Biostar TA785GE 128 M Motherboard Review

How We Tested

During our benchmarking sessions, we used the configuration listed below. Between our benchmarking sessions the only variable was the motherboard being tested and the addition or removal of a “real” video card (Sapphire Radeon HD 3450, 64-bit memory interface).

Hardware Configuration

• Motherboard BIOS: 07/23/09
• Motherboard revision: 1.0
• CPU: AMD Athlon II X2
  245 (2.9 GHz, dual-core, 1 MB L2 cache per core, socket AM3)
• CPU Cooler: AMD stock cooler
• Memory (DDR2): Two 1 GB Corsair Dominator TWIN2X2048-8500C5D modules (DDR2-1066/PC2-8500 with 5-5-5-15 timings), configured at 1,066 MHz.
• Memory (DDR3): Two 1 GB Crucial CT12864BA1067 modules (DDR3-1066/PC3-8500, CL7, 1.5 V), configured at 1,066 MHz.
• Hard Disk Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 500 GB (WD5000AAKS, SATA-300, 7,200 rpm, 16 MB buffer)
• Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 3450 256 MB, 64-bit memory interface (on some tests, see text)
• Video Monitor: Samsung Syncmaster 932BW
• Power Supply: SilverStone Element ST75EF 750 W
• Optical Drive: Lite-On LH-20A1L

Operating System Configuration

• Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit
• Service Pack 2
• NTFS
• Video resolution: 1440×900 75 Hz

Driver Versions

• Video/Chipset drivers: Catalyst 9.7
• Realtek audio driver: R2.29 (2.81)

Software Used

• PCMark Vantage Professional 1.0.0
• 3DMark06 Professional 1.1.0
• 3DMark Vantage Professional 1.0.2.1
• Unigine Tropics Benchmark 1.2
• Half-Life 2: Episode Two – Patch June 23th 2009 + HardwareOC Half-Life 2 Episode Two Benchmark Tool 1.2.0.0
• Fallout 3 – Patch 1.7

Some Information About our Methodology

All motherboards included in our comparison were configured with 256 MB shared memory, with Biostar TA785GE 128M and ECS A790GXM-A (AMD 790GX) having 128 MB dedicated video memory, for a total of 384 MB.

Since we were reviewing a motherboard with on-board video, we were very interested in comparing its 3D video performance with the performance achieved by other motherboards with on-board video and also with a very low-end video card, so we could have an idea of how slower on-board video is compared to a very inexpensive video card. We chose Sapphire Radeon HD 3450 with 256 MB and 64-bit memory interface because this is one of the cheapest video cards available today.

We chose an entry-level CPU to go with the motherboard, an Athlon II X2 245, because it is a socket AM3 CPU and thus compatible with both socket AM2+ and socket AM3 motherboards.

ECS A785GM-M (AMD 785G) is a socket AM3 board and thus with this particular motherboard we had to install DDR3 memories. We picked DDR3-1066 memories since with socket AM2+ motherboards we were using DDR2-1066 parts. In both cases we doubled checked to see that the memories were really being accessed at 1066 MHz.

Error Margin

We adopted a 3% error margin; thus, differences below 3% cannot be considered relevant. In other words, products with a performance difference below 3% should be considered as having similar performance.