EVGA Z790 CLASSIFIED User manual

EVGA Z790 CLASSIFIED (121-RL-E798)
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User Guide
EVGA Z790 CLASSIFIED
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 Specifications.................................................................................................. - 6 -
Unpacking and Parts Descriptions........................................................................................ - 8 -
EVGA Z790 CLASSIFIED Motherboard LED.................................................................... - 9 -
EVGA Z790 CLASSIFIED Component Legend................................................................ - 12 -
PCIe Slot Breakdown ......................................................................................................... - 23 -
M.2 Slot Breakdown........................................................................................................... - 23 -
Preparing the Motherboard................................................................................................. - 24 -
Installing the CPU .............................................................................................................. - 24 -
Installing the CPU Cooling Device .................................................................................... - 25 -
Installing System Memory (DIMMs) ................................................................................. - 26 -
Installing the I/O Shield...................................................................................................... - 26 -
Installing the Motherboard......................................................................................- 27 -
Securing the Motherboard into a System Case................................................................... - 28 -
Installing M.2 Devices............................................................................................- 30 -
Installing M.2 Key-M Socket 3 Devices ............................................................................ - 30 -
Tested CPU......................................................................................................................... - 33 -
Tested M.2 Key-M ............................................................................................................. - 34 -
Tested M.2 Key-E............................................................................................................... - 35 -
Connecting Cables.............................................................................................................. - 36 -
Onboard and External Buttons............................................................................................ - 48 -
First Boot................................................................................................................- 49 -
M.2 SSD, PCIe SSD, and NVMe SSD Installation steps ................................................... - 51 -

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Configuring RAID With M.2 SSDs.................................................................................... - 53 -
Internal SATA RAID Controller...............................................................................- 57 -
Fan Header DC and PWM setup ...........................................................................- 83 -
Installing Drivers and Software ..............................................................................- 97 -
Windows 11/10 Driver Installation .................................................................................... - 97 -
Warranty and Overclocking................................................................................................ - 99 -
Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................- 100 -
Flashing the BIOS ............................................................................................................ - 100 -
Flashing the BIOS Without a CPU................................................................................... - 102 -
SSD / HDD is not detected............................................................................................... - 104 -
Using the POST code indicator to troubleshoot ............................................................... - 106 -
System does not POST and Multi-function Display reads “C” ........................................ - 106 -
System does not POST, and Multi-function Display reads “55” ...................................... - 107 -
System does not POST, and Multi-function Display reads “d7” ...................................... - 107 -
Have a question not covered above, or want some online resources? .............................. - 108 -
Multi-function Display POST Debug LED ...................................................................... - 109 -
Multi-function LED indicator........................................................................................... - 110 -
POST Beep Codes............................................................................................................ - 112 -
POST Codes........................................................................................................- 113 -
EVGA Glossary of Terms ................................................................................................ - 118 -
Compliance Information.......................................................................................- 121 -

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Before You Begin…
The EVGA Z790 CLASSIFIED remains the best choice for the motherboard
that does everything with a 19-phase VRM and 12-layer PCB to provide
exceptional power, performance, and stability. The CLASSIFIED supports
PCIe Gen5 devices and PCIe Gen4 M.2 NVMe SSDs on the latest 13th Gen
Intel®Core™Series processors, up to 128GB DDR5 and up to
7800MHz+(OC) DDR5*. The CLASSIFIED now features a rotated socket to
reduce memory latency and improve cable management options. Meanwhile,
the board also contains 10GbE and 2.5GbE network ports, Wi-Fi 6E / BT 5.2,
and two USB4 Type-C ports (supports DP 1.4 + HDR).
For its other features, the Z790 CLASSIFIED contains Realtek 7.1 Channel
HD Audio, onboard power/reset/CMOS buttons, triple BIOS support, 8 smart
fan headers (including 2x pump headers exclusively built for CPU AIO), and
many more premium features. The Z790 CLASSIFIED is the perfect
motherboard to help you set records in whatever you do.
Lastly, a motherboard is only as good as its BIOS, and the EVGA Z790
CLASSIFIED features EVGA’s latest BIOS GUI with a focus on overclocking
and functionality in a lean, straightforward package. You won’t need to be an
expert to configure your motherboard, but if you are, you’ll find features
unavailable anywhere else.
*Achievable speeds may vary depending on memory configuration and CPU memory controller.

