First Build, Graphics, and New Zealand pricing.

[egel]

Firstly, I am scouting around for a graphics card to buy when I begin to build my pc next month (my first complete build btw). As I live in New Zealand, prices can be very different. Having just read the (February) Best Gaming Video Cards for your Money article, I discovered something, and was wondering what anyone else would make of this. Hopefully someone who knows a bit more about gfx cards can give me some advice.

Using a site called www.pricespy.co.nz, which finds the lowest and second lowest priced nz site for a component (say a Geforce 8800 GTX for example), I checked out gfx cards:

Best PCI-E Card For Under $100: Tie (143.812 NZD)

GeForce 7600 GS (256MB, $152.94NZD/512MB, $186.34NZD)
Radeon X1650 PRO (256MB, $192.38NZD)

Best PCI-E Card For ~$120: Tie (172.575 NZD)

Radeon X1650 XT (256MB, $257.63NZD)
GeForce 7600 GT (256MB, $187.93)

Best PCI-E Card For ~$175: Tie (251.628 NZD)

Radeon X1950 PRO (256MB, PCIE, $370.00NZD/512MB, PCIE, $421.40NZD)
GeForce 7900 GS (256MB, $284.45NZD)

Best PCI-E Card For ~$200: None (287.575 NZD)

Best PCI-E Card For ~$250: (359.374 NZD)

Radeon X1950 XT (256MB, $537.75NZD next lowest; $625.00NZD - noted because there was a signifigant difference between 1st and secong lowest prices)

Best PCI-E Card For ~$350: None (503.213 NZD)

Best PCI-E Card For ~$400: (575.100 NZD)

GeForce 8800 GTS (640MB, $719.33NZD/320MB, $569.89NZD -NEW MODEL- this wasn’t in the original article)

Best PCI-E Card For ~$550: (790.763 NZD)

GeForce 8800 (GTX 768MB, $1023.41 NZD)

Prices calculated at 7:25pm, Friday 16th of February, 2007 (New Zealand Local Time, NZT, GMT +13hrs), when 1 USD = 1.43791 NZD


This gives a different look to American stuff: firstly everything is more expensive because everything is imported, but does anyone think that this jolts the order signifigantly? I'm not sure.

I also put pricing on a saved copy of that tiered list on page seven of the article but I don't know how to post it like that.

 

[Lazarus7]

Mate I'm across the river in OZ and have the same problem, 8800gtx at around AUD$950-1050. Shouldn't muck around the order though, unless there is a significant difference in the jumps eg. US$50 in one section is NZD$100 in one and $US50 in another is NZD$150ish....if you get what I mean

 

[croc]

Do a comparison between newegg (or whatever) US pricing guide, then use xe.com to do your currancy conversion. Then add on Helen's bit, and see if its rape or not.

My 2p...

 

[The_Abyss]

Do a comparison between newegg (or whatever) US pricing guide, then use xe.com to do your currancy conversion. Then add on Helen's bit, and see if its rape or not.

My 2p...

It most certainly is. Aus and NZ pay a significant premium for their hardware, as does the UK (especially bearing in mind the current exchange rates - could probably buy Delaware if I save for a couple months!). Just try and find someone reliable to ship from the US though - such a company just doesn't exist - instead you have to rely on friends / family.

 

[croc]

Most things here in AUS can be bought at just about 10% more than the US prices + gst. Selection is a bit short, but with a little bit of shopping...

 

[egel]

Cheers guys, I'll give newegg a shot (btw I did use xe.com for the currency)

US$50 in one section is NZD$100 in one and $US50 in another is NZD$150ish....if you get what I mean

Yeah I know what you mean. That's partly what I was asking, so now I'll check it against newegg.

Do a comparison between newegg (or whatever) US pricing guide, then use xe.com to do your currancy conversion. Then add on Helen's bit, and see if its rape or not.

It is.

Just try and find someone reliable to ship from the US though - such a company just doesn't exist - instead you have to rely on friends / family.

Sadly this is impractical for me or I'd have done it.

Cheers for your help guys.