Total System Power Draw Biostar TA990FXE Graphics Solution Idle CPU Loaded Graphics Loaded AMD FX-8150 and nVidia Geforce GTX470 101W 254W 258W (At desktop) (via Prime95) (via 3Dmark 06)

The Biostar TA990FXE system draws 101W while idle at the desktop. Under 100% CPU load conditions with Prime95, total system power draw jumps to 254W. 3DMark06 pushes power draw to a peak of 258W with a Geforce GTX470 videocard.

Biostar's Budget Approach

Gamers know they can get away with a slightly less powerful multicore processor and spend the money saved on a quicker graphics card, because THAT's where video game performance really rests. Processors, to put it plainly, are no longer a bottle necking component in computers. Modern CPUs, even mainstream level chips, are generally fast enough for 95% of the software and applications the average PC user relies on.

It's within this turbulent environment that AMD released it's 990FX chipset and FX-series Bulldozer processor. Despite the luke warm reception Bulldozer garnered, the AMD 990FX is a very well equipped motherboard chipset with a lot to offer mainstream and performance users alike.

So what can we say about the Biostar TA990FXE+Bulldozer combo that the benchmarks haven't already spelled out so painfully for AMD fans? The Intel Core i5 Sandy Bridge + P67/Z68 platform beats the flagship AMD offering in the majority of tests...but not all!