Review: MSI Radeon RX 480 GAMING X

#5345994 Posted on: 10/14/2016 09:43 PM

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I am not sure how true this is, but I read reviews on this MSI gaming x 480 8 GB graphics card. I own the card, so I was seeing what other people who own the same card were saying. This review was on Amazon from someone who had purchased it and returned it.


Quote "The heat sink pictured in the description, and on MSI's website for this card, is actually the 6 heat pipe heat sink from the 1070/80. This card uses a smaller 3 heat pipe heat sink that it shares with the 1060. In addition, this card does not have active VRM cooling. This would not be a problem for a stock PCB 480's VRM, good up to 125C. However, there are no spec sheets available for critical components on this card's PCB. There is some anecdotal evidence to suggest that the card throttles when VRM temps reach 92C. I returned my cards for these very reasons."


I contacted MSI who did not understand my first message to them. I asked them why only three heat-pipes on the card, when Nvidia has 6 heat-pipes on there 1070/80 series? MSI told me it was the design by their R & D Department.

#5346165 Posted on: 10/15/2016 03:29 AM

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I am not sure how true this is, but I read reviews on this MSI gaming x 480 8 GB graphics card. I own the card, so I was seeing what other people who own the same card were saying. This review was on Amazon from someone who had purchased it and returned it.


Quote "The heat sink pictured in the description, and on MSI's website for this card, is actually the 6 heat pipe heat sink from the 1070/80. This card uses a smaller 3 heat pipe heat sink that it shares with the 1060. In addition, this card does not have active VRM cooling. This would not be a problem for a stock PCB 480's VRM, good up to 125C. However, there are no spec sheets available for critical components on this card's PCB. There is some anecdotal evidence to suggest that the card throttles when VRM temps reach 92C. I returned my cards for these very reasons."


I contacted MSI who did not understand my first message to them. I asked them why only three heat-pipes on the card, when Nvidia has 6 heat-pipes on there 1070/80 series? MSI told me it was the design by their R & D Department.

To answer your question... Yes, MSI used a heatsink with 3 heatpipes. However, 2 of the heatpipes pass under both fans. It doesn't really matter what cooler design is used on the GTX1070 and 1080 as they are completely different cards. All that matters is whether or not the cooler can effective cool the card it's mounted on.

The VRMs do in fact have active cooling. There is a fan mounted directly over top of the VRMs. "Active cooling" means that air or liquid is passed over a component to cool it, which is exactly what MSI is doing with the TwinFrozr coolers.

You have to keep in mind, a lot of reviews are written by clueless idiots.

#5346456 Posted on: 10/15/2016 08:42 PM

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@sykozis

I was hoping I did not make a bad purchase upon receiving this graphics card.


I understand on people making bad reviews on products.

#5386488 Posted on: 01/30/2017 05:58 AM

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@sykozis

I was hoping I did not make a bad purchase upon receiving this graphics card.


I understand on people making bad reviews on products.

I bought the MSI Gaming X RX 480 4GB after reading this great review. Thanks for the work on this Guru. One of the more balanced reviews out there back in August and still relevant. I have been nothing but completely happy with this card. One click and I was at 1340 core. No changes at all to fans, power or anything. Took it like a boss. Every game solid.