Questioning r9 290 for my build...

[PudgyAstronaut]

I am looking for the best bang for my buck, but I also need something relatively quiet and cool. Room for overclocking is appreciated. I had decided on the r9 290 because I believed it was a great value, then I decided on the Vapor-X because it seems like the best r9 290, and met those requirements for heat, noise, overclocking etc. Now, I see these sales on "next tier cards" and am questioning my decision (have not bought, am not in a rush so time is on my side). I do plan to make use of any overclocking headroom to make whatever I buy more cost effective for performance. I would like to keep this card for 3 years or so, and may jump into the world of 2560x1440 if I can stomach the price of an ASUS PB278Q. I can't really go beyond $500 for my $1600 build, and feel all of these options are pushing my budget just a little, because I want to invest in a good cooling setup and high quality components through and through which will make my build just a bit more expensive than it "needs to be". So what are some suggestions here? I don't particularly care about proprietary features for either side, I just want to be able to mess around with Oculus Rift later, and have the option to experience some 1440p gaming at a good setting/ framerate. I also want something dependable and if I am not getting the absolute best bang-for-buck innitially, for something a bit more dependable, that might be justifiable as long as it's not a rediculous premium. So what's the best value all around between a high end r9 290, and the cheaper end of the r9 290X / GTX 780?

 

r9 290 (Saphire Vapor-X, $458):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202103&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

 

R9 290X (HIS for $440, XFX for $480, amoung others):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161457&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150696&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

 

GTX 780 (EVGA or another option, $480):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130918&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

 

 

Current build state, still evolving though: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/PudgyAstronaut/saved/Rwwqqs

[Jobbe03]

The XFX 290X without a doubt is the best bang for your buck. 

[LawrenceBarnes2013]

EVGA GTX 780 Classified SC, would beat the 290/X, but if on that much of a tight Budget, the 290, it has became the First high end Cheap Choice

[ciprian97pop]

 

Current build state, still evolving though: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/PudgyAstronaut/saved/Rwwqqs

 

 

The XFX 290X without a doubt is the best bang for your buck. 

and it looks like this

[TheDigitalRealm]

EVGA GTX 780 Classified SC, would beat the 290/X

 

I'm sorry, what? Please stop doing this, wasn't it you posting the damn Titan Z thread? 

 

Out of the three cards, the R9 290X is the best performer at 1440p. Go for the XFX R9 290X. 

[Bagmup]

What's your location?

http://astore.amazon.com/jayz05-20/detail/B00HS84DFU

[LawrenceBarnes2013]

I'm sorry, what? Please stop doing this, wasn't it you posting the damn Titan Z thread? 

 

Out of the three cards, the R9 290X is the best performer at 1440p. Go for the XFX R9 290X. 

Sorry Sorry, Totally missed the 2560X1440 Part, Sorry, yes the 290X will outperform the 780 at 1440p Due to it's wider Memory Bus

[ACatWithThumbs]

The 3Gb vram of the 780 will bottleneck you at high resolutions.
So go with the R9-290.
 

[Guest]

and it looks like this

Is the light white or blue? I can't tell

[PudgyAstronaut]

Sorry Sorry, Totally missed the 2560X1440 Part, Sorry, yes the 290X will outperform the 780 at 1440p Due to it's wider Memory Bus

 

 

The 3Gb vram of the 780 will bottleneck you at high resolutions.

So go with the R9-290.

 

 

 

The XFX 290X without a doubt is the best bang for your buck. 

 

 

WOW I am impressed by the level of feedback here. To those who recommended the XFX r9 290X, what makes it $40 better than the HIS one for $440? I don't know a lot about either brand honestly, but I kind of like the concept of the backplate on the Vapor-X, and the HIS looked like it also had some kind of backplate/support. As for r9 290 vs gtx 780 is it basically 780 for 1080p and 290 for higher? Where does the 290X factor in? I am having trouble finding real world comparisons of overclocked and non-reference cards for this. How is XFX as a brand? HIS?

[Tacitus]

I'm not familiar with HIS products, but several reviews have commented on extremely high temperatures of the VRAM on the XFX model you are looking at. Disassembling it shows there to be practically no cooling for it. If you can find it in your budget range I'd recommend the Sapphire/PowerColour/MSI/Gigabyte models over the XFX one. Again, I must stress I know little of HIS, it could be great for all I know!

[PudgyAstronaut]

I'm not familiar with HIS products, but several reviews have commented on extremely high temperatures of the VRAM on the XFX model you are looking at. Disassembling it shows there to be practically no cooling for it. If you can find it in your budget range I'd recommend the Sapphire/PowerColour/MSI/Gigabyte models over the XFX one. Again, I must stress I know little of HIS, it could be great for all I know!

 

 

Well, my original choice was sapphire, so if I find that I have to blow my budget out of the water to get a GOOD r9 290X, I will just stick with some Sapphire r9 290 non-X. Thanks for that info, and I will try finding professional reviews on the HIS card, the entire 2 reviews it has on Newegg were very positive about temperatures, but I need to know more obviosly before buying would be justified.

[Tacitus]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00I0K15II/ref=sr_1_177_olp?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1402270101&sr=1-177&keywords=r9+290x&condition=new

 

PCS+ $500 - I appreciate it's slightly costlier, but it's one of the best 290x's and supposedly comes with Hynix memory which is better for overclocking. It's two-and-a-half slots though, if that matter to you.

[Bagmup]

I wouldn't bother with the extra cost of an X

Gigabyte R9 290 for $380 - http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-GDDR5-4GB-2xDVI-Graphics-GV-R929OC-4GD/dp/B00HS84DFU/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1402271500&sr=1-1&keywords=gigabyte+r9+290

[Lays]

The 3Gb vram of the 780 will bottleneck you at high resolutions.

