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.

Drivers & Utilities Motherboard User

Disc Guide
Motherboard

I/O Shield
SLI Bridge
SATA Cable x2
Connector

Unpacking 1
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 Safety Information
y The components included in this package are prone to damage from electrostatic
discharge (ESD). Please adhere to the following instructions to ensure successful
computer assembly.
y Ensure that all components are securely connected. Loose connections may cause
the computer to not recognize a component or fail to start.
y Hold the motherboard by the edges to avoid touching sensitive components.
y It is recommended to wear an electrostatic discharge (ESD) wrist strap when
handling the motherboard to prevent electrostatic damage. If an ESD wrist strap
is not available, discharge yourself of static electricity by touching another metal
object before handling the motherboard.
y Store the motherboard in an electrostatic shielding container or on an anti-static
pad whenever the motherboard is not installed.
y Before turning on the computer, ensure that there are no loose screws or metal
components on the motherboard or anywhere within the computer case.
y Do not boot the computer before installation is completed. This could cause
permanent damage to the components as well as injury to the user.
y If you need help during any installation step, please consult a certified computer
technician.
y Always turn off the power supply and unplug the power cord from the power
outlet before installing or removing any computer component.
y Keep this user guide for future reference.
y Keep this motherboard away from humidity.
y Make sure that your electrical outlet provides the same voltage as is indicated on
the PSU, before connecting the PSU to the electrical outlet.
y Place the power cord such a way that people can not step on it. Do not place
anything over the power cord.
y All cautions and warnings on the motherboard should be noted.
y If any of the following situations arises, get the motherboard checked by service

personnel:
ƒ Liquid has penetrated into the computer.
ƒ The motherboard has been exposed to moisture.
ƒ The motherboard does not work well or you can not get it work according to user
guide.
ƒ The motherboard has been dropped and damaged.
ƒ The motherboard has obvious sign of breakage.
y Do not leave this motherboard in an environment above 60°C (140°F), it may damage
the motherboard.

2 Safety Information
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 Quick Start
Preparing Tools and Components

AMD® AM3/ AM3+ CPU Thermal Paste

CPU Fan

DDR3 Memory
Power Supply Unit

Chassis

SATA DVD Drive SATA Hard Disk Drive Graphics Card

Phillips Screwdriver A Package of Screws

Quick Start 3
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 Installing a Processor

4 3

8
6

4 Quick Start
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 Installing DDR3 memory

2 3

Quick Start 5
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 Connecting the Front Panel Header

-
LED
W ER
PO +
ED
E RL
W
PO ED
DL
SW

HD
R
WE
PO
SW T
SE
RE

RESET SW
HDD LED
1 HDD LED + 2 Power LED +
2 10
3 HDD LED - 4 Power LED -

5 Reset Switch 6 Power Switch

1 9
7 Reset Switch 8 Power Switch
JFP1
9 Reserved 10 No Pin

JFP1

HDD LED -
HDD LED
HDD LED +

POWER LED -
POWER LED
POWER LED +

6 Quick Start
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 Installing the Motherboard

Quick Start 7
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 Installing SATA Drives

2
3

8 Quick Start
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 Installing a Graphics Card

Quick Start 9
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 Connecting Peripheral Devices

10 Quick Start
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 Connecting the Power Connectors

ATX_PWR1
CPU_PWR1

Quick Start 11
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 Power On

12 Quick Start
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 Contents
Unpacking .............................................................................................................. 1
Safety Information ................................................................................................. 2
Quick Start ............................................................................................................. 3
Preparing Tools and Components .......................................................................... 3
Installing a Processor ............................................................................................. 4
Installing DDR3 memory ........................................................................................ 5
Connecting the Front Panel Header ....................................................................... 6
Installing the Motherboard ..................................................................................... 7
Installing SATA Drives............................................................................................. 8
Installing a Graphics Card ...................................................................................... 9
Connecting Peripheral Devices ............................................................................ 10
Connecting the Power Connectors....................................................................... 11
Power On............................................................................................................... 12

Specifications....................................................................................................... 15
Block Diagram .................................................................................................... 20
Rear I/O Panel ..................................................................................................... 21
LAN Port LED Status Table................................................................................... 21
Audio Ports Configuration .................................................................................... 21
Realtek HD Audio Manager .................................................................................. 22

Overview of Components .................................................................................... 24

CPU Socket ........................................................................................................... 26
DIMM Slots............................................................................................................ 27
PCI_E1~5, PCI1: PCIe/ PCI Expansion Slots ........................................................ 28
M2_1: M.2 Slot ...................................................................................................... 29
SATA1~6: SATA 6Gb/s Connectors ....................................................................... 30
CPU_PWR1, ATX_PWR1: Power Connectors ....................................................... 31
JCOM1: Serial Port Connector ............................................................................. 31
JUSB4~5: USB 3.1 Gen1 Connectors ................................................................... 32
JFP1, JFP2: Front Panel Connectors ................................................................... 32
JUSB1~3: USB 2.0 Connectors ............................................................................. 33
JTPM1: TPM Module Connector ........................................................................... 33
CPU_FAN1, SYS_FAN1~4: Fan Connectors .......................................................... 34
JAUD1: Front Audio Connector ............................................................................ 35
JCI1: Chassis Intrusion Connector ....................................................................... 35
JLED1: RGB LED connector ................................................................................. 36
JSP1: S/PDIF-Out connector ................................................................................ 36

Contents 13
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 JBAT1: Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS) Jumper ........................................................... 37
EZ Debug LED: Debug LED indicators ................................................................. 37

BIOS Setup ........................................................................................................... 38

Entering BIOS Setup ............................................................................................. 38
Resetting BIOS...................................................................................................... 39
Updating BIOS....................................................................................................... 39
Overview ............................................................................................................... 40
SETTINGS.............................................................................................................. 41
Advanced ............................................................................................................... 41
Boot ....................................................................................................................... 46
Security ................................................................................................................. 46
Save & Exit ............................................................................................................ 47
OC.......................................................................................................................... 48
M-FLASH .............................................................................................................. 52
OC PROFILE .......................................................................................................... 53
HARDWARE MONITOR .......................................................................................... 54

Software Description........................................................................................... 55
Installing Windows® 7/ 8.1/ 10.............................................................................. 55
Installing Drivers .................................................................................................. 55
Installing Utilities ................................................................................................. 55
COMMAND CENTER ............................................................................................. 56
LIVE UPDATE 6...................................................................................................... 60
GAMING APP ......................................................................................................... 62
USB SPEED UP ..................................................................................................... 67
GAMING LAN MANAGER ...................................................................................... 68
Nahimic 2 .............................................................................................................. 70
SteelSeries Engine 3 ............................................................................................ 74
DRAGON EYE ........................................................................................................ 76

RAID Configuration .............................................................................................. 77

Using RAID Option ROM ....................................................................................... 77
Installing RAID Driver ........................................................................................... 83
Installing Operating System on 2.2TB RAID ..................................................... 84

Troubleshooting .................................................................................................. 89
Regulatory Notices .............................................................................................. 90

14 Contents
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 Specifications
Supports AMD® FX™/ Phenom™/ Athlon™II/ Sempron™
CPU
processors for Socket AM3/ AM3+
Chipset AMD® 970 & SB950 Chipset

y 4x DDR3 memory slots, support up to 32GB

Memory ƒ Supports DDR3 1066/ 1333/ 1600/ 1866/ 2133(OC) MHz
y Dual channel memory architecture
y 2x PCIe 2.0 x16 slots (support x16/x0, x8/x8 mode)
Expansion Slots y 3x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots
y 1x PCI slot
y Supports 2-Way AMD® CrossFire™ Technology
Multi-GPU
y Supports 2-Way NVIDIA® SLI™ Technology
AMD® SB950 Chipset
y 6x SATA 6Gb/s ports
ƒ Supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10 for SATA
storage devices
y 1x M.2 slot (Key M)*
Storage ƒ Supports PCIe 2.0 x2 or x4 and SATA 6Gb/s**
ƒ Supports 2242/ 2260 /2280 storage devices
* M.2 and SATA ports maximum support 1x M.2_PCIe + 6x SATAs or 1x M.2_
SATA + 5x SATAs. Please refer to page 30 for M.2/ SATA ports & PCIe slots
combination table.
** When inserted M.2_PCIe of x4, PCI_E3 & PCI_E4 can not be used.
** When inserted M.2_PCIe of x2, PCI_E3 & PCI_E4 can be used.

y ASMedia® ASM1143 Chipset

ƒ 2x USB 3.1 Gen2 (SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps) ports (1
Type-A port and 1 Type-C port on the back panel)
y ASMedia® ASM1143 Chipset
USB ƒ 4x USB 3.1 Gen1 (SuperSpeed USB) ports available
through the internal USB 3.1 Gen1 connectors
y AMD® SB950 Chipset
ƒ 14x USB 2.0 (High-speed USB) ports (8 ports on the
back panel, 6 ports available through the internal USB
connector)
y Realtek® ALC1150 Codec
Audio y 7.1-Channel High Definition Audio
y Supports S/PDIF output
LAN 1x Intel I211-AT Gigabit LAN controller

Continued on next page

Specifications 15
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 Continued from previous page

y 1x PS/2 keyboard/ mouse combo port

y 8x USB 2.0 ports
y 1x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A port
Back Panel
y 1x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port
Connectors
y 1x LAN (RJ45) port
y 1x optical S/PDIF OUT connector
y 6x audio jacks
y 1x 24-pin ATX main power connector
y 1x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector
y 6x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
y 3x USB 2.0 connectors (supports additional 6 USB 2.0
ports)
y 2x USB 3.1 Gen1 connectors (supports additional 4 USB
3.1 Gen1 ports)
y 1x 4-pin CPU fan connector
y 2x 4-pin system fan connectors
Internal Connectors y 2x 3-pin system fan connectors
y 1x Front panel audio connector
y 2x Front panel connectors
y 1x TPM module connector
y 1x Chassis Intrusion connector
y 1x Serial port connector
y 1x S/PDIF OUT connector
y 1x RGB LED connector
y 1x Clear CMOS jumper
I/O Controller FINTEK F71878AD Controller Chip
y ATX Form Factor
Form Factor
y 12 in. x 9.6 in. (30.5 cm x 24.3 cm)
Continued on next page

16 Specifications
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 Continued from previous page

y Drivers
y COMMAND CENTER
y LIVE UPDATE 6
y FAST BOOT
y SUPER CHARGER
y GAMING APP
y USB SPEED UP
Software
y GAMING LAN MANAGER
y Nahimic 2
y Open Broadcaster Software
y Norton™ Internet Security Solution
y Google Chrome™ ,Google Toolbar, Google Drive
y SteelSeries Engine 3
y DRAGON EYE
Continued on next page

Specifications 17
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 Continued from previous page

y AUDIO BOOST 3
ƒ Isolated Audio PCB
ƒ EMI Shielding
ƒ Dual Headphone Amplifiers
ƒ High Quality Audio Capacitors
ƒ Golden Audio Connectors
y GAME BOOST
ƒ Easy Overclocking
y GAMING LAN
ƒ Intel® Gigabit Ethernet
ƒ GAMING Network Manager power by cFos
ƒ Electric Wave Surge
y GAMING APP
ƒ System Mode Switching: OC/Gaming/Silent
ƒ Gaming Hotkey

Enthusiast GAMING ƒ Gaming Mouse Control

Features ƒ Gaming LED Control
y Optimized Thermal Design
ƒ Heat-pipe Direct Touch Technology
ƒ Enhanced Choke Thermal Design
y Nahimic 2
ƒ Sound Tracker
ƒ HD Audio Recorder 2
ƒ Expert Mode
ƒ Sound Effect Equalizer
ƒ Microphone Noise Reduction
y GAMING CERTIFIED
y WTFast GPN
ƒ 2-Month Premium License
ƒ Multi-Server Network Optimization
ƒ Advanced Lag Spike & Disconnect Reduction

