Asus Strix Z270F questions (BIOS, M.2 SSD, CMOS, Drivers)

Crom808

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Feb 9, 2017
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System Specs:

Case: Corsair 460X
CPU Cooler: Deepcool Assassin 2 air cooler
Motherboard: Asus ROG Strix Z270F
CPU: Intel i-7 7700k
GPU: Asus ROG Strix GTX 1080
Storage: Samsung 960 EVO 250GB PCIe NVMe M.2
PSU: EVGA 750 G3
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 DRAM 3000MHz
OS: Windows 10 Pro




Greetings,


I recently switched from an Asus Prime Z270-A to a Asus ROG Strix Z270F motherboard and I have a few questions. Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give me:



1. On my old Asus Prime Z270-A board that I returned, it had an XMP switch on the bottom right side of the board that I had to switch on. I also checked the BIOS later to make sure it was on. For the Asus ROG Strix Z270F board that I bought, it doesn't have that switch on the board. So I just need to make sure XMP is enabled in the BIOS? How can I tell if its working properly? If I see my memory running at 3000mhz in the BIOS, I should be fine, right?

1a. Can someone explain the basics of what the XMP feature does?



2. This is the first time I'm installing and using an NVMe M.2 SSD. Which slot do I install my drive to? The middle slot (M.2_2) or the slot that is on the bottom right hand corner of the motherboard (M.2_1)? Here is a screenshot http://imgur.com/a/8aft3

2.a I checked on my motherboard and I didn't see the screw that would hold the NVMe M.2 drive down on the motherboard. Does it come in the package with the M.2 drive? Or is it in my motherboard box? (My M.2 drive hasn't been delivered to me yet)



3. Before updating the BIOS, do I need to clear the CMOS settings? (This is a brand new motherboard). If so, is it hard to do it by the pin method? My board doesn't have a CMOS reset button



4. These are the drivers I'm going to download and install from the Asus website for my motherboard. Can you guys double check to make sure I'm downloading everything I need:

https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/ROG-STRIX-Z270F-GAMING/HelpDesk_Download/

-Chipset: Intel(R) Management Engine Interface V11.6.0.1026
-Chipset:Intel(R) Chipset Software Installation Utility V10.1.1.38
(Do I install this one first or the chipset management Engine Interface first?)

-LAN: Intel(R) Gigabit Ethernet Driver V21.1.30.0
Intel(R) Gigabit Ethernet Driver V21.1.30.0 for Windows 7 32-bit & 64-bit, Windows 8.1 64-bit, Windows 10 64-bit.(WHQL)

-SATA: There's two options listed on the website. I don't know which one to download and install:

Intel RST driver 15.5.0.1047 beta
RST driver 15.5.0.1047(Beta) is updated for Intel® Optane™ memory support. If you are not using Intel® Optane™ memory, we recommend that you do not proceed with this update

or

Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology Driver
Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology Driver for Windows 7 32-bit & 64-bit,
Windows 8.1 64-bit, Windows 10 64-bit

Intel Optane isn't a driver for the M.2 NVMe slot, is it?

-Audio: There's three options on the website for audio drivers. Beta Version 6.0.1.7960, Version 6.0.1.7997, and something else difference called Audio Driver Add RS2 support for Sonic Studio 3 and Sonic Radar 3


That's it. Thanks for the help guys, I appreciate it!
 
Solution
Yeah sorry I didn't check back. I have a little more time today. It looks like you can install the m.2 in either slot, but it disables different sata slots dependingg on which you choose. If you use M.2_1 it disables sata_1, and if you use M.2_2 it disables sata_5 and 6. you don't need to clear cmos to update bios, just download it to a flash drive and update that way because trying to do it over internet is more risky.
These are the drivers you should download:
Intel(R) Chipset Software Installation Utility V10.1.1.38 (do this one first)
Intel(R) Management Engine Interface
Audio Driver
Add RS2 support for Sonic Studio 3 and Sonic Radar 3.
Intel(R) Gigabit Ethernet Driver V21.1.30.0
Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology Driver or Intel...

jpe1701

Honorable
Well I'm not going to answer all of your questions simply because I don't have time right now but as for xmp you just need to make sure it is enabled in your bios, and you can download an app called cpu-z and under the memory tab it will show you what timings and the frequency of your ram.
 

jpe1701

Honorable
Yeah sorry I didn't check back. I have a little more time today. It looks like you can install the m.2 in either slot, but it disables different sata slots dependingg on which you choose. If you use M.2_1 it disables sata_1, and if you use M.2_2 it disables sata_5 and 6. you don't need to clear cmos to update bios, just download it to a flash drive and update that way because trying to do it over internet is more risky.
These are the drivers you should download:
Intel(R) Chipset Software Installation Utility V10.1.1.38 (do this one first)
Intel(R) Management Engine Interface
Audio Driver
Add RS2 support for Sonic Studio 3 and Sonic Radar 3.
Intel(R) Gigabit Ethernet Driver V21.1.30.0
Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology Driver or Intel RST driver 15.5.0.1047 beta if you are using intel optane memory which you are not from your description.
And then which ever utilities you want such as ai suite which allows controls over fans and overclocking and a few other things, and aura which controls the leds on your board.
 
Solution

Crom808

Honorable
Feb 9, 2017
105
1
10,680