Tuesday, May 18th 2010

BFG Tech Announces Exit From Graphics Card Category, Continues On With PSUs and PCs

Press Release by

May 18th, 2010 14:30 Discuss (96 Comments)

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.

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96 Comments on BFG Tech Announces Exit From Graphics Card Category, Continues On With PSUs and PCs

#51

Zubasa

ChampAre Nvidias really that hard to sell compared to ATI? Not trying to start a war, but I also thought historically, Nvidia was better than ATI? When I was a young child, my older brother built gaming rigs and all he used was Nvidia. I'm 23 so this had to be nearly 10 years ago.

It is not exactly how many cards they can sell, but also how much they make from each card.

For example, a company can sell 1 ATi card and makes more money than selling 3 nVidia card etc.
Companies like XFX and BFG with their long warranties, might not be making much money at all if they end up replacing too many of the products they sell.
The GTX 280's failure rate is as high as the Dual GPU 4870X2, while the 280 isn't much cheaper to make.
We both knows which card sells for more back then.

#52

xtremesv

ZubasaIt is not exactly how many cards they can sell, but also how much they make from each card.

For example, a company can sell 1 ATi card and makes more money than selling 3 nVidia card etc.
Companies like XFX and BFG with their long warranties, might not be making much money at all if they end up replacing too many of the products they sell.
The GTX 280's failure rate is as high as the Dual GPU 4870X2, while the 280 isn't much cheaper to make.
We both knows which card sells for more back then.

Actually, a little discussed topic is the financial one. For what I know GTX4xx are costlier to produce than HD58xx. I think Nvidia isn't willing to lose profitability so they pass the true cost to their partners who at the same time are beginning to complain in different ways. If Nvidia doesn't realize that sometimes a margin sacrifice is needed, they'll continue losing AIBP's :slap:

#53

cadaveca

My name is Dave

I'll say it again here, as it seems to match the situation.

nVidia IS NOT A HARDWARE COMPANY. They are a software company. AIBP's are hardware vendors, and are NOT nVidia's priority...Case and point...XFX and BFG no longer carrying new nV products.

It's not like BFG or XFX not carrying nV hardware will really affect availability for anyone...

And like XFX, I bet there is more to this story, as XFX promoted GTX480 before launch, and then changed thier stance. Soemthing in aquiring current cards is just not nice for these two companies, obviously.

I doubt BFG is going anywhere, but into higher profitability.

jonnyGURUOne of the conditions of my working at BFG is that I quit writing reviews for my site. So Tony Day (Tazz) is now the admin and Jeremy Schrag (Wolf) writes the reviews.

You made this pretty plain at the time too, if I recall correctly. Noone is really gonna hold ill will due to any of that. You set the standard in PSU testing, those that are aware aren't gonna forget that.

#54

stinger608

Dedicated TPU Cruncher & Folder

This is truly sad news! I have had many BFG video cards, and all have been top notch quality!!

#55

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

Never owned a BFG, but can't blame them for Leaving the Market due to abysmal sales from Green.

#56

steelkane

XFX & BFG leave, Will just see some other new companys come around, But I did like BFG cards

#57

Rakesh95

I just realised, how many companies are there now that make just nvidia cards... just a thought.

#58

Hayder_Master

BFG you have right to leave graphics, but there is an option leave NVIDIA carp and go with ATI

#59

Imsochobo

newtekie1I'm guessing this is a gentler way of saying "Nothing from nVidia is profitable right now, so we aren't going to sell GPUs until we are given something that is profitable, and we don't want to totally piss off nVidia by cutting ties completely".

And the fact that EVGA threatened with a exit, because nvidia wasnt nice to AIB partners at all, theese complications with EVGA was later resolved.

XFX doesnt drop nvidia all together, atleast not for this round, and i dont see the logic of dropping nvidia from XFX point of view.
Xfx dropped fermi, not nvidia just to correct some poeple thinking that XFX dropped Nvidia, just highend.

Nvidia's big players now are galaxy(not big), EVGA, and zotac. but they are all nvidia exclusive.
alltho galaxy may get crippled on income alot with fermi since they have no other products to fall back on. pitty, i really like Galaxy, innovative and sometimes stupid designs, but something diffrent.
And BFG

#60

Fourstaff

DrPepperI've never seen a BFG card for sale in the UK.

My first try in finding a BFG product:
BFG GT220 1GB DDR2 VGA DVI HDMI PCI-E Graphics Car...

#61

LifeOnMars

My first ever card was a BFG 6600 and it handled Doom 3 very nice.....More recently I had a BFG GTX 275 OC which was also solid as a rock.......I'm sure they will come back to the market.

#62

FreedomEclipse

~Technological Technocrat~

steelkaneXFX & BFG leave, Will just see some other new companys come around, But I did like BFG cards

XFX hasnt left. they are still doing Nvidia cards but just not the highend ones.

Rakesh95I just realised, how many companies are there now that make just nvidia cards... just a thought.

listed on their site:

Asus
EVGA
Galaxy
MSI
Palit
PNY
Zotac

are 'authorised' board partners.

#63

gumpty

DrPepperI've never seen a BFG card for sale in the UK.

My first two GPUs were BFG, a 8800GTS 640 and an 8800GT. They've always been very decent value too - for instance I got the BFG 8800GT OC2 for less than some stock standard 8800GTs.

