Motherboard P7P55 WS Supercomputer
E5071 Second 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 P7P55 WS Supercomputer specifications summary............................... xii Chapter 1: Product introduction 1.1 Welcome!......................................
Contents 2.5.4 PCI slot.......................................................................... 2-19 2.5.5 PCI Express x1 slot........................................................ 2-20 2.5.6 PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots.............................................. 2-20 2.6 Jumper......................................................................................... 2-21 2.7 Connectors.................................................................................. 2-22 2.7.
Contents 3.4 3.5 3.3.4 SATA 1-6.........................................................................3-11 3.3.5 Storage Configuration.................................................... 3-13 3.3.6 AHCI Configuration........................................................ 3-14 3.3.7 System Information........................................................ 3-14 Ai Tweaker menu......................................................................... 3-15 3.4.1 Ai Overclock Tuner [Auto].........
Contents 3.5.7 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 Power menu................................................................................. 3-29 3.6.1 Suspend Mode [Auto].................................................... 3-29 3.6.2 Repost Video on S3 Resume [No]................................. 3-29 3.6.3 ACPI 2.0 Support [Disabled].......................................... 3-29 3.6.6 APM Configuration......................................................... 3-30 3.6.4 ACPI APIC Support [Enabled].............
Contents 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.3.4 ASUS EPU-6 Engine..................................................... 4-17 4.3.5 ASUS Express Gate...................................................... 4-18 4.3.6 ASUS T.Probe................................................................ 4-20 ASUS Unique Overclocking Utility— TurboV EVO................... 4-21 4.4.1 Using ASUS TurboV....................................................... 4-21 4.4.2 Using ASUS TurboV Auto Tuning Mode.........................
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 and configuring the motherboard. How this guide is organized This guide contains the following parts: • Chapter 1: Product introduction This chapter describes the features of the motherboard and the new technology it supports. • Chapter 2: Hardware information This chapter lists the hardware setup procedures that you have to perform when installing system components.
Conventions used in this guide To ensure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following symbols used throughout this manual. DANGER/WARNING: Information to prevent injury to yourself when trying to complete a task. CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components when trying to complete a task. IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task. NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a task.
P7P55 WS Supercomputer specifications summary CPU Quad Core intel Xeon 3400 series Server Processor Quad Core intel Core i7-800 series Desktop Processor Quad Core intel Core i5-700 series Desktop Processor Dual Core 32nm CPU design Ready Chipset Intel® P55 Express Chipset/ Nvidia NF200*1 Memory 4 x DIMM, max.
P7P55 WS Supercomputer specifications summary USB 14 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports ASUS Special Features ASUS Hybrid OS - Express Gate 16+3 power phase TurboV EVO ASUS Exclusive Features - MemOK! - ASUS EPU ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution - ASUS Fanless Design: Heatpipe - ASUS Fanless Design: Stack Cool 2 - ASUS Fan Xpert ASUS Crystal Sound - ASUS Noise Filter ASUS EZ DIY - ASUS Q-Shield - ASUS Q-Connector - ASUS O.C.
P7P55 WS Supercomputer specifications summary Internal I/O Connectors 24-pin EATX Power connector 8-pin ATX +12V Power connector CPU fan with PWM control Chassis fan1 with Q-fan control Chassis fan2 with Q-fan control Chassis fan3 with Q-fan control PWR fan CD audio in 1 x COM port connector 2xUSB connectors support additional 4 USB ports 2 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports 20-pin Panel connector 1 x IEEE 1394a port TPM header S/PDIF Out header Front panel connector Manageability WfM 2.0, DMI 2.
This chapter describes the motherboard features and the new technologies it supports.
Chapter summary 1 1.1 Welcome!....................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Package contents.......................................................................... 1-1 1.3 Special features.............................................................................
1.1 Welcome! Thank you for buying an ASUS P7P55 WS Supercomputer 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. Motherboard ASUS P7P55 WS SuperComputer I/O modules 1 x 2-port USB 2.
1.3 Special features 1.3.1 Product highlights Green ASUS This motherboard and its packaging comply with the European Union’s Restriction on the use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). This is in line with the ASUS vision of creating environment-friendly and recyclable products/packagings to safeguard consumers’ health while minimizing the impact on the environment.
Auto Tuning Auto System Level Up Auto Tuning is an intelligent tool that automates overclocking to achieve a total system level up. This tool also provides stability testing. Even O.C. beginners can achieve extreme yet stable overclocking results with Auto Tuning! 1.3.3 ASUS Hybrid Phase T.Probe Leading Active Cooling Technology The T.Probe microchip detects and balances power phase loading and temperature in real-time.
ASUS EPU System Level Energy Saving The new ASUS EPU—the world’s first power saving engine, has been upgraded to a new 6 engine version, which provides total system power savings by detecting current PC loadings and intelligently moderating power in real-time.
ASUS Noise Filter Eliminate background noise while recording This feature detects repetitive and stationary noises like computer fans, air conditioners, and other background noises then eliminates it in the incoming audio stream while recording. DTS DTS Surround Sensation UltraPC DTS Surround Sensation UltraPC delivers exceptional 5.1 surround experience through the most common PC audio setups—your existing stereo speakers or headphones.
