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MSI 970A User Manual

MSI 970A
90 pages
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Unpacking
Unpacking
Thank you for buying the MSI
®
970A GAMING PRO CARBON motherboard. Check
to make sure your motherboard box contains the following items. If something is
missing, contact your dealer as soon as possible.
SATA Cable x2
SLI Bridge
Connector
Drivers & Utilities
Disc
Motherboard User
Guide
I/O Shield
Motherboard

Table of Contents

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MSI 970A Specifications

General IconGeneral
SocketAM3+
Form FactorATX
Maximum Memory32GB
PCI Slots2
SATA Ports6 x SATA 6Gb/s
ChipsetAMD 970
Memory Slots4
Memory StandardDDR3
PCIe Slots2 x PCIe 2.0 x16
AudioRealtek
LANRealtek RTL8111E
RAID SupportRAID 0, 1, 5, 10

Summary

Unpacking

Safety Information

Quick Start Guide

Preparing Tools and Components

Lists essential tools and components required for system assembly.

Installing a Processor

Step-by-step instructions for installing the CPU onto the motherboard.

Installing DDR3 Memory

Instructions for correctly installing DDR3 memory modules into the slots.

Connecting the Front Panel Header

Guide for connecting front panel connectors like power and LEDs to the motherboard header.

Installing the Motherboard

Steps for physically mounting the motherboard inside the computer case.

Installing SATA Drives

Instructions for connecting SATA storage devices like HDDs and SSDs.

Installing a Graphics Card

Guide for installing a graphics card into the PCIe slot.

Connecting Peripheral Devices

How to connect external devices like keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

Connecting the Power Connectors

Instructions for connecting ATX and CPU power supply connectors.

Power On

Steps to power on the newly assembled computer system.

Specifications

Back Panel Connectors

Details of ports and connectors on the motherboard's rear I/O panel.

Internal Connectors

Details of internal headers and connectors on the motherboard.

Form Factor

Motherboard physical dimensions and form factor standard.

Software Specifications

List of bundled software utilities and drivers for the motherboard.

Enthusiast GAMING Features

Features designed to enhance gaming performance and experience.

MSI Exclusive Features

Unique features and technologies provided by MSI for this motherboard.

Specification Highlights

Summary of key technical aspects and features of the motherboard.

Block Diagram

Rear I/O Panel

LAN Port LED Status Table

Explains the status indicators for the LAN port.

Audio Ports Configuration

Diagram showing how to connect audio devices to the rear I/O panel.

Realtek HD Audio Manager

Guide to using the audio management software for sound settings.

Overview of Components

CPU Socket

Information about the CPU socket and processor installation.

DIMM Slots

Details on memory slots, capacity, and installation recommendations.

PCIe/ PCI Expansion Slots

Information on expansion slots for graphics cards and other peripherals.

M.2 Slot

Guide for installing M.2 storage devices.

SATA 6Gb/s Connectors

Details on SATA connectors for storage devices and their combinations.

Power Connectors

Explanation of ATX and CPU power connector pinouts.

Serial Port Connector

Information on the optional serial port connector.

USB 3.1 Gen1 Connectors

Guide for connecting front panel USB 3.1 Gen1 ports.

Front Panel Connectors

Details on connecting front panel switches and LEDs to the JFP1/JFP2 headers.

USB 2.0 Connectors

Guide for connecting front panel USB 2.0 ports.

TPM Module Connector

Information about the Trusted Platform Module connector.

Fan Connectors

Explains PWM and Voltage Mode fan connectors and their usage.

Front Audio Connector

Guide for connecting front panel audio jacks.

Chassis Intrusion Connector

Information on the chassis intrusion detection connector and its setup.

RGB LED connector

Guide for connecting RGB LED strips to the motherboard.

S/PDIF-Out connector

Information about the S/PDIF digital audio output connector.

Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS) Jumper

Instructions for resetting the BIOS settings using the JBAT1 jumper.

Debug LED indicators

Explanation of the EZ Debug LED indicators for system status.

BIOS Setup

Entering BIOS Setup

Methods to access the BIOS setup utility during system boot.

Resetting BIOS

Procedures for restoring BIOS settings to default values.

Updating BIOS

Steps for updating the motherboard BIOS via M-FLASH or Live Update 6.

