AMD - Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB vs NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 5090
Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | AMD - Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB | NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 5090 |
|---|---|---|
| CUDA / Stream cores | 2048 | 21760 |
| Ray tracing cores | 32 | 170 |
| TDP | 160 W | 575 W |
| Memory bus | 128 bit | 512 bit |
| 3DMark Time Spy | 12400 | 32500 |
| VRAM | 16 GB | 32 GB |
Between the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB and GeForce RTX 5090, the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB comes out ahead in tdp / boost clock, while the GeForce RTX 5090 wins on cuda / stream cores / ray tracing cores. Overall, the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB scores 64.3 and the GeForce RTX 5090 scores 84.2 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The GeForce RTX 5090 is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 19.9 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB if you care most about tdp / boost clock. The biggest gaps in its favor are tdp, boost clock. The single most decisive one: TDP — 415.00 W less. 160 vs 575.
Pick the GeForce RTX 5090 if you care most about cuda / stream cores / ray tracing cores. Its strongest claims are cuda / stream cores, ray tracing cores, memory bus, among others. The single most decisive one: CUDA / Stream cores — 962.50% more. 21760 vs 2048.
There are no meaningful ties on the headline specs — every popular-comparison metric has a winner.
Bottom line: the GeForce RTX 5090 is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Which should you buy: AMD - Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB or NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 5090?
NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 5090 leads the current Mars Score by 19.9 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare vram, cuda / stream cores, boost clock, tdp against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose AMD - Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB if…
AMD - Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB has the measurable edge on tdp w, boost clock mhz.
Choose NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 5090 if…
NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 5090 has the measurable edge on cuda cores, ray tracing cores, memory bus bit.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why AMD - Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB wins
- ▲TDP — 415.00 W less. 160 vs 575.
- ▲Boost clock — 30.04% more. 3130 MHz vs 2407 MHz.
Why NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 5090 wins
- ▲CUDA / Stream cores — 962.50% more. 21760 vs 2048.
- ▲Ray tracing cores — 431.25% more. 170 vs 32.
- ▲Memory bus — 300.00% more. 512 bit vs 128 bit.
- ▲3DMark Time Spy — 162.10% more. 32500 vs 12400.
- ▲VRAM — 100.00% more. 32 GB vs 16 GB.
- ▲Has DLSS.
Spec comparison
Core
| Spec | AMD - Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB | NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 5090 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Navi 44 | GB202 |
| Base clockⓘ | 2620 MHzlead | 2017 MHz |
| Boost clockⓘ | 3130 MHzlead | 2407 MHz |
| CUDA / Stream coresⓘ | 2048 | 21760lead |
| Ray tracing coresⓘ | 32 | 170lead |
Memory
| Spec | AMD - Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB | NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 5090 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAMⓘ | 16 GB | 32 GBlead |
| VRAM typeⓘ | GDDR6 | GDDR7lead |
| Memory busⓘ | 128 bit | 512 bitlead |
Power & Form
| Spec | AMD - Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB | NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 5090 |
|---|---|---|
| TDPⓘ | 160 Wlead | 575 W |
| Recommended PSUⓘ | 550 Wlead | 1000 W |
| Length | 240 mmlead | 304 mm |
| Slot size | 2-slot | 2-slot |
Benchmarks
| Spec | AMD - Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB | NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 5090 |
|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spyⓘ | 12400 | 32500lead |
| DLSSⓘ | false | truelead |
| FSRⓘ | truelead | false |
Frequently asked
Which has more VRAM, Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB or GeForce RTX 5090?+
GeForce RTX 5090 ships with 32GB GDDR7 vs 16GB.
Which scores higher in 3DMark Time Spy, Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB or GeForce RTX 5090?+
GeForce RTX 5090 scores 32500 vs 12400.
Which draws less power, Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB or GeForce RTX 5090?+
Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB draws 160W TDP vs 575W.