EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 Installation Manual
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EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 Installation Manual

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EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296)
User Guide
EVGA X299 MICRO ATX 2
Specs and Initial Installation
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  • Page 1 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) User Guide EVGA X299 MICRO ATX 2 Specs and Initial Installation - 1 -...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Motherboard Specifications ....................- 6 - Unpacking and Parts Descriptions ..................- 8 - EVGA X299 MICRO ATX 2 Motherboard LED reference ..........- 9 - EVGA X299 MICRO ATX 2 Motherboard Component Legend ........- 11 - PCIe Slot Breakdown (Skylake-X) ..................- 22 - M.2 Slot Breakdown (Skylake-X) ..................
  • Page 3 Have a question not covered above, or want some online resources? ......- 133 - POST Beep codes ......................- 134 - POST Port Debug LED ....................- 135 - POST Codes ......................- 136 - EVGA Glossary of Terms ....................- 141 - Compliance Information ..................- 144 - - 3 -...

  • Page 4: Before You Begin

    EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Before You Begin… The X299 MICRO ATX 2 is a reimagined mATX board designed to support the power, performance, and cooling necessary to power Intel ’s most powerful ® i9 CPUs for the X299 Chipset. With a 14 Phase power design, a thick VRM...

  • Page 5: Parts Not In The Kit

    Parts NOT in the Kit This kit contains all the hardware necessary to install and connect your new EVGA X299 MICRO ATX 2 Motherboard. However, it does NOT contain the following items, which must be purchased separately in order to make the...

  • Page 6: Motherboard Specifications

    EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Motherboard Specifications Size:  mATX form-factor of 9.6 inches x 9.6 inches (243.8x243.8mm) Microprocessor support:  Intel Socket 2066 Processor (Skylake-X only) ® Operating Systems:  Supports Windows 10 64bit System Memory support: ...
  • Page 7 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Power Functions:  Supports ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) Supports S0 (normal), S3 (suspend to RAM), S4 (Suspend to disk - depends on OS), and S5 (soft - off) PCIe Expansion Slots: ...

  • Page 8: Unpacking And Parts Descriptions

    EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Unpacking and Parts Descriptions The following accessories are included with the EVGA X299 MICRO ATX 2 Motherboard: - 8 -...

  • Page 9: Evga X299 Micro Atx 2 Motherboard Led Reference

    EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) EVGA X299 MICRO ATX 2 Motherboard LED reference The EVGA X299 MICRO ATX 2 Motherboard has several LEDs indicating power, connectivity, and activity. Below is the location of the LEDs and their function. - 9 -...
  • Page 10 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) LED Legend 5VSB_LED CATERR_LED POSTCODE Indicator 1. +5VSB a. White: Voltage present (Does not mean PSU is outputting in-spec, only that this specific voltage is detected) 2. CATERR a. CATERR stands for Catastrophic Error on the processor.

