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ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 8GB GDDR7RTX5060|8GB|OC11.9 x 5.3 x 2.4 inches2.5 PoundsCheck on Amazon
If you can find a healthy used RX 6800 XT for roughly what a new RTX 5060 costs and your power supply can handle a 300 W card, buy the RX 6800 XT. It’s faster in rasterized games, roughly 15–30% ahead at 1440p in most data sets, and its 16 GB of VRAM avoids the 8 GB problems that hold the RTX 5060 back in new releases. Choose the RTX 5060 if you need a low-power, compact card with a warranty, want DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, or play mostly esports titles at 1080p where 8 GB is not a limit.
These cards often end up in the same shopping comparison because a used 6800 XT, AMD’s $649 upper-tier card from 2020, now costs about the same as NVIDIA’s current $299 entry card. Here’s how they compare across speed, memory, features and power.
GIGABYTE AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT Gaming OC 16G Graphics Card, 16GB of GDDR6 Memory, Powered by AMD RDNA 2, HDMI 2.1, WINDFORCE 3X Cooling System, GV-R68XTGAMING OC-16GD (Renewed)
Chosen because it specifies 16GB of GDDR6 Memory and Powered by AMD RDNA 2.
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PowerColor AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT Gaming Graphics Card with 16GB GDDR6, Raytracing, PCIe 4.0, HDMI 2.1, AMD Infinity Cache (Renewed)
Chosen because it specifies Raytracing and PCIe 4.0.
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ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5060 8GB GDDR7 Gaming Graphics Card | PCIe 5.0, HDMI/DP 2.1, 2.5-slot, Axial-tech Fans, Dual BIOS
Chosen because it specifies PCIe 5.0 and HDMI/DP 2.1.
View on AmazonASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 8GB GDDR7 OC Edition Gaming Graphics Card | PCIe 5.0, HDMI/DP 2.1, 3.1-slot, Military-grade Components, Protective PCB Coating, Axial-tech Fans
Chosen because it specifies PCIe 5.0 and HDMI/DP 2.1.
View on AmazonSpec Comparison
| Specification | Radeon RX 6800 XT | GeForce RTX 5060 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | RDNA 2.0 | Blackwell 2.0 |
| Release date | 28 October 2020 | 19 May 2025 |
| Launch MSRP | $649 | $299 |
| Shaders / CUDA cores | 4608 | 3840 |
| Boost clock | 2250 MHz | 2497 MHz |
| Process | 7 nm | 5 nm |
| TDP | 300 W | 145 W |
| Memory | 16 GB GDDR6 | 8 GB GDDR7 |
| Bus / bandwidth | 256-bit / 512.0 GB/s | 128-bit / 448.0 GB/s |
| Cache | 4 MB L2 + 128 MB Infinity Cache | 32 MB L2 |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 5.0 x8 |
| Power connectors | 2x 8-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Length / width | 267 mm, 2-slot | 241 mm, 2-slot |
| Outputs | 1x HDMI, 2x DP, 1x USB Type-C | 1x HDMI 2.1b, 3x DP 2.1b |
Rasterization: The Older Card Wins
Hardware Unboxed’s RTX 5060 review found the card matching the RTX 4060 Ti and RTX 3070 across 18 games, about 22% faster than the RTX 4060 and about 6% behind the RX 7700 XT. The RX 6800 XT has consistently charted above the RX 7700 XT in reviews from that outlet and from TechPowerUp. Putting those results together, the 6800 XT is about 15–30% faster than the RTX 5060 at 1440p in rasterized games. Large aggregated benchmark databases agree. One tracking nearly 150 games puts the gap at about 15% on average at 1440p, while others report wider gaps in newer, heavier titles.
The gap is uneven from game to game. In esports games and older titles the RTX 5060 sometimes matches or beats the 6800 XT, because its newer architecture and high clocks help when the frame buffer isn’t stressed. In memory-heavy 2025–2026 games at 1440p ultra, the 5060’s 8 GB fills up and its frame rates and 1% lows drop sharply, while the 6800 XT holds steady. That’s where the most extreme gaps reported by benchmark databases come from.
Approximate frame-rate bands, which vary with settings, CPU and patch version:
- 1080p high, AAA: RX 6800 XT about 90–130 FPS; RTX 5060 about 75–110 FPS where VRAM isn’t exceeded.
- 1440p high, AAA: RX 6800 XT about 65–95 FPS; RTX 5060 about 50–75 FPS, sometimes far lower when 8 GB runs out.
- Esports at 1080p: both cards are typically CPU-limited and well above 200 FPS in lighter shooters.
Where the RTX 5060 Fights Back
Ray tracing
RDNA 2’s first-generation ray accelerators fall behind quickly when games stack multiple RT effects. In heavier ray-traced titles, the RTX 5060’s newer RT cores usually close the raster gap and often pull ahead, especially with DLSS enabled. In light RT games, such as those with RT shadows only, the 6800 XT’s raw speed often keeps it in front.
DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation
The RTX 5060 gets the full DLSS 4 suite: the transformer Super Resolution model, Ray Reconstruction, and Multi Frame Generation, which is exclusive to RTX 50-series cards and can multiply displayed frame rates in supported games. Frame generation adds some latency and works best from a base of about 50–60 FPS. It also uses extra VRAM, which is a real issue on an 8 GB card at 1440p.
