MSI have two major lines, the regular Gaming edition and the hardcore overclocking Lightning. Today we're looking at the R9 290X Lightning.
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MSI R9 290X Lightning Review
- Thread starter tinytomlogan
- Start date
MSI have two major lines, the regular Gaming edition and the hardcore overclocking Lightning. Today we're looking at the R9 290X Lightning.
Continue Reading
chrismjurd
New member
Totally worth the wait Tom, thanks. 
Hey guys, new here but I'm a member on OCN with the same user name.
Anybody think this is worth it for watercooling. It seems to be made more for LN2. Currently running a trifire rig with 2 refererence 290x and 1 tri x oc. Also have an xfx 290x DD black that I'm going to be adding soon. Able to maintain 1200/1550 daily use OC while I can bench at 1250/1650. Will the 290x lightning be able OC to 1300+ 24/7 ? I might sell my xfx and get this one instead. Btw out of my three cards 2 are hynix (xfx ref. tri x) 1 is elpida (sapphire ref)
Anybody think this is worth it for watercooling. It seems to be made more for LN2. Currently running a trifire rig with 2 refererence 290x and 1 tri x oc. Also have an xfx 290x DD black that I'm going to be adding soon. Able to maintain 1200/1550 daily use OC while I can bench at 1250/1650. Will the 290x lightning be able OC to 1300+ 24/7 ? I might sell my xfx and get this one instead. Btw out of my three cards 2 are hynix (xfx ref. tri x) 1 is elpida (sapphire ref)
SieB
New member
There might not be a waterblock for it seen as it's a custom PCB. Unless EK have one in the works?
Seen as these aren't cherry picked cores though, there is no guarantee that you would get one that would be a better overclocker than your current 290s.
For watercooling a normal non ref 290 would be better, the reason for spending more on a card like the lightning is for the cooler. If you strip the card down and slap a waterblock on it, then it pretty much becomes a normal 290 with better Vram.
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Thanks for the perspective. I'm pretty sure the big buys (XSPC, EK, Koolance) will make blocks for this soon. Using xspc currently but I will wait for some more reviews on this card before I decide either way.
Squidlorock
New member
Awesome, is a beast. Big cost no doubt, but what a card! Great review Ttl man! 
murphy7801
New member
not suprised given how great my 2 gtx 780 lightnings are
nepas
New member
Vlada011
New member
Not bad card... It's ugly but excellent card... Best R9-290X without doubt...
And score is OK, 300 GPU Xtreme points less than mine GTX780Ti KP Classified... 150 P points less, I mean both out of box...OK these test is on i7-3960X monster and mine is on i7-3770K, that mean difference would be even bigger on my side, but nice card... Better option than any reference GTX780Ti. Probably...
That's it, we saw and that MSI R9-290X Lightening... Any way Hawaii is even hotter than GK110.
I don't know for users who play with side panel with similar cards.
Watercooling is highly recommended for such cards now and in future.
And score is OK, 300 GPU Xtreme points less than mine GTX780Ti KP Classified... 150 P points less, I mean both out of box...OK these test is on i7-3960X monster and mine is on i7-3770K, that mean difference would be even bigger on my side, but nice card... Better option than any reference GTX780Ti. Probably...
That's it, we saw and that MSI R9-290X Lightening... Any way Hawaii is even hotter than GK110.
I don't know for users who play with side panel with similar cards.
Watercooling is highly recommended for such cards now and in future.
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As a benchmark, noone is gonna buy this pecker to mine with it :lol:
Excalabur50
Well-known member
Totally had to clean off my keyboard after watching this LOVE that card and wish I had two of them
Kaapstad
Active member
Not sure if I'm allowed to say it yet, but a certain brand from the Balkan area will be making waterblocks for it
Rip that cooler off, get a waterblock on it and whack some volts through it.