  • Page 11: Evga X299 Micro Atx 2 Motherboard Component Legend

    EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) EVGA X299 MICRO ATX 2 Motherboard Component Legend The EVGA X299 MICRO ATX 2 Motherboard with the Intel X299 and PCH ® Chipset. Figure 1 shows the motherboard and Figure 2 shows the back panel connectors FIGURE 1.
  • Page 12 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Component Legend CPU Socket 2066 Intel Sata 6G RAID Ports USB 2.0 Headers Intel X299 Southbridge M.2 Socket 3 Key-M 80mm Front Panel Audio Connector Fan Headers (1 amp DC/PWM) PCI-E Slot 16x/8x Front Panel Connectors...
  • Page 13 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Figure 2. Chassis Rear Panel Connectors I/O Hub BIOS/CMOS Reset USB 3.1 Gen 1 Port + BIOS Flash Optical Out Intel® AC-8265 WiFi/BT Intel i219V NIC Analog Audio Jacks USB 3.1 Gen 1 Ports USB 3.1 Gen 2...
  • Page 14 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Component Legend Descriptions 1. CPU Socket 2066 This is the interface for the Central Processing Unit (CPU), and supports Core ™ X-Series i7 and i9 models compatible with the Intel LGA2066 Socket, based ®...
  • Page 15 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Using 1, 2, or 3 DIMMs may significantly lower performance depending on the application; for best use, use a 4 stick kit of RAM, subject to your CPU’s limitations noted above. The speeds listed above cannot be guaranteed because Intel only certifies the ®...
  • Page 16 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) This is optional for a single card solution, but is recommended for SLI, CFX, and dual-processor video cards. 9. Intel SATA 6Gbit/s Ports ® The Intel X299 PCH has a 6-port SATA 3/6 Gbit/s controller (See Page 44 ®...
  • Page 17 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 18 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 17. USB 2.0 Headers The USB 2.0 headers are used to connect additional USB interface plugs to the motherboard; these headers are most often used to connect the motherboard to the chassis to enable the USB 2.0 ports on the chassis. These will function the same as the USB 2.0 ports found on the motherboard’s hardwired I/O hub, but...
  • Page 19 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 21. PC Speaker This is a small mono low-fidelity speaker permanently attached to the motherboard used mainly for debugging purposes. A POST beep may indicate a successful POST, various tones for USB initialization, and other beeps to indicate an issue during the post process.
  • Page 20 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) different amounts of PCIe lanes, while some applications use only certain parts of a card, such as compute apps that allow a card to run off a single PCIe lane. This is why there are x16 mechanical slots with an x1 electrical PCIe lane. Using the entire length of a PCIe slot is unnecessary, nor does it cause an adverse effect to use a shorter form- factor bus card in a slot that physically can hold a larger form-factor bus card.
  • Page 21 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Card Slots The X299 MICRO ATX 2 features two x16 PCIe slots, one x4 PCIe slot, one Socket 3 Key-M M.2 80mm (backwards compatible with Key-M 60mm, and 42mm), and one vertical Socket 1 Key-E M.2, which contains the Intel WiFi / BT module.

  • Page 22: Pcie Slot Breakdown (Skylake-X)

    M.2 devices are not supported in slots utilizing CPU lanes on the X299 ® ™ Platform. The X299 MICRO ATX 2 features a PCIe x4 slot, which uses lanes from the PCH. Intel Optane M.2 devices may be used in this slot via a third-party PCIe to M.2 ®...

  • Page 23: Preparing The Motherboard

    Preparing the Motherboard Installing the CPU Note: EVGA strongly recommends that you completely disconnect AC power from your power supply prior to changing your CPU. This ensures the motherboard will use the correct startup procedure for all onboard devices. If AC power is not disconnected, the replacement is still supported, but may require additional reboots to boot successfully.
  • Page 24 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 3. Pull the socket levers back and gently lift the load plate to open the socket. Make sure to avoid touching or dropping items into the socket; otherwise, you may damage the board socket and/or CPU pins, which may void your warranty.
  • Page 25 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 5. Lower the load plate so that it is resting on the CPU. 6. Carefully lock the right lever back into place by lowering it down to the hook, then push the lever towards the socket and down under the hook.

  • Page 26: Installing The Cpu Cooling Device

    There are many different cooling devices that can be used with this motherboard. Follow the instructions that come with your cooling assembly. Installing System Memory Your X299 MICRO ATX 2 has (4) 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 27: Installing The I/O Shield And I/O Cover

    EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Note: The memory controllers on Skylake-X CPUs run at a default frequency of 2400MHz. Achieving memory speeds above 2666MHz+ may require using the XMP profile or manual setting of the memory timings, frequency and voltages and/or overclocking of the CPU.
  • Page 28 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) from the chassis. The CPU fan assembly orientation will depend upon both the CPU fan manufacturer’s instructions and your chosen chassis. - 28 -...

  • Page 29: Securing The Motherboard Into A System Case

    EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Securing the Motherboard into a System Case Most system cases require installation of standoffs into the chassis to allow the motherboard to be mounted to the chassis and prevent short circuits. If there are any studs that do not align with a motherboard mounting hole, we recommend that you remove that standoff to prevent the possibility of a short circuit.
  • Page 30 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 1. All safe locations to secure the board to a standoff are circled 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 when mounting cards or tight-fits with other components.

  • Page 31: Installing M.2 Devices

    80mm, you will need to unscrew the standoff and fasten it to the correct retention socket. 2. Add one thermal pad – included with the X299 MICRO ATX 2 accessories – to the outlined area below. This will assist with cooling your M.2 Key-M device.
  • Page 32 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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, you should be able to release it and the device will rest at an angle of about 30 degrees on its own, as shown in the picture below.