ASUS Q-Connector Make connection quick and accurate! The ASUS Q-Connector allows you to connect or disconnect chassis front panel cables in one easy step with one complete module. This unique module eliminates the trouble of plugging in one cable at a time, making connection quick and accurate. ASUS EZ-Flash 2 Simply update BIOS from a USB flash drive before entering the OS EZ Flash 2 is a user-friendly BIOS update utility.
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 2.1 Before you proceed...................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Motherboard overview.................................................................. 2-6 2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU).................................................... 2-9 2.4 System memory.......................................................................... 2-15 2.5 Expansion slots........................................................................... 2-25 2.
2.1 Before you proceed Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change any motherboard settings. • Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any component. • Use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or 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 2.2 Motherboard overview 2.2.
2.2.2 Layout contents Connectors/Jumpers/Switches/Slots 1. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 8-pin EATX12V) 2. LGA1156 CPU Socket 3. CPU / IMC / DRAM overvoltage setting switches (OV_DRAM; OV_IMC; OV_CPU) 4. DDR3 DIMM slots 5. Serial port connector (10-1 pin COM1) 6. MemOK! switch 7. CPU, chassis, and power fan connectors (4-pin CPU_FAN, 3-pin CHA_FAN1-3, 3-pin PWR_FAN) 8. Intel® P55 Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA 1-6) 9. Standby Power LED 10. System panel connector (20-8 pin PANEL) 11.
2.2.3 Placement direction When installing the motherboard, ensure that you place it into the chassis in the correct orientation. The edge with external ports goes to the rear part of the chassis as indicated in the image below. 2.2.4 Screw holes Place nine (9) screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the motherboard to the chassis. DO NOT overtighten the screws! Doing so can damage the motherboard.
2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) The motherboard comes with a surface mount LGA1156 socket designed for the Intel® Core™ i5/i7 Processor. • Ensure that all power cables are unplugged before installing the CPU. • Connect the chassis fan cable to the CHA_FAN1 connector to ensure system stability. • Upon purchase of the motherboard, ensure that the PnP cap is on the socket and the socket contacts are not bent.
2.3.1 Installing the CPU To install a CPU: 1. Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard. 2. Press the load lever with your thumb (A), and then move it to the right (B) until it is released from the retention tab. Load lever A B To prevent damage to the socket pins, do not remove the PnP cap unless you are installing a CPU. 3. Retention tab Lift the load lever in the direction of the arrow until the load plate is completely lifted.
4. Remove the PnP cap from the CPU socket. PnP cap 5. 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 keys into the CPU notches. The CPU fits in only one correct orientation. DO NOT force the CPU into the socket to prevent bending the connectors on the socket and damaging the CPU! CPU notches Gold triangle mark Alignment keys 6.
7. Close the load plate (A), and then push down the load lever (B), ensuring that the front edge of the load plate slides under the retention knob (C). B A C 8. 2-8 Insert the load lever under the retention tab.
2.3.2 Installing the CPU heatsink and fan The Intel LGA1156 processor requires a specially designed heatsink and fan assembly to ensure optimum thermal condition and performance. ® • When you buy a boxed Intel® processor, the package includes the CPU fan and heatsink assembly. If you buy a CPU separately, ensure that you use only Intel®‑certified multi‑directional heatsink and fan. • Your Intel® LGA1156 heatsink and fan assembly comes in a push-pin design and requires no tool to install.
3. Connect the CPU fan cable to the connector on the motherboard labeled CPU_FAN. DO NOT forget to connect the CPU fan connector! Hardware monitoring errors can occur if you fail to plug this connector. 2.3.3 Uninstalling the CPU heatsink and fan To uninstall the CPU heatsink and fan: 1. Disconnect the CPU fan cable from the connector on the motherboard. 2. Rotate each fastener counterclockwise. 3.
2.4 System memory 2.4.1 Overview The motherboard comes with four 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.
2.4.2 Memory configurations You may install 1GB, 2GB and 4GB non‑ECC unbuffered DDR3 DIMMs into the DIMM sockets. 2-12 • You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B. The system maps the total size of the lower-sized channel for the dual-channel configuration. Any excess memory from the higher-sized channel is then mapped for single-channel operation. • Due to Intel spec definition, X.M.P. DIMMs and DDR3-1600 are supported for one DIMM per channel only.
P7P55 WS Supercomputer Motherboard Qualified Vendors Lists (QVL) DDR���������� 3������������������� -2133MHz capability ���������� Vendor Part No. Size SS/ DS Chip NO. Timing Lable(Bios) Voltage Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-24(1066-8-7-7-20) 1.65 DIMM socket support (Optional) A* G.SKILL F3-17066CL9T-6GB-T 6144MB(Kit of 3) DS B* C* • P7P55 WS Supercomputer Motherboard Qualified Vendors Lists (QVL) DDR���������� 3������������������� -1866MHz capability ���������� Vendor Part No.
P7P55 WS Supercomputer Motherboard Qualified Vendors Lists (QVL) DDR���������� 3������������������� -1600MHz capability ���������� Vendor Part No. Size SS/ Chip Brand Chip NO. DS Timing Lable(Bios) Voltage DIMM socket support (Optional) A-DATA AD31600E001GMU 3072MB(Kit of 3) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24(1333- 1.659-9-9-24) 1.85 • • A-DATA AD31600F002GMU(XMP) 6144MB(Kit of 3) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7-7-7-20(1333- 1.759-9-9-24) 1.85 • • CORSAIR TR3X3G1600C8D(XMP)Ver2.
