Finally! Budget GPU drops to $299 as AI hype cools down

Okay so I saw this deal and had to share. The PowerColor Reaper RX 9060 XT 8GB is actually selling for its $299 MSRP right now. I know, I know - a graphics card at its suggested retail price? In 2026? What timeline is this?

Here's what's wild. For the past year, anything with "AI acceleration" slapped on it has been marked up like crazy. But this Navi 44 card? It's just sitting there at $299. I picked one up yesterday to test, and honestly, it's exactly what budget gamers need right now. Not trying to compete with the high-end stuff, just solid 1080p gaming without breaking the bank.

The timing couldn't be better. Everyone's been complaining about GPU prices since that whole AI boom started. My buddy just spent $500 on a card that should've been $350. So seeing the 9060 XT at actual MSRP feels like finding a unicorn. Sure, it's not gonna run everything at 4K ultra, but for $299? You're getting decent VRAM and performance that'll handle most games just fine.

Look, I'm still testing this thing, but early impressions are good. If you've been waiting for GPU prices to make sense again, this might be your shot. PowerColor's version runs cool, doesn't sound like a jet engine, and actually fits in normal cases. Wild concept, right?