ATI Ships 1 Millionth DX9 Graphics Card
- Thread starter martrox
- Start date
Hellbinder
Banned
Being that virtually every major retailer and online distributor was completely sold out for about two solid weeks, ending just a few days ago. I'd say hardly none.Wonder how many are stuck in the inventory
I think the Q1 financials and Market data is going to look a little different than Q4 did.
Joe DeFuria
Legend
I think a more plausible reason for R300 "shortages", is that ATI is exercising much tighter inventory control for this particular product, because of the impending RV350 and R-350 launches.
I suspect the R-300 chip is more or less being REPLACED by the RV/R350 across the board for cost cutting reasons. Maybe the R-300 will still be produced for one product line, but I'd have to guess that ATI is purposely cutting R300 chip production down significantly to make room for the new line-up.
ATI doesn't want to be in the position that they found themselves in with the R300 that they did with the R-200...lots of overstock.
I suspect the R-300 chip is more or less being REPLACED by the RV/R350 across the board for cost cutting reasons. Maybe the R-300 will still be produced for one product line, but I'd have to guess that ATI is purposely cutting R300 chip production down significantly to make room for the new line-up.
ATI doesn't want to be in the position that they found themselves in with the R300 that they did with the R-200...lots of overstock.
Good point Joe. But I believe that ATi is experiencing demand thus creating a shortage that was not forseen. ATi is smart to play it safe with their inventories at this point but if it means that they loose sales that isn't so great. I am willing to wager that this shortfall on the supply end is a result of unexpected demand rather then tight inventory managment. Not that ATi is not worried but rather they were not expecting to run out of inventory they would estimate as accurately as possible to be tight on the inventory but considering the demand for the R300 core ... they would have tryed to balance things rather then short supply themselves IMO.
Joe DeFuria
Legend
Sabastian said:
I'd be more willing to bet that it's actually both.
Are the R300 variants really that hard to come by at the moment? (Honest question.) Them seem readinly available on-line...though the pricing trend has been slightly upward in the past couple weeks. (Haven't been in a reatil outlet recently...though I'll be in one or two this afternoon for a completely different reason: shopping for a TV...will check to see if they have R300 boards in stock.)
In other words, pricing shows that there's definitely tilt toward the "higher demand relative to supply" recently, but that does NOT necessarily mean it's not in ATI's favor. In other words, ATI is less interested in unit sold, then thay are in net profit. If selling fewer cards at higher profit means more "net profit", you'll see the pricing adjusted accordingly.
In any case, it will be noteworthy to see how quickly the RV/R350 products become available for purchse, and if ATI does in fact eliminate or significantly reduce R300 chip sales at the same time.
Sorry Joe I don't know exactly how difficult it is to get any varient of the R300 core. But there has been some whom have pointed out that supply on line was lacking. Here is one.
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=&submit=Go&description=radeon+9700
I have seen others but can't remmember exactly which ones.
I am not so sure that ATi will get rid of the R300 core but rather drop it's pricing. With the introduction of the R350 and RV350 their lineup will be more segmented and inventories of each will have to be closely managed. BTW I can't wait to see just how the R350 performes compared with the NV30 that should be interesting.
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=&submit=Go&description=radeon+9700
I have seen others but can't remmember exactly which ones.
I am not so sure that ATi will get rid of the R300 core but rather drop it's pricing. With the introduction of the R350 and RV350 their lineup will be more segmented and inventories of each will have to be closely managed. BTW I can't wait to see just how the R350 performes compared with the NV30 that should be interesting.
Joe DeFuria
Legend
Better financials being another reason? I don't follow you...everything I said in the above posts is precisely to have better financials.
Whether it's limiting supply to have a better position on the "supply demand" curve (for better financials), or it's limiting supply to make way for the RV/R350 (because they forcast better "financials" with those parts).
Whether it's limiting supply to have a better position on the "supply demand" curve (for better financials), or it's limiting supply to make way for the RV/R350 (because they forcast better "financials" with those parts).
Joe DeFuria said:Sabastian said:
I'd be more willing to bet that it's actually both.
Then we are basically saying the same thing except my perspective is a little more.... optimistic.
I do however have reservations with regards to ATi retireing the R300 core. It makes more sense to keep the core in the market as many are familliar with the product and how good it is. To put it another way the R300 is ATIs greatest achivement to date why would they want to retire it? I am willing to bet that it stays on the market in lower supply while the R350 is injected at a considerably higher price.
The R300/350 is a very large piece of silicon, and I'm pretty sure it's fairly expensive. The point is that the R300, as prices drop, is not very cost effective, hence the RV350. I find it hard to see just what advantage there is to KEEP making the R300, IF the costs for a R300 and a R350 are the same.
Did nVidia keep making the GF3 chip series when the GF4 became available?
Did nVidia keep making the GF3 chip series when the GF4 became available?
T2k said:
As the thread subject is "ATI Ships 1 Millionth DX9 Graphics Card" and not "ATI Ships 1 Millionth DX9 Graphics Chip", I think antlers4 was correct, when pointing out that this must be 1000 000 ATi branded cards.
I remember I was impressed last year with how fast ATi got the first million R300 chips out the door..
Kjetil
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