Gigabyte GA-Z270-Gaming K3 User manual

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GA-Z270-Gaming K3
User's Manual
Rev. 1001
12ME-Z27GMK3-1001R

Copyright
©2016 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.

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.
For quick set-up of the product, read the Quick Installation Guide included with the product.
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: http://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:
Motherboard
GA-Z270-Gaming K3
Nov. 15, 2016
Nov. 15, 2016
Motherboard
GA-Z270-Gaming K3

- 3 -
Table of Contents
GA-Z270-Gaming K3 Motherboard Layout......................................................................4
Chapter 1 Hardware Installation .....................................................................................5
1-1 Installation Precautions.................................................................................... 5
 ...................................................................................... 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........................................................................................ 12
Chapter 2 BIOS Setup ..................................................................................................20
2-1 Startup Screen ............................................................................................... 20
2-2 M.I.T. .............................................................................................................. 21
2-3 System ........................................................................................................... 27
2-4 BIOS............................................................................................................... 28
2-5 Peripherals..................................................................................................... 31
2-6 Chipset........................................................................................................... 34
2-7 Power............................................................................................................. 35
2-8 Save & Exit..................................................................................................... 37
Chapter 3 Appendix ......................................................................................................38
 .................................................................................. 38
 .......................................................................................... 40
.............................................................................................. 41
Contact Us ................................................................................................................ 44

ASMedia®USB 3.1
Gen 2 Controller
- 4 -
GA-Z270-Gaming K3 Motherboard Layout
Box Contents
5GA-Z270-Gaming K3 motherboard 5Four SATA cables
5Motherboard driver disk 5I/O Shield
5User's Manual 5One G Connector
5Quick Installation Guide
KB_MS_USB30 CPU_FAN
ATX_12V_2X4
ATX


B_BIOS
PCIEX4_1
   
BAT
F_PANEL
Intel®Z270


M_BIOS
PCIEX16

F_USB1
LGA1151
GA-Z270-Gaming K3
 
USB_LAN
F_USB30_2
PCIEX1_2
SYS_FAN2
SATA3
iTE®
Super I/O
SYS_FAN3_PUMPF_USB2
SYS_FAN1
TPM
M2M_32G
PCIEX4_2
CPU_OPT
TYPEC USB31
5 4 1 0

F_USB30_1
THB_C
PCIEX1_1
80 60 42110
PCIEX1_3

* 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.
SATA3 3 2

Killer™E2500 LAN
CPU 
VGA BOOT

Chapter 1 Hardware Installation
1-1 Installation Precautions
The motherboard contains numerous delicate electronic circuits and components which can become

manual and follow these procedures:
•Prior to installation, make sure the chassis is suitable for the motherboard.
•        
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.
•             


•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.
•
•
•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

•If you use an adapter, extension power cable, or power strip, ensure to consult with its installation
and/or grounding instructions.
- 5 -

 
CPU Support for 7th and 6th generation Intel®Core™i7 processors/
Intel®Core™i5 processors/Intel®Core™i3 processors/
Intel®Pentium®processors/Intel®Celeron®processors in the LGA1151 package

L3 cache varies with CPU
Chipset Intel®Z270 Express Chipset
Memory 
  
memory is installed, the actual memory size displayed will be less than the size of
the physical memory installed.


    



(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest supported memory speeds and memory

Onboard
Graphics
Integrated Graphics Processor-Intel®
  
  
  
 
Maximum shared memory of 1 GB
Audio ®ALC1220 codec

2/4/5.1/7.1-channel

LAN ™
Expansion Slots 
* For optimum performance, if only one PCI Express graphics card is to be installed,
be sure to install it in the PCIEX16 slot.

