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ALTERNATIVES
SPECS
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REVIEWS
Scored using Motherboards Methodology v1.0
Motherboards Methodology v1.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are scored under Frontum Motherboards Methodology v1.0: technical specifications plus authentic consumer ratings, with 0% commercial bias.
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BIOSTAR NM70I 1037U Review | 107 Data compared

Avg. price:~£55CPU socket:BGA 1023Chipset:Intel NM70Form factor:Mini-ITX

BIOSTAR NM70I 1037U Review: Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Motherboards category and whether it is worth buying.

BIOSTAR NM70I 1037U
3.5/10

Overall score

Score
3.5/ 10
✕
What it is
An overall evaluation of the motherboard's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.
When it matters
When you need a quick reference to identify the best motherboards on the market.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▼ Worse than 99% of models
Score components

90%

3.1

Technical score

10%

6.5

User score

▼Worse than 99% of motherboards
5.4

Value for money

Value for money
5.4/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the motherboard's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for a motherboard that offers a strong balance of features, performance, and price.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▼ Worse than 99% of models
Score components

70%

3.5

Overall score

30%

10

Price

▼Worse than 99%
3.1

Technical score

Technical score
3.1/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Motherboards category across these key areas: Platform & Features, Memory, Storage, Expansion, Ports & USB, Network, Audio, Power & Cooling.
When it matters
When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▼ Worse than 99% of models
Score components

19%

2.1

Memory

16%

5.0

Platform & Features

16%

2.9

Storage

15%

3.3

Network

13%

1.2

Ports & USB

8%

2.4

Expansion

8%

3.9

Power & Cooling

5%

6.3

Audio

▼Worse than 99%
6.5

User score

User score
6.5/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.
When it matters
When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▼ Worse than 95% of models
Score components

70%

8.0

User ratings

30%

3.1

Number of reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
▼Worse than 95%
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Best prices
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Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Motherboards model ranking

Ranked #1656 of 2,035 models in Motherboards (Overall score)

Technical Specifications of motherboard BIOSTAR NM70I 1037U

Technical score
Technical score
3.1/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Motherboards category across these key areas: Platform & Features, Memory, Storage, Expansion, Ports & USB, Network, Audio, Power & Cooling.
When it matters
When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▼ Worse than 99% of models
Score components:

19%

2.1

Memory

16%

5.0

Platform & Features

16%

2.9

Storage

15%

3.3

Network

13%

1.2

Ports & USB

8%

2.4

Expansion

8%

3.9

Power & Cooling

5%

6.3

Audio

3.1
User score
User score
6.5/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.
When it matters
When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▼ Worse than 95% of models
Score components

70%

8.0

User ratings

30%

3.1

Number of reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
6.5
Popularity
Popularity
3.1/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the motherboard.
When it matters
When you prefer a motherboard that has already been bought and reviewed by many other users.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▼ Worse than 75% of models
Popularity:
BIOSTAR NM70I 1037U has a popularity score of 3.1 points, which is lower than that of 74.5% of products in this category.
3.1
Value for money
Value for money
5.4/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the motherboard's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for a motherboard that offers a strong balance of features, performance, and price.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▼ Worse than 99% of models
Score components:

