MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Shadow 2X specifications and in-depth review

MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Shadow 2X

Manufacturer: MSI

The MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Shadow 2X is a graphics card designed for high-performance gaming and creative applications. It comes equipped with 8GB of GDDR7 VRAM, ensuring smooth performance even in demanding tasks.

With a GPU clock speed of 2280 MHz and support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, it offers impressive rendering capabilities. Additionally, its 448 GB/s memory bandwidth and 19.18 TFLOPS of floating-point performance contribute to efficient and fast graphical computations.

Pros
  • Supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, enabling access to the latest graphics features and optimizations for modern games.
  • Equipped with 8GB of GDDR7 VRAM, providing adequate memory for handling high-resolution textures and complex graphical tasks.
  • Includes 3 DisplayPort outputs and 1 HDMI 2.1b port, allowing for flexible multi-display setups.
  • Features Intel Resizable BAR support, improving data transfer efficiency between the CPU and GPU for better performance in supported games.
  • Supports ray tracing for enhanced lighting, shadows, and reflections, offering more realistic visual effects.
Cons
  • Does not include USB-C, DVI, or mini DisplayPort outputs, limiting display connectivity options compared to some competitors.
  • Lacks air-water cooling support, which may affect thermal performance in demanding environments.
  • No support for XeSS (XMX) or RGB lighting, which could be a drawback for users seeking those specific features.
Who is this for?

The MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Shadow 2X is ideal for gamers and content creators who demand high-performance rendering and realistic graphics. With its 8GB of GDDR7 VRAM and support for ray tracing, it excels in handling graphically intense tasks such as gaming at high resolutions or 3D rendering. The card is also suitable for users who require multi-display setups, thanks to its 3 DisplayPorts and 1 HDMI port, making it great for immersive multi-monitor configurations.

Who is this NOT for?

This product may not be ideal for users looking for maximum display versatility or higher-end cooling solutions. With no USB-C ports, DVI outputs, or air-water cooling support, it may not meet the needs of those requiring extensive display connectivity or advanced thermal management for extremely high-performance tasks. Additionally, the lack of XeSS (XMX) may limit performance benefits for certain AI-enhanced tasks compared to similar products with support for this technology.

Performance:

GPU clock speed 2280 MHz
GPU turbo 2497 MHz
pixel rate 119.9 GPixel/s
floating-point performance 19.18 TFLOPS
texture rate 299.6 GTexels/s
GPU memory speed 1750 MHz
shading units 3840
texture mapping units (TMUs) 120
render output units (ROPs) 48
Has Double Precision Floating Point (DPFP)

The performance of the MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Shadow 2X is driven by a GPU clock speed of 2280 MHz, with the ability to boost up to 2497 MHz in turbo mode. It offers an impressive pixel rate of 119.9 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 299.6 GTexels/s, enabling fast and detailed rendering. With 3840 shading units and 120 texture mapping units (TMUs), the GPU can efficiently handle complex graphical tasks. The card also delivers 19.18 TFLOPS of floating-point performance and features 48 render output units (ROPs) for optimal visual quality. Additionally, it supports double precision floating point (DPFP) calculations, enhancing its computational capabilities.

Memory:

effective memory speed 28000 MHz
maximum memory bandwidth 448 GB/s
VRAM 8GB
GDDR version GDDR7
memory bus width 128-bit
Supports ECC memory

The MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Shadow 2X is equipped with 8GB of GDDR7 VRAM and offers an effective memory speed of 28000 MHz, ensuring fast and efficient data processing. It supports a maximum memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s, enhancing overall performance, especially in memory-intensive applications. The card also features a 128-bit memory bus width and supports ECC memory for added error correction, contributing to the stability and reliability of computations.

Features:

DirectX version DirectX 12 Ultimate
OpenGL version 4.6
OpenCL version 3
Supports multi-display technology
supports ray tracing
Supports 3D
supports DLSS
has XeSS (XMX)
AMD SAM / Intel Resizable BAR Intel Resizable BAR
has LHR
has RGB lighting
supported displays 4

The MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Shadow 2X supports a wide range of advanced features, including DirectX 12 Ultimate and ray tracing for enhanced graphical fidelity. It is also compatible with DLSS, which improves performance while maintaining visual quality. The card supports multi-display technology, enabling a seamless setup with up to four displays. Additionally, it features Intel Resizable BAR support, ensuring better data flow between the CPU and GPU for optimized performance.

Ports:

has an HDMI output
HDMI ports 1
HDMI version HDMI 2.1b
DisplayPort outputs 3
USB-C ports 0
DVI outputs 0
mini DisplayPort outputs 0

The MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Shadow 2X provides a variety of connectivity options, including 1 HDMI port supporting HDMI 2.1b and 3 DisplayPort outputs. It does not include USB-C, DVI, or mini DisplayPort outputs. With these ports, the card allows for flexible multi-display setups and high-definition visual output.

General info:

GPU architecture Blackwell
release date May 2025
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 145W
PCI Express (PCIe) version 5
semiconductor size 5 nm
number of transistors 21900 million
Has air-water cooling
width 197 mm
height 120 mm

The MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Shadow 2X is powered by the Blackwell GPU architecture and features a 5 nm semiconductor size, offering efficient performance. With a thermal design power (TDP) of 145W, it balances power consumption with output. It supports PCIe version 5 and houses 21.9 billion transistors, contributing to its computational strength. The card measures 197 mm in width and 120 mm in height, and does not feature air-water cooling.

Final Verdict

The MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Shadow 2X is a solid choice for gamers and content creators seeking strong performance in modern graphical workloads. With its 8GB of GDDR7 VRAM and support for advanced features like ray tracing and DirectX 12 Ultimate, it delivers a compelling experience for high-resolution gaming and detailed visual effects. However, its lack of USB-C ports and advanced cooling may limit its appeal for users with specific connectivity or thermal management needs. Overall, it is a well-rounded option for users focused on high-quality visual output and multi-display setups.

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