Which R9 390 is Best?

[Nena Trinity]

1. Sapphire

2. MSI

3. XFX

[ivan134]

Actually, it does oc. Grenada isnt that bad at overclocking. Got my hawaii chip ( =grenada) an extra ~15% performance, so not too shabby .

And i would rather want to know my card will run for a long time.

Didnt you know? Bigger numbers on Maxwell means its better.

[Coaxialgamer]

Didnt you know? Bigger numbers on Maxwell means its better.

what do you mean ? That higher temps = better ?

[ivan134]

what do you mean ? That higher temps = better ?

He's trying to equate Maxwell's bigger overclocking numbers to mean that Maxwell is a better overclocker. You can't compare clocks between 2 different architectures. A 1200 MHz 390 is the same as a 1500 MHz 970.

[Savir]

why do you keep telling the temperature, no one cares about temps man

WHAT? Everybody cares about temps. At least I do. Less temps means longer life-span? Higher overclock? 

[App4that]

He's trying to equate Maxwell's bigger overclocking numbers to mean that Maxwell is a better overclocker. You can't compare clocks between 2 different architectures. A 1200 MHz 390 is the same as a 1500 MHz 970.

And most Maxwells cross 1500mhz while few Hawaii cross 1200mhz.

[ivan134]

And most Maxwells cross 1500mhz while few Hawaii cross 1200mhz.

Most 970s do not cross 1500 and that is besides the point. He said 390 is not an overclocker because a 970's flat clock increases are higher than a 390's. That is flat out false and is an incredibly stupid interpretation of the comparisons between the 2 cards that I would expect from a 2nd grader.

[App4that]

Most 970s do not cross 1500 and that is besides the point. He said 390 is not an overclocker because a 970's flat clock increases are higher than a 390's. That is flat out false and is an incredibly stupid interpretation of the comparisons between the 2 cards that I would expect from a 2nd grader.

Wow, way to tantrum. Most 970 fitted with a non blower style cooler will hit and exceed 1500mhz, some cross 1600mhz.

[ivan134]

Wow, way to tantrum. Most 970 fitted with a non blower style cooler will hit and exceed 1500mhz, some cross 1600mhz.

Yea, calling out the stupid thing someone said is throwing a tantrum. Average overclock for a 970 is 1500 or lower. Some 390s can get up to 1250, but to claim that is the norm is dishonest. You are still failing to address what the original point is as always, which is that the 390 is not an overclocker and bringing up irrelevant and false things.

[App4that]

Yea, calling out the stupid thing someone said is throwing a tantrum. Average overclock for a 970 is 1500 or lower. Some 390s can get up to 1250, but to claim that is the norm is dishonest. You are still failing to address what the original point is as always, which is that the 390 is not an overclocker and bringing up irrelevant and false things.

The 390 is not an overclocker, not like a 970. Sorry. Even if you look at the average 390 compared to the average 970. I keep saying, that's why you have overclocking specific 970 and not any overclocking specific 390. Not one manufacturer has a higher than average 390 because what you get is what you get, while every manufacturer has a overclocking 970 because if you feed the GPU power it will reward you will a higher overclock.

[ivan134]

The 390 is not an overclocker, not like a 970. Sorry. Even if you look at the average 390 compared to the average 970. I keep saying, that's why you have overclocking specific 970 and not any overclocking specific 390. Not one manufacturer has a higher than average 390 because what you get is what you get, while every manufacturer has a overclocking 970 because if you feed the GPU power it will reward you will a higher overclock.

I have no idea what you said after the 1st sentence. Please clarify what you buy the 390 doesn't overclock like a 970. You are basically saying the same thing he said, which is basically bigger numbers = better overclocker and ignoring what the actual performance is for those numbers. Let's use this video for example.

