A motherboard of compact dimensions with a full set of all the functions required today is this. Although this solution is based on a rather outdated platform based on LGA 1155, the capabilities are quite sufficient to create a compact productive computer system.
Who was this product intended for? Technological nuances
This board is perfect for those cases when it is necessary to assemble a system with the maximum level of performance in a compact computer case. At the same time, the reliability of such a PC will not cause any complaints. Although this motherboard is made in a miniature MicroATIx format, it is based on the most functional set of system logic, which allows for flexible parameter settings.
All elements installed on the board have only passive cooling. But at the same time, it is possible to install 4 coolers at once in such computing system. One of them is designed for mounting on a central processing unit, and the other three are for mounting on a chassis. Therefore, there should not be any problems with cooling during overclocking (this is precisely the purpose for which this product was developed) in this situation.
Delivery contents
It is equipped as follows:
- Motherboard.
- Cables for connecting SATA drives.
- An impressive set of documentation (including a warranty card).
- Metal plug for rear panel system unit.
- CD with specialized software and drivers.
All this is quite enough to assemble a PC, and in this case there is no particular need to buy any additional elements.
Arrangement of components on the printed circuit board
244 mm by 244 mm - exactly like that dimensions has Review appearance of this component indicates the presence of three systems at once passive cooling based on aluminum radiators. Two of them are used to remove excess heat from the CPU. The third cools the system logic set. The processor socket is located in the center of the upper part of the board.
To the left and above it are previously specified systems cooling the CPU power supplies. On the right are the slots for installing RAM. Even further in this direction is the power connector. Below the socket are expansion slots for installing additional external graphics adapters and controllers. To the right of the expansion slots are the SATA drive ports. Due to the correct location of expansion slots and RAM, as well as SATA drive ports, there should be no problems with installing any such component in this case.
Chipset
As it is not difficult to understand from the name, ASUS P8Z77-M is based on the most advanced set of system logic for the LGA 1155-Z77 computing platform. This product consists of only one chip - the south bridge, which processes information from expansion slots and drive connection ports. which was found in earlier products of this manufacturer, in this case is transferred to CPU. It provides interaction with peripheral devices and RAM.
Socket and semiconductor chips
As noted earlier, the P8Z77-M is equipped with an LGA 1155 socket. This processor socket can accommodate 2nd and, of course, 3rd generation Kor chips. As a result, in this case, you can install “Cor Ai7”, “Cor Ai5”, “Cor Ai3”, “Pentium” and “Celeron” chips, which belong to the previously mentioned generations of semiconductor crystals.
Considering that the system logic set in this case is Z77, it is most optimal to use central processing units with an unlocked multiplier (they have the letter “K” at the end of their designation). This will allow you to maximize the potential of such a computer system.
Interface kit
The ASUS P8Z77-M PRO motherboard has the following ports for connecting external devices:
Expansion slots
We note a solid set of expansion slots in the ASUS P8Z77-M PRO. A review of the technical specifications of this solution only indicates the absence of a PCI connector. But this standard is currently outdated morally and physically. Such boards generally remain only after upgrading an outdated computer system and are automatically transferred to a new PC when upgrading. In such a situation (if you cannot do without such a PCI controller), it is better to purchase a full-size ATIX board with such a connector. But at the same time, you need to understand that the presence of such a component in personal computer will reduce its performance. So there is nothing wrong with the absence of such an expansion slot, and in practice such a board can be replaced with a similar USB adapter, for example.
There are 4 slots for RAM on this computer component. All DDR3 standard modules are supported. The maximum size of RAM that this model of motherboard can address is 32 GB (4 modules of 8 GB each). To install an additional internal controller in the PC, there is only one PCI-Express 1X connector. But in this case, three PCI-Express 16X slots are allocated for installing graphics adapters. In this case, you will have to make a choice. If you install an advanced video card in the first slot, then it will no longer be possible to install a controller in the PCI-Express 1X slot. Still miniature sizes this decision In such a situation, certain restrictions are imposed.
"BIOS" and more
The “BIOS” of this computer accessory has an impressive list of parameters, and this allows for flexible configuration of the computer system during CPU overclocking. As a result, you can get a solid performance boost. Also available on this UEFI board. This software component has similar functionality, but unlike BIOS, its interface is Russified.
Preface
Most enthusiasts who assemble their own computers disdain motherboards of the microATX form factor. Full-size ATX boards usually provide not only more features, but also more freedom. They have a convenient design; if the need suddenly arises, it’s easy to change the system configuration, add or remove something. When assembling a system based on a microATX board, you almost inevitably encounter problems. A large processor cooling system can interfere with the installation of a discrete video card or tall memory modules, a video card can block the latches of memory connectors and block SATA ports, there are not enough slots for expansion cards, you often have to limit yourself in some ways and make compromises. Reducing the size of microATX boards almost inevitably leads to inconvenience, but the change in size itself is not so significant compared to ATX boards; the system unit still turns out to be quite large. A noticeable difference compared to mini-ITX boards, which are even more limited in size, but all their shortcomings are more than offset by the tempting opportunity to assemble the system in a compact or even miniature case.However, all these difficulties arise only when we try to add capabilities to the system using video cards and other expansion cards, but their use is not always necessary, because modern processors and logic sets have a fairly rich set technical characteristics. A discrete graphics card is a required component gaming computer, however, resource-intensive games are not always in the area of interest computer users. Sometimes it is necessary powerful system with high computing capabilities, but not for games, but for calculations and data processing. At the same time, you can afford to play for fun, but not latest versions shooters and simulators, and so-called casual games. These games, which are not demanding on the graphics subsystem, have become very widespread thanks to smartphones and tablets, so they also run without the slightest difficulty on graphics integrated into the processor. As a result, when you need a powerful system, but there is no need for a discrete video card and other expansion cards, all the disadvantages of microATX cards disappear by themselves. To assemble, we only need to install the processor, its cooling system and memory, and the motherboard will provide everything else. There are no disadvantages, but there remains an advantage in the form of a lower price compared to a full-size ATX board of equal capabilities.
Having looked at microATX motherboards from a different perspective and inspired by the prospects that had opened up, we decided to test our theoretical reasoning in practice. Will assembling a system based on a microATX board without a discrete video card really be easy and problem-free? Will small boards be as easy to configure and will we achieve the same CPU and memory overclocking results as on full-size boards? To find out all the details, we took two ordinary microATX boards based on Intel Z77 Express logic, from two of the most popular companies - Asus P8Z77-M and Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H. These are junior models in the lines; both manufacturers have higher-class microATX boards in their product range, but their list of technical characteristics is approximately the same, and prices are similar, so these boards are ideal not only for our purposes, but also for comparison with each other.
Packaging and accessories
The boxes in which the Asus P8Z77-M and Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H motherboards are supplied look familiar and are easily recognizable; their design is traditional for both manufacturers. On the front side we see the name of the board and logos of the technologies used. On the back you can find an image of the model, a list of basic technical characteristics and brief information about some selected features and capabilities.
