Gpu boost on motherboard. Asus P8Z77-V LX is an LGA1155 board that has almost everything you need, but nothing superfluous

We consider UEFI settings for ASUS Z77 motherboards using the example of the ASUS PZ77-V LE board with an Ivy Bridge i7 processor. The optimal parameters were selected for some complex UEFI settings that allow you to achieve successful overclocking without unnecessary risk. The user is consistently introduced to the basic concepts of overclocking and carries out reliable and non-extreme overclocking of the processor and memory of ASUS Z77 motherboards. For simplicity, the UEFI language is English.
The post was received coolly on the overclockers website. This is understandable, since this site is mainly made up of reckless crazy users who engage in extreme overclocking.

AI Overclock Tuner

All actions related to overclocking are carried out in the AI ​​Tweaker menu (UEFI Advanced Mode) by setting the AI ​​Overclock Tuner parameter to Manual (Fig. 1).

BCLK/PEG Frequency

Parameter BCLK/PEG Frequency (hereinafter referred to as BCLK) in Fig. 1 becomes available if Ai Overclock TunerXMP or Ai Overclock TunerManual is selected. The BCLK frequency of 100 MHz is the base frequency. The main overclocking parameter is the processor core frequency, obtained by multiplying this frequency by the parameter - the processor multiplier. The final frequency is displayed in the upper left part of the Ai Tweaker window (in Figure 1 it is 4.1 GHz). The BCLK frequency also regulates the memory frequency, bus speed, etc.
The possible increase in this parameter during overclocking is small - most processors allow you to increase this frequency only up to 105 MHz. Although there are some samples of processors and motherboards for which this value is 107 MHz or more. For careful overclocking, taking into account the fact that additional devices will be installed in the computer in the future, it is recommended to leave this parameter at 100 MHz (Fig. 1).

ASUS MultiCore Enhancement

When this parameter is enabled (Enabled in Fig. 1), the ASUS policy for Turbo mode is accepted. If the option is disabled, Intel's Turbo mode policy will be applied. For all overclocking configurations, it is recommended to enable this option (Enabled). Disabling the option can be used if you want to run the processor using Intel's policy, without overclocking.

Turbo Ratio

In the window Fig. 1 set this parameter to Manual mode. Going to the Advanced...CPU Power Management Configuration menu (Fig. 2), set the multiplier to 41.

Rice. 2
We return to the AI ​​Tweaker menu and check the multiplier value (Fig. 1).
For very cautious users, we can recommend a starting multiplier value of 40 or even 39. The maximum multiplier value for non-extreme overclocking is usually less than 45.

Internal PLL Overvoltage

Increasing (overclocking) the operating voltage for the internal phase-locked loop (PLL) allows you to increase the operating frequency of the processor core. Selecting Auto will automatically enable this option only when the processor core multiplier increases above a certain threshold.
For good processor samples, this parameter should be left on Auto (Fig. 1) when overclocked to a multiplier of 45 (up to a processor operating frequency of 4.5 GHz).
Note that wake-up stability may be affected when this setting is set to Enabled. If you find that your processor will not overclock to 4.5 GHz without setting this parameter to Enabled, but the system is unable to wake up from sleep mode, then the only choice is to run at a lower frequency with a multiplier less than 45. At extreme When overclocking with multipliers equal to or greater than 45, it is recommended to set it to Enabled. For careful acceleration, select Auto. (Fig. 1).

CPU bus speed: DRAM speed ratio mode

This parameter can be left in the Auto state (Fig. 1) in order to apply future changes when overclocking and adjusting the memory frequency.

Memory Frequency

This parameter is visible in Fig. 3. It is used to select the memory operating frequency.

Rice. 3
The Memory Frequency parameter is determined by the BCLK frequency and the CPU bus speed:DRAM speed ratio mode parameter. The memory frequency is displayed and selected in the drop-down list. The set value can be checked in the upper left corner of the Ai Tweaker menu. For example, in Fig. 1 we see that the memory operating frequency is 1600 MHz.
Note that Ivy Bridge processors have a wider range of memory frequency settings than the previous generation of Sandy Bridge processors. When overclocking the memory together with increasing the BCLK frequency, you can exercise more detailed control of the memory bus frequency and get the best possible (but possibly unreliable) results during extreme overclocking.
To reliably use overclocking, it is recommended to raise the frequency of memory sets by no more than 1 step relative to the nameplate. Higher memory speeds provide minor performance gains in most programs. In addition, system stability at higher memory operating frequencies often cannot be guaranteed for individual processor-intensive programs, as well as during transitions to and from sleep mode.
It is also recommended to choose memory kits that are on the list recommended for the selected processor if you do not want to waste time setting up stable system operation.
Operating frequencies between 2400 MHz and 2600 MHz seem to be optimal in combination with intensive cooling of both processors and memory modules. Higher speeds are also possible by reducing secondary parameters – memory timings.
When overclocking carefully, we start by overclocking only the processor. Therefore, it is first recommended to set the nominal value of the memory operating frequency, for example, for a set of DDR3-1600 MHz memory sticks we set it to 1600 MHz (Fig. 3).
After overclocking the processor, you can try to increase the memory frequency by 1 step. If errors appear in the stress tests, you can increase the timings, supply voltage (for example by 0.05 V), VCCSA by 0.05 V, but it is better to return to the nominal frequency.

