It has been some time (2017, exactly), since we have taken a deep have a look at a Biostar board. With an MSRP of $260 and avenue costs bouncing between $225 and $333, Biostar’s B760A-Silver is an ATX-size motherboard that blurs the boundary between a mainstream and a midrange board. Its conservative black-and-silver design spans all kinds of options, together with three M.2 slots and 4 SATA ports for storage, built-in 2.5Gbps Ethernet, a strong audio resolution, a USB Kind-C port on the rear I/O panel, and ample energy supply even for the flagship Core i9-13900K we use for testing. Its primary shortcoming is an absence of built-in Wi-Fi, however many Intel desktop builders will discover it fills the invoice, particularly if you could find it in inventory on the decrease finish of the worth vary.
Board Design, CPU, and Reminiscence
The B760A-Silver sits on a black six-layer PCB with silver heatsinks protecting all crucial components. The heatsinks for the VRMs are sufficiently massive, with sufficient floor space to maintain the ability bits under them operating inside spec. Embossed on the highest is Silver branding with black and grey traces operating diagonally by means of it and the chipset heatsink. When you’re searching for built-in RGB lighting, you will be upset, although the board has three headers so as to add your individual strips and different bling, and also you additionally get software program to manage it. General, the Biostar’s look will not flip any heads, however you will not want to cover it, both, because it ought to mesh with most construct themes.
The motherboard helps Intel’s twelfth and thirteenth Technology LGA1700 processors as much as and together with the Core i9-13900K/KS. The 70A MOSFETs devoted to the processor dealt with our Core i9 with none challenge throughout testing, although the BIOS takes a couple of liberties with the Intel specification. (It runs the enhance clocks longer.) The heatsinks saved the MOSFETs beneath operating effectively inside spec, although they did get heat after stress testing.
Reminiscence help is listed as much as DDR5-6400+ (OC), a bit decrease than comparable boards. That stated, you are not lacking a lot, as as soon as previous the DDR5-6000 to DDR5-6400 candy spot you are paying huge bucks for marginal efficiency beneficial properties at greatest.
Our DDR5-5600 and DDR5-6000 kits have been completely steady after setting the inner XMP profile; the motherboard balked at our DDR5-7200 equipment, however that was anticipated. You may overclock the reminiscence on this platform, although once more the ceiling is a bit low. Nonetheless, you get entry to a slew of timings to regulate if RAM-speed tinkering is your factor.
Format and Inner Connectors
The B760-A Silver has a reasonably commonplace format. Beginning at high left, we spy the 8-pin (required) and 4-pin EPS connectors to energy the CPU. The left VRM heatsink reaches out over a few of the rear I/O bits however leaves rather a lot uncovered in comparison with equally priced choices. Once more, the Biostar certainly not appears to be like unhealthy, however boards from different makers supply a extra premium vibe for across the similar value.
Shifting previous the busy socket space, we see two (of six) 4-pin fan headers earlier than we hit the DRAM slots. Every header helps PWM and DC-controlled gadgets. Biostar does not appear to checklist the output of those headers in its literature, so I will be secure and assume every can output 1A/12W. That is lots for case followers, however I might assume twice about including a high-powered pump or piggybacking too many followers.
To the precise of the DRAM slots is one other 4-pin fan header, with all three RGB headers (two 3-pin ARGB and one 4-pin RGB) just under that, alongside the precise edge. When you join suitable RGB strips, you possibly can management them by way of Biostar’s Silver Lightning Home windows software program within the Vivid LED DJ part (extra about that under).
Subsequent, we see the 24-pin ATX connector that powers the board, a 19-pin USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) header, and a front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) Kind-C header. When you want greater than the seven USB-A ports on the rear I/O, there are growth slots so as to add extra by way of a PCI Categorical card.
Audio, Enlargement, Storage, and Rear I/O
On the backside left of the board is the audio part. In contrast to costlier boards that use Faraday cages to reduce EMI, all of the audio bits are seen, led by a last-gen Realtek ALC1220 codec. This older price range audio chipset is a typical selection on this value vary, however the the 7.1-channel codec is completely acceptable for all however essentially the most crucial listeners.
4 PCI Categorical slots and 4 M.2 sockets sit in the course of the board. Beginning with the PCIe slots, there are two full-length slots, with the highest slot (main for graphics playing cards) strengthened to forestall shearing from heavy playing cards. The highest slot sources its bandwidth from the CPU and runs at PCIe 5.0 x16 speeds. The underside full-length slot makes use of the chipset and runs as much as PCIe 4.0 x4. The 2 x1 slots additionally supply their bandwidth from the chip and run as much as PCIe 3.0 x1. General, there are many slots and bandwidth for video playing cards and any growth you need.
Of the 4 M.2 sockets present in between the PCIe slots, three are used for storage whereas the fourth is a Key-E (not Key-M) slot used for CNVi-based Wi-Fi (bought individually). All of the sockets run as much as PCIe 4.0 x4 (64Gbps) speeds, with two of them (M2M_CPU and M2M_SB1) supporting as much as 80mm NVMe gadgets whereas the third socket handles as much as 110mm SATA or NVMe modules. When you use a PCIe module on M2M_SB1, the second full-length PCIe slot is disabled; this solely issues for those who plan on utilizing that second full-length slot.
Alongside the underside fringe of the board are a number of headers together with further USB 2.0 ports and fan headers, front-panel audio, a COM port, a Thunderbolt AIC header, a clear-CMOS jumper, a 4-pin speaker header, and eventually the front-panel button and LED header cluster.
