EVGA Z490 FTW User Manual
  1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. EVGA Manuals
  4. Motherboard
  5. Z490 FTW
  6. User manual

EVGA Z490 FTW User Manual

Hide thumbs
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

Download this manual
EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497)
User Guide
EVGA Z490 FTW
Specs and Initial Installation
- 1 -

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading

Related Manuals for EVGA Z490 FTW

Summary of Contents for EVGA Z490 FTW

  • Page 1 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) User Guide EVGA Z490 FTW Specs and Initial Installation - 1 -...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Motherboard Specifications ....................- 6 - Unpacking and Parts Descriptions ................- 8 - ® Intel Z490 FTW Motherboard LED reference ..............- 9 - ® Intel Z490 FTW Motherboard Component Legend ............- 11 - PCIe Slot Breakdown ......................- 23 - M.2 Slot Breakdown ......................
  • Page 3 Multifunction LED Indicator .................... - 151 - POST Beep codes ......................- 153 - POST Port Debug LED ....................- 154 - POST Codes ......................- 155 - EVGA Glossary of Terms ....................- 160 - Compliance Information ..................- 163 - - 3 -...

  • Page 4: Before You Begin

    ® Dual M.2 Key-M slots and much more! Lastly, a motherboard is only as good as its BIOS, and the EVGA Z490 FTW features EVGA’s newest UEFI/BIOS GUI with a focus on overclocking and functionality in a lean, straightforward package. You won’t need to be an expert to configure your motherboard, but if you are, you’ll find features unavailable...

  • 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 https://www.evga.com/support/motherboard. Intentions of the Kit...

  • Page 6: Motherboard

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Motherboard Motherboard Specifications Size: ❑ ATX form-factor of 12 inches x 9.6 inches (305x243.8mm) Microprocessor support: ❑ Intel Socket 1200 Processor ® Operating Systems: ❑ Supports Windows 10 64-Bit Contains Intel Z490 chipset ® ❑ System Memory support: ❑...
  • Page 7 Intel Dual-Band WiFi / BT ® Onboard Audio: ❑ Realtek ALC1220 High Definition Audio + EVGA NU Audio Supports 7.1 Channel HD Audio + Optical Out 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 Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Unpacking and Parts Descriptions The following accessories are included with the EVGA Z490 FTW Motherboard: - 8 -...
  • Page 9 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) ® Intel Z490 FTW Motherboard LED reference The EVGA Z490 FTW Motherboard has an LED to indicating power, connectivity, and activity. Below is the location of the LED and its function. LED Component Legend Power / Reset Buttons...
  • Page 10 OFF: BIOS 1 chip is active 6. Onboard ARGB LED a. Located around the PCH heatsink, the LEDs can be directly controlled via EVGA ELEET X1. Choose the LED colors and patterns, or turn off in the software. - 10 -...