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Parts NOT in the Kit
Your EVGA Z790 CLASSIFIED package contains all the accessories necessary
to install and connect your new motherboard to the rest of your hardware.
However, the following items must be purchased separately in order to make
the system fully functional and ready to install an Operating System:
Intel®Socket 1700 Processor
DDR5 System Memory
CPU Cooling Device
PCI-Express Graphics Card
Power Supply
Hard Drive or SSD
Keyboard and Mouse
Display
(Optional) Optical Drive
EVGA assumes you have purchased all the necessary parts needed to allow for
proper system functionality. For a full list of compatible CPUs for this
motherboard, please visit https://www.evga.com/support/motherboard
Intentions of the Kit
This motherboard is designed to be the hub for most –if not all –of your PC
hardware components, and is therefore a critical component for your OS. If you
are upgrading or replacing another motherboard, it is recommended to start
with a fresh install of your OS.

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Motherboard Specifications
Form-Factor: E-ATX - 11.99 inches x 10.89 inches (304.5mm x 276.6mm)
Microprocessor support:
Intel®Socket 1700 Processors (Raptor Lake-S and Alder Lake-S)
Operating Systems:
Supports Windows 11, Windows 10 64bit
System Memory support:
Supports up to 128GB Dual-Channel DDR5
Supports up to 7800MHz+ (OC) Dual-Channel DDR5
- Achievable speeds depend upon configuration and CPU memory controller
USB 2.0 Ports:
2x from Intel®Z790 PCH –2x internal via 1 FP headers
1x from Update Port for flashing the BIOS without CPU
USB 3.2 Gen1 Ports:
2x from Intel®Z790 PCH –2x internal via 1 FP header
Supports transfer speeds up to 5Gb/s
USB 3.2 Gen2 Ports:
7x from Intel®Z790 PCH –6x external (Type-A), 1x internal via 1 FP header
Supports transfer speeds up to 10Gb/s
USB4 Ports:
2x from Intel®Z790 PCH –2x external (Type-C)
Supports transfer speeds up to 40Gb/s
SATA Ports:
8x SATA 6Gb/s data transfer rate / Intel®Z790 PCH Controller
- Support for RAID0, RAID1, RAID5, AND RAID10
- Supports hot plug
Onboard LAN:
1x Marvell® 10GbE (10/100/1000/2500/5000/10000) Ethernet Controller
1x Intel®i226V 2.5 GbE (10/100/1000/2500) Ethernet Controller
Intel®Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6E / BT5.2
Onboard Audio:
Realtek ALC1220 High Definition Audio
-Supports 7.1 Channel audio + Optical S/PDIF Out

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Power Functions:
Supports ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface)
Supports S0 (normal), S3 (suspend to RAM), S4 (Suspend to disk - depends
on OS), and S5 (soft - off).
PCI-Express Expansion Slots:
1x PCIe Gen5 x16 slot –x16/x8
1x PCIe Gen5 x16 slot –x8
1x PCIe Gen4 x4 slot (via PCH)
PCIe 5.0 Support:
Low power consumption and power management features
Onboard Graphics
2x mini-DisplayPort 1.4 + HDR via USB4 Type-C ports
*Requires a compatible CPU that supports Intel®UHD graphics
mGPU Support:
AMD mGPU is supported.
Additional Expansion Slots:
1x M.2 Key-M 80mm Gen4 slot from CPU
2x M.2 Key-M 80mm Gen4 slot from PCH
1x M.2 Key-E slot
Pump Header
2x Pump Header (3A)
Fan Headers:
2x 4-pin PWM controlled headers / 4x 4-pin PWM/DC headers
ALL FAN HEADERS HAVE A MAXIMUM POWER LIMIT OF 2 AMP
@ 12 VOLTS (24 WATTS). PUMP HEADERS HAVE A MAXIMUM
POWER LIMIT OF 3 AMP @ 12 VOLTS (36 WATTS). EXCEDING
THIS LIMIT WILL CAUSE IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE
BOARD.

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Unpacking and Parts Descriptions
The following accessories are included with the EVGA Z790 CLASSIFIED
Motherboard:

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EVGA Z790 CLASSIFIED Motherboard LED
The EVGA Z790 CLASSIFIED Motherboard has several LEDs indicating power,
connectivity, and activity. Below is the location of the LEDs and their function.

