After few top models of biggest world motherboard manufacturers we got in our test lab “runner” from BIOSTAR. How much this company invested in overclock possibilities of their motherboards and how they have done their job we will try to show you on their TPOWER I45 model.

Layout and gadgets

As opposite to BIOSTAR T series that is easily recognizable for its blue PCB, TPOWER I45 model has black PCB. Layout is very good and it shows that BIOSTAR invested significant amount of time in its design. First interesting detail, that shows how much BIOSTAR takes overclock serious, is little detail in cooling solution. Four phase power unit located on left side of CPU socket is cooled with copper cooler that is connected with heat pipe to also copper cooler on northbridge. This is not big novelty (but for BIOSTAR this is a step forward). Nevertheless in package of this motherboard we found additional DIY Thermal Kit (additional cooler with fan) that can be mounted on power unit cooler. With this simple additional cooler mounted, BIOSTAR created very efficient and innovative cooling system that resulted in better power unit cooling. By doing this BIOSTAR also lowered thermal dissipation of power unit on surrounding components and as result we have better overclock results. Power unit itself didn’t show itself as best of its kind and as result we had voltage drop on our Q9650 CPU under full load from 0.02V to 0.04V. Also 1-phase power unit for memory and chipset didn’t instill confidence so we had to do detailed FSB testing (about this a little bit latter). On this motherboard we counted 6 SATA II connectors and 2 eSATA connectors on back panel which becomes a standard for P45 based motherboards. We didn’t have any complaints on audio segment because it is based on Realtek ALC888S 8+2 Channel HD Audio chip.

On back panel are also present 6 USB connectors while another 6 USB connectors can be realized thanks to connectors on motherboard itself. On back plate can be found only one LAN connector but for most users this will be enough. Two PCI Express x16 slots (in multi GPU configuration they operate in 2x8 mod) are usable for ATi CrossFire system. There are also two “old school” PCI 2.2 slots and two x1 PCI Express slots. This model is equipped with power and reset keys located in lower right corner which are very convenient solution.


BIOS and Overclock results

To join “big boys club” BIOSTAR besides good layout needed good BIOS. All settings for overclock are located in O.N.E. section. This section in manual mode unlocks all overclock parameters: FSB clock can be set in range from 100-800MHz, FSB strap can have values of 200, 266, 333 and 400MHz etc. Voltage sector of BIOS is exceptional and every serious overclocker will be satisfied with its possibilities. According to this statement voltage for CPU can be set at unbelievable 2.4V (in range from +0.5V to 1.20V), voltage for memory can be set at insane 3.65V (range from +0.05V to 1.85V).

On the other side BIOSTAR allowed very loose margins for power setting for FSB and chipset. Voltage for FSB can be set in range from +0.025V to +0.75V and for northbridge in range from +0.025V to +0.70V. Very impressive but reasonable amount of caution must be used with these settings. In case of overclock of our Quad Core test CPU this motherboard didn’t showed itself in good light (FSB reached disappointing 451MHz). On the other hand overclock of Dual Core processors is completely different story. We were able to achieve unbelievable 573MHz for FSB with absolute stability of system. This fact puts this motherboard on throne as best motherboard for overclock of Dual Core CPUs.

All-in-all we can be more than satisfied with this motherboard. We recommend this model as best buy in case you plan to overclock Intel CPUs manufactured in 45nm technology.