Someone Explain This To Me

CommunistWithAGun

<div class="IPBDescription">Why video cards priced so differently</div> <a href='http://www.ati.com/buy/promotions/r360/index.html' target='_blank'>Click me.</a> and see what I mean. Whats the exact difference between the cheap, realistic buy for me, 199 dollar card from a whopping used car priced card.

Zel

180 dollar card is good.

500 dollar card is 33% better than good, its expensive because it is new technology, itll get cehaper when they come out with even better stuff.

in my book a double price tag for 25 to 40% better performance just isnt worth it. to some people, perfect performance in hl2 is worth 500$

DOOManiac

Basically, the more money it costs, the more FPS you get. Yeah, that's about it.

As far as I know the 9600 feature set (DX9 stuffs) is the exact same as the 9700/9800, but someone please do correct me if I'm wrong.

9600 would be the better bang for your buck deal, the 9800 is just for people who absolutely must have the absolute fastest thing of the moment.

Javert

Supply and demand. Admittedly, everyone wants an ATI 9800 Pro for example. But ATI would be sold out like that, angering many people (shareholders included) and plus, the technology and skills required to manufacture each card costs ATI a good deal.
It took them a while to develop the blueprint of the card, so they'll milk it for all its worth.
Plus, high price is also often a sign of 733tne55. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->

CForrester

<!--QuoteBegin--Javert+Oct 1 2003, 02:30 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Javert @ Oct 1 2003, 02:30 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Plus, high price is also often a sign of 733tne55. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
At least you said "often" and not "always". If you said "always", I would buy one of the first-type GeForce FXs and bash you over the head. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->

Creepie

I think the rule of thumb is if you want decent gfx but don't want to spend huge amounts of cash, buy one or two steps below the best. And do your homework too. For example, the 9600 Pro looks a solid buy at the moment.

Emsee

It's the same with alot of things in pc components. Take processers for example.
P4 800FSB
2.6GHz £180 $300
2.8GHz £214 $355
3.0GHz £335 (!) $560
3.2GHz £500 (!!!!) $830

Between the 2.8 and 3.2 your paying 105% more for 15% extra performance

The very high end tech is always almost double the price of the one just one step down then it kinda levels off.
It's obviously just for crazy rich people with nothing better to do with their money. The 3.2 will be down to about £300 in a month or two though.

Hellbilly

Basically, if you can't afford the best, (9800pro) get what you can afford and is most bang for the buck. (9600pro)

<!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->

UltimaGecko

I have a 128mb ATI Radeon 9200 (I'm all poor and stuff...), seems okay with Half-Life...So did my 8mb ATI Rage Pro Turbo <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> . I'm not sure if it's DX 9 tuned or something. It seems to be running dx9 through dxdiag though.

You guys think I'll be okay with it (need more RAM too...but don't my bus speed)?


Sortof on topic: If you're rich buy both...if you're sorta rich, buy the expensive one. If you're middle income (or can afford it) go with the most efficient price....If you're me, buy a compaq with a 9200, a card I like to think ATI forgot about, since you have to dig on their site to find anything about it <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->.

GWAR

<!--QuoteBegin--UltimaGecko+Oct 1 2003, 08:01 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (UltimaGecko @ Oct 1 2003, 08:01 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I have a 128mb ATI Radeon 9200 (I'm all poor and stuff...), seems okay with Half-Life...So did my 8mb ATI Rage Pro Turbo <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I have one of those around somewhere <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->

Majin

Cards with Direct X 9.0 are ment for very powerful computers with XP anything not like that isn't going to be able get the most of of the card!

TheGlow

Everythings cost is on a curve.
Top of the line is always too expensive.
Look at me, im on a geforce2 gts, I think 32mb. was $300 when it came out, got it off my friend for 200
because he had no agp slot and store wouldnt take it back.
Pricewatch now values it at $35. we can safely say, this card is NOT top of the line.
On my amd 1.33ghz, 128mb sdram comp, I get 65-70fps at 1024x768. Always, even in combat.
Ill prolly have some trouble with hl2, but hot damn this card is being worked like a mule.