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This RTX 5090 graphics card draws up to 800W and looks like a model from 2008
Game Reviews

This RTX 5090 graphics card draws up to 800W and looks like a model from 2008

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As well as a see-through 720Hz tandem OLED gaming monitor, Asus unveiled a retro-looking graphics card that draws up to 800W – a massive 200W jump over the most powerful RTX 5090 models and 215W over the base spec. A single 16-pin power cable maxes out at 600W, so the ROG Matrix uses both the proprietary BTF connector built into Asus motherboards and the regular 16-pin power input. That should make this the most powerful consumer graphics card in the world by a huge margin, and just how it’s been designed is fascinating.

In short, Asus wanted to pay homage to their past designs with a 30th anniversary edition that goes well beyond the standard “take your standard GPU and paint it differently” method of creating special models. That accounts for the unusual circular frame of the far end, which refers back to a card Asus launched in 2008, but inside there are also manufacturing and design elements from later models: 3mm copper PCBs, vapour chamber cooling, liquid metal, four fans and so on.

Image credit: Eurogamer

Perhaps most critically for the super-wealthy slash overclocking audience the limited edition card is intended for, there are sensors on every wire of each power input to ensure that none is drawing too much power – after all, with 800W on tap, this is effectively uncharted territory for a “stock” graphics card.

There’s even a sensor to check the angle of the card, alerting you if it’s starting to sag. Graphics card enthusiasts actually spotting the sensor in other high-end Asus models a while back, and now that functionality is actually going to be surface in Asus’ software.

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So with 33 percent extra power, you’re going to get 33 percent extra performance, right? RTX 5090 Ti, more or less! Well, no. Asus say that the graphics card only delivers around 10 percent higher frame-rates, even at a rated boost clock of 2730MHz – versus 2407MHz for a base 5090. It’s not clear if there are any memory clock upgrades on offer either, but the GDDR7 on Maxwell does tend to overclock without many difficulties.

Of course, an 800W rating far exceeds this generation’s power sweet spot – and presumably even with unlimited power, you’d still run into some serious issues keeping the die, tiny mainboard and VRAM/power components cool under an 800W load.

It does kind of suggest that this is about the maximum we could expect from a proper RTX 5090 Ti though, which is perhaps why Nvidia hasn’t shown any signs of releasing one.

Even if you do have deep pockets, expect the ROG Matrix 5090 to be a real challenge to find. Asus say that only 1000 units will be made, though you can enter the chance to win one on their Gamescom 2025 site. Pricing also hasn’t been announced, but presumably is well into the middle four figures given that a dead standard 5090 costs $2000 or more, even so many months after launch.

More numerous – and affordable – will be their special edition 5080 models, which include a Hatsune Miku edition (part of a distractingly large number of branded peripherals and components) and a Noctua edition with the Austrian firm’s famous fans.

Either way, I’m happy the Matrix 5090 exists, pushing out the state of the art to ludicrous excess. It’ll be fascinating to see what overclockers manage to accomplish with it – bring on the liquid nitrogen! – and the retro design really appeals. I just hope that this GPU doesn’t portend the arrival of a 800W-rated RTX 6090.

Disclosure: Asus provided flights and accommodation in Cologne for Gamescom.



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MxBenchmarkPC's - Unreal Engine 5.6 vs 5.4 Comparison
Product Reviews

Unreal Engine 5.6 up to 30% faster than the infamously bad version it succeeds — better graphics fidelity promised, too

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Unreal Engine 5.6 has been benchmarked, revealing up to an impressive 30% performance gain while boosting graphics fidelity over Unreal Engine 5.4, perhaps finally addressing many of the engine’s infamous stuttering issues. MxBenchmarkPC on YouTube showcased an Unreal Engine Paris tech demo running on an RTX 5080 and Core i7-14700F, comparing the 5.6 and 5.4 versions of the engine against each other at 1440p and 4K resolutions.

The YouTuber provided five runs featuring direct comparisons between engine versions, with several standalone runs mixed in. The first two runs involved moving benchmarks featuring a walk around the streets of Paris. The first run was benchmarked at 1440p, while the second was run at 720p to demonstrate a CPU-limited scenario.

Unreal Engine 5.6 vs Unreal Engine 5.4 Comparison – Significant Performance Improvement | RTX 5080 – YouTube

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In the first run, Unreal Engine 5.6 was 22% faster compared to version 5.4; additionally, CPU usage dropped by around 17% on average across all 16 threads (of the 14700F’s 8 P-cores) with version 5.6. The 720p run showed even greater gains for Unreal Engine 5.6, which outperformed version 5.4 by a whopping 30%. The last three runs (with direct comparisons of 5.6 vs. 5.4) involved static shots of different areas of the city. These three runs were anywhere between 15% to 22% faster on Unreal Engine 5.6 compared to version 5.4.


