ASUS X99-A/USB 3.1 Motherboard

Description

The X99-A/USB 3.1 Motherboard from ASUS has 10 Gb/s USB 3.1 built in and is designed to fit in standard sized ATX cases. The 12.0 x 9.6" X99-A supports Intel Core i7 processors, the LGA2011-v3 socket, and the Intel X99 chipset. It has been designed to deliver power and speed to Internet browsing, extreme gaming, CAD software, and more. Power is critical for performance so the X99-A employs a Digital 8 Phase Power Design as well as an OC Socket that uses extra pins to connect a proprietary circuit to contacts found on Haswell-E's land grid array (LGA). Combined with ASUS UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface), this feature enables DDR4 memory frequencies and helps lower latencies and enhance stability while overclocking. The motherboard also features 5-Way Optimisation, which includes better CPU performance, power saving and digital power control, fan control, and system cooling. The ASUS X99-A is compatible with Windows 8.1, 8, and 7 operating systems.

The ATX form factor of the X99-A can support up to 64GB of RAM and comes with 8 x DIMM slots that can each hold up to 8GB of DDR4 3300 (O.C.), 3200 (O.C.), 3000 (O.C.), 2800 (O.C.), 2666 (O.C.), 2400 (O.C.), and 2133 MHz non-ECC, unbuffered memory. The X99-A also has a total of 8 x SATA III 6 Gb/s ports, 1 x SATA Express connector, 1 x M.2 connector that only supports PCIe SSDs, 2 x USB 3.1/3.0/2.0 ports, 8 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports, 8 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports, 5 x audio jacks, 1 x S/PDIF out, and 1 x Intel I218V Gigabit LAN port.

To provide data redundancy, RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 modes are supported and PCIe expansion is dependant on whether a 40 or 28-lane CPU is installed. When a 40-lane CPU is installed, users will have access to three PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16, x16/x16, x16/x16/x8) lanes. When a 28-lane CPU is installed, users will have access to three PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16, x16/x8, x16/x8/x4), one PCIe 2.0 x4 (x2 mode), and two PCIe 2.0 x1 lanes. While this motherboard does not have any video out ports, it does have multi-GPU support for NVIDIA Quad-GPU SLI technology, NVIDIA 3-Way SLI technology, AMD Quad-GPU CrossFireX technology, and AMD 3-Way CrossFireX technology.

The X99-A Motherboard is also equipped with 1 x PS/2 port and the capability to support 4K graphics. It includes 4 x SATA 6 Gb/s cables, 1 x SLI Bridge, and 1 x Q-connector (2-in-1). It is covered by a limited 3-year warranty.

Key Features

Performance

CPU / DDR4 / OC Socket

• Designed to help increase performance, the ASUS OC Socket utilises extra pins to connect a circuit to contacts found on Haswell-E's land grid array (LGA). Combined with customised ASUS UEFI, this feature helps enable higher DDR4 memory frequencies, lower latencies, and enhanced stability while overclocking, extending all the way to extreme overclocking conditions, such as Liquid Nitrogen (LN2). The OC Socket is compatible with the Haswell-E LGA 2011-v3 CPUs, ensuring the ideal combination of overclocking performance and compatibility

Cache Bus Voltage Adjustment

• Cache bus links areas such as CPU cores, DDR4 memory controllers, the system agent and the shared L3 cache. It serves as an interconnect for the whole CPU subsystem. Higher cache bus frequency also directly gives faster total sub-system performance. The ASUS OC Socket provides an adjustable cache bus voltage to help reach higher cache bus frequencies

Memory Speed

• This motherboard supports DDR4 memory and it's able to drive memory frequencies to 3200 MHz and beyond when overclocked. ASUS T-Topology circuit design plus OC Socket helps provide memory-overclocking capabilities to unleash the full power of DDR4 by minimising coupling noise and signal reflection. With equidistant memory channels, it delivers the balanced control and powerful overclocking compatibility

5-Way Optimisation

• One click takes care of complex tuning. Your PC is smart with ASUS 5-Way Optimisation. It dynamically optimises essential aspects of your system based on real-time use - so you get increased CPU performance, energy savings, stable digital power, cool and quiet fans, and networking and audio settings that are tailored for the apps that you are using. In short, 5-Way Optimisation helps ensure that your PC is perfect for gaming, entertainment, productivity, and more

Fan Xpert 3

• Fan Xpert 3 puts 4-pin/3-pin CPU and case fan controls in one place. It scans each fan's characteristics and delivers custom settings for each fan based on the dedicated area temperatures detected by hardware thermal sensors. Fan Xpert 3 helps make sure every fan achieves the best balance of cooling performance and low noise. Fan Xpert 3 supports hardware-level PWM/DC combo mode for both the CPU and case fans. It even can reduce the CPU fan speed to below the default minimum, for extra-quiet and power saving operation during light loads.

RPM Fixed Mode Designed for users who wish to reduce noise levels to near 0 dB with highly specific fan speed controls

Auto Tuning Mode Scans fan parameters through exclusive automatic speed detection to provide custom settings for each fan with a single click

Informative Fan Controls Delivers complete information that allows you to take control over each fan

UEFI BIOS

• The mouse-controlled graphical BIOS has been improved to make it even more appealing. Whether you're a PC novice or a seasoned overclocker, the EZ and Advanced Modes help you find your way, quickly and easily.

