Best Non-Reference R9 290?

[euphorium]

Greetings,

 

Going by all the basic specs and news about all the non reference r9 290s that the companies are releasing... what seems to be the "best" r9 290 in terms of giving the most FPS OR giving the best temps? I've been leaning on more towards the ASUS DCU ii, Sapphire Tri-X and the Gigabyte Windforce for being the best non-ref cards! Title says it all pretty much! Is it possible to use 280x cooling evaluation numbers for the r9 290 since all companies slammed their most popular coolers on them? 

 

Also, does it matter whether these cards have a reference PCB or non reference PCB? It seems Sapphire Tri-X is using the reference PCB... is there any downsides? Which is better? 

[Glenwing]

I didn't know there were any non-reference ones besides those three yet

[kinkywink]

I didn't know there were any non-reference ones besides those three yet

msi has there design locked and loaded, also gives the feature of being able to capture game play like shadowplay on the green team.. should read up on it i found it interesting

[CwGoh]

There are 4 cards currently:

1. Asus DCU II
2. Msi Gaming
3. Sapphire Tri-X
4. Gigabyte WindForce.

In terms of cooling performance: Sapphire > Gigabyte > Asus > MSi

 

However, the Asus and MSi have backplates and custom designed parts and PCBs, while the Gigabyte and Sapphire ones use the reference ones. Nonetheless, my Sapphire 290 runs at 1222MHz, at 1.23 volts, at 70C. (65% fan speed, 34C ambient)

[bacosta1993]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HPS4AFG/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

this one because of the price. 

Edit MSI

[kinkywink]

There are 4 cards currently:

1. Asus DCU II
2. Msi Gaming
3. Sapphire Tri-X
4. Gigabyte WindForce.

In terms of cooling performance: Sapphire > Gigabyte > Asus > MSi

 

However, the Asus and MSi have backplates and custom designed parts and PCBs, while the Gigabyte and Sapphire ones use the reference ones. Nonetheless, my Sapphire 290 runs at 1222MHz, at 1.23 volts, at 70C. (65% fan speed, 34C ambient)

is that ref or non ref?

[CwGoh]

is that ref or non ref?

The Tri-X version. Reference PCB, but non-reference cooler.

http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=1&gid=3&sgid=1227&lid=1&pid=2091&leg=0

[kinkywink]

The Tri-X version. Reference PCB, but non-reference cooler.

http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=1&gid=3&sgid=1227&lid=1&pid=2091&leg=0

oh nice, i just ordered my build but in new zealand we dont have non ref yet so i had to settle for the ref cooler - granted ima water cool so its not a problem

[SkilledRebuilds]

However, the Asus and MSi have backplates and custom designed parts and PCBs, while the Gigabyte and Sapphire ones use the reference ones. Nonetheless, my Sapphire 290 runs at 1222MHz, at 1.23 volts, at 70C. (65% fan speed, 34C ambient)

Any chance you can create a thread with your Uber VS OC improvements...?

Card/Bench screenies and whatnot?

[euphorium]

I'm pretty sure that the Gigabyte Windforce R9 290 has a custom PCB But i may be wrong

[CwGoh]

Any chance you can create a thread with your Uber VS OC improvements...?

Card/Bench screenies and whatnot?

I can run a few benchmarks and submit it to the GPU overclocking thread. What benchmarks you want to see? My maximum resolution is 1440p

[CwGoh]

I'm pretty sure that the Gigabyte Windforce R9 290 has a custom PCB But i may be wrong

Looks the same from pictures though. 

[SkilledRebuilds]

I can run a few benchmarks and submit it to the GPU overclocking thread. What benchmarks you want to see? My maximum resolution is 1440p

I figured what you bench is up to what you have installed, as no1 could guess what you have or don't have...

I'm not fussed, I have a 7950 OC, am thinking of moving to 290/290x territory, and looking at Overclock results from users at their OC targets...

Then I can compare gains and decide accordingly...

But more info the better... Thanks for the efforts and being willing to do so.

 

*Anyone else making a post and having it "Saving post" forever?

[CwGoh]

I figured what you bench is up to what you have installed, as no1 could guess what you have or don't have...

I'm not fussed, I have a 7950 OC, am thinking of moving to 290/290x territory, and looking at Overclock results from users at their OC targets...

Then I can compare gains and decide accordingly...

But more info the better... Thanks for the efforts and being willing to do so.

 

*Anyone else making a post and having it "Saving post" forever?

 

My previous card was a Gigabyte WF 7950 @ 1200MHz (Virtual fist bump), and the only game I've benchmarked so far is F1 2013. My 7950 used to run it at 43 FPS average all maxxed @ 1440p, while my 290 @ 1200MHz runs it at 63.  

[SkilledRebuilds]

Seems like 7950OC>290OC is about 15fps gain average I've seen across a few games so far...

I like to keep my average above 50fps at all times.

Using a 1080p 27" @75hz that has been using 1440p 60hz Downscaled IQ for certain games... Cant get both GPU + 120+hz this time

Thanks for the info so far

[mc141]

Asus better hurry up before they sky rocket any higher.

[8tE1GH7]

I'm waiting for the PowerColor PCS+ R9 290 to release.

[vong]

oh nice, i just ordered my build but in new zealand we dont have non ref yet so i had to settle for the ref cooler - granted ima water cool so its not a problem

 

Should've got one from Australia mate. We've got a few of the those non reference models.

[CwGoh]

I figured what you bench is up to what you have installed, as no1 could guess what you have or don't have...

I'm not fussed, I have a 7950 OC, am thinking of moving to 290/290x territory, and looking at Overclock results from users at their OC targets...

Then I can compare gains and decide accordingly...

But more info the better... Thanks for the efforts and being willing to do so.

 

*Anyone else making a post and having it "Saving post" forever?

 

Regarding the saving post thingy - the forum is being DDOS'd and posting is thus slow.

Update by the way, managed to get 1.2GHz core and 1.69GHz memory, with an extra 100mV from PCIe power and the PLL. Runs at 70C with 100% though. 

[kinkywink]

Should've got one from Australia mate. We've got a few of the those non reference models.

if i order it from over seas, by the time it gets here, i have to pay custom taxes etc, so id maswel get a gtx 780 or r9 290x rather then the r9 290 lol

[martinrox1568]

for right now, don't get a gigabyte or asus one, as the coolers on them were just took it from the  780's and unoptimized for the 290. Sapphire cooler seems to be the best one out for now.

[DysonSphere75]

If you want gaming go with the Sapphire, If you are going to be BitCoin Mining, go with the MSI.

[mgsstar]

The Tri-X is the best non-reference R9 290 card imo as it is pretty great in temps: http://www.anandtech.com/show/7601/sapphire-radeon-r9-290-review-our-first-custom-cooled-290/4

[SkilledRebuilds]

Yep I've been reading about the whole shindig on the coolers, and word is, Sapphire Tri-X is the ducks nuts!

Now that people know this however, availability may dwindle

[euphorium]

sapphire tri-x has a 1000mhz factory overclock? and gigabyte has 1040mhz factory overclock..