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1. Multi-function Display
a. During boot it will cycle many different hexadecimal post codes with a
range of 00-FF and this indicates what aspect of the Power On Self Test
(POST) is currently running.
i. For a list of POST Codes, please see Page 113.
b. This display can be configured in BIOS to display HW monitoring
information, such as voltage or temperature. After boot, the display will
show temperatures or voltage, depending on the BIOS configuration.
2. Power Button
a. RED: Motherboard is turned on and running.
3. Reset Button
a. WHITE: Reset button will typically flash in conjunction with HDD/SSD
LED. Depending on load, the button may flash or appear solid at times.
4. VCORE Status
a. WHITE: Voltage present (Does not mean PSU is outputting in-spec,
only that this specific voltage is detected)
5. CPU VCCIN AUX Status
a. WHITE: Voltage present (Does not mean PSU is outputting in-spec,
only that this specific voltage is detected)
6. CPU VDD2 Status
a. WHITE: Voltage present (Does not mean PSU is outputting in-spec,
only that this specific voltage is detected)
7. CPU 1.05V Status
a. WHITE: Voltage present (Does not mean PSU is outputting in-spec,
only that this specific voltage is detected)
8. CPU 1.8V Status
a. WHITE: Voltage present (Does not mean PSU is outputting in-spec,
only that this specific voltage is detected)
9. PCH 1.05V Status
a. WHITE: Voltage present (Does not mean PSU is outputting in-spec,
only that this specific voltage is detected)
1. Multi-function Display 7. CPU 1.05V Status 13. CATERR
2. Power Button 8. CPU 1.8V Status 14. BIOS 1 Active
3. Reset Button 9. PCH 1.05V Status 15. BIOS 2 Active
4. VCOREStatus 10. PCH 0.82V Status 16. BIOS 3 Active
5. CPU VCCIN AUX Status 11. PCH 1.8V Status 17. CMOS CLS/BIOS Button
6. CPU VDD2 Status 12. +5VSB Status
LED Legend

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10. PCH 0.82V Status
a. WHITE: Voltage present (Does not mean PSU is outputting in-spec,
only that this specific voltage is detected)
11. PCH 1.8V Status
a. WHITE: Voltage present (Does not mean PSU is outputting in-spec,
only that this specific voltage is detected)
12. +5V Standby Power
a. WHITE: Voltage present (Does not mean PSU is outputting in-spec,
only that this specific voltage is detected)
13. CATERR - Catastrophic Error on the processor
a. RED: Processor error has occurred.
b. OFF: No error state detected in the CPU.
14. BIOS 1 Active LED
a. WHITE: Active BIOS Chip (only 1 will be lit at a time)
15. BIOS 2 Active LED
a. WHITE: Active BIOS Chip (only 1 will be lit at a time)
16. BIOS 3 Active LED
a. WHITE: Active BIOS Chip (only 1 will be lit at a time)
17. CMOS CLS/BIOS Buttons
a. RED: Always on for visibility.

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EVGA Z790 CLASSIFIED Component Legend
The EVGA Z790 CLASSIFIED Motherboard with the Intel®Z790 and PCH Chipset.
Figure 1 shows the motherboard and Figure 2 shows the back panel connectors
FIGURE 1. Z790 CLASSIFIED Motherboard Layout

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**For a FULL description of the above legend, please see Page 15.
1. CPU Socket LGA1700 12. PCIe Slot x16/x8 23. Temperature Sensor Header
2. Intel Z790 PCH 13. PCIe Slot x8 24. BIOS Selector Switch
3. CPU PWM Fan Headers (2 amp) 14. PCIe Slot x4 25. CMOS Battery
4. PWM/DC Fan Headers (2 amp) 15. Power Button 26. ProbeIt Header JAT1
5. Pump Headers (3 amp) 16. Reset Button 27. PC Speaker
6. DDR5 DIMM Slots 17. Multi-function Display 28. BIOS Safeboot Button
7. 24-pin ATX Power Connector 18. USB 3.2 Gen1 Header 29. USB to SPI for BIOS Flash
8. 8-pin EPS Power Connectors 19. USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C Header 30. ARGB LED Controller Headers
9. Supplemental PCIe 6-pin power 20. USB 2.0 Header 31. Rear Panel I/O (Figure 2)
10. Intel SATA6Gb/s SATA Ports 21. Front Panel Audio Header
11. 3x M.2 Socket 3 Key-M80mm 22. Front Panel Header
Component Legend

