XFX 9800GTX Black Edition Review

Motherboards.org takes a look at the XFX 9800GTX Black Edition.

XFX has become a household name in the PC industry and they have taken major strides to become a worldwide player in the VGA and motherboard game. They have market shares just about everywhere and have begun to really expand their sales across the globe. XFX started out slinging VGA cards, but as NVIDIA has grown into the motherboard arena they have followed suite and started making motherboards on the latest chipset offerings from them as well.

Recently there have been many releases of new NVIDIA based products to hit the market and almost every few weeks we have seen a new product hit the shelves as NVIDIA ramps up their battle not only against other VGA companies, but takes the battle to Intel to boot. NVIDIA plays hardball that is their game and like it or not they have made major strides in knocking their opponents off the field, but taking on Intel is like taking a big bite of a sandwich and hard to swallow as Intel as well knows the game and plays for keeps.

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BFG 9800GTX OCX Graphics Card Review

Manufacturer Product Page: BFG Tech – BFG NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX OCX 512MB PCIe 2.0
Product Number: BFGR98512GTXOCXE
Availability: Now
Warranty: Lifetime
Price: Click Here to Compare Prices

Just a few weeks ago Nvidia launched their highly anticipated 9800GTX and while we can debate forever about the public’s response to this particular card, it is here for the time being and it is a hell of a performer according to our past tests. Nvidia has pretty much achieved what they set out to do; to completely dominate nearly all of ATI’s offerings while christening the 9-series with a card worthy of the GTX name. In our original BFG 9800GTX review we saw that with relatively little effort, Nvidia released a card which brought new features to the table like full HDMI support and at the same time offered performance in the $350 category people only dreamed about a year ago.

Meanwhile, even though next to no time has passed since the release date of the 9800GTX, prices have already begun to fall to the point where some cards are retailing for under the $320 CAD mark. At that price we believe they represent a phenomenal value for that they bring to the table. This has also opened the door for companies to release pre-overclocked versions which may carry a higher price but they also offer performance which is uncompromising in every sense of the word. Nvidia lifted the veil from these cards a little while after the official launch so finding them is a bit hard but if you look hard enough, pre-overclocked 9800GTX cards ARE out there in the wild. As you may have already guessed, this review will be focusing on a certain card from BFG called the 9800GTX OCX.

To give you a little backgrounder, BFG is one of the largest Nvidia board partners here in North America and they have been offering their products to consumers for longer than many of us can remember. BFG prides itself in having some of the best after-sales service around while offering competitive prices to consumers who demand the best performance for their hard earned money. With a lifetime warranty and a newly introduced step-up program, they are truly forging their way into the forefront of consumers’ minds. They have also been known to release pre-overclocked cards more often than not but in the past many of these cards offered what could only be called severely limited overclocks. However, with the release of their OC2 and OCX lines (in addition to their normal OC line), they have brought more extreme factory overclocks to their customers. Their BFG 9800GTX is now being offered in four flavors based on how far they are pre overclocked; there is the stock card, the OC model has a moderate overclock, OC2 has slightly higher clocks while the OCX card we have here today is the best of the best.

As we already mentioned, the overclocked 9800 GTX cards come with a price premium over stock cards as is usual in the graphics card industry. However, be prepared for a bit of sticker shock when it comes to the BFG 9800GTX OCX since you will be shelling out about $400 Canadian if you want to hold this beauty in your sweaty little palms. While some of you may have gagged slightly at that price, I suggest you wait to pass judgment until you see how this thing performs in our battery of tests.

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BFG 9800GTX 512MB Review

Manufacturer Product Page: TBD
Product Number: BFGR98512GTXE
Availability: Now
Warranty: Lifetime
Price: Click Here to Compare Prices

It seems that within the last few months, no matter which way we look there is always another graphics card launch on the horizon. It used to be that the high-end cards were launched first and were then followed by the mid-end and lower end cards a few months down the road. Well, recent trends have been anything but normal and the market has been rife with all manner of cards from both ATI and Nvidia which are squarely targeting the more budget-minded consumer. There has never been a better time than now to be looking for a graphics card even though Nvidia’s lineup in particular has become extremely confusing for any first time buyer. Today marks the release of yet another assault on the sub-$400 price point by Nvidia with their eagerly-anticipated 9800 GTX.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and this holds true for the tried, tested and true Nvidia 8-series graphics cards. With the release of the 9800 GTX we are seeing another step away from the 8-series naming convention which has stuck with us like an old friend for the better part of 16 months. If you think about it, 16 months is a hell of a long time in the ever-changing world of faster processors and Moore’s law. So, after nearly a year and a half the 8800GTX will get the axe while being replaced with a less expensive and supposedly more versatile card. The new 9800GTX is billed as a card that offers not only extreme HD gaming but also offers a one-stop-shop of a bevy of other features which were not offered on the outgoing 8-series cards. With these new features, Nvidia is taking the road less travelled of forgoing brute force graphics power and instead focusing on a balanced entertainment experience.

When the last GTX went on sale, we saw its retail prices hit over $700 here in Canada but a lot has changed in the last 16 months and we are now in the glory days of price / performance wars between Nvidia and their rival ATI. So, instead of sticker shock the consumer is now saddled with the new 9800GTX retailing for between $300 and $360…or about half the price of the GTX of yesteryear. Not only is the price extremely good but our contacts are telling us that there will be plenty of stock on hand when retailers begin listing these cards. As usual, there will be prices running the gamut and overclocked versions galore but today we will be focusing on a stock clocked 9800 GTX from one of the more easily-recognized Nvidia board partners: BFG.

BFG has long been known as one of the premier graphics card manufacturers here in North America and in Europe. Not only do they have a dominating market presence but they back up this clout with some of the best warranty and RMA support around. The 9800GTX they sent us is their stock-clocked version (which will retail slightly above a bargain-basement 9800GTX) but in true BFG tradition, they will also have overclocked versions on their way in the form of cards with the OC2 and OCX monikers. So, without further delay, let’s dive right in and see what this new GTX is all about.

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