MSI 990FXA User manual

990FXA GAMING
Motherboard
G52-78931X1

Chapter 1
Getting Started
Thank you for choosing the 990FXA GAMING Series (MS-7893 v1.X) ATX
motherboard. The 990FXA GAMING Series motherboards are based on
AMD® 990FX & SB950 chipset for optimal system e󰘲ciency. Designed to 󰘰t
the advanced AMD®AM3/ AM3+ processor, the 990FXA GAMING Series
motherboards deliver a high performance and professional desktop platform
solution.

Chapter 1
Packing Contents
* These pictures are for reference only and may vary without notice.
* The packing contents may vary according to the model you purchased.
SATA Cable
Drivers & Utilities
Disc Motherboard User Guide I/O Shield
Motherboard
SLI Cable

Chapter 1
Assembly Precautions
■The components included in this package are prone to damage from electrostatic
discharge (ESD). Please adhere to the following instructions to ensure successful
computer assembly.
■ Always turn o󰘯 the power supply and unplug the power cord from the power outlet
before installing or removing any computer component.
■Ensure that all components are securely connected. Loose connections may cause
the computer to not recognize a component or fail to start.
■Hold the motherboard by the edges to avoid touching sensitive components.
■It is recommended to wear an electrostatic discharge (ESD) wrist strap when
handling the motherboard to prevent electrostatic damage. If an ESD wrist strap is
not available, discharge yourself of static electricity by touching another metal object
before handling the motherboard.
■Store the motherboard in an electrostatic shielding container or on an antistatic pad
whenever the motherboard is not installed.
■Before turning on the computer, ensure that there are no loose screws or metal
components on the motherboard or anywhere within the computer case.
■Do not use the computer in a high-temperature environment.
■Do not boot the computer before installation is completed. This could cause
permanent damage to the components as well as injury to the user.
■ If you need help during any installation step, please consult a certi󰘰ed computer
technician.
Important
A screwdriver (not included) may be required for computer assembly.

Chapter 1
Motherboard Speci󰘰cations
CPU Support ■Supports AMD®FXTM/ PhenomTM II/ AthlonTM II and SempronTM
processors for the AM3/ AM3+ socket
Hypertransport ■HyperTransport™ 3.0, supports up to 5.2 GT/s
Chipset ■AMD® 990FX & SB950
Memory
Support ■4x DDR3 memory slots supporting up to 32GB
■ Supports DDR3 2133(OC)/ 1866/ 1600/ 1333/ 1066 MHz
■Dual channel memory architecture
Expansion
Slots ■3x PCIe 2.0 x16 slots
- PCI_E2, PCI_E5 support up to PCIe 2.0 x16 speed
- PCI_E4 supports up to PCIe 2.0 x4 speed
■2x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots
■1x PCI slot
Multi-GPU
Support ■Supports 3-Way AMD®CrossFireTM Technology*
■Supports 2-Way NVIDIA®SLITM Technology
* Supports Windows 7 and Windows 8/ 8.1.
Storage ■AMD®SB950 Chipset
- 6x SATA 6Gb/s ports
- Supports RAID 0, RAID1, RAID5 and RAID 10
USB ■AMD®SB950 Chipset
- 14x USB 2.0 ports (8 ports on the back panel, 6 ports
available through the internal USB 2.0 connectors)
■VIA®VL806 Chipset
- 2x USB 3.0 ports available through the internal USB 3.0
connector*
■Asmedia®1142 Chipset
- 2x USB 3.1 ports on the back panel
* These USB 3.0 ports do not support M-Flash recovery function.
Audio ■Realtek®ALC1150 Codec
- 7.1-Channel High De󰘰nition Audio
- Supports S/PDIF output
LAN ■Killer E2205 Gigabit LAN controller*
- 1x LAN port on the backpanel
* The Killer Network Manager is only available for Windows 7 and Windows 8/ 8.1
currently. The supported drivers for other operating systems would be available on
the website if provided by vendor.
Back Panel
Connectors ■1x PS/2 keyboard/ mouse combo port
■8x USB 2.0 ports
■2x USB 3.1 ports
■1x Optical S/PDIF-Out connector
■1x LAN (RJ45) port
■6x OFC audio jacks

