Intel z97 chipset. Review and testing of the ASUS Z97-Deluxe motherboard based on the new Intel Z97 chipset
Intel has officially unveiled an updated platform for desktop systems. Motherboards based on chipsets Intel Z97 And H97 received some useful options, as well as support for processors and future Broadwell chips.
In functional terms, the Intel Z97 differs minimally from its predecessor, the Intel Z87. The chipset will be used for enthusiast models of motherboards that allow you to boost the system yourself.
A fundamental innovation is the ability to connect drives via the PCI Express bus. For these purposes, an M.2 (NGFF) connector is provided, which actually replaces mSATA. Drives in a similar form factor are already available for sale, although the range of drives is not yet large.
Most Intel Z97/H97 based boards will have M.2 connectors, but this is still not prerequisite, but an available option.
Many motherboards based on Intel 9-Series chipsets will also be equipped with SATA Express connectors. This is another variation of connecting drives using PCI Express. Two PCI-E 2.0 lanes are allocated for the needs of such a channel. The throughput of SATA Express and M.2 is 10 Gb/s, which is approximately 67% higher than that of SATA 6 Gb/s. For hard drives, this limitation is absolutely not important, but the fastest SSDs are frankly cramped within SATA.
To connect drives using SATA Express, you will need two SATA connectors and one compact connector with four additional pins. If the SATA Express connector is not occupied, the connectors dedicated to it can be used to connect a pair of regular SATA drives. This is an important clarification, because there will actually be nothing to occupy SATA Express, at least until the end of this year.
The new platform supports Intel Rapid Storage Technology 13. SSDs connected using PCI Express, in addition to traditional use as data storage drives, can be used in various disk configurations. For caching Intel Smart Response Technology, you can use disks with a capacity of 16 GB or more. Smart Connect and Rapid Start technologies are supported. IN the latter case it is possible to use the Dynamic SSD Cache Sharing option, which allows, when the mode is activated, deep sleep systems use a dedicated cache area to temporarily store an image of system memory.
If we talk about general functionality, the Intel Z97 allows the use of PCI Express 3.0 processor lines in x16, x8+x8 and x8+x4+x4 modes. The chipset supports 6 SATA 6 Gb/s ports, 14 USB ports, six of which can comply with specification 3.0. For peripheral needs, 8 PCI Express 2.0 lanes are provided.
Intel H97 is another chipset that is offered as part of the updated platform. Its capabilities are largely similar to those of the Intel Z97, but there are some fundamental differences. First of all, motherboards based on this chipset will nominally be deprived of the ability to overclock the processor. However, perhaps manufacturers will be able to find an undocumented loophole, as was the case with the Intel 8-Series. Intel H97 cannot separate PCI-E processor lines; only x16 mode is available. The chipset does not support Dynamic Storage Accelerator technology, which allows you to dynamically manage power saving modes to increase drive performance. At the same time, Intel H97 received the Intel Small Business Advantage complex at its disposal for ease of PC maintenance within the corporate ecosystem.
Both chipsets support Intel Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard, which provides various ways to protect the boot block from accidental or intentional damage.
According to the manufacturer, motherboards based on Intel Z97 will be needed to work with processors called Devil’s Canyon. They are based on the same Haswell architecture, but are notable for their improved thermal interface and heat distribution cover material, which should help unlock the frequency potential of the CPU. In addition, boards based on Intel 9-Series will support Broadwell processors – 14-nanometer chips, which are expected to appear in 2015.
One of the first models on the Intel Z97 chipset
With the announcement of the 9th series of Intel chipsets, all motherboard manufacturers began to announce their solutions based on these new chipsets. Asus was the first to do this on the market. In this article we will look at the Asus Z97-A motherboard based on the Intel Z97 chipset, which opens a series of reviews about motherboards based on Intel 9-series chipsets.
Options and packaging
The package contents of the Asus Z97-A board are quite modest. In addition to the board itself, the box contains a user manual (in English only), a DVD with software and drivers, three SATA cables (all connectors with snaps, one cable has an angled connector on one side), an SLI bridge, a plug for the rear board panels and a traditional Asus Q-connector to facilitate connecting wires from the power button, reset button, etc. to the board. As you can see, nothing extra is included in the package - only the essentials.
Board configuration and features
A summary table of the characteristics of the Asus Z97-A board is given below, and further in the text we will look at all its features and functionality.
| Supported processors | Haswell, Haswell Refresh |
| CPU socket | |
| Chipset | |
| Memory | 4 × DDR3 (up to 32 GB) |
| Audio subsystem | |
| Network controller | |
| Expansion slots | 2 × PCI Express 3.0 x16 |
| SATA connectors | 4 × SATA 6 Gb/s (chipset) |
| Number of USB ports | 6 × USB 3.0 |
| Rear Connectors | 1 x HDMI |
| Internal connectors | 24-pin ATX power connector |
| Form factor | ATX (305×224 mm) |
Form factor
The Asus Z97-A is made in the ATX form factor (305x224 mm), that is, it can be installed in a case that supports boards with the ATX form factor or larger ones. There are 9 standard holes for mounting the board.
Chipset and processor socket
The Asus Z97-A board is based on the top-end Intel Z97 chipset and naturally supports processors Intel Core fourth generation (codenamed Haswell) and updated fourth generation Intel Core processors (codenamed Haswell Refresh) with LGA1150 socket. And although the specification does not say anything about support for fifth-generation Intel Core processors, which will appear at the beginning next year, according to preliminary information, motherboards based on Intel Z97 chipsets will also support them.
Memory
To install memory modules, the Asus Z97-A board has four DIMM slots, which allows you to install two DDR3 modules on each of two memory channels with a maximum capacity of up to 32 GB (when using 8 GB modules). Memory slots belonging to different channels are marked in different colors, which is convenient when installing modules. Note also that the board supports memory with XMP profiles.
Expansion slots
To install video cards or expansion cards on the Asus Z97-A motherboard, there are two slots with the PCI Express 3.0 x16 form factor, one slot with the PCI Express 2.0 x16 form factor, two PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots and two traditional PCI slots (33 MHz ).
Slots with the PCI Express 3.0 x16 form factor are made using 16 PCI Express 3.0 ports of the Haswell processor, which, using four ASMedia ASM1480 multiplexers/demultiplexers, are grouped into either one PCI Express 3.0 x16 port or two PCI Express 3.0 x8 ports. That is, if only one slot with the PCI Express 3.0 x16 form factor is used, then it will operate at x16 speed, and if both slots are used simultaneously, then they will operate at x8 speed.
When installing two discrete video cards, the Asus Z97-A board supports NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireX technologies.
