Asus Computer Hardware Z87 WS User Manual

Z87-WS  
Contents  
iii  
iv  
Creating a RAID driver disk in Windows®....................................5-8  
v
Enabling the AMD® CrossFireX™ technology.............................6-5  
NVIDIA® CUDA™ technology ..................................................................6-13  
vi  
Safety information  
Electrical safety  
To prevent electrical shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electrical outlet  
before relocating the system.  
When adding or removing devices to or from the system, ensure that the power cables  
for the devices are unplugged before the signal cables are connected. If possible,  
disconnect all power cables from the existing system before you add a device.  
Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard, ensure that all  
power cables are unplugged.  
Seek professional assistance before using an adapter or extension cord. These devices  
could interrupt the grounding circuit.  
Ensure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your area. If you are not  
sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you are using, contact your local power  
company.  
If the power supply is broken, do not try to fix it by yourself. Contact a qualified service  
technician or your retailer.  
Operation safety  
Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully read all the manuals  
that came with the package.  
Before using the product, ensure all cables are correctly connected and the power  
cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage, contact your dealer immediately.  
To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from connectors,  
slots, sockets and circuitry.  
Avoid dust, humidity, and temperature extremes. Do not place the product in any area  
where it may become wet.  
Place the product on a stable surface.  
If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualified service  
technician or your retailer.  
vii  
 
About this guide  
This user guide contains the information you need when installing and configuring the  
motherboard.  
How this guide is organized  
This guide contains the following parts:  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
This chapter describes the features of the motherboard and the new technology it  
supports. It includes description of the switches, jumpers, and connectors on the  
motherboard.  
Chapter 2: Basic installation  
This chapter lists the hardware setup procedures that you have to perform when  
installing system components.  
Chapter 3: BIOS setup  
This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS Setup menus.  
Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided.  
Chapter 4: Software support  
This chapter describes the contents of the support DVD that comes with the  
motherboard package and the software.  
Chapter 5: RAID support  
This chapter describes the RAID configurations.  
Where to find more information  
Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and software  
updates.  
1.  
2.  
ASUS websites  
The ASUS website provides updated information on ASUS hardware and software  
products. Refer to the ASUS contact information.  
Optional documentation  
Your product package may include optional documentation, such as warranty flyers,  
that may have been added by your dealer. These documents are not part of the  
standard package.  
viii  
 
Conventions used in this guide  
To ensure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following symbols used  
throughout this manual.  
DANGER/WARNING: Information to prevent injury to yourself when trying to  
complete a task.  
CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components when trying to  
complete a task  
IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task.  
NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a task.  
Typography  
Bold text  
Italics  
Indicates a menu or an item to select.  
Used to emphasize a word or a phrase.  
<Key>  
Keys enclosed in the less-than and greater-than sign  
means that you must press the enclosed key.  
Example: <Enter> means that you must press the Enter or  
Return key.  
<Key1> + <Key2> + <Key3> If you must press two or more keys simultaneously, the key  
names are linked with a plus sign (+).  
ix  
Z87-WS specifications summary  
CPU  
LGA1150 socket for the 4th Generation Intel® Core™ i7/Intel®  
Core™i5/ Intel® Core™ i3, Pentium® and Celeron® processors  
Supports 22nm CPU  
Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0*  
*
The Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 support depends on the CPU  
types.  
Chipset  
Memory  
Intel® Z87 Express Chipset  
4 x DIMM, max. 32GB, DDR3 2800 (O.C.)* / 2666 (O.C.)* 2600  
(O.C.)* / 2500 (O.C.)* / 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)  
*
Hyper DIMM support is subject to the physical characteristics of  
individual CPUs. Please refer to Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors List)  
for details.  
Expansion slots  
VGA  
4 x PCI Express 3.0*/2.0 x16 slots (single at x16, dual at x16/x16  
mode, triple at x16/x8/x8, quad at x8/x8/x8/x8)  
2 x PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots  
Integrated Graphics Processor - Intel® HD Graphics support  
Multi-VGA output support: DisplayPort/Mini DisplayPort/HDMI port  
Supports DisplayPort 1.2* with max. resolution 4096x2160@24Hz  
and 3840x2160@60Hz  
Supports HDMI with max. resolution of 4096x2160@24Hz and  
2560x1600@60Hz  
Supports Intel® InTru™ 3D, Intel® Quick Sync Video, Intel® Clear  
Video HD Technology, and Intel® Insider™  
Supports up to three displays simultaneously  
Maximum shared memory 1024MB  
*
DisplayPort 1.2 Multi-Stream Transport compliant, supports  
DisplayPort 1.2 monitor daisy chain up to 3 displays.  
Multi-GPU support  
LAN  
Supports NVIDIA® 4-Way SLI™ Technology  
Supports AMD® 4-Way CrossFireX™ Technology  
2 x Intel® I210 Gigabit LAN controller  
(continued on the next page)  
x
 
