- AMD has acquired various flak for making an 8GB model of the RX 9060 XT
- A Group Pink exec has argued that this VRAM loadout is ok for 1080p
- Some avid gamers stay unconvinced and likewise really feel AMD has badly named this new pair of 8GB and 16GB GPUs
AMD has shot again at critics after coming below fireplace 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 contemporary 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 submit on X asking why AMD (and Nvidia) preserve making GPUs with 8GB of VRAM, questioning how that’s justified in 2025.
VideoCardz seen that Frank Azor, AMD’s head of client and gaming advertising and marketing, was drawn to answer, as you’ll be able to see under.
Majority of avid gamers are nonetheless enjoying at 1080p and haven’t 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. Identical GPU, no compromise, simply reminiscence…Might 22, 2025
Azor observes that the majority 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 most well-liked video games are esports titles, that are much less demanding, and that Group Pink 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. Identical GPU, no compromise, simply reminiscence choices.”
Evaluation: No compromise, however loads of cynicism
To be honest to Azor, there’s some reality 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 generally, 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’ll be able to typically get by, albeit there are notable exceptions even at 1080p.
However regardless of the noise made by the ‘8GB simply isn’t sufficient nowadays’ camp on social media – and it’s a honest outdated racket, make no mistake – among the damaging feeling right here is extra about misleading naming.
Relatively 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 outdated 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 listing that because the GPU in any given PC, with no accompanying reminiscence particulars. Much less knowledgeable shoppers could not even bear in mind that there are two totally different variants of the RX 9060 XT.
They might have perused opinions or opinions of the 16GB taste and assume that’s what they’re getting of their shiny new PC, when in actual fact 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 gained’t drop the value to contemplate that. In different phrases, this can be a information entice for the unwary and a method 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 would possibly argue that it intends to have an RX 9060 vanilla GPU sooner or later, so it couldn’t use that title, however absolutely it may’ve discovered some appropriate method 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 thought).
There’s a degree of unhappiness and cynicism across the naming right here, in brief, and we should always notice this is applicable to Nvidia in addition to AMD (with Group 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 gained’t go into that right here, because it’s getting sidetracked actually (and it’s one thing I’ve mentioned elsewhere).
To summarize: 8GB must be okay for lots of video games at 1080p decision, with some down-tuning of graphics particulars as applicable – but it surely gained’t work nicely for all the things, and the extent of future-proofing feels wonky certainly.
On high of that, watch out of prebuilt PCs that listing an RX 9060 XT graphics card with no accompanying spec data – it’s virtually definitely going to be the 8GB model, and you could 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 a wonderful graphics card for the cash general.
That mentioned, this assumes the premium is roughly 15% further as per the MRSPs and that demand for the 9060 XT 16GB doesn’t significantly inflate the value. If it does, then that muddles the worth equation much more. Hopefully, inventory gained’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 in case you’re on the hunt for an AMD GPU, anyway.
Though that additionally brings the suggestion that the 8GB taste is being saved extra to PC builders, which may fan the aforementioned flames of cynicism round this entire affair – assuming that is something greater than empty chatter.
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