A55M-A Series
•A55M-A
•A55M-A/USB3
Motherboard
E7969
First Edition
January 2013
Copyright © 2013 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”).
Product warranty or service will not be extended if: (1) the product is repaired, modified or altered, unless such repair, modification of alteration is authorized in writing byASUS; or (2) the serial number of the product is defaced or missing.
ASUS PROVIDES THIS MANUAL “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL ASUS, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF USE OR DATA, INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS AND THE LIKE), EVEN IF ASUS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES ARISING FROM ANY DEFECT OR ERROR IN THIS MANUAL OR PRODUCT.
SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL ARE FURNISHED FOR INFORMATIONAL USE ONLY, AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE, AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY ASUS. ASUS ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS OR INACCURACIES THAT MAY APPEAR IN THIS MANUAL, INCLUDING THE PRODUCTS AND SOFTWARE DESCRIBED IN IT.
Products and corporate names appearing in this manual may or may not be registered trademarks or copyrights of their respective companies, and are used only for identification or explanation and to the owners’ benefit, without intent to infringe.
Offer to Provide Source Code of Certain Software
This product contains copyrighted software that is licensed under the General Public License (“GPL”), under the Lesser General Public License Version (“LGPL”) and/or other Free Open Source Software Licenses. Such software in this product is distributed without any warranty to the extent permitted by the applicable law. Copies of these licenses are included in this product.
Where the applicable license entitles you to the source code of such software and/or other additional data, you may obtain it for a period of three years after our last shipment of the product, either
(1)for free by downloading it from http://support.asus.com/download
or
(2)for the cost of reproduction and shipment, which is dependent on the preferred carrier and the location where you want to have it shipped to, by sending a request to:
ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
Legal Compliance Dept.
15 Li Te Rd.,
Beitou, Taipei 112
Taiwan
In your request please provide the name, model number and version, as stated in the About Box of the product for which you wish to obtain the corresponding source code and your contact details so that we can coordinate the terms and cost of shipment with you.
The source code will be distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY and licensed under the same license as the corresponding binary/object code.
This offer is valid to anyone in receipt of this information.
ASUSTeK is eager to duly provide complete source code as required under various Free Open Source Software licenses. If however you encounter any problems in obtaining the full corresponding source code we would be much obliged if you give us a notification to the email address gpl@asus.com, stating the product and describing the problem (please DO NOT send large attachments such as source code archives, etc. to this email address).
ii
Contents
Safety information...................................................................................................... |
vi |
About this guide......................................................................................................... |
vii |
A55M-A Series specifications summary................................................................... |
ix |
Package contents....................................................................................................... |
xi |
Product introduction
1.1 |
Special features............................................................................................. |
1-1 |
|
|
1.1.1 |
Product highlights ............................................................................ |
1-1 |
|
1.1.2 |
ASUS DIGI+ VRM . .......................................................................... |
1-1 |
|
1.1.3 |
ASUS Exclusive Features ............................................................... |
1-2 |
1.2 |
Before you proceed...................................................................................... |
1-4 |
|
1.3 |
Motherboard overview.................................................................................. |
1-5 |
|
|
1.3.1 |
Placement direction ......................................................................... |
1-5 |
|
1.3.2 |
Screw holes ..................................................................................... |
1-5 |
|
1.3.3 |
Motherboard layout .......................................................................... |
1-6 |
|
1.3.4 |
Layout contents . .............................................................................. |
1-7 |
1.4 |
Accelerated Processing Unit (APU)............................................................ |
1-7 |
|
|
1.4.1 |
APU installation . .............................................................................. |
1-8 |
|
1.4.2 |
APU heatsink and fan assembly installation .................................... |
1-9 |
1.5 |
System memory.......................................................................................... |
1-11 |
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|
1.5.1 |
Overview ........................................................................................ |
1-11 |
|
1.5.2 |
Memory configurations . ................................................................. |
1-12 |
|
1.5.3 |
