The situation when a new processor requires a new motherboard with a new chipset has already occurred quite often. All motherboard manufacturers were in a hurry to introduce their new products, playing chicken and egg. However, as you already know, things are different this spring - the new Intel processors, codenamed Ivy Bridge, can be used on "old" boards. But this does not mean at all that the leaders of the component market need not worry - users who want everything newest are the most active and very interesting financially, so the release of the seventh series chipset line was received with enthusiasm by everyone.
A dozen products based on the maximum version of the chipset line - Intel Z77 - appeared in ASUS' arsenal at once. To be honest, in our opinion, this is too much: it will not be easy for users to understand the differences and numerous suffixes if we are talking about ordinary “workhorses”. In this material, we will consider the motherboard of the P8Z77-V Pro model.
Among its distinguishing features, the manufacturer mentions the use of a Digi + chip to control power circuits, the ability to use four-chip SLI and CrossFireX, and a fan control system in the Fan Xpert 2 case.
Bundle and branded utilities
Traditionally, out of a dozen models based on one chipset, only a few were awarded original packaging. Our today's hero is not lucky - an ordinary cardboard box of medium size. Its design, at first glance, almost does not differ from many other mass devices. But upon closer examination, you can notice the texture (embossing) on the cardboard.
Noteworthy is a detailed description of the numerous features of the board. Too bad it's only in English. And these are not just technical specifications rewritten in beautiful words, but really unique device functions. We will discuss some of them in more detail below.
The delivery package for this model is quite rich: a cover for the back panel of the board with a black insert and connector labels, two SATA 6 Gb / s cables with latches (one straight connector, the second angled), two "simple" SATA cables with the same connectors, flexible SLI bridge, special adapters for easy connection of the connectors on the front panel of the case to the connectors on the board (one for buttons and indicators, the second for USB ports), a bracket for the rear panel of the case with a pair of USB 2.0 ports and one eSATA, a proprietary wireless module Wi- Fi with external antenna, thick user manual (in English), DVD with drivers, software and documents.
The motherboard comes with a lot of utilities, some of which deserve special consideration in a separate material, and we will try to return to this issue in the near future. All of them are collected in a single AI Suite II shell to simplify both installation and work with them.
From the manufacturer's website, you can download the updated version of the kit as a single archive. The kit includes utilities for monitoring the system status, collecting system information, updating the software and BIOS, managing the Wi-Fi controller (including organizing an access point), setting up USB ports, selecting power saving modes, setting power management, overclocking the system, installing prioritization of network traffic, remote control from wireless mobile devices.
The TurboV utility is used to automatically overclock the system. We tested it in automatic mode with an Intel Core i5-2500K processor and a Corsair H100 liquid cooling system. Selecting the "Fast" profile made it possible to increase the processor frequency by a third in just a couple of seconds - up to 4.3 GHz.
A longer process in the "Extreme" profile showed even more impressive results - the frequency exceeded 5.2 GHz. True, it should be noted that the second option turned out to be unstable under the load of the LinX program. In the "beautiful" 5 GHz mode (100 MHz × 50), the system passed this test as well. We also mention the presence of an automatic reset system in case of unsuccessful overclocking.
Board Features
The motherboard uses black textolite, which allows it to look both strict and stylish. It has a standard ATX size (304×244 mm), so that all configuration elements can fit freely. The LGA1155 socket can be used with both 32nm and new 22nm Intel processors (codenamed Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge, respectively). It cannot be said about most modern boards that there is a lot of free space near the socket and it will be easy to install a cooling system of any format. The product in question is no exception to this rule, but everything is arranged according to the standard, and boxed coolers will certainly install without problems. And if you are going to purchase something large and more efficient, we recommend that you first make sure that it is possible to install it.
This model has four DDR3 RAM slots. The manufacturer talks about the possibility of operating at frequencies up to 1200 MHz (DDR3-2400) inclusive in overclocking mode. XMP profiles are supported - in particular, Kingston test modules worked without problems in their "native" DDR3-2133 mode (it was enough to change only one parameter in BIOS Setup). The latches on the slots are “one-sided”, which is designed to simplify the installation of modules, although one can argue with efficiency. We didn't forget about the MemOK! button, which will help you start the system if "not very compatible" memory modules are installed.
The configuration of expansion slots is not easy. Differences in color marking do not help to understand. There are two x16 PCIe slots connected to the processor and capable of operating in x16 mode with one video card installed in the first slot, and in x8 + x8 mode with two video cards. These ports support the version 3.0 standard if the corresponding processor is installed (this is also confirmed by the use of ASMedia switching chips corresponding to the standard). The arrangement of these slots allows cards with three-slot cooling systems to work. The third x16 format slot version 2.0 works through the chipset and supports the maximum x4 mode. According to the manufacturer, it shares the chipset lines with other slots (both PCIe x1) and external controllers (internal USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gb/s ports on ASMedia chips). So with the maximum use of all devices, only x1 mode can be expected from it.
The last pair - PCIe x1 slots - are located on both sides of the "main" graphics slot. So one of them will be free in any configuration (unless a large CPU cooler interferes), and the second in most cases will not be available when installing an external gaming video card, since most of them have a two-slot cooling system. In addition, these ports share PCIe lanes with a third PCIe x16 slot, and the second one also shares an external SATA 6Gb/s chip.
Numerous external controllers and a wide range of expansion ports make full use of the 8 lanes of PCIe 2.0 available in the chipset. We also note that this board supports LucidLogix Virtu MVP technology (we wrote about LucidLogix Virtu), which is designed to increase the performance of graphic applications due to the combined use of integrated and external video cards, although, in our opinion, it is more convenient to purchase a more efficient external video card than rely on this function.
An 8 MB BIOS chip is installed on the socket, but in most cases this will not be useful - this board implements USB BIOS Flashback technology. It allows you to restore a completely “killed” firmware from a USB flash drive with an image connected to a dedicated USB port. For this, a specialized microcircuit is used on the board. True, the case will have to be opened - to access the button to start the recovery process.
Like many other ASUS motherboards, the P8Z77-V Pro has special LEDs that will help you identify the causes of boot problems. Moreover, this does not require a long study of documentation and codes - the indicators are located near all critical elements (processor, memory, video card port).