A slot with a PCI Express 2.0 x16 form factor always operates at x2 speed and is implemented using two PCI Express 2.0 ports of the Intel Z97 chipset (essentially, this is a PCI Express 2.0 x2 slot in a PCI Express 2.0 x16 form factor). Note that this slot is also compatible with devices that have a PCI Express x1 interface.
Likewise, two PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots are implemented using two PCI Express 2.0 ports of the Intel Z97 chipset.
Since the Intel Z97 chipset does not have native support for the PCI bus, a PCI Express - PCI bridge is used to implement PCI slots on the board, which is the ASMedia ASM1083 controller. This controller, connected to a PCI Express 2.0 lane, supports up to three PCI slots (33 MHz).
Video connectors
Since Haswell processors have an integrated graphics core, and the Intel Z97 chipset supports the use of processor graphics, to connect a monitor on the rear panel of the board there are DisplayPort 1.2 (maximum resolution 4096×2160@24 Hz), HDMI 1.4 (maximum resolution 4096×2160@24 Hz), DVI-D port (maximum resolution 1920×1200@60Hz) and VGA (D-Sub) port (maximum resolution 1920×1200@60Hz). Of course, such a number of video connectors is clearly redundant, but on the other hand, you don’t have to think about the monitor connector - the Asus Z97-A board allows you to connect a monitor with any video input.
SATA ports, SATA Express connector and M.2 connector
To connect storage devices or optical drives, the board has a total of six SATA 6 Gb/s ports, which support the ability to create RAID arrays of levels 0, 1, 5, 10 and are implemented on the basis of a SATA controller integrated into the chipset. Two of these six SATA 6 Gb/s ports are part of the SATA Express connector, but can still be used separately. The last circumstance is important, since there are practically no drives with a SATA Express interface on the market yet, and those that exist are very expensive. Therefore, it is important that despite the presence of a SATA Express connector on the board, the number of available SATA 6 Gb/s ports has not decreased.
Note that the SATA Express connector, in addition to two SATA ports, also uses two PCI Express 2.0 ports of the Intel Z97 chipset.
The Asus Z97-A board also has an M.2 (PCIe x2) connector, support for which is implemented at the Intel Z97 chipset level. This connector has a type M key (Pocket 3) and only supports the installation of PCIe drives of size 2260/2280. To implement the M.2 connector, two PCI Express 2.0 ports of the Intel Z97 chipset are used (the M key supports the use of up to four PCI Express 2.0 lines).
The M.2 connector is shared with two PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots and a SATA Express connector. That is, if the M.2 connector is used, then both PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots and the SATA Express connector will be unavailable. And if the SATA Express connector is used, the M.2 connector will not be available. By default, the M.2 connector is disabled; to enable it, you must make the appropriate settings in the UEFI BIOS.
USB connectors
To connect various peripheral devices, the board provides six USB 3.0 ports and eight USB 2.0 ports. All USB ports are implemented on the basis of a controller integrated into the chipset (in total, the Intel Z97 chipset supports up to 14 USB ports, of which up to 6 ports can be USB 3.0 ports). Moreover, of these ports, four USB 3.0 ports and two USB 2.0 ports are located on the rear panel of the board, and corresponding connectors are provided on the board to connect the remaining ports (three connectors for USB 2.0 ports and one connector for USB 3.0 ports). Note that all USB 3.0 ports support the ability to connect drives with a bootable operating system (Boot Device).
Network interface
To connect to the local network segment, the Asus Z97-A board implements a gigabit interface based on the Intel i218-V PHY controller (physical layer controller) (a MAC-level controller integrated into the chipset is used).
Additional Features
If you count the number of controllers, connectors and slots using the PCI Express 2.0 ports of the Intel Z97 chipset, you will get the following picture. A PCI Express 2.0 x2 slot and two PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots require a total of 4 PCI Express 2.0 ports. Two more PCI Express 2.0 ports are occupied by the PCIe-PCI bridge and the network controller. Further, the M.2 and SATA Express connectors require two PCI Express 2.0 ports. As a result, we find that a total of 10 PCI Express 2.0 ports are required. But in the Intel Z97 chipset, the total number of PCI Express 2.0 ports cannot exceed eight. There is another mystery on the Asus Z97-A board. The fact is that the Intel Z97 chipset (as well as all chipsets of the 8th and 9th series) can only have 18 high-speed I/O ports (PCI Express, SATA, USB 3.0), and the Flexible IO technology that is supported These chipsets only allow you to configure such ports by removing some and adding others. The Asus Z97-A has six USB 3.0 ports, six SATA 6 Gb/s ports and requires 10 PCI Express 2.0 ports to implement all controllers, connectors and slots. That is, the number of high-speed I/O ports is clearly more than 18.
Well, let's try to figure out how this all can work. Unfortunately, studying the documentation on the board does not allow us to answer this question unambiguously. The documentation only says that the M.2 connector is shared with two PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots and that the SATA Express connector is shared with the M.2 connector. That is, from the documentation it follows that it is impossible to simultaneously use an M.2 connector and two PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots, and it is impossible to simultaneously use an M.2 connector and a SATA Express connector. However, nothing is said about the possibility of sharing two PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots and a SATA Express connector. Moreover, it is not very clear what in this case refers to the SATA Express connector. That is, if the M.2 connector is used, will the two SATA 6 Gb/s ports included in the SATA Express connector be available? Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to test the solution options in practice, since drives with M.2 and SATA Express connectors are still classified as exotic products. Nevertheless, let's try to figure it out based on the functionality of the chipset. Since the Asus Z97-A board has 6 USB 3.0 ports and their number is strictly fixed, based on the fact that there can only be 18 high-speed I/O ports in total, there can be either 6 SATA 6 Gb/s ports and 6 PCI Express ports 2.0, or 8 PCI Express 2.0 ports and only 4 SATA 6 Gb/s ports (both options are allowed in accordance with Flexible IO technology).
Let's consider the possible options.
If PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots are available, the M.2 connector is blocked. To implement all other slots, connectors and controllers on the board, 8 PCI Express 2.0 ports are required. In principle, such a number of ports can be available, but on the condition that there will be only 4 SATA 6 Gb/s ports. But the board has 4 separate SATA 6 Gb/s ports and two more as part of the SATA Express connector. In fact, in this version, this will mean that the SATA 6 Gb/s ports as part of the SATA Express connector will be blocked, which is unlikely. Most likely, another option will be implemented. If the PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots are available, then not only the M.2 connector is blocked, but also the SATA Express connector, but so that the two SATA 6 Gb/s ports within the SATA Express connector remain available for use. In this case, we get that to implement all other slots, connectors and controllers on the board, 6 PCI Express 2.0 ports are required, and 6 SATA 6 Gb/s ports will be available (the total number of high-speed I/O ports will be 18).
