Review and testing of motherboard ASUS GRYPHON Z87. Updating the BIOS using USB BIOS Flashback Nuances of working in nominal mode

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Guardian Angel...1-3 ASUS EZ DIY...1-3 ASUS Exclusive Features...1-4 Other special features...1-4 Before you proceed...1-5 Motherboard ... Power connection...2-7 SATA device connection...2-8 Front I/ O Connector...2-9 Expansion Card installation...2-10 Basic installation 2.2 2.3 BIOS update utility...2-11 Motherboard rear and audio connections...2-13 Rear I/O connection...2-13 2.3.1 iii Contents Safety information...vi About this guide...vii GRYPHON Z87 specifications summary...ix Installation tools and components...xiv Package contents...xiii Chapter 1: 1.1 1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 ...

GRYPHON Z87 User's Manual

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... Onboard Devices Configuration...3-35 APM...3-37 Network Stack...3-38 3.6.1 3.6.2 3.6.3 3.6.4 3.6.5 3.6.6 3.6.7 3.6. 8 3.6.9 3.7 3.8 3.9 Monitor menu...3-39 Boot menu...3-43 Tools menu...3-49 ASUS EZ Flash 2 Utility...3-49 ASUS O.C. Profile...3-49 ASUS SPD Information...3-50 3.9.1 3.9.2 3.9.3 3.10 3.11 4.1 4.2 Exit menu...3-51 Updating BIOS...3-52 Installing an operating system...4-1 Support DVD information...4-1 Running the support DVD...4-1 Obtaining the software manuals...4-3 AI Suite...

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4.3.3 4.3.4 4.3.5 4.3.6 4.3.7 4.3.8 4.3.9 4.3.10 Remote GO!...4-12 USB 3.0 Boost...4-18 EZ update...4-19 Network iControl...4-20 USB BIOS Flashback Wizard...4-22 USB Charger+...4-24 System Information...4-25 Audio configurations...4-26 Chapter 5: 5.1 5.1.1 5.1.2 5.1.3 5.1.4 5.2. 1 5.2.2 5.2.3 RAID configurations...5-1 RAID definitions...5-1 Installing Serial ATA hard disks...5-2 Setting the RAID item in BIOS...5-2 Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Option ROM utility...5-3 Creating a RAID driver...

GRYPHON Z87 User's Manual

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... to find more information Refer to perform when installing system components. The ASUS website provides updated information on the motherboard. These documents are not part of the BIOS parameters are also provided. optional documentation ASUS websites 2. Refer to change system settings through the BIOS setup menus. This chapter describes the RAID configurations. Your product package...

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USB 3.0 Boost featuring speedy USB 3.0 transmission - AI Suite 3 - ASUS Q-Slot- ASUS Q-DIMM- ASUS crash free BIOS 3 - ASUS O.C. Multilanguage BIOS 1 x 19-pin USB 3.0/2.0 connector supports additional 2 USB ports (moss ... BIOS download scheduling- ASUS MyLogo 2 Internal I/O connectors - Profile - ASUS Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED) - ASUS EZ Flash 2 - EZ update- Disk Unlocker - button 1 x Clear CMOS jumper 1 x DirectKey button 1 x DRCT(DirectKey) header 1 x TPM header 3 x Thermal Sensor connectors (continued on the next page) xi GRYPHON Z87...

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...of a button. It also allows you to use the software package. USB BIOS Flashback USB BIOS Flashback offers a hassle-free updating solution for UEFI BIOS updates, and download the latest BIOS automatically. It allows you to press the key during boot-up. 1.1.6 ASUS Exclusive Features USB 3.0 Boost ASUS USB 3.0 Boost, which supports USB 3.0 standard UASP (USB Attached SCSI Protocol...

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... 1. The MemOK! If the installed DIMMs still fail to its default settings. If you that the BIOS has been restored to boot after using the MemOK! function. Replace the DIMMs with the motherboard may cause...the system reboots and test the next set is tested. switch to the latest BIOS version from the ASUS website at www. asus.com. due to BIOS overclocking, press the MemOK! Installing DIMMs that you to fine-tune performance when ...® OS environment. 1.2.6 Onboard buttons allow you download and update to boot and load the BIOS default settings.

GRYPHON Z87 User's Manual

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... storage device to the optical drive and install the USB BIOS Flashback wizard. To use a USB 2.0 storage device to save the latest BIOS version for three seconds, and the BIOS is updated automatically. ASUS GRYPHON Z87 2-11 Chapter 2 We recommend you to the USB port, press the USB BIOS Flashback button for better compatibility and stability. 3. 4. 5. Place the...

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... system fails to improper USB flash drive connection, BIOS file name error, or incompatible BIOS file format. If FLBK_LED flashes for assistance Chapter 2 2-12 Chapter 2: Basic installation BIOS updating poses some risks. If the BIOS program is not working properly due to reboot, please contact your local ASUS Service Center for five seconds and turns into...

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Some legacy USB devices must update their maximum supported pixel clocks: - Multi-VGA output supports up from S5 mode Orange 100 Mbps connection ** Audio 2, 4, 6, or 8-channel configuration Port Light Blue Lime ... activity Ready to design of the Intel® 8 series chipset, all USB devices connected to three displays under Windows® OS environment, two displays under BIOS, and one display under Windows® OS environment and after the USB 3.0 driver installation. We strongly recommend that you connect USB 3.0 devices to USB 3.0 controller...

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... that are needed for this user manual refers to enable a more flexible and convenient mouse input. ASUS GRYPHON Z87 3-1 Chapter 3 When downloading or updating the BIOS file, rename it as your operating system. Chapter 3: BIOS setup BIOS setup 3.1 Knowing BIOS 3 The new ASUS UEFI BIOS is a Unified Extensible Interface that complies with UEFI architecture, offering a user-friendly interface that requires...

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... program. Press the power button to turn the system off then back on how to erase the RTC RAM via the Clear CMOS jumper The BIOS setup program does not support the bluetooth devices. Do this section are for reference purposes only, and may not exactly match what you see on... You can be used under the Exit menu or press hotkey . See section 3.10 Exit Menu for information on . 3.2 Use the BIOS Setup to update the BIOS or configure its routines. Press the reset button on your screen Ensure that a USB mouse is connected to your motherboard if you do not press , ...

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...malicious buffer overflow attacks when combined with extended CPUID functions. Configuration options: Chapter 3: BIOS setup CPU Configuration Intel Adaptive Thermal Monitor Enables the overheated CPU to throttle ... Limit CPUID Maximum When set to , this menu show the CPU-related information that the BIOS automatically detects. The items in each processor package. Configuration options: Chapter 3 3-26 Execute Disable... supporting OS (SuSE Linux 9.2, RedHat Enterprise 3 update 3).

