Modern Gaming Hardware: AMD's RX 9060 XT GPUs Released in 2 Variants
Most gamers continue to game in 1080p resolution and find no need for more than 8GB of video memory, explains AMD's reasoning behind the RX 9060 XT's 8GB VRAM capacity.
Jump into the world of gaming with AMD's latest RX 9060 XT GPUs, boasting two memory configurations - 8GB and 16GB GDDR6. Frank Azor, AMD's Big Cheese, reveals that the 8GB edition is designed to cater to the majority of gamers who primarily play at 1080p.
For years, gamers and developers have voiced concerns about limited memory capacities in modern GPUs. Even at 1080p, AAA titles may overrun 8GB GPUs, as verified through professional testing with GPUs like the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB, despite their raw horsepower. The constrained framebuffer often forces compromises on graphical fidelity or resolution for a playable framerate.
Nvidia's RTX 5060 GPUs have been at the receiving end of this criticism, with the old RTX 3060 12GB outperforming them in some scenarios. Initially, rumors swirled that AMD might ditch the 8GB model due to backlash, but it turns out the product was already too deep in the pipeline for such a move.
With the GPUs set to drop in just about two weeks, gaming enthusiasts are already buzzing about the 8GB model's viability. Frank Azor, AMD's Chief Architect of Gaming Solutions and Gaming Marketing, justifies their strategy by stating that these GPUs target the "majority of gamers," who still game at 1080p.
According to the Steam Hardware Survey, this claim holds weight, as 1080p commands 55.27% of the market, followed by 1440p at 19.90%. However, some might question whether AMD's product segmentation is intentionally promoting more users to stick with 1080p. Could it be that gamers are confined to playing at 1080p due to their 8GB GPUs, or is it the other way around?
The RTX 3070 Ti offers a glimpse into the repercussions of scant memory, with a capable GPU being held back by insufficient memory allocation. Will the RX 9060 XT 8GB, though powerful, face a similar fate? Some believe that AMD and board partners might have earmarked these GPUs for gaming cafes, where esports dominate and VRAM demands are low. Nonetheless, the RX 9060 XT 8GB seems awkwardly positioned, as its raw power likely outshadows its VRAM capacity.
An RX 9060 non-XT / RX 9050 8GB positioned in the $200-$250 range could have been a more fitting offering as an esports-focused card. After all, the RX 9060 8GB is believed to be the successor to the RX 7600 8GB, which launched at $269.
We'll be on tenterhooks till June 5th next month to find out whether AMD and partners can manage to keep these GPUs at MSRP. The RX 9070 family hasn't set the best example in this regard. Stay tuned to Tom’s Hardware for updates!
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Technology continues to advance with the integration of artificial-intelligence, as seen in the strategic product segmentation of AMD's RX 9060 XT GPUs, with one variant boasting an 8GB memory configuration specifically catering to gamers who primarily play at 1080p. The growing reliance on state-of-the-art gadgets like these GPUs, with their intricate features, highlights the importance of technological advancements and artificial-intelligence in modern gaming.