Continued on next page

18 Specifications
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 Continued from previous page

y CLICK BIOS 4
ƒ EZ Mode & Advanced Mode Switching
ƒ Board Explorer
ƒ Hardware Monitor
y MILITARY CLASS 4
ƒ Military Class Component
ƒ Military Class Stability and Reliability
˜ ESD Protection
˜ EMI Protection
˜ Humidity Protection
MSI Exclusive
˜ Circuit Protection
Features
˜ High Temperature Protection
˜ VGA Armor Slot
y COMMAND CENTER
ƒ System Monitor
ƒ Smart Fan Control
y EZ Debug LED
y LIVE UPDATE 6
y USB Redrivers
y Steel Series Engine 3
y SUPER CHARGER
y USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A/ Type-C Ready
Specification
y NVMe / AHCI Driver Support
Highlights
y RGB LED pin header

Specifications 19
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 Block Diagram

2 Channel DDR3 Memory

CPU

x8 x16/x8 HT

Switch

AMD RX980
PCI Express Bus
PCI Express Bus ASMEDIA
ASM1143
x1 PCI Express Bus USB 3.1 Gen1
PCIe x1 slot
x1

x2
M.2 Switch
x1
Intel
PCIe x1 slot I211

PCIe x1 slot ALINK

x1
Switch x1
PCI Express Bus ASMEDIA
ASM1143
USB 3.1 Gen1

SATA 6Gb/s Switch

AMD SB950 x1 ASMEDIA USB 3.1 Gen2
ASM1143 Type-C
SATA 6Gb/s
PCI Bus
PCI slot

LPC Bus

FINTEK Realtek
F71878AD ALC1150

P/S2 Mouse / Keyboard Audio Jacks

20 Block Diagram
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 Rear I/O Panel

Audio Ports
PS/2 LAN

USB 3.1
Optical S/PDIF-Out Gen2

USB 2.0 USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C

LAN Port LED Status Table

Link/ Activity LED Speed LED
Status Description Status Description

Off No link Off 10 Mbps connection

Yellow Linked Green 100 Mbps connection

Blinking Data activity Orange 1 Gbps connection

Audio Ports Configuration

Channel
Audio Ports
2 4 6 8

Line-In

Line-Out/ Front Speaker Out ● ● ● ●

Mic In

Rear Speaker Out ● ● ●

Center/ Subwoofer Out ● ●

Side Speaker Out ●

(●: connected, Blank: empty)

Rear I/O Panel 21

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 Realtek HD Audio Manager
After installing the Realtek HD Audio driver, the Realtek HD Audio Manager icon will
appear in the system tray. Double click on the icon to launch.

Device
Selection Advanced
Settings

Jack Status
Application
Enhancement

Main Volume
Connector
Strings
Profiles

y Device Selection - allows you to select a audio output source to change the related
options. The check sign indicates the devices as default.
y Application Enhancement - the array of options will provide you a complete
guidance of anticipated sound effect for both output and input device.
y Main Volume - controls the volume or balance the right/left side of the speakers
that you plugged in front or rear panel by adjust the bar.
y Profiles - toggles between profiles.
y Advanced Settings - provides the mechanism to deal with 2 independent audio
streams.
y Jack Status - depicts all render and capture devices currently connected with your
computer.
y Connector Settings - configures the connection settings.

Auto popup dialog

When you plug into a device at an audio jack, a dialogue window will pop up asking you
which device is current connected.

Each jack corresponds to its default setting as shown on the next page.

22 Rear I/O Panel

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 Audio jacks to headphone and microphone diagram

Audio jacks to stereo speakers diagram

AUDIO INPUT

Audio jacks to 7.1-channel speakers diagram

AUDIO INPUT

Rear Front

Side Center/
Subwoofer

Rear I/O Panel 23

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 Overview of Components

CPU_FAN1 DIMMB2

CPU Socket DIMMB1

CPU_PWR1
DIMMA2
SYS_FAN1 SYS_FAN3
DIMMA1

EZ Debug LED

ATX_PWR1

JBAT1

PCI_E1 JUSB5

PCI_E2
SATA5_6
PCI_E3
SATA3_4
PCI_E4
SATA1_2
PCI_E5
SYS_FAN2
PCI1 M2_1

JAUD1 JFP2
JSP1 SYS_FAN4 JFP1

JCI1 JCOM1 JUSB3

JTPM1 JUSB2

JLED1 JUSB1

JUSB4

24 Overview of Components
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 Component Contents
Port Name Port Type Page

CPU_FAN1, SYS_FAN1~4 Fan Connectors 34

CPU_PWR1, ATX_PWR1 Power Connectors 31

CPU Socket AM3/ AM3+ 26

DIMMA1~2, DIMMB1~2 DIMM Slots 27

EZ Debug LED Debug LED indicators 37

JAUD1 Front Audio Connector 35

JBAT1 Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS) Jumper 37

JCI1 Chassis Intrusion Connector 35

JCOM1 Serial Port Connector 31

JFP1, JFP2 Front Panel Connectors 32

JLED1 RGB LED connector 36

JSP1 S/PDIF-Out connector 36

JTPM1 TPM Module Connector 33

JUSB1~3 USB 2.0 Connectors 33

JUSB4~5 USB 3.1 Gen1 Connectors 32

M2_1 M.2 Slot 29

PCI_E1~5, PCI1 PCIe/ PCI Expansion Slots 28

SATA1~6 SATA 6Gb/s Connectors 30

Overview of Components 25
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 CPU Socket

Introduction to the AM3/ AM3+ CPU

The surface of the AM3/ AM3+ CPU has a
yellow triangle to assist in correctly lining
up the CPU for motherboard placement.
The yellow triangle is the Pin 1 indicator.

WARNING
If you plan to use the water-cooling kit, please note that the heavy water-cooling
device will cause the motherboard to be bent and damaged.

Important
y Always unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing or removing
the CPU.
y Please retain the CPU protective cap after installing the processor. MSI will deal
with Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) requests if only the motherboard
comes with the protective cap on the CPU socket.
y When installing a CPU, always remember to install a CPU heatsink. A CPU heatsink
is necessary to prevent overheating and maintain system stability.
y Confirm that the CPU heatsink has formed a tight seal with the CPU before booting
your system.
y Overheating can seriously damage the CPU and motherboard. Always make sure
the cooling fans work properly to protect the CPU from overheating. Be sure to
apply an even layer of thermal paste (or thermal tape) between the CPU and the
heatsink to enhance heat dissipation.
y If you purchased a separate CPU and heatsink/ cooler, Please refer to the
documentation in the heatsink/ cooler package for more details about installation.
y This motherboard is designed to support overclocking. Before attempting to
overclock, please make sure that all other system components can tolerate
overclocking. Any attempt to operate beyond product specifications is not
recommended. MSI® does not guarantee the damages or risks caused by
inadequate operation beyond product specifications.

26 Overview of Components
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 DIMM Slots

DIMMA1 DIMMB1

Channel A Channel B

DIMMA2 DIMMB2

Memory module installation recommendation

DIMMB1 DIMMB2
DIMMB1
DIMMA1 DIMMA1 DIMMA2
DIMMA1

Important
y Always insert memory modules in the DIMMA1 slot first.
y Due to chipset resource usage, the available capacity of memory will be a little less
than the amount of installed.
y Please note that the maximum capacity of addressable memory is 4GB or less
for 32-bit Windows OS due to the memory address limitation. Therefore, we
recommended that you to install 64-bit Windows OS if you want to install more than
4GB memory on the motherboard.
y It is recommended to use a more efficient memory cooling system for full DIMMs
installation or overclocking.
y The stability and compatibility of installed memory module depend on installed CPU
and devices when overclocking.

Overview of Components 27
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 PCI_E1~5, PCI1: PCIe/ PCI Expansion Slots

PCI_E1: PCIe 2.0 x1 slot

PCI_E2: PCIe 2.0 x16 slot

PCI_E3: PCIe 2.0 x1 slot

PCI_E4: PCIe 2.0 x1 slot

PCI_E5: PCIe 2.0 x8 slot

PCI1: PCI slot

Multiple graphics cards installation recommendation

X16 X8
X8

Important
y For a single PCIe x16 expansion card installation with optimum performance, using
the PCI_E2 slot is recommended.
y When adding or removing expansion cards, always turn off the power supply and
unplug the power supply power cable from the power outlet. Read the expansion
card’s documentation to check for any necessary additional hardware or software
changes
y If you install a large and heavy graphics card, you need to use a tool such as
MSI Gaming Series Graphics Card Bolster to support its weight and to prevent
deformation of the slot.

28 Overview of Components
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 M2_1: M.2 Slot

Important
Intel® RST only supports PCIe M.2 SSD with UEFI ROM,
does not support Legacy ROM.

Installing M.2 module

1. Remove the screw from

the base screw.
2. Remove the base screw. 1

4
3. Tighten the base screw
into the hole of the
distance to the M.2 slot
as the length your M.2
module.
3 30°
4. Insert your M.2 module
into the M.2 slot at a
30-degree angle.

5. Put the screw in the

notch on the trailing edge
of your M.2 module and
tighten it into the base
screw. 5

Overview of Components 29
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 SATA1~6: SATA 6Gb/s Connectors
These connectors are SATA 6Gb/s interface ports. Each connector can connect to one
SATA device.

SATA6
SATA5
SATA4
SATA3
SATA2
SATA1

Important
y Please do not fold the SATA cable at a 90-degree angle. Data loss may result during
transmission otherwise.
y SATA cables have identical plugs on either sides of the cable. However, it is
recommended that the flat connector be connected to the motherboard for space
saving purposes.

M.2/ SATA ports & PCIe slots combination table

Slot Available SATA/ SATAe connectors

M2_1 PCIe x2 PCIe x4 SATA
SATA1 ✓ ✓ ✓
SATA2 ✓ ✓ ✓
SATA3 ✓ ✓ ✓
SATA4 ✓ ✓ ✓
SATA5 ✓ ✓ ✓
SATA6 ✓ ✓ ─
PCI_E3 ✓ ─ ✓
PCI_E4 ✓ ─ ✓
(SATA: M.2 SATA SSD, PCIe x2: M.2 PCIe x2 SSD, PCIe x4: M.2 PCIe x4 SSD,
✓: available, ─: unavailable)

30 Overview of Components
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 CPU_PWR1, ATX_PWR1: Power Connectors
These connectors allow you to connect an ATX power supply.

5 1
CPU_PWR1
8 4

1 Ground 5 +12V

2 Ground 6 +12V

3 Ground 7 +12V

4 Ground 8 +12V

1 +3.3V 13 +3.3V

2 +3.3V 14 -12V

3 Ground 15 Ground

12 24 4 +5V 16 PS-ON#

5 Ground 17 Ground

6 +5V 18 Ground
ATX_
PWR1 7 Ground 19 Ground

8 PWR OK 20 Res

1 13 9 5VSB 21 +5V

10 +12V 22 +5V

11 +12V 23 +5V

12 +3.3V 24 Ground

Important
Make sure that all the power cables are securely connected to a proper ATX power
supply to ensure stable operation of the motherboard.

JCOM1: Serial Port Connector

This connector allows you to connect the optional serial port with bracket.

2 10

1 9

1 DCD 2 SIN

3 SOUT 4 DTR

5 Ground 6 DSR

7 RTS 8 CTS

9 RI 10 No Pin

Overview of Components 31
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 JUSB4~5: USB 3.1 Gen1 Connectors
These connectors allow you to connect USB 3.1 Gen1 ports on the front panel.

