$30 MOTHERBOARD?! – Can it game?
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Promos
When buying a motherboard, less is often more. But just how much can you save by buying the CHEAPEST option available? For your unrestricted 30 days free trial, go to freshbooks.com and enter in “Linus Tech Tips” in the how you heard about us section. Try Tunnelbear for free at tunnelbear.com and save 10% Buy the ECS A55F on Amazon: geni.us Buy an ASUS ROG STRIX B250G LGA-1151 motherboard instead Amazon: geni.us Newegg: geni.us Buy an ASUS PRIME B350 AM4 motherboard instead: Amazon: geni.us Newegg: geni.us Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com Our Affiliates, Referral Programs, and Sponsors: linustechtips.com Linus Tech Tips merchandise at designbyhumans.com Linus Tech Tips posters at crowdmade.com Our production gear: geni.us Twitter - twitter.com Facebook - @LinusTech Instagram - @linustech Intro Screen Music Credit: Title: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro Screen Music Credit: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High youtube.com Sound effects provided by freesfx.co.uk
The video opens with Linus Tech Tips introducing the ECS A55F‑M4‑1.0 motherboard as a budget-friendly option that still packs a surprising amount of gaming features. He walks through the rear I/O, highlighting the four USB 2.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet, audio jacks, and dual VGA/HDMI outputs, then moves to the front panel where he shows the additional USB 2.0 ports and serial/parallel headers that give the board a versatile connectivity profile. Linus continues by discussing the board’s internal connectivity, noting the 12 Gbps data links and the support for the A8‑3870 APU with integrated Radeon graphics. He demonstrates a quick installation of RAM and a GTX 1080 TI, emphasizing the 168‑pin power and data interface and the board’s compatibility with AM3 coolers. He wraps up by comparing the board’s performance to other budget options, noting that the A55F can handle a full 16 GB RAM and a 1080 TI in both DirectX 11 and 12, and he offers a quick link to buy the board on Amazon and Newegg. The video is a concise, practical review that balances technical detail with a lighthearted tone, making it useful for viewers who want a quick assessment of a low‑cost motherboard for gaming builds.
Viewers praise the video’s clear walkthrough and the humor in Linus’s commentary. Many comments note the board’s affordability and the solid feature set, with several users mentioning the 3 GHz claim and the ease of installation. Some viewers appreciate the quick links to purchase options and the mention of the APU’s integrated graphics.
Topics · gaming · review · pc · tech · performance · cpu · linus · overview
Questions answered
- What are the main I/O features of the ECS A55F‑M4‑1.0 motherboard?
- The board has four USB 2.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet, audio jacks, dual VGA/HDMI outputs, and serial/parallel headers on the rear I/O, plus four additional USB 2.0 ports on the front panel.
- Which CPU and GPU does Linus install in the demo?
- He installs an AMD A8‑3870 APU with integrated Radeon graphics and a full‑length GTX 1080 TI.
- How does the board’s internal connectivity support gaming?
- It offers 12 Gbps data links, 168‑pin power and data interface, and compatibility with AM3 coolers, allowing a full 16 GB RAM and a 1080 TI to run smoothly in DirectX 11 and 12.