AMD Radeon R9 290 and R9 290X Specs Revealed

[InvalidError]

So about the same time PS4/Xbox 1 are released PC will get GPUs that are more than 2x faster than the console counterparts.

Talk about obsolete on arrival...

Not many people would be interested in throwing well over $600 at a console no matter how good the specs are. And console games are written with 720p60 and 1080i60/1080p30 resolutions in mind to be compatible with most HD TVs so the GPU requirement ceiling is much lower than the modern desktop's typical 1080p60.

 

[somebodyspecial]

So does AMD have it's true next generation waiting in the wings for 2014? It seems like these are just matching the two year old Kepler's with updated Tahiti architecture. With Maxwell on the way in early 2014, it seems like AMD will be back in a distant second place for quite some time after that.

Ah Matto still cannot give AMD credit, we will be back here if indeed the 290x beats the 1k Titan. Lets wait until official benchies arrive. Remember it took Nvidia a whole year to come out with their Kepler line up to face the HD 7000 series.

Seems that The 290 and 290X will give the GK110 a fight while being 100m2 smaller. I am interested in the Mantle API, something that will further the performance gap.

Your expecting Maxwell to you the great saviour however most reports have pretty much confirmed that it will arrive Q4 2014.

7970 debut was Dec 2011. GTX 680 launched on March 2012. Not sure what you mean by a year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radeon_HD_7000_Series
They barely had working silicon in june 2011 for 7000 series. So not even a 9 months from the working stuff let alone shipping chips. They are always 4 months or so apart. AMD releases first, then NV releases Q1.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeForce_600_Series
March 22 (same day as anantech etc reviews).

You're about 8 months off, and it took AMD until Never settle drivers in Nov 2012 to catch them...ROFL. Your reality distortion field is set to max I think.
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2013/02/18/2012_amd_video_card_driver_performance_review/#.UlQbim0piX8
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2013/03/04/2012_amd_nvidia_driver_performance_summary_review/6#.UlQb2G0piX8
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2013/01/21/2012_nvidia_video_card_driver_performance_review/#.UlQcBm0piX8
NV didn't give an ounce of performance until AFTER AMD dropped Never Settle drivers. There was no need. Then all of the sudden they drop new perf drivers monthly for the next 5 months. Hmm...Clearly HardOCP was wrong in the article saying they'd wrung all the perf there was out of the chip from the get go (how ridiculous was that statement anyway...Drivers were top notch day one? DUMB for ANY new gpu from either side to say that).

 

[JPForums]

5.0 Gbps memory speed? how much is it in GHz?

Given that the bus is 512 bits wide, a bandwidth of 5Gbps would only land you at less than 10 MHz (Less than 5 MHz with DDR).
My guess it is the author screwed the unit and it is actually a 5GHz clock on a 512 bit bus giving 2.56Tbps or 320 GBps of bandwidth. This seems reasonable as it is approximately 11% higher than the 7970GHz at 288 GBps bandwidth.

 

[Steveymoo]

That's too expensive. That's like, nearly a whole month's rent. Why are prices going up so much? Is manufacturing really getting more expensive? Or are we having the wool pulled over our eyes?

🙁

 

[FunSurfer]

5.0 Gbps memory speed? how much is it in GHz?

Given that the bus is 512 bits wide, a bandwidth of 5Gbps would only land you at less than 10 MHz (Less than 5 MHz with DDR).
My guess it is the author screwed the unit and it is actually a 5GHz clock on a 512 bit bus giving 2.56Tbps or 320 GBps of bandwidth. This seems reasonable as it is approximately 11% higher than the 7970GHz at 288 GBps bandwidth.

...well that sounds more logical...

 

[vmem]

So does AMD have it's true next generation waiting in the wings for 2014? It seems like these are just matching the two year old Kepler's with updated Tahiti architecture. With Maxwell on the way in early 2014, it seems like AMD will be back in a distant second place for quite some time after that.

Well, word on the street is that these architectures were originally designed and intended for the 20nm process, but have been cut down and tweaked to fit the old 28nm process since TSMC isn't ready to roll out 20nm chips yet. So if all goes well, we should see AMD update these cards in 2014, probably a few months after Nvidia unleashes Maxwell.

