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MSI Z370-A User Manual

MSI Z370-A
95 pages
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Unpacking
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Thank you for buying the MSI
®
Z370-A PRO 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
Drivers & Utilities
Disc
Motherboard User
Guide
I/O Shield
Motherboard

Table of Contents

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MSI Z370-A Specifications

General IconGeneral
ChipsetIntel Z370
CPU SocketLGA 1151
Form FactorATX
Memory TypeDDR4
Memory Slots4
Maximum Memory64 GB
PCIe x16 Slots2
SATA Ports6
USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A1
USB 2.06
LAN1 x Realtek RTL8111H Gigabit LAN
RAID Support0/1/5/10
Multi-GPU SupportAMD CrossFire

Summary

Safety Information

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Precautions

Steps to prevent ESD damage during handling of components.

General Handling and Operational Safety

Guidelines on safe handling, power connection, humidity, and pre-power on checks.

Installing a Processor

CPU Installation Procedure

Step-by-step visual guide for mounting the CPU onto the motherboard socket.

Installing DDR4 Memory

RAM Module Installation Guide

Visual guide detailing how to insert DDR4 memory modules into the DIMM slots.

Front Panel Header Connections

JFP1 Connector Pinout and Functionality

Diagram and pin assignments for connecting front panel headers like power and reset.

Motherboard Installation

Mounting the Motherboard in Chassis

Steps for installing the I/O shield and securing the motherboard within the computer case.

Installing SATA Drives

Drive Installation and Cabling

Instructions for placing storage drives in the chassis and connecting SATA data/power cables.

Installing a Graphics Card

PCIe Slot Installation Guide

Steps for inserting a graphics card into the appropriate PCIe slot.

Connecting Peripheral Devices

Rear I/O Panel Connections Diagram

Diagram illustrating how to connect peripherals to the motherboard's rear ports.

Connecting Power Connectors

ATX and CPU Power Cabling

Guide for connecting the 24-pin ATX main power and 8-pin CPU power cables.

Powering On the System

System Power-Up Procedure

Steps for connecting the power cord and initiating system power-on.

System Specifications

CPU, Chipset, and Memory Support

Details on compatible CPUs, the Z370 chipset, and DDR4 memory specifications.

Storage and Connectivity Interfaces

Specifications for SATA, M.2 slots, USB, and LAN ports.

System Specifications (Continued)

System Specifications (Continued)

Block Diagram

Rear I/O Panel Details

Overview of Components

Motherboard Component Layout Map

A labeled diagram showing the location of all motherboard connectors and headers.

CPU Socket Installation

LGA 1151 CPU Mounting Guide

Step-by-step visual instructions for correctly mounting the LGA 1151 CPU.

CPU Installation Safety and Best Practices

Critical advice on CPU handling, heatsink installation, and socket pin protection.

DIMM Slots and Memory Installation

DDR4 Memory Module Installation

Visual guide for inserting DDR4 memory modules into the DIMM slots.

Memory Installation Best Practices

Important recommendations for memory compatibility, capacity, and cooling.

PCIe Expansion Slots

M.2 Slot (Key M)

Installing an M.2 Module Guide

Step-by-step instructions for installing M.2 SSDs or Intel Optane memory modules.

SATA 6Gb/s Connectors

Front Panel Connectors

Power Connectors

ATX and CPU Power Connector Pinouts

Detailed pin assignments for the 24-pin ATX main power and 8-pin CPU power connectors.

USB 2.0 Connectors

USB 3.1 Gen1 Connectors

Fan Connectors

Clear CMOS Jumper

JBAT1 Function and BIOS Reset

Description of the JBAT1 jumper and steps to reset BIOS to default values.

EZ Debug LED

LED Indicators and Error Code Meanings

Explanation of the EZ Debug LED indicators for troubleshooting boot issues.

BIOS Setup Guide

Entering BIOS Setup Methods

Various methods to access the BIOS setup interface during system boot.

BIOS Setup Guide (Continued)

Resetting BIOS Defaults Procedures

Instructions for restoring BIOS settings to their default values.

BIOS Update Methods (M-FLASH & Live Update 6)

Guides for updating the BIOS using M-FLASH via USB and Live Update 6.

EZ Mode BIOS Interface

Advanced Mode BIOS Interface

BIOS Settings Menu (Continued)

BIOS Settings Menu (Continued)

Overclocking (OC) Settings

CPU Ratio and Frequency Settings

Adjusting CPU ratio for different core counts and related frequency settings.

Overclocking (OC) Settings (Continued)

CPU Ratio Modes and Offset Settings

Configuring CPU ratio operating modes and offsets for dynamic adjustments.

Overclocking (OC) Settings (Continued)

CPU Base Clock and Memory Overclocking

Adjusting CPU base clock and configuring Extreme Memory Profile (XMP).

Advanced DRAM Configuration Options

Detailed settings for configuring memory timings for optimal performance.

Overclocking (OC) Settings (Continued)

CPU Voltage and Loadline Calibration

Adjusting CPU voltages and configuring loadline calibration for stability.

Overclocking (OC) Settings (Continued)

Power Limits and Frequency Settings

Configuring TDP power limits and clock frequencies for CPU performance.

M-FLASH BIOS Update

M-FLASH Procedure for BIOS Update

Step-by-step guide for updating the system BIOS using the M-FLASH utility.

OC Profile Management

Hardware Monitor

Fan Management and Control Options

Adjusting fan modes (PWM/DC) and fan speeds for optimal cooling.

Software Description

LIVE UPDATE 6 Utility

System Update Process Guide

Step-by-step instructions for updating the system using LIVE UPDATE 6.

LIVE UPDATE 6 Utility (Continued)

COMMAND CENTER Utility

CPU Frequency Adjustment Guide

How to change CPU frequency and base clock within COMMAND CENTER.

COMMAND CENTER Utility (Continued)

Fan and Voltage Control Options

Adjusting CPU fan speed and CPU voltage using the utility.

DRAM and IGP Settings Configuration

Configuring DRAM frequency, voltage, and integrated graphics settings.

COMMAND CENTER Utility (Continued)

X-BOOST Performance Enhancement

X-BOOST Performance Enhancement (Continued)

MYSTICLIGHT RGB Control

MYSTICLIGHT RGB Control (Continued)

Motherboard LED Control Interface

Configuring LED effects specifically for the motherboard's lighting zones.

MSI SMART TOOL

SOFTWARE RAID Utility

RAMDISK Utility

NETWORK GENIE

NETWORK GENIE (Continued)

Intel® Extreme Tuning Utility (XTU)

RAID Configuration

Creating a RAID Volume Guide

Step-by-step instructions for creating RAID volumes using Intel RST Option ROM.

RAID Configuration (Continued)

Removing and Resetting RAID Volumes

Procedures for deleting RAID volumes and resetting disks to non-RAID.

RAID Configuration (Continued)

Intel® Optane™™ Memory Configuration

Installing and Enabling Optane Memory

Step-by-step guide for installing the Optane module and configuring BIOS settings.

Intel® Optane™™ Memory Configuration (Continued)

Optane Memory Enablement and Cautions

Final steps to enable Optane memory and critical usage warnings.

Removing Intel® Optane™™ Memory

Procedures for disabling and safely removing Intel Optane memory.

Troubleshooting Optane and SATA Mode

Disabling Optane Memory and Restoring AHCI Mode

Using MSI SMART TOOL to disable Optane and revert SATA mode to AHCI.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Power, Signal, and Boot Issues Diagnosis

Diagnosing and resolving problems related to power, monitor signal, and boot failures.

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