Review: asrock z77 oc formula

A week ago we received the press release for the launch of Asrock's new line of OC boards. This time we bring you the review of the Asrock Z77 OC Formula, a motherboard designed by overclocker Nick Shih and presents an aggressive design in true Chevrolet Camaro style. Do not miss the best review of this network board!

Product ceded by:

These new boards are characterized by having the new Intel Z77 chipset. They are compatible with all "Sandy Bridge" Core I3, Core i5 and Core i7 and all "Ivy Bridge". The new chipset offers few features that differ from the Z68 Chipset, such as;

• Ivy Bridge LGA1155 processors. Native USB 3.0 ports (4). OC capacity. Maximum 4 DIMM modules DDR3. PCI Express 3.0. Digital phases. Intel RST technology. Intel Smart Response Technology (Z77 & H77). Dual UEFI BIOS. (Depends on model and manufacturer) Wi-Fi + Bluetooth (Depends on model and manufacturer).

Here is a table to see the differences between the current chipsets of socket 1155:

In fact we must remind our readers that 90% of P67 and Z68 boards are "Ivy Bridge" compatible with a BIOS update.

We also don't want to bore you with a lot of information, but we find it necessary to highlight the new advantages of the Ivy Bridge processor:

• New manufacturing system at 22 nm. Increasing the Overclock capacity and decreasing the temperature. New random number generator that was left outside of "Sandy Bridge". Increases the maximum multiplier from 57 to 63. Increases the memory bandwidth from 2133 to 2800mhz (In step of 200 mhz).Your GPU includes DX11 instructions increasing ~ 55% performance.

Now we include a table with the new models of Ivy Bridge 22nm processors:

Model	Cores / Threads	Speed ​​/ Turbo Boost	L3 Cache	Graphics Processor	TDP
I7-3770	4/8	3.3 / 3.9	8MB	HD4000	77W
I7-3770	4/8	3.3 / 3.9	8MB	HD4000	77W
I7-3770S	4/8	3.1 / 3.9	8MB	HD4000	65W
I7-3770T	4/8	2.5 / 3.7	8MB	HD4000	45W
I5-3570	4/4	3.3 / 3.7	6MB	HD4000	77W
I5-3570K	4/4	3.3 / 3.7	6MB	HD4000	77W
I5-3570S	4/4	3.1 / 3.8	6MB	HD2500	65W
I5-3570T	4/4	2.3 / 3.3	6MB	HD2500	45W
I5-3550S	4/4	3.0 / 3.7	6MB	HD2500	65W
I5-3475S	4/4	2.9 / 3.6	6MB	HD4000	65W
I5-3470S	4/4	2.9 / 3.6	3MB	HD2500	65W
I5-3470T	2/4	2.9 / 3.6	3MB	HD2500	35W
I5-3450	4/4	2.9 / 3.6	3MB	HD2500	77W
I5-3450S	4/4	2.8 / 3.5	6MB	HD2500	65W
I5-3300	4/4	3 / 3.2º	6MB	HD2500	77W
I5-3300S	4/4	2.7 / 3.2	6MB	HD2500	65W

