UEFI Features
ASUS bundled the Z170-A motherboard with the latest version of the ASUS UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) implementation, a customized version of the AMI baseline UEFI BIOS replacement. The UEFI offers full keyboard and mouse support while using the BIOS pages. ASUS changed the way mouse right-click functions in the new UEFI implementation with right-click having no impact on the screen. By default, the user sees the EZ mode screen when entering the UEFI with the Advanced mode screens accessible via the Exit/Advanced Mode button at the upper right corner of the screen. Advanced mode screens can be set for the default user interface via the UEFI Boot menu as well.
As we've stated in previous reviews, the ASUS UEFI implementation remains among the best out there. The UEFI is very responsive to both keyboard and mouse input with almost no lag or questionable click-space evident anywhere. However, at times the interface seemed too responsive and sensitive to the merest mouse click and movement. The UEFI is designed in an intuitive manner so that both novice and advance BIOS users can quickly find what they are looking for. The EZ Mode screen lays out everything in a highly readable format, while the Advanced Mode tabbed layout displays as you would expect from a traditional BIOS. ASUS also gives you the ability to taken screen captures from within the BIOS by pressing the F12 key with those screen-caps saved in a 1024×768 bitmap format to an attached USB device. From the Tools menu, ASUS houses their collection of of BIOS-related tools and applets, ranging from an UEFI-based updater (EZ Flash3) to their full UEFI profile load and save utility.
UEFI Notable Features
With the Z170-A, ASUS integrated the features and changes introduced with their UEFI from the Intel Z97 line, enhancing several features as well as exposing several new features specific to the Skylake-S processor lines. They revised their EZ Mode page with added utility, integrating a customizable My Favorites tab into the Advance mode menu, Shortcut screen, a graphical fan tuning interface, a graphical EZ Tuning Wizard interface, support for display in nine different languages, and a Quick Note interface for adding persistent notes for later use.
My Favorites tab, populated
My Favorites & Shortcut setup popup
The My Favorites tab houses user selected settings for access to these from a centralized location. To access, select the My Favorites tab from within the Advanced Mode interface. Note that if a menu or sub-menu is added to this page, all fields on that page will be added. The real strength in this My Favorites tab implementation comes with the ability to mix and match commonly used options in a central location, rather than having to hunt them down through multiple sub-levels of menus.
EZ Mode page
The EZ Mode page presents information organized into sections in an easy-to-read manner for those users who do not want to be bothered with the labyrinth of the Advanced Mode settings.
Q-Fan Tuning page
The Q-Fan Tuning page allows for graphical configuration of fan operation based on predefined threshold levels. The interface is similar in nature to the Windows-based Fan Xpert3 fan configuration interface and is a nice touch in-lei of the text-based configuration approach. The Q-Fan Tuning page is accessed by clicking on the Manual Fan Tuning button within the EZ Mode page.
Easy Tuning Wizard – OC Page
Easy Tuning Wizard – RAID Page
The EZ Tuning Wizard can be accessed by hitting the F11 function key from within the EZ Mode page or from within the Advanced Mode interface. This wizard can be used to setup BIOS configured system performance optimization or drive RAID setup based on user selections made within the wizard interface.
Advanced Mode, Main tab, Quick Note pop-up
The Quick Note window is accessed by clicking the Quick Note field in the top menu bar or hit the F9 function key. From this window, you can enter notes that remain persistent between BIOS sessions. This functionality is only available from the Advanced Mode interface.
Advanced Mode, Tools tab, ASUS EZ Flash 3 pop-up source selection
Advanced Mode, Tools tab, ASUS EZ Flash 3 pop-up USB drive selected
The ASUS EZ Flash 3 utility was updated, allowing for BIOS update via an attached drive or through a network connection. When selecting the network update method, the utility launches a network connection wizard for getting the most up to date BIOS file from the ASUS servers.
Advanced Mode, Monitor tab
ASUS enhanced their Q-Fan control capabilities in their latest UEFI version, allowing for user configurable pauses in between when the BIOS detects a change in threshold temperature and when the BIOS increases the header fan speed. As with previous version of the UEFI, the user is able to set temperature thresholds and fan speeds (based on percentage run speed) for the board's fan headers.
Ai Tweaker tab with Manual mode enabled
For the Z170 Express boards, ASUS opened up the CPU back clock settings with user capable settings up to 650MHz. This is because of the decoupling of the PCI and DMI bus from the base clock with the Intel Skylake processors.
