Name: Z97-AR
Brand: ASUS
SKU: 6812

One-click total system optimization!

5-Way Optimization by Dual Intelligent Processors 5 – One click, total system optimization!
M.2 & SATA Express - Speed up your system with lightning-fast 10Gb/s transfer speed
Crystal Sound 2 and Intel Gigabit Ethernet — a game-winning combo!
ASUS HomeCloud - Access your PC remotely and stream multimedia content anywhere, anytime
Proven quality – 5X Protection. 1000+ compatible devices. 7000+ validation hours.
Upgrade flexibility to ultimate-speed 10Gbit/s with ASUS USB 3.1 Card >>Learn more

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High performance
Gaming scenario
ASUS HomeCloud

High performance

One click, total system optimization

Get robust overclocking, energy savings, digital power, customized fan control and tailored networking and audio settings

One click takes care of all that complex tuning. Your PC is smart with ASUS 5-Way Optimization. It dynamically optimizes essential aspects of your system based on real-time use – so you get superb CPU performance, everyday energy savings, ultra-stable digital power, cool and quiet fans and now even networking and audio settings that are tailored for the apps that you are using. In short, 5-Way Optimization ensures that your PC is perfect for gaming, entertainment, productivity or just about anything else!

Games run swiftly and smoothly with high performance, prioritized bandwidth and vivid sound
Fans stay whisper-quiet for everyday computing and ensure extreme cooling efficiency when gaming
Movies play without stutter
Energy waste is reduced so you'll save money

CPU Performance boost

TPU

Unleash your PC's full performance with a simple two-phase onboard switch or the ASUS AI Suite 3 utility! The Turbo Processor Unit (TPU) offers precise voltage control and advanced monitoring for the CPU and the graphics card, enabling great freedom to adjust CPU frequencies and ratios for optimized performance and to exploit the potential out of your graphics card*.

*Refer to graphics card QVL

All-round energy efficiency

EPU

With the Energy Processing Unit (EPU) you will enjoy from system-wide real-time power savings, controlled via a simple onboard switch or the AI Suite 3 utility. EPU detects and adjusts power consumption according to the PC's needs — automatically. It can also reduce CPU wattage to an indicated level or enjoy even more savings with Away Mode, which creates an extreme energy-saving scenario by shutting down unused extra I/O controllers and reduces the graphics cards' power level while you're away, so the PC consumes only the energy it needs — and not a drop more!

Advanced fan controls for ultimate cooling and quietness

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. 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.

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Advanced fan controls for ultimate cooling and quietness

Fan Xpert 3

RPM Fixed Mode

Designed for users who wish to reduce noise levels to near 0dB with highly specific fan speed control.

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 advanced control over each fan.

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Precise Digital Power Control

DIGI+ Power Control

Power control is one of the most essential motherboard designs. Intelligent CPU power draw detection with ASUS DIGI+ Power Control is an innovative, industry-leading technology that fully complies with Intel® VRD12.5 specifications, increasing overclocking potential, enhancing system stability, and improving power efficiency with superior flexibility and accurate control.

Game faster, rank higher

Turbo App

The distant sound of enemy footsteps. You turn, focus, and unleash a crackle of rapid gunfire. Another frag for you! As a gamer, you know that only the swiftest actions win the game, and that's why you need exclusive ASUS Turbo App — an intuitive tuning panel to boost everything to secure your victory in your favorite titles! Overclock your CPU, prioritize game data across your network and optimize the audio settings for fantastically clear audio and in-game-chat. History is written by the victors, so don't go to war without Turbo App.

Media-acclaimed UEFI BIOS

The smoothest, slickest 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 for instant cooling!
SATA Information: Displays SATA port details for you to easily recognize devices!
Fast Clock Adjustment: Use mouse controls to change the time and date!
EZ XMP: Improve your DRAM performance with a click!

Advanced Mode

Shortcut: Press Enter to create shortcuts to favorite settings, or select an existing shortcut and press F4 to go straight there!
Quick Notes: Make 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!

Special memory
overclocking design

Now you can drive memory up to 3200 (OC)! Our exclusive T-Topology design provides superb memory overclocking capability under full load by minimizing the coupling noise and signal reflection effect. The memory channels are equidistant to the CPU, providing the most balanced control over multiple memory modules and enhanced overall memory compatibility.

Ultra-fast transfer speed

Evolve your storage speed with
SATA Express

SATA Express provides up to 10Gbit/s data-transfer speeds from two PCIE 2.0 lanes, resolving the higher bandwidth request in the near future. The current SSDs consume up to 550MB/s, which is close to saturation point for SATA 6Gbit/s connections. Backwardly compatible with up to two SATA drives, SATA Express is the next-generation connectivity standard — and ensures that you and your system won't get left behind.

