ASRock Z77 Extreme3: 2. Installation

2.3 CPU Installation

In order to provide the LGA 1155 CPU sock-

Load

Plate

ets more protection and make the instal-

Load

Lever

lation process easier, ASRock has added

Cover

a new protection cover on top of the load

plate to replace the former PnP caps that

were under the load plate. For the installa-

Contact

Socket

Array

Body

®

tion of Intel

1155-Pin CPUs with the new

protection cover, please follow the steps

1155-Pin Socket Overview

below.

Before you insert the 1155-Pin CPU into the socket, please check if the

CPU surface is unclean or if there are any bent pins in the socket. Do

not force to insert the CPU into the socket if above situation is found.

Otherwise, the CPU will be seriously damaged.

Step 1. Open the socket:

Step 1-1. Disengage the lever by pressing it

down and sliding it out of the hook.

You do not have to remove the pro-

tection cover.

Step 1-2. Keep the lever positioned at about

135 degrees in order to flip up the

load plate.

Step 2. Insert the 1155-Pin CPU:

Step 2-1. Hold the CPU by the edge which is

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black line

marked with a black line.

Step 2-2. Orient the CPU with the IHS (Inte-

grated Heat Sink) up. Locate Pin1

and the two orientation key notches.

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ASRock Z77 Extreme3 Motherboard

orientation key notch

alignment key

Pin1

Pin1

alignment key

orientation key notch

1155-Pin Socket

1155-Pin CPU

For proper installation, please ensure to match the two orientation

key notches of the CPU with the two alignment keys of the socket.

Step 2-3. Carefully place the CPU into the

socket.

Step 2-4. Verify that the CPU is within the sock-

et and properly mated to the orient

keys.

Step 3. Close the socket:

Step 3-1. Flip the load plate onto the IHS.

Step 3-2. Press down the load lever, and se-

cure it with the load plate tab under

the retention tab. The protection

cover will automatically come off by

itself.

Please save and replace the cover if the processor is removed. The

cover must be placed if you wish to return the motherboard for after

service.

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ASRock Z77 Extreme3 Motherboard

2.4 Installation of CPU Fan and Heatsink

This motherboard is equipped with 1155-Pin socket that supports Intel 1155-Pin

CPUs. Please adopt the type of heatsink and cooling fan compliant with Intel 1155-

Pin CPU to dissipate heat. Before you install the heatsink, you need to spray ther-

mal interface material between the CPU and the heatsink to improve heat dissipa-

tion. Ensure that the CPU and the heatsink are securely fastened and in good con-

tact with each other. Then connect the CPU fan to the CPU_FAN connector (CPU_

FAN1, see page 2, No. 3 or CPU_FAN2, see page 2. No. 4).

For proper installation, please kindly refer to the instruction manuals of your

CPU fan and heatsink.

Below is an example to illustrate the installation of the heatsink for 1155-Pin CPUs.

Step 1. Apply thermal interface material onto the cen-

ter of the IHS on the socket’s surface.

Step 2. Place the heatsink onto the socket. Ensure

that the fan cables are oriented on side closest

to the CPU fan connector on the motherboard

(CPU_FAN1, see page 2, No. 3 or CPU_

FAN2, see page 2. No. 4).

Step 3. Align fasteners with the motherboard through-

holes.

Step 4. Rotate the fastener clockwise, then press

down on fastener caps with thumb to install

and lock. Repeat with remaining fasteners.

If you press down the fasteners without rotating them clockwise, the

heatsink cannot be secured on the motherboard.

Step 5. Connect fan header with the CPU fan connector on the motherboard.

Step 6. Secure redundant cable with tie-wrap to ensure the cable does not

English

interfere with fan operation or contact other components.

Please be noticed that this motherboard supports Combo Cooler

Option (C.C.O.), which provides exible options to adopt three dif-

ferent CPU cooler types, Socket LGA 775, LGA 1155 and LGA 1156.

The white throughholes are for Socket LGA

1155/1156 CPU fan.

