Chapter 1
Overview
The AX5T is a high-performancePentium-based system boardthatutilizes the
PCI/ISA architecture and ATX form factor. It integrates the Intel 82430TX
PCIset, an Ultra I/O controller, and a PCI mode 4 enhanced IDE controller with
bus master and Ultra DMA/33 to enhance system performance. It has 256KB or
512KB pipeline-burst second-level cache onboard and support four single inline memory modules (SIMM) in addition two Dual in-line memory modules
(DIMM) that allow to mix EDO and SDRAM memory and expansion up to a
maximum of 256MB. AX5T uses 2M bit Flash ROM BIOS to reserve for future
new functions.
The other important features include:
Suspend To Hard Drive
"Immediately"turns on system and goes back to the originalscreen before power
down. You can resume your original work directly from hard disk without go
through the Win95 booting process and run your application again. Suspend to
Hard Drive saves your current work (system status, memory image) into hard
disk. Note that you have to use VESA compatible PCI VGA (AOpen S3 PCI
PV60/PT60), Sound Blaster compatible sound card with APM driver (AOpen
AW32/MP56), Rockwell compatible Modem (AOpen F56/MP56) for Suspend to
Hard Drive to work properly.
Internal Modem Card Wake-up
In conjunction with ATX soft power On/Off, it is possible to have system totally
power off and wakeup to automatically answer a phone call such as answering
machine or to send/receive fax. The most important break through is not only
external box modem but also internal modem card can be used to support
Modem Wake Up. The AX5T and MP56 internal modem card implement special
circuit (patent applied) to make sure the modem card work properly without any
power.
1-1
Overview
RTC Wake Up Timer
The Wake Up Timer is more like an alarm, which wakes up and power on your
system at a pre-defined time for specific application. It can be set to wake up
everyday or on specific date within a month. The date/time accurate is second.
High Efficient Synchronous Switching Regulator
Most of the current switching designs are Asynchronous mode, which from the
technical point of view, still consumes very high power as well as heat. AX5T
implements high efficient synchronous switching design that the temperature of
MOS FET is less than 36 degree C compared with 57 degree Schottky diode of
Asynchronous design.
3V Over Current Protection Circuit
The Over Current Protection was very popular implemented on the Baby AT or
ATX +5V/+12V switching power supply. But unfortunately, the new generation
CPU and chipset use 3.3V or 2.8V voltage that have regulator to transfer 5V to
3.3V/2.8V, and make 5V over current protection useless. AX5T with switching
regulator onboard support 3.3V (Vcpuio, chipset, PBSRAM, SDRAM) and 2.8V
(CPU Vcore) over current protection, in conjunction with 5V/12V power supply
provide the full line over current protection.
CPU Thermal Protection
When CPU temperature is higher than 55 degree C, the CPU speed will
automatically slow down and there will be warning from BIOS and also ADM
(Advanced Desktop Manager, similar as Intel LDCM), if ADM is installed.
CPU Fan Monitoring
AX5T implements a fan monitoring function to prevent CPU overheat. The
system will report and alarm CPU fan malfunction either though BIOS or utility
software such as ADM (Advanced Desktop Manager).
System Voltage Monitoring
Further more, AX5T implements a voltage monitoring system, As you turn on
your system, this smart design will continue to monitor your system working
voltage. If any of the system voltage is over the component's standard. There
will be alarm through speaker or ADM (Advanced Desktop Manager) for a
warning to user.
FCC DoC certificate
AX5T is the first few boards to pass FCC DoC test. The radiation is very low, you
can use any kind of housing.
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1.1 Specifications
Overview
Form Factor
Board Size
CPU
System Memory
Second-level Cache
Chipset
Expansion Slots
Serial Port
Parallel Port
Floppy Interface
IDE Interface
USB Interface
PS/2 Mouse
Keyboard
RTC and Battery
BIOS
ATX
305 mm x 244 mm
Intel Pentium Processor P54C, PP/MT (P55C), AMD
K5/K6 and Cyrix 6x86/M2
FPM (Fast Page Mode) or EDO (Extended Data Output)
72-pin SIMM x4, and SDRAM 168-pin x2 maximum
256MB.
256KB or 512KB pipeline-burst cache onboard
Intel 82430TX PCIset
ISA x4 and PCI x4
Two serial ports UART 16C550 compatible
One parallel port supports standard parallel port (SPP),
enhanced parallel port (EPP) or extended capabilities port
(ECP).
Floppy interface supports 3.5 inches drives with 720KB,
1.44MB or 2.88MB format or 5.25 inches drives with
360KB, 1.2MB format
Dual-channel IDE interface support maximum 4 IDE hard
disks or CDROM, mode 4 , bus master hard disk drives and
Ultra DMA/33 mode hard drives are also supported.
