We tested: LGA6 motherboard with 7 types of 1155-series PCH

ASUS P8H77-M PRO

With this ASUS model, we also get an insight into the world of the H77. Well of course this is not a very peculiar world, if we had to describe in headlines, the H77, then we can say that this PCH is a tuned Z77. In addition to overdriving, he knows everything his most knowledgeable brother, Intel Smart Response, Intel Rapid Start, Intel Smart Connect and everything else. Then why is the H77 good? Obviously, for business reasons, it might be worth calculating with it, since if you’re not thinking about a Ks CPU and don’t care about tuning at all, then why pay more for the Z77 if you get practically the same price with the H77.

A good example of this is the P8H77-M PRO, which is a small but knowledgeable board. The M notation here also informs us that we are dealing with a micro-ATX size, i.e. we can calculate with dimensions of 24,5 × 24,5 cm. The B75 model was an entry-level motherboard, which in turn was a mid-range piece smeared with all its delicacies. Although the black printed circuit board is square, the layout follows standard practice. The LGA1155 socket is in place, next to the L-shaped power supply circuits, with 4 + 1 + 1 phase Digi + VRM system. Ribs are only on one side, curved lamellar, turquoise color, powered by a 24 + 8 pin power connector.

In addition to the LGA1155 socket, four DIMM sockets are waiting for their destiny to be fulfilled, i.e. to plant DDR3 modules in them, It opens up to 32 GB, up to 2200 MHz clock, with two-channel mode, XMP support. MemOk has been added to the 24-pin power supply! microswitch, if the system might not boot with the newly installed memories, the system will search for the optimal settings after pressing the button, and then the machine has a good chance of starting. From here on the left you will find a USB outlet for the front panel USB panel, which can also be found in the box among the accessories.

The rib of the H77 matches the other in color, it is very tiny, flattened, it does not hinder the installation of VGA cards, its size also requires low heat production. The SATA section consists of 7 connectors. One is found next to the aforementioned USB terminal, the remaining 6 is rotated in their usual position at the edge of the PCB. The latter come from the H77, the two white SATA3, while the remaining 4 are blue SATA2. The first pansy is the child of the Marvell controller at 6 Gbps. In the bottom row we find the usual pin terminals. When it comes to expansion rails, size has to be kept in mind, I think it’s still a micro-ATX board. However, we can even build a multi-card system, as two full-width PCI Express busses are integrated, though the second can only work in × 4 mode.

Regardless, CrossFireX can be turned on, as well as Lucid Virtu MVP if the appropriate conditions are met. Between the two wide rails, two short ones await the command, these are ×1 PCI Express ports. A Realtek 8111F card is responsible for managing the wired network, which is also connected to the service called network iControl, which, through a utility, allows us to prioritize, regulate, or even block the network bandwidth available to individual applications, i.e. we dictate how much to whom. we share a card".

The creation of sound is also in the hands of a Realtek controller, it is an ALC 892 model with support for 8 channels. Of course, the usual ASUS "tricks" have not disappeared either, the EPU works, there is UEFI BIOS (CrashFree), FanExpert, EzFlash and others that we have known and loved for a long time. With the help of GPU Boost, we can squeeze significant additional performance from the integrated graphics, while USB 3.0 Boost can even transfer 5% more than the standard 70 Gb/s speed under certain conditions (we will cover this in more detail later). .

Let's look at the front panel offer:

It starts with a combo PS / 2 and two USB 2.0, then continues with an optical output, a native HDMI and a DisplayPort (1.1a - 3D support). For older displays, D-Sub (VGA) and DVI are also missing, followed by a 6 Gbps eSATA and two USB 3.0 ports. They show the RJ45 LAN and two USB 2.0 ports, and finally the analog jack plugs.

Full specification:

ASUS P8Z77 WS

The P8Z77 WS is one of the best and best equipped Z77-based models from ASUS. So it is not surprising that this is a high-end product with the right features and purchase price. The board is ATX standard, so it has dimensions of 30,5 × 24,4 cm. Around the LGA1155 socket, the power supply circuits lie in the standard way, the board works with a 20 (!) Phase Digi + VRM system (16 for the CPU, 4 for the iGPU). The elements of the U-shaped rib system are metallic in color, thick, thickly lamellar, create a robust effect, and are connected by a flattened, nickel-plated copper heat pipe.

Underneath the bottom rib is a PLX PCI Express 3.0 multiplex chip, which is required for 4-way multi-card systems. For memories, the product offers four DIMM slots in the order and manner, with dual-channel support for DDR3 modules, up to 32 GB capacity, up to 2800 MHz (OC) frequency, even using XMP profiles. Power is provided in a 24 + 8 pin configuration, we will find MemOs right to the right of the 24 pin power connector! and the TPU microswitch, as well as an additional Molex power supply that should be used when building multi-card systems.

The front USB 3.0 port also rests here. The ribs of the Z77 PCH are not too big here either, they are sufficiently flattened, the lamellas have a brushed aluminum cover plate with a stylish ASUS inscription. The SATA connectors sit neatly in a row next to each other on the edge of the PCB, rotated 90 degrees. The two white SATA are 6 Gb / s, the four light blue are 3 Gb / s, they come from the Z77. The two darker blues are also SATA3, thank you letters should be addressed to the Marvell PCIe 9128 controller IC. Also on the bottom line were curiosities in addition to the usual pin terminals.