Overview

General overview of the BIOS interface and its main sections.

SETTINGS

Configuration options for system date, time, SATA, information, and advanced settings.

Advanced Settings

Detailed configurations for PCI, ACPI, and Integrated Peripherals.

SATA Mode Configuration

Settings for SATA operation modes (AHCI, RAID) and hot plug support.

Power Management Setup

Configuration options for system power states and AC power loss behavior.

Windows 8 Configuration

Settings related to Windows 8/8.1 features and fast boot options.

Wake Up Event Setup

Configuration for system wake-up events from various sleep states.

Boot Options

Settings for boot device sequence and boot modes (UEFI/Legacy).

Security

Options for setting administrator and user passwords for BIOS security.

Save & Exit

Options for saving changes, discarding changes, and exiting BIOS setup.

OC (Overclocking)

Settings for adjusting CPU and DRAM frequencies, ratios, and voltages for overclocking.

M-FLASH

Utility for updating the motherboard BIOS using a USB flash drive.

OC PROFILE

Features for saving, loading, and managing overclocking profiles.

HARDWARE MONITOR

Tools for monitoring system temperatures, fan speeds, and voltages.

Software Description

Installing Windows

Instructions for installing Windows 7/8.1/10 operating systems.

Installing Drivers

Steps to install essential motherboard drivers from the included disc.

Installing Utilities

Guide for installing additional software utilities provided with the motherboard.

COMMAND CENTER

Overview of the MSI Command Center software for system monitoring and adjustment.

CPU Fan Control

How to manage CPU fan speed using Smart Mode and Manual Mode.

CPU Voltage Control

Adjusting CPU voltage settings through the software.

Advanced Voltage and Fan Settings

Fine-tuning advanced voltage and system fan speed settings.

Mobile Control

Instructions for remote control of Command Center via a mobile device.

LIVE UPDATE 6

Guide to using Live Update 6 for driver and BIOS updates.

Total Installer

Using Total Installer for batch installation of updates.

GAMING APP

Overview of Gaming App for system optimization and performance tuning.

LED Effect Control

Customizing motherboard LED lighting effects and colors.

OSD Setting Panel

Configuring on-screen display (OSD) information.

Eye Rest

Adjusting display settings to reduce eye strain.

VR Ready

Checking system readiness for Virtual Reality devices.

Gaming Hotkey

Setting up custom hotkeys for gaming and system control.

Mouse Master

Configuring mouse DPI, macros, and button assignments.

USB SPEED UP

Enabling feature to improve USB storage device transfer rates.

GAMING LAN MANAGER

Utility for managing network traffic and improving online gaming performance.

Speed Testing

Performing network speed tests to optimize bandwidth usage.

Nahimic 2 Audio Features

Details on Nahimic 2 audio effects, profiles, and settings for enhanced sound.

Microphone Settings

Configuring microphone effects, loopback, and voice clarity.

HD Audio Recorder 2

Information on the HD Audio Recorder 2 for audio capture and streaming.

Sound Tracker

Feature for visual sound localization in FPS games.

SteelSeries Engine 3

Software for configuring SteelSeries gaming peripherals.

Configuring Your Devices

Customizing SteelSeries devices using widgets and configuration windows.

DRAGON EYE

Application to display video overlays while gaming.

RAID Configuration

View Drives Assignments

Displaying details of connected drives for RAID setup.

Creating RAID

Step-by-step guide to creating a RAID array using the LD Define Menu.

Modifying RAID Array Capacity

Adjusting the capacity of a created RAID logical drive.

Completing RAID Creation

Finalizing the RAID creation process and system reboot.

Deleting RAID

Instructions for removing an existing RAID set.

Installing RAID Driver

Procedures for installing RAID drivers during OS installation or in existing Windows.

Installing Operating System on 2.2TB RAID

Guide for installing OS on large RAID volumes using EFI shell.

Managing Logical Drives

Steps for deleting and creating logical drives in RAID configuration.

Creating Logical Drive

Filling in drive name and size settings for logical drive creation.

Completing OS Installation with RAID Driver

Final steps for OS installation after loading the RAID driver.

Installing Windows on RAID Volume

Continuing Windows installation once the RAID volume is recognized.

Troubleshooting

Regulatory Notices

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