ESC1000 Workstation User Guide
E5038 First Edition September 2009 Copyright © 2009 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 Notices........................................................................................................ viii Safety information....................................................................................... ix About this guide........................................................................................... x Chapter 1: 1.1 1.2 1.3 Product introduction System package contents............................................................ 1-2 Serial number label.............
Contents 2.7 2.8 2.9 Expansion cards......................................................................... 2-18 2.7.1 2.7.2 2.8.1 2.8.2 3.3 2.9.1 Rear panel connectors..................................................... 3-6 3.3.3. ASUS Q-Connector (system panel)............................... 3-17 Internal connectors.......................................................... 3-8 Internal LEDs...............................................................................
Contents 4.3.3 Language....................................................................... 4-10 4.3.5 Storage Configuration.................................................... 4-12 4.3.4 4.3.6 4.4 4.3.7 AHCI Configuration........................................................ 4-13 System Information........................................................ 4-14 Ai Tweaker menu......................................................................... 4-15 4.4.1 Ai Overclock Tuner ..................
Contents 4.6 Power menu................................................................................. 4-29 4.6.1 Suspend Mode . ............................................................ 4-29 4.6.3 ACPI APIC Support . ..................................................... 4-29 4.6.2 4.6.4 4.7 4.6.5 Boot Device Priority....................................................... 4-33 4.7.3 Security.......................................................................... 4-34 4.8.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2.
Contents 6.3.5 Manual menu..................................................................6-11 6.3.7 Other information........................................................... 6-12 6.3.6 6.4 ASUS Contact information..............................................6-11 Software information.................................................................. 6-14 6.4.1 ASUS MyLogo 2™......................................................... 6-14 6.4.3 ASUS AI Suite.......................................
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 A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Safety information Electrical Safety • • • • Before installing or removing signal cables, ensure that the power cables for the system unit and all attached devices are unplugged. To prevent electrical shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electrical outlet before relocating the system. When adding or removing any additional devices to or from the system, contact a qualified service technician or your dealer.
DO NOT throw the motherboard in municipal waste. This product has been designed to enable proper reuse of parts and recycling. This symbol of the crossed out wheeled bin indicates that the product (electrical and electronic equipment) should not be placed in municipal waste. Check local regulations for disposal of electronic products. DO NOT throw the mercury-containing button cell battery in municipal waste.
Conventions 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: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task. NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a task.
Where to find more information Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and software updates. 1. 2. xii ASUS websites The ASUS website provides updated information on ASUS hardware and software products. Refer to the ASUS contact information. 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.
This chapter describes the general features of the workstation, including sections on front panel and rear panel specifications.
1.1 System package contents Check your system package for the following items.
1.3 System specifications The ASUS ESC1000 is a workstation featuring the ASUS P6T7 WS SuperComputer motherboard. The workstation supports Intel® LGA1366 Xeon™ W3500 series processors, plus other latest technologies through the chipsets onboard.
Auxiliary Storage FDD / CD / DVD Rear I/O OS Support Anti-virus Software Dimension (HH x WW x DD) Net Weight Kg (CPU, DRAM & HDD not inclu ded) Power Supply Power Rating Environment 3 x 5.25” media bays (Option: DVD-RW) 1 x PS/2 Keyboard / Mouse combo port 1 x S/PDIF Out (Coaxial + Optical) 2 x External SATA ports 2 x RJ45 ports 6 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports 8-channel Audio I/O Windows® XP / Vista / 7 32 / 64-bit RedHat® Enterprise Linux AS5.
1.4 Front panel features The barebone workstation displays a simple yet stylish front panel with easily accessible features. The power and reset buttons, LED indicators, optical drive, and two USB ports are located on the front panel. For future installation of 5.25-inch devices, two drive bays are available. HDD access LED Power LED Optical drive Empty 5.25-inch bays Security lock Power button 4-bay HDD cage USB 2.0 ports Reset button Headphone output jack Microphone jack Refer to section 1.7.
1.5 Rear panel features The rear panel includes a slot for the motherboard rear I/O ports, expansion slots, a chassis lock and intrusion switch, a vent for the system fan, and power supply module. Power connector PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port USB 2.0 ports Optical S/PDIF Out port USB 2.0 ports External SATA ports USB 2.
1.6 Internal features The barebone workstation includes the basic components as shown. 6 1 7 2 4 9 3 5 1. 1100W 80+ Single Power supply unit 3. ASUS P6T7 WS SuperComputer motherboard 2. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 8 120mm x 38mm system fan Chassis intrusion switch Expansion card locks Optical drive 2 x 5.25-inch drive bays 4-bay HDD module SATA/SAS backplane board Turn off the system power and detach the power supply before removing or replacing any system component.
1.7 LED information 1.7.1 Front panel LEDs HDD Access LED Power LED Drive Status LED LED Power LED Icon HDD Access LED Display status ON OFF Blinking Green Drive status LED Red Description System power ON No activity Read/write data into the HDD Bridge board connected to backplane Installed HDD is in good condition HDD failure Green/Red blinking HDD rebuilding using the RAID card The Power and HDD Access LEDs are visible even if the system front bezel is closed. 1.7.
This chapter lists the hardware setup procedures that you have to perform when installing or removing system components.
2.1 Chassis cover 2.1.1 Removing the side cover • Ensure that you unplug the power cord before removing the side cover. • Take extra care when removing the side cover. Keep your fingers from components inside the chassis that can cause injury, such as the CPU fan, rear fan, and other sharp-edged parts. • The images of the workstation shown in this section are for reference purposes only and may not exactly match the model you purchase. To remove the side cover 1.
2.1.2 Reinstalling the side cover To reinstall the side cover 1. 2. Match and insert the lower sliding edge of the side cover to the corresponding chassis edge. Position the side cover to the chassis. 1 3. Slide the side cover toward the front panel until it snaps in place. 3 4. Drive in the two screws you removed earlier to secure the side cover.
2.2 Central Processing Unit (CPU) The motherboard comes with a surface mount LGA1366 socket designed for the Intel® W3500 series processors. Ensure that all power cables are unplugged before installing the CPU. 2.2.1 • 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.
3. 4. Lift the load lever in the direction of the arrow to a 135º angle. Load plate Lift the load plate with your thumb and forefinger to a 100º angle. 4 3 5. Remove the PnP cap from the CPU socket. PnP cap 6. Position the CPU over the socket, ensuring that the gold triangle is on the bottom‑left corner of the socket, and then fit the socket alignment key into the CPU notch. The CPU fits in only one correct orientation.
7. Apply several drops of thermal paste to the exposed area of the CPU that the heatsink will be in contact with, ensuring that it is spread in an even thin layer. Some heatsinks come with preapplied thermal paste. If so, skip this step. The thermal paste is toxic and inedible. If it gets into your eyes or touches your skin, ensure to wash it off immediately and seek professional medical help. To prevent contaminating the paste, DO NOT spread the paste with your finger directly. 8.
2.2.2 Installing the CPU heatsink and fan To install the CPU heatsink and fan 1. 2. Place the heatsink on top of the installed CPU, ensuring that the four fasteners match the holes on the motherboard. A B B Push down two fasteners at a time in a diagonal sequence to secure the heatsink and fan assembly in place. A A B 1 B A 1 Orient the heatsink and fan assembly such that the CPU fan cable is closest to the CPU fan connector. 3.
2.2.3 Uninstalling the CPU heatsink and fan To uninstall the CPU heatsink and fan 1. 2. 3. 4. 2-8 Disconnect the CPU fan cable from the connector on the motherboard. Rotate each fastener counterclockwise. Pull up two fasteners at a time in a diagonal sequence to disengage the heatsink and fan assembly from the motherboard. A B B A A B B A Carefully remove the heatsink and fan assembly from the motherboard.
2.3 System memory 2.3.1 Overview The motherboard comes with six Double Data Rate 3 (DDR3) Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMM) sockets. A DDR3 module has the same physical dimensions as a DDR2 DIMM but is notched differently to prevent installation on a DDR2 DIMM socket. DDR3 modules are developed for better performance with less power consumption.
