Asus ROG CROSSHAIR VII HERO (WI-FI) User Manual

ROG CROSSHAIR	<![if ! IE]> <![endif]>Motherboard
VII HERO
(WI-FI)

E13834

First Edition

February 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.

ASUS PROViDES THIS MANUAL “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL ASUS, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF USE OR DATA, INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS AND THE LIKE), EVEN IF ASUS HAS BEEN ADViSED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES ARISING FROM ANY DEFECT OR ERROR IN THIS MANUAL OR PRODUCT.

SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL ARE FURNISHED FOR INFORMATIONAL USE ONLY, AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE, AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY ASUS. ASUS ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS OR INACCURACIES THAT MAY APPEAR IN THIS MANUAL, INCLUDING THE PRODUCTS AND SOFTWARE DESCRIBED IN IT.

Products and corporate names appearing in this manual may or may not be registered trademarks or copyrights of their respective companies, and are used only for identification or explanation and to the owners’ benefit, without intent to infringe.

Offer to ProVide Source Code of Certain Software

This product contains copyrighted software that is licensed under the General Public License (“GPL”), under the Lesser General Public License Version (“LGPL”) and/or other Free Open Source Software Licenses. Such software in this product is distributed without any warranty to the extent permitted by the applicable law. Copies of these licenses are included in this product.

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/

or

(2)for the cost of reproduction and shipment, which is dependent on the preferred carrier and the location where you want to have it shipped to, by sending a request to:

ASUSTeK Computer Inc.

Legal Compliance Dept.

15 Li Te Rd.,

Beitou, Taipei 112

Taiwan

In your request please proVide the name, model number and version, as stated in the About Box of the product for which you wish to obtain the corresponding source code and your contact details so that we can coordinate the terms and cost of shipment with you.

The source code will be distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY and licensed under the same license as the corresponding binary/object code.

This offer is valid to anyone in receipt of this information.

ASUSTeK is eager to duly proVide complete source code as required under various Free Open Source Software licenses. If however you encounter any problems in obtaining the full corresponding source code we would be much obliged if you give us a notification to the email address [e-mail], stating the product and describing the problem (please DO NOT send large attachments such as source code archives, etc. to this email address).

ii

Contents

Safety information......................................................................................................	vi
About this guide.........................................................................................................	vii
ROG CROSSHAIR VII HERO (WI-FI) specifications summary................................	ix
Package contents......................................................................................................	xv
Installation tools and components..........................................................................	xvi

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....................................................................	1-15
	1.1.10	ProbeIt.......................................................................................	1-26

Chapter 2:		Basic Installation
2.1	Building your PC system...........................................................................		2-1
	2.1.1	CPU installation...........................................................................	2-1
	2.1.2	Cooling system installation..........................................................	2-2
	2.1.3	Motherboard installation..............................................................	2-5
	2.1.4	DIMM installation.........................................................................	2-6
	2.1.5	ATX power connection.................................................................	2-7
	2.1.6	SATA device connection..............................................................	2-8
	2.1.7	Front I/O connector......................................................................	2-9
	2.1.8	Expansion card installation........................................................	2-10
	2.1.9	M.2 installation...........................................................................	2-12
	2.1.10	Wi-Fi antenna installation..........................................................	2-15
2.2	BIOS update utility....................................................................................		2-16
2.3	Motherboard rear and audio connections..............................................		2-17
	2.3.1	Rear I/O connection...................................................................	2-17
	2.3.2	Audio I/O connections................................................................	2-19
2.4	Starting up for the first time....................................................................		2-21
2.5	Turning off the computer.........................................................................		2-21

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..............................................................................................		3-11
3.4	Main menu.................................................................................................		3-13
3.5	Extreme Tweaker menu............................................................................		3-13
3.6	Advanced menu........................................................................................		3-14
	3.6.1	AMD fTPM configuration............................................................	3-14
	3.6.2	CPU Configuration.....................................................................	3-15
	3.6.3	ROG Effects...............................................................................	3-15
	3.6.4	SATA Configuration...................................................................	3-15
	3.6.5	Onboard Devices Configuration.................................................	3-16
	3.6.6	APM Configuration.....................................................................	3-18
	3.6.7	Network Stack Configuration.....................................................	3-18
	3.6.8	HDD/SSD SMART Information..................................................	3-18
	3.6.9	NVMe Configuration..................................................................	3-18
	3.6.10	USB Configuration.....................................................................	3-19
3.7	Monitor menu............................................................................................		3-19
3.8	Boot menu.................................................................................................		3-20
3.9	Tool menu..................................................................................................		3-21
	3.9.1	ASUS EZ Flash 3 Utility.............................................................	3-21
	3.9.2	ASUS Secure Erase..................................................................	3-22
	3.9.3	ASUS User 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	AMD RAID Array configurations		...............................................................4-1
	4.1.1	RAID definitions ...........................................................................	4-1
Appendix
Q-Code table		.............................................................................................................	A-1
Notices	.....................................................................................................................		A-5
ASUS contact ....................................................................................information			A-12