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Figure 2. Chassis Rear Panel Connectors
1. BIOS/CMOS Reset Button 4. USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A 7. USB4 Type-C (DP 1.4 +HDR)
2. BIOS Update Button 5. Marvell 10GbENIC 8. Analog Audio Jacks
3. WiFi Antenna 6. Intel i226V 2.5GbE NIC 9. Optical Out
I/O Hub
Marvell 10GbE
Activity LED Status Description Speed/Link LED Status Description
Off No Data Transmission Orange 10Gbps data rate
Blinking Data Transmission Green 5Gbps/2.5Gbps/100Mbps/10Mbps data rate
Off No Link
Intel i226V
Activity LED Status Description Speed/Link LED Status Description
Off No Data Transmission Orange 2.5Gbps data rate
Blinking (Green) Data Transmission Green 1 Gbps data rate
Off 10/100 Mbps data rate or No Link
Analog Audio Port
Breakdown
2/2.1 Channels
4.0/4.1 Channels 5.1 Channels 7.1 Channels
Blue Line In *Rear Speakers Out Line In
*Rear Speakers Out
Pink Mic In Mic In Mic In
Mic In
Black Side Speakers Out Side Speakers Out
Orange Center / Sub Out Center / Sub Out
3.5mm Audio Jack Legend
Front Speakers Out
Green
Front Speakers Out
Front Speakers Out /
Front Speakers + Sub
Front Speakers Out /
Front Speakers + Sub
*Only used in 7.1 and is changed via Realtek Software from within Windows.

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Component Legend Descriptions
1. CPU Socket 1700
This is the interface for the Central Processing Unit (CPU), and supports 13th
and 12th Gen. Intel®Core i3, i5, i7 and i9 models compatible with the Intel®
LGA1700 Socket, based on Raptor Lake-S and Alder Lake-S architecture.
2. Intel®Z790 PCH
The Platform Controller Hub (PCH) works as a hub for peripherals that are less
bandwidth-intensive. The PCH has 8x DMI lanes (Gen4), up to 20x PCIe
Gen4, and up to 8x PCIe Gen3 lanes to allocate bandwidth to smaller PCIe
slots, M.2, USB, audio, etc.
3. PWM Fan Headers (CPU1 and CPU2)
4-pin fan headers control the fan speed via a configurable Smart curve or static
percentage. PWM control works by pulsing power to the fan at a constant rate
and sending the RPM signal to the fan’s controller. PWM control is preferred
because it eliminates voltage-based fan stall points. See Page 83 for an in-depth
breakdown of PWM controls within the BIOS.
These headers also support 12VDC fans. DC fans are controlled by decreasing
voltage to the fan, causing the fan to spin slower as less voltage is provided.
However, DC-powered fans may stall if the voltage provided is below the fan’s
minimum threshold for operation.
4. PWM/DC Fan Headers
These headers may be used with both DC and PWM fans, and may be
controlled via Smart Fan or manually within the BIOS.
5. Pump Headers (3A)
These headers are designed for use with AIO coolers and pumps designed for
PC watercooling. This header provides up to a solid 3A of power to the
connected device, helping to avoid a common issue where devices may not be
recognized due to insufficient power. These headers may be controlled via
Smart Fan or manually from within the motherboard BIOS.
6. DDR5 Memory Slots
The memory slots support up to four 288-pin DDR5 DIMMs in Dual-Channel
mode. Dual-Channel mode requires installing two or four sticks of supported
memory. Using only one stick of memory will lower the board to Single-
Channel mode, which may significantly lower performance. 128GB of RAM is
supported in a 4x32GB configuration. At the time of this manual’s release, this

