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ASRock did launch passive-heatsink versions of the Radeon RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT on July 26, 2024. The two-slot cards have no onboard fans, but that does not mean they can cool themselves in a sealed or airflow-free desktop: they are designed to rely on fans elsewhere in a workstation or server chassis. ASRock says the XTX version is for business customers and is not sold through retail channels.
Two real products, aimed at system builders
ASRock’s announcement named the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX Passive 24GB and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT Passive 20GB. The company positioned them for multi-card computing and system integrators, rather than as standard gaming cards. ASRock’s July 26, 2024 announcement describes a vapor-chamber heatsink, aluminum fins and a metal backplate.
“Passive” here describes the card’s cooling hardware: there is no fan mounted on the graphics card. It does not mean that a high-power GPU can operate without moving air. Independent coverage describes the cards as relying on forced airflow from the host system. AnandTech’s report also notes the full-power nature of these GPUs: roughly 355W for the XTX and 315W for the XT, figures to treat as reported power-class context rather than passive-card specifications published on ASRock’s product page.
What “passive” means in practice
- Fanless card: the graphics card has no onboard fan.
- Fanless computer: the entire system operates without powered fans.
- These Radeon cards: a fanless heatsink on the card, intended to receive forced airflow from chassis or server fans.
The GPU transfers heat into a vapor chamber, which spreads it across the heatsink. Aluminum fins provide the surface area for air to carry that heat away; ASRock highlights V-shaped fin cuts in its launch material. The airflow source is external to the card. In a suitable server or workstation, chassis fans can be arranged to push air through the fins. A typical desktop case may not deliver airflow in the right direction or with enough pressure, especially when cards are installed close together.
#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
So the design moves the fan function from the graphics card to the host system. It can remove GPU-fan noise as a noise source, but it cannot make the whole computer silent if chassis fans must run to cool the cards. A rack server may be louder overall than a well-tuned gaming PC.
RX 7900 XTX Passive 24GB: published specifications
ASRock’s XTX Passive product page lists these specifications:
| Specification | RX 7900 XTX Passive 24GB |
|---|---|
| GPU architecture | RDNA 3 |
| Compute units / stream processors | 96 / 6,144 |
| Memory | 24GB GDDR6, 384-bit bus, 20Gbps |
| Infinity Cache | 96MB |
| Game clock | 2,270MHz |
| Boost clock | Up to 2,500MHz |
| Outputs | 3 × DisplayPort 2.1, 1 × HDMI 2.1 |
| Power connector | 1 × 12V-2×6 |
| Recommended PSU | 800W |
| Dimensions and weight | 261 × 111 × 40mm; 863g |
| Thickness | Two slots |
The listed clocks are below those of some factory-overclocked consumer XTX cards, but this remains the full 96-compute-unit XTX configuration. Clock speed alone does not establish real-world performance: sustained results depend on the system’s airflow, temperatures and workload.
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What is confirmed about the XT?
ASRock’s announcement confirms the RX 7900 XT Passive 20GB name and memory capacity. The XT is based on the 5,376-stream-processor RX 7900 XT GPU; independent coverage places it in the roughly 315W power class. The cited ASRock material does not establish a complete set of passive-card-specific XT dimensions, clocks, PSU guidance or retail terms, so the XTX figures above should not be assumed to apply to it.
Why two slots and 12V-2×6 matter
The two-slot format is central to the cards’ purpose. Many high-end gaming cards occupy substantially more than two slots, making neighboring PCIe slots difficult or impossible to use. A thinner card can make dense multi-card installations more practical, provided the chassis is designed to move air through every heatsink.
ASRock says the single horizontal 12V-2×6 power connector helps simplify installation and reduce cable interference when multiple cards are fitted. That is a cabling and physical-layout advantage, not an efficiency claim. Multi-card physical installation also does not mean games will combine the cards’ performance: scaling depends on the software. Rendering, compute, virtualization or other workloads with their own multi-GPU support are more natural contexts.
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
Is one suitable for a normal desktop?
Not as a drop-in choice for a quiet, ordinary gaming PC. Consider one only if the complete system has been designed and validated for sustained forced airflow. Before buying, check:
- Airflow path: Can fans move air through the heatsink in its intended orientation, without major obstructions?
- Multiple-card layout: Will adjacent cards block the fins or reduce airflow enough to compromise cooling?
- Case fit: The XTX is 261mm long, 40mm thick and two slots wide; verify card length, slot spacing and clearance around the heatsink.
- Power: The XTX page calls for an 800W PSU and lists one 12V-2×6 connector. Check the PSU, cable and system’s power delivery for the intended sustained load.
- Thermal monitoring: Validate GPU, hotspot and memory temperatures under the real workload over time, and watch for clock reductions or throttling. A brief benchmark or idle check is not enough.
- Noise expectations: The card itself has no fan, but the host’s fans still need to provide cooling.
- Support and supply: Confirm availability, warranty and purchase channel with ASRock or an integrator.
Insufficient airflow can lead to rising temperatures, reduced clocks, instability or shutdown under sustained load. No reproducible thermal or acoustic test results for a range of desktop and multi-card configurations are established by the cited material, so there is no basis to promise a particular temperature or noise level.
Passive models are not ASRock’s WS blower cards
ASRock also offers separate Radeon RX 7900 WS cards with blower fans. Those models are not the passive cards: a blower provides card-level airflow, while the passive versions depend on airflow from the chassis. Tom’s Hardware’s coverage of the WS models discusses that distinct product line. Check the exact model name and cooling design rather than treating “WS” and “Passive” as interchangeable.
Availability and price
ASRock’s current XTX product page says the RX 7900 XTX Passive 24GB is for business customers and not sold through the retail channel. No official public price is identified in the cited material. The XT was announced, but its current retail availability and price are not confirmed there. Buyers should ask ASRock, a regional distributor or a system integrator about supply, warranty and whether the card is sold individually or as part of a system. Not finding an ordinary retail listing does not make the launch a rumor; the products were officially announced.
Bottom line
ASRock’s passive RX 7900 XTX and XT are genuine, unusually thin high-end graphics cards for systems that already have engineered airflow—especially dense workstations and multi-GPU deployments. They are not a shortcut to a fully silent desktop. Unless you can verify the airflow, sustained thermals, fit and business-channel availability, a conventional consumer card is the more practical choice for an everyday gaming PC.
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