PCI-Express 3.0 Motherboard - Chipset Z97

Chipset Intel Z87 big jump compared to its predecessor Z77 chipset because it introduced support for higher speed interfaces and a multitude of programming technologies supported any part of the contents of the BIOS or blend in the operating system. Chipset Intel Z97 is an improved (refreshed) version of the 'Haswell' system based on the Z87 chipset, and among the most important news is 'Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard' - Set-protecting the integrity of the boot record, which prevents unauthorized access to malicious program support and disrupt critical to the function of the system, ensuring additional level of security hardware platform. It uses the AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption of data. Of course, the existing possibilities predecessors have improved as evidenced by the label versions. There's more news but the most important is the ability to support processors manufactured in 14 nm technology.

The basic concept of the two chipsets is shown in the following example, which assumes versions for mobile devices.

Example XI

In this example shown in the block diagram the two most important representatives of the chipset of new generation; Z97 and H97. Shown in the example motherboard supports Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 microprocessors fourth and fifth generation, with some older and cheaper versions of microprocessors remanufactured for 'Haswell' architecture (Pentium and Celeron) planned for the socket LGA 1150.

• Processor
  Processors codenamed Broadwell are based on 14 nm technology as compared to the 22 nm technology means smaller size of elementary transistors, which basically allows a larger number of logic circuits and less warming has.Surface is otherwise incorporated into the chassis and improved the thermal conductive material - TIM (Thermal Interface Material) inside the case. The number of cores increased to 8 and will be able to support DDR4 type of working memory. A new generation of processors will be compatible with Z87 platforms upgrade with their BIOS. Of course, it will be available and versions with 'unlocked' multiplier clock speed, which allows enthusiasts effective 'overclocking'. More powerful version of the X99 chipset provides for analog predecessors before described and the use of 'Xeon' microprocessors (note: XEON type procesor is for worksations and servers).
  Most Broadwell products are targeted for notebook market but there is also versions for desktop and server platforms. Broadwell delivers significant performance advancements over the prior generation, including improved graphics, power efficiency / battery life, and security. 14 nm manufacturing process delivers noticeable performance advancements - like key features such as 'Intel Hyper-Threading Technology', which allows each processor core to work on two tasks at the same time for smoother multitasking, to the 'Intel Iris graphics' for stunning 3D visuals and faster, more advanced video and photo editing. The 5th generation 'Core i7' processor delivers top-of-the-line performance for your most demanding tasks.
  
  Integrated processor Graphics 'Intel® Iris Pro Graphics 6200' uses Intel 'Quick Sync' hardware video encoding and decoding technology, hardware accelerated decoding of H.264, MPEG2, and VC-1 video is widely available today. DirectX 11.2 API is also supported. Supported audio standards are AC-3, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD.
  Characteristics of 'desktop' processors are:
  
  
  • Socket: LGA 1150 (Socket H3); 37.5 mm × 37.5 mm
  • Lithography: 14 nm; 1.9 billion of transistors
  • Max Memory Size: 32 GB; DDR3L 1333 / 1600 non-ECC type of memory
  • Graphics Output: DP / HDMI / VGA
  • DP: 3840×2160@60Hz / 4096×2304@60Hz (Core i5 / Core i7)
  • HDMI: 2560×1600@60Hz
  • Cores: 4
  • Threads: 4 / 8 (Core i5 / Core i7)
  • TDP: 65 W
  
  For now, for desktop computer is provided one Core i5 and one Core i7 processor.
  
  
• Z97 / H97 - Platform Controller Hub (PCH)
  Chipset is a link to an external PC devices (I / O Controller Hub), a basic feature of the chipset and support for processors manufactured in 14 nm technology. Lithography of chipset is 22 nm technology. Another feature of this chipset is support for the Intel® Xeon® processors (LGA1150 package) and ECC type of working memory.

Figure** 3.5.37 Block schema of Intel-Z97 / Intel-H97 / Processor Die Map. ( + / - )

Z97 compared to the H97 has better support for graphics systems as is the case with its predecessor. If we compare the figures 3.5.33 and 3.5.37 differences in organizational characteristics are not many. Different manufacturers of computer equipment used in various ways presented products, but unlike the above described products following figures related to motherboards designed with the Z77 chipset. The reason is that one of them looks a lot like the concept of the H97 chipset.

Figure * 3.5.38 GIGABYTE GA-Z97X-Gaming G1 Wi‑Fi-BK / G1.Sniper Z97. ( + / - )

Motherboard in Figure 5.3.38 is a powerful motherboard for gamers, which supports up to four graphics cards, while the product is shown in Figure 3.5.38b strongly resembles the motherboard shown in Figure 3.5.34b. For this reason, further shows the comparison of the two products of the same manufacturer with two completely different concepts, but with the same chipset.

Thus, the Z77 chipset is useful in different ways, and at first glance to see that the motherboard is shown in Figure 3.5.38b physically narrower than the product shown in Figure 3.5.38a and has less supplemental integrated circuits, which means that production cost of less motherboard considerably smaller although both belong to the ATX class. For home use can serve a great product in Figure 3.5.38b instead of a motherboard with H97 chipset. Besides the use of the Z97 chipset means the ability to use multiple graphics features, and additional PCIe-PCI controller integrated circuit allows the use of an older product is available through two standard PCI slots. Comparison of these two products is shown in the following table.

