We got this photo in from reader Ryan, who found a small cache of NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX cards at Best Buy, each priced at $360 for 512MB versions. Can they just release these things already?
Believe me, it will be a lot cheaper on newegg etc... Here in Australia one I.T. store is selling 9800gtx's for $399 AUD, thats $363 USD so there's at least $20-30 to go down over there
If you look at the reflection in the package, the person who took the picture is wearing a blue shirt with a yellow logo on it. This when coupled with the posting which references BestBuy would lead one to assume the photo was taken on premisis, perhaps in the stock room, and not at the photographers home.
It only has a 256Mb memory bus, unlike the 8800 GTX which has a 384Mb bus. It makes anything more than 512mb useless. This is easy to see in the 1GB 8800 GT's that are available, they provide no performance increase over 512mb even at high resolutions do to the limitation of the bus speed.
More than 512MB of RAM is useless for these generation cards. Current GPUs can't process fast enough to make use of all that space, so even if it is filling up, thats what it is meant to do.
Also, Benjamin, the amount of video RAM is different from the memory bus- which you're talking about. The 9800GTX has a lower bit bus in comparison to the 8800GTX, but it doesn't really matter. 384 bits was overkill on the 8800GTX as it couldn't take full advantage in it. No matter what though, the end product- the 9800GTX- is faster than the 8800GTX, and can make full use of that 512MB of video RAM.
Going on, the main reason to have more RAM is for higher resolution games and such, where large textures and models have to be loaded at once. The higher the resolution, the more memory it will take, no matter what the bandwidth.
I don't see why there's any doubt about this. It's on the NVidia website, and they tend to follow products closely -- as in, the wonderful 9600GT is already out. Consumers FTW.
@bamboo Online is not always cheaper right when new product comes out. If you can find them in a store the products almost will always at MSRP. The same can not be said for e-tailers, newegg included, when the latest graphics card rolls on through. I picked up a BFG 8800GT 512MB from Best Buy software after launch for just under $200 because of a 20% of sale on ALL BFG cards right when those cards came out and $40 in Best Buy reward points. At the same time newegg was selling almost all of the 8800GTs at or above MSRP, but you had a better chance of catching one in stock. Short story long, it still pays to shop around regular retailers as well as online.
I think its just an empoyee showing that they got it in, and it will be out tomorrow more likely than not... looks to be in a break room/ office of some sort..
You are right about the employee at work because when you look around him lots of hardware for pc's, this means it's a tech room where they install/fix/customize customer Pc's.
That'd be pretty sweet if it did come out tomorrow. I've been wanting to build a PC and I thought to myself "eh, should hold out for the 9800 since it's supposed to be right around the corner."
Then I saw today that the 9900 is rumored to come out in July (TweakTown) and then this post crops up.
If Bestbuy is any indication of prices (assuming this isn't an April Fool's joke), couldn't you snag this online for under $300? I mean they still have 8800GTXs on their site that run for $500+ and $940.
Now all we need are more comprehensive benchmarks. If this really does drop tomorrow, I bet they'll be out by the end of the week.
They are already in stock over here in Europe, was also quite surprised to see them go for ~270EUR, the GX2s are around 550EUR. Well if you want them, go for it :), never saw a GTX card this cheap tbh, but some say they are just OCed 8800GTS, which would explain a lot hehe :).
This isn't an April Fools joke. They are actually out now in Australia...you can get it for $400AU which is cheap...that's how much I bought my 8800GT for.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
someone @ Mar 31st 2008 10:31PM
APRIL FOOLS!
Flashpoint @ Mar 31st 2008 10:53PM
I'll assume this can play Crysis... but, even if it can't I'd buy it just for the packaging.
Bigsby @ Mar 31st 2008 10:36PM
It's still not april fools for some of us. Can't you leave some fun for when we get here?
KEROLiUKAS @ Mar 31st 2008 10:45PM
LOL pushing them april fools ain't ya?
KangMin @ Mar 31st 2008 10:47PM
go to http://www.magic-micro.com/smoreinfo.asp?iid=2001
and on the PCI-Express Video cards section, scroll all the way down.
lawl.
