Asus Z97-A 2.1Managing and updating your BIOS

BIOS information	2

2.1Managing and updating your BIOS

The ASUS website publishes the latest BIOS versions to provide enhancements on system stability, compatibility,and performance. However, BIOS updating is potentially risky. If there is no problem using the current version of BIOS, DO NOT manually update the BIOS. Inappropriate BIOS updating may result to system’s failure to boot. Carefully follow the instructions in this chapter to update your BIOS when necessary.

Visit http://www.asus.com to download the latest BIOS file for this motherboard.

The following utilities allow you to manage and update the motherboard BIOS setup program.

1.EZ Update: Updates the BIOS in Windows® environment.

2.ASUS EZ Flash 2: Updates the BIOS using a USB flash drive.

3.ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3: Restores the BIOS using the motherboard support DVD or a USB flash drive when the BIOS file fails or gets corrupted.

4.ASUS BIOS Updater: Updates the BIOS in DOS environment using the motherboard support DVD and a USB flash disk drive.

Save a copy of the original motherboard BIOS file to a USB flash disk in case you need to restore the BIOS in the future. Copy the original motherboard BIOS using the ASUS Update utility.

ASUS Z97-A

2-1

Contents

Page Page Contents Electrical safety Operation safety How this guide is organized Where to find more information Conventions used in this guide Typography Package contents Z97-Aspecifications summary Page Page Page Page 1.2.1Placement direction 1.2.2Screw holes 1.2.3Motherboard layout 1.2.4Layout contents 1.3Central Processing Unit (CPU) 1.3.1Installing the CPU 1.3.2CPU heatsink and fan assembly installation 1.4.1Overview 1.4.2Memory configurations Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page 1.4.3DIMM installation 1.5.1Installing an expansion card 1.5.2Configuring an expansion card 1.5.3PCI slots 1.5.4PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots 1.5.5PCI Express 3.0 / 2.0 x16 slots Page 1.6Jumpers Page 1.7.1Rear panel connectors Page 1.7.2Internal connectors Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page 1.8Onboard LEDs Page 1.9Onboard buttons and switches Page Page Page 1.10.1Installing an operating system 1.10.2Support DVD information 2.1Managing and updating your BIOS 2.1.1EZ Update 2.1.2ASUS EZ Flash 2.1.3ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility 2.1.4ASUS BIOS Updater Please select boot device: Page BIOS menu screen 2.2.1EZ Mode 2.2.2Advanced Mode Page Page 2.2.3QFan Control 2.2.4EZ Tuning Wizard Page 2.3My Favorites 2.4.1Security Page 2.5.1Ai Overclock Tuner [Auto] 2.5.2ASUS MultiCore Enhancement [Auto] 2.5.3CPU Core Ratio [Sync All Cores] 2.5.4Min. CPU Cache Ratio [Auto] 2.5.5Max. CPU Cache Ratio [Auto] 2.5.6Internal PLL Overvoltage [Auto] 2.5.7CPU Ratio Tuner [Auto] 2.5.8BCLK Frequency: DRAM Frequency Ratio [Auto] 2.5.9DRAM Frequency [Auto] 2.5.10Max. CPU Graphics Ratio [Auto] 2.5.11OC Tuner [Keep Current Settings] 2.5.12EPU Power Saving Mode [Disabled] 2.5.13DRAM Timing Control Page Page Page 2.5.14DIGI+ VRM Page 2.5.15Internal CPU Power Management Page 2.5.16Extreme Over-voltage 2.5.17CPU Core Voltage 2.5.18CPU Cache Voltage [Auto] 2.5.19CPU System Agent Voltage Offset Mode Sign [+] 2.5.20CPU Analog I/O Voltage Offset Mode Sign [+] 2.5.21CPU Digital I/O Voltage Offset Mode Sign [+] 2.5.22SVID Support [Auto] 2.5.23CPU Input Voltage [Auto] 2.5.24DRAM Voltage [Auto] 2.5.25PCH Core Voltage [Auto] 2.5.26PCH VLX Voltage [Auto] 2.5.27VTTDDR Voltage [Auto] 2.5.28DRAM CTRL REF Voltage [Auto] 2.5.29DRAM DATA REF Voltage on CHA/CHB [Auto] 2.5.31Clock Crossing Reset Voltage [Auto] 2.5.32Clock Crossing Voltage [Auto] 2.5.33CPU Spread Spectrum [Auto] 2.6.1CPU Configuration Page 2.6.2PCH Configuration 2.6.3PCH Storage Configuration 2.6.4System Agent Configuration 2.6.5USB Configuration 2.6.6Platform Misc Configuration 2.6.7Onboard Devices Configuration 2.6.8APM Configuration 2.6.9Network Stack Configuration 2.6.10Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology 2.7.1Qfan Tuning 2.7.4CPU Core 0/3 Voltage, 3.3V Voltage, 5V Voltage, 12V Voltage 2.7.5CPU Q-FanControl [Auto] 2.7.6Chassis Fan 1/4 Q-FanControl 1/4 [Enabled] Page 2.8.1Fast Boot [Enabled] 2.8.2DirectKey (DRCT) [Enabled] 2.8.3Boot Logo Display [Auto] 2.8.4Bootup NumLock State [Enabled] 2.8.5Wait For ‘F1’ If Error [Enabled] 2.8.6Option ROM Messages [Enabled] 2.8.7Interrupt 19 Capture [Disabled] 2.8.8Above 4G Decoding [Disabled] 2.8.11Secure Boot Page 2.8.12Boot Option Priorities 2.8.13Boot Override 2.9.1Setup Animator 2.9.2ASUS EZ Flash 2 Utility 2.9.3ASUS O.C. Profile 2.9.4ASUS DRAM SPD Information Federal Communications Commission Statement IC: Canadian Compliance Statement Canadian Department of Communications Statement VCCI: Japan Compliance Statement VCCI Class B Statement KC: Korea Warning Statement REACH Google™ License Terms ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC ASUS COMPUTER INTERNATIONAL (America) ASUS COMPUTER GmbH (Germany and Austria)