TechPowerUp's W1zzard did not honor the ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC Edition graphics card model with any awards—as disclosed in his late January evaluation, a major negative point was highlighted: "no additional power limit increases allowed." The premium-tier ASUS offering managed to top TPU's "Maximum Overclock Comparison" GeForce RTX 5080-class table; comfortably leading the pack with an out-of-the-box (default) 400 W power setting. Reviewers and well-heeled owners—of this $1500+ special quad-fan package—have lamented the apparent lack of extra headroom. Sitting in fifth place was GIGABYTE's RTX 5080 GAMING OC SKU; a card that can support up to 450 W. As reported by VideoCardz earlier today, ASUS has taken onboard aforementioned feedback.

Resultant under-the-hood tinkerings were implemented mid-way through last month. The "ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5080 16 GB GDDR7 OC Edition" support page has welcomed a new downloadable file—authored on March 14—this BIOS update is advertised as being capable of: "increasing the (model's) maximum TGP to 450 W." Additional bragging rights will be granted with this patch; owners can boast about their expensive bits of kit being further enhanced—NVIDIA's reference specification TGP/TDP is 360 W. Thumbs up go to Team ASUS once again—mid-February Astral series updates tweaked noise profiles; not too long after an absorption of launch day criticism.

NVIDIA's unannounced GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB and 8 GB models are reportedly due for an official unveiling mid-way through this month; previous reports have suggested an April 16 retail launch. First leaked late last year, the existence of lower end "Blackwell" GPUs was "semi-officially" confirmed by system integrator specification sheets—two days ago, reportage pointed out another example. Inevitably, alleged launch pricing information has come to light as we close in on release time—courtesy of Board Channels; an inside track den of some repute. The "Expert No. 1" account has alluded to fresh Team Green rumors; they reckon that the company's incoming new model pricing will be "relatively aggressive."

Supply chain whispers indicate that NVIDIA will repeat its (previous-gen) MSRP guide policies, due to the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti cards offering "estimated similar performance" to GeForce RTX 4060 Ti options. Speculative guide price points of $499 and $399 are anticipated—according to industry moles—for the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB and RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB SKUs (respectively). Expert No. 1 has tracked recent GeForce RTX 4060 Ti price cuts; intimating the clearing out of old-gen stock. Team Green's GeForce RTX 5060 design is reportedly a more distant prospect—slated for arrival next month—so supply chain leakers have not yet picked up on pre-release MSRP info.

Just over two weeks ago, Acer unveiled its brand-new Predator BiFrost and Nitro Radeon RX 9070 Series graphics cards. Despite being a late contributor to AMD's opening salvo of RDNA 4, the Taiwanese manufacturer made a big impression with its reveal of four premium specced models. In particular, Acer's Predator BiFrost Radeon RX 9070 OC 16 GB and Nitro Radeon RX 9070 XT OC 16 GB SKUs will be joining an elite group of custom options that boast 3100 MHz boost clocks. Mid-March press material did not provide any insight into launch pricing—weeks later, Overclockers UK has opened up pre-orders for the four Predator BiFrost and Nitro RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 cards. Just prior to RDNA 4 launch time, Overclockers UK (OcUK) received plenty of press attention—in particular, their building of a sizable cube out of an impressive quantity of Sapphire PULSE Radeon RX 9070 XT retail stock.

The British retailer seemed confident with its pre-kickoff accumulation of various AIB models, but demand quickly outstripped supply on day one. Unfortunately, OcUK has implemented dreaded price hikes across its Radeon RX 9070 Series product listings. Looking at Acer's main competition in the premium custom Radeon RX 9070 XT tier, OcUK has jacked up prices by £20 to £30 (approx.). ASRock's Radeon RX 9070 XT Taichi OC model—one of the elite 3.1 GHz boosters—launched at £700 (including VAT, shipping fee is extra), but was adjusted up to £728.99 (~$943 USD) at some point last month. The British store's pre-order price for the "cheaper" Nitro Radeon RX 9070 XT OC SKU is £749.99 (inc. VAT), while the flagship Predator BiFrost costs £779.99 (inc. VAT) for reservation. GIGABYTE's (almost) £800 AORUS RX 9070 XT ELITE model is the only other 3.1 GHz boost-capable option sitting above the £750 mark. Looking at "on paper" information (e.g. aluminium backplates, state-of-the-art cooling, etc.)—Acer's two headliners are impressive offerings, but rival cards already exist with similar credentials at "lower prices." Historically, TechPowerUp's resident GPU reviewer—W1zzard—has not received any graphics card samples from the manufacturer. Perhaps this drought will end in the near future...

