Starting to think it's time to upgrade my 560ti. I was originally looking at 770s but for about £70 more I could get a 290... But Aria are doing an XFX 290x with the reference cooler for the same price as non-reference 290. PC is in the living room so noise is a consideration to an extent and I know the reference cooler is noisy... Long term plan could include a closed loop cooler with a kraken to quieten the 290x but is it worth getting the X over a better cooled as standard 290? What would you do?
Reference 290x or non-reference 290?
- Thread starter Schern
- Start date
If you are sure you will go with a CLC, then yeah, go for the 290X, easy decision whilst only a bit faster, its worth it if thermals aren't really a limit, since OC gives a better boost to a 290X than a 290 and can generally be pushed more than a 290. If you are unsure or something like that, go with a 290 (get the Tri-X, by far the best 290 
) since the reference cooler really does butcher the 290X, even more than the 290, you will most likely get better and cooler performance from a non reference 290 than you would a reference 290X due to throttling/OC
) since the reference cooler really does butcher the 290X, even more than the 290, you will most likely get better and cooler performance from a non reference 290 than you would a reference 290X due to throttling/OC
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Excalabur50
Well-known member
TBH I think a non reference 290 is the way to go 1 it's cooler 2 it's quieter 3 there ain't that many frames difference for the money tween it and an X
SieB
New member
Non ref 290 100%, the AMD stock cooler is pants and ref cards throttle performance and down clock because they don't get cooled enough. Not a problem with non ref cards though, the clocks stay consistent.
As said the performance difference between the X and non X is minimal and the only time you would notice the difference is with FRAPS running or in benchmark scores
As said the performance difference between the X and non X is minimal and the only time you would notice the difference is with FRAPS running or in benchmark scores
Thanks for the advice everyone.
Is the Tri-x cooler worth the additional £40 over this one? Seems to review well in 290x form but struggling to find a review for the 290 version. I assume they share the same cooler?
http://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials...++FREE+3x+Games+(Gold+Award)+?productId=59731
Is the Tri-x cooler worth the additional £40 over this one? Seems to review well in 290x form but struggling to find a review for the 290 version. I assume they share the same cooler?
http://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials...++FREE+3x+Games+(Gold+Award)+?productId=59731
Please describe your impression of the card.
I wonder what to choose ..
My Thread
http://forum.overclock3d.net/showthread.php?t=65593
Hey Friend
Are you are already in possession of the graphics card?
What impressions? Quiet and cool?
