*380/390/390x reviews **12 reviews listed all in one spot***.

[Hitman928]

Looks like the MSI gaming version allows for a lot more power than the others. HardOCP and Toms show 50+ watts over a standard 290x. Other models don't show a power increase over the 290x. It will be interesting to see if the MSI overclocks better. If not, or if you just don't want to overclock, I would avoid the MSI 390x.

 

[MrTeal]

You must have gone to my elementary school... 49-47 = 2. And 49/47 = 4.26%, a not-insignificant amount these days when we are splitting hairs between video cards. Certainly, that doesn't justify the huge price premium of 980 over 390x, but NV can adjust that quite easily if necessary. And, hopefully for those of us who are color blind, it WILL BE necessary.



Dangit...

Now we get to wait to see which team, if either, blinks first. Who would have thought that people would regret holding off on 290/290x deals last week?

The 970 is positioned pretty well, although to the 980 is still too high. $500 with a $20 rebate in a few months is out of line with the performance relative to the 970 or Grenada. You can get away with that when you're the halo, but with the Ti at $650 and no rebate (with the same free game), paying a premium on the vanilla 980 doesn't make a lot of sense.

 

[sm625]

Is there a review that actually compares a decent (and recent) 290X to the 390X? I dont care how a 390X compares to a reference 290X. For example, a SAPPHIRE Tri-X OC which was on sale a couple weeks ago for under $300!

 

[bryanW1995]

Is there a review that actually compares a decent (and recent) 290X to the 390X? I dont care how a 390X compares to a reference 290X. For example, a SAPPHIRE Tri-X OC which was on sale a couple weeks ago for under $300!

They have been aggressively clearing out inventory though. 290 and 290x prices are already going back up, it won't be long until those are gone completely. Makes me mad that I didn't jump on 290 the other day.

 

[happy medium]

They have been aggressively clearing out inventory though. 290 and 290x prices are already going back up, it won't be long until those are gone completely. Makes me mad that I didn't jump on 290 the other day.

The good news Bry is ,(happy rubs hands together) people will be selling their old gtx 970/980/290's gpu's cheap in the for sale section.:thumbsup:

Now you can replace that fried gtx480!

 

[bryanW1995]

The good news Bry is ,(happy rubs hands together) people will be selling their old gtx 970/980/290's gpu's cheap in the for sale section.:thumbsup:

Now you can replace that fried gtx480!

Meh, I don't really want to get somebody's old/overclocked/castoff card unless the deal is too good to pass up. I guess we'll see what kind of deals crop up.

 

[lyssword]

970 still standing strong, but if 390 dropped 30-$50, it would be the card to get.

 

[MrTeal]

970 still standing strong, but if 390 dropped 30-$50, it would be the card to get.

Is the 8GB important enough that it makes the difference? A $265 aftermarket 290 is $65 less than the 390 ($330) and $45 less than the 970, plus it comes with a game and a $30 Newegg gift card.

Even in CF, you'd probably be hardpressed to push 290/390 to the point where you need more than 4GB of VRAM.

 

[-Slacker-]

Well this is strange:

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2015/06/18/msi_r9_390x_gaming_8g_video_card_review/3#.VYM-6EYwClH

The 390x is beating the 290x by 30-40% in instances where there is heavy tessellation... (it's not the increased memory buffer, TW3 eats up about 3gb at QHD, according to gamegpu.ru).

 

[tential]

Is the 8GB important enough that it makes the difference? A $265 aftermarket 290 is $65 less than the 390 ($330) and $45 less than the 970, plus it comes with a game and a $30 Newegg gift card.

Even in CF, you'd probably be hardpressed to push 290/390 to the point where you need more than 4GB of VRAM.

Not here maybe but informed gamers definitely. People who want to crossfire? I think it's a no Brainer.

 

[Keysplayr]

It's a simple question
Is 4gb enough? If it's not enough for 4k then gtx 980 sli is useless and 390x is clearly a better choice for a person with no gpu wanting the best options and flexibility.

If it is enough, then the 390x is not that great of a choice, but the fury and gtx 980 are decent options.

But I doubt you'll directly answer this and instead dance around the question.

Yes, I think 4GB is enough for most games at 4K with reasonable settings. But you see, that really isn't what i was "getting at". I think you know that though.
It is more about how a 4GB flagship looks against a 8GB 2nd tier oldy.
Your doubts can now be put to rest.

 

[96Firebird]

Well this is strange:

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2015/06/18/msi_r9_390x_gaming_8g_video_card_review/3#.VYM-6EYwClH

The 390x is beating the 290x by 30-40% in instances where there is heavy tessellation... (it's not the increased memory buffer, TW3 eats up about 3gb at QHD, according to gamegpu.ru).

Out of curiosity, I'd like to see the 290X on the latest drivers when they come out for the 200-series, or how a flashed 290X to 390X performs under similar testing.

 

[happy medium]

Is the 8GB important enough that it makes the difference? A $265 aftermarket 290 is $65 less than the 390 ($330) and $45 less than the 970, plus it comes with a game and a $30 Newegg gift card.

Even in CF, you'd probably be hardpressed to push 290/390 to the point where you need more than 4GB of VRAM.

A gtx970 is 300$ no rebate (newegg) with free game and 300$ or $280AR
(Amazon)

290 is $265 with free game or 235$ AR with free game. (newegg).

290 is 65$ less than a 390 and the 290 gets a game (I didn't see a gift card)
290 is 35$ less than a gtx970 and both get games.

or you can go the rebate route.
the 290 AR @ 235$ is 45$ cheaper than a 280$ gtx970 AR and both get games.

Get em while their hot! :thumbsup:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131624&cm_re=290_r9-_-14-131-624-_-Product

 

[StinkyPinky]

Nothing amazing, but the 8gb memory will make them a really good option for a multi GPU setup.

