Monday, October 14th 2013

Reference Radeon R9 290X Taken Apart

by
btarunr
 Discuss (61 Comments)
A HIS-branded AMD reference design Radeon R9 290X graphics card was taken apart by Expreview, revealing its cooling solution, the PCB, the VRM, and the star attraction, the company's new 28 nm "Hawaii" silicon. The pictures match with an earlier, blurrier leak from September. The cooling solution is typical AMD fare, with its copper plate covering the GPU, memory, and VRM areas, aluminium channels, and a lateral-flow fan. The PCB features the swanky new 7.08 billion-transistor chip from AMD, sixteen GDDR5 memory chips (all of which are on the obverse side), and the 5+1+1 phase VRM, which uses CPL-made chokes, IR-made DirectFETs, and a new IR-made VRM controller. The first reviews of the Radeon R9 290X should be published later this month. Find more pictures at the source.
Source: Expreview

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61 Comments on Reference Radeon R9 290X Taken Apart

#1
RCoon
That's some disgraceful pasting right there AMD/HIS...
Posted on Reply
#2
Indra EMC
I know that is a sample card but why there is no crossfire connector ?
Posted on Reply
#3
Ghost
Indra EMCI know that is a sample card but why there is no crossfire connector ?
Because R9 290X uses CF over PCI-E.
Posted on Reply
#4
nemesis.ie
Indra EMCI know that is a sample card but why there is no crossfire connector ?
If you check out the preview details you'll find that Crossfire is being handled over the PCI-E bus only on the new cards. :)
Posted on Reply
#5
nemesis.ie
RCoonThat's some disgraceful pasting right there AMD/HIS...
I've seen much worse, at least it looks pretty even and no gaps.
Posted on Reply
#6
Assimilator
Highest-end card in the range, but no backplate?
Posted on Reply
#7
RCoon
AssimilatorHighest-end card in the range, but no backplate?
When has a reference card from ANY range of GPU's ever come packaged with a backplate?
Posted on Reply
#8
the54thvoid
Super Intoxicated Moderator
Went to source for better look at PCB pics. The chokes look very similar to what was on my stock Powercolor 7970. At least they start with '1007R3, R15'. oooh. They can whine under load. Not saying it will but if W1zz is reading this, mind to listen out for the boards electrical noise.
EKWB are making blocks for these so they'd be pretty fast under water (I'd hope) but if there's choke noise, it's not so pretty.

Also,

What are the screw holes for in the cover? Or is it just where the shroud screws have already been removed...

Posted on Reply
#9
RCoon
the54thvoidWent to source for better look at PCB pics. The chokes look very similar to what was on my stock Powercolor 7970. At least they start with '1007R3, R15'. oooh. They can whine under load. Not saying it will but if W1zz is reading this, mind to listen out for the boards electrical noise.
EKWB are making blocks for these so they'd be pretty fast under water (I'd hope) but if there's choke noise, it's not so pretty.

Also,

What are the screw holes for in the cover? Or is it just where the shroud screws have already been removed...

img.techpowerup.org/131014/Untitled662.png
Screw holes I assume are similar to the Titan/780, the outer shroud screws into the inner cooler on the end, only there are 4 here instead of 2.
Posted on Reply
#10
Supercrit
rcoonwhen has a reference card from any range of gpu's ever come packaged with a backplate?
5870, 6970/6950
Posted on Reply
#11
Fairlady-z
Too bad these cards wont ship for about 500ish, as that would have been a must buy GPU. I know people who did/didn't need to upgrade would have lol. Also, from the looks of that PCB it would a good idea to wait out for a Asus custom, but my understanding is for now the AIB are not allowed to make their own? Is there any truth to this? What about a custom cooler?
Posted on Reply
#12
RCoon
Supercrit5870, 6970/6950
Interesting examples, but those days are long gone.
Posted on Reply
#13
Supercrit
RCoonInteresting examples, but those days are long gone.
Sigh... The golden age of backplates of 69xx, where even the non-top card 6950 has a backplate, as well as being able to unlock to a 6970.
Posted on Reply
#14
Fairlady-z
the54thvoidWent to source for better look at PCB pics. The chokes look very similar to what was on my stock Powercolor 7970. At least they start with '1007R3, R15'. oooh. They can whine under load. Not saying it will but if W1zz is reading this, mind to listen out for the boards electrical noise.
EKWB are making blocks for these so they'd be pretty fast under water (I'd hope) but if there's choke noise, it's not so pretty.