Further, if the M.2 connector is used, then two PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots and a SATA Express connector must be blocked, but so that two SATA 6 Gb/s ports from these connectors are accessible. In this case, we again get that there are 6 PCI Express 2.0 ports (enough for all controllers and unlocked slots on the board) and 6 SATA 6 Gb/s ports. The total number of high-speed I/O ports will again be 18.
In the version when a SATA Express slot is used, in theory, the M.2 connector and two PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots should be blocked. Then we get that there are 6 PCI Express 2.0 ports, which are enough for all controllers and unlocked slots on the board, and 4 SATA 6 Gb/s ports (two more ports are available as part of the SATA Express connector. Thus, in this case, the total number of high-speed There are exactly 18 I/O ports.
So, in any variant, the Asus Z97-A board has six USB 3.0 ports, six SATA 6 Gb/s ports and six PCI Express 2.0 ports. Of the six PCI Express 2.0 ports, four are strictly fixed: they are assigned to the PCI Express 2.0 x2 slot, the network controller and the PCIe-PCI bridge. And two more PCI Express 2.0 ports can be switched between two PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots, an M.2 connector and a SATA Express connector.
Now that we have figured out the division of slots and ports, let's turn to other features of the Asus Z97-A board. First of all, it is worth noting that there is a power button on the board. True, there are no reset or ClearCMOS buttons on it. There is also no POST code indicator.
But the now rare PS/2 connector is present. And if everything is clear with the power button, then the presence of a PS/2 connector causes bewilderment for many users. Indeed, why do we need such a connector if keyboards and mice with such a connector are no longer available for sale? However, having a PS/2 is justified for a certain category of users: we are talking about fans of extreme overclocking. The fact is that during extreme overclocking, USB ports often simply do not work, and the only way out for such cases is to use the PS/2 connector.
There is also a MemOK button, traditional for Asus boards, to start the system in case of installing “unusual” memory modules. In addition, a new EZ XMP switch has been added. This switch allows you to load XMP memory profiles, and if previously this was done only through the UEFI BIOS, now it can also be done using this switch.
A second new switch, CPU_OV (Over Voltage), has also appeared. In this case, switching is done using a jumper. This switch is designed for processor overclocking modes and allows you to increase the voltage on the processor. That is, you can increase the voltage on the processor in any case, but if you set the jumper to the processor overclocking position, the range of possible voltage changes will be greater.
Power system
Like most boards, the Asus Z97-A model has 24-pin and 8-pin connectors for connecting the power supply.
The processor supply voltage regulator on the Asus Z97-A board is 8-channel and is based on a Digi+ VRM PWM controller labeled APS 1252. The power channels themselves are built using discrete MOSFET transistors.
Cooling system
To cool the MOSFET transistors of the processor voltage regulator, the Asus Z97-A board has two heatsinks, which are located next to the processor socket.
There is also a round-shaped heatsink installed on the Intel Z97 chipset. In addition, to create an effective heat dissipation system, the board has two four-pin connectors (CPU_FAN, CPU_OPT) for connecting processor cooler fans and four four-pin connectors for connecting additional case fans. Well, traditionally, the speed of any case fan, as well as the processor cooler fan, can be adjusted either through the UEFI BIOS or through the Fan Xpert 3 utility.
Audio subsystem
The audio subsystem of the Asus Z97-A motherboard includes the popular 8-channel (7.1) Realtek ALC892 HDA audio codec. The rear panel of the board has five mini-jack audio connectors (3.5 mm) and one S/PDIF optical connector (out). The Realtek ALC892 codec itself is covered with a metal casing with the inscription Crystal Sound 2, and all elements of the audio path are isolated at the PCB level from other elements of the board.
To test the output audio path intended for connecting headphones or external acoustics, we used an external audio Creative card E-MU 0204 USB in combination with the Right Mark Audio Analyzer 6.3.0 utility. Testing was carried out in stereo mode, 24-bit/44.1 kHz. Based on the results of testing the audio path on the Asus Z97-A board, it received a “Very Good” rating. The full report with testing results in the RMAA 6.3.0 program is posted on a separate page, followed by a short report.
| Frequency response unevenness (in the range 40 Hz - 15 kHz), dB | ||
| Noise level, dB (A) | Very good |
|
| Dynamic range, dB (A) | Very good |
|
| Harmonic distortion, % | ||
| Harmonic distortion + noise, dB (A) | Mediocre |
|
| Intermodulation distortion + noise, % | Very good |
|
| Interpenetration of channels, dB | ||
| Intermodulation at 10 kHz, % | Very good |
|
| Overall rating | Very good |
|
UEFI BIOS
Now let's look at the possibilities for setting up the system via UEFI BIOS.
First of all, we note that the UEFI BIOS interface has completely changed on Asus 9 series boards. However, in terms of functionality, in terms of setting up the system, little has changed - in fact, it was difficult to change anything, since everything had already been implemented to the maximum.
As before, on the Asus Z97-A board it is possible to update the BIOS version very easily using the traditional Asus EZ Flash 2 Utility built into the BIOS. During testing of the board we asked BIOS version 3004.
Let us remind you that the BIOS functionality in terms of overclocking processors differs for unlocked K-series processors and for regular locked processors that cannot be overclocked. We tested the Asus Z97-A board with an Intel Core i7-4770K processor, that is, unlocked (we did not have a Haswell Refresh processor at our disposal at the time of testing).
Traditionally, UEFI BIOS on Asus boards has two display modes: simple (EZ Mode) and advanced (Advanced Mode). In the new UEFI BIOS interface, everything remains unchanged: the same two display modes, only the graphical interface of the modes themselves has changed.
EZ Mode is intended for basic board configuration and control of basic parameters, while fine-tuning the board and system overclocking are available only in Advanced Mode.
To overclock the processor and memory, use the traditional AI Tweaker tab, which provides all possible options for overclocking. True, there is one feature that needs to be taken into account when overclocking a processor. On the Advanced tab in the CPU Power Configuration menu, CPU Power Management Configuration, you can disable Turbo Mode (Intel Turbo Boost). However, in this case, overclocking the processor will not be possible and the maximum processor frequency will correspond to its standard frequency. On the Asus Z79-A board (as, by the way, on other Asus boards), overclocking the processor is possible only with Turbo Mode technology activated and only when the Ai Overclock Tuner parameter on the Ai Tweaker tab is set to XMP or Manual. In this case, it is possible to change the frequency of the BCLK clock generator and the multiplication factor of the processor cores. You can set the multiplication factor for each case of the number of loaded processor cores, or you can set the multiplication factor simultaneously for all loaded processor cores.