The RX 6800 XT relies on FSR 3.1 upscaling and frame generation for now. AMD has announced that FSR 4.1, its ML upscaler, will reach RDNA 2 cards in early 2027. On RDNA 3, where it arrived in July 2026, TechPowerUp reported a noticeable performance cost compared with FSR 3.1, so expect the same trade-off on the 6800 XT once support arrives.
Efficiency and size
The RTX 5060 is rated at 145 W against 300 W for the 6800 XT, less than half the power for performance within reach of the older card at 1080p.
VRAM: 16 GB Versus 8 GB
This is the 6800 XT’s biggest structural advantage. Hardware Unboxed’s 8 GB vs 16 GB testing on current GPUs showed average frame-rate losses ranging from noticeable to severe once the buffer overflows, with 1% lows hit hardest. Some titles stuttered heavily or loaded low-resolution textures in place of the requested ones. A VRAM guide for these two cards:
| Use case | VRAM needed | RX 6800 XT | RTX 5060 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p medium/high, most games | 6–8 GB | Fine | Fine |
| 1080p ultra textures, new AAA | 8–10 GB | Fine | Borderline |
| 1440p high/ultra | 10–12 GB | Fine | Often short |
| 1440p + RT + frame gen | 12 GB+ | Fine (RT speed is the limit) | Short |
The RTX 5060’s PCIe 5.0 x8 link adds a further caveat. On an older PCIe 3.0 motherboard the link runs at about a quarter of its full bandwidth, so any VRAM overflow is penalized even more.
Power Supply Math and Case Fit
PSU sizing uses GPU TDP + CPU + roughly 150 W of headroom. With a 125 W gaming CPU:
- RX 6800 XT: 300 + 125 + 150 = 575 W, so use a quality 650–750 W unit with two separate 8-pin cables. Avoid using a single daisy-chained cable for both connectors.
- RTX 5060: 145 + 125 + 150 = 420 W, so a quality 450–550 W unit is plenty with one 8-pin.
If you’d need a new PSU for the 6800 XT, add that cost, usually $70–$120 for a decent 750 W unit, to the used card’s price before comparing. Running costs differ too. A 155 W gap over three hours of gaming a day works out to about 170 kWh a year, or roughly $29 a year at $0.17 per kWh.
Both cards are two-slot designs, and the reference lengths are 267 mm for the 6800 XT and 241 mm for the 5060. Many partner 6800 XT models are thicker than two slots and longer than reference, so check case clearance against the exact card. Compact single- and dual-fan RTX 5060 models suit small builds.
Cost per Frame at Today’s Prices
A used RX 6800 XT usually sells for $280–$350. The RTX 5060 launched at $299. Set the RTX 5060 at 100 points and the 6800 XT at about 120 for 1440p raster, the conservative-to-middle part of the range.
- RTX 5060 new at $299: about $2.99 per point.
- Used RX 6800 XT at $315: $315 / 120 = about $2.63 per point.
- Used RX 6800 XT + $90 PSU upgrade: $405 / 120 = about $3.38 per point.
The PSU decides the value question. If your current supply already handles 300 W cards, the 6800 XT is clearly the better value. If you’d need a new one, the RTX 5060 wins on total cost, though you’re still limited to 8 GB.
Buying a Used RX 6800 XT Safely
Ask how the card was used and avoid sellers who won’t say. Run a 15–20 minute stress test and watch the hotspot temperature. A gap of more than about 25°C over the edge temperature can point to degraded thermal paste. Check that both power connectors are clean and undamaged, and listen for fan bearing rattle. Reference designs and well-known partner coolers hold up best.
Quick Verdict by Buyer Type
| Buyer | Pick |
|---|---|
| 1440p gamer, 650 W+ PSU already installed | Used RX 6800 XT |
| 1080p esports, small case, 450–550 W PSU | RTX 5060 |
| Wants DLSS 4 and frame generation | RTX 5060 |
| Plays new AAA games with high textures | Used RX 6800 XT |
| Wants a warranty and no used-market risk | RTX 5060 |
| Older PCIe 3.0 motherboard | Used RX 6800 XT (full x16 link, 16 GB) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the RX 6800 XT better than the RTX 5060?
In rasterized gaming, yes. Combining Hardware Unboxed’s and TechPowerUp’s placements puts it roughly 15–30% ahead at 1440p, and its 16 GB of VRAM avoids stutter in memory-heavy games. The RTX 5060 is better in heavy ray tracing, power efficiency and upscaling features.
Does the RTX 5060 have enough VRAM for 1440p?
For many games at high settings it works, but a growing number of new releases exceed 8 GB at 1440p with high textures, especially with ray tracing or frame generation enabled. Expect to lower texture quality in those titles.
What size power supply does an RX 6800 XT need?
A quality 650 W unit is the minimum and 750 W is the comfortable choice. The card is rated at 300 W and uses two 8-pin connectors, ideally fed by separate cables from the PSU.
Will the RX 6800 XT get FSR 4?
AMD has announced FSR 4.1 upscaling for RDNA 2 cards, including the RX 6800 XT, with a target of early 2027. On older hardware it is expected to cost more performance than FSR 3.1 in exchange for better image quality.
Is the RTX 5060 good for esports?
Yes. In lighter competitive shooters at 1080p it usually runs well above 144 FPS, often limited by the CPU rather than the GPU, and 8 GB is rarely a constraint in those games. NVIDIA Reflex also helps reduce input latency in supported titles.
