r9 290 Crossfire vs gtx 770 sli

[williamjestes101]

Hey everyone,

So I am doing a computer build in about 2-4 weeks and I need some help deciding on a video card. I am going to be gaming but I also want to be able to do rendering using blender (luxrender). I am wondering which card will get the job done better? the gtx 770 or the r9 290? Now I know obviously that the 290 is more powerful but it is more expensive. I am intending to get the 290 now. I am wondering if in a few years when it starts to slowdown which card will be better to crossfire / sli with? I have done a little research but I have not been able to find a good answer.

[SpyRosL]

It's a little bit obvious isn't it? You are comparing a tier 1 gpu(290) with a tier 2(770)

I'm not sure but doesn't this program use openCL? 290 will be better in every possible way.

[Katsu-K1L]

r9 290, it can play 1440p no problem lol so it should last you for a year or two in 1440p then it will last you about another 3 years at 1080p, but i Don't know if blender uses Cuda accel but if it does then go with the 770, it will lack in 1440p when compared to the 290 but Cuda accel is just amazing (once you go cuda you never go OpenCL)

[APrettyCoolWalrus]

A Gtx 770 is in the same tier as a 280x. A GTX 780 compares to a R9 290. Obviously the dual 290s.

[Tacitus]

The bridgeless crossfire IIRC also gives better scaling results. I think this generation of AMD cards have scaled better in Crossfire than their Nvidia counterparts have done in SLI.

[maazster]

R9 290 CFX of course, especially if you are going 1440p

[ivhyn]

That's not a fair fight.

The 290 obviously stomps the 770

[williamjestes101]

Thanks for all the responses! I know its obviously not fair, but blender uses CUDA, CUDA kicks ass. So I wasnt sure if that benefit was worth it?

[SpyRosL]

Thanks for all the responses! I know its obviously not fair, but blender uses CUDA, CUDA kicks ass. So I wasnt sure if that benefit was worth it?

If it uses cuda,the 770s will be better.But in anything else the 290s will murder them.

 

You need to set your priorities.What's more important to you? gaming or blender?And also which of these 2 are you doing most frequently.

[williamjestes101]

If it uses cuda,the 770s will be better.But in anything else the 290s will murder them.

 

You need to set your priorities.What's more important to you? gaming or blender?And also which of these 2 are you doing most frequently.

Well, Blender is more important to me. Is it worth it? I can use luxrender cant I? With the 290?

[SpyRosL]

Yes you can.Just need to adjust some settings in order to render with openCL according to this

[williamjestes101]

Yes you can.Just need to adjust some settings in order to render with openCL according to this

Thanks! Would the 290 render better in luxrender than the 770 in cycles? Obviously there are non supported texture things and luxrender is a different renderer but for similar quality renders?

[SpyRosL]

Thanks! Would the 290 render better in luxrender than the 770 in cycles? Obviously there are non supported texture things and luxrender is a different renderer but for similar quality renders?

Sorry,i have no idea about that

[williamjestes101]

Sorry,i have no idea about that

Well thanks for all your help anyways!

I still cant decide...

Which do you think you might choose? Also I am thinking about future crossfire/sli. Will the two 770s in a few years still be powerful enough?

[SpyRosL]

Well thanks for all your help anyways!

I still cant decide...

Which do you think you might choose? Also I am thinking about future crossfire/sli. Will the two 770s in a few years still be powerful enough?

Not a chance.The biggest limiting factor is the 2gb vram.(buying a 4gb 770 is impractical).However adding a second 290 will keep you very happy for years to come.

 

How about getting one 780 and call it a day?

[williamjestes101]

Not a chance.The biggest limiting factor is the 2gb vram.(buying a 4gb 770 is impractical).However adding a second 290 will keep you very happy for years to come.

 

How about getting one 780 and call it a day?

Ha, well the 780 is above my budget because I am spending a little more on other parts of my system (mobo and psu) to avoid upgrades in the future. So I shall go with the 290!

[harrynowl]

Pretty sure blender also has an OpenCL renderer in the works.

I'd go 290.

[I/O]

No competition ... the 290x CF is far more potent and will play games much better for a longer time. Plus CFX has better scaling than SLI.

[williamjestes101]

No competition ... the 290x CF is far more potent and will play games much better for a longer time. Plus CFX has better scaling than SLI.

Did you mean 290? Or are you comparing 290 to 290x?

[I/O]

Did you mean 290? Or are you comparing 290 to 290x?

Woop OP said 290 that's what I meant.

[SpyRosL]

 Plus CFX has better scaling than SLI.

Does it though?

[Briggsy]

better to get the 290. in a couple years time you would be able to buy the latest tier one card that would keep up with two 290's in crossfire.

[I/O]

Does it though?

Ya for a while now. Problem is that people blew that microstuttering issue that was fixed along time ago out of proportion hurting AMDs reputation.

[Briggsy]

Ya for a while now. Problem is that people blew that microstuttering issue that was fixed along time ago out of proportion hurting AMDs repudiation.

 

lol, that almost slipped by me.

[SpyRosL]

Ya for a while now. Problem is that people blew that microstuttering issue that was fixed along time ago out of proportion hurting AMDs repudiation.

---->IMO<----

No one can tell if the CF scaling is better or worse that SLI because it is too complicated and there just are too many variables.