290X Lightning CF VS Reference 780 Ti SLI VS 6GB 780 SLI

[Lays]

I got that feeling when they announced them. It's great for people who can't afford a Titan Black for workstation applications, but for gaming it doesn't make sense. I think the 780 Tis that I'd need to buy to actually match/beat the 290X are just too expensive for my budget. If it were just between two highly binned GTX 780's and two 290X Lightnings, which would you recommend. Basically something like a 780 Lightning vs 290x lighting.

 

 

Lightnings are discontinued, but a 780 classified may come really close, considering it should easily hit 1500 mhz with 1.3-1.45 volts, which is fine for 24/7 use under water.

(you may be able to get lightnings still though where you live)

 

290 CF from what I've seen is behind 780 SLI especially when both are watercooled, the 780 has a LOT of overclocking headroom, especially if it's a lightning/classified.

[VSG]

I've already stated that two 290X Lightnings are in my budget, not including blocks, so they'd be the best performing cards in my budget, not the 290 DCU2 that you suggested. Thank you for the input though.

Missed the part about the blocks not included in the budget, my bad. If you want to spend all of the 800 pounds, go with the 290x lightnings then.

[TheDigitalRealm]

Lightnings are discontinued, but a 780 classified may come really close, considering it should easily hit 1500 mhz with 1.3-1.35 volts, which is fine for 24/7 use under water.

(you may be able to get lightnings still though where you live)

 

290 CF from what I've seen is behind 780 SLI especially when both are watercooled, the 780 has a LOT of overclocking headroom, especially if it's a lightning/classified.

So you think that two classified 780's would come close in performance to two 290X Lightnings? I know it would beat a 290, I was never going to buy them anyway.

Why were the 780 Lightnings discontinued? Is there something wrong with them?

What would you go for in my position? Two 780 Classifieds, or two R9 290X Lightning?

[Lays]

So you think that two classified 780's would come close in performance to two 290X Lightnings? I know it would beat a 290, I was never going to buy them anyway.

Why were the 780 Lightnings discontinued? Is there something wrong with them?

What would you go for in my position? Two 780 Classifieds, or two R9 290X Lightning?

 

 

I think they've begun working on the next gen designs or something like that. 

 

Which option is cheaper? 290x lightning's or 780 classifieds?

 

290x's are cheaper, and better for your use OP.

[TheDigitalRealm]

I think they've begun working on the next gen designs or something like that. 

 

I really think 2 classy 780's at 1400-1500 core and ~7500 mem will be faster than ~1100-1200 mhz 290x's, but I'm really not 100% certain.

I'd honestly recommend the 780's, I've had my reference 780's for like.. 1 year and 2 months now, never had a single issue with SLI, or anything.

Had a few issues with beta drivers, but that's beta drivers, they always have problems.

 

Which option is cheaper? 290x lightning's or 780 classifieds?

The 780 classifieds are £18 more expensive. I've heard that 1.3V drastically shortens the life of the GPU though? If I have to get the voltage that high to compete with the R9 290X Lightning is it still worth it if the 780 may only last a year at such a high voltage?

[Lays]

The 780 classifieds are £18 more expensive. I've heard that 1.3V drastically shortens the life of the GPU though? If I have to get the voltage that high to compete with the R9 290X Lightning is it still worth it if the 780 may only last a year at such a high voltage?

 

 

On a reference 780 it'd wear out the VRM faster than the GPU most likely.  But on a classified that has a giant beefy VRM, it should be more than fine for a couple of years.  Plus it's not like you're gonna have them at 1.3+ volts for 24/7 use, it'll only be a couple hours here and there when you're gaming.

 

EVGA has amazing customer support, so even if one did die, they'd probably replace it.

[GRJohn]

I think they've begun working on the next gen designs or something like that. 

 

I really think 2 classy 780's at 1400-1500 core and ~7500 mem will be faster than ~1100-1200 mhz 290x's, but I'm really not 100% certain.