10 11
1 10

JUSB5
20 11

JUSB4
1 20

1 Power 11 USB2.0+

2 USB3_RX_DN 12 USB2.0-

3 USB3_RX_DP 13 Ground

4 Ground 14 USB3_TX_C_DP

5 USB3_TX_C_DN 15 USB3_TX_C_DN

6 USB3_TX_C_DP 16 Ground

7 Ground 17 USB3_RX_DP

8 USB2.0- 18 USB3_RX_DN

9 USB2.0+ 19 Power

10 Ground 20 No Pin

Important
Note that the Power and Ground pins must be connected correctly to avoid possible
damage.

JFP1, JFP2: Front Panel Connectors

These connectors connect to the switches and LEDs on the front panel.
2 10
JFP1

1 9

1 HDD LED + 2 Power LED +

3 HDD LED - 4 Power LED -

5 Reset Switch 6 Power Switch

7 Reset Switch 8 Power Switch

9 Reserved 10 No Pin

1 1 Speaker - 2 Buzzer +
JFP2
3 Buzzer - 4 Speaker +

32 Overview of Components
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 JUSB1~3: USB 2.0 Connectors
These connectors allow you to connect USB 2.0 ports on the front panel.

2 10

1 9

1 VCC 2 VCC

3 USB0- 4 USB1-

5 USB0+ 6 USB1+

7 Ground 8 Ground

9 No Pin 10 NC

Important
y Note that the VCC and Ground pins must be connected correctly to avoid possible
damage.
y In order to recharge your iPad,iPhone and iPod through USB ports, please install
MSI® SUPER CHARGER utility.

JTPM1: TPM Module Connector

This connector is for TPM (Trusted Platform Module). Please refer to the TPM security
platform manual for more details and usages.

2 14

1 13

1 LPC Clock 2 3V Standby power

3 LPC Reset 4 3.3V Power

5 LPC address & data pin0 6 Serial IRQ

7 LPC address & data pin1 8 5V Power

9 LPC address & data pin2 10 No Pin

11 LPC address & data pin3 12 Ground

13 LPC Frame 14 Ground

Overview of Components 33
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 CPU_FAN1, SYS_FAN1~4: Fan Connectors
Fan connectors can be classified as PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) Mode and Voltage
Mode. PWM Mode fan connectors provide constant 12V output and adjust fan speed
with speed control signal. Voltage Mode fan connectors control fan speed by changing
voltage. Therefore, when you plug a 3-pin (Non-PWM) fan to a PWM Mode fan
connector, the fan speed will be always maintained at 100%, and that could be noisy.

PWM Mode fan connector

1

CPU_FAN1

1 Ground 2 +12V

3 Sense 4 Speed Control Signal

Voltage Mode fan connector

1
SYS_FAN1/ SYS_FAN2

1 Ground 2 Voltage Control

3 Sense 4 NC

SYS_FAN3/ SYS_FAN4

1 Ground 2 +12V

3 NC

Controlling the fan speed

There are two ways to manage fan speed. One is to go to BIOS > HARDWARE
MONITOR. The other is to use COMMAND CENTER application.

BIOS > HARDWARE MONITOR COMMAND CENTER

Both methods offer gradient points of the fan speed that allow you to adjust fan speed
in relation to CPU temperature.

34 Overview of Components
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 JAUD1: Front Audio Connector
This connector allows you to connect audio jacks on the front panel.

2 10

1 9

1 MIC L 2 Ground

3 MIC R 4 NC

5 Head Phone R 6 MIC Detection

7 SENSE_SEND 8 No Pin

9 Head Phone L 10 Head Phone Detection

JCI1: Chassis Intrusion Connector

This connector allows you to connect the chassis intrusion switch cable.

Normal Trigger the chassis

(default) intrusion event

Using chassis intrusion detector

1. Connect the JCI1 connector to the chassis intrusion switch/ sensor on the chassis.
2. Close the chassis cover.
3. Go to BIOS > Settings > Security > Chassis Intrusion Configuration.
4. Set Chassis Intrusion to Enabled.
5. Press F10 to save and exit and then press the Enter key to select Yes.
6. Once the chassis cover is opened again, a warning message will be displayed on
screen when the computer is turned on.

Resetting the chassis intrusion warning

1. Go to BIOS > Settings > Security > Chassis Intrusion Configuration.
2. Set Chassis Intrusion to Reset.
3. Press F10 to save and exit and then press the Enter key to select Yes.

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 JLED1: RGB LED connector
This connector allows you to connect the RGB LED strip.

1 +12V 2 G

3 R 4 B

Important
y This connector supports 5050 RGB multi-color LED strips (12V/G/R/B) within 2
meters.
y Always turn off the power supply and unplug the power cord from the power outlet
before installing or removing the RGB LED strip.
y Please use the LED Effect of GAMING APP to adjust, calibrate and control the LED
light, refer to the Software section for details.

JSP1: S/PDIF-Out connector

This connector allows you to connect the S/PDIF interface for digital audio
transmission.

1 GND 2 SPDIF

3 VCC

36 Overview of Components
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 JBAT1: Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS) Jumper
There is CMOS memory onboard that is external powered from a battery located on
the motherboard to save system configuration data. If you want to clear the system
configuration, set the jumpers to clear the CMOS memory.

Keep Data Clear CMOS/

(default) Reset BIOS

Resetting BIOS to default values

1. Power off the computer and unplug the power cord
2. Use a jumper cap to short JBAT1 for about 5-10 seconds.
3. Remove the jumper cap from JBAT1.
4. Plug the power cord and power on the computer.

EZ Debug LED: Debug LED indicators

These LEDs indicate the status of the motherboard.

CPU - indicates CPU is not detected or fail.*

DRAM - indicates DRAM is not detected or fail.
VGA - indicates GPU is not detected or fail.
BOOT - indicates the booting device is not
detected or fail.
Important
* All EZ Debug LEDs (include CPU, DRAM, VGA &
BOOT) will light up simultaneously while the CPU is
not detected or fail.

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 BIOS Setup
The default settings offer the optimal performance for system stability in normal
conditions. You should always keep the default settings to avoid possible system
damage or failure booting unless you are familiar with BIOS.

Important
y BIOS items are continuously update for better system performance. Therefore,
the description may be slightly different from the latest BIOS and should be for
reference only. You could also refer to the HELP information panel for BIOS item
description.
y The pictures in this chapter are for reference only and may vary from the product
you purchased.

Entering BIOS Setup

Please refer the following methods to enter BIOS setup.
y Press Delete key, when the Press DEL key to enter Setup Menu, F11 to enter Boot
Menu message appears on the screen during the boot process.
y Use MSI FAST BOOT application. Click on GO2BIOS button and choose OK. The
system will reboot and enter BIOS setup directly.

Click on GO2BIOS

Function key

Key Function

F1 General Help

F4 Enter CPU Specifications menu

F5 Enter Memory-Z menu

F6 Load optimized defaults

F8 Load Overclocking Profile from USB flash drive

F9 Save Overclocking Profile to USB flash drive

F10 Save Change and Reset

F12 Save a screenshot to a FAT/ FAT 32 USB flash drive

38 BIOS Setup
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 Resetting BIOS
You might need to restore the default BIOS setting to solve certain problems. There are
several ways to reset BIOS:
y Go to BIOS and press F6 to load optimized defaults.
y Short the Clear CMOS jumper on the motherboard.

Important
Please refer to the Clear CMOS jumper section for resetting BIOS.

Updating BIOS
Updating BIOS with M-FLASH
Before updating:
Please download the latest BIOS file that matches your motherboard model from MSI
website. And then save the BIOS file into the USB flash drive.
Updating BIOS:
1. Press Del key to enter the BIOS Setup during POST.
2. Insert the USB flash drive that contains the update file into the computer.
3. Go to BIOS > M-FLASH > Update BIOS > Select one file to update BIOS, select a
BIOS file to perform the BIOS update process.
4. After the flashing process is 100% completed, the system will reboot
automatically.

Updating the BIOS with Live Update 6

Before updating:
Make sure the LAN driver is already installed and the internet connection is set
properly.
Updating BIOS:
1. Install and launch MSI LIVE UPDATE 6.
2. Select Manual scan.
3. Check MB BIOS box and click on Scan button.

4. Select the MB BIOS and click on icon to download and install the latest BIOS
file.
5. Click Next and choose In Windows mode. And then click Next and Start to start
updating BIOS.
6. After the flashing process is 100% completed, the system will restart
automatically.

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 Overview
After entering BIOS, the following screen is displayed.
Temperature Screenshot
Language

System
information

Virtual OC
Genie Button Boot device
priority bar

BIOS menu BIOS menu

selection selection

Menu display

y BIOS menu selection - the following options are available:

ƒ SETTINGS - allows you to specify the parameters for chipset and boot devices.
ƒ OC - contains the frequency and voltage adjustments. Increasing the frequency
may get better performance.
ƒ M-FLASH - provides the way to update BIOS with a USB flash drive.
ƒ OC PROFILE - allows you to manage overclocking profiles.
ƒ HARDWARE MONITOR - allows you to set the speeds of fans and monitor voltages
of system.
ƒ BOARD EXPLORER - provides the information of installed devices on this
motherboard.
y Virtual OC Genie Button - enables or disables the OC Genie function by clicking on
this button. When enabled, this button will be light. Enabling OC Genie function can
automatically overclock with MSI optimized overclocking profile.

Important
We recommend that you do not to make any modification in OC menu mode and do not
to load defaults after enabling the OC Genie function.
y Menu display - provides BIOS setting items and information to be configured.
y Boot device priority bar - you can move the device icons to change the boot priority.
The boot priority from high to low is left to right.
y System Information - shows the time, date, CPU name, CPU frequency, DRAM
frequency, DRAM capacity and the BIOS version.
y Language - allows you to select the language of the BIOS setup.
y Screenshot - press this tab or the F12 key to take a screenshot and save it to USB
flash drive (FAT/ FAT32 format only).
y Temperature - shows the temperatures of processor and the motherboard.

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 SETTINGS

System Status
f System Date
Sets the system date. Use tab key to switch between date elements.
The format is <day> <month> <date> <year>.
<day> Day of the week, from Sun to Sat, determined by BIOS. Read-only.
<month> The month from Jan. through Dec.
<date> The date from 1 to 31 can be keyed by numeric function keys.
<year> The year can be adjusted by users.
f System Time
Sets the system time. Use tab key to switch between time elements.
The time format is <hour> <minute> <second>.
f SATA PortX
Shows the information of connected SATA device.

Important
If the connected SATA device is not displayed, turn off computer and re-check SATA
cable and power cable connections of the device and motherboard.
f System Information
Shows detailed system information, including CPU type, BIOS version, and Memory
(read only).
f DMI Information
Shows system information, desktop Board Information and chassis Information. (Read
only).

Advanced
f PCI Subsystem Settings
Sets PCI, PCI express interface protocol and latency timer. Press Enter to enter the
sub-menu.

