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

[BallaTheFeared]

Isn't it still cheaper on newegg than in au?

Also Newegg CS is amazing.

 

[SimianR]

Thought I would add some links that I found - not available yet but the prices look more reasonable (still not MSRP) in Canada:

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=12980BD2037&vpn=R9 290 GAMING 4G&manufacture=MSI -> MSI R9 290 Twin Frozr

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=12980BD8781&vpn=R9 290X GAMING 4G&manufacture=MSI -> R9 290X Twin Frozr

 

[blackened23]

Isn't it still cheaper on newegg than in au?

Also Newegg CS is amazing.

It is cheaper on newegg despite the inflated prices. A quick scan of AU etailers reveals 290X cards are priced 679-699 in AU dollars at nearly all AU etailers. 699$ AU is more than 600$ US, I guess AU is paying more than us depending on where they shop? BF4 editions seem to be 749-769 in AU dollars. That is above and beyond US MSRP, and is comparable to newegg's inflated pricing.

Maybe AMD just inflated AU MSRP because they...can, or the US MSRP is lower than AU's. Shrug. I guess the US is temporarily paying AUS pricing for cards due to miners.

 

[Silverforce11]

Cannot compare direct Au -> USD conversion.

R290s are going for $475-500, a mark up for import and 10% tax/GST.

780s are going for ~$650 (similar to R290X!).

Edit: Actually if you want to do it via conversion, $1 AU = ~0.9 USD atm. R290 MSRP = $400 US / 0.9 = $444 AU * 10% GST tax = ~$488 AUD. Spot on, many retailers are selling it ranging from $475 to $500 AUD. R290X is via conversion MSRP ~$675, its going for for around there, with BF4 pack having a extra $30-50 premium.

When AIBs models hit next month, with a $20-30 premium above reference MSRP, a quiet, fast, cool R290 going for ~$520 is heaps better than 780 going for more than $130 extra.

 

[l2ez4m]

It seems Gigabyte 290x WF is basically using reference design power delivery solution (5core/1pll/1mem) on their own moderately tweaked pbc, with ASUS like aluminum strip to cool the mosfets.

 

[Z15CAM]

With the latest Bitcoin crash 2 days ago due to Chinese Gov't intervention, I've noted 290X card pricing on eBay drop from $650/$700 down to $525 for latest winning bids. May be we will have a period of MSRP pricing.

I paid $549.99 CDN from NewEgg.CA for a Ref Gigabyte 290X a month ago. She`s got potential. I could run a continuous Unigine Valley Bench loop clocked at 1195-1550 with a +.156mv off-set at 94C with the Ref-Cooler screaming at 95% stable and no artifacts - The VRM Temps where approx 76C. Considering Unigine favors nVidia, my score was 2976 and not far behind OC`d GTX 780 Ti scores. This Ref-Gigabyte 290X card has Elpida vRam - Can't say yet if this batch will hold back OC'g. Would have preferred Hynix.

My i7 2700k was idling at 1600Mhz for them runs. Once I get that 290X settled, I'll peg the CPU at 4800Mhz for a Valley Bench.

I`m waiting for a XSPC Razor with Back-Plate now in the mail. Hope it's gift to myself to play with on Xmas day as I would really like to beat that Valley 3000 score say with a 1250/6000 with a +.138mv off-set at under 70C ;o)

I would like to see some of these AIB Partners make a Custom Water Blocked 290X with plenty of PLL Phases for the VRM's.

 

[MangoX]

[H] Asus dcii review up:

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2013/12/23/asus_r9_290x_directcu_ii_oc_video_card_review

 

[BallaTheFeared]

~~

 

[3DVagabond]

[H] Asus dcii review up:

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2013/12/23/asus_r9_290x_directcu_ii_oc_video_card_review

We'll have to wait for [H]'s O/C and SLI/Crossfire testing. Unless this picture changes dramatically, I see issues with the 780ti's pricing and possible price corrections needed. Stock vs. stock though the 780ti has met it's match.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

We'll have to wait for [H]'s O/C and SLI/Crossfire testing. Unless this picture changes dramatically, I see issues with the 780ti's pricing and possible price corrections needed. Stock vs. stock though the 780ti has met it's match.

Yeah for sure, if only there were aftermarket cards for the 780 Ti that were the same price as the reference 780 Ti/290x and 20% faster.

 

[blackened23]

We'll have to wait for [H]'s O/C and SLI/Crossfire testing. Unless this picture changes dramatically, I see issues with the 780ti's pricing and possible price corrections needed. Stock vs. stock though the 780ti has met it's match.

I think you have it the other way around buddy. It seems in the states that the 290X is having the pricing issues. Aside from that, just as usual, overclocking changes the picture. You've seen benchmarks showing the 780ti GHZ edition beating the GTX 690 by a good margin. The OC'ed 290X, even the DC II, doesn't match the 690 or pass it. can't imagine getting this asus DC II 290X for 30$ less than that the OC'ed aftermarket 780ti , so I can't see any dramatic price changes being needed given the mining situation. And of course the OC'ed 780ti is faster.

Then again, maybe mining will implode. But..on the other hand... I'm led to believe by a few on this board that mining is going to be sustainable forever. That's what i've seen a few select people here state. Right? Does that sound familiar? That could indicate inflated pricing is sustainable forever. So for the PC gamer that doesn't care about buying a card to earn 11$ per month at current BTC/altcoin rates, the point of considering the AMD card is moot.

Price changes would be fantastic for the 780ti. Unfortunately, nvidia just has better values at every price point these days. Therefore I can't see nvidia making any calls to do price changes, it isn't needed.

 

[OCGuy]

We'll have to wait for [H]'s O/C and SLI/Crossfire testing. Unless this picture changes dramatically, I see issues with the 780ti's pricing and possible price corrections needed. Stock vs. stock though the 780ti has met it's match.

Uhhhh.....I'll just leave this alone.

 

[3DVagabond]

I think you have it the other way around buddy. It seems in the states that the 290X is having the pricing issues, and once overclocked the 780ti far outpaces the 290X.

As usual overclocking changes the picture. You've seen benchmarks showing the 780ti GHZ edition beating the GTX 690. I'm sure you're aware of it. can't imagine getting this asus DC II 290X for 30$ less than that card, so I can't see any dramatic price changes being needed given the mining situation. And of course the OC'ed 780ti is much faster. Maybe the dedicated miner will though. AMD is the mining card company these days, apparently, since gamers can't buy them in the states.

I said we'll have to wait for their O/C and SLI/Crossfire reviews. As far as other sites benches goes, I simply don't trust them as much as I do [H]'s. YMMV. Also, whether a 780ti is worth any more than this card is subjective. For me, the 780ti offers nothing more than this 290X. Not $1 never mind $30, or $130 if they should release @ MSRP. At least until I see [H]'s O/C results.

Also, FWIW not everyone is in the States, although I realize this is an American site so I do try and keep my references to the US market. Just as an example here in NZD the 290X starts @ $800 and the 780ti starts @ $1000. In USD that would be ~$590 vs. $740 before tax. We always pay a bit more because of our location (go any further south and you'll find nothing but penguins) and small market (population for the entire country is 1/2 NYC).

 

[thilanliyan]

[H] Asus dcii review up:

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2013/12/23/asus_r9_290x_directcu_ii_oc_video_card_review

Ouch on the VRM temps for the Asus card!

 

[thilanliyan]

Unfortunately, nvidia just has better values at every price point these days.

In the USA you mean?

 

[blackened23]

As far as other sites benches goes, I simply don't trust them as much as I do [H]'s.

That's hilarious. Alrighty then.

 

[Zanovar]

We'll have to wait for [H]'s O/C and SLI/Crossfire testing. Unless this picture changes dramatically, I see issues with the 780ti's pricing and possible price corrections needed. Stock vs. stock though the 780ti has met it's match.

Erm. the 780ti is the card*shrugs*.

 

[OCGuy]

[H] is using projected "MSRP" on a line of cards that do not sell for MSRP at this time....

-Drawing in-depth conclusions on a paper-launch, instead of just previewing it.....

-Comparing a OC card to a reference card.


It must be some sort of double-down, since their reputation is already so heavily invested in Hawaii. Just a terrible disservice to the gaming community.

Telling people to wait a whole quarter for an awesome 20mhz clock boost over the Powercolor base model? Ouch.

 

[Zanovar]

I dont really care tbh,Hardocp? they will sway wherever they may,but lets not kid ourselves here although shittily priced the 780ti takes it.*shrugs again*.

 

[24601]

Ouch on the VRM temps for the Asus card!

Careful! Don't anger the Asus salesmen on this forum, you may get banned

These AIB 290/x launch has helped me pinpoint who is employed by whom

 

[Zanovar]

Careful! Don't anger the Asus salesmen on this forum, you may get banned

haha

 

[3DVagabond]

Ouch on the VRM temps for the Asus card!

91°/78° is not bad mid 80°'s is pretty common. It's not awesome, mind you, but not awful.

That's hilarious. Alrighty then.

I did say YMMV. Which means I allow for individual's preferences. Try not to be so hung up on your own opinion that you can't as well.

[H] is using projected "MSRP" on a line of cards that do not sell for MSRP at this time....

-Drawing in-depth conclusions on a paper-launch, instead of just previewing it.....

-Comparing a OC card to a reference card.


It must be some sort of double-down, since their reputation is already so heavily invested in Hawaii. Just a terrible disservice to the gaming community.

Telling people to wait a whole quarter for an awesome 20mhz clock boost over the Powercolor base model? Ouch.

Did you read the review? He talks about MSRP and the current high demand period. The card's O/C'd by 50MHz... a mere 50MHz. The performance is more about the cooler than the O/C.

 

[blackened23]

91°/78° is not bad mid 80°'s is pretty common. It's not awesome, mind you, but not awful.

On an open air test bench? Which is how H tests cards (per Brent Justice)? It actually is awful. In an actual closed chassis, it will be significantly warmer. Aftermarket cards in particular run significantly cooler on an open test bench (ref cards not so much) , it will probably be 10-15C warmer in a closed chassis. At a minimum.

Here's the absolutely stupid portion. The reference has better VRM temps by around 20C. That is ridiculous, sorry, that is just poor design on Asus' part. Pains me to say that because I normally like their stuff, but they failed in the design phase of this somewhere along the way. The VRMs should not be 20-25C warmer than a reference card. That is absurd.

Let's do a look back in history. Remember why the 7970DD cards by XFX had such a high failure rate? Poor VRM cooling. I guess someone made a big OOPS at Asus during the design phase of this card.

 

[3DVagabond]

On an open air test bench? Which is how H tests cards? It actually is awful. In an actual closed chassis, it will significantly warmer. Probably 10C warmer in an EATX case.

Where did you get that number from? Exhaustive research, I'm sure. A good case will cool better than an open bench.

 

[blackened23]

Where did you get that number from? Exhaustive research, I'm sure. A good case will cool better than an open bench.

I just don't even. WOW. REALLY. An open air aftermarket card will be cooler in a good case? As opposed to an OPEN AIR test bench which REMOVES the need for air flow? Is that what you seriously just said? Did you think twice before you hit post?

Maybe we can do some basic physics/energy dissipation lessons here.