  • Page 11: Intel ® Z490 Ftw Motherboard Component Legend

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) ® Intel Z490 FTW Motherboard Component Legend The EVGA Z490 FTW Motherboard with the Intel Z490 and PCH Chipset. ® Figure 1 shows the motherboard and Figure 2 shows the back panel connectors. FIGURE 1. Z490 FTW Motherboard Layout **For a FULL description of the above legend, please see Page 14.
  • Page 12 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Component Legend 1 1. CPU Socket 1200 M.2 Socket 3 Key-M 110mm USB 2.0 Headers 1 2. Intel Z490 PCH PCIe Slot x16/x8 Front Panel Audio Connector 1 3. PWM Fan Headers (1 amp) PCIe Slot x8 PC Speaker 1 4.
  • Page 13 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Figure 2. Chassis Rear Panel Connectors 3.5mm Audio Jack Legend Analog Audio Port 2/2.1 Channel 4.0/4.1 Channel 5.1 Channel 7.1 Channel Breakdown Blue Line In *Rear Speakers Out Line In * Rear Speakers Out Front Speakers Out /...
  • Page 14 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Component Legend Descriptions 1. CPU Socket 1200 This is the interface for the Central Processing Unit (CPU), and supports Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9 models compatible with the Intel 1200 Socket and ® Comet Lake-S architecture.
  • Page 15 POST and will hang at POST code “C.” 8. 4-pin Supplemental ATX Connector The ATX power connector on the Z490 FTW provides additional power to the CPU. This connector requires the appropriate 4-pin ATX power that is provided by your power supply – often as part of a 4+4-pin CPU connector.
  • Page 16 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 6G 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 17 2A will trigger overcurrent protection and lock at 2A. This header allows for far more flexible options to configure your RGB lighting via software-based control within Windows via EVGA ELEET X1, and supports up to 125 LEDs. Please see Page 42 for header specifics, and Page 137 for control options in ELEET X1.
  • Page 18 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Benching systems, or test benches before final assembly, are best served by using the onboard power because it removes the need to wire a Power/Reset button or cross posts with a screwdriver, which is a semi-common practice.
  • Page 19 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 22. Front Panel Audio Connector This motherboard header is used to plug in the audio cable included with most PC chassis. This connector is required for audio recording and/or playback via the audio connectors on the chassis. This header has a connector that looks similar to the USB2.0 header and uses the standard “HD Audio”...
  • Page 20 USB, auxiliary ports that mount in the card slots, and certain devices that directly connect to the header. The USB 3.2 Gen2 Header on the Z490 FTW is a shielded USB 3.2 Gen2 Header and supports up to 10Gb/s with USB 3.2 Gen2.
  • Page 21 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) * There are two numeric references for PCI-Express: one is mechanical (the actual slot- length footprint across the motherboard), while the second is electrical (the number of PCIe lanes available to the slot from the CPU, PCH, or both).
  • Page 22 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Card Slots The Z490 FTW features two x16 PCIe slots, one x1 PCIe slots, two Socket 3 Key-M M.2 110mm, and one Socket 1 Key-E M.2. - 22 -...

  • Page 23: Pcie Slot Breakdown

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) PCIe Slot Breakdown PCIe Lane Distribution (All Socket 1200 processors are 16 lanes.) PE1 – x16 (Gen3, x16 lanes from CPU, x8 shared with PE2) ❑ PE2 – x16 (Gen3, x8 lanes from CPU, shares 8 of PE1’s 16 lanes) ❑...

  • Page 24: Installing The Cpu

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 25: Installing The Cpu Cooling Device

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 26: Installing System Memory (Dimms)

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Installing System Memory (DIMMs) Your Z490 FTW has (4) 288-pin slots for DDR4 memory. These slots support 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB DDR4 DIMMs. There must be at least one memory slot populated for the board to boot and operate.

  • Page 27: Installing The I/O Shield

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 28: 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 Z490 FTW. - 28 -...
  • Page 29 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 1. All safe locations to secure the board to a standoff are circled in blue. 2. Keep in mind that when the screws are installed, but not fully tightened, the motherboard should have 1-2mm of movement. This movement can help when mounting cards or if you have tight-fits with other components.

  • Page 30: Installing M.2 Devices

    80mm interval for the Socket 3 slot. Next add one thermal pad – included with the Z490 FTW 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 31 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 32 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) In conclusion, if the install device looks similar to the image below, please remove and reseat it using the instructions above. DO NOT POWER THE SYSTEM ON IF THE CONNECTOR RESEMBLES THIS PICTURE. For further M.2 setup instructions please see Page 51.

  • Page 33: Tested Cpu

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Tested CPU Core Count Frequency PCI-E Lanes Comet Lake-S Core ™ i9 10900KF 10 Cores +HT 3.70 GHz Core ™ i9 10900K 10 Cores + HT 3.70 GHz Core ™ i9 10900F 10 Cores + HT 2.80 GHz...

  • Page 34: Tested M.2 Key-M

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Tested M.2 Key-M PCIE INTERFACE ADATA ASX8000NP-256GM-C 256G M.2 PCIE 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 Samsung MZ-V6E250 250G 960EVO Samsung...

  • Page 35: Tested M.2 Key-E

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) SATA INTERFACE INTEL SSDSCKKW240H6 240G SATA6G INTEL SSDSCKHW120A4 120G SATA M2 device INTEL SSDSCKKW120H6 120G SATA6G Transcend TS128GMTS800 128G SATA M2 device WD WDS240G1G0B-00RC30 240G SATA 6G WD WDS250G2B0B-00YS70 250G M2 SATA 6G WD WDS500G2B0B-00YS70 500G M2 SATA 6G...

