ASUS ROG Crosshair VI Extreme Service Manual

ROG CROSSHAIR	Motherboard
VI EXTREME

E13863

Revised Edition V2

January 2018

Copyright © 2018 ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this manual, including the products and software described in it, may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form or by any means, except documentation kept by the purchaser for backup purposes, without the express written permission of ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. (“ASUS”).

Product warranty or service will not be extended if: (1) the product is repaired, modified or altered, unless such repair, modification of alteration is authorized in writing by ASUS; or (2) the serial number of the product is defaced or missing.

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Where the applicable license entitles you to the source code of such software and/or other additional data, you may obtain it for a period of three years after our last shipment of the product, either

(1)for free by downloading it from https://www.asus.com/support/

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ii

Contents

Safety information......................................................................................................	vi
About this guide.........................................................................................................	vii
ROG CROSSHAIR VI EXTREME specifications summary......................................	ix
Package contents.....................................................................................................	xiv
Installation tools and components...........................................................................	xv

Chapter 1:		Product Introduction
1.1	Motherboard overview...............................................................................		1-1
	1.1.1	Before you proceed.....................................................................	1-1
	1.1.2	Motherboard layout......................................................................	1-2
	1.1.3	Central Processing Unit (CPU)....................................................	1-4
	1.1.4	System memory...........................................................................	1-5
	1.1.5	Expansion slots............................................................................	1-7
	1.1.6	Onboard buttons and switches....................................................	1-9
	1.1.7	Jumper.......................................................................................	1-12
	1.1.8	Onboard LEDs...........................................................................	1-13
	1.1.9	Internal connectors....................................................................	1-20
	1.1.10	ProbeIt.......................................................................................	1-33

Chapter 2:		Basic Installation
2.1	Building your PC system...........................................................................		2-1
	2.1.1	CPU installation...........................................................................	2-1
	2.1.2	CPU heatsink and fan assembly installation................................	2-2
	2.1.3	Motherboard installation..............................................................	2-4
	2.1.4	DIMM installation.........................................................................	2-5
	2.1.5	ATX power connection.................................................................	2-6
	2.1.6	SATA device connection..............................................................	2-7
	2.1.7	Front I/O connector......................................................................	2-8
	2.1.8	Expansion card installation..........................................................	2-9
	2.1.9	M.2 installation...........................................................................	2-10
	2.1.10	Wi-Fi antenna installation..........................................................	2-11
2.2	BIOS update utility....................................................................................		2-12
2.3	Motherboard rear and audio connections..............................................		2-13
	2.3.1	Rear I/O connection...................................................................	2-13
	2.3.2	Audio I/O connections................................................................	2-15
2.4	Starting up for the first time....................................................................		2-17
2.5	Turning off the computer.........................................................................		2-17

iii

Chapter 3:		BIOS Setup
3.1	Knowing BIOS.............................................................................................		3-1
3.2	BIOS setup program...................................................................................		3-2
	3.2.1	Advanced Mode...........................................................................	3-3
	3.2.2	EZ Mode......................................................................................	3-6
	3.2.3	Q-Fan Control..............................................................................	3-7
	3.2.4	EZ Tuning Wizard........................................................................	3-9
3.3	My Favorites..............................................................................................		3-10
3.4	Main menu.................................................................................................		3-12
3.5	Extreme Tweaker menu............................................................................		3-12
3.6	Advanced menu........................................................................................		3-13
	3.6.1	CPU Configuration.....................................................................	3-13
	3.6.2	ROG Effects...............................................................................	3-14
	3.6.3	SATA Configuration...................................................................	3-14
	3.6.4	Onboard Devices Configuration.................................................	3-14
	3.6.5	APM Configuration.....................................................................	3-16
	3.6.6	Network Stack Configuration.....................................................	3-16
	3.6.7	HDD/SSD SMART Information..................................................	3-16
	3.6.8	NVMe Configuration..................................................................	3-17
	3.6.9	USB Configuration.....................................................................	3-17
3.7	Monitor menu............................................................................................		3-18
3.8	Boot menu.................................................................................................		3-18
3.9	Tool menu..................................................................................................		3-21
	3.9.1	ASUS EZ Flash 3 Utility.............................................................	3-21
	3.9.2	Secure Erase.............................................................................	3-22
	3.9.3	ASUS Overclocking Profile........................................................	3-23
	3.9.4	ROG OC Panel H-Key Configure..............................................	3-23
	3.9.5	ASUS SPD Information..............................................................	3-23
	3.9.6	Graphics Card Information.........................................................	3-24
3.10	Exit menu...................................................................................................		3-24
3.11	Updating BIOS..........................................................................................		3-25
	3.11.1	EZ Update..................................................................................	3-25
	3.11.2 ASUS EZ Flash 3.......................................................................		3-26
	3.11.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3..........................................................		3-28

