Custom R9 290/290X Reviews/Availability/Listings thread

[E6700]

XFX R9 290 for $510 for anyone who interested http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=XFX-R929AD

 

[SimianR]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814202080

Sapphire Tri-X R9 290 back in stock, but they've priced it to a point where it doesn't even make sense anymore If anyone is in the market for an R9 290 though, this is the card to get. I'm very happy with it.

 

[bigern1121]

Wow...f&$# Newegg! I spent a few dollars more the last week on a mobo and ssd from another site just cause I'd rather not give them my money. I understand the whole supply and demand aspect but seems like Newegg is the one leading with the ridiculous prices and other sites are following.

 

[SimianR]

I do get that impression. Up until a week ago a few local places had the cards for $30-40 above MSRP, and now they are mirroring neweggs prices dollar for dollar. I was hoping to this gouging wouldn't last into January but here we are.

 

[arredondo]

What's the difference? If they didn't "gouge" customers who feel the current high price is acceptable for them, the cards would be sold out instantly. Either way none of you would end up with a Tri-X 290 from them right now, so why shouldn't they make some extra money?

 

[SpoCk0nd0pe]

In Europe the prices are relatively normal, except for the newest products there is only the usual 10-15% extra tax on top of the US MSRP price.

I'm surprised by the low resonance from the 290 DirectCU II review. I think it's rather good.

 

[wbynum]

Thinking about ordering a couple Tri-x 290's to replace my 7970cf setup. At current prices/difficulty it would take about 1.5 months of LTC mining to make up for Newegg's price gouging.

An i5-3570k at 4.4ghz will not be a bottle neck in gaming for 290cf at 1440p, correct?

 

[RaulF]

Thinking about ordering a couple Tri-x 290's to replace my 7970cf setup. At current prices/difficulty it would take about 1.5 months of LTC mining to make up for Newegg's price gouging.

An i5-3570k at 4.4ghz will not be a bottle neck in gaming for 290cf at 1440p, correct?

I dont think your i5@4.4 will bottle neck the 290s, specially at 1440.

Good luck.

 

[shadow9d9]

Will any more custom cards be coming out besides these two?

 

[Fastx]

You know from the pics of the 290x Lightning I seen I know it is a big card, but seeing this video it looks even bigger now to me than from the pics . This will be an interesting card to see the reviews on. Btw could be seeing this card as early as February for those waiting/interested.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BroN0rMnx2w&feature=youtu.be&t=4m21s

 

[IEC]

Whoa! That Lightning cooler and PCB look MASSIVE.

 

[Imouto]

Or those guys are really tiny.

 

[Fastx]

Its the thickness of the cooler for me that was a little surprising, first thought that came to my mind was a Big Mac, second thought was to go out and get a Big Mac after the video.

 

[Fastx]

Btw I noticed that video link I posted starts a little late on the lightning, to see/hear more on the Lightning in that video go back 3:06 on the timestamp.

 

[Tmf]

You know from the pics of the 290x Lightning I seen I know it is a big card, but seeing this video it looks even bigger now to me than from the pics . This will be an interesting card to see the reviews on. Btw could be seeing this card as early as February for those waiting/interested.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BroN0rMnx2w&feature=youtu.be&t=4m21s

The Lightning indeed does look massive. Only thing I don't like about it is that middle fan being a different color. Still prefer the aesthetic of the Tri-X out of the non refs currently available I think.

 

[Imouto]

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/R9_290X_Direct_Cu_II_OC/1.html

 

[Z15CAM]

R9 290 Vs R9 290X

From my Post in MSI Gaming 290 4G - First Impressions Thread:

VisionTek claims their WB'd CryoVenom R9 290 http://www.visiontekproducts.com/index.php/component/virtuemart/graphics-cards/visiontek-cryovenom-liquidcooled-series-r9-290-detail?Itemid=0 for $550 is "Up to 24% Faster Performance Without Voiding Warranty" and "Faster Than NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti, Yet Costs $150 Less" running at 1175/1450 Mhz's - I can't say how the CryoVenom R9 290 would actually compare in Gaming FPS or Benching but if you're already under water that's a great price.

Here's interesting uTube videos from Tom and Linus which presently sums up how AMD's latest R9 290/X compares to nVidia's GTX 780/Ti:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3oE-5dGTKc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OHKWMgBhvA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqaHh-y51us

It's sounds rather bleak if AMD AIB Partners Air Cooling solutions will live up to expectations and make the card a competitive over-clocker with nVidia Air Cooled Solutions as Hawaii is too HOT of a COOKIE to be effectively cooled under air: That is; keep it under 90C, keep it quiet and keep it from throttling.

I can't complain as I was fortunate to buy my GA- Ref R9 290X for the MSRP price of $549 CDN, that is before the 290 release and prices went insane due to Crypto Mining but I also had to shell out and extra $150 for a Water Block and fittings.

Sure wished I had the insight to have bought 2 Ref 290's at $399 ea when they where available; however, if and when the CryoVenom R9 290 is available again for $550 and available in Canada for that price, I will consider selling this XSPC Razor R9 290X and buying 2 CryoVenoms.

PLUS this Info from the Cryptocoin Mining? Thread:

I was able to get my 2 290's and my 290x to all run exactly at 910khash. ................. My 290x runs at 950/1250
and my 290's run at 1030/1450

Now that's about as perfect comparison to show the difference between a 290 and 290X I've come across and may justify for some why the 290X MSRP's cost $150 more.