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... problem using the motherboard support DVD or a USB flash drive when the BIOS file fails or gets corrupted. Carefully follow the instructions of BIOS, DO NOT manually update the BIOS. Updating BIOS The following utilities allow you to update your BIOS if necessary. ASUS BIOS updater: updates and back up the BIOS in DOS environment using a USB flash drive. For details, refer to...

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...flash disk that contains the latest BIOS, and then press . Press to switch to the Folder Info field. Enter the Advanced Mode of the BIOS setup program. To update the BIOS using this utility, download the latest BIOS from the ASUS website at www. asus.com. ASUS GRYPHON Z87 3-53 Chapter 3 Press the Up.../Down arrow keys to find the BIOS file, and then press to find the USB ...

ForewordIn connection with the transition to a new operating system Microsoft Windows 8.1 and a slight change in the configuration of the test bench, we have already started the second series of reviews of motherboards based on the Intel Z87 logic and designed for LGA1150 processors. List of tested models has already exceeded a dozen and we can say that we managed to get acquainted with the bulk of the most interesting boards. Of course, it is unrealistic to test absolutely all boards, if only because the manufacturers are systematically expanding the range and regularly announce new models. In addition, a number of boards that are quite attractive from different points of view have not yet fallen into the sphere of our interests. For example, from ASUSTeK motherboards designed for gamers and overclockers, which belong to the ROG (The Republic of Gamers) series, we tested only one model, but there are five varieties of such LGA1150 motherboards, and a series of high-reliability motherboards with an extended warranty period "TUF" (The Ultimate Force) generally remained outside of our attention.

As a matter of fact, it is the traditionally armored model Asus Sabertooth We were going to study the Z87 in the next review, but then we thought about it and changed our plans. The fact is that first of all we usually test full-size ATX form-factor boards or even large-sized E-ATX models, meanwhile, microATX format boards are gradually becoming more and more attractive. Their width is the same as that of ATX boards (although it may be less), and the length is shorter and equal to the width, they are usually square with sides of 244 mm. The difference in length is reflected in the number of expansion card slots, which can only be four, and not seven, as on ATX boards. It may seem that microATX boards differ from full-sized boards only in a shorter length and because of this, a smaller number of connectors, but this is not entirely true. Modern computers rarely include more than two expansion cards, four slots would be sufficient in most cases. Not because of this enthusiasts dislike microATX models, but because they are inconvenient for assembly and modification.

The optimal places for placing elements on boards have long been known. Most manufacturers follow the principles worked out over the years, and ATX boards with an unsuccessful design have almost ceased to be encountered. The main rule when creating an ATX board is to place all the necessary features in the most convenient way. For a microATX board, this rule sounds similar, but the essence is fundamentally different - you need to somehow place the necessary elements in a limited area. As a result, you have to suffer with microATX boards, where the video card slot is so close to the processor socket that it is impossible to install a large cooling system. Where it is difficult to change or add memory modules, because the latches cannot be opened, because they rest against the video card. Where a large expansion card covers the SATA ports, the power connector sticks out from somewhere in the middle of the board, and you can’t even remember about the optimal location and a sufficient number of other elements, such as fan connectors. Reduced board dimensions do not greatly affect the size reduction system block, so the enthusiast, losing almost nothing, switched to ATX boards and for a long time forgot about slightly more compact and inexpensive, but very inconvenient microATX models.

However, all this was in the past, but now the situation is changing. Modern chipsets include all the necessary basic features and support current interfaces, so there is no need to use a large number of additional controllers to create a board. Even if additional chips are required, production rates have decreased and network controller or audio codec chips have become much more compact than before. Large IDE, FDD and LPT connectors have disappeared from the boards, modern SATA and USB occupy a smaller area, which also saves space. It is quite possible that we have been held captive by outdated delusions for too long. By choosing ATX motherboards, we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to purchase a microATX model of equal capabilities, only a little cheaper. In this regard, we decided to make a short digression and, as part of the second series of reviews, study several microATX boards from different manufacturers. Keeping in mind the need to look at the TUF series board, we thought that the Asus Gryphon Z87 motherboard would be a good starter model.

Packaging and equipment

Box design with motherboard The Asus Gryphon Z87 is somewhat different from the usual ASUSTeK models, but the principles remain the same. On the front side we see the name of the board and logos, among which stands out an emblem reminiscent of a five-year warranty period. On the reverse side you can find an image of the board and its rear connector panel, a brief list of technical specifications and information about some of the features.

The list of included accessories is unusually long for such a small board. It includes:

four Serial ATA cables with metal latches, half with straight, half with L-shaped connectors, all cables are specially designed for connecting SATA 6 Gb / s devices (they differ in white inserts on the connectors);
flexible bridge for connecting two video cards in SLI mode;
rear panel cover (I/O Shield);
a set of adapters "Asus Q-Connector", which includes modules to simplify the connection of buttons and indicators on the front panel of the system unit, as well as a USB 2.0 connector;
user guide;
a poster with brief assembly instructions;
certificate of reliability indicating the methods of testing components;
notice of a five-year warranty period;
DVD with software and drivers;
"Powered by ASUS" sticker and "TUF INSIDE" decal for the system unit.

Design and features

The description of the basic features of the various motherboards that we test often looks similar, almost the same, which is not at all surprising, since they are all based on a set Intel chips Z87. And now we can say that the Asus Gryphon Z87 board supports all modern models of LGA1150 processors. In this she is helped by a digital nutrition system that works according to the 8 +2 formula, created on the basis of high-quality elements. However, already at this moment you can find differences, because the element base, undergoing intensive testing, is approximately the same as in products intended for the needs of the army or for creating servers, allows ASUSTeK to provide a five-year warranty period for TUF series boards. Four slots for DDR3 memory modules can accommodate a maximum amount of 32 GB, as on other models, but the maximum frequency is 1866 MHz, and not the usual 2933 or even 3000+ MHz. However, do not be afraid of this limitation. The BIOS of the board allows you to set any available coefficients for setting the memory frequency, so that our modules worked on the board at a frequency of 2133 MHz no worse and no slower than on other models.

