Asus STRIX B250F GAMING Manual

STRIX B250F GAMING

Motherboard

E12379

Second Edition

December 2016

Copyright© 2016 ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this manual, including the products and software described in it, may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form or by any means, except documentation kept by the purchaser for backup purposes, without the express written permission of ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. (“ASUS”).

Product warranty or service will not be extended if: (1) the product is repaired, modified or altered, unless such repair, modification of alteration is authorized in writing by ASUS; or (2) the serial number of the product is defaced or missing.

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Where the applicable license entitles you to the source code of such software and/or other additional data, you may obtain it for a period of three years after our last shipment of the product, either

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ii

Contents

Safety information.......................................................................................................	v
About this guide..........................................................................................................	vi
STRIX B250F GAMING specifications summary....................................................	viii
Package contents......................................................................................................	xii
Installation tools and components..........................................................................	xiii

Chapter 1:		Product Introduction
1.1	Motherboard overview...............................................................................		1-1
	1.1.1	Before you proceed.....................................................................	1-1
	1.1.2	Motherboard layout......................................................................	1-2
	1.1.3	Central Processing Unit (CPU)....................................................	1-4
	1.1.4	System memory...........................................................................	1-5
	1.1.5	Expansion slots............................................................................	1-7
	1.1.6	Headers / Holes...........................................................................	1-9
	1.1.7	Onboard LEDs...........................................................................	1-11
	1.1.8	Internal connectors....................................................................	1-12

Chapter 2:		Basic Installation
2.1	Building your PC system...........................................................................		2-1
	2.1.1	Motherboard installation..............................................................	2-1
	2.1.2	CPU installation...........................................................................	2-3
	2.1.3	CPU heatsink and fan assembly installation................................	2-5
	2.1.4	DIMM installation.........................................................................	2-7
	2.1.5	ATX power connection.................................................................	2-8
	2.1.6	SATA device connection..............................................................	2-9
	2.1.7	Front I/O connector....................................................................	2-10
	2.1.8	Expansion card installation........................................................	2-11
	2.1.9	M.2 installation...........................................................................	2-13
2.2	Motherboard rear and audio connections..............................................		2-14
	2.2.1	Rear I/O connection...................................................................	2-14
	2.2.2	Audio I/O connections................................................................	2-16
2.3	Starting up for the first time....................................................................		2-18
2.4	Turning off the computer.........................................................................		2-19

Chapter 3:		BIOS Setup
3.1	Knowing BIOS.............................................................................................		3-1
3.2	BIOS setup program...................................................................................		3-2
	3.2.1	EZ Mode......................................................................................	3-3
	3.2.2	Advanced Mode...........................................................................	3-4
	3.2.3	QFan Control...............................................................................	3-7

iii

3.3	My Favorites................................................................................................		3-9
3.4	Main menu.................................................................................................		3-11
3.5	Ai Tweaker menu......................................................................................		3-11
3.6	Advanced menu........................................................................................		3-12
	3.6.1	Platform Misc Configuration.......................................................	3-12
	3.6.2	CPU Configuration.....................................................................	3-12
	3.6.3	System Agent (SA) Configuration..............................................	3-13
	3.6.4	PCH Configuration.....................................................................	3-13
	3.6.5	PCH Storage Configuration.......................................................	3-13
	3.6.6	PCH-FW Configuration..............................................................	3-13
	3.6.7	Onboard Devices Configuration.................................................	3-13
	3.6.8	APM Configuration.....................................................................	3-14
	3.6.9	Network Stack Configuration.....................................................	3-14
	3.6.10	HDD/SSD SMART Information..................................................	3-14
	3.6.11	USB Configuration.....................................................................	3-14
3.7	Monitor menu............................................................................................		3-15
3.8	Boot menu.................................................................................................		3-15
3.9	Tool menu..................................................................................................		3-16
	3.9.1	ASUS EZ Flash 3 Utility.............................................................	3-16
	3.9.2	Secure Erase.............................................................................	3-16
	3.9.3	ASUS SPD Information..............................................................	3-17
	3.9.4	Graphics Card Information.........................................................	3-17
3.10	Exit menu...................................................................................................		3-18
3.11	Updating BIOS..........................................................................................		3-19
	3.11.1	EZ Update..................................................................................	3-19
	3.11.2	ASUS EZ Flash 3.......................................................................	3-20
	3.11.3	ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3..........................................................	3-22

