BIOSTAR releases $45 A68MDE motherboard; supports AMD Hybrid Crossfire!
This is not a motherboard for the enthusiasts, as this is a real entry-level motherboard with a price tag to match. Priced at just $44.99 (~RM175), the BIOSTAR A68MDE features the AMD A68H chipset which supports AMD Radeon Hybrid Crossfire. This motherboard is based on the last-gen AMD FM2+ socket, which accepts an array of processors offering excellent value for money.
What’s even better, is that it accepts DDR3 memory running up to 2600 MHz. With DDR4 RAM being so expensive, the BIOSTAR A68MDE is a great option for low cost AMD APU-based systems. DDR3 memory is still more affordable than DDR4, so the support for older RAM is definitely a great way to keep costs down.
The full-speed PCIe 3.0 x16 slot allows for any GPU to be used with this motherboard, but budget-conscious users may want to stretch their dollar by making use of the AMD Radeon Hybrid Crossfire support. That is, if you still can find a card that works with your CPU. There is another PCIe 2.0 x1 slot for maybe a WiFi adapter for some wireless connectivity. It does come with a Realtek RTL8111G Gigabit Ethernet controller for fast wired connectivity.
The microATX form factor adopted by the BIOSTAR A68MDE also means that it will fit into most cases without issue. Even while limited to a more compact size, BIOSTAR did not skimp on the I/O options. You get everything from a legacy PS/2 port, all the way up to 2 USB 3.0 ports and 2 USB 2.0 ports. 4 SATA 3 6 Gbps ports allow for substantial amounts of storage.
Pokdepinion: For less than RM180, I would have any complains about this motherboard. It should be a great option to utilize a spare FM2+ CPU just lying around.
