Tear-Down of XFX RX 5700 XT THICC II: What Went Wrong
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Date: 2020-05-06
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Comments and reviews: 10
Scott
Just bought the THICC III - best card on the market as far as I can see, albeit by a slim margin. With performance comes heat, and somebody who tested them said XFX did a good job solving the issues with the new 3 fan design. Specs edge out the Devil and the Sapphire - by a small margin. Current N price on the 3 fan improved model falls right between them. If you prefer either of them, that is totally valid, it's splitting hairs all the way. The ASUS has it's problems as does the Gigabyte (Seems that XFX isn't the only company that has minor issues with new designs. Haters gonna hate, and the ones complaining about Fake cosmetics are spending bucks festooning their machines with gobs of LEDs. It's just plastic trim and wouldn't work any better if it was CNCed aluminum. One reviewer pointed out correctly that the plastic covers reduce weight and help prevent damage to the slot, especially when shipping/transporting. The new version 3 is now 439 on Newegg. Different strokes for different folks, we are all computer enthusiasts, and so we should all get along. I'm happy because I've got a new XFX 5700XT card to go in my new Threadripper build and am looking forward to getting it together - Love new builds. Peace.
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Just bought the THICC III - best card on the market as far as I can see, albeit by a slim margin. With performance comes heat, and somebody who tested them said XFX did a good job solving the issues with the new 3 fan design. Specs edge out the Devil and the Sapphire - by a small margin. Current N price on the 3 fan improved model falls right between them. If you prefer either of them, that is totally valid, it's splitting hairs all the way. The ASUS has it's problems as does the Gigabyte (Seems that XFX isn't the only company that has minor issues with new designs. Haters gonna hate, and the ones complaining about Fake cosmetics are spending bucks festooning their machines with gobs of LEDs. It's just plastic trim and wouldn't work any better if it was CNCed aluminum. One reviewer pointed out correctly that the plastic covers reduce weight and help prevent damage to the slot, especially when shipping/transporting. The new version 3 is now 439 on Newegg. Different strokes for different folks, we are all computer enthusiasts, and so we should all get along. I'm happy because I've got a new XFX 5700XT card to go in my new Threadripper build and am looking forward to getting it together - Love new builds. Peace.
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Algirdas
Thank you for the review: ) sadly it came a bit too late for me and I have already got the Thick Boy. :D. anyway it was the cheapest option (not counting reference at the moment of purshase) in Lithuania (453eur) (pulse is 475. What I would like to ask you. What if as the xfx user i would mill the cooper plate exact dimensions and install it instead of the steel plate. Also would put some thermal pads there and there. :) That should solve the card thermal issues? :) cuz prob, to make that plate would be like 10 eur max. :) And yea memory temps on mine went up 102C while gaming gpu 85-6C. (for like 60% fan speed) (but im changing the case for better, bigger airflow. ) and while pc lays down on the table (ambient air 18C no additional fans) i'am achieving no more than 85C on memory with furmark and like 66C on gpu. (for like 55% fan speed, more than that sound start to bother. Anyway I would be happy with the card at 55fan speed and such temps, but the moment i will put it in the box. temps will be at least 10C higher.
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Thank you for the review: ) sadly it came a bit too late for me and I have already got the Thick Boy. :D. anyway it was the cheapest option (not counting reference at the moment of purshase) in Lithuania (453eur) (pulse is 475. What I would like to ask you. What if as the xfx user i would mill the cooper plate exact dimensions and install it instead of the steel plate. Also would put some thermal pads there and there. :) That should solve the card thermal issues? :) cuz prob, to make that plate would be like 10 eur max. :) And yea memory temps on mine went up 102C while gaming gpu 85-6C. (for like 60% fan speed) (but im changing the case for better, bigger airflow. ) and while pc lays down on the table (ambient air 18C no additional fans) i'am achieving no more than 85C on memory with furmark and like 66C on gpu. (for like 55% fan speed, more than that sound start to bother. Anyway I would be happy with the card at 55fan speed and such temps, but the moment i will put it in the box. temps will be at least 10C higher.
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Deltree
I try to not be critical here in the comments, as i worry about being branded a troll simply for having something non-positive to say. That said, I must say here that I am personally becoming bored with all the 5700 coverage. What is so interesting about the 5700? Did I miss something? The entire super line from nvidia was passed off as too boring to cover, so what is so interesting about the 5700 to warrant so many videos about it in the last week or two? This is an under-performing cheesy looking card with a silly name, and I cant figure out why all this coverage is needed to say that. Perhaps I am just missing the point? Please anyone reply and tell me what you find interesting about the 5700, as I am genuinely hopeful to find any reason to care about this card. Looking forward to any other fantastic coverage in the future from my absolute favorite source GN! Thank you for reading.
reply
I try to not be critical here in the comments, as i worry about being branded a troll simply for having something non-positive to say. That said, I must say here that I am personally becoming bored with all the 5700 coverage. What is so interesting about the 5700? Did I miss something? The entire super line from nvidia was passed off as too boring to cover, so what is so interesting about the 5700 to warrant so many videos about it in the last week or two? This is an under-performing cheesy looking card with a silly name, and I cant figure out why all this coverage is needed to say that. Perhaps I am just missing the point? Please anyone reply and tell me what you find interesting about the 5700, as I am genuinely hopeful to find any reason to care about this card. Looking forward to any other fantastic coverage in the future from my absolute favorite source GN! Thank you for reading.
