Biostar TB360-BTC PRO 2.0 Motherboard Review: A Budget-Friendly Option for Gaming and Mining
Table of Contents:
Introduction
The Biostar TB360-BTC PRO 2.0 is a budget-friendly ATX motherboard designed for Intel 9th and 8th generation processors. It boasts a solid feature set, including support for DDR4 memory, M.2 slots, and multiple PCIe slots, making it a suitable option for both gaming and cryptocurrency mining. In this review, we’ll delve into its features, performance, and overall value proposition.
Features
The TB360-BTC PRO 2.0 packs several features for its price point, including:
- Intel B360 chipset
- Support for 9th and 8th Gen Intel Core processors
- Two DDR4 DIMM slots, supporting up to 32GB of memory
- One M.2 slot for NVMe SSDs
- Four SATA III connectors
- Realtek LAN chip for stable networking
- 11 PCIe 3.0 x1 slots and one PCIe 3.0 x16 slot
- Multiple USB ports (6 x USB 3.1 Gen1, 6 x USB 2.0)
- 7.1-channel audio with ALC887 codec
Performance
The TB360-BTC PRO 2.0 delivered solid performance in our tests. We paired it with an Intel Core i5-9600K processor, 16GB of DDR4-2666 memory, and a GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card. In gaming benchmarks, the motherboard provided smooth gameplay at high settings, particularly in games like Fortnite, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
For cryptocurrency mining, the motherboard’s ample PCIe slots and support for high-speed NVMe SSDs made it suitable for multi-GPU setups. We were able to run a 4-GPU rig without any significant performance issues. However, it’s worth noting that the motherboard doesn’t have any dedicated features specifically for mining, so it’s not as specialized as other mining-centric boards.
Pros & Cons
Here’s a summary of the pros and cons of the Biostar TB360-BTC PRO 2.0:
Pros:
- Affordable price
- Solid feature set for its price
- Good performance for gaming and mining
- Stable and reliable
Cons:
- Limited RAM slots (only two)
- No integrated Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- No dedicated mining features
Final Verdict
The Biostar TB360-BTC PRO 2.0 is a compelling option for budget-conscious PC builders looking for a solid motherboard with decent performance. It’s well-suited for both gaming and cryptocurrency mining, although it’s not the most specialized board for either. The limited RAM slots and lack of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth might be drawbacks for some users. Overall, if you’re on a tight budget and need a motherboard for a reasonably powerful gaming or mining PC, the TB360-BTC PRO 2.0 is a worthy consideration.
Specifications:
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Chipset | Intel B360 |
| CPU Support | 9th Gen Intel Core i9 LGA 1151 Processor | Socket 1151 for 9th & 8th Intel Core i7 / i5 / i3 / Pentium / Celeron processor | 8th Generation Intel Core Processor Family only support 300-Series. |
| Memory | Supports Dual Channel DDR4 1866/2133/2400/2666 | 2 x DDR4 DIMM Memory Slot, Max. Supports up to 32 GB Memory | Each DIMM supports non-ECC 4/8/16GB DDR4 module |
| Integrated Video | By CPU model | Supports DX12 | Supports HDCP |
| Storage | 4 x SATA III Connectors (6Gb/s) | 1 x M.2 (M Key) Socket: | – Supports M.2 Type 2242/2260/2280 SSD module | – Supports SATA III (6Gb/s) SSD |
| LAN | Realtek LAN Chip | 10/100/1000 Mb/s auto negotiation, Half / Full duplex capability |
| Audio Codec | ALC887 | 7.1 Channels, High Definition Audio |
| USB | 6 x USB 3.1(Gen1) ports (4 on rear I/Os and 2 via internal header) | 6 x USB 2.0 ports (2 on rear I/Os and 4 via internal header) |
| Expansion Slot | 11 x PCIe 3.0 x1 Slot | 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 Slot |
| Rear I/O | 1 x PS/2 Mouse | 1 x PS/2 Keyboard | 1 x VGA Port | 1 x HDMI Port | 1 x LAN port | 2 x USB 2.0 Ports | 4 x USB 3.1(Gen1) Ports | 3 x Audio Jack |
| Internal I/O | 4 x SATA III Connectors (6Gb/s) | 2 x USB 2.0 Header (each header supports 2 USB 2.0 ports) | 1 x USB 3.1(Gen1) Header (each header supports 2 USB 3.1(Gen1) ports) | 1 x 8-Pin Power Connector | 2 x 24-Pin Power Connectors | 2 x 6-Pin PCIe Power Connectors | 1 x CPU Fan Connector | 2 x System Fan Connectors | 1 x Front Panel Header | 1 x Front Audio Header | 1 x COM Serial Header | 1 x Clear CMOS Header |
| H/W Monitoring | CPU / System Temperature Monitoring | CPU / System Fan Monitoring | System Fan Monitoring | Smart / Manual CPU Fan Control | System Voltage Monitoring |
| Dimension | ATX Form Factor Dimension: 29.5 cm x 21.0 cm (W x L) |
| OS Support | Supports Windows 10(64bit) / 11(64bit) |