When are we going to see the mid-range, budget/performance 7800 series cards out? I've been waiting for seven weeks since the introduction of the 7800 series and it'd sure be nice to get 6800GT/U speed at the $175-$200 price point.
In my scenario, nvidia makes no additional money from me because my current rig is more than powerful enough for my needs, but I happened upon a good deal from a friend on one of those AMD Tech Tour bundles, so I've got a cpu+mobo waiting... on the above video card to be released!
Any info or approximations would be super, duper helpful, Kris. Thanks.
I've mentioned this on the 7800GT article comments. Basically, it's difficult to imagine a scenario where a "budget" (actually mid-range) 7800 chip would really be useful. You want a 16 pipeline 7800? You've already got most of that with the 6800GT. The price cuts on 6800GT are designed to reflect this fact.
The main point people raise in support of a lower cost 7800 part is that they want 110nm technology (cooler running and higher clock speeds) with the performance of the 6800GT. While that is possible, there's a lot of 130nm production capacity that can still be used, and 130nm is mature and the designs are already tested and validated.
The big problem with a lower 7800 part competing with the 6800GT is that it would then kill off the 6800 series. While some people might like that, provided they can just get their "7800LE" for $225 or less, there are a whole bunch of 6800GT users that are still thinking about going to SLI that would be very unhappy.
Bottom line: you want a great card for under $200, you've got several choices. X700Pro for $100 is half what that card cost at launch. 6600GT for $140 is another reasonable option, and 6800 ("vanilla") for $200 is yet another reasonable choice. The fundamental technology in G70 is the same as NV4x, with the only difference being the ability of G70 pipelines to do two MADD (multiply-add) operations per clock per pipeline. If a G70 part that cost the same and performed the same as the 6800GT were released, would it really be much better than a 6800GT? I don't think so.
Hey, I can't get to zipzoomfly--currently unavailable. It isn't usual for a big e-com site to be down for hours. Is it just me? Obviously, I can get to anandtech.
quote: Unfortunately for AGP holders, this card is only available in PCIe form for at least several more weeks. People should really think about making the transition to a PCIe graphics slot if they're in the market for a new high-end/extreme card right now, since AGP (for all practical purposes) is dying quickly.
So does anand have a dirty little secret? Is nvidia going to give us a pleasant surprise?
What about the Super Ultra High End Graphics Series and the Super Ultra High End EXTREME cards? Those of us that have 3-4K to spend on a video card need some love too...
I just got my 6600 last year and it seems like its about to fall into the "low end" soon. It works for me...I'll save my money for travel and food thanks...I can play a game like HL2 and have it look really good (not INSANE like was posted above). Besides, isn't INSANE something to be avoided???
I understand, dude. It's ok. I have the X800/256 for $170 AMIR + shipping and I have video envy too, but... it beats my Ti4200 all to heck. Perhaps we can form a support group. Sob
Seems like the X800XTs are the bargains, for the moment, if you are looking for a high end AGP card. ZipZoomFly was selling an OEM version for $220, which I think makes them the better choice than an equivalently priced X800XL, unless I'm missing something about how these two cards compare. The prices on the AGP X800XT PE also seem to have taken a free fall dive; ZipZoomFly was selling the MSI model for around $250. Unfortunately, I see that both these items are now out of stock, but perhaps this reflects a trend in pricing for these components.
Anyway, I'd do some pricing search engine research on the X800XT and X800XT PE, before I made up my mind that I was going to buy a 6800GT or X800XL AGP card.
I live in Dubai - UAE, and here, the h/w vendors give us the shaft by charging almost double the rates you get in the US! im not too keen on paying $800 farking dollars for a VGA card dammit!
so can anyone in the know , help a fellow AT'er out?
With the recent 6800GT AGP price drops cause of 7800GT coming out x800xl is no longer $100 or significantly cheaper than 6800GT. Theres still alot of x800xl at $270 on that pricewatch.