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ASRock Z77 Extreme3 Motherboard

2.5 Installation of Memory Modules (DIMM)

This motherboard provides four 240-pin DDR3 (Double Data Rate 3) DIMM

slots, and supports Dual Channel Memory Technology. For dual channel con-

guration, you always need to install identical (the same brand, speed, size

and chip-type) DDR3 DIMM pair in the slots: You have to install identical

DDR3 DIMMs in Dual Channel A (DDR3_A1 and DDR3_B1; Black slots; see p.2

No. 6) or identical DDR3 DIMMs in Dual Channel B (DDR3_A2 and DDR3_

B2; Black slots; see p.2 No. 7), so that Dual Channel Memory Technology can

be activated. This motherboard also allows you to install four DDR3 DIMMs

for dual channel conguration, please install identical DDR3 DIMMs in all four

slots. You may refer to the Dual Channel Memory Conguration Table below.

Dual Channel Memory Conguration

DDR3_A1 DDR3_A2 DDR3_B1 DDR3_B2

(Black Slot) (Black Slot) (Black Slot) (Black Slot)

(1) - Populated - Populated

(2) Populated - Populated -

(3)* Populated Populated Populated Populated

*

For conguration (3), please install identical DDR3 DIMMs in all four

slots.

1. If you want to install two memory modules, for optimal compatibility

and reliability, it is recommended to install them in the slots: DDR3_

A1 and DDR3_B1, or DDR3_A2 and DDR3_B2.

2. If only one memory module or three memory modules are installed

in the DDR3 DIMM slots on this motherboard, it is unable to activate

Dual Channel Memory Technology.

3. If a pair of memory modules is NOT installed in the same Dual

Channel, for example, installing a pair of memory modules in

DDR3_A1 and DDR3_A2, it is unable to activate Dual Channel

Memory Technology.

4. It is not allowed to install a DDR or DDR2 memory module into

DDR3 slot; otherwise, this motherboard and DIMM may be dam-

aged.

5. Some DDR3 1GB double-sided DIMMs with 16 chips may not work

on this motherboard. It is not recommended to install them on this

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motherboard.

6. For optimal compatibility and stability while overclocking memory

frequency, it is recommended to install one memory module on

DDR3_B2 slot or two memory modules on DDR3_A2 and DDR3_

B2 slots.

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ASRock Z77 Extreme3 Motherboard

Installing a DIMM

Please make sure to disconnect power supply before adding or

removing DIMMs or the system components.

Step 1. Unlock a DIMM slot by pressing the retaining clips outward.

Step 2. Align a DIMM on the slot such that the notch on the DIMM matches the

break on the slot.

notch

break

notch

break

The DIMM only ts in one correct orientation. It will cause permanent

damage to the motherboard and the DIMM if you force the DIMM into

the slot at incorrect orientation.

Step 3. Firmly insert the DIMM into the slot until the retaining clips at both ends

fully snap back in place and the DIMM is properly seated.

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ASRock Z77 Extreme3 Motherboard

2.6 Expansion Slots (PCI and PCI Express Slots)

There are 2 PCI slots and 4 PCI Express slots on this motherboard.

PCI slots: PCI slots are used to install expansion cards that have the 32-bit PCI

interface.

PCIE slots: PCIE1 (PCIE 2.0 x1 slot) is used for a PCI Express x1 lane width card,

such as a Gigabit LAN card, SATA2 card, etc.

PCIE2 (PCIE 3.0 x16 slot) is used for PCI Express x16 lane width

graphics cards, or to install PCI Express graphics cards to support

TM

TM

CrossFireX

or SLI

function.

PCIE3 (PCIE 3.0 x16 slot) is used for PCI Express x8 lane width graph-

ics cards, or to install PCI Express graphics cards to support CrossFi-

TM

TM

reX

or SLI

function.

PCIE4 (PCIE 2.0 x16 slot) is used for PCI Express x4 lane width graph-

ics cards, or to install PCI Express graphics cards to support 3-Way

TM

CrossFireX

function.

1. In single VGA card mode, it is recommended to install a PCI Express

x16 graphics card on PCIE2 slot.

TM

TM

2. In CrossFireX

mode or SLI

mode, please install the PCI Express

x16 graphics cards on PCIE2 and PCIE3 slots. Therefore, both these

two slots will work at x8 bandwidth.

TM

3. In 3-Way CrossFireX

mode, please install the PCI Express x16

graphics cards in PCIE2, PCIE3 and PCIE4 slots. PCIE2 and PCIE3

will work at x8 bandwidth, while PCIE4 works at x4 bandwidth.

