BFG GTX 260 OCX MAXCORE Review Comment Thread

[SKYMTL]

I am gradually making my way through the pile of GPUs which built up in the last few weeks so today there is another review for you: that of the BFG GTX 260 OCX MAXCORE. This is a GTX 260 card with 216SPs and is overclocked to 'till it begs for mercy.

You can check out the review here: BFG GTX 260 OCX MAXCORE (216SP) 896MB Video Card Review

Please us this thread for all your questions and comments.

[slntdth93]

"we would recommend you look at investing in a god 700W power supply."
maybe first comment
Maybe if its possible do a ppd for folding as another benchmark

[chouchou]

Think a Q6600 Run at 3.2 paired with this would run on a hx620w?

[Inik]

I run an oc'ed GTX 280 with a Q6600 @ 3.2 without any issue ;)

[encorp]

There is a typo in the memory speed of the 9800GTX+

240mhz? lol slow card!


Great review so far btw; one of the first things I looked for was whether you guys used the i7 set up. I guess SKY dosn't have it or it went back?

Any idea when we'll see a single i7 platform to test video cards from ATI and Nvidia?

[SKYMTL]

I'm not going to use an i7 for the next while. The first thing that comes will be a new test suite and then in about 2-3 months an i7 setup.

[SKYMTL]

Originally Posted by chouchou

Think a Q6600 Run at 3.2 paired with this would run on a hx620w?

Yes, it will. I recommend a 700W PSU because there are many people out there who see "700W" and then think "well, it will run fine on a 600W". If I put 600W, there would be people thinking it will run ok on a 500W...which it probably won't.

[burebista]

Thanks SKYMTL, as usual a very good review for a dam good GPU.
Just a question sorta offtopic

If you are running this card with an overclocked quad core processor, we would recommend you look at investing in a good 700W power supply.

Why? If you pull 340W from the wall and 270W from PSU why do you need a 700W PSU?

LE: I see your reason, but is enough to say that a good brand 500-550W PSU is enough for this and not a craptacular 700W PSU.
BTW, and if we speak about PSU's I really miss your PSU reviews...

[lemonlime]

Great review, SKY

In regards to the PSU recommendation, not everyone runs Corsair, PCP&C and other high quality PSUs. I think the blanket 700W recommendation was a good one that won't steer anyone in the wrong direction--especially the less than savvy crowd.

[SKYMTL]

Originally Posted by burebista

Thanks SKYMTL, as usual a very good review for a dam good GPU.
Just a question sorta offtopic
Why? If you pull 340W from the wall and 270W from PSU why do you need a 700W PSU?...

This is a VERY good point and I am glad you brought it up. The reason for the recommendation is that the test I run for power consumption is VERY GPU intensive while the CPU is pretty much left at idle. As a matter of fact, if I look at the CPU useage log after the test, the CPU never goes above 5% on any of the cores. I do this so the CPU does not affect the overall power consumption figures and we can see a clearer picture of which GPU requires the most power.

I have also been thinking of adding a "worst case" scenario consumption test much like I did in the PSU reviews. Bacially running the Batch Size Test on the GPU while running OCCT in the background on the CPU. This would give a clearer indication of the power consumption in a GPU-intensive game that uses the CPU for physics calculations.

A good example of this would be in Crysis Warhead where I have routinely seen power consumption above 575W from the wall using the EVGA GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked card.

BTW, and if we speak about PSU's I really miss your PSU reviews...

They will be back but I am presently building the new PSU and GPU test system which will center around an X58 / i7 combo. The first PSU tested on it should be a little surprise from Corsair.

[sswilson]

Originally Posted by SKYMTL

This is a VERY good point and I am glad you brought it up. The reason for the recommendation is that the test I run for power consumption is VERY GPU intensive while the CPU is pretty much left at idle. As a matter of fact, if I look at the CPU useage log after the test, the CPU never goes above 5% on any of the cores. I do this so the CPU does not affect the overall power consumption figures and we can see a clearer picture of which GPU requires the most power.

I have also been thinking of adding a "worst case" scenario consumption test much like I did in the PSU reviews. Bacially running the Batch Size Test on the GPU while running OCCT in the background on the CPU. This would give a clearer indication of the power consumption in a GPU-intensive game that uses the CPU for physics calculations.

A good example of this would be in Crysis Warhead where I have routinely seen power consumption above 575W from the wall using the EVGA GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked card.



They will be back but I am presently building the new PSU and GPU test system which will center around an X58 / i7 combo. The first PSU tested on it should be a little surprise from Corsair.

I'd definately want a good 750W if there was a possibility for that kind of draw... I get nervous whenever real power draw gets over 60 - 70% for extended periods of time.

[SKYMTL]

Originally Posted by sswilson

I'd definately want a good 750W if there was a possibility for that kind of draw... I get nervous whenever real power draw gets over 60 - 70% for extended periods of time.

Well, 575W from the wall equals about 460W draw from the PSU itself based off of an approximate 80% efficiency with the HX1000.

[Xilikon]

I'm running a Q6600 at 3.8 GHz and a EVGA GTX 260 core 216 with the shaders overclocked to 1512 MHz, all on a Corsair VX550W without problems (and folding hard on both the cpu and gpu sides).

[burebista]

Originally Posted by SKYMTL

I have also been thinking of adding a "worst case" scenario consumption test much like I did in the PSU reviews. Bacially running the Batch Size Test on the GPU while running OCCT in the background on the CPU. This would give a clearer indication of the power consumption in a GPU-intensive game that uses the CPU for physics calculations.

Yes, yes, I think that's a very good idea.

Originally Posted by SKYMTL

The first PSU tested on it should be a little surprise from Corsair.

HX450 maybe?
My, oh my...I'm eager to see that review.

[Eldonko]

Good job mate. Looks like this thing may be worth the few extra $ over a 4870. Not to mention it would fold it into the ground.

Dugg