Tests conducted by Hardware Unboxed reveal that the RX 9060 performs up to 14% slower than the RX 9060 XT (8 GB) version.
Performance Difference Between RX 9060 and RX 9060 XT
According to the tests, this graphics card performs between 13% and 14% below the RX 9060 XT with 8GB of VRAM.
This performance gap aligns with AMD’s product strategy. Preliminary analysis suggests the difference is not only due to reduced clock speeds (around 4.5% lower), but also due to cuts in the GPU silicon itself and lower power consumption.
The standard RX 9060 features about 87.5% of the shaders compared to the XT version (1792 cores) and comes with a more limited power budget of 132 W TBP, which restricts its maximum potential under heavy workloads.
A Budget-Friendly Option for 1080p Gaming
Despite the trimmed specifications, the RX 9060 could still be an attractive option for 1080p gaming, provided that it is priced competitively. Historically, non-XT versions have offered better price-to-performance ratios, and this one may continue that trend.
In the current late-2025 market—where efficiency and price are crucial—the RX 9060 has the potential to dominate the entry-level GPU segment, especially if it manages to outperform direct competitors like Nvidia’s RTX 5060 series.
Tests also show it to be 26%–29% faster than the RX 7600. However, it remains to be seen whether its 8GB of VRAM will be sufficient for upcoming game titles in the next few years.
For now, budget-conscious gamers will need to wait for the official launch to confirm whether the 14% lower performance translates into a proportionally lower price that makes the card worth buying.
