* Specifications and information contained in this documentation are furnished for information use only, and ar e
subject to change at any time without notice, and should not be construed as a commitment by manufacturer.
Environmental Protection Announcement
Do not dispose this electronic device into the trash while discarding. To minimize pollution and
ensure environment protection of mother earth, please recycle.
z Avoid the dusty, humidity and temperature extremes. Do not place the product in
any area where it may become wet.
z 0 to 40 centigrade is the suitable temperature. (The figure comes from the request
of the main chipset)
z Generally speaking, dramatic changes in temperature may lead to contact
malfunction and crackles due to constant thermal expansion and contraction from
the welding spots’ that connect components and PCB. Computer should go
through an adaptive phase before it boots when it is moved from a cold
environment to a warmer one to avoid condensation phenomenon. These water
drops attached on PCB or the surface of the components can bring about
phenomena as minor as computer instability resulted from corrosion and oxidation
from components and PCB or as major as short circuit that can burn the
components. Suggest starting the computer until the temperature goes up.
z The increasing temperature of the capacitor may decrease the life of computer.
Using the close case may decrease the life of other device because the higher
temperature in the inner of the case.
z Attention to the heat sink when you over-clocking. The higher temperature may
decrease the life of the device and burned the capacitor.
iii
USER’S NOTICE
COPYRIGHT OF THIS MANUAL BELONGS TO THE MANUFACTURER. NO PART OF THIS
MANUAL, INCLUDING THE PRODUCTS AND SOFTWARE DESCR IBED IN IT MAY BE
REPRODUCED, TRANSMITTED OR TRANSLATED INTO ANY LANGUAGE IN ANY FORM OR
BY ANY MEANS WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE MANUFACTURER.
THIS MANUAL CONTAINS ALL INFORMATION REQUIRED TO USE AMD 790GX
MOTHERBOARD AND WE DO ASSURE THIS MANUAL MEETS USER’S REQUIREMENT BUT
WILL CHANGE, CORRECT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. MANUFACTURER PROVIDES THIS
MANUAL “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, AND WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY
INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (IN C L UDI NG
DAMANGES FOR LOSS OF PROFIT, LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF USE OF DATA,
INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS AND THE LIKE).
PRODUCTS AND CORPORATE NAMES APPEARING IN THIS MANUAL MAY OR MAY NOT BE
REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OR COPYRIGHTS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COMPANIES, AND
THEY ARE USED ONLY FOR IDENTIFICATION OR EXPLANATION AND TO THE OWNER’S
BENEFIT, WITHOUT INTENT TO INFRINGE.
Manual Revision Information
Reversion Revision History Date
1.0 First Edition January, 2009
Item Checklist
5
AMD790GX Platform Processor Chipset based motherboard
5
CD for Motherboard Utilities
5
User’s Manual
5
4 in 1 Cable Package
5
I/O Back Panel Shield
AMD K10 Processor Family
Cooling Solutions
As processor technology pushes to faster speeds and higher performance with increasing operation
clock, thermal management becomes increasingly crucial while building computer systems. Maintaining
the proper computing environment without thermal increasing is the key to reliable, stable, and 24
hours system operation. The overall goal is keeping the processor below its specified maximum case
temperature. Heatsinks induce improved processor heat dissipation through increasing surface area
and concentrated airflow from attached active cooling fans. In addition, interface materials allow
effective transfers of heat from the processor to the heatsink. For optimum heat transfer, AMD
recommends the use of thermal grease and mounting clips to attach the heatsink to the processor.
Please refer to the website for collection of heatsinks evaluated and recommended for Socket AM2+
processors by AMD. In addition, this collection is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all
heatsinks that support Socket-AM2+ processors.
iv
Chapter 1
Introduction of AMD790GX Motherboards
1-1 Features of motherboard
The AMD790GX chipset motherboard series are based on the latest AMD790GX Chipset and
the SB750 chipset which supports the innovative 64-bit AMD Socket AM3/AM2+AM2 dual
core and quad core AMD Phenom™ processors and 64-bit AMD Socket AM3/AM2+/AM2
multi-tasking Socket AM2 Athlon64 X2 processors and Sempron Processors. With an
integrated low-latency high-bandwidth DDRII memory controller and a highly-scalable Hyper
Transport technology-based system bus up to HT 3.0. AMD790GX Platform Processor Chipset
motherboard series deliver the outstanding system performance and professional desktop
platform solution with the advantages of new generation 64-bit AMD Socket AM3/AM2+ /
AM2 AMD Phenom™ FX, AMD Phenom™ Athlon64 FX , Athlon64 X2,Athlon64 &
Sempron processors.
