MSI H170I PRO User manual

1
<󸙗󳽙 1> Contents
Contents
Safety Information...........................................................................................2
Specifications...................................................................................................3
Rear I/O Panel ................................................................................................. 6
LAN Port LED Status Table................................................................................6
Overview of Components ................................................................................ 7
M2_1: M.2 Wi-Fi/ Bluetooth module slot ...........................................................8
CPU Socket.........................................................................................................9
DIMM Slots .......................................................................................................10
PCI_E1: PCIe Expansion Slot ...........................................................................10
SATA1~4: SATA 6Gb/s Connectors...................................................................11
JFP1, JFP2: Front Panel Connectors...............................................................11
M2_2: M.2 Slot..................................................................................................12
JPWR1~2: Power Connectors..........................................................................13
JUSB1: USB 2.0 Connector ..............................................................................13
JUSB2: USB 3.1 Gen1 Connector.....................................................................14
JAUD1: Front Audio Connector ........................................................................14
JCOM1: Serial Port Connector.........................................................................14
CPUFAN, SYSFAN1: Fan Connectors ...............................................................15
JCI1: Chassis Intrusion Connector ..................................................................16
JBAT1: Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS) Jumper.......................................................16
BIOS Setup.....................................................................................................17
Entering BIOS Setup.........................................................................................17
Resetting BIOS .................................................................................................18
Updating BIOS ..................................................................................................18
EZ Mode............................................................................................................19
Advanced Mode ...............................................................................................19
Software Description..................................................................................... 21
Installing Windows®7/ 8.1/ 10.........................................................................21
Installing Drivers..............................................................................................21
Installing Utilities.............................................................................................21
Thank you for purchasing the MSI®motherboard H170I PRO/
H170I PRO AC. This User Guide gives information about
board layout, component overview and BIOS setup.

2Safety Information
Safety Information
yThe components included in this package are prone to damage from electrostatic
discharge (ESD). Please adhere to the following instructions to ensure successful
computer assembly.
yEnsure that all components are securely connected. Loose connections may cause
the computer to not recognize a component or fail to start.
yHold the motherboard by the edges to avoid touching sensitive components.
yIt 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.
yStore the motherboard in an electrostatic shielding container or on an anti-static
pad whenever the motherboard is not installed.
yBefore turning on the computer, ensure that there are no loose screws or metal
components on the motherboard or anywhere within the computer case.
yDo not boot the computer before installation is completed. This could cause
permanent damage to the components as well as injury to the user.
yIf you need help during any installation step, please consult a certified computer
technician.
yAlways turn off the power supply and unplug the power cord from the power outlet
before installing or removing any computer component.
yKeep this user guide for future reference.
yKeep this motherboard away from humidity.
yMake sure that your electrical outlet provides the same voltage as is indicated on
the PSU, before connecting the PSU to the electrical outlet.
yPlace the power cord such a way that people can not step on it. Do not place
anything over the power cord.
yAll cautions and warnings on the motherboard should be noted.
yIf any of the following situations arises, get the motherboard checked by service
personnel:
Liquid has penetrated into the computer.
The motherboard has been exposed to moisture.
The motherboard does not work well or you can not get it work according to user
guide.
The motherboard has been dropped and damaged.
The motherboard has obvious sign of breakage.
yDo not leave this motherboard in an environment above 60C (140F), it may
damage the motherboard.

3
Safety Information Specifications
Specifications
CPU Supports 6th Gen Intel®Core™i3/i5/i7 processors, and Intel®
Pentium®and Celeron®processors for Socket LGA1151
Chipset yIntel®H170 Chipset
Memory
y2x DDR4 memory slots, support up to 32GB
Supports DDR4 2133 MHz*
yDual channel memory architecture
ySupports Intel®Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
* Please refer to www.msi.com for more information on
compatible memory.
Expansion Slots y1x PCIe 3.0 x16 slot
Onboard Graphics
y1x HDMI™port, supports a maximum resolution of
4096x2160@24Hz, 2560x1600@60Hz
y1x DVI-D port, supports a maximum resolution of
1920x1200@60Hz
Storage
Intel®H170 Chipset
y4x SATA 6Gb/s ports
Supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10
y1xM.2 slot
supports PCIe 3.0x4 standard, 4.2cm/6cm/8cm length M.2
PCIe-interface SSD cards
Supports PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe Mini-SAS SSD with Turbo U.2
Host Card.*
* The Turbo U.2 Host Card is not included, please purchase
separately.
USB
yIntel®H170 Chipset
4x USB 3.1 Gen1 (SuperSpeed USB) ports (2 ports on the
back panel, 2 ports available through the internal USB
connector)
6x USB 2.0 (High-speed USB) ports (4 ports on the
back panel, 2 ports available through the internal USB
connectors)
Audio yRealtek®ALC887 Codec
y7.1-Channel High Definition Audio
LAN 1x Realtek®RTL8111H Gigabit LAN controller
Continued on next page