So go with the R9-290.

 

 

 

no it won't, 3gb is fine for 1600p and 1440p, as well as 5760x1080.

[PudgyAstronaut]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00I0K15II/ref=sr_1_177_olp?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1402270101&sr=1-177&keywords=r9+290x&condition=new

 

PCS+ $500 - I appreciate it's slightly costlier, but it's one of the best 290x's and supposedly comes with Hynix memory which is better for overclocking. It's two-and-a-half slots though, if that matter to you.

 

I think the vapor-x is as well. What exactly are the implications of a 2.5 slot card? Does that completely rule out crossfire in the future?

[PudgyAstronaut]

no it won't, 3gb is fine for 1600p and 1440p, as well as 5760x1080.

 

Yeah I think the 512-Bit bus is what helps at those resolutions.

 

I wouldn't bother with the extra cost of an X

Gigabyte R9 290 for $380 - http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-GDDR5-4GB-2xDVI-Graphics-GV-R929OC-4GD/dp/B00HS84DFU/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1402271500&sr=1-1&keywords=gigabyte+r9+290

 

Ok, my problem with that is I researched r9 290s and it seems the gigabyte is moderately hot and louder than sapphire tri-x at stock speeds, so the sapphire will have more overclocking headroom, and will still be able to run quieter, the vapor-x is even better. I may reconsider since the price is almost $100 different, but the vapor-x beats the stock r9 290X, and possibly some crappier 3rd party ones as well, so it might be justified. Thanks for the suggestion though, but I am not necessarily looking for the cheapest r9-290, I think I can financially swing a high-quality, high-performance version of the r9 290, or a cheap/sale version of the r9 290X/ GTX 780, if I am confident that is a better value.

[PudgyAstronaut]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00I0K15II/ref=sr_1_177_olp?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1402270101&sr=1-177&keywords=r9+290x&condition=new

 

PCS+ $500 - I appreciate it's slightly costlier, but it's one of the best 290x's and supposedly comes with Hynix memory which is better for overclocking. It's two-and-a-half slots though, if that matter to you.

 

Until June 18, it's actually $485 after rebate on Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131548&cm_re=powercolor_pcs%2b-_-14-131-548-_-Product

 

It seems that the PCS+ has some definite advantages over the Tri-X, but what about the Vapor-X (obviously the r9 290 or 290X of each, no cross-comparing).

[Sonefiler]

Well, my original choice was sapphire, so if I find that I have to blow my budget out of the water to get a GOOD r9 290X, I will just stick with some Sapphire r9 290 non-X. Thanks for that info, and I will try finding professional reviews on the HIS card, the entire 2 reviews it has on Newegg were very positive about temperatures, but I need to know more obviosly before buying would be justified.

Get the PowerColor PCS+ R9 290. It's the cheapest one

[Sonefiler]

I think the vapor-x is as well. What exactly are the implications of a 2.5 slot card? Does that completely rule out crossfire in the future?

No, it doesn't COMPLETELY. It will require you plan ahead with your motherboard if you want to crossfire. They need to be spaced sufficiently so that there's one slot between them at least.

[PudgyAstronaut]

No, it doesn't COMPLETELY. It will require you plan ahead with your motherboard if you want to crossfire. They need to be spaced sufficiently so that there's one slot between them at least.

 

Cool, I'll keep that in mind, as maybe black friday 2015 I would want to get a second card depending on how things go.

[PudgyAstronaut]

Get the PowerColor PCS+ R9 290. It's the cheapest one

 

It seems price competitive with the tri-x. Both seem like fantastic options if I need to stay close to $400 and I will look into that more, I wonder how the pcs+ overclockes vs the vapor-x though...?

[Sonefiler]

It seems price competitive with the tri-x. Both seem like fantastic options if I need to stay close to $400 and I will look into that more, I wonder how the pcs+ overclockes vs the vapor-x though...?

Oh, it OCes like a dream

[ACatWithThumbs]

no it won't, 3gb is fine for 1600p and 1440p, as well as 5760x1080.

Watchdogs uses 2,7GB at 1080p and this will be normal in the next 1-2 years.

The Ps4/XboxOne can use 3-4GB Vram and the devs will use it.

Nvidia always bottlenecks their cards with not enough Vram.

They did it with the 1,5GB on the 580, they did it with the 2GB on the 680, and they did it with the 3GB of the 780.

 

[Tacitus]

Yeah I think the 512-Bit bus is what helps at those resolutions.

 

 

Ok, my problem with that is I researched r9 290s and it seems the gigabyte is moderately hot and louder than sapphire tri-x at stock speeds, so the sapphire will have more overclocking headroom, and will still be able to run quieter, the vapor-x is even better. I may reconsider since the price is almost $100 different, but the vapor-x beats the stock r9 290X, and possibly some crappier 3rd party ones as well, so it might be justified. Thanks for the suggestion though, but I am not necessarily looking for the cheapest r9-290, I think I can financially swing a high-quality, high-performance version of the r9 290, or a cheap/sale version of the r9 290X/ GTX 780, if I am confident that is a better value.

You're right in saying the Vapour-x is the best of the bunch and it does allow for some of the best OC and temps. With that said, I don't think it's worth spending so much extra on it when the tri-x, Twin Frozr and PCS+ all keep temperatures very low.

Hence, I'd recommend either saving money and getting either the PCS+ or Tri-x 290 (the latter if your case is 4-slots or mobo restrictions for future CF due to width of PowerColour's model), or, spending a little more than the cost of the vapour-x 290 and getting the 290x tri-x, Twin Frozr or PCS+.