My friend just ordered a Sapphire HD7970 Vapor-X 3GB. Estimated delivery date was May 10, 2013 - May 23, 2013. But they sent him an email yesterday or today:
"We have good news! We're able to get this part of your order to you faster than we originally promised:"
And the estimated arrival date is now: April 18, 2013 - April 23, 2013
$439.99.
I'm almost sure now that this card is voltage unlocked due to several reasons:
1) I had thought the HD7950 Vapor-X was voltage locked, as that had been the case with the first few batches or so. I asked Zahix over at
this topic and he said his 7950 Vapor-X cards that he had purchased since February - March were voltage unlocked!
2) I had thought that like the HD7950 Vapor-X, the 7970 Vapor-X was voltage locked. But reviews of the card when it released showed that it was voltage unlocked, or at least showed very high OCs that were pretty much impossible without voltage adjustment (1225MHz), and if those were achieved without voltage adjustment, I'd be afraid :P But anyways, I asked over at
this topic and one guy has 2 Sapphire HD7970 Vapor-X cards that he bought on December 2012 and they are voltage unlocked.
Since this card never WAS voltage locked in the first place, and the 7950 Vapor-X which was voltage locked (can be bypassed with a BIOS flash though) became voltage unlocked, I really really doubt they would do the reverse and lock the voltage on the 7970 Vapor-X. If anything, they'd unlock voltage if it was voltage locked.
You might want to consider getting this amazing 7970. It's your call. Friend is taking a "risk" here.
