Asus Z170-A User Manual Download Page 44

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Chapter 1: Product Introduction

13. Thunderbolt header (5-pin TB_HEADER)

This connector is for the add-on Thunderbolt I/O card that supports Intel’s Thunderbolt

Technology, allowing you to connect up to six Thunderbolt-enabled devices and a

DisplayPort-enabled display in a daisy-chain configuration.

The add-on Thunderbolt I/O card and Thunderbolt cables are purchased separately.

14. T_Sensor connector (2-pin T_SENSOR)

This connector is for the thermistor cable that allows you to monitor the temperature of

your motherboard’s critical components and connected devices.

The thermistor cable is purchased separately.

Summary of Contents for Z170-A

Page 1: ...Motherboard Z170 A ...

Page 2: ...espective companies and are used only for identification or explanation and to the owners benefit without intent to infringe Offer to Provide Source Code of Certain Software This product contains copyrighted software that is licensed under the General Public License GPL under the Lesser General Public License Version LGPL and or other Free Open Source Software Licenses Such software in this produc...

Page 3: ... Setup 2 1 Knowing BIOS 2 1 2 2 BIOS setup program 2 2 2 2 1 EZ Mode 2 3 2 2 2 Advanced Mode 2 4 2 2 3 QFan Control 2 7 2 2 4 EZ Tuning Wizard 2 9 2 3 My Favorites 2 12 2 4 Main menu 2 14 2 5 Ai Tweaker menu 2 16 2 6 Advanced menu 2 32 2 6 1 CPU Configuration 2 33 2 6 2 Platform Misc Configuration 2 35 2 6 3 System Agent SA Configuration 2 37 2 6 4 PCH Configuration 2 38 2 6 5 PCH Storage Configur...

Page 4: ... 2 9 4 ASUS DRAM SPD Information 2 60 2 9 5 Graphics Card Information 2 60 2 10 Exit menu 2 61 2 11 Updating BIOS 2 62 2 11 1 EZ Update 2 62 2 11 2 ASUS EZ Flash 3 2 63 2 11 3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 2 65 2 12 Installing an operating system 2 66 2 12 1 Windows 7 and USB 3 0 driver for 100 Series 2 66 Appendices Notices A 1 ASUS contact information A 5 ...

Page 5: ...therboard and adding components carefully read all the manuals that came with the package Before using the product ensure all cables are correctly connected and the power cables are not damaged If you detect any damage contact your dealer immediately To avoid short circuits keep paper clips screws and staples away from connectors slots sockets and circuitry Avoid dust humidity and temperature extr...

Page 6: ...ks properly take note of the following symbols used throughout this manual DANGER WARNING Information to prevent injury to yourself when completing a task CAUTION Information to prevent damage to the components when completing a task IMPORTANT Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task NOTE Tips and additional information to help you complete a task Typography Bold text Indicates a menu ...

Page 7: ...O C 2933 O C 2800 O C 2666 O C 2600 O C 2400 O C 2133 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 Please refer to Memory QVL Qualified Vendors List for details Expansion Slots 2 x PCI Express 3 0 2 0 x16 slots single at x16 or dual at x8 x8 mode 1 x PCI Exp...

Page 8: ...A devices LAN Gigabit Intel LAN connection 802 3az Energy Efficient Ethernet EEE appliance Intel I219 V Gigabit LAN Dual interconnect between the integrated Media Access Controller MAC and physical layer PHY ASUS LAN Guard ASUS Turbo LAN Utility Audio Realtek ALC892 8 channel high definition audio CODEC featuring Crystal Sound 3 Power pre regulator reduces power input noise to ensure consistent pe...

Page 9: ...l TPU switch EPU EPU Fan Xpert 3 featuring Fan Auto Tuning function and multiple thermistors selection for optimized system cooling control Turbo App featuring system performance tuning network priority and audio scene configuration for selected applications UEFI BIOS Most advanced options with fast response time Special Memory O C Design Superb memory O C capability under full load by minimizing ...

Page 10: ...ce TPU CrashFree BIOS 3 EZ Flash 3 ASUS Q Design ASUS Q LED CPU DRAM VGA Boot Device LED ASUS Q Slot ASUS Q DIMM ASUS Q Connector ASUS Special Features ASUS 5X Protection ASUS DIGI VRM 8 Phase digital power design ASUS Enhanced DRAM Overcurrent Protection Short circuit damage prevention ASUS ESD Guards Enhanced ESD protection ASUS High Quality 5K Hour Solid Capacitors 2 5x long lifespan with excel...

Page 11: ...I O Ports 1 x PS 2 Keyboard mouse combo port 1 x DisplayPort 1 x HDMI port 1 x DVI D 1 x RGB 1 x Optical S PDIF out 1 x Intel LAN RJ45 ports 1 x USB 3 1 3 0 2 0 ports teal blue Type A 1 x USB 3 1 3 0 2 0 ports Type C 2 x USB 3 0 2 0 ports blue 2 x USB 2 0 ports 8 channel Audio I O ports Internal I O Connectors 2 x USB 3 0 2 0 connectors support additional 4 USB ports 19 pin 2 x USB 2 0 1 1 connect...

Page 12: ...0 Multi language BIOS ASUS EZ Flash 3 CrashFree BIOS 3 F11 EZ Tuning Wizard F6 Qfan Control F3 My Favorites Quick Note Last Modified log F12 PrintScreen and ASUS DRAM SPD Serial Presence Detect memory information Manageability WfM 2 0 DMI 3 0 WOL by PME PXE Accessories 3 x Serial ATA 6 0Gb s cables 1 x ASUS SLI bridge connector 1 x 2 in 1 Q connector 1 x M 2 screw package 1 x CPU installation tool...

Page 13: ...rd from the wall socket before touching any component Before handling components use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or a metal object such as the power supply case to avoid damaging them due to static electricity Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them Whenever you uninstall any component place it on a grounded antistatic pad or in the bag that came...

Page 14: ...1 2 Chapter 1 Product Introduction Place this side towards the rear of the chassis 1 2 3 Motherboard layout ...

