Which graphics card should I buy ?

[DieselWeasel]

My build: 

CPU: Intel 4670k

Motherboard: MSI Z87 MPOWER MAX

RAM: CRUCIAL BX ELITE XMP/TS DDR3 16GB

SSD: Samsung EVO 250GB 

PSU: Cooler Master V Series V700 - 700 W

Case: NZXT Switch 810

 

I have ordered everything except of the graphics card. I'm thinking of buying a r9 290 or a r9 280x and save some money. I'll be using one 1080p monitor or maybe two if I go with the 280x .

Is r9 290 worth those 100 € ?

I want to know if a non-reference r9 290 will perform noticeably better than a reference one when water cooled. 

 

I prefer black PCB and I really like ASUS and MSI designs. And you should also know that going for r9 290 means waiting 2 more weeks (Not a single store has it in stock ) and I can go buy ASUS r9 280x tomorrow 

 

So what should I buy ?

[cjeffcoatjr]

For gaming, open gl work or mining?

[Vitalius]

I personally would rather have a 290 over a 280X. Though, honestly, the 280X is a good GPU. 

Hmm, hard choice. If you plan to upgrade to higher resolution later (for work or gaming), then I would get the 290 now. Simply because it will be a better, happier, investment, in the long term. 

[Thermite]

My build: 

CPU: Intel 4670k

Motherboard: MSI Z87 MPOWER MAX

RAM: CRUCIAL BX ELITE XMP/TS DDR3 16GB

SSD: Samsung EVO 250GB 

PSU: Cooler Master V Series V700 - 700 W

Case: NZXT Switch 810

 

I have ordered everything except of the graphics card. I'm thinking of buying a r9 290 or a r9 280x and save some money. I'll be using one 1080p monitor or maybe two if I go with the 280x .

Is r9 290 worth those 100 € ?

I want to know if a non-reference r9 290 will perform noticeably better than a reference one when watter cooled. 

 

I prefer black PCB and I really like ASUS and MSI designs. And you should also know that going for r9 290 means waiting 2 more weeks (Not a single store has it in stock ) and I can go buy ASUS r9 280x tomorrow 

 

So what should I buy ?

Water cooled will always perform better, because the card can overclock itself to reach a certain temperature level. The only way you would need a non-referance card is if you wanted to do drastic overclocking with water-cooling.

[Tam3n]

If you can, get the better card, which is 290.

I would definitely get an aftermarket solution for quitter and better performance.

 

If you'll water cool, then you probably need to get the reference model.

[kristaps552]

At this point and time may I suggest Nvidia at the same price point?

[DieselWeasel]

Water cooled will always perform better, because the card can overclock itself to reach a certain temperature level. The only way you would need a non-referance card is if you wanted to do drastic overclocking with water-cooling.

What kind of FPS difference are we talking about? Between reference r9 290 (water cooled) and non-reference r9 290 (water cooled). 1-5, 5-10 or more ?

[kristaps552]

What kind of FPS difference are we talking about? Between reference r9 290 (water cooled) and non-reference r9 290 (water cooled). 1-5, 5-10 or more ?

You can't really water cool non reference boards...

[DieselWeasel]

At this point and time may I suggest Nvidia at the same price point?

that would be 770 2gb or 770 4gb and I'm not a fan of Nvidia because one of them  "exploded" . If I had the money I'd go for 780 ti but I ran out of it

[kristaps552]

that would be 770 2gb or 770 4gb and I'm not a fan of Nvidia because one of them  "exploded" . If I had the money I'd go for 780 ti but I ran out of it

Well, if one card was bad, it doesn't mean that all of them are like that.

can't you push for a 780?

[DieselWeasel]

For gaming, open gl work or mining?

Only gaming, maybe some mining but just to try it

[DieselWeasel]

Well, if one card was bad, it doesn't mean that all of them are like that.

can't you push for a 780?

Nope, 400€ +- 20 is the limit I'm 16 so the only income is in the summer and that's when i'll be buying the water cooling stuff

[DieselWeasel]

You can't really water cool non reference boards...

What do you mean by that ? Are there no water blocks available? EK usualy makes a block for ASUS cards

[kristaps552]

What do you mean by that ? Are there no water blocks available? EK usualy makes a block for ASUS cards

Yes that's what I meant, I haven't been reading a lot on the topic, but you should probably read on it, see if and when EK will release those blocks, because there may be some time until they do... 

[Puddleuk]

Personally I would opt for the 280X. Its cheaper and has a better price to performance ratio. If you want extra performance or play with more monitors at higher resolution in the future then you can buy another 280x card (Which will be cheaper by that time).

 

Just my thoughts.

