Asus 970 PRO GAMING/AURA User manual

Motherboard
970 PRO GAMING/AURA

ii
E11139
First Edition
December 2015
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iii
Contents
Safety information.............................................................................................................iv
About this guide................................................................................................................iv
Package contents.............................................................................................................. vi
970 PRO GAMING/AURA specifications summary ........................................................vi
Chapter 1: Product Introduction
1.1 Before you proceed ..........................................................................................1-1
1.2 Motherboard overview......................................................................................1-1
1.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) ........................................................................1-5
1.4 System memory ................................................................................................1-9
1.5 Expansion slots...............................................................................................1-12
1.6 Jumpers ...........................................................................................................1-15
1.7 Connectors ......................................................................................................1-17
1.8 Onboard LEDs.................................................................................................1-26
Chapter 2: BIOS Information
2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS .................................................................2-1
2.2 BIOS setup program .........................................................................................2-6
2.3 My Favorites ....................................................................................................2-10
2.4 Main menu .......................................................................................................2-11
2.5 Ai Tweaker menu.............................................................................................2-13
2.6 Advanced menu ..............................................................................................2-18
2.7 Monitor menu ..................................................................................................2-24
2.8 Boot menu .......................................................................................................2-28
2.9 Tool menu........................................................................................................2-33
2.10 Exit menu.........................................................................................................2-34
Appendices
Notices ........................................................................................................................... A-1
ASUS contact information............................................................................................. A-5

iv
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xitbyyourself.Contactaqualied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qualiedservice
technician or your retailer.
About this guide
Thisuserguidecontainstheinformationyouneedwheninstallingandconguring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.

v
• Chapter3:SoftwareSupport
This chapter describes the contents of the support DVD that comes with the
motherboard package and the software.
Where to find 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.
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 (+).

vi
(continued on the next page)
970 PRO GAMING/AURA specifications summary
CPU
AMD AM3+ FX™/Phenom™ II/Athlon™ II/Sempron™ 100 Series
Processors
Supports AM3+ 32 nm CPU
Supports CPU up to 125 W
AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ Technology
*Refer to www.asus.com for CPU support list.
Chipset AMD®970+SB950 Chipset
Memory
4xDIMM,max.32GBDDR32133(OC)*/1866/1600/1333/1066MHz,non-
ECC, un-buffered memory
Dual-channel memory architecture
* Refer to www.asus.com for the Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors Lists).
* Due to OS limitation, when installing total memory of 4GB capacity or more,
Windows®32-bit operation system may only recognize less than 3GB. Install
a 64-bit Windows®OS when you want to install 4GB or more memory on the
motherboard.
* Due to CPU spec., AMD 100 series CPUs support up to DDR3 1066MHz. With
ASUS design, this motherboard can support up to DDR3 1333MHz.
System Bus Up to 4.8 GT/s HyperTransport™ 3
Multi-GPU support Supports NVIDIA®Quad-GPU SLI™ Technology
Supports AMD®Quad-GPU CrossFireX™ Technology
Expansion slots
2 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots (supports x16, x8/x8)
2 x PCI Express 2.0 x1 slot
2 x PCI slots
Package contents
Check your motherboard package for the following items.
Motherboard ASUS Gaming Motherboard - 970 PRO GAMING/AURA
Cables 2 x Serial ATA 6.0 Gb/s cables
1 x SLI™bridge
Accessories
1 x I/O Shield
1 x cable label
1 x pack of cable tie
1 x M.2 Screw package
Application DVD Support DVD
Documentation User manual
If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.

