MSI Radeon R9 280X Gaming and R9 270X HAWK Graphics Cards Pictured

[btarunr]

Here are the first pictures of MSI's Radeon R9 280X Gaming and Radeon R9 270X HAWK graphics cards. The two feature MSI's TwinFrozr IV cooling solution, which made waves with the GeForce GTX 700 series. Captured from a PDF intended for distributors/retailers, the picture reveals an alleged R9 280X Gaming overlapping an R9 270X (which could be made out with its single CrossFire connector). MSI could launch two variants of the R9 280X Gaming, one which sticks to reference clock speeds, and the other factory-overclocked. The R9 270X HAWK could feature the highest level of factory-overclocking from MSI, for the chip.



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[pjl321]

I like what i see, so does my wallet!

I think AMD is looking very strong with these cards but i am a little worried about the performance, benchmark leaks seem to put it in and around the titan/overclock 780 performance.

Which on the surface seems great as these cards look like costing 40% less but the titan is especially just a Tesla K20X which came out in November 2012 and even that was massively delayed was first talked about in May.

My point is shouldn't AMD's brand new cards (well the R9 290X) not be smashing these 2 year old cards out of the water and looking to hit Maxwell?

 

[dj-electric]

^There's only so much you can do with 28nm GPUs. They have a very solid performance point so why not enjoy the great price? Next step will come later next year.

 

[buggalugs]

I think AMD is looking very strong with these cards but i am a little worried about the performance, benchmark leaks seem to put it in and around the titan/overclock 780 performance.

Which on the surface seems great as these cards look like costing 40% less but the titan is especially just a Tesla K20X which came out in November 2012 and even that was massively delayed was first talked about in May.

My point is shouldn't AMD's brand new cards (well the R9 290X) not be smashing these 2 year old cards out of the water and looking to hit Maxwell?

Consumer Titan came out in Feb 2013, and the 7 series in may 2013. Even the 680 isn't 2 years old. That's like saying why does NVidia release the 680 when they already have a more powerful Tesla. Nvidia charged $1000 for titan. Hardly no one pays that money for graphics cards. If AMD can match performance for 40% less money its a major win. AMDs 7 series smashed the Nvidia 5 series, even the nvidias 6 series was close in performance to the 7970. Nvidia has released 2 series of cards since AMD released the 7970, its AMD's turn to play catch up.

 

[NeoXF]

Sooo... what about the Lightnings? Similar cooler TripleFrozr like for the GTX 780 for a 290X Lightning? Oh wait, AMD is being quiet/restrictive about custom Hawaiis for the time being...

Also, what about the R7-260X?

 

[Slomo4shO]

What exactly is the yellow color scheme supposed to match with from MSIs current lineup?

 

[The Terrible Puddle]

What exactly is the yellow color scheme supposed to match with from MSIs current lineup?

MPower and Z87 XPower motherboards.

 

[Blín D'ñero]

I think AMD is looking very strong with these cards but i am a little worried about the performance, benchmark leaks seem to put it in and around the titan/overclock 780 performance.

Which on the surface seems great as these cards look like costing 40% less but the titan is especially just a Tesla K20X which came out in November 2012 and even that was massively delayed was first talked about in May.

My point is shouldn't AMD's brand new cards (well the R9 290X) not be smashing these 2 year old cards out of the water and looking to hit Maxwell?

Dude this is a R9 280X and R9 270X thread...

TwinFrozr 4 heh...
Version 3 (on 7870) features:

• Propeller Blade on Twin Frozr III
  • The special blade design generates 20% more airflow than traditional design.
  • 15℃ cooler & 9dB quieter than reference design.

I'm curious for the version 4 improvements!

 

[Tarkhein]

Dude this is a R9 280X and R9 270X thread...

TwinFrozr 4 heh...
Version 3 (on 7870) features:

• Propeller Blade on Twin Frozr III
  • The special blade design generates 20% more airflow than traditional design.
  • 15℃ cooler & 9dB quieter than reference design.

I'm curious for the version 4 improvements!

TwinFrozr by version:
V1: Two fans
V2: 'Superpipe' (aka 8mm heatpipe)
V3: Propeller blade (apparently increases airflow)
V4: Reverse flow on startup (apparently helps to reduce dust on the heatsink)

 

[Slomo4shO]

MPower and Z87 XPower motherboards.

The 270X Hawk is the lower end product of the two but the color scheme is associated with the top tier Z87 boards? That is an odd choice...

 

[dj-electric]

the 270x hawk is the lower end product of the two but the color scheme is associated with the top tier z87 boards? That is an odd choice...

Lightning>hawk>gaming>power edition>oc edition>reference

 

[Tarkhein]

Lightning>hawk>gaming>power edition>oc edition>reference

Technically, Lightning and Hawk are the same tier (they're applied on differing tiers of GPUs though).

 

[Slomo4shO]

Lightning>hawk>gaming>power edition>oc edition>reference

True but 280X > 270X hence my comment about lower tier product.

 

[neliz]

The 270X Hawk is the lower end product of the two but the color scheme is associated with the top tier Z87 boards? That is an odd choice...

Yellow is for our overclocking products. our HAWK cards are simply put a Performance GPU on a beefed up PCB, doubled up VRM is one of the features for instance.

And it's not an odd choice considering the fact that not everyone simply has $600 to blow on a graphics card, so we offer something cheaper that can beat higher tiered (and more expensive) products right out of the box.

So, forget the mindset that overclocking=expensive high end products.
Rather focus on where this product is positioned within its own segment and it makes perfect sense since not everyone with a Z87 motherboard will rock 2-way 780 SLI.

 

[haswrong]

Yellow..

i like to oc, i like to game, but i have always preferred the blue design.. so you should try to get back the blue pe power edition, and i may stay true to msi..

 

[Slomo4shO]

And it's not an odd choice considering the fact that not everyone simply has $600 to blow on a graphics card, so we offer something cheaper that can beat higher tiered (and more expensive) products right out of the box.

Your OC boards do demand a premium over the gaming lineup in the Z87 lineup. Anyone on a budget will pickup the Gaming Z87 lineup which is currently $140-190 instead of a mPower or xPower board which run from $200-440. In addition, your Hawking and Lightening cards demand a $30-50 premium over your Gaming variety. Anyone wanting to match the color scheme of the lower tier is more likely to pickup the next tier of GPU.

For example:
Motherboard: MSI Z87-G45 Gaming ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 760 Gaming 2GB Video Card ($255.91 @ Newegg)
Total: $400.90

Motherboard: MSI Z87 MPOWER SP ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 760 Hawk 2GB Video Card ($295.91 @ Newegg)
Total: $495.90

If Nvidia actually had the GTX 760 Ti to fill the $150 gap between the 760 and the 770, it would be more practical to pickup a 760 Ti Gaming card with the G45 gaming motherboard in place of the 760 Hawk build. The difference in price between the 270X and the 280X is $100 so in that scenario, the Hawk build wouldn't seem very practical.

Of course this is irrelevant if someone doesn't care if their components match...

 

[Intel God]

I thought Amd stated the 270X would be able to 3 way crossfire

 

[Slomo4shO]

I thought Amd stated the 270X would be able to 3 way crossfire

The sub-$200 HD 7950s look more and more appealing as information is being released about the R9 270X...