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 fPCI Latency Timer [32]
Sets latency timer of PCI interface device.
[Options: 32, 64, 96, 128, 160, 192, 224, 248 PCI Bus clocks]
f ACPI Settings
Sets ACPI parameters of onboard power LED behaviors. Press Enter to enter the sub-
menu.
fACPI Standby State
Specifies the power saving modes for ACPI function.
fPower LED [Blinking]
Sets shining behaviors of the onboard Power LED.
[Dual Color] The power LED turns to another color to indicate the S3 state.
[Blinking] The power LED blinks to indicate the S3 state.
f Integrated Peripherals
Sets integrated peripherals' parameters, such as LAN, HDD, USB and audio. Press
Enter to enter the sub-menu.
fOnboard LAN Controller [Enabled]
Enables or disables the onboard LAN controller.
fLAN Option ROM [Disabled]
Enables or disables the legacy network Boot Option ROM for detailed settings. This
item will appear when Onboard LAN Controller is enabled.
[Enabled] Enables the onboard LAN Boot ROM.
[Disabled] Disables the onboard LAN Boot ROM.
fNetwork Stack [Disabled]
Sets UEFI network stack for optimizing IPv4 / IPv6 function.
[Enabled] Enables UEFI network stack.
[Disabled] Disables UEFI network stack.
fIpv4 PXE Support [Enabled]
When Enabled, the system UEFI network stack will support Ipv4 protocol. This item
will appear when Network Stack is enabled.
[Enabled] Enables the Ipv4 PXE boot support.
[Disabled] Disables the Ipv4 PXE boot support.
fIpv6 PXE Support [Enabled]
When Enabled, the system UEFI network stack will support Ipv6 protocol. This item
will appear when Network Stack is enabled.
[Enabled] Enables the Ipv6 PXE boot support.
[Disabled] Disables the Ipv6 PXE boot support.

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 fSATA Mode [AHCI Mode]
Sets the operation mode of the onboard SATA controller.
[AHCI Mode] Specify the AHCI mode for SATA storage devices. AHCI (Advanced
Host Controller Interface) offers some advanced features to enhance
the speed and performance of SATA storage device, such as Native
Command Queuing (NCQ) and hot-plugging.
[RAID Mode] Enables RAID function for SATA storage devices.
fSATAx Hot Plug [Disabled]
Allows user to enable or disable the SATA hot plug support.
[Enabled] Enables hot plug support for the SATA ports.
[Disabled] Disables hot plug support for the SATA ports.
fHD Audio Controller [Enabled]
Enables or disables the onboard High Definition Audio controller.
fHPET [Enabled]
Enables or disables the HPET (High Precision Event Timers) support.
f USB Configuration
Sets the onboard USB controller and device function. Press <Enter> to enter the sub-
menu.
fUSB Controller [Enabled]
Enables or disables all USB controller.
fXHCI Hand-off [Enabled]
Enables or disables XHCI hand-off support for the operating system without XHCI
hand-off feature. This item will appear when USB Controller is enabled.
fEHCI Hand-off [Enabled]
Enables or disables EHCI hand-off support for the operating system without EHCI
hand-off feature.
fLegacy USB Support [Enabled]
Sets Legacy USB function support.
[Auto] The system will automatically detect if any USB device is connected
and enable the legacy USB support.
[Enabled] Enable the USB support under legacy mode.
[Disabled] The USB devices will be unavailable under legacy mode.
fOnboard USB 3.0 Controller [Enabled]
Enables or disables the external USB 3.0 controller.
f Super IO Configuration
Sets system Super I/O chip parameters including LPT and COM ports. Press Enter to
enter the sub-menu.
fSerial (COM) Port 0 Configuration
Sets detailed configuration of serial(COM) port x. Press <Enter> to enter the sub-
menu.

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 fSerial (COM) Port 0 [Enabled]
Enables or disables serial (COM) port x.
fSerial (COM) Port 0 Settings [Auto]
Sets serial port x (COM). If set to Auto, BIOS will optimize the IRQ automatically or
you can set it manually.
f Power Management Setup
Sets system Power Management of EuP2013 and AC Power Loss behaviors. Press
Enter to enter the sub-menu.
fEuP 2013 [Disabled]
Enables or disables the system power consumption according to EuP2013
regulation. When enabled, the system will not support RTC wake up event
functions.
[Enabled] Optimize the system power consumption according to EuP 2013
regulation. It will not support S4 & S5 wake up by USB and PCIe
devices.
[Disabled] Disables this function.
fRestore after AC Power Loss [Power Off]
Sets the system behaviors while encountering the AC power loss.
[Power Off] Leaves the system in power off state after restoring AC power.
[Power On] Boot up the system after restoring AC power.
[Last State] Restores the system to the previous state (power on/ power off)
before AC power loss.
f Windows 8 Configuration
Sets Windows 8/ 8.1 detailed configuration and behaviors. Press <Enter> to enter
the sub-menu.
fWindows 8 Feature [Disabled]
Enables the supports for Windows 8/ 8.1 or disables for other operating systems.
Before enabling this item, make sure all installed devices & utilities (hardware &
software) should meet the Windows 8/ 8.1 requirements.
[Enabled] The system will switch to UEFI mode to meet the Windows 8
requirement.
[Disabled] Disables this function.
fMSI Fast Boot [Disabled]
MSI Fast Boot is the fastest way to boot the system. It will disable more devices to
speed up system boot time which is faster than the boot time of Fast Boot.
[Enabled] Enables the MSI Fast Boot function to speed up booting time. And
the following Fast Boot field will be disabled and fixed.
[Disabled] Disables MSI Fast Boot.

Important
When MSI Fast Boot is enabled, you can use MSI FAST BOOT application to enter BIOS
setup if needed. Please refer Entering BIOS Setup section for details.

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 fFast Boot [Disabled]
Enables or disables the fast boot feature for Windows 8/ 8.1. This item will only be
available when MSI Fast Boot is disabled.
[Enabled] Enables the Fast Boot configuration to accelerate system boot time.
[Disabled] Disables the Fast Boot configuration.
f Wake Up Event Setup
Sets system wake up behaviors for different sleep modes. Press <Enter> to enter the
sub-menu.
fWake Up Event By [BIOS]
Selects the wake up event by BIOS or operating system.
[BIOS] Activates the following items, set wake up events of these items.
[OS] The wake up events will be defined by OS.
fResume By RTC Alarm [Disabled]
Enables or disables the system wake up by RTC Alarm.
[Enabled] Enables the system to boot up on a scheduled time/ date.
[Disabled] Disables this function.
fDate (of month) Alarm/ Time (hh:mm:ss) Alarm
Sets RTC alarm date/ Time. If Resume By RTC Alarm is set to [Enabled], the system
will automatically resume (boot up) on a specified date/hour/minute/second in
these fields (using the <+> and <-> to select the date & time settings).
fResume By PCI-E Device [Disabled]
Enables or disables the system wake up by PCI-E devices.
[Enabled] Enables the system to be awakened from the power saving modes
when activity or input signal of PCI-E device is detected. Note:
enables this Item to support Resume by USB Device with third party
USB port if any.
[Disabled] Disables this function.
fResume From S3 by USB Device [Disabled]
Enables or disables the system wake up by USB devices.
[Enabled] Enables the system to be awakened from S3 (suspend to RAM) sleep
state when activity of USB device is detected.
[Disabled] Disables this function.
fResume From S3/S4/S5 by PS/2 Mouse [Disabled]
Enables or disables the system wake up by PS/2 mouse.
[Enabled] Enables the system to be awakened from S3/ S4/ S5 state when
activity of PS/2 mouse is detected.
[Disabled] Disables this function.

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 fResume From S3/S4/S5 by PS/2 Keyboard [Disabled]
Enables or disables the system wake up by PS/2 keyboard.
[Any Key] Enables the system to be awakened from S3/ S4/ S5 state when
activity of any key on PS/2 keyboard is detected.
[Hot Key] Enables the system to be awakened from S3/ S4/ S5 state when
activity of hot key on PS/2 keyboard is detected.
[Disabled] Disables this function.

Boot
Sets the sequence of system boot devices.
f Full Screen Logo Display [Enabled]
Enables or disables to show the full screen logo while system POST.
[Enabled] Shows the logo in full screen.
[Disabled] Shows the POST messages.
f Boot Mode Select [LEGACY+UEFI]
Sets the system boot mode from legacy or UEFI architecture depending on OS
installation requirement. This item will become un-selectable and will be configured
automatically by BIOS when Windows 8 Feature is enabled.
[UEFI] Enables UEFI BIOS boot mode support only.
[LEGACY+UEFI] Enables both Legacy BIOS boot mode and UEFI BIOS boot
mode.
f FIXED BOOT ORDER Priorities
Sets device priority for system boot.
f Boot Option Priorities
These items are used to prioritize the installed boot devices.

Security
f Administrator Password
Sets administrator password for system security. User has full rights to change the
BIOS items with administrator password. After setting the administrator password, the
state of this item will show“Installed”.
f User Password
Sets User Password for system security. User has limited rights to change the BIOS
items with user password. This item will be available when administrator password is
set. After setting the user password, the state of this item will show Installed.

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 Important
When selecting the Administrator / User Password items, a password box will appear
on the screen. Type the password then press <Enter>. The password typed now will
replace any previous set password from CMOS memory. You will be prompted to
confirm the password. You may also press <Esc> to abort the selection.
To clear a set password, press <Enter> when you are prompted to enter a new
password. A message will confirm the password is being disabled. Once the password
is disabled, you can enter the setup and OS without authorization.
f U-Key [Disabled]
Enables or disables U-Key as user’s password to access the system.
f Make U-Key at
Makes a key at the USB flash drive to prevent other people from accessing the system.
Only the user who has the key with the flash drive can access the system.
f Chassis Intrusion Configuration
Press Enter to enter the sub-menu.
fChassis Intrusion [Disabled]
Enables or disables recording messages when the chassis is opened. This function
is ready for the chassis equips a chassis intrusion switch.
[Enabled] Once the chassis is opened, the system will record and issue a
warning message.
[Reset] Clear the warning message. After clearing the message, please
return to Enabled or Disabled.
[Disabled] Disables this funcion.

Save & Exit

f Discard Changes and Exit
Exit BIOS setup without saving any change.
f Save Changes and Reboot
Save all changes and reboot the system.
f Save Changes
Save current changes.
f Discard Changes
Discard all changes and restore to the previous values.
f Restore Defaults
Restore or load all default values.
f Boot Override
The installed bootable devices will appear on this menu, you can select one of them to
be the boot device.

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 OC

Important
y Overclocking your PC manually is only recommended for advanced users.
y Overclocking is not guaranteed, and if done improperly, it could void your warranty
or severely damage your hardware.
y If you are unfamiliar with overclocking, we advise you to use OC Genie function for
easy overclocking.
f Current CPU/ DRAM Frequency
These items show the current frequencies of installed CPU and Memory. Read-only.
f Adjust CPU FSB Frequency
Allows you to set the CPU FSB frequency (in MHz). You may overclock the CPU by
adjusting this value. Please note that overclocking behavior and stability is not
guaranteed.
f Adjust CPU Ratio [Auto]
Sets the CPU ratio that is used to determine CPU clock speed. This item can only be
changed if the processor supports this function.
f Adjusted CPU Frequency
Shows the adjusted CPU frequency. Read-only.
f Adjust CPU-NB Ratio [Auto]
Sets the CPU-NB ratio that is used to determine CPU-NB clock speed.
f Adjusted CPU-NB Frequency
Shows the adjusted CPU frequency. Read-only.
f CPU Smart Protection [Enabled]
CPU Smart Protection is a mechanism of CPU overheating protection. It will
automatically reduce the clock when the CPU temperature gets too high.