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 VII HERO (WI-FI) specifications summary

	AM4 socket for AMD Ryzen™ 2nd Generation / Ryzen™ 1st
CPU	Generation / Ryzen™ with Radeon™ Vega Graphics / 7th
	Generation A-Series / Athlon X4 Processors
Chipset	AMD® X470
	AMD Ryzen™ 2nd Generation Processors
	4 x DIMM, max. 64GB, DDR4 3466(O.C.) / 3200(O.C.) / 3000(O.C.)
	/ 2933(O.C.) / 2800(O.C) / 2666 / 2400 / 2133 MHz, un-buffered
	memory*
	AMD Ryzen™ 1st Generation Processors / AMD Ryzen™ with
	Radeon™ Vega Graphics Processors
	4 x DIMM, max. 64GB, DDR4 3200(O.C.) / 3000(O.C.) / 2933(O.C.)
Memory	/ 2800(O.C) / 2666 / 2400 / 2133 MHz, un-buffered memory*
	AMD 7th Gen A-series/Athlon X4 Processors
	4 x DIMM, max. 64GB, DDR4 2400 / 2133 MHz, 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™ 2nd Generation / Ryzen™ 1st Generation
	Processors
	- 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 SafeSlots (supports x16, x8/x8, x8/x4*)
	AMD Ryzen™ with Radeon™ Vega Graphics / 7th Generation
	A-Series / Athlon X4 Processors
Expansion slots	- 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 SafeSlot (supports x8)
	AMD X470 chipset
	- 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (max. at x4 mode)
	- 2 x PCIe 2.0 x1
	* The PCIE_x8/x4_2 slot shares bandwidth with M.2_2 slot. PCIE_x8/x4_2
	slot will run in x4 mode if M.2_2 is enabled in PCIe mode.
	AMD Ryzen™ 2nd Generation / Ryzen™ 1st Generation
	Processors
	Supports NVIDIA® 2-Way SLI™ Technology
Multi-GPU	Supports AMD® 3-Way CrossFireX™ Technology
	AMD Ryzen™ with Radeon™ Vega Graphics / 7th Generation
	A-Series / Athlon X4 Processors
	Supports AMD® 2-Way CrossFireX™ Technology
	(continued on the next page)

ix

ROG CROSSHAIR VII HERO (WI-FI) specifications summary

AMD Ryzen™ 2nd Generation/Ryzen™ 1st Generation Processors

- M.2_1 Socket 3 with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 (PCIE 3.0 x4 and SATA modes) storage devices support

- M.2_2 Socket 3 with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280 (PCIE 3.0 x4) storage devices support

		AMD Ryzen™ with Radeon™ Vega Graphics Processors*
	Storage	- M.2_1 Socket 3 with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 (PCIE
		3.0 x4 and SATA modes) storage devices support
		AMD 7th Generation A-series/Athlon™ Processors*
		- M.2_1 Socket 3 with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 (SATA
		mode) storage devices support
		AMD X470 chipset
		- 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports
		* M.2_2 will be disabled for these processors.
		ROG SupremeFX S1220 8-Channel high-definition CODEC
		- 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.
		Intel® Ethernet Controller I211-AT
	LAN	Anti-surge LANGuard
		ROG GameFirst IV
		2x2 Wi-Fi with MU-MIMO 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac supports dual frequency
		band 2.4 / 5 GHz
	Wireless & Bluetooth	Up to 867 Mbps transfer speed
		Bluetooth v4.2
		* Bluetooth V4.2 will be supported on future versions of Windows.
		Please refer to https://www.microsoft.com for updates on Windows OS
		Bluetooth support version.
		(continued on the next page)

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ROG CROSSHAIR VII HERO (WI-FI) specifications summary

