MSI Z170-A PRO User manual

I
Quick Start
Quick Start
Thank you for purchasing the MSI®Z170-A PRO 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.
Kurzanleitung
Danke, dass Sie das MSI®Z170-A PRO Motherboard gewählt
haben. Dieser Abschnitt der Kurzanleitung bietet eine Demo zur
Installation Ihres Computers. Manche Installationen bieten auch
die Videodemonstrationen. Klicken Sie auf die URL, um diese
Videoanleitung mit Ihrem Browser auf Ihrem Handy oder Table
anzusehen. Oder scannen Sie auch den QR Code mit Ihrem Handy,
um die URL zu öffnen.
Présentation rapide
Merci d’avoir choisi la carte mère MSI®Z170-A PRO. Ce manuel
fournit une rapide présentation avec des illustrations explicatives
qui vous aideront à assembler votre ordinateur. Des tutoriels vidéo
sont disponibles pour certaines étapes. Cliquez sur le lien fourni
pour regarder la vidéo sur votre téléphone ou votre tablette. Vous
pouvez également accéder au lien en scannant le QR code qui lui
est associé.
Быстрый старт
Благодарим вас за покупку материнской платы MSI®Z170-A
PRO. В этом разделе представлена информация, которая
поможет вам при сборке комьютера. Для некоторых этапов
сборки имеются видеоинструкции. Для просмотра видео,
необходимо открыть соответствующую ссылку в веб-браузере
на вашем телефоне или планшете. Вы также можете выполнить
переход по ссылке, путем сканирования QR-кода.

II Quick Start
1
2
3
6
45
7
8
9
http://youtu.be/bf5La099urI
Installing a Processor/ Installation des Prozessors/ Installer
un processeur/ Установка процессора

III
Quick Start
1
1
2
2
3
3
Installing DDR4 memory/ Installation des DDR4-Speichers/
Installer une mémoire DDR4/ Установка памяти DDR4
http://youtu.be/T03aDrJPyQs

IV Quick Start
1
2 10
9
JFP1
1 HDD LED + 2 Power LED +
3HDD LED - 4Power 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
HDD LED
RESET SW
JFP1
HDD LED HDD LED -
HDD LED +
POWER LED -
POWER LED +
POWER LED
Connecting the Front Panel Header/ Anschließen der
Frontpanel-Stiftleiste/ Connecter un connecteur du panneau
avant/ Подключение разъемов передней панели
http://youtu.be/DPELIdVNZUI

V
Quick Start
Installing the Motherboard/ Installation des Motherboards/
Installer la carte mère/ Установка материнской платы
1
2

VI Quick Start
http://youtu.be/RZsMpqxythc
Installing SATA Drives/ Installation der SATA-Laufwerke/
Installer le disque dur SATA/ Установка дисков SATA
1
2
3
4
5

VII
Quick Start
1
4
5
2
3
Installing a Graphics Card/ Einbau der Grafikkarte/ Installer
une carte graphique/ Установка дискретной видеокарты
http://youtu.be/mG0GZpr9w_A

VIII Quick Start
Connecting Peripheral Devices/ Peripheriegeräte/
Connecter un périphérique anschliessen/ Подключение
периферийных устройств

IX
Quick Start
JPWR1 JPWR2
Connecting the Power Connectors/ Stromanschlüsse
anschliessen/ Connecter les câbles du module
d’alimentation/ Подключение разъемов питания
http://youtu.be/gkDYyR_83I4

XQuick Start
1
4
2
3
Power On/ Einschalten/ Mettre sous-tension/ Включение
питания

