User Guide Motherboard A8V
E1994 Checklist First Edition March 2005 Copyright © 2005 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”).
Contents Features Notices .......................................................................................... vii Safety information ........................................................................ viii About this guide .............................................................................. ix How this guide is organized .................................................. ix Where to find more information ............................................. ix Conventions used in this guide .
Contents Safeguards 2.6 2.7 2.5.4 PCI slots .............................................................. 2-17 2.5.5 AGP slot ............................................................... 2-17 Jumpers ............................................................................ 2-18 Connectors ....................................................................... 2-20 2.7.1 Rear panel connectors ......................................... 2-20 2.7.2 Internal connectors ...................................
Contents 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Advanced menu ............................................................... 4-15 4.4.1 CPU Configuration ............................................... 4-15 4.4.2 Chipset ................................................................. 4-21 4.4.3 Onboard Devices Configuration ........................... 4-24 4.4.4 PCI PnP ............................................................... 4-26 4.4.5 System Frequency/Voltage Configuration ........... 4-27 Power menu .............
Contents 5.8 vi Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ Technology ............................................ 5-21 5.8.1 Enabling Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ Technology ................. 5-21 5.8.2 Launching the Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ software .............
Notices Federal Communications Commission Statement This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: • This device may not cause harmful interference, and • This device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
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.
About this guide This user guide contains the information you need when installing the motherboard. How this guide is organized This manual contains the following parts: • Chapter 1: Product introduction This chapter describes the motherboard features and the new technologies it supports. • Chapter 2: Hardware information This chapter lists the hardware setup procedures that you have to perform when installing system components. It includes description of the jumpers and connectors on the motherboard.
Conventions used in this guide To make sure 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: Information that you MUST follow to complete a task. NOTE: Tips and additional information to aid in completing a task.
A8V specifications summary CPU Socket 939 for AMD Athlon™ 64FX / Athlon™ 64 processor Supports AMD 64 architecture that enables simultaneous 32-bit and 64-bit computing Supports AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ Technology Chipset VIA K8T800Pro VIA VT8237 System Bus 2000 MT/s Memory Dual-channel memory architecture 4 x 184-pin DDR DIMM sockets support ECC/non-ECC unbuffered 400/333/266 MHz DDR memory modules Expansion slots 1 x AGP 8X/4X 5 x PCI Storage 2 x UltraDMA 133 connectors 2 x Serial ATA with RAID 0,
A8V specifications summary Internal I/O 2 x USB 2.0 connectors for 4 additional USB ports CPU/Chassis/Power fan connectors 20-pin/4-pin ATX 12V power connectors CD/AUX connectors GAME/MIDI connector Front panel audio connector System panel connector BIOS features 4Mb Flash EEPROM AMI BIOS with enhanced ACPI, PnP, DMI2.0, Green Industry standard PCI 2.2, USB 2.0/1.1 Manageability DMI 2.
Chapter 1 This chapter describes the motherboard features and the new technologies it supports.
Chapter summary 1.1 Welcome! ........................................................ 1-1 1.2 Package contents .......................................... 1-1 1.3 Special features .............................................
1.1 Welcome! Thank you for buying the ASUS® A8V motherboard! The motherboard delivers a host of new features and latest technologies, making it another standout in the long line of ASUS quality motherboards! Before you start installing the motherboard, and hardware devices on it, check the items in your package with the list below. 1.2 Package contents Check your motherboard package for the following items.
1.3 Special features 1.3.1 Product highlights Latest processor technology The AMD Athlon™ 64FX and Athlon™ 64 desktop processors are based on AMD’s 64-bit and 32-bit architecture, which represents the landmark introduction of the industry’s first x86-64 technology. These processors provide a dramatic leap forward in compatibility, performance, investment protection, and reduced total cost of ownership and development. See page 2-6.
Serial ATA RAID support The motherboard provides a high-performance Serial ATA RAID controller that enhance hard disk performance and data backup protection without the cost of additional RAID cards. The onboard VIA VT8237 RAID controller provides RAID 0, RAID 1, and JBOD configuration to two Serial ATA connectors. See pages 2-23 and 5-11. AGP 8X support AGP 8X (AGP 3.0) is the VGA interface specification that enables enhanced graphics performance with maximum bandwidth speed of up to 2.12 GB/s.
1.3.2 Unique ASUS features AI NET solution The Marvell® Gigabit LAN controller chipset is onboard to provide a single-chip solution for LAN on Motherboard (LOM) applications. The controller integrates a 32-bit IEEE 802.3 compliant Gigabit Ethernet Media Access Controller (GMAC) and Physical Layer Transceiver solution to support high performance network applications.
ASUS MyLogo2™ This new feature present in the motherboard allows you to personalize and add style to your system with customizable boot logos. See pages 4-35, 5-7. C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall) The C.P.R. feature of the motherboard BIOS allows automatic re-setting to the BIOS default settings in case the system hangs due to overclocking. When the system hangs due to overclocking, C.P.R. eliminates the need to open the system chassis and clear the RTC data.
1-6 Chapter 1: Product introduction
Chapter 2 This chapter lists the hardware setup procedures that you have to perform when installing system components. It includes description of the jumpers and connectors on the motherboard.
Chapter summary 2.1 Before you proceed ....................................... 2-1 2.2 Motherboard overview ................................... 2-2 2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) ..................... 2-6 2.4 System memory ............................................ 2-11 2.5 Expansion slots ........................................... 2-15 2.6 Jumpers ........................................................ 2-18 2.7 Connectors ...................................................
