The R9 295 thread - Reviews are in - Quiet, cooler, fast, $1500

[Gikaseixas]

You guys should back up a notch as I am only really asking questions. I didnt know PCPer did a frame latency segment, until I asked and someone told. So folks, lets cut down the defensive stance shall we?
To make a lot of you feel at ease, I'll say this card is far better than expected.

Now off to read PCPer review and compare.

You can answer those questions yourself, for starters read more reviews (which i think you did but couldn't find a single negative to talk about)
Too bad you only have one site to support your weak case when everybody else is saying the opposite.

 

[Keysplayr]

You can answer those questions yourself, for starters read more reviews (which i think you did but couldn't find a single negative to talk about)
Too bad you only have one site to support your weak case when everybody else is saying the opposite.

Oh I see. Baiting is your thing. I'll not bite.
I only read Anandtechs review.

 

[Hitman928]

Why are people jumping on Keys? Seriously, he's been very civil and even slightly complimentary in this thread. Yes, he clearly sides with nVidia and may try to guide a conversation at times, but so what? He's been far more polite and professional than several others in this thread that don't have an Nvidia Focus Group Member line in their sig. Respond like adults to someone or just ignore them, sheesh.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

Which one would you say carries more weight? PCPer or TP based on what you've seen here and why?

They bear about the same weight because I hear people say tp is a shill site and PCper getting FCAT directly from nvidia says an awful lot about the state of hardware reviewing...

Either way Ryan from PCper has been extremely hard on amd in reviews and he was pleased with the card.

 

[DiogoDX]

You can answer those questions yourself, for starters read more reviews (which i think you did but couldn't find a single negative to talk about)
Too bad you only have one site to support your weak case when everybody else is saying the opposite.

Man, don't waste your time. This is just like that pclab bf4 test all over again.

 

[Gikaseixas]

Man, don't waste your time. This is just like that pclab bf4 test all over again.

Unfortunately you're right. Off to bed

 

[OCGuy]

Was this a launch or a Titan-Z like paper-launch?

 

[Hitman928]

Was this a launch or a Titan-Z like paper-launch?

I would say it's a soft launch or perhaps an OEM launch (better than a paper launch but not immediate retail availability). Retail availability is expected in ~10 days if I remember right.

 

[KaRLiToS]

Was this a launch or a Titan-Z like paper-launch?

Looks like a launch.

 

[Silverforce11]

You guys are beating about the bush about review sites and their suites, nothing has changed since the two decades that online review sites have been reviewing hardware. It's always been game specific. You can skew it either way quite easily.

The only thing that matters:

1. The overall summary of most of the reputable sites.
2. Games you are interested in playing, or game engines for future titles you are keen on.

Ultimately this card past my own expectations and almost everyone here too. Dual card, we were expecting crippled shaders or clocks to reduce power use.. nope, full blown and a small OC too. We were expecting it to be hot and noisy.. nope, damn quiet for such a beast of a card.

It says a lot when even the typical anti-AMD crowd can only complaint about PCIE specs or poor performance in older or broken/NV sponsored games.

As for comparisons versus 2 separate R290X.. sorry, if you ever tried to cram dual open air cards (the only ones worth using) into a closed rig, you will realize its a nightmare to cool.

 

[OCGuy]

As for comparisons versus 2 separate R290X.. sorry, if you ever tried to cram dual open air cards (the only ones worth using) into a closed rig, you will realize its a nightmare to cool.

I've done it multiple times, never had a cooling issue.

The reviewers compare it to 2x 290x because that is exactly what it is. Like others mentioned, that is impressive that AMD went for it, not a jab.

I'm hoping this is the first and last time we see power consumption and/or prices this high for the halo cards though.

 

[Kenmitch]

Ultimately this card past my own expectations and almost everyone here too. Dual card, we were expecting crippled shaders or clocks to reduce power use.. nope, full blown and a small OC too. We were expecting it to be hot and noisy.. nope, damn quiet for such a beast of a card.

Using the last couple of years as a reference....I find it hard to believe AMD designed this card as it seems to be beyond their capabilities.

I'm sure the reviews were hard to swallow for more than a few.

With a card of this caliber I don't consider the power requirements to be an issue.

 

[Silverforce11]

I've done it multiple times, never had a cooling issue.