1
Contents
Contents
Safety Information...................................................................................................2
Specifications ..........................................................................................................3
Rear I/O Panel ..........................................................................................................7
LAN Port LED Status Table................................................................................. 7
Audio Ports Configuration.................................................................................... 7
Overview of Components......................................................................................9
CPU Socket ....................................................................................................... 10
DIMM Slots ........................................................................................................ 11
PCI_E1~6: PCIe Expansion Slots...................................................................... 12
SATA1~6: SATA 6Gb/s Connectors.................................................................. 13
SE1_21-SE2_65: SATAe Connectors ............................................................... 13
M2_1: M.2 Slot................................................................................................... 14
JFP1, JFP2: Front Panel Connectors................................................................ 15
JPWR1~2: Power Connectors........................................................................... 16
JUSB1~2: USB 2.0 Connectors......................................................................... 17
JUSB3~4: USB 3.1 Gen1 Connectors............................................................... 17
JAUD1: Front Audio Connector......................................................................... 18
CPUFAN1~2, SYSFAN1~3: Fan Connectors.................................................... 19
JLPT1: Parallel Port Connector......................................................................... 20
JCOM1: Serial Port Connector.......................................................................... 20
JTPM1: TPM Module Connector ....................................................................... 21
JBAT1: Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS) Jumper ...................................................... 21
JCI1: Chassis Intrusion Connector.................................................................... 22
EZ Debug LED: Debug LED indicators ............................................................ 22
BIOS Setup.............................................................................................................23
Entering BIOS Setup ......................................................................................... 23
Resetting BIOS.................................................................................................. 24
Updating BIOS................................................................................................... 24
EZ Mode ............................................................................................................ 25
Advanced Mode ................................................................................................ 27
OC ..................................................................................................................... 28
Software Description............................................................................................34
Installing Windows®7/ 8.1/ 10 ........................................................................... 34
Installing Drivers ................................................................................................ 34
Installing Utilities................................................................................................ 34

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
Speci󰄈cations
Specifications
CPU Supports 6th Gen Intel®Core™i3/i5/i7 processors, and Intel®
Pentium®and Celeron®processors for Socket LGA1151
Chipset Intel® Z170 Chipset
Memory
●4x DDR4 memory slots, support up to 64GB
▶Supports DDR4 3200(OC)/ 3000(OC)/ 2800(OC)/
2600(OC)/ 2400/ 2133 MHz
●Dual channel memory architecture
●Supports ECC, un-buffered memory
●Supports Intel®Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
Expansion Slots ●2x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots (support x16/x4 modes)
●4x PCIe 3.0 x1 slots
Onboard Graphics
●1x DisplayPort, supports a maximum resolution
of 4096x2304@24Hz, 2560x1600@60Hz,
3840x2160@60Hz, 1920x1200@60Hz
●1x DVI-D Port, supports a maximum resolution of
1920x1200@60Hz
●1x VGA Port, supports a maximum resolution of
1920x1200@60Hz
Multi-GPU ●Supports 2-Way AMD®CrossFire™Technology
Storage
Intel®Z170 Chipset
●6x SATA 6Gb/s ports*
●Supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10 for SATA
storage devices
●1x M.2 slot
▶Supports PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA 6Gb/s standards,
4.2cm/ 6cm/ 8cm length M.2 SSD cards
▶Supports PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe Mini-SAS SSD with Turbo
U.2 Host Card**
●2x SATAe ports (PCIe 3.0 x2)***
●Supports Intel®Smart Response Technology for Intel
Core™ processors
* SATA1~2 ports will be unavailable when installing the M.2 SATA interface
module in M.2 slot. SATA3~4 ports will be unavailable when installing the
M.2 PCIe interface module in M.2 slot.
** The Turbo U.2 Host Card is not included, please purchase separately.
*** SATAe port is backward compatible with SATA.
Continued on next page

4Speci󰄈cations
Continued from previous page
USB
●Intel®Z170 Chipset
▶8x USB 3.1 Gen1 (SuperSpeed USB) ports (4 ports on
the back panel, 4 ports available through the internal
USB 3.1 Gen 1 connectors)
▶6x USB 2.0 (High-speed USB) ports (2 ports on the back
panel, 4 ports available through the internal USB 2.0
connectors)
Audio ●Realtek®ALC892 Codec
●7.1-Channel High Definition Audio
LAN 1x Realtek®RTL8111H Gigabit LAN controller
Back Panel
Connectors
●1x PS/2 keyboard/ mouse port
●1x VGA port
●1x DVI-D port
●1x DisplayPort
●1x LAN (RJ45) port
●4x USB 3.1 Gen1 ports
●2x USB 2.0 ports
●6x audio jacks
Internal Connectors
●1x 24-pin ATX main power connector
●1x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector
●6x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
●2x SATAe connectors
●2x USB 2.0 connector (supports additional 4 USB 2.0
ports)
●2x USB 3.1 Gen1 connectors (supports additional 4 USB
3.1 Gen1 ports)
●2x 4-pin CPU fan connectors
●3x 3-pin system fan connectors
●1x Front panel audio connector
●2x Front panel connectors
●1x TPM module connector
●1x Chassis Intrusion connector
●1x Serial port connector
●1x Parallel port connector
●1x Clear CMOS jumper
I/O Controller NUVOTON NCT6793 Controller Chip
Continued on next page