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motherboard officially supports up to 7800MHz+ speeds. These speeds are not
guaranteed, however, because Intel®only certifies the speed of the Raptor Lake-
S memory controller up to 5600MHz, and Alder Lake-S memory controller up
to 4800MHz (depending upon memory configuration).
7. 24-pin ATX power connector
The main power for the motherboard is located on the right side of the board
(See Page 37 for more information about the connector). The 24-pin connector
on the motherboard is directional and the tab on the connector must line up
with the release clip from the male 24pin connector from the power supply.
This connector provides the bulk of the power for all components.
8. 8-pin EPS Connector (Two available)
The +12V EPS provides the main power directly for the CPU (See Page 38 for
more information about the connector). Carefully choose the correct power
cable by consulting with the installation manual for your power supply.
Although PCIe and EPS cables appear similar, they are wired differently and
attaching the wrong connector may cause damage to the motherboard or
prevent the board from turning on.
Only one of the two connectors needs to be installed for basic usage (either
connector is fine). A second EPS connector should be installed for extreme
overclocking, but there is nothing wrong with installing both connectors.
Alternatively, if no power cable is connected or detected, the system will not
POST and will hang at POST code “C.”
9. Supplemental PCIe 6-pin Power Connector
The 6-pin PCIe connector at the bottom of the motherboard provides
dedicated power to the PCIe x16 slots, augmenting the +12V power provided
by the 24-pin and power directly to the GPU (See Page 37 for more information
about the connector).
This connector is optional for single VGA solutions, but is recommended for
mGPU configurations, and dual-processor video cards.
10. Intel®SATA 6Gb/s Ports
The Intel®Z790 PCH has an 8-port SATA 6Gb/s controller (See Page 47 for
more information). This controller supports SSDs, HDDs and various types of
optical devices (CDROM, DVDROM, BD-ROM, etc). The controller also
supports NCQ, TRIM, hot plug capability, and RAID levels 0/1/5/10.

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11. M.2 Socket 3 Key-M 80mm (M.2_1, M.2_2, and M.2_3)
M.2 is an SSD form factor standard, which uses up to four PCIe lanes and
utilizes up to Gen4 speeds. Most popularly paired with NVMe SSDs, this
standard offers substantially faster transfer speeds and seek time than SATA
interface standards. All M.2 devices are designed to connect via a card-bus style
connector –rather than a dedicated data cable and power cable.
This slot supports device lengths of 80mm and 42mm.
12. PCIe Slot x16/x8*
Raptor Lake-S and Alder Lake-S processors have 20 PCIe lanes available for
routing. When a single PCIe device is installed in PE1, the CPU will allocate up
to x16 PCIe Gen5 lanes. If PCIe devices are installed in both x16 slots, both
lanes will operate at x8/x8 speeds.
* Please see the description for Physical (length) vs Electrical (lanes) on Page 21.
13. PCIe Slot x8*
Raptor Lake-S and Alder Lake-S processors allocate up to 8 PCIe lanes on PE3
for routing. When a PCIe device is installed in PE3, the CPU will allocate up to
x8 PCIe Gen5 lanes. If PCIe devices are installed in both x16 slots, both lanes
will operate at x8/x8 speeds.
* Please see the description for Physical (length) vs Electrical (lanes) on Page 21.
14. PCIe Slot x4*
PCIe x4 is a smaller form-factor PCIe card slot. These can be used for low-
bandwidth products, such as a PCIe SSD card, capture card, audio card, etc.
This slot is limited to a maximum of x4 Gen4 PCH lanes.
* Please see the description for Physical (length) vs Electrical (lanes) on Page 21.
15. Power Button
This is an onboard power button, and may be used in place of, or in
conjunction with, a front panel power button wired to the board.
Open-air or test bench chassis are best served by using the onboard power
because it removes the need to wire a Power/Reset button.
16. Reset Button
This is an onboard system reset button, and may be used in place of, or in
conjunction with, a front panel system reset button wired to the board.
Open-air or test bench chassis are best served by using the onboard power
because it removes the need to wire a Power/Reset button.

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17. Multi-function Display
This is a four-digit Power On Self-Test (“POST”) code reader, which displays in
sets of 7-segment LEDs. The display can show the characters 0-9, and A-F.
POST is the motherboard’s self-test to verify operational status. During POST,
the left set of LEDs will display the various codes as each motherboard segment
is analyzed, and will stop or repeatedly cycle if an error is detected. The POST
codes are listed in the troubleshooting section on Page 113.
After the system boots, these same set of LEDs can be set to display additional
temperatures or voltages. Detailed configuration instructions for the Multi-
function Display Indicator are provided on Page 110.
18. USB 3.2 Gen1 Header
The USB 3.2 Gen1 header is used to connect an additional USB interface plug
to the motherboard. These will function similarly to the USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
found on the motherboard’s rear I/O hub, but can also be used for a front
panel USB device or auxiliary ports that mount in the card slots.
USB 3.2 Gen1 standard is 900ma @ 5V for unpowered devices. If your USB
device requires more power, it is recommended to attach a powered USB Hub.
Note: USB 3.2 Gen1 is more commonly referred to as USB 3.0.
19. USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C Header
The USB 3.2 Gen2 header is used to connect an additional USB interface plug
to the motherboard. These will function similarly to the USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
port sometimes found on a motherboard’s rear I/O hub, but can also be used
for the chassis’ front panel USB, auxiliary ports that mount in the card slots,
and certain devices that directly connect to the header. The USB 3.2 Gen2
Header on the Z790 CLASSIFIED is a shielded USB 3.2 Gen2 Header that
supports up to 10Gb/s with USB 3.2 Gen2.
This USB 3.2 Gen2 Header has a power limit of 3000ma (3A) @ 5V.
20. USB 2.0 Headers
The USB 2.0 headers are used to connect additional USB interface plugs to the
motherboard. These will function similarly to the USB 2.0 ports found on the
motherboard’s hardwired I/O hub, but these can also be used for the chassis’
front panel USB, auxiliary ports that mount in the card slots, and certain devices
that directly connect to the header.
USB 2.0 standard is 500ma @ 5V per port (header total is 1000ma) for
unpowered devices. If your USB device requires more power, it is
recommended to attach a powered USB Hub.

