MSI Z97 Gaming 9 Manual

Chapter 1
1-27Getting Started

Voltage Checkpoints
These voltage checkpoints are used to measure the current system voltages. A multimeter (not included) will be required to check voltages. 
FV1: V-Check Connectors
To check the voltage, please use the optional voltage checkpoint cables included in the motherboard package. Attach the positive lead of the multimeter to the voltage checkpoint cable and the negative lead to the ground connector.
GFX
GND
1
9
RING
CORE
DDR
VCCIN
C_SA
GND
GND...

Chapter 1
1-28Getting Started

Buttons
The motherboard has numerous on-board buttons to control various functions. This section will explain how to change your motherboard’s functions through the use of these on-board buttons. 
OC1: OC Genie Button 
This button is used to automatically overclock the system. To enable OC Genie, Set this button to ON while the system is in power off mode. On the next boot, the processor will be automatically overclock for optimal performance. To disable OC Genie, Set this...

Chapter 1
1-29Getting Started

POWER1: Power Button
This button is used to turn-on and turn-off the system. Press the button once to turn-on or turn-off the system.
RESET1: Reset Button
This reset button is used to reset the system. Press the button to reset the system.
Re s e t 

Chapter 1
1-30Getting Started

Jumper
JBAT1: Clear CMOS Jumper
There is CMOS RAM onboard that is external powered from a battery located on the motherboard to save system configuration data. With the CMOS RAM, the system can automatically boot into the operating system (OS) every time it is turned on.  If you want to clear the system configuration, set the jumpers to clear the CMOS RAM.
Keep DataClear Data
11
 Important
You can clear the CMOS RAM by shorting this jumper while the system is off....

Chapter 1
1-31Getting Started

Switch
BIOS_SW1: Multi-BIOS Switch
This motherboard has two built-in BIOS ROMs (Labeled A and B, default BIOS ROM is A). If one is crashed, you can shift to the other for booting by sliding the switch. In addition, these two BIOS ROMs do not have the Auto Recovery feature, you need to maintain or update the BIOS version by yourself. 
AB
Blue LEDGreen LED
BIOS recovery with AFUDOS command
When BIOS updating fails or causes the computer non-bootable, you can recover the...

Chapter 1
1-32Getting Started

SLOW_1: Slow Mode Booting Switch
This switch is used for LN2 cooling solution, that provides the extreme overclocking conditions, to boot at a stable processor frequency and to prevent the system from crashing.
Normal
(Default)
Enabled
 Important
Users will try extreme low temperature overclocking at their own risks. The overclocking results will vary according to the CPU version.
AUD_SW1: Audio Power Switch
This switch specifies the power mode for back panel audio ports....

Chapter 1
1-33Getting Started

LED Status Indicators
Debug  LED
LED Status Table
The following table describes the status of LED indicators.
LEDLED StatusDescription
MSIOnDebug
HDDBlinkingHDD activity
BIOS A LEDBlueBIOS A in operation
BIOS B LEDGreenBIOS B in operation
BIOS A LED
BIOS B LED
HDD LED
MSI LED 

Chapter 1
1-34Getting Started

Debug Code LED Table
Please refer to the table below to get more information about the Debug Code LED message.
PostStatus
02,07Power on CPU Initialization
03,08Power on North Bridge Initialization
04,09Power on South Bridge Initialization
0BPower on Cache Initialization
11~14,32~36,56~5AEarly CPU Initialization
15~18,37~3AEarly North Bridge Initialization
19~1C,3B~3EEarly South Bridge Initialization
1D~2F,31,3F~4E,50~55Early Memory Initialization
63~67,D0Late CPU...

Chapter 1
1-35Getting Started

Drivers and Utilities
After you install the operating system you will need to install drivers to maximize the performance of the new computer you just built. MSI motherboard comes with a Driver Disc. Drivers allow the computer to utilize your motherboard more efficiently and take advantage of any special features we provide.
You can protect your computer from viruses by installing the bundled security program. The bundle also includes a variety of powerful and creative...