So where does my Gainword nVidia 5700 FX land?? Yea I need to update. I wish I had the money. I use it for Doom 3 and GTA San Andreas these days and it works. Not INSANE graphics but nice.
I'm waiting until the end of the year for the 6 series cards to be way cheap. After all, the 6 series card and the ATI X800 series are the last of the powerful AGPs.
It's funny, but when shopping for a new video card a couple weeks ago so many people swore the 6600GT pwned the X800. I'm convinced now my choice for the X800 was the better of the two.
See change in subject. (nt) means "no text" if you didn't know. Basically, Kris is wanting to know if you assume the prices will change, or if there's more to it than that.
FWIW, most of the articles posted on AT are written in advance and posted a couple days later. The purpose of the RTPE is to give the the prices available now, not at the time of writing. As a few others have pointed out, there have been some changes in price over the past couple week that make a few recommendations really nice. X800XT AGP for example is cheaper than X800XL - almost at X800 prices ($220 right now).
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ChronoReverse - Thursday, August 18, 2005 - link
This card is going at Newegg ato $129 with $4 shipping.Performance at stock is slightly below 6600GT. Mine unlocks fully and gives me slightly below 6800GT performance.
Methusela - Monday, August 15, 2005 - link
When are we going to see the mid-range, budget/performance 7800 series cards out? I've been waiting for seven weeks since the introduction of the 7800 series and it'd sure be nice to get 6800GT/U speed at the $175-$200 price point.In my scenario, nvidia makes no additional money from me because my current rig is more than powerful enough for my needs, but I happened upon a good deal from a friend on one of those AMD Tech Tour bundles, so I've got a cpu+mobo waiting... on the above video card to be released!
Any info or approximations would be super, duper helpful, Kris. Thanks.
JarredWalton - Monday, August 15, 2005 - link
I've mentioned this on the 7800GT article comments. Basically, it's difficult to imagine a scenario where a "budget" (actually mid-range) 7800 chip would really be useful. You want a 16 pipeline 7800? You've already got most of that with the 6800GT. The price cuts on 6800GT are designed to reflect this fact.The main point people raise in support of a lower cost 7800 part is that they want 110nm technology (cooler running and higher clock speeds) with the performance of the 6800GT. While that is possible, there's a lot of 130nm production capacity that can still be used, and 130nm is mature and the designs are already tested and validated.
The big problem with a lower 7800 part competing with the 6800GT is that it would then kill off the 6800 series. While some people might like that, provided they can just get their "7800LE" for $225 or less, there are a whole bunch of 6800GT users that are still thinking about going to SLI that would be very unhappy.
Bottom line: you want a great card for under $200, you've got several choices. X700Pro for $100 is half what that card cost at launch. 6600GT for $140 is another reasonable option, and 6800 ("vanilla") for $200 is yet another reasonable choice. The fundamental technology in G70 is the same as NV4x, with the only difference being the ability of G70 pipelines to do two MADD (multiply-add) operations per clock per pipeline. If a G70 part that cost the same and performed the same as the 6800GT were released, would it really be much better than a 6800GT? I don't think so.
[/My two cents.]
SkyDiver - Monday, August 15, 2005 - link
Hey, I can't get to zipzoomfly--currently unavailable. It isn't usual for a big e-com site to be down for hours. Is it just me? Obviously, I can get to anandtech.skindogg - Monday, August 15, 2005 - link
So does anand have a dirty little secret? Is nvidia going to give us a pleasant surprise?
