Packaging & Accessories: 3.5 out of 5
If it was not for the include LED 5050 strip light this would be a solid 2.5 out 5; however, including a LED controller and LED light strip is impressive given the frugal asking price of this motherboard. To us that does boost the score by a point and place it in the slightly above average category.
Layout & Aesthetics: 13 out of 15
We are not overly enamored with LED lighting and prefer a nice clean look to our builds, nonetheless this motherboard is darn good looking, is easy to work with and there is almost no missteps on the layout side of the equation. Once again we consider this board to be above average in this category.
Build Quality & Warranty: 15.5 out of 20
On the one hand this motherboard is not precisely built like a tank, nor does it come with anything beyond an industry standard warranty. On the other Biostar does have a good reputation in the industry for standing behind their products. More importantly this motherboard is built better than most in its price range.
BIOS & Software: 16 out of 20
The BIOS certainly is unique in its layout and for the most part this added quirkiness just adds to the overall appeal of it. With that being said Biostar may have made great strides in the BIOS department but a fully populate Favorites shortcut section is sorely missed. This does make the BIOS a touch harder to work with and we would have docked it even more points if not for the fact that the included software is darn decent and bloat free.
Special Features: 16 out 20
The combination of integrated LEDs, a dedicated LED header for adding more LEDs, and an easy to use controller for said LEDs is a darn impressive given the price range of this board. On the other hand, this board lacks SLI and CrossFire certification and really only has two x8 or greater PCIe slots. All the other features (good if not great onboard sound, USB 3.1, M.2 x4 port, etc) are all pretty standard fare these days. As such it is slightly above average but you may feel differently. You may consider the LED controller to be amazing and a true homerun.
Value: 19 out 20
This motherboard is best described as Jack of All Trades motherboard in that it may not be the absolute best in anyone category but when combined the end result is darn impressive. For most consumers this motherboard is going to be a great value and it is only audiophiles, storage enthusiast, and overclocking enthusiasts that will feel it is a little lacking. OF course, those selfsame consumers will find darn near any motherboard in this price range lacking. Overall this board is a great value for its asking price.
Final Score: 84 out of 100
