I ordered a XFX r9 290 Double D today. Guess I'll be the guinea pig

[Kenmitch]

While cruising the web this AM I came across the XFX DD r9 290 in stock. Not sure why but it's one sexy looking gpu to me at least. I couldn't find much as far as reviews as it looks like it's just hitting the market now.

Mining tax sucks to say the least even if one mines. I figured I'll maybe be able to recoup the miner tax in a couple of weeks while I wait for my tri-x to be delivered.

Card is available here for anybody that is interested in it.

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=XFX-R929AD#

I'll update once I've had a chance to test out the card. What little bit of a review I found was a 290x version of the card which was stated to be quiet with decent temps.

 

[wand3r3r]

I love the cooler for some reason. It just strikes me as refined and simple not unlike an apple product. Obviously everyone will disagree and have their own opinions but that's mine.

Good luck with that. Hopefully they've reduced their er.. skimping tactics since the 79xx generation.

I'll be waiting to hear.

 

[Imouto]

For the science!

 

[Gloomy]

I also like the cooler. Separate heatspreader for VRMs and GDDR5, and a nice big chunk of copper as a contact point for the GPU and heatpipes.

It certainly seems like a good design. But we'll see. Thanks in advance for sharing.

 

[3DVagabond]

You're a team player. I'm very interested to know whether or not they've addressed the VRM temps issue they've had with previous cards. It is a nice looking card. Almost looks like it should be leather wrapped, or something.

 

[geokilla]

Tell us how the components are and stuff. Apparently XFX cut a lot of corners?

 

[jj109]

http://www.overclock.net/t/1458690/fud-xfx-radeon-dd-r9-290x-1000m-4gb-reviewed/10

They still haven't fixed the awful cooler design from the 280X DD.

 

[Gloomy]

lmao:

Whoever at XFX engineering dept who thought it was a good idea to waste money on a light up logo facing the bottom of the case instead of having a proper VRM sink should be smacked. Seriously, the VRM/mem heatsink is just a plate which is partially plastic.

 

[Erenhardt]

I've seen the review somewhere, but can't find it now. I remember it was solid cooler. I'll share when I find it.

 

[Plimogz]

Sleek looking card. Hopefully its virtues are more than skin-deep. Let us know how it works out.

I find it a little disappointing that XFX has gotten such mixed reviews over the last couple of years; their lifetime warranty would've been enough to win me over once or twice in recent memory, but I couldn't bring myself to pick them over other manufacturers which were going with beefier PCBs and coolers, albeit coupled with more limited 3 year warranties.

 

[JBT]

Looks sexy wish these damn cards weren't so expensive.

 

[Silverforce11]

http://www.overclock.net/t/1458690/fud-xfx-radeon-dd-r9-290x-1000m-4gb-reviewed/10

They still haven't fixed the awful cooler design from the 280X DD.

Yes they have, are you not aware that 80C VRM temps under load is a great result for air cool cards? The core is under 80, noise is very low. It's a great cooler from XFX, kudos to them for improving from the poor Tahiti designs.

Have a look at Guru3d thermal imaging for GTX780/ti cards, 80-90C VRM.. NV should really put in sensors.

 

[jj109]

Yes they have, are you not aware that 80C VRM temps under load is a great result for air cool cards? The core is under 80, noise is very low. It's a great cooler from XFX, kudos to them for improving from the poor Tahiti designs.

Have a look at Guru3d thermal imaging for GTX780/ti cards, 80-90C VRM.. NV should really put in sensors.

Maybe you should read that thread before jumping on me with what you think the thread says.

 

[Techhog]

lmao:

Plastic... heatsink...

 

[jj109]

Plastic... heatsink...

It's slightly better than air. :biggrin:

 

[f1sherman]

Yes they have, are you not aware that 80C VRM temps under load is a great result for air cool cards?

My referent XFX R9 290 during countless hours of uninterrupted mining:

 

[jj109]

Countless hours of GPU mining? Are you sure?

 

[Silverforce11]

My referent XFX R9 290 during countless hours of uninterrupted mining:

70-80% fan speed? jet engine mode..

not a valid comparison since people are well aware the reference design cools the VRM really good, but does a crap job cooling the core and its so noisy mining.

For open fan designs, VRMs around 80C is the standard.

 

[Silverforce11]

Maybe you should read that thread before jumping on me with what you think the thread says.

What's the problem with it? I don't actually see a problem.

VRMs 80C at stock and 97C with a high OC. Well below 115-120C. Much better than XFX's old DD which ran at 105C stock clocks and throttle under mining loads.

ps. My 7950 PCS+ OC mining at 105C VRM temps under the hot Aussie summer, perfectly stable for nearly 2 months straight, no issues at all.

 

[jj109]

What's the problem with it? I don't actually see a problem.

VRMs 80C at stock and 97C with a high OC. Well below 115-120C. Much better than XFX's old DD which ran at 105C stock clocks and throttle under mining loads.

ps. My 7950 PCS+ OC mining at 105C VRM temps under the hot Aussie summer, perfectly stable for nearly 2 months straight, no issues at all.

Let's put some context back in, ok?

Here guys, 5 minutes of heavenbenchmark

VRM is peaking at 97c on 1150/1450 @ 1.180v

Is it safe? Should I lower my clocks?

Remember, this is in Heaven.

 

[f1sherman]

Countless hours of GPU mining? Are you sure?

LOL did you really have to include screenie to reference that?
You dont really think it goes to 86C with 20-45% load @70 fan.

BUG... something about AMD being lazy implementing monitoring in their drivers.

 

[3DVagabond]

Let's put some context back in, ok?





Remember, this is in Heaven.

97° O/C @ 1150MHz. There's actually nothing wrong with that.

 

[geokilla]

I haven't read the thread over there yet but at first glance at the first page, there's no problems. Vastly improved cooler for sure.

Edit: Read the review on Fudzilla. Pretty good. However it seems that there are better coolers out there? I guess you gotta choose between Double Lifetime Warranty and a good cooler. I wonder if mining would increase the temperatures by another 20C like it did to my XFX 7950. VRM under 100C is fine I think since max is 120C? Of course, the lower the better.

And it seems like VRM temperatures are over 100C.

 

[IEC]

Edit: Looks like this is actually a pic of a 7970 using a Ghost 2.0 cooler (but was posted in a 290/X thread). I had assumed it was a picture of the 290/X due to the thread title but apparently it isn't. My apologies, did not intend to be misleading.

 

[CropDuster]

That thread and pic are of the 290X. Is the 290 expected to be the same?