MSI 290X LE quick review and thoughts

snips86x · 10 Mar 2015 at 15:29

Random Guy said:
I gather I have missed some discussion here, but can I ask Gregster, why you decided to go the single 290x route from 3 (!) Titans?

And I've gone the other way! From a single 290 to 2 Titans

ltron · 10 Mar 2015 at 17:00

Gregster, what's the model number for the Startech cable? Also, which cable is Shankly using? We know this one works for him so maybe it's a different model and yours has some strange incompatibility.

A shot in the dark, but are you using Microsoft's generic pnp driver for the Swift? Asus has some drivers here for Windows 7 and 8 for the Swift that might resolve any compatibility issues: http://www.asus.com/uk/Monitors/ROG_SWIFT_PG278Q/HelpDesk_Download/

Final8y · 10 Mar 2015 at 17:00

humbug · 10 Mar 2015 at 17:02

ltron said:
Gregster, what's the model number for the Startech cable? Also, which cable is Shankly using? We know this one works for him so maybe it's a different model and yours has some strange incompatibility.

A shot in the dark, but are you using the Microsoft's generic pnp driver for the Swift? Asus has some drivers here for Windows 7 and 8 for the Swift that might resolve any compatibility issues: http://www.asus.com/uk/Monitors/ROG_SWIFT_PG278Q/HelpDesk_Download/

+1

Try installing these Drivers Greg.

Gregster · 10 Mar 2015 at 17:26

Nice one and will try those tonight. Thanks for the help chaps

humbug · 10 Mar 2015 at 17:55

Shot in the dark with this one: you could also try messing with Auxiliary Voltage. Gently.

Gregster · 10 Mar 2015 at 17:59

Will have a go thanks. Some good responses and all help (good or bad) appreciated. Loving the card but finding this a tad frustrating.

snips86x · 10 Mar 2015 at 18:07

Gregster said:
Will have a go thanks. Some good responses and all help (good or bad) appreciated. Loving the card but finding this a tad frustrating.

Welcome to the dark side

Now you know how I felt with the 290 and I had it longer!! Hope you get it sorted but it looks like you've not got long to wait for the TitanX!

Gregster · 10 Mar 2015 at 18:10

Yer and if all else fails, I will just go back to my 1080P 120Hz monitor for now. Not a bad card though and very impressed with the performance.

shankly1985 · 10 Mar 2015 at 18:13

ltron said:
Gregster, what's the model number for the Startech cable? Also, which cable is Shankly using? We know this one works for him so maybe it's a different model and yours has some strange incompatibility.

A shot in the dark, but are you using Microsoft's generic pnp driver for the Swift? Asus has some drivers here for Windows 7 and 8 for the Swift that might resolve any compatibility issues: http://www.asus.com/uk/Monitors/ROG_SWIFT_PG278Q/HelpDesk_Download/

Am using cable that come with BenQ xl2730z

snips86x · 10 Mar 2015 at 19:12

Gregster said:
Yer and if all else fails, I will just go back to my 1080P 120Hz monitor for now. Not a bad card though and very impressed with the performance.

Performance is really good, considering the price now. I manage to get 60-85fps on Dying Light!

melmac · 11 Mar 2015 at 02:00

Gregster said:
Yer and if all else fails, I will just go back to my 1080P 120Hz monitor for now. Not a bad card though and very impressed with the performance.

Does that monitor have a DP port? If it has, then surely that's the easiest and simplest check you can do to see if the display port on the card is working properly?

It would be the first thing I would have done tried a different monitor.

If the cable works fine and the display port on the card works fine then you are back to it been a timing issue between the card and monitor.

Gregster · 11 Mar 2015 at 09:57

melmac said:
Does that monitor have a DP port? If it has, then surely that's the easiest and simplest check you can do to see if the display port on the card is working properly?

It would be the first thing I would have done tried a different monitor.

If the cable works fine and the display port on the card works fine then you are back to it been a timing issue between the card and monitor.

No DP port on the Asus VG278H but needed to plug that in to get the display to work on the Swift (I used the HDMI connection). That was the only way I could get to see the screen as well but trying to run 120Hz was still a no with the VG plugged in alongside.

I have tried 3 different cables (2 of them worked without issue on the Titans) and still no go. I am giving up and will accept the tearing for now, but I am pretty deflated in honesty. If I buy any more cables, it would have worked out cheaper to go for the 980 :mad:

triss · 11 Mar 2015 at 10:27

Gregster said:
No DP port on the Asus VG278H but needed to plug that in to get the display to work on the Swift (I used the HDMI connection). That was the only way I could get to see the screen as well but trying to run 120Hz was still a no with the VG plugged in alongside.

I have tried 3 different cables (2 of them worked without issue on the Titans) and still no go. I am giving up and will accept the tearing for now, but I am pretty deflated in honesty. If I buy any more cables, it would have worked out cheaper to go for the 980

You dont happen to have Mates with a AMD card close you could take your Swift there any try??

Confused Stu · 11 Mar 2015 at 10:34

triss said:
You dont happen to have Mates with a AMD card close you could take your Swift there any try??

You anywhere near Gillingham, Kent? I can offer a PC to connect it up to for testing purposes.

Gregster · 11 Mar 2015 at 10:38

triss said:
You dont happen to have Mates with a AMD card close you could take your Swift there any try??

I do have a couple of mates I built AMD systems for (yuck) but the swift is all wall mounted and more of a chore than I want to do in fairness.

Confused Stu said:
You anywhere near Gillingham, Kent? I can offer a PC to connect it up to for testing purposes.

That's very kind of you and appreciated but Kent is around 90 mins drive from me. Thanks anyways

J.D · 11 Mar 2015 at 11:06

Why not just use the Asus VG278H and use VSR to play at 1440p?. The card was a temporary solution so why not just use the Asus VG278H temporarily as it's plain to see there is a problem with this screen and AMD cards regardless of who is to blame.

This way you get to play your games, can see the capability of the card and move onto Titan with some knowledge about the 290. Otherwise, enjoy the pulling of ones hair in frustration.

Gregster · 11 Mar 2015 at 11:14

J.D said:
Why not just use the Asus VG278H and use VSR to play at 1440p?. The card was a temporary solution so why not just use the Asus VG278H temporarily as it's plain to see there is a problem with this screen and AMD cards regardless of who is to blame.

This way you get to play your games, can see the capability of the card and move onto Titan with some knowledge about the 290. Otherwise, enjoy the pulling of ones hair in frustration.

I am mainly playing Elite Dangerous and the tearing doesn't show so much in space, so I will just stick to playing that (not that I have much else I want to play at present). I can live with it and for the sake of dipping into my upgrade fund.... I will live with it

J.D · 11 Mar 2015 at 11:24

Well, you at least have the option available at no cost. Personally I'd rather use 120Hz but if you're fine and it's wall mounted then happy days.

So will we see an oiled up Greg with a sledgehammer destroying the 290 after the Titans arrive?. Could be Youtube gold.

Gregster · 11 Mar 2015 at 11:26

J.D said:
Well, you at least have the option available at no cost. Personally I'd rather use 120Hz but if you're fine and it's wall mounted then happy days.

Yer, I would in honesty but popping the screen on the desk (I don't have as much room as I used to) means taking down the other monitor and I am just so lazy, I will put up with it. It is bearable in ED, so no real biggie.