Six SATA 6 Gb / s ports are enough for a small board, it successfully manages without additional storage controllers, like many other models of this form factor, but the set of connectors for expansion cards is again non-standard. Since the Intel Z87 logic set allows the division of processor lines PCI Express, it would be quite expected to see two PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots, although many models manage with just one. However, the Asus Gryphon Z87 board has three PCI Express x16 slots at once, and support for AMD Quad-GPU CrossFireX or NVIDIA Quad-GPU SLI video card collaboration technologies is implemented. The first two slots belong to the third generation of this interface and can share PCI-E 3.0 processor lanes (1x16 or 2x8). The third is based on the second generation chipset lines and provides x4 maximum speed. In addition, the board is equipped with one PCI Express 2.0 x1 slot, but there was no place for the usual PCI slot.

Rejection of outdated interfaces is a conscious decision typical for many motherboards from ASUSTeK. In Asus Gryphon Z87 you will not find a serial COM port, you will not find PS / 2 connectors for a keyboard or mouse on the rear panel, and there is even no analog D-Sub video output. In general, the back panel of connectors does not inspire, there is too much unused free space left, however, the basic set of necessary interfaces is present:

four USB port 2.0, and four more can be connected to two internal connectors on the board;
DVI-D and HDMI video connectors;
four USB 3.0 ports (blue connectors) appeared thanks to the capabilities of the Intel Z87 logic set, and two additional USB 3.0 ports can be output using one internal connector;
connector local network (network adapter built on the gigabit controller Intel WGI217V);
optical S / PDIF, as well as six analog audio connectors, which are provided by the eight-channel Realtek ALC892 codec.

By the way, we completely forgot about one characteristic feature of motherboards that belong to the TUF line. The Asus Gryphon Z87 model belongs to this series only by logos and characteristic camouflage coloring, but where is the famous armor? It is, but now it is not installed initially, it can be purchased separately if desired. Gryphon Armor Kit includes panels for both sides motherboard, a screwdriver and the necessary set of fasteners, dust plugs and a small fan with a diameter of 35 mm. So our claims are not entirely fair, the free space above the DVI-D video output is left on purpose, even in the cover of the rear panel connectors there are holes for air exchange in this place, since this optional fan is planned to be placed behind.

We have often seen plugs that protect infrequently used connectors from clogging with dust. Modern motherboards are almost always equipped with video outputs on the rear panel, but many of them are focused on the use of discrete graphics cards. Therefore, some manufacturers began to install protective caps and plugs for video outputs, and some models are supplied with several inserts to protect USB connectors. In addition to the listed plugs, the set of boards of the TUF series includes Dust Defenders brackets for unoccupied slots of expansion cards and memory modules, but plugs for audio connectors were encountered for the first time. Very nice.

We just have to look at the board layout to appreciate the convenience of its design and pay attention to additional features. For example, for small microATX boards, only three fan headers are usually considered sufficient, but the Asus Gryphon Z87 model has an unprecedented number of fan headers. There are seven connectors in total, two of them are processor, and the only three-pin is for a small additional fan. Of the buttons, the first one should be mentioned "USB BIOS Flashback", which will help you update the firmware without a complete system assembly, it is enough to supply power to the board. In addition to it, there is a “MemOK!” button, which makes it possible to successfully start even if there are problems with RAM and the DirectKey button, which allows you to enter the BIOS without additional actions.

It is worth noting the Q-Design technology complex, which simplifies the assembly and operation of a system based on ASUSTeK motherboards. The Asus Gryphon Z87 board is equipped with almost all the features included in this complex, with the exception of the POST code indicator, however, the Q-LEDs (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED) will help determine the source of problems at startup, with their help diagnostics are less accurate, but much easier and faster to perform. "Q-Slot" are convenient wide latches on the slots for video cards, and "Q-DIMM" are one-sided latches for slots for memory modules, they are most appropriate on a small board, as they allow you to replace or add modules without having to remove the installed video card . Q-Shield” is a plug for the rear panel (I/O Shield), but instead of the extruded tabs that tend to get inside the connectors during installation, there is a soft electrically conductive gasket on its reverse side. "Q-Connector" is a set of adapters that includes modules to simplify the connection of buttons and indicators on the front panel of the system unit and one internal USB 2.0 connector.

All major specifications We compiled the Asus Gryphon Z87 motherboard into a single table, and by clicking on it, you can open a summary comparison table with the specifications of all previously tested LGA1150-board models:

ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional;
ASRock Z87 Extreme4 ;
ASRock Z87 Extreme6/ac ;
Asus Maximus VI Hero ;
Asus Z87-Deluxe;
Asus Z87-K
Asus Z87 Pro ;
Gigabyte G1 Sniper 5 ;
Gigabyte GA-Z87X-D3H;
Gigabyte GA-Z87X-OC;
Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD4H;
Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD5H;
Intel DZ87KLT-75K;
MSI Z87-G43 ;
MSI Z87-GD65 GAMING ;
MSI Z87 MPOWER.

BIOS Features

In previous reviews, we have repeatedly considered the BIOS capabilities of LGA1150 boards from ASUSTeK in sufficient detail. This time we have a small board, but its BIOS is almost exactly the same, only its color scheme is different, so we will just skim through the sections and refresh the main features in memory. As before, by default, when entering the BIOS, we are greeted by a simplified “EZ Mode”. It allows you to find out the basic characteristics of the system, select an economical or productive mode of operation, and set the order in which boot devices are polled, simply by dragging them with the mouse. In addition to the ability to set the correct time and date, as well as select the mode of operation of the fans, you can apply the X.M.P. profiles. for memory modules and see information about connected drives. The "F7" key is used to switch from "EZ Mode" to "Advanced Mode", or you can use the "F3" key, which allows you to quickly move to one of the most commonly used BIOS sections.

You can switch from “EZ Mode” to “Advanced Mode” every time you enter the BIOS, you can use the F3 key, which, by the way, works in all other sections of the BIOS, but it will be much more convenient if you make “Advanced Mode” start in 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, it is possible to change the BIOS interface language, including Russian. In the "Security" subsection, you can set user and administrator access passwords. However, the "Main" section is no longer the first in the list, before it appeared new section"My Favorites". It is designed to collect in one place all the parameters you use most often. Initially, the section is empty and contains only reference information on how to add or remove options using the mouse or keyboard. It must be said that there are a number of prohibitions for selecting parameters, and they apply not only to entire sections or subsections, but even to individual parameters that contain submenus. The list of options displayed by pressing the F3 key has been removed from such annoying restrictions, which can now also be edited, deleting unnecessary items and adding necessary items. So the only way to get maximum flexibility is to share the "My Favorites" section and the menu with the most used links, which is not as convenient as it could be if there were no restrictions. In addition, the "My Favorites" section turned out to be on the sidelines, it cannot be selected as a start one, just like any other section, so this is also a drawback.

