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ECS A85F2 A Golden Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£90
  • Avg. price in US: ~$120
  • CPU socket: FM2
  • Chipset: AMD A85X
  • Form factor: ATX

ECS A85F2 A Golden review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

4.2

Overall score

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 components:

90.0%

4.2

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Poor
4.2

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

4.4

Memory

16.0%

4.9

Platform & Features

16.0%

3.5

Storage

15.0%

5.0

Network

13.0%

2.0

Ports & USB

8.0%

4.9

Expansion

8.0%

3.8

Power & Cooling

5.0%

6.6

Audio

Poor
?

User score

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 components:

70.0%

?

User reviews

30.0%

?

Popularity

  • 2.8
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    4.3

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    1.0

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    4.6

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    2.4

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    1.0

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

  • No image
No image

Best prices in UK

    N/A~ £90

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The ECS A85F2-A Golden is a premium ATX motherboard featuring the AMD A85X chipset and FM2 socket, specifically designed for high-performance APU builds with support for dual-channel DDR3 memory overclocked up to 2600MHz and 64GB capacity. Its hallmark 'Golden' aesthetic includes extensive 15μ gold plating on critical contacts like the CPU socket, RAM slots, and dual PCIe x16 slots (supporting CrossFireX), while providing a diverse I/O suite with HDMI, DisplayPort, eSATA, and four native USB 3.0 ports. Main pros include its unique aesthetic, a rich feature set featuring seven SATA 6Gb/s ports with RAID 5 support, and a user-friendly UEFI 'EZ BIOS' with a dedicated rear-panel Clear CMOS button for easier overclocking. However, notable cons include inconsistent CPU voltage control in the BIOS, the disabling of power-saving throttling when manually adjusting multipliers, and a bulky ATX form factor that may not fit all cases.

Technical Specifications of ECS A85F2 A Golden

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

?

Memory

16.0%

?

Platform & Features

16.0%

?

Storage

15.0%

?

Network

13.0%

?

Ports & USB

8.0%

?

Expansion

8.0%

?

Power & Cooling

5.0%

?

Audio

4.2
ECS A85F2 A Golden has a technical score of 4.23 points, which is lower than that of 93.3% of products in this category.
User score

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 components:

70.0%

0.0

User reviews

30.0%

1.0

Popularity

?
Popularity
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.
1.0
ECS A85F2 A Golden has a popularity of 1 points, which is lower than 77.9% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

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 components:

60.0%

4.2

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

6.0
ECS A85F2 A Golden has a quality-to-price ratio of 6 points, which is lower than 93.8% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The brand that makes the motherboard.
When it matters: When you have a brand preference for support, BIOS, or build quality.

Importance: MEDIUM

ECS
CPU socket
What it is: The socket type the motherboard is built to support.
When it matters: When you need the motherboard to match a specific CPU.

Importance: HIGH

FM2
ECS A85F2 A Golden uses the FM2 CPU socket, which is less advanced than that of 99.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.3% of motherboards.
CPU platform

Importance: MEDIUM

AMD
Chipset
What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

Importance: HIGH

AMD A85X
ECS A85F2 A Golden uses the AMD A85X chipset, which is less advanced than that of 99% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.3% of motherboards.
Form factor
What it is: The physical size standard of the motherboard, such as ATX or Micro-ATX.
When it matters: When you need the board to fit a specific case size.

Importance: HIGH

ATX
ECS A85F2 A Golden has the ATX form factor, which is more versatile than that of 47.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 52.2% of motherboards.
Show more
DDR memory version
What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: DDR5

DDR3
ECS A85F2 A Golden uses DDR3 memory, which is older than that of 86.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 13.4% of motherboards.
Memory slots
What it is: The number of RAM slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for future memory upgrades.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=4

4
ECS A85F2 A Golden has 4 Memory slots, which is more than 21.5% of motherboards and equal to 72.5% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=128 GB

64 GB
ECS A85F2 A Golden supports up to 64 GB of memory, which is less than 62.6% of motherboards and equal to 24.3% of motherboards.
Memory channels
What it is: The memory channel configuration supported by the motherboard platform.
When it matters: When memory bandwidth matters for your build.

