Do I Swap My R9 290X Reference for new MSI GTX 970?

[1Deep]

This DSR function, would that also work with ultra wide resolutions i.e. my dell 2560x1080, would I be able to select 3440x1440?

 

[nitram100]

No

 

[apostolis_kt]

It is not worth it to change performance wise and money wise. Unless you want to burn less electricity.

I think DSR is only for 1080p or at least thats how it was advertised in some articles

 

[cjph]

Am in a similar boat, though I game across three screens at 5040x1050. I figure the wider data bus on the 290x would help, or am on the wrong meds again ? Mines one of the cheap reference models I plan to put a watercooling kit on, so a quiet 970 at the same price might save a few bob.

cj

 

[zack1667]

Keep your card. Undervolt it to lower the temps. And as someone else said, you would be better off changing the cooler, than selling the card at loss to get the GTX970.

After the 20nm cards are out from both companies, then make a decision if worth to change it. I doubt we going to see any major performance boost, until late 2015-early 2016 cards gen.

5 fps more, on some game while using the ancient 13.12 drivers on the benchmarks, doesn't mean anything.

Even the GTX780/780Ti cards are not as bad as benchmarks showing against the 970/980, since the significant majority use drivers before the April ones, which gave a big flat 10%+ performance overall to those cards. (I had a 780 until 2 weeks ago.....)

Any advice on undervolting? I've never done that before.

 

[PowerPie5000]

I figure the wider data bus on the 290x would help, or am on the wrong meds again ?

You're right as that would normally be the case, but it seems the new NVidia cards can handle higher resolutions just fine using a 256-bit bus. Good work from NVidia when it comes to efficiency

 

[Kaapstad]

You're right as that would normally be the case, but it seems the new NVidia cards can handle higher resolutions just fine using a 256-bit bus. Good work from NVidia when it comes to efficiency

4 way @4K the 290Xs are faster than the GTX 980s, this is probably due to the heavy workload and the 512bit bus on the AMD cards.

 

[Panos]

Any advice on undervolting? I've never done that before.

Download MSI Afterburner. Activate all the overclocking features.
Set PL to 40% (or 50% if you feel so)
On the Core Voltage option start lowering it, -10mV at the time and have a half run on Valley benchmark. repeat until it crashes. Raise by 5mv (eg if crashed at -50mV change it to -45mV) and do a full run of valley. (if crashes raise another 5mv)

Use the overlay (monitoring second tab on settings*) to see if the card was running at all times on top speeds while inside the benchmark.


here is my 295X2 at stock core speed (1625 vram)

Spoiler

I believe you would be able to get at least on a -40mV with 40% PL.

*Here is how to switch the overlay

Spoiler

let me know how it goes Im here to help.

 

[easyrider]

Its the Corair CX600 Builder Series.

and its running the 290 now so whats the problem?

 

[whyscotty]

4 way @4K the 290Xs are faster than the GTX 980s, this is probably due to the heavy workload and the 512bit bus on the AMD cards.

Links of benches for this?

 

[Mal X]

no the 980 is faster, it's also a superior card in every way

 

[Kaapstad]

Links of benches for this?

Very few benches yet but there was a 4 way review done the other day, http://uk.hardware.info/reviews/5623/nvidia-geforce-gtx-980-sli--3-way-sli--4-way-sli-review. But on there at stock my 290Xs were 8fps faster in Thief using max settings and Mantle, the other benches they ran were poor as well but without knowing what operator input there was it is difficult to compare.

Also three of my 290Xs thrashed 3 of Gibbos very overclocked 980s on Firestrike but this could be done to the drivers.

So far 3 and 4 card performance on the 980s is not very impressive, more so as the resolution increases but we need to keep an open mind as this could change with the drivers.

 

[Ayahuasca]

I imagine drivers will improve 3 and 4 way SLI, scaling on most cards isn't at it's best when initially released.

 

[ubersonic]

Links of benches for this?

SLI scaling for the 980 with >2 cards is currently poor, the third and fourth cards only results in 30 something % scaling. Having said that this is Nvidia's first shot at Maxwell SLI, newer drivers should improve things.

 

[ratters]

Very few benches yet but there was a 4 way review done the other day, http://uk.hardware.info/reviews/5623/nvidia-geforce-gtx-980-sli--3-way-sli--4-way-sli-review. But on there at stock my 290Xs were 8fps faster in Thief using max settings and Mantle, the other benches they ran were poor as well but without knowing what operator input there was it is difficult to compare.

Also three of my 290Xs thrashed 3 of Gibbos very overclocked 980s on Firestrike but this could be done to the drivers.

So far 3 and 4 card performance on the 980s is not very impressive, more so as the resolution increases but we need to keep an open mind as this could change with the drivers.

The SLI scaling does seem to be off in a few benches i have done at 1440p, hopefully its drivers. I seem to get much better results single card atm. Or perhaps its bandwith capped.

This is only with 2 cards but in Batman Orgin my scores where disappointing even with overclock, but I did a sleeping dogs bench that seemed very good.

Could it even be the PCI lanes as I have a 4770k ?

 

[Kaapstad]

The SLI scaling does seem to be off in a few benches i have done at 1440p, hopefully its drivers. I seem to get much better results single card atm. Or perhaps its bandwith capped.

This is only with 2 cards but in Batman Orgin my scores where disappointing even with overclock, but I did a sleeping dogs bench that seemed very good.

Could it even be the PCI lanes as I have a 4770k ?

PCI-E lanes and bandwidth will be fine, my guess is it is the drivers at the moment but things will improve.

I have been using a pair of GTX 690s for years @1600p, also PCI-E 3 and 256bit bus and never had a problem with bandwidth at that resolution.

 

[Surfer]

i would because the 280x (at least the ones ive used) are complete **** I absolutely ****** hate them .... next card is definitely a Nvidia...probably the 970.

 

[zack1667]

i would because the 280x (at least the ones ive used) are complete **** I absolutely ****** hate them .... next card is definitely a Nvidia...probably the 970.

Well that's all well and good but i have the 290x...

 

[roozor]

I'm debating whether to ditch my sapphire 290 reference for a nice 970. My 290 only cost me 194 squids with warranty. Don't think i'd lose much on it?

 

[Marine-RX179]

I'm debating whether to ditch my sapphire 290 reference for a nice 970. My 290 only cost me 194 squids with warranty. Don't think i'd lose much on it?

Depends on how important is cooler running and lower noise level (the 970 won't be noticable faster than the 290) to you, and if it is worth spending £100-£120 extra after you sold your card.