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Seven Radeon R9 280X Graphics Cards, Rounded-Up

Seven Radeon R9 280X Graphics Cards, Rounded-Up
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Perhaps fortunately, AMD's reference Radeon R9 280X is a bit of a phantom outside our own labs. If you're shopping for one of these Tahiti-based boards, you're looking at third-party solutions. We round up seven models and show what makes them different.

Consider this your reference for Radeon R9 280X comparisons. We’re deliberately not including a group picture in the introduction because, as we receive more third-party boards, we'll update today's piece with them, making comparisons easier. To this end, the benchmark and measurement results are split into different categories and mostly presented as tables.

We're also taking your feedback into account and including specifications that don't appear in every manufacturer's technical specifications, but still matter for installation, and might consequently be an important factor in your buying decision. The videos are back too, in addition to fan speed and temperature diagrams as well.

A run-down of each card's differentiators, including BIOS tweaks and a picture gallery of each board, round out this new story format. For the first time, we’re combining a round-up, single-card reviews, and picture galleries into one handy, continually updated package.

Graphics Cards Overview

Asus
R9 280X
DirectCU II OC
Club3D
R9 280X
royalKing OC

Update:
Added: 10/21/2013

Gigabyte
R9 280X
WindForce 3X OC

HIS
R9 280X
IceQ X²

MSI
R9 280X
Gaming OC

Sapphire
R9 280X
Toxic OC

Sapphire
R9 280X
Vapor-X OC

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  • 0 Hide
    ImperialistMillitant , 4 November 2013 09:35
    I'm concerned about drivers, since the HD7000 series would have matured driver wise, does this mean AMD will have to attended faults in these new drivers all over again? Or is this not the case because they are re-brands and just using older software? Also I mean drivers as in crossfire e.g.
    Hope my ignorance doesn't get me butchered.
  • 0 Hide
    Yeoman1000 , 4 November 2013 10:33
    The MSI Gaming seems to be having a bit of trouble, I kind of expected a lot from it, but it seems to struggle quite a bit with its temps (at least for the VRM), in quite a few reviews?

    Also, I noticed that the 280x Twin Frozr, only employs one 'fat' heat-pipe, whereas the one on the 780 employs two 'fat' heat pipes. I realise those cards are at very different price points, but considering the more thirsty nature of tahiti, I might have thought it would've helped a lot. Overall, the Asus variant seems like the best all rounder. And the HIS as well, although I find it somewhat dull in terms of its design (that's not the real point ofc).

    I guess the MSI does well considering its size and weight (it's both smaller and lighter than I imagined it to be), but the previous BIOS didn't seem great, and the new one is a bit on the aggressive side.
  • 0 Hide
    HEXiT , 4 November 2013 13:56
    i hope this article isnt finished... as the differences on the pcb tend to determine the overal difference in performance. but theres little mention of it.
    reason i say this?. the other day the forum was asked whats the diff between these 10 or so cards. in reality they were all pretty much identical other than the coolers. but there was at least 2 differences... asus's digi-vrm, and there mofset setup which gave the card a slight advantage when over clocking. but many retailers dont give these details in there descriptions. to me its as important as the cooling solution as a way to differentiate different manufacturers with the same class of card.
  • 1 Hide
    thiemo56 , 4 November 2013 15:44
    Too bad they didn't include the sapphire r9-280x dual-x.
    I have it myself and it was pretty cheap and seems quitter and runs less hot then the vapor-x.
  • 0 Hide
    AMKANMBA , 4 November 2013 18:08
    Sapphire R9 280X Vapor-X OC; 3 slots????
  • 0 Hide
    Jake Wenta , 7 November 2013 06:45
    That vapor x is almost twice as loud as that loud MSi card!
  • 0 Hide
    Semtex451 , 11 November 2013 16:35
    It would seem the rest of the cards are stuck in the mail. Call Sapphire again they'll likely send you the rest of their 280 flavors by courier.
  • 0 Hide
    Semtex451 , 21 November 2013 00:21
    Alright. The entire English speaking western world has exhausted the supply of 7950/R9 280x examples, with the exception of Amazon, whom for some reason, has been asking ridiculous sums of money since release. We can surely therefore expect the container vessels to rock up to our shores any day now, to dispense more AMD goodness, this time with BF4 vouchers in box. Perhaps then, soon, our esteemed TH hacks can finally finish this article. I for one, would appreciate a response from a TH staffer from either side of the pond. Jeez.
  • 2 Hide
    Semtex451 , 21 November 2013 00:30
    No disrespect intended but "continually updated " it is not.
  • 0 Hide
    HEXiT , 21 November 2013 03:20
    Quote:
    Alright. The entire English speaking western world has exhausted the supply of 7950/R9 280x examples, with the exception of Amazon, whom for some reason, has been asking ridiculous sums of money since release. We can surely therefore expect the container vessels to rock up to our shores any day now, to dispense more AMD goodness, this time with BF4 vouchers in box. Perhaps then, soon, our esteemed TH hacks can finally finish this article. I for one, would appreciate a response from a TH staffer from either side of the pond. Jeez.

    not sure thats gonna happen with bf4 for anything other than the 290/290x. amd have recently trimmed the titles available in the bundle deals.
    source?. linus tech's live stream from last friday/sat 15-16th nov 2013...

  • 0 Hide
    Semtex451 , 23 November 2013 02:04
    http://sites.amd.com/us/promo/battlefield/Pages/battlefield4.aspx

    Yes it is ambiguous