AMD 290x Crossfire or 295x2?

Topic. I'm looking to upgrade and I'm weighing the pros and cons of each. I used to only do dual GPU cards so I could keep a slot open for an Nvidia card to do hybrid Phys-X but now I have a quad SLI board so that's probably not an issue.

Thoughts? The 290xs are cheaper for two but on air cooling they run slower. Also, the Sapphire 295x2 has four mini DP ports which I need for my purposes.

-Byshop

Get 2x 290 and OC them.

@PredatorRules: I'd have to replace the stock cooling since (as mentioned) they don't run at full speed already due to air cooling.

-Byshop

Are you talking about the reference coolers? Because I'm not even sure you can get those anymore outside of ebay.

1) Nope. That's only for the stock blower-style cooler.
Any AIB will run just fine (and much, much cooler than stock)

2) get 2x 290x's or 290's. The 290x2 is much too expensive compared to two separate cards.


3) Your avatar is from Ski Free for windows 3.1
I approve.

@fatee: So it's still an accurate statement that I would need custom cooled 290x cards, except that I could purchase them already kitted now. Thanks for the info. If it were just $100 or so I wouldn't mind saving the slots, but the price jump is closer to $500 for a dual GPU card versus two singles. I'd always gone with the former option before because they prices were pretty comparable, but not this generation (at least, not right now).

Thanks.

-Byshop

Go for Crossfire 290X. I've got Crossfire 290s and they run pretty flawless. Drivers have gotten much better, doesn't seem to be an issue anymore.

@insane_metalist: what you do with your 2 builds ?:P gaming in both ? do you have 4 hands ?:P

295x2 seems like epeen and money maker move for amd much like NV's titan z. 290x two of them is the way to go.

@Jawad2007: I do have four hands. I use both builds for gaming, video editing & video rendering & more. Reason I built an AMD rig is because I had tons of parts laying around already. Plus, I got 290s for a really good deal. I payed $400 for both.

290 x 2.. whats your monitor setup?