As you know, for unlocked Haswell processors it is possible to set the frequency multiplier for the BCLK frequency (1.00, 1.25, 1.66 and 2.50). That is, the reference frequency for processor cores is obtained by multiplying the frequency multiplier by the BCLK frequency, and the frequency for Uncore Logic elements (PEG and DMI controllers, etc.), sensitive to an increase in the reference frequency, remains equal to the BCLK frequency. On Asus boards and, in particular, on the Asus Z97-A board, everything is implemented a little differently and this aspect must be taken into account when overclocking the processor.
In this case, you cannot set the frequency multiplier itself - it is set automatically depending on the BCLK frequency. It is important that in this case the BCLK frequency is the reference frequency for the processor cores and the clock frequency of the processor cores is obtained by multiplying the BCLK frequency by the multiplication factor. As the BCLK frequency increases, the frequency multiplier is set automatically, and the frequency for Uncore Logic elements (in UEFI BIOS it is called Target DMI/PEG Frequency) is obtained by dividing the BCLK frequency by the frequency multiplier.
For convenience, the BIOS provides a parameter called CPU Strap, for which you can select Auto, 100, 125, 167 and 250 MHz. The CPU Strap frequency is synchronized with the BCLK frequency, and if the CPU Strap is set to 125 MHz, then the BCLK value will become equal to 125 MHz. In fact, this parameter allows you to quickly set BCLK frequencies for which the DMI/PEG Frequency value is exactly 100 MHz.
In addition to the multiplication factor of the processor cores, in the AI Tweaker settings you can set the minimum and maximum value multiplication factor for L3 cache (CPU Cache Ratio). By default, these coefficients take values depending on the set frequency of the processor cores (Auto mode).
Also in the AI Tweaker section, you can configure the operation of memory modules, set the frequency of the integrated graphics core, configure the operating mode of the power supply voltage regulator (IVR) integrated into the processor, and configure the operating mode of the external supply voltage regulator.
The maximum frequency of memory modules can be 3400 MHz (with a BCLK frequency of 100 MHz).
Another interesting feature of the BIOS of the Asus Z97-A board is the ability to configure the speed modes of all fans connected to the board. In addition to selecting one of three preset speed modes (Standard, Silent, Turbo and Full Speed), you can adjust the speed mode manually. When manually setting the fan speed on the processor, it is possible to set a graph of changes in fan speed versus processor temperature at three points. For each point on the graph, coordinates (temperature, rotation speed) are specified. Moreover, the fan rotation speed varies in the range from 20 to 100% for the processor cooler fan and from 60 to 100% for additional case fans. The permissible temperature range is from 20 to 75 °C for the processor cooler fan and from 40 to 75 °C for additional case fans.
There is another interesting possibility here. It's about about overclocking the processor and memory using the built-in EZ Tuning Wizard utility. This is a kind of fast acceleration. For example, we overclocked the Intel Core i7-4770K processor using this utility to a frequency of 4.4 GHz. Not a very outstanding result, but, nevertheless, this method is quite suitable for inexperienced users.
But manually we managed to overclock the Intel Core i7-4770K processor to a frequency of 4.8 GHz with a BCLK frequency of 100 MHz. In this operating mode, when the processor was under stress using the Stress CPU test from the AIDA 64 package, the temperature of its cores was about 80°C.
Under more intense load using the Stress FPU test, the temperature of the processor cores reached a critical value and the throttling mode was activated, and the clock frequency dropped to 3.8 GHz (a Thermaltake Contac 30 cooler was used during testing).
However, it should be noted that in terms of overclocking capabilities, the Asus Z97-A board is in no way inferior to other boards (we are, of course, not talking about extreme overclocking), and the frequency of 4.8 GHz is the maximum frequency value for our processor Intel Core i7-4770K, and we were not able to overclock it above 4.8 GHz on any board.
Branded utilities
Included with the Asus Z97-A board is great variety various utilities. Of greatest interest, in our opinion, is new version proprietary utility Asus AI Suite III, which is a whole set of utilities united by a single software interface. Asus AI Suite III includes the following utilities:
- Dual Intelligent Processors 5
- EZ Update
- Push Notice
- System Information
- USB 3.0 Boost
Most of these utilities are well known to us: they have long been included in the package of Asus motherboards, so we will not focus on them. But Dual Intelligent Processors 5 is really a new utility that replaced the Dual Intelligent Processors 4 utility.
This utility includes six separate utilities (5-Way Optimization, TPU, EPU, Digi+ VRM, Fan Xpert 3 and TurboApp), united by a single interface.
Separate utilities TPU, EPU, Digi+ VRM, Fan Xpert 3 and TurboApp are designed for manual system configuration, and the 5-Way Optimization utility allows you to completely optimize the system with one click (overclock the processor and graphics core, while optimizing power consumption, as well as implementing speed settings). mode of connected fans and setting the processor voltage regulator. Also, the 5-Way Optimization utility allows you to set the PC power consumption mode (“maximum performance”, “balanced”, “maximum energy saving”, “off” mode, for example, for an Intel Core processor). The i7-4770K was overclocked to 4.5 GHz using the 5-Way Optimization utility.
The TPU utility allows you to overclock the processor and graphics core, as well as set the processor supply voltage.
The EPU utility is designed to configure various power consumption modes.
The Digi+ VRM utility is designed to configure the supply voltage regulator and allows you to set the load curve (Load-line Calibration), operating frequencies of converters for the processor and memory, and some other parameters.
Well, the updated Fan Xpert 3 utility (previously there was a Fan Xpert 2 utility) is designed to adjust the speed mode of connected fans. When setting the fan rotation speed, it is possible to adjust the graph of the rotation speed depending on the readings of the temperature sensor associated with the fan. Moreover, it is possible to automatically determine the dependence of the fan rotation speed on the duty cycle of PWM control pulses (for four-pin fans).
Actually, all the utilities mentioned were previously present in the Dual Intelligent Processors 4 utility. But the TurboApp utility is new. This utility is designed to configure the system for each specific application. That is, for any application you can set the performance level (in conventional units), audio profile (Game, Music, Movie or Default), as well as network priority.
Conclusions
The new Asus Z97-A board is expectedly similar to the Asus Z87-A board, but there are differences between them, and it’s not just the M.2 and SATA Express connectors. The new product has a different audio subsystem, a different network controller and updated software. Overall, we can say that the Asus Z97-A is an improved version of the Asus Z87-A. And just like the Asus Z87-A board, it has flexible customization options and good functionality.
