Should I Expect Rebates on the Radeon 7750?

[Madmick]

I was curious because I've watched the 6870/6850/6670, and also some GTX cards, and they all have rebates that go off and on, but I hadn't checked on the 7750 until just recently; however, it's from the newer 7000 line, so I thought maybe these intermittent rebate offers aren't the norm with the 7750 like they are with those earlier cards they sellers are probably trying to clear out.

Right now it's $110 for the Sapphire on Amazon (no tax for me in CA, free shipping). What's the cheapest you've seen the 7750?

 

[Termie]

It has never gone below $110, and the only model on Newegg that has a rebate has an inflated price: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814103206.

Honestly, AMD is cracking down on price drops on its 7000-series cards because it has no competition.

Is there a reason you need the 7750 (size, power constraints, etc.)? If not, just buy the vastly superior HD6850 for about the same price ($120AR/FS): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121419

If you're looking to save money and avoid a power plug, buy the HD6670 GDDR5, which is nearly as fast and much, much cheaper ($80AR shipped): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121442

Or buy the HD6770 for $97AR shipped, which is faster than the 7750: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121474

Basically, the 7750 is a very specialized and overpriced card - it is fast for its power consumption, but in very few (if any) situations is its combination of traits actually ideal for the price.

 

[Schmide]

I noticed this today.

$120 = $160 - $20 rebate - $16 (10% code 24HRSALE411E today only) - $4 (3% FW cash) Gigabyte Radeon HD 7770

Sad thing is it looks like a crappy 2-pin fan.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

If you're looking to save money and avoid a power plug, buy the HD6670 GDDR5, which is nearly as fast and much, much cheaper ($80AR shipped): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121442

I believe OP is trying to find a low power card because he doesn't want to upgrade his PSU.

The 6670 DDR5 may be much cheaper, but it is also much slower. Considering the 7750 performs the same as a 6770:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4278/amds-radeon-hd-6670-radeon-hd-6570

In my opinion, the 7750 is slightly overpriced when it competes with the 6770, which can be had $20 cheaper. But if you compare it to other cards that don't require a PCI-E power cable, they're not even close.

 

[Termie]

I believe OP is trying to find a low power card because he doesn't want to upgrade his PSU.

The 6670 DDR5 may be much cheaper, but it is also much slower. Considering the 7750 performs the same as a 6770:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4278/amds-radeon-hd-6670-radeon-hd-6570

In my opinion, the 7750 is slightly overpriced when it competes with the 6770, which can be had $20 cheaper. But if you compare it to other cards that don't require a PCI-E power cable, they're not even close.

You provided the wrong link for that comparison. Here it is: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/538?vs=535

As you can see, the 7750 is slower than the 5770/6770 in most games, while also being significantly more expensive. Thus, the only reason to purchase the 7750 is:

(1) You want to run a <350w PSU or do not want to run a PCIe-to-molex converter
(2) The 6770 is too long for your case

 

[Madmick]

(1) You want to run a <350w PSU or do not want to run a PCIe-to-molex converter
(2) The 6770 is too long for your case

Or:
(3) You have a 385w stock Delta PSU that could probably handle the 6850, but it only has 1 Molex connector, not 2, so you can't safely adapt the PSU to the 6 Pin PCI-E port on the video card.

That's the nightmare I just encountered in the PSU forum to which BirthdayMonkey is referring. Ergo, my options really come down to:

a] Get the well-valued Radeon 6670 and run games on medium settings or below.
Cost Out-of-Pocket: $75
Cost after Rebates: $60 [Sapphire 6670 at Amazon)

b] Stay with stock PSU and get the inferior value on the Radeon 7750 that will handle most games of this generation on max settings, but probably without AA and sometimes limited texturing.
Cost Out-of-Pocket: $110
Cost after Rebates: $110 [Sapphire 7750 at Amazon]

c] Get the Jonnyguru recommended Corsair CX 430w and then run either the Radeon 6850/6870 or GTX 460 for a setup that will handle basically any game at max settings and most with limited AA.
Cost Out-of-Pocket: $185-225 (depending on card)
Cost after Rebates: $160-$185 (depending on card)


That's why I'd settled on the 7750...because I'm not really much of a gamer, anyway. I scored one of these brand new for $218, and I thought it would be pretty bitching to see it in action. The only game I really want to play is Mass Effect 3, and I've been told it isn't very demanding. Diablo 3 also releases next month, and Steam recently did a sale on Deus Ex: Human Revolution for $7, and that looked pretty cool, too, if that sale comes around again.

BTW, Monkey, you recommended that I get the HIS brand of the 7750 because it's so quiet and is the cheapest available. Sapphire is also available for the same price. Is there a difference in build quality for the two? I've noticed that Sapphire cards typically get a better score at NewEgg.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

You provided the wrong link for that comparison. Here it is: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/538?vs=535

You previously mentioned the 6670 as a cheaper alternative that doesn't require PCI-E power. I posted a link to the 6670 review to illustrate how slow it is compared to the 6770/5770, which are comparable in performance to a 7750 (although slightly faster, as your link indicates). I would have posted a direct comparison of a 7750 and 6670, but the 6670 ain't available in Bench.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

BTW, Monkey, you recommended that I get the HIS brand of the 7750 because it's so quiet and is the cheapest available. Sapphire is also available for the same price. Is there a difference in build quality for the two? I've noticed that Sapphire cards typically get a better score at NewEgg.