2.1 Before you proceed 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. • Use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or to a metal object, such as the power supply case, before handling components to avoid damaging them due to static electricity. • Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them.
2.2 Motherboard overview Before you install the motherboard, study the configuration of your chassis to ensure that the motherboard fits into it. Unplug the power cord before installing or removing the motherboard. Failure to do so can cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components. 2.2.1 Placement direction When installing the motherboard, make sure that you place it into the chassis in the correct orientation.
2.2.3 Motherboard layout 24.5cm (9.6in) PS/2KBMS T: Mouse B: Keyboard KBPWR ATX12V CPU_FAN KBPWR 1 2 2 3 SPDIF_O PWR_FAN Top:Rear Speaker Out Center: Side Speaker Out Below: Center/Subwoofer ATX Power Connector +5V (Default) Top:Line In Center:Line Out Bottom:Mic In +5VSB USBPWR34 PRI_IDE VIA K8T800Pro 3 2 2 1 30.5cm (12.0in) USB2.
2.2.4 Layout Contents 2-4 Slots Page 1. DDR DIMM slots 2-11 2. PCI slots 2-17 3. AGP slot 2-17 Jumpers Page 1. Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC) 2-18 2. Keyboard power (3-pin KBPWR) 2-19 3. USB device wake-up (3-pin USBPWR12, USBPWR34, USBPWR56, USBPWR78) 2-19 Rear Panel Connectors Page 1. PS/2 mouse port 2-20 2. Parallel port 2-20 4. Gigabit LAN port (RJ-45) 2-20 5. Rear Speaker out jack 2-20 6. Side Speaker out jack 2-20 7. Line In jack 2-20 8. Line Out jack 2-20 9.
Internal Connectors Page 1. Primary IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE) 2-22 2. Secondary IDE connector (40-1 pin SEC_IDE) 2-22 3. Floppy disk connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY) 2-22 4. Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1, SATA2) 2-23 5. CPU fan connector (3-pin CPU_FAN) 2-24 6. Power fan connector (3-pin PWR_FAN) 2-24 7. Chassis fan connector (3-pin CHA_FAN) 2-24 8. CD connector (4-pin CD) 2-24 9. AUX connector (4-pin AUX) 2-24 8. ATX power connector (20-pin ATXPWR) 2-25 9.
2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) 2.3.1 Overview The motherboard comes with a surface mount 939-pin Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) socket designed for the AMD Athlon™ 64FX or AMD Athlon 64™ processor. The 128-bit-wide data paths of these processors can run applications faster than processors with only 32-bit or 64-bit wide data paths. Take note of the marked corner (with gold triangle) on the CPU. This mark should match a specific corner on the socket to ensure correct installation. Gold triangle 2.3.
2. Unlock the socket by pressing the lever sideways, then lift it up to a 90°-100° angle. Socket Lever Make sure that the socket lever is lifted up to 90°-100° angle, otherwise the CPU does not fit in completely. 3. Position the CPU above the socket such that the CPU corner with the gold triangle matches the socket corner with a small triangle. 4. Carefully insert the CPU into the socket until it fits in place. Gold triangle Small triangle The CPU fits only in one correct orientation.
2.3.3 Installing the heatsink and fan The AMD Athlon™ 64FX or AMD Athlon 64™ processor require a specially designed heatsink and fan assembly to ensure optimum thermal condition and performance. Make sure that you use only qualified heatsink and fan assembly. Follow these steps to install the CPU heatsink and fan. 1. Place the heatsink on top of the installed CPU, making sure that the heatsink fits properly on the retention module base.
2. Attach one end of the retention bracket to the retention module base. 3. Align the other end of the retention bracket (near the retention bracket lock) to the retention module base. A clicking sound denotes that the retention bracket is in place. Make sure that the fan and heatsink assembly perfectly fits the retention mechanism module base, otherwise you cannot snap the retention bracket in place. 4.
2.3.4 Connecting the CPU fan cable When the heatsink and fan assembly is in place, connect the CPU fan cable to the connector on the motherboard labeled CPU_FAN. Rotation +12V GND CPU_FAN ® A8V A8V CPU fan connector Do not forget to connect the CPU fan connector! CPU overheating and hardware monitoring errors may occur if you _ to plug this connector.
2.4 System memory 2.4.1 Overview The motherboard comes with four Double Data Rate (DDR) Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM) sockets. ® 80 Pins 104 Pins DIMM_B2 DIMM_A2 DIMM_B1 DIMM_A1 The following figure illustrates the location of the sockets. A8V A8V 184-pin DDR DIMM sockets 2.4.2 Memory configurations You may install 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, and 1GB unbuffered ECC and non-ECC DDR DIMMs into the DIMM sockets using the memory configurations in this section.
Table 1 Recommended memory configurations Sockets DIMM_A1 DIMM_A2 DIMM_B1 DIMM_B2 Mode Single-channel (1) — Dual-channel* (1) Populated — Populated — — Populated — (2) Populated Populated Populated Populated * Use only identical DDR DIMM pairs.
DDR Qualified Vendors List The following table lists the PC3200 (DDR400) memory modules that have been tested and qualified for use with this motherboard.
2.4.3 Installing a DIMM Make sure to unplug the power supply before adding or removing DIMMs or other system components. _ure to do so may cause severe damage to both the motherboard and the components. 1. Unlock a DIMM socket by pressing the retaining clips outward. 2. Align a DIMM on the socket such that the notch on the DIMM matches the break on the socket. DDR DIMM NOTCH Unlocked Retaining Clip A DDR DIMM is keyed with a notch so that it fits in only one direction.