Around RDNA 4's launch period, ASRock's web presences listed an intriguing Radeon RX 9070 XT Steel Legend Dark 16 GB model—seemingly not mentioned in official introductory press material. As covered on TechPowerUp earlier this month, this unusual darkened spin-off of the "traditional white" Steel Legend design received little fanfare—the obvious reason being that gray/black stock was not readied for AMD's March 6 rollout to market. Over the past weekend, VideoCardz put an investigative spotlight on a Hermitage AkiHabara/GDM Japan press release. It turns out that ASRock's Radeon RX 9070 XT Steel Legend Dark SKU will become available early next month, starting with the Japanese "domestic market."

The manufacturer's global website was not updated with a similar PR item, so an international/widespread launch is likely planned for a later date. The "expected market price" upon release is 133,800 yen (including tax), which converts to roughly US$891. Industry watchdogs believe that the Dark variant will roll out "globally" with the exact same price tag as the already launched pale sibling. The Taiwanese brand did not introduce a Radeon RX 9070 (non-XT) Steel Legend Dark overclocked model, to exist alongside their white-hued RX 9070 Steel Legend OC offering. The wallet-friendlier triple-fan ASRock RX 9070 Challenger SKU—in black, with a splash of ARGB—is their only other Navi 48 XT GPU-based option.

HP New Zealand's own webstore and Best Buy Canada have both listed OMEN 16L pre-built compact gaming PC systems with GeForce RTX 5060 Ti graphics cards. At this stage in time, NVIDIA's lower end "Blackwell" gaming GPUs are no longer big secrets—"full specifications" leaked out last week, and industry watchdogs recently predicted an April 16 launch day. As per usual, momomo_us sniffed out HP NZ's accidental publication of NDA-busting material—at the time of writing, the company's Kiwi branch has scrubbed these offending items from their webshop. Judging from preserved screenshots, both models were specced with GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB graphics cards.

Best Buy Canada's listing is still active, and advertises HP's upcoming white OMEN 16L variant as: "powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 8700F processor and 16 GB DDR5 RAM, it ensures smooth gaming and multitasking. NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti graphics card with dedicated memory enhances immersion with seamless visuals...(the) GeForce RTX 5060 Ti graphics card with 16 GB GDDR7 dedicated memory ensures fluid visuals." Cost of ownership is listed as $1799.99 CAD (~$1263 USD), with a May 16 release—potentially placeholder information. Insiders reckon that Team Green's GeForce RTX 5060 (non-Ti) launch is delayed to mid-May. Roughly two weeks ago, a GeForce RTX 5060-based Acer pre-built gaming PC turned up online.

Late last week, a leak suggested a forthcoming Spectral White Limited Edition refresh of the existing Red Devil Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics card design. PowerColor's pale reinterpretation of flagship level hardware appeared online courtesy of an accidental Amazon listing; indicating $899/€929 pricing. The Taiwanese manufacturer's Spectral White product line—historically favoring Hellhound SKUs—is viewed favorably as offering a nearly "all-white" aesthetic; extending to proper coloration of PCB and I/O panel designs.

As expected, PowerColor has distributed Limited Edition packages to media and influencer outlets—as evidenced by Overclock3D's very recent showcasing of a sample unit. In response to last week's leak, OC3D's "Tiny" Tom Logan "previewed" the ghostly Red Devil RX 9070 XT variant—he noted that a "performance/review" NDA is still in effect; due to be lifted on April 2. Video coverage explored a slight "bending of the rules," but Logan did not power up his evaluation specimen. As evidenced by the unboxing process, PowerColor has bundled in several Spectral White-tinted accessories—indicating a commendable level of attention to detail. By contrast, the manufacturer's slightly inelegant and contradictory nomenclature is confirmed by outer box labelling—loudly exclaiming: "RED DEVIL Spectral White." Amusingly, Logan and his team have nicknamed this new sub-variant: "White Devil."

