BFG GeForce 9800 GTX H2OC review

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3 - 1st base with the BFG GeForce 9800 GTX H20C

BFG GeForce 9800 GTX H20C

Right then, time to have a closer look at BFG's specific offering. Obviously two aspects of this card are out of the ordinary .. the first being that you need to add it to your existing water-cooling setup, the second the massive overclocks. For now we'll focus on the actual clock speeds as we'll have a closer look at the water-cooling block & installation in our photo-shoot.

The BFG GeForce 9800 GTX H2OC (overclocked edition) card is as stated a pre-overclocked version of the reference model as discussed in the previous chapter. So where the reference models have a core, shader processor and memory frequency of 675, 1675 and 2200 MHz respectively, the H2OC edition runs faster, much faster actually. Let's compare:

GeForce 9800 GTX reference clocks

  • Core 675 MHz
  • Shader processors 1675 MHz
  • Memory 2200 MHz effective

GeForce 9800 GTX+ reference clocks

  • Core 738 MHz
  • Shader processors 1836 MHz
  • Memory 2200 MHz effective

GeForce 9800 GTX BFG H2OC

  • Core 783 MHz
  • Shader processors 1944 MHz
  • Memory 2322 MHz effective

As you can see, the product in theory is a teeny weenie bit faster than the newly created GTX+ SKU. Yet while being a good amount faster than the regular GTX card, it's in reality close to the new GTX+, a card that offer much bang for your hard earned bucks.

And sure. if you find all this GTX violence bewildering, ... blame NVIDIA, not me please.

What's also interesting is that the H2OC 9800 GTX is 2 and 3-way SLI compatible. That's right, it is possible to combine three together and set them up in SLI. That way you will have three GPUs rendering your games. Though for this version would be insanely expensive.

BFG GeForce 9800 GTX H2OC review

Packaging and Accessories then, included in the box you'll find:

  • GeForce 9800 GTX H2OC model
  • Driver CD
  • HDTV block (3-way RCA component)
  • 6-pin to Molex power cable
  • manual / quick install guide
  • VGA->DVI dongle
  • HDMI adapter
  • SP/DIF cable
  • Two fittings (barbs) for 2-way / 3-way SLI
  • two fittings (barbs) each for 3/8" & 1/2" inner diameter tubing
  • two clamps
  • one 2" piece of 1/2" tubing for SLI

Pretty okay bundle. All you need to hook up the water-cooled card is the actual watercooling, your hands and make sure you have 3/8" & 1/2" inner diameter tubing.

Great stuff. Also included is a small SP/DIF cable. You hook it up to your mainboard/soundcard SPDIF lead, then connect the wire to the SP-DIF input on the card and now you'll have multi-channel audio over DVI -> HDMI HDCP v1.3 connection we just made.

  GeForce 9800 GTX GeForce 9800 GTX+ 9800 GTX BFG H2OC edition GeForce 9800 GX2
Stream (Shader) Processors 128 128 128 128x2
Core Clock (MHz) 675 738 783 600
Shader Clock (MHz) 1675 1836 1944 1512
Memory Clock (MHz) x2 1100 1100 1161 1000
Memory amount 512 MB 512 MB 512 MB 512 MBx2
Memory Interface 256-bit 256-bit 256-bit 256-bit
HDCP Yes Yes Yes Yes
Two Dual link DVI Yes Yes Yes Yes

Warranty
BFG will intro this product overclocked for you at default. Yet high-end or not, it comes with the luxuries that they always offer. Inside the USA you'll receive a full life-time warranty, which is just a really nice feature. Outside the US you are limited to 10 years warranty; which is still bloody fantastic. Mind you that if you purchase a BFG product then please within 30 days register yourself at the BFG website in order to activate that warranty. This is a new policy recently introduced. Don't forget to do so.
Trade-Up program
Though chances are slim that you will not use this on a 429 USD costing product, BFG recently introduced a Trade-Up program. Up-to 100 days after the purchase of a new BFG graphics card you are eligible to trade in your graphics card for a newer model, you only pay the difference in cost.

Small side-note you need to be aware of, the value of the BFG graphics card you trade in will be based off of the pre-determined MSRP of the card in question at the time you apply for the trade-up so the value of your BFG product will probably be worth less after a few months.

Again mind you that if you purchase a BFG product then please within 30 days register yourself at the BFG website in order to activate that warranty & rights for the Trade-up program. As menioned, this is a new policy recently introduced.

We'll slowly start up the actual test. First we'll look at power consumption, heat levels and noise. Then we'll show you a thing or two in our photo-shoot after which we'll obviously fire off the hottest games of 2008 at the card to see if it can deliver what it's supposed to. Next page please.

BFG GeForce 9800 GTX H2OC review

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