MSI R9 290 OC Gaming Edition Review (1600p, Ultra HD 4K)

We do like the MSI Dragon mascot, it features on the front of this box, along with the product naming.

The bundle includes some literature on the card, a software disc and information on the ‘Hybrid' BIOS switch which offers UEFI support. There are also some converter cables in the box.

We like the black appearance, especially with the sporty red accents along the top of the metal cooler. The distinctive MSI badge is visible in the center point of the cooler, between the large fans. The rear of the card is equipped with a backplate, which helps reduce operating temperatures.

The MSI R9 290 OC Gaming Edition takes power from a single 6 pin and 8 pin power connector. This is identical to the reference design.

There is no Crossfire connector on the R9 290. The 290 and 290x offer Bridgeless Crossfire capabilities. There is a BIOS switch in this area however, with UEFI support.

The card has a DVI-I, DVI-D, full sized HDMI and DisplayPort connectors.

R9 Series graphics cards can now support up to three HDMI/DVI displays for use with AMD Eyefinity technology. A set of displays which support identical timings is required to enable this feature. The display clocks and timing for this feature are configured at boot time.

As such, display hot‐plugging is not supported for the third HDMI/DVI connection. A reboot is required to enable three HDMI/DVI displays.

The MSI R9 290 OC is equipped with a formidable cooling system. The VRM's and memory are cooled via the heatsink and a dedicated plate underneath. MSI are using high grade SKHynix GDDR5 memory on this particular board. The cooler is nickel plated and comprises 5 thick heatpipes which run between two separate racks of aluminum fins.

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