Speed up your system with M.2

With two native PCI Express 2.0 bandwidth, M.2 supports up to 10Gbit/s data-transfer speeds. It is the perfect choice for an operating system drive, making your whole PC work that much faster. It supports Intel® Rapid Storage Technology to ensure even faster access to data, refresh applications automatically and awake from sleep in just seconds!*

*Refer to model specifications for Intel® Rapid Storage Technology support

Upgrade to super-fast Thunderbolt speed today

ASUS ThunderboltEX II series are the first Intel®-certified Thunderbolt™ 2 add-on card, offering the flexibility to upgrade your own build to Thunderbolt technology whenever you want. You can enjoy bi-directional transfer speeds up to 10Gbit/s* — that's four times (4X) faster than USB 3.0! Experience video in incredible detail on the latest 4K/UHD (ultra-high-definition) displays while using bandwidth-hungry storage devices at the same time.
>>Learn More

*Available to purchase separately.

Instantly upgrade to ultimate-speed 10Gb/s with USB 3.1 Card

ASUS brings you the world's first USB 3.1 Card, perfectly matched for this motherboard.
- 10Gb/s data-transfer speeds – twice as fast as USB 3.0
- Choice of USB 3.1 connectors:
  1. Popular, backwardly-compatible Type-A
  2. New, future-proof reversible Type-C
- Fits in any PCIe x4, x8, x16 slot
- Even faster USB 3.1 transfers with included ASUS USB 3.1
  Boost utility
* It requires both BIOS and driver update
* Available to purchase separately

Gaming senario

Game faster, rank higher!

Turbo App

Flawless audio that
makes you part of the game

Crystal Sound 2

Crystal Sound 2 makes short work of optimizing audio settings for the way you want to listen, be it gaming, chatting, watching movies or relaxing to your favorite music. Onboard physical shielding, professional engineered design and premium components, including Japanese-made audio capacitors and operational amplifiers (op-amps), result in sound output that has exceptional clarity and fidelity. Discover a whole new dimension of superior audio and get ready to rule!

A double win for gaming!

The difference between defeat and victory can be measured in milliseconds. That's why ASUS motherboards are equipped with state-of-the-art networking technology that puts your frags first!

Intel® Gigabit Ethernet —top gaming choice that goes faster with your CPU

Faster, smoother gaming – always. Intel® Gigabit Ethernet has the serious double advantage of communicating directly with CPUs and offering high TCP and UDP throughput. This significantly reduces the processor's workload, so there's more power for your game and your gameplay

Up to 2X-faster UDP game-data performance

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. The results are in — and with Z97 your game-data packets flow up to two times (2X) faster than competing gaming-LAN technologies!

Multi-GPU support With support for both NVIDIA® SLI™ and AMD CrossFireX™, the Z97 motherboard enables multi-GPU setups so you can harness the full power of the latest graphics technologies.
4K/Ultra HD visual excellence Native support for 4K/UHD (ultra-high-definition) resolutions of up to 4096 x 2160 via HDMI or DisplayPort —that's four times the pixel count of 1080p (1920 x 1080), offering incredible visual clarity, detail, and realism.

ASUS HomeCloud

Your PC, your world

ASUS HomeCloud creates a world without boundaries. It lets you access your PC remotely, stream multimedia content to wherever you want, and manage all your stuff from anywhere — no matter where it's stored. Use the built-in Wake on WAN feature to remotely wake and control your PC with a single smart device, anywhere and anytime. It even turns your hard drive into a private cloud, removing worries about storage limits. With HomeCloud, your PC becomes the gateway to your world.

Total control anytime,
anywhere with 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 your 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!
Remote Desktop
Easily access and control your PC, anytime and anywhere!
File Transfer
Sync files between your PCs and smart devices with just a click!
Remote Keyboard & Mouse
Control media playback from your sofa!

Easily view the photo in your computer with pad outside of home

A digital PC hub perfect for sharing and home theater

Media Streamer

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

Touch the future

NFC EXPRESS 2 &
Wireless Charger

Interact with your PC and smart devices wirelessly and efficiently with NFC Express 2 and Wireless Charger! Tap to control your PC or pop down your mobile gadget and charge, as if by magic. Wires are so last century.

*Available to purchase separately.

Proven quality. Enduring trust.

Strict compatibility and validation

Protection Hardware safeguards to ensure
long-term durability.

