Test results motherboard ASUS P8Z77-V Premium in Crysis 2
The results are absolutely expected. Since the difference between the systems is only the name of the motherboard, it is foolish to expect different performance. Let me remind you that both motherboards were able to overclock the processor up to 4600 MHz.
Conclusion
The ASUS P8Z77-V Premium motherboard turned out to be a very high quality product. The richest set, good overclocking abilities, complete SSD, which can even be used as a main disk. All this makes the board a premium product not only in name but also in essence.
But, like any premium product, ours is very expensive, or rather about 15 thousand rubles. For comparison, ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe is sold at prices of about 8500-9000 rubles. The price, as you can see, differs very significantly. Most buyers must firmly understand that this motherboard is designed for maximum performance before purchasing this product. This is the case when an overpayment of a hundred dollars for an extra megahertz does not conflict with your own ideas about the world and justice in it. After all, for this money you can buy both a motherboard and SSD disk in addition, much more volume, and there will still be a taxi ride home. Therefore, before you buy a board of this level, make sure that it is a really good buy for you, and not wasted money. If you decide that you are ready for such expenses, then you will hardly find a better motherboard for LGA 1155.
Despite the fact that motherboard manufacturers have high-end models, most users prefer inexpensive solutions. Not even every enthusiast can afford a $ 1.500 product, let alone more expensive boards.
Naturally, such solutions do not have wide functionality, and the available functionality is due to the capabilities of the used system logic. Available motherboards are usually devoid of any additional features to facilitate overclocking. The firmware is also cut down, which may lack some key settings that are so necessary for setting new overclocking records. But the performance of such products practically does not differ from top solutions, and the overclocking level is quite sufficient to unleash the potential of any average processor with air cooling.
Continuing the topic of inexpensive motherboards, we will consider the most affordable product from ASUS based on the Intel Z77 Express chipset - P8Z77-V LX.
The characteristics of the board are listed in the following table:
| Model | |
| Chipset | Intel Z77 Express |
| CPU socket | Socket LGA1155 |
| Processors | Core i7, Core i5, Pentium, Celeron ( Sandy bridge and Ivy Bridge) |
| Memory | 4 DIMM DDR3 SDRAM 1066/1333/1600/1866 * / 2133 * / 2400 * (* - OC), 32 GB maximum |
| PCI-E slots | 1 PCI Express 3.0 x16 1 PCI Express [email protected] 2 PCI Express x1 |
| PCI slots | 3 (ASMedia ASM1083) |
| Integrated video core | Intel HD Graphics |
| Video connectors | HDMI, DVI-D and D-Sub |
| Number of connected fans | 4 (3x 4pin, 1x 3pin) |
| PS / 2 ports | 1 (combined) |
| USB ports | 4 x 3.0 (2 rear connectors, Intel Z77) 10 x 2.0 (4 rear slots, Intel Z77) |
| ATA-133 | - |
| Serial ATA | 2 x SATA 6Gb / s (Intel Z77) 4 x SATA 3Gb / s lanes (Intel Z77) |
| eSATA | - |
| RAID | 0, 1, 5, 10 (Intel Z77) |
| Built-in sound | Realtek ALC887 (7.1, HDA) |
| S / PDIF | Optic |
| Built-in network | Realtek RTL8111E (Gigabit Ethernet) |
| Firewire | - |
| COM | + (on board) |
| LPT | - |
| BIOS / UEFI | AMI UEFI |
| Form factor | ATX |
| Dimensions, mm | 305 x 218 |
| Additional features | MemOK !, CPU Boost |
As you can see, nothing special, standard functionality for an inexpensive solution. There is no possibility of building full-fledged tandems from a pair of video cards, but a powerful gaming system based on an inexpensive motherboard seems to be weak. So this can hardly be attributed to the disadvantages of the product in question.
Contents of delivery
The motherboard comes in a small dark box with the branding. In the best traditions advertising slogans on the front side, in the form of icons, the key features of the purchased solution are indicated.
The reverse side describes in more detail the characteristics, some functions and technologies supported by the board.
The delivery set is assembled in the best traditions of minimalism and contains:
- instructions for the motherboard;
- CD with drivers and additional software;
- I / O Shield rear panel cover;
- two SATA cables.
For assembly available system with one drive and hard disk that's more than enough. With the growth of the equipment park, of course, you will have to purchase additional cables, but those who like to arrange file servers units, so that the manufacturer's savings can be called thoughtful.
Design and functionality
As a rule, available solutions made in the ATX form factor do not suffer from special gigantomania and are compact in size. Does it make sense to make full-size printed circuit boards if the number of additional controllers is minimal, and there are no serious requirements for the location of the components? But, unfortunately, ASUS engineers failed to make the P8Z77-V LX completely compact (the dimensions were 305x218 mm) and the edge, where almost all DIMM slots are located, hangs down. As a result, when assembling the system, all operations for connecting cables and installing memory must be done very carefully, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the board.
As for the design, it is made in the same spirit as all ASUS products based on Intel 7 Series system logic: dark textolite, connectors with predominant shades of blue and a heatsink stylized as a pulse shape. There are no special complaints about the location of the components, all cables are connected from the edge of the board, the memory slots will not interfere with the installation of the video card. In particular, you can write grouped by three standard SATA connectors in the lower right corner of the PCB.
The use of the Z77 Express chipset allowed the manufacturer to declare support not only for conventional models of processors based on Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge, but also for the "K" series with an unlocked multiplier. Thanks to four DIMM slots, the system can be equipped with 32 GB of memory with a frequency of up to 1600 MHz or 2400 MHz (the firmware contains values up to 3200 MHz) in overclocking mode. At current prices for RAM modules, it is very tempting.