	AMD Ryzen™ 2nd Generation / Ryzen™ with Radeon™ Vega
	Graphics / Ryzen™ 1st Generation / 7th Generation A-Series /
	Athlon X4 Processors
	- 4 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (4 ports at back panel [blue])
	AMD X470 chipset:
	- 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 front panel connector
USB	- 6 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (4 ports at back panel [blue], 2 ports at
	mid-board [grey])
	- 5 x USB 2.0 ports (2 ports at back panel, 3 ports at mid-board
	[black])
	ASMedia® USB 3.1 Gen 2 controller:
	- 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports (2 ports at back panel, Type-A and
	Type-C™)
	Extreme Engine Digi+
	- MicroFine Alloy Choke
	- NexFET MOSFETs
	- 10K Black Metallic Capacitors
	Start Button
	Reset Button
	Safe Boot Button
	Retry Button
	BIOS Flashback Button
ROG Exclusive Features	Clear CMOS Button
	LN2 Mode
	ROG RAMDisk
	ROG RAMCache II
	UEFI BIOS features:
	- Extreme Tweaker
	- Tweakers’ Paradise
	- ASUS Secure Erase
	- ASUS User Profile
	- Graphics Card Information Preview
	(continued on the next page)

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ROG CROSSHAIR VII HERO (WI-FI) specifications summary

		ASUS Dual Intelligent Processors 5
		- 5-Way Optimization tuning key perfectly consolidates TPU, EPU,
		DIGI+ Power Control, Fan Xpert 4, and Turbo App
		ASUS Exclusive Features
		- AI Suite 3
		- AURA Lighting Control
		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
		- Pre-mounted I/O shield
		ASUS Q-Design
		- Q-Code
		- Q-Connector
		- Q-LED (DRAM[yellow], CPU[red], VGA[white], Boot Device
		LED[green])
		- Q-DIMM
		1 x Clear CMOS button
		1 x BIOS Flashback button
		1 x 2x2 Wi-Fi Module
		1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port
		2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports ( 1 x Type-C™ [black] and 1 x Type-A
	Back I/O Ports	[red] )
		8 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports [blue]
		2 x USB 2.0 ports [black]
		1 x Anti-surge LAN (RJ45) port
		1 x Optical S/PDIF out
		5 x Gold-plated audio jacks
		(continued on the next page)

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ROG CROSSHAIR VII HERO (WI-FI) specifications summary

1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 front panel connector

1 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 header supports additional 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports

1 x USB 2.0 header supports additional 3 USB 2.0 ports [1 via ROG_EXT header ]

6 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors

1 x M.2 Socket 3 for M Key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support (Support modes vary from CPU types)

1 x M.2 Socket 3 for M Key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices support (Support modes vary from CPU types)

1 x ROG extension (ROG_EXT) header

1 x 4-Pin CPU fan connector

1 x 4-Pin CPU_OPT fan connector 1 x 4-Pin AIO_PUMP 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

Internal I/O Ports

1 x 4-Pin H_AMP Fan connector 3 x 4-Pin Chassis fan connectors 1 x EXT_Fan header

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 Front panel audio connector (AAFP)

1 x Speaker connector

2 x Aura Addressable Strip headers

2 x Aura RGB Strip headers

1 X LED connector (Back I/O cover)

(continued on the next page)

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ROG CROSSHAIR VII HERO (WI-FI) specifications summary

		256 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 3.0,
		ACPI 6.0, 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, ASUS Secure Erase, ASUS
		User Profile, F4 AURA ON/OFF, F9 Search
	Manageability	WOL, PXE
		Drivers
		AURA
		ROG GameFirst IV
		ROG RAMDisk
		ROG RAMCache II
		ROG CPU-Z
	Software	ROG MemTweakIt
		Overwolf
		Kaspersky® Anti-Virus
		WinRAR
		Fan Xpert 4
		DAEMON Tools Software
		ASUS Utilities
		* ROG GameFirst IV is only available for Windows 10 64-bit.
	Operating System	Windows® 10 64-bit
	Support
	Form Factor	ATX Form Factor, 12“ x 9.6” (30.5cm x 24.4cm)

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

xiv

Package contents

Check your motherboard package for the following items.

	Motherboard	1 x ROG CROSSHAIR VII HERO (WI-FI) motherboard
		1 x SLI™ HB Bridge(2-way-M)
	Cables	2 x 2-in-1 SATA 6Gb/s Cables
		1 x Extension Cable for RGB strips
		1 x Extension Cable for RGB Addressable strips
		1 x Q-Connector
	Accessories	2 x M.2 Screw Packages
		1 x ROG Coaster
		1 x ROG big sticker
	Application DVD	1 x ROG motherboard support DVD
	Documentation	1 x User guide
		1 x ROG thank you card

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

xv

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 (optional)

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

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.

