GTX280 Vs HD4870 - Help me decide!

[Psynaut]

I didn't read the whole thread, so sorry if this has already been said, but rather than taking a bath on the 9800GTX in the open market, do the step-up to the GTX280, sell it unopened on Ebay, buy two 4870's with the cash and run them in crossfire, assuming you can run crossfire. If you have to go SLI, then sell the GTX280 and buy a 9800GX2 and pocket the extra cash, or go SLI with two 9800GTXs.

 

[HumblePie]

Chances are, if the OP is getting a step up deal of $325 for the GTX280, then he paid a pretty penny for his 9800 GTX which is no longer worth anywhere near what he paid.

Going by the numbers, I'm guessing he paid $325 for his 9800 GTX and it's really only worth $180 right now.

Personally, if I was him, I'd do this.

Step up. Pay the $325. This way you lose no intrinsic value to the 9800 GTX. You now have a new GTX280, which technically isn't out yet and is paper ware. When you get it, demand will still be high. I personally think the 4870 is the better value, or even 4850's CF are even better! Sell the GTX280, which has an MSRP of $650. Get as close to $650 as you can. This way you lose no money off buying that 9800 GTX.

Then with that find and buy two 4850's at around $150. I already did this. 4850's in CF out perform most of the time a GTX280, use less power, with an after market cooler produce less heat, and would make less noise. It's a win-win scenario!

 

[LightningRider]

I like that idea of stepping up to the GTX280 anyways.

I might do that. But I think I will at least buy HD4870s and not 4850s. I'll have to see how fast I can get the step up though because this queue is barely budging.

 

[LightningRider]

JUST ORDERED: Visiontek Radeon HD 4870 512MB GDDR5 PCI-E 2XDVI-I Video Card

from ncix.com

Will have it next week! I might still do that thing with the GTX280 stepping up and then selling it. Depending on how fast the line moves...

Thanks for all your help guys, hopefully you didn't let me down Keep up the discussion on HD4870 vs GTX280 though if you want, although it's kind of obvious which is a better buy when there's no step up in play...

 

[HumblePie]

Originally posted by: LightningRider
I like that idea of stepping up to the GTX280 anyways.

I might do that. But I think I will at least buy HD4870s and not 4850s. I'll have to see how fast I can get the step up though because this queue is barely budging.

The queue isn't budging because the GTX280 is paper launched. This means there is a very low supply of the cards. Sure, some of the major sites like newegg has a few for sale, but you aren't going to find it at a local bestbuy yet. The only reason I think newegg has any in stock is because of the sheer price of the card.

It also means that if the supply stays low enough with enough of a demand, the intrinsic value price associated with the GTX280 won't go down either. As we all know, there are enough fanbois out there of any manufacturer that are willing to shell out almost any amount for the latest and greatest of their favorite especially if they can save a few bucks in the process. this means getting $550 would be almost a guaranteed sale, but it could still be easily sold for $600 and maybe even $625. Heck, you could probably get full price of $650 if you sold through ebay with a buy it now of $650 because of the Microsoft LIVE cash back program for buyers. You sale for $650, they buy for $650 but get 10% to 35% back from microsoft. You make money and they get a card for a discount.

What you do with the cash is up to you for a new card. As I said, I think the best buy is 4850's in CF with upgraded coolers and having them a bit overclocked.

 

[LightningRider]

Nah, eVGA said on their forum that they have them now, just they can only do so many a day apparently. Also, I've seen GTX280's on sale at ncix.com with plentiful enough stock, some are even on sale, if they call that a sale.

 

[Nurn]

So, LighteningRider, you are a fellow Canuck (NCIX.com customer).

Enjoy the 4870. Your next thread will be under motherboards (X38 Vs X48 - Help me decide!).

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: ginfest
I entered the EVGA step-up and ordered a 4870. Whichever suits my needs better I'll keep and sell the other. Best of both worlds and gets me some value for my 9800
I'll also get to see which is really the better card for the games that I play!

that would be a good strategy if gtx 280 holds in the $500-$550 range, but when 4870x2 releases at $499 where is gtx 280 going? down down down...making a used gtx 280 not worth a whole lot more than the $325 that he paid for it and wasting a lot of the money that he could have gotten for the 9800gtx.

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: HumblePie

Originally posted by: LightningRider
I like that idea of stepping up to the GTX280 anyways.

I might do that. But I think I will at least buy HD4870s and not 4850s. I'll have to see how fast I can get the step up though because this queue is barely budging.

The queue isn't budging because the GTX280 is paper launched. This means there is a very low supply of the cards. Sure, some of the major sites like newegg has a few for sale, but you aren't going to find it at a local bestbuy yet. The only reason I think newegg has any in stock is because of the sheer price of the card.

It also means that if the supply stays low enough with enough of a demand, the intrinsic value price associated with the GTX280 won't go down either. As we all know, there are enough fanbois out there of any manufacturer that are willing to shell out almost any amount for the latest and greatest of their favorite especially if they can save a few bucks in the process. this means getting $550 would be almost a guaranteed sale, but it could still be easily sold for $600 and maybe even $625. Heck, you could probably get full price of $650 if you sold through ebay with a buy it now of $650 because of the Microsoft LIVE cash back program for buyers. You sale for $650, they buy for $650 but get 10% to 35% back from microsoft. You make money and they get a card for a discount.

What you do with the cash is up to you for a new card. As I said, I think the best buy is 4850's in CF with upgraded coolers and having them a bit overclocked.

gtx 280 has better availability right now than 4870 does. neither is a paper launch, but they're both definitely SOFT launches. the 1:35 am launch of 9800gtx+ was a paper launch b/c that card won't even be available until, assuming no problems arise, july 16.

 

[LightningRider]

Originally posted by: Nurn
So, LighteningRider, you are a fellow Canuck (NCIX.com customer).

Enjoy the 4870. Your next thread will be under motherboards (X38 Vs X48 - Help me decide!).

Thanks. Yes I am and I hope I do.

Lol on the motherboards, but I won't be upgrading those unless I have some sort of problem arise with my current one (or if I really get Crossfire itch ).

I plan on putting the foot down and saying no to upgrades until some mature Nehalem's come out, DDR3 is ripe for the pickings and it's really worth upgrading the rest of the system. I've said that before though...

And also I've decided that I'm probably just going to sell the 9800GTX if I don't decide to keep it as a spare/for another computer. I don't think it's worth the trouble of the step up. Plus then I might change my mind once I have the 280 in my hands and I don't want to, I want to give ATi a chance.

 

[Nathelion]

Originally posted by: JBT

Originally posted by: Rhaze

Originally posted by: Gnitepracdlo
get the 4850 now for around $150 ar and then get the 4870x2 when it comes out. that's what i'm doing.

Unless I'm retarded... and I am completely open to this possibility...

I would Step up to the GTX280 for the 325... eBay it 'New, factory sealed box' for 550+

Buy an HD4850 and beer with the gains... this would be a slight upgrade with slight profit after the sale and beer is the mega win.

THEN... wait for the HD4870x2. Sell the used HD4850 on eBay, or CF it.

teh winnAr!

Why are we still even debating this? Do what the man says!