vii
970 PRO GAMING/AURA specifications summary
Storage
AMD SB950 controller:
- 6 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s) (black) with Raid 0, 1, 5, 10 support
- 1 x M.2 Socket 3 with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices
support (PCIE 2.0 x4)
LAN
Intel I211 Gb LAN
Anti-surge LANGuard
GameFirst technology
Audio
SupremeFX 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC
- Supports: Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel MIC Jack-
retasking
- High quality 115dB SNR stereo playback output
Audio Features :
- SupremeFX Shielding™ Technology
- Headphone AMP
- Optical S/PDIF out port at back panel
- Sonic Radar II
USB
ASMedia®USB 3.1 controller:
- 2 x USB 3.1 ports (2 x Type-A at back panel)
ASMedia®USB 3.0 controller:
- 2 x USB 3.0 port(s) (2 at mid-board)
AMD SB950 controller:
- 14 x USB 2.0 port(s) (8 at back panel, black, 6 at mid-board)
Internal I/O
connectors
1 x 19-pin USB 3.0/2.0 connector supports additional 2 USB 3.0/2.0 port
3 x USB 2.0/1.1 connectors support additional 6 USB 2.0/1.1 ports
1 x System panel header
1 x Front panel audio connector (AAFP)
6 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s connectors (Black)
1 x M.2 Socket 3 for M Key, type 2242/2260/2280 devices
1 x Water pump connector (4-pin)
1 x CPU fan connector (4-pin)
1 x CPU OPT fan connector (4-pin)
3 x Chassis Fan connectors (4-pin)
1 x COM connector
1 x TPM header
1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector
1 x 8-pin EATX 12V Power connector
1 x Slow Mode header
1 x Safe Boot header
1 x ReTry header
1 x Clear CMOS jumper
(continued on the next page)

viii
970 PRO GAMING/AURA specifications summary
ASUS Gaming
Features
Gamer’s Guardian
- DIGI+ VRM
- DRAM Overcurrent Protection
- ESD Guards on LAN, Audio, KBMS and USB3.1/3.0/2.0 ports
- Stainless Steel Back I/O
- Q-Design (Q-Shield, Q-DIMM, Q-LED, Q-Slot)
Performance Level Up
- DIGI+ VRM
- AI Suite 3
- Fan Xpert 2
- UEFI BIOS EZ Mode (O.C. Tuner, CrashFree BIOS 3, EZ Flash 2)
- RAMCache - Speed your game loads
- USB 3.1 Boost featuring speedy USB 3.1 transmission
ASUS Exclusive Features
- Disk Unlocker
- Push Notice
- AI Charger+
- ASUS CPU-Z
- Aura: RGB Lighting control
Back panel I/O
ports
1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port
1 x optical SPDF out
1 x LAN (RJ45) port
2 x USB 3.1 ports (2 x Type-A, Red)
8 x USB 2.0 ports
8-channel audio I/O ports
BIOS features
64 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.7, ACPI
2.0a, Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 2, F12 PrintScreen, F3 Shortcut
Function and ASUS DRAM SPD (Serial Presence Detect) memory information
Manageability WfM 2.0, DMI 2.0, WOL by PME, WOR by PME, PXE
Support DVD
Drivers
ASUS utilities
EZ Update
Anti-virus software (OEM version)
Operating
system support
Windows®10 (64-bit)
Windows®8.1 (64-bit)
Windows®7 (64-bit/32-bit)
Form factor ATX Form Factor, 12”x 9.6” (30.5cm x 24.4cm)
Specicationsaresubjecttochangewithoutnotice.

ASUS 970 PRO GAMING/AURA 1-1
Product Introduction
Chapter 1: Product Introduction
1
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.
1.2 Motherboard overview
Beforeyouinstallthemotherboard,studytheconguration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 Chapter 1: Product Introduction
Place this
side towards
the rear of the
chassis
1.2.2 Screw holes
Place nine (9) 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.

ASUS 970 PRO GAMING/AURA 1-3
1.2.3 Motherboard layout

1-4 Chapter 1: Product Introduction
1.2.4 Layout contents
Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED Page
1. ATXpowerconnectors(24-pinEATXPWR,8-pinEATX12V) 1-19
2. AMDAM3+ socket 1-5
3. CPU,CPUoptional,waterpump,andchassisfanconnectors(4-pinCPU_FAN,4-pin
CPU_OPT,4-pinw_PUMP,4-pinCHA_FAN1-3)
1-20
4. DDR3DIMMslots 1-9
5. USB3.0connector(20-1pinUSB3_12) 1-22
6. AMDSB950SerialATA6.0Gb/sconnector(SATA6G_1~6[black]) 1-23
7. M.2(Socket3) 1-25
8. StandbyPowerLED(SB_PWR) 1-26
9. Systempanelconnector(20-5pinPANEL) 1-24
10. OverclockingJack(8-1pinOCJ) 1-16
11. ClearRTCRAM(3-pinCLRTC) 1-19
12. USB2.0connector(10-1pinUSB910,USB1112,USB1314) 1-22
13. TPMconnector(14-1pinTPM) 1-21
14. Serialportconnector(10-1pinCOM) 1-20
15. Frontpanelaudioconnector(10-1pinAAFP) 1-21

