Titan vs. GTX 690 vs. GTX 780 Ti vs. R9 290X vs. HD 7990: Which is best?

Just looking for some info here—out of this lineup, which card actually holds the most weight on the market right now? Like, what makes one objectively better than the others? And honestly, is it even worth buying any of these single cards compared to just running a Crossfire or SLI setup instead?

The HD 7990 is the top dog among dual-GPU cards, though I guess the GTX 780 Ti takes the crown for the strongest single-GPU option. For sheer value, though? Maybe the Sapphire R9 290 Tri-X.
Sapphire R9 290 Tri-X.

crimsonstag84 said:The HD 7990 is one of those dual-GPU beasts. If you want the king of single-GPU cards, go with the GTX 780 Ti, but if you're looking for the best bang for your buck, grab the
Sapphire R9 290 Tri-X.

Look, I don't really get this "dual GPU" thing—can you break down what that actually means for a normal person? And man, these prices make zero sense. Like, why is the 780 Ti practically $1000 cheaper than the Titan, the GTX 690, or the 7990 when it's supposedly stronger than all of them? It's the same deal with the GTX 670 and 680 too. Why on earth are these prices still stuck through the roof?

Dual GPU—the phrase itself says it all, doesn't it? 🙂 It basically means you're cramming two graphics cards into one unit. Honestly, I’d personally never go that route. You're looking at massive power draw and temperatures that would make any rig sweat. If your goal is just to crank every game up to ultra settings at 1080p, then sticking with something like a GTX 770 or an R9 280X is more than enough for you—you really don't need anything more than that. That’s just how I see it, though; everyone has their own preferences. 😉

p.s. Just a heads-up, if you do decide to go that way, you'll definitely need a beefy processor to keep up...

Larry Ortiz5 said:Look, "dual GPU" tells you everything you need to know right there. 🙂 It basically means two cards crammed into one. Personally? I’d never touch it. You're looking at massive power draws and temperatures that'll make your PC feel like a space heater. If I actually wanted to crank every single game to Ultra settings at 1080p, I'd just grab a GTX 770 or an R9 280X. Anything beyond that is overkill for most people. That's just how I see it—to each their own. 😉

p.s. Just a heads up, if you actually go that route, you better have a beefy CPU to back it up...

I already knew that. An i7-4770K would handle it fine, but that's not even the point here. I was honestly just asking out of curiosity. And I still don't get this whole pricing thing—how does the cheaper card somehow end up being better than the expensive one? Makes zero sense.

The Titan is really built for professional workflows rather than pure gaming. I guess you'd actually get better performance out of a GTX 780 Ti when playing games, even if it's a bit slower at other tasks. It seems like Nvidia expects professionals to be willing to pay that premium over the GTX 780 Ti, which is probably why it holds its value so well.

Larry Ortiz5 said:Dual GPU—the name itself gives it away, doesn't it? 🙂 It means you've got two cards packed into one. Personally, I’d steer clear. The power draw is massive, and the heat levels would be enough to turn my rig into a space heater. If the goal is simply to crank everything to Ultra at 1080p, then a GTX 770 or an R9 280X is more than sufficient for most people. That’s just my take, though; everyone has their own preference. 😉

p.s. Just a heads-up: if you go that route, you'll definitely need a beefy CPU to keep up..

The GTX 690 isn't actually that much of a power hog; its consumption is roughly on par
with the Sapphire R9 290 Tri-X or the GTX 780 Ti
Anyone who picked up an HD 5970 when it first launched didn't have to worry about lowering settings for nearly a decade. Similarly, those rocking an HD 6990, GTX 590, or even the newer GTX 690 and HD 7990 are going to have a pretty smooth ride. Even the GTX 760 holds its own. That said, let's be honest: those top-tier models are overpriced. I think it's smarter to stay in that "sweet spot" of performance. Until recently, that meant the GTX 660 or HD 7870, but nowadays, we're looking at the GTX 770 or R9 280X. My strategy is usually to grab one of those with a solid three-year warranty, run it for about eighteen months to two years, and then trade it in for the next generation in the same tier. It keeps you hovering comfortably in that 30-60 FPS range.

David Sanders4 said:The GTX 690 isn't actually a massive power hog; it pulls about the same amount
as an R9 290X or a GTX 780 Ti
Look, if you grabbed an HD 5970 back when it launched, you didn't have to sweat the settings for a long time. Same goes for anyone chilling with an HD 6990, a GTX 590, or even the newer stuff like the GTX 690 or HD 7990—you're set. Even the GTX 760 holds its own. But let’s be real: those top-tier cards are overpriced junk. It’s much smarter to hang out in that "sweet spot" middle ground. Not too long ago, that meant the GTX 660 or HD 7870, but now we're looking at the GTX 770 or R9 280X. My advice? Grab one of those mid-range cards with a solid 3-year warranty, run it for a year and a half, then flip it. Trade it in for the next generation's mid-range model and just stay in that lane. You'll consistently hover around that 45 FPS mark, give or take.

So, realistically, how much can I actually crank everything to Ultra with my current rig? I haven't even touched a single game yet.

GPU-MSI GTX 760 Gaming OC 2GB
CPU-i5 4670K
Motherboard-MSI G45 Gaming
PSU-XFX 550W
RAM-Kingston 2x4GB HyperX Genesis 1600
HDD-WD Red 1TB
Optical Drive-ASUS DVD burner
Case-Zalman Z11 Plus

At Full HD, I can run just about everything currently out there on max settings. Looking ahead, I expect to hold that line through next year, though I'll likely see a gradual dip in FPS as things get more demanding...

swiftpilot

Everything else should hold up just fine for years to come—assuming we’re strictly talking about gaming. Honestly? You might want to look into upgrading your graphics card in maybe a year or so, just so you can stay ahead of the curve without any headaches...

Larry Ortiz5 said:swiftpilot

Everything else in that rig is going to hold up just fine for years. If we're strictly talking about gaming... I mean, give it maybe a year or so, then just swap out the GPU and you'll be back in the clear...

I was actually thinking about running SLI. Like, just grab an identical card, beef up the power supply, and eventually overclock the CPU to around 4.5GHz with a Corsair H100i once I get around to it. Honestly, sounds like a better move than selling this thing just to buy something new later.

It really just depends on how well the game handles SLI... personally, I’ve always been a fan of just grabbing one beefy card rather than messing around with two weaker ones.