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The Paris demo also showcased improved environmental and object lighting in most scenes. Interior scenes are particularly darker with chairs and tables gaining extra shadowing in 5.6 over 5.4. The improved lighting fidelity gives the demo a more photorealistic look in version 5.6, while version 5.4 lighting looks more “gamified” by contrast.

Version 5.6’s massive improvement in performance can be attributed to several updates the devs made to the engine. Including offloading more tasks from the CPU to the GPU for workloads related to its Lumen global illumination system, and the introduction of the Fast Genometry plugin that improves open-world loading speeds. Unreal Engine 5.6 is primarily a performance-focused patch targeting 60 FPS with hardware ray tracing on the latest consoles, high-end PCs, and powerful mobile devices.

We have yet to see any games (beyond Fortnite, allegedly) taking advantage of Unreal Engine 5.6. But this new update provides the best opportunity yet for the engine to rid itself of its infamous stuttering issues plaguing many Unreal Engine 5 titles.



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Matrox LUMA Pro A380 Octal
Gaming Gear

Matrox launches dual-GPU graphics card with eight DisplayPort 2.0 outputs supporting four 8K or eight 5K screens at once

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  • Matrox returns with dual-GPU card built for synchronized multi-display setups
  • A380 Octal supports up to eight 5K screens and high-end audio
  • Quad version offers fewer outputs, less power, for simpler installations

One of Nvidia’s earliest rivals, Matrox was well known in the 1990s for its high-quality graphics cards.

Although it eventually moved away from the mainstream gaming market, the company has remained active in professional and multi-display environments, including supplying display systems for the Sphere, the massive music and entertainment venue just off the Las Vegas Strip.

Now, Matrox is preparing to release a new dual-GPU graphics card aimed at powering video walls and multi-display setups.


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Up to four 8K displays

The upcoming Matrox LUMA Pro A380 Octal features two Intel Arc A380E GPUs and eight Mini DisplayPort 2.0 outputs, allowing it to drive up to four 8K displays or eight 5K screens at once.

The A380 Octal is a single-slot PCIe 4.0 x16 card and includes 12GB of GDDR6 memory, with a 130W power requirement and active cooling.

Supported APIs include DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.3, and OpenCL 3.0, making it compatible with a wide range of professional software environments. Matrox’s PowerDesk software and its Mura Developer tools are also supported.

In terms of capabilities, the card can deliver high-definition video across eight synchronized displays, including support for HDR, VESA DSC compression, Adaptive Sync, and HDCP 2.3. The maximum bit depth reaches up to 36 bits per pixel. Users can also stream multi-channel high-definition audio through four digital outputs.

According to Matrox, two cards can be used in a single system and can be frame-locked for synchronized output.

A second model in the lineup, the A380 Quad, offers similar features with a single GPU, 6GB of memory, and four full-sized DisplayPort connectors instead of eight Mini DisplayPorts. The Quad model draws less power and is aimed at less demanding applications.

There’s no word on pricing or availability for either model. Matrox lists them only as “coming soon.”

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The AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT graphics card on a red gradient background
Product Reviews

A new report indicates Intel’s latest Battlemage GPUs are a total failure and AMD’s gaming graphics market share fell to just 8% but overall graphics cards sales are up

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AMD’s share of the add-in graphics card market fell to a fairly pitiful 8% in the first quarter of 2025 according to Jon Peddie Research (JPR), a specialist in tracking PC hardware sales. Meanwhile, JPR puts Intel’s graphics market share at essentially zero, with Nvidia hoovering up the remaining 92%. Ouch.

Before we all escalate the threat level to PC gaming to DEFCON 1 and panic, it should be noted that JPR’s figures cover the period up to the end of March. AMD’s new Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT were only released on March 6. So, that’s only three and a bit weeks of RDNA 4 sales in the figures.

In other words, we’ll have to wait for the Q2 numbers to get a full picture of how much impact AMD’s new GPUs have had. Indeed, we’ll arguably have to wait even longer than that, since it’s the RX 9060 XT, which only went on sale yesterday, that’s meant to be the real volume play for AMD and that won’t have a substantial impact on market share figures until the Q3 data is out.


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Overall, GPU sales were up 8.5% in Q1 2025 compared to Q4 2024. JPR says that Q1 is usually flat or down compared to the previous quarter, but that, “In Q1’25, AMD and Nvidia introduced new AIBs, which stimulated the market.”

If we’ll have to wait a little longer to see how the RX 9070 and 9060 GPUs fare for AMD, the verdict on Intel’s Arc B570 and B580 GPUs is surely in and it not good news, not good news at all.

