Page 1 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) User Guide EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N Specs and Initial Installation - 1 -...
Page 2: Table Of Contents
Tested M.2 Key-E....................... - 38 - Connecting Cables ......................- 39 - Onboard and External Buttons .................... - 51 - First Boot ........................ - 52 - M.2 SSD, PCIe SSD, and NVMe SSD Installation steps ........... - 54 - - 2 -...
Page 3 System does not POST, and Multi-function Display reads “55” ........- 110 - System does not POST, and Multi-function Display reads “d7” ........- 110 - Have a question not covered above, or want some online resources? ......- 111 - Multi-function Display POST Debug LED ..............- 112 - Multi-function LED indicator ...................
Page 4: Before You Begin
64GB DDR5 and up to 8000MHz+(OC)*, PCIe Gen5, and PCIe Gen4 M.2 NVMe support. The Z790 DARK K|NGP|N auto-switches the x16 PCIe Gen 5 CPU lanes between slots 1 and 2 to give your PCIe device maximum bandwidth no matter where it’s installed**. Beyond excessive overclocking support, the board also includes multiple USB options, 8x SATA 6Gb/s ports, Wi-Fi 6E / BT 5.2, and 3x M.2 Key-M slots.
Page 5: Parts Not In The Kit
However, the following items must be purchased separately in order to make the system fully functional and ready to install an Operating System: Intel Socket 1700 Processor ®...
Page 6: Motherboard Specifications
System Memory support:  Supports up to 64GB Dual-Channel DDR5 Supports up to 8000MHz+ (OC) Dual-Channel DDR5 Achievable speeds depend upon configuration and CPU memory controller USB 2.0 Ports:  4x from Intel Z790 PCH – 4x internal via 2 FP headers ®...
Page 7  2x 4-pin PWM controlled headers / 4x 4-pin PWM/DC headers ALL FAN HEADERS HAVE A MAXIMUM POWER LIMIT OF 2 AMP @ 12 VOLTS (24 WATTS). PUMP HEADERS HAVE A MAXIMUM POWER LIMIT OF 3 AMP @ 12 VOLTS (36 WATTS). EXCEDING THIS LIMIT WILL CAUSE IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE BOARD.
Page 8: Unpacking And Parts Descriptions
EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) Unpacking and Parts Descriptions The following accessories are included with the EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N Motherboard: - 8 -...
Page 9 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) - 9 -...
Page 10: Evga Z790 Dark K|Ngp|N Motherboard Led
EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N Motherboard LED The EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N Motherboard has several LEDs indicating power, connectivity, and activity. Below is the location of the LEDs and their function. - 10 -...
Page 11 1. Multi-function Display a. During boot it will cycle many different hexadecimal post codes with a range of 00-FF and this indicates what aspect of the Power On Self Test (POST) is currently running. i. For a list of POST Codes, please see Page 116.
Page 12 10. BIOS3 Active LED a. WHITE: Active BIOS Chip (only 1 will be lit at a time) 11. PCIe Enabled for PE1. The LED stays off when PE1 is disabled or unpopulated. a. WHITE: PE1 device present and detected. 12. PCIe Status for PE1. The LED stays off when PE1 is disabled or unpopulated.
Page 13 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) 24. VCORE Status a. WHITE: Voltage present (Does not mean PSU is outputting in-spec, only that this specific voltage is detected) 25. CPU VCCIN AUX Status a. WHITE: Voltage present (Does not mean PSU is outputting in-spec, only that this specific voltage is detected) 26.
Page 14: Evga Z790 Dark K|Ngp|N Component Legend
EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N Component Legend The EVGA Z790 DARK Motherboard with the Intel Z790 and PCH Chipset. ® Figure 1 shows the motherboard and Figure 2 shows the back panel connectors FIGURE 1. Z790 DARK K|NGP|N Motherboard Layout...
Page 15 Rear Panel I/O (Figure 2) Front Panel Header ASMedia SATA 6Gb/s SATA Ports Temperature Sensor Header 3x M.2 Socket 3 Key-M 110mm BIOS Selector Switch **For a FULL description of the above legend, please see Page 17. - 15 -...
