290 vs 290x for single-gpu OC

[Tristor]

Howdy folks,

My next buy is going to be a new GPU. I'm trying to figure out if there's any value for me in the 290X over the 290 since I'm going to be doing "The Red Mod" or some variation there-of and overclocking whichever card I get. It seems like the 290 and 290X are equivalent other than clockspeed from looking at the spec sheets, if I equivalently clocked a 290 would I see the same performance as would be expected from a 290X? Will a 290X have more overclocking headroom than a 290?

I'm also open to a GTX 780 Ti, since it does seem to perform better in most of the situations I'd be gaming than either of the AMD cards, but it's price is significantly higher, which is the primary reason I'm looking at AMD first. Budget is not solid, but is a concern. If people think a similar mod for the GTX 780 Ti would account in enough headroom to simply blow the similarly modified 290/290X out of the water, it might be worth considering.

Thoughts?

 

[wand3r3r]

You mention budget. The 290 is hands down the best "budget" high end card, providing you can get one near retail pricing and don't buy a price gouged one. The 780 ti doesn't offer much, and you could go crossfire for almost the same price and have way higher FPS. The 290x isn't really worth the premium either since it's such a small difference. Despite the budget label, it's still not as far from the 780 ti performance as the price may indicate.

Definitely get a custom one, either the Tri-x or MSI Gaming revisions.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

If you're looking for max performance at the current prices than the 780 Classified is your best bet.

It's $540 right now and a better card than anything AMD has out currently.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=-1&isNodeId=1

 

[aaksheytalwar]

The amd cards don't gain much with oc. The geforce does to a better extent. A 780 Ti Classfied is likely going to be 20-30% faster when max oc than a 290 custom with its oc.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

The 780 classified should be about par with a 290 reference stock for stock and oc vs oc the difference is likely not going to be hugely different either. I am talking of a 780 ti classified.

 

[Silverforce11]

The amd cards don't gain much with oc. The geforce does to a better extent. A 780 Ti Classfied is likely going to be 20-30% faster when max oc than a 290 custom with its oc.

They scale just fine with OC, its just getting them above 1.2ghz is very rare. Whereas 780s seem to hit 1.2ghz quite often and a few golden binned models reach 1.3ghz.

Its going to depend a lot on where you are due to price hikes in USA etailers. But the R290X is never worth it over a R290. They have the same OC potential averaging around 1.15ghz and clock for clock you will be hard pressed to see the difference gaming.

 

[DooKey]

If you want the absolute fastest card after an overclock on a voltage modded card then the 780Ti is the way you want to go.

If the price of the 780Ti breaks the budget then go with a 290.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

Am suggesting either sapphire tri x 290 or 780 ti classifieds. No need to look at anything else.

 

[Face2Face]

If you're looking for max performance at the current prices than the 780 Classified is your best bet.

It's $540 right now and a better card than anything AMD has out currently.

Agreed.

If you plan on overclocking, then I don't see the point of going with a GTX 780ti, when you can buy binned GTX 780 card (Lightning or Classified) for $150-$200 cheaper. the GTX 780ti is only 10-12% faster clock per clock vs. the GTX 780. Do you think that makes it worth an extra $150-$200?

 

[KaRLiToS]

Whatever you get in those price ranges for single monitor, you will be happy with it.

Both brands will give awsome experience for sure in single GPU.

But IMO for single monitor, I would get a R9 290 (non-x) or GTX 780 (non-ti) and later get another one in SLI or CrossFire.

 

[Elfear]

If you want the absolute fastest card after an overclock on a voltage modded card then the 780Ti is the way you want to go.

If the price of the 780Ti breaks the budget then go with a 290.

+1

 

[24601]

If you live in the US, the 290 and 290x shouldn't even be on the table for consideration.

Red mod is terribad at the 290/290x's true weakness, VRM temps.

 

[blackened23]

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7703/desktop-video-card-buyers-guide-january-2014

This is what Ryan Smith stated, which is spot on:

Consequently AMD’s best cards are generally uncompetitive with NVIDIA’s cards for anything but mining. This goes especially for the R9 280X and R9 290, both of which are well off of their sweet spots. As a result NVIDIA has almost full control of the $300+ market as far as gaming is concerned.

