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Z77 Express Motherboard Features
All this hardware supports an almost staggering variety of features. (Features list provided by ASUS.)
TPU plus SMART DIGI+
TPU with the All-New SMART DIGI+ for a Blazing Performance Boost
Always at the forefront of power design, ASUS propels you into the future standard of power management again by SMART DIGI+ Technology, which works with the TPU (TurboV Processing Unit) to ramps up performance to its maximum. Enable the all-new SMART DIGI+ key with a single click and adjust CPU ratios manually in the TPU to increase CPU frequency up to an incredible 85%!
CPU Wattage Cut in Half!
SMART DIGI+ Technology also includes the Smart CPU Power Level profile, which reduces CPU power consumption to a specific indicated wattage with a single click, creating a cooler and quieter PC. With next generation Intel® VRD 12.5 future power technology, ASUS once again leaps to the future of innovation.
Wi-Fi GO!
It's a Home Theater, Extra Router and Even Acts a Portable PC on Your Tablet
ASUS Wi-Fi GO! makes enjoying home entertainment easier than ever! Exclusive Wi-Fi functions provide DLNA streaming so you can enjoy a home theater PC, while also providing remote access to your PC with a smart device. ASUS Wi-Fi GO! leads the market by integrating Wi-Fi connectivity, DLNA access and all smart devices with a one-stop utility for a futuristic connected lifestyle.
Wi-Fi hotspot setup for convenience: quickly set up and connect anywhere at home thanks to instant soft access point and device detection. Build your network without an extra router!
Turn smartphones and tablets into a remote control:
- Remote Desktop: access your PC from a tablet? No sweat! Control your PC in real-time from a mobile device for complete comfort. This function brings notebook-like convenience, by creating a virtual remote desktop, offering portable access to your data in desktop with a smartphone or pad.
- Motion control your PC: entertaining and customizable! Using natural gestures, you can move directionally to use applications with a smartphone or tablet's motion sensors. For example, in media players you can fast forward, go next, stop, or create a music playing motion control profile. You can even program sensor scenarios to design your own motion-based game!
- Remote keyboard and mouse: sit back and control your computer by using your tablet's built-in QWERTY keyboard to type and click !
(Ensure to download Wi-Fi GO! Remote to your smart devices either from Android Market or App store.)
DLNA streaming made easy: enjoy HD content, music and photos from the PC on your DLNA devices via Wi-Fi connectivity, the perfect match for creating your own home theater!
Easy file and screenshot transfers:
- File Transfer: send and share files between your PC and smart devices* with only a right click on the mouse.
- Capture & Send: capture and send screen shots from your PC to smart devices directly by pressing the hotkey
Fan Xpert 2
Fan Auto Tuning Mode
Seeing an opportunity for more fine-tuned control, Hardware-level ASUS Fan Xpert 2 literally blows away the competition. It provides an exclusive Fan Auto Tuning Mode to scan each fan's characteristics through the exclusive automatic fan speed detection, giving custom speed settings of each fan with a single click, achieving the best balance of cooling performance and low noise.
RPM Fixed Mode
Fan Xpert 2 also includes an RPM Fixed Mode for users who wish to reduce noise levels to near 0dB with highly specific fan speed control. It reacts to system loads for greater control.
USB 3.0 Boost
Faster USB 3.0 Transmission with UASP
New ASUS USB 3.0 Boost technology supports UASP (USB Attached SCSI Protocol), the latest USB 3.0 standard. With USB 3.0 Boost technology, a USB device's transmission speed is significantly increased up to 170%, adding to an already impressive fast USB 3.0 transfer speed. ASUS software automatically accelerates data speeds for compatible USB 3.0 peripherals without the need for any user interaction.
- World's 1st USB 3.0 UASP Support - 170% faster instantly
- Complete USB 3.0 Solution - Performance boost for most USB devices
- Simple Plug & Boost - Auto detection design ensures best performance always
USB BIOS Flashback
Simple Plug & Press - Hardware-based BIOS Flashback
A truly revolutionary hardware-based update solution. USB BIOS Flashback offers the most convenient way ever to update the BIOS! It allows users to update new UEFI BIOS versions even without hardware such as a CPU or DRAM installed into the motherboard. Just plug in a USB flash drive containing the BIOS file, and press the BIOS Flashback button for 3 seconds with the power supply connected. The UEFI BIOS will then automatically update without requiring further interaction. With its new, complementary Windows application, users can regularly check for UEFI BIOS updates and download the latest BIOS automatically. Hassle-free updating for the ultimate convenience!
Network iControl
Real-time Network Bandwidth Control
With a single-click on/off button, the application currently in use has its data and network bandwidth prioritized over other programs. Moreover, you can prioritize your favorite software easily by configuring profiles through the intuitive user interface. Within the profile, programs can be pre-scheduled to run in a specific time period to avoid network congestion and long-waits on downloads. Auto PPPoE network connection provides a one-step setup for enhanced online convenience. Overall, it's an intuitive network bandwidth control center.
ASUS SSD Caching
3X Faster Performance at a Click
SSD Caching from ASUS is easier than ever. At 3X faster, this feature boosts system performance by using an installed SSD with no capacity limitations as a cache for frequently accessed data. Harness a combination of SSD-like performance and response and hard drive capacity with just one click, no rebooting needed and instant activation for complete ease of use, and even prevent data loss with included backup functionality.
