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ii
Contents
Safety information ....................................................................................... v
About this guide ......................................................................................... vi
P8Z77-M specications summary ............................................................ vii
Chapter 1
Product introduction
1.1 Before you proceed ..................................................................... 1-1
2.6 Monitor menu ............................................................................. 2-24
2.7 Boot menu .................................................................................. 2-27
2.8 Tools menu ................................................................................. 2-29
2.8.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2 Utility ................................................ 2-29
2.8.2 ASUS O.C. Prole ......................................................... 2-29
2.8.3 ASUS SPD Information ................................................. 2-29
2.9 Exit menu .................................................................................... 2-30
iv
Safety information
Electrical safety
• To prevent electric shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electric outlet
before relocating the system.
• When adding or removing devices to or from the system, ensure that the power cables
for the devices are unplugged before the signal cables are connected. If possible,
disconnect all power cables from the existing system before you add a device.
• Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard, ensure that all
power cables are unplugged.
• Seek professional assistance before using an adapter or extension cord. These devices
could interrupt the grounding circuit.
• Ensure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your area. If you are not
sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you are using, contact your local power
company.
• If the power supply is broken, do not try to x it by yourself. Contact a qualied service
technician or your retailer.
Operation safety
•
Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully read all the manuals
that came with the package.
•
Before using the product, ensure that all cables are correctly connected and the power
cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage, contact your dealer immediately.
•
To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from connectors,
slots, sockets and circuitry.
•
Avoid dust, humidity, and temperature extremes. Do not place the product in any area
where it may become wet.
•
Place the product on a stable surface.
•
If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualied service
technician or your retailer.
v
About this guide
This user guide contains the information you need when installing and conguring the
motherboard.
How this guide is organized
This guide contains the following parts:
• Chapter 1: Product introduction
This chapter describes the features of the motherboard and the new technology it
supports.
• Chapter 2: BIOS information
This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS Setup menus.
Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided.
Conventions used in this guide
To ensure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following symbols used
throughout this manual.
DANGER/WARNING: Information to prevent injury to yourself when trying to
complete a task.
CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components when trying to
complete a task.
IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task.
NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a task.
Where to nd more information
Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and software
updates.
1. ASUS websites
The ASUS website provides updated information on ASUS hardware and software
products. Refer to the ASUS contact information.
2. Optional documentation
Your product package may include optional documentation, such as warranty yers,
that may have been added by your dealer. These documents are not part of the
standard package.
Typography
Bold text Indicates a menu or an item to select.
Italics
Used to emphasize a word or a phrase.
<Key> Keys enclosed in the less-than and greater-than sign means
that you must press the enclosed key.
Example: <Enter> means that you must press the Enter or
Return key.
<Key1>+<Key2>+<Key3> If you must press two or more keys simultaneously, the key
names are linked with a plus sign (+).
Example: <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<D>
- Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Prole (XMP)
* Hyper DIMM support is subject to the physical characteristics of
individual CPUs. Please refer to Memory QVL(Qualied Vendors
List) for details.
1 x PCI Express 3.0*/2.0 x16 slots (at x16)
1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot [black] (runs at x4 mode, compatible
with PCIe x1 and x4 devices)
1 x PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots
1 x PCI
* PCIe 3.0 speed is supported by Intel® 3rd generation Core™
processors.
Integrated Graphics Processor- Intel® HD Graphics support
Multi-VGA output support: HDMI/ DVI-D/ D-sub port
Supports HDMI 1.4a with max. resolution 1920 x 1200@60Hz
Supports DVI-D with max. resolution 1920 x 1200@60Hz
Supports D-sub with max. resolution 2048 x 1536@75Hz
Supports Intel® InTru™ 3D/Quick Sync Video/Clear Video HD Technology/Insider™
* Supports on Intel® Core™ processor family with Windows 7
operating systems.
(continues on the next page)
vii
P8Z77-M specications summary
LAN
Audio
USB
ASUS Exclusive
Overclocking
Features
ASUS unique
features
Realtek® 8111F Gigabit LAN controller
Realtek® ALC887 8-channel audio CODEC*
- Supports jack-detection, multi-streaming, front panel jackretasking
- Optical S/PDIF out port at back I/O
* Use a chassis with HD audio module in the front panel to support
an 8-channel audio output
Intel® Z77 Express Chipset- supports ASUS USB 3.0 Boost UASP
Mode*.
