Unknown cheap r9 290x vs well know expensive 290

[Moidave]

Hi, another forum member actually found a seemingly awesome deal on a R9 290X at around 300$, roughly half the price of other cards 290 X sold on the same store (i live in Japan). Here is the card

http://archive.kuroutoshikou.com/modules/display/?iid=1832

I cannot seem to find any information on the card and almost none on the maker, except that they sell in Japan only.

For 40$ more, i can get the sapphire 290 tri x oc, with higher core clock.

http://m.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=N82E16814202080

What do you think?

 

[Seba]

How much is a GTX 970 there?

 

[Kenmitch]

The card looks to be a reference design 290x. Guess it wouldn't make a diff on who branded it theirs. Other than support if needed.

 

[Moidave]

Sorry, the link I inserted was the regular reference design indeed but the clock is 30 MHz higher, I edited the link.

Also the cheapest gTx 970 is about 360$

 

[monkeydelmagico]

The Saphire is a known good card. Why take the chance?

 

[fleshconsumed]

Since you live in Japan shouldn't they have good return policy? If they have a good return policy I'd take that 290x for a spin and if it performs as expected keep it, if not then return it.

 

[NioNai]

Living in Japan as well, I notice the Gigabyte R9 290x was around $300-330 or so at some of the stores in akihabara. But I notice reviews showing it would had a high fail rate.

But at the same time there was a large selection of people very happy with it. I initially thought about buying it just because of the outraguous prices for the GTX 980 out here. I could get 3 GB R9 290x for the cost of 1.5 GTX 980..

 

[Leyawiin]

The first looks like a Powercolor/Visiontek/Diamond base model (probably made by TUL for all of them). Not particularly well regarded.

 

[wand3r3r]

If it's a reference 290x vs an aftermarket 290, I'd go 290 or 970.

 

[aigomorla]

problem with using a no name brand is that it might not really be the actually said GPU.

If could also be a unreputable chinese company that has no worries about closing shop the moment they get caught, and they could be using fake cores.

The only way to confirm would be to run benchmark tests to see if its performing as a R 290, or to pull the heat sink off it, and visually inspect the core for markings which would state its a R290 core.

When you buy a reputable brand, you also get the company's backing that they will honor RMA's and what you buy is really what you get.

Living in Japan as well, I notice the Gigabyte R9 290x was around $300-330 or so at some of the stores in akihabara. But I notice reviews showing it would had a high fail rate.

But at the same time there was a large selection of people very happy with it. I initially thought about buying it just because of the outraguous prices for the GTX 980 out here. I could get 3 GB R9 290x for the cost of 1.5 GTX 980..

Gigabyte is one of the better brands for AMD.
Im surprised to hear it has such a high fail rate.

Maybe you should try MSI then.
they also make fairly decient GPU's and saphire has probably been in the AMD GPU sector longer then both of them.

My personal favorate company for AMD Radeon will always be HIS tho.
All the machines ive built with HIS, were always good. Probably my luck is the best with HIS.


As for the R290 vs 980GTX... id go with what fits your budget more.
Its true the 980 GTX is ground breaking, has new features, is fast and draws low power, but its riddled with new driver problems, and takes time for drivers to mature.
Vs. the R290... since more games are console ported, will run better at launch on most game titles (example Dragons Age Inquisition), has more matured drivers, and is almost 200 dollars cheaper then a 980 but is louder, and runs a lot hotter then the 980.

Considering the fact most gpu's have a top active life of about 2 yrs, or lower, id go with whatever is acceptable in your budget frame, both are great gpu's, will perform solid.

Have you considered the 970 GTX?
You get about 80% of the performance of a 980, with new features, at the near cost of a R290.
Its also just about as fast as a R290, runs a lot cooler, and a lot quieter then a R290.

 

[RussianSensation]

If you say Sapphire Tri-X is $340 and 970 is $360, I'd get MSI gaming 970 or similar for a bit more over the 290/290X. Do not buy a reference blower 290/290X unless you plan on water cooling it or have a spare Accelero cooler around. At your prices, 970 is the way to go.

