BIOSTAR K8M800-M7A 754 VIA K8M800 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

Pros: I have used this motherboard and its successor (K8M800-AM2) for quite awhile, and they have been great performers, and reliable too. They are not top-of-the-line screamers, but I have been using them as business desktop workstations, and even as workgroup and tape backup servers. The SATA ports are "only" SATA1, but this is not much of an issue in real-world applications (FYI, some drives might need to be forced to SATA1 by moving a jumper). On-board Via SATA RAID works very well, something I can't say for some Other RAID chipsets. I have experience using these with both Sempron 64 and Athlon 64 chips, with both Windows 2000 and XP, and would not hesitate to recommend this board to anyone for typical business computing.

Cons: Only works with socket 754 CPUs, which are getting pretty scarce, but a great general-replacement board if you are using those CPUs. Otherwise, no cons that I can think of; the board seems to work well within it's given specs.

Other Thoughts: In my experience, at least, these boards are compatible with a wide range of memory brands and AMD CPU types. I have used boards from some OTHER manufacturers that have similar specs, and have had all kinds of CPU and RAM incompatibilities.

Pros: Grest Price, Small size. Lots of options.

Cons: None!

Other Thoughts: Built 1 new system, and resurected 1 dead system that had a dog ULI chipset. Both worked flawless with 2 gb mem, ATI x1650 pro with 512mb, 500 gig SATA hd, XP Home. Works like a champ!

Pros: Micro ATX with good BIOS interface for overclocking. If you're looking to extend the use of a good AGP video card, and 184 pin RAM, then you've found your board. CHEAP TOO!

Cons: Micro ATX layout is a bit cramped. My aftermarket CPU heastsink makes contact with a capacitor right next to the CPU slot assembly, but those casings are insulated anyways...

Other Thoughts: Solid, cheap upgrade for old Micro ATX desktop. CPU clock caps at 232Mhz in BIOS, but with the AMD architecture, it beats a P4 478 setup. Good voltage controls built into BIOS as well, and comes with a desktop application for benchmarking / overclocking, on the included CD.

Pros: Booted up and Posted after FIRST run!

Cons: Not Dual Channel memory, AGP 4/8x not PCI-E 16x... But hey, allready had a Video card.

Other Thoughts: I would def. buy again for Really low-end Budget PC's.

Pros: Price.

Cons: Am RMA'ing the second DOA of this board. Ya know, it's not just the price of this board ... it is about the only 754, Micro ATX board available! All the manufacturers have virtually the same board ... with the same chipset. You really do not have a choice. I wanted a replacement for a dead Acer micro ATX 754 board on a cheap Acer system ... now I am going to an Asus 939 Micro ATX board with a 3800+ dual core ... hope this is the answer!

Other Thoughts: Yes, you get what you pay for ... but when that is all that is available to fit your needs, you are kinda stuck!!!

Pros: Standard 'venus' layout of I/O ports. 8X AGP Slot, 3 PCI slots, SATA ports. Fast! Easy to setup! Drivers easy to find at either BioStar's USA or Tawain sites.

Cons: Drivers at BioStars web site for the LAN didn't work so I added a PCI LAN card instead.

Other Thoughts: I've been using BioStar mobo's for a long time. Since slot 1 days in fact. They are easy to setup, pretty stable, and drivers & manuals for most things are easy to find if you buy an open box item. This board is pretty fast even with a 2600 Sempron and 768mb of Geil Ultra 400 DDR and a 36gb Raptor. I also added a 256mb Nvidia 5600 AGP card for better graphics than the onboard one.(on-board video did work fine though) I also am using an Audigy Platinum sound card. Power supply I used is a 450 watt unit. Works for me!

Pros: I used this mobo for a budget build. Just was looking for something to store a little extra data and play with vista and 64-bit programs. worked pretty good until i tried to ....

Cons: install a second stick of memory. i got home from work one day, shut the computer down, unplugged it, slapped the new memory in the open slot, plugged it back in, and it was dead. turns out it destroyed both memory chips and the dimm slots. thanks biostar. now im out 2gig memory and a mobo.

Other Thoughts: talking to others who used this board, i found out they had the same problem. and biostar always says, 'oops, it happens sometimes'

I RMA'd the mobo twice and went through so much memory it makes me sick. have been working on it all summer and its still dead.

conclusion, dont buy this board when you could buy an AXXS or an MXX board for just a couple dollars difference. dont buy a board that will destroy the rest of your system.

Pros: None - I ordered this board along with a chip to replace a system that crashed - When i installed it, the Ram chip went up in smoke -- they said "it happens sometimes" but i cant replace your ram so i lost 50.00.. DO NOT BUY FROM BIOSTAR

Cons: The whole customer service department was on vacation - they didn't answer my repeated e-mails so after a week i had to spend cash to call their long distance number to be put on hold till the operator helped me

Other Thoughts: Newegg rocks - they were very helpful, fast and friendly with the return - BIOSTAR is worthless as a company imo

Pros: great mb. the easy way to make your old pc faster.great for games and internet.

Cons: none

Other Thoughts: for that price. its easy to say upgrade. newegg rules!

Pros: Cheap as it gets for a new motherboard, great for students and those with a rediculous budget.

Cons: Cheap as it gets.

Other Thoughts: First system build as a replacement for socket A. Good upgrade path if you dont want to buy a SATA HDD some good DDR2 and a new video card. Bought the equivalent board without integrated video OEM. Plugged everything in but the CPU power cable i had previously tucked somewhere i couldnt find it in the case. Plugged it in, cleared CMOS and problem solved. lol.