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 f CPU Core Control [Auto]
This item allows you to select the number of active processor cores. When set to Auto,
the CPU will operate under the default number of cores.
f DRAM Frequency [Auto]
Sets the DRAM frequency. Please note the overclocking behavior is not guaranteed.
f Adjusted DRAM Frequency
Shows the adjusted DRAM frequency. Read-only.
f DRAM Timing Mode [Auto]
Selects the memory timing mode.
[Auto] DRAM timings will be determined based on SPD (Serial Presence
Detect) of installed memory modules.
[Link] Allows user to configure the DRAM timing manually for all
memorychannel.
[UnLink] Allows user to configure the DRAM timing manually for respective
memory channel.
f Advanced DRAM Configuration
Press Enter to enter the sub-menu. This sub-menu will be activated after setting Link
or Unlink in DRAM Timing Mode. User can set the memory timing for each memory
channel. The system may become unstable or unbootable after changing memory
timing. If it occurs, please clear the CMOS data and restore the default settings. (Refer
to the Clear CMOS jumper section to clear the CMOS data, and enter the BIOS to load
the default settings.)
f HT Link Speed [Auto]
This item allows you to set the Hyper-Transport Link speed. When Auto, the system
will detect the HT link speed automatically.
f Adjusted HT Link Frequency
It shows the adjusted HT Link frequency. Read-only.
f HT Link Control
Press Enter to enter the sub-menu.
fHT Incoming/ Outgoing Link Width
These items allow you to set the Hyper-Transport Link width. When Auto, the
system will detect the HT link width automatically.
f Adjust PCI-E Frequency (MHz)
Sets the PCI Express frequency.
f Unlock CPU Core [Disabled]
This item is used to unlock the CPU core. Please refer to the procedures below for
CPU core unlocked in BIOS setup.

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 Enter OC and set Unlock CPU Core to Enabled.

Set Adjust CPU-NB Ratio and HT

Save changes and exit the BIOS setup. Link Speed to [x8].

System restart. Clear CMOS data.

Fail
Success

You will see the X4 (quad core) or X2 (dual core for The CPU does not support CPU core
Sempron series only) during POST. unlocking, please leave the default
settings for system.
AMD Phenom(tm) II X4 Processor

AMD Sempron(tm) II X2 Processor

Important
y This CPU core unlocked behavior depends on the CPU ability/ characteristic, and it
is not guaranteed.
y Depend on CPU’s characteristic, once you get instable scenario, please restore the
default settings for system.
y You can also check the core numbers in performance tab of Windows task manager.
f XXX Voltages control [Auto]
These options allows you to set the voltages related to components. If set to Auto,
BIOS will set these voltages automatically or you can set it manually.
f Spread Spectrum [Disabled]
This function reduces the EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) generated by
modulating clock generator pulses.
[Enabled] Enables the spread spectrum function to reduce the EMI
(Electromagnetic Interference) problem.
[Disabled] Enhances the overclocking ability of CPU Base clock.

Important
y If you do not have any EMI problem, leave the setting at [Disabled] for optimal
system stability and performance. But if you are plagued by EMI, select the value of
Spread Spectrum for EMI reduction.
y The greater the Spread Spectrum value is, the greater the EMI is reduced, and the
system will become less stable. For the most suitable Spread Spectrum value,
please consult your local EMI regulation.
y Remember to disable Spread Spectrum if you are overclocking because even a
slight jitter can introduce a temporary boost in clock speed which may just cause
your overclocked processor to lock up.

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 f CPU Specifications
Press Enter to enter the sub-menu. This sub-menu displays the information of
installed CPU. You can also access this information menu at any time by pressing F4.
Read only.
fCPU Technology Support
Press Enter to enter the sub-menu. The sub-menu shows the key features of
installed CPU. Read only.
f MEMORY-Z
Press Enter to enter the sub-menu. This sub-menu displays all the settings and
timings of installed memory. You can also access this information menu at any time by
pressing F5.
fDIMMx Memory SPD
Press <Enter> to enter the sub-menu. The sub-menu displays the information of
installed memory. Read only.
f CPU Features
Press Enter to enter the sub-menu.
fAMD Cool’n’Quiet [Auto]
Enabled or disabled AMD Cool’n’Quiet function.
[Auto] Depends on AMD Design.
[Enable] Enables AMD Cool’n’Quiet function. The Cool’n’Quiet technology
can effectively and dynamically lower CPU speed and power
consumption.
[Disabled] Disables this function.

Important
When adjusting CPU Ratio, the Cool’n’Quiet function will be disabled automatically.
For CPU which supports the Turbo Core Tech., please set AMD Turbo Core Technology
and AMD Cool’n’Quiet as Disabled to retain the default CPU core speed.
fC1E Support
Enables this item to reduce the CPU power consumption while idle. Not all
processors support Enhanced Halt state (C1E).
fSVM Mode [Enabled]
Enables or disables CPU Virtualization.
[Enabled] Enables CPU Virtualization and allows a platform to run multiple
operating systems in independent partitions. The system can
function as multiple systems virtually.
[Disabled] Disables this function.
fIOMMU Mode
Enables/disables the IOMMU (I/O Memory Management Unit) for I/O Virtualization.

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 M-FLASH

Important
M-Flash function allows you to update BIOS from USB flash disk (FAT32/ NTFS format
only).
f Save BIOS to storage
Saves the current BIOS file to the USB flash disk. The USB flash disk drive should be in
FAT32 format.
f Update BIOS
Selects a BIOS file in the USB flash disk (NTFS/ FAT32 format) to update the BIOS.
fSelect one file to update BIOS
Selects a BIOS file in the USB flash disk (NTFS/ FAT32 format)

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 OC PROFILE

f Overclocking Profile 1/ 2/ 3/ 4/ 5/ 6
Overclocking Profile 1/ 2/ 3/ 4/ 5/ 6 management. Press Enter to enter the sub-menu.
fSet Name for Overclocking Profile 1/ 2/ 3/ 4/ 5/ 6
Name the current overclocking profile.
fSave Overclocking Profile 1/ 2/ 3/ 4/ 5/ 6
Save the current overclocking profile.
fLoad Overclocking Profile 1/ 2/ 3/ 4/ 5/ 6
Load the current overclocking profile.
fClear Overclocking Profile 1/ 2/ 3/ 4/ 5/ 6
Clear the current overclocking profile.
f OC Profile Save to USB
Save OC profile to the USB flash drive. The USB flash drive should be FAT/ FAT32
format only.
f OC Profile Load from USB
Load OC profile from the USB flash drive. The USB flash drive should be FAT/ FAT32
format only.

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 HARDWARE MONITOR
Temperature & Speed graphic display

Temperature
& Speed
information

Fan
control
field
Voltage
display

f Temperature & Speed information

Shows the current CPU temperature, system temperature and fans' speeds.
f Temperature & Speed graphic display
The red graph shows the minimum and maximum temperatures that be set on the Fan
control field. The yellow graph shows current CPU/ system temperature. The green
shows current CPU/ System fan speed.
f Fan control field
Smart Fan Control automatically controls fan speed depending on the current CPU
temperature and to keep it with a specific operating speed. When the current CPU
temperature is over the maximum temperature, the CPU/ system fan will run at
the maximum speed. When the current CPU temperature is under the minimum
temperature, the CPU/ system fan will run at the minimum speed. In this field, you can
set the CPU and system fans’speeds and target temperatures.

Important
The changing will achieve after you save the changes and reboot the system.
f Voltage display
Shows the current voltages of CPU, system and memory.

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 Software Description
Installing Windows® 7/ 8.1/ 10
1. Power on the computer.
2. Insert the Windows® 7/ 8.1/ 10 disc into your optical drive.
3. Press the Restart button on the computer case.
4. Press F11 key during the computer POST (Power-On Self Test) to get into Boot
Menu.
Note: It is suggested to plug in your USB Keyboard/ USB Mouse to the leftmost
USB port when installing Windows® 7.
5. Select your optical drive from the Boot Menu.
6. Press any key when screen shows Press any key to boot from CD or DVD...
message.
7. Follow the instructions on the screen to install Windows® 7/ 8.1/ 10.

Installing Drivers
1. Start up your computer in Windows® 7/ 8.1/ 10.
2. Insert MSI® Driver Disc into your optical drive.
3. The installer will automatically appear and it will find and list all necessary
drivers.
4. Click Install button.
5. The software installation will then be in progress, after it has finished it will
prompt you to restart.
6. Click OK button to finish.
7. Restart your computer.

Installing Utilities
Before you install utilities, you must complete drivers installation.
1. Insert MSI® Driver Disc into your optical drive.
2. The installer will automatically appear.
3. Click Utilities tab.
4. Select the utilities you want to install.
5. Click Install button.
6. The utilities installation will then be in progress, after it has finished it will prompt
you to restart.
7. Click OK button to finish.
8. Restart your computer.

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 COMMAND CENTER
COMMAND CENTER is an user-friendly software and exclusively developed by MSI,
helping users to adjust system settings and monitor status under OS. With the help
of COMMAND CENTER, making it possible to achieve easier and efficient monitoring
process and adjustments than that under BIOS. In addition, the COMMAND CENTER
can be a server for mobile remote control application.
System Information CPU Temperature

Feature Menu

Profile
Feature Title Buttons

Feature
Control Panel

Next Feature

Previous
Feature

Page Indicator

Option Buttons
Resize Corner

Profile Buttons

y Default - load the default values for the current feature.

y Apply - apply your changes.
y Save - store values in the file with individual file extension.
y Load - load the values from the file.

Important
Every time you shut down the system, the configured setting will be restored to the
factory default. If you want to use the saved settings, you have to load it every time by
clicking the Load and Apply buttons.

CPU Frequency
CPU Frequency control panel allows you to change
CPU Ratio and Base clock. You can see the current
frequency of each CPU core on the top of the panel.

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 CPU Fan
CPU Fan control panel provides Smart mode and
Manual Mode. You can switch the control mode by
clicking the Smart Mode and Manual Mode buttons
on the top of the CPU Fan control panel.
y Manual Mode - allows you to manually control the
CPU fan speed by percentage.
y Smart Mode - a linear fan speed control feature.
The control panel contains 4 dots allows you to
Manual Mode
drag and adjust the Smart Speed slopes. The fan
speed will be changed along these lines with CPU
temperature. The white dot will create strip chart
in real time.
y System Fan Button - to open the system fan
control panel in new window.
y Fan Tune Button - to automatically optimize the
smart fan setting.

Smart Mode

CPU Voltage
CPU Voltage control panel allows you to control the
CPU voltage.

DRAM Frequency & DRAM Voltage

y DRAM Frequency - Shows the DRAM clock, ratio
and frequency.
y DRAM Voltage - Allows you to adjust the DRAM
voltage. The risky values are displayed in red.

IGP Frequency & GT Voltage

y IGP Frequency - Allows you to adjust the IGP ratio,
and shows the IGP clock, ratio and frequency.
y GT Voltage - Allows you to adjust the GT voltage.
The risky values are displayed in red.

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 Option Buttons - Advanced
When click the Advanced button, The Voltage, Fan and DRAM icons will appear.

y Voltage - allows you to adjust advanced voltage values of CPU and chipset.
y Fan - allows you to control the system fans speed.
y DRAM - shows the current Advanced DRAM parameters, and allows you to change
the settings by selecting values from the drop-down menu on the right hand side.
y Sensor - allows you to monitor your motherboard temperature and fan speed with
the virtual thermal image. You can drag and drop the fan icons to new locations.
When you press the Cooling button, all fans will run at full speed.

Option Buttons - Setting

When click the Setting button, The Record, Warning and Mobile Control icons will
appear.

y Record - allows you to monitor the status of voltage, fan speed and temperature in
real time.
ƒ To filter record charts, select the check box next to the items.
ƒ When click the Play button, the chart pane will start to show the recording chart.
If you want to check the value of a specific spot on chart, please move the orange
vertical line to the spot.
ƒ History Record stores the data and names with date and time.
ƒ To make a history record: Select items and click the Record button. When finished,
click the Record button again. The data will be stored in the drop-down menu.
ƒ To load a record, click the drop-down menu and select one from the list.
ƒ To delete a record, select the record that you want to delete, and click the Trash
Can icon.
y Warning - contains fields of voltage, fan speed and temperature for you to set the
threshold values. When system detects the status over your settings, a warning
message will pop-up.