4. Please connect a chassis fan to the motherboard’s chassis fan

connector (CHA_FAN1, CHA_FAN2 or CHA_FAN3) when using

multiple graphics cards for better thermal environment.

5. Only PCIE2 and PCIE3 slots support Gen 3 speed. To run the PCI

Express in Gen 3 speed, please install an Ivy Bridge CPU. If you

install a Sandy Bridge CPU, the PCI Express will run only at PCI

Express Gen 2 speed.

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ASRock Z77 Extreme3 Motherboard

Installing an expansion card

Step 1. Before installing an expansion card, please make sure that the power

supply is switched off or the power cord is unplugged. Please read the

documentation of the expansion card and make necessary hardware

settings for the card before you start the installation.

Step 2. Remove the system unit cover (if your motherboard is already installed

in a chassis).

Step 3. Remove the bracket facing the slot that you intend to use. Keep the

screws for later use.

Step 4. Align the card connector with the slot and press rmly until the card is

completely seated on the slot.

Step 5. Fasten the card to the chassis with screws.

Step 6. Replace the system cover.

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22

ASRock Z77 Extreme3 Motherboard

TM

TM

2.7 SLI

and Quad SLI

Operation Guide

®

TM

TM

This motherboard supports NVIDIA

SLI

and Quad SLI

(Scalable Link Interface)

technology that allows you to install up to two identical PCI Express x16 graphics

®

TM

®

cards. Currently, NVIDIA

SLI

technology supports Windows

XP / XP 64-bit /

TM

TM

®

TM

Vista

/ Vista

64-bit / 7 / 7 64-bit / 8 / 8 64-bit OS. NVIDIA

Quad SLI

technology

®

TM

TM

support Windows

Vista

/ Vista

64-bit / 7 / 7 64-bit / 8 / 8 64-bit OS only. Please

follow the installation procedures in this section.

Requirements

TM

TM

1. For SLI

technology, you should have two identical SLI

-ready graphics

®

TM

cards that are NVIDIA

certied. For Quad SLI

technology, you should

TM

have two identical Quad SLI

-ready graphics cards (dual-GPU on each

®

graphics card) that are NVIDIA

certied.

®

TM

2. Make sure that your graphics card driver supports NVIDIA

SLI

®

technology. Download the driver from NVIDIA

website

(www.nvidia.com).

3. Make sure that your power supply unit (PSU) can provide at least the

minimum power required by your system. It is recommended to use

®

®

NVIDIA

certied PSU. Please refer to NVIDIA

website for details.

2.7.1 Graphics Card Setup

TM

2.7.1.1 Installing Two SLI

-Ready Graphics Cards

TM

®

Step 1. Install the identical SLI

-ready graphics cards that are NVIDIA

certied

because different types of graphics cards will not work together properly.

(Even the GPU chips version shall be the same.) Insert one graphics card

into PCIE2 slot and the other graphics card to PCIE3 slot. Make sure that

the cards are properly seated on the slots.

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Step2. If required, connect the auxiliary power source to the PCI Express

graphics cards.

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ASRock Z77 Extreme3 Motherboard

Step3. Align and insert the ASRock SLI_Bridge_2S Card to the goldngers on

each graphics card. Make sure the ASRock SLI_Bridge_2S Card is rmly

in place.

ASRock SLI_Bridge_2S Card

Step4. Connect a VGA cable or a DVI cable to the monitor connector or the DVI

connector of the graphics card that is inserted to PCIE2 slot.

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ASRock Z77 Extreme3 Motherboard

2.7.2 Driver Installation and Setup

Install the graphics card drivers to your system. After that, you can enable the Multi-

®

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) feature in the NVIDIA

nView system tray utility.

Please follow the below procedures to enable the multi-GPU feature.

®

For Windows

XP / XP 64-bit OS:

TM

(For SLI

mode only)

®

A. Double-click NVIDIA Settings icon on your Windows

taskbar.

B. From the pop-up menu, select Set SLI and PhysX conguration. In

Set PhysX GPU acceleration item, please select Enabled. In Select

an SLI conguration item, please select Enable SLI. And click Apply.

