**Nvidia bans comparisons between GeForce RTX 5060 and RTX 4060**
TechSpot, together with the YouTube channel Hardware Unboxed, has explained why independent reviews of the GeForce RTX 5060 graphics card shouldn’t be expected right now.
It became known a few weeks ago that Nvidia decided not to provide drivers for RTX 5060 reviews. According to Hardware Unboxed, the company was only willing to supply drivers to “friendly” reviewers and media outlets who agreed to follow its strict guidelines and publish so-called *“preliminary”* reviews of the new GPU. The move was intended to avoid spoiling the launch of the most affordable gaming graphics card in the Blackwell series. However, as it turned out, that was only the tip of the iceberg.
According to Hardware Unboxed, one of Nvidia’s key requirements for these “preliminary” reviews was not to compare the RTX 5060 with the RTX 4060. Instead, the new card could only be compared against the older RTX 3060 and RTX 2060 models. Moreover, Nvidia insisted that all RTX 5060 benchmarks be conducted with the multi-frame generation feature enabled in x4 mode — a setting that significantly inflates the reported frame rates, most of which are artificially generated. Under such conditions, older RTX cards that lack this feature appear far weaker in performance charts, often trailing the newcomer by a factor of three or four.
These “preliminary” RTX 5060 reviews also come with other restrictions. For example, most game benchmarks are limited to 1080p resolution, following a strict list of selected titles and mandatory use of DLSS (along with the aforementioned multi-frame generator).
TechSpot notes that the absence of genuine independent reviews — contrasted with these restricted “previews” — is especially alarming.
This is not the first time Nvidia has attempted to manipulate the media and potential buyers. Many still remember the “meme-worthy” marketing of the GeForce RTX 3090 as an “8K gaming card” and the rigid guidelines surrounding 4K testing for the RTX 3080. Nvidia has long been willing to leverage its influence to selectively highlight the strengths of its products while concealing less flattering realities.
As TechSpot writes, with the RTX 5060 coverage, Nvidia has “hit a new low.” This marks the first time the company has actively excluded nearly all independent reviewers and voices from the launch of what could have been its most widely adopted GPU. Such a move sets a troubling precedent — granting access only to media outlets that toe the corporate line, thereby marginalizing independent, critical coverage in favor of promotional fluff. This could also distort search algorithms and public perception, since during the launch window, online discussions are dominated by glowing previews rather than objective reviews that have yet to appear.
All this is happening at a time when Nvidia is more powerful than ever. It is now one of the world’s three largest companies, with a market capitalization of $3.3 trillion, and the majority of its revenue comes from selling AI accelerators for data centers.
Gaming has become a relatively minor part of Nvidia’s business. That’s why it’s hard to reconcile their aggressive media tactics with their broader corporate messaging. If their hardware truly speaks for itself, why resort to such heavy-handed strategies? At this scale, the risk of backlash or reputational harm — especially now that the Nvidia name is known far beyond the PC gaming community — may outweigh any short-term marketing benefits.
As for the RTX 5060 itself, TechSpot advises all potential buyers *not* to purchase the card based solely on the current “preliminary” reviews. It’s better to wait for full independent benchmarks that reveal not only its strengths — which appear limited — but also its flaws. For example, with just 8 GB of memory, the card is already outdated even as it hits store shelves.
TechSpot adds that about a month ago, when Nvidia launched the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and RTX 5060 Ti 8GB and announced the RTX 5060, company representatives told journalists that the $200 RTX 5060 wasn’t targeted at enthusiasts who follow detailed reviews from channels like Hardware Unboxed — implying that comprehensive reviews weren’t important for this class of product at launch. Naturally, TechSpot disagreed. During the same conversation, Nvidia’s representatives added that “gamers love the 60 series.” So which is it? Do gamers love it, yet enthusiasts who care about reviews aren’t supposed to?
Perhaps that logic might apply to ultra-budget cards priced under $150, but certainly not to what has historically been the most popular class of GPUs in Nvidia’s entire lineup each generation.

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