The bulk of the options necessary for overclocking are concentrated in the "Ai Tweaker" section. It used to be rather big, but it became even larger, since the number of information parameters at the beginning increased, multipliers were added to change the cache memory frequency in the middle, and voltage control parameters were added closer to the end of the section. Moreover, 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 proceed to setting it manually, a lot of options that were previously hidden as unnecessary immediately appear.

For example, if you just change the value of the “Ai Overclock Tuner” parameter to “X.M.P.” to automatically change the parameters of the memory subsystem, or to “Manual”, then options will immediately appear for changing the base frequency and for controlling processor multipliers. Voltages can be set both above and below the nominal value, the current values are indicated next to the parameters that change them, which is very convenient. When changing the voltage on the processor, you can now choose between three different options. It can be rigidly fixed at a certain value, you can only add or remove the required value in the "Offset" mode, or you can use the adaptive (interpolation) option. We already talked about the differences between the three ways to change the voltage on the processor in the review of the Asus Z87-K board.

Some of the parameters are traditionally placed in subsections so as not to clutter up the main one too much. Changes to memory timings are made on a separate page, their number is very large, but it is quite convenient to use the capabilities of this subsection. Using the scrollbar, it's easy to see all the timings set by the board for two memory channels. You can change only a few of them, for example, only the main ones, leaving the default values \u200b\u200bfor the rest.

It is impossible not to notice the large number of options related mainly to power and energy consumption, which have 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 phases of the processor's power supply depending on the level of its load. 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 dosed.

ASUSTeK boards have the advantage of numerous options in the "CPU Power Management" subsection. In addition to the usual parameters available on motherboards from other manufacturers, which allow you to increase the permissible limits of processor consumption, a number of additional options will make it possible to speed up the reaction time and reduce power consumption at rest.

This completes the capabilities of the "Ai Tweaker" section, meanwhile, we have not yet found a whole group of very important options that control processor power-saving technologies. This is a characteristic shortcoming not only of ASUSTeK boards, but also of most boards from other manufacturers. The root of the problem lies in the AMI BIOS, which is the basis of the UEFI BIOS of modern boards and in its irrational basic layout.

The possibilities of the subsections of the “Advanced” section are generally well known to us and understandable by their names. They allow you to configure the operation of a set of logic and additional controllers, various interfaces, enable specific technologies such as Intel Rapid Start and Intel Smart Connect.

In the "CPU Configuration" subsection, we learn basic information about the processor and manage some processor technologies, for example, virtualization technology. However, we still don't see the settings related to Intel's processor power-saving technologies, since they are placed on a separate "CPU Power Management Configuration" page. In fact, initially only the first three parameters are visible on the screen, since the "CPU C States" option is set to "Auto", and all subsequent parameters are hidden. We specifically changed the value of the "CPU C States" option to "Enabled" in order to demonstrate a large number of previously hidden parameters available for change. They have a very significant impact on system power consumption at rest, so it's best to set them manually rather than leave them up to the board.

The "Monitor" section reports the current temperatures, voltages and fan speeds. For all fans, you can select preset modes for adjusting the number of revolutions from standard set: "Standard", "Silent" or "Turbo", leave the rotation at full speed, or select the appropriate parameters in manual mode.

A characteristic shortcoming of many modern motherboards was the lost ability to regulate the rotation speed of three-pin CPU fans, but now this feature has finally returned to ASUSTeK motherboards.

Next is the "Boot" section, where 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". At the same time, you can disable the “Fast Boot” option for the duration of the setup so as not to encounter problems when entering the BIOS due to the fact that the board starts up very quickly and you simply do not have time to press the key in time. The next "Tools" section contains a couple of extremely important and regularly used subsections and one almost useless one. 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 the NTFS system. So far, only boards from ASUSTeK and Intel have such a feature. Unfortunately, the ability to save the current firmware version before updating was completely eliminated. The Asus Overclocking Profile subsection allows you to save and quickly load eight complete BIOS settings profiles. Each profile can be given a short name to remind you of its content. Profiles can be exchanged by storing them on external media. The downside is that the error has not yet been fixed, according to which the disabling of the output of the start image is not remembered in the profiles.

In addition, in the "Tools" section there is a subsection "Asus SPD Information", in which you can get acquainted with the information wired into the SPD of memory modules, including XMP (Extreme Memory Profile) profiles. However, the place for this subsection was chosen unsuccessfully, because memory delays change in a completely different subsection, it is very far from here and it is inconvenient to use the information provided.

In the center of the right side of the screen, above the constantly reminded list of "hot keys", two buttons are visible - "Quick Note" and "Last Modified".

The first allows you to write down and leave yourself some important reminder, and the second displays a list of the latest changes made, it is saved even when you reboot or turn off the system. You can always look at and remember what changes were made to the BIOS settings last time, and now you don’t even have to enter the BIOS for this, since the “Save to USB” button allows you to save the list of changes to external media.

Extremely handy is the "Last Modified" BIOS Setting Change popup, which automatically shows you a list of changes each time you save your settings. Looking at the list, you can easily check the correctness of the set values before applying the changes, make sure that there are no erroneous or forgotten options. In addition, with the help of this window it is easy to find out the differences between the current settings and the values recorded in the BIOS profiles. Having loaded the profile, you will instantly see absolutely all its differences from the previously set parameters in the “BIOS Setting Change” window that appears.

Summing up, we can say that the capabilities of the Asus EFI BIOS were very good before, and therefore there was no need for deep processing, only a certain correction was required to eliminate the shortcomings. It was carried out and in the new BIOS modification you can find many changes for the better. Some are not too significant, such as a slight increase in functionality to that almost completely useless "EZ Mode". Others are more important, including the new "My Favorites" section, the ability to leave notes and edit the list of most frequently used BIOS sections, which can be displayed at any time by pressing the "F3" key. The "Last Modified" list of recent changes made comes in handy, and the "BIOS Setting Change" pop-up window with a list of the current changes that will be applied has proved extremely useful. We are glad that the ability to regulate three-pin CPU fans has returned, although in this case, instead of the proverb “Better late than never”, it is more correct to use another one - “A good spoon for dinner”.

