Hi I'm new to this forum so I'm not quite sure on the proper procedures, but..First let me give you my system specs:

AMD 64 3200+ 754 socket
1 GB DDR
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB
120GB HD
500 W PS

I am considering an upgrade to a Radeon X8** based video card. My system has an AGP slot so that rules out some cards. From what I have read the X850 line is pretty much the best you can get for the aging AGP slot.

Now for a question: Does anyone anticipate the prices of the Radeon X850 Pro/XT to go down before christmas? I know that at one point the X850 was around 99$ at newegg. So far two candidates that I have been looking at are: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102606

and: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] C8Junction

From further research I have also noticed that most people recommend an aftermarket cooler for these cards such as the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835186129

I just have one question about the cooler installed on a say.. x850. Obviously the cooler projects downward into the PCI slots that are vacant for me, but does any part of the cooler reach upwards? I have heard something about it interfering with RAM slots, which are quite close to my 3d card.

Thank you for taking the time to read this! Will include pictures!

at one time the pci-e versions were around 99$ but i doubt the agp ones were also, and as far as going down i highly doubt it theyre just trying to get rid of inv at this point and i see no reason theyd cut prices. no it will not hit your ram slots, the card is just longer...not somehow taller, and it looks like you have room. i vouch for that cooler also.

Thanks for the reply, sorry my message was a little vague. I was inquiring whether a part of that fan would hit the RAM (when installed on an x850). Doesnt part of the fan extend to the back?

So apparently the x850xt from sapphire is a better deal. I've never had any experience taking off GPU fans/heatsinks. Is it considerably harder than CPU?