BFG Technologies
Pioneer of factory-overclocked graphics cards with lifetime warranty.
BFG Technologies was a privately owned U.S. company that supplied power supplies and Nvidia-based graphics cards, and also built high-end gaming and home theater computers. Its products were sold in North America and Europe through retail and online channels, with its main headquarters in Lake County, Illinois, near Lake Forest.
The company was best known among computer enthusiasts for its factory-overclocked graphics cards, a practice it helped pioneer, as well as its lifetime warranty and round-the-clock U.S.-based technical support. Its earlier cards carried the Asylum brand, but that name was dropped after the Nvidia 5 series. Later flagship models included the air-cooled GeForce GTX 285 OCX and the water-cooled GeForce GTX 295 H2OC; an air-cooled GTX 295 was also made but not overclocked. In May 2010, chairman John Slevin announced the company would stop developing graphics cards due to lack of profitability. By August 2010, BFG began liquidating its GPU business, which later expanded to the entire company. It stopped honoring warranty returns, instead sending products back with an explanatory note. PNY Technologies then offered a coupon exchange program for BFG card owners, which ended on December 31, 2010. The BFG brand was later acquired by Best Data, which also owns Diamond Multimedia.
In January 2009, BFG launched its Phobos desktop computer line, which included a touch-panel LCD for performance control, BFG graphics cards, CoolIT liquid cooling, and Intel processors.
BFG also produced a full range of ATX power supplies. Its earlier lineup included models from 530 W to 1000 W, later refined into three series. The GS Series (GS-450, GS-550, GS-650) were mainstream units rated at peak power and room temperature, sold mainly at retailers like Best Buy. The LS Series (LS-450, LS-550, LS-680) were rated at continuous power and 40 °C. The flagship ES Series had only one model, the ES-800, rated continuously at 40 °C and featuring "Frequency Conversion" technology that adjusted switching frequency with load for better efficiency at low loads. The ES Series was later replaced by the EX Series, which added a modular cable interface.
Additionally, BFG offered a 128 MB PhysX processing card using Ageia's chip, available only in a PCI version.
Quick Facts
- Defunct
- 2010 · 09
- Fate
- Liquidation; brand and certain assets acquired by Best Data
- Hq Location City
- Lake Forest, Illinois
- Hq Location Country
- U.S.
- Key People
- Scott Herkelman / (CEO) · John Malley / (Sr. Dir Marketing) / David Ash / (Sr Product Mgr)
- Industry
- Graphics card, motherboard, power supply, desktop computer and PC accessory manufacturing
- Products
- Nvidia graphics cards, Nvidia nForce motherboards, computer power supply units, desktop PCs, AGEIA PhysX PPUs
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
BFG Technologies manufactured graphics cards for mainstream to enthusiast level computers, known for their Asylum brand until the Nvidia 5 series. They were best known by computer enthusiasts for overclocked (OC) versions of their graphics cards, lifetime warranty, and 24/7/365 U.S.-based technical support. BFG was among the first graphics card companies to offer cards that were already overclocked from manufacturer recommended speeds, a model later copied by many other manufacturers. Their most recent flagship graphics cards were the BFG Nvidia GeForce GTX 285 OCX as an air-cooled solution and the BFG Nvidia GeForce GTX 295 H2OC as a water-cooled solution; an air-cooled version of the GTX 295 was also manufactured but was not overclocked.
On May 18, 2010, chairman John Slevin announced that BFG would no longer be developing graphics cards, as it was not profitable. In August 2010, BFG began liquidation, initially for the GPU business but eventually expanding to the entire company. BFG ceased to honor RMA requests, returning products with a short letter. PNY Technologies offered an exchange program for BFG customers to receive a coupon for a discounted PNY video card, which ended on December 31, 2010. The BFG brand name was subsequently acquired by Best Data, who also owns the Diamond Multimedia brand.
BFG also manufactured a full range of power supply units, including the GS Series (GS-450, GS-550, GS-650), the LS Series (LS-450, LS-550, LS-680), and the flagship ES Series (ES-800) with 'Frequency Conversion' technology, later replaced by the EX-Series with a modular interface. They offered a 128MB PhysX card using Ageia's PhysX processing chip, available only in a PCI version in retail packages. On January 5, 2009, BFG launched its desktop computer line called Phobos, featuring a touch panel LCD with performance control, BFG Tech graphics cards, and liquid cooling solutions from CoolIT.
Reader's Guide
BFG Technologies' significance lies in its pioneering role in the graphics card market as one of the first companies to offer factory-overclocked cards, a practice that became widespread among competitors. The company's commitment to a lifetime warranty and 24/7/365 U.S.-based technical support set a high standard for customer service in the enthusiast segment. Its Asylum brand, though discontinued after the Nvidia 5 series, was a recognizable name among gamers. The company's eventual exit from graphics card development in May 2010, followed by liquidation in August 2010, marked the end of an era. The legacy of BFG is preserved in part by PNY's temporary exchange program for BFG customers, and the brand name's acquisition by Best Data. BFG's power supply lines, particularly the ES Series with its 'Frequency Conversion' technology, also contributed to its reputation for innovation. The Phobos desktop computer line, launched in January 2009, demonstrated BFG's expansion into complete system integration. The company's history illustrates both the rapid evolution of graphics hardware and the challenges of maintaining profitability in a competitive market.
Did You Know?
- The Nvidia 5 series of graphics accelerators were the last to use the Asylum brand name.
- BFG's flagship water-cooled card was the Nvidia GeForce GTX 295 H2OC.
- The BFG brand name was acquired by Best Data, which also owns the Diamond Multimedia brand.
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