Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesASRock announced two passively cooled graphics cards on July 26, 2024: the Radeon RX 7900 XTX Passive 24GB and RX 7900 XT Passive 20GB. Both use a vapor-chamber heatsink, aluminum fins and a horizontal 12V-2×6 power connector. ASRock has not announced a price, availability date, or thermal and noise test results for either model, so “passive” describes the card’s cooling design—not a guarantee that an entire PC can run silently or without fans.
What ASRock announced
ASRock’s July 26, 2024 announcement introduced its first passive-series graphics cards: the Radeon RX 7900 XTX Passive 24GB and Radeon RX 7900 XT Passive 20GB. They use the corresponding RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT GPUs. The announcement describes a vapor-chamber heatsink, aluminum cooling fins with V-shaped cuts, a metal backplate and one horizontal 12V-2×6 power connector on each card. ASRock’s announcement says specifications may change without notice.
How the passive cooler is designed
Rather than relying on an onboard cooler fan, each card is described as using a large finned heatsink. A vapor chamber spreads heat from the GPU across the cooling assembly, while the aluminum fins provide surfaces for heat to dissipate. ASRock highlights V-shaped cuts in the fins, but does not publish measurements or test results showing how much they affect cooling.
The announcement does not specify the airflow the cards need, compatible chassis, operating temperatures, or noise levels. A passive GPU cooler therefore should not be read as a promise of a fanless computer: other components may still need fans, and the case and its airflow matter. The available announcement and same-day coverage do not establish how these cards perform thermally or acoustically in a particular system. HotHardware’s July 26, 2024 report likewise notes the absence of price and availability information.
#1 Best Overall
- Flagship Gaming Performance, AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX GPU with 2615 MHz boost clock and 24GB GDDR6 memory for elite 4K gaming
- Advanced RDNA 3 Architecture, 96 compute units with RT+AI accelerators and 96MB AMD Infinity Cache technology
- Premium Cooling Solution, Phantom Gaming 3X Cooling System with Striped Ring Fans and reinforced metal frame
- High-Speed Memory, 24GB GDDR6 on 384-bit memory bus delivers exceptional bandwidth for 4K gaming and content creation
- Silent Operation, 0dB Silent Cooling technology ensures zero fan noise during low-intensity tasks
How the two announced models compare
| Model | GPU tier | Memory | Reported game clock / boost clock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radeon RX 7900 XTX Passive | RX 7900 XTX | 24GB | 2,270MHz / up to 2,500MHz (HotHardware) |
| Radeon RX 7900 XT Passive | RX 7900 XT | 20GB | 2,025MHz / up to 2,395MHz (HotHardware) |
The clock figures are reported by HotHardware, not presented here as independently verified ASRock specifications. ASRock’s announcement does not provide comparative temperature, noise, or performance results for the Passive boards.
What the 12V-2×6 connector means for multi-GPU setups
Each card has a single horizontal 12V-2×6 power connector. ASRock says the connector’s arrangement can make multi-card installation easier by reducing the number of power cords, and positions the cards as options for system integrators. That is the manufacturer’s intended integration benefit, not proof that the cards fit every chassis or work in every multi-GPU configuration.
For a planned build, verify the exact card dimensions, case clearance, power-supply requirements, and airflow for the intended configuration. Those details are not established by the announcement summarized here. ASRock’s release also does not publish multi-GPU performance or compatibility testing.
Rank #2
- High-Performance 4K Gaming: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT GPU with 20GB GDDR6 memory on 320-bit bus delivers exceptional 4K gaming and content creation performance
- Advanced RDNA 3 Architecture: 84 AMD RDNA 3 Compute Units with Ray Tracing and AI Accelerators, plus 80MB AMD Infinity Cache technology
- Impressive Clock Speeds: Boost clock up to 2450 MHz and game clock of 2075 MHz with 20 Gbps memory speed for smooth, high-frame-rate gaming
- Phantom Gaming 3X Cooling System: Triple striped ring fans with reinforced metal frame and 0dB silent cooling technology for optimal thermal performance
- Modern Display Connectivity: Three DisplayPort 2.1 and one HDMI 2.1 outputs support high-resolution, high-refresh-rate displays and advanced gaming features
Original RX 7900 specifications are not Passive-card test results
AMD’s November 2022 launch information gives context for the underlying GPU tiers, but its specifications and suggested prices are not a price list or test report for ASRock’s later Passive cards. AMD’s original Radeon RX 7900 series announcement listed the following:
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstall| Original GPU | Memory | Compute units | Typical board power | Suggested launch price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radeon RX 7900 XTX | 24GB GDDR6 | 96 | 355W | $999 |
| Radeon RX 7900 XT | 20GB GDDR6 | 84 | 300W | $899 |
These are AMD’s original series specifications and suggested prices from 2022, not measurements, current retail prices, or confirmed power figures for ASRock’s Passive boards. AMD said the original cards would begin availability on December 13, 2022 through AMD and board partners; that timing does not establish availability for the Passive variants.
Price and availability remain unconfirmed
ASRock’s announcement did not state a price or release date for either Passive model, and HotHardware’s same-day coverage also reported no price or availability. The available sources do not establish current stock or whether either exact Passive SKU is sold through a particular retailer. Check that any listing names the Passive model itself: fan-cooled RX 7900 Phantom Gaming cards are different products and do not establish a price for these cards.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
