Tuesday, August 6th 2019

Sapphire Radeon RX 5700 XT Pulse Pictured, Listed

Here are some of the first pictures of one of Sapphire's custom-design Radeon RX 5700 XT graphics cards, the RX 5700 XT Pulse. The Pulse brand has traditionally been associated with Sapphire's cost-effective custom-design products, while the company reserves the Nitro brand with its premium offerings. With the RX 5700-series, Sapphire is rumored to bring back some of its more iconic brands, such as Toxic, and perhaps even Atomic. The RX 5700 Pulse combines a custom-design cooling solution by Sapphire, with AMD's reference-design PCB for the RX 5700 XT, and likely reference clock-speeds. Sapphire has utilized the dual-BIOS preparation of the reference PCB by adding a second SPI flash chip and a 2-way BIOS selector switch.

The cooling solution of the RX 5700 XT Pulse features an aluminium fin-stack heatsink that uses nickel-plated copper heat-pipes that make direct contact with the GPU at the base; we expect Sapphire to reserve exotic tech such as vapor-chambers for its premium Nitro products. The heatsink is ventilated by a pair of large (90-100 mm) fans. Since the card uses reference-design PCB (and the fan-interface that comes with it), we're not entirely sure if it offers idle fan-stop. Overclockers.uk has this card already listed at £428.99 including taxes, which is about £30 pricier than reference-design cards sold by it.

Update Aug 12th: Our review of the Sapphire RX 5700 XT Pulse is posted now.
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19 Comments on Sapphire Radeon RX 5700 XT Pulse Pictured, Listed

#1
danbert2000
This card, the ASRock card, and the MSI card all look pretty good, with two slot, two fan models. That's what the increased power efficiency of the 5700 can enable on AIB cards. I just wonder why Sapphire made the card so darn tall. I understand going past the PCIe bracket, but by that much? Still wondering if someone is going to do a 2 slot, sane height card for SFF PCs.
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#2
dj-electric
danbert2000This card, the ASRock card, and the MSI card all look pretty good, with two slot, two fan models. That's what the increased power efficiency of the 5700 can enable on AIB cards. I just wonder why Sapphire made the card so darn tall. I understand going past the PCIe bracket, but by that much? Still wondering if someone is going to do a 2 slot, sane height card for SFF PCs.
Nothing is magical about the RX 5700 XT's 220W power consumption while gaming. These need straight on chunky coolers, just as you would put on an RTX 2080
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#3
Unregistered
I like the fins pointing front & back rather than guiding half the hot air towards the motherboard. Definitely will check this one out + being a reference PCB a water block is still a possibility.
#4
danbert2000
dj-electricNothing is magical about the RX 5700 XT's 220W power consumption while gaming. These need straight on chunky coolers, just as you would put on an RTX 2080
The fourth picture actually shows that the power connectors are recessed a bit, so my main concern of extra height because of the power connectors being at the top of the cooler are unfounded. Still, EVGA has plenty of cards with 2 slot, double fan, and not extending past the bracket.
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#5
Mistral
danbert2000I just wonder why Sapphire made the card so darn tall. I understand going past the PCIe bracket, but by that much?
Fan size. Sapphire wanted something bigger and hopefully more silent. I understand your concern about the card size, I have a Carbide 240. You would think clearence would be an issue, but the normal-bracket width of the power connectors does solve it.
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#6
Shou Miko
Hmm why does this looks like a reference card in size? Because if it is it won't be great.
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#8
tfdsaf
I like their older models a lot more. Look at this beauty
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#9
HD64G
For anyone thinking that this cooler won't be adequate: The RX590 has the same TDP and doesn't have any problem with custom cooling. This is close to the Radeon VII in performance though for Vega 64 money. I like it.
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#10
cellar door
Looks like Sapphire re-purposed the cooler with a changed plastic shroud. The design is ok; however, all of pulse and nitro cards RX cards suffer from fans that at certain RPM develop dronnig resonance. (about 50%+ fan speed)
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#11
danbert2000
Honestly if these third party 5700 XTs came out sooner, then the 2060 Super and 2070 Super would have been a harder sell. Hopefully there is good supply for these going into fall so that new buyers have a choice. I would have probably still ended up with a 2070 Super, but more budget-minded people have quite a choice ahead of them.

I just hope AMD fixes their drivers, especially for overclocking, before this next round of actually desirable Navi cards come out.
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#12
Nkd
tfdsafI like their older models a lot more. Look at this beauty
its pulse version. You are looking at nitro, so not the same thing.
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#13
GAR
so much ugliness! wow, i think i threw up a little.....
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#14
H3llB0und
danbert2000This card, the ASRock card, and the MSI card all look pretty good, with two slot, two fan models. That's what the increased power efficiency of the 5700 can enable on AIB cards. I just wonder why Sapphire made the card so darn tall. I understand going past the PCIe bracket, but by that much? Still wondering if someone is going to do a 2 slot, sane height card for SFF PCs.
Look at the pic of the back of the card and notice where the power connectors are.
Once plugged in, the power cables will be roughly the same height as the card. So I don't think that's a big deal.
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#15
INSTG8R
Vanguard Beta Tester
puma99dk|Hmm why does this looks like a reference card in size? Because if it is it won't be great.
Who do you think makes AMDs branded cards? ;)
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#16
johnny-r
tfdsafI like their older models a lot more. Look at this beauty
me too ! I like the Sapphire Radeon RX 580 Nitro+ it looks like the one you posted !
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#17
dragane
johnny-rme too ! I like the Sapphire Radeon RX 580 Nitro+ it looks like the one you posted !
I still hope that they will release the NITRO version of the cards as the more premium option. They've had this with VEGA cards where you can still get both NITRO and PULSE.
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#18
AtlasRush
H3llB0undLook at the pic of the back of the card and notice where the power connectors are.
Once plugged in, the power cables will be roughly the same height as the card. So I don't think that's a big deal.
As a past owner of both RX 480 and RX 580 Nitro+ cards, I can tell it makes a difference when you have to screw the card in the PCIe bracket. My 1080Ti is more or less as tall, but only the PCB actually is. The cooler has a bit of room, probably to allow for an easier installation.
This RX5700 is chunky AF.
draganeI still hope that they will release the NITRO version of the cards as the more premium option. They've had this with VEGA cards where you can still get both NITRO and PULSE.
They will, IIRC at a later time.
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#19
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
GARso much ugliness! wow, i think i threw up a little.....
Good looking card, you have poor taste.
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