The functionality of the board is limited by the capabilities of the system logic used, but even the characteristics of the Z77 Express make it possible to assemble a well-equipped system. The user has four SATA channels with throughput 3 Gb / s and two - 6 Gb / s, s Intel support Smart Response and Rapid Start. Besides normal use drives, the ability to organize RAID arrays of levels 0, 1, 5 and 10 is available. 10 USB 2.0 ports are intended for connecting peripherals (six on the rear panel), and more advanced devices will unleash their potential with four USB 3.0, and two of them can be lead to the front panel of the case.
Unlike more expensive solutions, the P8Z77-V LX will not allow organizing a full-fledged tandem of video cards. PCI Express processor lanes (when installing Ivy Bridge, the third revision of the high-speed interface will be available) are connected to only one PCI-E x16 slot, and to the second - four "slow" lines from the chipset, which in some cases will not be enough. Of the announced technologies, only AMD CrossFireX is available.
For the rest of the expansion cards, there are two PCI-E x1 slots and as many as three ancient PCI. The latter are based on the PCIe-PCI ASMedia ASM1083 bridge, since the latest Intel chipsets no longer support this bus.
Rest communication capabilities boards are presented in gigabit network controller Realtek RTL8111E and Realtek ALC887 audio codec supporting 7.1-channel audio systems. The only thing is that for this configuration to function, you will have to use the connectors on the front panel of the case - the motherboard is equipped with only three mini-jacks. But there is an optical S / PDIF. In general, the rear panel has the following connectors:
- four USB 2.0;
- two USB 3.0;
- one combined PS / 2;
- one HDMI, DVI-D and D-Sub;
- RJ45;
- optical S / PDIF;
- three audio connectors.
The presence of three video outputs will allow building a multi-monitor configuration, provided that the latest generation LGA1155 processors are installed. Naturally, the integrated graphics core will be involved, so there can be no talk of any serious gaming applications. With a discrete graphics adapter installed, LucidLogix Virtu MVP technology allows you to combine both accelerators for imaging and video transcoding acceleration through Intel Quick Sync.
It would seem, what is not an ideal and affordable board? The functionality is within the required minimum, it is enough to save on the "motherboard" and take a Core i5 with an unlocked multiplier and get a good overclocking system. But alas, there is no cooling system on the power elements, which in turn can affect the durability of the P8Z77-V LX during overclocking.
The processor power converter itself is made according to a 6-channel scheme and is controlled by the ASP1102 chip. To increase the stability and increase the service life of the product, solid-state capacitors are used in all circuits, chokes with a monolithic core are designed to reduce the risk of such a not very pleasant phenomenon as "squeak of coils". There is even an EPS12V eight-pin power connector, but it is unlikely to bring such tangible benefits with such a VRM.
But the PCH chips did not stint on cooling and installed a relatively large radiator.
And to organize active cooling, the board has a decent number of fan connectors - four, among which there is only one without PWM control.
Among the additional features, we note the presence of the MemOK! Button, which is responsible for starting the system when problematic memory modules are installed, and the GPU Boost switch, which allows overclocking the built-in video core.
Instead of the usual BIOS, modern motherboards use the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI), and the P8Z77-V LX is no exception. As a starting point when entering the firmware, ASUS programmers settled on the simplified EZ Mode, where the user can get brief information about the system, monitor key voltages, temperature and fan speed, set up a power plan and select a bootable drive.
If necessary, you can immediately go from it to the section you need to configure by pressing F3, or change this mode to standard Advanced Mode using hotkey F7.
The parameters responsible for fine-tuning the system are standard for ASUS solutions, located in the Ai Tweaker section. Despite the fact that the board belongs to a more accessible class, the key menu items remained in place. This includes setting the base frequency, and changing the processor multiplier, and controlling the technology. Turbo Boost and the mode of memory operation, and changing the timings with voltages.
When installing Ivy Bridge processors, the step of changing the RAM frequency is 266/200 MHz, and the maximum value can reach 3200 MHz.
The number of configurable delays is very large and may well be confusing to the uninitiated user.
Management of the power consumption and current limit has not changed at all in relation to the previously reviewed ASUS products, while the section for configuring the processor power subsystem has become much easier.
The list of adjustable voltages is small, but the main parameters are present:
| Parameter | Voltage range, V | Step, B |
| CPU Manual Voltage | 0,8—1,99 | 0,005 |
| CPU Offset Voltage | -0,635…+0,635 | 0,005 |
| DRAM Voltage | 1,185—2,135 | 0,005 |
| VCCSA Voltage | 0,735—1,685 | 0,005 |
| PCH Voltage | 0,735—1,685 | 0,005 |
| CPU PLL Voltage | 1,8—1,9 | 0,1 |
The next section UEFI - Advanced, is devoted to the settings of various controllers and interfaces, system logic and disk subsystem.
There you can also get information about the installed CPU and configure the technologies it supports and its multiplier.
The system is monitored in Monitor, in which, moreover, the operating modes of the connected fans can be configured, including silent work, maximum performance or dependence on the temperature of the processor.
Boot is responsible for booting the system, the welcome window at startup and the mode that the user will enter after logging into UEFI.
Proprietary utilities are used here as well. In the Tool section you can find EZ Flash Utility, O.C. Profile and SPD Information. The first is responsible for updating the firmware of the board, the second allows you to save up to eight profiles with custom settings, and the third program reads data from the SPD memory modules.
