[HardOCP] Asus DC II 290X max overclock versus GTX 780ti max overclocking review:

[Gloomy]

Hawaii has a lot going for it but the performance crown is not one of those things.

 

[Face2Face]

Would be nice to see a clock per clock comparison, although this review is pretty close.

 

[Jaydip]

I don't think that comparison can be taken at face value.

Every source I can find gives the number of transistors for 780 and 780ti as 7.1 billion, with the same area. (Not totally sure, just doing a quick google search, correct me if I'm wrong.)

However some of the transistors for the 780 are disabled. I don't know where to find the "actual" number of transistors for a 780, that is, how many are actually in use. That unused area would be useful for heat dissipation.

Then consider Titan, same results.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Did you really miss this very clear point? This was stock vs stock R9 290X Tri-X vs GTX780Ti, not an OC Tri-X at 1225 core clock.

"the Sapphire card performed better than the GTX 780 Ti in Bioshock Infinite and Crysis 3 while the GTX 780 Ti's only definitive victory came in Battlefield 3. In the three other games tested, the cards were so close that I'll call it a performance tie."


Keep moving those goal posts and missing the obvious.

Speaking of shifting goalposts I remember not too long ago the idea of comparing aftermarket 780s against reference 290x was considered poor form.. Yet here we are.

 

[Atreidin]

Then consider Titan, same results.

That still has same die area, with some disabled transistors.

I'm sure there's other design factors involved, but I'm saying transistor density does have an effect, probably a significant one, as does unused die area. They most likely aren't linear effects, either.

There's so many non-linear and inter-dependent effects from different design parameters, that it's amazing we have two companies with different design constraints consistently make products so close to each other in performance.

 

[Jaydip]

That still has same die area, with some disabled transistors.

I'm sure there's other design factors involved, but I'm saying transistor density does have an effect, probably a significant one, as does unused die area. They most likely aren't linear effects, either.

There's so many non-linear and inter-dependent effects from different design parameters, that it's amazing we have two companies with different design constraints consistently make products so close to each other in performance.

There can be n number of factors but the main point is 780/Ti clocks much better than it's less denser GK104 counterparts.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

There can be n number of factors but the main point is 780/Ti clocks much better than it's less denser GK104 counterparts.

Is that really true though?

I see plenty of 1200/1300 even 1400 GK104s, they just don't go anywhere because of their memory bandwidth.

 

[badb0y]

The 780 Ti is an absolute monster when overclocked.

 

[blackened23]

Speaking of shifting goalposts I remember not too long ago the idea of comparing aftermarket 780s against reference 290x was considered poor form.. Yet here we are.

Question for you BTF. I'm just curious, since the reference 780ti overclocked beats the aftermarket custom PCB 290X overclocked, what are the not so obvious implications of an aftermarket 780ti overclocked vs an aftermarket 290X overclocked? Just curious, i'm not sure. It was interesting that BF4, AMD's game, was 17% faster on the OC'ed 780ti versus to OC'ed 290X. And that was with a reference 780ti. Weird. Must be an outlier result I guess. Help me out here with an answer. I dunno bro.

Oh. Bingo. "Just wait". Again. Just wait for another round of more 290X aftermarket cards. Those will definitely overclock better, doncha think? I definitely think so.

Since we're just waiting on AMD to fix frame pacing for DX9 and eyefinity on 280X and 79xx cards (two year wait is nothing!), just waiting on AMD to support HD3D again, and we're just waiting for free-sync in 2015, just waiting for Mantle, just waiting months for 290 pricing in the US to return to sanity, might as well add to the list of stuff to wait on. I love waiting. Don't you?

 

[Jaydip]

Is that really true though?

I see plenty of 1200/1300 even 1400 GK104s, they just don't go anywhere because of their memory bandwidth.

If you are talking about 770 yes they do clock a bit higher but the 680 was really not that great.Only very few skus could dream of breaking the 1300 barrier.Also even at this clocks the scaling was not that great, coming from a 580 I was pretty disappointed in 680 honestly.

 

[Grooveriding]

No surprise here, the 780ti also has a $200 higher MSRP, because it is the halo part nvidia has always held for a long while now.

Fully unlocked 2880 shader GK110 is the best flagship nvidia has ever released. It's a better improvement than the prior best flagship improvement they had with the 8800GTX. It also is relatively cool running and low on power consumption if you leave it running in the stock voltage level.

Overclocked 780ti is faster than 680SLI, it's very impressive. Now if only my EVGA stepups would get to the front of the queue

 

[blackened23]

No surprise here, the 780ti also has a $200 higher MSRP, because it is the halo part nvidia has always held for a long while now.

Fully unlocked 2880 shader GK110 is the best flagship nvidia has ever released. It's a better improvement than the prior best flagship improvement they had with the 8800GTX. It also is relatively cool running and low on power consumption if you leave it running in the stock voltage level.

Overclocked 780ti is faster than 680SLI, it's very impressive. Now if only my EVGA stepups would get to the front of the queue

That's like....a free step up , isn't it? 780 classy to 780ti? Not a bad deal.

I really wish aftermarket cards were an option to upgrade to with the step up program...

 

[Grooveriding]

That's like....a free step up , isn't it? 780 classy to 780ti? Not a bad deal.

I really wish aftermarket cards were an option to upgrade to with the step up program...

It's free, I paid more than $699 for each of my cards (HC classies). I just have to pay shipping.

I think the actual performance between watercooled 780 classy and reference 780ti will only give a small edge to the 780ti, but since EVGA stepup cards are BNIB sealed, I am going to sell them for close to MSRP and get two 780ti Kingpin Classifieds

 

[Nintendesert]

Grooveriding is going to send me his 780s....




()

 

[Slomo4shO]

Those overclocks are pitiful to be considered Maximum overclocks... What did they do? Pick the worst binned cards they had on hand?

 

[SirPauly]

Speaking of shifting goalposts I remember not too long ago the idea of comparing aftermarket 780s against reference 290x was considered poor form.. Yet here we are.

Indeed, I remember!

 

[Z15CAM]

Which Card would be best for 1440p Gaming?

 

[tg2708]

Which Card would be best for 1440p Gaming?

780/ti, titan, 290/x, choose your poison.

 

[Slomo4shO]

Which Card would be best for 1440p Gaming?

Whichever one fits your budget and performs the best for the games that you play... Yes, broad spectrum questions will yield similar answers.

 

[Gloomy]

Which Card would be best for 1440p Gaming?

Obviously the 780Ti.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

Which Card would be best for 1440p Gaming?

All depends on where you live and how much amd prices are being inflated.

The 780ti will be faster but the 290x will have better price/performance.

What does going to 4k do to this comparison? Does the 512bit bus on the 290x help at that res?

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Obviously the 780Ti.

Psh, haven't you heard? It's all about price/perf and ignoring OCing this time.

Pretty obvious the GTX 650 Ti Boost is the best current gen new card option, assuming you don't have a HD4600 already.

 

[Z15CAM]

780/ti, titan, 290/x, choose your poison.

So for $185 less then the GTX 780Ti and $460 less then a Titan the R9 290X performs equal when gaming at 1440p.

What does going to 4k do to this comparison? Does the 512bit bus on the 290x help at that res?

Not much when it comes to OC'g but you can't dismiss the advantage of the 512bit bus on the 290x along with it's 4GB's of vRam has when it comes to 1440p res gaming.

 

[IEC]

Which Card would be best for 1440p Gaming?

If you are looking for the best single card you can buy and cost does not matter, a 780 Ti, preferably one with a good custom PCB for good overclocking. Otherwise a custom 290/X can be the best bang for the buck depending on the price/availability (below):

If in the United States, good luck finding a 290 or 290X at MSRP due to the cryptocurrency craze. But *if* you can find a custom 290/X at ~MSRP they are a good value, and Hawaii's memory bandwidth will help with those higher resolutions + AA.

If not in North America, nVidia cards tend to carry a ridiculous premium (780 Ti > $1000 USD) so the 290/X is generally the preferred high end card.

I should note that at 1440p you will probably eventually (if not initially) want 2 cards, so that might be a consideration as well.

 

[96Firebird]

Which Card would be best for 1440p Gaming?

Judging by the review in the OP, the 780Ti.