Page 16 Mic In Mic In Mic In Mic In Black Side Speakers Out Side Speakers Out Orange Center / Sub Out Center / Sub Out * Only used in 7.1 and is changed via Realtek Software from within Windows. - 16 -...
Page 17 The Platform Controller Hub (PCH) works as a hub for peripherals that are less bandwidth-intensive. The PCH has 8x DMI lanes (Gen 4), up to 20x PCIe Gen 4, and up to 8x PCIe Gen 3 lanes to allocate bandwidth to smaller PCIe slots, M.2, USB, audio, etc.
Page 18 4800MHz (depending upon memory configuration). 7. 24-pin ATX power connector The main power for the motherboard is located on the right side of the board (See Page 40 for more information about the connector). The 24-pin connector on the motherboard is directional and the tab on the connector must line up with the release clip from the male 24pin connector from the power supply.
Page 19 When a single PCIe device is installed in either PE1 or PE2, the CPU will allocate x16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes to the slot where the device is located. If PCIe devices are installed in both x16 slots, both lanes will operate at x8/x8 speeds.
Page 20 POST is the motherboard’s self-test to verify operational status. During POST, the left set of LEDs will display the various codes as each motherboard segment is analyzed, and will stop or repeatedly cycle if an error is detected. The POST codes are listed in the troubleshooting section on Page 116.
Page 21 These DIP switches physically disable power to a specific PCIe slot. By default, all switches are in the “On” position to the left. Move the switch to the right to disable a specific slot. From top to bottom, the switches correspond to PE1 and PE2.
Page 22 Its primary use is for debugging purposes. A POST beep may indicate a successful POST or various tones for USB initialization, while other beeps may indicate an issue during the POST process. Please see Page 114 for more details. 29. BIOS SafeBoot Button Pressing this button while the system is running will reboot the motherboard directly into the BIOS without clearing CMOS.
Page 23 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) 33. ARGB LED Controller Header The ARGB header is a 3pin 5V. header with a current limit of 2A; anything above 2A will trigger overcurrent protection and lock at 2A. This header provides RGB lighting configuration via EVGA ELEET X1 within Windows, and supports up to 125 LEDs.
Page 24 If the end of the slot is closed, then you will only be able to install x4 length devices, or shorter. If the x4 length slot is open, you can install a longer PCIe device, such as a full-length graphics card. However, the maximum bandwidth of the slot will still be limited to x4, in this example.
Page 25 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) Card Slots The Z790 DARK K|NGP|N features two x16 PCIe slots, one x4 PCIe slot, three Socket 3 Key-M M.2 110mm slots (M.2_1/M.2_2/M.2_3), and a vertical Socket 1 Key-E M.2 (Contains the WiFi/BT module). *Note: The M.2 Key-M 110mm slots are accessible only after removing the heatsink between PCIe slots PE1 and PE2.
Page 26: Pcie Slot Breakdown
To illustrate, imagine that you install a single graphics card in the system:  If installed in PE1, PE1 will use x16 lanes and PE2 will default to x0 lanes.  If installed in PE2, PE1 will default to x0 lanes and PE2 will use x16 lanes.
Page 27: Preparing The Motherboard
If this step isn’t followed, your system may require additional reboots to boot successfully. Be very careful when handling the CPU. Hold the processor only by the edges and do not touch the bottom of the processor.
Page 28: Installing The Cpu Cooling Device
5. Remove the plastic protective socket cover by pulling it straight up and away from the socket. 6. Carefully lock the lever back into place by lowering it down to the hook, then push the lever towards the socket and down under the hook.
Page 29: Installing System Memory (Dimms)
Your motherboard is pre-installed with an I/O shield, which is used to prevent dust and foreign objects from coming into contact with internal components. Ensure that the I/O shield remains on the inside of the chassis while you are fastening the motherboard to the case.
Page 30: Installing The Motherboard
SSD to the board. Although many modern cases attempt to make these installation steps simpler for the owner, we recommend to review your chassis installation guide first. After, we suggest taking a moment to review the quick installation guide included with your motherboard, and then proceed to install the motherboard and everything else.