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1.1.2Motherboard layout

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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.

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Layout contents

Connectors/Jumpers/Buttons and switches/Slots		Page
1.	ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR; 8-pin EATX12V_1; 4-pin	1-20
	EATX12V_2)
2.	AM4 CPU socket	1-4
3.	Fan and pump connectors (4-pin CPU_FAN; 4-pin CPU_OPT; 4-pin H_AMP;	1-19
	4-pin AIO_PUMP; 4-pin W_PUMP+; 5-pin EXT_FAN; 4-pin CHA_FAN1-3)
4.	DDR4 DIMM slots	1-5
5.	Q-Code LED	1-14
6.	AURA RGB headers (4-pin RGB_HEADER1-2)	1-22
7.	Addressable RGB headers (4-1 pin ADD_HEADER1-2)	1-23
8.	Power-on button (START)	1-9
9.	RESET button (RESET)	1-9
10.	ProbeIt	1-26
11.	USB 3.1 Gen 2 front panel connector (U31G2_E1)	1-16
12.	AMD® Serial ATA 6.0 Gb/s connectors (7-pin SATA6G_1-6)	1-15
13.	Water in, water out, and water flow connectors (2-pin W_IN; 2-pin W_OUT;	1-24
	3-pin W_FLOW)
14.	M.2 sockets (M.2_1; M.2_2)	1-25
15.	System panel connectors (10-1 pin F_PANEL; 4-pin SPEAKER)	1-21
16.	USB 3.1 Gen 1 connector (20-1 pin U31G1_910)	1-16
17.	USB 2.0 connector (10-1 pin USB15; USB1112)	1-17
18.	ROG extension connector (18-1 pin ROG_EXT)	1-18
19.	LN2 Mode jumper (3-pin LN2_MODE)	1-12
20.	Slow Mode Switch (SLOW_MODE)	1-11
21.	ReTry button (RETRY_BUTTON)	1-10
22.	Safe Boot button (SAFE_BOOT)	1-10
23.	Thermal sensor connector (2-pin T_SENSOR1)	1-17
24.	Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP)	1-18
25.	LED connector (5-pin LED2_CON1)	1-24

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1.1.3Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The motherboard comes with an AM4 socket designed for AMD Ryzen™ 2nd Generation / Ryzen™ 1st Generation / Ryzen™ with Radeon™ Vega Graphics / 7th Generation A-Series/ Athlon X4 Processors.

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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.

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1.1.4System memory

The motherboard comes with four (4) 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

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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.

• 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 3.0 x16/x8_1 slot

2PCIe 2.0 x1_1 slot

3PCIe 3.0 x8/x4_2 slot 4 PCIe 2.0 x1_2 slot 5 PCIe 2.0 x4_3 slot

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			PCIe operating mode
	CPU Family
		PCIEX16/X8_1	PCIEX/X4_2	M.2_2	M.2_1	M.2_1
					(PCIE mode)	(SATA mode)
	AMD Ryzen™	X16	N/A	N/A	X4	Support
	1st / 2nd	X8	X8	N/A	X4	Support
	Generation
	Processors	X8	X4	X4	X4	Support
	AMD Ryzen™
	with Radeon™	X8	N/A	N/A	X4	Support
	Vega Graphics
	Processors
	AMD 7th
	Generation	x8	N/A	N/A	N/A	Support
	A-Series / Athlon
	X4 Processors

AMD Ryzen™ 1st/2nd Generation Processors

	VGA Configuration	PCIe operating mode
		PCIeX16/X8_1	PCIEX8/x4_2
	Single VGA/PCIe card	x16	N/A
	Dual VGA/PCIe card	x8	x8

AMD Ryzen™ with Radeon™ Vega Graphics Processors / 7th Generation A-series / Athlon X4 Processors

PCIe operating mode

VGA Configuration

PCIEX16/x8_1 PCIEX8/x4_2 PCIe_x4_3

Single VGA/PCIe card

x8

N/A

N/A

x4

Dual VGA/PCIe card x8 N/A (PCI Express 2.0 from chipset)

•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

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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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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

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keep track of their overclocking data.

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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

1.

Q LEDs (CPU, DRAM, VGA, BOOT)

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 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.

2.Hard Disk LED (HD_LED)

The Hard Disk LED is designed to indicate the hard disk activity. It blinks when data is being written into or read from the hard disk drive. The LED does not light up when there is no hard disk drive connected to the motherboard or when the hard disk drive does not function.

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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.

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•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.

•Please refer to the Q-Code table in the Appendix section for more details.

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