Around late January, out-of-date AMD marketing material teased the existence of a Radeon RX 9070 series reference card design. Almost a month later, PC hardware news outlets picked up on an official signal about Team Red's launch lineup consisting entirely of board partner-produced options. First-party enthusiasts were disappointed by the apparent total lack of "Made by AMD" (MBA) solutions, but some unusual specimens appeared online roughly two weeks post-RDNA 4's launch. Reports pointed to triple-fan Radeon RX 9070 XT and dual-fan RX 9070 MBA cards being exchanged for cash via Chinese black market channels. Photographed examples seemed to sport a somewhat muted black shroud design—not quite as exciting when compared to AMD's marketed/rendered brushed metal effect promo units.

Members of the Chiphell forum have spent months leaking many aspects of Team Red's foray into a new generation of graphics architecture—going back to the days of old nomenclature: Radeon RX 8800 XT. Yesterday, one participant revealed their fresh purchase of a Radeon RX 9070 non-XT MBA card. They sold their old GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER 12 GB graphics card, in favor of Navi 48 GPU-based OEM hardware. The post focused mainly on photo uploads and screenshots, but a brief description stated: "purchased at original price (TPU note: presumably 4499 RMB), room temperature is 16 degrees Celsius. Dual fans on the front. The back panel has an AMD logo, but it's a sticker." As theorized by VideoCardz, AMD likely produced a limited number of pre-release "public" MBA cards. The publication reckons that partner companies have received a smattering of samples for evaluation or software development purposes. The presence of an old school Radeon logo (pre-RDNA era) is a head scratcher, given the unit's supposed first-party origin.

Last week, ZOTAC's Chinese branch fully unveiled their GeForce RTX 5080 Apocalypse OC graphics card via a special regional giveaway. The brand's Weibo account detailed a JX Online 3-themed competition, with the brand-new "elegant + powerful" card advertised as featuring: "a very beautiful mecha appearance, luxurious materials, and excellent performance." The Hong Kong-based manufacturer started to tease its new-gen Apocalypse model back in January, alongside familiar SOLID and AMP Extreme INFINITY offerings. Lucky winners will be getting their hands on one of ZOTAC's most extravagant shroud designs.

The latest iteration seems to sport a slightly evolved take on a previous-gen offering: ZOTAC's RTX 4080 Apocalypse OC SKU (see last photo below). We are likely looking at another quad-slot behemoth, with a sizeable ARGB ring surrounding the card's central cooling fan. The brand's design team has decided to go with a white backplate (instead of black), decorated with angular "mecha" graphics, while the shroud sports a few gold sections. Curiously, the latest setup seems to lack rear-mounting points for two extra mini-ARGB cooling fans placed over backplate cutouts—as seen on Ada Lovelace-era options. ZOTAC's January teaser hinted about Apocalypse SKUs emerging across their GeForce RTX 50-series stack (5090 down to 5070)—VideoCardz has heard murmurs about a possible RTX 5070 Ti variant being released in the near future. At the time of writing, ZOTAC China's website does not feature a dedicated GeForce RTX 5080 Apocalypse OC product page.

Last week, we heard rumors about NVIDIA delaying its launches of GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 by a couple of weeks. Initially, PC hardware watchdogs anticipated a product unveiling before GTC 2025 kick-off time. Industry insiders did not fully disclose the reasons behind Team Green's revised release schedules for more "budget-friendly" GB206 GPU-based offerings, but supply chain moles posited that GeForce RTX 5060 Ti graphics cards would reach retail by mid-April. As noted by VideoCardz last Saturday, a specific date was leaked by a reliable source: wxnod.

The tenured PC hardware soothsayer reckons that NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti "will be released on April 16th at 9 pm" in 16 GB and 8 GB forms. According to VideoCardz's insider network, "briefings" regarding this alleged launch date were not yet distributed to key figures (i.e. board partners). An upcoming Wednesday rollout could be legitimate, given that Team Green and AIBs let loose GeForce RTX 5070 cards on March 5. A recent leak of GeForce RTX 5060 Ti "full specifications" indicates the laying of groundwork; leading to a potential launch in the coming weeks.

AMD is likely readying its Radeon RX 9060 Series graphics cards for launch in the near future—an official Q2 2025 release window was announced late last month, but company representatives did not go into great detail regarding specifications or pricing. Early March leaks indicated that Team Red board partners were preparing custom Radeon RX 9060 XT models in 16 GB and 8 GB forms; a recent discovery—courtesy of the ever intrepid harukaze5719—corroborates these configurations. Last week, ASUS registered multiple unannounced TUF Gaming, PRIME and DUAL Radeon RX 9060 XT models with the South Korean Radio Agency. Interestingly, only the TUF Gaming OC and non-OC cards are specced with pools of 16 GB VRAM. The rest of the pack makes do with 8 GB.

