R9 290X or EVGA GTX 780

[_UP_]

I was too late to post (didn't refresh the thread on my phone). Well I'd go with the 290 unless you find a used 290x for the same price. That is possible. That was the only reason I got the 290X's and not non-X model. Great card. You won't regret it. Very long though, so as mentioned measure your case.

 

[Mike Roch]

As in my signature, I have a Corsair 500R.

 

[_UP_]

As in my signature, I have a Corsair 500R.

Seems like you're good to go then.

 

[guskline]

Mike I have a EVGA GTX780 Classified WC'd in my sig below and I love it. Recently I picked up a Sapphire R9 290 Tri-X to replace my GTX680 in my AMD FX8350 rig. I absolutely am thrilled with this Tri-X. If you buy the Sapphire R9 290 Tri-X you will be VERY pleased. It's a VERY strong card.

 

[Mike Roch]

Mike I have a EVGA GTX780 Classified WC'd in my sig below and I love it. Recently I picked up a Sapphire R9 290 Tri-X to replace my GTX680 in my AMD FX8350 rig. I absolutely am thrilled with this Tri-X. If you buy the Sapphire R9 290 Tri-X you will be VERY pleased. It's a VERY strong card.

Which do you perfer? The 780 or Tri-X?

 

[weevilone]

That's exactly what the OP is asking about, a reference cooled 780 vs a Tri-X 290X.

People started pushing alternative cards in the very next post. Sorry that I wasn't more specific (seriously).

Not sure why the reference card binders were only on the NV card.

 

[RussianSensation]

People started pushing alternative cards in the very next post. Sorry that I wasn't more specific (seriously).

Not sure why the reference card binders were only on the NV card.

Because the OP was comparing a reference EVGA 780 with metal cooler vs. after-market R9 290X card such as Sapphire Trix that has a plastic shroud. Once we start talking about a reference 780, performance parity to R9 290/X is out the window. I don't understand why the OP is not interested in the barely more expensive Classified from EVGA for example. The other point, the OP does not seem to be open minded. Given the pricing today, 280X is the card to get for 1080p and then an upgrade can be made in 15-18 months to next gen Maxwell. Spending $500 for a reference 780 is barely an improvement for 1080p for nearly double the cost of a 280X. I am not sure why this thread keeps going really. The OP should just buy the reference EVGA 780 as it seems he made up his mind on it before he started this thread.

 

[Mike Roch]

First you people say I should buy the 290. Now I hear buy the 780 classified. I have looked in to the classified lately, that is what I may buy. I don't want to buy a 280X because I plan on gaming on a dual monitor setup at 1080p, 1440p in a year or two. Maybe I will buy my 1440p or 4K monitor for Black Friday 2014...

 

[ocre]

Different people, different opinions.

If money didnt matter, i would go for the 780ti or a aftermarket custm 780 .

If money mattered, the 290 non x.
A vender card with aftermarket cooling. Not the higher cost ones, there are plenty if cheap AM cards that perform extremely well

 

[RussianSensation]

First you people say I should buy the 290. Now I hear buy the 780 classified. I have looked in to the classified lately, that is what I may buy.

It's because after countless of people told you with facts everything there is to know about 290 vs. 290X vs. 780, you still instist on 780. In that case, might as well get a good 780, not some reference one. That's why for $510 the Classified was a good option vs. a $500 reference card. But since you are taking forever to decide and price change so often, the Classified has jumped to $560 on Newegg which now put its way into overpriced territory.

If you don't plan on overclocking, MSI Gaming 780 for $470 on Newegg now seems like the best value in the 780 camp.

I don't want to buy a 280X because I plan on gaming on a dual monitor setup at 1080p, 1440p in a year or two. Maybe I will buy my 1440p or 4K monitor for Black Friday 2014...

Fair enough. Just keep in mind that 3GB of VRAM will not be enough for 4K gaming for next gen games, which is why I keep telling you that you'll be better off selling the 780 and getting a next gen 20nm card(s) instead of SLIing a 2nd 780 in 2 years.

Also, for 4K and multi-monitor gaming, R9 290X CF setup easily beats after-market 780 6GB SLI. You'll need to overclock the 780s to just match the stock R9 290Xs in 4K/multi-monitor. 3GB of VRAM is just not enough for 4K at all, and in games such as Watch Dogs, 780 3GB SLI is severely gimped:

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2014...0_oc_6gb_sli_video_card_review/2#.U7KVUvmSwWY

For 4K gaming 780 3GB SLI has no relevance in the discussion against R9 290Xs. Performance is too compromised.

 

[Z15CAM]

Presently, for the money, I don't believe there is anything on the market that can match reference 290 or 290X's in CF under water operating quietly between 34C and 60C under load.

Sorry nVidia, I LOVE You - Your just too expensive for that 1 or 2 FPS more at 1440p 120Hz IPS gaming and falls flat in 60 Hz 4k.

nVidia is just too [redacted] Expensive when you can buy 2 reference 290X X-Miners for $380 each and spend the rest on a water solution - TODAY.

Watch your language.
--stahlhart

 

[guskline]

Mike: Comparing a water cooled EVGA GTX780 Classified OC'd to 1306 on the core to the Sapphire R9 290 Tri-X is tough because I have a lot more in the 780 with the water block. It OCs like a monster but that's why you get a Classified and add a water block. Between the card and water block nearly $700 tied up.

I would run the Sapphire in my rig below to compare except, I would have to tear down my water cooled system and that's too much of a hassle. I'm sure you can find data where a Sapphire R9 290 Tri-X is mated with a 3930k and compare benchmarks to the 780. I have it running in my OC'd FX8350 rig so obviously the benchmarks can't keep up with the 3930k rig and the 780 Classy.