Z87-WS specifications summary  
Intel® Z87 Express Chipset with RAID 0, 1, 5, 10  
Storage  
-
-
6 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports (yellow)  
Supports Intel® Dynamic Storage Accelerator, Intel® Smart  
Response Technology, Intel® Rapid Start Technology, Intel®  
Smart Connect Technology*  
Marvell® 9230 SATA controllers  
-
4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports with RAID 0, 1, 10 and port multiplier  
support  
ASMedia® SATA 6Gb/s controller**  
2 x eSATA 6Gb/s ports with port multiplier support  
-
*
Supported on Intel® Core™ processor family.  
** These SATA ports are for data hard drives only. ATAPI devices are not  
supported.  
1394  
VIA VT6315N controller support 1x1394a port  
Realtek® ALC1150 8-channel high definition audio  
Audio  
CODEC  
-
High quality 112dB SNR stereo playback output (Line-out at  
rear) and 104dB SNR recording input (Line-in) support.  
-
-
-
-
-
Absolute Pitch 192khz/24-bit True BD Lossless Sound  
BD audio layer content protection  
DTS UltraPC II  
DTS Connect  
Supports jack-detection, multi-streaming and front panel jack-  
retasking  
-
Optical S/PDIF out ports at rear I/O  
Intel® Z87 Express Chipset - supports ASUS USB 3.0  
Boost  
USB  
-
-
-
-
1 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports at rear panel (blue)  
2 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports at mid-board for front panel support  
4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports at rear panel  
5 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports at mid-board  
ASMedia® USB 3.0 controller - supports ASUS USB 3.0  
Boost  
-
3 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports at rear panel (blue)  
Workstation unique  
features  
4 PCIe x 16 slots  
ASUS Dr. Power  
Quick gate: 1 vertical USB 2.0 on board  
ASUS WS Diag. LED  
(continued on the next page)  
xi  
Z87-WS specifications summary  
ASUS unique features  
ASUS Dual Intelligent Processors 4 with 4-Way  
Optimization  
-
4-Way Optimization tuning key perfectly consolidates  
ASUS-exclusive DIGI+Power Control, TPU, EPU, and Fan  
Xpert 2 that quickly optimize the digital power setting, system  
performance, power saving and whole system cooling  
configuration with just a click.  
CPU Power  
-
-
Industry leading digital 8-phase power design  
ASUS CPU power utility  
DRAM Power  
-
-
Industry leading digital 2-phase DRAM power design  
ASUS DRAM power utility  
ASUS EPU  
-
EPU, EPU switch  
ASUS TPU  
-
TurboV, GPU Boost, TPU switch  
ASUS Fan Xpert 2  
-
Featuring Fan Auto Tuning function for optimized speed  
control.  
ASUS Exclusive Features:  
-
Network iControl featuring instant network bandwidth  
domination for top network program in use  
-
-
USB 3.0 Boost featuring speedy USB 3.0 transmission  
USB Charger+ featuring quick-charging function for all smart  
devices  
-
-
-
-
-
Ai Charger+  
Disk Unlocker  
AI Suite 3  
Anti Surge  
MemOK!  
ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution:  
-
-
ASUS Fan Xpert 2  
ASUS Fanless Design: Heat-sink solution  
ASUS EZ DIY  
-
ASUS USB BIOS Flashback with USB BIOS Flashback Wizard  
for EZ BIOS download scheduling  
-
ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode featuring friendly graphical user  
interface  
-
-
-
ASUS O.C. Tuner  
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3  
ASUS EZ Flash 2  
ASUS Q-Design  
-
-
-
-
-
-
ASUS Q-Shield  
ASUS Q-Code  
ASUS Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED)  
ASUS Q-Slot  
ASUS Q-DIMM  
ASUS Q-Connector  
(continued on the next page)  
xii  
Z87-WS specifications summary  
Rear Panel I/O Ports  
4 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports (blue)  
4 x USB 2.0/1.0 ports (1 supports USB BIOS Flashback)  
1 x PS/2 Keyboard/mouse port  
1 x HDMI port  
1 x Display port  
1 x Mini-Display port  
2 x eSATA ports  
2 x LAN (RJ-45) ports (2 x Intel® LAN)  
1 x Optical S/PDIF Out port  
8-channel Audio I/O ports  
Internal I/O connectors  
10 x SATA 6.0Gb/s connectors (6 x yellow; 4 x dark brown)  
1 x mSATA connector  
1 x 4-pin CPU Fan connector supports both 3-pin (DC mode) and  
4-pin (PWM mode) CPU coolers control  
1 x 4-pin CPU Optional Fan connector (CPU_OPT)  
4 x 4-pin Chassis Fan connectors  
1 x Front panel audio connector (AAFP)  
1 x S/PDIF out header  
1 x TPM connector  
1 x chassis intrusion header  
1 x COM port  
1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector  
2 x 8-pin EATX 12V Power connector  
1 x 6-pin EATX 12V_1 Power connector  
1 x System Panel (Q-connector)  
1 x MemOK! button  
1 x Clear CMOS jumper  
1 x mSATA switch jumper  
1 x DirectKey button  
1 x DRCT (DirectKey) connector  
1 x EPU switch  
1 x TPU switch (advanced 2-stage adjustments)  
1 x Power on switch  
1 x CHAFAN_SEL jumper  
1 x Dr. Power switch  
BIOS features  
64 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.7, WfM2.0, SM  
BIOS 2.7, ACPI 5.0, Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 2, ASUS  
CrashFree BIOS 3, My Favorites, Quick Note, Last Modified log,  
F12 PrintScreen, F3 Shortcut functions, and ASUS DRAM SPD  
(Serial Presence Detect) memory information  
(continued on the next page)  
xiii  
Z87-WS specifications summary  
Manageability  
WfM 2.0, DMI 2.7, WOL by PME, PXE  
Support DVD contents  
Drivers  
ASUS Utilities  
ASUS Update  
Anti-virus software (OEM version)  
Accessories  
10 x Serial ATA 6Gb/s cables  
1 x COM port bracket  
1 x USB+ 1394 bracket  
1 x ASUS 4-Way SLI bridge connector  
1 x ASUS 3-Way SLI bridge connector  
1 x ASUS SLI bridge connector  
1 x 2-in-1 Q-connector  
1 x User’s manual  
1 x I/O Shield  
Form factor  
ATX form factor: 12 in. x 9.6 in. (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm)  
Specifications are subject to change without notice.  
xiv  
Package contents  
Check your motherboard package for the following items  
User Manual  
ASUS Z87-WS motherboard  
User manual  
Support DVD  
2 USB ports + 1394a cable with  
1394 bracket  
10 x Serial ATA 6.0 Gb/s cables  
COM port bracket  
1 x ASUS 4-Way SLI™ bridge  
connector  
1 x ASUS 3-Way SLI™ bridge  
connector  
1 x ASUS SLI™ bridge connector  
1 x 2-in-1 Q-connector  
1 x I/O Shield  
If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.  
The illustrated items above are for reference only. Actual product specifications may  
vary with different models.  
xv  
 
