Introduction
Contents
The Z77 Extreme9 is the most high-end socket LGA1155 motherboard from ASRock targeted to the “Ivy Bridge” processors (third-generation Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 processors). Let’s see what the ASRock Z77 Extreme9 has to offer.
The Intel Z77 is an upgraded version of the Z68 chipset with the same basic features (Intel Smart Response Technology and Virtu video switching technology), plus native support to four USB 3.0 ports. It also includes the addition of two new technologies: Smart Connect (allowing the computer to receive emails and refresh webpages while it is in sleep mode) and Rapid Start (faster boot times).
In addition, the ASRock Z77 Extreme9 supports the Virtu Universal MVP, which allows you to combine the performance of the integrated graphics processor available in the CPU with the performance of any video card installed. This is similar to what occurs with the Hybrid SLI and ATI Hybrid Graphics technologies, with the notable difference of not being limited to GPUs from a specific manufacturer.
ASRock has launched 11 different motherboard models based on the Intel Z77 chipset. In the table below, we compare their main specifications. Prices were researched at Newegg.com on the day we published this article, except for the Z77 Extreme9, which is the MSRP. The Z77 Professional, the Z77 Professional-M, and the Z77 Performance are part of the “Fatal1ty” series, coming with a special USB port with a higher polling rate for gaming mice.
| Feature | Z77 Professional | Z77 Performance | Z77 Extreme9 | Z77 Extreme6 | Z77 Extreme4 | Z77 Pro4 | Z77 Pro3 |
| Form Factor | ATX | ATX | ATX | ATX | ATX | ATX | ATX |
| Memory Sockets | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| PCI Express x16 | 3 (x16/x0/x4 or x8/x8/x4) | 2 (x16/x4) | 6 (x16/x16/x0/x16/x0/x4 or x16/x8/x8/x8/x8/x4) | 3 (x16/x0/x4 or x8/x8/x4) | 2 (x16/x0 or x8/x8) | 2 (x16/x4) | 2 (x16/x4) |
| PCI Express x1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Mini PCI Express | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Standard PCI | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| CrossFireX | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SLI | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| SATA-300 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| SATA-600 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| eSATA-300 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| eSATA-600 | 1 | 0 | 1 (shared) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| USB 2.0 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 |
| USB 3.0 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| FireWire | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bluetooth | No | No | 4.0 | No | No | No | No |
| Gigabit Ethernet | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Wi-Fi | No | No | 802.11a/b/g/n | No | No | No | No |
| VGA | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DVI | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| HDMI | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DisplayPort | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Audio | ALC898 | ALC892 | ALC898 | ALC898 | ALC898 | ALC892 | ALC892 |
| Voltage Regulator | 16+8 | 8+4 | 8+4 | 8+4 | 8+4 | 4+2 | 4+1 |
| Price | USD 230 | USD 160 | USD 350 | USD 160 | USD 130 | USD 120 | USD 110 |
| Feature | Z77 Professional-M | Z77 Extreme4-M | Z77 Pro4-M | Z77E-ITX |
| Form Factor | microATX | microATX | microATX | Mini-ITX |
| Memory Sockets | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| PCI Express x16 | 3 (x16/x0/x4 or x8/x8/x4) | 3 (x16/x0/x4 or x8/x8/x4) | 3 (x16/x1/x4) | 1 (x16) |
| PCI Express x1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Mini PCI Express | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Standard PCI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CrossFireX | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| SLI | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| SATA-300 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| SATA-600 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| eSATA-300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| eSATA-600 | 1 | 1 | 1 (shared) | 0 |
| USB 2.0 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 6 |
| USB 3.0 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| FireWire | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bluetooth | No | No | No | No |
| Gigabit Ethernet | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Wi-Fi | No | No | No | 802.11n |
| VGA | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| DVI | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HDMI | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DisplayPort | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Audio | ALC898 | ALC898 | ALC892 | ALC898 |
| Voltage Regulator | 8+3 | 4+2 | 4+2 | 6+2 |
| Price | USD 170 | USD 130 | USD 110 | USD 150 |
In Figure 1, you see the ASRock Z77 Extreme9 motherboard.
Figure 1: ASRock Z77 Extreme9 motherboard
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