The blip that was 1% Intel market share has vanished from the latest GPU sales figures. (Image credit: JPR)

JPR reckons Intel’s market share fell by 1.2% in the latest quarter, essentially putting it on 0% and not appearing in the data for Q1 2025. If there was already doubt over Intel’s commitment to the add-in graphics card market, this apparent total failure of Intel’s second-gen Battlemage generation of GPUs is extremely troubling.

Battlemage GPUs went on sale at the end of 2024. So, in theory Q1 2025 was a full quarter for sales of Intel’s latest graphics hardware. Obviously sales of the B570 and B580 haven’t actually been zero. But if JPR is to be believed, the volumes are so small as to effectively push Intel out of its data.

If even half a percent of sales were going to Intel, JPR would no doubt have included that in its data. So, we’re talking less than one in 200 GPUs sales being Intel cards, and quite possibly an order of magnitude or more worse than that.

It really is a grim outlook for Intel graphics and puts rumours of more powerful Battlemage GPUs into context. With sales this low, is it remotely realistic to expect Intel to wheel out that purported Nvidia RTX 4070 / 5070 killer? It doesn’t seem terribly plausible in the light of this latest data.

Still, the numbers we’re really looking forward to will be Q3 2025, when both of AMD’s new RDNA 4 GPUs will have had at least a full quarter on sale. That data probably won’t be out until the end of the year. So, check back in December and cross all your fingers and toes until then.



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Self-destructing graphics cards: Why are power connectors melting, and what can you do about it?
Product Reviews

Self-destructing graphics cards: Why are power connectors melting, and what can you do about it?

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If you own a recent graphics card, perhaps one of the best graphics cards, with a 12VHPWR or the latest 12V-2×6 power connector, you’re probably aware of the many stories of these plugs melting. You may be wondering what you can do to protect your own GPU from an expensive failure.

(Image credit: ASUS)

Unfortunately, because of design choices baked into this connector standard and the way it’s implemented on graphics cards, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to guarantee that your GPU is 100% safe from becoming a melted mess. We dug into why this is happening to help you understand your exposure to this risk and some steps you can take to keep your card safer.

The primary reasons for this persistent risk of failure are related to design choices outside of our control. The biggest issue, of course, is that the total rated power draw of today’s highest-end graphics cards, like the GeForce RTX 5090, has climbed right up to the 600W limit of what the 12V-2×6 connector is rated to carry for extended periods.


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According to this analysis, each pin in the 12V-2×6 connector is operating with a minimal safety factor when carrying that much current. If anything does go wrong in a PC’s power delivery path when an RTX 4090 or RTX 5090 is running all-out, the low safety factor of this connector at its limits means that any one wire in the cable is more likely to end up carrying more current than it’s rated for or even physically able to, and that means a greater risk of catastrophic failure like overheating, melting, or fire, which would destroy your graphics card.

In contrast, the six- and eight-pin PCIe connectors we’ve used for years offer such large safety factors that it would be extremely difficult to create a situation where one would be at risk of melting down. Indeed, I can’t recall a single instance where one of these older connectors suffered a failure due to an overload in typical use.

Less power-hungry cards like the RTX 4080, RTX 5080, and below either have board power ratings well within the 600W maximum of the 12V-2×6 connector, or they use the older six-pin or eight-pin connectors. Simply due to their lower power draw, these cards are less likely to experience catastrophic failures.

(Image credit: u/ivan6953 / Reddit)

Beyond the physical limits of the connector itself, the power-delivery designs of graphics cards have also changed in a way that can decrease safety. As explained by extreme overclocker and power-delivery guru Buildzoid, graphics card board designs have been simplified over time to reduce cost and complexity, but those same changes have removed the ability for a graphics card to actively balance its current draw in order to maintain safe operation in the event of a failure.

Because recent graphics cards that use this connector, like the RTX 4090 and RTX 5090, are only aware of the state of the overall 12V signal rather than including circuitry that monitors and rebalances the current on each 12V pin, a failed cable or poor contact on this connector won’t be detected or mitigated by the graphics card. That coarse monitoring and management is by design, and it’s not something you can fix.

The 12V-2×6 connector on the Sapphire Nitro RX 9070 XT graphics card (Image credit: Sapphire)

It’s rare to see the 12V-2×6 connector on AMD graphics cards, but it has been used on designs like the Sapphire RX 9070 XT Nitro+. Buildzoid notes that Sapphire’s 12V-2×6 implementation lacks any kind of current balancing or monitoring circuitry, just as we see on some RTX 40-series and RTX 50-series board designs. This RX 9070 XT only comes rated for 330W of total board power, though, so a catastrophic failure at the power connector or its cabling is less likely.

