• Nvidia’s new RTX 5060 Ti GPU is nearly right here as MSI’s third-party fashions have been leaked in new pictures
• The photographs reveal the GPU’s PCIe 5.0 interface together with 16-pin or 8-pin energy connectors
• PCIe 4.0 motherboard customers might have to improve to get the most effective out of the brand new GPU

Nvidia has but to finish the complete launch of its RTX 5000 sequence GPU lineup, because it nonetheless has some low-end playing cards within the pipeline. Luckily, a brand new leak has given us a primary take a look at third-party fashions of an unannounced Blackwell GPU. Spoiler alert: you may wish to improve your motherboard.

Because of VideoCardz, MSI’s GeForce RTX 5060 Ti graphics playing cards have leaked with new pictures showcasing 4 completely different fashions, and every of them makes use of both 16-pin or 8-pin connectors. Extra importantly, all of those GPUs will use PCIe 5.0, because the leaked pictures (which I will not publish right here) point out.

Whereas higher-end RTX 5000 sequence GPUs can present nice efficiency outcomes for customers on non-PCIe 5.0 motherboards, it may not be the identical story for lower-end playing cards just like the upcoming RTX 5060 Ti.

Since low-end GPUs do not have the identical processing energy as what you’d get with an RTX 5080, for instance, points like VRAM capability and PCIe bandwidth speeds have an even bigger affect on efficiency.

If the RTX 5060 Ti is certainly PCIe 5.0 x8, it is greater than doubtless going to hinder efficiency for avid gamers nonetheless utilizing PCIe 4.0 (or older) motherboards, because the GPU will not be used to its full potential when it could desperately want it – particularly for the rumored 8GB VRAM fashions.

On this case, you must wonder if shopping for a brand new funds GPU and probably having to improve to a PCIe 5.0 motherboard (if you happen to do not have already got one) is value the price: as a substitute, it could be a better option to buy an older high-end GPU – if one may be discovered at launch worth, anyway.

Is funds PC gaming progressively turning into non-existent?

Let me get one factor straight: this is not me having a go at Nvidia or some other GPU producer making the bounce to the PCIe 5.0 interface. It is moderately an statement of how dangerous the GPU market is when it comes to shoppers discovering GPUs at their launch costs, and the excessive probability of getting to mandatorily improve your motherboard or different parts to get the most effective out of your new graphics card.

For these utilizing PCIe 4.0 motherboards, the RTX 3000 and 4000 sequence GPUs are perfect, as they’re all PCIe 4.0 playing cards. Whereas the brand new PCIe 5.0 playing cards can nonetheless be used on different motherboards, you’ll positively really feel the efficiency loss, notably with weaker {hardware} as its capabilities could be lower in half by bandwidth limitations.

It is also straightforward for me to recommend shopping for an older high-end GPU, however you’d both battle to seek out it in inventory anyplace because of discontinuations, or find yourself overpaying (simply take a look at XFX’s Radeon RX 7900 XTX for instance).