contemplating a 4 card xfire wc build... advice

Ultra_Extreme · 26 Apr 2014 at 21:23

Hey guys. Ok so ive got a phanteks enthoo primo case fitted with a rampage iv mobo. I7 extreme cpu and 16gb ddr 2300. Now what to do with the 4 pcie lanes

. Im thinking 4x r9 290s be a good shout so heres my main q. Would you buy reference cards since they will be watercooled? Or should I get better aftermarket cards? Much benefit to getting the 290x instead?

Opinions?

Gregster · 26 Apr 2014 at 21:26

Ref cards are the better shout for water cooling. Hope you have lots of rads on the go

Tonester0011 · 26 Apr 2014 at 21:29

Bog standard refs if you're instantly going to water

Cheaper and the overclocking potential is a chips lottery, so you wont be missing much.
With 4 cards as well, the difference between the X and P will be how much lighter your wallet is, as i doubt you'll notice anything with FPS

Ultra_Extreme · 26 Apr 2014 at 21:29

Gregster said:
Ref cards are the better shout for water cooling. Hope you have lots of rads on the go

Im hoping to run 2 loops one thru a 480 (cpu + 2 cards) and other thru a 360 (2cards)

TheRealDeal · 26 Apr 2014 at 21:30

If money was no object and we were talking about watercooled 290x then it would clearly be 4 x lightnings.

Tonester0011 · 26 Apr 2014 at 21:32

TheRealDeal said:
If money was no object and we were talking about watercooled 290x then it would clearly be 4 x lightnings.

LTG blocks are out already?

Actually forgot about those, still. 1.35v max so wasted on water

TheRealDeal · 26 Apr 2014 at 21:33

Tonester0011 said:
LTG blocks are out already?
Actually forgot about those, still. 1.35v max so wasted on water

Yea Ranger has one and a block. I believe ranger said hes already at +0.3v and 1320 core 1700 mem and hes gonna push more tonight.

Gregster · 26 Apr 2014 at 21:36

Ultra_Extreme said:
Im hoping to run 2 loops one thru a 480 (cpu + 2 cards) and other thru a 360 (2cards)

I run 2 Titans/3930K through a 360 and a 240 and they keep cool enough. Should be ok.

Gregster · 26 Apr 2014 at 21:37

TheRealDeal said:
If money was no object and we were talking about watercooled 290x then it would clearly be 4 x lightnings.

Noooooooo, Ranger can clock his ref 290X higher than his Lightning. Chip lottery as always.

Ultra_Extreme · 26 Apr 2014 at 21:39

Dblpst

whyscotty · 26 Apr 2014 at 21:47

Ultra_Extreme said:
Im hoping to run 2 loops one thru a 480 (cpu + 2 cards) and other thru a 360 (2cards)

You can fit 2 x 480 and 1 x 240 natively in a Enthoo

Ultra_Extreme · 26 Apr 2014 at 21:51

whyscotty said:
You can fit 2 x 480 and 1 x 240 natively in a Enthoo

Where does second go?

whyscotty · 26 Apr 2014 at 21:54

1 x 480 in the top and 1 in the bottom - just remove 1 set of HDD cages

Just be careful max width in the bottom is 125mm

TheRealDeal · 26 Apr 2014 at 22:07

Gregster said:
Noooooooo, Ranger can clock his ref 290X higher than his Lightning. Chip lottery as always.

Rangerjr1 said:
Rangerjr1 said:

I feel like my ref 290x must be one of a kind because this lightning cant really beat it, atleast not yet.

Click to expand...

That's still to be decided and lets be honest i would trust a lightning with it's upgraded components to achieve this more often than a stock card. The lightning is designed for this where as the stock design is not. people already think Ranger is crazy for putting this kind of stress on his stock card where as i doubt they think the same way about a lightning.

Tonester0011 · 26 Apr 2014 at 22:09

still limited by the chip mate, if its a dog no matter whats supporting it it will always be a dog

What the lightning can do is take a lot more voltage without risk of failing

TheRealDeal · 26 Apr 2014 at 22:11

Tonester0011 said:
still limited by the chip mate, if its a dog no matter whats supporting it it will always be a dog
What the lightning can do is take a lot more voltage without risk of failing

Yea i get this but more voltage is a good thing on water and surely you would expect 100 lightning cards to yield better overclocks on water v 100 stock designs. Pushing more voltage through the chips alone would most likely see to that.

Kaapstad · 26 Apr 2014 at 22:12

Ultra_Extreme said:
Hey guys. Ok so ive got a phanteks enthoo primo case fitted with a rampage iv mobo. I7 extreme cpu and 16gb ddr 2300. Now what to do with the 4 pcie lanes . Im thinking 4x r9 290s be a good shout so heres my main q. Would you buy reference cards since they will be watercooled? Or should I get better aftermarket cards? Much benefit to getting the 290x instead?

Opinions?

Which CPU do you have ?

Ultra_Extreme · 26 Apr 2014 at 22:55

3970x

Kaapstad · 26 Apr 2014 at 23:10

Ultra_Extreme said:
3970x

You may have problems with it, I also have a 3970X but it could not run 4 x 290Xs and I had to use my 4930k instead.

KaRLiToS has also had problems with this.

Having said that the only way you will know is by giving it a try.

Ultra_Extreme · 26 Apr 2014 at 23:33

Kaapstad said:
You may have problems with it, I also have a 3970X but it could not run 4 x 290Xs and I had to use my 4930k instead.

KaRLiToS has also had problems with this.

Having said that the only way you will know is by giving it a try.

Thanks for heads up. I don't mind changing CPU if needed an i7x is hardly needed to game lol