ASROCK Z77 OC FORMULA FEATURES
CPU	- Supports 3rd and 2nd generation Intel® Core ™ i7 / i5 / i3 processor in LGA1155 package - Supports Intel® Turbo Boost 2.0 technology - Supports Intel® K-Series CPU Unlock - Supports Hyper-Threading technology
Chipset	- Intel® Z77 - Supports Intel® Rapid Start Technology and Smart Connect Technology
Memory	- Dual Channel DDR3 memory technology - 4 x DDR3 DIMM slots - Supports DDR3 3000+ (OC) / 2800 (OC) / 2666 (OC) / 2400 (OC) / 2133 (OC) / 1866 (OC) / 1600/1333/1066 non-ECC, un-buffered memory - Maximum system memory capacity: 32GB * - Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) 1.3 / 1.2
BIOS	- 2 x 64Mb AMI UEFI Legal BIOS with GUI support (1 x Main BIOS and 1 x Recovery Backup BIOS) - Supports "Plug and Play" - ACPI 1.1 according to Wake Up Events - Supports SMBIOS 2.3.1 - CPU Core, IGPU, DRAM, 1.8V PLL, VTT, VCCSA multi-voltage setting
Graphics	- Supports Intel® HD Graphics Built-in Visuals: Intel® Quick Sync Video 2.0, Intel® InTru ™ 3D, Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, Intel® Insider ™, Intel® HD Graphics 2500/4000 - Pixel Shader 5.0, DirectX 11 with Intel® CPU Ivy Bridge processor. Pixel Shader 4.1, DirectX 10.1 with Intel® CPU Sandy Bridge. - Maximum memory size 1760MB - Supports HDMI 1.4a technology with maximum resolution up to 1920 × 1200 @ 60Hz - Supports Auto Lip Sync, Deep Color (12bpc), xvYCC and HBR (High Bit Rate Audio) with HDMI (HDMI monitor compatibility required) - Supports HDCP function with HDMI port - Supports Blu-ray (BD) Full HD 1080p / HD-DVD playback with HDMI port
Audio	- 7.1 CH HD Audio with Content Protection (Realtek ALC898 Audio Codec) - Supports Premium Blu-ray audio - Supports THX TruStudio ™
LAN	- PCIE x1 Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000 Mb / s - Broadcom BCM57781 - Supports Wake-On-LAN - Supports 802.3az Ethernet Power Efficiency - Supports PXE
Expansion slots	- 2 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots (PCIE2 / PCIE4: single mode to x16 (PCIE2) / x8 (PCIE4) or dual mode to x8 / x8) - 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot (PCIE5: x4 mode) - 2 x PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots - Supports AMD Quad CrossFireX ™, 3-Way CrossFireX ™ and CrossFireX ™ - Supports NVIDIA® Quad SLI ™ and SLI ™
SATA 3 and USB 3.0.	- 2 x SATA3 6.0 Gb / s connectors from Intel® Z77, Supports RAID (RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, Intel® Rapid Storage Technology and Intel® Smart Response), NCQ, AHCI “Hot Plug” - 4 x Marvell SE9172 SATA3 6.0 Gb / s connectors, Supports RAID (RAID 0 and RAID 1), NCQ, AHCI "Hot Plug" - 2 x Intel® Z77 rear USB 3.0 ports, supports USB 1.0 / 2.0 / 3.0 up to 5Gb / s - 4 x Etron EJ188H rear USB 3.0 ports, supports USB 1.0 / 2.0 / 3.0 up to 5Gb / s - 1 x Intel® Z77 Front USB 3.0 Header (Supports 2 USB 3.0 ports), Supports USB 1.0 / 2.0 / 3.0 up to 5Gb / s
Rear panel In / Out	Input / Output Panel - 1 x PS / 2 Keyboard / Mouse Port - 1 x HDMI port - 1 x SPDIF optical output port - 4 x Ready-to-use USB 2.0 ports - 6 x Ready-to-use USB 3.0 ports - 1 x Ports with RJ-45 LAN LEDs (Activation / connection and speed LEDs) - 1 x CMOS Clear Switch with LED - HD Audio Plug: Rear Speaker / Center / Bass / Line In / Front Speaker / Microphone
Format	- CEB format: 12.0-in x 10.5-in, 30.5 cm x 26.7 cm - Premium Gold Capacitor Design (Capacitors 100% made in Japan with conductive Polymer capacitors)
Additional features	- 1 x SLI_Bridge_2S Card - Quick installation guide, Support CD, Input / output plate - 6 x SATA data cables - 2 x SATA 1 to 1 power cables - 1 x USB 3.0 Front Panel - 4 x Hard Drive Screws - 6 x Box Screws - 1 x USB 3.0 rear mount - 10 x OC Stands - GELID GC-Extreme Thermal Compound