Similarly, several EEC registrations of Acer "Nitro" and "Predator BiFrost" Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB and 8 GB SKUs were spotted by harukaze5719 three weeks ago. According to VideoCardz, leaked AIB technical data suggests the use of GDDR6, 20 Gbps memory chips and 128-bit memory interfaces. TechPowerUp's GPU database still specifies that the Radeon RX 9060 XT is based on a Navi 48 LE GPU variant, but other sources reckon that a "smaller" Navi 44 model would be more appropriate for this class of graphics card. With the rumored delay of NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 models, AMD's lower end RDNA 4 offerings could launch during a quiet period.

A ramped up flow of early-to-mid March period leaks—regarding upcoming NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 graphics cards—suggested an official pre-GTC 2025 unveiling of lower-end Blackwell gaming GPUs. Speculative specifications appeared online earlier in the month, but some key technical talking points seemed to be missing. As reported yesterday, insiders believe that Team Green has adjusted its new product release schedule. Leaked roadmaps have outlined GeForce RTX 5060 Ti cards arriving by mid-April 2025, with less potent RTX 5060 models launching around the middle of May. Despite the alleged delay, VideoCardz has continued its investigation into pre-launch conditions. Their latest report points to full GeForce RTX 5060 Ti specifications being distributed to board partners, at least in the recent past.

Leaked details seemingly reconfirm the existence of 16 GB and 8 GB variants (on a 128-bit memory bus); both utilizing the same GB206-300-A1 GPU with 4608 CUDA cores. VideoCardz disclosed a couple of finer (new) details:"based on the specs we have, both models will ship with 28 Gbps memory. This means that the bandwidth is 448 GB/s, which is 55% higher than the last-gen model. Moving on to GPU clocks, NVIDIA has set a 2407 MHz base clock and a 2572 MHz boost clock for this GB206-based model. This means that the base clock is 97 MHz and the boost is 37 MHz higher than the RTX 4060 Ti." The fresh leak suggest that a few of Team Green's AIBs will be configuring their custom designs with 8-pin power connectors; sufficient for a reported 180 W TDP-rated product. VideoCardz anticipates that the vast majority of GeForce RTX 5060 Ti models will utilize 16-pin connectors. Unfortunately, finalized price guides were not discovered during recent sleuthing sessions.

Acer today unveiled its latest Predator BiFrost and Acer Nitro graphics cards, powered by the next-generation AMD Radeon RX 9000 Series GPUs. This cutting-edge line-up includes six models designed to elevate gaming and creative experiences with next-level performance and visual fidelity. The models include the Predator BiFrost Radeon RX 9070 XT OC 16GB, Predator BiFrost Radeon RX 9070 OC 16GB, and four Nitro graphics cards: Acer Nitro Radeon RX 9070 XT OC 16GB, Acer Nitro Radeon RX 9070 OC 16GB, and standard versions of the Acer Nitro Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB and Acer Nitro Radeon RX 9070 16GB.

The new GPUs are engineered for ultra-fast gaming and demanding tasks, leveraging AMD RDNA 4 compute units and up to 16 GB of memory to deliver immersive 8K visuals. The advanced cooling technology, featuring three FrostBlade 4.0 fans, and reinforced designs ensures systems can be pushed to their limits while maintaining peak performance. DIY gamers will appreciate new software features such as Acer Intelligence Space, which offers intuitive AI system detection, and Acer Game Assistance's adaptive aim system to give players a competitive edge.

A farcical "GIGABYTE RTX 5090 Super Bundle" was highlighted by PC hardware media outlets last week—the steep demand for flagship and high-end NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50-series "Blackwell" graphics cards has prompted the creation of many "innovative" anti-scalper selling strategies. Another ludicrous example has emerged courtesy of fresh news coverage focusing on an "EliteHubs x COLORFUL RTX 5080 Campaign." This competition is open to residents of India—EliteHubs advertises itself as a popular regional "computer accessories store and Esports tournament organizer." Unfortunately, current global market conditions have inflated prices of recently launched new generation graphics card models—the "EliteHubs x COLORFUL RTX 5080 Campaign" apparently rallies against such practices, albeit in an extremely limited fashion. The competition's author delivered crucial details: "we're thrilled to announce an exclusive opportunity where three lucky winners will each receive a brand-new COLORFUL RTX 5080 Ultra White OC graphics card—one unit per person! This powerhouse graphics card is available at the official NVIDIA MSRP of Rs. 1,10,000 (~$1265 USD)."