It's sad to see the Big Friendly Giant leave the GPU market, but I suspect we'll see them again in the future.

#64

Rakesh95

FreedomEclipseXFX hasnt left. they are still doing Nvidia cards but just not the highend ones.

listed on their site:

Asus
EVGA
Galaxy
MSI
Palit
PNY
Zotac

are 'authorised' board partners.

Hey i was talking about Just Nvidia not both.

#65

FreedomEclipse

~Technological Technocrat~

Rakesh95Hey i was talking about Just Nvidia not both.

:confused::confused: I dont get what your trying to say. but surely its more profitable to do both ATi cards & Nvidia cards. Galaxy, Palit, PNY & Zotak are pretty much Nvidia exclusive partners. but other companies still do Nvidia cards too so i dont see what the problem is.

#66

DrPepper

The Doctor is in the house

FourstaffMy first try in finding a BFG product:
BFG GT220 1GB DDR2 VGA DVI HDMI PCI-E Graphics Car...

Hmm I don't really look on ebuyer. I was expecting BFG to be selling all the high end cards.

gumptyMy first two GPUs were BFG, a 8800GTS 640 and an 8800GT. They've always been very decent value too - for instance I got the BFG 8800GT OC2 for less than some stock standard 8800GTs.

It's sad to see the Big Friendly Giant leave the GPU market, but I suspect we'll see them again in the future.

Back after the 7 series BFG was quite prolific as well with the 8 series but they seemed to disappear after that.

#67

H82LUZ73

fochkophI'm guessing they'll be back for the next generation. Never personally owned a BFG card but have known others who have had nothing but great experiences with the company. Experiences that rival those of EVGA. Too bad they did pull a XFX and moved to ATi, their step-up program would be a nice addition to the red team.

I really do wonder how much they're losing if they continued to sell Fermi cards considering the last time I checked their custom PCs cost an astronomical amount of money and I would hardly consider BFG for power supplies.

ATI has had a trade up program for like 10 years now.........

Sad to see BFG jump ship,maybe they might start making ATi cards.......

#68

FreedomEclipse

~Technological Technocrat~

H82LUZ73ATI has had a trade up program for like 10 years now.......

maybe so but I cant find any info about it other then a few dead links posted in 2005/06 about the trade up program, also - when searching on their own website about it, nothing comes up.

so they probably do do a trade up program but they do not wish to honor it so silently take the information reguarding it off their website.

#69

jonnyGURU

ATI did have a trade-up program when there were ATI branded cards. But now that all ATI cards come from AIB partners, you're not going to be able to "trade-up".

In other words, you can't hand in an XFX or Diamond ATI card and expect to get something better out of ATI. When ATI got out of the business of making and selling their own boards and focused on just making the chips, that trad-up program was shut down.

#70

newtekie1

Semi-Retired Folder

xtremesvActually, a little discussed topic is the financial one. For what I know GTX4xx are costlier to produce than HD58xx. I think Nvidia isn't willing to lose profitability so they pass the true cost to their partners who at the same time are beginning to complain in different ways. If Nvidia doesn't realize that sometimes a margin sacrifice is needed, they'll continue losing AIBP's :slap:

Consider this:

Gaming GPUs make up more than 2/3rd of Nvidia sales, the high margin Quadro products bring in 2/3rd of Nvidia's profit.

Now consider that companies like BFG and XFX both don't sell the workstation side, and only focus on gaming cards, and you have your answer why they aren't wanting to sell nVidia cards right now.

Now to mention both companies are known for being smart businesses and riding on the coat tails of whoever is best at the momemt. Both rode nVidia's wave of success, before the 6000 series, when nVidia started to take the lead, XFX and BFG were unknowns.

#71

SeanG

H82LUZ73ATI has had a trade up program for like 10 years now.........

Sad to see BFG jump ship,maybe they might start making ATi cards.......

I have never seen or heard of any ATI tradeup program.:confused:

#72

H82LUZ73

Wow I just realized that they no longer do that my bad,Yeah they use to up until it looks like the 2900 series,Shame too it was really good back then you could trade up from a revenge-II to the new card and pay the difference.....Maybe AMD will see this and start it up again.

#73

Zubasa

H82LUZ73Wow I just realized that they no longer do that my bad,Yeah they use to up until it looks like the 2900 series,Shame too it was really good back then you could trade up from a revenge-II to the new card and pay the difference.....Maybe AMD will see this and start it up again.

The HD2k series was the last cards ATi made and the last cards to use the old naming scheme ;)
After that it is all AMD.

#74

thebluebumblebee

This is interesting. The GF104 cards are around the corner (the replacements for the 200 series) and I assume that the manufacturers have already gotten their hands on some samples and know what NV prices will be. I thought that NV was going to hit a home run with these new chips, but now it looks like maybe not. To me, BFG exiting says that the 4xx series are unprofitable. As a Folder, I find that disconcerting. We, the consumers, need a company like BFG to push the envelope. Although, Asus and MSI seem to be doing quite well in that aspect, and that might doom companies like BFG.:cry:

#75

T949

Wow even bigger smack in the face to ati, they know fermi is a bust but they won't even consider going ati exclusive. Guess that shows their confidence in ati :laugh:

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BFG Tech Announces Exit From Graphics Card Category, Continues On With PSUs and PCs

96 Comments on BFG Tech Announces Exit From Graphics Card Category, Continues On With PSUs and PCs

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