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ATX motherboard with black PCB and silver heatsinks

ASUS

ASUS Z97-A LGA 1150 Intel Z97 ATX Intel Motherboard

SKU CH-2WAJ-WCWXR

ATX board for LGA 1150 CPUs with Intel Z97 chipset, four DDR3 slots up to 32 GB, dual PCIe 3.0 x16, SATA 6Gb/s and M.2 Socket 3 storage, plus 8-channel Realtek ALC892 audio

  • ProcessorCore i7 / i5 / i3 / Pentium / Celeron (LGA1150)
  • ChipsetIntel Z97
  • Form factorATX
  • CPU socketLGA 1150
  • CPU technologiesTurbo Boost Technology 2.0
  • Onboard video chipIntegrated Graphics Processor - Intel HD Graphics supportMul
  • Supports 4th and 5th gen Intel Core processors with LGA 1150 socket
  • Four DDR3 slots handle up to 32 GB at speeds up to 3200 MHz overclocked
  • Two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots run at x16 or dual x8 for multi-GPU builds
  • M.2 Socket 3 plus SATA Express give fast storage options alongside four SATA 6 Gb/s ports
  • Realtek ALC892 codec delivers 8-channel high-definition audio for immersive sound

Z97-A LGA 1150 Intel Z97 ATX Motherboard

This ASUS board fits the LGA 1150 socket and supports Core i7, i5, i3, Pentium and Celeron processors. Four DDR3 slots accept up to 32 GB of memory with speeds ranging from 1333 to 3200 MT/s when overclocked. The ATX layout provides two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots that run at x16 or dual x8, plus additional PCIe 2.0 x16 and x1 slots and two legacy PCI slots.

Who this suits and who should look elsewhere

Enthusiasts upgrading an existing LGA 1150 system or building a cost-focused rig with DDR3 will find the chipset feature set complete. Builders starting a new platform should consider a current socket and memory standard. The board also lacks onboard Wi-Fi, so a separate adapter is required for wireless networking.

Deciding specification: LGA 1150 socket

The LGA 1150 socket determines every other compatibility choice, locking the build to 4th and 5th generation Intel Core processors and DDR3 memory only. If the planned CPU uses a different socket, this motherboard cannot be used.

How it compares

Measured against everything we stock in Motherboards for Intel CPUs, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.

Price $111.99
Pricier than about 57% of the 2,965 comparable items (median $97.99).

New to this? Buying PC parts with Monero — what to check, what it costs to pay, and what is never asked for.

Specifications

Product
Brand nameASUS
Model nameZ97-A
Processor
ProcessorCore i7 / i5 / i3 / Pentium / Celeron (LGA1150)
CPU socketLGA 1150
ChipsetIntel Z97
CPU technologiesTurbo Boost Technology 2.0
Memory
Memory slot count4 × 240pin
Supported memoryDDR3 3200*(*O.C.)/ 3100*/ 3000*/ 2933*/ 2800*/ 2666*/ 2600*/ 2400*/ 2200*/ 2133*/ 2000*/ 1866*/ 1600/ 1333
Max supported RAM32 GB
Storage
SATA ports4 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray
M.2 slots1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M Key, type 2260/2280 storage devices support (PCIE mode)
SATA and RAID support0/1/5/10
Audio & video
Audio chipRealtek ALC892
Sound channels8 Channels
Connectivity
Ethernet controllerIntel I218 V
Maximum network speed1 Gbit/s
Ports & slots
PCIe 3.0 x16 slots2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8)
PCIe x1 slots2 x PCIe 2.0 x1 *1 × 1: The PCIe x1_1/2 slots share bandwidth with M.2 Socket 3. The M.2 Socket 3 is default disabled.
PCI slots2 x PCI Slots
Rear panel ports1 x HDMI / 1 x Optical S/PDIF Out / 1 x PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse Combo / 2 x USB 2.0/1.1 / 4 x USB 3.0
PS/2 ports1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port
Video connectors1 x DVI-D1 x D-Sub
HDMI ports1 x HDMI
Ethernet port1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s)
USB 3.0 ports4 x USB 3.0 (blue)
USB 2.0 ports2 x USB 2.0
S/PDIF output1 x Optical
Onboard USB headers1 x USB 3.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.0 port(s) (19-pin)3 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 6 USB 2.0 port(s)
Power
Power connectors24 Pin
Size & build
Form factorATX
More details
PCI express 2.0 x161 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (x2 mode)
SATA express1 x SATA Express port, compatible with 2 x SATA 6.0Gb/s ports

Questions about this item

What size ATX case and CPU cooler clearance do I need for the ASUS Z97-A LGA 1150 motherboard?

The board uses the standard ATX form factor, so any ATX-compatible case will fit; ensure your CPU cooler does not overhang the four DDR3 slots or the two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots.

How do I install an M.2 2260 or 2280 drive on the Z97-A, and what BIOS step is often missed?

Insert the drive into the M.2 Socket 3 with M Key at a 30-degree angle, secure it with the screw, then enable the M.2 socket in UEFI because it is disabled by default and shares bandwidth with the PCIe x1 slots.

Which memory kit should I buy for the four DDR3 slots, and what is the maximum supported capacity?

Purchase DDR3 DIMMs up to 3200 (O.C.) speed; the four 240-pin slots support a total of 32 GB.

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