Looking for best gpu for R3500

[Bryn]

I was pondering a 970, but the R9 390 appears to mostly kick its ass, so an easy decision, given they are about the same price. Awesome stuff.



From what I can see, the R9 390 is a big improvement on noise levels in comparison.

If noise levels (and heat output) are important to you, watercool your card.

I recently bought a secondhand Sapphire 7990 and its waterblock for R4k. Can't beat that value.

 

[ponder]

If noise levels (and heat output) are important to you, watercool your card.

I recently bought a secondhand Sapphire 7990 and its waterblock for R4k. Can't beat that value.

The new R9 3xx series seems to run a lot cooler than the R9 2xx series. The sapphire 390 nitro seems to run cooler than the evga 970 scc or whatever it's called.

 

[Bryn]

The new R9 3xx series seems to run a lot cooler than the R9 2xx series. The sapphire 390 nitro seems to run cooler than the evga 970 scc or whatever it's called.

And the noise? I can't stand cards that sound like a jet is taking off nearby. And I haven't come across a powerful non-watercooled Radeon card recently that doesn't sound like that at load.

 

[ponder]

And the noise? I can't stand cards that sound like a jet is taking off nearby. And I haven't come across a powerful non-watercooled Radeon card recently that doesn't sound like that at load.

Depending on the vendor the new cards don't activate the fans until they hit 60 or 65C

I oc my 960 and peg the fans at 65%, I prefer a constant speed noise to a fan that spins up & down the whole time which is really annoying.

 

[copacetic]

And the noise? I can't stand cards that sound like a jet is taking off nearby. And I haven't come across a powerful non-watercooled Radeon card recently that doesn't sound like that at load.

It appears to actually be pretty quiet:

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/powercolor_radeon_r9_390_pcs_8gb_review,11.html