gtx 780 or R9 290

[Permafrost]

Seems the layout is the same, just different components like capacitors.
And Hynix memory chips instead of Elpida.

http://www.techpowerup.com/195828/msi-radeon-r9-290-series-gaming-pcb-pictured.html

Hynix? Elpida? and which one is better?

oh, missed that, lets hope there are not too many more of those bad gigabyte cards out on the market.

here is a picture of the reference 290 PCB, the msi looks more or less identical (from what i have seen) but have not been able to find any confirmation.

'EDIT'

Here is a MSI Twin frozr pcb

i also think they look the same, i can't see anything that would stand out.

 

[SieB]

Hynix? Elpida? and which one is better?

Hynix is supposed to be better than Elpida, apparently the black screen issue is more common on modles with Elpida. Hynix is also better for overclocking.

 

[Permafrost]

sweet by the look of things i'll be going with msi 290 gaming and hoping that the water block fits... never fitted a waterblock on a gpu before...

might have to see who's in london and see if they want to give it a go.

 

[WYP]

Hynix? Elpida? and which one is better?



i also think they look the same, i can't see anything that would stand out.

neither do I. I cannot see anything different, never mind anything that would prevent a reference waterblock from being mounted.

With all the heat producing parts on the pcb at the some locations and all capacitors and other components that could potentially block a reference water block at the same locations, there should be no issues (cannot guarantee though).

If you buy it and it doesn't work you could try to sell or trade it for a reference or a sapphire card.

 

[Permafrost]

neither do I. I cannot see anything different, never mind anything that would prevent a reference waterblock from being mounted.

With all the heat producing parts on the pcb at the some locations and all capacitors and other components that could potentially block a reference water block at the same locations, there should be no issues (cannot guarantee though).

it's a rick i might have to take, not a good place to start learning about gpu watercooling...

 

[SieB]

it's a rick i might have to take, not a good place to start learning about gpu watercooling...

Best thing to do would be to shoot MSI an Email or ask on their FB to make sure. From pictures and articles on the web it seems they are the same layout just different components from stock.

 

[Permafrost]

Best thing to do would be to shoot MSI an Email or ask on their FB to make sure. From pictures and articles on the web it seems they are the same layout just different components from stock.

i'll have to do that tomorrow, also is there a trick i can use to keep my warranty?

 

[SieB]

i'll have to do that tomorrow, also is there a trick i can use to keep my warranty?

As long as there are no warranty stickers across the screws to remove the cooler from the card and you don't leave any signs that the cooler has been removed you should be ok.
They will be non the wiser if you stick the cooler back on to send it back if anything does happen as long as there are non signs that it has been removed in the first place.

 

[Permafrost]

if all else fails i'll just get a powercolor one off ocuk at lest i'll know i'll have a ref pcb and warranty....

 

[Warchild]

The only difference I see between the two is the extra circuitry below the power connectors on the MSI PCB (inbetween capacitors and power connectors. As far as Waterblock mounting is concerned, they are identical.

I think you will be fine with the MSI card and reference 290 EK block. I'm using the 780Titan block/backplate on my 780 reference and there are no issues, just a few extra cutouts on the block that compensate for additional components of the titan.

 

[JR23]

cool thanks dude

read JR23's post he got one of them 95° cards

Just to clarify it was an awful card, when we realised it was still climbing after 80*C we forced the fans to 100% and carried on loading it, it hit 94*C and not as a peak it just stuck there. After we let it idle but left the fans at 100% after about 10 minutes it eventually plateaued at 43*C. Not only was it hot as hell but the fan profile control in the Gigabyte software was retarded. It was programmed in steps so when the card hit a certain temperature the fans immediately jumped 10%, this was even annoying playing Fifa when it kept switching between 60 and 70% during menus. We played a fair few games and benchmarks on all of the cards and while the 290 may have kept up in terms of fps it was nothing like as smooth to watch as the 780's. I know they are a bit cheaper and perhaps other samples and other cards are better than the gigabyte we had but the 780's were just consistently on another level IMO.

I'd love to say the 290 shined when overclocked but even with the Gigabyte cooler which I thought was supposed to be pretty decent there was no headroom at all. Meanwhile both of us have had our 780's at over 1200MHz just by adding a little core offset.

JR

 

[Permafrost]

The only difference I see between the two is the extra circuitry below the power connectors on the MSI PCB (inbetween capacitors and power connectors. As far as Waterblock mounting is concerned, they are identical.

I think you will be fine with the MSI card and reference 290 EK block. I'm using the 780Titan block/backplate on my 780 reference and there are no issues, just a few extra cutouts on the block that compensate for additional components of the titan.

yeah i've emailed MSI

and wtf is up with your internet speed where are you to get that speed? NASA?!

 

[barnsley]

I'd love to say the 290 shined when overclocked but even with the Gigabyte cooler which I thought was supposed to be pretty decent there was no headroom at all. Meanwhile both of us have had our 780's at over 1200MHz just by adding a little core offset.

JR

The Gigabyte and Asus 290s are utter bum. They really didn't try with them. The best ones are HIS and Sapphire's at the mo. The Sapphire one is top dog, hence why its really hard to get hold of. All of the toxic cards are like gold dust at the moment, Sapphire did an excellent job with the coolers.

 

[Permafrost]

The Gigabyte and Asus 290s are utter bum. They really didn't try with them. The best ones are HIS and Sapphire's at the mo. The Sapphire one is top dog, hence why its really hard to get hold of. All of the toxic cards are like gold dust at the moment, Sapphire did an excellent job with the coolers.

are you talking about this?

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/r9-290x-case-performance,review-32863.html

 

[barnsley]

are you talking about this?

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/r9-290x-case-performance,review-32863.html

Personal experience/reviews but yeah that proves my point. Also the ASUS one, as mentioned by someone else on the forum, is just running the 780's cooler :l.

 

[Permafrost]

Personal experience/reviews but yeah that proves my point. Also the ASUS one, as mentioned by someone else on the forum, is just running the 780's cooler :l.

guess i'm going to have to hold off buying a gpu anytime soon... or buy a PS4 when MGS comes out lol

 

[Warchild]

yeah i've emailed MSI

and wtf is up with your internet speed where are you to get that speed? NASA?!

I use it to hack Nasa and use their systems for Folding. Im currently at... count 1

/disable lie detector

 

[Permafrost]

I use it to hack Nasa and use their systems for Folding. Im currently at... count 1

/disable lie detector

haha

right now i'm looking at this

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-014-IN&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1341

and thinking fap fap fap