Peter @ Mar 31st 2008 10:57PM
There's nothing there
The Angry Intern @ Apr 1st 2008 12:56AM
yeah, all I see is the 9800 GX2
shawn.zenz @ Mar 31st 2008 10:48PM
$360 is a steal
Ubercharged @ Apr 1st 2008 12:01AM
Yeah which makes me doubt it because best buy doesn't sell decent video cards for under 400
Lance @ Apr 1st 2008 4:15AM
Believe me, it will be a lot cheaper on newegg etc...
Here in Australia one I.T. store is selling 9800gtx's for $399 AUD, thats $363 USD so there's at least $20-30 to go down over there
rhcpsfan @ Mar 31st 2008 10:53PM
this product has slipped out so many times you'd think this were microsoft we were dealing with.
Jonny @ Mar 31st 2008 10:51PM
I'm kinda doubting this.
Looking at the picture, it looks like they have it at their house.
And Best Buy wont let you take the security device home with you. o.o'
mabang7 @ Mar 31st 2008 10:59PM
Looks like an office to me
Mike @ Mar 31st 2008 11:02PM
If you look at the reflection in the package, the person who took the picture is wearing a blue shirt with a yellow logo on it. This when coupled with the posting which references BestBuy would lead one to assume the photo was taken on premisis, perhaps in the stock room, and not at the photographers home.
Jonny @ Mar 31st 2008 11:06PM
Good point sir.
Didnt see the reflection at first.
They have fancier stock rooms/offices/w/e then my old store did. D;
tweak @ Apr 1st 2008 2:41AM
Orange counter tops are usually by the geek squad desk...
Limp Man @ Mar 31st 2008 10:55PM
here in hong kong they already released.
here is a online price tag.
http://www.jumbo-computer.com/pricelist.asp?ProductTypeCode=VGA
Smacksmackums @ Mar 31st 2008 10:55PM
Not as 'spensive as I thought it would be. Only 512mb ram though, where are the big 'uns?
Benjamin @ Mar 31st 2008 11:03PM
It only has a 256Mb memory bus, unlike the 8800 GTX which has a 384Mb bus. It makes anything more than 512mb useless. This is easy to see in the 1GB 8800 GT's that are available, they provide no performance increase over 512mb even at high resolutions do to the limitation of the bus speed.
Abuzar @ Mar 31st 2008 11:12PM
Benjamin, try playing even QUAKE 4 at the HIGHEST settings and turn up the textures all the way. That VRAM fills up pretty fast.
Zeus.:God @ Apr 1st 2008 10:17AM
More than 512MB of RAM is useless for these generation cards. Current GPUs can't process fast enough to make use of all that space, so even if it is filling up, thats what it is meant to do.
Also, Benjamin, the amount of video RAM is different from the memory bus- which you're talking about. The 9800GTX has a lower bit bus in comparison to the 8800GTX, but it doesn't really matter. 384 bits was overkill on the 8800GTX as it couldn't take full advantage in it. No matter what though, the end product- the 9800GTX- is faster than the 8800GTX, and can make full use of that 512MB of video RAM.
Going on, the main reason to have more RAM is for higher resolution games and such, where large textures and models have to be loaded at once. The higher the resolution, the more memory it will take, no matter what the bandwidth.
CowboyGA @ Mar 31st 2008 10:59PM
I don't see why there's any doubt about this. It's on the NVidia website, and they tend to follow products closely -- as in, the wonderful 9600GT is already out. Consumers FTW.
bamboo @ Mar 31st 2008 11:56PM
Um, you need to check your numbers man.
The 8800GTX has 768MB.
The stupidest thing of all is that they have already said the 9900GTX and X2 should be out around July or so.
http://en.expreview.com/2008/03/31/gt200-to-become-9900gtx-and-9900gx2-launch-date-set-to-july/
And that is not an amazing price. Reports are that the msrp is $350 or so. Newegg will have them cheaper than BestBuy as always.
bamboo @ Apr 1st 2008 12:00AM
Edit:
Its late, missed the part about the mem bus, thought were talking strait up ram.
Still just an overclocked 8800GTS G92 regardless.
