MSI Z170A GAMING PRO CARBON User manual

I
Quick Start
Quick Start
Thank you for purchasing the MSI®Z170A GAMING PRO CARBON
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®Z170A GAMING PRO CARBON 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®Z170A GAMING PRO
CARBON. 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®
Z170A GAMING PRO CARBON. Вэтом разделе представлена
информация, которая поможет вам при сборке комьютера.
Для некоторых этапов сборки имеются видеоинструкции.
Для просмотра видео, необходимо открыть
соответствующую ссылку ввеб-браузере на вашем телефоне
или планшете. Вы также можете выполнить переход по
ссылке, путем сканирования QR-кода.

II Quick Start
1
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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 +
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
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
1
23
4
5
Installing SATA Drives/ Installation der SATA-Laufwerke/
Installer le disque dur SATA/ Установка дисков SATA
http://youtu.be/RZsMpqxythc

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 ....................................................................................................... 9
LAN Port LED Status Table..................................................................................... 9
Audio Ports Configuration...................................................................................... 9
Overview of Components .................................................................................... 11
CPU Socket ........................................................................................................... 12
DIMM Slots............................................................................................................ 13
PCI_E1~E7: PCIe Expansion Slots........................................................................ 14
SATA1~6: SATA 6Gb/s Connectors ....................................................................... 15
SE1_21: SATAe Connector.................................................................................... 15
M2_1: M.2 Slot ...................................................................................................... 16
JPWR1~2: Power Connectors............................................................................... 17
JFP1, JFP2: Front Panel Connectors................................................................... 18
JAUD1: Front Audio Connector ............................................................................ 18
JTPM1: TPM Module Connector........................................................................... 18
JUSB3~4: USB 3.1 Gen1 Connector ..................................................................... 19
JUSB1~2: USB 2.0 Connectors............................................................................. 19
CPUFAN1~2, SYSFAN1~3: Fan Connectors.......................................................... 20
JCI1: Chassis Intrusion Connector....................................................................... 21
JBAT1: Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS) Jumper........................................................... 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 Menu................................................................................................................ 28
Software Description........................................................................................... 36
Installing Windows®7/ 8.1/ 10.............................................................................. 36
Installing Drivers .................................................................................................. 36
Installing Utilities ................................................................................................. 36

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
Specifications
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
y4x DDR4 memory slots, support up to 64GB
Supports DDR4 3600(OC)/ 3200(OC)/ 3000(OC)/ 2800(OC)/
2600(OC)/ 2400/ 2133 MHz*
yDual channel memory architecture
ySupports ECC, un-buffered memory
ECC UDIMM memory (non-ECC mode)
ySupports Intel®Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
* Please refer to www.msi.com for more information on compatible memory.
Expansion Slots
y3x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots (support x16/x0/x4 or x8/x8/x4
modes)
y4x PCIe 3.0 x1 slots
Onboard Graphics
y1x HDMI™port, support a maximum resolution of
4096x2160@24Hz, 2560x1600@60Hz
y1x DVI-D port, support a maximum resolution of
1920x1200@60Hz
Multi-GPU ySupports 3-Way AMD®CrossFire™ Technology
ySupports 2-Way NVIDIA®SLI™ Technology
Storage
Intel®Z170 Chipset
y6x SATA 6Gb/s ports* (2 ports are reserved for SATA
Express port)
y1x 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**
y1x SATAe port (PCIe 3.0 x2)***
ySupports Intel®Smart Response Technology for Intel
Core™ processors
* SATA5 and SATA6 ports will be unavailable when installing the M.2 module
in M.2 slot.
** The Turbo U.2 Host Card is not included, please purchase separately.
*** SATAe port is backward compatible with SATA. SATA and SATAe ports
maximum support 6x SATAs or 1x SATAe + 4x SATAs.
RAID
Intel®Z170 Chipset
ySupports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10 for SATA
storage devices
Continued on next page

4Specifications
Continued from previous page
USB
yASMedia®ASM1142 Chipset
1x USB 3.1 Gen2 (SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps) port on the
back panel
1x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port on the back panel
yIntel®Z170 Chipset
6x USB 3.1 Gen1 (SuperSpeed USB) ports (2 ports on the
back panel, 4 ports available through the internal USB
3.1 Gen1 connectors)
8x USB 2.0 (High-speed USB) ports (4 ports on the back
panel, 4 ports available through the internal USB 2.0
connectors)
Audio
yRealtek®ALC1150 Codec
y7.1-Channel High Definition Audio
ySupports S/PDIF output
LAN 1x Intel®I219-V Gigabit LAN controller
Back Panel
Connectors
y1x PS/2 keyboard/ mouse combo port
y4x USB 2.0 ports
y1x DVI-D port
y1x USB 3.1 Gen2 port
y1x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port
y1x HDMI™port
y1x LAN (RJ45) port
y2x USB 3.1 Gen1 ports
y1x Optical S/PDIF OUT connector
y5x OFC audio jacks
Continued on next page