I'm assuming you're in the US/Canada, OP? If you are:

AT just put an article up with the best GPUs for the money right now. I would agree with Ryan Smith's analysis. If your budget is 500$, GTX 780 is the best option. If you want the fastest card money can buy, 780ti is the best option. If your budget is 300-400$, GTX 770 2/4GB is the best option. Both the 780 and 780ti have a ton of overclocking headroom which can easily add 14-22% more performance if you buy an aftermarket card as well - the 290s can OC as well, and perform well when OC'ed, but then you run into the price problem once again. They're simply not attractive at their current prices.

If cryptocoin mania ever ends, then the 290 could become a sweet spot card again, if aftermarket 290s can reach the 420$ price point. IMO, AMD needs budget pricing because AMD's software is just worse in terms of overall features and quick bug fixes compared to nvidia, and 420$ for an aftermarket 290 would be perfect. At that price, it would be hard to NOT recommend. Unfortunately, the 290 just isn't there right now with most of these aftermarket cards being around 580$, and the 290X aftermarket cards spiraling up to 700$. And the reference 290/X are also price inflated but slightly less so - yet without going into detail, I don't think you want to punish yourself or your eardrums.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

This is 100% misinformation. If I can get a custom amd Radeon r9 290 for $500-500 then oc vs of it is very close in performance to an oced 780 other than perhaps a few extreme pcbs like classifieds. Right now gaming 4g msi 290 is for $450-470 on amazon and much better value than any 780 bar none.

And by very close I mean the amd card is either better or so close that it doesn't matter. And history shows that amd cards have always aged better, bar no situation.

 

[wand3r3r]

There are gouging etailers, do you live near a B&M Fry's or Microcenter (perhaps smaller PC shops as well). They have 290's at or near retail pricing. Amazon does as well if you watch for them, but not from the third party sellers in amazon.

If the price is equal between the 290 and 780 I'd go 780 classified or lightning.

 

[blackened23]

Sounds like your information is misinformation. The MSI 290 is not in stock at amazon and has never been in stock. Nor will it be in stock since cryptocoin miners will buy it the instant it's available.

If you guys want to suggest to the OP to F5 amazon 18 hours a day just for the "hope" of buying a card or buying a card that is on 2 month backorder. I mean. Come on now. And you throw out the term "misinformation". Alrighty. And microcenter? Have you even been to one? Well, as a matter of fact, I have recently and the reference 290X cards are 599.99-649.99 at microcenter right now. There are no MSRP 290X cards to be had at microcenter. Fry's? I'm not so sure but I also doubt it there as well. Maybe someone near a Fry's could do some quick fact checking on that.

Now, I do agree that an aftermarket 290 near MSRP is a good deal in terms of the performance you get for the money. Fully agree there. But the problem is, MSRP is just not something you will readily find in the US for those cards unless you get extraordinarily lucky.. I'll just end on that note anyway, I'll just say that I agree with Ryan Smith's analysis.

 

[Fastx]

For me I need to see Mantle performance first and lower AIB 290 prices to decide which would be the better option at this point imo. If I was buying today I'd go with a GTX 780 (w/ current 290/x US prices) and I would sell the games. If there was no Mantle coming I would of already bought GTX 780 without a doubt.

 

[wand3r3r]

Sounds like your information is misinformation. The MSI 290 is not in stock at amazon and has never been in stock. Nor will it be in stock since cryptocoin miners will buy it the instant it's available.

If you guys want to suggest to the OP to F5 amazon 18 hours a day just for the "hope" of buying a card or buying a card that is on 2 month backorder. I mean. Come on now. And you throw out the term "misinformation". Alrighty. And microcenter? Have you even been to one? Well, as a matter of fact, I have recently and the reference 290X cards are 599.99-649.99 at microcenter right now. There are no MSRP 290X cards to be had at microcenter. Fry's? I'm not so sure but I also doubt it there as well. Maybe someone near a Fry's could do some quick fact checking on that.

Now, I do agree that an aftermarket 290 near MSRP is a good deal in terms of the performance you get for the money. Fully agree there. But the problem is, MSRP is just not something you will readily find in the US for those cards unless you get extraordinarily lucky.. I'll just end on that note anyway, I'll just say that I agree with Ryan Smith's analysis.

What did I say that's misinformation? You limited it to MSI to fit your purposes. I'm going off what has been said in a few threads since neither B&M had stock at the time I was there but I suspect they fly off the shelves at some, and don't at others.