4Specifications
Continued from previous page
WLAN &
Bluetooth®
(optional)
yWi-Fi/ Bluetooth®expansion module with Intel®Dual Band
Wireless-AC 8260 chip
Supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/n/ac, dual band (2.4GHz, 5GHz)
up to 867 Mbps speed.
Supports Dual Mode Bluetooth®2.1, 2.1+EDR, 3.0, 4.0,
BLE, 4.2
Back Panel
Connectors
y1x PS/2 keyboard/ mouse combo port
y4x USB 2.0 ports
y1x DVI-D port
y2x USB 3.1 Gen1 ports
y1x HDMI™port
y1x LAN (RJ45) port
y3x audio jacks
Internal
Connectors
y1x 24-pin ATX main power connector
y1x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector
y4x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
y1x USB 2.0 connector (supports additional 2 USB 2.0 ports)
y1x USB 3.1 Gen1 connector (supports additional 2 USB 3.1
Gen1 ports)
y1x 4-pin CPU fan connector
y1x 4-pin system fan connector
y1x Front panel audio connector
y2x Front panel connectors
y1x Serial Port connector
y1x Chassis Intrusion connector
y1x Clear CMOS jumper
I/O Controller NUVOTON NCT5563 Controller Chip
Hardware
Monitor
yCPU/System temperature detection
yCPU/System fan speed detection
yCPU/System fan speed control
Form Factor yMini-ITX Form Factor
y6.7 in. x 6.7 in. (17.0 cm x 17.0 cm)
BIOS Features
y1x 128 Mb flash
yUEFI AMI BIOS
yACPI 5.0, PnP 1.0a, SM BIOS 2.8
yMulti-language
Continued on next page

5
Specifications Specifications
Continued from previous page
Software
yDrivers
yCOMMAND CENTER
yLIVE UPDATE 6
yFAST BOOT
ySUPER CHARGER
yM-CLOUD
yRAMDISK
yIntel®Small Business Advantage
yNetwork Genie
yIntel®Extreme Tuning Utility
yNorton™Security
yGoogle Chrome™,Google Toolbar, Google Drive
yCPU-Z

6Rear I/O Panel
Rear I/O Panel
PS/2
LAN
USB 3.1 Gen1
USB 2.0DVI-DUSB 2.0
H170I PRO AC
Line-in
Line-out
Mic in
Link/ Activity LED
Status Description
Off No link
Yellow Linked
Blinking Data activity
Speed LED
Status Description
Off 10 Mbps connection
Green 100 Mbps connection
Orange 1 Gbps connection
LAN Port LED Status Table
Antenna
Connectors
PS/2
LAN
USB 3.1 Gen1
USB 2.0DVI-DUSB 2.0
H170I PRO
Line-in
Line-out
Mic in

7
Rear I/O Panel Overview of Components
Overview of Components
CPUFAN
JPWR2
PCI_E1
DIMM1
SYSFAN1
DIMM2
JUSB2
JUSB1
JCOM1
JFP1
JFP2
JAUD1
JPWR1
SATA1
SATA2
SATA3
SATA4
JBAT1
CPU Socket
M2_1
JCI1
Top view
Bottom view
M2_2

8Overview of Components
M2_1: M.2 Wi-Fi/ Bluetooth module slot
This slot is used for a M.2 Wi-Fi/ Bluetooth module. Please follow the steps below to
install the optional Wi-Fi/ Bluetooth module.
1. Secure the Wi-Fi/ Bluetooth module bracket to the M2_1 slot with two
screws as shown below.
2. Secure the antenna bracket to the back panel with two screws as shown
below.
3. Insert the Wi-Fi/ Bluetooth module into the M2_1 slot.
4. Secure the Wi-Fi/ Bluetooth module to the bracket with one screw.
5. Connect the antenna cables to the Wi-Fi/ Bluetooth module as shown
below.
Installing antennas
1. Screw the antennas tight to the antenna connectors as shown.
2. Orient the antennas.
Important
The Wi-Fi/ Bluetooth module installation kit is optional.
1
4
5
3
2

