With the H97-Pro ASUS has an H97 based motherboard in it's portfolio, that comes with a really interesting feature mix. For example there are not only SATA ports, there is also a SATA Express header and even an M.2 slot. So far this sounds like a good reason to be curious about this board.
The H97-Pro is a new ASUS H97
motherboard,
which comes with a reasonable price as well as an attractive feature set.
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Specs and Delivery
Chipset |
Intel H97 |
Memory |
Dual Channel DDR3, 4 x DIMM, Max. 32
GB DDR3, 1600 / 1333 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory |
Multi-GPU |
- Supports NVIDIA Quad-GPU SLI Technology
- Supports AMD Quad-GPU CrossFireX Technology
|
Slots |
- 1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16
- 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (x4 mode)
- 2 x PCIe 2.0 x1
- 3 x PCI
- 1 x M.2 Socket 3
|
Sound |
Realtek ALC892 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC
- DTS Ultra PC II
- DTS Connect
- Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel
- Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
- Optical S/PDIF out port at back panel
- Dedicated audio PCB layers
- Unique de-pop circuit
- Audio amplifier
- Premium Japanese-made audio capacitors
|
Storage |
Intel H97 chipset
- 4 x SATA 6Gb/s port
- 1 x M.2 (NGFF)
- 1 x SATA Express port
- 1 x M.2 Slot
|
Network |
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Internal Connectors |
- 1 x USB 3.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.0 port(s)
- 3 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 6 USB 2.0 port(s)
- 1 x SATA Express connector: , compatible with 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports
- 1 x M.2 Socket 3 for M Key, type 2260/2280 devices
- 1 x TPM header
- 1 x COM port connector
- 4 x SATA 6Gb/s connector
- 1 x CPU Fan connector
- 3 x Chassis Fan connector
- 1 x S/PDIF out header
- 1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector
- 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector
- 1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP)
- 1 x System panel (Q-Connector)
- 1 x MemOK! button
- 1 x GPU Boost switch
- 1 x Clear CMOS jumper
|
Extrenal Connectors |
- 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port(s)
- 1 x DVI-D
- 1 x D-Sub
- 1 x HDMI
- 1 x LAN (RJ45) port
- 4 x USB 3.0 (blue)
- 2 x USB 2.0
- 6 x Audio jack(s)
|
Forfactor |
ATX Form Factor (30.5cm x 21.8cm) |
BIOS |
Bios (64 Mb flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS) |
- User's manual
- I/O Shield
- 4 x SATA 6Gb/s cable
- 1 x Q-connector(s) (2 in 1)
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Features
ASUS 5X Protection |
In this case the
ASUS marketing department has been thinking about a new name for a set
of features and come up with the "5X Protection" which is the word they associate with the
following things. First of all there is a six phase Digi+ power design,
which is built around an ASP1103 chip. Second, you get ASUS DRAM OCP,
which provides short circuit protection. You also get the so
called ESD guard that features additional protection regarding
electrostatic discharge. Last but not least, we find capacitors, which
have been rated for 5000 hours. Overall this sounds like a reasonable
feature set for a well equiped H97 motherboard. |
|
|
ASUS Fan Xpert 3 |
ASUS Fan
Xpert 3 provides customizable settings for fans that have been attached
directly to the onboard fan headers. With the Fan Auto Tuning feature,
ASUS Fan Xpert 3 automatically detects and tweaks all fan speeds and in
the end reduces unwanted noise. |
|
|
M.2 Support |
The
new H97-Pro motherboard from ASUS features an M.2 slot, which has been wired directly to the
H97 PCH via two PCI Express lanes,
therefore offering x2 bandwidth. In other words up to 10 Gbps can be pushed over the bus through this slot, almost doubling performance of SATA-III. |
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EPU |
The EPU
automatically detects the current system load and moderates power usage.
It offers a system-wide energy optimization and is able to reduce fan
noise. |
|
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Layout
With the release of Intels Z87 chipset ASUS's design team chose to
bring quite some change to the design of their classic series motherboards. ASUS
was brave enough to ditch their highly successful black/blue color scheme and
replace it a color scheme kept in black, gold and yellow. Meanwhile ASUS again
reworked the design of their classic series motherboards making them look more calm by
removing yellow from the equation. They have also changed the tone of the gold
color they are using to a more champagne-ish color.
Regarding the layout ASUS did a good choice when it comes to features, since
there is basically everything you would expect to get these days. Obviously ASUS is compliant with Intels guidelines regarding clearance around the CPU socket. There even is some margin between the CPU socket and the DIMM slots.
The ASUS H97-Pro features a fully digital 6+2 phase power
design. The CPU gets six phases and the memory gets a stable current supply from
two individual phases. Apart from those, it also features high-quality, Japanese solid
state capacitors, which have been specified 5000 hours.
In total, you will find four DIMM memory slots on
the H97-Pro. Officially supported are the DDR3 1600 / 1333 MHz. There is enough
space between the DIMM-slots and the CPU socket which means that you will not encounter
any compatibility problems with big coolers even when you choose to
install RAM with big heatspreaders. Also supported are Xtreme Memory Profiles
(XMP) version 1.3.
On the H97-Pro, the PCH is being cooled by a passive cooling
block. A closer look at the area where the VRM is, shows there is one
additional, passive heatsink. Design, as well as the build quality is on a level you
expect from ASUS' H97 series motherboards.
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Connectors and I/O
In total, ASUS
equipped the H97-Pro with four SATA ports, which can be found in the bottom right
corner. Two of these connectors have been angled by 90° and two are straight.
Apart from these, there is also a SATA Express connector as well as an M.2 slot.
Therefore it should not be a problem whatsoever to equip the office PC with plenty of
drives. We also like the diversity of storage connectors, which is definitely
up-to-date these days.
Asus has included a total of four fan
headers on the H97-Pro, which is more than enough to provide a well equipped
office PC with fresh air. The fan headers are located around the CPU socket. ASUS
decided to use 4-pin PWM headers in all four cases. Therefore it is possible to
adjust rotation speed in the BIOS or in Windows.
Looking at the
external connectors directly at the back-panel, ASUS equipped the H97-Pro with
four USB 3.0/2.0 ports, two USB 2.0/1.1 ports, one Gigabit Ethernet port, an
HDMI output, DVI out, VGA out as well as an optical and an analogue audio
outputs.
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Conclusion
Overall |
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At a first
glance the H97-Pro leaves quite a good impression. You get a reasonable
feature mix including a decent power design, plenty of SATA connectors,
as well as a SATA Express connector and an M.2 slot. It is these storage
connectors that add a lot of versatility to this board. What also perfectly suitable for
a such motherboard is the color scheme, which looks decent.
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Feature Mix |
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Layout |
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Generally, the ASUS H97-Pro's Layout is well thought. Once more
very practical are the angled SATA connectors, but unfortunately there
are only two of these connectors while other two are straight. We want to
underline that this board features great storage versatility, since
there is SATA, SATA Express as well as an M.2 support. Furthermore the
placement of the PCI-Express x16 slots is well thought an therefore
nothing needs to be criticized at this point. There is, for example, one
slot between the first and the second PCI-Express x16 slot. Should you
decide to build an SLI/CrossFire setup, then the first card will still
be able to get fresh air. Another thing that is good with this board is
the fact, that there is plenty of space between the CPU socket and the
heatsink for the VRM as well as between the CPU socket and the
DIMM memory slots.
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- Space around the CPU
socket
- SATA Express
- WiFi
- Power/Reset-Button onboard
- Debug display
- Angled SATA connectors |
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