GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY Z490 GAMING X AX User manual

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Z490 GAMING XZ490 GAMING X AX
Z490 GAMING X AX
Z490 GAMING X
User's Manual
Rev. 1002
12ME-Z49GX-1002R

Copyright
©2020 GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. All rights reserved.
The trademarks mentioned in this manual are legally registered to their respective owners.
Disclaimer
Information in this manual is protected by copyright laws and is the property of GIGABYTE.
Changestothespecications andfeatures inthis manualmay bemade byGIGABYTE
without prior notice.
No part of this manual may be reproduced, copied, translated, transmitted, or published in any
form or by any means without GIGABYTE's prior written permission.
In order to assist in the use of this product, carefully read the User's Manual.
For product-related information, check on our website at: https://www.gigabyte.com
Identifying Your Motherboard Revision
The revision number on your motherboard looks like this: "REV: X.X." For example, "REV: 1.0"
means the revision of the motherboard is 1.0. Check your motherboard revision before updating
motherboard BIOS, drivers, or when looking for technical information.
Example:

- 3 -
Table of Contents
Z490 GAMING X (AX) Motherboard Layout....................................................................4
Chapter 1 Hardware Installation .....................................................................................5
1-1 Installation Precautions.................................................................................... 5
1-2 ProductSpecications...................................................................................... 6
1-3 Installing the CPU ............................................................................................ 9
1-4 Installing the Memory....................................................................................... 9
1-5 Installing an Expansion Card ......................................................................... 10
1-6 Back Panel Connectors.................................................................................. 10
1-7 Internal Connectors........................................................................................ 13
Chapter 2 BIOS Setup ..................................................................................................24
2-1 Startup Screen ............................................................................................... 24
2-2 The Main Menu .............................................................................................. 25
2-3 Favorites (F11) ............................................................................................... 26
2-4 Tweaker.......................................................................................................... 27
2-5 Settings .......................................................................................................... 32
2-6 System Info. ................................................................................................... 38
2-7 Boot................................................................................................................ 39
2-8 Save & Exit..................................................................................................... 42
Chapter 3 Appendix ......................................................................................................43
3-1 ConguringaRAIDSet.................................................................................. 43
3-2 Installing an Intel®Optane™Memory.............................................................. 45
3-3 DriversInstallation.......................................................................................... 47
RegulatoryNotices.................................................................................................... 48
Contact Us ................................................................................................................ 52

- 4 -
Z490 GAMING X (AX) Motherboard Layout
* The box contents above are for reference only and the actual items shall depend on the product package you obtain.
The box contents are subject to change without notice.
(Note) The M.2 connector is reserved only. No functionalities.
Box Contents
5Z490 GAMING X AX or Z490 GAMING X motherboard
5Motherboard driver disc 5Two SATA cables
5User's Manual 5One antennaj
KB_MS_USB
HDMI
U32
U32_LAN
LGA1200 ATX
AUDIO
ATX_12V_2X4
Intel®Z490
CLR_CMOS
M_BIOS
PCIEX1_1
PCIEX4
PCIEX1_3
PCIEX16
PCIEX1_2
F_U32
M2A_SB M2P_CPU (Note)
CODEC
Z490 GAMING X (AX)
F_PANEL
F_USB
LED_C1
LED_C2
D_LED1
D_LED2
F_AUDIO
COMSPDIF_O
SYS_FAN3
SYS_FAN4 QFLASH_PLUS
SPI_TPM
SYS_FAN1
SYS_FAN2
CPU_FAN
iTE®
Super I/O
42
42
6080
80
110
SATA3 5 3 1
4 2 0
BAT
Intel®
GbE LAN
CPU DRAM
VGA BOOT
U32_G2
THB_C1
THB_C2
M2M_SB
426080
ATX_12V_2X2
QFLED
DDR4_A1
DDR4_A2
DDR4_B1 DDR4_B2
CNVI j
j Only for the Z490 GAMING X AX.

