TTL's R9 290X Review.

[Glenwing]

I'm not really bothered by any of his complaints...

 

Aesthetics: Personal preference, I don't mind the look of it.  But anyway, easily fixed with aftermarket cards

Noise: Easily fixed with aftermarket cards

Heat: Easily fixed with aftermarket cards

Price to performance: His disappointment holds true in the UK pricing, but NA pricing is $150 lower than he thought it was so the value is actually really great

 

The performance is there, the pricing is very aggressive (in NA), and once the aftermarket cards and blocks come out, none of these complaints will apply, and we'll have a great card at $550 that equals/beats the $650 780 and $1000 Titan.

[Spannerhands]

The best bit about his review of the R9-290X was the first 7 min showing you nvidia's titan cooler design?

[Woodypc]

The best bit about his review of the R9-290X was the first 7 min showing you nvidia's titan cooler design?

It is like he is being paid by Nvidia.

[Spannerhands]

It is like he is being paid by Nvidia.

 

I am sorry to say this but it did seem that Nvidia got to him, hope not just thought its a bit weird..

 

Edit

 

Also did you see all the 780 boxes in the background in the end of the review?

[t0ps]

Just saw that review, it's the worst! it's just him bitching about how it doesn't feel expensive and how hot it is, but AMD already came out and said that the temperatures are nothing to worry, also when non-reference cards come out they will be beast! Check Tom's Hardware review, the 290X beats the 780 and Titan at everything and it's at 73% usage now just imagine it with Mantle, even if it is the slightest bump in performance it will ridicule Nvidia's solutions! and it's $100 cheaper!! Unbelievable!

I wouldn't bash on TTL, if you actually watched the whole thing he flat out says that the performance is on par if not better than a stock 780 and trades with the titan, even beating it in a couple games. The only reason he rips on the fact it runs so hot is that with a reference cooler, OCing isn't an option or if it is, than it's a limited one.

 

That being said, I'm sure everyone was expecting the "titan killer" to be a giant leap like the titan was from the 680/7970, and in that sense it is a major let down. Not that I'm not happy with the performance, it just means I get a second 780 at a much cheaper price where as I was hoping to sell my 780 and grabbing a couple 290x's. No point in doing that now.

[eshbop]

He even bashes on AMD for not cherry-picking GPUs for reviewers while in the same breath saying that nvidia do it. What?

[AraSarkisyan]

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7457/the-radeon-r9-290x-review/19 An and tech's review says that it is trading blows with the Titan. Also, @ 4k, it beats SLI 780s.

[AraSarkisyan]

I wouldn't bash on TTL, if you actually watched the whole thing he flat out says that the performance is on par if not better than a stock 780 and trades with the titan, even beating it in a couple games. The only reason he rips on the fact it runs so hot is that with a reference cooler, OCing isn't an option or if it is, than it's a limited one.

 

That being said, I'm sure everyone was expecting the "titan killer" to be a giant leap like the titan was from the 680/7970, and in that sense it is a major let down. Not that I'm not happy with the performance, it just means I get a second 780 at a much cheaper price where as I was hoping to sell my 780 and grabbing a couple 290x's. No point in doing that now.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7457/the-radeon-r9-290x-review/19 psst, read this. TTL's review is the only review i have seen like that. all other reviews are the 290x trading blows with the Titan. 

[AraSarkisyan]

It gives me kind of a warm and fuzzy feeling inside to see all the fanboys being let down like this... I'm a bad person.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7457/the-radeon-r9-290x-review/19 no one is being let down, read up. 

[Smoka]

Yeah way too hot for me, my current card gets up to 70 sometimes and my room becomes like a sauna, couldn't imagine 94 degress lol, will wait for the aftermarket coolers or if the 780ti has 4GB of Vram i may get that

[Chatzev]

Advice to anyone and everyone; If you want an unbiased review of something , check out Hardware Canucks

[t0ps]

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7457/the-radeon-r9-290x-review/19 psst, read this. TTL's review is the only review i have seen like that. all other reviews are the 290x trading blows with the Titan. 

Fair enough regarding other reviewers, but that doesn't automatically discredit's TTL's point and that's what everyone seems to be missing. The only people who give two cents about the 290x trading blows with the titan are the guys who have been waiting for the 290x to be released or fan boys. Otherwise it really is kind of disappointing.

I wanted a 290x, but the truth of the matter is:

A) The performance is there at great price. However, you have to understand they took a whole generation almost to only give us more of the same performance. which is kind of bleh.

B ) The performance over the existing cards are incremental at best(i.e. all 3 cards are ridiculously close for the most part), however it is nice to know AMD can and will keep up with nVidia (gotta love competition).

C) The biggest issue though is heat, as far as we can tell even with non-reference coolers this thing is going to be really hot, so there goes any meaningful performance you can squeeze out.

 

The best thing the 290x has going for it is its bang for the buck factor which we always knew AMD is capable of. That being said The best bang for the buck factor is nothing to scoff at, your move nVidia.

[AraSarkisyan]

Fair enough regarding other reviewers, but that doesn't automatically discredit's TTL's point and that's what everyone seems to be missing. The only people who give two cents about the 290x trading blows with the titan are the guys who have been waiting for the 290x to be released or fan boys. Otherwise it really is kind of disappointing.

