Start It Up!

Chapter 11 — First Boot & BIOS Setup

Pressing the power button for the first time on a new build is the moment everything either works or doesn't. This chapter walks through what happens in the first few seconds after power-on, how to enter the UEFI BIOS, and the six settings you must configure before installing Windows — starting with the single most-skipped step that silently costs 69% of your RAM's bandwidth.

The single most important thing in this chapter: Enable XMP. Your DDR4-3600 RAM runs at 2133 MHz until you do this — because that is the JEDEC default the motherboard falls back to. Every other BIOS setting in this chapter is secondary. XMP first, everything else after.

The Power-On Sequence — Second by Second

Here is what happens from the moment you press the power button to the BIOS splash screen, and what each stage looks like when it's working correctly:

Power-on — fans spin up

All fans (CPU cooler, case fans, GPU, PSU) spin up simultaneously. The system has power. RGB lighting (if any) may flash.

✓ Good: Fans spin, lights come on

⚠ Nothing: Check PSU switch, 24-pin ATX seating, front panel power switch wiring

0–2s

POST — CPU, RAM, PCIe initialisation

The board's firmware checks the CPU, initialises RAM, enumerates PCIe devices (GPU, NVMe). The Q-LED or debug display (bottom-right of board) cycles through codes during this phase — this is normal.

✓ Good: Q-LEDs cycle and go out, or code display reaches "00" or "A0"

⚠ Red/yellow Q-LED stays on: see Q-LED section below for diagnosis

2–5s

BIOS splash screen appears on monitor

The monitor should wake up and show either the MSI or ASUS logo, or a basic text POST screen. This confirms the GPU, display cable, and monitor input are all working.

✓ Good: Logo or text appears on a monitor

⚠ "No Signal" on all monitors: check GPU outputs vs motherboard outputs — monitors must connect to the GPU

~5s

Memory training (first boot only — may take 60–120s)

On the very first boot — and after any XMP change — the board runs a memory training cycle. The screen may go blank for up to 2 minutes while this happens. The system may restart 1–3 times automatically. This is completely normal and not a fault.

✓ Good: System restarts once or twice, then reaches splash screen

⚠ Restarts more than 5× or never completes: RAM not fully seated — reseat in A2+B2

~7s

BIOS entry prompt / boot target detected

The splash screen shows the key to press for BIOS (Del on MSI, F2 on ASUS). If a bootable OS is found on the NVMe, it will proceed to Windows. On first build with no OS installed, it will either enter BIOS automatically or show "No boot device found."

✓ Good: Press Del/F2 immediately to enter BIOS before it attempts to boot

When to press Del/F2: Spam the key from the moment the screen lights up. There's usually only a 1–2 second window before the firmware moves on. If you miss it and Windows starts loading, just reboot. On MSI boards, holding Del during POST will force BIOS entry regardless of boot state.

Navigating the UEFI BIOS

MSI B760 UEFI — TOP-LEVEL NAVIGATION ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ MSI Click BIOS 5 / Click BIOS 6 │ │ │ │ [EZ Mode] ─ Graphical overview, fan speeds, temps, │ │ RAM speed, XMP button visible here │ │ │ │ [Settings] → Security, Boot, SATA mode, USB, │ │ TPM/PTT, Secure Boot │ │ │ │ [OC] → XMP/A-XMP, DRAM frequency, │ │ (Overclocking) CPU power limits (PL1/PL2/PL4), │ │ Advanced CPU Configuration, │ │ Virtualisation │ │ │ │ [M-Flash] → BIOS update from USB drive │ │ │ │ [Board Explorer] → Interactive board diagram │ │ │ │ Keyboard: Arrow keys navigate, Enter selects, │ │ F1 = Help, F9 = Defaults, F10 = Save & Exit │ │ Mouse: Fully supported in UEFI │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ASUS TUF B760 UEFI — TOP-LEVEL NAVIGATION ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ ASUS UEFI BIOS Utility │ │ │ │ [EZ Mode] → Overview, XMP via "D.O.C.P." button │ │ │ │ [Advanced] │ │ ├── AI Tweaker → XMP/D.O.C.P., DRAM frequency │ │ ├── Advanced → CPU config, Virtualisation (SVM/VT-x) │ │ ├── Monitor → Fan curves (Q-Fan Control) │ │ └── Boot → Boot order, Secure Boot, Fast Boot │ │ │ │ Keyboard: F7 toggles EZ/Advanced mode │ │ F5 = Defaults, F10 = Save & Exit │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

EZ Mode vs Advanced Mode: Start in EZ Mode to confirm temperatures and fan speeds are being read correctly. Then switch to Advanced Mode for the critical settings below. MSI's F7 shortcut (or the button in the corner) toggles between modes. The six settings below all live in Advanced Mode.

