R9 390x vs Fury and best monitor to go with it.

[GrandHunterMan]

I'm looking for a new upgrade for my PC. I want to get a 1440p 144hz Freesync monitor and a graphics card to go with it. Right now I'm deciding between a 390X and a Fury. I will likely do some minor overclocking on it. In the future I'll likely add another via crossfire, so it should crossfire well. Performance per dollar is fairly important, as I don't want to pay an extra $100+ for 5 fps. From what I see on various sites, the 390X is the best in this regard, but I may be wrong.

I am also looking for a new monitor to go with this card. I'm going to be playing lots of different games on it, ranging from CSGO to Witcher 3 to heavily modded minecraft. I was thinking 1440p@144hz since this gives the high frames necessary for CSGO, but also the HD resolution for games like Witcher, with Freesync evening out the frames. Something like this, but cheaper (preferably <$400 CAD.)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824014451&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=IGNEFL111315&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL111315-_-EMC-111315-Latest-_-LCDLEDMonitors-_-24014451-S2A1B

Any suggestions are welcome.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I'm not sure what you are asking.... the 390x is a decent card out o the box but if you are an Afterburner kinda guy, best look at the 9xx series as the R9's have very little heardroom. If ya use AB, then a 970 ($100 cheaper) just edges the 390x @ 1440p according to Techpowerup test results when both cards are overclocked.

From a relative value standpoint (fps / dollar), this is the cards in different tiers stack up agaist one another

Fury - X - 1.62
980 Ti - 2.20

390x - 2.56
980 - 2.78

390 - 3.35
970 - 3.59

390x - 2.56
970 - 3.33

Fury - 1.99
980 - 2.48

As you can see the 980 vs 390x is the most competitive among the bunch. The 380x was supposed to drop yesterday; with the 380 being the best buy in the AMD lineup, I am anxious to see how this one fits in.

Moving on to the monitor, just want to make note of one important difference between Freesync and G-Sync

G-Sync provides frame synchronization up to 60 fps and works well up to about 75. In addition, G-Sync all comes with ULMB and you can switch from G-Sync to ULMB at any point above 60 fps to take advantage of the Ultra Low Motion Blur technology. The ULMB technology is responsible for the major portion of the cost premium for G-Sync.

FreeSync provides frame synchronization up to 60 fps and works well up to about 75. However, FreeSync includes no Motion Blur reduction so you can not switch from FreeSync to MBR cause it just isn't part of Freesync which allows Freesync monitors to be offered at substantially lower prices. However, monitor manufacturers have stepped in to fill the void, but, some monitors are so equipped and some are not. And yes, when so equipped, there is a cost premium for the added technology.

So when Freesync shopping, be aware of which monitor had MBR tech and which does not .... if motion blur is a factor in how you use your system, a $350 monitor w/o MBR tech may not be as good a deal as a $400 one w/ it.

For an excellent description of Freesync and MBR, check out some of the reviews on tftcentral. The XG270HU is the "go to" Freesync moniytor that I have seen so far, but it's a bit outta your price range in CAD dollars

http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/acer-monitor-umhg0aa001
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/acer_xg270hu.htm

The BenQ 2730Z had some issues initially but the new firmware (requires factory upgrade) fixed it as I recall.... the old ones were supposed to be out of the channel by July so you should be good to go.
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/benq_xl2730z.htm

The Asus MG279Q is another one that was reviewed well but, I don't see it as $200 better than the Acer especially with the lag issues noted in the review.
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/asus_mg279q.htm

It would appear that the BenQ is going to be your best option; here's an excerpt from the review above:

It's a great gaming screen right up there in performance with other fast gaming models we've tested like the Asus ROG Swift PG278Q. There's the same high 2560 x 1440 resolution, comparable response times and overshoot levels, high refresh rate support, a decent blur reduction mode (if a bit buggy at some settings) and very low lag. In fact the XL2730Z offers a lot that the ROG Swift does not, with a whole host of connectivity options, aspect ratio scaling options, loads of presets and a massive range of gaming extras which we really liked....

Gaming aside, the default setup was decent once you'd switched out of the default gaming preset and on to the standard mode. It also had a decent TN Film contrast ratio and a flicker free backlight which is always welcome. You do of course have to live with the limitations of TN Film technology, most notably the restrictive viewing angles and associated gamma/colour shift, but the same can be said for nearly every gaming screen out there less true w/ recent releases]. Once BenQ and AMD have addressed the FreeSync/overdrive bug [done] this will be a very good gaming screen and worth a close look regardless of whether you're a FreeSync user or not.

Similarly, if you don't OC your GFX cards the 390X is a great choice, and even if you do with respect to the more expensive AMD models.... the Fury and FuryX have more limited overclocking ability you get less outta them in that respect as you move up so from that PoV it has additional attraction.