ASUS P8Z77-M motherboard review: main characteristics. ASUS P8Z77-M Pro motherboard review ASUS P8Z77-M: technical features
ASUS P8Z77-M Pro- motherboard for the LGA1155 platform based on the 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 precisely the criteria that users are paying more and more attention to when choosing the basis for a new system. Let's see if the testing results will highlight all of the above points, and not just some of them.
The motherboard of the mATX form factor is made in typical colors for devices of the ASUS P8 line, while the device turned out to be rather colorful. It would seem that the usual combination of black, blue and white colors is used, but on a small piece of textolite the color palette of the 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 parameters of the power stabilizer. In this case, to accelerate heat dissipation, the VRM elements are equipped with radiators. The low-profile coolers are painted blue, with a single center segment in the natural aluminum color for visual contrast. The chipset is also covered with a compact blue heatsink.
An 8-pin EATX12V connector is used to supply additional power, traditionally located at the upper 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 expanded 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, connectors for memory modules with one-sided clips help out a lot. According to the layout, the video card in the upper PCI-E x16 slot will not interfere with installing RAM brackets.
In general, the layout of ASUS P8Z77-M Pro is quite successful. Questions may arise only when installing large processor coolers. After installing Thermalright Archon Rev. A, the first PCI-E x16 slot becomes unavailable - the dimensions of the heatsink block do not allow installing a video card into the upper slot. However, the specified model of the cooler is one of the largest in its class, the span of its radiator "wings" reaches 155 mm. Its hassle-free installation is possible not on every full-size model, what can we say when it comes to compact mATX, where the first slot is already 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 is not academic. The manufacturer abandoned the outdated PCI in favor of faster PCI Express. There are four slots on the PCB: three full-size 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 the highest possible speed. If there are a couple of graphics adapters, the second slot (white) is also used, and the link configuration looks like x8 + x8. When using an Ivy Bridge processor family, both slots can operate in PCI Express 3.0 mode. The last black "long" in any case complies with the PCI Express 2.0 specification and gets 4 dedicated bus lines.
The manufacturer focuses on the board's ability to work in multi-adapter configurations. Even the presence of an SLI bridge in the bundle, which is not supplied with all models that support bundles with two video cards based on NVIDIA chips, hints at this opaquely. CrossFireX configurations are also allowed, but the adapters required for these systems are usually supplied with the graphics adapter.
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 can be installed without any problems. Of course, in this case, it will no longer 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 lower edge of the board. Here 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 for many years on ASUS motherboards when the standby voltage is supplied from the power supply unit. Also nearby are three internal connectors for six USB 2.0 ports, a system panel for connecting control keys and indicators, and a jumper for resetting CMOS memory settings. An activation button is also located 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 layer of protection is the use of a removable flash chip panel, which allows it to be replaced if necessary.
Of the curious nuances of the layout, we note the location of the COM port connector in the corner of the PCB, next to the memory slots. At the right edge, near the main power connector, there is a TPM connector. Pro-shnye roots are felt, you need to correspond.
We didn't expect to see an 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 MemOK!, which can be useful if you have difficulties with the initial start after installing a new set of memory. The function allows you to go through a rough "grinding" using the timings with which the planks are guaranteed to work.
The technological feature of the device is four independent channels for adjusting the fan speed. One for the processor and three more for the case. All connectors are four-pin, allowing you to change the speed using PWM, in addition, they all have support Q-Fan Control with preset profiles and the ability to fine-tune the algorithm.
The disk subsystem is implemented by the Intel Z77 chipset - a pair of SATA 6 Gb / s and four SATA 3 Gb / s channels. 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 storage connectivity with optional controller ASMedia ASM1061, thanks to which a pair of eSATA connectors with a bandwidth of 6 Gb / s are implemented on the rear 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 drives with eSATA has become pretty scarce.
As for the USB 3.0 itself, on the ASUS P8Z77-M Pro, the four ports provided by the Intel Z77 add a couple more controller 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 expected sound quality. The network controller is also used by the common solution - Realtek 8111F.
The interface panel is very well equipped. Universal PS / 2, a pair of USB 2.0, four USB 3.0 ports and an Ethernet socket. The interface kit 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.
Speaker connections of any configuration are simplified by a panel with six audio connectors. In addition, an optical S / PDIF output is provided for digital connection of acoustics.