ASUS 970 PRO GAMING/AURA 1-5
1.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
ThismotherboardcomeswithanAMDAM3+socketdesignedforAMD®FX/PhenomII/
AthlonII/Sempron100SeriesProcessors.
UnplugallpowercablesbeforeinstallingtheCPU.
TheAM3+sockethasadifferentpinoutfromtheAM2+/AM2socket.Ensurethatyouusda
CPUdesignedfortheAM3+socket.TheCPUtsinonlyonecorrectorientation.DONOT
forcetheCPUintothesockettopreventbendingthepinsanddamagingtheCPU!

1-6 Chapter 1: Product Introduction
1.3.1 Installing the CPU

ASUS 970 PRO GAMING/AURA 1-7
1.3.2 CPU heatsink and fan assembly installation
To install the CPU heatsink and fan assembly
ApplytheThermalInterfaceMaterial
totheCPUheatsinkandCPU
before you install the heatsink and
fan if necessary.

1-8 Chapter 1: Product Introduction
To uninstall the CPU heatsink and fan assembly

ASUS 970 PRO GAMING/AURA 1-9
1.4 System memory
1.4.1 Overview
Thismotherboardcomeswithfour(4)DoubleDataRate3(DDR3)DualInlineMemory
Module(DIMM)sockets.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 configurations
Topreventsysteminstability,eitherinstallDDR3LDIMMsorDDR3DIMMswithvoltage
lowerthan1.5V.
Channel Sockets
ChannelA DIMM_A1&DIMM_A2
ChannelB DIMM_B1&DIMM_B2

1-10 Chapter 1: Product Introduction
1.4.2 Memory configurations
Youmayinstall1GB,2GB,4GB,and8GBunbufferednon-ECCDDR3DIMMsintotheDIMM
sockets.
Visit the ASUS website at www.asus.com for the latest QVL.
 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conguration.Any
excessmemoryfromthehigher-sizedchannelisthenmappedforsingle-channel
operation.
 AlwaysinstallDIMMswiththesameCASlatency.Foroptimalcompatibility,we
recommendthatyouinstallmemorymodulesofthesameversionordatecode(D/C)
fromthesamevendor.Checkwiththeretailertogetthecorrectmemorymodules.
 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ifyouwanttoinstall4GBormoreonthe
motherboard.
 ThismotherboarddoesnotsupportDIMMsmadeupof512megabits(Mb)chipsor
less.

ASUS 970 PRO GAMING/AURA 1-11
To remove a DIMM
1.4.3 Installing a DIMM

1-12 Chapter 1: Product Introduction
1.5.1 Installing an expansion card
To install an expansion card:
1. Beforeinstallingtheexpansioncard,readthedocumentationthatcamewithitand
make the necessary hardware settings for the card.
2. Removethesystemunitcover(ifyourmotherboardisalreadyinstalledinachassis).
3. Removethebracketoppositetheslotthatyouintendtouse.Keepthescrewforlater
use.
4. Alignthecardconnectorwiththeslotandpressrmlyuntilthecardiscompletely
seated on the slot.
5. Securethecardtothechassiswiththescrewyouremovedearlier.
6. Replacethesystemcover.
1.5.2 Configuring an expansion card
Afterinstallingtheexpansioncard,congureitbyadjustingthesoftwaresettings.
1. TurnonthesystemandchangethenecessaryBIOSsettings,ifany.SeeChapter2for
informationonBIOSsetup.
2. AssignanIRQtothecard.
3. Installthesoftwaredriversfortheexpansioncard.
WhenusingPCIcardsonsharedslots,ensurethatthedriverssupportShareIRQorthat
thecardsdonotneedIRQassignments.Otherwise,conictswillarisebetweenthetwoPCI
groups,makingthesystemunstableandthecardinoperable.
1.5 Expansion slots
Inthefuture,youmayneedtoinstallexpansioncards.Thefollowingsub-sectionsdescribe
the slots and the expansion cards that they support.
Unplugthepowercordbeforeaddingorremovingexpansioncards.Failuretodosomay
cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components.