EVGA Z390 DARK User Manual
  1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. EVGA Manuals
  4. Motherboard
  5. Z390 DARK
  6. User manual

EVGA Z390 DARK User Manual

Specs and initial installation
Hide thumbs Also See for Z390 DARK:
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399)
User Guide
EVGA Z390 DARK
Specs and Initial Installation
- 1 -

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the Z390 DARK and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Related Manuals for EVGA Z390 DARK

Summary of Contents for EVGA Z390 DARK

  • Page 1 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) User Guide EVGA Z390 DARK Specs and Initial Installation - 1 -...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Motherboard Specifications ....................- 6 - Unpacking and Parts Descriptions ..................- 8 - EVGA Z390 DARK Motherboard LED reference ............. - 10 - EVGA Z390 DARK Motherboard Component Legend ............. - 14 - PCIe Slot Breakdown ......................- 27 - M.2 / U.2 Slot Breakdown ....................
  • Page 3 Multifunction LED indicator .................... - 149 - POST Beep codes ......................- 151 - POST Port Debug LED ....................- 152 - POST Codes ......................- 153 - EVGA Glossary of Terms ....................- 158 - Compliance Information ..................- 161 - - 3 -...

  • Page 4: Evga Z390 Dark

    If you’ve been holding out for a serious motherboard to upgrade, the time has is at hand. Lastly, a motherboard is only as good as its BIOS, and the EVGA Z390 DARK features EVGA’s newest UEFI/BIOS GUI with a focus on overclocking and functionality in a lean, straightforward package.

  • Page 5: Parts Not In The Kit

     Monitor  (Optional) Optical Drive  EVGA assumes you have purchased all the necessary parts needed to allow for proper system functionality. For a full list of supported CPUs on this motherboard, please visit www.evga.com/support/motherboard Intentions of the Kit...

  • Page 6: Motherboard Specifications

    2x SATA 3/6 Gbit/s (600 MB/s) data transfer rate - - No RAID or Hot-Plug Support Onboard Audio:  Creative Core3D Quad-Core Audio Processor (CA0132) Supports 5.1 Channel audio with Optical S/PDIF Out EVGA NU Audio via the FP Audio header - 6 -...
  • Page 7 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Onboard LAN:  1x Intel i219V Gigabit (10/100/1000) Ethernet PHY ® 1x Intel i210AT Gigabit (10/100/1000) Ethernet MAC+PHY ® Ethernet Teaming Supported Power Functions:  Supports ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) Supports S0 (normal), S3 (suspend to RAM), S4 (Suspend to disk - depends...

  • Page 8: Unpacking And Parts Descriptions

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Unpacking and Parts Descriptions The following accessories are included with the EVGA Z390 DARK Motherboard: - 8 -...
  • Page 9 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) - 9 -...

  • Page 10: Evga Z390 Dark Motherboard Led Reference

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) EVGA Z390 DARK Motherboard LED reference The EVGA Z390 DARK Motherboard has several LEDs indicating power, connectivity, and activity. Below is the location of the LEDs and their function. - 10 -...
  • Page 11 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) LED Legend M.2 Key-E Enabled VPLL_OC Status M.2 Key-M PM1 Enabled Multi-function POST indicator VCCST Status U.2 PU1 Status Memory DIMM 2 Status Power Button U.2 PU1 Enabled Memory DIMM 1 Status Reset Button PE2 Status...
  • Page 12 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) 7. VCORE status a. WHITE: Voltage present (Does not mean PSU is outputting in-spec, only that this specific voltage is detected) 8. VDIMM status a. WHITE: Voltage present (Does not mean PSU is outputting in-spec, only that this specific voltage is detected) 9.
  • Page 13 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) 21. PCIe Enabled for PE1. The LED will remain off when this PCIe slot is disabled or unpopulated. a. GREEN: PE1 device present and detected. 22. M.2 Key-M Socket3 110mm (PM1) Status LED. The LED will remain off when this PCIe slot is disabled or unpopulated.

