The Ventus 2X OC model with 8 GB of memory is the most affordable GeForce RTX 5060 variant from MSI. It features a compact dual-slot cooler with a length of 20 cm, making it suitable even for small-form-factor cases. The cooler is slightly louder than average due to overly high fan speeds, but it has sufficient headroom for manual fan speed reduction. But with 8 GB of memory, compromises are necessary in the most demanding games.
A detailed description of the new technologies brought by Nvidia’s new graphics cards has been compiled by Jan Olšan in the article Blackwell: GeForce RTX 5000 architecture and innovations. It introduces the individual graphics chips Nvidia is using in the new cards, the new GDDR7 memory type, and also covers changes in cache memory, GPU compute units, updates to shaders and tensor cores, as well as improved compute units for ray tracing. The new generation of GeForce also brings support for new standards such as DisplayPort 2.1b and PCI Express 5.0.
With the new generation of cards, DLSS capabilities are evolving as well. It now supports Multi Frame Generation, which allows the generation of up to three intermediate frames, and introduces Nvidia Reflex 2, the second generation of its latency-reduction technology. This includes Frame Warp, which adjusts object and camera motion in rendered frames based on the player’s most recent input device movement data received just before the already rendered frame is displayed. A more detailed explanation can be found in the aforementioned article.
The GeForce RTX 5060, along with the RTX 5050, are the last models Nvidia has brought to market. We’ve already covered the specs and pricing in the news article GeForce RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti are here: Specs, pricing, availability. The cards hit retail a few weeks later, with the GeForce RTX 5060 going on sale at the end of May.
To recap, the GeForce RTX 5060 features the second-smallest chip based on the Blackwell architecture, designated GB206. It has a die size of 181 mm² and houses 21 billion transistors.
The same chip is used in the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti, where the GPU includes 4608 stream processors, 144 texture mapping units, and 48 ROPs, alongside 36 RT cores and 144 tensor cores. The base clock speed of the GPU is 2407 MHz, with a boost clock of 2572 MHz and a power limit set at 180 W. It comes in both 8 GB and 16 GB GDDR7 memory variants, connected via a 128-bit memory bus. The memory speed is 28 Gb/s, yielding a total bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s.
The GeForce RTX 5060 retains the same number of ROPs, but most of the computational units are cut down by roughly one-sixth. The GPU has 3840 stream processors, 120 TMUs, and 30 RT cores. Clock speeds are slightly lower—base clock is 2280 MHz, boost clock is 2497 MHz. Memory operates over a 128-bit bus at 28 Gb/s, matching the 5060 Ti in bandwidth. Based on specs alone, the performance drop from the 8 GB 5060 Ti should be under 17%. Compared to the 16 GB version, the difference will be more pronounced in memory-intensive games.
The MSRP for basic RTX 5060 models in Europe starts at 329 EUR (VAT included).
Testing the MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Ventus 2x OC, 8 GB (912-V537-002)
The MSI RTX 5060 Ventus 2X is the cheapest RTX 5060 model in MSI’s lineup. This means a simple, low-cost cooler, more basic features, slightly lower performance due to lower clock speeds compared to premium models, and in this case also less headroom for potential overclocking.
The specified boost clock is increased only slightly from the reference 2497 to 2527 MHz, while real operating clocks are higher. The power limit is set to the reference 145 W and cannot be increased; manually, it can only be reduced by 15% to 123 W.
GPU-Z shows the usual readings. Fans are connected to a single header.
HWiNFO provides far more sensor readings than GPU-Z. The available sensors in the current version are shown in the image below.
On the back of the packaging, the manufacturer highlights the technologies the card supports and uses. First and foremost, it mentions fifth-generation Torx Fan fans, followed by a backplate that reinforces the card and also allows partially unobstructed airflow above the card (although it is plastic), and then only the MSI Center and MSI Afterburner software. Other technologies are common across all GeForce cards.
Because the card is powered by a standard 8-pin connector, no power adapter is required. The accessories therefore include only a brief installation guide.
We’ll look at the card’s detailed features in the next chapter.
⠀
