![[H]ardOCP](/images/blank.gif){kind=small}
- Date:
- Wednesday, November 08, 2006
- Author:
- Brent Justice
- Editor:
- Kyle Bennett
- Google +1
BFGTech GeForce 8800 GTX and 8800 GTS
Today marks the announcement of NVIDIA’s next generation GeForce 8800 series GPU technology code named “G80.” We have two new hard-launched video cards from BFG Tech representing the 8800 products. Gameplay experience TWIMTBP?
BFGTech GeForce 8800 GTX
The BFGTech GeForce 8800 GTX is the highest-end video card being launched today. As you can see it packs a hefty price, $599 in e-tail. It certainly physically feels like it is a $600 video card, the GeForce 8800 GTX is large and heavy with the heatsink fan unit covering almost the entire surface. (It is so big that Kyle joked the NSA was likely to not allow him on the plane with it back from NVIDIA Editor’s Day as it could easily be used as a melee weapon.)
The Core runs at 575 MHz and there are 128 Stream Processors that run at 1.35 GHz. The memory subsystem runs on a true 384-bit bus interface at 900 MHz (1.8 GHz) with 768MB of GDDR3. The GeForce 8800 GTX supports two dual-link DVI connectors and HDTV out as well as HDCP capability. We will go over what all this new architecture means on the following pages.
Here are both video cards folks, we have them lined up in the first two screenshots to show you how they measure up. The BFGTech GeForce 8800 GTS is exactly the same length, width and depth as the ATI Radeon X1950 XTX. The length comes out to 8.75 inches, the height at 3.75 inches and the width at 1.25 inches. The BFGTech GeForce 8800 GTX has the same height and width but exceeds the length of both at almost 10.5 inches long. The 8800 GTX is the same length as a RatpadzGS, which is roughly 1” shorter than a UPS Next Day Air envelope if you are looking for something to wedge into your case and see if your chassis is suitable for the GTX.
For the BFGTech GeForce 8800 GTX, BFGTech has designed the box so that all the major facts you need to know are printed clearly on the front. In the top-right corner is bold print indicates that this video card is PCI-Express. The front of the box also lists the included connectors so you know what support you will get right out of the box. At the bottom lists BFGTech’s full lifetime warranty and 24/7 technical support which is great to have on an expensive video card.
You’ve probably noticed the TWO 6-pin power connectors by now. Yes, you will be required to have both of these connected for operation. If you only plug one in the video card will “scream” at you thanks to its onboard speaker, letting you know you are missing a power connection. The bundle does include two 4-pin Molex to 6-pin PCIe power adapters if that is all you have; so that means four Molex connectors required when using the adapter. It is recommended that these connections be dedicated for the video card solely with nothing shared on the line.
Can I get a “HOORAY!” for the black PCB? (AOpen had it right back in 1999.) Enough said.
The power supply minimum requirements listed on the box state a 450W PCI-Express compliant power supply with a combined 12V current rating of 30A or more. The total TDP of the 8800 GTX is 185W, although you are likely to see only a full pull of around 150W under load, although it is possible to go higher. So…keep 185W as the magic number when you are figuring system load. The reason for two PCI-Express connections is because the PCI-Express slot provides 75W, and each PCI-Express power connector also provides 75W, so if you only had one you’d only have a total of 150W and it simply would not be enough to cover the card’s needs and stay within PCIe spec. With the PCI-Express slot and two PCI-Express power connections you have 225W available with the proper PSU. This extra power circuitry is also one reason why the video card is longer than the GTS.
Many of you will be happy to know that this video card is fully HDCP capable as well as supporting HDTV out and dual-link DVI.
You will also notice the two SLI connectors on this video card as this is something new, or at least one of them is. NVIDIA states that the reason for both connectors is to give room for future expansion with new capabilities and configurations. For example imagine having this video card SLI’d with another 8800 GTX and also have a third video card, perhaps the 8800 GTS dedicated for physics acceleration, all hooked up together. There are certainly some interesting ideas that will be possible on motherboards allowing three PCI-Express video cards.
Make sure and measure the room you have in your case before you go out and purchase this video card. Ours extended beyond the motherboard itself. In most computer cases the hard drives are directly in front of the video cards and I know how cramped it can be sometimes. Luckily the PCI-Express connectors on the video card are off to the side.
Both the BFGTech GeForce 8800 GTX and 8800 GTS bundles come with a BFGTech T-shirt, mouse pads, driver CD, some fun stickers and a quick install guide. Also included in the bundle is an HDTV-out connection, two Molex to PCI-Express converters and two DVI to VGA adapters.