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** GIBBO's GUIDE TO WHICH 290 SERIES CARD TO BUY!! **

jayenh said:
Hi, was hoping for a bit of advice. I have the Sapphire 290x Tri-X on preorder from when it was on offer last week. I've just put in a webnote asking about an updated stock ETA and unfortunately there isn't one at the moment. I'm considering cancelling the order and ordering the MSI 290X gaming instead, which is in stock and on offer this week. Anyone with experience of both? Is there much difference between them?

For info I'll be upgrading from a pair of 6950's

edit: additional info... no plans to watercool but I may consider crossfire depending on performance and funds later in the year (specifically The Witcher 3). I'm just wondering if the Tri-X is worth holding out for I guess.
Click to expand...

Will you be overclocking or mining? If yes hold out for the Tri-X.

If your just gaming and want low noise, the MSI Gaming are an excellent choice.
 
I think you've just sold me on the MSI then. I had plans to overclock, but to be honest I'm not interested in getting the absolute maximum out of a card and benchmarking etc. I never even got round to flashing my 6950's to 6970's so I should probably just learn from that. Thanks for the quick reply.
 
Hi,

I read the sapphire was the quietest card in a review on an external website (under normal conditions i.e. no overclock)

Can you confirm this ? http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/radeon-r9-290-and-290x,review-32872-7.html

Just in the market for a 290 now, and want the quietest card. (Not bothered about OC)

May just get one and put on an accelero extreme III, but don't really wanna go through the trouble of that, plus overclockers don't stock the extreme III :(

Will overclockers start stocking the accelero extreme III?

Also would you guys ever offer a service where you would fit an aftermarket cooler like the accelero extreme III, obviously at a cost ?
 
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Laher said:
After doing a bit of research, the MSI reaches about 41 db - 10cm away from the card. http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/msi_radeon_r9_290x_gaming_oc_review,12.html

The Sapphire reaches around 40-42db 50cm away from the card. http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/radeon-r9-290-and-290x,review-32872-7.html

Looks like the MSI is quieter.

Just need to know now if ocuk are going to start stocking the Accelero Extreme III and if a fitting service would be kindly possible ?

Thank you
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Not saying you're wrong (as honestly I have no idea, the MSI might be quieter indeed) but I have to remind you that you cannot directly compare sound measurements tests which were done in different conditions, with different equipment, by different people/website,...

Unless the cards are compared using the very same testing methodology it is meaningless to try to get any conclusion.
 
Chewie said:
Not saying you're wrong (as honestly I have no idea, the MSI might be quieter indeed) but I have to remind you that you cannot directly compare sound measurements tests which were done in different conditions, with different equipment, by different people/website,...

Unless the cards are compared using the very same testing methodology it is meaningless to try to get any conclusion.
Click to expand...

I did think that ! But it follows more in line with what Gibbo stated in his findings.

I'm assuming the MSI is quieter basically
 
So now the reference cards are drying up, which cards would you choose for watercooling?
It'll be for gaming, but I'd like a decent overclock too, if possible.

The Sapphire Tri-X do seem nice but they are more expensive. Is the air cooler 2-slots or wider?

Is it worth paying the extra £10 for a reference 290X?
 
Gibbo can you give more Info about the MSI R9 290 in Crossfire? temp wise

I have ordered two coming monday and after reading your Comment about crossfire I am bit worried.

Should I be?
 
Great guide Gibbo, a very helpful read. I'm planning on picking up a reference 290/290X card in the near future and fitting an aftermarket VGA block cooler. Probably this one

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-460-EK&groupid=962&catid=1520&subcat=2765

Do you know if any manufacturers still honor the warranty after fitting an aftermarket cooler? Its my first time water-cooling a GPU so I'm not sure who is best to go for.

I'll mainly be using it for gaming but may dabble into mining.
 
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Gibbo, I'm selling my 7950s in the next 2 weeks, I'm really only interested in 1 card to be honest and that's the Sapphire Radeon R9 290X Tri-X. Are you receiving mass stock of this cards anytime soon? I see they are still pre-order and overdue.
 
Captain_Bosh said:
Great guide Gibbo, a very helpful read. I'm planning on picking up a reference 290/290X card in the near future and fitting an aftermarket VGA block cooler. Probably this one

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-460-EK&groupid=962&catid=1520&subcat=2765

Do you know if any manufacturers still honor the warranty after fitting an aftermarket cooler? Its my first time water-cooling a GPU so I'm not sure who is best to go for.

I'll mainly be using it for gaming but may dabble into mining.
Click to expand...
I think Sapphire and Powercolor let you if you buy from OcUK. Not 100% though mate.
 
I currently have a ref 290 and I'm about to buy a 2nd 290, been looking at the tri-x but it's out of stock, any idea on eta? I will pretty much just game on it and would like something quieter than the reference board, but also running very cool if possible.

The plan is to then sell my ref 290 and replace it with a 2nd card the same as the one I'm about to buy. So ultimately I will be running xfire 290s.

Or am I better not bothering with crossfire and just buying a 290x instead lol. Could plow the extra cash towards a new monitor I guess as mines only 1920x1080 60hz :(
 
shankly1985 said:
Gibbo can you give more Info about the MSI R9 290 in Crossfire? temp wise

I have ordered two coming monday and after reading your Comment about crossfire I am bit worried.

Should I be?
Click to expand...

If you can gap them apart then you will be fine, if they are gonna be sandwiched right next to each other, then its time to worry yes.
 
TonyTurbo78 said:
Gibbo, I'm selling my 7950s in the next 2 weeks, I'm really only interested in 1 card to be honest and that's the Sapphire Radeon R9 290X Tri-X. Are you receiving mass stock of this cards anytime soon? I see they are still pre-order and overdue.
Click to expand...

Morning Gibbo. Any chance of an idea on how long I'd have to wait to buy the card above? I have a buyer for my 7950s, he has the money right now but I'm holding off waiting on this R290X Saff. If these arent coming in soon, I'll have to go and buy an EVGA 780TI Superclocked ACX card..But not owning an Nvidia for over a decade, I'm a little apprehensive about doing such a thing.
 
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