It looks like BFG has finally received the final nail within its coffin and is officially “….winding down and liquidating its business” in their own words.  Some of their customers who have recently sent in BFG video cards for RMA have begun receiving the following letter from BFG:

BFG Technologies Inc. is in the process of winding down and liquidating its business.  Unfortunately, our major supplier would not support our business.  As a result, we are returning your graphics card without being able to repair it.  We apologize for the inconvenience.

It seems short and to the point but this will surely yank the short-hairs of people expecting a “lifetime warranty”.  It goes to show you though that nothing ever lasts forever.

Ever since their original statement that they were moving out the the GPU business, customers have been experiencing extensive delays when RMAing cards to BFG but in many cases RMA requests were still being honored.  Now it looks like cards are being actively RETURNED to customers UNREPAIRED as BFG just doesn’t have access to replacements or the components necessary to repair the cards.

We will have more about this in the coming days.   The letter below comes from a power supply that was recently returned to a customer.

BFG Technologies today announced their exit from the graphics card category. The company will continue to sell their line of BFG Tech power supplies as well as their Deimos gaming notebooks and Phobos gaming systems.

“After eight years of providing innovative, high-quality graphics cards to the market, we regret to say that this category is no longer profitable for us, although we will continue to evaluate it going forward”, said John Slevin, chairman of BFG Technologies. “We will continue to provide our award-winning power supplies and gaming systems, and are working on a few new products as well. I’d like to stress that we will continue to provide RMA support for our current graphics card warranty holders, as well as for all of our other products such as power supplies, PCs and notebooks.”

BFG will continue to offer RMA, telephone and email support for qualified BFG Tech graphics card warranty holders, but will no longer be bringing new graphics card products to market.

Editorial by SKYMTL:    This is indeed a sad day for the GPU market as it has lost one of its major North American players and will surely be a blow to NVIDIA as well.  Naturally, all of the signs pointed this way considering BFG had yet to release any GTX 480 or GTX 470 cards to retailers.  According to our conversations with representatives at BFG, Canadian RMA service and support should not be affected in any way and all Lifetime Warranties will be honoured.  We wish BFG all the best in the future and hope they can make another move into the GPU arena at a later date. 

In a bit if an interesting deviation from their usual production of NVIDIA based video cards and power supplies, BFG Technologies is excited to announce the new Deimos X-10 SLI Gaming Notebook.  Deimos X-10 delivers super fast frame rates similar to an SLI desktop rig, but offers gamers the convenient portability of a notebook.

Deimos X-10 can be configured with dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280M 1GB (SLI) graphics cards, which pump out ultra-lifelike graphics on the gorgeous 18.4″ full 16:9 HD (1920×1080) LCD screen.

The Deimos X-10 notebook allows gamers to take full advantage of NVIDIA SLI technology in a portable form factor. With proprietary software algorithms and dedicated scalability logic in each NVIDIA graphics processing unit (GPU), NVIDIA SLI technology delivers up to twice the performance (with 2 cards) compared to a single graphics solution.

“The Deimos X-10 SLI notebook is perfect for gamers and media enthusiasts who demand desktop performance but prefer the portability of a notebook,” said John Malley, senior director of marketing for BFG Technologies. “Deimos X-10 comes fully locked and loaded to deliver the ultimate HD mobile gaming and multimedia experience.”

Deimos X-10 is powered by the Intel Core 2 Duo, Quad or Extreme processors, supports up to 8GB of DDR3 Memory, and has three drive bays for up to 1.5 terabytes of storage space (SSD/HDD).  In addition to being a gamer’s dream, Deimos X-10 is a multimedia powerhouse that features an available Super Multi Blu-ray reader, 5 speakers with a built-in sub-woofer, supports Dolby surround, 4 USB2.0 ports and both HDMI and DVI output ports.  Deimos X-10 also ships with a free Case Logic notebook backpack.

FULL SPECS BELOW

Demios X-10 starts at $1,859, and when fully configured can reach $4,449. It is available for pre-order now at www.bfgsystems.com.  BFG Technologies offers a free service visit during the warranty period, and is taking 10% off the final invoice of every Deimos X-10 ordered between now and October 30, 2009.

]]> http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/news/systems-news/bfg-launching-deimos-x10-184inch-sli-gaming-notebook/feed/ 0 http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/news/cases-power-cooling/bfg-launches-ex1000-power-supply/ http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/news/cases-power-cooling/bfg-launches-ex1000-power-supply/#comments Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:39:01 +0000 admin http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/?p=3767 BFG Technologies, is excited to announce the new EX-1000, 1000 watt modular power supply.

The EX Series ushers in a new approach to power supply design, utilizing BFG’s proprietary Frequency Conversion Technology.  Frequency Conversion Technology drastically improves low load efficiency by emulating a lower sized power supply.  This allows the EX-1000 to remain at least 80% efficient, even with loads as low as 10% of the unit’s maximum capacity. The EX power supplies have the lowest minimum load requirements and offer the best +5VSB efficiency on the market.

This remarkable performance netted EX-1000 the coveted 80 PLUS Bronze rating from www.80plusgold.org.  The 80 PLUS performance specification requires multi-output computer and server power supplies to be 80% or greater energy efficient at 20%, 50% and 100% of rated load, with a true power factor of 0.9 or greater.

Of the 1627 power supplies currently certified to be 80 PLUS efficient, only 157 (less than 10%) are 1000W or greater, further distinguishing setting apart the EX-1000 from the competition.  The EX-1000 was rated higher than the Cosair 1000W, an OCZ EliteXstream, a SilverStone OP1000, and two Enermax 1000W power supplies.