  • Page 14: Evga Z390 Dark Motherboard Component Legend

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) EVGA Z390 DARK Motherboard Component Legend The EVGA Z390 DARK Motherboard with the Intel Z390 and PCH Chipset. ® Figure 1 shows the motherboard and Figure 2 shows the back panel connectors FIGURE 1. Z390 DARK Motherboard Layout...
  • Page 15 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Component Legend CPU Socket 1151 M.2 Socket 3 Key-M 110mm (PM2) Front Panel Audio Connector Intel Z390 PCH (Southbridge) PCIe Slot x16/x8 Front Panel Connectors PWM Fan Headers (2 amp) PCIe Slot x8/x4 Removable BIOS Chip...
  • Page 16 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Figure 2. Chassis Rear Panel Connectors I/O Hub PS/2 (Keyboard or Mouse) Intel i210V NIC USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C USB 3.1 Gen1 Intel i219AT NIC Analog Audio Jacks Intel 9560 WiFi/BT USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A Optical Out BIOS/CMOS Reset Mini-DisplayPort 1.2...
  • Page 17 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Component Legend Descriptions 1. CPU Socket 1151 This is the interface for the Central Processing Unit (CPU), and supports 8 and 9 Gen. Intel Core i3, i5, i7 and i9 models compatible with the Intel ®...
  • Page 18 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) 6. 24-pin ATX power connector The main power for the motherboard is located on the right side of the board and parallel to the PCB; this is also described as a “90 degree / right-angle” connector (See Page 40 for more specifics to the connector itself, and associated wiring/pinouts).
  • Page 19 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) supports NCQ, TRIM, hot swap capability (provided the proper HDD/SSD bays/racks are installed), and RAID levels 0/1/5/10. 10. ASMedia SATA 6Gbit/s Ports This is a secondary SATA controller, the ASM1061 is a 2-port SATA3/6 Gbit/s controller with legacy support for older operating systems. This is included largely for benchmarking and overclocking with very specific programs, such as Super Pi, 3DMark, PCMark, etc.
  • Page 20 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) This connector can utilize only PCIe/NVMe-based M.2 SSDs, SATA M.2, or Intel Optane™ NVMe devices. ® 14. PCIe Slot x16/x8* PCIe x16/x8 slots are primarily used for video cards. These full-length slots will provide 8 or 16 lanes of bandwidth to a full-size card, and are backwards- compatible with x8, x4, and x1-length cards.
  • Page 21 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) button or cross posts with a screwdriver, which is a semi-common practice. This button provides a safer and easier option than jumpering the Power posts. 19. Reset Button This is an onboard system reset button, and may be used in place of, or in conjunction with, a front panel system reset button wired to the board.
  • Page 22 USB, auxiliary ports that mount in the card slots, and certain devices that directly connect to the header. The USB 3.1 Gen2 Header on the Z390 DARK is a shielded USB 3.1 Gen2 Header and supports up to 10Gb/s with USB 3.1 Gen2.
  • Page 23 USB2 and will use the standard “HD Audio” jack. Some systems may have two headers: one labeled HD Audio, and one labeled AC’97 – an AC’97 cable is not compatible with this header on the Z390 DARK. 26. Front Panel Connectors The Front panel connectors are the four main chassis connections.
  • Page 24 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) 29. CMOS Battery The +3V CMOS battery backup provides uninterruptable power to the BIOS/UEFI to keep all of the settings; otherwise, each boot would behave like you just reset the BIOS. These batteries typically last several years and rarely need to be replaced.
  • Page 25 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) 35. SW Slow Mode Switch This switch forces the CPU clock ratio to the lowest possible value (8.0 for Coffee Lake-S CPU) in real-time. This can be helpful for benchmarking and performance tuning, especially with extreme overclocking. Active Slow Mode is indicated by a red LED near the switch.
  • Page 26 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Card Slots The Z390 DARK features three x16 PCIe slots, one x4 PCIe slot, two Socket 3 Key-M M.2 110mm slots (PM1/PM2) (backwards compatible with Key-M 80mm, 60mm, and 42mm), and vertical Socket 1 Key-E M.2 (Contains the WiFi module).

  • Page 27: Pcie Slot Breakdown

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) PCIe Slot Breakdown PCIe Lane Distribution (All Socket 1151 processors are 16 lanes.) PE1 – x16 (Gen3, x16 lanes from CPU, x8 shared with PE2)  PE2 – x8 (Gen3, x8 lanes from CPU, x4 shared with PE4) ...

  • Page 28: Preparing The Motherboard

    Preparing the Motherboard Installing the CPU Note: EVGA strongly recommends that you completely disconnect AC power from your power supply prior to changing your CPU. This ensures the motherboard will use the correct startup procedure for all onboard devices. If AC power is not disconnected, the replacement is still supported, but may require additional reboots to boot successfully.

  • Page 29: Installing The Cpu Cooling Device

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) 3. Align the notches on the CPU to the notches in the socket, and lower the processor straight down into the socket. Note: The gold triangle key on the CPU should match the triangle key on the load plate.

  • Page 30: Installing System Memory

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Installing System Memory Your Z390 DARK has (2) 288-pin slots for DDR4 memory. These slots support 4GB, 8GB and 16GB DDR4 Unbuffered non- ECC DIMMs. There must be at least one memory slot populated for the board to boot and operate.

  • Page 31: Installing The I/O Shield

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Installing the I/O Shield The motherboard kit comes with an I/O shield that is used to block internal components from dust and foreign objects, while also promoting correct airflow within the chassis. Before installing the motherboard, install the I/O shield from the inside of the chassis.

  • Page 32: Securing The Motherboard Into A System Case

    6. See the picture below for a zoomed-in view of a hole to place over a standoff, as well as the locations of standoff holes for the Z390 DARK. - 32 -...
  • Page 33 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) 1. All safe locations to secure the board to a standoff are circled in white. 2. Keep in mind that when the screws are installed, but not fully tightened, the motherboard should have 1-2mm of movement; this can help when mounting cards or tight-fits with other components.

  • Page 34: Installing M.2 Devices

    SSDs. Next add one thermal pad – included with the Z390 DARK accessories – to the outlined area to the right. 2. After adding the thermal pad, the motherboard will look like the image below. This thermal pad will assist with cooling your M.2 Key-M device.
  • Page 35 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) 3. Insert the M.2 device at a slight angle of approximately 45 degrees to the board. This will allow the contacts (colloquially called “Gold Fingers”) to seat completely into the slot. If the device is fully seated,...

  • Page 36: Tested Cpu And Memory

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) For further M.2 setup instructions, please see Page 52. Tested CPU and Memory Core Count Frequency PCI-E Lanes Coffee Lake-S Core ™ i9-9900K 8 Cores + HT 3.60 GHz Core ™ i7-9700K 8 Cores 3.60 GHz Core ™...

  • Page 37: Tested M.2 Key-M

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Tested M.2 Key-M PCIE INTERFACE ADATA ASX800NP-256GM-C 256G M.2 PCIE Samsung MZ-V7E250 970 EVO Samsung MZ-V7P512 970 PRO Samsung MZ-VKV512 950 PRO Samsung MZ-V6P512 960 PRO Samsung MZ-VPV2560 256G SM951 NVME Samsung MZ-HPU128T/004 128G XP941 Samsung MZ-HPV1280 128G SM951...