Compatible Devices Including CPUs, memory modules,
graphics cards and more.

Validation Hours Extensive testing for extreme reliability, compatibility and safety.

We are the world's biggest motherboard manufacturer, and renowned our design thinking that revolves around users – just like you. Our engineers employ exacting standards to guarantee quality throughout the product's life, choosing the finest components for real-world protection. Our motherboards are proven to be compatible with more than 1,000 components and devices, and undergo a minimum of 7,000 hours of strict validation. That gives you the peace of mind of knowing that ASUS motherboards are fit for all environments and applications. To build your PC with the best foundations, build it with an ASUS motherboard.

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ASUS 5X Protection
Hardware safeguards to ensure long-term durability

Our be-the-best ethos underscores the choice of every single component that goes into your ASUS motherboard. We focus relentlessly on quality to ensure long-term system reliability and performance.

Precise digital power control with ASUS DIGI+ VRM
Voltage regulator modules (VRMs) are among the most essential motherboard components. A good VRM intelligently delivers CPU power based on actual needs at any given time. ASUS was first with digital power design featuring faster sensing and response to deliver precise CPU power on demand. This great accuracy reduces energy waste and of course improves system stability thanks to more consistent delivery.
Enhanced DRAM overcurrent protection
Onboard resettable fuses prevent overcurrent and short-circuit damage. This extends beyond I/O ports to DRAM to safeguard the lifespan of both your system and connected device.
5K-hr solid-state capacitors that last 2.5X longer
Solid-state capacitors are able to withstand extreme temperatures of up to 105°C for as long as 5,000 hours — that's two-and-a-half (2.5X) times longer than traditional capacitors. This exceptional durability means superb real-world endurance to more typical PC operating temperatures, ensuring that ASUS motherboards continue working longer.
Stainless-steel back I/O that lasts 3X longer
ASUS motherboard back I/O panels are made from strong and corrosion-resistant stainless steel, which is bonded with a thin layer of chromium oxide to enhance anti-corrosive properties. Passing 72-hour spray salt endurance tests, ASUS stainless steel back I/O panels have a lifespan that's three times (3X) longer compared to ordinary panels.
ESD Guards for protection from electrostatic discharge
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can happen suddenly, and its damaging effects are easily underestimated. ASUS ESD Guards are tested to very high standards, capable of up to +/- 10kV for air discharge and +/-6kV for contact discharge. We employ an active protective circuit design to guard your system against electrostatic interference and damage, providing greater component longevity.

Proven compatibility

Having the freedom to pick and choose the parts that go into your machine is at the heart of PC DIY. Our extensive certification program focuses on providing the very best compatibility with the widest range of components and devices, giving you the freedom to build and upgrade without frustration. Compatible today and compatible far into the future – that's the ASUS way.

Tested - 1,000+ compatible CPUs, memory modules, graphics cards and more

Every 9 Series motherboard is compatible with thousands of devices. Our engineers fit and assess both server and consumer CPUs, hundreds of memory modules, dozens of graphics cards, loads of storage devices, power supplies, network devices, displays, optical drives, peripherals and many more. We do this to give you complete confidence in our products and their superb compatibility.

Complete &
Public QVL

View our Qualified Vendor List (QVL) online

We're so confident in our 9 Series motherboards' superior compatibility that we publish our entire QVL for all to see — delivering you more choices for worry-free PC-building experiences. There are no gaps in our QVL: every compatible component is on the list for all to see. To check that a particular component or device is compatible with your motherboard, just reference the QVL for instant reassurance.

Designed — Great compatibility with ASUS products

When you choose an ASUS motherboard, it's likely you'll also go with ASUS for other components. ASUS designs products from the ground up so that graphics cards, sound cards and optical drives work flawlessly with your motherboard.

Top-to-bottom reliability

Our motherboards have superb endurance. We verify this by subjecting every board to over 7,000 hours of stringent tests. A barrage of burn-in, environmental, compatibility, software and safety tests confirm that our motherboards are exceptionally robust — with reliability that surpasses industry standards.

Extensive testing for extreme reliability, compatibility and safety

Each motherboard is subjected to extended reliability testing under heavy load conditions, from the transportation to daily operations, to make sure they are delivered to you in perfect condition. Trials include temperature and humidity, burn-in, power on/off, power consumption, insertion and thermal-shock testing among many others. Every certified-compatible component puts through an up to 24-hour aging test to ensure trouble-free operation every day – no matter what you fit or attach and no matter what you do!

