ASUS P8Z77-V Premium In The Box

Being ASUS’ top channel SKU, bonuses in the box are expected to be numerous and beneficial – perhaps even better than the package supplied by the P8Z77-V Deluxe.  ASUS definitely do deliver:

IO Shield
Driver CD
User Guide
WiFi User Guide
Six SATA Cables
2-way SLI Flexi-Bridge
3-way SLI Rigid Bridge
4-way SLI Rigid Bridge
Two magnetic WiFi antenna
WiFi Go! Card
USB 3.0 Front Box
Q-Connectors

That is a lot of extra in the box.  The WiFi module should be installed before the CPU is installed due to the way it screws into the motherboard, and the antennas are designed to magnetize to the outside of the PC case.  The USB 3.0 front box is a great addition, one that should be included in most non-mITX packages, and as expected we get several SLI bridges in what is a multi-GPU focused motherboard.

Voltage Readings

After my first publication of OCCT voltage readings, a few readers responded with a more in-depth reasoning behind some of the results we were seeing.  With this in mind, I would like to re-describe what we are doing with this test, and how it comes about.

Much of what an enthusiast overclocker does is monitor CPU temperature and voltage.  Whatever settings a user places in the BIOS or OS is at the mercy of the motherboard - in terms of actually setting the values and reporting the values back.   As an enthusiast, we have to rely on what readings we get back, and hope that motherboard manufacturers are being honest with their readings.

Take CPU voltage.  What we as a user see in CPU-Z or OCCT is a time-averaged value that hides voltage ripple (if any) for power delivery.  It is very easy for a motherboard manufacturer to hide this value, or to disregard slight deviations and report a constant value to the user.  The CPU voltage reading can be taken at a variety of places on the power plane, which can vary between motherboards and manufacturers, meaning that each reading is essentially not comparable with the other.  Nevertheless, as an enthusiast, we will constantly compare value A with value B. 

Whether or not I can achieve 4.7 GHz with 1.175 volts on a particular board is inconsequential - your motherboard may perhaps produce the same result with a reading at 1.200 volts.  The only way to test the actual value is with consistent methodology is via an oscilloscope connected to similar points on each board.  This may sound like taking an OCCT reading is therefore redundant.

However, motherboards have settings relating to load line calibration.  As load is applied to the CPU, the voltage across the processor decreases (VDroop).  Load Line calibration essentially attempts to control this level of droop, by increasing voltage when voltage drops are detected away from a fixed value.  Manufacturers have different ideas on how to modify LLC with respect to load, or whether the level of modification should be controlled by the user.  Some manufacturers offer the option at a variety of levels, such that overclockers can be sure of the applied setting (even if it increases peak voltage, as explained by AnandTech in 2007).

By doing a full load OCCT test, we are essentially determining both how aggressive the motherboard is reporting the CPU voltage under load and how aggressive load line calibration is performing (from the point of view of the user without an oscilloscope or DVM).  If someone has one of the motherboards we have tested and you have a different one, variations in load voltage should describe the offset you may require for overclock comparisons.

  Reported Load Voltage / V
ASRock Fatal1ty Z77 Professional 0.956
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 1.050-1.058
ASRock Z77 Extreme6 1.040-1.048
ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe 1.085
ASUS P8Z77-V Pro 1.090
ASUS P8Z77-V Premium 1.088
Biostar TZ77XE4 1.036
Gigabyte Z77X-UD5H 1.067
Gigabyte Z77X-UD3H 1.067
MSI Z77A-GD65 1.020

 

ASUS P8Z77-V Premium Software ASUS P8Z77-V Premium Overclocking
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  • damianrobertjones - Monday, August 13, 2012 - link

    I'd say that in the next five years I'll buy... 0 Thunderbolt peripherals. Heck I've only just been bothered to buy my first USB3 thumb drive. Others, however, will jump all over it to be special or actually have a 'genuine' use.
  • philosofool - Monday, August 13, 2012 - link

    Stopped reading at "$450," but it was interesting to learn that a person could spend that much on a PC motherboard.
  • stjoker69 - Monday, August 13, 2012 - link

    So to nit pit, but I the noun Asus is singular. "ASUS have gone for the additional extras" should be ASUS has gone for the additional extras.
  • Visual - Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - link

    Re-read your first sentence, and tell us if it makes any sense. Then consider again if you should be one to give people grammar lessons.

    "ASUS" is a corporation name, corporations are groups of people, that means "ASUS" is a collective noun, so plural verbs can be used with it just fine.
  • IanCutress - Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - link

    This is a US vs. UK thing. Here in the UK, collective nouns are plural.

    Ian
  • Powerlurker - Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - link

    In the UK and most of the Commonwealth, "ASUS have" would be the correct usage.
  • Googer - Monday, August 13, 2012 - link

    I am disappointed in the lack of PS/2 support which does have it's advantages over USB. Especially for us Vintage Keyboard Lovers.
  • Googer - Monday, August 13, 2012 - link

    There is room on the back of that I/O panel for PS/2. I've used USB keyboard adapters and its not the same as native PS/2 support. If having PS/2 on a motherboard bothers you, then don't use it and it will likely disable it's self in P.O.S.T.
  • dawp - Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - link

    for $450 I would expect that it would at least match my sabertooth x58 @ 5 years.

    I like that it does have dual band wifi/bluetooth but I don't think I will ever spend that kind of cash on a board
  • cjb110 - Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - link

    One comment about the temperature measurements, as it keeps being mentioned about the varying ambient conditions. Could you not change to a delta reading? So as to remove ambient from the issue? Obviously extreme variations in ambient should still be mentioned.

    Bit-Tech.net do this on their reviews and it seems to make a lot of sense.

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