Asus Z97M-PLUS User manual

Motherboard
Z97M-PLUS

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E9009
First Edition
April 2014
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Contents
Safety information...................................................................................................... vi
About this guide........................................................................................................ vii
Z97M-PLUS specifications summary ....................................................................... ix
Package contents..................................................................................................... xiii
Installation tools and components......................................................................... xiv
Chapter 1: Product Introduction
1.1 Special features..........................................................................................1-1
1.1.1 Product highlights........................................................................ 1-1
1.1.2 5X Protection............................................................................... 1-2
1.1.3 ASUS Exclusive Features........................................................... 1-2
1.1.4 Other special features................................................................. 1-3
1.2 Motherboard overview............................................................................... 1-3
1.2.1 Before you proceed..................................................................... 1-3
1.2.2 Motherboard layout ..................................................................... 1-4
1.2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) ................................................... 1-6
1.2.4 System memory .......................................................................... 1-7
1.2.5 Expansion slots........................................................................... 1-9
1.2.6 Jumpers .................................................................................... 1-11
1.2.7 Onboard buttons and switches.................................................. 1-12
1.2.8 Onboard LEDs .......................................................................... 1-14
1.2.9 Internal connectors.................................................................... 1-15
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............................... 2-4
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
2.2 Motherboard rear and audio connections .............................................2-11
2.2.1 Rear I/O connection .................................................................. 2-11
2.2.2 Audio I/O connections............................................................... 2-13
2.3 Starting up for the first time.................................................................... 2-15
2.4 Turning off the computer ........................................................................ 2-15

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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 .............................................................................................3-11
3.4 Main menu ................................................................................................3-13
3.5 Ai Tweaker menu......................................................................................3-15
3.6 Advanced menu .......................................................................................3-29
3.6.1 CPU Conguration .................................................................... 3-30
3.6.2 PCH Conguration .................................................................... 3-33
3.6.3 PCH Storage Conguration....................................................... 3-34
3.6.4 System Agent Conguration ..................................................... 3-36
3.6.5 USB Conguration .................................................................... 3-37
3.6.6 Platform Misc Conguration...................................................... 3-38
3.6.7 Onboard Devices Conguration ................................................ 3-40
3.6.8 APM Conguration .................................................................... 3-42
3.6.9 Network Stack Conguration..................................................... 3-43
3.7 Monitor menu ...........................................................................................3-44
3.8 Boot menu ................................................................................................3-47
3.9 Tool menu.................................................................................................3-53
3.9.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2 Utility ............................................................ 3-53
3.9.2 ASUS Overclocking Prole ....................................................... 3-54
3.9.3 ASUS SPD Information............................................................. 3-55
3.10 Exit menu..................................................................................................3-56
3.11 Updating BIOS.......................................................................................... 3-57
3.11.1 EZ Update................................................................................. 3-57
3.11.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2...................................................................... 3-58
3.11.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3.......................................................... 3-59
3.11.4 ASUS BIOS Updater................................................................. 3-60
Chapter 4: Software support
4.1 Installing an operating system .................................................................4-1
4.2 Support DVD information.......................................................................... 4-1
4.2.1 Running the support DVD ........................................................... 4-1
4.2.2 Obtaining the software manuals.................................................. 4-2

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4.3 Software information .................................................................................4-3
4.4 AI Suite 3.....................................................................................................4-3
4.4.1 DIGI+ VRM.................................................................................. 4-6
4.4.2 EPU............................................................................................. 4-7
4.4.3 TurboV EVO................................................................................ 4-8
4.4.4 Fan Xpert 3 ................................................................................. 4-9
4.4.5 USB 3.0 Boost........................................................................... 4-11
4.4.6 EZ Update................................................................................. 4-12
4.4.7 Push Notice............................................................................... 4-13
4.4.8 System Information ................................................................... 4-16
4.4.9 Version...................................................................................... 4-17
4.5 Audio configurations............................................................................... 4-18
Chapter 5: RAID support
5.1 RAID configurations ..................................................................................5-1
5.1.1 RAID denitions .......................................................................... 5-1
5.1.2 Installing Serial ATA hard disks .................................................. 5-2
5.1.3 Setting the RAID item in BIOS .................................................... 5-2
5.1.4 Intel®Rapid Storage Technology Option ROM utility.................. 5-3
5.2 Creating a RAID driver disk ......................................................................5-7
5.2.1 Creating a RAID driver disk without entering the OS.................. 5-7
5.2.2 Creating a RAID driver disk in Windows®.................................... 5-8
5.2.3 Installing the RAID driver during Windows®OS installation........ 5-8
Appendices
Notices .................................................................................................................... A-1
ASUS contact information...................................................................................... A-3