However, my "gut" tells me that if I had the Sapphire R9 290 Tri-X in the 3930k rig it would be as strong as the classy at stock. No need to water cool it because the air cooler is steller. Bottom line? For the price the Sapphire R9 290 Tri-X is the card I would get.

 

[Z15CAM]

Forget Air Cooling with Hawaii - PERIOD.

You are wasting your money buying AB 290 or 290X`s when you can CF reference Hawaii GPU`s under water for the same price which clock a lot higher - run cooler, don't throttle and are QUIET!

 

[96Firebird]

Here comes the memory scare again... 🙄

Do you plan on adding a second card in the future?

 

[Mike Roch]

Here comes the memory scare again... 🙄

Do you plan on adding a second card in the future?

Yes.

 

[Z15CAM]

Always ;o)

 

[KaRLiToS]

Forget Air Cooling with Hawaii - PERIOD.

You are wasting your money buying AB 290 or 290X`s when you can CF reference Hawaii GPU`s under water for the same price which clock a lot higher - run cooler, don't throttle and are QUIET!

You are telling me that 2 x R9 290 with aftermarket cooler is more expensive than 2 x R9 290x with their 125$ waterblocks each?

Then you need to get a reservoir, a radiator or two, pump and fittings?

 

[guskline]

Forget Air Cooling with Hawaii - PERIOD.

You are wasting your money buying AB 290 or 290X`s when you can CF reference Hawaii GPU`s under water for the same price which clock a lot higher - run cooler, don't throttle and are QUIET!

Z15CAM, If he already had a custom water cooling loop in the build your advice your advice makes sense and cents(😉). However, it sounds like Mike is new and not going to be building a custom water loop anytime soon. That is why I suggested the Sapphire R9 290 Tri-X.

I'm not an expert in custom water cooling but have played around with it a lot in the last year or so (XSPC Bay res. XSPC Twin D5 bay res, GTX 670 and 680 water blocks, EVGA GTX 780 Classified Hydro Cooper block, XSPC EX360 and RX 360 rads AND MO RA3-420 rad) so I know this "obsession" called custom water cooling costs some serious $$. No doubt that custom water cooling a reference 290 is the best route IF you custom water cool and want the Hawaii chip. However, Mike just sounds like someone seeking the "best" video card between a R9 290/290X vs GTX780 he can afford. That's why I suggested the Sapphire R9 290 Tri-X.

 

[96Firebird]

Yes.

Then I stand by my recommendation of going with the reference 780. It looks like you are getting the MSI Z97S SLI Plus motherboard, which has an extra slot between the top two PCI-E slots. This is probably "good enough" for open-air coolers (like the Tri-X), but I still think the blower-style reference cooler is best for multi-GPU configs. This is also assuming you don't use the PCI slot that is between the two PCI-E slots.

 

[KaRLiToS]

Z15CAM, If he already had a custom water cooling loop in the build your advice your advice makes sense and cents(😉). However, it sounds like Mike is new and not going to be building a custom water loop anytime soon. That is why I suggested the Sapphire R9 290 Tri-X.

I'm not an expert in custom water cooling but have played around with it a lot in the last year or so (XSPC Bay res. XSPC Twin D5 bay res, GTX 670 and 680 water blocks, EVGA GTX 780 Classified Hydro Cooper block, XSPC EX360 and RX 360 rads AND MO RA3-420 rad) so I know this "obsession" called custom water cooling costs some serious $$. No doubt that custom water cooling a reference 290 is the best route IF you custom water cool and want the Hawaii chip. However, Mike just sounds like someone seeking the "best" video card between a R9 290/290X vs GTX780 he can afford. That's why I suggested the Sapphire R9 290 Tri-X.

Sorry but yes you are an expert.

Don't denigrate yourself, I saw your work and I can easily call that professionnal work.

 

[n0x1ous]

Sorry but yes you are an expert.

Don't denigrate yourself, I saw your work and I can easily call that professionnal work.

Where! I want to see too! Gusk - you got some pics for us? You and I have/had (when we had 670's + 8350 system) similar setups (minus custom water for me) and would love you see what you have done.

 

[Z15CAM]

I recommend for any one interested in DeskTop Performance to day, buy an RP 401 X's 2 with a PMB 400 pump and Coolgate Rad with 280 Fans and plant it on an X-Minor XSPC RAZOR or EK water block 290X Sapphire (personally I like ref Gigabyte cards) for approx $380 ea and you will come out ahead with the option to go CF running at 1180 x 1500 Mhz's cool and quiet without throttling for about the price of a single AB nVidia GTX 780Ti and cream that EXPENSIVE air cooled eVGA 780 Ti Classic ;o)

How do you want to spend your money?

 

[VulgarDisplay]

Then I stand by my recommendation of going with the reference 780. It looks like you are getting the MSI Z97S SLI Plus motherboard, which has an extra slot between the top two PCI-E slots. This is probably "good enough" for open-air coolers (like the Tri-X), but I still think the blower-style reference cooler is best for multi-GPU configs. This is also assuming you don't use the PCI slot that is between the two PCI-E slots.

The problem is that amd is simply better in multi card situations now. Smoother gameplay and higher frame rates. Which makes it horrible advice to recommend 780's in sli for more money than 290's. You will have money left over for a few more case fans to tame the heat.

 

[n0x1ous]

The problem is that amd is simply better in multi card situations now. Smoother gameplay and higher frame rates. Which makes it horrible advice to recommend 780's in sli for more money than 290's. You will have money left over for a few more case fans to tame the heat.

While I agree that XDMA CF is fantastic, if the cards are throttling from heat that doesnt really help much.

 

[96Firebird]

Which makes it horrible advice to recommend 780's in sli for more money than 290's.

You don't know what the price either card will be when OP gets a second one in the future.