KristopherKubicki - Monday, August 15, 2005 - link
Not really. It's the same as we have been saying all along; AGP takes longer to get to market and is kind of expensive on several different chipsets.Kristopher
Bonesdad - Sunday, August 14, 2005 - link
What about the Super Ultra High End Graphics Series and the Super Ultra High End EXTREME cards? Those of us that have 3-4K to spend on a video card need some love too...I just got my 6600 last year and it seems like its about to fall into the "low end" soon. It works for me...I'll save my money for travel and food thanks...I can play a game like HL2 and have it look really good (not INSANE like was posted above). Besides, isn't INSANE something to be avoided???
bupkus - Sunday, August 14, 2005 - link
I understand, dude. It's ok. I have the X800/256 for $170 AMIR + shipping and I have video envy too, but... it beats my Ti4200 all to heck. Perhaps we can form a support group. SobSpacecomber - Sunday, August 14, 2005 - link
Seems like the X800XTs are the bargains, for the moment, if you are looking for a high end AGP card. ZipZoomFly was selling an OEM version for $220, which I think makes them the better choice than an equivalently priced X800XL, unless I'm missing something about how these two cards compare. The prices on the AGP X800XT PE also seem to have taken a free fall dive; ZipZoomFly was selling the MSI model for around $250. Unfortunately, I see that both these items are now out of stock, but perhaps this reflects a trend in pricing for these components.Anyway, I'd do some pricing search engine research on the X800XT and X800XT PE, before I made up my mind that I was going to buy a 6800GT or X800XL AGP card.
Space
at80eighty - Sunday, August 14, 2005 - link
Do these vendors have international shipping?I live in Dubai - UAE, and here, the h/w vendors give us the shaft by charging almost double the rates you get in the US! im not too keen on paying $800 farking dollars for a VGA card dammit!
so can anyone in the know , help a fellow AT'er out?
thanks in advance!
patrick0 - Monday, August 15, 2005 - link
Maybe you want to check out:www.alternate.de
www.alternate.es
They do send internationally (prices in Euro)
at80eighty - Thursday, August 18, 2005 - link
thanks mate!Hacp - Sunday, August 14, 2005 - link
AGP 6800GTs have always been around the 280 range....neogodless - Sunday, August 14, 2005 - link
What do you mean by "always"? I bought mine about a year ago, and the cheapest I could find for a Dual DVI 256MB AGP 6800GT was around $375.DrZoidberg - Sunday, August 14, 2005 - link
With the recent 6800GT AGP price drops cause of 7800GT coming out x800xl is no longer $100 or significantly cheaper than 6800GT. Theres still alot of x800xl at $270 on that pricewatch.ASUS GeForce 6800GT 128MB - $269
Albatron GeForce 6800GT 256MB - @269
kristof007 - Sunday, August 14, 2005 - link
So where does my Gainword nVidia 5700 FX land?? Yea I need to update. I wish I had the money. I use it for Doom 3 and GTA San Andreas these days and it works. Not INSANE graphics but nice.RMSistight - Sunday, August 14, 2005 - link
I'm waiting until the end of the year for the 6 series cards to be way cheap. After all, the 6 series card and the ATI X800 series are the last of the powerful AGPs.coomar - Sunday, August 14, 2005 - link
with expected price drops on cards soon, seems weird to do a price guidebupkus - Sunday, August 14, 2005 - link
It's funny, but when shopping for a new video card a couple weeks ago so many people swore the 6600GT pwned the X800. I'm convinced now my choice for the X800 was the better of the two.KristopherKubicki - Sunday, August 14, 2005 - link
(nt)bob661 - Sunday, August 14, 2005 - link
What's this mean?
JarredWalton - Sunday, August 14, 2005 - link
See change in subject. (nt) means "no text" if you didn't know. Basically, Kris is wanting to know if you assume the prices will change, or if there's more to it than that.FWIW, most of the articles posted on AT are written in advance and posted a couple days later. The purpose of the RTPE is to give the the prices available now, not at the time of writing. As a few others have pointed out, there have been some changes in price over the past couple week that make a few recommendations really nice. X800XT AGP for example is cheaper than X800XL - almost at X800 prices ($220 right now).
bob661 - Monday, August 15, 2005 - link
Wow! That would be an excellent buy for an AGP user.