USB Charger+
3X Faster Charging for All Smart Devices
With a dedicated onboard controller, quick-charge all your smart devices such as iProducts. smartphones, tablets and more, all up to 3X faster, even when the PC is powered off, in sleep or hibernation modes.
UEFI BIOS
ASUS UEFI BIOS offers the first mouse-controlled graphical BIOS designed with selectable modes, providing a user-friendly interface that goes beyond traditional keyboard-only controls. It also natively supports fully-utilized hard drives larger than 2.2TB in 64-bit operating systems.
ASUS Exclusive Interface
EZ Mode displays frequently-accessed info. Users can choose system performance settings and drag and drop boot priorities. Advanced Mode for performance enthusiasts includes detailed DRAM settings via a dedicated memory info page for complete insight.
New Upgrade! Quick and Easy Info for Enhanced System Control
- F12 BIOS snapshot hotkey for sharing UEFI setup info and troubleshooting
- New F3 Shortcut for most accessed info
- ASUS DRAM SPD (Serial Presence Detect) Information for accessing memory info, detecting faulty DIMMs and helping with difficult POST situations
Complete USB 3.0 Integration
Double USB Access, Double Convenience
ASUS facilitates strategic USB 3.0 accessibility for both the front and rear panel - 8 USB 3.0 ports in total. Experience the latest plug & play connectivity at speeds up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0. This motherboard affords greater convenience to high speed connectivity.
Extra SATA 6Gb/s Support
Extra Ports, Extra Speed and Accessibility
The Intel® Z77 Express chipset natively supports the next-generation Serial ATA (SATA) interface, delivering up to 6Gb/s data transfers. ASUS provides extra SATA 6Gb/s ports with enhanced scalability, faster data retrieval and double the bandwidth of current bus systems.
DTS Connect
Expand Your PC Audio Experience
To get the most out of your audio entertainment across all formats and quality levels, DTS Connect combines two enabling technologies. DTS Neo:PCTM upmixes stereo sources (CDs, MP3s, WMAs, internet radio) into as many as 7.1 channels of incredible surround sound. Consumers can then connect their PC to a home theater system. DTS Interactive is capable of performing multi-channel encoding of DTS bitstreams on personal computers, and sending encoded bitstreams out of a digital audio connection (such as S/PDIF or HDMI) designed to deliver audio to an external decoder.
DTS UltraPC II
DTS UltraPC II delivers exceptional 7.1 surround through the most popular PC audio setups - your existing stereo speakers or headphones. In addition to virtual surround, it upgrades original sound to new levels with Audio Restoration, recreating the dynamic range of audio files. Symmetry mode improves the balance of perceived loudness across different input sources and Enhance boosts audio quality through high and low frequency equalization. With these technologies, users experience better home theater audio with ease.
Quad-GPU SLI and Quad-GPU CrossFireX Support!
Flexible Multi-GPU Solutions, Your Weapon of Choice! P8Z77-V DELUXE brings you the multi-GPU choice of either SLITM or CrossFireX. The motherboard features the most powerful Intel® Z77 platform to optimize PCIe allocation in multiple GPU configurations. Expect a brand-new gaming style you've never experienced before!
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Comments
Dividing the reviews up into 3 separate pieces seems fraught with problems. One problem will be that the author seemingly has to make conclusions simply based on an "apparent" list of features, which has not been thoroughly tested. Eventually this will devolve into not being able to make many conclusions at all.
It seems it would be better to have a list of "required" tests that most reviewers would complete, in order to reduce the time it takes to review a board.
Perhaps some of the benchmarks are superfluous?
Additionally, by dividing the review up into 3 pieces, the reader will often feel the review was incomplete.
The Author will have to take the time to back track and forward link and backward link the old articles to and from the new articles on the same topic.
Overall, I think splitting up the review does a disservice to the reader as well as to the author.
It is agreed that reviewing a motherboard takes more time now. In that case the alternatives would be reduce the number of benchmarks to the ones that REALLY have something unique to offer. Possibly send out 2 motherboards to 2 reviewers and have them co-author the review.
(Just an opinion).
All the best, M
We are dependent on review samples from vendors, and I doubt we could get them to send us two of everything!
As for feature reviews it would be lovely if you could provide more insight than what is provided on the ASUS web site. ie: Whay it is good &/or does it really make a difference. ie: IS the USB 3.0 really faster, or does it only work with with specific devices.
Your Comparison reviews are even more valuable. Having a Table showing the distinguishing features between models / vendors is a real time saver. ie: These cards have 2 netcards, these only have 1. These do 64GB, those only have 32Gb. etc
Thanks for the reviews
Keep up the good work. But keep it in one big review.
This motherboard is one of the best I've seen from ASUS and they are my favorite mobo manufacturer. I would love to see a review and comparison with the WS product.
Good luck with the new review format, David - it will be a challenge to keep all the results correlated and easily available. I look forward to your next writeup.
But I think the author does not not mean that he/she will not complete his/her assessment of new tech all at once. Just putting access to it in 3 parts in 3 different, consecutive sessions.