R9 290x Buy or wait?

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LTC8K6

Lifer
Mar 10, 2004
28,520
1,575
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Who cares what it ends up vs an EOL card from the same company? It's going to have 8GB vs 4GB against it's main competitor in the market place.

Okay, but what is going to make people buy the 8gb 390X over the competition, if they didn't buy the 8gb 290X over the competition?
 

RussianSensation

Elite Member
Sep 5, 2003
19,458
765
126
Okay, but what is going to make people buy the 8gb 390X over the competition, if they didn't buy the 8gb 290X over the competition?

5% slower than a 980 for $100+ less cost. That's like getting a good 250GB SSD and a 390X. Knowing AMD's aggressive price adjustments post launch, expect the card to drop in price soon. All of a sudden it's going to be 390X with 95% of 980's performance for $150 less. A lot of people might reconsider NV since 390X will no longer be hot or loud.
 

LTC8K6

Lifer
Mar 10, 2004
28,520
1,575
126
5% slower than a 980 for $100+ less cost. That's like getting a good 250GB SSD and a 390X. Knowing AMD's aggressive price adjustments post launch, expect the card to drop in price soon. All of a sudden it's going to be 390X with 95% of 980's performance for $150 less. A lot of people might reconsider NV since 390X will no longer be hot or loud.

As far as I can see, the performance looks the same, so it would have to be the presumed lower power that would move more 390X cards over 290X cards.

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/7037/sapphire-radeon-r9-290x-8gb-tri-video-card-review/index.html
 

RussianSensation

Elite Member
Sep 5, 2003
19,458
765
126
As far as I can see, the performance looks the same, so it would have to be the presumed lower power that would move more 390X cards over 290X cards.

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/7037/sapphire-radeon-r9-290x-8gb-tri-video-card-review/index.html

You are comparing an after-market R9 290X but all of the major North American review sites used a reference 290X in their reviews. 390X will end up faster at AT, TPU, TechReport, etc.

This doesn't change my view over the past 1 month that R9 290/290X will offer way superior price/performance to 390/390X series.

Sapphire R9 290 = $240
XFX R9 290X with lifetime warranty = $270

As long as these cards are for sale, it's impossible to recommend a 390/390X. Now that we know 390 is $329 and 390X is $429, there is absolutely no reason to pass on the $270 290X for the OP.