70%

3.5

Overall score

30%

10

Price

5.4
Brand name
Biostar
CPU socket
BGA 1023
This motherboard uses the BGA 1023 CPU socket, which is less advanced than that of 99.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.1% of motherboards.
CPU platform
Intel
This motherboard is built for the Intel CPU platform, which is more versatile than that of 31.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 68.4% of motherboards.
Chipset
Intel NM70
This motherboard uses the Intel NM70 chipset, which is less advanced than that of 97.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.1% of motherboards.
Form factor
Mini-ITX
This motherboard has the Mini-ITX form factor, which is less versatile than that of 84.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 7.3% of motherboards.
Show more
DDR memory version
DDR3
This motherboard uses DDR3 memory, which is older than that of 86.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 13.3% of motherboards.
Memory slots
2
Market range: <2 – >4
This motherboard has 2 Memory slots, which is fewer than 78.6% of motherboards and equal to 21.4% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
16 GB
Market range: <32 GB – >256 GB
This motherboard supports up to 16 GB of memory, which is less than 98.2% of motherboards and equal to 1.6% of motherboards.
Memory channels
2
This motherboard supports 2 memory channels, which is more than 0.2% of motherboards and equal to 92.6% of motherboards.
Maximum RAM speed
1,600 MT/s
Market range: <2k MT/s – >8k MT/s
This motherboard supports memory speeds up to 1,600 MT/s, which is lower than that of 93.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 6.3% of motherboards.
Show more
N. of M.2 sockets
0
Market range: <0 – >4
This motherboard has 0 M.2 sockets, which is fewer than 88.4% of motherboards and equal to 11.6% of motherboards.
M.2 slot interface per slot
N/A
N. of SATA 3 connectors
1
Market range: <4 – >8
This motherboard has 1 SATA 3 connectors, which is fewer than 99.2% of motherboards and equal to 0.3% of motherboards.
Supported RAID levels
no
This motherboard supports RAID levels no, which is narrower than 92.3% of motherboards and equal to 7.1% of motherboards.
NVMe RAID support
no
This motherboard does not support NVMe RAID. 59.8% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
0
Market range: <0 – >1
This motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is fewer than 31.5% of motherboards and equal to 68.5% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
0
Market range: <0 – >1
This motherboard has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is fewer than 44.5% of motherboards and equal to 55.5% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
0
Market range: <0 – >3
This motherboard has 0 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is fewer than 59.6% of motherboards and equal to 40.4% of motherboards.
PCIe slot electrical configuration
x8
This motherboard uses x8 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is less flexible than that of 99.2% of motherboards.
PCIe bifurcation support
no
This motherboard does not support PCIe bifurcation. 59.7% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
Total USB ports (rear I/O)
4
Market range: <6 – >10
This motherboard has 4 USB ports (rear I/O), which is fewer than 97.9% of motherboards and equal to 2% of motherboards.
Total USB ports (including headers)
8
Market range: <11 – >19
This motherboard has 8 USB ports (including headers), which is fewer than 97.7% of motherboards and equal to 2% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
0
Market range: <0 – >2
This motherboard has 0 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is fewer than 64.6% of motherboards and equal to 35.4% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
0
Market range: <0 – >3
This motherboard has 0 USB-C ports (including headers), which is fewer than 69.7% of motherboards and equal to 30.3% of motherboards.
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
0
Market range: <0 – >1
This motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is fewer than 18.3% of motherboards and equal to 81.7% of motherboards.
Show more
LAN speed
1 Gbps
Market range: <1 Gbps – >2.5 Gbps
This motherboard supports LAN speeds up to 1 Gbps, which is lower than that of 50.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 49.2% of motherboards.
LAN controller
Realtek RTL8111F
This motherboard uses the Realtek RTL8111F LAN controller, which is less advanced than that of 62.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.8% of motherboards.
N. of RJ45 ports
1
Market range: <1 – >2
This motherboard has 1 RJ45 ports, which is fewer than 14.4% of motherboards and equal to 85.6% of motherboards.
Wi-Fi connectivity
no
This motherboard does not support Wi-Fi connectivity. 50.1% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
N/A
Show more
Audio codec
Realtek ALC662
This motherboard uses the Realtek ALC662 audio codec, which is less advanced than that of 97.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.5% of motherboards.
Audio channels
5.1
This motherboard offers 5.1 audio channels, which is fewer than 95.2% of motherboards and equal to 4.1% of motherboards.
full 7.1 needs front panel audio.
Audio SNR
98 dB
Market range: <95 dB – >120 dB
This motherboard has an audio SNR of 98 dB, which is lower than that of 62.5% of motherboards and equal to that of 2.9% of motherboards.
Headphone amp support
yes
This motherboard supports a headphone amp. 40.8% of motherboards support this feature.
supports up to 600Ω.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
3
Market range: <2 – >6
This motherboard has 3 3.5mm audio jacks, which is fewer than 50.4% of motherboards and equal to 38.1% of motherboards.
Show more
VRM phases
3
This motherboard has 3 VRM phases, which is fewer than 99.3% of motherboards and equal to 0.4% of motherboards.
N. of CPU power connectors
1
Market range: <1 – >2
This motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors, which is fewer than 45.5% of motherboards and equal to 54.5% of motherboards.
N. of fan headers
2
Market range: <3 – >8
This motherboard has 2 fan headers, which is fewer than 92% of motherboards and equal to 8% of motherboards.
Pump header
no
This motherboard does not have a pump header. 78.1% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
0 A
Market range: <0 A – >3 A
This motherboard supports up to 0 A on the pump header, which is lower than that of 76% of motherboards and equal to that of 24% of motherboards.
Show more

