The MSI GTX680 Lightning can now be found for $580 after rebate on Newegg, but that's crazy expensive since it can't even beat a $470 Sapphire Vapor-X HD7970 Ghz Edition.
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202001&Tpk= hd%207970%20vapor-x[/url]

Despite 1246 mhz GPU (GPU Boost @ 1324mhz), it still couldn't beat an OCed 1250mhz HD7970 overall. The Vapor-X card will get that performance or near for $100+ less.

Considering you can readily find even cheaper HD7970 Ghz edition cards (Visiontek Lifetime Warranty model is $430 on Newegg), this card is meant for 2 types of users: (1) Watercooling/LN2 enthusiasts, (2) People who won't overclock at all. The 7970 Ghz also comes with 3GB of VRAM that's helpful for Skyrim ENB Mods. With mods in Skyrim, the 7970 Ghz is a good 20% faster than the 680 with 8xAA:
http://www.computerbase.d...n-hd-7950-mit-925-mhz/19/

The Lightning mysteriously sticks to 2GB instead of 4GB, despite its outrageous $580-600 price tag. That's NV price premium minus the premium performance that GTX480/580 had over the 5870/6970 cards. Maybe it'll shine on LN2 or with more price drops, close to $500-520.

Performance is also lacking in games that are starting to use DirectCompute

1080P 4AA = HD7970 1250mhz vs. 1246/1324 mhz GTX680
Metro 2033 = +14%
AvP = +22%
Shogun 2 = -14%
Crysis 2 = -6%
BF3 = -7%
Dirt Showdown = +51%
Sniper Elite = +37%
Sleeping Dogs = +19%

When HD7970 wins, it wins big. When GTX680 wins, there isn't much to it, while GTX680 Lightning costs way more $. AMD is now delivering better price/performance and better overall performance for single-GPUs.

HD7750-7770 = $90-120 price bracket vs. no 28nm desktop card from NV

HD7850 1/2GB = $190-220 vs. outdated GTX560Ti 448/570. With OCing headroom the 7850 ~ GTX580 with way less power consumption

HD7870 = $230-250, way less than the GTX660Ti, with no competitor from NV

HD7950 = similar performance as 660Ti at stock but smashes it OC vs. OC, and 660Ti tanks with MSAA/SSAA:
http://www.tomshardware.c...hmark-review,3279-11.html

Actually HD7950 OC goes head-to-head with the GTX670 for $60-100 less:
http://www.hardocp.com/ar...ti_gc_oc_vs_670_hd_7950/3

HD7970/7970 Ghz are now $400-470 and overclock to 1150-1250mhz, beating the more expensive GTX680 overall. Not even the factory preoverclocked GTX680 4GB can keep up with an HD7970 Ghz edition at 2560x1440/1600 and 3-screens:
http://tpucdn.com/reviews...B/images/perfrel_2560.gif

GTX670 on sale for $330-350 is the only viable product NV has right now. I think NV needs to drop prices because their line-up is way overpriced right now unless someone really really wants that Borderlands 2 game and isn't willing to scout Ebay to pick up the coupon for $30.

The MSI Lightning GTX680 for $580-600 is crazy overpriced. That's getting into MSI TwinFrozr III HD7950 @ 1100mhz CF territory, which will smoke it:
http://www.amazon.com/MSI...&keywords=hd+7950+msi

W1zzard says ASIC reading on Kepler is currently not working. Many cards are getting 100% ASIC reading but it doesn't mean much using the current version of GPU-Z:

http://www.techpowerup.co...p=2698323&postcount=3