Z97-WS

    Z97-WS

    Quad-strength Graphic Power with optimized power efficiency

    • Quad Strength Graphic Power – 4-Way NVidia Geforce SLI and AMD CrossFireX on demand
    • Supreme Power Solution – Premium components deliver industry-leading power efficiency
    • 5-Way Optimization by Dual Intelligent Processors 5 – One click, total system optimization!
    • New UEFI BIOS – BIOS innovation continues
    • SATA Express & M.2 Support – Speed up your system up to 10Gb/s!
    • Upgrade flexibility to ultimate-speed 10Gbit/s with ASUS USB 3.1 Card >>Learn more
      Product Image
      • Workstation Exclusive
      • High performance
      • Gaming scenario
      • ASUS HomeCloud
      Workstation Exclusive
      Built for Graphic Professionals
      The Intel Z97 chipset-based workstation motherboard features on-demand NVIDIA® GeForce® SLI™ and AMD CrossFireX™ technology, plus hassle-free troubleshooting features for minimized downtime.
      Four PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots enable extreme graphics power

      The Z97-WS can carry up to four dual-slot graphics. It supports 4-Way NVIDIA® Geforce® SLI™ and AMD CrossFireX™, making it an excellent choice for graphics professionals who depend on powerful graphics in areas such as design and modeling, medical research, plus processing-intensive simulation and rendering applications. In addition to graphics cards, extensive Z97 WS expandability offers ample room for RAID cards, PCI Express-based solid state storage drives, video capture cards, and other components.


      Supreme Power Solutions
      Z97-WS couples innovative thinking with premium components to deliver industry-leading power efficiency
      ASUS Z97-WS couples innovative thinking with premium components to deliver industry-leading power efficiency. Carefully engineered with Beat Thermal Chokes made of highly conductive and efficient gold-treated coating for minimal-loss power delivery and integrated Dr.MOS MOSFET that both saves space and reduces operating temperatures. For the latest workstation motherboard, ASUS introduce the industry's most durable 12K solid capacitors, and exclusive ASUS ProCool power connectors. Z97-WS is built to stay cool under pressure — and boosts performance, power efficiency and product longevity into extreme levels!
      12K Hours Capacitors
      12K hour caps - Capacitors with World's Best Longevity

      ASUS is the world's first motherboard manufacturer to introduce 12K solid capacitors, and Z97-WS is of course equipped. These Japanese-made capacitors are the most durable in the industry, able endure up to 12,000 hours' exposure to temperatures as high at 105°C. This is far higher than the temperatures generated by everyday computing, so Z97-WS is built for endurance . Our 12k capacitors also boast lowered equivalent series resistance (ESR) for increased efficiency and minimized heat generation — improving overall performance!

      ProCool Power Connector
      ProCool Power Connectors

      ASUS ProCool is the power connector reinvented! Compared with traditional power connectors, ProCool connectors ensure an exceptionally close and secure connection with the Z97-WS motherboard. This design is much stronger, and it also benefits power efficiency: the flush connection enables lower impedance and better heat dissipation, allowing cooler operating temperature.

      Beat Thermal Choke
      Higher stability and lower power loss with Beat Thermal Choke

      ASUS Beat Thermal Chokes deliver great durability and up to 93% power efficiency under normal operation. A special fin design results in 3-5℃ lower choke temps for added stability, which is increased exponentially by use of highly conductive and efficient gold-treated coating. This translates into minimal-loss power delivery.

      Dr. MOS MOSFET
      Dr. MOS - the do-more MOSFET

      Z97-WS benefits from an integrated Driver-MOSFET (Dr. MOS) that both saves space and reduces operating temperatures. Compared with traditional MOSFET designs, the Dr. MOS high-side and low-side MOSFETs and built-in driver extend component lifespan and enhances power efficiency.

      Hassle-free troubleshooting
      Q-Code Logger – one-touch troubleshooter

      Q-code logger is your one-touch troubleshooter that lets users easily check system status at any time. Plug a flash drive into adjacent USB port, press the motherboard's dedicated Q-Code logger button and all ASUS Q-Code event logs for the current live session will be copied to the drive even with the system off.

      ASUS Dr. Power hassle-free power supply health monitoring

      As the Z97-WS is meant for professional users who rely on non-stop operation, stable power delivery is critical. Real time power supply health detection helps prevent sudden system shutdown and provides hassle-free notifications should power delivery be insufficient. Additionally, LED messages on the board clearly indicate any relevant power issues in the event your system fails to boot. 

      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.

      Map to MyFavorite: Quickly find tuning options and add preferred tools to the MyFavorites list!
      EZ Tuning Wizard – OC and RAID: Select your hardware and use scenarios to tune system performance or streamline your RAID configuration for faster data retrieval and backups!
      EZ XMP Improve your DRAM performance with a click!
      Intuitive graphical fan control Fine-tune individual fans simply by dragging a curve with the mouse!
      Real-time hardware monitor Benefit from instant information from the critical parts of your system!
      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 3300 (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™2 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 2 technology whenever you want. You can enjoy bi-directional transfer speeds up to 20Gbit/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.

      *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

      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.

      Speed boost Easy overclocking for ultra-fast gaming performance!
      Networking boost Prioritized game data for no-lag gameplay!
      Sound boost Advanced audio design for crystal-clear sound and in-game chat!
      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!

      Turbo LAN

      Turbo LAN with cFosSpeed traffic-shaping technology adds even more lag-reducing support and intuitive user interface. It allows you to lower lag with no expert knowledge – by up to 1.45X! If you're a tweaker, use Advanced Mode for hardcore controls.

      Real-time speed monitor
      Grouping your own favorite list
      Set priority to speed up for your application
      *Testing configuration: Intel® Core™ i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50 GHz │ Z97-DELUXE │ Transcend JM1600KLH-16GK DDR3 1600MHz*2 │ Windows Win8.1 Ultimate 64bit
      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!

      • 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.
      • Work with up to 3 displays Connect up to three independent monitors at once using video outputs such as DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI, or VGA. Choose your outputs and set displays to either mirror mode or collage mode.
      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.

      Proven quality. Enduring trust.
      Strict compatibility and validation
      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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      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.

      1000+ Compatible devices and components
      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!

      • Temperature and Humidity Test Components withstand extreme conditions
      • Thermal Measurement Cool and stable under the heaviest loads
      • Insertion Test Guaranteed I/O reliability
      • Up to 24-hour aging test to ensure reliability
      • Power Consumption Test Ensure global-standard energy efficiency
      7000+ VALIDATION HOURS
      • Temperature and DC Margin
      • Thermal Shock Test
      • Non-Operation Vibration Test
      • Burn-In Test
      • Installation Test
      • Drop Test
      • Shock Test
      • Salt and Spray Test
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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!

      Learn More
      ASUS Q-Design
      Easy PC DIY starts today
      Q-design
      • 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-Shield – Easy and safe on fingers Unlike other I/O shields, with their sharp edges, the exclusive Q-Shield is soft and pliable to protect your hands from cuts.
      • 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!
      • Q-Code - Detailed PC status display and diagnostics Instantly recognizes and displays the POST status for precise troubleshooting. Just check the code in the user guide to solve your problem.
      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.