9
Overview of Components Overview of Components
CPU Socket
Please install the CPU into the CPU socket as shown below.
Important
y Always unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing or removing
the CPU.
y Please retain the CPU protective cap after installing the processor. MSI will deal
with Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) requests if only the motherboard
comes with the protective cap on the CPU socket.
y When installing a CPU, always remember to install a CPU heatsink. A CPU heatsink
is necessary to prevent overheating and maintain system stability.
y Confirm that the CPU heatsink has formed a tight seal with the CPU before booting
your system.
y 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.
y Whenever the CPU is not installed, always protect the CPU socket pins by covering
the socket with the plastic cap.
y If you purchased a separate CPU and heatsink/ cooler, Please refer to the
documentation in the heatsink/ cooler package for more details about installation.
1
4
6
5
78
9
3
2

10 Overview of Components
DIMM Slots
Please install the memory module into the DIMM slot as shown below.
Important
y Due to chipset resource usage, the available capacity of memory will be a little less
than the amount of installed.
y Please note that the maximum capacity of addressable memory is 4GB or less
for 32-bit Windows OS due to the memory address limitation. Therefore, we
recommended that you to install 64-bit Windows OS if you want to install more than
4GB memory on the motherboard.
PCI_E1: PCIe Expansion Slot
PCI_E1: PCIe 3.0 x16 slot
Important
When adding or removing expansion cards, always turn off 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.
123
2

11
Overview of Components Overview of Components
SATA1~4: SATA 6Gb/s Connectors
These connectors are SATA 6Gb/s interface ports. Each connector can connect to one
SATA device.
SATA3 SATA2
SATA4
SATA1
Important
y Please do not fold the SATA cable at a 90-degree angle. Data loss may result during
transmission otherwise.
y SATA cable has identical plugs on either sides of the cable. However, it is
recommended that the flat connector be connected to the motherboard for space
saving purposes.
JFP1, JFP2: Front Panel Connectors
These connectors connect to the switches and LEDs on the front panel.
12
10 9
JFP1
1 HDD LED + 2 Power LED +
3 HDD LED - 4 Power LED -
5 Reset Switch 6 Power Switch
7 Reset Switch 8 Power Switch
9 Reserved 10 No Pin
1
JFP2
1 Speaker - 2 Buzzer +
3 Buzzer - 4 Speaker +
HDD LED
RESET SW
HDD LED HDD LED -
HDD LED +
POWER LED -
POWER LED +
POWER LED
JFP1

12 Overview of Components
M2_2: M.2 Slot
1. Remove the screw from the
base screw.
2. Remove the base screw.
3. Tighten the base screw into
the hole of the distance to
the M.2 slot as the length
your M.2 module.
4. Insert your M.2 module into
the M.2 slot at a 30-degree
angle.
5. Put the screw in the notch
on the trailing edge of your
M.2 module and tighten it
into the base screw.
Video Demonstration
Watch the video to learn how to Install M.2 module.
http://youtu.be/JCTFABytrYA
Installing M.2 module
Important
Before you install the motherboard into the case, make sure the M.2 module has
been installed properly.
30
1
4
5
3
2

13
Overview of Components Overview of Components
JPWR1~2: Power Connectors
These connectors allow you to connect an ATX power supply.
24
131
12
JPWR1
1 +3.3V 13 +3.3V
2 +3.3V 14 -12V
3 Ground 15 Ground
4 +5V 16 PS-ON#
5 Ground 17 Ground
6 +5V 18 Ground
7 Ground 19 Ground
8 PWR OK 20 Res
9 5VSB 21 +5V
10 +12V 22 +5V
11 +12V 23 +5V
12 +3.3V 24 Ground
32 1
4JPWR2 1 Ground 3 +12V
2 Ground 4 +12V
Important
Make sure that all the power cables are securely connected to a proper ATX power
supply to ensure stable operation of the motherboard.
JUSB1: USB 2.0 Connector
This connector allows you to connect USB 2.0 ports on the front panel.
1
2 10
9
1VCC 2VCC
3 USB0- 4 USB1-
5 USB0+ 6 USB1+
7 Ground 8 Ground
9 No Pin 10 NC
Important
y Note that the VCC and Ground pins must be connected correctly to avoid possible
damage.
y In order to recharge your iPad,iPhone and iPod through USB ports, please install
MSI®SUPER CHARGER utility.