These include the EPU microswitch, as well as the debug LED (WS diag. LED), WS 3-color LED, and physical control buttons (START, RESET), but what we haven’t seen before is a standard USB connector integrated into the PCB. Well, ASUS has stepped this up now, we wouldn’t be surprised if it was the first in the world. This solution is called the Quick Gate, and its existence is primarily for convenience. Extra is the fact that the card also provides support for ASUS SASsaby series cards. Wired network connections are provided by two Intel 82574L gigabit controllers (Dual Server Class), and the sound is provided by a Realtek ALC 898 chip with support for 8 channels and other important standards. In terms of expansion rails, we are here in abundance.

Not less than 3.0 pieces of full-width PCI Express 4 rails were obtained, × 8 / × 8; × 16 / × 8 / × 8; With × 8 / × 8 / × 8 / × 8 modes, both 4-way SLI and 4-way CrossFireX are supported, as is Lucid Virtu MPV, of course this has nothing to do with the number of PCI Express busses. Among the many full-width busses, there were two × 1 PCI Express sockets, and another surprise, which can be seen between the 2nd and 3rd PCI Express × 16 busses. This little black plastic battery carries an ASUS logo on its own, playing a red light game in action. It has no special function, but it looks good. All in all, the P8Z77 WS looks to be designed for 24/7 use and also offers some features saved from the server world, great for gaming and tuning in a desktop environment, built on a real powerhouse based on it.

Description of the back offer:

We were pleased to have the combi PS / 2 connector added, along with two USB 2.0 companies. These are followed by two USB 3.0 and two eSATA (6 Gb / s), followed by the first RJ45 Ethernet port and two more USB 2.0. It comes with a DVI connector for IGP and possibly Lucid Virtu MVP utilization, followed by an optical audio output and a USB BIOS Flashback switch. The second RJ45 LAN port in the queue arrives and we get two more USB 3.0 ports. The closing word again belongs to the 6 jack connectors.

Full specification:

ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe

This page is not included in the test, so the goal of this model will not be to describe the hardware (it is similar to WS anyway), but to examine in more detail some of the old and new technologies and services used by ASUS that is part of the repertoire. These are worth checking out, as the other two cards also have a lot of the capabilities that Deluxe knows, as do many other ASUS 7 Series models.

Fan Xpert 2

As the name implies, this capability has to do with fans, i.e. cooling. It is an extremely meticulously controllable control device for the system fans. It offers several ways to use it. The first is Easy, this is the simplest, as the controller automatically sets what you need. FAN Auto tuning performs hardware-level parameterization, examines the current characteristics and calibrates the speeds accordingly, the results can also be activated by clicking for each air mixer. In Informative mode, we get detailed information about each fan and can take the necessary steps ourselves. The Advanced mode is actually simple as well, as it offers RPM fixation for each aerator. Fixed speed, fixed noise level, fixed air delivery - this is also possible if this is what we need!

USB 3.0 Boost

Tangentially, it has already been mentioned, it promises extra speed. The USB 3.0 standard does not promise a slow maximum data transfer rate of 5 Gbps in principle, but ASUS even wanted to develop this in such a way that ASUS products support the UASP - USB Attached SCSI protocol, which latest USB 3.0 standard. This allows you to increase the data transfer speed of compatible USB 3.0 by up to an additional 70%. The ASUS application automatically manages the service, no user intervention is required, all we have to do is enjoy the speed (if we can use such a device). More detailed information about the service ITT are located.

USB BIOS Flashback

Many years ago, a BIOS update came up with a Russian roulette, many of whom were hesitant about it, so they missed the fixes, the new feature. Nowadays, a BIOS update can be considered virtually risk-free, who does it this way. For example, ASUS has chosen the path that they do not have an irreversible failed BIOS update. All we have to do is place the BIOS file on a USB drive, connect it to the motherboard, and press the BIOS Flashback button on the back, then the board will do everything hardware. The genius of the thing is that almost nothing is needed. No need for a display, no need for memory, in fact, not even a processor, just some power. Why is this good? Sometimes the motherboard we bought rested in that store for months, the BIOS is already out of date. We add a completely fresh processor, the microcode of which is not known by the BIOS of the page, ie it does not start without updating the BIOS. So far! Since the USB BIOS Flashback does not require a CPU, we can easily solve this problem with the help of the service!

USB Charger +

 We carry a thousand types of gadgets that require charging. Fortunately, the USB connector is now quite common for chargers as well, so there’s nothing stopping you from charging your device through your computer up to three times faster, even when your PC is asleep or turned off. Be it your mobile phone, PDA, tablet, anytime it comes in handy.

Wi-Fi Go!

The essence of the service could be the "cable-free life", we have touched on it before. It starts with the factory-installed WiFi module for the motherboard, typically N standard way, with two antennas, and also with Bluetooth 3.0 support. In the first step, we created a WiFi Hotspot, which becomes available to any device, i.e. it even triggers the use of a router. It allows remote control of the PC via a tablet or even a smartphone, but we can even stream HD material to the TV via DLNA. Of course, it is also possible to exchange files between individual devices, everything can be connected to everything with the help of WiFi, which saves time and money. The sound of the picture says more than the words, the two videos below very well explain and give a sense of the WiFi Go! skills: