By now, we've all seen BFG (BFG
Tech) video cards at some time on a shelf or in another computer. They
started off as a fledgling company looking to get a foot hold and make a name
for themselves. And they succeeded by providing some seriously strong performing
video cards at a lower price than other companies which is what the they're most
known for as well.
Some of their greatest success came from their efforts when the first Geforce
6xxx series was released from Nvidia. Even I couldn't resist spending my hard
earned $300 for the new Geforce 6800 GT OC video card. It was buy their's
already overclocked, or shell out another $50 or more for another maker. And BFG
added two blue LED fans over a polished copper heat sink which none of the other
vendors could touch for the money. Thus, the upward trend began.
But, as they have grown, BFG now offers different products from Motherboards to
Power Supplies. It's been a while since we've seen another motherboard outside
of the Nvidia 680i series, but power supplies have continued to flow from their
warehouses. And sure, why not? They would know what kind of power supplies are
needed to power the hungry Nvidia based video cards.
Now, BFG didn't buy in to the early "the larger the power supply, the faster
you're computer will be" marketing hype. Their power supply specs have remained
more realistic as the stigma has faded. They have a good number of power supply
options starting from the 550 Watt GS and LS Series up to 1000 Watts. One of
their most notable models has been the ES-800 Power Supply popular with SLI
crowds.
Things continue to advance in the video card area and we find them requiring
less and less wattage realistically. So, smaller, more efficient wattage power
supplies are all the rage and everyone wants more power for their money. One PSU
that could very well be your next investment is the
BFG LS-680
Power Supply. As the model number denotes, it offers at least a solid 680
Watts with four 12V rails. Let's open this PSU and see what it can do.
Features & Specifications:
Efficiency and Performance Meets
Affordability
No longer does upgrading a power supply mean having to break the bank, nor does
a limited budget require you to have to ‘settle’ for a second rate unit. Upgrade
to a whole new level with BFG’s LS Series power supply. BFG’s LS Series features
a typical efficiency of up to 85% so more power is converted to DC than many
other power supplies on the market. BFG Thermal Control Technology ensures that
the unit runs as quietly as possible by varying the speed of the fan in response
to load and temperature. Quad +12V rails, over-volt, over-current and short
circuit protection provides rock solid reliability and safety.
Works with AGP, PCI, PCI Express®
Includes four PCI Express
Connectors for Dual Graphics Card Support
Features new 8-Pin PCI Express
Connectors
Quad 12V Rails
ATX12V 2.2
Supports the latest Intel® and AMD® based platforms requiring 24-Pin motherboard
and 4-Pin or 8-Pin 12V connectors. With the 20+4-Pin motherboard connector, it
is also backward compatible with previous ATX standards
Quad 12V Rails
By splitting the +12V source into four separate rails, your components are
provided the most stable power available while upholding rigorous safety
standards
PCI Express® Ready
The PCI Express 6-Pin power connectors ensure compatibility with many high-end
and several dual graphics card configurations without having to use unreliable,
often performance hindering adapters
SATA Connectors
Eight serial ATA connectors allow you to connect up to four serial ATA devices
without needing special adapters
BFG Thermal Control Technology
During regular operation, the fan slows down to reduce unnecessary noise
Protection Circuitry
Built-in protection circuitry is able to handle common power irregularities such
as over-voltage, overload, and short circuits
MTBF
A mean time between failure rating of greater than 80,000 hours guarantees a
long lasting and reliable source of power
High Efficiency
While most computer power supplies pinnacle at 80% efficiency, the BFG LS Series
is typically 80% to 85% efficient, which means more power drawn from the outlet
is converted to DC power for your computer than many of the other units on the
market