AMD Radeon R9 280 Review feat. XFX

It's taken AMD some time to fully transition its original GCN GPUs from the HD 7000 series to the new family that also incorporates the Hawaii-based cards, but this review completes our look at the AMD Radeon R7 and R9 200-series from the R7 260X all the way through to the mighty R9 295X2. Despite being announced a while ago with little fanfare, the R9 280 (a rework of the HD 7950 Boost) is fairly new to the market, with stock only recently arriving at retailers (and our labs). The cheapest we've been able to find it for is £175, but with the R9 280Xhovering around £200, even £190 in a few places, it's fairly closely priced to existing SKUs. The GTX 760 is Nvidia's closest card, and it can be found for around £165.

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Specifically, we've been furnished with the XFX Double Dissipation Edition, which also happens to be the least expensive R9 280 on sale as far as we can see – always a good start. XFX also sells the DD Black Edition, which has the same design but ships with core and memory overclocks. In the box you'll find a dual molex to 6-pin PCI-E power adaptor, and a dual 6-pin PCI-E power to single 8-pin PCI-E power adaptor, so you should be able to find a way to wire everything up even if your PSU is a little sparse when it comes to spare connectors.

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The matt black finish on the plastic shroud along with the chrome trim around the sides and edges of the fan cutouts makes for a fairly sleek looking cooler card. As you can see, the shroud is not completely sealed, which gives you a glimpse of the heatsink within as well. There's a cutaway section along the top edge of the card where the power connectors are – the design is fairly understated but attractive nonetheless.

	AMD Radeon R9 290X 4GB	AMD Radeon R9 290 4GB	AMD Radeon R9 280X 3GB	AMD Radeon R9 280 3GB	AMD Radeon R9 270X 2GB
GPU
Codename	Hawaii XT	Hawaii Pro	Tahiti XTL	Tahiti Pro2	Curacao XT
Core Clock	Up to 1GHz	Up to 947MHz	Up to 1GHz	Up to 933MHz	Up to 1.05GHz
Stream Processors	2,816	2,560	2,048	1,792	1,280
Texture Units	176	160	128	112	80
Rasterisers	4	4	2	2	2
Tesselation Units	4	4	2	2	2
ROPs	64	64	32	32	32
Transistors	6.2 billion	6.2 billion	4.3 billion	4.3 billion	2.8 billion
Die Size	438mm2	438mm2	352mm2	352mm2	212mm2
Process Node	28nm	28nm	28nm	28nm	28nm
Memory
Amount	4GB GDDR5	4GB GDDR5	3GB GDDR5	3GB GDDR5	2GB GDDR5
Frequency	1.25GHz (5GHz effective)	1.25GHz (5GHz effective)	1.5GHz (6GHz effective)	1.25GHz (5GHz effective)	1.4GHz (5.6GHz effective)
Interface	512-bit	512-bit	384-bit	384-bit	256-bit
Bandwidth	320GB/sec	320GB/sec	288GB/sec	240GB/sec	179.2GB/sec
Card Specifications
Power Connectors	1 x 8-pin, 1 x 6-pin	1 x 8-pin, 1 x 6-pin	1 x 8-pin, 1 x 6-pin	2 x 6-pin	2 x 6-pin
Stock Card Length	278mm	278mm	275mm	275mm	240mm
TDP	290W	275W	250W	200W	180W
Typical Street Price	£385	£310	£220	£175	£150

As a reboot of the HD 7950 Boost, the R9 280 comprises a 28nm Tahiti Pro2 GPU with 2.3 billion transistors and a 352mm2 die size. Inside are 1,792 and 112 active cores and texture units respectively, courtesy of the GPU's 28 Compute Units, and these are rounded out by 32 ROPs. At 933MHz, the R9 280 has a fractionally higher core boost speed than the HD 7950 Boost's 925MHz.

The GPU is paired with a 3GB GDDR5 frame buffer over a 384-bit memory interface thanks to the six 64-bit memory controllers. The clock seed of 1.25GHz (5GHz effective) carries over form the HD 7950 Boost and gives the card a maximum memory bandwidth of 240GB/sec.

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There doesn't appear to be a strict reference design for the R9 280, as AMD never sampled it, so you'll likely find custom PCBs as well as slight variations in power delivery and video outputs. You should also be wary when buying full-cover waterblocks. XFX has opted for a 6-pin/8-pin PCI-E power plug combination, whereas the HD 7950 Boost originally only had two 6-pin plugs.

Asus Monitor PA279Q Preview

Asus has taken the wraps off a wide range of new products at Computex 2013, with everything from the latest overclocking motherboards to shiny new super-slim laptops... and a new professional-grade monitor. 

The Asus Monitor PA279Q is a fully articulated 27in display that comes pre-calibrated for accurate colours right out of the box. 



In a crowded room with glaring lights, it's impossible to judge a monitor to any great degree but it was immediately evident that the matt-finish, 2,560 x 1,440 pixel IPS panel is a high-quality one with excellent viewing angles and rich colours.



Rated at 350cd/m2 the panel is backlit by white LEDs and also boasts 99% Adobe RGB colour gamut coverage as well as 100% sRGB and 120% NTSC. It's also a 10-bit panel able to produce 1073.3million colours and has '6-axis' colour adjustment (R,B,G,C,M,Y). 




The tilt, rotate, swivel and height-adjustable monitor is, as with most professional grade models, fairly chunky but is otherwise smart looking and with as minimal a footprint as one could realistically expect. We're not so sure about the red flash that runs along the bottom bezel but nonetheless there looks like being a lot to like here. 

Also featured are picture-in-picture and picture-by-picture, while extras include a USB 3.0 hub, SD card reader and, somewhat bizarrely, stereo speakers.

We're yet to determine a price or release date for the PA279Q

ROG peripherals, PCs, Monitor, and peripherals

ROG GR8 console gaming PC

ROG GR8 is full-on PC gaming with high style and fantastic convenience. With an Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750Ti graphics, GR8 packs immense PC power into sleek console dimensions for gaming experiences that push far beyond your expectations. From the outstanding SupremeFX audio output to 4K/UHD graphics and no-lag Gigabit Ethernet networking, along with a design allowing easy upgrades of storage devices and memory, GR8 is hardcoded for gaming. 

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The slimline design is as at home in the living room as it is in a bedroom, and occupies hardly any space. It also has a built-in Miracast™ receiver, allowing HD content from supported Android smartphones and tablets, Windows 8.1 PCs and WiDi 3.5+ devices to be streamed straight to the big screen.

The first GR8 runs Windows 8.1 and is fully compatible with SteamOS and the Steam Controller. A SteamOS-powered ROG GR8 will be launched at a later date, in alignment with Valve’s Steam Machine schedule.

ROG GX500 gaming notebook

GX500 is ROG’s new ultra-thin, ultra-cool notebook that offers gaming power to go. Just 19mm thick — the thinnest in the 15.6-inch gaming notebook class — and 2.2kg in weight, GX500 packs specifications far beyond its size, with the latest Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M graphics. 

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It also boasts a 4K/UHD (ultra-high-definition) 3840 x 2160-pixel display with exclusive VisualMaster technology that provides an incredibly wide color gamut of 100% NTSC, a world-first on a notebook. Gaming on the go has never looked this sharp. GX500 is also equipped with intelligent dual-fan cooling system for exceptionally-efficient and effective cooling.

ROG Swift PG278Q gaming monitor

ROG Swift PG278Q is a stunning premium 27-inch gaming monitor that is the first and fastest in the world to support NVIDIA G-SYNC™ technology for stunning smoothness, and crisp 2560 × 1440-pixel (WQHD) resolution visuals.

ROG Swift PG278Q is able to synchronize with the GPU’s render rate to provide stunning smoothness and ultra-fast response — for incredible images today and ready for the next generation of gaming. Tearing, graphics stutter and latency are a thing of the past, and a smooth visual experience is ensured by a rapid refresh rate of 144Hz and a fast 1ms response time. 

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An exclusive dedicated Turbo key allows the user to select refresh rates of 60Hz, 120Hz or 144Hz with just one click, removing the need to faff with on-screen display (OSD) settings. ROG Swift PG278Q will be available worldwide from July, 2014. 

ROG GK2000 gaming keyboard

ROG’s new GK2000 gaming keyboard exhibits mechanical mastery to ensure gamers dominate the battlefield. With mechanical Cherry MX Red switches, gamers using GK2000 are treated to input that’s both tactile and superbly responsive. GK2000 allows users to customize almost all keys, and multiple actions can be applied to each one, meaning even complex sequences can be enacted with one touch.

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Built-in anti-ghosting technology ensures that every key press counts. GK2000 also looks as great as it commands, with premium metal accents and ROG-red backlighting with five eye-catching effects.

ROG Gladius gaming mouse

ROG Gladius is an optical wired mouse that’s engineered for first-person-shooter games and shaped by the needs of the world’s finest gamers, who demand advanced ergonomics, precision control and fast, flexible customization.

Gladius is designed to fit the right hand perfectly and is manufactured with smooth-touch materials that stay cool in the hand, while high-quality, Mayan-patterned rubber ensures a secure grip. A fingertip DPI switch, all-programmable buttons, including two side-mounted switches, complete the epic ergonomics and impressive functionality. 

Gladius has a 6400dpi optical sensor capable of tracking at up to 200 inches per second and 50G acceleration. It is even customizable, with an exclusive socket design that lets users slot in new or favorite switches to set their ideal click resistance, plus the unique detachable cable design allows gamers to remove the connecting cable for tidier transport.

 

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ROG G20 gaming desktop 

ROG G20 is designed to dominate the field of small-form-factor gaming desktops, and has already received the exclusive Best Choice of the Year Award and Best Choice Golden Award at Computex. The G20 features a compact 12.5-liter case that houses an Intel Core™ i7 processor and an NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX™ 780 graphics card for unstoppable HD-gaming performance and entertainment.

G20 has no visible exhaust vents, but takes advantage of natural convection with a thermal design featuring a hidden airflow tunnel that ensures efficient heat management and near-silent operation, measuring just 25dB at idle. G20’s case has a sophisticated design, with aggressive lines, Mayan stenciling, matt-black finish and customizable lighting effects that showcase up to eight-million colors across three different zones. 

G20 is as energy-efficient as it is powerful. In Eco Energy Mode, it requires only 20W — delivering energy savings 50% better than the industry average. It also features the ASUS-exclusive Aegis application for monitoring system performance through a gamer-friendly user interface.

Asus Maximus VII Impact

Maximus VII Impact is the most powerful and highly-specified Z97-based mini-ITX gaming motherboard, with a layout that delivers maximum compatibility with CPU coolers and expansion cards. 

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It includes Impact Power II, a specially-engineered full-scale power card for exceptional performance, the SupremeFX Impact II dedicated audio card and the mPCIe Combo IV + 802.11ac/ Bluetooth 4.0 module, which features PCIe x4 bandwidth. It also benefits from Impact CoolHub, an optional card with two additional 4-pin fan headers along with an LN2 header for ultra-low-temperature overclocking adventures.[/i]


Asus Maximus VII Formula

Maximus VII Formula is ROG’s flagship Z97-based ATX gaming motherboard. All-new CrossChill Copper is engineered with a copper cooling channel that’s incredibly effective at removing heat. It’s great on air, and with liquid-cooling critical MOSFET temperatures are lowered by up to 23°C. The G1/4-inch threaded fittings mean CrossChill Copper is ready for existing cooling setups.

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Maximus VII Formula includes ROG’s celebrated SupremeFX Formula 2014 technology for audio that’s as great as a dedicated sound card. With cutting-edge electromagnetic interference (EMI) isolation and exceptionally-premium components, SupremeFX Formula 2014 delivers best-in-class 120dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) audio output for gaming punch and Hi-Fi excellence. Exclusive Sonic SenseAmp technology automatically detects headphone impedance and adjusts accordingly, and SupremeFX Formula 2014 is able to drive up to 600ohm headphones. Moreover, hardware-level Sonic SoundStage applies the best audio settings for popular game genres.

ROG’s best motherboard is pre-fitted with mPCIe Combo III + 802.11ac / Bluetooth 4.0, a compact connectivity module that delivers the latest wireless technologies along with mini PCI Express (mPCIe) and M.2 (10Gbit/s PCIe x2 and 6Gb/s SATA) slots.


ROG Ares III water-cooled gaming graphics card

ROG exhibited the limited-edition Ares III, the world’s fastest gaming graphics card powered by hand-chosen dual Radeon™ Hawaii XT GPUs, water-cooled to deliver 25%-cooler performance than reference R9 295X, and supported by 8GB of super-fast GDDR5 memory. The Ares III showcases exquisite craftsmanship and this can be seen in its sleek custom-designed EK water block and hand-carved details. Just 500 Ares III units will be manufactured, and each will be numbered individually, reflecting its collectible status.

 

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ROG Crossblade Ranger gaming motherboard

Our loyal users have long demanded that we produce an AMD-based powerhouse and the result is Crossblade Ranger — ROG’s first FM2+ gaming motherboard. Crossblade Ranger is equipped with ROG’s core game-boosting features, available on the latest Maximus VII (Z97) motherboards, including expertly optimized SupremeFX 2014 audio with SenseAmp and Sonic Studio technology, ultra-fast Intel Gigabit Ethernet and GameFirst III network-optimization software for no-delay gameplay, as well as the KeyBot, an instant keyboard-upgrade utility.

Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3 Review

You might wonder what large expensive air coolers are still doing hanging around in the enthusiast scene but the fact remains that they can represent some of the best cooling and lowest noise CPU coolers have to offer. Noctua's NH-D15 is a classic example (see our review here - it was pretty pricey, £10 more than the Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3 we're looking at today, but was fairly easy to install and blissfully quiet. So much so that it picked up top marks in both our test systems.

Noctua has been an acquired taste for some due to its colour scheme, although it does have some new models in the works that do away with the beige and brown. However, Be Quiet! certainly can't be accused of producing unattractive coolers. They've continually impressed us with their build quality and aesthetics and to be sure the reasons their's an extra premium to pay for them is blindingly obvious.

 

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The Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3 is no exception. The company's new flashship dual-fan cooler is a monster, but actually retails for a fair bit less than other giant coolers we've seem recently. Even so, at £65, it's in direct competition with the likes of Corsair's H75, so it won't have it all its own way. It's got the cooling to cope, though, and sports a single 120mm SilentWings fan at the front and larger 135mm fan in the centre. 

 

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Both are removable and use some fairly finger-friendly fan clips to hold them in place while the 120mm model spins slightly faster at maximum speed - 1,700rpm vs 1,400rpm for the 135mm fan. The cooler itself is fairly compact as far as dual-fan coolers go. It's just 163mm high and 150mm deep, although the height will mean it sits closer to your memory as a result.

 

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The heatsink sports 90 aluminium fins in a fairly dense arrangement with the base being made up of a nickel-plated copper contact plate. There are seven 6mm heatpipes, again nickel-plated, that feed both heatsink stacks while the contact plate also sports small fins to help shed some heat here too.

 

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The fans, which sit on fluid dynamic bearings, are powered by two 4-pin PWM connectors, although these reduce into one using an included adaptor. There's no resistor cables here, though, although being 4-pin connectors, most motherboards will likely offer a modecum of fan control but that's partly where the extra cash is required for more expensive coolers such as the Noctua.

Be Quiet!'s trademark heatpipe caps and brushed aluminium heatsink top really to add a quality, exclusive feel to the Dark Rock Pro 3 and as it will be very visible through side panels and the like, it's clearly scoring highly here if aesthetics are at all important to you. Installation, however, is sadly somewhere it's going to lose points. 

 

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Installing the cooler with the motherboard mounted in the case is out of the question, but even once you've removed it, you'll be looking at a pretty fiddly half an hour or so dealing with four tiny nuts and a spanner along with a backplate and four mounting pins. Due to the coolers low height, getting the spanner to the nuts proved tedious and you'll need to remove some memory modules too. On LGA2011 this presented a bit of an issue - with the modules removed and the cooler fitted, we were then barely able to squeeze the modules back in under the cooler. To be on the safe side here, especially with LGA2011 systems, we strongly suggest using standard-height modules.