What is the deal with AMD's pricings lately?

[buhquick]

In late july I bought an hd7970 for ~320 USD. This was almost the staple with sales always going on somewhere. Now the hd7970 is listed at 500USD. Furthermore, the R9 280x marketed for release at a price of ~300USD has since sold out on consecutive occasions (I believe due to bitcoin mining) and has raised more than 100USD in price since.

What is the reason for this? Someone more intelligent than I please enlighten me.

 

[ikaz]

bitconner's AMD card are "cheap" compaired to pro cards which I think you would have to use if you wanted to go to the Green team.

 

[vmem]

supply and demand...

I don't mine myself so I'm almost considering selling my 7970 for a gtx 780 or something