ASROCK Z270M-PRO4 Install guide

First assemble the computer parts.
For ease of use during Windows installation, Merging recommends that you install security dongles, NET-MSC GBEX1, MT-USBSync board and Pyramix-Ovation keyboard after the Windows Installation.
MassCore users : Pyramix 10.1/ Ovation 6.1 or above required (RTX2014 SP2 Update 2).
The MassCore engine will not work with previous Pyramix or Ovation versions.

Merging highly recommends you "defer feature updates" in Windows 10.

1.BIOS

Validated BIOS version : 1.40 & 2.00    - Please consult support@merging.com for other BIOS support.
First update BIOS if required. 

!Merging Technologies does not guarantee any issue or instability if any overclocking is enabled!
Merging recommends you use Windows 10 with this motherboard.
If you rather want to install Windows 7, you must first create a compatible installation media, as Windows 7 does not include compatible drivers for this motherboard.
http://asrock.pc.cdn.bitgravity.com/Utility/UsbPatcher/Win7UsbPatcher(v2.0.17_200Series).zip

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 EZ mode page, a summary of the system information.
You may adjust date and time.
Please switch to Advance Mode (F6)

1.1. Main page

System information only.

1.2. OC Tweaker

DDR4 OC : Disabled

1.2.1 CPU Configuration

Boot Performance Mode :  Max non-Turbo Performance
FCLK Frequency : 800Mhz
Intel Speed Step Technology : Disabled
Intel Turbo Boost Technology : Disabled
Intel Speed Shift Technology : Disabled

Long Duration Power Limit : Auto
Long Duration Maintained : Auto
Short Duration Power Limit : Auto
CPU Core Current Limit : Auto

1.2.2 DRAM Configuration

DRAM Tweaker : No settings to change.  Leave default values.
DRAM Frequency : Auto
Primary Timing : No settings to change.  Leave default values.
Secondary Timing : No settings to change.  Leave default values.
Third Timing : No settings to change.  Leave default values.
Fourth Timing : No settings to change.  Leave default values.
Advanced Setting : No settings to change.  Leave default values.

1.2.3 Voltage Configuration

CPU Vcore Voltage : Auto
CPU Load-Line Calibration : Auto
DRAM Voltage : Auto
DRAM Activation Power Supply : Auto
PCH +1.0 Voltage : Auto
VCCIO Voltage : Auto
VCCST Voltage : Auto
VCCSA Voltage : Auto

1.3. Advanced

1.3.1 CPU Configuration

Intel Hyper Threading Technology : Enabled (only displayed if your CPU supports this feature)
Active Processor Cores : All
CPU C States Support : Disabled
CPU Thermal Throttling : Disabled
Intel Virtualization Technology : Enabled
Hardware Prefetecher : Enabled
Adjacent Cache Lime Prefetch : Enabled
Software Guard extension (SGX) : Disabled

1.3.2 Chipset Configuration

Primary Graphics Adapter: Onboard or PCI Express if you use a separate graphic card
Top of lower Usable Dram : Dynamic
VT-d: Enabled
PCIE1 to PCIE5 Link Speed : Auto
PCI Express Native Control : Disabled
PCIE ASPM Support: Disabled
PCH PCIE ASPM Support: Disabled
DMI ASPM Support: Disabled
PCH DMI ASPM Support: Disabled
IOAPIC 24-119 Entries : Enabled
Share Memory :  Memory allowed to the onboard graphics.  Set to 1024M if you use onboard graphics and Auto for dedicated graphic card.
IGPU Multi-Monitor : Disabled
Onboard LAN : Enabled
Onboard HD Audio: Auto
Front Panel HD : HD
WAN Radio : Disabled
Deep Sleep : Disabled
Restore on AC/Power Loss : set it to Power On if you want the system to restart after a power failure.

1.3.3 Storage Configuration

SATA Controller: Enabled
SATA Controller Speed: Gen3
SATA Mode Selection: AHCI / Intel RST Premium (RAID)
If you plan to use RAID array, you should install Windows with this setting set to Intel RST Premium (RAID)
WARNING: Since PMX V11/ Ovation V7, MassCore users running a RAID configuration must use a dedicated RTX dongle (SSK-HUD-RTX) to authorize MassCore.
This issue only affects the system (Windows ) RAID drives, if you have RAID Data drives, a dedicated dongle is not required.
Launch Storage OpROM Policy : Legacy only
SATA Aggressive Link Power Management : Disabled
Hard Disk S.M.A.R.T. : Enabled

SATA_0 to 5 :
External SATA : enable if the drive uses eSATA (External Drives for example).
Hot plug: enable if you need Hot-Plug capability (Drive trays for example).
SATA device type : set to Solid State Drive or Hard Disk Drive

1.3.4 Super I/O Configuration

Serial Port : Enabled
Serial Port Address : 3F8h/IRQ4
Parallel Port : Disabled

1.3.5 ACPI Configuration

Suspend to RAM: Disabled
ACPI HPET Table : Enabled
PS/2 Keyboard Power On: Disabled
PCIE/PCI DevicesPower On: Disabled
Ring-In Power On: Disabled
USB Keyboard / Remote Power On: Disabled
USB Mouse Power On: Disabled

