Lightning 780 or r9-290

[Swindless]

Hey guys, I'm looking to upgrade my gpu around Christmas time when everything goes on sale, and can't decide should I go for the r9-290 or the MSI Lightning.

 

780: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127754&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

 

r9-290: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121807

 

I'm looking for something that will last me for atleast 4 years and still play games on medium-Ultra. Also I will be pushing possibly 3 1080p monitors at christmas.

[_ASSASSIN_]

R9 290 cause you can flash it to a 290x, but my only issue lies with how loud those reference coolers are, so if you want Nvidias features set and a quieter experience, Lightning

[joelthezombie15]

780 will run cooler and quieter. Both will run what you want no problem. However, AMD has mantle but without using it i cant say if thats a good or bad thing, If shadow play and streaming to shield inersts you go 780. You really cant go wrong with either card, but personally i would go 780. But seeing as how you want 3 monitors i think the 290 will be better as it has more ram.

[Langdon]

I'd get a R9 290 with an non-reference cooler.

[Swindless]

780 will run cooler and quieter. Both will run what you want no problem. However, AMD has mantle but without using it i cant say if thats a good or bad thing, If shadow play and streaming to shield inersts you go 780. You really cant go wrong with either card, but personally i would go 780. But seeing as how you want 3 monitors i think the 290 will be better as it has more ram.

Ok appreciate the replies guys I'm hoping the aftermarket coolers will come out soon because if not by Christmas I will be going with the 780. I wouldn't want to brick a new gpu and be out the money for that card, granted I've flashed my 6850 to a 6870 to get crossfire working on it I still don't want to take the chance.

[_ASSASSIN_]

Ok appreciate the replies guys I'm hoping the aftermarket coolers will come out soon because if not by Christmas I will be going with the 780. I wouldn't want to brick a new gpu and be out the money for that card, granted I've flashed my 6850 to a 6870 to get crossfire working on it I still don't want to take the chance.

these cards have 2 Bios's by default so if you screw up you can switch back to the other bios, there is so little of risk unless you screw up both Bios's lol

[Swindless]

these cards have 2 Bios's by default so if you screw up you can switch back to the other bios, there is so little of risk unless you screw up both Bios's lol

I should have figured that I can't wait to see when the aftermarket coolers will come out lets hope before Christmas lol.

[Andrew0472]

if you are comparing to the 290x then the 780 lightning but comparing to a 290 get a non reference one

[CoolBeans]

Toxic 290 when it comes out

[AndyCapets]

Wait for the R9-290 non-reference cards when they come out IMO, the lightning is a great card, but waaaaay to expensive and for the money you spend on a lightning you can probably even get a crossfire setup of the 290s

[Swindless]

Wait for the R9-290 non-reference cards when they come out IMO, the lightning is a great card, but waaaaay to expensive and for the money you spend on a lightning you can probably even get a crossfire setup of the 290s

Crossfire 290s is around $250 more than the 780 lightning.

[AndyCapets]

Crossfire 290s is around $250 more than the 780 lightning.

Wait, how much does it cost where you live ? In France the 780 lightning still costs 650€...

 

Edit: Just got my answer sorry, 550$ is like really cheap actually..

[BYOGamingPC]

If you want something soon go with the MSI GeForce GTX 780 N780 LIGHTNING.

 

Otherwise, get the ASUS Radeon R9 290 R9290-4GD5 with an aftermarket cooler.

[Mediarahan]

R9 290 cause you can flash it to a 290x, but my only issue lies with how loud those reference coolers are, so if you want Nvidias features set and a quieter experience, Lightning

Wait you can flash it to a 290x? Has anyone actually done this yet? 

[carolkarine]

Wait you can flash it to a 290x? Has anyone actually done this yet?

A couple people on overclock.net have.

[Face2Face]

Ok appreciate the replies guys I'm hoping the aftermarket coolers will come out soon because if not by Christmas I will be going with the 780. I wouldn't want to brick a new gpu and be out the money for that card, granted I've flashed my 6850 to a 6870 to get crossfire working on it I still don't want to take the chance.

2nd week of December is when you will start to see AIB R9 290 and R9 290X solutions.

[_ASSASSIN_]

Wait you can flash it to a 290x? Has anyone actually done this yet? 

yep, one of our members on the forum did it himself

[Hirad123]

I would personally go lightning 780 even though I know waiting for an aftermarket 290 is better

[solarflare]

flashing is a lottery though and so far only Powercolor and XFX cards have been able to unlock to 290x cards It is not a sure thing by any means. 

[Blackterror25]

Wait for an R9 290 to get an after market cooler and get that

[Mediarahan]

yep, one of our members on the forum did it himself

 

 

A couple people on overclock.net have.

Oh boy. I'm excited now.