2.3.2 Memory configurations You may install 1GB, 2GB and 4GB ECC or non‑ECC, unbuffered DDR3 DIMMs into the DIMM sockets. 2-10 • You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A, Channel B and Channel C. The system maps the total size of the lower-sized channel for the dual-channel or triple-channel configuration. Any excess memory from the higher-sized channel is then mapped for single-channel operation. • Due to Intel spec definition, X.M.P.
2.3.3 Installing a DIMM Ensure to unplug the power supply before adding or removing DIMMs or other system components. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to both the motherboard and the components. 1. 2. 2 Unlock a DIMM socket by pressing the retaining clips outward. DIMM notch Align a DIMM on the socket such that the notch on the DIMM matches the break on the socket. 1 1 Unlocked retaining clip A DIMM is keyed with a notch so that it fits in only one direction.
2.4 Front panel assembly Before you can install a 5.25-inch drive, you should first remove the front panel assembly (front bezel and front panel cover). 2.4.1 Removing the front panel assembly To remove the front panel assembly 1. �������������������������������������������� Locate the three hooked tabs on the chassis side rail. 2. Shift the hooked tabs and take off the front bezel. 2.4.2 Reinstalling the front panel assembly To reinstall the front panel assembly: 1. 2.
2.5 5.25-inch drives Ensure to unplug the power cable before installing or removing any system components. Failure to do so may cause damage to the motherboard and other system components! The system comes with three 5.25-inch drive bays located on the upper front part of the chassis. An optical drive that comes standard/optional with the system package occupies the uppermost bay (labeled 1). The lower bays (labeled 2 and 3) are available for additional 5.25inch optical, zip, or floppy disk drives.
2.6 SATA hard disk drives The hard disk drive module cage on the front panel, including externally removable trays for mounting SATA hard disk drives, allows you to access the drive trays by simply opening the front bezel. An HDD module cage comes with a SATA backplane. Ensure of the type of HDD module cage you purchase before buying hard disks. 2.6.1 1. 2. 3. Installing the HDD module cage Examine the chassis and ensure the bay space is free of wires and other obstructions.
2.6.2 1. 2. Removing the HDD module cage Disconnect the all cables from the SATA backplane on the HDD module cage. Level the HDD module cage latch counterclockwise. The HDD module cage will be pushed out of the chassis. 2 3. Completely pull out the HDD module cage. 2.6.3 1. Installing a hot-swap SATA hard disk drive Release a drive tray by pushing the spring lock to the right, and then pulling the tray lever outward. The drive tray ejects slightly after you pull out the lever.
2. Firmly hold the tray lever and pull the drive tray out of the bay. 3. Take note of the drive tray holes. Each side has three holes to fit different types of hard disk drives. Use two screws on each side to secure the hard disk drive. 4. Place a SATA hard disk drive on the tray, and then secure it with four screws. 5. Carefully insert the drive tray and push it all the way to the depth of the bay until just a small fraction of the tray edge protrudes.
6. 7. Push the tray lever until it clicks, and secures the drive tray in place. The drive tray is correctly placed when its front edge aligns with the bay edge. Repeat steps 1 to 6 if you wish to install a second SATA drive. 2.6.4 Removing and reinstalling the backplane DO NOT remove the backplane unless necessary! 1. Remove all hot-swap HDD trays from the chassis. 2. Disconnect all cables from the SATA backplane. 3. 4. 5. Loosen the four screws on the backplane.
2.7 Expansion cards The system is designed with an expansion card lock on the rear panel for you to install or remove an expansion card in less steps. Ensure to unplug the power cord before installing or removing expansion cards. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to the motherboard and other system components! 2.7.1 1. 2. 3. Installing an expansion card Before installing the expansion card, read the documentation that came with it and make the necessary hardware settings for the card.
6. Restore the expansion card lock to its original position. A light click indicates that the card is locked in place.
2.7.2 Configuring an expansion card After installing the expansion card, configure the it by adjusting the software settings. 1. 2. 3. Turn on the system and change the necessary BIOS settings, if any. See Chapter 5 for information on BIOS setup. Assign an IRQ to the card. Refer to the following tables. Install the software drivers for the expansion card.
2.8 2.8.1 Cable connections • The bundled system cables are pre-connected before shipment. You do not need to disconnect these cables unless you will remove pre‑installed components to install additional devices. • Refer to Chapter 3 for detailed information on the connectors. Motherboard connections 2 1 3 3 3 5 8 4 6 7 Standard cables connected to the motherboard 1. 24-pin ATX power connector (from power supply to motherboard) 3. System fan connector (from system fan to motherboard) 2. 4.
2.8.2 SATA backplane connections An SATA backplane comes pre-installed in the ESC1000. The SATA backplane has four 22-pin SATA connectors to support Serial ATA hard disk drives. The backplane design incorporates a hot swap feature to allow easy connection or removal of SATA hard disks. The LEDs on the backplane connect to the front panel LEDs to indicate HDD status. See section 1.7 LED information for details. Front side The front side of the SATA backplane faces the front panel when installed.
Back side The back side of the SATA backplane faces the rear panel when installed. This side includes the power connectors and SATA interfaces for the motherboard Serial ATA connectors.
2.9 Removable components You may need to remove previously installed system components when installing or removing system devices, or when you need to replace defective components. This section tells how to remove the following components: 1. 2. Rear system fan Front system fan 2.9.1 Removing rear system fan To remove the rear system fan 2-24 1. Unplug the system fan cable from the CHA_FAN1 connector on the motherboard. 2. Shift the two hooked tabs leftward and rightward respectively.
3. 4. Carefully ������������������������ take off the system fan. Follow the previous instructions in reverse to reinstall the rear system fan. 2.9.2 Removing front system fan To remove the front system fan 1. Remove the two screws that secure the right side cover. 1 1 2. 3. 4. Locate the front system fan near the 5.25-inch drive bays. a Squeeze the front system fan latches (step a) and pull out the front system fan (step b), as shown in the right figure.
2-26 Chapter 2: Hardware setup
This chapter includes the motherboard layout and brief descriptions of the jumpers and internal connectors.
3.1 Motherboard layout Refer to 3.3 Connectors for more information about rear panel connectors and internal connectors.
Layout contents Connectors/Jumpers/Slots Page 2. 2-4 1. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 8-pin EATX12V) 3. CPU, chassis, and power fan connectors (4-pin CPU_FAN, 3-pin CHA_FAN1-3, 3-pin PWR_FAN) 4. 5. LGA1366 CPU Socket DDR3 DIMM slots CPU / DRAM Bus / QPI DRAM overvoltage settings (3-pin OV_CPU; 3-pin OV_DRAM_Bus; 3-pin OV_QPI_DRAM) 3-14 3-12 2-9 3-5 6. ������� Marvell® 88SE6320 SAS RAID connector [black] (7-pin SAS1-2) 3-10 8.
3.2 1. Jumpers 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 onboard button cell battery powers the RAM data in CMOS, which include system setup information such as system passwords. To erase the RTC RAM 1. 2. 3. 4. Turn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord. Move the jumper cap from pins 1-2 (default) to pins 2-3.
2. CPU / DRAM Bus / QPI DRAM overvoltage setting (3-pin OV_CPU, 3-pin OV_DRAM_BUS, 3-pin OV_QPI_DRAM) These jumpers allow you to enable or disable the advanced CPU, DRAM Bus, and QPI DRAM overvoltage settings in BIOS. Read the following information before you change the jumper settings. OV_CPU OV_DRAM_BUS OV_QPI_DRAM Pins 1-2 (Default) up to 1.70V up to 1.90V up to 1.70V Pins 2-3 (OV Enabled) up to 1.9V up to 2.46V up to 1.
3.3 Connectors 3.3.1 Rear panel connectors 1. 2. 3. 4. PS/2 keyboard / mouse combo port. This port is for a PS/2 keyboard or a PS/2 mouse. Coaxial S/PDIF Out port. This port connects an external audio output device via a coaxial S/PDIF cable. LAN 2 (RJ-45) port. This Marvell® LAN port allows Gigabit connection to a Local Area Network (LAN) through a network hub. Refer to the table below for the LAN port LED indications. LAN 1 (RJ-45) port.