Everything is very similar, but you can notice that the thickness of the box with the Asus board is noticeably less than the standard one. This is due to the special way of packaging components for younger models of ASUSTeK motherboards. The sheet of cardboard separating the board and accessories is longer than usual; its edge is folded over the board, and this kind of envelope contains relatively thick SATA cables. The remaining components and documentation do not take up much space and are located below, under the board. This original packaging method can significantly reduce the thickness of the box, reduce costs, and reduce the negative impact on the environment.
The sets of components included with the boards are quite sparse and include only everything you need, without any frills. For example, the list of accessories included with the Asus P8Z77-M board is as follows:
two Serial ATA cables with metal latches, one of them is specifically designed for connecting SATA 6 Gb/s devices (distinguished by white inserts on the connectors);
a set of “Asus Q-Connector” adapters, including modules to simplify the connection of buttons and indicators on the front panel of the system unit and the USB 2.0 connector;
user guide;
"Exclusive Boot Features" brochure with guide to "Fast Boot", "Asus Boot Setting", "Direct BIOS Access" and "Windows 8 BIOS Boot Settings" features;
DVD with software and drivers;
“Powered by ASUS” sticker on the system unit.
The list of components included with the Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H board is even more modest; we couldn’t even find the traditional sticker with the “Gigabyte” logo on the system unit:
two Serial ATA cables with metal latches, one with two straight connectors, the second has one of the L-shaped connectors, both cables are specifically designed for connecting SATA 6 Gb/s devices;
plug on back panel(I/O Shield);
user guide;
brochure with brief instructions on assembly in several languages;
DVD with software and drivers.
Design and Features
We chose the Asus P8Z77-M and Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H motherboards because their list of technical characteristics is almost the same, but it is quite natural that there are a number of differences between them. For example, the form factor of both boards is microATX, but two side-by-side photographs allow you to notice the difference in size - the Gigabyte board is smaller. The dimensions of the ASUSTeK board are the maximum allowed by the standard 244x244 mm, and the dimensions of the Gigabyte board are 244x220 mm.
There are no differences between the boards in the area of processor and memory support. Four slots for DDR3 modules can accommodate up to 32 GB of RAM, and the list of compatible processors includes not only all types of LGA1155 desktop processors, but even server ones Intel processors Xeon E3. Some of the heating elements of the digital power converter “DIGI+” of the Asus P8Z77-M board are covered with an additional heatsink, but there is no such heatsink on the Gigabyte board. However, this difference is not of great importance, since the heating is not too great, and the heatsink on the ASUSTeK board does not cover all the heated components. All heatsinks on the boards are secured using spring-loaded latches. Both boards do not require additional USB 3.0 or SATA 6 GB/s controllers; they use the capabilities originally built into the Intel Z77 Express chipset. For drives, there are two SATA 6 Gb/s ports (white connectors) and four SATA 3 Gb/s (blue connectors). Two USB port 3.0 are located on the rear panel of the boards, and one internal connector allows for two more ports. The set of connectors for expansion cards is also the same, only their relative positions differ. Both boards are equipped with a PCI Express 3.0/2.0 x16 connector, which uses PCI-E processor lines. Another PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot, but with a maximum speed of x4, is based on the PCI-E lines provided by the logic set. In addition, there is one PCI Express 2.0 x1 and one PCI slot.
Asus P8Z77-MGigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H
The list of connectors on the rear panel is almost identical for the boards. For the ASUSTeK board it looks like this:
universal PS/2 connector for connecting a keyboard or mouse;
four USB 2.0 ports, and six more can be connected to three internal connectors on the board;
video outputs D-Sub, DVI-D and HDMI;
two USB 3.0 ports (blue connectors), as well as one internal connector that allows you to output two additional USB 3.0 ports, appeared thanks to the capabilities of the Intel Z77 Express chipset;
connector local network (network adapter built on a Realtek RTL8111F gigabit controller);
optical S/PDIF, as well as three analog audio connectors, which are provided by an eight-channel Realtek codec ALC887.
Asus P8Z77-M
On the Gigabyte board the list of connectors is almost the same, only their location and element base are different. In particular, the Atheros AR8161 gigabit network controller is used to access the network, and the audio system is based on the VIA VT2021 eight-channel HD codec. You can also notice that the elements on the rear panel of the ASUSTeK board are placed a little more compactly, thanks to which optical S/PDIF, which is missing on the Gigabyte board, fits.
Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H
Like many other ASUSTeK boards, the Asus P8Z77-M uses convenient wide “Q-Slot” latches on the video card connectors and one-way “Q-DIMM” latches on the memory module connectors. Unlike older models, there are no power, reboot and “Clear CMOS” buttons, but there is a “USB BIOS Flashback” button, designed to enable the firmware update technology of the same name, and there is a “MemOK!” button, which allows the board to start successfully even if there are problems with RAM. Of the “Q-Led” LED system, which helps track the source of problems at startup, only one “DRAM LED” remains on the board, which is complemented by “Standby Power LED” and “BIOS Flashback LED” LEDs. The board has only one connector for connecting processor fans; in addition to it, there are three more connectors for case fans, all four-pin connectors. At the same time, all system connectors are capable of reducing fan speed even with a three-pin connection, but the processor socket does not have this ability; it can only control four-pin fans. The board is equipped with an internal connector for a serial COM port, but it is located rather inconveniently, in the upper right part of the board, just above the 24-pin power connector.
The Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H board uses regular latches on the connectors for video cards and memory modules, and there are only three four-pin connectors for connecting fans, including the processor one. A characteristic feature of Gigabyte motherboards is that this model is equipped with two BIOS chips. In this case, the DualBIOS technology is implemented in such a way that the user works with only one of them, and the second is not used and serves as a backup. In addition, it can be noted that the board is made using “Ultra Durable 4 Classic” technology, which includes almost all the features inherent in this technology without the “Classic” prefix: protection against high temperatures, against voltage surges, electrostatic protection and protection against high humidity, only copper conductors of double thickness are missing. Like the ASUSTeK board, there is a serial COM port, but it is located traditionally, much more conveniently - at the bottom, not far from the lower left corner of the board. Moreover, next to it there was even a place for a parallel LPT port, which has almost disappeared from modern motherboards.
The traditionally exemplary design allows us to notice that in addition to the Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H board, the GA-H77M-D3H and GA-Z77M-D3H-MVP boards have the same design. We are reviewing the Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H rev motherboard. 1.1, but you may encounter this revision model 1.0. It looks almost exactly the same, has the same set of capabilities, and the only noticeable differences can be found in the four-pin rather than eight-pin ATX12V processor power connector.
