Not ATI's fault

[Cygnus X1]

Generally 9800 pros are still higher in price compared to 6600gts with less performance. I believe ATI's prices are because they do business in Canada where money doesn't go as far the US based Nvidia. This is not a ATI vs Nvidiathread, but just an observation. Has Nvidea allways had this edge? (Minus the FX fiasco, where Nvidea just got greedy).

 

[Schadenfroh]

Are they not all built in Taiwan?

 

[SickBeast]

The Canadian dollar was at 85 cents US the last time I checked; not very much difference. Not only that, but the MSRP is always in US dollars.

Thank-you come again.

 

[Cygnus X1]

So why are cards like the 9800pro more than 6600gt's with less performance? Huh?

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: Cygnus X1
So why are cards like the 9800pro more than 6600gt's with less performance? Huh?

Some other reason.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: Cygnus X1
So why are cards like the 9800pro more than 6600gt's with less performance? Huh?

Probably because 9800 Pro's (older technology, 130nm process, 256-bit memory bus) cost more to make than 6600GT's (newer technology, 90nm process, 128-bit memory bus).

The 9800 Pro is a complex card to make due to the 256-bit memory bus and larger die; there's a reason typical mid-range cards have 128-bit memory buses: they're cheaper to make.

The currency issue is a nonissue: companies are multinational and all make allowances for the prices that their products will be sold at in other countries.

The 6600GT is a better card in all respects, so if prices are similar, it's the one to get.

 

[Marsumane]

Originally posted by: jiffylube1024

Originally posted by: Cygnus X1
So why are cards like the 9800pro more than 6600gt's with less performance? Huh?

Probably because 9800 Pro's (older technology, 130nm process, 256-bit memory bus) cost more to make than 6600GT's (newer technology, 90nm process, 128-bit memory bus).

The 9800 Pro is a complex card to make due to the 256-bit memory bus and larger die; there's a reason typical mid-range cards have 128-bit memory buses: they're cheaper to make.

The currency issue is a nonissue: companies are multinational and all make allowances for the prices that their products will be sold at in other countries.

The 6600GT is a better card in all respects, so if prices are similar, it's the one to get.

This is likely part of the case. I'm sure they could lower it more, just it still does proabably cost more than the 6600gt.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: jiffylube1024

Originally posted by: Cygnus X1
So why are cards like the 9800pro more than 6600gt's with less performance? Huh?

Probably because 9800 Pro's (older technology, 130nm process, 256-bit memory bus) cost more to make than 6600GT's (newer technology, 90nm process, 128-bit memory bus).

The 9800 Pro is a complex card to make due to the 256-bit memory bus and larger die; there's a reason typical mid-range cards have 128-bit memory buses: they're cheaper to make.

The currency issue is a nonissue: companies are multinational and all make allowances for the prices that their products will be sold at in other countries.

The 6600GT is a better card in all respects, so if prices are similar, it's the one to get.

I'm almost certain that ATI isn't producing any more R350/360 cores. Any R9800 stock still left is several years old at this point. This can result in some pretty wacky pricing, since a store may have bought those cards at $200+ from the manufacturer.

Also, on Newegg, AGP 9800Pros are going for ~$125-150, while 6600GTs (AGP or PCIe) are going for $150-200. That's about right given how they perform relative to each other, and the 9800Pro is definitely not more expensive.

 

[Eureka]

You can find the budget 6600GT at 130. Although generally, 6600Gts are more expensive.

Norm

 

[fierydemise]

Originally posted by: jiffylube1024

Originally posted by: Cygnus X1
So why are cards like the 9800pro more than 6600gt's with less performance? Huh?

Probably because 9800 Pro's (older technology, 130nm process, 256-bit memory bus) cost more to make than 6600GT's (newer technology, 90nm process, 128-bit memory bus).

The 9800 Pro is a complex card to make due to the 256-bit memory bus and larger die; there's a reason typical mid-range cards have 128-bit memory buses: they're cheaper to make.

The currency issue is a nonissue: companies are multinational and all make allowances for the prices that their products will be sold at in other countries.

The 6600GT is a better card in all respects, so if prices are similar, it's the one to get.

Thats probably about right but one correction, the 6600GTs are still 130nm only the X1K series are 90nm

 

[Pete]

Er, I believe R300/350/360 are all 150nm (NV30 was 130nm, remember?). NV43 is 110nm. I'm with you in thinking that the larger process (meaning fewer salable dies per wafer, assuming equal yields) and 256-bit memory bus (meaning more complex PCB and larger GPU chip to accomodate the extra lines) are enough to offset the GT's faster, newer memory (310-360MHz DDR vs 500MHz GDDR3) and probably explain the higher retail cost.

Or, at this point, nV may be selling more GTs and so can afford to lower margins to fuel sales.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: fierydemise

Originally posted by: jiffylube1024

Originally posted by: Cygnus X1
So why are cards like the 9800pro more than 6600gt's with less performance? Huh?

Probably because 9800 Pro's (older technology, 130nm process, 256-bit memory bus) cost more to make than 6600GT's (newer technology, 90nm process, 128-bit memory bus).

The 9800 Pro is a complex card to make due to the 256-bit memory bus and larger die; there's a reason typical mid-range cards have 128-bit memory buses: they're cheaper to make.

The currency issue is a nonissue: companies are multinational and all make allowances for the prices that their products will be sold at in other countries.

The 6600GT is a better card in all respects, so if prices are similar, it's the one to get.

Thats probably about right but one correction, the 6600GTs are still 130nm only the X1K series are 90nm

Yup. NV only jumped to 110nm with the 7800 series. ATI's the only one at 90nm so far.

 

[rahzel]

probably because the 9800 pro isnt as popular anymore, its old technology and its discontinued (i know the r350 core is for sure, not sure about the r360). im sure there will be stores sometime in the near future that blow out all their old stock.