8. Line Out port (lime). This port connects a headphone or a speaker. In 4-channel, 6-channel, and 8-channel configuration, the function of this port becomes Front Speaker Out. 9. Microphone port (pink). This port connects a microphone. 10. Side Speaker Out port (gray). This port connects the side speakers in an 8-channel audio configuration. Refer to the audio configuration table below for the function of the audio ports in 2, 4, 6, or 8-channel configuration.
3.3.2 1. Internal connectors TPM connector (20-1 pin TPM) [Optional] This connector supports a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) system, which can securely store keys, digital certificates, passwords, and data. A TPM system also helps enhance network security, protects digital identities, and ensures platform integrity. The TPM module is purchased separately. 2. IEEE 1394a port connector (10-1 pin IE1394_2) This connector is for an IEEE 1394a port.
3. ICH10R Serial ATA connectors [blue] (7-pin SATA 1-6) These connectors are for the Serial ATA signal cables for Serial ATA hard disk drives and optical disc drives. If you installed Serial ATA hard disk drives, you can create a RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 configuration with the Intel® Matrix Storage Technology through the onboard Intel® ICH10R RAID controller. • These connectors are set to IDE mode by default.
4. Marvell® 88SE6320 SAS RAID connectors [black] (7-pin SAS1-2) These connectors are for SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) signal cables that support SAS hard disk drives. To configure RAID 0 or RAID 1, install two SAS hard disk drives to these two connectors. • When ICH10R SATA ports are set to RAID or AHCI mode, SAS HDDs can be detected in Windows environment only. • Please install the Marvell® Controller driver before using the black SAS RAID connectors (SAS1-2). See section 6.3.
5. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB78, USB910, USB1112) These connectors are for USB 2.0 ports. Connect the USB module cable to any of these connectors, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis. These USB connectors comply with USB 2.0 specification that supports up to 480 Mbps connection speed. Never connect a 1394 cable to the USB connectors.
6. CPU, chassis and power fan connectors (4-pin CPU_FAN, 3-pin CHA_FAN1-3, 3-pin PWR_FAN) The fan connectors support cooling fans of 350 mA ~ 2000 mA (24 W max.) or a total of 1 A ~ 7 A (84 W max.) at +12V. Connect the fan cables to the fan connectors on the motherboard, ensuring 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. Insufficient air flow inside the system may damage the motherboard components.
7. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP) This connector is for a chassis-mounted front panel audio I/O module that supports either HD Audio or legacy AC`97 audio standard. Connect one end of the front panel audio I/O module cable to this connector. • • 8. 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.
9. 3-14 ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 8-pin EATX12V) These connectors are for ATX power supply plugs. The power supply plugs are designed to fit these connectors in only one orientation. Find the proper orientation and push down firmly until the connectors completely fit. • Do not forget to connect the 8-pin EATX12 V power plug; otherwise, the system will not boot. • Use of a PSU with a higher power output is recommended when configuring a system with more power-consuming devices.
10. Optical drive audio connector (4-pin CD) This connector allows you to receive stereo audio input from sound sources such as a CD-ROM, TV tuner, or MPEG card. 11. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT) This connector is for an additional Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) port(s). If you are using ASUS HDMI-equipped graphics card, connect the HDMI card to this connector with a S/PDIF out cable. The S/PDIF out cable is purchased separately.
12. System panel connector (20-8 pin PANEL) This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions. 3-16 • System power LED (2-pin PLED) • Hard disk drive activity LED (2-pin IDE_LED) • System warning speaker (4-pin SPEAKER) • ATX power button/soft-off button (2-pin PWRSW) • Reset button (2-pin RESET) This 2-pin connector is for the system power LED. Connect the chassis power LED cable to this connector.
3.3.3. ASUS Q-Connector (system panel) Use the ASUS Q-Connector to connect/disconnect the chassis front panel cables. 1. Connect the front panel cables to the ASUS Q-Connector. Refer to the labels on the Q-Connector to know the detailed pin definitions, and then match them to their respective front panel cable labels. The labels on the front panel cables may vary depending on the chassis model. 2.
3.4 Internal LEDs Standby Power LED The motherboard comes with a standby power LED. The green 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.
This chapter tells how to change the system settings through the BIOS Setup menus. Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided.
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 Update: Updates the BIOS in Windows® environment. 3. ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility: Restores the BIOS using the motherboard support DVD or a USB flash drive when the BIOS file fails or gets corrupted. 2. ASUS EZ Flash 2: Updates the BIOS using a USB flash drive. Refer to the corresponding sections for details on these utilities.
Updating the BIOS through the Internet Quit all Windows® applications before you update the BIOS using this utility. To update the BIOS through the Internet 1. From the Windows® desktop, click Start > Programs > ASUS > ASUSUpdate > ASUSUpdate. The ASUS Update main window appears. 3. Select the ASUS FTP site nearest you to avoid network traffic, or click Auto Select. Click Next. ASUS ESC1000 2. 4. Select Update BIOS from the Internet from the drop‑down menu, and then click Next.
5. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the update process. The ASUS Update utility is capable of updating itself through the Internet. Always update the utility to avail all its features. Updating the BIOS through a BIOS file To update the BIOS through a BIOS file 1. 2. Fom the Windows® desktop, click Start > Programs > ASUS > ASUSUpdate > ASUSUpdate. The ASUS Update main window appears. Select Update BIOS from a file from the dropdown menu, then click Next. 3. 4.
4.1.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility The ASUS EZ Flash 2 feature allows you to update the BIOS without having to use a bootable floppy disk or an OS‑based utility. Before you start using this utility, download the latest BIOS from the ASUS website at www.asus.com. To update the BIOS using EZ Flash 2 1. Insert the USB flash drive that contains the latest BIOS file to the USB port, and then launch EZ Flash 2 in any of these two ways: • Press + during POST to display the following.
4.1.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility The ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility is an auto recovery tool that allows you to restore the BIOS file when it fails or gets corrupted during the updating process. You can restore a corrupted BIOS file using the motherboard support DVD or a USB flash drive that contains the BIOS file. The BIOS file in the motherboard support DVD may be older than the BIOS file published on the ASUS official website. If you want to use the newer BIOS file, download the file at support.asus.
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 can change the configuration of your computer in the future.
4.2.1 BIOS menu screen Menu items Main Menu bar Ai Tweaker Configuration fields BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Power Boot System Time System Date Language SATA1 SATA2 SATA3 SATA4 SATA5 SATA6 General help Tools Exit [11:51:25] [Fri 03/20/2009] [English] Use [ENTER], [TAB] or [SHIFT-TAB] to select a field. [HDT722516DLA380] [Not Detected] [ATAPI DVD DH1] [Not Detected] [Not Detected] [Not Detected] Use [+] or [-] to configure system Date.
4.2.5 Submenu items A solid triangle before each item on any menu screen means that the item has a submenu. To display the submenu, select the item and press . 4.2.6 Configuration fields These fields show the values for the menu items. If an item is user-configurable, you can change the value of the field opposite the item. You cannot select an item that is not user-configurable. A configurable field is enclosed in brackets, and is highlighted when selected.
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. Main Ai Tweaker System Time System Date Language SATA1 SATA2 SATA3 SATA4 SATA5 SATA6 BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit [11:51:25] [Thu 03/20/2009] [English] Use [ENTER], [TAB] or [SHIFT-TAB] to select a field.
4.3.4 SATA 1-6 While entering Setup, the BIOS automatically detects the presence of IDE/SATA devices. There is a separate submenu for each IDE/SATA device. Select a device item then press to display the SATA device information. BIOS SETUP UTILITY Main SATA 1 Device : Hard Disk Vendor : HDT722516DLA380 Size : 164.
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 Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology. Configuration options: [Auto] [Disabled] [Enabled] 32Bit Data Transfer [Enabled] Enables or disables 32-bit data transfer. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] 4.3.
Hard Disk Write Protect [Disabled] Disables or enables device write protection. This will be effective only if the device is accessed through BIOS. Configuration option: [Disabled] [Enabled] IDE Detect Time Out (Sec) [35] Selects the time out value for detecting ATA/ATAPI devices. Configuration options: [0] [5] [10] [15] [20] [25] [30] [35] 4.3.6 AHCI Configuration This menu is the section for AHCI configuration.