Not every graphics card today is built with such coarse power monitoring. We found that ASUS’ ROG Astral RTX 5090 32GB cards do mitigate these risks to some degree by implementing a more sophisticated monitoring circuit at the power connector. If you’re using Asus’ GPU Tweak software, this circuitry will warn you if it detects an imbalance so you can check the connection. Even so, Buildzoid warns that circuit design can only alert the user that a current imbalance exists, not actively rebalance load across the individual pins to avoid failures.

How to lower your risk of a melted cable or connector

If you’re purchasing a GPU with a total board power that approaches the 600W maximum sustained power that the 12V-2×6 connector is rated for, and that card also doesn’t implement a fine-grained current monitoring or balancing solution in its board design, there’s only so much you can do to protect your system and your card. There are a few common-sense steps you can take, though.

The first is to be aware of how much power your GPU will draw when choosing your components, and to plan accordingly. Make sure every part of your power delivery setup is properly rated and of the highest quality it can be.

Choose only a high-end, high-wattage power supply from a reputable vendor that’s more likely to include heavy-duty cabling, properly tuned overcurrent and overvoltage protections, and wattage ratings on the 12V rail or rails that are more likely to be trustworthy. It’s never wise to skimp on your power supply, but it would be especially foolish to cheap out when you’re looking at a top-end graphics card like an RTX 4090 or RTX 5090.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

If you’re thinking of carrying over a PSU from an older build or using the one in your existing system, you might also put that older unit on your shelf as a backup and buy a new one to go with your new graphics card. Power supply performance does degrade with age, and your older unit might not be able to deliver its rated performance any longer.

A new PSU that conforms to the latest ATX 3.0 or ATX 3.1 standards is also more likely to have been designed with the demands of the latest components in mind. Check out our list of the best PSUs to help you in your search.

When you build your PC or install a new graphics card in an existing system, take utmost care that you’re fully inserting the power connector at both ends. Be extra careful with your cable routing to ensure that neither end of the cable is placed under any kind of strain that would result in poor contact.

(Image credit: Cooler Master)

Seasonic, for example, suggests that users not introduce any bends or strains in the 12V-2×6 cable any closer than 35mm from the connector. Given the massive size of many RTX 5090 graphics cards, you might find that you have less clearance between the side of the GPU and the side panel of your case than you expect, so be careful and measure clearance yourself.

If it’s not possible to avoid such strain at either end with your existing parts, you might consider a high-quality 90° cable that gives you more routing flexibility. You might even need to swap out your entire case for one with more clearance and a more accommodating cable-routing path. Check out our list of the best PC cases for suggestions.

Given that some investigations of this issue have shown changes in current balancing across individual supply wires after 12VHPWR or 12V2x6 cables are unplugged and then replugged, you could be extra cautious and perform only one mating and unmating cycle of this cable type at either end before discarding it and using another. If you do need to replace your cable, make sure that you’re purchasing a compatible replacement directly from your PSU’s manufacturer or that any third-party cable you purchase is from a reputable supplier.

(Image credit: Thermal Grizzly)

Finally, you might add a third-party hardware monitoring tool, like Thermal Grizzly’s Wireview Pro or the upcoming Wireview Pro 2, to your system. These tools give you fine-grained, in-depth monitoring capabilities on the 12V-2×6 connector, like current draw and temperature, on a per-pin basis.

If something does go wrong, these tools can sound an alarm to let you act before a catastrophic failure occurs. It’s worth noting that these tools add another potential point of failure in your power delivery path, remote as that risk may be. You can also take advantage of community-developed solutions that monitor connector temperatures and warn of overheating.

To banish this risk forever, it appears that the industry heavyweights that comprise the PCI Special Interest Group (or PCI-SIG) are going to have to create an even more robust version of the 12V-2×6 specification with a higher safety factor than the spec includes today. We look forward to the day when PC builders won’t have to worry about the risk of melting connectors or overheating wires when they fire up a game on a high-end GPU. Until then, if you have one of these connectors on your graphics card, it’s worth being extra cautious with your PC’s power delivery setup, all the way from the PSU to its cabling to the GPU.



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Sapphire RX 9060 XT graphics cards
Gaming Gear

AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT graphics card roundup: Every announced card from every AIB partner

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The RX 9060 XT launches on June 5th but that has not stopped AMD’s partners from showing off their respective versions beforehand. Asus, Sapphire, XFX, ASRock and Gigabyte have released listings of 8GB and 16GB versions of the RX 9060 XT boasting triple-fan and dual-fan cooling solutions. We’ve put together a list of all partner models from the aforementioned brands below.

AMD’s RX 9060 XT is its latest generation mid-range GPU, aimed at competing against GPUs like the all-new RTX 5060. The new GPU boasts 2,048 shader cores, 32 CUs, a 128-bit interface, and runs on AMD’s latest RDNA 4 architecture. Essentially, the RX 9060 XT is an RX 9070 XT that has been cut in half.

