MSI Radeon RX 5700 XT MECH OC Graphics Card Review

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Nauman Siddique

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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AMD launched the Radeon RX 5700 XT, a 7nm graphics card with DirectX 12 support for optimal gaming performance. The card, featuring 2304 shading units and 8 GB GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit interface, operates at frequencies up to 1725 MHz. Drawing power from 6-pin + 8-pin connectors, this dual-slot card includes HDMI 2.0b and DisplayPort 1.4a outputs and has a launch price of $349.

Key Takeaways

• The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is a high-performance graphics card featuring the RDNA architecture, built on a 7nm process with 8 GB GDDR6 memory.
• This graphics card is designed for gamers and enthusiasts seeking top-notch gaming performance at 1440p resolutions, prioritizing a balance of power and affordability.
• It may not be ideal for users on a budget or those requiring specialized GPU capabilities for tasks like professional content creation or extensive 3D rendering.

Let’s start with the specifications.

Radeon RX 5700 XT MECH OC packs 8GB GDDR6 Micron Memory chips clocked at 1750MHz, with a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s and a bus width of 256 bits. One of the salient features of the Navi 10 and new RDNA architecture is the support for PCIe 4.0, which enables two times the bandwidth compared to PCI Express® 3.0.

Packaging and Unboxing

The graphics card is shipped inside a cardboard box with an outer packing box made of paperboard.

Design

Let’s closely examine the design of the MSI AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT MECH OC graphics card, followed by an analysis of gaming and synthetic benchmark results. Weighing approximately 794g, this dual-slot card is notably thicker and has dimensions of 232x126x46mm. With a length of 232mm, it ensures compatibility with various chassis, not exceeding the length of an ATX-size motherboard. Its height of 126mm poses no significant issues. The MSI AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT MECH OC also packs a Power sensor. This is where we have taken the maximum power draw of the card.

The graphics card’s shroud, constructed from robust hard plastic, showcases a sleek gray and black design with insets and cutouts. Equipped with TORX 3.0 fans, it enhances thermal performance through focused airflow, dispersion fan blades, and a special curved blade, omitting the Zero DB or Auto Stop feature. MSI has used thermal pads on the VRAM chips and MOSFETs.

Let’s take a look at the top side of the graphics card. There is a large section open-ended for maximum ventilation. The shroud part extends over the PCB and the cooling solution. MSI brand logo, name, and RADEON are printed in white on the shroud. The top side of the massive heatsink is quite visible, showing the heat pipes’ layout.

The MSI AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT MECH OC draws power through an 8-pin and a 6-pin connector, combining a total power draw of 225W, reaching 300W with the additional 75W from the PCIe connector. Its solid metallic black backplate, featuring only 4 holes for GPU socket screw access, bears a white sticker on one screw, warning that tampering would void the warranty. The backplate showcases MSI branding and stylish lines.

A 4-pin connector in white color is on the right side of the PCB at the bottom. This is powering the fans of the card. It is PWM, as the speed is regulated based on the GPU’s thermal sensor. The shroud is bending and taking over a certain portion of the heatsink on the front side. The rest of the area is open-ended, making it more ventilated. The PCB is black. We have 1x HDMI port 2.0 and 3x DP port 1.4 ports.

Performance and Testing

Following is the information regarding the test system and drivers that I have used to test this graphics card:

• Intel i7 8700k @ 5.0GHz
• Asus Strix Z390-E Gaming Motherboard
• Ballistix Elite 16GB kit @ 3000MHz
• Noctua NH-U14S
• HyperX 120GB SSD
• Seagate Barracuda 3.5” 2 TB HDD
• Thermaltake TP iRGB 1250W Titanium PSU

Drivers

• Nvidia driver 442.19 For COLORFUL GeForce GTX 1650 Super NB-4G-V
• Nvidia driver 417.71 for GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 2060
• Nvidia driver 411.70 For ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 2070 OC
• Nvidia driver 398.35 for GeForce GTX (Pascal) graphics cards
• Nvidia driver 417.71 for GeForce GTX 1080 [Required for Battlefield V]
• Nvidia driver 430.86 for other GeForce GTX 1600 Series cards
• Nvidia driver 430.86 for ASUS ROG Strix Geforce RTX 2080 OC and ZOTAC GeForce RTX 2070 Amp Extreme
• Nvidia driver 431.60 for GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 2070 Super Gaming OC 8G
• AMD driver Adrenalin 2019 19.4.3 for the Radeon RX 570 and RX 580.
• AMD driver Adrenalin 2020 Edition 20.1.3 for XFX Radeon RX 5500XT Thicc II Pro
• AMD driver Adrenalin 2020 Edition 20.2.2 for MSI Radeon RX 5700XT MECH OC

Monitoring Software

MSI Afterburner 4.62 was used to monitor and record the FPS for the games without in-built benchmarks. Three runs per game per API per resolution were made, and the average is shown on the graphs. The tough ordeal for the tester! For the tweaking, EVGA Precision X1 was used.