Cheaper motherboard relies primarily on supporting chipsets, and more expensive on the additional integrated circuits, and the number of possible devices that connect to the motherboard varies according to the number and characteristics. The connectors on the rear of the motherboard are physically very similar. The connections shown in Figure 5.3.39 refer to the motherboard 'GA-Z97X-G1 Gaming Wi‑Fi-BK'.

Figure* 3.5.39 Connectors at 'GA-Z97X-Gaming G1' & 'G1.Sniper Z97' MB. ( + / - )

USB 2.0 connectors in Figure are primarily intended for the keyboard and mouse. Motherboard 'G1.Sniper Z97' has no DVI-I interface and a single network connection and less USB 3.0 ports. But the motherboard has a connection zo COM port and optional extensions, and the lack of a DVI-I interface is not important because DisplayPort has better characteristics of the above and yet it is transmitted audio signal, there's no reason for not using it, but should take into account that interface owns the monitor. Standard VGA interface is not available.

Both motherboards use UEFI BIOS, furthermore briefly described in the following example.

Example XII

Specificity of GIGABYTE motherboards is duplicated BIOS, which contributes to the security of data storage BOOT - UEFI DualBIOS.

The data in the table it is evident that the CMOS memory of BIOS is not exactly small, which enables much richer content and, therefore, no surprise to a new generation of BIOS compared to the old generation looks like a picture book. The next set of figures refers to the motherboard 'GA-Z97X-G1 Gaming Wi‑Fi-BK'.

Figure*** 3.5.40 GIGABYTE UEFI DualBIOS. ( + / - )

BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) records hardware parameters of the system in the CMOS memory on the motherboard. Its major functions include conducting the Power-On Self-Test (POST) of comuter during system startup, saving system parameters and loading operating system, etc. BIOS includes a BIOS Setup program that allows the user to modify basic system configuration settings or to activate certain system features. When the power is turned off, the battery on the motherboard (CR 2032) supplies the necessary power to the CMOS to keep the configuration values in the CMOS. CMOS memory is not part of the BIOS is already part of another chip (eg chipsets) or a separate chip.

Broadly speaking, the role of the BIOS hasn't changed in more than 25 years, and for most of that time it's done a satisfactory job. It's becoming increasingly difficult to accommodate everything we expect from a modern computer within the old BIOS framework. A new approach is needed - UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface). You can think of it as a miniature operating system that sits on top of the motherboard’s firmware, rather than being squeezed inside it like a BIOS.

This means that UEFI can be just as powerful as a 'real' OS. It can access all the memory installed in a system, and make use of its own little disk storage space - a sequestered area of onboard flash storage or hard disk space called the 'EFI System Partition'. New modules can be easily added (hence 'Extensible'); this includes device drivers for motherboard components and external peripherals, so user options can be presented in an attractive graphical front-end, controlled with the keyboard and / or the mouse. Hence deriving presence of PS/2 interfaces on the motherboard. That means, CMOS capacity of computer must be greater than before, and program routines of UEFI are much sophisticated.

UEFI provides several technical advantages over a traditional BIOS system like:

• Ability to boot OS from disks with large capacity (more than 2 TB) with GPT (GUID Partition Table).
• CPU-independent architecture and drivers.
• Flexible pre-OS environment, including network capability.
• Modular design.

Flexibility allows manufacturers the basic version of the UEFI (in this case AMI) updates with their subroutines, so GIGABYTE motherboards provide two unique BIOS update tools, Q-Flash™ (of-line update from stick or disk) and @BIOS™ (update over Internet from some GIGABYTE server). GIGABYTE Q-Flash and @BIOS are easy-to-use and allow you to update the BIOS without the need to enter MS-DOS mode. Additionally, motherboards have feature called - DualBIOS™ design, which enhances protection for the safety and stability of computer by adding one more physical BIOS chip. According to the previous figures, the basic elements of GIGABYTE - UEFI DualBIOS are:

• M.I.T. - Use this menu to configure the clock, frequency, and voltages of your CPU and memory, etc. Or check the system/CPU temperatures, voltages, and fan speeds. This page is for advanced users only because of overclocking / overvoltage possibilities. Part of this is 'Intel® Turbo Boost Technology'.
  
  
• System Information - Use this menu to configure the default language used by the BIOS and system time and date.
  
  
• BIOS Features - Use this menu to configure the device boot order and advanced features available on the CPU.
  
  
• Peripherals - Use this menu to configure all peripheral devices, such as SATA, USB, integrated audio, and integrated LAN, etc. Part of this is 'Intel® Rapid Start Technology' and 'Intel® Rapid Storage Technology'.
  
  
• Power Management - Use this menu to configure all the power-saving functions.
  
  
• Save & Exit - Save all the changes made in the BIOS Setup program to the CMOS and exit BIOS Setup. You can save the current BIOS settings to a profile or load optimized defaults for optimal-performance system operations.

UEFI monitors more than 150 parameters of the system, which means that before any adjustments should obtain detailed instructions available to read. Definitely, more powerful environment than a standard BIOS.