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The AMD RDNA architecture has steadily gained traction since its launch, offering graphics cards that compete effectively with Nvidia across various price points. The third generation of this architecture, featuring the RX 7900 XT and RX 7900 XTX, was unveiled in early November and launched in mid-December. We’ve had the opportunity to examine a reference model of the AMD RX 7900 XT, and in this article, we share our initial impressions and a quick overview of the card’s design.

AMD RX 7900 XT Reference Card

Familiar Design, Refined Quality

Unlike third-party manufacturers (AIBs), AMD maintains a consistent and minimalist design philosophy for its reference graphics cards. The RX 7900 XT adheres to this approach. The packaging is compact, similar in size to that of the AMD RX 6800. AMD has opted for a predominantly black color scheme for the box, a slight departure from previous generations.

AMD RX 7900 XT Packaging

The back of the box highlights the advanced technologies integrated into the Adrenalin drivers. The card itself sports a sleek black finish, a departure from the silver of previous reference models. The prominent “R” for Radeon on the cooling fan has been replaced with a more stylized geometric design.

Size and Power: Maintaining the Standard

AMD RX 7900 XT Cooling Design

Encouragingly, the RX 7900 XT maintains a similar size to previous generations, avoiding the bulky four-slot design of the Nvidia RTX 4080. While the card feels heavier than its predecessors, suggesting a redesigned heatsink with more heat pipes, it should still fit comfortably in most cases that accommodate previous-generation cards. This means users likely won’t need to upgrade to a larger case.

AMD RX 7900 XT Power Connectors

The RX 7900 XT retains the standard dual 8-pin power connectors, foregoing the new 12VHPWR connector found on Nvidia’s RTX 4000 series. This compatibility ensures users can utilize existing power supplies without needing an adapter or a new PSU.

Initial Impressions: A Promising Start

The AMD RX 7900 XT, while boasting a new architecture and enhanced performance, retains key design elements like size and power connectors from previous generations. This thoughtful approach ensures compatibility with existing hardware, offering a potentially smoother upgrade path compared to Nvidia’s latest offerings. This initial look suggests AMD has focused on delivering a powerful GPU without requiring significant system overhauls.