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 dummy for the back of the case. Q-Connectors make it easy to connect the power buttons, speaker, and status lights.
UEFI
We have already talked about UEFI from ASUS many times. The shell is easy to use, logically structured, and has helpful 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 (it is strongly not recommended without a glass of liquid nitrogen). The voltage on the memory modules is also limited by the same limit. The offered features are unlikely to push you to overclock records, but the available funds are more than enough to force 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 function. In the basic version ("Fast Overclocking" mode) after restarting the PC, the test processor Core i7-3770K accelerated to 4223 MHz (41 × 103 MHz). A 20% increase in frequency is a good start.
Having started to break away, it is sometimes difficult to stop, especially when the button labeled "Extreme overclocking" is located a few dozen pixels of the desktop from the basic acceleration key. Yielding to temptation, we got 4635 MHz (45 × 103 MHz).
Note that the auto overclocking function actively takes advantage of the chip with an unlocked multiplier. Such a spurt would not have been possible without increasing the processor voltage, which was automatically increased to 1.245 V. In such a mode, it is definitely impossible to do without an effective air cooler.
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 allowed increasing it to 108.5 MHz. The test set of DDR3-2133 memory modules ran smoothly at 2200 MHz.
In an open stand and a tower-type processor cooler, the heatsinks fixed on the MOSFET elements warmed up to 52–54 degrees under load. The temperature of the chipset cooler after long-term operation increased to 46–48 C.
Outcomes
ASUS P8Z77-M Pro interesting for those who are not ready to be content with a budget "runabout". The board is well made, has a good power reserve and a decent technological arsenal. This is exactly what you would expect from a device with a price tag of $ 145.
The manufacturer tried not to make compromises to please different categories of users, but rather intended to maintain a certain balance so that the model would come to the attention of buyers who make rational choices. In such a case, the experience of the 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 face and is an attractive option for those who assemble a productive system in a mATX case, but the capabilities of the iconic ASUS Maximus V GENE in this form factor seem clearly excessive, and there is no desire to overpay for unused functions.
Liked
Good equipment and functionality
High-quality power subsystem
Ample opportunities for organizing a cooling system
Support for SLI and CrossFireX modes
Did not like
- Hardly ever
Test device provided by MTI, www.distri.mti.ua
Test bench configuration
| CPU | Intel Core [email protected], 5 GHz | Intel, www.intel.ua |
| Cooler | Thermalright Archon Rev. A | 1-Incom, www.1-incom.com.ua |
| RAM | Team Xtreem TXD38192M2133HC9KDC-L (2x4GB DDR3-2133) | DC-Link, www.dclink.com.ua |
| Storage device | Intel SSD 520 (SSDSC2CW240A3, 240GB) | Intel, www.intel.ua |
| Power Supply | Thermaltake Toughpower Grand TPG-1200M (1200W) | Thermaltake, www.thermaltakeusa.com |
| Chipset cooling | Radiator | |
| Cooling VRM | Radiator | |
| Embedded video | integrated into 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 | |
| Additional food | — | |
| FAN | 4 | |
| S / PDIF | + (exit) | |
| Audio codec | Realtek ALC892 (7.1) | |
| Ethernet | Realtek 8111F (GbE) | |
| SATA | — | |
| SATA Revision 3.0 | ASMedia ASM1061 | |
| PATA | — | |
| IEEE 1394 (FireWire) | — | |
| USB 3.0 | ASMedia 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 supply, 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 | |
| Wi-Fi adapter | — | |
| UEFI support | + | |
| Miscellaneous | Intelligent chips of the second generation with DIGI + power supply system (6-phase for CPU, 2-phase for iGPU); one PS / 2 port for keyboard or mouse; TPM connector included SLI bridge |
ASUS P8Z77-M Pro- motherboard for the LGA1155 platform based on the 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 precisely the criteria that users are paying more and more attention to when choosing the basis for a new system. Let's see if the testing results will highlight all of the above points, and not just some of them.
When working with ASUS Maximus VI Hero, we had no questions - everything was going so well that sometimes we even doubted whether this could be on a PC based on a 230 fee. The functional differences compared to the top-end Maximus VI Extreme are insignificant and are not critical for the majority of users.