The AMD790GX Series motherboards support new generation Socket AM3/AM2+ /AM2
processors with an integrated DDRII memory controller for dual channel DDRII400/
DDRII533 /DDRII667 /DDRII800/DDRII 1066 (AM2 Sempron processors only support up to
DDRII667 memory) DDRII modules up to 4GB, and DDRIII memory controller for dual
channel DDRIII 1066 modules up to 4GB; also provide DDRIII 128Mb GPU Memory . The
motherboard is embedded with SB750 chipset of providing 1 ULTRA ATA 133 connector
and Serial ATA2 with RAID 0, 1, 10,5 functions which support up to two IDE hard disk drive
devices and six Serial ATA2 devices to accelerate hard disk drives and guarantee the data
security without failure in advanced computing perfor mance.
The AMD790GX motherboards provide 10/100/1000 LAN function with RTL8111C PCI-E
Gigabit LAN which supports 10/100/1000Mbps data transfer rate. And the embedded
8-channel HD Audio CODEC is fully compatible with Sound Blaster Pro standards that offer
you with the home cinema quality and satisfying software compatibility.
The AMD790GX Series motherboards deliver outstanding value and performance for gamers,
with a true bandwidth design for Multi-GPU configurations. This high bandwidth architecture
in the AMD 790GX chipset is with the flexibility for single or dual card or three cards
configurations. The AMD 790GX chipset provide 2 x16@8 lane PCI Express 2.0 slots to
support simultaneous operation of graphics cards for astonishing performance with brilliant
and intense 3D graphics.
AMD790GX Series motherboard series offer two PCI-Express2.0x16 graphics slots that
deliver up to 4Gbyte/sec data transfer rate at each relative direction. When PE4 installed
switch card, the PE1 will doubled its bandwidth. One PCI Express x1 I/O slot offers 512
Mbyte/sec concurrently, over 3.5 times more bandwidth than PCI at 133Mbye/sec, tackling
the most demanding multimedia tasks nowadays .The AMD790GX motherboards also carry
one 32-bit PCI slot guarantee the rich connectivity for the I/O peripheral devices. This
motherboard support Hybrid CrossFireX function, the VGA Card on PE1 or PE4 will activate
a Hybrid CrossFire with the onboard VGA Card when select sideport function in BIOS, the
performance will be increased 15% to 75%.
1
Embedded USB controllers as well as capability of expanding to 10 of USB2.0 functional
ports delivering 480Mb/s bandwidth of rich connectivity, these motherboards meet the future
USB demands which are also equipped with hardware monitor function on system to monitor
and protect your system and maintain your non-stop business computing.
Some special features---
OC-CON / G.P.I. Function/ DIY Clear / Power On Button/ Reset Button
CPU Thermal Throttling/ CPU Vcore 7-shift / CPU Smart Fan /
in this
motherboard are designed for power user to use the over-clocking function in more flexible
ways. But please be caution that the over-clocking maybe causes the fails in system
reliabilities. This motherboard provides the guaranteed performance and meets the demands
of the next generation computing. But if you insist to gain more system performance with
variety possibilities of the components you choose, please be careful and make sure to read
the detailed descriptions of these value added product features, please get them in the
coming section.
1-1.1 Special Features of Motherboard
CPU Thermal Throttling Technology---(The CPU Overheat Protection Technology)
To prevent the increasing heat from damage of CPU or accidental shutdown while at high workload, the
CPU Thermal Throttling Technology will force CPU to enter partially idle mode from 87.5% to 12.5%
according to preset CPU operating temperature in BIOS (from 40℃ to 90℃). When the system senses the
CPU operating temperature reaching the preset value, the CPU operating bandwidth will be decreased to
the preset idle percentage to cool down the processor. When at throttling mode the beeper sound can be
optionally selected to indicate it is in working. (For detail operating please read Section 3-11 Bi-turbo
Configuration)
CPU Smart Fan---( The Noise Management System )
It’s never been a good idea to gain the performance of your system by sacrificing its acoustics. CPU Smart
Fan Noise Management System is the answer to control the noise level needed for now-a-day’s high
performance computing system. The system will automatically increase the fan speed when CPU operating
loading is high, after the CPU is in normal operating condition, the system will low down the fan speed for
the silent operating environment. The system can provide the much longer life cycle for both CPU and the
system fans for game use and business requirements.
