SLI 670 or R9 290

[B1G_WH1T3]

Hi everyone

So yea my current setup

Amd 8350 @4.6 with H100i
Asus crosshair formula V
8 gig vengance 2000mhz
OCZ 120 vertex 3 raid 0
Msi 670 GTX PE SLI

so my question should I keep my 670 SLI setup or sell the cards and grab me a R9 290 REF design and then get a aftermark cooler ?

Before you ask my one card has a bad chip I can only get a 25 mhz OC on core and 220 on mem.

Also take into account the nvapi thing ? and mantel ?

 

[theDTP]

I'd grab the 290 if you have plans to X-Fire in the future, otherwise I'd stick with the 670 sli and they will perform better than a single 290.

 

[B1G_WH1T3]

well, from toms review it gets +- 9000 on 3dmark my 2 cards only gets max OC everything 7100

 

[theDTP]

well, from toms review it gets +- 9000 on 3dmark my 2 cards only gets max OC everything 7100

Are you comparing overall score (graphics and physics score) or just the graphics. Physics could be making that difference in the overall score so different. If you was just comparing the end result (the overall 3dmark score) you need to go back and look at just the graphics score.

 

[dodo21x]

3dmark is only a benchmark. Test the cards in games, it is always best way.

 

[theDTP]

3dmark is only a benchmark. Test the cards in games, it is always best way.

^this, but if it is 3d mark results you want, 670sli scores more than a single 290 in firestrike... Just looked at results of 670sli and 290 using the same CPU, the average 670sli results was better than the top 290 result using the same CPU.

 

[B1G_WH1T3]

either my 2 cards are broken or that cpu gives those cards one hell of a boost...

http://www.3dmark.com/fs/934913

it was the combined score, give link to that graph ?

 

[theDTP]

either my 2 cards are broken or that cpu gives those cards one hell of a boost...

http://www.3dmark.com/fs/934913

it was the combined score, give link to that graph ?

No no no no no... The CPU isn't boosting the GPU, 3d mark doesn't just benchmark your GPU mate, it gives you a score for the GPU and a score for the CPU then gives a final result based on those figures, for example, take your CPU and GPUs, your CPU is strong enough for those GPUs to be at maximum potential so any cpu above that will be overkill (if you are just using the rig for gaming) but if you get a £800 CPU, your 3dmark score will be HUGE yet the GPUs will not perform any better with that £800 CPU than they do with your CPU. Go to the 3d mark website and do a advanced search for your CPU and GPUs and again for your CPU and a 290, never loom at the top ones as they will likely be watercooled and overclocked.

Edit: I'll post links later, currently at work.

 

[Rastalovich]

Whatever best single card you can afford. Wouldn't be a 290 for me tho.

 

[theDTP]

Whatever best single card you can afford. Wouldn't be a 290 for me tho.

I'd also take a single GPU over xfire/sli with out a doubt but he already has 670sli... I'm trying to prove that getting a 290 isn't going to give better performance over what he has.

What has happened here is he has looked at a 3D Mark benchnark with a 290 and a completely different CPU to his and compared the score of his 670sli and CPU to it and is under the assumption that because the overall score is higher this must mean the 290 is better than his 670sli, not taking in that both tests was completely different setups.

 

[B1G_WH1T3]

okay so I searched online on 3dmark

the average for 670 sli ranges between 6500 - 10k - my cards get 7200

the average for a single R9 290 ranges from 7k to 9.6k - same cpu

okay so the problem is a R9 290 costs 4600ZAR and a 290x is around 7400ZAR and 780ti is 9800ZAR - prices are south african rand so just use google to convert.

both my cards cost 4400ZAR. I can sell them for atleast 3200 -3500 zar and buy a once off 290 with a aftermarked cooler that I have to apply myself, but I want to get a bigger case next year and get a small watercooling setup for the GFX.

now say for instance I do that will it still be a better option to keep the 670's even tho mantel is coming and 99% of my competitive titles I play are amd optimized aka cod and bf4, dota aint so much its fine

 

[theDTP]

In my opinion and from what you have now, a 290 isn't a good upgrade unless it is going to be extremely minimal cost after the sale of the 670s and you unlock and overclock the 290.

 

[B1G_WH1T3]

look I'm going to save a few bucks even after buy the card + a cooler, and no more launch date games without SLI support, and I think most of my games nways gives better frame rates than SLI.

btw my cards scored on 3dmark 11 13471 r9 290 128ish http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/radeon_r9_290_review_benchmarks,26.html

there i saw it. but yea sofar I'm going to wait for mantel reviews, also 2 cards really heat up a room and power draw is rather high. must say I will be missing shadowplay :-( best thing about nvidia

 

[Gamepro105]

I think 290 is your best option because not all games support sli it depends on what you plan on playing.