Should I buy an expensive 290x?

[Alex74]

So I'm getting a new build in the next week or so (sold the core components of the rig in my sig). I'm dropping a tasty new 4790k into a Z97 board, but I'm just debating with myself as to what graphics card to put in.

It'll be driving a 2560x1440 display, and I'd like it to run reasonably quiet so that there's no chance of waking up the missus with the fan noise if she's asleep.

With that in mind I'm stuck looking at Sapphire's Vapor-X 290x here currently on sale for £400. AMD seems to be a much better price/performance ratio than NVidia at this performance range, so I'm feeling like that's the way to go right now.

The reason for the Sapphire over the Asus DCU is that from what I can tell, with the ASUS you either have decent temps or a reasonably quiet system, but not both. Sapphire seems to strike a decent balance.

Am I being crazy? What's the general consensus on 290x's these days?

 

[Alex74]

Good question there mate, i'm also looking at ATI this time, but i was tempted by the Sapphire 290 (non X) Vapor X OC as i have read it's practically the same card, and performs within 1 or 2 fps of the more expensive 290x

Hm you're right it does look basically the same from what I can tell, just £70 more for 3-4 fps...

Quality 290X that and would get my vote too. Another good one is the Sapphire Tri X.

Yea Tri-X seems to be very well reviewed as well, although it's the same price as the vapor so I guess if I had to choose now I might as well get the vapor

Tri-x 290 gets my vote. Two of them would be even better

Yeaaa 2 would be nice wouldnt it haha. Perhaps it's worth getting the straight 290 for now and leaving myself the option for xfire later..

 

[Alex74]

ROG Matrix looks nice .

Oh god that looks lovely, but it's another case of paying another 80 pounds for a few more fps right?

you should buy four of them asap !!!

any less and your not a man

Would it help if I got a Titan as well just to make sure? Don't want to leave any room for doubt there

I like the Sapphire's Vapor-X 290x

But I am biased, I use a 290X.

Haha excellent. How's the noise on yours when gaming? My old MSI 6950s went a little bit 'jet engine' when things got intense so I'm a little wary of that now..

 

[Alex74]

Powercolor 290X at sub £300 wins easily.


P.S. After you've sold the free memory kit OcUK give with it.

Honestly looking at the powercolor reviews it's difficult to justify getting the Sapphire especially when the memory bundle is there. I won't even need to sell it since I need an 8GB RAM set no matter what.

Ok I'm off the Sapphire, and I'll put the extra money I save towards another future graphics card. Now it's just the 290 vs 290x.....

 

[Alex74]

No,

Having a 290 that unlocks to a 290X, you wouldn't be able to separate the difference gameplay wise, the only difference you get are the higher BM no's.

Oc'ed 290 will surpass stock 290X and them some, when both are oc'ed the performance delta is even closer.


Step 1-

1 x Powercolor Radeon R9 290 PCS+ OC 4096MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card with FREE AMD 8GB 2400MHz Memory Kit £299.99



^
3Slot cooler but that gets you one of the best coolers on the 290's.

Step 2- Swap the faster ram into your system, or double up on ram and you are ready to oc the 290.

Step 3-Punt the 2500k and get a 3770K with the £60 saving.

That's useful to know cheers, I'm already getting a 4790k at a shockingly cheap price and my old components are already covering the cost of the processor and motherboard.

It's a little tempting to go for the 290x version though just because it saves the hassle of pushing the overclock myself and I'm already saving quite a lot of money this way, but I'll look at the budget and you're right it's a £60 difference for not very much change in performance

 

[Alex74]

Fair, well as long as the memory deal is on I'll go for the Powercolor 290 then. If not I'll start looking at vapor cards again but it's very difficult to argue with a >£150 saving when that's half way towards a second 290 .

Many thanks to everyone who's posted it's been really useful to get a variety of opinions

 

[Alex74]

Honestly, save the £60, 290 is the better buy, the X is not worth it-imho.

Oh how's the fan noise at load btw for you? I assume you're still using the stock cooler..

 

[Alex74]

Tommy 'The Dremel' Bhoy don't use no stinkin' stock cooler

Don't have one, I have a ref Powercolor 290 unlocked to an X, and a DCUII OC 290X in Crossfire.



He,He, You know me to well-I hate them all

Modded DCUII OC 290X with Kuhler 920 aio+KRAKEN G10


ref 290/x is sitting atop the AC Xtreme with modded-'Beast' VRM on the bottom Pci-e.

Haha alright I'll just see how it goes and hope for the best. Cheers again!

 

[Alex74]

Yes turns out it has, all RAM gone hence why website no longer offers it. We shall be offering it again as soon as more stock lands.

Oh noes. Any idea when that's likely to be?

 

[Alex74]

Good luck! They seem a good card, report back with your findings

Well it's been in for a good week now and is running beautifully, you can barely hear it even when it starts really spinning up.

Built a PC for a friend with the same card so I had a cheeky look at what they're like in crossfire, mind = blown. Tempted to get another one for myself but I'll hold off for now..

I see new Nvidia cards are out and looking mighty fine, can't say I'm unhappy though given the price for the gpu + RAM. Thanks again Gibbo