Two USB ports supported by USB bracket, the BIOS also
supports USB driver to simulate legacy keyboard.
Mini-Din PS/2 mouse connector onboard.
Mini-Din PS/2 keyboard connector onboard.
RTC within Intel PIIX4 chipset, Battery is Lithium (CR-
2032).
AWARD Plug-and-Play, 2M bit Flash ROM BIOS
1-3
Overview
Suspend to Hard Drive
Modem Card Wake
Up
RTC Wake Up Timer
Synchronous
Switching Regulator
3V Over-current
Protection
CPU Thermal
Protection
CPU Fan Monitoring
System Voltage
Monitoring
Supported by BIOS, save your work to hard disk and resume
within a very short time. VESA compatible VGA and Sound
Blaster compatible sound card required.
Special circuit (patent applied) to support modem ring wake
up by external box modem or internal AOpen MP56 modem
card.
Program the date/time to wake up your system.
High efficient synchronous switching regulator for future
CPU.
3.3V 10A and 2.8V/2.9V (CPU core) 15A over-current
protection to prevent any accident short circuit.
Warning when CPU temperature is higher than 55 degree C.
Warning when CPU fan is malfunction.
Warning when system voltage (5V,12V,3.3V,2.8V) are
abnormal
1-4
Overview
1.2 Suspend to Hard Drive
Suspend to Hard Drive saves your current work (system status, memory and
screen image) into hard disk, and then the system can be totally power off. Next
time, when power is on, you can resume your original work directly from hard disk
within few second without go through the Win95 booting process and run your
application again. If your memory is 16MB, normally, you need to reserve at least
16MB HDD space to save your memory image. Note that you have to use VESA
compatible PCI VGA (AOpen PV60/PT60), Sound Blaster compatible sound
card and sound driver that supports APM (AOpen AW32 or MP56) for Suspend
to Hard Drive to work properly. Of course, we recommend to use AOpen
products for best compatibility.
To use Suspend to Hard Drive:
1. Go into BIOS setup, Power Management à Suspend Mode Option, select
"Suspend to Drive".
2. Go into BIOS setup, PNP/PCI Configuration à PnP OS Installed, select "No".
This can give BIOS the capability to allocate system resources for Suspend
to Hard Drive.
3. Bootup your system into DOS command prompt. If you are Win'95 user,
Please restart you Windows 95 under "Command Prompt" by pressing "F8"
while system shows "Windows 95 Starting ...". Choose "Command
Prompt Mode" from selection so that system will start in DOS command
prompt.
4. Use utility "ZVHDD" to create a partition in your hard disk drive. This partition
is used to save your system status and memory image. Just type:
C:>ZVHDD /c /partition /M:mmm
Where mmm is the partition space you want to create. It is recommended to
reserve enough space for your feature memory expansion. For example, if
you plan to have 64MB main memory and 4MB VGA memory in the near
future. Please create at least 64+4=68MB.
If you are using FAT32 file system, please use this partition method.
5. There is another method to create a hidden file in your hard disk drive for
Suspend to Hard Drive to save your system status and memory image.
C:>ZVHDD /c /file
1-5
Overview
Please make sure that you have enough continuous HDD space for
creating this hidden file. For example, if you have 16MB of system memory,
you need at least 16MB (+ VGA memory size) of continuous HDD space. If
ZVHDD failed to allocate the HDD space, you may run "DEFRAG" Utility or
"Disk Defragmenter" whichcome with MS-DOS or Win'95 to free HDD space.
6. After creating above partition or hidden file, please reboot your system.
7. Push suspend switch (momentary mode) or use Win95 Suspend icon to force
system goes into Suspend to Hard Drive mode and then turn system power
off by power switch of your power supply.
8. Next time you turn on your system, it will resume to your original work
automatically.
Tip: Following VGA card have been tested &
recognized as VESA compatible VGA device.
AOpen PV90 (Trident 9680)
AOpen PT60 (S3 Virge/BIOS R1.00-01)
AOpen PV60 (S3 Tiro64V+)
ProLink Trident GD-5440
ProLink Cirrus GD-5430
ProLink Cirrus GD-5446
ATI Mach 64 GX
ATI 3D RAGE II
Diamond Stealth64D (S3 868)
Diamond Stealth64V (S3 968)
KuoWei ET-6000.
1-6
Overview
Tip: Following Sound card have been tested OK for
Suspend to Hard Drive.
AOpen AW32
AOpen MP56
Creative SB 16 Value PnP
Creative SB AWE32 PnP
ESS 1868 PnP
If your sound card can not work after resume from
Suspend to Hard Drive, check your sound card vendor
see if there is driver to support APM, and install it
again.