  • Page 36: Connecting Cables

    Connecting Cables Note: the following images do not necessarily represent the physical orientation of their respective headers on the EVGA Z490 FTW. Instead, these graphical representations are designed to provide a basic physical footprint and the cable pinouts for each component.
  • Page 37 The 24-pin Power Connector may be standard or right-angled depending on your motherboard model.* *The Z490 FTW motherboard uses a standard, vertical 24pin ATX connector. - 37 -...
  • Page 38 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 39 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) ATX 4-Pin 12V Power (PWR 4P) (Optional) ATX PWR 4P (OPTIONAL), the 4-pin ATX 12V power connection(s), is used to provide additional power to the CPU. Some power supplies provide a dedicated 4-pin CPU ATX power connector, while other power supplies split an 8pin EPS connector into a 4+4 pin connector;...
  • Page 40 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 41 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Fan Header This motherboard line only has 4-pin fan headers, which are backwards compatible with 3-pin fan connectors. Fans may be controlled by PWM or DC controls. The headers have an absolute safe power limit of 2 Amp @ 12 Volts (24 Watts).
  • Page 42 12V RGB Header. This header supports up to a maximum of 2 Amps @ 5 Volts (10 Watts) or up to 125 LEDs. This will add control options through EVGA ELEET X1 for controlling RGB LEDs. - 42 -...
  • Page 43 This header and pinout is also shared with the RGB LED header, which also supports up to 2 Amps @ 12 Volts (24 Watts). This will add control options through EVGA ELEET X1 for controlling RGB LED’s. - 43 -...
  • Page 44 This motherboard contains USB 3.2 Gen2 and 3.2 Gen1 ports that are exposed on the rear panel of the chassis. The Z490 FTW contains 1x 20pin internal header, which can support 1 USB3.2 Gen2 Type-C front-panel connector or device. - 44 -...
  • Page 45 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) The motherboard also 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 3.2 Gen1 ports. Please note that these headers are often referred to as USB 3.0 internal ❑...
  • Page 46 (4) USB 2.0 ports. The Z490 FTW 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 Z490 FTW front panel audio connector supports the use of EVGA NU Audio when headphones or a headset are connected. - 47 -...
  • Page 48 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Drive Headers (SATA) SATA3/6G 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. Intel SATA ports on the platform natively support full AHCI and RAID ®...

  • Page 49: Onboard Buttons

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) HDD/SSD/M.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. If you are using a standard SSD/HDD connected to a SATA port, but the device is not present in the Boot Option #1 menu, scroll down to “UEFI Hard...

  • Page 52: M.2 Ssd, Pcie Ssd, And Nvme Ssd Installation Steps

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 8. If you are using an SSD connected to the motherboard’s M.2 slot, re-enter the BIOS/UEFI and go to “Advanced – Onboard Device Configuration,” and set “M.2 Socket3” to “Enable.” The EVGA Z490 FTW auto-enables this option if an M.2 SSD is detected. However, it is still worth checking to make sure the option is enabled and/or the device is detected.

  • Page 54: Internal Raid Controller

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Because RAID0 is only designed to distribute the data being written across multiple devices to improve performance there is **NO FAULT TOLERANCE**, meaning if 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.
  • Page 57 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) The array depictions below show how this issue scales to larger arrays. In fact, due to the lack of fault tolerance, the potential failure rate actually increases because of the addition of more drives that can physically fail.
  • Page 58 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) The Good- • RAID1 allows you to suffer a catastrophic failure of 1 drive with no ill effects to the data being stored. • Because data is stored on 2 drives at once, read speeds typically increase a little, but not to the speed of RAID5 and, certainly, not to the speed of RAID 0.
  • Page 59 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) use four 1TB drives to create your RAID5, you will only have the capacity of three 1TB drives; likewise, if you use five 1TB drives to create your array, you will only have the capacity of four 1TB drives. RAID5 requires a minimum of three drives, and the maximum is set by the RAID controller;...
  • Page 60 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) drive than there is data set. This method of data distribution shows that as long as you have three (3) copies of each data set (Data-A, Data-B, and DATA-C), the array will be functional and capable of rebuilding when you add in replacement drive in. And while this is not mathematically correct for HOW the data distribution works, it is a good visualization to understand the basics of how it works.
  • Page 61 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) o Vastly superior rebuild times compared to the previous 0+1 methodology of nested RAID. • Overall performance is good; comparable or slightly faster than RAID5. The Bad- • Low space efficiency. o With the capacity of modern drives, this will likely be less of a consideration than in previous years.
  • Page 62 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) While the Z490 FTW Intel 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 63 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 64 : RAID0+1 is a form of nested RAID that was widely used on previous generation boards. Although EVGA Z490 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 65 Motherboard controllers that support RAID0+1 (such as certain 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 66 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 67 Also, you can run more than one array on the Intel controller, so long as the total is no ® more than four (4) drives. Because the Z490 FTW splits the SATA ports between 2 controllers, 5 and 6 drive arrays are not possible on this motherboard. Configuring the Array Please note that this section was configured with an earlier version of the EVGA GUI BIOS.
  • Page 68 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) RAID mode not only includes the RAID controls, but also shares the same options/functions/commands as AHCI; you may continue using your AHCI devices normally when the SATA Configuration is set to RAID mode. The SATA Information menu shows a list of all drives currently detected by the controller;...
  • Page 69 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 70 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 67 for a quick reference on different RAID levels and RAID types based on your total number of drives.
  • Page 71 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 72 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Repairing an array within UEFI This guide will show you how to repair a degraded array from within the UEFI. For testing purposes, a drive was intentionally removed from a RAID5 array and wiped to guarantee that the array rebuild behaved the same as if a new replacement drive was added to a degraded array.
  • Page 73 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 74 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 75 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 76 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 77 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) - 77 -...
  • Page 78 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 85 for Disk Management instructions.
  • Page 79 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 80 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 81 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 82 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 83 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Select the drive you wish to use for the repair and click the “Rebuild” button. - 83 -...
  • Page 84 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 85 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 86 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 87 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 88 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 89 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 90: Fan Header And Pwm Setup