P7P55 WS Supercomputer Motherboard Qualified Vendors Lists (QVL) DDR���������� 3������������������� -1333MHz capability ���������� Vendor Part No. Size SS/ Chip Brand Chip NO. DS Timing Lable(Bios) Voltage A* B* C* A-DATA AD133301GOU 1024MB SS A-DATA AD30908C8D-15IG (1333-9-9-9-24) N/A • • • A-DATA AD1333002GOU 2048MB DS A-DATA AD30908C8D-15IG (1333-9-9-9-24) N/A • • • A-DATA AD31333E002G0U 6144MB(Kit of 3) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7-7-7-20(1333-9- 1.659-9-24) 1.
P7P55 WS Supercomputer Motherboard Qualified Vendors Lists (QVL) DDR���������� 3������������������� -1067MHz capability ���������� Vendor Part No. Size SS/ DS Chip Brand Chip NO. Timing Lable(Bios) Voltage DIMM socket support (Optional) A* B* C* CORSAIR CM3X1024-1066C7 1024MB DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7 1.1 • • • Crucial CT12864BA1067.8FF 1024MB SS MICRON D9KPT 7(1066-7-7-7-20) N/A • • • Crucial CT12864BA1067.
2.4.3 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. Unlock a DIMM socket by pressing the retaining clip outward. 2. Align a DIMM on the socket such that the notch on the DIMM matches the break on the socket. 2 DIMM notch 1 Unlocked retaining clip A 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 following sub‑sections describe the slots and the expansion cards that they support. Ensure 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 To install an expansion card: 1.
2.5.3 Interrupt assignments Standard interrupt assignments IRQ 0 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Priority 1 2 – 12 13 14 15 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Standard function System Timer Keyboard Controller Redirect to IRQ#9 Communications Port (COM1)* IRQ Holder for PCI Steering* Reserved Reserved System CMOS/Real Time Clock IRQ Holder for PCI Steering* IRQ Holder for PCI Steering* IRQ Holder for PCI Steering* Reserved Numeric Data Processor Primary IDE Channel * These IRQs are usually available for PCI devices.
2.5.5 PCI Express x1 slot This motherboard supports PCI Express x1 network cards, SCSI cards and other cards that comply with the PCI Express specifications. Install a PCIe x1 device to a PCIe x1 slot prior to a PCIe x16 slot. 2.5.6 PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots This motherboard has four PCI Express 2.0 slots, two x8 link and two x8 or x16 link. These slots support VGA cards and various server class high performance add-on cards. PCI Express 2.0 x16_5 slot (x8 link) PCI slot PCI Express 2.
2.6 Jumper Clear RTC RAM (3-pin 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. Turn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord. 2. Move the jumper cap from pins 1-2 (default) to pins 2-3.
2.7 Connectors 2.7.1 Rear panel connectors Rear panel connectors 2-22 1. PS/2 mouse port (green) 7. USB 2.0 ports 13 and 14 2. Coaxial S/PDIF Out port 8. Optical S/PDIF Out port 3. LAN (RJ-45) port** 9. USB 2.0 ports 5 and 6 4. IEEE 1394a port 10. USB 2.0 ports 3 and 4 5. LAN (RJ-45) port** 11. USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2 6. PS/2 keyboard port (purple) 12.
** LAN port LED indications Activity/Link Speed LED Description OFF OFF Soft-off Mode Yellow Blinking OFF During Power ON/OFF Yellow Blinking ORANGE 100 Mbps connection Yellow Blinking GREEN 1 Gbps connection Activity/ Speed Link LED LED LAN port *** Audio 2, 4, 6, or 8-channel configuration Port 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 M
Connect to Stereo Speakers Connect to 2.1 channel Speakers Connect to 4.
Connect to 5.1 channel Speakers Connect to 7.
2.7.3 1. Internal connectors Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA 1-6 [blue]) 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® P55 chipset. 2-26 • These connectors are set to Standard IDE mode by default.
2. ������������������������������������������������������������ USB connectors (10-1 pin USB78, USB1112; A-Type USB9, USB10) These connectors are for USB 2.0 ports. Connect the USB module cables to connectors USB78 and 1112, then install the modules 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.
4. IEEE 1394a port connector (10-1 pin IE1394_2) This connector is for an IEEE 1394a port. Connect the IEEE 1394a module cable to this connector, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis. Never connect a USB cable to the IEEE 1394a connector. Doing so will damage the motherboard! The IEEE 1394a cable is purchased separately. 5. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT) This connector is for an additional Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) port(s).
6. Optical drive audio connector (4-pin CD) These connectors allow you to receive stereo audio input from sound sources such as a CD-ROM, TV tuner, or MPEG card. 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. 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.
10. 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. • Ensure to remove the cap on the EATX12V connector before connecting an 8-pin EPS +12V power plug. • Use only an 8-pin EPS +12V power plug for the EATX12V connector.
11. System panel connector (20-8 pin PANEL) This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions. • System power LED (2-pin PLED) This 2-pin connector is for the system power LED. Connect the chassis power LED cable to this connector. The system power LED lights up when you turn on the system power, and blinks when the system is in sleep mode. • Hard disk drive activity LED (2-pin IDE_LED) This 2-pin connector is for the HDD Activity LED. Connect the HDD Activity LED cable to this connector.