3 x PCI Express x1 slots
 
Multi-Graphics
Technology
 ™   ™

Storage Interface Chipset:
- 1 x M.2 connector (Socket 3, M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 SATA and

- 2 x SATA Express connectors
- 6 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
  
  
connectors.
- 6 -

USB Chipset+ASMedia®USB 3.1 Gen 2 Controller:
- 1 x USB Type-C™port on the back panel, with USB 3.1 Gen 2 support
  
Chipset:
- 8 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (4 ports on the back panel, 4 ports available through

- 6 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports (2 ports on the back panel, 4 ports available through

Internal
Connectors
1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector
1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector
1 x M.2 Socket 3 connector
2 x SATA Express connectors
6 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
1 x CPU fan header
1 x water cooling CPU fan header
2 x system fan headers
1 x system fan/water cooling pump header
1 x front panel header
1 x front panel audio header

2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 headers
2 x USB 2.0/1.1 headers

1 x Thunderbolt™add-in card connector
1 x Clear CMOS jumper
Back Panel
Connectors
1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port


1 x USB Type-C™port, with USB 3.1 Gen 2 support

4 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports
2 x USB2.0/1.1 ports



I/O Controller iTE®I/O Controller Chip
Hardware
Monitor
Voltage detection
Temperature detection
Fan speed detection
Overheating warning
Fan fail warning
Fan speed control
  

- 7 -

BIOS 
Use of licensed AMI UEFI BIOS
™

Unique Features Support for APP Center
* Available applications in APP Center may vary by motherboard model. Supported

 
 
 
- AutoGreen
- BIOS Setup
- Color Temperature
- Cloud Station
- EasyTune
 
- Fast Boot
- Game Boost
- ON/OFF Charge
- Platform Power Management
- Smart Backup
- Smart Keyboard
- Smart TimeLock
- System Information Viewer
- USB Blocker
 
- V-Tuner
Support for 3TB+ Unlock
Support for Q-Flash
Support for Xpress Install
Bundled
Software
Norton®
Intel®Optane™
Operating
System
Support for Windows 10/8.1 64-bit
Support for Windows 7 32-bit/64-bit
* Operating systems supported may vary depending on your processor
model.
 
website and install it before installing Windows 7.
Form Factor ATX Form Factor; 30.5cm x 24.4cm
 
prior notice.
Please visit GIGABYTE's website
for support lists of CPU, memory

Please visit the Support\Utility List
page on GIGABYTE's website to
download the latest version of apps.
- 8 -

1-3 Installing the CPU

•Make sure that the motherboard supports the CPU.

•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

•Apply an even and thin layer of thermal grease on the surface of the CPU.
•
of the CPU may occur.
•

standard requirements for the peripherals. If you wish to set the frequency beyond the standard

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

•Make sure that the motherboard supports the memory. It is recommended that memory of the same
capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used.

•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.
Alignment
Key
Alignment
Key
LGA1151 CPU Socket
Pin One Corner of the CPU Socket



Channel memory mode will double the original memory bandwidth.
LGA1151 CPU
Triangle Pin One Marking on the CPU
Notch
Notch
Please visit GIGABYTE's website for details on hardware installation.
- 9 -

1-5 Installing 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. 
2. 
of the same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used and installed in the same colored sockets.
The four memory sockets are divided into two channels and each channel has two memory sockets as following:



   
2 Modules - -  - - 
 - -  - -
4 Modules    

1-6 Back Panel Connectors
PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse Port
Use this port to connect a PS/2 mouse or keyboard.
USB 3.1 Gen 1 Port


DVI-D Port (Note)


connection to this port.
USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A Port (Red)


USB Type-C™Port


 
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USB 3.1 Gen 1 Port


HDMI Port

Master Audio formats. It also supports up to 192 KHz/16bit 8-channel LPCM

      
being used.


RJ-45 LAN Port
The Gigabit Ethernet LAN port provides Internet connection at up to 1 Gbps data rate. The following


Connection/

LAN Port

State escription
Orange 1 Gbps data rate
Green 100 Mbps data rate
On 10 Mbps data rate
State escription
Blinking
ata transmission or receiving is occurring
Off No data transmission or receiving is occurring
USB 2.0/1.1 Port

Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out (Orange)

Rear Speaker Out (Black)

Side Speaker Out (Gray)

Line In (Blue)
The line in jack. Use this audio jack for line in devices such as an optical drive, walkman, etc.
Line Out (Green)
The line out jack. Use this audio jack for a headphone or 2-channel speaker. This jack can be used to

