Packaging

The Card

Visually, the Radeon RX 6900 XT looks exactly the same as the RX 6800 XT with the exception of the sticker on the back. AMD really achieved a beautiful reference design for their new RDNA 2 cards. Three large fans are integrated in a metal frame with bright silver colors. Red trim runs along the top edge to make it clear that this card has AMD Radeon DNA in it.


Dimensions of the card are 27 x 12 cm, and it weighs 1515 g.


Installation requires three slots in your system.


Display connectivity includes two standard DisplayPort 1.4, one HDMI 2.1, and one USB type-C with DisplayPort passthrough. As detailed on the previous page, RDNA 2 leverages DSC to enable up to 8K 120 Hz from these connectors.


No fancy power inputs here as you get two 8-pin PCIe power connectors right where you want them—at the top edge. This power input configuration is specified for up to 375 W power draw.


The AMD Radeon RX 6000 series doesn't support multi-GPU, at least not in the classical sense. DirectX 12 has a multi-GPU feature that works universally, no matter the GPU or architecture, but it's not used by any important titles.

Teardown

Taking the RX 6900 XT apart is simple, much easier than NVIDIA Founders Edition cards. All screws are standard—there are no flat cables, or anything else that complicates the teardown. The only thing worth mentioning is this carbon thermal pad, which usually breaks when taking the card apart. I got lucky and managed to get it off without issue, but still replaced it with my own thermal paste.


A copper vapochamber base plate makes contact with the GPU and memory, while a secondary aluminium base plate pulls heat from the VRM. Both plates make contact with the aluminium fin-stack heatsink that's ventilated by a trio of 90 mm fans. The card supports the idle fan-stop feature.


The backplate is made out of metal and protects the card against damage during installation and handling.