Chapter 1
Internal
Connectors ■1x 24-pin ATX main power connector
■1x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector
■6x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
■3x USB 2.0 connectors (supports additional 6 USB 2.0 ports)
■1x USB 3.0 connector (supports additional 2 USB 3.0 ports)
■1x 4-pin CPU fan connector
■2x 4-pin system fan connectors
■2x 3-pin system fan connectors
■1x Front panel audio connector
■2x Front panel connectors
■1x Chassis Intrusion connector
■1x TPM module connector
■1x Serial port connector
■1x S/PDIF-Out connector
■1x Clear CMOS jumper
■1x Slow mode booting switch
I/O Controller ■Fintek 71878 Controller Chip
Hardware
Monitor ■CPU/System temperature detection
■CPU/System fan speed detection
■CPU/System fan speed control
BIOS Features ■ 64 Mb 󰘱ash
■UEFI AMI BIOS
■ACPI 5.0, PnP 1.0a, SM BIOS 2.7, DMI 2.0
■Multi-language
Special
Features ■Military Class 4
■Military Class Essentials
■OC Genie 4
■CLICK BIOS 4
■AMD CrossFire
■NVIDIA SLI
■USB 3.1
■SATA 6Gb/s
■Command Center
■Fast Boot
■GAMING APP
■Super Charger
■Live Update 6
■M-Flash
Software ■Drivers
■MSI
- Command Center
- Live Update 6
- Fast Boot
■7-ZIP
■Sound Blaster Cinema 2
■Killer Network Manager
■Norton Internet Security Solution
Form Factor ■ATX Form Factor
■12 in. x 9.6 in. (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm)

Chapter 1
Connectors Quick Guide
Back Panel
CPU Socket
CPUFAN
DIMM2
JUSB4
JPWR1
SATA1_2
JAUD1
JUSB1
JTPM1
DIMM1
JPWR2
JCI1
SYSFAN1
JBAT1
SATA5_6
JUSB3
JFP2
JFP1
PCI_E1
PCI_E2
PCI_E3
PCI_E4
PCI_E5
SYSFAN2
SYSFAN3
JUSB2
JCOM1
PCI1
SYSFAN4
SATA3_4
SLOW_MODE
DIMM3
DIMM4
JSP1

Chapter 1
Connectors Reference Guide
Port Name Port Type
Back Panel I/O Ports
CPU AM3/ AM3+ Socket
CPUFAN,SYSFAN1~4 Fan Power Connectors
DIMM1~4 DDR3 Memory slots
JAUD1 Front Panel Audio Connector
JBAT1 Clear CMOS Jumper
JCI1 Chassis Intrusion Connector
JCOM1 Serial Port Connector
JFP1, JFP2 System Panel Connectors
JPWR1~2 ATX Power Connectors
JSP1 S/PDIF-Out Connector
JTPM1 TPM Module Connector
JUSB1～3 USB 2.0 Expansion Connectors
JUSB4 USB 3.0 Expansion Connector
PCI1 PCI Expansion Slot
PCI_E1~5 PCIe Expansion Slots
SATA1~6 SATA Connectors
SLOW_MODE Slow Mode Booting Switch

Chapter 1
Back Panel Quick Guide
▶PS/2 Keyboard/ Mouse combo Port
The PS/2®keyboard/ mouse DIN connector for PS/2®keyboard/ mouse.
▶Optical S/PDIF-Out
This S/PDIF (Sony & Philips Digital Interconnect Format) connector is provided for
digital audio transmission to external speakers through an optical 󰘰ber cable.
▶USB 2.0 Port
The USB 2.0 port is for attaching USB 2.0 devices such as keyboard, mouse, or other
USB 2.0-compatible devices.
▶USB 3.1 Port
USB 3.1 port is backward-compatible with USB 3.0/ 2.0 devices. It supports data
transfer rate up to 10 Gb/s (SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps).
Important
In order to use USB 3.0/ 3.1 devices, you must connect to a USB 3.0/ 3.1 port. If a
USB cable is used, it must be USB 3.0/ 3.1 compliant.
▶LAN Port
The standard RJ-45 LAN jack is for connecting to a Local Area Network (LAN).
LINK/ACT
LED SPEED LED
LED LED Status Description
Link/ Activity LED
O󰘯 No link
Yellow Linked
Blinking Data activity
Speed LED
O󰘯 10 Mbps connection
Green 100 Mbps connection
Orange 1 Gbps connection
Line-In
Line-Out
Mic
USB 2.0 Port
LAN Port
PS/2 Keyboard/
Mouse combo Port
USB 2.0 Port
USB 3.1 Port RS-Out
CS-Out
SS-Out
Optical
S/PDIF-Out
USB 2.0 Port USB 2.0 Port

Chapter 1
▶Audio Ports
These connectors are used for audio devices.
■Line in: Used for connecting external audio outputting devices.
■Line out: Used as a connector for speakers or headphone.
■Mic: Used as a connector for a microphone.
■RS-Out: Rear surround sound line out in 4/ 5.1/ 7.1 channel mode.
■CS-Out: Center/ subwoofer line out in 5.1/ 7.1 channel mode.
■SS-Out: Side surround sound line out in 7.1 channel mode.