Page 31: Securing The Motherboard Into A System Case
This will hold the board in place as you properly align each screw. Once all screws are properly threaded, remember to go back and fasten the rest of the screws. 6. See the picture on the next page for the locations of the mounting holes for the Z790 DARK K|NGP|N. - 31 -...
Page 32 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) 1. All safe locations to secure the board to a standoff are circled in blue. 2. The motherboard should still have 1-2mm of movement before you fully-fasten the screws. Use this this tolerance to help mount graphics cards or tight-fits with other components.
Page 33: Installing M.2 Devices
3 (for SSDs) and Socket 1 (for WiFi/Bluetooth) – are installed differently. Below are images from an installation of an SSD on a Socket 3 Key-M 110mm slot of the Z790 DARK K|NGP|N. This motherboard has three (3) 110mm M.2 slots, all covered by a heatsink to provide additional cooling.
Page 34 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) 2. Steps For Installing M.2 Devices When installing the M.2 device, install the gold fingers at a slight angle into the slot, and lower it so that it rests on the thermal pad. For 110mm M.2 devices: ...
Page 35 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) 3. Final Step – Reinstall the Z790 DARK K|NGP|N Cover for M.2 Devices Once all SSDs have been installed, reinstall the M.2 heatsink and fasten all screws. If the larger heatsink is not fully fastened, you may have difficulty your PCIe device in the PE1 and/or PE2 slot.
Page 36: Tested Cpu
Pentium® G7400 2 Cores (4 Threads) 3.7 GHz P-Core Pentium® G6900 2 Cores (2 Threads) 3.4 GHz P-Core For a list of tested CPUs, please visit https://www.evga.com/support/motherboard/ and select the EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N from the list. - 36 -...
Page 37: Tested M.2 Key-M
EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) Tested M.2 Key-M PCIE 4.0 INTERFACE Black SN850 WDS200T1X0E-00AFY0 2TB PCIE4.0 NVME M2 Samsung 980 Pro MZ-V8P500 500G PCIE4.0 NVME M2 PCIE 3.0 INTERFACE ADATA ASX8000NP-256GM-C 256G M.2 PCIE Crucial CT500P1SSD8 P1 NVME NVME M.2 500G CORSAIR MP500 CSSD-F240GBMP500 240G PCIE3.0 NVME M2...
Page 38: Tested M.2 Key-E
EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) Tested M.2 Key-E - 38 -...
Page 39: Connecting Cables
Rather, this section is designed to provide basic information about important connectors and headers pinouts. The locations of these components can be found in the Component Legend on Pages 14-15. This section takes you through all the necessary connections on the motherboard.
Page 40 The 6-pin PCIe connector present on the motherboard provides additional power to the PCIe slots, rather than pulling it all from the 24-pin main power. It is advised to plug in this connector when using multiple VGA devices or heavy overclocking, especially with higher-end graphic cards.
Page 41 EPS socket is aligned with the release clip on the cable. NOTE: If you can install the cable even though the tab and release clip are on opposite sides, then you are using a PCIe 8-pin cable and will likely damage your motherboard if powered on.
Page 42 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) Front Panel Header The front panel header on this motherboard is used to connect the following four cables: PWRLED  Attach the front panel power LED cable to these two pins of the connector. The Power LED indicates the system’s status. When the system is powered on, the LED will be on.
Page 43 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) Thermal Sensor Header The external thermal sensor header is a 2-pin header that allows you to connect a thermistor cable to monitor temperatures that are not natively monitored by the motherboard. This header consists of a “Sensor” and a ground pin. Once connected, the information derived from the sensor will be viewable in BIOS and Windows.
Page 44 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). These headers are for your CPU heatsink and chassis cooling fans.
Page 45 Amps @ 5 Volts (10 Watts) or up to 125 LEDs. This will add control options through EVGA ELEET X1 for controlling RGB LEDs. The EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N lists these headers as “ARGB1” through “ARGB4” on the motherboard. - 45 -...
Page 46 This motherboard contains USB 3.2 Gen2 and USB 3.2 Gen1 ports that are accessible on the rear panel of the chassis. The Z790 DARK K|NGP|N contains 1x 20pin internal header, which can support 1 USB3.2 Gen2 Type-C front-panel connector or device.