Most of the motherboard connectors are assembled along its bottom edge (left in the photo). Moreover, they occupy it almost completely (except for the two connectors missing in this modification of the board). This can make it difficult to access the BIOS emergency recovery button. The CMOS reset jumper is also not very conveniently located - too close to the connectors.
Power and cooling schemes
Connection to the power supply unit is carried out with standard connectors for 24 pins and 8 pins (it is possible to work with a four-pin connection with an ATX12V connector). Several Digi+ chips are used to manage the power supply of the system components. The manufacturer calls it "Dual Intelligent Processors 3" technology. In total, the processor receives 12 phases, four for the graphics core (in this case, we are talking about the operation of an eight-channel PWM controller with phase doubling), and two for RAM.
The elements of the processor power supply circuits near the socket are covered with relatively small aluminum radiators about 25 mm high. Note that their design is complemented by plates on the reverse side of the printed circuit board. There are no heat pipes here, which is more good than bad. You can also see a heatsink with a complex shape of the top surface on the chipset chip. It's only 12mm high and won't get in the way of installing expansion cards, except for accessing the PCIe x16 slot latches. This configuration of the cooling system is more than enough for the model under consideration. In tests with an overclocked Intel Core i5-2500K processor, we sent a flow from a leisurely 120mm fan to the power radiators, since the processor was equipped with a liquid cooling system. Under these conditions, their temperature did not cause any concern.
There are six connectors on the board for connecting fans - a “double” one for the processor and four for the case. All of them are four-pin and support automatic rotation speed control, which will allow you to create an efficient and quiet system. We would like to note the implementation of a new unique Fan Xpert 2 technology in this board. It is able to provide the required temperature regime while maintaining a low system noise level. To do this, after assembling the PC, installing and connecting all the fans, you need to run a special program that will automatically calibrate the operation of the fan system: it will be able to determine the effect of each fan on the temperature of system components and offer the best operating mode.
In this section, we will also mention the presence of TPU and EPU switches and indicators on the board. The first activates the function of automatic overclocking of the system with the participation of the chip of the same name. You can also use it after loading the operating system through a proprietary utility. The EPU is designed to reduce system power consumption by dynamically managing power circuits.
BIOS
The BIOS is implemented using UEFI technology and is based on the AMI code. It allows mouse control (although you can't do without a keyboard) and has several localization options. One cannot look at Russian without crying - as if China has a single version of the Russian font, which can often be found in "nameless" smartphones.
The first page that the user sees after entering BIOS Setup is an implementation of a simplified version of "EZ Mode". Here you can check the configuration of the processor, memory, hard drives, view the monitoring data of the sensors built into the board (temperatures, voltages, fans), change the boot order and select one of the "optimization" modes of the processor parameters - "eco", "normal", "optimal for ASUS version.
To access the full set of settings, you need to switch to the "Advanced Mode". It traditionally contains sections:
- Main - displaying the BIOS version, setting the time and date;
- Ai Tweaker - settings for frequencies, voltages and modes for overclocking and system optimization;
- Advanced - setting CPU / PCH / SA parameters, configuring SATA and USB, external controllers;
- Monitor - monitoring system sensors, setting Q-Fan to control fan speed;
- Boot - OS boot options, device selection;
- Tool - access to the BIOS EZ Flash firmware utility, manage overclocking profiles, display information from the SPD of memory modules (including XMP).
For novice users, we do not recommend going into Ai Tweaker, at first glance there are about a hundred parameters. Moreover, effective overclocking can be carried out with a proprietary utility from Windows. The remaining points are quite simple and do not cause any problems with finding the right options.
Functionality
Most of the space on the rear panel is occupied by video outputs - there are four of them for every taste: VGA, DVI-D, HDMI, DisplayPort. It is difficult to say whether such a configuration is really in demand, but the fact that no adapters are required to connect any monitor can be considered a plus. The PS / 2 connector should be written off for a long time, it is better to install another pair of USB or eSATA instead. By the way, this board has none of the latter. This is slightly offset by the fact that 4 USB ports correspond to version 3.0 of this interface. Moreover, two of them are chipset-based, and the second pair is powered by an external controller. The USB 2.0 ports are implemented by the chipset controller.
Audio outputs and network are standard - analog minijacks for 7.1 configuration, digital optical S/PDIF-Out, RJ-45 port with built-in indicators. A separate place is given to the Wi-Fi controller for connecting the antenna and the operation indication LED.
Despite the use of the modern multifunctional Intel Z77 chipset, the board in question has many additional controllers that add new features and expand existing ones. The complete list consists of:
- two USB 3.0 controllers based on ASMedia ASM1042 (PCIe x1) chips, each supporting 2 devices, two ports are routed to the rear panel, two - to the bracket connector for connecting to the connectors on the case;
- integrated audio based on the Realtek ALC892 HDA codec in 7.1 format, with an optical S/PDIF-Out connector on the rear panel of the board and an additional S/PDIF-Out connector on the PCB;
- Gigabit network controller based on the MAC controller in the chipset and Intel PHY;
- PCI bus controller based on the ASMedia ASM1083 chip (PCIe x1) to implement two slots;
- ASMedia ASM1061 (PCIe x1) SATA controller supporting two internal SATA 6 Gb/s ports.
The motherboard has eight SATA connectors for connecting drives. Of these, six chipset, two of which support the interface speed of 6 Gb / s. The remaining two are implemented on an external ASMedia controller and also support 6 Gb / s. The ports are located near the edge of the board at an angle, so that their cables will not interfere with expansion cards. Color coding makes it easy to identify the port type. An external eSATA port can be implemented by connecting a complete bracket for the rear panel of the case (the connector from it is plugged into any PCB port of your choice, providing the speed and functionality of the eSATA port that you need "from the back"). The chipset controller supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, Matrix RAID and Intel technologies - Smart Response, Rapid Start and Smart Connect. By the way, ASUS decided to offer its own utility for using SSD as a cache for a hard drive.
The built-in audio codec implements standard modes with connection to analog outputs up to 7.1, and also supports digital audio, including HD tracks in BD and output via standard HDMI.
