780 classified v 290x both @ Max OC?

ohara59 · 28 Oct 2013 at 23:55

^^^^^^^^^

I'm planning to buy a new GPU.

The only thing I care out is performance, which would performance better at max OC under water?

Each has its own pros/cons.

e.g. 290x pros: a lot of reviewers OCing the 290x haven't unlocked the voltage/it has very early drivers/little watercooled reviews (overclocking can only increase by going under water)

e.g. 780 pros: a lot of overclockers getting 1.3ghz+ on air (see a WCed review with it at 1.4ghz, better quality card (little reports of coil whine), better stock cooler (doesn't matter much)

---

what do you guys think?

which is better when max'ed?

- With Nvidia's new price cuts they are both similar priced. so for me its all down to performance

Saitex · 29 Oct 2013 at 00:05

Tbh if there would've been good coolers like TF, DC, W3 etc. on the release date, I would already have a 290X, but considering it came only in reference which wasn't to my liking and the only option was to go water or aftermarket cooler which would take 4 slots, waiting for the holiday bundle seemed the only way for me personally. And tbh, I don't regret it.

Currently on max oc 780 I believe would be faster due to aftermarket coolers, but once 290X will get them it might be the other way around, but we got no idea when will that actually happen. Unless you put 290X on water or mk-26, then yes you can attempt to get some decent clocks, otherwise, idk, the reference cooler just doesn't seem all that attractive for OC.

JBod · 29 Oct 2013 at 00:16

I think the 290X has more headroom. Considering it has been out 3 or 4 days and already matches or beats the 780GTX then that tells the whole story.

However if you want "ol' reliable" get the NVidia.

Either way you can't go wrong. I bought the 290X as I liked the idea of stepping into the unknown.

sin · 29 Oct 2013 at 00:30

Dont for get the 290

Scougar · 29 Oct 2013 at 00:35

Honestly, I think it's too early to be commenting on the average 290X overclock on water. You are best going to the owners thread and seeing what can be done there.

Do note that the 290X has already taken world records under LN2 and taken those from the Titan.

Perhaps it would help to understand what you want the performance in? What resolution etc?

no_1_dave · 29 Oct 2013 at 02:15

Too early to tell.
Not sure how far you'd be able to push the 290X even with water because it does run very hot. Then again, it maybe fine, i had my 470s ramped right up in the day because they were under water. I expect they'd be almost tied, probably trading blows with each other. Just get which ever you prefer feature wise etc, i doubt you'll be disappointed

JBod · 29 Oct 2013 at 06:34

no_1_dave said:
Too early to tell.
Not sure how far you'd be able to push the 290X even with water because it does run very hot. Then again, it maybe fine, i had my 470s ramped right up in the day because they were under water. I expect they'd be almost tied, probably trading blows with each other. Just get which ever you prefer feature wise etc, i doubt you'll be disappointed

Even with max volts (in GPUTweak) I can't get the 290X core higher than 1200Mhz without artifacts. Temps are fine under water and not exceeding 56c.

ntemples1 · 29 Oct 2013 at 07:41

I am asking the same question but don't plan on going under water, am I right in saying the 290x CF out performs the 780 Classified in SLI? I am a little confused and am tempted by the EVGA's cheaper price now.... HELPPP

fowler002 · 29 Oct 2013 at 07:59

ntemples1 said:
I am asking the same question but don't plan on going under water, am I right in saying the 290x CF out performs the 780 Classified in SLI? I am a little confused and am tempted by the EVGA's cheaper price now.... HELPPP

A 290x xfire or 780 sli will be a step down for you tho going the specs in your sig.

Zeed · 29 Oct 2013 at 08:16

JBod think my card will be same as yours. On air to run 1080hz without artefacts i need 1.325v
But we gonna see how it looks with custom bios with LLC. Cant risk that with no water cooling tho :/

At the moment i would wait with buying 290x till water blocks are up for sale somewhere cause it needs them

nicnik · 29 Oct 2013 at 08:24

Not too early... gibbo pretty much confirmed in his little overclocking thread the 290x surpasses the 780...
If you're at a high resolution and performance is all you care about (water), there's only 1 winner.

pgi947 · 29 Oct 2013 at 08:52

Don't forget the classified is no ordinary 780. It would be a close call but I'd say with both on water the classy would edge it, well, provided you got one with Samsung ic's and not elpida anyway.

