BFG 8800 GTS 640 MB version phasing out or so says CC

[imported_RedStar]

So i have been waiting 2 weeks for my system from Canada Computers. I phone to ask about the delay and I am told they are waiting on a part and they will call when the system is ready. Being the kind person that i am, i say fine.

Today, i decide this is just simply unacceptable and i have to go against my nature. I call back....

So, i find out that the part they are waiting for is the bfg 8800 gts 640 mb card. But the reason i am posting here is that i am also told it will never arrive. The card is being phased out!

So i opt for the 340mb version that they do have. Had i not made the phone call..i could still be waiting more weeks on a part that will never arrive.

So there is a bit of news here on card availability and a lesson, i feel were worth sharing.

I am told i will have my system tomorrow

*x fingers*

 

[happy medium]

Mabe the 8900's are on there way?

 

[vhx]

Doubt it, quick check and Newegg still carries them. Usually if they are EOL, stores unlist them. CC still shows them on their site.

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: happy medium
Mabe the 8900's are on there way?

Totally possible, the original 640MB GTS black PCB are more or less extinct already. Probably saves NV money not having to laser lock the extra shader quad to bring it down to 96 shaders. Still, interesting that NV is willing to lower prices on one of their parts (320MB GTS) so much for what boils down to the price of RAM.

 

[niggles]

first off I picked up my 8800 GTS OC from CC last week and they had no vanilla ones at that point so it makes sense.
second NCIX still has them, it'll be slightly more but NCIX seem to be postioning themselves as Canada's Newegg.

Best of luck.

p.s. I used to shop nowhere but C.C., they're prices are great and the customer service continues slowly to get better.

 

[imported_RedStar]

the prices are great yes...but customer support continues to be atrocious.
And that should have been my 8800 gts last week then.

I have tracked their(8800 gts) availability online ...since they came out over at CC (at one of the highest prices in Canada).

They had a big stock come in at Xmas time .... then they completely dropped carrying the ones for evga ...and for the last 3 weeks ...8800gts across all stores has remained at just 2. So i am not suprised by what i was told today.

I am surprised..they couldn't just give me one from 1 of the 2 stores listed as still carrying them.

Then again, this is the same outfit that made me wait 9 weeks to replace a MB under warranty!!

edit: also the key phrase was "phasing out" which i take to mean..no more new stock. Stores will just be able to sell their inventory. Since i am unsure of the nature of this "phase out" i have only pointed to CC and BFG --But i suspect ...this breed of card is doomed.

 

[niggles]

Originally posted by: RedStar
the prices are great yes...but customer support continues to be atrocious.
And that should have been my 8800 gts last week then.

dude... it was an 8800 GTS *OC* meaning it comes pre-overclocked... it sells for about $70 more because of that.

 

[imported_RedStar]

ya..missed that... sorry

 

[niggles]

it's all good... just wanted to mention that they only had the OCs was all... NCIX is still selling the 8800 GTS EXGAs for $479 last I looked.

 

[BFG10K]

I wish nVidia would hurry up and release both the 8900 GTX and new XP drivers for G80.

 

[n7]

Card is also discontinued from FutureShop.

Not that that means much, since FS carries so few cards anyway, but i do agree it's likely on the way out.

 

[ronnn]

Lets hope the 8900gtx is on the way! Wouldn't mind a price break.

 

[Hyperlite]

I still don't think it would be smart of them to drop the 8900 bomb until R600 comes out, as they really have no reason to. That is unless they know something we don't in regards to R600.

 

[niggles]

Originally posted by: n7
Card is also discontinued from FutureShop.
Not that that means much, since FS carries so few cards anyway, but i do agree it's likely on the way out.

at least they finally carry 8 series cards... it was driving me nuts that they had no DX10 cards 2 months ago, nothing to try the vista beta on.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: vhx
Doubt it, quick check and Newegg still carries them. Usually if they are EOL, stores unlist them. CC still shows them on their site.

Why would a store unlist them if they still have remaining stock in the store? Don't you think they would like to sell whatever they have left of any EOL item?

 

[jim1976]

Originally posted by: Hyperlite
I still don't think it would be smart of them to drop the 8900 bomb until R600 comes out, as they really have no reason to. .

Agreed.. With price drops, they can attract more consumers, while keeping an asset up their sleeve.. No reason whatsoever to bring up their refresh that soon to the market..Waiting game is the most appropriate strategy right now for nVIDIA.. All they have to do, is stay occupied and release good drivers for XP and Vista at last..

 

[Aberforth]

8800 320 MB version s really crappy, try playing some games at max you will know.

