9800Pro + HL2 = $225.00 Scam?

[HOTPOOP]

This deal seems to good to be true...
http://www.allstarshop.com/shop/product.asp?dept%5Fid=339&pid=8648&sid=H8TPTJ41KBDM8M4U0EAAFUN7R9H3D1S0#

I recently fell for the 128-bit 9800"Pro" scam, so I don't want to fall into another one. Look at the pictures of the card. The fan on this card looks different than the other 9800s...Is it better, the same, or maybe worse? Everything seems dandy about the card...Clocks look OK, I quadruple checked that it's 256-bit, yada yada.

Is it a clean deal?

 

[Zephyr106]

Yeah that card looks good. The 256MB 9800Ps at Newegg.com have boxes around the fan like that and someone said they saw a card in a Dell like that. And unlike many around here, I am not opposed to HL2 vouchers, if you are definately going to get the game anyway. Of course some stupid issue could come up when the game releases, like slow voucher redemption....

Zephyr

 

[HOTPOOP]

Alright...I'm just making sure.

I'll get HL2 eventually, that's what matters for me. But you're right...They'll probably pull some "Oops, you didn't capitalize the "A" in your code. You don't get your game" crap.

 

[nRollo]

No fooling a $200 card and a coupon for some vaporware for $225!?!?! Woot!
I'm waiting for the Duke Nuke'm 4ever coupons myself.....

 

[HOTPOOP]

Could the fan possibly mean the difference between a 350 core and a 360?

 

[JBT]

Doesn't look like a bad deal. I got my 9500 Pro from them in March of 03. HL2 will come out someday unlike Duke nukem Forever. How long is VERY uncertain though... oh well..
Also I think most of the 9800 pro's have R360 cores now. I have seen alot of Sapphire 9800 cards with that cooler lately as well so I wouldn't worry about it being fake.

 

[someone16]

Well, if you check and make sure its a reputable seller then I would go it.

http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1984.html

decide for yourself i guess. DOesn't look that bad.

 

[Bartokomus]

Remeber that the card vendors have stated that the HL2 coupon only adds ~$10 or so to the cost of the card. So to me this looks like a deal where All-Star is still okay. You can pick up that card for about $200 many places, so you're paying $25 for the game...

 

[jiffylube1024]

I think that is the design for all new (R360) Radeon 9800's. The old ones were on the R350's. Same card but slightly newer design and (supposedly) a better overclocker. Also, the R360's usually come with Hynix RAX (some still come with the Samsung, though both o/c well).