ATI Radeon 9800XT/Half Life Bundle

[Edge]

I have been itching to buy a new video card for nearly a year now... I currently own a ti4600 which has served me well for over a year. However once the HL2 Video was released I decided I needed a new card soon! But my dilemna was I was fearing nVidia/ATI would release one more card before HL2 ships.

Everyone I spoke with said nah.."The 9800 Pro 256MB/5900 Ultra is new and they wouldn't release another card so soon." Regardless of what they have said I have waited... I came so close to buying the 9800 Pro 256 Ultimate for a whopping $550.00 dollars... well the price has dropped nearly one hundred dollars in the past month. Pricewatch.com has the card listed for $470.00.

So my question is how can ATI sell a next gen card(9800XT) and the most anticipated game of all time for $399.00?

Just an FYI. The mem size on the 9800XT was not specified. I think it must be a 128MB at that price.

Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB 380Mhz core, 680Mhz mem
Radeon 9800 Pro 256MB 380Mhz core, 700Mhz mem
9800XT 415 MHz core, and 730 MHz mem

source : http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=11547
source : http://www.ati.com/products/radeon9800/radeon9800pro/compare.html


What are your thoughts?

 

[Apos]

I dunno. I really want to see what the other specs on the XT are: it's memory bandwidth, it's OC'ing potential, etc. It's REALLY irritating to be basically waiting for HL2 to be definately coming out soon before buying a new system, and at the same time wanting to buy a highend graphics chip, but have the latest and greatest not coming out until weeks after HL2 ships.

 

[Gordon'sFreeman]

Thats a cheese load of money lol!

 

[Joneleth]

I'd just go with a 9800 Pro. I mean, this new card might not be that large of a "step up" in terms of performance. It's possible it could just be like the "ultra" (as in Geforce Ultra cards) series of the ATi cards.

We'll see, though.

 

[Edge]

Originally posted by Apos
I dunno. I really want to see what the other specs on the XT are: it's memory bandwidth, it's OC'ing potential, etc. It's REALLY irritating to be basically waiting for HL2 to be definately coming out soon before buying a new system, and at the same time wanting to buy a highend graphics chip, but have the latest and greatest not coming out until weeks after HL2 ships.

Yeah way back in the day I bought a Pentium 200 MMX the week it came out for $850.00... it was hyped as the most revolutionary.. blah blah needless to say the next week it was worth $450 and then a few weeks later $250.00.

So I am leary of buying PC related hardware the week it comes out. But $399 isn't much of an investment.. I mean comparatively
speaking :cheese:

I think I am so impatient if I happen to see it anywhere I will whip out the cash and run home

 

[Edge]

not to mention we all know the Pentium MMX was all hype! I got worked

 

[Hyped]

Edge, you've just described my situation exactly, even down to the card type. It's reassuring to know there's another poor soul still stuck with a crappy lower end nvidia.:cheese:

 

[Edge]

Originally posted by Hyped
Edge, you've just described my situation exactly, even down to the card type. It's reassuring to know there's another poor soul still stuck with a crappy lower end nvidia.:cheese:

You how many times I have stood in Fry's with a 9800 Pro in my hands... looking for a sign from any poor soul passing me by!! waiting for someone to smash the card out of my hands and scream.... get a grip MAN! hehe

I have even made it to the line before but then I think of the what ifs!

 

[brisck1]

Yeah im exactly the same on this! i've been waiting for them to say when its gone gold so i can finally go out and buy a New graphics card. If it does end up being delayed i dont want to buy the card now as the prices of these cards are droppin every week right now!
Come on valve just TELL US!!!

 

[Edge]

Originally posted by brisck1
Yeah im exactly the same on this! i've been waiting for them to say when its gone gold so i can finally go out and buy a New graphics card. If it does end up being delayed i dont want to buy the card now as the prices of these cards are droppin every week right now!
Come on valve just TELL US!!!

I have set aside well over $600 for the new card and Half-life 2 so the day I hear it is gold I am buying something. BUT! The 9800XT may not be in most retail markets until 3 weeks after the hl2 release..

I wonder how hl2 will play on a ti4600. Could I manage 3 weeks.. doubtful

 

[DrEvil]

ha! i have a geforce 2 gts from around 3 years ago. waiting to upgrade to a new card. but i believe the 256 MB version is a waste of money. spend that extra 100 on more ram or save it towards your next video card.

 

[Edge]

Originally posted by DrEvil
ha! i have a geforce 2 gts from around 3 years ago. waiting to upgrade to a new card. but i believe the 256 MB version is a waste of money. spend that extra 100 on more ram or save it towards your next video card.

I have the following system currently.

Gigabyte GA-SINXP1394
2x 512MB PC3200 DDR RAM
nVidia Geforce 4 ti4600 128MB
Creative Labs Audigy 2
Antec TruePower 550W Power Supply
Western Digital 36GB SATA 10,000RPM 8MB Buffer
Western Digital 120GB 7200RPM 8MB Buffer x2

I have run out of things to upgrade so the $100 bucks towards the card is not the concern... more of buying a card and then something "new" coming out within a matter of weeks.

 

[-Yo-]

maybe 400$ is just "the chip"
cause it sounds hard to have the really high end card for 400$

 

[Edge]

Originally posted by -Yo-
maybe 400$ is just "the chip"
cause it sounds hard to have the really high end card for 400$

What makes it even more perplexing is ATI paid Valve 8 million to be the card that bundles hl2!

So it would see they would be down some cash

 

[Edge]

some sources before I forget..

Valve Half Life 2 auction "reached $8 million"
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=11552

Half Life Two "put up for auction"
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=11419

Half Life Valve-ATI hoohah prompts Nvidia to feel a little pained
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=11515

 

[Edge]

Ok I see the thread was moved but with no explanation....

But yet all the delay threads remain.. nice work mods

 

[Maskirovka]

edge, just wait for the specs/reviews to come out on the XT before you buy anything.

and your ti4600 isn't "low end" it'll run hl2 fine in dx 8.1 mode

 

[Edge]

Originally posted by Edge


Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB 380Mhz core, 680Mhz mem
Radeon 9800 Pro 256MB 380Mhz core, 700Mhz mem
9800XT 415 MHz core, and 730 MHz mem

source : http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=11547
source : http://www.ati.com/products/radeon9800/radeon9800pro/compare.html

http://theinquirer.net/?article=11695

So the core changed from 415Mhz to 412Mhz. The $399.00 is for the 128MB Version.

I have decided I am not going to wait for the XT. I will buy a 9800 Pro 256.

 

[SubKamran]

MMMMMM, don't trust everything you read in TI. JUST wait 8 days more, c'mon, if I can do it, you can do it.

 

[Asus]

Originally posted by Edge
So my question is how can ATI sell a next gen card(9800XT) and the most anticipated game of all time for $399.00?

Well, it isnt a neg gen card...its just a speed bump. The next gen cards from ATI (Loki) and Nvidia (NV40) come after this Chirstmas...

If its said performance of 7000 in 3dmark2003 is true, then its a big one. Includes HL2 and can out do a 9800pro (which can do 60-70ish FPS in hl2)...thats gotta be good. Worth it if you cant wait til after Christmas

Only down side is if its only the SingleP version of HL2. Then you would have to upgrade to the MP version through Steam.

 

[nsxownzme]

I can overclock mine every bit, 450Mhz/780Mhz. Sounds like a huge waste of money.

 

[Maskirovka]

Originally posted by nsxownzme
I can overclock mine every bit, 450Mhz/780Mhz. Sounds like a huge waste of money.

agreed. especially since the 9800 pros will drop in price as soon as the XT comes out.