ASUS PRIME Z790M PLUS 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 : Pyramix 14.1 / Ovation 10.1 (RTX64 4.4) or higher required.  Previous versions are not compatible with Intel 12th/13th Gen CPU.

Important note for MassCore Users
Due to Windows 10 & 11 Cores enumeration limitation, it is not possible to configure MassCore to only run on the Performance P-Cores only.
Therefore, the Efficiency E-Cores should be disabled in BIOS, before installing MassCore Runtime - RTX64.

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

1.BIOS

Validated BIOS version : 1663 (previously 0812)
First update BIOS if required. 
Download BIOS from https://www.asus.com/motherboards-components/motherboards/prime/prime-z790m-plus/helpdesk_download/?model2Name=PRIME-Z790M-PLUS , unzip on a USB Flash Drive and use the EZ-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 (F7)

Note: Depending on the CPU installed, some options might not be displayed.

1.1. AI Tweaker.

Performance Preferences: Intel Default Settings
Intel Default Settings: Performance
AI Overclock Tuner: Auto - Do not change this setting
ASUS Multicore Enhancement: Disabled - Enfore All limits
SVID Behavior: Intel's Fail Safe
BCLK Frequency : DRAM Frequency Ratio: Auto
Memory Controller : DRAM Frequency Ratio: Auto
DRAM Frequency : Auto.
OC Tuner: Keep Current Settings
Performance Core Ratio : Sync All Cores
All Core ratio Limit : Auto

Specific Performance Core

Performance CoreX Specific Ratio Limit: Auto (all)

AVX Related Controls

AVX2: Auto

DRAM Timing Control

All Auto

DIGI+ VRM

CPU Load-line Calibration: Auto
Synch ACDC Loadline with VRM Loadline: Disabled
CPU Current Capability: Auto
CPU VRM Switching frequency: Auto
CPU Power Duty Control: T.Probe
CPU Power Phase Control: Auto
CPU VRM Thermal Control: Auto

Internal CPU Power Management

Tcc Activation Offset: Auto
IVR Transmitter VDDQ ICCMAX: Auto
CPU Core/Cache Current Limit Max: Auto
Long Duration Package Power Limit: Auto
Package Power Time Window: Auto
Short Duration Package Power Limit: Auto
Dual Tau Boost: Disabled
IA AC Load Line: Auto
IA DC Load Line: Auto
IA CEP Enable: Auto
SA CEP Enable: Auto
IA SoC Iccmax reactive Protector: Auto
Inverse Temperature Dependency Throttle: Auto
IA VR Voltage Limit: Auto
IA TDC Current Limit: Motherboard's capability

Thermal Velocity Boost

TVB Voltage Optimizations: Disabled
Enhanced TVB: Disabled
Overclocking TVB: Disabled
Overclocking TVB Global Temperature Offset Sign: +
Overclocking TVB Global Temperature Offset Value: Auto

Tweaker's Paradise

Realtime Memory Timing: Disabled
SPD Write Disable : TRUE
PVD Ratio Threshold: Auto
SA PLL Frequency Override: Auto
BCLK TSC HW Fixup: Enabled
Core Ratio Extension Mode: Disabled
FLL OC Mode: Auto
UnderVolt Protection: Disabled
Switch Microcode: Current Microcode
All Voltage Settings : Auto

1.2. Advanced

Platform Misc Configuration

PCI Express Native Power Management : Disabled
DMI Link ASPM Control: Disabled
ASPM: Disabled
L1 Substates: Disabled
DMI ASPM: Disabled
DMI Gen3 ASPM: Disabled
PEG - ASPM: Disabled
PCI Express Clock Gating: Disabled

CPU Configuration

Performance Core Information : Info Only
Hardware Prefetcher: Enabled
Adjacent Cache Line Prefetch: Enabled
Intel (VMX) Virtualization Technology: Enabled
Active Performance Cores: All
Active Efficient Cores : Native Users : Auto.  MassCore Users : 0.  This setting must be disabled before installing MassCore RTX64.
Hyper-Threading: Enabled

CPU Power Management Control

Boot Performance Mode: Max Non-Turbo Performance
Intel(R) Speedstep(tm): Disabled
Intel(R) Speedshift Technology: Disabled 
Turbo Mode: Disabled
CPU C-States: Disabled
Thermal Monitor: Disabled
Dual Tau Boost: Disabled

Acoustic Noise Settings
Acoustic Noise Mitigation: Disabled- this setting is only used when the CPU goes in deep sleep mode, which cannot happen with the other BIOS Settings.