Page 15: ...SATA6G_12 SATA6G_34 SATA6G_56 SATA Express 1 24 8 M 2 Socket 3 1 28 9 TPU switch 1 37 10 Clear RTC RAM 2 pin CLRTC 1 19 11 System panel connector 20 3 pin PANEL 1 30 12 DirectKey connector 2 pin DRCT 1 28 13 EZ XMP switch 1 38 14 USB 2 0 connectors 10 1 pin USB1112 USB1314 1 29 15 Thunderbolt header 5 pin TB_HEADER 1 32 16 TPM connector 14 1 pin TPM 1 29 17 Power on button 1 38 18 Serial port conn...

Page 16: ...s missing or if you see any damage to the PnP cap socket contacts motherboard components ASUS will shoulder the cost of repair only if the damage is shipment transit related Keep the cap after installing the motherboard ASUS will process Return Merchandise Authorization RMA requests only if the motherboard comes with the cap on the LGA1150 socket The product warranty does not cover damage to the s...

Page 17: ...ASUS Z170 A Series 1 5 1 3 1 Installing the CPU Top of CPU Bottom of CPU Bottom of CPU ...

Page 18: ...1 6 Chapter 1 Product Introduction Top of CPU ...

Page 19: ...es 1 7 1 3 2 CPU heatsink and fan assembly installation Apply the Thermal Interface Material to the CPU heatsink and CPU before you install the heatsink and fan if necessary To install the CPU heatsink and fan assembly ...

Page 20: ...an assembly 1 4 System memory 1 4 1 Overview The motherboard comes with four Double Data Rate 4 DDR4 Dual Inline Memory Modules DIMM slots A DDR4 module is notched differently from a DDR DDR2 or DDR3 module DO NOT install a DDR DDR2 or DDR3 memory module to the DDR4 slot ...

Page 21: ...be about 3GB or less For effective use of memory we recommend that you do any of the following a Use a maximum of 3GB system memory if you are using a 32 bit Windows OS b Install a 64 bit Windows OS when you want to install 4 GB or more on the motherboard c For more details refer to the Microsoft support site at http support microsoft com kb 929605 en us This motherboard does not support DIMMs mad...

Page 22: ...85WD 16 18 18 36 1 35V DDR4 3200 O C MHz capability Vendors Part No Size SS DS Chip Brand Chip NO Timing Voltage DIMM socket support Optional 1 2 4 G SKILL F4 3200C16Q 16GRR 16GB 4GB 4 SS SK Hynix H5AN4G8NMFR 16 16 16 36 1 35V G SKILL F4 3200C16Q 16GRB 16GB 4GB 4 SS SK Hynix H5AN4G8NMFR 16 16 16 36 1 35V G SKILL F4 3200C16Q 16GRRK 16GB 4GB 4 SS SK Hynix H5AN4G8NMFR 16 16 16 36 1 35V AVEXIR AVD4U32...

Page 23: ...nix H5AN4G8NMFR 16 18 18 36 1 35V AVEXIR AVD4U30001504G 4BZ1 16GB 4GB 4 SS SK Hynix H5AN4G8NMFR 15 15 15 35 1 35V AVEXIR AVD4U30001608G 4CI 32GB 8GB 4 DS SK Hynix H5AN4G8NMFR 16 18 18 36 1 35V Kingston HX430C15PB2K4 16 16GB 4GB 4 SS 15 16 16 39 1 35V CORSAIR CMD16GX4M4B3000C15 16GB 4GB 4 SS Samsung K4A4G085WD 15 17 17 35 1 35V CORSAIR CMK16GX4M4B3000C15 16GB 4GB 4 SS Samsung K4A4G085WD 15 17 17 35...

Page 24: ... 17 17 35 1 2 CORSAIR CMK16GX4M4A2666C16 Ver4 23 XMP 16GB 4GB 4 SS 16 18 18 35 1 2 CORSAIR CMK16GX4M4A2666C16 Ver5 29 XMP 16GB 4GB 4 SS 16 18 18 35 1 2 CORSAIR CMK32GX4M4A2666C15 Ver4 23 XMP 32GB 8GB 4 DS 15 17 17 35 1 2 CORSAIR CMK32GX4M4A2666C15 Ver5 29 XMP 32GB 8GB 4 DS 15 17 17 35 1 2 CORSAIR CMK32GX4M4A2666C16 Ver5 29 XMP 32GB 8GB 4 DS 16 16 18 35 1 2 CORSAIR CMK32GX4M4A2666C16R Ver4 23 XMP 3...

Page 25: ... 36 1 2 CORSAIR CMD16GX4M4A2400C14 Ver4 23 XMP 16GB 4GB 4 SS 14 16 16 31 1 2 CORSAIR CMD32GX4M4A2400C14 Ver4 23 XMP 32GB 8GB 4 DS 14 16 16 31 1 2 CORSAIR CMK16GX4M4A2400C14 Ver4 23 XMP 16GB 4GB 4 SS 14 16 16 31 1 2 CORSAIR CMK32GX4M4A2400C14 Ver4 23 XMP 32GB 8GB 4 DS 14 16 16 31 1 2 Crucial BLS4G4D240FSA 8FAD 4GB SS 16 16 16 40 1 2 Crucial BLS4G4D240FSA 8FAR XMP 4GB SS 17 16 16 39 1 2 Crucial BLS8...

Page 26: ...32GB 8GB 4 DS 15 15 15 35 ISDT IMA41GU6MFR8N TF0 8GB DS ISDT I5AN4G8NMFR 15 15 15 35 1 2 ISDT IMA451U6MFR8N TF0 4GB SS ISDT I5AN4G8NMFR 15 15 15 35 1 2 Panram PUD42133C134G4NJW 16GB 4GB 4 SS 13 13 13 35 1 2 Panram PUD42133C138G4NJW 32GB 8GB 4 DS 13 13 13 35 1 2 Panram PUD42133C154G2VS 8GB 4GB 2 SS SK Hynix H5AN4GBNMFRTFC 15 15 15 36 1 2 Panram PUD42133C154GNJK 4GB SS 15 15 15 36 1 2 Panram PUD4213...

Page 27: ...ASUS Z170 A Series 1 15 1 4 3 DIMM installation ...

Page 28: ...the slot that you intend to use Keep the screw for later use 4 Align the card connector with the slot and press firmly until the card is completely seated on the slot 5 Secure the card to the chassis with the screw you removed earlier 6 Replace the system cover 1 5 Expansion slots In the future you may need to install expansion cards The following sub sections describe the slots and the expansion ...

