R9 390 Or R9 290x 8gb?

[brainlessgaming]

Hello Everyone!

I was looking on newegg and i'm trying to decide if I should go for the r9 390 or a r9 290x 8gb version. There is a $30 difference ($50 difference with the promo code), which I can maybe afford. I could also opt-in for the r9 290x 4gb version, which is the most budget friendly. But will the 4gb version of the r9 290x be enough? 

 

Here are the links for the cards:

 

MSI r9 390: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127874&cm_re=r9_390-_-14-127-874-_-Product

 

Sapphire r9 290x 8gb Version: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202144&cm_re=r9_290x-_-14-202-144-_-Product

 

Sapphire r9 290x 4gb Version: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202145&cm_re=r9_290x-_-14-202-145-_-Product

 

 

 

Some things to keep in mind: Both r9 290x's come with a free game (Dirt Rally), and I can use a $20 coupon code on the MSI R9 390

 

Thanks!

[007agentHP]

290x 8gb would be the most in raw power and the 390 in terms of features

[Aytex]

r u 1080p gaming 1440p or 4k

[brainlessgaming]

r u 1080p gaming 1440p or 4k

Probably 1080p until black friday 2015

[arnavvr]

R9 290X 8GB, then flash it to the 390X BIOS.

[Sauron]

4gb are enough even at 4k on cards like these. The 290x will be very slightly faster and have a couple less features. Don't touch the 8gb 290x

[Sauron]

flash it to the 390X BIOS.

 

Has it been done? I'm not sure it's possible since the memory they use is different.

[arnavvr]

Has it been done? I'm not sure it's possible since the memory they use is different.

 

Yes. @MEC-777 has done it with his 290.

[brainlessgaming]

4gb are enough even at 4k on cards like these. The 290x will be very slightly faster and have a couple less features. Don't touch the 8gb 290x

So go for the 290x 4gb or msi r9 390?

[Monarch]

R9 290X 8GB, then flash it to the 390X BIOS.

 

Why would you do that? You can manually OC the card.

[brainlessgaming]

R9 290X 8GB, then flash it to the 390X BIOS.

What new things will it give me? Performance boost? More features?

[arnavvr]

What new things will it give me? Performance boost? More features?

 

 

Why would you do that? You can manually OC the card.

 

The performance benefits of the 300 series.  

[xAcid9]

Get the 390x Gaming, Tri-X VRM is pretty toasty.

[brainlessgaming]

Get the 390x Gaming, Tri-X VRM is pretty toasty.

no $$

[Sintezza]

grab a 390 they perform arround the same, but the 390 is cheaper.

[jhonny]

The sapphire 8Gb is a bad ass card, I own two. things are dead quiet even under load,

 

BUT it draws a shit ton of power and according to sapphire themselves the flash is not possible.

 

Choose wisely and avoid the used markets for the 8 gig cards, 99% chance they were bit miners.

 

Edit: They are also long as hell so be prepared for that

[Sauron]

Yes. @MEC-777 has done it with his 290.

 

must have gotten very lucky, not all 290s flash to 290xs and I imagine even fewer flash to a 390x

[Sauron]

So go for the 290x 4gb or msi r9 390?

 

It's up to you to be honest, I'd go for the 390 because it will PROBABLY get more driver support. You also get some nice dx12 features afaik

[Monarch]

The performance benefits of the 300 series.  

 

Performance benefits of the 300 series are from higher clocks and driver overhead improvement, which 200 series also got with the 15.7 driver.

[xAcid9]

no $$

Dayyummn i didn't read properly, i thought that is 390x Gaming. 

For $50 price difference, i rather get the MSI R9-390 but if you only use single card, that 4GB Tri-X is enough imo.

[xAcid9]

must have gotten very lucky, not all 290s flash to 290xs and I imagine even fewer flash to a 390x

Nah, if your card use reference board, you can flash to any 390/390x BIOS with reference board. I've flashed my card with BIOS from PowerColor 390, MSI 390x, Sapphire 390x though i don't think the MSI 390x Gaming use ref. board.

 

It's up to you to be honest, I'd go for the 390 because it will PROBABLY get more driver support. You also get some nice dx12 features afaik

It's the same chip with the same limitation, whatever 390s get, the 290s will get it also.

[brainlessgaming]

Dayyummn i didn't read properly, i thought that is 390x Gaming. 

For $50 price difference, i rather get the MSI R9-390 but if you only use single card, that 4GB Tri-X is enough imo.

I am planning on only using one card for now. Do you know which card performs better, the r9 390 or the r9 290x? If the r9 290x performs better, i'll take it. And i'm assuming it'll be good for 1440p if I plan to switch, right?

[MEC-777]

Yes, I've flashed my 290 with a modded 390x BIOS (to work with 4GB Vram). It resulted in noticeable gains in performance per clock and it runs at slightly lower voltage overall (about 30mV less than with the 290 BIOS). The differences was nothing mind-blowing, but there was a difference for sure. I would say maybe 3-5%. 

 

Honestly, it's not worth the trouble. If you already have a 290, sure, flash the BIOS. But since the price difference really isn't much in this case, just go with the 390 and overclock it to 1200. It's a beast for the price.

 

Also, don't forget, just because you have a 1080p display doesn't mean you have to game at 1080p native. I run most of my games at 1440p with VSR. Gives a sharper and crisper image quality and you don't have to as much (or any) AA so you don't really take a performance hit either.  

[brainlessgaming]

Yes, I've flashed my 290 with a modded 390x BIOS (to work with 4GB Vram). It resulted in noticeable gains in performance per clock and it runs at slightly lower voltage overall (about 30mV less than with the 290 BIOS). The differences was nothing mind-blowing, but there was a difference for sure. I would say maybe 3-5%. 

 

Honestly, it's not worth the trouble. If you already have a 290, sure, flash the BIOS. But since the price difference really isn't much in this case, just go with the 390 and overclock it to 1200. It's a beast for the price.

 

Also, don't forget, just because you have a 1080p display doesn't mean you have to game at 1080p native. I run most of my games at 1440p with VSR. Gives a sharper and crisper image quality and you don't have to as much (or any) AA so you don't really take a performance hit either.

How do you run games at 1440p when you have a 1080p screen?

[Monarch]

Yes, I've flashed my 290 with a modded 390x BIOS (to work with 4GB Vram). It resulted in noticeable gains in performance per clock and it runs at slightly lower voltage overall (about 30mV less than with the 290 BIOS).

 

That doesn't make sense. It's the same chip. Higher clocks => higher voltage => higher power draw.

 

 

Even the TDP is similar to R9 290X, and in fact in our testing the power demand seems to be greater. We have found that the voltage seems to be running higher, allowing for these higher clock speeds versus R9 290X. There doesn't seem to be any improvements in power efficiency.

 

Source: http://www.hardocp.com/article/2015/06/18/msi_r9_390x_gaming_8g_video_card_review/1#.VamZJ_mqp6E