Until we see Intels upcoming CPU it will take some time. Never the less ASUS has already sent aus a Sabertooth Z77 board which builds upon Intels latest performance desktop chipset. Typical for motherboards from the Sabertooth series is that it comes with a lot of features especially designed for stability and durability. For example you get the Thermal Armor and the Thermal Shield. 
The Sabertooth Z77 belongs to ASUS' TUF-series motherboards regarding which the manufacturer focuses on the boards durability. As always we're very curious what this thing is capable of from a layout and design perspective.
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 4 - Connectors and I/O |
| Page 2 - Specifications / Delivery | Page 5 - Conclusion |
| Page 3 - Layout |
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Specifications / Delivery
| CPU | Intel Socket 1155 for 3rd/2nd Generation Processors |
| Chipset | Intel Z77 |
| Memory | 4 x DIMM, Max. 32GB, DDR3 MHz Memory |
| Multi-GPU | Supports NVIDIA Quad-GPU SLI Technology Supports AMD Quad-GPU CrossFireX Technology Supports LucidLogix Virtu MVP Technology |
| Slots | 2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (x4 mode, black) 3 x PCIe 2.0 x1 |
| Audio | Realtek ALC892, 7.1 Channel |
| Storage | 2 x SATA 6 Gb/s port (Intel RAID 0, 1, 5, 10) 4 x SATA 3 Gb/s port (Intel RAID 0, 1, 5, 10) 2 x SATA 6 Gb/s port (ASMedia 1061) 1 x eSATA 6 Gb/s port (ASMedia 1061) |
| LAN | 1 x Intel 82579V Gigabit |
| I/O internal / Connectors | |
| I/O external | |
| Formfactor | ATX (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm) |
| BIOS | 64Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS GUI |
| Warranty | 3 years (5 years by region) |
Accessories
| Accessory Package
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Features
| TUF Thermal Armor | The TUF Thermal Armor is a thermal design for the entire motherboard, not just for selected critical areas. It safeguards the system against hot air generated by connected cards and components, keeping temperatures low. With its integrated shunt design, the Thermal Armor improves air circulation, directing it towards important components. It effectively conducts hot air away and out of the case through special airflow channels, contributing to enhanced system stability and extending component lifespan. |
| TUF Thermal Radar | The TUF Thermal Radar monitors temps in critical parts of the motherboard in real time, automatically adjusting fan speeds to make sure the system maintains high stability without overheating. It consists of multiple sensors for various components on the motherboard, giving users the ability to monitor each one individually. The Thermal Radar automatically calculates ideal fan speeds based on different parameters selected by users for each component, keeping everything cooler and longer lasting. |
| ASUS Update | Allows us to check and update the latest available BIOS directly from ASUS website. |
| ASUS FAN Xpert | FAN Xpert allows you to adjust both the CPU and chassis fan speeds according to different ambient temperatures and your PC's system loading. The various fan profiles affer flexible controls of fan speed to achieve a quiet and cool system environment. |
| ASUS MyLogo | Allow you to change the POST Logo at system startup with any pic you want. |
| SSD Caching | According to ASUS SSD caching can boost your system performance by a factor of three. Therefore it uses a small SSD as a caching drive and all the small data is being put onto the SSD which offers way more IOPS than a hard drvie. |
| ASUS DIGI+ VRM | Meanwhile ASUS also provides its boards with digital power designs. Using the the right software, in this case ASUS DIGI+ VRM Utility it is not only possible to adjust voltages whilst being in Windows on can now also control impedances. |
| ASUS TPU | As soon as one activates the TPU this chips monitors all possible voltages and clock speeds using the according software. The difference to the EPU is that TPU will provide as much performance as possible. Therefore it can increase clock speeds and voltages. |
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 4 - Connectors and I/O |
| Page 2 - Specifications / Delivery | Page 5 - Conclusion |
| Page 3 - Layout |
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Layout
The Sabertooth Z77 comes in the typcial military look, which ASUS provides their TUF series motherboards with. Therefore the manufacturer uses colors like olive-green, black and grey. Generally it is the goal to achieve a look that automatically suggests that this is a high quality and "tough" product. Like the predecessors this model also comes with cooling blocks made from ceramic. Altogether ASUS succeeded in generating a homogenous look but one really needs to like the color scheme and we think that not everybody will enjoy the military looks.