At the same time, a bug has not yet been fixed, due to which the disabling of the display of the start image is not remembered in profiles. The parameters of the "CPU Power Management Configuration" page, which play a very important role in the system's energy saving, have not yet been included in the "Ai Tweaker" section, they are too inconvenient to reach. Widespread use of the "My Favorites" section is hampered by serious restrictions on adding parameters and the impossibility of choosing it as the starting one, as well as any other section. The "EPU Power Saving Mode" parameter, which includes proprietary energy-saving technologies, has lost its customization flexibility. Previously, you could choose the most appropriate level of savings yourself, but now you can only turn it on or off.

Test system configuration

All experiments were carried out on a test system including the following set of components:

Motherboard - Asus Gryphon Z87 rev. 1.03 (LGA1150, Intel Z87, BIOS version 1603);
Processor - Intel Core i5-4670K (3.6-3.8 GHz, 4 cores, Haswell, 22 nm, 84 W, LGA1150);
Memory — 4 x 8GB DDR3 SDRAM G.SKILL TridentX F3-2133C9Q-32GTX, (2133MHz, 9-11-11-31-2N, 1.6V supply voltage);
Video card - Gigabyte GV-R797OC-3GD (AMD Radeon HD 7970, Tahiti, 28 nm, 1000/5500 MHz, 384-bit GDDR5 3072 MB);
Disk subsystem - Crucial m4 SSD (CT256M4SSD2, 256 GB, SATA 6 Gb/s);
Cooling system - Scythe Mugen 3 Revision B (SCMG-3100);
Thermal Grease - ARCTIC MX-2 ;
Power supply - Enhance EPS-1280GA, 800 W;
The hull is an open test bed based on the Antec Skeleton hull.

The operating system used was Microsoft Windows 8.1 Enterprise 64 bit (Microsoft Windows, Version 6.3, Build 9600), the Intel Chipset Device Software 9.4.0.1027 chipset driver, and the video card driver was AMD Catalyst 13.9.

Nuances of work in nominal mode

Initially, we had some concerns about assembling a test system based on the Asus Gryphon Z87 microATX board. The Scythe Mugen 3 cooling system we use is not a giant, but still quite large, it is a tower cooler for a 120mm fan. I did not want to change it in order to preserve the possibility of comparison with the previously tested full-size ATX boards. Fortunately, the assembly did not cause any problems at all, the system successfully turned on and started working. Using the built-in utility, the BIOS firmware was updated to the latest version at the time of checking the version, but then I had to face a series of errors and shortcomings, traditional for ASUSTeK motherboards.

At startup, ASUSTeK boards show a boot picture, which suggests that you can enter the BIOS by pressing the "Del" or "F2" keys. However, these are standard features that do not require reminders, and the rest of the keys, individual for different manufacturers, are traditionally forgotten. For example, Asus boards use the "F8" key to display a menu that allows you to select a startup device for out-of-order boot. There is information about this in the manual, but a hint would be most appropriate and would be very useful at the start of the board, but for some reason it is still not there.

The output of the boot image can be permanently disabled using the appropriate setting in the BIOS or temporarily, only for the current start using the “Tab” key, but we will not wait for the prompts to appear, but we will see another characteristic drawback. As the board goes 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, number and type of USB devices, as well as a list of connected drives. However, it is impossible to find out the real frequency of the processor, the board reports only the nominal one. In fact, its frequency will be higher not only during overclocking, but even during normal operation, since under load it will be increased by Intel Turbo Boost technology. This shortcoming is all the more annoying, since we know that ASUSTeK motherboards, which belong to the ROG series, can correctly determine not only the nominal, but also the real frequency of the processor.

We know the advantages of ASUSTeK motherboards, there are a lot of them, they belong to a variety of areas, most of them are serious and significant. Familiar and shortcomings, some can be corrected, the rest you just have to put up with and try not to notice. Among the shortcomings there are no critical ones, which in principle would not allow using the boards for their intended purpose, but the number of minuses is also very large, and this significantly spoils the pleasure of working with the boards. To make it clearer, let's try to list the steps that must be taken to ensure the effective operation of the board in the nominal mode.

After entering the BIOS, we load the default settings, set the correct time and date, and determine the start order of the drives. You may need to customize the operation of expansion card slots, enable specific technologies, or otherwise change settings. These are the standard procedures with which the use of any board begins, so we will not take them into account, but when entering the BIOS of an ASUSTeK board, we find ourselves in the “EZ Mode”, so first we need to switch to the “Advanced Mode” - this times, and at the same time immediately make it the starting one in the "Boot" section - these are two. In the same place, you should disable the "Fast Boot" option so as not to run into problems when you enter the BIOS later - these are three.

It's great that the boards automatically adjust the fan speed depending on the temperature. However, in the BIOS snapshots, you could see that the number of revolutions of the processor fan is highlighted in red. This means that the board itself reduced the rotation speed, but was immediately afraid that it had become too small, and therefore, every time the system was started, the start would be suspended. A warning message will appear on the screen indicating that the RPM is too low and the system will wait for your decision. Previously, you had to simply ignore this parameter, but now you can reduce the minimum allowable fan speed in the "Monitor" section - these are four.

There is no need to correct anything in the “Ai Tweaker” section, but in its “DIGI + Power Control” subsection, you need to enable the optimal mode for the “CPU Power Phase Control” and “DRAM Power Phase Control” parameters - this was the fifth stage. When the processor load is high, ASUSTeK motherboards now disable "Intel Turbo Boost" technology and reset the processor frequency to the nominal. If the load is typical and not too high, then the drops are short-term, we will see later that they do not affect the system performance at all. However, under high load, the frequency will always remain underestimated and the speed drop will be significant, and in order to fix this, in the "CPU Power Management" subsection, you must manually increase the allowable consumption limits. At the same time, you need to read the context hints for the rest of the parameters of the subsection, they refer to the power converter integrated into Haswell processors, and some of them also allow you to reduce power consumption at rest. It was the sixth point.

In the BIOS of motherboards from ASUSTeK, it takes so long to get to the parameters that play a very important role that control Intel's energy-saving technologies, that it seems that they are hidden on purpose for some reason. To find them, you need to go to the "Advanced" section, then go to the "CPU Configuration" subsection, and then go to a separate page "CPU Power Management Configuration". Initially, only the first three options are visible on the screen, because the "CPU C States" option is set to "Auto", and all subsequent options are hidden. If you change the value of this parameter to "Enabled", then you can find a considerable number of previously hidden options. Now most of them are already working, and for the correct operation of energy-saving technologies, it remains to enable the “Package C State Support” parameter. Seven. At the end of this whole epic, in the “APM” subsection of the “Advanced” section, you need to enable the “ErP Ready” option to save power when turned off.