Save your money till this summer when teh 9900s come out and ATI shows the 4000 series. Looking forward to what the 4870 X2 can do
shawn.zenz @ Apr 1st 2008 12:54AM
if you are always waiting for the next version before you buy (i.e 9900), stop following technology.
if you don't own it, you can't enjoy it.
kal326 @ Apr 1st 2008 12:54AM
@bamboo
Online is not always cheaper right when new product comes out. If you can find them in a store the products almost will always at MSRP. The same can not be said for e-tailers, newegg included, when the latest graphics card rolls on through. I picked up a BFG 8800GT 512MB from Best Buy software after launch for just under $200 because of a 20% of sale on ALL BFG cards right when those cards came out and $40 in Best Buy reward points. At the same time newegg was selling almost all of the 8800GTs at or above MSRP, but you had a better chance of catching one in stock. Short story long, it still pays to shop around regular retailers as well as online.
tweak @ Mar 31st 2008 11:03PM
Someone's got a silver name tag...
Dook_In_The_Urinal @ Mar 31st 2008 11:35PM
Figure that out all by yourself, didja?
tweak @ Apr 1st 2008 2:40AM
I used to work there and the silver name tag people always acted a bit...superior.
bluSOUL @ Mar 31st 2008 11:11PM
I think its just an empoyee showing that they got it in, and it will be out tomorrow more likely than not... looks to be in a break room/ office of some sort..
Abuzar @ Mar 31st 2008 11:24PM
Considering it's a brand new card, that's a pretty reasonable price.
sejad @ Apr 1st 2008 12:30AM
You are right about the employee at work because when you look around him lots of hardware for pc's, this means it's a tech room where they install/fix/customize customer Pc's.
Ryan @ Mar 31st 2008 11:34PM
Its not in the stock room, just at a desk. Still in the store, and i am an employee. I was pretty surprised when i saw it, but we had 4 hangin out.
KEROLiUKAS @ Mar 31st 2008 11:37PM
That's weird, shouldn't they be like in the back and not for sale yet?
Ryan @ Apr 1st 2008 12:51AM
You'd think so, but i dunno, ive stopped asking questions.
Rienholt @ Apr 1st 2008 1:41AM
Never ask question about what Best Buy does. My store sold several 9600s over a week before the release date.
majortom @ Mar 31st 2008 11:49PM
wonder if the same guys that put the nav system in the Civic will be doing the install?
Ryan @ Apr 1st 2008 12:51AM
that was CC
The Angry Intern @ Apr 1st 2008 1:07AM
LOL! good one!
tuaamin13 @ Mar 31st 2008 11:49PM
That'd be pretty sweet if it did come out tomorrow. I've been wanting to build a PC and I thought to myself "eh, should hold out for the 9800 since it's supposed to be right around the corner."
Then I saw today that the 9900 is rumored to come out in July (TweakTown) and then this post crops up.
If Bestbuy is any indication of prices (assuming this isn't an April Fool's joke), couldn't you snag this online for under $300? I mean they still have 8800GTXs on their site that run for $500+ and $940.
Now all we need are more comprehensive benchmarks. If this really does drop tomorrow, I bet they'll be out by the end of the week.
Scruge @ Apr 1st 2008 12:28AM
you mean tomorrow afternoon haha
tomhennessey @ Apr 1st 2008 12:17AM
Well they're supposed to come out April 1st...
FTY @ Apr 1st 2008 12:35AM
They are already in stock over here in Europe, was also quite surprised to see them go for ~270EUR, the GX2s are around 550EUR. Well if you want them, go for it :), never saw a GTX card this cheap tbh, but some say they are just OCed 8800GTS, which would explain a lot hehe :).
The Angry Intern @ Apr 1st 2008 12:50AM
what bloody Best Buy carries high end stuff like this? the ones by my house all have the crappy low to mid range video card.
Ryan @ Apr 1st 2008 12:53AM
The best part, its in iowa, we have essentially no gaming customers.
Hooterman @ Apr 1st 2008 1:19PM
@ Ryan
What store in Iowa do you work at?
antiver @ Apr 1st 2008 1:11PM
If this is an April Fools joke, its pretty well staged.
http://www.bfgtech.com/product.aspx?category=graphics%20cards BFG doesn't specifically list a 9800 *GTX* on their site though..?
Booyah @ Apr 1st 2008 4:31AM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143129
Newegg.com now has this card in stock... $329.00
Armoured @ Apr 1st 2008 4:52AM
This isn't an April Fools joke. They are actually out now in Australia...you can get it for $400AU which is cheap...that's how much I bought my 8800GT for.
http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=9800gtx
psychosnake @ Apr 1st 2008 6:55AM
http://www.videopro.com.sg/products/index.php?cPath=57&osCsid=grktb05qfnv5mofvgag0qqrsr4