EVGA X299 FTW-K User Manual
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EVGA X299 FTW-K User Manual

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EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297)
User Guide
EVGA X299 FTW-K
Specs and Initial Installation
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  • Page 1 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) User Guide EVGA X299 FTW-K Specs and Initial Installation - 1 -...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Motherboard Specifications ....................- 6 - Unpacking and Parts Descriptions ..................- 8 - Intel X299 FTW-K Motherboard LED reference ..............- 9 - Intel X299 FTW-K Motherboard Component Legend ............- 12 - PCI-E Slot Breakdown ....................... - 24 - M.2 and U.2 Slot Breakdown .....................
  • Page 3 Have a question not covered above, or want some online resources? ......- 140 - POST Beep codes ......................- 141 - POST Port Debug LED ....................- 142 - POST Codes ......................- 143 - EVGA Glossary of Terms ....................- 148 - Compliance Information ..................- 151 - - 3 -...

  • Page 4: Before You Begin

    Killer E2500 NIC and an Intel i219, Dual M.2 Key-M, Dual U.2, 8 SATA 3/6g and much more! Lastly, a motherboard is only as good as its BIOS, and the EVGA X299 FTW- K features an updated UEFI\BIOS GUI with a focus on overclocking and functionality in a lean, straight-forward package.

  • Page 5: Parts Not In The Kit

    Hard Drive or SSD Keyboard / Mouse 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...

  • Page 6: Motherboard Specifications

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Motherboard Specifications Size: EATX form-factor of 12 inches x 10.375 inches (304.8x276.7mm) Microprocessor support: Intel Socket 2066 Processor Operating Systems: Supports Windows 10 64bit only System Memory support: Supports Quad Channel DDR4 up to 4000MHz+ Skylake-X, and 4133MHz+ Kaby Lake-X (OC).
  • Page 7 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Onboard Audio: Realtek Audio (ALC1150) Supports 8-channel (7.1) audio with Optical S/PDIF 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 X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Unpacking and Parts Descriptions The following accessories are included with the EVGA X299 FTW-K Motherboard: - 8 -...

  • Page 9: Intel X299 Ftw-K Motherboard Led Reference

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Intel X299 FTW-K Motherboard LED reference The EVGA X299 FTW-K Motherboard has several LEDs indicating power, connectivity, and activity. Below is the location of the LEDs and their function. LED Legend Power Button CATERR...
  • Page 10 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 1. Power Button a. RED: System is on b. GREEN (blinking): System in Sleep mode 2. Reset Button a. WHITE: blinks with storage access 3. POST Code indicator a. After bootup, this will display the CPU temp.
  • Page 11 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 13. CC_LED a. USB 3.1 Type-C detection. b. RED: Indicates device is attached and detected to USB Type-C. c. OFF: No device detected. 14. PCI-Express LED for PE2. The LED will remain off when this PCI-E slot is disabled or unpopulated.

