Graphics card enthusiasts have discovered a way to significantly boost the performance of AMD's Radeon RX 9070 through a simple BIOS modification, reminiscent of similar tweaks from previous AMD GPU generations. This modification allows the lower-tier card to potentially outperform its more expensive sibling, the RX 9070 XT, creating an interesting option for budget-conscious gamers looking to maximize performance per dollar.
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| The AMD Radeon graphics card, highlighting the target of the performance boost through BIOS modification |
The BIOS Modification Process
A user from PCGamesHardware forum, identified as Gurdi, has successfully flashed an ASUS PRIME Radeon RX 9070 with the BIOS from an ASUS PRIME Radeon RX 9070 XT. This modification doesn't unlock additional compute units but instead focuses on increasing power limits and clock speeds. The modded RX 9070 now runs at significantly higher clock speeds of 2480-3030 MHz compared to the stock 2140-2610 MHz, representing a substantial 16% increase in maximum clock speed. The power limit was also increased from 220W to 317W, allowing the GPU to sustain these higher frequencies.
Performance Improvements
According to the forum member's testing, the BIOS-modded RX 9070 managed to outperform a reference RX 9070 XT in both synthetic benchmarks and gaming scenarios. This is particularly impressive considering the XT variant features more compute units (64 CUs versus 60 CUs in the non-XT model). The performance boost appears to be primarily driven by the substantially higher clock speeds that the modified BIOS enables, compensating for the deficit in processing units.
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| Benchmark results highlighting the performance improvements achieved by the modified RX 9070, showing a score of 6762 |
Power Considerations
While the ASUS PRIME RX 9070 XT normally uses three 8-pin power connectors, the non-XT variant has only two. Despite this difference, the modded card seems capable of handling the increased power draw of up to 317W through its dual 8-pin connectors, which theoretically provide up to 300W (150W per connector) plus an additional 75W from the PCIe slot. However, this pushes the card much closer to its power delivery limits compared to stock operation.
Stability Concerns
It's worth noting that the modified card reportedly experiences some stability issues during idle desktop operation due to the higher clock speeds. This highlights one of the potential drawbacks of such modifications and suggests that further tweaking might be necessary for daily use. The instability issue is reminiscent of challenges faced by users who performed similar modifications on previous AMD GPU generations like Vega 56 and RX 5700.
Historical Context
This modification follows a pattern seen with previous AMD GPU generations. Similar BIOS flashing was popular with the Vega 56/64 cards and the first-generation RDNA RX 5700 series. In both cases, users could flash the lower-tier card with the BIOS of its higher-end sibling to unlock additional performance. This trend highlights AMD's consistent approach of offering two cards based on the same GPU at launch, with artificial limitations on the lower-tier model that can sometimes be circumvented.
Alternative Performance Tuning
For those uncomfortable with BIOS flashing, which carries the risk of permanently damaging the GPU, there are safer alternatives. Undervolting the RX 9070 has been shown to yield 12-14% performance improvements at 1440p and 4K resolutions with minimal impact on thermals or power draw. This approach puts a modified RX 9070 within approximately 2% of RX 9070 XT performance without the risks associated with BIOS modification.
Risks and Considerations
BIOS flashing comes with significant risks, including the possibility of bricking the graphics card if something goes wrong during the process. Additionally, the specific BIOS used in this case is likely only compatible with the exact same model (ASUS PRIME RX 9070), limiting its applicability to the broader user base. The increased power consumption also results in higher heat output and fan noise, which may be undesirable for some users.
Market Implications
This development could be particularly relevant given the current market situation where RX 9070 XT cards are reportedly in short supply and selling at inflated prices despite only a USD$50 MSRP difference between the models. For users who can find the non-XT variant at a good price, this modification potentially offers a way to achieve near-XT performance without paying the premium, though with added risks and considerations.
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| Performance testing of the modified RX 9070, illustrating its potential as a cost-effective alternative in the current graphics card market |