Man I want some hot video card deals :(

[pmv]

You think you guys have it bad... 8800GT is just not cutting it. 3.8 ghz i7 and a 8800GT. Yeeeaaah. Good times.

I keep waffling between spending $160 for a stopgap 4890 or hanging on and hoping...

Yeah, same here. Video cards seem to have just stalled completely of late. Especially in the modest-budget range I'd be looking at. Most of my past upgrades have meant perhaps 50-150% increases in frame-rates - this time its been about the same time as I usually hang on to a card for, and the best on offer is perhaps a 25% boost.

I wouldn't mind a faster version of the same card (that is, a GTS250) if it were, like, $50. But it isn't.

 

[Zebo]

5850 is a decent card, but it's not a great card. Its performance over 4890 tends to hover at +30% (sometimes less, sometimes more). Considering 4890 came out on April 4, 2009, around April 4, 2010 we should expect to get about 50-70% performance increase for the same price. 5850 doesn't meet this criteria: http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/17747/6

Also, since 5850 cost $259 a while back, this deal is still more expensive than what you could have gotten 5 months ago.

Finally, 5850 only looks "good" right now because there is not a single NV offering worth considering >$200. Naturally, without a competitor in sight, it's the only viable card in this price range.

I'm just saying I think I paid $550 for my 280 and $675 for 295. Also, before that 8800GTS I bought was near $500. I always buy water cooled versions because I don't like noise but still that adds maybe $100.

 

[Zebo]

GTX 260s are mosty unavailable. And if one can be found anywhere near $200, there's always the risk of it squealing like a stuck pig due to cheap VRMs. At almost the price of a hot deal 5850 I'd be a complete moron to get one over a cheaper and faster 4890.

4890 is a lot slower than 5850 and is only $59 cheaper.

 

[Zebo]

There was a GTS250 deal for $40 AR 3 weeks ago. I really wish I had taken advantage of it. Back then I hadn't touched any PC games for a few months so I just didn't need it. That card probably would have held me over on qw:et for plenty long.

I'd say so, wow! Two of those, $80, and crush 5850....

 

[AlucardX]

You can get a 5850 for $270
http://www.techreport.com/discussions.x/18389

I saw a BFG GTS250 on clearance at Best Buy for $113

Those are not too bad.

Otherwise Fermi should be here next month, that's not too long to wait. If you want I can fire up Quake Wars and kick your butt around till then. (I'm much better at the original ET though)

oh how i miss the days of w:et + etpro. i stopped playing qw:et a while ago, everything felt too "chunky". i'm hoping bad company 2 will itch that spot.

 

[Acanthus]

4890 is a lot slower than 5850 and is only $59 cheaper.

30%...

 

[v8envy]

There are $160 deals on the 4890, as I said. That's $100 cheaper that the hottest deal on a 5850. I figure I could probably move it for $100 once the 58xx refreshes come out, maybe, so the total cost would be mostly inconvenience.

Your quote is about the GTX 260 216, which I already said I'd be a moron to buy at ~200.

Too bad about the G92 restickering. I'd have jumped on any of the 8800GT/9800GT sub-$80 cheapies to get me through until midrange cards of current gen show up. And no, I don't consider 1/2 of a 5870 a midrange card. Like the X1600 to X1800 and 8600GT to 8800GT they are budget cards with a midrange price tag.