MSI Radeon R9 290X Gaming 4 GB

[W1zzard]

MSI's Radeon R9 290X Gaming comes with the company's well-known TwinFrozr dual-fan cooler, which should improve temperatures and noise levels over the AMD reference design significantly. The card is also overclocked out of the box for some extra performance.

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[Slomo4shO]

From your overclock figures, seems you have a PowerColor R9 290X PCS+ on hand that you will be releasing a review for. I looking forward to seeing it in action as the word is that it is competitive with the Tri-X. Also, it is possible for you to include VRM temps in your future reviews?

 

[fullinfusion]

I have the 290 version of this card and love it. And my card is whisper quiet even clocked out higher then the tpu review sample. Great review wizz!

 

[ZeroFM]

i disappoint , all 290(X) cards under load have 40dbA+ ...

 

[zzzaac]

Got the 290 Gaming version. And it's been great both performance wise and temps/sound wise. Great review W1zz, also good to see that you got rid of the special "reviewer's bios" , which the general user won't have

How are MSI Twin Frozr's like on crossfire?

 

[Relayer]

Got the 290 Gaming version. And it's been great both performance wise and temps/sound wise. Great review W1zz, also good to see that you got rid of the special "reviewer's bios" , which the general user won't have

How are MSI Twin Frozr's like on crossfire?

^This. Companies can't be allowed to do this.

Too bad the same wasn't done for the 780 ti Gaming outing it for it's special reviewer O/C settings.

LINK
Hi guys, we are in contact with MSI to find out what is going on. I just got off the phone with Mark Tran at MSI and they are going to look into why one card might install at 1020 (OC mode) and another card might install at 980 (Gaming Mode.)

The modes supported are clearly advertised on MSI's website, and every mode advertised is covered under warranty. The modes can easily be switched between by installing MSI's Gaming App and with a one button press be changed from Gaming Mode to OC Mode. MSI suggests installing this app, and running the card at its maximum OC Mode supported on the card for the best performance. Since we tested at the advertised and supported OC Mode of the video card, our results are representative of what you will also get performance wise.

Note that this will not be the only new card from MSI supporting the MSI Gaming App. MSI's upcoming 290X custom card, which we have on the way, will also use this new 3 tier performance settings easily managed by a one button press in the software. This is new technology from MSI that all of us are going to have to get use to and keep in mind when looking at the cards performance for the future of MSI "Gaming" branded video cards.

I notice in your review the 780 ti is listed @ 1020MHz, so you got the special Reviewer sample like [H] did that had a special O/C setting applied.

 

[fullinfusion]

We know what team wizz is on lol and jk wizz.. mind sharing the bios hmm?

 

[W1zzard]

We know what team wizz is on lol and jk wizz.. mind sharing the bios hmm?

the bios is in our bios collection, uploaded a while ago

 

[W1zzard]

I notice in your review the 780 ti is listed @ 1020MHz, so you got the special Reviewer sample like [H] did that had a special O/C setting applied.

yup, but I did some retesting and the performance difference is <1%, and power heat noise are almost exactly the same, so no point redoing everything.

 

[VulkanBros]

Why is "Limited memory OC potential despite Hynix chips" listed under "pros"?

 

[W1zzard]

Why is "Limited memory OC potential despite Hynix chips" listed under "pros"?

Because I put it in the wrong place. fixed.

 

[Relayer]

yup, but I did some retesting and the performance difference is <1%, and power heat noise are almost exactly the same, so no point redoing everything.

Well, don't you think it should at least be mentioned in the value and conclusion? I mean you called them out on it with the 290X, why not the 780 ti? Still a dodgy practice, IMO.

 

[W1zzard]

Well, don't you think it should at least be mentioned in the value and conclusion? I mean you called them out on it with the 290X, why not the 780 ti? Still a dodgy practice, IMO.

I didn't know at the time. Let me add a sentence to the conclusion now

 

[Relayer]

Thanks, W1zzard. I commend you.

Considering the recent uproar on retail vs. reviewer cards and refusing to use a bios setting other than what the card came out of the box with (not you but other sites), you think we'd hear more about this. Where's Toms, PCPer, TR, etc...? Especially considering not only do the cards not come set the way the review cards were out of box, but they require you to install O/C'ing software to set the cards that way for retail samples.

