ATI 8500 OEM $129

[Spike]

Ok, I compared this card to the retail 8500 card from ATI and in terms of features, they are the EXACT same!! The only difference is the speed (250mhz) and probably the ram speed as well (4 instead of 3.6ns) The retail power color pack not only comes with the card, it comes with all the cables, some full version of RUNE, DVD playing software, and hydravision software. I can't wait!

 

[Zambonni]

buying a product from a page with no ssl encryption doesn't worry you folks??

 

[Motoki]

I got an email confirming my order with order # and when I check the site my order is listed there as well but the status is empty.

Oh and I can't speak for Netscape, but I can tell you the order form page is most definitely secure under IE.

-MO

 

[davisdog]

Thanks kwatson1 and Motoki for the info...I just reordered and got the email and this one shows on the order status...it wont be the end of the world if I get two ..hope I get at least one for this price...less than 10% slower than ATI retail for 50% less cost...

 

[Zambonni]

OK, I have tried IE 6, Mozilla .96, and Opera and all show the order/info page as unencrypted. Am I the only one??

 

[davisdog]

yup...it is a 128bit SSL page...here's the source of the page (same in NS4.79 and IE6)




Location:
https://www.pcdynamic.com/advsearch.asp
File MIME Type:
text/html
Source:
Currently in memory cache
Local cache file:
none
Last Modified:
Unknown
Last Modified:
Unknown
Content Length:
23335
Expires:
No date given
Charset:
windows-1252
Security:
This is a secure document that uses a high-grade encryption key for U.S. domestic use only (RC4, 128 bit).
Certificate:
This Certificate belongs to:
www.pcdynamic.com
Internet
Advantage International Computers
Walnut, California, US

This Certificate was issued by:
Thawte Server CA
server-certs@thawte.com
Certification Services Division
Thawte Consulting cc
Cape Town, Western Cape, ZA


Serial Number: 08:0B:57
This Certificate is valid from Mon Jun 11, 2001 to Tue Jun 11, 2002
Certificate Fingerprint:
BBD:9E:67:BF:99:53:E5:F0:73:0A:4E:F7:B7:F9:51

 

[Hanpan]

Reseller rating seems very good

 

[Zambonni]

Hmm, ok, bit the bullet.
Hope this comes.

 

[oldiex]

I noticed that they are also using the same drivers as the ATI manufactured boards.

 

[mr_cheesy]

figured I'd better get in on this too. merry christmas to me

and yeah, the ssl is is looking aok.

nice find, thanks!

 

[toadstool]

Well, if this is a legit price, it's a great deal.

I see the same product at "Axion Tech", and it's selling for $213.95!!


So, that's a huge discrepency in price. That's about $84 in savings!! In fact , the "Powercolor" version of the 8500LE, is more expensive than the Radeon 8500 OEM ("original OEM" is what Axion is calling it). The Powercolor is a "retail" kit, which must be why it's more expensive.

If it's not a "typo" or error on "PCdynamics' part, then it's probably the best deal i've seen for this card.

I just ordered an "OEM" version from Axion in their "Clearance" section for $149 a few days ago.

Now, that was for a "used" 8500 OEM and I was pretty darn happy to find that price.

The Powercolor is brand new and retail, and is STILL 20 bucks less than what I paid for a used one. Be interesting to see if that price is really what they're selling for. I don't know how they can offer it for so much less than everyone else.

 

[chrisjor]

Ordered on Amex Blue, if this turns out to be dud, Amex will deal with it!!!

 

[trikster2]

One of the strengths of ATI is that till now they've totaly controlled their cards. Hence the consistently good 2D. NVidia's reputation OTOH has suffered as different manufactuers skimp on the quality of components such those responsible for good 2D.

While this card is exactly what I am looking for: current generation performance at a rock bottom price, I am concerned how everything outside the ATI GPU is constructed.

Probably futile, but does anyone have a clear concept on how ATI is handling/regulating it's new ATI graphic card manufacturing partners?

Is this card guaranteed the awesome 2D that ATI is known for or is there a chance that the $50 or so saved from buying an ATI card is achieved by skimping on filters/ramdac or whatever makes good 2D good 2d?

 

[Fenguin]

I ended up getting this too. I needed to replace my hulking Voodoo 5500, and I feel like I'm sticking it to NVidia for dropping all 3dfx driver support after they bought the company.

EDIT: Looks like they're sold out.

 

[Forgiven]

I placed my order...hope it goes through. I have a dual monitor setup with an 8500 OEM and I LOVE IT it is clocked at 279/270. The 7500 is OK but I can't wait for the Power magic, should do 280/280 with no problems. With an 8500 and 1.55 gig XP I am getting 8500 in 3d MARK 2001....AWESOME.

 

[Luden]

it looks like they fixed the price, its showing up at $185 for me now.

 

[chrisjor]

Maybe, it was special that ended today. Maybe they are monitoring this thread!!!!:Q

 

[bubbag]

You might also want to ascertain the speed of the memory on these OEM cards. I was ticked off to find that an OEM 8500 I bought had 4.0 ns chips instead of 3.6 ns ram. Thus, I sent it back and bought it from another vendor who acutally checked the ram chips for me. If you do not get a card with 3.6 ns ram, you probably should not flash it with the retail bios. Oh, and you can tell the speed of the ram by the last two digits on any of the ram chip's numbers. 36 =3.6ns 40=4.0 ns.

BubbaG

 

[jsmckenna45431]

Looks like I missed the deal .

 

[toadstool]

If there WAS a deal to begin with.


I'm thinking the company just made a typo, and now it's at the price they really meant for it to be. If they were REALLy putting it on a "special" sale, I don't think they'd have it sitting there for people to find. Something like that, where it's about 50-60 dollars less than everyone else's price, I think they'd advertise it a bit better. It would probably be advertised front and center when you first log onto their website.


It'll be interesting to see if the people who ordered it at the $129 price, really get it for that.

 

[babylon5]

I saw the deal the first day, but didn't jump on it, because I wanted to pick it up from the store personally.
It's really tempting deal, but the thing is no one knows how good Powercolor products are. I'd have
ordered if at least there are some reviews for this card, but there were none. Kind of makes me
wonder if it's worth the risk.
So for those who didn't jump on this, probably another one would come along sooner
or later.

 

[GuildBoss]

<< If there WAS a deal to begin with.


I'm thinking the company just made a typo, and now it's at the price they really meant for it to be. If they were REALLy putting it on a "special" sale, I don't think they'd have it sitting there for people to find. Something like that, where it's about 50-60 dollars less than everyone else's price, I think they'd advertise it a bit better. It would probably be advertised front and center when you first log onto their website. >>



Actually, it was advertised on their front page along with a handful of other special deals.

 

[t3chvest]

:| wtf it's all expensive now!! Man, I was really looking forward to ordering this once I got my laptop money @%(_&@_ oh well I'll just go buy some crappy GF2 now

 

[Mustanggt]

whoever got in on this got a very powerfull card at a great price

 

[Zambonni]

Well, since all their order info is accessible (check your order status, then just change the order # in the url - all customer info except CC#s),
it appears that they sold just over 150 of these cards - not as many as I would have guessed. There were a few hogs who may wreck the deal for us - bastards.


They must have a good price on some Epox motherboard also - lots of orders for that.

You just gotta love secure sites (it was I who was all worried about no SSL - which there apparently was).