MSI Gaming 7 User Manual

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 &GSATA Controller
 Enables or disables RAID for the SATA controllers integrated in the Marvell®	88SE9172	 chip	or	configures	
the SATA controllers to AHCI mode. The area below displays the current status of the two SATA ports.
 IDE	Mode	 	 	
Disables	RAID	for	the	 SATA 	controllers	 and	configures	 the	SATA 	controllers	 to	IDE	
mode.
 AHCI	Mode		 	
Configures	the	SATA 	controllers	 to	AHCI	 mode.	 Advanced	 Host	Controller	 Interface	
(AHCI)	is	an	 interface	 specification	 that	allows	 the	storage	 driver	to	enable	 advanced	
Serial	ATA	features	such	as	Native	Command	Queuing	and	hot	plug.	(Default)
 RAID Mode   Enables RAID for the SATA controllers.
 Disabled   Disables this function.
 `Marvell	SATA	Controller	 Configuration	 (Marvell®	88SE9172	 Chip,	GSATA3	 6/7	connectors)
BIOS Setup  
						

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 &Power Loading
 Enables or disables dummy load. When the power supply is at low load, a \
self-protection will activate causing 
it to shutdown or fail. If this occurs, please set to Enabled. Auto	lets	 the	BIOS	 automatically	 configure	this	
setting.	(Default:	 Auto)
 &Resume	by	Alarm
	 Determines	whether	to	power	on	the	system	at	a	desired	time.	(Default:	Disabled)
 If enabled, set the date and time as following:
 Wake	up	day:	 Turn	on	the	system	at	a	specific	time	on	each	day	or	on	a	specific	day	in	a	month.
 Wake up hour/minute/second: Set the time at which the system will be powe\
red on automatically.
 Note: When using this function, avoid inadequate shutdown from the operating system or removal of the 
AC power, or the settings may not be effective.
 &Soft-Off	by	PWR-BTTN
	 Configures	the	way	to	turn	off	the	computer	in	MS-DOS	mode	using	the	power	button.
 Instant-Off	 	 Press	the	power	button	and	then	the	system	will	be	turned	off	instantly.	(Default)
 Delay 4 Sec.    Press and hold the power button for 4 seconds to turn off the system. If the power 
button is pressed for less than 4 seconds, the system will enter suspend\
 mode.
 &RC6(Render	Standby)
 Allows you to determine whether to let the onboard graphics enter standby mode to decrease power 
consumption.	(Default:	Enabled)
 &AC BACK
 Determines the state of the system after the return of power from an AC power loss.
 Memory    The system returns to its last known awake state upon the return of the \
AC power.
 Always On   The system is turned on upon the return of the AC power.
 Always	Off	 		
The	system	stays	off	upon	the	return	of	the	 AC	power.	(Default)
2-7 Power Management
BIOS Setup   
						

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 &Power On By Keyboard
 Allows the system to be turned on by a PS/2 keyboard wake-up event.
 Note: To use this function, you need an ATX power supply providing at least 1A on the +5VSB lead.
 Disabled	 	 Disables	this	function.	(Default)
 Password	 	 Set	a	password	with	1~5	characters	to	turn	on	the	system.
 Keyboard 98  Press POWER button on the Windows 98 keyboard to turn on the system.
 Any Key   Press any key to turn on the system.
 &Power On Password
 Set the password when Power On By Keyboard is set to Password.
 Press  on this item and set a password with up to 5 characters and then press  to accept. 
To turn on the system, enter the password and press .
 Note: To cancel the password, press  on this item. When prompted for the password, press  
again without entering the password to clear the password settings.
 &Power On By Mouse
 Allows the system to be turned on by a PS/2 mouse wake-up event.
 Note: To use this function, you need an ATX power supply providing at least 1A on the +5VSB lead.
 Disabled	 	 Disables	this	function.	(Default)
 Move      Move the mouse to turn on the system.
 Double Click Double click on left button on the mouse to turn on the system.
 &ErP
	 Determines	whether	to	let	the	system	consume	least	power	in	S5	(shutdown)	state.	 (Default:	Disabled)
 Note: When this item is set to Enabled, the following functions will become unavailable: PME event wake 
up, power on by mouse, power on by keyboard, and wake on LAN.
 &Platform Power Management
	 Enables	or	disables	the	 Active	State	Power	Management	function	(ASPM).	(Default: 	Disabled)
 &PEG ASPM
	 Allows	you	to	configure	 the	ASPM	 mode	for	the	 device	 connected	 to	the	 CPU	 PEG	 bus.	Auto lets the BIOS 
automatically	 configure	this	setting.	 This	item	is	configurable	 only	when	Platform Power Management is 
set to Enabled.	(Default:	 Auto)
 &PCIe ASPM
	 Allows	 you	to	configure	 the	ASPM	 mode	for	the	 device	 connected	 to	Chipset's	 PCI	Express	 bus.	Auto 
lets	the	BIOS	 automatically	 configure	this	setting.	 This	item	is	configurable	 only	when	Platform Power 
Management is set to Enabled.	(Default:	 Auto)
 &CPU	DMI	Link	 ASPM	Control
	 Allows	you	to	configure	 the	ASPM	 mode	for	the	 CPU	 side	of	the	 DMI	 link.	Auto lets the BIOS automatically 
configure	 this	setting.	 This	item	is	configurable	 only	when	Platform Power Management is set to Enabled. 
(Default:	L0sL1)
 &PCH DMI Link ASPM Control
	 Allows	 you	to	configure	 the	ASPM	 mode	for	both	 CPU	 side	and	Chipset	 side	of	the	 DMI	 link.	Auto lets the 
BIOS 	automatically	 configure	this	 setting. 	This	 item	is	configurable 	only	 when 	Platform Power Management 
is set to Enabled.	(Default:	Enabled)
BIOS Setup  
						

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2-8 Save & Exit
 &Save & Exit Setup
 Press  on this item and select Yes. This saves the changes to the CMOS and exits the BIOS Setup 
program. Select No or press  to return to the BIOS Setup Main Menu.
 &Exit Without Saving
 Press  on this item and select Yes. This exits the BIOS Setup without saving the changes made 
in BIOS Setup to the CMOS. Select No or press  to return to the BIOS Setup Main Menu.
 &Load Optimized Defaults
 Press  on this item and select Yes to load the optimal BIOS default settings. The BIOS defaults 
settings	 help	the	system	 to	operate	 in	optimum	 state.	Always	 load	the	Optimized	 defaults	after	updating	
the BIOS or after clearing the CMOS values.
 &Boot Override
 Allows you to select a device to boot immediately. Press  on the device you select and select Yes 
to	confirm.	 Your	system	will	restart	automatically	and	boot	from	that	device.
 &Save	Profiles
	 This	function	allows	you	to	save	 the	current	 BIOS	settings	 to	a	profile.	 You	can	create	 up	to	8	profiles	 and	
save	as	Setup	 Profile	 1~	Setup	 Profile	 8.	Press	 	 to	complete.	 Or	you	 can	select	Select File in 
HDD/USB/FDD	to	save	the	profile	to	your	storage	device.
 &Load	Profiles
  If your system becomes unstable and you have loaded the BIOS default set\
tings, you can use this function 
to	load	 the	BIOS	 settings	 from	a	profile	 created	 before,	without	 the	hassles	 of	reconfiguring	 the	BIOS	
settings.	 First	select	 the	profile	 you	wish	 to	load	 and	then	 press	 	 to	complete.	 You	can	select	Select 
File	 in	HDD/USB/FDD	to	 input	 the	profile	 previously	 created	from	your	storage	 device	or	load	 the	profile	
automatically created by the BIOS, such as reverting the BIOS settings to the last settings that worked 
properly	(last	known	good	record).
BIOS Setup   
						

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Chapter	3	 Configuring	SATA	Hard	Drive(s)
To	configure	SATA 	hard	drive(s),	follow	the	steps	below:
A. Install	SATA	hard	drive(s)	in	your	computer.	
B. Configure	SATA 	controller	mode	in	BIOS	Setup.
C. Configure	a	RAID	array	in	RAID	BIOS.	(Note	1)
D. Install the SATA RAID/AHCI driver and operating system. (Note	2)
Before you begin
Please prepare:
 •At	least	 two	SATA 	hard	 drives	 (to	ensure	 optimal	 performance,	 it	is	 recommended	 that	you	use	two	hard	 drives 	
with	identical	 model	and	capacity).	 If	you	 do	not	 want	 to	create	 RAID,	you	may	 prepare	 only	one	hard	 drive.
 •Windows 8/7 setup disk.
 •Motherboard driver disk.
 •A USB thumb drive.
RAID	Levels
3-1	 Configuring	Intel® Z97 SATA Controllers
A.	Installing	SATA 	hard	drive(s)	in	your	computer
Attach one end of the SATA signal cable to the rear of the SATA hard drive and the other end to available SATA 
port on the motherboard. If there is more than one SATA controller on your motherboard, refer to "Chapter 1," 
"Hardware	Installation,"	 to	identify	 the	SATA 	controller	 for	the	 SATA 	port.	 (For	example,	 on	this	 motherboard,	
the SATA3 0/1/2/3/4/5 ports are supported by the Intel®	Z97	 Chipset.)	 Then	connect	 the	power	 connector	 from	
your power supply to the hard drive.
RAID	0RAID	1RAID	5RAID	10Minimum Number of Hard Drives≥22≥3≥4
Array CapacityNumber of hard drives	*	Size	of	the	smallest drive 
Size	of	the	smallest	drive(Number	of	hard	drives	-1)	*	Size	of	the smallest drive
(Number	of	hard	drives/2)	*	Size	 of	the	smallest drive
Fault ToleranceNoYe sYe sYe s
(Note	1)	 Skip	this	step	if	you	do	not	want	to	 create	RAID	array	on	the	SATA	controller.
(Note	2)	 Required	when	the	SATA 	controller	is	set	to	AHCI	or	RAID	mode.
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The BIOS Setup menus described in this section may differ from the exact settings for your motherboard. 
The actual BIOS Setup menu options you will see shall depend on the moth\
erboard you have and 
the BIOS version.
B.	Configuring	SATA	controller	mode	in	BIOS	Setup
Make	sure	to	configure	the	SATA 	controller	mode	correctly	in	system	BIOS	Setup.
Step 1: 
Turn	on	your	 computer	 and	press	 	 to	enter	 BIOS	 Setup	 during	 the	POST 	(Power-On	 Self-Test).	Go	to	
Peripherals\SATA 	Configuration, make sure SATA Controller is enabled. To create RAID, set SATA Mode 
Selection to RAID	(Figure	1).	If	you	do	not	want	to	create	RAID,	set	this	item	to	IDE or AHCI.
Step 2: 
If	 you	 want	 to	configure	 UEFI	RAID,	 follow	the	steps	 in	"C-1."	 To	enter	 the	legacy	 RAID	ROM,	 save	the	settings	
and exit BIOS Setup. Refer to "C-2" for more information. 
Figure 1
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C-1.	UEFI	RAID	Configuration
Only	Windows	8.1/8	64-bit	supports	UEFI	RAID	configuration.
Step 1:
In BIOS Setup, go to BIOS Features and set Windows 8 Features to Windows 8 and CSM Support to Never 
(Figure	2).	Save	the	changes	and	exit	BIOS	Setup.
Step 2:
After the system reboot, enter BIOS Setup again. Then enter the Peripherals\Intel(R)	Rapid	Storage	 Technology 	
sub-menu	(Figure	3).	
Figure 2
Figure 3
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Step 3:
On the Intel(R)	Rapid	Storage	 Technology menu, press  on Create	RAID	Volume to enter the Create 
RAID	 Volume	screen.	 Enter	a	volume	 name	with	1~16	 letters	 (letters	 cannot	be	special	 characters)	 under	the	
Name	item	 and	press	 .	 Then,	select	a	 RAID	 level	(Figure	 4).	RAID	 levels	 supported	 include	RAID	0,	
RAID	1,	RAID	 10,	and	 RAID	 5	(the	 selections	 available	depend	on	the	 number	 of	the	 hard	 drives	 being	installed). 	
Next, use the down arrow key to move to Select Disks.
Step 4:
Under Select Disks item, select the hard drives to be included in the RAID array. Press the  key on 
the	hard	 drives	 to	be	 selected	 (selected	 hard	drives	 are	marked	 with	"X").	 Then	 set	the	 stripe	 block	size	(Figure	
5).	The	 stripe	 block	size	can	be	set	 from	 4	KB	 to	128	 KB.	Once	 you	have	 selected	 the	stripe	 block	size,	set	
the volume capacity.
Figure 4
Figure 5
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Step 5:
After setting the capacity, move to Create Volume	and	press		to	begin.	(Figure	6)
After completing, you'll be brought back to the Intel(R)	Rapid	Storage	 Technology screen. Under RAID	Volumes 
you can see the new RAID volume. To see more detailed information, press  on the volume  to check 
for	information	on	RAID	level,	stripe	block	size,	array	name,	and	array	capacity,	etc.	(Figure	7)
Figure 6
Figure 7
Configuring	SATA	Hard	Drive(s)  
						

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Delete	RAID	Volume
To delete a RAID array, press  on the volume to be deleted on the Intel(R)	Rapid	Storage	 Technology	
screen. After entering the RAID	VOLUME	 INFO screen, press  on Delete to enter the Delete screen. 
Press  on Yes	(Figure	8).	
Figure 8
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