290 Reference to 390X?

[byalexandr]

So, being a usual PC gamer, I want some more power. My 290 is a GREAT card, nothing wrong with it, besides the fact that it doesn't overclock very well, and despite my opinion that it's honestly not that loud (unless you want it to be really cool at the same time) people pretty much think it's garbage.

 

So, I want to do something. I don't know if I should upgrade, what I should upgrade to, etc. Maybe I should just change the cooler to something much more capable, and even then I don't know of anything under 2 slot width that won't stick out of my SG05.

 

Is the 390X (specifically the MSI 390X) a worthy upgrade? I honestly probably can't get a 980Ti or something ridiculous like that because that would be asking way too much for Christmas, but I can ask for a couple hundred bucks and use that plus my 290 to get a new card. That or I could spend that money on an HG10 from Corsair and a nice 120mm AIO that doesn't stick out over 2 slots with the tubing and all.

 

What do you guys think? Basically I'm unhappy with my current cooling//performance situation (even though it's not bad, this is totally a first world problem) and I'm open to suggestions on what I should do (within a reasonable budget). Thanks!

 

 

This should give you an idea of what I'm working with. The card can't be very long, but it can be a reasonable (I think) up to 11 inches with my custom front panel. I also have space in the case for a single 120mm AIO.

[refinedskillz]

I think it's worth, two times more memory + higher clock speeds overall, also 25w lower TDP.

[arnavvr]

Buy a Used 780Ti from @NannerBeans

[don_svetlio]

Have you tried repasting? That lowers around 4-5*C off a 290 reference

[don_svetlio]

Buy a Used 780Ti from @NannerBeans

that performs quite a bit worse than a 390X

[byalexandr]

I think it's worth, two times more memory + higher clock speeds overall, also 25w lower TDP.

I also think it's not just a jump in clock speeds and performance and stuff, but also in assurance. I mean, I have to OC the shit out of mine on a sketchy cooler for it perform well, but the 390X is faster, quieter, and cooler without me even touching it. And it draws less power like you said, which is good for my 450W PSU.

 

And for OCing on my 290, I could only get it to 1050/1275MHz stable, and I'm not sure if it is the drivers or something but I do get artifacts sometimes still, even at that low of an OC. Even at stock clocks I would get an artifact or two, so I'm not sure if it's the drivers or if my card is just dying.

[byalexandr]

Have you tried repasting? That lowers around 4-5*C off a 290 reference

Yes, that's why I don't complain about the temps and noise, for my it reduced it around 10C and greatly reduced the noise. I even had a botched on 120mm AIO that used my first reference cooler (I had to bake the cooler and Dremel it and what not). That was very cool, but the tubing for the cooler stuck out of the case and it bugged me so much that I traded for another reference cooler.

[byalexandr]

Buy a Used 780Ti from @NannerBeans

Nah, it's still a hot card and draws a lot of power. People complain that AMD cards get hot but dang, looks at the 780 Ti/Titan/Titan X.

 

that performs quite a bit worse than a 390X

That too.

[NannerBeans]

Nah, it's still a hot card and draws a lot of power. People complain that AMD cards get hot but dang, looks at the 780 Ti/Titan/Titan X.

 

That too.

It's a slightly cooler card with a much better cooler. TDP is lower by 25W which by itself isn't a big deal but the cooler is much better. It's also cheaper than a 390x.

[byalexandr]

It's a slightly cooler card with a much better cooler. TDP is lower by 25W which by itself isn't a big deal but the cooler is much better. It's also cheaper than a 390x.

But it's still not as fast. I'm sure if I liquid cooled my 290 I could get it up there in terms of performance.

[don_svetlio]

Yes, that's why I don't complain about the temps and noise, for my it reduced it around 10C and greatly reduced the noise. I even had a botched on 120mm AIO that used my first reference cooler (I had to bake the cooler and Dremel it and what not). That was very cool, but the tubing for the cooler stuck out of the case and it bugged me so much that I traded for another reference cooler.

Figure out a way to add more copper to the heatsink OR! Buy a custom full-copper fin-array that replaces the Aluminum one on your vapor chamber base. That would yield a good 50% increase in heat dissipation as Copper exchanges heat about 50% better than Aluminum.

[byalexandr]

Figure out a way to add more copper to the heatsink OR! Buy a custom full-copper fin-array that replaces the Aluminum one on your vapor chamber base. That would yield a good 50% increase in heat dissipation as Copper exchanges heat about 50% better than Aluminum.

Lol I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen

 

The cooler has a base plate that attaches to the entire card length, and on that a thick ass copper plate (surprisingly it weighs like half a pound) is soldered to it, and on top of that the pretty small aluminum heatsink is soldered to the copper plate. I do still have the copper plate and aluminum heatsink from my first reference cooler, but they are pretty deformed from expanding in the oven when I melted the solder and pulled it apart and what not.

 

I could get an HG10, I know thye made one specifically for reference 290/290X cards, but I'm not sure of which AIO I should use, as I need the tubing to bend down so it's less than 2 slots in width.

[don_svetlio]

Lol I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen

 

The cooler has a base plate that attaches to the entire card length, and on that a thick ass copper plate (surprisingly it weighs like half a pound) is soldered to it, and on top of that the pretty small aluminum heatsink is soldered to the copper plate. I do still have the copper plate and aluminum heatsink from my first reference cooler, but they are pretty deformed from expanding in the oven when I melted the solder and pulled it apart and what not.