  • Page 38: Tested M.2 Key-E

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Tested U.2 U.2 (SSD): Brand Part Number Size Interface Intel 750 SSDPE2MW400G4 400GB U.2 NVME w\Cable Intel 750 SSDPE2MW400G4 400GB U.2 NVME w\Cable Tested M.2 Key-E M.2 Key-E WIFI INTEL 8260NGW INTEL 9260NGW INTEL 9560NGW AzureWave AW-NB165NF...

  • Page 39: Connecting Cables

    Connecting Cables Note: the following images do not necessarily represent the physical orientation of their respective headers on the EVGA Z390 DARK. Rather, these graphical representations are designed to provide a basic physical footprint and the cable pinouts for each component.
  • Page 40 Firmly plug the power supply cable into the connector and make sure it is secure. The 24-pin Power Connector may be standard or right-angled depending on your motherboard model. The Z390 DARK motherboard uses a right-angle 24pin ATX connector. 6-pin PCIe...
  • Page 41 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) EPS 8-pin 12V Power (PWR , the 8-pin ATX 12V power connection(s), is used to provide EPS PWR 8P power to the CPU. Align the pins to the connector and press firmly until seated. The secondary EPS, if present, is optional for improved overclocking.
  • Page 42 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Front Panel Header The front panel header on this motherboard is used to connect the following four cables: PWRLED  Attach the front panel power LED cable to these two pins of the connector. The Power LED indicates the system’s status. When the system is powered on, the LED will be on.
  • Page 43 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Fan Header This motherboard line only has 4-pin fan headers, which are backwards compatible with 3-pin fan connectors. CPU1 and CPU2 controls fans via PWM. The remaining headers control fans by either PWM or DC controls. The headers have an absolute safe power limit of 2 Amp @ 12 Volts (24 Watts).
  • Page 44 USB Headers This motherboard contains USB 3.1 and 3.0 ports that are exposed on the rear panel of the chassis. The Z390 DARK contains 1x 20pin internal header, which can support 1 USB3.1 Type-C front-panel connector or device. - 44 -...
  • Page 45 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) The motherboard contains 1x 19-pin internal header connectors onboard that can be used to connect an optional external bracket or device containing up to two (2) USB 3.1 Gen1 ports. Please note that these headers are often referred to as USB 3.0 internal ...
  • Page 46 (4) USB 2.0 ports. The Z390 DARK also features an onboard USB 2.0 port header, near the power/reset buttons. This header has a specific purpose – to allow you to flash the BIOS without an installed CPU using the included USB flash drive.
  • Page 47 Front panel audio supports HD Audio for stereo/gaming headphones or 2.1 speakers, and a Mic. The EVGA Z390 DARK front panel audio connector supports the use of EVGA NU Audio when headphones or a headset are connected. - 47 -...
  • Page 48 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Drive Headers (SATA/ U.2) SATA 3/6Gbit/s is the current standard for HDD/SSD/Optical interface. These cables are the data interconnect for the motherboard. Your HDD/SSD/Optical interface will still require a separate power connection from your power supply.

  • Page 49: Onboard Buttons

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Onboard Buttons These onboard buttons include RESET, POWER and Clear CMOS. These functions allow you to easily turn on/off the system, reset the system or clear the CMOS. Clear CMOS Button The motherboard uses CMOS RAM to store set parameters.

  • Page 50: First Boot

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) First Boot BIOS Update When you power on the system for the first time (or after a BIOS update/reset) it may take a little longer than expected, and follow with a warning message on the screen reading “BIOS checksum error”.
  • Page 51 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) prefer, but the XMP will generally get the memory running at the memory manufacturer’s specification with little to no effort. HDD/SSD/M.2/U.2 Setup Next, click “Boot” from the menu list at the top. “Boot Option #1” should show the device that you intend to install your operating system.

  • Page 52: Ssd, Pcie Ssd, And Nvme Ssd Installation Steps

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) M.2 SSD, PCIe SSD, and NVMe SSD Installation steps M.2 is a very fast card bus that can use multiple connecter types to connect many types of devices, such as WiFi or SSDs, in a very small and power efficient package. M.2 devices can be connected via an M.2 card slot or through PCIe by using an M.2 to PCIe adapter.
  • Page 53 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) a. For Windows 10: Set “Launch Storage OpROM Policy” to “UEFI”. Then set “Launch CSM” to “Disable”. 4. Press F10 to save and exit the BIOS/UEFI. 5. Press Del on reboot to reenter BIOS/UEFI. a. If you are using a SSD-attached via PCIe, proceed to Step 6.