4.3.7 System Information This menu gives you an overview of the general system specifications. The BIOS automatically detects the items in this menu. Main BIOS SETUP UTILITY BIOS Information Version : 0210 Build Date: 04/20/09 Processor Type : Genuine Intel(R) CPU @ 2.67GHz Speed : 2666MHz System Memory Usable Size : 1016MB Bios Information Displays the auto-detected BIOS information. Processor Displays the auto-detected CPU specification. System Memory Displays the auto-detected system memory.
4.4 Ai Tweaker menu The Ai Tweaker menu items allow you to configure overclocking-related items. Be cautious when changing the settings of the Ai Tweaker menu items. Incorrect field values can cause the system to malfunction. The configuration options for this chapter vary depending on the CPU and DIMM model you installed on the motherboard.
The configuration options for the following sub-item vary depending on the DIMMs you install on the motherboard. DRAM O.C. Profile [DDR3-1339MHz] This item appears only when you set the Ai Overclock Tuner item to [D.O.C.P.] and allows you to select a DRAM O.C. profile, which applies different settings to DRAM frequency, DRAM timing and DRAM voltage.
4.4.5 DRAM Frequency [Auto] Allows you to set the DDR3 operating frequency. Configuration options: [Auto] [DDR3-800MHz] [DDR3-1066MHz] [DDR3-1333MHz] [DDR3-1600MHz] [DDR3-1866MHz] [DDR3-2133MHz] The DRAM Frequency configuration options vary with the BCLK Frequency item settings. Selecting a very high DRAM frequency may cause the system to become unstable! If this happens, revert to the default setting. 4.4.6 UCLK Frequency [Auto] Allows you to set the Uncore Clock Ratio.
DRAM REF Cycle Time [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [30 DRAM Clock] [36 DRAM Clock] [48 DRAM Clock] [60 DRAM Clock] [72 DRAM Clock] [82 DRAM Clock] [88 DRAM Clock] [90 DRAM Clock] [100 DRAM Clock] [110 DRAM Clock] DRAM WRITE Recovery Time [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [1 DRAM Clock] – [15 DRAM Clock] DRAM READ to PRE Time [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [1 DRAM Clock] – [15 DRAM Clock] DRAM FOUR ACT WIN Time [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [1 DRAM Clock] – [63 DRAM Clock] DRAM Back-To-
DRAM READ to READ Delay(SR) [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [4 DRAM Clock] [6 DRAM Clock] DRAM WRITE to WRITE Delay(DD) [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [2 DRAM Clock] – [9 DRAM Clock] DRAM WRITE to WRITE Delay(DR) [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [2 DRAM Clock] – [9 DRAM Clock] DRAM WRITE to WRITE Delay(SR) [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [4 DRAM Clock] [6 DRAM Clock] The following ten (10) items are adjusted by typing the desired values using the numeric keypad and press the key.
4.4.13 IOH PCIE Voltage [Auto] Allows you to set the IOH PCIE voltage. The values range from 1.50V to 2.76V with a 0.02V interval. 4.4.14 ICH Voltage [Auto] Allows you to set the I/O Controller Hub (ICH) voltage. The values range from 1.10V to 1.40V with a 0.10V interval. 4.4.15 ICH PCIE Voltage [Auto] Allows you to set the SB PCIE voltage. The values range from 1.50V to 1.80V with a 0.10V interval. 4.4.16 DRAM Bus Voltage [Auto] Allows you to set the DRAM voltage. The values range from 1.
4.4.17 DRAM DATA REF Voltage on CHA/B/C [Auto] Allows you to set the DRAM DATA Reference Voltage on Channel A/B/C. The values range from 0.395x to 0.630x with a 0.005x interval. Different ratio might enhance DRAM overclocking ability. 4.4.18 DRAM CTRL REF Voltage on CHA/B/C [Auto] Allows you to set the DRAM Control Reference Voltage on Channel A/B/C. The values range from 0.395x to 0.630x with a 0.005x interval. Different ratio might enhance DRAM overclocking ability. 4.4.
4.5 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. Main Ai Tweaker BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Power Boot CPU Configuration Chipset Onboard Devices Configuration USB Configuration PCIPnP Tools Exit Configure CPU.
CPU Ratio Setting [Auto] Allows you to adjust the ratio between CPU Core Clock and BCLK Frequency. Use the <+> and <-> keys to adjust the value. The valid value ranges differently according to your CPU model. C1E Support [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable Enhanced Halt State support. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Hardware Prefetcher [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the Hardware Prefetcher function.
Intel(R) SpeedStep (TM) Tech [Enabled] When set to [Disabled], the CPU runs at its default speed. When set to [Enabled], the CPU speed is controlled by the operating system. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Intel(R) Turbo Mode Tech [Enabled] Turbo mode allows processor cores to run faster than marked frequency in specific condition. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Intel(R) C-STATE Tech [Disabled] The Intel® C-State Technology allows the CPU to save more power under idle mode.
4.5.2 Chipset The Chipset menu allows you to change the advanced chipset settings. Select an item then press to display the sub-menu. Advanced BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Chipset Settings WARMING: Setting wrong values in below sections may cause system to malfunction. Intel VT-d Configuration Intel VT-d Configuration Advanced BIOS SETUP UTILITY Intel VT-d Configuration Intel VT-d [Disabled] Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O.
Marvell Storage Controller [Legacy Mode] Allows you to select the onboard Marvell storage controller mode. Configuration options: [Legacy Mode] [RAID Mode] [Disabled] Marvell Storage Boot ROM [Disabled] This item appears only when you set the previous item to [Legacy Mode] or [RAID Mode]. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Marvell SAS [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the onboard Marvell SAS controller.
4.5.4 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. Advanced BIOS SETUP UTILITY USB Configuration Options USB Devices Enabled: 1 Mouse USB Functions USB 2.0 Controller USB 2.0 Controller Mode BIOS EHCI Hand-Off Legacy USB Support [Enabled] [Enabled] [HiSpeed] [Enabled] [Auto] Disabled Enabled The USB Devices Enabled item shows the auto-detected values.
4.5.5 PCIPnP The PCIPnP menu items allow you to change the advanced settings for PCI/PnP devices. Advanced BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced PCI/PnP Settings WARNING: Setting wrong values in below sections may cause system to malfunction. Plug And Play O/S NO: lets the BIOS configure all the devices in the system. [No] Plug And Play O/S [No] When set to [NO], BIOS configures all the devices in the system.
4.6 Power menu The Power menu items allow you to change the settings for the Advanced Power Management (APM). Select an item then press to display the configuration options. Main Ai Tweaker BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Power Boot Suspend Mode ACPI 2.0 Support ACPI APIC Support [Auto] [Disabled] [Enabled] Tools Exit Select the ACPI state used for System Suspend.
4.6.4 APM Configuration BIOS SETUP UTILITY Power APM Configuration Restore on AC Power Loss [Power Off] Power On By RTC Alarm [Disabled] Power On By PCIE Devices [Disabled] Power On By�������������������������� PS/2 Keyboard [Disabled] S3 Resume: PS/2&USSB sleep/wakeup function will not be supported. S4/S5 Resume: Marvell LAN, PS/2&USB Devices sleep or wakeup function will not be supported.
4.6.5 Hardware Monitor BIOS SETUP UTILITY Power Hardware Monitor CPU Temperature MB Temperature [35ºC/95ºF] [34ºC/93ºF] CPU Fan Speed CPU Q-Fan Control [1721RPM] [Disabled] Chassis Chassis Chassis Chassis [N/A] [N/A] [N/A] [Disabled] Fan 1 Fan 2 Fan 3 Q-Fan Speed Speed Speed Control Power Fan Speed [N/A] CPU 3.3V 5V 12V [ 0.832V] [ 3.400V] [ 5.094V] [12.
Chassis Q-Fan Control [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable the Chassis Q-fan control feature. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] The following item appears only when you enable the Chassis Q-Fan Control item. Chassis Fan Profile [Standard] Allows you to set the appropriate performance level of the ASUS Q-Fan. When set to [Standard], the chassis fan automatically adjusts depending on the chassis temperature.
