Reviewers Bemused by Restrictive Sampling of RX 9060 XT 8 GB Cards

[lexluthermiester]

Huh? When there's a CLEAR gap between 8 GB and 16 GB in performance and the price of the former is so close to the latter it's absolutely sensible to criticise 8 GB models, both for AMD and for NV. Both companies don't serve us right selling 8 GB models for 300+ USD. This is too much performance lost (including texture quality loss) due to VRAM limitations and too much money asked for such crippled products. People clearly aren't mad enough since 300+ USD 8 GB cards are still happening.

That is making excuses for the jack-ass behaviors from certain reviewers. It doesn't matter how the cards perform in ANY comparison. That's not the issue. The problem is the reviewers behaving like children throwing tantrums. It's pathetic, unprofessional and unacceptable. Full fricken stop.

NVidia is sick of it, AMD is sick of it and people like me are sick of it. They need to do better and stop behaving like chumps.

 

[Macro Device]

That is making excuses for the jack-ass behaviors from certain reviewers. It doesn't matter how the cards perform in ANY comparison. That's not the issue. The problem is the reviewers behaving like children throwing tantrums. It's pathetic, unpofessional and unacceptable. Full fricken stop.

Probably I ain't seen so-called "certain reviewers" but a reviewer calling a spade a spade is a good reviewer in my book. And I genuinely don't care which tone they use as far as they tell the truth. And, once again, this 8 GB spade is so deep down everyone's backyards blasting tantrums is honestly a very serious underreaction.

 

[_roman_]

They also did split up the reviews between curated and non-curated reviews with different NDAs.....

I read yesterday Igor was not allowed to post the review. Regardless of who it is, I'm not fond of it

Well Igor claims it. For some reason I saw reviews on computerbase, pcgameshardware, techpowerup, i think hardwareluxx ...
I really wonder if it was only Igor or some other sites also?

This 8 GB 9060 XT is effectively a 6500 XT Remastered.

I highly doubt the 9060XT misses all encoders and decoders like the 6500XT. Some poeple watch video or encode video.

 

[Hecate91]

That was an article on TPU that they linked you

I mistook it for another article.
Anyway TPU calls it "reportedly" limiting press access, as if it's some sort of conspiracy up for debate, the tech press has been sugarcoating everything anti-consumer Nvidia has done for too long.

And this nonsense is exactly why people are laughing way harder when amd craps the bed. Posts like these make people not want to associate with amd.

Calling the truth nonsense, is why I don't want to associate anything to do with ngreedia.

We need Tshirts with that. It needs to be printed on peoples brains. Nvidia isn't criticized as heavily because well, everyone expects the worst possible product that they can get away with.

The same should be expected for every company, but again it's clearly double standards for the market leader with mindshare and brand recognition.

 

[lexluthermiester]

but a reviewer calling a spade a spade is a good reviewer in my book.

It's one thing to show the facts and share perspective. But that's not what has been going on. If you'd been watching the opinion pieces from the likes of LTT, HUB, J2C, GN, etc, etc, you'd see the childish vitriol. They're not just testing, they're roasting, they're twisting facts to fit their narrative. And they're doing it collectively to try and shame the companies into doing what they want. They are blindly failing to see the need for budget cards by an ENTIRE market sector, blindly failing to see that 8GB cards perform just fine and they're failing to understand the foolish buffoons they're making themselves all look like.

As I said earlier, it's pathetic, unprofessional and unacceptable.

 

[Hecate91]

Considering that Nvidia sells a gazillion of GPUs with 8GB VRAM thanks to brand recognition(5060 Ti is already in Steam database and I bet the 8GB model sells as well as the 16GB model), it would have been a mistake for AMD if there was no 8GB model in the market. The only way an 8GB model wouldn't exist in the market is if AMD was pricing the 16GB model at $299. What Intel did in other words offering 10GB and 12GB models at lower prices.

The 8GB models need to be cheaper from AMD and Nvidia, an 8GB 9060XT should have been $249, not $299. These 8GB cards are DOA from both companies, especially for those on a budget keeping their GPU for 4-5 years when some games are crashing on 8GB cards today.