Gregster · 29 Oct 2013 at 08:57

pgi947 said:
Don't forget the classified is no ordinary 780. It would be a close call but I'd say with both on water the classy would edge it, well, provided you got one with Samsung ic's and not elpida anyway.

The one's OcUK have in stock are using Hynix memory. They have switched a few times on the Classy between Hynix and Samsung. Both good but I would still prefer Samsung.

straxusii · 29 Oct 2013 at 09:03

nicnik said:
Not too early... gibbo pretty much confirmed in his little overclocking thread the 290x surpasses the 780...
If you're at a high resolution and performance is all you care about (water), there's only 1 winner.

I wouldn't base my decision on one overclocking result from someone who was just about to sell a load of said product that won

I don't think he was pushing a classified 780 to it's limits either.

From what I've read op from reviews and owners of the 290x I think you'll be happy with either, it's too early and close to call.

nicnik · 29 Oct 2013 at 09:34

straxusii said:
I wouldn't base my decision on one overclocking result from someone who was just about to sell a load of said product that won

I don't think he was pushing a classified 780 to it's limits either.

From what I've read op from reviews and owners of the 290x I think you'll be happy with either, it's too early and close to call.

If you're at 1440p or above, it's not to early tho. i can't see the 780 keep up beyond 1200p.

pgi947 · 29 Oct 2013 at 09:36

Gregster said:
The one's OcUK have in stock are using Hynix memory. They have switched a few times on the Classy between Hynix and Samsung. Both good but I would still prefer Samsung.

Ah hynix, I had it in my head they were using elpida. Must be the lightning that's an elpida lottery then.

Andy321 · 29 Oct 2013 at 09:46

I was in the same position.

I know price isn't of concern to you, but in my opinion the current price drop on the 780's and game bundle is a big plus for the Nvidia cards.

Anyway I went for the 780 Classified yesterday. Like I say the price and bundle swayed it for me and I've heard performance between them is close anyway.

Marine-RX179 · 29 Oct 2013 at 09:50

nicnik said:
If you're at 1440p or above, it's not to early tho. i can't see the 780 keep up beyond 1200p.

Depend on max setting include the use of SuperSampling. 290x's much higher memory bandwidth would handle SS better than the 384-bit 780's lower memory bandwidth and suffer less performance impact.

Also the so-called "the 780 is as fast as the 290x" are usually just cherry-picked situations which people keep throwing around; in memory intensive games such as Metro, the 780 clearly lag behind by a fair margin:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/R9_290X/18.html

But the 780 Classified is a special case I would agree...they got cherry-picked GPU so they can overclock much higher on the core clock, and with the memory (if Samsung), I would imagine they can be overclocked very high, so on memory bandwidth it would probably be not too much behind the 290X if comparing both max OC...

I guess at the end it's all come downs to the features you'd prefer:
AMD for TrueAudio and Mantle (not trying claim Mantle to be a huge thing, but it would still be a sweet bonus to performance for games that support it

or

Nvidia for PhysX and G-sysc (G-sysc- useless unless you are going to buy a new G-sysc compatible monitor in the future, and whether or not game would support PhysX and G-sysc is as much a hit or miss as AMD's Mantle...)

newhit · 29 Oct 2013 at 10:25

I've not used a 290X yet but I can say that the 780 Classy is well worth a look, especially with the EVBot and modded bioses.

Gregster · 29 Oct 2013 at 10:29

Marine-RX179 said:
Depend on max setting include the use of SuperSampling. 290x's much higher memory bandwidth would handle SS better than the 384-bit 780's lower memory bandwidth and suffer less performance impact.

Also the so-called "the 780 is as fast as the 290x" are usually just cherry-picked situations which people keep throwing around; in memory intensive games such as Metro, the 780 clearly lag behind by a fair margin:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/R9_290X/18.html

But the 780 Classified is a special case I would agree...they got cherry-picked GPU so they can overclock much higher on the core clock, and with the memory (if Samsung), I would imagine they can be overclocked very high, so on memory bandwidth it would probably be not too much behind the 290X if comparing both max OC...

I guess at the end it's all come downs to the features you'd prefer:
AMD for TrueAudio and Mantle (not trying claim Mantle to be a huge thing, but it would still be a sweet bonus to performance for games that support it

or

Nvidia for PhysX and G-sysc (G-sysc- useless unless you are going to buy a new G-sysc compatible monitor in the future, and whether or not game would support PhysX and G-sysc is as much a hit or miss as AMD's Mantle...)

G-Sync not G-sysc.... Meh!!!