According to TechSpot, a quick investigation revealed that the advertised cost of ownership was accurate—they noted: "checking other online stores in India shows all the COLORFUL RTX 5080 Ultra W OC models are priced above that MSRP. This is a higher-end third-party card, admittedly, so it appears participants are getting the chance to buy it at a slightly cheaper price than usual. Still, most people expect competitions to have actual prizes, and the fact there will be only three winners is a bit comical." Prior to official launch—in late January—a Vietnamese customer managed to bag themselves the same model for a princely sum of $1400. VideoCardz did not receive a response from COLORFUL, prior to the publication of their news coverage. The Chinese AIB did not provide comment when asked about said promotional campaign.

This month, we at AMD celebrate two significant milestones in the Radeon story. First, the 25th anniversary of Radeon, a journey that began in 2000 with the ATI Radeon DDR card. Back then, 32 MB of VRAM, a 143 MHz clocks, and 30M transistors were cutting-edge tools that sparked your early adventures. Today, those specs are a nostalgic memory, dwarfed by the leaps we've made together culminating in the 24 GB of memory, multi-GHz clocks, and nearly 60B transistors of RDNA 3 cards driving the immersive worlds you now explore. But we're not stopping there. We're proud to continue that innovation journey with the RDNA 4-based Radeon RX 9070 XT and Radeon RX 9070, available starting today. This is more than a new chapter for us, it's a promise to you, the gamers who fuel our passion. We know what matters when you choose your next GPU: raw performance to conquer your favorite titles, tech that's ready for tomorrow's blockbusters, and value that respects your investment. That's precisely what RDNA 4 delivers.

Our goal with RDNA 4 wasn't to chase an elite crown few can reach. Instead, we focused on you, the heart of gaming, crafting cards that bring exceptional power to the setups most of you run. Compared to our last gen, RDNA 4 boosts raster performance for crisper, smoother visuals. Ray tracing throughput doubles, letting you soak in lifelike lighting and reflections without compromise. And with an 8x uplift in machine learning performance, we're unlocking new possibilities - like FSR 4, our latest leap in ML-based upscaling.

Last week, Acer registered a glut of new graphics card SKUs—an extensive EEC filing revealed several unannounced Nitro and Predator BiFrost Radeon RX 9060 XT models. The AMD board partner seems to be preparing two memory configurations for its lower-end RDNA 4 custom cards: 16 GB and 8 GB (GDDR6). VideoCardz reached out to AIB industry moles, in order to establish whether the aforementioned specification points were concrete. A past weekend report "reconfirms" incoming 16 GB and 8 GB variants. Going back to RDNA 3, Team Red released its Radeon RX 7600 XT GPU in 16 GB form, while the cheaper Radeon RX 7600 made do with a VRAM pool of 8 GB. An unnamed board partner's list of launch day offerings reportedly contains basic technical specs (see screenshot below).

Leaked Radeon RX 9060 XT details show 16 GB GDDR6 and 8 GB GDDR6 variants, with 128-bit memory interfaces. VideoCardz believes that 20 Gbps memory chips will be utilized, as featured on recently launched Radeon RX 9070 series cards. The leaked product list indicates that required juice will be delivered through a lone 8-pin power connector; a minimum PSU requirement suggestion is 500 W, although this could jump up to 550 W for factory overlocked SKUs. A speculative "Navi 48 LE" GPU variant is present within TechPowerUp's GPU database entry for the Radeon RX 9060 XT. VideoCardz reckons that a "Navi 44" GPU would be more appropriate for this class; perhaps derived from a mobile part. The leak suggests the presence of a single HDMI 2.1 port, as well as two DP 2.1 ports—a smaller GPU would have trouble driving more than that. During an official RDNA 4 launch event—held in Beijing, late last month—a Team Red representative announced a loose Q2 2025 launch window for Radeon RX 9060 XT graphics cards.

