What is the difference between R9 290X brands? Big price differences?!

[pauldulong]

Hi,

I'm going to extend my farm with 2 new miners with 3 x R9 290X. When looking at the prices these cards differ substantially between brands. For me they look the same. Is there a difference between them, the specs seem the same?!

• XFX R9 290X 4GB DDR5 (core: 800mhz, boost: 1000mhz, memory clock: 5000) - 500 euro
• MSI R9 290X 4GB DDR5 (core: 800mhz, boost: 1000mhz, memory clock: 5000) - 585 euro
• Club 3D R9 290X 4GB DDR5 BF4 (core: 800mhz, boost: 1000mhz, memory clock: 5000) - 531 euro
• Club 3D R9 290X 4GB DDR5 (core: 800mhz, boost: 1000mhz, memory clock: 5000) - 516 euro
• Sapphire R9 290X 4GB DDR5 BF4 (core: 800mhz, boost: 1000mhz, memory clock: 5000) - 519 euro
• Sapphire R9 290X 4GB DDR5 (core: 800mhz, boost: 1000mhz, memory clock: 5000) - 509 euro
• Gigabyte R9 290X 4GB DDR5 BF4 (core: 800mhz, boost: 1000mhz, memory clock: 5000) - 516 euro
• Gigabyte R9 290X 4GB DDR5 (core: 800mhz, boost: 1000mhz, memory clock: 5000) - 485 euro

So which is the best to buy? Is there a performance difference (I expect around 1000mh)? And what is the difference with a BF4 edition?
Thanks!

[MZD]

I'd like to know this as well.

[pauldulong]

On another forum I have two people confirming that there is practically no difference:
https://litecointalk.org/index.php?topic=11729.0

[Scyntech]

just plain old marketing.

[AlexMc]

And what is the difference with a BF4 edition?

The BF4 "versions" include a copy of the game Battlefield 4.  As all the clock speeds on the cards you are comparing are the same they should offer the same amount of hashing power.  Differences in pricing may be attributed to:

Bundled games and software (such as BF4)
Differences in warranties
Differences in cooler design.

It may be worth paying a little more for a card with a better warranty, and cards with a better designed cooler may hash faster because they can run at a lower temperature and stay at their boosted clock speeds.

[pauldulong]

Thanks, that's correct I also called the supplier, they said they are all the same. You pay for the brand/package/stickers/game etc.