Wednesday, October 30th 2013

Radeon R9 290 (non-X) Launch Pushed Back a Week

Launch of AMD's Radeon R9 290 (non-X) is reportedly pushed back by a week, to Tuesday, November 5, 2013. The card was expected to launch on October 31, 2013. The reason for this delay? AMD reportedly developed a new driver that significantly improves performance on the R9 290. AMD pushed this driver onto reviewers at the last minute, and asked them to re-bench their R9 290 samples from scratch, extending their NDA till the 5th. The driver reportedly makes the R9 290 extremely competitive with GeForce GTX 780. A side-effect of that would be that the recently launched Radeon R9 290X could be rendered unattractive. It remains to be seen if the driver also proportionately improves performance on the R9 290X, and how AMD ends up pricing the R9 290.
Source: 3DCenter.org
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64 Comments on Radeon R9 290 (non-X) Launch Pushed Back a Week

#26
jigar2speed
arterius2DONE! and welcome aboard! :toast:
No no, no welcome aboard, those cheap bastards want me to work for free. :wtf:
Posted on Reply
#27
Cataclysm_ZA
I've just received an e-mail from MSI saying that the R9 290 is in fact on schedule, so I'm not sure what to make of this news...

Update: The launch has been pushed back to 5th November, no details as to why.
Posted on Reply
#28
ensabrenoir
BRIGHT BURNS THIS EARLY MORNING FLAME WAR....DARN IT!!!!....LEFT MY MARSHMELLOWS:roll:
Posted on Reply
#29
sweet
The legendary 12.11 driver comes so soon this time, good job AMD :toast::toast:
Posted on Reply
#30
sergionography
Cataclysm_ZA.

Update: The launch has been pushed back to 5th November, no details as to why.
Why? Because every retailer and their mother sold out of r9-290x lol. Could be very well a demand problem, why sell the same chip for cheaper when its already selling out for a 100$ more
Posted on Reply
#31
Slomo4shO
sergionographyWhy? Because every retailer and their mother sold out of r9-290x lol. Could be very well a demand problem, why sell the same chip for cheaper when its already selling out for a 100$ more
Because at the time it was $100 cheaper than the GTX 780. Now you can find factory overclocked 780s for less and they come with a better gaming bundle so the reference 290X no longer holds the performance/price crown since the card barely keeps up with factory OC 780s and has pitiful overclock headroom due to the worthless cooler. There is currently no reason why anyone not going with watercooling to opt for a 290X over a factor OC 780. :banghead:

I for one am hoping for a $50 price break in the 290X and the 290 to come in at $400 but that is probably wishful thinking :nutkick:
Posted on Reply
#32
dom99
Slomo4shOBecause at the time it was $100 cheaper than the GTX 780. Now you can find factory overclocked 780s for less and they come with a better gaming bundle so the reference 290X no longer holds the performance/price crown since the card barely keeps up with factory OC 780s and has pitiful overclock headroom due to the worthless cooler. There is currently no reason why anyone not going with watercooling to opt for a 290X over a factor OC 780. :banghead:

I for one am hoping for a $50 price break in the 290X and the 290 to come in at $400 but that is probably wishful thinking :nutkick:
They better not reduce the price immediatly after launch and leave the early adopters hanging
Posted on Reply
#33
john_
Slomo4shOBecause at the time it was $100 cheaper than the GTX 780. Now you can find factory overclocked 780s for less and they come with a better gaming bundle so the reference 290X no longer holds the performance/price crown since the card barely keeps up with factory OC 780s and has pitiful overclock headroom due to the worthless cooler. There is currently no reason why anyone not going with watercooling to opt for a 290X over a factor OC 780. :banghead:

I for one am hoping for a $50 price break in the 290X and the 290 to come in at $400 but that is probably wishful thinking :nutkick:
Don't expect price drop. It is like admitting defeat, it is like saying "Yeah, we do NOT have the best product for that price range".
I would expect the game bundles to come sooner to 290s than what AMD was hoping.
Posted on Reply
#34
Arjai
Being a laptop user, HD4000, and not a 'serious' gamer, I hold no emotions for either Nvidia or ATI/AMD GPU's.

As a casual reader of the hoopla here, wow.

I remember, years ago, being an AMD fan, over Intel. AMD CPU's were as fast and very cost effective vs. Intel. Not so different today.

Anyways, I bought this laptop because it was an Intel. I don't like burning my fingertips! :laugh:

Point is this, despite the jetsam, there is some really good info on GPU stuffs, floating around these forums.

Methinks, I would hypothetically build a computer today, with a pair of 780's with the fancy Titan cooler shroud and GeForce LED's.

If I were to build it, say, next May? Probably, with the 290's, or x's, if a decent cooler and price rolls around.

So, what does that make me? Green, Red or just level headed?

:lovetpu:
Posted on Reply
#35
HisDivineOrder
AMD doesn't care about reviewers that much. They'll drop products on them at the last minute, they'll pile products together in a condensed fashion, and they'll do extensive product launches many time zones away from their homes. Hell, they even allow you to do certain, cherry-picked parts of reviews early while letting you do the remaining parts, the parts they lose at, later.

Sorry, I don't buy that you're delaying it for the reviewers. You're delaying it because you're busy retooling your factories to up the clockrates of your cards post-780-is-$500-ohcrap-what-do-we-do-now? panic mode. Plus, you're busy sending out updated firmwares to reviewers and sending out new drivers that you hope will eke you out past nVidia.

This is what happens when--without a marketing department--you "reveal" and "launch" a month out, promising preorders but don't deliver for weeks on end. How long did you think you'd do this before nVidia responded?

I'm gathering AMD thought nVidia wouldn't respond until much later, but we all knew that if AMD seemed on the verge of success with discrete GPU's for even a few weeks, nVidia would end that easily enough.

And so they did. 780's for all! They're a bit slower than the R9 290X, but they're also a LOT easier to deal with as their premier coolers are quieter, nVidia's problems with coil whine are far less than AMD's, and the hardware is just outright not as hot or stressed to the max.

Most people don't want their computer to actually be better as a space heater, too. If only AMD had a marketing department (instead of laying most of them off), they might have gotten a product out before nVidia's price cuts neutered their product launch.
Posted on Reply
#36
RCoon
HisDivineOrderAMD doesn't care about reviewers that much. They'll drop products on them at the last minute, they'll pile products together in a condensed fashion, and they'll do extensive product launches many time zones away from their homes. Hell, they even allow you to do certain, cherry-picked parts of reviews early while letting you do the remaining parts, the parts they lose at, later.

Sorry, I don't buy that you're delaying it for the reviewers. You're delaying it because you're busy retooling your factories to up the clockrates of your cards post-780-is-$500-ohcrap-what-do-we-do-now? panic mode. Plus, you're busy sending out updated firmwares to reviewers and sending out new drivers that you hope will eke you out past nVidia.

This is what happens when--without a marketing department--you "reveal" and "launch" a month out, promising preorders but don't deliver for weeks on end. How long did you think you'd do this before nVidia responded?

I'm gathering AMD thought nVidia wouldn't respond until much later, but we all knew that if AMD seemed on the verge of success with discrete GPU's for even a few weeks, nVidia would end that easily enough.

And so they did. 780's for all! They're a bit slower than the R9 290X, but they're also a LOT easier to deal with as their premier coolers are quieter, nVidia's problems with coil whine are far less than AMD's, and the hardware is just outright not as hot or stressed to the max.

Most people don't want their computer to actually be better as a space heater, too. If only AMD had a marketing department (instead of laying most of them off), they might have gotten a product out before nVidia's price cuts neutered their product launch.
I agree totally, but be prepared for being shunned as some kind of NVidia fanboy and "how dare you say what you know nothing about" blah blah blah.
:toast:
Posted on Reply
#37
Arjai
RCoonI agree totally, but be prepared for being shunned as some kind of NVidia fanboy and "how dare you say what you know nothing about" blah blah blah.
:toast:
How dare you talk about what you know nothing about, blah, blah, blah.

:roll:

Fanboy! ;)
Posted on Reply
#38
RCoon
ArjaiHow dare you talk about what you know nothing about, blah, blah, blah.

:roll:

Fanboy! ;)
Literally, I predict after all this mess, the 290X and 780ti is just going to be another round of 7970 vs 680. Both cards might trade blows, but NVidia has better power figures, while AMD has slightly better value for money. At least this time around cards are launching at sane prices from AMD.

And then Zeus will come down and wreak vengeance and furious anger upon us all.
Posted on Reply
#39
Tatty_Two
Gone Fishing
sergionographyWhy? Because every retailer and their mother sold out of r9-290x lol. Could be very well a demand problem, why sell the same chip for cheaper when its already selling out for a 100$ more
Also, to be fair, low stock levels are commonplace with some new releases, seems that manufacturers like to spread the love across lots of retailers rather than hit a small selection with bigger numbers, cards are still available in a number of UK outlets, ultimatly though, once supply is stronger prices to tend to lower as the demand decreases, as you have said they may well try and milk that high demand low supply thing, but again thats not uncommon.

@ Rcoon..... i still maintain these are enthusiast products and generally enthusiasts dont care too much for power consumption, most are more concerned about performance.
Posted on Reply
#40
RCoon
Tatty_One@ Rcoon..... i still maintain these are enthusiast products and generally enthusiasts dont care too much for power consumption, most are more concerned about performance.
Probably true, but I dare say 680's seemed to be just as popular as 7970's until the price cuts happened. At the end of the day if they trade blows, some people will go for price, others will probably go for plain personal preference. Temperatures might also be a point of interest to some people, even with aftermarket coolers you never know what the 290X will be like.
Posted on Reply
#41
john_
ArjaiBeing a laptop user, HD4000, and not a 'serious' gamer, I hold no emotions for either Nvidia or ATI/AMD GPU's.

As a casual reader of the hoopla here, wow.

I remember, years ago, being an AMD fan, over Intel. AMD CPU's were as fast and very cost effective vs. Intel. Not so different today.

Anyways, I bought this laptop because it was an Intel. I don't like burning my fingertips! :laugh:

Point is this, despite the jetsam, there is some really good info on GPU stuffs, floating around these forums.

Methinks, I would hypothetically build a computer today, with a pair of 780's with the fancy Titan cooler shroud and GeForce LED's.

If I were to build it, say, next May? Probably, with the 290's, or x's, if a decent cooler and price rolls around.

So, what does that make me? Green, Red or just level headed?

:lovetpu:
It makes you a blue, an Intel fanboy who thinks that AMD cpus are hot.




Just kidding. :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#42
Casecutter
Rebel333Yepp, exactly, with that AMD tripple twisted Nvidia.
Well played AMD, well played. :toast:

I wondered why there weren't optimized drivers for Hawaii release, now I get it! Wait for a point after Nvidia steps onto the rug with their price and their new models adjust clocks, then yank it out at the very last minute. This should play well as figure most reputable reviewers will retest the R9 290X again. If such drivers would bump like 12.11 provide 7% we have an all new game!

Oh poor us... (AMD) our R9 290X just barely spared with Titan, oh no we will be beat by a $700 OC GTX780... was that a thud! So, at first folks figure an R9 290 might at best be par with a $499 GTX780, except now wham it could beat it, and if AMD sets the price at $429... 10, 9, 8, 7...
Posted on Reply
#43
xvi
Seriously? I get out of bed, get my morning tea, sit down to an interesting news article and even at this hour have to wade through these comments?

It's very improbable that anyone have a valid source for their claims. Unless you have a link showing something, do us all a favor. Turn off caps-lock, check your fanboyism and prejudice at the door, and start your sentences with "I think.."

I think AMD has some genuine improvements to drivers, not benchmark sabotage, given that the card is so new. It seems like they're being pulled in so many different directions (Mantle, TrueAudio, etc), it shouldn't be too farfetched that they haven't had time to work on the maturity of their actual drivers. Drivers aren't perfect out of the gate. AMD isn't creating extra performance, they're unlocking normally untapped performance.

As I end up saying in every AMD Radeon thread (and others in this thread have said already), those who prefer nVidia should be happy to have competition to drive down prices. Everybody wins here.
Posted on Reply
#44
Slizzo
john_You want fishy stuff? How about lowering the price of 780 by more than $100 in one night? How about suddenly getting ready to present a new revision of 780 the B1 that will be called "GHz edition".
I am pretty sure that there is nothing fishy here. They couldn't lower the price a month ago, and they weren't selling A1 chips while having a B1 revision ready for months.
Keep supporting Nvidia blindly.
I'm sorry, how is it fishy that nVidia cut prices on the GTX780 in order to better compete with the R9 290X and R9 290?

And how is it fishy that they release an updated GPU with better power consumption and thermals and clock it up higher? Have you not seen the news for the R9 280X? AMD is doing the same thing currently... Also, the GPU is not the "GTX 780 GHz Edition". It's still being packaged as a standard GTX 780.
Posted on Reply
#45
john_
xviSeriously? I get out of bed, get my morning tea, sit down to an interesting news article and even at this hour have to wade through these comments?
Let me tell you a secret

Different time zones. For example it's 18:15 here.
Posted on Reply
#46
john_
SlizzoI'm sorry, how is it fishy that nVidia cut prices on the GTX780 in order to better compete with the R9 290X and R9 290?

And how is it fishy that they release an updated GPU with better power consumption and thermals and clock it up higher? Have you not seen the news for the R9 280X? AMD is doing the same thing currently... Also, the GPU is not the "GTX 780 GHz Edition". It's still being packaged as a standard GTX 780.
Is there a possibility that Nvidia could lower the price months ago or at least give a better revision to it's customers months or weeks earlier? I think these are questions that every one who bought an GTX780 the last two months could at least considered. "Could I have bought a better 780 chip at a lower price? Why Nvidia didn't do something earlier? If 290 didn't had that price/performance would we have seen a price drop or a new rev? If 290 was a failure was the 800 series going to be again another rebrand with the new rev chip and just 100MHz speed bump?".
These are questions that every buyer, AMD/NVidia/Intel/whatever should do, IF he respects his hard earn money MORE than a brand. Now IF AMD/NVidia/Intel/whatever is more important than anything, I am asking you all the wrong questions.


Let me clarify this. I do NOT say that this IS what happened. Only that their is a possibility.
So when someone is smelling fishy things in AMD drivers, I say that maybe I smell fishy things in Nvidia's behavior towards its own loyal customers. I could be 100% wrong off course. Nvidia doesn't do fishy things. They are call "features" and "exclusives" and "proprietary".
Posted on Reply
#47
RCoon
john_Is there a possibility that Nvidia could lower the price months ago or at least give a better revision to it's customers months or weeks earlier? I think these are questions that every one who bought an GTX780 the last two months could at least considered. "Could I have bought a better 780 chip at a lower price? Why Nvidia didn't do something earlier? If 290 didn't had that price/performance would we have seen a price drop or a new rev? If 290 was a failure was the 800 series going to be again another rebrand with the new rev chip and just 100MHz speed bump?".
These are questions that every buyer, AMD/NVidia/Intel/whatever should do, IF he respects his hard earn money MORE than a brand. Now IF AMD/NVidia/Intel/whatever is more important than anything, I am asking you all the wrong questions.


Let me clarify this. I do NOT say that this IS what happened. Only that their is a possibility.
So when someone is smelling fishy things in AMD drivers, I say that maybe I smell fishy things in Nvidia's behavior towards its own loyal customers. I could be 100% wrong off course. Nvidia doesn't do fishy things. They are call "features" and "exclusives" and "proprietary".
Dude, these are businesses, their sole purpose is to make money. I dont care if AMD or NVidia do weird things with chips and clocks, in order to better compete. They do what they do to, you know, make money.
Posted on Reply
#48
phanbuey
I love these releases because of the price cuts - - I have a miniITX case so the r9 is just too damn hot and loud to have (although the performance is awesome). 780 it is for me, i am sure there are a ton of people out there in the same boat.
Posted on Reply
#49
john_
RCoonDude, these are businesses, their sole purpose is to make money. I dont care if AMD or NVidia do weird things with chips and clocks, in order to better compete. They do what they do to, you know, make money.
Yeah I know, thank you for stating the obvious.
Posted on Reply
#50
welly31
xviSeriously? I get out of bed, get my morning tea, sit down to an interesting news article and even at this hour have to wade through these comments?

It's very improbable that anyone have a valid source for their claims. Unless you have a link showing something, do us all a favor. Turn off caps-lock, check your fanboyism and predigest at the door, and start your sentences with "I think.."
Ok im sorry but that is the most hilarious mispelling of prejudice ive ever seen. Pre digest...whats that? when your mom chews up your food for you before you eat it? hahaha
Posted on Reply
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