Formula Food

An overclockable motherboard depends on a stable power supply. The Formula Power Kit is made up of 5 different improved solutions, offering power supply to the board. Equipped with silicon CHIL 8328, ASRock Digi Power features a digital PWM, providing CPU Vcore voltage more smoothly. Dual-Stack MOSFET (DSM) offers a larger matrix with lower Rds (on), so the Vcore CPU power supply is also improved. Compared to iron powder choke, the new Premium Alloy Choke (PAC) features a special alloy formula that is capable of reducing core loss by up to 70%. Multiple Filter Cap (MFC) includes a combination of high conductivity MLCC and DIP and POSCAP capacitors, helping the system filter noise from high frequencies, medium frequency to low frequency, delivering improved and superior current to the CPU. A strong 12 + 4 Power Phase Design features robust components and also delivers completely smooth power.

Refrigeration Formula

Good cooling can unleash overclocking capabilities. The Formula Cooling Kit keeps the plate breathing well when deep overclocking. Twin-Power Cooling combines active air cooling with water cooling that maximizes convection in the system to blow hot air out. Based on an 8-layer PCB design, ASRock Z77 OC Formula comes with 4 sets of layers with 2 oz of copper inside, offering lower temperature and higher energy efficiency for overclocking. The ASRock / GELID partnership offers an exclusive Gelid GC-Extreme Thermal Paste as a gift. The ASRock / GELID applicator can even keep the compound from freezing at low temperatures when extreme overclocking with Nitrogen.

Formula Connector Kit

The extra benefits of overclocking extend to the integrated connectors. The Formula Connector Kit only incorporates carefully selected materials to facilitate overclocking. With a solidly designed outlet, the ASRock High Density Power Connector supplies power more efficiently and achieves better electrical conduction. In general, it reduces energy loss by 23% and decreases the connector temperature up to 22º. The CPU sockets and DRAM memory slots are mounted with 15μ Gold Finger. With the unique 15μ gold design inside, CPU and memory overclocking is easier than ever.

Apart from the above mentioned features there are also some built-in overclocking credentials. The Rapid OC button ensures OC enthusiasts get the highest level of overclocking performance by manually raising and lowering the CPU ratio, BCLK frequency, and Vcore CPU voltage. For those who continually need to remove and insert PCIe cards into PCIe slots and are afraid of damaging the motherboard and its components, it has three PCIe ON / OFF switches to enable or disable the PCIe slots with a single flick of the finger. V-Probe Allows overclockers to quickly and easily get accurate voltage readings through a multitester

NEW UEFI TEAMS

They are as important as hardware components, a motherboard for enthusiasts lives or dies for the quality of its BIOS overclocking options and how easy they are to use. ASRock Z77 OC Formula comes with a nice overclocking tweaking system in the UEFI, making it an attractive proposition.

NickShih's OC Profile has a taste of Nick's secret recipe for overclocking. It will automatically detect your CPU and offer you different levels of overclocking. Fine-Tuning V-Controller provides more than enough voltage setting options for overclockers who want to get the extremes. Timing Configurator is a quick and easy tool that provides users with an abundant collection of subtle DRAM settings for a professional fit. UEFI Interactiva is a mix of system configuration tools, cool sound effects and impressive visual effects, providing a more attractive and much more fun interface. Multi-sensor Thermal allows users to track and control the temperature of different parts of the motherboard graphically, in both the UEFI and Formula Drive settings.

ASRock firm AXTU has changed its name to Formula Drive with a new dress. It is an all-in-one software to fine-tune the different functions in an easy to use interface, which includes Hardware Monitor, FAN-Tastic Tuning, Overclocking, OC DNA, IES, XFast RAM and Thermal Multi Sensor. Special mention here is the innovative FAN-Tastic Tuning. It offers the flexibility to adjust the fan speed in relation to the system temperature.