Chapter 1 Hardware Installation
1-1 Installation Precautions
The motherboard contains numerous delicate electronic circuits and components which can become
damagedasaresultofelectrostaticdischarge(ESD).Priortoinstallation,carefullyreadtheuser's
manual and follow these procedures:
•Prior to installation, make sure the chassis is suitable for the motherboard.
•Prior to installation, do not remove or break motherboard S/N (Serial Number) sticker or
warranty sticker provided by your dealer. These stickers are required for warranty validation.
•Always remove the AC power by unplugging the power cord from the power outlet before
installing or removing the motherboard or other hardware components.
•When connecting hardware components to the internal connectors on the motherboard, make
sure they are connected tightly and securely.
•When handling the motherboard, avoid touching any metal leads or connectors.
•It is best to wear an electrostatic discharge (ESD) wrist strap when handling electronic
componentssuchasamotherboard,CPUormemory.IfyoudonothaveanESDwriststrap,
keepyourhandsdryandrsttouchametalobjecttoeliminatestaticelectricity.
•Prior to installing the motherboard, please have it on top of an antistatic pad or within an
electrostatic shielding container.
•Before connecting or unplugging the power supply cable from the motherboard, make sure
the power supply has been turned off.
•Before turning on the power, make sure the power supply voltage has been set according to
the local voltage standard.
•Before using the product, please verify that all cables and power connectors of your hardware
components are connected.
•To prevent damage to the motherboard, do not allow screws to come in contact with the
motherboard circuit or its components.
•Make sure there are no leftover screws or metal components placed on the motherboard or
within the computer casing.
•Donotplacethecomputersystemonanunevensurface.
•Donotplacethecomputersysteminahigh-temperatureorwetenvironment.
•Turning on the computer power during the installation process can lead to damage to system
components as well as physical harm to the user.
•If you are uncertain about any installation steps or have a problem related to the use of the
product,pleaseconsultacertiedcomputertechnician.
•If you use an adapter, extension power cable, or power strip, ensure to consult with its installation
and/or grounding instructions.
- 5 -

1-2 ProductSpecications
CPU Support for 10th Generation Intel®Core™i9 processors/Intel®Core™i7 processors/
Intel®Core™i5 processors/Intel®Core™i3 processors/Intel®Pentium®processors/
Intel®Celeron®processors in the LGA1200 package
(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest CPU support list.)
L3 cache varies with CPU
Chipset Intel®Z490 Express Chipset
Memory Intel®Core™i9/i7 processors:
- SupportforDDR43200/3000/2933/2666/2400/2133MHzmemorymodules
Intel®Core™i5/i3/Pentium®/Celeron®processors:
- SupportforDDR42666/2400/2133MHzmemorymodules
4xDDR4DIMMsocketssupportingupto128GB(32GBsingleDIMMcapacity)
of system memory
Dualchannelmemoryarchitecture
SupportforECCUn-bufferedDIMM1Rx8/2Rx8memorymodules (operate in
non-ECC mode)
Supportfornon-ECCUn-bufferedDIMM1Rx8/2Rx8/1Rx16memorymodules
SupportforExtremeMemoryProle(XMP)memorymodules
(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest supported memory speeds and memory
modules.)
Onboard
Graphics
Integrated Graphics Processor-Intel®HDGraphicssupport:
- 1xHDMIport,supportingamaximumresolutionof4096x2160@30Hz
* SupportforHDMI1.4versionandHDCP2.3.
Maximum shared memory of 512 MB
Audio Realtek®ALC1200 codec
HighDenitionAudio
2/4/5.1/7.1-channel
SupportforS/PDIFOut
LAN Intel®GbE LAN chip (1000 Mbit/100 Mbit)
Wireless
Communication
Module j
Intel®Wi-Fi 6 AX201
- WIFIa,b,g,n,acwithwave2features,ax,supporting2.4/5GHzDual-Band
- BLUETOOTH 5
- Supportfor11ax160MHzwirelessstandardandupto2.4Gbpsdatarate
* Actual data rate may vary depending on environment and equipment.
Expansion Slots 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 (PCIEX16)
* For optimum performance, if only one PCI Express graphics card is to be installed,
be sure to install it in the PCIEX16 slot.
1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x4 (PCIEX4)
3 x PCI Express x1 slots
(All of the PCI Express slots conform to PCI Express 3.0 standard.)
Multi-Graphics
Technology SupportforAMDQuad-GPUCrossFire™and2-WayAMDCrossFire™technologies
j Only for the Z490 GAMING X AX.
- 6 -