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 y Mobile Control - is only available for the motherboard with the built-in WiFi module.
It allows you to enable/disable the COMMAND CENTER Remote Server. Please refer
to the instruction on the Mobile Control control panel.
y To start remote control: (optional)
1. Download and install MSI® COMMAND CENTER APP to your mobile device.
2. Enable COMMAND CENTER Remote Server on the Mobile Control panel.
3. Enable SoftAP Management.
4. Enter SSID and Password, and then click the Apply button.
5. Activate Wi-Fi® on your mobile device and connect to SoftAP with the SSID.
6. Run MSI® COMMAND CENTER APP on your mobile device.
7. Find the IP address on the SoftAP Management Setting area, and enter the IP
address on your MSI® COMMAND CENTER APP to link your system.
8. Press Refresh on the MSI® COMMAND CENTER APP to verify that monitoring and
OC functions are working properly.

Option Buttons - Information

When click the Information button, The Motherboard, CPU, Memory and HW monitor
icons will appear.

You can click the icons to open the related information.

Gadget Mode
COMMAND CENTER provides a gadget mode to monitor the system status. You can
switch between gadget mode and full mode by clicking the arrow icon on the top
left.
y To arrange gadgets:
1. Click the Spanner icon on the Gadget mode,
a configuration panel will slide out.
2. Select the check box next to the items.
3. Click the Close button.

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 LIVE UPDATE 6
LIVE UPDATE 6 is an application for the MSI® system to scan and download the latest
drivers, BIOS and utilities. With LIVE UPDATE 6, you don’t need to search the drivers
on websites, and don’t need to know the models of motherboard and graphics cards.
LIVE UPDATE 6 will download the appropriate drivers automatically.

Download Options

Download List

Scan / Download / Total

Installer button

System Information

Last Scanned Date

There are Live Update, History, Setting and System Information tabs at the top. You
can click the tab to switch the control panel.
y Live Update - When you launch LIVE UPDATE 6, you will see the Live update tab at
first. This tab allows you to select files to download. You can also read the relevant
information by clicking the information icon on the right of the item listed.
y History - shows the downloading history.
y Setting - allows you to specify the frequency that LIVE UPDATE 6 remind you to
update.
y System Information - displays the information of the system.

Updating The System

This section describes how to update your system with LIVE UPDATE 6. Please follow
the steps below:
1

2
4

5
3

1. Select the Live Update tab.

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 2. Choose Automatic scan, system will automatically scan all the items and search
for the latest update files. Or you can choose Manual scan and select the items you
wish to scan.
3. Click the Scan button at the bottom. It may take several moments to complete the
process.
4. When the download list appears, please select the items you intend to update.
5. Click Download button at the bottom.
6. When Save Path prompt, you can specify a download directory.

7. When downloading you will see the screen below. It may take several moments to
complete the process.

8. To install the applications, simply unpack the packages and install.

Total Installer
Total Installer is a convenient feature to simplify frequent installing procedure. To use
Total Installer:

3
1

1. Scan updates in Live Update tab.

2. Check the Select All check-box you intend to update.
3. Click the Total Installer button. LIVE UPDATE 6 will automatically install them.
4. When prompted, click OK to complete the Total Installer procedure
5. Reboot your system.

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 GAMING APP
GAMING APP is an application designed to quickly control your system for improving
gaming performance.
Setting Button
Information Button
Remote Control Setting

Full Speed GPU Fan Gaming Function

Buttons

CPU Frequency GPU Frequency

Control Mode Buttons

Peripheral Device
Function Buttons

y Setting Button - allows you to run GAMING APP when Windows starts.
y Information Button - shows the information of this application.
y CPU Frequency - shows the current CPU frequency.
y Control Mode Buttons
ƒ OC Mode - enables Game Boost function to automatically overclock the CPU.
ƒ Gaming Mode - automatically optimize the CPU ratio and the GPU clock.
ƒ Silent Mode - reverts the CPU ratio and GPU clock to the default values.
y Gaming Function Buttons - allows you to use LED Effect, OSD, Eye Rest and Dragon
Eye functions. (Dragon Eye button only appear when the graphics card is installed)
y Peripheral Device Function Buttons - allows you to set the Gaming Hotkey, Mouse
Master and VR Ready functions.
y Remote Control Setting - is only available for the motherboard with the built-in
WiFi module or with an external WiFi home router. It allows you to set up a set of
Name and Password to link the android device the motherboard. Please refer to the
following instructions to complete the remote control setting.
1. Download and install the MSI® GAMING APP APP to your android device.
2. Set up a set of Name and the Password on the Remote Control Setting panel, and
then click the Apply button.
3. Activate Wi-Fi® on your android device and connect it to the wireless network of
the motherboard.
4. Run MSI® GAMING APP APP on your android device.
5. Press the Remote Control Setting icon on the MSI® GAMING APP APP to find the
paired device Name you set on the Remote Control Setting panel.
6. Enter the Password you set on the Remote Control Setting panel.0
7. Finally, you can use the MSI® GAMING APP APP to control the aspect of your
motherboard with the android device.

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 LED Effect
LED Effect allows you to control LED lights on your motherboard.

y All LED - controls all LEDs on your motherboard.

y Each LED - separately controls each segment of LEDs on your motherboard.
ƒ MB Extend LED - controls the extended RGB LED strip. Please follows the steps to
calibrate the RGB LED color.
1. Click on the icon and a calibration pop-up window will show.
2. Click on the arrow icon to go to next step.
3. Click on the RED, GREEN and BLUE buttons separately to calibrate the LED
red, green and blue colors.
4. Click on the Finish to complete the RGB LED color calibration.
y LED effects - switches LEDs on or off.
y Styles - select the LED style from the drop-down list.
y Music - flashes the LED light with music’s beat. It will only function with the music
output from analog audio ports.
y LED color - allows you change the LED color.
y Apply Button - applies LED Effect settings to LEDs.

Important
The Stack, Marquee, Meteor, Rainbow and Music light effects can only support to sync
all LEDs effect. If you want to control each segment of LEDs, please set the other LED
effects.

OSD Setting Panel

Use the OSD setting panel to specify information within on-screen display (OSD).

y Apply Button - allows you to accept selections.

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 Eye Rest
Eye Rest allows you to optimize the display on your monitor.

y EyeRest - reduces blue-light of your LED backlit screen, in order to protect your
eyes.
y Gaming - automatically increase contrast ratio of your screen.
y Movie - automatically increase dynamic contrast ratio of your screen.
y Customize - allows you to adjust gamma, contrast and color balance for your
screen.
y Default - loads the default settings.

VR Ready
VR Ready can automatically detects VR devices connected to the system. When
enabled, it can provide the right advice to make sure your system is VR Ready.

VR ON/ OFF

Applications

y VR ON/ OFF -enables or disables VR device support.

y Applications - appears when you turn on the VR support. It allows you to close some
applications to optimize the system for better VR experience.

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 Gaming Hotkey
Gaming Hotkey provides instant control of the system through user defined hotkeys.
Categories Toggle Gaming Hotkey ON/OFF

Hotkey Manager

Current Hotkeys

y Gaming Hotkey ON/OFF - allows you to turn ON/OFF the Gaming Hotkey function.
y Categories Toggle - allows you to toggle over the Hotkey categories .
ƒ Windows Keys - allows you to define hotkeys to replace Windows default keyboard
shortcuts.
ƒ Login Keys - provides hotkey login function.
ƒ MSI Smart Keys - allows you to define hotkeys for MSI Smart Keys.
y Hotkey Manager - allows you to create, edit and delete hotkeys.
y Current Hotkeys - shows all existing hotkeys.

Important
y The Caps Lock, Num Lock, Scroll Lock, Window Home, Application and BackSpace
keys can not be used as hot-keys.
y Some key combinations are reserved for use by Microsoft Windows and can not be
assigned as a hotkey.

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 Mouse Master
Mouse Master provides mouse macro function. You can also use it to change DPI of
your mouse.

DPI Setting
Delay Time Default Button
Macro Hot Key DPI Hot Key
Mouse Action

Action List
Test Area

Edit Buttons Clear Button

Load Button
Save Button

y Delay Time - allows you to input delay time and click the Add button to insert a
delay in the macro.
y Macro Hot Key - allows you to assign a hotkey from A to Z to activate the macro.
y Mouse Action - assigns mouse actions to the macro.
ƒ New - captures the mouse coordinate and add to the macro.
ƒ Left - add a left-click to the macro.
ƒ Middle - add a middle-click to the macro.
ƒ Left - add a left-click to the macro.
y Action List - shows the actions of the current macro.
y Edit Buttons - there 3 buttons for editing the macro.
ƒ Run - activates the macro.
ƒ Delete - removes the selected action from the macro.
ƒ Clear - removes all actions from the macro.
y Load Button - allows you to load a macro.
y Save Button - allows you to save the macro to a file.
y DPI Setting - allows you select the mouse DPI from the drop-down menu.
y Default Button - reverts to the default DPI setting.
y DPI Hot Key - allows you to assign a hotkey from A to Z to activate the DPI setting.
Please note that you muse hold the hotkey to keep the DPI setting. When you release
the hotkey, the DPI setting will be reverted to default.
y Test Area - allows you to test the mouse movement.
y Clear Button - clears the test area.

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 USB SPEED UP
Enabling USB SPEED UP can speed up the date transfer rates of the USB storage
devices.

Setting

On/ Off
button

Display

y Setting - enables or disables Run USB SPEED UP when windows starts.

Default setting
is enabled

y On/ Off button - switches the USB SPEED UP on or off.

y Display - displays the information and current transfer rates of USB storage devices.

Important
The improved transfer rate will vary with the USB storage devices.

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 GAMING LAN MANAGER
GAMING LAN MANAGER is an utility for traffic shaping for the Windows 7/ 8.1/ 10.
It can keep your internet fast during heavy upload/ download and improve your ping
for online games. If your motherboard has a Wi-Fi module, GAMING LAN MANAGER
provides virtual access point function for traffic shaping for your mobile devices.

y Applications - displays currently using network bandwidth applications. You can

prioritize Games, Medias or File sharing programs as high as possible.
y Performance - shows top 5 applications by total traffic, allows you to monitor
network bandwidth usage.
y Network Test - allows you to setup bandwidth control.
y Advanced Setting - allows you to expand RWIN to accelerate download speed. You
can also block IP address and setup virtual access point.
y Information - shows version information.

Configuring Bandwidth
This section describes how to configure Internet Provider Speed. You can configure
default internet upload and download bandwidth from the Network Test tab on the
GAMING LAN MANAGER window.

Important
Before using the GAMING LAN MANAGER for the first time, you should use the
Test Network Speed button which runs a speed test of your current total Internet
bandwidth delivered through your Internet service provider.

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 Speed Testing
The speed testing is used to optimize bandwidth usage. To test the Upload and Down-
load speed, please follow the steps below:

1. Click the Network Test block in GAMING LAN MANAGER.

2. Click Test Network Speed button. The test takes several minutes to test your
network speed.
3. Enter the testing results into Upload Speed and Download Speed fields.
4. Check the Enable Bandwidth Control to allow the GAMING LAN MANAGER to
manage the bandwidth.

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 Nahimic 2
Nahimic 2 is designed to offer the best audio experience it contains 6 audio effects, 3
microphone effects, HD Audio Recorder2 and Sound Tracker.

