AMD Radeon R9 290X
AMD Radeon R9 290X: A Legend of the Past in the Reality of 2025
Review of the capabilities, performance, and relevance of an old flagship
Architecture and Key Features
Hawaii Architecture: The Foundation of Power
The AMD Radeon R9 290X, released in 2013, is based on the Hawaii architecture (GCN 2.0) and manufactured using a 28nm process technology. It was the first AMD GPU with a configuration of 2816 stream processors and 64 texture units, providing high parallel performance.
Unique Features of Its Time
At the time of the R9 290X, technologies like ray tracing (RTX) or DLSS did not yet exist. However, the card supported Mantle — a low-level API that later influenced Vulkan and DirectX 12. This improved optimization in games like Battlefield 4. As for modern features, AMD's FidelityFX counterparts did not appear until the RX 5000 series and later.
Standard Support
The card is compatible with DirectX 11.2, OpenGL 4.3, and OpenCL 1.2, which made it a versatile solution for gamers and enthusiasts in its time.
Memory: High Bandwidth
GDDR5 and Wide Bus
The R9 290X is equipped with 4 GB of GDDR5 memory with a 512-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 320 GB/s (5 GHz frequency). This allowed it to perform comfortably at resolutions up to 1440p and even 4K in some games, although with caveats.
Impact on Performance
The wide memory bus minimized delays in texture processing in demanding projects. However, by 2025, the 4 GB capacity became a clear limitation for modern games with HD textures — for example, Cyberpunk 2077 or Starfield requires a minimum of 6-8 GB.
Gaming Performance
1080p and 1440p: Comfort in 2010s Gaming
During its prime, the R9 290X showed excellent results:
- Battlefield 4 (Ultra): 75 FPS (1080p), 55 FPS (1440p).
- The Witcher 3 (High): 60 FPS (1080p), 45 FPS (1440p).
4K: A Challenge for the Old Card
Even on medium settings in Grand Theft Auto V, 4K resolution yielded about 30 FPS, but by 2025, such performance is no longer relevant. Modern projects like Alan Wake 2 barely reach 20-25 FPS even at minimum settings.
Ray Tracing: Lack of Support
The R9 290X does not support hardware ray tracing, making it unsuitable for games with RTX effects. Software solutions (for instance, via Proton on Linux) reduce FPS to unacceptable levels.
Professional Tasks
Rendering and OpenCL
With OpenCL support, the card handles basic tasks in Blender or Adobe Premiere but falls short compared to modern GPUs. For example, rendering a scene in Blender Cycles takes 2-3 times longer than with an NVIDIA RTX 3060.
Scientific Calculations
For OpenCL-based calculations, the R9 290X is suitable for educational projects, but its energy efficiency (1.5 TFLOPS at a TDP of 250W) lags behind even budget cards from 2025.
Power Consumption and Thermal Output
TDP of 250W: A Challenge for the System
The card is demanding in terms of power and cooling. Reference models with a turbine suffered from overheating (up to 95°C), leading to throttling.
Cooling Recommendations
- Use cases with good ventilation (at least 3 fans).
- The optimal choice includes models with liquid cooling or massive coolers (like the Sapphire Tri-X).
- Reapplying thermal paste and replacing thermal pads can extend the card's lifespan.
Comparison with Competitors
Against Contemporaries
- NVIDIA GTX 780 Ti: The R9 290X performed better in 4K due to its memory capacity (4 GB vs. 3 GB) but lagged in energy efficiency.
- AMD R9 390X: A direct successor with 8 GB of memory but on the same architecture — offering about a 10-15% performance boost.
In 2025
Comparing the R9 290X with modern GPUs is futile. Even the budget NVIDIA RTX 3050 (8 GB GDDR6, 130W TDP) is 3-4 times faster and supports DLSS 3.
Practical Advice
Power Supply
A minimum of 600W with an 80+ Bronze certification. Two 8-pin PCIe connectors are mandatory.
Compatibility
- PCIe 3.0 x16 is compatible with modern motherboards, but do not expect a performance boost from PCIe 4.0.
- For multi-monitor setups, 4K@60Hz via DisplayPort 1.2 is sufficient.
Drivers
Official support from AMD has ended, but the community is developing custom drivers (e.g., AMDGPU-Pro on Linux). For Windows 10/11, use the latest available versions from 2023.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- High performance in 2010s games.
- Affordable price in the second-hand market ($80-120).
- Support for Eyefinity for multi-monitor configurations.
Cons
- High power consumption.
- Lack of modern technologies (RT, DLSS, FSR 3).
- Limited memory capacity for 2025.
Final Conclusion: Who Is the R9 290X Suitable for in 2025?
This graphics card is suitable for:
1. Retro game enthusiasts looking to build a PC in the style of the 2010s.
2. Budget builds for office tasks and indie games (like Hollow Knight, Stardew Valley).
3. A temporary solution before purchasing a modern GPU.
However, for modern AAA games, professional video editing, or machine learning, the R9 290X is no longer relevant. If your budget is limited to $150-200, consider a used RX 580 (8 GB) or GTX 1660 Super — they will offer better efficiency and support for new technologies.
Conclusion: The R9 290X is a legend worthy of respect, but time is unforgiving. It should only be viewed as a niche solution or a monument in GPU history.