Tuesday, February 17th 2009

BFG Quietly Slips in a Passively Cooled 9800GT

Feb 17th, 2009 18:21 Discuss (38 Comments)

First reported to Fudzilla, US online retailers, Newegg.com and Directron.com, have listed a passively cooled 9800GT based graphics card from BFG. Although there has been no official announcement, it has now also appeared on the companies own website named as the 9800 GT 512MB PCIe 2.0 with ThermoIntelligence Passive Cooling Solution. With a part number of BFGE98512GTHE, the card sports a quad heatpipe cooler mounted on the back of the card, as is usually found with most passive cooling solutions, though BFG seems to have done away with any memory and voltage regulator cooling. The card has no factory overclock so runs at the reference clocks of 600 MHz on the core, 1500 MHz on the shaders and a memory clock of 1800 MHz. Despite the card being sold as passively cooled, it is interesting to note that BFG has stated in the card's system requirements, "System chassis intake airflow greater than or equal to 25 CFM being directed towards the graphics card." Current pricing puts the card in at around $160 (US) with what would appear to be immediate availability.

Sources: BFG Tech, Fudzilla, Newegg.com

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38 Comments on BFG Quietly Slips in a Passively Cooled 9800GT

#26

Cheeseball

Not a Potato

Two 8800GTs/9800GTs/GTS 240s in SLi are still considered a great bang-for-buck alternative. Moreso with the 9600GT. The only problem is that you'll need an SLi-capable board.

#27

Unregistered

CheeseballTwo 8800GTs/9800GTs/GTS 240s in SLi are still considered a great bang-for-buck alternative. Moreso with the 9600GT. The only problem is that you'll need an SLi-capable board.

Single-card sytem is still more simple and that mean reliable ;), it doesn't need SLI-capable MB (like you noticed) and doesn't need such powerful PSU like SLI system. In single-card systems there are much less problems with compatibility and performance. In other words single-card system is cheaper simpler and more reliable.:cool:
I admit that SLI is really great thing, but when you use TOP cards, not such cheap cards like 9800GT.:)

#28

DrPepper

The Doctor is in the house

Yes but sli and xfire is more powerful than a single card. The 4830 xfired with another has better performance than a GTX280 in some games and its cheaper and probably uses less power.

#29

Unregistered

DrPepperYes but sli and xfire is more powerful than a single card. The 4830 xfired with another has better performance than a GTX280 in some games and its cheaper and probably uses less power.

Ok, let's see:). HD4830 - TDP=110W, 2xHD4830=220W, GTX280 - TDP=235. So we have 15W of difference. I don't think that it's important. Let's look on another things. We need CrossFire capable MB, but in case of single card we can use any MB with PCI-E. When you'll OC two HD4830 and GTX280, TDP of two ATI cards can be bigger, than one GTX280. I will not discuss advantages of nVidia GPUs, because it's another matter. Let's just say that it's personally choise of each user what system he wants to build.
What I really want to say? In case of BFG 9800GT with passive cooling, SLI capability is really not very important thing. You'll need a storm in your case to cool your passive SLI and, I suppose, passive CPU (in other case such card is just unreasonable purchase:)) with chipset in addition.:D If you want to have silence, you must lose some performance.;)

#30

KBD

Icewind31Looks exactly like the older Thermalright HR-03... the newer revisions of the HR has 6pipes... looks like someone just got rid of their excess stock :laugh:

OMG, yea :eek:

BFG got some nerve calling this their own, this looks exactly like the HR-03 Rev A. The only difference is that the BFG version can be mounted only 1 way. I have a feeling Thermalright may launch a lawsuit against them.

#31

Unregistered

KBDOMG, yea :eek:

BFG got some nerve calling this their own, this looks exactly like the HR-03 Rev A. The only difference is that the BFG version can be mounted only 1 way. I have a feeling Thermalright may launch a lawsuit against them.

I have a feeling Thermalright sells this to BFG;). Many manufacturers do so.

#32

KBD

LokeI have a feeling Thermalright sells this to BFG;). Many manufacturers do so.

if thats the case i'm surprised credit is not given to Thermalright and BFG actually calls this something else. Why not call it what it is? A lot of manufacturers use aftermarket coolers but always say what they are.

#33

Unregistered

KBDif thats the case i'm surprised credit is not given to Thermalright and BFG actually calls this something else. Why not call it what it is? A lot of manufacturers use aftermarket coolers but always say what they are.

Not always:). Besides, Themalright HR-03 have not exactly the same construction;). Cooler on BFG 9800GT is much more effective. Hot air is always going up:).

#34

KBD

LokeNot always:). Besides, Themalright HR-03 have not exactly the same construction;). Cooler on BFG 9800GT is much more effective. Hot air is always going up:).

The HR-03 can be mounted both ways, the backside mount: the way shown in the pic in the OP and the top side mount. So its not BFG's idea and not always the most effective mounting method as some CPU coolers interfere with it.

#35

Unregistered

KBDThe HR-03 can be mounted both ways, the backside mount: the way shown in the pic in the OP and the top side mount. So its not BFG's idea and not always the most effective mounting method as some CPU coolers interfere with it.

For passive cooling always:). If CPU cooler is interfere, than VGA cooler just can't be mounted in best way.;)

#36

DrPepper

The Doctor is in the house

LokeOk, let's see:). HD4830 - TDP=110W, 2xHD4830=220W, GTX280 - TDP=235. So we have 15W of difference. I don't think that it's important. Let's look on another things. We need CrossFire capable MB, but in case of single card we can use any MB with PCI-E. When you'll OC two HD4830 and GTX280, TDP of two ATI cards can be bigger, than one GTX280. I will not discuss advantages of nVidia GPUs, because it's another matter. Let's just say that it's personally choise of each user what system he wants to build.
What I really want to say? In case of BFG 9800GT with passive cooling, SLI capability is really not very important thing. You'll need a storm in your case to cool your passive SLI and, I suppose, passive CPU (in other case such card is just unreasonable purchase:)) with chipset in addition.:D If you want to have silence, you must lose some performance.;)

Ok how many boards are sli capable and xfire capable these days, which is most. Assuming the buyer plans ahead that wouldn't be a problem. The xfired 4830's would still use less power than the gtx280 and we can't bring oc'd into the equation because you can also oc the gtx280 and the power draw would still be in proportion.

Also the 8800GT/9800GT is very capable of passive cooling I had one myself and I was going to get another one sli'd and passive. Most I got temp wise with a single card is about 50.

#37

PCpraiser100

That looks old school. Reminds me of 7800GT.

#38

Unregistered

DrPepperOk how many boards are sli capable and xfire capable these days, which is most. Assuming the buyer plans ahead that wouldn't be a problem.

There are many MB with no SLI and no XFire capability, because far not everyone needs SLI and MB with SLI costs higher. I assume the buyers think about that fact.

DrPepperThe xfired 4830's would still use less power than the gtx280 and we can't bring oc'd into the equation because you can also oc the gtx280 and the power draw would still be in proportion.

BFG Quietly Slips in a Passively Cooled 9800GT

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