SAPPHIRE NITRO+ Radeon RX 480 Detailed

Less than a calendar month ago AMD Radeon launched their newest GPU, the 14nm Polaris based RX 480. See our review here. But that was only the reference design, and we know how much our readers are looking forward to the aftermarket models. We've been posting articles featuring various models including XFX, MSI, and Powercolor; just today information technology'south time for Sapphire to get some top billing. These cards will begin appearing at e-tailers side by side week, specific dates and times are not available at the publishing of this article. The MSRP for the 4GB is $219 and the 8GB card is $269.

Today, SAPPHIRE has announced their new lineup of Polaris based RX 480 graphics cards. The NITRO+ Radeon RX 480 and to quote SAPPHIRE this carte has "Innovative features and thoughtful design combined with the best value for gamers". But what are these features, other than they went with a much amend looking darker theme than the silver look the early leaks had suggested.

Key features:

NITRO+ RX 480 8GB heave clock at 1342 MHz for superior performance (MSRP $269)
4GB version heave clock at 1306 MHz for superb performance (MSRP $219)
Improved Dual-X cooling with two 95 mm fans
Software-based Fan Health System for fan health monitoring
SAPPHIRE Fan Service with Quick Connect for comfortable warranty-covered fan commutation
NITRO Glow customizable RGB LED lighting organization
future-proof technologies with support for HDMI 2.0b and DisplayPort i.4, and a total viii GB GDDR5 memory

The NITRO+ RX 480 is targeted at, what SAPPHIRE is calling, high-quality 1440p gaming. While the Reference RX 480 proved that it was capable at 1440p, I can't wait to see what the core clock and cooling improvements lend themselves to under pressure. The NITRO+ RX 480 8GB version is cranked from the factory to a boost clock of 1342MHz and 8GB of GDDR5 clocked at 2000MHz. This is adept to see since AMD themselves hinted that it might be possible for AIBs to release lower memory clocked 8GB variants. The 4GB version weighs in at a lilliputian less with a manufactory oc of the core to 1306MHz and the 4GB of GDDR5 being clocked at the reference 1750MHz.

Cool Downwards You Say?

Cooling is handled by SAPPHIRE's new and improved Dual-10 cooling with ii 95mm dual-ball bearing fans, with improved fan blades reducing the noise level by 10% when compared to their previous NITRO line.

Forth with the redesign of the fans comes SAPPHIRE's new Fan Cheque, which allows the fans to be user checked via a new SAPPHIRE TriXX 3.0 software, and if there's a problem to contact back up immediately. If the Fan Service finds in that location to be a trouble with the fan they dispatch a new fan to the customer either directly or through a channel partner. I know what yous're thinking, okay I get a new fan? Now what? Easy, the new fans apply their Quick Connect system pregnant they're easy to remove, clean, and replace. There'south only ane screw and a clip belongings the fan in place so it'due south simple for the user to service rather than suffering downwards down time entirely while waiting for an RMA over a simple fan failure. Along with the new design SAPPHIRE has as well included their new NITRO CoolTech that allows for the fans to be disabled and go into a 0db state when the core is under 52 degrees Celsius.

RGB Yous Say?

If you're surprised past this move by SAPPHIRE, you're not lone. I personally didn't see this ane coming. SAPPHIRE is equipping the RX 480 with what they're calling NITRO Glow into their shroud pattern. The user can suit the colors of the LEDs either via software using the new SAPPHIRE TriXX three.0 or through an bodily hardware switch, the piffling cerise button on the back of the card contains five different modes besides as disabling the LEDs if y'all and so choose.

Overclocking? Yessir!

This is the office most of you lot, including myself are nearly anxious to meet. The NITRO+ features a dual bios configuration with 1 having their NITRO Boost. This mode automatically increases the boost clock and power limit for college performance (what those values are we don't know however). Ditching the half dozen-pin PCI-e connector the NITRO+ goes all in with an 8-pin PCI-e connector to ensure much meliorate/stable ability delivery. They are using their unique Blackness Diamond Chokes that are now in their Marking 4 state, further reducing the roll temp by some other fifteen% over previous version.

But, how volition all that perform. Simply time will tell, but in the mean fourth dimension I was able to take my reference RX 480, that was unlocked to the 8GB model, up to 1350MHz on the core an 2250Mhz on the memory and it yielded over 14,000 FireStrike Graphics score. And so we're quite excited to see what this new wave of AIB RX 480s can practise, it may be but what the Dr. prescribed.