  • Page 33: Incorrect M.2 Installation Example

    EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Incorrect M.2 Installation Example: *NOTE* This is one of the most common examples of an incorrect installation of an 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 34: Installing M.2 Key-E Socket 1 Devices

    I/O ports. Please see Page 11 to locate the slot. The X299 MICRO ATX 2 is preinstalled with an Intel 8265 Dual-band WiFi / BT card in a convenient housing. This housing contains the WiFi / BT wireless card and pre- attached antenna ports.

  • Page 35: Tested M.2 Key-M

    EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Tested M.2 Key-M M.2 Key M (SSD) : Brand Part Number Size Interface ADATA ASX800NP-256GM-C 256GB Samsung MZ-VKV512 950 PRO NVMe 512GB Samsung MZ-V6P512 960 PRO NVMe 512GB Samsung MZ-VPV2560 256G SM951 NVMe 256GB...

  • Page 36: Connecting Cables

    EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Connecting Cables Note: the following images do not necessarily represent the physical orientation of their respective headers on the EVGA X299 MICRO ATX 2. Rather, 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 X299 MICRO ATX 2 motherboard uses a standard 24pin ATX connector. 6-pin PCIe...
  • Page 38 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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.
  • Page 40 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 41 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) RGB LED Header This header and pinout is also shared with the RGB LED header, which also supports 1 Amp @ 12 Volts (12 Watts). This will add control options through EleetX for controlling RGB LED’s.
  • Page 42 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 two (2) USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports. Please note that these headers are often referred to as USB 3.0 internal ...
  • Page 43 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) The motherboard contains 2x 9-pin internal header connectors onboard that can be used to connect optional external devices containing up to four (4) USB 2.0 ports. Secure the bracket to either the front or rear panel of your chassis (not ...
  • Page 44 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Front Panel Audio Header Front panel audio supports HD Audio for stereo/gaming headphones or 2.1 speakers, and a Mic. - 44 -...
  • Page 45 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Drive Headers (SATA) SATA 3/6Gbit/s is the current standard for HDD/SSD/Optical interface. These cables are the data interconnect for the motherboard. Your HDD/SSD/Optical interface will still require a separate power connection from your power supply.

  • Page 46: Onboard Buttons

    EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 47: First Boot

    EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 48 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Memory Setup To setup the Memory, use the arrow keys or your mouse to select the “Memory” setting. Select the “Memory Profiles” pulldown and select XMP Profile 1. This will automatically set some basic memory information, such as speed, latency and voltage.

  • Page 49: M.2 Ssd, Pcie Ssd, And Nvme Ssd Installation Steps

    EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) M.2 SSD, PCIe SSD, and NVMe SSD Installation steps M.2 is a versatile card module form factor that uses multiple connecter types to connect many types of devices, such as WiFi or SSDs, in a very small and power efficient package.
  • Page 50 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) a. For Windows 10: Set “Launch Storage OpROM Policy” to “UEFI”. Then set “Launch CSM” to “Disable”. 4. Press F10 to save and exit the BIOS/UEFI. 5. Press Del on reboot to reenter BIOS/UEFI.