Mic In (Pink)
The Mic in jack.
•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. o not rock it side to side to
prevent an electrical short inside the cable connector.
Please visit GIGABYTE's website for more software information.
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
•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_2X4
2) ATX
3) CPU_FAN
4) SYS_FAN1/2
5) CPU_OPT
6) SYS_FAN3_PUMP
7) SATA EXPRESS
8) SATA3 0/1/2/3/4/5
9) M2M_32G
10) F_PANEL
11) F_ AUDIO
12) SPDIF_O
13) F_USB30_1/F_USB30_2
14) F_USB1/F_USB2
15) TPM
16) THB_C
17) BAT
18) CLR_CMOS
19) CPU/DRAM/VGA/BOOT
1-7 Internal Connectors
2
6
15 8
12 10
1
4
11
3
9
14
4
5
7
13
16
17
8
18
19
- 12 -

G.QBOFM
131
2412
ATX
1/2) ATX_12V_2X4/ATX (2x4 12V Power Connector and 2x12 Main Power Connector)
With the use of the power connector, the power supply can supply enough stable power to all the components

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

required power, the result can lead to an unstable or unbootable system.
ATX:
Pin No.  Pin No. 
1 3.3V 13 3.3V
2 3.3V 14 -12V
3 15 
4 +5V 16 
5 17 
6 +5V 18 
7 19 
8 Power Good 20 NC
9 21 +5V
10 +12V 22 +5V
11 +12V (Only for 2x12-pin

23 
12 3.3V (Only for 2x12-pin

24 
ATX_12V_2X4:
Pin No.  Pin No. 
1 5
2 6
3 7 +12V
4 8 +12V
3/4) CPU_FAN/SYS_FAN1/2 (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

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.
•
CPU_FAN
G.QBOFM
1
ATX_12V_2X4
SYS_FAN1/2
G.QBOFM
1
G.QBOFM
41
85
Pin No. 
1GN
2Voltage Speed Control
3Sense
4PWM Speed Control
- 13 -

5) CPU_OPT (Water Cooling CPU Fan Header)
The fan header is 4-pin and possesses a foolproof insertion design. Most fan headers possess a foolproof
insertion design. When connecting a fan cable, be sure to connect it in the correct orientation (the black

control design.
Pin No. 
1GN
2Voltage Speed Control
3Sense
4PWM Speed Control
G.QBOFM
1
7) SATA EXPRESS (SATA Express Connector)
Each SATA Express connector supports a single SATA Express device.
8) 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®


Pin No. 
1
2 TXP
3 TXN
4
5
6
7


G.QBOFM
1
6) SYS_FAN3_PUMP (System Fan/Water Cooling Pump Header)
The pump header is 4-pin and possesses a foolproof insertion design. Most fan headers possess a foolproof
insertion design. When connecting a fan cable, be sure to connect it in the correct orientation (the black

design. For optimum heat dissipation, it is recommended that a system fan be installed inside the chassis.

for more information
1
1
SATA3 5 4
1 0
7
7
SATA3 2
3
G.QBOFM
G.QBOFM
7
7
1
1
Pin No. 
1GN
2Voltage Speed Control
3Sense
4PWM Speed Control
- 14 -

9) M2M_32G (M.2 Socket 3 Connector)
 
the Intel®Chipset. 



Step 1:
Use a screw driver to unfasten the screw and nut from the motherboard. Locate the proper mounting hole

Step 2:

Step 3:


80110 60 42
SATA3 0 SATA3 1 SATA3 2 SATA3 3 SATA3 4 SATA3 5
 r aaaaa

aaaaaa

aaaaaa
 aaaaaa
a: Available r: Not available
Connector
Type of

Installation Notices for the M.2, and SATA Connectors:

affected by the type of device installed in the M2M_32G connector. The M2M_32G connector shares bandwidth

- 15 -

The front panel design may differ by chassis.A front panel module mainly consists of power switch, reset

module to this header, make sure the wire assignments and the pin assignments are matched correctly.
10) 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 
S0 On
S3/S4/S5 Off
•PW
Connects to the power switch on the chassis front panel. You may


•SPEAK 
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.
•PLED/PWR_LED 
Connects to the power status indicator


off when the system is in S3/S4 sleep state

•HD 
 
reading or writing data.
•RES 
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 
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 

G.QBOFM
1
2
19
20
CI-
CI+


 PW- SPEAK+ SPEAK-
 PW+








Switch Chassis Intrusion
Header
Power Switch Speaker

NC NC
11) F_AUDIO (Front Panel Audio Header)
 