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21. Front Panel Audio Connector
This connector is required for recording and/or playback via the audio
connectors on the front of your chassis. This header uses the standard “HD
Audio” jack. Some chassis may provide two headers: one labeled HD Audio,
and one labeled AC’97. AC’97 cables are not compatible with this header on the
Z790 CLASSIFIED.
22. Front Panel Header Connectors
The Front Panel Connectors include the Power Switch, Power LED, Reset
Switch, and HDD LED. The Power and Reset switches only need to be bridged
for a moment to turn on/reset the device, such as with a flat-head screwdriver
by simultaneously touching the + and - posts.
The Power LED will power on with the system, indicating the system is on and
can blink in conjunction with CPU activity.
HDD LED blinks during access to SATA devices, but not M.2 SSDs.
23. Temperature Sensor Header
This 2-pin header, labeled JEC2, allows a thermistor cable to provide
temperature data to the motherboard, which can be viewed in the BIOS. These
cables are commonly used with custom watercooling loops to monitor
water/coolant temperature, or with sensors mounted in a chassis to monitor
ambient temperature. For the pinout of this sensor, go to Page 40.
24. BIOS Selector Switch
This switch toggles the active BIOS chip. This board has 3 BIOS chips as a
permanent fixture. Each chip holds only the settings and profiles that have been
saved to the BIOS chip while active. This allows you to swap between three
different BIOS versions, configurations, and settings, if you wish.
25. CMOS Battery
The CMOS battery backup provides uninterruptable power to the BIOS to
store its settings. These batteries typically last several years and rarely need to be
replaced.
26. ProbeIt Header JAT1
The ProbeIt header is a means of live monitoring several different system
voltages in real-time with a multimeter. One terminal needs to connect to a
ground wire and the other to the specific voltage you want to monitor.

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From top to bottom, the function for the JAT1 connector: CPU Vcore, CPU
VCCIN AUX, CPU VDD2, CPU 1.05V, CPU 1.8V, PCH 1.05V, PCH 0.82V,
PCH 1.8V, VGT, GND.
27. PC Speaker
A small mono low-fidelity speaker, permanently attached to the motherboard.
Its primary use is for debugging purposes. A POST beep may indicate a
successful POST or various tones for USB initialization, while other beeps may
indicate an issue during the POST process. Please see Page 112 for more details.
28. BIOS SafeBoot Button
Pressing this button while the system is running will reboot the motherboard
directly into the BIOS without clearing CMOS. This feature is very useful for
situations where the motherboard is unable to complete boot due to a failed
overclock and the user does not want to erase the previous settings used.
29. USB to SPI for BIOS Flash
This USB port is designed to connect directly to the motherboard to allow the
motherboard BIOS to be flashed, even if no CPU is installed. For more
information on how to flash your BIOS using this method, please see Page 102.
30. ARGB LED Controller Header
The ARGB header is a 3pin 5V. header with a current limit of 2A; anything
above 2A will trigger overcurrent protection and lock at 2A. This header
provides RGB lighting configuration via EVGA ELEET X1 within Windows,
and supports up to 125 LEDs. Please see Page 42 for header specifics, and Page
94 for control options in ELEET X1.
31. Rear Panel I/O (Figure 2)
This is the section referred to as the I/O Hub. This panel contains the
hardwired USB, Audio, and Ethernet connections. Please see Page 14 for a
component level breakdown.