Two tiny MSI GeForce RTX 5060 models announced for compact gaming and creator PCs
MSI recently introduced two new GeForce RTX 5060 models designed for small-form factor (SFF) PCs: the Cyclone and Inspire. Their primary difference lies in their design. Whilst the Cyclone measures 16.1 x 12.5 x 4.2 cm (6.3 x 4.9 x 1.7 in) and weighs 451 g (15.9 oz), the Inspire is slightly smaller at 14.5 x 12 x 4.5 cm (5.7 x 4.7 x 1.8 in) but heavier at 581 g (20.5 oz) due to its additional faceplate.
Besides having different cooling systems, both models otherwise share identical specifications and feature a single-fan setup. MSI positions the Cyclone as a GPU for gaming enthusiasts, whereas the Inspire is geared more towards creators. However, from a technical standpoint, either card should have no trouble handling the other's intended purpose.
According to official specs, both the Cyclone and Inspire feature an 8-pin power connector, a max boost frequency of 2,535 MHz, and a total board power of 145 watts. Consequently, their performance should be on a par with that of the larger MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Shadow (approx. $340 on Amazon), though independent testing is required to determine whether their cooling systems allow them to sustain high clock speeds under prolonged load.
Based on Blackwell architecture, the GeForce RTX 5060 is equipped with 3,840 CUDA cores and 8 GB of GDDR7 VRAM connected via a 128-bit memory bus. It supports PCIe 5.0 x16 and includes three DisplayPort 2.1b interfaces and one HDMI 2.1b port, enabling it to drive up to four monitors simultaneously whilst delivering 8K video at 120 Hz or 4K video at 480 Hz. Pricing and availability have yet to be revealed for the two graphics cards.
