The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT reference GPU has once again made headlines, this time surfacing in a detailed teardown and test, showcasing its impressive engineering. Though AMD hasn’t officially released this model into the general retail market, the RX 9070 XT and its variant are grabbing attention in the OEM PC space and appearing on third-party retail websites thanks to some enterprising retailers.
Recently, this extraordinary card was spotted on Goofish, a platform in China, with an appealing price tag of 5499 RMB, approximately $748 US. This cost is slightly above the US MSRP due to regional taxation and scarcity that drives up the prices.
The card itself boasts a 2.5-slot form factor, decked out in a sleek black shroud with a robust backplate. Notably, the backplate features a sizable cut-out that allows for efficient airflow from the third fan in its triple-fan cooling assembly. Designed under the “Made by AMD” or MBA initiative, the aesthetics are enhanced by prominent Radeon logos on its sides and back. Powering this powerhouse are dual 8-pin connectors, and it comes with display outputs of one HDMI and three DP ports.
Examining below the surface, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU is equipped with a substantial aluminum-finned heatsink comprising two parts, further cooled by a whopping eight large copper heat pipes. Departing from the standard, it embraces a 14-phase PCB design with Samsung ICs functioning in its eight VRAM locations, all surrounding the core GPU. The thermal component features Honeywell PTM7950 TIM, denoted by the PCB ID “109-G295A7-00D_03”.
A thorough testing of the reference GPU unveiled some interesting thermal dynamics. Under stress from Furmark, the GPU reached temperatures of up to 62C, with HotSpot temperatures peaking at 84C and memory temps climbing to 88C. Notably, when the TIM was swapped out for a thermal grease sheet, core temperatures saw little change, but a notable decrease of 6C was observed in memory temperatures, down to 82C.
Reports indicate that some custom designs of the RX 9070 series also suffer from elevated memory temperatures, suggesting users might need to replace thermal pads manually for optimal cooling performance.
While the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT reference GPU flaunts a winning design, it’s currently not available in the States or EU markets, which disappoints some consumers. Nevertheless, a plethora of custom variants present attractive choices for gaming enthusiasts seeking top-tier graphics performance.
This discovery continues to highlight the intriguing balance between design innovation and market accessibility, drawing considerable interest and discussion in tech forums worldwide.
