GoKawiilTests show RTX 5060 Ti's 8GB VRAM lags behind 16GB version at higher settings
Tom's Hardware compared NVIDIA's 8GB and 16GB RTX 5060 Ti cards, which share the same chip and clock speeds, across 21 games and found the 8GB model averaged 2.3% slower at 1080p medium settings but 12% slower at ultra, with minimum frame rates down 16%. Hardware Unboxed reported a bigger gap in The Last of Us Part II (67fps vs 109fps at 1080p very high) and said Indiana Jones and the Great Circle crashed on the 8GB card at 1080p ultra.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The results suggest VRAM capacity, not just GPU power, increasingly determines playable performance as games demand more memory for textures and ray tracing. This could push buyers toward 12GB or 16GB cards for longevity, particularly if they plan to play at 1440p or 4K or use higher graphical settings.
- 8GB RTX 5060 Ti falls up to 12% behind the 16GB version at ultra settings, per Tom's Hardware.
- Hardware Unboxed found some games crash or run far slower on 8GB cards.
- 12GB is suggested as a safer baseline for 1440p, with 16GB recommended for 4K.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB — If you're weighing VRAM tradeoffs like the article describes, the 16GB version of this exact card sidesteps the stuttering and texture issues seen in the 8GB model. It's a great pick for gamers who want higher settings and ray tracing without worrying about memory bottlenecks down the road.
See NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: engadget.com — Luke James, 2026-09-29
Published there as: “How much VRAM should you look for in a graphics card?”
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