14 Overview of Components
JUSB2: USB 3.1 Gen1 Connector
This connector allows you to connect USB 3.1 Gen1 ports on the front panel.
1
10 11
20
1Power 11 USB2.0+
2 USB3_RX_DN 12 USB2.0-
3 USB3_RX_DP 13 Ground
4 Ground 14 USB3_TX_C_DP
5 USB3_TX_C_DN 15 USB3_TX_C_DN
6 USB3_TX_C_DP 16 Ground
7 Ground 17 USB3_RX_DP
8 USB2.0- 18 USB3_RX_DN
9 USB2.0+ 19 Power
10 Ground 20 No Pin
Important
Note that the Power and Ground pins must be connected correctly to avoid possible
damage.
JAUD1: Front Audio Connector
This connector allow you to connect audio jacks on the front panel.
1
2 10
9
1 MIC L 2 Ground
3 MIC R 4 NC
5 Head Phone R 6 MIC Detection
7 SENSE_SEND 8 No Pin
9 Head Phone L 10 Head Phone Detection
JCOM1: Serial Port Connector
This connector allows you to connect the optional serial port with bracket.
1
2 10
9
1 DCD 2 SIN
3 SOUT 4 DTR
5 Ground 6 DSR
7 RTS 8 CTS
9 RI 10 No Pin

15
Overview of Components Overview of Components
CPUFAN, SYSFAN1: Fan Connectors
Fan connectors can be classified as PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) Mode and Voltage
Mode. PWM Mode fan connectors provide constant 12V output and adjust fan speed
with speed control signal. Voltage Mode fan connectors control fan speed by changing
voltage. Therefore, when you plug a 3-pin (Non-PWM) fan to a PWM Mode fan
connector, the fan speed will be always maintained at 100%, and that could be noisy.
1
CPUFAN
1 Ground 2 +12V
3 Sense 4 Speed Control
Signal
1
SYSFAN1
1 Ground 2 Voltage
Control
3 Sense 4 NC
PWM Mode fan connector Voltage Mode fan connector
Controlling the fan speed
There are two ways to manage fan speed. One is to go to BIOS > HARDWARE
MONITOR. The other is to use COMMAND CENTER application.
COMMAND CENTER
Both methods offer gradient points of the fan speed that allow you to adjust fan speed
in relation to CPU temperature.
BIOS > Hardware Monitor

16 Overview of Components
JCI1: Chassis Intrusion Connector
This connector allows you to connect the chassis intrusion switch cable.
Normal
(default)
Trigger the chassis
intrusion event
Using chassis intrusion detector
1. Connect the JCI1 connector to the chassis intrusion switch/ sensor on the
chassis.
2. Close the chassis cover.
3. Go to BIOS > SETTINGS > Security > Chassis Intrusion Configuration.
4. Set Chassis Intrusion to Enabled.
5. Press F10 to save and exit and then press the Enter key to select Yes.
6. Once the chassis cover is opened again, a warning message will be displayed on
screen when the computer is turned on.
Resetting the chassis intrusion warning
1. Go to BIOS > SETTINGS > Security > Chassis Intrusion Configuration.
2. Set Chassis Intrusion to Reset.
3. Press F10 to save and exit and then press the Enter key to select Yes.
JBAT1: Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS) Jumper
There is CMOS memory onboard that is external powered from a battery located on
the motherboard to save system configuration data. If you want to clear the system
configuration, set the jumper to clear the CMOS memory.
Keep Data
(default)
Clear CMOS/ Reset
BIOS
Resetting BIOS to default values
1. Power off the computer and unplug the power cord
2. Use a jumper cap to short JBAT1 for about 5-10 seconds.
3. Remove the jumper cap from JBAT1.
4. Plug the power cord and power on the computer.

