MSI Z270M MORTAR User manual

1
Unpacking
Unpacking
Thank you for buying the MSI®Z270M MORTAR/ B250M MORTAR motherboard. Check
to make sure your motherboard box contains the following items. If something is
missing, contact your dealer as soon as possible.
SATA Cable x2
Drivers & Utilities
Disc Motherboard User
Guide
I/O Shield
Motherboard

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
Quick Start
Intel®LGA 1151 CPU
DDR4 Memory
Graphics Card
SATA Hard Disk Drive
SATA DVD Drive
A Package of Screws
Phillips Screwdriver
Chassis
Power Supply Unit
CPU Fan Thermal Paste
Quick Start
Preparing Tools and Components

4Quick Start
Installing a Processor
1
2
3
6
45
7
8
9

5
Quick Start
1
1
2
2
3
3
Installing DDR4 memory
DIMMB2 DIMMB2
DIMMB1
DIMMA2 DIMMA2 DIMMA2
DIMMA1

6Quick Start
Connecting the Front Panel Header
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

7
Quick Start
BAT1
Installing the Motherboard
1
2

8Quick Start
Installing SATA Drives
1
23
4
5

9
Quick Start
1
Installing a Graphics Card
2
3
4
5
6

10 Quick Start
Connecting Peripheral Devices

11
Quick Start
Connecting the Power Connectors
ATX_PWR1 CPU_PWR1

12 Quick Start
Power On
1
4
2
3

13
Contents
Contents
Unpacking .............................................................................................................. 1
Safety Information................................................................................................. 2
Quick Start ............................................................................................................. 3
Preparing Tools and Components.......................................................................... 3
Installing a Processor............................................................................................. 4
Installing DDR4 memory ........................................................................................ 5
Connecting the Front Panel Header....................................................................... 6
Installing the Motherboard..................................................................................... 7
Installing SATA Drives............................................................................................. 8
Installing a Graphics Card ...................................................................................... 9
Connecting Peripheral Devices............................................................................ 10
Connecting the Power Connectors....................................................................... 11
Power On............................................................................................................... 12
Specifications....................................................................................................... 15
Block Diagram .................................................................................................... 20
Rear I/O Panel ..................................................................................................... 21
LAN Port LED Status Table................................................................................... 21
Audio Ports Configuration.................................................................................... 21
Realtek HD Audio Manager .................................................................................. 22
Overview of Components .................................................................................... 24
CPU Socket ........................................................................................................... 26
DIMM Slots............................................................................................................ 27
PCI_E1~4: PCIe Expansion Slots.......................................................................... 28
M2_1: M.2 Slot (Key M) ......................................................................................... 29
SATA1~6: SATA 6Gb/s Connectors ....................................................................... 30
JFP1, JFP2: Front Panel Connectors ................................................................... 31
JCOM1: Serial Port Connector ............................................................................. 31
JAUD1: Front Audio Connector ............................................................................ 31
CPU_PWR1, ATX_PWR1: Power Connectors ....................................................... 32
JTPM1: TPM Module Connector........................................................................... 32
JUSB1~2: USB 2.0 Connectors............................................................................. 33
JUSB3~4: USB 3.1 Gen1 Connectors (optional)................................................... 33
CPU_FAN1,SYS_FAN1~3: Fan Connectors........................................................... 34
JCI1: Chassis Intrusion Connector....................................................................... 35
JBAT1: Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS) Jumper........................................................... 35

14 Contents
JLED1: RGB LED connector ................................................................................. 36
EZ Debug LEDs..................................................................................................... 36
BIOS Setup ........................................................................................................... 37
Entering BIOS Setup............................................................................................. 37
Resetting BIOS...................................................................................................... 38
Updating BIOS....................................................................................................... 38
EZ Mode ................................................................................................................ 39
Advanced Mode .................................................................................................... 41
SETTINGS.............................................................................................................. 42
Advanced............................................................................................................... 42
Boot....................................................................................................................... 48
Security................................................................................................................. 49
Save & Exit............................................................................................................ 50
OC.......................................................................................................................... 51
M-FLASH .............................................................................................................. 58
OC PROFILE.......................................................................................................... 59
HARDWARE MONITOR.......................................................................................... 60
Software Description........................................................................................... 61
Installing Windows®7/ 8.1/ 10.............................................................................. 61
Installing Drivers .................................................................................................. 61
Installing Utilities ................................................................................................. 61
COMMAND CENTER ............................................................................................. 62
LIVE UPDATE 6...................................................................................................... 66
GAMING APP......................................................................................................... 69
X-BOOST ............................................................................................................... 74
RAMDISK............................................................................................................... 76
GAMING LAN MANAGER ...................................................................................... 77
XSplit Gamecaster V2 ........................................................................................... 79
SteelSeries Engine 3 ............................................................................................ 83
CPU-Z.................................................................................................................... 85
Intel®Extreme Tuning Utility................................................................................ 86
RAID Configuration.............................................................................................. 87
Using Intel®Rapid Storage Technology Option ROM ........................................... 87
Degraded RAID Array ........................................................................................... 90
Troubleshooting .................................................................................................. 92
Regulatory Notices.............................................................................................. 93

15
Specifications
Specifications
CPU
ySupports 7th/6th Gen Intel®Core™i3/i5/i7 processors,
and Intel®Pentium®and Celeron®processors for Socket
LGA1151
Chipset Intel® Z270/ B250 Chipset
Memory
y4x DDR4 memory slots, support up to 64GB
Z270 chipset + 7th Gen processors support DDR4
3800(OC)/ 3600(OC)/ 3200(OC)/ 3000(OC)/ 2800(OC)/
2600(OC)/ 2400/ 2133 MHz*
Z270 chipset + 6th Gen processors support DDR4
3600(OC)/ 3200(OC)/ 3000(OC)/ 2800(OC)/ 2600(OC)/
2400(OC)/ 2133 MHz*
B250 chipset + 7th Gen processors support DDR4 2400/
2133 MHz*/ **
B250 chipset + 6th Gen processors support DDR4 2133
MHz*/ **
yDual channel memory architecture
ySupports Intel®Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)**
** DDR4 memory modules can only run at maximum of 2400 MHz for 7th Gen
processors and 2133 MHz for 6 th Gen processors on XMP mode.
Expansion Slots y2x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots (support x16/x4 mode)
y2x PCIe 3.0 x1 slots
Onboard Graphics
y1x DVI-D port, supporting a maximum resolution of
1920x1200@60Hz
y1x DisplayPort, supports a maximum resolution
of 4096x2304@24Hz, 2560x1600@60Hz,
3840x2160@60Hz,1920x1200@60Hz
y1x HDMI™port, supports a maximum resolution of
4096x2160@30Hz(7th CPU), 4096x2160@24Hz(6th CPU),
2560x1600@60Hz
Multi-GPU ySupports 2-Way AMD®CrossFire™Technology
Continued on next page

16 Specifications
Continued from previous page
Storage
Intel®Z270/ B250 Chipset
y6x SATA 6Gb/s ports*
y1x M.2 slot (Key M)
Support up to PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA 6Gb/s
Supports 2242/ 2260 /2280/ 22110 storage devices
Support PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe U.2 SSD with Turbo U.2 Host
Card**
Intel®Optane™ Memory Ready
ySupports Intel®Smart Response Technology for Intel
Core™ processors
* The SATA1 port will be unavailable when an M.2 SATA SSD module has been
installed in the M.2 slot.
** The Turbo U.2 Host Card is not included, please purchase separately.
RAID
Intel®Z270 Chipset
ySupports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10 for SATA
storage devices
USB
yIntel®Z270 Chipset
8x USB 3.1 Gen1 (SuperSpeed USB) ports (3 Type-A
ports + 1 Type-C port on the back panel, 4 ports available
through the internal USB connectors)
6x USB 2.0 (High-speed USB) ports (2 Type-A ports on
the back panel, 4 ports available through the internal
USB connectors)
yIntel®B250 Chipset
6x USB 3.1 Gen1 (SuperSpeed USB) ports (3 Type-A
ports + 1 Type-C port on the back panel, 2 ports available
through the internal USB connector)
6x USB 2.0 (High-speed USB) ports (2 Type-A ports on
the back panel, 4 ports available through the internal
USB connectors)
Audio yRealtek®ALC892 Codec
y7.1-Channel High Definition Audio
LAN 1x Intel®I219-V Gigabit LAN controller
Continued on next page

17
Specifications
Continued from previous page
Back Panel
Connectors
y1x PS/2 mouse & keyboard combo port
y2x USB 2.0 ports
y1x DVI-D port
y1x DisplayPort
y1x HDMI™port
y1x LAN (RJ45) port
y3x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A ports
y1x USB 3.1 Gen1Type-C port
y6x OFC audio jacks
Internal Connectors
y1x 24-pin ATX main power connector
y1x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector
y6x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
y1x M.2 slot
y2x USB 3.1 Gen1 connectors (supports additional 4 USB
3.1 Gen1 ports) (For Z270 chipset)
y1x USB 3.1 Gen1 connector (supports additional 2 USB 3.1
Gen1 ports) (For B250 chipset)
y2x USB 2.0 connectors (supports additional 4 USB 2.0
ports)
y1x 4-pin CPU fan connector
y3x 4-pin system fan connectors
y1x Front panel audio connector
y2x Front panel connectors
y1x Serial port connector
y1x RGB LED connector
y1x TPM module connector
y1x TBT connector
y1x Chassis Intrusion connector
y1x Clear CMOS jumper
I/O Controller NUVOTON NCT6795 Controller Chip
Hardware Monitor
yCPU/System temperature detection
yCPU/System fan speed detection
yCPU/System fan speed control
From Factor yMicro-ATX Form Factor
y9.6 in. x 9.6 in. (24.4 cm x 24.4 cm)
Continued on next page

18 Specifications
Continued from previous page
BIOS Features
y1x 128 Mb flash
yUEFI AMI BIOS
yACPI 5.0, PnP 1.0a, SM BIOS 2.8
yMulti-language
Software
yDrivers
ySUPER CHARGER
yFAST BOOT
yCOMMAND CENTER
yLIVE UPDATE 6
yMSI SMART TOOL
yDRAGON EYE
yGAMING APP
yX-BOOST
yRAMDISK
yGAMING LAN Manager
yXSplit Gamecaster V2
ySteelSeries Engine 3
yCPU-Z MSI GAMING
yIntel®Extreme Tuning Utility
yNorton™Internet Security Solution
yGoogle Chrome™, Google Toolbar, Google Drive
Continued on next page

19
Specifications
Continued from previous page
MSI Special
Features
yAudio Boost
yGAMING LAN with cFos
yWTFast
yIntel OptaneTM Memory Ready
yTurbo M.2
ySmart Fan Control
yMystic light SYNC
yMystic Light Extension (RGB)
yGaming DNA with bottom LED
yPCI-E Steel Armor
yM.2 Steel Armor
yMuitl GPU - CrossFire Technology
yDDR4 Boost
yGAME Boost
yX-Boost
yMilitary Class 5
y7000+ Quality Test
yVR Ready
yDragon eye
yXsplit
yRAMDisk
yGAMING HOTKEY
yClick BIOS 5

20 Block Diagram
Block Diagram
LPC Bus
2 Channel DDR4 Memory
8x/6x USB 3.1 Gen1
1 x M.2
6 x USB 2.0
PCI-E Bus
PCI Express Bus
P/S2 Mouse / Keyboard Audio Jacks
DMI 3.0
CHIPSET
CPU
NV6795
Super I/O
Realtek
ALC892
Intel
I219-V
x4
x1
PCI Express Bus
DVI-D HDMI DisplayPort
Switch
x1
PCIe x1 slot
PCIe x1 slot
PCIe x16 slot
6 x SATA 6Gb/s