NVIDIA said to be dropping GeForce GTX 280 price in response to AMD

It only launched a few weeks ago, but it looks like NVIDIA could already be set to cut the price of its top-end GeForce GTX 280 graphics card -- a move that would be prompted, as you might have guessed, by AMD's cheaper but powerful Radeon HD 4800 series. According to HotHardware, that word comes from "multiple NVIDIA board partners," who say that the card could be dropping to as low as $499 (the same as AMD's competing card). One board partner reportedly added that the price "may be a little higher, or potentially even a little lower." Obviously, all of that is still up in the air until we hear from NVIDIA itself but, as HotHardware points out, it could certainly pay off to hold out a couple of weeks if you've been considering taking the plunge on one of these.

[pathogen @ Jul 3rd 2008 5:21PM]

I just put a 9800gtx in yesterday I think it'll be a gen or two till these hit a price point worthy of thier minor fps upgrade.

[Casper42 @ Jul 3rd 2008 7:43PM]

I tend to agree but for different reasons. The 260/280 are insanely large GPUs and at 65nm it seems like nVidia has jumped the shark here in an effort to play "me too".

I would gladly pickup a 270/290 if they were out right now. But I guess I will stick with my 8800GT until Sept or later when they do release them.

[DefPo3t @ Jul 3rd 2008 5:25PM]

Dear AMD

I Love You

Thnx,
The world

[Adoniteking @ Jul 3rd 2008 5:35PM]

Dear ATi,

We love you...for forcing good competition.

The Universe.

[nerdtalker @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:29PM]

Dear AMD,

Please follow suit and do the same thing with your CPU lineup to finally offer some competition to Intel's Core 2/Nehalem lineup. It's really killing ya, and I'd hate to see you go the way of other less fortunate CPU vendors.

For the longest time, we totally loved the FX 64 lineup's performance against Northwood and Prescott, but Phenom has us bummed and dissapointed.

Unveil something that does to Core 2 what the 4800 series did to the Nvidia graphics market. Please!

Sincerely,
Enthusiasts from everywhere

[OneLove @ Jul 3rd 2008 5:27PM]

pwned

[Charles @ Jul 3rd 2008 5:29PM]

Hahah oh god I love AMD. The things they do for consumers. It doesn't even matter if they do it on purpose, but their whole existence in the CPU and GPU industry has spurred innovation and lowered prices.

[initialxy @ Jul 3rd 2008 5:30PM]

whoever bought GTX 280 in the last couple of days must be pretty mad right now.

[kjb434 @ Jul 3rd 2008 5:44PM]

Will NVidia give out credit back to early adopters like a similar fruit based product?

NO!

And good thing. If you don't want to pay the highest price, don't buy it at the beginning.

[bjrcboy @ Jul 3rd 2008 5:47PM]

Or you know.. you can just return the card if you bought it recently enough.

[James @ Jul 3rd 2008 5:30PM]

I am very dumb and clueless when it comes to video cards. However, when I saw that picture, the only thing that came to my mind was "Sexy"

[Noir @ Jul 3rd 2008 5:42PM]

The question you gotta ask yourself

"Do you got the space? .. Do you?" [case reference]

[Mic2000 @ Jul 3rd 2008 5:53PM]

I Just picked up a chainsaw today, to make some space

[Jensen @ Jul 3rd 2008 5:47PM]

I will be getting a 4870 once it's been "tested" by a ton of users. The idea of competition is very important to me because it keeps innovation up and prices down for all of us.

[Kris S. @ Jul 3rd 2008 5:47PM]

That's great, but I'll be picking up at 4850 for my next build thanks to the excellent price/performance ratio.

[Timothy Sottek @ Jul 3rd 2008 5:49PM]

Man.

Hopefully this means the GTX 260 will be around $300!

[Ruben @ Jul 3rd 2008 6:50PM]

If it is that cheap, you would be a moron for not getting a 4870 instead.

And I have 2 GTX's in my case. I'm not speaking from bias. The 4870 did what it had to do. Change everything. And im glad.

[Timothy Sottek @ Jul 3rd 2008 7:18PM]

A moron?

What about at 2560x1600, which is my native resolution. Didn't think so.

I've seen the benchmarks. Don't pester me.

[Ruben @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:02PM]

Sorry, perhaps my wording was off, but i really didnt mean to call you a moron. I take that back.

But the 4870 and 260 trade blows when it comes to benchmarks, even at 2560x1600 (http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-4870-review--asus/10).

And considering I, in Canada, can get a 4870 for 279, i would say its one hell of a bargain.

Crysis is still broken with it on crossfire, though, and the energy usage is unacceptable. It still did fail in that regard.

Nvidia really has no choice but to drop the 260 to 299 or lower. Its under performing heavily at its current price, and in lieu of the 4870's performance numbers, it really looks bad at the price its at.

[schmitty338 @ Jul 3rd 2008 5:56PM]

Uhhhhh. . . "to as low as $499 (the same as AMD's competing card)"

...the fastest and most expensive ATI card (desktop card), the 4870, is set at only $299! not $499. This is what makes the 48x0 series soooo appealing.

[w00t @ Jul 3rd 2008 6:00PM]

The 4870 doesn't compare with this at all. This is a response to the 4870 x2 :)

[Dubb @ Jul 3rd 2008 6:06PM]

The article links to this:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/03/amd-radeon-hd-4870-x2-images-leaked-rumored-for-august-release/

Which is supposed to be $499 when it is released.