Asus Z97-A is the junior model in the Asus Z97 series of motherboards. In fact, apart from the presence of PCI slots, the board implements only the basic functionality of the Intel Z97 chipset. However, this functionality will be quite sufficient for most users. Based on this board, you can create both gaming PCs and universal high-performance PCs for various purposes.
The board was provided for testing by the manufacturer
In connection with the upcoming update of the processor line from Intel, which stated that within a year we will see three new series: Intel Haswell Refresh (May 2014), Intel Devil`s Canyon (June 2014) and Intel Broadwell (late 2014 - early 2015), it was quite logical that a new line of system logic sets was announced, the solutions of which are designed to fully support all the functions included in the new processors.
Currently we only have information about the Intel Z97 Express and Intel H97 Express chipsets. The first is a flagship solution with the maximum set available opportunities. The second does not support overclocking processors with an unlocked multiplier and the distribution of sixteen PCI Express 3.0 lanes according to the x8+x8 and x8+x4+x4 schemes, but it offers the implementation of the Intel Small Business Advantage technology package.
However, we will postpone getting acquainted with the Intel H97 Express for now, and let's talk about the flagship - fortunately we have a motherboard for testing ASUSZ97- A - the first sign made on the basis of Intel Z97 Express.
In fact, the Intel Z97 Express chipset is only a slightly updated version of the Intel Z87 Express, the block diagram of which is shown in the image above. The chipset architecture remained unchanged: the same 16 PCI Express 3.0 processor lines with the possibility of their distribution in x16 / x8+x8 / x8+x4+x4 schemes, 8 PCI Express 2.0 chipset lines, 14 USB 2.0 ports, 6 USB 3.0 and 6 SATA 6 Gb/s interfaces.
In fact, there are literally several key differences from the Intel Z87 Express, namely the implemented support for the SATA Express interface, PCI Express and M.2 PCIe (NGFF SSD) drives. Note that the throughput of these interfaces significantly exceeds the capabilities of the current generation SATA 6 Gbit/s, and it can reach 10 Gbit/s. Also, drives with an M.2 PCIe interface (NGFF SSD) can act as the main boot device, which will significantly increase the speed of system startup.
Additionally, there is support for Intel Device Protection Technology with Boost Guard, which is designed to protect the PC boot sector and block malware.
The main change in the new platform concerns the requirements for the power subsystem for working with Intel Broadwell processors, so the future CPU family will not be backward compatible with motherboards based on Intel 8-series chipsets.
For greater clarity, here is a comparative table of processors supported by the past and current generation of chipsets:
|
Intel Haswell Refresh |
Intel Devil's Canyon |
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|
Intel Z87 Express |
Limited support* |
|||
*unconfirmed information
And since there are no other differences between the chipsets, we suggest moving directly to getting acquainted with the ASUS Z97-A.
Since the Intel Z97 Express chipset does not support the PCI bus, the operation of the two corresponding connectors is implemented using a PCIE-PCI bridge based on the ASMedia ASM 1083 controller.
Multi I/O capabilities are assigned to the NUVOTON NCT6791D chip, which controls the operation of system fans, COM and PS/2 ports, and also provides monitoring.
The audio subsystem of the motherboard in question is based on the 8-channel Realtek ALC892 HDA codec, which supports 2/4/5.1/7.1 audio systems and has a number of proprietary features (Crystal Sound 2 concept), which we mentioned at the beginning of the review.
The interface panel of the ASUS Z97-A model includes the following ports:
- 1 x HDMI;
- 1 x DisplayPort;
- 1 x DVI-D;
- 1 x D-Sub;
- 1 x PS/2 for connecting a mouse or keyboard;
- 1 x LAN (RJ45);
- 4 x USB 3.0;
- 2 x USB 2.0;
- 1 x optical S/PDIF out;
- 5 x audio ports.
This interface panel layout can easily be called excellent, since it includes all the most popular video outputs, a large number of USB ports, convenient connection of multi-channel acoustics, the ability to use peripherals with a PS/2 interface, as well as an optical audio output. It is also possible to place a COM port on the rear panel of the PC using an internal connector.
UEFI BIOS
The ASUS Z97-A motherboard uses a modern preloader based on the UEFI graphical interface, in which you can make settings using the mouse. It offers two main use cases.
The “Monitor” section provides access to monitoring the temperature of the processor and chipset, as well as the rotation speed of installed fans. Additionally, in this section you can monitor the voltage on the processor core and on the +12V, +5V and +3.3V power lines.
The ability to monitor the supply voltage of memory modules is implemented in the right column, which is also visible in other sections.
Separately, it is worth noting the ability to take “screenshots” in the BIOS and support for the Russian language.
Overclocking options
Based on the results of manual overclocking of the Intel Core i7-4770K processor, by increasing the multiplier and voltage to 1,210 V, its stable operating frequency was 4600 MHz, which is a good result for a high-quality motherboard.
Using automatic overclocking capabilities using the ASUS Dual Intelligent Processors 5 utility in the “Ratio only” mode (overclocking by increasing only the multiplier) made it possible to increase the processor frequency to 4300 MHz at a voltage of 1.224 V.
You can also use this function through the BIOS or using the TPU switch in mode “1”.
"BCLK First"
After activating the automatic CPU overclocking function in the “BCLK First” mode (overclocking via the BCLK bus), its frequency was fixed at 4251 MHz at a voltage of 1,200 V. You can use this function through the BIOS or using the TPU switch in mode “2”.
Manually increasing the system bus frequency allowed us to reach a level of 188.03 MHz, which is an excellent indicator.
Testing
To test the capabilities of the ASUS Z97-A motherboard, the following equipment was used:
|
CPU |
Intel Core i7-4770K (LGA1150, 3.5 GHz, L3 8 MB) |
|
|
Scythe Kama Angle Rev.B |
||
|
RAM |
2 x 4 GB DDR3-2400 TwinMOS TwiSTER 9DHCGN4B-HAWP |
|
|
Video card |
AMD Radeon HD 6970 2 GB GDDR5 |
|
|
Video capture device |
AVerMedia Live Gamer Portable |
|
|
Hard drive |
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS, 500 GB, SATA-300, NCQ |
|
|
Optical drive |
ASUS DRW-1814BLT SATA |
|
|
power unit |
Seasonic X-560 Gold (SS-560KM Active PFC) |
|
|
CODEGEN M603 MidiTower (2x 120 mm in/out fans) |
||
Test results
The ASUS Z97-A model demonstrates excellent performance indicators that are on par with its competitive counterparts. This allows us to talk about the high quality of its execution, the selection of a good element base and the successful optimization of BIOS settings.