It'll be interesting to see Nvidia 'beta-test' a new process this time. they are generally more stringent about quality and have a bigger wallet. a more perfected 20nm process at TSMC would be great for all of us.

 

[MANOFKRYPTONAK]

This looks like an amazing card, flops look good, benches I've seen online (not official) look good. I also like the idea of mantle. I use Razers game booster, I wonder how similar it is to that? If AMD prices this right and has drivers down pat I believe this will sell well. But at the rumored $730, I mean ouch! Two 7970s should be better for 600, or 2 4gb 760s for 600. This card and AMD better not underwhelm like they have in the past, great products great company but something always seems a little off like drivers. But Nvidia has the same & different problems. I JUST WANT BETTER PRICING!

 

[childofthekorn]

I'm very curious to see if they actually have decent cooling now. The HSF looks pretty decent as I can see the fins and dual fans could work decent.

Unlike the garbage that was released with my non-reference 5850 with a huge block of metal (not only covering the GPU but the rest of the card as well) with little heat dissipating properties. The Aftermarket cooler I purchased for it looks much like the one depicted in the pictures of the 290x/290/280x/280 yet the newer gen cards have a lower profile HSF.

 

[bluekoala]

Is it me or does "5.0 Gbps memory speed" sound really awesful for GDDR5?

 

[technoholic]

What about the TDP of these top dogs?

 

[redeemer]

So does AMD have it's true next generation waiting in the wings for 2014? It seems like these are just matching the two year old Kepler's with updated Tahiti architecture. With Maxwell on the way in early 2014, it seems like AMD will be back in a distant second place for quite some time after that.

Ah Matto still cannot give AMD credit, we will be back here if indeed the 290x beats the 1k Titan. Lets wait until official benchies arrive. Remember it took Nvidia a whole year to come out with their Kepler line up to face the HD 7000 series.

Seems that The 290 and 290X will give the GK110 a fight while being 100m2 smaller. I am interested in the Mantle API, something that will further the performance gap.

Your expecting Maxwell to you the great saviour however most reports have pretty much confirmed that it will arrive Q4 2014.

7970 debut was Dec 2011. GTX 680 launched on March 2012. Not sure what you mean by a year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radeon_HD_7000_Series
They barely had working silicon in june 2011 for 7000 series. So not even a 9 months from the working stuff let alone shipping chips. They are always 4 months or so apart. AMD releases first, then NV releases Q1.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeForce_600_Series
March 22 (same day as anantech etc reviews).

You're about 8 months off, and it took AMD until Never settle drivers in Nov 2012 to catch them...ROFL. Your reality distortion field is set to max I think.
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2013/02/18/2012_amd_video_card_driver_performance_review/#.UlQbim0piX8
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2013/03/04/2012_amd_nvidia_driver_performance_summary_review/6#.UlQb2G0piX8
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2013/01/21/2012_nvidia_video_card_driver_performance_review/#.UlQcBm0piX8
NV didn't give an ounce of performance until AFTER AMD dropped Never Settle drivers. There was no need. Then all of the sudden they drop new perf drivers monthly for the next 5 months. Hmm...Clearly HardOCP was wrong in the article saying they'd wrung all the perf there was out of the chip from the get go (how ridiculous was that statement anyway...Drivers were top notch day one? DUMB for ANY new gpu from either side to say that).

I am talking about the whole line of Kepler cards man lol not just highend.

Furthermore Nvidia driver for the last 8 months have been terrible

 

[redeemer]

So does AMD have it's true next generation waiting in the wings for 2014? It seems like these are just matching the two year old Kepler's with updated Tahiti architecture. With Maxwell on the way in early 2014, it seems like AMD will be back in a distant second place for quite some time after that.

Ah Matto still cannot give AMD credit, we will be back here if indeed the 290x beats the 1k Titan. Lets wait until official benchies arrive. Remember it took Nvidia a whole year to come out with their Kepler line up to face the HD 7000 series.

Seems that The 290 and 290X will give the GK110 a fight while being 100m2 smaller. I am interested in the Mantle API, something that will further the performance gap.

Your expecting Maxwell to you the great saviour however most reports have pretty much confirmed that it will arrive Q4 2014.