  • Page 12: Intel X299 Ftw-K Motherboard Component Legend

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Intel X299 FTW-K Motherboard Component Legend The EVGA X299 FTW-K Motherboard with the Intel X299 and PCH Chipset. Figure 1 shows the motherboard and Figure 2 shows the back panel connectors FIGURE 1. X299 FTW-K Motherboard Layout...
  • Page 13 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Component Legend CPU Socket 2066 M.2 Socket 3 Key-M 110mm RGB Backlit Component Covers Intel X299 PCH (Southbridge) M.2 Socket 3 Key-M 80mm Front Panel Audio Connector CPU Fan Headers (1 amp PWM) PCI-E Slot 16x/8x...
  • Page 14 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Figure 2. Chassis Rear Panel Connectors I/O Hub USB 3.0 BIOS/CMOS Reset M.2 Key-E Vertical Header USB 3.1 type A Killer E-2500 NIC Optical Out USB 3.1 type C Intel I 219 NIC Analog Audio Jacks 3.5mm Audio Jack Legend...
  • Page 15 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Component Legend Descriptions 1. CPU Socket 2066 This is the interface for the Central Processing Unit (CPU), and supports Core i7 models compatible with the Intel 2066 Socket Skylake-X and Kaby Lake-X architecture. 2. Intel X299 PCH (Southbridge) The Platform Controller Hub (PCH) handles the role that was previously held by the South Bridge.
  • Page 16 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Dual-Channel kits *may* work; however Skylake-X is certified for Quad- Channel operation, not Dual-Channel. Dual-Channel configurations will substantially reduce the potential memory bandwidth of the Skylake-X processor. Kaby Lake-X processors are certified for Dual-Channel mode, and will be enabled only upon using two sticks of supported memory, according to the installation guide on Page 28.
  • Page 17 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Alternatively, if no power cable is connected or detected, the system will not POST and will hang at POST code “C.” 9. Supplemental PCI-E 6-pin Power Connector There is a 6-pin PCI-E connector at the bottom of the motherboard (See page 38 for more specifics to the connector itself, and associated wiring/pinouts).
  • Page 18 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) connector and be bolted into place and powered by the connector, rather than by a dedicated data cable and power cable. This socket will support Key-M devices of 80mm, 60mm, and 42mm length. This connector can utilize either a PCI-E/NVMe based M.2 SSD, SATA M.2, or Intel Optane devices.
  • Page 19 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Page 142. After the system boots, it will display the temperature in Celsius. This temperature is specifically for the CPU socket, which will typically read slightly higher than a given CPU core. To read this temp in Fahrenheit, take the value in Celsius, multiply by 9/5 (or 1.8) and add 32.
  • Page 20 BIOS failures, bad BIOS flashes, BIOS corruption, etc. This feature also allows EVGA to work with end-users if something happens to render the BIOS chip unusable or a BIOS update is needed for CPU compatibility; rather than...
  • Page 21 BIOS chips. This also makes it substantially easier to hotflash a BIOS if needed. If instructions are needed for hotflashing a BIOS, please EVGA Customer Service (Page 139 for contact info). 29. CMOS Battery The CMOS battery backup provides uninterruptable power to the BIOS/UEFI to keep all of the settings;...
  • Page 22 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) M.2 Socket 1 Key-E 32mm Vertical Adapter (On IO Panel) M.2 Key-E is largely used for WiFi and Bluetooth cards. Key-E and Key-M connectors are different, meaning that devices are not interchangeable between sockets.
  • Page 23 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Card Slots The X299 FTW-K features four x16 PCI-E slots, one x4 PCI-E slot, one x1 PCI-E slot, one Socket 3 Key-M M.2 110mm (backwards compatible with Key-M 80mm, 60mm, and 42mm), and one Socket 3 Key-M M.2 80mm (backwards compatible with Key-M 60mm and 42mm).

  • Page 24: Pci-E Slot Breakdown

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) PCI-E Slot Breakdown PCI-E Lane Distribution (44 Lane SKX CPU’s) PE1 – x4 (Gen3, x4 lanes from PCH) PE2 – x16 (Gen3, x16 lanes from CPU, x8 shared with PE3) PE3 – x16 (Gen3, x8 lanes from CPU, shares 8 of PE2’s 16 lanes) PE4 –...

  • Page 25: M.2 And U.2 Slot Breakdown

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) M.2 and U.2 Slot Breakdown PCI-E Lane Distribution (44 Lane SKX CPU’s) U.2 1 – Gen3, x4 lanes from CPU (No Shared Lanes) U.2 2 – Gen3, x4 lanes from CPU (No Shared Lanes) M.2 Key-M (110mm) –...

  • Page 26: Installing The Cpu

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Installing the CPU Note: Use extreme caution when working with the CPU to not damage any pins in the CPU socket on the motherboard! Note: After removing the CPU socket cover, it is recommended to store it in case you ever need to transport your motherboard.

  • Page 27: Installing The Cpu Cooling Device

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 6. Align the notches on the CPU to the notches in the socket. 7. Lower the processor straight down into the socket. Note: Make sure the CPU is fully seated and level in the socket before lowering the load plate.

  • Page 28: Installing System Memory

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Installing System Memory Your X299 FTW-K has (8) 288-pin slots for DDR4 memory. These slots support 4GB, 8GB and 16GB DDR4 DIMMs. There must be at least one memory slot populated for the board to boot and operate.

  • Page 29: Installing The I/O Shield And I/O Cover

    Press the I/O shield into place and make sure it fits securely. The X299 FTW-K also includes an I/O cover. This I/O cover adds a unique appearance to the I/O area of the motherboard and is completely optional. If you wish to use the cover, please place it over the I/O area and install the chassis screws.

  • Page 30: Securing The Motherboard Into A System Case

    Once all screws are properly threaded, remember to go back and tighten the rest of the screws. 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 X299 FTW-K. - 30 -...
  • Page 31 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 1. All safe locations to secure the board to a standoff are circled above in red. 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 with mounting cards or tight-fits with other components.

  • Page 32: Installing M.2 Devices

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Installing M.2 devices Securing a M.2 device to the motherboard requires a few extra steps compared to other current drive or slot-based connectors. M.2 devices used on this motherboard, Socket 3 (for SSDs) and Socket 1 (for WiFi/Bluetooth), will be installed and attached the same way.
  • Page 33 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Below, you can see that the contacts will be nearly invisible when the device is properly seated and the copper mounting semi-circle is partially visible around the screw. Incorrect installation Example: - 33 -...
  • Page 34 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) *NOTE* This is one of the most common examples of an incorrect installation of a M.2 device. Do not intentionally attempt this, or complete your installation with this example. Doing so could cause damage to the device or the M.2 port.

  • Page 35: Tested Cpu

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Tested CPU Core Count Frequency PCI-E Lanes Skylake-X Core Series Core™ i9-7980XE 18 Cores + HT Core™ i9-7960X 16 Cores + HT Core™ i9-7940X 14 Cores + HT Core™ i9-7920X 12 Cores + HT Core™...

  • Page 36: Tested M.2 Key-M

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Tested M.2 Key-M M.2 Key M (SSD) : Brand Part Number Size Interface Samsung MZ-HPU128T/004 128G 128GB Samsung MZ-HPV1280 SM951 128GB Intel SSDSCKHW120A4 120GB Transcend TS128GMTS800 128GB Samsung MZ-HPU128T/004 128GB Kingston SHPM2280P2H/240 240GB M.2 + PCIE Adapter Card...

  • Page 37: Connecting Cables

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Connecting Cables Important caveat: the images below do *NOT* necessarily represent the physical orientation of the your specific header on motherboard. Rather, these are physical representations designed to give you a basic physical footprint of the component AND the cable pinouts for the ports.
  • Page 38 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 24pin ATX Power (ATX_PWR_24P) is the main power supply connector located along the lower- ATX_PWR_24p right edge of the board. Make sure that the power supply cable and pins are properly aligned with the connector on the motherboard. Firmly plug the power supply cable into the connector and make sure it is secure.
  • Page 39 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 40 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 1 Amp @ 12 Volts (12 Watts).
  • Page 42 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) RBG LED Header The RGB LED header supports included EVGA RGB covers, NOT to be used with other RGB devices. The LEDs can be controlled from within ELEET-X. VROC Header This is the hardware key for enabling advanced RAID features (anything above RAID 0) for “Virtual RAID On CPU”...
  • Page 43 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) USB Headers The motherboard contains 1x 19-pin internal header connectors onboard that can be used to connect an optional external bracket containing up to four (2) USB 3.0 ports. Secure the bracket to either the front or rear panel of your chassis (not all chassis are equipped with the front panel option).
  • Page 44 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) The motherboard contains 2x 9-pin internal header connectors onboard that can be used to connect an optional external bracket containing up to four (4) USB 2.0 ports. Secure the bracket to either the front or rear panel of your chassis (not all chassis are equipped with the front panel option).
  • Page 45 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Front Panel Audio Header Front panel audio supports HD Audio for stereo/gaming headphones or 2.1 speakers, and a Mic. S/PDIF Header The S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface Format) is used for specific Audio- Out applications, typically for using an audio pass-through device.
  • Page 46 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Drive Headers (SATA/ U.2) 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.

  • Page 47: Onboard Buttons

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Onboard Buttons These onboard buttons include RESET, POWER and Clear CMOS. These functions allow you to easily reset the system, turn on/off the system, or clear the CMOS. Clear CMOS Button The motherboard uses CMOS RAM to store set parameters.

  • Page 48: First Boot

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) First Boot When you power the system on for the first time (or after a BIOS update/reset) it may take a little longer than expected, and follow with a pause and message on the screen reading “BIOS Checksum error, Press F2 to continue or F12 to enter the BIOS.”...
  • Page 49 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) bottom. In this menu, the top item will be “1st Boot” and will have a pulldown menu on the right. Click on the pulldown menu and select the intended drive; this will make the drive appear on the previous menu. If the drive doesn’t show at this point, please check the troubleshooting section on Page 135.

  • Page 50: Ssd, Pci-E Ssd, And Nvme Ssd Installation Steps

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) M.2 SSD, PCI-E SSD, and NVMe SSD Installation steps M.2 is a 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 that is also very fast.
  • Page 51 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 3. Once in BIOS/UEFI, navigate to the “BOOT” section. Then go down to the “CSM Configuration” heading and press enter, or click on it with your mouse. a. For Windows 10: Set “Launch Storage OpROM Policy” to “UEFI”.

  • Page 52: Internal Raid Controller

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 53 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Please see below for examples of what to expect when you build an array of each type. Each RAID type will use diagrams to illustrate functional and non-functional forms of each RAID; all green items indicate a drive that is functional, and red indicates a drive that has failed.
  • Page 54 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) RAID0 is typically only limited by the controller; however, you will get severely diminishing performance returns after 4 drives. If you go above 4 drives, you will also see more capacity loss after creating the array.
  • Page 55 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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...
  • Page 56 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) o Due to the capacity available on modern drive solutions, this issue may not be as significant as it once was. Write speed will be a bit lower than a single drive. • In the charts below, you can see the effect of fault tolerance when using a mirror array: because all data has a direct 1-to-1 duplicate on the mirrored drive, you can suffer a catastrophic failure of a drive and still retain your data.
  • Page 57 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) The Good- Most space efficient array-type that also has fault tolerance. • Initial array builds quickly • Read/write speed is very good; faster than RAID1 but slower than RAID0 • The Bad- Rebuilding an array can take a long time on an integrated PCH controller, •...
  • Page 58 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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...
  • Page 59 L-Drive = DATA-AB L-Drive = DATA-AB While the X299 FTW-K controller will support a four or six 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 60 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) In the case of a drive RAID 10 (6 Drive) L-DRIVE = ≃ 3TB failure, the array P-DRIVE1 P-DRIVE2 P-DRIVE3 P-DRIVE4 P-DRIVE5 P-DRIVE6 controller will notify you. When you replace a P-DATA-A P-DATA-A P-DATA-B...
  • Page 61 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) RAID0+1 : RAID0+1 is a form of nested RAID that was widely used on previous generation boards. Although the X299 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 62 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 63 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) As you can see, the RAID 0+1 (6 Drive) L-DRIVE = ≃ 3TB difference between RAID0+1 and RAID10 P-DRIVE1 P-DRIVE2 P-DRIVE3 P-DRIVE4 P-DRIVE5 P-DRIVE6 is significant when DATA-A DATA-B DATA-C DATA-A DATA-B DATA-C looking at how data is stored.
  • Page 64 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Which types of RAID can I use with my setup? 1 Drive – No RAID arrays are supported 2 Drives – RAID0 for speed (do regular backups) or RAID1 for data protection. 3 Drives – RAID0 for speed (do regular backups) or RAID5 for speed and protection.
  • Page 65 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 66 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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.”...
  • Page 67 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 64 for a quick reference on different RAID levels and RAID types based on your total number of drives.
  • Page 68 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 69 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) If this is meant to be a secondary array, your next step is to partition and format the array within Windows. Please see Page 82 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.
  • Page 70 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) The drive attached is an exact match to the other drives in our RAID 5; however, you can use a different drive if it is the same size and preferably same type/series, as well.
  • Page 71 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 72 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 motherboard drivers. This guide walks you through not only the building, but also the repairing of an array from within Windows, since it may be more convenient to build new arrays within the OS rather than from within the UEFI.
  • Page 73 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) SATA will be selected by default. PCI-E primarily refers to PCI-E / 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 74 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) - 74 -...
  • Page 75 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 82 for Disk Management instructions.
  • Page 76 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 77 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 78 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 79 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 80 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Select the drive you wish to use for the repair and click the “Rebuild” button. - 80 -...
  • Page 81 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 82 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 83 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 84 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 85 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 86 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 87: Fan Header Dc And Pwm Setup

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Fan Header DC and PWM setup This motherboard supports both 4-pin PWM fans and 3-pin voltage-controlled fans. All of the fans can be set to a static voltage manually. The upper two (2) fan headers (see...
  • Page 88 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Once into the H/W Monitor section, you can see the temperature monitors across the top. Below the monitors are the two (2) PWM fans: CPU1_FAN, CPU2_FAN, and CHA_FAN. The PWM fans are set to “Smart,” which means the PWM controller is using a Smart curve for fan controls.
  • Page 89 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) First, choose the temperature monitor the PWM controller will use to monitor for its temp information. It’s recommended to tie the fan control to the CPU, which is predominantly the most important temperature in the system. The exception is when you are pushing memory overclocks HARD with 64GB+ of RAM installed, which may cause PWM temps to be a concern;...
  • Page 90 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 91: 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 and TitanX Pascal cards.
  • Page 92 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 93 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 94 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 95: Realtek Hd Audio Manager