Installation tools and components  
1 bag of screws  
Philips (cross) screwdriver  
PC chassis  
Power supply unit  
Intel® LGA1150 CPU  
Intel® LGA1150 compatible CPU Fan  
DIMM  
SATA hard disk drive  
SATA optical disc drive (optional)  
Graphics card (optional)  
The tools and components in the table above are not included in the motherboard package.  
xvi  
 
Chapter 1:  
Product Introduction  
Product introduction  
1
1.1  
Special features  
Product highlights  
1.1.1  
LGA1150 socket for 4th generation Intel® Core™ i7 / Intel® Core™ i5 / Intel®  
Core™ i3, Pentium® and Celeron® processors  
This motherboard supports 4th generation Intel® Core™ i7 / Intel® Core™ i5 / Intel® Corei3,  
Pentium®, and Celeron® processors in the LGA1150 package. It provides great graphics and  
system performance with its GPU, dual-channel DDR3 memory slots and PCI Express 2.0/3.0  
expansion slots.  
Intel® Z87 Express Chipset  
Intel® Z87 Express Chipset is a single chipset that supports the LGA1150 socket for 4th  
generation Intel® Core™ i7 / Intel® Core™ i5 / Intel® Core™ i3, Pentium® and Celeron®  
processors. It utilizes serial point-to-point links, which increases bandwidth and enhances  
the system’s performance. It natively supports up to six USB 3.0 ports for up to ten times  
faster transfer rate than USB 2.0 and enables the iGPU function for Intel® integrated graphics  
performance.  
PCI Express® 3.0  
PCI Express® 3.0 (PCIe 3.0) is the PCI Express bus standard that provides twice the  
performance and speed of PCIe 2.0. It provides optimal graphics performance, unprecedented  
data speed, and seamless transition with its complete backward compatibility to PCIe 1.0/2.0  
devices.  
Dual-Channel DDR3 2800 (O.C.) / 2666 (O.C.) / 2600 (O.C.) / 2500 (O.C.) / 2400  
(O.C.) / 2200 (O.C.) / 2133 (OC.) / 2000 (O.C.) / 1866 (O.C.) / 1800 (O.C.) / 1600 /  
1333 MHz Support  
The motherboard supports dual-channel DDR3 memory featuring data transfer rates of  
DDR3 2800 (O.C.) / 2666 (O.C.) / 2600 (O.C.) / 2500 (O.C.) / 2400 (O.C.) / 2200 (O.C.) /  
2133 (OC.) / 2000 (O.C.) / 1866 (O.C.) / 1800 (O.C.) / 1600 / 1333 MHz to boost the system’s  
performance, and to meet the higher bandwidth requirements of 3D graphics, multimedia, and  
Internet applications.  
Quad-GPU SLI and CrossFireX™ Support  
This motherboard features the most powerful Intel® Z87 platform that optimizes PCIe  
allocation in a multi-GPU SLI or CrossFireX™ solution, giving you a brand-new gaming  
enjoyment.  
1-1  
ASUS Z87-WS  
 
Intel® Smart Response Technology  
Intel® Smart Response Technology, an important part of Green ASUS eco-friendly computing,  
reduces load and wait time, eliminates unecessary hard drive spin thus lowering power  
usage, and uses an installed SSD (requires 18.6 GB available space) as a cache for  
frequently accessed data or applications. It combines SSD performance and hard drive  
capacity, operating up to six times faster than a hard-drive-only system to boost the system’s  
overall performance.  
*
4th Generation Intel® Core™ processors family support Intel® Smart Response Technology.  
** An operating system must be installed on the HDD to launch Intel® Smart Response Technology.  
*** The SSD is reserved for caching function.  
Intel® Smart Connect Technology  
Your computer can receive fresh updates for selected applications, even when the system  
is in sleep mode. This means less time waiting for applications to update and sync with the  
cloud, leading to a more efficient computing experience.  
Intel® Rapid Start Technology  
Intel® Rapid Start Technology allows your system to receive updates for your web  
applications in real-time even when your system is in sleep mode, saving wait time and  
power usage.  
1-2  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
1.1.2  
ASUS Workstation Exclusive Features  
Best performance for PCI Express 3.0 4-Way CrossFireX™ and SLI™  
Native third generation PCI Express x16 4-way AMD CrossFireX™ and NVIDIA® SLI™ offer  
the fastest and most reliable graphics performance ever. It’s ideal for professional use in  
mechanical, architectural, and interior design, aeronautics, and audiovisual content creation.  
Additionally, the ample graphics power can easily run even the most demanding PC games in  
full detail for enhanced entertainment.  
ASUS Dr. Power: Intelligent power supply monitoring  
Power supply health detection helps prevent sudden system shutdown and provides hassle-  
free notifications should power delivery be insufficient. Additionally, LED messages on the  
board clearly indicate any relevant power issues in the event your system fails to boot.  
Built-in dual server-class Intel® i210 Ethernet  
For more reliable networking, the Z87-WS features the latest server class built-in Intel®  
Ethernet adapter. This leads to lower CPU utilization and temperature, outstanding  
performance, as well as better support for diverse operating systems.  
Beat Thermal Chokes: Better stability and lower power loss  
ASUS Beat Thermal Chokes deliver great durability and up to 93% power efficiency under  
normal operation. A special fin design results in 3-50C lower choke temps for added stability,  
which is increased exponentially through use of highly conductive and efficient gold-treated  
coating. This translates to minimal loss of power delivery.  
Extra mSATA 6Gb/s  
A built-in mSATA 6Gb/s card provides users diverse storage options. Install your SSD to a  
mSATA 6Gb/s port for super-fast boot up and reduced resume times.  
Diagnostic LED  
Diag. LED checks key components (CPU, memory, graphics card, and hard drive) in  
sequence during bootup. If an error is found, the LED next to the relevant device will stay lit  
until the problem is solved. This user-friendly design provides an intuitive way to locate the  
root problem.  
Quick Gate  
Quick Gate is a vertical USB connector on the motherboard, allowing you to install USB  
devices directly with no messy cables. This stops important data storage devices from  
breaking off unexpectedly. P8P67 WS Revolution with this unique design provides a  
convenient and safe way to install data and applications on your PC.  
1-3  
ASUS Z87-WS  
 
1.1.3  
Dual Intelligent Processors 4 with 4-Way Optimization  
ASUS Dual Intelligent Processors 4 brings system control solution to a totally whole new  
level, combining TPU, EPU, DIGI+ Power Control and Fan Xpert 2 functions to push the  
system’s performance to its optimal potential. It automatically pushes or reasonably balances  
the system’s performance, power saving levels and fan settings via the user-friendly AI Suite  
3 utility.  
Digital Power Control  
ASUS DIGI+ Power Control features the revolutionary and innovative digital VRM, DRAM,  
and CPU Voltage controllers. These controllers offers ultra-precise memory and voltage  
tuning for optimal system efficiency, stability and performance.  
TPU  
TPU (Turbo Processing Unit), offers precise voltage control and advanced monitoring  
mechanisms through the TurboV functions in your ASUS AI Suite 3 utility.  
EPU  
EPU (Energy Processing Unit), the world’s first real-time system power-saving chip,  
automatically detects the current system load and intelligently moderates power usage.  
It offers a total system-wide energy optimization, reduces fan noise, and extends the  
component’s lifespan.  
ASUS Fan Xpert 2  
ASUS Fan Xpert 2 provides customizable settings for a cooler and quieter computing  
environment. With its Fan Auto Tuning feature, ASUS Fan Xpert 2 automatically detects  
and tweaks all fan speeds, and provides you with optimized fan settings based on the fans’  
specifications and positions.  
1-4  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
 
1.1.4  
ASUS Exclusive Features  
USB 3.0 Boost  
ASUS USB 3.0 Boost, which supports USB 3.0 standard UASP (USB Attached SCSI  
Protocol), significantly increases a USB device’s transfer speed up to 170% faster than the  
already impressive USB 3.0 transfer speed. It automatically accelerates data speeds for  
compatible USB 3.0 peripherals without the need for any user interaction.  
USB Charger+  
With a dedicated onboard controller, quick-charge all your smart devices such as  
smartphones, tablets and more, all up to three times faster, even when the system is  
powered off, in sleep or hibernation mode.  
USB BIOS Flashback  
USB BIOS Flashback offers a hassle-free updating solution for your ultimate convenience.  
Connect a USB storage device containing the BIOS file, press the BIOS Flashback button  
for about three seconds, and the UEFI BIOS is automatically updated even without entering  
the existing BIOS or operating system. It also allows you to regularly check for UEFI BIOS  
updates, and download the latest BIOS automatically.  
AI Suite 3  
With its user-friendly interface, ASUS AI Suite 3 consolidates all the exclusive ASUS features  
into one simple-to-use software package. It allows you to supervise overclocking, energy  
management, fan speed control, voltage and sensor readings, and even interact with smart  
devices via Wi-Fi. This all-in-one software offers diverse and easy to use features with no  
need to switch back and forth between different utilities.  
1-5  
ASUS Z87-WS  
 
1.1.5  
ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution  
ASUS Fanless Design - Heat-sink solution  
The stylish heatsink features a 0-dB thermal solution that offers you a noiseless PC  
environment. The heatsink design also lowers the temperature of the chipset and power  
phase area through highly efficient heat-exchange. Combined with usability and aesthetics,  
the ASUS stylish heatsink will give you an extremely silent and cooling experience with its  
elegant appearance.  
1.1.6  
ASUS EZ DIY  
ASUS UEFI BIOS (EZ Mode)  
ASUS UEFI BIOS, a UEFI compliant architecture, offers the first mouse-controlled intuitive  
graphical BIOS interface that goes beyond the traditional keyboard-only BIOS controls,  
providing you with more flexibility, convenience, and easy to navigate UEFI BIOS than the  
traditional BIOS versions. It offers dual modes and native support for hard drives larger than  
2.2 TB.  
ASUS UEFI BIOS includes the following new features:  
New My Favorite function allows you to quickly access frequently used items  
New Quick Note function allows you to take notes in the BIOS environment  
New log reminder allows you to view all your modified settings  
F12 BIOS snapshot hotkey  
F3 Shortcut for most accessed information  
ASUS DRAM SPD (Serial Presence Detect) information detecting faulty DIMMs, and  
helping with difficult POST situations.  
ASUS Q-connector  
ASUS Q-Connector is a unique adapter that allows you to easily connect or disconnect the  
chassis front panel cables to one module, eliminating the hassle of plugging one cable at a  
time and making the connection quick and accurate.  
1-6  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
 
1.1.7  
Other special features  
DTS Connect  
To get the most out of your audio entertainment across all formats and quality levels,  
DTS Connect combines two technologies, DTS Neo:PC™ upmixes stereo sources (CDs,  
MP3s, WMAs, Internet radio) into as many as 7.1 channels of incredible surround sound.  
Consumers can connect their PC to a home theater system. DTS Interactive is capable of  
performing mult-channel encoding of DTS bitstreams on personal computers, and sending  
encoded bitstreams out of a digital audio connection (such as S/PDIF or HDMI) designed to  
deliver audio to an external decoder.  
DTS UltraPC II  
DTS UltraPC II delivers a superior surround sound experience through your system’s  
speakers and headphones while monitoring and balancing the loudness level difference  
between digital audio formats. It also enhances audio settings by augmenting low and high  
frequencies of musical tones, restores compressed or re-mastered sounds, improves bass  
performance even without a subwoofer, and improves dialogue derived from DVD or Blu-ray  
Disc™.  
ErP Ready  
The motherboard is European Union’s Energy-related Products (ErP) ready, and ErP requires  
products to meet certain energy efficiency requirement in regards to energy consumption.  
This is in line with the ASUS vision of creating environment-friendly and energy-efficient  
products through product design and innovation to reduce carbon footprint of the product and  
thus mitigate environmental impacts.  
1-7  
ASUS Z87-WS  
 
1.2  
Motherboard overview  
Before you proceed  
1.2.1  
Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change  
any motherboard settings.  
Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any component.  
Before handling components, use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded  
object or a metal object, such as the power supply case, to avoid damaging them due  
to static electricity.  
Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them.  
Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded antistatic pad or in the  
bag that came with the component.  
Before you install or remove any component, ensure that the ATX power supply is  
switched off or the power cord is detached from the power supply. Failure to do so  
may cause severe damage to the motherboard, peripherals, or components.  
1-8  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
 
1.2.2  
Motherboard layout  
Parade  
PS8201  
PLX  
PEX8747  
Refer to 1.2.6 Internal connectors and 2.3.1 Rear I/O connection for more information  
about rear panel connectors and internal connectors.  
1-9  
ASUS Z87-WS  
 
Layout contents  
Connectors/Jumpers/Slots  
Page  
1. ATX power connectors  
1-37  
(24-pin EATXPWR; 8-pin EATX12V1, 8-pin EATX12V; 6-pin  
EATX12V_1)  
2. LGA1150 CPU socket  
1-11  
1-35  
3. CPU, chassis, and power fan connectors  
(4-pin CPU_FAN, 4-pin CPU_OPT, 4-pin CHA_FAN1~4 )  
4. DDR3 DIMM slots  
5. EPU switch  
1-12  
1-21  
1-20  
1-19  
1-18  
1-33  
1-40  
1-32  
6. TPU switch  
7. DirectKey  
8. MemOK! button  
9. USB 3.0 connector (20-1 pin USB3_12)  
10. mSATA connector  
11. Marvell 9230 ATA 6.0 Gb/s connectors  
(7-pin SATA6G_E1234 [dark brown])  
12. Intel® Z87 Serial ATA 6.0 Gb/s connectors (7-pin SATA6G_1~6 [yellow])  
1-31  
1-21  
1-19  
1-38  
1-34  
1-22  
1-24  
1-33  
1-39  
1-17  
1-22  
1-36  
1-32  
1-17  
13. Clear CMOS button  
14. Direct connector (2-pin DRCT)  
15. System panel connector (20-8 pin PANEL)  
16. USB 2.0 connectors (10-1 pin USB1112, USB1314; USB10)  
17. mSATA_SW  
18. Q-Code LED  
19. IEEE 1394 port connector (10-1 pin IE1394)  
20. TPM connector (20-1 pin TPM)  
21. Power-on button  
22. Reset button  
23. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP)  
24. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT)  
25. ASUS Dr. POWER switch  
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Chapter 1: Product introduction  
1.2.3  
Central Processing Unit (CPU)  
The motherboard comes with a surface mount LGA1150 socket designed for the 4th  
Generation Intel® Core™ i7 / Intel® Core™ i5 / Intel® Core™ i3, Pentium® and Celeron®  
processors.  
Ensure that all power cables are unplugged before installing the CPU.  
Ensure that you install the correct CPU designed for LGA1150 only. DO NOT install a  
CPU designed for LGA1155 and LGA1156 sockets on the LGA1150 socket.  
Upon purchase of the motherboard, ensure that the PnP cap is on the socket and  
the socket contacts are not bent. Contact your retailer immediately if the PnP cap  
is missing, or if you see any damage to the PnP cap/socket contacts/motherboard  
components. ASUS will shoulder the cost of repair only if the damage is shipment/  
transit-related.  
Keep the cap after installing the motherboard. ASUS will process Return Merchandise  
Authorization (RMA) requests only if the motherboard comes with the cap on the  
LGA1150 socket.  
The product warranty does not cover damage to the socket contacts resulting from  
incorrect CPU installation/removal, or misplacement/loss/incorrect removal of the PnP  
cap.  
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ASUS Z87-WS  
 
1.2.4  
System memory  
The motherboard comes with four Double Data Rate 3 (DDR3) Dual Inline Memory Modules  
(DIMM) slots.  
A DDR3 module is notched differently from a DDR or DDR2 module. DO NOT install a DDR  
or DDR2 memory module to the DDR3 slot.  
Recommended memory configurations  
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Chapter 1: Product introduction  
 
Memory configurations  
You may install 2GB, 4GB and 8GB unbuffered and non-ECC DDR3 DIMMs into the DIMM  
sockets.  
You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B. The system maps  
the total size of the lower-sized channel for the dual-channel configuration. Any excess  
memory from the higher-sized channel is then mapped for single-channel operation.  
According to Intel® CPU spec, a DIMM voltage below 1.65V is recommended to  
protect the CPU.  
Always install DIMMs with the same CAS latency. For optimum compatibility, we  
recommend that you obtain memory modules from the same vendor.  
Due to the memory address limitation on 32-bit Windows® OS, when you install 4GB  
or more memory on the motherboard, the actual usable memory for the OS can be  
about 3GB or less. For effective use of memory, we recommend that you do any of the  
following:  
a) Use a maximum of 3GB system memory if you are using a 32-bit Windows® OS.  
b) Install a 64-bit Windows® OS when you want to install 4GB or more on the  
motherboard.  
c) For more details, refer to the Microsoft® support site at http://support.microsoft.  
com/kb/929605/en-us.  
This motherboard does not support DIMMs made up of 512Mb (64MB) chips or less  
(Memory chip capacity counts in Megabit, 8 Megabit/Mb = 1 Megabyte/MB).  
The default memory operation frequency is dependent on its Serial Presence Detect  
(SPD), which is the standard way of accessing information from a memory module.  
Under the default state, some memory modules for overclocking may operate at a  
lower frequency than the vendor-marked value. To operate at the vendor-marked  
value or at a higher frequency, refer to section 3.5 Ai Tweaker menu for manual  
memory frequency adjustment.  
For system stability, use a more efficient memory cooling system to support a full  
memory load (4 DIMMs) or overclocking condition.  
Memory modules with memory frequency higher than 2133MHz and their  
corresponding timing or the loaded XMP profile is not the JEDEC memory standard.  
The stability and compatibility of the memory modules depend on the CPU’s  
capabilities and other installed devices.  
Always install DIMMS with the same CAS Latency. For optimum compatibility, we  
recommend that you install memory modules of the same version or data code (D/C)  
from the same vendor. Check with the vendor to get the correct memory modules.  
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ASUS Z87-WS  
Z87-WS Motherboard Qualified Vendors List (QVL)  
Visit the ASUS website for the latest QVL.  
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Chapter 1: Product introduction  
1.2.5  
Expansion slots  
Unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. Failure to do so may  
cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components.  
Slot No. Slot Description  
1
2
3
4
5
6
PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16_1 slot (single at x16 or dual at x8/x8 mode)  
PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16_2 slot (at x8 mode)  
PCIe 2.0 x1_1 slot  
PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16_3 slot (single at x16 or dual at x8/x8 mode)  
PCIe 2.0 x1_2 slot  
PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16_4 slot (at x8 mode)  
PCIE x16_1 auto switches to x8 when slot PCIE x16_2 is occupied; PCIE x16_2 auto  
switches to x4 when slot PCIE x16_4 is occupied.  
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ASUS Z87-WS  
 