- 2 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports at mid-board for front panel support
- 2 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports at back panel(blue)
Intel® Z77 Express Chipset
- 10 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports (6 ports at mid-board, 4 ports at back
panel)
* The USB3.0 ports only support Windows 7 or later versions. UASP
standard only supports Windows 8.
Precision Tweaker 2:
- vCore: Adjustable CPU voltage at 0.005V increment
- vDRAM Bus: 127-step Memory voltage control
- vPCH: 177-step Chipset voltage control
- iGPU: 238-step iGPU voltage control
SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection)
- BCLK/PCIE frequency tuning from 80MHz up to 300MHz at
0.1MHz increment
Overclocking Protection:
- ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)
ASUS Digital Power Design
- ASUS DIGI+ VRM Utility
ASUS Exclusive Features
- ASUS EPU
- TurboV EVO
- Network iControl featuring instant network bandwidth domination
for top network program in use
- USB 3.0 Boost
- Disk Unlocker
- AI Charger
- AI Suite II
- Anti Surge
- MemOK!
viii
(continues on the next page)
P8Z77-M specications summary
ASUS unique
features (continued)
Back Panel I/O Ports
Internal connectors/
switches/ buttons
ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution
- ASUS Fan Xpert+
- ASUS Fanless Design: Heat-sink solution
ASUS EZ DIY
- ASUS USB BIOS Flashback with USB BIOS Flashback Wizard
for EZ BIOS download scheduling
- ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode featuring user-friendly graphics
interface
- ASUS O.C. Tuner
- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
- ASUS EZ Flash 2
ASUS Q-Design
- ASUS Q-Slot
- ASUS Q-DIMM
- ASUS Q-Connector
1 x DVI-D port
1 x HDMI port
1 x D-sub port
1 x Optical S/PDIF out
1 x LAN (RJ45) ports
2 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports
4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports (1 supports USB BIOS Flashback)
1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port
3 Audio jacks support 8-channel*
* Use a chassis with HD audio module in the front panel to support
an 8-channel audio output.
1 x USB 3.0/2.0 connector supports additional 2 USB ports
(19-pin)
3 x USB 2.0/1/1 connectors support additional 6 USB ports (blue)
2 x SATA 6.0Gb/s connectors ( 2 x gray)
4 x SATA 3.0Gb/s connectors (blue)
1 x CPU Fan connector (4-pin)
3 x Chassis Fan connectors (4-pin)
Front panel audio connector (AAFP)
1 x S/PDIF out header
24-pin EATX Power connector
8-pin EATX 12V Power connector
System Panel(Q-Connector)
1 x MemOK! button
1 x BIOS Flashback button
1 x Clear CMOS jumper
1 x COM port header
1 x TPM header
(continues on the next page)
ix
P8Z77-M specications summary
BIOS features
Manageability
Accessories
Support DVD
Form factor
* Specications are subject to change without notice.
64 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM
BIOS 2.5, ACPI 2.0a, Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 2,
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3, F12 PrintScreen, F3 Shortcut Function
and ASUS DRAM SPD (Serial Presence Detect) memory
information
WfM 2.0, DMI 2.0, WOL by PME, PXE, WOR by PME
1 x Serial ATA 6.0Gb/s cables
1 x Serial ATA 3.0Gb/s cables
ASUS I/O shield
2 in 1 Q-connector
User’s manual
Drivers
ASUS Utilities
ASUS Update
Anti-virus software (OEM version)
uATX Form Factor, 9.6”x 9.6” (24.4cm x 24.4cm)
x
Chapter 1
Product introduction
Thank you for buying an ASUS® P8Z77-M motherboard!
Before you start installing the motherboard, and hardware devices on it, check the items in
your motherboard package. Refer to the specication list on page x for the list of accessories.
If any of the items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.
1.1 Before you proceed
Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change
any motherboard settings.
• Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any component.
• Before handling components, use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded
object or a metal object, such as the power supply case, to avoid damaging them due to
static electricity.
• Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them.
• Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded antistatic pad or in the
bag that came with the component.
• Before you install or remove any component, ensure that the ATX power supply 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, or components.
1-1Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.2 Motherboard overview
Before you install the motherboard, study the conguration of your chassis to ensure that the
motherboard ts into it.
Ensure that you unplug the power cord before installing or removing the motherboard.
Failure to do so can cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components.
1.2.1 Placement direction
When installing the motherboard, ensure that you place it into the chassis in the correct
orientation. The edge with external ports goes to the rear part of the chassis as indicated in
the image below.