Shifting round to the rear I/O, one of many first belongings you’ll discover is that the I/O plate must be put in on the board. This is not an enormous deal, however different motherboards at this value have theirs connected on the manufacturing unit, including a little bit of comfort to your set up.
The I/O plate has easy-to-read silver textual content on a black background. You will discover eight USB ports: one 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) Kind-C, 5 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) Kind-A, and two retro USB 2.0 ports. Simply make sure the seven Kind-A ports on the rear are sufficient, as a couple of customers (like myself) can use extra. Additionally current and accounted for are the Sensible BIOS replace button and DisplayPort and HDMI ports for built-in video output. At proper, above the USB 2.0 ports, are the two.5GbE port and the three-analog-plug audio stack. You will additionally see right here mounting posts for Wi-Fi antennas, must you add a Wi-Fi card.
A Transient Take a look at the Biostar UEFI BIOS and Utilities
Biostar’s BIOS has a novel configuration versus BIOSes from the massive 4 motherboard makers (Asus, ASRock, Gigabyte, and MSI). Though you will nonetheless discover main headings on the high, the system data detailing CPU and DRAM speeds, CPU temperature, and the system date is on the left facet. White or light-gray textual content on a grey background makes for simple studying. As customary, the BIOS presents each a pleasant EZ Mode and an Superior mode the place all choices can be found.
The BIOS launches into an informative EZ Mode that gives system data comparable to boot precedence, CPU, reminiscence, and storage data; some easy switches to allow LEDs and RAID; and extra. General, it is simply as useful because the “straightforward” screens from different producers.
The Superior BIOS has a number of headers throughout the highest (Important, Superior, Chipset, Boot, Safety, Tweaker) in typical style. You may’t overclock the CPU (this can be a B760-chipset board, in spite of everything), however you will discover loads of choices to tweak the reminiscence velocity and timings.
Contained in the Superior part are a number of subheadings the place you possibly can tinker with the CPU, chipset, SATA, USB, audio, and community performance.
Within the Tweaker part, you will discover all of the choices to overclock the RAM and regulate the CPU. For the reason that board makes use of the B760 chipset, processor tweaking is proscribed to BCLK changes, however once more, you possibly can overclock the reminiscence and (for those who’re utilizing it) the processor’s built-in graphics. In all, there are many choices and controls right here.
The Biostar BIOS is not our favourite amongst main board companions, however it’s straightforward to navigate and has all the standard choices. It might not be as fairly as some, however its performance is what issues.
On the software program facet, Biostar’s Silver Lightning app is a complete program that controls a number of capabilities, together with audio (Sensible Ear), RGB LEDs (Vivid LED DJ), fan management (AI Fan), and even a {hardware} monitor to verify temperatures and demanding voltages.
The System Data tab presents high-level system knowledge together with clock speeds, motherboard, reminiscence, and CPU data. When you want particulars in your system’s configuration, that is the place to look.
Subsequent is the GT Contact part. Right here you possibly can choose amongst three preset efficiency modes (Regular, Eco, and Sport), which work by adjusting the default conduct of the CPU.
The Vivid LED DJ part controls any RGB LEDs connected to the three onboard headers (since no LEDs are built-in into the board). In Vivid LED DJ, you can find eight canned modes (Everlasting, Shine, Breathe, Starry Evening, Colourful Everlasting, Colourful Shine, Colourful Breathe, and Shine and Music). You will must play with these to discern what the similar-sounding modes set off in your lighting. You too can regulate the colour and select to sync with different RGB gadgets connected to the headers. I did not see any frequency-based choices.
Subsequent is the AI Fan part, which (shock!) controls your followers. As soon as once more, you’ve gotten a selection of guide management or preset modes (quiet, aggressive, and full-on).
Final however not least is {Hardware} Monitor, which shows high-level system data together with the CPU, system, and VRM temperatures. It additionally lists the important voltages and fan speeds, and even screens the ability provide present. (Oddly, our PSU did not register.)
General, we just like the Silver Lightning software program. It is a bit light-weight or primary in comparison with others, however it covers what you want inside Home windows.
Verdict: A (Pretty) Pockets-Pleasant B760 Possibility
We’ve not seen many Biostar motherboards right here lately (the final we reviewed on PCMag was a B350 chipset mannequin), however we’re completely happy to get one to assessment. Whereas not a part of the massive 4, the corporate presents fairly priced motherboards price shopping for. The B760A-Silver’s MSRP of $260 (quoted by an organization rep) is on the excessive facet for B760 boards, however the platform does supply all kinds of options together with three M.2 sockets, 2.5Gbps Ethernet, a PCI Categorical 5.0 x16 slot, and 4 SATA ports. Efficiency was higher than anticipated, matching some Z790 boards with their raised energy limits. If you could find one towards the low finish of its avenue value vary, it is a horny selection.
So far as the competitors goes, Asus’ ROG Strix B760-A Gaming Wi-Fi presents an identical black-and-silver theme, quicker RAM help, and a more moderen audio codec for $229.99, whereas MSI’s MAG B760 Tomahawk Wi-Fi presents an all-black look with related {hardware} specs. If you don’t need the effort of shopping for and putting in your individual Wi-Fi, the MSI and Asus boards are the place it is at. But when the shortage of Wi-Fi is not a deal-breaker and you’ve got some RGB LEDs available so as to add aptitude, the Biostar is price a better look.