Design and layout
The motherboard of the mATX form factor is made in typical colors for devices of the ASUS P8 line, while the device turned out to be rather colorful. It would seem that the usual combination of black, blue and white colors is used, but on a small piece of textolite the color palette of the 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 parameters of the power stabilizer. In this case, to accelerate heat dissipation, the VRM elements are equipped with radiators. The low-profile coolers are painted blue, with a single center segment in the natural aluminum color for visual contrast. The chipset is also covered with a compact blue heatsink.
An 8-pin EATX12V connector is used to supply additional power, traditionally located at the upper 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 expanded 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, connectors for memory modules with one-sided clips help out a lot. According to the layout, the video card in the upper PCI-E x16 slot will not interfere with installing RAM brackets.
In general, the layout of ASUS P8Z77-M Pro is quite successful. Questions may arise only when installing large processor coolers. After installing Thermalright Archon Rev. A, the first PCI-E x16 slot becomes unavailable - the dimensions of the heatsink block do not allow installing a video card into the upper slot. However, the specified model of the cooler is one of the largest in its class, the span of its radiator "wings" reaches 155 mm. Its hassle-free installation is possible not on every full-size model, what can we say when it comes to compact mATX, where the first slot is already 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 is not academic. The manufacturer abandoned the outdated PCI in favor of faster PCI Express. There are four slots on the PCB: three full-size 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 the highest possible speed. If there are a couple of graphics adapters, the second slot (white) is also used, and the link configuration looks like x8 + x8. When using an Ivy Bridge processor family, both slots can operate in PCI Express 3.0 mode. The last black "long" in any case complies with the PCI Express 2.0 specification and gets 4 dedicated bus lines.
The manufacturer focuses on the board's ability to work in multi-adapter configurations. Even the presence of an SLI bridge in the bundle, which is not supplied with all models that support bundles with two video cards based on NVIDIA chips, hints at this opaquely. CrossFireX configurations are also allowed, but the adapters required for these systems are usually supplied with the graphics adapter.
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 can be installed without any problems. Of course, in this case, it will no longer 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 lower edge of the board. Here 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 for many years on ASUS motherboards when the standby voltage is supplied from the power supply unit. Also nearby are three internal connectors for six USB 2.0 ports, a system panel for connecting control keys and indicators, and a jumper for resetting CMOS memory settings. An activation button is also located 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 layer of protection is the use of a removable flash chip panel, which allows it to be replaced if necessary.
Of the curious nuances of the layout, we note the location of the COM port connector in the corner of the PCB, next to the memory slots. At the right edge, near the main power connector, there is a TPM connector. Pro-shnye roots are felt, you need to correspond.
We didn't expect to see an 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 MemOK!, which can be useful if you have difficulties with the initial start after installing a new set of memory. The function allows you to go through a rough "grinding" using the timings with which the planks are guaranteed to work.
The technological feature of the device is four independent channels for adjusting the fan speed. One for the processor and three more for the case. All connectors are four-pin, allowing you to change the speed using PWM, in addition, they all have support Q-Fan Control with preset profiles and the ability to fine-tune the algorithm.
The disk subsystem is implemented by the Intel Z77 chipset - a pair of SATA 6 Gb / s and four SATA 3 Gb / s channels. 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 storage connectivity with optional controller ASMedia ASM1061, thanks to which a pair of eSATA connectors with a bandwidth of 6 Gb / s are implemented on the rear 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 drives with eSATA has become pretty scarce.
As for the USB 3.0 itself, on the ASUS P8Z77-M Pro, the four ports provided by the Intel Z77 add a couple more controller 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 expected sound quality. The network controller is also used by the common solution - Realtek 8111F.
The interface panel is very well equipped. Universal PS / 2, a pair of USB 2.0, four USB 3.0 ports and an Ethernet socket. The interface kit 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.
Speaker connections of any configuration are simplified by a panel with six audio connectors. In addition, an optical S / PDIF output is provided for digital connection of acoustics.
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 dummy for the back of the case. Q-Connectors make it easy to connect the power buttons, speaker, and status lights.
UEFI
We have already talked about UEFI from ASUS many times. The shell is easy to use, logically structured, and has helpful 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 (it is strongly not recommended without a glass of liquid nitrogen). The voltage on the memory modules is also limited by the same limit. The offered features are unlikely to push you to overclock records, but the available funds are more than enough to force 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 function. In the basic version ("Fast Overclocking" mode) after restarting the PC, the test processor Core i7-3770K accelerated to 4223 MHz (41 × 103 MHz). A 20% increase in frequency is a good start.