Page 29: ...wo PCI groups making the system unstable and the card inoperable 1 5 3 PCI slot The PCI slot supports cards such as a LAN card SCSI card USB card and other cards that comply with PCI specifications 1 5 4 PCI Express 3 0 2 0 x1 slots This motherboard supports PCI Express x1 network cards SCSI cards and other cards that comply with the PCI Express specifications 1 5 5 PCI Express 3 0 2 0 x16 slots T...

Page 30: ...Intel xHCI Shared HD Audio Shared ASMedia Controller Shared PCI Slot Shared We recommend that you provide sufficient power when running CrossFireX or SLI mode Connect a chassis fan to the motherboard connector labeled CHA_FAN1 4 when using multiple graphics cards for better thermal environment VGA configuration PCI Express 3 0 operating mode PCIe 3 0 2 0 x16_1 PCIe 3 0 2 0 x16_2 Single VGA PCIe ca...

Page 31: ...ring the boot process and enter BIOS setup to re enter data Except when clearing the RTC RAM never short circuit the CLRTC jumper Shorting the CLRTC jumper will cause system boot failure If the steps above do not help remove the onboard battery and move the jumper again to clear the CMOS RTC RAM data After clearing the CMOS reinstall the battery You do not need to clear the RTC when thae system ha...

Page 32: ... CPU Over Voltage jumper allows you to set a higher CPU voltage for a flexible overclocking system depending on the type of the installed CPU To gain more CPU voltage setting insert the jumper to pins 2 3 To go back to its default CPU voltage setting insert the jumper to pins 1 2 ...

Page 33: ...nd audio port definitions Rear panel connectors 1 USB 2 0 ports 910 7 DVI D port 2 DisplayPort 8 USB 3 0 ports 56 supports USB 3 1 Boost 3 VGA port 9 USB Type C port EC1 supports USB 3 1 Boost 4 PS 2 keyboard mouse port 10 LAN_USB31_EA2 supports USB 3 1 Boost 5 LAN port 11 Optical S PDIF Out port 6 HDMI port 12 Audio I O ports ...

Page 34: ...upports the following maximum supported pixel clocks Pixel Clock H total x V Total x Frame Rate Screen refresh rate DVI port 148 MHz DisplayPort 675 MHz VGA port 210 MHz HDMI port 300 MHz Port Headset 2 channel 4 channel 6 channel 8 channel Light Blue Line In Line In Line In Side Speaker Out Lime Line Out Front Speaker Out Front Speaker Out Front Speaker Out Pink Mic In Mic In Mic In Mic In Orange...

Page 35: ...rs 1 Serial port connector 10 1 pin COM This connector is for a serial COM port Connect the serial port module cable to this connector then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis The COM module is purchased separately ...

Page 36: ...echnology through the onboard Intel Z170 chipset These connectors are set to AHCI Mode by default If you intend to create a Serial ATA RAID set using these connectors set the SATA Mode item in the BIOS to RAID Mode Refer to section 2 6 5 PCH Storage Configuration for details The M 2 socket shares SATA ports with SATA Express Only one SATA device could be activated To use an M 2 SATA device refer t...

Page 37: ... supports a CPU fan of maximum 1 A 12 W fan power Ensure that the CPU fan cable is securely installed to the CPU fan connector The CPU_FAN connector supports the CPU fan of maximum 1A 12 W fan power W_PUMP function support depends on water cooling device The CPU_FAN connector and CHA_FAN connectors support the ASUS FAN Xpert 3 feature The CPU fan connector detects the type of CPU fan installed and...

Page 38: ...may become unstable or may not boot up if the power is inadequate If you want to use two or more high end PCI Express x16 cards use a PSU with 1000W power or above to ensure the system stability If you are uncertain about the minimum power supply requirement for your system refer to the Recommended Power Supply Wattage Calculator at http support asus com PowerSupplyCalculator PSCalculator aspx SLa...

Page 39: ...u want to connect a high definition front panel audio module to this connector set the Front Panel Type item in the BIOS setup to HD Audio If you want to connect an AC 97 front panel audio module to this connector set the item to AC97 By default this connector is set to HD Audio See section 2 6 8 Onboard Devices Configuration for details 6 Digital audio connector 4 1 pin SPDIF_OUT This connector i...

Page 40: ... Ensure that your chassis comes with the extra button cable that supports the DirectKey feature Refer to the technical documentation that came with the chassis for details 8 M 2 socket 3 This socket allows you to install an M 2 NGFF SSD module This socket supports M Key and type 2242 2260 2280 22110 storage devices The M 2 NGFF SSD module is purchased separately The M 2 shares SATA mode with SATA ...

Page 41: ...eed Never connect a 1394 cable to the USB connectors Doing so will damage the motherboard The USB 2 0 module is purchased separately These connectors are based on xHCI specification We recommend you to install the related driver to fully use the USB 2 0 ports under Windows 7 10 TPM connector 14 1 pin TPM This connector supports a Trusted Platform Module TPM system which securely store keys digital...

Page 42: ...tem warning speaker 4 pin SPEAKER This 4 pin connector is for the chassis mounted system warning speaker The speaker allows you to hear system beeps and warnings ATX power button soft off button 2 pin PWR_SW This connector is for the system power button Pressing the power button turns the system on or puts the system in sleep or soft off mode depending on the operating system settings Pressing the...

Page 43: ...p to 5 Gb s faster charging time for USB chargeable devices optimized power efficiency and backward compatibility with USB 2 0 The USB 3 0 module is purchased separately These connectors are based on xHCI specification We recommend you to install the related driver to fully use the USB 3 0 ports under Windows 7 The plugged USB 3 0 device will run on xHCI mode These USB 3 0 ports support native UAS...

Page 44: ...x Thunderbolt enabled devices and a DisplayPort enabled display in a daisy chain configuration The add on Thunderbolt I O card and Thunderbolt cables are purchased separately 14 T_Sensor connector 2 pin T_SENSOR This connector is for the thermistor cable that allows you to monitor the temperature of your motherboard s critical components and connected devices The thermistor cable is purchased sepa...

Page 45: ...hback header 12 1 pin FLBK_HEADER This connector is for the USB BIOS Flashback card that allows you to easily update the BIOS without entering the existing BIOS or operating system The USB BIOS Flashback card is purchased separately ...