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Realtek HD Audio Manager The X299 FTW-K and MICRO both use a 7.1 Realtek ALC1150 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 96 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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.”...
  • Page 97 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) On the right margin, you can see the different ports labeled in the picture above. The top portion covers the five (5) analog ports on the I/O Hub. The two (2) labeled “Speaker Out” ports and “Line In” port all use a diffused color to show that a port is not currently connected;...
  • Page 98 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Also on the side panel is the “Device Advanced Settings” button. This will bring up a popup menu with options for playback and recording devices. Both options in Playback Device and Recording Device are mutually exclusive within their respective sections.
  • Page 99 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 into a Realtek port(s) while Windows is running.
  • Page 100 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 101 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) If you switch over to the Sound Effects tab, you’ll notice the “Main Volume” controls near the top. The slider directly under Main Volume adjusts the Balance of your speakers. It is generally recommended to leave the slider centered, since most audio is meant to run with the audio output centered;...
  • Page 102 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Below the Main Volume section is the “Sound Effects” and “Default Format” section. “Default Format” was previously covered on Page 100. Under “Sound Effects,” you’ll find Environment, Loudness, and Equalizer options. Environment is defaulted to “None,”...
  • Page 103 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) The last section in Sound Effects is the Equalizer. Much like the environment section, there are visual references for presets, a pulldown with 14 options, and a more traditional equalizer setup with a 10-band EQ as part of the software suite.
  • Page 104 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) The last section in Sound Effects is voice cancellation, also called Karaoke mode (this should not be confused with noise cancellation options in the Microphone menu). By left-clicking the icon, a red X will pop up, as shown in the image to the right.
  • Page 105 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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. As the sound test plays, an animation will...
  • Page 106 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) • Generally, if your speakers came with a subwoofer, they are not full-range speakers. As noted above, subwoofers are designed, in part, to allow speakers to stay clear of the low frequencies. When examining the specs of the speakers, make sure to look at the frequency response specifically of the speakers, and not just the specs of the speaker system.
  • Page 107 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Quadraphonic and above will have similar options for Full Range: the checkboxes for “Front Left and Right” and “Surround Speakers,” which controls the satellites. Under Quadraphonic, there is an option labeled “Speaker Fill.” This...
  • Page 108 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: http://www.evga.com/support/faq/?f=59663.
  • Page 109 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) In the image above, speakers become transparent in the image when they are unchecked; this is to give you a visual reference of which speakers are enabled and disabled when testing for sound. The last section under “Speakers”...
  • Page 110 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) After you check the box to Enable Room Correction, you will need to select whether you want distances displayed in Feet or Meters. Once selected, the unit of measurement will be colored in light orange, and will be reflected in the measurements below for each speaker.
  • Page 111 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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.
  • Page 112 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Under “microphones 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 113: Configuration Of The Killer Nic Software