Appendix

Notices .....................................................................................................................	A-1
ASUS contact information......................................................................................	A-5

iv

Safety information

Electrical safety

•To prevent electrical shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electrical outlet before relocating the system.

•When adding or removing devices to or from the system, ensure that the power cables for the devices are unplugged before the signal cables are connected. If possible, disconnect all power cables from the existing system before you add a device.

•Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard, ensure that all power cables are unplugged.

•Seek professional assistance before using an adapter or extension cord. These devices could interrupt the grounding circuit.

•Ensure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your area. If you are not sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you are using, contact your local power company.

•If the power supply is broken, do not try to fix it by yourself. Contact a qualified service technician or your retailer.

Operation safety

•Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully read all the manuals that came with the package.

•Before using the product, ensure all cables are correctly connected and the power cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage, contact your dealer immediately.

•To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from connectors, slots, sockets and circuitry.

•Avoid dust, humidity, and temperature extremes. Do not place the product in any area where it may become wet.

•Place the product on a stable surface.

•If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualified service technician or your retailer.

v

About this guide

This user guide contains the information you need when installing and configuring the motherboard.

How this guide is organized

This guide contains the following parts:

1.Chapter 1: Product Introduction

This chapter describes the features of the motherboard and the new technology it supports. It includes description of the switches, jumpers, and connectors on the motherboard.

2.Chapter 2: Basic Installation

This chapter lists the hardware setup procedures that you have to perform when installing system components.

3.Chapter 3: BIOS Setup

This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS Setup menus. Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided.

Where to find more information

Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and software updates.

1.ASUS website

The ASUS website (www.asus.com) provides updated information on ASUS hardware and software products.

2.Optional documentation

Your product package may include optional documentation, such as warranty flyers, that may have been added by your dealer. These documents are not part of the standard package.

vi

Conventions used in this guide

To ensure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following symbols used throughout this manual.

DANGER/WARNING: Information to prevent injury to yourself when trying to complete a task.

CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components when trying to complete a task.

IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task.

NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a task.

Typography

Bold text	Indicates a menu or an item to select.
Italics	Used to emphasize a word or a phrase.
<Key>	Keys enclosed in the less-than and greater-than sign
	means that you must press the enclosed key.
	Example: <Enter> means that you must press the Enter or
	Return key.
<Key1> + <Key2> + <Key3>	If you must press two or more keys simultaneously, the key
	names are linked with a plus sign (+).

