ATI Readies Massive Price Slash

Richdog · 3 Mar 2006 at 19:00

ATI Technologies, a leading supplier of graphics processing units (GPUs), is expected to drop the prices on graphics cards featuring the Radeon X1000-series GPUs shortly following the release of the GeForce 7900-series products of arch-rival Nvidia Corp., X-bit labs has learned.

The Markham, Ontario-based GPU supplier is projected to announce price slash on the Radeon X1900-, X1800-, X1600 and X1300-series products shortly, according to sources familiar with the plans of the graphics giant. The decrease of the prices will help ATI to more efficiently compete against Nvidia Corp.’s new products which release will spur lowering the prices across-the-board.

After the price-drop, the Radeon X1900 XTX – the current flagship of ATI – will cost $549, the Radeon X1900 XT will drop to $479, while the Radeon X1800 XT products with 512MB or 256MB should cost around $299 (512MB version will cost higher than that). Additionally, ATI is expected to introduce Radeon X1800 XL 512MB for $299 and drop the price of the Radeon X1800 XL 256MB.

Earlier it was reported that Nvidia’s yet to be released GeForce 7900 GTX 512MB graphics board – the future top-of-the-range part from Nvidia – has planned retail price tag of $499, whereas the GeForce 7900 GT is projected to be available for $299. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the GeForce 7800 GTX 512 will be down to $399, according to sources with knowledge of the matter.

Sources also confirmed the release of the Radeon X1800 GTO for the price-range of $199 - $249 and said that the Radeon X1600 XT as well as the X1600 Pro will have recommended pricing of $149 and $109 respectively this spring.

Sources: Xbit Labs

Oh. *******. Yes. Looks likee the decision to hold off may prove a wise one.

chaparral · 3 Mar 2006 at 19:04

The manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the GeForce 7800 GTX 512 will be down to $399, according to sources with knowledge of the matter.

Haven't they stopped making these about 2 months ago. :confused:

smids · 3 Mar 2006 at 19:05

TBH, the X1800 series look to be at the price they are now - I doubt we'll be seeing price drops on those but the X1900 drop will be interesting. They are abuot £350 for top end, which should drop to about £320 ish according to that. Then again, prices in the US never seem to tally here so we'll have to wait and see.

Jack Bauer · 3 Mar 2006 at 19:18

Makes me what to wait before I buy but I dont no how long I can hold out

pastymuncher · 3 Mar 2006 at 19:22

X1800GTO might be a nice mid range card. Bet people will be unlocking them before too long.

LoopyLee · 3 Mar 2006 at 20:45

sounds great to me, that means all the second hand stuff will drop in price 2 with a bit of luck

ethan · 3 Mar 2006 at 20:49

Any kind of affordable price-drop sounds fine 2 me

Richdog · 3 Mar 2006 at 21:04

Jack Bauer said:
Makes me what to wait before I buy but I dont no how long I can hold out

I can hold out till Oblivion is released... no more.

Richdog · 6 Mar 2006 at 12:09

Latest info:

ATI cuts graphics chip prices

Nvidian launch pushes X1900XTX to $499

By Fuad Abazovic: Monday 06 March 2006, 11:22

THIS THURSDAY graphics chip firm Nvidia will reveal two new chip families, the GeForce 7900 GTX and 7900 GT, along with the GeForce 7600 GT and GS.
The move already has rival ATI chopping its prices. Now the R520-based X1800 XT 256B costs just $299 for OEM cards and $329 for the boxed version. This is a lot of graphic card for the money. It has a full sixteen pipelines and will definitely give Nvidia's new offering a run for its money. ATI is positioning this card against the upcoming Geforce 7900 GT, which will roughly cost the same.

ATI is dropping some other prices too. A retail X1900 XTX will cost around $549 but companies such as Newegg will sell OEM bulk cards for $499. You can buy one here. ATI already sliced a hundred dollars off the XTX price.

We expect the X1900XTX to outperform Nvidia's new 7900 GTX, so this price cut piles on the pressure. Maybe Nvidia has horses for the race after all. We will find out by the end of the week. µ

Wonder is OCUK will drop prices too? :confused:

MoNkeE · 6 Mar 2006 at 12:14

Richdog said:
Latest info:

Wonder is OCUK will drop prices too?

You may need to talk the competitor out of your quote.

Looks very interesting, but what-with ATi asking AiBs (is that the right term?) to raise their prices recently, I can't see how this makes sense. Unless ofcourse they have information on the 7900 saying it's going to be faster than the X1900 and cheaper...

-RaZ

Gibbo · 6 Mar 2006 at 12:15

Richdog said:
Latest info:

Wonder is OCUK will drop prices too?

First of all OcUK don't sell bulk cards. But work it out for youself $499 is £285.00.
OcUK is already at £299 for retail products, so if this price drop seems like a load of rubbish to me, yes prices have dropped but by only a few quid....

Jack Bauer · 6 Mar 2006 at 12:36

Richdog said:
I can hold out till Oblivion is released... no more.

I have to agree with that one, regardless of money situation I will be having a new card by the 20th for Oblivion

testa12 · 6 Mar 2006 at 12:45

so officially, you should be able to pick up an XTX for the same price as an XT is now

Richdog · 6 Mar 2006 at 12:49

MoNkeE said:
You may need to talk the competitor out of your quote.

Newegg doesn't sell to the OCUK, it's not a competitor afaik.

Gibbo said:
First of all OcUK don't sell bulk cards. But work it out for youself $499 is £285.00.
OcUK is already at £299 for retail products, so if this price drop seems like a load of rubbish to me, yes prices have dropped but by only a few quid....

Yeah $499 is £285 and OCUK already sell at £299... but that's excluding VAT isn't it? Add that on and the figure is far more substantial.

lemonkettaz · 6 Mar 2006 at 12:52

what are people expecting prices slashed by £100...

wait 2years and you will get todays card for pittance.... but it will wont be the performance you want.

there is nowt with the x1800xt for price and performance at the moment, and the longer you delay it the less "modern" the card will be

256 or 512

Richdog · 6 Mar 2006 at 13:22

lemonkettaz said:
what are people expecting prices slashed by £100...

Err... I don't think anyone is expecting a drop of £100.

wait 2years and you will get todays card for pittance.... but it will wont be the performance you want.

there is nowt with the x1800xt for price and performance at the moment, and the longer you delay it the less "modern" the card will be

256 or 512

What on earth is the relevance of that to the discussion at hand? We're discussing whether ATI are going to have a rpice drop in the next week or so, not whther we should hold off buying a card for a year.

lemonkettaz · 6 Mar 2006 at 13:23

the way some people go on its like they want a mega price cut... i literally didnt mean "£100"

King_Boru · 6 Mar 2006 at 13:23

lemonkettaz said:
and the longer you delay it the less "modern" the card will be

obviuosly

lemonkettaz · 6 Mar 2006 at 13:24

Richdog said:
Err... I don't think anyone is expecting a drop of £100.

What on earth is the relevance of that to the discussion at hand? We're discussing whether ATI are going to have a rpice drop in the next week or so, not whther we should hold off buying a card for a year.

It has relevance... im not talking about pizza or anything am i

Richdog · 6 Mar 2006 at 13:32

lemonkettaz said:
It has relevance... im not talking about pizza or anything am i

*pats head*

No, you weren't talking about pizzas.