EVGA Z170 STINGER User manual

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User Guide
EVGA Z170 STINGER
Specs and Initial Installation

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Table of Contents
Before you Begin………………………………………………………………………4
Parts Not in the kit…………………………………………………………………….5
Intentions of the kit……………………………………………………………………5
Motherboard Spe ifi ations……………………………………………………………6
Unpa king and Parts Des riptions……………………………………………………..8
Equipment……………………………………………………………………………..8
Component legend………..………………………………………………………..…10
PCI-E Slot Breakdown………………………………………………………………..11
Rear I/O Panel legend………………………………………………………………..12
Preparing the Motherboard…………………………………………………………...13
Installing the CPU…………………………………………………………………….13
Installing the Cooling Devi e……………………………………….…………...…….14
Installing System Memory (DIMMs)……………...………………….......…..………...15
Installing the Motherboard….………………………………………………………...16
Installing the I/O Shield/Cover………………………………………………………16
Se uring the Motherboard to the ase………………………………………………...17
Conne ting Cables……………………………………………………………………19
24 Pin ATX Power…………………………………………………………………...20
EPS 8 Pin 12v Power………………………………………………………………....20
Conne ting Internal Headers……………………...…………………………………..21
Front Panel Header………..……………………………………………….…………21
Fan Header……………………………………………………………………….…..22
USB Headers………………………………………………………...………………..23
Front Panel Audio………………………………………………………………..…...24
S/PDIF Header………………………………………………………………...……..24
Thunderbolt GPIO……………………………………….…………...………...…….25
EVGauge……………...………………….......…..…………………………………....25
Probe It….……………………………………………………………………….…...26
SATA3/6G & SATA Express…………………………………………………...……26
6pin PCI-E………………………………………………………………………...….27
PCI-E and M.2 Slots………………………………………………………….………28
Onboard Buttons……………………………………………………………….……29

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Clear CMOS Button…………………………………………………………………..29
Reset and Power button……………………………………………………………....29
Post Debug LED and LED Status Indi ators………..………………………………..30
Post Port Debug LED………………………………………………………………..30
LED Status Indi ators………………………………………………………………...30
Installing Drivers and Software……………………………………………………….31
Windows 10/8/7 Driver Installation………………………………………………….31
POST Codes…………………………………….…………...……………….…….....32
AMI POST Codes……………...………………….......…..…………………………..32
Glossary of Terms….………………………………………………………………....36
Complian e Information….…………………………………………………………..39

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Before You Begin…
Mainstream performan e has been redefined, introdu ing the EVGA Z170 STINGER.
The Z170 platform is the first mainstream hipset to feature DDR4 memory, and the
new 6
th
Generation Intel® Core™ Pro essors! Features upgrades to the already top
not h UEFI interfa e, 4 phase VRM, 1 M.2 slot, Native SATA 3/6G, USB3, Intel NIC,
and more sitting on an 10 layer PCB.
As with any EVGA motherboard, it's designed for the over lo ker. Built from the
ground up to give you all the essentials that you need for over lo king, and stability,
with a GUI BIOS/UEFI that is fo used on fun tionality, high quality omponents and
next generation dual hannel DDR4 memory.
With these features and more, it is lear that the EVGA Z170 motherboards are
engineered to set the new standard for the mainstream hipset motherboard.

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Parts NOT in the Kit
This kit ontains all the hardware ne essary to install and onne t your new
EVGA Z170 STINGER Motherboard. However, it does NOT ontain the
following items that must be pur hased separately in order to make the system
fully fun tional and install an Operating System:
 Intel Socket 1151 Processor
 DDR4 System Memory
 CPU Cooling Device
 PCI E press Graphics Card
 Power Supply
 Hard Drive or SSD
 Keyboard / Mouse
 Monitor
 (Optional) Optical Drive
 Operating System
EVGA assumes you have pur hased all the ne essary parts needed to allow for
proper system fun tionality. For a full list of supported CPUs on this
motherboard, please visit www.evga. om/support/motherboard
Intentions of the Kit
This kit provides you with the motherboard and all onne ting ables ne essary
to install the motherboard into a PC ase.
When repla ing a motherboard in an existing PC, you will need to reinstall an
operating system even though the urrent storage drive may already have one
installed.

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Motherboard
Motherboard Specifications
 Size:
mITX form fa tor of 6.7 (170.18mm) in hes x 6.7 in hes (170.18mm)
 Microprocessor support:
Intel So ket 1151 Pro essor
 Operating Systems:
Supports Windows 10 / 8 / 7
-For Windows 7 users, please remember drivers are REQUIRED for USB3
and above support.
 Contains Intel Z170 chipset
 System Memory support:
Supports Dual hannel DDR4 up to 3200MHz+.
Supports up to 32GB of DDR4 memory.
 USB 2.0 Ports:
2x from Intel Z170 PCH, on I/O Panel
Supports hot plug
Supports wake-up from S3 and S4 mode
Supports USB 2.0 proto ol up to a 480 Mbps transmission rate
 USB 3.0 Ports:
8x from Intel Z170 PCH – 6x external on I/O panel, 2x internal (1 Header)
Supports transfer speeds up to 5Gbps
Ba kwards ompatible USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 support
 SATA Ports:
Intel Z170 PCH Controller
4x SATA 3/6G (600 MB/s) data transfer rate
- Support for RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, AND RAID 10
- Supports hot plug
 Onboard LAN:
1x Intel i219 Gigabit Ethernet PHY
Supports 10/100/1000 Mb/se Ethernet

