NVIDIA Faces Scrutiny Over RTX 5060 Reviews, Firmware Fixes Rolling Out

NVIDIA is under fire for allegedly attempting to control reviews of its GeForce RTX 5060 graphics card. Simultaneously, the company has released a new firmware update to address blank screen issues plaguing the RTX 5060 series GPUs.

Reports indicate that NVIDIA sought to manipulate RTX 5060 reviews by limiting access, dictating testing parameters, and even allegedly threatening reviewers who didn't comply. This comes as the RTX 5060 series laptops hit the market, promising enhanced performance and AI capabilities.

RTX 5060 Blank Screen Issues and Firmware Update

Numerous users have reported blank/black screen problems with the RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti. In response, NVIDIA has released a UEFI Firmware Update Tool v2.0. According to NVIDIA, this update specifically targets those experiencing black screens upon reboot. However, users should completely power down their system before booting and ensure they are using the latest SBIOS from their motherboard vendor and are in UEFI boot mode. For motherboards lacking UEFI support, contacting the GPU manufacturer for a Legacy VBIOS update is recommended.

Allegations of Review Manipulation

Several tech publications, including GamersNexus, VideoCardz, and Hardware Unboxed, have reported on NVIDIA's alleged tactics to influence reviews. These tactics reportedly included:

• Launching the RTX 5060 during Computex, limiting reviewer access.
• Withholding drivers until the card's release date, preventing pre-release testing.
• Offering early drivers to select reviewers under specific, limited testing conditions.
• Pressuring reviewers to use benchmark charts that highlight the RTX 5060's "fake frames" (MFG) technology favorably.

GamersNexus claims NVIDIA threatened to cut off access to experts unless they compared cards with and without "fake frames". GamersNexus editor-in-chief Steve Burke stated, "Just to be clear, Nvidia, I am prepared to release them," referring to recorded phone conversations.

Reviews that have emerged since reveal that the RTX 5060 sometimes struggles to outperform older cards like the RTX 3060 Ti and RTX 3070. Some reviews even suggest it can be outpaced by Intel's Arc B580.

RTX 5060 Laptops Now Available

Despite the controversy, laptops featuring the GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPUs are now available, starting at $1099. These laptops, powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, promise doubled performance compared to the previous generation and are optimized with Max-Q technologies. Models from manufacturers like ASUS, MSI, and Razer are NVIDIA Studio-validated for creative applications.

Advantages of RTX 5060 Laptop GPUs:

• NVIDIA DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation provides over twice the speed.
• AI enhancements accelerate creative workflows in 3D design, video editing, and generative AI apps.
• Support for 4:2:2 video editing and encoding in applications like DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Premiere Pro.
• Ninth-generation NVIDIA Encoders improve the quality of AV1 files.

HP OMEN Transcend 14

The new HP Omen Transcend 14 is a 1.63kg, 17.78mm all-metal laptop with a 3K-resolution OLED display and cites up to 11.5 hours of battery life, in configurations up to 64GB of LPDDR5 RAM.

Is NVIDIA's attempt to control the narrative around the RTX 5060 a wake-up call for gamers and reviewers? Will these actions impact consumer trust in NVIDIA's products? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

• GeForce
• NVIDIA
• RTX 5060

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