Chapter 1
Important
Overheating
Overheating can seriously damage the CPU and motherboard. Always make sure the
cooling fans work properly to protect the CPU from overheating. Be sure to apply an
even layer of thermal paste (or thermal tape) between the CPU and the heatsink to
enhance heat dissipation.
Replacing the CPU
When replacing the CPU, always turn o󰘯 the system’s power supply and unplug the
power supply’s power cord to ensure the safety of the CPU.
Overclocking
This motherboard is designed to support overclocking. Before attempting to overclock,
please make sure that all other system components can tolerate overclocking. Any
attempt to operate beyond product speci󰘰cations is not recommend. MSI does not
guarantee the damages or risks caused by inadequate operation beyond product
speci󰘰cations.
Golden triangle is the Pin 1 indicator
Introduction to AM3/ AM3+ CPU
The surface of the CPU has a golden triangle to assist in correctly lining up the
APU for motherboard placement. The golden triangle is the Pin 1 indicator.
CPU (Central Processing Unit)

Chapter 1
CPU & Cooler Installation
When you are installing the CPU, make sure the CPU has a cooler attached on the
top to prevent overheating. Meanwhile, do not forget to apply some thermal paste on
CPU before installing the heat sink/cooler fan for better heat dispersion.
Follow the steps below to install the CPU & cooler correctly. Wrong installation will
cause the damage of your CPU & motherboard.
1. Pull the lever sideways away from the socket. Make sure to raise the lever up to a
90-degree angle.
2. Look for the gold arrow of the CPU. The gold arrow should point as shown in the
picture. The CPU can only 󰘰t in the correct orientation.
3. If the CPU is correctly installed, the pins should be completely embedded into
the socket and can not be seen. Please note that any violation of the correct
installation procedures may cause permanent damages to your motherboard.
4. Press the CPU down 󰘰rmly into the socket and close the lever. As the CPU is
likely to move while the lever is being closed, always close the lever with your
󰘰ngers pressing tightly on top of the CPU to make sure the CPU is properly and
completely embedded into the socket.

Chapter 1
5. Locate the CPU fan connector on the motherboard.
6. Position the cooling set onto the retention mechanism. Hook one end of the clip to
hook 󰘰rst.
Important
• While disconnecting the Safety Hook from the 󰘰xed bolt, it is necessary to keep an
eye on your 󰘰ngers, because once the Safety Hook is disconnected from the 󰘰xed
bolt, the 󰘰xed lever will spring back instantly.
• Con󰘰rm that the CPU cooler has formed a tight seal with the CPU before booting
your system.
• Please refer to the documentation in the APU cooler package for more details about
CPU cooler installation.
CPU fan connector
7. Then press down the other end of the clip to fasten the cooling set on the top of
the retention mechanism. Locate the Fix Lever and lift up it.
8. Fasten down the lever.
9. Attach the CPU Fan cable to the CPU fan connector on the motherboard.

Chapter 1
Memory
These DIMM slots are used for installing memory modules.
DIMM1
DIMM2
DIMM3
DIMM4
Dual-Channel mode Population Rule
In Dual-Channel mode, the memory modules can transmit and receive data with two
data bus channels simultaneously. Enabling Dual-Channel mode can enhance system
performance. The following illustrations explain the population rules for Dual-Channel
mode.
DIMM1
DIMM3
DIMM1
DIMM2
DIMM3
DIMM4
Important
• DDR3 memory modules are not interchangeable with DDR2, and the DDR3
standard is not backward compatible. Always install DDR3 memory modules in
DDR3 DIMM slots.
• To ensure system stability, memory modules must be of the same type and density
in Dual-Channel mode.
• Due to chipset resource usage, the system will only detect up to 31+ GB of memory
(not full 32 GB) when all DIMM slots have 8GB memory modules installed.

Chapter 1
Mounting Screw Holes
When installing the motherboard, 󰘰rst install the necessary mounting stands required
for an motherboard on the mounting plate in your computer case. If there is an
I/O back plate that came with the computer case, please replace it with the I/O
backplate that came with the motherboard package. The I/O backplate should snap
easily into the computer case without the need for any screws. Align the mounting
plate’s mounting stands with the screw holes on the motherboard and secure the
motherboard with the screws provided with your computer case. The locations of the
screw holes on the motherboard are shown below. For more information, please refer
to the manual that came with the computer case.
Important
• Install the motherboard on a 󰘱at surface free from unnecessary debris.
• To prevent damage to the motherboard, any contact between the motherboard
circuitry and the computer case, except for the mounting stands, is prohibited.
• Please make sure there are no loose metal components on the motherboard or
within the computer case that may cause a short circuit of the motherboard.
The I/O ports should be facing toward the rear of the computer case. They should line up with the holes on the I/O backplate.

