picking a 9700...

[eklass]

hey guys.. i did a couple searches but couldn't uncover anything that answered my specific questions, so i apologize in advance if it's been said before (which i'm sure it has)... that said, here goes:

i've been waiting for the 9700 to drop to $200 before i grab it, but i'm thinking i should go ahead and just get it now at $220 (plus 2 or 3 day shipping of course ) i'm wondering a couple things. i've been watching pricewatch for the prices to drop over the last couple weeks (anticipating a 9800 release). the prices have dipped a bit, but is there a large drop expected with the intro of the 9800 or are we only talking about maybe $10 given the current price of the 9700 pro vs the price of i'm guess $325-$350 when the 9800 hits the virtual shelves?

if it makes sense to buy now, is there much of a stability/quality difference between ati/atlantis/saphire ? also, any specific manufacturers to stay away from that have had performance/stability issues ?

p.s. let me know if there's any issues with using the card for BF1942, RtCW or SC4

thanks

p.s.s. i'm upgrading from an overheating geforce2 mx, so i'm quite anxious to up the res and try out some AA... should be nice

 

[eklass]

it goes bump in the night

 

From what i hear there is not a difference. I would get the built by ATI one though, wait, i did.

 

[nadrrkhan]

I expect prices will go down more than $10, but not much more in a few weeks. First we have to experience some heavy grabbing of 9800 to make 9700 less appealing, before we see some serious price change.

Still I think you should wait for the release of the new 9800, it's not so far away and it will save you some $.

 

[eklass]

any ETA on the 9800.. i mean, i've been waiting for "sometime in march" for weeks now. is there a newer/more specific ETA?

 

[Budmantom]

Buy from newegg, I thought the release was 1st week in april.

 

[Mangler]

the 9800 isn't a new line...its an updated line....so you wont see a huge price drop till the R400 comes out.

Thats just IMO.