CPU Vcore 7-Shift--- (Shift to Higher Performance)
The CPU voltage can be adjusted up by 31 steps for the precisely over-clocking of extra demanding
computing performance.
OC-CON ---(High-polymer Solid Electrolysis Aluminum Capacitors)
The working temperature is from 55 degrees Centigrade below zero to 125 degrees Centigrade, OC-CON
capacitors possess superior physical characteristics that can be while reducing the working temperature
between 20 degrees Centigrade each time, intact extension 10 times of effective product operation lives, at
not rising degrees Centigrade of working temperatures each time a relative one, life of product decline 10%
only too.
G.P.I Function—(Green power indicator function)
G.P.I is a technology with remarkable power saving function: when you are using a computer with G.P.I
mode turned on, you save averagely 10.5w in power consumption in the whole process than normal
computer without G.P.I technology.
DIY Clear… The CMOS button is to facilitate the clear CMOS process for power user overclocking
function. The user can easily clear or restore CMOS setting by pressing the button without tacking trouble
to remove the case and locate the jumper for clear CMOS .
Power On Button… You can easily start the computer by pressing down this button for a few seconds,
without troubling yourself to locate the front panel jumpers to find the Power on jumper.
Reset Button..: You can easily restart the computer by pressing down this button for a few seconds,
without troubling yourself to locate the front panel jumpers to find the reset jumper.
2
1-2 Specification
Spec Description
ATX form factor 4 layers PCB size:24.5cm x24.5cm
Design
Chipset
CPU Socket
AM3/AM2+/AM2
Memory Socket
GPU Memory
Expansion Slot
Integrate IDE and
Serial ATA2 RAID
Gigabit LAN
8 CH-Audio
BIOS
Multi I/O
z
AMD790GX North Bridge Chipset
z
AMD SB750 South Bridge Chipset
z
Support 64bit AMD Athlon64 940-Pin package utilizes Flip-Chip Pin
z
Grid Array package processor
Support for future AMD Athlon64 940-pin Dual –Core Athlon 64x2
z
processor, Athlon 64 & Sempron Processors with HTT Frequency 1GHz
and the latest AMD Phenom™ FX, quad core AMD Phenom™ processors
with HTT 3.0.
Ready for AM3 CPU
z
240-pin DDRII Module socket x 2
z
240-pin DDRIII Module socket x 2
z
Support 2pcs DDRII533/DDRII667/DDRII800/DDRII1066 Modul e s
z
Expandable to 4GB or 2pcs DDRIII 1066 Modules Expandable to 4GB
Dual channel supported
z
DDRIII 128Mb GPU Memory
z
2pcs PCI-Express x16 by 8 lane
z
1pcs PCI-Express x1 slot
z
32-bit PCI slot x 1pcs
z
One IDE controllers support PCI Bus Mastering, ATA PIO/DMA and the
z
ULTRA DMA 33/66/100/133 functions that deliver the data transfer rate
up to 133 MB/s for 2 IDE Devices and for 6 Serial ATA2 ports providing
300 MB/sec data transfer rate with RAID 0, 1, 10,5 functions
Integrated RTL8111C PCI-E 10 / 100 / 1000 LAN.
z
Support Fast Ethernet LAN function of providing 10Mb/100Mb/1000
z
Mb/s data transfer rate
Realtek ALC883 Azalia 8-channel Audio Codec integrated
z
Support 8-channel 3D surround & Positioning Audio
z
Audio driver and utility included
z
AMI 8MB SPI Flash ROM BIOS
z
PS/2 keyboard and PS/2 mouse connectors
z
Coaxial and optical SPDIF_OUT connector
z
HDMI Connector / DVI Connector / VGA Connector
z
USB2.0 port x 4 and headers x 3
z
ESATA Connector x1
z
RJ-45 Connector x1
z
Audio connector x1 (8CH Audio)
z
Floppy disk drive connector x1 /Hard Disk Drive Connector x1
z
Serial port header x1
z
HDMI-SPDIF header x1
z
IR header x1
z
3
1-3 Performance List
The following performance data list is the testing result of some popular benchmark testing
programs. These data are just referred by users, and there is no responsibility for different
testing data values gotten by users (the different Hardware & Software configuration will
result in different benchmark testing results.)