Storage Interface 1 x M.2 connector (Socket 3, M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 SATA and PCIe
x4/x2SSDsupport)(M2A_SB)
1 x M.2 connector (Socket 3, M key, type 2242/2260/2280 SATA and PCIe x4/x2
SSDsupport)(M2M_SB)
6 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
SupportforRAID0,RAID1,RAID5,andRAID10
* Referto"1-7InternalConnectors,"fortheinstallationnoticesfortheM.2andSATA
connectors.
Intel®Optane™MemoryReady
USB Chipset:
- 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port (red) on the back panel
- 7 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (5 ports on the back panel, 2 ports available through
the internal USB header)
- 4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports (2 ports on the back panel, 2 ports available through
the internal USB header)
Internal
Connectors
1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector
1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector
1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector
1 x CPU fan header
4 x system fan headers
2xaddressableLEDstripheaders
2xRGBLEDstripheaders
6 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
2 x M.2 Socket 3 connectors
1 x front panel header
1 x front panel audio header
1xS/PDIFOutheader
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 header
1 x USB 2.0/1.1 header
1 x Trusted Platform Module header (For the GC-TPM2.0 SPI/GC-TPM2.0 SPI
2.0 module only)
2 x Thunderbolt™add-in card connectors
1 x serial port header
1 x Clear CMOS jumper
1 x Q-Flash Plus button
Back Panel
Connectors
1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port
1xHDMIport
2xSMAantennaconnectors(2T2R)j
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port (red)
5 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
2 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
1xRJ-45port
6 x audio jacks
I/O Controller iTE®I/O Controller Chip
j Only for the Z490 GAMING X AX.
- 7 -

Hardware
Monitor
Voltage detection
Temperature detection
Fan speed detection
Overheating warning
Fan fail warning
Fan speed control
* Whether the fan speed control function is supported will depend on the cooler you
install.
BIOS 1x256Mbitash
Use of licensed AMI UEFI BIOS
PnP1.0a,DMI2.7,WfM2.0,SMBIOS2.7,ACPI5.0
Unique Features Support for APP Center
* Available applications in APP Center may vary by motherboard model. Supported
functionsofeachapplicationmayalsovarydependingonmotherboardspecications.
- @BIOS
- EasyTune
- Fast Boot
- Game Boost
- ON/OFF Charge
- RGBFusion
- Smart Backup
- System Information Viewer
Support for Q-Flash Plus
Support for Q-Flash
Support for Xpress Install
Bundled
Software
Norton®Internet Security (OEM version)
cFosSpeed
Operating
System Support for Windows 10 64-bit
Form Factor ATX Form Factor; 30.5cm x 23.0cm
* GIGABYTEreservestherighttomakeanychangestotheproductspecicationsandproduct-relatedinformationwithout
prior notice.
Please visit GIGABYTE's website for support lists of CPU, memory
modules,SSDs,andM.2devices.
Please visit the Support\Utility List page on GIGABYTE's website to download the latest
version of apps.
Z490 GAMING XZ490 GAMING X AX
- 8 -

