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Vendor Cards: BFG GeForce 7800GTX OC

 by Derek Wilson & Josh Venning on August 4, 2005 2:39 PM EST
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20 Comments

User Overclocking

BFG is known for overclocking, and as it turns out, this card is no exception. While the BFG's default core clock is about 10MHz higher than EVGA's, there's technically no difference in their core speed. This is because between 446MHz and 472MHz, there's a plateau where in spite of what the indicator says , the performance remains the same. However, as we mentioned before, there is a difference in the memory clock speed: 1.3GHz for the BFG 7800GTX versus 1.2GHz for the EVGA and other 7800GTX cards that we've tested to date.

We're still waiting on NVIDIA to provide us with more information about how they handle clock speed adjustment, and for right now, we can provide you with a more accurate depiction of how the settings in the control panel actually affect the card. To recap from the last article, we've found that the core clock control gauge is not a completely accurate measure of actual clock speed. In short, between certain points on the core clock meter (the range between points changes in relation to clock speeds), we see no increase in performance; then suddenly. there is a jump to the next "level". Here's the detailed frequency scaling chart.

Splintercell Scaling

An example of the performance jumps is that we see about a 1 FPS increase between 425 and 426MHz, but then until we get to 446MHz, there's hardly any increase in frame rate at all. This being the case, we've decided to overclock our cards consistently at the beginning of each plateau to which we are able to overclock it. For instance, with the BFG 7800, we were able to set our core clock speed initially as high as 499MHz. Since there's really no difference in performance, we set our core clock to 473MHz while testing. The main thing that you should keep in mind when comparing factory overclocked cards is that the clock speed listed on the box may not make it any better or worse than the other overclocked cards out there, especially if the difference is small; it is between the EVGA e- GeForce GTX (OC) and BFG's 7800GTX OC.

The Card Test Setup and Performance
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  • Spacecomber - Thursday, August 4, 2005 - link

    Hey Derek, this is a bit tangential, but in the comments to the MSI 7800GTX review you provided a link to the demo you used for running the BF2 benchmarks. I gave it a quick try and it wouldn't run for me (game exits to desktop). I was wondering what verion of the game were these made for, the original unpatched game, perhaps? I was trying the demo with a game patched to v1.02.

    Thanks,

    Space

  • DerekWilson - Thursday, August 4, 2005 - link

    Only works on 1.0

    We may consider looking at demos for the 1.02 (or later) version.

    Thanks,
    Derek Wilson

  • Spacecomber - Friday, August 5, 2005 - link

    Ok, that's what I thought. Thanks. It's no big deal, of course; I just like fooling around with this kind of stuff. (But not enough to reinstall the game without the patch. ;-) )

    Space

  • allnighter - Thursday, August 4, 2005 - link

    I think it was unfairly downplayed to factory OC on the memory being the only advantage. So not true. The fact that you can get a hold of a support rep in the middle of the night, seven days a week, is a pretty big deal. Than the fact that the card comes bundled with othe stuff, like free utilities and a pack of teflon slick pads was omitted. Those present a value to the gamer as well. The t-shit, although oversized (XL) is actually a nice touch, free advertising or not. Another thing - the card I purchased did come bundled with a game. Granted, it was Far Cry, fairly old compared to BF2 and even Riddick, never the less, it was in the box.

  • allnighter - Thursday, August 4, 2005 - link

    OMG, I really need to use the spell check before I post. Would you kindly help me out with that?

  • BaronVonAwesome - Thursday, August 4, 2005 - link

    I don't have enough time to read this as thoroughly as I would like, but did the article happen to mention BFG's lifetime warranty (which I personally think is worth more than any game bundle)? I would go with the BFG myself.

  • JarredWalton - Thursday, August 4, 2005 - link

    It's mentioned on the last page, along with the fact that EVGA now offers the same lifetime warranty. I can't personally vouch for the quality of either, having never used their tech support, but I've heard they're both good.

  • Son of a N00b - Thursday, August 4, 2005 - link

    there is a small typo on the OC'ing page... ge t should be get...lol


    Nice article...very complete

    Good Job...I myself have had awesome experiences with BFG, not to mention their tech support, RMA support, and life time warrenty...

    So when I get my 7800's I will be going BFG.

  • DVad3r - Thursday, August 4, 2005 - link

    I would really love to see a Leadtek 7800 GTX review...and an Asus one for that matter...I am going to be buying a new system soon and I am hard pressed to choose between Asus/Leadtek/BFG?

  • CtK - Thursday, August 4, 2005 - link

    Its about time :)
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