In total, we need to go through eight main stages, many of which include several separate actions at once, and all this only in order to ensure a normal, optimal and economical mode of operation of the system. To be honest, I would really like all the necessary parameter values to be set automatically by the board when the “Load Optimized Defaults” option is selected, without requiring long, boring and tedious manual adjustments.

Processor overclocking features

First, let's take a look at what automatic ways to improve performance offer us the Asus Gryphon Z87 motherboard. As with other motherboards from ASUSTeK, 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 single-threaded workloads. Initially, the parameter is set to "Auto", but it does not function, and to enable it, it is necessary to set the "Ai Overclock Tuner" option to "Manual" or "X.M.P.". To achieve more significant results, it is suggested to use the "OC Tuner" parameter. When “Ratio Only” is selected, overclocking is carried out by increasing the processor multiplier, and when “BCLK First” is selected, in addition to changing the multiplier, the base frequency is increased. However, any automatic overclocking methods are not ideal on any motherboard, so we generally do not recommend using them. With painstaking selection of the most optimal values of the parameters that affect overclocking, we always get a much better result. Either the final values will be higher, or comparable, but with lower power consumption and heat dissipation.

The most rational way is to overclock the processor without increasing the voltage on it, but on the Asus board you cannot simply increase the processor multiplier and do nothing else. In this case, the voltage on the processor cores will be automatically increased by the board, and the voltage converter integrated into the processor will immediately detect an increase and independently begin to raise the voltage even more under load. All this, most likely, will lead to overheating and certainly to a useless waste of energy, and we will not succeed in any energy-efficient overclocking. To avoid automatic increase in voltage by the board when overclocking the processor, it is necessary to set the "CPU Core Voltage" parameter to manual mode, but do not touch anything else. In this case, the voltage is not increased by the board, and therefore is not overestimated by the converter integrated into Haswell processors. Just in case, you can also disable the CPU Load-Line Calibration technology and the Internal PLL Overvoltage parameter to counteract the voltage drop on the processor under load. They may be needed only with very high overclocking, and with normal overclocking they are not needed.

Only overclocking without increasing the voltage can be energy efficient. It will noticeably increase performance, speed up calculations, and at the same time, the total energy costs, despite the increase in energy consumption per unit of time, will even decrease, since due to the acceleration of calculations, the amount of electrical energy required to carry out the same amount of calculations will decrease. Only such overclocking will have a minimal impact on environmental pollution, will not have a negative impact on the environment, which was convincingly proven a long time ago in the article “ Power consumption of overclocked processors". However, during the tests of motherboards, we face a different task. It is necessary to ensure the maximum possible and the most diverse load, to check the boards when operating in a variety of modes, which is why we do not use the optimal overclocking method, but the one that allows us to achieve the highest results. For motherboard tests, the higher the frequency and voltage, the better, because the greater the load on the board. Only when working in extreme, close to limiting conditions, it is easier and faster to identify problems, detect errors and shortcomings.

Previously, we always increased the voltage in the “Offset” mode, plus an adaptive or interpolation mode similar in principle of operation became available for LGA1150 processors, but both options turned out to be unacceptable for Haswell processors. As you already know, when adding any, even the smallest value, to the standard voltage, the stabilizer integrated into these processors immediately notices changes and, when a load appears, the voltage begins to increase even more. All this naturally leads to an increase in heat dissipation, temperature, and as a result, this method of overclocking is inapplicable due to overheating. To avoid this negative effect, Haswell processors have to be overclocked at constant, constant and fixed voltage. For this reason, when testing motherboards, we overclock the processor to 4.5 GHz while fixing the voltage on the cores at 1.150 V while using the parameters for the memory modules recorded in the X.M.P. profile.

Of course, when overclocking with voltage fixing on processor cores, energy-saving technologies partially stop working, the processor multiplier drops at rest, but the voltage no longer decreases and remains excessively high. We have to reassure ourselves that this is only for a short time, only when necessary and only for the duration of the tests, and, in addition, it usually has little effect on the power consumption of the system at rest.

By the way, we previously published an article " Haswell LGA1150 processors - correct stock operation and overclocking methods". This material is intended to explain to new users of the LGA1150 platform the basic principles for selecting the optimal parameters for operating in the nominal mode and for overclocking Haswell processors on motherboards from various manufacturers. There you will find illustrated recommendations on enabling Intel's energy-saving technologies and increasing the acceptable consumption limits of processors, how to overclock them with an increase in core voltage and without it.

Performance Comparison

We traditionally compare motherboards in terms of speed in two modes: when the system is operating under nominal conditions, as well as when overclocking the processor and memory. 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 BIOS to standard parameter values that are not optimal, but do not change anything else. So we carried out the test, usually almost without interfering with the default settings set by the boards. Unfortunately, for most LGA1150 boards, this testing option turned out to be unbearable, since for many models one or another correction of values was required. As a result, we were forced to publish a long list of changes we made to the settings of certain models, and the very meaning of testing in this mode was lost. Instead of seeing what performance the boards would provide with the default settings, we showed almost the same results with our correction.

In a new series of reviews of LGA1150 boards, we decided to return the information content to tests with standard settings. We do not change anything else and do not correct anything. What parameter values the board sets with the default settings, it is tested with those, even if they differ significantly from the nominal ones. At the same time, you need to understand that it is very bad when some model is slower than all the others, but it is also no good if the board is faster than all rivals. In this case, this does not mean that it is better than others, but only means that the board does not comply with the regular mode of operation. Only average results close to the majority are acceptable and desirable, since it is well known that related models, when operating under equal conditions, show almost the same level of speed. In this regard, we even thought about abandoning the designation of the best results on the charts, but then we left the traditional sorting in descending order of performance, and the indicators of the Asus Gryphon Z87 model are highlighted in color for clarity.

In the Cinebench 15 photorealistic 3D rendering speed test, 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 well. It produces highly repeatable results, performance scales well depending on the number of threads used.

The x264 FHD Benchmark v1.0.1 (64bit) test allows you to evaluate the performance of the system in terms of video encoding speed compared to the results available in the database. The original version of the program with the r2106 encoder allows you to use AVX processor instructions for encoding, but we replaced the executable libraries with the r2334 version in order to be able to use the new AVX2 instructions that appeared in Haswell processors. The average results of five passes are shown in the diagram.

We measure performance in Adobe Photoshop CC using our own test, which is a creatively redesigned Retouch Artists Photoshop Speed Test that includes typical processing of four 24-megapixel digital camera images.