1-3 Installing the CPU
ReadthefollowingguidelinesbeforeyoubegintoinstalltheCPU:
•Make sure that the motherboard supports the CPU.
(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest CPU support list.)
•Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing the
CPU to prevent hardware damage.
•Locate the pin one of the CPU. The CPU cannot be inserted if oriented incorrectly. (Or you may
locate the notches on both sides of the CPU and alignment keys on the CPU socket.)
•Apply an even and thin layer of thermal grease on the surface of the CPU.
•DonotturnonthecomputeriftheCPUcoolerisnotinstalled,otherwiseoverheatinganddamage
of the CPU may occur.
•SettheCPUhostfrequencyinaccordancewiththeCPUspecications.Itisnotrecommended
thatthesystembusfrequencybesetbeyondhardwarespecicationssinceitdoesnotmeetthe
standard requirements for the peripherals. If you wish to set the frequency beyond the standard
specications,pleasedosoaccordingtoyourhardwarespecicationsincludingtheCPU,graphics
card, memory, hard drive, etc.
Installing the CPU
Locate the alignment keys on the motherboard CPU socket and the notches on the CPU.
Do not remove the CPU socket cover before inserting the CPU. It may pop off from the load
plate automatically during the process of re-engaging the lever after you insert the CPU.
1-4 Installing the Memory
Readthefollowingguidelinesbeforeyoubegintoinstallthememory:
•Make sure that the motherboard supports the memory. It is recommended that memory of the same
capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used.
(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest supported memory speeds and memory modules.)
•Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing the
memory to prevent hardware damage.
•Memory modules have a foolproof design. A memory module can be installed in only one direction.
If you are unable to insert the memory, switch the direction.
DualChannelMemoryConguration
ThismotherboardprovidesfourmemorysocketsandsupportsDualChannelTechnology.Afterthememory
isinstalled,theBIOSwillautomaticallydetectthespecicationsandcapacityofthememory.EnablingDual
Channel memory mode will double the original memory bandwidth.
Please visit GIGABYTE's website for details on hardware installation.
Triangle Pin One Marking on the CPU
NotchNotch
LGA1200 CPU
Alignment KeyAlignment Key
LGA1200 CPU Socket
Pin One Corner of the CPU Socket
- 9 -

The four memory sockets are divided into two channels and each channel has two memory sockets as following:
ChannelA:DDR4_A1,DDR4_A2
ChannelB:DDR4_B1,DDR4_B2
RecommandedDualChannelMemoryConguration:
DDR4_A1 DDR4_A2 DDR4_B1 DDR4_B2
2 Modules - - DS/SS - - DS/SS
4 Modules DS/SS DS/SS DS/SS DS/SS
(SS=Single-Sided,DS=Double-Sided,"--"=NoMemory)
DuetoCPUlimitations,readthefollowingguidelinesbeforeinstallingthememoryinDualChannelmode.
1. DualChannelmodecannotbeenabledifonlyonememorymoduleisinstalled.
2. WhenenablingDualChannelmodewithtwoorfourmemorymodules,itisrecommendedthatmemory
of the same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used.
1-5 Installing an Expansion Card
Readthefollowingguidelinesbeforeyoubegintoinstallanexpansioncard:
•Make sure the motherboard supports the expansion card. Carefully read the manual that came
with your expansion card.
•Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing an
expansion card to prevent hardware damage.
1-6 Back Panel Connectors
USB 2.0/1.1 Port
TheUSBportsupportstheUSB2.0/1.1specication.UsethisportforUSBdevices.
PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse Port
Use this port to connect a PS/2 mouse or keyboard.
SMA Antenna Connectors (2T2R) j
Use this connector to connect an antenna.
•Whenremovingthecableconnectedtoabackpanelconnector,rstremovethecablefrom
your device and then remove it from the motherboard.
•Whenremovingthecable,pullitstraightoutfromtheconnector.Donotrockitsidetosideto
prevent an electrical short inside the cable connector.
j
Tighten the antennas to the antenna connectors and then aim the antennas correctly for better
signal reception.
USB 3.2 Gen 1 Port
TheUSB3.2Gen1portsupportstheUSB3.2Gen1specicationandiscompatibletotheUSB2.0
specication.UsethisportforUSBdevices.
j Only for the Z490 GAMING X AX.
- 10 -