Complete software
WITH motherboard P8Z77-V LX comes with a small number of utilities, among which of particular interest is ASUS program Ai Suite II. Rather, it is even a software package that contains several applications under a single shell.
TurboV EVO is responsible for overclocking, and DIGI + VRM is responsible for managing the CPU power subsystem.
The power saving mode can be selected in the EPU, while the FAN Xpert + allows you to adjust the fan speed, while monitoring is carried out using the Probe II.
The statistics are maintained by the Sensor Recorder.
USB 3.0 Boost allows you to speed up the work of drives with the latest revision of the universal bus, and Network iCotrol will help you set priorities for this or that application, thereby dividing the total network traffic bandwidth for specific tasks
The rest of the programs are designed to update the board microcode, change the splash screen at system startup, obtain information about the system and configure the Ai Suite II complex itself. Overclocking
The overclocking potential of the motherboard in question was tested using a Core i5-3570K processor. With him, the "motherboard" without any problems earned on base frequency 108 MHz, which can be called the standard result for our CPU sample.
We also managed to overclock the 1866MHz Kingston memory kit with a total volume of 8GB to 2200MHz without any problems.
And even one of the two automatic overclocking profiles, the so-called Extreme, started working.
By iterating over the combinations of settings controlled only by the P8Z77-V LX personally, the board independently overclocked the processor to 4590 MHz. She raised the multiplier to x45, and increased the base one to 102 MHz. Everything would be fine, but the processor voltage was 1.41 V! That's too much great importance for Ivy Bridge, which results in a strong CPU heating.
If overclocked in manual mode when only one multiplier of the processor was changed, the "motherboard" behaved quite adequately only at a frequency of 4200 MHz, setting the voltage at 1.248 V. Further overclocking was accompanied by an increase in voltage to 1.4 V, which again had a negative effect on the thermal regime of our Core i5-3570K.
When choosing all the parameters on our own, we came across an interesting feature of the P8Z77-V LX - it does not allow setting the processor multiplier higher than x44! Even if the firmware says greater importance, then when the operating system is loaded, it is still the same x44.
Maybe the board is worried about the VRM, limiting overclocking? But why then did Auto Tuning technology overclock the processor to 4.5 GHz without any problems? To eliminate one of the factors, it was decided to fix several temperature sensors on the elements of the CPU power converter, the readings from which were taken by the Scythe Kaze multifunctional panel Master Pro... But, unfortunately, nothing special was noticed and on one of the hottest transistors the temperature reached a maximum of 64 ° C. Hmm, what if we increase the base frequency? Having raised the BCLK to 105 MHz, the system maintained full stability with a processor frequency of 4620 MHz, and the temperature of the power converter elements did not exceed 72 degrees Celsius, which is far from the critical point. Naturally, testing was carried out on an open bench and in a closed case the values can be much higher, which should not be forgotten when choosing the P8Z77-V LX with an eye on easy overclocking.
Looking at this behavior of a participant in our testing, it became interesting, and what will happen if you install a processor based on the Sandy Bridge core, for example, Core i7-2600K? But with him, there were no problems with increasing the CPU multiplier. We settled on a stable x48, only with this overclocking it was necessary to increase the core voltage to 1.425 V, which led to a strong heating of the VRM module.
Ultimately, our testing ended in the first minute of running the LinX program, as the transistors heated up to 90 ° C and their temperature continued to increase.
Test configuration
The board was tested with the following configuration:
- processor: Core i5-3570K (3.4 GHz, 6 MB L3 cache);
- memory: Kingston KHX1866C11D3P1K2 / 8G (2x4 GB, DDR3-1866, 10-11-10-30);
- cooler: Noctua NH-D14;
- thermal interface: Noctua NT-H1;
- video card: Gigabyte GV-N580SO-15I ( GeForce GTX 580);
- drive: Kingston SH100S3B / 120G (120 GB, SATA 6Gb / s);
- power supply unit: Seasonic SS-600HM (600 W);
- operating system: Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP1;
- chipset driver: Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility 9.3.0.1020;
- video card driver: GeForce 306.97.
In real applications, there is not much difference between the products, hardly anyone will notice with the naked eye a drop in performance by one or two frames per second at a frequency of 100 fps.
System power consumption
Energy consumption measurements were taken during the passage of all test packages... The peak value at maximum load and the average value during system downtime were recorded using the Basetech Cost Control 3000 instrument.
Surprisingly, today's test participant turned out to be less power hungry than the rest of the boards, and the difference reaches 7-8 W during the system load. But in idle time, it consumed one watt more than the ASRock product.
conclusions
ASUS motherboards are now associated with the high-end Republic of Gamers series that set world records for performance and overclocking. But in addition to high-end products, the company also produces affordable boards. And although the reviewed P8Z77-V LX will cost the user a little more than a hundred dollars, for this money he will get a high-quality and stable product. Of the direct and more affordable competitors, only ASRock solutions have the same wide firmware capabilities that will allow you to fine-tune the system and overclock it. But unlike motherboards from other manufacturers of the same price category, the P8Z77-V LX lacks heatsinks on the processor's power converter, which will limit the overclocking level. Moreover, the board works with Ivy Bridge in a very strange way and does not allow setting the multiplier higher than x44. If relatively serious overclocking is not the main criterion when choosing a "motherboard", then the considered model will become good choice for connoisseurs of this brand. Otherwise, it is better to take a closer look at other ASUS solutions of the same level, since there are plenty of them, or competitors' products.
