MSI or Gigabyte R9 280x?

[watercooled]

Both the MSI and Gigabyte cards have had updated BIOSes since launch, with the MSI card running cooler, and the Gigabyte card quieter.

According to this they end up with roughly the same load temps now: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...up,3655-4.html

I'm not sure what's going on with MSI noise in that article though - according to the TPU updated conclusion, noise is lower with the BIOS update. I have one myself, and despite being perceptive to fan noise, I can barely hear it over the system even when playing something like Crysis 3 in my Fractal R3 with stock fans.

If I remember, I might check what rpm the fans get to under load and compare them to the graphs at Tom's.

[kompukare]

Oh, I think I did skim that Tom's article at the time. Crazy that the MSI was throttling because of VRM temps. Guess there is no perfect card. No wonder that those who don't mind invalidating their warranty go for DIY waterblocks or aftermarket coolers.

BTW, not sure if this EU-wide but it must be more useful than the US-only lists we usually see. HT4u.net asked a bunch of graphic card AIBs about their policy regarding warranty and removing the stock heatsink and overclocking:


Source: HT4U.NET (Google Translation.)

Seems MSI is the only vendor of AMD cards which allows changing the cooler. Of course, in all cases the usual provision is that and damage caused by replacing the cooler is not covered.

[bluepumpkin]

I have the MSI Twin Frozr 3GB R9 280X (from scan @ £229) cooler and I am very happy with it, its performance is great and it is very quiet (much quieter than my previous 6870DD XFX)..Have not used Gigabyte so cant compare but i am certainly happy with what I have

[Zypher20]

I have just orded the MSI from Novatech £229 delivered. which at this time is a really good price for a 280x. in doing so I found out my last graphics card I orded (also from novatec) was back in april 2009! guess I got some milage out of my GTX260

[finch96]

I would go Gigabyte their cards generally run very quiet