I wanted a 290x, but the truth of the matter is:

A) The performance is there at great price. However, you have to understand they took a whole generation almost to only give us more of the same performance. which is kind of bleh.

B ) The performance over the existing cards are incremental at best(i.e. all 3 cards are ridiculously close for the most part), however it is nice to know AMD can and will keep up with nVidia (gotta love competition).

C) The biggest issue though is heat, as far as we can tell even with non-reference coolers this thing is going to be really hot, so there goes any meaningful performance you can squeeze out.

The best thing the 290x has going for it is it's bang for the buck factor which we always knew AMD is capable of. That being said The best bang for the buck factor is nothing to scoff at, your move nVidia.

it may be a thermal paste issue, or badly mounted coolers. We still don't know.

[Tr3vor]

As far as the preformance goes, the 290x is about what I expected. More than the 780. I don't know what's so disappointing about that. But I'm not upgrading from my 7970 any time soon. When the aftermarket coolers come out this card will be the one to buy for sure.

 

And yeah, Now that you say that, there are a ton of 780 boxes in the background and he's showing 780s off. There is something not right about that.

 

As far as finding "unbiased" reviews, reviews are essentially bias, as they are opinion. Some may think 95c is acceptable, some may not. Its all down to the person. Just watch all the reviews and make your own opinion.

[Tr3vor]

 

C) The biggest issue though is heat, as far as we can tell even with non-reference coolers this thing is going to be really hot, so there goes any meaningful performance you can squeeze out.

 

 

As far as you can tell? more like you can't because there aren't any numbers for them and they aren't out. Remember the 7970 stock cooler? that thing was shit. Aftermarket coolers were where the 7970 shined.

[Tall Gora]

If Nvidia won't drop the prices I think I will go with R9 290x (will wait for non-reference models with better cooling system)

nvidia is dropping prices, confirmed.

[Tall Gora]

I'm not really bothered by any of his complaints...

 

Aesthetics: Personal preference, I don't mind the look of it.  But anyway, easily fixed with aftermarket cards

Noise: Easily fixed with aftermarket cards

Heat: Easily fixed with aftermarket cards

Price to performance: His disappointment holds true in the UK pricing, but NA pricing is $150 lower than he thought it was so the value is actually really great

 

The performance is there, the pricing is very aggressive (in NA), and once the aftermarket cards and blocks come out, none of these complaints will apply, and we'll have a great card at $550 that equals/beats the $650 780 and $1000 Titan.

remember to leave titan out, as its more for compute and should never have been marketed as a gaming card, it challenges the 780 and future 780 Ti. People like to rub the 1k titan into green team fan faces but it remains a card i would use for compute/pro work ONLY. In that regard, its like a budget tesla.

[beebskadoo]

The 290X is a beast!

I am disappointed however in the thermals 95C is too damn high!

'Oh but AMD made the GPU to run that hot, it's fine' NO IT"S NOT! What about your whole system? It's gonna be an oven in some cases! 

[CoffeeBlack]

The 290X is a beast!

I am disappointed however in the thermals 95C is too damn high!

'Oh but AMD made the GPU to run that hot, it's fine' NO IT"S NOT! What about your whole system? It's gonna be an oven in some cases! 

I'm thinking about getting it because the furnace in my house just broke and winter is coming up. I won't need to replace my furnace for the entire time I use the card.

[beebskadoo]

I'm thinking about getting it because the furnace in my house just broke and winter is coming up. I won't need to replace my furnace for the entire time I use the card.

Think about it! All you have to do is leave the card at idle and it'll be good.

You can even put it under load for a few minutes and shut the PC down and it'll still keep you warm for hours.

Put it under your blanket at night for a comfortable warming effect to help you sleep.

Use it to thaw your gutters!

Use it as a hand warmer!

Throw it in your car, it'll eliminate the hassle of warming your engine up.

I think we've been looking at this the wrong way

[CoffeeBlack]

Think about it! All you have to do is leave the card at idle and it'll be good.

You can even put it under load for a few minutes and shut the PC down and it'll still keep you warm for hours.

Put it under your blanket at night for a comfortable warming effect to help you sleep.

Use it to thaw your gutters!

Use it as a hand warmer!

Throw it in your car, it'll eliminate the hassle of warming your engine up.

I think we've been looking at this the wrong way

You sir, are a genius. This will revolutionize the space heater industry.

[beebskadoo]

You sir, are a genius. This will revolutionize the space heater industry.

They should have called the card Sahara rather than Hawaii.

I can do this all day

[Fetzie]

They should have called the card Sahara rather than Hawaii.

I can do this all day

 

When they named the card "Hawaii", they ACTUALLY meant the magma inside the volcanoes

[SkilledRebuilds]

Paul's Hardware review is pretty rock solid, said he has no real issues at all...

Must come down to personal preference and ambient temps where you live...

*I didnt realise reviews were today, much to my surprise when I clicked around and in short time saw the onslaught early utubes and then written articles..

Will have to see what the aftermarket ones are like...those temps are a little too hot for my liking.....so I Just bought my second 7950 for $220 (new),.. pretty keen for future titles

[Sotti]

Hey guys,

 

All of you saying that the performance is above the 780.... Have you already seen the Linus review?? Is down in EVERY bench.