Asus H170 PRO GAMING User manual

Motherboard
H170-PRO

ii
E10812
First Edition
August 2015
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Productwarrantyorservicewillnotbeextendedif:(1)theproductisrepaired,modiedoraltered,unless
suchrepair,modicationofalterationisauthorizedinwritingbyASUS;or(2)theserialnumberofthe
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archives, etc. to this email address).

iii
Contents
Safety information ...................................................................................... iv
About this guide ......................................................................................... iv
Package contents ....................................................................................... vi
H170-PRO 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) ................................................... 1-3
1.4 System memory ........................................................................... 1-7
1.5 Expansion slots.......................................................................... 1-10
1.6 Headers....................................................................................... 1-12
1.7 Connectors ................................................................................. 1-13
1.8 Onboard LED .............................................................................. 1-23
1.9 Software support........................................................................ 1-24
Chapter 2 BIOS information
2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS ............................................ 2-1
2.2 BIOS setup program .................................................................... 2-6
2.3 My Favorites ............................................................................... 2-16
2.4 Main menu .................................................................................. 2-18
2.5 Ai Tweaker menu........................................................................ 2-20
2.6 Advanced menu ......................................................................... 2-28
2.7 Monitor menu ............................................................................. 2-37
2.8 Boot menu .................................................................................. 2-41
2.9 Tool menu................................................................................... 2-45
2.10 Exit menu.................................................................................... 2-47
Appendices
Notices.......................................................................................................A-1
ASUS contact information .......................................................................A-4

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 components, 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 be exposed to moisture.
 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. It includes descriptions of the switches, jumpers, and connectors on the
motherboard.
• Chapter2:BIOSinformation
This chapter discusses changing system settings through the BIOS Setup menus.
Detailed descriptions for the BIOS parameters are also provided.

v
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
completing a task.
CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components when
completing 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
H170-PRO specifications summary
(continued on the next page)
Package contents
Check your motherboard package for the following items.
Motherboard ASUS H170-PRO motherboard
Cables 2 x Serial ATA 6.0 Gb/s cables
Accessories 1 x I/O Shield
1 x M.2 screw package
Application DVD Support DVD
Documentation User Guide
If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.
Specifications
CPU
LGA1151 socket for Intel®6th Generation Core™ i7 / i5 / i3, Pentium®, and
Celeron®processors
Supports Intel®14nm CPU
Supports Intel®Turbo Boost Technology 2.0*
* The Intel®Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 support depends on the CPU types.
** Refer to www.asus.com for Intel®CPU support list.
Chipset Intel®H170 Express Chipset
Memory
4xDIMM,max.64GB,DDR42133MHz,non-ECC,un-bufferedmemory
Dual-channel memory architecture
Supports Intel®ExtremeMemoryProle(XMP)
* Refer to www.asus.com for the latest Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors List).
** Due to Intel®chipset limitation, DDR4 2133 MHz and higher memory modules on XMP
mode will run at the maximum transfer rate of DDR4 2133 MHz.
Expansion
slots
1 x PCI Express 3.0/2.0 x16 slot (at x16 mode)
1 x PCI Express 3.0/2.0 x16 slot (max. at x4 mode, compatible with PCIe x1 and
x4 devices)
2 x PCI Express 3.0/2.0 x1 slots
2 x PCI slots
Multi-GPU
Support Supports AMD®Quad-GPU CrossFireX™ Technology
Graphics
Integrated graphics processor - Intel®HD Graphics support
Multi-VGA output support: HDMI, DVI-D, RGB ports
-SupportsHDMIwithmaximumresolutionof4096x2160@24Hz/2560x
1600@60Hz
-SupportsDVI-Dwithmaximumresolutionof1920x1200@60Hz
-SupportsRGBwithmaximumresolutionof1920x1200@60Hz
Supports Intel® InTruTM 3D, Quick Sync Video, Intel® Clear Video HD Technology,
and Intel® InsiderTM
Maximum shared memory of 1024 MB
Supports up to three displays simultaneously