System Agent (SA) Configuration

VT-D: Enabled
Control Iommu Pre-boot Behavior: Disable IOMMU

Memory Configuration

Memory Remap: Disabled

VMD Setup Menu

Enable VMD Controller : RAID / VMD Configuration not yet validated.

PCI Express Configuration

M.2_1 Link Speed: Auto
PCIEX 16(G5) Link Speed: Auto

PCH Configuration

PCI Express Configuration

PCIEX1 (G4)_1 Link Speed: Auto
PCIEX1 (G4)_2 Link Speed: Auto
M.2_3 Link Speed: Auto
PCIEX16 (G4) Link Speed: Auto
M.2_2 Link Speed: Auto

PCH Storage Configuration

SATA Controller(s) : Enabled
Aggressive LPM Support : Disabled
SMART Self Test: Enabled
M.2_3: Enabled
SATA6G_X: Enabled
SATA6G_X Hot Plug: Disabled

PCH-FW Configuration

TPM Device Selection: Enable Firmware TPM

Thermal Configuration

Intel Dynamic Tuning Technology Configuration

Intel Dynamic Tuning Technology: Disabled

ASUS ThunderboltEX series card Configuration

PCIE Tunneling over USB4: Disabled
Discrete Thunderbolt(TM) Support: Disabled

Trusted Computing

Security Device Support: Enable (required for Windows 11)
SHA256 PCR Bank: Enabled
Pending Operation: None
Platform Hierarchy: Enabled
Storage Hierarchy: Enabled
Endorsement Hierarchy: Enabled
Physical Presence Spec Version: 1.3
Disable Block Sid: Disabled

ASUS USB4 add-on card Configuration

USH Host Controller Support: Disabled

UEFI Variables Protection

Password protection of Runtime Variables: Enable (do not modify this setting)

PCI Subsystem Settings

Above 4G Decoding: Enable
Re-Size BAR Support: Disabled
SR-IOV Support: Disabled

USB Configuration

Legacy USB Support : Enabled
XHCI Hand-off : Disabled
USB Single Port Control: Allow to enable or disable individual USB ports.  All ports can be enabled

Network Stack Configuration

Network Stack: Disabled

NVMe Configuration

Merging recommends you leave the default settings for NVMe devices

HDD/SSD SMART Information

Information only

APM Configuration

Restore AC Power Loss: Allows to set the computer behavior after a power shortage. 
Max Power Saving: Disabled
ErP ready: Disabled
Power On by PCIE-E: Disabled
Power On by RTX: Disabled

Onboard Devices Configuration

PCIe Bandwidth Bifurcation Configuration: Auto
HD Audio: Enabled
Intel LAN Controller: Enabled
USB Power delivery in Soft Off State (S5): Enabled
Connectivity mode (Wi-Fi & Bluetooth): Disabled
LED Lighting - When system is in working state: All On
LED Lighting - Windows Dynamic Lightning: Disabled
LED Lighting - When system is in sleep,... : Onboard LED on
Q-LED Core: Enabled
GNA Device: Disabled
Serial Port Configuration : Enabled
Wi-Fi 6E for Japan: Disabled

1.3. Monitor

See ASUS guide

1.4. Boot

CSM (Compatibility Support Module)

Launch CSM: Disabled

Secure Boot 

OS Type: Other OS
Secure Boot Mode: Standard
MassCore Users: other settings will prevent MassCore/RTX to properly install, and the MassCore boot option won't be available.

Boot Configuration

Fast Boot : Disable
Boot Logo Display: Auto
POST Delay Time: 3 sec
Bootup NumLock State : On
Wait for F1 if Error: Enabled
Option ROM Messages: Force BIOS
Interrupt 19 Capture: Disabled
AMI Native NVMe Driver Support: Enabled
Setup Mode: Advanced Mode
Boot Sector (MBR/GPT) Recovery Policy: Local User Control
Next Boot Recovery Action: Skip

1.5 Tool

ASUS EZ Flash 3 Utility : BIOS Update - See Asus Manual
BIOS Image Rollback Support: Enabled
Publish HII Resources: Disabled
Asus Secure erase: See Asus Manual
Asus User Profile: Allows to load and save BIOS settings - See Asus Manual
Asus SPD Information : RAM Information
Asus Armoury Crate - Download and Install Armoury Crate app: Disabled - Some utilities may interfere with the system, do not install.

1.6 Saving your BIOS/UEFI settings

You can save your BIOS settings in the Tool > ASUS User profile page, into the motherboard ROM or on a USB drive.
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.asus.com/motherboards-components/motherboards/prime/prime-z790m-plus/helpdesk_download/?model2Name=PRIME-Z790M-PLUS

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

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

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.