400

 

[Nintenboy01]

Not a bad little card, most of the time it's barely above a 3070 but occasionally it's not too far behind a 4070. Hopefully it sticks close to MSRP

 

[Achaios]

I like Steve focusing on comparing Hot Spot, VRM and Mem temps between various AIBs.

I don't remember if you guys did the same with the 5070 reviews, but igorslab.de demonstrated that a few of the Taiwanese AIBs, including Palit, had issues with their 5070 models VRM cooling and temps. It was nonexistent and the temps bad for the longevity of the card.

In order for VRM temps to become acceptable, igorslab.de had to drill a hole on the back cover of the card and then add some (decent quality) thermal putty too in order to assist heat transfer.

No end user should have to resort to such shenaningans after paying over $600 for a GPU so it is important that you guys monitor and publish all these parameters.

I also noticed that you do not do thermal imaging here. While probably less important for the xx60 series, it must have been quite important for the xx70 series and above and again only igorslab.de did that and caught Palit & Co with their pants down.

 

[jrtt0]

Good value for that theoretical MSRP.
Let's see how it will go with the real price. Might be either a game-changer for middle-range or a "meh"...

 

[opckieran]

This staying close to MSRP would be a miracle. Now we just need a good option for $450.

??? at $200 (B570 needs a price cut imo)
B580 at $250
9060XT at $350
??? at $450
5070S 18GB at $550 (if only…)

The lineup is almost here…

 

[torvuswalds]

Yeah the 8GB should be at least called the 9050/XT, but oh well, I would like to see the 8GB review just to see the comparison to the 16GB and target it towards lower end gaming, like not maxed out settings and compare it to the 5060Ti 8GB and the 9060XT 16GB and 5060 Ti 16GB.

 

[EvilRebar]

Odds of sustained availability at MSRP: 0%.

I would be interested to see how often 8GB vs 16GB impacts this SKU.

 

[EvilRebar]

I like Steve focusing on comparing Hot Spot, VRM and Mem temps between various AIBs.

I don't remember if you guys did the same with the 5070 reviews, but igorslab.de demonstrated that a few of the Taiwanese AIBs, including Palit, had issues with their 5070 models VRM cooling and temps. It was nonexistent and the temps bad for the longevity of the card.

In order for VRM temps to become acceptable, igorslab.de had to drill a hole on the back cover of the card and then add some (decent quality) thermal putty too in order to assist heat transfer.

No end user should have to resort to such shenaningans after paying over $600 for a GPU so it is important that you guys monitor and publish all these parameters.

I also noticed that you do not do thermal imaging here. While probably less important for the xx60 series, it must have been quite important for the xx70 series and above and again only igorslab.de did that and caught Palit & Co with their pants down.

Reminds me of the 7900XTX broken vapor chamber. These days it always seems to be a good idea to hold off for a bit and see what quirks/defects are found...

 

[demonicmaniac]

I'm just a little sad they obviously had to go way above the optimum voltage curve to get close to 5060 ti performance making the efficiency rather meh. It's why I clearly prefer the 9070 over the 9070 xt as the lower clocks make it insanely more efficient. Would have loved to see the 9060 xt 16gb be a bit slower but better curve and then a little cheaper. Or just have it like the 9070 and get rid of the 9060 xt 8gb and just make it a optimum power curve 100w 8gb version for 250 or so

 

[DanteSmith]

Let's see how much performance is left over from these GPUs using an AM4 system.

 

[redgarl]

I don't get what offering a 8GB option is a problem. It is an option. At least, we are not in the situation of

-The 1060 6GB and the 1060 3GB... or more recently,
-The 4080 12GB and the 4080 16GB

Now... THAT was misleading and outrageous since those were not even the same GPUs...

But offering an 8GB version, I have no issue with it. Buy what is suiting your need better.

 

[redgarl]

Yeah the 8GB should be at least called the 9050/XT, but oh well, I would like to see the 8GB review just to see the comparison to the 16GB and target it towards lower end gaming, like not maxed out settings and compare it to the 5060Ti 8GB and the 9060XT 16GB and 5060 Ti 16GB.

I don't agree, it is the same GPU. It is not misleading to call it the 9060 XT 8GB, because it is what it is. If the GPU is different, then THIS is when it is misleading like the 4080 12GB was.

 

[redgarl]

I'm just a little sad they obviously had to go way above the optimum voltage curve to get close to 5060 ti performance making the efficiency rather meh. It's why I clearly prefer the 9070 over the 9070 xt as the lower clocks make it insanely more efficient. Would have loved to see the 9060 xt 16gb be a bit slower but better curve and then a little cheaper. Or just have it like the 9070 and get rid of the 9060 xt 8gb and just make it a optimum power curve 100w 8gb version for 250 or so

I am pretty sure you can shed off 20W easily by lowering the voltage. My 9070XT is able to UV by 75mV and still be fully stable.

