Hardware Canucks put SLI 970's against AMD's R9 295x2 at 4K Gaming and...

[WelshDdraig]

HardwareCanucks just posted a new video to their YT Channel with comparisons of the GTX 970 SLI vs AMD's R9 295X2.

 

They tested the cards at 4K resolutions and the results are nothing to smear at. The GTX 970SLI matches and even beats the 295X2 in many cases.

 

But, you scream at me from the roof tops in the middle of the night, "This is not news, we have known this for ages!!!!"

 

And my response would be, "Yes, Indeed we have."

But I'm posting this topic because of AMD's recent price cuts to their behemoth of a card, with prices reaching a staggering price drop to as little as £489.59. 

 

In HardwareCanucks tests, they used EVGA's GTX 970 FTW class cards, each costing £295, so a total price of £590, a full £100 extra, for a couple of frames per second. 

 

So, all those people who are saying they would rather take 2 GTX 970's over the R9 295X2 because of the extra heat and power consumption, would those benefits still amount to be worth the extra £100? 

 

For readers across the pond, the prices I have used have come from the UK version of PCPartPicker, so conversions maybe a little off, so please take it with a grain of salt. Prices converted by XE:

 

Cheapest R9 295X2 - XFX R9 295X2 Core Edition - £489.59 ($765.96)

HardwareCanucks    - EVGA GTX 970 FTW SLI     - £590.00 ($923.05)

 

Here are the benchmarks from the video:

 

Assasins Creed: Black Flag

GTX 970 FTW SLI - 35 FPS Min            41.2 FPS Avg.

R9 295X2              - 29.4 FPS Min         36 FPS Avg.

 

Battlefield 4

GTX 970 FTW SLI - 45 FPS Min           52.3 FPS Avg.

R9 295X2              - 41 FPS Min           52.0 FPS Avg.

 

Assasins Creed: Unity

GTX 970 FTW SLI - 14 FPS Min           24.0 FPS Avg.

R9 295X2              - N/a FPS Min         N/a   FPS Avg.

 

What is your stance? Considering AMD's price drop of the R9 295X2 coming in at a lower price point and beating two GTX 970 FTW in SLI, would you chose the cheaper option and sacrifice a few FPS, or pay the extra for the two GTX 970's? 

 

Link to video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlCdEK8uQ4U

 

Edit: Missed a Benchmark, derp

Far Cry 3:

GTX 970 FTW SLI - 31 FPS Min          38 FPS Avg.

R9 295X2              - 26 FPS Min          41 FPS Avg.

Edited December 2, 2014 by Alexp10v2

[Norman_the_Owl]

And you can heat your home with the 295x2, eliminate your heating bill by doubling your electricity bill! all for 100 pounds saved!

[xnoobftw]

In this case i would still go for 295x2 to eliminate multiGPU issues

And you get a loop for 200~$ less too

[Epitome]

I would rather go for the 295x2 and use the £100 for something else

[Deli]

At least with R9 295X2, you can build a powerful M-ITX system.

[Enderman]

Those are some crazy overpriced 970s they used in that benchmark. You can get a 970 for $330, so two would only cost $660, the same price as the cheapest 295x2.

 

 

In this case i would still go for 295x2 to eliminate multiGPU issues

And you get a loop for 200~$ less too

The 295x2 IS A DUAL GPU CARD

This does not eliminate any issues at all. It is still crossfire.

[Lord Pantaloons]

Two 970 FTW cards are not $900 in the US, $385 each. The 295x2 is $680 from Newegg so $770 for the Green team and $680 for the Red team so $90 difference right now.

 

Personally I would still get 970's for many reasons.

[Guest Kloaked]

This should be in off-topic or General at best. All you're doing is posting an opinion piece.

[WelshDdraig]

Two 970 FTW cards are not $900 in the US, $385 each. The 295x2 is $680 from Newegg so $770 for the Green team and $680 for the Red team so $90 difference right now.

 

Personally I would still get 970's

As I stated, the conversions maybe a little off, but these are the prices for the UK. I put them there for users who are not from the UK to see what it would equate to if currency was a 1:1 conversion. 