iv

Chapter 4:		RAID Support
4.1	RAID configurations...................................................................................		4-1
	4.1.1	RAID definitions...........................................................................	4-1
	4.1.2	Installing Serial ATA hard disks...................................................	4-2
4.2	Creating a RAID driver disk.......................................................................		4-2
	4.2.1	Creating a RAID driver disk in Windows® ...................................	4-2
Appendix
Notices	.....................................................................................................................		A-1
ASUS contact information......................................................................................			A-8

v

Safety information

Electrical safety

•To prevent electrical shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electrical 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 fix it by yourself. Contact a qualified 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 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 qualified service technician or your retailer.

vi

About this guide

This user guide contains the information you need when installing and configuring 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. It includes description of the switches, jumpers, and connectors on the motherboard.

•Chapter 2: Basic Installation

This chapter lists the hardware setup procedures that you have to perform when installing system components.

•Chapter 3: BIOS Setup

This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS Setup menus. Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided.

•Chapter 4: RAID Support

This chapter describes the RAID configurations.

Where to find more information

Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and software updates.

1.ASUS website

The ASUS website (www.asus.com) provides updated information on ASUS hardware and software products.

2.Optional documentation

Your product package may include optional documentation, such as warranty flyers, that may have been added by your dealer. These documents are not part of the standard package.

vii

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.

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 (+).

viii

ROG CROSSHAIR VI EXTREME specifications summary

		AM4 socket for AMD® Ryzen™ / 7th Generation A-series /
		Athlon™ Processors
	CPU	Supports AM4 Socket 14 nm CPU*
		* Supports CPU up to 8 cores
		* Refer to www.asus.com for CPU support list
	Chipset	AMD® X370
		AMD Ryzen™ Processors
		- 4 x DIMM, max. 64GB, DDR4 3200(O.C) / 2666 / 2400 /
		2133 MHz, non-ECC, un-buffered memory*
		AMD 7th Gen A-series/Athlon™ Processors
	Memory	- 4 x DIMM, max. 64GB, DDR4 2400 / 2133 MHz, non-ECC,
		un-buffered memory*
		Dual channel memory architecture
		* Hyper DIMM support is subject to the physical characteristics of
		individual CPUs.
		** Please refer to Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors List) for details.
		AMD Ryzen™ Processors
		- 2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 SafeSlots (supports x16, x8/x8)*
		AMD 7th Generation A-series / Athlon™ Processors
		- 1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 SafeSlot (supports x8)
	Expansion slots	AMD X370 chipset
		- 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (max. at x4 mode) **
		- 3 x PCIe 2.0 x1**
		* The PCIEX8_2 slot shares bandwidth with M.2_2
		** The PCIEX4_3 slot shares bandwidth with the PCIEX1_1, PCIEX1_2,
		PCIEX1_3 slots
		AMD® Ryzen™ / 7th Generation A-series / Athlon™ Processors
		- 1 x M.2_1 Socket 3 with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280
		(PCIE 3.0 x4 and SATA modes) storage devices support
	Storage	- 1 x M.2_2 Socket 3 with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110
		(PCIE 3.0 x4 mode) storage devices support*
		AMD X370 chipset with RAID 0, 1, 10 support
		- 8 x SATA 6Gb/s
		* The PCIEX8_2 slot shares bandwidth with M.2_2
		AMD Ryzen™ / 7th Generation A-series / Athlon™ Processors
		- 4 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (4 ports at back panel[blue])
		AMD X370 chipset
		- 6 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (2 ports at back panel[blue], 4 ports at
		mid-board [grey])
	USB	- 5 x USB 2.0 ports (4 ports at back panel, 1 port at mid-board)
		ASMedia® USB 3.1 Gen 2 controller
		- 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 front panel connector
		ASMedia® USB 3.1 Gen 2 controller
		- 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports (2 ports at back panel, Type-C [black]
		and Type-A [red])
		(continued on the next page)

