Biostar Hi-Fi A88W 3D (AMD FM2+)

[cadaveca]

We take our first look at AMD's FM2+ platform with a value-oriented product from Biostar that boasts some upgraded audio abilities. The Biostar Hi-Fi A88W 3D comes with the focus and feature set that has become Biostar's calling, as the company has its own take on entry-level enthusiast designs.

Show full review

 

[GLD]

I liked the review, but really think the board should have been tested with a Kaveri chip as that is what the board is, a FM2+ board.

 

[cadaveca]

I liked the review, but really think the board should have been tested with a Kaveri chip as that is what the board is, a FM2+ board.

Take that up with AMD. I did ask Biostar about using A10-6800K, too, since I feel as you do, but they preferred timely review rather than waiting for AMD to send me a chip.

If you want to send me one, I'll gladly re-bench.


Seriously.

 

[btarunr]

One of the better looking chipset/VRM heatsink designs out there. I like it.

 

[Aquinus]

I still don't understand why they still add PCI to modern motherboards. Not only do they have to use PCI-E anyways, they need to use a PCI-E-to-PCI bridge to make them work... and it's not even that. You also need more traces through the motherboard for 62-pin connectors (PCI) than 18-pin connectors (PCI-E 1x).

I would like to start seeing more PCI-E 1x slots and no more PCI slots. It seems like a waste of space and money when most could settle for just PCI-E.

Other than that, it looks like a pretty nifty board. Good review, Dave.

 

[ne6togadno]

I still don't understand why they still add PCI to modern motherboards. Not only do they have to use PCI-E anyways, they need to use a PCI-E-to-PCI bridge to make them work.

I would like to start seeing more PCI-E 1x slots and no more PCI slots. It seems like a waste of space and money when most could settle for just PCI-E.

Other than that, it looks like a pretty nifty board. Good review, Dave.

cause there are addon cards (like sound cards) that are diesing and manufactured still for pci

dave are you sure missing sli should be added in cons for this mb. cf is more suitable there.
otherwise great review.

 

[Aquinus]

cause there are addon cards (like sound cards) that are diesing and manufactured still for pci

dave are you sure missing sli should be added in cons for this mb.

There are also a lot of audio cards that use PCI-E. It's not like you're limiting your options by leaps and bounds by not having PCI. The last time I used PCI was for an 802.11b adapter almost a decade ago I think.

 

[ne6togadno]

There are also a lot of audio cards that use PCI-E. It's not like you're limiting your options by leaps and bounds by not having PCI.

well that is the problem. wth when pci-e is avialable aib partners still design pci audio (or any other type) cards.

 

[cadaveca]

cause there are addon cards (like sound cards) that are diesing and manufactured still for pci

dave are you sure missing sli should be added in cons for this mb. cf is more suitable there.
otherwise great review.

I do not feel that APUs are slow, and that they are good for lightweight usage. As such, building a smaller SLi pair with an APU is just like using Crossfire with an APU, so it would be nice if it was offered, since there is no other similar solution for NVidia users.

I mean, my 780 paired with the APU managed to hang out with the Intel rigs in quite a few tests....

One of the better looking chipset/VRM heatsink designs out there. I like it.

Personally, I love the fact that the design for this board almost feels like a $200 or so product, but it should cost half as much. Bringing that level of design and esthetics to cheaper products doesn't cost OEMs much, and really completes the entire package. It's a good-looking board with really decent audio that's light on the wallet, for a value-oriented platform...or in other words...perfect.

I still don't understand why they still add PCI to modern motherboards. Not only do they have to use PCI-E anyways, they need to use a PCI-E-to-PCI bridge to make them work... and it's not even that. You also need more traces through the motherboard for 62-pin connectors (PCI) than 18-pin connectors (PCI-E 1x).
I would like to start seeing more PCI-E 1x slots and no more PCI slots. It seems like a waste of space and money when most could settle for just PCI-E.
Other than that, it looks like a pretty nifty board. Good review, Dave.

Since it is an audio-focused board, and many devices for audio still use PCI, I really cannot have any issue with them including PCI slots here. I could think of many a DAW out there that could use this board and a new card for multi-monitor.

 

[ne6togadno]

I do not feel that APUs are slow, and that they are good for lightweight usage. As such, building a smaller SLi pair with an APU is just like using Crossfire with an APU, so it would be nice if it was offered, since there is no other similar solution for NVidia users.

I mean, my 780 paired with the APU managed to hang out with the Intel rigs in quite a few tests....

hm i skipped first few pages yesterday and missed those 2x pciex16 but it is kind of strange to have cf support but to dont have sli. what is that difference between sli and cf that prevents to have both avialable if one of them is already avialable. thay have made cf support (both apu+gpu or 2x gpus). why not sli too?

Since it is an audio-focused board, and many devices for audio still use PCI, I really cannot have any issue with them including PCI slots here. I could think of many a DAW out there that could use this board and a new card for multi-monitor.

point here was why there are still so many devices for pci yet. we have pcie for 10 years but addon cards are still designed for pci. cutting pci controller from sb will make sb cheaper or it can be relpaced with something usefull like additional usb 3 or sata.
takes too much time to drop support for obsolate tech. same was with pata and ddr2 (remember ddr2+ddr3 on same board).

 

[cadaveca]

hm i skipped first few pages yesterday and missed those 2x pciex16 but it is kind of strange to have cf support but to dont have sli. what is that difference between sli and cf that prevents to have both avialable if one of them is already avialable. thay have made cf support (both apu+gpu or 2x gpus). why not sli too?

Theyy have to pay Nvidia a liscencing fee, as far as I understand, which allows them to add code to BIOS which allows SLi when the system powers up.

point here was why there are still so many devices for pci yet. we have pcie for 10 years but addon cards are still designed for pci. cutting pci controller from sb will make sb cheaper or it can be relpaced with something usefull like additional usb 3 or sata.
takes too much time to drop support for obsolate tech. same was with pata and ddr2 (remember ddr2+ddr3 on same board).

The PCI controllers often used today are PCI-to-PCIe bridges, which means that there is no PCI support in the chipsets made by AMD and Intel. This is why I have no problem with PCI still being in use...since it's actually fairly rare, and usually only included in boards that are targeted at users that will need it, like this one. Far too many MIDI audio devices use PCI still.

 

[shjipmaker50]

Ive bought the new a10 7850k fm2+ socket . so far no luck getting it to work. even though the board is supposed to support an FM2+ socket . Amd no help. Biostar is working on it . we'll see. May have to get different processor to use board for now . if anyone knows anything to help would be apprecited