Please don't give your money to BFL...let this ponzi + bait and switch scam die already.

Avalon and ASICMiner actually deliver what's ordered.

Finally we can make some damn salsa

As CK says of cgminer, the 7970 requires the memory clock to be no more than -150 than the engine clock.  Per the cgminer readme:

--gpu-memdiff -125
This setting will modify the memory speed whenever the GPU clock speed is
modified by --auto-gpu. In this example, it will set the memory speed to
be 125 Mhz lower than the GPU speed. This is useful for some cards like the
6970 which normally don't allow a bigger clock speed difference. The 6970 is
known to only allow -125, while the 7970 only allows -150.

I don't have any experience with the Nano Diamond. I've used AS Céramique, which is nice for GPUs cuz it's non-conductive, and pretty decent.

Make sure that the fans on your case aren't being controlled by your motherboard. I have them plugged right into a molex adapter, so they're running at 100% off the 12V line.

Idk why your temps are so high. As I said, I'm OC'd to 1200MHz and I'm only using an Antec 300 case, and my temps right now are 69C. Try taking the heatsink off and repasting it? I always do that to any GPU I get.

Ya mine actually ran cooler when I took the side of my Antec 300 off. I didn't like the dust, so I put it back on, and had the fan by the GPU blowing out, not in.

Ya 1180 isn't bad at all! What program are you using to underclock the memory? CGMiner won't work with the 1180/110 setting, but will think it does. Try using a 3rd party program like GPU-z and watch the sensors tab to see the actual mem speed, not the reported mem speed. Yes, they can be different. You also won't notice a huge difference with the 1100 setting. Try using MSI AB to set it to something around 375-410.

Ya mine actually ran cooler when I took the side of my Antec 300 off. I didn't like the dust, so I put it back on, and had the fan by the GPU blowing out, not in.

I would NOT recommend messing with the BIOS. I tried to flash a voltage unlocked BIOS, and now my card won't be recognized by any of the AMD drivers, and I can't mine. I had to shut down the computer, flip the Dual-BIOS switch, and it's been running on the backup read-only BIOS for ~6 months now, no issues. Even with this backup BIOS, it's still voltage-unlocked, but it just takes a LOT of mucking around in MSI AB to get it working.

I'm on Win8x64, 13.1 (and included SDK), CGMiner 2.11.0, E:1200  M:1050  F:90%  and ~72C for a constant 722MH/s per card. I've had great luck with this card! It is eventually possible to undervolt, but you gotta mess with it. At this point, it's more profitable to max your overclock, and not worry about undervolting, so that part kinda doesn't matter as much. The Triforce cooler keeps the Core Engine temp pretty low, but leaves a bit to be desired with the VRM cooling, especially with the higher-than-normal stock voltage, and the itty bitty heatsink on them. I run the fan at higher speeds for the VRM cooling, regardless of the Core temps.

All in all I love these cards, so idk why you would hate them so.

Got a pair of 7970s running at core 1075 (stock 1000 Mhz) and memory 1200 (stock 1425), stock volts. Card is voltage-locked unfortunately. But I cannot get memory ro run at less than 1200. Any lower, and system crashes.

Any idea why? Others seem stable at much lower memory underclocks!

you do realize that for bitcoin mining, you're supposed to downclock memory A LOT, right? not sure how it is with 7000 series but I can downclock my 5850 from 1000 to 300 with hash rate increase!

Well if you don't care about price, then buy this:
http://www.asus.com/ROG/ARES26GD5/

Dual 7970 GPU with hybrid air/liquid cooling. You can directly funnel the heat out of the case. Wicked expensive. But hey, you said "regardless of price" right?

And since you're persnickity:

Acclaimed DIGI+ VRM joins superior quality 20-phase Super Alloy Power for precise digital control, enhanced performance, reliability, and card longevity

GPU Tweak: modify clock speeds, voltages, fan performance and more, all via an intuitive interface

Depending on the manufacturer, you may be able to load different firmware on the card. My Gigabyte Windforce GHz edition 7970 came with a stock voltage of 1.25V; with their "standard" firmware (instead of "GHz"), that went down to 1.17V which has helped with temps and actually gets me better hash rate since I use auto core clock control in cgminer to maintain constant temp.

Oh, and try Florida if you think you are struggling with temps ;-)

Then the sky is the limit. Or? maybe just get a few 7990 

you talk about windforcce 3?

You need a new case.  I've got 2x of the same cards mining LTC (granted at like 1022 core 1244 mem for optimum khash) but have no issues keeping them below 80C and rock solid.

Open your case up and maybe put the miner in the garage if you have one, or build a cover and let it mine outside.

You're getting 2 7970s inside a case to run at 1180 and you're complaining?

Yes 7950s are a viable choice. Here in europe I compared the price and you getting excactly the same hashrate for your buck than with the 7970s.

Generally, people with advanced degrees in economics do not bloviate on Internet forums, and even if they did, they don't have much reason to share their credentials or their identity.  Degrees or any other such qualifications are generally hard to prove, anyway, so why bother?

I tried to fund my mtgox account to buy some while they are low and it is still stuck in no-where land. Its quite disappointing watching the market rise when I know i could have had a stake in it.