Having started to break away, it is sometimes difficult to stop, especially when the button labeled "Extreme overclocking" is located a few dozen pixels of the desktop from the basic acceleration key. Yielding to temptation, we got 4635 MHz (45 × 103 MHz).
Note that the auto overclocking function actively takes advantage of the chip with an unlocked multiplier. Such a spurt would not have been possible without increasing the processor voltage, which was automatically increased to 1.245 V. In such a mode, it is definitely impossible to do without an effective air cooler.
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 allowed increasing it to 108.5 MHz. The test set of DDR3-2133 memory modules ran smoothly at 2200 MHz.
In an open stand and a tower-type processor cooler, the heatsinks fixed on the MOSFET elements warmed up to 52–54 degrees under load. The temperature of the chipset cooler after long-term operation increased to 46–48 C.
Outcomes
ASUS P8Z77-M Pro interesting for those who are not ready to be content with a budget "runabout". The board is well made, has a good power reserve and a decent technological arsenal. This is exactly what you would expect from a device with a price tag of $ 145.
The manufacturer tried not to make compromises to please different categories of users, but rather intended to maintain a certain balance so that the model would come to the attention of buyers who make rational choices. In such a case, the experience of the 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 face and is an attractive option for those who assemble a productive system in a mATX case, but the capabilities of the iconic ASUS Maximus V GENE in this form factor seem clearly excessive, and there is no desire to overpay for unused functions.
Liked
Good equipment and functionality
High-quality power subsystem
Ample opportunities for organizing a cooling system
Support for SLI and CrossFireX modes
Did not like
Hardly ever
Test device provided by MTI, www.distri.mti.ua
Test bench configuration
| | Motherboard |
| CPU socket | Socket 1155 |
| Chipset | Intel Z77 |
| Chipset cooling | Radiator |
| Cooling VRM | Radiator |
| Embedded video | integrated into 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 |
| Additional food | - |
| FAN | 4 |
| S / PDIF | + (exit) |
| Audio codec | Realtek ALC892 (7.1) |
| Ethernet | Realtek 8111F (GbE) |
| SATA | - |
| SATA Revision 3.0 | ASMedia ASM1061 |
| PATA | - |
| IEEE 1394 (FireWire) | - |
| USB 3.0 | ASMedia 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 supply, 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 |
| Wi-Fi adapter | - |
| UEFI support | + |
| Miscellaneous | Intelligent chips of the second generation with DIGI + power supply system (6-phase for CPU, 2-phase for iGPU); one PS / 2 port for keyboard or mouse; TPM connector included SLI bridge |
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When working with ASUS Maximus VI Hero, we had no questions - everything was going so well that sometimes we even doubted whether this could be on a PC based on a $ 230 fee. The functional differences compared to the top-end Maximus VI Extreme are insignificant and not critical for the majority of users.
Photos of the Apple iPhone 5S motherboard appeared on the web
Japanese component manufacturer Moumantai has released 3 pictures of the alleged iPhone 5S motherboard, Macrumors reported. It is not surprising that the shape and size of the motherboard of the new generation of iPhone is almost identical to that of its predecessor. The only difference is in the shape of the bottom of the motherboard where the speaker will be located. 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. Left - iPhone 5S, right - iPhone 5
Our readers have already seen with the example of the Gigabyte G1.Sniper M3 motherboard that the functionality does not depend much on the size. On the contrary, it becomes possible to assemble a system of more compact dimensions, while not limiting oneself in anything. This means that the myth that mATX boards are always budget solutions for office typewriters is becoming a thing of the past. Now almost every manufacturer has one or several small models in the 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 line of ROG (Republic Of Gamers) with the GENE prefix.
advertising
Time does not stand still and technologies are constantly improving, becoming cheaper and moving into mass production. This trend is noticeable in all industries, and ASUS has not escaped it either. First, some innovative solution is applied in the high-budget segment, and then it becomes available in mass products. In this article, we will review the ASUS P8Z77M-PRO motherboard, which is an ordinary model in mATX format, but with support for all the latest technologies, including multigraphic ones, such as SLI, 3-WAY CrossFire and Lucid Virtu MVP.The motherboard reviewed in this review is a representative of the mid-range price range and is designed to build productive and reliable work or home PCs with a wide range of tasks. The motherboard is made in the mATX form factor and is based on the Intel Z77 Express system logic set, thanks to the latter, it provides the ability to overclock the processor with an unlocked multiplier. Let's go directly to the review of the motherboard and carefully its capabilities.