ix

ROG CROSSHAIR VI EXTREME specifications summary

		ROG SupremeFX S1220 8-Channel high-definition CODECC
		- Supports up to 32-Bit/192kHz playback*
		- High quality 120 dB SNR stereo playback output and 113 dB SNR
		recording input
		- Impedance sense for front and rear headphone outputs
		- ES9023P High Definition DAC
	Audio	- SupremeFX Shielding Technology
		- Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, and Front Panel Jack-retasking
		- Optical S/PDIF out port at back panel
		Audio Feature
		- Sonic Studio III
		- Sonic Radar III
		* Due to limitations in HDA bandwidth, 32-Bit/192kHz is not supported for
		8-Channel audio
		Extreme Engine Digi+
		- MicroFine Alloy Choke
		- NexFET MOSFETs
		- 10K Black Metallic Capacitors
		Start Button
		Reset Button
		Safe Boot Button
		Retry Button
		BIOS Flashback Button
		Clear CMOS Button
		LN2 Mode
		Slow Mode
	ROG Exclusive Features	ROG RAMDisk
		ROG CloneDrive
		ROG RAMCache II
		KeyBot II
		- One-click overclocking
		- DirectKey
		- CLr CMOS
		- Power On
		UEFI BIOS features
		- Extreme Tweaker
		- Tweakers’ Paradise
		- ROG SSD Secure Erase
		- O.C. Profile
		- Graphics Card Information Preview
		(continued on the next page)

x

ROG CROSSHAIR VI EXTREME specifications summary

		1 x Clear CMOS button
		1 x USB BIOS Flashback button
		1 x ASUS Wi-Fi module (Wi-Fi 2x2 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and
		Bluetooth v4.2)
	Back I/O Ports	2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports ( 1 x Type-C [black] and 1 x Type-A [red] )
		6 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports [blue]
		4 x USB 2.0 ports [black]
		1 x Anti-surge LAN (RJ45) port
		1 x Optical S/PDIF out
		5 x LED illuminated Gold-plated audio jacks
		ASUS Dual Intelligent Processors 5
		- 5-Way Optimization tuning key perfectly consolidates TPU, EPU,
		DIGI+ VRM, Fan Expert 4, and Turbo App
		ASUS Exclusive Features
		- AI Suite 3
		ASUS EZ DIY
		- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
		- USB BIOS Flashback
	Special Features	- ASUS EZ Flash 3
		- ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)
		Gamer’s Guardian
		- SafeSlot
		ASUS Q-Design
		- Q-Code
		- Q-Connector
		- Q-LED (DRAM[yellow], CPU[red], VGA[white],
		Boot Device LED[green])
		- Q-DIMM
		AMD Ryzen™ Processors
		Supports NVIDIA® 2-Way SLI™ Technology
	Multi-GPU support	Supports AMD® 3-Way CrossFireX™ Technology
		AMD 7th Generation A-series / Athlon™ Processors
		Supports AMD® 2-Way CrossFireX™ Technology
		(continued on the next page)