[Dubb @ Jul 3rd 2008 6:13PM]

If you go to the link in the text blurb:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/03/amd-radeon-hd-4870-x2-images-leaked-rumored-for-august-release/

It is comparing it to the price of that I think, which will be released at $499.

[allislost @ Jul 3rd 2008 6:20PM]

the 4870 X2 is the one that will be $499.

[schmitty338 @ Jul 3rd 2008 6:54PM]

Ahhh...makes sense, it just seems like they were referring to the fastest ATI/AMD card out ATM....

[The Purveyor of Justice @ Jul 4th 2008 12:39AM]

Yeah, but the 4870 X2 is going to blow the 280 out of the water performance wise, so they better have better than just equal prices if they still want to compete.

Way to go AMD!; I was worried about you for a little while there!

[digitallysick @ Jul 3rd 2008 5:57PM]

Nice, good job ati, i would still stick with the ATI card

[thedesolate1 @ Jul 3rd 2008 6:38PM]

You see! competition bitches!! yay! the consumer is prince of all Sayans once again.... oh wait.... ooops.. I mean the consumer is king of course...

[roach @ Jul 3rd 2008 6:43PM]

Ahhh...competition to help drive price down. It's one of the benefit of running Window with open hardware market. Now, if only Apple users would admit that riding Window market's coat tail also benefits (cpu, gpu, etc.) them. But I am sure they are too tight ass to admit that.

[Josh @ Jul 3rd 2008 6:43PM]

"One board partner reportedly added that the price 'may be a little higher, or potentially even a little lower.' "

Well no shit, sherlock.

[saintchuck @ Jul 3rd 2008 6:45PM]

Or exactly the same. Definitely, one of those three.

[Skyride @ Jul 3rd 2008 7:38PM]

lol, reminds me of a scene from a recent dead ringers episode.

[Skyride @ Jul 3rd 2008 7:37PM]

Well, this sure is a buyers market now. AMD FTW! I just love being neutral on everything. :)

Still, ive only got 3x 17 and 19" monitors so im happy with my 7900GTX/6500 combo for now. 7900GTX runs all my games on max at 1280x1024 so im waiting till it dosent to upgrade.

[retro77 @ Jul 3rd 2008 8:08PM]

ATI FTW!! Will this be the end to $500 video cards?

[Unknown @ Jul 3rd 2008 8:14PM]

n
o

[SharpShooter @ Jul 3rd 2008 8:34PM]

Somehow, I doubt it.

http://store.nvidia.com/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayPage&Env=BASE&Locale=en_US&SiteID=nvidia&id=ProductDetailsPage&productID=67049700

[spyder91 @ Jul 4th 2008 1:29AM]

How can a $500 graphics card be the end of the $500 graphics card?

[GatgetMan @ Jul 3rd 2008 8:16PM]

I knew AMDTI was good for something!

[michas_pi @ Jul 3rd 2008 8:51PM]

"NVIDA"

Hehe.

[Ryan @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:35PM]

If the prices drops as much as their stock did I might be happy again.

[Justin R @ Jul 4th 2008 1:03AM]

Excellent!

[Metkis @ Jul 4th 2008 1:16AM]

Not "I bought the iPhone when it first came out" mad, though.

[Lee @ Jul 4th 2008 1:44AM]

"may be a little higher, or potentially even a little lower."

Higher or lower?!?! Way to cover all your bases.......


Considering how good my 4850 is im guessing the R700 will wipe the floor with the GT280 anyway.

Now AMD just needs to step up their CPU game.

[Chris @ Jul 4th 2008 1:48AM]

Is this the part where I feel bad for buying a GTX 280? (also that must be a typo, the most expensive ATI card isn't $499)

[Dustin Frazier @ Jul 4th 2008 4:11AM]

No, now's the part you return it.

[Jon Doe. @ Jul 4th 2008 4:16AM]

Dear Nvidia,

How about dropping the heat, and power consumption while you are at it as well? Can you say inefficient clock race?

While Intel's processors are staying relatively cool with 4+ cores NVidia's shit needs a 1,000W Power supply or a couple of external power bricks. So in 2010 can we expect a house's lights to dim when the system switches video res for games?

Nvidia loves to talk shit about Intel....how about they prove it by putting out something that isn't just something on a smaller die. LOOK INNOVATION! tools.

[Dustin Frazier @ Jul 4th 2008 4:19AM]

Makes you wonder why Intel hasn't released their killer gpu yet. You know they could run circles around both nvidia and amd if they wanted.

[Wwhat @ Jul 5th 2008 12:28PM]

HAHA (I'll go ahead and assume it's a joke dustin)

And to 'john', have you see the size of the chip?
http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/video/NVIDIA/GeForceGTX200/gtxvspenryn.jpg
Also intel has 4 cores, now how many does a GPU have again? 30/280 to 800..
The reason the gt280 is so expensive, and powerhungry too, is its size, they need to move to a smaller manufacturing process and they know it.

[ShadowKain @ Jul 6th 2008 5:47PM]

AMD forcing down the obviously ridiculous prices of High end Graphics Cards? Much love to ATI. Im still watching them closely to see how they sit as a company. As of lately they are not doing that bad.

To Nvidia? Get off the 65nm train!!! AIT has, you can too! Its ok, the water isnt that hot...