Ordered my 690G Board

[solas989]

I will have by friday my Biostar TA690G board! I have high hopes for this board based on reviews so far found.

Also have AMD X2 4200+ (65W)(opted NOT to go 65nm), SilverTek SG01 (black), SilverTek NT-06 Lite, SilverTek Short Cable 500W PS, 2GB OCZ Platinum RAM, 2x250GB WD Raid 0 (dont care about integrity because I have a 1TB backup file server for my 3 boxes). All of this is going on XP PRO SP2, I am hopeful that it will be smooth!!! The actual box total cost was under $780 (MB, CPU, HS, VC, RAM, HD, CASE, PS).

The intended purpose will be for HTPC (OTA/Cable SD, HD, PVR) and eventually gaming on my 46" HDTV, when I get money for dedicated vc. I cant use Linux for my HTPC because the Tuner I have is not supported (On Air GT, which I LOVE). This is a QUIET (as silent is not exactly possible) box and will report back on temps and performance, wish I could on noice, but not have dB meter.

Solas

 

[najames]

Let us know how it goes. I'm in for one from ZZF.

1) I wanted it because of the way the slots are around the CPU. I can add a wide Gigabyte 6600 passive cooled video card I already have if the onboard doesn't pan out.
2) It also will still allow full access to both PCI slots for Firewire/tuner cards if needed.
3) Finally it has 4 ram slots, some have 2.
4) DVI, I don't have anything that uses HDMI currently.

This has the options to overclock evidently, once they sort it out it might OC, don't care as long as it's stable. Gary Key already posted the new drivers work with Linux. I should be good to go.

I am building 2 systems, this is the first itty bitty one.

$65 Brisbane + some free video game on the Egg.
$29AR Microfly case from Frys
$80 Biostar 690G at ZZF
$100 2GB Supertalent RAM at Ewiz
$39 Liteon 20x
$12 zillion in one card reader
$59 330W Seasonic leftover from other builds

Next week might be time for the second system after Gary's article and price drops.

 

[Double Trouble]

Does the board come with a bracket or breakout for component output?

I'm interested in a 690G based board that allows me to use component output to an HDTV with no HDMI or DVI connections.

 

[najames]

I will know more when it arrives tomorrow, but I don't think the bracket comes with it based on this review.

http://vr-zone.com/?i=4726&s=1

Some video cards come with adaptors that break it out too. Mine came with my Gigabyte 6600 passive cooled video cards. My Old RPTV only has component, compsite, s-video, and VGA inputs. I suspect these same type "dongles" are available cheap elsewhere too.

This is supposed to have it included, I just preferred the layout on the Biostar.

M2A-VM HDMI

http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=3&l2=101&l3=496&model=1585&modelmenu=1

 

[solas989]

I am not aware of it being shipped with such a device (will know tomorrow).

See Biostar Website

I get half my order today, the rest tomorrow. The bigges thing 690G is tooting is the built in HDMI and low power consumption (in conjunction with their EE or 65nm cpus)

I too preferred the layout of this board over Asus because I want to use passively cooled video cards (when I get the money) for gaming. On Asus board, it would block one of my precious PCI slots, on the Biostar, it would block a PCIeX1, which I really dont care about.

Solas

 

[najames]

I am waiting for my 3600 Brisbane CPU, tomorrow. There is NO component video breakout connector with the board.

In looking at the Biostar board and manual the oddities are:
1) Why is the new board version 5.2? I must have missed versions 1-5.1 somewhere.
2) I have no use currently, but not sure why the HDMI carries 2 channel audio according to the manual
3) Both heatsinks are low profile, about the same height as the slots, unlike I saw in other reviews, CPU cooling clearance I assume
4) There are 2 holes in the board at the end of the mosfets(?), ~3" on center, is there a sink available for these? needed?

Book says you can use DVI or HDMI not both, It also says you can use VGA or S-Video not both, don't know if you can use one of each pair at the same time.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Aargh... someone please tell us how this board OCs! Pretty please?

 

[tomatom]

NOT TRYING TO TROLL , but ZZF

has a good selection of AMD690

chipset mobos now . Easy to compare

features & prices .

< remember , the 690V is the crippled
version of the 690G >

< for my HTPC project I'm leaning
toward the BioStar , but waiting
DESPERATELY for ATs' upcomming article
on 690 chipset mobos !!! >

 

[najames]

Not trolling at all. ZZF provided mine. Ewiz also has them.

The manual says it is an "overclockers board", not really why I bought it, but I hate boards that don't let you tweak settings.

I ilke the descriptive information about the latest BIOS.


TA690G AM2


Update Date 2007/03/27 Size 446KB Download
R69AM309bs.exe
Description Removed needless string.

 

[solas989]

I got my board from Ewiz - DOA - no post or anything. :|

Now I have to RMA it, and Ewiz does not cross ship even if they charge your cc twice. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. So I have to wait... Why dont ppl cross ship anymore?

I did notice it was Ver 5.2....hmmm....dont know which batch. Dont know how to tell.

HDMI does carry audio by definition. This board has 1.0 it looks like.
V1.0 - two-channel PCM audio up to 48kHz/24-bit including standard Dolby 5.1 and DTS 5.1 bitstreams.
V1.1 - up to 8-channel PCM audio up to 192kHz/24-bit.
V1.2 - as V1.1, plus DSD audio (for SACD) at 1.824Gb/s.
V1.3 - (proposed) as above, plus Dolby Digital+ and DTS-HD enhanced audio.

Also, those using Silverstone NT06, you can only use one bank dual channel of Ram as the heatpipes from the HS will block ONE of the orange slots. Therefore only 3 are open.

4 on board fan headers is nice to have.

najames - let me know how it is as I have to wait now.

solas

 

[najames]

Solas, sorry about the DOA. My TA690G AM2 works great so far without any incidents. I have 4x1GB Super Talent 667 installed, 3600 Brisbane OEM, factory 939 heatsink. Reviews said this board had the settings but didn't OC at all. Biostar must have changed sumpin, this one seems to do it ok.

I first just set the CPU clock to 210, left everything else default and it ran fine as I expected.

Second run I set the CPU clock to 230 left everything else default and it booted fine & ran 8M Super PI. CPU-Z reports CPU 2184.9Mhz, HT=1149 9.5 multi. I tested a few changes with HT etc, since the setting on this board are different than the other boards I have.

3rd run I set the HT to 800, CPU Clock to 250, all others default and it ran ok. CPU-Z reports CPU CLock=2374.9, HT=1000, Mem=395.9 @ 5-5-5-13-19 2T (auto), temps in coretemp are 23/24, case display with probe on the edge of the CPU reads 33.1C.

Now if I could just paste a damn screehshot here we'd all be happy. The point is I made 2 changes, HT=800 and CPU Clock to 250 and it worked ok. I really need to read up on all the settings with this board. I have no idea what I am doing to the video settings, etc. when overclocking it.

I gotta go put out some trash and do some domestic work.