Radeon 9600 *IS* cheaper!

[bluemax]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed or not, but check out the MSRP's on the 9600 vs. 9500 cards...
US prices
Canadian prices

For you Americans, it's only $20 cheaper but hey, it adds up, right?
For us Canadians it's a HUGE difference of $100C! ($300 vs. $400!)

So it's definately official - it's cheaper. Quite a bit cheaper.

 

[JeremiahTheGreat]

and the difference will only get bigger when its out on teh streets.

 

[ViRGE]

ATI's inflating their own prices; the MSRP on the 9500 Pro is supposed to be $199 too, and in reality, the price is cheaper. Mwave is listing a "powered by" for $172, and a complete retail card for $188(although it's out of stock for the moment).

 

[Mingon]

It may be cheaper - but its also slower. You get what you pay for IMHO

 

[XBoxLPU]

Originally posted by: Mingon
It may be cheaper - but its also slower. You get what you pay for IMHO

True but the hardocp article showed that it is a great overclocker....

At least it is priced better than Geforce FX 5600 IMO

 

[bluemax]

Sure, clock-for-clock the Radeon 9500 Pro is faster... generally a slightly better design.
...BUT...
...for those who have power concerns, noise concerns, or just generally like to overclock anything they can get their hands on (people are strange...) the 9600 has it all.

VIRGE: ATI's inflating their own prices; the MSRP on the 9500 Pro is supposed to be $199 too, and in reality, the price is cheaper. Mwave is listing a "powered by" for $172, and a complete retail card for $188(although it's out of stock for the moment).

I'll tell you one thing, I was about to say I've never seen a 9500 Pro selling for the $400 price as currently on the site, but I never saw it RETAIL less than $300 either. (Canadian = 50% more than US.)
The OEM cards are now getting closer to the magic $200C mark.... the 9600's should be there quick!
And at least you're guaranteed a 9600 non-pro is only a lower clocked card, not missing pipelines!

Fanless, no extra power plugs, fewer worries. I call it a tremendous success.... and it's still as fast as anyone needs!
(Excpet those people with money to burn and are FPS junkies. They can get 9800's.)

 

[bluemax]

At the time I posted... the 9600 Pro was $300 and 9500 Pro was $400.

Now there's only one option. The 9600 Pro for $350. :|
Maybe it was a promotional price....

US prices are still the same.

 

[prontospyder]

Provantage has it now for $174.95 shipped - 1100 in stock. Only $25 more to go before I get one.

 

[Pete]

9500P debuted at $220 MSRP, albeit with a $20 MIR. Did ATi drop the MSRP to $200? I don't see why, as they're just going to phase the card out in favor of the 9600P....

 

[bluemax]

Sure looks like they've phased it out... they no longer sell it on the Canadian site. Saving the chips they've made for 9700's I guess.
Ooops.... maybe not. They changed the site again and the 9500P is back. Yeesh....

 

[tenoc]

At canada computers, these prices:

ATI 9500P = $294
ATI 9600P = $269
Sap 9500P = $262

The Sapphire looks like the best deal, imho.