ASUS P8Z77-M motherboard specification:
|
Manufacturer |
|
|
Intel Z77 Express |
|
|
CPU socket |
|
|
Supported processors |
Intel Core i7 / Core i5 / Core i3 2nd and 3rd generation |
|
Memory used |
DDR3 2400 (O.C.) / 2200 (O.C.) / 2133 (O.C.) / 1866 (O.C.) /1800(O.C.) / 1600/1333/1066 MHz |
|
Memory support |
4 x DDR3 DIMM dual channel architecture up to 32 GB |
|
Expansion slots |
1 x PCI Express x16 3.0 / 2.0 |
|
Disk subsystem |
Intel H77 Chipset Supports: |
|
Sound subsystem |
Realtek ALC887 8-Channel High-Definition Audio Codec with Optical S / PDIF Out |
|
LAN support |
Gigabit LAN controller Realtek 8111F |
|
24-pin ATX power connector |
|
|
Fan connectors |
1 x for cpu cooler |
|
External I / O ports |
1 x PS / 2 |
|
Internal I / O ports |
2 x SATA 6.0 Gb / s 1 x COM |
|
64 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM 2.0, ACPI v2.0a, SM BIOS 2.5, |
|
|
Proprietary technologies |
ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution |
|
Equipment |
Instruction and manual SATA 6Gb / s cable SATA 3 Gb / s cable |
|
Form Factor Dimensions, mm |
mATX |
|
Products webpage |
The latest BIOS and drivers can be downloaded from the support page |
The packaging of the ASUS P8Z77-M motherboard has a familiar design in dark colors. The front of the package contains the name of the motherboard, and the lower part is occupied by pictograms indicating the technologies used.
The reverse side of the box is more informative. Here you can see a photo of the motherboard and its specification, as well as a description of the most interesting technologies from the point of view of the marketing department.
The package contents of the ASUS P8Z77-M motherboard are sufficient for assembling the system. In the box with the motherboard you can find:
DVD with software and drivers;
user manual in English and short installation instructions;
two Serial ATA 6.0 Gbps cables;
ASUS Q-Connector set;
cover on the rear panel of the case.
Motherboard ASUS P8Z77-M is made in mATX form factor and measures 244 x 244 mm. The layout is well done, all connectors are in accessible places. The only exception is some overcrowding of USB 3.0, ATX and SATA connectors. But if you follow a certain connection sequence, then such an arrangement of connections will not cause any particular inconvenience. On the positive side, the RAM slots are devoid of latches on the bottom side, this will make it much easier to replace or add RAM modules with a video adapter installed. There are 8 mounting holes on the board, while the bottom right corner is left without a hole, which is the reason for its "sagging", so you need to be careful to connect to the ports located here.
The cooling system is passive and includes two stylized heatsinks: one removes heat from the heating elements of the processor power converter, and the second cools the PCH Intel Z77 Express. During testing, a temperature of 42.2 ° C was recorded on the heatsink, which is a typical indicator among similar motherboards.
The disk subsystem of the ASUS P8Z77-M motherboard is implemented exclusively by the Intel Z77 Express system logic set. The board contains four SATA 3Gb / s ports and two SATA 6Gb / s ports. There is support for arrays of RAID levels 0, 1, 5 and 10.
In addition to the ports brought out to the interface panel, the following connection pads are present on the motherboard:
3 x USB 2.0 (up to 6 additional ports);
1 x USB 3.0 (up to 2 additional ports);
In total, the ASUS P8Z77-M motherboard has ten USB 2.0 ports and four USB 3.0 ports, which is quite enough for connecting various devices.
There are four connectors on the motherboard for installing expansion cards:
1 x PCI Express x16 3.0 / 2.0;
1 x PCI Express x16 2.0 (x4);
1 x PCI Express x1;
It is allowed to install two video adapters in AMD CrossFireX mode, but due to the low bandwidth of the second PEG connector, this will not be the most rational solution. Note the presence of a PCI slot, which can still be useful for installing outdated expansion cards.