As for the restriction of the 8GB models, well it's not as bad as Nvidia's zero review samples. People can find reviews of 8GB models in tech sites and Youtube tech channels with millions of subscribers. There are reviews of 8GB models out for anyone considering buying an 8GB model to see and cancel their purchase or not. Of course been less bad is not good. But it's not strange that we are seeing these shenanigans from Nvidia and in a lesser degree from AMD. Tech press was sugarcoating/hiding under the carpet most bad stuff about Nvidia, or where reporting them with a "Nvidia promises a fix" or "Well, that's how things are anyway, deal with it people" or "This is bad Nvidia, you should be assamed. On other, completely unrelated news, DLSS is still your only option", for the last many years, while they where posting articles after articles with harsh words about AMD in every possible, or just imaginery, chance they got. When you give so many rights to Nvidia, at some point, Nvidia will take advantage of it. AMD will simply follow suit possing as the lesser of the two evils, making things even worst for the average consumer.

Agreed, the tech press has been going too easy on Nvidia for too long, driver issues are downplayed as hotfixes even though Nvidia has released like half a dozen "hotfixes" to fix crashing and black screening 40 and 50 series cards, melting power connectors was doubled down on as "you're plugging it in wrong". The missing ROPs weren't criticized enough and dismissed as "just RMA you card" or the purposely limited stock was barely even reported on. And the continous listing not having DLSS as a con on AMD cards is very annoying, not having DLSS is a moot point with FSR4.
Nvidia gets away with so much stuff, it's not surprising they do even more anti-consumer stuff, they're trying to be like Apple at this point. AMD has always stupidly copied Nvidia and always takes the blame for it while Nvidia wins and still gets away with selling garbage like the 5060 8GB for $300. For example, AMD saying 8GB cards are fine for e-sports games, which is true and probably what most people playing more caual or older titles will buy, yet Nvidia gets away with saying the 5060Ti 8GB will play all of the favorite AAA titles with RT on at 100FPS+.

 

[john_]

The 8GB models need to be cheaper from AMD and Nvidia, an 8GB 9060XT should have been $249, not $299. These 8GB cards are DOA from both companies, especially for those on a budget keeping their GPU for 4-5 years when some games are crashing on 8GB cards today.

Agreed. But in the end AMD wants to be the one selling the DOA GPU to the average, most times, uninformed consumer while enjoying some profit margin and at the same time not damaging the sale of the 16GB model.

 

[JustBenching]

The same should be expected for every company, but again it's clearly double standards for the market leader with mindshare and brand recognition.

No it shouldnt, you got that backwards. The big 90% marketshare will try to shove the worst possible crap down our throats, the 10% company is supposed to offer better products. But generally we have the exact opposite, the dominant company that has 0 incentive keeps making better products than the 10% company. If this is your idea of a healthy market i dont know what to tell you man.

 

[freeagent]

My other computer is a 3070Ti, 4x8 3600C14, and 5800X3D. I honestly do not care what people think of 8GB cards. That system never crashes, and rips through games at 1080p just fine. My kid loves it.

The hate mostly comes from armchair reviewers who have never touched the hardware, imo.

 

[lexluthermiester]

My other computer is a 3070Ti, 4x8 3600C14, and 5800X3D. I honestly do not care what people think of 8GB cards.

Exactly. Anyone who has a problem with 8GB cards can't see the forest for the trees. Very narrow thinking.

The hate mostly comes from armchair reviewers who have never touched the hardware, imo.

The problem is that there are a bunch of people who have a bunch of sway and clout saying this. And they're doing it for an agenda.

 

[wolf]

Probably I ain't seen so-called "certain reviewers" but a reviewer calling a spade a spade is a good reviewer in my book. And I genuinely don't care which tone they use as far as they tell the truth. And, once again, this 8 GB spade is so deep down everyone's backyards blasting tantrums is honestly a very serious underreaction.

To quote myself on the matter.

When reviewing hardware, reviewers should find it difficult to draw a hard line and state with total confidence that their conclusions are the only logical ones that can be drawn from the facts. They should try very hard to eliminate personal opinion from their reviews and provide readers with enough information to form their own educated opinions. They should try to point out the downsides of the products, as well as the niche uses for which otherwise disappointing hardware might shine. Their job is about balance and temperance.