Z77 for the first time for Intel has built-in USB 3.0 controllers (recall that they work exactly like 3.0 today only in Windows 7, since there are corresponding drivers only for it). But ASUS decided to add a couple of external controllers as well. As a result, the user gets four version 3.0 ports and two version 2.0 ports on the rear panel, as well as connectors on the board for four more 3.0 ports and eight 2.0 ports. The board supports the USB 3.0 UASP standard (you can read more about this technology in the ASUS P9X79 Pro review) for ports based on ASMedia chips, as well as fast charging of mobile devices (USB Charger+).
One of the innovations in this line of motherboards is the complete set with a wireless module. To be honest, the implementation, in our opinion, is chosen somewhat strangely. Today there are good USB controllers that provide high speed operation in the 802.11n standard. They are easy to select, connect and use. But ASUS went its own way - a standard half mini-PCIe card is installed in a proprietary adapter, which is placed on the motherboard in a special slot between the rear panel connectors and secured with a screw on the back side. The antenna (or several) also uses micro connectors of its own, original format. As a result, the user is faced with many restrictions - you cannot install another board, it is difficult to replace the antenna, you cannot use this product with other devices. Perhaps it was the last point that became the reason for such a design. The P8Z77-V Pro uses a Qualcomm Atheros AR9485 single-band single-band chip, supporting a maximum connection speed of 150Mbps. Note that other motherboards in this series also have more productive solutions.
The presence of two standard PCI slots on the board will be of interest to users who need to use the old standard expansion boards.
Conclusion
The announcement of a new chipset and a new line of processors once again spurred manufacturers to update their products. Wishing to maintain the high status of one of the market leaders, ASUS released a dozen models at once based on the Z77 chipset. Choosing the right one is not an easy task. And even the presence on the company's website of the product comparison function does little to help in this situation. So we recommend that you write down the exact requirements and "try on" them on the solutions on the market.
The ATX format made it possible to implement a rather interesting configuration of expansion slots on the P8Z77-V Pro, which allows simultaneous operation of three video cards. Also, this model has two PCI slots, which may be of interest to users who did not have time or could not replace the equipment with a more modern one. Note the use of Intel's own network controller, which are considered exemplary, although more expensive, and the presence of a wireless adapter of the 802.11n standard (but of the lowest configuration). Other additional controllers add four USB 3.0 ports and a pair of SATA to the chipset's capabilities. Other parameters of the product are quite consistent with the modern solution for building a high-performance computing system based on Intel Core processors of the past and latest generations. From proprietary programs and technologies, we will mention TurboV for overclocking the system and Wi-Fi Go! to work with mobile devices.Medium current price (number of offers) of this model in Moscow retail: N/A()
Our readers could already be convinced by the example of the Gigabyte G1.Sniper M3 motherboard that the functionality does not depend much on the dimensions. On the contrary, it becomes possible to assemble a system of more compact dimensions, while not limiting yourself in anything. This means that the myth that mATX boards are always budget solutions for office typewriters is a thing of the past. Now almost every manufacturer has one or several small models in its lineup, which are in no way inferior to full-format ATX solutions.
Until recently, large boards had the advantage of supporting multi-graphics technologies such as SLI and CrossFire. ASUS was the first to blur the line between the two standards (mATX and ATX) in terms of functionality, releasing several gaming models in a special ROG (Republic Of Gamers) line with the GENE prefix.
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Time does not stand still and technologies are constantly being improved, getting cheaper and moving into mass production. This trend is noticeable in all industries, and ASUS has not escaped it. First, some innovative solution is used in the high-budget segment, and then it becomes available in mass products. This article will discuss the ASUS P8Z77M-PRO motherboard, which is an ordinary mATX format model, but with support for all the latest technologies, including multigraphic ones, such as SLI, 3-WAY CrossFire and Lucid Virtu MVP.The times when microATX motherboards were an attribute of budget or office system units are gone forever. To date, almost all vendors have compact products in their assortment, the functionality and safety margin of which are in no way inferior to full-size models of medium and high levels. These motherboards use older chipset modifications, enhanced power supply units and powerful cooling systems. On the other hand, manufacturers continue to saturate their product lines with inexpensive microATX motherboards that combine basic expansion and overclocking capabilities with a relatively low price. ASUS P8Z77-M belongs to such models intended for economical and not too exacting users.
The mainboard is based on the older Intel Z77 Express chipset, which makes ASUS P8Z77-M interesting for overclockers, and also provides decent functionality for a budget product. You can find the technical characteristics of the novelty from the following table:
| Model | |
| Chipset | Intel Z77 Express |
| Processor socket | Socket LGA1155 |
| Processors | Core i7, Core i5, Pentium, Celeron (Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge) |
| Memory | 4 DIMM DDR3 SDRAM 1066/1333/1600/1866*/2000*/2133*/2200*/2400* (*—OC), 32 GB maximum |
| PCI slots | 1 PCI Express 3.0 x16 1 PCI Express 2.0 [email protected] 1 PCI Express 2.0x1 |
| PCI slots | 1 (ASMedia ASM1083) |
| Integrated video core | Intel HD Graphics |
| Video connectors | HDMI, DVI-D and D-Sub |
| Number of connected fans | 4x4pin |
| PS/2 ports | 1 (combined) |
| USB ports | 4 x 3.0 (2 connectors on the rear panel, Intel Z77) 10 x 2.0 (4 x rear, Intel Z77) |
| ATA-133 | - |
| Serial ATA | 2 lanes SATA 6 Gb/s (Intel Z77) 4 lanes SATA 3Gb/s (Intel Z77) |
| eSATA | - |
| RAID | 0, 1, 5, 10 (Intel Z77) |
| Built-in sound | Realtek ALC887 (7.1, HDA) |
| S/PDIF | Optic |
| Built-in network | Realtek RTL8111F (Gigabit Ethernet) |
| firewire | - |
| Thunderbolt | - |
| COM | + (on board) |
| LPT | - |
| BIOS/UEFI | AMI UEFI |
| Form factor | microATX |
| Dimensions, mm | 244x244 |
| Additional features | MemOK!, USB BIOS Flashback |
Contents of delivery
As befits an inexpensive model, the P8Z77-M comes in a small cardboard box designed in the style of the latest ASUS products. The front side, in addition to the name of the modification, bears many logos of proprietary technologies, among which the central place is occupied by DIGI + Power Control, which means the use of a digital power subsystem that provides stability and high energy efficiency in any mode of operation.