Ai Tweaker tab, Tweaker's Paradise page
The Tweaker's Paradise page offers user access to more advanced performance-related settings, normally hidden on the lower tier boards.
BIOS Walkthrough
Advanced Mode screen, Ai Tweaker tab with XMP mode enabled
Ai Tweaker tab with Manual mode enabled, CPU ratio settings
Ai Tweaker tab with Manual mode enabled, submenu list
Ai Tweaker tab with Manual mode enabled, voltage settings
Ai Tweaker tab with Manual mode enabled, voltage settings continued
Ai Tweaker tab, DRAM Timing Control page
Ai Tweaker tab, DRAM Timing Control page continued
Ai Tweaker tab, DRAM Timing Control page, Third Timing settings
Ai Tweaker tab, DRAM Timing Control page, Third Timing settings continued
Ai Tweaker tab, DRAM Timing Control page, Miscellaneous settings
Ai Tweaker tab, DRAM Timing Control page, Skew Control page
Ai Tweaker tab, DRAM Timing Control page, Skew Control page continued
Ai Tweaker tab, DRAM Timing Control page, RTL IOL Control page
Ai Tweaker tab, DRAM Timing Control page, RTL IOL Control page continued
Ai Tweaker tab, DIGI+ Power Control page
Ai Tweaker tab, DIGI+ Power Control page continued
Ai Tweaker tab, CPU Power Management page
Ai Tweaker tab, DRAM REF Voltage Control page
From the specs:
DVI-D with
From the specs:
DVI-D with max. resolution 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz
That looks like a dual link DVI connector which should have a max resolution of 2560×1600.
I understand what it actually
I understand what it actually is, but, in most pictures that Sata Express port looks a lot like an IDE connector. It certainly brings back memories.
What does this BLK
What does this BLK overclocking capability mean for non-k chips? It looks like it is a much more viable option for skylake than it has been for many generations.
for both, it decouples the
for both, it decouples the PCIe clock from the base clock so your PCIe clock remains static no matter what. However, your memory speed is still tied to the base clock value. For non-K overclocking specifically, it is still bound to the limits of what speed your CPU can run at. Should be easier than with a Z97, but still constrained because you cannot change the CPU ratio – your memory may not like odd base clocks as much…
It looks like there are a
It looks like there are a bunch of memory strap options as well though. The article states that they got the BLK up to 266 from 100. That seems to be a huge amount of headroom.
I’m having a nightmare with
I’m having a nightmare with the onboard ethernet (I219-V) on this board.
The moment I install the Intel ethernet driver (version 12.13.17.4), the system will not reboot. It makes it past the splash screen and I’m then left with a blinking cursor in the top left of the screen. It seems as if the SSD isn’t being recognised?
I’ve searched for a other/newer versions of the driver on both the Asus and Intel sites but cannot come up with any alternatives. So frustrating…
The non-K OC is really easy
The non-K OC is really easy and can be done within few minutes. Depending on the CPU you can increase the clock between 15-70% without any problems.
Pre-Skylake CPUs such as Haswell or Devils Canyon could only be overclocked by about 3-5% using the BCLK because the BCLK was still tied to the DMI and the PCIe.
However, for Skylake CPUs, BCLK and PCIe have a dedicated reference clock which always stays at 100 MHz – no matter how you change the BCLK. In other words: You can push the BCLK without worrying about other components.
The non-K BIOS is skipping some parts of the power-management, so there are few things you have to keep in mind:-
1) The missing power-management will not allow to read out any core temperature. No matter which tool you use, it will always just read 100°C.
2) No C-States. CPUs will always run full speed and full voltage.
3) No Turbo-Mode.
4) No iGPU.
5) Intel AVX is screwed. Some benchmarks like Intel XTU use AVX and you will have about 4-5 times lower score. As far as I know no game is using AVX so it’s no problem to use this for gaming rigs. Not suitable for professional usage though.
6) Avoid high memory clocks. Everything around 2600 MHz will be fine.
Follow this link for a complete OC guide:-
http://overclocking.guide/asus-z170-non-k-overclocking-guide/
My ASUS-Z170-A motherboard
My ASUS-Z170-A motherboard bios; Under ‘Tools’ tab, the ‘Graphics Card Information’ does not exist. Could you please tell me what is wrong? (CPU: Intel core I5-6600k).
I am sorry, my mistake. It is
I am sorry, my mistake. It is a H110M-D D3 Asus motherboard.
Would a be quiet Dark Rock
Would a be quiet Dark Rock Pro 3 CPU Cooler be compatible with this motherboard? I think the backplate might come into contact with that troublesome chip…