Eh? My HD 7870 > R9 280X?

[mikeo01]

Hello all,

Since my new build recently (Corsair 250D, R9 280X) I thought I'd try out my HD 7870 again (stock cooler) as I was considering maybe replacing it for a blower because I don't particularly like all that hot air being exhausted back into my case. Plus I was curious how loud blowers actually get without my fan profile.

So, tried it out, ARMA 3. To my horror it runs ARMA 3 better than my 280X did...?

I always use the same settings in ARMA 3 to test out my graphics cards and on average my 280X would hit 50-60FPS, maybe hitting 70FPS now and again. Flying over the landscape. My HD 7870 was in the firm 60s-70s and even hitting 80 FPS using the same settings.

Flying over towns would almost always bring a GPU to its knees, my 280X would on average hit high 20s but on average 30s. My 7870 was in the mid 30s hitting 40FPS now and again. It does "feel" smoother.


Hmmm? Isn't the 280X just a rebadged 7970? The architecture is the same isn't it? Unless my 280X is throttling.


P.s my reference stock cooler 7870 runs a lot cooler too

[kalniel]

Yes the 280X is pretty much a 7970, so it should be quite a bit quicker than a 7870. Clear out and reinstall drivers maybe? Does it have enough juice and cooling?

[mikeo01]

Drivers are fresh. It should have ample amount of power, the whole system draws around 370W from the wall, I've got a gold 450W.

Cooling may be an issue thinking on it. Then again it isn't going to get any more fresh air than it does (right up against side vent, Corsair 250D)

EDIT:

Same for Battlefield 3, just tried out a map with both cards and the 280X is slightly slower in terms of FPS.

EDIT2:

VRMs hitting 90c under load, core is at 80c