The back side lists the main specifications of ASUS P8Z77-M, as well as extended information about the key features of the motherboard. Among them is the LucidLogix Virtu MVP technology, which allows you to combine the resources of an integrated and discrete video card.
The set of accessories of the heroine of today's testing consists of:
- plugs for the back panel of the I/O Shield;
- two SATA 6 Gb/s cables;
- a set of connectors Q-Connectors;
- user manuals;
- quick assembly instructions;
- manuals for working with ASUS proprietary technologies;
- DVD with drivers and software.
Given the low cost of new items, we can forgive her meager delivery and let's hope that the engineers wisely managed the allocated budget and put the maximum margin of safety into the design of the motherboard.
Design
Design features of ASUS P8Z77-M are dictated by the compact dimensions (244x244 mm) of the printed circuit board. At the same time, the engineers managed to arrange all the main components in the usual places. Eight mounting holes are used for mounting, but the lower left edge of the PCB is unsupported, so care must be taken when connecting front panel connectors and SATA cables.
Thanks to the use of the Intel Z77 Express chipset, the novelty supports any Intel LGA1155 processors, including models with a free multiplier. Four DIMM slots are used to install DDR3 RAM, the total amount of RAM is 32 GB with a frequency of up to 2400 MHz inclusive.
The P8Z77-M power subsystem is made according to a six-channel scheme, of which four phases feed the computing cores, and two separate channels are responsible for the formation of voltages on the integrated video card and the “system agent”. The VRM module is controlled by a digital PWM controller labeled ASP1102. It is known that this chip supports dynamic shutdown of unused phases, protection against overheating and overcurrent, as well as control of the frequency of PWM modulation. Traditional MOSFETs are used as power elements.
The power elements are protected from overheating by a modest-sized radiator, which contacts the field-effect transistors through a rubber-like gasket, and not very reliable spring-loaded plastic caps are used for its fastening.
An eight-pin EPS12V connector is used to supply voltage to the ASUS P8Z77-M power subsystem, but the VRM unit does not have a significant margin of safety, since the radiator cools only three of the six channels of the voltage converter. It is already obvious that the novelty is hardly suitable for serious overclocking experiments.
A small light alloy radiator is responsible for cooling the system logic chip, the efficiency of which does not cause concern, regardless of the operating mode. There are four connectors for connecting fans - all four-pin and with PWM support.
Despite a modest margin of safety, the design of the P8Z77-M has a number of solutions that will come in handy during overclocking. First of all, this concerns the MemOK! function, which makes it possible to boot the system after setting inoperable RAM parameters. The button that launches the function of the same name is located next to the RAM slots.
In the event of a failure of the control microcode, the USB BIOS Flashback function will help, allowing you to restore and update the firmware from a removable USB drive even when the board does not have a processor and RAM.
ASUS P8Z77-M has a PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot to install a graphics card. The second slot connected to the chipset always works in PCI Express 2.0 mode [email protected], but this does not interfere with organizing the AMD CrossFireX configuration.
The motherboard has one PCI Express 2.0 x1 slot and one PCI slot, which works through the ASMedia ASM1083 adapter bridge. For connecting disk devices, the novelty has two ports SATA 6 Gb / s and four SATA 3 Gb / s. Drives can be combined into RAID arrays, and if the system has an SSD, use of the Intel SRT caching feature is available. The layout of the SATA ports is such that even large video cards will not interfere with connecting interface cables.
On the back of the P8Z77-M there was a place for:
- PS/2 combo port;
- four USB 2.0 connectors and two chipset USB 3.0;
- optical S/PDIF;
- video outputs HDMI, D-Sub and DVI-D;
- RJ-45 network port;
- three analog audio jacks.
The layout can be considered successful, with the exception of a small number of analog audio outputs. But, there is a full set of video connectors, thanks to which Ivy Bridge owners can connect three monitors at the same time. In general, the expansion possibilities of the novelty are mainly based on the characteristics of the chipset, so one can only dream of supporting wireless networks or the Thunderbolt interface. Of the additional controllers, there are only a couple of Realtek chips: the ALC887 HD audio codec and the RTL8111F gigabit network interface. UEFI Setup
The ASUS P8Z77-M firmware is based on the UEFI control microcode developed by AMI, and the setup menu of ASUS motherboards is very familiar to us from numerous previous reviews. In the case of the heroine of today's testing, after entering UEFI Setup, the user is prompted to work in EZ Mode, which displays the current date and time, firmware version, and also displays information about the operating mode of the central processor and RAM modules. The readings of hardware monitoring sensors are also displayed here.
For ease of navigation through the setup menu in EZ Mode, shortcuts are provided to navigate to the desired firmware section, as well as a boot device selection menu.
Thus, EZ Mode is good for visual control of operation and system monitoring readings, but it is not suitable for fine-tuning the motherboard. There is an advanced mode for this.
On the Main tab, date and time are set, extended information about the version of the control microcode is displayed, and there is an option to select the language.
The Ai Tweaker section contains settings that are responsible for overclocking and performance, including controlling the BCLK frequency and processor core multipliers, Intel Turbo Boost mode and the Internal PLL Overvoltage function, as well as adjusting the clock frequency of RAM modules. It also includes a proprietary option ASUS MultiCore Enhanced, which improves performance in multi-threaded applications. Activating the EPU Power Saving Mode starts the power saving mode, and OC Tuner enables automatic overclocking.
The ASUS P8Z77-M firmware capabilities for voltage regulation are not as rich as in older models.
Users can control five main voltages, the range and adjustment step of which are shown in the following table.
| Parameter | Voltage range, V | Step, B |
| CPU Manual Voltage | 0,8-1,99 | 0,005 |
| CPU Offset Voltage | -0,685…+0,685 | 0,005 |
| DRAM Voltage | 1,2-2,135 | 0,005 |
| PCH Voltage | 0,8-1,685 | 0,005 |
| VCCSA Voltage | 0,925-1,0255 | 0,1 |
| CPU PLL Voltage | 1,8-1,9 | 0,1 |
Two adjustment modes are available for CPU Voltage: Manual and Offset. The first method is more convenient, since the desired value is set explicitly, but in the second, which indicates the increase to the standard value, the work of energy saving technologies is preserved. To overclock the RAM, the firmware provides modes up to 3200 MHz inclusive.
