R9 280x Vs R9 290x

Xrqute

New member
Hey team,


I'm currently running 2x Gigabyte GTX660 OC in SLI. I want to cut down to one GPU i am thinking the 290x or 280x.

The thing is i don't game.... like at all. I used to play WOW but i have grown out of it.

But i am into music production and i run Cubase 7 over 3 screens. 1x 46" Samsung series 6 LED/LCD TV (center and main) and 2x 24" Asus LED/LCD monitors(far left and far right). which is why i had the 2x Nvidia cards as i could'nt run all 3 on just one GTX660 OC.

I want to cut down to one GPU to make my water cooling 1. peform better with less to cool 2. look cleaner and tidier.

So do you guys think it'll be worth me waiting for the 290x or should i just go with this?
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=193_1559&products_id=25322
 
Pretty sure DVI + DVI + HDMI works with GTX 660s, what wasn't working when you tried?

If you aren't gaming and don't use GPGPU then why are you even looking at high end GPUs? Low end nVidia or AMD GPUs will just power 3 monitor if you aren't doing anything graphically intensive, although AMD GPUs would probably require an active DP->DVI adapter.
 
this is like...i don`t get it. your work can be done even with a worse card than gtx 660.whats wrong and why do you need sli for multimonitors?
 
Pretty sure DVI + DVI + HDMI works with GTX 660s, what wasn't working when you tried?

If you aren't gaming and don't use GPGPU then why are you even looking at high end GPUs? Low end nVidia or AMD GPUs will just power 3 monitor if you aren't doing anything graphically intensive, although AMD GPUs would probably require an active DP->DVI adapter.

+1 on this. It's ridiculous spending that kind of money on high end GPUs if you aren't gaming/rendering. Spend the money on an aweesome soundcard if you're into music production
 
1+ to s3ns3 and WillSK. If you're not gaming at all then you should spend your money elsewhere-like on a soundcard for example.

Have you considered running just a CPU loop? If you don't game at all then the GPU doesn't get hot and you don't really have to run the GPU in the loop. If you just want your rig to be tidy with a watercooling loop in it then you could just run a CPU-loop and pull out one of those 660s. Nvidias website says the GTX 660 supports up to 4 screens after all.

But then again if you were to run a CPU-only loop then you might just want to look into an AIO kit like the Corsair H100i for example(just throwing out suggestions here).
 
If you render than a high end card is needed. If the software supports OpenCL then AMD are cards are the only ones worth considering, for example a 7970 will destroy any titan. But if it's OpenGL then for the most part Nvidia wins that(sometimes a 7970 can match a 680).
 
If you render than a high end card is needed. If the software supports OpenCL then AMD are cards are the only ones worth considering, for example a 7970 will destroy any titan. But if it's OpenGL then for the most part Nvidia wins that(sometimes a 7970 can match a 680).

He's not rendering though. he's doing music production. A higher end card will offer no performance gain over dual 660s which is already overkill if you ask me.

Buy a nice soundcard and some music equipment with the money dude. Not a high end gaming card
 
I can see why you use to cards, the big screen is taken all the horse power. Have my self a 50" tv that i use some times, but my 7970 in my server is doing a great work on that. But if i put a screen more to it, then it have it hard.

but the rest is right, soundcard will help alot. Have done some musicals work on my pc and after getting a soundcard it make my life alot easyer and better "work wish" ;-)
 
I can see why you use to cards, the big screen is taken all the horse power. Have my self a 50" tv that i use some times, but my 7970 in my server is doing a great work on that. But if i put a screen more to it, then it have it hard.

but the rest is right, soundcard will help alot. Have done some musicals work on my pc and after getting a soundcard it make my life alot easyer and better "work wish" ;-)

The size of the screen has nothing to do with it. a 50 inch 1920x1080p requires the same amount of power as a 23 inch 1920x1080p so that would not be an issue. Remember it's the pixel count not the size of the screen that requires the extra horsepower.
 
oh i forgot to mention i do video and photo editing in sony vegas and photoshop respectively. derp..... way to leave out an important part of info

I already do have an awesome sound card Roland Octa-Capture 24bit 192khz In/Out. even though its in my mates PC atm i do also have a Soundblaster ZxR.

I actually have a 10K+ production setup including 3-way monitors (Studio Speakers) etc

i really need to put more info in my initial posts >.< As the finishing touch for my studio im looking at getting 3x 29" IPS ultrawide monitors 21:9 display with Full HD 2560 x 1080 resolution per monitor.

something along these lines-
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=558_1368&products_id=24360
 
But yes you point is proven..... i dont really need to upgrade so dont waste the money pointlessly.


This is why its bad to earn good money and be single..... you just wanna waste it on silly things hahaha!
 
Based off your software usage i would go for a 7970/280x(whichever is cheaper) but if you really want to a 290/290x will be able to do it better. Just ask yourself if the extra money is worth it.
 
1+ to s3ns3 and WillSK. If you're not gaming at all then you should spend your money elsewhere-like on a soundcard for example.

Have you considered running just a CPU loop? If you don't game at all then the GPU doesn't get hot and you don't really have to run the GPU in the loop. If you just want your rig to be tidy with a watercooling loop in it then you could just run a CPU-loop and pull out one of those 660s. Nvidias website says the GTX 660 supports up to 4 screens after all.

But then again if you were to run a CPU-only loop then you might just want to look into an AIO kit like the Corsair H100i for example(just throwing out suggestions here).

A H100i wont cut it. I live in Australia, In a firbro house, with No Ac and a 3930k@4.4ghz. Today i actually had to whine my OC back from 4.6ghz because i didn't like how high the CPU temp was sitting was sitting in the 70's and thats with a XSPC Raystorm AX360 Acrylic D5 Kit with Push Pull. it was almost a 40degree day, 45'ers are not uncommon once we hit summer.
 
A H100i wont cut it. I live in Australia, In a firbro house, with No Ac and a 3930k@4.4ghz. Today i actually had to whine my OC back from 4.6ghz because i didn't like how high the CPU temp was sitting was sitting in the 70's and thats with a XSPC Raystorm AX360 Acrylic D5 Kit with Push Pull. it was almost a 40degree day, 45'ers are not uncommon once we hit summer.

70s isn't that bad at all when you consider high ambient temps. I'm assuming you mean 70 under load? if you mean 70 idle then yes draw those clocks back.

referring to your earlier post. I can definitely see where you're coming from regarding having the money to spend burning a hole in your pocket but you'll be happy you saved the cash when the next thing you wanna buy comes along ;)
 
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