R9 290 Vapor-X vs PCS+ 290X

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zzqpl

Junior Member
Apr 27, 2014
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I know they are two different cards, the PCS+ being a 290x, and the Vapor-X being a "regular" 290. The Vapor-X seems to run very fast for a 290 though.

I am just trying to find the performance difference between the two and get a few more opinions, as I've already ordered the Vapor-X for $450 which has yet to ship. I could cancel it and order the PCS+ for only $50 more.

Would it be worth it to spend the extra $50 and get this card over the Vapor-X?

Here is a few reviews on the R9 290 Vapor-X, there just aren't many out there yet that I can compare the two together.

http://www.kitguru.net/components/g...280x-vapor-x-oc-and-r9-290-vapor-x-oc-review/

http://www.tomshardware.de/sapphire-vapor-x-r9-290-tri-x-review,testberichte-241542.html

http://www.computerbase.de/2014-04/sapphire-radeon-vapor-x-r9-290-luefter-aus-lautstaerke-test/

The cooling on both of these cards seems excellent, I'm just trying to figure out the difference in raw fps numbers.
How much of a fps difference would there be? I would be playing at 1440p and if there is a large fps boost (6+ at least) I would probably order pretty soon.


Thanks for your help!
 
3

3DVagabond

Lifer
Aug 10, 2009
11,951
204
106
While the 290X will be a bit faster clock/clock, it's not enough to be noticeable while gaming. I'd go with the improved PCB components, save $50, and get the 290 Vapor-X, personally. Tough call though. Either are awesome cards.
 
R

rtsurfer

Senior member
Oct 14, 2013
733
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76
There have been user reports of PowerColor PCS+ 290X under performing to the level of 290s.

Get the Vapor-X.
 
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Fastx

Fastx

Senior member
Dec 18, 2008
780
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zzqpl said:
I know they are two different cards, the PCS+ being a 290x, and the Vapor-X being a "regular" 290. The Vapor-X seems to run very fast for a 290 though.

I am just trying to find the performance difference between the two and get a few more opinions, as I've already ordered the Vapor-X for $450 which has yet to ship. I could cancel it and order the PCS+ for only $50 more.

Would it be worth it to spend the extra $50 and get this card over the Vapor-X?

Here is a few reviews on the R9 290 Vapor-X, there just aren't many out there yet that I can compare the two together.

http://www.kitguru.net/components/g...280x-vapor-x-oc-and-r9-290-vapor-x-oc-review/

http://www.tomshardware.de/sapphire-vapor-x-r9-290-tri-x-review,testberichte-241542.html

http://www.computerbase.de/2014-04/sapphire-radeon-vapor-x-r9-290-luefter-aus-lautstaerke-test/

The cooling on both of these cards seems excellent, I'm just trying to figure out the difference in raw fps numbers.
How much of a fps difference would there be? I would be playing at 1440p and if there is a large fps boost (6+ at least) I would probably order pretty soon.


Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...

The PCS 290x is in my top 3 picks, where did you see it for $50.00 more than the Vapor X at 450.00?

Two things on the PCS 290x, they come with Hynix memory but also shipping with Elpida if that matters to you. Also I did read about some under performing at OCN but still not sure if that was due to some of the 14x beta drivers (or Bios update) that affected some other cards/brands (290/x) to also to lose performance/throttle. But for $50.00 more than a 290 I would have to really consider that and check 290x (OC) BM's again. :)
 
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Fastx

Fastx

Senior member
Dec 18, 2008
780
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Ok found that deal on 290x for 497.50 using the below promo code ar at Newegg. That is a nice deal imo on a PCS 290x!

VGAPRMA23
 
3

3DVagabond

Lifer
Aug 10, 2009
11,951
204
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S

Silverforce11

Lifer
Feb 19, 2009
10,457
10
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A $50 difference, the X version is worth it, its essentially 10% more expensive, for 5% faster clock for clock.

In most places, the price difference is around $100 or more so that isnt worth it.
 
3

3DVagabond

Lifer
Aug 10, 2009
11,951
204
106
Silverforce11 said:
A $50 difference, the X version is worth it, its essentially 10% more expensive, for 5% faster clock for clock.

In most places, the price difference is around $100 or more so that isnt worth it.
Click to expand...

If the only difference was the GPU's, I'd agree. The Vapor-X has an up spec'd PCB and component design though and the PCS+ is a reference board. While there's nothing wrong with the reference design (AMD reference boards are very stable and reliable, so I'm not knocking that), the Vapor-X board seems pretty impressive build and performance wise. It's a close call and I don't think there is a definitive correct choice. If someone ends up with a dog O/C'er from either board they'll end up on the short end of the performance graph.
 
S

Silverforce11

Lifer
Feb 19, 2009
10,457
10
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There's nothing wrong with AMD's reference PCB design, it's pretty solid and reference cards with good cooling can hit 1.2ghz. PCS+ comes with Hynix vram so thats a bonus you don't have to worry about getting elshitda that crashes with a 50mhz OC.

I have gone through heaps of reference boards (for mining setups) and not one has coil whine, apparently reference has solid chokes and designed to avoid that issue.
 
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rtsurfer

Senior member
Oct 14, 2013
733
15
76
Silverforce11 said:
There's nothing wrong with AMD's reference PCB design, it's pretty solid and reference cards with good cooling can hit 1.2ghz. PCS+ comes with Hynix vram so thats a bonus you don't have to worry about getting elshitda that crashes with a 50mhz OC.

I have gone through heaps of reference boards (for mining setups) and not one has coil whine, apparently reference has solid chokes and designed to avoid that issue.
Click to expand...

Ya, apparently AMD reference boards are more robust than Nvidia's according to 8Pack.