For ease of comparison, we have compiled a list of all the main technical characteristics of motherboards into a single table:
BIOS Features
In almost all previous reviews of motherboards from ASUSTeK and Gigabyte, we considered their capabilities BIOS Setup- “Asus EFI BIOS” and “Gigabyte 3D BIOS”. We noted that in general, both options have a full set of parameters necessary for configuration and overclocking, but the implementation is different and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. It will be all the more interesting to compare both approaches head-on, but if you need a traditional sequential overview of BIOS capabilities, then it is easy to find in almost any previous article about motherboards from ASUSTeK and Gigabyte.By default when logging in Motherboard BIOS boards from ASUSTeK we are greeted with the “EZ Mode” mode, which mainly performs information functions, since almost nothing can be configured. You can only find out the basic characteristics of the system, get acquainted with some monitoring parameters, select an economical or productive operating mode and set the order of polling boot devices by simply dragging them with the mouse.
The 3D Mode, which is offered by default on Gigabyte boards, is much more useful and functional. Using the icons in the bottom row, you can load the optimal set of parameters, set the correct date and time, after which in most cases you can safely get to work. If there are any special requirements for the system or correction of any values is necessary, then the configuration can be continued. In this mode, we see a stylized image of the motherboard, on which key areas are cyclically highlighted, as if inviting you to click on them with the mouse. Thus, the novice user is told how to proceed to setting up the operation of the processor, memory, power system, etc. The “Advanced Mode” has a large number of settings, although it must be admitted that in some cases using the visually clear “3D Mode” will be more convenient.
On ASUSTeK boards, you can switch from “EZ Mode” to “Advanced Mode” every time you enter the BIOS using the “F7” key, you can use the “F3” key, which allows you to quickly move to one of the most frequently used BIOS sections and, by the way, it works in all other sections of the BIOS, but it will be much more convenient if the “Advanced Mode” mode is made the starting mode in the settings. In this case, the familiar “Main” section will appear first before our eyes. It provides basic information about the system, allows you to set the current date and time, and it is possible to change the BIOS interface language, including Russian. In the “Security” subsection you can set user and administrator access passwords.
On Gigabyte boards, the change from “3D Mode” to “Advanced Mode” is again done more successfully. First of all, because nothing needs to be specially changed or remembered. If you made settings and saved changes in the “3D Mode” mode, then this same mode will greet you the next time you enter the BIOS, but if the last save was made in the “Advanced Mode” mode, then you will return to this mode the next time. In addition, when switching to the “Advanced Mode” mode, we immediately find ourselves in the “M.I.T.” section. (MB Intelligent Tweaker), which concentrates all the parameters related to overclocking and fine-tuning performance, which is very convenient. A similar opportunity is available only for motherboards from ASUSTeK, which belong to the “ROG” (Republic of Gamers) series. On these boards, when entering the BIOS, we immediately find ourselves in the “Extreme Tweaker” section, which contains the bulk of the parameters intended for tuning and overclocking, while regular boards and boards from the “TUF” (The Ultimate Force) series are for some reason deprived of such convenience.
An analogue of the “Main” section on Gigabyte boards is a section called “System”. Here we find out basic information about the system, on the “ATA Port Information” page we get acquainted with the list of connected drives, and we can change the date, time and language of the BIOS interface.
The bulk of the options necessary for overclocking are concentrated on ASUSTeK boards in a very large “Ai Tweaker” section. The main window of the section allows you to change frequencies, multipliers and voltages, and initially you see a far from complete list of parameters, since all of them are set automatically by the board. But as soon as you start setting it up manually, many previously hidden options immediately appear. Some parameters are traditionally placed in separate subsections so as not to overly clutter the main one. The “OC Tuner” parameter only looks like a subsection; in fact, it is used to overclock the system automatically.
Section "M.I.T." (MB Intelligent Tweaker), which concentrates all the parameters related to overclocking and fine-tuning the performance of Gigabyte boards, is divided into several pages, in contrast to the single “Ai Tweaker” section of ASUSTeK boards. Both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages; the assessment will be subjective and depends mainly on personal preferences. On ASUSTeK boards It’s very convenient to move sequentially through the “Ai Tweaker” section, changing the values and periodically looking at the subsections. On Gigabyte boards, you have to perform more steps to configure; you need to constantly jump from one subsection to another. At the same time, the contents of most subsections fit on one screen, all parameters are in front of your eyes, and there is no scroll bar.
Start screen of the “M.I.T.” section It only opens a list of subsections and provides basic information about the system.
What follows is a purely informational subsection “M.I.T. Current Status”, which reports the current operating parameters of the system; ASUSTeK boards do not have its analogue. It’s difficult to attribute this to a disadvantage, because there is little need for such a subsection; you have to look here infrequently, mostly just to take a picture for the next review.
In the “Advanced Frequency Settings” subsection we manage frequencies and multipliers, and a number of information parameters will allow you to be aware of the results of the changes made.
Settings related to processor technologies, detailed changes in the processor multiplier and energy-saving modes are placed on a separate page “Advanced CPU Core Features”.
ASUSTeK boards do not have exactly the same page, but all these features are available. Options for detailed changes in the processor multiplier appear in the “Ai Tweaker” section when you go to manual settings. In the “CPU Power Management” subsection, you can independently set the values of options that affect the operating parameters of the Intel Turbo Boost technology, however, as on Gigabyte boards, this is not necessary, since the boards independently adapt to the overclocking parameters you specify.
However, you will have to seriously tinker with the search for parameters related to processor energy-saving technologies on ASUSTeK boards, since for some reason they are not included in the “Ai Tweaker” section. You need to go to the “Advanced” section, go to the “CPU Configuration” subsection, and then go to the separate “CPU Power Management Configuration” page. It’s not easy and inconvenient, but for some reason this arrangement of parameters has been preserved for a long time.
The “Advanced Memory Settings” subsection on Gigabyte boards provides the ability to configure the operation of the memory subsystem.
Management of numerous memory timings is placed on separate pages. Timings can be set simultaneously for two memory channels or for each individually.
On ASUSTeK boards, changing memory timings is also placed on a separate page, so as not to overly clutter the main “Ai Tweaker” section. The number of parameters is very large, but using the capabilities of this subsection is quite convenient. You see all the timings that are set by the board for each of the two memory channels. You can change only a few of them, for example, only the main ones, leaving the default values for the rest.
At the beginning of this chapter we showed a shot of the top of the very large “Ai Tweaker” section, now it’s time to familiarize yourself with the rest of its capabilities. The lower part of the section is reserved for working with voltages, and to monitor the current voltage values, you do not need to go to the monitoring section, they are indicated right there, next to each of the parameters that allow you to change these voltages, which is very convenient. Voltages can be set either higher or lower than nominal.
It is impossible not to notice the large number of options related mainly to power and energy consumption, which appeared thanks to the DIGI+ digital power system. Directly in the BIOS, you can control proprietary energy-saving technologies that allow you to change the number of active processor power phases depending on its load level. The “CPU Load-Line Calibration” technology for counteracting the voltage drop on the processor under load can not only be turned on or off, but also the degree of counteraction can be adjusted.
