XFX Stages Marketing Campaign Around Black Series GPUs [XFX's Radeon HD 5970 Promoted Through False Security Alert, Watch Out For Number #68]

Posted on TFTS by Kevin Schram on Friday, 23. April 2010 under: Computers & Computing

A few months ago I e-mailed XFX’s PR people for comment on a story I wrote here. They didn’t reply to my inquiries, but instead, added me to their newsletter mailing list (gee, thanks). So, myself and tons of others got this “Security Alert” from XFX the other day that explains that one of their 1000 limited edition “Black Series” Radeon HD 5970 cards was stolen. Too bad it’s all “gamertainment”.

You can read our first coverage about XFX’s Black Series here when it was first leaked (which, after today’s news, was probably leaked by them). The Black Series graphics card will be a highly-overclocked special ATI Radeon HD 5970 from XFX.

It will feature 4GB of VRAM (double what the reference ATI card has) and while we don’t know what clockspeed it will have – it will have six video ports on the back and will support ATI’s Eyefinity6 six-monitor technology. It will also come in a special case that looks like a machine gun. They’re going to make only 1000, too.

So, here’s the “Security Alert” that those of us on the XFX mailing list received a few days ago:

Dear XFX Customers,
In light of recent events, we have come to suspect that one of our 5970 Black Edition Limited cards may have been compromised. In our current inventory check of this limited run of 1,000 individually serialized pieces, #68 has been unaccounted for. Due to evidence of a security breach in our facility, we believe it to have been illegally obtained as the product has yet been released per the embargo date. Please be aware that the person responsible will be subject to persecution by law. If any news can be provided to lead us to the apprehension of the suspect, or you can provide us with any information, please report it to security@xfxforce.com. Please do not attempt to buy, trade, or barter for this unit. We thank you for your cooperation and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Sincerely,
XFX

Keep in mind that this came out while that Lost iPhone in a Bar episode was going on – so this is probably some sort of marketing campaign to emulate that. We know it’s a “gamertainment” campaign because the legal print at the bottom of the e-mail says so.

I suppose it’s a pretty cool way to get the word out on your new limited edition graphics card. Rumor has it that if you buy the #68 card and report it to XFX, they’ll give you a cash prize or something.

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