Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X evaluate: Large, badass, stunning

Large, badass graphics playing cards don’t get a lot larger or extra badass than the Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X—the primary Sapphire GPU to sport the premium Vapor-X model in practically a decade.

Whereas AMD’s reference model of the XTX sticks to an inexpensive 2.5-slot design, Sapphire threw restraint out the window with the extremely personalized Nitro+. This monster swells to a piece quad-slot peak, then provides an additional 8-pin energy connector to gas even loftier efficiency. It’s the quickest 7900 XTX we’ve examined and it runs cool and quiet whereas wanting very good. This is likely one of the most spectacular customized graphics playing cards I’ve ever laid fingers on.

In case your PC can match this beast, and your pockets can settle for its $1,200 price ticket—a $200 premium over the reference mannequin—you then’ll love every little thing in regards to the Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X. Let’s dig in.

Additional studying: One of the best graphics playing cards for PC gaming

Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X: Specs, worth, and options

There isn’t an excessive amount of to say in regards to the Nitro+’s technical facets, because it’s operating on the identical spectacular Radeon RX 7900 XTX chip because the reference mannequin, paired with an ample 24GB of quick GDDR6 reminiscence. Sapphire tweaked and tuned it for much more energy, nonetheless.

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The Nitro+ 7900 Vapor-X screams together with a blistering 2,510MHz Recreation Clock, a considerable uplift over the reference 2,300MHz speeds. That matches the equally premium XFX Speedster Merc 7900 XTX, however the Sapphire card’s extra environment friendly cooler lets it squeak out clear victories throughout our gaming check suite, even when solely to the tune of some further (and virtually unnoticeable) frames per second. The baseline 7900 XTX is already the second-most highly effective GPU on the planet, trailing solely the $1,600 GeForce RTX 4090 in uncooked would possibly, and the Nitro+ cranks it to 11.

Doing so requires extra literal energy, nonetheless. The Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X calls for a trio of 8-pin energy connectors, up from the reference model’s pair, and it’s rated to attract 420 watts of energy. The reference XTX attracts 355W. In the true world, meaning the Nitro+ 7900 XTX consumes extra energy than even the RTX 4090 throughout gaming classes.

Brad Chacos/IDG

The cardboard features a three-way BIOS change that adjustments the cardboard’s conduct, nonetheless. The default place permits you to hop between the Nitro+’s twin BIOS choices utilizing Sapphire’s Trixx utility, slightly than having to manually flip the BIOS change on the cardboard. For those who don’t need to set up that software program, nonetheless, the second place sticks to the default high-performance BIOS, whereas the third place is a lower-power mode that drops to reference speeds in trade for shaving 50W off the ability draw. The default BIOS runs so cool and quiet that there’s no purpose to advocate the low-power choice except energy draw is a serious concern—and whether it is, you shouldn’t be shopping for a 7900 XTX to start with.

The Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X’s actual draw is its customized design. There’s a lot {hardware} in right here, Sapphire tossed a GPU assist bracket into the field to maintain your graphics card from probably sagging in its motherboard slot over time!

Sapphire

Let’s begin with aesthetics: The Nitro+ 7900 XTX seems completely stunning, sporting a deliciously clear all-metal design, punctuated by raised, full-length RGB bars on either side of the heatsink. The bars someway shine with stunning vibrancy, with rounded edges that add to its visible cohesion. The default sweeping rainbow sample fills your case with shimmering gentle since Sapphire slapped the bars on either side. It’s beautiful, albeit in a completely completely different method than the also-gorgeous XFX Speedster Merc 7900 XTX, which went in an RGB-less course as an alternative.

The Nitro+ 7900 XTX’s true secret sauce lies beneath the hood although. Sapphire completely stuffed this behemoth filled with cooling know-how. Sapphire’s webpage for the Nitro+ goes into far deeper element, however at a excessive degree, the die-cast aluminum body holds a trio of axial followers with twin ball-bearing designs. They assist Sapphire’s rad Fast Join function, which helps you to shortly and simply disconnect particular person followers in the event that they want restore. Higher but, they cease spinning utterly when the GPU isn’t beneath excessive load. Meaning the Nitro+ 7900 XTX is totally silent while you aren’t gaming or performing different GPU-stressing work.

Brad Chacos/IDG

One other key perk: Sapphire slapped a second HDMI 2.1 port on the Nitro+, doubling up on the reference design. VR customers, take word! It’s joined by a pair of DisplayPort 2.1 connections, although Sapphire eschewed the reference mannequin’s USB-C port to incorporate the additional HDMI. It additionally consists of useful ARGB and fan headers if you wish to hook it extra deeply into the remainder of your system.

In fact, the Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X helps all of AMD’s superior Radeon software program options, like FSR, Radeon Anti-Lag, Sensible Entry Reminiscence, and extra. However sufficient chit-chat. Let’s get to the benchmarks!

Our check system

We check graphics playing cards on an AMD Ryzen 5900X PC used solely for benchmarking GPUs. We now check with PCIe Resizable BAR (also referred to as Sensible Entry Reminiscence on Ryzen programs) lively, as most fashionable gaming PCs launched within the final 4 years assist the performance-boosting function, both natively or by way of a motherboard firmware replace. Nvidia additionally recommends turning on the optionally available “Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling” choice in Home windows to let the RTX 40-series stretch its legs to the fullest, so we’ve made that tweak as properly. A lot of the {hardware} was offered by the producers, however we bought the storage ourselves.

