AMD Radeon 290x VS. 280x

[TechN00BY]

Is the difference between the two be significant or could i get a 280x and get the same performance?

 

[clutchc]

Check out this comparison and then decide based on the value of the price difference to you.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1041?vs=1056

 

[Brandonriess8]

If it's performance you're worried about, the 290X delivers more than 50% better performance than the 280X in benchmarks and new DX11.2 games. This is all at the cost of consistently running at no more or no less than 95 degrees, always having a fairly noisy fan when in uber mode or with a high fan profile, and a hefty power consumption to match. The 280X delivers reasonable performance at much more manageable temps and a much quieter fan. Th 290X is the best bang for your buck between the 2, but a regular old 290 will be better than a 280X, and more energy, heat, and noise efficient than a 290X. The 290X has some troubles maintaining its 1 GHz clock rate because of heat, but the 290 will usually meet the expected 1 GHz 99% of the time, all at about $100 less.

 

[clutchc]

...This is all at the cost of consistently running at no more or no less than 95 degrees, always having a fairly noisy fan when in uber mode or with a high fan profile, and a hefty power consumption to match...

Based on my experience with the Asus 290X listed in my sig below, I have to disagree. My GPU core temp has never reached 95C ever. I watch that closely. Even when running games or benchmarks that take the card to 100% usage, it has never gone over 85C; and then only for a momentary peak. It is usually hovering in the mid/upper 70Cs when it hits upper 90% usage. Even running Furmark's 1080p Benchmark (100% usage) it only hits 75C.

And fan noise is practically non-existent. I have to listen intently to even tell when it increases slightly in speed. I believe you may be basing your conclusions on the AMD reference model, which indeed had those issues you mention.

 

[Brandonriess8]

...This is all at the cost of consistently running at no more or no less than 95 degrees, always having a fairly noisy fan when in uber mode or with a high fan profile, and a hefty power consumption to match...

Based on my experience with the Asus 290X listed in my sig below, I have to disagree. My GPU core temp has never reached 95C ever. I watch that closely. Even when running games or benchmarks that take the card to 100% usage, it has never gone over 85C; and then only for a momentary peak. It is usually hovering in the mid/upper 70Cs when it hits upper 90% usage. Even running Furmark's 1080p Benchmark (100% usage) it only hits 75C.

And fan noise is practically non-existent. I have to listen intently to even tell when it increases slightly in speed. I believe you may be basing your conclusions on the AMD reference model, which indeed had those issues you mention.

I know. The aftermarket coolers alleviate all problems relating to fan noise, temperature, and coil whine. The only thing it doesn't help is TDP, which increases quite a bit. I, myself have a reference cooler, and I cannot play any game without reaching 90-95 degrees with the temperature cap at max with stock clocks. The reference model is lousy, but it performs well, and it's the cheapest.

 

[Loxias]

I had the same question when the 290x launched, so here's my opinion since i went a slightly different route.

if you get an 290x with an aftermarket cooler you should have no problem at all with heat.
performance wise just one card a 290x will always be faster then a 280x.
that being said, just one 280x will still be enough to run BF4 & watch dogs on 1080p max detail without issues.

in the end, i bought two 280x cards for less money then a 290x.
(i still can get two 280x Cards for less then a 290x even at this point)

its not a setup I recommend to anyone, but the performance better then a 290x, price is less.
you do need a bigger power supply, a nice big case with decent airflow,


edit: not sure why i replied to this thread without checking the date 😛

 

[clutchc]

I had the same question when the 290x launched, so here's my opinion since i went a slightly different route.

if you get an 290x with an aftermarket cooler you should have no problem at all with heat.
performance wise just one card a 290x will always be faster then a 280x.
that being said, just one 280x will still be enough to run BF4 & watch dogs on 1080p max detail without issues.

in the end, i bought two 280x cards for less money then a 290x.
(i still can get two 280x Cards for less then a 290x even at this point)

its not a setup I recommend to anyone, but the performance better then a 290x, price is less.
you do need a bigger power supply, a nice big case with decent airflow,


edit: not sure why i replied to this thread without checking the date 😛

I wish I lived where I could get 2 x 280X for less than the price of a single 290X.