 

[redgarl]

Let's see how much performance is left over from these GPUs using an AM4 system.

My 5800X3D with a 9070XT is almost at parity with my 7950x and my XTX main system. Right now I am using my second rig because I wanted to play Cyberpunk again and try RT and upscaling.

 

[Thatsdisgusting]

My 5800X3D with a 9070XT is almost at parity with my 7950x and my XTX main system. Right now I am using my second rig because I wanted to play Cyberpunk again and try RT and upscaling.

You do know that 5800x3d is equal or outperforms 7950x in cyberpunk, right?

 

[torvuswalds]

I don't agree, it is the same GPU. It is not misleading to call it the 9060 XT 8GB, because it is what it is. If the GPU is different, then THIS is when it is misleading like the 4080 12GB was.

I guess you are right, the core GPU is the same correct? Just different memory configuration? Then yeah, you are right then

 

[Jarvi5]

I am pretty sure you can shed off 20W easily by lowering the voltage. My 9070XT is able to UV by 75mV and still be fully stable.

My powercolor reaper 9070xt undervolts by 65mV, allowing a 20% reduction in power, which results in original performance @ c.250W (down from 304W). Hopefully the 9060XT will behave similarly.

 

[hahahanoobs]

Ah. Another generation where we're just waiting for Radeon to come in cheaper to stay relevant and maybe force a price drop from its competitor so gamers can keep buying Nvidia.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Ah. Another generation where we're just waiting for Radeon to come in cheaper to stay relevant and maybe force a price drop from its competitor so gamers can keep buying Nvidia.

- More like the AMD card will inflate in price to match the Nvidia card, instead of the other way around.

I think NV has some bad word of mouth while AMD got some good word of mouth this gen, combined with poor inventory early on, and low info folks are more open to buying AMD on the positive initial reviews.

Just goes to show how important first impressions are, and why fake MSRPs work as well as they do.

 

[demonicmaniac]

I am pretty sure you can shed off 20W easily by lowering the voltage. My 9070XT is able to UV by 75mV and still be fully stable.

And you can do the same with the 9070 which again has it insanely more efficient. But you can ofc downlock the 9070xt to 9070 levels and then undervolt massively to essentially make it a 9070 for a higher price. I guess one nice option would be to have a sort of cTDP like cpus have for gpus

 

[darkzelda]

If only the price could remain at MSRP, this would be a great card, but sadly AMD doesn't seem to be able to follow through with their own pricing.

 

[daffy duck]

Given it's a replacement for the pathetic 7600XT it's a good uplift especially in RTing,

Anyway roll on the 9080XT.

Not a bad little card, most of the time it's barely above a 3070 but occasionally it's not too far behind a 4070. Hopefully it sticks close to MSRP

18 game average shows the 9060XT beating 3070 by 25% @1440p so barely above is pretty ludicrous statement. Given it's a replacement for the tier below the xx70 series, you should compare 3070 to the 9070.

 

[hahahanoobs]

- More like the AMD card will inflate in price to match the Nvidia card, instead of the other way around.

I think NV has some bad word of mouth while AMD got some good word of mouth this gen, combined with poor inventory early on, and low info folks are more open to buying AMD on the positive initial reviews.

Just goes to show how important first impressions are, and why fake MSRPs work as well as they do.

Radeon is a pawn used to get to Nvidia. It's always been like this. Radeon holds no power. One card isn't going to topple any part of NVidia. Jensen could release another "GTX 970" whenever he wanted and Radeon couldn't do a thing about it. Radeon is NO threat. Forever the budget brand?

50 series cards at MSRP is what the majority wants.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Radeon is a pawn used to get to Nvidia. It's always been like this. Radeon holds no power. One card isn't going to topple any part of NVidia. Jensen could release another "GTX 970" whenever he wanted and Radeon couldn't do a thing about it. Radeon is NO threat. Forever the budget brand?

50 series cards at MSRP is what the majority wants.

-Yeah, right now people are more mad that AMD is rising to Nvidia's price instead of making the Nvidia cards they actually want to buy cheaper.

Literally complaining that AMD has a "faker" MSRP.

 

[takaozo]

50 series cards at MSRP is what the majority wants.

I do not know what majority wants, but me I want a 16GB 256bit and less than 300W 3 fans card with a street price $500-600 that has at least 50% more perf than current 3070.

Oh wait there is that card it's the RX9070XT but the price it's $900-1000...

As for this card it has it's market I'm sure, but not for me.