vii

STRIX B250F GAMING specifications summary

		Intel® Socket 1151 for 7th / 6th Generation Core™ i7/Core™ i5/Core™ i3/
		Pentium®, and Celeron® Processors*
		Supports 14nm CPU
	CPU	Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0**
		*	Refer to www.asus.com for Intel® CPU support list.
		** The Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 support depends on the CPU types.
	Chipset	Intel® B250 Chipset
		4 x DIMM, max. 64GB DDR4 2400* /2133** MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered
		Memory
		Dual channel memory architecture
		Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)***
	Memory	*	Due to Intel® chipset limitation, DDR4 2400MHz memory frequency is only
			supported by 7th Generation Intel® processors. Higher memory modules will run
			at the maximum transfer rate of DDR4 2400MHz.
		** Due to Intel® chipset limitation, DDR4 2133MHz and higher memory modules on
			6th Generation Intel® processors will run at the maximum transfer rate of DDR4
			2133MHz.
		*** Refer to www.asus.com for the lastest Memory QVL(Qualified Vendors List).
		1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16_1 slot (at x 16 mode)
		1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16_2 slot (max. at x 4 mode)*
	Expansion slots	4 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1 slots
		* PCIe x16_2 slot shares bandwidth with PCIe x1_2 and PCIe x1_3 slots. When
			PCIe x1_2 and PCIe x1_3 slots are occupied, PCIe x16_2 slot runs at x2 mode.
		Integrated Graphics ProcessorIntel® HD Graphics support
		Multi-VGA output support: DisplayPort/HDMI/DVI ports
		Supports DisplayPort 1.2* with max. resolution of 4096 x 2304@60Hz
		Supports HDMI 1.4b with max. resolution of 4096 x 2160@24Hz
		Supports DVI with max. resolution of 1920 x 1200@60Hz
	VGA	Supports Intel® InTru™ 3D/Quick Sync Video/Clear Video HD Technology/
			Insider™
		Supports up to 3 displays simultaneously
		Maximum shared memory of 1024 MB
		* DP 1.2 Multi-Stream Transport compliant, supports DP 1.2 monitor daisy chain
			up to 3 displays
	Multi-GPU	Supports AMD® 2-Way CrossFireX™ Technology
	support
		Intel® B250 Chipset
		- 6 x USB 3.0 ports (2 ports at back panel [blue], 4 ports at mid-board)
		- 6 x USB 2.0 ports (4 ports at back panel, 2 ports at mid-board)*
	USB	ASMedia® USB 3.1 controller**
		- 2 x USB 3.1 ports (1 x Type-A [red] and 1 x Type-C ports at back panel)
		* 2 x USB 2.0 port at mid-board shares with ROG extension (ROG_EXT) port.
		** Supports 3A power output
			(continued on the next page)

viii

STRIX B250F GAMING specifications summary

		2 x USB3.1 ports (1 x typeA [red] and 1 x Type C)
		4 x USB2.0 ports
		1 x DVI port
		1 x HDMI port
	Rear Panel I/O	1 x DP port
	Ports	1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port
		2 x USB 3.0 ports [blue]
		1 x Anti-surge LAN (RJ45) port
		5 x Audio jacks
		1 x Optical S/PDIF out
		Intel® B250 Chipset with Intel® Rapid Storage Technology 15 support
		- 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports
		- 1 x M.2_1 Socket 3 with M key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices
			support (SATA mode)*
		- 1 x M.2_2 Socket 3 with M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage
	Storage		devices support (PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode), supports Intel® Optane™ Memory**
		* The M.2_1 socket shares SATA_1 port when using M.2 SATA mode device.
			Adjust BIOS settings to use a SATA device.
		** Intel® Optane™ Technology is only supported when using 7th Generation Intel®
			Processors. Before using Intel® Optane™ memory modules, ensure that you
			have updated your motherboard drivers and BIOS to the latest version from
			ASUS support website.
		SupremeFX S1220A 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC
		- Supports up to 32-Bit/192kHz playback*
		-	Impedance sense for front and rear headphone outputs
		-	High quality 120dB SNR stereo playback output and 113dB SNR recording
			input
		-	SupremeFX Shielding Technology
		-	Dual Headpone Amplifiers
	Audio	-	Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, and Front Panel Jack-retasking
		- Optical S/PDIF out port at back panel
		Audio Features
		-	Sonic Radar III
		-	Sonic Studio III
		* Due to limitations in HDA bandwidth, 32-Bit/192kHz is not supported for
			8-channel audio and due to Windows® 7 limitations, 32-bit playback is
			unavailable for Windows® 7.
		Intel® I219-V Gigabit LANDual interconnect between the integrated Media
	LAN		Access Controller (MAC) and physical layer (PHY)
		Anti-surge LANGuard
		ROG GameFirst Technology
			(continued on the next page)