Synthetic Benchmarks

Gaming Benchmarks

The MSI AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT MECH OC is aimed at 1440P Ultra gaming. Despite that, we have tested this graphics card for gaming performance at 1080P and 2160P to keep up with our graph format. The driver side of these cards still needs improvement for better stability, as I have seen a few glitches during the testing.

Boost Clocks

Now that we have taken a look at the gaming and synthetic benchmark results, it is time to take a look at the maximum boost clocks.

The MSI AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT MECH OC has boosted to 2077MHz, though it was for a fraction of a second and never hit that figure again during my testing. The average was in the 1890s, with the lowest dip of 1815MHz.

Power Consumption

To measure the power draw, I am taking a different route as HWInfo64 shows the GPU Power (if there is a sensor on the board), and this is exactly what I have been showing on my graphs instead of the overall system power draw. To monitor the maximum power draw, I am using The Witcher 3 at 1080P run of 60 minutes and then recording the reported maximum power draw from the HWInfo64. The PC was idle for about 15 minutes before the gaming session. This way, any user can easily check their graphics card for power consumption.

With 212W of power draw, this card offers better power efficiency.

Thermal Performance

I am not using Furmark or any other stress app for thermal performance checking. Instead, the reported temperatures are from the gaming session using The Witcher 3 at 1080P resolution for a minimum of 60 minutes. MSI Afterburner is used to record the temperatures during the gaming session.

The MSI AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT MECH OC was idling at 27°C. On stock clocks, it maxed to 67°C. The card was tested on the open-air test bench setup. Once inside the chassis, the temperature is likely to be more than this and depends upon many factors, particularly the airflow configuration of the chassis. Keep in mind that this testing was done on the Performance BIOS. The ambient temperature was 21.7°C.

Sound Level

The MSI AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT MECH OC has a better thermal performance. Still, this performance is coming at the cost of elevated sound level as under typical gaming load, the fans on Auto settings were making 52 dBA at an ambient sound level of 32 dBA.

Should You Buy It?

Now that our evaluation of RX 5700 is finished, do we see it as a favorable option?

Buy It If

✅You Want Balanced 1440p Gaming: The RX 5700 and RX 5700 XT offer commendable performance for 1440p gaming, making them suitable for users seeking an optimal balance between resolution and frame rates.

✅You Have Value Considerations: The RX 5700, with its lower price, presents a compelling option for those looking for a cost-effective GPU that performs well at 1080p and 1440p, offering good value for the money.

✅You Are An Overclocking Enthusiast: Enthusiasts inclined towards overclocking can find potential in the RX 5700, especially with a BIOS flash to match XT performance, making it a more affordable choice for those willing to tinker.

Don’t Buy It If

❌You Want Quiet Operations: As we saw in our tests, the fans tend to get a bit noisy. Keep this in mind if you want a quiet PC.

❌You Are Opting for Latest Technology: Given the availability of newer GPUs in AMD’s lineup, users may find better performance and value in the latest offerings, such as the RX 6800 or RX 6800 XT, which could outweigh the advantages of the RX 5700 series.

Final Words

MSI’s AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT MECH OC is a powerful graphics card for great gaming at 1440P resolution. It has advanced technology like the AMD Radeon 2nd Gen Navi 10 GPU and 8GB GDDR6 VRAM. The card runs fast with a game frequency of 1815MHz and a boost clock up to 1925MHz. Thanks to a special cooling system with a nickel-coated aluminum heatsink and MSI TORX fan 3.0, it stays cool. But, some issues with the drivers affect how well it works.

The MSI RX 5700 XT MECH OC is priced at $349, a good deal compared to the GeForce RTX 2070 Super. It comes with a 1-year local warranty. Even though it’s good for gaming and works efficiently, it can be noisy because it prioritizes keeping cool. Buyers should consider if the better cooling is worth the extra noise.

Coming Up: Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Super Gaming OC 8G Review

Nauman Siddique

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com