9800XT available for purchase at ati.com

[SaltyCrackers]

On ATI's homepage, you are able to buy the 9800xt 256mb...there is also a graphic of the ATi-made board in its box (looks like the 9800box, but w/ flames in background). want the 128mb version, and I don't want to wait for it to come in the mail. Since ati is selling it on their site, I guess it will be available at retail very soon.

http://www.ati.com

Oh, one other thing that is kind of off topic: will HL2 make use of the 256mb cards? I plan on upgrading graphics cards every year, so I'd think buying a 128mb of the xt is the smarter choice, since no games now use 256mb memory...

 

[rootbin]

in the words of gabe: "we are in no way limited by graphical memory."

edit:

but oh, to have $500.

 

[SidewinderX]

initally, hl2 won't take advantage of 256mb cards, but Gbe said that they'd be releasing contnent later (textures, etc) that would take afdvantage of those features.

 

[dawdler]

Maybe the expansion will feature really really really high resolution textures as an extra...

If one is upgrading every year, then the 128mb version is definetly the better buy. I think 128mb will stick around a while, they will optimise speed instead of going insanly high resolutions... 256mb is overdoing it.

 

[Aknot]

I cant see why the "plain" 9800 256 for about $427 (price should drop....) should not be just as good.

 

[Cyber$nake]

the 9800 should be good...just not a fast i think