Radeon R9 290X Sees Price Cuts

[btarunr]

AMD is apparently working with its add-in board manufacturers and retailers to bring down prices of its flagship single-GPU graphics card, the Radeon R9 290X. The card can now be had for as low as $449, non-reference design, factory-overclocked cards starting at a $50 premium. Prices could settle down somewhere between $450 and $500. This closely follows AMD's move to bring down price of its dual-GPU flagship Radeon R9 295X2 by a whopping 34 percent, down to $999, offering performance competitive to the $2999 GeForce GTX TITAN-Z. NVIDIA is preparing two new graphics cards competitive in performance to the Radeon R9 290 series, the GeForce GTX 970 and GTX 980. The two are based on the company's new 28 nm "GM204" silicon, implementing the "Maxwell" GPU architecture.



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[GreiverBlade]

ahahah i knew it... it already happening where i live ... all my etailler are taking the prices down!
well that's a good news if i want to double my 290 or take a 295X2 to replace it (and if i did read correctly the future 970 will be on par with a 290 since it's said to be between a 780 and a 780Ti, well the 290X also is to between the 780 and 780Ti, since it's 780<290<290X<780Ti most of the time)

 

[newtekie1]

I do love me some competition!

 

[bogami]

For some time the price of R-9 290x is very favorable. And the only thing that will bring GTX970 is lower power consumption. The first tests have shown X4000 DirectX 11 MAX, which is only slightly above GTX770 abilities while R-9 290x makes the X4900 +.

 

[bnjohanson]

...but then again, some things remain the same; i.e., "you get what you pay for...".

 

[The Von Matrices]

Actually, if you count the included $50 Newegg gift card, the aforementioned 290X is $399. This should be in the "Hot deals" section.

The leaks of the GTX 970/980 must be pretty impressive for AMD to cut its prices even before the cards' official releases.

 

[Sony Xperia S]

Actually, if you count the included $50 Newegg gift card, the aforementioned 290X is $399. This should be in the "Hot deals" section.

The leaks of the GTX 970/980 must be pretty impressive for AMD to cut its prices even before the cards' official releases.

They have insane margins now, do you remember when the top dog HD 4890 was ~ $200? This was the best deal and buy.

So, now the R9 290X is still some 100% more expensive.

 

[The Von Matrices]

They have insane margins now, do you remember when the HD 4890 was ~ $200? This was the best deal and buy.

So, now the R9 290X is still some 50% more expensive.

The HD 4890 was a 282mm^2 GPU with 8 memory chips, and it only needed <200W. The R9 290X is a 55% larger GPU on a more expensive silicon process with 100% more memory chips not to mention power circuitry and a heatsink designed to process at least 50% more power. I can imagine AMD's profit margins are larger than the HD 4890 due to the higher average selling price but surely it can't be 50% higher.

 

[revanchrist]

They have insane margins now, do you remember when the top dog HD 4890 was ~ $200? This was the best deal and buy.

So, now the R9 290X is still some 100% more expensive.

I thought when someone talks about profit margin there's one word to rule them all - nVidia.

 

[jboydgolfer]

I am NOT known for MY good memory, but when did TPU start posting New articles during the weekend?...I Love it, so Please dont get Me wrong, but Here I have been under the impression for years that the weekends were free of New material. oh....GPU prices..Low...i like that too.

 

[Sony Xperia S]

I am NOT known for MY good memory, but when did TPU start posting New articles during the weekend?...I Love it, so Please dont get Me wrong, but Here I have been under the impression for years that the weekends were free of New material. oh....GPU prices..Low...i like that too.

This is our present from TPU for being good readers. Enjoy it.

 

[Relayer]

...but then again, some things remain the same; i.e., "you get what you pay for...".

I thought when someone talks about profit margin there's one word to rule them all - nVidia.

Oh yes please! Can I have me a $3000 video card to play my console ports on?

 

[Fluffmeister]

Oh yes please! Can I have me a $3000 video card to play my console ports on?

Yes, because nVidia only sell $3000 graphics cards.

 

[Sony Xperia S]

Yes, because nVidia only sell $3000 graphics cards.

It's normal that those video cards for $3000 are actually the most interesting and the ones which are desired the/by most. The obstacle, for sure, is the price. Give it a price tag 700-800 and it will sell like hot cakes. Even I would consider to buy it.

 

[GhostRyder]

It's probably more of the card has been out for almost a year now and it's just that time for a price cut. Time moves forward and parts get cheaper and it's just overdue for a price cut just like it's other lower parts have seen.

Good to see these parts dropping prices, just means more people can get a top dog GPU.

I doubt AMD is shaking I their boots.

 

[ZoneDymo]

with that 390x readying up, is it really any wonder that this gets a pricecut?

 

[Sony Xperia S]

with that 390x readying up

In 2015.

is it really any wonder that this gets a pricecut?

 

[1d10t]

It's normal that those video cards for $3000 are actually the most interesting and the ones which are desired the/by most. The obstacle, for sure, is the price. Give it a price tag 700-800 and it will sell like hot cakes. Even I would consider to buy it.

Considering a 2012's GTX 680 launch price at $499,and still selling around $405,you will get your lovely Titan Z at your designated price 46 years later

 

[Sony Xperia S]

Considering a 2012's GTX 680 launch price at $499,and still selling around $405,you will get your lovely Titan Z at your designated price 46 years later

you are not accidently with your nickname.

yup, it might turn to be true that that crap will never get desired price but nvidia will lose for one very simple reason, they will have to bring that kind of performance to lower market segments sooner or later.

16 nm process and here we go, that performance will be available perhaps even for 500-600.

 

[HumanSmoke]

OK, when were the internet laws revised?
I know it's required that all Nvidia articles contain a minimum 10% Titan-Z content, but when was the law extended to AMD articles?

Anyhow, price cuts are always welcome (excepting by company financial officers and shareholders), but as per usual they won't apply to my local distribution area thanks to most of the AMD AIB's being MIA.

 

[arbiter]

Price cuts likely due to nvidia's new card rumored to be soon, which if AMD did this would seem to confirm its coming and AMD trying to move cards.

 

[1d10t]

you are not accidently with your nickname.
yup, it might turn to be true that that crap will never get desired price but nvidia will lose for one very simple reason, they will have to bring that kind of performance to lower market segments sooner or later.
16 nm process and here we go, that performance will be available perhaps even for 500-600.

Oh dear...so you cited THE PERFORMANCE?okay,being 2012 GTX 680 performs roughly on par with 2011 GTX 590 and 2014 GTX Titan Black almost as fast as 2012 GTX 690,you will have your single GPU as fast as Titan Z in 2018 and labelled as Titan Zzz.

 

[Relayer]

Yes, because nVidia only sell $3000 graphics cards.

$3000 Gaming cards? Yes, they are the only ones.

 

[Coldzero]

OK, when were the internet laws revised?
I know it's required that all Nvidia articles contain a minimum 10% Titan-Z content, but when was the law extended to AMD articles?

Anyhow, price cuts are always welcome (excepting by company financial officers and shareholders), but as per usual they won't apply to my local distribution area thanks to most of the AMD AIB's being MIA.

damn... 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€ +/-

 

[HumanSmoke]

damn... 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€ +/-

I 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.