Specifications

• ATX12V 2.2/EPS12V 2.91
• Quad +12V Rails
• Silent 135mm Intake Fan
• Efficiency: > 80% Typical
• MTBF: > 100,000 Hours at 25°C, > 20,000 Hours at 40°C
• 1000W Continuous Rated at 40°C
• PCI Express Ready
• Safety Approval: UL, CB, TUV, CE and FCC
• Dimensions: 15cm x 8.6cm x 16.5cm (5.9″ x 3.4″ x 6.5″)

DC Output

• +3.3V = 30A
• +5V = 30A
• +3.3V + 5V Max. Combined Wattage = 170W
• +12V1 = 36A
• +12V2 = 36A
• +12V3 = 36A
• +12V4 = 36A
• +12V Max. Combined Wattage = 984W
• -12V = 0.5A
• +5VSB = 3.0A
• -12V + 5VSB Max. Combined Wattage = 20W

In an interesting marketing move, BFG has stated that the power supply is available exclusively at BestBuy for $199.99. Hopefully it should hit the shelves of other computer retailers in the near future as well.

Source: BFG

BFG Technologiesannounced today the BFG GeForce® GTX 285 H2O+™ and GeForce® GTX 295 H2OC™ graphics cards with ThermoIntelligence® Advanced Cooling Solutions—saving customers time and money by providing a high performance graphics card plus a fully assembled, self-contained liquid cooling solution right out of the box.

The BFG GeForce® GTX 285 H2O+™ and GeForce® GTX 295 H2OC™ ThermoIntelligence® Advanced Cooling Solutions are maintenance-free, self-contained liquid cooling units attached to enthusiast-grade BFG Tech graphics cards that easily install into most systems right out of the box and never need refilling or additional components. These unique solutions feature a top of the line BFG Tech graphics card plus a high-performance cooling loop designed by CoolIT Systems™ that pushes coolant across the GPU and exhausts heat directly outside of the system chassis. Three different system speed settings—Auto, Quiet, and Maximum—give total control over acoustics and performance.
 
“We’re very excited to be the first company to bring this type of professional grade advanced cooling solution to PC enthusiasts”, said John Malley, senior director of marketing for BFG Technologies. “The BFG ThermoIntelligence Advanced Cooling Solutions provide customers a way to get all of the benefits of liquid cooling their graphics cards right out of the box, without having to install a separate liquid cooling system that requires assembly, filling, and challenging maintenance from time to time.”
 
Impressive Heat Dissipation
Both ThermoIntelligence® Advanced Cooling Solutions keep the graphics card running up to 30°C cooler under load as compared to standard air cooled models, which ensures reliable operation and longevity.
 
Custom Cold Plates
Both solutions feature highly efficient, custom cold plates that direct cooling liquid over vital parts of each specific graphics card to effectively absorb heat. 
 
BFG GeForce® GTX 295 H2OC™ with ThermoIntelligence® Advanced Cooling Solution
Memory: 1792MB (1.8GB) GDDR3 
Core Clock: 675MHz (vs. 576MHz standard) 
Shader Clock: 1458MHz (vs. 1242MHz standard) 
Memory Data Rate: 2214MHz (vs. 1998MHz standard) 
Processor Cores: 480 (combined) 
 
BFG GeForce® GTX 285 H2O+™ with ThermoIntelligence® Advanced Cooling Solution
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 
   

 
Availability
The BFG GeForce® GTX 295 H2OC™ graphics card with ThermoIntelligence Advanced Cooling Solution will be available in limited quantities starting August 5, 2009 at NewEgg.com in the U.S., and at leading online retailers in the U.K. 
 
The BFG GeForce® GTX 285 H2O+™ will be available in limited quantities starting August 12, 2009 at NewEgg.com in the U.S., and at leading online retailers in the U.K.

Source: BFG

In an industry first, BFG Technologies Inc., manufacturer of  graphics cards, power supplies, home theater equipment, announced today the BFG 100 Day Power Supply Trade Up Program.

The program is designed to give BFG customers a one time opportunity to exchange their current BFG power supply within 100 days of the original date of purchase for an upgraded model and only pay the difference in price, plus applicable shipping and taxes. 

The new Power Supply Trade Up Program continues BFG Technologies’ trend of adding innovative features and value-added services to their product offerings. BFG was the first company to offer round-the-clock free technical support and a lifetime warranty on all of their graphics cards. The company was also the first to give consumers an increase in performance right out of the box with their OC™ line of factory overclocked graphics cards. In 2008, the company introduced the well-received BFG 100 Day Graphic Card Trade Up Program. 

“The BFG Power Supply Trade Up Program is one more way we can provide our customers with valuable product enhancements and services that extend their technology investment,” said John Malley, senior director of marketing for BFG Technologies. “Customers can confidently purchase a BFG power supply today knowing that their investment will be protected if newer power supplies are launched soon after. The BFG Power Supply Trade Up program will also provide customers an opportunity to upgrade to a model more suited to their performance needs—whether that is more wattage, better efficiency, a modular version, or a combination of these features.”

The BFG Power Trade Up program applies to BFG power supplies purchased after June 1, 2009. While the program is currently only available to U.S. and Canadian customers, BFG will offer the program in other countries as becomes feasible to do so. Certain terms and conditions apply. For more information about the BFG Power Supply Trade Up program, visit http://www.bfgtech.com/psutradeupprogram.aspx.

 
SPECIAL LIMITED TIME OFFER

 
The new program will normally only apply to BFG power supplies purchased on or after June 1, 2009. However, until June 12, 2009, BFG Technologies is allowing customers to trade in their currently eligible and working BFG power supply for an upgraded model, providing the customer purchased the unit on or after January 1, 2009 and can provide proof of purchase. See http://www.bfgtech.com/psutradeupprogram.aspx  for details.