2.5 Expansion slots In the future, you may need to install expansion cards. The motherboard has available PCI slots and an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) slot. The following sub-sections describe the slots and the expansion cards that they support. Make sure to unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. Failure to do so may cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components. 2.5.1 Installing an expansion card Follow these steps to install an expansion card. 1.
2.5.
2.5.4 PCI slots The PCI slots support PCI cards such as a LAN card, SCSI card, USB card, and other cards that comply with PCI specifications. The following figure shows a LAN card installed on a PCI slot. 2.5.5 AGP slot The Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) slot supports AGP8X/4X cards. When you buy an AGP card, make sure that you ask for one with +1.5V specification. Note the notches on the card golden fingers to ensure that they fit the AGP slot on your motherboard. Install only 1.
2.6 Jumpers 1. Clear RTC RAM (CLRTC) This jumper allows you to clear the Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM in CMOS. You can clear the CMOS memory of date, time, and system setup parameters by erasing the CMOS RTC RAM data. The RAM data in CMOS, that include system setup information such as system passwords, is powered by the onboard button cell battery. To erase the RTC RAM: 1. Turn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord. 2. Remove the onboard battery. 3. Move the jumper from pins 1-2 (default) to pins 2-3.
2. Keyboard power (3-pin KBPWR) This jumper allows you to enable or disable the keyboard wake-up feature. Set this jumper to pins 2-3 (+5VSB) if you wish to wake up the computer when you press a key on the keyboard. This feature requires an ATX power supply that can supply at least 1A on the +5VSB lead, and a corresponding setting in the BIOS . KBPWR 1 2 2 3 +5V (Default) +5VSB R A8V A8V Keyboard power setting 3.
2.7 Connectors 2.7.1 Rear panel connectors 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 14 13 12 11 10 9 1. PS/2 mouse port. This green 6-pin connector is for a PS/2 mouse. 2. Parallel port. This 25-pin port connects a parallel printer, a scanner, or other devices. 3. RJ-45 port. This port allows connection to a Local Area Network (LAN) through a network hub. 4. Rear Speaker-Out port. This Rear Speaker (gray) port connects to the rear speakers on a 4-channel, 6-channel or 8-channel audio configuration. 5.
Audio 2, 4, 6, or 8-channel configuration Headset/ 2-channel 4-channel 6-channel 8-channel Light Blue Line In Line In Line In Line In Lime Line Out Front Speaker Out Front Speaker Out Front Speaker Out Pink Mic In Mic In Mic In Mic In Gray - Rear Speaker Out Rear Speaker Out Rear Speaker Out Black - - - Side Speaker Out Yellow Orange - - Center/Subwoofer Center/Subwoofer 10. USB 2.0 ports 3 and 4.
2.7.2 Internal connectors 1. IDE connectors (40-1 pin PRI_IDE, SEC_IDE) This connector supports the provided UltraDMA IDE hard disk ribbon cable. Connect the cable’s blue connector to the primary (recommended) or secondary IDE connector, then connect the gray connector to the UltraDMA slave device (hard disk drive) and the black connector to the UltraDMA master device. Follow the hard disk drive documentation when setting the device in master or slave mode.
3. Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1, SATA2) These connectors support the thin Serial ATA cables for primary internal storage devices. The current Serial ATA interface allows up to 150 MB/s data transfer rate, faster than the standard parallel ATA with 133 MB/s (UltraDMA133). You can configure a RAID 0, RAID 1, or JBOD set using these connectors.
4. CPU, Power and Chassis Fan Connectors (3-pin CPU_FAN, PWR_FAN, CHA_FAN) The fan connectors support cooling fans of 350mA~740mA (8.88W max.) or a total of 1A~2.22A (26.64W max.) at +12V. Connect the fan cables to the fan connectors on the motherboard, making sure that the black wire of each cable matches the ground pin of the connector. Do not forget to connect the fan cables to the fan connectors. Lack of sufficient air flow within the system may damage the motherboard components.
6. ATX power connectors (20-pin ATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V) These connectors are for ATX 12V power supply. The plugs from the power supply are designed to fit these connectors in only one orientation. Find the proper orientation and push down firmly until the connectors completely fit. In addition to the 20-pin ATX power connector, this motherboard requires that you connect the 4-pin ATX +12V power plug to provide sufficient power to the CPU. • Do not forget to connect the 4-pin ATX +12V power plug.
7. USB headers (10-1 pin USB56, USB78) If the USB ports on the rear panel are inadequate, a USB header is available for additional USB ports. The USB header complies with USB 2.0 specification that supports up to 480 Mbps connection speed. This speed advantage over the conventional 12 Mbps on USB 1.1 allows faster Internet connection, interactive gaming, and simultaneous running of high-speed peripherals.
8. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin FP_AUDIO) This is an interface for the front panel audio cable that allows convenient connection and control of audio devices. FP_AUDIO BLINE_OUT_L R BLINE_OUT_R +5VA AGND A8V Line out_L NC Line out_R MICPWR MIC2 A8V Front panel audio connector +5V J2B1 J2CX MIDI_OUT J2CY J2B2 MIDI_IN 9. GAME/MIDI connector (16-1 pin GAME) This connector supports a GAME/MIDI module. If a GAME/MIDI module is available, connect the GAME/MIDI cable to this connector.