ASUS provided their latest TUF-series motherboard with a digital power design, whereas the CPU gets eight phases and the memory gets two phases. Looking at the capacitors themselves you'll find ML caps around the CPU socket. These multilayer polymer capacitors offer advantages over ceramic capacitors. Therefore super ML caps remain stable under regular as well as AC voltage, doesn't have an aging mechanism and are resilient under thermal shock.
Totally you'll find four DIMM-slots on the ASUS Sabertooth Z77. The official clock speeds that are still under NDA. Therefore we'll release them whit the launch of Intels upcoming CPUs.
The current converters are being held at adequate temperatures via a passive heatpipe cooling solution. There are two separate cooling blocks covering the area which are connected via a heatpipe. The southbridge got a cooling block too, which has not been integrated into the heatpipe loop of the VRM. The fact that the cooling blocks around the CPU socket aren't too big makes it comfortable to install a big aircooler. We also noticed the very high manufacturing quality of the cooling blocks.
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| Page 2 - Specifications / Delivery | Page 5 - Conclusion |
| Page 3 - Layout |
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Anschlüsse und I/O
Totally ASUS equipped the Sabertooth Z77 with eight angled SATA ports which should be enough for any office PC or gaming system. Right next to the SATA ports there is a USB 3.0 header which has also been angled by 90 degrees. Unfortunately you won't find practical onboard power- and reset-buttons. ASUS also didn't equip the Sabertooth Z77 with a debug display which would have been useful if you should once have issues with one of the components in your system. It is quite common that the last PCI-Express x16 slot is also the expansion slot is the closest to the bottom edge of the board. That has the consequence that the connectors at this place aren't accessible anymore. The Sabertooth Z77 is no exception in this case. On the other hand there is two slots of space between the first and the second full size PCI Express port. This means that an SLI setup will be very well ventilated.
Totally you'll find eight fan headers on the ASUS Sabertooth Z77 which is more than enough, to provide a well equipped midrange or even a high-end-system with fresh air. Two of these eight fan header are there to connect the 35 millimeter assist fans to board. The ohter six fan headers are located around the CPU and they're also spread over the board which makes them easily accessible from any position in an enclosure. Furthermore all the fans connected to the different fan headers can be controled via the software you use for the thermal radar.
Looking at the external connectors directly at the back-panel ASUS equipped the Sabertooth Z77 with four USB 3.0/2.0 ports, four USB 2.0 port, two eSATA 6 Gbps ports, one gigabit ethernet port, an analogue audio panel and an HDMI as well as a DisplayPort connector. Furthermore there also is a BIOS reset button.
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| Page 2 - Specifications / Delivery | Page 5 - Conclusion |
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Fazit
| Allgemein | + | - | |
| The Sabertooth Z77 generally is an interesting board. In combination with a down-draft CPU cooler this motherboard will be cooled very efficiently. This will, as a consequence, extend the components lifespan. With the "Thermal Radar" the Sabertooth Z77 offers good possibilities to control the temperatures and airflow in your case. Using the corresponding software one can control the fans connected to the board and therefore realize highly efficient cooling. | - Design - Cooling concept |
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| Layout | + | - | |
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Generally the ASUS Sabertooth Z77s layout is well thought. Once more very practical are the angled SATA connectors. Unfortunately there are no practical power/reset buttons onboard and also for a debug LED you'd be looking in vain. Unfortunately the last expansion slots is a PCI-Express x16 slot, which means that if you choose to install a dual slots graphics card at this place you're going to cover the connectors at the bottom edge of the board. On the other hand there are two slots between the PCIe-x16 slots which means that an SLI or CrossFire setup will get a perfect environment when it comes to cooling. |
- Angled SATA connectors - Two slots between first two PCIe-x16 slots |
- No Power/Reset-Button onboard - NoDebug display - PCI-Express x16 as last slot |
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| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 4 - Connectors and I/O |
| Page 2 - Specifications / Delivery | Page 5 - Conclusion |
| Page 3 - Layout |
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Author: m.buechel@ocaholic.ch