Performance Test Report
CPU: AMD PhenomⅡ 940
DRAM:
VGA Card:
Hard Disk Driver:
BIOS: T02
OS:
3D Mark 2003
3D Mark 2005
3D Mark 2006
AQUAMRK3
PCMark2005
System / CPU / Memory
Graph / HDD
Content Creation Winstone 2004
Business Winstone 2004
Winbench 99 V2.0:
Business /Hi-end Disk Winmark99
Serial ATAII Hard Disk Driver Connectors 7-pin Connector P.16
External Serial ATAII Connector 7-pin Connector P.16
SPDIF Out Connector 1-phone connector P.17
Headers
Header Name Description Page
AUDIO1 Front Panel SPEAKER, MIC header 9-pin Block P.17
USB1, USB2,USB3 USB Port Headers 9-pin Block P.17
SPEAK PC Speaker connector 4-pin Block P.17
PWR LED Power LED 3-pin Block P.17
JW_FP1
(Reset/IDE LED/Power Button)
SYSFAN1/2 System FAN Headers 3-pin Block P.18
CPUFAN CPU FAN Header 4-pin Block P.18
CDIN1 CD Audio-In Header 4-pin Block P.18
IR IR infrared module Headers 5-pin Block P.19
COM1 Serial Port COM1 Header 9-pin Block P.19
HDMI-SPDIF SPDIF Out header 2-pin Block P.19
Front Panel Header
(including IDE activity LED/Reset switch /
Power On Button lead)
9-pin Block P.17
Expansion Sockets
Socket/Slot Name Description Page
ZIF Socket AM2 CPU Socket 940-pin PGAB Athlon64 CPU Socket P.10
DDRIII1/DDRIII2 DDRIII Module Socket240-pin DDRIII Module Socket P.11
DIMM1/ DIMM2 DDRII Module Socket 240-pin DDRII Module Socket P.11
PCI1 PCI Slot 32-bit PCI Local Bus Expansion slot P.12
PE2 PCI-Express x1Slot PCI-Express x1 Expansion Slot P.13
Turn off your power when adding or removing expansion cards or other
system components. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to both
your motherboard and expansion cards.
2-1 Hardware installation Steps
Before using your computer, you had better complete the following steps:
1. Check motherboard jumper setting
2. Install CPU and Fan
3. Install System Memory (DIMM)
4. Install Expansion cards
5. Connect IDE and Front Panel /Back Panel cable
6. Connect ATX Power cable
7. Power-On and Load Standard Default
8. Reboot
9. Install Operating System
10. Install Driver and Utility
2-2 Checking Motherboard’s Jumper Setting
(1) Keyboard/USB function Enabled/Disabled: JP1
JP1
1-2 Closed KB/USB Power ON Disable (Default)
Keyb oard/M ouse & USB Power On Setting
JP1
2-3 Closed KB/USB Power ON Enabled
(2) CMOS RAM Clear (3-pin) : JBAT
A battery must be used to retain the motherboard configuration in CMOS RAM short 1-2
pins of JBAT to store the CMOS data.
To clear the CMOS, follow the procedure below:
1. Turn off the system and unplug the AC power
2. Remove ATX power cable from ATX power connector
3. Locate JBAT and short pins 2-3 for a few seconds
4. Return JBAT to its normal setting by shorting pins 1-2
5. Connect ATX power cable back to ATX power connector
Note: When should clear CMOS
1. Troubleshooting
2. Forget password
3. After over clocking system boot fail
8
JBATJBAT
1-2 Closed Normal
CMOS RAM Clear Setting
2-3 Closed Clear CMOS
2-3 Install CPU
2-3-1 Glossary
Chipset (or core logic) - two or more integrated circuits which control the interfaces between
the system processor, RAM, I/O devises, and adapter cards.
Processor socket - the socket used to mount the system processor on the motherboard.
Slot (PCI-E, PCI, RAM) - the slots used to mount adapter cards and system RAM.
PCI - Peripheral Component Interconnect - a high speed interface for video cards, sound
cards, network interface cards, and modems; runs at 33MHz.
PCI Express2.0- Peripheral Component Interconnect Express2.0, developed in 2003, the
speed of each line doubled from the previous PCI-E of 2.5 Gbps to 5 Gbps.
Serial Port - a low speed interface typically used for mouse and external modems.
Parallel Port - a low speed interface typically used for printers.