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 Onboard Audio:
Realtek HD Audio (ALC1150)
Supports 8- hannel (7.1) audio
Supports Opti al Output
 Power Functions:
Supports ACPI (Advan ed Configuration and Power Interfa e)
Supports S0 (normal), S3 (suspend to RAM), S4 (Suspend to disk - depends
on OS), and S5 (soft - off)
 E pansion Slots:
1x PCI-E 3.0 1x16 slot
1x M.2 Key E
 2 Video Out (on I/O Panel):
-1x DP 1.2
-1x HDMI 1.4
 3 Fan Headers:
-1x PWM Fan headers supporting up to 1amp @ 12Volt MAX
-2x DC/PWM fan headers supporting up to 1amp @ 12Volt MAX
(sele table in BIOS, an fun tion as DC or PWM)

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Unpacking and
Parts Descriptions
Equipment
The following a essories are in luded with the EVGA Z170 STINGER
Motherboard:

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Component Legend
Intel Z170 STINGER Motherboard
The EVGA Z170 STINGER Motherboard with the Intel Z170 and PCH Chipset.
Figure 1 shows the motherboard and Figure 2 shows the ba k panel onne tors
FIGURE 1. Z170 STINGER Motherboard Layout

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1. CPU Socket 1151 8. Front Panel Connectors 15. M.2 Socket 1 Key-E
2. Intel Z170 PCH . Debug LED / CPU Temp Monitor 16. Back Panel Connectors (Figure 2)
3. CPU Fan Header (1 amp PWM) 10. CMOS Battery 17. Removable BIOS Chip
4. Fan Headers (1 amp DC/PWM) 11. USB 3.0 Header 18. Shielded/backlit audio traces
5. DDR4 Memory DIMM Slots 1-2 12. Power Button 1 . 8 pin EPS Connector
6. 24-pin ATX power connector 13. Reset Button 20. Front Panel Audio
7. Intel SATA 6G Ports 14. PCI-E Slot x16
PCI-E Slot Breakdown
PCI-E Lane Distribution
 PE1 – x16, from CPU
This motherboard does not have lane repli ation via PLX; all lanes are
derived from CPU and PCH.

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Figure 2. Chassis Rear Panel Connectors
1. USB 2.0 4. Intel i21 NIC 7. Optical Out
2. USB 3.0 5. Display Port 1.2 8. Analog Audio Output Jacks
3. BIOS/CMOS Reset 6. HDMI 1.4
Analog Audio Port
Breakdown 2/2.1 Channel 4.0/4.1 Channel 5.1 (6 Channel) 7.1 (8 Channel)
Blue Line in Line In Line in * Side Speaker Out
Green Front Speaker Out/
Front Speaker + Sub
Front Speaker Out/
Front Speaker + Sub Front Speaker Out Front Speaker Out
Pink Mic In Mic In Mic In Mic In
Black Rear Speaker Out Rear Speaker Out Rear Speaker Out
Orange Center/Sub Out Center/Sub Out
Only used in 7.1 and is changed via Realtek Software from within Windows.

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Preparing the Motherboard
Installing the CPU
Be very areful when handling the CPU. Hold the pro essor
only by the edges and do not tou h the bottom of the
pro essor.
Note: Use extreme caution when working with the CPU,
not to damage any pins in the CPU socket on the
motherboard!
Use the following pro edure to install the CPU onto the
motherboard:
 Remove the plasti prote tive so ket over by pulling
it straight up. Be sure not to damage any of the pins
inside the so ket.
 Unhook the so ket lever by pushing down and away
from the so ket.
 Pull the so ket lever ba k and the load plate will lift.
 Open the load plate and make sure not to damage
any of the pins inside the so ket.
Note: After removing the CPU socket cover, it is
recommended to store it in case you ever
need to transport your motherboard. If you
ever remove the CPU, it is highly
recommended to reinstall the socket cover.

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 Align the not hes on the CPU to the not hes in the
so ket.
 Lower the pro essor straight down into the so ket.
Note: Make sure the CPU is fully seated and level in
the socket.
 Lower the load plate so it is resting on the CPU.
 Carefully lo k the lever ba k into pla e.
Installing the CPU Cooling Device
There are many different ooling devi es that an be used with this
motherboard. Follow the instru tions that ome with your ooling assembly.

