Asus Prime Z270-AR Series User manual

Motherboard
PRIME Z270-AR
Series

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E12295
Revised Edition V2
December 2016
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Contents
Safety information...................................................................................................... vi
About this guide........................................................................................................ vii
PRIME Z270-AR 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 Jumpers .................................................................................... 1-11
1.1.8 Onboard LEDs .......................................................................... 1-13
1.1.9 Internal connectors.................................................................... 1-14
Chapter 2: Basic Installation
2.1 Building your PC system...........................................................................2-1
2.1.1 Motherboard installation.............................................................. 2-1
2.1.2 CPU installation........................................................................... 2-3
2.1.3 CPU heatsink and fan assembly installation............................... 2-5
2.1.4 DIMM installation......................................................................... 2-7
2.1.5 ATX power connection................................................................ 2-8
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 .......................................................................... 2-11
2.2 Motherboard rear and audio connections ............................................. 2-12
2.2.1 Rear I/O connection .................................................................. 2-12
2.2.2 Audio I/O connections............................................................... 2-14
2.3 Starting up for the first time.................................................................... 2-16
2.4 Turning off the computer ........................................................................ 2-16

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Chapter 3: BIOS Setup
3.1 Knowing BIOS ............................................................................................3-1
3.2 BIOS setup program .................................................................................. 3-2
3.2.1 EZ Mode...................................................................................... 3-3
3.2.2 Advanced Mode .......................................................................... 3-4
3.2.3 QFan Control............................................................................... 3-7
3.2.4 EZ Tuning Wizard ....................................................................... 3-9
3.3 My Favorites .............................................................................................3-12
3.4 Main menu ................................................................................................3-14
3.5 Ai Tweaker menu......................................................................................3-14
3.6 Advanced menu .......................................................................................3-16
3.6.1 CPU Conguration .................................................................... 3-16
3.6.2 Platform Misc Conguration...................................................... 3-17
3.6.3 System Agent (SA) Conguration ............................................. 3-17
3.6.4 PCH Conguration .................................................................... 3-17
3.6.5 PCH Storage Conguration....................................................... 3-17
3.6.6 PCH-FW Conguration ............................................................. 3-18
3.6.7 Thunderbolt(TM) Conguration................................................. 3-18
3.6.8 Onboard Devices Conguration................................................ 3-19
3.6.9 APM Conguration.................................................................... 3-20
3.6.10 Network Stack Conguration..................................................... 3-20
3.6.11 HDD/SSD SMART Information ................................................. 3-20
3.6.12 USB Conguration .................................................................... 3-20
3.7 Monitor menu ...........................................................................................3-21
3.8 Boot menu ................................................................................................3-21
3.9 Tool menu.................................................................................................3-23
3.9.1 ASUS EZ Flash 3 Utility ............................................................ 3-23
3.9.2 Secure Erase ............................................................................ 3-24
3.9.3 ASUS Overclocking Prole ....................................................... 3-25
3.9.4 ASUS SPD Information............................................................. 3-25
3.9.5 Graphics Card Information........................................................ 3-25
3.10 Exit menu..................................................................................................3-26
3.11 Updating BIOS.......................................................................................... 3-27
3.11.1 EZ Update................................................................................. 3-27
3.11.2 ASUS EZ Flash 3...................................................................... 3-28
3.11.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3.......................................................... 3-30

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Chapter 4: RAID Support
4.1 RAID configurations ..................................................................................4-1
4.1.1 RAID denitions .......................................................................... 4-1
4.1.2 Installing Serial ATA hard disks .................................................. 4-2
4.1.3 Intel®Rapid Storage Technology in UEFI BIOS.......................... 4-2
4.1.4 Intel®Rapid Storage Technology Option ROM utility.................. 4-6
4.2 Creating a RAID driver disk ....................................................................4-10
4.2.1 Creating a RAID driver disk in Windows®................................. 4-10
Appendix
Notices .................................................................................................................... A-1
ASUS contact information...................................................................................... A-5