ASRock z87 pro4: Chapter 3 Software and Utilities Operation

Chapter 3 Software and Utilities Operation

3.1 Installing Drivers

e Support CD that comes with the motherboard contains necessary drivers and

useful utilities that enhance the motherboard’s features.

Running The Support CD

To begin using the support CD, insert the CD into your CD-ROM drive. e CD

automatically displays the Main Menu if “AUTORUN” is enabled in your computer.

If the Main Menu does not appear automatically, locate and double click on the le

“ASRSETUP.EXE” in the Support CD to display the menu.

Drivers Menu

e drivers compatible to your system will be auto-detected and listed on the

support CD driver page. Please click Install All or follow the order from top to

bottom to install those required drivers. erefore, the drivers you install can work

properly.

Utilities Menu

e Utilities Menu shows the application soware that the motherboard supports.

Click on a specic item then follow the installation wizard to install it.

To improve Windows 7 compatibility, please download and install the following hot

x provided by Microso.

“KB2720599”: http://support.microso.com/kb/2720599/en-us

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3.2 A-Tuning

A-Tuning is ASRock’s multi purpose soware suite with a new interface, more new

features and improved utilities, including XFast RAM, Dehumidier, Good Night

LED, FAN-Tastic Tuning, OC Tweaker and a whole lot more.

3.2.1 Installing A-Tuning

When you install the all-in-one driver to your system from ASRock’s support CD,

A-Tuning will be auto-installed as well. Aer the installation, you will nd the icon

“A-Tuning“ on your desktop. Double-click the “A-Tuning“ icon, A-Tuning

main menu will pop up.

3.2.2 Using A-Tuning

ere are ve sections in AXTU main menu: Operation Mode, Tools, OC Tweaker,

System Info and Tech Service.

Operation Mode

Choose an operation mode for your computer.

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Tools

Various tools and utilities.

XFast RAM

Boost the system’s performance and extend the HDD’s or SDD’s lifespan! Create a

hidden partition, then assign which les should be stored in the RAM drive.

Fast Boot

Fast Boot minimizes your computer's boot time. Please note that Ultra Fast mode

is only supported by Windows 8 and the VBIOS must support UEFI GOP if you are

using an external graphics card.

OMG

Schedule the starting and ending hours of Internet access granted to other users.

Place X marks on the time table to disable the Internet.

Good Night LED

Switch o the Power/HDD/LAN LEDs when the system is on, and automatically

switch o the Power and Keyboard LEDs when the system enters into Standby/

Hibernation mode.

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FAN-Tastic Tuning

Congure up to ve dierent fan speeds using the graph. e fans will automatically

shi to the next speed level when the assigned temperature is met.

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state for a period of time. e power of the computer in Rapid Start mode can

be cut o, it will not cause data loss of the programs or les you were executing

before entering sleep state.

4. When you wish to continue to use the computer just hit the power button, the

system will rapidly return to Windows, the programs and les which you were

using before entering sleep state will be accessible immediately.

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3.4 Intel® Smart Connect Technology

Intel® Smart Connect Technology is a feature that periodically wakes your computer

from Windows® sleep state to refresh email or social networking applications. It

saves your waiting time and keeps the content always up-to-date.

3.4.1 System Requirements

• Conrm whether your motherboard supports this feature.

• Operating system: Microso Windows 8/7 (32- or 64-bit edition)

• Set the SATA mode to AHCI. If Windows 8/7 is already installed under IDE

mode, directly changing the SATA mode to AHCI may cause Windows 8/7

to crash while booting. If your system is not in AHCI mode, please follow the

instructions below.

ere are certain risks. Please backup any important data before operating to avoid

loss.

1. Press Win + R simultaneously in Windows 8/7, type "Regedit" into the word

box then click OK.

2. Enter into HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\

msahci in Windows Registry Editor. Double click on the value Start and

change the value from 3 into 0. Click on OK.

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3.4.2 Setup Guide

Installing ASRock Smart Connect Utility

Step 1

Install ASRock Smart Connect Utility, which is located in the folder at the following

path of the Support CD: \ ASRock Utility > Smart Connect.

Step 2

Once installed, run ASRock Smart Connect from your desktop or go to Windows

Start -> All Programs -> ASRock Utility.

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Step 3

Click the Add button. Take Foxmail as an example, add Foxmail to the Application

list.

Step 4

Select Foxmail from the Application List, then click the arrow pointing right to add

this application to the Smart Connect List.

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Step 5

Click Apply to enable Smart Connect.

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Step 6

Double-click the Intel® Smart Connect Technology Manager icon in the

Windows system tray.

Step 7

Drag the slider to congure how oen the system will connect to the network to

download updates. Shorter durations will provide more frequent updates, but may

cause more power consumption.

Using Smart Connect

1. Keep the applications which you wish to connect to the internet and receive

updates while the system is in sleep state running. Foxmail for instance, keep

Foxmail running.

2. Click on Windows Start -> the arrow next to Shut down, and click on Sleep.

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3. Windows system will enter sleep state.

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4. e system will wake up from sleep state periodically, and then start to update

Foxmail. e screen will not display anything so the computer can maintain

minimum power usage. Aerwards, the system will automatically return to

sleep state again.

5. Upon waking up the system, you will nd the new mail that were sent to you

during sleep state are already updated and ready to be read in Foxmail.

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3.5 Intel® Remote Wake Technology

Intel® Remote Wake Technology allows you to use programs or services over the

Internet to wake up your home computer from energy ecient sleep mode.

Before conguring this feature, verify the following.

• Remote Wake has been enabled in "Intel® Smart Connect Technology

Manager".

• Make sure that the "PCI Device Power On" is enabled in UEFI SETUP

UTILITY > Advanced > ACPI Conguration.

3.5.1 Conguring and Using MeshCentral

MeshCentral allows you to remotely wake up a PC from any network using a single

web site. Just download and install the mesh agent on your computers and your

computers will show up in the "My Devices" section of MeshCentral.com.

Creating a Mesh

Step 1

Login to Meshcentral.com.

If you have not created a MeshCentral acount, go to MeshCentral.com and create a

new account.

Step 2

Click the "My Account" tab. en click on "New" to create a new mesh.

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Step 3

A new mesh window will pop up. Enter a mesh name and password.

Step 4

Select all the checkboxes and click Create Mesh.

Downloading and Installing Mesh Agent

Step 1

Click Install on the My Account page.

Step 2

Select the mesh and download both les. Make sure both les are in the same

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directory.

Step 3

Right-click on the MeshAgent.exe and select Run as administor.

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Step 4

Click Install / Update.

Step 5

Wait a minute for the New Machine to appear in "My Device".

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Step 6

Check whether "Intel Remote Wake" appeared or not.

Step 7

Click on Power Actions.

Step 8

Click on Wake or Sleep.

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Control lets you congure what a click on the start button or a press on the

Windows key does.

Desktop

Desktop allows you to disable the hot corners when you are working on the desktop.

It also lets you choose whether or not the system boots directly into desktop mode

and bypass the Metro user interface.

About

Displays information about Start8.

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