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970 or 290X ? Replacing a 6950.

Ref 970 it is then :p
The only reason to buy ref 290/X is if you're going to watercool them, madness if you'd buy for air cooling. Terrible, noisy and hot. I had 2 for a few weeks, couldn't stand them so whilst waiting for blocks had a rubbish card on my bench instead :o

I cant agree with this as i have a xfx 290 and i cant hear it at all :rolleyes:
 
Ref 970 it is then :p
The only reason to buy ref 290/X is if you're going to watercool them, madness if you'd buy for air cooling. Terrible, noisy and hot. I had 2 for a few weeks, couldn't stand them so whilst waiting for blocks had a rubbish card on my bench instead :o

The 290X's are awesome under water it's just the reference coolers suck, Shame really as I like the look of them.

I cant agree with this as i have a xfx 290 and i cant hear it at all :rolleyes:

Is it reference or the double dissipation one ?
 
The reference card isn't too bad if you undervolt it. I got mine to running at around 45% fan speed under load which is tolerable.
 
It's a shame the 290's are so hot and noisy without watercooling which is expensive, as for future proofing two 8 GB 290's is definately the best solution but i hate noise and heat in the summer.
 
The reference card isn't too bad if you undervolt it. I got mine to running at around 45% fan speed under load which is tolerable.

But getting a high end card and then undervolting it which ends up running lower clocks just for the sake of noise and heat is crazy, I'd rather watercool or get an aftermarket 290X like the vapor X.
 
But getting a high end card and then undervolting it which ends up running lower clocks just for the sake of noise and heat is crazy, I'd rather watercool or get an aftermarket 290X like the vapor X.

You don't have to lower clocks. Just keep them stock.
 
You don't have to lower clocks. Just keep them stock.

Even then, they're still loud.
They were loud @ idle, i honestly couldn't bear them on my bench any longer than an hour. They used to idle in the low 70c iirc (dual monitors)

Needing to undervolt just to appease my ears, not a good thing :)
Not when you have Nvidia with their frankly amase reference coolers (titan ones, not the rubbish plastic things)
 
Even then, they're still loud.
They were loud @ idle, i honestly couldn't bear them on my bench any longer than an hour. They used to idle in the low 70c iirc (dual monitors)

Needing to undervolt just to appease my ears, not a good thing :)
Not when you have Nvidia with their frankly amase reference coolers (titan ones, not the rubbish plastic things)

Yeah the idle noise is what did my head in tbh. It's not as bad as the cheapo 970 blowers but it isn't great.
 
I hope AMD's next round of cards come with amazeballs reference coolers that not just look great but feel quality and cool exceedingly well.
 
Small case deffo calls for a ref card and given that the 970 wins by a vast margin..

But off topic but I ordered a second hand msi 290x anyone any experience with them with regards to noise and temp?
 
I wouldn't count on it, hopefully HIS do another one of their blower coolers.
They felt cheap, looked cheap but done a good job :) Though that was with the 79** cards, so a lot less heat to work with :p

Surprised they didn't bother for the 290s.
 
It's a shame the 290's are so hot and noisy without watercooling which is expensive, as for future proofing two 8 GB 290's is definately the best solution but i hate noise and heat in the summer.

Only the reference cooler makes them run hot and loud. Any decent oem cooler changes this. People need to stop saying this hot and loud crap. In this case the gtx970 makes more sense. I am sure Dicehunters brother will be more than impressed with his new card.
 
Only the reference cooler makes them run hot and loud. Any decent oem cooler changes this. People need to stop saying this hot and loud crap. In this case the gtx970 makes more sense. I am sure Dicehunters brother will be more than impressed with his new card.

Thank god we're on about reference coolers then :o
Wouldn't want to upset you again, you're easily offended.
 
Only the reference cooler makes them run hot and loud. Any decent oem cooler changes this. People need to stop saying this hot and loud crap. In this case the gtx970 makes more sense. I am sure Dicehunters brother will be more than impressed with his new card.

Ok thanks, What card would you recommend for people buying a complete new build gaming at least 1440p?
 
What case is it?? If its a Sugo or a Shuttle,then yeah,the reference GTX970 would be a good idea.

If its a case like a Prodigy or 250D,which have loads of positive pressure,you don't always need to go for a blower type cooler,since they are huge for mini-ITX cases.
 
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