The video showcases a teardown of Sapphire’s RX 9600 XT Pulse GPUs (16GB and 8GB), highlighting their simple, cost-effective cooling design, ease of serviceability, and minor internal differences mainly related to memory configuration and PCB length. Overall, the cards feature straightforward construction focused on efficient cooling, low power consumption, and easy maintenance.
The video features a teardown of Sapphire’s RX 9600 XT Pulse graphics cards, specifically the 16GB and 8GB models. The presenter starts by discussing the thermal performance of the cards, noting that the core temperature reaches around 56°C with a hot spot delta of about 23°C, which is acceptable though slightly higher than ideal. The memory temperature is higher at 85°C, which could be problematic in more confined cases or higher ambient temperatures. The external appearance of both models is similar, with the main difference being a slightly shorter PCB on the 8GB version.
The disassembly process reveals that both cards use a straightforward, dual-fan cooler with a flow-through design, allowing for good airflow and cooling efficiency. The cooler assembly is simple, with minimal screws and a design that allows easy removal of the heatsink without disturbing the thermal paste on the GPU. The cooler and PCB appear to be largely reference-based, with some minor differences in PCB length and memory configuration. The presenter emphasizes the ease of serviceability, noting that fans can be replaced without removing the entire heatsink.
Inside, the cards feature a basic cooling solution with a few heat pipes and a copper cold plate. The 16GB model has memory on both sides of the PCB, while the 8GB version has memory only on the front, indicating a difference in memory density or PCB design. The VRMs are cooled with thermal pads contacting the heatsink and backplate, and the die itself is quite small, with some text visible on it, which is uncommon for AMD GPUs. The thermal interface materials include phase change pads and standard thermal pads, contributing to the overall cooling strategy.
The teardown highlights some design choices, such as the use of thermal pads on the back of the PCB and the presence of optional controller and fan connectors on the PCB. The 16GB card has a longer PCB and additional memory on the back, whereas the 8GB model is shorter with only front-side memory. The reviewer notes that some thermal pads might be missing on certain components, which could influence the memory temperatures observed during testing. Overall, the cards are simple, cost-effective designs optimized for lower power consumption and ease of manufacturing.
In conclusion, the presenter summarizes that both models share a similar cooling approach and internal layout, with minor differences mainly related to memory configuration and PCB length. The assembly process is straightforward, making repairs and upgrades relatively simple, aside from some minor annoyances like connector choices. The video ends with a reminder to viewers that a full review and gaming benchmarks are available on the channel, and encourages support through Patreon or merchandise. The teardown provides insight into the design philosophy behind these budget-friendly GPUs, emphasizing simplicity, serviceability, and adequate cooling performance.