Sapphire RX 5700 XT Nitro+ Review

Key features

• AMD RDNA architecture with factory-overclocked performance and advanced Tri-X custom cooling solution
• TriXX Software with enhanced user experience and host of new features
• Up to 15% performance increase in popular games with TriXX Boost
• Improved personalization options with Nitro Glow ARGB System
• Superior PCB and Power designs ensure gamers have Fast and Stable clock speeds
• NITRO+ RX 5700 XT card delivers cool, quiet and affordable performance
• Sapphire CoolTech, DNA and Plus Technologies

Specifications of Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 5700 XT

• GPU: Nitro+ RX 5700 XT Graphics, 2nd Gen 7nm GPU, RDNA Architecture
• Stream Processors: 2,560
• Boost Clock: Up to 2,010 MHz (Performance BIOS) or 1,925MHz (Silent BIOS)
• Game Clock: Up to 1,905 MHz (Performance BIOS)
• Base Clock: 1,770 MHz
• Memory Size/Bus: 8GB/256 bit GDDR6
• Memory Clock: 14Gbps Effective
• Interface: PCI-Express 4.0
• BIOS Support: Dual UEFI
• Sapphire Features: Nitro Glow (ARGB)
• Cooling: Tri-X Cooling Two-Ball Bearing
• Form Factor: 2.3 slot
• Dimensions: 306mm x 135mm x 49mm
• Power Consumption: 265W
• Power Connectors: 2x 8-pin

Our sample of the Sapphire Nitro+ arrived with nothing in the way of accessories. This was frustrating as we would have liked to see the inclusion of an ARGB cable in order that we could use the RGB header that is Sapphire’s Unique Selling Point. We spent a few pounds on an Akasa cable that did the job nicely but consider this to be an annoying omission on Sapphire’s part.

The Sapphire Nitro+ RX 5700 XT sports a large cooler that spans 2.3 slots and seems to be a solid piece of engineering. The Nitro+ cooler uses dual 95mm fans and one 87mm fan, all rated at 3,200rpm with the centre fan rotating in the opposite direction to the two larger fans. It is held in place with 11 screws and once the main cooler is removed you can see there is a separate cooler on the GDDR6 memory chips that is retained by a further four screws, making 15 in all.

PowerColor uses six screws to hold down a single cooler which suggests either that Sapphire is being rather cautious in its approach. Sapphire has used five 6mm heatpipes with the Nitro+ cooler.

With the cooler removed we can see the layout of the graphics card and that Sapphire has employed an 8+1 power phase arrangement. The IR35217 controller handles 8-phases for the GPU while the memory phase in controlled by an On Semi 81022 chip.

There is also a Nuvoton NUC029LAN chip that controls the RGB, the fan check function and the software BIOS which are features of the TriXX 7.0 software. We particularly enjoyed the ability to switch between the Performance and Silent BIOS modes without the chore of opening the PC case and locating the switch on the graphics card.

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