4.7 Boot menu The Boot menu items allow you to change the system boot options. Select an item then press to display the sub-menu. Main Ai Tweaker BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit Specifies the Boot Device Priority sequence. Boot Settings Boot Device Priority Boot Settings Configuration Security A virtual floppy disk drive (Floppy Drive B: ) may appear when you set the CD-ROM drive as the first boot device.
Quick Boot [Enabled] Enabling this item allows the BIOS to skip some power on self tests (POST) while booting to decrease the time needed to boot the system. When set to [Disabled], BIOS performs all the POST items. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Full Screen Logo [Enabled] This allows you to enable or disable the full screen logo display feature. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Set this item to [Enabled] to use the ASUS MyLogo 2 feature.
Change Supervisor Password Select this item to set or change the supervisor password. The Supervisor Password item on top of the screen shows the default Not Installed. After you set a password, this item shows Installed. To set a Supervisor Password: 1. 2. 3. Select the Change Supervisor Password item and press . From the password box, type a password composed of at least six letters and/or numbers, then press . Confirm the password when prompted.
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 set a password, this item shows Installed. To set a User Password 1. 2. 3. Select the Change User Password item and press . On the password box that appears, type a password composed of at least six letters and/or numbers, then press . Confirm the password when prompted.
4.8 Tools menu The Tools menu items allow you to configure options for special functions. Select an item then press to display the sub-menu. Main Ai Tweaker BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Power Boot Tools ASUS EZ Flash 2 Express Gate Enter OS Timer Reset User Data Exit Press ENTER to run the utility to select and update BIOS. This utility supports: 1.FAT 12/16/32 (r/w) 2.NTFS (read only) 3.CD-DISC (read only) [Auto] [10 Seconds] [No] ASUS O.C.
4.8.2 Express Gate [Auto] Allows you to enable or disable the ASUS Express Gate feature. The ASUS Express Gate feature is a unique instant-on environment that provides quick access to the Internet browser and Skype. Refer to section 6.4.9 ASUS Express GATE for details. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] [Auto] Enter OS Timer [10 Seconds] Sets countdown duration that the system waits at the Express Gate’s first screen before starting Windows or other installed OS.
4.8.3 ASUS O.C. Profile This item allows you to store or load multiple BIOS settings. BIOS SETUP UTILITY O.C. PROFILE Configuration O.C. Profile 1 Status O.C. Profile 2 Status Typing your profile name, [0-9][a-z][A-Z] are acceptable. : Not Installed : Not Installed Add Your CMOS Profile. Name: Save To: Load CMOS Profiles. Load From: Tools [Default-Profile] [Uninstalled] [Blank] Start O.C. Profile ←→ ↑↓ F1 F10 ESC Select Screen Select Item General Help Save and Exit Exit v02.
4.8.4 • This function can support devices such as a USB flash disk with FAT 32/16 format and single partition only. • DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS to prevent the system boot failure! • We recommend that you update the BIOS file only coming from the same memory/CPU configuration and BIOS version. • Only the CMO file can be loaded. Ai Net 2 BIOS SETUP UTILITY AI NET 2 Pair Status Check Realtek LAN cable during POST.
4.9 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. Main Ai Tweaker BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Power Boot Exit Options Exit & Save Changes Exit & Discard Changes Discard Changes Load Setup Defaults Tools Exit Exit system setup after saving the changes. F10 key can be used for this operation.
4-42 Chapter 4: BIOS setup
This chapter provides instructions for setting up, creating and configuring RAID sets using the available utilities.
5.1 RAID configurations The motherboard comes with the Intel® ICH10R Southbridge controller that allows you to configure Serial ATA hard disk drives as RAID sets. The motherboard supports the following RAID configurations: RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 10 and RAID 5. 5.1.1 • You must install Windows® XP Service Pack 2 or later versions before using Serial ATA hard disk drives. The Serial ATA RAID feature is available only if you are using Windows® XP SP2 or later versions.
5.1.2 Installing Serial ATA hard disks The motherboard supports Serial ATA hard disk drives. For optimal performance, install identical drives of the same model and capacity when creating a disk array. To install the SATA hard disks for a RAID configuration: 1. Install the SATA hard disks into the drive bays. 3. Connect a SATA power cable to the power connector on each drive. 2. Connect the SATA signal cables. 5.1.
5.2 Intel® Matrix Storage Manager option ROM utility To enter the Intel® Matrix Storage Manager option ROM utility 1. 2. Turn on the system. During POST, press + to display the utility main menu. Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager option ROM v8.0.0.1038 ICH10R wRAID5 Copyright(C) 2003-08 Intel Corporation. All Rights Reserved. [ MAIN MENU ] 1. Create RAID Volume 2. Delete RAID Volume 3. Reset Disks to Non-RAID 4. Exit [ DISK/VOLUME INFORMATION ] RAID Volumes: None defined.
Creating a RAID volume To create a RAID set 1. From the utility main menu, select 1. Create RAID Volume and press . The following screen appears. Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager option ROM v8.0.0.1038 ICH10R wRAID5 Copyright(C) 2003-08 Intel Corporation. All Rights Reserved. [ CREATE VOLUME MENU ] Name: RAID Level: Disks: Strip Size: Capacity: Volume0 RAID0(Stripe) Select Disks 128KB 0.
5. 6. Use the up/down arrow key to select a drive, and then press to select. A small triangle marks the selected drive. Press after completing your selection. Use the up/down arrow key to select the stripe size for the RAID array (for RAID 0, 10 and 5 only), and then press . The available stripe size values range from 4 KB to 128 KB.
Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager option ROM v8.0.0.1038 ICH10R wRAID5 Copyright(C) 2003-08 Intel Corporation. All Rights Reserved. [ DELETE VOLUME MENU ] Name Volume0 Level RAID0(Stripe) Drives 2 Capacity 298.0GB Status Normal Bootable Yes [ HELP ] Deleting a volume will reset the disks to non-RAID. WARNING: ALL DISK DATA WILL BE DELETED. [↑↓]-Select 2. [ESC]-Previous Menu [DEL]-Delete Volume Use the up/down arrow key to select the RAID set you want to delete, and then press .
5.3 Marvell® SAS RAID configurations The Marvell® SAS controller allows you to configure RAID 0 and 1 set on the SAS hard disk drives. Setting the RAID item in BIOS You must set the RAID item in the BIOS Setup before you can create a RAID set. To do this: 1. 2. 3. 4. Install two internal SAS hard disk drives to the SAS connectors labeled SAS1/2. Boot up your computer, and press during POST to enter the BIOS setup.
Marvell® RAID BIOS Configuration utility To enter the Marvell® RAID BIOS setup utility 1. 2. Boot up your computer. During POST, press + to enter the utility main menu. Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2008 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. [Selection] [Controller] [ Devices ] [ RAID ] Adapter 1 VendorID:DeviceID: BIOS Version: PCI Slot: Adapter Serial Number: IRQ Number: Port 0 SAS Address: Port 1 SAS Address: 11AB:6320 2.1.0.
Creating a RAID 0 or RAID 1 set To create a RAID set: 1. From the utility menu bar, select RAID > Create array. Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2008 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. [Controller] [ Devices ] [ RAID ] [Selection] RAID Config Create array Delete array Wipe out disk Spare Management ENTER/SPACE:Select, ESC:Back/Exit 2. Press . The screen shows the disks you can add to make up the RAID set. Use the arrow key to select a disk and press or to include this disk in the array.
4. The Create Array screen appears. Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2008 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. [Selection] [Controller] [ Devices ] [ RAID ] RAID Config Select free disks to create Create ID PortArray Disk Name Size Max Speed RAID0 *0 Raid 0 Level SAS : :ST336754SS 36.6GB SAS 3.0 73240 *1 Max 1 Size(MB) SAS : :ST336754SS 36.6GB SAS 3.