ix

STRIX B250F GAMING specifications summary

		ROG RAMCache II
		ROG GameFirst IV*
	ROG Exclusive	ROG Overwolf
		ROG CPU-Z
	Features
		ROG CloneDrive
		* ROG GameFirst IV is only available for Windows® 10/8.1 64-bit.
		Performance Optimization
		-	DIGI + VRM
		-	GPU Boost
		- Fan Xpert 4 featuring Fan Auto Tuning function and multiple thermistors
			selection for optimized system cooling control
		-	AI Suite 3
		Gamers Guardian
		-	SafeSlot
		-	DIGI+ VRM
		-	DRAM Overcurrent Protection
		-	ESD Guards on LAN, Audio, KBMS, and USB3.0/2.0 ports
	ASUS Special	-	Highly Durable Components
		- Stainless Steel Back I/O
	Features
		ASUS EZ DIY
		-	ASUS EZ Flash 3
		-	ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
		ASUS Q-Design
		-	Q-Shield
		-	Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED)
		-	Q-Slot
		-	Q-DIMM
		ASUS Exclusive Features
		-	AURA Lightning Control
		- 3D Printing Friendly Design
		-	AI Charger
		2 x USB 3.0 connectors support additional 4 USB 3.0 ports
		1 x USB 2.0 connector supports additional 2 USB 2.0 ports (one connector
			via ROG_EXT header)
		6 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
	Internal I/O	1 x ROG extension (ROG_EXT) header
		1 x 4-Pin AIO_PUMP fan connector
	connectors	1 x 4-Pin CPU fan connector
		1 x 4-Pin CPU_OPT fan connector
		2 x 4-Pin Chassis fan connectors
		1 x 5-Pin Extension fan connector
		1 x 24-pin EATX power connector
			(continued on the next page)

x

STRIX B250F GAMING specifications summary

		1 x 8-pin EATX 12V power connector
		1 x M.2_2 Socket 3 for M Key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices
		support (Supports PCIE mode only)
		1 x M.2_1 Socket 3 for M Key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support
		(Supports SATA mode only)
	Internal I/O	1 x Front panel audio connector (AAFP)
		1 x COM connector
	connectors
		1 x RGB Header
		1 x TPM connector
		1 x System panel connector
		1 x Thermal sensor connector
		1 x Clear CMOS jumper (2-pin)
		128 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 3.0, ACPI 6.0,
	BIOS Features	Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 3, CrashFree BIOS 3, F6 Qfan Control,
		F3 My Favorites, Last Modified log, F12 PrintScreen, and ASUS DRAM SPD
		(Serial Presence Detect) memory information
	Manageability	WfM2.0, DMI3.0, WOL by PME, PXE
		Drivers
	Support DVD	ASUS Utilities
	contents	EZ Update
		Anti-virus software (OEM version)
		Windows® 10 64-bit
	Operating	Windows® 8.1 64-bit*
		Windows® 7*
	system support
		* Windows® 8.1 64-bit and Windows® 7 32/64-bit are only supported when using
		6th Generation Intel® Processors.
	Form factor	ATX Form Factor, 12” x 9.6” (30.5cm x 24.4cm)

• Specifications are subject to change without notice.

• Visit the ASUS website for the software manual.

xi

Package contents

Check your motherboard package for the following items.

	Motherboard	STRIX B250F GAMING
	Cables	4 x SATA 6Gb/s cables
		1 x RGB LED extension cable
		1 x I/O shield
		1 x ROG cable label
	Accessories	1 x Strix series sticker
		1 x 3D Printing Mount
		1 x M.2 Screw Package
	Application drive	Support DVD
	Documentation	User Guide

If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.

xii

Installation tools and components

Intel® 1151 CPU

Intel® 1151 compatible CPU Fan

PC chassis	SATA hard disk drive	Phillips (cross) screwdriver

1 bag of screws

DIMM

Power supply unit

SATA optical disc drive (optional)

Graphics card

The tools and components listed above are not included in the motherboard package.

xiii

xiv

Product Introduction

1

1.1Motherboard overview

1.1.1Before you proceed

Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change any motherboard settings.

•Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any component.