vii
H170-PRO specifications summary
(continued on the next page)
Specifications
Storage
Intel®H170 Express Chipset with RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 and Intel Rapid Storage Technology
14 support
- 1 x SATA Express port (compatible with 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports)
- 1 x M.2 Socket 3 with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support (both
SATA & PCIE mode)
- 6 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports (gray, 2 from SATA Express)
- Supports Intel®Smart Response Technology*
* These functions work depending on the type of CPU installed.
** - M.2 Socket and SATA Express slots support PCIe and SATA devices in PCIe or SATA
mode.
- When a device in PCIe mode is installed on the M.2 socket, SATA Express supports
devices in both PCIe or SATA modes.
When a device in SATA mode is installed on the M.2 socket, SATA Express supports one
PCIe mode device or one SATA mode device (installed on SATA_2 port only). In this setup,
the system sets a higher priority for M.2 Socket than the SATA Express slots.
LAN Realtek®RTL8111H Gigabit LAN controller supports ASUS LANGuard
Audio
Realtek®ALC8878-channelHighDenitionAudioCODEC
- Audio Shielding: Ensures precision analog/digital separation and greatly reduced
multi-lateral interference
- Dedicated audio PCB layers: Separate layers for left and right channels to guard the
quality of the sensitive audio signals
- Premium Japanese-made audio capacitors: Provide warm, natural and immersive
soundwithexceptionalclarityanddelity
- Supports jack-detection, and front panel jack-retasking
USB
Intel®H170 Express Chipset
- 6 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports (4 ports @mid-board, 2 ports @back panel, blue, Type A)
- 1 x 5Gb/s USB Type C port (@back panel) support 3A power output
-6xUSB2.0/1.1ports(4ports@mid-board;2ports@backpanel)
ASUS
unique
features
ASUS 5X PROTECTION II
- ASUS LANGuard - Protects against LAN surges, lightning strikes and static-
electricity discharges
- ASUS Overvoltage Protection - World-class circuit-protecting power design
- ASUS DIGI+ VRM - 4+2+1 phase digital power design
- ASUS DRAM Overcurrent Protection: Enhanced DRAM overcurrent protection
- ASUS Stainless Steel Back I/O - 3X corrosion-resistance for greater durability
Superb Performance
M.2 onboard
- The latest transfer technologies with up to 32Gb/s data transfer speeds
SATA Express onboard
- The latest transfer technologies with up to 16Gb/s data-transfer speeds
ASUS Fan Xpert 3
- Featuring Fan Auto Tuning function and multiple thermistors selection for
optimizedsystemcoolingcontrol
ASUS EPU
- EPU

viii
H170-PRO specifications summary
(continued on the next page)
Specifications
ASUS
unique
features
PC Cleaner
- Fastandeasywaytogetridofunnecessaryjunkles
UEFI BIOS
- Most advanced options with fast response time
USB 3.0 Boost
- featuring speedy USB 3.0 transmission
Gaming Scenario
Audio Features
- Audiothatroarsonthebattleeld
Media Streamer
- Pipe music or movies from your PC to a smart TV, your entertainment goes
wherever you go!
- Media Streamer app for portable smartphone/tablet, supporting iOS 7 & Android
4.0 systems
ASUS Exclusive Features
- ASUS AI Charger
- ASUS AI Suite 3
- ASUS Disk Unlocker featuring 3TB + HDD support
EZ DIY
Push Notice
- Monitor your PC status with smart devices in real time
UEFI BIOS EZ Mode
- Featuring friendly graphics user interface
- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
- ASUS EZ Flash 3
Q-Design
- ASUS Q-DIMM
- ASUS Q-Slot
ASUS
quiet
thermal
solution
Quiet Thermal Design
- ASUS Fan Xpert 3
- Stylish Fanless Design: PCH heatsink and MOS heatsink solution

ix
H170-PRO specifications summary
(continued on the next page)
Specifications
Rear panel
I/O ports
1 x PS/2 keyboard port (purple)
1 x PS/2 mouse port (green)
1 x HDMI port
1 x DVI-D port
1 x RGB port
1 x LAN (RJ-45) port
2 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports (blue, Type A)
1 x 5Gb/s USB Type C port
2 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
3 x Audio jacks support 8-channel audio output*
* Use a chassis with HD audio module in the front panel to support a 8-channel audio
output.
Internal
connectors
2 x USB 3.0 / 2.0 connector support additional 4 USB 3.0 / 2.0 ports (19-pin)
2 x USB 2.0 / 1.1 connectors support additional 4 USB 2.0 / 1.1 ports
1 x M.2 Socket 3 (for M Key, type 2242/2260/2280 devices)
1 x SATA Express connector (compatible with 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports)
6 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s connectors (gray, 2 from SATA Express)
1 x 4-pin CPU Fan connector for both 3-pin (DC mode) and 4-pin (PWM mode) CPU
coolers control*
2 x 4-pin Chassis Fan connectors for 3-pin (DC mode) and 4-pin (PWM mode)
coolers control
1 x Front panel audio connector (AAFP)
1 x System panel connector
1 x S/PDIF out header
1 x COM connector
1 x TPM connector
1 x 24-pin EATX power connector
1 x 8-pin EATX 12V power connector
1 x Clear CMOS header
* By default, the CPU Q-Fan control setting is set to Auto mode, which detects the CPU
fan installed and changes the control mode automatically.