EPU Power Saving Mode

The automatic EPU system was developed by ASUS. It regulates the frequency and voltage of computer elements in order to save energy. This setting can only be enabled at the processor's rated operating frequency. To overclock, turn this parameter off (Disabled) (Fig. 3).

OC Tuner

When (OK) is selected, a series of stress tests will run during the Boot process to automatically overclock the system. The final overclock will vary depending on the system temperature and the memory kit used. It is not recommended to enable it, even if you do not want to manually overclock the system. Do not touch this item or select cancel (Fig. 3).

DRAM Timing Control

DRAM Timing Control is the setting of memory timings (Fig. 4).

Rice. 4.
All these settings should be left equal to the nameplate values ​​and on Auto if you want to configure the system for reliable operation. Basic timings must be set in accordance with the SPD of the memory modules.

Rice. 5
Most of the parameters in Fig. 5 is also left in Auto.

MRC Fast Boot

Turn this option on (Enabled). This skips memory testing during the system reboot procedure. This reduces loading time.
Note that when using more memory sticks and at high module frequencies (2133 MHz and higher), disabling this setting can increase system stability during overclocking. As soon as we obtain the desired stability during overclocking, enable this parameter (Fig. 5).

DRAM CLK Period

Determines the memory controller latency in combination with the applied memory frequency. Setting 5 gives better overall performance, although stability may be degraded. Set it to Auto (Fig. 5).

CPU Power Management

The window of this menu item is shown in Fig. 6. Here we check the processor multiplier (41 in Fig. 6), be sure to enable the EIST energy saving parameter (Enabled), and also set the processor power thresholds if necessary (all the last mentioned parameters are set to Auto (Fig. 6)).
Going to the Advanced...CPU Power Management Configuration menu item (Fig. 2), set the CPU C1E (power saving) parameter to Enabled, and the rest (including parameters with C3, C6) to Auto.

Rice. 6

Rice. 7.

DIGI+ Power Control

CPU Load-Line Calibration

The short name for this parameter is LLC. When the processor quickly switches to intensive operation mode with increased power consumption, the voltage on it decreases abruptly relative to the stationary state. Increased LLC values ​​cause an increase in the processor supply voltage and reduce processor voltage drops during sudden increases in power consumption. Setting the parameter to high (50%) is considered optimal for 24/7 mode, providing an optimal balance between voltage increase and supply voltage drop. Some users prefer to use higher LLC values, although this will affect drawdown less. Set it to high (Fig. 7).

VRM Spread Spectrum

Enabling this setting (Figure 7) enables advanced modulation of the VRM signals to reduce the peak in the spectrum of radiated noise and pickup in nearby circuits. Enabling this parameter should only be used at rated frequencies, since signal modulation can degrade the transient response of the power supply and cause instability of the supply voltage. Set to Disabled (Fig. 7).

Current Capability

A value of 100% for all these parameters should be sufficient to overclock processors using conventional cooling methods (Fig. 7).

Rice. 8.

