Introduction and Technical Specifications
The ASUS Z97-WS is the newest member of the ASUS workstation board line, combining the Intel Z97 chipset and a host of new features for unprecedented performance…
Introduction
Courtesy of ASUS
The ASUS Z97-WS motherboard is the latest release for the workstation board line with several evolutionary changes over its predecessor to take advantage of the Intel Z97 chipset features. ASUS changed little as far as the layout goes from the Z87 revision of the board, updating the board aesthetics with a richer gold and black coloration which is carried over into the board's capacitors and MOSFETs as well. The Z97-WS also features both SATA-Express and M.2 ports as well as optimizations to its CPU power circuitry to enhance the CPU 's performance potential and optimize power utilization. ASUS priced the Z97-WS competitively with a $289.00 MSRP in comparison to boards from other manufacturers with a similar feature set.
Courtesy of ASUS
Courtesy of ASUS
ASUS designed the Z97-WS motherboard with an enhanced power delivery system, optimized to deliver the necessary power to the CPU with minimized power loss from excessively stressed components. The Z97-WS comes standard with eight digital power phases, featuring a new revision of the Dr MOS MOSFETs, Beat Thermal chokes, and Japanese-sourced 12k-hr rated solid capacitors. The Beat Thermal chokes offer up to 93% load-based power efficiency, resulting from the thermal-sensitive packaging design with integrated cooling fins as well as a specialized gold coating. The ASUS integrated the following features into the Z97-WS' design: four SATA 3 ports; an M.2 (NGFF) 10 Gb/s port; two SATA Express 10 Gb/s ports; an eSATA port; dual Intel Gigabit Ethernet NICs – an Intel I218-LV and an Intel I210-AT; four PCI-Express Gen3 x16 slots; one PCI-Express Gen2 x4 slot; two PCI-Express Gen2 x1 slots; dual 2-digit diagnostic LED displays; on-board power, reset, CMOS clear, MemOK!, Q-Code Logger, and BIOS Flashback buttons; TPU, EPU, Dr. Power, and EZ_XMP switches; Realtek 8-channel audio solution; and USB 2.0 and 3.0 port support.
Courtesy of ASUS
Technical Specifications (taken from the ASUS website)
CPU | Intel® Socket 1150 for the 5th / New 4th / 4th Generation Core™ i7 / Core™ i5 / Core™ i3 / Pentium® / Celeron® / Xeon® E3-1200 / 12×5 v3 series Processors Supports Intel® 22 nm CPU Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 * The Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 support depends on the CPU types. * Refer to www.asus.com for CPU support list |
Chipset | Intel® Z97 |
Memory | 4 x DIMM, Max. 32GB, DDR3 3300(O.C.) / 3200(O.C.) / 3100(O.C.) / 3000(O.C.) / 2933(O.C.) / 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. ** Refer to www.asus.com for the Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors Lists). |
Graphic | Integrated Graphics Processor- Intel® HD Graphics support Multi-VGA output support : HDMI/DisplayPort /Mini DisplayPort ports – Supports HDMI with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz – Supports DisplayPort with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz – Supports Mini DisplayPort with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz Maximum shared memory of 512 MB Supports Intel® InTru™ 3D, Quick Sync Video, Clear Video HD Technology, Insider™ Supports up to 3 displays simultaneously |
Multi-GPU Support | Supports NVIDIA® 4-Way SLI™ Technology Supports AMD 4-Way CrossFireX Technology |
Expansion Slots | 4 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (dual x16 or x16/x8/x8 or quad x8) 1 x PCIe 2.0 x4 (x4 mode) *2 2 x PCIe 2.0 x1 *1 The PCIe x4_1, USB3_E56 and SATAExpress_E1 connectors share the same bandwidth. The PCIe x4_1's default setting is in Auto mode that automatically optimizes the system bandwidth. If you use two of these *2 These functions will work depending on the CPU installed |