Testing equipment was provided by the following companies:
- ASUS - ASUS P8Z77-M Pro motherboard;
- ASRock - ASRock Z77 Pro3 motherboard;
- Kingston - Kingston KHX1866C11D3P1K2 / 8G memory kit;
- MTI - ASUS P8Z77-V LX motherboard;
- Noctua - Noctua NH-L12 cooling system and NT-H1 thermal interface;
- Syntex - Seasonic SS-600HM power supply unit.
Despite all the tricks used by motherboard manufacturers to attract potential buyers, most users pay attention, first of all, to the retail cost of products. This is obvious, because besides motherboard to build a personal computer, you need to buy a fast processor, maximum RAM, a capacious hard drive, a high-performance video card, a case with a power supply, as well as some accessories that expand functionality and improve usability. Ultimately, it turns out to be quite a rather large amount, often exceeding the planned budget. And as a result, the user is forced to seek a compromise between his desires and material capabilities, often denying himself a particular purchase. Fortunately, some forward-thinking vendors are adding options to their motherboards that make it unnecessary to purchase some additional accessories. Today we will not only look at a rather interesting motherboard ASUS P8Z77-V designed to work with Intel LGA1155 processors, but also try to evaluate how this motherboard can help save money when assembling a mid-range personal computer.
But, before proceeding with a direct acquaintance with the new product, we suggest studying its specifications, given in the following table:
| Model | |
| Chipset | Intel Z77 Express |
| CPU socket | Socket LGA1155 |
| Processors | Core i7, Core i5, Pentium, Celeron (Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge) |
| Memory | 4 DIMM DDR3 SDRAM 1066/1333/1600/1800 * / 1866 * / 2000 * / 2133 * / 2200 * / 2400 * / 2600 * (* - OC), max 32 GB |
| PCI-E slots | 2 PCI Express 2.0 / 3.0 x16 (x16 + x0, x8 + x8) 1 PCI Express 2.0 [email protected] 2 PCI Express 2.0 x1 |
| PCI slots | 2 (ASMedia ASM1083) |
| Integrated video core | Intel HD Graphics |
| Video connectors | D-Sub, DVI-D, DisplayPort, HDMI, |
| Number of connected fans | 5 x 4pin |
| PS / 2 ports | 1 (combined) |
| USB ports | 10 x 2.0 (2 connectors on the back panel) 4 x 3.0 (2 rear connectors, Intel Z77) 2 x 3.0 (ASMedia ASM1042) |
| ATA-133 | - |
| Serial ATA | 2 x SATA 6Gb / s (Intel Z77) 4 x SATA 3Gb / s lanes (Intel Z77) 2 x SATA 6Gb / s channels (ASMedia ASM1061) |
| eSATA | - |
| RAID | 0, 1, 5, 10 (Intel Z77) |
| Built-in sound | Realtek ALC892 (7.1, HDA) |
| S / PDIF | Optic |
| Built-in network | Intel® 82579V (Gigabit Ethernet) |
| Firewire | - |
| COM | + (on board) |
| LPT | - |
| BIOS / UEFI | AMI UEFI |
| Form factor | ATX |
| Dimensions, mm | 305 x 224 |
| Additional features | Fan Xpert 2, MemOK !, NVIDIA SLI, SMART DIGI +, USB BIOS Flashback, WiFi GO! |
Contents of delivery
As a rule, ASUS products are easy to recognize due to the unified corporate style of packaging design, and the participant of today's review was no exception to this peculiar rule. In the design of the front surface of the P8Z77-V box, the central place is occupied by the SMART DIGI + logo, which means the presence of a digital power subsystem. It consists of two control chips: TPU (TurboV Processing Unit), which is responsible for overclocking, and EPU (Energy Processing Unit), which provides support for advanced energy-saving technologies. In addition, the motherboard has Wi-Fi function GO !, UASP (USB Attached SCSI Protocol) compliant and bandwidth control network connection using the Network iControl software. We also note the support of the BIOS Flashback technology, which optimizes the firmware update process.
WITH back side packaging, you can see an image of the motherboard, a short list of its specifications, as well as detailed description proprietary technologies. For example, Wi-Fi GO! allows you to turn your personal computer into a multifunctional access point with DLNA support... Fan Xpert 2 allows you to control the speed of all installed fans v automatic mode or manually set the speed of the "Carlsons", in fact, replacing an inexpensive reobass.
The ASUS P8Z77-V package contains:
- I / O Shield back panel cover;
- four SATA 6 Gb / s cables;
- a set of Q-connectors;
- NVIDIA SLI bridge:
- Wi-Fi wireless adapter GO!
- Wi-Fi antenna;
- DVD-ROM with drivers and software;
- user guide;
- instruction on Wi-Fi operation GO!
- See a brochure describing ASUS proprietary software.
The set of accessories is no different special variety However, it is nice to see among the additional accessories both the SLI bridge and the set of Q-connectors, which greatly facilitate assembly in tight cases. It should be noted that there is a separate wireless network adapter and an external antenna included in the package.
Design
The design of the new item strongly resembles that of the ASUS P8Z77-V Pro / Thunderbolt, with which we got acquainted during one of the previous tests. In fact, the heroine of today's review can be viewed as a simplified version of the older model, which has changed the configuration of the PCI-E 2.0 / 3.0 x16 slots and lacks support for the high-speed Thunderbolt interface. "Motherboard" P8Z77-V is made in standard dimensions for the ATX form factor 305x244 mm, so, despite the tight installation and the lack of free space on the PCB, all the main nodes are located in convenient places.