10. System panel connector (20-pin PANEL) This connector accommodates several system front panel functions. R A8V A8V System panel connector IDE_LED Reset Ground +5V Ground Ground Speaker SPEAKER PWR Ground PLED- IDE_LED+ IDE_LED- PLED+ PLED RESET PWRSW * Requires an ATX power supply. The System Panel connector is color-coded for easy and foolproof connection. Take note of the specific connector colors as described.
Chapter 3 This chapter describes the power up sequence, the vocal POST messages and ways of shutting down the system.
Chapter summary 3.1 Starting up for the first time .......................... 3-1 3.2 Powering off the computer ...........................
3.1 Starting up for the first time 1. After making all the connections, replace the system case cover. 2. Make sure that all switches are off. 3. Connect the power cord to the power connector at the back of the system chassis. 4. Connect the power cord to a power outlet that is equipped with a surge protector. 5. Turn on the devices in the following order: a. Monitor b. External SCSI devices (starting with the last device on the chain) c.
3.2 Powering off the computer 3.2.1 Using the OS shut down function If you are using Windows® 98SE/ME/2000: 1. Click the Start button then click Shut Down... 2. Make sure that the Shut down option button is selected, then click the OK button to shut down the computer. 3. The power supply should turn off after Windows® shuts down. If you are using Windows® XP: 1. Click the Start button then select Turn Off Computer. 2. Click the Turn Off button to shut down the computer. 3.
Chapter 4 This chapter tells how to change the system settings through the BIOS Setup menus. Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided.
Chapter summary 4.1 Managing and updating your BIOS .............. 4-1 4.2 BIOS Setup program ...................................... 4-9 4.3 Main menu .................................................... 4-12 4.4 Advanced menu ........................................... 4-15 4.5 Power menu .................................................. 4-29 4.6 Boot menu .................................................... 4-33 4.7 Exit menu ......................................................
4.1 Managing and updating your BIOS The following utilities allow you to manage and update the motherboard Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) setup. 1. ASUS AFUDOS - Updates the BIOS using a bootable floppy disk in DOS mode. 2. ASUS EZ Flash - Updates the BIOS using a floppy disk during POST. 3. ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2 - Updates the BIOS using a bootable floppy disk or the motherboard support CD. 4. ASUS Update - Updates the BIOS in a Windows® environment.
2. Copy the original (or the latest) motherboard BIOS to the bootable floppy disk. 4.1.2 Using AFUDOS to update the BIOS To update the BIOS using the AFUDOS.EXE utility: 1. Visit the ASUS website to download the latest BIOS file for your motherboard. Save the BIOS file to a bootable floppy disk. Write the BIOS file name on a piece of paper. You need to type the exact BIOS file name at the prompt. 2. Copy the AFUDOS.EXE utility from the support CD to the bootable floppy disk that contains the BIOS file. 3.
When the BIOS update process is complete, the utility returns to the DOS prompt. A:\>afudos /iA8VB.ROM AMI Firmware Update Utility - Version 1.10 Copyright (C) 2002 American Megatrends, Inc. All rights reserved. Reading file ..... done Erasing flash .... done Writing flash .... 0x0008CC00 (9%) Verifying flash .. done A:\> 6. Reboot the system from the hard disk. 4.1.3 Using AFUDOS to copy BIOS from PC You can use the AFUDOS.
3. The utility will copy the current system BIOS by default to the floppy disk. Make sure that the floppy disk has at least 600KB of free disk space and is not write-protected. A:\>afudos /oMYBIOS03.rom AMI Firmware Update Utility - Version 1.10 Copyright (C) 2002 American Megatrends, Inc. All rights reserved. Reading flash ..... done A:\> When the copy process is complete, the utility returns to the DOS prompt. 4.1.
4. Insert the floppy disk that contains the BIOS file. If all the necessary files are found in the floppy disk, EZ Flash performs the BIOS update process and automatically reboots the system when done. DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS! Doing so can cause system boot failure! User recovery requested. Starting BIOS recovery... Checking for floppy... Floppy found! Reading file “A8VB.ROM”. Completed. Start flashing... Flashed successfully. Rebooting. 4.1.
When found, the utility reads the BIOS file and starts flashing the corrupted BIOS file. Award BootBlock BIOS v1.0 Copyright (c) 2000, Award Software, Inc. BIOS ROM checksum error Detecting IDE ATAPI device... Found CDROM, try to Boot from it... Pass DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS! Doing so can cause system boot failure! 4. Restart the system after the utility completes the updating process. Recovering the BIOS from a floppy disk To recover the BIOS from the support CD: 1.
DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS! Doing so can cause system boot failure! 4. Restart the system after the utility completes the updating process. The recovered BIOS may not be the latest BIOS version for this motherboard. Visit the ASUS website (www.asus.com) to download the latest BIOS file. 4.1.6 ASUS Update The ASUS Update is a utility that allows you to update the motherboard BIOS in Windows® environment.
3. If you select updating/ downloading from the Internet, select the ASUS FTP site nearest you to avoid network traffic, or choose Auto Select. Click Next. 4. From the FTP site, select the BIOS version that you wish to download. Click Next. 5. Follow the instructions on the succeeding screens to complete the update process. 6. If you select the option to update the BIOS from a file, a window prompts you to locate the file.
4.2 BIOS Setup program This motherboard supports a programmable firmware chip that you can update using the provided utility described in section “4.1 Managing and updating your BIOS.” Use the BIOS Setup program when you are installing a motherboard, reconfiguring your system, or prompted to “Run Setup”. This section explains how to configure your system using this utility. Even if you are not prompted to use the Setup program, you may want to change the configuration of your computer in the future.
