videocardzFirst AMD Radeon R9 290X 1080p performance review

[Slomo4shO]

Why would I avoid a fact? Nvidia cards are perceived, whether it should be or not, as being worth more money than AMD cards.

By who? A vocal minority? This is not a fact, facts actually have evidence behind them for support. Do you have anything to prove your claim other than anecdotal evidence?

 

[Erenhardt]

Why would I avoid a fact? Nvidia cards are perceived, whether it should be or not, as being worth more money than AMD cards. If you try and deny this, you aren't paying attention. AMD couldn't get away with releasing a Titan for $1000. Nvidia has done it and other things of the sort repeatedly.

If people want to think I'm a fanboy, go right ahead. I've had both red and green cards for quite a long time. My favorite card is still the 5870.

You said that you attach a value to a logo on the card - that is what brand value is. Clearly you weren't talking about whole market, without any data.

 

[OCGuy]

I heard that AMD strategy was to make this card an overclocking beast. What you said is true and I agree. If this thing overclocks like the 7950's do then these will be a bargain. If they put better memory on it this card could really shine

This is a new one.....what company tries to make a card an overclocking "beast"? LOL.


Target reference clocks and TDP are set by the engineers, who predict life expectancy at certain clock-speeds, temperatures, and voltages. All of these can be limited by other components, such as what the budget is for the reference cooler, general chip efficiency, etc.


Both AMD and NV have to convince the AIB partners and boutique system retailers that X% of the cards will survive the warranty period and be stable at the reference clock rates and voltage.

To suggest that the marketing department plays any part in intentionally launching a gimped card, only so that is can be over-volted by an extreme niche segment of consumers, is not a well thought out position.

When we come across gems like the GTX460 or the 7950, it is more due to AMD or NV trying to fill a price segment with a card that is really much better than advertised. Not because of some master plan to have them become overclocking kings.

Keeping reference designs conservative not only reduces RMAs for failure before the warranty expires, but it also allows the AIBs to do their own testing, with their own cooling solutions, and make some extra cash selling the out-of-spec cards according to their own risk models.

 

[n0x1ous]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FXLMMK2/?tag=hardfocom-20

 

[Cloudfire777]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FXLMMK2/?tag=hardfocom-20

$719. Not even BF4 edition.

Looks like Newegg price perhaps was right on the money (pun intended). $699 might be the price for this card.

 

[Rvenger]

That's a placeholder. The card should be no more than $599.99.

 

[Face2Face]

That's a placeholder. The card should be no more than $599.99.

Still got your sights on a 290? Or are you thinking 290X?

 

[Grooveriding]

That's a placeholder. The card should be no more than $599.99.

Yeah no details from me, consider me full of bs. But I expect 290X to be $600 MSRP for reference cards

 

[Vesku]

$719. Not even BF4 edition.

Looks like Newegg price perhaps was right on the money (pun intended). $699 might be the price for this card.

There have been links to other pc part placeholders listing it in the high $500s, implying a possible $549-599 MSRP. AMD is being extra vague with the 290 launch which means there should be a lot of internet chatter when the thing finally does launch.

 

[Jacky60]

we were expecting around 30% only.

I wasn't 'only' expecting 30%, I was demanding 100% and hoping for 50% so it's good but I wanted better.

 

[Rvenger]

Still got your sights on a 290? Or are you thinking 290X?

Yep, PCI-E Slot 1 is vacant right now and needs a new companion.


I hope the regular 290 is released the same day. At $450 they will fly off the shelves.

 

[Cloudfire777]

There have been links to other pc part placeholders listing it in the high $500s, implying a possible $549-599 MSRP. AMD is being extra vague with the 290 launch which means there should be a lot of internet chatter when the thing finally does launch.

True.

Since recent leaks show atleast 10% better performance than GTX 780, they should atleast charge $649. Fair price would actually be $699 since its neck in neck with $1000 Titan.
$599 would be nice, but I`m not shocked if they cost $699.

 

[Slomo4shO]

Since recent leaks show atleast 10% better performance than GTX 780, they should atleast charge $649. Fair price would actually be $699 since its neck in neck with $1000 Titan.
$599 would be nice, but I`m not shocked if they cost $699.

AMD has been selling at lower margins than Nvidia to gain market share. They are expected to release their Q3 earning today in a few hours. Since AMD has acknowledged that they are no longer engaging the "ultra-enthusiast" market with single GPU solution, it would be in AMDs best interest to provide a solution in the enthusiast market that outperforms the 780 and is also cheaper.