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PC DIY has never been this easy

We understand how you use your PC. From assembly, system setting and monitoring, and to firmware and hardware updates — we're all about making your life easier. That's why we never stop developing new and exciting DIY opportunities to make PC DIY easy, fun and free from hassle!

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ASUS Q-Design

Easy PC DIY starts today

Q-DIMM - Easy memory removal Even if you work with a smaller case, just push down on the one-sided clip and push or pull RAM modules in or out – couldn't be simpler!
Q-Slot - Effortless PCI Express component removal The large winged clip is easy to reach and easy to operate. Just press the Q-Slot clip lightly, and graphics card just pop out. Installing or removing even the biggest graphics cards is no sweat!
Q-Connector - Easy, quick, and accurate connections You no longer need to worry about which front-panel wire goes where. Just pop the wires into Q-Connector's one-piece plug and you're good to go.
Q-LED - Easy PC diagnostics Q-LED indicates problems with the CPU, memory, graphics card or boot device, so you can quickly diagnose and remedy any issues — and wave goodbye to endless frustrations!

AI Suite 3

One-stop access to innovative ASUS features

ASUS AI Suite 3 offers a brand-new user experience through a clearer and more attractive interface with support for larger monitors. It consolidates all exclusive ASUS features into one simple-to-use package, allowing you to supervise overclocking, energy consumption, fan speeds, voltages and more. This all-in-one app offers diverse and easy to use functionality, with no need to switch back and forth between different utilities.

Push Notice

Monitor your PC status on the go.

If you've ever wondering how your PC is faring when you're not around, Push Notice will keep you informed – in real time! When your PC's status changes, Push Note instantly sends an alert to your tablet or smartphone. You can also throw the webpage you are browsing or memo to your smart device. Everything is under control, no matter where you are.

USB BIOS Flashback

Simple plug and press hardware-based BIOS flashing

Hardware-level USB BIOS Flashback allows users to update to new UEFI BIOS versions even without a CPU or DRAM installed. Just plug in a USB flash drive containing the BIOS file and press the USB BIOS Flashback/onboard BIOS BFLK button/Reset button* for 5 seconds with the power supply connected. Hassle-free updating for ultimate convenience!

Connect to a power supply
Plug a USB flash drive
Press the button *The button's availability and location vary by motherboard model. Please refer to your manual.

EZ Flash 2

Easy BIOS updates from USB outside the operating system

Quickly update your BIOS from a USB flash drive before entering the OS. It only takes a few clicks, with no floppy disk or an OS-based flash utility.

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Intel CPU and chipset features

Intel^® LGA1150 4th, New 4th & 5th Generation Core™ i7/Core™ i5/Core™ i3/Pentium^®/Celeron^® Processors Ready
This motherboard supports Intel^® 4th , New 4th and 5th Generation Core™ i7/i5/i3/Pentium^®/Celeron^® processors in the LGA1150 package, with iGPU, memory and PCI Express controllers integrated to support onboard graphics output with dedicated chipsets, 2-channel (4 DIMM) DDR3 memory and 16 PCI Express 3.0/2.0 lanes. This provides great graphics performance.
Intel^® Z97 Express Chipset
The Intel^® Z97 Express Chipset is a single-chipset design that supports Intel^® LGA1150 4th, New 4th & 5th Generation Core™ i7/Core™ i5/Core™ i3/Pentium^®/Celeron^® processors. It provides improved performance by utilizing serial point-to-point links, allowing increased bandwidth and stability. Additionally, Z97 provides a maximum 6 USB 3.0 ports, 6 SATA 6Gb/s ports and 1GB/s M.2 support for faster data retrieval. Moreover, the Intel® Z97 Express Chipset also supports iGPU functions, letting users enjoy the latest Intel integrated graphics performance.
Intel^® Smart Response Technology
SSD speed with HDD capacity
Uses an installed fast SSD (min18.6GB available capacity required) as a cache for frequently-accessed data. Key benefits include reduced load and wait times, and lower power consumption through the elimination of unnecessary hard drive spin. This technology combines SSD performance with hard drive capacity, operating up to 6X faster than a hard drive-only system.
Intel^® Smart Connect Technology
Auto application refresh and shorter wait times
Your computer can receive web updates with fresh content for selected applications, even when the system is in sleep mode. This means less time waiting for applications to update and sync with the cloud, leading to a more efficient computing experience.
Intel^® Rapid Start Technology
Instantly awaken your PC from sleep mode
Allows your computer to quickly resume from a low-power hibernate state in seconds. Saving your system memory to the designated SSD, it provides your computer a faster wake-up response time, while still keeping energy use low.