Storage | Intel® Z97 chipset : 1 x SATA Express port, blackcompatible with 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports 1 x M.2 Socket 3, , with M Key, type 2260/2280 storage devices support (both SATA & PCIE mode) 4 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10 Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology, Intel® Rapid Start Technology, Intel® Smart Connect Technology *2 ASMedia® SATA Express controller : 1 x SATA Express port, back compatible with 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports ASMedia® PCIe SATA controller : 1 x eSATA 6Gb/s port(s) *1 The PCIe x4_1, USB3_E56 and SATAExpress_E1 connectors share the same bandwidth. The PCIe x4_1's default setting is in Auto mode that automatically optimizes the system bandwidth. If you use two of these *2 These functions will work depending on the CPU installed |
LAN | Intel® I210-AT Intel® I218LM |
Audio | Realtek® ALC1150 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC – Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel MIC Jack-retasking – High quality 112 dB SNR stereo playback output (Line-out at rear) and 104 dB SNR recording input Audio Feature : – Absolute Pitch 192kHz/ 24-bit True BD Lossless Sound – DTS Ultra PC II – DTS Connect – Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel – BD Audio Layer Content Protection |
IEEE 1394 | VIA® 6315N controller 1 x IEEE 1394a port(s) |
USB Ports | Intel® Z97 chipset : 5 x USB 3.0/2.0 port(s) (4 at back panel, blue, 1 at mid-board) Intel® Z97 chipset : 6 x USB 2.0/1.1 port(s) (2 at back panel, black, 4 at mid-board) ASMedia® USB 3.0 controller : 5 x USB 3.0/2.0 port(s) (2 at back panel, 3 at mid-board) *1 The PCIe x4_1, USB3_E56 and SATAExpress_E1 connectors share the same bandwidth. The PCIe x4_1's default setting is in Auto mode that automatically optimizes the system bandwidth. If you use two of these |
Workstation Feature | 4 x PCIe x 16 slot(s) ASUS Dr. Power 12K hours Capacitors ProCool Power Connector Q-Code Logger |
Special Features | 5-Way Optimization by Dual Intelligent Processors 5 – Whole system optimization with a single click! 5-Way Optimization tuning key perfectly consolidates TPU, EPU, DIGI+ Power Control, Fan Xpert 3, and Turbo App together, providing better CPU performance, efficient power saving, precise digital power control, whole system cooling and even tailor your own app usages. ASUS TPU : – Auto Tuning – GPU Boost – TPU switch ASUS EPU : – EPU – EPU switch ASUS Digital Power Design : – Industry leading Digital 8 Phase Power Design – Industry leading Digital 2 Phase DRAM Power Design – CPU Power Utility – DRAM Power Utility ASUS Exclusive Features : – AI Suite 3 – Ai Charger – USB Charger+ – M.2 & SATA Express – Anti-Surge – ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode featuring friendly graphics user interface – USB 3.0 Boost – Disk Unlocker – Turbo LAN ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution : – Stylish Fanless Design Heat-pipe solution ASUS EZ DIY : – ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 – ASUS EZ Flash 2 – ASUS USB BIOS Flashback – ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode Media Streamer Special Memory O.C. Design Turbo App Fan Xpert 3 |
Operating System Support | Windows® 8.1 86 x64 Windows® 8 86 x64 Windows® 7 86 x64 |
Back I/O Ports | 1 x DisplayPort 1 x HDMI 1 x eSATA 2 x LAN (RJ45) port(s) 6 x USB 3.0 (blue) 2 x USB 2.0 *3 1 x Optical S/PDIF out 1 x Audio jack(s) 1 x USB BIOS Flashback Button(s) 1 x Mini DisplayPort(s) 1 x Q-Code Logger button button *3 1 supports USB BIOS Flashback, 1 supports Q-Code Logger |
Internal I/O Ports | 2 x USB 3.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 4 USB 3.0 port(s) (19-pin) 2 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 4 USB 2.0 port(s) 2 x SATA Express connector: black, 1 x M.2 Socket 3 for M Key, type 2260/2280 devices 1 x TPM header 4 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s) 1 x CPU Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin) 1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin) 4 x Chassis Fan connector(s) (4 x 4 -pin) 1 x S/PDIF out header(s) 1 x Thunderbolt header(s) 2 x 8-pin EATX 12 V Power connector 1 x 6-pin EATX 12 V_1 Power connector(s) 1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s) 1 x EZ XMP switch 1 x Front panel connector(s) 1 x System panel(s) (Q-Connector) 1 x Chassis Intrusion connector(s) 1 x DRCT header(s) 1 x MemOK! button(s) 1 x TPU switch(es) 1 x EPU switch(es) 1 x Power-on button(s) 1 x Reset button(s) 1 x Clear CMOS button(s) 1 x Dr.Power switch(es) |
