AMD’s Radeon RX 7900 XTX launch has been surrounded by controversy. Thermal issues, clock throttling, limited overclocking headroom, etc., have been extensively covered by various outlets left and right. It has now been established that many cards shipped suffer from a defective heatsink. The vapor chamber on these parts has been filled with ineffective thermal liquid, either inadequate in quantity to quality.
We are working to determine the root cause of the unexpected throttling experienced by some while using the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX graphics cards made by AMD. Based on our observations to-date, we believe the issue relates to the thermal solution used in the AMD reference design and appears to be present in a limited number of the cards sold.
AMD officially admitted to the problem the other day, asking customers to reach out to their support team if they face similar issues. The chipmaker believes that the thermal solution used in the reference design is to blame. Apparently, a limited number of cards were shipped with inadequate coolant, leading to thermal overheating and poor sustained temps.
According to a report from Igor’s Lab, AMD may be running out of retail units to reimburse affected customers. One of his readers who applied for an RMA was notified that the same would be delivered in two weeks. Unfortunately, two weeks passed, and the shipping timeline turned into an unspecified deadline.
Interestingly, the customer can apply for a refund, unlike before, along with a return label. This can only mean one thing. AMD doesn’t have enough cards to supply as the RMA replacements and/or future shipments have been delayed. Furthermore, board partners are strapped as well, and inventory is expected to improve only by the end of the month.
Processors, PC gaming, and the past. I have written about computer hardware for over seven years with over 5000 published articles. I started during engineering college and haven't stopped since. On the side, I play RPGs like Baldur's Gate, Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Divinity, and Fallout. Contact: areejs12@hardwaretimes.com.