Testing the audio path based on the Realtek ALC892 codec
Test report in RightMark Audio Analyzer
16-bit, 44.1 kHz
|
Noise level, dB (A) |
||
|
Dynamic range, dB (A) |
||
|
Harmonic distortion, % |
Very good |
|
|
Very good |
||
|
Intermodulation at 10 kHz, % |
||
|
Overall rating |
Very good |
Operating mode 24-bit, 192 kHz
|
Frequency response unevenness (in the range 40 Hz - 15 kHz), dB |
||
|
Noise level, dB (A) |
Very good |
|
|
Dynamic range, dB (A) |
Very good |
|
|
Harmonic distortion, % |
Very good |
|
|
Harmonic distortion + noise, dB(A) |
||
|
Intermodulation distortion + noise, % |
Very good |
|
|
Interpenetration of channels, dB |
Very good |
|
|
Intermodulation at 10 kHz, % |
Very good |
|
|
Overall rating |
Very good |
Designed with the Realtek ALC892 codec pre-installed, Crystal Sound 2 delivers excellent audio quality that is more than enough for your everyday use.
Conclusions
The motherboard is a high-quality solution, made in ATX format, which is distinguished by a very competent layout, the highest quality of workmanship, a well-thought-out cooling system and very good equipment.
Describing the key advantages of this model, it is necessary to note the rich possibilities for organizing the disk subsystem, namely: implementation at the Intel Z97 Express chipset level of support for SATA 6 Gb/s, SATA Express and M.2 (NGFF) interfaces. Additionally, we note a nice design, good layout of the interface panel, the ability to install two video cards with a three-slot cooling system, support large quantity proprietary technologies, enhanced digital power subsystem, as well as high-quality sound subsystem.
We will separately highlight the “5-Way Optimization” function in the AI Suite III software, with which you have the opportunity to customize the operation of the system exclusively to your needs, based on parameters such as performance, temperature and power consumption.
As for the features of the ASUS Z97-A, before purchasing you should take into account the impossibility simultaneous use M.2 connector (NGFF) and two PCI Express 2.0 x1 expansion slots. Otherwise, the new product is completely devoid of any shortcomings.
As a result, ASUS Z97-A will be an excellent choice for assembling a high-end work or gaming system with one or two video cards.
Advantages:
- reliable 8-phase digital power subsystem DIGI+VRM;
- improved element base for more reliable and stable operation of the motherboard;
- support for a large number of USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gb/s ports;
- availability of SATA Express and M.2 (NGFF) connectors;
- good delivery set; SeaSonic And TwinMOS Technologies for the equipment provided for the test bench.
To ensure maximum performance and the highest PC performance, a platform based on the Intel Z97 Express chipset and a fourth generation (Haswell Refresh) and fifth generation (Broadwell) Intel Core processor is ideal. This platform supports overclocking and provides the highest performance and incredible system speed. The Z97 Express chipset allows you to increase performance when needed and gives you the option of an optional solid-state drive for faster system and application boot times. With this solution you will get the level of performance you need.
Supports fourth and fifth generation Intel Core processors with Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 technology, Intel Pentium and Intel Celeron processors. The Intel Z97 Express chipset also supports overclocking features implemented in Intel processors Fifth-generation Core with overclocking protection removed.
Intel Rapid Storage Technology. With optional hard drives, accelerates access to digital photo, audio, and video files using RAID Levels 0, 5, and 10, and enhances hard drive data protection with RAID Levels 1, 5, and 10. Supports external SATA interface ( eSATA) provides external throughput up to 3 Gbps.
Intel Smart Response Technology provides I/O caching, speeding up application loading and user access to data.
Intel Smart Connect technology accelerates application updates by enabling updates in a low-power state.
Intel Rapid Start technology allows you to quickly wake up your system from hibernation mode.
Intel Rapid Recover Technology (Intel RRT) is Intel's most advanced data protection technology that creates a recovery point that will be used to quickly restore system operation in the event of a failure. hard drive or damage to a large amount of data. For recovery separate files The disk with backup data can be connected in read-only mode.
Intel High Definition Audio Technology (Intel HD Audio) is a built-in audio engine that delivers superior audio quality and advanced capabilities such as support for multiple audio streams and flexible jack assignments.
Universal Serial Bus USB 3.0. Built-in support for the USB 3.0 standard provides a significant increase in data transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps and the ability to use up to 6 USB 3.0 ports.
Serial ATA (SATA) interface, 6 Gbit/s. The new generation high-speed storage interface supports data transfer rates of up to 6 Gb/s and enhanced data access capabilities through the use of up to 6 SATA ports.
PCI Express 2.0 interface provides up to 5 GT/s (gigatransfers per second) throughput for fast access to peripherals and network devices via PCI Express 2.0 x1 ports (up to 8 ports), which can be configured to operate in x2 or x4 mode depending on the motherboard designs.
Characteristics:
Uses DMI (Direct Media Interface) bus to communicate with the processor with throughput 20 Gbit/s in each direction.
Supports processor-integrated graphics and three independent screens using the Intel FDI (Flexible Display Interface) bus, which uses two lines with a bandwidth of 2.7 Gbps each.
6 SATA 6Gb/s ports with the ability to support external SATA (eSATA) ports.
Supports RAID levels: 0, 1, 5, 10 and Intel Smart Response technology.
Support for Intel Rapid Storage Technology.
Number of supported DIMM slots: 4.
The chipset supports 8 PCI Express 2.0 lanes (5 Gbit/s) if 6 SATA 6 Gbit/s ports and 4 USB 3.0 ports are enabled, and 6 free lanes if 6 SATA 6 Gbit/s ports and 6 USB 3.0 ports are enabled.
The Intel Z97 chipset allows motherboard manufacturers to split PCI-Express 3.0 lanes not only between two slots in the x8 + x8 format, but also between three in the x8 + x4 + x4 format (3-Way SLI).
PCI Express M.2 slot support.
Integrated support for 6 USB 3.0 ports and 14 USB 2.0 ports.
Integrated Intel 10/100/1000 MAC with support for Intel Ethernet i127LM/V.
Intel Wireless Display 3.0 support.
Technology support: Intel Active Management Technology (Intel AMT), Intel Trusted Execution Technology (Intel TXT), Intel Anti-Theft Technology (Intel AT), Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (Intel VT-d).
Intel Small Business Advantage - local management for small businesses.
Support: High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), DisplayPort and DVI.
Consumption: 4.1W.
Environmentally friendly technologies: no lead or halogens were used in the production of component housings.
942-pin ball lead package (FCBGA). Dimensions: 25x25x1.788mm.
News from the site: www.intel.ru.