6. A confirmation screen appears. Press to confirm the array creation. Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2008 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. [Selection] [Controller] [ Devices ] [ RAID ] RAID Config Select free disks to create Create ID PortArray Disk Name Size Max Speed RAID0 *0 Raid 0 Level SAS : :ST336754SS 36.6GB SAS 3.0 73240 *1 Max 1 Size(MB) SAS : :ST336754SS 36.6GB SAS 3.
Deleting an array To delete a RAID set 1. From the utility menu bar, select RAID > Delete array, and then press . The Delete array screen appears. Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2008 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. [Controller] [ Devices ] [ RAID ] [Selection] RAID Config Delete array ID Name Size Level Status Stripe CacheMode Members 0 73.2GB RAID0 ONLINE 64KB WriteBack 0,1 NEXT ENTER/SPACE:Select, ESC:Back/Exit 2. Select a desired array to delete and select NEXT.
Wipe out disk To erase the reserved sectors of the selected disk: 1. From the utility menu bar, select RAID > Wipe out disk, and then press . The Wipe out disk screen appears. Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2008 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. [Selection] [Controller] [ Devices ] [ RAID ] RAID Config Select disk to wipe out: Port Disk Name Size Max Speed Status 0 SAS : ST3146855SS 140GB SAS 3.0 ASSIGNED 1 SAS : ST3146855SS 140GB SAS 3.0 ASSIGNED NEXT ENTER/SPACE:Select, ESC:Back/Exit 2.
Advanced Operation From the utility menu bar, select Devices, and then press . The Advanced Operation screen appears. You can run Disk Verify in the Advanced Operation screen. Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2008 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. [Selection] [Controller] [ Devices ] [ RAID ] Select Device For Advanced Operation [Physical Disks] ID Port Disk Name Size Max Speed 0 0 SAS : ST336754SS 36.7GB SAS 3.0 1 1 SAS : ST336754SS 36.7GB SAS 3.0 ENTER/SPACE:Select, ESC:Back/Exit To run Disk Verify 1.
Controller Configuration From the utility menu bar, select Controller, and then press . The Controller Config screen appears and allows you to change controller settings. Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2008 Marvell Technology Group Ltd.
This chapter provides instructions for installing the necessary drivers for different system components.
6.1 RAID driver installation A floppy disk with the RAID driver is required when installing a Windows® operating system on a hard disk drive that is included in a RAID set. 6.1.1 • The motherboard does not provide a floppy drive connector. You have to use a USB floppy disk drive when creating a SATA RAID driver disk. • Windows® XP may not recognize the USB floppy disk drive due to Windows® XP limitation. To work around this OS limitation, refer to section 6.1.4 Using a USB floppy disk drive.
6.1.3 Installing the RAID driver during Windows® OS installation To install the RAID driver in Windows® XP 1. 2. 3. 4. During the OS installation, the system prompts you to press the F6 key to install third-party SCSI or RAID driver. Press , and then insert the floppy disk with RAID driver into the floppy disk drive. When prompted to select the SCSI adapter to install, ensure that you select Intel(R) SATA RAID Controller (Desktop ICH10R).
4. Click Details tab. The Vendor ID (VID) and Product ID (PID) are displayed. 5. Browse the contents of the RAID driver disk to locate the file txtsetup.oem. 6. 7. 6-4 Double-click the file. A window appears, allowing you to select the program for opening the oem file. Use Notepad to open the file.
8. 9. Find the [HardwareIds.scsi.iaAHCI_ICH10R] and [HardwareIds.scsi.iastor_ICH8RICH9RICH10RDO] sections in the txtsetup.oem file. Type the following line to the bottom of the two sections: id = “USB\VID_xxxx&PID_xxxx”, “usbstor” Add the same line to both sections. The VID and PID vary with different vendors. 10. Save and exit the file.
6.2 Installing an operating system This motherboard supports Windows® XP/ 64-bit XP/ Vista / 64-bit Vista / 7 / 64-bit 7 operating systems (OS). Always install the latest OS version and corresponding updates to maximize the features of your hardware. 6.3 • Motherboard settings and hardware options vary. Use the setup procedures presented in this chapter for reference only. Refer to your OS documentation for detailed information.
6.3.2 Drivers menu The Drivers menu shows the available device drivers if the system detects installed devices. Install the necessary drivers to activate the devices. Click to display the next page Click to return to the previous page ASUS InstAll - Installation Wizard for Anti-Virus Utility and Drivers Installs all of the drivers and anti-virus software through the Installation Wizard.
SoundMAX ADI Audio Driver Installs the SoundMAX® AD2000B audio driver and application. Realtek RTL8111B/C LAN Driver Installs the Realtek® Gigabit Ethernet driver. Marvell 61xx SATA Driver Installs the Marvell® 61xx SATA driver. Marvell 64xx/63xx SAS Controller Driver Installs the Marvell® 64xx/63xx SAS controller driver. ASUS TurboV Installs ASUS TurboV, the advanced overclocking tool for extreme O.C. record. ASUS EPU-6 Engine Installs the ASUS EPU-6 Engine driver and utility.
ASUS InstAll - Installation Wizard for Utilities Installs all of the utilities through the Installation Wizard. ASUS Update The ASUS Update utility allows you to update the motherboard BIOS in Windows® environment. This utility requires an Internet connection either through a network or an Internet Service Provider (ISP). ASUS PC Probe II This smart utility monitors the fan speed, CPU temperature, and system voltages, and alerts you of any detected problems.
6.3.4 Make disk menu The Make disk menu contains items to create the Intel ICH10R or Marvell® 61xx driver disk. Intel 32/64 bit RAID/AHCI Driver Disk Allows you to create an Intel 32/64bit RAID/AHCI driver disk. Marvell 61xx 32/64bit SATA RAID Driver Allows you to create a Marvell® 61xx 32/64bit SATA RAID driver disk. Marvell 64xx/63xx SAS Controller Driver Allows you to create a Marvell® 63xx/64xx SAS controller driver disk for 32/64bit system.
6.3.5 Manual menu The Manual menu contains a list of supplementary user manuals. Click an item to open the folder of the user manual. Most user manual files are in Portable Document Format (PDF). Install the Adobe® Acrobat® Reader from the Utilities menu before opening a user manual file. 6.3.6 ASUS Contact information Click the Contact tab to display the ASUS contact information. You can also find this information on the inside front cover of this user guide.
6.3.7 Other information The icons on the top right corner of the screen give additional information on the motherboard and the contents of the support DVD. Click an icon to display the specified information. Motherboard Info Displays the general specifications of the motherboard. Browse this DVD Displays the support DVD contents in graphical format.
Filelist Displays the contents of the support DVD in text format.
6.4 Software information Most of the applications in the support DVD have wizards that will conveniently guide you through the installation. View the online help or readme file that came with the software application for more information. 6.4.1 ASUS MyLogo 2™ The ASUS MyLogo 2™ utility lets you customize the boot logo. The boot logo is the image that appears on screen during the Power‑On‑Self-Tests (POST).
7. When the logo images appear on the right window pane, select an image to enlarge by clicking on it. 8. Adjust the boot image to your desired size by selecting a value on the Ratio box. 9. When the screen returns to the ASUS Update utility, flash the original BIOS to load the new boot logo. 10. After flashing the BIOS, restart the computer to display the new boot logo during POST.
6.4.2 ASUS PC Probe II PC Probe II is a utility that monitors the computer’s vital components, and detects and alerts you of any problem with these components. PC Probe II senses fan rotations, CPU temperature, and system voltages, among others. Because PC Probe II is software-based, you can start monitoring your computer the moment you turn it on. With this utility, you are assured that your computer is always at a healthy operating condition.
Button Function Opens the Configuration window Opens the Report window Opens the Desktop Management Interface window Opens the Peripheral Component Interconnect window Opens the Windows Management Instrumentation window Opens the hard disk drive, memory, CPU usage window Shows/Hides the Preference section Minimizes the application Closes the application Sensor alert When a system sensor detects a problem, the main window right handle turns red, as the illustrations below show.
Hardware monitor panels The hardware monitor panels display the current value of a system sensor such as fan rotation, CPU temperature, and voltages. The hardware monitor panels come in two display modes: hexagonal (large) and rectangular (small). When you check the Enable Monitoring Panel option from the Preference section, the monitor panels appear on your computer’s desktop.
