Nvidia RTX 5060 Faces Driver Woes and Review Controversy: A Mid-Range GPU Under Scrutiny
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, aimed at budget-conscious gamers, has launched amid a storm of controversy. While the card itself shows promise as a capable 1080p performer, problematic drivers and allegations of review manipulation have cast a shadow over its release. This raises serious questions for gamers and the tech press alike: Is the RTX 5060 worth the investment, and what does this episode reveal about Nvidia's relationship with reviewers?
Initial reviews, including one from Rock Paper Shotgun, highlight the GPU's decent performance at 1080p resolution. As an affordable option for gamers on a budget, the RTX 5060 appears reasonable. The Zotac GeForce RTX 5060 Solo is one model selling at the suggested retail price of $299, making it a competitively priced entry point into the RTX 50 series.
However, this positive outlook is marred by significant driver issues. The latest GeForce driver updates (576.52) have reportedly introduced numerous errors in both older and newer games. These issues range from sustained framerate drops in titles like Horizon Forbidden West and Dragon Age: The Veilguard to outright crashes in Metro Exodus. The review sites mentioned the driver problems plague the card.
Rock Paper Shotgun says: "Even if these aren’t the fault of the RTX 5060 hardware, these driver problems are just yet more bad vibes around a graphics card that should be – like the RTX 3060 and, after a while, the RTX 4060 before it – a people’s champion."
Adding to the controversy are allegations that Nvidia attempted to control the narrative around the RTX 5060’s launch. According to reports from GamersNexus, VideoCardz, and others in the tech press, Nvidia allegedly withheld review drivers and pressured reviewers to focus on specific benchmarks, potentially skewing the perceived performance of the card. GamersNexus even claimed Nvidia threatened to withhold access unless they compared the card to older GPUs with MFG frame generation enabled.
Adding fuel to the fire, Nvidia didn’t supply early drivers for reviewers unless they agreed to test only a handful of specific games at limited settings against slower cards, according to reporting by GamersNexus. These issues are causing the tech world to question Nvidia’s reliability and transparency. It leaves a bad taste in the mouths of consumers.
The true performance of the RTX 5060, according to some reviews, is that it slightly outperforms older cards, and sometimes even loses out to cards like the Intel Arc B580 which sells for $250. In a statement by Tom Warren in The Verge, “Some reviewers found the RTX 5060 can’t beat a four-year-old RTX 3060 Ti, and sometimes even loses to the Intel Arc B580.”
On the bright side, the new RTX 5060 is supporting the newest DLSS 4 technology, and the newest Game Ready Driver. Games like Dune: Awakening and F1 25 will utilize the frame generation features. Additionally, older games like Portal RTX will receive updates.
In conclusion, the Nvidia RTX 5060 presents a mixed bag. While the hardware offers adequate 1080p performance at an attractive price point, driver instability and allegations of review manipulation raise serious concerns. Gamers should carefully consider these factors before making a purchase.
What are your thoughts on the Nvidia RTX 5060 controversy? Share your opinions and experiences in the comments below.