The performance of processors under cryptographic load is measured by the built-in test of the popular TrueCrypt utility, which uses AES-Twofish-Serpent "triple" encryption with a buffer size of 500 MB. It should be noted that this program not only is it able to efficiently load any number of cores with work, but it also supports a specialized AES instruction set.

The PC game Metro: Last Light is very beautiful, but it depends heavily on the performance of the video card. We had to use Medium Quality settings to keep the game playable at 1920x1080 screen resolution. The diagram shows the results of passing the built-in test five times.

Racing F1 2013 is much less demanding on the graphics subsystem of the computer. At a resolution of 1920x1080, we set all settings to the maximum, choosing the "Ultra High Quality" mode, and additionally turned on all the available image enhancement features. The test built into the game is carried out five times, and the results are averaged.

In most tests, the Asus Maximus VI Hero motherboard is noticeably ahead of its rivals - this clearly indicates that the nominal operating mode of the system is not observed by the board. From the review of this model we know that it arbitrarily overclocks the processor by 200 MHz during multi-threaded workloads. It is extremely important to note that when you enable the parameters that change the regular rules of the "Intel Turbo Boost" technology in the BIOS of other models, you can get exactly the same results, and the capabilities of the "K OC" option on Gigabyte boards allow you to achieve even higher results in individual tests. . It is very easy to start the same mode of operation on other boards, if necessary, but there were serious difficulties with disabling it on the models of the ROG series, and therefore this behavior of the board has to be considered as a particularly unpleasant drawback. As for the Asus Gryphon Z87 model, it is obvious that short-term drops in the processor frequency to the nominal did not affect its performance in the slightest. Under typical loads, the board demonstrates normal speed, which differs little from other related models that provide the nominal mode of the system.

Now let's see what results the systems will demonstrate with an increase in the frequencies of the processor and memory. The same performance was achieved on all the boards - the processor was overclocked to 4.5 GHz while fixing the voltage on the cores at 1.150 V, and the memory frequency was raised to 2133 MHz at 9-11-11-31-2N timings according to the XMP profile. ".

When overclocking the processor and increasing the frequency of the memory, the performance of the motherboards turned out to be almost the same, which was to be expected. It's a pity that we didn't see a similar situation when comparing boards with standard settings. Depending on the test application, the boards are periodically swapped, but the difference in speed is small. In this case, the performance of the Asus Gryphon Z87 board does not differ from the others, because during overclocking we manually raised the allowable limits for processor consumption and its multiplier does not drop under load.

Energy consumption measurements

Measurement of system power consumption during nominal operation and during overclocking is carried out using the Extech Power Analyzer 380803. The device turns on before 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 idle, we wait for the complete cessation of post-launch activity and the absence of calls to the drive. The results in the charts are sorted as consumption increases, and the indicators of the Asus Gryphon Z87 model are highlighted in color for clarity. However, this could not have been done, since the board always occupies a leading position, being at the top of the list, but, oddly enough, we will not always be pleased with this result.

Under no load, Asus' Gryphon Z87's small microATX board managed to outperform even Micro-Star's traditionally economical motherboard, but the other two models are disappointing. Judging by the previous results of tests of full-size LGA1150 boards, the average consumption level for them is 45 W, but a couple of boards from ASUSTeK and Gigabyte with default settings spend much more than this value.

I must say that for all their shortcomings, Haswell processors have an undeniable advantage in the form of lower power consumption at rest compared to LGA1155 processors. Unfortunately, boards running at nominal settings do not give us the opportunity to see this, and therefore we added another additional diagram with a mode that we called "Eco". This is the same regular mode of operation that the motherboards provide with default settings, we only manually changed the values of all parameters related to Intel processor energy-saving technologies in the BIOS from "Auto" to "Enabled".

The difference turned out to be significant, the results improved, the consumption of most systems significantly decreased, and the Asus microATX board is still in the lead, only now it has changed its closest rival. The Asus Maximus VI Hero model has all energy-saving technologies working properly, it lags behind quite a bit, but the consumption of the Micro-Star board has not changed at all. In fact, according to the readings of the device, the decrease in consumption was noticeable, but it turned out to be very insignificant and did not even reach 1 W. Thanks to review of this model we know what explains such a strange result. MSI Board Z87-GD65 GAMING doesn't allow to turn on power-saving technologies completely, which is why it is inferior to both ASUSTeK models, but still outperforms the Gigabyte GA-Z87X-OC board, whose reaction to turning on power-saving modes turned out to be rather weak.

Just in case, we recall that in test systems we install a discrete AMD Radeon HD 7970 video card, but if we refuse it and switch to using a graphics core integrated into processors, then the total consumption of ordinary systems can even fall below 30 watts. The economy of Haswell processors at rest is very impressive and looks tempting, but it is a pity that with default settings, motherboards do not allow us to enjoy this advantage, manual correction of BIOS parameters is necessary.

To estimate typical power consumption, we took measurements during system performance tests using the Fritz software. It must be said that it almost does not matter which utility to use as a load. Almost any conventional program that can fully load all four processor cores will show very close or even exactly the same results.

The motherboard from ASUSTeK turned out to be the only lagging behind, and again, we understand the reasons. The Asus Maximus VI Hero board does not comply with the nominal operating mode of the processor, it overestimates its frequency, and therefore loses comparison with boards that provide standard settings.

To create the maximum load on the Haswell processor, we returned to the LinX utility, which is a graphical shell for the Intel Linpack test, and the program modification we use uses AVX instructions for calculations. This program provides a much higher load than typical, but when using it, we do not additionally heat the processor with a stream of hot air or an open flame. If one program can load more work and warm up the processor than usual, then it is quite possible that another can. That is why we check the stability of the overclocked system, and also create a load on the processor during power consumption measurements using the LinX utility.

The boards of Gigabyte and Micro-Star show a normal level of power consumption just above 130 W, the Asus Maximus VI Hero board continues to pay for the abnormal operation of the processor and, as expected, turns out to be the most wasteful, but the efficiency of the Asus Gryphon Z87 model is no longer encouraging. The difference compared to other boards is too big, it can no longer be explained by the compactness of the microATX model, as in the previous diagram. Unlike ROG series boards, regular ASUSTeK boards and TUF series boards slow down the processor frequency under high load, and therefore fail to provide the expected level of performance. As a result, none of ASUSTeK's LGA1150 motherboards can provide the system's normal operation with default settings. And this allows itself, I would like to recall, the leading manufacturer of motherboards. Extremely sad.