  • Page 54: Internal Raid Controller

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Internal RAID Controller This section introduces RAID, RAID levels, and the basics of the controller integrated into the PCH. It covers the basics of what RAID does, how RAID works, and why you may or may not want to use RAID.
  • Page 55 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) its quality, and many other factors; but the number should give you a ballpark estimate on what to expect as a final capacity once formatted. Please see below for examples of what to expect when you build an array of each type.
  • Page 56 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) one drive fails, the array fails. It MAY be possible to recover the data but that usually requires a data recovery service, which is not guaranteed and is usually very expensive. RAID0 is typically only limited by the controller; however, you will get severely diminishing performance returns after 4 drives.
  • Page 57 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) RAID 0 (4 Drive) P-DRIVE1 P-DRIVE2 P-DRIVE3 P-DRIVE4 P-DRIVE1 P-DRIVE2 P-DRIVE3 P-DRIVE4 DATA-A DATA-B DATA-C DATA-D DATA-A DATA-B DATA-C DATA-D DATA-ABCD DATA-ABCD P-DRIVE1 P-DRIVE2 P-DRIVE3 P-DRIVE4 P-DRIVE1 P-DRIVE2 P-DRIVE3 P-DRIVE4 DATA-A DATA-B DATA-C DATA-D DATA-A DATA-B...
  • Page 58 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) The Bad-  RAID1 is not a storage capacity-friendly array, because the capacity will be limited to 1 drive. o Due to the capacity available on modern drive solutions, this issue may not be as significant as it once was.
  • Page 59 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Similar to RAID1, or any other current type of array with fault tolerance, a RAID5 array is still usable even while it is experiencing a missing or failed drive resulting in the array functioning in a degraded state. Performance will suffer in a degraded state until the missing drive is replaced and the software rebuild process is completed.
  • Page 60 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) L-DRIVE = ≃ 3TB RAID 5 (4 Drive) P-DRIVE1 P-DRIVE2 P-DRIVE3 P-DRIVE4 P-DRIVE1 P-DRIVE2 P-DRIVE3 P-DRIVE4 P-DRIVE1 P-DRIVE2 P-DRIVE3 P-DRIVE4 DATA-A DATA-B DATA-C DATA-A DATA-A DATA-B DATA-C DATA-A DATA-A DATA-B DATA-C DATA-A DATA-B DATA-C DATA-A DATA-B...
  • Page 61 L-Drive = DATA-AB L-Drive = DATA-AB While the Z390 DARK controller will support a four drive RAID10 array, RAID10 can scale indefinitely provided the controller supports more drives. Every pair of drives adds an additional mirrored node, which increases the theoretical number of failures the array can suffer before a loss of data occurs.
  • Page 62 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) In the case of a drive RAID 10 (6 Drive) L-DRIVE = ≃ 3TB failure, the array controller P-DRIVE1 P-DRIVE2 P-DRIVE3 P-DRIVE4 P-DRIVE5 P-DRIVE6 will notify you. When you replace a failed drive in the P-DATA-A P-DATA-A...
  • Page 63 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) RAID0+1 : RAID0+1 is a form of nested RAID that was widely used on previous generation boards. Although the Z390 series motherboards do not use this type of array, it is listed here to show the improvements made by RAID10, and to clear up a common misperception that RAID0+1 and RAID10 are the same.
  • Page 64 L-Drive = DATA-AB L-Drive = DATA-AB Motherboard controllers that support RAID0+1 (such as on older generation EVGA motherboards) will generally support 4 or 6 drive arrays of this type; other controllers can allow this array type to scale indefinitely. Each pair of drives adds to the drive count for the stripes and increases the theoretical volume of failures the array can suffer before a loss of data occurs.
  • Page 65 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) As you can see, the RAID 0+1 (6 Drive) L-DRIVE = ≃ 3TB difference between RAID0+1 and RAID10 is P-DRIVE1 P-DRIVE2 P-DRIVE3 P-DRIVE4 P-DRIVE5 P-DRIVE6 significant when looking at DATA-A DATA-B DATA-C DATA-A DATA-B DATA-C how data is stored.
  • Page 66 (6) drives. Configuring the Array Please note that this section was configured with an earlier version of the EVGA GUI BIOS. The current GUI BIOS may look different, but will follow a similar set of steps to create and repair a RAID volume.
  • Page 67 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) In the “SATA Mode Selection” at the top, the default will be AHCI. Click on the arrow to the right side of AHCI or navigate to it with your keyboard and press “Enter” to open the pulldown menu. Select RAID from the list.
  • Page 68 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Once in the RAID controller, you will see a list of all detected drives and a “Create RAID Volume” button. To begin, click on “Create RAID Volume” or navigate to the button and hit “Enter.” Choose a name for the volume. The controller allows up to 15 characters; you can use numbers and letters, but not special characters.
  • Page 69 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Next, select your intended array type. This can be done by either clicking on the down arrow and clicking on the RAID level you want, or pressing the enter key and using the down arrow to select the RAID level and pressing Enter again. Please see the top half of Page 66 for a quick reference on different RAID levels and RAID types based on your total number of drives.
  • Page 70 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) The controller defaults the capacity to the maximum available space for the RAID. Leaving the capacity at default is recommended because reducing the size is not beneficial, except in limited cases. To complete the setup process, please select “Create Volume” at the bottom of the page.
  • Page 71 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) If this is meant to be a secondary array, your next step is to partition and format the array within Windows. Please see Page 84 for setup in Windows 10. Repairing an array within UEFI This guide will show you how to repair a degraded array from within the UEFI. For...
  • Page 72 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) The controller will also give you this information, but it cannot be overstated that using a drive with data on it will result in the total loss of all previous data in favor of the data on the array.
  • Page 73 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Once the process has started you will see the status change to “Rebuilding.” **Important Notice**: The controller will not begin the rebuilding process until you have booted back into Windows; this queues the rebuild but does not start the process.
  • Page 74 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) IRST (Intel ® Rapid Storage Technology) The IRST is the software front-end for the Intel SATA controller. It is recommended ® to install the IRST drivers after installing the Intel Chipset Drivers – the main ®...
  • Page 75 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) SATA will be selected by default. PCIe primarily refers to PCIe / M.2 based NVMe drives; the same basic steps do apply to both, however. Select SATA, and “Real-time protection (RAID1).” Then, click Next at the bottom of the window.
  • Page 76 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) - 76 -...
  • Page 77 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) In the Advanced tab, you can select the option to “Initialize Volume,” which will occur after the array is created. If the array is not initialized now, it can be initialized later in “Disk Management.” See Page 84 for Disk Management instructions.
  • Page 78 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Review the summary provided on the confirmation screen. If you are unsure about any selections made, click the “Back” key and make your corrections. When ready, click “Create Volume” at the bottom. This typically takes between a few seconds to a couple minutes depending on the size and complexity of the volume.
  • Page 79 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Once you click the OK button on the RAID creation window you will be brought back to the main window, “Status” tab. If the option to initialize was selected, the initialization status will be shown below, circled in red.
  • Page 80 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Repairing an array within IRST This section of the guide will illustrate how to repair a degraded array from within the IRST. For purposes of this guide, we are repairing a degraded RAID 1 array using a third drive plugged into the controller, but not currently in use.
  • Page 81 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) The “Manage” tab shows the array specifically, and not just the controller as a whole. Next to “Status: Degraded,” left-click the hyperlink labeled “Rebuild to another disk.” This will bring a pop-up window over the IRST showing a list of attached drives that...
  • Page 82 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Select the drive you wish to use for the repair and click the “Rebuild” button. - 82 -...
  • Page 83 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) The rebuild process will begin. As with any RAID array with Fault Tolerance, the rebuilding time depends on several factors, such as array size, array type, CPU, etc. You will then see the Rebuild % status in the Manage tab. Once repairs are complete, the array will update to “Status: Normal.”...
  • Page 84 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Partitioning and Formatting a drive Once you have created your array, either from UEFI or from IRST, you will not initially see your array in “This PC.” This is expected, because even though you have created the array, you have not yet prepared the array to be used.
  • Page 85 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) After “Disk Management” loads, you’ll see a pop-up to Initialize Disk if you’ve added a new drive or created a new array. Generally, it’s recommended to select “GPT,” unless you need backwards compatibility with an old OS or PC. When you’ve made your choice, click “OK.”...
  • Page 86 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Before you can assign a drive letter to a drive or array, the initialized disk must be partitioned. If you are following this guide and just initialized your drive or array, the New Simple Volume Wizard will automatically pop-up.
  • Page 87 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Leave the size at default to create a partition using the entire volume of disk space, then click “Next.” Select the drive letter you want to represent this drive, then click “Next.” Note: The drive letter does NOT have to be a consecutive letter with previous drive(s).
  • Page 88 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) After the quick format is completed, you will see the last Window of the wizard, a summary of the process, then click “Finish.” The drive is now usable. To confirm, go back to File Explorer in Windows. Click on “This PC” and check the drives section.