1.3.6 USB Configuration

Legacy USB Support: Enabled  (if set to disable, no USB Support until OS is booted)
PS/2 Simulator : Disabled
XHCI Hand-off: Disabled
USB Single port Control : all should be set to Enabled  

1.3.7 Trusted Computing

Security Device Support : Disable

1.3.8 UEFI Configuration

UEFI Setup Style : Advanced Mode
Active Page on Entry : Main
Full HD UEFI : Auto

1.4. Tools

1.4.1 System Browser

Shows hardware details on the motherboard

1.4.2 UEFI Tech Service

ASRock support contact

1.4.3 Easy RAID Installer

Help to copy the RAID Driver (F6) on a USB drive to install OS in RAID mode

1.4.4 Boot Manager

Boot Manager is specifically designed for the dual OS platform/multi-OS platform users to easily customize and manage the boot menu, when using several boot devices.
Merging recommends to set to Disabled.

1.4.5 UEFI Update Utility

Instant Flash : BIOS update
Instant Flash DHCP : allows to update BIOS through Internet Connection.  Use at your own risk.
Network Configuration : allows to configure network connection for BIOS update through internet.

1.5. H/W Monitor

Allows to fine tune each fan on the computer.
Merging recommends to set CPU Fan1 to Standard mode or higher (Performance or Full Speed)

Over Temperature Protection : Enabled
Case Open Feature : set according to your needs.

1.6. Security 

Administrator / User Password : set according to your needs

Secure Boot option : Disabled (not applicable to Windows 7 – may prevent any backup or drive cloning on Windows 10 : use with caution if Enabled)
Intel® Platform Trust Technology : Disabled

1.7 Boot

Boot Options #: You should first set the optical drive as your first boot device, then the system drive.
Do not use Windows Boot Manager or use UEFI, unless you are sure you want to run in EFI mode.

CD/DVD Rom Drive Priorities / Network device BBS Priorities / Hard Drive Priorities
If you have several device, you can decide for each type the devices priority.
Network devices can be disabled.
USB Devices Priorities option will only be displayed when a USB device is plugged when starting the computer.

Fast Boot: Disabled.  If this setting is enabled, Windows will boot much faster, but you will not have access anymore to BIOS, RAID configuration page and Windows Boot menu.
Boot from onboard LAN : Disabled

Setup Prompt Timeout : set according to your needs (usually 1 second is enough)
Bootup NumLock : Enabled
Boot Beep : Disabled
Full Screen show : enables or disables splash screen when starting the computer.
AddOn ROM Display : Enabled
Boot Failure Guard Message :
This setting restores all BIOS setting to default after several BIOS boot failure, meaning you will lose all your BIOS setting in that case.  Merging recommends to set it to Disabled.  Use with caution if you enable it.
CSM (Compatibility Support Module) :
CSM : Enabled
Launch PXE OpROM Policy : Legacy only
Launch Storage OpROM Policy : Legacy only
Launch Video OpROM Policy : Legacy only

1.8 Saving your BIOS/UEFI settings

You can save your BIOS settings in the OC Tweaker 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

Please follow the instructions from ASRock manual to install Windows 7 (USB driver issue)
ftp://europe.asrock.com/Manual/Z270M%20Pro4.pdf#page=44

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

3.WINDOWS CONFIGURATION

Merging recommends to download the latest drivers from
http://www.asrock.com/support/download.asp

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 Intel® Control Center.
Do not install the AppCharger, ASRock 3TB+ Unlocker Utility, ASRock A-Tuning utility, App Shop!
Norton Security is not mandatory at all, you may use another antivirus software, correctly configured.

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, NET-MSC-GBEX1 and other Merging hardware.
(not the Ovation-Pyramix Keyboard!)
See dedicated install guide / user manual for further details.
The NET-MSC-GBEX1 card can be fitted in PCIe1x or PCIe4x slot.
RTX64 dongle (SSK-HUD-RTX) users must install the specific HASP HL drive before installing MassCore.
http://download.merging.com/beta/AssociatedTools/Sentinel_LDK_Run-time_setup7.63.zip
Select the “Windows GUI” installer
Black Magic Decklink Studio/Decklink Studio 4K & AJA cards should be placed in PCIe slot 4.
Black Magic Mini-Monitor can be placed in PCIe1x or PCIe4x slot.
Black Magic driver has to be installed separately; it is not included in Merging installers.

4.1.1 Authorization Keys

Insert the authorization keys in MT Security Settings.

MassCore users can go now in MT Security MassCore tab and click on Install MassCore Runtime.
Restart the computer after MassCore installation.

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, NetSmart, GPIO,....)
Networked controllers cannot use the same IP addresses range as the RAVENNA Network.
See this page for further details.

4.3 AUTHORIZE WINDOWS

If you don’t activate Windows, RTX64 will stop working after the Windows Activation period.