Page 46: ... you should shut down the system and unplug the power cable before removing or plugging any motherboard components The illustration below shows the location of the onboard LED 2 POST State LEDs The POST State LEDs provide the status of these key components during POST Power On Self Test CPU memory modules VGA card and hard disk drives If an error is found the critical component s LED stays lit up ...

Page 47: ...1 This LED lights up when you enable the EZ XMP switch 4 LED Design These LEDs light up when the system is fully powered and operating To turn off the LEDs refer to BIOS section 2 6 8 Onboard Devices Configuration LED Design Switch for details ...

Page 48: ...sts failsafe memory settings It takes about 30 seconds for the system to test one set of failsafe settings If the test fails the system reboots and test the next set of failsafe settings The blinking speed of the DRAM_LED increases indicating different test processes Due to memory tuning requirement the system automatically reboots when each timing set is tested If the installed DIMMs still fail t...

Page 49: ...pply proper Thermal Interface Material to the CPU heatsink and CPU before you set the TPU switch to TPU_II Water cooling If you enable this switch under Windows OS environment the TPU function will be activated after the next system bootup You may use the 5 Way Optimization and TPU feature in the AI Suite 3 application adjust the BIOS setup program or enable the TPU switch at the same time However...

Page 50: ... a power source indicating that you should shut down the system and unplug the power cable before removing or installing any motherboard component 4 EZ XMP switch Enable this switch to overclock the installed DIMMs allowing you to enhance the DIMM s speed and performance The EZ XMP LED XLED1 lights up when you enable the EZ XMP switch For the location of the EZ XMP LED refer to section 1 8 Onboard...

Page 51: ...ence only Running the support DVD Place the Support DVD into the optical drive If Autorun is enabled in your computer the DVD automatically displays the lists of the unique features of your ASUS motherboard Click the Drivers Utilities AHCI RAID Driver Manual Contact or Specials tabs to display their respective menus If Autorun is NOT enabled in your computer browse the contents of the Support DVD ...

Page 52: ...1 40 Chapter 1 Product Introduction ...

Page 53: ...d power management and boot device configuration that are needed for system startup in the motherboard CMOS In normal circumstances the default BIOS settings apply to most conditions to ensure optimal performance DO NOT change the default BIOS settings except in the following circumstances An error message appears on the screen during the system bootup and requests you to run the BIOS Setup You ha...

Page 54: ...MOS button The BIOS setup program does not support the Bluetooth devices BIOS menu screen The BIOS Setup program can be used under two modes EZ Mode and Advanced Mode You can change modes from the Exit menu or from the Exit Advanced Mode screen 2 2 BIOS setup program Use the BIOS Setup to update the BIOS or configure its parameters The BIOS screen include navigation keys and brief onscreen help to...

Page 55: ...2 8 Boot menu for details The boot device options vary depending on the devices you installed to the system Selects the display language of the BIOS setup program Displays the CPU motherboard temperature CPU voltage output CPU chassis power fan speed and SATA information Displays the system properties of the selected mode Click or to switch EZ System Tuning modes Loads optimized default settings C...

Page 56: ...o the following sections for the detailed configurations To switch from EZ Mode to Advanced Mode click Advanced Mode or press F7 hotkey Menu items General help Sub menu item Menu bar Last modified settings Go back to EZ Mode Displays the CPU temperature CPU and memory voltage output Language Hot Keys Qfan Control F6 MyFavorite F3 Quick Note F9 EZ Tuning Wizard F11 Scroll bar Pop up Menu Configurat...

Page 57: ... items Submenu items A greater than sign before each item on any menu screen means that the item has a submenu To display the submenu select the item and press Enter Language This button above the menu bar contains the languages that you can select for your BIOS Click this button to select the language that you want to display in your BIOS screen My Favorites F3 This button above the menu bar show...

Page 58: ...and change the settings Scroll bar A scroll bar appears on the right side of a menu screen when there are items that do not fit on the screen Press the Up Down arrow keys or Page Up Page Down keys to display the other items on the screen General help At the top right corner of the menu screen is a brief description of the selected item Use F12 key to capture the BIOS screen and save it to the remo...

Page 59: ...gure the operating speed of your CPU and chassis fans Click to select a fan to be configured Click to activate PWM Mode Click to undo the changes Click to apply the fan setting Click to go back to main menu Select a profile to apply to your fans Click to activate DC Mode Select to manually configure your fans ...

Page 60: ...nfigure your fans operating speed To configure your fans 1 Select the fan that you want to configure and to view its current status 2 Click and drag the speed points to adjust the fans operating speed 3 Click Apply to save the changes then click Exit ESC Speed points Select to manually configure your fans ...

Page 61: ...CPU fan to their best settings You can also set RAID in your system using this feature RAID setup OC Tuning To start OC Tuning 1 Press F11 on your keyboard or click from the BIOS screen to open EZ Tuning Wizard screen 2 Click OC then click Next 3 Select a PC scenario Daily Computing or Gaming Media Editing then click Next OC setup ...

Page 62: ...Ensure that your HDDs have no existing RAID volumes Ensure to connect your HDDs to Intel SATA connectors 3 Select the port that you want to set to RAID mode PCIE or SATA then click Next 4 Select a Main Cooling System BOX cooler Tower cooler Water cooler or I m not sure then click Next 5 After selecting the Main Cooling System click Next then click Yes to start the OC Tuning ...

Page 63: ... setup then click OK to reset your system You can only select Easy Backup RAID 10 if you connect four 4 HDDs b For Super Speed click Next then select from Super Speed RAID0 or Super Speed RAID5 a For Easy Backup click Next then select from Easy Backup RAID1 or Easy Backup RAID10 4 Select the type of storage for your RAID Easy Backup or Super Speed then click Next ...

Page 64: ...avorites is your personal space where you can easily save and access your favorite BIOS items My Favorites comes with several performance power saving and fast boot related items by default You can personalize this screen by adding or removing items ...

Page 65: ...en click the submenu that you want to save as favorite from the submenu panel and click or press Enter on your keyboard You cannot add the following items to My Favorite items Items with submenu options User managed items such as language and boot order Configuration items such as Memory SPD Information system time and date 4 Click Exit ESC or press Esc key to close Setup Tree Map screen 5 Go to M...

