The Ultimate Sapphire RX 480 Nitro+ Review: Unboxing, Design, Cooling, and More!

The Ultimate Sapphire RX 480 Nitro+ Review: Unboxing, Design, Cooling, and More!

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Unboxing and Overview
3. Design and Build Quality
4. Cooling System and Fan Performance
5. Overclocking Capabilities
6. Performance Comparison with Reference RX 480
7. Gaming Experience in Different Resolutions
8. Temperature and Noise Levels
9. Pros and Cons of Sapphire RX 480 Nitro+
10. Conclusion

Article:

🌟 Introduction

Welcome back, guys! Today, we are going to dive into a comprehensive review of the Sapphire RX 480 Nitro+ graphics card. As one of the most highly anticipated aftermarket examples of the RX 480, this redesigned version from Sapphire promises to deliver exceptional performance and an enhanced gaming experience. Join me as we explore the unboxing, design, cooling system, overclocking capabilities, and more!

🌟 Unboxing and Overview

Let's start by taking a look at what's inside the box. The Sapphire RX 480 Nitro+ comes in their signature tall and narrow packaging, featuring their iconic Nitro robot mascot. Upon opening the box, you'll find user manuals, promotional materials, and installation discs. And there it is, the graphics card itself, ready to be unleased.

🌟 Design and Build Quality

Sapphire has gone the extra mile with the design of the Nitro+ series for the new RX 480. The top side of the card features a Rubber-like surface, reminiscent of the AMD reference design cooler. The outer shell is primarily made of plastic, while the back reveals a stunning backplate adorned with the Nitro logo. Underneath the cover, a large aluminum block and three copper heat pipes cool the GPU, memory, and power design components. Sapphire's Dual-X cooling system, with its 95mm fans and tool ball bearing system, provides optimal cooling efficiency. Additionally, the Nitro+ card boasts a nitro quick-connect feature, making fan cleaning or replacement a breeze.

🌟 Cooling System and Fan Performance

With a focus on efficient cooling, Sapphire's Nitro+ RX 480 incorporates innovative cooling technologies. The combination of the aluminum block and copper heat pipes ensures efficient heat dissipation from the GPU, memory, and power design components. The Dual-X cooling system, featuring 95mm fans, provides excellent airflow and reduces noise levels. The fans utilize a tool ball bearing system, guaranteeing quiet operation and increased longevity. The Nitro Cool Tech adds further value to the card by offering a zero RPM fan mode, allowing for silent operation during idle periods.

🌟 Overclocking Capabilities

Enthusiasts will be delighted by the overclocking potential of the Sapphire RX 480 Nitro+. With its robust power delivery system and excellent cooling solution, the card can achieve impressive clock speeds. During our tests, we were able to overclock the GPU to a stable frequency of 1380MHz, resulting in a noticeable performance boost. The memory, operating at 1900MHz, also saw a decent increase from its default 1750MHz. These overclocks, although not groundbreaking, provide an extra performance edge without compromising stability.

🌟 Performance Comparison with Reference RX 480

Now, let's compare the performance of the Sapphire RX 480 Nitro+ with the reference RX 480. Despite the slightly higher clock speeds on the Nitro+ model, the performance gap between the two is not significant. However, it is worth noting that the Nitro+ version features faster video memory by default. While the 4GB Nitro+ model runs at 2000MHz, the 8GB version reaches an impressive 2200-2250MHz. This memory speed boost can make a notable difference in demanding games and applications.

🌟 Gaming Experience in Different Resolutions

The Sapphire RX 480 Nitro+ proves to be a highly capable graphics card, offering an excellent gaming experience across various resolutions. In 1080p and 1440p resolutions, it effortlessly delivers high frame rates, ensuring smooth gameplay. Even at a demanding resolution of 3440x1440, the Nitro+ holds its ground, providing satisfactory performance at high settings. Gamers seeking a value-oriented option will find great value in this GPU.

🌟 Temperature and Noise Levels

When it comes to temperature management, the Sapphire RX 480 Nitro+ performs adequately. Under load, the GPU temperature hovers between 70 to 78 degrees Celsius, slightly lower than the reference cooler's temperature of 82 degrees Celsius. To maintain these temperatures, the fans operate at around 2200-2500 RPM. While effective, this does result in a relatively higher noise level compared to some competitor models. At idle, the temperature stays around 45 degrees Celsius due to the default trigger point for the fans to turn on being set at 52 degrees Celsius. However, the fans continue to spin longer than expected after exiting a Game, indicating a possible delay in cooling down the GPU.

🌟 Pros and Cons of Sapphire RX 480 Nitro+

Pros:

• Excellent build quality and design
• Efficient cooling system
• Overclocking capabilities
• Solid gaming performance across various resolutions

Cons:

• Relatively high noise level under load
• Fans continue to spin for a considerable time after gaming Sessions
• Idle temperature could be lower

🌟 Conclusion

In conclusion, the Sapphire RX 480 Nitro+ is a solid choice for gamers looking for a value-oriented graphics card. It boasts impressive build quality, efficient cooling, and respectable overclocking capabilities. While it may exhibit a slightly higher noise level and have room for improvement in idle temperature management, these minor drawbacks do not hinder the card's overall excellent performance. With a competitive price point and a range of features, the Sapphire RX 480 Nitro+ is undoubtedly a contender in the mid-range graphics card market.

FAQ

Q: Can the Sapphire RX 480 Nitro+ run the latest games at high settings?

A: Absolutely! The Sapphire RX 480 Nitro+ is more than capable of running the latest games at high settings, providing an immersive gaming experience.

Q: Does the Sapphire RX 480 Nitro+ support multi-GPU setups?

A: Yes, it does. The Sapphire RX 480 Nitro+ utilizes the PCIe bus to support multi-GPU setups without the need for bridges.

Q: Can the fans of the Sapphire RX 480 Nitro+ be customized?

A: Yes, the fans' RGB LED Sapphire logo can be controlled using the Sapphire Trixx 3.0 selector software, allowing users to set up custom colors.