On Gigabyte boards, the “Advanced Voltage Settings” subsection is used to work with voltages; depending on the board model, all its parameters are distributed across three or even four separate pages. On the 3D Power Control page you can usually find options that are enabled by 3D Power technology. Directly in the BIOS, you can select the operating mode of the processor power converter, you can flexibly control the degree of counteraction to the voltage drop on the processor under load, and change a number of other options. The voltages in different areas of the processor are changed on the "CPU Core Voltage Control" page. The voltage on the processor can be fixed at the desired level or just add a certain value to the nominal one. Voltages can not only be increased, but also decreased relative to the nominal value, which can also be useful in some cases. For example, this may be necessary to operate the processor at frequencies below standard or to support low-voltage memory modules.
However, all of the above applies to other Gigabyte motherboards, since it turned out that in the subsection with the mocking name “Advanced Voltage Settings” of the Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H board there is a single parameter designed to change the voltage on the memory, and which -there are no other options.
It should be recalled that about a dozen years ago and earlier, the practice of limiting BIOS capabilities for entry-level motherboards was widespread and widely used; low-end motherboards were significantly limited in their ability to change frequencies and voltages. In this regard, enthusiasts even practiced flashing BIOS firmware from older models onto low-end motherboards, which sometimes made it possible to bypass these limitations, but not always, but almost always had a negative impact on the stability of the board. It was Gigabyte that broke the established practice; almost identical ones were produced for all boards in the series at the same time. BIOS version with equal opportunities. Gradually, other manufacturers also stopped cutting back on the capabilities of younger models. Now this seems like a normal state of affairs, but at the time it was a breakthrough that attracted many new supporters to the company's products, because previously Gigabyte boards were justifiably considered unsuitable for enthusiasts. Nostalgically recalling the heyday of Gigabyte motherboards, it is all the sadder to see today, using the example of the Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H board, that the company is again returning to its previous practice of restrictions and prohibitions.
After the huge “Ai Tweaker” section on ASUSTeK boards comes the “Advanced” section. It is divided into many subsections, the content of which is obvious and understandable by their names.
Gigabyte is taking the exact opposite approach. While the “M.I.T.” section was divided into many subsections, the “Peripherals” section is single, and therefore quite large. It allows you to control the operation of peripheral devices and additional board controllers. Logic set-specific technologies such as “Intel Rapid Start” and “Intel Smart Connect” are also enabled and configured here.
The Power Management section contains the usual set of parameters related to board startup and power. The capabilities of this section are approximately similar to the “APM” subsection of the “Advanced” section on ASUSTeK boards.
The “Monitor” section on Asus boards reports current temperatures, voltages and fan speeds. For all fans, including the processor and three case fans, you can select preset rotation speed control modes from the usual set: “Standard”, “Silent” or “Turbo”, or select the appropriate parameters in manual mode. At the same time, all system connectors are capable of reducing fan rotation speed even with a three-pin connection, but for the processor fan, unfortunately, control is supported only with a four-pin connection.
An analogue of the “Monitor” section on Gigabyte boards is the “PC Health Status” subsection of the “M.I.T.” section, which also reports data on current voltages, temperatures and fan speeds. We can choose one of two preset modes fan adjustment - “Normal” or “Silent”, or select the appropriate parameters in manual mode. Distinctive feature Gigabyte motherboards are able to regulate the rotation speed of the processor fan with a three-pin connection; other than them, only ASRock boards have a similar advantage. Unfortunately, this advantage again does not apply to the Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H board, since there is no “CPU Fan Control Mode” parameter that allows you to select the adjustment method. Indeed, the test showed that only the first system connector can reduce the rotation speed of a three-pin fan.
In the “Boot” section on ASUSTeK boards we select the parameters that will be applied when the system starts. Here, by the way, you need to change the starting mode “EZ Mode” to “Advanced Mode”. The “Fast Boot” parameter, enabled by default, allows boards to go through the startup procedure in a simplified mode, making the transition to boot operating system happens very quickly.
In the “BIOS Features” section on Gigabyte boards, which has similar capabilities, we set the order of polling boot devices, disable image output at startup, manage other parameters and technologies, such as virtualization technologies, and assign access passwords. An option similar to the “Fast Boot” parameter has not yet been observed, but this is a temporary phenomenon, since a similar parameter is already being tested in current beta BIOS versions, so we can expect its appearance after some time.
The built-in utility for updating firmware “Asus EZ Flash 2” is one of the most convenient and functional programs of its kind. One of the advantages is support for reading from partitions formatted in NTFS system, that is, to update it is not necessary to use a USB drive with firmware; it can be read directly from the HDD. So far only motherboards from ASUSTeK and Intel have this feature. Unfortunately, the ability to save the current firmware version before updating has been completely eliminated.
On Gigabyte boards, the built-in utility for updating firmware “Q-Flash” is called when you click on the button of the same name or hotkey"F8". It has become a little more convenient, information about the current and flashed BIOS versions is now reported, although it still does not work with drives formatted in NTFS, and the current firmware is now saved only in the root partition of the drive, and not where the user needs .
Asus motherboards allow you to save and quickly load eight complete BIOS settings profiles. Each profile can be given a short name that reminds you of its content. The bug that prevents profiles from remembering whether to disable the start image display has not yet been fixed, however, the ability to exchange profiles, which was lost with the transition to EFI BIOS, has returned. Recently, profiles can again be saved to external media and loaded from them.
Gigabyte boards also allow you to save or load eight different settings profiles, each can be given a name reminiscent of its contents, the ability to save profiles on external media and download from them. Unique feature The company's boards are able to automatically remember the current profile upon successful completion of the starting procedure; even the number of successful starts is saved. Thus, you can later return to using a working profile, although it was not specifically saved by the user.
As on boards from some other manufacturers, for example, Micro-Star, which was the first to implement this feature, in the BIOS of ASUSTeK boards we can get acquainted with the information hardwired into the SPD of memory modules, including XMP (Extreme Memory Profile) profiles. Gigabyte boards do not have such functionality, however, this is only a formal advantage, because information about memory timings is shown to us in one section, but they change in a completely different one, so in practice it will be quite inconvenient to use this feature.
As before, when you press the “F9” key in any of the BIOS sections or when you start the Gigabyte board, a window with system information appears.
If we abstract from the features of the motherboards discussed in this review and consider the “Asus EFI BIOS” and “Gigabyte 3D BIOS” as a whole, then both options have a full set of parameters necessary for setting up and overclocking the system, however, the BIOS of ASUSTeK motherboards is still a little richer useful features. For example, right in the BIOS, without installing any programs, you can increase performance using the “Asus MultiCore Enhancement” parameter or comprehensively overclock the system with the “OC Tuner” function. Additional efficiency can be achieved if you enable the proprietary technology “EPU Power Saving Mode”, and you can choose the level of savings yourself, or you can leave it at the discretion of the board. Of course, the BIOS of Gigabyte boards also has its advantages. The somewhat simplified, but visually clear “3D Mode”, which is offered by default on Gigabyte boards, is much more useful and functional than the primitive “EZ Mode” page on Asus boards. Changing the starting mode “3D Mode” to “Advanced Mode” is much more convenient and does not require any additional actions from the user. The function of automatically remembering settings profiles in case of successful system startup is generally unique; none of the other motherboard manufacturers could replicate it. The preserved ability to regulate the rotation speed of the three-pin processor fan is useful.