Page 47 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) 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 48 BIOS Select Switch. This header has a specific purpose – to allow you to flash the BIOS with a USB flash drive without an installed CPU. For more information on flashing the BIOS without a CPU, please see Page 105.
Page 49 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) Front Panel Audio Header Front panel audio supports HD Audio for stereo/gaming headphones or 2.1 speakers, and a Mic. - 49 -...
Page 50 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) Drive Headers (SATA) SATA 6Gb/s is the current standard for an HDD/SSD interface. These ports provide the data interconnect for the motherboard and HDD/SSD via cable. Your drive still requires a separate power connection from your power supply.
Page 51: Onboard And External Buttons
Press the Reset CMOS button shown on the right to reset the BIOS back to defaults. Use the Reset CMOS button to clear the BIOS before and after updating the BIOS, and as a troubleshooting option when the motherboard fails to POST (e.g.
Page 52: First Boot
DURING A BIOS UPDATE. THIS WILL LIKELY RENDER THE ACTIVE BIOS UNBOOTABLE** Once the BIOS is updated, you will be greeted with the same screen as before denoting a checksum error. Click “Yes” to go into the BIOS. The Z790 chipset is natively designed for UEFI and Windows 11/10. However, Legacy Boot can be enabled in the Boot Menu if your older hardware is not compatible with UEFI.
Page 53 Devices that have an OS or installation media will be listed under Boot Override. Select a device and the motherboard will boot directly to it. 2. Configure Boot each time you power on – Go to the Boot Menu. Set the “Always Show Boot Option” to On. After reboot, the motherboard will ask you to select your boot device at every startup.
Page 54: Ssd, Pcie Ssd, And Nvme Ssd Installation Steps
M.2 SSD, PCIe SSD, and NVMe SSD Installation steps M.2 devices can be connected via an M.2 card slot or through PCIe by using an M.2 to PCIe adapter. Some SSDs are designed to be installed in a PCIe slot to provide higher bandwidth than a SATA interface, such as the Intel 750.
Page 55 1. Power on the PC and enter the BIOS by tapping the Delete key repeatedly. 2. Follow the steps above to verify that your M.2/PCIe SSD is seen in the BIOS. 3. Once you’ve confirmed that your device is seen, go into the Boot menu.
Page 56: Configuring Raid With M.2 Ssds
Make sure that your populated M.2 Key-M slots are enabled here. 4. Hit ESC or click the back arrow to return to the Advanced menu. Click on the NVMe Configuration page to verify that your SSDs are detected and available.
Page 57 1. After enabling the VMD controller, you will see a new Advanced menu called “Intel Rapid Storage Technology”. Enter the menu. ® 2. Here, you will see all available drives, RAID volumes, and have the option to Create RAID Volume. For this guide, we will create a RAID5. - 57 -...
Page 58 RAID. In this case, we will select all SSDs for the RAID, so we will select each drop-down and choose the “X” option. After configuring your RAID Level, disks, Strip Size, and RAID capacity, select “Create Volume”.
Page 59 Note: RAID0, RAID1, RAID5, and RAID10 are supported on the Z790 DARK K|NGP|N when spanned between the M.2 slots and SATA ports, but this is strongly not recommended due to the significant difference in performance and the lack of device uniformity (i.e. different SSDs within the same RAID), which may cause a RAID to become unrecognized or fail unexpectedly.
Page 60: Internal Sata Raid Controller
This section covers the basics of what RAID does, how RAID works, and why you may or may not want to use RAID. There are other means of creating a RAID drive on this motherboard, such as through the Intel VMD or through the IOMSM in Windows, ®...
Page 61  Capacity – How does creating an array affect the size of the logical drive? o All RAID levels utilize a very small amount of disk space, in part, to maintain connections to data across drives and store configuration data.
Page 62 : RAID1 is also called “Mirroring” or a “Mirrored Array.” RAID1 uses two physical drives and writes ALL data to both drives simultaneously, providing a real-time 100% redundancy. If a drive fails, you can continue using your system even if only one drive is healthy.
Page 63 A RAID5 array is still usable even while a drive is missing or failed drive, resulting in a degraded state. Performance will suffer until the missing drive is replaced and the software rebuild process is completed.