 

 

SSC 970 has a base clock of 1190. MSI 390 has a base clock of 1040. 390 @ 1040 is faster than a 970 @ 1190. The 970 had an OC increase of 252 to 1442 while the 390 had an increase of 160 to 1200. The 390 was still faster. By his and your logic, the 970 is a better overclocker because its numbers are bigger and performance you actually get for the increases are irrelevant. Even percentage wise, this argument is flat out stupid. A 21% overclock on the 970 is still not faster than a 15% overclock on a 390.

[App4that]

snip

 

You're stuck on out of the box, because that's the only way the 390 is better. Name one AMD card that has a higher clock speed out of the box than advertised? The 970 and up usually boost to higher speeds than reported by the manufacturer, even mine boosted 17% higher than advertised. Advertised core clock was 1140mhz, out of the box it boosted to 1366mhz, and it can pass 1500mhz core clock overclocking. This is common for a Maxwell GPU graphics card. So mine overclocked 24% over the advertised core clock speed. That's where the disparity lies between the 390 and 970. The 390 gains more of a benefit from overclocking but even with that can't reach the gains seen in Maxwell GPUs. Same goes for the 390x, Fury, and FuryX.

 

The only graphics card that seems to overclock fairly well is the 380. Deal with it.

[ivan134]

You're stuck on out of the box, because that's the only way the 390 is better. Name one AMD card that has a higher clock speed out of the box than advertised? The 970 and up usually boost to higher speeds than reported by the manufacturer, even mine boosted 17% higher than advertised. Advertised core clock was 1140mhz, out of the box it boosted to 1366mhz, and it can pass 1500mhz core clock overclocking. This is common for a Maxwell GPU graphics card. So mine overclocked 24% over the advertised core clock speed. That's where the disparity lies between the 390 and 970. The 390 gains more of a benefit from overclocking but even with that can't reach the gains seen in Maxwell GPUs. Same goes for the 390x, Fury, and FuryX.

 

The only graphics card that seems to overclock fairly well is the 380. Deal with it.

I am now convinced that you can't read.

[App4that]

I am now convinced that you can't read.

And I'm convinced you have no idea what a proper sample size is. Jay's=/=every 970/390.

 

But we both know that there's no convincing you that the 390 isn't what you think it is so why bother.

[Kinda Bottlenecked]

Good OC or bad OC, the 390 and 970 are equal in performance even when overclocked. Of course the overclocks must be correspondent(Good vs Good, bad vs bad) 

 

390@1150mhz

970@1516mhz

 

 

As we can see, OC for OC they are pretty much getting the same performance. 1150 isn't a stretch for most 390s. 1516 isn't a stretch for the 970 as well. Those are good OCs for both the cards.  

 

 

 

I want a cool running card that's quiet.

 

Also, I'm taking price into consideration but as long as the card isn't similar to the price of another brand's 390x, it should be fine! 

 

Thanks!

 

Best ones are Sapphire and Msi if you want a silent card, you'd probably wanna avoid the PCS+. 

[ivan134]

And I'm convinced you have no idea what a proper sample size is. Jay's=/=every 970/390.

 

But we both know that there's no convincing you that the 390 isn't what you think it is so why bother.

There's no teaching how to read and not to reason like a 2 year old and learn to do math. Notice how the post from @Pohernori reflects what I'm saying? 970 isn't some amazing overclocker. It's giant numbers don't actually translate to giant performance increases. You would think people would learn from CPUs that you don't judge performance solely by GHz alone, since it doesn't account for architectural differences. Using your "big numbers = big performance" logic, AMD's CPUs should be faster than Intel's.

[Eroticus]

SAPPHIRE NITRO Radeon™ R9 390 8G with back plate

 

 

I own 3 Sapphire Cards, 4850, 5870 Vapor-X , 290-X TRI-X

 

Awesome quality =] .

[App4that]

There's no teaching how to read and not to reason like a 2 year old and learn to do math. Notice how the post from @Pohernori reflects what I'm saying? 970 isn't some amazing overclocker. It's giant numbers don't actually translate to giant performance increases. You would think people would learn from CPUs that you don't judge performance solely by GHz alone, since it doesn't account for architectural differences. Using your "big numbers = big performance" logic, AMD's CPUs should be faster than Intel's.

