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ASUS Radeon R9-290X DirectCU II OC review
Posted by: on: 12/18/2013 01:23 PM [
63 comment(s) ]
We review the ASUS Radeon R9 290X DirectCU II OC edition. A lot of you guys have been waiting on a custom cooled version of this product. Armed with the latest revision of the DirectCU II the cooler and will get that 2816 Stream processor based Hawaii chip with and 4 GB GDDR5 memory running along a 512-bit memory interface. The DirectCU II card will be equipped with a fully custom PCB design featuring the Digi+ VRM with Super Alloy Power technology and high quality C-Caps and MOSFETs. The card is powered through 8-Pin + 6-Pin power configuration and obviously runs at factory overclocked specifications. The card can Boost towards 1050 MHz and is clocked to 5400 MHz (effective) in the GDDR5 memory.
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Hilbert Hagedoorn
Don Vito Corleone
Posts: 32966
Don Vito Corleone
Posts: 32966
Posted on: 12/18/2013 01:46 PM
77c at full load.. I can live with that. I noticed that thermal image looks way better on this card than it did on the reference 290x lol.
Also, was that the highest the card could OC too? I was hoping it would be more. But it's good either way.
Correct, passing 1200 MHz made the card instable.
77c at full load.. I can live with that. I noticed that thermal image looks way better on this card than it did on the reference 290x lol.
Also, was that the highest the card could OC too? I was hoping it would be more. But it's good either way.
Correct, passing 1200 MHz made the card instable.
cowie
Senior Member
Posts: 13027
Senior Member
Posts: 13027
Posted on: 12/18/2013 01:50 PM
Pretty good review boss
Phaze you have to remember the fan speed was 43% max so there is room to get it down a little more without the jet noise of ref card.
The overclocking will still be "if you get a good one" lottery but over all you have hotwire and custom software voltage so it has the under pinnings to get the job done well.
Pretty good review boss
Phaze you have to remember the fan speed was 43% max so there is room to get it down a little more without the jet noise of ref card.
The overclocking will still be "if you get a good one" lottery but over all you have hotwire and custom software voltage so it has the under pinnings to get the job done well.
Anarion
Senior Member
Posts: 13223
Senior Member
Posts: 13223
Posted on: 12/18/2013 01:51 PM
Windforce cooler will def have hard time with that one inside case.
Windforce cooler will def have hard time with that one inside case.
Gripen90
Senior Member
Posts: 839
Senior Member
Posts: 839
Posted on: 12/18/2013 01:54 PM
Looks like a good card ! Can't wait to see what the final price will be.
Looks like a good card ! Can't wait to see what the final price will be.
eclap
Senior Member
Posts: 31504
Senior Member
Posts: 31504
Posted on: 12/18/2013 02:05 PM
so, a custom 290 for around £350 will be performing similar (give or take a frame or 2) to a 780ti that costs £550. not bad.
so, a custom 290 for around £350 will be performing similar (give or take a frame or 2) to a 780ti that costs £550. not bad.
PNeV
Senior Member
Posts: 2071
Senior Member
Posts: 2071
Posted on: 12/18/2013 02:09 PM
OcUK have the MSI 290 Gaming for £370 & the WindForce for £380 on pre-order so its looking good. They also have their own Custom made one with an NZXT Kraken on it for around £440.
OcUK have the MSI 290 Gaming for £370 & the WindForce for £380 on pre-order so its looking good. They also have their own Custom made one with an NZXT Kraken on it for around £440.
BLEH!
Senior Member
Posts: 5766
Senior Member
Posts: 5766
Posted on: 12/18/2013 02:11 PM
Damn that's awesome, finally unleashed this beast.
Damn that's awesome, finally unleashed this beast.
eclap
Senior Member
Posts: 31504
Senior Member
Posts: 31504
Posted on: 12/18/2013 02:13 PM
lol, cockers site is down "too many connections"
lol, cockers site is down "too many connections"
Hilbert Hagedoorn
Don Vito Corleone
Posts: 32966
Don Vito Corleone
Posts: 32966
Posted on: 12/18/2013 02:17 PM
It's gotta suck to not have somebody configure MySQL with a 4 second fix/tweak in the week before Christmas for a HW selling company
lol, cockers site is down "too many connections"
It's gotta suck to not have somebody configure MySQL with a 4 second fix/tweak in the week before Christmas for a HW selling company
PhazeDelta1
Posts: 15618
Posts: 15618
Posted on: 12/18/2013 02:20 PM
Yeah that's not a bad at all considering the price difference.
so, a custom 290 for around £350 will be performing similar (give or take a frame or 2) to a 780ti that costs £550. not bad.