Page 64 RAID10. When creating the array, the controller will look at the drive with the smallest capacity in the mirror and use this as the size for each drive in the array. This follows the rule of RAID1. The striping portion of the array will follow RAID0 and combine the sum of each mirrored array.
Page 65 The SATA Configuration menu shows a list of all drives currently detected by the controller. Make sure the list in your BIOS matches what you have plugged in. If it does not, reseat cables on the device(s) in question. If the issue persists, please check the troubleshooting section on Page 107.
Page 66 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) 3. Similar to the M.2 RAID instructions, set Enable VMD Controller to “Enabled”, then Save and Reboot. Upon entering the menu again, you will notice that your SATA port information will be empty. This mode includes both the RAID controls and the same options/functions/commands as AHCI.
Page 67 ® Technology menu. 5. 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.” 6. Choose a name for the volume. The controller allows up to 15 characters; you can use numbers and letters, but not special characters.
Page 68 For purpose of this guide, we will make a RAID5. 8. 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.
Page 69 12. Once the array is completed you will see this text, or something similar based on the array type and drives used. At this point, the array is ready to use. - 69 -...
Page 70 The BIOS will remind you, 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 71 RAID array. When ready, click Rebuild to start the process. 2. Next, you will see a list of all attached HDD/SSDs that can be used to rebuild the array. Select your preferred disk, then click on it to begin the process.
Page 72 RAID controller. The rebuild status can be viewed in ® the “Manage” tab, located on the top of the IOMSM Window. Please see the image at the top of Page 80 to see where to find the rebuilding information% in the IOMSM. - 72 -...
Page 73 The IOMSM is the software front-end for the Intel SATA controller. IOMSM may be ® more convenient for some people due to a more detailed UI than the BIOS. It is recommended to install the RAID drivers after installing the Intel Chipset Drivers –...
Page 74 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) 1. Verify that all the drives intended for the array are present on the screen, then click “Create RAID Volume” to begin the process. For the purpose of this guide, we are using a pair of SATA SSDs to create the RAID1 array. If you were using PCIe / M.2 based NVMe drives, the same basic steps apply to both,...
Page 75 2. On the next window, we will select the drives for our RAID. RAID1 requires exactly two (2) drives. Click the boxes for the two drives you wish to use in the array. There are other choices you can make on this page: a.
Page 76 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) 3. At this point, the RAID manager will summarize the choices you’ve made and request confirmation to delete data. Click Create RAID Volume to begin the process. - 76 -...
Page 77 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) 4. The build progress will be displayed on the Manage page. Once the RAID is fully built, the percentage will disappear, and your array will be shown. For further information about the array or your drives, click on the array for more details, including the option to delete or repair the array, if necessary.
Page 78 Below, you can see a degraded array, and one of its drives reported as unknown/failed. The data on the other drive is still intact, but the fault tolerance is offline due to the unknown/failed drive. The IOMSM also shows several warnings, including the "!" for "Status,"...
Page 79 IOMSM will explain why you need to repair your drive, warn you that you will delete any data on the spare drive, and ask you to select the disk where you want to rebuild the array. After selecting the disk, click “Rebuild.”...
Page 80 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 may keep track of the rebuilding progress in the Manage tab. Once repairs are complete, the warning will disappear and the array will update to “Status: Normal.”...
Page 81 Once you have created your array, either from within the BIOS or from the IOMSM, 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 82 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.” Note: If you previously initialized your array through IOMSM, you will skip this step and move on to the New Simple Volume Wizard in the next step.
Page 83 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) 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 84 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) 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 85 “Finish.” The drive is now usable. To confirm, go back to File Explorer in Windows. Click on “This PC” and check the drives section. You should have a new empty drive there, with the letter you designated.
Page 86: Fan Header Dc And Pwm Setup
To configure the fans, go into the motherboard BIOS. During the POST sequence, press Delete repeatedly to get into the BIOS. Once in the BIOS, use the arrow keys or your mouse to navigate, whichever is easier, and make your way to the Advanced >...