EZ Mode Fan Profile: Detailed CPU and case fan information to help with cooling SATA Information: Displays SATA port details to help recognise devices Fast Clock Adjustment: Use mouse controls to change the time and date EZ XMP: Improve your DRAM performance with a click

Advanced Mode GPU Post: Find out more about your graphics cards and slot bandwidth allocation. Works well with 2 or 3-way SLI or CrossFireX Shortcut: Press Enter to create shortcuts to your favourite settings, or select an existing shortcut and press F4 to go straight there Quick Notes: Makes notes and capture BIOS-related ideas quickly and conveniently Last Modified Log: Track last change and save preferred profiles onto a USB drive SATA Port Renaming: Rename SATA ports for easy identification

Fast Transfer Speeds

10 Gb/s USB 3.1

• With USB 3.1 connectivity built in and dual Type-A ports for the fast USB data transfers, you'll experience data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gb/s, or twice as fast USB 3.0. The next-generation standard is also completely backward-compatible with your existing USB devices. ASUS' USB 3.1 Boost technology automatically helps accelerates USB 3.1 performance even further

SATA Express

• SATA Express provides up to 10 Gb/s data transfer speeds from two PCIe 2.0 lanes. Current SSDs consume up to 550 MB/s, which is close to saturation point for SATA 6 Gb/s connections. SATA Express is also backwards compatible with up to two SATA drives

M.2

• With a 4 x PCI Express 3.0/2.0 bandwidth, M.2 supports up to 32 Gb/s data-transfer speeds. It is a good choice for an operating system or application drive, helping to make your whole PC or professional apps work even faster

For Gamers and Professionals

App Specific Optimisation

• Gamers and professionals can get benefit from app specific optimisations from the ASUS Turbo App. Its tuning panel boosts a range of hardware; overclock your CPU, tune your fans, prioritise network data, and optimise audio settings automatically

Crystal Sound 2

• Crystal Sound 2 helps optimise audio settings for the way you want to listen, be it gaming, chatting, watching movies, or relaxing to your favourite music. Onboard physical shielding, professionally engineered design and premium components, including Japanese-made audio capacitors and operational amplifiers (op-amps), result in sound output that has strong clarity and fidelity

Turbo LAN

• Turbo LAN with cFosSpeed traffic-shaping technology adds even more lag-reducing support and an intuitive user interface. It allows you to lower lag with no expert knowledge. If you're a tweaker, use Advanced Mode for hardcore controls.

Gigabit Ethernet - Intel Gigabit Ethernet has the advantage of communicating directly with CPUs and offering high TCP and UDP throughput. This helps reduce the processor's workload so there's more power for your game and your gameplay

UDP - ASUS engineers used IxChariot, an independent network-assessment test tool, to determine just how much quicker Intel Gigabit Ethernet deals with the smaller (sub-256 byte) UDP data packets that are vital for responsive gaming. With the Intel X99 chipset, your game-data packets flow up to two times (2x) faster

Multi-GPU Support

• With support for both NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireX 2/3-way configurations, the X99 motherboard enables multi-GPU setups so you can harness the full power of the latest graphics technologies to drive games at 4K and beyond

Home Server

ASUS HomeCloud

• ASUS HomeCloud creates a world without boundaries. It lets you access your PC remotely, stream multimedia content to virtually wherever you want, and manage all your stuff from anywhere - no matter where it's stored. It even turns your hard drive into private cloud storage, removing worries about storage limits

REMOTE GO!

• REMOTE GO! gives you complete control of your PC - even when you're away from home. Access your forgotten files at home, work on your PC while you are in the traffic or outside. Plus one step to manage all your public clouds or sync files among your PC and devices in a click.

Cloud GO! - Gather your ASUS WebStorage, Dropbox, Google Drive, and Skydrive accounts in one place and even backup to PC at the same time

File Transfer - Sync files between your PCs and smart devices with just a click

Remote Desktop - Access and control your PC virtually anytime and anywhere

Remote Keyboard and Mouse - Control media playback from your sofa

Digital PC Media Streamer Hub

• Enjoy your PC's multimedia content virtually anywhere. Pipe music from your PC while sipping coffee in a cafe or sit back with friends and stream a favourite movie to a smart TV. With ASUS Media Streamer, your entertainment goes wherever you go

Intel CPU and Chipset Features

• Intel Core i7 Processor LGA2011-v3 Ready This motherboard supports Intel Core i7 processors in the LGA2011-v3 package, with memory and PCI Express controllers integrated to support 4-channel (8 DIMM) DDR4 memory and 40/28 PCI Express 3.0/2.0 lanes

Intel X99 Express Chipset The Intel X99 Express Chipset is a single-chipset design that supports socket LGA2011-v3 Intel Core i7 processors. It provides improved performance by utilising serial point-to-point links, allowing increased bandwidth and stability. Additionally, X99 provides 5 x USB 3.0 ports and 8 x SATA 6 Gb/s ports for faster data retrieval

Specifications