XFX R9 390 Double Dissipation 8GB Video Card Review @ [H]

FrgMstr

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XFX R9 390 Double Dissipation 8GB Video Card Review - Today we evaluate our first Radeon R9 390 video card with a custom take on it from XFX. The XFX R9 390 Double Dissipation 8GB has an improved cooling system and factory overclock. We will compare it to a custom overclocked GeForce GTX 970, and also test the AMD R9 290 clock-for-clock with the XFX R9 390 to determine any other improvements.
 
Great review, its nice to see that AMD can still be competitive in the budget/mid-range level.

The majority of my GPUs have been in this 200-400 price range, which AMD seems to be quite competitive with Nvidia.

Slightly disappointed in the OC, but it was nice to see that the card is that close that such a minor OC can push it up to 970 performance levels.
 
I was under the impression that the Max OC 390 would be much faster than the 970. So I'm sort of dissapointed. The 970 still has more OC headroom and would increase the lead.

None the less its a nice card for the price. But I think its time we start seeing more 390/970 for under $290 with no rebates.
 
Always love the promo pics of the 300 series from amd with a blower cooler that seemingly don't actually exist in retail or oem channels.
 
Nice read. Like the core for core comparison on the 390 and 290. I've gotta throw it out there: considering the 390 vs 290 results, there are still a number of 290s out there for sale for well under $300 with free games, some with factory OCs. Just sayin'...
 
Might not be a bad investment going into the winter. I can save some wear and tear on my furnace.
 
I'm impressed that the fans were essentially inaudible at 100%. With only a 10 MHz gain from OC'ing on high voltage, I think I would just take the decent OC on stock voltage and run the fans slower, probably save on power draw, but if someone wants to go to the wall, it's nice to know it would be no leaf blower.
 
Nice review as always. Good looking card. Thanks for the clock for clock comparisons with the 290, useful for seeing how much benefit 8Gb has vs 4Gb vram. Maybe in an SLI vs Crossfire review the vram will make more difference.

fixed, thanks - brent
 
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Nice review as always. Good looking card. Thanks for the clock for clock comparisons with the 290, useful for seeing how much benefit 8Gb has vs 4Gb vram. Maybe in an SLI vs Crossfire review the vram will make more difference.

Looks like the first Far Cry 4 graph is the wrong image from a different review. It mentions 980Ti.

+1.

fixed
 
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Nvidia would be wise to release a 660ti. There is too much of a gap there. If it clocks well, it could undercut the R9 390. Also, the new 380X will be a dud with 256 bit memory. It would dominate the midrange at $250.
 
as you can see, the GTX 970 is hotter.

The GTX 970 chip is hotter, yes, but that's because the cooler isn't as efficient as the one on this 390. As far as heat dispersion, the 390 (and its cooler) is putting off a lot more than the 970. In other words, if the 970 and 390 had the same cooler, the 390 would be pushing out more heat.

In any case, I'll take cooler temps on my chip any day for a bit more hot air.
 
Nvidia would be wise to release a 660ti. There is too much of a gap there. If it clocks well, it could undercut the R9 390. Also, the new 380X will be a dud with 256 bit memory. It would dominate the midrange at $250.

256 bit memory doesn't make a midrange card dud with gddr5. What else people want for 250? seriously I don't understand this not enough bandwidth from 256bit bus when nvidia sells you 192 bit on some of its cards. The card will have plenty of bandwidth for midrange segment, to expect anything more is expecting too much. Step up to the 390 or 390x, thats what they are there for.
 
The GTX 970 chip is hotter, yes, but that's because the cooler isn't as efficient as the one on this 390. As far as heat dispersion, the 390 (and its cooler) is putting off a lot more than the 970. In other words, if the 970 and 390 had the same cooler, the 390 would be pushing out more heat.

In any case, I'll take cooler temps on my chip any day for a bit more hot air.

Last time i checked MSI>XFX. And yes, i agree with you 43W extra means more heat and probably on the same cooler the 390 would be a bit warmer.

But, the dude that i quoted, didnt even bother to read the article and started the same trash against AMD like the majority of nVidia fanboys. "AMD is hot, nVidia is not, thank god winter is coming so you can get the 390 and replace your furnace".

The 970 is a bit warmer, has the 3,5GB history and last time i checked VW lost arround 18bln $ in one day because they got cought cheating. nVidia no, nio, the 3,5 GB shenanigans was a "marketing error"... right
 
Nice read. Like the core for core comparison on the 390 and 290. I've gotta throw it out there: considering the 390 vs 290 results, there are still a number of 290s out there for sale for well under $300 with free games, some with factory OCs. Just sayin'...


Yeah the only reason to get one of these over those much cheaper 290s is the extra RAM. From looking at the review I doubt that extra RAM will make a difference unless you are doing xfire. I guess it makes sense to cost a little more, even though it is just a rebrand. It just reminds me of those low end cards that the card companies would slap a large amount of RAM on. Betting on the consumer being uninformed and buying a card based on the amount of RAM even though it will make absolutely no difference at all.
 
A shame about OCing on this 390. My 290DD (same card [H] review some time ago) hits 1100/1525, matching some of the pre-overclocked 390s out there. At those speeds it's a bit quicker than my GTX970.
 
256 bit memory doesn't make a midrange card dud with gddr5. What else people want for 250? seriously I don't understand this not enough bandwidth from 256bit bus when nvidia sells you 192 bit on some of its cards.

Well good for nVidia. The r9 285 (380) is just ahead of the older 280x. It compensates with higher clocks on the memory and gpu. In this manner, the 380x will be just ahead of the 280x. Right now the 280x can be found for $220 on ne. Also, Tonga is a turd for o/c so comparing max o/c to max o/c, the 380x and 280x should be neck and neck. Lastly, though it is meaningless to 95% of people, Tahiti is 1/4 DP.

A $250 960ti (edit) will crush both of those options - it is a crucial price point.
 
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Update on Overclocking, XFX is looking in to getting us a Black Edition. If we get one, we will push that thing to the max on overclocking.
 
Update on Overclocking, XFX is looking in to getting us a Black Edition. If we get one, we will push that thing to the max on overclocking.

Awesome! Any chance you will do a crossfire review now that you will have 2? I know it would be a lot of work but we would love to see a $650 390 Xfire vs. 970 SLI vs. 980ti 4k battle royal.
 
For 390 CF, we have another card in mind we are trying to get, if not, then we can do that with those two.
 
Looking at the reviews of the 290 max OC vs the 390 max OC game to game the 390 is beats the 290 by a decent margin in FPS and quality settings.

It would have been nice to see a 290 max OC thrown in to the results for comparison since they are the same chip.
 
Looking at the reviews of the 290 max OC vs the 390 max OC game to game the 390 is beats the 290 by a decent margin in FPS and quality settings.

It would have been nice to see a 290 max OC thrown in to the results for comparison since they are the same chip.

They typically test against current products only, unless progress from one generation to the next is the focus of the article. They do that from time to time, but there isn't time to do it regularly.
 
They typically test against current products only, unless progress from one generation to the next is the focus of the article. They do that from time to time, but there isn't time to do it regularly.

Would have been pertinent considering the review being of the same chip. I just find it interesting that the same chip, clocked lower, performs better.
 
Newegg recently had a promo where all 390(x) received an extra $50 off instantly. PowerColor 390 PCS+ was $225 after rebate and the XFX & MSI models were $250 ish. Incredible sale.
 
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