Asus P8Z77-V LK Install Questions

[Tinsley847]

Asus P8Z77-LK

I have a question about motherboard installation. From what I am told, similar to peripherals, you do not want to use drivers from a disc. Because these are 9 times out of 10 outdated and can cause problems. So I am preparing for my install by downloading the appropriate drivers via Asus download section. I plan to load them onto a USB for my MB install, that way I don’t have to use the disc drivers. So my question is…

Which downloads do I need from the list below?

Qualified Vendor List (5)
BIOS (8)
BIOS-Utilities (2)
Chipset (3)
AUDIO (1)
VGA (5)
Firmware (1)
LAN (4)
USB (5)
Utilities (27)
SATA (8)
Manual (9)

I would think that I need BIOS, Chipset, & Utilities?

Furthermore, in the Utilities section. There is a Updated suite that includes the LAN driver. Then there is an even more recent update to just the LAN driver. So, do I install the suite and then update the LAN driver after to the newer version number?

Thank you very much for any help you can give. This is my first time installing a new MB without the help of my computer guru brother.

 

[Face2Face]

BIOS (8)
BIOS-Utilities (2)
Chipset (3)
AUDIO (1)
LAN (4)
USB (5)
Utilities (27)
SATA (8)

Download all of the recent drivers in the sections above.

You can wait until everything else is installed until you install the below.

Use the BIOS-utility to update to the newest bios. And use the UTILITY section to install the Auto-Overclock and some other features.

BIOS (8)
BIOS-Utilities (2)
Utilities (27)

 

[Raincity]

Also depends on what OS you plan to use. Win 8 already supports USB 3.0 and Intel management engine. Also Asus is slow to update when you can get the newer versions straight from the Intel.

 

[Tinsley847]

Sorry that I didn't clarify. I'm installing windows 7.

 

[Raincity]

With Win 7, you going to want to update the Intel management engine to 8.1. You will need to install ME 8.0 first before you can upgrade the ME firmware to accept 8.1

You will want to install the Intel chipset driver package first them reboot. Then install ME 8.0 and reboot. Then update the ME firmware http://support.asus.com/Download.as...V10001.zip#IntelME81_Updating_Tool_V10001.zip and reboot again. Then install ME 8.1

You can install the rest of the motherboard drivers in any order. I would only download the real tek audio and LAN from Asus and get the updated chipset, SATA 6, USB 3.0, Video, rapid start and smart connect straight from Intel.com Asus utility is optional and the only thing I use from it is Fan Expert 2 and I probe. Everything I else I prefer to handle from the bios.

 

[_Rick_]

Hey, I see you've got a V-LK.
Could you do a test to me, (assuming that you are using a dedicated graphics card) and check whether the machine boots properly, if the graphics adapter is installed in the second PCIe x16 (x8) slot?


As for the original subject: ASUS will probably warn you of this, but when installing a new BIOS, sometimes you're also installing a new RAID-ROM (Intel) and that means you'll have to upgrade to the latest driver - preferably before flashing the ROM, so you don't inadvertently end up having to do a driver dance, with the windows AHCI driver and the intel AHCI driver. That's the ME issue being addressed in the previous post.
Also, I would probably get all drivers directly from the various chip makers. Audio and LAN from Realtek; chipset/USB 3, grahpics and IME/SATA from Intel. You might want to get the fan control utility from ASUS - but then their AISuite is a buggy, memory leaking piece of software, that can probably be partly replaced by clean 3d party tools.

 

[Tinsley847]

So lets see if I got this right.

Install windows first. Then LAN & Audio. Then do the Intel ME steps posted above. Then do the rest of the driver installs, with the bios being last.

I have to say though. The AI suite was the biggest selling point of the board for someone that has little experience in OC. I will install the suite to use the turboV auto-tune. From what I understand it can be uninstalled afterwords and the OC will stay in place as it is a hardware change. So if its really as bad as you say, I can get rid of it then.

 

[Face2Face]

So lets see if I got this right.

Install windows first. Then LAN & Audio. Then do the Intel ME steps posted above. Then do the rest of the driver installs, with the bios being last.

I have to say though. The AI suite was the biggest selling point of the board for someone that has little experience in OC. I will install the suite to use the turboV auto-tune. From what I understand it can be uninstalled afterwords and the OC will stay in place as it is a hardware change. So if its really as bad as you say, I can get rid of it then.

It's not bad for a beginner overclocker. It's changes the your bios settings using the software provided, it changes everything in real-time so there is no need to go into your bios and change anything overclocking wise.

 

[Tinsley847]

Downloading the drivers to USB right now for my install later tonight.