AMD is offering two memory capacities for the RX 9060 XT, 8GB and 16GB, with the 8GB variant featuring a 10W lower power rating than the 16GB model (at least for the reference specs). AMD claims the 8GB variant will be “good enough” for 1080p gamers, while the 16GB counterpart is geared towards higher resolutions.


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MSRP for the 8GB model is $299, and the 16GB model $349. Of course, AIB partner model pricing will vary and be more expensive than MSRP, depending on the model.

Sapphire

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(Image credit: Sapphire)(Image credit: Sapphire)(Image credit: Sapphire)(Image credit: Sapphire)(Image credit: Sapphire)

Sapphire — one of the most recognized AMD partners, has four RX 9060 XT models in its arsenal consisting of one Nitro+ variant, one Pure variant and two Pulse models.

The Nitro+ model is Sapphire’s flagship version of the RX 9060 XT, available exclusively in 16GB capacity. It is one of the most exotic 9060 XT cards featuring a fat triple-slot cooler design with a massive grille on the side that serves both aesthetical appeal and functionality. The side area is so large that Sapphire was able to fit a RGB bar on the bottom, while providing more than enough room for air to travel out the side simultaneously.

The Nitro+ variant comes with a variety of features including fuse protection, fan quick disconnects (for easy fan replacements), an internal ARGB header, and FrameDefense; a special architecture that provides improved graphics card durability and rigidity. The Nitro+ model also comes with a Honeywell PTM7950 thermal pad instead of thermal paste, allowing the card to function for years without the effects of thermal paste degradation (or “pump out”).

One feature that is missing from the RX 9060 XT variant is a hidden 12V-2×6 power connector; a feature that the RX 9070 series counterparts came with. Instead, Sapphire opted to put the RX 9060 XT’s 8-pin power connector on the side where it normally sits on most graphics cards

The Pure variant is technically Sapphire’s mid-range offering, featuring a white finish and a dual-fan cooler design, though in the RX 9060 XT’s case, it is essentially a white version of the Pulse model.

The Pulse models are Sapphire’s entry-level solutions featuring a black finish with red accents. Both the Pure and Pulse models share many of the Nitro+’s features including the Honeywell PTM7950 thermal pad and FrameDefense. The main advantage of the Pure and Pulse models are their smaller 2.3 slot form factor and shorter footprint afforded to them by their more compact dual-fan cooler designs.

XFX

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(Image credit: XFX)(Image credit: XFX)(Image credit: XFX)(Image credit: XFX)(Image credit: XFX)

Contrary to Gigabyte, XFX has a plethora of RX 9060 XT models with a whopping 12 models in total comprised of triple-fan and dual-fan cooler options in both 8GB and 16GB trims. In typical XFX fashion, the AIB partner barely shows any features of their GPUs beyond core specs.

The Mercury class is XFX’s flagship lineup, consisting of two identical 16GB triple-fan models (with the only difference noticeable being each card’s physical model name). The Mercy cards sport an aggressive-looking triple-fan design with a sharp angular shroud and a silver color scheme.

The Swift class represents XFX’s mainstream lineup of RX 9060 XT graphics cards, including triple and dual fan cooler options. The triple fan options are comprised of five models, three featuring 16GB trims and the other 8GB trims. Out of the five models, two are white and four are black. The triple-fan cards come with a boxy shroud with either a pure white or pure black color scheme, along with an XFX logo on the right side that is illuminated.

The dual-fan options are comprised of five models as well, with four black models, and two white models. Three of the cards are 8GB variants while the other two are 16GB. These smaller cards carry on the same aesthetic and shroud design as their triple-fan counterparts but forgo illumination on the XFX logo on the side.

Despite having an impressive number of variants, none are factory overclocked.

Asus

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(Image credit: Asus)(Image credit: Asus)(Image credit: Asus)

Asus is providing four versions of the RX 9060 XT: one Dual model, two Prime variants, and a single TUF Gaming SKU. Memory capacities are split based on model hierarchy; the Dual gets the 8GB RX 9060 XT trim, the Prime lineup gets both 8GB and 16GB trims, and the TUF Gaming gets the 16GB version.

The TUF Gaming card represents Asus’ flagship graphics card for the RX 9060 XT series, featuring a rugged militaristic design with aggressive edges, and a gunmetal color theme with silver accents. The card is a 2.5-slot design, featuring a triple-fan cooling solution with “Military-Grade Components” such as TUF-branded chokes and MOSFETS.

The Prime cards feature the same 2.5-slot form factor and a similar triple-fan cooler design as the TUF Gaming model. Most notably, the card’s aesthetic is radically different, boasting a less aggressive black finish with a very round shroud on the edges. The Prime models boast a look that works in both non-gaming and gaming-focused builds.