Chapter 1
JPWR1~2: ATX Power Connectors
These connectors allow you to connect an ATX power supply. To connect the ATX
power supply, align the power supply cable with the connector and 󰘰rmly press the
cable into the connector. If done correctly, the clip on the power cable should be
hooked on the motherboard’s power connector.
13.+3.3V
1.+3.3V 14.-12V
2.+3.3V 15.Ground
3.Ground 16.PS-ON#
4.+5V 17.Ground
5.Ground 18.Ground
6.+5V 19.Ground
7.Ground
22.+5V
10.+12V
20.Res
8.PWR OK
23.+5V
11.+12V
21.+5V
9.5VSB
24.Ground
12.+3.3V
7.+12V
3.
Ground
5.+12V
1.
Ground
8.+12V
4.Ground
6.+12V
2.Ground
JPWR2
JPWR1
Important
Make sure that all the power cables are securely connected to a proper ATX power
supply to ensure stable operation of the motherboard.

Chapter 1
Expansion Slots
This motherboard contains numerous slots for expansion cards, such as discrete
graphics or audio cards.
PCI_E1~5: PCIe Expansion Slots
The PCIe slot supports the PCIe interface expansion card.
PCIe x16 Slot
PCIe x1 Slot
PCI1: PCI Expansion Slot
The PCI slot supports additional LAN, SCSI, USB, and other add-on cards that comply
with PCI speci󰘰cations.
PCI Slot
Important
When adding or removing expansion cards, always turn o󰘯 the power supply and
unplug the power supply power cable from the power outlet. Read the expansion
card’s documentation to check for any necessary additional hardware or software
changes.

Chapter 1
Video/ Graphics Cards
If available, this motherboard takes advantage of the CPU’s integrate graphics
processor, but discrete video cards can be installed by way of the motherboard’s
expansion slots. Adding on one or more discrete video cards will signi󰘰cantly boost
the system’s graphics performance. For best compatibility, MSI graphics cards are
recommended.
Single Video Card Installation
1. Determine what type of expansion slot(s) the video card will use. Locate the
expansion slot(s) on the motherboard. Remove any protective expansion slot
covers from the computer case.
2. Line up the video card on top of the expansion slot(s) with the display ports facing
out of the computer case. For a single video card installation, using the PCI_E2
slot is recommended.
3. Push the video card into its expansion slot(s). Depending on the expansion slot(s)
used, there should be clip(s) on the expansion slot(s) that will lock in place.
4. If needed, screw the edge of the graphics card to the computer case. Some video
cards might require a power cable directly from the power supply.
5. Please consult your video card’s manual for further instructions regarding driver
installation or other special settings.

Chapter 1
Internal Connectors
SATA1~6: SATA Connectors
This connector is a high-speed SATA interface port. Each connector can connect to
one SATA device. SATA devices include disk drives (HDD), solid state drives (SSD),
and optical drives (CD/ DVD/ Blu-Ray).
SATA6
SATA5
SATA2
SATA1
SATA4
SATA3
Important
• Many SATA devices also need a power cable from the power supply. Such devices
include disk drives (HDD), solid state drives (SSD), and optical drives (CD / DVD /
Blu-Ray). Please refer to the device’s manual for further information.
• Many computer cases also require that large SATA devices, such as HDDs, SSDs,
and optical drives, be screwed down into the case. Refer to the manual that came
with your computer case or your SATA device for further installation instructions.
• Please do not fold the SATA cable at a 90-degree angle. Data loss may result
during transmission otherwise.
• SATA cables have identical plugs on either sides of the cable. However, it is
recommended that the 󰘱at connector be connected to the motherboard for space
saving purposes.

Chapter 1
CPUFAN,SYSFAN1~4: Fan Power Connectors
The fan power connectors support system cooling fans with +12V. If the motherboard
has a System Hardware Monitor chipset on-board, you must use a specially designed
fan with a speed sensor to take advantage of the CPU fan control. Remember to
connect all system fans. Some system fans may not connect to the motherboard and
will instead connect to the power supply directly. A system fan can be plugged into
any available system fan connector.
1.Ground
2.Speed Contro
l
3.Sense
4.NC
1.Ground
2.+12V
3.Sense
4.Speed Contro
l
CPUFAN
SYSFAN1/
SYSFAN2
1.Groun
d
2.+12V
3.No Us
e
SYSFAN3/
SYSFAN4
Important
• Please refer to your processor’s o󰘲cial website or consult your vendor to 󰘰nd
recommended CPU heatsink.
• These connectors support Smart Fan Control with liner mode. The Command
Center utility can be installed to automatically control the fan speeds according to
the CPU’s and system’s temperature.
• If there are not enough ports on the motherboard to connect all system fans,
adapters are available to connect a fan directly to a power supply.
• Before 󰘰rst boot up, ensure that there are no cables impeding any fan blades.