AOpen MX64 User Manual

Chapter 1

Overview

MX64 is a slot 1 based motherboard that utilizes VIA 694X AGPset on Micro
ATX form factor. It implements an onboard audio CODEC and supports new

architectures such as AGP 4x, SDRAM, Ultra DMA 33/66, Bus master IDE
and USB ports. It supports three Dual in-line memory module (DIMM) slots
that allow the installation of SDRAM memory and expansion up to a maximum
of 768MB.

In addition to the above features, MX64 also implements plenty of fabulous
features.

Jumper-less Design Pentium II / Pentium III / Celeron VID signal and SMbus
clock generator provide CPU voltage auto-detection and allows the user to set
the CPU frequency through the CMOS setup, therefore no jumpers or switches
are used. The correct CPU information is saved into the EEPROM. With these
technologies, the disadvantages of the Pentium based jumper-less designs
are eliminated. There will be no worry of wrong CPU voltage detection and no
need to re-open the housing in case of CMOS battery loss. The only jumper
left is to clear the CMOS, which is a safety hook if you forget the password.

Full-range CPU core voltage This motherboard supports the CPU core
voltage from 1.3V to 3.5V, that can be applied to various CPU type in future.

Zero Voltage Wake on Modem 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 0V Wake On Modem. The MX64 and
FM56-P internal modem card implement special circuit (patent applied) to
make sure the modem card work properly without any power.

Wake on LAN This feature is very similar as 0V Wake On Modem, but it is
through local area network. To use Wake on LAN function, you must have a
network card that supports this feature and also need to install a network
management software.

1-1

Overview

Wake on RTC 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 accuracy is second.

CPU Thermal Protection MX64 has a special thermal detection circuit to have
warning through application software when the temperature is higher than a
predefined value.

CPU and Housing Fan Monitoring MX64 has one more "fan monitoring"
function to prevent system overheat. The system will report and alarm fan
malfunction though utility software such as Hardware Monitoring Utility (named
AOhw140, where 140 means version number).

System Voltage Monitoring Furthermore, MX64 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 though software such as
Hardware Monitoring Utility for a warning to user.

ACPI Suspend to DRAM You can resume your original work directly from
DRAM without going through the Win98 booting process and run your
application again. Suspend to DRAM saves your current work into the system
memory.

Resetable Fuse MX64 implements resetable fuses to prevent any accidental
short circuit caused by keyboard or USB devices hot plug.

FCC DoC Certificate MX64 has passed FCC DoC test. The radiation is very
low, you can use any kind of housing.

PC99 Ready For user’s convenience in installing the PC system, AOpen
adopts the recommended PC99 color scheme in all connectors that mount on
this motherboard.

Powerful Utility Software AOpen Bonus Pack CD disc contains many useful
utilities, such as Norton Antivirus, AOchip, Hardware Monitoring Utility, and
Suspend to Hard Drive utility.

1-2

1.1 Specifications

Overview

Form Factor

Board Size

CPU

System Memory

Second-level Cache

Chipset

Expansion Slots

Audio CODEC

Serial Port

Parallel Port

Floppy Interface

IDE Interface

USB Interface

PS/2 Mouse

Keyboard

RTC and Battery

BIOS

Micro ATX

220 mm x 245 mm

Intel Pentium II / Pentium III / Celeron

DIMM 168-pin x3, maximum 768MB.

Built-in CPU depends on processor

VIA 694X AGPset

PCI x 3 and AGP x 1

AD1881

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 33/66 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 build in chipset, Lithium (CR-2032) battery.

AWARD Plug-and-Play, 2M bit Flash ROM BIOS.

1-3

Overview

)

1.2 Zero Voltage Wake on Modem

The Wake on Modem discussed here is to wakeup from true power off
(identified by fan of power supply is off), This motherboard 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 0V
Wake On Modem, but if you use external modem, you have to keep the box
modem always power-on. AOpen MX64 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 (For
example, FM56-P, FM56-H, etc.) for 0V Wake On Modem applications.

ne

TELLi

port

COM

Ext e

rnalBox

Mo d e m

ExternalModemWake

TEL L

Internal Modem Card Wake U

1-4

Up

ine

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as FM56

-P

Overview

For Internal Modem Card (AOpen FM56-P):

1. Go into BIOS setup, Power Management Æ 0V Wake On Modem, select
Enabled.

2. Setup your application, put into Windows 95.

3. Turn system power off by soft power switch.

4. Connect 4-pin Modem Ring-On cable from FM56-P RING connector to
MX64 connector WKUP.

5. Connect telephone line to FM56-P. You are now ready to use Wake On
Modem.

For External Box Modem:

1. Go into BIOS setup, Power Management Æ 0V Wake On Modem, select
Enabled.

2. Setup your application, put into Windows 95 Start Up.

3. Turn system power off by soft power switch.

4. Connect RS232 cable of external box Modem to COM1 or COM2.

5. Connect telephone line to external box Modem. Turn on Modem power
(you must keep Modem power always on). You are now ready to use Wake
On Modem.

Tip: External 0V Wake On Modem 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).

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.

