Santa Clara, CA – May 15, 2025 – Nvidia has officially unveiled its highly anticipated GeForce RTX 5060 desktop and laptop GPUs, marking the debut of its new GB206 architecture aimed at budget-conscious gamers. Priced at an aggressive $300 for the desktop variant, the RTX 5060 promises significant generational leaps in ray tracing and AI-powered performance. However, the launch has been marred by criticism from reviewers, who claim Nvidia failed to provide testing drivers ahead of today’s announcement, leaving key performance claims unverified.
The GB206 Architecture: Efficiency Meets Affordability
The RTX 5060 leverages Nvidia’s latest GB206 GPU die, fabricated on an enhanced 4nm process. The company touts a 40% improvement in power efficiency over the prior RTX 4060, alongside 20% faster rasterization and 35% gains in ray-traced workloads. Features like DLSS 4.0 and upgraded AV1 encoding are also included, targeting 1440p gaming at ultra settings.
“The RTX 5060 redefines what’s possible in the mainstream segment,” said Nvidia spokesperson Jenna Howard. “With GB206, we’re delivering flagship-tier technologies at a price that empowers every gamer.”
Laptop GPUs Leak Early, OEMs Ready Refresh
The RTX 5060 laptop GPU, which shares the GB206 architecture, had already surfaced in leaks last month. A now-viral report from GSM Arena revealed specifications pointing to a 100W TDP and 30% faster performance-per-watt compared to the RTX 4060 mobile. Major OEMs quickly followed with announcements:
- Acer unveiled its redesigned Predator Helios Neo 16, boasting a slimmer chassis and a 240Hz Mini-LED display. Details here.
- ASUS refreshed its TUF Gaming F16 line, pairing the RTX 5060 with AMD’s Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU. Check out the specs.
Reviewers Slam Nvidia’s “Blind Launch”
Despite the fanfare, hardware critics are raising alarms. Multiple outlets confirmed they received no pre-launch drivers or samples, leaving benchmarks and performance analysis impossible. “We’re being asked to take Nvidia’s word at face value,” said TechHarbor’s lead reviewer, Mark Tan. “Given the RTX 4060’s mixed reception, transparency is critical.”
Industry analysts speculate the delay stems from last-minute driver optimizations, but skepticism lingers. “If Nvidia is confident, why withhold drivers?” questioned Canalys analyst Leila Chen. “This risks eroding trust in a fiercely competitive market.”
Pricing and Availability
The RTX 5060 desktop GPU arrives May 30, with custom models from ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte starting at 1,199 to $1,599.
For gamers eager to pre-order the Founders Edition, Nvidia’s Amazon storefront is now accepting reservations.
The Bottom Line
While the RTX 5060’s specs and pricing position it as a compelling option, the lack of reviewer access casts a shadow. With AMD’s RDNA 4-based RX 8600 looming and Intel’s Battlemage GPUs gaining traction, Nvidia’s driver misstep could prove costly. As one Reddit user quipped, “Show us the frames, not the fluff.”
Stay tuned for follow-up testing once drivers are released.
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