Asus P8Z77-V LK Mainboard - One Of The Simplest Designs From Asus (Part 6)

The process of power consumption

We performed our measurements of the power consumption by using Extech Power Analyzer 380803. This device is connected before the PSU and measures the power of the entire system (without the monitor), which includes the power loss occurring in the PSU itself. In the idle mode we boot up the system and wait until it stops accessing to the hard disk. The power consumption in the case of single-threaded CPU load is measured while running the Pi-digits performance test, and in the case of multi-threaded load – while running the Fritz Chess Benchmark test. We also employed Hitman Absolution game to create the complex load. The results on the diagrams are arranged in the ascending order and the results of the Asus P8Z77-V LK are marked with darker color for your convenience.

The Idle mode

1 CPU Thread

100% CPU Load

CPU + GFX

The top mainboards from ASRock and ASUS sport an additional PCI Express switch. Therefore, their power consumption is higher than average. This is particularly conspicuous in comparison with much lower power consumption of the ASUS P8Z77-V LK which can compare with the MSI mainboard. We also have to take notice that not all the power-saving technologies are activated on the LK P8Z77-V by default. You are able to reduce its idle power consumption much more by changing the value of each power-related option from Auto to Enabled in the BIOS. To save even more, not only in the idle mode, but also at high loads, you can activate the EPU Power Saving Mode in the BIOS or turn it on.

Now let us see how these numbers change when we overclock the CPU and memory.

The idle mode

1 CPU Thread

100% CPU Load

CPU + GFX

The overall picture has not changed. The two special products need much more power than the common models. The latter samples can compare their power consumption together.

Conclusion

Considering a mainboard is a multi-step process. First, you should check the manufacturer's website, read the user's manuals, and take a quick look at the BIOS update history. After accumulating an amount of the theoretical knowledge, you begin to really check the device. Then, you assemble a test model, update software, and view how the mainboard works at its default settings and what exclusive features and utilities it can do. Overclocking is the most difficult step then; since it takes a lot of time to find the optimal settings and runs the stability tests. It is at this step that you often encounter the different problems and disadvantages.

Installing the operating system again and running the performance and power consumption tests is like taking a rest for a little while after hard overclocking experiments. It's only after you have stopped writing the actual review, and come to compiling tables and preparing illustrations. Writing about a mainboard, you should remember both of the good and the bad impressions from your test. And it turns out that you describe the various advantages of the product in the body of the review and you do not want to repeat in the conclusion either. Instead, you only need to focus on the disadvantages; streamlining the negative feelings you have accumulated.

Now, it comes to the final step of our review, we found ourselves that we could not complain about anything on the product model of the ASUS P8Z77 V LK. Like any other products, it is not perfect, but it really does not have any significant drawbacks. Yes, its two fan connectors can be difficult to access. And a number of its power-saving technologies are not switched on by default (but you are able to easily activate them manually). The mainboard was unable to overclock our CPU to its maximum level. On the other hand, it has a handy PCB design, full functionality, user-friendly BIOS; its performance and power consumption are good, and the price is modest. It completely fits for a modern computer, it does not create anything special but there are no functionality limitations. There are more expensive and complex products, and also there are simpler and cheaper ones, but the ASUS P8Z77-V LK is a model in between. We will not call it a trivial model. It's pretty close to the golden medium.

Technical specs CPU ·         Intel® Socket 1155 for 3rd/2nd Generation Core™ i7/Core™ i5/Core™ i3/Pentium®/Celeron® ·         Processors  ·         Supports Intel® 22 nm CPU ·         Supports Intel® 32 nm CPU ·         Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Chipset ·         Intel® Z77 Memory ·         4 x DIMM ·         Max. 32GB ·         DDR3 2400(O.C.)/2200(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)/2000(O.C.)/1866(O.C.)/1800(O.C.)/1600/1333 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory ·         Dual Channel Memory Architecture ·         Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) Graphic ·         Integrated Graphics Processor  ·         Multi-VGA output support: HDMI/DVI/RGB/DisplayPort ports  ·         Maximum shared memory of 1696 MB ·         Supports Intel® HD Graphics Multi-GPU Support ·         Supports NVIDIA® Quad-GPU SLI™ Technology  ·         Supports AMD Quad-GPU CrossFireX™ Technology ·         Supports AMD 3-Way CrossFireX™ Technology ·         Supports LucidLogix® Virtu™ MVP Technology Expansion Slots ·         2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8) ·         1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (x4 mode, black) ·         2 x PCIe 2.0 x1  ·         2 x PCI Storage ·         2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray ·         4 x SATA 3Gb/s port(s), blue ·         Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10 ·         Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology, Intel® Rapid Start Technology, Intel® Smart Connect Technology LAN ·         Realtek® 8111F, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s) Audio ·         Realtek® ALC892 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC  ·         Supports: Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking USB Ports ·         4 x USB 3.0 port(s) (2 at back panel, blue, 2 at mid-board) ·         10 x USB 2.0 port(s) (2 at back panel, black, 8 at mid-board) ·         2 x USB 3.0 port(s) (2 at back panel, blue)