1.2.2 Screw holes
Place eight screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the motherboard to the
chassis.
Do not overtighten the screws! Doing so can damage the motherboard.
7.Serial port connector (10-1 pin COM1)1-26 16. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP) 1-22
8. Intel® Z77 Serial ATA 6.0 Gb/s connectors
(7-pin SATA6G_1/2 [gray])
9. Intel® Z77 Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s connectors
(7-pin SATA3G_3–6 [blue])
1-23 10. Intel® Z77 USB 3.0 connector (USB3_12)1-27
1-25 12. USB 2.0 connectors (10-1 pin USB910;
1-24 17. Standby Power LED1-19
1-24
USB1112; USB1314)
1-26
1-3Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The motherboard comes with a surface mount LGA1155 socket designed for the Intel®
3rd/2nd Generation Core™ i7 / Core™ i5 / Core™ i3 / Pentium / Celeron Processors.
Ensure that all power cables are unplugged before installing the CPU.
• The LGA1156 CPU is incompatible with the LGA1155 socket. DO NOT install a
LGA1156 CPU on the LGA1155 socket.
• Upon purchase of the motherboard, ensure that the PnP cap is on the socket and the
socket contacts are not bent. Contact your retailer immediately if the PnP cap is missing,
or if you see any damage to the PnP cap/socket contacts/motherboard components.
ASUS will shoulder the cost of repair only if the damage is shipment/transit-related.
• Keep the cap after installing the motherboard. ASUS will process Return Merchandise
Authorization (RMA) requests only if the motherboard comes with the cap on the
LGA1155 socket.
• The product warranty does not cover damage to the socket contacts resulting from
incorrect CPU installation/removal, or misplacement/loss/incorrect removal of the PnP
cap.
1.3.1 Installing the CPU
The LGA1156 CPU is incompatible with the LGA1155 socket. DO NOT install a LGA1156
CPU on the LGA1155 socket.
1
1-4
2
A
B
ASUS P8Z77-M
3
C
4
5
A
B
6
1-5Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.3.2 CPU heatsink and fan assembly installation
Apply the Thermal Interface Material
to the CPU heatsink and CPU
before you install the heatsink and
fan if necessary.
To install the CPU heatsink and fan assembly
1
B
A
B
A
34
2
1-6
ASUS P8Z77-M
To uninstall the CPU heatsink and fan assembly
12
B
A
B
A
1.4 System memory
1.4.1 Overview
The motherboard comes with four Double Data Rate 3 (DDR3) Dual In-line Memory Modules
(DIMM) slots.
A DDR3 module is notched differently from a DDR or DDR2 module. DO NOT install a DDR
or DDR2 memory module to the DDR3 slot.
Recommended memory congurations
Install one memory module in slot A2 rst as a single-channel operation.
1-7Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.4.2 Memory congurations
You may install 1GB, 2GB, 4GB and 8GB unbuffered non-ECC DDR3 DIMMs into the DIMM
sockets.
• You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B. The system maps the
total size of the lower-sized channel for the dual-channel conguration. Any excess memory
from the higher-sized channel is then mapped for single-channel operation.
• Due to Intel 2nd Generation processors' behavior, DDR3 2200/2000/1800 MHz memory
module will run at DDR3 2133/1866/1600 MHz frequency as default.
• According to Intel CPU spec, DIMM voltage below 1.65V is recommended to protect the
CPU.
• Always install DIMMs with the same CAS latency. For optimum compatibility, we recommend
that you obtain memory modules from the same vendor.
• Due to the memory address limitation on 32-bit Windows OS, when you install 4GB or more
memory on the motherboard, the actual usable memory for the OS can be about 3GB or
less. For effective use of memory, we recommend that you do any of the following:
- Use a maximum of 3GB system memory if you are using a 32-bit Windows OS.
- Install a 64-bit Windows OS when you want to install 4GB or more on the motherboard.
For more details, refer to the Microsoft® support site at
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605/en-us.
• This motherboard does not support DIMMs made up of 512Mb (64MB) chips or less
• The default memory operation frequency is dependent on its Serial Presence Detect (SPD),
which is the standard way of accessing information from a memory module. Under the
default state, some memory modules for overclocking may operate at a lower frequency than
the vendor-marked value. To operate at the vendor-marked or at a higher frequency, refer to
section 2.4 Ai Tweaker menu for manual memory frequency adjustment.
• For system stability, use a more efcient memory cooling system to support a full memory