The reviewers compare it to 2x 290x because that is exactly what it is. Like others mentioned, that is impressive that AMD went for it, not a jab.

I'm hoping this is the first and last time we see power consumption and/or prices this high for the halo cards though.

You've put 2X 250W class (780/ti, R290/X) open air GPUs next to each other in a closed case and don't have an issue? Really? Because from all the complaints about such configs on tech forums, one would figured dumping all that heat and recycling the used air by those coolers lead to a bad setup.

There's still Titan Z coming soon, and at $2999 too.

 

[Silverforce11]

Using the last couple of years as a reference....I find it hard to believe AMD designed this card as it seems to be beyond their capabilities.

I'm sure the reviews were hard to swallow for more than a few.

With a card of this caliber I don't consider the power requirements to be an issue.

To be fair, ASUS did most of the grunt work for this inspiration. ARES II is practically the same as the R295 X2 in design.

 

[Keysplayr]

You've put 2X 250W class (780/ti, R290/X) open air GPUs next to each other in a closed case and don't have an issue? Really? Because from all the complaints about such configs on tech forums, one would figured dumping all that heat and recycling the used air by those coolers lead to a bad setup.

There's still Titan Z coming soon, and at $2999 too.

Case ventilation works wonders when done right and at the same time choosing a proper case. High end components deserve high end cases and cooling.

 

[96Firebird]

It says a lot when even the typical anti-AMD crowd can only complaint about PCIE specs

News to me that I am part of the "typical anti-AMD crowd"... Thanks for the label Silverforce! ^_^

 

[OCGuy]

You've put 2X 250W class (780/ti, R290/X) open air GPUs next to each other in a closed case and don't have an issue? Really? Because from all the complaints about such configs on tech forums, one would figured dumping all that heat and recycling the used air by those coolers lead to a bad setup.

There's still Titan Z coming soon, and at $2999 too.

I'm a little confused on why that is hard to believe...?

I think it is safe to say that the things we read and discuss on tech forums are generally exaggerated when it comes to real-world use. You can almost watch the evolution of a buzz-word like "micro-stutter", as it goes from being an obscure idea to a meme that everyone suddenly is worried about. I live in a very warm summer climate and have had both top-end CF and SLI setups, and air has worked just fine inside a closed case, except when bitcoin mining in 2011.

I prefer the independent overclock ability of two separate cards if/when I use multi-GPU, but I can see the allure of a single PCB in some instances. Personally, neither this nor the Titan-Z would be on my radar.

 

[Kenmitch]

To be fair, ASUS did most of the grunt work for this inspiration. ARES II is practically the same as the R295 X2 in design.

The inspiration/concept part I'd believe.

Viewing both the ARES II and the 295x2 torn down I'd say the 295x2 is more of a engineering marvel.

On another note viewing this image from the anandtech review

and comparing it to this one from the Techpowerup review

(while ignoring the color/contrast difference) it looks like the Anandtech sample was reworked/repaired.

You'll see 2 green wires next to the bottom mini display port. Or is it scribbles from a photo editing app?

Link to higher res photo from Anandtech http://images.anandtech.com/doci/79...oduct_Shot_PCB_Flat_Profile_5in300dpi_RBG.jpg

 

[guskline]

My hats off to AMD for addressing the most glaring problem of the Hawaii release, the stock cooler. Along the way they came to realize that properly cooled this chip can maintain a decent core clock without throttling.

I only have a single EVGA GTX780 classified but putting a watercooled block and a backplate on it turns it into a beast. I have the vcore at 1.25 and core at 1298 with memory at 1704 and it never exceeds 41C. Try that with an aircooler. I bet if the R9 295 had a custom watercooling block that included the VRM the temps would be much lower AND the headroom to OC would be greater.

As it is AMD did a great job with the dual Asetek waterblock and copper heatsink/fan for the VRM. I'm still trying to figure out how that single 120mm rad could handle that much heat!

 

[SlowSpyder]

When I see these dual GPU cards without the cooler I can't help but think single GPU cards are made much longer than they need to be.

 

[DarkKnightDude]

When I see these dual GPU cards without the cooler I can't help but think single GPU cards are made much longer than they need to be.

Well, AMD had an extra 6 months to think about the dual card design. This is easily the best dual card ever from them, might be one of their best, ignoring the price of course.