I say put these cards under Water or buy the VisionTek CryoVenom R9 290 which MSRP'd at $550 (Not likely now when they become available) and put your rig under water and you will likely get well over a 1000k hash for mining with each card.

------------------------------

In the long run we have to wait if AMD can Deliver Driver improvements and Mantle is all what's it's hyped up to be. I believe they already have a winner but I would really like to see AMD clearly come up on top for once with Hawaii.

As it stands if you already got a Water rig it's a no brainer to buy either a Ref R9 290 and a WB or the Vision Tek CryoVenom at MSRP prices.

I'm no AMD or nVidia FanBoy as I cancelled an order for an EVGA GTX 780 Classy the day AMD released the R9 290X for $250 less.

Now due to this Crypto Mining Craze the 290 and the GTX 780 are the same price as are the 290X and GTX 780 Ti. Sish! The Radeon HD 7990 went from $700 to over $1200 in 2 days over this insanity and every other bargain priced mid range AMD card doubled in price and completely demoralized the Gamer.

Guess what AMD advertizes - "We are committed to the Gamer." Seems to me AMD has all their assets invested in Crypto Currency. What a change in fortune and just in the matter of a few days. What a coincidence. The Gamer can`t afford their cards now - So what`s going to happen with their commitment and promise of evolutionary and affordable video and gaming.

In some 30 years of being OnLine I've never seen anything like this.

 

[el etro]

Techpowerup made their review with 290x DCU. Great performance, hard to throttle frequencies, but the the better part of the review is this:

290x overclocked and averaging 20w less of power consumption at fully locked 1050Mhz. Me and many people here were complaining about this possibility. Remembers a fact from 2010:

In this year case, we ended with a video card that's more power eficient than GTX780Ti.
What a top class cooling like Vapor-X/R200Toxic can do to the card power consumption? What this solution can help in 290 Non-X power consumption?

 

[SpoCk0nd0pe]

In the long run we have to wait if AMD can Deliver Driver improvements and Mantle is all what's it's hyped up to be. I believe they already have a winner but I would really like to see AMD clearly come up on top for once with Hawaii.

The Hawaii is on top already! It simply has way more processing power in the vast majority of applications. Drawing geometry for certain game engines at certain average fps (=! actual gaming experience! Don't let yourself be fooled, 99th percentile is more important) is just one exception.

 

[Imouto]

In this year case, we ended with a video card that's more power eficient than GTX780Ti.

You're reading it wrong. And you're comparing reference to custom.

At 2560*1600 the 290X DCU and the 780Ti reference are even.
At 2560*1600 the 780Ti DCU is 9% more efficient than the reference 780Ti.

The 780Ti is miles ahead in this field delibering more performance and being more efficient.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Overclock was garbage, 1090, really? Mega Hurtz indeed.

 

[omeds]

I noticed that too, pretty disappointing for a "top shelf" sku.

 

[Z15CAM]

Overclock was garbage, 1090, really? Mega Hurtz indeed.

1090 MHz what's That? Wish you would elaborate: You know damn well the Hawaii will easily do 1170/1500 with a +.100Mv VDDC off-set at 92C and the Ref Fan Howling at 95% and not throttle - I don't want that PERIOD.

I just do not believe the AIB Partners will be able to come up with them specs under air without the card boiling at 90+C and throttling; however, under water I can see 1240/1625 (with Hynix) @ 1.44mV off-set and under 50C 24/7 - Now take that compared to a GTX 780Ti at 1300/1650 at say the same mV's under water. AMD has 1/3 more clocking and another 1G of vRam for $200 less. I hope and really want Hawaii to do it where AMD comes out on top for once.

Can't wait to mount this new 280x60mm Rad and put this XSPC Razor R9 290X through a 3DMARK Advantage Bench and see where I can hold her stable with an i7 2700K locked at 4.6G's and 16G's of Samsung MV-3V4G3D-US_DDR3 running at 1866Mhz 9-9-9-24-1T but it will not be until next week when I have the time. Just wish the card had Hynix rather then Elpida.

After that run I will know where I'm going.

Total investment is: 549.99 (MSRP Priced Card) + 104.99(XSPC Razor WB) + 29.99 (Back Plate - Necessary?) = $684.97 which was $115 cheaper then an EVGA GTX780 Classy at the time in CDN$'s. Remember nVidia did not lower their prices until the release of the R9 290 MSRP pricing of $399.99 1 week later.

Hynix or Elpida - I consider myself fortunate to have bought that card at that price as we had no idea what AIB's and MFGr's runs used Hynix or Elpida. I've always loved Sapphire not particularly for quaility but for their enovation and I abonded it this time for Gigabyte quality and ended up with Elpida - Should have followed my insticts.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

I know nothing.

 

[el etro]

The 780Ti is miles ahead in this field delibering more performance and being more efficient.

Performance of 780Ti is better in TPU test, maybe because of Blizzard games(Games where 780Ti is having a 20-40% lead over 290x, and anyone who play this games will use a 290x/780Ti). And there 780Ti its not even close to the "miles away better efficiency".
And DCU is not the better or even less the definitive cooling solution for 290 cards.

Overclock was garbage, 1090, really? Mega Hurtz indeed.

Many DCU cards stucked at the same overclock margin at review sites. Some sites like Guru3d, Hardware Canucks and PcPer got better results. 1090 Mhz at air with low overvolt is a possible result, but the majority of cards on review sites got results better than this....