The AMD Radeon R9 290 Review
by Ryan Smith on November 5, 2013 12:01 AM EST- Posted in
- GPUs
- AMD
- Radeon
- Hawaii
- Radeon 200
Crysis 3
Still one of our most punishing benchmarks, Crysis 3 needs no introduction. With Crysis 3, Crytek has gone back to trying to kill computers and still holds “most punishing shooter” title in our benchmark suite. Only in a handful of setups can we even run Crysis 3 at its highest (Very High) settings, and that’s still without AA. Crysis 1 was an excellent template for the kind of performance required to drive games for the next few years, and Crysis 3 looks to be much the same for 2013.
Crysis 3 happens to be another game that the 290X sees significant throttling at, and as such this is another game where the 290X and 290 are neck and neck. With all of a .4fps difference between the two, the two cards are essentially tied, once more showcasing how the 290X is held back in order to get reasonable acoustics, and how fast the 290 can go when it does the opposite and lets loose.
This also ends up being a very close matchup between the 290 and the GTX 780, with the 290 losing to the GTX 780 by just 1%, making for another practical tie. Which coincidentally will make our power and noise tests all the more meaningful, since this is the game we use for those tests.
Meanwhile compared to the GTX 770 and 280X, this is actually the narrowest victory for the 290. Despite the solid performance of the 290 and 290X, it beats the GTX 770 by just 11%. The margin of victory over the 280X however is closer to normal at 29%.
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HisDivineOrder - Tuesday, November 5, 2013 - link
I don't think you get how loud they're saying this card is, but go on, buy it. I think you'll figure it out pretty quick.JDG1980 - Tuesday, November 5, 2013 - link
That will be completely irrelevant in a couple of weeks when aftermarket designs become available. The reference cards are pretty much for water block users only.nathanddrews - Tuesday, November 5, 2013 - link
I get it that being quiet is a nice feature... but it's way at the bottom of my list. I want the most frames for the dollar followed by thermals and then power usage. Then, way under that, I care about acoustics. The article sure fusses a lot given that AMD very rarely makes quiet coolers. The aftermarket cards will all sport more efficient dual/triple fan setups... or silent water blocks...hoboville - Tuesday, November 5, 2013 - link
Basically this, if 3rd parties make custom PCBs with custom VRMs, you probably won't be able to affix a waterblock, because they are usually built for reference designs.To the guy who says "he's focusing too much on noise" has no idea what a fan at 60 DB sounds like. Basically, take an industrial fan, and point it at your face, and turn it on medium. Or, drive with your windows down at 45 MPH. It's distracting.
HisDivineOrder - Tuesday, November 5, 2013 - link
Exactly.nathanddrews - Tuesday, November 5, 2013 - link
I don't know about you, but I have my PC under my desk about 4-6 feet from my face. I think AT measures decibels at 12 inches. Even if they measure from 24 inches, that's a HUGE difference in perceived noise in real life. Between deflection, pitch, and attenuation, these decibel measurements are a waste of time in many applications. It's good to have objective data to compare, but unless your PC is sitting right up on your desk next to your monitor about the same distance from your face would it be distracting... and only under load... assuming there were no other sounds coming from your speakers (silent gaming?).Come to think of it, my HTPC is stored in an AV closet (totally silent) and my other HTPCs are hidden away and not audible. This card is amazing despite its SPL.
Galidou - Tuesday, November 5, 2013 - link
Wait for the new custom coolers, improved fps with upcoming drivers like any new products that takes time to adjust. Another comment about a crappy AMD cooler, like if anyone of us didn't know it's crappy, you had to fanboy comment about how crappy it is, I ALREADY got it from reading the review thanks!''Basically, take an industrial fan, and point it at your face, and turn it on medium. Or, drive with your windows down at 45 MPH. It's distracting. ''
Drive your 100k$ car right in a wall, destroy it, it's annoying. Everyone knows that, how obvious life can be sometimes. Another comparison that sounds as stupid as can be. PS I was sarcastic about the car, don't do it... while the guy above thought he was serious... OMG
Wait for aftermarket coolers, Nvidia got amazing launch results cauz they have very good coolers, this is already AMAZING and that's with the WORST cooler EVER, 2 weeks from now everyone will be in exctasy with the superb Asus DCU II or other amazing silent solution that will allow for overclocking.
Mirshaan - Friday, May 16, 2014 - link
BS. It's not that loud. 60db is normal conversation levels. HARDLY the sound of an industrial fan blowing in your face, or windows down at 45mph.... and that is coming from several sources online....http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.h...
http://airportnoiselaw.org/dblevels.html
https://www.chem.purdue.edu/chemsafety/Training/PP...
DMCalloway - Tuesday, November 5, 2013 - link
The only problem I can see at this point is that these aftermarket solutions are usually open designs...... this is going to result in a LOT of heat being pumped into the case.Galidou - Tuesday, November 5, 2013 - link
With a good aftermarket cooler, this doesn't dissipate more than 1-2 degree celsius than a GTX 780 while being superior, I don't see too much of a problem.