MSI R9 290X LIGHTNING Review

👤by Richard Weatherstone Comments 📅22-03-14
Conclusion

When we were first asked to take a look at the R9 290X Lightning were agreed but with trepidation. Not only due to the fact that the reference design AMD R9 290X did not thoroughly impress us but also because the HD7970 Lightning caused us issues due to its inability to drive a dual link DVI monitor. Our fears however were unfounded and what's more to the point, we may even be converts to the AMD R9 290X!

MSI have created a monster with the Lightning Edition. While it is equally capable as an everyday card, it is quite clearly aimed toward the ultra high end enthusiast/overclocker. The sheer amount of features to assist overclocking is unparalleled and those features are backed up with some pretty impressive on-board components. This isn't the first Lightning card we have reviewed so we were hardly surprised at the overclocking theme. Perhaps what impressed us most is the fact that MSI have made a good card, simply fantastic.

The 290X Lightning is very much an enjoyable card to own, particularly if you like to overclock at any level as this card offers more than any other we have sampled in terms of reconfigurability. All of the major components are monitored and tailored for their specific job which makes punishing the card with excessive voltage and clockspeeds all the more pleasurable because you know it can take it. We can only imagine the type of overclocks attainable with the use of LN2. A quick look at HWBOT tells us the 290X responds extremely well to extreme cooling, grabbing the 3DMark records so with the extra capabilities the Lightning furnishes the overclocker, we can expect even higher scores to come.

The only downside to the card is the price. Costing £150 more than a reference design 290X will be hard to swallow for most of us. Even with all of the bells and whistles the Lightning editions furnishes us with it can hardly be described as value for money. It is however, on a par with entry level the GTX 780Ti and because the Lightning has many more features (and overclocking headroom) it is likely to be of greater appeal to those for whom the card was designed for - Overclockers.


So when all parameters are considered we feel the Lightning is deserving of both our Gold and Elite awards. It is the best R9 290X on the market at present and while it may not be the fastest card as standard, it has the potential, in the right hands, to be a world record breaker and that is something special indeed.

To summarise:
From the packaging to the aesthetics, the on-board components to the overclocking, the MSI R9 290X is sure to blow you away. If you are looking for the best R9 290X money can buy - look no further.

Pros
+ Top class cooling
+ Tier one components
+ Excellent overclocking experience
+ Sublime Aesthetics
+ Brilliant monitoring and performance tuning
+ Class leading packaging

Cons
- The GTX 780Ti is still quicker as standard




Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net.




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