PS/2 - a low speed interface used for mouse and keyboards.
USB - Universal Serial Bus - a medium speed interface typically used for mouse, keyboards,
scanners, and some digital cameras.
Sound (interface) - the interface between the sound card or integrated sound connectors and
speakers, MIC, game controllers, and MIDI sound devices.
LAN (interface) - Local Area Network - the interface to your local area network.
BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) - the program logic used to boot up a computer and
establish the relationship between the various components.
Driver - software, which defines the characteristics of a device for use by another device or
other software.
Processor - the "central processing unit" (CPU); the principal integrated circuit used for
doing the "computing" in "personal computer"
Front Side Bus Frequency -
by the clock generator for CPU, DRAM and PCI BUS.
CPU L2 Cache -
the flash memory inside the CPU, normal it depend on CPU type.
the working frequency of the motherboard, which is generated
9
2-3-2 About AMD Athlon64 Socket AM2 CPU Socket
This motherboard provides a socket AM2 surface mount, Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) socket,
referred to as the mPGA940 socket supports AM3/ AM2+/AM2 AMD processor utilizes
Flip-Chip Pin Grid Array package technology.
The CPU that comes with the motherboard should have a cooling FAN attached to prevent
overheating. If this is not the case, then purchase a correct cooling FAN before you turn on
your system.
WARNING!
To install a CPU, first turn off your system and remove its cover. Locate the ZIF socket and
open it by first pulling the level sideways away from the socket then upward to a 90-degree
angle. Insert the CPU with the correct orientation as shown below. The notched corner
should point toward the end of the level. Because the CPU has a corner pin for two of the
four corners, the CPU will only fit in the orientation as shown.
Be sure that there is sufficient air circulation across the processor’s
heatsink and CPU cooling FAN is working correctly, otherwise it may
cause the processor and motherboard overheat and damage, you may install
an auxiliary cooling FAN, if necessary.
Colden Arrow
Socket AM2+
When you put the CPU into the ZIF socket, No force required to insert of the CPU, and then
press the level to locate position slightly without any extra force.
CPU ZIF mPGAB Socket
10
1
2-4 Install Memory
This motherboard provides two 240-pin DDR II DUAL INLINE MEMORY MODULES
(DIMM) socket for DDR II memory SDRAM expansion available from minimum memory
volume of 128MB to maximum memory volume of 4 GB and two 240-pin DDR III SDRAM
DUAL INLINE MEMORY MODULES (DIMM) socket for DDR III memory expansion
available from minimum memory volume of 128MB to maximum memory volume of 4 GB.
Valid Memory Configurations for DDR II
Bank 240-Pin DIMM PCSTotal Memory
DIMM1 DDR II 667/DDR II 800/DDR II 1066 X1
DIMM2 DDR II 667/DDR II 800/DDR II 1066 X1
Total System Memory (Max 4GB) 2
Valid Memory Configuration for DDR III
Bank 240-Pin DIMM PCSTotal Memory
DDR III 1 DDR III 1066 X1
DDR III 2 DDR III 1066 X1
Total System Memory (Max. 4 GB) 2
128MB∼2GB
128MB∼2GB
128MB∼4GB
128MB∼2 GB
128MB∼2 GB
128MB∼4 GB
NOTICE!
1. Dual channel function only supports when 2 DIMM Modules plug in either both DDR III 1 &
DDR III 2 or DIMM1 &DIMM2.
2. Memory modules in DDR III 1 & DDR III 2 or DIMM1 &DIMM2 must be of the same ty pe,
same size, and same frequency for dual channel function.
3. DIMM1and DIMM2 is for installing DDR II memory modules only while DDRIII1 and
DDRIII2 is for installing DDRIII memory modules only.
4. User can only install DDRII memory module(s) in DDR II memory module slot(s) when an
AM2 or AM2+ CPU is installed;
5. User can choose either installing DDRII memory module(s) in DDR II memory module slot(s)
or DDRIII memory module(s) in DDR III memory module slot(s), but NEVER both DDRII
and DDRIII memory module(s) at the same time under any circumstances.
Install DDR SDRAM modules to your motherboard is not difficult, you can refer to figure
below to see how to install a 240-Pin DDR II 667/DDR II 800/DDR II 1066 or a DDR III
1066 SDRAM module.
DDRIII1 & DDRIII2: Dua l Channel
DIMM1 & DIMM2: Dual Chan ne l2
Graph 2-4
11
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