 

[fullinfusion]

Hey wizz thanks for the update o the bios. Any news on a review on the same twin frozn iv gaming but the 290 one?

Also did you flash the non UEFI bios?

Im curious is there a way to make the card run at its rated clock speed, the speed the msi app sets the core to when the oc tab is selected vs not using any other software?

 

[Casecutter]

I'm just hoping with the news of Maxwell's Litecoin mining prowess vs. higher efficiency, might see some draw back in the "outrageously stupid retail prices" that has been going on at least here in the States. There's enough of a financial argument for a GTX750Ti OC "hashing ability" that we might at least see slight roll-back. If for no other reason than some folks putting off a huge investment with the premise that some other 28Nm Maxwell might come before a true full Enthusiast with Denver on 20Nm.

Why wouldn't Nvidia make Maxwell on say 240mm2 Dia; offering something between the GTX760-770 with the low power and "hashing" that's more like a R9 280X all for $300. Competing with a 50% smaller chip and say 140W TDP would be a big boon. Waiting almost all of 2014 for 20Nm is nut's, as a marketing guy I'd be beating down every door to get that product now!

 

[W1zzard]

Im curious is there a way to make the card run at its rated clock speed, the speed the msi app sets the core to when the oc tab is selected vs not using any other software?

Not sure what you are asking. The BIOSes are in about BIOS collection. No plans to review the 290 non-X at the moment.

 

[fullinfusion]

Not sure what you are asking. The BIOSes are in about BIOS collection. No plans to review the 290 non-X at the moment.

Ok the little program that comes with the card has 3 settings. OC mode/normal/silent. You click the oc mode and the clock goes upto 1007MHz

So I don't want to use that silly program, Id rather have no software clocking my card up from it's stock 977MHz.

If you need Ill post a few screen shots of the program if you need.

Thanks for the quick reply

 

[W1zzard]

So don't install the program?

edit: oh I get it now

http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/...MSI&model=R9+290X&interface=&memType=&memSize=

The 3 BIOSes marked as "Gaming". 1040 MHz are the reviewer BIOSes

 

[fullinfusion]

Not sure what you are asking. The BIOSes are in about BIOS collection. No plans to review the 290 non-X at the moment.

Here you can make sense of my gibberish haha..

Oh and if you click on the snowflake it ramps the fans up to 100% for 45 seconds.

Silent mode and what it sets the clocks at.

Gaming mode and clock speed

And this is OC mode and clocks

 

[fullinfusion]

From your overclock figures, seems you have a PowerColor R9 290X PCS+ on hand that you will be releasing a review for. I looking forward to seeing it in action as the word is that it is competitive with the Tri-X. Also, it is possible for you to include VRM temps in your future reviews?

I know mines the same card but its the NON (x) version and did a 3DMark 2013 Extreme run and my vregs were nice and cool. Just for reference if anybody wanted to know.
Card Was clocked at 1100/1404MHz stock volts

And yes Wizz if you could in the future add the Vreg temp's that just be great.

 

[NeoXF]

Not sure how or why I should take these reviews serious when you guys can't even be bothered to update to the latest drivers of at least the card you are reviewing... Hell, Catalyst 14.2 Beta v1.3 just came out moments ago, tho they came out after the review, I said it to make a point.

And don't anyone give me that "we/they only use WHQL drivers", because that's complete BS. When a new card comes out, what... you wait maybe even 2 months before reviewing, just because launch day drivers for it are "only" Beta? Nope.

 

[fullinfusion]

I think you should maybe look at past reviews, Wizz has done a few with beta drivers.

And I believe he uses a certain driver for a given time for consistency?

Given enough time he changes drivers, but sorry it isn't fast enough for your liking

 

[W1zzard]

Given enough time he changes drivers, but sorry it isn't fast enough for your liking

I'm adding Thief right now to our test suite and then will look into starting a new rebench on latest drivers .. which will take like 2 weeks non stop work. oh and I'm moving to a new apartment right now, buying everything new (Amazon, where are my bed sheets?), and figuring out the best way to give you thermal camera recordings of graphics cards, with audio recordings.

Have you done any testing how much of a difference there is between the driver you'd like me to use and the driver I used?

 

[fullinfusion]

By my testing Wizz I find the 13.12 to be the best one overall.