ASRock Z77 Extreme9 User Manual [en, ru, de, es, fr, it]

Copyright Notice:

No part of this installation guide may be reproduced, transcribed, transmitted, or trans­lated in any language, in any form or by any means, except duplication of documentation
by the purchaser for backup purpose, without written consent of ASRock Inc.
Products and corporate names appearing in this guide may or may not be registered
trademarks or copyrights of their respective companies, and are used only for identifi ca-
tion or explanation and to the owners’ benefi t, without intent to infringe.

Disclaimer:

Specifi cations and information contained in this guide are furnished for informational use
only and subject to change without notice, and should not be constructed as a commit­ment by ASRock. ASRock assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions that may
appear in this guide.
With respect to the contents of this guide, ASRock does not provide warranty of any kind,
either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties or condi­tions of merchantability or fi tness for a particular purpose. In no event shall ASRock, its
directors, offi cers, employees, or agents be liable for any indirect, special, incidental, or
consequential damages (including damages for loss of profi ts, loss of business, loss of
data, interruption of business and the like), even if ASRock has been advised of the pos­sibility of such damages arising from any defect or error in the guide or product.

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that

may cause undesired operation.

CALIFORNIA, USA ONLY

The Lithium battery adopted on this motherboard contains Perchlorate, a toxic substance
controlled in Perchlorate Best Management Practices (BMP) regulations passed by the
California Legislature. When you discard the Lithium battery in California, USA, please
follow the related regulations in advance.
“Perchlorate Material-special handling may apply, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate”

ASRock Website: http://www.asrock.com

Published July 2012

Copyright©2012 ASRock INC. All rights reserved.

ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

English

1

English

Motherboard Layout

1

ATX12V1

FastUSB

32

PCIE1

PCIE2

PCIE3

PCIE4

PCIE5

WiFi+BT
Module

PCIE7

CHA_FAN1

2

X

FastLAN

X

FastRAM

MINI_PCIE1

CMOS

Battery

USB6_7

CHA_FAN2

1

1

CIR1

24.4cm (9.6in)

Keyboard/

Mouse

USB3.0

PS2

T:U SB 1
B:USB2

Clr

CMOS

HDMI

USB3.0
T:U SB 3
B:USB4

USB3.0

Top:

T:U SB 5

RJ-45

B:USB6

LAN
PHY

IEEE1394

ESATA_1

USB2.0
T:USB0
B:USB1

USB3.0

Top:

T:U SB 7

RJ-45

B:USB8

46

45

44

43

42

41

40

39

38
37

Top:

Central/Bass

Center:

REARSPK

Bottom:

Optical

SPDIF

Bottom:

MICIN

Top:

LINEIN

Center:

FRONT

CHA_FAN3

SLI/XFIRE_PWR1

X

PCI Express3.0

LAN
PHY

ErP/EuPReady

Super

I/O

Z77 Extreme9

PCIE6

AUDIO

RoHS

CODEC

IR1

HDMI_SPDIF1

1

1

COM1

HD_AUDIO1

1

FRONT_1394

1

1

34

35

33

36

1 ATX 12V Power Connector (ATX12V1)
2 1155-Pin CPU Socket
3 Power Fan Connector (PWR_FAN1)
4 CPU Fan Connector (CPU_FAN1)
5 CPU Fan Connector (CPU_FAN2)
6 2 x 240-pin DDR3 DIMM Slots
(DDR3_A1, DDR3_B1, Black)
7 2 x 240-pin DDR3 DIMM Slots
(DDR3_A2, DDR3_B2, Black)
8 ATX Power Connector (ATXPWR1)
9 USB 3.0 Header (USB3_11_12, Black)
10 USB 3.0 Header (USB3_9_10, Black)
11 Intel Z77 Chipset
12 SATA3 Connectors (SATA3_A1_A2, Gray)
13 SATA3 Connectors (SATA3_A3_A4, Gray)
14 SATA3 Connectors (SATA3_0_1, Gray)
15 SATA2 Connectors (SATA2_2_3, Black)
16 SATA2 Connectors (SATA2_4_5, Black)
17 Reset Switch (RSTBTN)
18 Power Switch (PWRBTN)
19 Power LED Header (PLED1)
20 System Panel Header (PANEL1, Black)
21 Chassis Speaker Header (SPEAKER1, Black)
22 Clear CMOS Jumper (CLRCMOS1)
23 SPI Flash Memory (64Mb)
24 Dr. Debug

3

5

6

4

7

CPU_FAN2

PWR_FAN1

CPU_FAN1

30.5cm (12.0in)

8

ATXPWR1

DDR3_B2(64 bit, 240-pinmodule)

DDR3_A2(64 bit, 240-pinmodule)

DDR3_B1(64 bit, 240-pinmodule)

DDR3_A1(64 bit, 240-pinmodule)

DDR3 3000+ 2ozCopperPCB

4-WaySLI

Intel

Z77

Front USB3.0

CLRCMOS1

PLED1

Dr.

USB2_3

USB4_5

1

1

26

2728293031

1

1

64Mb

Debug

SPEAKER1

BIOS

1

25

21

23

24

22

9

10

USB3_9_10

USB3_11_12

11

12

13

14

15

16

SATA2_4_5 SATA2_2_3 SATA3_0_1 SATA3_A3_A4 SATA3_A1_A2

17

RSTBTN

18

PWRBTN

19

PLEDPWRBTN

20

1

HDLEDRESET

PANEL1

25 mini-PCI Express Slot (MINI_PCIE1)
26 USB 2.0 Header (USB2_3, Black)
27 USB 2.0 Header (USB4_5, Black)
28 USB 2.0 Header (USB6_7, Black)
29 Consumer Infrared Module Header
(CIR1, Gray)
30 Chassis Fan Connector (CHA_FAN2)
31 Chassis Fan Connector (CHA_FAN1)
32 Front Panel IEEE 1394 Header
(FRONT_1394, Black)
33 Infrared Module Header (IR1)
34 COM Port Header (COM1)
35 HDMI_SPDIF Header
(HDMI_SPDIF1, Black)
36 Front Panel Audio Header
(HD_AUDIO1, Black)
37 PCI Express 3.0 x16 Slot (PCIE7, Black)
38 WiFi + BT Module
39 PCI Express 2.0 x1 Slot (PCIE6, Black)
40 PCI Express 3.0 x16 Slot (PCIE5, Black)
41 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Slot (PCIE4, Black)
42 PCI Express 3.0 x16 Slot (PCIE3, Black)
43 PCI Express 3.0 x16 Slot (PCIE2, Black)
44 PCI Express 3.0 x16 Slot (PCIE1, Black)
45 SLI / XFIRE Power Connector
46 Chassis Fan Connector (CHA_FAN3)

