Contents

Safety information......................................................................................................

vi

About this guide.........................................................................................................

vii

Z97-WS specifications summary...............................................................................

ix

Package contents......................................................................................................

xv

Installation tools and components..........................................................................

xvi

Chapter 1:

Product Introduction

 

1.1

Special features..........................................................................................

1-1

 

1.1.1

Product highlights........................................................................

1-1

 

1.1.2

ASUS-exclusive workstation features..........................................

1-2

 

1.1.3

Other special features..................................................................

1-3

1.2

Motherboard overview...............................................................................

1-4

 

1.2.1

Before you proceed.....................................................................

1-4

 

1.2.2

Motherboard layout......................................................................

1-5

 

1.2.3

Central Processing Unit (CPU)....................................................

1-7

 

1.2.4

System memory...........................................................................

1-8

 

1.2.5

Expansion slots..........................................................................

1-10

 

1.2.6

Onboard buttons and switches..................................................

1-13

 

1.2.7

Jumpers.....................................................................................

1-18

 

1.2.8

Onboard LEDs...........................................................................

1-18

 

1.2.9

Internal connectors....................................................................

1-26

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

BIOS update utility....................................................................................

2-11

2.3

Motherboard rear and audio connections..............................................

2-13

 

2.3.1

Rear I/O connection...................................................................

2-13

 

2.3.2

Audio I/O connections................................................................

2-15

2.4

Starting up for the first time....................................................................

2-17

2.5

Turning off the computer.........................................................................

2-18

iii