xi

ROG CROSSHAIR VI EXTREME specifications summary

	1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 front panel connector
	2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 header supports additional 4 USB 3.1
	Gen 1 ports
	1 x USB 2.0 header supports additional 1 USB 2.0 ports
	[ via ROG_EXT header ]
	8 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
	1 x M.2_1 Socket 3 with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280
	(PCIE 3.0 x4 and SATA modes) storage devices support
	1 x M.2_2 Socket 3 with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110
	(PCIE 3.0 x4 mode) storage devices support
	1 x ROG extension (ROG_EXT) header
	1 x 4-Pin CPU fan connector
	1 x 4-Pin CPU_OPT fan connector
	8 x 4-Pin RAD_FAN connector
	1 x 4-Pin W_PUMP+ connector
	1 x 3-Pin W_FLOW connector
	1 x 2-Pin W_IN connector
	1 x 2-Pin W_OUT connector
	1 x 4-Pin Chassis fan connector
Internal I/O Ports	1 x 9-Pin WB_SENSOR connector
	1 x 5-pin EXT_FAN(Extension Fan) connector
	1 x Thermal sensor connector
	1 x 24-pin EATX power connector
	1 x 8-pin EATX 12V power connector
	1 x 4-pin EATX 12V power connector
	1 x Start button
	1 x Reset button
	1 x Safe Boot button
	1 x Retry button
	1 x LN2 mode jumper
	1 x Slow mode switch
	1 x System panel connector
	1 x Speaker Header
	1 x TPM connector
	2 x Aura RGB Strip headers
	1 x Aura Addressable Strip header
	1 x EZ Plug connector(s) (4-pin Molex power connector)
	1 x Front panel audio connector (AAFP)
	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac support 2x2 dual frequency band 2.4/5 GHz
	Supports MU-MIMO
Wireless & Bluetooth	Bluetooth v4.2*
	* Support for the Bluetooth specification depends on the Windows®
	version. Windows® 7 / 8.1 support up to Bluetooth 4.0.
	(continued on the next page)

xii

ROG CROSSHAIR VI EXTREME specifications summary

		128 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 3.0,
		ACPI 6.1, Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 3, CrashFree
	BIOS	BIOS 3, F11 EZ Tuning Wizard, F6 Qfan Control, F3 My Favorites,
		Last Modified log, F12 PrintScreen and ASUS DRAM SPD (Serial
		Presence Detect) memory information”
	Manageability	WfM 2.0, WOL by PME, PXE
		Intel® I211-AT Gigabit LAN controller
	LAN	Anti-surge LANGuard
		ROG GameFirst IV
		Drivers
		Aura
		ROG GameFirst IV*
		ROG RAMDisk
		ROG RAMCache II
		ROG CPU-Z
		ROG MemTweakIt
	Software	Overwolf
		ROG Keybot II
		ROG CloneDrive
		Kaspersky® Anti-Virus
		DAEMON Tools Software
		ASUS WebStorage
		ASUS Utilities
		* ROG GameFirst IV is only available for Windows 10/8.1 64-bit
	Operating System	Windows® 10 64-bit
	Support
	Form Factor	E-ATX Form Factor
		12 inch x 10.6 inch (30.5 cm x 26.9 cm)

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

xiii

Package contents

Check your motherboard package for the following items.

Motherboard	ROG CROSSHAIR VI EXTREME
	4 x 2-in-1 SATA 6 Gb/s cables
	1 x Extension Cable for RGB strips
Cables	1 x Extension Cable for Addressable strips
	1 x 3-in-1 thermistor cable
	1 x Wafer cable
	1 x ASUS 2T2R dual band Wi-Fi moving antennas
	(Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac compliant)
	1 x SLI™ HB Bridge (2-way-M)
	1 x FAN_EXT card
	1 x Q-Connector
Accessories	1 x 2-in-1 M.2 Screw Package
	1 x Bracket for FAN_EXT card
	1 x 10-in-1 ROG cable label
	1 x ROG Coaster
	1 x ROG logo plate sticker
	1 x ROG sticker
Application DVD	ROG motherboard support DVD
Documentation	User guide

If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.

xiv

Installation tools and components

1 Bag of screws

Phillips (cross) screwdriver

PC chassis

Power supply unit

AMD AM4 CPU

AMD AM4/AM3 compatible CPU Fan

DDR4 DIMM

SATA hard disk drive

SATA optical disc drive (optional)

Graphics card

The tools and components in the table above are not included in the motherboard package.

xv

xvi

Product Introduction

1

1.1Motherboard overview

1.1.1Before 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.

Chapter 1

ROG CROSSHAIR VI EXTREME

1-1

1.1.2Motherboard layout

1 Chapter

Refer to 1.1.9 Internal connectors and 2.3.1 Rear I/O connection for more information about rear panel connectors and internal connectors.