2

ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

I/O Panel

1

1718

16

1 PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse Port (Purple/Green) ** 10 Front Speaker (Lime)
2 USB 3.0 Ports (USB3_34) 11 Microphone (Pink)
* 3 LAN RJ-45 Port 12 USB 3.0 Ports (USB3_78)
4 USB 2.0 Ports (USB01) 13 IEEE 1394 Port
* 5 LAN RJ-45 Port *** 14 eSATA3 Port (ESATA_1)
6 Central / Bass (Orange) 15 USB 3.0 Ports (USB3_56)
7 Rear Speaker (Black) 16 HDMI Port (HDMI1)
8 Optical SPDIF Out Port 17 Clear CMOS Switch (CLRCBTN)
9 Line In (Light Blue) 18 USB 3.0 Ports (USB3_12)

* There are two LED next to the LAN port. Please refer to the table below for the LAN port LED
indications.

Activity/Link LED SPEED LED

Status Description Status Description

LAN Port LED Indications

3

2

15

14

13

5

4

6

9

7

10

11

8

12

ACT/LINK
LED

SPEED
LED

Off No Link Off 10Mbps connection
Blinking Data Activity Orange 100Mbps connection
On Link Green 1Gbps connection

LAN Port

If you use 2-channel speaker, please connect the speaker’s plug into “Front Speaker Jack”.

**

See the table below for connection details in accordance with the type of speaker you use.

TABLE for Audio Output Connection

Audio Output Channels Front Speaker Rear Speaker Central / Bass Line In or
(No. 10) (No. 7) (No. 6) Side Speaker
(No. 9)

2 V -- -- -­4 V V -- -­6 V V V -­8 V V V V

3

ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

English

To enable Multi-Streaming function, you need to connect a front panel audio cable to the front

panel audio header. After restarting your computer, you will fi nd “Mixer” tool on your system.
Please select “Mixer ToolBox” , click “Enable playback multi-streaming”, and click

“ok”. Choose “2CH”, “4CH”, “6CH”, or “8CH” and then you are allowed to select “Realtek HDA
Primary output” to use Rear Speaker, Central/Bass, and Front Speaker, or select “Realtek
HDA Audio 2nd output” to use front panel audio.

*** eSATA3 connector supports SATA Gen3 in cable 1M.

English

4

ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

WiFi + BT Module and ASRock Wi-SB Box

WiFi + BT Module

This motherboard comes with an exclusive WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n + BT v4.0 module
that offers support for WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n connectivity standards and Bluetooth v4.0.
WiFi + BT module is an easy-to-use wireless local area network (WLAN) adapter to
support WiFi + BT function. Bluetooth v4.0 standard features Smart Ready technol­ogy that adds a whole new class of functionality into the mobile devices including
Apple’s most recent iPhone 4S. BT 4.0 also includes Low Energy Technology and
ensures extraordinary low power consumption for PCs. The 2T2R WiFi solution sets
up WiFi high speed standard and offers max link rate up to 300Mbps. Compared to
other 1T1R WiFi motherboards with 150Mbps, ASRock 2T2R WiFi solution drives
up to 2X faster speed than 1T1R ones.

* The transmission speed may vary according to the environment.
* WiFi + BT module is supported under Windows

®

7 / 7 64-bit only.

WiFi + BT Module

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ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

5

ASRock Wi-SB Box

Thanks to the excellent placement of antennas, ASRock Wi-SB Box comes with two
invisible antennas (placed in a vertical/horizontal position), hidden inside the front
panel that provide the most stable and unrestricted-direction wireless network cover­age, optimized for maximum broadband network. Additionally, it provides two Front
USB 3.0 ports for easier USB 3.0 device access and 1 rack for SSD placement.

* For WiFi + BT module and ASRock Wi-SB Box installation guide, please refer to
page 37 for details.

ASRock Wi-SB Box

English

6

ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

1. Introduction

Thank you for purchasing ASRock Z77 Extreme9 motherboard, a reliable moth­erboard produced under ASRock’s consistently stringent quality control. It delivers
excellent performance with robust design conforming to ASRock’s commitment to
quality and endurance.
This Quick Installation Guide contains introduction of the motherboard and step-by­step installation guide. More detailed information of the motherboard can be found
in the user manual presented in the Support CD.

Because the motherboard specifi cations and the BIOS software might be
updated, the content of this manual will be subject to change without no­tice. In case any modifi cations of this manual occur, the updated version
will be available on ASRock website without further notice. You may fi nd
the latest VGA cards and CPU support lists on ASRock website as well.
ASRock website http://www.asrock.com
If you require technical support related to this motherboard, please visit
our website for specifi c information about the model you are using.
www.asrock.com/support/index.asp

1.1 Package Contents

ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard
(ATX Form Factor: 12.0-in x 9.6-in, 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm)
ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Quick Installation Guide
ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Support CD

6 x Serial ATA (SATA) Data Cables (Optional)

2 x Serial ATA (SATA) HDD Power Cables (Optional)
1 x I/O Panel Shield

2 x ASRock SLI_Bridge Cards

1 x ASRock SLI_Bridge_3S Card
1 x ASRock 3-Way SLI Bridge Card
1 x ASRock Wi-SB Box
12 x Screws

ASRock Reminds You...