Installation and Update

Nahimic 2 is included in the audio driver. If you need to install it or update it, please
use the Driver Disc with your motherboard or download the driver from MSI’s official
website.

Audio Tab
From this tab, you can access all of Nahimic 2’s audio effects, audio profiles and
settings.

Device Profiles
properties
Display &
Volume Audio Effects

EQ Profile
Page

Reset Button
Mute
On/Off Button

y Display & Volume - displays the type of audio rendering device currently being used
as output, as well as its current volume.
ƒ Mute - mutes the current audio output device.
ƒ Device properties - allows you to change the format, sample rate, bit rate and the
channel gain of the current device (if these options are available for the current
device). Clicks on this button and a device properties panel will show.
y Profiles - allows you to adjust the 6 audio effects to your current listening
experience.
ƒ Gaming - allows you to choose an audio profile to fit your gaming experience.
ƒ Multimedia - allows you to choose an audio profile to fit your everyday experience.
y Audio Effects - allows you to separately control any of the 6 audio effects.
ƒ Bass Boost - increases the energy in low frequencies up to +12 dB.
ƒ Virtual Surround
˜ Gaming and Movies - virtualizes the multichannel audio stream and downmixes
it in order to retrieve a multichannel listening experience over your stereo
headphones or speakers.
˜ Music - expands the stereo for a wider sound stage.
ƒ Reverb - increases the feeling of space by applying different types of reverbs
corresponding to different room sizes.
ƒ Treble Enhancer - Increases the energy in high frequencies up to +12 dB.

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 ƒ Smart Loudness - maintains a constant volume for all elements of the audio
experience to making them all sound softer, balanced or louder.
ƒ Voice Clarity - boosts the speech in movies, video games and incoming
communication from +0 through +12 dB (0 to 100%).
y Reset Button - restores the current profile to its default values.
y On/Off Button - allows you to turn on and off all Nahimic 2’s effects in one click.
y EQ Profile Page - by clicking the arrow button, you can also access a second page
that contains the x10 bands EQ and EQ profiles.

EQ Profiles

Custom EQ
Profile

x10 bands EQ

ƒ EQ Profiles - allows you to choose between 6 EQ profiles to fit your audio

experience
ƒ Custom EQ Profile - you can change the x10 bands of the Custom EQ profile so as
to make it fit your current needs.
ƒ x10 bands EQ - x10 bands EQ, from 32Hz to 16KHz.

Microphone Tab
From this tab, you can access all of Nahimic 2’s microphone effects and settings.

Microphone
Device Loopback
properties

Display &
Volume
Microphone
Effects

Mute

y Display & Volume - displays the type of audio recording device currently being used
as input, as well as its current volume.
ƒ Mute - mutes the current device.

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 ƒ Device properties - allows you to boost the volume and modify the left/ right
balance of microphone. Clicks on this button and a device properties panel will
show.
y Microphone Loopback - turns the microphone loopback On/Off. In order to avoid any
feedback (Larsen effect).
y Microphone Effects - allows you to separately control any of the 3 microphone
effects.
ƒ Voice Shaper - applies a filter to the voice.
ƒ Voice Leveler - levels the volume of your voice in order to avoid any saturation and
maintains a constant and clear communication. Voice Leveler can be adjusted with
a 0 to 100% slider.
ƒ Noise Reduction - removes the remaining sound that the Noise Gate has left on
top of your words and sentences.

HD Audio Recorder 2
From this tab, you can access the audio launchpad and HD Audio Recorder 2 settings.

Audio
Launchpad
effects
Pad Control page
Properties

y Audio Launchpad effects - allows streamers to use prerecorded sounds during a

livestream. These sounds can also be heard by viewers. This tool will allow you to
create your true audio identity. That way, your livestreams will be more personal and
animated. The Audio Launchpad is one of the fresh new features of Nahimic 2. As
it’s a feature designed for broadcasters, we included it in the HD Audio Recorder 2
page.
ƒ Pad Properties - every pad can be customized by clicking the properties button
that will appear in its bottom right when hovering over it with your mouse.
On the Pad Properties panel you can choose:
˜ The sound assigned to each pad.
˜ The keyboard hotkey assigned to each pad.
˜ The color assigned to each pad.
ƒ Config 1, 2 & 3 - allows you to prepare 3 completely different configurations so
as to adapt the Launchpad to the content you are streaming. Each configuration
has 6 customizable pads. The 3 configurations are independent, meaning Config 1
cannot be used at the same time than Config 3.

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 y Control Page - by clicking the arrow button, you can access the control page.

ƒ Audio Launchpad ON/OFF - switches the Audio Launchpad on or off.

ƒ HD Audio Recorder 2 - The HD Audio Recorder 2 is, by default, automatically
launched when a XSplit Gamecaster 2 recording session is detected. The launch of
the HD Audio Recorder 2 enables HD audio processing over an XSplit Gamecaster
2 recording without any need for adjustments. The HD Audio Recorder supports
XSplit Gamecaster 2.
ƒ Pop-up message ON/OFF - switches the pop-up message on or off.

Sound Tracker
The Sound Tracker is an FPS oriented feature that provides a visual indication
localizing the source of the strongest sound while in a game. The Sound Tracker
captions the 5.1 and 7.1 sound streams processed by your audio system, and is
displayed in all applications and games using DirectX 9, 9c, 10 and 11. Please
remember Sound Tracker is only available if you are using an audio device that
supports Nahimic 2 effects.

Sound
Tracker
Effects

ƒ ON / OFF button and hotkey - switches the Sound Tracker on or off.

ƒ Hotkey - use the CTRL + SHIFT + S to turn ON / OFF the Sound Tracker.
ƒ 7.1 Audio Test - launch a 7.1 audio sample allowing you to preview how the radar
will react in your game.
ƒ Transparency - allows you to adjust the transparency of the Sound Tracker,
making it look more or less discrete.
ƒ Scale - allows you to adjust the scale of the Sound Tracker, making it look bigger
or smaller.

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 SteelSeries Engine 3
SteelSeries Engine 3 is a unified platform built to support all of SteelSeries products.
It can deploy your saved device settings automatically when switching between your
favorite games or applications.
After installation the SteelSeries Engine background processes will start and the
interface will open automatically.

My Gear

Device Cards

Library

Application
Configuration

y My Gear - all of your SteelSeries devices in one place.

ƒ Device Cards - all of your SteelSeries devices are easily accessible from the My
Gear tab, regardless of type, connection status, or which applications they are
assigned to.
y Library - quickly set up your configurations to autolaunch with an application.
ƒ Application Configuration - you can choose to have configurations deploy
automatically whenever you use a specific game or application. Add any number
of applications to your library and SteelSeries Engine 3 will seamlessly change the
configurations of your devices as you switch between them.

Configuration Windows
Configuration Windows are unique to their devices and each of them includes a
collapsible Configuration List Panel of all the configurations for that device. You
can create a new configuration by selecting the New button at the bottom of the
Configuration List Panel.

Configuration
Windows

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 Configuring Your Devices
You can custom configurations for SteelSeries devices in their Configuration Windows.
The top left displays the name of the configuration you are viewing, the body features
widgets for customizing various functions of the device, and at the bottom are Save/
Revert buttons, a Live Preview toggle, and a button to open/close the collapsible
Configuration List Panel.
Widgets Widgets Toggle Widgets

Configuration Windows Toggle Live Preview Revert/ Save Button

y Widgets - allow you to customize a certain aspect of your device.

y Widgets Toggle - allows you to toggle Widgets .
y Configuration Windows Toggle - allows you to toggle the Configuration Windows.
y Live Preview - gives you the full experience of your configuration’s look, feel, and
sound while you are editing it.
y Revert/ Save Button - configuration changes are not written to the database until
you select Save. This gives you freedom to experiment, knowing that you can select
Revert to undo changes.

Tool Tip
When you click the question mark next to a feature name on the panel, a tooltip will
show, describing the particular function of that item.

Question Mark

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 DRAGON EYE
DRAGON EYE is an application allows you to watch a game guide, tutorial, live match
or tournament stream while playing a game. In the game, you can use hotkeys to
control / adjust the window of video.

Size Settings
Position Settings
On / Off Switch Help

Transparency Settings

Video List

Hotkeys Information

y On / Off Switch - enables or disables Dragon Eye during your gaming sessions.
Switch it on before you launch the game in order to watch video while playing.
y Video List - allows you to select the video you want to watch, and also add videos or
channels to the list. You simply paste the URL of your video or stream into the input
bar and hit the +. Then your video or stream will be in the list and you can select it to
view it with Dragon Eye.
y Size Settings - allows you to select the size of the Dragon Eye video content
displayed on-screen when you’re playing a game. There are three options available:
ƒ WQVGA (Small – 400×240)
ƒ HVGAW (Medium – 640×360)
ƒ WVGA (Large – 768×480)
y Position Settings - allows you to select where the Dragon Eye video needs to be
displayed on screen. This way you can control where you want your video in-game,
so you can place it on a place where no important game information is.
y Help - If you want to watch the video tutorial for Dragon Eye or want to see if your
game is supported, press this button and the help window will be shown.
y Transparency Settings - allows you to set the transparency of your Dragon Eye
video.
ƒ 0 = opaque | 100 = transparent.
y Hotkeys Information - In this information screen you can find the hotkeys for
Dragon Eye. There are three hotkeys:
ƒ Alt+F9 - switches mouse focus between video window and game itself. (Direct
interface to adjust progress bar, volume and other settings of video during the
game)
ƒ Alt+F10 - turns on/off video window .
ƒ Alt+F11 - adjusts transparency of video clip.
NOTE: To customize hotkey, simply select the hotkey icon and then press the keys
combination you want to use as a hotkey.

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 RAID Configuration
Below are the different types of a RAID.
RAID 0 breaks the data into blocks which are written to separate hard drives.
Spreading the hard drive I/O load across independent channels greatly
improves I/O performance.
RAID 1 provides data redundancy by mirroring data between the hard drives and
provides enhanced read performance.
RAID 5 provides data striping at the byte level and also stripe error correction
information. This results in excellent performance and good fault tolerance.
RAID 10 uses four hard drives to create a combination of RAID 0 and 1 by forming a
RAID 0 array from two RAID 1 arrays.

RAID level comparison

RAID 0 RAID 1 RAID 5 RAID 10

Minimum # drives 2 2 3 4
Data protection None Excellent Excellent Excellent
Read performance Excellent OK Good OK
Write performance Excellent Good OK Good
Capacity utilization 100% 50% 67%~(1-1/n) 50%

Using RAID Option ROM

First, you need to set the SATA mode to RAID in BIOS to create and delete RAID
volumes. To enter the RAID Option ROM, reboot and press Ctrl + F keys to enter the
RAID Option ROM during the POST, the following window will appear.

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 View Drives Assignments
This window displays the model number, capacities and assignment of the drives
physically attached to the SATA host adapter.

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 LD View / LD Define Menu (Creating RAID)
The selection of the RAID configuration should be based upon factors including
performance, data security, and the number of drives available. It is best to carefully
consider the long-term role of the system and plan the data storage strategy. RAID
sets can be created either automatically, or to allow the greatest flexibility, manually.
1. Press 2 on the Main Menu screen to enter the LD View Menu.

2. And then press Ctrl + C keys to enter the LD Define Menu. Use the space key to
choose a RAID mode (RAID 0/ 1/ 10/ 5) and use the arrow key to move to the Drives
Assignments window.

ƒ Stripe Block Size, the default 64KB is best for most applications. RAID 0 or 10 only.
ƒ Gigabyte Boundary, allows use of slightly smaller replacement drives.

