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970 vs 290x vs 290

I wouldn't say I'm after an nvidia solution to be honest. I just wish to carefully consider each purchase. Especially considering my schedule for December and January isn't going to allow any significant gaming time. The Lightning card is actually sat in my basket waiting for me to confirm purchase.
 
Just noticed the GALAX GeForce GTX 970 "Hall of Fame Edition" is on this week only. 30% more expensive than the lightning but would it be worth it? I'm really at a loss. Perhaps I don't really know what I want. I guess i'm concerned about my uni room turning to a sauna in the summer. As far as I see it I shall make a purchase by Tuesday evening, unless an announcement comes to persuade me to postpone for a month.
 
Perhaps you'd be better off with the 970 if you plan on playing a lot of modded skyrim.
A 290 does ok with ENBs on there, but it generally does run better with NV afaik
 
ReCoN1989 said:
Just noticed the GALAX GeForce GTX 970 "Hall of Fame Edition" is on this week only. 30% more expensive than the lightning but would it be worth it? I'm really at a loss. Perhaps I don't really know what I want. I guess i'm concerned about my uni room turning to a sauna in the summer. As far as I see it I shall make a purchase by Tuesday evening, unless an announcement comes to persuade me to postpone for a month.
Click to expand...

Thats way over budget isnt it? I would rather get one of these.

OcUK seem to endorse this. Wouldnt be a bad choice.
 
What is the difference between the galax editions? To be honest the budget is really flexible. If spending an extra £50 would allow me to keep the card for an extra year then it would be justified.
 
ReCoN1989 said:
I do appreciate twerking although it is not something I would personally partake in. Tweaking I probably wouldn't do much, but having the option to in the future to push out more performance can't be a bad thing. I presume both cards could be watercooled in the future with equal difficulty?

It was my impression that CUDA offered better performance than openGL however I have been told otherwise since. Im guessing it isn't as clear cut as before.
Click to expand...

Read this.

Things are in Motion with Powerful New Adobe Photoshop CC Features Accelerated by AMD
 
Thanks humbug, that confirms that AMD are at the least on a level footing with nvidia in performance within Adobe apps. One less thing to worry about!
 
Really Nvidia don't have anything viable below £270.

A 970 is a decent purchase but at £200 the only option is a 290. At £240 the only option is the Lightning 290X but does it really need all those power leads? 2x8-pin and 1x6-pin plus the juice from the motherboard suggests a TDP of 375-450W!
 
Indeed, minimum recommended psu of 750w, think the 970 recommends a 450w that's a really significant amount of heat that has to be dissipated into the room.
 
Couple of things to take notice of.

1, if you are not going to overclock the lightning will be the faster card.
2, if you are going to overclock the lighting will probably still be the faster card. :) ( there is always the silicon lottery unfortunately)
3, both the 970 and the 290 need 1*8pin and 1*6pin whereas the lighting requires 2*8pin and 1*6pin, obviously if your PSU doesn't have the required connectors you will either need adapters or a new PSU.


If It was my money I would go for the lightning, but then my PSU is ok and I do like to overclock. ( saying all that I currently own a overclocked 970 which boosts to 1542 so not too shabby :D)
 
I probably won't be overlocking initially, as there is no need for 1080p gaming. I would imagine these cards would handle everything for the next year or so at ultra?

Which 970 do you have?
 
bru said:
3, both the 970 and the 290 need 1*8pin and 1*6pin whereas the lighting requires 2*8pin and 1*6pin, obviously if your PSU doesn't have the required connectors you will either need adapters or a new PSU.
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The 6 pin is optional and only required when further pushing the card, which you won't be doing if you are not over clocking it.

It also comes with 6 pin to 8 pin adapters so no worries there.

Likewise you won't need a 750w PSU if not overclocking it (and even that 750w is a large exaggeration to cover themselves)


Hey, it also comes with 3 more games.

Buy the lightning already!!

:)
 
Another question which may have significance; given both major games consoles now use amd, are we likely to see an increase in games optimised for amd?

Regarding the free games, I would probably sell the 4 games with amd but keep far cry 4 for nvidia

Also how big a deal is game works given that mantle will be practically rendered moot by dx12
 
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ReCoN1989 said:
I probably won't be overlocking initially, as there is no need for 1080p gaming. I would imagine these cards would handle everything for the next year or so at ultra?

Which 970 do you have?
Click to expand...

I have an MSI gaming edition.
 
Towards the end of its use my 7950 ice-q was irritatingly loud and hot in the room nd a always had to comrpomise on AA or resolution to get 60 frames. This time last week I had spotted the 290 lightning on offer and had been set on it. The day before purchase I read the kitguru review on the 970 GTX infinity; since its arrival on monday all graphics are on max (txaa -but i'm not super fussy), @1200p and the noise is relatively none existant, the heat difference just as noticable!

My bit, for what its worth. :)
 
Thanks jarra, that sort of anecdote is exactly what I was looking for. I guess the 290x Lightning would consume more power and hence dissipate even more heat. Does anyone else have similar experiences?
 
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