The video compares the Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and AMD RX 9060 XT 16GB GPUs at 1080p and 1440p for Star Citizen, with the Nvidia card generally delivering better performance and image quality, especially in CPU-bound and VRAM-sensitive scenarios. Despite the Nvidia’s advantages, the AMD card offers a more affordable option for budget-conscious gamers, though both cards face limitations due to VRAM and game optimization issues.
The video compares the performance of Nvidia’s RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and AMD’s RX 9060 XT 16GB graphics cards at 1080p and 1440p resolutions, focusing on their suitability for playing Star Citizen. The reviewer emphasizes that both cards are using PCIe Gen 5, but with differing lane configurations, which could impact performance on older motherboards. He advises against considering the 8GB models of these cards, as VRAM limitations are already evident in gameplay, especially in demanding scenarios.
In testing at 1080p, the Nvidia 5060 Ti generally outperforms the AMD 9060 XT, especially in CPU-bound scenarios. However, when VRAM runs out, AMD cards tend to struggle more, leading to lower frame rates. The reviewer notes that older AMD cards with 8GB VRAM, like the RX 7600, perform poorly in Star Citizen. He highlights that the 16GB models are better suited, but even then, performance can be limited by VRAM and other system bottlenecks, especially in space and quantum travel segments.
At 1440p, the performance gap narrows, but Nvidia still maintains a slight edge over AMD in most scenarios. Both cards can be made playable with upscaling technologies like DLSS on Nvidia and FSR on AMD, though DLSS offers significantly better image quality. The reviewer mentions upcoming updates like DLSS 4 and FSR 4, which promise substantial improvements, particularly for AMD cards, making higher resolutions more viable in the future. He also notes that current Vulkan support for these cards in Star Citizen is broken or unstable, limiting their use.
The video also explores gameplay at various locations, such as space stations and planetary outposts, showing that both cards can handle these environments reasonably well at 1080p, with frame rates mostly hovering around 50-60 FPS. Upscaling helps improve performance further, but some stuttering occurs due to shader compilation or game optimization issues. The reviewer suggests that game developers could optimize Star Citizen better for GPU performance, as some scenarios are more demanding than expected, especially during space travel and combat.
Finally, the reviewer discusses pricing and value, highlighting that the Nvidia 960 XT is available at a very low cost (~$350), making it a compelling choice for 1080p gaming, despite being an older model. The AMD RX 9060 XT is priced more affordably but offers slightly lower performance. He advises against the 8GB versions of either card, as VRAM limitations hinder gameplay. Overall, he leans towards the Nvidia card due to its better image quality and performance, but notes that for budget-conscious gamers, the AMD option remains a decent, cost-effective alternative for 1080p gaming in Star Citizen.