Nvidia’s budget-friendly RTX 5060 and RTX 5070 graphics cards have skyrocketed on Steam’s Hardware Survey, with the RTX 5060 jumping 40% in adoption during January 2026 amid a global memory shortage.
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Nvidia RTX 5060 & 5070: Steam Survey Rankings
| GPU Model | January 2026 Share | December 2025 Share | Change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5060 | 2.50% | 1.78% | +40% | #8 |
| RTX 5070 | 2.87% | 2.41% | +19% | #5 |
| RTX 5060 Ti | – | – | Rising | #15 |
| RTX 5070 Ti | – | – | Rising | Top 20 |
Why RTX 5060 & RTX 5070 Lead
Nvidia prioritized 8GB models as VRAM costs skyrocketed. The RTX 5060, RTX 5060 Ti 8GB, and RTX 5070 12GB now represent 75% of Q1 2026 RTX 50 shipments. Supply cuts hit the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and RTX 5070 Ti due to expensive GDDR7 memory.
With 16GB cards priced near 2X MSRP, gamers chose affordability. The RTX 5060 stays near $299 MSRP, while the RTX 5070 remains more accessible than premium alternatives.
Ray Tracing Goes Mainstream
For the first time, all top five Steam GPUs feature ray tracing hardware. Games like Indiana Jones now require it, marking a new standard. The RTX 5070 reached fifth place, knocking out the GTX 1650, while the RTX 5060 hit eighth position.
Market Outlook
DRAM shortages from AI datacenter demand won’t ease until late 2027-2028, per Nvidia. The company canceled the RTX 50 Super refresh planned for CES 2026, though all current SKUs continue shipping.
The RTX 5060 and RTX 5070’s surge reflects smart adaptation to market realities. While 8GB VRAM limits longevity, these cards deliver solid 1080p-1440p performance at affordable prices. For more GPU news, visit TechnoSports hardware.
FAQs
Why did RTX 5060 adoption jump 40% in one month?
Nvidia prioritized 8GB GPU supply amid VRAM shortages, keeping prices near MSRP while 16GB cards doubled in cost.
Is the RTX 5070 the most popular RTX 50 GPU?
Yes, it’s currently the fifth most popular GPU on Steam and leads the RTX 50 series in adoption.