Page 66: ...ity settings Security The Security menu items allow you to change the system security settings If you have forgotten your BIOS password erase the CMOS Real Time Clock RTC RAM to clear the BIOS password See section 1 9 Onboard buttons and switches for information on how to erase the RTC RAM via the Clear CMOS button The Administrator or User Password items on top of the screen show the default Not ...

Page 67: ... password then press Enter 3 From the Create New Password box key in a new password then press Enter 4 Confirm the password when prompted To clear the administrator password follow the same steps as in changing an administrator password but press Enter when prompted to create confirm the password After you clear the password the Administrator Password item on top of the screen shows Not Installed ...

Page 68: ...ging a user password but press Enter when prompted to create confirm the password After you clear the password the User Password item on top of the screen shows Not Installed 2 5 Ai Tweaker menu The Ai Tweaker menu items allow you to configure overclocking related items Be cautious when changing the settings of the Ai Tweaker menu items Incorrect field values can cause the system to malfunction Th...

Page 69: ...dules supporting the eXtreme Memory Profile XMP Technology choose this item to set the profiles supported by your memory modules for optimizing the system performance The following item appears only when you set the Ai Overclocking Tuner to Manual BCLK Frequency 100 00 This item allows you to set the BCLK base clock frequency to enhance the system performance Use the or to adjust the value The val...

Page 70: ...sign a 1 Core Limit value that must be higher than or equal to the 2 Core Ratio Limit 2 Core Ratio Limit Auto Select Auto to apply the CPU default Turbo Ratio setting or manually assign a 2 Core Limit value that must be higher than or equal to the 3 Core Ratio Limit 3 Core Ratio Limit Auto Select Auto to apply the CPU default Turbo Ratio setting or manually assign a 3 Core Limit value that must be...

Page 71: ...ed system performance Keep Current Settings Keep the current settings without changing anything TPU I Applies air cooling overclocking conditions TPU II Applies water cooling overclocking conditions Ensure to use water cooling device before selecting TPU II EPU Power Saving Mode Disabled The ASUS EPU Energy Processing Unit sets the CPU in its minimum power consumption settings Configuration option...

Page 72: ... REF Cycle Time Auto Configuration options Auto 1 1023 DRAM Refresh Interval Auto Configuration options Auto 1 32767 DRAM WRITE Recovery Time Auto Configuration options Auto 1 31 DRAM READ to PRE Time Auto Configuration options Auto 1 15 DRAM FOUR ACT WIN Time Auto Configuration options Auto 1 63 DRAM WRITE to READ Delay Auto Configuration options Auto 1 15 DRAM WRITE to READ Delay L Auto Configur...

Page 73: ...DRAM CLOCK 80 DRAM CLOCK 120 DRAM CLOCK 240 DRAM CLOCK ODT RTT NOM CHB Auto Configuration options Auto 0 DRAM CLOCK 34 DRAM CLOCK 40 DRAM CLOCK 48 DRAM CLOCK 60 DRAM CLOCK 80 DRAM CLOCK 120 DRAM CLOCK 240 DRAM CLOCK Data Rising Slope Auto Configuration options Auto 0 15 Data Rising Slope Offset Auto Configuration options Auto 0 1 CMD Rising Slope Auto Configuration options Auto 0 15 CMD Rising Slo...

Page 74: ...options Auto 0 127 DRAM RTL CHB DIMM0 Rank0 Auto Configuration options Auto 0 127 DRAM RTL CHB DIMM0 Rank1 Auto Configuration options Auto 0 127 DRAM RTL CHB DIMM1 Rank0 Auto Configuration options Auto 0 127 DRAM RTL CHB DIMM1 Rank1 Auto Configuration options Auto 0 127 DRAM IOL CHA DIMM0 Rank0 Auto Configuration options Auto 0 15 DRAM IOL CHA DIMM0 Rank1 Auto Configuration options Auto 0 15 DRAM ...

Page 75: ... Auto 0 63 tRDWR_sg Auto Configuration options Auto 0 63 tRDWR_dg Auto Configuration options Auto 0 63 tWRWR_sg Auto Configuration options Auto 0 63 tWRWR_dg Auto Configuration options Auto 0 63 tWRRD_sg Auto Configuration options Auto 0 127 tWRRD_dg Auto Configuration options Auto 0 63 tRDRD_dr Auto Configuration options Auto 0 63 tRDRD_dd Auto Configuration options Auto 0 63 tRDWR_dr Auto Config...

Page 76: ...e or disable memory scrambler support Configuration options Enabled Disabled Channel A DIMM Control Enable Both DIMMS Allows you to enable or disable the Channel A DIMM slots Configuration options Enable Both DIMMS Disable DIMM0 Disable DIMM1 Disable Both DIMMS Channel B DIMM Control Enable Both DIMMS Allows you to enable or disable the Channel B DIMM slots Configuration options Enable Both DIMMS ...

Page 77: ... for CPU overclocking A higher value setting provides higher power consumption delivery and extends the overclocking frequency range simultaneously Configuration options Auto 100 110 120 130 140 Configure higher values when overclocking or under a high CPU loading for extra power support CPU VRM Switching Frequency Auto This item affects the VRM transient response speed and the component thermal p...

Page 78: ...U power voltage The CPU working voltage decreases proportionally to CPU loading Higher load line calibration could get higher voltage and good overclocking performance but increases the CPU and VRM thermal conditions Select from levels 1 to 7 to adjust the CPU power voltage from 0 to 100 Auto Level 1 Level 7 CPU Graphics Current Capability Auto The GT current capability adjusts the total power ran...

Page 79: ...conditions should be monitored Boot Voltages CPU Core Cache Boot Voltage Auto Configuration options Auto 0 600 1 700 DMI Boot Voltage Auto Configuration options Auto 0 300 1 900 CPU System Agent Boot Voltage Auto Configuration options Auto 0 7000 1 8000 CPU VCCIO Boot Voltage Auto Configuration options Auto 0 7000 1 8000 CPU Standby Boot Voltage Auto The voltage for CPU standby at initial Boot Con...