1-2	Chapter 1: Product Introduction

Page

1-25

1-4

1-5

1-28

1-32

Layout contents

Connectors/Jumpers/Buttons and switches/Slots

1. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR; 8-pin EATX12V_1; 4-pin EATX12V_2; 4-pin EZ_PLUG)

2. AM4 CPU socket

3. DDR4 DIMM slots

4. AURA RGB headers (4-pin RGB_HEADER1-2)

5. ROG Monoblock connector (9 pin WB_SENSOR)

6.CPU, CPU optional, water pump+, extension, radiator, and chassis fan

	connectors (4-pin CPU_FAN; 4-pin CPU_OPT; 4-pin W_PUMP+; 5-pin EXT_	1-23
	FAN; 4-pin RAD1A-D_FAN; 4-pin RAD2A-D_FAN;4-pin CHA_FAN)
7.	ProbeIt	1-32
8.	RESET button (RESET)	1-9
9.	Power-on button (START)	1-9
10.	Q-Code LED	1-13
11.	LN2 Mode jumper (3-pin LN2_MODE)	1-19
12.	Slow Mode Switch (SLOW_MODE)	1-11
13.	RSVD switch (RSVD)	1-11
14.	ReTry button (RETRY_BUTTON)	1-10
15.	Safe Boot button (SAFE_BOOT)	1-10
16.	USB 3.1 Gen 2 front panel connector (U31G2_1)	1-21
17.	M.2 sockets (M.2_1(Socket 3); M.2_2(Socket 3))	1-30
18.	USB 3.1 Gen 1 connectors (20-1 pin U31G1_78; U31G1_910)	1-21
19.	AMD® Serial ATA 6.0 Gb/s connectors (7-pin SATA6G_1-8)	1-20
20.	Water in, water out, and water flow connectors (2-pin W_IN; 2-pin W_OUT;	1-31
	3-pin W_FLOW)
21.	System panel connectors (10-1 pin F_PANEL; 4-pin SPEAKER)	1-26
22.	USB 2.0 connector (10-1 pin USB15)	1-22
23.	ROG extension connector (18-1 pin ROG_EXT)	1-27
24.	Thermal sensor connector (2-pin T_SENSOR)	1-27
25.	TPM connector (14-1 pin TPM)	1-31
26.	Addressable RGB header (4-1 pin ADD_HEADER)	1-29
27.	Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP)	1-24
28.	LED connector (5-pin LED2_SCON1)	1-30

Chapter 1

ROG CROSSHAIR VI EXTREME

1-3

1.1.3Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The motherboard comes with an AM4 socket designed for AMD® Ryzen™ / 7th Generation A-series / Athlon™ Series CPU up to 8-core.

1 Chapter

The AM4 socket has a different pinout design. Ensure that you use a CPU designed for the AM4 socket. The CPU fits in only one correct orientation. DO NOT force the CPU into the socket to prevent bending the connectors on the socket and damaging the CPU!

Ensure that all power cables are unplugged before installing the CPU.

1-4	Chapter 1: Product Introduction

1.1.4System memory

The motherboard comes with four Double Data Rate 4 (DDR4) Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMM) slots.

A DDR4 module is notched differently from a DDR, DDR2, or DDR3 module. DO NOT install a DDR, DDR2, or DDR3 memory module to the DDR4 slot.

Recommended memory configurations

Chapter 1

ROG CROSSHAIR VI EXTREME

1-5

1 Chapter

Memory configurations

You may install 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB, and 16 GB unbuffered and non ECC DDR4 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 configuration. Any excess memory from the higher-sized channel is then mapped for single-channel operation.

•This motherboard does not support DIMMs made up of 512 Mb (64 MB) chips or less (Memory chip capacity counts in Megabit, 8 Megabit/Mb = 1 Megabyte/MB).

• 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.

•For system stability, use a more efficient memory cooling system to support a full memory load (4 DIMMs) or overclocking condition.

•Always install the DIMMS with the same CAS Latency. For an optimum compatibility, we recommend that you install memory modules of the same version or data code (D/C) from the same vendor. Check with the vendor to get the correct memory modules.

