ASUS Z97-K Motherboard Review

[section_title title=”Specifications”]Specifications

• CPU

Intel® Socket 1150 for the 5^th/New 4^th/4^th Generation Core™ i7/Core™ i5/Core™ i3/Pentium®/Celeron® Processors Supports Intel® 22 nm CPU Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 * The Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 support depends on the CPU types. * Refer to www.asus.com for CPU support list

• Chipset

Intel® Z97

• Memory

4 x DIMM, Max. 32GB, DDR3 3200(O.C.)/3100(O.C.)/3000(O.C.)/2933(O.C.)/2800(O.C.)/2666(O.C.)/2600(O.C.)/2400(O.C.)/2250(O.C.)/2200(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)/2000(O.C.)/1866(O.C.)/1600/1333 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory * Dual Channel Memory Architecture Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) * Hyper DIMM support is subject to the physical characteristics of individual CPUs. * Refer to www.asus.com for the Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors Lists).

• Graphic

Integrated Graphics Processor- Intel® HD Graphics support Multi-VGA output support : HDMI/DVI-D/RGB ports – Supports HDMI with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz – Supports DVI-D with max. resolution 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz – Supports RGB with max. resolution 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz Maximum shared memory of 512 MB Supports Intel® InTru™ 3D, Quick Sync Video, Clear Video HD Technology, Insider™ Supports up to 3 displays simultaneously

• Multi-GPU Support

Supports AMD Quad-GPU CrossFireX™ Technology

• Expansion Slots

1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 mode, gray) 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (max at x4 mode, black) *¹ 2 x PCIe 2.0 x1 2 x PCI

• Storage

Intel® Z97 chipset :  1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M Key, type 2260/2280 storage devices support (both SATA & PCIE mode)*² 6 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10 Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology, Intel® Rapid Start Technology, Intel® Smart Connect Technology *³

• LAN

Realtek® 8111GR, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s), featuring Turbo LAN

• Audio

Realtek® ALC887 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC featuring Crystal Sound 2*⁴ – Supports : Jack-detection, Front Panel Jack-retasking Audio Feature : – Audio Shielding: Ensures precision analog/digital separation and greatly reduced multi-lateral interference – Dedicated audio PCB layers: Separate layers for left and right channels to guard the quality of the sensitive audio signals – Audio amplifier: Provides the highest-quality sound for headphone and speakers – Premium Japanese-made audio capacitors: Provide warm, natural and immersive sound with exceptional clarity and fidelity – Unique de-pop circuit: Reduces start-up popping noise to audio outputs

• USB Ports

Intel® Z97 chipset : 6 x USB 3.0/2.0 port(s) (4 at back panel, blue, 2 at mid-board) Intel® Z97 chipset : 8 x USB 2.0/1.1 port(s) (2 at back panel, black, 6 at mid-board)

• Special Features

ASUS 5X Protection : – ASUS DIGI+ VRM – 4 Phase digital power design – ASUS Enhanced DRAM Overcurrent Protection – Short circuit damage prevention – ASUS ESD Guards – Enhanced ESD protection – ASUS High-Quality 5K-Hour Solid Capacitors – 2.5x long lifespan with excellent durability – ASUS Stainless Steel Back I/O – 3x more durable corrosion-resistant coating ASUS EPU : – EPU ASUS Exclusive Features : – TurboV EVO – GPU Boost – AI Suite 3 – Ai Charger – Anti-Surge – USB 3.0 Boost – Disk Unlocker – Turbo LAN – Crystal Sound 2 Interactive HomeCloud – Media Streamer ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution : – Stylish Fanless Design Heat-sink solution & MOS Heatsink – ASUS Fan Xpert 3 ASUS EZ DIY : – ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 – ASUS EZ Flash 2 – ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode – Push Notice ASUS Q-Design : – ASUS Q-Slot

• Operating System Support

Windows® 8.1 Windows® 8 Windows® 7

• Back I/O Ports

1 x PS/2 keyboard (purple) 1 x PS/2 mouse (green) 1 x DVI-D 1 x D-Sub 1 x HDMI 1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s) 4 x USB 3.0 (blue) 2 x USB 2.0 3 x Audio jack(s)

• Internal I/O Ports

1 x USB 3.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.0 port(s) (19-pin) 3 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 6 USB 2.0 port(s) 1 x M.2 Socket 3 for M Key, type 2260/2280 devices 1 x TPM header 1 x COM port(s) connector(s) 6 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s) 1 x CPU Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin) 2 x Chassis Fan connector(s) (2 x 4 -pin) 1 x S/PDIF out header(s) 1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s) 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s) 1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP) 1 x System panel(s) 1 x Chassis Intrusion connector(s) 1 x Clear CMOS jumper(s)

• Accessories

User’s manual I/O Shield 2 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s)

• BIOS

64 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.7, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.8, ACPI 5.0, Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 2, ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3, My Favorites, Quick Note, Last Modified log, F12 PrintScreen, F3 Shortcut functions, and ASUS DRAM SPD (Serial Presence Detect) memory information

• Manageability

WfM 2.0, DMI 2.7, WOL by PME, PXE

• Support Disc

Drivers ASUS Utilities EZ Update Anti-virus software (OEM version)

• Form Factor

ATX Form Factor 12.0 inch x 8.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 21.8 cm )

• Note

*1: The PCIe x1_1, PCIe x1_2 slots share bandwidth with PCIe x16_2. The PCIe x16_2 slot runs at x2 mode as default. Please check BIOS for more configuration. *2: M.2 Socket 3 shares bandwidth with SATA6G_5 & SATA6G_6 ports. *3: These functions will work depending on the CPU installed. *4: Use a chassis with HD audio module in the front panel to support an 8-channel audio output.