To get better performance in Windows® 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista
bit, it is recommended to set the BIOS option in Storage Confi guration to
AHCI mode. For the BIOS setup, please refer to the “User Manual” in our
support CD for details.

TM

/ VistaTM 64-

ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

English

7

English

1.2 Specifications

Platform - ATX Form Factor: 12.0-in x 9.6-in, 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm

- Premium Gold Capacitor design (100% Japan-made
high-quality Conductive Polymer Capacitors)
CPU - Supports 3
LGA1155 Package

- Digi Power Design

- 8 + 4 Power Phase Design

- Supports Intel® Turbo Boost 2.0 Technology

- Supports Intel

- Supports Hyper-Threading Technology (see CAUTION 1)
Chipset - Intel® Z77

- Supports Intel
Technology
Memory - Dual Channel DDR3 Memory Technology (see CAUTION 2)

- 4 x DDR3 DIMM slots

- Supports DDR3 3000+(OC)/2400(OC)/2133(OC)/1866(OC)/
1600/1333/1066 non-ECC, un-buffered memory

- Max. capacity of system memory: 32GB (see CAUTION 3)

- Supports Intel
Expansion Slot - 5 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots (PCIE2: x16 mode; PCIE1/
PCIE3/PCIE5/PCIE7: x16/0/16/0 or x8/8/8/8 mode)
(see CAUTION 4)
* PCIE 3.0 is only supported with Intel
Intel® Sandy Bridge CPU, it only supports PCIE 2.0.

- 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot (PCIE4: x4 mode)

- 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x 1 slot

- 1 x mini-PCI Express slot: For WiFi + BT module

- Supports AMD Quad CrossFireX
3-Way CrossFireX

- Supports NVIDIA® Quad SLITM, 4-Way SLITM, 3-Way SLITM
and SLI

Graphics * Intel® HD Graphics Built-in Visuals and the VGA outputs can
be supported only with processors which are GPU
integrated.

- Supports Intel
Sync Video 2.0, Intel
Technology, Intel® InsiderTM, Intel® HD Graphics 2500/4000

rd

and 2nd Generation Intel® CoreTM i7 / i5 / i3 in

®

K-Series unlocked CPU

®

Rapid Start Technology and Smart Connect

®

Extreme Memory Profi le (XMP)1.3/1.2

®

Ivy Bridge CPU. With

TM

TM

and CrossFireXTM

TM

®

HD Graphics Built-in Visuals: Intel® Quick

®

InTruTM 3D, Intel® Clear Video HD

, 4-Way CrossFireXTM,

8

ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

- Pixel Shader 5.0, DirectX 11 with Intel® Ivy Bridge CPU.
Pixel Shader 4.1, DirectX 10.1 with Intel® Sandy Bridge
CPU.

- Max. shared memory 1760MB (see CAUTION 5)

- Supports HDMI 1.4a Technology with max. resolution up to
1920x1200 @ 60Hz

- Supports Auto Lip Sync, Deep Color (12bpc), xvYCC and
HBR (High Bit Rate Audio) with HDMI (Compliant HDMI
monitor is required) (see CAUTION 6)

- Supports HDCP function with HDMI port

- Supports Full HD 1080p Blu-ray (BD) / HD-DVD playback
with HDMI port
Audio - 7.1 CH HD Audio with Content Protection
(Realtek ALC898 Audio Codec)

- Premium Blu-ray audio support

- Supports THX TruStudio

TM

LAN - PCIE x1 Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000 Mb/s

- Broadcom BCM57781

- Supports Wake-On-LAN

- Supports Energy Effi cient Ethernet 802.3az

- Supports Dual LAN with Teaming function

- Supports PXE
Wireless LAN WiFi + BT module

- Supports IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n

- Supports Dual-Band (2.4/5 GHz)

- Supports High speed wireless connection up to 300Mbps

- 2 antennas to support 2 (Transmit) x 2 (Receive) MIMO
technology

- Supports Bluetooth 4.0 Class II
Rear Panel I/O I/O Panel

- 1 x PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse Port

- 1 x HDMI Port

- 1 x Optical SPDIF Out Port

- 2 x Ready-to-Use USB 2.0 Ports

- 1 x eSATA3 Connector

- 8 x Ready-to-Use USB 3.0 Ports

- 2 x RJ-45 LAN Ports with LED (ACT/LINK LED and SPEED
LED)

- 1 x IEEE 1394 Port

- 1 x Clear CMOS Switch with LED

- HD Audio Jack: Rear Speaker/Central/Bass/Line in/Front
Speaker/Microphone (see CAUTION 7)

ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

English

9

English

SATA3 - 2 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s connectors by Intel® Z77, support RAID
(RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, Intel Rapid Storage and
Intel Smart Response Technology), NCQ, AHCI and Hot
Plug functions

- 4 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s connectors by ASMedia ASM1061,
support NCQ, AHCI and “Hot Plug” functions (SATA3_A4
connector is shared with eSATA3 port)

®

USB3.0 - 4 x Rear USB 3.0 ports by Intel

Z77, support USB 1.0/2.0/3.0

up to 5Gb/s

- 4 x Rear USB 3.0 ports by Etron EJ188, support
USB 1.0/2.0/3.0 up to 5Gb/s

- 2 x Front USB 3.0 headers by Etron EJ188 (support 4
USB 3.0 ports), support USB 1.0/2.0/3.0 up to 5Gb/s
Connector - 4 x SATA2 3.0 Gb/s connectors, support RAID (RAID 0,
RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, Intel Rapid Storage and Intel
Smart Response Technology), NCQ, AHCI and Hot Plug
functions

- 6 x SATA3 6.0Gb/s connectors

- 1 x IR header

- 1 x CIR header

- 1 x COM port header

- 1 x HDMI_SPDIF header

- 1 x IEEE 1394 header

- 1 x Power LED header

- CPU/Chassis/Power FAN connector

- 24 pin ATX power connector

- 8 pin 12V power connector

- SLI/XFire power connector

- Front panel audio connector

- 3 x USB 2.0 headers (support 6 USB 2.0 ports)

