BFG GeForce GTX 285 OCX review - BFG GeForce GTX 285 OCX edition

BFG GeForce GTX 285 OCX edition

Alright, let's have a closer look at the card and bundle itself. Boxed you'll spot a BFG GeForce GTX 285. Our model is the OCX edition. BFG always has a couple of extras in terms of choices available to you guys, especially when it comes to pre-overclocked products. Your humble choice in BFG's GTX 285 lineup:

BFG GeForce GTX 285 OC

• Memory: 1024MB (1GB) GDDR3
• Core Clock: 666MHz (vs. 648MHz standard)
• Shader Clock: 1512MHz (vs. 1476MHz standard)
• Memory Data Rate: 2484MHz (vs. 2484MHz standard)
• Processor Cores: 240

BFG GeForce GTX 285 OC+

• Memory: 1024MB (1GB) GDDR3
• Core Clock: 675MHz (vs. 648MHz standard)
• Shader Clock: 1548MHz (vs. 1476MHz standard)
• Memory Data Rate: 2520MHz (vs. 2484MHz standard)
• Processor Cores: 240

BFG GeForce GTX 285 OC2

• Memory: 1024MB (1GB) GDDR3
• Core Clock: 691MHz (vs. 648MHz standard)
• Shader Clock: 1566MHz (vs. 1476MHz standard)
• Memory Data Rate: 2592MHz (vs. 2484MHz standard)
• Processor Cores: 240

BFG GeForce GTX 285 OCX

• Memory: 1024MB (1GB) GDDR3
• Core Clock: 702MHz (vs. 648MHz standard)
• Shader Clock: 1584MHz (vs. 1476MHz standard)
• Memory Data Rate: 2664MHz (vs. 2484MHz standard)
• Processor Cores: 240

Dang, quite a line-up eh? Pricing of course will vary a lot but expect 399 to 459 USD.

With each card everything you need is included, including two 6-pin power connector converters, HDMI adapter and a S/PDIF cable. The card itself is evidently reference based, yet is tested and at default overclocked for you. Meaning it needs to pass a certain protocol at quality control to make the OCX yield.

Bundled with BFG's GeForce GTX 285 is a truckload of cables and connectors. I really enjoyed seeing this, check it out:

• GeForce GTX 285 1024 MB
• Driver CD
• 2x 6-pin to Molex power cable
• manual / quick install guide
• Analog RCA component cable
• VGA->DVI dongle
• S/PDIF cable

Also included is a small S/PDIF cable. You connect it to your mainboard or soundcard S/PDIF lead, then connect the wire to the S/PDIF input on the card and now you'll have multi-channel audio over the HDMI HDCP v1.3 connection we just made. BFG isn't really keen on inserting games into the bundle, but they do make that up with some other goodies, which we'll mention in a tidbit, patience is a virtue you know.

We'll be testing the OCX edition and and as you can observe from the clock frequencies, it's the fastest pre-overclocked product available, and I always say... if you get a product with such clocks, you might as well go with a brand like BFG, for the reasons explained below like warranty, but also for the fact that these cards have been tested to run stable at such clock frequencies.

Warranty
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 register yourself within 30 days at the BFG website in order to activate that warranty. This is a new policy recently introduced. Don't forget to do so. So what do you rather have? A year warranty with a full game, or a lifetime warranty? Exactly, point made.

Trade-Up program
Though chances are that you will not use this option on a product costing 499 USD, BFG recently introduced a Trade-Up program styled after eVGA. 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, bear in mind 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.