The motherboard is based on the Z77 Express chipset, which provides this model with compatibility with any Intel LGA1155 processors, overclocking support by changing the multiplication factor and maximum expansion options. The P8Z77-V has four DDR3 DIMM slots, which can accommodate modules with a total capacity of 32 GB. Concerning clock frequency RAM, then the maximum freedom will be given to the owners of 22nm Intel Ivy Bridge processors, which will be able to use modes up to 2800 MHz inclusive.
The motherboard is equipped with two PCI Express 2.0 / 3.0 x16 slots that allow you to build AMD configurations CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI. If a single video accelerator is used, the first slot will operate at maximum speed, and after adding the second video card, both PCI Express x16 slots will function according to the "x8 + x8" scheme. Recall that for the operation of graphic accelerators in PCI mode Express 3.0 requires a 22nm Intel Core i5 / i7 processor.
In addition, ASUS P8Z77-V has one PCI Express 2.0 x [email protected] which is connected to the system logic. To install standard expansion cards, the motherboard offers two PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots and a pair of PCI, for which the ASMedia ASM1083 controller is responsible.
The storage subsystem of the motherboard allows you to connect up to eight disk drives. The controller built into the Intel Z77 Express system logic is responsible for the operation of a pair of SATA 6 Gb / s and four SATA 3 Gb / s interfaces. Combining hard drives into RAID arrays levels 0, 1, 5, and 10, and the activation of proprietary Intel Smart Response and Rapid Start technologies. The novelty has two additional SATA 6 Gb / s ports, which are connected to the ASMedia ASM1061 chip. The motherboard design does not allow simultaneous use an additional SATA controller and the second PCI Express 2.0 x1 slot. But, all connectors have horizontal orientation so that interface cables won't get in the way when using the largest graphics cards.
Connect to local network Gigabit Ethernet is implemented on the basis of an Intel 82579V controller, and a removable WiFi GO! Module is responsible for supporting the wireless network! Inside which an Azurewave NE186H adapter is hidden. It is based on the Qualcomm Atheros AR9485 chip, which provides compatibility with IEEE 802.11b / g / n standards.
The sound subsystem P8Z77-V is based on the high-quality HD-audio codec Realtek ALC892, to output sound to digital receivers there is an optical S / PDIF output. Connecting peripherals is provided by ten USB 2.0 ports, two of which are brought to the rear panel, and six USB 3.0. Four channels of the universal high-speed bus of the third revision are serviced by the Intel Z77 Express system logic, and the remaining two - by an additional ASMedia ASM1042 controller.
Thus, on the back of the motherboard are located:
- combo PS / 2 port;
- a pair of USB 2.0 connectors and four USB 3.0;
- optical output S / PDIF;
- video outputs D-Sub, DVI-D, DisplayPort and HDMI;
- RJ-45 network port;
- six audio outputs.
Kit ASUS interfaces The P8Z77-V allows you to fully implement the expansion options built into the motherboard. Please note that the new product provides connection of up to three monitors at the same time, however, this option is available only to owners of 22nm Intel processors. Recall that the board supports LucidLogix Virtu MVP technology, thanks to which it is possible to combine the resources of the integrated and discrete video cards.
The lower left edge of the motherboard is interesting for the presence of several additional controls. There you can find EPU and TPU microswitches, as well as the BIOS_FLBK button.
The EPU switch activates the proprietary power saving technologies, and the TPU activates the automatic overclocking mode, which allows you to achieve an increase in performance without interfering with the firmware settings. The BIOS_FLBK button controls the USB BIOS Flashback function, which allows the control microcode to be updated from a removable storage device. It is noteworthy that this function does not require the installation of a central processor and RAM modules. We also note the presence on the printed circuit board of diagnostic LEDs Q-LED that display the boot process of the motherboard to help identify initialization problems for the various subsystems.
The P8Z77-V motherboard is equipped with effective system cooling. Excessive heat from power elements A pair of massive heat sinks is taken from the voltage converter.
Spring-loaded bolt mounting system provides secure hold while reinforcement plates help cool electronic components located on the back of the PCB.
A flat heatsink of impressive dimensions is responsible for removing heat from the system logic microcircuit, so you don't have to worry about overheating of the chipset in any operating mode.
The ASUS P8Z77-V voltage converter is built according to a twelve-channel scheme, where eight phases feed the computing cores, and four more - form the voltage for the integrated graphics adapter. Traditional MOSFETs are used as power elements, control of the VRM of the central processor is entrusted to the ASP1101 and ASP1000C controllers, to determine original manufacturer and the characteristics of which are interfered with by the changed marking. However, these controllers are known to support power cell switching frequency control, overheat and overcurrent protection, Loadline calibration, and shutdown of some of the unused phases at times of low CPU load.
Some of the electronic components of the VRM of the central processor are located on the back side of the printed circuit board, however, as we have already said, the amplifying plates of the radiators that cool the transistors help them to remove excess heat.
It only remains to add that the power to the voltage converter is supplied using the eight-pin EPS12V connector. In principle, the power supply unit of today's heroine is no different from the older model P8Z77-V Pro / Thunderbolt, so buyers have the right to count on a comparable level of overclocking.
As a result, we did not find any flaws in the design of the ASUS P8Z77-V motherboard, but positive aspects on the contrary - the mass! The latter include both high quality workmanship and rich functionality (including Wi-Fi support), and a powerful voltage converter, and a well-thought-out design of the cooling system. The lack of support for eSATA and FireWire can hardly be considered a serious problem, but otherwise, the expansion options will suit any, even the most demanding, user.