7970 debut was Dec 2011. GTX 680 launched on March 2012. Not sure what you mean by a year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radeon_HD_7000_Series
They barely had working silicon in june 2011 for 7000 series. So not even a 9 months from the working stuff let alone shipping chips. They are always 4 months or so apart. AMD releases first, then NV releases Q1.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeForce_600_Series
March 22 (same day as anantech etc reviews).

You're about 8 months off, and it took AMD until Never settle drivers in Nov 2012 to catch them...ROFL. Your reality distortion field is set to max I think.
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2013/02/18/2012_amd_video_card_driver_performance_review/#.UlQbim0piX8
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2013/03/04/2012_amd_nvidia_driver_performance_summary_review/6#.UlQb2G0piX8
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2013/01/21/2012_nvidia_video_card_driver_performance_review/#.UlQcBm0piX8
NV didn't give an ounce of performance until AFTER AMD dropped Never Settle drivers. There was no need. Then all of the sudden they drop new perf drivers monthly for the next 5 months. Hmm...Clearly HardOCP was wrong in the article saying they'd wrung all the perf there was out of the chip from the get go (how ridiculous was that statement anyway...Drivers were top notch day one? DUMB for ANY new gpu from either side to say that).

I am talking about the whole line of Kepler cards man lol not just highend.

Furthermore Nvidia drivers for the past 8 months have been terrible

 

[Filiprino]

The number of ROPs haven't been disclosed. People is saying it has 64 ROPs, which is awesome given the target resolution and increase in TMUs.

 

[InvalidError]

Given that the bus is 512 bits wide, a bandwidth of 5Gbps would only land you at less than 10 MHz (Less than 5 MHz with DDR).
My guess it is the author screwed the unit and it is actually a 5GHz clock on a 512 bit bus

No unit fudging here: Gbps (per data pin) is technically correct.

Data rates in MHz are technically wrong since the frequencies on data busses vary depending on bit patterns: it takes a transition from 1 to 0 and 0 to 1 to complete a cycle or Hertz.

 

[Mousemonkey]

So does AMD have it's true next generation waiting in the wings for 2014? It seems like these are just matching the two year old Kepler's with updated Tahiti architecture. With Maxwell on the way in early 2014, it seems like AMD will be back in a distant second place for quite some time after that.

Ah Matto still cannot give AMD credit, we will be back here if indeed the 290x beats the 1k Titan. Lets wait until official benchies arrive. Remember it took Nvidia a whole year to come out with their Kepler line up to face the HD 7000 series.

Seems that The 290 and 290X will give the GK110 a fight while being 100m2 smaller. I am interested in the Mantle API, something that will further the performance gap.

Your expecting Maxwell to you the great saviour however most reports have pretty much confirmed that it will arrive Q4 2014.

7970 debut was Dec 2011. GTX 680 launched on March 2012. Not sure what you mean by a year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radeon_HD_7000_Series
They barely had working silicon in june 2011 for 7000 series. So not even a 9 months from the working stuff let alone shipping chips. They are always 4 months or so apart. AMD releases first, then NV releases Q1.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeForce_600_Series
March 22 (same day as anantech etc reviews).

You're about 8 months off, and it took AMD until Never settle drivers in Nov 2012 to catch them...ROFL. Your reality distortion field is set to max I think.
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2013/02/18/2012_amd_video_card_driver_performance_review/#.UlQbim0piX8
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2013/03/04/2012_amd_nvidia_driver_performance_summary_review/6#.UlQb2G0piX8
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2013/01/21/2012_nvidia_video_card_driver_performance_review/#.UlQcBm0piX8
NV didn't give an ounce of performance until AFTER AMD dropped Never Settle drivers. There was no need. Then all of the sudden they drop new perf drivers monthly for the next 5 months. Hmm...Clearly HardOCP was wrong in the article saying they'd wrung all the perf there was out of the chip from the get go (how ridiculous was that statement anyway...Drivers were top notch day one? DUMB for ANY new gpu from either side to say that).

I am talking about the whole line of Kepler cards man lol not just highend.

Furthermore Nvidia drivers for the past 8 months have been terrible

Really, I've had no issues at all and I've used every one of them.

 

[Roger Rogers-1382392]

Its still an international MYSTERY whether this will play 3D on Asus 27-inch (NVidia) 3D monitors that hundreds of thousands of people have bought across the world.




