Thoughts
BIOSTAR, yet again, has manufactured a competent motherboard that's high on value but misses out on providing an all-around package that's seriously going to interest the enthusiast. BIOS updates are lacking and the inability to manually change CPU multipliers effectively renders over clocking into an interest-only realm. The main problem, however, that faces BIOSTAR's plans to woo the enthusiast revolve around a lack of UK supply. Check most respected online vendors' catalogues and BIOSTAR's name is conspicuously absent. I had a hard time in finding the review model, K8NHA Grand, in stock at more than a couple of places. Compare this situation with, say, ABIT and EPoX's low-end S754 boards. Both are available in quantity and are priced at around £65. The aggressive pricing takes away one of chiefs BIOSTAR's advantages and copious supply betters what BIOSTAR offers.Considered in absolute isolation, the K8NHA Grand isn't a bad board by any means. The problem is just how well the competition is doing right now, in terms of price, features and availability. BIOSTAR needs to compete and beat well-established manufacturers at their own game. This is precisely how the likes of EPoX and DFI have risen from motherboard mediocrity to current top-tier status. Unfortunately for BIOSTAR, the K8NHA Grand is another package that fails to excite. Solid, yes, spectacular and worthy of a recommendation, no.
Highs
Solid benchmark performer
Good layout
Excellent stability
Lows
Poor bundle
Poor BIOS, if considered by enthusiasts' terms
Difficult to source in the U.K