The OP can make his own decision, however if he decides to go 290, which was one of the 3 options mentioned (not the one you are pushing incidentally, and it's not that I disagree with the 780 option). There is no doubt that at retail the 290 is the best deal. I simply pointed him in the direction he would have to go to "potentially" find one.

/done here

 

[Elfear]

Good point blackened. With current pricing it makes it hard to recommend the top AMD cards right now unless you plan on mining. For strictly gaming a 780 Lightning or Classified is the better bet if reference 290's cost the same money.

IMO, if you can pick up a 290 Tri-X for $450-500 or a 780 Lightning/Classified for $500, that would be your best bet.

 

[IEC]

Sounds like your information is misinformation. The MSI 290 is not in stock at amazon and has never been in stock. Nor will it be in stock since cryptocoin miners will buy it the instant it's available.

If you guys want to suggest to the OP to F5 amazon 18 hours a day just for the "hope" of buying a card or buying a card that is on 2 month backorder. I mean. Come on now. And you throw out the term "misinformation". Alrighty. And microcenter? Have you even been to one? Well, as a matter of fact, I have recently and the reference 290X cards are 599.99-649.99 at microcenter right now. There are no MSRP 290X cards to be had at microcenter. Fry's? I'm not so sure but I also doubt it there as well. Maybe someone near a Fry's could do some quick fact checking on that.

Now, I do agree that an aftermarket 290 near MSRP is a good deal in terms of the performance you get for the money. Fully agree there. But the problem is, MSRP is just not something you will readily find in the US for those cards unless you get extraordinarily lucky.. I'll just end on that note anyway, I'll just say that I agree with Ryan Smith's analysis.

I bought 2x MSI Gaming 290 last week for ~$460 each. There are presently dozens of 290 reference in stock at certain sites for $409 as well. If you look hard enough they come in and out of stock at ~MSRP at least once a week.

In fact at one particular seller I am seeing 76 290 and 290X in stock as of right now, and at fair prices. Availability seems to be trending upward because last week they had none after briefly having the MSI Gamings.

My thinking is the recent downturn in cryptocurrency mining profitability has allowed supply to catch up a bit with demand.

 

[KaRLiToS]

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7703/desktop-video-card-buyers-guide-january-2014

This is what Ryan Smith stated, which is spot on:



I'm assuming you're in the US/Canada, OP? If you are:

AT just put an article up with the best GPUs for the money right now. I would agree with Ryan Smith's analysis. If your budget is 500$, GTX 780 is the best option. If you want the fastest card money can buy, 780ti is the best option. If your budget is 300-400$, GTX 770 2/4GB is the best option. Both the 780 and 780ti have a ton of overclocking headroom which can easily add 14-22% more performance if you buy an aftermarket card as well - the 290s can OC as well, and perform well when OC'ed, but then you run into the price problem once again. They're simply not attractive at their current prices.

If cryptocoin mania ever ends, then the 290 could become a sweet spot card again, if aftermarket 290s can reach the 420$ price point. IMO, AMD needs budget pricing because AMD's software is just worse in terms of overall features and quick bug fixes compared to nvidia, and 420$ for an aftermarket 290 would be perfect. At that price, it would be hard to NOT recommend. Unfortunately, the 290 just isn't there right now with most of these aftermarket cards being around 580$, and the 290X aftermarket cards spiraling up to 700$. And the reference 290/X are also price inflated but slightly less so - yet without going into detail, I don't think you want to punish yourself or your eardrums.

This is full of bad information and wrong. (facepalm)

 

[Slomo4shO]

Budget is not solid, but is a concern.

The Asus R9 290 DCII is available for order from ShopBLT for $455 or you can pickup the reference card for $413.

 

[cmdrdredd]

This is full of bad information and wrong. (facepalm)

Facts to back up this statement? Counterpoint to create a valid argument?

I think the 290 is way overpriced because the market made it so. If I was looking at a new card I wouldn't touch the 290 for $500+

 

[Slomo4shO]

I think the 290 is way overpriced because the market made it so. If I was looking at a new card I wouldn't touch the 290 for $500+

There are plenty of options to find products at or near MSRP if you take ~5 mins to research prices beyond Newegg and Amazon...

 

[cmdrdredd]

There are plenty of options to find products at or near MSRP if you take ~5 mins to research prices beyond Newegg and Amazon...

I said I wouldn't touch the 290 for $500+. How does that equate to "I wouldn't buy the 290 at all"?