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Installing System Memory (DIMMs)
Your Z170 Classified has 2 (288-pin) slots for DDR4 memory. These slots
support 4GB, 8GB and 16GB DDR4 DIMMs. There must be at least one
memory slot populated to ensure normal operation.
The Intel Z170 hipset supports dual hannel memory
re ommended to be populated in pairs; supports a maximum of
32GB of DDR4 and up to 3200MHz+ in dual hannel
onfiguration. Slot 1 is the primary priority slots.
Use the following pro edure to install DIMMs. Note that there is
only one gap near the enter of the DIMM slots. This slot mat hes
the slot on the DIMM to ensure the omponent is installed
properly.
 Unlo k a DIMM slot by pressing the module lip.
 Align the memory module to the DIMM slot, and insert the module
verti ally into the DIMM slot, pressing straight down to seat the
module. The plasti lips at top side of the DIMM slot automati ally
lo k the DIMM into the onne tor.
Note: The memory controller on most Skylake CPUs runs at a default frequency of
2133MHz. To achieve memory speeds above 2133+ may require manual
setting of the memory timings, frequency and voltages and/or overclocking of
the CPU.
Refer to the memory manufacturer specifications for the recommended
memory timings. For overclocking support you can visit our forums:
http://forums.evga.com/

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Installing the Motherboard
The sequen e of installing the motherboard into a system ase depends on the
hassis you are using and if you are repla ing an existing motherboard or
working with an empty system ase. Determine if it would be easier to make all
the onne tions prior to this step or to se ure the motherboard and then make
all the onne tions. It is normally easier to se ure the motherboard first.
Use the following pro edure to install the I/O shield and se ure the
motherboard into the hassis.
Note: Be sure that the CPU fan assembly has enough clearance for the system
case covers to lock into place and for the expansion cards. Also make sure
the CPU Fan assembly is aligned with the vents on the covers. This will
depend on the system case being used.
Installing the I/O Shield/Cover
The motherboard kit omes with an I/O shield that is used to blo k internal
omponents from dust and foreign obje ts, and promotes orre t airflow within
the hassis.
Before installing the motherboard, install the I/O shield from the inside of the
hassis. Press the I/O shield into pla e and make sure it fits se urely.
Also in luded is an I/O over. This I/O over adds a unique appearan e to the
I/O area of the motherboard and is ompletely optional. If you wish to use the
over, please pla e it over the I/O area, and install the hassis s rews. The
hassis s rews are intended to hold the I/O over down.

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Securing the Motherboard into a System Case
Most system ases have a base with mounting holes you thread standoffs onto to
allow the motherboard to be se ured to the hassis and help to prevent short
ir uits. If there are studs that do not align with a mounting hole on the
motherboard, it is re ommended that you remove that standoff to prevent the
possibility of a short ir uit.
 Carefully pla e the motherboard onto the standoffs lo ated inside the
hassis.
 Align the mounting holes with the standoffs.
 Align the onne tors to the I/O shield and/or I/O over.
 Ensure that the fan assembly is aligned with the hassis vents a ording to
the fan assembly instru tion.
 Se ure the motherboard with nine (9), or ten (10) s rews depending on the
spe ifi board in the series, less fasteners are needed on mATX and mITX
boards, please see pi on following page for lo ations of all standoff
lo ations for this board series. Ensure that ea h s rew is lined up with and
s rewing into the orresponding standoff under the board. Double he k
alignment to make sure nothing gets ross-threaded.
 See the pi ture below for a zoomed in view of a hole to use a standoff in as
well as the lo ations of standoff holes for all boards in the Z170 series.

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 Above, all lo ations safe to se ure the board to a standoff with are
ir led in red, and the upper left side of that pi ture is a zoomed in
view of the hole.
 Keep in mind that when the s rews are installed but not fully tightened,
the motherboard should have 1-2mm of movement; this an help with
getting ards mounted or other tight toleran e/ lose fitting ards.

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Connecting Cables
This se tion takes you through all the ne essary onne tions on the
motherboard. This will in lude:
 Power Conne tions
24pin ATX power ( PW1 )
EPS 8pin 12V power
 Internal Headers
Front Panel onne tors (power/reset/LED’s)
Fan Headers (PWM for CPU and DC/PWM for ase fans )
USB 3.0 Header
USB 3.1 Header
Audio Header
S/PDIF
Thunderbolt GPIO
EVGauge
ProbeIT
SATA III
6pin PCIE
 Rear I/O Panel

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24-pin ATX Power (ATX_PWR_24P)
ATX_PWR_24p is the main power supply onne tor lo ated along the lower
right edge of the board. Make sure that the power supply able and pins are
properly aligned with the onne tor on the motherboard. Firmly plug the power
supply able into the onne tor and make sure it is se ure.
The 24pin Power Conne tor may be standard or right angled depending on
your motherboard model.
EPS 8-pin 12V Power (PWR 8P1 )
EPS PWR 8P1 , the 8-pin ATX 12V power onne tions, is used to provide
power to the CPU. Align the pins to the onne tor and press firmly until seated.
The se ondary is optional for improved over lo king. Please remember to
make sure that the tab on the EPS so ket is aligned with the release lip on the
able, be ause if they are on opposite sides, while it will be able to fit, it is the
in orre t able and WILL damage the board if powered on, as that is a PCI-E
8pin able.