It should be added that for a total assessment of the level of energy consumed by the system, it is necessary to load the video card with work, and the final result will depend on its power. In power consumption tests, we use only the processor load, but if we measure the power consumption during the operation of a discrete AMD video cards Radeon HD 7970 in games, then the total power consumption of a typical system will significantly exceed 200 watts, approaching 250 watts at nominal operation and exceeding this value when overclocked.

Now let's evaluate the power consumption when overclocking systems and no load.

Even when overclocking, we always make the most of all processor energy-saving technologies, and therefore the arrangement remains the same as it was with the Eco settings when operating in the nominal mode. The power consumption of Asus and MSI boards has hardly increased, both ASUSTeK models are ahead of the Micro-Star board due to its inability to enable the deepest power saving modes, but our previous reviews have shown that many Gigabyte boards middle and senior class, there are obvious problems with voltage converters and with the operation of energy-saving technologies. The Gigabyte GA-Z87X-OC model became the first LGA1150 board whose power consumption during overclocking turned out to be higher than it was in the nominal mode.

During overclocking and the appearance of a load, the power consumption of any overclocked systems, not only Gigabyte, is already incomparably greater than in the nominal mode. It affects both the increase in frequency and the increase in voltage. At high loads, the power consumption of ASUSTeK and Micro-Star boards converges, thanks to their small dimensions and the absence of numerous additional controllers, the small Asus microATX board is still in the lead, and the Gigabyte GA-Z87X-OC model remains the most gluttonous.

Afterword

The Asus Gryphon Z87 motherboard is the first microATX form factor model we tested for LGA1150 processors, and in many ways it is not similar to regular boards this size. There are not so many models of this format with three PCI Express x16 slots, it is unlikely that we will meet another one that has seven fan connectors, all of which are adjustable. And certainly there is no other model on which a protective coating could be optionally installed. Nice solution, by the way. Those who need it will purchase an additional "Gryphon Armor Kit", and the rest will be able to save. Contrary to our fears, the small motherboard did not cause any difficulties in assembling the system. Its design is well thought out, the possibilities for most users are quite sufficient, the overclocking ability and performance in typical tasks do not differ from full-sized models, and the level of power consumption turned out to be the lowest and comparable only to the most economical ATX motherboards.

Unfortunately, despite its non-standard behavior, the Asus Gryphon Z87 board does not differ in any way from the usual ASUSTeK models. This is a typical Asus LGA1150 board with a full set of flaws, from minor bugs at startup to reduced performance at high loads. There is not the slightest desire to recommend it for purchase, like any other LGA1150 board from this company. It remains only to lament, because none of the tested Asus boards based on the Intel Z87 logic could provide the nominal operating mode of the system with default settings. Models of the ROG series overclock the processor, and the rest reduce it at high loads - just an outrageous situation that is unforgivable even for a beginner, and in this case we are talking about a leading motherboard manufacturer. In addition, we know many other disadvantages of ASUSTeK motherboards, but it is not only difficult, but not always necessary to ignore these models. They also have a lot of advantages, and boards from other manufacturers have their own characteristic problems. In particular, despite the shortcomings, you should definitely pay attention to the Asus Gryphon Z87 model. Many of the shortcomings we noticed can be eliminated, the rest will have to be put up with, and it is a little reassuring that there are no critical ones among them that would basically prevent the use of the board. But this model, like other boards of the TUF series, will please the owner with a five-year warranty period, which is a very weighty argument in its favor.

Hello friends! In today's article, we update the BIOS of the motherboard ASUS boards . This is a serious matter and should be treated accordingly. The process of updating the BIOS of any motherboard, although very simple, but any mistake in it will cost you dearly - you will have to bring the motherboard back to life in a service center, since you probably don’t have a special programmer. At the beginning of the article, in a nutshell, I will remind you what BIOS is.

How to update BIOS on ASUS motherboard

BIOS is the most important element of a computer - a microprogram recorded on a microcircuit, which, in turn, is located on the motherboard.

BIOS - provides basic OS access to the computer's hardware capabilities. In simple terms, BIOS explains to the operating system how to use one or another computer component.

Immediately after turning on the system unit, the BIOSchecks all devices (POST procedure) and if any component is faulty, thena signal is heard through a special speaker, by which a faulty device can be identified. Eif everything is fine, The BIOS will start searching for the OS bootloader code on the connected drives and find it passes the baton to the operating system.

Now for the not so good. The BIOS update process itself takes a couple of minutes, but if at this time, the electricity will be cut off in your house, and your computer is not connected to an uninterruptible power supply(UPS), then the firmware will be broken and you simply do not turn on the computer. To restore, you will have to look for a special programmer (BIOS recovery is a topic for a separate article).

I must say that the manufacturers foresaw the seriousness of the issue even at the dawn of the production of motherboards completely excluded the possibility of updating or flashing the BIOS, only recently, the BIOS began to be equipped with a special program for its update. But still,updating the BIOS of any motherboard usually occurs once in its life, and sometimes not even once.

The most important rule if the work of a computer or laptop youquite satisfied, then you do not need to update anything, but eif you still decideupdate the BIOS, then there must be good reasons for this. Here are some of them.

There are no new features in your BIOS. For example, there is no technology AHCI, but there is only an outdated IDE, but you bought a new one HDD interface SATA III (6 Gb / s) or generally an SSD solid state drive. Technology AHCI will allow your drive to use modern features and the operating system on the new hard drive will run faster than in IDE. Having visited the website of the manufacturer of your motherboard, you saw that a new BIOS update was released, you also learned that after the update your motherboard will supportAHCI! In this case, you can update the BIOS without hesitation.

A friend of mine lost sound on his computer, reinstalling Windows and drivers did not help, he decided that the built-in sound card and bought a discrete one, so the system worked for 7 years, then the processor had to be replaced on this computer, this required a BIOS update, after the update the built-in sound card worked.

One more case. The client constantly rebooted the computer and reinstalling the operating system did not help, they replaced everything that was possible in the system unit, they did not change only the motherboard and processor. We finally decided to install a new firmware on the BIOS and it helped!

In the System Information window that opens, we see the BIOS version - 2003

Now we go to the official website of the manufacturer of our motherboard ASUSP8Z77-V PRO and choose "Drivers and Utilities"

Select any operating system and open the "BIOS" item. We see that there is an update 2104 (more a new version than ours).

Click on the "Global" button and download the firmware.

Fresh BIOS firmware (P8Z77-V-PRO-ASUS-2104.CAP) downloaded in the archive. We extract it from the archive and copy it to USB-f Leshka. The firmware weighs 12 MB.