Importance: MEDIUM

2
ECS A85F2 A Golden supports 2 memory channels, which is more than 0.2% of motherboards and equal to 92.5% of motherboards.
Maximum RAM speed
What it is: The highest officially supported memory speed for the motherboard.
When it matters: When you choose RAM and want to know the supported speed ceiling.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=6400 MT/s

2,600 MT/s
ECS A85F2 A Golden supports memory speeds up to 2600 MT/s, which is lower than that of 83.5% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.1% of motherboards.
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N. of M.2 sockets
What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=3

0
ECS A85F2 A Golden has 0 M.2 sockets, which is fewer than 88.4% of motherboards and equal to 11.7% of motherboards.
M.2 slot interface per slot
What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

Importance: HIGH

N/A
N. of SATA 3 connectors
What it is: The number of SATA 6Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you plan to connect multiple SATA drives.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

7
ECS A85F2 A Golden has 7 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 84.7% of motherboards and equal to 0.7% of motherboards.
Supported RAID levels
What it is: The RAID modes officially supported by the motherboard storage platform.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple drives in a RAID setup.

Importance: MEDIUM

0/1/5/10
ECS A85F2 A Golden supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
NVMe RAID support
What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

Importance: LOW

no
ECS A85F2 A Golden does not support NVMe RAID. 59.8% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
ECS A85F2 A Golden has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is equal to 68.5% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 4.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for modern expansion cards.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
ECS A85F2 A Golden has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is equal to 55.6% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 3.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need more full-length expansion slots.

Importance: MEDIUM

0
ECS A85F2 A Golden has 0 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is fewer than 59.5% of motherboards and equal to 40.5% of motherboards.
PCIe slot electrical configuration
What it is: The actual lane wiring used by the motherboard PCIe slots.
When it matters: When you need to know how much bandwidth each slot really gets.

Importance: HIGH

x16/x8
ECS A85F2 A Golden uses x16/x8 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is more flexible than that of 84.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.2% of motherboards.
PCIe bifurcation support
What it is: Shows whether the board can split PCIe lanes across multiple devices from one slot or link.
When it matters: When you plan multi-SSD adapters or more advanced expansion setups.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
ECS A85F2 A Golden supports PCIe bifurcation. 39.1% of motherboards support this feature.
x8/x8.
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Total USB ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=8

6
ECS A85F2 A Golden has 6 USB ports (rear I/O), which is fewer than 64.2% of motherboards and equal to 32.9% of motherboards.
Total USB ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want to know the board's full USB expansion potential.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=14

12
ECS A85F2 A Golden has 12 USB ports (including headers), which is fewer than 72.4% of motherboards and equal to 16.6% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C devices connected without adapters.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=1

0
ECS A85F2 A Golden 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)
What it is: The total number of USB-C ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C connectivity across the whole build.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=2

0
ECS A85F2 A Golden has 0 USB-C ports (including headers), which is fewer than 69.6% of motherboards and equal to 30.4% of motherboards.
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want very fast USB-C connectivity on the rear I/O.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

N/A
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LAN speed
What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 2.5GbE

1 Gbps
ECS A85F2 A Golden supports LAN speeds up to 1 Gbps, which is lower than that of 50.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 49.1% of motherboards.
LAN controller
What it is: The model of onboard Ethernet controller used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you compare networking hardware quality and features.

Importance: MEDIUM

Realtek RTL8111E
ECS A85F2 A Golden uses the Realtek RTL8111E LAN controller, which is less advanced than that of 89.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.7% of motherboards.
N. of RJ45 ports
What it is: The number of wired Ethernet ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need one or more wired network connections.

Importance: LOW

1
ECS A85F2 A Golden has 1 RJ45 ports, which is equal to 85.6% of motherboards.
Wi-Fi connectivity
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes onboard Wi-Fi hardware instead of requiring a separate adapter.
When it matters: When you want wireless networking without adding an extra card.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
ECS A85F2 A Golden does not support Wi-Fi connectivity. 49.1% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
What it is: The supported Wi-Fi generation, such as Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7.
When it matters: When you care about wireless speed and router compatibility.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)

N/A
Show more
Audio codec
What it is: The onboard audio codec used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When sound quality from the built-in audio matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

VIA VT1819S
ECS A85F2 A Golden uses the VIA VT1819S audio codec, which is less advanced than that of 98.9% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.1% of motherboards.
Audio channels
What it is: The audio channel configuration supported by the onboard sound solution.
When it matters: When you want surround sound from the motherboard audio outputs.

Importance: LOW

Good value: 7.1

7.1
ECS A85F2 A Golden offers 7.1 audio channels, which is more than 4.9% of motherboards and equal to 95.1% of motherboards.
Audio SNR
What it is: The signal-to-noise ratio of the onboard audio solution.
When it matters: When you care about cleaner onboard audio output.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=120 dB

100 dB
ECS A85F2 A Golden has an audio SNR of 100 dB, which is lower than that of 64.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.1% of motherboards.
Headphone amp support
What it is: Shows whether the onboard audio path includes dedicated headphone amplification for harder-to-drive headsets.
When it matters: When you use harder-to-drive headphones from the onboard audio.