CPU Voltage

There are two ways to control processor core voltages: Offset Mode (Fig. 8) and Manual. Manual mode ensures that the static voltage level on the processor is always unchanged. This mode can be used for a short time when testing the processor. Offset Mode allows the processor to adjust the voltage depending on the load and operating frequency. Offset Mode is preferred for 24/7 systems, as it allows the processor to reduce the supply voltage when the computer is idle, reducing power consumption and core heating.
The supply voltage level will increase as the multiplication factor (multiplier) for the processor increases. So it's best to start with a low multiplier of 41x (or 39x) and move it up one step, checking for stability each time you go up.
Set Offset Mode Sign to “+” and CPU Offset Voltage to Auto. Load the processor with calculations using LinX and check the processor voltage using CPU-Z. If the voltage level is very high, then you can reduce the voltage by applying a negative bias in UEFI. For example, if our total supply voltage at 41x turned out to be 1.35 V, then we could reduce it to 1.30 V by applying a negative bias of 0.05 V.
Keep in mind that a reduction of approximately 0.05V will also be used for open circuit (light load) voltage. For example, if with default settings the processor idle voltage (with a multiplier of 16x) is 1.05 V, then subtracting 0.05 V will give approximately 1.0 V idle voltage. Therefore, if you reduce the voltage using too large CPU Offset Voltage values, there will come a point when the open circuit voltage will be so low that it will cause the computer to malfunction.
If, for reliability, you need to add voltage when the processor is fully loaded, then use a “+” offset and increase the voltage level. Note that the introduced “+” and “-” offsets are not accurately processed by the processor power system. Matching scales are non-linear. This is one of the features of VID in that it allows the processor to ask for different voltage depending on the operating frequency, current and temperature. For example, with a positive CPU Offset Voltage of 0.05, the voltage of 1.35 V under load can only increase to 1.375 V.
From the above it follows that for non-extreme overclocking for multipliers approximately equal to 41, it is best to set the Offset Mode Sign to “+” and leave the CPU Offset Voltage parameter to Auto. For Ivy Bridge processors, most samples are expected to be able to run at 4.1 GHz with air cooling.
Greater overclocking is possible, although it will cause the processor temperature to rise when the processor is fully loaded. To control the temperature, run the RealTemp program.

DRAM Voltage

We set the voltage on the memory modules in accordance with the passport data. This is usually about 1.5 V. The default is Auto (Fig. 8).

VCCSA Voltage

The parameter sets the voltage for the System Agent. You can leave it on Auto for our overclocking (Fig. 8).

CPU PLL Voltage

For our overclocking – Auto (Fig. 8). Typical parameter values ​​are around 1.8 V. By increasing this voltage, you can increase the processor multiplier and increase the memory frequency above 2200 MHz, because A slight increase in voltage over the rated voltage can help system stability.

PCH Voltage

You can leave the default values ​​(Auto) for a slight overclock (Fig. 8). To date, there has been no significant correlation between this chip voltage and other motherboard voltages.

Rice. 9

CPU Spread Spectrum

When the option is enabled (Enabled), the frequency of the processor core is modulated to reduce the magnitude of the peak in the emitted noise spectrum. It is recommended to set the parameter to Disabled (Fig. 9), because During overclocking, frequency modulation may degrade system stability.

Asus P8Z77-V LX

The P8Z77-V LX is about $5 cheaper than ASRock. This model gives users access to Asus' legendary support structure, including frequent firmware updates long after the model has been discontinued. However, for a lower price you will have to say goodbye to some options. For example, there are only two USB 3.0 ports and three analog audio jacks on the rear panel.

Budget computers usually use old analog audio systems and three connectors are enough for a 5.1 configuration. For eight-channel output, Asus relies on the front panel connector, although most users use them for headsets.

In addition, there are no PCIe 3.0 switches, which are necessary for x8/x8 mode on two x16 slots. Instead, users will get one locked 16-lane slot and a second locked four-lane PCIe 2.0 slot via the Z77 PCH. This configuration allows you to install two video cards in CrossFire, but you will have to forget about SLI. Fans of multi-card configurations from Nvidia will be more suited to the richer P8Z77-V LK model, but it cost more than $160 when we selected the boards for testing.

Asus didn't include the enthusiast-favorite power and reset buttons on the board, although other vendors are adding them to make testing easier. However, when the board is installed in a case with its own external buttons, they are of no use. There is also no diagnostic display on the board. Asus believes that the less informative LED indicators are easier to read.

Asus' MemOK and GPU Boost features are linked to two switches along the front edge of the P8Z77-V LX motherboard, a solution many builders will find useful. MemOK will temporarily lower the frequency of poorly configured memory, which will allow access to UEFI, where you can manually configure the problematic settings. And GPU Boost overclocks the HD Graphics engines built into Intel LGA 1155 processors.

We're always looking for flaws in the board's layout, and the only thing we found with the Asus P8Z77-V LX were the fan headers being too far from the front of the case. Although this drawback is not significant, since many cases come with four-pin Molex power plugs. Asus even moves the front panel audio jack a few centimeters forward from the corner where it would normally be located, completely solving the problem of short cables. Bravo!

Two SATA cables are enough for any simple system. The P8Z77-V LX does not come with an SLI bridge, because the board does not support it.

