Question 1

Any CPU cooler fan recommendations for this board?

Accepted Answer

Since this is the H97 chipset (not Z97), it does not support unlocked processors and thus you won't do much for over clocking which means no extra heat loads. The cooler and fan that come with the CPU should work just fine. I'm using the i5-4690 and that is what I'm doing. CPU temps are staying below 45C, but it is not being pushed hard in my system. FYI, I'm using on-board graphics - no video card.

Question 2

Any recommendations for RAM to be paired with this motherboard?
I am looking for something fast and stable as my top priorities.
Will purchase from Newegg, of course.
Thanks

Accepted Answer

I teamed this up with a 8gb (2x4gb) of Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600 in my recent build. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186) That worked fine. I suspect most DDR3 1600 RAM will work okay, but there is a RAM compatibility chart on the ASUS web site, if you want to go with something they've tested.

Question 3

Will this handle the haswell chip?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it handles it beautifully. :D

I am running an Intel Core i5-4430 Haswell Quad-Core 3.0GHz LGA 1150 and it is just phenomenal. Highly recommended motherboard. The features are well worth it, especially the BIOS flashback.

Question 4

Will I need a Sound Card since this has an onboard audio chipset?

Accepted Answer

short answer no. if you are using widows, it should work right away, if not, install the driver from the cd or better yet the asus support website. if you are using linux and compiling your kernel, it is called Intel HD Audio and i enabled the module for generic analog device or something like that... i don't have it in front of me. but any modern linux distribution should simply work.

Question 5

How do you use the HDMI port on this motherboard? The port on my graphics card was a bit misshapen when I first used, and it eventually broke the HDMI cable, lodging a shard in the port and rendering it useless (or at least I think it no longer works). I would like to just switch to this HDMI port to avoid having to buy a new graphics card so soon.

Accepted Answer

the gpu's hdmi port goes to the graphics card, the hdmi port in the i/o back part of the motherboard goes to the cpu's gpu. two separate chips.

if your card has a dvi port, i don't think i have seen one without one that has an hdmi port, you could use that and things should stay the same. so just a different cable would work.

if you decide to use the cpu's gpu, i would configure the uefi to use the cpu's gpu and then remove the graphics card and repair the port.

Question 6

Will a Cooler Master Hyper Cooler 212 EVO fit on this motherboard and not interfere with my RAM or video card? I plan on having the fan facing the side where the I/O conenctors are however this can change. I use two RAM DIMMs that have pretty large heatsinks on them. Will this cooler fit on this motherboard and not interfere with the components? My video card link is below:

(This is a GTX 770 so it is BIG)!!!

For some reason newegg would not let me put in a link to the product. If you search the model: VCGGTX7702XPB  -- Its the first one with 3 fans.

Thank You :)

Accepted Answer

I can't say for sure if the heatsink will work since i am using a stock cooler, but i can say that the first dimm is about 2mm away from the edge of the heatsink. If there is any overhang from the cooler i have my doubts about that working with high profile ram.

the back of my video card is ~73mm away from the center of the heatsink. so if the 120mm on the 212 is the width then i think it's okay right? since 60mm is half that. if it's 160mm wide then that would not fit would it? since you would need 80mm. i think 160 is the height.

I was going to go with the nh-u12s when i upgrade from the i3-4360 i have now to an i7. the 212 looks very similar to the nh-u12s. it appears that the fan will have to face the rear of the pc in a pull configuration.

one thing is that the chips for the 1150 are not that hot and they throttle if too hot. i can run my i3 at about 75% with the stock cooler.

wish i could be more help.

Question 7

Can i use this motherboard in this case here Cooler Master N200 - Micro ATX Mini Tower Computer Case.  Just curious?  Feedback thanks.

Accepted Answer

Yea.  For future reference you can check the form factor of the motherboard (in this case it's Micro ATX) under specification and match that to the Case's specs.

Question 8

Can anyone confirm if this port is capable of booting from the M.2 slot? I've heard of compatibility problems with this kind of set before. I'm planning on this board for a replacement to my NAS box, and I prefer to have as many SATA ports free as possible for adding more drives in the future.

Accepted Answer

Yes , I have install my windows on a Samsung XP941 512GB M.2 SSD - MZHPU512HCGL and everything is working fine. I haven't get aby compatibility problem or whatever.

Question 9

I don't see an onboard USB 3 type connecter? Is it there? Thanks in advance.

Accepted Answer

Yes, there is one between the memory slots and the SATA connectors.

Question 10

Does this have a M.2 slot? It says it does in the specs but I can't see it on the motherboard.

Accepted Answer

Yes it does its right above the pci 3.0 slot

Questions & Answers