Time to buy a 290 or wait a little more

[borderdeal]

I have been patiently waiting for the R9 290 prices to keep falling. It has gone down to a point where I am thinking it cannot really go much lower.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231231172597?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Do u guys think that it is pretty much hit bottom and I would save only a few $$$ if I wait any longer just not make it really worth to wait??

I already got a 7870 GHz edition for $82 shipped and I am using it and it is holding me really good and will keep it as my back up card for the future. But I play at 1440p and I need more power for more recent games. I have been playing through my backlog (Deus EX, Fallout GOTY and I even launched Crysis 1 and it can run fine with the 7870 at 1440 high and 4x AA getting 45-55 fps) But I want to play Crysis 3, Bioshock Infinite and so on and the 7870 will not be enough. I know I can lower the settings but $211 for a 290 seems too good to pass.

 

[Kenmitch]

Not sure if rock bottom but it's got to be pretty dang close I'd imagine.

If your comfortable buying a x-mining card with the stock cooler then I'd say go for it.

It does come with a DOA warranty

Just keep in mind the stock cooler isn't the greatest.

 

[Majcric]

Op, if you're to go for a reference ex mining card, I would at least buy from a seller that has a 14 day return policy. Even if it means paying a bit more.

I might be wrong but I don't think the Sapphire warranties are transferrable from user to user either.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

WTF? That is dirt cheap

 

[Kenmitch]

WTF? That is dirt cheap

My thoughts exactly. Probably could get two of those plus two water blocks and almost a loop for what a person would spend on the 780Ti.

 

[borderdeal]

Double post sorry

 

[borderdeal]

Op, if you're to go for a reference ex mining card, I would at least buy from a seller that has a 14 day return policy. Even if it means paying a bit more.

I might be wrong but I don't think the Sapphire warranties are transferrable from user to user either.

Hi, Yes u are right and that is the reason I have not pulled the trigger. I am looking for a Gigabyte, MSI, Asus or XFX. I want reference cooler because most likely I will watercool it since I have an old Corsair Hydrocool 200ex unused and would just need the full water block for it. Also, I have the SILVERSTONE RV02B-W and it has the motherboard rotated 90 degrees and most if not all aftermarket 290 have a problem with it. tried a Gigabyte and Powercolor PCS+ and both made a lot of noise in my case. Supposedly the PCS+ is even better than the Saphire trix (it was a beast of a card). I was able to confirm it when I got the HIS iceQ 7870 that I am using and uses a modified reference type cooler and that one is really quiet.

http://images.anandtech.com/doci/5691/IQT7870.jpg


Even when running Crysis 1 high everything and 4x AA it does not go above 62 and is really quiet.

 

[bepo]

Whats the risk buying some of these mining cards that might have been run 24/7 for 6+ months? I'd imagine most cards are spec'd for multiple years at max load so they can't be that risky, right?

$400 for crossfire 290's is a crazy deal, I might seriously consider this.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Man, deal is over. I was this close to jumping on four 290s just for the hell of it

 

[dn7309]

Whats the risk buying some of these mining cards that might have been run 24/7 for 6+ months? I'd imagine most cards are spec'd for multiple years at max load so they can't be that risky, right?

$400 for crossfire 290's is a crazy deal, I might seriously consider this.

The risk is in the fan. Most say that mining cards fan have a shorter life span. But this is a non issue if you can get a mining card at 199 (like this one) drop 80 bucks for a G10 and corsair H50, you will have a card that fun cooler and quieter.

 

[bepo]

The risk is in the fan. Most say that mining cards fan have a shorter life span. But this is a non issue if you can get a mining card at 199 (like this one) drop 80 bucks for a G10 and corsair H50, you will have a card that fun cooler and quieter.

Thanks, that makes sense. It looks like this particular opportunity has passed but I wasn't ready to jump on it without doing some research first since they are used mining cards. If a similar deal pops up again I might go for it.

 

[Kenmitch]

Thanks, that makes sense. It looks like this particular opportunity has passed but I wasn't ready to jump on it without doing some research first since they are used mining cards. If a similar deal pops up again I might go for it.

Mining 24/7 is the ultimate gpu burn in scenario. Tbe weeker cards die a qhick death. Only the strong survive just like the saying goes.

Tbe deal for $199 was a water coolers dream deal. Probably why it's gone....Unless you look at the sellers other items.

 

[bepo]

Mining 24/7 is the ultimate gpu burn in scenario. Tbe weeker cards die a qhick death. Only the strong survive just like the saying goes.

Tbe deal for $199 was a water coolers dream deal. Probably why it's gone....Unless you look at the sellers other items.

Haha, I like that philosophy.