Applications Asus P8Z77-V LX

Included with the P8Z77-V LX you will find a small set of various programs. These include Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Adobe Reader X, and a sixty-day trial of Norton Internet Security. They are all installed by default using Asus' "InstAll" feature. Luckily, the "InstAll" option can be turned off during driver installation, otherwise you'll have to endure Norton's annoying registration/update reminders.

Asus includes a USB Turbo Mode app. Unlike competitors, the company has added support for UASP. Our recent research into this technology revealed that some USB 3.0 devices already support the USB Attached SCSI Protocol. But so far only Asus has decided to add a utility for activating and configuring it.

Asus still calls this heavily updated utility PC Probe II, although today's version is much more versatile and advanced than previous ones. We found voltage, temperature and fan speed indicators, although less important voltage indicators for CSA and DIMM are still missing.

Fans of monitoring software from Asus should decide on one thing before installation, since our copy of this software was not 100% uninstalled. The remaining modules from the program did not cause problems with the subsequent installation of the same software, but they interfered with the installation of competing monitoring utilities.

In addition to displaying real-time values, Asus Sensor Recorder can generate data tables, which can then be viewed as graphs in PC Probe II.

Asus Fan Expert allows users to modify the automatic fan profiles on the P8Z77-V LX for all three four-pin headers on the board.

The Asus EPU utility has several power saving profiles, two of which can be configured independently. We were able to save approximately 2 watts at idle compared to operating system settings.

The P8Z77-V LX also includes Asus Network iControl, which lets you re-prioritize packages to favor latency-sensitive online games, for example.

Some people back up their mail to 2GB or more, but downloading that much content isn't always convenient. Asus provides 2GB of web storage for free. You can get up to 10GB by inviting others, or 1GB by subscribing to another Asus service. WebStorage program is designed to synchronize and backup any user data and files.

Overclocking with Asus TurboV

In addition to manual overclocking options, Asus TurboV allows less advanced users to take advantage of the impressive capabilities of the P8Z77-V LX board through an auto-tuning utility. The program achieved a stable frequency of 4.22 GHz at 1.216 V using the "Fast" overclocking scheme, and 4.84 GHz at 1.456 V with the "Extreme" setting.

The biggest problem with the Extreme profile is that the voltage is too high for the CPU. These processors have an interface flaw that prevents even the best coolers from keeping temperatures at moderate voltage levels, and the 1.456V setting is well above the 1.30V we recommend as a comfortable and safe limit for long-term performance. At this voltage, a little afraid that the processor would burn out, we launched Prime95 and watched as Intel's thermal protection mechanism turned on throttling after just 20 seconds.

Although TurboV's Auto-Tuning feature was intended to be aimed at less experienced overclockers, it unfortunately sets the voltage too high for no benefit due to throttling that may not be noticed by inexperienced users. Therefore, manual configuration seems safer to us.

By changing the settings ourselves, we were able to achieve the same level of overclocking using TurboV as with Asus' UEFI, and as it turns out, some "hardcore" overclockers will find the TurboV program quite useful for changing voltage and clock speed on the fly, provided they have an efficient system cooling.

In the screenshot below, the sliders are moved to the maximum position to demonstrate the limits of the TurboV settings, but we did not work with such settings. The "Advanced Mode" adds CSA, PLL and PCH options to the basic voltage settings.

While we don't think many users will overclock the processor's integrated graphics core, Asus does provide the ability to adjust its frequency and voltage in TurboV GPU Boost.

A separate menu allows you to select the multiplication factor of the CPU cores for two modes: synchronous and depending on the load. Although the slider is at its maximum in the image, we did not use the 63x multiplier in testing.

Asus P8Z77-V LX UEFI

Perhaps the biggest impact on Asus's reputation is its functional and easy-to-use firmware. The P8Z77-V LX continues this tradition, providing features found on the company's more expensive motherboards.

The Ai Overclock Tuner option only has "XMP" and "Manual" options. CPU settings are essentially the same between these modes, as XMP users are likely to tackle those first. But we must remember that switching from XMP to Manual will reset them.

While the 47 x 100 MHz option was unstable at 1.25 V core voltage, the 46 x 102.2 MHz configuration gave us a 4.7 GHz processor speed. Most likely, the 47 x 100 mode did not work due to the fact that Asus, instead of 100 MHz, actually outputs 100.3 MHz, resulting in 4.71 GHz.