We have listed only the main advantages of “Asus EFI BIOS” and “Gigabyte 3D BIOS”, and the differences are conditionally useful functions they have much more. However, this is only a general assessment of two options for implementing UEFI BIOS in general, and in our specific case it turned out that the set of BIOS capabilities of the Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H board is simply incomparable with the Asus P8Z77-M. Gigabyte has stripped this board of its ability to manage any voltages other than the memory voltage. And even this board does not have the inherent advantage of other models in the ability to regulate the rotation speed of a three-pin processor fan.
Test system configuration
All experiments were carried out on a test system including the following set of components:
Motherboards:
Asus P8Z77-M rev. 1.01 (LGA1155, Intel Z77 Express, BIOS version 1908);
Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H rev. 1.1 (LGA1155, Intel Z77 Express, BIOS version F13);
Processor - Intel Core i5-3570K (3.6-3.8 GHz, 4 cores, Ivy Bridge rev. E1, 22 nm, 77 W, 1.05 V, LGA1155);
Memory - 2 x 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM Corsair Vengeance CMZ16GX3M4X1866C9R, (1866 MHz, 9-10-9-27, supply voltage 1.5 V);
Integrated graphics - Intel HD Graphics 4000;
Disk subsystem - Crucial m4 SSD (CT256M4SSD2, 256 GB, SATA 6 Gb/s);
Cooling system - Scythe Mugen 3 Revision B (SCMG-3100);
Thermal paste - ARCTIC MX-2;
Power supply - Enhance EPS-1280GA, 800 W;
Housing - open test bench based on the Antec Skeleton body.
The operating system was Microsoft Windows 8 Enterprise 64 bit (Microsoft Windows, Version 6.2, Build 9200), driver set for chipset Intel Chipset Device Software 9.4.0.1017, video card driver - Intel HD Graphics Driver 15.31.3.64.3071 (9.18.10.3071).
Features of operation and overclocking
Assembling test systems based on the Asus P8Z77-M and Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H motherboards was simple and easy, largely because we initially decided not to use any expansion cards, including discrete video cards. However, even this is enough large system cooling, like the Scythe Mugen 3 processor cooler, would not hurt if you installed an external video card on the boards.In the starting picture that the Asus P8Z77-M board shows when booting, only the well-known “Del” key is recalled, and there are no other hints about active buttons.
The situation will look a little better if you disable the output of the start image in the BIOS, or without prompting remember that this can be done with the “Tab” key. As you go through the startup procedure, the board will display a lot of useful information about the model name, BIOS version, processor name, memory size and frequency. However, instead of the actual operating frequency of the processor, you will always be told its nominal frequency, even without taking into account the Turbo technology enabled by default.
However, modern boards start up so quickly that it is difficult not only to see the information displayed on the screen as you go through the startup procedure, but sometimes you do not have time to press a key to enter the BIOS. To automatically enter the BIOS from the Microsoft Windows operating system, you can use the “Asus Boot Setting” utility, which was already described in the review of the Asus P8Z77-V LK board. This time, we saved ourselves from difficulties at the setup stage by simply disabling the “Fast Boot” option in the “Boot” section of BIOS Setup, which is enabled by default.
All Intel processor power-saving technologies work natively on the board, without the need for additional activation, and in addition to them, you can enable the proprietary “EPU Power Saving Mode” technology in the BIOS. The processor was also provided with a truly nominal operating mode, according to its official specifications, although it is easy to use the “Asus MultiCore Enhancement” function, which, at any load level, will allow you to increase the processor multiplier to the maximum value provided by Intel Turbo Boost technology only for a single-threaded load . To achieve more significant results, you can use the “OC Tuner” parameter, which allows you to comprehensively overclock the system in automatic mode. For example, in our case, the base frequency was raised to 102 MHz, and the processor multiplier was increased to x41. Thus, the operating frequency of the processor was raised to approximately 4.2 GHz, at the same time the operating frequency of the integrated graphics core was increased to 1300 MHz, and the memory frequency was raised to 1900 MHz.
It is commendable that not a single important component of the system was left behind when using automatic overclocking, but the best results can only be achieved by selecting the most optimal parameter values in manual mode. Unfortunately, the board was unable to operate at the maximum frequency for our processor instance, 4.6 GHz. As a result, we had to limit ourselves to overclocking the processor to 4.5 GHz, and at the same time the memory frequency was increased to 1866 MHz and its timings were adjusted.
It is necessary to remind you that we always overclock the system so that it can be fully used in long-term mode. No features or additional controllers of the motherboard are disabled; the functionality of Intel's processor energy-saving technologies is fully preserved, reducing the processor multiplier and the voltage supplied to it, turning off unnecessary blocks and switching the processor to energy-saving modes when there is no load.
Unlike its rival, the Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H motherboard displays a starting picture at startup, at the bottom of which a complete list of active hot keys is recalled. You can enter the BIOS by pressing the “Del” key; the “F9” key will show a window with system information, the same as when you press this button in the BIOS; "F12" will display start menu for extraordinary selection of download source; Using the “End” key you can launch the built-in utility for updating the “Q-Flash” firmware.
It is no coincidence that “Tab” is missing from the keys, which traditionally serves to remove a picture. Picture output can be disabled in the BIOS settings, but this step is useless. The fact is that, unlike boards from most other manufacturers, Gigabyte boards do not display any information on the screen at all about the completion of the startup procedure. The only thing that can be seen is the AMI logo, since its code is the basis of the BIOS.
Like its rival, in the default mode the board provided the nominal operating mode of the processor and memory, the functionality of all Intel processor energy-saving technologies, but Gigabyte decided to cheat with the frequency of the integrated graphics core. When there was no load, the frequency dropped to 350 MHz, as expected for the Intel HD Graphics 4000, but under load it increased to 1200, not 1150 MHz. Moreover, this is impossible to detect in the BIOS; the “Processor Graphics Clock” information parameter reports that the frequency is nominal 1150 MHz, but this is not true.
The difference is insignificant, but it still turns out that the board does not fully provide the nominal operating mode of the system. When measuring performance, we manually set the nominal operating frequency of the graphics core for a correct comparison with the ASUSTeK board.