Installing a DIMM ........................................................................... |
1-17 |
1.6 |
Expansion slots........................................................................................... |
1-18 |
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|
1.6.1 |
Installing an expansion card .......................................................... |
1-18 |
|
1.6.2 |
Configuring an expansion card ...................................................... |
1-18 |
|
1.6.3 |
PCI slot .......................................................................................... |
1-18 |
|
1.6.4 |
PCI Express x1 slot . ...................................................................... |
1-18 |
|
1.6.5 |
PCI Express x16 slot . .................................................................... |
1-18 |
1.7 |
Jumpers |
....................................................................................................... |
1-20 |
1.8 |
Connectors.................................................................................................. |
1-22 |
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1.8.1 ............................................................................ |
Rear panel ports |
1-22 |
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1.8.2 ........................................................................ |
Internal connectors |
1-23 |
1.9 |
Software .........................................................................................support |
1-29 |
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1.9.1 ....................................................... |
Installing an operating system |
1-29 |
|
1.9.2 ............................................................... |
Support DVD information |
1-29 |
iii
BIOS information
2.1 |
Managing and updating your BIOS............................................................. |
2-1 |
|
|
2.1.1 |
ASUS Update utility......................................................................... |
2-1 |
|
2.1.2 |
ASUS EZ Flash 2............................................................................ |
2-2 |
|
2.1.3 |
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility....................................................... |
2-3 |
|
2.1.4 |
ASUS BIOS Updater....................................................................... |
2-4 |
2.2 |
BIOS setup program..................................................................................... |
2-6 |
|
2.3 |
Main menu................................................................................................... |
2-10 |
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2.3.1 |
System Language [English]........................................................... |
2-10 |
|
2.3.2 |
System Date [Day xx/xx/xxxx]....................................................... |
2-10 |
|
2.3.3 |
System Time [xx:xx:xx].................................................................. |
2-10 |
|
2.3.4 |
Security.......................................................................................... |
2-10 |
2.4 |
Ai Tweaker menu......................................................................................... |
2-12 |
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|
2.4.1 |
Ai Overclock Tuner [Auto].............................................................. |
2-13 |
|
2.4.2 |
Memory Frequency [Auto]............................................................. |
2-13 |
|
2.4.3 |
APU Multiplier [Auto]..................................................................... |
2-13 |
|
2.4.4 |
NB Frequency [Auto]..................................................................... |
2-13 |
|
2.4.5 |
EPU Power Saving Mode [Disabled]............................................. |
2-13 |
|
2.4.6 |
DRAM Timing Control.................................................................... |
2-14 |
|
2.4.7 |
APU Voltage [Offset Mode]............................................................ |
2-14 |
|
2.4.8 |
DRAM Voltage [Auto]..................................................................... |
2-14 |
|
2.4.9 |
SB 1.1V Voltage [Auto].................................................................. |
2-14 |
|
2.4.10 |
DIGI+ VRM.................................................................................... |
2-15 |
2.5 |
Advanced menu.......................................................................................... |
2-16 |
|
|
2.5.1 |
CPU Configuration......................................................................... |
2-16 |
|
2.5.2 |
SATAConfiguration........................................................................ |
2-18 |
|
2.5.3 |
USB Configuration......................................................................... |
2-19 |
|
2.5.4 |
NB Configuration........................................................................... |
2-19 |
|
2.5.5 |
Onboard Devices Configuration.................................................... |
2-20 |
|
2.5.6 |
APM............................................................................................... |
2-21 |
|
2.5.7 |
Network Stack............................................................................... |
2-22 |
2.6 |
Monitor menu.............................................................................................. |
2-23 |
|
|
2.6.1 |
CPU Temperature / MB Temperature [xxxºC/xxxºF]...................... |
2-23 |
|
2.6.2 |
CPU / Chassis fan Speed [xxxx RPM] or [Ignore] / [N/A].............. |
2-23 |
|
2.6.3 |
CPU Voltage, 3.3V Voltage, 5V Voltage, 12V Voltage................... |
2-23 |
|
2.6.4 |
CPU Q-Fan Control [Enabled]....................................................... |
2-23 |
|
2.6.5 |
