Related Articles

Nvidia released the GTX 295 last week -- but that turned out to be only half of a one-two combination punch. Today we are going to look at the other half of the combo, the GTX 285 OCX, courtesy of BFG Technologies.

The GTX 285 shares the same GPU as found in the GTX 295: the GT200b. The GT200b has one fundamental difference over the GT200, which powers the top-end GTX 280 and middle-road scrapper GTX 260. In an effort to improve efficiency, performance and yields, Nvidia has switched from a 65nm manufacturing process to a smaller scale, 55nm manufacturing process. The GT200b theoretically offers the same performance as the GT200, but is smaller, more efficient, and a bit cheaper to produce.

The GTX 280 has always been the quickest chip on the block, but that hasn't helped it irrevocably dominate this high-end of this current generation of GPUs from Nvidia and ATI. While the GTX 280 was faster than any single GPU ATI had in their arsenal, ATI was not overly concerned because they let the dual-GPU HD 4870 X2 to do all the talking for them. And this situation has not changed too much -- while last week's dual-GPU GTX 295 is the fastest card out there, ATI is not having trouble competing against either the GTX 280, or GTX 295, in a bang-for-buck comparison, with their dual card stalwart the HD 4870 X2. Not to mention the more recently arrived -- but somewhat harder to locate -- $300 performer, the Sapphire HD 4850 X2.

So where does this leave today's BFG GTX 285 OCX? Well that's what reviews are for, of course! We intend to find out. BFG -- in typical BFG style -- has also overclocked this GTX 285, so it should put in some strong numbers. But will it have what it takes to challenge ATI's dynamic duo?