Monitoring sensor alert The monitor panel turns red when a component value exceeds or is lower than the threshold value. Refer to the illustrations below. Small display Large display WMI browser Click to display the WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) browser. This browser displays various Windows ® management information. Click an item from the left panel to display on the right panel. Click the plus sign (+) before WMI Information to display the available information.
PCI browser Click to display the PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) browser. This browser provides information on the PCI devices installed on your system. Click the plus sign (+) before the PCI Information item to display available information. Usage The Usage browser displays real-time information on the CPU, hard disk drive space, and memory usage. Click to display the Usage browser. CPU usage The CPU tab displays realtime CPU usage in line graph representation.
Memory usage The Memory tab shows both used and available physical memory. The pie chart at the bottom of the window represents the used (blue) and the available physical memory. Configuring PC Probe II Click to view and adjust the sensor threshold values. The Config window has two tabs: Sensor/Threshold and Preference. The Sensor/ Threshold tab enables you to activate the sensors or to adjust the sensor threshold values.
6.4.3 ASUS AI Suite ASUS AI Suite allows you to launch EPU—6 Engine, AI Nap, Fan Xpert, and TurboV utilities easily. Installing AI Suite To install AI Suite on your computer: 1. 2. 3. Place the support DVD to the optical drive. The Drivers installation tab appears if your computer has an enabled Autorun feature. Click the Utilities tab, then click AI Suite. Follow the screen instructions to complete installation.
Other feature buttons Click on right corner of the main window to open the monitor window. Displays the CPU/ system temperature, CPU/memory/PCIE voltage, and CPU/ chassis fan speed Displays the FSB/CPU frequency Click on right corner of the expanded window to switch the temperature from degrees Centigrade to degrees Fahrenheit.
6.4.4 ASUS AI Nap This feature allows you to minimize the power consumption of your computer whenever you are away. Enable this feature for minimum power consumption and a more quiet system operation. After installing AI Suite from the bundled support DVD, you can launch the utility by double-clicking the AI Suite icon on the Windows OS taskbar and click the AI Nap button on the AI Suite main window. Click Yes on the confirmation screen.
6.4.5 ASUS Fan Xpert Asus Fan Xpert intelligently allows you to adjust both the CPU and chassis fan speeds according to different ambient temperatures caused by different climate conditions in different geographic regions and your PC’s system loading. The built-in variety of useful profiles offer flexible controls of fan speed to achieve a quiet and cool environment. Install AI Suite from the bundled support DVD.
Fan profile modes • Disable: Select this mode to disable the Fan Xpert function. • Silent: This mode minimizes fan speed for quiet fan operation. • • • • • Standard: This mode makes the fan adjust speed in moderate pattern. Turbo: This mode boosts the fan to achieve maximal fan speed for the best cooling effect. Intelligent: This mode automatically adjusts the CPU fan speed with the ambient temperature.
6.4.6 ASUS EPU–6 Engine ASUS EPU–6 Engine is an energy-efficient tool that satisfies different computing needs. This utility provides four modes that you can select to enhance system performance or save power. Selecting Auto mode will have the system shift modes automatically according to current system status. You can also customize each mode by configuring settings like CPU frequency, vCore Voltage, and Fan Control. Installing 6 Engine To install 6 Engine on your computer: 1. 2. 3.
6 Engine main menu Displays CPU Power and Total CPU Energy Saving Displays the following message if no VGA power saving engine is detected. Lights up when power saving engine is activated Displays the amount of CO2 reduced *Shifts between the display of Total and Current CO2 reduced Displays current mode Auto Mode Turbo Mode Runs calibration High Performance Mode Medium Power Saving Mode Max.
Advanced settings menu Click Setting ( ) from the 6 Engine main menu to display configuration options in each mode. Some options in certain modes are dimmed, meaning that they are not available. Click to select a mode Move the slider to adjust Click the arrow to see more options Restore default settings Click to apply settings Click to abort settings Configuration options in Advanced settings menu The following lists the configuration options and their definitions in Advanced settings menu.
• • Fan Control: Adjusts fan speeds to reduce noise and save system power. • • Quiet: Lowers CPU fan speed and shuts off two chassis fans. Slow: Lowers CPU fan and two chassis fan speeds. AI Nap Idle Time: Enters AI Nap mode after a certain time during system idle process. Refer to the following table for the configuration options in each mode.
6.4.7 ASUS TurboV ASUS TurboV allows you to overclock the CPU frequency, CPU voltage, QPI/ Memory controller voltage, and DRAM voltage in WIndows® environment and takes effect in real-time without exiting and rebooting the OS. Refer to the CPU documentation before adjusting CPU voltage settings. Setting a high voltage may damage the CPU permanently, and setting a low voltage may make the system unstable.
Advanced settings menu Click More Setting from the TurboV main screen to display detailed configuration options for CPU/chip voltage, DRAM Reference voltage, and CPU ratio. Advance Mode Advanced CPU and DRAM voltage settings CPU Ratio Mode Adjusts CPU core ratio Displays CPU frequency 6-32 • Only Intel® Core™ i7 Extreme Edition processors support the CPU Ratio function. • Set the CPU Ratio Setting BIOS item to [Auto] before using the CPU Ratio function in TurboV. See page 4-23 for details.
6.4.8 SoundMAX® High Definition Audio utility The ADI AD2000B High Definition Audio CODEC provides 8-channel audio capability through the SoundMAX® audio utility with AudioESP™ software to deliver the ultimate audio experience on your PC. The software implements high quality audio synthesis/rendering, 3D sound positioning, and advanced voice-input technologies.
Setup The Setup tab allows you to adjust multi-speaker settings. Click speaker to test individual speaker volume Drag slider to adjust individual speaker volume Click to swap center/subwoofer output in 5.1 / 7.1 Surround mode Click to test the volume of all individual speakers Click to choose a multi-speaker configuration Listening Experience The Listening Experience tab allows you to enable or disable the Sonic Focus sound effects and adjust further sound settings.
Recording Experience The Recording Experience tab allows you to calibrate microphone settings for high quality recording effects. Choose a desired enhancement Click to start microphone calibration Click to boost microphone volume Advanced The Advanced tab allows you to configure detailed utility settings.
B. SoundMAX audio utility for Windows XP™ Audio Setup Wizard By clicking the icon from the SoundMAX® control panel, you can easily configure your audio settings. Simply follow the succeeding screen instructions and begin enjoying High Definition Audio. 6-36 Jack configuration This screen helps you configure your computer’s audio ports, depending on the audio devices you have installed.
Adjust speaker volume This screen helps you adjust speaker volume. Click the Test button to hear the changes you have made. Adjust microphone volume This screen helps you adjust microphone volume. You will be asked to read pre-written text to allow the AudioWizard to adjust the volume as you speak. Audio preferences Click the icon to go to the Preferences page. This page allows you to change various audio settings.
6.4.9 ASUS Express Gate ASUS Express Gate is an instant-on environment that gives you quick access to the Internet, Skype, and viewing your pictures. Within a few seconds of powering on your computer, you will be at the Express Gate menu where you can start the web browser, Skype, or other Express Gate applications. • Ensure to install ASUS Express Gate from the motherboard support DVD before use. • ASUS Express Gate supports SATA devices in IDE mode only.
The First Screen Express Gate’s first screen appears within a few seconds after you power on the computer. Click any of the application icons to enter Express Gate environment and launch the selected application Turn off the computer Continue booting to existing OS when the timer above the Exit icon counts down to zero (0); click to immediately enter existing OS • To enter the motherboard BIOS setup program, click Exit on the Express Gate First Screen, and then press the key during POST.
Using the LaunchBar The LaunchBar allows you to launch applications or configure system settings. The LaunchBar can be configured to auto-hide and dock on any of the four sides of the screen. Starts the Web Browser for quick access to the World Wide Web. You can also view PDF files on web pages or from your USB storage device. Express Gate supports file uploading from ODD and USB drives and downloading to USB drives only. Accesses the Online Games feature. Starts the Photo Manager image viewer.