The Dual model represents Asus’ entry-level and only dual-fan cooling solution for its RX 9060 XT graphics card lineup. The card has the same 2.5 slot design as its triple-fan counterparts but is much shorter thanks to its dual-fan cooler design. The card boasts a stealthy black color scheme and no RGB lighting.

Gigabyte

(Image credit: Gigabyte)

Gigabyte is only offering one RX 9060 XT model at this time, that being a RX 9060 XT Gaming sporting a triple-fan cooler design. Gigabyte is offering four versions of this specific model, an 8GB SKU, 16GB SKU and factory overclocked versions of both.

With other GPUs, Gigabyte’s Gaming series represents its mid-range solution usually sandwiched between the Windforce and Eagle series below and the Aorus series above. The cooler is comprised of a triple-fan cooling solution with composite copper heat pipes and a copper plate connecting the GPU, VRAM and heatsink together. Power delivery is comprised of lower RDS(on) MOSFETs and ESR solid capacitors.

The card also uses Gigabyte’s “server-grade” thermal conductive gel that has been prone to leaking in the past, but does not affect reliability (the issue has also since been allegedly solved by Gigabyte). The exterior is largely minimalistic sporting a rugged-esque grey finish with minimal RGB lighting.

We have not heard if Gigabyte will be releasing other variants of the RX 9060 XT, but at least for now, the Gaming cards will be its sole RX 9060 XT model.

ASRock

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(Image credit: ASRock)(Image credit: ASRock)

ASRock has two RX 9060 XT models in total, a Steel Legend variant, which features a white triple-fan cooler design, and a Challenger model, which is its budget-friendly dual-fan scounterpart. All of ASRock’s RX 9060 XT GPUs are factory overclocked.

The Steel Legend currently serves as ASRock’s flagship model featuring two sub-models, an 8GB model and a 16GB model. The card comes with the Steel Legend’s traditional white color scheme with a white shroud accompanied by RGB illuminated fans and grey accents.

Cooling is comprised of a nickel-plated copper base and ultra-fit heat pipes sandwiched very close to each other near the contact point to maximize thermal efficiency. The card also uses high-density metal welding, which allegedly improves heat dissipation. Power delivery is comprised of a Dr. MOS integrated power stage solution and premium power chokes.

Similar to the Nitro+, the Steel Legend comes with an ARGB header internally, enabling the GPU to control dedicated ARGB equipment. This feature is particuarly useful on older motherboards that lack ARGB headers altogether.

The Challeger represents ASRock’s budget-friendly solution, and is the smallest of the two GPUs sporting a dual-fan cooler design. The card comes in a black finish with minimal RGB lighting and some grey accents for extra flair.

The card features the same high-density metal welding and ultra-fit heatpipes as the Steel Legend but trimmed down in a more compact cooling solution. Power delivery is comprised of a Dr.MOS power stages solution and premium 90A power chokes.



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AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT
Product Reviews

RX 9060 XT 16GB graphics cards with faster clocks than 8GB models appear to be in development

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It appears that memory will not be the only differentiator between AMD’s RX 9060 XT 16GB and 8GB GPUs. According to VideoCardz, PowerColor is preparing certain RX 9060 XT models, where the 16GB variant features slightly higher clock speeds than its 8GB counterpart. While we checked models from other AIBs, most have not yet listed their frequencies, so we will likely need to wait until the embargo lifts to confirm wider adoption of this strategy.

AMD introduced the RX 9060 XT family of budget GPUs at Computex last month. Much like the RTX 5060 Ti family, AMD has segmented these GPUs into 8GB ($299) and 16GB ($349) models. Both GPUs are powered by the same Navi 48 core, with 2,048 Stream Processors or 32 Compute Units, with an advertised boost clock of 3.13 GHz. The GPUs are set to launch on June 5, with the review embargo likely lifting a day earlier, as typically seen.

Based on data secured by VideoCardz, PowerColor is preparing seven RX 9060 XT models across its Reaper and Hellhound designations. Specifically, the Reaper family shows the RX 9060 XT 16GB model with a 3.23 GHz boost clock and a 2.62 GHz game clock, compared to the 8GB model’s 3.13 GHz boost and 2.53 GHz game clock. This 2-3% frequency delta, though minor, indicates that Reaper-based 8GB models will stick to reference clocks, rather than receiving a factory-overclocked boost like their 16GB siblings.


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We don’t anticipate a huge performance difference, but this could be a wider trend, as VideoCardz also spotted similar product differentiation from Yeston. That being said, PowerColor’s Hellhound line is reported to equip both RX 9060 XT models with similar clock speeds (3.31 GHz Boost, 2.74 GHz Game), suggesting this practice will likely not be universal.