In early April 2012, Intel introduced the new 7th series chipsets. The expected improvements appeared in them, but they did not show any fundamental changes. This update to the system logic was rather a logical step before launching a new one. Motherboard manufacturers quickly filled the shelves with new motherboard models. And with the LGA 1155 socket, almost complete replacement of motherboards with chipsets of the sixth series with new ones took place. With today's review, we are starting to consider substantively new motherboards. And the first in line was ASUS P8Z77-V Pro. This fee can be classified as expensive, let's see what one of the market leaders offers us for over 6,500 rubles.
ASUS P8Z77-V Pro: board features
Asus motherboards have always been renowned for their quality. However, there are some other nice features as well. For example, the scope of delivery is usually more varied than that of alternative models from other manufacturers. And the quality of the accessories is up to the mark. Of course, this is often reflected in the price tag and is especially noticeable on expensive lines.
Asus accompanies its products with high-quality and varied software. We do not want to say that the software that other vendors use on their motherboards is bad. It's just that Asus utilities are noticeably distinguished both by their simplicity and clarity, and full support all proprietary technologies.
Let's briefly tell you about the remarkable technologies implemented in the Asus P8Z77-V Pro motherboard.
First of all, we will mention two very famous proprietary technologies: EPU and TPU. The first goal is energy saving. It is implemented at the hardware and software level and, using a PWM controller on the board, controls the power lines of the components, as well as the frequency characteristics (processor, memory, system bus). The second, also at the hardware and software level, increases system performance by dynamically setting aggressive frequency and power settings for the main components (memory, processor, integrated graphics core). Monitoring and adjustment of parameters occurs in real time to maintain stable system operation. The Asus P8Z77-V Pro has hardware switches on the motherboard to enable / disable these technologies
Another specific feature is called “MemOK!”. This is an intelligent technology that avoids memory problems, for example, when using different modules. The technology has been implemented in the form of a button on the motherboard, by pressing which the parameters of the modules are analyzed and the optimal operating mode is selected.
The arsenal contains the functions of USB ports, which other manufacturers are betting on: increased input to the ports USB currents(Ai Charger +), the ability to charge mobile devices via USB when the computer is off (USB Charger +), acceleration of devices with a USB 3.0 interface due to the implementation of the UASP protocol and caching at the driver level (USB 3.0 Boost).
Special attention is paid to the overclocking functions. If we are dealing with a Pro series motherboard, the component base, circuitry solutions, and software should satisfy the wishes of users who know firsthand about overclocking. The software comes with a proprietary ASUS utility TurboV EVO, with which you can set any settings available in UEFI motherboard boards. The option of intelligent automatic overclocking is also available here.
ASUS P8Z77-V Pro: package contents
Asus' motherboard bundles generally don't disappoint. In the case of ASUS P8Z77-V Pro, we found the following accessories in the box:
- SATA 6 Gb / s and SATA II cables (two each);
- bridge SLI;
- rear panel dummy with USB 2.0 and eSATA ports;
- Wi-Fi module with external antenna;
- a set of Q-Connectors;
- CD with software and drivers;
- user manual in English;
- guide to using the Wi-Fi GO!
- brief installation instructions.
A very nifty Wi-Fi GO! Solution. A small module connects via a comb at the back of the motherboard, and the connectors for connection lead out to the rear I / O panel. And the antenna itself looks nice from an aesthetic point of view. If you remember the external Intel DX79SI module, this one seems to be just a work of art. Well, this solution is perfectly complemented by the software part - the Wi-Fi GO! Utility! and its mobile versions that allow you to control your computer from smartphones (Android and iOS).
Compact Wi-Fi module with a nice outdoor antenna
Most often in kits, if an additional plug for the rear panel is attached, then only with USB ports. Here we also see a very useful eSATA port.
The set of documents is distinguished by a separate large manual describing how to work with the Wi-Fi module and the corresponding software.
The company has assigned a separate marketing name to a set of small connectors in a separate bag - Q-Connectors. They are designed to make it easier to connect devices through the internal headers of the motherboard.
ASUS P8Z77-V Pro: specifications
The main characteristics of the motherboard are presented in the table.
| Component | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Chipset | Intel Z77 |
| Supported microprocessors | Core i7, Core i5, Core i3 (Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge) |
| Power subsystem | 12 + 4 phase digital PWM |
| Supported RAM | 4 x DIMM DDR3 SDRAM, 1066/1333/1600/1866 (OC) / 2133 (OC), 2200 (OC) Intel XMP support, maximum volume 32 GB |
| Expansion slots | 2 x PCI Express 3.0 / 2.0 x16 (x16, x8 + x8) 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 (x4) 2 x PCI Express 2.0 x1 2 x PCI |
| Connectors / ports / controls on the board | 4 x SATA 6Gb / s 4 x SATA II 8 x USB 2.0 4 x USB 3.0 1 x SPDIF 6 x 4-pin fan headers BIOS reset button MemOK button! reset and power buttons ATX connector (24 pins) add. processor power supply, 8 pins (12 V) front panel audio outputs connector for WiFi connections module front panel indicator connectors |
| Rear Panel Connectors / Ports | 4 x USB 3.0 2 x USB 2.0 1 x PS / 2 (combo) 1 x D-SUB 1 x DVI-D 1 x HDMI 1 x Display Port 1 x Optical S / PDIF Out 1 x RJ-45 audio jacks |
| Form factor | ATX |
| Dimensions, mm | 305 x 244 |
Intel Z77 chipset is the most functional on this moment for the LGA 1155 platform. The most important distinctive features is the ability to split the PCI Express lines from the processor into two or three video cards, as well as overclocking by the multiplier of the K-series processors.
