Motherboard
E8226 First Edition May
Contents
My Favorites Main menu Ai Tweaker menu Advanced menu
Chapter Bios setup
Chapter RAID support
Chapter Software support
Appendices
Chapter Multiple GPU support
Safety information
Electrical safety
Operation safety
Where to find more information
About this guide
How this guide is organized
Conventions used in this guide
Typography
Bold text
VGA
Z87-WS specifications summary
Marvell 9230 Sata controllers
Intel Z87 Express Chipset with RAID 0, 1, 5
ASMedia Sata 6Gb/s controller
Realtek ALC1150 8-channel high definition audio
Asus Quiet Thermal Solution
Asus Exclusive Features
Asus Dual Intelligent Processors 4 with 4-Way Optimization
Asus Q-Design
Rear Panel I/O Ports
Manageability Support DVD contents Accessories Form factor
Package contents
Installation tools and components
Product highlights
Special features
Intel Smart Response Technology
Intel Smart Connect Technology
Intel Rapid Start Technology
Asus Workstation Exclusive Features
Digital Power Control
Dual Intelligent Processors 4 with 4-Way Optimization
Asus Fan Xpert
USB Bios Flashback
Asus Exclusive Features
USB 3.0 Boost
USB Charger+
Asus Fanless Design Heat-sink solution
Asus Quiet Thermal Solution
Asus Uefi Bios EZ Mode
Asus Q-connector
DTS Connect
Other special features
DTS UltraPC
ErP Ready
Before you proceed
Motherboard overview
Motherboard layout
Layout contents
Central Processing Unit CPU
System memory
Recommended memory configurations
Memory configurations
Z87-WS Motherboard Qualified Vendors List QVL
Slot No. Slot Description
Expansion slots
WAY SLI
IRQ assignments for this motherboard
Onboard buttons and switches
Power-on button
Asus Dr. Power switch
MemOK! button
DirectKey button
Enable this switch when the system is powered off
TPU switch
Clear Cmos button
EPU switch
Msata switch
Reset button
Post State LEDs
Onboard LEDs
Code LED
EPU LED
Code Description
Code table
EC EF
USB initialization is started
Code Description Start of Setup
Pwrsupply LED
ACPI/ASL Checkpoints
+12VPWR LED
PGLED3 LED
Internal connectors
Digital audio connector 4-1 pin Spdifout
Z87-WS Marvell Sata 6.0 Gb/s connectors
Ieee 1394 port connector 10-1 pin IE1394
USB 3.0 connector 20-1 pin USB312
MBps connection speed
USB 2.0 connectors 10-1 pin USB1112, USB1314 USB10
Chapter
Front panel audio connector 10-1 pin Aafp
Chapter
System power LED 2-pin Pled
System panel connector 20-8 pin Panel
ATX power button/soft-off button 2-pin Pwrsw
Reset button 2-pin Reset
Direct Connector 2-pin Drct
TPM connector 20-1 pin TPM
Chassis intrusion connector 4-1 pin Chassis
MSATA connector
Building your PC system
Motherboard installation
Chapter
CPU installation
To install the CPU heatsink and fan assembly
CPU heatsink and fan assembly installation
To uninstall the CPU heatsink and fan assembly
To remove a Dimm
Dimm installation
ATX Power connection
Sata device connection
To install Asus Q-Connector
Front I/O Connectors
To install USB 2.0 connector
To install USB 3.0 connector
To install PCIe x16 cards To install PCIe x1 cards
Expansion Card installation
Bios update utility
USB Bios Flashback
To use USB Bios Flashback
Chapter
Rear I/O connection
Motherboard rear and audio connections
Status Description
LAN ports LED indications
Audio I/O connections
Audio 2, 4, 6, or 8-channel configuration
Chapter
Connect to 7.1 channel Speakers
Starting up for the first time
Turning off the computer
Bios Beep
Knowing Bios
Bios setup
Entering Bios at startup
Bios setup program
Entering Bios Setup after Post
Bios menu screen
Output, CPU/chassis/power fan speed