Exit Express Gate. Click the Yes button to enter the operating system you installed on the hard disk drive. Power Off. Click the Yes button to turn off the computer. Getting on the Internet In the first time of using Express Gate, or if Internet doesn’t seem to be working, you have to manually configure network settings. To configure network settings 1. 2. 3. Click Configuration Panel in the LaunchBar. In the Configuration Panel, click Network. Make the proper network configurations.
• xDSL / Cable dial-up (PPPoE) settings: If you use a network cable connected directly to your DSL/cable modem (no router in between), click Setup for xDSL/cable dial-up. Choose whether the DSL/cable modem is connected to your computer’s LAN port. Then enter the user name and password of your dial-up account. Click OK to enable xDSL/ cable dial-up and establish the PPPoE connection. When PPPoE is enabled, the port it uses will automatically be unchecked and grayed out.
Restoring to factory settings In the rare case that the system settings become corrupted, you can restore Express Gate to its factory settings. To restore Express Gate to factory settings 1. Click Configuration Panel in the LaunchBar. 3. In the General tab, click Restore. A confirmation dialog box will open. Click Yes to immediately restart Express Gate to finish clearing system settings. All bookmarks, network settings, and other changes you made will be cleared. 2.
Updating Express Gate You may update your existing Express Gate application to new versions. New versions of the Express Gate application will be released regularly, adding refinements or new applications. You can find original version of the application on the support DVD or download new versions from the ASUS support website. To update Express Gate 1. 2. 3. 4. Double-click the Express Gate setup file to start application update. A application update confirmation dialog box appears.
6.4.10 Realtek Teaming Utility This motherboard features two Realtek® 8111C PCIe Gigabit LAN controllers and supports Teaming function, which allows two single connections to be grouped as one single connection, providing benefits such as bandwidth increase, load balancing, and fault tolerance. The speed of transmission is subject to the actual network environment or status even with Teaming enabled. To install Realtek Teaming Utility 1. 2. Place the support DVD to the optical drive.
To remove a teaming set in Windows® XP 1. 2. Launch the Realtek Teaming Utility. Select the teaming set that you want to remove in the left column, select the virtual adapter in the right column, and then click Remove. Configuring Realtek Teaming Utility in Windows® Vista To create a teaming set in Windows® Vista 1. 2. Launch the Realtek VLAN & Teaming Utility by clicking Start > All Programs > Realtek Teaming and VLAN Utility > Realtek Teaming and VLAN Utility.
To create a virtual LAN adapter in Windows® Vista 1. 2. 3. Launch the Realtek VLAN & Teaming Utility. Choose one adapter to create the virtual LAN adapter, and then click VLAN. Click OK to close the message window and finish creating the virtual LAN adapter. Click Start > Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center, and then click Manage network connections from the left Tasks list. Right-click the virtual LAN adapter icon and select Properties. 4.
To create a virtual LAN adapter in Windows® Vista 1. Launch the Realtek VLAN & Teaming Utility. 2. Choose one adapter to create the virtual LAN adapter, and then click VLAN. Click OK to close the message window and finish creating the virtual LAN adapter. 3. 4. 5. Click Start > Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center, and then click Manage network connections from the left Tasks list. Right-click the virtual LAN adapter icon and select Properties.
This chapter describes how to install and configure multiple ATI® CrossFireX™/ NVIDIA® SLI™ graphics cards and NVIDIA® CUDA technology. ASUS ESC1000 Multiple GPU tech.
7.1 ATI® CrossFireX™ technology The motherboard supports the ATI® CrossFireX™ technology that allows you to install multi-graphics processing units (GPU) graphics cards. Follow the installation procedures in this section. 7.1.1 • • Requirements In CrossFireX mode, you should have two identical CrossFireX-ready graphics cards or one CrossFireX-ready dual-GPU graphics card that are ATI® certified. Ensure that your graphics card driver supports the ATI CrossFireX technology.
7.1.3 Installing CrossFireX graphics cards The following pictures are for reference only. The graphics cards and the motherboard layout may vary with models, but the installation steps remain the same. 1. 2. 3. 4. Prepare two CrossFireX-ready graphics cards. Insert the two graphics card into the PCIEX16 slots. If your motherboard has more than two PCIEX16 slots, refer to Chapter 2 in this user manual for the locations of the PCIEX16 slots recommended for multi-graphics card installation.
7.1.4 Installing the device drivers Refer to the documentation that came with your graphics card package to install the device drivers. Ensure that your PCI Express graphics card driver supports the ATI® CrossFireX™ technology. Download the latest driver from the AMD website at www.amd.com. 7.1.5 Enabling the ATI® CrossFireX™ technology After installing your graphics cards and the device drivers, enable the CrossFireX™ feature through the ATI Catalyst™ Control Center in Windows environment.
Enabling Dual CrossFireX settings 1. 2. 3. 4. In the Catalyst Control Center window, click Graphics Settings > CrossFireX > Configure. From the Graphics Adapter list, select the graphics card to act as the display GPU. Select Enable CrossFireX. Click Apply, and then click OK to exit the window.
7.2 NVIDIA® SLI™ technology The motherboard supports the NVIDIA® SLI™ (Scalable Link Interface) technology that allows you to install multi-graphics processing units (GPU) graphics cards. Follow the installation procedures in this section. 7.2.1 • • • 7-6 Requirements In Dual SLI mode, you should have two identical SLI-ready graphics cards that are NVIDIA® certified. In Triple SLI mode, you should have three identical SLI-ready graphics cards that are NVIDIA® certified.
7.2.2 Installing two SLI-ready graphics cards The following pictures are for reference only. The graphics cards and the motherboard layout may vary with models, but the installation steps remain the same. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Prepare two SLI-ready graphics cards. Insert the two graphics card into the PCIEX16 slots. If your motherboard has more than two PCIEX16 slots, refer to Chapter 2 in this user manual for the locations of the PCIEX16 slots recommended for multi-graphics card installation.
7.2.3 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Installing three SLI-ready graphics cards Prepare three SLI-ready graphics cards. Insert the three graphics card into the PCIEX16 slots. If your motherboard has more than two PCIEX16 slots, refer to Chapter 2 in this user manual for the locations of the PCIEX16 slots recommended for multi-graphics card installation. Ensure that the cards are properly seated on the slots. Align and firmly insert the 3-Way SLI bridge connector to the goldfingers on each graphics card.
7.2.4 Installing the device drivers Refer to the documentation that came with your graphics card package to install the device drivers. 7.2.5 • Ensure that your PCI Express graphics card driver supports the NVIDIA® SLI™ technology. Download the latest driver from the NVIDIA website at www.nvidia.com. • If you are using a Triple SLI system, ensure to install the NVIDIA® 3-way SLI driver under Windows® Vista™. The NVIDIA 3-way SLI technology is supported by Windows® Vista™ only.
B2. From the Personalization window, select Display Settings. B3. From the Display Settings dialog box, click Advanced Settings. B4. Select the NVIDIA GeForce tab, and then click Start the NVIDIA Control Panel.
B5. The NVIDIA Control Panel window appears. Enabling Dual SLI settings From the NVIDIA Control Panel window, select Set SLI Configuration. Click Enable SLI and set the display for viewing SLI rendered content. When done, click Apply. Enabling Triple SLI settings 1. From the NVIDIA Control Panel window, select Set SLI Configuration, and then click Enable 3-way NVIDIA SLI. When done, click Apply. 2. Select the 3D Settings tab and enable the Show SLI Visual Indicators item.
7.3 NVIDIA® CUDA™ technology The motherboard supports the NVIDIA® CUDA™ technology with one NVIDIA® Quadro™ graphics card and up to three NVIDIA® Tesla™ computing processor cards, providing the optimum multi purpose computing performance. Follow the installation procedures in this section. 7.3.
2. Insert the Tesla computing processor card(s) into the PCIe x16_3, PCIe x16_5 or PCIe x16_7 slot. Ensure that the cards are properly seated on the slot. 3. Connect either one 8-pin power connector or two 6-pin power connectors from the power supply to the Quadro graphics card and Tesla computing processor card(s). 4. 5. 6. Connect a display cable to the graphics card. Refer to the documentation that came with your graphics card package to install the device drivers.
7-14 Chapter 7: Multiple GPU technology support