The Asrock Z77 OC FORMULA is protected in a large box. On its cover comes the image of a car at high speed. Ready for the OC ?. And the back as if it were the panel of the car;). The box is divided into two compartments: The first has exclusively the plate and the second all its accessories (wiring, manual, CD…).

Here we have the first view of the board. The color yellow and black predominates, which go to the set of its heatsinks of gold color. When you have it in your hands, it is very impressive.

The board has a configuration: PCIE 1x - PCI 16x - PCI 1x - PCI 16x - PCI 16x, which allows us to install 3 graphics cards at the same time in SLI or CrossFire. And a quality sound card or TV grabber on the first 1x PCI.

The area of ​​the power supply phases is spacious and allows us to install any heatsink on the market.

Dissipation is one of the most interesting options on this board. Its heatsink allows us to dissipate by air (with the support of a fan) or by liquid when incorporating two spigot fittings.

The south bridge also includes a quite attractive heatsink and above all effective. Although this chip hardly heats up.

The board allows us to install up to a total of 32 GB of RAM. Includes some very interesting toys: LED area for problems, + and - buttons for turbo boost and voltage meter.

The board includes a total of 10 SATA ports. The yellow ones are SATA 6.0. and SATA 3.0 blacks.

The back of the board includes 6 USB 3.0, 4 USB 2.0 connections, HDMI output, a LAN output, a button to clear the BIOS and a sound card.

We also have the "Power" and "Reset" buttons on the board and various internal USB connections.

Dual bios view.

The heatsink includes thermal pads for excellent cooling. The heatsink is large in size and great care must be taken when removing it.

View of the Premium Alloy Choke supply phases, highlights a special alloy formula that is capable of reducing core loss by up to 70%.

The Bundle includes:

• Asrock Z77 OC Formula Base Plate Cloth bag Back cover SATA cables and molex-SATA thief Rigid SLI bridge Screws for the base plate Instruction manual and CD with Drivers / Software Front Panel + PCI flap with two connections USB 3.0.

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I present to you the UEFI BIOS of Asrock, this time customized by your Overclocker Nick Shih. As you can see below, this screen presents the default values. Although for me the most interesting are the 10 profiles available by this overclocker from 4000 mhz to 5000 mhz.

It seems to me the most interesting profile in "stage 7", which is 4600mhz. That for an Ivy Bridge 3570k it is a strong overclock. Obviously the team is stable. I leave you the captures for the tour that I have left you:

One of the attractions of this board is its OC Formula Drive application. That allows us to monitor and perform on-site Overclock from Windows.

The first screen allows us to monitor clocks, fans, and voltage.

Fan-Tastic Tuning: allows us to create profiles for fans. This is an option that I love… because depending on the number of degrees we can regulate the fans by RPM. Wonderful! Rehobus will no longer be necessary.

Overclocking: As its name indicates, it allows us to optimize and configure the overclocking of our equipment. Obviously we can save and load profiles. I've been testing it to take out the 5ghz roof and it has worked very well.

OC DNA: It allows us to see the version and data of the bios. Also upload personal profiles.

IES: it is energy saving. I consider myself a person aware of energy savings and especially in the environment. This option allows us to save a few cents a month and not always have the equipment at full capacity.

Thermal Sensor: It shows us the temperature in various areas of our equipment. Very interesting when we are overclocking, not everything is the processor or the graphics card?

and finally the optimized RAM.

We have another application that allows us to configure the time of our memories. It is fine for when we want to bench, but we have already demonstrated on more than one occasion that with 1600mhz it is superfluous for 97% of mortals.

Plus a quick OC app. This is configured from the keyboard.

Finally two very interesting applications. XFAST USB to optimize our external and USB hard drives.

And Smart connect to synchronize social networks, email automatically.

