MSI MEG Z490 UNIFY User manual

1
Quick Start
Quick Start
Thank you for purchasing the MSI® MEG Z490 UNIFY motherboard. This Quick Start
section provides demonstration diagrams about how to install your computer. Some
of the installations also provide video demonstrations. Please link to the URL to watch
it with the web browser on your phone or tablet. You may have even link to the URL by
scanning the QR code.
Preparing Tools and Components
Intel® LGA 1200 CPU
CPU Fan
DDR4 Memory
Graphics Card
SATA Hard Disk Drive SATA DVD Drive
Phillips Screwdriver
Chassis
Power Supply Unit
A Package of Screws
Thermal Paste

2Safety Information
Safety Information
∙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.
∙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 anti-static
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 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 certified computer
technician.
∙Always turn off the power supply and unplug the power cord from the power outlet
before installing or removing any computer component.
∙Keep this user guide for future reference.
∙Keep this motherboard away from humidity.
∙Make sure that your electrical outlet provides the same voltage as is indicated on
the PSU, before connecting the PSU to the electrical outlet.
∙Place the power cord such a way that people can not step on it. Do not place
anything over the power cord.
∙All cautions and warnings on the motherboard should be noted.
∙If 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.
∙Do not leave this motherboard in an environment above 60°C (140°F), it may damage
the motherboard.

3
Safety Information
Installing a Processor
⚽
https://youtu.be/4ce91YC3Oww
1
2
3
6
45
7
8
9

4Safety Information
Installing DDR4 memory
http://youtu.be/T03aDrJPyQs
⚽
DIMMA2 DIMMA2
DIMMB2
DIMMA1
DIMMA2
DIMMB1
DIMMB2

5
Safety Information
HDD LED
RESET SW
Connecting the Front Panel Header
http://youtu.be/DPELIdVNZUI
JFP1
HDD LED HDD LED -
HDD LED +
POWER LED -
POWER LED +
POWER LED
1
2 10
9
+
+
+- -- -
+
Power LED
HDD LED Reset Switch
Reserved
Power Switch
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
RESET SW
POWER SW
POWER LED+
POWER LED-
HDD LED

6Safety Information
Installing the Motherboard
1
2
https://youtu.be/wWI6Qt51Wnc
⚽
Torque:
3 kgf·cm*
*3 kgf·cm
= 0.3 N·m
= 2.6 lbf·in

7
Safety Information
Connecting the Power Connectors
http://youtu.be/gkDYyR_83I4
ATX_PWR1
CPU_PWR1
⚽
CPU_PWR2

8Safety Information
Installing SATA Drives
http://youtu.be/RZsMpqxythc
1
23
4
5

9
Safety Information
1
Installing a Graphics Card
http://youtu.be/mG0GZpr9w_A
2
3
4
5
6

10 Safety Information
Connecting Peripheral Devices

11
Safety Information
Power On
4
3
12

12 Contents
Contents
Quick Start ............................................................................................................. 1
Preparing Tools and Components.......................................................................... 1
Safety Information................................................................................................. 2
Installing a Processor ............................................................................................ 3
Installing DDR4 memory ........................................................................................ 4
Connecting the Front Panel Header ...................................................................... 5
Installing the Motherboard..................................................................................... 6
Connecting the Power Connectors ........................................................................ 7
Installing SATA Drives............................................................................................ 8
Installing a Graphics Card...................................................................................... 9
Connecting Peripheral Devices............................................................................ 10
Power On .............................................................................................................. 11
Specifications....................................................................................................... 15
JCORSAIR1 Connector Specification.................................................................... 20
Package contents ................................................................................................ 20
Block Diagram .................................................................................................... 21
Rear I/O Panel ..................................................................................................... 22
LAN Port LED Status Table .................................................................................. 22
Audio Ports Configuration.................................................................................... 22
Realtek Audio Console ......................................................................................... 23
Installing Antennas............................................................................................... 25
Overview of Components .................................................................................... 26
CPU Socket ........................................................................................................... 28
DIMM Slots............................................................................................................ 29
PCI_E1~5: PCIe Expansion Slots.......................................................................... 30
M2_1~3: M.2 Slots (Key M) ................................................................................... 32
SATA1~6: SATA 6Gb/s Connectors....................................................................... 34
JFP1, JFP2: Front Panel Connectors................................................................... 35
CPU_PWR1~3, ATX_PWR1: Power Connectors................................................... 36
JBLK_U1: Base clock Plus connector.................................................................. 37
V-Check Points Lite .............................................................................................. 37
JSLOW1: Slow Mode Booting Jumper.................................................................. 38
JLN1: Low Temperature Booting Jumper ........................................................... 38
JOC_RT1: OC Retry Button................................................................................... 39
JOC_FS1: OC Force Enter BIOS Button ............................................................... 39
JAUD1: Front Audio Connector ............................................................................ 40
JUSB1: USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Connector............................................................ 40

