Graphics card upgrade from a R9 290x

Tolemac

Tolemac

Active member
Hi guy's I thought I would get our super duper bonkers mental forumites opinions on which card to upgrade from my beloved Sapphire R9 290X Vapor X.

I have a 1440p freesync monitor but I wouldn't mind skipping that if I get better performance
in future games. I also would wish to slap a water block on it. I look forward to your answers and will take into consideration every post "Provided it's not silly".
Budget =£450

Many thanks Tole
 
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Going to a 480 wouldnt change much perormance wise, you could try going for a crossfire setup and just buy a second 290x shouldn't be that expensive either since it's an older card but should do great in 1440p.
 
Thelosouvlakia said:
Going to a 480 wouldnt change much perormance wise, you could try going for a crossfire setup and just buy a second 290x shouldn't be that expensive either since it's an older card but should do great in 1440p.
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I could go 2 R9 390 8gb for £400 then sell the Vapor X to get an 850w PSU as I only have 750w atm
 
Tolemac said:
I could go 2 R9 390 8gb for £400 then sell the Vapor X to get an 850w PSU as I only have 750w atm
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Oh right you are on 750watts.... If you have to sell that PSU to get a new beefier one, you might as well sell the 290x and buy two 480s

I think you will be exactly aat 750Watts
 
Thelosouvlakia said:
Oh right you are on 750watts.... If you have to sell that PSU to get a new beefier one, you might as well sell the 290x and buy two 480s

I think you will be exactly aat 750Watts
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Aye I have a Superflower Leadex Gold 750W psu I have the "MOOLAH" for the 2 480's I am thinking of getting reference over AIB purely because it's easier to get waterblocks for them.
 
Tolemac said:
Aye I have a Superflower Leadex Gold 750W psu I have the "MOOLAH" for the 2 480's I am thinking of getting reference over AIB purely because it's easier to get waterblocks for them.
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You could probably wait at least for XFX to bring out their 3rd party coolers. For last 3 gens at least they've been using the AMD pcb ;)
 
Thelosouvlakia said:
You could probably wait at least for XFX to bring out their 3rd party coolers. For last 3 gens at least they've been using the AMD pcb ;)
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but XFX's support is probably still as notoriously bad as when they made awful cards.


Personally I'd get a single card like a 1070/490 (when that arrives). Its a shame you can't wc your 290X as they shine under water.
 
barnsley said:
but XFX's support is probably still as notoriously bad as when they made awful cards.


Personally I'd get a single card like a 1070/490 (when that arrives). Its a shame you can't wc your 290X as they shine under water.
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XFX is bad if you haven't registered the card for warranty. If you did, pretty sure you get priority. It's also pretty easy to set it up too which is nice.

I just wish they really made a MSI Lightning, but won't get my hopes up so whatever had the best cooler is getting my money. Or might just go reference, depends on much better they are. I'll more than likely sell it off for a 490/Fury 2/etc
 
Yeah support isn't bad at all. And if you want to replace your cooler with a waterblock you just send them a ticket you mention you want to do that and they will take note and you won't lose your warranty. -I think they actually send you instrunctions on how to remove their cooler from the card-
 
I will always buy Sapphire for AMD cards because I have never had one let me down yet my 1st was a HD4650. Then I had a break from PC's. Got the bug again about 5-6 years ago. Warranty wise I registered my Vapor X with Sapphire there were no warranty seals on the screws I actually replaced the TIM with Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut last week and noticed a 5C difference :)
 
Thelosouvlakia said:
Yeah support isn't bad at all. And if you want to replace your cooler with a waterblock you just send them a ticket you mention you want to do that and they will take note and you won't lose your warranty. -I think they actually send you instrunctions on how to remove their cooler from the card-
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Seriously? Wow didn't know that! Thanks for the tip.. Might just be tempted to waterblock a RX480 now if I get a XFX model;)
 
NeverBackDown said:
Seriously? Wow didn't know that! Thanks for the tip.. Might just be tempted to waterblock a RX480 now if I get a XFX model;)
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Its true. Can vouch for that.

Xfx is sort of like nVidias EVGA. Though their support is quite different :D

I personally like XFX over Sapphire for warranty. Really like Sapphires coolers though. Gets the job done good. Unlike XFX, always this tiny problem that makes it less desirable. VRM cooling for the 290(x) looking at you!!
 
Well to be fair, I don't think anyone has EVGAs support! But still I've dealt with XFX and not a bad experience. MSI was much worse in my experience.
 
Right guy's I have decided I will buy the RX480 Nitro. My reason is this it's 1440p capable and its £170 less than a 1070 which means I can take the Mrs out as well so she doesn't call me very bad names and give me a swift kick in the knackers. When it comes to the AMD card Sapphire are one of the very best in producing their variant of it. i'll be pre-ordering tomorrow and hang on to my R9 290X Vapor X so I can compare the two personally . Either way i'll have a win win situation for me ;). If it's anything like the card I have now I will be impressed with driver updates etc
 
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Tolemac said:
Right guy's I have decided I will buy the RX480 Nitro. My reason is this it's 1440p capable and its £170 less than a 1070 which means I can take the Mrs out as well so she doesn't call me very bad names and give me a swift kick in the knackers. When it comes to the AMD card Sapphire are one of the very best in producing their variant of it. i'll be pre-ordering tomorrow and hang on to my R9 290X Vapor X so I can compare the two personally . Either way i'll have a win win situation for me ;). If it's anything like the card I have now I will be impressed with driver updates etc
Click to expand...

IMHO you should wait for Vega, yours is more like a sidegrade than an upgrade.
 
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