12. ASUS Q-Connector (system panel) Use the ASUS Q-Connector to connect/disconnect the chassis front panel cables. To install the ASUS Q-Connector: 1. Connect the front panel cables to the ASUS Q-Connector. Refer to the labels on the QConnector 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.
2.7.4 Onboard switches Onboard switches allow you to fine-tune performance when working on a bare or open-case system. This is ideal for overclockers who continually change settings to enhance system performance. 1. MemOK! switch Installing DIMMs that are incompaible with the motherboard may cause system boot failure, and the DIAG_DRAM LED near the MemOK! switch lights continuously.
2. CPU / IMC / DRAM overvoltage setting switches (OV_DRAM, OV_IMC, OV_CPU) These switches allow you to enable or disable the advanced CPU, Integrated Memory Controller (IMC), and DRAM overvoltage settings in BIOS. Read the following information before you change the switch settings. The LED color indicates the voltage setting status of CPU, IMC and DRAM. OV_CPU OV_IMC OV_DRAM Default 0.85V to 1.7V up to 1.7V up to 2.0V Enable OV (red) 1.25V to 2.1V up to 1.9V up to 2.
2.8 1. Onboard LEDs POST State LEDs POST State LEDs check key components (CPU, DRAM, VGA card, and HDD) in sequence during motherboard booting process. If an error is found, the LED next to the error device will continue lighting until the problem is solved. This user-friendly design provides an intuitive way to locate the root problem within seconds. You may disable the POST State LEDs in BIOS. Refer to section 3.7.2 Boot Setting Configuration for details. 2.
2.9 Starting up for the first time 1. After making all the connections, replace the system case cover. 2. Be 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: 6. a. Monitor b. External SCSI devices (starting with the last device on the chain) c.
2.10 Turning off the computer 2.10.1 Using the OS shut down function If you are using Windows® Vista™: 1. Click the Start button then select Shut Down. 2. 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. The power supply should turn off after Windows® shuts down. 2.10.
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 3 3.1 Managing and updating your BIOS............................................. 3-1 3.2 BIOS setup program..................................................................... 3-6 3.3 Main menu................................................................................... 3-10 3.4..................... Extreme Tweaker����� menu.............................................................. 3-15 3.5 Advanced menu...................................................................
3.1 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.) 2. ASUS EZ Flash 2 (Updates the BIOS using a USB flash disk.) 3. BUPDATER (Updates the BIOS using a USB flash disk.) 4. 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.
Quit all Windows® applications before you update the BIOS using this utility. Updating the BIOS through the Internet To update the BIOS through the Internet: 3-2 1. Launch the ASUS Update utility from the Windows® desktop by clicking Start > Programs > ASUS > ASUSUpdate > ASUSUpdate. The ASUS Update main window appears. 2. Select Update BIOS from the Internet option from the drop‑down menu, then click Next. 3. Select the ASUS FTP site nearest you to avoid network traffic, or click Auto Select.
4. From the FTP site, select the BIOS version that you wish to download. Click Next. 5. Follow the screen 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. Launch the ASUS Update utility from the Windows® desktop by clicking Start > Programs > ASUS > ASUSUpdate > ASUSUpdate.
3.1.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility The ASUS EZ Flash 2 feature allows you to update the BIOS without having to use a DOS‑based utility. The EZ Flash 2 utility is built in the BIOS chip so it is accessible by pressing + during the Power-On Self Tests (POST). 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.
3.1.3 BUPDATER utility The succeeding BIOS screens are for reference only. The actual BIOS screen displays may not be the same as shown. The BUPDATER utility allows you to update the BIOS file in DOS environment using a bootable USB flash disk drive with the updated BIOS file. Updating the BIOS file To update the BIOS file using the BUPDATER utility: 1. Visit the ASUS website at www.asus.com and download the latest BIOS file for the motherboard.
5. The utility returns to the DOS prompt after the BIOS update process is completed. Reboot the system from the hard disk drive. The BIOS update is finished! Please restart your system. C:\> 3.1.4 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.
3.2 BIOS setup program This motherboard supports two programmable firmware chips that you can update using the provided utility described in section 3.1 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.
3.2.1 BIOS menu screen Menu bar Menu items Configuration fields General help BIOS SETUP UTILITY Main Ai Tweaker Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit System Time System Date Language SATA1 SATA2 SATA3 SATA4 SATA5 SATA6 [13:51:25] [THU 06/18/2009] [English] Use [ENTER], [TAB] or [SHIFT-TAB] to select a field. [HDT722516DLA380] [Not Detected] [ATAPI DVD D DH1] [Not Detected] [Not Detected] [Not Detected] Use [+] or [-] to configure system Date.
3.2.4 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. 3.2.5 Submenu items A solid triangle before each item on any menu screen means that the iteam has a submenu. To display the submenu, select the item and press . 3.2.6 Configuration fields These fields show the values for the menu items.
3.3 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 3.2.1 BIOS menu screen for information on the menu screen items and how to navigate through them.
3.3.4 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.