17
Overview of Components BIOS Setup
BIOS Setup
The default settings offer the optimal performance for system stability in normal
conditions. You should always keep the default settings to avoid possible system
damage or failure booting unless you are familiar with BIOS.
Important
y BIOS items are continuous update for better system performance. Therefore, the
description may be slightly different from the latest BIOS and should be held for
reference only. You could also refer to the HELP information panel for BIOS item
description.
y The pictures in this chapter are for reference only and may vary from the product
you purchased.
Entering BIOS Setup
Please refer the following methods to enter BIOS setup.
yPress Delete key, when the Press DEL key to enter Setup Menu, F11 to enter Boot
Menu message appears on the screen during the boot process.
yUse MSI FAST BOOT application. Click on GO2BIOS button and choose OK. The
system will reboot and enter BIOS setup directly.
Click on GO2BIOS
Function key
Key Function Key Function
F1 General Help F3 Enter Favorites menu
F4 Enter CPU Specifications
menu F5 Enter Memory-Z menu
F6 Load optimized defaults F8 Load Overclocking Profile
F9 Save Overclocking Profile F10 Save Change and Reset*
* When you press F10, a confirmation window which provides the modification
information appears. Select between Yes or No to confirm your choice.

18 BIOS Setup
Resetting BIOS
You might need to restore the default BIOS setting to solve certain problems. There
are several ways to reset BIOS:
yGo to BIOS and press F6 to load optimized defaults.
yShort the Clear CMOS jumper on the motherboard.
Important
Please refer to the Clear CMOS Jumper section for resetting BIOS.
Updating BIOS
Updating BIOS with M-FLASH
Before updating:
Please download the latest BIOS file that matches your motherboard model from MSI
website. And then save the BIOS file into the USB flash drive.
Updating BIOS:
1. Press Del key to enter the BIOS Setup during POST.
2. Insert the USB flash drive that contains the update file into the computer.
3. Select the M-FLASH tab and click on Yes to reboot the system and enter the flash
mode.
4. Select a BIOS file to perform the BIOS update process.
5. After the flashing process is 100% completed, the system will reboot
automatically.
Updating the BIOS with Live Update 6
Before updating:
Make sure the LAN driver is already installed and the internet connection is set
properly.
Updating BIOS:
1. Install and launch MSI LIVE UPDATE 6.
2. Select Manual scan.
3. Check MB BIOS box and click on Scan button.
4. Select the MB BIOS and click on icon to download and install the latest BIOS
file.
5. Click Next and choose In Windows mode. And then click Next and Start to start
updating BIOS.
6. After the flashing process is 100% completed, the system will restart
automatically.

19
BIOS Setup BIOS Setup
EZ Mode
At EZ mode, it provides the basic system information and allows you to configure
the basic setting. Pressing the Setup Mode switch or the F7 function key can switch
between EZ Mode and Advanced Mode in BIOS setup.
Information
display
XMP switch
Boot device
priority bar
Function
buttons
Favorites
Screenshot
Setup Mode switch
Sub-menu
entrances
Advanced Mode
At Advanced mode, it allows you to configure the advanced BIOS settings.
BIOS menu
selection
Menu display
XMP switch
Boot device
priority bar
Favorites
Screenshot
Setup Mode switch
BIOS menu
selection

20 BIOS Setup
yFunction buttons - enable or disable the LAN Option ROM, Fast Boot, HD audio
controller, AHCI, RAID, CPU Fan Fail Warning Control and BIOS Log Review by
clicking on their respective button.
ySub-menu entrances - click on each button to enter the respective sub-menu.
yInformation display - click on the CPU, Memory, Storage, Fan Info and Help
buttons on left side to display related information.
yBoot device priority bar - you can move the device icons to change the boot priority.
The boot priority from high to low is left to right.
yFavorites - press the Favorites tab or the F3 key to enter Favorites menu. It
allows you to create personal BIOS menu where you can save and access favorite/
frequently-used BIOS setting items.
yScreenshot - press this tab or the F12 key to take a screenshot and save it to USB
flash drive (FAT/ FAT32 format only).
ySetup Mode switch - press this tab or the F7 key to switch between Advanced mode
and EZ mode.
yXMP switch - click on the inner circle to enable/ disable the X.M.P. (Extreme
Memory Profile). Switch the outer circle to select the X.M.P. profile. This switch will
only be available if the X.M.P. supported memory module is installed.
yBIOS menu selection - the following options are available:
SETTINGS - allows you to specify the parameters for chipset and boot devices.
OC - allows you to adjust the frequency and voltage. Increasing the frequency may
get better performance.
M-FLASH - provides the way to update BIOS with a USB flash drive.
OC PROFILE - allows you to manage overclocking profiles.
HARDWARE MONITOR - allows you to set the speeds of fans and monitor voltages
of system.
BOARD EXPLORER - provides the information of installed devices on this
motherboard.
yMenu display - provides BIOS setting items and information to be configured.