Conclusion:
Through this review I have found that the ECS A770M-A (V1.0) AMD 770 motherboard should not be overlooked by anyone looking to build a reliable, low cost system around the latest AMD processors. Those in the market for a highly configurable, overclocking motherboard should keep shopping, but if you want modern features and solid performance right out of the box, this is a good choice.
The biggest issue I have with the board is the lack of overclocking features. On the Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe, I was able to get an easy overclock by simply adjusting the frontside bus. While that board hit 235MHz with ease, the ECS A770M-A was not able to get beyond 210MHz, and was really only stable up to 208MHz. Perhaps this is a limitation of the AMD 770 chipset on budget conscious motherboards, as another board with the same chipset suffered from a similarly low overclocking ceiling.
Other than the lack of overclocking features, there are no technical issues. I would like to see some additional accessories included, such as a few more SATA cables and an eSATA cable. The Asus M3A motherboard is priced similarly, however it includes two SATA cables, and a 4-pin to SATA power cable. These little additions are a definite plus.
A search of PriceGrabber finds the ECS A770M-A (V1.0) AMD 770 motherboard for around $69.99 at a few familiar online retailers. If you are looking for a good performing board, using the latest AMD chipset, a single PCI Express 2.0 slot, and compatibility with AMD's Phenom processors, this board is sure to be a good fit.
Given the market this board seems to be designed for, the performance, price, and features help the ECS A770M-A (V1.0) AMD 770 motherboard earn the Bigbruin.com "Recommended" award.
Pros:
» Solid performance on a budget
» Support for PCI Express 2.0, HT 3.0, and Phenom processors
» Onboard eSATA port
» Budget friendly price
» No more floppy
Cons:
» Lacking connectors - only 2 fan headers and 4 SATA connectors
» Lack of overclocking features / capabilities
» Passively cooled northbridge / southbridge
» Lacking accessories
Special thanks to ECS for providing the ECS A770M-A (V1.0) AMD 770 Motherboard to Bigbruin.com for review!
Please drop by the Bigbruin.com Forum and feel free to post any comments or questions.
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