Block (Multi-Sector Transfer) M [Auto] Enables or disables data multi-sectors transfers. [Auto] [Disabled] When set to [Auto], the data transfer from and to the device occurs in multiple sectors at a time if the device supports multi-sector transfer feature. When set to [Disabled], the data transfer from and to the device occurs one sector at a time. PIO Mode [Auto] [Auto] Allows automatic selection of the PIO (Programmed input/output) modes, which correspond to different data transfer rates.
3.3.5 Storage Configuration The Storage Configuration menu allows you to configure your storage devices. Select an item then press to display the submenu.
3.3.6 AHCI Configuration This menu is the section for AHCI configuration. It appears only when you set the item Configure SATA as from the sub-menu of SATA Configuration to [AHCI]. BIOS SETUP UTILITY Main AHCI Settings SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA Port1 Port2 Port3 Port4 Port5 Port6 [Not [Not [Not [Not [Not [Not Some SATA CD/DVD in AHCI mode need to wait ready longer.
3.4 Ai Tweaker menu The Ai Tweaker menu items allow you to configure overclocking-related items. Take caution when changing the settings of the Ai Tweaker menu items. Incorrect field values can cause the system to malfunction. The default values of the following items vary depending on the CPU and memory modules you install on the motherboard.
3.4.1 Ai Overclock Tuner [Auto] Allows selection of CPU overclocking options to achieve desired CPU internal frequency. Select either one of the preset overclocking configuration options: Manual Allows you to individually set overclocking parameters. Auto Loads the optimal settings for the system. D.O.C.P Overclocks DRAM frequency by adjusting BCLK frequency. X.M.P. If you install memory module(s) supporting the eXtreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.
3.4.4 Intel(R) TurboMode Tech [Enabled] This item appears only if you set the Ratio CMOS Setting item to [Auto]. Turbo mode allows processor cores to run faster than marked frequency in specific condition. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] 3.4.5 Xtreme Phase Full Power Mode [Auto] Enable this item to ensure the best CPU O.C. performance. Configuration options: [Auto] [Enabled] The following two items appear only when you set the Ai Overclock Tuner item to [Manual], [D.O.C.P.] or [X.M.P.].
3.4.9 OC Tuner limit Value [Good Performance] Set an auto-adjustment limit value for OC Tuner Utility. Configuration options: [Good Performance] [Better Performance] 3.4.10 DRAM Timing Control [Auto] The items in this menu allow you to set the DRAM timing control features. The configuration options for some of the following items vary ����������������� depending on the DIMMs you install on the motherboard.
2nd Information: 1N-0-49 The values vary depending on your settings of the following sub-items: DRAM Timing Mode [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [1N] [2N] [3N] DRAM Round Trip Latency on CHA/B [Auto] [Auto] [Advance 15 Clock]–[Advance 1 Clock] [Normal] [Delay 1 Clock] [Delay 15 Clock] 3rd Information: 6-6-14-9-9-9-7-6-4-7-7-4 The values vary depending on your settings of the following sub-items: DRAM WRITE to READ Delay(DD) [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [1 DRAM Clock] – [8 DRAM Clock] DRAM
3.4.11 CPU Differential Amplitude [Auto] Different AMP might enhance BCLK overclocking ability. Configuration options: [Auto] [700mV] [800mV] [900mV] [1000mV] 3.4.12 CPU Clock Skew [Auto] Adjusting this item may help enhancing BCLK overclocking ability. You may need to adjust the NB Clock Skew item at the same time.
3.4.15 DRAM Voltage [Auto] Allows you to set the DRAM voltage. The values range from 1.5V to 2.5V* with a 0.0125V interval. According to Intel CPU spec, DIMMs with voltage requirement over 1.65V may damage the CPU permanently. We recommend you install the DIMMs with the voltage requirement below 1.65V. 3.4.16 CPU PLL Voltage [Auto] Allows you to set the CPU PLL voltage. The values range from 1.8V to 2.1V with a 0.1V interval. 3.4.
3.5 Advanced menu The Advanced menu items allow you to change the settings for the CPU and other system devices. BIOS SETUP UTILITY Main Ai Tweaker Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit CPU Configuration Uncore Configuration Onboard Devices Configuration USB Configuration PCIPnP Intel VT-d T.Probe Configure CPU. [Disabled] [Disabled] ←→ Select Screen ↑↓ Select Item Enter Go to Sub Screen F1 General Help F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit v02.
Scroll down to display the following items: CPU TM function [Enabled] Execute-Disable Bit Capability [Enabled] Intel(R) HT Technology [Enabled] Active Processor Cores [All] A20M [Disabled] Intel(R) SpeedStep(TM) Tech [Enabled] Intel(R) Turbo Mode tech [Enabled] Intel(R) C-STATE Tech [Disabled] v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2009, American Megatrends, Inc. 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.
CPU TM function [Enabled] [Enabled] [Disabled] Enables the overheated CPU to throttle its clock speed to cool down. Disables this function. Execute Disable Bit Capability [Enabled] [Enabled] [Disabled] Enables the No-Execution Page Protection Technology. Forces the XD feature flag to always return to zero (0). Intel(R) HT Technology [Enabled] [Enabled] [Disabled] Enables the Intel Hyper-Threading Technology. Only one thread per activated CPU core is enabled.