Page 80: ...atio s time duration that exceeds the TDP Thermal Design Power for maximum performance Use the and keys to adjust the value Configuration options Auto 1 4095 Package Power Time Window Auto Also known as Power Limit 1 and allows you to maintain the time window for Turbo Ratio over TDP Thermal Design Power Use the and keys to adjust the value Configuration options Auto 1 127 Short Duration Package P...

Page 81: ...essor Configuration options Auto 700mV 800mV 900mV 1000mV BCLK Slew Rate Auto This item allows you to set the speed at which each clock rises and falls Configuration options Auto 1 5V ns 2 5V ns 3 5V ns 4 5V ns BCLK Spread Spectrum Auto This item allows you to reduce the EMI Diable to get more accurate base clocks Configuration options Auto Disabled 0 22 0 34 0 46 0 12 0 22 0 28 0 38 0 17 BCLK Fre...

Page 82: ...n options Auto 8 26 Max CPU Graphics Ratio Auto This item allows you to set the CPU graphics ratio The ratio may vary depending on the system loading Use the and keys to adjust the value Configuration options Auto 1 19 Extreme Over voltage Disabled Enable this item to allow higher voltages for overclocking but the CPU lifetime will not be guaranteed Configuration options Enabled Disabled This item...

Page 83: ...Auto Configures the DRAM Data REF Voltage Configuration options Auto 0 63 DRAM DATA REF Voltage on CHA DIMM0 Rank1 BL0 7 Auto Configures the DRAM Data REF Voltage Configuration options Auto 0 63 DRAM DATA REF Voltage on CHA DIMM1 Rank0 BL0 7 Auto Configures the DRAM Data REF Voltage Configuration options Auto 0 63 DRAM DATA REF Voltage on CHA DIMM1 Rank1 BL0 7 Auto Configures the DRAM Data REF Vol...

Page 84: ...Advanced menu The Advanced menu items allow you to change the settings for the CPU and other system devices Be cautious when changing the settings of the Advanced menu items Incorrect field values can cause the system to malfunction ...

Page 85: ...wo logical processors allowing the operating system to schedule two threads or processors simultaneously Configuration options Disabled Enabled Active Processor Cores All This item allows you to select the number of CPU cores to activate in each processor package Configuration options All 1 2 3 Intel Virtualization Technology Enabled When set to Enabled a VMM can utilize the additional hardware ca...

Page 86: ...anage and configure the CPU s power Intel SpeedStep tm Enabled This item allows your system to adjust the CPU s voltage and cores frequency resulting in decreased power consumption and heat production Disabled The CPU runs at its default speed Enabled The system controls the CPU speed Turbo Mode Enabled This item allows you to automatically set the CPU cores to run faster than the base operating f...

Page 87: ...options Enabled Disabled 2 6 2 Platform Misc Configuration The items in this menu allow you to configure the platform related features PCIE Native Power Management Disabled This item allows you to enhance the power saving feature of PCI Express and perform ASPM operations in the operating system Configuration options Disabled Enabled The following item appears only when you set the PCI Express Nat...

Page 88: ...iguration options Disabled L0s L1 L0sL1 Auto SA PCI Express DMI Link ASPM Control Disabled This item allows you to control the Active State Power Management on both CPU and PCH platform controller hub Both DMI link ASPM control items of the CPU and PCH sides must be enabled for the ASPM to take effect Configuration options Disabled L1 PEG ASPM Support Disabled This item allows you to select the AS...

Page 89: ...is item allows you to enable the iGPU Multi Monitor The iGPU shared system memory size is fixed 64 MB Configuration options Disabled Enabled DMI OPI Configuration This item allows you to control various DMI direct media interface functions DMI Max Link Speed Auto Set this item to Enabled to set DMI speed Configuration options Auto Gen1 Gen2 Gen3 PEG Port Configuration This item allows you to confi...

Page 90: ...ws your system to automatically select the PCI Express port speed Configuration options Auto Gen1 Gen2 Gen3 2 6 5 PCH Storage Configuration While entering Setup the BIOS automatically detects the presence of SATA devices The SATA Port items show Not Present if no SATA device is installed to the corresponding SATA port Scroll down to display the other BIOS items ...

Page 91: ...CIE port to SATA for RAID Remapping Configuration options Disabled Enabled SATA Express PCIE Storage RAID Support Disabled This item allows you to enable or disable PCIE port to SATA for RAID Remapping Configuration options Disabled Enabled PCIEX16_3 PCIE Storage RAID Support Disabled This item allows you to enable or disable PCIE port to SATA for RAID Remapping Configuration options Disabled Enab...

Page 92: ...evices can be used for BIOS setup only and cannot be recognized in the boot devices list Auto Your system automatically detects the presence of USB devices at startup If any USB devices are detected the legacy USB support is enabled XHCI Hand off Disabled Enabled Enables the support for operating systems without an XHCI hand off feature Disabled Disables the XHCI Hand off support USB Single Port C...

Page 93: ...ork stack Configuration options Disable Enable The following item appears only when you set the Network Stack to Enabled Ipv4 Ipv6 PXE Support Enabled This item allows you to enable or disable the Ipv4 Ipv6 PXE wake event Configuration options Disabled Enabled 2 6 8 Onboard Devices Configuration Scroll down to view the other BIOS items ...

Page 94: ... SPDIF Out Type SPDIF SPDIF Sets to an SPDIF audio output HDMI Sets to an HDMI audio output PCI EX16_3 Bandwidth Enabled Auto Run at X2 mode with SATA6G_56 enabled X4 mode Run at X4 mode for high performance support with SATA6G_56 M 2 and SATA Express Mode Configuration SATA EXpress M 2 SATA mode will be switched to M 2 SATA Express can only support PCIE devices SATA EXpress SATA mode will be swit...

Page 95: ...options Enabled Disabled LED Design Switch Auto Auto LEDs will only light up when the system is fully powered and operating Enabled LEDs will always light up at the S0 Working S3 Sleep and S5 Soft off states but not light up at the S5 state when the ErP Ready is enabled Disabled LEDs will not light up Serial Port Configuration The items in this menu allows you to set the parameters of the serial p...

Page 96: ...AC power loss Configuration options Power Off Power On Last State Power On By PCI E PCI Disabled This item allows you to enable or disable the Wake on LAN function of the onboard LAN controller or other installed PCI E LAN cards Configuration options Disabled Enabled Power On By Ring Disabled This item allows you to enable disable the Power On by Ring feature of your motherboard Configuration opti...