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Michal
Thank you for reviewing it! Almost one month ago it was the only custom card available here so I had to buy it in order to mount my new pc (couldn't wait any longer) thus I was hoping and looking each day for a tear down with some analysis. I am returning my Thicc to the warehouse where it's belongs even tho It is still the best looking card by far I will admit that, but not for a tradeoff in performance. My nitro+ is comming tomorow and hopefully I wouldn't have the same problem as the thicc, I had to settle to speed fan because it wasn't spinning causing burned fingertips (yeah it's feels better to check temp in reality and not with a software: p )
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Thank you for reviewing it! Almost one month ago it was the only custom card available here so I had to buy it in order to mount my new pc (couldn't wait any longer) thus I was hoping and looking each day for a tear down with some analysis. I am returning my Thicc to the warehouse where it's belongs even tho It is still the best looking card by far I will admit that, but not for a tradeoff in performance. My nitro+ is comming tomorow and hopefully I wouldn't have the same problem as the thicc, I had to settle to speed fan because it wasn't spinning causing burned fingertips (yeah it's feels better to check temp in reality and not with a software: p )
reply
Victor
Air gap between the copper coldplate and aluminum fin stack? Reference PCB layout with extra plastic to make it look thicc? Stainless steel plate instead of aluminum or copper? This is a huge step down from the XFX RX-480 / RX-580 GTR coolers. Man, this is like the DD Thermal Ghost cooler situation from the HD 7970 / 7950. looks good, but mediocre performance. XFX Mark PR guy is quoting the 'pros' from reviews, but those are comparing to the REFERENCE cooler. Completely ignores the 'cons' mentioned that compared it to other AIB designs. AND saying this cooler design exceeded their expectations. This is. wow.
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Air gap between the copper coldplate and aluminum fin stack? Reference PCB layout with extra plastic to make it look thicc? Stainless steel plate instead of aluminum or copper? This is a huge step down from the XFX RX-480 / RX-580 GTR coolers. Man, this is like the DD Thermal Ghost cooler situation from the HD 7970 / 7950. looks good, but mediocre performance. XFX Mark PR guy is quoting the 'pros' from reviews, but those are comparing to the REFERENCE cooler. Completely ignores the 'cons' mentioned that compared it to other AIB designs. AND saying this cooler design exceeded their expectations. This is. wow.
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RoseOfHizaki
Personally - I didnt like how thick the thermal pad was that was supposed to making contact with the VRMs. Im 100% sure the thermal transfer is WORSE the thicker the pad is and that is definitely a key area where you would want good heat dissipation. Plus all the plastic? It just makes me feel like the repurposed a cooler from a different card to save money but it was either to small to get good coverage so they messed around with the shroud to make it look like it would work
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Personally - I didnt like how thick the thermal pad was that was supposed to making contact with the VRMs. Im 100% sure the thermal transfer is WORSE the thicker the pad is and that is definitely a key area where you would want good heat dissipation. Plus all the plastic? It just makes me feel like the repurposed a cooler from a different card to save money but it was either to small to get good coverage so they messed around with the shroud to make it look like it would work
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Rodrigo
I bought THICC II last week and I am enjoying the results. She is working as expected with temperatures and I got a good result of OVER stabilizing GPU clock at 2059Mhz and 1820Mhz in the memories. Apparently no difference in the build of the XFX RX 5700XT series for its VRM, both THICC II, THICC II Ultra and THICC III Ultra models have the same construction and performed very well in TechPowerup tests. Still congratulations on the review, very good.
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I bought THICC II last week and I am enjoying the results. She is working as expected with temperatures and I got a good result of OVER stabilizing GPU clock at 2059Mhz and 1820Mhz in the memories. Apparently no difference in the build of the XFX RX 5700XT series for its VRM, both THICC II, THICC II Ultra and THICC III Ultra models have the same construction and performed very well in TechPowerup tests. Still congratulations on the review, very good.
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Z3R0
It looks so nice on the outside but then all the plastic! Ugh. I don't care if the metal doesn't help cool the card, it just feels so premium compared to plastic. Not to mention that plastic insulates. I was thinking about my response to your tweet. if you were coming after them it wouldn't sound anything like the review did and this teardown. But. it would be AMAZING if you reviewed a crappy product and then destroyed it with a hammer. hahaha
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It looks so nice on the outside but then all the plastic! Ugh. I don't care if the metal doesn't help cool the card, it just feels so premium compared to plastic. Not to mention that plastic insulates. I was thinking about my response to your tweet. if you were coming after them it wouldn't sound anything like the review did and this teardown. But. it would be AMAZING if you reviewed a crappy product and then destroyed it with a hammer. hahaha
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N'ihl
I think, that from this day forward, XFX will do everything to stop you from getting any of their cards in future hahah. I think you did went a little to harsh on them, but from the other hand. They do deserve it. How many product generations with some problems? Way too many. Keep it up Steve. Ive seen every aftermarket review of Navi made by you, and so far. it does correspond to what I can see from feedbacks around net.
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I think, that from this day forward, XFX will do everything to stop you from getting any of their cards in future hahah. I think you did went a little to harsh on them, but from the other hand. They do deserve it. How many product generations with some problems? Way too many. Keep it up Steve. Ive seen every aftermarket review of Navi made by you, and so far. it does correspond to what I can see from feedbacks around net.
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ketxxx1
Dodgy hardware is going to slip through sometimes but XFX have a proven track record of building tat and it's been that way for years somehow they managed to live off fumes of their former reputation for over a decade. Last XFX card I had was a 512MB HD4830 and while those cards OCd like champs I still had to flash them with an Asus vBIOS because the XFX one made the cards BSOD when in CF.
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Dodgy hardware is going to slip through sometimes but XFX have a proven track record of building tat and it's been that way for years somehow they managed to live off fumes of their former reputation for over a decade. Last XFX card I had was a 512MB HD4830 and while those cards OCd like champs I still had to flash them with an Asus vBIOS because the XFX one made the cards BSOD when in CF.
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