Considering that CPUs like the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D are turning heads everywhere for their unstoppable gaming prowess, you might be thinking about building a new PC in 2025. You'll need a potent graphics card to power your gaming ambitions. Today, you have more options on that front than ever. We're expanding our portfolio of AMD-powered graphics cards with Radeon RX 9070 XT and Radeon RX 9070 models from TUF Gaming and Prime.

Next-gen feature set
Armed with the latest RDNA 4 architecture and a supersized 16 GB serving of VRAM, these graphics cards stand poised to give you premium gaming experiences for years to come. Next-gen HYPR-RX tech delivers ultra-fast gaming, and you'll enjoy next-level immersion with the latest AI-powered features from AMD, including an improved experience with ray tracing. New for this generation is a machine-learning based super resolution mode compatible with select FSR 3.1 games that gives you an incredible balance of detailed images and fluid frame rates. DisplayPort 2.1 outputs give you incredible bandwidth for going big on resolution while supporting high-end refresh rates.

Yeston unveiled its striking Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB Sakura Atlantis card design around mid-January, along with an NDA-busting specification disclosure. The Chinese board partner seemingly disregarded AMD's guarded approach; by happily revealing an allocated pool of 16 GB VRAM. Later on, teasers emerged via the brand's social media accounts—including photos from an outdoor fashion shoot. Press outlets were expecting Yeston's launch lineup to consists of Sakura Atlantis Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 SKUs, but "bog standard" Sakura options have also appeared online.

The company's bafflingly abstract design is a familiar property; due to its deployments on a variety of past-gen hardware. According to one of Yeston's promotional images, their standard Sakura design only applies to a lone Radeon RX 9070 XT SKU. Both product tiers were accompanied by a message from their manufacturer: "Sakura And Sakura Atlantis are here! Yeston RX 9070 Series graphics cards are built to deliver all you need for ultra-fast gaming, with next-level visuals and future-ready features, supercharged with AI."

The Chiphell forum has provided a steady flow of AMD RDNA 4-related leaks—going back to early December; members believed that "Radeon RX 8800 XT" GPUs were imminently entering into a mass production phase. Since then, Team Red and board partners have officially revealed a full deck of Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 models—complete with a "modernized" naming scheme. By Christmas (2024), insiders appeared to have working units in their clutches—denizens of Chiphell have continued to dole out pre-release info; even deep into launch week. UNIKO's Hardware picked up on the latest signals; with owners of unnamed custom Radeon RX 9070 XT cards: "calling out bad cooling on GDDR6 VRAM."

As highlighted by Wccftech, NDA-busting disclosures have alluded to commendable GPU thermal measurements—when driven at full load—but several leakers have noted less than stellar results from VRAM temperature readings. Chiphell-sourced GPU-Z screenshots indicate a maximum recorded VRAM temperature of 94℃, with the involved GPU's hotspot hitting a top temp of 79°C. This leaked candidate seems to be a 329 W TBP-rated model. Wccftech observed inconsistencies with the other evaluated sample: "under full load, the GPU temperature at the hot spot reaches a max of 63°C but the memory temperature touches 88°C. The surprising thing to note in the first case is that the TBP is only 237 W, which seems weird considering the Radeon RX 9070 XT (reference spec) starts at a TBP of 260 W. This might be a bug...The user has confirmed that the first one isn't the RX 9070 as one would think, but it is the RX 9070 XT as well." The "guided" upper limit for newer VRAM standards is 95°C, so one of the anonymous custom cards is dancing dangerously in close proximity to the proverbial flame. Certain hardware news outlets reckon that GDDR6X memory will succumb to damage once a 120°C ceiling is hit. Hopefully, these issues are limited to a handful of review samples—a couple of AMD's trusted board partners have opted for Honeywell PTM7950 thermal pads and robust heatpipe formations. Stay tuned to TechPowerUp for W1zzard's incoming RDNA 4-related verdicts.

Late last week, ASRock introduced its opening wave of Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 graphics card models; in Taichi, Steel Legend and Challenger guises. Official press material only alluded to an intriguing "gray" spin-off of the Taiwanese manufacturer's (traditionally) white-hued mid-tier product family. ASRock's brand-new Radeon RX 9070 XT Steel Legend Dark 16 GB model is listed on their website, but it has received little fanfare since February 28. Appropriately, this "Dark" variant rolls out with the familiar Steel Legend shroud and backplate designs—albeit, with a two-tone (black/gray) aesthetic.

