XFX Revises Radeon RX 5700 XT THICC II Cooler, Provides Free Upgrades For Early Adopters
XFX caught some heat (pun intended) when its Radeon RX 5700 XT THICC II first landed because it was reported to run hotter and louder than some of the other custom cooled models on the market. While we have not tested XFX's variants, the Radeon RX 5700 XT THICC III Ultra model uses a different cooler that does a much better job of keeping temps in check. Not to worry though, if you already purchased a THICC II model, you can contact XFX for a free cooler upgrade.
In addition, XFX apparently swapped out the cooler on its Radeon RX 5700 XT THICC II models and replaced it with the same one as found on the THICC III cards.
"The THICC II cards now have the same copper cooler the THICC III cards are launching with, in fact, they are already on shelves this week with upgraded coolers. Anyone who decides they want the copper heatsink instead of the alloy from launch is welcome to contact us and get a free replacement," Mark, a representative from XFX, stated in a Reddit thread.
Mark's clarification and replacement offer pertain to a discussion about TechPowerUp's review of the Radeon RX 5700 XT THICC Ultra III. The site disassembled the card and found, among other things, that the "memory cooling plate has been upgraded to copper and no longer has a separating foil between it and the main heatsink."
This addresses one of the complaints raised by Steve Burke at GamersNexus, regarding the THICC II Ultra model. Compared to other cards, Burke found the GDDR6 thermals on XFX's model to be "poor by comparison as a result of XFX's usage of a stainless steel GDDR6 plate, which is connected only via thermal pad some of the copper heatpipes."
Comparing the results of two different cards from tests run by two different sites is obviously problematic. That said, it certainly appears as though the THICC III Ultra is using a better cooler, which according to Mark has now been ported over to the THICC II Ultra.
We'll have to wait and see how the upgrade process goes for those who take advantage of XFX's offer. At the very least, though, it's nice to see a company listening to feedback, and making an effort to keep its customers happy.
