BFG GeForce GTX 260 896MB MaxCore – Updated GTX 260

From a visual standpoint, the new GTX 260 and the original GTX share identical looks along with the identical names.  (Just for easier typing, I’ll try to refer to them as GTX 260-216 and GTX 260-192.)

These cards were suddenly sprung upon us, and the NVIDIA partners, as was evident by the fact we didn’t get a card with an actual BFG logo on it.  If you are curious to see what the neat-o sticker will look like, here you go:

From a form factor, cooling, noise and features perspective, the GTX 260-216 is identical to that of the GTX 260-192 – both are dual-slot cooler designs, both have the dual-link DVI outputs with optional DVI-to-HDMI adapters, etc. 

I mentioned on the previous page that NVIDIA’s “reference” clocks for the new GTX 260-216 were the same as the original GTX 260-192 GPU but since NVIDIA isn’t really releasing a reference design to us, it’s is really completely up to the AIC to decide the various frequencies.  BFG is releasing not just one but THREE models based on the GTX 260 MAXCORE designation:

• GeForce GTX 260 OC MAXCORE
• Core: 590 MHz
• Shader: 1296 MHz
• Memory: 999 MHz
• GeForce GTX 260 OC2 MAXCORE
• Core: 630 MHz
• Shader: 1350 MHz
• Memory: 1063 MHz
• GeForce GTX 260 OCX MAXCORE
• Core: 655 MHz
• Shader: 1404 MHz
• Memory: 1125 MHz

That is an impressive range of clock speeds – expect the prices to be about $20 higher per step from OC to OC2 to OCX cards.  Just for reference, the clock rates of the GTX 280 card are 615 MHz core, 1350 MHz shader and 1107 MHz memory; that means there may be some areas where the GTX 260 OCX MAXCORE could outperform the GTX 280 if an application is clock rate bound even though it has 24 fewer shaders. 

Both GTX 260 revisions support 2-Way and 3-Way SLI configurations and in fact user will be able to intermix the GTX 260-216 and GTX 260-192 cards in any SLI configuration they wish.

The GTX 260-216 continues to require two 6-pin PCIe power connections.

And just like the GTX 280 and GTX 260-192, the GTX 260-216 is built on the GT200 GPU using the 65nm process technology from TSMC in this MASSIVE package seen above.