4.2.1 BIOS menu screen Menu items Menu bar System Time System Date Legacy Diskette A Primary IDE Master Primary IDE Slave Secondary IDE Master Secondary IDE Slave Configuration fields [11:51:19] [Thu 08/05/2003] [1.44M, 3.5 in] : [ST320413A] : [ASUS CD-S340] : [Not Detected] : [Not Detected] General help Use [ENTER], [TAB] or [SHIFT-TAB] to select a field. Use [+] or [-] to configure system time. System Information Sub-menu items Navigation keys 4.2.
4.2.4 Menu items The highlighted item on the menu bar displays the specific items for that menu. For example, selecting Main shows the Main menu items. The other items (Advanced, Power, Boot, and Exit) on the menu bar have their respective menu items. System Time System Date Legacy Diskette A Language Primary IDE Master Primary IDE Slave Secondary IDE Master Secondary IDE Slave Third IDE Master Fourth IDE Master IDE Configuration [11:10:19] [Thu 03/27/2003] [1.44M, 3.
4.3 Main menu When you enter the BIOS Setup program, the Main menu screen appears, giving you an overview of the basic system information. Refer to section “4.2.1 BIOS menu screen” for information on the menu screen items and how to navigate through them. System Time System Date Legacy Diskette A Primary IDE Master Primary IDE Slave Secondary IDE Master Secondary IDE Slave Use [ENTER], [TAB] or [SHIFT-TAB] to select a field. [11:51:19] [Thu 08/05/2003] [1.44M, 3.
4.3.4 Primary and Secondary IDE Master/Slave While entering Setup, BIOS auto-detects the presence of IDE devices. There is a separate sub-menu for each IDE device. Select a device item then press to display the IDE device information. Primary IDE Master Device : Hard Disk Vendor : ST320413A Size : 20.
PIO Mode [Auto] Selects the PIO mode. Configuration options: [Auto] [0] [1] [2] [3] [4] DMA Mode [Auto] Selects the DMA mode. Configuration options: [Auto] [SWDMA0] [SWDMA1] [SWDMA2] [MWDMA0] [MWDMA1] [MWDMA2] [UDMA0] [UDMA1] [UDMA2] [UDMA3] [UDMA4] [UDMA5] SMART Monitoring [Auto] Sets the Smart Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology. Configuration options: [Auto] [Disabled] [Enabled] 32Bit Data Transfer [Disabled] Enables or disables 32-bit data transfer.
4.4 Advanced menu The Advanced menu items allow you to change the settings for the CPU and other system devices. Take caution when changing the settings of the Advanced menu items. Incorrect field values can cause the system to malfunction. CPU Configuration Chipset Onboard Devices Configuration PCI PnP System Frequency/Voltage Configuration Configure CPU. 4.4.1 CPU Configuration The items in this menu show the CPU-related information auto-detected by BIOS.
HyperTransport Configuration HyperTransport Configuration HT Frequency HT DATA Width (Upstream) HT DATA Width (Downstream) K8 CPU to AGP HyperTransport Frequency Selection [1000 MHz] [16 BIT] [16 BIT] HT Frequency [1000 MHz] Allows frequency selection of HyperTransport transfer from K8 CPU to AGP. Configuration options: [200 MHz] [400 MHz] [600 MHz] [800 MHz] [1000 MHz] HT DATA Width (Upstream) [16 BIT] Allows selection of HyperTransport upstream data width.
DRAM Over 4G Remapping [Disabled] Enable this item when 4 gigabytes or more DRAM is installed to remap the memory block just below 4G and move it above 4G. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Bank Interleaving [Auto] Sets whether to allow memory accesses to be spread out over BANKS on the same node or across nodes, decreasing access contention.
TRAS [Auto] Sets the TRAS. Configuration options: [Auto] [5 CLK] [6 CLK] [7 CLK] [8 CLK] [9 CLK] [10 CLK] [11 CLK] [12 CLK] [13 CLK] [14 CLK] [15 CLK] TRP [Auto] Sets the TRP. Configuration options: [Auto] [2 CLK] [3 CLK] [4 CLK] [5 CLK] [6 CLK] TWCL [Auto] Sets the TWCL. Configuration options: [Auto] [1 CLK] [2 CLK] Asynclat [Auto] Sets the Asynclat. Configuration options: [Auto] [4 CLK] [5 CLK] [6 CLK] [7 CLK] [8 CLK] [9 CLK] Read Preamble Setting [Auto] Sets the Read Preamble in nano seconds.
ECC Configuration ECC Configuration Master ECC Enable [Disabled] Master ECC Enables support on all nodes for ECC error detect and correction. Master ECC Enable [Disabled] Enables or disables support on all nodes for ECC error detect and correction. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] The following items appear only when the Master ECC Enable item is set to [Enabled].
L2 Cache BG Scrub [Disabled] Disables or sets the L2 data cache RAM to be corrected when idle. Configuration options: [Disabled] [40ns] [80ns] [160ns] [320ns] [640ns] [1.28us] [2.56us] [5.12us] [10.2us] [20.5us] [41.0us] [81.9us] [163.8us] [327.7us] [655.4us] [1.31ms] [2.62ms] [5.24ms] [10.49ms] [20.97ms] [42.00ms] [84.00ms] Data Cache BG Scrub [Disabled] Disables or sets the L1 data cache RAM to be corrected when idle. Configuration options: [Disabled] [40ns] [80ns] [160ns] [320ns] [640ns] [1.28us] [2.
4.4.2 Chipset The Chipset menu items allow you to change the advanced chipset settings. Select an item then press to display the sub-menu. Options for VIA AGP Chipset AGP Bridge Configuration SouthBridge Configuration USB Configuration AGP Bridge Configuration Primary Graphics Adapter Search for MDA Resources [AGP] [Yes] VLink 8X Supported AGP Mode AGP Fast Write Graphics Aperture Size AGP 3.
AGP Mode [AGP 8X] Allows you to set the data throughput of your AGP graphics card. This motherboard supports the AGP 8X interface that transfers video data at 2.12GB/s. The default and configuration options vary depending on the speed of AGP card you installed. If you installed an AGP 8X graphics card, the configuration options are as follows: [8X] [4X] or if you installed an AGP 4X graphics card, the configuration options are as follows: [4X] [2X].
USB Configuration The items in this menu allows you to change the USB-related features. Select an item then press to display the configuration options. Enables USB host controllers. USB Configuration Module Version - 2.23.2-7.4 USB Devices Enabled: None USB 1.1 Ports Configuration USB 2.0 Controller Legacy USB Support USB 2.0 Controller Mode [USB 8 Ports] [Enabled] [Auto] [FullSpeed] The Module Version and USB Devices Enabled items show the auto-detected values.
4.4.3 Onboard Devices Configuration Onboard AC’97 Audio OnChip SATA BOOTROM OnBoard LAN OnBoard LAN Boot ROM [Enabled] [Enabled] [Enabled] [Disabled] Serial Port1 Address Parallel Port Address Parallel Port Mode Parallel Port IRQ OnBoard Game/MIDI Port [3F8/IRQ4] [378] [Normal] [IRQ7] [Disabled] OnBoard AC’97 Audio [Enabled] [Auto] allows the BIOS to detect whether you are using any audio device.
Parallel Port Mode [Normal] Allows you to select the Parallel Port mode. Configuration options: [Normal] [Bi-directional] [EPP] [ECP] ECP Mode DMA Channel [DMA3] Appears only when the Parallel Port Mode is set to [ECP]. This item allows you to set the Parallel Port ECP DMA. Configuration options: [DMA0] [DMA1] [DMA3] EPP Version [1.9] Allows selection of the Parallel Port EPP version. This item appears only when the Parallel Port Mode is set to EPP. Configuration options: [1.9] [1.
4.4.4 PCI PnP The PCI PnP menu items allow you to change the advanced settings for PCI/PnP devices. The menu includes setting IRQ and DMA channel resources for either PCI/PnP or legacy ISA devices, and setting the memory size block for legacy ISA devices. Take caution when changing the settings of the PCI PnP menu items. Incorrect field values can cause the system to malfunction. Advanced PCI/PnP Settings WARNING: Setting wrong values in below sections may cause system to malfunction.
Palette Snooping [Disabled] When set to [Enabled], the pallete snooping feature informs the PCI devices that an ISA graphics device is installed in the system so that the latter can function correctly. Setting to [Disabled] deactivates this feature. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] IRQ xx [Available] When set to [Available], the specific IRQ is free for PCI/PnP devices to use. When set to [Reserved], the IRQ is reserved for legacy ISA devices. Configuration options: [Available] [Reserved] 4.4.
CPU Multiplier [11.0] Allows you to manually set the CPU speed. The configuration options vary depending on the speed of the processor installed. This item appears only when the CPU Speed/Voltage Setting item is set to Manual. CPU Voltage [1.450 V] Allows you to manually set the CPU voltage. The configuration options vary depending on the speed of the processor installed. This item appears only when the CPU Speed/Voltage Setting item is set to Manual.
4.5 Power menu The Power menu items allow you to change the settings for the Advanced Power Management (APM) feature. Select an item then press to display the configuration options. Suspend Mode Repost Video on S3 Resume ACPI 2.0 Support ACPI APIC Support [S1 (POS) & S3 (STR] [No] [No] [Enabled] Select the ACPI state used for System Suspend. APM Configuration Hardware Monitor 4.5.1 Suspend Mode [S1 (POS) & S3 (STR)] Allows you to select the ACPI state to be used for system suspend.
4.5.5 APM Configuration Power Management/APM [Enabled] Power Button Mode Suspend Power Saving Type Restore on AC Power Loss [On/Off] [C3] [Last State] Suspend Time Out [Disabled] Video Power Down Mode [Suspend] Power Power Power Power Power [Disabled] [Disabled] [Disabled] [Disabled] [Disabled] On On On On On By RTC Alarm External Modems PCI Device By PS/2 Keyboard By PS/2 Mouse Power Management/APM [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the Advanced Power Management (APM) feature.
Video Power Down Mode [Suspend] Allows you to select the video power down mode. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Suspend] Power On By RTC Alarm [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable RTC to generate a wake event. When this item is set to Enabled, the items RTC Alarm Date, RTC Alarm Hour, RTC Alarm Minute, and RTC Alarm Second appear with set values. This feature requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB lead.
4.5.6 Hardware Monitor Hardware Monitor CPU Temperature CPU Temperature MB Temperature Power Temperature [48ºC/118ºF] [35ºC/95ºF] [57ºC/134.5ºF] CPU Fan Speed Chassis Fan Speed Power Fan Speed [3260RPM] [N/A] [N/A] CPU Q-Fan Control [Disabled] VCORE Voltage 3.3V Voltage 5V Voltage 12V Voltage [ 1.504V] [ 3.360V] [ 5.160V] [11.
