HIS H797F3G2M Radeon HD 7970 3GB 384-bit Video Card $458 at Newegg

I rather wait for the GTX 680. Faster and doesn't require expensive cable for eyefinity or Nvidia calls it "surround".

Just wonder if this situation has to do with Nvidias' use for the GK104 supposedly going with TSMC 28Nm HP HkMG process to achieve the high clocks, but appears to be a bit more temperamental than originally thought. AMD is said to have went with the more traditional 28Nm LP process.

This ability to lower prices very well means AMD is finally receiving decent production from TSMC (both process have been plagued with problems) and now have product filling the channel. While the 7970 OC customs are still providing the traditional OC'ing ability that's through the roof. When we see the GTX680 they'll almost exclusively be customs and will be well above those original "reference" $500 pricing.

interesting.. i didnt know that was the issue with 28nm fab.

Here's the problem... getting anything straight-up out of TSMC is never on the "up and up". It's like interpreting tea leaves, but yes the conventional perception from the rumors and descent information would point to big issues within TSMC.

TSMC came along last Aug saying 28Nm was vetted-out and they would not repeat the 40Nm problems, and then enacted a price increase on 28Nm part. They were confident and foresaw big demand and they might not meet the capacity at the foundry. By Nov there was hints that HP HkMG process was in peril, and soon after there was an inkling that the GK100 was shelved, which later got confirmed. Then end of February there were leaks that TSMC had completely ceased production in January for about 3 weeks, because some major foundry issue on 28Nm. Most thinking it didn’t start until after the Chinese New Year week.

Speculation was the AMD Tahiti 28Nm LP production was on track coming out of the foundry in mid Oct-Dec 2011. Though now consider it was short of the original engineering wafer yields as to clock/efficiency. AMD went for what they got (acceptable for reference spec’s) but couldn't provide much to thier AIB's in the way of customs and OC's. While Nvidia said they were "disappointed with the 7970" they had thier own dissappointmants.

When Nvidia found the GK100 wasn't good from engineering wafers that came decently correct in say Sept-Oct 2011 there was worry. Though GK104's could be managed with Turbo Boost, a feature they originally conceptualized for the GK100, they moved on that. At that point they held confidence in GK104 (HkMG process) to produce decently high clock and efficiency promised by stepping up to the new process along with enough good chips. Although Nvidia had a lot of work to do to confirm, so figure holding orders for more GK104 say mid Dec. TSMC was already realizing they had other problems with 28Nm that needed to be fixed. I consider the approximately 1,200 GTX680's…