Importance: LOW

yes
ECS A85F2 A Golden supports a headphone amp. 37% of motherboards support this feature.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
What it is: The number of rear 3.5mm audio jacks on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more analog audio connection options.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=5

5
ECS A85F2 A Golden has 5 3.5mm audio jacks, which is more than 49.8% of motherboards and equal to 36.8% of motherboards.
also has optical S/PDIF out
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VRM phases
What it is: The number of power-delivery phases used by the motherboard VRM.
When it matters: When you care about CPU power delivery and overclocking headroom.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=12

4+1
ECS A85F2 A Golden has 4+1 VRM phases, which is fewer than 95.7% of motherboards and equal to 1.1% of motherboards.
N. of CPU power connectors
What it is: The number of CPU power connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you care about power delivery for higher-end CPUs.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=2

1
ECS A85F2 A Golden has 1 CPU power connectors, which is equal to 54.5% of motherboards.
N. of fan headers
What it is: The number of headers available for case or CPU fans.
When it matters: When your build uses several fans.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

3
ECS A85F2 A Golden has 3 fan headers, which is fewer than 76.7% of motherboards and equal to 15% of motherboards.
Pump header
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes a dedicated header designed for a liquid-cooling pump.
When it matters: When you build with an AIO or custom liquid cooling loop.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
ECS A85F2 A Golden does not have a pump header. 77% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
What it is: The maximum current the dedicated pump header can supply.
When it matters: When you want to make sure the pump header can power your cooling setup.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=2 A

0 A
ECS A85F2 A Golden supports up to 0 A on the pump header, which is lower than that of 74.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 25.7% of motherboards.
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ECS A85F2 A Golden vs the average motherboard

  • 2 more PCI slots
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more PCI slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCI slot/s.
    What it is: The number of legacy PCI slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you need compatibility with older expansion cards.

    Importance: LOW

    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more PCI slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCI slot/s.2 vs 0
  • More flexible PCIe lane configuration
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x8 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.
    What it is: The actual lane wiring used by the motherboard PCIe slots.
    When it matters: When you need to know how much bandwidth each slot really gets.

    Importance: HIGH

    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x8 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.x16/x8 vs x16/x1
  • 2 more PCIe 2.0x16 slots
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more PCIe 2.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 2.0x16 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe 2.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you compare older full-length expansion options.

    Importance: LOW

    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more PCIe 2.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 2.0x16 slot/s.2 vs 0
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.5% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
    What it is: A rear I/O button used to clear BIOS or CMOS settings quickly.
    When it matters: When you overclock or troubleshoot and want an easier reset method.

    Importance: LOW

    ECS A85F2 A Golden has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.5% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
  • 2 more PCIe x1 slots
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe x1 slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want space for smaller add-in cards.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=2

    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.3 vs 1
  • 3 more SATA 3 connectors
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (7 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
    What it is: The number of SATA 6Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you plan to connect multiple SATA drives.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=6

    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (7 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.7 vs 4
  • 1 more USB 2.0 headers
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more USB 2.0 headers than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 header/s.
    What it is: The number of internal USB 2.0 headers available for case connections.
    When it matters: When your case or accessories need internal USB connections.

    Importance: LOW

    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more USB 2.0 headers than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 header/s.3 vs 2
  • 1 more eSATA ports
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more eSATA ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 eSATA port/s.
    What it is: The number of eSATA ports available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you still use compatible external SATA storage.

    Importance: LOW

    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more eSATA ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 eSATA port/s.1 vs 0
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.5% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
  • 3 more SATA 3 connectors
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (7 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
  • 2 more PCI slots
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more PCI slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCI slot/s.
  • More flexible PCIe lane configuration
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x8 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.
  • 2 more PCIe 2.0x16 slots
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more PCIe 2.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 2.0x16 slot/s.
  • 2 more PCIe x1 slots
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 1 more USB 2.0 headers
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more USB 2.0 headers than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 header/s.
  • 1 more eSATA ports
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more eSATA ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 eSATA port/s.
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more DVI outputs than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 DVI outputs.
  • Includes VGA connector
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has a VGA connector, while the average motherboard does not. 22% of motherboards include a VGA connector.
  • 85 mm shorter
    ECS A85F2 A Golden is shorter than the average motherboard (220 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.
  • 24 mm narrower
    ECS A85F2 A Golden is narrower than the average motherboard (220 mm vs 244 mm). The average motherboard width is 244 mm.

Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD A85X vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • No BIOS flashback support
    ECS A85F2 A Golden does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
  • Older CPU socket
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has older CPU socket than the average motherboard (FM2 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
  • Not ready for Windows 11
    ECS A85F2 A Golden is not ready for Windows 11, while the average motherboard is. 77.1% of motherboards are ready for Windows 11.
  • No debug LED indicators
    ECS A85F2 A Golden does not have debug LED indicators, while the average motherboard does. 78.8% of motherboards include debug LED indicators.
  • Narrower Windows support
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has narrower Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows XP vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.
  • Fewer BIOS update options
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has fewer BIOS update options than the average motherboard (UEFI utility, Windows app, DOS vs UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app). The average motherboard offers UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app BIOS update methods.
  • 9 years older release date
    ECS A85F2 A Golden is older than the average motherboard (2,012 vs 2,021). The average motherboard was released in 2,021.
  • No TPM connector
    ECS A85F2 A Golden does not have a TPM connector, while the average motherboard does. 86.7% of motherboards include a TPM connector.
  • 50% less maximum memory capacity
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (64 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
  • Older DDR memory generation
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
  • 43.5% lower maximum RAM speed
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has a lower maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (2,600 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.
  • 47.3% lower overclocked RAM speed
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has a lower overclocked RAM speed than the average motherboard (2,600 MT/s vs 4,933 MT/s). The average motherboard supports overclocked RAM speed of 4,933 MT/s.
  • 2 fewer M.2 sockets
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
  • No NVMe RAID support
    ECS A85F2 A Golden does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 1 fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slot/s.
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has fewer rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
  • 3 fewer total USB connections
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (12 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 1 fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    ECS A85F2 A Golden 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.
  • Older HDMI version
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has older HDMI version than the average motherboard (1.4 vs 2.1). The average motherboard supports HDMI 2.1.
  • 1 fewer PS/2 ports
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has fewer PS/2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PS/2 port/s.
  • 1 fewer total USB-C connections
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has fewer total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • More basic LAN controller
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8,111E vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    ECS A85F2 A Golden 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.
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    ECS A85F2 A Golden 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
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more basic audio codec than the average motherboard (VIA VT1,819S vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.
  • 15 dB lower audio SNR
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (100 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • Fewer VRM phases
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has fewer VRM phases than the average motherboard (4+1 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
  • No pump header
    ECS A85F2 A Golden does not have a pump header, while the average motherboard does. 77% of motherboards include a pump header.
  • 2 fewer fan headers
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has fewer fan headers than the average motherboard (3 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    ECS A85F2 A Golden does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.3% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has fewer RGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
  • 2 A lower pump header current limit
    ECS A85F2 A Golden 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.
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD A85X vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
    What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
    When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

    Importance: HIGH

    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD A85X vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.AMD A85X vs Intel B860
  • More basic LAN controller
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8,111E vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.
    What it is: The model of onboard Ethernet controller used by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you compare networking hardware quality and features.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ECS A85F2 A Golden has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8,111E vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.Realtek RTL8111E vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    ECS A85F2 A Golden 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.
    What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: 2.5GbE

    ECS A85F2 A Golden 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
  • 2 fewer M.2 sockets
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=3

    ECS A85F2 A Golden 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
    ECS A85F2 A Golden does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
    What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
    When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

    Importance: LOW

    ECS A85F2 A Golden does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
    What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=8

    ECS A85F2 A Golden has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.6 vs 8
  • 50% less maximum memory capacity
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (64 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
    When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=128 GB

    ECS A85F2 A Golden has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (64 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.64 GB vs 128 GB
  • Older DDR memory generation
    ECS A85F2 A Golden has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
    What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
    When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: DDR5

    ECS A85F2 A Golden has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.DDR3 vs DDR4
Total
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Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

What customers like about ECS A85F2 A Golden?

  • Flashy and unique gold-on-black aesthetic
  • Extensive expansion options (2x PCIe x16, 3x PCIe x1, 2x PCI)
  • Plentiful storage connectivity with 7 SATA 6Gb/s ports and RAID support
  • Comprehensive rear I/O including HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, and VGA
  • Conveniently placed rear 'Clear CMOS' button
  • Solid reliability and stability features like 'Non-Stop' certification
  • Good thermal performance, running cool under load

What customers dislike about ECS A85F2 A Golden?

  • Poor UEFI BIOS mouse response and tracking
  • Wonky CPU voltage adjustments; often unable to lower voltage from 'default'
  • Disables CPU power throttling when the multiplier is manually adjusted
  • Inconsistent gold shades between heatsinks and other components can look cheap
  • Relatively high price point compared to other FM2 motherboards of its time
  • Limited high-end overclocking potential for enthusiasts
  • Poor high-performance RAM compatibility (e.g., missing 2400 MHz options)

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