All of the reviews that have done this (example, TPU) are already a complete enough picture, especially recently where there have been both 8GB and 16GB models. I respect those reviews with their balance and temperance, and they respect me as a reader/viewer by giving me facts to form my own conclusions.

 

[Visible Noise]

They also did split up the reviews between curated and non-curated reviews with different NDAs.....

The non-test for an unknown NDA- When one manufacturer learns the wrong thing from another | igor´sLAB

Let’s break the whole thing down chronologically before someone gets upset again about supposedly suppressed content: I already made it clear last week that there is no right to samples – but there is…

www.igorslab.de

Wow, he put the smack down on AMD.

 

[Neo_Morpheus]

As for Nvidia blocking reviews, there weren't any news articles here, some user posted threads were even deleted.

Thats the new normal and its not only here.

But yes, I saw those posts deleted.

I'm talking about articles on TPU, I thought what I said would've been clear enough.

Bro, remember, these people are masters of moving the goal post.

They saw your comment, but will only pick what is convenient to them.

It seems like people are avoiding the question on purpose.

See above.

I saw the title of this article and I was "Of course it would be written like that, but not when it was done by Ngreedia".

Those always come with some nice coat of sugar on them.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Thats the new normal and its not only here.

But yes, I saw those posts deleted.

Yeah, that is what happens when users post comments that are against forum rules. Accusing TPU of being shills is a good way to provoke us regulars. Best to stay away from that line of conversation.

 

[Dr. Dro]

Linus stirring up drama as usual, everyone else who is actually trustworthy and impartial received a card.

Did TPU ask for one?

Yes, W1zz asked for one and was told no. He purchased one out of pocket to review.

Post in thread 'Sapphire Radeon RX 9060 XT Nitro+ OC'

Jun 5, 2025

W1zz, were you provided any review samples of the 8 GB model?

No, I asked. I just bought one today

• W1zzard

• 

Because Ngreedia has been way worse

Haha, right.

 

[eidairaman1]

Yeah, that is what happens when users post comments that are against forum rules. Accusing TPU of being shills is a good way to provoke us regulars. Best to stay away from that line of conversation.

Wait, you're a regular?

 

[Hecate91]

Thats the new normal and its not only here.

But yes, I saw those posts deleted.

Yeah, it isn't just here where reviewers are accused of being clickbait or ragebait because someone doesn't like an impartial review.
Not sure how someone posting a video regarding the Nvidia review manipulation was against the rules here, though.

Bro, remember, these people are masters of moving the goal post.

They saw your comment, but will only pick what is convenient to them.

The goal posts were moved out of sight long ago, it's all deflection and whataboutisms. I'm honestly getting tired of trying to have a conversation with those who will cherrypick or ignore scummy tactics from the company which has a majority of the market.

See above.

I saw the title of this article and I was "Of course it would be written like that, but not when it was done by Ngreedia".

Those always come with some nice coat of sugar on them.

It's a whole coat of icing at this point, on a green cake.
These double standards are getting annoying, but people got the monopoly they wanted, and if AMD had any of the hardware and software issues the RTX 40 and 50 series had, people would be screaming from the rooftops about it, not trying to sweep things under the rug.

 

[wolf]

I'm honestly getting tired of trying to have a conversation with those who will cherrypick or ignore scummy tactics from their favorite company.

And users here are tired of trying to have conversations with perpetually childish and toxic people who can't see beyond their own bias long enough to stop absurd antics like name calling, belittling and winning their own made up arguments.

Perhaps if you both want to have meaningful discussions with forum members on a given topic, stopping that crap would be a start. Just a thought.

Plenty of receipts for what I mean if you want examples of what rubs people the wrong way and why you might not get great engagement out of them.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Plenty of receipts for what I mean if you want examples of what rubs people the wrong way and why you might not get great engagement out of them.

Or why we simply use the Ignore button...

 

[JustBenching]

And users here are tired of trying to have conversations with perpetually childish and toxic people who can't see beyond their own bias long enough to stop absurd antics like name calling, belittling and winning their own made up arguments.