HDMI Port
TheHDMI port supportsHDCP2.3and DolbyTrueHDand DTSHD Master
Audioformats. It alsosupports upto 192KHz/16bit7.1-channel LPCMaudio
output.YoucanusethisporttoconnectyourHDMI-supportedmonitor.Themaximumsupported
resolutionis4096x2160@30 Hz, but the actualresolutions supported are dependent onthe monitor
being used.
ActivityLEDConnection/SpeedLED
LAN Port
Connection/SpeedLED:
State Description
Orange 1 Gbps data rate
Green 100 Mbps data rate
Off 10 Mbps data rate
ActivityLED:
State Description
Blinking Datatransmissionorreceivingisoccurring
On No data transmission or receiving is occurring
USB 3.2 Gen 1 Port (Q-Flash Plus Port)
TheUSB3.2Gen1portsupportstheUSB3.2Gen1specicationandiscompatibletotheUSB2.0
specication.UsethisportforUSBdevices.BeforeusingQ-FlashPlus(Note), make sure to insert the USB
ashdriveintothisportrst.
Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out (Orange)
Use this audio jack to connect center/subwoofer speakers.
Rear Speaker Out (Black)
Use this audio jack to connect rear speakers.
Side Speaker Out (Gray)
Use this audio jack to connect side speakers.
Line In (Blue)
The line in jack. Use this audio jack for line in devices such as an optical drive, walkman, etc.
Line Out/Front Speaker Out (Green)
The line out jack.
Mic In (Pink)
The Mic in jack.
(Note) ToenabletheQ-FlashPlusfunction pleasevisitthe"Unique Features"webpageofGIGABYTE's
website.
AfterinstallingtheHDMIdevice,makesuretosetthedefaultsoundplaybackdevicetoHDMI.
(The item name may differ depending on your operating system.)
USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A Port (Red)
TheUSB3.2Gen2Type-AportsupportstheUSB3.2Gen2specicationandiscompatibletotheUSB
3.2Gen1andUSB2.0specication.UsethisportforUSBdevices.
RJ-45 LAN Port
The Gigabit Ethernet LAN port provides Internet connection at up to 1 Gbps data rate. The following
describesthestatesoftheLANportLEDs.
- 11 -

PleasevisitGIGABYTE'swebsitefordetailsonconguringtheaudiosoftware.
AudioJackCongurations:
Jack Headphone/
2-channel 4-channel 5.1-channel 7.1-channel
Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out a a
RearSpeakerOut aaa
Side Speaker Out a
Line In
Line Out/Front Speaker Out aaaa
Mic In
- 12 -