Page 97: ... Intel R Thunderbolt Intel Thunderbolt Technology Disabled This item allows you to disable or enable the Intel Thunderbolt Technology Configuration options Fully Disabled Disabled Enabled ThunderBolt Boot Support Disabled This item allows you to disable or enable the ThunderBolt Boot Support Configuration options Disabled Enabled ...

Page 98: ...lect Ignore if you do not wish to display the detected temperatures CPU Fan Speed CPU Optional Fan Water Pump Speed Chassis Fan 1 4 Speed EXT Fan 1 3 xxxx RPM or Ignore N A The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the CPU chassis and power fan speed in rotations per minute RPM If the fan is not connected to the motherboard the field shows N A Select Ignore if you do not wish...

Page 99: ...Limit 200 RPM This item allows you to set the low limit warning for CPU Fan speed Configuration options Ignore 200 RPM 300 RPM 400 RPM 500 RPM 600 RPM CPU Fan Profile Standard This item allows you to set the appropriate performance level of the CPU fan Standard Set to make the CPU fan adjust automatically depending on the CPU temperature Silent Set to minimize the fan speed for quiet CPU fan opera...

Page 100: ...ource Configuration options CPU MotherBoard VRM PCH T_SENSOR1 EXT_ Sensor1 EXT_Sensor2 EXT_Sensor3 For EXT_Sensor1 3 connect a Thermistor cable to the EXT_TS1 3 header then place the other end to the component to get the temperature Chassis Fan 1 4 Step Up 0 sec This item allows you to set the value of the CPU fan step up Configuration options 0 sec 12 sec 25 sec 51 sec 76 sec 102 sec 127 sec 153 ...

Page 101: ...nge from 20 to 75 The Chassis Fan 1 4 will operate at the minimum duty cycle when the temperature is lower than the limit Chassis Fan 1 4 Min Duty Cycle 60 Use the or keys to adjust the minimum Chassis Fan 1 4 fan duty cycle The values range from 0 to 100 When the CPU temperature is under the limit the Chassis Fan 1 4 fan will operate at the minimum duty cycle ASUS FAN EXTENSION CARD is required t...

Page 102: ...ange from 20 to 75 Extension Fan 1 4 Middle Duty Cycle 60 Use the or keys to adjust the maximum Extension Fan 1 4 duty cycle The values range from 20 to 100 When the CPU temperature reaches the upper limit the Extension Fan 1 4 will operate at the maximum duty cycle Extension Fan 1 4 Lower Temperature 40 Use the or keys to adjust the lower limit of the Extension Fan 1 4 temperature The values rang...

Page 103: ...ches the upper limit the Water Pump will operate at the maximum duty cycle Water Pump Lower Temperature 20 Use the or keys to adjust the lower limit of the Water Pump temperature The values range from 20 to 75 The Water Pump will operate at the minimum duty cycle when the temperature is lower than the limit Water Pump Min Duty Cycle 20 Use the or keys to adjust the minimum Water Pump duty cycle Th...

Page 104: ...artial Initial For a faster POST time only USB ports with keyboard and mouse connections will be detected PS2 Devices Support Enabled Allows you to enable or disable control of the PS2 devices availability during POST Configuration options Enabled Disabled Network Stack Driver Support Disabled Disabled Select to skip the network stack driver from loading during POST Enabled Select to load the netw...

Page 105: ...s 1 sec 10 sec Until Press ESC Bootup NumLock State Enabled This item allows you to enable or disable power on state of the NumLock Configuration options Disabled Enabled Above 4G Decoding Disabled This item enables or disables 64 bit capable devices to be decoded in above 4G address space if your system supports 64 bit PCI Decoding Configuration options Enabled Disabled Wait For F1 If Error Enabl...

Page 106: ... that you want to launch Configuration options Legacy only UEFI driver first Ignore Boot from Storage Devices Legacy only This item allows you to select the type of storage devices that you want to launch Configuration options Legacy only UEFI driver first Ignore Boot from PCI E PCI Expansion Devices Legacy only This item allows you to select the type of PCI E PCI expansion devices that you want t...

Page 107: ...elete Key Allows you to delete the KEK from your system Configuration options Yes No Set New Key Allows you to load the downloaded KEK from a USB storage device Append Key Allows you to load the additional KEK from a storage device for an additional db and dbx loaded management The KEK file must be formatted as a UEFI variable structure with time based authenticated variable DB Management Delete K...

Page 108: ...d variable Boot Option Priorities These items specify the boot device priority sequence from the available devices The number of device items that appears on the screen depends on the number of devices installed in the system To access Windows OS in Safe Mode press F8 after POST Windows 8 not supported To select the boot device during system startup press F8 when the ASUS Logo appears Boot Overrid...

Page 109: ... SSD speeds may lower over time as with any storage medium due to data processing Secure Erase completely and safely cleans your SSD restoring it to factory performance levels Secure Erase is only available in AHCI mode Ensure to set the SATA mode to AHCI Click Advanced SATA Configuration AHCI To launch Secure Erase click Tool Secure Erase on the Advanced mode menu Check the ASUS support site for ...

Page 110: ... freezing them prior to booting If the drive is frozen a power off or hard reset of your PC must be performed to proceed with the Secure Erase Locked SSDs might be locked if the Secure Erase process is either incomplete or was stopped This may be due to a third party software that uses a different password defined by ASUS You have to unlock the SSD in the software before proceeding with Secure Era...

Page 111: ...OS file only coming from the same memory CPU configuration and BIOS version Profile Name This item allows you to key in a profile name Save to Profile This item allows you to save the current BIOS settings to the BIOS Flash and create a profile Key in a profile number from one to eight press Enter and then select Yes Load Save Profile from to USB Drive This item allows you to load or save profile ...

Page 112: ...mation This item displays the information about the graphics card installed in your system GPU Post This item displays the information and recommended configuration for the PCIE slots that the graphics card is installed in your system Bus Interface This item allows you to select the bus interface Configuration options PCIEX16_1 PCIEX16_2 ...

Page 113: ...values Save Changes Reset Once you are finished making your selections choose this option from the Exit menu to ensure the values you selected are saved When you select this option or if you press F10 a confirmation window appears Select OK to save changes and exit Discard Changes Exit This option allows you to exit the Setup program without saving your changes When you select this option or if yo...