 

[the Chase]

Originally posted by: BFG10K
I wish nVidia would hurry up and release both the 8900 GTX and new XP drivers for G80.

Yeah I hope we see new XP drivers soon. Also if they do have these "trump card" drivers for combating the R600 I hope they just release them now. Not much sense in waiting for R600 to release these anymore IMHO.

 

[Modular]

Originally posted by: Hyperlite
I still don't think it would be smart of them to drop the 8900 bomb until R600 comes out, as they really have no reason to. That is unless they know something we don't in regards to R600.

Sure they have a reason to. If they drop G81 before Ati comes out with R600, then AMD will lose even more sales to nVidia.

I'm sure they "don't know something we don't". Look at the facts...Ati cannot even compete with G80, as a result they've been playing catch up. They obviously haven't gotten to the same performance levels as the G80 with R600, let alone the massively better numbers that we were promised. Why do you think R600 has been delayed for more than 6 months? Trust me, it's not because Ati has a superior product.

G81 (8900, etc) would be a nail in the coffin for Ati...

This is all bad for the graphics market, because basically, nVidia can do whatever with prices to some degree.

 

[jim1976]

Originally posted by: Modular
Sure they have a reason to. If they drop G81 before Ati comes out with R600, then AMD will lose even more sales to nVidia.

I'm sure they "don't know something we don't". Look at the facts...Ati cannot even compete with G80, as a result they've been playing catch up. They obviously haven't gotten to the same performance levels as the G80 with R600, let alone the massively better numbers that we were promised. Why do you think R600 has been delayed for more than 6 months? Trust me, it's not because Ati has a superior product.

G81 (8900, etc) would be a nail in the coffin for Ati...

This is all bad for the graphics market, because basically, nVidia can do whatever with prices to some degree.

There's absolutely no need in releasing a refresh when you play alone in the filed, unless the cost of manufacturing becomes lower..Despite that, the main source of revenue for the companies, is the mainstream/low end market.. That's where the big bucks are and there is where nVIDIA has to concentrate right now.. Releasing the mainstream series in a short amount of time, may seem that it will bring them some sales, but if eventually ATI release more competitive mainstream/low end products they 'll cover up many of their losses from the delay.. It's not a good idea to give your competitor always an idea of what to expect especially in the mainstream segment.. Ppl in this segment are not enthusiasts, they are much more patient and rational/skeptical in their final decision..

 

[jkcheng122]

working for a reseller, i'll tell u what i know. the 640mb 8800gts from bfg has indeed been discontinued in favor of the OC'ed version along with the 320mb version.

if you are using a monitor at less than 24", ie res is no larger than 1600x1200/1680x1050, save urself some money and go with the 320mb. if u do use a 24" (1920x1200) or larger screen, or u intend on getting one in the near future, go with the 640mb or even a 768mb 8800gtx. do make sure CC isnt charging u the same amount of money for ur system after replacing ur 640mb 8800gts with a 320mb one.

 

[Modular]

Originally posted by: jim1976

There's absolutely no need in releasing a refresh when you play alone in the filed, unless the cost of manufacturing becomes lower..Despite that, the main source of revenue for the companies, is the mainstream/low end market.. That's where the big bucks are and there is where nVIDIA has to concentrate right now.. Releasing the mainstream series in a short amount of time, may seem that it will bring them some sales, but if eventually ATI release more competitive mainstream/low end products they 'll cover up many of their losses from the delay.. It's not a good idea to give your competitor always an idea of what to expect especially in the mainstream segment.. Ppl in this segment are not enthusiasts, they are much more patient and rational/skeptical in their final decision..

Good call. I don't know why I left out the mainstream market (as that's right where I fit in). I suppose if nVidia were to release the 8600 series, especially the rumored 8600 AGP, then this would be more of a blow to Ati than anything else they could do.

I lean towards nVidia, tis true, but I still don't want to see Ati lose this once and for all...bring on R600 and get me some competitive DX10 prices is what I say.

 

[imported_RedStar]

I'll have to wait a bit longer until i know what CC will charge me for the change.
I was just told the badaxe 2 motherboard was DOA and i will have to wait a week.

So 3 weeks and counting. This almost makes me cry ...but at least it is not a mission critical system.

 

[niggles]

so you're going with the 8800 GTS OC?

 

[imported_RedStar]

it is running great (8800 gts OC 320 MB) on 100.64 nvidia driver. (of course my native resolution is a comfortable 1680*1050 *"60hz"

so far 18/20 games run perfect. Ima in heaven

and, at least, 3 people have said they have vista 64 and gta: san andreas working fine together. So i don't gte why my game refuses to patch to 1.01

edit: oops: ya, it does say OC on the box