The motherboard in question is equipped with four 240-pin DIMM connectors with dual-channel architecture for working with DDR3 memory. The maximum total memory capacity can be up to 32GB with four 8GB modules. The maximum frequency of the RAM is 2400 MHz in overclocking mode. To organize memory operation in dual-channel mode, it is necessary to fill the slots of the same color.
As with most ASUS motherboards, there is a “MemOK!” Button near the memory slots, which will be useful if there are errors in the system memory.
The processor supply voltage converter is made according to the 4 + 1 + 1 phase scheme. One phase is used to power the "system agent" and the video core, and the other four are used to power the processor cores. The ASP1102 microcircuit manufactured by CHiL Semiconductor Corp. is traditionally used as a PWM controller. Cooling of the power unit is improved by using a stylized radiator with a fairly large fins. The processor is powered via the 8-pin EPS12V connector, which is rated for more current than the conventional 4-pin ATX12V connector.
The ASMedia ASM1442 chip is responsible for switching the HDMI and DVI video outputs.
The audio subsystem of the motherboard is based on the HDA codec for 8-channel Realtek ALC887 audio, and a Realtek 8111F gigabit LAN controller is used to connect to the local network. Such controllers are installed by most of the motherboard manufacturers, which guarantees that there are no problems with the drivers.
Since there is no PCI bus support in the Intel Z77 Express system logic set, the manufacturer added a PCI Express to PCI bridge to implement it. The ASMedia ASM1083 chip acts as such a bridge.
The Nuvoton NCT67790 chip controls PS / 2 and COM ports, system fans, and temperature monitoring.
The following ports are displayed on the interface panel of the ASUS P8Z77-M motherboard:
1 x PS / 2 for mouse or keyboard;
optical S / PDIF;
RJ45 connector for network connections;
three 3.5mm audio jacks.
Noteworthy is the presence of the most common monitor connectors, there are both analog D-Sub and two types of digital video outputs. But the presence of only three audio connectors can cause some inconvenience when connecting multichannel speakers.
ASUS P8Z77-M motherboard has four fan headers. One four-pin connector is for connecting a processor fan, and the rest are for connecting case fans.
UEFI BIOS
The ASUS P8Z77-M motherboard, like many other solutions based on Intel 7x Express system logic, uses UEFI with a graphical interface as a preloader.
Going to the "AI Tweaker" section with settings for overclocking and optimizing the system, you can note a rather long list of options responsible for the frequency, supply voltage and even the operating mode of the processor power converter, and this despite the fact that ASUS P8Z77-M is not positioned as solution designed for overclocking.
The settings required for overclocking are summarized in the table:
|
Parameter |
Menu name |
Range |
|
|
Processor technology |
C1E, Intel Adaptive Thermal Monitor, Virtualization Technology, |
||
|
System bus frequency |
BLCK / PCIE Frequency |
80 - 300 MHz |
|
|
RAM frequency |
800, 1067, 1334, 1601, 1868, 2135, 2402 |
||
|
RAM latency |
DRAM Timing Control |
CAS Latency, RAS to CAS, RAS PRE, RAS ACT, COMMAND Mode, RAS to RAS, REF, Cycle, DRAM Refresh, WRITE Recovery, READ to PRE, FOUR ACT WIN, WRITE to READ, CKE Minimum, CAS Write, RTL ( CHA), RTL (CHB), tWRDR, tRWDR, tRWSR, tRR, tRRSR, tWW (DD), tWW (DR), tWWSR |
|
|
Power limitation for sustained acceleration |
Long Duration Power Limit |
||
|
Duration of long acceleration |
Long Duration Maintained |
||
|
Power limitation during short-term acceleration |
Short Duration Power Limit |
||
|
Main current limit |
Primary Plane Current Limit |
0.125 - 1023.875V |
|
|
Secondary current limit |
Secondary Plane Current Limit |
0.125 - 1023.875V |
|
|
Fixed frequency power circuit |
CPU Fixed Frequency |
200 - 350 kHz |
|
|
CPU supply voltage |
CPU Manual Voltage |
||
|
Voltage on memory modules, V |
1.185 - 2.135V |
||
|
0.61 - 1.560V |
|||
|
Northbridge tension |
0.8 - 1.685V |
The memory frequency multiplier allows you to set the frequency from 800 MHz to 2400 MHz.
You can also configure the timings (delays) and sub-timings (secondary delays) of the RAM in the “manual” way in the “DRAM TimingControl” section.