5
Speci󰄈cations
Continued from previous page
Hardware Monitor
●CPU/System temperature detection
●CPU/System fan speed detection
●CPU/System fan speed control
Form Factor ●ATX Form Factor
●12 in. x 8.9 in. (30.5 cm x 22.5 cm)
BIOS Features
●1x 128 Mb flash
●UEFI AMI BIOS
●ACPI 5.0, PnP 1.0a, SM BIOS 2.8
●Multi-language
Software
●Drivers
●COMMAND CENTER
●LIVE UPDATE 6
●FAST BOOT
●SUPER CHARGER
●M-CLOUD
●RAMDISK
●NETWORK GENIE
●Intel®Extreme Tuning Utility
●Norton™Security
●Google Chrome™,Google Toolbar, Google Drive
●CPU-Z
MSI Exclusive
Features
●CLICK BIOS 5
▶EZ Mode & Advanced Mode Switching
▶Board Explorer
▶Hardware Monitor
●COMMAND CENTER
▶System Monitor
▶Smart Fan Control
●RAM DISK
●LIVE UPDATE 6
●M-CLOUD
Continued on next page

6Speci󰄈cations
Continued from previous page
Specification
Highlights
●DDR4 Boost Support
▶Dual-Channel DDR4 Memory Support
▶Isolated DDR4 Circuit Design
▶DDR4 XMP Ready
●PCI Express 3.0 Support
▶2-Way AMD CrossFireTM Support
●SATA Express Support
●EZ Debug LED

7
Rear I/O Panel
PS/2 LAN
USB 3.1 Gen1
VGA Audio Ports
USB 2.0
DisplayPort
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
Audio Ports Configuration
Audio Ports Channel
2468
Line In
Line-Out/ Front Speak Out ● ● ● ●
Mic In
Rear Speaker Out ●●●
Center/ Subwoofer Out ● ●
Side Speaker Out ●
(●: connected, Blank: empty)
USB 3.1 Gen1
DVI-D
Rear I/O Panel

8Rear I/O Panel
Audio jacks to headphone and microphone diagram
Audio jacks to stereo speakers diagram
Audio jacks to 7.1-channel speakers diagram
AUDIO INPUT
AUDIO INPUT
Rear Front
Side Center/
Subwoofer

9
Overview of Components
Overview of Components
CPUFAN1
CPUFAN2
PCI_E1
PCI_E2
PCI_E3
PCI_E4
PCI_E5
PCI_E6
CPU Socket
JPWR2
JTBT1*
M2_1
DIMM1
SYSFAN1 DIMM2
DIMM3
DIMM4
JLPT1
JCOM1 JUSB1
JBAT1
JFP1
JFP2
SYSFAN2
JAUD1
JTPM1
EZ Debug LED
SYSFAN3
JPWR1
JUSB3
JUSB4
SATA4
SE1_21-SE2_65
JCI1
SATA3
JUSB2
* JTBT1 is used to connect a specific card.

10 Overview of Components
CPU Socket
Introduction to the LGA 1151 CPU
The surface of the LGA 1151 CPU has
two notches and a golden triangle to
assist in correctly lining up the CPU for
motherboard placement. The golden
triangle is the Pin 1 indicator.
Important
● Always unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing or removing
the CPU.
● 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.
● When installing a CPU, always remember to install a CPU heatsink. A CPU
heatsink is necessary to prevent overheating and maintain system stability.
● Confirm that the CPU heatsink has formed a tight seal with the CPU before booting
your system.
● 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.
● Whenever the CPU is not installed, always protect the CPU socket pins by covering
the socket with the plastic cap.
● If you purchased a separate CPU and heatsink/ cooler, Please refer to the
documentation in the heatsink/ cooler package for more details about installation.
● 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 specifications is not
recommended. MSI
®
does not guarantee the damages or risks caused by
inadequate operation beyond product specifications.