As expected, the ASRock Radeon RX 9070 XT Steel Legend Dark card shares identical specifications with its standard white sibling—in both cases, we are looking at non-overclocked SKUs. The AMD board partner has not prepared a non-XT Steel Legend Dark card for launch (on March 6), but an expanded lineup could emerge in the near future. ASRock graphics card enthusiasts have noted a mildly disappointing absence of RDNA 4-based Phantom Gaming options—past Radeon product generations have hit global markets with this sub-brand. Looking at a typical past example—ASRock's Radeon RX 7800 XT Phantom Gaming OC card—we see a gray/black design with a smattering of RGB lighting zones. We could surmise that ASRock has created a similar-ish modernized equivalent—in the shape of Steel Legend Dark (non-OC)—to fill a (temporary?) Phantom Gaming-sized gap.

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.

AMD's internal benchmarks of its upcoming RDNA 4-based RX 9070 series graphics cards have been leaked, thanks to VideoCardz. The flagship RX 9070 XT delivers up to 42% better performance than the Radeon RX 7900 GRE at 4K resolution across a test suite of over 30 games, with the standard RX 9070 showing a 21% improvement in the same scenario. The performance data, encompassing raster and ray-traced titles at ultra settings, positions the RX 9070 series as a direct competitor to NVIDIA's RTX 4080 and RTX 5070 Ti. Notably, AMD's testing methodology focused on native rendering and ray tracing capabilities rather than upscaling technologies like FSR. The RX 9070 XT demonstrated large gains at 4K resolution, achieving a 51% performance uplift compared to the two-generations older RX 6900 XT. Meanwhile, the base RX 9070 model showed a 38% improvement over the RX 6800 XT at 4K with maximum settings enabled.

While AMD confirms its new cards are designed to compete with NVIDIA's RTX 50 series, specific comparative benchmarks against the RTX 5070 Ti were absent from the presentation. AMD acknowledges it has yet to acquire the competitor's hardware for testing. The company is expected to provide a comprehensive performance overview, potentially including additional GPU comparisons, during its official announcement on February 28. Both RX 9070 series cards will feature 16 GB of VRAM, matching the memory configuration of the RX 7900 GRE used as a primary comparison point. By the official launch date, AMD will have time to push final driver tweaks for optimal performance. Nonetheless, more information will surface as we near the official release date.

Amazon Canada has listed two new XFX Magnetic Air Edition designs, within the last day or so—as discovered by the VideoCardz overwatch. Mid-way through last week, the first signs of these premium customized AMD RDNA 4 graphics cards appeared online; courtesy of another Canadian leak. Within the same timeframe, XFX registered its "XFX Radeon RX 9070 XT QUICKSILVER Magnetic Air D6 16 GB" SKU at South Korea's National Radio Agency. Amazon.ca's two pre-order listings—likely prematurely published by accident—provide a first look at XFX's revised "Magnetic Air" modular fan system. The MERCURY Radeon RX 9070 XT OC Magnetic Air Black and White Editions appear to sport plenty of loud RGB lighting zones—contrasting greatly, when compared to understated sibling designs.

XFX's standard MERCURY Radeon RX 9070 XT OC Magnetic Air Edition seems to visually match with the manufacturer's "premium black" CES 2025 demonstration sample. TechPowerUp handled this powered-off unit at last month's trade event, alongside a "premium white" sample. Based on a leak—from two days ago—the pale candidate could be an XFX SWIFT model. Product and packaging imagery for Radeon RX 9070 (non-XT) SWIFT and QUICKSILVER emerged online, allegedly sourced from Amazon South Korea. Returning to XFX's highly-anticipated top-tier Magnetic Air options; price points of CAD$1438.03 (black) and CAD$1277.51 (white) are presently displayed on Amazon Canada. VideoCardz reckons that fluctuations will occur up until release day—both third-party listings (Fennec, Inc) mention the exact same release date: March 6. Base GPU clock speed is set at 1870 GHz, while the card's boost capability takes matters up to 3100 MHz—possibly aligning with numbers generated by an unnamed test sample. An expected VRAM assignment—of 16 GB—is described by Amazon's Canuck branch. Three 8-pin power connectors are present in XFX's Magnetic Air product renders.

