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R9 290 Non Reference Prices?

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  • Hardware
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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December 16, 2013 11:58:33 AM

Hi Toms Hardware Forum

Basically I want a new GPU to go with my new 1440p monitor and i've decided on a 290 as it is within my price range. However I don't want to get one with the stock cooler on because i've heard what temperatures that thing will reach (95 C) and ive just discovered that the Gigabyte Windforce variant of the card is going to be sold at £389.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX...

Now this is slightly out of my price range and i don't want to be really spending nearly £400 on a graphics card alone.
Should I see what the other Non-Reference cards will be like before i make my choice? Or should i get a 280X instead? Or should I get a Stock Card but with an after market cooler like the Toms Hardware Article suggested.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/r9-290-accelero-xtr...
I am seriously considering this option because it does seem the cheapest.


Thanks, sorry for going on a bit there

More about : 290 reference prices

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December 16, 2013 12:12:22 PM

First of all, the R9 290 is simply too great of a board to give up on. Second, it seems you can change the BIOS on the card, enabling the disabled processors making it a R9 290X, assuming you don't have a partially bad chip. So that is a nice possibility. If you can wait for a couple weeks, that's your best bet. Other vendors will doubtless be cheaper, some even more expensive. But I've no doubt you could get one with a good custom cooler cheaper. You may have to wait for a month or so after the custom cooler boards are released for the prices to ease. But, again, the R9 290 board is well worth the wait. Amazing technology. And when overclocked will beat a Titan. I would be reluctant to hack up a card like Tom's did.

Anyways, waiting a few weeks is your best bet. Then you will be able to see clearly the optimum solution for you.
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December 16, 2013 12:20:47 PM

Thanks for the advice, I think I'll keep an eye out for the non reference ones. Cant wait!!!
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