 

[Actaeon]

Regarding the Sapphire failure rate, I've had mine less than a week, but I bought two and they work great. No problems so far and I've been pushing em pretty hard lately.

Not trying to discount those that had issues, it is unfortunate, but they are likely a small minority compared to everyone else. The cards do have a warranty in case there is an issue.

That said, I would opt for Sapphire 290 over a questionable 290X. All prices/brand quality being equal, I would take a 290X over a 970. And a 970 over a 290.

Too bad you missed out on the deals last week, there were 290Xs for $299 after rebates plus a bunch of free games.

 

[monstercameron]

problem with using a no name brand is that it might not really be the actually said GPU.

If could also be a unreputable chinese company that has no worries about closing shop the moment they get caught, and they could be using fake cores.

The only way to confirm would be to run benchmark tests to see if its performing as a R 290, or to pull the heat sink off it, and visually inspect the core for markings which would state its a R290 core.

When you buy a reputable brand, you also get the company's backing that they will honor RMA's and what you buy is really what you get.



Gigabyte is one of the better brands for AMD.
Im surprised to hear it has such a high fail rate.

Maybe you should try MSI then.
they also make fairly decient GPU's and saphire has probably been in the AMD GPU sector longer then both of them.

My personal favorate company for AMD Radeon will always be HIS tho.
All the machines ive built with HIS, were always good. Probably my luck is the best with HIS.


As for the R290 vs 980GTX... id go with what fits your budget more.
Its true the 980 GTX is ground breaking, has new features, is fast and draws low power, but its riddled with new driver problems, and takes time for drivers to mature.
Vs. the R290... since more games are console ported, will run better at launch on most game titles (example Dragons Age Inquisition), has more matured drivers, and is almost 200 dollars cheaper then a 980 but is louder, and runs a lot hotter then the 980.

Considering the fact most gpu's have a top active life of about 2 yrs, or lower, id go with whatever is acceptable in your budget frame, both are great gpu's, will perform solid.

Have you considered the 970 GTX?
You get about 80% of the performance of a 980, with new features, at the near cost of a R290.
Its also just about as fast as a R290, runs a lot cooler, and a lot quieter then a R290.

Again aftermarket coolers on amd r9 series aren't loud and run much cooler than the reference cards, so stop spreading fud.

 

[aigomorla]

Again aftermarket coolers on amd r9 series aren't loud and run much cooler than the reference cards, so stop spreading fud.

my comparison to noise was in regards to a 900 series.

so how about you reread my statement before you state i am passing Fud?

 

[Moidave]

Thanks for your opinions and take on the R9 290 cards. After looking a bit online on Japanese blogs, it seems the cheap card, having only 2 fans, get hot quickly and a very well cooled case is needed.

I am definitely going to keep an eye on the GTX.

 

[monstercameron]

my comparison to noise was in regards to a 900 series.



so how about you reread my statement before you state i am passing Fud?

I read it, do you have a link?

 

[Skurge]

my comparison to noise was in regards to a 900 series.

so how about you reread my statement before you state i am passing Fud?

My vapour X 290X runs cooler ans quiter than most 970s.

 

[Ryanrenesis]

Try the 290X out if the store has a good return policy. It'll be win-win, as if it performs as well as a reference 290x, then you've got yourself a gem for cheap, if it underperforms, you can easily return it.

 

[RussianSensation]

my comparison to noise was in regards to a 900 series.

so how about you reread my statement before you state i am passing Fud?

Sapphire Tri-X, MSI Gaming, Vapor-X, PCS+ 290 run quieter than Gainward, some Galax, all EVGA and Palit 970 cards. The cream of the crop 970s such as Asus Strix, MSI Gaming, Windforce and Zotac Omega Extreme are quieter than the best 290s. Having said that, there are a lot of loud and electical fan crackling, not to mention coil whining, 970s as well.

This is an excellent review of the quietest 970s from videos:
http://www.computerbase.de/2014-10/nvidia-geforce-gtx-970-test-roundup-vergleich/4/