As time marches on, NVIDIA has gone from an extremely confusing line-up just a few short months ago to one that is quite a bit more streamlined. Within this same timeframe there have been a number of new cards released from both NVIDIA and ATI which have hit at different portions of the market. If you take a step back and look at what has happened since the release of ATI's R770 based Radeon HD 4870, though NVIDIA's role has shifted from taking and keeping the performance lead to desperately trying to react against unforeseen competition. The problem for NVIDIA was that both of ATI's new cards hit straight into price to performance section where NVIDIA didn't have an answer. - Hardware Canucks

BFG GeForce GTX 260 OCX MaxCore Version Review

To partially rectify this situation, NVIDIA's partners introduced the GeForce 9800 GTX+ edition to compete with the Radeon HD 4850 and after a short delay, showed us what their competitor to the Radeon HD 4870 looked like with the GeForce GTX 260 with 216 stream processors. When we first looked at this new GeForce GTX 260, we mentioned that every company would be calling their card something different and it turns out that we were spot on with that assessment. All of NVIDIA's major partners have their hands in this new Core 216 cookie jar so it is natural that BFG would release their own overclocked version of this card.

And much like their competitors, they have chosen a unique name with their new MaxCore designation for the unlocked GeForce GTX 260 cards. They have also gone ahead and introduced quite a few different versions of the MaxCore starting with the basic overclocked OC branded card, going up a notch with the OC2 and finally the highly overclocked OCX version. Even though there are three versions of this card, today we will be looking at the highest clocked one, the OCX edition. Since this is the highest clocked GeForce GTX 260 in the BFG lineup, it is not just meant to compete with the Radeon HD 4870 but to absolutely destroy it.

The packaging for the OCX MaxCore isn't anything to write home about since this is just the e-tail box which comes with a specifications sticker and little else. Remember, the OCX cards are not designated to make an appearance at brick and mortar shops so flashy graphics is not required. The protection afforded the card is more than enough to keep it safe from any bumps and bruises along the journey to and from the retailer. Basically, BFG wraps the card in an anti-static bag, then encases it in bubble wrap and finally places it within a rigid cardboard sleeve. Some very great protection but that was to be expected.

As with all of the GeForce GTX 260 versions we have seen to date, the MaxCore uses a full length heatsink which is coupled with a reasonably large intake fan. We have always loved BFG's understated cards. They don't need loud colors and atomic frogs or scantily clad vixens to sell us on a card. While the BFG card has the usual sticker applied to the top side, the underside is mysteriously devoid of any branding as seen on other GeForce GTX 200 series cards. That being said, this design actually play up this card's understated appearance. This simple design is just the way BFG likes to make their products and has been proven.

With consumers' pockets being pinched day in and day out by the steadily rising prices of darn near everything, many manufacturers far and wide are desperately looking for ways to distinguish their products from the competition. BFG seems to have done just that with their GeForce GTX 260 OCX MaxCore. This card was able to surge ahead of the competition due to its overclocked core, shaders and memory resulting in some truly impressive framerates in every single game we tested. Even against the mighty Radeon HD 4870 512MB, this card is able to run the show from start to finish time and time again.

We were talking about penny pinching so it is time to mention the price of the OCX MaxCore since all in all, it isn't that bad. The asking price of between $300 and $325 makes BFG's board quite affordable for the performance it delivers. When you factor into this equation the fact that GeForce GTX 280 cards are suddenly selling in the $450 range once again yet perform quite close to the OCX MaxCore, there really isn't a reason to not consider this product. All in all, the BFG GeForce GTX 260 OCX MaxCore edition left us with an extremely positive impression during the short time it spent in the test system.