To get 1.25V under load, a combination of 1.245V in UEFI and a higher "load line calibration" is needed. The memory voltage of 1.65 V was not set manually by us; it was taken from XMP Profile 1.

The P8Z77-V LX includes customizable primary, secondary and tertiary timings, which is quite remarkable for a budget enthusiast-oriented motherboard.

Depending on other settings, the multiplier may be locked in the Ai Tweaker main menu. The fixed ratio can be configured in the CPU Power Management submenu.

The Ultra High setting of the CPU Load-Line Calibration parameter gives the overclocked core of our processor the desired 1.25 V under load. We tried other core voltage and Load-Line Calibration settings and found these to be the closest to target. The Digi+ VRM submenu also contains voltage settings and adjustments.

CONTENT

Modern motherboards ASUS Recently we started using the new version BIOS. BIOS UEFI - translated as Unified extensible firmware interface.BIOS UEFI is responsible for setting up and initializing devices when the PC is turned on and provides them with the ability to exchange data between themselves and the system.

Let's look at the main advantages of UEFI BIOS:

• A convenient and beautiful graphical interface has 2 configuration modes: EZ Mode for inexperienced users, quick setup andAdvanced Mode for advanced users, allowing maximum use of computer resources
  
• it became possible to work with hard disks larger than 2.2 terabytes
• 64 bit operating system with new BIOS UEFI started loading much faster
• convenient choice of bootloader
• visual monitoring temperature sensors computer
• High protection against boot viruses
• Flexible switching between graphic subsystems, uniquetechnology LucidLogix Virtue allowswill automatically switch between the built-in graphics core and an external video card. Those. When working with text, the external video card enters sleep mode and consumes a minimum of energy and resources, but as soon as we launch a game, for example, the external video card automatically turns on.
• Fast video transcoding -Intel® Quick Sync Video, modern motherboards ASUS support hardware acceleration on the integrated graphics core
  
• Technology Intel Smart Response — speeds up the disk subsystem by caching information on a small-capacity built-in solid-state drive, from which the information then goes to the main hard drive. This reduces energy consumption.
• Second-generation intelligent chips with a DIGI+ power system, a digital controller processes signals without digital-to-analog conversion, thereby reducing delays. Smart chips, through the use of power transistors and dual drivers, and load distribution improve cooling.
• TPU- using the function Auto Tuning, GPU Boost and TurboV the chip on the motherboard overclocks the processor by simply switching the operating mode of the TPU functions
• Technology ASUS GPU Boost— using a convenient and intuitive interface, you can overclock the built-in graphics core.
• BT GO- this technology makes it possible connect all kinds of Bluetooth devices without using additional equipment
• Full support USB 3.0
• SATA 6 Gb/s support
• Modern connector LGA1155 allows you to install processors Core i7, i5 and i3

We will look at detailed UEFI BIOS setup for each motherboard manufacturer in another article. Now we'll look at how to perform the initial installation and improve performance.

Initial setup of ASUS UEFI BIOS

Turn on the computer and press F2 while booting, the BIOS UEFI settings window will open. We change the language to Russian. Let's select the maximum performance mode. This is a speedometer icon with a red light, save and exit. To switch to advanced mode, press Exit/Advanced Mode

Initial setup of MSI UEFI BIOS

Similarly, turn on the computer, press F2, the BIOS UEFI window appears. Change the language as desired, turn on the mode oc green mode.

oc green mode- Automatic overclocking that increases performance in 1 second.

Our review of motherboards designed to work with new APUs from AMD continues. This time we will look at a mid-price segment model from ASUS, which is based on the older AMD A85X system logic set and has support for AMD CrossFireX, AMD Dual Graphics technologies, compatibility with the new OS from Microsoft - Windows 8, as well as a number of proprietary technologies.

As you remember, in 2012 we got acquainted with, which, as of February 2013, is the company’s flagship model. ASUS F2A85-V, the heroine of this material, is, in fact, a slightly simplified version of the model mentioned above. We offer a small comparison table for greater clarity:

external/internal
external/internal
RAM
Video outputs
Audio outputs on the interface panel	Optical S/PDIF out	Optical S/PDIF out
Power phases	(with cooling)	(with cooling)
Average cost in US dollars*

*price indicated as of February 2013

As you can see, the difference in cost is quite significant. Having lost $45 in price, the ASUS F2A85-V also lost two USB 3.0 ports, a DisplayPort video output, two power phases and, perhaps most importantly, the ability to operate two video cards in x8+x8 mode. At first glance, everything is logical, since this model is positioned as simpler and more affordable, such limitations may not suit only those with two graphics adapters, and for most other potential buyers, purchasing the ASUS F2A85-V looks more economically feasible. However, these are conclusions based only on the specifications of motherboards; for a more detailed study of the ASUS F2A85-V, we suggest going directly to the review:

ASUS F2A85-V motherboard specification:

Manufacturer
	F2A85-V (rev 1.0)
CPU socket
Supported processors	AMD A (Socket FM2) AMD Athlon (Socket FM2)
Memory used	2400(O.C.)/2250(O.C.)/2200(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)/2000(O.C.) /1866/1600/1333/1066 MHz
Memory support	4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM slots supporting up to 64 GB memory
Expansion slots	1 x PCI Express 16 2.0 (x16) 1 x PCI Express 16 2.0 (x4)
	2 x PCI Express x1
Disk subsystem	AMD A85X chipset supports: 7 x SATA 6 Gb/s ports 1 x eSATA 6 Gbps port
	1 x Atheros 8161 Gigabit Network Controller (10/100/1000 Mbps)
Sound subsystem	Realtek ALC887 codec 2/4/5.1/7.1 channel audio
	24-pin ATX power connector 4-pin ATX12V power connector
Fans	1 x CPU fan header (4-pin) 2 x system fan connectors (4-pin)
Cooling	Aluminum south bridge radiator Aluminum heatsink based on MOSFET chips
External I/O ports	6 x Audio ports 1 x optical SPDIF Out 1 x PS/2 (mouse, keyboard)
Internal I/O ports	1 x USB 3.0 with support for connecting two USB 3.0 (19-pin) 7 x SATA 6Gbps ports 1 x COM port 1 x front panel audio output connector 1 x front panel connector block 1 x CMOS reset jumper
	64 Mb Flash ROM, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.7, ACPI 2.0a,
Equipment	user guide; brochure with a description of the guarantee; disk with drivers and utilities; 2 x SATA cables; interface panel cover.
Form factor, dimensions, mm
Products webpage	New versions of BIOS and drivers can be downloaded from the support page.

Packaging and accessories

The ASUS F2A85-V motherboard comes in a standard-sized cardboard box, which is decorated primarily in black and yellow colors. On the front side, in addition to the name of the board, there is a large logo, which indicates that the ASUS F2A85-V uses a fully digital DIGI+VRM power system. In addition, the packaging notes support for the new Windows 8 operating system, AMD CrossFireX, AMD Dual Graphics technologies and new processors from the AMD A family (Socket FM2). It is also necessary to note support for the following technologies:

· Remote GO!– Remote GO technology! is designed to connect a computer with other devices on the home network (computers, tablets, smartphones, TVs) via a wireless connection and provides the following features: DLNA Media Hub with which you can stream video from your computer to a DLNA-compatible TV or use a tablet (smartphone) to remotely control your desktop PC; Remote Desktop - a virtual desktop for managing your desktop PC in real time can be configured on both a tablet and a smartphone; File Transfer- an easy way to share files between PC and mobile devices.

USB 3.0 Boost – To speed up the operation of the USB 3.0 interface, support for the UASP (USB Attached SCSI Protocol) protocol has been implemented.

Fan Xprert 2– a technology implemented by ASUS engineers at the hardware level, thanks to which there are expanded capabilities for controlling all fans that are connected directly to the motherboard. Fan rotation speed control is available, both manually and automatically. The user also has the opportunity to select a fan operating mode that is configured specifically to minimize the noise level created by the PC cooling system.

GPUBoost– a technology that allows you to overclock the integrated graphics core of the processor both in software and using a switch on the motherboard.

On the reverse side there is a photograph of the motherboard itself, its specifications, and also depicts in more detail the advantages of the technologies listed above.

In the box with the motherboard we found:

Documentation;

Disk with drivers and utilities;

Two SATA cables;

Interface panel cover.

Board design and features

Like its older sister, the ASUS F2A85-V motherboard is made in ATX format, but on a brown PCB instead of black. We didn't have any particular complaints about the layout and placement of ports and connectors. The only negative point is that due to the smaller width of the PCB (231 versus 244 for ASUS F2A85-V PRO), there are no mounting holes on its right side, so connecting SATA devices will require some care, since the edge on which the corresponding ports are located “ sags." Also note that when installing the video card in a black PCI-Express x4 slot, access to the COM port will be limited.

All components fit without any problems on the front side of the board, so its reverse side attracts attention only with the reinforcement plate, which makes it possible to install fairly powerful cooling systems that may be needed during extreme overclocking of the processor.