Critical BIOS Settings — Configure Before Installing Windows

These six settings must be configured before Windows installation. Some (XMP, virtualisation) cannot be changed after installation without re-activating hardware features. Others (AHCI mode, TPM) cause major problems if Windows is already installed on the wrong setting.

MSI B760 path

OC → A-XMP
or: EZ Mode → XMP button (top bar)

Select: XMP Profile 1
DRAM Frequency will update to: DDR4-3600

Without XMP: RAM runs at DDR4-2133 (JEDEC default) — 69% less bandwidth. With XMP Profile 1: DDR4-3600 @ C18 as rated. Cost: zero. Impact: major.

ASUS TUF B760 path

Advanced → AI Tweaker → Ai Overclock Tuner
or: EZ Mode → "D.O.C.P." button

Select: D.O.C.P. (DDR4-3600)
This is ASUS's label for Intel XMP

Verify after boot in CPU-Z: Memory tab → DRAM Frequency should show 1800 MHz (DDR4 reports half-clock — this equals DDR4-3600). Channels: Dual. If it still shows 1066 MHz (= DDR4-2133), XMP did not apply.

The problem

Intel spec for i7-13700K:
PL1 (sustained) = 125W
PL2 (short burst, 56s) = 253W

Many B760 boards default to
"Enhanced" or "MCE" mode:
PL1 = 253W sustained (incorrect!)
This runs PL2 limits indefinitely

Running a 125W CPU at 253W sustained pushes higher temperatures and voltages, significantly shortening chip lifespan. Intel's sustained limit is 125W for a reason. The extra performance is marginal for dev workloads.

MSI B760 — correct setting

OC → Advanced CPU Configuration

CPU Base Power → 125 (W) [= PL1]
CPU Turbo Power → 253 (W) [= PL2]
CPU Power Limit 4 → Auto

ASUS TUF path:
Advanced → AI Tweaker → ASUS MultiCore Enhancement → Disabled
Then: Advanced CPU Core Settings
Long Duration Package Power → 125
Short Duration Package Power → 253

Setting PL1 = 125W is Intel's official specification. The i7-13700K at 125W is still far faster than the old i5-10400 at any power level. PL2 = 253W is kept high for the genuine burst scenarios (start of a build, loading a VM) where the short-duration boost is beneficial.

MSI B760 path

OC → CPU Features

Intel Virtualization Technology → Enabled
Intel VT-d Technology → Enabled

VT-x enables the hypervisor layer used by Docker Desktop (WSL2 backend), VirtualBox, and VMware. VT-d enables IOMMU — needed for PCIe passthrough to VMs (passing a USB controller or GPU directly to a Linux VM). Both are off by default on many boards and are invisible to Windows — they must be set here.

ASUS TUF B760 path

Advanced → CPU Configuration

Intel (VMX) Virtualization Technology → Enabled
VT-d → Enabled

Verify after Windows install:
Task Manager → Performance → CPU
→ "Virtualization: Enabled"

If VT-x is not enabled and you try to run Docker Desktop, it will fail at the WSL2 kernel step with an error about hardware virtualisation not being available. Enable it here and you won't see that error.

MSI B760 path

Settings → Advanced → Integrated Peripherals

SATA Mode → AHCI

AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface) is the standard direct-access SATA mode. It has full Linux VM compatibility and straightforward driver support. Intel RST (Rapid Storage Technology) adds a RAID layer that complicates driver installation and causes Linux guest OS issues inside WSL2/VirtualBox. Almost all modern builds should use AHCI.

ASUS TUF B760 path

Advanced → PCH Storage Configuration

SATA Mode Selection → AHCI

Critical: Do not change SATA mode after Windows is installed — Windows will BSOD. If you've already installed Windows on RST mode and want to switch to AHCI, follow Microsoft's safe-switch procedure (registry change before rebooting).

NVMe drives are not affected by the SATA mode setting — they use a separate PCIe/NVMe driver. This setting only controls the SATA ports (Samsung 870 EVO, WD Blue). AHCI is correct for both drives.