1-6	Chapter 1: Product Introduction

1.1.5Expansion slots

Unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. Failure to do so may cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components.

Slot No. Slot Description

1PCIe 2.0 x1_1 slot

2PCIe 3.0 x16/x8_1 slot

3PCIe 2.0 x1_2 slot

4 PCIe 3.0 x8_2 slot

5PCIe 2.0 x1_3 slot

6PCIe 2.0 x4_3 slot

Chapter 1

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AMD Ryzen™ Processors

	VGA Configuration	PCIe operating mode
		PCIe_x16/x8_1	PCIe_x8_2
	Single VGA/PCIe card	x16	N/A
	Dual VGA/PCIe card	x8	x8

AMD 7th Generation A-series / Athlon™ Processors

VGA Configuration		PCIe operating mode
	PCIe_x16/x8_1	PCIe_x8_2		PCIe_x4_3
Single VGA/PCIe card	x8	N/A		N/A
Dual VGA/PCIe card	x8	N/A		x4
				(PCI Express 2.0)

•We recommend that you provide sufficient power when running CrossFireX™ or SLI® mode.

•Connect chassis fans to the motherboard chassis fan connectors when using multiple graphics cards for better thermal environment.

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1.1.6Onboard buttons and switches

Onboard buttons and switches allow you to fine-tune performance when working on a bare or open-case system. This is ideal for overclockers and gamers who continually change settings to enhance system performance.

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1.

Power-on button (START)

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The motherboard comes with a power-on button that allows you to power up or wake

up the system. The button also lights up when the system is plugged to a power source

indicating that you should shut down the system and unplug the power cable before

removing or installing any motherboard component.

2.RESET button (RESET)

Press the reset button to reboot the system.

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3.	Safe Boot button (SAFE_BOOT)
	The Safe Boot button can be pressed anytime to force the system to reboot into the
	BIOS safe mode. This button temporarily applies safe settings to the BIOS while
1 Chapter	retaining any overclocked settings allowing you to modify the settings causing boot
	failure. Use this button when overclocking or tweaking the settings of your system.

4.ReTry button (RETRY_BUTTON)

The ReTry button is specially designed for overclockers and is most useful during the booting process where the Reset button is rendered useless. When pressed, it forces the system to reboot while retaining the same settings to be retried in quick succession to achieve a successful POST.

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Chapter 1: Product Introduction

5.	Slow Mode Switch (SLOW_MODE)
	Slow Mode Switch is employed during LN2 benching. The system may crash due to
	the CPU being unstable when using extreme overclocking, enabling slow mode will
	decrease the processor frequency and stabilize the system, allowing overclockers to	1
	keep track of their overclocking data.
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6.RSVD switch (RSVD)

This switch is reserved for ASUS-authorized technicians only.

Ensure to set this switch to disabled, enabling this switch may cause system failure.

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1.1.7Jumper

1. LN2 Mode jumper (3-pin LN2_MODE)

With LN2 mode activated, the ROG motherboard is optimized to remedy the cold-boot

bug during POST and help the system boot successfully. Chapter1

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1.1.8Onboard LEDs

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Q LEDs (BOOT, VGA, DRAM, CPU)

Q LEDs check key components (CPU, DRAM, VGA card, and booting devices) in

sequence during motherboard booting process. If an error is found, the corresponding

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LED remains lit until the problem is solved. This user-friendly design provides an

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intuitive way to locate the root problem within seconds.

The order which the LEDs light up may vary per CPU.

The Q LEDs provide the most probable cause of an error code as a starting point for troubleshooting. The actual cause may vary from case to case.

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2.CPU status LED (CPU_STATUS)

This LED will indicate the current status of your CPU. A red light indicates that the CPU is not ready to boot, and the LED will turn off once the problem is solved. This userfriendly design helps you quickly identify whether your CPU is ready to boot or not.

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3.Q-Code LED

The Q-Code LED design provides you with a 2-digit error code that displays the system status. Refer to the Q-Code table on the following page for details.

The Q-Code LED provides the most probable cause of an error code as a starting point for troubleshooting. The actual cause may vary from case to case.

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