Curacao XT 8970 pictured... courtesy of 4chan.

[PorkPieCat]

http://wccftech.com/rumor-amd-radeon-hd-8970-pictured-features-curacao-xt-core-2304-sps/

The source allegedly reveals specs too. Also claims $100 cheaper than gtx 780 (which is still painfully expensive, though almost sensible if it vies with Titan). Of course coming from the hive of idiocy that is 4chan, the "leak" could just be a lie. What do people think? Could it match Titan if specs are correct?

 

[PorkPieCat]

Do 2304 SPs and 48 ROPs get you roughly 15%? Seems like it could be a bit more powerful.

Also just realised $550 is what the 7970 launched at. But the difference is the 7970 released well ahead of GTX 680, and dropped steeply in price when the competition arrived. So $550 is supposed to be competitive... Titan and 780 are clearly somewhere just outside of "enthusiast-gamer" territory, and into "enthusiast/professional" territory. I suppose these 3 cards aren't so much either company's real-world gaming flagships so much as luxury items?

 

[PorkPieCat]

IF its the same speed as a 780 give or take a little bit but priced $100 cheaper and IF it'll take several more months to be released, many people wouldn't really mind paying that extra $100 to get a 780 now is what I think.

Good point, hadn't thought about the actual release date. 780 might even get price slashes by then.