Edit
(for those you who who missed the point)
That would be NVIDIA ASUS 3D; Not AMD 3D (even though AMD are doing the graphics chipsets for the 3D PS4 and 3D X-One.


Double EDIT FOLLOWING DAY day.

Found a review today that indicates that it will run 1080p with Asus (NVidia) 3D at 60p via the HDMI Card output (instead of at 24p which can giving you Seizures in 3D).

Which is good.
I can put the PS3 back in the living room now (as the HD7770 will not allow 3D on the Asus VG278H monitor [but the PS3 will]), and now the Radeon 290X also will when it is released; but they should have come out with the information a little sooner, I already bid $525 on a GTX780 yesterday.

 

[17seconds]

Did anyone notice that these things don't overclock all that well? Not just the amount of overclock, but the scaling as well.

 

[Joel Lambert]

The 729.99 is the limited edition bundle. Im sure it will be knocked down in price minus $75-100 depending. it was was same as gtx 780 id buy it in a heart beat. Hell ive been saving for the limited edition bf4 bundle so im not to worried. if it end up being a fail well. i guess im just going to be running 2x 7970 ghz for awhile. or sli 2x 760's.

 

[redeemer]

Wow AMD Increase ROPs by 40% and increase the mem bus to 512bit and only increase die size by less the 20% on the same 28nm node..remarkable

 

[somebodyspecial]

That's too expensive. That's like, nearly a whole month's rent. Why are prices going up so much? Is manufacturing really getting more expensive? Or are we having the wool pulled over our eyes?

🙁

Considering AMD isn't making a dime...There is no wool being pulled over your eyes. They are not charging enough. Don't you have to make at least a SINGLE DOLLAR before anyone can claim they are charging too much? They don't make a DIME. ZERO. ZILCH. We getting the point? They have lost 6 BILLION in the last 10yrs. Again, someone isn't charging enough right? How do you lost a billion year after year if you are gouging people? Translation: You're not gouging ANY people. For christs sake you need to START gouging and quit giving out FREE GAMES...ROFL.

 

[somebodyspecial]

I am talking about the whole line of Kepler cards man lol not just highend.

Furthermore Nvidia drivers for the past 8 months have been terrible

Neither side releases all cards at once, so still don't get your point. They both do the same things, and the times are like I said across both lines top to bottom.

If NV's drivers have sucked for 8 months, we'd see more complainers and articles being written about it like they're being written about AMD. 😉

 

[Mousemonkey]

I am talking about the whole line of Kepler cards man lol not just highend.

Furthermore Nvidia drivers for the past 8 months have been terrible

Neither side releases all cards at once, so still don't get your point. They both do the same things, and the times are like I said across both lines top to bottom.

If NV's drivers have sucked for 8 months, we'd see more complainers and articles being written about it like they're being written about AMD. 😉

It does make one wonder if some people are actually owning or using some of the kit they advertise in their sigs doesn't it? 😗

 

[redeemer]

I am talking about the whole line of Kepler cards man lol not just highend.

Furthermore Nvidia drivers for the past 8 months have been terrible

Neither side releases all cards at once, so still don't get your point. They both do the same things, and the times are like I said across both lines top to bottom.

If NV's drivers have sucked for 8 months, we'd see more complainers and articles being written about it like they're being written about AMD. 😉

It does make one wonder if some people are actually owning or using some of the kit they advertise in their sigs doesn't it? 😗

Mouse your one of the biggest Nvidia fanboys I have ever seen in my life!!

 

[Mousemonkey]

That's because the cards and drivers have always just worked for me but all the ATi cards and drivers I've had to deal with have been nothing but trouble, hence why I empathise with Origin PC.

 

[redeemer]

That's because the cards and drivers have always just worked for me but all the ATi cards and drivers I've had to deal with have been nothing but trouble, hence why I empathise with Origin PC.

Your bias! Nvidia has had massive laptop chipset recalls and the destruction of consumer based cards because of various driver issues. Problems with Tomb Raider and BF3 still has problems etc.

In business things like this happen all the time, MainGear, Digital Storm, CyberPower and Geekbox still offer a wide range of AMD based solutions. We cannot expect Nvidia to payoff everyone can we?

I have had my share of trouble with Nvidia hardware and drivers all the way back from the 400 series.