When should I expect prices to fall?

[Loobusk]

With the recent release of the GTX7800 line of cards and all, around when do you expect prices to fall on cards like the X800XL? I've been contemplating to upgrade from a 128mb 9800 pro to an 800XL, for BF2 and games which require lots of v-ram. If a price cut is right around the corner, I'd rather wait. Can anyone spare some insight on how this generally works?

 

[SynthDude2001]

The simple (and most truthful) answer is, we don't know.

Any price drops on the ATI side likely wouldn't come until after the R520's are out, and that's not supposed to be for another month. Also, the prices of old cards generally don't drop instantly after the new stuff is available, it takes a while. I remember 9800XT's still going for >$300 a year ago...

 

[SNM]

Not to mention prices on many cards have already fallen.
Newegg has most of their 6600GT cards for ~165 now, whereas two months ago they were 190+.

 

[AndyD2k]

Considering the msrp on the card is higher than current gen cards, I wouldn't expect it to happen any time soon.

 

[HDTVMan]

ATI has to do a massive price drop as they are both behind in SLI and Next Gen video card releases. I cant imagine demand is even medium in the ATI camp right now.

Even releasing the 850 for SLI seems a waste now.

And do any of the current ATI cards do SmartShader 3.0 yet?

I guess ATI is relying too heavily on Xbox 360 profits. Even then they only get a small cut.