In the DRAM Timing Control tab, you can find the control of the timings of the RAM subsystem.
Fine-tuning the Intel Turbo Boost mode is located in the CPU Power Management submenu, and in the DIGI + VRM section, control of the digital power subsystem is concentrated. It is possible to adjust the CPU Load-line Calibration option, the frequency of switching power elements and overload protection, as well as turn off unused VRM channels during idle periods.
The Advanced firmware section contains controls for the processor, chipset, and additional controllers.
The CPU Configuration menu is responsible for configuring specific processor technologies, such as hardware virtualization or virus protection, and in the CPU Power Management Configuration tab, you can manage the power saving functions of the central processor.
In the System Agent Configuration subsection, in addition to the function of redistributing the RAM address space, there are options for the built-in video card.
The USB Configuration menu is responsible for the peripheral connection subsystem, while on the USB Single Port Control tab, you can selectively disable USB ports.
To configure the LAN controller, audio codec and serial port, you will have to go to the Onboard Devices Configuration firmware section.
System monitoring readings are displayed in the Monitor menu, which displays two temperatures, four fan speeds, and four main voltages on the processor and power rails.
As for the possibilities of adjusting the speed of the impellers, the firmware of the budget ASUS P8Z77-M will give odds to the flagship models of competitors. Each of the four Carlsons has an individual control channel that offers one of three basic profiles, as well as manual settings depending on the readings of the system temperature sensors.
Also, in the UEFI Setup of the novelty, a utility is built in to update the EZ Flash 2 control microcode.
O.C function available. Profile to save up to eight profiles with firmware settings, and the SPD Information option, which displays detailed information about the parameters of the RAM modules.
Complete software
The software designed to manage and control the monitoring parameters of the mainboard is combined into the AI Suite II software package, which consists of many independent modules. We have repeatedly described the capabilities of this software product in previous reviews of ASUS motherboards, so today we will only recall its main features. So, the TurboV EVO software module is responsible for managing performance parameters, such as the BCLK frequency, supply voltages, and multipliers of computing cores.
The automatic overclocking function is also turned on here, the effectiveness of which we will definitely check a little later.
To control the parameters of the digital power subsystem, the DIGI + VRM program is used, and the EPU module is responsible for setting up energy-saving technologies.
The speed settings for each of the four fans are entrusted to the Fan Expert+ program, designed to achieve the best ratio of cooling efficiency and minimum noise level.
The Probe II module is used to display the hardware monitoring parameter, set alarm thresholds and record critical events in the log, while the Sensor Recorder program performs the function of recording the history of sensor readings.
In addition to the above, AI Suite II contains USB3.0 Boost routines, which speed up removable drives, and Network iControl, which is responsible for managing network connection priorities and bandwidth.
As always, we have the same questions about the functionality of AI Suite II related to the inability to control the frequency and timings of the RAM subsystem. Overclocking potential
The design of the ASUS P8Z77-M power subsystem does not have a significant margin of safety, so you should be careful during overclocking experiments. Nevertheless, our test Core i5-3570K worked at a frequency of 4500 MHz with a voltage on the computing cores of 1.275 V. Alas, we were not able to achieve a better result, because with an increase in Vcore, the protection system worked, and the motherboard turned off. The final result can be considered quite good for a budget-class model, and the preservation of the efficiency of energy-saving technologies should also be attributed to the positive aspects.
During overclocking, the G.Skill TridentX F3-2400C10D-8GTX RAM modules operated at a frequency of 2400 MHz with timings of 10-12-12-31-2T at a voltage of 1.65 V, and to ensure stability, the voltage on the "system agent" was increased by 0, 1 V relative to the nominal value.
I was very pleased with the margin of safety of increasing the base frequency, which amounted to exactly 109 MHz, which will certainly be appreciated by owners of inexpensive Intel processors with a locked multiplier.
Finally, we decided to test the automatic overclocking capabilities of ASUS P8Z77-M, for which the OC Tuner option was activated in the firmware. The result of her work was to increase the processor frequency to 4220 MHz at a voltage of 1.184 V, and the RAM modules worked in 1922 MHz mode with delays of 10-12-12-31-2T.
test stand
To test the performance and overclocking potential of ASUS P8Z77-M, we used a test stand with the following configuration:
- processor: Intel Core i5-3570K (3.4 GHz, 6 MB L3 cache);
- cooler: Thermalright Silver Arrow (fan 140 mm, 1300 rpm);
- Memory: G.Skill TridentX F3-2400C10D-8GTX (2x4 GB, DDR3-2400, CL10-12-12-31);
- video card: ASUS HD7950-DC2T-3GD5 (Radeon HD 7950);
- hard drive: Intel SSD 320 Series (300 GB, SATA 3Gb/s);
- power supply: Seasonic X-650 (650 W).
- ASUS P8Z77-M UEFI Setup 1908 from 03/14/2013;
- ASRock Z77 Extreme6 UEFI Setup 2.60 from 01/23/2013;
- Gigabyte GA-Z77P-D3 UEFI Setup F7 from 08/24/2012;
- MSI Z77A-GD65 Gaming UEFI Setup V25.29B2 from 03.29.2013;
- MSI Z77IA-E53 UEFI Setup V10.3B1 from 02/07/2013.
The measurement technique remained the same: each test was repeated at least three times, after which the arithmetic mean was calculated. In the event that the result of some iteration differs significantly from the other two, testing continued until a normal value was obtained. Performance evaluation was carried out using the following software:
- AIDA64 2.80.2300 (Cache & Memory benchmark);
- Futuremark PCMark 7 (v1.4.0);
- Futuremark 3DMark 11 (v1.0.3);
- Batman: Archam City
- F1 2012;
- Sleeping Dogs.
ASUS P8Z77-M today is a motherboard of compact dimensions, which has a set of all necessary functions. This solution is based on a somewhat outdated platform based on the LGA 1155 socket.