BIOSTAR NM70I 1037U vs the average motherboard

246810TotalPlatform & FeaturesMemoryStorageExpansionPorts & USBNetworkAudioPower & Cooling
  • 135 mm shorter
    This motherboard is shorter than the average motherboard (170 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.
    170 mm vs 305 mm
  • 2.91x cheaper
    BIOSTAR NM70I 1037U is cheaper than the average motherboard (£55 vs £160).
    £55 vs £160
  • Includes VGA connector
    This motherboard has a VGA connector, while the average motherboard does not. 24.7% of motherboards include a VGA connector.
  • More advanced LAN controller
    This motherboard has better LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8111F vs Killer + Intel + Realtek). The average motherboard uses Killer + Intel + Realtek LAN controller.
    Realtek RTL8111F vs Killer + Intel + Realtek
  • 74 mm narrower
    This motherboard is narrower than the average motherboard (170 mm vs 244 mm). The average motherboard width is 244 mm.
    170 mm vs 244 mm
  • 2 more USB 2.0 ports
    This motherboard has more USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
    4 vs 2
  • 2.91x cheaper
    BIOSTAR NM70I 1037U is cheaper than the average motherboard (£55 vs £160).
    £55 vs £160
  • Includes VGA connector
    This motherboard has a VGA connector, while the average motherboard does not. 24.7% of motherboards include a VGA connector.
  • 2 more USB 2.0 ports
    This motherboard has more USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
    4 vs 2
  • More advanced LAN controller
    This motherboard has better LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8111F vs Killer + Intel + Realtek). The average motherboard uses Killer + Intel + Realtek LAN controller.
    Realtek RTL8111F vs Killer + Intel + Realtek
  • 135 mm shorter
    This motherboard is shorter than the average motherboard (170 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.
    170 mm vs 305 mm
  • 74 mm narrower
    This motherboard is narrower than the average motherboard (170 mm vs 244 mm). The average motherboard width is 244 mm.
    170 mm vs 244 mm
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    This motherboard has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel NM70 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
    Intel NM70 vs Intel B860
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    This motherboard has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
    1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps
  • 87.5% less maximum memory capacity
    This motherboard has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (16 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    16 GB vs 128 GB
  • 2 fewer M.2 sockets
    This motherboard has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    0 vs 2
  • 2 fewer memory slots
    This motherboard has fewer memory slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.
    2 vs 4
  • 4 fewer rear USB ports
    This motherboard has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
    4 vs 8
  • No NVMe RAID support
    This motherboard does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 7 fewer total USB connections
    This motherboard has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (8 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
    8 vs 15
  • 36.7% worse value for money
    BIOSTAR NM70I 1037U has worse value for money than the average motherboard (5.42 vs 7.4).
    5.42 vs 7.41
  • 22.7% lower user score
    User score
    6.5/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.
    When it matters
    When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.
    Score distribution
    ▼
    ▼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    BIOSTAR NM70I 1037U
    the average motherboard
    BIOSTAR NM70I 1037U has a lower user score than the average motherboard (6.52 vs 8.000).
    6.52 vs 8
  • 2.04x less popular
    BIOSTAR NM70I 1037U is less popular than the average motherboard (3.07 vs 6.3).
    3.07 vs 6.26
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    This motherboard has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel NM70 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
    Intel NM70 vs Intel B860
  • No BIOS flashback support
    This motherboard does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.9% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
  • Not suitable for gaming
    This motherboard is not suitable for gaming, while the average motherboard is. 85.2% of motherboards are suitable for gaming.
  • Older CPU socket
    This motherboard has older CPU socket than the average motherboard (BGA 1023 vs LGA 1151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1151 CPU socket.
    BGA 1,023 vs LGA 1,151
  • Not ready for Windows 11
    This motherboard is not ready for Windows 11, while the average motherboard is. 76.9% of motherboards are ready for Windows 11.
  • Fewer BIOS update options
    This motherboard has fewer BIOS update options than the average motherboard (UEFI utility, Windows app vs UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app). The average motherboard offers UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app BIOS update methods.
    UEFI utility, Windows app vs UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app
  • No debug LED indicators
    This motherboard does not have debug LED indicators, while the average motherboard does. 78.7% of motherboards include debug LED indicators.
  • Fewer useful accessories
    This motherboard has fewer useful accessories than the average motherboard (2x SATA cables, I/O shield vs 2x SATA cables, Wi-Fi antenna, M.2 kit, front-panel adapter, RGB cable). The average motherboard comes with 2x SATA cables, Wi-Fi antenna, M.2 kit, front-panel adapter, RGB cable.
    2x SATA cables, I/O shield vs 2x SATA cables, Wi-Fi antenna, M.2 kit, front-panel adapter, RGB cable
  • Less versatile form factor
    This motherboard has less versatile form factor than the average motherboard (Mini-ITX vs ATX). The average motherboard comes in ATX form factor.
    Mini-ITX vs ATX
  • No automatic overclocking
    This motherboard does not support automatic overclocking, while the average motherboard does. 74.2% of motherboards support automatic overclocking.
  • No TPM connector
    This motherboard does not have a TPM connector, while the average motherboard does. 88% of motherboards include a TPM connector.
  • Narrower Windows support
    This motherboard has narrower Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.
    Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP vs Windows 11, Windows 10
  • 4 older release date
    This motherboard is older than the average motherboard (2017 vs 2021). The average motherboard was released in 2021.
    2017 vs 2021
  • 87.5% less maximum memory capacity
    This motherboard has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (16 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    16 GB vs 128 GB
  • 2 fewer memory slots
    This motherboard has fewer memory slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.
    2 vs 4
  • Older DDR memory generation
    This motherboard has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
    DDR3 vs DDR4
  • 66.2% lower maximum RAM speed
    This motherboard has a lower maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (1600 MT/s vs 4733 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4733 MT/s.
    1,600 MT/s vs 4,733 MT/s
  • 67.6% lower overclocked RAM speed
    This motherboard has a lower overclocked RAM speed than the average motherboard (1600 MT/s vs 4933 MT/s). The average motherboard supports overclocked RAM speed of 4933 MT/s.
    1,600 MT/s vs 4,933 MT/s
  • 2 fewer M.2 sockets
    This motherboard has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    0 vs 2
  • No NVMe RAID support
    This motherboard does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • Fewer RAID options
    This motherboard has fewer RAID options than the average motherboard (no vs 0/1/5/10). The average motherboard has 0/1/5/10 RAID level/s.
  • Less flexible PCIe lane configuration
    This motherboard has less flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x8 vs x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4). The average motherboard uses x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4 PCIe slot lane configuration.
    x8 vs x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4
  • No PCIe bifurcation support
    This motherboard does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 59.7% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
  • No multi-GPU support
    This motherboard does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
    Single PCIe x16 slot only.
  • 1 fewer PCIe x1 slots
    This motherboard has fewer PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
    0 vs 1
  • 1 fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots
    This motherboard has fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slot/s.
    0 vs 1
  • 4 fewer rear USB ports
    This motherboard has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
    4 vs 8
  • 7 fewer total USB connections
    This motherboard has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (8 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
    8 vs 15
  • 4 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    This motherboard has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
    0 vs 4
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    This motherboard has fewer rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
    0 vs 1
  • 1 fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    This motherboard has fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
    0 vs 1
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    This motherboard has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
    0 vs 1
  • Older HDMI version
    This motherboard has older HDMI version than the average motherboard (1.4 vs 2.1). The average motherboard supports HDMI 2.1.
    1.4 vs 2.1
  • 1 fewer total USB-C connections
    This motherboard has fewer total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
    0 vs 1
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    This motherboard has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
    1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps
  • No Wi-Fi connectivity
    This motherboard does not support Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does. 50% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    This motherboard does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • More basic audio codec
    This motherboard has more basic audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC662 vs Realtek ALC897). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC897 audio codec.
    Realtek ALC662 vs Realtek ALC897
  • 17 dB lower audio SNR
    This motherboard has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (98 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
    98 dB vs 115 dB
  • Fewer audio channels
    This motherboard has fewer audio channels than the average motherboard (5.1 vs 7.1). The average motherboard has 7.1 audio channel/s.
    full 7.1 needs front panel audio.
    5.1 vs 7.1
  • 2 fewer 3.5mm audio jacks
    This motherboard has fewer 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (3 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.
    3 vs 5
  • No optical S/PDIF out
    This motherboard does not have optical S/PDIF out, while the average motherboard does. 55.8% of motherboards include optical S/PDIF out.
  • Fewer VRM phases
    This motherboard has fewer VRM phases than the average motherboard (3 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
    3 vs 10
  • 3.5 fewer fan headers
    This motherboard has fewer fan headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 5.5). The average motherboard has 5.5 fan header/s.
    2 vs 5.5
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    This motherboard has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
    0 vs 2
  • No pump header
    This motherboard does not have a pump header, while the average motherboard does. 78.1% of motherboards include a pump header.
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    This motherboard does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.4% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    This motherboard has fewer RGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
    0 vs 1
  • 2 A lower pump header current limit
    This motherboard has a lower pump header current than the average motherboard (0 A vs 2 A). The average motherboard provides pump header current of 2 A.
    0 A vs 2 A

