Sapphire Launches NITRO+ Radeon RX 9070 Model, a Month+ After Flagship XT Variant

[T0@st]

Sapphire introduced two brand-new NITRO+ models prior to the official launch of AMD's RDNA 4 graphics card generation. The manufacturer rolled out its flagship Radeon RX 9070 XT card on day one—March 6—but the "lesser" NITRO+ sibling was absent at retail. Late last week, ITHome revealed that Sapphire had finally got round to globally releasing their NITRO+ Radeon RX 9070 16 GB SKU. At the time of writing, Overclockers UK seems to have cards in stock—priced at £629.99 (including VAT). Unsurprisingly, the freshly launched NITRO+ Radeon RX 9070 model utilizes the exact same shroud and backplate design that is present on Sapphire's range-topper.

The latest entry retains all of the more expensive unit's mod cons—including a Quick Connect MagniPlate feature, STEALTH hidden power cable, 12V-2x6 (H++) external power connector, Tri-X cooling technology, optimized composite heatpipes, and Honeywell PTM7950 TIM. Major differences are disclosed in Sapphire's "engine clock" specs: "boost clock up to 2700 MHz" and "game clock up to 2210 MHz." The Hong Kong-based company has not officially commented on circumstances that led to the delay of its NITRO+ Radeon RX 9070 graphics card. VideoCardz has dismissed claims about this particular model being postponed due to rumors of a displacement by forthcoming Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12 GB options.



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[Chaitanya]

These AMD AIB partners have been greedier than nVidia ones this time around, good to see cards from both brands sitting on shelves here in Asia with no buyers(most users seem to be going to last gen cards).

 

[Scattergrunt]

These AMD AIB partners have been greedier than nVidia ones this time around, good to see cards from both brands sitting on shelves here in Asia with no buyers(most users seem to be going to last gen cards).

Aren't asia-region based gaming habits a bit different than the rest of the worlds? ignoring Korea and China, etc of course (because laws control the gaming habits there.) I wonder how that's effecting the sales overall. Not that I'm sure it's majorly different besides you know where.

(To be honest, I bet you folks probably have better spending habits than us fat burger people anyway.)

 

[Dahita]

It's the first time I find a card ugly to the point I decided to turn to another one. Whether this one or the XT, it's too big, too bulky. I love Sapphire cards, but I'll pass on this one.

 

[rv8000]

1 month is not “Months After”.

 

[Chaitanya]

Aren't asia-region based gaming habits a bit different than the rest of the worlds? ignoring Korea and China, etc of course (because laws control the gaming habits there.) I wonder how that's effecting the sales overall. Not that I'm sure it's majorly different besides you know where.

(To be honest, I bet you folks probably have better spending habits than us fat burger people anyway.)

Other than PRoC gaming isnt controlled as much in rest of Asia. Also since 50 series offered no tangible upgrades over 40 series while costing more just for the sake of it and price of Single graphics card being multiple months salaries people have simply steered clear of latest gen GPUs(only 5090 seem to selling well and thats only for professional market not gaming sector) here.

 

[Redwoodz]

These AMD AIB partners have been greedier than nVidia ones this time around, good to see cards from both brands sitting on shelves here in Asia with no buyers(most users seem to be going to last gen cards).

No, the GPU market in whole has people avoiding new series purchases. Has nothing to do with "AMD AIB's."
You can blame AI.

Funny thing about the 9070 Nitro+ is Sapphire's Pulse is already one of the best coolers out there. Likely only reason for the Nitro+ is an increased TDP.

 

[Random_User]

Lol, so pointless on 9070 non-XT. Except the effort to artificially "hang" the price, at the 9070XT levels. No amount of cooling and OC, will make the less CU chip behave as higher class GPU SKU. Quite the reverse. More strain, on fewer "cores" make the product less reasonable, and atractive, than the one for the same money, with more CUs, that is able to do the same work for less TDP/TBP and heat, on lower clocks.

Aren't asia-region based gaming habits a bit different than the rest of the worlds? ignoring Korea and China, etc of course (because laws control the gaming habits there.) I wonder how that's effecting the sales overall. Not that I'm sure it's majorly different besides you know where.

(To be honest, I bet you folks probably have better spending habits than us fat burger people anyway.)

Because AFAIK, the Asia, and CH in particular, got the special "in-house" treatment from GPU makers. They might not be the top chips, but the SKUs they get, are golden-mid tier SKUs, with far cheaper prices, due to lower than top/medium class GPUs, while cost closer to "cheaper" low end. And they have those in much, much bigger amounts, than the ones that being sold in NA/US, and EU collectively.
The stuff like AMD's GRE (Golden Rabbit Edition) was not new for the Ch/Asia. It was not even seasonal/yearly/event related, but rather solid. And it was sold for years, decades, "silenty", on the closed markets. This is just the AMD marketing dept. decided to sold the exclusive stuff to the global market, to get more precious "moneyz".

1 month is not “Months After”.

Not really. It was sold to the publicity/plebs, for just month. But It was sold to the suppliers/e-stores, sitting in warehouses, since early January/late December, with the desighn and production being done months before..

No, the GPU market in whole has people avoiding new series purchases. Has nothing to do with "AMD AIB's."
You can blame AI.

Funny thing about the 9070 Nitro+ is Sapphire's Pulse is already one of the best coolers out there. Likely only reason for the Nitro+ is an increased TDP.

Exactly! Considering the glutonous "metal-looking" plastic bricks, as Nitro+ has become, which do not even have the physical effin' EFI/BIOS switch, and garbage connector, in uterly rubbish place, there's barely any point in Nitro+ at all. while the Pulse does the same job, with smaller cooler, and significantly cheaper "MSRP". Nitro+ has lost it's glory and credibility, due to absence of features, which made it "superior". Including the cooling capabilities, that being challanged not only by the rival AIBs, but the same cheaper tier SKUs.

 

[Scattergrunt]

Because AFAIK, the Asia, and CH in particular, got the special "in-house" treatment from GPU makers. They might not be the top chips, but the SKUs they get, are golden-mid tier SKUs, with far cheaper prices, due to lower than top/medium class GPUs, while cost closer to "cheaper" low end. And they have those in much, much bigger amounts, than the ones that being sold in NA/US, and EU collectively.
The stuff like AMD's GRE (Golden Rabbit Edition) was not new for the Ch/Asia. It was not even seasonal/yearly/event related, but rather solid. And it was sold for years, decades, "silenty", on the closed markets. This is just the AMD marketing dept. decided to sold the exclusive stuff to the global market, to get more precious "moneyz".

I don't see how the gaming habits of Asian regions has to do with GPU production but.. alright. Rest of your post was informative none the less

 

[Chaitanya]

No, the GPU market in whole has people avoiding new series purchases. Has nothing to do with "AMD AIB's."
You can blame AI.

I had already posted screenshots of nVidia AIB pricing during 50 series launch and pointed how they themselves had started to price gouge and act as scalpers. AMD AIBs have simply followed the playbook while 90 series is hardly as useful as 5090 for AI/WS tasks(and that is the only one from entire 50 series that has been selling well).

 

[Redwoodz]

Pricing is due to the overall market situation. Simple as that.

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and there no 9 series in stock

 

[wNotyarD]

It's the first time I find a card ugly to the point I decided to turn to another one. Whether this one or the XT, it's too big, too bulky. I love Sapphire cards, but I'll pass on this one.

I actually prefer this generation Nitro+ design in comparison to the RDNA3 one. That one's light bar simply didn't resonate with me.
Not that I'd actually get any of them.