Why a GTX780 might still be a better choice than an R9 290X...

Now that the 290X has hit store shelves and NDA has been lifted, the usual performance pattern between AMD and Nvidia flagship GPUs has been seen once again. Less biased benchmarks show the 290X and GTX780 to trade blows between titles, with no clear winner at resolutions that average gamers actually play at.

"But the R9 290X is so much cheaper!", I hear you say. That's true, by about 15% in Australia. However, there are a few key points that make the GTX780 still a better buy:

• 3rd party coolers - AMD have chosen a reference launch for the 290X, which means that coolers such as DirectCUII, Windforce, VaporX etc won't be available until 2014.
• Runs cooler
• Runs quieter
• More OC potential - the 290X (granted, in its reference form) has very little thermal headroom to be able to overclock without causing serious heat concerns
• Reference cooler is higher quality (objective) and looks better (subjective)

There are still benefits to buying the 290X, however. One immediate advantage is the bundling of Battlefield 4, though it's likely that many potential customers have already preordered it. Reference cards are excellent if you plan on watercooling; there's no chance of a custom PCB preventing the waterblock from working, and you don't waste money on an air cooler you won't use. Despite this, 290X waterblocks are yet to come to market.

With this new information, I can sleep easy knowing I didn't make a wrong choice :)

     - Leeroy