BIOSTAR A68N-5200 Motherboard Review

Software Overview

Historically, BIOSTAR’s software offerings have been extremely basic and not worth downloading due to many free alternatives being readily available. This situation changed when the company re-launched their consumer motherboards under the RACING brand and dramatically improved the software package. Sadly, the RACING software suite isn’t included with this particular product and it relies heavily on BIOSTAR’s outdated applications. The SmartSpeedLAN analyses the network traffic and prioritises data based on your preferences. This is a handy addition if you’re experiencing latency issues and want to use a software solution to help matters.

The Temperature Monitor is pretty self-explanatory and lists the minimum, current and maximum values of the CPU. The readings are presented in a small window which doesn’t take up a lot of desktop real estate. However, I’d recommend using something more substantial like HWMonitor if you wish to learn more about the CPU’s voltage and performance in different load scenarios.

The strangely named eHot-Line application can be deployed to insert your e-mail, memory module details, and power supply maker to access technical help. Honestly, I cannot understand the concept behind this creation because e-mailing customer support is safer and probably yields quicker results.

BIOSTAR’s BIOS Update application is designed to create a backup, or update the BIOS from two sources. It also outlines the current model number and BIOS version so you can easily cross check a downloaded update with the current install. Once again, the program’s window is tiny which might be an issue for people using a 4K monitor.

Perhaps the most interesting utility is the customisable BIOS splash screen.  In this application, you can insert a custom image which replaces the default BIOSTAR decal. This is a novel idea and provides the end-user with a great deal of flexibility.