[Stephen]

I'd say get the 290 because it will give you more futureproof performance and you can crossfire them if you really need more performance

[DIV1D3]

Get the 290, but first wait until the prices drop to around $450-$475 for the non-reference 290s. No point in buying a card that will eventually drop in price now for the exact same performance. Also, you don't need to water cool. I found a graph detailing the Sapphire non-ref 290 temp., at max speed it got to 64 degrees celsius.

You'll be fine with a 280X for quite some time but if your like me and want to have it around for a very long time than you might as well extend your wallet to the 290. The 290X is just $100 dearer, nothing special about it other than the cores and higher clock imo.

Here's where I found the graph, you may want to read the article while your at it:

http://www.guru3d.com/news_story/sapphire_equips_r9_290_and_r9_290x_with_tri_x_triple_fan_cooler.html

The Asus, MSI and other non-reference cards will have temps. around this as well. I would especially look out for the OC, cooling, warranty and aesthetics when choosing a non-ref 290. Wait a little longer than 2 weeks, maybe a month, possibly one and a half.

[Huntyoudown20]

Get the r290x then wipe the bios of of it and put the r290x bios on it and the add the benefit of the r290x for the price of the r290.

[DIV1D3]

Get the r290x then wipe the bios of of it and put the r290x bios on it and the add the benefit of the r290x for the price of the r290.

It's an R9 290X and R9 290, and you've got "get the r290x then wipe the bios of of it and put the r290x bios on it", confuzlment.

[DIV1D3]

Also, flashing the R9 290 bios and putting the 290X bios on it doesn't work from what I've read.

[f22luke]

There is a reason why the R9-290 is selling out and that is because it is a great deal.  Other than it's overall better performance it will also have "TrueAudio" (I'm not sure how much of a selling point that is for you).  If you can't wait the 280x is esentialy a 7970 which is nothing to sneeze at especially some of the none reference designs which have been around for a while and have proved to be quite stable.  

 

If you are going to watter cool the reference model R9-290 will be the most compatible and would be likely just as fast unless you are doing an LN2 over-clock.

 

Cheers on the new build, hope it goes well.

[Twister]

280X if your budget is small

290 if your budget is bigger

 

also dont get 280X or 290 on market coolers, they run super hot, get a DirectCU II or Windforce or something.

 

GTX 770 if you wanna get NVIDIA

[DieselWeasel]

Get the 290, but first wait until the prices drop to around $450-$475 for the non-reference 290s. No point in buying a card that will eventually drop in price now for the exact same performance. Also, you don't need to water cool. I found a graph detailing the Sapphire non-ref 290 temp., at max speed it got to 64 degrees celsius.

You'll be fine with a 280X for quite some time but if your like me and want to have it around for a very long time than you might as well extend your wallet to the 290. The 290X is just $100 dearer, nothing special about it other than the cores and higher clock imo.

Here's where I found the graph, you may want to read the article while your at it:

http://www.guru3d.com/news_story/sapphire_equips_r9_290_and_r9_290x_with_tri_x_triple_fan_cooler.html

The Asus, MSI and other non-reference cards will have temps. around this as well. I would especially look out for the OC, cooling, warranty and aesthetics when choosing a non-ref 290. Wait a little longer than 2 weeks, maybe a month, possibly one and a half.

I don't think I'll be waiting for non-reference 290s, they won't be released for another month or two and I just can't wait that long. I haven't played any games for 2 weeks now and I'm starting to shake The store has contacted me and I'll go pick up the components listed above. I know I don't need to water cool it , but I want to. I'll probobly buy a reference 290.

[DIV1D3]

I don't think I'll be waiting for non-reference 290s, they won't be released for another month or two and I just can't wait that long. I haven't played any games for 2 weeks now and I'm starting to shake The store has contacted me and I'll go pick up the components listed above. I know I don't need to water cool it , but I want to. I'll probobly buy a reference 290.

The R9 290 non-reference coolers are coming out in about 2-3 weeks, and by God I haven't played a game in 2 months and I still have to wait another 2 weeks to get everything together and build it even without the 290. 2 weeks aint nothing, 2 months however is an eternity. 

My advice, WAIT, the non-reference cards are coming out soon and buying one ASAP is a mistake on your behalf and will  hurt your wallet more than it needs to be.

[DIV1D3]

I'm actually going to wait for another month or so til the prices drop to an affordable point. Until then I'll be playing on integrated graphics with my Fatal1ty Z87 Killer and i5 4670K, it'll still be infinitely better than this shitty Pavilion dv6 though.

Wait, no since September I haven't played (except for Terraria). I'm dying inside, crumbling into darkness and nothingness.