I'd honestly recommend the 780's, I've had my reference 780's for like.. 1 year and 2 months now, never had a single issue with SLI, or anything.

Had a few issues with beta drivers, but that's beta drivers, they always have problems.

 

Which option is cheaper? 290x lightning's or 780 classifieds?

Hogwash. The numbers you're proposing are ridiculous. Linus's reference 780 overclocked as well as an over-volted 780 Lightning, which was the best overclocker out of 7 cards in TechPowerUp's testing and he never got it to run at anywhere near 1400mhz under water.

http://www.techpower...ghtning/29.html

290Xs easily hit over 1200mhz under water, in fact the pre-blocked 290Xs are clocked at 1175mhz out of the box.

The least overclockable 290X hardwarecanucks tested hit 1189mhz on air, the rest were all above 1200mhz.

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/65303-gigabyte-r9-290x-windforce-oc-review-7.html

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/65235-xfx-radeon-r9-290x-double-dissipation-review-8.html

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/65702-powercolor-r9-290x-pcs-4gb-review-8.html

A single 290X isn't only faster than a 780 it also has a larger frame buffer and two 290X scale better because of the new crossfire DMA engine (which nvidia intends to use in their next generation Maxwell GPUs).

 

 

@TheDigitalRealm check out this 290X crossfire review. Two 290Xs in crossfire beat two 780 Ti's in every single game tested and often at higher in-game settings.

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2014/01/26/xfx_r9_290x_double_dissipation_edition_crossfire_review/9#.U4LNboWaqFg

 

[Lays]

q

 

 

Hence why I said I'm not 100% certain, multiple times.  

 

He got a TERRIBLE lightning card if it doesn't hit 1400 mhz, my terrible OC'ing 780's hit 1320 at 1.3v, easily could be 1400 with 1.45v, although I don't feel comfortable pushing that voltage through  reference cards.

[GPUXPert]

Hence why I said I'm not 100% certain, multiple times.

Then don't give out misleading information.

[DoubleY]

Then don't give out misleading information.

If he expressed his dis-certainty, there is no need to get so butt hurt. 

[GPUXPert]

If he expressed his dis-certainty, there is no need to get so butt hurt. 

You can't go on this lengthy supposedly informative post and then when you're proven wrong say that you weren't really sure.

I'm not 100% certain doesn't mean I have no idea what I'm talking about. It means I'm quite sure but not 100% sure.

In any case I'm not here to argue semantics.

[Lays]

Then don't give out misleading information.

 

 

The numbers I gave may be misleading information but I think the theory still stands, 2 780's at 1400 or 1500 should beat 2 290x's at 1100-1200.

The numbers for the 290x should be changed to 1200-1400.  But I think my reasoning still stands in my original post.

 

It's not a new thing talking about 290x beating the nvidia competition in higher res, because of the memory bus, that has always been known.  

I did not see that the OP wanted to use 1440p or higher res, 290x will definitely be a better option.

I do believe 2 780's at that speed will win in 1080p though, but that is irrelevant to the OP.

 

I re-read the thread and will edit my posts.

 

 

 

@TheDigitalRealm 2 290x's are a much better option, I didn't realize you weren't planning 1080p.

[TheDigitalRealm]

The numbers I gave may be misleading information but I think the theory still stands, 2 780's at 1400 or 1500 should beat 2 290x's at 1100-1200.

The numbers for the 290x should be changed to 1200-1400.  But I think my reasoning still stands in my original post.

 

It's not a new thing talking about 290x beating the nvidia competition in higher res, because of the memory bus, that has always been known.  

I did not see that the OP wanted to use 1440p or higher res, 290x will definitely be a better option.

I do believe 2 780's at that speed will win in 1080p though, but that is irrelevant to the OP.

 

I re-read the thread and will edit my posts.

 

 

 

@TheDigitalRealm 2 290x's are a much better option, I didn't realize you weren't planning 1080p.

Oh, you didn't see where I said I was going to use this for a 3440x1440 display? Okay, well thank you for your input regardless. Looks like two 290X Lightnings for me!