GIGABYTE Z690 UD4 Install guide

First assemble the computer parts.
For ease of use during Windows installation, Merging recommends that you install security dongles, additional cards, Pyramix-Ovation keyboard, .... after the Windows Installation and activation..
MassCore users : Z690 / 12th gen CPU Currently not compatible.

Merging highly recommends you "defer feature updates" in Windows.

1.BIOS

Validated BIOS version : F7b 
First update BIOS if required. 
Download BIOS from https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Z690-UD-rev-10/support#support-dl-driver, unzip on a USB Flash Drive and use the Q-Flash utility.

!Merging Technologies does not guarantee any issue or instability if any overclocking is enabled!

Sealevel GPIO 8206 & 8206FX are NOT compatible with this motherboard, because of their incompatibility with Intel USB chipsets.
Other SeaLevel GPIO are compatible, see our supported controllers table for details on supported models.

BIOS first opens in the Easy mode page, a summary of the system information.
You may adjust date and time.
Please switch to Advance Mode (F2)

1.1. Tweaker.

CPU Upgrade : Default
Enhanced Multi-Core Performance : Disabled
Performance CPU Clock Ratio : Auto
Efficiency CPU Clock Ratio : Auto
Ring Ratio : Auto

Advanced CPU Settings

Hyper-Threading Technology : Enabled
Intel(R) Speed Shift Technology : Disabled
CPU Thermal Monitor : Disabled
Ring to Core offset (Down Bin) : Auto
CPU EIST Function : Disabled
Race To Halt (RTH) : Disabled
Energy Efficient Turbo : Disabled
Intel(R) Turbo Boost Technology : Disabled
CPU Flex Ratio Override : Disabled
CPU Flex Ratio Settings : Not accessible as the previous setting is disabled
Legacy Game Compatibility Mode : Disabled

AVX Settings : Auto

Active Turbo Ratios  : Auto

CPU Cores Enabling Mode  : Random Mode
No. of CPU P-Cores Enabled : Auto
No. of CPU E-Cores Enabled : Auto

C-States Control : Disabled

Turbo Power Limits : Auto
Turbo Per Core Limit Control : Auto

Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.) : Disabled.  Unfortunately using XMP Profile may cause instabilities to the system.  Merging recommends to not use XMP Profiles.
System Memory Multiplier : Auto
Memory Ref Clock : Auto
Gear Mode : Auto

Advanced Memory Settings

Memory Boot Mode : Normal
Realtime Memory Timing : Auto
Memory Enhancement Settings : Auto
Memory Timing Mode : Dynamic
Memory Channel Detection Message : Disabled 
SPD Info : Information only
Memory Channels Timing : No setting to modify

All Voltages settings : Auto - No setting to modify

1.2. Settings.

Platform Power

Platform Power Management : Disabled 

S3 Save Mode : Disabled 
Keyboard Wake Up From S3 : Disabled 
Mouse Wake Up From S3 : Disabled 
Power On By Keyboard : Disabled 
Power On By Mouse : Disabled 
ErP : Disabled 
Soft-Off by PWR-BTTN : Instant-Off
Resume by Alarm : Disabled 
Power Loading : Auto
RC6(Render Standby) : Disabled 
AC Back : Allows to set the computer behavior after a power shortage. Always Off : computer will remain off.  Always On : computer will restart as soon as the AC power is back.

IO Ports

Initial Display Output : PCIe 1 Slot (as Merging recommends a dedicated graphic card)
Internal Graphics : Disabled (as Merging recommends a dedicated graphic card)
PCIE Bifurcation Support : Auto
OnBoard LAN Controller : Enabled
Audio Controller : Enabled
Above 4G Decoding : Disabled
IOAPIC 24-199 Entries : Enabled

App Center Download & Install Configuration
App Center Download & Install : Disabled

Super IO Configuration
Serial Port : Enabled

USB Configuration
Legacy USB Support : Enabled
XHCI Hand-off : Enabled
USB Mass Storage Driver Support : Enabled
Port 60/64 Emulation : Enabled

Network Stack Configuration
Network Stack : Disabled

NVMe Configuration : Information only

SATA Configuration
SATA Controller(s) : Enabled
Aggressive LPM Support : Disabled
Individual SATA ports settings : Please the Gigabyte Z690 UD4 BIOS guide for details.  SATA Port DevSlp must be Disabled.

