Nvidia continues to mandate 16-pin connectors on its higher-end GeForce RTX graphics cards, with RTX 5090 and 5080 serving as the latest examples. However, it seems the company isn’t preparing to bring 12V-2×6 headers to its more-affordable RTX 5060 Series. In fact, a new leak suggests that the cards will follow the same path as their predecessors and use a single 8-pin.
According to Brother Pan Talks Computers, a Chinese media outlet with ties to Zotac, Nvidia is briefing board partners that 16-pin is out and 8-pin is in for GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and 5060. However, despite power connectors remaining the same the recommended power supply wattage is increasing to 650W, up from the RTX 4060’s 550W. This may indicate that the card’s TDP will see a generational rise, like its other RTX 50 Series siblings.
As a reminder, these 16-pin connectors are not born from the problematic 12VHWPR design and instead rock the newer, more reliable 12V-2×6 form factor. The reason for not bringing the connector to GeForce RTX 5060 Series is likely due to cost, compatibility, and simple lack of necessity. There’s no chance that these budget cards will draw a huge amount of power and the target user base likely doesn’t have an ATX 3.1 power supply despite their growing prevalence.
Alongside whispers of 8-pin connectors, the outlet also reiterates prior rumours that RTX 5060 Series will launch in March. It also offers performance and pricing estimations for both graphics cards. More specifically, RTX 5060 Ti calls for 3,299-3,599 RMB (£362-395) while RTX 5060 will retail for 2,599-3,399 RMB (£285-373). It’s difficult to say how these price points will translate exactly into USD and GBP, especially given recent tariffs imposed by both the United States and Chinese government.
In terms of performance, Brother Pan Talks Computers describes GeForce RTX 5060 Ti as close to RTX 4070, as well as Radeon RX 7900 GRE and 7800 XT. Meanwhile, RTX 5060 will hold its own against RTX 4060 Ti and RX 7700 XT. Whether this will be enough to see off RX 9070 and 9060 graphics cards remains up in the air.
