MSI Lightning 290X Owners Thread

[Crow550]

Just got the card. Few things I'm pondering....

Should I put in the Extra Heatsink for LN2? Why wasn't it already on?

I assume flip the bios switch to LN2 from Original?

*For now gonna just pop it in with the bios switch on Original just to play with it before getting into major OCing and such. Then check for any bios updates and so forth. *

 

[_UP_]

Just got the card. Few things I'm pondering....

Should I put in the Extra Heatsink for LN2? Why wasn't it already on?

I assume flip the bios switch to LN2 from Original?

*For now gonna just pop it in with the bios switch on Original just to play with it before getting into major OCing and such. Then check for any bios updates and so forth. *

Well, it's not an extra heatsink, it's instead of the lower one that is on the card. Since most people don't use LN2, it wasn't on.

You might want to check the MSI forum for the newer BIOS. I got mine long after the fix and it wasn't flashed with that BIOS. If you install the fan software and see all the fans at 0% you need it. The new BIOS will fix it. You can also find in on OCN (not putting it here because if I recall, forum rules forbid from linking to other forums unless it's for reference, PM me if you can't find it).

 

[railven]

Note a 290(X) Lightning owner, but as a first time Lightning owner in general

My next card will definitely be a Lightning version. Solid build all the way around.

I'd recommend re-TIMing with your favorite TIM. I put AS5 (yeah, I know never use it on GPUs, whatever!) and my temps dropped 5-10C easily.

 

[destrekor]

Just got the card. Few things I'm pondering....

Should I put in the Extra Heatsink for LN2? Why wasn't it already on?

I assume flip the bios switch to LN2 from Original?

*For now gonna just pop it in with the bios switch on Original just to play with it before getting into major OCing and such. Then check for any bios updates and so forth. *

I just got this card myself, and will be installing it today.
Your card basically already has a heatsink exactly like that one installed. Well, not exactly, because it covers far more of the board.

If you were to go with a AIO/CLC watercooling kit or a LN2 pot, you'd remove not only the large fan/heatsink assembly, but also the heat-spreader that covers all of the memory and VRMs. That is when the additional VRM heat-spreader comes in handy, when you switch to aftermarket solutions that don't cover the entire PCB.

Well, it's not an extra heatsink, it's instead of the lower one that is on the card. Since most people don't use LN2, it wasn't on.

You might want to check the MSI forum for the newer BIOS. I got mine long after the fix and it wasn't flashed with that BIOS. If you install the fan software and see all the fans at 0% you need it. The new BIOS will fix it. You can also find in on OCN (not putting it here because if I recall, forum rules forbid from linking to other forums unless it's for reference, PM me if you can't find it).

You shouldn't have any problems linking to another forum. I've never heard of that rule.

 

[_UP_]

You shouldn't have any problems linking to another forum. I've never heard of that rule.

OK. Here it is.
It works great after you flash it. And the card is amazing. I even like it better than the GTX 780 Ti Classy that I had, and that card was unbelievable.

 

[destrekor]

OK. Here it is.
It works great after you flash it. And the card is amazing. I even like it better than the GTX 780 Ti Classy that I had, and that card was unbelievable.

It seems that BIOS update may be limited to specific groups of serial numbers (in that case, the 602-V307-04S group). I just checked the card I received yesterday, and it is not in that group. What that means for what BIOS shipped with it and what BIOS updates are available, I don't know.

According to the sticker on the box, it does have the Hybrid BIOS, which is UEFI ready. The first models shipped were not UEFI compatible IIRC. You might just rely on the update utility to determine if there is an update. Before they might have been beta and kept out of the update, but any necessary BIOS upgrade needed today will surely be available on the update. I could be wrong, but I certainly hope they would be available.

 

[_UP_]

It seems that BIOS update may be limited to specific groups of serial numbers (in that case, the 602-V307-04S group). I just checked the card I received yesterday, and it is not in that group. What that means for what BIOS shipped with it and what BIOS updates are available, I don't know.

According to the sticker on the box, it does have the Hybrid BIOS, which is UEFI ready. The first models shipped were not UEFI compatible IIRC. You might just rely on the update utility to determine if there is an update. Before they might have been beta and kept out of the update, but any necessary BIOS upgrade needed today will surely be available on the update. I could be wrong, but I certainly hope they would be available.

Well, you can check out the owner's thread at OCN, they found that it doesn't matter what serial you have. I used it, without checking (after reading their thread though) and it works fine.
Like I said, the best way of knowing if you need it is to check if you can control the all 3 fans in the Lightning fan utility. If you can, you don't need it. If you can't then you do.

 

[Crow550]

Yeah I was little confused when I opened the box and seen it labeled as an extra heatsink. I was looking at the card thinking where the heck would this go?

I did a quick Google Search and found little info on it.

Will I get better performance flipping the bios switch? Some reviewers seem to say yes?

The fan % appear in the program so I don't need that bios update?