TESTING BENCH
Processor:	Intel 3570k
Base plate:	Asrock Z77 OC Formula
Memory:	Kingston Hyperx Predator 2133 Mhz 16GB
Heatsink	Custom Liquid Cooling
HDD	OCZ Vertex 4
Graphic card	NVIDIA GTX680 2GB
Power supply	Thermaltake TouchPower 1350W

We have started with our particular battery of synthetic tests and games. We wanted to use this equipment with the best material we have in the laboratory. Without further delay I leave you the tests with a high Overclock, not extreme, of 4600mhz:

TESTS
3dMark Vantage:	40554 PTS TOTAL.
3dMark11	P9078 PTS.
Heaven Unigine v2.1	120.7 FPS and 3041 PTS.
Battelfield 3	63 FPS
Lost Planet 2	110.8 FPS
Evil Resident 5	248.5 FPS

We also wanted to see how far this board can go with the i5 3570K. And we have been able to overclock to 5000mhz (yes, with 1.54v), which is an excellent overclock for personal taste. In itself, these Ivy Bridge at 4200-4300mhz perform much more than a Sandy Bridge. At 5000mhz benching is a good start for more extreme Overclockers.

The Asrock Z77 OC Formula is a board specially designed for the most enthusiastic and overclocking users on the market. With a design that predominates black-yellow colors and a great solidity-robustness in its components. The board is equipped with ASRock Digi Power (digital PWM) technology to provide VDROOP-free voltage, Dual-Stack MOSFET and its new Premium Alloy Choke (PAC) offering its 16 enhanced power phases and higher OC quality.

The board includes up to 10 SATA ports: Six of them are 6.0 and the other 4 SATA 3.0. This number of SATA connections allows us to install a wide variety of hard drives, ssd and optical drives.

The refrigeration seems to me to be at the height of the largest and most innovative on the market. The supply phase area incorporates a heatsink with active or passive mode. Activate? Because we can use it as a normal heatsink with the possibility of activating the included heatsink (deactivatable from BIOS). The passive because it includes two spigot fittings to install liquid cooling, this dissipation style allows us to considerably lower the temperature of the supply phases and take a few more mhz out of our processor. It also includes Gelid GC-Extreme thermal paste considered one of the best on the market to apply to the processor.

It also incorporates certain details that I liked a lot: on-off and reset button on the board (Useful for use in a benchtable), two other buttons to raise and lower the turbo boost, “V-Probe” voltage tester on the equipment, LED for information on problems and incompatibilities, Dual BIOS and a Front accessory with two USB 3.0 ports.

In our test bench we have used an Ivy Bridge processor, specifically the i5 3570k with a fairly high overclock at 4600mhz and 1.40v and a high-end NVIDIA GTX680 graphics. The results are high performance, for example; P9078 in 3dMARK11, 3DMARK VANTAGE 40554 PTS TOTAL and in games like Battlefield 3 63 FPS on average. If 4600mhz already seems like a strong OC, we wanted to get a little more (the board deserves it) and we have reached 5000mhz at 1.54v. Of course, with liquid cooling by parts in the processor;).

We do not have to forget about its applications. The "Formula Drive" allows us to monitor and adjust almost all the BIOS parameters from Windows. With this application we have reached 5000mhz and we have created profiles to regulate our fans.

The recommended price of the motherboard is € 270. Although in Spain I have seen it listed in an online store over 250 €. Its price personally is very attractive, because if we want to go to a plate with similar characteristics they range from € 300 to € 350.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ INNOVATIVE AND ATTRACTIVE DESIGN.	- DOUBLE LAN CONNECTION.
+ HIGHEST QUALITY COMPONENTS.
+ REFRIGERATION.
+ SATA CONNECTIONS.
+ UEFI BIOS
+ HIGH LEVEL SOFTWARE.
+ PERFORMANCE.
+ GREAT OVERCLOCK CAPACITY.

The Professional Review team awards you the Recommended Product Badge and a well-deserved Platinum Medal: