MSI X99s Gaming 7 Manual

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2-2 The Main Menu
A. Startup Guide (Default)
The	Startup	 Guide	screen	 simplifies	 conventional	 complicated	BIOS	setup	 menus	 and	presents	 only	the	most	
frequently	 used	options	 in	the	 easy-to-use	 interface.	It	helps	 first-time	 users	to	perform	 basic	system	 setups	
more quickly and easily.
B. ST Mode (Smart Tweak Mode)
Differing from traditional UEFI interface, the ST Mode provides a fancy and user-friendly BIOS environment 
where users can easily point and click through various settings and make adjustments for optimum performance. 
In	ST 	Mode,	 you	can	use	your	 mouse	 to	move	 through	 the	option	 menus	 for	quick	 configuration	 or	press	 	
to switch to the traditional BIOS Setup screen.
 •When the system is not stable as usual, select the Load Optimized Defaults item to set your 
system to its defaults.
 •The BIOS Setup menus described in this chapter are for reference only and may differ by BIOS 
version.
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Classic Setup Function Keys
Move the selection bar to select a setup menu
Move	the	selection	bar	to	select	an	configuration	item	on	a	menu
Execute command or enter a menu
/Increase the numeric value or make changes
/Decrease the numeric value or make changes
Show descriptions of the function keys
Switch to ST Mode or Startup Guide screen
Restore the previous BIOS settings for the current submenus
Load	the	Optimized	BIOS	default	settings	for	the	current	submenus
Access the Q-Flash utility
Display system information
Save all the changes and exit the BIOS Setup program
Capture the current screen as an image and save it to your USB drive
Main Menu: Exit the BIOS Setup program  
Submenus: Exit current submenu
C. Classic Setup
Classic Setup is the conventional BIOS Setup interface where you can press the arrow keys on your keyboard 
to move among the items and press  to accept or enter a sub-menu. Or you can use your mouse to 
select the item you want.
(Sample BIOS Version: F1c)
Setup Menus
Function Keys
Help
Enter Q-FlashSelect DefaultLanguage
Configuration	ItemsCurrent Settings
Switch to ST Mode
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BIOS Setup Menus
 „M.I.T.
	 Use	this	menu	 to	configure	 the	clock,	 frequency,	 and	voltages	 of	your	 CPU	 and	memory,	 etc.	Or	check	 the	
system/CPU temperatures, voltages, and fan speeds.
 „System Information
	 Use	this	menu	to	 configure	the	default	language	used	by	the	BIOS	and	system	time 	and	date.
 „BIOS Features
	 Use	this	menu	to	configure	the	device	boot	order	and	advanced	features	available	on	the	CPU.
 „Peripherals
	 Use	this	menu	to	configure	all	peripheral	devices,	such	as	USB,	display	settings,	etc.
 „Chipset
	 Use	this	menu	to	configure	Chipset-related	options,	such	as	SATA,	onboard	LAN,	etc.
 „Power Management
	 Use	this	menu	to	configure	all	the	power-saving	functions.
 „Save & Exit
 Save all the changes made in the BIOS Setup program to the CMOS and exit\
 BIOS Setup. You can save 
the	current	 BIOS	settings	 to	a	profile	 or	load	 optimized	 defaults	for	optimal-performance	 system	operations. 	
BIOS Setup  
						

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2-3 M.I.T.
Whether the system will work stably with the overclock/overvoltage settings you made is dependent 
on	your	 overall	 system	configurations.	 Incorrectly	doing	overclock/overvoltage	 may	result	 in	damage	
to CPU, chipset, or memory and reduce the useful life of these components. This page is for advanced 
users only and we recommend you not to alter the default settings to prevent system instability or 
other	 unexpected	 results.	(Inadequately	 altering	the	settings	 may	result	 in	system's	 failure	to	boot.	 If	
this	occurs,	clear	the	CMOS	values	and	reset	the	board	to	default	values.)
This section provides information on the BIOS version, CPU base clock, CPU frequency, memory frequency, 
total	memory	size,	CPU	temperature	and	CPU	voltage,	etc.
BIOS Setup  
						

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 `M.I.T. Current Status 
 This screen provides information on CPU/memory frequencies/parameters.
 `Advanced Frequency Settings 
 &CPU Base Clock	 Allows	you	to	manually	set	the	CPU	base	clock	in	0.01	MHz	increments.	(Default:	 Auto) Important: It is highly recommended that the CPU frequency be set in accordance with the CPU specifications.
 &Host/PCIe Clock Frequency (Note)
	 Allows	you	to	manually	 set	the	 host	 clock	 frequency	 (which	controls	 CPU,	PCIe,	 and	memory	 frequencies)	in	0.01	MHz	increments.	 This	item	is	configurable	only	when	CPU Base Clock is set to Manual.
 &Processor Base Clock (Gear Ratio) (Note)
	 Allows	 you	to	configure	 the	Processor	 Base	Clock	 by	multiplying	 the	Host/PCIe Clock Frequency by several preset	host	clock	multipliers.	 This	item	is	configurable	only	when	CPU Base Clock is set to Manual.
 &Spread Spectrum Control (Note)
	 Enables	or	disables	CPU/PCIe	Spread	Spectrum.	(Default:	 Auto)	 This	item	is	configurable	only	when	CPU Base Clock is set to Manual.
 &Host Clock Value This value is determined by multiplying the Host/PCIe Clock Frequency value by the Processor Base Clock (Gear Ratio) value.
 &CPU Upgrade (Note)
	 Allows	 you	to	set	 the	 CPU	 frequency.	 Options	may	vary	depending	 on	the	 CPU	 being	 used.	(Default:	 Auto)
 &CPU Clock Ratio Allows you to alter the clock ratio for the installed CPU. The adjustable range is dependent on the CPU being installed.
(Note)	 This	 item	is	present	 only	when	 you	install	 a	CPU 	that	 supports	 this	feature.	 For	more	 information	 about	
Intel® CPUs' unique features, please visit Intel's website.
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 &CPU Clock Ratio, CPU Frequency
 The settings above are synchronous to those under the same items on the \
Advanced Frequency Settings 
menu.
 &CPU PLL Selection
 Allows you to set the CPU PLL. Auto	lets	the	BIOS	automatically	configure	this	setting.	(Default:	 Auto)
 &Filter PLL Level
 Allows you to set the Filter PLL. Auto	lets	the	BIOS	automatically	configure	this	setting.	(Default:	 Auto)
 &Uncore Ratio
 Allows you to set the CPU Uncore ratio. The adjustable range is dependent on the CPU being used.
 &Uncore Frequency
 Displays the current CPU Uncore frequency.
 &Intel(R) Turbo Boost Technology (Note)
 Allows you to determine whether to enable the Intel CPU Turbo Boost technology. Auto lets the BIOS 
automatically	configure	this	setting.	(Default:	 Auto)
 &Turbo Ratio (Note)
 Allows you to set the CPU Turbo ratios for different number of active cores. Auto sets the CPU Turbo ratios 
according	to	the	CPU	specifications.	(Default:	 Auto)
 &Turbo Power Limit (Watts)
 Allows you to set a power limit for CPU Turbo mode. When the CPU power consumption exceeds the 
specified	 power	limit,	the	CPU	 will	automatically	 reduce	the	core	 frequency	 in	order	 to	reduce	 the	power.	
Auto	sets	the	power	limit	according	to	the	CPU	specifications.	(Default:	 Auto)
 `Advanced CPU Core Settings 
(Note)	 This	item	is	present	 only	when	 you	install	 a	CPU 	that	 supports	 this	feature.	 For	more	 information	 about	
Intel® CPUs' unique features, please visit Intel's website.
 &CPU Frequency
 Displays the current operating CPU frequency.
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 &Core Current Limit (Amps)
	 Allows	you	to	set	 a	current	 limit	for	CPU 	Turbo	 mode.	 When	the	CPU	 current	 exceeds	 the	specified	 current	
limit, the CPU will automatically reduce the core frequency in order to reduce the current. Auto sets the 
power	limit	according	to	the	CPU	specifications.	(Default:	 Auto)
 &No. of CPU Cores Enabled (Note 1)
 Allows you to select the number of CPU cores to enable in an Intel®	multi-core	 CPU	(the	 number	 of	CPU	
cores	may	vary	by	CPU).	Auto	lets	the	BIOS	automatically	configure	this	setting.	(Default:	 Auto)
 &Hyper-Threading Technology (Note 1)
 Allows you to determine whether to enable multi-threading technology when using an Intel® CPU that 
supports this function. This feature only works for operating systems that support multi-processor mode. 
Auto	lets	the	BIOS	automatically	configure	this	setting.	(Default:	 Auto)
 &CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) (Note 1)
 Enables or disables Intel®	CPU	 Enhanced	 Halt	(C1E)	 function,	 a	CPU	 power-saving	 function	in	system	 halt	
state. When enabled, the CPU core frequency and voltage will be reduced during system halt state to decrease 
power consumption. Auto	lets	the	BIOS	automatically	configure	this	setting.	(Default:	 Auto)
 &C3 State Support (Note 1)
 Allows you to determine whether to let the CPU enter C3 mode in system halt state. When enabled, the 
CPU core frequency and voltage will be reduced during system halt state to d\
ecrease power consumption. 
The C3 state is a more enhanced power-saving state than C1. Auto	lets	 the	BIOS	 automatically	 configure	
this	setting.	(Default:	 Auto)
 &C6/C7 State Support (Note 1)
 Allows you to determine whether to let the CPU enter C6/C7 mode in system halt state. When enabled, the 
CPU core frequency and voltage will be reduced during system halt state to d\
ecrease power consumption. 
The C6/C7 state is a more enhanced power-saving state than C3. Auto	lets	 the	BIOS	 automatically 	configure 	
this	setting.	(Default:	 Auto)
 &CPU Thermal Monitor (Note 1)
 Enables or disables Intel® Thermal Monitor function, a CPU overheating protection function. When en\
abled, 
the CPU core frequency and voltage will be reduced when the CPU is overheated. Auto lets the BIOS 
automatically	configure	this	setting.	(Default:	 Auto)
 &CPU EIST Function (Note 1)
 Enables or disables Enhanced Intel®	Speed	 Step	Technology	 (EIST).	Depending	 on	CPU	 loading,	 Intel	
EIST technology can dynamically and effectively lower the CPU voltage and core frequency to decrease 
average power consumption and heat production. Auto	lets	 the	BIOS	 automatically	 configure	this	setting.	
(Default:	 Auto)
 &Extreme	Memory	Profile	(X.M.P.)	(Note 2)
	 Allows	 the	BIOS	 to	read	 the	SPD	 data	on	XMP 	memory	 module(s)	 to	enhance	 memory	performance	 when	
enabled.
 Disabled	 	 Disables	this	function.	(Default)
 Profile1	 	 Uses	Profile	1	settings.
 Profile2	(Note	2)	 Uses	Profile	2	settings.
(Note	1)	 This	 item	is	present	 only	when	 you	install	 a	CPU 	that	 supports	 this	feature.	 For	more	 information	 about	
Intel® CPUs' unique features, please visit Intel's website.
(Note	2)	 This	item	is	present	only	when	you 	install	a	CPU	and	a	memory	module	that	support	this	feature.
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 `Advanced Memory Settings
 &Extreme	Memory	Profile	(X.M.P.)	(Note), System Memory Multiplier, Memory Frequency(MHz)
 The settings above are synchronous to those under the same items on the \
Advanced Frequency Settings 
menu.
 &Memory Boot Mode
 Provides memory detection and training methods.
 Auto	 	 	 	 Lets	the	BIOS	automatically	configure	this	setting.	(Default)
 Enable	Fast	Boot	 	
Skip	memory	 detection 	and	 training	 in	some	 specific	 criteria	for	faster	 memory	
boot.
 Disable Fast Boot    Detect and train memory at every single boot.
 &Memory Enhancement Settings
	 Provides	three	different	 memory	 performance	 enhancement	 settings:	Normal	(basic	performance),	 Enhanced	
Stability,	and	Enhanced	Performance.	(Default:	Normal)
 &Memory Timing Mode
 Manual and Advanced Manual allows the Channel Interleaving, Rank Interleaving, and memory timing 
settings	below	to	be	configurable.	Options	are:	 Auto	(default),	Manual,	Advanced	Manual.
 &System Memory Multiplier
 Allows you to set the system memory multiplier. Auto sets memory multiplier according to memory SPD 
data.	(Default:	 Auto)
 &Memory Frequency (MHz)
	 The	first	memory	 frequency	 value	is	the	 normal	 operating	 frequency	 of	the	 memory	 being	used;	the	second	
is the memory frequency that is automatically adjusted according to the \
System Memory Multiplier settings.
(Note)	 This	item	is	present	only	when	you 	install	a	CPU	and	a	memory	module	that	support	this	feature.
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 &Profile	DDR	Voltage
 When using a non-XMP memory module or Extreme	 Memory	Profile	(X.M.P.) is set to Disabled, the value 
is	displayed	 according	to	 your	 memory	 specification.	 When	Extreme	Memory	Profile	(X.M.P.) is set to 
Profile1 or Profile2, the value is displayed according to the SPD data on the XMP memory.
 &Channel Interleaving
 Enables or disables memory channel interleaving. Enabled allows the system to simultaneously access 
different channels of the memory to increase memory performance and stability. Auto lets the BIOS 
automatically	configure	this	setting.	(Default:	 Auto)
 &Rank Interleaving
 Enables or disables memory rank interleaving. Enabled allows the system to simultaneously access different 
ranks of the memory to increase memory performance and stability. Auto lets the BIOS automatically 
configure	this	setting.	(Default:	 Auto)
This sub-menu provides memory timing settings for each channel of memory. This sub-menu provides memory 
timing	settings	 for	each	 channel	 of	memory.	 The	respective	 timing	setting	 screens	 are	configurable	 only	when	
Memory Timing Mode is set to Manual or Advanced Manual. Note: Your system may become unstable or fail 
to boot after you make changes on the memory timings. If this occurs, please reset the board to default values 
by	loading	optimized	defaults	or	clearing	the	CMOS	values.
 `Channel A/B/C/D Memory Sub Timings
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 `Advanced Voltage Settings
 `Advanced Power Settings
 &CPU VRIN Loadline Calibration
	 Allows	you	to	set	 the	 Load-Line	 Calibration	 level	for	the	 CPU	 VRIN.	 The	levels	 are	(from	 highest	 to	lowest):	
Extreme, Turbo, High, Medium, Low, and Standard. Selecting a higher level keeps the Vcore more consistent\
 
with what is set in BIOS under heavy load. Auto	lets	 the	BIOS	 automatically	 configure	this	setting	 and	sets	
the voltage following Intel®'s	specifications.	(Default:	 Auto)
 &CPU VRIN Protection
 Allows you to set the over-current protection level for the CPU VRIN voltage. The adjustable range is from 
150.0mV to 400.0mV. Auto	lets	the	BIOS	automatically	configure	this	setting.	(Default:	 Auto)
BIOS Setup