Also,

What are the screw holes for in the cover? Or is it just where the shroud screws have already been removed...

img.techpowerup.org/131014/Untitled662.png
Say it isnt so Jhonny....god what I hate the most is the damn whine noise that some of my older cards produced. It drove me nuts, so much that I would upgrade at a loss just to get out of it. My MSI 7
Posted on Reply
#15
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
AssimilatorHighest-end card in the range, but no backplate?
Just like the $1000 Titan.
Posted on Reply
#16
the54thvoid
Super Intoxicated Moderator
btarunrJust like the $1000 Titan.
Absolutely. And FTR, my Titan has coil whine when i up the voltage. Let's hope AMD isn't making a "better than Titan but has same problems as Titan card."
Posted on Reply
#17
BarbaricSoul
the54thvoidAbsolutely. And FTR, my Titan has coil whine when i up the voltage. Let's hope AMD isn't making a "better than Titan but has same problems as Titan card."
I agree 100%. I'd love to replace my 7970 with a 290X,but if the card has coil whine , I don't care if it gives a bajillion FPS at super ultra very high settings at 25600000*16000000 resolution, I won't buy it. :shadedshu
Posted on Reply
#18
dj-electric
This PCB design makes me worry, It doesn't seem very capable, at all.

BUT, unlike the Titan it is going to be changed a lot by AIB's
Posted on Reply
#19
Ghost
BarbaricSoulI agree 100%. I'd love to replace my 7970 with a 290X,but if the card has coil whine , I don't care if it gives a bajillion FPS at super ultra very high settings at 25600000*16000000 resolution, I won't buy it. :shadedshu
Actually, bajillion FPS would be a cause of coil whine.
Posted on Reply
#20
RCoon
GhostActually, bajillion FPS would be a cause of coil whine.
I was just about to say. My old reference 780 got coil whine, only when I reached 1800+ FPS, but the coil whine disappeared around 1600-1700FPS. (3DMark tests)
Posted on Reply
#21
Fourstaff
btarunrJust like the $1000 Titan.
IIRC they removed it because it caused the cards to be air starved in SLI.
Posted on Reply
#22
manofthem
WCG-TPU Team All-Star!
I can live with the coil whine ;). Just give me a nice price withinu a month from launch, and we have a deal!
Posted on Reply
#23
Prima.Vera
Why are they keeping the same shitty cooler??! Specially for a premium card?? WHY?
Posted on Reply
#24
swirl09
the54thvoidWent to source for better look at PCB pics. The chokes look very similar to what was on my stock Powercolor 7970. At least they start with '1007R3, R15'. oooh. They can whine under load. Not saying it will but if W1zz is reading this, mind to listen out for the boards electrical noise.
EKWB are making blocks for these so they'd be pretty fast under water (I'd hope) but if there's choke noise, it's not so pretty.
This is a complete deal breaker for me. I had 2 7970s and both had the most god awful coil whine. I'll be paying attention to any reviews about this issue.

I'm feeling like an upgrade, and this card may do it - if it has no bloody whiney buzz crap.
Posted on Reply
#25
BarbaricSoul
GhostActually, bajillion FPS would be a cause of coil whine.
RCoonI was just about to say. My old reference 780 got coil whine, only when I reached 1800+ FPS, but the coil whine disappeared around 1600-1700FPS. (3DMark tests)
you guys know what I mean :shadedshu
Posted on Reply
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