DrRorschach :
Basically I need to decide between these two cards and I don't know which one to choose...
My processor is a 4GHz AMD A8 6600k with integrated Radeon HD8570D graphics and my motherboard is an MSI FM2-A55M-E35 uATX.
Which card will run best on this board and CPU?
(P.S. my mobo has AMD Crossfire so is it possible that the 290x will be able to recieve a boost from my integrated graphics?)
Thank you all.
R9 290 Tri-X owner here.
If I were you I'd find out if that APU (with integrated HD8570D) can be combined with R9 series cards in order to increase performance, if you could do that, then I think it would be better for you to get some R9.
I want to clear up some misconceptions about the R9 290 series. It's true that the reference models run very hot, but this isn't the case at all with custom models like mine (Sapphire R9 290 Tri-X OC 4GB). My R9 290 runs at 74ºC tops (including VRM) at full load and 1000MHz constant core clock, which means that it runs cooler than that most of the time. I can overclock my R9 290 up to 1200MHz with gpu temps topping at 77ºC under full load.
The Tri-X cooler is impressive, it runs VERY quiet and it cools the card remarkably well. You only need to push the fans to 40% tops (50% when overclocking) in order to keep temperatures below 80ºC under the most demanding scenarios, you can even use them at 30-35% and the card will still run cool. These Tri-X fans don't make noise until they reach +55%, then you'll start hearing them, but , as I said, there's no need to push the fans beyond 40%, since temperatures are already kept below 75ºC using that value.
Bottom line: Custom R9 290 models run cool and quiet. My old GTX 560Ti, for instance, used to run considerably hotter (VRM used to reach 90ºC, LOL) and it was VERY loud when under load. So quit saying Nvidia is cooler and quieter because that's not always true (my experience is exactly the opposite, for instance).
However, I do agree that AMD drivers are pretty bad (artifacting, system crashes, etc.).
But if I had an APU like you, I would consider AMD cards, in case I could somehow take advantage of the AMD integrated graphics. Combine the AMD gpu with the AMD apu in order to get increased performance. Otherwise, perhaps I'd consider getting a GTX 970 (or GTX 980 If my budget allowed it), but I'm unsure that APU would work well with it.
Here you can see how these cards perform in BF4, Crysis 3, Tomb Raider and Bioshock Infinite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5aPkZFnVYU
The performance difference between the R9 290x and the GTX 970 is pretty small if you ask me, but it's true that nvidia cards are much less power hungy, more efficient, that's definitely telling us something (not to mention that a lot of game engines like Cryengine run better on nvidia cards). The R9 290x is an overclocked card by default, unlike the GTX 970, which means that AMD needs to push their technology close to its limits in order to catch up with the best nvidia cards, at the cost of huge energy consumption and high component stress. Nvidia cards can do more using less, in a nutshell. If the price is ok with you, then I'd recommend to go for Nvidia.
However, I don't know how your AMD APU will cope with nvidia cards. I wouldn't expect the high fps you see in the video with your APU, you'll probably get lower fps because your cpu isn't as powerful as the one they used (probably).
So if there's a way to combine AMD integrated graphics and AMD gpu, then go for some R9, otherwise, get a GTX 970. And next time don't buy AMD APUs if you plan on buying a dedicated graphics card afterwards, because then the APU concept becomes pointless and all the potential cpu power you could've had with a pure cpu is lost.
Oh, and going back to SLI/Crossfire, I understand there both a pain, but after reading reviews, I'd advise everybody to stay away from Crossfire. It sounds like a nightmare 
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