Perhaps if you both want to have meaningful discussions with forum members on a given topic, stopping that crap would be a start. Just a thought.

Plenty of receipts for what I mean if you want examples of what rubs people the wrong way and why you might not get great engagement out of them.

But ngreedia is worse missing rops crashing drivers no performance gains manipulating reviews paying devs pushing rt killed your cat etc.

 

[Visible Noise]

I'm honestly getting tired of trying to have a conversation with those who will cherrypick or ignore scummy tactics from the company which has a majority of the market.

Just an idea here, but if you think the issue lies with everyone else, perhaps you should consider the issue lies with you.

After all, what are the odds that just about everyone else on the site is wrong, and you’re the only one who is right?

Example: A coworker of mine got divorced and all his friends started avoiding him and he blamed them. I had to point out to him that the only thing all his friends had in common was him. The issue wasn’t with his friends, it was with his attitude.

 

[oxrufiioxo]

The arguing over all this is more entertaining than the products...

 

[JustBenching]

The arguing over all this is more entertaining than the products...

The gaslighting is even more so. Straight from the horses mouth

Igor's Lab about the launch procedure of the Radeon 9060 XT:- his NDA was clearly for June 5- Igor publishes at risk on June 4 (as he sees other reviews go online)- AMD called Igor back: others are allowed to publish on June 4, but Igor only on June 5

Less than 15 minutes later, I get a call from AMD asking me to take my review offline immediately. Which I did, grudgingly and against my convictions. Five days of work, over 44,000 words, 111,000 characters, 16 pages – for an article that was released for the trash because I wasn’t part of the inner circle. Content for the garbage can. Thanks for nothing.

And I even had MSRP cards in the lab, ready for testing. But that would have been just as pointless. AMD had explicitly made it clear that only “lead tested” cards and reviews would be admitted to the early embargo.

The same happened to techtesters. AMD gave different deadlines to each reviewer. Clearly not manipulating anything

Below techtesters tweet about it

It's the same story, it definitely wasn't a mistake. I'm just not sure why they saw the errors of their ways when we pushed back on it and told us we can publish our review, but not with Igor.I feel sorry for whoever had to defend the insane logic behind this.

Now to be clear, I don't give a damn about amd's decisions. They are a company that wants to make money, if splitting the reviews or blocking some reviewers would end up making them more money, good for them. Great for them I'd say. They don't owe anyone anything just like nvidia. Im sharing this only in the hopes of stopping this "ngreedia blocking reviewes missing rops bad drivers" nonsense. Not that facts really matter to the people sprouting that nonsense but hey, let a man hope okay?

 

[oxrufiioxo]

The gaslighting is even more so. Straight from the horses mouth

Igor's Lab about the launch procedure of the Radeon 9060 XT:- his NDA was clearly for June 5- Igor publishes at risk on June 4 (as he sees other reviews go online)- AMD called Igor back: others are allowed to publish on June 4, but Igor only on June 5




The same happened to techtesters. AMD gave different deadlines to each reviewer. Clearly not manipulating anything

Below techtesters tweet about it



Now to be clear, I don't give a damn about amd's decisions. They are a company that wants to make money, if splitting the reviews or blocking some reviewers would end up making them more money, good for them. Great for them I'd say. They don't owe anyone anything just like nvidia. Im sharing this only in the hopes of stopping this "ngreedia blocking reviewes missing rops bad drivers" nonsense. Not that facts really matter to the people sprouting that nonsense but hey, let a man hope okay?

It's more funny because they had a front row seat to Nvidia bad decisions with their 2 8GB cards and decided you know what we love dat shid.....

It's even more comical becuase they sent one to HUB and he trashed it hard much harder than the 5060 they litterally show 90% how to break it in games lol...


#wheresmypopcorn

 

[JustBenching]

It's more funny because they had a front row seat to Nvidia bad decisions with their 2 8GB cards and decided you know what we love dat shid.....

It's even more comical becuase HUB trashed it hard much harder than the 5060 they litterally show 90% how to break it in games lol...


#wheresmypopcorn

Which is why im calling HUB a clickbaiting drama channel than an actual reviewer.