C. Reboot your system.

TM

D. You can freely enjoy the benet of SLI

feature.

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ASRock Z77 Extreme3 Motherboard

2.9 Jumpers Setup

The illustration shows how jumpers are

setup. When the jumper cap is placed on

pins, the jumper is “Short”. If no jumper cap

is placed on pins, the jumper is “Open”. The

illustration shows a 3-pin jumper whose

pin1 and pin2 are “Short” when jumper cap

is placed on these 2 pins.

Jumper Setting Description

Clear CMOS Jumper

(CLRCMOS1)

(see p.2, No. 18)

Clear CMOSDefault

Note: CLRCMOS1 allows you to clear the data in CMOS. To clear and reset the

system parameters to default setup, please turn off the computer and unplug

the power cord from the power supply. After waiting for 15 seconds, use a

jumper cap to short pin2 and pin3 on CLRCMOS1 for 5 seconds. However,

please do not clear the CMOS right after you update the BIOS. If you need

to clear the CMOS when you just nish updating the BIOS, you must boot

up the system rst, and then shut it down before you do the clear-CMOS ac-

tion. Please be noted that the password, date, time, user default prole, 1394

GUID and MAC address will be cleared only if the CMOS battery is removed.

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ASRock Z77 Extreme3 Motherboard

2.10 Onboard Headers and Connectors

Onboard headers and connectors are NOT jumpers. Do NOT place

jumper caps over these headers and connectors. Placing jumper caps

over the headers and connectors will cause permanent damage of the

motherboard!

Serial ATA2 Connectors These four Serial ATA2 (SATA2)

(SATA2_2_3: see p.2, No. 13)

connectors support SATA data

SATA2_3 SATA2_2

(SATA2_4_5: see p.2, No. 14)

cables for internal storage

devices. The current SATA2

interface allows up to 3.0 Gb/s

SATA2_5 SATA2_4

data transfer rate.

Serial ATA3 Connectors These two Serial ATA3 (SATA3)

(SATA3_0_1: see p.2, No. 12)

connectors support SATA data

SATA3_1 SATA3_0

cables for internal storage

devices. The current SATA3

interface allows up to 6.0 Gb/s

data transfer rate.

Serial ATA (SATA) Either end of the SATA data

Data Cable cable can be connected to the

(Optional)

SATA / SATA2 / SATA3 hard

disk or the SATA2 / SATA3

connector on this motherboard.

USB 2.0 Headers Besides four default USB 2.0

(9-pin USB4_5)

ports on the I/O panel, there are

(see p.2, No. 22)

two USB 2.0 headers on this

motherboard. Each USB 2.0

header can support two USB 2.0

ports.

(9-pin USB6_7)

(see p.2, No. 21)

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ASRock Z77 Extreme3 Motherboard

USB 3.0 Header Besides two default USB 3.0

(19-pin USB3_2_3)

ports on the I/O panel, there is

(see p.2, No. 9)

one USB 3.0 header on this

motherboard. This USB 3.0

header can support two USB 3.0

ports.

Infrared Module Header This header supports an

(5-pin IR1)

optional wireless transmitting

(see p.2, No. 26)

and receiving infrared module.

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ASRock Z77 Extreme3 Motherboard

VbusVbus

Vbus

IntA_P5_SSRX-

IntA_P4_SSRX-

IntA_P5_SSRX+

IntA_P4_SSRX+

GND

GND

IntA_P5_SSTX-

IntA_P4_SSTX-

IntA_P5_SSTX+

IntA_P4_SSTX+

GND

GND

IntA_P5_D-

IntA_P4_D-

IntA_P5_D+

IntA_P4_D+

DUMMY

Consumer Infrared Module Header This header can be used to

(4-pin CIR1)

connect the remote

(see p.2 No. 23)

controller receiver.

Front Panel Audio Header This is an interface for front

GND

P RESENCE#

M IC_RET

(9-pin HD_AUDIO1)

panel audio cable that allows

OUT_RET

(see p.2, No. 27)

convenient connection and

1

control of audio devices.

O UT2_L

J _SENSE

O UT2_R

M IC2_R

M IC2_L

1. High Denition Audio supports Jack Sensing, but the panel wire on the

chassis must support HDA to function correctly. Please follow the

instruction in our manual and chassis manual to install your system.

