UK availability
AMD yesterday unleashed the fastest consumer graphics card in the world, the Radeon HD 4870 X2.
Our in-depth review confirmed the card's ridiculous levels of performance, but our launch-day pricing comparison highlighted one key problem; the card was nigh-on impossible to find.
A handful of the leading online retailers had AMD's flagship graphics card available to pre-order (often at inflated prices), but many had yet to list the card at all.
So, the chances of anybody having already laid their hands on the world's fastest graphics card is slim-to-none, but has availability improved in the 24 hours since launch? On day two, we've decided to take another look at availability and pricing from some of the big-name retailers, and here's our summary:
UK Market |  |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| etailer | Product | Availability | Price (inc. VAT) |
| Scan.co.uk | Sapphire HD 4870 X2 | In stock | £399.49 |
| PowerColor HD 4870 X2 | Pre-order | £375.99 | |
| HiS HD 4870 X2 | Pre-order | £381.86 | |
| ASUS HD 4870 X2 | Pre-order | £390.69 | |
| GIGABYTE HD 4870 X2 | Pre-order | £371.29 | |
| UK-based HEXUS.community readers can benefit from free shipping with Scan.co.uk | |||
| microdirect.co.uk | Sapphire HD 4870 X2 | In stock | £346.63 |
| yoyotech.co.uk | Sapphire HD 4870 X2 | In stock | £343.16 |
| ebuyer.com | PowerColor HD 4870 X2 | Pre-order | £344.95 |
| Sapphire HD 4870 X2 | Pre-order | £354.98 | |
| tekheads.co.uk | Club 3D HD 4870 X2 | Pre-order | £352.49 |
Availability, then, is still far from widespread. AMD's Radeon HD 4870 X2 is starting to filter through, slowly but surely, but we wouldn't go as far as to call it readily available. Scan.co.uk, however, has confirmed to HEXUS that it expects to receive further stock in 1-2 days.
As the table shows, prices are also beginning to creep downward as stock begins to filter through. MicroDirect and YoYoTech both have the Sapphire HD 4870 X2 in stock and available at below the £350 mark. We're expecting prices to edge a touch lower, and all retailers should theoretically re-align their prices. If you're willing to wait, you'll avoid the inflated launch prices.
UK availability, then, is improving. But how about the rest of Europe and the US? Head on over to Page 2 for an up-to-date comparison.