  • Page 89: Fan Header Dc And Pwm Setup

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Fan Header DC and PWM setup The Z390 DARK supports both 4-pin PWM fans and 3-pin DC fans. The motherboard uses eight 4-pin fan headers, including 2x CPU FAN (PWM), a CHA FAN (PWM/DC), a PWR FAN (PWM/DC), 3x SYS FAN (PWM/DC), and an AUX FAN (PWM/DC).
  • Page 90 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Once into the H/W Monitor section, you can see the temperature monitors across the top. Below the monitors, each fan is already configured in Smart mode, which means the fan controller is using a Smart curve for fan controls. Each fan can be set to a separate fan curve.
  • Page 91 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) To set a Smart curve, select the “Smart Fan Settings” and enter the menu. First, choose the temperature monitor the PWM controller will use to monitor for its temp information. It’s recommended to link the fan control to the CPU, which is predominantly the most important temperature in the system.
  • Page 92 When monitoring temperatures vs. fan speed, you may notice a variance in ramp up/down temps; this is due to a function EVGA hardcodes into the BIOS called Hysteresis. Hysteresis builds in a buffer to control fan speed behavior. This feature prevents a constant ramp up/down from happening when your system sits exactly at the temp you set for SMART fan controls.

  • Page 93: Setting Up Sli And Physx

    1. Physically install your graphics cards, then install a SLI bridge; examples include a Flexible bridge (included with this motherboard), an EVGA Pro Bridge, or an EVGA HB Bridge. Current NVidia graphics drivers support 400 Series Fermi cards up through GTX 1080 Ti and Titan XP cards.
  • Page 94 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) 2. After the cards are installed, have power connected, and the SLI bridge attached, boot into Windows. The graphics driver will normally identify the cards and automatically configure the driver. If not, then you may need to reinstall the driver.
  • Page 95 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) 3. Once you have verified there are no detection/driver installation issues with the cards, you can enable SLI. Right-click on the desktop and select “NVIDIA Control Panel” (“NCP”). Next, select “Configure SLI, Surround, PhysX” under the “3D Settings”...
  • Page 96 PhysX card serves no purpose. If “Yes,” then the next step is to see if your GPU has a high usage rate while playing normally. Use a program like EVGA Precision XOC to monitor the GPU usage of all current video cards. If the GPU is consistently over 75% usage, the GPU usage occasionally maxes out and the frame rate drops in moments of intense action, then dedicating a card may be beneficial.

  • Page 97: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Pro Studio

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Creative Labs Sound Blaster Pro Studio The Z390 DARK uses a 5.1 Creative Labs CA0132 audio controller. This section will cover installation of the controller (in Windows 10) and the basic configuration options that are available in the software.
  • Page 98 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) You’ll have one last prompt to go back and make any last minute changes before proceeding with the installation. When ready, click “Install” to begin the installation with the selected options. Once the install process is complete, click “Finish.” A final window will pop-up informing you that the installation is complete and prompt you to reboot to complete the installation.
  • Page 99 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) The below images are all composites, showing the tooltips for multiple buttons and menus on screen at the same time to reduce picture clutter; your experience will differ, as each button and panel must be hover at individually to see the same tooltips in the Sound Blaster Recon 3Di Control Panel.
  • Page 100 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) amplifies it. A subwoofer is not necessary, but the quality of your audio equipment will determine how far you can raise the slider before the audio becomes distorted “Crossover Frequency” should be adjusted based on your audio equipment. This setting controls the frequency cutoff for speakers and subwoofer.
  • Page 101 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) The next section is “CrystalVoice,” which covers microphone controls. Using the image to the right, the pulldown menu displays the current default recording, and allows you to switch between other connected recording devices, if present. The upper-right button, outlined in red, allows you to select whether the recording device is a Rear Microphone or Line-In device.
  • Page 102 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) The CrystalVoice menu can be enabled or disabled by clicking the On/Off button. If you prefer the sound of your recorded voice without enhancement, leave this off. Mic Recording Volume adjusts the level of volume that will be picked up by the mic –...
  • Page 103 Needless to say, this feature is designed to have fun with the person to whom you are speaking. Neither Creative nor EVGA guarantees that you will actually sound like any of these options. - 103 -...
  • Page 104 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Scout mode is a setting specifically for video games and, more specifically, first-person shooters. Enabling Scout Mode will reduce the sound from music, voices, explosions, etc. and amplify the sounds of footsteps, brush, and ambient noises without raising the overall volume.
  • Page 105 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) The “Speaker/Headphones” section will provide configuration options for Speakers in a 2.0/2.1, 5.1 Surround, or Headphones. Please review the Component Legend on Page 16 to make sure you connect your audio device(s) to the correct port(s).
  • Page 106 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) To determine if your speakers are full-range or not, you must look at the minimum frequency response of your speakers. The concern is not the high-end of the frequency response, but rather the low-end. As noted above, if your speakers are not rated for a minimum of 20Hz, then they are not full-range speakers.
  • Page 107 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) full-range speakers in your setup, or 2) you are using a receiver or speaker system that prefers to handle the low frequency crossover at the receiver or speaker system, rather than using the Pro Studio to configure the crossover settings for low frequencies.
  • Page 108 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) In 5.1 mode, you can toggle the center channel, subwoofer, and rear satellite speakers on and off from this menu. If any of the satellites are disabled, the sound readjusts to ensure you receive full sound, albeit balanced through the selected speakers.
  • Page 109 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) In the lower section there is an option for “Full-Range” speakers. You must set the front speakers to Full-Range before the Full-Range option becomes available for Surround speakers. If you are unsure if your speakers are full-range or not, please see the previous section on Page 106.
  • Page 110 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) On a system that does not use full-range speakers, this is a crucial setting for ensuring that your speaker system correctly plays low frequencies. The default frequency is set to 80Hz, but your system may need adjustment.
  • Page 111 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) As with any speaker or microphone setting, your audio equipment will have a significant effect on audio quality and effectiveness of multiple settings. For example, some microphones already equip some degree of noise or echo cancellation and do not benefit further from Creative’s CrystalVoice options.
  • Page 112 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) The Mixer section is where you can control volume levels, balance, input jacks, stereo volume for all input and output devices, and master volume for all sections. The top setting is “Speakers,” which is the Windows main volume;...
  • Page 113 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) The “Equalizer” section provides a software-based EQ with several preset built-in tools to manually to make custom balances for any type of music, game, or movie. By default, the equalizer is disabled, leaving all frequency bands at a median.
  • Page 114 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Click on the “EQ” button in the upper- left corner to enable the “EQ” functionality. Once enabled, the pulldown menu for EQ presets and manual controls becomes available. The default EQ setting is “Flat,” which means no specific optimization.
  • Page 115 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) The final tab of the Sound Blaster Audio Suite is the “Advanced Features” tab. This tab has the singular option to enable or disable “Play stereo mix to digital output”. Check this box to enable output through SPDIF and speaker simultaneously.

  • Page 116: Evga Nu Audio

    Z390 DARK motherboard. Utilizing the more powerful headphone/speaker amp on the Z390 DARK, NU Audio can drive up to 600ohm headphones, as well as providing the ideal sound for every type of audio experience. The NU Audio application features a user-friendly GUI to easily and quickly adjust settings or use a preset to jump right into the action.
  • Page 117 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Make sure that the Speakers/Headphones Configuration in the Creative Sound Blaster Pro Studio is set to Headphone, or NU Audio may be disabled. When configured properly, the Speakers/Headphones Configuration will show the slider next to Headphones, as seen below:...
  • Page 118 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) The EVGA NU Audio will detect whether you have speakers/headphones connected to your front panel headphone/speaker jack. If you have another audio device connected to the rear panel jacks, the rear panel device will be disabled. If the audio device is not...

  • Page 119: The Nu Audio Control Panel

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) The NU Audio Control Panel The NU Audio control panel features a number of preset audio functions and a custom preset to allow you to manually adjust each of the NU Audio settings. Although you can use speakers with NU Audio, this guide is written assuming the user is wearing headphones.
  • Page 120 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) When you first connect your audio device, you will see NU Audio Control Panel initially set to ORIGINAL MODE. 1. ORIGINAL Mode The Original mode passes through a neutral, unprocessed sound that does not contain any EQ or sound adjustments. This preset is best to evaluate NU Audio directly with source audio material or contrast the sound with any of the other preset options.
  • Page 121 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) 2. SURROUND Mode The Surround mode preset uses a combination of Reverb and Crossfeed to allow positional audio to register around your head. The Crossfeed setting will allow left and right positional audio greater freedom to cross over to the opposite side of the head, while a higher Reverb will increase the audio volume to account for the lower volume that occurs with a higher level of Crossfeed.
  • Page 122 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) 3. BASS Mode The Bass mode is designed to give a bit more volume and reverberation to content played on this preset. The extra Reverb will increase the volume and effect of sub-bass frequencies. This setting is generally best for music, although you can increase the effect through the Custom Preset, if you wish.
  • Page 123 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) 4. GAMING Mode The Gaming mode preset consists of a slight bump in Reverb to provide a little more sound amplification and more noticeable positional audio to help locate sounds within a gaming environment. This preset is designed to provide an improved stereo gaming experience.
  • Page 124 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) 5. THEATER Mode The Theater mode preset creates the ideal environment for watching movies or other visual content by expanding the virtual soundstage and increasing the volume and positional effects to compensate. By increasing the Space, the audio output has room for bigger explosions or quiet suspense, while the boost to Reverb makes sure that the effect is noticeable.
  • Page 125 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) 6. CUSTOM mode The Custom mode preset allows you to select each of the settings and determine the correct level for your audio gear. Please note that there are many factors to consider when comparing headphones. In other words, two different pairs of headphones may have significant differences in audio quality or listening experience when using identical custom settings.
  • Page 126 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) In Custom mode, you will notice that the names of the following settings are clickable, which will enable/disable the audio effect settings. For example, if you want to see how your audio sounds without the Reverb level you set, click the REVERB button to disable it, and the setting will become grayed out.

  • Page 127: Nu Audio Custom Settings

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) NU Audio Custom Settings: a. REVERB Reverb acts much like an amplifier for the volume. It increases the level of the audio, but it also makes a noticeable impact with positional effects by increasing or decreasing the sound made when objects collide with other objects.
  • Page 128 EVGA NU Audio brings a new audio experience to those who often rely on using their front panel audio jack. We encourage you to test out NU Audio and enjoy a more powerful listening experience.
  • Page 129 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Using the E-LEET X Software Suite EVGA E-LEET X is a monitoring and tuning software designed for EVGA motherboards, which is available on the driver DVD and the EVGA website at www.evga.com/E-LEET After installation, E-LEET will launch directly...
  • Page 130 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) The next tab is “Monitoring,” which is an overview of temperatures and voltages in real- time. Please note that all readings on this page are pulled from motherboard sensors, and can change at any time. Temperatures and voltages...
  • Page 131 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) The Options tab is for managing your E- LEET profiles. You can save overclock profiles made in the previous section, as well as selecting an option to load a profile at boot. Use care, however, when setting a profile to load on startup;...
  • Page 132 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) The final section is “Voltages,” which provides a level of voltage control similar to what is available in the BIOS. Using the right image, you’ll notice that there are options for multiple voltages, and two options for your CPU Vcore: Adaptive and Override voltages.
  • Page 133 LEET will open the pulldown to the currently detected voltage. Please be careful when adjusting voltages, as there are risks to running electronics out of spec. Although EVGA warranties overclocking, other components are manufactured by different brands (i.e. RAM and CPU), which may have different policies towards overclocking.

  • Page 134: Installing Drivers And Software

    64bit versions of Windows 10. The kit comes with a USB flash drive that contains utilities, drivers, and additional software. The USB flash drive that has been shipped with the EVGA Z390 DARK Motherboard contains the following software and drivers: Chipset Drivers ...
  • Page 135 5. The Driver Utility Screen also contains helpful links to give you more information about your new EVGA motherboard and additional resources to get started. The Z390 DARK manual is available through this utility and within the USB flash drive directly.

  • Page 136: Warranty And Overclocking

    Of course, there are some limitations to our warranties. If an EVGA motherboard or graphics card sustains physical (i.e. damage to the PCB or component due to slippage with a hand tool) or liquid damage, the warranty is void.

  • Page 137: Troubleshooting

    FOR ANY AND ALL INSTANCES WHERE YOU THINK YOU MAY NEED A REPLACEMENT BIOS CHIP, PLEASE CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REPLACE THE BIOS CHIP WITH ONE **NOT** SUPPLIED BY EVGA, AS EVGA CANNOT OTHERWISE GUARANTEE COMPATIBILITY. CONTACT INFORMATION, HOURS, AND LOCATIONS FOR ALL EVGA CUSTOMER SUPPORT OFFICES CAN BE FOUND HERE: http://www.evga.com/about/contactus/...
  • Page 138 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) The steps for replacement below assume you have already contacted EVGA Customer Support and have received a pre-flashed replacement chip directly from EVGA. 1. Locate the housing for the chip on the motherboard. It should be located about halfway down the board, near the right side.
  • Page 139 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) 3. Remove the BIOS chip by lifting it straight up. Set it aside and insert the replacement chip. Once installed, close the left door first and the right door second, making sure both latch into place; you will feel a click when this happens. It is normal if the chip moves a little in the socket when closing the left door.

  • Page 140: Flashing The Bios

    When complete, the motherboard will automatically shut down. Power on the motherboard to go into the motherboard BIOS. h. When you see the Z390 DARK splash screen, quickly tap the Delete key to enter the BIOS. Confirm that the BIOS has been updated to the latest version by checking the BIOS version (located in the bottom-right of the screen) with the BIOS version you downloaded.
  • Page 141 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) c. Reboot the motherboard. When the Z390 DARK splash screen appears, tap the Delete key to enter the BIOS. d. Once inside the BIOS, navigate to the EXTRAS tab, and select BIOS Update: e. Navigate to the folder containing the BIOS files.
  • Page 142 USB flash drive included with your Z390 DARK motherboard to update with a newer BIOS using the method below. a. Plug in the USB flash drive included with your Z390 DARK motherboard, and boot into Windows.

  • Page 143: Flashing The Bios Without A Cpu

    EVGAE399.bin, you are ready to proceed with the BIOS update. In order to flash the BIOS without picture, you must follow these steps: 1. Turn off your Z390 DARK motherboard, if on, and turn your power supply off by flipping the switch to the “Off” position.

  • Page 144: Ssd / Hdd Is Not Detected

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) The flash process may take up to 3 minutes. When finished, the motherboard will automatically reboot. If you have not installed a CPU and at least one 8-pin CPU power connector, the POST LED will stop at C. If this occurs, turn off the motherboard and power supply and install any remaining hardware components before attempting to boot again.
  • Page 145 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) party controllers, go to Page 84 to see if the device(s) show up in Windows Disk Management. If the drive does not show in the SATA Configuration screen in BIOS, make sure the SATA cable is firmly seated on both the drive side and the motherboard.

  • Page 146: System Does Not Post, And Post Code Indicator Reads "C

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) System does not POST, and POST code indicator reads “C” When the system powers on, the POST code indicator should cycle through several different codes before booting. However, if the boot process does not complete, you should look at the LED indicator, as it will give you diagnostic information.

  • Page 147: System Does Not Post, And Post Code Indicator Reads "55

    Make sure that the memory is on the official support list at www.evga.com/support/motherboard and click on “EVGA Z390 DARK.” If the memory is not on the list, it may still work because EVGA is unable to test every memory kit released. However, this motherboard will not support modules over 16GB or ECC/Registered RAM.

  • Page 148: Have A Question Not Covered Above, Or Want Some Online Resources

    YOUR system!  Still building your rig? Make a build log here: http://forums.evga.com/EVGA-MODS-RIGS-f33.aspx  Want to join the online EVGA Gaming Community? Sign up and play with like-minded gamers here: http://www.evga.com/TEAMEVGA/ - 148 -...

  • Page 149: Multifunction Led Indicator

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Multifunction LED indicator EVGA Z390 DARK board is equipped with a versatile display to allow real-time monitoring of system status during and after the BIOS POST process. The operating mode can be configured in the BIOS Setup in the Advanced menu, and then H/W Monitor Configuration.
  • Page 150 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) - 150 -...

  • Page 151: Post Beep Codes

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) POST Beep codes POST beeps are used in conjunction with the POST Code indicator to help determine the root cause when your system fails to boot. However, modern UEFI/BIOS motherboards also use the speaker to convey helpful information, such as USB device detection.

  • Page 152: Post Port Debug Led

    EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) POST Port Debug LED Provides two-digit diagnostic POST codes that shows system boot status and can also show why the system may be failing to boot. The LED is extremely useful during troubleshooting situations. This Debug LED will display a series of hexadecimal (0-F) codes during the POST and will display current CPU socket temperatures after the system has fully booted into the Operating System.

  • Page 153: Post Codes

    Debug LED with CPU Temperature Monitor This section provides the AMI POST Codes for the EVGA Z390 DARK Motherboard during system boot up. The POST Codes are displayed on the Debug LED readout located directly on the motherboard. See Page 14 and 15, component 21 of the Component Legend for physical location.
  • Page 154 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Microcode not loaded PEI Core is started 11-14 Pre-memory CPU initialization is started 15-18 Pre-memory North Bridge initialization is started 19-1C Pre-memory South Bridge initialization is started 1D-2A OEM pre-memory initialization codes Memory initialization. Serial Presence Detect (SPD) data reading Memory initialization.
  • Page 155 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) reset PPI is not available 5C-5F Reserved for future AMI error codes S3 Resume is stared (S3 Resume PPI is called by the DXE IPL) S3 Boot Script execution Video repost OS S3 wake vector call...
  • Page 156 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) CSM initialization 7A–7F Reserved for future AMI DXE codes 80–8F OEM DXE initialization codes Boot Device Selection (BDS) phase is started Driver connecting is started PCI Bus initialization is started PCI Bus Hot Plug Controller Initialization...
  • Page 157 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) Legacy Boot event Exit Boot Services event CPU Memory controller configuration Runtime Set Virtual Address MAP End iMC init Memory training Memory training Memory training / timing training Memory training Memory training B8-BF Memory training / DRAM final configuration C0–CF OEM BDS initialization codes...

  • Page 158: Evga Glossary Of Terms

    DMI – Direct Memory Interface DP – Display Port DRAM - Dynamic random access memory DVI – Digital Video Interface E-LEET/E-LEET X – EVGA motherboard monitoring and tuning software FIVR – Fully Integrated Voltage Regulator GHz – Gigahertz GPIO (Thunderbolt) – General Purpose Input/Output GPU –...
  • Page 159 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) I/O - Input/Output IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers IGP - Integrated Graphics Processors IMC – Integrated memory controller IOH – Input/Output Hub IRQ - Interrupt Request JBOD - Just a Bunch of Disks...
  • Page 160 EVGA Z390 DARK (131-CS-E399) PLL – Phase Locked Loop POST – Power on Self-Test PWM – Pulse Width Modulation QDR - Quad Data Rate QOS – Quality of Service QPI – Quick Path Interconnect RAID - Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks RAM –...

  • Page 161: Compliance Information

    US and other countries. Other company, products and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others. EVGA reserves the right to terminate this license if there is a violation of its terms or default by the Original Purchaser. Upon termination, for any reason, all copies of Software and materials must be immediately returned to EVGA and the Original Purchaser shall be liable to EVGA.com...

Table of Contents