x
Specicationsaresubjecttochangewithoutnotice.
H170-PRO specifications summary
(continued on the next page)
Specifications
BIOS features
128 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI3.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 3.0,
ACPI 5.0, Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 3, CrashFree BIOS 3, F11 EZ
TuningWizard,F6QfanControl,F3MyFavorites,QuickNote,LastModied
log, F12 PrintScreen, and ASUS DRAM SPD (Serial Presence Detect) memory
information
Manageability WfM 2.0, DMI 3.0, WOL by PME, PXE
Support DVD
Drivers
ASUS utilities
EZ Update
Anti-virus software (OEM version)
OS support
Windows®10 (64-bit)
Windows®8.1 (64-bit)
Windows®7 (64-bit/32-bit)
* Please refer to ASUS official website and download Windows®7 Installation Guide and
ASUS EZ Install to install Windows®7.
Form factor ATX form factor: 12.0 in. x 8.8 in. (30.5 cm x 22.4cm)

ASUS H170-PRO 1-1
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.
Unplugthepowercordbeforeinstallingorremovingthemotherboard.Failuretodosocan
cause you physical injury and damage to motherboard components.
1.2.1 Placement direction
Wheninstallingthemotherboard,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.
1.2.2 Screw holes
Place six 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.

1-2 Chapter 1: Product introduction
Place this side
towards the rear
of the chassis
1.2.3 Motherboard layout
H170-PRO
H170-PRO
PCIEX16_1
PCIEX16_2
PCI1
PCI2
PCIEX1_2
PCIEX1_1
M.2(SOCKET3)
RTL
8111H
LANGuard
ASM
1442K
ASM
1083
USB1314USB1112
AAFP
EATXPWR
BATTERY
Super
I/O
ALC
887
KBMS
DVI
VGA
CLRTC
22.4cm(8.8in)
DDR4 DIMM_A1 (64bit, 288-pin module) DDR4 DIMM_A2 (64bit, 288-pin module) DDR4 DIMM_B1 (64bit, 288-pin module) DDR4 DIMM_B2 (64bit, 288-pin module)
LAN_USB910
USB_C1
HDMI
CHA_FAN2
CPU_FAN CHA_FAN1
30.5cm(12in)
LGA1151
DIGI
+VRM
COM
SPDIF_OUT
EATX12V
USB3_34
USB3_12
128Mb
BIOS
SATAEXPRESS
SATA6G_1SATA6G_2
PANEL SB_PWR
AUDIO
SATA6G_6 SATA6G_5
SATA6G_4 SATA6G_3
Intel
®
H170
USB3_78
21 3 42
101151213
1415
1
5
8
7
6
TPM
16
9

ASUS H170-PRO 1-3
1.2.4 Layout contents
1.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
ThismotherboardcomeswithasurfacemountLGA1151socketdesignedforthe6th
GenerationIntel®Corei7/Corei5/Corei3,Pentium®andCeleron®processors.
Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED Page
1. ATXpowerconnectors(24-pinEATXPWR,8-pinATX12V) 1-17
2. CPU,chassisfanconnectors(4-pinCPU_FAN,4-pinCHA_FAN1~2) 1-21
3. Intel®LGA1151CPUsocket 1-3
4. DDR4DIMMslots 1-7
5. USB3.0connector(20-1pinUSB3_12,USB3_34) 1-16
6. M.2Socket3 1-18
7. StandbypowerLED(SB_PWR) 1-23
8. Intel®H170SATAEXPRESS(7-pinSATA6G_12) 1-20
9. Intel®H170SerialATA6.0Gb/sconnector(7-pinSATA6G_3~6) 1-19
10. Systempanelconnector(20-3pinPANEL) 1-22
11. ClearRTCRAM(2-pinCLRTC) 1-12
12. USB2.0connectors(10-1pinUSB1112,USB1314) 1-15
13. TPMconnector(14-1pinTPM) 1-17
14. Serialportconnectors(10-1pinCOM) 1-15
15. Digitalaudioconnector(4-1pinSPDIF_OUT) 1-16
16. Frontpanelaudioconnector(10-1pinAAFP) 1-18
H170-PRO
H170-PRO CPU socket LGA1151