Page 87 Smart curve for fan controls. Each fan can be set to a separate fan curve. To set a Smart curve, please see the guide starting at the top of the next page. The +/- buttons next to Smart allow you to set your fans at a static speed percentage, instead of a curve.
Page 88 If this is a concern, set the fan control to the PWM temp. Once you’ve set the Fan Control reference point, you can set the Default fan speed. The fan speed will increase once the temperature reference point has heated up enough to hit the Level 1 Temperature.
Page 89 In Standard Mode, there are four tiers of temp control. At Level 4, we recommend to set the fan speeds to Max. Feel free to create your own profile to meet your noise and cooling needs. Make sure, however, to stay 5-10C below the Max safe load temp for your processor, which is listed on Intel’s website.
Page 90 BIOS. Overclocking can be done more simply via the Package menu, or you can opt for more fine-tuning adjustments via the Per Core menu.
Page 91 Target Voltage, which represents the voltage necessary to run stable (or close to it), even under load. One way to determine this is by stress-testing your CPU with your desired overclock. Offset voltage can then be used to fine-tune additional voltage that may be required under load or stress situations.
Page 92 “Default” to restore stock settings. To Save a profile, first configure and apply any and all settings. Next, click on any of the profiles on the right side of the screen. Saved profiles show a ring around the profile, while empty profiles have no outline.
Page 93 The “Memory” tab allows for Real Time Memory overclocking on the Z790 DARK K|NGP|N, 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. Alternatively, memory timing adjustments may still be made in the BIOS.
Page 94 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. Furthermore, voltages on modern motherboards often closely respond to changes in load, meaning that voltage readings will change based on load and usage, which is normal.
Page 95 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) 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. - 95 -...
Page 96 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) Additional CPU details are provided, including the Stepping, Revision, Instructions, and Cache layout. Lastly, additional memory information is available for secondary memory timings, as well as the type and number of channels being used. - 96 -...
Page 97 “link” button located to the right of the ARGB drop-down box. In the lower box, you can adjust the color of the LED light, as well as the brightness and speed of the LED lighting.
Page 98 The Wi-Fi page will display typical information about your wireless connection and your signal strength, including your Access Point name, wireless band, and wireless version. The signal strength is indicated on a 1-10 scale, with 1 being the weakest and 10 being the strongest.
Page 99 The Setup menu gives you control over basic program and OS startup behavior, along with the ability to check for new updates. This has been the ELEET X1 utility overview, which should give you a solid start to understanding and using the ELEET X1 software suite.
Page 100: Installing Drivers And Software
Installing Drivers and Software Note: It is important to remember that before installing the drivers included in the kit, you must first load or install your operating system. The motherboard natively supports 64bit versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Page 101 ME drivers first, followed by rebooting your system. Next, install the Intel Rapid Storage drivers and reboot. 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 Z790 DARK K|NGP|N manual is available through this utility and within the USB flash drive directly.
Page 102: Warranty And Overclocking
This means ALL original heatsinks and fans must be reattached as they were when it was first shipped. Even if the product no longer works, it must be returned to its original state before sending it in. If you no longer have the original heatsinks you may be charged for the missing parts.
Page 103: Troubleshooting
When complete, the motherboard will automatically shut down. Power on the motherboard to go into the motherboard BIOS. g. When you see the Z790 DARK K|NGP|N splash screen, you will likely see a checksum error message. Click Yes to continue. 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 104 Move the extracted folder onto your USB flash drive. c. Reboot the motherboard. d. When the splash screen appears, tap the Delete key to enter the BIOS. e. Go to the EXTRAS tab in the upper-right corner, and select BIOS Update: Navigate to the folder containing the BIOS file.
Page 105: Flashing The Bios Without A Cpu
EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) Flashing the BIOS Without a CPU If your motherboard cannot boot, or you are unable to see picture on your display, and other troubleshooting does not resolve your issue, you may need to flash the BIOS.
Page 106 If you have not installed a CPU and at least one 8-pin CPU power connector, the POST LED will stop at an error code. If this occurs, turn off the motherboard and install any remaining hardware components before booting again.