EZ Mode
Menu bar
Advanced Mode
Menu items
Configuration fields
Back button
Submenu items
My Favorites
Last Modified button
Adding items to My Favorites
Security
Main menu
User Password
Administrator Password
To set an administrator password
To change an administrator password
Ai Tweaker menu
To change a user password
Ai Overclock Tuner Auto
Asus MultiCore Enhancement Enabled
CPU Core Ratio Auto
Core Ratio Limit Auto
Min CPU Cache Ratio Auto
CPU bus speed Dram speed ratio mode Auto
Max CPU Cache Ratio Auto
Internal PLL Overvoltage Auto
EPU Power Saving Mode Disabled
OC Tuner As Is
Dram Timing Control
Dram Four ACT WIN Time Auto
Dram Write to Read Delay Auto
Dram CKE Minimum pulse width Auto
RTL IOL control Dram RTL CHAR0D0 Auto
Dram IO-L CHBR1D0 Auto
Dram IO-L CHBR0D1 Auto
Dram IO-L CHBR1D1 Auto
DecWRD
CPU Fixed Frequency
DIGI+ Power Control
VRM Spread Spectrum Disabled
Active Frequency Mode Disabled
Manual Adjustment Fast
Dram Fixed Frequency Mode
CPU Power Management
Short Duration Package Power Limit Auto
Package Power Time Window Auto
CPU Internal Power Fault Control Thermal Feedback Auto
CPU Integrated VR Fault Management Auto
Idle Power-in Response Auto
Power Decay Mode Auto
Idle Power-out Response Auto
Power Current Slope Auto
Additional Turbo Mode CPU Core Voltage Auto
Extreme OV Disabled
CPU Core Voltage Auto
CPU Cache Voltage Auto
Additional Turbo Mode CPU Graphics Voltage Auto
CPU System Agent Voltage Offset Mode Sign +
CPU Graphics Voltage Auto
CPU Graphics Voltage Offset
CPU Digital I/O Voltage Offset Mode Sign +
CPU Analog I/O Voltage Offset Mode Sign +
Svid Support Auto
CPU Input Voltage Auto
Clock Crossing Reset Voltage Auto
Clock Crossing VBoot Auto
PCH Voltage Auto
Vttddr Voltage Auto
Advanced menu
Intel Adaptive Thermal Monitor Enabled
CPU Configuration
Hyper-threading Enabled
Active Processor Cores All
Execute Disable Bit Enabled
Limit Cpuid Maximum Disabled
Intel Virtualization Technology Disabled
Hardware Prefetcher Enabled
CPU C3 Report Enabled
Enhanced C1 state Enabled
CPU C6 Report Enabled
C6 Latency Short
PCI Express Configuration
PCH Configuration
Intel Rapid Start Technology Disabled
Entry After
Intel Smart Connect Technology Disabled
Sata Configuration
Hybrid Hard Disk Support Disabled
Active Memory Threshold
A.R.T. Status Check Enabled
Sata Mode Selection Ahci
Hot Plug Disabled SATA6G1 SATA6G6 Yellow
Aggressive LPM Support Auto
VT-d Disabled
System Agent Configuration
CPU Audio Devices Enabled
Graphics Configuration
DMI Configuration
NB PCIe Configuration
Memory Configuration
Legacy USB Support Enabled
USB Configuration
Intel xHCI Mode Smart Auto
Ehci Hand-off Disabled
PCI Express Native Power Management Disabled
Platform Misc Configuration
Native Aspm Disabled
Mass Storage Devices Auto
HD Audio Controller Enabled
Onboard Devices Configuration
Front Panel Type HD
Spdif Out Type Spdif
Marvell Storage Controller Enabled
VIA 1394 Controller Enabled
Marvell Storage Oprom Disabled
ASM1061 Storage Controller Enabled
8 APM
Network Stack Disable
Ipv4/Ipv6 PXE Support Enabled
Network Stack
CPU Temperature / MB Temperature xxxºC/xxxºF
Monitor menu
CPU core 0-3 Voltage, 3.3V Voltage, 5V Voltage, 12V Voltage
CPU Q-Fan Control Auto
Chassis Q-Fan Control 1/4 Enabled
Anti Surge Support Enabled
Dr. Power Policy Standard
Chassis Fan Speed Low Limit 1/4 600 RPM
Boot menu
Boot Configuration Fast Boot Enabled
USB Support Partial
DirectKey Enable Go to Bios
HW Fast Boot Disabled
Network Stack Driver Support Disabled
Next Boot after AC Power Loss Normal Boot
Bootup NumLock State On