1-7 Internal Connectors
Readthefollowingguidelinesbeforeconnectingexternaldevices:
•First make sure your devices are compliant with the connectors you wish to connect.
•Before installing the devices, be sure to turn off the devices and your computer. Unplug the power
cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the devices.
•After installing the device and before turning on the computer, make sure the device cable has
been securely attached to the connector on the motherboard.
1) ATX_12V_2X2/ATX_12V_2X4
2) ATX
3) CPU_FAN
4) SYS_FAN1/2/3/4
5) LED_C1/LED_C2
6) D_LED1/D_LED2
7) SATA3 0/1/2/3/4/5
8) M2A_SB/M2M_SB
9) F_PANEL
10) F_ AUDIO
11) SPDIF_O
12) F_U32
13) F_USB
14) THB_C1/THB_C2
15) COM
16) SPI_TPM
17) CLR_CMOS
18) BAT
19) CPU/DRAM/VGA/BOOT
20) QFLASH_PLUS
9 19
4
14
2
5
7
12
166 510 11
1
4
15
17
18
14
13 44 20
3 6
8
8
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2412
ATX
1/2)ATX_12V_2X2/ATX_12V_2X4/ATX (2x2, 2x4, 12V Power Connectors and 2x12 Main Power
Connector)
With the use of the power connector, the power supply can supply enough stable power to all the components
onthemotherboard.Beforeconnectingthepowerconnector,rstmakesurethepowersupplyisturned
off and all devices are properly installed. The power connector possesses a foolproof design. Connect the
power supply cable to the power connector in the correct orientation.
The 12V power connector mainly supplies power to the CPU. If the 12V power connector is not connected,
the computer will not start.
To meet expansion requirements, it is recommended that a power supply that can withstand high
power consumption be used (500W or greater). If a power supply is used that does not provide the
required power, the result can lead to an unstable or unbootable system.
ATX:
Pin No. Denition Pin No. Denition
1 3.3V 13 3.3V
2 3.3V 14 -12V
3GND 15 GND
4 +5V 16 PS_ON (soft On/Off)
5GND 17 GND
6 +5V 18 GND
7GND 19 GND
8 Power Good 20 NC
9 5VSB (stand by +5V) 21 +5V
10 +12V 22 +5V
11 +12V (Only for 2x12-pin
ATX)
23 +5V (Only for 2x12-pin ATX)
12 3.3V (Only for 2x12-pin ATX) 24 GND(Onlyfor2x12-pinATX)
ATX_12V_2X4:
Pin No. Denition Pin No. Denition
1GND(Onlyfor2x4-pin12V) 5+12V (Only for 2x4-pin 12V)
2GND(Onlyfor2x4-pin12V) 6 +12V (Only for 2x4-pin 12V)
3GND 7 +12V
4GND 8 +12V
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ATX_12V_2X4
41
85
ATX_12V_2X2:
Pin No. Denition
1GND
2GND
3 +12V
4 +12V
ATX_12V_2X2
3 4
21
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5) LED_C1/LED_C2 (RGB LED Strip Headers)
 Theheaderscanbeusedtoconnectastandard5050RGBLEDstrip(12V/G/R/B),withmaximumpower
rating of 2A (12V) and maximum length of 2m.
Pin No. Denition
1 12V
2 G
3R
4 B
Before installing the devices, be sure to turn off the devices and your computer. Unplug the power
cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the devices.
Forhowtoturnon/offthelightsoftheLEDstrippleasevisitthe"UniqueFeatures"webpageof
GIGABYTE's website.
11
LED_C1 LED_C2
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3/4) CPU_FAN/SYS_FAN1/2/3/4 (Fan Headers)
All fan headers on this motherboard are 4-pin. Most fan headers possess a foolproof insertion design.
When connecting a fan cable, be sure to connect it in the correct orientation (the black connector wire is
the ground wire). The speed control function requires the use of a fan with fan speed control design. For
optimum heat dissipation, it is recommended that a system fan be installed inside the chassis.
•Be sure to connect fan cables to the fan headers to prevent your CPU and system from
overheating. Overheating may result in damage to the CPU or the system may hang.
•Thesefanheadersarenotcongurationjumperblocks.Donotplaceajumpercapontheheaders.
SYS_FAN1
G.QBOFM
G.QBOFM
1
1
CPU_FAN/SYS_FAN2
SYS_FAN3/SYS_FAN4
G.QBOFM
1
Pin No. Denition
1GND
2 Voltage Speed Control
3 Sense
4 PWM Speed Control
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ConnectyourRGBLEDstriptotheheader.Thepowerpin(marked
witha triangle onthe plug)of theLED stripmust beconnected to
Pin 1 (12V) of this header. Incorrect connection may lead to the damage
oftheLEDstrip.
RGB
LEDStrip
1
12V

