HardwareLogic: Reviews - ECS A770M-A Motherboard

ECS A770M-A Motherboard

Author: Mathew Miranda

Editor: Aron Schatz

Posted: July 31, 2008

Views: 10799

The ECS A770M-A motherboard is based on the AMD 770 chipset and supports the latest AM2+ processors available (up to 95W TDP). It provides four DDR2-1066 capable sockets, one PCIe 2.0 x16 slot, eight channel HD audio and eSATA. This affordable board provides the basics you would need to build a budget AMD system and allows you to save your cash or spend it on other components. If you happen to be in the market for a reasonably priced, no frills motherboard you will want to check out this review. Read on to find out if the A770M-A has what it takes to be the foundation of your next build.

Tags Motherboards

Page 6: Our Recommendation

Section	Score	Comments
Layout	8/10	CPU socket area is clear and free of obstructions Memory slots are easily accessible with plenty of room around them Two of the SATA ports becomes unusable if using a large videocard Data and power ports are found on the edges of the board allowing for easier cable management
Features	7/10	AM2+ CPU support, DDR2-1066, PCIe 2.0 and RoHS compliant Onboard audio and eSATA adds value
Bundle	7/10	Includes the basics to get you started but needs more SATA cables Driver CD does not have 64bit Vista support User's Guide is easy to follow and in depth Installation guide a nice bonus
BIOS	7/10	Simple and easy to navigate within the BIOS menus Not a lot of overclocking options
Stock Performance	20/20	CPU and memory were easily recognized and started up easily Stock voltage settings were stable out of the box All temps were kept in check and the board ran cool
Overclocking Performance	14/20	Although an entry level board it provides some overclocking options Decent performance increase seen across the entire benchmarking suite Board remained cool even with increased voltage
Warranty & Support	8/10	All ECS motherboards are covered by a three year warranty Two year warranty on parts and labor against defects in workmanship and manufacturing Labor during the third year is not covered. Warranty is effective from the date of ECS' original invoice, unless stated otherwise in writing
Price/Value	10/10	One of the most affordable motherboards available on the market Good motherboard features available considering the price An excellent candidate for a budget build

Our Recommendation

The ECS A770M-A motherboard offers some nice features for an entry level product. Its biggest selling point is its price and for many, that's the main issue. But ECS was still produced a board that supports many of the latest AMD processors, is DDR2-1066 capable, provides an eSATA port and sports a PCIe 2.0 slot. And that's basically what you need to build a budget to mid-range level system.

For all this board has going for it, there were a few problems. Claiming to be an AM2+ board but not supporting two of the latest processors is a disappointment. Granted, those chips may be a mismatch for this board but that option should be made available to the consumer. Also, the SATA port design needs to be corrected to account for the length of today's videocards. And I would love to see more overclocking options available within the BIOS.

System builders will always provide a demand for affordable motherboards and ECS supplies them with what they need. Elitegroup Computer Systems also maintains a level of quality and performance that keeps customers happy. If you are in the market for an AMD board with some nice features and a great price, you should definitely check out the ECS A770M-A.

Other Reviews of Note

Its always nice to have more than one opinion on a component before you spend your hard earned money. For one, We may see something others missed, or vice versa. As with all reviews published at HardwareLogic, we'll not only give you our recommendation, but also point out some reviews from some other great sites around the web.

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