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 3. On the Drives Assignments window, use the arrow key to choose the hard
drives which you want to make part of the LD, use the space key to change the
assignment to Y. Then press Ctrl + Y to save the configuration.

4. A message will show, press Ctrl + Y to input a LD name as your desire or press any
key to save default LD name.

5. Another message will show, press Ctrl + Y if you are sure to erase the MBR data of
the disk. Or press any key to ignore this option.

6. The message will show up on the bottom, press any key to use maximum capacity
or press Ctrl + Y to modify array capacity manually.

Important
y The default capacity is the full capacity of the selected hard drives.
y If you allocate the first LD capacity manually, you can create second LD with
remaining capacity of the selected hard drives.

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 7. The LD creation is done, the screen shows the LD information as below. Press ESC
key to the main screen.

8. Press ESC key to exit the utility, a message System is going to REBOOT! Are You
Sure? will display, answer Y to exit it and the system will reboot.

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 Delete LD Menu (Deleting RAID)
1. Press 3 on the main to enter the Delete LD Menu.
2. Choose a LD No. you want to delete and press Del or Alt + D delete the RAID set.

3. On the next screen, a message will display to inform you, press Ctrl + Y to delete
the RAID set or other key to abort it. Press Ctrl + Y to complete the deletion.

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 Installing RAID Driver
New Operating System Installation
The following details the installation of the drivers while installing operating system.
1. During the operating system installation, after selecting the location to install
Windows click on Load Driver button to install a third party RAID driver.
2. When prompted, insert the AMD RAID Driver disk (optical drive or USB) and press
Enter.

Important
Please follow the instruction below to make an AMD® RAID Driver for yourself.
y Insert the MSI Driver Disc into the optical drive.
y Click the Browse CD on the Setup screen.
y Copy all the contents in \\Chipset\WIN7\Packages\Drivers\SBDrv\SB9xx\RAID
y The driver diskette for AMD® RAID Controller is done.
3. You should be shown a list of available SCSI Adapters.
4. Select the appropriate RAID controller and press ENTER.
5. The next screen should confirm that you have selected the RAID controller. Press
ENTER again to continue.
6. You have successfully installed the RAID driver, and Windows setup should
continue.
7. Leave the disk/ USB drive in the computer until the system reboots itself. Windows
setup will need to copy the files after the RAID volume is formatted, and Windows
setup starts copying files.

Existing Windows Driver Installation

1. Insert the MSI Driver Disc into the optical drive.
2. The Disc will auto-run and the setup screen will appear.
3. Under the Driver tab, click on AMD chipset drivers by your need. The AMD chipset
drivers includes RAID Driver.
4. The drivers will be automatically installed.

Confirming Windows Driver Installation

1. From Windows, open the Control Panel from My Computer followed by the System
icon.
2. Choose the Hardware tab, then click the Device Manager tab.
3. Click the + in front of the RAID Controllers hardware type. The driver AMD RAID
Controller should appear.

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 Installing Operating System on 2.2TB RAID
If you plan to install 64bit operating system on a RAID volume greater than 2.2TB, you
can only manually create and load the RAID array in EFI shell.

WARNING
Create raid array will erase all the data stored on hard drives! Make sure to back up
your files! There is no way to reverse the process!
The following describes an example of how to install Windows 7/ 8 64bit on a RAID 0
volume greater than 2.2TB.
1. Access BIOS > SETTING > Advanced > Integrated Peripherals submenu.
2. Set the SATA Mode option to RAID Mode.
3. Set the Board SATA RAID ROM option to UEFI DRIVER.

4. Save and then reboot. Press F11 while system booting to access boot device
selecting menu.

5. Select UEFI: Built-in EFI Shell to access the EFI Shell environment.
6. Type drvcfg at the EFI shell prompt, it will show values of current configurable
items.

Shell> drvcfg
Configurable Components
Drv[40] Ctrl[B2] Lang[eng]

7. Refer to the value in [Drv] and [Ctrl], Type example drvcfg -s 40 b2.

Shell> drvcfg -s 40 b2

8. The RAID ROM will be loaded.

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 9. Delete all logical drivers by selecting Logical Driver Main Menu > Logical Driver
Delete Menu.
+ Logical Drive Main Menu

+ Logical Drive List Menu

+ Logical Drive Create Menu
+ Logical Drive Delete Menu

10. Make sure there are not any logical drivers (as shown below).
+ Logical Drive Delete Menu

- <Not Found Any Logical Drive>

11. Back to Logical Driver Main Menu and select Logical Driver Create Menu.
+ Logical Drive Main Menu

+ Logical Drive List Menu

+ Logical Drive Create Menu
+ Logical Drive Delete Menu

12. Select Usable Physical Drive List.

+ Logical Drive Create Menu

+ Usable Physical Drive List

+ Basic Setting
- Raid Mode : <RAID 0>
- Stripe Block (KB) : <64>
- Initialization : <Fast>
- Gigabyte Boundary : <Enable>
- Read Policy : <Read Ahead>
- Write Policy : <Write Back>
- Ld Name : _

+ Ld Size Setting

13. Choose RAID member disks by pressing arrow key and space key.
+ Logical Drive Create Menu

- Hxxxxxx HD12345678 | 1500.30 GB [x]

- Wxx HD34567890 | 3000.59 GB [x]

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 14. Back to Logical Driver Main Menu and fill Ld Name.
+ Logical Drive Create Menu

+ Usable Physical Drive List

+ Basic Setting
- Raid Mode : <RAID 0>
- Stripe Block (KB) : <64>
- Initialization : <Fast>
- Gigabyte Boundary : <Enable>
- Read Policy : <Read Ahead>
- Write Policy : <Write Back>
- Ld Name : raidsys_

+ Ld Size Setting

15. Select Ld Size Setting > Start to Create.

+ Logical Drive Create Menu

+ Usable Physical Drive List

+ Basic Setting
- Raid Mode : <RAID 0>
- Stripe Block (KB) : <64>
- Initialization : <Fast>
- Gigabyte Boundary : <Enable>
- Read Policy : <Read Ahead>
- Write Policy : <Write Back>
- Ld Name : raidsys_

+ Ld Size Setting
- Ld Max Size : 3000.60 GB
- Ld Size (GB) : [0]

+ Start To Create

16. When prompt Are You Sure To Create Logical Drive? press Enter to confirm it.

Are You Sure To Create Logical Drive?

‘Enter’Key - YES /‘Esc’Key -NO

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 17. When prompt Successful To Create Logical Drive press Enter to continue.

Successful To Create Logical Drive

‘Enter’Key - Continue

18. Exit RAID ROM by pressing F10. When prompt Are you Sure To Exit press Y.

Are You Sure To Exit? ( y / n )

19. After exiting RAID ROM, system will prompt you to restart computer (shown as
below). Insert Windows 7/ 8 64bit DVD into the DVD drive. Press Enter to reboot.

Drv[40] Ctrl[B2] Lang[eng] - Options Set.

Press [ENTER] to restart platform

20. Press F11 while system booting to access boot device selecting menu.
21. Select DVD drive that contain Windows 7/ 8 64bit DVD. System will start the
Windows 7/ 8 64bit installation by booting from the Windows 7/ 8 64bit DVD.

22. When require HDD driver, insert a USB flash drive that contain AMD RAID driver
into a USB 2.0 port (not USB 3.0 port) and click Browse.

Important
You can find the AMD RAID driver from MSI Driver Disc. The path is
\\Chipset\WIN7\Packages\Drivers\SBDrv\SB9xx\RAID
Please copy all the files in the folder to a USB flash drive.

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 23. Select Removable Disk from Browse for Folder dialog then click OK.

24. Install AMD AHCI Compatible RAID Controller.

25. Windows 7/ 8 64bit can find the RAID volume now. Please continue the installing
procedure.

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 Troubleshooting
Before sending the motherboard for RMA Lost BIOS password
repair, try to go over troubleshooting y Clear the CMOS, but that will cause
guide first to see if your got similar you to lose all customized settings in
symptoms as mentioned below. the BIOS.
The power is not on. There is no audio
y Connect the AC power cord to an y Adjust the volume.
electrical outlet securely.
y Connect the speakers/headphones to
y Check if all ATX power connectors audio ports on the motherboard rear
like ATX_PWR1, CPU_PWR1 is IO panel.
connected from the power supply to
the motherboard? y Remove secondary speakers/
headphones, HDMI cables, USB audio
y Some power supply units have a power devices.
button on the rear side, make sure the
button is turned on. y Test with another known working
speaker or headphone.
y Check if the power switch cable is
connected to JFP1 pin header properly. There is no network
y Verify the Clear CMOS jumper JBAT1 is y Make sure the network chipset driver
set to Keep DATA. has been installed.
y Test with another known working y Verify if the network cable is properly
power supply of equal or greater connected and make sure the LAN port
wattage. LEDs are properly illuminated.
The power is on, but no signal to y Verify your TCP/IP settings.
monitor y Restart or reset your router.
y Connect the monitor power cord to a y Test with another known working LAN
electrical outlet securely. cable.
y Make sure the monitor is turned on.
The USB device is not working
y Select different inputs on the monitor.
y Make sure your USB drive driver has
y If 3 long beeps are heard, remove all been installed.
memory modules and try to install only
y Verify if USB device is listed in
one memory module in the DIMMA1
Windows® Device Manager.
slot first and then restart the computer.
y Connect the USB device to other USB
y If 1 long 2 short beeps are heard,
port on the motherboard rear IO panel.
remove and reinstall the graphics card
and then restart the computer.
y Test with another known working
graphics card.

The computer does not boot after

updating the BIOS
y Clear the CMOS.
y Use the secondary BIOS to bootup the
system (Only for motherboard with
Dual BIOS)

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 Regulatory Notices
FCC Compliance Statement Battery Information
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to European Union:
comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, Batteries, battery packs, and accumulators
pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits should not be disposed of as unsorted
are designed to provide reasonable protection against household waste. Please use the public
harmful interference in a residential installation. This collection system to return, recycle, or treat
equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio them in compliance with the local
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in regulations.
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful Taiwan:
interference to radio communications. However, there For better environmental protection, waste
is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a batteries should be collected separately for
particular installation. If this equipment does cause recycling or special disposal.
harmful interference to radio or television reception,
which can be determined by turning the equipment
off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the California, USA:
interference by one or more of the following measures: The button cell battery may contain
y Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. perchlorate material and requires special
y Increase the separation between the equipment handling when recycled or disposed of in
and receiver. California.
y Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit
different from that to which the receiver is
connected. CAUTION: There is a risk of explosion, if battery is
y Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV incorrectly replaced.
technician for help. Replace only with the same or equivalent type
Caution: Changes or modifications not expressly recommended by the manufacturer.
approved by the party responsible for compliance could
void the user’s authority to operate the equipment. Chemical Substances Information
In compliance with chemical substances regulations,
Tested to comply with FCC standards such as the EU REACH Regulation (Regulation EC
FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE No. 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and the
Council), MSI provides the information of chemical
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules.
substances in products.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
WEEE (Waste Electrical and
CE Conformity Electronic Equipment) Statement
Hereby, Micro-Star International CO., LTD ENGLISH
declares that this device is in compliance To protect the global environment and as
with the essential safety requirements and an environmentalist, MSI must remind
other relevant provisions set out in the European you that...
Directive. Under the European Union (“EU”)
Directive on Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment, Directive 2002/96/
EC, which takes effect on August 13,
2005, products of “electrical and electronic equipment”
cannot be discarded as municipal wastes anymore, and
manufacturers of covered electronic equipment will
be obligated to take back such products at the end of
their useful life. MSI will comply with the product take
back requirements at the end of life of MSI-branded
products that are sold into the EU. You can return these
products to local collection points.

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