However, its capabilities will be quite enough to create a compact productive computer system. Who is this product intended for?
ASUS P8Z77-M: technical features
First of all, it should be noted that this motherboard is great for those cases when you need to assemble a system that demonstrates the maximum level of performance in one compact case. The reliability of such a computer will not cause any complaints. The ASUS P8Z77-M motherboard is made in a miniature MicroATX format. However, it is based on the most functional set of system logic. This allows for the most flexible configuration of all parameters. All elements installed on the board have only passive cooling. However, it is possible to install four coolers in such a computer system at once. One of them is intended directly for installation in the central processing unit, and the other three - for installation on the case. For this reason, there should be no problems with cooling during overclocking in this situation.
ASUS P8Z77-M: delivery package
The ASUS P8Z77-M motherboard is bundled as follows. In the box with the device, the user will be able to directly find the motherboard itself, cables for connecting SATA drives, a metal plug for the rear panel of the system unit, a disk with drivers and software. This should be enough to assemble a personal computer. In this case, there is no need to purchase any additional elements.
ASUS P8Z77-M: PCB layout
ASUS P8Z77-M has overall dimensions of 244 by 244 mm. If we consider the appearance of this component, we can conclude that the board has three passive cooling systems at once, built on the basis of aluminum radiators. Two of these systems are used to remove excess heat from the central processing unit's electrical system. The third cooling system is used to cool the south bridge of the system logic set. The processor socket is displayed in the center of the top of the board. To the left and above it are the previously mentioned cooling systems for the processor batteries. On the right side, there are slots for installing RAM sticks. Further in this direction is the power supply connector. A little lower above the socket there are expansion slots that can be used to install additional external controllers and graphics adapters. On the right side of the expansion slots, ports for installing SATA drives are displayed. With the installation of any component of this kind should not be a problem, since the expansion and RAM slots are located correctly.
ASUS P8Z77-M: chipset
As you might guess from the name, the ASUS P8Z77-M motherboard is based on an advanced system logic set designed for the LGA 1155-Z77 computing platform. This product consists of only one microcircuit, namely the south bridge, which is responsible for processing information from the ports for connecting drives and expansion slots. In this case, the northbridge, which could be found in earlier products of this company, was moved to the CPU. The northbridge provides interaction with RAM and peripherals.
ASUS P8Z77-M: socket and semiconductor chips
As noted earlier, the ASUS P8Z77-M motherboard is equipped with an LGA 1155 socket. This processor socket can accommodate 2nd and 3rd generation Core chips. As a result, you can install Core i7, Core i5, Core i3, Celeron and Pentium sips in the socket, which belong to the above generations of semiconductor crystals. Given that the system logic set in this case is Z77, it would be optimal to use a CPU with an unlocked multiplier. At the end of the designation, such devices have the letter "K". This will make it possible to maximize the potential of the computer system.
ASUS P8Z77-M: set of interfaces
The ASUS P8Z77-M motherboard is equipped with the following ports for connecting external devices: one PS / 2 port for connecting a keyboard and mouse, six USB ports, four of which are 3.0 and two 2.0. The graphics ports on the motherboard are HDMI, DVI and D-Sub. When connected to these monitor ports, only the graphics adapter integrated in the central processing unit will be used during operation. The board provides two eSATA ports for connecting external drives. ASUS P8Z77-M also has a set of inputs and outputs for the sound card.
ASUS P8Z77-M: expansion slots
It should be noted that ASUS P8Z77-M PRO has a fairly large set of expansion slots. In the review of the technical specifications of this extension, you can see the complete absence of a PCI slot. However, this standard today can already be considered obsolete. Such boards today mostly remain only after upgrading an outdated computer system and are transferred to a new PC when upgrading. In this situation, it would still be better to use a full-format ATIx board with this connector. However, it should be understood that the presence of this component in a PC can significantly reduce the level of performance. So there is nothing to worry about in the absence of such an expansion slot. In practice, it can be replaced with a similar USB adapter. This computer component has four RAM slots. All DDR3 sticks are supported. The maximum amount of RAM that this motherboard model can address is 32 GB. The ASUS P8Z77-M PRO motherboard has only one PCI Express 1X slot for installing an additional internal controller in a PC. In this case, three PCI Express 16X slots are allotted for installing graphics adapters. With this, you can make a choice. If you install an advanced video card in the first slot, then it will no longer be possible to put a controller in the PCI-Express 1X slot. It should be noted that the miniature dimensions of the motherboard in this case impose certain restrictions.
ASUS P8Z77-M PRO: BIOS
The "BIOS" of this computer accessory includes many different parameters. This allows for flexible configuration of the computer system in the process of overclocking the central processing unit. Ultimately, this allows you to get a solid performance boost. This board also has UEFI. This is a special software component with similar functionality, but unlike the BIOS, its interface is Russified.
ASUS P8Z77-M PRO: reviews
The ASUS P8Z77-M PRO board turned out to be an almost perfect solution. It has really excellent characteristics and a large set of interfaces. It is also worth noting that the board turned out to be quite tiny. At the same time, the cost for a computer component of this level turned out to be very democratic. There is only one drawback: when a powerful graphics accelerator is installed in the slot, an additional controller cannot be installed in the PCI-Express 1X slot. However, the level of functionality of this motherboard is quite high, so the lack of such a possibility in this case is not critical.
ASUS P8Z77-M PRO: cost and relevance
In the middle of last year, the ASUS P8Z77-M PRO motherboard was available for $110. Today it is rather problematic to find such motherboards on sale. At the same time, their cost can range from 50 to 100 dollars. Everything will depend on the state of the device. It makes little sense to buy such a board to create a new computing system. However, there are also more recent and advanced platforms from this manufacturer, which today it is recommended to pay attention to when assembling a new PC.
ASUS P8Z77-M Pro– motherboard for LGA1155 platform based on chipset Intel Z77 and made in the form factor mATX. Compact, functional and relatively inexpensive device with the ability to fine-tune the parameters. These are exactly the criteria that users are paying more and more attention to when choosing the basis for a new system. Let's see if the results of testing will be able to emphasize all of the above points, and not just some of them.
