My Ryzen 7 3800X system currently has an EVGA RTX 2070 Super that has died. The rest of the build includes an ASUS X570-I Mini-ITX motherboard, 16GB of DDR4-3200 memory, a Noctua NH-U9S cooler, an NCASE M1 v5.1 case, and a Corsair SF600 600W SFX power supply. I also currently have only one 8-pin PCIe power cable available.
I am deciding between a PowerColor Radeon 9060 XT 16GB Reaper for $449.99 and a PowerColor Radeon 9070 12GB for $479.99. The 9070 is only $30 more and appears to offer substantially better performance, but I am concerned about whether it will fit in the compact case and whether the SF600 and single PCIe cable can power it safely. Which card would be the better choice for this system?
3 Answers
Check the specific model dimensions rather than assuming either card will fit. The NCASE M1 supports fairly long graphics cards, but thickness and cooler design can still be limiting. If the chosen card is under the case's length and slot limits, it may fit physically; otherwise, a larger case would be necessary.
A larger case and a more powerful power supply would make the upgrade easier and provide more headroom, especially if the 9070 has demanding connector requirements. Do not rely on a missing or improvised cable—get the correct replacement cable for the SF600 and follow the GPU manufacturer's power recommendations before installing it.
The 9070 is the stronger deal at only $30 more, with roughly 30% better performance. Even at 4K, you would probably need to lower settings enough that 12GB of VRAM should generally be adequate. The main things to verify before buying are the exact card dimensions, the required power connectors, and whether your 600W power supply is sufficient.
My biggest concern is the power supply. Can the SF600 handle the card, and is it safe to run it from one 8-pin cable using the daisy-chained connector?
The case supports cards over 300mm, and this particular model is only two slots thick, so it should fit as long as the listed dimensions match. A newer entry-level X3D processor could also help make better use of the GPU.