MSI R9 290X Lightning - The Fastest Yet!

[lhikary]

At these kinds of price ranges, performance/price ratio doesn't mean much to the people buying these types of cards.

They buy whatever costs the most and appeals to them the most

 

(I did this with a titan before 780's came out, then instantly sold it for 2 780s when they came out)   I learned my lesson the hard way after wasting all that money on the titan just because I wanted "the best"

 

Now that I'm into heavy overclocking and have a custom loop, I wish I would of waited awhile for 780 classifieds or lightnings to be released and got 2 of those My cards even with modded bios are still horrible overclockers.  

overclocking market is just based on luck really

 

[Lays]

overclocking market is just based on luck really

 

 

The classifieds/ kingpins/ lightnings are all cherry picked chips from what I've seen.  I haven't seen one yet that can't hit over 1400 mhz on the core with some light voltage increases. Even at 1.325v I can barely skimp 1306-1320 mhz

 

(not that I need the extra performance, but I enjoy trying to break benchmark records and fine tuning)

[lhikary]

The classifieds/ kingpins/ lightnings are all cherry picked chips from what I've seen.  I haven't seen one yet that can't hit over 1400 mhz on the core with some light voltage increases. Even at 1.325v I can barely skimp 1306-1320 mhz

 

(not that I need the extra performance, but I enjoy trying to break benchmark records and fine tuning)

i was talking about overclocking market in general

why did you instantly jumped at the kingpin?

[Lays]

i was talking about overclocking market in general

why did you instantly jumped at the kingpin?

 

 

What do you mean?  About the kingpin part?

[lhikary]

What do you mean?  About the kingpin part?

yesssssssss

[Brawler]

It's funny because on amazon.co.uk the 780 ti is about £200 cheaper

[SkilledRebuilds]

@LinusTech

The link in the video to the Graphics Card Overclocking Sheet: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/1...  goes to a random forum page and not Google docs

I was just about to post this. Wanted to see the overclock.

@LinusTech

[ross06187]

I was just about to post this. Wanted to see the overclock.

@LinusTech

Here is the sheet https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmLKAgEko3SAdHFtby1jNTFvaTF2UHhaMzdMQ0FNM2c&usp=sharing#gid=0

[theelitegamer]

This card will make me a 290x, I don't know Nvidia gotta release 800 series soon or else.

[SkilledRebuilds]

Not bad getting the 1200mhz/1550mhz, figured memory may clock higher,...unless VRM temps didn't allow it.

Seems most are limited to 1150-1225mhz on air (without any major mods or anything)

[Vnatus]

It seems like a pretty good card in my opinion. Personally i'm going to stick to my dual 780ti set up.

[VSG]

Linus, I have not yet looked at the video since I am at a workshop at the moment but did you use the stock 2 BIOS or the.. ahem.. better LN2 BIOS from MSI directly?

 

If there are people buying this card and want to overvolt under at least water, PM me. I may have something you will like

[SkilledRebuilds]

Linus, I have not yet looked at the video since I am at a workshop at the moment but did you use the stock 2 BIOS or the.. ahem.. better LN2 BIOS from MSI directly?

 

If there are people buying this card and want to overvolt under at least water, PM me. I may have something you will like

Slick states that he recommends using that switch, so no doubt he used it himself for his overclocks @ 1200mhz/1550mhz

[VSG]

I meant using the actual LN2 Bios that MSI has chosen not to put on the card

 

Also, rbby's tool works on this as does the Afterburner offset to get higher voltage. I won't say much more than this in here.

[KakaoDj]

Why did you not mention the fact that it uses better memory than all other 290/290Xs?  :huh:

[ALXAndy]

My GTX 480 Lightning doesn't sag and it's four years old......

 

These cards use binned chips. IE - MSI make sure they are a certain grade before passing them off. That's what you're paying for. Well, that and the mammoth cooler and the completely 100% custom PCB and power stages. This ain't no stock PCB with a cooler slapped on...

 

As for what they cost? doesn't matter. These are not consumer cards nor were they meant to just sit in a rig running at stock. They're for pro benchmark folk and will usually be taken apart and pushed to hell under DICE or LN2. That's why used Lightning cards are very hard to find, especially as more time passes.

[VSG]

With AMD barely able to keep up with demand, I doubt any real binning was possible here. TTL even mentioned this in his review of the 290x Lightning and Matrix. Hopefully I am wrong though!

[Lays]

Linus, I have not yet looked at the video since I am at a workshop at the moment but did you use the stock 2 BIOS or the.. ahem.. better LN2 BIOS from MSI directly?

 

If there are people buying this card and want to overvolt under at least water, PM me. I may have something you will like

 

I wish that they'd put these cards under water or dry ice or something to show what they can actually do, and what they're actually built for  

 

I'm sure some of the people buying these will leave them air cooled, but I'd imagine 60%+ will watercool it.

(I know there's no water blocks for it out yet but it would still be nice)

 

Maybe when the waterblocks are out they'll revisit it  (probably not but it'd be nice)

[VSG]

At least one waterblock is already out but I doubt they will do anything about it. They could have done it for the KPE on day 1 but did not. 

[Lays]

At least one waterblock is already out but I doubt they will do anything about it. They could have done it for the KPE on day 1 but did not. 

 

 

I really wish they wouldn't compare these to stock cards, especially when they're so heavily overbuilt and designed for extreme voltages.

 

It makes me sad

[Scase]

Not to be rude, but is it just me or are 90% of your posts just posts to crap on AMD?

 

This card is expensive, but look @ the amount of ridiculous overbuild quality is has to it. It would be a joy to overclock in a custom loop, I don't really like the ridiculousness that is the aircooler on this, but it's gotta keep a TDP monster like that tame somehow.

 

@Tea1337 hi

Overbuild quality or no, you can get a non reference 780ti which is faster in every sense except 4k gaming (which if you have a 4k monitor price isn't an issue anyhow) for around 100$ less. There is virtually no reason to buy this over a nVidia card....and I'm and ATI fanboy

 

I've wanted a 290X since release but, between the heat issues and all the crypto mining causing the prices to skyrocket I can't find a single reason to pick one up.

[Lays]

Overbuild quality or no, you can get a non reference 780ti which is faster in every sense except 4k gaming (which if you have a 4k monitor price isn't an issue anyhow) for around 100$ less. There is virtually no reason to buy this over a nVidia card....and I'm and ATI fanboy

 

I've wanted a 290X since release but, between the heat issues and all the crypto mining causing the prices to skyrocket I can't find a single reason to pick one up.

 

Nowhere did I say 780 ti was faster/slower or anything. I was just addressing the amount of posts he makes that dump on AMD. Whether one company is better or not, there's no reason for immaturity like that.

[Scase]

Not to be rude, but is it just me or are 90% of your posts just posts to crap on AMD?

 

This card is expensive, but look @ the amount of ridiculous overbuild quality is has to it. It would be a joy to overclock in a custom loop, I don't really like the ridiculousness that is the aircooler on this, but it's gotta keep a TDP monster like that tame somehow.

 

@Tea1337 hi

 

 

Nowhere did I say 780 ti was faster/slower or anything. I was just addressing the amount of posts he makes that dump on AMD. Whether one company is better or not, there's no reason for immaturity like that.

My response was directed at the bolded quote above, and still stands. Build quality in this case is not so much better that it not only compensates for a higher price tag but, less power too.

What his previous posts have been is/are irrelevant