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.
 ForAC'97 Front Panel Audio:
•
•Audio signals will be present on both of the front and back panel audio connections simultaneously.
•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.
Pin No. 
1 MIC2_L
2
3
4 NC
5
6 Sense
7
8 No Pin
9 LINE2_L
10 Sense
Pin No. 
1 MIC
2
3 MIC Power
4 NC
5
6 NC
7 NC
8 No Pin
9
10 NC
9 1
10 2
- 16 -

12) SPDIF_O (S/PDIF Out Header)
This header supports digital S/PIF Out and connects a S/PIF 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/PIF digital audio cable for
digital audio output from your motherboard to your graphics card if you wish to connect an HMI display
to the graphics card and have digital audio output from the HMI display at the same time. For information
about connecting the S/PIF digital audio cable, carefully read the manual for your expansion card.
Pin No. enition
1 SPIFO
2 GN
Pin No.  Pin No. 
1 VBUS 11 
2 12 
3 13 
4 14 SSTX2+
5 SSTX1- 15 SSTX2-
6 SSTX1+ 16 
7 17 
8 18 
9 19 VBUS
10 NC 20 No Pin
13) F_USB30_1/F_USB30_2 (USB 3.1 Gen 1 Headers)
The header conforms to USB 3.1 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 3.1 Gen 1 ports, please contact the local
dealer.
10
20 1
11
1
14) F_USB1/F_USB2 (USB 2.0/1.1 Headers)
 
optional USB bracket. For purchasing the optional USB bracket, please contact the local dealer.
Pin No.  Pin No. 
1 6
2 7
3 8
4 9 No Pin
5 10 NC
•
•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
10
9
2
1
- 17 -

20
19
2
1
15) TPM (Trusted Platform Module Header)
 
Pin No.  Pin No. 
1 LCLK 11 
2 12 
3 13 NC
4 No Pin 14 NC
5 15 SB3V
6 NC 16 
7 17 
8 18 NC
9 VCC3 19 NC
10  20 NC
16) THB_C (Thunderbolt™Add-in Card Connector)
This connector is for a GIGABYTE Thunderbolt™add-in card.
1
Supports a Thunderbolt™add-in card.
17) BAT (Battery)
 

level, or the CMOS values may not be accurate or may be lost.
You may clear the CMOS values by removing the battery:
1. Turn off your computer and unplug the power cord.
2. Gently remove the battery from the battery holder and wait for one minute. (Or use a
metal object like a screwdriver to touch the positive and negative terminals of the battery

3. 
4. Plug in the power cord and restart your computer.
•Always turn off your computer and unplug the power cord before replacing the battery.
•
an incorrect model.
•Contact the place of purchase or local dealer if you are not able to replace the battery by yourself
or uncertain about the battery model.
•

•Used batteries must be handled in accordance with local environmental regulations.
- 18 -

18) CLR_CMOS (Clear CMOS Jumper)
 
the CMOS values, use a metal object like a screwdriver to touch the two pins for a few seconds.
•Always turn off your computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before clearing
the CMOS values.
•

Open: Normal
Short: Clear CMOS Values
CPU: 
BOOT: 
DRAM: 
VGA: 
19) CPU/VGA/DRAM/BOOT (Status LEDs)
 
is on, that means the corresponding device is not working normally.
CPU 
VGA BOOT
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•When the system is not stable as usual, select the Load Optimized Defaults item to set your system to its defaults.
•The BIOS Setup menus described in this chapter are for reference only and may differ by BIOS version.
              

saving system parameters and loading operating system, etc. BIOS includes a BIOS Setup program that allows

When the power is turned off, the battery on the motherboard supplies the necessary power to the CMOS to



•Q-Flash allows the user to quickly and easily upgrade or back up BIOS without entering the operating system.
•
and updates the BIOS.
Chapter 2 BIOS Setup
•

may result in system malfunction.
•
unexpected results. Inadequately altering the settings may result in system's failure to boot. If this occurs, try to


2-1 Startup Screen
The following startup Logo screen will appear when the computer boots.

Function Keys

The Classic Setup mode provides detailed BIOS settings. You can press the arrow keys on your keyboard to move

item you want. Easy Mode allows users to quickly view their current system information or to make adjustments

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