4.6 Boot menu The Boot menu items allow you to change the system boot options. Select an item then press to display the sub-menu. Specifies the Boot Device Priority sequence. Boot Settings Boot Device Priority Boot Settings Configuration Security 4.6.1 Boot Device Priority Specifies the boot sequence from the available devices.
4.6.2 Boot Settings Configuration Boot Settings Configuration Quick Boot Full Screen Logo AddOn ROM Display Mode Bootup Num-Lock PS/2 Mouse Support Wait for ‘F1’ If Error Hit ‘DEL’ Message Display Interrupt 19 Capture Allows BIOS to skip certain tests while booting. This will decrease the time needed to boot the system.
Hit ‘DEL’ Message Display [Enabled] When set to Enabled, the system displays the message “Press DEL to run Setup” during POST. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Interrupt 19 Capture [Disabled] When set to [Enabled], this function allows the option ROMs to trap Interrupt 19. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] 4.6.3 Security The Security menu items allow you to change the system security settings. Select an item then press to display the configuration options.
To clear the supervisor password, select the Change Supervisor Password then press . The message “Password Uninstalled” appears. If you forget your BIOS password, you can clear clear it by erasing the CMOS Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM. See section “2.6 Jumpers” for information on how to erase the RTC RAM. After you have set a supervisor password, the other items appear to allow you to change other security settings.
Change User Password Select this item to set or change the user password. The User Password item on top of the screen shows the default Not Installed. After you have set a password, this item shows Installed. To set a User Password: 1. Select the Change User Password item and press . 2. On the password box that appears, type a password combination of at least six (6) letters and/or numbers, then press . 3. Confirm the password when prompted.
4.7 Exit menu The Exit menu items allow you to load the optimal or failsafe default values for the BIOS items, and save or discard your changes to the BIOS items. Exit Options Exit & Save Changes Exit & Discard Changes Discard Changes Exit system setup after saving the changes. F10 key can be used for this operation. Load Setup Defaults Pressing does not immediately exit this menu. Select one of the options from this menu or from the legend bar to exit.
Discard Changes Allows you to discard the selections you made and restore the previously saved values. After selecting this option, a confirmation appears. Select Yes to discard any changes and load the previously saved values. Load Setup Defaults This option allows you to load the default values for each of the parameters on the Setup menus. When you select this option or if you press , a confirmation window appears. Select Yes to load default values.
4-40 Chapter 4: BIOS Setup
Chapter 5 This chapter describes the contents of the support CD that comes with the motherboard package.
Chapter summary 5.1 Installing an operating system ..................... 5-1 5.2 Support CD information ................................ 5-1 5.3 Software Information ..................................... 5-7 5.4 AI Net feature .................................................. 5-9 5.5 Audio configurations ................................... 5-10 5.6 RAID configurations ..................................... 5-11 5.7 Creating a RAID driver disk ........................ 5-20 5.
5.1 Installing an operating system This motherboard supports Windows® 98SE/ME/2000/XP/2003 Server operating systems (OS). Always install the latest OS version and corresponding updates to maximize the features of your hardware. Motherboard settings and hardware options vary, so use the setup procedures presented in this chapter for general reference only. Refer to your OS documentation for more information. 5.
5.2.2 Drivers menu The drivers menu shows the available device drivers if the system detects installed devices. Install the necessary drivers to activate the devices. VIA 4 in 1 drivers This item installs the following drivers: - VIA Registry (INF) driver - VIA AGP VxD driver - VIA ATAPI vendor support driver - VIA PCI IRQ Miniport driver. VIA 6420 RAID Controller driver Installs the VIA 6420 RAID controller driver and application.
5.2.3 Utilities menu The Utilities menu shows the applications and other software that the motherboard supports. ASUS PC Probe This smart utility monitors the fan speed, CPU temperature, and system voltages, and alerts you of any detected problems. This utility helps you keep your computer in healthy operating condition. ASUS Update Allows you to download the latest version of the BIOS from the ASUS website.
5.2.4 Manuals menu The Manuals menu contains a list of supplementary user manuals. Click an item to open the manual. Install the Adobe® Acrobat® Reader from the Utilities menu to open the manual files in PDF. 5.2.5 ASUS Contact information Clicking the ASUS Contact Information tab displays as stated. You can also find this information on the inside front cover of this user guide.
5.2.6 Other information The icons on the top right corner of the screen give additional information on the motherboard and the contents of the support CD. Click an icon to display the specified information. Motherboard Info Displays the general specifications of the motherboard. Browse this CD Displays the support CD contents in graphical format.
Technical Support Form Displays the ASUS Technical Support Request Form that you have to fill out when requesting technical support. Filelist Displays the contents of the support CD and a brief description of each in text format.
5.3 Software Information Most of the applications in the support CD have wizards that will conveniently guide you through the installation. View the online help or readme file that came with the software for more information. This section provides details of the software applications that the motherboard supports. ASUS MyLogo2™ The ASUS MyLogo2™ is automatically installed when you install the ASUS Update utility from the software menu. See section “5.2.3 Utilities menu”.
4. From the selection that appears, choose a logo image. Click Next. You can create your own boot logo image in GIF, JPG, or BMP file formats. 5. When you click on an image, it displays larger on the MyLogo2™ screen. • • ASUS MyLogo2™ might encounter problems with complex images. If a problem occurs, replace with a simpler image or make the image smaller. To reduce the logo image, click on the arrow on the Ratio item and select your desired scale. 6.
