So, where is this huge stash of x1950XT's (not Pro's) that you keep telling us about? Does Newegg even have any in stock?
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Yes, Newegg and most of the online vendors have loads of the GECUBEs.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...39&name=Radeon+X1950XT
Many other mainstream vendors are carrying different makes of the X1950XT as well (still in stock and available for large bulk order)-
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obi...esults-process=default
Compare that with the availability of in stock 7900/7950GT/GTX.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr...Aaps%2Ck%3A7900&page=1
Many vendors have stocks of X1950XTs. There is still very little demand for these cards. Once the HD2900 Pro is selling in the $220 range, very few who would otherwise be considering a X1950XT would touch this card for over $150. As far as the HD 2900 Pro being a limited production, we'll have to see what ATI decides. Sales of this card will be strong in the right price range and ATI needs to build a customer base and reputation. Beating Nvidia in the $200 segment, an attractive price point for many gamers, goes a long way to fixing bad press. ATI/AMD can compete and have the funds to survive a slump, but they need to start fixing some of the PR damage now.
On the other hand, the 8600GT will continue to sell as the average gamer who dosen't know who Nvidia or ATI even are will usually be steered to that card by a friend or Best Buy employee.
As far as Black Friday not being good for vid cards, it will be luck and maybe some intense web searching to find a killer deal. I bought a 6800GT from a vendor on BF at about a 25% reduction under the lowest normal price watch listed a few years back. Most online vendors, including Newegg, drum up new customers through Black Friday and will often put some good discounts on attractive products such as vid cards, even if selling at a loss. Granted, it's a crap shoot and more then likely, one of the super clocked cards that I personally always go for, will not be discounted. You don't have to go to a retail store for some BF sales, online vendors do a limited inventory as well.
I personally love buying a high mid range card for $250 and holding on to it for two years. I am still going strong with a OCed 7900GT and a A64 3500 running at 2.8GHz, getting 90 FPS in Vanguard on high settings (1680 X 1050) while others with dual core high end systems with 8800GTSs are getting a slide show because they don't know how to tweak their system. For me, it's not about that last few FPS over 100, it's all about building a system for $400 and smoking the guy who just bought a $3000 alien ware l33t machine from Best Buy.
As far as I am concerned, DX10 is a joke and a lie. For the next year it's going to be nothing more then a few added lighting effects that will make your first and second gen DX10 cards bleed. Nothing game play wise about DX10 has impressed me with any of the demos previewed.
The upcoming 9800 series excites me, 2X the performance of the 8800 series and less power draw, but only for DX9 applications. Most gamers could pick up a X1950XT or a 7900GT and sit out the 8800-9800 generation with little lost.
If I was buying right now and had a 6600GT or under, I'd be getting this as it is one of the best cost/performance deals right now (I do count mail in rebates when pricing as I have never had a problem with any company yet when following the rebate instructions to the tee)-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...o=2918356&sku=B52-7870
An over-clocked 7950GT is in the same league as a 8800GTS/HD 2900 XT in most DX9 games as well as near future DX10 games minus a few gimmikey effects. Future truely optimized DX10 titles will require a card a few more generations up.
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