While both models employ the same silicon, factory overclocking requires further validation and testing, translating to increased costs for board partners. This is because every GPU needs to be vetted thoroughly to ensure no stability issues arise when these cards end up in the hands of consumers. A lot of these 8GB cards are probably earmarked for eSports cafés in the Asian market, which purchase GPUs in bulk. This can explain why AIBs are favoring reference clock speeds, for better operational stability and cost-effectiveness on their end.

Another plausible explanation may be that consumer demand or tight margins simply do not provide enough incentive to overclock a model, whose compute power is already bound by its VRAM capacity. You can always overclock your GPU manually for better performance. These factory-overclocked cards simply provide a slight boost to save you the effort.

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AMD's New RX 9060 XT Graphics Card Will Launch In 8GB And 16GB VRAM Versions
Game Updates

AMD’s New RX 9060 XT Graphics Card Will Launch In 8GB And 16GB VRAM Versions

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AMD announced its latest graphics card, the Radeon RX 9060 X, at Computex 2025 earlier this week. This is the third GPU in AMD’s 9000 series lineup that also includes the RX 9070 and 9070 XT, and its slated to launch June 5. While it’s positioned as the entry-level option in the RX 9000 series, the RX 9060 XT runs on the same RNDA 4 architecture as the more powerful RX 9070 and 9070 XT and includes FSR 4 resolution upscaling and frame generation, as well as DisplayPort 2.1a and HDMI 2.1b support.

AMD is producing two versions of the RX 9060 XT: one with 8GB VRAM and another with 16GB VRAM. Both models will feature 32 RDNA 4 CUs (computation units), up to 3.13GHz clock speed, and between 150W and 182W power draw, depending on the model’s VRAM and clock speed. While those are solid specs for an entry-level card, things get a bit more confusing from there.

Power and pricing

AMD lists the MSRP as $300 for the 8GB model and $350 for the 16GB model. However, the company is not releasing RX 9060 XT reference cards itself. Instead, third-party manufacturers like Asus, Acer, Gigabyte, and others are launching their own versions of the RX 9060 XT starting June 5. As such, performance, power draw, and pricing will likely differ between the various RX 9060 XT models (especially for overclocked models), but at least some of these GPUs will stick to the reference clock speeds and therefore MSRP (assuming the ongoing tariffs do not impact those prices).

Asus is launching three RX 9060 XT models

As for performance, the RX 9060 XT 16GB is positioned as the replacement for AMD’s RX 7600 XT as its flagship entry-level GPU, making it the primary competitor to Nvidia’s $300 GeForce RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti (which costs either $380 for the 8GB version or $429 for the 16GB version). According to AMD’s Computex 2025 presentation, the company’s internal testing found the RX 9060 XT is roughly six percent faster than the RTX 5060 Ti on 40 games running at 1440p–and at roughly $80 MSRP cheaper. However, those tests compare the RX 9060 XT 16GB to the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB, rather than the RTX 5060 16GB. The RX 9060 8GB model’s performance is a bigger question, as the smaller amount of VRAM could lead to significant performance dips.

On X (formerly Twitter), AMD’s Chief Architect of Gaming Solutions and Gaming Marketing, Frank Azor, explained that most players use a 1080p display, for which 8GB of VRAM is more than enough. While technically true, it doesn’t alleviate the concerns over confusing consumers who may see the above comparisons of the RX 9060 XT 16GB’s 6% performance boost over the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB and assume that applies to all RX 9060 XT models. And again, the actual performance will likely differ between the various SKUs launching June 5, which could further compound the issue.

Majority of gamers are still playing at 1080p and have no use for more than 8GB of memory. Most played games WW are mostly esports games. We wouldn’t build it if there wasn’t a market for it. If 8GB isn’t right for you then there’s 16GB. Same GPU, no compromise, just memory…

— Frank Azor (@AzorFrank) May 22, 2025

Where to find the AMD RX 9060 XT

Those potential concerns and unanswered questions aside, the RX 9060 XT nevertheless looks like a solid entry-level choice for those already invested in AMD’s hardware. As mentioned above, multiple manufacturers are releasing RX 9060 XT GPUs starting June 5, and while none are currently listed for preorder, you can learn more about the models announced from Asus, Acer, and Gigabyte, at each company’s online store. Other brands like PowerColor also showed off upcoming RX 9060 XT GPUs on the Computex 2025 show floor. We’ll be sure to update this post once the GPUs are available.





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4 graphics cards you should consider instead of the RTX 5060
Product Reviews

4 graphics cards you should consider instead of the RTX 5060

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Nvidia’s RTX 5060 is finally here, and many people hoped it’d put up a fight against some of the best graphics cards. Does it really, though? Reviewers are split on the matter. Alas, I’m not here to judge the card. I’m here to show you some alternatives.