When working with ASUS Maximus VI Hero, we had no questions - everything went so well that at times we even doubted whether this could be on a PC based on a 230 board. Functional differences compared to the top-end Maximus VI Extreme are insignificant and uncritical for the overwhelming majority of users.
Design and layout
The mATX form-factor board is made in typical colors for ASUS P8 devices, while the device turned out to be rather motley. It would seem that the already familiar combination of black, blue and white colors is used, but on a small piece of textolite the color palette of elements changes quite actively, and you notice this already at the first glance at the device.
The power subsystem has eight phases (6+2). The DIGI+VRM controller (ASP1105) is used to adjust the power stabilizer parameters. In this case, to speed up heat dissipation, the VRM elements are equipped with heatsinks. The low-profile coolers are painted blue, with one segment in the center section in a natural aluminum color for visual contrast. The chipset chip is also covered by a compact blue heatsink.
To supply additional power, an 8-pin EATX12V connector is used, traditionally located at the top edge closer to the interface panel.
ASUS P8Z77-M Pro is equipped with four slots for memory modules, the total amount of which can be increased up to 32 GB. The speed indicators of the used DDR3 largely depend on the capabilities of the processor used. In the case of the mATX form factor, memory module connectors with one-way latches come in handy. According to the layout, the graphics card in the top PCI-E x16 slot will not interfere with the installation of RAM strips.
In general, the layout of ASUS P8Z77-M Pro is very successful. Questions may arise only when installing large processor coolers. After installing Thermalright Archon Rev.A, the first PCI-E x16 slot is unavailable - the dimensions of the radiator block do not allow installing a video card in the top slot. However, this model of the cooler is one of the largest in its class, the span of its radiator “wings” reaches 155 mm. Its trouble-free installation is not possible on every full-size model, what can we say when it comes to compact mATX, where the first slot is reserved for PCI-E x16, and not PCI-E x1. One way or another, this nuance is worth paying attention to.
The set of expansion slots cannot be called academic. The manufacturer abandoned obsolete PCI in favor of faster PCI Express. There are four slots on the PCB: three full-format PCI-E x16 and one miniature PCI-E x1. The top slot, colored blue, is preferred when using a single graphics card. In this case, it receives all 16 bus lines and operates at maximum speed. If there are a pair of graphics adapters, the second slot (white) is also used, and the link configuration looks like x8 + x8. When using an Ivy Bridge family processor, both slots can operate in PCI Express 3.0 mode. The last "long-length" black in any case complies with the PCI Express 2.0 specification and receives 4 dedicated bus lines.
The manufacturer focuses on the board's ability to work in multi-adapter configurations. This is opaquely hinted at even by the presence of an SLI bridge in the kit, which is not supplied with all models that support bundles with two video cards based on NVIDIA chips. CrossFireX configurations are also allowed, but the adapters required for such systems are usually supplied with the graphics adapters.
The location of the slots also suggests that the developers wanted to make life easier for those brave and enthusiastic people who will use a pair of video cards. They are arranged in such a sequence that two adapters with dual-slot coolers will be installed without problems. Of course, in this case it will not be possible to install additional expansion cards, but access to the elements at the lower edge of the PCB will remain open.
The main controls and functional connectors are concentrated on the bottom edge of the board. There is a connector for outputting audio connectors to the front wall of the case, toggle switches for activating proprietary TPU and EPU technologies. There is also a large LED-indicator, the “warm lamp light” of which can be observed on ASUS boards for many years when the standby voltage is supplied from the PSU. Also nearby are three internal connectors for six USB 2.0 ports, a system panel for connecting control keys and indicators, as well as a jumper for resetting CMOS memory settings. There is also an activation button at the bottom edge. USB BIOS FlashBack- technology for flashing a flash microcircuit from a USB drive, which is implemented at the hardware level. Another additional level of protection is the use of a removable panel for the flash chip, which allows you to replace it if necessary.
Of the curious nuances of the layout, we note the placement of the COM port connector in the corner of the printed circuit board, next to the memory slots. At the right edge, not far from the main power connector, there is a connector for connecting a TPM module. Pro-shnye roots are felt, it is necessary to correspond.
We did not expect to see any abundance of specialized overclocking tools on the board, and in this respect ASUS P8Z77-M Pro was not a revelation. With some stretch, these include the key MemoOK!, which can be useful if there are difficulties with the initial start after installing a new memory kit. The function allows you to go through a rough “lapping” using timings with which the bars will work.
The technological feature of the device is four independent channels for adjusting the fan speed. One for the processor and three more case. All connectors are four-pin, allowing you to change the speed using PWM, in addition, all have support Q Fan Control with given profiles and the possibility of quite fine tuning of the algorithm.
The disk subsystem is implemented by the Intel Z77 chipset - a pair of SATA 6 Gb / s channels and four SATA 3 Gb / s. The interface connectors are oriented parallel to the plane of the printed circuit board, so a long video card, although it will cause some difficulties when connecting cables in a compact case, will still make such a configuration quite possible.
Expands drive connectivity options optional controller ASMedia ASM1061, thanks to which a pair of eSATA connectors with a bandwidth of 6 Gb / s is implemented on the back panel of the board. For a number of tasks, this interface is indispensable, despite the fact that after the widespread use of USB 3.0, the range of eSATA drives has become scarce.
As for USB 3.0 directly, on ASUS P8Z77-M Pro, the controller adds a couple more to the four ports provided by Intel Z77 ASMedia ASM1042. Note that the chipset ports are located in pairs on the interface panel and on the PCB (one internal connector for two ports). Two additional ones are located on the interface panel.
The audio subsystem is based on the Realtek ALC892 HDA codec. Proven eight-channel solution with the sound quality you expect. The network controller also uses a common solution - Realtek 8111F.
The interface panel is equipped very well. Universal PS/2, a pair of USB 2.0, four USB 3.0 ports and an Ethernet socket. The interface set is complemented by a pair of eSATA, which can come in handy if you have fast external storage. To connect display devices, analog VGA is provided, as well as a pair of digital video outputs - DVI-D and HDMI.
Connecting a speaker system of any configuration is simplified by a panel with six audio connectors. In addition, to connect acoustics digitally, an optical S/PDIF output is provided.