MSI B760 path

Settings → Security → Trusted Computing

Security Device Support → Enable
TPM Device Selection → PTT

PTT = Intel Platform Trust Technology
(firmware-based TPM built into B760 chipset)
No separate TPM module needed

Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0. Intel PTT is the B760's built-in firmware TPM — enabling it in BIOS makes Windows 11 see a compliant TPM 2.0 device. Also enable Secure Boot (Settings → Security → Secure Boot → Enabled) for full Windows 11 compliance.

ASUS TUF B760 path

Advanced → Trusted Computing

TPM State → Enabled
Pending operation → None

AND: Boot → Secure Boot
→ Secure Boot → Enabled
→ OS Type → Windows UEFI mode

Verify in Windows:
Win+R → tpm.msc → "TPM 2.0 Ready for Use"

Secure Boot must also be enabled for Windows 11 — it's a separate toggle from TPM. Both must be on before the Windows installer runs, otherwise Windows 11 will refuse to install on this hardware. Both defaults may vary by board revision — always verify.

MSI B760 — Smart Fan 6

Hardware Monitor → Smart Fan Mode
→ Select each fan header → Customise curve

Or: EZ Mode → Fan speed icons on board diagram

CPU_FAN → Temperature source: CPU Package
CHA_FAN 1–3 → Temperature source: System

The NH-D15 G2 at the curve below handles an i7-13700K at PL1 with the fans rarely exceeding 800 RPM during dev workloads — inaudible at a desk. Ramp-up begins at 60°C; the fan is never silent but throttles down at idle.

Recommended curves for this build

CPU_FAN (NH-D15 G2)

40°C

20%

50°C

30%

60°C

45%

70°C

65%

80°C

85%

90°C+

100%

CHA_FAN 1–3 (Case Fans)

30°C

25%

40°C

35%

50°C

50%

60°C

70%

70°C+

100%

Other Useful Settings

Setting	Where (MSI)	Value	Why
Resizable BAR	Settings → Advanced → PCI Sub-system → Re-Size BAR Support	Auto / Enabled	Allows the CPU to address the full 6GB of RTX 3050 LP VRAM directly. Small performance gain in 3D workloads. Requires "Above 4G Decoding" also enabled (same menu).
Above 4G Decoding	Settings → Advanced → PCI Sub-system	Enabled	Required for Resizable BAR to work. Also improves compatibility with high-memory GPUs in general. Enable this first, then Resizable BAR.
Boot Order	Settings → Boot → Boot Option Priorities	NVMe SSD first	Set the new NVMe drive as the primary boot device. Remove USB and network boot options from the list if you don't need them — reduces POST time by 1–2 seconds.
Fast Boot	Settings → Boot → Fast Boot	Enabled (but know Del still works)	Skips USB device enumeration on POST for faster boot. Can be enabled once stable. If the keyboard stops working at the BIOS prompt, disable Fast Boot so USB initialises early enough for keystroke capture.
CSM (Legacy BIOS)	Settings → Boot → CSM	Disabled	CSM (Compatibility Support Module) enables legacy BIOS for old operating systems. Windows 11 requires UEFI; leave CSM disabled. Enabling it disables Secure Boot.
Wake on LAN	Settings → Advanced → Wake Up Event	Personal preference	Allows the machine to be powered on remotely over the network. Useful if you SSH into this machine from elsewhere. Requires the machine to be plugged in but powered off (S5 state).

Q-LED Debug LEDs — Diagnosing POST Failures

MSI B760 boards have four diagnostic LEDs in the bottom-right corner labelled CPU, DRAM, VGA, and BOOT. ASUS boards have a similar four-LED cluster. A LED that stays lit after POST indicates which component failed to initialise:

CPU LED lit (red)

CPU not detected or initialised. Almost always a seating issue.

Fix: Check CPU socket lever is fully latched. Check for bent pins on the board's LGA1700 socket (rare but happens if the CPU was dropped onto the socket). Reseat CPU.

DRAM LED lit (yellow)

RAM not detected or training failure. The most common POST failure on new builds.

Fix: Reseat RAM — remove both sticks, reinsert one stick in the A2 slot only, retry boot. If it POSTs with one stick, test the other. Confirm sticks are in A2+B2, not A1+A2. Try disabling XMP as a diagnostic step.

VGA LED lit (white)

GPU not detected. System reaches GPU initialisation but fails.

Fix: Reseat the GPU — remove and reinsert in the PCIe x16 slot, ensuring the retention clip clicks. Check that monitors are connected to the GPU outputs, not the board. If GPU requires PCIe power, confirm cable is seated at both ends.

BOOT LED lit (green)

CPU, RAM, and GPU initialised fine. Failure is at boot device detection — no bootable OS found.

Expected on a fresh build before Windows is installed. In BIOS: check the NVMe appears in the boot device list. If NVMe is absent from BIOS entirely, reseat the M.2 card and check the retaining screw is in. Check the M.2 slot isn't disabled due to a conflicting SATA port setting.

MSI NUMERIC DEBUG CODE DISPLAY (some boards) Some MSI boards show a 2-digit hex code in the bottom corner during POST. Key codes for this build: 00 / A0 → POST complete, boot device handoff ← Normal d4 / 55 → Memory detection / training in progress ← Wait, may restart b4 → USB initialisation ← Normal, brief 62 → PCIe / GPU initialisation ← Normal, brief 4F → DXE phase — loading UEFI drivers ← Normal 03 → Stuck here = CPU not responding ← Reseat CPU 0d → Stuck here = RAM training failure ← Reseat RAM Full code list in the board's Quick Installation Guide, or search: "MSI B760 debug code [code]" online.

Saving Settings & Exiting BIOS

After making changes: press F10 (MSI and ASUS both use F10 for Save & Exit). A confirmation dialog appears — confirm Yes. The system will reboot with the new settings applied. Memory training will run again if XMP was enabled — expect 1–2 automatic reboots before reaching the Windows boot screen.

If the system won't boot after BIOS changes: Press Del to re-enter BIOS. Press F9 (MSI) or F5 (ASUS) to load optimised defaults, then F10 to save. This resets all settings to safe defaults — you'll need to re-apply XMP and other changes, but it gets you back to a working state. If you can't reach BIOS at all, use the CMOS clear jumper (check board manual) or remove the CR2032 CMOS battery for 30 seconds, which resets the BIOS to factory defaults.

First Boot Validation — After BIOS Configuration

Boot into Windows (or the Windows installer if doing a fresh install). Run these checks before declaring the system ready:

CPU-Z — RAM speed confirmed: Download CPU-Z (free). Memory tab: DRAM Frequency = 1800 MHz (equals DDR4-3600; DDR4 reports half-clock). Channels: Dual. Timings: CL18. If DRAM Frequency shows 1066 MHz (= DDR4-2133), XMP did not apply — re-enter BIOS and re-enable A-XMP/D.O.C.P.

CPU-Z — CPU identification: CPU tab: Name = Intel Core i7-13700K. Cores/Threads: 16C/24T. Max TDP and package power visible in HWiNFO64. Confirm the CPU is recognised correctly — any mismatch here indicates a BIOS update may be needed (covered in Chapter 12).

Task Manager — Virtualisation enabled: Task Manager → Performance → CPU. The "Virtualization" field should read "Enabled". If it shows "Disabled", re-enter BIOS and confirm Intel VT-x was saved correctly (some boards require a second save/reboot cycle for virtualisation changes to take effect).

Device Manager — no unknown devices: Windows Device Manager (right-click Start → Device Manager). No yellow exclamation marks. If the NVMe, SATA drives, GPU, or network adapter show as unknown, the relevant driver needs installing. NVIDIA GPU driver (from nvidia.com) and Intel chipset driver (from intel.com/download) are the two most commonly needed.

Disk Management — all drives visible: Win+R → diskmgmt.msc. All three drives should appear: NVMe (C:, OS drive), Samsung 870 EVO, WD Blue SA510. Any uninitialized drive shows as "Not Initialised" — right-click it, choose Initialize Disk → GPT → create a New Simple Volume to make it accessible.

TPM check: Win+R → tpm.msc. The TPM Management console should show: "The TPM is ready for use." Manufacturer: Intel. Specification Version: 2.0. If it shows "Compatible TPM cannot be found", re-enter BIOS and confirm PTT is enabled under Security → Trusted Computing.

HWiNFO64 — CPU temperatures at idle: CPU Package at idle should read 30–45°C with the system at the desktop for 5 minutes. Any individual core above 50°C at idle with no load running suggests the CPU cooler isn't mounted correctly — remount with fresh thermal paste before continuing.

Windows Update — fully patched: Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates. Run all available updates, including optional driver updates. Intel ME (Management Engine) and chipset drivers often arrive via Windows Update and fix subtle stability issues on first boot.

Next: Type PC12 to generate Chapter 12 — Software Setup, covering Windows 11 install on the new NVMe, driver installation order, WSL2 + Docker configuration for this machine, AIDA64 bandwidth benchmark to confirm DDR4-3600 dual-channel is working, and CrystalDiskMark to verify NVMe speeds.