 

I could get an HG10, I know thye made one specifically for reference 290/290X cards, but I'm not sure of which AIO I should use, as I need the tubing to bend down so it's less than 2 slots in width.

If you feel like modding, I have an idea. Buy a used Kingpin (older is also fine) heatsink. cut it down to the proper size and mount it on the 290. Worth a shot really. If you fail, time for a new GPU and/or cooler. If you succeed, you have a Kingpi 290

[NannerBeans]

But it's still not as fast. I'm sure if I liquid cooled my 290 I could get it up there in terms of performance.

I haven't looked at benchmarks lately but I'm pretty sure you won't be able to overclock a 290 far enough to outrun an overclocked 780 ti. You could very well do that and save some money it'll just be a bit more complicated then switching out a card. If you're getting a G10 bracket you'll need to buy heatsinks for the VRMs and stuff. 

[byalexandr]

If you feel like modding, I have an idea. Buy a used Kingpin (older is also fine) heatsink. cut it down to the proper size and mount it on the 290. Worth a shot really. If you fail, time for a new GPU and/or cooler. If you succeed, you have a Kingpi 290

I don't even know how to solder, yet alone coat an entire baseplate evenly and mount a heatsink to it... Funny thing is though, I'm really good at welding

 

I haven't looked at benchmarks lately but I'm pretty sure you won't be able to overclock a 290 far enough to outrun an overclocked 780 ti. You could very well do that and save some money it'll just be a bit more complicated then switching out a card. If you're getting a G10 bracket you'll need to buy heatsinks for the VRMs and stuff. 

HG10 from Corsair cools the VRMs using the blower that the card originally came with.

 

 

I could, just maybe sell my 290, get a reference 290X and then put the HG10 on that... Maybe?

[don_svetlio]

I don't even know how to solder, yet alone coat an entire baseplate evenly and mount a heatsink to it... Funny thing is though, I'm really good at welding

 

HG10 from Corsair cools the VRMs using the blower that the card originally came with.

 

Corsair-Liquid-Cooling-Bracket-Will-Chill-Radeon-R9-290-290X-GPUs-Like-Never-Before-465551-4.jpg

 

I could, just maybe sell my 290, get a reference 290X and then put the HG10 on that... Maybe?

If you get a 290X I'd strongly suggest doing the Kingpin experiment with the 290. If afraid, let me do it!

[byalexandr]

If you get a 290X I'd strongly suggest doing the Kingpin experiment with the 290. If afraid, let me do it!

It's a great idea, I'll give you that, but it won't go very well because to remove the stock heatsink you basically have to destroy the copper base plate. When you bake it to remove the solder, it bulges up as it's not completely solid copper (I don't know what's in it, maybe solder or something) and you can't mount it back with the modified copper heatsink because it'll be all warped and what not. And even if I upgrade to a 290X, I'm not sure if the performance gain would be worth all of the trouble that I would have to go through to sell my 290 for a slightly higher price.

[don_svetlio]

It's a great idea, I'll give you that, but it won't go very well because to remove the stock heatsink you basically have to destroy the copper base plate. When you bake it to remove the solder, it bulges up as it's not completely solid copper (I don't know what's in it, maybe solder or something) and you can't mount it back with the modified copper heatsink because it'll be all warped and what not. And even if I upgrade to a 290X, I'm not sure if the performance gain would be worth all of the trouble that I would have to go through to sell my 290 for a slightly higher price.

Cut off the aluminum fins with a blow-torch?

[don_svetlio]

It's a great idea, I'll give you that, but it won't go very well because to remove the stock heatsink you basically have to destroy the copper base plate. When you bake it to remove the solder, it bulges up as it's not completely solid copper (I don't know what's in it, maybe solder or something) and you can't mount it back with the modified copper heatsink because it'll be all warped and what not. And even if I upgrade to a 290X, I'm not sure if the performance gain would be worth all of the trouble that I would have to go through to sell my 290 for a slightly higher price.

290X uses 50W more tho - consider that

[arnavvr]

@byalexandr 780Ti is much faster than 290X. Trust me, I own one.

[byalexandr]

Cut off the aluminum fins with a blow-torch?

Lol I think that would be even worse. I think the best option is a Dremel, but I really don't want to risk it, this is already my second reference cooler on the card. I might get some copper sheet and make my own heatsink if I can get my hands on another reference cooler, but I'm not going to risk my current one, lol.

 

 

290X uses 50W more tho - consider that

Eh, when I OC my 290 it gets up to the 300W+ range.

[don_svetlio]

Lol I think that would be even worse. I think the best option is a Dremel, but I really don't want to risk it, this is already my second reference cooler on the card. I might get some copper sheet and make my own heatsink if I can get my hands on another reference cooler, but I'm not going to risk my current one, lol.

 

 

Eh, when I OC my 290 it gets up to the 300W+ range.

A R9 290 starts at 300W

[byalexandr]

@byalexandr 780Ti is much faster than 290X. Trust me, I own one.

I will consider it then. It will have to wait until the 25th as that's when I'll get money, plus I have to sell my 290, so if he still has it available for sale I might pick it up. I just don't like Nvidia cards that much, I have a soft spot for AMD .

[byalexandr]

A R9 290 starts at 300W

No it's 250W, a 290X starts at 300W.

 

Running out of options, guess I should wait until Christmas to see what I get.

[don_svetlio]

No it's 250W, a 290X starts at 300W.

 

Running out of options, guess I should wait until Christmas to see what I get.

Look for a reference 980 if you ask me - that seems to be optimal in your small case. That or a R9 Nano