[Yes another of those threads] Gtx 970 vs 290x

[Pesmerga]

Hello everyone I'd like you opinion on a tough decision I'm making. Weeks ago I've bought an ASUS 290x Matrix, I was quite happy, the card looked awesome, it did fit in my build quite nice, the lit ROG logo was awesome and I couldn't be happier since I've paid it 320€, brand new.

 

Today I was forced to send it back to amazon 'cause it was a bit defective, temps were too high (92°c and above) and I've discovered it's a common occurrence with Asus direct cu 2 coolers, I'm quite sad about it, I really like it.

So, as I'm packing it back I have to choose another gpu but it's a tough choice keeping in mind that:

 

- I don't want to spend more that ~350€ and if I could stay around 320€ it would be even better.

- Not interested in AMD 300 series

- Both of the 2 options below look like shit in my build

 

We have 2 options:

- Sapphire R9 290x Tri-x for 353€

- Palit Jetstream gtx 970 for 335€

 

Msi and gigabyte cards are too expensive and the Asus strix has noticeable coil whine (plus I don't really want to try my luck again with asus).

 

Both cards have similar temps in idle and full load (~77°c), the power consumption is not too important the difference is just a few bucks a month.

 

What concerns me is:

- Gtx 970: Ram, I know it's not a big deal but still it disturbs me and the fact that Nvidia could gimp performance once the new series is out (recent witcher 3 and assetto corsa games, and poor performance on kepler)

- 290x: Quite hot and power hungry chip, afraid of shorter lifespan, maybe not worth the extra 20€ over the 970, slight lower performance?

 

The 290x has improved a lot during this last year, improving performance through drivers and due to the 300 series being a rebrand it should offer it a longer lifespan.

 

Mmm I can't decide, suggestions? Please avoid comments like: " hurr durr nvidia is better" "amd has just ovens" and shit like that, if you suggest a card tell me why and not just " gtx 970" or " amd 290x".

 

Thank you and sorry for the wall of text.

 

 

[XplosiveNoctua99]

Turnip?

[minibois]

What kind of resolution are you playing on?

If you are on 1440p+, I would go with the 290X. the Tri X cooler is very good.

 

If you're at 1080p, I would probably just recommend the GTX 970.

Maybe you can take a look at Zotac's GTX 970, heard that one was decent too for its price.

[SirWendall]

Turnip?

I was thinking potato powered

[Guest]

970 every day. I can't trust anything from the 200 series from AMD at the moment - see too many of them come back faulty.

[arnavvr]

Get a 290X and flash it with a 390X Bios.

[salecar3]

at 1080p i waod say 970 but anything abowe 1080p i waod say 290x but i waod still consider 970 since more games are being optimized for nvidia so take that in mind

[Pesmerga]

Turnip?

I was thinking potato powered

Well, I was going for something new

 

What kind of resolution are you playing on?

If you are on 1440p+, I would go with the 290X. the Tri X cooler is very good.

 

If you're at 1080p, I would probably just recommend the GTX 970.

Maybe you can take a look at Zotac's GTX 970, heard that one was decent too for its price.

I'm not on 1440p but I could switch in the future, you've a good point seeing that the 290x works better at high resolutions. The Zotac is out as well, it costs the same as the MSI one which I'd buy over the Zotac. Looks like Palit is known as PNY in the states.

Edit: never mind, it has the same price as the Palit one, taking it in consideration.

 

970 every day. I can't trust anything from the 200 series from AMD at the moment - see too many of them come back faulty.

I don't know about 290x  failure rate, but I did see that Asus did a poor job with their coolers, recycling them from gtx 780s and sticking them on the 290x. Life span of the card itself is quite important to me.

[Sauron]

Unless you're playing at 4k I'd go for the 970. It's cheaper, performs very similarly and won't give you any heat problems.

[SirWendall]

I will admit though the r9 300 series cards are catching my eye

[SirWendall]

Unless you're playing at 4k I'd go for the 970. It's cheaper, performs very similarly and won't give you any heat problems.

I'd recommend getting the EVGA 970 SSC plus with its ACX Cooling you shouldn't have a problem cooling the card

[SuperPug]

I don't know about 290x  failure rate, but I did see that Asus did a poor job with their coolers, recycling them from gtx 780s and sticking them on the 290x. Life span of the card itself is quite important to me.

 

Yeah those Asus DCU2 suck at cooling anything but the Core itself. But the Sapphire Tri-X is probably the second best 290X you can get (next to the vapor-x). However considering that its slightly more expensive than the 970 and uses a lot more power id say the 970 is the more reasonable choice.