Also don't you get a little coil whine when your FPS hit 150-200+ range.?
I get coil whine on my Lightning when my fps go that high.
 
M

MtSeldon

Senior member
Jan 13, 2014
215
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3DVagabond said:
If the only difference was the GPU's, I'd agree. The Vapor-X has an up spec'd PCB and component design though and the PCS+ is a reference board. While there's nothing wrong with the reference design (AMD reference boards are very stable and reliable, so I'm not knocking that), the Vapor-X board seems pretty impressive build and performance wise.
Click to expand...

How do we know that the Sapphire pcb and component design is better ,more reliable than the AMD reference?
 
R

rtsurfer

Senior member
Oct 14, 2013
733
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MtSeldon said:
How do we know that the Sapphire pcb and component design is better ,more reliable than the AMD reference?
Click to expand...

Unless the manufacturer screws up major & releases a faulty product line, Custom = Always equally good if not better.
Hardly ever worse then reference.

Plus Sapphire is one of AMD's top OEMs.
 
3

3DVagabond

Lifer
Aug 10, 2009
11,951
204
106
MtSeldon said:
How do we know that the Sapphire pcb and component design is better ,more reliable than the AMD reference?
Click to expand...
Just from reviews, like THIS one, for example.

rtsurfer said:
Unless the manufacturer screws up major & releases a faulty product line, Custom = Always equally good if not better.
Hardly ever worse then reference.

Plus Sapphire is one of AMD's top OEMs.
Click to expand...

This is generally true. There are also PCB designs that are cheaper to make than reference. The Vapor-X is not one of those though.

1, Sapphire would have intimate knowledge of the reference design.
2, Sapphire is AMD only AIB. They are not designing one-size-fits-all products for both AMD and nVidia like Asus and Gigabyte, for example. (Powercolor is as well here. Which I'm sure helps as to why their cooler is so effective too.)
3, Vapor-X cooler, Exposed copper PCB layer attached directly to the heatsink cooling PCB, Heatsink tape on the back of the PCB behind the VRM's attached to the rear plate to draw heat from the back of the PCB to aid in cooling the VRM, Upgraded chokes and caps.
 
S

Silverforce11

Lifer
Feb 19, 2009
10,457
10
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Fastx said:
SF just so you know, the PCS 290/290x both also ship with Elpida memory not just Hynix.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1462592/powercolor-pcs-r9-290/680#post_22168287
Click to expand...

Interesting. This must be a recent thing... well, it's quite lame.

Still coming down to it, I would not hesitate at the price difference and get the R290X. Both custom coolers are excellent. The "better" PCB is iffy since there's no indication it will improve OC potential given that Hawaii on air tops out at around 1.2ghz anyway, reference or not.
 
Z

zzqpl

Junior Member
Apr 27, 2014
3
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0
I ended up going with the Vapor-X 290.

It was running fine the first day I got it but now I am getting some artifacts at the cards stock clocks (1030/1400) I don't have any experiences with factory overclocked cards but I would assume they shouldn't be doing this?

It is only happening in certain games (darksiders2, witcher2) and in others it works fine (bf3, crysis, grid2, sleeping dogs)

The temps on the card have yet to go above 70c, so the temps seem fine to me. The artifacting is the worst in Darksiders 2 (which I find surprising as I didn't think this game was very hard to run), a whole bunch of them will flick in and out and to get them to go away I have to downclock my card to 1000MHz.

Is this card considered a "dud"? I've only had it for 3 days so I should be able to return it to Newegg for a replacement or refund.

Here is a pic of what is occurring in-game. http://i.imgur.com/6C6pN7O.jpg
 
3

3DVagabond

Lifer
Aug 10, 2009
11,951
204
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It could be the card, or the game(s), or drivers. Other people who play the same games should be able to let you know if it's the card or not.
 
Gloomy

Gloomy

Golden Member
Oct 12, 2010
1,469
21
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It's the card, that's definite core instability. My 290 artifacts the same if I overdo it.
 
Shmee

Shmee

Memory & Storage, Graphics Cards Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
Sep 13, 2008
8,147
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If it doesn't work at factory clocks, RMA it. BTW, does anyone know when the 290x vapor-x is coming out for order? I haven't seen the 290x version on etailers yet.
 
Z

zzqpl

Junior Member
Apr 27, 2014
3
0
0
I started the process of the RMA last night with Newegg, which got me thinking (as this is my first time dealing with an RMA.)

Should I be RMA'ing this card with Newegg or Sapphire?

I already have the shipping label and requested a replacement card from Newegg.

I decided to do some more tests last night to see if I could replicate the artifacting from before, I tried both 13.12 and 14.4, both were having the problem still, but only in a few games, and even then I only noticed it 3-5 times over a few hours of gameplay, definitely wasn't as bad as it was before, but it was there.
It was very faint and much faster, I didn't even get a chance to screenshot it.

What was even weirder was that I ran furmark, kombustor, and heaven/valley and I couldn't get it to artifact like it did in the games!

Now I am having second thoughts about sending the RMA back, I explained to Newegg that it happens sporadically and only in certain games.

I'm just not sure I should continue with the RMA or not, I don't want to send it to them, and have them not be able to replicate the problem and then send the card back to me, wasting their time and mine. It could end up taking up to ~2 weeks to get the card back.

I just am trying to be extra cautious as I don't want to get stuck with a "dud" card and end up having problems down the road.

Thanks for your opinions/help again all!
 
3

3DVagabond

Lifer
Aug 10, 2009
11,951
204
106
Does Newegg actually test returns before they replace them?

If the card is running on the edge at stock clocks I wouldn't want it. You don't pay extra for a card like that so it can be maxed out at 1030MHz. Any run of the mill, garden variety 290 can do better than that.
 
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