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Cant Decide Between R9 290 and GTX 780

Tags:
  • gtx 780
  • r9 290
  • AMD
  • Graphics Cards
  • Nvidia
Last response: in Components
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September 18, 2014 2:55:28 PM

Hi
I've been researching graphics cards for a couple of days now and I can't decided between an AMD R9 290 and Nvidia GTX 780.

According to benchmarks they are pretty close in performance. The Nvidia card has less VRAM but is almost 10db quieter under load (according to GPU Boss) whereas the AMD card has a whole 1gb extra VRAM but its not as fast as Nvidias and is louder.

Both are roughly the same price and neither of them are reference cards which do I go for is there more facts that will help or is it purely opinions now?

AMD - Sapphire Tri-X OC
Nvidia - Zotac OC

More about : decide 290 gtx 780

a b À AMD
a b U Graphics card
September 18, 2014 2:58:42 PM

Well, I am an Nvidia person, but I would probably go with the 290.
September 18, 2014 3:01:33 PM

Hate to say it, but I would buy the r9 290 just because I've had bad experiences from zotac, does that mean zotac is a bad company? no.
Related resources
a b U Graphics card
September 18, 2014 3:17:47 PM

You can get a 290x for the price of a 780. Msi r9-290x $449 brand new or gigabyte Windforce 3 $499. Cheapest gtx 780 I can find on newegg is a shell shocker right now and it's a evga with acx cooler for $419. That's only a shell shocker though so it's not gonna be that tomorrow probably.
September 18, 2014 3:27:49 PM

nostall said:
Well, I am an Nvidia person, but I would probably go with the 290.


Why do you say that if you're a Nvidia person?

My current card is an AMD HD 5870 never had any problems and my card before that was an nvidia (again, no problems) so I sit on the fence. are these 290's seriously loud? like jet engine loud and run at Sahara Desert temperatures as people seem to say?

my current card noise levels:
Idle noise level 42.4 dB
Load noise level 53.8 dB

r9 290
Idle noise level 39.5 dB
Load noise level 57.2 dB

would I notice the 3.4db difference? (odd how idle is quieter on 290)

What about the issue of throttling with the r9 290s I've been hearing about where AMD have made it so that rather than speed up the fans they lower the power output?


I'm in the UK azzazel_99
a b U Graphics card
September 18, 2014 3:34:06 PM

Reference models are really the only ones that throttle And yes those are loud as hell. If you are going to get one make sure it's something like you listed the sapphire or Msi or something of the sort just not reference.
a b À AMD
a b U Graphics card
September 18, 2014 5:45:18 PM

smush said:
nostall said:
Well, I am an Nvidia person, but I would probably go with the 290.


Why do you say that if you're a Nvidia person?

My current card is an AMD HD 5870 never had any problems and my card before that was an nvidia (again, no problems) so I sit on the fence. are these 290's seriously loud? like jet engine loud and run at Sahara Desert temperatures as people seem to say?

my current card noise levels:
Idle noise level 42.4 dB
Load noise level 53.8 dB

r9 290
Idle noise level 39.5 dB
Load noise level 57.2 dB

would I notice the 3.4db difference? (odd how idle is quieter on 290)

What about the issue of throttling with the r9 290s I've been hearing about where AMD have made it so that rather than speed up the fans they lower the power output?


I'm in the UK azzazel_99


Bang for the buck. Both are excellent cards but the 290 costs slightly less for the performance. That Sapphire card has received an awful lot of really good reviews, too.
a b U Graphics card
September 19, 2014 6:09:33 AM

Easy. The GTX 970 just entered the market, and at 330$ you can't beat it.
a b U Graphics card
September 19, 2014 6:16:49 AM

He is in uk so he isn't gonna get it at that price
a b À AMD
a b U Graphics card
September 19, 2014 10:14:48 AM

Smush, Android has a point. You might want to wait, if possible, until the new 970 hits the market and see what the going price is gonna be for one of those.
Also, those two new cards are going to have an effect on the prices of older generation cards; I would expect the price on both Nvidia cards (700 series and below) and probably the AMD cards to go down.
September 20, 2014 6:48:47 AM

I thought the 970 was replacing the GTX 770 so it won't be on par with either of R9 290 and GTX 780? That card would likely be the GTX 980 which is likely to be very expensive

Also, it'll probably be this time next year before the better 3rd party cards come out wont it?


From my last post: is this a 290 or 290X? http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Graphics+Card...
a b À AMD
a b U Graphics card
September 20, 2014 10:20:56 AM

smush said:
I thought the 970 was replacing the GTX 770 so it won't be on par with either of R9 290 and GTX 780? That card would likely be the GTX 980 which is likely to be very expensive

Also, it'll probably be this time next year before the better 3rd party cards come out wont it?


From my last post: is this a 290 or 290X? http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Graphics+Card...


That is a 290, non-X. EVGA already has shipped and Newegg has sold or is selliing their version of the 970 with the ACX cooler. Gigabyte has an overclocked 980 with their cooler on it. Don't think it will be next year for 3d party cards.
September 20, 2014 10:53:04 AM

Go with the r9 cheaper and has just about the same performance and can run everything 1080p 60fps and really its not that loud
September 20, 2014 10:59:49 AM

I think I'm gonna hold off for awhile longer see what comes of the other 3rd party gtx 970's. Thanks people

My PSU is a CoolerMaster 750W 80Plus this should be enough for a r9 290 or a GTX 970 right?
a b À AMD
a b U Graphics card
September 20, 2014 12:08:13 PM

Nvidia recommends a 500watt psu for the 970 (it is only a 145watt card, approx. 12amps current draw at full power), and AMD suggests a 550watt with 31amps on the 12v rail for the entire system; So your PSU should easily handle either card.
Cavieat: Exactly what model is the PSU? Some of Coolermaster's PSU's are not real good. Take a look at these links for more information:
https://community.newegg.com/eggxpert/computer_hardware...
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1804779/power-su...
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=Search
(If it doesn't open with the cooler master search that I did, just type in cooler master in the search bar, make sure that Reviews is check marked and do the search).
September 21, 2014 6:14:15 AM

Ok I've identified the PSU as a Cooler Master GX 750w. I don't think it is a GX2 because the review for the GX2 came out in 2013 on JonnyGURU and the previous GX series was reviewed in 2010 which I think was around the time I built the PC

on Tom's it is under Tier 4 - "Not for overclocking systems or high end gaming rigs. May not even output labeled power and fail standard ATX specifications slightly. May even use cheap components to meet a price"

on Newegg it is also Tier 4 - "Not Recommend for stressful situations. May not be able to put out full rated power above room temperature, and may slightly fail to meet ATX specs."

For some reason the 450w is rated higher? Will my GX 750w not cope with an r9 290 or GTX 970 then?
!