5850 buy now or wait?

[popgunjustin]

Sorry if this question has been asked already.

I am in the market for a 5850 but with nvidia just launching Fermi I'm wondering if I should wait a month or two to make the plunge. Is the thought that prices will start dropping soon, or have things pretty much stabilized?

Also does anyone have a good recommendation of which 5850 to buy? Right now I am looking at the standard XFX model (warranty) and the Sapphire Vapor-X version. I want something that I can overclock fairly easily and has a decent warranty.

Thanks

 

[MrK6]

The market has been pretty stagnant for awhile now, and Fermi really didn't change anything (not competitive and no stock). Just wait for the next "hot deal" (cruise the forum here and also slickdeals.net and the like) and jump on it, IMO. I got two 5850's for $255 shipped each a little over a month ago and there have been deals in the $260-270 range since then. I recommend getting a reference design 5850 (ATI specs, has the blower-design cooler, etc.), as there seems to be some variability in quality with non-reference versions in regards to overclocking. If you don't care about overclocking, then get whichever is the quietest and comes with the best package (in regards to warranty, bundled items, etc.). Good luck!

 

[zerocool84]

Yep you'll just have to wait for day deals. I got my 5870 for $368 in Feb so just keep a look out for deals.

 

[thegimp03]

I'm in the same boat...want a 5870 but don't want to pay $40-50+ over MSRP and I think the 5850s are still selling for $20-30+ over MSRP. It's maddening, but, I guess it's going along with the laws of economics. I've sat on my 7900 GTO for 3-4 years, I think I can wait another couple of months.

 

[toyota]

I'm in the same boat...want a 5870 but don't want to pay $40-50+ over MSRP and I think the 5850s are still selling for $20-30+ over MSRP. It's maddening, but, I guess it's going along with the laws of economics. I've sat on my 7900 GTO for 3-4 years, I think I can wait another couple of months.

so why didnt you ever upgrade during that time? seems kind of silly to keep waiting as even a $100 video card will blow your card away. I also hope the rest of your system isnt 4 years old or a 5870 will likely be held back.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

There was a guy in the forums selling a 5970 for 650$ and get this, an XFX 5870 for 330$ i'd be very surprised if it's still available.

Well, this isn't the guy but coincidentally he is selling his 5870 for 330$

this was the deal

Better jump on that first link.

Good Luck

 

[nenforcer]

Fermi has come in slightly faster and hence the higher prices so you are unlikely to see ATI 5850's drop much if any right now.

I think you will have to wait until June when the mainstream GTX 460 is suppose to be released at around $300 price point before you see any price drops on ATI 58XX series.

That is only a couple of months away, however.

 

[thegimp03]

so why didnt you ever upgrade during that time? seems kind of silly to keep waiting as even a $100 video card will blow your card away. I also hope the rest of your system isnt 4 years old or a 5870 will likely be held back.

TBH, not too many PC games came along that I was really interested in playing that much so I played everything on my PS3 and 360. After discovering that my FPS skills blow on consoles, I've switched back to PC mouse + kb. And no, my system isn't 4 years old. I have an e8500 overclocked to 4.4 Ghz and 8 GB of ram, but will be looking to upgrade that to an i7 (or whatever comes next) in the future.

 

[Rezist]

Well the 4800 series vs the GTX were great price wars for us consumers. But nVidia doesn't seem to be able to put any pressure on ATi so there holding steady.

 

[Madcatatlas]

wait, buy now

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Buy now, prices aren't going anywhere fast.

 

[zerocool84]

Buy now, prices aren't going anywhere fast.

Everyone waited and still nothing. People that waited should just buy now.

 

[RaistlinZ]

I think prices will be stagnant for the next month or two. Really no reason not to buy now if you can score a decent enough deal.

 

[3DVagabond]

I think the current state of Fermi stock, and the fact they are such power hogs, will create more demand for the 5850, as it's the best value in the general performance range of Fermi and it's available.

 

[marmasatt]

Everyone waited and still nothing. People that waited should just buy now.

Yeah, that would be me. Bit the bullet for $269 at Newegg for a 5850.