• Competitor rules

    Please remember that any mention of competitors, hinting at competitors or offering to provide details of competitors will result in an account suspension. The full rules can be found under the 'Terms and Rules' link in the bottom right corner of your screen. Just don't mention competitors in any way, shape or form and you'll be OK.

Im back to wanting R9 290 Crossfire... Questions

theaterix

theaterix

theaterix

Associate
Joined
3 Nov 2014
Posts
1,541
Location
Newcastle, England
So im looking to get R9 290 CF and i know what psu i will be wanting etc, im just questioning more about airflow and temps, my current one sits nicely, and makes a decent aeroplane noise when it gets last man alive against 3, intense on Counter strike ;) but i am curious what kind of throttling i would look at with 2 in CF, if any at all...
I have a Xigmatek Alfar case and have 1 fan in the front, 1 in the back as exhaust and 2 in the top as exhaust, so would i need more intake fans?
Also, i currently have a Reference 290, so would it be better if i matched it with another one? OR would an aftermarket one be better as they lower temps, and in what order should i place them? Aftermarket top? or reference top?

Thanks in advance
 
theaterix said:
So im looking to get R9 290 CF and i know what psu i will be wanting etc, im just questioning more about airflow and temps, my current one sits nicely, and makes a decent aeroplane noise when it gets last man alive against 3, intense on Counter strike ;) but i am curious what kind of throttling i would look at with 2 in CF, if any at all...
I have a Xigmatek Alfar case and have 1 fan in the front, 1 in the back as exhaust and 2 in the top as exhaust, so would i need more intake fans?
Also, i currently have a Reference 290, so would it be better if i matched it with another one? OR would an aftermarket one be better as they lower temps, and in what order should i place them? Aftermarket top? or reference top?

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

Reference cards are designed to work well together in Crossfire so you shouldn't actually have any major issues with them all all, aside from the increased fan noise.

Perhaps worth experimenting with undervolting, as this can reduce temps and help keep the card running cooler and quieter.

As you have one reference card you could pair it with an AIB card. The problem usually comes with you have two AIB cards next to each other with little room to breathe.

I'd be looking at a quality 850-1000W SuperFlower PSU if your budget allows.
 
Last edited:
Ideally in any multi gpu setup you want reference cards, even moreso if slot spacing on your board is tight. You can mix a reference and non reference card. But you would want the reference model on the top blowing through the pci vents. An aftermarket cooled card wouldnt have a lot of space to expel air in the top slot as it would just get trapped between the two. Off course noise will be pretty high with two standard cooled cards, and the top card in any sli/xfire setup always runs a bit hotter than the lower one. Cooling wise, can your case take anymore front intake fans, (or a side panel fan). A few things id also suggest is to remove any unused hdd trays, (if possible on your case) and remove all the cases pci bracket covers, every little helps. You want as clear a path as possible for air coming into the case.
 
Two reference cards work pretty well. Set max fanspeed to 100% in CCC and it should never throttle :) It may get a bit loud though.
 
AMDMatt said:
The problem usually comes with you have two AIB cards next to each other with little room to breathe.
Click to expand...
Guilty as charged.:D

Motherboard choice really has to be thought out if you intend to go multi gpu with AIB cards.
 
I run 2 tri x cards in xfire and the top card never hits 80c at stock. My board has good spacing, but it just goes to show that these cards can be kept cool fairly easily.
 
I have 2 290x Vapor X in a Gigabyte MB with good spacing.
Again my top card rarely goes over 72c with the bottom 3-5c lower.
My cards are at stock with stock fan profiles.
 
Ive read everyones comments and its just easier to reply as one, getting a reference card will be a lot easier as ill be looking second hand, and i can get one for £130, and i shall perform benchmarks in his house to make sure it works good. Thinking an AIB will be cooler is interesting, but im not fussed about heat, as in the summer ill get a fan and take the side door off..
 
What will the gap be between the cards?

Am running 2 x XFX DD 290's and found that the noise produced by and the heat of the top card was very bad running crossfire on my msi x99 Gaming seven :( ( As I intend to watercool , not a problem in the long term:))

If your not watercooling would be wary of the cards being too close together!
 
MSI 990FXA-GD65 is my board, i have a wireless card in the 4th pci slot (the x1) and there is a decent gap between that and the card, and then there is another gap between the wireless card and the gpu if its in the 2nd pci-e slot.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom