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[Official] MSI R9 290X Lightning Thread

228003 Views 2837 Replies 223 Participants Last post by  diggiddi, 
hotrod717
I believe this card deserves a thread of its own. The overclocking capabilities of this card put it in a different class and the discussion here will involve unlocked options and settings that reference and other R9 290X do not have. More to come....





Key Features

Triple Force Architecture
- Triple Level Signals - Show the real-time GPU load by different colors.
- TriFrozr Thermal Design -Triple PWM fans with Independent Control System on
- Pure Digital PWM Control - Digitally controlled GPU, Memory and VDDCI
Twin BIOS & Enhanced Power
- Twin BIOS - Separated BIOS chips for grgular use and LN2 overclocking
- Enhanced Power - 12 GPU phases and 3 Memory phases on a custom designed 12 layers PCB for amazing overclocking potential.
Military Class 4 Components
- Components pass MIL-STD-810G certification for the best stability and quality
- Equipped with CopperMOS, Hi-C CAPs, New SFC and All Dark Solid CAPs.
3X3 OC Kits
- Triple Overvoltage: Total control with GPU, Memory and PLL voltage adjustment
- Triple Temp Monitor: Real time Monitoring of GPU, Memory and PLL conditions.
- V-Check point: For direct and accurate read-out of GPU, memory and PLL voltage.

VGA FAN CONTROL
- MSI's exclusive software and only for R9 290X LIGHTNING.
- Temperature of GPU and PWM on the interface.
- Control the fan speed via two PWM controllers automatically or manually.

Video Output Function

Dual-link DVI-D x 2
DisplayPort x 1 (version 1.2)
HDMI x 1 (version 1.4a)

Bundle MSI developed driver and utilities

MSI Live Update Series(Live Graphics Card BIOS & Live Graphics Card Driver)
Automatically online download & update Graphics Card BIOS & Drivers, reduce the risk of getting the wrong files, and never have the trouble on web site searching.
MSI Graphics Card Driver
MSI StarOSD
StarOSD can monitor system information, adjust monitor figuration, and overclock system.
MSI Dual Core Center
MSI Live
MSI Live including all real time life information you need, such as Live MSI Product News, Live Daily Information, Live Personal Schedule Manager, Live Search and more.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Microsoft® DirectX
Norton Internet Security™ 2008 60 days Trial
-Blocks online identity theft by phishing Web sites
-Detects and eliminates spyware
-Removes viruses and Internet worms automatically
-Protects against hackers

http://www.msi.com/product/vga/R9_290X_LIGHTNING.html
http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/gpu_displays/msi_r9_290x_lightning_review/1

Unlock and Overclock
You may need to reinstall driver when switching bios.
To unlock voltage, install afterburner and go into settings. Check Disable ULPS and Extend Overclocking Limits.
Check unlock voltage and restart Afterburner.



Procede At Your Own Risk

To unlock Afterburner to +200mv -

Go to desktop and right-click AB shortcut.
Go into properties and add this to target.
Apply and close.



Double-Click on AB shortcut. Now go back into properties and remove the code.
Apply and close.

Open Afterburner and you will now have +200mv. Once you move slider it will revert to +100mv being max.
AB will continue to open with +200mv until you select "Reset"



Also: Ruby Tool -

Rbby258ABVoltmod1.zip 217k .zip file


http://www.overclock.net/t/1398725/unlock-afterburner-limits-on-lots-of-cards-some-with-llc-ab-b-19

http://www.overclock.net/t/1265543/the-amd-how-to-thread

This thread is now official - staryoshi

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hotrod717

· Overclocked
Joined
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2,796 Posts
Discussion Starter · #2 ·
Factory backplate Install With EK Waterblock-




List of materials needed -

- Drill Press
- Belt Sander
- 1/8" Drill Bit
- 12 M3x8 screws ( you only need 9, extra just in case.)
- 4 M3x4 blk, screws and 13 plastic washers from EK Waterblock hardware
- Lots of patience

I'm going to be concentrating on the backplate mod, since EK provides instructions for waterblock installation.
Follow EK's directions up to putting screws in and tightening everything down. Do not put the screws in!

The factory backplates holes are just the slightest bit small to accept the M3 x 8 screws so we need to drill them out with a 1/8" bit. I suggest using a drill press to make a clean hole and best result.




Next you need to sand the edge of the screw head to fit inside the recessed mounting points on the backplate. I suggest using a belt sander and loads of patience. Test with one, sanding until it just fits inside the recessed cavity of the backplate. Once you have one sanded to correct size, use it to compare as you sand the rest. Take your time and watch your fingers!




Take 4 of the black M3 x 4 screws from EK along with washers and place in the 4 holes around the gpu and tighten. Next place the EK plastic washers, from the hardware bag, over the holes on the rest of the pcb and line up the backplate with them. Gently place the backplate down making sure that the washers and holes line up.
Place the screws in there respective places and gently tighten, working from the middle out to both ends.

* There is one hole that will not be used. Its on the bottom above the pci-e fingers

 
King4x4

· Intel Pariah
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2,363 Posts
#3 ·
Subbed!
 
AlphaC

· ⤷ αC
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11,217 Posts
#7 ·
Jeffinslaw

· Registered
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3,411 Posts
#9 ·
Got a question for you guys, might ask in the regular 290/X thread as well, anyways, how much of a bottleneck can I expect from running two or three of these things using PCIe 2.0? Since the crossfire link is now done through the PCIe bus, what kind of bottleneck can I expect?

Thank guys! Looking at getting two or three of these, probably just two lol.

Jeffinslaw
 
S

· Consumerism 101
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3,894 Posts
#10 ·
Also looking forward to some real OC results on these cards since the reviews thus far haven't done the card much justice.
 
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navit

· Registered
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3,809 Posts
#12 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cool Mike View Post

I received mine today (Monday). I am still at work and will unbox the beast tonight. Very Excited
smile.gif
Click to expand...
Looking forward to it, I won't get mine till wed. Out of town anyway and won't be back till then so I guess that works.
 
hotrod717

· Overclocked
Joined
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2,796 Posts
Discussion Starter · #15 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cool Mike View Post

I received mine today (Monday). I am still at work and will unbox the beast tonight. Very Excited
smile.gif
Click to expand...
Nice! Unfortunately I did not opt for expedited shipping and it's coming from Cali. not N.J. Expected delivery is showing as end of day Thursday for me. Please post pics and relevant info once you get it installed. I'm wondering if it comes with a specialized afterburner, since it has unlock options that reference does not have.

Quote:
Originally Posted by phallacy View Post

Looking forward to see what kind of OCs users of OCN will get. I'm sure they will be much more impressive than what the website reviewers were able to do
Click to expand...
Reviewers never seem to really push the cards and most certainly don't do anything, but testing on air. Curious to see when the EK blocks will make their way to retail. May have to wait until then to see what these can really do unless someone mounts a universal or goes for the deep freeze!
 
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C

· Registered
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914 Posts
#16 ·
First bit of data!
thumb.gif


My lightning bench results look very good. Just like the reviewers have said, the memory overclocks better than I have seen and YES I did get SAMSUNG Memory.
wink.gif
My Core overclock toped out at 1180 and memory at 1650. Go much past 1650 and your system will lock up. 1650 is solid though. From my experience burning the card in helps the card become more stable (similar to a CPU), so after a few hours of heating and cooling the GPU my core overclocks may settle in.
There is no special Afterburner that I can see, the disk included Beta 18 that everyone can download. Yes, I have control of all voltages - Core, PLL and memory. Core voltage will go +100mV like all the others, wished I had another 50mV as the lightning has very cool temps. 13,000+ score for graphics.
thumb.gif


Packaging is excellent and the quality is beyond any 290x out there. Very solid and heavy. Card does NOT sag in my system. The card has 12 blue LED's that indicate when a power phase is active.
biggrin.gif
Looks nice!.




 
AlphaC

· ⤷ αC
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#17 ·
rv8000

· GPU Enthusiast
Joined
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2,583 Posts
#18 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cool Mike View Post

First bit of data!
thumb.gif


My lightning bench results look very good. Just like the reviewers have said, the memory overclocks better than I have seen and YES I did get SAMSUNG Memory.
wink.gif
My Core overclock toped out at 1180 and memory at 1650. Go much past 1650 and your system will lock up. 1650 is solid though. From my experience burning the card in helps the card become more stable (similar to a CPU), so after a few hours of heating and cooling the GPU my core overclocks may settle in.
There is no special Afterburner that I can see, the disk included Beta 18 that everyone can download. Yes, I have control of all voltages - Core, PLL and memory. Core voltage will go +100mV like all the others, wished I had another 50mV as the lightning has very cool temps. 13,000+ score for graphics.
thumb.gif


Packaging is excellent and the quality is beyond any 290x out there. Very solid and heavy. Card does NOT sag in my system. The card has 12 blue LED's that indicate when a power phase is active.
biggrin.gif
Looks nice!.




Click to expand...
Beautiful card, and I'm looking forward to more results. Your FS score seems low for a 290x at 1180/1650, has the cat 14 betas had a negative effect on FS scores? For reference my ref 290 was scoring ~ 12.9k @ 1200/1550 on 13.12s.
 
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