    You can also deny bandwidth to applications altogether, as well. 1. Go to www.evga.com/support/drivers, click on the Motherboard tab, select Z270 – Killer NIC – Your OS (Windows 10 x64 was used in this manual), then the submit button at the bottom to download.
  • Page 114 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) the Install Shield windows, read and agree to the End User License Agreement, and click next. The initial installation will finish, and then reboot to continue. - 114 -...
  • Page 115 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) After rebooting, the installation will be complete and you may start configuring the Killer Suite to fit your needs. If you’re ready to begin, skip down to Page 116 (next page). If something goes wrong during the...
  • Page 116 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Now that the Killer Performance Suite has been installed, you can begin configuring the Suite. You should have both a Desktop and Start Menu icon to launch the Killer Suite application. Double-click on the “K” icon to launch.
  • Page 117 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) The Applications page will initially be blank the first time it is launched, similar to the above image. Mousing over the icon in the lower-center will identify which model of Killer NIC is present. If there is no image, then you likely have your CAT5/5e/6 cable plugged into the Intel NIC.
  • Page 118 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Once you have used your Killer NIC for some time, the Application screen will look something like the image to the right. There are 3 sections outlined in red: the checkbox, scroll bar and the bandwidth slider.
  • Page 119 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) executable that is running. When you click on the pulldown box, you will see the six tiers of priority for the given application. By manually adjusting priorities, you allow the Killer Suite to auto-adjust which programs receive priority bandwidth. It is NOT recommended to change the priority of core Windows processes.
  • Page 120 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Without the “Enable Bandwidth Control” option enabled, you cannot utilize the tuning options available in the Killer Suite, including the Applications section above. Once the option is checked, you will get the warning shown in the image above.
  • Page 121 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) The next section is Performance, which largely exists to show graphs and other information about individual applications and overall network usage at a macro level. Click on performance and you will see the “System Performance” section, with three main tabs at top: “Top 5 Applications,”...
  • Page 122 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) The two (2) usage tabs show a 2- minute window of network activity; all data is displayed in Megabits per second. This will not show what was using the bandwidth, just the total usage...
  • Page 123 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) The final section is labeled Killer Ethernet. After clicking Killer Ethernet, this opens to a screen called Network Information if connected to the Killer NIC. If you see an image of a circle with a...
  • Page 124 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) The Killer Suite also contains a comprehensive help menu. You can enter this help menu by clicking the “?” icon at the top of the any menu. If you click the “?” on the main menu, you will start at the top of the index, and can click any of the hotlinked topics to quickly scroll to the title.
  • Page 125 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Using the E-LEET Software Suite EVGA E-LEET 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...
  • Page 126 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 127 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Below Voltages is Temperatures. This covers the CPU (socket), PWM, SYS, individual CPU cores, and the CPU package, which reports temperatures from the CPU Register. The bottom section is for Fans, which displays the RPM of all fans currently plugged in to the motherboard using the 3-pin or 4-pin fan header.
  • Page 128 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) Next is the “Processes” tab, which is used to set Processor Affinity. Processor affinity is no longer used as heavily as it was in past hardware and Windows versions. However, this menu can still be used to bypass the...
  • Page 129 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 130 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 131: Installing Drivers And Software

    32bit and 64bit versions of Windows 10, 8, and 7. The kit comes with a CD that contains utilities, drivers, and additional software. The CD that has been shipped with the EVGA X299 Motherboard contains the following software and drivers:...

  • Page 132: 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 133: 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 134 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 on the right side below the RAM, about halfway down the board.
  • Page 135 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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;...

  • Page 136: Ssd / Hdd Is Not Detected

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) SSD / HDD is not detected It is important to note that, as with *ALL* storage devices, if there is a connectivity issue, make sure it is enabled in BIOS. Likewise, if there is a device that shares bandwidth with your SSD or HDD (Page 25), make sure that the desired device is enabled in BIOS, or all other troubleshooting that comes after this section is moot.
  • Page 137 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) actually fixed it. If other devices work on the ports and with the same cables, then the issue is the device in question. If testing shows that either one or more of the ports are bad with a different device, then the motherboard is likely the issue.

  • Page 138: System Does Not Post, And Post Code Indicator Reads "C

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 139: System Does Not Post, And Post Code Indicator Reads "55

    “EVGA X299 FTW- K.” 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 140: 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/ - 140 -...

  • Page 141: Post Beep Codes

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) POST Beep codes POST beeps are used in conjunction with the POST Code indicator to help determine the root cause of the issue when your system is malfunctioning. However, with the advent of modern UEFI/BIOS, the USB detection can throw off the number of beeps making the POST code, while helpful, not as useful as it once was.

  • Page 142: Post Port Debug Led

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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.

  • Page 143: Post Codes

    EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) POST Codes This section provides the AMI POST Codes for the EVGA X299 FTW-K Motherboard during system boot up. The POST Codes are displayed on the Debug LED readout located directly on the motherboard. See Page 12 and 13, component 19 of Debug LED with CPU the Component Legend for physical location.
  • Page 144 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 145 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 146 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 147 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) 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 148: 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 149 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) IMC – Integrated memory controller IOH – Input/Output Hub IRQ - Interrupt Request JBOD - Just a Bunch of Disks JEDEC - Joint Electron Device Engineering Council LAN - Local Area Network LCD - Liquid Crystal Display LGA –...
  • Page 150 EVGA X299 FTW - K (142-SX-E297) QPI – Quick Path Interconnect RAID - Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks RAM – Random Access Memory ROM – Read Only Memory RGB - Red Green Blue SATA - Serial Advanced Technology Attachment SAS – Serial Attached SCSI...

  • Page 151: 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...

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