•Before handling components, use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or a metal object, such as the power supply case, to avoid damaging them due to static electricity.

•Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them.

•Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded antistatic pad or in the bag that came with the component.

•Before you install or remove any component, ensure that the ATX power supply is switched off or the power cord is detached from the power supply. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to the motherboard, peripherals, or components.

Chapter 1

ASUS STRIX B250F GAMING

1-1

1 Chapter

1.1.2Motherboard layout

1

2

3

4

2

5

6

24.4cm(9.6in)

USB910
	EATX12V
				DIGI
				+VRM
USB3.1_EA1
USB3.1_EC1	ASM
	1142
DP
DVI
HDMI
				LGA1151
KBMS_USB78
LAN_USB3_56	LANGuard
	CHA_FAN1 AIO_PUMP
AUDIO
	2280	2260	2242
	PCIEX1_1
		PCIEX16_1
Intel
I219V
		ASM1480		BATTERY
	strix b250F GAMING
Super	PCIEX1_2
I/O			TPU
	PCIEX16_2
ALC
1220
COVER	PCIEX1_3	22110		2280

CPU_FAN								RGBLED
CPU_OPT
					BOOT_DEVICE_LED
							VGA_LED
							DRAM_LED
							CPU_LED
		288(64bit,A1DIMM-pin module)	288(64bit,A2DIMM-pin module)	288(64bit,B1DIMM-pin module)	288(64bit,B2DIMM-pin module)		3D	30.5cm(12in)
							EATXPWR
							MOUNT
		DDR4	DDR4	DDR4	DDR4
							USB3 12
1(SOCKET3)	X V	X
M.2
	PCIE SATA	IRST
								SATA6G 6
	Intel®							SATA6G 5
								4
	B250
								SATA6G
						128Mb		SATA6G 3
						BIOS
				2(SOCKET3)M.2		SATAPCIEIRST	XX4 V	SATA6G 2
2260	2242							SATA6G1
					3D
					MOUNT
							SB_PWR

7

8

1

9

3

8

10

11

PCIEX1_4

COM			USB1112	USB3_34	12
		TPM		CHA_FAN2 CLRTC
	RGB_HEADER

AAFP				ROG_EXT			EXT_FAN	T_SENSOR	PANEL
20	19	18	17	16	15	9	2	14	13

Refer to 1.1.8 Internal connectors and 2.2.1 Rear I/O connection for more information about rear panel connectors and internal connectors.

1-2	Chapter 1: Product Introduction

Layout contents

Connectors/Jumpers/Buttons and switches/Slots		Page
1.	ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 8-pin EATX12V)	1-17
2.	CPU, CPU optional, AIO pump, extension, and chassis fan connectors
	(4-pin CPU_FAN, 4-pin CPU_OPT, 4-pin AIO_PUMP, 5-pin EXT_FAN,	1-16
	4-pin CHA_FAN1~2)
3.	M.2 sockets (M.2_1~2)	1-20
4.	LGA1151 CPU socket	1-4
5.	DDR4 DIMM slots	1-5
6.	POST State LEDs	1-11
7.	RGB LED	1-12
8.	3D Mount holes	1-10
9.	USB 3.0 connectors (20-1 pin USB3_12, USB3_34)	1-13
10,	Intel® Serial ATA 6 Gb/s connectors (7-pin SATA6G_1~6)	1-13
11.	Standby power LED (SB_PWR)	1-11
12.	Clear RTC RAM jumper (2-pin CLRTC)	1-9
13.	System panel connector (20-5 pin PANEL)	1-18
14.	Thermal sensor cable connector (2-pin T_SENSOR)	1-19
15.	USB 2.0 connector (10-1 pin USB1112)	1-15
16.	ROG Extension connector (18-1 pin ROG_EXT)	1-14
17.	TPM connector (14-1 pin TPM)	1-14
18.	RGB header (4-pin RGB_HEADER)	1-21
19.	Serial port connector (10-1 pin COM)	1-19
20.	Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP)	1-12

Chapter 1

ASUS STRIX B250F GAMING

1-3

1.1.3Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The motherboard comes with a surface mount LGA1151 socket designed for the 7th / 6th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 / Intel® Core™ i5 / Intel® Core™ i3, Pentium®, and Celeron® processors.