The BIOS of Gigabyte boards does not have parameters for automatic processor overclocking; this task is traditionally delegated to the “Easy Tune6” utility. However, it will not help overclocking the Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H board; even the corresponding “Quick Boost” tab has disappeared from the program window. It is clear that all this is due to the fact that the board has catastrophically limited capabilities for changing voltages, leaving only the ability to change the voltage on the memory. This means that overclocking the processor to its maximum 4.6 GHz on this model cannot be achieved in principle, since stability at this frequency can only be ensured by increasing the voltage. But it is quite possible to overclock the processor to 4.5 GHz without increasing the voltage; we successfully practiced this method during tests of Micro-Star motherboards. The fact is that MSI boards cannot change the voltage in the “Offset” mode, only by adding or subtracting some value from the nominal one. Voltages can only be fixed at constant values, and therefore any change in voltage leads to the disabling of Intel processor energy-saving technologies; even in the absence of load on the processor, the voltage does not decrease, but remains at the set value. Only motherboards from Micro-Star and EVGA have this negative feature; motherboards from any other manufacturers do not have this drawback.
However, we have found a way to overclock on MSI boards without losing the functionality of Intel's processor energy-saving technologies. The voltage cannot be touched, but you can enable the “Load-Line Calibration” function, which prevents the voltage on the processor from dropping under load. By dosing the degree of counteraction, you can select a suitable value at which the processor will confidently operate at a frequency of 4.5 GHz. Unfortunately, this method turned out to be inapplicable for the Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H board, because all parameters related to changing voltages disappeared from its BIOS, even the “3D Power Control” page, where you could select the operating mode of the processor power converter, flexibly adjust the degree of resistance to voltage drop on the processor under load and change a number of other options. As a result, I had to overclock at the rated processor voltage, and when it sags greatly under load. We were, perhaps, even lucky that in such difficult conditions the processor was able to operate stably at a relatively high frequency of 4.4 GHz.
At the same time, we increased the memory frequency to 1866 MHz and adjusted its timings. And, of course, the functionality of Intel's processor energy-saving technologies has been fully preserved.
When the task is to increase system performance, overclocking must be comprehensive, covering all components and all aspects that affect speed. In addition to overclocking the processor and memory, it would be possible to add an increase in the frequency of the graphics core integrated into the processor. Theoretically from 1150 MHz Intel frequency HD Graphics 4000 could be increased to approximately 1300 MHz, but we will not get any significant gains in games from such a slight overclock. The integrated graphics are too weak for resource-intensive games, overclocking is unable to qualitatively change the situation, and it successfully copes with undemanding games without any overclocking. Therefore, we did not overclock the integrated graphics, because such overclocking will not bring anything except increased power consumption.
Performance Comparison
We traditionally compare motherboards in terms of speed in two modes: when the system operates under nominal conditions and when the processor and memory are overclocked. The first option is interesting from the point of view that it allows you to find out how well motherboards work with default parameters. It is known that a significant part of users do not fine-tune the system; they only set the optimal parameters in the BIOS and do not change anything else. So we carry out the test, almost without interfering with the default values set by the boards; only for the Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H board we had to bring the Intel HD Graphics 4000 graphics core integrated into the processor to the nominal frequency. The results in the diagrams are sorted in descending order of performance .In Cinebench 11.5, we run CPU tests five times and average the results.
The Fritz Chess Benchmark utility has been used in tests for a very long time and has proven itself to be excellent. It produces highly repeatable results, and performance scales well depending on the number of computational threads used.
The x264 FHD Benchmark v1.0.1 (64bit) test allows you to evaluate system performance in comparison with the results available in the database. The average results of five passes are presented in the diagram.
Performance measurement in Adobe Photoshop We run CS6 using our own test, a creative reworking of the Retouch Artists Photoshop Speed Test, which involves typical processing of four 24-megapixel images taken with a digital camera.
In the data archiving test, a one-gigabyte file is compressed using LZMA2 algorithms, while other compression parameters are left at default values.
As with the compression test, the faster the calculation of 16 million digits of pi is completed, the better. This is the only test where the number of processor cores does not play any role; the load is single-threaded.
The following chart uses only the results of the 3DMark Fire Strike CPU tests. This characteristic is the result of a special physical test that simulates the behavior of a complex gaming system with a large number of objects. At the same time, it turned out that this test does a pretty good job of checking the stability of an overclocked processor.
The Intel HD Graphics 4000 graphics core integrated into the processor is unable to cope with the load created by the Fire Strike test from the new 3DMark. Therefore, to evaluate performance and compare with graphic solutions We used the “Cloud Gate” test from this package at a similar level.
The test built into the game Hitman Absolution turned out to be very convenient. It can be launched from the game, from the startup utility (launcher), and even from command line. To get at least minimally acceptable results for the game, the settings had to be reduced to the lowest and not the highest resolution used.
The game Batman: Arkham City also readily responds to changes in the frequency of the processor and memory. We repeat the in-game performance test five times at the lowest quality settings and average the results.
We have repeatedly noted that related boards operating under the same conditions show approximately the same level of performance. The data obtained when the systems were operating in nominal mode fully confirm this rule; the difference between the boards is minimal and in no test does it exceed even one percent. I would like to further comment on only the last two results in the games. Before the tests started, we didn't know what to do best. Either remove the game tests altogether, since it was obvious that the integrated graphics are too weak for them, or replace these games with simpler and less demanding ones. To our surprise, it turned out that, for example, a game like Batman: Arkham City can be played on the graphics built into the processor, although, of course, you need to lower the quality settings to a minimum and lower the resolution. However, these measures are not universal; it all depends on specific game and for Hitman Absolution the same actions were not enough for comfortable gameplay. In general, in the end we decided to leave these two tests as a good illustration of the capabilities of the graphics core integrated into the processor. It is impossible to achieve good results in resource-intensive games, but acceptable results are quite possible, although not always.
When the systems operated in nominal mode, they functioned under equal conditions, and therefore the difference in results was negligible. Obviously, when overclocking, the Asus P8Z77-M board will have an advantage over the Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H, because it overclocked the processor to 4.5 GHz, while on the Gigabyte board, due to its reduced capabilities, we were forced to stop at 4.4 GHz.
The results were predictable. The test system, built on the Asus P8Z77-M motherboard, demonstrates an advantage in the range of one and a half to two and a half percent in computing tasks. But in gaming tests, where everything is leveled out by the limited capabilities of the integrated graphics core, the difference practically disappears and, due to measurement errors, the Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H board can even barely noticeably outperform its rival.
Energy consumption measurements
Energy consumption is measured using the Extech Power Analyzer 380803. The device is turned on in front of the computer's power supply, that is, it measures the consumption of the entire system “from the outlet,” with the exception of the monitor, but including losses in the power supply itself. When measuring consumption at rest, the system is inactive, we wait for the complete cessation of post-start activity and the absence of access to the drive. Energy consumption with a single-threaded load on the processor is measured during tests for the speed of calculating the number Pi, with a multi-threaded load during performance measurements in the Fritz Chess Benchmark program, and we refused to measure the complex load of the processor and video system. When using a powerful discrete video card, its operation significantly increases the total power consumption of the system and this additional factor must be taken into account. But when working with graphics built into the processor, the situation turned out to be different. Modern games rarely use a large number of processor cores, often limiting themselves to one or two. Therefore, consumption in games, despite the inclusion of integrated graphics, turned out to be lower than with a full processor load, although, of course, higher than with a single-threaded load. The results in the charts are sorted by increasing consumption.
