A clever BIOS flash has enabled the AMD Radeon RX 9070 to achieve performance gains of up to 25%, showcasing just how much extra power can still be extracted from modern GPUs with the right tweaks.
Redditor unlocks big gains with simple BIOS trick
A Reddit user, noVa_realiZe, successfully boosted the performance of their PowerColor Radeon RX 9070 Reaper by flashing it with a Radeon RX 9070 XT BIOS. Unlike older hardware-based mods, this adjustment was made through software, making it more accessible for everyday enthusiasts.
In 3DMark Steel Nomad, the card’s score jumped from 5,821 points to 6,461 points—an 11% uplift—using the new BIOS alone. With further tuning of voltage and memory clocks, the GPU pushed as high as 7,277 points, representing a 25% increase over stock performance.
Real-world gaming gains
While the synthetic benchmarks saw the most dramatic improvement, gaming performance also benefited. In Cyberpunk 2077, the flashed RX 9070 delivered 8–12% higher frame rates, using a mix of rasterization and ray tracing settings.
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The extra horsepower largely comes from the BIOS’s higher power limit, raising consumption from 220W to as much as 300W. This allows higher sustained clocks, but it also means increased heat, power draw, and fan noise.
Risks and limitations
Not every RX 9070 will respond the same way to this tweak. Results depend on factors like cooling design, VRM quality, and silicon variance—often referred to as the “silicon lottery.” In this case, the PowerColor Reaper handled the stress without major issues, aside from louder fans.
Enthusiasts considering the mod should note the risks. A failed flash can brick a GPU, making a Dual BIOS card highly recommended for safety. That way, it’s possible to revert to the original firmware if needed.
For those willing to take the gamble, community guides are available—though as with any modification, success is not guaranteed.
