Why are the 9800 Pro's getting *so* cheap?

[Chip]

I have just an advert for the Sapphire 9800 Pro 128MB for £135+VAT here in
the UK. That's just unbelievable. At that price I am tempted to even
replace my trusty 9700 Pro!

Long may this downward price spiral continue

Chip

 

[Chip]

I have just an advert for the Sapphire 9800 Pro 128MB for £135+VAT here in
the UK. That's just unbelievable. At that price I am tempted to even
replace my trusty 9700 Pro!

Long may this downward price spiral continue

Chip

BTW, this is for the *full retail version*! Its from
www.overclockers.co.uk, if you are interested.

 

[Doughnut]

I see them at the same price at Komplett
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?sku=122901&cks=PRL but it says "Lite"
what ever that means.


doughnut

 

[Kai Robinson]

If you get one - sell me your 9700

Kai

 

[Dirk Dreidoppel]

I have just an advert for the Sapphire 9800 Pro 128MB for £135+VAT here
in
Well, there's the XT above the Pro meanwhile, and Ati are probably also
already preparing for the R420. Once that one is out, the next massive price
drop can be expected. This time probably for the XT.

BTW, this is for the *full retail version*! Its from
www.overclockers.co.uk, if you are interested.

OCUK are great. Almost my whole system is from them. At the time I built it,
my mainboard wasn't even available in germany yet.

 

[david bazley]

Forgive me for not being an expert, but are there several different Sapphire
9800 pro cards at varying prices?
Or are we definitely talking about the ATI R9800 PRO 128M DDR AGP VGA/TVO/ ?
Then if so this price is almost half what I have been recently quoted, which
would definitely get me excited.

Baz

 

[david bazley]

I now think I was being quoted for the PRO ULTIMATE which is described as
Fanless, but otherwise its spec looks the same. This is priced at £263 on
the OCUK website. Would you really pay another £119 just to be without a
fan, or have I missed something?

Baz

 

[Chip]

Forgive me for not being an expert, but are there several different Sapphire
9800 pro cards at varying prices?
Or are we definitely talking about the ATI R9800 PRO 128M DDR AGP VGA/TVO/ ?
Then if so this price is almost half what I have been recently quoted, which
would definitely get me excited.

Nope. Its the same card.

Chip.

 

[Chip]

VGA/TVO/

Nope. Its the same card.

Chip.

I should add, when I bought my 9700 Pro, I didn't jump in straight away -
they were £400 at launch. I waited and waited and finally bought for £250,
which was a very good deal. This is £100 less than I paid for a cheap 9700
Pro!!!!!! Its a ridiculous price!

Chip.

 

[Chip]

I now think I was being quoted for the PRO ULTIMATE which is described as
Fanless, but otherwise its spec looks the same. This is priced at £263 on
the OCUK website. Would you really pay another £119 just to be without a
fan, or have I missed something?

No, you'd be completely mad. Especially when you can fit an Arctic Cooling
VGA Silencer:

http://tinyurl.com/f1zn

for only £10. The VGA Silencer is a superb product: its completely
inaudible in silent mode and will probably let you clock your 9800 Pro up to
around 430MHz.

So for £168 (158+10), you have a graphics card that will outperform any
stock 9800 XT. Crazy

Chip.

 

[david bazley]

Thanks Chip and OK I will take your advice. I think all this has something
to do with a guy called Moore who 25 years or so ago said that computer
power would double and price halve every 18 months. Well he was roughly
right.

Baz

 

[Andrew Marks]

I'm tempted to upgrade my 9700 (non pro) at this price.

Does anyone want to buy my old card and if so how much would you pay? If I
can sell it I may consider upgrading.

 

[Wayne Youngman]

I see them at the same price at Komplett
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?sku=122901&cks=PRL but it says "Lite"
what ever that means.

Hi,
according to Sapphire Tech both the 9800Pro Retail and the 9800Pro Lite are
exactly the same card, but with different bundles. The LITE is more an OEM
version without the game bundles etc

You can look here:

http://www.sapphiretech.com/vga/products.asp

Full Retail Product List Matrix
http://www.sapphiretech.com/product-matrix/full_retail.xls

Lite Retail Product List Matrix
http://www.sapphiretech.com/product-matrix/bulk-lite-retail.xls

Obviously they are making way for new PCI-X based cards, motherboards etc!

 

[Dark Avenger]

I have just an advert for the Sapphire 9800 Pro 128MB for £135+VAT here in
the UK. That's just unbelievable. At that price I am tempted to even
replace my trusty 9700 Pro!

Long may this downward price spiral continue

Chip

Not much longer anymore, if it goes down more it gets in the way of
the 9600XT, why it goes down.. the new graphic chips are coming out
and they are supposed to be 2x-3x times faster on certain operations.
We shall see....

 

[Kai Robinson]

Hmm.....£100?

Kai

I'm tempted to upgrade my 9700 (non pro) at this price.

Does anyone want to buy my old card and if so how much would you pay? If I
can sell it I may consider upgrading.

 

[Andrew Marks]

Really? Hmmm... I will have to consider this then.

How would you be able to pay?

 

[Kai Robinson]

Either Paypal - personal cheque or cash.....however - i'll 'ave to run it by
'her indoors'

Kai

 

[DaveW]

The ATI 420 series of cards is due out shortly. You'd be buying old
technology.

 

[Rick]

I'd be tickled pink if I had the money to replace my 7500 with a 9700 Pro
let alone a 9800 Pro!

 

[Darthy]

I have just an advert for the Sapphire 9800 Pro 128MB for £135+VAT here in
the UK. That's just unbelievable. At that price I am tempted to even
replace my trusty 9700 Pro!

Long may this downward price spiral continue

Until they are out of stock...

New ATI cards coming out soon... the 9800Performance cards are
becoming the LOW end...