1-5

Overview

1.3 System Voltage Monitoring

This motherboard 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 application software such as Hardware Monitor utility for
a warning to user. System voltage monitoring function monitors CPU core
voltage. It is automatically implemented by BIOS and Hardware Monitor utility
(the file name is like aohw100.exe, where 100 means the version number, no
hardware installation is needed.

1.4 Fan Monitoring

There are three fan connectors, two is for CPU, the other can be a housing fan.
The fan monitoring function is implemented by connecting fan to 3-pin fan
connector CPUFAN1 and FAN, and installing Hardware Monitoring Utility.

Note: You need 3-pin fan that supports SENSE
signal for fan monitoring function to work
properly.

1-6

Overview

1.5 CPU Thermal Protection

This motherboard implements special thermal protection circuit below the CPU.
When temperature is higher than a predefined value, the CPU speed will
automatically slow down and there will be warning from BIOS and also
Hardware Monitoring Utility software.

CPU Thermal Protection is automatically implemented by BIOS and utility
software, no extra hardware installation is needed.

1-7

Chapter 2

Hardware Installation

This chapter gives you a step-by-step procedure on how to install your system.
Follow each section accordingly.

Caution: Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can
damage your processor, disk drives, expansion
boards, and other components. Always
observe the following precautions before you
install a system component.

1. Do not remove a component from its
protective packaging until you are ready
to install it.

2. Wear a wrist ground strap and attach it to
a metal part of the system unit before
handling a component. If a wrist strap is
not available, maintain contact with the
system unit throughout any procedure
requiring ESD protection.

2-1

Hardware Installation

COM1

PRINTER

JP14

COM2

JP12

JP27

2.1 Jumper and Connector Locations

The following figure shows the locations of the jumpers and connectors on the
system board:

CD-IN2

CD-IN

MODEM-CN

KB2

USB

PS/2 MS

USB2

WOM

WOL

IA

SMB

AOL2

P

P

C

C

I

I

2

3

INSPK

P
C
I
1

A
G
P

2-2

PWLED1

FAN1

PANEL

BIOS

IrDA

IDE2

IDE1

JP29

CPUFAN2
CPU FAN1

DIMM1
DIMM2
DIMM3

JP23

FDC

Hardware Installation

Jumpers:

JP12: Sound
JP14: Clear CMOS
JP27: PC Beep
JP23, JP29: Host CLK

Connectors:

PS2: PS/2 mouse connector
KB: PS/2 keyboard connector
COM1: COM1 connector
COM2: COM2 connector
PRINTER: Printer connector
PWR2: ATX power connector
USB: USB connector (port 1, 2)
USB2: USB second connector (port 3, 4)
FDC: Floppy drive connector
IDE1: IDE1 primary channel
IDE2: IDE2 secondary channel
CPUFAN1: 3-pin CPU fan connector
CDUFAN2: 2-pin CPU fan connector
FAN1: Fan connector
IrDA: IrDA (Infrared) connector
PANEL: Front panel (Multifunction) connector
CD-IN: CD-audio connector
MODEM-CN: Mono in (Pin 1-2) and Mic out (Pin 3-4)
WOM: 0V Wake On Modem connector
WOL: Wake On LAN connector

2-3

Hardware Installation

2.2 Jumpers

With the help of the Pentium II Pentium III / Celeron VID signal and SMbus, this
motherboard is a jumper-less design.

2.2.1 Selecting the CPU Frequency

The Pentium II \ Pentium III \ Celeron VID signal and the SMbus clock
generator provide CPU voltage auto-detection and allow the user to set CPU
frequency through the CMOS setup, no jumpers or switches are needed. The
correct CPU information is saved into the EEPROM. With these technologies,
the disadvantages of the Pentium based jumper-less design are eliminated.
There will be no worry of wrong CPU voltage detection and no need to re-open
the housing if the CMOS battery is lost.

The CPU frequency selection is set by going into:

BOIS Setup à Chipset Features Setup à CPU Clock Frequency

(The possible setting is 66.8, 75, 83.3, 100, 105, 110, 112, 115, 120, 124, 133,
140, 150, MHz)

BOIS Setup à Chipset Features Setup à CPU Clock Ratio

(The possible setting is 1.5x, 2x, 2.5x, 3x, 3.5x, 4x, 4.5x, 5x, 5.5x, 6x, 6.5x, 7x,

7.5x, and 8x)

Core frequency = Ratio * External bus clock

Intel Pentium II /
Pentium III

Pentium II 233 233MHz= 3.5x 66MHz
Pentium II 266 266MHz= 4x 66MHz
Pentium II 300 300MHz= 4.5x 66MHz
Pentium II 333 333MHz= 5x 66MHz
Pentium II 350 350MHz= 3.5x 100MHz
Pentium II 400 400MHz= 4x 100MHz
Pentium II 450 450MHz= 4.5x 100MHz
Pentium III 450 450MHz= 4.5x 100MHz
Pentium III 500 500MHz= 5x 100MHz
Pentium III 550 550MHz= 5.5x 100MHz
Pentium III 533 533MHz= 4x 133MHz
Pentium III 600 600MHz= 4.5x 133MHz

CPU Core Frequency Ratio FSB Clock

2-4