Page 107: Ssd / Hdd Is Not Detected
For devices with external power, such as SATA, make sure power is connected to the drive, and that the other side of the cable is attached to the correct port on your PSU. If you are using a mechanical drive (either a platter HDD or an optical drive) you should hear the motor spin up when you first power on the system.
Page 108 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) the issue. If one or more of the cables test bad with a different device, then replacing the cable(s) should resolve the issue. M.2 devices are much simpler to troubleshoot. M.2 devices are installed at a slight angle, gently lowered until parallel with the motherboard, and then fastened into place.
Page 109: Using The Post Code Indicator To Troubleshoot
However, if the boot process does not complete, you should look at the POST codes shown on the display, which functions as a debug LED. When the Multi-function Display cycles through codes and stops at a specific code, this is an indication that an error was detected at a specific point during the boot process.
Page 110: System Does Not Post, And Multi-Function Display Reads "55
Consult your power supply manual to confirm the correct cables for your motherboard. If the PSU is modular, make sure the cable is also fully-seated on the PSU side. Only use the manufacturer’s officially-supported cables for your specific PSU. PSU cables are not standardized in the industry;...
Page 111: Have A Question Not Covered Above, Or Want Some Online Resources
EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) 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 112: Multi-Function Display Post Debug Led
Multi-function Display POST Debug LED The debug LED provides a 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 (by default) after the system has fully booted into the Operating System.
Page 113: Multi-Function Led Indicator
Turn Off - completely deactivates 80Port LED display  The Debug Port Display menu in the BIOS Setup allows you to pick specific sensors to be displayed on the Multi-function Display. These temperatures and voltages can also be seen in the BIOS setup window in real- time, for a quick overview.
Page 114 EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N (121-RL-E799) - 114 -...
Page 115: Post Beep Codes
4 Beeps: This is an error relating to some small recovery errors, which can occur when coming out of sleep/hibernate. 5 Beeps: This error is stating it cannot detect a keyboard. This can also indicate a video card is not detected.
Page 116: Post Codes
Codes are displayed on the Multi-function Display readout located directly on the motherboard and can be used to help troubleshoot pre-boot issues. See Page 14 and 15, component 17 of the Component Legend for physical location. This display will switch to show the user’s Multi-function Display settings after POST (see Page 112).
Page 117 Memory initialization error. Invalid memory type or incompatible memory speed Memory initialization error. SPD reading has failed Memory initialization error. Invalid memory size or memory modules do not match. Memory initialization error. No usable memory detected Unspecified memory initialization error.
Page 118 PCI host bridge initialization North Bridge DXE initialization is started North Bridge DXE SMM initialization is started 6B-6F North Bridge DXE initialization (North Bridge module specific) South Bridge DXE initialization is started South Bridge DXE SMM initialization is started South Bridge devices initialization...
Page 119 SCSI Reset SCSI Detect SCSI Enable Setup Verifying Password Start of Setup Reserved for ASL (see ASL Status Codes section below) Setup Input Wait Reserved for ASL (see ASL Status Codes section below) Ready To Boot event - 119 -...
Page 120 PCI resource allocation error. Out of Resources No Space for Legacy Option ROM No Console Output Devices are found No Console Input Devices are found Invalid password Error loading Boot Option (Load Image returned error) Boot Option is failed (Start Image returned error) - 120 -...
Page 121: Evga Glossary Of Terms
ACPI - Advanced Configuration and Power Interface AHCI – Advanced Host Controller Interface APIC - Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller ARGB – Addressable Red Green Blue (LED lighting) BCLK – Base Clock (or operating frequency of base system bus) BIOS - Basic Input Output System CMOS - Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor CPU –...
Page 122 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 – Land Grid Array LN/2 –...
Page 123 S/PDIF - Sony/Philips Digital Interconnect Format SPP - System Platform Processors SSD – Solid State Drive TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol U.2 – High-Speed storage interface also referred to as SFF-8639 UDP – User Datagram Protocol UEFI – Unified Extensible Firmware Interface...
Page 124: Compliance Information
Corporation assumes no responsibility for the consequences of use of such information or for any infringement of patents or other rights of third parties that may result from its use, or use of the Software. No license is granted by implication or otherwise under any patent or patent rights of EVGA Corporation except as expressly provided herein.

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