There was a rumour quite a while ago that AMD are talking down a launch but would bring the launch forward into 2011, just. It's possible, its not all that important, and who knows.
I really don't care if 7970's do launch at £500, or 18k, its people's arguments that have been rubbish. If someone says AMD will price it against the 580gtx only, all history points directly against this, the argument is flat out stupid. If someone says AMD have a new CEO whose priority is generating a better profit, bigger margins and paying down debt........ that is a very GOOD argument for potentially increased gpu prices, as are TSMC charging more for wafers.
Would Read ok the idea of a pre xmas essentially limited edition version to get as much money as possible off a few idiots at £500 a pop, then have the 7950 barely 10% slower but 30-40% cheaper only a couple weeks later, very possible.
I think it wouldn't really matter what the RRP was, if they launch 3 days before xmas, with maybe 1000 cards for a few major countries then e-tailers will look at the situation as a blank cheque and price where ever the hell they want.
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