It's always funny to me that the people who use insults usually use age. If you could have a conversation without resorting to insults it wouldn't look so much like a fan protecting a brand.

No where have I argued that the clock speeds for both cards equal the same performance. My point is that the 970 overclocks on average to a point that still gives it an advantage over the 390, in overclocking.

Notice I said an advantage in overclocking?

[ivan134]

It's always funny to me that the people who use insults usually use age. If you could have a conversation without resorting to insults it wouldn't look so much like a fan protecting a brand.

No where have I argued that the clock speeds for both cards equal the same performance. My point is that the 970 overclocks on average to a point that still gives it an advantage over the 390, in overclocking.

Notice I said an advantage in overclocking?

Ha! That's rich coming from the guy who said I'm throwing a tantrum for stating facts and calling out people on their bullshit. Your "reasoning like a 2 year old" is showing again since you equate stating facts to "protecting a brand." A fanboy by definition does not like inconvenient facts and sticks to his/her preconceived notion.

 

2 people have shown evidence that a 970 has no advantage when it's overclocked, but you stick your hands in your ears and go "lalalalalalala, I can't hear you." Back up what you're saying with actual evidence.

[Gibs960]

It's always funny to me that the people who use insults usually use age. If you could have a conversation without resorting to insults it wouldn't look so much like a fan protecting a brand.

No where have I argued that the clock speeds for both cards equal the same performance. My point is that the 970 overclocks on average to a point that still gives it an advantage over the 390, in overclocking.

Notice I said an advantage in overclocking?

 

Isn't a 390 overclocked better when compared to a 970 overclocked?

[App4that]

Isn't a 390 overclocked better when compared to a 970 overclocked?

Depends, usually the 390 is still faster even when the 970 gains a higher overclock percentage. The problem is that you can buy a 390 from several manufacturers and those manufacturers sell one model of 390.

 

Where as EVGA has 11.

http://www.evga.com/products/ProductList.aspx?type=0&family=GeForce+900+Series+Family&chipset=GTX+970

 

So a 970 FTW+ has a chance of out performing a 390, but at the price it's sold at, it better.

[Guest]

This thread seriously got silly. 

Sapphire > MSI > XFX/PowerColor > Club3D

Avoid Asus and Gigabyte

Unless you care about a few FPS difference, just buy whatever is cheaper out of the approved cards in this list. 

 

I personally went with XFX because it was $270, while the alternatives were 30-50 more. (Powercolor was on sale for a comparable price shortly after I bought mine, however) 

[WynLore]

Good OC or bad OC, the 390 and 970 are equal in performance even when overclocked. Of course the overclocks must be correspondent(Good vs Good, bad vs bad) 

 

390@1150mhz

970@1516mhz

 

 

As we can see, OC for OC they are pretty much getting the same performance. 1150 isn't a stretch for most 390s. 1516 isn't a stretch for the 970 as well. Those are good OCs for both the cards.  

 

 

 

 

Best ones are Sapphire and Msi if you want a silent card, you'd probably wanna avoid the PCS+. 

That overclock scaling (for the lack of a better term) on the 390 is marvelous 

[Gibs960]

This thread seriously got silly. 

Unless you care about a few FPS difference, just buy whatever is cheaper out of the approved cards in this list. 

 

I personally went with XFX because it was $270, while the alternatives were 30-50 more. (Powercolor was on sale for a comparable price shortly after I bought mine, however) 

 

At the moment, Sapphire Nitro 390 is on sale on Amazon, so hopefully it'll stay that way until I can afford to buy it!

[afyeung]

Nice detailed response dude. Yeah, a 390 at 1150 will match a highly overclocked 970 most of the time. However they still trade blows in a lot of games. The MSI card is great. Just watch out for GPU sag and make sure there is good airflow