PCIe Express 3.0 operating mode  
Slot  
no.  
SLI  
3-WAY SLI  
4-WAY SLI  
CrossFireX  
Single VGA  
CrossFireX  
CrossFireX  
x16  
1
2
x16  
x8  
x8  
x8  
(single VGA recommended)  
x8  
x16  
x16  
4
6
x8  
x8  
(dual VGA  
recommended)  
We recommend that you provide sufficient power when running CrossFireX™ or SLI™  
mode.  
Connect a chassis fan to the motherboard connector labeled CHA_FAN1-4 when  
using multiple graphics cards for better thermal environment.  
We recommend you connect an EATX 12V_1 cable when running CrossFireX and  
SLI.  
IRQ assignments for this motherboard  
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
PCIe x16_1  
shared  
PCIe x16_2  
PCIe x16_3  
PCIe x16_4  
PCIe x1_1  
shared  
shared  
shared  
shared  
PCIe x1_2  
shared  
Marvell 9230  
ASM1061  
shared  
shared  
VIA1394  
shared  
USB 3.0  
shared  
LAN1 (I210)  
LAN2 (I210)  
SATA Controller 1  
SATA Controller 2  
shared  
shared  
shared  
shared  
USB 2.0 Controller 1  
shared  
USB 2.0 Controller 2  
HD Audio  
shared  
shared  
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Chapter 1: Product introduction  
1.2.6  
Onboard buttons and switches  
Onboard switches and buttons allow you to fine-tune performance when working on a bare or  
open-case system. This is ideal for overclockers and gamers who continually change settings  
to enhance system performance.  
1.  
Power-on button  
The motherboard comes with a power-on button that allows you to power up or wake  
up the system. The button also lights up when the system is plugged to a power source  
indicating that you should shut down the system and unplug the power cable before  
removing or installing any motherboard component.  
2.  
ASUS Dr. POWER switch  
This switch allows you to enable or disable the ASUS Dr. Power feature. Install the  
bundled ASUS Dr. Power Utility then enable this switch to allow the system to display  
notification messages in your Windows screen if a problem is detected with your Power  
Supply Unit (PSU).  
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ASUS Z87-WS  
 
3.  
MemOK! button  
Installing DIMMs that are not compatible with the motherboard may cause system boot  
failure, and the DRAM_LED near the MemOK! to switch lights continuously. Press  
and hold the MemOK! button until the DRAM_LED starts blinking to begin automatic  
memory compatibility tuning for successful boot.  
Refer to section 1.2.8 Onboard LEDs for the exact location of the DRAM_LED.  
The DRAM_LED also lights up when the DIMM is not properly installed. Turn off the  
system and reinstall the DIMM before using the MemOK! function.  
The MemOK! switch does not function under a Windows® OS environment.  
During the tuning process, the system loads and tests failsafe memory settings. It  
takes about 30 seconds for the system to test one set of failsafe settings. If the test  
fails, the system reboots and test the next set of failsafe settings. The blinking speed  
of the DRAM_LED increases, indicating different test processes.  
Due to memory tuning requirements, the system automatically reboots when  
each timing set is tested. If the installed DIMMs still fail to boot after the whole  
tuning process, the DRAM_LED lights continuously. Replace the DIMMs with ones  
recommended in the Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors Lists) in this user manual or on  
the ASUS website at www.asus.com.  
If you turn off the computer and replace DIMMs during the tuning process, the system  
continues memory tuning after turning on the computer. To stop memory tuning, turn  
off the computer and unplug the power cord for about 5–10 seconds.  
If your system fails to boot up due to BIOS overclocking, press the MemOK! switch  
to boot and load the BIOS default settings. A message will appear during POST  
reminding you that the BIOS has been restored to its default settings.  
We recommend that you download and update to the latest BIOS version from the  
ASUS website at www.asus.com after using the MemOK! function.  
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Chapter 1: Product introduction