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Fan Header and PWM Setup The Z490 FTW supports both 4-pin PWM fans and 3-pin DC fans. The motherboard uses seven 4-pin fan headers, including 2x CPU FAN (PWM), a CHA FAN (PWM/DC), a PWR FAN (PWM/DC), 2x SYS FAN (PWM/DC), and an AUX FAN (PWM/DC).
  • Page 91 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 92 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 93 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 94: Setting Up Sli And Physx

    Installation: 1. Physically install your graphics cards, then install an SLI or NVLink bridge; examples include a Flexible bridge (included with this motherboard), an EVGA HB Bridge or NVLink Bridge. Current NVIDIA graphics drivers support 600 Series cards up through GTX 2080 Ti and Titan RTX cards.
  • Page 95 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Once the graphics cards are physically installed, connect an SLI or NVLink Bridge; your cards should look similar to either picture below: 2. After the cards are installed, have power connected, and the SLI/NVLink bridge is attached, boot into Windows.
  • Page 96 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Once finished, you will receive a popup in the lower right corner stating that you have an SLI capable setup and it needs to be configured. If you did not see the message, then first verify that both cards are detected and functioning without system errors from Windows Device manager.
  • Page 97 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Next, select “Configure SLI, Surround, PhysX” under the “3D Settings” menu. The default is “Disable SLI.” To enable SLI, click “Maximize 3D Performance,” circled in red below, and click “Apply” at the bottom. Before you can enable SLI, the NCP may ask you to close certain programs and processes;...
  • Page 98 GPU has a high usage rate while playing normally. Use a program like EVGA Precision X1 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 99: Realtek Hd Audio Manager

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Realtek HD Audio Manager The Z490 FTW uses a 7.1 Channel Realtek ALC1220 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 100 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Once you have rebooted and re-entered Windows, there should be a new shortcut in the system tray with a red- orange speaker icon. When you mouse over it, the icon reads “Realtek HD Audio Manager.” When the menu opens, left-click on it, and left-click the similar red-orange speaker icon labeled “Sound Manager”...
  • Page 101 Audio ports will display in the Control Panel, and will notify you that Front Panel devices are presently connected/disconnected, Front Panel Audio only plays through EVGA NU Audio. The Front panel header can be found in the component legend on Page 11 component number 22, additional port information on Page 19, and a header pinout on Page 47.
  • Page 102 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) component number 10. The optical out contains all audio data the controller can provide; however, only 2.0/2.1 is pre-encoded from the controller. Audio with a higher channel count through optical S/PDIF must be connected to a receiver that supports live encoding, or an equivalent technology.
  • Page 103 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) The icon of the file folder in the upper right is “Connector Settings.” This is the window for setting up port detection. The default setting in this Window allows the Manager to create a popup notification to let you know when you’ve plugged in a new device to a Realtek port while Windows is running.
  • Page 104 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) The “i” located at the bottom right of the Manager is an information button. Clicking on this will provide DirectX information, the CODEC and Language selection options. The main page defaults to the first audio device it detects;...
  • Page 105 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) To the right of the pulldown is the Restore Defaults button, shown by an eraser icon, which will reset any changes made to the default of the controller. If you switch over to the Sound Effects tab, you’ll notice the “Main Volume” controls near the top.
  • Page 106 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) The “Set Default Device” will allow you to set the Default Device or Communication Device without entering the Windows Playback menu; for non-default devices, this box will drop down similar to the image above. For default devices, the box will be grayed- out if the device selected above (i.e.
  • Page 107 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) source. This is unchecked by default. There is no additional configuration; the setting is either enabled or disabled. The last section in Sound Effects is the Equalizer. Much like the environment section, there are visual references for presets, a...
  • Page 108 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) If you would prefer to not manage the EQ in full manual mode, you can click the guitar icon with the red box around it to bring you back to the equalizer presets menu. The last section in Sound Effects is voice cancellation,...
  • Page 109 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) The “Audio Test” button will be present for all speaker configurations, and serves the same function in all speaker iterations. Pressing the “Auto Test” button will play the same sound file out of each speaker that should be present, based on the configuration option you selected.
  • Page 110 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) • Assume your speakers are not full-range. Modern speaker design uses a subwoofer to handle the relatively small percentage of content you hear in an audio signal. Low frequency content, more commonly known as sub-bass, is greatly amplified by the subwoofer, which explains why the smallest percentage of your audio content can often be the loudest.
  • Page 111 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) When Full-range is enabled, the speaker icons are enlarged to represent the change. Finally, Virtual Sound is an option created to send a stereo signal with positioning data to a Matrix decoder to simulate surround over a stereo signal.
  • Page 112 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) reversed such that the voice channel is joined with the front pair on one channel and the subwoofer has a dedicated connector, which can lead to voice channels and subwoofer receiving the wrong signal. The "Swap Center / Subwoofer Output" can resolve this type of issue.
  • Page 113 Windows. Due to the advanced nature of editing the Windows registry, we do not provide instructions in this manual. However, if you would like to adjust the crossover frequency settings, please see our FAQ on the EVGA website to walk you through how to adjust this setting: https://www.evga.com/support/faq/?f=59663.
  • Page 114 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Room Correction menu without an error message. All speakers will initially show semi- transparently. To edit this menu, check the box for “Enable Room Correction” at the bottom-center. After you check the box to Enable Room Correction, you will need to select whether you want distances displayed in Feet or Meters.
  • Page 115 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) The final Device section covers the microphone. This tab includes both a recording and a playback section. Both features have similar balance options as the other sections, but differ slightly in the Volume slider function. The Recording Volume...
  • Page 116 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Under “Microphone Effects,” there are two options that may be enabled: “Noise Suppression” and “Acoustic Echo Cancellation.” “Noise Suppression” helps to remove background noises, such as fans, air conditioning, or anything else that causes a consistent ambient sound in the room.

  • Page 117: Evga Nu Audio

    Z490 FTW motherboard. Utilizing the more powerful headphone/speaker amp on the Z490 FTW, 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 118 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Make sure that the Speaker Configuration in Realtek HD Audio Manager is set to Stereo, or NU Audio will be disabled. When configured properly, the Speaker Configuration will be set to Stereo and the front panel audio jack will be a solid green:...
  • Page 119 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 120: The Nu Audio Control Panel

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 121 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 122 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 123 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 124 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 125 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 126 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 127 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 128: Nu Audio Custom Settings