[Norman_the_Owl]

In this case i would still go for 295x2 to eliminate multiGPU issues

And you get a loop for 200~$ less too

You still get the typical crossfire issues.

[WelshDdraig]

This should be in off-topic or General at best. All you're doing is posting an opinion piece.

I can see what you mean, if a mod happens to see it, would they kindly move it?

I never mentioned my opinions, I thought it should be news for people who are considering either solution to know about the alternatives. 

[Lord Pantaloons]

As I stated, the conversions maybe a little off, but these are the prices for the UK. I put them there for users who are not from the UK to see what it would equate to if currency was a 1:1 conversion. 

I know I was just making it known, you guys get a pretty serious markup on hardware over there.

[ImBleu]

Imho, even as a 980 owner - I'd go for the R9 295x2.

[PerfectTemplar]

In this case i would still go for 295x2 to eliminate multiGPU issues

And you get a loop for 200~$ less too

??? The 295x2 is a multi GPU card. You have to use Crossfire to work it.

[WelshDdraig]

I know I was just making it known, you guys get a pretty serious markup on hardware over there.

I think its because of the 20% VAT added to all purchases, but that would still only equal £472 ($668.04), again, if currency was 1:1

[Deli]

And you can heat your home with the 295x2, eliminate your heating bill by doubling your electricity bill! all for 100 pounds saved!

Seriously, GTX970 SLI with i5 4690K easily consumes 500W+, while 295X2 with the same CPU will be 700W+. 

 

500W is by no mean consuming very little power. How many household appliances in your house use that much power? 

 

People should quit PC gaming if power consumption is such a big deal to them.

[PerfectTemplar]

Seriously, GTX970 SLI with i5 4690K easily consumes 500W+, while 295X2 with the same CPU will be 700W+. 

 

500W is by no mean consuming very little power. How many household appliances in your house use that much power? 

 

People should quit PC gaming if power consumption is such a big deal to them.

a 200W increase for less performance is dumb, that is why? Also even though it has a closed loop, it runs very hot compared to the 970s.

[patrickjp93]

I'd still SLI 970s. There're too many points of failure on the 295x2 to take out the whole card.

[xnoobftw]

Those are some crazy overpriced 970s they used in that benchmark. You can get a 970 for $330, so two would only cost $660, the same price as the cheapest 295x2.

 

 

The 295x2 IS A DUAL GPU CARD

This does not eliminate any issues at all. It is still crossfire.

 

??? The 295x2 is a multi GPU card. You have to use Crossfire to work it.

 

You still get the typical crossfire issues.

Ah didnt know that... Thanks guys!  

[Deli]

a 200W increase for less performance is dumb, that is why? Also even though it has a closed loop, it runs very hot compared to the 970s.

You have to take consideration in price difference. Depends on the region, if you can find a 295X2 significantly cheaper. Which in some places do happen.

[PerfectTemplar]

You have to take consideration in price difference. Depends on the region, if you can find a 295X2 significantly cheaper. Which in some places do happen.

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=193_1636&zenid=246cc409b2fc3603cb4e86f8e520b2c5

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=193_1692&zenid=246cc409b2fc3603cb4e86f8e520b2c5

Same price for 2 970s as the 295x2 in Australia. So yeah, I'll take that into consideration. For Australians, I say... DON'T.

[JAKEBAB]

Id take 970 still because i hate how the 295x2 uses a aio.

[spartaman64]

Id take 970 still because i hate how the 295x2 uses a aio.

and liquid cooling is a bad thing?

[AnthonyPaull]

I think it's important to note that aside from Tech Of Tomorrow most tech review channels on YT are Nvidia fan boys... It's also interesting that they used 3 games that are optimised for Nvidia cards (AC4, AC5, FC3) and didn't even use mantle for BF4...

 

In Australia the cheapest 970's are $469, and the 295X2 is $899 (I've seen them on sale for $749). I would go for the 295X2.

[Misanthrope]

Good video, but taking into account current discounts dual 290s would get pretty damn close to those results as well for close to 100 bucks less (Plus as mentioned, free room heating if you're going through a harsh winter). And even with this powers we're talking sub 60 FPS, I much rather stay in 1440p with a single 970 and save like 1000 bucks on a second 970 and a 4k monitor.