5.4 AI Net feature The motherboard supports the Marvell® Virtual Cable Tester (VCT) Technology. The VCT virtually diagnoses and reports cable faults using the Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR). The VCT technology detects and reports open and shorted cables with up to one meter of accuracy. It also detects impedance mismatches, pair swaps, pair polarity problems, and pair skew problems of up to 64ns.
5.5 Audio configurations The Realtek® ALC850 AC ‘97 audio CODEC provides 8-channel audio capability to deliver the ultimate audio experience on your PC. The software provides Jack-Sensing function (Line-In, Line-Out, Mic-In), S/PDIF out support and interrupt capability. The ALC850 also includes the Realtek® proprietary UAJ® (Universal Audio Jack) technology for three ports (Line-In, Line-Out and Mic-In), eliminating cable connection errors and giving users plug and play convenience.
5.6 RAID configurations The motherboard comes with the VIA VT8237 controller integrated in the SouthBridge to support Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) configurations. Using two Serial ATA hard disks, you can set up RAID 0, RAID 1, and JBOD configurations. The following defines the different RAID set configurations: RAID 0 (called data striping) optimizes two identical hard disk drives to read and write data in parallel, interleaved stacks.
5.6.1 Installing hard disks The motherboard supports UltraDMA 133/100/66 and Serial ATA hard disk drives. For optimal performance, install identical drives of the same model and capacity when creating a disk array. • If you are creating a RAID 0 (striping) array for performance, use two new drives. • If you are creating a RAID 1 (mirroring) array for protection, you can use two new drives or use an existing drive and a new drive with the same or larger size than the existing drive.
5.6.2 VIA RAID configurations The motherboard includes a high performance IDE RAID controller integrated in the VIA VT8237 southbridge chipset. It supports RAID 0 and RAID 1 with two independent Serial ATA channels. Refer to VIA8237 SATA Quick Setup guide found in the support CD for detailed information on RAID configurations under different operating systems. Entering VIA Tech RAID BIOS Utility 1. Boot-up your computer. 2. During POST, press to enter VIA RAID configuration utility.
Create Array 1. From the VIA RAID BIOS utility main menu, select Create Array then press . The main menu items on the upper-left corner of the screen are replaced with create array menu options. VIA Tech. RAID BIOS Ver 1.
4. Press to confirm or to return to the configuration options. If you selected , proceed to step 9. 5. Select Select Disk Drives, then press . Use arrow keys to select disk drive, then press to mark selected drive. An asterisk appears before a selected drive. 6. Select Block Size, then press to set array block size. A list of valid array block sizes are displayed on a pop-up menu. TIP: For server systems, use of a lower array block size is recommended.
3. From this point, you can auto-configure the RAID array by selecting Auto Setup for Data Security or manually configure the RAID array for mirrored sets. If you want to auto-configure, proceed to the next step, otherwise, skip to step 6. 4. Select Auto Setup for Data Security and press . The following confirmation message appears. Auto create array will destroy all data on disks, Continue? (Y/N) 5. Press to confirm or to return to the configuration options.
RAID Span for capacity 1. From the create array menu, select Array Mode, then press . The supported RAID configurations appear on a pop-up menu. RAID RAID RAID RAID 0 for performance 1 for data protection 0/1 SPAN for capacity 2. Select RAID SPAN for capacity then press . 3. From this point, you can auto-configure the RAID array by selecting Auto Setup for Capacity or manually configure the RAID array for spanned sets.
10. Press to confirm or to return to the configuration options. 11. Press to go back to main menu. Delete Array 1. From the VIA RAID BIOS utility main menu, select Delete Array then press . VIA Tech. RAID BIOS Ver 1.
Serial Number View 1. From the VIA RAID BIOS utility main menu, select Serial Number View then press . 2. From the list of channel used for IDE RAID arrays, use the arrow keys to move the selection bar on each item. The serial number for the selected drive is displayed at the bottom of the screen. This option is useful for identifying same model disks. VIA Tech. RAID BIOS Ver 1.
5.7 Creating a RAID driver disk A floppy disk with the RAID driver is required when installing Windows® XP/2000 operating system. You can create a RAID driver disk using Makedisk.exe utility. To create a RAID driver disk: 1. Insert the motherboard support CD into the CD-ROM drive and locate the Makedisk.exe utility in “\Drivers\VIARAID\6420RAID\Makedisk.exe” of the motherboard support CD. 2. Insert a clean floppy disk into the floppy disk drive and execute Makedisk.exe.
5.8 Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ Technology The motherboard supports the AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ Technology that dynamically and automatically change the CPU speed, voltage, and amount of power depending on the task the CPU performs. 5.8.1 Enabling Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ Technology To enable Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ Technology: 1. Turn on the system and enter BIOS by pressing the key during the Power On Self-Tests (POST). 2.
Windows® 98SE/ME 1. From the Windows® 98SE/ME operating system, click the Start button. Select Settings, then Control Panel. 2. Double-click the Display icon in the Control Panel then select the Screen Saver tab. 3. From the Energy saving features of monitor group, click the Settings... button. 4. From the Power Options Properties dialog box, select the AMD’s Cool ‘n’ Quiet(tm) Technology tab. 5. Click the Performance combo list box to select desired mode. Automatic Mode is the recommended setting. 6.
5.8.2 Launching the Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ software The motherboard support CD includes the Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ software that enables you to view your system’s real-time CPU Frequency and voltage. Make sure to install the Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ software from the motherboard support CD. Refer to section “5.2.3 Utilities menu”, for details. To launch the Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ program: 1. If you are using Windows® 98SE/ME/2000, click the Start button. Select Programs > ASUS > Cool & Quiet > Cool & Quiet. 2.
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