Contents of delivery
The package includes a user manual, several brochures describing the nuances of a number of proprietary technologies, 4 SATA cables, a flexible SLI bridge and a plug on the back of the case. The Q-Connector sockets make it easy to connect the power buttons, speaker, and status indicators.
UEFI
We have already talked about UEFI from ASUS several times. The shell is easy to use, logically structured, has useful hints for setting various parameters. ASUS P8Z77-M Pro fully inherits the advantages of the proprietary shell.
The processor supply voltage can be increased "only" to 1.92 V (strongly not recommended without a glass of liquid nitrogen). The voltage on the memory modules is also limited by the same limit. The proposed features are unlikely to push for overclocking records, but the available funds are more than enough to boost the system well.
To configure a number of parameters, ASUS offers to use the software kit AI Suite II, which includes several useful applications.
Overclocking
Following the path of least resistance, we started accelerating the system with the TurboV EVO feature. In the basic version ("Fast overclocking" mode), after rebooting the PC, the test Core i7-3770K processor accelerated to 4223 MHz (41 × 103 MHz). A 20% increase in frequency is a good start.
Having started to go into the lead, it is sometimes difficult to stop, especially when the button labeled "Extreme overclocking" is located a few tens of pixels on the desktop from the base acceleration key. Yielding to temptation, we got 4635 MHz (45 × 103 MHz).
Note that the auto-overclocking function actively uses the advantage of a chip with an unlocked multiplier. Such a spurt would not have been possible without an increase in the processor voltage, which was automatically increased to 1.245 V. In such a mode, an effective air cooler is definitely not enough.
In manual control mode, after increasing the CPU supply voltage to 1.25 V, the processor clock frequency was increased to 4.8 GHz. If we talk about overclocking the system bus, the board made it possible to increase it to 108.5 MHz. The test set of DDR3-2133 memory modules worked at 2200 MHz without much difficulty.
In the conditions of an open bench and a tower-type processor cooler, the radiators mounted on MOSFET elements warmed up to 52-54 degrees under load. The temperature of the chipset cooler increased to 46–48 C after prolonged operation.
Results
ASUS P8Z77-M Pro interesting for those who are not ready to be content with the budget "subcompact". The board is made soundly, has a good power reserve and a decent technological arsenal. This is exactly what you expect from a device with a price tag of $145.
The manufacturer tried not to compromise in favor of different categories of users, but rather intended to maintain a certain balance so that the model came to the attention of buyers who make a rational choice. In such a case, the experience of developers is very important, otherwise the product may very simply turn out to be “neither fish nor meat”. ASUS P8Z77-M Pro managed to avoid this fate. The board has its own personality and is an attractive option for those who assemble a productive system in an mATX case, but the capabilities of the iconic ASUS Maximus V GENE in this form factor seem clearly excessive, and there is no great desire to overpay for unused functions.
Liked
Good equipment and functionality
High-quality power subsystem
Ample opportunities for the organization of the cooling system
Support for SLI and CrossFireX modes
Did not like
Hardly ever
Testing device provided by MTI, www.distri.mti.ua
Test bench configuration
| | Motherboard |
| CPU socket | socket 1155 |
| Chipset | Intel Z77 |
| Chipset cooling | Radiator |
| VRM Cooling | Radiator |
| Embedded video | integrated into the Intel processor |
| PCI | - |
| PCI Express x4 | - |
| PCI Express x1 | 1 |
| Graphic interface | 2xPCI-E x16 3.0(x16, x8+x8) + 1xPCI-E x16 2.0(x4) |
| DIMM | 4xDDR3 |
| IDE (Parallel ATA) (chipset/additional controller) | - |
| Serial ATA (chipset/additional controller) | 4/- |
| SATA Revision 3.0 (chipset/additional controller) | 2/- |
| Main power connectors | 24+8 |
| Extra food | - |
| FAN | 4 |
| S/PDIF | +(output) |
| Audio codec | Realtek ALC892 (7.1) |
| ethernet | Realtek 8111F (GBE) |
| SATA | - |
| SATA Revision 3.0 | ASMedia ASM1061 |
| PATA | - |
| IEEE 1394 (FireWire) | - |
| USB 3.0 | AS Media 1042 |
| LAN | 1 |
| eSATA Rev. 2.0 | - |
| eSATA Rev. 3.0 | 2 |
| Audio | 6 |
| S/PDIF Out (Coaxial/Optical) | -/+ |
| Thunderbolt | - |
| Monitor outputs | 1xD-Sub, 1xDVI-D and 1xHDMI |
| USB 1.1/2.0 | 2/3(6 ports)/- |
| USB 3.0 | 4/1(2 ports)/- |
| IEEE 1394 (FireWire) | - |
| COM | -/1/- |
| Game/MIDI | - |
| LPT | - |
| IDE | - |
| SATA interface/power, devices | 4/- |
| Form factor | microATX, 244x244 mm |
| Support for two or more video cards | LucidLogix Virtu MVP, AMD Quad-GPU CrossFireX/3-Way CrossFireX and nVidia Quad-GPU SLI |
| RAID support | 0, 1, 5, 10, Intel Smart Response Technology, Intel Rapid Start Technology, and Intel Smart Connect Technology |
| WiFi adapter | - |
| UEFI support | + |
| Miscellaneous | Second-generation smart chips with DIGI+(6-phase for CPU, 2-phase for iGPU) power supply system; one PS/2 port for keyboard or mouse; TPM module connector; SLI bridge included |
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When working with ASUS Maximus VI Hero, we had no questions - everything went so well that at times we even doubted whether this could be on a PC based on a $230 board. Functional differences compared to the top-end Maximus VI Extreme are insignificant and non-critical for the vast majority of users.
Apple iPhone 5S motherboard photos leak online
Japanese component maker Moumantai has released 3 photos of the alleged iPhone 5S motherboard, according to Macrumors. Not surprisingly, the shape and size of the motherboard of the new generation iPhone is almost identical to that of its predecessor. The only difference is the shape of the bottom of the motherboard where the speaker will be. At first glance, it may seem that the space for the processor has been increased, but in fact the board itself has become a little narrower, thereby creating an optical illusion. On the left is the iPhone 5S, on the right is the iPhone 5