VMD Setup Menu
Enable VMD controller (= RAID) : Enabled only if you want to use the motherboard RAID capability.
Enable VMD Global Mapping : Disabled.
Intel(R) Optane(TM) Memory : Disabled.
For the other settings and further details to configure a RAID array, please follow Gigabyte RAID Setup Guide.

Realtek PCIe 2.5GBE Family Controller : Information only

Miscellaneous

LEDs in System Power On State : On
LEDs in Sleep, Hibernation and Soft Off States : Off
RST-SW (Multikey) : Set this button to HW Reset
Intel Platform Trust Technology : Enabled for Windows 11
3DMark01 Enhancement : Disabled
CPU PCIe Link Speed : Auto
PCH PCIe Link Speed : Auto
VT-D: Disabled

Trusted Computing
Security Device Support : Enabled for Windows 11

PC Health Status : Please the Gigabyte Z690 UD4 BIOS guide for details.

1.3. System Info.

You may set the System Language, Date and Time on this page.
The Plug in Devices Info shows the PCIe and M.2. devices detected by the system.
Q-Flash allows you to update the motherboard BIOS.

1.4. Boot.

Boot Configuration
Bootup NumLock State : On
CFG Lock : Disabled
Security Option : Adjust according to your needs.  Please the Gigabyte Z690 UD4 BIOS guide for details.
Full Screen LOGO Show : Adjust according to your needs.  Please the Gigabyte Z690 UD4 BIOS guide for details.

Boot Options Priorities
Boot Options #1 : Windows Boot Manager (will only show up after Windows has been installed)
Fast Boot : Disable Link
Mouse Speed : 1x

Windows 10 Features : Windows 10
CSM Support : Disabled

Administrator / User Password : Adjust according to your needs.  Please the Gigabyte Z690 UD4 BIOS guide for details.

Secure Boot 
Secure Boot : Disabled (may prevent some devices or services to start properly)

Preferred Operating Mode : Adjust according to your needs.  Please the Gigabyte Z690 UD4 BIOS guide for details.

1.5 Saving your BIOS/UEFI settings

You can save your BIOS settings in the Save & Exit page, into the motherboard ROM or on a USB drive (must be formatted as FAT32)
After a BIOS update, those settings might be lost or incompatible with the updated BIOS version.

2.WINDOWS INSTALLATION

Windows 10 or 11 users may install from Windows 10 / 11 CD or USB bootable drive.

3.WINDOWS CONFIGURATION

Merging recommends to download the latest drivers from
https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Z690-UD-rev-10/support#support-dl-driver

Merging recommends to install WHQL (Driver certified by Microsoft) .
Install the drivers ONLY, do not install the utilities it can cause much trouble.

If you have installed a PCIe graphic card, you should now install its driver.
See the Graphic cards recommendations and Graphic cards recommended settings.

Realtek onboard Network card configuration.
If you plan to use the onboard network card for RAVENNA/AES67 - ASIO, it has to be configured.
Please access the Windows Device Manager > Network Adapters > Realtek Gaming 2.5GbE Family Controller : Properties.
Power Management tab : disable all options
Advanced tab : Energy-Efficient Ethernet, Gigabit Lite, Green Ethernet, Power Saving Mode, Shutdown Wake-On-Lan, Wake on Magic Packet, Wake on pattern match should all be set to Disabled.
WOL & Shutdown Link Speed should be set to Not Speed Down.

Now you can follow our Windows configuration guides 

4.SOFTWARE INSTALLATION

4.1 INSTALL PYRAMIX / OVATION / VCUBE

After the installation plug Security dongles, additional cards and other Merging hardware.
See dedicated install guide / user manual for further details.

4.1.1 Authorization Keys

Insert the authorization keys in MT Security Settings.

See the MT Security Troubleshooting in case of issues.

4.2 THIRD PARY SOFTWARE

Install Google Chrome 
https://www.google.com/chrome
If there are several users on the computer, you need to use the alternate Chrome installer for all users : http://www.google.com/chrome/eula.html?system=true&standalone=1
Set merging.com as start page !

You may also install additional VST Plugins now.

If you have controllers, you can install the required software (Eucon, GPIO,....)
Networked controllers cannot use the same IP addresses range as the RAVENNA Network.
See this page for further details.