Launch MSRPs, release cycles and deals windows as of November 9, 2026.
The NVIDIA RTX 4060 (RTX 4000) and NVIDIA RTX 5050 (RTX 5000) come from different NVIDIA generations, released 2 years 1 month apart. The RTX 4060 has since been superseded by the NVIDIA RTX 5060. Both are classed Entry. Against the RTX 4060, the RTX 5050 costs $50 less at launch MSRP ($249 vs $299, 17% cheaper), matches its 8 GB of VRAM and draws 15W more at rated TDP (130W vs 115W).
This GPU is no longer the current generation. It has been replaced by the NVIDIA RTX 5060.
Superseded by RTX 5060
Best for: Only worth considering as a used purchase at significantly below $200 — the RTX 5060 is a better value at $299 new.
Full details →First-generation product — no release history to base predictions on
Best for: Budget 1080p gamers committed to NVIDIA's ecosystem who want DLSS 4 at the lowest possible price — value shoppers should also compare the Intel Arc B580 at the same $249.
Full details →| NVIDIA RTX 4060 | NVIDIA RTX 5050 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Entry | Budget |
| Generation | RTX 4000 | RTX 5000 |
| VRAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| TDP | 115W | 130W |
| Upscaling | DLSS3 | DLSS4 |
| Ray Tracing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Launch MSRP | $299 | $249 |
| Editor score | 7.2/10 | 7.0/10 |
| Released | Jun 29, 2023 | Jul 31, 2025 |
| Cycle length | ~690 days | — |
| Cycle advice | Superseded | Caution |
| Deals advice | Clearance | Caution |
| Successor | RTX 5060 | — |
One of the most efficient GPUs ever — no external power connector needed on some AIB models.
Frame generation extends the card's 1080p capabilities.
The RTX 5060 launched at the same $299 price with GDDR7 and DLSS 4 — the 4060 only makes sense used at well below $150.
The most affordable desktop GPU with Blackwell's AI-powered Multi Frame Generation — substantial FPS uplift at 1080p in supported titles.
The lowest TDP in the desktop RTX 5000 lineup — no PSU upgrade required for most systems with a 500W+ supply.
Fills the gap below the RTX 5060 for buyers who want a current-generation NVIDIA card at the lowest entry price.
Released Jun 29, 2023, the RTX 4060 has been on the market for 3 years 4 months. It has been superseded by the NVIDIA RTX 5060, which launched May 19, 2025, so it's no longer a current-generation buy — new stock is clearance, and the rest of the market is second-hand.
Released Jul 31, 2025, the RTX 5050 has been on the market for 15 months. We have no previous release cycle on record for this line and no successor on our radar, so there's no projected replacement date — the timing signal stays at Caution.
On timing, the RTX 5050 is the only current-generation option of the two (Caution), while the RTX 4060 is a clearance or used purchase.
At launch MSRP the RTX 5050 is $50 cheaper than the RTX 4060 ($249 vs $299, 17% less). Per gigabyte of VRAM that's $37.4 for the RTX 4060 and $31.1 for the RTX 5050 — the RTX 5050 gives more memory for the money. Launch MSRP is only a reference point for a superseded card; its real price is whatever clearance or used stock sells for today.
RTX 4060 (deals window to Jun 30, 2027, rated Wait): No clearance — new retail prices are above the original $299 MSRP, making the RTX 5060 (GDDR7, DLSS 4, same price) a clearly superior choice. Only consider used at well below $150.
RTX 5050 (deals window to Dec 5, 2026, rated Caution): Black Friday / Cyber Monday 2026 — usually the best annual GPU deals, but analysts do not expect memory supply to normalise before late 2027, so discounts are unlikely to reach the $249 MSRP. Only buy at or near MSRP.
Next on the deals calendar: for the RTX 5050, New Year clearance 2027, from Jan 2, 2027 to Jan 20, 2027.
Our pick: NVIDIA RTX 5050
Our pick is the RTX 5050: it's the current-generation card here, while the RTX 4060 has been superseded by the NVIDIA RTX 5060, and it also costs $50 less at launch MSRP ($249 vs $299).
Go for the RTX 4060 instead if you want lower power draw: 115W vs 130W rated TDP, or if you want our higher-rated card of the two: 7.2 vs 7.0 editor score.
Buy/Wait and deals ratings come from release-cycle and pricing data, not benchmarks. How we rate →
Where they're level: VRAM (8 GB each) and memory type (GDDR6).