Biostar USA Version6.1 FM2 DDR3 1800 AMD A85X (Hudson D4) HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard Hi-Fi A85S3

After using a  MSI Socket FM2/AMD A75/DDR3/SATA3&USB3.0/A&GbE/MicroATX Motherboard FM2-A75MA-E35  (which I highly recommend) this just seems old school. The bios is just not as user friendly as the UEFI, and I couldn't get it to run at the same efficiency as the MSI (which has a nice "Eco mode" setting in its bios).My whole purpose in upgrading my computers was to save energy. For the last 3 years I've been running a Q6600 quad core, with 2 9600 GT's, watercooled. That rig was using 100+ watts just idling. The first upgrade I bought was the MSI motherboard and  AMD A6-5400K APU 3.6Ghz Processor AD540KOKHJBOX . It was amazing to see that my very capable new computer was only using 22 watts at idle (the whole tower). I decided to upgrade the other computer and thought maybe the newer chipset (A85) of this Biostar might even be more efficient. Wrong.. Same computer, same components and accessories, and the Biostar idled 10-15 watts higher. So I sent it back and ordered another MSI, Which is what I'm typing this review on (and only using ~25 watts).. :)

My old one worked great until I accidentally tore the face plate to the single PCI Express 2.0 off in my excitement to install a new video card. RIP old motherboard, you almost made it a year before my carelessness did you in.

Installed 5 months. Excellent quality, no issues installing or setting up. Great value for SATA 6Gb, USB 3.0, and HDMI

Arrived with missing parts.