Considering I just upgraded my monitor to 3440x1440 and now have to drive 2.4x the pixels this deal is perfect timing and too good to pass up (4GB is perfect for this res). I picked up 2 of them for $422 shipped so we'll see how it goes. I might underclock them as well since I only need to drive 60Hz. Worst case I need to invest in some aftermarket cooling but I'll still be way ahead of the game.

 

[Z15CAM]

If you are considering water cooling, NOW is the time to buy Reference Hawaii R9's from disillusioned Crypto-Miners, considering they are only a few month's old with the STK OEM Fan about burnt out.

$400 for a used Sapphire (Whatever Brand- Personally I like Ref Gigabyte Cards - Very nice PCB's) 290X and another $130 for a Water Block = $530 for a R9 that can run easily at 1250x1500 Mhz with Alpida not exceeding 70C - Don't include the cost of your Water Rig witch is another $500. Now for under $1200, with a Water RIG, you can run X-Fire Hawaii 290X's OC'd, eat your Heart out nVidia.

Don't get me wrong I like nVidia but AMD 512-Bit with 4GB of vRam has closed the market for now. NO matter how stinking HOT she is.

 

[lopri]

Wow what happened? They are below MSRP @Amazon.

Edit: Oh, so miners are dumping their cards off. Interesting. Are there better cards for mining or are they getting rid of burnt-out cards?

 

[lehtv]

Are there better cards for mining or are they getting rid of burnt-out cards?

Neither. They are selling them for profit, because there's so little to be had from using them for mining at this point. Ever since the boom in late last year, GPU mining has steadily become less and less profitable (increasing difficulty + gradually worse coin exchange rates, LTC vs BTC and LTC vs USD in particular), to the point that now miners are realizing it's better to sell the equipment while it's still worth a good amount of money.

 

[borderdeal]

Man, deal is over. I was this close to jumping on four 290s just for the hell of it

Thanks, that makes sense. It looks like this particular opportunity has passed but I wasn't ready to jump on it without doing some research first since they are used mining cards. If a similar deal pops up again I might go for it.

I got one yesterday and now he has 40+ for sale for the $199 plus shipping and they are going fast time to get one Now what would u guys recommended to water cool it?? I have a Corsair Hydrocool 200ex so I just need a good and cheap water block

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Tbe deal for $199 was a water coolers dream deal. Probably why it's gone....Unless you look at the sellers other items.

FFFFUUUUUU... look what you made me do. Have six on the way

 

[Kenmitch]

FFFFUUUUUU... look what you made me do. Have six on the way

Your welcome

It's hard to pass on the price if your currently in the market and want to go water anyways!

He'll most likely sell everyone he throws up at $199. Guess he may be able to up the price a little on the next go around and still sell out.

 

[Z15CAM]

A X-Factor Crypto- Mining 290 under water is a 780Ti competitor for less money and you have a loop or two in your Rig ;o)

One thing I will say is that don't expect any HYNIX vRam on them cards - Sellers keep them for them selves.

In other words, your going to get Alpida and stuck at a MAX of 1500Mhz vRam if your lucky.

 

[Kenmitch]

A X-Factor Crypto- Mining 290 under water is a 780Ti beater for less money and you have a loop or two in your Rig ;o)

Actually the $199 ref 290's that popped up on eBay would have allowed crossfire under water for close to or just a little more than a single 780Ti if you were frugal when shopping for the loop.

Of course the loop would determine the price....But the 295x2 does show that the insane loop requirements always stated are not needed.

On the other hand a person might be able to live with 2x 290 ref cards in crossfire if they aren't noise anal and the fans are still OK.

 

[lopri]

I impulsed one for $250 shipped. Figured I could unload it without much loss if it turned out to be not my thing.

 

[toughtrasher]

I would jump the ship if you have money. I personally was looking to buy a Sapphire Tri-X 290 but couldn't afford it at this time, but at some of these prices, you should def. go 290.

 

[nitromullet]

I impulsed one for $250 shipped. Figured I could unload it without much loss if it turned out to be not my thing.

Yep. I grabbed one for $260 shipped, sold my GTX 780, and pocketed $100 after fees/shipping. Reference card is a bit noisy and the card throttles to maintain 94C, but performance is great for the money.

 

[dn7309]

A X-Factor Crypto- Mining 290 under water is a 780Ti competitor for less money and you have a loop or two in your Rig ;o)

One thing I will say is that don't expect any HYNIX vRam on them cards - Sellers keep them for them selves.

In other words, your going to get Alpida and stuck at a MAX of 1500Mhz vRam if your lucky.

since my 290x got the hynix Vram I can go above 1500 right?