2. If you use AC’97 audio panel, please install it to the front panel audio

header as below:

A. Connect Mic_IN (MIC) to MIC2_L.

B. Connect Audio_R (RIN) to OUT2_R and Audio_L (LIN) to OUT2_L.

C. Connect Ground (GND) to Ground (GND).

D. MIC_RET and OUT_RET are for HD audio panel only. You don’t need

to connect them for AC’97 audio panel.

E. To activate the front mic.

®

For Windows

XP / XP 64-bit OS:

Select “Mixer”. Select “Recorder”. Then click “FrontMic”.

®

TM

TM

For Windows

8 / 8 64-bit / 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista

/ Vista

64-bit OS:

Go to the “FrontMic” Tab in the Realtek Control panel. Adjust

“Recording Volume”.

System Panel Header This header accommodates

(9-pin PANEL1)

several system front panel

(see p.2, No. 16)

functions.

Connect the power switch, reset switch and system status indicator on the

chassis to this header according to the pin assignments below. Note the

positive and negative pins before connecting the cables.

PWRBTN (Power Switch):

Connect to the power switch on the chassis front panel. You may congure

the way to turn off your system using the power switch.

RESET (Reset Switch):

Connect to the reset switch on the chassis front panel. Press the reset

switch to restart the computer if the computer freezes and fails to perform a

normal restart.

PLED (System Power LED):

Connect to the power status indicator on the chassis front panel. The LED

is on when the system is operating. The LED keeps blinking when the sys-

tem is in S1/S3 sleep state. The LED is off when the system is in S4 sleep

state or powered off (S5).

HDLED (Hard Drive Activity LED):

Connect to the hard drive activity LED on the chassis front panel. The LED

is on when the hard drive is reading or writing data.

The front panel design may differ by chassis. A front panel module mainly

consists of power switch, reset switch, power LED, hard drive activity LED,

speaker and etc. When connecting your chassis front panel module to this

header, make sure the wire assignments and the pin assign-ments are

matched correctly.

Chassis Speaker Header Please connect the chassis

(4-pin SPEAKER 1)

speaker to this header.

(see p.2, No. 15)

Power LED Header Please connect the chassis

1

(3-pin PLED1)

power LED to this header to

PLED-

PLED+

(see p.2, No. 17)

PLED+

indicate system power status.

The LED is on when the system

English

is operating. The LED keeps

blinking in S1/S3 state. The

LED is off in S4 state or S5

state (power off).

35

ASRock Z77 Extreme3 Motherboard

Chassis and Power Fan Connectors Please connect the fan cables

(4-pin CHA_FAN1)

to the fan connectors and match

(see p.2, No. 20)

the black wire to the ground pin.

GND

FAN_SPEED_CONTROL

+12V

CHA_FAN_SPEED

CHA_FAN1, CHA_FAN2 and

(3-pin CHA_FAN2)

CHA_FAN3 support Fan

(see p.2, No. 34)

Control.

(3-pin CHA_FAN3)

(see p.2, No. 10)

(3-pin PWR_FAN1)

(see p.2, No. 5)

CPU Fan Connectors Please connect the CPU fan

FAN_S PEED_CONTROL

CPU_FAN_SPEED

(4-pin CPU_FAN1)

cable to the connector and

+ 12V

(see p.2, No. 3)

GND

match the black wire to the

ground pin.

1 2 3 4

Though this motherboard provides 4-Pin CPU fan (Quiet Fan) support, the 3-Pin

CPU fan still can work successfully even without the fan speed control function.

If you plan to connect the 3-Pin CPU fan to the CPU fan connector on this

motherboard, please connect it to Pin 1-3.

Pin 1-3 Connected

3-Pin Fan Installation

(3-pin CPU_FAN2)

GND

+ 12V

(see p.2, No. 4)

CPU_FAN_SPEED

ATX Power Connector Please connect an ATX power

12

24

(24-pin ATXPWR1)

supply to this connector.

(see p.2, No. 8)

1

13

English

Though this motherboard provides 24-pin ATX power connector,

12

24

it can still work if you adopt a traditional 20-pin ATX power supply.

To use the 20-pin ATX power supply, please plug your

power supply along with Pin 1 and Pin 13.