1-4 Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.3.1 Installing the CPU
1
23
A
B
UnplugallpowercablesbeforeinstallingtheCPU.
 EnsurethatyouinstallthecorrectCPUdesignedfortheLGA1151socketonly.DO
NOTinstallaCPUdesignedforLGA1150,LGA1155andLGA1156socketsonthe
LGA1151socket.
 Uponpurchaseofthemotherboard,ensurethatthePnPcapisonthesocketand
thesocketcontactsarenotbent.ContactyourretailerimmediatelyifthePnPcap
ismissing,orifyouseeanydamagetothePnPcap/socketcontacts/motherboard
components.
 Keepthecapafterinstallingthemotherboard.ASUSwillprocessReturnMerchandise
Authorization(RMA)requestsonlyifthemotherboardcomeswiththecaponthe
LGA1151socket.
 Theproductwarrantydoesnotcoverdamagetothesocketcontactsresultingfrom
incorrectCPUinstallation/removal,ormisplacement/loss/incorrectremovalofthePnP
cap.

ASUS H170-PRO 1-5
A
B
C
5
4
1.3.2 CPU heatsink and fan assembly installation
ApplytheThermalInterfaceMaterial
totheCPUheatsinkandCPU
before you install the heatsink and
fan if necessary.

1-6 Chapter 1: Product introduction
3 4
A
B
B
A
To uninstall the CPU heatsink and fan assembly
2
1
To install the CPU heatsink and fan assembly
2
B
A
A
B
1

ASUS H170-PRO 1-7
1.4 System memory
1.4.1 Overview
ThismotherboardcomeswithfourDoubleDataRate4(DDR4)DualInlineMemoryModule
(DIMM)sockets.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.
AccordingtoIntel®CPUspec,DIMMvoltagebelow1.35Visrecommendedtoprotectthe
CPU.
1.4.2 Memory configurations
Youmayinstall2GB,4GB,8GBand16GBunbufferednon-ECCDDR4DIMMsintothe
DIMMsockets.Youcanrefertotherecommendedmemorypopulationbelow.
Recommended memory configurations
H170-PRO
H170-PRO 288-pin DDR4 DIMM sockets
DIMM_A1 DIMM_A2 DIMM_B1 DIMM_B2

1-8 Chapter 1: Product introduction
 ThedefaultmemoryoperationfrequencyisdependentonitsSerialPresenceDetect
(SPD),whichisthestandardwayofaccessinginformationfromamemorymodule.
Underthedefaultstate,somememorymodulesforoverclockingmayoperateata
lowerfrequencythanthevendor-markedvalue.Tooperateatthevendor-marked
oratahigherfrequency,refertosection2.5 Ai Tweaker menu for manual memory
frequencyadjustment.
 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.
 Forsystemstability,useamoreefcientmemorycoolingsystemtosupportafull
memoryload(4DIMMs)oroverclockingcondition.
 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.
 AccordingtoIntel®CPUspec,DIMMvoltagebelow1.35Visrecommendedtoprotect
theCPU.
 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3GB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.
 - Formoredetails,refertotheMicrosoft®support site at http://support.microsoft.
com/kb/929605/en-us.
VisittheASUSwebsiteatwww.asus.comforthelatestQVL.

ASUS H170-PRO 1-9
1.4.3 Installing a DIMM
1
2
3
To remove a DIMM
BA

1-10 Chapter 1: Product introduction
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.
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.
1.5.3 PCI slots
ThePCIslotssupportLANcards,SCSIcards,USBcards,andothercardsthatcomplywith
PCIspecications.
1.5.4 PCI Express 3.0 x1 slots
ThismotherboardsupportsPCIExpress3.0x1networkcards,SCSIcards,andothercards
thatcomplywiththePCIExpressspecications.
1.5.5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots
ThismotherboardhastwoPCIExpress3.0x16slots(x16+x4mode)thatsupportPCI
Express3.0x16graphiccardscomplyingwiththePCIExpressspecications.