5
Specifications
Continued from previous page
Internal Connectors
y1x 24-pin ATX main power connector
y1x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector
y6x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
y1x SATAe connector
y2x USB 2.0 connectors (supports additional 4 USB 2.0
ports)
y2x USB 3.1 Gen1 connectors (supports additional 4 USB
3.1 Gen1 ports)
y2x 4-pin CPU fan connectors
y3x 4-pin system fan connectors
y1x Front panel audio connector
y2x Front panel connectors
y1x TPM module connector
y1x Chassis Intrusion connector
y1x Clear CMOS jumper
y1x TBT connector
I/O Controller NUVOTON NCT6793 Controller Chip
Hardware Monitor
yCPU/System temperature detection
yCPU/System fan speed detection
yCPU/System fan speed control
Form Factor yATX Form Factor
y12 in. x 9.6 in. (30.5 cm x 24.4 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

6Specifications
Continued from previous page
Software
yDrivers
yCOMMAND CENTER
yLIVE UPDATE 6
yFAST BOOT
ySUPER CHARGER
yGAMING APP
yM-CLOUD
yRAMDISK
yGAMING LAN MANAGER
yNahimic Audio
yOpen Broadcaster Software
yIntel®Extreme Tuning Utility
yNorton™Internet Security Solution
yGoogle Chrome™,Google Toolbar, Google Drive
ySteelSeries Engine 3
yCPU-Z
Continued on next page

7
Specifications
Continued from previous page
Performance
GAMING Features
yMYSTIC LIGHT
16.8 Million Colors
16 LED Effects
yAUDIO BOOST 3
Isolated Audio PCB
EMI Shielding
Dual Headphone Amplifiers
High Quality Audio Capacitors
Golden Audio Connectors
yGAME BOOST
Easy Overclocking
yGAMING LAN
Intel I219-V Gigabit Ethernet
MSI Network Manager
Electric Wave Surge
yGAMING APP
System Mode Switching: OC/Gaming/Silent
Gaming Hotkey
Gaming Mouse Master
Gaming LED Control
yGAMING CERTIFIED
yNahimic
Sound Effect Equalizer
Microphone Noise Reduction
HD Audio Recorder
yOpen Broadcaster Software
Encoding using H264 (x264) and AAC.
Support for Intel Quick Sync Video (QSV) and NVENC.
Unlimited number of scenes and sources.
Live RTMP streaming to Twitch, YouTube, DailyMotion,
Hitbox and more.
Continued on next page

8Specifications
Continued from previous page
MSI Exclusive
Features
yCLICK BIOS 5
EZ Mode & Advanced Mode Switching
Board Explorer
Hardware Monitor
yMILITARY CLASS 5
Military Class Component
Military Class Stability and Reliability
ESD Protection
EMI Protection
Humidity Protection
Circuit Protection
High Temperature Protection
Steel Armor PCIe Slots
VGA Armor Slot
yCOMMAND CENTER
System Monitor
Smart Fan Control
yRAMDISK
yLIVE UPDATE 6
yM-CLOUD
yCPU-Z
yEZ Debug LED
Specification
Highlights
yDDR4 Boost Support
Dual-Channel DDR4 Memory Support
Isolated DDR4 Circuit Design
DDR4 XMP Ready
yPCI Express 3.0 Support
2-Way Nvidia SLITM Support
3-Way AMD CrossFireTM Support
yUSB 3.1 Gen2 Ready
USB 3.1 Gen2 (10 Gb/s) Type-A Ready
USB 3.1 Gen2 (10 Gb/s) Type-C Ready
yTurbo M.2 Ready
PCIe 3.0 x4 (32 Gb/s) Support
PCIe / SATA Dual Mode Support
ySATA Express Support
yNVMe / AHCI Driver Support
yU.2 Support (Optional)

9
Rear I/O Panel
Rear I/O Panel
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
Center/ Subwoofer Out ● ●
Rear Speaker Out ●●●
Line-In/ Side Speaker Out ●
Line-Out/ Front Speaker Out ●●●●
Mic In
(●: connected, Blank: empty)
PS/2 LAN
USB 2.0
USB 3.1 Gen2
Audio Ports
USB 2.0
USB 3.1 Gen1
Optical S/PDIF-Out
DVI-D
USB 3.1 Gen2
Type-C

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