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 129 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 130 Using the ELEET X1 Software Suite EVGA ELEET X1 is a monitoring and tuning software designed for EVGA motherboards, which is available on the included USB drive and the EVGA website at https://www.evga.com/eleetx1. After installation, run ELEET X1. The left-hand side of the display contains system information about your motherboard, including the CPU, per-core CPU clock speed/voltage/temperature, and memory information.
  • Page 131 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) As seen above, there are options for multiple voltages, and two options for your CPU VCore: Adaptive and Override voltages. Adaptive allows for a tighter voltage profile to keep voltage and heat to a minimum, while Override is more of a brute-force method of setting your voltage.
  • Page 132 POST, and ELEET X1 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 133 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) The “Memory” tab allows for Real Time Memory overclocking on the Z490 FTW, although this function is limited and determined by the installed processor. In other words, not all processors will be able to adjust memory timings on this page. Memory timing adjustments may still be made in the BIOS.
  • Page 134 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) The next tab is “Monitoring,” which contains real-time system information of voltages, temperatures, and fan speed information. Please note that all readings on this page are pulled from motherboard sensors, and change dynamically. Temperatures and voltages are measured at fixed intervals, which can often make the readings appear to jump back and forth.
  • Page 135 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) The “System” tab provides more detailed information on the motherboard, CPU, and memory. Here, you can find the motherboard specs and BIOS date and version. Additional CPU details are provided, including the Stepping, Revision, Instructions, and Cache layout.
  • Page 136 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Lastly, additional memory information is available for secondary memory timings, as well as the type and number of channels being used. - 136 -...
  • Page 137 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Onboard ARGB and ARGB/RGB headers connected to the motherboard can be controlled through the LED tab. Users can select different modes/patterns of lighting based on the header type and the number of LEDs connected through the ARGB header.
  • Page 138 This has been the ELEET X1 utility overview, which should give you a solid start to understanding and using the ELEET X1 software suite. *EVGA ELEET X1 is still undergoing final testing and design modifications at the time of this manual’s printing. Final GUI design, menus, and functionality may be subject to change.

  • Page 139: 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 Z490 FTW Motherboard contains the following software and drivers: Chipset Drivers ❑...
  • Page 140 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 Z490 FTW manual is available through this utility and within the USB flash drive directly.

  • Page 141: 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 142: Troubleshooting

    When complete, the motherboard will automatically shut down. Power on the motherboard to go into the motherboard BIOS. h. When you see the Z490 FTW 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 143 Download the latest motherboard BIOS, and unzip the file to your desktop. b. Drag the unzipped folder into your USB flash drive. c. Reboot the motherboard. When the Z490 FTW splash screen appears, tap the Delete key to enter the BIOS.
  • Page 144 Windows. The steps for flashing directly from power on are located below, in the “Flashing the BIOS Without a CPU” section. These steps will explain how to prepare the USB flash drive included with your Z490 FTW motherboard to update with a newer BIOS using the method below.

  • Page 145: Flashing The Bios Without A Cpu

    EVGAE497.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 Z490 FTW motherboard, if on, and turn your power supply off by flipping the switch to the “Off” position.

  • Page 146: Ssd / Hdd Is Not Detected

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 7. The flash process may take approximately 4 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 147 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) you are using a device on a connector that shares its bandwidth, you will need to check and/or change the BIOS setting related to your device. If you’ve already done this, test a different device using the same cable and SATA port to see if the issue persists.

  • Page 148: System Does Not Post, And Post Code Indicator Reads "C

    PSU side is plugged into the connector for the CPU, typically labelled “CPU” or “EPS,” but consult your power supply manual for the correct plug. The Z490 FTW also features a 4-pin ATX power connector. This connector is provided as an optional connection to provide supplemental power, but should not be used as the main power source for the CPU.

  • Page 149: System Does Not Post, And Post Code Indicator Reads "55

    Make sure that the memory is on the official support list at https://www.evga.com/support/motherboard and click on “EVGA Z490 FTW.” 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 32GB or ECC/Registered RAM.

  • Page 150: Have A Question Not Covered Above, Or Want Some Online Resources

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Have a question not covered above, or want some online resources? If you have any issues or questions, you can find a lot of valuable help and information on our website, including contact information for our top-notch Technical Support/Customer Service.

  • Page 151: Multifunction Led Indicator

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) Multifunction LED Indicator The EVGA Z490 FTW 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 152 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) - 152 -...

  • Page 153: Post Beep Codes

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 154: Post Port Debug Led

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 155: Post Codes

    EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) POST Codes This section provides the AMI POST Codes for the EVGA Z490 FTW Motherboard during system boot up. The POST Codes are displayed on the Debug LED readout located directly on the motherboard. Debug LED with CPU...
  • Page 156 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 157 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 158 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 159 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 160: Evga Glossary Of Terms

    DMI – Direct Memory Interface DP – Display Port DRAM - Dynamic random access memory DVI – Digital Video Interface ELEET X1 – EVGA motherboard monitoring and tuning software FIVR – Fully Integrated Voltage Regulator GHz – Gigahertz GPU – Graphics Processing Unit GUI –...
  • Page 161 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 JEDEC - Joint Electron Device Engineering Council...
  • Page 162 EVGA Z490 FTW (122-CL-E497) 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 163: 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