There are three full-size PCI Express slots on the board. The first two borrow lines from the processor and, depending on its architecture - Sandy Bridge or Ivy Bridge - work in accordance with specifications 2.0 and 3.0, respectively. The third slot has only four PCI Express 2.0 lanes derived from the chipset. Of the other expansion slots, there are two PCI Express x1 and two “older” PCIs.
Fan connectors are all 4-pin, which allows you to connect fans with controlled rotation speed
As for other interfaces, we note the small number of USB ports on the rear panel and the complete absence of high-speed interfaces for external storage devices - FireWire and eSATA. Fortunately, the cover for the rear panel of the case from the delivery set partially solves these problems. It is also noteworthy that there are more USB 3.0 ports on the back than in the previous revision of the interface.
The rear panel of ASUS P8Z77-V Pro features a full set of display connectors. On the one hand, it's good when you have a choice. On the other hand, they take up a lot of space where additional USB connectors... Although, given the possibility of displaying an image from the built-in Ivy processors Bridge of the graphics core for three monitors at once, the presence of at least three interfaces is logical.
ASUS P8Z77-V Pro: visual inspection, circuitry
In the production of the board, black textolite is used. Connectors, slots, radiators are made in light colors with a bias in blue. Despite the presence of different shades of blue / blue, the overall look is quite harmonious.
The power subsystem has 16 phases, of which four provide the operation of the graphics core built into the processor. The power circuit uses high-quality solid-state capacitors and chokes with ferrite cores. The circuit components are partially located on the back of the motherboard. And the cooling of the components is organized both from the front and from the back: from the back metal plates and radiators with good fins on the front.
Speaking of cooling. Heat pipes are not used. The main thermal interface is heat-conducting pads. Thermal grease is used only for cooling the chipset.
Let's look at a set of additional microcircuits. The manufacturer actively used Asmedia controllers: SATA controller 6 Gbps ASM1061 dual-port, TMDS converter for digital display ports, ASM1042 controller with dual additional ports USB 3.0 and PCI Express Bridge<->PCI ASM1083.
The TPU and EPU chips are prominently featured, and next to the SATA ports are hardware switches for those technologies.
Also on the board you can see the Intel WG82579V PHY chip for the gigabit controller built into the chipset. The Realtek ALC892 audio codec provides multi-channel audio.
The MemOK button is located next to the memory slots. A similar button for resetting UEFI settings is located at the bottom of the board, next to additional buttons on / off and reset.
The Wi-Fi header is located at the back between the stack of USB ports and display connectors.
ASUS P8Z77-V Pro: overclocking
To test the overclocking, we used an engineering sample of the Core i7-3770K processor. The capabilities of the demo samples may slightly differ from what the final versions of processors, released at retail, are capable of. However, we got a general impression of the board's capabilities.
The list of options in UEFI is comprehensive. We have presented the main ones in the table.
| Parameter | Range of change |
|---|---|
| Bclk, MHz | from 80 to 300 in steps of 0.1 |
| CPU Ratio | from 16 to 59 in steps of 1 |
| Maximum iGPU frequency, MHz | from 1100 to 3000 in steps of 50 |
| Vcore Offset, V | from 0.005 to 0.635 with a step of 0.005 |
| Vcore, V | from 0.8 to 1.99 with a step of 0.005 |
| Vmem, B | from 1.2 to 1.99 in 0.005 steps |
| Vpll, V | from 1.2 to 2.2 in 0.00625 steps |
| Vpch, V | from 0.8 to 1.7 with a step of 0.01 |
| Vccsa, B | from 0.8 to 1.7 with a step of 0.00625 |
| Vigpu, B | from 0.8 to 1.99 with a step of 0.005 |
We managed to reach a frequency of 4.7 GHz and at the same time the processor worked stably in everyday scenarios, however, under a prolonged load, the OS rebooted. We managed to achieve absolute stability at a frequency of 4.6 GHz.
ASUS P8Z77-V Pro: conclusion
Like most motherboards from Asus, today's model is a quality finished product. In our regular, we have listed the P8Z77-V Pro as one of the alternatives in its price range. It did not become a winner due to the fact that the competitor's board turned out to be cheaper and provided similar functionality, and in some aspects it seemed to us more attractive. But note that on the side of the Asus model is a redesigned and potentially more powerful processor power subsystem - all phases are doubled and controlled by specialized chips that monitor the balance of performance and economy.
At the time of publication, the ASUS P8Z77-V Pro motherboard was sold in Russia at a price of 6,500 rubles.
ASUS P8Z77-V Pro advantages:
- good delivery set;
- useful proprietary technologies;
- powerful power subsystem.
Disadvantages of ASUS P8Z77-V Pro:
- (no obvious shortcomings were identified).
P8Z77-V Deluxe is considered one of the most expensive solutions for system units based on socket LGA 1155. Naturally, it is considered the most expensive only after top-end solutions, such as the Maximus series, Gene from ASUS, etc. At the time of this writing, the cost this decision starts from 8 thousand rubles, which is not affordable for every potential buyer of system units based on LGA 1155. Why are we offered to overpay? After all, ASUS itself also has cheaper options, for example, ASUS P8Z77-V, ASUS P8Z77-V Pro, etc.
