where to buy a video card

[BriGy86]

i could go to newegg.com to buy a video card and they have decent prices along with a very large selection

but lets say there is a retail store near you where you can get the same video card for cheaper,

is there a big difference between all the brands

like a 7800GT from one brand vs. another?

 

[CalvinHobbes]

They're pretty much all the same. There may be a difference in the bundled software or the cooler on the card. Sometimes they'll OC the card a little. Overall they usually use the reference design so they perform exactly the same.

If it's much cheaper than newegg at a local store I would check that carefully. You don't generally see a store have a better price than an online store.

 

[pontifex]

probably not a whole lot. for the average person, you probably won't notice the difference. if you care that you get a 15001 on your benchmarks instead of a 15000, then it might make a difference. some brands give you extras like games or software and some don't. usually you go by the price/support/extras though.

BFG and EVGA have lifetime warranties on their cards which is really nice.

 

[BriGy86]

another reason is, most of the cards online have a specific brand name like hightech, saphire, and what not

while most of the stores have only PNY, ATI and then a lot of other generic brands

im wondering if thats something to look out for too

 

[batmang]

well, lets say a 7800gt online is $349.99 + $5 to ship it from newegg.com, $354.99 shipped.
then you go to best buy and see a 7800gt on sale for $349.99 but now factor in the sales tax. thats about $24-$25 of tax. now its costing more like $375. its still cheaper to go with newegg.

also, ive never ever seen a video card at best buy or compusa be priced near stuff on newegg. the cheapest 7800gt ive seen at best buy is $399.99. evga's 7800gt from newegg is $319.

 

[Cheesetogo]

PNY and BFG are probably the most common brands to find in a store. BFG is excellent, although PNY's warranty is really bad. Could you tell us what brand the card at the store is?

 

[Lonyo]

Wait until Black Friday?

 

[IntelHydralisk]

Originally posted by: batmang
well, lets say a 7800gt online is $349.99 + $5 to ship it from newegg.com, $354.99 shipped.
then you go to best buy and see a 7800gt on sale for $349.99 but now factor in the sales tax. thats about $24-$25 of tax. now its costing more like $375. its still cheaper to go with newegg.

also, ive never ever seen a video card at best buy or compusa be priced near stuff on newegg. the cheapest 7800gt ive seen at best buy is $399.99. evga's 7800gt from newegg is $319.

It also depends where you live. I got shafted with a $34 sales tax on my 7800 gtx because I ordered from Cali.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

The Bricks and Mortar retail stores are a joke for video cards. I've seen slow, older cards sell for two-and-a-half times the price of what they can be had for new online from an online store and generally the prices are at least 50% higher or double the price of what they can be had for online. I think they're counting on people who know nothing about video cards and who don't shop around to pay outrageous prices for horrific video card values. Occassionally you'll see a halfway decent price now and then on select cards and possibly a deal on Black Friday, but that's it.

Now, hard drives are a different story. If you can get the rebates, then the best deals for hard drives are at B&M local stores.

 

[BriGy86]

Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
PNY and BFG are probably the most common brands to find in a store. BFG is excellent, although PNY's warranty is really bad. Could you tell us what brand the card at the store is?

well im just wondering in general, it seems that the stores carry different type of cards than what you find online, so if a store carries one you might not be able to find it on newegg, which makes it kind of hard to compare prices for what you get

BTW, i work at a retail store so i would be getting some sort of deal on it

ill try and find 2 examples and edit this post with them

edit-

here are the examples

compare this one

to these

what one(s) would be better? there are a lot of different brands, keeping in mind there would be some sort of employee discount

would there be a reason to buy online as far as card quality?

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: BriGy86

Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
PNY and BFG are probably the most common brands to find in a store. BFG is excellent, although PNY's warranty is really bad. Could you tell us what brand the card at the store is?

well im just wondering in general, it seems that the stores carry different type of cards than what you find online, so if a store carries one you might not be able to find it on newegg, which makes it kind of hard to compare prices for what you get

BTW, i work at a retail store so i would be getting some sort of deal on it

ill try and find 2 examples and edit this post with them

edit-

here are the examples

compare this one

to these

what one(s) would be better? there are a lot of different brands, keeping in mind there would be some sort of employee discount

would there be a reason to buy online as far as card quality?

BFG and EVGA cards are no brainers, they're the best cards out there, plus they have lifetime warranties. i'd go for that evga card, its the one i have. plus, $399 for the bfg at bestbuy vs. the evga for $319 at newegg.

unless you are getting a super discount on the bestbuy one and the total price with sales tax is less than the evga at newegg, then get that, but i highly doubt it.

 

[effee]

BFG Lifetime warranty rocks..That said, I always prefer stores to online distributors.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Actually the BFG at BestBuy ($399-50 rebate) is cheaper than at Newegg($369).

OP - you'll find the exact same brands online and in the stores. However, unless it's a super sale, you'll find a larger selection and lower prices online.