In the current difficult economic conditions, when purchasing a new personal computer, the question often arises: what can I save on? There can be a lot of directions for cost optimization: you can choose less fast processor, reduce the volume RAM, look for a smaller SSD or abandon it altogether in favor of an HDD, or, in the end, replace the flagship video card with a mid-level model. But resorting to such measures is not very pleasant, because they all noticeably worsen the performance and responsiveness of the platform. However, fortunately, there is another way to save money, which is the right approach does not lead to painful consequences - using inexpensive motherboards.
In general, the motherboard does not directly affect system performance - it only requires sufficient functionality and stable operation with all other equipment. Meanwhile, users often choose redundant and expensive boards, because they are the ones that captivate with their promising characteristics and advertised capabilities. This is actively promoted by the board manufacturers themselves, who lately seriously expanded their product lines by creating separate model series gaming, overclocking and highly reliable motherboards. Such segmentation, additionally supported by aggressive (and not always crystal honest) advertising, provokes a shift in consumer interest towards more expensive specialized board models, while in most cases you can limit yourself to a completely ordinary motherboard with a price one and a half to two times lower.
The proof of this thesis will be devoted to this material. We took several inexpensive full-size motherboards for LGA1150 processors based on the most popular Intel Z97 chipset - and we plan to show that their capabilities are quite enough for a modern high-quality and productive computer. The fact that the board is based on the Z97, that is, Intel's top-tier chipset, virtually guarantees that it has all the functions necessary for a modern high-performance personal computer. And if you don’t need any special things like connecting a large number of hard drives or supporting more than a dozen USB ports, then you’re unlikely to need an expensive board. After all, almost any, even budget, motherboard based on Intel Z97 is capable of offering everything that is required in a modern high-speed platform: support for modern Haswell and Devil’s Canyon processors, as well as promising Broadwell processors; four slots for installing DDR3 SDRAM with speeds from 1333 to 3000 MHz; one or two PCI Express 3.0 x16 graphics slots; a set of several PCI Express 2.0 and possibly PCI expansion slots; six SATA 6 Gb/s ports and, most likely, one M.2 slot; six USB 3.0 ports and at least at least as many USB 2.0 ports; integrated gigabit network; as well as an integrated audio codec with six or eight channels. Moreover, any motherboard based on Intel Z97 must also have a set of overclocking capabilities, allowing you to overclock the processor and memory.
There is no doubt that the above list of features can cover the needs of the vast majority of users, including those from the community of enthusiasts. Therefore, the only requirements that it really makes sense to put forward for inexpensive motherboards based on Intel Z97 are that they be equipped with a processor power converter with sufficient power and, if necessary, support for multi-GPU configurations built using SLI and CrossrireX technologies. In our comparative review, we will see how well the motherboards available in stores with a price of no more than $150 satisfy these requirements. We asked manufacturers to provide us with their inexpensive LGA1150 ATX form factor platforms, based on the Intel Z97 and not related to any special series, and received seven motherboards from all leading companies on the market for experiments. Meet the test participants!
⇡ Comparative characteristics of the tested boards
| ASRock Z97 Extreme4 | ASRock Z97 Pro4 | ASUS Z97-A | ASUS Z97-C | ASUS Z97-K | Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD3H | MSI Z97 Guard-Pro | |
| CPU socket | LGA1150 | LGA1150 | LGA1150 | LGA1150 | LGA1150 | LGA1150 | LGA1150 |
| Chipset | Intel Z97 | Intel Z97 | Intel Z97 | Intel Z97 | Intel Z97 | Intel Z97 | Intel Z97 |
| Memory slots | 4 x DDR3 DIMM | 4 x DDR3 DIMM | 4 x DDR3 DIMM | 4 x DDR3 DIMM | 4 x DDR3 DIMM | 4 x DDR3 DIMM | 4 x DDR3 DIMM |
| Memory support | Up to DDR3-3200 | Up to DDR3-3100 | Up to DDR3-3200 | Up to DDR3-3200 | Up to DDR3-3200 | Up to DDR3-3100 | Up to DDR3-3300 |
| PCIe 3.0 x16 slots | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Multi-GPU support | x8/x8/x0 or x8/x4/x4 | No | x8/x8 | No | No | x8/x8 | No |
| PCIe 2.0 x16 slots | No | 1 (x4) | 1 (x2) | 1 (x4) | 1 (x4) | 1 (x4) | 1 (x4) |
| PCIe 2.0 x1 slots | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| PCI slots | No | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | No |
| Audio codec | Realtek ALC1150 | Realtek ALC892 | Realtek ALC892 | Realtek ALC892 | Realtek ALC887 | Realtek ALC1150 | Realtek ALC892 |
| Gigabit network controller | Intel I218V | Intel I218V | Intel I218V | Intel I218V | Realtek 8111G | Intel I217V | Realtek 8111G |
| Additional SATA controller | ASMedia ASM1061 | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Additional controller USB 3.0 | ASMedia ASM1042AE | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Form factor | 305×244 mm | 305×218 mm | 305×244 mm | 305×218 mm | 305×218 mm | 305×225 mm | 305×220 mm |
| Internal ports | |||||||
| SATA 6 Gb/s | 6 + 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| SATA Express | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | No | 1 | No |
| M.2 slot | Eat | Eat | Yes (PCIe only) | Eat | Eat | Eat | Eat |
| USB 3.0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| USB 2.0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| Serial Port | 1 | 1 | No | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Parallel Port | No | No | No | No | No | No | 1 |
| External ports | |||||||
| USB 3.0 | 4 + 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| USB 2.0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Gigabit network | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Analog Audio | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| S/P-DIF output | Eat | Eat | Eat | No | No | Eat | No |
| PS/2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Video | D-Sub, DVI-D, HDMI | D-Sub, DVI-D, HDMI, DisplayPort | D-Sub, DVI-D, HDMI | D-Sub, DVI-D, HDMI | D-Sub, DVI-D, HDMI | D-Sub, DVI-D, DisplayPort | |
⇡ ASRock Z97 Extreme4
Over the past few years, ASRock has been able to achieve very good results in the motherboard market, becoming one of the three largest manufacturers. It was able to achieve this largely due to its policy, under which ASRock boards are usually made more functional than offerings of similar cost from other companies. ASRock Z97 Extreme4 is far from the cheapest offer compared to other participants in this review, its cost is about $130, but the specifications of this motherboard are more typical for top-end products. price category. The Z97 Extreme4 has a high-quality audio codec, has additional SATA and USB 3.0 controllers, and is also equipped with tools popular among overclockers - and this allows us to say that it is quite justifiably included in the Extreme series.
