Friday, October 31st 2025
USB-C Power Delivery is Fine on RX 7900 XTX, We Tested It, AMD Confirms
Yesterday, we reported that the latest AMD Software Adrenalin 25.10.2 WHQL drivers disable USB-C power delivery on reference Radeon RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT. However, it appears that this was a mistake, and AMD has contacted TechPowerUp to clarify the situation. To make sure that the functionality is back, we tested USB-C power delivery on our own reference card. Readers might remember that the Made by AMD (MBA) reference Radeon RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT graphics cards include USB Type-C ports. These ports support DisplayPort 2.1 passthrough and provide USB power delivery up to the PD 3.0 standard of 30 W.
While the port does not support USB data transfer, it is wired for DisplayPort and power delivery. This theoretically allows you to connect certain monitors that use a single USB-C connection for both display input and power. We tested the feature to make sure it is supplying the port with sufficient power. Using a USB-C power meter, we recorded 27 W of power output from the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX. Impressively, the card can supply full power to the port even without a driver installed, as demonstrated in our test. Installing the latest driver doesn't alter this behavior, indicating that the original driver changelog was just incorrect. To confirm that the 27 W charging is consistent, we charged a laptop with a completely empty battery to full capacity. While charging, we loaded Furmark test, and the load was maintained, proving that the feature works as intended.
AMD's statement follows after the break.
While the port does not support USB data transfer, it is wired for DisplayPort and power delivery. This theoretically allows you to connect certain monitors that use a single USB-C connection for both display input and power. We tested the feature to make sure it is supplying the port with sufficient power. Using a USB-C power meter, we recorded 27 W of power output from the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX. Impressively, the card can supply full power to the port even without a driver installed, as demonstrated in our test. Installing the latest driver doesn't alter this behavior, indicating that the original driver changelog was just incorrect. To confirm that the 27 W charging is consistent, we charged a laptop with a completely empty battery to full capacity. While charging, we loaded Furmark test, and the load was maintained, proving that the feature works as intended.
AMDWe'd like to inform you that the release notes for AMD Software Adrenalin Edition 25.10 2 posted today included misinformation that has since been corrected. There is no change to USB-C functionality on the RX 7900 series GPUs in the 25.10.2 driver. There was an incorrect line in the originally posted release notes that has been removed, and the release notes have been updated. We apologize for any inconvenience.
40 Comments on USB-C Power Delivery is Fine on RX 7900 XTX, We Tested It, AMD Confirms
Somehow it's too costly to add USB-C support to graphics cards, I don't really get it.
If the GPU can power the screen, then is one less power cord on the desk
Though with cards drawing up to 600 W on connectors rated for only just above that, I'm not sure powering monitors or other devices off the GPU is a good idea. Maybe just Type-C as a DisplayPort Alt, without the power delivery.
Ah yes, just what we all wanted, the joys of USB PD negotiation on our displays.....NOT!
It makes sense for VR headsets but for stationary desktop monitors this is like the CPU applicator the Verge used in their desktop build...
My power cord goes next to the video cord in the wire managment. You dont see it. 1,2,3, or 7 cables, makes no difference to a desktop.
It was far more common than the USB-C port on AMD cards, as OEM's added the VirtualLink connector on Nvidia cards, but no-one added USB-C on AMD cards.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VirtualLink
About the subject at hand, lets see how many of the bribed influencers will backtrack instead of continue trashing AMD.
USB C is really minor thing for most, it was supposed to be used to now defunct virtual link, since AMD did not backtrack the position on maintenance support for RDNA 1 and 2, I doubt any will backtrack (rightously so).
And about "supporting 4K/120hz with HDMI 2.1", well this is another example of lacking driver support from them.
Everyone: Oh my gosh, why did AMD do this? This is so cruel! I don't want to buy AMD products anymore.
AMD: This is misinformation! We didn't actually do this! See, here are the puppies safe and sound. It was just a mistake in our announcement.
You, for some reason: Heh, all you bribed influencers sure look stupid now. Gonna keep trashing AMD?
Why did they even announce this? The reaction was perfectly legitimate, it's entirely AMD's fault for making the announcement.
A mistake is a misspelled word. Not a detailed announcement that they're removing a feature, complete with instructions to use an 8 month old driver version if you still want to use the feature.
With the revelation that this driver didn't actually remove this feature, I think the most reasonable explanation is that this is planned for a future driver release, and they copied/pasted the announcement into the wrong document.
Wow…
www.techpowerup.com/319797/hdmi-forum-rejects-amds-hdmi-2-1-open-source-driver-proposal-no-4k-120-hz-or-5k-240-hz-on-linux?cp=2