- AMD has obtained numerous flak for making an 8GB model of the RX 9060 XT
- A Staff Purple exec has argued that this VRAM loadout is ok for 1080p
- Some avid gamers stay unconvinced and in addition really feel AMD has badly named this new pair of 8GB and 16GB GPUs
AMD has shot again at critics after coming underneath hearth for producing a model of its newly revealed RX 9060 XT graphics card that has an 8GB loadout of video RAM (VRAM).
The RX 9060 XT was revealed earlier this week in each 16GB and 8GB variations. The latter is inflicting anger, as some argue it isn’t sufficient for fashionable PC gaming, and there are different worries right here, too.
Michael Quesada, who runs a Spanish YouTube channel on the subject of PC gaming, aired an indignant publish on X asking why AMD (and Nvidia) hold making GPUs with 8GB of VRAM, questioning how that’s justified in 2025.
VideoCardz observed that Frank Azor, AMD’s head of shopper and gaming advertising and marketing, was drawn to answer, as you may see under.
Majority of avid gamers are nonetheless taking part in at 1080p and don’t have any use for greater than 8GB of reminiscence. Most performed video games WW are principally esports video games. We would not construct it if there wasn’t a marketplace for it. If 8GB is not best for you then there’s 16GB. Similar GPU, no compromise, simply reminiscence…Could 22, 2025
Azor observes that almost all avid gamers are nonetheless operating at 1080p decision and, due to this fact, don’t want greater than 8GB of VRAM. The AMD exec notes that the preferred video games are esports titles, that are much less demanding, and that Staff Purple wouldn’t make an 8GB graphics card if there wasn’t a requirement for it.
Azor concludes: “If 8GB isn’t best for you then there’s 16GB. Similar GPU, no compromise, simply reminiscence choices.”
Evaluation: No compromise, however loads of cynicism
To be honest to Azor, there’s some fact to what the manager says right here. Definitely, for a extra informal degree of gaming, in addition to esports titles which might be constructed for fluid body charges typically, as that’s extra essential than graphical bells and whistles to aggressive gamers, 8GB is probably going sufficient.
As others level out, it’s not sufficient for all PC video games, even at 1080p decision. Though tweaking graphics particulars suitably and making some compromises, you may typically get by, albeit there are notable exceptions even at 1080p.
However regardless of the noise made by the ‘8GB simply isn’t sufficient today’ camp on social media – and it’s a honest previous racket, make no mistake – among the unfavorable feeling right here is extra about misleading naming.
Reasonably than having the RX 9060 XT 8GB and RX 9060 XT 16GB, there ought to have been a transparent naming delineation between these two variants. Essentially the most prevalent suggestion is that AMD ought to’ve referred to as the 8GB spin the plain previous RX 9060, dropping the XT suffix.
Why is making that naming distinction essential? As a result of what can occur with each graphics playing cards being referred to as the ‘RX 9060 XT’ is that system builders merely checklist that because the GPU in any given PC, with no accompanying reminiscence particulars. Much less knowledgeable customers could not even bear in mind that there are two totally different variants of the RX 9060 XT.
They might have perused opinions or evaluations of the 16GB taste and assume that’s what they’re getting of their shiny new PC, when the truth is it has the considerably inferior 8GB GPU.
PC builders could intentionally not make that clear, as a result of the system is cheaper to supply with the RX 9060 XT 8GB, however they received’t drop the worth to think about that. In different phrases, it is a data entice for the unwary and a means for system makers to reap the benefits of them. And it’s an avenue AMD may have shut off with totally different names for the 8GB and 16GB playing cards.
AMD may argue that it intends to have an RX 9060 vanilla GPU sooner or later, so it couldn’t use that title, however certainly it may’ve discovered some appropriate means of denoting the distinction. Reminiscent of calling the 16GB model the 9060 XTX (though that’s a suffix reserved for the flagship GPU, you get the concept).
There’s a degree of unhappiness and cynicism across the naming right here, briefly, and we should always word this is applicable to Nvidia in addition to AMD (with Staff Inexperienced’s xx60 Ti fashions which have each 8GB and 16GB variations in the identical vein).
AMD does get some credit score right here for guaranteeing it hasn’t additional hamstrung the RX 9060 XT for some avid gamers with older motherboards by halving the variety of supported PCIe lanes. Nonetheless, I received’t go into that right here, because it’s getting sidetracked actually (and it’s one thing I’ve mentioned elsewhere).
To summarize: 8GB needs to be okay for lots of video games at 1080p decision, with some down-tuning of graphics particulars as applicable – nevertheless it received’t work properly for all the things, and the extent of future-proofing feels wonky certainly.
On high of that, watch out of prebuilt PCs that checklist an RX 9060 XT graphics card with no accompanying spec information – it’s virtually definitely going to be the 8GB model, and chances are you’ll be paying extra for it than you must.
For these shopping for a standalone RX 9060 XT, it is sensible to pay the premium for the 16GB model. It’s price doing so for future-proofing alone, and it guarantees to be an glorious graphics card for the cash total.
That stated, this assumes the premium is roughly 15% additional as per the MRSPs and that demand for the 9060 XT 16GB doesn’t significantly inflate the worth. If it does, then that muddles the worth equation much more. Hopefully, inventory received’t be an issue, although, if the rumors are proper. It’s provided that provide is skinny that jacked-up costs begin to rear their ugly heads.
If one other rumor is right, the 16GB board would be the RX 9060 XT mannequin predominantly stocked at retailers, in order that’ll be the one you principally see for those who’re on the hunt for an AMD GPU, anyway.
Though that additionally brings the suggestion that the 8GB taste is being stored extra to PC builders, which may fan the aforementioned flames of cynicism round this complete affair – assuming that is something greater than empty chatter.
You may also like
RelatedPosts
