HumanSmokeI don't buy here either as a general rule. 15% Goods and services tax and high retail margins takes a lot of fun out of being an enthusiast.
The problem here is that MSI have basically withdrawn from the market as have HIS. VisionTek and Diamond aren't sold here, and PowerColor and XFX have basically a non-existent presence - which pretty much leaves Asus and Gigabyte (who also market Nvidia) and Sapphire, while Nvidia vendors here include Palit, Galaxy (and their KFA2 brand), as well as EVGA and Zotac - all in volume. Basically no real competition from AMD vendors, and the cards that do arrive here are reference SKUs (often first revisions pulled from larger markets) and not overly attractive to customers.
The other problem is that many AMD partners have a strict warranty policy, so importing a card voids the warranty once out of its distribution area. No such problem with many Nvidia partners - EVGA (warranty based solely on serial), PNY, Gainward/Palit etc.

that seems like a problem for Amd to fix. they are probably loosing market share due to that ineficiency

I just checked my local retailer and a 290x is almost $600.. The 295x2 is selling for $1799 and I won't even waste my time on ncixripoff checking there even more bloated pricing system. I was hoping for a few MSI lightning 290x's but they're still $700 after the $110 price drop they advertise..
Oh well guess I'm waiting till the 3 series come out.

fullinfusionI just checked my local retailer and a 290x is almost $600.. The 295x2 is selling for $1799 and I won't even waste my time on ncixripoff checking there even more bloated pricing system. I was hoping for a few MSI lightning 290x's but they're still $700 after the $110 price drop they advertise..
Oh well guess I'm waiting till the 3 series come out.

Some sites have the prices still the same on a few but newegg has some for $400 (The reference PowerColor is $449 and then you get a $50 buck giftcard). The gigabyte (Aftermarket) is $500 straight up and the Diamond (Aftermarket) is $489 with the same deal as the PowerColor. But yea many of the prices have not moved much including the lightnings sadly :( (I would not mind one). I was actually curious about the R9 290X X2 Devil 13 card but its staying priced at $1499 with an extra $200 giftcard. The 295X2's are here are down to $999.

I wish these prices would take effect as well as the ones I would take an interest in grabbing are staying firm.

Coldzerodamn... at those prices who will buy amd? here in europe 295x2 are dropping prices, i've seen them at 799€
and the 290x start at 400€ +/-

It's not really like that. First that's comparing the 290X to the 780 when it should be the 290 (non X) with the 780. Then that's not a very well priced 290X besides.


This is a much better value 290X @ $765 (take off GST @ 15% and convert to USD = ~$565USD.


Here's the 290 which is actually the comparable card. ~$420USD

We certainly pay more and have less selection, but it's not as bad as it can sometimes seem. You have to figure that we are an extremely small market with the entire country about the equivalent of Houston Tx. population, and it costs a bit more to ship here.

FluffmeisterPresumably that is why they actually make a profit then.

Do you see any of that profit? Because I sure don't and I'm not so keen on feeding their record profit margins.

RelayerIt's not really like that. First that's comparing the 290X to the 780 when it should be the 290 (non X) with the 780. Then that's not a very well priced 290X besides.

If you're talking about the Computer Lounge screencaps I posted I suggest you look again - its 290X and 780 Ti. (also note that the EVGA 780 Ti stock clocked (not SC) ACX - is available on back order for about $770-800 but sells out pretty fast).
Secondly I wouldn't touch Alpha City with a sh!tty stick if you planning on buying there. They're fine with small inexpensive items but big ticket often come up short (not to mention their bait advertising) -their packaging for shipping is abysmal (which they charge for - Computer Lounge is free shipping), and the warranty return makes H-P's customer service look 5-star. Bought an encryptable 128GB USB 3.0 drive from them and they sent me a Lexar 8GB USB 2.0 drive worth about $5. There's a reason they get bad customer reviews. Hardly worth it when both Computer Lounge and Playtech both offer 7-11% off every week if you opt in for their email.

HumanSmokeIf you're talking about the Computer Lounge screencaps I posted I suggest you look again - its 290X and 780 Ti. (also note that the EVGA 780 Ti stock clocked (not SC) ACX - is available on back order for about $770-800 but sells out pretty fast).
Secondly I wouldn't touch Alpha City with a sh!tty stick if you planning on buying there. They're fine with small inexpensive items but big ticket often come up short (not to mention their bait advertising) -their packaging for shipping is abysmal (which they charge for - Computer Lounge is free shipping), and the warranty return makes H-P's customer service look 5-star. Bought an encryptable 128GB USB 3.0 drive from them and they sent me a Lexar 8GB USB 2.0 drive worth about $5. There's a reason they get bad customer reviews. Hardly worth it when both Computer Lounge and Playtech both offer 7-11% off every week if you opt in for their email.

You're right, I misread. Still, you did pick out a very high priced 290X.

RelayerYou're right, I misread. Still, you did pick out a very high priced 290X.

CL don't stock many, and nor do Playtech, and they are the sites I tend to go with - less hassle, good packaging, excellent support. Vital factors when you're putting together systems for people.
As for price I was just making a comparison between the 290X and 780 Ti, but factoring in both Playtech and CL's weekend discounts (this is last weekend's for Playtech, but both outlets run discounts every weekend)...


...Both are basically cheaper than Alpha City (Tiger Direct) and just about anyone else when you factor in discount, no CC charge, and free shipping (plus CL price match anyhow). Taking that into consideration their 290X is as cheap (within a few dollars) as the cheapest you found. The only real difference is that the 780Ti is much cheaper, but both outlets are primary distro's for EVGA and Gigabyte which accounts for that.

EDIT: And the asterisk on "almost everything in stock" basically excludes Apple products (no big surprise there), and OEM stuff (Windows, prebuilts, etc.)

I'm not trying to get anyone to not buy from your favorite etailer or go with someone else. I was just trying to show that overall the 290X is cheaper here in NZ than the 780ti, just like most places.

I just paid £268 for Palit GTX970 whatever that is $330
Happily overclocks more 12-13% on top of what it does all ready
Why buy anything else. It beats the Titan and matches the GTX780 and AMD 290 in everything beating the 290 at most stuff
I had GTX770 4gb and this is 30-40% up. Lol I sold my 770 for only a little less than I paid for new card
With the over clock is getting same bench mark as GTX980
Happy Days
Intel till I die

mark-benneyI just paid £268 for Palit GTX970 whatever that is $330
Happily overclocks more 12-13% on top of what it does all ready
Why buy anything else. It beats the Titan and matches the GTX780 and AMD 290 in everything beating the 290 at most stuff
I had GTX770 4gb and this is 30-40% up. Lol I sold my 770 for only a little less than I paid for new card
With the over clock is getting same bench mark as GTX980
Happy Days
Intel till I die

W/e floats your boat troll, your msg here is utterly useless crawl back under the rock you came from.