Yeah that's not a bad at all considering the price difference.
Anarion
Senior Member
Posts: 13223
Senior Member
Posts: 13223
Posted on: 12/18/2013 02:27 PM
Hilbert, do you do temperature test in open air situation?
It's about on par with my card without OC.
Hilbert, do you do temperature test in open air situation?
so, a custom 290 for around £350 will be performing similar (give or take a frame or 2) to a 780ti that costs £550. not bad.
It's about on par with my card without OC.
Rich_Guy
Senior Member
Posts: 11858
Senior Member
Posts: 11858
Posted on: 12/18/2013 02:34 PM
Nice review, looks a cracker.
Nice review, looks a cracker.
styka
Senior Member
Posts: 314
Senior Member
Posts: 314
Posted on: 12/18/2013 02:45 PM
Im regretting getting the 280x.. Couldve waited for the custom 290, as I wasnt even playing any games in between the launch.
Why would AMD waited this long to ratify the use of custom coolers, makes no sense.
Im regretting getting the 280x.. Couldve waited for the custom 290, as I wasnt even playing any games in between the launch.
Why would AMD waited this long to ratify the use of custom coolers, makes no sense.
Hilbert Hagedoorn
Don Vito Corleone
Posts: 32966
Don Vito Corleone
Posts: 32966
Posted on: 12/18/2013 02:55 PM
That isn't entirely fair TBH. AMD indicated December .. and it is ... December.
It takes time to develop new PCBs and matching cooling solutions. These custom products are a new design based of the product released end October, honestly .. this is quite fast development wise when you think about it a bit more..
Please do realize that NV might have had custom boards available from the get-go with the 780 Ti release, but the chip they used is the same on as on GTX 780 and Titan. Meaning only very little tweaks needed to be made to the existing PCB designs only, if at all. So for them it was much easier to release custom boards opposed to AMD who had a brand new chip / graphics design.
Why would AMD waited this long to ratify the use of custom coolers, makes no sense.
That isn't entirely fair TBH. AMD indicated December .. and it is ... December.
It takes time to develop new PCBs and matching cooling solutions. These custom products are a new design based of the product released end October, honestly .. this is quite fast development wise when you think about it a bit more..
Please do realize that NV might have had custom boards available from the get-go with the 780 Ti release, but the chip they used is the same on as on GTX 780 and Titan. Meaning only very little tweaks needed to be made to the existing PCB designs only, if at all. So for them it was much easier to release custom boards opposed to AMD who had a brand new chip / graphics design.
anxious_f0x
Senior Member
Posts: 1257
Senior Member
Posts: 1257
Posted on: 12/18/2013 03:06 PM
Could be tempted by this, would a decent 1000 Watt PSU be happy running a pair of these? Also would I be limited in crossfire using PCIE 2 with the removal of the crossfire bridge?
Great review btw
Could be tempted by this, would a decent 1000 Watt PSU be happy running a pair of these? Also would I be limited in crossfire using PCIE 2 with the removal of the crossfire bridge?
Great review btw
eclap
Senior Member
Posts: 31504
Senior Member
Posts: 31504
Posted on: 12/18/2013 03:12 PM
Hilbert, do you do temperature test in open air situation?
It's about on par with my card without OC.
not really
Hilbert, do you do temperature test in open air situation?
It's about on par with my card without OC.
not really
BLEH!
Senior Member
Posts: 5766
Senior Member
Posts: 5766
Posted on: 12/18/2013 03:12 PM
Could be tempted by this, would a decent 1000 Watt PSU be happy running a pair of these? Also would I be limited in crossfire using PCIE 2 with the removal of the crossfire bridge?
Great review btw
Yes and no. CFX now runs ACROSS the PCIe interface, bridges begone!
Could be tempted by this, would a decent 1000 Watt PSU be happy running a pair of these? Also would I be limited in crossfire using PCIE 2 with the removal of the crossfire bridge?
Great review btw
Yes and no. CFX now runs ACROSS the PCIe interface, bridges begone!
eclap
Senior Member
Posts: 31504
Senior Member
Posts: 31504
Posted on: 12/18/2013 03:13 PM
Could be tempted by this, would a decent 1000 Watt PSU be happy running a pair of these? Also would I be limited in crossfire using PCIE 2 with the removal of the crossfire bridge?
Great review btw
yes
no
answer to your 2 questions.
Could be tempted by this, would a decent 1000 Watt PSU be happy running a pair of these? Also would I be limited in crossfire using PCIE 2 with the removal of the crossfire bridge?
Great review btw
yes
no
answer to your 2 questions.
sverek
Senior Member
Posts: 4030
Senior Member
Posts: 4030
Posted on: 12/18/2013 03:14 PM
Thanks a lot for review!