3.5.2 North Bridge Configuration The North Bridge Configuration menu allows you to change the advanced chipset settings. BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced North Bridge Chipset Configuration IMC Type : Clarksfield Memory Remap Feature [Enabled] PCI MMIO Allocation: 4GB To 3072MB ENABLE: Allow remapping of overlapped PCI memory above the total physical memory. DISABLE: Do not allow remapping of memory. Memory Remap Feature [Enabled] [Disabled] [Enabled] 3.5.
Realtek LAN1/2 [Enabled] [Enabled] Enables Realtek LAN Controller 1/2. [Disabled] Disables Realtek LAN Controller 1/2. LAN Boot ROM [Disabled] This item appears only when you enable the previous item(s). [Disabled] Disables Realtek LAN Boot ROM. [Enabled] Enables Realtek LAN Boot ROM. Onboard 1394 Controller [Enabled] [Enabled] [Disabled] Enables the onboard 1394 Controller. Disables the controller. Serial Port1 Address [3F8/IRQ4] Allows you to select the Serial Port1 base address.
3.5.4 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. BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced USB Configuration Enable support for all USB ports. Module Version - 2.24.3-13.4 USB Devices Enabled: 2 Hubs, 1 Drive USB Support Legacy USB Support BIOS EHCI Hand-off [Enabled] [Auto] [Enabled] The USB Devices Enabled item shows the auto-detected values.
3.5.5 PCIPnP The PCIPnP menu items allow you to change the advanced settings for PCI/PnP devices. Take caution when changing the settings of the PCI PnP menu items. Incorrect field values can cause the system to malfunction. BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Advanced PCI/PnP Settings WARNING: Setting wrong values in below sections may cause system to malfunction. Plug And Play O/S [No] NO: lets the BIOS configure all the devices in the system.
3.6 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. BIOS SETUP UTILITY Main AI Tweaker Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit Suspend Mode Repost Video on S3 Resume ACPI 2.0 Support ACPI APIC Support EuP Ready [Auto] [No] [Disabled] [Enabled] [Disabled] Select the ACPI state used for System Suspend.
3.6.4 ACPI APIC Support [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) support in the Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller (APIC). [Disabled] When set to [Disabled], the system disable the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) support in the Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller (APIC). [Enabled] When set to [Enabled], the ACPI APIC table pointer is included in the RSDT pointer list. 3.6.5 [Disabled] [Enabled] 3.6.
Power On By RTC Alarm [Disabled] [Disabled] [Enabled] Disables RTC to generate a wake event. When set to [Enabled], the items RTC Alarm Date (Days) / System Time will become user-configurable with set values. Power On By External Modems [Disabled] [Disabled] Disables to power up the computer when the external modem receives a call while the computer is in Soft-off mode. [Enabled] The computer could be powered up when the external modem receives a call while the computer is in Soft-off mode.
3.6.7 Hardware Monitor BIOS SETUP UTILITY Power Hardware Monitor CPU Temperature MB Temperature [35ºC/95ºF] [34ºC/93ºF] CPU Fan Speed CPU Q-Fan Control [3590RPM] [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 Voltage 3.3V Voltage 5V Voltage 12V Voltage [ 1.040V] [ 3.008V] [ 4.776V] [11.
Chassis Q-Fan Control [Disabled] [Disabled] [Enabled] Disables the Chassis Q-Fan control feature. Enables the Chassis Q-Fan control feature. Chassis Fan Profile [Standard] This item appears only when you enable the Chassis Q-Fan Control feature and allows you to set the appropriate performance level of the chassis fan. [Standard] Sets to [Standard] to make the chassis fan automatically adjust depending on the chassis temperature.
3.7 Boot menu The Boot menu items allow you to change the system boot options. Select an item then press to display the sub-menu. BIOS SETUP UTILITY Main Ai Tweaker Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit Specifies the Boot Device Priority sequence. Boot Settings Boot Device Priority A virtual floppy disk drive (Floppy Drive B: ) may appear when you set the CD-ROM drive as the first boot device.
3.7.3 Boot Settings Configuration BIOS SETUP UTILITY Main Ai Tweaker Advanced Power Boot Boot Settings Configuration Quick Boot Full Screen Logo AddOn ROM Display Mode Bootup Num-Lock Wait for ‘F1’ if Error Hit ‘DEL’ Message Display POST State LEDs [Enabled] [Enabled] [Force BIOS] [On] [Enabled] [Enabled] [Enabled] Allows BIOS to skip certain tests while booting. This will decrease the time needed to boot the system.
POST State LEDs [Enabled] [Enabled] [Disabled] 3.7.4 Turn on onboard device LEDs in the order of the device POST sequence. Disables this function. Security The Security menu items allow you to change the system security settings. Select an item then press to display the configuration options. BIOS SETUP UTILITY Security Settings Supervisor Password User Password :Not Installed :Not Installed Boot to change password.
After you have set a supervisor password, the other items appear to allow you to change other security settings. BIOS SETUP UTILITY Security Settings Supervisor Password User Password :Installed :Installed Change Supervisor Password User Access Level Change User Password Password Check Boot to change password. again to disabled password. [Full Access] [Setup] User Access Level [Full Access] This item allows you to select the access restriction to the Setup items.