The design of the board does not cause any special complaints either. The Z97 Extreme4 uses the entire area of the ATX format, and therefore the slots and connectors are located quite freely. The distance between the PCIe x16 slots is quite enough to accommodate powerful video cards, and all cables are connected to connectors distributed along the bottom and right edges of the board. There is no excessive cramping in the vicinity of the processor socket. The first PCIe x16 slot is moved one position away from the LGA1150, the height of the power stabilizer radiators does not exceed 32 mm, and the memory slots are spaced 28 mm from the processor socket. This means that it is quite possible to install massive coolers on the Z97 Extreme4, and the only problem that may arise is mechanical incompatibility with memory modules with high heatsinks installed in the slot closest to the processor.
The processor power subsystem has a 12-phase design, which is almost impossible to find on inexpensive motherboards. However, ASRock engineers did not skimp on an advanced power system based on Dual-Stack MOSFETs with lower RDS(on), Nichicon polymer capacitors with extended service life and premium alloy core chokes. The heating elements of this circuit are cooled by two massive aluminum radiators, which are secured with screws, although without the use of reinforcing plates on the reverse side of the board. This heat sink is more than enough: during testing, the temperature of the power converter did not exceed 45 degrees even during overclocking.
The operation scheme of the expansion slots is somewhat different from the typical one. The ASRock Z97 Extreme4 has three PCIe x16 slots, which are connected to the on-chip controller. This makes it possible to build on this board not only two-component multi-GPU configurations, but also CrossfireX arrays of three video cards (3-way SLI cannot be created, since NVIDIA cards require an operating mode of at least x8/x8/x8). True, due to the fact that there are no additional PCIe bridges on the board, the usual formula for the operation of these slots is x16/x0/x0, and it can only be transformed into x8/x8/x0 or x8/x4/x4. When creating multi-GPU configurations, the additional MOLEX connector on the board may be useful, through which you can increase the power supply to the graphics slots. To install conventional peripheral expansion cards, the Z97 Extreme4 has three PCIe x1 slots, which are controlled by the chipset.
The use of an additional ASMedia ASM1061 controller on the board made it possible to place eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports on it at once (six of them are chipset). A pair of chipset SATA ports can be used as part of a SATA Express port, plus the board also has an M.2 slot into which you can install both PCI Express and SATA models of solid-state drives. The board not only supports everything possible ways connection of modern drives, but also allows you to create RAID arrays, which means that the possibilities for building a disk subsystem on the ASRock Z97 Extreme4 can be considered more than flexible. An interesting addition to this abundance is proprietary technology ASRock HDD Saver, which allows you to control the power of a pair of hard drives connected to the ASMedia controller in hardware.
ASRock has increased the capabilities of the Intel Z97 chipset in terms of support for USB ports. By adding the ASMedia ASM1042AE chip, engineers received two additional USB 3.0 ports, bringing the total number to eight. As a result, the back panel of the ASRock Z97 Extreme4 is very densely filled with all kinds of connectors. It has six USB 3.0 ports (two more are present in the form of a needle connector on the board); two USB 2.0 ports (and four more such ports can be connected to the board); Gigabit network socket operating via Intel I218V controller; PS/2 port for mouse or keyboard; as well as audio and monitor connectors. To use the graphics core built into the processor, all four connection options are offered - HDMI, DVI-D, D-Sub and DisplayPort, while up to three monitors can be used simultaneously.
As for sound, there are five analog audio jacks and an optical S/P-DIF output on the rear panel. One of the best eight-channel codecs is responsible for the operation of the audio path - Realtek ALC1150, which, together with its entire wiring, is shielded from the rest of the board space. Also, when implementing the analog part of the audio circuit, ASRock did not skimp on high-quality capacitors and a powerful amplifier, which allows the use of headphones with high internal resistance with the board.
The attention that the developers of the Z97 Extreme4 paid to the needs of enthusiasts deserves special mention. Especially for this category of users, power and reboot buttons, a BIOS reset button, a POST code indicator, and two independent BIOS chips with a switch that selects the active chip were added to the board. This kind of functionality is rarely seen on inexpensive motherboards, which - compared to other inexpensive motherboards in the same class - puts the Z97 Extreme4 one step closer to advanced users.
However, it is not difficult to find shortcomings in the ASRock Z97 Extreme4 that are important for enthusiasts. For example, although this board has two processor connectors and four case fan connectors, it is not so easy to use all of them. The four-pin connection is supported by only one processor and one chassis connector. And two three-pin case connectors are located in the center of the board - they will become difficult to access after installing a processor cooler and video card. Adjustment of rotation speed depending on temperature is also not supported everywhere, but only for processor and three case fans.
The Z97 Extreme4 comes with the usual set of accessories. At the same time, ASRock did not skimp on a hard SLI bridge and an HDD Saver cable, which allows you to connect the power of two hard drives not to the power supply, but directly to the board. Unfortunately, the rear I/O Shield plug included in the package is completely ordinary: tinny and inconvenient.
ASRock is somewhat behind other manufacturers in reworking the UEFI shell. While all leading manufacturers have introduced modes with a full-fledged graphical interface aimed at simplifying configuration, the UEFI of the Z97 Extreme4 board is similar in structure to the old text-based BIOS Setup. It works in graphic mode with a resolution of 1024 × 768 and supports a mouse, but its structure is completely inherited from products of previous generations. The only fundamental change is the appearance of an additional My Favorite page, where you can transfer any frequently used options.
However, we still would not blame the ASRock developers for passivity, because instead of experimenting with the interface, they introduced many functions that were useful from a practical point of view. For example, the Z97 Extreme4 not only can update its firmware via the Internet without using additional programs, but can also download the full set of necessary Windows drivers from the Internet directly from UEFI. The System Browser page is also worthy of mention, where you can conveniently obtain information about the equipment used in the system.
The options for configuring the processor and memory look typical: all the options necessary for overclocking are available in full. Setting the timings of the memory subsystem is very convenient: UEFI allows you to access the SPD and XMP profiles and select only some parameters for use.
You can get a complete impression of the BIOS capabilities from our gallery.
uefi asrock z97 extreme4
According to latest fashion ASRock has made an application store for its boards, which, however, does not have very impressive content. The main utility for enthusiasts will be the A-Tuning program, which allows you to control frequencies and voltages directly from the Windows environment. In addition, the utility provides functions for system monitoring and obtaining information, driver updates and some other service capabilities, such as creating a RAM disk.
software asrock z97 extreme4
In general, the ASRock Z97 Extreme4 stands out not only for its wide capabilities, in which it surpasses solutions from competing manufacturers, but also for its clear focus on overclocking experiments. At the same time, although the board has a fairly lapidary UEFI shell, not without some rough edges in the development of a number of options, it nevertheless does not cause serious complaints about itself. The only disappointing thing is the set of connectors for connecting fans and their location, as well as the somewhat inflated power consumption of the board when idle.