There is also a separate monitoring section where you can follow:
temperature of the motherboard and processor;
rotational speed of the processor and case fans;
processor core voltage;
voltage on the power lines + 12V, + 5V and + 3.3V.
The section is very informative, only the readings of the voltage supply of the RAM are missing.
In addition, in this section, you can enable the function of automatic control of the CPU cooler CPU Q-Fan Control and case fans, which have different intensity modes.
Separately, we note the ability to select the Russian language in the language settings.
Utilities
Overclocking the system and changing the supply voltage of various components can be done using the ASUS TurboV EVO utility.
An interesting feature, typical mainly for ASUS motherboards, is the ability to adjust the operating mode of the processor power stabilizer.
Overclocking capabilities
Overclocking capabilities were tested using an Intel Core i5-2500K processor with an unlocked multiplier.
When using the auto overclocking function, a fairly good result was achieved - 4.3 GHz.
In manual mode, the result was slightly higher and amounted to 4.4 GHz.
As you can see, despite its modest dimensions, the ASUS P8Z77-M motherboard is quite capable of unlocking the potential of a CPU with an unlocked multiplier.
Testing
The following equipment was used to test the capabilities of the motherboards:
|
CPU |
Intel Core i5-2500K (LGA1155, 3.3 GHz, L3 6MB) |
|
Scythe Kama Angle Rev.B |
|
|
RAM |
2x DDR3-2000 1024 MB Kingston HyperX KHX16000D3T1K3 / 3GX |
|
Video card |
MSI R4850-2D1G-OC (Radeon HD 4850, 1 GB GDDR3, PCIe 2.0) |
|
HDD |
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB SATA-300 NCQ |
|
Optical drive |
ASUS DRW-1814BLT SATA |
|
Power Supply |
Seasonic SS-650JT Active PFC (650W 120mm fan) |
|
CODEGEN M603 MidiTower (2x 120 mm blowing / blowing fans) |
Test results:
The performance level of the ASUS P8Z77-M motherboard is the same as that of other solutions, which indicates a high level of performance of the motherboard and good BIOS optimization.
Testing the audio path based on the Realtek ALC892 codec
Overall Results (RightMark Audio Analyzer)
16-bit, 44.1 kHz
The audio subsystem received an average rating of "Very Good". This means that it will allow you to get reasonably good sound quality without purchasing a discrete sound card.
conclusions
The motherboard is a balanced solution made in the mATX format, which is distinguished by a competent arrangement of elements and high quality workmanship. This board can be recommended to users who want to get an up-to-date motherboard based on an older set of system logic and equipped with all connectors necessary for a modern user, which will work for a long time and stably. At the same time, there is a desire to minimize the space occupied by the system unit, as well as experiment with overclocking. As for the cost of the product, at the time of writing this review, it was about 100 USD, which is fully justified, and the motherboard deservedly receives a medal for excellent price / performance ratio.
Alexander KornienkoWe express our gratitude to the companyMTI , the official distributor of productsASUS , for the motherboard provided for testing.
We express our gratitude to the companies Intel , Kingston , MSI and SeaSonic for the equipment provided for the test bench.
Article read 17922 times
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Another small heatsink removes heat from the system logic.
It is also made of aluminum alloy and painted blue. Strange, but usually there is a manufacturer's logo on it, but there is nothing like it here. The thermal interface has changed, if not the consistency, then the color. Instead of a pink "thermo-gum", a bright green is used. Apparently, the factory has run out of strawberry chewing gum and now pickers are being given mints. A protective frame made of soft porous material is placed along the perimeter of the contact point. The radiator is mounted using plastic clips with springs.
Under the heatsink is an Intel Z77 chip.
advertising
It is currently the best chipset for the LGA 1155 platform in terms of functionality. In addition to overclocking functions, it provides support for the graphics core integrated into the processor. For these purposes, the manufacturer provides for the output of three video connectors to the rear panel. These are D-Sub, DVI and HDMI. In the specifications for the latter, it is declared about 3D support.
If this is quite typical for a mATX-sized motherboard, then three PCI-e x16 slots with such a form factor are not common.
Official support for SLI, CrossFire and Lucid Virtu MVP technologies has been announced. Of course, all slots are not full speed. The top one, when installing one video adapter, gets an honest sixteen lines. The middle one, if the second is added, divides them in half and forms x8 + x8. The bottom one gets four lines stably from the processor.
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