Should I keep my R9 290?

[Vhyco_]

Hello!

Reciently I had a problem with my GPU and PSU. Basically my R9 290 fried the hell out of my Thermaltake TR2 600W (I know, I've learnt my lesson. In my defense I first bought it with a GTX 750ti.). Now i bought a new, more powerful, certified Corsair 650W PSU and started to wonder if I should change my GPU for something equally powerful but more modern and efficient.

 

I looked it up and seems that where I live (Argentina) I can buy a brand new RX 570 for just a little bit more of what I can get for selling my R9 290. So that is the question... Should I do it?

 

For some of you the answer may be pretty obvious. But I can't make my mind up on this.

 

Thanks a lot!

[berberries]

yes. maybe consider a used rx580 or used gtx 1060 6GB, former should be similarly priced. latter should be a little more expensive.

[Vhyco_]

Just now, berberries said:

yes. maybe consider a used rx580 or used gtx 1060 6GB, former should be similarly priced. latter should be a little more expensive.

I was thinking about that too and I may do it. But in the worst case scenario, a RX 570 should be OK, right?

[berberries]

1 minute ago, piero036 said:

I was thinking about that too and I may do it. But in the worst case scenario, a RX 570 should be OK, right?

yes

[Sauron]

21 minutes ago, piero036 said:

Basically my R9 290 fried the hell out of my Thermaltake TR2 600W

It's unlikely the card had anything to do with that, 600W is plenty for a single R9 290. If that's your only reason for changing it just don't bother.

22 minutes ago, piero036 said:

I looked it up and seems that where I live (Argentina) I can buy a brand new RX 570 for just a little bit more of what I can get for selling my R9 290. So that is the question... Should I do it?

I wouldn't, it's barely any faster and only in some games. Definitely shoot for something like a used rx 580 instead, though even then you shouldn't expect a massive boost in performance.

[Vhyco_]

6 minutes ago, Sauron said:

It's unlikely the card had anything to do with that, 600W is plenty for a single R9 290. If that's your only reason for changing it just don't bother.

I wouldn't, it's barely any faster and only in some games. Definitely shoot for something like a used rx 580 instead, though even then you shouldn't expect a massive boost in performance.

I not pretty sure... The PSU I had wasn´t even certified. Since I changed it I noticed much better performance specially in games like F1 2019 where my PC used to strugge with the TR2 600W. I don't know.

 

Anyway, I was thinking about changing the GPU mostly because of power efficiency/noise issues rather than just performance. That is where I don't know if it is worth the change.

[Sauron]

2 hours ago, Vhyco_ said:

Since I changed it I noticed much better performance specially in games like F1 2019 where my PC used to strugge with the TR2 600W.

Impossible, if there was a difference in that sense it had nothing to do with the power supply. Insufficient power doesn't cause lower performance, it just causes a shutoff or erratic behavior.

2 hours ago, Vhyco_ said:

Anyway, I was thinking about changing the GPU mostly because of power efficiency/noise issues rather than just performance. That is where I don't know if it is worth the change.

If you have a reference R9 290 then noise will most likely be lower. Power efficiency doesn't really matter, it's a $ or two at most per year.

[Vhyco_]

3 hours ago, Sauron said:

Impossible, if there was a difference in that sense it had nothing to do with the power supply. Insufficient power doesn't cause lower performance, it just causes a shutoff or erratic behavior.

If you have a reference R9 290 then noise will most likely be lower. Power efficiency doesn't really matter, it's a $ or two at most per year.

I don't know... Since i changed my PSU and nothing more than that the loading times in F1 2019 were way better. I'm talking things that took literally 5 minutes suddenly were loaded in 10 seconds. Maybe it is not exactly the PSU but something related with it at least. Also I was playing this game when my other PSU died and happened during one of this loading times...

The GPU is a Sapphire R9 290 Tri X... It is pretty loud with demanding games. It is not worth even for the sake of having a new one with warranty and that stuff?

[Sauron]

9 hours ago, Vhyco_ said:

It is not worth even for the sake of having a new one with warranty and that stuff?

That's up to you, it's not very likely to spontaneously die.

[Vhyco_]

2 hours ago, Sauron said:

That's up to you, it's not very likely to spontaneously die.

Okay, thanks a lot!

[papajo]

17 hours ago, Vhyco_ said:

Reciently I had a problem with my GPU and PSU. Basically my R9 290 fried the hell out of my Thermaltake TR2 600W

Sorry to hear that but just wanted to point that out to some people who think that stressing a PSU is not going to harm it...  

@wkdpaul

 

  

17 hours ago, Vhyco_ said:

I looked it up and seems that where I live (Argentina) I can buy a brand new RX 570 for just a little bit more of what I can get for selling my R9 290. So that is the question... Should I do it?

As for your question the RX 570 is definitely the way to go (although I would search a bit more usually you can find 580 at the same price point more or less) 

[Dr0y]

I you are going to spend hard earned money I would go for a real upgrade and not a sidegrade. 

 

Power efficiency should not really be taken into account for money sake unless your electricity cost an awful lot, it should be taken into account when you don't want/can't change your psu and need a new gpu that will be able to run with the one you have. 

[papajo]

1 minute ago, Dr0y said:

I you are going to spend hard earned money I would go for a real upgrade and not a sidegrade. 

 

Power efficiency should not really be taken into account for money sake unless your electricity cost an awful lot, it should be taken into account when you don't want/can't change your psu and need a new gpu that will be able to run with the one you have. 

But OP didnt say he wants to spent more, he said that he can swap it for about the same money indicating that he wont spent more