"Even if the I/O shield is using a single slot, the card actually is a dual-slot model and for extra power the 250X needs juice from a 6-pin PCI-Express slot. This card has proven a little bit noisier at the maximum speed supported by the fan, BUT in regular full-load usage, even when room temperatures are a bit higher, the HIS 250X iCooler has proven to keep a low noise level, which is excellent.

 It is easy to spot that we have succeeded a maximum 1130MHz overclocking level for the core on the Gigabyte model; the HIS 250X stopped at 1110MHz, but the overall performance level has been the same, which means about 5000pts in 3DMark 11, Performance mode."

Madshrimps.be - Recommended Value Product

"The latest AMD graphics cards on the other hand don’t work quite as well with the reference cooler, the water-cooled R9 295X2 being the exception.Radeon R9 290 series graphics card is board partners like HIS are here to save the day.

Even if you decide to overclock the hell out of them, temperatures remain well under what we saw from the AMD reference cards, which is very impressive given the voltage has been increased and throttling has been removed.

When it comes to overclocking, these HIS OC and Turbo cards aren’t particularly impressive out of the box, HIS has applied very minor factory tweaks that barely qualify as overclocks. However this doesn’t mean the cards are weak overclockers, it just means HIS has left the hard/fun part up to the gamer.
Both the HIS R9 290 iPower IceQ X² OC and the R9 290X iPower IceQ X² Turbo run cooler than a GeForce GTX 770, and better yet they are whisper quiet.
Overall we are impressive with HIS’s golden R9 290 series graphics cards. They provide excellent overclocking performance that won’t compromise cooling performance or operating volumes. "

Legion Hardware - Performance Award

"The latest AMD graphics cards on the other hand don’t work quite as well with the reference cooler, the water-cooled R9 295X2 being the exception.Radeon R9 290 series graphics card is board partners like HIS are here to save the day.

Even if you decide to overclock the hell out of them, temperatures remain well under what we saw from the AMD reference cards, which is very impressive given the voltage has been increased and throttling has been removed.

When it comes to overclocking, these HIS OC and Turbo cards aren’t particularly impressive out of the box, HIS has applied very minor factory tweaks that barely qualify as overclocks. However this doesn’t mean the cards are weak overclockers, it just means HIS has left the hard/fun part up to the gamer.
Both the HIS R9 290 iPower IceQ X² OC and the R9 290X iPower IceQ X² Turbo run cooler than a GeForce GTX 770, and better yet they are whisper quiet.
Overall we are impressive with HIS’s golden R9 290 series graphics cards. They provide excellent overclocking performance that won’t compromise cooling performance or operating volumes. "

Legion Hardware - Performance Award

"Coming in at the lower-end of $400, the HIS R9 290 4GB IceQ X2 Turbo comes in at a strong price point against the competition.

While we're used to most companies choosing to leave the memory clock alone, it would've been nice to see the core clock get bumped a little bit more. Another 20-30MHz on top of what is offered would have been nice, and it would have helped it stand out a little more against the reference-clocked card when it comes to overall performance.

HIS has done a fantastic job. The dual fan five heat pipe cooler does its job perfectly. The load temperature of our core comes in almost 20C lower than the reference cooler while running at a slightly higher clock. This has not come at the cost of an extreme amount of noise, though, as the card sits very well in that position as well.

As for the package, you can see that is on the light side of things. This is typical, though, these days, and as we just mentioned, there is no denying that the main highlight of this card is the IceQ X2 cooler. HIS has really put together a good all around card here.

The HIS R9 290 4GB IceQ X2 Turbo hits at a good price point against the competition, and the IceQ X2 cooler is fantastic. It has done a good job of dropping the temperature a significant amount compared to the reference cooler while doing it at a reasonable noise level."

Tweaktown - Best Features Award , Rating 92% out of 100%

Pros
+ Effective and quite cooling system "HIS iCooler"
+ Fast video memory GDDR5
+ Great overclocking potential
+ Energy efficiency
+ Functional utility for overclocking and monitoring HIS iTurbo

Easy Com - "Excellent Cooling Award"

Pros
+ Very good overclocking potential
+ Preoverclocked
+ Effective cooling system
+ Quality components
+ More phases for GPU
+ Good price

EasyCom - "Excelling Cooling Award"

Pros
+ Effective and quite cooling system "HIS iCooler"
+ Fast memory GDDR5
+ Very good overclocking potential
+ Good utility "iTurbo"

EasyCom - "Excellent Cooling Award"

Pros
+ Very effective and quite cooling system "HIS IceQ";
+ Very good overclocking potential;
+ Energy efficiency;
+ good utility "iTurbo"

EasyCom - "Excellent Cooling Award"

Pros
+ high performance and quite cooling system "iCooler";
+ Good overclocking potential;
+ HDMI with 4k ultra hd support;
+ good utility "iTurbo"
+ Good price

EasyCom - "Excellent Award"

Pros
+ high performance and quite cooling system "iCooler";
+ Good overclocking potential;
+ HDMI with 4k ultra hd support;
+ good utility "iTurbo"
+ Good price

EasyCom - "Optimal Price/Opportunity Award"

Pros
+ high performance and quite cooling system iCooler;
+ Good overclocking potential;
+ HDMI with 4k ultra hd support;
+ good utility "iTurbo"
+ Good price

EasyCom - "Optimal Price/Opportunity Award"

Pros
+ high performance and quite cooling system iCooler;
+ Good overclocking potential;
+ HDMI with 4k ultra hd support;
+ good utility "iTurbo"
+ Good price

EasyCom - "Excellent cooling Award"

Pros
+ Overall design
+ Look
+ Temperature
+ Performance
+ Noise idle

Syndrome-Oc - Recommended Award

Pros
+ High performance and quite cooling system
+ Quality components
+ Good overclocking potential
+ Good utility "iTurbo"

EasyCom - Excellent Cooling Award

Pros
-Very good cooling performance
-Low temperature level
-Good Price-Performance ratio

"This card HIS R9 280X IceQ2 completely convinced me.
While some would argue that the overclocking is limited, I mostly see a stable map with a ratio of 3Kh / s per watt
A card with a better Quality ASIC should be able to get even better ratio kH / w level. I highly recommend this card."

Toutpourminer

Pros
-Good value
-Reasonable price
-Acceptable noise level
-Extremely fast for overclocking
Digitale-generation - Sliver Award

Pros
+ Highly pre-overclocked
+ Quality components
+ High performance and quite cooling system, with special fans
+ Original design
+ Very good overclocking potential
+ Functional and good program HIS iTurbo

EasyCom - Choice of Gamers Award

Pros
+ Very good performance/price
+ Pre-overclocked
+ Quality components
+ Quality digital power base
+ High performance and quite cooling system
+ Good overclocking potential

EasyCom -Tested Award

Pros:

-Flat

-Fast

Tom's Hardware

"The concept of the IceQ cooler X2 is well thought out and the low background noise has convinced us. At boot time , at idle and during the test phase, the R9 270X was barely audible , really great. The HIS -provided test sample has left a good impression. The power and performance fits on the line."

Xpert -OC - Team - Hardware Silver Award