To date, the topic of Intel Z77 Express chipsets has been chewed on in the media in sufficient detail. The whole point of every research on a new chipset is that this product can hardly be called radically new. The Intel Z77 Express chipset turned out to be an upgrade, a "face lift", but not as a completely new product release. Yes, motherboards based on this chipset support Ivy Bridge processors, which have appeared on the market relatively recently. Older motherboards for Intel Sandy Bridge processors are also ready with new Intel Ivy Bridge processors after BIOS update. To date, the cost of motherboards based on Intel P67 Express and Intel Z68 Express chipsets has dropped significantly, so it is a mistake to say that products based on Intel Z77 Express have no competitors. There is competition, and it is arranged by Intel itself. The user is asked to pay a few tens of dollars in order to have modern solution or buy a product based on the previous chipset for less money.
To date, many motherboards based on Intel Z77 Express have been released, the differences of which are: 1) in the manufacturer's nameplate, 2) technical features, 3) complete set. ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe meets all three requirements. ASUS is deservedly in demand among users, it is even considered a Premium brand after motherboards from Intel itself. The product package is also decent, additional controllers allowed to solder the most various ports for data exchange, modification of the power supply systems of the board made it possible to increase the stability of the supplied voltage and increase energy efficiency.
Products based on ASUS Intel Z68 Express chipset have similar properties. These solutions are cheaper than products based on Intel Z77 Express. At the same time, there are not so many differences between motherboards of the same group. Both motherboards have modern data exchange ports USB 3.0, SATA III, which was provided by Intel partner companies by wiring additional controllers. New motherboards support various software Intel technology which, as a rule, do not bring any practical benefit to the user and are rarely used by them are Intel Rapid Start and Intel Smart Connect. New motherboards based on Intel Z77 Express have expanded functionality for working with multiple monitors, which may be of interest to many users in the working segment. As a rule, gamers are not interested in connecting multiple monitors, as well as using a system Intel block Z77 Express as an integrated graphics source.
Why didn't the new Intel Z77 Express chipset bring the variety everyone was expecting from it? Answer to this question quite simple and associated with the changing role of the chipset in modern computer platforms. All systems based on the LGA 1155 platform have central processing units with integrated northbridge. Previously, separate chipsets were called north bridges, which took over the function of organizing data exchange between board components, RAM and the central processor. Modern central Intel processors Sandy Bridge and Intel Ivy Bridge have integrated controllers random access memory, PCI-Express bus controllers, graphics core. This integration has led to the fact that north bridge in motherboards is a thing of the past. In this regard, Intel is left with a fairly simple task - systematic work on the functions of the remaining south bridge.
Already within the framework of Intel Z68 Express motherboards, manufacturers have learned how to solder additional controllers in order to eliminate certain inherent shortcomings of this chipset. Intel Having released the Intel Z77 Express chipset, it achieved a fairly good task - it provided the market with motherboards of different cost and origin. Cheap motherboards are based solely on the base chipset; many additional controllers are soldered on more expensive solutions. Equipment
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ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe motherboard comes in a standard black box. The main advantage of the solution is the presence of a twenty-channel modified power supply system based on two digital controllers, the presence of advanced overclocking capabilities, additional channels data exchange - Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Among the listed features solutions It should be noted that on the LGA1155 platform the overclocking potential most of all depends on the processor itself (the presence of a free multiplier).
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The reverse side of the box describes in more detail the features of the modified power system, new data transmission technologies and disaster recovery BIOS of the motherboard.
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The package includes:
- motherboard,
- instruction,
- disk with drivers,
- bridge SLI,
- connectors ASUS Q-connector,
- six SATA cables,
- plug for I / O ports,
- expansion card with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules. External examination of the motherboard
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The ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe motherboard has an ATX dimension. The cooling system is represented by passive components in the form of four radiators, two of which are connected by a copper heat pipe.
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Among the expansion slots on the motherboard, it should be noted the presence of three PCI-Express 16x ports, four PCI-Express 1x ports. The bottom PCI-Express 16x slot always operates in 8x mode. The first PCI-Express 16x slot has standard dimensions and operates in 16x mode. The second PCI-Express 16x slot always works in 8x mode, when it is activated, other technical issues are possible.
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There are buttons on the motherboard to activate energy saving mode, overclocking, clearing CMOS, turning off and on the system. On the same level with the buttons is the CMOS error panel. We seem to have no mistakes.
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Soldered on the motherboard Intel controllers Z78 Express, Marvell® PCIe 9128, ASMedia® PCIe, which provided 4 SATA III ports, four SATA II ports, two eSATA ports. Motherboard BIOS
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The motherboard has a UEFI BIOS with a standard design for ASUS systems. The capabilities of this BIOS are more than wide, but to overclock LGA1155 processors, you need to purchase solutions with an unlocked multiplier - marked "K" at the end of the name. Conclusion
The new Intel Z77 Express chipset quite disappointed many users, as it turned out to be the most expensive among the existing chipsets for the LGA1155 platform and with almost the same final functionality.
Motherboard ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe looks more than worthy and has practically no negative reviews from buyers, so it is recommended for purchase if you have the necessary funds for it. The motherboard supports all modern technologies- USB 3.0, SATA III, PCI-Express 3.0, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The unique power supply system of the central processor will provide the overclocked central processor with a stable voltage.
A justified question arises: "Is it worth overpaying for this product or purchasing the Intel Z68 Express solution?" In each case, the decision must be individual. If you have funds for the ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe product, why not get it? If you are limited in finances, then indeed, you need to choose one of the solutions for Intel bases Z68 Express. The purchase of one or another motherboard does not in any way affect the final performance of the processors, so there is no need to overpay for Intel Z77 Express either.