[minibois]

I'm not on 1440p but I could switch in the future, you've a good point seeing that the 290x works better at high resolutions. The Zotac is out as well, it costs the same as the MSI one which I'd buy over the Zotac. Looks like Palit is known as PNY in the states.

Well the GTX 970 definitely doesn't do anything wrong at 1440p, but it works better on 1080p compared to a 290X.

And the Zotac GTX 970 is more affordable where I live compared to other 970 cards.

And I am from the Netherlands and we have Palit here too, so I knew about that card already

[INSERTNAMEHERE]

Well, I was going for something new

 

I'm not on 1440p but I could switch in the future, you've a good point seeing that the 290x works better at high resolutions. The Zotac is out as well, it costs the same as the MSI one which I'd buy over the Zotac. Looks like Palit is known as PNY in the states.

 

I don't know about 290x  failure rate, but I did see that Asus did a poor job with their cooler recycling them from gtx 780s and sticking them on the 290x. Life span of the card itself is quite important to me.

 

Because of the lower power usage the 970 probably survives longer. Still over 1080p the 290x has more muscle - only 2-8 FPS but more. You could watch for an ASUS Matrix if I am not wrong both cards have this cooler. Then you could compare them better.

[GER_T4IGA]

Get a 290X and flash it with a 390X Bios.

Why would you do that?

[Fulgrim]

How much is an R9 390 where you live, OP?

[Sauron]

I will admit though the r9 300 series cards are catching my eye

 

You may have missed the fact that they are 200 series rebrands through and through (with the exception of the 380x).

[SirWendall]

You may have missed the fact that they are 200 series rebrands through and through (with the exception of the 380x).

The 380X is the one I'm looking at

[Sauron]

The 380X is the one I'm looking at

 

fair enough then ^^ although if it's around 250$ it will be dangerously close to the significantly faster r9 290.

[Pesmerga]

Well the GTX 970 definitely doesn't do anything wrong at 1440p, but it works better on 1080p compared to a 290X.

And the Zotac GTX 970 is more affordable where I live compared to other 970 cards.

And I am from the Netherlands and we have Palit here too, so I knew about that card already

Perfect, thank you, and yes sorry didn't notice your location

I'll think about it, the Zotac with the black cooler would fit better, I did check and it costthe same as the palit, I don't know why amazon shows a higher price as the base one :I

 

Because of the lower power usage the 970 probably survives longer. Still over 1080p the 290x has more muscle - only 2-8 FPS but more. You could watch for an ASUS Matrix if I am not wrong both cards have this cooler. Then you could compare them better.

An asus matrix 290x? I already have that and it's the one I'm sending back, because it's defective

I've already read a few reviews and both sapphire 290x and palit jetstream, stay at around 77°c in full load. So temps are not really a problem, my 290x was way hotter than it should have due to a cooler defect (probably thermal paste).

 

How much is an R9 390 where you live, OP?

Way too expensive, the cheapest one 360€. Amazon doesn't have them yet.

 

[INSERTNAMEHERE]

Perfect, thank you, and yes sorry didn't notice your location

I'll think about it, the Zotac with the black cooler would fit better, I did check and it costthe same as the palit, I don't know why amazon shows a higher price as the base one :I

 

An asus matrix 290x? I already have that and it's the one I'm sending back, because it's defective

I've already read a few reviews and both sapphire 290x and palit jetstream, stay at around 77°c in full load. So temps are not really a problem, my 290x was way hotter than it should have due to a cooler defect (probably thermal paste).

 

Way too expensive, the cheapest one 360€. Amazon doesn't have them yet.

 

 

I thought of comparing their benchmarks not buying them 

Still I am wondering since my 2 years old GTX 680 DCU II Top works like a charm  .

[Pesmerga]

I thought of comparing their benchmarks not buying them 

Still I am wondering since my 2 years old GTX 680 DCU II Top works like a charm  .

 

Well as far as I found, looks like it works ok when mounted properly:

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/asus_radeon_r9_290x_matrix_review,12.html

 

Inside my case it was around 42°c in idle.

[BarisERY]

İ would go with the 290X esspecially after seein some benchmarks where the 390x is trading blows with 980.

[arniks8]

Well as far as I found, looks like it works ok when mounted properly:

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/asus_radeon_r9_290x_matrix_review,12.html

Inside my case it was around 42°c in idle.

Guru3D's test was made on testbench, when put in case these cards run hot.

[Pesmerga]

Guru3D's test was made on testbench, when put in case these cards run hot.

 

 

yes I know, but not at the point of throttling at over 92°c, it's not the reference cooler and I've already messages Asus support, sadly.