- 2 x USB 3.0 headers (support 4 USB 3.0 ports)

- 1 x Dr. Debug with LED
Smart Switch - 1 x Clear CMOS Switch with LED

- 1 x Power Switch with LED

- 1 x Reset Switch with LED
BIOS Feature - 64Mb AMI UEFI Legal BIOS with GUI support

- Supports “Plug and Play”

- ACPI 1.1 Compliance Wake Up Events

- Supports jumperfree

- SMBIOS 2.3.1 Support

10

ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

- CPU Core, IGPU, DRAM, 1.8V PLL, VTT, VCCSA Voltage
Multi-adjustment
Support CD - Drivers, Utilities, AntiVirus Software (Trial Version),
CyberLink MediaEspresso 6.5 Trial, ASRock MAGIX
Multimedia Suite - OEM
Unique Feature - ASRock Extreme Tuning Utility (AXTU) (see CAUTION 8)

- ASRock Instant Boot

- ASRock Instant Flash (see CAUTION 9)

- ASRock APP Charger (see CAUTION 10)

- ASRock SmartView (see CAUTION 11)

- ASRock XFast USB (see CAUTION 12)

- ASRock XFast LAN (see CAUTION 13)

- ASRock XFast RAM (see CAUTION 14)

- ASRock Crashless BIOS (see CAUTION 15)

- ASRock OMG (Online Management Guard)
(see CAUTION 16)

- ASRock Internet Flash (see CAUTION 17)

- ASRock Dehumidifi er Function (see CAUTION 18)

- Lucid Virtu Universal MVP (see CAUTION 19)
* Lucid Virtu Universal MVP can be supported only with
processors which are GPU integrated.

- Hybrid Booster:

- CPU Frequency Stepless Control (see CAUTION 20)

- ASRock U-COP (see CAUTION 21)

- Boot Failure Guard (B.F.G.)

- Good Night LED
Hardware - CPU Temperature Sensing
Monitor - Chassis Temperature Sensing

- CPU/Chassis/Power Fan Tachometer

- CPU/Chassis Quiet Fan (Allows Chassis Fan Speed Auto­ Adjust by CPU Temperature)

- CPU/Chassis Fan Multi-Speed Control

- Voltage Monitoring: +12V, +5V, +3.3V, CPU Vcore
OS - Microsoft

®

Windows® 7 / 7 64-bit / VistaTM / VistaTM 64-bit /
XP / XP 64-bit compliant (see CAUTION 22)
Certifi cations - FCC, CE, WHQL

- ErP/EuP Ready (ErP/EuP ready power supply is required)
(see CAUTION 23)

* For detailed product information, please visit our website: http://www.asrock.com

English

ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

11

English

WARNING

Please realize that there is a certain risk involved with overclocking, including
adjusting the setting in the BIOS, applying Untied Overclocking Technology, or using
third-party overclocking tools. Overclocking may affect your system’s stability, or
even cause damage to the components and devices of your system. It should be
done at your own risk and expense. We are not responsible for possible damage
caused by overclocking.

CAUTION!

1. About the settings of “Hyper Threading Technology”, please check page

79 of the “User Manual” in the support CD.

2. This motherboard supports Dual Channel Memory Technology. Before
you implement Dual Channel Memory Technology, make sure to read the
installation guide of memory modules on page 20 for proper installation.

3. Due to the operating system limitation, the actual memory size may be
less than 4GB for the reservation for system usage under Windows
VistaTM / XP. For Windows® OS with 64-bit CPU, there is no such limita-

tion. You can use ASRock XFast RAM to utilize the memory that Win-

dows® cannot use.

4. Only PCIE1, PCIE2, PCIE3, PCIE5, PCIE6 and PCIE7 slots support Gen
3 speed. To run the PCI Express in Gen 3 speed, please install an Ivy
Bridge CPU. If you install a Sandy Bridge CPU, the PCI Express will run
only at PCI Express Gen 2 speed. Please refer to page 22 for details.

5. The maximum shared memory size is defi ned by the chipset vendor and
is subject to change. Please check Intel
tion.

6. xvYCC and Deep Color are only supported under Windows® 7 64-bit /

7. Deep Color mode will be enabled only if the display supports 12bpc
in EDID. HBR is supported under Windows
VistaTM.

7. For microphone input, this motherboard supports both stereo and mono
modes. For audio output, this motherboard supports 2-channel, 4-chan­nel, 6-channel, and 8-channel modes. Please check the table on page 3
for proper connection.

8. ASRock Extreme Tuning Utility (AXTU) is an all-in-one tool to ne-tune dif­ferent system functions in a user-friendly interface, which includes Hard­ware Monitor, Fan Control, Overclocking, OC DNA and IES. In Hardware
Monitor, it shows the major readings of your system. In Fan Control, it
shows the fan speed and temperature for you to adjust. In Overclocking,
you are allowed to overclock CPU frequency for optimal system per­formance. In OC DNA, you can save your OC settings as a profi le and
share it with your friends. Your friends then can load the OC profi le to
their own system to get the same OC settings. In IES (Intelligent Energy

®

website for the latest informa-

®

7 64-bit / 7 / VistaTM 64-bit /

®

7 /

12

ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

Saver), the voltage regulator can reduce the number of output phases to

improve effi ciency when the CPU cores are idle without sacrifi cing

computing performance. Please visit our website for the operation proce-

dures of ASRock Extreme Tuning Utility (AXTU).

ASRock website: http://www.asrock.com

9. ASRock Instant Flash is a BIOS fl ash utility embedded in Flash ROM.
This convenient BIOS update tool allows you to update system BIOS
without entering operating systems fi rst like MS-DOS or Windows®. With
this utility, you can press the <F6> key during the POST or the <F2>
key to enter into the BIOS setup menu to access ASRock Instant Flash.
Just launch this tool and save the new BIOS fi le to your USB fl ash drive,
fl oppy disk or hard drive, then you can update your BIOS only in a few
clicks without preparing an additional fl oppy diskette or other complicated
fl ash utility. Please be noted that the USB fl ash drive or hard drive must
use FAT32/16/12 fi le system.

10. If you desire a faster, less restricted way of charging your Apple devices,
such as iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch, ASRock has prepared a wonderful so­lution for you - ASRock APP Charger. Simply install the APP Charger

driver, it makes your iPhone charge much quickly from your computer

and up to 40% faster than before. ASRock APP Charger allows you to
quickly charge many Apple devices simultaneously and even supports

continuous charging when your PC enters into Standby mode (S1), Sus-

pend to RAM (S3), hibernation mode (S4) or power off (S5). With APP
Charger driver installed, you can easily enjoy the marvelous charging
experience.

ASRock website: http://www.asrock.com/Feature/AppCharger/index.asp

11. ASRock SmartView, a new function for internet browsers, is the smart
start page for IE that combines your most visited web sites, your history,
your Facebook friends and your real-time newsfeed into an enhanced
view for a more personal Internet experience. ASRock motherboards are
exclusively equipped with the ASRock SmartView utility that helps you
keep in touch with friends on-the-go. To use ASRock SmartView feature,
please make sure your OS version is Windows
VistaTM 64 bit, and your browser version is IE8.

ASRock website: http://www.asrock.com/Feature/SmartView/index.asp

12. ASRock XFast USB can boost USB storage device performance. The
performance may depend on the properties of the device.

13. ASRock XFast LAN provides a faster internet access, which includes
the benefi ts listed below. LAN Application Prioritization: You can confi g-
ure your application’s priority ideally and/or add new programs. Lower
Latency in Game: After setting online game’s priority higher, it can lower
the latency in games. Traffi c Shaping: You can watch Youtube HD videos
and download simultaneously. Real-Time Analysis of Your Data: With
the status window, you can easily recognize which data streams you are
transferring currently.

®

7 / 7 64 bit / VistaTM /

English

ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

13

English

14. ASRock XFast RAM is a new function that is included into ASRock Ex-

treme Tuning Utility (AXTU). It fully utilizes the memory space that cannot
be used under Windows

®

OS 32-bit CPU. ASRock XFast RAM shortens
the loading time of previously visited websites, making web surfi ng faster
than ever. And it also boosts the speed of Adobe Photoshop 5 times
faster. Another advantage of ASRock XFast RAM is that it reduces the

frequency of accessing your SSDs or HDDs in order to extend their lifes-

pan.

15. ASRock Crashless BIOS allows users to update their BIOS without fear
of failing. If power loss occurs during the BIOS update process, ASRock
Crashless BIOS will automatically fi nish the BIOS update procedure after
regaining power. Please note that BIOS fi les need to be placed in the root
directory of your USB disk. Only USB2.0 ports support this feature.

16. Administrators are able to establish an internet curfew or restrict internet
access at specifi ed times via OMG. You may schedule the starting and
ending hours of internet access granted to other users. In order to pre­vent users from bypassing OMG, guest accounts without permission to
modify the system time are required.

17. ASRock Internet Flash searches for available UEFI firmware updates
from our servers. In other words, the system can auto-detect the latest
UEFI from our servers and fl ash them without entering Windows

®

OS.
Please note that you must be running on a DHCP confi gured computer in
order to enable this function.

18. Users may prevent motherboard damages due to dampness by enabling
“Dehumidifi er Function”. When enabling Dehumidifi er Function, the com-
puter will power on automatically to dehumidify the system after entering
S4/S5 state.

19. VIRTU Universal MVP includes the base features of Virtu Universal
technology, which virtualizes integrated GPU and discrete GPU for best
of breed functionality. It also features Virtual Vsync™ for no-compromise
visual quality. With the added benefits of HyperFormance technology,
VIRTU Universal MVP improves game performance by intelligently reduc­ing redundant rendering tasks in the fl ow between the CPU, GPU and the
display.

20. Although this motherboard offers stepless control, it is not recommended

to perform over-clocking. Frequencies other than the recommended CPU
bus frequencies may cause instability of the system or damage the CPU.

21. While CPU overheat is detected, the system will automatically shutdown.
Before you resume the system, please check if the CPU fan on the moth­erboard functions properly and unplug the power cord, then plug it back
again. To improve heat dissipation, remember to spray thermal grease
between the CPU and the heatsink when you install the PC system.

22. ASRock XFast RAM is not supported by Microsoft® Windows® XP / XP
64-bit. WiFi + BT module, Intel

®

Smart Connect Technology and Intel®
USB 3.0 ports are not supported by Microsoft® Windows® VistaTM / VistaTM

64-bit / XP / XP 64-bit.

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ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

23. EuP stands for Energy Using Product, was a provision regulated by the

European Union to define the power consumption for the completed
system. According to EuP, the total AC power of the completed system
should be under 1.00W in off mode condition. To meet EuP standards,
an EuP ready motherboard and an EuP ready power supply are required.
According to Intel’s suggestion, the EuP ready power supply must meet
the standard of 5v, and the standby power effi ciency should be higher
than 50% under 100 mA current consumption. For EuP ready power sup­ply selection, we recommend you to check with the power supply manu­facturer for more details.

ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

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15

2. Installation

This is an ATX form factor (12.0” x 9.6”, 30.5 x 24.4 cm) motherboard. Before you
install the motherboard, study the confi guration of your chassis to ensure that the
motherboard fi ts into it.

motherboard. Failure to do so may cause physical injuries to you and
damages to motherboard components.

Make sure to unplug the power cord before installing or removing the

2.1 Screw Holes

Place screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the motherboard to the
chassis.

Do not over-tighten the screws! Doing so may damage the motherboard.

2.2 Pre-installation Precautions

Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components
or change any motherboard settings.

1. Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any
components.

2. To avoid damaging the motherboard’s components due to static
electricity, NEVER place your motherboard directly on the carpet
or the like. Also remember to use a grounded wrist strap or touch a
safety grounded object before you handle the components.

3. Hold components by the edges and do not touch the ICs.

4. Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded anti­static pad or in the bag that comes with the component.

5. When placing screws into the screw holes to secure the mother­board to the chassis, please do not over-tighten the screws! Doing
so may damage the motherboard.

English

Before you install or remove any component, ensure that the power is

switched off or the power cord is detached from the power supply. Failure to do
so may cause severe damage to the motherboard, peripherals, and/or
components.

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ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

2.3 CPU Installation

In order to provide the LGA 1155 CPU sock­ets more protection and make the instal­lation process easier, ASRock has added
a new protection cover on top of the load
plate to replace the former PnP caps that
were under the load plate. For the installa­tion of Intel
protection cover, please follow the steps
below.

Step 1. Open the socket:

®

1155-Pin CPUs with the new

Before you insert the 1155-Pin CPU into the socket, please check if the
CPU surface is unclean or if there are any bent pins in the socket. Do
not force to insert the CPU into the socket if above situation is found.
Otherwise, the CPU will be seriously damaged.

Step 1-1. Disengage the lever by pressing it

down and sliding it out of the hook.
You do not have to remove the pro­tection cover.

Step 1-2. Keep the lever positioned at about

135 degrees in order to flip up the
load plate.

Load

Plate

Cover

Contact

Array

1155-Pin Socket Overview

Load

Lever

Socket

Body

Step 2. Insert the 1155-Pin CPU:

Step 2-1. Hold the CPU by the edge which is

marked with a black line.

Step 2-2. Orient the CPU with the IHS (Inte-

grated Heat Sink) up. Locate Pin1
and the two orientation key notches.

ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

black line

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17

orientation key notch

Pin1

alignment key

Pin1

orientation key notch

1155-Pin CPU

For proper installation, please ensure to match the two orientation
key notches of the CPU with the two alignment keys of the socket.

Step 2-3. Carefully place the CPU into the

socket.

Step 2-4. Verify that the CPU is within the sock-

et and properly mated to the orient
keys.

Step 3. Close the socket:

Step 3-1. Flip the load plate onto the IHS.

Step 3-2. Press down the load lever, and se-

cure it with the load plate tab under
the retention tab. The protection
cover will automatically come off by
itself.

alignment key

1155-Pin Socket

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Please save and replace the cover if the processor is removed. The
cover must be placed if you wish to return the motherboard for after
service.

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ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

2.4 Installation of CPU Fan and Heatsink

This motherboard is equipped with 1155-Pin socket that supports Intel 1155-Pin
CPUs. Please adopt the type of heatsink and cooling fan compliant with Intel 1155­Pin CPU to dissipate heat. Before you install the heatsink, you need to spray ther­mal interface material between the CPU and the heatsink to improve heat dissipa­tion. Ensure that the CPU and the heatsink are securely fastened and in good con­tact with each other. Then connect the CPU fan to the CPU_FAN connector (CPU_
FAN1, see page 2, No. 4 or CPU_FAN2, see page 2. No.5).

For proper installation, please kindly refer to the instruction manuals of your
CPU fan and heatsink.

Below is an example to illustrate the installation of the heatsink for 1155-Pin CPUs.
Step 1. Apply thermal interface material onto the cen-

ter of the IHS on the socket’s surface.

Apply Thermal
Interface Material

Step 2. Place the heatsink onto the socket. Ensure

that the fan cables are oriented on side closest

Fan cableson side
closest toMB header

to the CPU fan connector on the motherboard
(CPU_FAN1, see page 2, No. 4 or CPU_
FAN2, see page 2. No.5).

Fastener slots
pointing straightout

Step 3. Align fasteners with the motherboard through-

holes.

Step 4. Rotate the fastener clockwise, then press

down on fastener caps with thumb to install
and lock. Repeat with remaining fasteners.

If you press down the fasteners without rotating them clockwise, the
heatsink cannot be secured on the motherboard.

Press Down
(4 Places)

Step 5. Connect fan header with the CPU fan connector on the motherboard.
Step 6. Secure redundant cable with tie-wrap to ensure the cable does not
interfere with fan operation or contact other components.

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ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

19

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2.5 Installation of Memory Modules (DIMM)

This motherboard provides four 240-pin DDR3 (Double Data Rate 3) DIMM
slots, and supports Dual Channel Memory Technology. For dual channel con­fi guration, you always need to install identical (the same brand, speed, size
and chip-type) DDR3 DIMM pair in the slots: You have to install identical
DDR3 DIMMs in Dual Channel A (DDR3_A1 and DDR3_B1; Black slots; see p.2
No. 6) or identical DDR3 DIMMs in Dual Channel B (DDR3_A2 and DDR3_
B2; Black slots; see p.2 No. 7), so that Dual Channel Memory Technology can
be activated. This motherboard also allows you to install four DDR3 DIMMs
for dual channel confi guration, please install identical DDR3 DIMMs in all four
slots. You may refer to the Dual Channel Memory Confi guration Table below.

Dual Channel Memory Confi guration

DDR3_A1 DDR3_A2 DDR3_B1 DDR3_B2
(Black Slot) (Black Slot) (Black Slot) (Black Slot)
(1) Populated - Populated ­(2) - Populated - Populated
(3)* Populated Populated Populated Populated

For confi guration (3), please install identical DDR3 DIMMs in all four

*

slots.

1. If you want to install two memory modules, for optimal compatibility
and reliability, it is recommended to install them in the slots: DDR3_
A1 and DDR3_B1, or DDR3_A2 and DDR3_B2.

2. If only one memory module or three memory modules are installed
in the DDR3 DIMM slots on this motherboard, it is unable to activate
Dual Channel Memory Technology.

3. If a pair of memory modules is NOT installed in the same Dual
Channel, for example, installing a pair of memory modules in
DDR3_A1 and DDR3_A2, it is unable to activate Dual Channel
Memory Technology.

4. It is not allowed to install a DDR or DDR2 memory module into
DDR3 slot; otherwise, this motherboard and DIMM may be dam­aged.

5. Some DDR3 1GB double-sided DIMMs with 16 chips may not work
on this motherboard. It is not recommended to install them on this
motherboard.

6. For optimal compatibility and stability while overclocking memory
frequency, it is recommended to install one memory module on
DDR3_B2 slot or two memory modules on DDR3_A2 and DDR3_
B2 slots.

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ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

Installing a DIMM

Please make sure to disconnect power supply before adding or
removing DIMMs or the system components.

Step 1. Unlock a DIMM slot by pressing the retaining clips outward.
Step 2. Align a DIMM on the slot such that the notch on the DIMM matches the
break on the slot.

The DIMM only fi ts in one correct orientation. It will cause permanent
damage to the motherboard and the DIMM if you force the DIMM into
the slot at incorrect orientation.

Step 3. Firmly insert the DIMM into the slot until the retaining clips at both ends
fully snap back in place and the DIMM is properly seated.

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21

2.6 Expansion Slots (PCI Express Slots)

There are 7 PCI Express slots and 1 mini-PCI Express slot on this motherboard.

PCIE slots:

PCIE1 / PCIE5 (PCIE 3.0 x16 slot) is used for PCI Express x16 lane

width graphics cards, or to install PCI Express graphics cards to support
CrossFireX

PCIE3 / PCIE7 (PCIE 3.0 x16 slot) is used for PCI Express x8 lane

width graphics cards, or to install PCI Express graphics cards to support
CrossFireXTM or SLITM function.

PCIE2 (PCIE 3.0 x16 slot) is used for PCI Express x16 lane width

graphics cards.

PCIE4 (PCIE 2.0 x16 slot) is used for PCI Express x4 lane width graph-

ics cards or ASRock Game Blaster.

PCIE6 (PCIE 2.0 x1 slot) is used for a PCI Express x1 lane width card,

such as a Gigabit LAN card, SATA2 card, etc.

MINI_PCIE1 (mini-PCIE slot) is used for WiFi + BT module.

PCIE Slot Confi gurations

PCIE1 PCIE2 PCIE3 PCIE5 PCIE7
Single Graphics Card N/A x16 N/A N/A N/A
Two Graphics Cards in x16 N/A N/A x16 N/A
CrossFireX
Three Graphics Cards in x8 N/A x8 x16 N/A
3-Way CrossFireXTM or
3-Way SLITM Mode
Four Graphics Cards in x8 N/A x8 x8 x8
4-Way CrossFireX
4-Way SLITM Mode

TM

or SLITM Mode

TM

or SLITM function.

TM

or

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22

ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

1. In single VGA card mode, it is recommended to install a PCI Express
x16 graphics card in the PCIE2 slot.

2. PCIE1, PCIE3, PCIE5 and PCIE7 slots will be disabled if PCIE2 slot
is occupied.

3. In CrossFireX

x16 graphics cards in PCIE1 and PCIE5 slots. Both these two slots
will work at x16 bandwidth.

4. In 3-Way CrossFireX

Express x16 graphics cards in PCIE1, PCIE3 and PCIE5 slots. PCIE1
and PCIE3 will work at x8 bandwidth, while PCIE5 works at x16
bandwidth.

5. In 4-Way CrossFireX

Express x16 graphics cards in PCIE1, PCIE3, PCIE5 and PCIE7
slots. All these four slots will work at x8 bandwidth.

6. Please connect a chassis fan to the motherboard’s chassis fan

connector (CHA_FAN1, CHA_FAN2 or CHA_FAN3) when using
multiple graphics cards for better thermal environment.

7. Only PCIE1, PCIE2, PCIE3, PCIE5, PCIE6 and PCIE7 slots support
Gen 3 speed. To run the PCI Express in Gen 3 speed, please install

an Ivy Bridge CPU. If you install a Sandy Bridge CPU, the PCI
Express will run only at PCI Express Gen 2 speed.

TM

mode or SLITM mode, please install the PCI Express

TM

or 3-Way SLITM mode, please install the PCI

TM

or 4-Way SLITM mode, please install the PCI

Installing an expansion card

Step 1. Before installing an expansion card, please make sure that the power
supply is switched off or the power cord is unplugged. Please read the
documentation of the expansion card and make necessary hardware
settings for the card before you start the installation.
Step 2. Remove the system unit cover (if your motherboard is already installed
in a chassis).
Step 3. Remove the bracket facing the slot that you intend to use. Keep the
screws for later use.
Step 4. Align the card connector with the slot and press fi rmly until the card is
completely seated on the slot.
Step 5. Fasten the card to the chassis with screws.
Step 6. Replace the system cover.

ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

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23

2.7 SLITM, 3-Way SLITM, 4-Way SLITM and Quad SLI

TM

Operation

Guide

This motherboard supports NVIDIA® SLITM, 3-Way SLITM, 4-Way SLITM and Quad

TM

(Scalable Link Interface) technology that allows you to install up to four

SLI
identical PCI Express x16 graphics cards. Currently, NVIDIA® SLITM technology
supports Windows

®

XP / XP 64-bit / VistaTM / VistaTM 64-bit / 7 / 7 64-bit OS. NVIDIA®
3-Way SLITM, 4-Way SLITM and Quad SLITM technology supports Windows® VistaTM /
VistaTM 64-bit / 7 / 7 64-bit OS only. Please follow the installation procedures in this
section.

Requirements

1. For SLITM technology, you should have two identical SLITM-ready graphics
cards that are NVIDIA® certifi ed. For 3-Way SLITM technology you should
have three, whereas for 4-Way SLI
Quad SLITM technology, you should have two identical Quad SLITM-ready
graphics cards that are NVIDIA® certifi ed.

