AMD Defends Launch of Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB Model, Citing Ongoing Market Demand Despite $50 Price Gap with 16GB Version

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB has received a mixed reception, yet AMD insists there is still a market for this version, even though its VRAM capacity is relatively low.

AMD Remains Optimistic About the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB’s Market Demand

As the gaming industry evolves, the demand for VRAM has significantly increased, with many gamers viewing the 16GB threshold as essential for an “enhanced”AAA gaming experience. Both NVIDIA and AMD have introduced 8GB graphics cards that faced substantial criticism among gamers, mainly due to inadequate performance in contemporary gaming titles.

In a recent interview, Frank Azor from AMD reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the 8GB model, asserting that there is still notable interest in this variant, which is priced only $50 lower than its 16GB counterpart. This price difference, while seemingly minor, constitutes a substantial 15% of its Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), emphasizing its significance for budget-conscious consumers.

“Although AMD fully expects that the 16GB version will have a greater market demand, the cheaper 8GB version still has its market position. Most gamers still play at 1080p resolution, positioning the 8GB version as a suitable graphics card for that purpose. The core GPU specifications remain identical to the 16GB variant; the only distinction lies in the memory capacity.” – AMD’s Frank Azor via Mobile01

Despite some advantages, critics highlight that reusing the Radeon RX 9060 XT name for two different VRAM versions could be misleading. This approach mirrors NVIDIA’s strategy to attract consumers by offering dual-VRAM configurations under the same model name, which might be confusing for potential buyers.

While AMD markets the RX 9060 XT as capable enough for 1440p gaming, this claim may be overstated for the 8GB variant. On a positive note, AMD has managed to offer competitive pricing, undercutting NVIDIA’s RTX 5060 Ti. Notably, the RX 9060 XT 16GB is available at the same price point as the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB, providing an appealing option for consumers looking for value without sacrificing performance.

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