Zotac GeForce RTX 5060 AMP review: Blackwell entry-level model — is 8 GB of VRAM enough for modern gaming?

The Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 AMP proves to be a solid choice for casual or occasional gaming in our test. Among current desktop options, the GeForce RTX 5060 is the most affordable entry into Nvidia’s Blackwell architecture. Performance improvements over older models like the GeForce RTX 4060 and RTX 3060 are clear—and in some cases exceed expectations. However, in real-world use, the 8 GB of VRAM is increasingly emerging as a bottleneck, particularly in memory-intensive games or when DLSS and frame generation are enabled.

Power consumption remains modest at around 155 watts, and the integrated cooling system operates quietly even under load. Zotac’s choice to use a classic 6+2-pin power connector adds convenience for users with older power supplies. Overall, the RTX 5060 AMP is a well-executed solution for Full HD gaming. While the limited 8 GB of VRAM may affect long-term viability, those who primarily game at 1080p and have moderate performance requirements will find this to be an efficient and compact package.

In Germany, the Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 AMP is currently available from 339 euros at Notebooksbilliger, for example.

The Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 AMP is built around Nvidia’s new GB205 chip and represents the most affordable entry into the Blackwell series of desktop GPUs. While it inherits several features from higher-tier models—such as the latest version of DLSS and the innovative Multi-Frame Generation (MFG)—these are implemented with an emphasis on efficiency and reduced power consumption. In practice, however, the benefits of these technologies are not always compelling, as we will explore in more detail.

Compared to the RTX 5060 Ti, the standard RTX 5060 is equipped with fewer shader units and, in some cases, less video memory—though the Ti model is also available with only 8 GB. The RTX 5060 always includes 8 GB of GDDR7 memory; currently, no 16 GB variant is planned. While the new Blackwell architecture delivers a notable improvement in memory bandwidth over the RTX 4060 and RTX 3060, the 8 GB VRAM limit continues to be a critical drawback when playing certain modern titles.

More tests on Nvidia's Blackwell graphics cards:

• Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 (Founders Edition)
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 (Asus TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5080 OC)
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (KFA2 GeForce RTX 5070 Ti 1-Click OC)
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 (KFA2 GeForce RTX 5070 1-Click OC)
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti (Asus TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti OC)

The Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 AMP is the top-tier model within Zotac’s RTX 5060 lineup. This positioning is also reflected in its pricing, which tends to be higher than the more affordable Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Twin Edge OC and Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Solo, depending on market availability. However, the AMP edition also differs in terms of specifications, offering slightly higher GPU clock speeds and a raised power limit of up to 155 watts.

The design is understated, with no RGB lighting, and prioritizes practicality. Two large, rounded-edge fans provide quiet and efficient cooling, while a metal backplate adds structural stability and shields the PCB. With its compact dimensions, the card fits easily into smaller cases and is also SFR-ready, making it a suitable choice for compact or space-constrained PC builds.

The Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 AMP is built on Nvidia’s Blackwell architecture and features 3,840 CUDA cores paired with 8 GB of GDDR7 VRAM, connected via a 128-bit interface that offers a bandwidth of 448 GB/s. This configuration results in noticeably higher performance compared to the previous-generation GeForce RTX 4060, which is based on the Ada Lovelace architecture. However, this performance boost comes with increased power consumption.

Despite the architectural improvements, the lack of progress in VRAM capacity is disappointing. The continued use of just 8 GB limits the card’s potential in demanding scenarios and modern titles that require more video memory, especially at higher texture settings or when advanced features like DLSS and frame generation are enabled.

For this test, an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor was used in combination with an ASRock X870E Taichi motherboard. The Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 AMP was tested in its factory configuration, with neither the power limit nor the GPU clock speeds modified.

The synthetic benchmarks of the Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 AMP confirm its solid performance. Compared to its direct predecessor, the RTX 4060, the new model delivers a performance gain of around 30 percent—most notably at 1080p resolution. When stacked against the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti, the performance difference is relatively small at just over ten percent, highlighting the potential of the RTX 5060 despite its reduced core count and power budget.

The Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 AMP clearly trails the GeForce RTX 5070 in terms of performance but stays within striking distance of the RTX 5060 Ti in synthetic tests. For occasional semi-professional workloads such as 3D rendering or GPU-accelerated content creation, the card is not an ideal choice due to its limited resources. A noticeable step up in performance is only achieved with the RTX 5070. Additionally, AMD offers strong competition in this segment with its RDNA 4-based graphics cards, which often provide better value or performance in certain workloads.

The Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 AMP delivers adequate performance for most current titles. However, newer and more demanding games—such as The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered—may require lowered detail settings to maintain playable frame rates. For gamers targeting 1080p resolution, the RTX 5060 remains a viable option, though the performance gap to the recently reviewed RTX 5060 Ti becomes more noticeable in actual gameplay compared to synthetic benchmarks.

The 8 GB of VRAM is increasingly becoming a bottleneck, even at 1080p. Features like DLSS and Frame Generation raise memory demands further, underscoring the importance of having sufficient video memory. Although the RTX 5060 benefits from a higher memory bandwidth than the RTX 4060, this improvement is not enough to eliminate issues tied to limited VRAM capacity. When memory runs short, users may encounter game crashes, loading failures, or startup issues—as seen in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Incomplete texture loading, such as in Space Marine 2, is another symptom. These problems are not exclusive to the RTX 5060 but are common across all GPUs with insufficient video memory.

Separate benchmarking of DLSS and Frame Generation is not essential for the Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 AMP, given its limited 8 GB VRAM configuration. While both technologies are supported and can be enabled, their effectiveness varies significantly depending on the game and individual perception.

In our test using Doom: The Dark Ages as an example, DLSS and MFG4 achieved frame rates of around 200 fps at 1080p with maximum settings. However, despite the high frame count, the gameplay felt sluggish and lacked responsiveness, leading to an unsatisfying experience. In its current state, the implementation is not fully convincing. Future game patches or driver updates may improve performance and responsiveness, but for now, these features do not consistently enhance the user experience on the RTX 5060.