Graphics card pricing has been a significant pain point for consumers in recent GPU generations, with cards rarely available at their manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP). Nvidia appears to be taking steps to address this issue with its upcoming RTX 5060 series launch, though questions remain about how effective these measures will be in a market characterized by high demand and limited supply.
April Launch Confirmed for RTX 5060 Ti
According to multiple reports, including information from Hong Kong-based media outlet HKEPC and embargo documents obtained by VideoCardz, Nvidia will announce three models in the RTX 5060 family on April 15, 2025. The lineup includes the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, RTX 5060 Ti 8GB, and the standard RTX 5060 8GB. While the RTX 5060 Ti variants will hit retail shelves on April 16, the non-Ti RTX 5060 model will follow later, with availability expected in May.
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| Nvidia's upcoming RTX 5060 series includes the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and 8GB models, represented here |
Same-Day Reviews and Sales Raise Concerns
In an unusual move, Nvidia has reportedly scheduled the review embargo to lift on April 16 at 9 PM Hong Kong time – the same day the RTX 5060 Ti models become available for purchase. This timing has raised concerns among industry observers, as it gives consumers virtually no time to read professional reviews before making purchasing decisions. This could be particularly problematic given the recent history of limited GPU availability, where early stock often sells out within minutes of launch.
Nvidia Pressures Partners on Pricing
Perhaps the most notable aspect of the upcoming launch is Nvidia's reported directive to its Add-In-Channel (AIC) partners requiring them to have at least one model available at MSRP on launch day. While Nvidia doesn't directly control retail pricing, the company can leverage its control over GPU chip distribution to encourage compliance from board partners.
Will Price Controls Be Effective?
Despite Nvidia's efforts to ensure MSRP availability, skepticism remains about the long-term effectiveness of these measures. Even if partners do make MSRP models available at launch, nothing prevents them from raising prices later or stops resellers from purchasing MSRP cards and flipping them at inflated prices. AMD reportedly attempted similar pricing influence with limited success in previous launches.
Multiple Memory Configurations
The RTX 5060 Ti will launch in two memory configurations – 8GB and 16GB variants – giving consumers options at different price points. The standard RTX 5060 will only be available with 8GB of memory. This tiered approach allows Nvidia to target different segments of the mid-range market with varying performance and price points.
Market Context and Consumer Expectations
The RTX 5060 series represents Nvidia's mid-range offering in the new RTX 50 series lineup, which has faced criticism for availability and pricing issues with higher-end models. Consumer frustration with GPU pricing has been building over multiple generations, making this attempt at price control a notable, if potentially insufficient, response to market concerns.
As the April launch approaches, potential buyers should prepare for the possibility of limited availability and consider whether to make immediate purchases or wait for comprehensive reviews and possibly improved stock situations in the weeks following the initial release.