2. Make sure that your graphics card driver supports NVIDIA® SLITM technology.
Download the driver from NVIDIA website (www.nvidia.com).

3. Make sure that your power supply unit (PSU) can provide at least the
minimum power required by your system. It is recommended to use NVIDIA
certifi ed PSU. Please refer to NVIDIA® website for details.

TM

technology you should have four. For

2.7.1 Graphics Card Setup

®

English

2.7.1.1 Installing Two SLITM-Ready Graphics Cards

Step 1. Install identical SLITM-ready graphics cards that are NVIDIA® certifi ed be-

cause different types of graphics cards will not work together properly. (Even
the GPU chips version shall be the same.) Insert one graphics card into
PCIE1 slot and the other graphics card to PCIE5 slot. Make sure that the
cards are properly seated on the slots.

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ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

Step2. If required, connect the auxiliary power source to the PCI Express graph-

ics cards.

Step3. Align and insert the ASRock SLI_Bridge_3S Card to the goldfi ngers on

each graphics card. Make sure the ASRock SLI_Bridge_3S Card is fi rmly
in place.

ASRock SLI_Bridge_3S Card

Step4. Connect a VGA cable or a DVI cable to the monitor connector or the DVI

connector of the graphics card that is inserted to PCIE1 slot.

2.7.1.2 Installing Three SLITM-Ready Graphics Cards

Step 1. Install identical 3-Way SLITM-ready graphics cards that are NVIDIA® certi-

fi ed because different types of graphics cards will not work together prop­erly. (Even the GPU chips version shall be the same.) Each graphics card
should have two goldfi ngers for the 3-Way SLI Bridge connector. Insert
one graphics card into PCIE1 slot, another graphics card to PCIE3 slot,
and the other graphics card to PCIE5 slot. Make sure that the cards are
properly seated on the slots.

Two Goldfi ngers

ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

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25

Step2. Connect the auxiliary power source to the PCI Express graphics card.

Please make sure that both power connectors on the PCI Express graph­ics card are connected. Repeat this step on the three graphics cards.

Step3. Align and insert the ASRock 3-Way SLI Bridge Card to the goldfingers

on each graphics card. Make sure the ASRock 3-Way SLI Bridge Card is
fi rmly in place.

ASRock 3-Way SLI Bridge Card

Step4. Connect a VGA cable or a DVI cable to the monitor connector or the DVI

connector of the graphics card that is inserted to PCIE1 slot.

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ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

2.7.1.3 Installing Four SLITM-Ready Graphics Cards

Step 1. Install identical 4-Way SLITM-ready graphics cards that are NVIDIA® certi-

fi ed because different types of graphics cards will not work together prop­erly. (Even the GPU chips version shall be the same.) Each graphics card
should have two goldfi ngers for the ASRock SLI Bridge Card connectors.
Insert one graphics card into the PCIE1 slot, another graphics card into the
PCIE3 slot, the third graphics card into the PCIE5 slot and the last graph­ics card into the PCIE7 slot. Make sure that the cards are properly seated
on the slots.

Two Goldfi ngers

Step2. Connect the auxiliary power source to the PCI Express graphics card.

Please make sure that both power connectors on the PCI Express graph­ics card are connected. Repeat this step on the other graphics cards.

Step3. Align and insert an ASRock SLI Bridge Card to the goldfi ngers of the fi rst

and second graphics card. Install the second ASRock SLI Bridge Card to
the goldfi ngers of the third and fourth graphics card. Connect the second
and the fourth graphics card with the ASRock SLI_Bridge_3S Card. Make
sure the ASRock SLI Bridge Cards are fi rmly in place.

2 ASRock SLI_Bridge Cards

and an ASRock SLI_Bridge_3S Card

Step4. Connect a VGA cable or a DVI cable to the monitor connector or the DVI

connector of the graphics card that is inserted to PCIE1 slot.

ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

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27

2.7.2 Driver Installation and Setup

Install the graphics card drivers to your system. After that, you can enable the Multi­Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) feature in the NVIDIA® nView system tray utility.
Please follow the below procedures to enable the multi-GPU feature.

®

For Windows
(For SLITM mode only)

A. Double-click NVIDIA Settings icon on your Windows® taskbar.

B. From the pop-up menu, select Set SLI and PhysX confi guration. In

Set PhysX GPU acceleration item, please select Enabled. In Select
an SLI confi guration item, please select Enable SLI. And click Apply.

XP / XP 64-bit OS:

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C. Reboot your system.
D. You can freely enjoy the benefi t of SLI

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ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard

TM

feature.

For Windows® VistaTM / VistaTM 64-bit / 7 / 7 64-bit OS:
(For SLITM and Quad SLITM mode)

A. Click the Start icon on your Windows taskbar.
B. From the pop-up menu, select All Programs, and then click NVIDIA

Corporation.
C. Select NVIDIA Control Panel tab.
D. Select Control Panel tab.

E. From the pop-up menu, select Set SLI and PhysX confi guration. In

Set PhysX GPU acceleration item, please select Enabled. In Select

an SLI confi guration item, please select Enable SLI. And click Apply.

F. Reboot your system.
G. You can freely enjoy the benefi t of SLITM or Quad SLITM feature.

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29

For Windows® VistaTM / VistaTM 64-bit / 7 / 7 64-bit OS:
(For 3-Way SLITM or 4-Way SLITM mode)

A. Follow step A to D on page 28.
B. From the pop-up menu, select Set SLI and PhysX confi guration. In

Select a hardware acceleration setting for PhysX item, please
select Enabled. In Select an SLI confi guration item, please select
Enable 3-way SLI or Enable 4-way SLI. And click Apply.

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C. Reboot your system.
D. You can freely enjoy the benefi ts of 3-Way SLI

* SLITM appearing here is a registered trademark of NVIDIA® Technologies Inc., and is used
only for identifi cation or explanation and to the owners’ benefi t, without intent to infringe.

TM

or 4-Way SLITM.

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ASRock Z77 Extreme9 Motherboard