Will buying a video card in Taiwan be cheaper then in other countries?

[ko9000]

Hi guys
Right now I have a Radeon 9000Pro graphics card and deciding to buy a new graphics card. Cause I live in NZ, everything are pretty damn expensive once it enters the NZ. My parents are going back to Taiwan very soon and I was hoping if they could buy a me Asus/Powercolor/Gigabyte Radeon 9800Pro or XT version. What I want to know is that would the price of video cards be any cheaper in Taiwan then it is in here (new zealand). Cause Asus is a Taiwan brand (i know that doesnt mean that the cards are made there, though I do hope some are).

In NZ they are selling the R9800Pro around $250US and the XT around hmm..$400US to $500US... :( . So does any one know if in Taiwan they will sell it any/alot cheaper? Cause if its just a little price difference then I might as well get it here then in taiwan. But if there is a huge price difference then I differently want my parents to buy it. I mean "huge price difference" as in around $100 difference.

I hope you guys know what I'm tyring ask, thanks.

[HippyWarlock]

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cache:jE21z7eIHgMJ:www.digitimes.com/news/a20040723A7039.html+price+taiwan+graphic+card&hl=en

cut n paste it into your browser

Why not search the world and just order one (assuming the post costs are not prohibitive)

You might have a bit of trouble taking it back if it goes wrong though?

[ko9000]

Thanks for replying, yeah I would order one except for that I dont have a credit card. Though would the price be similar to what US is selling it at?

[HippyWarlock]

This is the bit where you promise to do the washing up for a week and get your parents to order it for you.

Once you've converted NZ dollars into US dollars (why you guys left the good old sterling pound is beyond us Limeys) then that's the price you'll pay - so long as you don't leave a weeks gap between finding the exchange rate and ordering as exchange rates fluctuate for a myriad of reasons every minute.

PS Don't forget my warning about it 'possibly' malfunctioning and the problems you may face getting it fixed.

[HippyWarlock]

This is the bit where you promise to do the washing up for a week and get your parents to order it for you.

Once you've converted NZ dollars into US dollars (why you guys left the good old sterling pound is beyond us Limeys) then that's the price you'll pay - so long as you don't leave a weeks gap between finding the exchange rate and ordering as exchange rates fluctuate for a myriad of reasons every minute.

PS Don't forget my warning about it 'possibly' malfunctioning and the problems you may face getting it fixed.

[ko9000]

Yeah that is also another problem, if something goes wrong...then that money will had just gone to waste >_<.

So it wont be any cheaper? :(

[HeadachesAbound]

Most likely not enough to justify buying it in Taiwan. I was browsing thru my local computer store and seem to recall that the prices were about the same as the ones you mentioned. If you order it online, verify the return policies and make sure you trust the supplier. I usually order from NewEgg.com and they have a 9800Pro for under $200 US but they don't ship internationally.

[ko9000]

Hmm...it sounds like the chance of the cards being cheap back in Taiwan wont be very high. Well then I might as well save up a bit more and buy it here, more peace of mind :)

Thanks alot everyone

[malcore]

I'm living in Taiwan (Taichung). You can get a 9800Pro here for anywhere between NT6000 and NT7000, less than $200US. The 9800XTs are still pretty expensive. If you want to spend $400US or less on a card, think about the GeForce 6800GT. Great card and nice price right now.


If your parents are coming back to Taiwan, have them check around. Usually things are a bit cheaper here buying retail. The same price or lower than buying online (Newegg) in America.

[ko9000]

Thanks for replying, for around NT6000-NT7000, what brand will I be able to get? Asus? Powercolor?

Btw what currency is NT? Taiwan dollars? If its around that amount then I should be able to get it, though right now would it be a good time to upgrade my card (from the R9000 128MB)? Especially when the ATi X800 and GeForce 6800 are coming out. With that amount will I be able to get a 256MB card?

Thanks

[malcore]

NT$ = New Taiwan Dollars

I've seen the Powercolor and GeCube 128Mb 9800 Pro cards for the prices I mentioned above. A 256Mb 9800 Pro is way overpriced, usually over NT$10000 (the card was never worth the money).

The 256Mb 9800XTs are still pricy, between NT13000 and NT15000. Right now the sweet spot is a 128Mb 9800 Pro. I bought two of the GeCube 9800 Pro cards a few months back for NT7200 each. Very good cards, ATI stock and have slightly overclocked stock speeds (400 core, 700 memory as opposed to normal speeds of 380/680).

The only other cards worth considering that aren't outrageously expensive are the X800Pro and the GeForce 6800GT, both a bit more than a 9800XT.


I would recommend the GeCube 9800Pro for about NT6300. Huge improvement over a R9000. Unless you want to save and spend over twice that.:)

[ko9000]

Hmm, Gecube huh...here in NZ Gecube cards are very...dodgy. The cards are either overclocked or under-clocked when brought from the stores (with no tags saying they are :S ). Though I dont know about how Taiwan is doing with Gecube cards. Or else NZ just brought all the useless Gecube cards and the good ones are all back in TW :D . Rumors says that the reason why Gecube cards are so cheap is because the manufacture standards are very low, so the price of the cards are low too >_<. So my trust in Gecube are pretty low too, though Powercolor on the other hand is something that I could go for.

Thanks alot

[malcore]

GeCube cards are stock ATI cards, just like Powercolor. It's funny how if a few people have a bad experience with a smaller company, people will shy away. I've heard bad things about Powercolor also.

The two GeCube cards I have are great. Work flawlessly and overclock like champs. I can run both no worries at 450 core and 750 memory with the tiny stock ATI cooler. I put a VGA Silencer on one and I can now clock it to 480 core and 770 memory, no worries. Plays games like FarCry beautifully.

Everyone has their biases though.:)