Wednesday, April 23rd 2025

Sapphire Launches NITRO+ Radeon RX 9070 Model, a Month+ After Flagship XT Variant
Sapphire introduced two brand-new NITRO+ models prior to the official launch of AMD's RDNA 4 graphics card generation. The manufacturer rolled out its flagship Radeon RX 9070 XT card on day one—March 6—but the "lesser" NITRO+ sibling was absent at retail. Late last week, ITHome revealed that Sapphire had finally got round to globally releasing their NITRO+ Radeon RX 9070 16 GB SKU. At the time of writing, Overclockers UK seems to have cards in stock—priced at £629.99 (including VAT). Unsurprisingly, the freshly launched NITRO+ Radeon RX 9070 model utilizes the exact same shroud and backplate design that is present on Sapphire's range-topper.
The latest entry retains all of the more expensive unit's mod cons—including a Quick Connect MagniPlate feature, STEALTH hidden power cable, 12V-2x6 (H++) external power connector, Tri-X cooling technology, optimized composite heatpipes, and Honeywell PTM7950 TIM. Major differences are disclosed in Sapphire's "engine clock" specs: "boost clock up to 2700 MHz" and "game clock up to 2210 MHz." The Hong Kong-based company has not officially commented on circumstances that led to the delay of its NITRO+ Radeon RX 9070 graphics card. VideoCardz has dismissed claims about this particular model being postponed due to rumors of a displacement by forthcoming Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12 GB options.
Sources:
ITHome, VideoCardz, Overclockers UK
The latest entry retains all of the more expensive unit's mod cons—including a Quick Connect MagniPlate feature, STEALTH hidden power cable, 12V-2x6 (H++) external power connector, Tri-X cooling technology, optimized composite heatpipes, and Honeywell PTM7950 TIM. Major differences are disclosed in Sapphire's "engine clock" specs: "boost clock up to 2700 MHz" and "game clock up to 2210 MHz." The Hong Kong-based company has not officially commented on circumstances that led to the delay of its NITRO+ Radeon RX 9070 graphics card. VideoCardz has dismissed claims about this particular model being postponed due to rumors of a displacement by forthcoming Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12 GB options.
11 Comments on Sapphire Launches NITRO+ Radeon RX 9070 Model, a Month+ After Flagship XT Variant
(To be honest, I bet you folks probably have better spending habits than us fat burger people anyway.)
You can blame AI.
Funny thing about the 9070 Nitro+ is Sapphire's Pulse is already one of the best coolers out there. Likely only reason for the Nitro+ is an increased TDP.
The stuff like AMD's GRE (Golden Rabbit Edition) was not new for the Ch/Asia. It was not even seasonal/yearly/event related, but rather solid. And it was sold for years, decades, "silenty", on the closed markets. This is just the AMD marketing dept. decided to sold the exclusive stuff to the global market, to get more precious "moneyz". Not really. It was sold to the publicity/plebs, for just month. But It was sold to the suppliers/e-stores, sitting in warehouses, since early January/late December, with the desighn and production being done months before.. Exactly! Considering the glutonous "metal-looking" plastic bricks, as Nitro+ has become, which do not even have the physical effin' EFI/BIOS switch, and garbage connector, in uterly rubbish place, there's barely any point in Nitro+ at all. while the Pulse does the same job, with smaller cooler, and significantly cheaper "MSRP". Nitro+ has lost it's glory and credibility, due to absence of features, which made it "superior". Including the cooling capabilities, that being challanged not only by the rival AIBs, but the same cheaper tier SKUs.
www.newegg.com/msi-rtx-3060-ventus-2x-12g-oc-nvidia-geforce-rtx-3060-12gb-gddr6/p/N82E16814137632?Item=N82E16814137632&cm_sp=Homepage_SS-_-P3_14-137-632-_-04242025
www.newegg.com/gigabyte-gv-r78xtgaming-oc-16gd-amd-radeon-rx-7800-xt-16gb-gddr6/p/N82E16814932657
www.newegg.com/asus-geforce-rtx-4070-ti-super-tuf-rtx4070tis-16g-gaming/p/N82E16814126686
and there no 9 series in stock ;)
Not that I'd actually get any of them.