13
Contents
JUSB2: USB 3.2 Gen 1 Connector ........................................................................ 41
JUSB3~4: USB 2.0 Connectors............................................................................. 42
JTPM1: TPM Module Connector........................................................................... 42
CPU_FAN1, PUMP_FAN1, SYS_FAN1~6: Fan Connectors.................................. 43
JTBT1: Thunderbolt Add-on Card Connector ...................................................... 44
JRTD3: Intel RTD3 Connector .............................................................................. 44
JCI1: Chassis Intrusion Connector....................................................................... 45
JBAT1: Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS) Jumper........................................................... 46
POWER1, RESET1: Power Button, Reset Button ................................................. 46
JRGB1: RGB LED connector................................................................................. 47
JRAINBOW1~2: Addressable RGB LED connectors ............................................ 48
JCORSAIR1: CORSAIR Connector ........................................................................ 49
Onboard LEDs...................................................................................................... 50
EZ Debug LED....................................................................................................... 50
XMP LED ............................................................................................................... 50
JPWRLED1: LED power input............................................................................... 50
LED_SW1: EZ LED Control................................................................................... 51
Debug Code LED................................................................................................... 51
Hexadecimal Character Table.............................................................................. 51
Boot Phases.......................................................................................................... 51
Debug Code LED Table......................................................................................... 52
ACPI States Codes................................................................................................ 56
CPU Temperature................................................................................................. 56
Installing OS, Drivers & Utilities ......................................................................... 57
Installing Windows® 10......................................................................................... 57
Installing Drivers .................................................................................................. 57
Installing Utilities ................................................................................................. 57
UEFI BIOS............................................................................................................. 58
BIOS Setup............................................................................................................ 59
Entering BIOS Setup............................................................................................. 59
Resetting BIOS...................................................................................................... 60
Updating BIOS....................................................................................................... 60
EZ Mode ................................................................................................................ 62
Advanced Mode .................................................................................................... 65
SETTINGS Menu ................................................................................................... 66
OC Menu................................................................................................................ 68
M-FLASH Menu .................................................................................................... 72
OC PROFILE Menu................................................................................................ 73
HARDWARE MONITOR Menu ............................................................................... 74
Nahimic 3 ............................................................................................................. 76

14 Contents
Installation and Update ........................................................................................ 76
Audio Tab .............................................................................................................. 76
Microphone Tab.................................................................................................... 77
Sound Tracker Tab ............................................................................................... 78
Settings Tab.......................................................................................................... 78
RAID Configuration.............................................................................................. 79
Enabling Intel® Rapid Storage Technology .......................................................... 79
Creating RAID Volume ......................................................................................... 80
Removing a RAID Volume .................................................................................... 81
Resetting Disks to Non-RAID............................................................................... 82
Rebuilding RAID Array.......................................................................................... 83
Installing RAID Driver........................................................................................... 84
Installing Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Software.......................................... 84
Intel® Optane™ Memory Configuration.............................................................. 85
System Requirements ......................................................................................... 85
Installing the Intel® Optane™ memory ................................................................ 85
Removing the Intel® Optane™ memory................................................................ 87
Troubleshooting ................................................................................................. 88