7) SATA3 0/1/2/3/4/5 (SATA 6Gb/s Connectors)
The SATA connectors conform to SATA 6Gb/s standard and are compatible with SATA 3Gb/s and SATA
1.5Gb/s standard. Each SATAconnector supports a single SATA device. The Intel®ChipsetsupportsRAID0,
RAID1,RAID5,andRAID10.RefertoChapter3,"ConguringaRAIDSet,"forinstructionsonconguring
aRAIDarray.
Pin No. Denition
1GND
2 TXP
3 TXN
4GND
5RXN
6RXP
7GND
Toenablehot-pluggingfortheSATAports,refertoChapter2,"BIOSSetup,""Settings\IOPorts\
SATAAndRSTConguration,"formoreinformation.
1
1
SATA3 5 3 1
4 2 0
7
7
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6) D_LED1/D_LED2 (Addressable LED Strip Headers)
 Theheaderscanbeusedtoconnectastandard5050addressableLEDstrip,withmaximumpowerrating
of5A(5V)andmaximumnumberof1000LEDs.
Pin No. Denition
1 V (5V)
2Data
3 No Pin
4GND
1
Connectyour addressableLED stripto theheader.The powerpin
(markedwithatriangleontheplug)oftheLEDstripmustbeconnected
toPin1oftheaddressableLEDstripheader.Incorrectconnectionmay
leadtothedamageoftheLEDstrip.
1
D_LED1 D_LED2
AddressableLED
Strip
1
Before installing the devices, be sure to turn off the devices and your computer. Unplug the power
cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the devices.
Forhowtoturnon/offthelightsoftheLEDstrippleasevisitthe"UniqueFeatures"webpageof
GIGABYTE's website.
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8) M2A_SB/M2M_SB (M.2 Socket 3 Connectors)
 TheM.2connectorssupportM.2SATASSDsorM.2PCIeSSDsandsupportRAIDconguration.Please
notethatanM.2PCIeSSDcannotbeusedtocreateaRAIDseteitherwithanM.2SATASSDoraSATA
harddrive.TocreateaRAIDarraywithanM.2PCIeSSD,youmustsetupthecongurationinUEFIBIOS
mode.RefertoChapter3,"ConguringaRAIDSet,"forinstructionsonconguringaRAIDarray.
M2A_SB
80110 60 42
M2M_SB
80 60 42
FollowthestepsbelowtocorrectlyinstallanM.2SSDintheM.2connector.
Step 1:
LocatetheM.2connectorwhereyouwillinstalltheM.2SSD,useascrewdrivertounfastenthescrewon
the heatsink and then remove the heatsink. (Only the M2A_SB connector has the heatsink)
Step 2:
LocatethepropermountingholebasedonthelengthofyourM.2SSDdrive.Ifneeded,movethestandoff
tothedesiredmountinghole.InserttheM.2SSDintotheM.2connectoratanangle.
Step 3:
PresstheM.2SSDdownandthensecureitwiththescrew.Replacetheheatsinkandsecureittotheoriginal
hole.Makesuretoremovetheprotectivelmfromthebottomoftheheatsinkbeforereplacingtheheatsink.
- 17 -

Installation Notices for the M.2 and SATA Connectors:
The availability of the SATA connectors may be affected by the type of device installed in the M.2 connector. The
M2A_SB connector shares bandwidth with the SATA3 1 connector. The M2M_SB connector shares bandwidth
withtheSATA34/5connectors.Refertothefollowingtablesfordetails.
•M2M_SB:
SATA3 0 SATA3 1 SATA3 2 SATA3 3 SATA3 4 SATA3 5
M.2SATASSD a a a a r r
M.2PCIeSSD
a a a a r r
NoM.2SSDInstalled a a a a a a
a: Available, r: Not available
Connector
Type of
M.2SSD
•M2A_SB:
SATA3 0 SATA3 1 SATA3 2 SATA3 3 SATA3 4 SATA3 5
M.2SATASSD ara a a a
M.2PCIeSSD
a a a a a a
NoM.2SSDInstalled a a a a a a
a: Available, r: Not available
Connector
Type of
M.2SSD
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The front panel design may differ by chassis.A front panel module mainly consists of power switch,
resetswitch,powerLED,harddriveactivityLED,speakerandetc.Whenconnectingyourchassis
front panel module to this header, make sure the wire assignments and the pin assignments are
matched correctly.
9) F_PANEL (Front Panel Header)
Connect the power switch, reset switch, speaker, chassis intrusion switch/sensor and system status indicator
on the chassis to this header according to the pin assignments below. Note the positive and negative pins
before connecting the cables.
System Status LED
S0 On
S3/S4/S5 Off
•PW(PowerSwitch,Red):
Connects to the power switch on the chassis front panel. You may
congure the way to turn off your system using thepower switch
(refertoChapter2,"BIOSSetup,""Settings\PlatformPower,"formore
information).
•PLED/PWR_LED (PowerLED,Yellow/Purple):
Connects to the power status indicator
onthechassisfrontpanel.TheLEDison
whenthesystemisoperating.TheLEDis
off when the system is in S3/S4 sleep state
or powered off (S5).
•SPEAK (Speaker, Orange):
Connects to the speaker on the chassis front panel. The system reports system startup status by issuing
a beep code. One single short beep will be heard if no problem is detected at system startup.
•HD (HardDriveActivityLED,Blue):
 ConnectstotheharddriveactivityLEDonthechassisfrontpanel.TheLEDisonwhentheharddrive
is reading or writing data.
•RES (ResetSwitch,Green):
Connects to the reset switch on the chassis front panel. Press the reset switch to restart the computer
ifthecomputerfreezesandfailstoperformanormalrestart.
•CI (Chassis Intrusion Header, Gray):
Connects to the chassis intrusion switch/sensor on the chassis that can detect if the chassis cover has
been removed. This function requires a chassis with a chassis intrusion switch/sensor.
•NC (Orange): No Connection.
PowerLED
G.QBOFM
1
2
19
20
CI-
CI+
PWR_LED-
PWR_LED+
PLED- PW- SPEAK+ SPEAK-
PLED+ PW+
PowerLED
HD-
RES+
HD+
RES-
HardDrive
ActivityLED
Reset
Switch Chassis Intrusion
Header
Power Switch Speaker
PWR_LED-
NC NC
10) F_AUDIO (Front Panel Audio Header)
 ThefrontpanelaudioheadersupportsHighDenitionaudio(HD).Youmayconnectyourchassisfront
panel audio module to this header. Make sure the wire assignments of the module connector match the
pin assignments of the motherboard header. Incorrect connection between the module connector and the
motherboard header will make the device unable to work or even damage it.
Some chassis provide a front panel audio module that has separated connectors on each wire
instead of a single plug. For information about connecting the front panel audio module that has
different wire assignments, please contact the chassis manufacturer.
9 1
10 2
Pin No. Denition Pin No. Denition
1 MIC2_L 6 Sense
2GND 7FAUDIO_JD
3MIC2_R 8 No Pin
4 NC 9 LINE2_L
5LINE2_R 10 Sense
- 19 -

