No reason to be uncivil. We are simply sharing information here.
The reason I mentioned what the VRM temps are likely to be (+100°C) is because everyone has lately been so concerned about temps in that range. Reality is cards that draw +250W or so, run those temps or even higher. It's simply a fact. Nothing to get all bent out of shape about.
Hardware.fr has for a long time now studied temps of both the GPU's and the PCB components. I would advise taking some time, use Google translate if needed, and study their results. You will be surprised how many cards have had +100°C VRM's and have handled O/C'ing with extra voltage to very high levels (The GTX-460 for one).
Too many sites simply run 3 minute benches for their performance results. Hardware.fr and [H] are two sites that actually test cards that have been run until their temps stabilize. The difference in performance sometimes is quite large. It's not just reference 290's that throttle. For some reason though, there has been a large effort to expose their throttling tendencies while ignoring it for most other cards. Just like the large effort to report on the VRM temps.
290 is ~370W TDP @ 947 Mhz, 290x is ~ 420W TDP @ 1000 Mhz.
The GPU is fed through a 5 phase VRM setup, rated at 50 amp @ 100C(core).
50 x 5 = 250w @ 1v, 250 x 1.17 = 292.5w @ 1.17v (Typical droop from stock voltage of 1.25v @ max load)
That means the VRMs that feed the GPU on the card can only take ~300w @ 100C.
This is the reason why 290s and 290x's crash so often when they are at max load @ default clocks when you turn off all throttling if you allow the VRM to get over 80C.
I don't know how often I have to explain the most basic things here, but I've done this at least 20 times so far since before the 290 and 290x even launched.
I did the same explanations with the 7970 and 7950.
I'm sick and tired of people questioning me when I'm obviously right with mathematical, empirical, and anecdotal data all lined up.
I've literally given more evidence than a doctoral dissertation of a research scientist.
And people still go with "nuh oh, magic AMD/ATi no can has do wrong brah" as their evidence in their corner.