Custom R9 290/290X Reviews/Availability/Listings thread

[parvadomus]

GCN 1.0 is almost the same as 1.1. The only changes are a better boost, trueaudio, and better CF.
280X is not constrained, the thing is the crossbar that is needed to attach 32rops to 384-bits that make it less efficient.
Look at this a 270X is basically a 7870 with higher memory bandwidth.
A 290 is exactly 2x7870 with lower clocks, and performs as such. Looking at 2560x1600:
7870 = 89
290X = 177
290X should be more than double, as it has ~10% more shaders, maybe its throttling in some benchmarks.
However if you see the performance gained by only attaching faster memory to the 7870 (270X), doing the same to the 290X might give the same speed gain, maybe even more as it has 10% more shaders. It should be almost on par with GTX690.

 

[krumme]

GCN 1.0 is almost the same as 1.1. The only changes are a better boost, trueaudio, and better CF.
280X is not constrained, the thing is the crossbar that is needed to attach 32rops to 384-bits that make it less efficient.
Look at this a 270X is basically a 7870 with higher memory bandwidth.
A 290 is exactly 2x7870 with lower clocks, and performs as such. Looking at 2560x1600:
7870 = 89
290X = 177
290X should be more than double, as it has ~10% more shaders, maybe its throttling in some benchmarks.
However if you see the performance gained by only attaching faster memory to the 7870 (270X), doing the same to the 290X might give the same speed gain, maybe even more as it has 10% more shaders. It should be almost on par with GTX690.

Ok crossbar explains a lot in 280x vs 270x perf. Still we have a completely new memory interface in 290x giving 50% more bandwith for same mm2. And what about the changes to l2?

Ryan in 290x review:
" The end result is that Hawaii packs a full 1MB of L2 cache, and that the total bandwidth available out of the L2 cache has also been increased by 33% to a full 1TB. The L2 cache plays a role in every aspect of rendering, and as the primary backstop for the ROPs and secondary backstop for the CUs it’s critical to avoiding relatively expensive off-chip memory operations."

 

[Lonyo]

Sapphire Tri-X 290 just arrived.
Not unboxed it yet. Will see if it fits in my Coolermaster C120 case just for fun before putting it in my main computer in a Fractal R3.

This card is HUGE. It has nearly 1" of heatsink overhang over the PCB, and then a small amount of lastic from the shroud as extra overhang, so it's a solid 1" longer than the PCB overall.
Still fits in the 120 though. Just. And I'm not sure how you hook up HDDs with this card in the case.

 

[IEC]

Sapphire Tri-X 290 just arrived.
Not unboxed it yet. Will see if it fits in my Coolermaster C120 case just for fun before putting it in my main computer in a Fractal R3.

This card is HUGE. It has nearly 1" of heatsink overhang over the PCB, and then a small amount of lastic from the shroud as extra overhang, so it's a solid 1" longer than the PCB overall.
Still fits in the 120 though. Just. And I'm not sure how you hook up HDDs with this card in the case.

I'm using a Nanoxia DS1 and I have 2x Sapphire Tri-X 290 in crossfire. I only have three 2.5" drive bays being used so I just removed the middle front drive bay cage (though it looks like it would just barely fit with it installed). Card is almost exactly 12" long from PCI bracket to end of fan shroud.

You will love the card.

 

[Lonyo]

I had to hack off part of the plastic fan shroud to get it to fit because I can't remove drive bays.

Fits fine in the tiny mITX Coolermaster C120.
Needs modifying to fit in a full ATX Fractal R3.
Nice job.

Currently running at 31c idle after having just started the PC.

Very tight fit.

 

[Grooveriding]

Where are you guys finding the 290 Tri-X in stock ? Can't find them anywhere

 

[IEC]

Where are you guys finding the 290 Tri-X in stock ? Can't find them anywhere

They aren't. I got lucky while browsing Newegg on 12/27 and got 2 of the maybe 10 units they had in stock.

 

[Lonyo]

I got mine from Overclockers.co.uk in the UK, even though they were still been showing Overdue on the incoming shipment, they actually had some in stock, but now they are OOS again.

 

[DooKey]

@Lonyo

Update your sig so we know how your 290 is doing.

 

[moonbogg]

Damn shame about the price increase. I'd probably have a couple custom 290's in the mail right now, but NOPE!

 

[Lonyo]

I'm only running it at stock for now, but it peaked at around 66c in FarCry 3 after about 40+ minutes with a max 35% fan speed. Didn't hear anything change volume wise from the 20% idle speed.

Room temp is quite low though, probably a solid 5-10c lower than an average room temp might be, and the side of my case is off atm because of other reasons.

 

[Fastx]

Currently in stock Newegg US
Sapphire-Tri X 290x
MSI 290 Gaming TF IV (w/BF4)


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...size=20&Page=1

 

[IEC]

Currently in stock Newegg US
Sapphire-Tri X 290x
MSI 290 Gaming TF IV (w/BF4)


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...size=20&Page=1

Lol. $700 for the 290X and $580 for the 290. At that price they can keep them.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

At this point, with so many cards in stock for so long I don't think it's the etailers who are keeping the prices high.

 

[Gloomy]

2expensive4me

 

[IEC]

At this point, with so many cards in stock for so long I don't think it's the etailers who are keeping the prices high.

It's the e-tailers. Fry's and Microcenter have had Radeons in and out of stock at MSRP or lower several times in the past few weeks.

 

[Gloomy]

I heard Newegg's system does it automatically.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

I heard Newegg's system does it automatically.

Only when there is high demand, which there clearly isn't and hasn't been for a few weeks now.

 

[RaulF]

Only when there is high demand, which there clearly isn't and hasn't been for a few weeks now.

There's no way you or i could know that.

For all we know the cards are selling a specific rate and keep the price up. If you look at the retail cards they are holding the price. (Meaning not getting higher).

And yes they do go in and out of stock all the time.

Good chance by Monday all the stock will be depleted if is anything like all past weekends.

 

[moonbogg]

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=r9%20290&sprefix=r9+29%2Caps&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Ar9%20290

Ridiculous

 

[xSneak]

So the asus is the only confirmed non reference board card upcoming? I hope the prices drop back to normal but I doubt it happens soon.

I might have to get a used 780.

 

[Silverforce11]

Only when there is high demand, which there clearly isn't and hasn't been for a few weeks now.

There's no high demand.. don't know where you pull out such funny stuff always.

 

[RaulF]

So the asus is the only confirmed non reference board card upcoming? I hope the prices drop back to normal but I doubt it happens soon.

I might have to get a used 780.

There was a pcb picture of a 290X lighting supposedly. Also the MSI 290X gaming is not out yet, the regular 290 is out and has a backplate.

Just noticed the 290X gaming in stock at newegg.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

There's no high demand.. don't know where you pull out such funny stuff always.

I guess it's just my mind playing tricks on me. Every time I've gone to Newegg for the last two weeks now I could have bought a 290/x, with a large selection of reference boards to chose from.

 

[IEC]

I guess it's just my mind playing tricks on me. Every time I've gone to Newegg for the last two weeks now I could have bought a 290/x, with a large selection of reference boards to chose from.

The ones priced normally or close to normal (MSRP) sell out within minutes. There is plenty of demand... up to a certain price.

Anyhow, you know it's the retailers gleefully marking up chips when you see this (I shouldn't need to say this, but don't buy this, it's a horrible deal and these XFX cards are horrible at mining):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboB...=Combo.1518346



We are definitely entering mania phase if we weren't already: