The AMD R9 290 (non x) Thread

flopper · 21 Nov 2013 at 23:35

rpggamesplayer said:
how are you finding your r9 290p

as far
superb.
maxes out path of exile with my resolution cant complain.

SiDeards73 said:
Im wondering how close a Toxic 290 pro will be to a stock 290x, im guessing fairly close, and then the OC'ing potential should push it past a stock 290x, but a stock 290x can be pushed even further.

I have / had a 6950 Toxic, lovely card

in actual use with gaming, you be hard pressed to notice any difference between a 290/290x/780/titan etc...

Smudge said:
I just installed my Sapphire r290 pro. Can I check some settings and result with you guy?

I run 3dmark and 3dmark11 to test things and check the graphics score.
seems fine in what I can tell.

rpggamesplayer · 22 Nov 2013 at 15:00

Test system
Cpu: 4930k Ht on @ 5ghz
Motherboard: Asus Rampage IV Extreme
Memory: Mushkin Redline 16gb Quad Chan 2100
Gpu's: 2x r9 290 Sapphire Crossfire (hynix memory)
Psu: Evga 1300w

Gpu's at stock clocks

3DMark11

3DMark

TombRaider Ultra preset 1080p

SleepingDogs Extreme preset 1080p

Resident Evil 6 maxed settings 1080p

flopper · 22 Nov 2013 at 16:05

rpggamesplayer said:
Test system
Cpu: 4930k Ht on @ 5ghz
Motherboard: Asus Rampage IV Extreme
Memory: Mushkin Redline 16gb Quad Chan 2100
Gpu's: 2x r9 290 Sapphire Crossfire (hynix memory)
Psu: Evga 1300w

Gpu's at stock clocks

3DMark11

nice.
might go down the crossfire route next year if it works this well. still waiting for drivers to mature there.
slapped a waterblock on mine, core only and some fans to the vrm, seems to work ok.

big image

rpggamesplayer · 22 Nov 2013 at 16:08

nice flopper, that must have made a good difference in temps, what clocks you got yours at now?

rpggamesplayer · 22 Nov 2013 at 16:19

my setup is screaming for water blocks hehe

DX24 · 22 Nov 2013 at 17:27

Could maybe someone tell me please if the 290 is worth an upgrade from a 7970.

Confused Stu · 22 Nov 2013 at 17:45

DX24 said:
Could maybe someone tell me please if the 290 is worth an upgrade from a 7970.

Probably not, in all honesty. If they're the same price, I'd get the 290, but assuming you'd end up having to spend more for the upgrade, it's not a big enough step to warrant it in my opinion. What situations are you finding your 7970 lacking in to make you want to upgrade?

If you're running 2 x 7970's and Eyefinity, then it's definitely worth moving to 2 x 290's due to the lack of frame pacing on the 7970's, but for a single card and/or single screen, I'd say keep your money and stick with the 7970.

DX24 · 22 Nov 2013 at 18:08

OK thanks for pointing that out. What would run a hazro 1400p better than a 6950 nothing to pricey and something that would last a few years of gaming.

MrMarvelous · 22 Nov 2013 at 19:10

In the same boat as you I think DX24, i'm just itching to upgrade even though I have a beast of a clocker with my 7970 (1200/1600) and don't struggle to run any of my games maxed out at 1080p. Fancy trying something from the NVidia side like a 780Ti but it's wayyyyy to expensive to justify a purchase.

stulid · 22 Nov 2013 at 20:24

http://www.tweaktown.com/news/34083...y-for-its-r9-290-gpu-with-new-bios/index.html

New BIOS for Sapphire owners.

Dont shot me if this has already been posted.

Orangey · 22 Nov 2013 at 22:31

The newly released BIOS will allow the R9 290 to operate under a new fan profile, which will limit maximum fan speed to 47-percent while increasing performance and reducing noise.

Someone give it a go?

SiDeards73 · 22 Nov 2013 at 23:28

Asking my brother (Smudge on OCUK) to flash his Sapphire and see how it goes.

SiDeards73 · 22 Nov 2013 at 23:32

Bah hes off to bed said he will do it tomorrow and update to the new drivers too. Ahh well i tried

rpggamesplayer · 23 Nov 2013 at 00:01

were do i find the bios?

flopper · 23 Nov 2013 at 02:39

rpggamesplayer said:
nice flopper, that must have made a good difference in temps, what clocks you got yours at now?

I run 1160mhz gaming atm.
card artefacts a bit higher, it can go more but held back by those. Might need to re-seat the block.
cant complain fast and silent

flopper · 23 Nov 2013 at 02:41

DX24 said:
Could maybe someone tell me please if the 290 is worth an upgrade from a 7970.

at my resolution yes.
a 7970 from that 6950 is a big step better.
its a hard decsion a 290 would be the optimal choice there but a 7970 be the value there.

Smudge · 23 Nov 2013 at 09:22

stulid said:
http://www.tweaktown.com/news/34083...y-for-its-r9-290-gpu-with-new-bios/index.html

New BIOS for Sapphire owners.

Dont shot me if this has already been posted.

I cant find this new bios on the Sapphire website. Anyone had any luck finding it?

Smudge · 23 Nov 2013 at 09:35

Also, I just found this thread, not sure if it's been posted yet, but it gives a way to see if your 290 pro will unlock to 290x through software rather than flashing.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1445030/is-your-r9-290-unlockable-find-out-here

going by the readout for my Sapphire, it wont unlock.

rpggamesplayer · 23 Nov 2013 at 10:15

this is what i got
r9 290 sapphire crossfire

Compatible adapters detected: 2
Reading info from primary adapter:
PCI ID: 1002:67B1 - 1002:0B00
Memory config: 0x500036A9 Hynix
Init: 00000000
RA1: F8010005 RA2: 00000000
RB1: F9000005 RB2: 00000000
RC1: F8010005 RC2: 00000000
RD1: F8010005 RD2: 00000000

will this unlock?

Smudge · 23 Nov 2013 at 10:19

rpggamesplayer said:
this is what i got
r9 290 sapphire crossfire

Compatible adapters detected: 2
Reading info from primary adapter:
PCI ID: 1002:67B1 - 1002:0B00
Memory config: 0x500036A9 Hynix
Init: 00000000
RA1: F8010005 RA2: 00000000
RB1: F9000005 RB2: 00000000
RC1: F8010005 RC2: 00000000
RD1: F8010005 RD2: 00000000

will this unlock?

Judging by the read info nope. I got the same results.

"LOCKED R9 290's will report R1: F8010005 or F8200005

UNLOCKABLE R9 290's will report R1: F8000005"