  • Page 51: Internal Raid Controller

    EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 52 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 53 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) one drive fails, the array fails. It MAY be possible to recover the data but that usually requires a data recovery service, which is not guaranteed and is usually very expensive. RAID0 is typically only limited by the controller; however, you will get severely diminishing performance returns after 4 drives.
  • Page 54 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 55 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) The Bad-  RAID1 is not a storage capacity-friendly array, because the capacity will be limited to 1 drive. o Due to the capacity available on modern drive solutions, this issue may not be as significant as it once was.
  • Page 56 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Similar to RAID1, or any other current type of array with fault tolerance, a RAID5 array is still usable even while it is experiencing a missing or failed drive resulting in the array functioning in a degraded state. Performance will suffer in a degraded state until the missing drive is replaced and the software rebuild process is completed.
  • Page 57 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 58 L-Drive = DATA-AB L-Drive = DATA-AB While the X299 MICRO ATX 2 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 59 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) In the case of a drive failure, the array controller will notify you. When you replace a RAID 10 (6 Drive) L-DRIVE = ≃ 3TB P-DRIVE1 P-DRIVE2 P-DRIVE3 P-DRIVE4 P-DRIVE5 P-DRIVE6 P-DATA-A P-DATA-A P-DATA-B...
  • Page 60 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) failed drive in the RAID10, rebuilding the array is mostly seamless. For example, look at the array on the second row to the right. P-Drive1 failed, but P-Drive2 is still working and uses the same data. The array will pull data from P-Drive2 during the rebuild, so the array can be used normally while P-Drive2 copies ALL of its data back to the drive replacing P-Drive1.
  • Page 61 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 62 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) and the backend calculations needed to maintain the arrays, whereas RAID0+1 only increases stripe size. - 62 -...
  • Page 63 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) As you can see, the difference between RAID0+1 and RAID10 is significant when RAID 0+1 (6 Drive) L-DRIVE = ≃ 3TB P-DRIVE1 P-DRIVE2 P-DRIVE3 P-DRIVE4 P-DRIVE5 P-DRIVE6 DATA-A DATA-B DATA-C DATA-A DATA-B DATA-C L Drive = DATA-ABC...
  • Page 64 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) looking at how data is stored. Although the drive volume scaling and the level of fault tolerance is the same, internalizing the redundancy can make a significant difference overall to the array. In the examples to the right, you can see that when one drive fails the entire stripe set fails;...
  • Page 65 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) In the “SATA Mode Selection” at the top, the default will be AHCI. Click on the arrow to the right side of AHCI or navigate to it with your keyboard and press “Enter” to open the pulldown menu.
  • Page 66 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Once RAID is enabled and all devices are detected, press F10 to save and exit. Upon reboot, repeatedly press “Delete” to reenter the BIOS. Once in the BIOS, go back to the “Advanced” tab where you’ll find a new item at the bottom of the list called “Intel ®...
  • Page 67 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Choose a name for the volume. The controller allows up to 15 characters; you can use numbers and letters, but not special characters. 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.
  • Page 68 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Next select the drives you want to use for the array. Select the down arrow and the “X” for each drive you want to include in the array. Strip size (also called “block size” in other controllers) can be selected manually at 16k, 32k, 64k, or 128k.
  • Page 69 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Once the array is completed you will see the text shown on the next page, or something similar based on the array type and drives used. At this point, the array is ready to use.
  • Page 70 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) If a drive fails and the array becomes degraded, you will typically see an alert in Windows, during the controller booting (Legacy mode only), or while checking the array status within UEFI. If a drive fails in an array with redundancy (a RAID5 array, in this case), the controller will report the array as “Degraded”...
  • Page 71 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Next, you will see a list of all attached HDD/SSDs that can be used to rebuild the array. Select the disk, then click on it or press enter. Once the process has started you will see the status change to “Rebuilding.”...
  • Page 72 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) RAID5, can take several hours to rebuild. The duration of the rebuild process will further increase based on the usage of both the array and the CPU during the process. The rebuild process can be monitored from the “Intel Rapid Storage Technology”...
  • Page 73 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) This guide will illustrate how to create a RAID1 array using the IRST. Using the screen above, we know that three (3) SSDs are currently attached to the controller and the other three (3) Intel SATA ports are empty (this can vary board to board based on how ®...
  • Page 74 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 75 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) - 75 -...
  • Page 76 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 80 for Disk Management instructions.
  • Page 77 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 78 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 79 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 80 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 81 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Select the drive you wish to use for the repair and click the “Rebuild” button. - 81 -...
  • Page 82 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 83 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 84 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 85 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 86 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 87 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 88: Fan Header Dc And Pwm Setup

    EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Fan Header DC and PWM setup This motherboard supports 4-pin PWM and DC fans. The CPU1, CPU2, and PWR_FAN (when connected to the VRM heatsink fan) headers are PWM-controlled, whereas the remaining fans are controlled by either DC (Direct Current) or PWM. All fans can be located on Pages 11 and 12, component number 3.
  • Page 89 Note: If using an AIO CPU liquid cooler, such as the EVGA CLC Coolers, it is recommended to connect this to a CPU header, and set the speed to MAX. If left on SMART or lower than MAX, the cooler may not be recognized properly by the operating system or its software may not function properly.
  • Page 90 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 tie the fan control to the CPU, which is predominantly the most important temperature in the system.
  • Page 91 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 92: Setting Up Sli And Physx

    1. Physically install your graphics cards, then install a SLI bridge; examples include a Flexible bridge (included with this motherboard), an EVGA Pro Bridge, or an EVGA HB Bridge. Current NVidia graphics drivers support 400 Series Fermi cards up through GTX 1080 Ti and Titan XP cards.
  • Page 93 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 94 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 95 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 96 PhysX processing between the GPU and CPU based on load at any given moment. If you need further help setting up SLI/PhysX, please contact EVGA Customer Service. - 96 -...

