Quick Opinion Grab...

Aronboli · November 4, 2015

So, mods are free (obviously, those fascists) to close this down if they think it'll get flamey, but here's the thing:

I'm making a new computer. I'm not an enthusiast, I'm not a pro, I'm just planning to build a computer to last a couple years, then slap a couple new parts on for the last stretch. I spotted a reference R9 290 for $200, and a Coolermaster H55 for $50. I nabbed those this morning, but I realized that with the G10 GPU water cooling bracket I was looking at, this whole thing came out to the SAME PRICE (or more??) as an R9 390!

So, before we go all-out on a point-to-point comparison, consider these two cards on my needs:

First, I'm not looking to game on higher resolutions than 1080p. I'm just not really interested. I don't need it.

Second, I want to have this last at least three years (Yeah, yeah, that means nothing, but realistically, will an R9 390 last longer than an R9 290? I mean, 8 GB of ram vs 4GB? More games are VRAM intensive these days...)

Third, I'm mostly playing open-world games. Fallout 4, Just Cause 3, Deus Ex 4... I don't limit it to that, but that's something to consider. I know that hi-res mod packs for Skyrim could jank that game's VRAM usage up past 4GB (for intense modders (again, not me))

Edit: Fourthly, the additional maintenance of a watercooling system, Worth it? Otherwise the additional VRAM just seems too alluring...

SO, to make this seem less like a "help ME, for ME" thread, let's put this generally. For 1080p gaming in the next few years, what do you good people think would be better in the long-run for amateur users: a water-cooled R9 290, or an R9 390?

Thanks, y'all.

P.S. for extra credit, assure my poor confused head that ignoring the 290X in this argument is a good idea

ThatOneRussian · November 4, 2015

A 290 will hold you fine for the next 3 years on a single 1080p monitor overclock it a bit if youre worried about it. A 390 is simply not worth the extra money and effort of returning everything imo

royalcrown · November 4, 2015

Isn't a 390 just a renamed 290 anyhow ppl ? If so (I am pretty sure it is), you'll be fine unless you want to get into 4k really badly. I don't think any current cards will last for 3 years once 4k is commonplace, but that'll be awhile because there is plenty of life left in 1080 and 1440. I found this if it helps:

http://wccftech.com/amd-radeon-r9-390-390x-not-rebadges-power-optimization/

So not "just a rebadge but a "tweak" I guess

GL whatever you go with.

DannyRyu · November 4, 2015

Isn't a 390 just a renamed 290 anyhow ppl ? If so (I am pretty sure it is), you'll be fine unless you want to get into 4k really badly. I don't think any current cards will last for 3 years once 4k is commonplace, but that'll be awhile because there is plenty of life left in 1080 and 1440. I found this if it helps:

http://wccftech.com/amd-radeon-r9-390-390x-not-rebadges-power-optimization/

So not "just a rebadge but a "tweak" I guess

GL whatever you go with.

Wrong, but almost right.its a "Refresh" and its not renamed.

its better than the 290 its been refined with better manufacturing processes etc.