Both boards initially have Intel's processor energy-saving technologies functioning properly, reducing the processor multiplier and the voltage supplied to it when there is no load. However, at rest, the Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H looks preferable because it consumes less than its rival. However, when a load appears, the situation changes to the exact opposite; the Asus P8Z77-M board turned out to be more economical in operation. In addition, it should be recalled that on ASUSTeK boards, additional savings not only at rest, but also under load, can be achieved if you enable the proprietary “EPU Power Saving Mode” technology in the BIOS, while in the BIOS of Gigabyte boards such functionality is not available. present.
Now let’s compare the power consumption of systems during overclocking with increasing processor and memory frequencies.
Now the Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H board is noticeably more economical in any mode, but this is no longer an advantage, but a consequence of its disadvantage. The overclocking capabilities of the board are significantly limited by the lack of ability to change voltages; we had to overclock without increasing them, so the final result was worse. The Asus P8Z77-M board consumes more only because it managed to achieve more high frequencies processor performance, and the increased performance compensates for and justifies the higher power consumption.
Afterword
Before starting the tests, we were interested in whether assembling a system based on a microATX board without a discrete video card would really be easy and problem-free? Will small boards be as easy to configure and will we achieve the same CPU and memory overclocking results as on full-size models? If we mean the Asus P8Z77-M motherboard, then we will get a positive answer to both of these questions. The assembly turned out to be elementary; without a powerful external video card, the system's power consumption is attractively low both at rest and under load, while we get exactly the same computing capabilities as on full-size boards. Of course, all these advantages will be significant only in the case when resource-intensive games are not in the sphere of the user’s primary interests. However, nothing prevents you from installing on the system discrete video card, while losing efficiency, but adding performance in graphics tasks.We initially thought that the Asus P8Z77-M and Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H small entry-level motherboards were almost identical, but it turns out we were wrong. The Gigabyte board has slightly poorer equipment, but the list of technical characteristics is exactly the same as that of the ASUSTeK board, only the range of controllers used is different, but the capabilities of the two boards differ significantly. First of all, the differences are due to the fact that the Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H board lacks the ability to change voltages, which limits the overclocking of the processor or its graphics core, while the Asus P8Z77-M board is in no way different in configuration or overclocking from other models of the company. However, this is not the only difference, since the ASUSTeK board provides many additional features. It is easy to slightly increase performance on it using the “Asus MultiCore Enhancement” function, and the “OC Tuner” parameter will help the novice user in complex overclocking of the system. USB BIOS Flashback technology eliminates possible incompatibility, allowing you to update the firmware even without completely assembling the system. There is a “MemOK!” button that allows the board to start successfully even if there are problems with RAM. EPU Power Saving Mode technology will help reduce system power consumption, and the Gigabyte board does not have anything like that.
As a result, the Asus P8Z77-M motherboard looks preferable from any point of view; the choice of the Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H motherboard can only be made out of ignorance and lack of information. It can only be justified when you are absolutely sure that overclocking capabilities will never interest you, you will never need any additional capabilities, and the price difference between the two boards is significant. However, even in this case this model will not be the best option. The Gigabyte GA-H77M-D3H board, which is based on Intel H77 Express logic and therefore costs even less, but has the same design and the same set of technical characteristics, is probably more suitable for you to purchase.
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 fine tuning parameters. These are precisely the criteria that users are increasingly paying attention to when choosing a basis for new system. Let's see if, based on the testing results, we can emphasize all of the listed points, and not just some of them.
When working with ASUS Maximus VI Hero we had no questions - everything went so well that sometimes we even doubted whether this could happen on a PC based on a 230 board. The functional differences compared to the top Maximus VI Extreme are insignificant and not critical for the vast majority of users .
Design and Layout
The mATX form factor board is made in characteristic colors for devices of the ASUS P8 line, and the device turned out to be quite colorful. It would seem that the usual combination of black, blue and white colors is used, but on a small piece of PCB the color palette of elements changes quite actively, and you notice this already at the first glance at the device.
The power subsystem has eight phases (6+2). To adjust the parameters of the power stabilizer, the DIGI+VRM controller (ASP1105) is used. In this case, to speed up heat dissipation, the VRM elements are equipped with radiators. The low-profile coolers are painted blue, with one segment in the center section being a natural aluminum color for visual contrast. The chipset chip is also covered with a compact blue radiator.
To supply additional power, an 8-pin EATX12V connector is used, traditionally located at the top edge closer to the interface panel.
ASUS P8Z77-M Pro is equipped with four slots for memory modules, the total volume of which can be increased up to 32 GB. The speed performance of the DDR3 used largely depends on the capabilities of the processor used. In the case of the mATX form factor, memory module connectors with one-way locks are a great help. According to the layout, the video card in the upper PCI-E x16 slot will not interfere with the installation of RAM strips.
In general, the layout of the ASUS P8Z77-M Pro is very successful. Questions may arise only when installing large processor coolers. After installing Thermalright Archon Rev.A, the first PCI-E x16 slot is inaccessible - the dimensions of the radiator unit do not allow installing a video card in the top slot. However, this cooler model is one of the largest in its class, the span of its radiator “wings” reaches 155 mm. Its trouble-free installation is not possible on every full-size model, but what can we say when it comes to compact mATX, where the first slot is already allocated for PCI-E x16, and not PCI-E x1. One way or another, this nuance is worth paying attention to.
The set of expansion slots cannot be called academic. The manufacturer abandoned obsolete PCI in favor of faster PCI Express. The PCB contains four slots: three full-length PCI-E x16, as well as one miniature PCI-E x1. The top slot, colored blue, is preferred when using a single video card. In this case, it receives all 16 bus lines and operates in the maximum speed mode. If there are a pair of graphics adapters, the second slot (white) is also used, and the link configuration looks like x8+x8. When using an Ivy Bridge family processor, both slots can operate in PCI Express 3.0 mode. The latest black “long-length” in any case complies with the PCI Express 2.0 specification and receives 4 dedicated bus lines.
The manufacturer focuses on the board's ability to work in multi-adapter configurations. This is opaquely hinted at even by the presence of an SLI bridge in the kit, which is not supplied with all models that support combinations with two video cards on chips from NVIDIA. CrossFireX configurations are also allowed, but the adapters required for such systems are usually supplied with the graphics adapters.
The location of the slots also suggests that the developers wanted to make life easier for those brave and enthusiastic people who will use a pair of video cards. They are arranged in such a sequence that two adapters with dual-slot coolers will be installed without problems. Of course, in this case set additional cards expansion will no longer be possible, but access to the elements at the bottom edge of the PCB will remain open.