Great card. Was thinking of 780, but this card just destroyed everything for its price, performance and finally fixed temperatures.
Thanks a lot for review!
Great card. Was thinking of 780, but this card just destroyed everything for its price, performance and finally fixed temperatures.
Pill Monster
Senior Member
Posts: 25218
Senior Member
Posts: 25218
Posted on: 12/18/2013 03:18 PM
That isn't entirely fair TBH. AMD indicated December .. and it is ... December.
It takes time to develop new PCBs and matching cooling solutions. These custom products are a new design based of the product released end October, honestly .. this is quite fast development wise when you think about it a bit more..
Please do realize that NV might have had custom boards available from the get-go with the 780 Ti release, but the chip they used is the same on as on GTX 780 and Titan. Meaning only very little tweaks needed to be made to the existing PCB designs only, if at all. So for them it was much easier to release custom boards opposed to AMD who had a brand new chip / graphics design.
Woa...I got ninja'd like 5 times while replying to you...lol
Anyway;
The PCB's may be new but custom coolers like DirectCU and Vapor-X have been around for years, nothing new there except maybe the position of the screw holes.
Considering the TDP of these cards it's in AMD's own interest to come up with a better cooling solution.
How hard can it be to make a reference fan that matches the GPU.... they did it with the FX-9590 so why not the 290 as well?
Something else I don't get is why these cards are being released with 6+8 pin plugs instead of 8+8 like they should be.....even some of the later release 7970's/7950's and 280x have 8+8 pin PCB's.
That isn't entirely fair TBH. AMD indicated December .. and it is ... December.
It takes time to develop new PCBs and matching cooling solutions. These custom products are a new design based of the product released end October, honestly .. this is quite fast development wise when you think about it a bit more..
Please do realize that NV might have had custom boards available from the get-go with the 780 Ti release, but the chip they used is the same on as on GTX 780 and Titan. Meaning only very little tweaks needed to be made to the existing PCB designs only, if at all. So for them it was much easier to release custom boards opposed to AMD who had a brand new chip / graphics design.
Woa...I got ninja'd like 5 times while replying to you...lol
Anyway;
The PCB's may be new but custom coolers like DirectCU and Vapor-X have been around for years, nothing new there except maybe the position of the screw holes.
Considering the TDP of these cards it's in AMD's own interest to come up with a better cooling solution.
How hard can it be to make a reference fan that matches the GPU.... they did it with the FX-9590 so why not the 290 as well?
Something else I don't get is why these cards are being released with 6+8 pin plugs instead of 8+8 like they should be.....even some of the later release 7970's/7950's and 280x have 8+8 pin PCB's.
anxious_f0x
Senior Member
Posts: 1257
Senior Member
Posts: 1257
Posted on: 12/18/2013 03:22 PM
Yes and no. CFX now runs ACROSS the PCIe interface, bridges begone!
yes
no
answer to your 2 questions.
Sweet, might hold off until some other vendors show off their cards.
Yes and no. CFX now runs ACROSS the PCIe interface, bridges begone!
yes
no
answer to your 2 questions.
Sweet, might hold off until some other vendors show off their cards.
-Tj-
Senior Member
Posts: 15182
Senior Member
Posts: 15182
Posted on: 12/18/2013 04:05 PM
Great, thanks for review!
although that peak77C is a bit so so, but yeah a lot better then 94C
Great, thanks for review!
although that peak77C is a bit so so, but yeah a lot better then 94C
Pill Monster
Senior Member
Posts: 25218
Senior Member
Posts: 25218
Posted on: 12/18/2013 04:30 PM
Hilbert can you please include the IC maker in your reviews... You don't even have to remove the fan, just run MemoryInfo and it will tell you.
Here's a screenshot from my PC;
Hilbert can you please include the IC maker in your reviews... You don't even have to remove the fan, just run MemoryInfo and it will tell you.
Here's a screenshot from my PC;
Anarion
Senior Member
Posts: 13223
Senior Member
Posts: 13223
Posted on: 12/18/2013 04:45 PM
I do know how much this scores in Firestrike and 3DMark11... FYI, this boosts to 1163MHz at stock. It's much faster than reference model. Also with the small OC I have, it's easily faster than that card.
not really
I do know how much this scores in Firestrike and 3DMark11... FYI, this boosts to 1163MHz at stock. It's much faster than reference model. Also with the small OC I have, it's easily faster than that card.
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Posts: 15618
77c at full load.. I can live with that. I noticed that thermal image looks way better on this card than it did on the reference 290x lol.
Also, was that the highest the card could OC too? I was hoping it would be more. But it's good either way.