Buy a 7800gt now, or wait until 7800gtx drops in price?

[Ricemarine]

Well the thing is, I need a video card in a few weeks, but then the 7900 (g71) is right around the corner... But right now, 7800gt's are apparently beginning to drop into the $260 range. Not using SLI. So what would my best bet be? Get a 7800gtx or a 7800gt?

 

[Soccerman06]

X1900XT Crossfire ftw

Seriously though, Id wait and see incase the 7900GT comes out and hope for it to drop to ~300.

Then agian, you could forego buying a new card and wait for DX10 and Vista to come out, because they might eclipse anything out now. Plus you could save your money and get the high end card in the R600/G80 series.

 

[v8envy]

It's a good bet a currently made PCIe card is not going to go UP in price in the next few weeks. Plenty of deals ~275 lately is good indication that you're only risking a few bucks by waiting.

On the other hand, it is highly likely that prices on old hardware will drop as new hardware is released. If you can wait, wait. If you can't live with that old FX5200 any longer, don't wait.

You probably won't see a $200 7800GT any time soon, but a $250 deal by the end of the month is not out of the question.

Also, remember that there's a HUGE supply of 7800GTs which will be dumped used by people wanting the X1900XT. The smart ones will sell em cheap to sell them fast, rather than wait and sell cheap anyway.

 

[deadseasquirrel]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
Well the thing is, I need a video card in a few weeks, but then the 7900 (g71) is right around the corner... But right now, 7800gt's are apparently beginning to drop into the $260 range. Not using SLI. So what would my best bet be? Get a 7800gtx or a 7800gt?

It really depends on how you define "around the corner". There's no guarantee that nV will launch in February. Nor is there any guarantee that cards will actually be available and affordable at launch.

My thought is, if you're buying in "a few weeks", wait those "few" weeks and see what's happening. A x1900xt that beats a x1800xt should drive the price of that x1800xt down. That x1800xt beats the 256GTX, so a drop in the xt should, theoretically, drop the gtx as well.

I know, if you wait it seems like you're always waiting for something "around the corner". It's true. But, in this case, the video card market is about to be shifted around heavily over the next 30-60 days. Wait as long as you can, then make the decision when you have to.

 

[TSS]

which is your current card? your current righ ses 6800 ultra... assuming you got that, its pretty safe to wait 2 more months.

im gonna buy the 1900xt when it comes out. why? because im a heavy gamer and im still sporting a TI4600 --'. quake 4 runs 640x480 with 30 fps everything on low. heck i've never even seen AA with this card, since BF1942 couldnt handle it and i used to play that alot. cant even run BF2 (bloody shaders!).

i'd say wait patiently, knowing that its definatly not the worst possible, and wait atleast till march 17. thats when the Cebit starts, and the more then likely date the G71 will be hardlaunched. it wont be launched after the cebit, it might be launched before. anyways, a 6800 will last you 2 more months. (a TI4600 wont )

 

[tuteja1986]

yeah i get my x1900xt on wednesday or thursday :! i perorder it for $520.24 + my friend has to mail it to me (australia\sydney) $30 $550 but i sold my 7800GTX for $600AUD = 448.129 USD. so end up paying about $100USD

Nvidia needs to fix its HDR/SM3.0 with anti-aliasing issue or playing Elderscroll 4 on G70 SLI wouldn't be as awesome as it could be. ANyways you pay big money to have AA Turned on with all latest features. lets hope G71 can fix that issue. http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=31&threadid=1784858

 

[vanvock]

I'm in the same boat. I'm waiting to see a GTX in the 350-400 range before I swap my 6800GT.

 

[imported_Rampage]

I decided that now was the 11th hour to sell my 6800GT and get decent money out of it. Due to the 7800GT price drops and the new cards coming out.
So I ordered a $275 EVGA 7800GT (even has dual link) and sold my BFG 6800GT. The upgrade only cost me $50. Not bad for nearly double the performance, half the power consumption, transAA, full PVP (WMV HD is amazing with Purevideo), also the 7800GT will be holding its value longer now that the 7900s are coming out (more value holding than the GF6 series at least).

I'm happy, BF2, Q4, CSS and all my games run so much smoother. The GF7 is a much more refined product than the GF6.
Being a very recent 7800GT buyer, I felt the time was closing in before the 6800s dropped in value much too far.


One scenario I would forget about: having the 7900GTs out, and then proceeding to sell your 6800GT and expecting something like a $50 upgrade cost.
I wouldnt have done it if the upgrade wouldnt be around that price, because I dont want to buy a "whole new video card" right now (aka cost me $400).
Thinking the GF6 is going to hold its value when the 7900GT is out is wishful thinking.. its a nice thought to get away with it.. but I'm afraid the best bet for GF6 users who want to do a relatively cheap upgrade to the GF7 series should be motating ASAP.. it wont be happening for you after the 7900 launch. Might as well "settle" for the 7800.

If you have a spare video card you could sell your 6800GT now and use the spare until the 7900GT is out, but even then you wont get away with a $50 upgrade, you'll be looking at selling your 6800GT for about $220-250 today (on ebay) and buying the 7900GT (as everyone is scrambling for them and availability is low and prices high) for $400 or roundabouts.

Its not woth it.
Sell the GF6 now while they are still relatively "hot" and only 1 step behind the upgrade cycle, and buy the 7800GT while other people (like the ones in this forum) cant stop thinking about the incremental upgrade the 7900 and X1900 will give them.

Play the game, dont let the game play you!
2sense.
And this is all IMO of course.

 

[imported_Rampage]

Do as you will, but I am here telling you my results from my way of thinking.

Im gaming on a 7800GT right now, today, in my box.. with no guessing or hoping/wishing for cards to be here that arent released.. with nothing left to good luck or chance..

and im doing it on a loss of $50 moving from a 6800GT to a 7800GT.
Thats reality, who knows when the next gen cards will be at decent prices and on shelves. But I know most everyone would swap their 6800GT for a 7800GT for a measly cost of $50 at any moment..


Well, the moment is now! Dont waste any more time fellow ATers.. just trying to do you a good deed.

 

[Cooler]

its what happen to the 6800GT/ ultra it hover at that price even after a year or so.

 

[Ordeith]

Originally posted by: tuteja1986
yeah i get my x1900xt on wednesday or thursday :! i perorder it for $520.24 + my friend has to mail it to me (australia\sydney) $30 $550 but i sold my 7800GTX for $600AUD = 448.129 USD. so end up paying about $100USD

Nvidia needs to fix its HDR/SM3.0 with anti-aliasing issue or playing Elderscroll 4 on G70 SLI wouldn't be as awesome as it could be. ANyways you pay big money to have AA Turned on with all latest features. lets hope G71 can fix that issue. http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=31&threadid=1784858

Where did you order the x1900xt from for that price?