Test Set Up
All updates to the Operating System and games and Synthetic benchmarks are assumed and a full defrag on the SSD after a fresh install before any benchies are carried out. Today we are using the WHQL 14.12 AMD Catalyst drivers for all tests which are the latest WHQL drivers at the time of writing.
- Processor: Intel Core i5-4670K CPU @ 3.40GHz
- Motherboard: MSI Z97I GAMING AC (MS-7897)
- Memory: 16GB Corsair Vengeance (PC3-19200)
- Drive: Samsung SSD 840 PRO Series 256 GB x2 RAID 0
- Audio: On-board Realtek High Definition Audio
- PSU: Thermaltake Smart SE 730W
- Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit
- 2048 x 1152 60Hz Native Resolution
- Driver Version 14.12
Driver settings used for synthetic and gaming tests.
Sound Performance
We tested the sound performance at idle and during heavy load. We used a certified Db meter at 15 inches range. The Sapphire Radeon R9 290X Vapor-X Tri-X is excellent at idle, but doesn’t quite beat the MSI GTX 970 GAMING Twin Frozr V.
It is important to note we used the MicroCool Banchetto 101 Chassis for testing which is an open chassis. This means you are hearing the graphics card cooling fans unobstructed. So 35.9 Db idle and 40.3 Db under load are pretty respectable results.
Synthetic Tests
- AIDA64 Extreme
- 3DMark
- Unigine Heaven 4.0
Real World Tests
- Battlefield 4
- Titanfall
- Crysis 3
- Far Cry 3
- Watch_Dogs
Testing Methodology
All synthetic tests are carried out three times with the best result taken. All gaming tests are carried out three times with the best results taken. All game tests, multi player or otherwise, are carried out three times with the best average taken. If the game is an online multi player, the same map is used each time and a ping constantly under 40ms is required before a test is valid.
Synthetic Results
First up we have AIDA64 GPU Benchmark results. The memory read and writes are pretty average but the copy is excellent, nearly doubling the memory copy of the PNY XLR8 GeForce GTX 770, and around 33% higher than the MSI GTX 970 GAMING Twin Frozr V.
Next, more AIDA64, 3DMark and gaming results.
Sapphire Radeon R9 290X Vapor-X Tri-X Graphics Card Review
Package and Bundle - 8.7
Performance - 8
Price - 9
Consumer Experience - 8.5
8.6
If you don't want to spend money on the new R9 390X and you are upgrading, this will also be a fantastic card, but we cannot help feel as though we are left a little disappointed with this card. Why? We didn't really see the card utilized apart from the synthetic tests and we also feel the drivers are still a little behind the hardware, both down to AMD, not Sapphire.