Price drops!!!!

[PrayForDeath]

What happened to the prices? The 9800XT's price haven't dropped a bit, you can still get a 9800XT for 400$ while you can get a X800Pro for the same price or even cheaper!!!
Isn't there supposed to be a 20%+ price drop or something with the new cards coming out??!
If not, then when do you think you will find a 9800Pro for 160-180$? Or a 9800XT for like 250-300$?

 

[nitromullet]

It's my guess that the prices won't drop until the new cards are widely avaialble. Even then, I wouldn't expect the 9800 Pros to drop much more than they already have for the next 6 months. The 9800 XT on the otherhand will probbably drop like a rock until it hits about $215-245. The reason I say this is because there is no compelling reason for the price of the 9800 Pro to drop at the moment, it offers a tremendous value as it is and ATi knows this. The 9800 XT on the otherhand is way overpriced in comparison to the the 9800 Pro and the X800 Pro, and retailers will have to drop the price in order to move them once the X800 Pro/XT's are in stock and widely available. In addition to this, nVidia offers a real alternative to ATI on the high end this time around, which will drop 9800 XT prices as well.

Edit: Of course, this is my speculation, and I could be wrong.

 

[ForceCalibur]

Yep, prices are dropping IF you know where to look:

Full retail packaging 256 bit BBA Radeon 9800 Pro: www.buyextremegear.com 164 dollars + 7.50 shipping = 171.50
Full retail Packaging 256 bit BBA Radeon 9800 PRO: bananapc.com = 170 free shipping.

 

[Maskirovka]

i'm not seeing where it says those cards on the sites you linked are 256 bit

can you tell by the fan? do the 128 bit ones have the black square fan and the 256 have that parallelogram silver fan?

 

[ForceCalibur]

They are Built by ATI. ATI does not make 128 bit cards, the only manufacturer that does is Sapphire. (Or rather, Sapphire branded cards, Sapphire DO make the BBA cards however)

The two fan formations basically tell you have new it is. If its a square type, its an older card most likely with an R350 core. The new HSF gives better airflow over the memory, while the old didn't really. New HSF means your much more likely to get a R360.

 

[GeneralGrievous]

can you tell by the fan? do the 128 bit ones have the black square fan and the 256 have that parallelogram silver fan?

Be careful. The pictures are often mistakes.

 

[Maskirovka]

ah sweet...i will double check that they're the 256-bit kind and get one if they are...i was gonna try to wait for more price drops (and this is a pretty good-sized one), but now my gf4 is dying or something...the monitor will randomly flick like it's changing resolution, but when it comes back the comp's frozen and i have to use the reset button.

though...i put my gf4 in this (older) computer and it's working fine...so i guess my AGP slot could have something wrong with it...god please...i don't want to RMA my mobo.

 

[Pete]

bananapc's $170 "9800P" is 128-bit (it says so on the product page). I'm guessing BuyXG's laughably vague page also hides a 128-bit "9800P," so I'd avoid it unless you wrangle a guarantee (including return shipping) out of its sales staff. NewEgg also starting selling a "9800P" for $170, and they soon changed their page to warn you that it was 128-bit. I believe they, like bpc, don't list clock speeds either. This may be to hide the fact that the Sapphire 128-bit 9800P in question may only be clocked at 9800 speeds (325/290). That's faster than a 9500P (and thus 9600XT), but also more expensive than either card.

If you want a 9800P on the cheap, NewEgg is selling two refurbed Sapphire models for $167-$179. Both appear to be the real deal, with full clock speeds and a full 256-bit memory bus.

 

[ronnn]

I think that I quit liking ATI, this is so cheesy having a 9800pro with much less performance than a 9800pro?

 

[Maskirovka]

Originally posted by: ronnn
I think that I quit liking ATI, this is so cheesy having a 9800pro with much less performance than a 9800pro?

yes...they're obviously deliberately trying to confuse their customers...so lame. though the 9800p is still a hell of a deal...even at $200-215. i know i'm smart enough to figure things out and get the best thing in the end...so even though this 128/256/SE/BS/FU is a bit shady, the 9800p is still a great card at a great price.

i think i'm just gonna end up getting the MSI 9800p from newegg for $213. i've been happy with my current MSI card, and a few of my friends have MSI mobos and vid cards as well. it's got a cool fan that looks to get good airflow over the memory...that's worth the extra $6...and it's retail as well.

 

[Pete]

Yeah, I'm curious about the MSI 9800P. The whole card looks different than regular 9800Ps, from rearranged caps to a floppy power connector (rather than the usual HD one). The HSF looks interesting. Hopefully it's quiet as well as efficient.

 

[Gurck]

I was considering one until this lame sh!t. Now I think I'm going to wait on the 6800s & see which one fits my needs & budget best.