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

Third-party reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
Reviews last updated: May 2026 · How we calculate this

What we like about BIOSTAR NM70I 1037U

  • Excellent value for a combined motherboard and CPU at a low price point
  • Highly energy-efficient, with idle power consumption as low as 14.5 watts
  • Onboard Celeron 1037U provides better performance than many contemporary Intel Atom or AMD equivalents
  • The 40mm CPU fan is reported to be nearly silent during regular operation
  • Compact Mini-ITX form factor is ideal for home servers, HTPCs, and office builds
  • Native support for Linux distributions (e.g., Ubuntu, Linux Mint) with minimal configuration needed
  • Includes essential modern features for its class, such as a SATA III 6Gbps port and HDMI output

What we don't like about BIOSTAR NM70I 1037U

  • Lacks USB 3.0 ports, which limits data transfer speeds for external storage
  • Northbridge heatsink can run very hot, reaching temperatures of 65-70°C at idle
  • Integrated graphics may struggle with 1080p video playback, showing occasional flickering or frame updates
  • Limited number of SATA ports (1x SATA III and 3x SATA II) for those needing extensive storage
  • Known quirk where the Ethernet adapter may reset continuously unless specific energy-saving settings are disabled in drivers
  • No digital audio output (optical S/PDIF) available on the board
  • Reported difficulty booting from certain USB sticks during initial OS installation

Verdict

The Biostar NM70I-1037U is a Mini-ITX motherboard featuring an integrated Intel Celeron 1037U dual-core processor clocked at 1.8GHz and the Intel NM70 chipset. It supports up to 16GB of dual-channel DDR3 1600/1333 MHz memory across two slots and includes one PCIe 2.0 x16 slot (running at x8) for expansion. Storage options consist of one SATA III (6Gbps) and three SATA II (3Gbps) connectors, while connectivity includes HDMI, VGA, Gigabit LAN, and four USB 2.0 ports. Its primary advantages are its low-power consumption, compact form factor, and inclusion of durable solid capacitors; however, it is limited by a lack of USB 3.0/3.2 ports, no M.2 slots for modern SSDs, and an aging processor unsuitable for high-performance tasks.

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