3.8 Tools menu The Tools menu items allow you to configure options for special functions. Select an item then press to display the sub-menu. BIOS SETUP UTILITY Main Ai Tweaker Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit ASUS O.C. Profile AI NET 2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 Express Gate Enter OS Timer Reset User Data [Auto] [10 Seconds] [No] ←→ Select Screen ↑↓ Select Item Enter Go to Sub Screen F1 General Help F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit v02.
Start O.C. Profile Allows you to run the utility to save and load CMOS. Press to run the utility. ASUSTek O.C. Profile Utility V1.34 Current CMOS BOARD:P7P55 WS SUPERCOMPUTER VER: 0210 DATE: 07/30/2009 Restore CMOS BOARD: Unknown VER: Unknown DATE: Unknown PATH: A:\ A: Note [Enter] Select or Load [Tab] Switch [V] Drive Info [Up/Down/Home/End] Move [B] Backup [Esc] Exit 3.8.
3.8.3 ASUS EZ Flash 2 Allows you to run ASUS EZ Flash 2. When you press , a confirmation message appears. Use the left/right arrow key to select between [Yes] or [No], then press to confirm your choice. For more details, refer to section 3.1.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility. ASUSTek EZ Flash 2 BIOS ROM Utility V3.
Reset User Data [No] Allows you to clear Express Gate’s user data. [Reset] When setting this item to [Reset], ensure that you save the setting to the BIOS so that the user data will be cleared the next time you enter the Express Gate. User data includes the Express Gate’s settings as well as any personal information stored by the web browser such as bookmarks, cookies, browsing history. This is useful in the rare case where corrupt settings prevent the Express Gate environment from launching properly.
3.9 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. BIOS SETUP UTILITY Main Ai Tweaker Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit 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.
This chapter describes the contents of the support DVD that comes with the motherboard package and the software.
Chapter summary 4 4.1 Installing an operating system.................................................... 4-1 4.2 Support DVD information............................................................. 4-1 4.3 Software information.................................................................... 4-9 4.4 ASUS Unique Overclocking Utility—TurboV EVO.................... 4-21 4.5 RAID configurations................................................................... 4-25 4.
4.1 Installing an operating system This motherboard supports Windows XP/Vista/Win7 operating systems (OS). Always install the latest OS version and corresponding updates to maximize the features of your hardware. 4.2 • 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.
4.2.2 Drivers menu The drivers menu shows the available device drivers if the system detects installed devices. Install the necessary drivers to activate the devices. Norton Internet Security 2009 Installs NIS 2009. Intel Chipset Driver Installs the Intel® chipset drivers. Realtek Audio Driver Installs the Realtek® audio Driver. Realtek LAN Driver Installs the Realtek® Gigabit Ethernet Driver. ASUS TurboV EVO Installs ASUS TurboV EVO, the advanced overclocking tool for extreme O.C. record.
4.2.3 Utilities menu The Utilities menu shows the applications and other software that the motherboard supports. 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 voltage, and alerts you of any detected problems.
4.2.4 Make disk menu The Make disk menu contains items to create the Intel RAID driver disk. Intel AHCI/RAID Driver Allows you to create an AHCI/RAID Driver disk. 4.2.5 Manual menu The Manuals 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.
4.2.6 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.
4.2.7 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 and a brief description of each in text format.
4.3 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. 4.3.1 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.
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.
4.3.2 ASUS AI Suite ASUS AI Suite allows you to launch several ASUS utilities easily. Installing AI Suite To install AI Suite on your computer: 1. Place the support DVD to the optical drive. The Drivers installation tab appears if your computer has an enabled Autorun feature. 2. Click the Utilities tab, then click AI Suite. 3. Follow the screen instructions to complete installation. Launching AI Suite You can launch AI Suite right after installation or anytime from the Windows® desktop.
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.
4.3.3 ASUS Fan Xpert Asus Fan Xpert allows you to adjust both the CPU and chassis fan speeds according to different ambient temperatures and your PC’s system loading. The various fan profiles offer flexible controls of fan speeds to achieve a quiet and cool system environment. Launching Fan Xpert After installing AI Suite from the motherboard support DVD, launch Fan Xpert by double-clicking the AI Suite tray icon and then clicking the Fan Xpert button on the AI Suite main window.
4.3.4 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: • Turbo Mode • Medium Power Saving Mode • High Performance Mode • Max. Power Saving Mode Selecting Auto Mode will have the system shift modes automatically according to current system status.
4.3.5 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. Notices about ASUS Express Gate 4-18 • 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.
4.3.6 ASUS T.Probe The onboard T.Probe microchip detects and balances power phase loading and temperature in real-time. This feature optimizes the power phase functions, allowing components to run at lower temperatures and extending their lifespan. You can monitor the power phase loading and temperature in the Windows® environment with the bundled T.Probe application Installing ASUS T.Probe To install ASUS T.Probe on your computer 1. Place the support DVD to the optical drive.
4.4 ASUS Unique Overclocking Utility— TurboV EVO ASUS TurboV EVO introduces TurboV and Turbo Key—two powerful tools that allow you to overclock your system effectively. Install ASUS TurboV EVO from the support DVD that came with the motherboard package. If the TurboV EVO is correctly installed, you will find the TurboV EVO icon on the Windows notification area. Click on the icon to display the TurboV EVO control panel. Refer to the software manual in the support DVD or visit the ASUS website at www.asus.
