Sapphire NITRO+ Radeon RX 9070 XT BIOS Leak Reveals "Navi 48 XTX" GPU Variant

[T0@st]

Sapphire's premium NITRO+ Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics card model was the subject of several leaks in the recent past—unsurprisingly, gaming GPU detectives gathered evidence of a very high speculative price point. The AIB's top "champagne gold" offering is due for a full unveiling; we expect to see examples tomorrow—AMD will broadcast a special Radeon RX 9070 Series presentation. Within the past 24 hours, VideoCardz received a compelling tip-off—the GPU news specialist was pointed in the direction of TechPowerUp. Currently, the site's VGA BIOS Collection hosts a downloadable "Sapphire 9070 XT 16 GB BIOS (Nitro+)" ROM.

The VGA BIOS build date is listed as "2024-12-13," with the file becoming available to download roughly two days ago (February 25). VideoCardz highlighted interesting "BIOS Internals" information; namely the mentioning of a "Navi48 XTX" GPU variant. Since CES 2025, AMD and its board partners have kept quiet about finer RDNA 4 details, but insiders and leakers have noted the existence of a generic "Navi 48" GPU. TechPowerUp's GPU database listings of AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB and RX 9070 16 GB (non-XT) are freshly updated; reflecting new information sourced from pre-launch VGA BIOS listings. The incoming flagship seems to utilize a "Navi 48 XT" GPU variant (note: not 48 XTX), while its non-XT sibling is (supposedly) based on "Navi 48 XL." VideoCardz has heard whispers of a next-gen "Navi XTXH," industry moles have linked this sub-model to a supposed "higher-end" 32 GB RDNA 4 card. TPU's GPU database also alludes to an AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT GPU; just updated with a "Navi 48 LE" designation.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[dj-electric]

There's more surprises where that came from.

 

[Super Firm Tofu]

There's more surprises where that came from.

My guess is the reveal will be like RDNA2. Hiding the 6900XT (9080XT) until after everybody 'wowed' over the 6800XT (9070XT).

 

[Prime2515102]

They probably added it before they decided not to compete in the high-end and were too lazy to remove it.

 

[LabRat 891]

XT is already 'full fat'. At best, an XTX SKU would be better-binned for clocking.

If the memory/controller is compatible, I could see a mid-run refresh (ala RX XX50) with faster VRAM and higher core clocks, but that's about it...

 

[GodisanAtheist]

N-Chungus hiding in the wings.

If only...

 

[alwayssts]

XT is already 'full fat'. At best, an XTX SKU would be better-binned for clocking.

If the memory/controller is compatible, I could see a mid-run refresh (ala RX XX50) with faster VRAM and higher core clocks, but that's about it...

What I wrote earlier explained my thinking similar to this as well (based on the Videocardz article which explained the situation differently; that XT models were an 'XTX chip'; in that case you would be right),

Hence why I deleted it, as what TPU is saying *could* make it correct; If the top is XT, there could be a XTX.

It would be weird to have a 'xtx' with simply those improvements, I agree, and therefore what you are saying (and I was saying before) could still be correct, but who knows...maybe an XTX has more shaders/rops.
Given the die size, I would kinda-sorta hope something like that is the case, but it's impossible to know until we see some reviews (for clock potential/power at those clocks) and/or a microscope shot/die diagram.

I would think what you're saying is most-likely correct under most circumstances, but it's also possible AMD might be launching these things in a very weird order to make the most out of one chip.
Maybe the vanilla is really a 'GRE', the XT a 'vanilla', and the XTX/'9080' a 'XT' (by typical standards). That's one way they could go about it, I suppose; unconventional but it could make sense.
Especially when N31 is still *technically* on the market...at least right now. Given N32 was planned to stay in production until Q3 (but was instead stopped Q1), it's possible N31 might stay in production until then.

Perhaps that was when they will launch such a card, or perhaps that was their original plan. I do not know if N31 has stopped production; only N32 and 7900 GRE.
I have to imagine it'll go hand-in-hand against a 24GB 5080 refresh, both conceivably more-or-less splitting the (time) difference between the 50 series original launch and when we'll see 3nm parts.

That's just speculation, as it's fairly-impossible to know for sure (if not the people actually calling those shots; which I ain't), but it would make the most sense, imo.

 

[freeagent]

It looks like a magic brick.

I wonder how long till they start to look like microwave ovens

 

[alwayssts]

It looks like a magic brick.

I wonder how long till they start to look like microwave ovens

We've got to move these refrigerators. We've got to move these color teeveeeees.

In all honesty, no matter the case; wither more units or simply high-as-hell clocks, the power density is going to be enormous.
Theoretically, if you look at current coolers, they'd be okay...but I expect some monsters on whatever the highest-end model turns out to be. Even more-so a brick if they keep a short board design.

 

[AusWolf]

On Navi 21, the XTX was the 6900 XT, the XT the 6800 XT, and the XL the 6800.

Judging by that, Navi 48 XTX is the 9070 XT, Navi 48 XT is the 9070, and Navi 48 XL is the 9060 XT.

 

[LabRat 891]

On Navi 21, the XTX was the 6900 XT, the XT the 6800 XT, and the XL the 6800.

Judging by that, Navi 48 XTX is the 9070 XT, Navi 48 XT is the 9070, and Navi 48 XL is the 9060 XT.

I believe you are correct, or very close.

I could see both XT and XTX Navi 48 bins offered to AIBs for their RX 9070 XT production, with the AIB's option to pay more for the XTX binnings. -Specifically, for their 'halo mid-tier' cards (Nitro+, Red Devil, etc.).

Regardless, TPU will likely be updating the GPUdb; once, people have cards in-hand and are submitting vBIOS rips.
Maybe, we'll have 2 entries for the RX 9070 XT w/ 2 different chips?

but... what do we know? AMD already decided to tableflip their own codename stack.

 

[AusWolf]

I believe you are correct, or very close.

I could see both XT and XTX Navi 48 bins offered to AIBs for their RX 9070 XT production, with the AIB's option to pay more for the XTX binnings. -Specifically, for their 'halo mid-tier' cards (Nitro+, Red Devil, etc.).

The same way Nvidia did with chips like the TU1xxA (factory overclock enabled) and TU1xx (factory overclock not permitted)? That's likely, too.

 

[dj-electric]

My guess is the reveal will be like RDNA2. Hiding the 6900XT (9080XT) until after everybody 'wowed' over the 6800XT (9070XT).

That sounds like a good surprise. The surprise ive hinted about has to do with a particularly unloved power connector.

 

[Tomorrow]

My guess is the reveal will be like RDNA2. Hiding the 6900XT (9080XT) until after everybody 'wowed' over the 6800XT (9070XT).

There is no higher end RDNA4 chip. When will people let go of this ridiculous hope?

 

[Super Firm Tofu]

That sounds like a good surprise. The surprise ive hinted about has to do with a particularly unloved power connector.

I had just assumed that was going to happen - with ASRock releasing the 7000 series that included it and the other rumors floating around.

I actually would prefer that as all my PSU's are now ATX3.x compliant.

There is no higher end RDNA4 chip. When will people let go of this ridiculous hope?

Well, we know that now. It wasn't really a 'hope', just a guess.

If they had something held back for an 'oh, and one more thing' moment, it could given them a boost they so desperately need.

 

[medi01]

My guess is the reveal will be like RDNA2. Hiding the 6900XT (9080XT) until after everybody 'wowed' over the 6800XT (9070XT).

I suspect it is simply the OCed 9070 XT and at some point they decided it was not worth it.