While you might not think of a full ATX board being the basis for an HTPC system, BIOSTAR is hoping that you will consider their Hi-Fi Z77X when you next spec out a possible system. The extra size allows you to have more add-in card options with three 16x PCIe slots (8x, 8x, 4x) and two PCIe 1x slots, which simply would not fit on a mATX board. The back panel offers VGA, HDMI and DVI out, so even without a discrete card you have quite a few output options as long as Intel onboard graphics are enough to meet your needs. They also include a Realtec CODEC which is better than [H]ard|OCP expected on a sub-$150 motherboard and were also impressed by the overclocking ability on this value board, not as good as an enthusiast board but still pleasantly capable.
"BIOSTAR generally has a reputation for making low end or budget oriented motherboards. Fortunately that isn't all BIOSTAR designs and builds. The Hi-Fi Z77X is an unusual motherboard in that it seems to be targeted towards HTPC and media type duties while still addressing enthusiast hardware and overclocking concerns."
Here are some more Motherboard articles from around the web:
- Gigabyte Z77X-UP4-TH @ [H]ard|OCP
- ASUS Maximus V Formula @ Bjorn3D
- Gigabyte Z77MX D3H TH @ Guru of 3D
- ASRock Z77 OC Formula @ X-bit Labs
- ASRock Z77 OC Formula Intel LGA 1155 @ techPowerUp
- LGA 1155 Mainboard with Everything You Need and Nothing You Don’t: Asus P8Z77-V LX @ X-bit Labs
- ASRock Z77 OC Formula @ Hardware.info
- MSI Z77A-G43 Socket 1155 Motherboard Review @ Madshrimps
- MSI Z77IA-E53 Mini-ITX @ Kitguru
- MSI Z77 MPower @ Hardware.info
- Biostar Hi-Fi Z77X Intel ATX Motherboard @ Benchmark Reviews
- Gigabyte Z77X-UP4 TH Motherboard Review @ Hi Tech Legion
- ASUS P8Z77-V LE Plus LGA1155 Motherboard Review @ Hi Tech Legion
- BIOS Option Of The Week – Byte Merge @ TechARP
- Sapphire Pure Black 990FX Motherboard Review @ Neoseeker
- Gigabyte 990FXA-UD7 Rev 1.1 Review @ OCC
- MSI FM2-A85XA-G65 (A85X) Motherboard Preview @ eTeknix
- MSI FM2-A85XA-G65 (A85X) Motherboard Review @ eTeknix
- MSI FM2-A85XA-GD65 Motherboard Review @ Hi Tech Legion
- Gigabyte F2A85X-UP4 (A85X) Motherboard Review @ eTeknix
- Gigabyte GA-F2A85X UP4 @ Guru of 3D
- Asus F2A55-M (A55) Motherboard Review @ eTeknix
- ASUS F2A85-V Pro Review: A Look at FM2 with A85X @ AnandTech
- GIGABYTE GA-A75-D3H FM1 Motherboard Review @ Legit Reviews
- ASRock FM2A85X Extreme6 Motherboard @ Hardware Secrets
- MSI FM2-A85XA-GD65 Motherboard @ Hardware Secrets
um, would you really need 3x
um, would you really need 3x PCIe x16 slots in an HTPC? would need a pretty decent size case for it. Point of an HTPC to me is a very small quiet machine with power to play 1080 videos. which this is not really small.