780 or 290(non x)

[sammydonn]

I am looking to buy one of these two graphics cards, currently the 290 is overpriced but I am still not sure which card to get because some 290s are still cheaper. Also, I know no one knows but is it worth waiting for the 800 series comes out, I'm not in much of a rush.

 

[Mephikun]

Depends on what you're using it for.

Looking at benchmarks it looks like the 290 is better in most cases, but the 780 in others. These are not large differences though.

If you're tight for cash go for the 780. If you can afford the 290, I say go for it.

 

[ak47jar3d]

These cards are pretty even. 780 runs cooler, but r9 290 has better performance. Which means more to you?

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Depends on how you use it.....Outta the box the they are pretty close and outta the box, the 290x handily wins the performance crown due to the aggressive factory OC in ultra mode..... but overclocked "to the wall", the 780 gains 25% pretty routinely and that manages to top both the 290 and 290x.

Not to mention....what monitor ? If 120 / 144 Hz, that favors nVidia (Lightboost / Gsync)

Also what strikes ya fancy more .... Mantle or PhysX / Shadowplay ?

 

[combine1237]

The main issue people are having with te 290 and 290x's right now are driver. If you put them under water, even closed loop they overclock great.

http://www.amazon.com/MSI-290-DisplayPort-PCI-Express-GAMING/dp/B00HPS4AFG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395287179&sr=8-1&keywords=r9+290

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HHIPM5Q/ref=s9_simh_gw_p147_d0_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1F6R8WPS0TX522ZECB7J&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846

Those are the cheapest 290s out there right now that I could find at a glance. You should be able to get 1050 off both I believe.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

On average I am seeing 9 - 12% max on average under water with lows of 7....saw 1 or 2 get up to hi teens but only with certain models..