Provided By: ASUS
No compensation was received for review of this product.
Price Point
Price: $224.99 USD
Class: Mainstream
At a price point of $224.99, the ASUS P8Z77-V Pro falls into the Mainstream category for motherboards.
Performance
Overall performance of the ASUS P8Z77-V Pro was very good. Paired with the new features and Ivy Bridge chip, there were notably better numbers than the previous generation.
Reviewer's Opinion
Now, we get to the big question, is it really worth the upgrade? My immediate answer would be, eh... The next question, should it be purchased for a new system? To that I answer, yes. ASUS has packed a ton into this motherboard, however, most of the big improvements are under the hood. This is a place where many people might not need to venture if they already have a cozy Sandy Bridge Z68 system that they have grown familiar with. Not everyone even uses all of the existing technology that is in the Z68 chipset, like Smart Response, and Virtu. Therefore, if basing it on a pure performance increase, there isn't going to be a dramatic difference. The biggest draw to going from Z68 to Z77 is going to be features, otherwise, it's a no brainer if you're building a brand new Ivy Bridge system.
There are some key improvements with Intel Express Z77 that a regular user can take advantage of, like 2400MHz memory with XMP 1.3, native USB 3.0 support, native PCIe 3.0, Intel Rapid Start Technology, Intel Smart Connect Technology, HDMI 1.4a, the addition of a DP 1.1a port, and it's Ivy Bridge Ready. Other than that, the bigger draw to Z77 is going to be the manufacturer's features. The nice thing is that ASUS spares no expense. The P8Z77-V Pro is packed with ASUS upgrades from the previous P8Z68-V Pro.
On the power front, the P8Z77-V Pro now uses ASUS' DIP3 technology. This ensures much better. and efficient, power delivery. The dual driver upgrade gives this motherboard a true 16 (12+4) phase digital power design. Built in power profiles make for easier power management. The DRAM layout uses a new T-Topology to ensure equal distance from the CPU. Prior designs were daisy chained. This ensures balanced DRAM control and better OC capability.
The previous generation used an onboard Bluetooth, whereas this version has been upgraded to Wi-Fi 802.11n. ASUS has also upgraded their previous BT-Go! software, and now offers connectivity with Wi-Fi Go! This, along with the Wi-Fi Engine, allows easy setup with routers, access points, and repeaters to allow total connectivity and control with portable devices. This further allows the computer to be turned into a total DLNA Media Hub. The use of Wi-Fi also allows remote desktop access, remote keyboard use, faster file transfers, capture and sent controls, and smart motion control. They have also released an SDK to allow users to build their own applications.
In addition to the native USB 3.0 ports, ASUS included Asmedia ASM1042 controllers for a total of 8 usable ports. They have also included the USB flashback feature. This bypasses the need for the CPU or DRAM and allows a quick flash of the BIOS. This is useful for easy BIOS upgrades, but also recovery from disasters. The USB BIOS Flashback also now has 4x the speed of the original for even faster changes.
One software upgrade that ASUS has included is LucidLogix Virtu Universal MVP. This software is much improved from the standard Virtu. It's main purpose is the i-mode and d-mode functionality, however, it has also been programed to combine the power of the IGPU and discrete card. It is supposed to work like a pseudo SLI/Crossfire, between the integrated Intel graphics, and the discrete card. The overall concept of the software is supposed to limit all of the complex rendering calculations on the discrete GPU, while leaving the frame buffering to the IGPU. The software also has 2 additional modes, HyperFormance and Virtual-Vsync. HyperFormance skips redundant frames on the discrete card, then sends the last good frame to the IGPU buffer. Virtual-Vsync skips non-disclosed frames on the discrete card, then sends the last rendered frame to the IGPU frame buffer. Both processes are supposed to save the processing power on the discrete card. The software is limited to software and driver support.
There are also minor additions from ASUS that might go unnoticed. An upgraded DTS UltraPC II has been included and DTS Connect. Ai Charger+ has been upgraded to USB Charger+. This allows fast charge on the green labeled USB 3.0 ports under all power states. The UEFI BIOS includes ASUS DRAM SPD Information now. Fan Xpert has been upgraded to FanXpert 2. Lastly, there is now USB 3.0 Boost technology, which uses both the UASP and the optimized BOT protocol to superspeed the already fast USB 3.0 ports.
Overall, I would say that the ASUS P8Z77-V Pro is exactly what you could expect from a mild generational upgrade. Seeing Intel has ensured the Sandy Bridge/Ivy Bridge socket compatibility with older Z68 boards, the appeal of an upgrade is going to boil down to features, which ASUS delivers. A new build should always contain the best and latest technologies. So, either way, the ASUS P8Z77-V Pro is a good buy for all users. In nearly all aspects, the P8Z77-V Pro improves upon the previous generation.
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