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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →AMD’s Radeon R9 290X launched on October 24, 2013, as a high-end challenger to NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX Titan. It brought 2,816 stream processors, 4 GB of GDDR5 memory and a maximum 1 GHz engine clock. Contemporary tests show why “Titan killer” is best understood as launch positioning: the 290X beat Titan in one cited game test and lost in another. Its high load power was a notable trade-off.
Radeon R9 290X specifications
AMD’s launch figures describe the R9 290X as a Hawaii-based GPU. The card’s listed clock and bandwidth values are maximums, not promises that every board will operate at those figures in every workload.
| Specification | Radeon R9 290X |
|---|---|
| GPU | Hawaii (AnandTech) |
| Stream processors | 2,816 (AMD) |
| Texture units | 176 (AnandTech) |
| ROPs | 64 (AnandTech) |
| Engine clock | Up to 1 GHz (AMD); AnandTech lists a 1 GHz boost clock |
| Memory | 4 GB GDDR5 (AMD) |
| Memory clock | Up to 5.0 Gbps (AMD) |
| Memory bus | 512-bit (AnandTech) |
| Maximum memory bandwidth | Up to 320 GB/s (AMD) |
| Single-precision compute | 5.6 TFLOPS (AMD) |
| Board power | Approximately 300 W, labeled unofficial by AnandTech |
| Launch graphics APIs | DirectX 11.2, OpenGL 4.3 and Mantle (AMD) |
AMD announced a US starting price of $549 at launch; it also listed €399 excluding VAT for Europe. These October 2013 prices are historical launch figures, not current used-market estimates. AMD’s launch announcement provides the manufacturer’s specifications and feature claims, while AnandTech’s contemporary review supplies additional architectural details.
R9 290X vs. GTX Titan: what the benchmarks show
The 290X challenged the GTX Titan, but the cited TechSpot comparisons do not support a single across-the-board winner. Performance changed with the game and test conditions, so these results should be read as individual historical review results rather than a universal ranking.
#1 Best Overall
- 512-bit GDDR5
- 2 x DVI-D
- 1 x HDMI
- 1 x DisplayPort
| Game and test | R9 290X result relative to GTX Titan | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Metro: Last Light | 46.8 fps; 13% faster than Titan in this test | TechSpot |
| Tomb Raider | 12% slower than Titan in this test | TechSpot |
The percentages and frame rate belong to TechSpot’s specific 2013 tests, not to every game or system. Resolution, settings, hardware configuration and review methodology affect comparisons; results from separate benchmark suites should not be combined as if they were one controlled test. See TechSpot’s Metro: Last Light benchmark and Tomb Raider benchmark.
Power use and cooling context
TechSpot reported load consumption of up to 300 W in its testing and said the card used 20% more power than the GTX Titan in that comparison. AnandTech separately described approximately 300 W as unofficial typical board power. Those are distinct kinds of figures: a review’s measured result is not the same as a manufacturer-rated universal limit, and partner-card implementations may differ. The contemporary figures nevertheless make power a relevant consideration alongside gaming performance. TechSpot’s review reports its power comparison.
Rank #2
- AMD Reference Cooling Design
- Features 2xDVI/HDMI/Display Port with HDCP protection
- AMD TrueAudio Technology
Mantle and TrueAudio at launch
AMD also promoted Mantle and TrueAudio with the card. AMD’s launch announcement says Mantle requires support in the application, while TrueAudio was available on select cards and required an enabled game or application. These are launch-era feature descriptions; they do not establish compatibility with a particular modern game or current software configuration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the historical record cannot establish for a buyer today
The specifications and benchmarks above explain the R9 290X’s 2013 positioning, but they do not establish current stock, used prices, seller reliability, present-day driver support or performance in modern games. A buyer evaluating a particular used card would need current, listing-specific and software-specific information rather than relying on its launch price or decade-old benchmarks.
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Rank #4
- 512-bit GDDR5
- 2 x DVI-D
- 1 x HDMI
- 1 x Display Port
Rank #3
- 2816 Stream Processors
- Features DVI/HDMI/Display Port with HDCP protection
- AMD Reference Cooling Design,AMD TrueAudio Technology
- 5000 MHz Effective Memory Clock
- PCI Express 3.0
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