Note: The USB function has not been tested for
Suspend to Hard Drive. If you find any unstable
problem, please go into BIOS, Integrated Peripherals
USB Legacy Support. Disable the USB Legacy
à
function.
Caution: Some old housing has toggle mode Turbo
switch. If you use it as Suspend switch, be sure to
push it twice to simulate momentary mode. Otherwise
the system may hang or fail to reboot because you
always force it to suspend.
1-7
Overview
Internal Modem Card Wake Up (such as MP32)
Extaernal Modem Wake Up
COM port
TEL Line
TEL Line
1.3 Modem Wake Up
The Modem Wake Up discussed here is to wakeup from true power off (identified
by fan of power supply is off), This mainboard still supports traditional green PC
suspend mode but it is not discussed here.
With the help ATX soft power On/Off, it is possible to have system totally power
off (The traditional suspend mode of power management function does not really
turn off the system power supply), and wakeup to automatically answer a phone
call such as answering machine or to send/receive fax. You may identify the true
power off by checking fan of your power supply. Both external box modem and
internal modem card can be used to support Modem Wake Up, but if you use
external modem, you have to keep the box modem always power-on. AOpen
AX5T/AX58 and internal modem card implement special circuit (patent applied)
and make sure the modem card works properly without any power. We
recommend you choose AOpen modem card (F56 or MP56) for Modem Wake
Up applications.
External Box Modem
1-8
Overview
For Internal Modem Card (AOpen MP56):
1. Go into BIOS setup , Power Management à Modem Wake Up, select
Enable.
2. Setup your application, put into Windows 95 StartUp or use Suspend to Hard
Drive function.
3. Turn system power off by soft power switch.
4. Connect 4-pin Modem Ring-On cable from MP56 RING connector to
AX5T/AX58 connector WKUP.
5. Connect telephone line to MP56. You are now ready to use Modem Ring-On.
For External Box Modem:
1. Go into BIOS setup , Power Management à Modem Wake Up, select
Enable.
2. Setup your application, put into Windows 95 StartUp or use Suspend to Hard
Drive function.
3. Turn system power off by soft power switch.
4. Connect RS232 cable of external box Modem to COM1 or COM2.
4. Connect telephone line to external box Modem. Turn on Modem power (you
must keep Modem power always on). You are now ready to use Modem Ring
Tip: External modem wake up signal is detected through
COM1 or COM2. Internal modem card wake up signal is
detected through cable from connector RING (on modem
card) to WKUP (on mainboard).
Tip: You can combine Suspend to Hard Drive, Modem
Wake Up and the software Acephone for the best solution
of answering machine or to send/receive fax.
Note: If you use external modem, the power of external
modem must be kept on to receive signal from telephone
line. Internal modem card has no such limitation.
1-9
Overview
1.4 System Voltage Monitoring
AX5T implements a voltage monitoring system. As you turn on your system, this
smart design will continue to monitor your system working voltage. If any of the
system voltage is over the component's standard. There will be alarm through
speaker or application software such as ADM (Advanced Desktop Manager) for
a warning to user. System voltage monitoring function monitors 5V, 12V, 3.3V
and CPU core voltage 2.8V. It is automatically implemented by BIOS and ADM,
no hardware installation is needed.
To use System Voltage Monitoring:
1. Go into BIOS setup, Integrated Peripherals à System Voltage (there are
12V/5V/3.3V and 2.8V), select Monitor.
2. Install ADM.
Note: Because of hardware limitation, the CPU
core voltage other than 2.8V will not be monitored.
1-10
Overview
1.5 CPU Fan Monitoring
3-pin Fan Connectorfor fan
that supports SENSE signal
The CPU fan monitoring function is implemented by connecting fan to 3-pin fan
connector FAN2 and installing ADM (Advanced Desktop Manager, similar as
Intel LDCM.
It is automatically implemented by BIOS and ADM, no hardware installation is
needed.
To use CPU Fan Monitoring:
1. Go into BIOS setup, Integrated Peripherals à CPU FAN, select Monitor.
2. Install ADM.
Note: You need 3-pin fan that supports SENSE
signal for CPU fan monitoring function to work
properly.
Note: Because of hardware limitation, CPU fan
monitoring can only be supported from AX5T-3.1
and later. AX5T-3 does not support CPU fan
monitoring.
1-11
Overview
1.6 CPU Thermal Protection
This mainboard implements special thermal protection circuit below the CPU.
When temperature is higher than 55 degree C, the CPU speed will automatically
slow down and there will be warning from BIOS and also ADM (Advanced
Desktop Manager, similar as Intel LDCM), if ADM is installed.
It is automatically implemented by BIOS and ADM, no hardware installation is
needed.
To use CPU Thermal Monitoring:
1. Go into BIOS setup, Integrated Peripherals à CPU Thermal (Temp.), select
Monitor.
2. Install ADM.
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