4.4.2 • Set the CPU Ratio Setting item in BIOS to [Auto] before using the CPU Ratio function in TurboV. See Chapter 3 for details. • For advanced overclock ability, adjust first the BIOS items, and then proceed more detailed adjustments using TurboV. Using ASUS TurboV Auto Tuning Mode The Auto Tuning Mode allows smart auto-overclocking. Follow the instructions below to let TurboV EVO detect and overclock your system. 4-22 1. Click the Auto Tuning tab and then click Start.
3. An animation appears indicating the overclocking process. Click Stop if you want to cancel the current Overclocking process. • After pressing Start, the system starts performance tuning and may reboot 2 to 3 times. Please do not operate or manually restart the computer during the tuning process. • After restarting OS, a message appears indicating the current overclocking result.
Configuring ASUS Turbo Key 1 2 3 4 1. Select your desired hotkey combination. 2. You can decide the performance boost level by selecting Turbo Key Profile. You can also load personal profiles saved in the ASUS TurboV utility. 3. Choose whether to show Turbo Key OSD and status. 4. Click Apply to save Turbo Key settings. You have to press the assigned hotkeys to use the Turbo Key function.
4.5 RAID configurations The motherboard comes with the Intel® P55 chipset 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. 4.5.1 • 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.
4.5.2 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. 2. Connect the SATA signal cables. 3. Connect a SATA power cable to the power connector on each drive. 4.5.
The navigation keys at the bottom of the screen allow you to move through the menus and select the menu options. The RAID BIOS setup screens shown in this section are for reference only and may not exactly match the items on your screen. The utility supports maximum four hard disk drives for RAID configuration. 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.
5. 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. 6. 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.
Deleting a RAID set Take caution when deleting a RAID set. You will lose all data on the hard disk drives when you delete a RAID set. To delete a RAID set 1. From the utility main menu, select 2. Delete RAID Volume and press . The following screen appears. Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager option ROM v8.9.0.1014 PCH-D wRAID5 Copyright(C) 2003-09 Intel Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
4.6 Creating a RAID driver disk A floppy disk with the RAID driver is required when installing Windows® XP operating system on a hard disk drive that is included in a RAID set. For Windows® Vista or later operating systems, use either a floppy disk or a USB flash drive with the RAID driver. 4.6.1 • 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.
4.6.3 Installing the RAID driver during Windows® OS installation To install the RAID driver for Windows® XP 1. During the OS installation, the system prompts you to press the F6 key to install third-party SCSI or RAID driver. 2. Press , and then insert the floppy disk with RAID driver into the USB floppy disk drive. 3. When prompted to select the SCSI adapter to install, ensure that you select Intel(R) ICH8R/ICH9R/ICH10R/DO/PCH SATA RAID Controller. 4.
4-32 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. Double-click the file. A window appears, allowing you to select the program for opening the oem file. 7. Use Notepad to open the file.
8. Find the [HardwareIds.scsi.iaAHCI_PCH] and [HardwareIds.scsi.iastor_8R9R10RDOPCH] sections in the txtsetup.oem file. 9. Type the following line to the bottom of the two sections: id = “USB\VID_xxxx&PID_xxxx”, “usbstor” [HardwareIds.scsi.iaAHCI_PCH] id= “PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3A22&CC_0106”,”iaStor” id= “USB\VID_03EE&PID_6901”, “usbstor” [HardwareIds.scsi.iaStor_8R9R10RDOPCH] id= “PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3A22&CC_0106”,”iaStor” id= “USB\VID_03EE&PID_6901”, “usbstor” Add the same line to both sections.
4-34 Chapter 4: Software support
This chapter describes how to install and configure multiple ATI® CrossFireX™ and NVIDIA® SLI™ graphics cards.
Chapter summary 5 5.1 ATI® CrossFireX™ technology..................................................... 5-1 5.2 NVIDIA® SLI™ technology............................................................ 5-5 5.3 NVIDIA® CUDA™ technology.....................................................
5.1 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. 5.1.1 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.
5.1.3 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. Prepare two CrossFireX-ready graphics cards. 2. 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. 3.
5.1.4 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. 5.1.5 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. In the Catalyst Control Center window, click Graphics Settings > CrossFireX > Configure. 2. From the Graphics Adapter list, select the graphics card to act as the display GPU. 3. Select Enable CrossFireX. 4. Click Apply, and then click OK to exit the window.
5.2 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. 5.2.1 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.
5.2.2 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. Prepare two SLI-ready graphics cards. 2. 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. 3.
5.2.3 Installing three SLI-ready graphics cards 1. Prepare three SLI-ready graphics cards. 2. 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. 3. Ensure that the cards are properly seated on the slots. 4. Align and firmly insert the 3-Way SLI bridge connector to the goldfingers on each graphics card.
5.2.4 Installing the device drivers Refer to the documentation that came with your graphics card package to install the device drivers. 5.2.5 • 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.
5.3 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. 5.3.1 Requirements • 32/64-bit Microsoft® Windows XP/ Vista/ Linux RHEL5.3/ Open SuSE11.
2. Insert the Tesla computing processor card(s) into the PCIe x16_2, PCIe x16_4 or PCIe x16_5 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. Connect a display cable to the graphics card. 5. Refer to the documentation that came with your graphics card package to install the device drivers. 6.
