Preorder Now, Prices Already Going Up

[H2O]

If you want to ensure that you will have a GTX470 or GTX480 on launch day, you should preorder now. Most likely, supplies will dwindle after the initial batch of cards, and prices will skyrocket.

Amazon, the only major retailer still taking preorders, has already raised prices on the GTX470 variants by $30. Personally, I preorded one from Amazon, but I will also try to snag one on launch day if the prices are lower. If I can't find one, the extra $30 is a small price to pay especially considering how hard the cards may be to find for several weeks after launch.

[Conumdrum]

Why not just wait till June or even August?

[Frag Maniac]

With talk of a smaller die chip available possibly by late fall to early winter, I see no reason to jump on any of the first Fermis, be it via preorder or otherwise. I've been holding off building my new rig since end of '07, and am getting tired of not being able to play some of the games that release, but I don't relish the idea of my unairconditioned apt rising 10 degrees in the warm months either. And if the prices on other cards don't drop to allow me a suitable hold me over card until the die shrink, well I'll just wait a bit longer.

I've always thought gaming is a luxury to enjoy in one's leisure time, not an obsession to let drive you. Ideally you make gaming tech work for you, rather than jumping through hoops for it. Even if I were to find a good price on a MK-13, 480 water block, whatever, I see no scenario in setting up a 480 where I'd be glad I bought it after a much more efficient chip came out, at which point no one would be interested in these first ones anymore. I tip my hat to these early adopters whom are helping them improve their product, but I can't afford to be one, not on my budget. What I buy I need to be satisfied with for at least a few yrs, and I can't be sure of that with these cards.

[xguntherc]

Well frag, I sort of see your point. But sorta don't.. if you wait, youll always be waiting.

And u can't afford to be a early adopter cuz you don't know if it will last a few years. Of course it will, they can handle the heat. And as long as you go evga or BFG you'll have a warranty that will cover you no matter what happens. Might as well get one now, if it dies in 6 months you'll get another with warranty. And if they have the 485 out by then you can step up to the new card for some goodness.

I pulled the trigger at normal prices

[INFRNL]

what are pre-order prices supposed to be? $350/$500 right? fry's still has the evga gtx 470 for pre-order $350. I'm sure in about a month you will be able to get these for retail, which I believe is pre-order pricing. I think I will wait till they have rebates and hopefully get one from TD wih 12-15%cb

[H2O]

what are pre-order prices supposed to be? $350/$500 right? fry's still has the evga gtx 470 for pre-order $350. I'm sure in about a month you will be able to get these for retail, which I believe is pre-order pricing. I think I will wait till they have rebates and hopefully get one from TD wih 12-15%cb

Thanks for the heads up! I'll pull the trigger on that and cancel the amazon order.

I didn't want this to become a debate on whether it was worth it or not, but my mentality is that if you are always waiting, you will never buy anything because there will always be something better around the corner.

[CryptiK]

Nvidia have cut down the GPU anyway most likely to improve yields so hopefully they can meet demand. Fermi already has a poor price to performance ratio, so if they get more expensive and hard to get, I don't see people paying for them instead of purchasing an ATi alternative.

Personally I'm waiting for them to bring out a full 512sp card and I'll see how that does, I'm not paying top dollar at release for a cut down version (GTX480), or an even more cut down version (GTX470).

[Frag Maniac]

I don't agree the price/performance is as bad as many say. If you look at a lot of benches the 1920x1200 on a 480 ends up being about 18% faster overall than a 5870, with what, about $500 vs $420 pricing, making it about 19% more expensive, and that's launch MSRP on the 480 vs street pricing on the 5870 well after it's launch. No, it's not the pricing that's off, it's this damn heat and noise thing, that's what I can't get around.

I know what xgun is saying on the constantly waiting if you don't buy bit, but honestly, a little more waiting vs the over two yrs I've already waited is going to finally put me into the "Ferm"entation of great new tech I think. I feel Nvidia's next revision could make these original Fermis look like Vista does against W7. The biggest question is, should I go ahead and build most of what I want now, and get a hold me over GPU that I can maybe at least use as a PhysX card later?

It's getting to the point where an increasing number of games that come out I can't play due to not meeting the reqs, but I also hate the idea of buying a GPU then not much later find it not nearly as good of a buy had I just waited a bit, unless I get it dirt cheap. Anyone know of refurbed 9800 GTs going for real cheap, like $50 or something?