The functions and features of this mainboard
may be suitable for the top boards in the past, but now a day it is just enough
to put this product in the key product segments, making it a junior model from
Asus on Intel Z77 Express chipset. And it is probably the first time we see
integrated wireless support in a far not the top mainboard model like that.
In our recent reviews about LGA1155
mainboards, we focused on the junior models, but ASUS P8Z77-V which we will
discuss in this review is not as simple and inexpensive as well. However, there
is logic in our choice of topics. This model has the same last name as many
ASUS's mainboards based on the Intel Z77 Express chipset but no index as Pro,
Deluxe or Premium, which distinguishes superior products, and there is no index
as the LX, LK or LE motherboard primary which marks senior products among
ASUS's. Therefore, the ASUS P8Z77-V can be viewed as the junior model among the
top-end ones It also seems to be the basic mainboard for the entire generation
products, which is why we are interested in its capabilities.
Packaging and Accessories
The ASUS P8Z77-V is packaged in a standard
box whose design is unified for the entire series. The name of the mainboard is
printed in large letters on the front along with a symbol of its technology and
features. On the back of the packaging we can see a picture of the mainboard, a
brief list of its specs and information about some of its main features.
Product's
box
This product comes with a surprising number
of accessories including:
·
Four Serial ATA cables with metal connector
locks, two of which are specifically designed for SATA 6 Gbps devices (with
white inserts in the connectors);
·
A flexible bridge for two-way Nvidia SLI
graphics configurations;
·
“Asus Q-Connector” kit including adapters for
easy connection of the system case front panel buttons and indicators and a USB
2.0 port;
·
Wi-Fi GO! Module;
·
Wi-Fi ring antenna;
·
I/O Shield for the back panel;
·
User manual;
·
“Exclusive Features” brochure with instructions
for Wi-Fi GO!, Fan Xpert 2, Network iControl and USB Charger+ utilities;
·
“Exclusive Boot Features” brochure with
instructions for Fast Boot, Asus Boot Setting, Direct BIOS Access and Windows 8
BIOS Boot Settings functions;
·
Wi-Fi GO! manual;
·
A brief assembly guide with instructions in
several languages;
·
DVD disk with software and drivers;
·
“Powered by Asus” sticker for the system case.
Associated
accessories
Nearly all of them also come along with a number
of other ASUS mainboards. There is one new addition is the Exclusive Boot
Features brochure contains information about Fast Boost, ASUS Boot Setting,
Direct BIOS Access and Windows 8 Boot Settings.
Look and Feel
The ASUS P8Z77-V can please with eye with
its classic design. Nothing special about it, but we can find some distinction
compared with other ASUS's advanced solutions such as P8Z77-V Premium or
P8Z77-V Deluxe as well as with junior models such as P8Z77-V LK and P8Z77-V LX.
Product
Image
Compared to the less advanced models, the
power system is reinforced, incorporating eight CPU power phases. There are
four phases for the integrated CPU graphics core and two phases for the memory
system. The hottest parts are cooled with heatsink which is fastened securely
with screws. The SMART Digi + voltage regulator operates with Dual Intelligent
Processors 3: TurboV Processing Unit and Energy Processing Unit. As a result,
there is a large number of setup options in the BIOS's Digi + Power Control
section.
The ability of the mainboard's disk
subsystem are enhanced. In addition to four SATA 3 Gb/s (blue connector) ports
of chipset and two SATA 6 Gbit/s (gray connector) ports, an ASMedia ASM1061
controller is responsible for more than two SATA 6 Gbit/s ( dark blue) ports.
Two PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 sockets support multi-GPU configurations based on AMD's
CrossFireX and Nvidia's SLI technology, sharing a CPU-integrated PCIe x 16. A
black PCIe 2.0 x16 socket can be used for a graphics card, but at x4 speed.
There are also two PCIe 2.0 x1 sockets, and two PCI sockets for extension card.
Circuit
board side view
As opposed to its senior cousin, the ASUS
P8Z77-V doesn't have extra PCIe switches, so there are certain restrictions
related to the PCIe sockets. For example, an additional ASM1061 ASMedia
controller was attached to the PCIe lane that similar to the second x1 PCI
Express 2.0 socket, so you can use either one, but not both at the same time.
It's not a big problem, however, because a discrete graphics card will block
the second PCIe 2.0 x1 sockets with its cooler. The third PCIe x16 2.0 (black)
can work at x4 speed, but its default speed is x1 because it shared the PCIe
2.0 lanes with the x1 PCIe sockets and additional ASMedia ASM1061 controller.
You should be aware of these restrictions if you're looking to build a
multi-GPU configuration.
The ASUS P8Z77-V comes with a Wi-Fi GO!
module that is not available for those junior models at all. The ASUS flagship
mainboard comes with a different version of it, supports 2.4 band and 5 GHz at
speeds up to 300 Mbps and offers Bluetooth. The P8Z77-V's Module Wi-Fi GO! only
operates in 2.4 GHz frequency and supports data transfer speeds up to 150 Mbps
using standard Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n. It's easy to distinguish between two versions
of the wireless modules: the more advanced module has two external antennas
whereas the other only has one.
The
connectors
The connectors are available in the rear of
the motherboard:
·
Universal PS/2 connector for keyboard and mouse;
·
Four USB 3.0 ports (blue connectors), two of
which are implemented via ASMedia ASM1042 controller. Another two ports and one
more internal pin-connector for two additional USB 3.0 ports are provided by
Intel Z77 Express chipset;
·
Two USB 2.0 ports, another eight ports are laid
out as four onboard pin-connectors;
·
Wi-Fi GO! Module;
·
D-Sub, DVI-D, HDMI and DisplayPort video outs;
·
A local network port (network adapters are built
on Gigabit Intel 82579V controller);
·
An optical S/PDIF and six analogue audio-jacks
provided by eight-channel Realtek ALC892 codec.
A
description of the mainboard's structure
Like many other ASUS mainboards, this model
has broad and handy Q-Slot latches on its graphics slots and single-sided
Q-DIMM larches on the memory slots. In contrast to the senior models, it lacks
of Power, Reset and Clear CMOS buttons, but there is a USB BIOS Flashback
button (which allows the BIOS update feature of the same name) and a MemOK!
button. (allows the board to successfully boot in case of problems with the
system memory). The mainboard doesn't provide POST indicator, but the Q-LED
(CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device) indicators can help you quickly understand at
what stage the startup process has been halted.
The TPU (TurboV Processing Unit) switch can
be used to automatically overclock the CPU while the EPU (Energy Processing
Unit) switch allows power saving mode. The mainboard provides five fan
connectors, all of which are 4-pin port. Two of them are for the CPU fan and
can only adjust the 4-pin fans. The system fan connectors can reduce 4-pin and
3-pin fan speed.