At the bottom of the board there are the following connectors: a connector for front panel audio connectors, S/PDIF out, a jumper for resetting CMOS, a COM port, and three connectors for USB 2.0 ports. In total, the board has ten USB 2.0 ports, six internal and four on the interface panel. The operation of all ten ports is implemented using the chipset.

Closer to the lower right corner are the front panel connection block and seven SATA ports. All seven ports comply with the SATA 6 Gb/s specification and are implemented using the AMD A85X chipset. There is support for SATA RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10 arrays. Due to the fact that the chipset supports eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports, and there are seven on the motherboard, the eSATA port located on the interface panel works accordingly , also implemented using a chipset.

The right side of the ASUS F2A85-V motherboard attracts attention not only with the presence of a remote panel connector with two USB 3.0 ports (not included) but also with the MemOK! button.

Similar to the older model, ASUS F2A85-V is equipped with four DIMM slots for installing DDR3 RAM modules, which are equipped with latches on both sides. RAM can operate in dual-channel mode; to implement it, memory modules must be installed either in the first and third, or in the second and fourth slots. Modules operating at frequencies from 1066 to 1866 MHz in nominal mode and up to 2400 MHz in overclocking mode are supported. The maximum memory capacity can reach 64 GB, which should be enough for any task.

The cooling system of the board in question consists of two aluminum radiators: one removes heat from the AMD A85X chipset, the other covers the MOSFET chips. Both radiators are attached using plastic clips with springs.

During testing of the board, the temperature of the radiators did not rise above 43°C, which is a fairly average result. Let us remind you that the temperature of the ASUS F2A85-V PRO radiators did not exceed 32°C.

The processor is powered using a 6-phase circuit for computing cores and additional nodes. The power stabilization system uses Japanese-made solid capacitors and chokes with ferrite cores.

The converter itself is based on the Digi+VRM ASP1106 digital power stabilizer. The ASUS F2A85-V is powered by a main 24-pin connector and an additional 4-pin connector. As you can see, compared to the ASUS F2A85-V PRO, not only the number of phases has decreased, but also a simpler, 4-pin ATX12V connector is used, which tells us that the ASUS F2A85-V is less overclocking-oriented.

The options for expanding the functionality of the ASUS F2A85-V motherboard are quite standard. There are two slots for installing graphics adapters - PCI-Express. The first slot, blue, always uses 16 lines, while the second slot, black, is limited to 4 lines. Both slots comply with the 2.0 specification.

The manufacturer declares support for AMD CrossFireX technology. When using two graphics adapters, the lines between the slots are distributed according to the far from optimal x16+x4 scheme.

Also, expanding the functionality of the motherboard is possible due to two PCI-Express x1 and three PCI slots.

Multi I/O capabilities are provided by the ITE IT8603E chip, which controls the COM and PS/2 ports, the operation of system fans and provides monitoring.

To support network connections, the Atheros 8161 gigabit LAN controller is used.

The audio subsystem of the motherboard in question is based on the Realtek ALC887 8-channel audio HDA ​​codec, which supports 2/4/5.1/7.1 audio systems.

The interface panel of the ASUS F2A85-V motherboard has the following ports:

• 1 x Optical S/PDIF out;

  6 x Audio ports;

  1 x PS/2 (mouse, keyboard).

It is worth noting the good layout of the interface panel. Everything you need for full and most importantly comfortable use is available. The only drawback is the presence of only two USB 3.0 ports, unlike the ASUS F2A85-V PRO interface panel, which has four.

The ASUS F2A85-V motherboard is equipped with three fan headers, one is used to power the CPU cooling fan, while the other two can be used to connect system fans. All connectors are made in four-pin design.

The tested ASUS F2A85-V motherboard, like most modern motherboards from ASUS, uses a modern preloader based on the UEFI graphical interface, in which you can make settings using the mouse. The main UEFI BIOS screen monitors temperatures and voltages on the power supply lines and processor. This section also displays the BIOS version, processor model and amount of RAM.

All system overclocking-related settings are located in the “Ai Tweaker” tab.

The memory frequency multiplier allows you to select a frequency from 800 to 2400 MHz.

You can also access memory delay adjustments if necessary.

To increase stability during overclocking, voltage control settings on the processor, memory and chipset can be used, which is convenient for fine-tuned system optimization.

