If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
How to buy a video card?
Hello everybody! I asked this question already on alt.com.hardware.video but got no answer for few days so I am posting it here. I would like to buy a video card in USA. I am targetting Sapphire Radeon 9800 pro. Here in Poland prices for this video card start from 300$. I found on http://www.allstarshop.com that the card can be bought for 209$. Quite a difference. I have a friend in Chicago and she will help me but I would like a few pieces of advice from You. 1) Where it is best(cheapest) to buy a video card? Is http://www.allstarshop.com OK? Or should my frient try some local shop. 2) How much it will cost to sent a video card to Poland and how should it be done? I am thinking about some 'tricks' that will make sending cheaper and help avoid customs control. 3) I know that right now new video cards will appear on the market - how much time should will it take for the prices to drop? Will the drop be significant? 4) How should I tell her to test the card before she sends it? Do You think running a 3d game is enough? Maybe some heavy testing software for few hours to make sure the card is OK? Thank You very much in advance for any help/advice! Maciek |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
On Fri, 30 Apr 2004 09:25:24 +0200, "Maciek" wrote:
Hello everybody! I asked this question already on alt.com.hardware.video but got no answer for few days so I am posting it here. I would like to buy a video card in USA. I am targetting Sapphire Radeon 9800 pro. Here in Poland prices for this video card start from 300$. I found on http://www.allstarshop.com that the card can be bought for 209$. Quite a difference. I have a friend in Chicago and she will help me but I would like a few pieces of advice from You. 1) Where it is best(cheapest) to buy a video card? Is http://www.allstarshop.com OK? Or should my frient try some local shop. The cheapest Ive seen it is $199 so I really doubt you are going to find it for a lot lower than 209. 2) How much it will cost to sent a video card to Poland and how should it be done? I am thinking about some 'tricks' that will make sending cheaper and help avoid customs control. I have no idea. In the US - the continental contiguous states - the shipping can be fairly low and similar prices amongst the lowest cost options for private and US postal service. For faster service its much more. And for places like hawaii - still in the USbut overseas , the cost is way higher for the private companies vs the lowest cost for US postal service. Cant you just go to the Fedex site or UPS and the USPS site and get all their rates? 3) I know that right now new video cards will appear on the market - how much time should will it take for the prices to drop? Will the drop be significant? Thats a tough one. Usually you would see the same card just drop lower and lower. I expected to see the same 9500 pro with 8 pipes down in the $120 range a while back but ATI started doing the substitution thing. Anytime a card starts hitting the lower than $200 range they seem to phase them out and create a cheapo card to replace them. So possibly never? But on the other hand who knows the 9800 pro has been sticking around for a while now though they havent hit the magical $150 range so I cant say if they will be phased out or not. 4) How should I tell her to test the card before she sends it? Do You think running a 3d game is enough? Maybe some heavy testing software for few hours to make sure the card is OK? Sure but usually the main gripe is it works or it doesnt. If it works then usually the other gripes have to do with drivers or some incompatibility. And she could actually screw it up if she is really not a computer type of person. You know its not quite in the slot , kind of at an angle or something or static electricty or stepping on it after taking it out of the box or something. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
On Fri, 30 Apr 2004 09:25:24 +0200, Maciek wrote:
Use the following to find the lowest price, http://www.pricewatch.com I buy most of my stuff from http://www.newegg.com |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Thank you both very much.
Maciek |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Advice on new video card | Frustrated | General | 4 | December 12th 03 04:19 PM |
Video Card Help | SteveC | General | 1 | October 20th 03 07:08 AM |
Where to get replacement video card fan? Or maybe just use a heatsink? | Vanguard | General | 3 | September 20th 03 07:24 PM |
Video card memory too low | BuDMaN | General | 4 | September 12th 03 01:27 AM |
Nforce 2 onboard video - hows it compare to a Geforce 2 GTS card? | kony | General | 1 | August 31st 03 07:30 PM |