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The long-anticipated RADEON 9800 Pro is now shipping and, naturally, our friends at OWC (Other World Computing) are listing stock of this 256MB ($380) card, which is compatible only with Apple's PowerMac G5. With NVIDIA's apparent retreat from the retail Mac graphics card market, ATI upgrades reign supreme. Currently, users can also find the RADEON 7000 (32MB), 9000 (64, 128 MB) and 9800 Pro (128MB) on-sale at prices ranging from $117 to $350. Further, ATI has indicated that it will offer a PCI-based RADEON 9200 in the near term, as well. Further, with a Mac-specific ATI graphic card overclocking tool in circulation, some might aver that we've never had it so good. All the better considering, Sonnet's entry into the graphics' space with a $100, 16MB, PCI-based card. A tastier hue? Nevertheless, Apple's tight reign on third-party hardware developers -- the downside of their tight integration -- and the relatively small size of the market leave us with far fewer choices than are available to the unwashed. Honestly, one can't help but drool a bit when stealing a peak across the fence line of drivers that separates us. For example, a Saphire 9800 Pro (128MB) sells for just $210. Add in the "deals" to be had on cards from NVIDIA, S3 and others, and it's almost more than one can bear. Do you feel left out? Or, do you keep a PC handy (and out of sight) for playing games? BTW, keep a desirous eye cast in the direction of MacsOnly and XLR8 Your Mac in the days and weeks ahead. They always seem to have the budget and/or pull to sate their desire to produce reviews of the latest upgrades.
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