The main controls, as well as functional connectors, are concentrated on the bottom edge of the board. There is a connector for outputting audio connectors to the front wall of the case, as well as 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 boards when the standby voltage is supplied from the power supply. Also nearby are three internal connectors for six USB 2.0 ports, a system panel for connecting control keys and indicators, as well as a jumper for resetting CMOS memory settings. There is also an activation button at the bottom edge. USB BIOS FlashBack– technology for flashing a flash chip from a USB drive, which is implemented at the hardware level. Another additional level of protection is the use of a replaceable panel for the flash chip, allowing it to be replaced if necessary.
Among the interesting nuances of the layout, we note the placement of the COM port connector in the corner printed circuit board, next to the memory slots. At the right edge, not far from the main power connector, there is a connector for connecting a TPM module. You can feel your pro-roots, you need to conform.
We didn't expect to see any abundance of specialized overclocking tools on the board, and in this regard, the ASUS P8Z77-M Pro was not a revelation. With some stretch, one can include the key MemOK!, which may be useful if you encounter difficulties with the initial start after installing a new set of memory. The function allows you to go through rough “grinding in” using timings with which the slats are guaranteed to work.
The technological feature of the device is four independent channels for adjusting 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, and all have support Q-Fan Control with specified profiles and the ability to fine-tune the algorithm.
The disk subsystem is implemented by Intel chipset Z77 – a pair of SATA 6 Gb/s channels 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.
An additional controller expands the possibilities for connecting drives 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 rather scarce.
As for USB 3.0 itself, on the ASUS P8Z77-M Pro, in addition to the four ports provided by the Intel Z77, the controller adds a couple more 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. A proven eight-channel solution with the sound quality you expect. The network controller also uses a common solution - Realtek 8111F.
The interface panel is equipped very well. Universal PS/2, a pair of USB 2.0, four USB 3.0 ports and an Ethernet socket. The interface set is complemented by a pair of eSATA, which can be useful 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.
Connections speaker system any configuration is simplified by a panel with six audio connectors. In addition, for connecting acoustics digitally, there is optical output S/PDIF.
Contents of delivery
The delivery set includes a user manual, several brochures describing the nuances of the operation of a number of proprietary technologies, 4 SATA cables, a flexible SLI bridge and a plug for the rear wall of the case. Q-Connector sockets will greatly facilitate the connection of power buttons, speakers and status indicators.
UEFI
We have already talked about UEFI from ASUS several times. The shell is easy to use, logically structured, and has useful tips for setting various parameters. ASUS P8Z77-M Pro fully inherits the advantages of the proprietary shell.
The processor supply voltage can be increased “only” to 1.92 V (strongly not recommended without a glass of liquid nitrogen). The voltage on memory modules is also limited to the same limit. The proposed features are unlikely to set overclocking records, but the available funds are more than enough to boost the system well.
To configure a number of parameters, ASUS offers the use of a software kit AI Suite II, which includes several useful applications.
Overclocking
Following the path of least resistance, we began accelerating the system with the TurboV EVO feature. In the basic version ("Fast overclocking" mode), after rebooting the PC, the test Core processor i7-3770K accelerated to 4223 MHz (41x103 MHz). A 20% increase in frequency is a good start.
Once you start to get ahead, it is sometimes difficult to stop, especially when the button labeled “Extreme overclocking” is located several tens of desktop pixels from the basic acceleration key. Giving in to temptation, we got 4635 MHz (45x103 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 supply voltage, which was automatically increased to 1.245 V. In such a mode, it would definitely not be possible 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 made it possible to increase it to 108.5 MHz. The test set of DDR3-2133 memory modules worked without any particular difficulties and ran at 2200 MHz.
In the conditions of an open bench and a tower-type processor cooler, radiators mounted on MOSFET elements warmed up to 52–54 degrees under load. The temperature of the chipset cooler after prolonged operation increased to 46–48 C.
Results
ASUS P8Z77-M Pro interesting for those who are not ready to settle for a budget “runabout” car. 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 $145 price tag.
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 into the view of buyers who make a rational choice. In such a case, the experience of the developers is very important, otherwise the product can very easily turn out to be “neither fish nor fowl.” ASUS P8Z77-M Pro managed to avoid this fate. The board has its own personality and is an attractive option for those who are assembling a productive system in an mATX case, but the capabilities of the iconic ASUS Maximus V GENE in this form factor seem clearly redundant, and there is no great desire to overpay for unused functions.
Liked
Good equipment and functionality
High-quality power subsystem
Wide possibilities for organizing a cooling system
Support SLI modes and CrossFireX
Did not like
Hardly ever
The testing device was provided by MTI, www.distri.mti.ua
Test bench configuration
| | Motherboard |
| CPU connector | 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 | +(output) |
| Audio codec | Realtek ALC892 (7.1) |
| Ethernet | Realtek 8111F (GbE) |
| SATA | - |
| SATA Revision 3.0 | ASMedia ASM1061 |
| PATA | - |
| IEEE 1394 (FireWire) | - |
| USB 3.0 | 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 |
| Supports 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 | Second generation intelligent chips with DIGI+ power supply system (6-phase for CPU, 2-phase for iGPU); one PS/2 port for keyboard or mouse; TPM module connector; SLI bridge included |
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When working with ASUS Maximus VI Hero, we had no questions - everything went so well that sometimes we even doubted whether this could happen on a PC based on a $230 motherboard. The functional differences compared to the top-end Maximus VI Extreme are insignificant and not critical for the vast majority of users.
Photos of the Apple iPhone 5S motherboard have appeared on the Internet
Japanese component manufacturer Moumantai has published 3 photos of the motherboard of the alleged iPhone 5S, reports Macrumors. It's no surprise that the shape and size of the new motherboard iPhone generation almost identical to that in its predecessor. The only difference is 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 slightly narrower, thereby creating an optical illusion. On the left is the iPhone 5S, on the right is the iPhone 5. The launch of the iPhone 5S is expected in the fall,
Another small heatsink removes heat from the system logic.
It is also made of aluminum alloy and painted blue. It’s strange, but usually it shows the manufacturer’s logo, but here there is nothing like that. The thermal interface changed, if not the consistency, then the color. Instead of a pink “thermovac”, a bright green one was used. Apparently, the factory ran out of strawberry chewing gum and is now giving pickers mint ones. A protective frame made of soft porous material is placed around the perimeter of the contact point. The radiator is secured using plastic clips with springs.
Under the heatsink is an Intel Z77 chip.
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On this moment this is 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 three video connectors on the rear panel. These are D-Sub, DVI and HDMI. The specifications for the latter state 3D support.
If this is quite typical for a mATX size board, then three PCI-e slot x16 with such a form factor is not often seen.
Official support for SLI, CrossFire and Lucid Virtu MVP technologies has been declared. Of course, all slots are not full-speed. The top one, when installing one video adapter, receives an honest sixteen lines. The middle one, if a second one is added, divides them in half and x8+x8 is formed. The bottom one consistently gets four lines from the processor.
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