If you're on the hunt for a budget-friendly graphics card for 1080p gaming, the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti is your best bet. It's essential to opt for the 16GB variant rather than the 8GB model to ensure optimal performance. Currently, Amazon and Walmart offer the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB GPUs starting at $489.99. While this is higher than the initial launch price of $429.99 for a reference model, it's a reasonable markup compared to other RTX 50 series cards.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti GPU Starting From $489.99
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Windforce OC 16GB Graphics Card
$489.99 at Amazon
Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge OC Graphics Card
$489.99 at Amazon
MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Ventus 2X Plus Graphics Card
$489.99 at Walmart
Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB AMP Graphics Card
$499.99 at Amazon
MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Ventus 2X OC Plus Graphics Card
$499.99 at Walmart
The RTX 5060 Ti excels at 1080p gaming, offering a performance boost of about 20% over the RTX 4060 Ti and around 40% over the RTX 3060 Ti. It shines even brighter in games that support DLSS 4, pulling ahead significantly. If you're considering the RTX 5070, which starts at $609.99, the additional $120-$130 might not be justified for 1080p gaming unless you're chasing ultra-high frame rates. Always choose a 16GB model to avoid the performance bottlenecks that the 8GB versions face in newer, more demanding games and at higher resolutions like 1440p.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti GPU Review by Jacqueline Thomas
"The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti is an outstanding choice for 1080p gaming, even when compared to its predecessor. It handles nearly all games at maximum settings at this resolution. In cases where it struggles, such as with Assassin's Creed Shadows, simply dialing back the ray tracing can yield significant performance improvements. However, there's a critical point to consider: the 8GB version. While the 16GB model is highly recommended, particularly if you're upgrading from something older than the 3060 Ti, the 8GB version may struggle as games become more demanding. It's unfortunate that both versions share the same name, making the selection process for a 1080p graphics card more confusing."
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5070 Windforce OC GPU for $609.99
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5070 Windforce OC 12GB Graphics Card
$609.99 at Amazon
For those looking to game at higher resolutions like 1440p, the GeForce RTX 5070 is a step up. Amazon offers the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5070 Windforce OC 12GB Graphics Card exclusively for Amazon Prime members at $609.99, with free shipping and a voucher for the upcoming Doom: The Dark Ages game.
Compared to the last generation, the RTX 5070 performs similarly to the RTX 4070 Super, which was already an excellent card for 1440p gaming. The RTX 4070 Super launched at $599.99, only $10 less than this Gigabyte 5070 model. Although the raw performance improvement might be smaller than expected, the RTX 5070 excels in games that support DLSS 4 and multi-frame generation. It's also more future-proof, benefiting from ongoing driver optimizations.
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