15
Specifications
Specifications
CPU
Supports 10th Gen Intel® Core™ and Pentium® Gold /
Celeron® processors for LGA 1200 socket*
* Please go to intel.com for compatibility information.
* Onboard graphics output are disabled when using the F SKU processors.
Chipset Intel® Z490 Chipset
Memory
∙4x DDR4 memory slots, support up to 128GB*
∙Supports 1R 2133/2666/2933 MHz*
▪1DPC 1R Max speed up to 4800+ MHz
▪1DPC 2R Max speed up to 4266+ MHz
▪2DPC 1R Max speed up to 4400+ MHz
▪2DPC 2R Max speed up to 4000+ MHz
∙Supports Dual-Channel mode
∙Supports non-ECC, un-buffered memory
∙Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
*Please refer www.msi.com for more information on compatible memory
Expansion Slot
∙3x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots (2 from CPU, 1 from PCH, support
16/0/4, 8/8/4)
∙2x PCIe x1 slots (from PCH)
Multi-GPU ∙Supports 2-Way NVIDIA® SLI™ Technology
∙Supports 3-Way AMD® CrossFire™ Technology
Storage
Intel® Z490 Chipset
∙6x SATA 6Gb/s ports*
∙3x M.2 slots (Key M)
▪M2_1 supports up to PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA 6Gb/s, 2242/
2260/ 2280/ 22110 storage devices*
▪M2_2 supports up to PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA 6Gb/s, 2242/
2260/ 2280 storage devices**
▪M2_3 supports up to PCIe 3.0 x4, 2242/ 2260/ 2280
storage devices
▪Intel® Optane™ Memory Ready***
▪Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology for Intel
Core™ processors
* SATA2 will be unavailable when installing M.2 SATA SSD in the M2_1 slot.
** SATA5 & SATA6 will be unavailable when installing M.2 SATA/PCIe SSD in the
M2_2 slot.
*** Before using Intel®Optane™ memory modules, please ensure that you have
updated the drivers and BIOS to the latest version from MSI website.
Continued on next page

16 Specifications
Continued from previous page
RAID
Intel® Z490 Chipset
∙Supports RAID 0, RAID1, RAID 5 and RAID 10 for SATA
storage devices
∙Supports RAID 0, RAID 1 and RAID 5 for M.2 PCIe storage
devices
LAN ∙1x Realtek® 8125B 2.5G LAN controller
Wireless/ Bluetooth
Intel® AX201
∙MU-MIMO TX/RX, 2.4GHz/ 5GHz (160MHz) up to 2.4Gbps
∙802.11ac; WiFi 6 pre certified
∙Bluetooth 5.0, FIPS, FISMA
∙1x M.2 Socket with E key (Wi-Fi mode)
USB
∙Intel® Z490 Chipset
▪4x USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps ports (3 Type-A ports on the
back panel, 1 Type-C internal connector)
▪4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps ports (2 Type-A ports on the
back panel, 2 ports through the internal USB connector)
▪6x USB 2.0 ports (2 Type-A ports on the back panel, 4
ports through the internal USB 2.0 connectors)
∙ASMedia® 3241 chipset
▪1x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 20Gbps Type-C port on the back
panel
Audio
Realtek® ALC1220 Codec + ESS E9018Q2C combo DAC
∙7.1-Channel High Definition Audio
∙Supports S/PDIF output
Back Panel
Connectors
∙1x Clear CMOS
∙1x Flash BIOS button
∙1x PS/2 keyboard/ mouse combo port
∙2x USB 2.0 ports
∙2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps Type-A ports
∙3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps Type-A ports
∙1x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 20Gbps Type-C port
∙1x LAN (RJ45) port
∙1x Wi-Fi antenna connector
∙1x Optical S/PDIF OUT connector
∙5x OFC audio jacks
Continued on next page