 

[JThorpe]

So I have a question, based on these benchmarks, would the 290x beat the EVGA 780 SC?

I know that these are not official benchmarks, but if we take them as what the 290x can do, would it beat the 780 SC.

 

[smackababy]

So I have a question, based on these benchmarks, would the 290x beat the EVGA 780 SC?

I know that these are not official benchmarks, but if we take them as what the 290x can do, would it beat the 780 SC.

A stock 290x might be edged out by a factory overclocked 780, however, there will probably be factory overclocked 290x's so, it should tilt back into it's favor.

 

[Teizo]

Did they aggregate the Furmark score in the final percentage tally? Furmark has very little bearing on real world usage.

Doesn't matter. Now AMD users get to eat the 480 GTX crow they shelled out by the millions back in the day. Hopefully AMD prices it right so they can get put pressure on Nvidia to drop their prices on the 770 and 780.

 

[SolMiester]

Doesn't matter. Now AMD users get to eat the 480 GTX crow they shelled out by the millions back in the day. Hopefully AMD prices it right so they can get put pressure on Nvidia to drop their prices on the 770 and 780.

Yeah, aptly named Volcanic Islands eh?....wonder how much OC headroom is left with the high power usage and heat?

 

[runzwithsizorz]

I saw tech specs, but practically speaking is there a big difference between the 290 and 290x in gaming performance?

 

[goobernoodles]

Doesn't matter. Now AMD users get to eat the 480 GTX crow they shelled out by the millions back in the day. Hopefully AMD prices it right so they can get put pressure on Nvidia to drop their prices on the 770 and 780.

What are you referring to about the GTX 480? I'm interested... as I have the card. lol

 

[OCGuy]

What are you referring to about the GTX 480? I'm interested... as I have the card. lol

I think he means the 280. The 480 was just a power sucker, but not as relatively overpriced as the 280 at the time.

(280 launched @ $650, and I don't think we had seen a single-gpu card that high since 8800GTX Ultra)

 

[Silverforce11]

I wouldn't characterize the 290X as being hands down faster than the Titan.

The reason I brought up TPU and Computerbase.de is because they test a very wide range of newer titles. Its more representative than a lot of review sites that pick a few games, which has a massive skew factor one way or the other depending on the title.

IF Titan is 26% faster than the R280X and the R290X is 37% faster than the R280X.. its clearly outright faster.

I want to see the reference cooler in action in gaming load and not furmark, hopefully its much more respectable. Isn't AMD restricting the R290X as reference design only for awhile?

 

[OCGuy]

IF Titan is 26% faster than the R280X and the R290X is 37% faster than the R280X.. its clearly outright faster.

I really hope it is faster. "Titan" is named after the supercomputer that it powers, which was once the most powerful in the world. K20X was announced in 2010, so there was obviously working silicon.

I know AMD is not going after the super-enthusiast market anymore according to their own statements, but Titan level performance has existed for quite some time.

 

[chimaxi83]

Lol, Furmark actually being discussed in relation to power usage. The desperation is heavy.

jackiechanmeme.jpg

 

[Attic]

Yea, it's fast, really stinking fast. Possibly the best card for the money in the high end space.

I guess AMD went for the top spot and decided people wouldn't care as much at $200 because what they offer at 200 is not an improvement it's a disappointment. The 270x@$239 is a joke.

 

[blackened23]

The reason I brought up TPU and Computerbase.de is because they test a very wide range of newer titles. Its more representative than a lot of review sites that pick a few games, which has a massive skew factor one way or the other depending on the title.

IF Titan is 26% faster than the R280X and the R290X is 37% faster than the R280X.. its clearly outright faster.

I want to see the reference cooler in action in gaming load and not furmark, hopefully its much more respectable. Isn't AMD restricting the R290X as reference design only for awhile?

I would expect the 290X ref cooler to be better than the 7970 cooler. But it won't be as good as the Titan cooler. Remember the ref Titan cooler costs 82$ in BOM costs directly to nvidia. When nvidia said they went ALL OUT on that cooler? They truly did - no expense was spared as that is by FAR the most expensive ref cooler ever made in the history of GPUs. I don't think AMD will follow that approach with throwing absurd amounts of money towards a ref cooler.

OTOH, people *did* really like the Titan / 690 reference cooler. It's the first cooler that I ever remember being actively sought out despite being reference.