For order of operations... Can someone confirm my gameplan listed below.

Windows 7 > Chipset Driver > Intel ME dance listed above > LAN & Audio > USB 3/Graphics > Rapid start/Smart connect/Rapid Storage > AMD Catalyst Driver > BIOS > AI Suite II

Also looking for clarification on the BIOS Utilities section, the 2 listed downloads "Bios Renamer for USB BIOS Flashback" & "Bupdater Utility V1.30 for flash BIOS under DOS." I don't think I need these, is that correct?

 

[Raincity]

That install sequence will work. I am not sure about the bios utilities since I flashed it in windows using the bios updater in the utility suite. The risk flashing within windows seems minimal now with a dual bios board.

 

[Tinsley847]

That install sequence will work. I am not sure about the bios utilities since I flashed it in windows using the bios updater in the utility suite. The risk flashing within windows seems minimal now with a dual bios board.

Important and probably dumb question...

Do I have to reboot after each driver install?

 

[red454]

Important and probably dumb question...

Do I have to reboot after each driver install?

Yes and no - some will tell you to reboot after install, others won't.


Edit: what Raincity says below is true, you don't have to...

 

[Raincity]

Important and probably dumb question...

Do I have to reboot after each driver install?

No

 

[red454]

Also regarding the overclock software (Turbo V). It does work, but the best way is to read up about overclocking and go for a mild overclock (thought the BIOS) until you understand what is going on. The packaged overclock in Turbo V uses some broad settings because every motherboard and every processor vary as to how well they handle an overclock. That is why there are sooooo many options for tweaking in the BIOS.

And on that note - it has been my experience that modern motherboards and CPU's are plenty fast for the average Joe. Mild overclocks are barely noticeable, and heavy overclocks can damage your CPU if you don't really know what you are doing. You can certainly crank some serious speed out of your system, but I recommend educating yourself on the do's and don'ts of overclocking.

 

[coffeejunkee]

Windows 7 > Chipset Driver > Intel ME dance listed above > LAN & Audio > USB 3/Graphics > Rapid start/Smart connect/Rapid Storage > AMD Catalyst Driver > BIOS > AI Suite II

Also looking for clarification on the BIOS Utilities section, the 2 listed downloads "Bios Renamer for USB BIOS Flashback" & "Bupdater Utility V1.30 for flash BIOS under DOS." I don't think I need these, is that correct?

I would update the bios first. You don't need the renamer and bupdater. Just put the downloaded .cap file on a fat32 formatted usb stick. Then use the update feature from the bios.

Then install the rest of the drivers, I always start with all chipset stuff but the order is not that important. The graphics driver is for the igp only, no need to install if you don't use it.

 

[Tinsley847]

How long does the ME firmware update take? Mine seems hung up, been staring at it for 25 minutes. It just says please wait... And for me not to reboot.

 

[coffeejunkee]

Took about 2 mins maybe...25 seems like there is some problem.

I assume you did this: "Before using the tool, make sure the Intel Management Engine Interface Driver is installed and follow the simple instruction."? I'd expect an error message otherwise but it's the only thing I can think of.

 

[Tinsley847]

I did exactly what was posted for me above. Chipset > Me 8.0 > Me Firmware... It sat on the firmware install for 8 hours and still isn't done. I have no idea what to do now..

 

[Tinsley847]

It really seems like I need to update something else first. This is driving me insane, I don't wanna move forward with this build. It just hangs on the firmware update and doesn't do anything. If I manually stop it after 8 hours and try to rerun, it gives an error. So I backed up and uninstalled me 8.0 and started again with the same results

 

[Tinsley847]

I just stopped it again. Uninstalled 8.0 then this time I said screw it and just install 8.1 with out 8 and without the firm upgrade. It installed fine.

 

[Tinsley847]

Now my other intel drivers won't install

 

[Tinsley847]

I don't know what else to do besides update bios and then Me... But pretty sure I was told not to do that

 

[coffeejunkee]

Can you restore Windows to fresh install state?

Update bios to 0908 incase you haven't. Then first install MEI 8.0, update MEI firmware, then install MEI 8.1. Next install chipset driver followed by Intel RST driver. Then network/audio/usb3.

 

[Tinsley847]

I did the chipset before the me. Is that why it won't work? Also I would say it's too late to get back to fresh install. I uninstalled me all together. Can you please tell me why I need it?

 

[Tinsley847]

Now if I try to install 8 me. It says setup failed to launch certain applications and will exit in the middle of the install. I also tried borderlands 2 and got blue screen of death during first 10 min