With the successful launch of the GeForce GTX 680, it was only a matter of time before AMD would counter with a price drop of their new HD 7000 series cards. Initially, AMD didn't react to the GTX 680 hitting the market because of the very limited availability of it. If users wanted a high-end card, the HD 7900 series was your best available option. Now with the GTX 680 becoming more available, AMD needed to drop the price of the HD 7900 series to remain a viable option for price to performance against the GTX 680. As part of an AMD Gaming Evolved announcement, AMD announced it would be closely partnering up with THQ and Codemasters on some AMD optimized titles, as well as dropping some graphics card prices.
The promotion between THQ and Codemasters is known as the "Three for Free" promotion. The three titles are Deus Ex: Human Revolution, DiRT Showdown and Nexuiz. AMD stated that it will be bundling these games with their graphics cards starting April 16th. In a statement, AMD said, "Rolling through select etailer and retailer partners shortly, we will be launching the Three for Free promotion, bundling a free copy of Dirt Showdown and Nexuiz with each AMD Radeon HD 7900 Series graphics card. We will also be including a full copy of one of the top titles of 2011; Deus Ex: Human Revolution, as well as its DLC expansion The Missing Link." Adding three bundled games to the Radeon HD 7900 series is a nice value-added bonus to end-users.
The prices of the HD 7970 are dropping from $549 to $479, with the HD 7950 dropping from $449 to $399. AMD looks to be banking on the "Three for Free" bundle, the price drop and the fact of ready availability of the HD 7900 series to continue to spark sales against the GTX 680. In addition, AMD cutting the price of the HD 7770 to below the $150 price point at $139.
"The AMD Radeon HD 7970 is now priced at an incredible $479 and continues to be the only enthusiast card available in volume, while the AMD Radeon HD 7950 is now an impulse buy away, at $399, and on both of these you will see our Three For Free offer which includes Dirt Showdown, Nexuiz and Deus Ex: Human Revolution with The Missing Link DLC. And one more thing, for those looking for access to a cutting-edge graphics experience at a very wallet-friendly price, AMD Radeon HD 7770 GHz edition graphics cards will now be available at the sub-$150 sweet spot, as low as $139(US) SEP."