According to a well-known AMD hardware leaker, Hoang Anh Phu, AMD held a brief press conference where it confirmed that the upcoming Radeon RX 9070 XT and Radeon RX 9070 will carry a 304 Watt and 220 Watt total board power (TBP), respectively. While the post, originally on X is deleted, VideoCardz managed to read the information. AMD's TBP rating is similar to NVIDIA's total graphics power (TGP) metric, which measures both the chip and the memory and other components that the graphics card could contain under full load. So the TBP, and hence TGP, metrics are basically a rough outline of how much power the GPU will draw under full load.

AMD's upcoming Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 non-XT variants will consume 304 and 220 Watts, respectively, meaning that RDNA 4 IP will be relatively efficient. Interestingly, AMD settled on a 304-watt number instead of rounding it to 305, which usually happens. For reminder, the RX 9070 XT features 4,096 cores at 2.97 GHz boost clock, while the RX 9070 has 3,584 cores at 2.52 GHz. Both cards use a Navi 48 SKU, with 16 GB GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus running at 20 Gbps, achieving 640 GB/s bandwidth. Both utilize PCIe 5.0×16 and are rumored to be released on March 6, following their January announcement.

As reported almost a year ago, EMTEK graphics cards do not make regular appearances via Western reportage. The South Korean manufacturer has prepared its debut NVIDIA "Blackwell" GeForce RTX 50-series desktop product; as spotted by VideoCardz. The brand new EMTEK GeForce RTX 5080 MIRACLE WHITE D7 16 GB model has appeared online via Danawa's online price comparison engine. The lowest price comes in at 2,656,000 KRW (~$1841 USD), so there is clear evidence of major price hiking activities going on in South Korea. One store is offering EMTEK's cutting-edge white custom model for a cool 4,000,000 KRW (~$2773 USD).

EMTEK's GeForce RTX 5080 MIRACLE WHITE D7 16 GB graphics card conforms to Team Green's reference specifications; making the higher than expected entry fee even more painful to bear. We hope that prices level-off to reasonable lines in the near future. This snow-white custom design seemingly carries a couple of premium features; namely translucent ARGB-lit fans in a triple-formation. This integrated "dynamic lighting" system can be controlled through Windows 11 (via a USB-C connection), rather than proprietary software. VideoCardz reports that the South Korean graphics producer is not known to release its own RGB control suite. A cutaway render shows a very robust cooling solution that houses eight 6 mm heat pipes. Unfortunately, the PCB's shape is not as radical as the one found in an Ada Lovelace-based sibling. Judging from the internal promo shots, EMTEK has missed another opportunity to bung in a white board design, and attach similarly pale parts. Many NVIDIA AIBs should spend more time copying GALAX, Yeston, and PowerColor's (AMD-powered) homework—the latter's Spectral White Editions usually nail the almost all-white aesthetic.

AMD's Radeon RX 9000 series GPUs are expected to come with up to 16 GB of GDDR6 memory. However, AMD is reportedly expanding its RX 9070 lineup with a new 32 GB variant, according to sources on Chiphell. The card, speculatively called the RX 9070 XT 32 GB, is slated for release at the end of Q2 2025. The current GDDR6 memory modules used in GPUs carry a capacity of 2 GB per module only, meaning that a design with 32 GB of VRAM would require as many as 16 memory modules on a single card. No 2 GB+ GDDR6 memory modules are available, meaning that the design would require memory module installation on both the front and back of the PCB. Consumers GPUs are not known for this, but it is a possibility with workstation/prosumer grade GPUs employing this engineering tactic to boost capacity,

While we don't have information on the GPU architecture, discussions point to potential modifications of the existing Navi 48 silicon. This release is positioned as a gaming card rather than a workstation-class Radeon PRO 9000 series product. AMD appears to be targeting gamers interested in running AI workloads, which typically require massive VRAM amounts to run locally. Additionally, investing in a GPU with a big VRAM capacity is essentially "future-proofing" for gamers who plan to keep their cards for longer, as recent games have been spiking VRAM usage by a large margin. The combination of gaming and AI workloads may have made AMD reconsider some of its product offerings, potentially giving us the Radeon RX 9070 XT 32 GB SKU. We have to wait for the Q2 to start, and we can expect more details by then.

Update 20:55 UTC: AMD's Frank Azor on X debunked rumors of the 32 GB SKU coming to gamers. So, this will not happen. Instead, we could be looking at prosumer oriented AMD Radeon Pro GPU with 32 GB of memory instead.