  • Page 97: Realtek Hd Audio Manager

    EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Realtek HD Audio Manager The X299 MICRO ATX 2 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 98 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 99 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 100 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) component number 7. 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 101 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 102 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 103 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 104 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 105 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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...
  • Page 106 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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.
  • Page 107 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 108 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) • 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 109 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 110 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 111 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 112 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 113 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 114 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 115 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Using the E-LEET X Software Suite EVGA E-LEET X is a monitoring and tuning software designed for EVGA motherboards, available on the USB flash drive and the EVGA website at www.evga.com/E-LEET. After installation, E-LEET X launches...
  • Page 116 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) entire list, you will need to view/adjust those from within the BIOS. 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.
  • Page 117 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) The next tab is “Overclocking,” which covers adjustments to the BCLK, individual Cores, and the MESH. The BCLK can be adjusted by either manually moving the slider, or clicking on the arrows to the right.
  • Page 118 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 inter-load distribution of the CPU and always set a certain CPU core or cores to run a specific process.
  • Page 119 LEET X 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 120 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) Lastly, EVGA motherboards with RGB headers provide the option to adjust the LED color and behavior for RGB devices plugged into RGB headers. To control the LED, click on the LED tab. From here, you can adjust the Mode and the color to set the LED as you wish.

  • Page 121: Installing Drivers And Software

    User’s Manual  Windows 10 Driver Installation 1. Insert the USB flash drive included in your EVGA X299 MICRO ATX 2 motherboard kit into a USB port on your case or a USB port on the motherboard’s rear I/O panel.
  • Page 122 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 X299 MICRO ATX 2 manual is available through this utility and within the USB flash drive directly.

  • Page 123: 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 124: Troubleshooting

    When complete, the motherboard will automatically shut down. Power on the motherboard to go into the motherboard BIOS. h. When you see the X299 MICRO ATX 2 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 125 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 X299 MICRO ATX 2 splash screen appears, tap the Delete key to enter the BIOS.
  • Page 126 MICRO ATX 2 motherboard to update with a newer BIOS using the method below. a. Plug in the USB flash drive included with your X299 MICRO ATX 2 motherboard, and boot into Windows. b. Navigate to the USB flash drive so you can view the installed folders.

  • Page 127: Flashing The Bios Without A Cpu

    EVGAE296.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 X299 MICRO ATX 2 motherboard, if on, and turn your power supply off by flipping the switch to the “Off” position.

  • Page 128: Ssd / Hdd Is Not Detected

    EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 5. Continue holding down the reset key, as the POST LED counts down from 4. 6. When the flash begins, release the reset key. The POST LED will cycle in a clockwise manner during the flash...
  • Page 129 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) is receiving power, and you may skip to the next section. If you do not see, hear, or feel this, first try the cable on a device that you know works; if the cable works, then the issue is the device in question.
  • Page 130 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) - 130 -...

  • Page 131: System Does Not Post, And Post Code Indicator Reads "C

    EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 132: System Does Not Post, And Post Code Indicator Reads "55" Or "B7

    “EVGA X299 MICRO ATX 2.” 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 133: 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/ - 133 -...

  • Page 134: Post Beep Codes

    EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 135: Post Port Debug Led

    EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 136: Post Codes

    EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) POST Codes This section provides the AMI POST Codes for the EVGA X299 MICRO ATX 2 Motherboard during system boot up. The POST Codes are displayed on the Debug LED readout located directly on the motherboard.
  • Page 137 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 138 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 139 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 140 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 141: 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 142 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) I/O - Input/Output IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers IGP - Integrated Graphics Processors IMC – Integrated memory controller IOH – Input/Output Hub IRQ - Interrupt Request JBOD - Just a Bunch of Disks...
  • Page 143 EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296) 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 144: 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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