 

[happy medium]

Well this is strange:

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2015/06/18/msi_r9_390x_gaming_8g_video_card_review/3#.VYM-6EYwClH

The 390x is beating the 290x by 30-40% in instances where there is heavy tessellation... (it's not the increased memory buffer, TW3 eats up about 3gb at QHD, according to gamegpu.ru).

I'd like to see more tests about that!:hmm:

 

[.vodka]

Well this is strange:

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2015/06/18/msi_r9_390x_gaming_8g_video_card_review/3#.VYM-6EYwClH

The 390x is beating the 290x by 30-40% in instances where there is heavy tessellation... (it's not the increased memory buffer, TW3 eats up about 3gb at QHD, according to gamegpu.ru).

Wait, what?

That isn't due to a 5% OC on the core and 20% more memory clocks, nah... I don't think they'd use old results on that 290x (which by the way isn't a blower of hell version that could explain those results by constant throttling, nope)

I'd like to see AT's review on this matter once they get cards since they usually go deep if they find stuff like this. They do mention there are a multitude of little tweaks here and there apart from the better binning and memory, but to make this difference? There's something else going on here, unless [H] screwed this one up really bad.

 

[Enigmoid]

Wait, what?

That isn't due to a 5% OC on the core and 20% more memory clocks, nah... I don't think they'd use old results on that 290x (which by the way isn't a blower of hell version that could explain those results by constant throttling, nope)

I'd like to see AT's review on this matter once they get cards since they usually go deep if they find stuff like this. They do mention there are a multitude of little tweaks here and there apart from the better binning and memory, but to make this difference? There's something else going on here, unless [H] screwed this one up really bad.

This looks like a mistake or driver problem. Lots of other reviews show the witcher playing very nicely on AMD cards without hariworks.

 

[Abwx]

This looks like a mistake or driver problem. Lots of other reviews show the witcher playing very nicely on AMD cards without hariworks.

You mean without dirty hari dubbious works.??.

Other than that it s quite amazing that there could be drivers mistakes that make a card performing too well, to summarize it has no right to perform that well...

 

[Udgnim]

http://www.legitreviews.com/sapphire-nitro-r9-390-8gb-nitro-r9-380-4gb-video-card-review_166123/4

R9 390 OCed to 1183/1790 with 25mv voltage increase

my R9 290 PCS+ would 100% black screen in the first run through of Heaven with those OC clocks & voltages

the temperatures they are reporting for their tested R9 390 are also surprisingly low

 

[.vodka]

It's nice to see the OC'd cards in reviews near or around 1200MHz with a little overvolt, 290/x Hawaii can't do that as easily.

+25mV on my 290 does 1075-1100MHz for example. Yeah, 290s are second rate dies compared to what goes on the 290x, but still.

 

[twjr]

This looks like a mistake or driver problem. Lots of other reviews show the witcher playing very nicely on AMD cards without hariworks.

But I am pretty sure that graph is with hairworks on. In which case it is a bit odd that the 390X is keeping up with the 980.

 

[sandorski]

Upgrading from a 2xx to the same xx of 3xx doesn't make much sense on the lower cards(although some lower xx cards have lower TDP), 290 to 390 makes a little sense due to some performance improvement and increased Memory, the most compelling reason to upgrade from 2xx are the Nano/Fury cards(sans reviews) which have numerous improvements and basically replace the x9x as the top tier.

For me upgrading from a 5870, the 4gb 380x is the most attractive card. Unfortunately due to budget limitations and value of the $CDN my original scheme of picking up a 280 on clearance still seems the best option.

The 3xx refresh cards are not revolutionary, but do show various improvements across the board. Adding in the Fury line though makes AMD competitive top to bottom and creates some good Marketing buzz for AMD. A year from now will be far more interesting, of that I have no doubt.

 

[happy medium]

It's nice to see the OC'd cards in reviews near or around 1200MHz with a little overvolt, 290/x Hawaii can't do that as easily.

+25mV on my 290 does 1075-1100MHz for example. Yeah, 290s are second rate dies compared to what goes on the 290x, but still.

One thing the article did mention these are Sapphires best overclocking line of cards, the Nitro line.

Ya know what erks me about the Legit review site review?
At the end they say how the 390 is priced 50$ less than the 290$, what planet are they on? THE 290x 8gb is 375$ not the 290.

"Legit Bottom Line: If you have been considering a new graphics card, the Sapphire Nitro series looks to be a great option. The Nitro 390 is priced close to $50 less than the previous generation’s R9 290 with 8GB of memory. Noise, Power and Temperature appears to be improved over the 200 series graphics cards as well."

 

[bryanW1995]

But I am pretty sure that graph is with hairworks on. In which case it is a bit odd that the 390X is keeping up with the 980.

Naw, AMD probably changed the code enough that HW can't limit the 390 like it does 290. /tinfoilhat

One thing the article did mention these are Sapphires best overclocking line of cards, the Nitro line.

Ya know what erks me about the Legit review site review?
At the end they say how the 390 is priced 50$ less than the 290$, what planet are they on? THE 290x 8gb is 375$ not the 290.

"Legit Bottom Line: If you have been considering a new graphics card, the Sapphire Nitro series looks to be a great option. The Nitro 390 is priced close to $50 less than the previous generation’s R9 290 with 8GB of memory. Noise, Power and Temperature appears to be improved over the 200 series graphics cards as well."

I seriously wonder if those guys just automatically give the win to whomever most recently gave them the free card. Sheesh..

 

[JDG1980]

A year from now will be far more interesting, of that I have no doubt.

More interesting? We'll get one Arctic Islands 14nm FinFET GPU and the rest of the lineup full of the same old rebrands again. AMD can't afford more than one chip a year any more.