ASUS SABERTOOTH Z87 mainboard review with Intel Core i7-4770K and ASUS GTX 650Ti Boost

Specifications

CPU

• Chipset
  Intel® Z87
• Memory
  4 x DIMM, Max. 32GB, DDR3 1866/1600/1333 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.  * Refer to www.asus.com for the Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors Lists).
• Graphic
  Integrated Graphics Processor Multi-VGA output support : HDMI/DisplayPort   ports *¹ – Supports HDMI with max. resolution 4096  x 2160  @ 24 Hz / 2560  x 1600  @ 60 Hz – Supports DisplayPort with max. resolution 4096  x 2160  @ 24 Hz / 3840  x 2160  @ 60 Hz Maximum shared memory of 1024  MB Supports Intel® InTru™ 3D, Quick Sync Video, Clear Video HD Technology, Insider™
• Multi-GPU Support
  Supports NVIDIA® Quad-GPU SLI™ Technology Supports AMD Quad-GPU CrossFireX™ Technology
• Expansion Slots
  2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8) 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (x4 mode, black) 3 x PCIe x1
• Storage
  Intel® Z87 chipset : 6 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), brown Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10 Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology, Intel® Rapid Start Technology, Intel® Smart Connect Technology ASMedia® ASM1061 controller : *² 2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), beige ASMedia® ASM1061 controller : *² 2 x eSATA 6Gb/s port(s), red
• LAN
  Intel® I217V, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s)
• Audio
  Realtek® ALC1150 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC – Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking – High quality 112 dB SNR stereo playback output (Line-out at rear) and 104 dB SNR recording input (Line-in) Audio Feature : – Absolute Pitch 192kHz/ 24-bit True BD Lossless Sound – Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel – BD Audio Layer Content Protection
• USB Ports
  Intel® Z87 chipset : 6 x USB 3.0/2.0 port(s) (4 at back panel, blue, 2 at mid-board) Intel® Z87 chipset : 8 x USB 2.0/1.1 port(s) (4 at back panel, black, 4 at mid-board)
• Special Features
  TUF ENGINE! Power Design : – 8 +2  Digital Phase Power Design – TUF Components (Alloy choke, Ti-Cap. & MOSFET; certified by military-standard) Ultimate COOL! Thermal Solution : – TUF Thermal Armor with Flow Valve – TUF Thermal Radar 2 Safe & Stable! Guardian Angel : – Dust Defender – TUF Fortifier ASUS Exclusive Features : – Remote GO! – USB BIOS Flashback – MemOK! – AI Suite 3 – Ai Charger – ESD Guards – Front Panel USB 3.0 Support – ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode featuring friendly graphics user interface – Network iControl – USB 3.0 Boost ASUS EZ DIY : – DirectKey – Precision Tweaker 2 – ASUS O.C. Profile – ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 – ASUS EZ Flash 2 – Multi-language BIOS ASUS Q-Design : – ASUS Q-Shield – ASUS Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED) – ASUS Q-Slot – ASUS Q-DIMM – ASUS Q-Connector
• Operating System Support
  Windows® 8 Windows® 7
• Back I/O Ports
  1 x DisplayPort 1 x HDMI 2 x eSATA 6Gb/s 1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s) 4 x USB 3.0 (blue) 4 x USB 2.0 1 x Optical S/PDIF out 6 x Audio jack(s) 1 x USB BIOS Flashback Button(s)
• Internal I/O Ports
  1 x USB 3.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.0 port(s) (19-pin, moss green) 2 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 4 USB 2.0 port(s) 1 x TPM header 8 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s) 1 x CPU Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin) 1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin) 4 x Chassis Fan connector(s) (4 x 4 -pin) 2 x Assistant Fan connector(s) (2 x 3 -pin) 1 x S/PDIF out header(s) 1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s) 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s) 1 x Front panel connector(s) 1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP) 1 x DirectKey Button(s) 1 x DRCT header(s) 1 x MemOK! button(s) 3 x Thermal sensor connector(s) 1 x Clear CMOS jumper(s)
• Accessories
  User’s manual Accessory Guide ASUS Q-Shield 4 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s) 1 x SLI bridge(s) 1 x Q-connector(s) (2 in 1) 2 x Accessory Fan(s) ( 35 mm ) 1 x TUF Certification card(s) 1 x TUF 5 Year Warranty manual(s) (by region) 1 x TUF Inside sticker(s) 1 x Accessory Package(s): – 1 x 40mm I/O Cover fan lid(s) – 3 x PCIe x16 slot dust cover(s) – 2 x DRAM slot dust cover(s) – 3 x PCIe x1 slot dust cover(s) – 2 x Short fan screw(s) – 4 x Long fan screw(s) – 1 x Adhesive Sponge(s) for 35mm Fan – 3 x Thermistor cable(s) – 1 x back I/O dust frame –  1 x back I/O dust grid – 1 x connector dust cover collection (On board USB 3.0, DVI, HDMI, DP, LAN) – 2 x On board USB 2.0 connector dust cover(s) – 8 x back I/O USB 2.0 connector dust cover(s) – 7 x On board SATA connector dust cover(s) – 2 x eSATA Connector dust cover(s) – 6 x Audio connector dust cover(s)
• BIOS
  64 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.7, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.7, ACPI 5.0, Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 2, ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3, My Favorites, Quick Note, Last Modified log, F12 PrintScreen, F3 Shortcut functions, and ASUS DRAM SPD (Serial Presence Detect) memory information
• Manageability
  WfM 2.0, DMI 2.7, WOL by PME, PXE
• Support Disc
  Drivers ASUS Utilities ASUS/TUF CPU-Z Anti-virus software (OEM version)
• Form Factor
  ATX Form Factor 12  inch x 9.6  inch ( 30.5  cm x 24.4  cm )
• Note
  *1:DP 1.2 Multi-Stream Transport compliant, supports DP 1.2 monitor daisy chain up to 3 displays *2: These SATA ports are for data hard drivers only. ATAPI devices are not supported.