20-Pin ATX Power Supply Installation

1

13

36

ASRock Z77 Extreme3 Motherboard

ATX 12V Power Connector Please connect an ATX 12V

8 5

(8-pin ATX12V1)

power supply to this connector.

4 1

(see p.2, No. 1)

Though this motherboard provides 8-pin ATX 12V power connector, it can still work

if you adopt a traditional 4-pin ATX 12V power supply. To use the 4-pin ATX power

supply, please plug your power supply along with Pin 1 and Pin 5.

8 5

4-Pin ATX 12V Power Supply Installation

4 1

Serial port Header This COM1 header supports a

(9-pin COM1)

serial port module.

(see p.2, No. 24)

HDMI_SPDIF Header HDMI_SPDIF header, providing

1

(2-pin HDMI_SPDIF1)

SPDIF audio output to HDMI

GND

SPDIFOUT

(see p.2, No. 25)

VGA card, allows the system to

connect HDMI Digital TV/

projector/LCD devices. Please

connect the HDMI_SPDIF

connector of HDMI VGA card to

this header.

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37

ASRock Z77 Extreme3 Motherboard

2.11 Driver Installation Guide

To install the drivers to your system, please insert the support CD to your optical

drive rst. Then, the drivers compatible to your system can be auto-detected and

listed on the support CD driver page. Please follow the order from up to bottom side

to install those required drivers. Therefore, the drivers you install can work properly.

®

TM

2.12 Installing Windows

8 / 8 64-bit / 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista

/

TM

Vista

64-bit With RAID Functions

®

TM

TM

If you want to install Windows

8 / 8 64-bit / 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista

/ Vista

64-bit

on your SATA / SATA2 / SATA3 HDDs with RAID functions, please refer to the

document at the following path in the Support CD for detailed procedures:

..\ RAID Installation Guide

®

RAID mode is not supported under Windows

XP / XP 64-bit.

®

TM

2.13 Installing Windows

8 / 8 64-bit / 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista

/

TM

Vista

64-bit / XP / XP 64-bit Without RAID Functions

®

TM

TM

If you want to install Windows

8 / 8 64-bit / 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista

/ Vista

64-bit / XP

/ XP 64-bit OS on your SATA / SATA2 / SATA3 HDDs without RAID functions, please

follow below procedures according to the OS you install.

®

2.13.1 Installing Windows

XP / XP 64-bit Without RAID

Functions

®

If you want to install Windows

XP / XP 64-bit OS on your SATA / SATA2 / SATA3

HDDs without RAID functions, please follow below steps.

®

AHCI mode is not supported under Windows

XP / XP 64-bit.

English

Using SATA / SATA2 / SATA3 HDDs without NCQ function

STEP 1: Set Up UEFI.

A. Enter UEFI SETUP UTILITY Advanced screen Storage Conguration.

B. Set the option “SATA Mode Selection” to [IDE].

®

STEP 2: Install Windows

XP / XP 64-bit OS on your system.

38

ASRock Z77 Extreme3 Motherboard

®

TM

2.13.2 Installing Windows

8 / 8 64-bit / 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista

/

TM

Vista

64-bit Without RAID Functions

®

TM

TM

If you want to install Windows

8 / 8 64-bit / 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista

/ Vista

64-bit OS

on your SATA / SATA2 / SATA3 HDDs without RAID functions, please follow below

steps.

Using SATA / SATA2 / SATA3 HDDs without NCQ function

STEP 1: Set Up UEFI.

A. Enter UEFI SETUP UTILITY Advanced screen Storage Conguration.

B. Set the option “SATA Mode Selection” to [IDE].

®

TM

TM

STEP 2: Install Windows

8 / 8 64-bit / 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista

/ Vista

64-bit OS on

your system.

Using SATA / SATA2 / SATA3 HDDs with NCQ function

STEP 1: Set Up UEFI.

A. Enter UEFI SETUP UTILITY Advanced screen Storage Conguration.

B. Set the option “SATA Mode Selection” to [AHCI].

®

TM

TM

STEP 2: Install Windows

8 / 8 64-bit / 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista

/ Vista

64-bit OS on

your system.

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39

ASRock Z77 Extreme3 Motherboard