I can't speak for their entire product lineup, but the HIS 7750 with that cooler seems excellent to me. Actually, all of their models with that particular cooling solution have been pretty well received. If you're going by Newegg reviews, the negative feedback on the HIS model are all down to the preliminary drivers, so the issues described will apply to any 7750 card, not just the HIS.

The differences in build quality between major manufacturers are fairly minor. Differentiation largely comes down to customer service and warranty. Sapphire isn't known for great service; I dunno about HIS.

If you're looking at the Sapphire 7750, I briefly owned a Sapphire 6670 (part of my lengthy quest for the perfect HTPC card) with that cooler, and it was also nice and quiet.

 

[Termie]

Or:
(3) You have a 385w stock Delta PSU that could probably handle the 6850, but it only has 1 Molex connector, not 2, so you can't safely adapt the PSU to the 6 Pin PCI-E port on the video card.

That's the nightmare I just encountered in the PSU forum to which BirthdayMonkey is referring. Ergo, my options really come down to:

a] Get the well-valued Radeon 6670 and run games on medium settings or below.
Cost Out-of-Pocket: $75
Cost after Rebates: $60 [Sapphire 6670 at Amazon)

b] Stay with stock PSU and get the inferior value on the Radeon 7750 that will handle most games of this generation on max settings, but probably without AA and sometimes limited texturing.
Cost Out-of-Pocket: $110
Cost after Rebates: $110 [Sapphire 7750 at Amazon]

c] Get the Jonnyguru recommended Corsair CX 430w and then run either the Radeon 6850/6870 or GTX 460 for a setup that will handle basically any game at max settings and most with limited AA.
Cost Out-of-Pocket: $185-225 (depending on card)
Cost after Rebates: $160-$185 (depending on card)


That's why I'd settled on the 7750...because I'm not really much of a gamer, anyway. I scored one of these brand new for $218, and I thought it would be pretty bitching to see it in action. The only game I really want to play is Mass Effect 3, and I've been told it isn't very demanding. Diablo 3 also releases next month, and Steam recently did a sale on Deus Ex: Human Revolution for $7, and that looked pretty cool, too, if that sale comes around again.

BTW, Monkey, you recommended that I get the HIS brand of the 7750 because it's so quiet and is the cheapest available. Sapphire is also available for the same price. Is there a difference in build quality for the two? I've noticed that Sapphire cards typically get a better score at NewEgg.

Well, in that case, I'd take this opportunity to get the Corsair PSU and a 6850, and for just a few dollars more than a 7750, you'll have much more performance and a more reliable PC all around. Heck, for about the same cost as a 7750, you could get a 6770 and a new PSU, which will be both slightly faster and more reliable.

From time to time, that CX430 drops below $20AR. Maybe you should wait until that deal comes up again and then jump on it.

 

[Termie]

You previously mentioned the 6670 as a cheaper alternative that doesn't require PCI-E power. I posted a link to the 6670 review to illustrate how slow it is compared to the 6770/5770, which are comparable in performance to a 7750 (although slightly faster, as your link indicates). I would have posted a direct comparison of a 7750 and 6670, but the 6670 ain't available in Bench.

Fair enough. The 6670 is quite a bit slower, so the 7750 certainly stands alone as the fastest VGA that does not require external power.

But I still think that with the OP's needs, a new PSU and a higher-powered VGA might be the ideal solution. He's not looking to run off of 200w, or fit in a mini-ITX case, or run an HTPC. For his purposes, the 7750 isn't the best solution, assuming he's able to install a new PSU. If this is an OEM case that's difficult to work with, then I can see the 7750 being a viable option.

 

[Madmick]

Well, in that case, I'd take this opportunity to get the Corsair PSU and a 6850, and for just a few dollars more than a 7750, you'll have much more performance and a more reliable PC all around. Heck, for about the same cost as a 7750, you could get a 6770 and a new PSU, which will be both slightly faster and more reliable.

From time to time, that CX430 drops below $20AR. Maybe you should wait until that deal comes up again and then jump on it.

Fair enough. The 6670 is quite a bit slower, so the 7750 certainly stands alone as the fastest VGA that does not require external power.

But I still think that with the OP's needs, a new PSU and a higher-powered VGA might be the ideal solution. He's not looking to run off of 200w, or fit in a mini-ITX case, or run an HTPC. For his purposes, the 7750 isn't the best solution, assuming he's able to install a new PSU. If this is an OEM case that's difficult to work with, then I can see the 7750 being a viable option.

