Source
r/buildapc•
PyotrPan

[Build Help] R9 290X 4GB vs. R9 290X 8GB..?

Hi all! So, I recently RMA'd my old Gigabyte R9 280X, due to artifacting issues. So, I'll be getting the entire purchase sum returned, and prices on 290X gpu's have dropped noticably since I purchased my old card. I can basically get

ASUS MATRIX-R9290X-P-4GD5 AMD Radeon R9 290X 4GB

for the same price as a

XFX Radeon R9 290X 8GB GDDR5

and if I put in ~$50, I'll get the

MSI Radeon R9 290X Gaming 8GB GDDR5

Which should I get?

From before, I have a 3770k CPU that runs at stock speed, which works fine so I'll leave it alone, and a

Be Quiet Pure Power L8 CM 630W PSU.

Think I'll need to upgrade that as well, before installing either a 290X 4GB or 8GB?

Thanks for any input!

Posted Dec 18, 2014, 5:21 PM UTC

16
[deleted]•

Unless you plan to crossfire and run at 4k just get the 4GB. Higher amounts of VRAM is mainly used for SLI or crossfire when all the cards together have the same amount of VRAM as one of the cards and this is a limiting factor in games. However recent tests by Linus showed that even at above 4k 4GB is still enough for most games.

a 630W should be enough for either of those cards if you dont want to crossfire

TLDR: no difference for most situations, just get the cheapest 290x as they are so similar

3
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
MrSquirrel0•

The 4gb model is fine unless you plan to do a larger resolution for gaming then go with 8

1
LeonThePro•

This will depend on what kind of monitor you play on and what kind of games.

The 8GB versions are out already?

1
disintegore•

From model to model, a lot may vary. More expensive versions of a GPU usually come with better coolers, backplates, custom PCBs, factory overclock, additional video outputs, etc. Always look for reviews and comparisons when you're interested in buying a product of this nature and decide whether or not the extra goodies are something you're interested in paying more for.

VRAM is useful for larger resolutions and multi-monitor setups. With that said, 4GB is still enormous (in my opinion). Consider the 8GB version if you're planning on building a massive EyeFinity setup and if you don't care, forget VRAM and focus on the other features.

1
ronaldgoddamnreagan•

4gb is more than enough for 1080p or 1440p

1
bigj231•

The only difference between different manufacturers is the warranty and the cooling solution. I have seen a disproportionately large number of horror stories about ASUS's CS (especially sending back the exact same broken part as a "replacement").

0