BIOSTAR TA870+ Motherboard Review :: Features

• Supported Socket AM3 Processors AMD Phenom II /Athlon II processor
• Supported AMD Multi-Core (x6, x4, x2)
• AMD 140W processor support
• AMD 870 Chipset
• 4 DIMM supported DDR3-1800/1600/1333/1066
• BIO-unlocKING
• 5 Phase Power Phase Design
• 2 Phase Memory Power Design
• 100% Solid Capacitors
• BIOSTAR GPU Technology
• ATI CrossfireX Technology
• SATA3
• External SATA II
• IEEE-1394
• S/PDIF
• BIO-Flasher
• BIO-Relife
• O.N.E.
• Rapid Switch
• Rapid Debug
• Tweak Tech

The BIOSTAR TA870+ motherboard is based upon AMD’s 870+SB8500 chipset combination which is the mainstream version of the AMD 8 series lineup of motherboard chipsets. This is lowest-end of the AMD 8 series lineup and is a good choice for those not wanting integrated graphics which most enthusiasts don’t bother to use in any situation.

BIOSTAR’s Green Power Utility enhances energy efficiency by disabling extra phases while the CPU is on light loading meaning that the system uses less overall power when the CPU is not under heavy load. GPU allows up to 27% power efficiency when enabled without losing performance in 3DMark06 according to BIOSTAR. The board uses all Solid capacitors which don’t leak as the earlier capacitors do.

AMD launched their 6 core CPUs earlier this year and have several models out including the 1090T and 1055T 6-core CPUs and the release of the 960T which is a 6-core CPU with locked cores. AMD has disabled AMD OverDrive with Advanced Clock Calibration on their 8 series of chipsets allowing the motherboard manufacturers to include it if they wish. BIOSTAR calls their unlocking technology BIO-unlocKING. This allows the user to unlock the locked cores of their CPUs if they wish and have a suitable CPU.

The TA870+ uses a 5 Phase Power Design with high quality power components such as low RDS (on) MOSFETs for lower temperatures and higher overclocking ability. The board also has two power phases dedicated to the memory allowing for tighter control of the memory voltage and power regulation. The board supports 140W AMD CPUs with the AM3 interface. Due to the pin configuration AM2+ CPUs will not work on AM3 motherboards but AM3 CPUs will work on AM2+ compatible motherboards.

BIOSTAR’s Green Power Utility enhances energy efficiency by disabling extra phases while the CPU is on light loading meaning that the system uses less overall power when the CPU is not under heavy load. GPU allows up to 27% power efficiency when enabled without losing performance in 3DMark06 according to BIOSTAR. The board uses all Solid capacitors which don’t leak as the earlier capacitors do.