1 Chapter

strix b250F GAMING

STRIX B250F GAMING CPU socket LGA1151

•Ensure that all power cables are unplugged before installing the CPU.

•Upon purchase of the motherboard, ensure that the PnP cap is on the socket and the socket contacts are not bent. Contact your retailer immediately if the PnP cap is missing, or if you see any damage to the PnP cap/socket contacts/motherboard components.

•Keep the cap after installing the motherboard. ASUS will process Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) requests only if the motherboard comes with the cap on the LGA1151 socket.

•The product warranty does not cover damage to the socket contacts resulting from incorrect CPU installation/removal, or misplacement/loss/incorrect removal of the PnP cap.

1-4	Chapter 1: Product Introduction

1.1.4System memory

The motherboard comes with four DDR4 (Double Data Rate 4) Quad Inline Memory Modules (DIMM) slots.

A DDR4 module is notched differently from a DDR, DDR2, or DDR3 module. DO NOT install a DDR, DDR2, or DDR3 memory module to the DDR4 slot.

DIMM A1 DIMM A2

DIMM B1 DIMM B2

strix b250F GAMING

STRIX B250F GAMING 288-pin DDR4 DIMM sockets

Recommended memory configurations

Chapter 1

ASUS STRIX B250F GAMING

1-5

1 Chapter

Memory configurations

You may install 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB and 16 GB unbuffered and non ECC DDR4 DIMMs into the DIMM sockets.

•You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A, and Channel B. The system

maps the total size of the lower-sized channel for the dual-channel configuration. Any excess memory from the higher-sized channel is then mapped for single-channel operation.

•Due to the memory address limitation on 32-bit Windows® OS, when you install 4GB or more memory on the motherboard, the actual usable memory for the OS can be about 3GB or less. For effective use of memory, we recommend that you do any of the following:

a)Use a maximum of 3GB system memory if you are using a 32-bit Windows® OS.

b)Install a 64-bit Windows® OS when you want to install 4 GB or more on the motherboard.

c)For more details, refer to the Microsoft® support site at http://support.microsoft. com/kb/929605/en-us.

•The design of the DIMM fan may vary. Ensure that the DIMM fan fits to the motherboard

•The default memory operation frequency is dependent on its Serial Presence Detect (SPD), which is the standard way of accessing information from a memory module. Under the default state, some memory modules for overclocking may operate at a lower frequency than the vendor-marked value.

•For system stability, use a more efficient memory cooling system to support a full memory load (4 DIMMs) or overclocking condition.

•Memory modules with memory frequency higher than 2133MHz and their corresponding timing or the loaded XMP profile is not the JEDEC memory standard. The stability and compatibility of the memory modules depend on the CPU’s capabilities and other installed devices.

•Always install the DIMMS with the same CAS Latency. For an optimum compatibility, we recommend that you install memory modules of the same version or data code (D/C) from the same vendor. Check with the vendor to get the correct memory modules.

•ASUS exclusively provides hyper DIMM support function.

•Hyper DIMM support is subject to the physical characteristics of individual CPUs. Load the X.M.P. or D.O.C.P. settings in the BIOS for the hyper DIMM support.

•Visit the ASUS website for the latest QVL.

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1.1.5Expansion slots

Unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. Failure to do so may cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components.

Chapter 1

PCIEX1_1

PCIEX16_1

STRIX B250F GAMING

PCIEX1_2

PCIEX16_2

PCIEX1_3

PCIEX1_4

Slot No. Slot Description

1PCIe x1_1 slot

2PCIe x16_1 slot

3PCIe x1_2 slot 4 PCIe x16_2 slot 5 PCIe x1_3 slot

6PCIe x1_4 slot

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• We recommend that you provide sufficient power when running CrossFireX™ mode.