While Nvidia’s xx60 cards typically become some of the most popular GPUs of any given generation, they’re not the only option you have right now. The RTX 5060 might not even be the best option at that price point. Below, I’ll walk you through four GPUs that I think you should buy instead of the RTX 5060.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060

Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

I’m not sure whether this will come as a surprise or not, but based on current pricing and benchmarks, the GPU I recommend buying instead of the RTX 5060 is its last-gen equivalent.

The RTX 4060 is one of the last RTX 40-series graphics cards that are still readily available around MSRP. I found one for $329 at Newegg, and it’s an overclocked model, meaning slightly faster performance than the base version. However, you might as well just buy a used RTX 4060 if you find it from a trustworthy source, as that’ll cost you a whole lot less.

The RTX 5060 and the RTX 4060 have a lot in common. Spec-wise, they’re not at all far apart, although Nvidia’s newer Blackwell architecture and the switch to GDDR7 VRAM give the newer GPU a bit more oomph. But, unfortunately, both cards share the same 8GB RAM — an increasingly small amount in today’s gaming world — and the same narrow 128-bit bus.

Some reviewers note that the RTX 5060 isn’t far ahead of the RTX 4060 in raw performance. The newer card gets the full benefit of Nvidia’s Multi-Frame Generation, though. Overall, they’re pretty comparable, but if you can score a used RTX 4060 for cheap, I’d go for it.

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

Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

I wasn’t a big fan of the RX 7600 XT 16GB upon launch, and I still have some beef with that card. Much like Nvidia’s options, AMD equipped its mainstream GPU with a really narrow memory interface, stifling the bandwidth and holding back its performance. Still, in the current climate, I’ll take that 16GB with the 128-bit bus over a card that has the same interface and only sports 8GB VRAM.

The cheapest RX 7600 XT 16GB costs around $360, and you can find it on the shelves with ease. But it’s the same scenario here — if you can find it used from a trustworthy source, it might be worth it, assuming you’re on a tight budget. The state of the GPU market as of late has made me appreciate second-hand GPUs a lot more.

The RX 7600 XT is slower than the RTX 5060, and it’ll fall behind in ray tracing, but it gives you plenty of RAM where Nvidia’s card offers very little. That alone makes it worthy of your consideration.

AMD’s upcoming RX 9060 XT could be a great option here, too. I expect it to offer better ray tracing capabilities than the RX 7600 XT, and it’ll have the same $300 price tag as Nvidia’s RTX 5060.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB

Gigabyte

If your budget is a little bit flexible, you could go one level up and get the RTX 5060 Ti with 16GB of RAM. Unfortunately, the cheapest options are at around $479 right now, which is well over the MSRP and a whopping $180 more than the RTX 5060. However, for that price, you’ll get yourself a GPU that’s better suited to stand the test of time.

With 16GB of video memory and the full benefit of GDDR7 RAM, the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB offers an upgrade over the last-gen version. It’s not perfect by any stretch, though. Reviewers put the GPU below the RX 9070 non-XT, the RTX 5070, and even the RTX 4070 when you consider pure rasterization. This means no so-called “fake frames,” which is what Nvidia’s DLSS 4 delivers.

That leaves the RTX 5060 Ti in an odd spot. Basically, if your budget can stretch to it, the RX 9070 and the RTX 5070 are both better cards; they’re also a lot more expensive.

Intel Arc B580

Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

Less demanding gamers might find an option in Intel’s Arc B580. Upon launch, the GPU surprised pretty much everyone with its excellent performance-per-dollar ratio. The downside? That ratio is now a lot less impressive, because unexpected demand and low stock levels brought the price of the Arc B580 far above its $250 recommended list price (MSRP).

The Arc B580 is a little bit slower than the RTX 4060 Ti, so it’ll be slower than the RTX 5060, too. It also can’t put up a fight as far as ray tracing goes. But it’s a budget-friendly GPU and a solid alternative to the RTX 5060 if you’d rather pick up something else this time around.

My advice? Wait it out

Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

It’s not a great time to buy a GPU.

The more successful and impressive cards from this generation, such as AMD’s RX 9070 XT or Nvidia’s RTX 5070 Ti, keep selling above MSRP. Those that aren’t quite as exciting may stick around MSRP (which is where the RTX 5060 sits right now, mere days after launch) … but that doesn’t make up for their shortcomings.

Given the fact that reviews of the RTX 5060 are still pretty scarce, I’d wait it out for a week or two. Read some comparisons, check out the prices, and then decide. Gambling on a GPU just because the previous generations were solid doesn’t work anymore, and that’s now clearer than ever.





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