11) SPDIF_O (S/PDIF Out Header)
 ThisheadersupportsdigitalS/PDIFOutandconnectsaS/PDIFdigitalaudiocable(providedbyexpansion
cards) for digital audio output from your motherboard to certain expansion cards like graphics cards and
soundcards.Forexample,somegraphicscardsmayrequireyoutouseaS/PDIFdigitalaudiocablefor
digitalaudiooutputfromyourmotherboardtoyourgraphicscardifyouwishtoconnectanHDMIdisplay
tothegraphicscardandhavedigitalaudiooutputfromtheHDMIdisplayatthesametime.Forinformation
aboutconnectingtheS/PDIFdigitalaudiocable,carefullyreadthemanualforyourexpansioncard.
Pin No. Denition
15VDUAL
2 No Pin
3SPDIFO
4GND
1
Pin No. Denition Pin No. Denition Pin No. Denition
1 VBUS 8 D1- 15 SSTX2-
2SSRX1- 9D1+ 16 GND
3SSRX1+ 10 NC 17 SSRX2+
4GND 11 D2+ 18 SSRX2-
5 SSTX1- 12 D2- 19 VBUS
6 SSTX1+ 13 GND 20 No Pin
7GND 14 SSTX2+
12) F_U32 (USB 3.2 Gen 1 Header)
 TheheaderconformstoUSB3.2Gen1andUSB2.0specicationandcanprovidetwoUSBports.For
purchasingtheoptional3.5"frontpanelthatprovidestwoUSB3.2Gen1ports,pleasecontactthelocal
dealer.
10
20 1
11
13) F_USB (USB 2.0/1.1 Header)
 TheheaderconformstoUSB2.0/1.1specication.EachUSBheadercanprovidetwoUSBportsviaan
optional USB bracket. For purchasing the optional USB bracket, please contact the local dealer.
Pin No. Denition Pin No. Denition
1 Power (5V) 6 USBDY+
2 Power (5V) 7 GND
3USBDX- 8GND
4USBDY- 9 No Pin
5USBDX+ 10 NC
•DonotplugtheIEEE1394bracket(2x5-pin)cableintotheUSB2.0/1.1header.
•Prior to installing the USB bracket, be sure to turn off your computer and unplug the power cord
from the power outlet to prevent damage to the USB bracket.
G.QBOFM
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9
2
1
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