Accessories | User's manual ASUS Q-Shield 1 x COM port cable(s) 6 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s) 1 x 3-Way SLI bridge(s) 1 x 4-Way SLI bridge(s) 1 x SLI bridge(s) 1 x Q-connector(s) (2 in 1) 1 x 1-port 1394a module(s) |
BIOS | 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, CrashFree BIOS 3, F11 EZ Tuning Wizard, F6 Qfan Control, F3 My Favorites, Quick Note, Last Modified log, F12 PrintScreen, F3 Shortcut functions, and ASUS DRAM SPD (Serial Presence Detect) memory information |
Manageability | WfM 2.0, DMI 2.7, WOL by PME, PXE |
Support Disc | Drivers ASUS Utilities |
Form Factor | ATX Form Factor 12.0 inch x 9.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm ) |
Why is “Lack of accessible
Why is “Lack of accessible PCI-Express x1 slot with all PCI-Express x16 slots populated” a weakness? What motherboard allows you to do 4 way sli with a slot left over?
I understand your point
I understand your point 🙂
Maybe Morry wants to add a sound card in there too, but just can’t because the GPU cards are taking away 2 slots.
I see the same issue with Micro-ATX with 2xSLI support, not sure how I’ll manage to add another PCIE x1 card in there… 🙁
Maybe something to point out to others and the vendors to read these.
Morry > What’s your reason behind this?
If you’re up for it then you
If you’re up for it then you can remove the second slot’s display connectors, the stock heatsink/fan, and then cut the second slot off the GPU and install a water block and only use the top 3 display outputs per GPU. However, this voids the living crap out of your warranty and requires custom watercooling.
The motherboard and case
The motherboard and case would have to have 9 expansion slots to accept an additional single slot card. That’s a different form factor altogether and this shouldn’t be a weakness.
There are some boards that
There are some boards that design the PCIe layout with a PCIe x1 card to the left of the primary PCIe x16 slot. This is a minor nitpick issue on my part (kind of like the CMOS battery placement that y'all always nail me for), but not a major detractor from the board. It was a very nice board that tested well…
Morry > Would you have a
Morry > Would you have a reference link or something for that board design you’re referring to? I’d like to see it for comparisons 🙂
Thanks.
The MSI Z97 Gaming board has
The MSI Z97 Gaming board has a PCIe x1 slot to the right of the primary x16 slot, though it does not have a PLX chip integrated:
https://pcper.com/reviews/Motherboards/MSI-Z97-Gaming-7-Motherboard-Review
AI Suite III looks much
AI Suite III looks much improved over II. I’m sure this isn’t news, but it is the first I am seeing of it.
Aww man, I went right to the
Aww man, I went right to the conclusion looking for a mention of the CMOS battery location, and was left wanting!
Micro Center, which has many
Micro Center, which has many other boards priced extremely well, has this one priced $63 more than most other retailers. Oddly enough, they’ve also incorrectly listed it as the “ASUS Z97″, leaving out the”-WS”. Would dig picking it up from them, but not at their current pricing.
Microcenter will price-match
Microcenter will price-match the board.
I was able to get it for a great price at Microcenter.
Check out my post here:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2390681
I should have mentioned that
I should have mentioned that I got it for $239.99 plus taxes which is a great price for a motherboard with a PLX PCIe multiplexer.
Thanks for the review Morry!
Thanks for the review Morry!
Thanks for your invaluable
Thanks for your invaluable bios update info. Made my update a breeze. Something even Asus couldn’t accomplish. Ridiculous downloading a bios update file and having to re-name it to be recognized. Wouldn’t you post it with a usable file name. Pulled my hair out over this one. Thank you for your assistance.