 

[Rvenger]

Which one would you say carries more weight? PCPer or TP based on what you've seen here and why?

PCPer IMO carries the most weight since they brought up the 7970 latency issue last year which brought a ton of attention to AMD and brought it into light to their customers and how they develop their drivers.

 

[SPBHM]

it's a great card as a luxury product like Titan, also it makes Titan Z even more ridiculous for anything other than CUDA programmers, Nvidia should now be planing the GTX 790 if they want to sell dual GPU cards for gamers,

oh and they really fixed the cooling problems, that's for sure, but I wonder if partners can released a custom air cooler version for less money? because it's a shame that it costs so much more than the older dual GPU cards like the 5970-6990-7990.... but so do the single version...

 

[tweakboy]

That thing is 1500. You pay 1500 to get CCC hell...... Titan will destroy this ,,,

 

[blackened23]

Using the last couple of years as a reference....I find it hard to believe AMD designed this card as it seems to be beyond their capabilities.

I'm sure the reviews were hard to swallow for more than a few.

With a card of this caliber I don't consider the power requirements to be an issue.

It isn't' beyond their capabilities. What's happened is that AMD noted prior disappointments with reference coolers such as the 6990 (the 6990 was RIDICULOUS loud by the way, just insanely loud.) and 290X reference, they noted those complaints, and came back with an improved quiet product.

*brief tangent about the software situation on the 295x2, and the techreport review*
This is why I don't quite understand why fans get so super uptight when deficiencies such as this are brought to light - they are mentioned for a reason by various review websites and as hard it is for some to believe, this honest feedback results in successive products being IMPROVED.

Some folks need to let that sink in for a moment. Kepler's efficiency would not have happened if Fermi had not been so thoroughly slammed, particularly with the GTX 480; that feedback resulted in improved products which were quieter and more efficient. Had that not happened, maybe Hot and loud would be the status quo with Kepler as well. But it isn't. Nvidia went to the drawing board, noting the problems with Fermi, and designed a better architecture in terms of efficiency and performance per watt. Similarly, the negative feedback for AMD, which IMO was completely deserved with the reference 290X GPUs, resulted in a dual GPU which is their best single card dual GPU product ever. AMD knew that loud cards aren't as desirable or acceptable on the market these days. So they created a quiet high performing dual GPU. But it isn't perfect. Closest they've ever achieved for sure though, kudos on that.

So think about this when someone mentions that AMD needs to fix software as the last part of their goal to better their products. There is no need for excuses, AMD has improved a little but they're still not where they need to be. Now with that said, this is clearly AMD's best dual GPU card ever. Hat's off to them. The hardware is sound - it's a quiet card, performs well. Just like PCPer bringing frame pacing to light when they did resulted in IMPROVED PRODUCTS, consider that before getting super uptight about some games lacking crossfire profiles. You can say, "nvidia sponsored game". Okay. None of these developers have locked AMD from anything i've read, and I don't deal with conspiracy theories. Similarly, nvidia doesn't raise a victim flag with AMD GE titles such as those from square enix. What do they do? They fly their software guys out to the developer and work with them to get stuff working for their consumer base. AMD GE or not, NV knows their fan base wants this stuff. Now AMD may have had limited funds in the past, but that situation has improved and certainly this can improve as well. AMD has made strides here, but clearly not at the finish line yet.

Now neither company is perfect. Demand AMD to fix these games lacking crossfire. If you do, it will result in a better product for you. Promise. This is how things work with both AMD and nvidia. Your feedback and reviewers feedback results in improved products. If you simply accept subpar, then you will continue to get subpar in terms of software. Clearly with frame pacing, MOST of the fan base doesn't want sub par frame pacing. This should apply to all aspects of card hardware and software design for both AMD and NV.

Anyway, TLDR is that the card is sound. If you guys demand better in terms of software you will get better. Keep this in mind. If you continue to accept less than acceptable software, that's what you will get. AMD and NV both move to the cadence of what their audience demands. I would like for AMD to be better in this regard. It is interesting and exciting to see the GPU competition heat up - it isn't one sided as it was for so many years. AMD has competitive performance. Now I feel the software end should be improved. Perhaps if they improve that, the competition will heat up even more which will result in better products and pricing for all of us. Regardless of any brand preference.