BFG Tech Announces Factory-overclocked GeForce GTX 260 Variants

[btarunr]

BFG Technologies, Inc., the leading North American and European supplier of advanced NVIDIA-based 3D graphics cards, power supplies and other PC enthusiast products, announced today the BFG GeForce GTX 260 OC2 and the BFG GeForce GTX 260 OCX factory overclocked graphics cards.

Backed with 24/7/365 free technical support and a lifetime warranty, the BFG GeForce GTX 260 OC2 and OCX versions are factory overclocked graphics cards that go through extensive testing to find the right mix of speeds for the core, memory, and shader clocks that will produce the best performance and uncompromisable stability at each level.

“Customers should be aware that companies who follow our lead and factory overclock their GPUs tend to rush into setting clocks as high as possible just to claim the highest MHz. However, without extensive testing these cards are likely to be more unstable and prone to a shorter life than our BFG OC series cards”, said John Malley, senior director of marketing for BFG Technologies. “The rigorous testing process we put our GeForce GTX 260 OC2 and OCX cards through to find the optimal speeds for the core, memory, and shader clocks gives customers a more stable, longer lasting, and better performing card overall”.

The two variants on offer, the OCX and OC2 provide:

BFG GeForce GTX 260 OC2

• Memory: 896MB GDDR3
• Core Clock: 630MHz (vs. 576MHz standard)
• Shader Clock: 1350MHz (vs. 1242MHz standard)
• Memory Data Rate: 2126MHz (vs. 1998MHz standard)

BFG GeForce GTX 260 OCX

• Memory: 896MB GDDR3
• Core Clock: 655MHz (vs. 576MHz standard)
• Shader Clock: 1404MHz (vs. 1242MHz standard)
• Memory Data Rate: 2250MHz (vs. 1998MHz standard)

Availability:
The BFG GeForce GTX 260 OC2 and BFG GeForce GTX 260 OCX will be available at leading online and in-store retailers throughout North America and Europe beginning the week of July 7, 2008. Visit www.bfgtech.com for more information.

BFG Trade-up program
Within 100 days of purchase, the BFG GeForce GTX 260 OC2 and BFG GeForce GTX 260 OCX graphics cards can be traded up to a BFG graphics card of greater performance and price, and the customer only pays the difference in price, plus applicable taxes and shipping. Currently the Trade Up program is only available in North America. Trade Up program for Europe is planned to launch this year. Learn more at www.bfgtech.com/tradeupprogram.aspx.

Source: BFG Tech

[mlee49]

I'm not usually one for factory overclocked, but I do have a 8600 gts oc that runs great 24/7. I can oc a bit more, but only 5% further. I guess this would be great for those that dont want to mess with oc'ing. I do like BFG: lifetime warranty, balls to the wall attitue, and the trade up plan sounds cool. Anyone use this trade up program? Sounds hopeful, I would like to know what qualifying cards are offered.

[lemonadesoda]

The "lifetime" guarantee and trade-up programme are serious Value Added for customers. I'll take a look at BFG when I next buy a GPU.

[btarunr]

What I learned today: GTX 260 uses 2x 6pin power input, not 6 + 8 pin. Neat.

[phanbuey]

man, they make a killing off those trade-up programs... they get to re-sell the card that you gave back, and you buy a higher-margin product.

love the thought of a lifetime warranty, plus its pre-overclocked "to the best standard" so no messing about in that area. I agree with what Lemonade said, might have to look into BFG next year come upgrade time.

[Weer]

Finally, BFG sets a REAL overclock on their cards. My 8800 GTS 512's were OC2 but overclocked from 650Mhz to 675Mhz. Ridiculous.

[tkpenalty]

I'm not paying 2x more for the same perf...

-rolls eyes-

(you guys know what I mean...)

[lemonadesoda]

Originally Posted by phanbuey

man, they make a killing off those trade-up programs... they get to re-sell the card that you gave back, and you buy a higher-margin product.

Er, no. Need to look closer at the math.

1./ You only pay the PRICE DIFFERENCE.

2./ The RETAILER makes the biggest margin, BFG ends up giving you a bigger credit than the money they ever received.

3./ They now have a USED card they must try to sell, or its big money down the toilet.

I'm sure they dont really make money on it. The reason to do it is pure marketing.

A./ You choose BFG over another brand.
B./ It sounds GREAT but most people (they hope) wont actually go for it.

I'm sure that if EVERYBODY that owned a BFG card took it back tomorrow to pay only the "upgrade" price for a brand new card, they would go bust.

[lemonadesoda]

Originally Posted by tkpenalty

I'm not paying 2x more for the same perf...

-rolls eyes-

(you guys know what I mean...)

You pay about $30 or EUR 20 more for the OC2 (on approx EUR 300). So you pay less than 10% more, for an overclock WITH LIFETIME WARRANTY.

Pretty good IMO. (If you are buying GTX 260)

But like you said, until you compare it to the 4870... :-)

[mlee49]

Originally Posted by tkpenalty

I'm not paying 2x more for the same perf...

-rolls eyes-

(you guys know what I mean...)

Anyone know price point for the oc'ed 260's? The price difference on egg is about $50 on thier super oc() 280 vs stock 280.

280 stock(600)~$629
280 OC(650)~ $659
280 SuperOC(665)~$675

Not a whole lot of price per preformance gain ratio.

[mlee49]

Originally Posted by lemonadesoda

Er, no. Need to look closer at the math.

1./ You only pay the PRICE DIFFERENCE.

2./ The RETAILER makes the biggest margin, BFG ends up giving you a bigger credit than the money they ever received.

3./ They now have a USED card they must try to sell, or its big money down the toilet.

I'm sure they dont really make money on it. The reason to do it is pure marketing.

A./ You choose BFG over another brand.
B./ It sounds GREAT but most people (they hope) wont actually go for it.

I'm sure that if EVERYBODY that owned a BFG card took it back tomorrow to pay only the "upgrade" price for a brand new card, they would go bust.

I would assume you would pay "Retail" price on an upgrade, so probably a 40% mark up from whatever you paid. I do think the trade up program is a huge marketing ploy, perhaps I'll look into since I have one.
Think they would let me trade up from my 8600 to a 260?

[tkpenalty]

Sigh I feel sorry for the guys over at BFG...

OC Edition eh. Wonder how perf is OC'ed

[btarunr]

Originally Posted by tkpenalty

Sigh I feel sorry for the guys over at BFG...

They don't deserve sympathy, they're doing just what every company in a competitive market is expected to do, sell their stuff. If they're falling into losses because of this, I don't see why they would continue with this scheme, it's not mandatory that a board vendor should.

[lemonadesoda]

^^ I think tk was commenting within invisible [sarcasm][/sarcasm] quotes

[btarunr]

Originally Posted by lemonadesoda

^^ I think tk was commenting within invisible [sarcasm][/sarcasm] quotes

Without that 'syntax', he barely sounds sarcastic.

[3xploit]

Originally Posted by mlee49

I would assume you would pay "Retail" price on an upgrade, so probably a 40% mark up from whatever you paid. I do think the trade up program is a huge marketing ploy, perhaps I'll look into since I have one.
Think they would let me trade up from my 8600 to a 260?

They only allow trade up from 9 series+

[mlee49]

I knew there were 'limitations' but thanks!