17
Specifications
Continued from previous page
Internal Connectors
∙1x 24-pin ATX main power connector
∙2x 8-pin ATX 12V power connectors
∙6x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
∙3x M.2 slots (M-Key)
∙1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps Type-C port
∙1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps connector (supports additional 2
USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps ports)
∙2x USB 2.0 connectors (supports additional 4 USB 2.0
ports)
∙1x 4-pin CPU fan connector
∙1x 4-pin water-pump connector
∙6x 4-pin system fan connectors
∙1x front panel audio connector
∙2x system panel connectors
∙1x Chassis Intrusion connector
∙1x slow mode jumper
∙1x power button
∙1x reset button
∙1x 4-pin RGB LED connector
∙2x 3-pin RAINBOW LED connectors
∙1x 3-pin CORSAIR LED connector
LED Features
∙1x LED Control switch
∙4x EZ Debug LED
∙1x 2-Digit Debug Code LED
I/O Controller NUVOTON NCT6687 Controller Chip
Hardware Monitor
∙CPU/System temperature detection
∙CPU/System fan speed detection
∙CPU/System fan speed control
Form Factor ∙ATX Form Factor
∙12 in. x 9.6 in. (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm)
BIOS Features
∙1x 256 Mb flash
∙UEFI AMI BIOS
∙ACPI 6.2, SM BIOS 3.2
∙Multi-language
Continued on next page

18 Specifications
Continued from previous page
Software
∙Drivers
∙DRAGON CENTER
∙Intel Extreme Tuning Utility
∙Nahimic Audio
∙MSI App Player(BlueStacks)
∙Open Broadcaster Software (OBS)
∙CPU-Z MSI GAMING
∙Google Chrome™, Google Toolbar, Google Drive
∙Norton™ Internet Security Solution
Dragon Center
Features
∙Gaming Mode
∙Gaming Hotkey
∙LAN Manager
∙Mystic Light
∙Ambient Link
∙User Scenario
∙Monitor(Hardware
Monitor)
∙True Color
∙Live Update
∙DPC Latency tuner
∙Speed Up
∙Smart Tool
∙Super Charger
∙Voice Boost
Please refer to http://download.msi.
com/manual/mb/DRAGONCENTER2.
pdf for more details.
Special Features
∙Audio
▪Audio Boost HD
▪Nahimic 3
▪Voice Boost
∙Network
▪2.5G LAN
▪LAN Manager
▪Intel WiFi
Continued on next page

19
Specifications
Continued from previous page
Special Features
∙Cooling
▪All Aluminum Design
▪Frozr Heatsink Design
▪Extended Heatsink Design
▪M.2 Shield Frozr
▪Pump Fan
▪Smart Fan Control
∙LED
▪Mystic Light Extension (RGB)
▪Mystic Light Extension (RAINBOW)
▪Mystic Light Extension (CORSAIR)
▪Mystic Light SYNC
▪Ambient Link
▪EZ LED Control
▪EZ DEBUG LED
∙Performance
▪Multi GPU – SLI Technology
▪Multi GPU – CrossFire Technology
▪DDR4 Boost
▪Core Boost
▪Game Boost
▪Lightning USB 20G
▪USB 3.2 Gen 2 10G
▪USB with Type A+C
▪Front USB Type-C
▪Dual CPU Power (8+8pin)
∙Protection
▪PCI-E Steel Armor
▪Pre-installed I/O Shielding
∙Experience
▪Dragon Center
▪Click BIOS 5

20 Package contents
JCORSAIR1 Connector Specification
Supporting CORSAIR RGB Products Maximum connection
Lighting Node PRO LED Strip
20*
* 20% brightness is recommended when the number of
LED strips exceeds 8.
HD120 RGB Fan 6
SP120 RGB Fan 6
LL120 RGB Fan 6
Package contents
Please check the contents of your motherboard package. It should contain:
Motherboard MEG Z490 UNIFY
Documentation
User manual 1
Case stand-off notification 1
Quick installation guide 1
Application Driver DVD 1
Cables SATA 6G cables (2 cables/pack) 2
Accessories
Wi-Fi Antenna 1
Case badge 1
SATA cable stickers 1
Product registration card 1
M.2 screws (3 pcs./pack) 1
⚠
Important
If any of the above items are damaged or missing, please contact your retailer.