7970 + r9-280x vs r9-290x

[vampyiere6]

So as the title say how much fps difference would there be between a 7970 ghz edition gigabyte 1ghz model + a gigabyte r9-280x in xfire vs a single r9-290x?

I currently have the gigabyte 7970 and is thinking about getting a R9-280x to xfire it with, if i dident had my 7970 that i buyd about 5 months ago i would most likley go with the r9-290x but, now it seems like a waste since then i would be left with my 7970 that i love, but would it be better to xfire it with a r9-280x later on?

And is a 730w psu enough? i have the thermaltake smart 730w psu
http://www.thermaltake.com/products-model.aspx?id=C_00001801
pretty sure its that one there is no other smart 730w one,

here is the rest of my system that draws power

Spec:
cpu: amd fx-8350
mobo: asus m5a99x evo
ram: kingston 16gb 1333 mhz 4x4 gb sticks
gpu: Gigabyte radeon HD 7970 oc 1000 mhz
storage: 120 gb ssd 60x2 ocz and 1tb normal hdd
cooler: antec kuhler 620
case: fractal design core 3000
psu: 730w thermaltake SP-730AH2NH
optical drive: LG bluray station
fan controller: Lamptron Fan Controller FC5 V2
Fans: 3 120mm led fans, 2 normal 120mm fans, 3 140mm led fans

And pretty many usb things that draw power idk how much that affects the psu, mouse+keyboard+headphones, backlight keyboard, mouse with ligh, headphones have light too all razer. then a xbox 360 gamepad controller, 3 external harddriver but they are not connected normaly only when i use them, 2 of them has own power suply.

 

[PandaBear270]

The PSU is enought. About the dual or single, well, is a complicated topic. You have to consider that, a single GPU will always grant you the most compatibility and stability in every game, and the dual GPUs will be like a lab experiment where you are trying to hit the most performance.
So is up to you. The FPS difference, in games that support the crossfiring, will be a lot more for the dual configuration.
You have already a 7970, then, save a bit money and get a new 7970.

 

[vampyiere6]

The PSU is enought. About the dual or single, well, is a complicated topic. You have to consider that, a single GPU will always grant you the most compatibility and stability in every game, and the dual GPUs will be like a lab experiment where you are trying to hit the most performance.
So is up to you. The FPS difference, in games that support the crossfiring, will be a lot more for the dual configuration.
You have already a 7970, then, save a bit money and get a new 7970.

Thanks for the answer so my 730w psu will be enough to power my whole system and xfire with 7970+ another or a r9-280x

The r9-280x here is about 50 euros cheaper then the cheapest gigabyte 7970 the same that i have so a 280x would be much cheaper with better clock speed and will have mantle even when i heard the 7xxx serie will get it too.

So if i get a 280x would it be better to run it in the first pcie slot instead of the 7970 or will it make any diffrent at all what card i run in slot 1?

 

[huilun02]

Yes just Xfire with a 280X. In optimized games like Battlefield 4 you'd get performance like the 7990

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/battlefield_4_vga_graphics_performance_benchmark,7.html

Look at it go! It will also perform spectacularly in the future Frostbite engine games.

 

[fahq]

i had a very similar worded question and was advised to go with the 4gb 290x... as the original poster asked would you put the 280x in the first slot and the 7970 in the second slot?
I play wow (i know i know ......) and will be playing the upcoming Shroud of the Avatar, and am curious if i should r9-290x (when they come out with better coolers) or 7970+r9-280x. my current psu will have to be changed if i go crossfire so the cost in the long run is about the same...

 

[huilun02]

For the OP I'd rather not waste his 7970. His board and PSU allows for Crossfire as well. In an ideal situation where the game likes Crossfire (like BF4), Crossfire 280x (or 280x with 7970) outperforms a single 290x.

As for fahq, I think Crossfire works fine in WoW so theoretically it still outperforms a 290x. A single 7970 or 280x is more than enough for those MMOs anyway.

As for what slot to put each card I'd say put the slimmer one on top so that both cards get as much air as possible.