Page 114: ...d BIOS setup program 1 EZ Update Updates the BIOS in Windows environment 2 ASUS EZ Flash 3 Updates the BIOS using a USB flash drive 3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 Restores the BIOS using the motherboard support DVD or a USB flash drive when the BIOS file fails or gets corrupted 2 11 1 EZ Update EZ Update is a utility that allows you to automatically update your motherboard s softwares drivers and the BIO...

Page 115: ...USB 1 Enter the Advanced Mode of the BIOS setup program Go to the Tool menu to select ASUS EZ Flash Utility and press Enter 2 Insert the USB flash disk that contains the latest BIOS file to the USB port 3 Select by USB 4 Press Tab to switch to the Drive field 5 Press the Up Down arrow keys to find the USB flash disk that contains the latest BIOS and then press Enter 6 Press Tab to switch to the Fo...

Page 116: ...10 Exit Menu for details To update the BIOS by Internet 1 Enter the Advanced Mode of the BIOS setup program Go to the Tool menu to select ASUS EZ Flash Utility and press Enter 2 Select by Internet 3 Press the Left Right arrow keys to select an Internet connection method and then press Enter Ensure to load the BIOS default settings to ensure system compatibility and stability Select the Load Optimi...

Page 117: ...le download the file at http support asus com and save it to a USB flash drive Recovering the BIOS To recover the BIOS 1 Turn on the system 2 Insert the motherboard support DVD to the optical drive or the USB flash drive containing the BIOS file to the USB port 3 The utility automatically checks the devices for the BIOS file When found the utility reads the BIOS file and enters ASUS EZ Flash 2 aut...

Page 118: ...vers to be preloaded in order to use USB keyboard mouse during Windows 7 installation This section is a guide on preloading USB 3 0 drivers and installing Windows 7 Method 1 Using SATA ODD USB devices Load USB 3 0 drivers using the ASUS support DVD and install Windows 7 using a USB device Requirement 1 x ASUS support DVD 1 x Windows 7 installation source 1 x SATA ODD 1 x USB device ODD or storage ...

Page 119: ...automatically during installation startup The Setup is starting screen will show up if the USB 3 0 driver is loaded correctly 7 Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the Windows 7 installation 5 Select the USB ODD or USB storage device as the boot device ...

Page 120: ...he ASUS supporting DVD to your system 3 Edit the ISO file and add both Auto_Unattend xml and Auto_Unattend folder into the ISO file 4 Burn this ISO file onto an empty DVD to create a modified Windows 7 installation DVD 5 Insert the modified Windows 7 installation DVD into an ODD on your 100 series platform 6 Power on your system and press F8 during POST Power On Self Test to enter the boot screen ...

Page 121: ...DVD 1 x Working system PC or notebook 1 x SATA ODD 1 x USB storage device 8 GB or more 1 Insert the Windows 7 installation DVD 2 Launch the ASUS EZ Installer located on the ASUS support DVD 3 Select a method of creating a modified Windows 7 installation file Windows 7 OS disk to USB storage device Select Windows 7 OS disk to USB storage device then click Next Check I agree and then click Next ...

Page 122: ...e USB storage device and click next Click the refresh icon if the USB storage device is not displayed Click Yes to clear the contents on the USB storage device and create a bootable USB device Make sure to backup contents on the USB storage device as it will be formatted Once completed click OK to finish ...

Page 123: ... Z170 A Series 2 71 Windows 7 OS disk to ISO file Select Windows 7 OS disk to ISO file then click Next Check I agree and then click Next Select the source of the Windows 7 installation disk then click Next ...

Page 124: ... or connect the USB storage device with modified Windows 7 installation files onto your 100 series platform 5 Power on your system and press F8 during POST Power On Self Test to enter the boot screen 6 Select the ODD or USB storage device as the boot device 7 The USB 3 0 driver will be loaded automatically during installation startup The Setup is starting screen will show up if the USB 3 0 driver ...

Page 125: ... harmful interference to radio communications However there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures Reorient or relocate...

Page 126: ...a Cet appareil numérique de la Classe B respecte toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada Cet appareil est conforme aux normes CNR exemptes de licence d Industrie Canada Le fonctionnement est soumis aux deux conditions suivantes 1 cet appareil ne doit pas provoquer d interférences et 2 cet appareil doit accepter toute interférence y compris celles susceptibles de prov...

Page 127: ...US Recycling Takeback Services ASUS recycling and takeback programs come from our commitment to the highest standards for protecting our environment We believe in providing solutions for you to be able to responsibly recycle our products batteries other components as well as the packaging materials Please go to http csr asus com english Takeback htm for detailed recycling information in different ...

Page 128: ...tivo è conforme ai requisiti essenziali e alle altre disposizioni pertinenti alle direttive CE Per maggiori informazioni fate riferimento alla dichiarazione di conformità CE Компания ASUS заявляет что это устройство соответствует основным требованиям и другим соответствующим условиям европейских директив Подробную информацию пожалуйста смотрите в декларации соответствия Български С настоящото Asus...

Page 129: ...RNATIONAL America Address 800 Corporate Way Fremont CA 94539 USA Telephone 1 510 739 3777 Fax 1 510 608 4555 Web site http www asus com us Technical Support Support fax 1 812 284 0883 Telephone 1 812 282 2787 Online support http www service asus com ASUS COMPUTER GmbH Germany and Austria Address Harkort Str 21 23 D 40880 Ratingen Germany Fax 49 2102 959911 Web site http www asus com de Online cont...

Page 130: ...h the essential requirements of the following directives 2004 108 EC EMC Directive EN 55022 2010 AC 2011 EN 61000 3 2 2006 A2 2009 EN 55013 2001 A1 2003 A2 2006 EN 55024 2010 EN 61000 3 3 2013 EN 55020 2007 A11 2011 1999 5 EC R TTE Directive EN 300 328 V1 8 1 2012 06 EN 300 440 1 V1 6 1 2010 08 EN 300 440 2 V1 4 1 2010 08 EN 301 511 V9 0 2 2003 03 EN 301 908 1 V5 2 1 2011 05 EN 301 908 2 V5 2 1 20...

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Asus Z170-A, User Manual

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