Boot Logo Display Auto
Wait For ‘F1’ If Error Enabled
Option ROM Messages Force Bios
CSM Compatibility Support Module
Secure Boot
Save Secure Boot Keys
Clear Secure Boot keys
Delete PK
Load PK from File
Load db from File
Delete the db
Append db from File
Delete the dbx
Asus EZ Flash 2 Utility
Tools menu
Asus O.C. Profile
Label
Asus SPD Information
Save to Profile
Load from Profile
Exit menu
EZ Update
Updating Bios
Asus EZ Flash
To update the Bios using EZ Flash
Asus CrashFree Bios
Recovering the Bios
To recover the Bios
Asus Bios Updater
Before updating Bios
Booting the system in DOS environment
To update the Bios file using Bios Updater
Updating the Bios file
Chapter
Installing an operating system
Support DVD information
Running the support DVD
Obtaining the software manuals
Using AI Suite
Installing AI Suite
Software information
AI Suite
AI Suite 3 main menu bar
Way Optimization
Dual Intelligent Processors
CPU Frequency
Using TPU
GPU Boost
Voltage
3 EPU
Using EPU
Mute Add-on USB Controller Power
Configured Max CPU Power
Voltage Decrement
Fan Profile
DIGI+ Power Control
Dram Power Phase Control
Dram screen Dram Current Capability
Dram Voltage Frequency
Fan Xpert
Smart Mode
Customizing the fan settings
RPM Mode
USB 3.0 Boost
Using USB 3.0 Boost
Network iControl
EZ Start screen
Quick Connection screen
Info screen
EZ Profile screen
Scheduling the Bios download
Downloading the updated Bios
To download the updated Bios
Ai Charger+
EZ Update
USB Charger+
System Information
Viewing the motherboard information
Viewing the CPU information
Viewing the SPD information
Launching Asus SSD Caching
Asus SSD Caching
Configuring Asus SSD Caching
Realtek HD Audio Manager for Windows 8 / Windows
Audio configurations
Asus Dr. Power Utility
Installing Dr. Power Utility
Using Dr. Power
Chapter
RAID definitions
RAID configurations
Installing Serial ATA hard disks
Setting the RAID item in Bios
To install the Sata hard disks for a RAID configuration
Main Menu
Intel Rapid Storage Technology Option ROM utility
To create a RAID set
Creating a RAID set
Are you sure you want to create this volume? Y/N
To delete a RAID set
Deleting a RAID set
Creating a RAID driver disk without entering the OS
Creating a RAID driver disk
To exit the utility
To create a RAID driver disk without entering the OS
To install the RAID driver for Windows
Installing the RAID driver during Windows OS installation
Creating a RAID driver disk in Windows
To create a RAID driver disk in Windows
ATI CrossFireX technology
Requirements
Before you begin
Installing two CrossFireX graphics cards
Installing three CrossFireX graphics cards
Installing four CrossFireX graphics cards
Enabling the AMD CrossFireX technology
Installing the device drivers
Launching the AMD Catalyst Control Center
To launch the AMD Catalyst Control Center
Enabling Dual CrossFireX technology
Select Enable CrossFireXTM
Nvidia SLI technology
Installing two SLI-ready graphics cards
Installing three SLI-ready graphics cards
Installing four SLI-ready graphics cards
Resolution
Enabling the Nvidia SLI technology
Launching the Nvidia Control Panel
Enabling SLI settings
Nvidia Cuda technology
Installing CUDA-ready graphics cards
Connect a display cable to the graphics card
Federal Communications Commission Statement
Appendices
Canadian Department of Communications Statement
IC Canadian Compliance Statement
RF Equipment Notices
Bluetooth Industry Canada Statement
ASUSTeK Computer INC
Asus contact information
Asus Computer International America
Asus Computer GmbH Germany and Austria
Declaration of Conformity