•Connect a chassis fan to the motherboard connector labeled CHA_FAN1-2 when using multiple graphics cards for better thermal environment.

IRQ assignments for this motherboard

	A	B	C	D
PCIe x1_1	–	–	–	shared
PCIe x16_1	shared	–	–	–
PCIe x1_2	–	–	–	shared
PCIe x16_2	shared	–	–	–
PCIe x1_3	–	–	shared	–
PCIe x1_4	–	shared	–	–
XHCI Controller	shared	–	–	–
SATA Controller	shared	–	–	–
HD Audio	shared	–	–	–
SMBUS Controller	shared	–	–	–
Intel Lan i219V	shared	–	–	–
ASMedia 1142	–	–	shared	–

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1.1.6Headers / Holes

1. Clear RTC RAM (2-pin CLRTC)
This header allows you to clear the CMOS RTC RAM data of the system setup
information such as date, time, and system passwords.
	Chapter 1
strix b250F GAMING	CLRTC
	+3V BAT GND

PIN 1

STRIX B250F GAMING Clear RTC RAM

To erase the RTC RAM:

1.Turn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord.

2.Use a metal object such as a screwdriver to short the two pins.

3.Plug the power cord and turn ON the computer.

4.Hold down the <Del> key during the boot process and enter BIOS setup to re-enter data.

If the steps above do not help, remove the onboard battery and short the two pins again to clear the CMOS RTC RAM data. After clearing the CMOS, reinstall the battery.

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2.3D Mount holes

Create a 3D printout and secure it to these 3D Mount holes for a personalized motherboard.

1Chapter	3D Mount

strix b250F GAMING

3D Mount

STRIX B250F GAMING 3D Printing Mount

•Download 3D source files at http://www.asus.com.

•Use the bundled 3D printing mount screws to install the 3D printouts.

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1.1.7Onboard LEDs

1.POST State LEDs

The POST State LEDs provide the status of these key components during POST (Power-On Self-Test): CPU, memory modules, VGA card, and hard disk drives. If an error is found, the critical component’s LED stays lit up until the problem is solved.

BOOT_DEVICE_LED

VGA_LED

DRAM_LED

CPU_LED

strix b250F GAMING

STRIX B250F GAMING CPU/DRAM/

BOOT_DEVICE/VGA LED

2.Standby Power LED (SB_PWR)

The motherboard comes with a standby power LED. The LED lights up to indicate that the system is ON, in sleep mode, or in soft-off mode. This is a reminder that you should shut down the system and unplug the power cable before removing or plugging in any motherboard component. The illustration below shows the location of the onboard LED.

Chapter 1

strix b250F GAMING

SB_PWR

ON	OFF
Standby Power	Powered Off

STRIX B250F GAMING Onboard LED

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3.RGB LED

The RGB LED lighting control provides several lighting schemes, which allow you to customize your favorite LED effect. You can set your favorite LED effect to cast a stunning multi-color glow across your build, change shades to indicate CPU temperature, pulsate in time to the beat of your music, or set your favorite color for each pair of LEDs.

RGB1

RGB2

RGB3

RGB4

RGB5

RGB6

RGB7 RGB LED(Bottom)

RGB8

RGB9

RGB10

RGB11

RGB12

strix b250F GAMING

STRIX B250F GAMING RGB LED Lighting

1.1.8Internal connectors

1.Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP)

This connector is for a chassis-mounted front panel audio I/O module that supports HD Audio. Connect one end of the front panel audio I/O module cable to this connector.

	AGND	NC SENSE1 RETUR	SENSE2 RETUR
	AAFP		SENDSENSE PORT2L
strix b250F GAMING	PORT1L	PORT1R PORT2R
	HD-audio-compliant
	pin definition

STRIX B250F GAMING Front panel audio connector

We recommend that you connect a high-definition front panel audio module to this connector to avail of the motherboard’s high-definition audio capability.

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