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X99 Pro Firmware And Software
Asus provides quick access to ordinary settings (including XMP mode and fan profiles) from its EZ-Mode menu. Advanced settings are found by tapping F7 on a connected keyboard.
The X99 Pro pushed my test CPU to the same 44 x 101MHz (about 4.44GHz) as most competing boards, using the same 1.28V setting. This CPU is unable to expel heat from the core to the heat spreader at a fast enough rate to support higher voltage levels when running 12 threads of AVX-optimized Prime95, quickly topping 100° Celsius in my attempts.
Like most boards, the X99 Pro gives you a little more DIMM voltage than you’d expect, then under-reports that level. My voltmeter shows 1.35V at its 1.33V setting, and even that’s enough to push my DDR4-3000 samples to a 3254MT/s!
The X99 Pro provides full control of memory timings, and even adds advanced settings like DRAM training.
We like to evangelize low-risk overclocking to the majority of performance addicts, leaving the extreme stuff for exhibitions. Asus recommends default Digi+ Power Control settings for this type of tuning, though we might be tempted to play if extreme cooling were part of this article.
Asus AI Suite 3 opens to its Dual Intelligent Processors 5 menu, which includes overclocking and undervolting (power savings) adjustments. Many of these settings only become selectable after clicking the “5-Way Optimization” button on the menu’s upper-left, which initiates a test sequence.
Among the above-mentioned test sequences are automatic overclocking adjustment, which the program thought could push our CPU to 4.6GHz at 1.3V. Of course, that overclock caused core temperature to exceed 100° Celsius and, paired with the motherboard’s default 115° thermal-throttling alteration, resulted in a system crash under a full Prime95 load. Yes, our own stress test pushes the CPU harder than Asus’.
Thermal throttling temperature can be set within Windows from the program’s “Digi+” menu, but it appears the 115° setting is its bottom. Current (amperage) limits and load-line (voltage compensation) can also be set here.
Don’t like the settings Asus automatically configured for your motherboard? Manual software adjustments are available within firmware limits for these options, though some (such as CPU Strap) require a reboot.
Asus Turbo App lets more hardcore enthusiasts set the processor priority for programs.
Asus Turbo LAN is a custom interface for cFos packet prioritization software.
Asus Home Cloud allows your PC to host files for your mobile devices, and your mobile devices to control your PC.
Asus gives 5GB of free space on its WebStorage server to everyone. I’ve heard that registered hardware customers get even more space, but my search for further information at the X99 Pro’s product page and the WebStorage homepage revealed no details.