Some of the new driver updates are pretty cool. I still use RadeonPro with it.

Been working well so far. I been playing with the VSR settings. 3K to 1080P seems a bit much but 2K to 1080P does seem to work better than normal Anti-Aliasing.

 

[Crow550]

What OC's are others using on the stock cooler?

Also how should I go about adding more fans to my case?

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2420188

 

[_UP_]

If you see the correct % with the fan program, you have the newer BIOS and don't need to flash.

I can't remember how high of an OC I got, because I'm currently running just a bit above stock. I keep postponing playing with this thing for real again (exams and assignments always seem to get in the way - also of my custom WC loop, but that's beside the point).

Yeah, that extra HS is to cool the VRMs and the VRAM when you use an LN2 pot or whatever it's called.

As for the BIOS switch, I usually find that they behave differently. If I recall, the main difference is that it allows for more power to be put in. It also reacts better when it's cooler. But I might be wrong. Just behaves differently. Try both.

I'm using a 1440p monitor so didn't really try VSR yet.

 

[boozzer]

Note a 290(X) Lightning owner, but as a first time Lightning owner in general

My next card will definitely be a Lightning version. Solid build all the way around.

I'd recommend re-TIMing with your favorite TIM. I put AS5 (yeah, I know never use it on GPUs, whatever!) and my temps dropped 5-10C easily.

not an owner, but doesn't this void your warranty?

 

[rtsurfer]

No it doesn't on MSi.

 

[_UP_]

No it doesn't on MSi.

And even if it does normally with MSI, then not for the Lightning. They assume you OC it and even put it under water/LN2 and stuff.

 

[boozzer]

And even if it does normally with MSI, then not for the Lightning. They assume you OC it and even put it under water/LN2 and stuff.

that kinda makes it worth the extra money if buyers plan to play with it :thumbsup:

 

[destrekor]

that kinda makes it worth the extra money if buyers plan to play with it :thumbsup:

They scare you with a "void warranty if removed" sticker over one of the screws holding down the stock cooler, but come on, they include an optional heat spreader which is designed for when you remove that stock cooler, AND include an optional BIOS designed for LN2.

I hear they RMA cards, without any issue, that have that sticker removed or poked through. I've also heard they have sent cards back that had that sticker poked through, though that's actually a little questionable IMHO... I'd prefer a new card during an RMA, but perhaps refurbishing is all that was needed?

 

[destrekor]

I might as well ask here, while I'm at it:

Does anyone notice coil whine? I'll add that I haven't heard it during normal circumstances, during gameplay or whatnot, but during high-framerate moments (Dirt 3 game menu, during my testing) where FPS is over 200 or 300, I can hear a whine. During gameplay, nothing.

Is this more normal when it's only during the freakish scenarios like high-framerate when at peak clocks? I've had that before in previous cards, where it only happened in those moments but never in any gameplay.

 

[rtsurfer]

In my experience you will get coil whine on any GPU if your FPS are to high like the 200+ you have.

 

[destrekor]

In my experience you will get coil whine on any GPU if your FPS are to high like the 200+ you have.

That's what I thought was the case.

 

[Crow550]

I heard some reviews at least when the card came out saying that the Original bios has throttling issues while LN2 didn't?

I haven't yet felt the need to go crazy on OCing just yet....

Card seems to run well. I can notice a bit more fan noise when gaming but not to a distracting level just compared to my other card which was a Sapphire 6950.

Which I use Headphones anyways so not an issue.... I could also set the fans lower since with the default fan profile it never goes above 68c anyways.

Seems I don't need extra cooling in the case but I still might if I do decide to push the card and CPU....

I'd also suggest using RadeonPro with the Catalyst drivers. Offers a wealth of handy features.

You can set it to run with Windows just don't select start minimized or it won't detect 64bit support properly. Odd bug.

That aside it lets you use SMAA and FXAA in games along with Dynamic V-Sync and a wealth of cool stuff. Check it out: http://www.radeonpro.info/features/

 

[rtsurfer]

I heard some reviews at least when the card came out saying that the Original bios has throttling issues while LN2 didn't?

Don't remember reading this anywhere.
Source.?

 

[Crow550]

Don't remember reading this anywhere.
Source.?

http://youtu.be/AoaUik5KDY0?t=3m41s

 

[rtsurfer]

http://youtu.be/AoaUik5KDY0?t=3m41s

Thanks for the link.

Its strange since I could OC mine to 1200Mhz on the stock BIOS pretty easily. Just increased the PL in AfterBurner & voltages obviously.

Switched to LN2 for Higher but I think I could have gone higher on the regular one too. Oh well..

 

[_UP_]

Question. Has anyone tried the G10 bracket with the Lightning? I know it *shouldn't* work, but it doesn't mean that it *wouldn't*
I might be looking to get a bracket, as the waterblocks are hard to get in Canada and are pretty expensive.
Thanks!

EDIT: grammar