Yeah, I know, this is what has made this decision agonizing. But here was my analysis:

I actually saw the 6870 for $160 - $30 rebate= $130 and free shipping from Amazon at one point (and Amazon, unlike NewEgg, carries no tax for me as a CA resident). This delivers an even better price/performance than the best $120 post-rebate total I've seen on the 6850, and I've been watching that 6850 for over a month. The best I've seen the CX430 in the past couple weeks was $45 - $20 rebate + $2 shipping + $3 tax = $30.

So 6870= $205 out-of-pocket, but $160 total. That's 86% more out-of-pocket, and 45% more after rebates.

In terms of performance, the 6870 is supposedly almost twice as good when comparing them based on theory:
http://www.hwcompare.com/11771/radeon-hd-6870-vs-radeon-hd-7750/
But TechPowerUp's performance summary shows it outperforming the 7750 by only 66% on the 1920x1200 resolution in actual testing:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/HD_7750/26.html


In summary, combining ideal deals for the 6870= +45% cost for +66% performance.

45% less cash for 66% less performance without the hassle of waiting for these prime deals to be posted, filling out and waiting for the rebates themselves, and taking apart my entire computer to rewire the new PSU has made the 7750 the most attractive option I've considered. Sound reasoning?

 

[Madmick]

Oh, and using the same analysis for the 6850:

$150 total (after rebates)= +36% Cost for +33% Performance

 

[Termie]

Oh, and using the same analysis for the 6850:

$150 total (after rebates)= +36% Cost for +33% Performance

Actually, whenever you pay less than 1:1 percentage-wise for performance improvements in the VGA market, you are getting an absolute steal, so your price analysis actually sways me towards the better cards. But as you saw, you just missed the best deal on the 6870, and I agree the Corsair hasn't been on sale for several months. So, that unfortunate timing, combined with the hassle of rewiring the PC, is enough for me to agree that the 7750 makes sense in this situation.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

Actually, whenever you pay less than 1:1 percentage-wise for performance improvements in the VGA market, you are getting an absolute steal, so your price analysis actually sways me towards the better cards. But as you saw, you just missed the best deal on the 6870, and I agree the Corsair hasn't been on sale for several months. So, that unfortunate timing, combined with the hassle of rewiring the PC, is enough for me to agree that the 7750 makes sense in this situation.

Hehe... we went through more or less the same deductive process in the previous thread before arriving at this conclusion. Dunno why he didn't just post his question about the 7750 price in the old thread...

 

[birthdaymonkey]

Madmick,

Just get whichever one floats your boat (Sapphire, HIS, whatever), quit agonizing over the decision, and enjoy your computer.

 

[KingFatty]

Oh, and using the same analysis for the 6850:

$150 total (after rebates)= +36% Cost for +33% Performance

Something that seems to have been omitted from the analysis: ability to resell!

Consider that the sale price of the 6870 is so low after rebate, that it is nearly the used/resale price you'd find on Ebay or Craigslist. Also, so many people already have a 6870 that would be interested in getting a 2nd one for crossfire.

So, it's almost like you should think of the cost of the 6870 as more of a security deposit + rental fee, because you are definitely going to be able to sell it easily months later, probably for slightly more than $100 just because people will want it for crossfire. It's like you'll just be holding on to the card and using it for a while, very low risk, and recapturing most of your initial investment minus a very small amount of depreciation that is equivalent to a rental fee.

If you get the 6850, the same argument applies, just not as strongly because perhaps the people who initially got one are less likely to go crossfire - they may have been value purchasers instead of hardcore types who want crossfire. the 6870 I think will have more potential buyers in the future for crossfire.

if you get the 7750, that may be harder to resell, perhaps it will depreciate more, etc. so you may end up adding it to the collection in your closet of old dusty cards for nostalgia purposes.

Anyway, my point is that the 6870 is a very tempting deal right now, I'd say if you are looking for a video card, it's a no-brainer because you could just buy it, get the rebate, then resell it in like-new condition.

 

[Pijoto]

Currently waiting for the 7750 to crack the $80 range, whether it be through rebates or what not. I need a single slotter, since I'm using a mini-ATX board and have a TV-Tuner card installed, so can't use a double slot card (also, reduced temps and wattage of the 7750 would be nice for the summer, because I don't want to use A/C that much). As long as my ancient Radeon 4650 can still play the games I'm interested in at 720p settings, I'm willing to be patient, but it's increasingly running out...

 

[Madmick]

I went with the 7750 last night. Thanks to everyone for their input. I guess if I decide to bump to the 6850/6870, I'll sell this 7750 to my little brother or my friend.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

I went with the 7750 last night. Thanks to everyone for their input. I guess if I decide to bump to the 6850/6870, I'll sell this 7750 to my little brother or my friend.

Which model you end up going with?

 

[Madmick]

Which model you end up going with?

The HIS. I found a comparison of HIS to Sapphire on Pure Overclock:
PureOC: HIS 7750 Testing Protocol
PureOC: Sapphire 7750 Ultimate Testing Protocol

As you can see, the HIS outperformed the Sapphire by a very slight increment across the board. It usually maxed at +1-3 FPS over the Sapphire.