We’re evaluating the $1,200 Sapphire Nitro+ towards the $1,000 reference Radeon RX 7900 XTX in addition to XFX’s equally premium $1,100 Speedster Merc customized card, as what we’re actually on the lookout for right here is the Nitro+’s efficiency as a customized XTX mannequin. We’ve additionally included different GPUs which can be price contemplating while you’re on the lookout for glorious 4K and 1440p gaming.

We check a wide range of video games spanning varied engines, genres, vendor sponsorships (Nvidia, AMD, and Intel), and graphics APIs (DirectX 9, 11, DX12, and Vulkan), to attempt to signify a full vary of efficiency potential. Every sport is examined utilizing its in-game benchmark, then sanity checked by Nvidia’s FrameView software, on the highest doable graphics presets except in any other case famous, with VSync, body charge caps, real-time ray tracing or DLSS results, and FreeSync/G-Sync disabled, together with some other vendor-specific applied sciences like FidelityFX instruments or Nvidia Reflex. We’ve additionally enabled temporal anti-aliasing (TAA) to push these playing cards to their limits. We run every benchmark not less than 3 times and record the typical end result for every check.

Quite than rolling out our full testing suite for this evaluate, we caught to an easier lineup that’s consultant of a wide range of APIs (DX9, DX11, DX12, Vulkan), to indicate the Nitro+’s efficiency throughout varied situations. Make sure to try our preliminary Radeon RX 7900 XTX evaluate for a broader, deeper take a look at the GPU’s basic efficiency. (Briefly, it beats the $1,200 RTX 4080 in conventional video games for a a lot lower cost, and matches the RTX 30-series’ ray-tracing efficiency, however lags far behind the RTX 40-series in ray tracing. It additionally lacks a DLSS 3 Body gen competitor.)

Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X: Gaming efficiency benchmarks

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X: Energy and thermals

We check energy draw by looping the F1 22 benchmark at 4K for about 20 minutes after we’ve benchmarked every little thing else (to heat up the GPU) and noting the best studying on our Watts Up Professional meter, which measures the ability consumption of our complete check system. The preliminary a part of the race, the place all competing automobiles are onscreen concurrently, tends to be probably the most demanding portion. 

This isn’t a worst-case check; it is a GPU-bound sport operating at a GPU-bound decision to gauge efficiency when the graphics card is sweating laborious. For those who’re taking part in a sport that additionally hammers the CPU, you might see increased total system energy attracts. Take into account your self warned.

Brad Chacos/IDG

The Sapphire Nitro+ pushes AMD’s already-power hungry Radeon 7900 XTX to new heights, however doing so requires even increased peak energy draw than the monstrous RTX 4090. That’s a little bit of a bummer, however you most likely aren’t shopping for a fire-breathing 7900 XTX for its effectivity.

We check thermals by leaving GPU-Z open throughout the F1 22 energy draw check, noting the best most temperature on the finish.

Brad Chacos/IDG

The Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 7900 XTX’s superior Vapor-X cooler does stellar work right here. Technically, it runs barely hotter than the XFX Speedster Merc, however each ship completely frigid outcomes that overclockers will respect, and the Nitro+’s gentler fan curve truly sounds even quieter than the already borderline-silent Merc. These are each excellent customized designs that far outshine the undersized 7900 XTX reference mannequin, although you pay for it in worth, energy consumption, and sheer measurement.

Do you have to purchase the Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X?

For those who principally keep on with conventional video games and desire a barn-burner of a graphics card for a whole bunch of {dollars} lower than the RTX 4080, AMD’s Radeon RX 7900 XTX is a superb selection, as our authentic evaluate detailed in depth. And if you wish to splurge for a high-end, impeccably designed customized model of the XTX, Sapphire’s Nitro+ is properly price contemplating. It’s blisteringly quick, cool, quiet, and completely incredible.

It received’t be for everybody. The Nitro+ is completely huge and attracts extra energy than even the RTX 4090—however huge, badass, customized playing cards are what you anticipate from flagships like this. If that worries you, think about the reference XTX’s smaller 2.5-slot, 2x 8-pin design as an alternative. The worth may additionally provide you with pause. Sapphire’s $200 premium feels justifiable for a customized design this magnificent, however it additionally bumps it proper up towards the GeForce RTX 4080’s (terribly excessive) beginning worth. The Nitro+ is quicker, and also you received’t get a RTX 4080 much like the Nitro+’s spectacular high quality with out spending nearer to $1,400 or $1,500, however should you place the next premium on ray-tracing efficiency and DLSS 3 Body Gen over card design and total high quality of life, you would possibly—would possibly—go for a “cheap” 4080 over the splendidly baller Nitro+. (I wouldn’t.)

Brad Chacos/IDG

Staying in AMD-land, should you’re choosing a high-end 7900 XTX, the aesthetics and road pricing are the most important differentiators between the $1,200 Nitro+ and the $1,100 XFX Speedster Merc 7900 XTX. They’re each face-meltingly quick, engaging, and splendidly quiet and funky. I personally desire the Nitro+’s futuristic industrial look and shimmering dual-side RGB bars, however the Merc is a looker of a completely completely different selection. Go the place your eyes (and pockets) information you.

Backside line? The Sapphire Nitro+ seems beautiful, runs frigid and damned-near useless silent, and it’s the quickest XTX we’ve examined (albeit by a hair). For those who’re available in the market for a four-figure graphics card that’s truly well worth the cash (cough not like the RTX 4080 cough), we extremely beneficial this feature. It’s the most effective Radeon provides.