The settings required for overclocking and optimizing the system are summarized in the table:

Parameter	Menu name	Range
RAM frequency	Memory Frequency	800, 1066, 1333, 1600, 1866, 2133, 2400
CPU multiplier
CPU frequency
Northbridge frequency
GPU core frequency	GPU Engine Frequency	434, 447, 460, 475, 490, 506, 524, 542, 562, 584, 608, 633, 660, 690, 723, 760, 800, 844, 894, 950, 1013, 1085, 1169, 1266, 1381, 1520, 1688, 1900
The amount of memory allocated for the needs of the graphics core of the processor	UMA Frame Buffer Size	32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1, 2
RAM timings	DRAM Timing Control	CAS, RAS to CAS, RAS PRE Time, RAS ACT Time, COMMAND Mode, Row Cycle Time, READ to PRE Time, RAS to RAS, WRITE to READ, CAS Write Latency, WRITE Recovery Time, FOUR ACT WIN Time, REF Cycle Time
	CPU Voltage Frequency
Permissible deviation from the set voltage on the processor	CPU Offset Voltage	0,00625 – 0,33750
Permissible deviation from the set voltage on the processor-north bridge bus	VDDNB Offset Voltage	0,00625 – 0,36250
RAM voltage
Line voltage 1.2 Volts	APU 1.2V Voltage
		2,5000 – 2,8000

The “Monitor” section provides access to monitoring the temperature of the processor and chipset, as well as the rotation speed of installed fans.

Also in this section you can follow:

processor core voltage;

voltage on the power lines +12V, +5V and +3.3V.

Unfortunately, traditionally for mass-produced ASUS solutions, the ability to monitor the supply voltage of memory modules is not implemented. However, it is especially worth noting the ability to take “screenshots” in the BIOS and support for the Russian language.

Testing

To test the capabilities of the motherboard, the following equipment was used:

	Scythe Mugen 3 Rev. B PCGH Edition
RAM	2x DDR3-2000 1024 MB Kingston HyperX KHX16000D3T1K3/3GX
Video card	AMD Radeon HD 7660D
HDD	Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS, 500 GB, SATA-300, NCQ
Optical drive	ASUS DRW-1814BLT SATA
power unit	Seasonic X-560 (560 W, 120 mm fan)
	CHIEFTEC Libra LF-01B

Test results:

As you can see, the results differ from the motherboards we previously reviewed within the test error, which tells us about the quality level of the board's performance and good BIOS optimization.

Overclocking options

Overclocking capabilities were tested using an AMD A10-5800K processor with an unlocked multiplier, which was accelerated to 4.5 GHz.

Main utility view

Using the automatic overclocking function, the AMD A10-5800K test processor was accelerated to 4.3 GHz.

We also note that using the GPU Boost switch it was possible to increase the frequency of the graphics core to 960 MHz.

The RAM worked stably at a frequency of 2400 MHz.

Testing the audio path based on the Realtek ALC887 codec

Test report in RightMark Audio Analyzer

16-bit, 44.1 kHz

		Very good
Noise level, dB (A)
Dynamic range, dB (A)
Harmonic distortion,%
		Very good
		Very good
Intermodulation at 10 kHz, %		Very good
Overall rating		Very good

Operating mode 24-bit, 192 kHz

Frequency response unevenness (in the range 40 Hz - 15 kHz), dB
Noise level, dB (A)
Dynamic range, dB (A)
Harmonic distortion,%		Very good
Harmonic distortion + noise, dB(A)
Intermodulation distortion + noise, %		Very good
Interpenetration of channels, dB		Very good
Intermodulation at 10 kHz, %		Very good
Overall rating		Very good

The pre-installed Realtek ALC887 audio codec provides sufficient audio quality for everyday use.

conclusions

Based on the testing results, the motherboard left a good impression. ASUS F2A85-V is a solution made in ATX format, which is distinguished by a good ratio of cost and functionality, competent layout and high quality of on-board elements. As we already noted at the beginning of the review, ASUS F2A85-V is a simplified version of ASUS F2A85-V PRO and, accordingly, has a more reasonable price, which is about 95 US dollars. In this case, we see that some of the simplifications that the solution reviewed today has undergone have not done any harm, and the only limitation that may stand in the way of purchasing is the not-so-optimal operating mode of AMD CrossFireX – x16+x4. Otherwise, apart from the “sagging” of the right side of the PCB, which will require more careful connection of SATA devices, we did not find any significant shortcomings. Accordingly, ASUS F2A85-V can be recommended for purchase to everyone except owners of two video cards, for whom, if they have a great desire to use the Socket FM2 platform as the basis of a gaming station, although this is not entirely rational, the ASUS F2A85-V PRO will be a more interesting choice.