Reviews mention that the initial cards (v3.0 i think) were shipped with stock AMD bios which ran the fan profile similar to what the reference cards have. The fan speeds were limited to 45% max which could be increased using afterburner or such. I think the new cards (v4.0?) have the updated bios.
**TODAY ONLY! 05/08/2014** XFX Radeon R9 290 DD Black Edition 4GB & Asus GeForce GTX 770 DirectCU OC
- Thread starter anderp
- Start date
Reviews mention that the initial cards (v3.0 i think) were shipped with stock AMD bios which ran the fan profile similar to what the reference cards have. The fan speeds were limited to 45% max which could be increased using afterburner or such. I think the new cards (v4.0?) have the updated bios.
Caporegime
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It's not so much the Nvidia Vs AMD...
It's the 2GB vs 4GB that's more important these days..I'd much prefer a 4GB Nvidia BTW
Exactly, we're talking about future proofing your PC vs a card which is already a bit short of V-ram (IMO)
Soldato
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I'm not sure why anyone would go for GTX 770, unless they needed Nvidia for physx/3d whatever, the 290 is a steal! 4GB > 2GB as well! 
Check the Powercolor 290X PCS+, not only is the price good, but its got nearly £100 worth of free kit with it. (AMD GOLD plus an 8GB 2400MHz memory kit)!!!!
I'm not sure why anyone would go for GTX 770, unless they needed Nvidia for physx/3d whatever, the 290 is a steal! 4GB > 2GB as well!
Knowing what I do about games now and the memory some use I'd not buy a card with less than 3gb of VRAM in 2014. YMMV but 2gb is really easy to fill up even at 1920x1200..
Check the Powercolor 290X PCS+, not only is the price good, but its got nearly £100 worth of free kit with it. (AMD GOLD plus an 8GB 2400MHz memory kit)!!!!
But i already have 16GB of the fastest memory you can buy
If you were to do a deal on this then i'll buy two
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-342-SP&tool=3
Associate
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I'm really liking these new XFX cards. Very pretty and you can't argue with that warranty! Great for water-cooling, too.
I imagine they'd look superb with a nice simple backplate. They're not reference PCBs, though. Are they?
I imagine they'd look superb with a nice simple backplate. They're not reference PCBs, though. Are they?
I read somewhere this backplate is compatible with the XFX 290. Don't think you can fit that without a water cooling block on it though...
Soldato
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I went for the 770 - was worried about the 290 in a small case, plus it is still £40 dearer.
i would only as i have a gtx770 already but even so id prefer an identical evga one if i was going to sli.