Anti Surge Support [Auto].............................................................. |
2-24 |
iv
2.7 |
Boot menu................................................................................................... |
2-25 |
|
|
2.7.1 |
Fast Boot [Enabled]....................................................................... |
2-26 |
|
2.7.2 |
Full Screen Logo [Enabled]........................................................... |
2-26 |
|
2.7.3 |
Post Delay Time [3 sec]................................................................. |
2-27 |
|
2.7.4 |
Bootup NumLock State [On].......................................................... |
2-27 |
|
2.7.5 |
Wait for ‘F1’ If Error [Enabled]....................................................... |
2-27 |
|
2.7.6 |
Option ROM Messages [Force BIOS]........................................... |
2-27 |
|
2.7.7 |
Interrupt 19 Capture [Postponed].................................................. |
2-27 |
|
2.7.8 |
Setup Mode [EZ Mode].................................................................. |
2-27 |
|
2.7.9 |
CSM Parameters........................................................................... |
2-28 |
|
2.7.10 |
Secure Boot................................................................................... |
2-28 |
|
2.7.11 |
Boot Option Priorities..................................................................... |
2-29 |
|
2.7.12 |
Boot Override................................................................................ |
2-29 |
2.8 |
Tools menu.................................................................................................. |
2-30 |
|
|
2.8.1 |
ASUS EZ Flash 2 Utility................................................................. |
2-30 |
|
2.8.2 |
ASUS SPD Information................................................................. |
2-30 |
|
2.8.3 |
ASUS O.C. Profile......................................................................... |
2-30 |
2.9 |
Exit menu..................................................................................................... |
2-31 |
|
Appendices
Notices...................................................................................................................... |
A-1 |
ASUS contact information...................................................................................... |
A-3 |
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.
•Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard, ensure that all power cables are unplugged.
•Seek professional assistance before using an adapter or extension cord. These devices could interrupt the grounding circuit.
•Ensure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your area. If you are not sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you are using, contact your local power company.
•If the power supply is broken, do not try to fix it by yourself. Contact a qualified service technician or your retailer.
Operation safety
•Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully read all the manuals that came with the package.
•Before using the product, ensure all cables are correctly connected and the power cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage, contact your dealer immediately.
•To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from connectors, slots, sockets and circuitry.
•Avoid dust, humidity, and temperature extremes. Do not place the product in any area where it may become wet.
•Place the product on a stable surface.
•If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualified service technician or your retailer.
vi
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: BIOS information
This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS Setup menus. Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided.
Where to find more information
Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and software updates.
1.ASUS websites
The ASUS website provides updated information on ASUS hardware and software products. Refer to the ASUS contact information.
2.Optional documentation
Your product package may include optional documentation, such as warranty flyers, that may have been added by your dealer. These documents are not part of the standard package.
vii
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.
Typography
Bold text |
Indicates a menu or an item to select. |
Italics |
Used to emphasize a word or a phrase. |
<Key> |
Keys enclosed in the less-than and greater-than sign |
|
means that you must press the enclosed key. |
|
Example: <Enter> means that you must press the Enter or |
|
Return key. |
<Key1> + <Key2> + <Key3> |
If you must press two or more keys simultaneously, the key |
|
names are linked with a plus sign (+). |
viii
A55M-A Series specifications summary
APU |
AMD Socket FM2 A-series/Athlon™ Series Processors |
|
|
AMD® Turbo Core Technology 3.0 support |
|
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Microsoft® DirectX® 11 support |
|
|
• Refer to www.asus.com for the AMD® APU support list. |
|
Chipset |
AMD® A55 FCH (Hudson D2) |
|
Memory |
2 x 240-pin DIMM3 slots support maximum 32GB unbuffered non-ECC |
|
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DDR3 1866 / 1600 / 1333 / 1066 MHz memory modules |
|
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Dual-channel memory architecture |
|
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SupportsAMD Memory Profile (AMP) memory |
|
Graphics
Expansion slots
Storage / RAID
LAN
Audio
•The maximum 32GB memory capacity can be supported with 16GB or above DIMMs. ASUS will update the memory QVL once the DIMMs are available in the market.
•Refer to www.asus.com for the latest Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors List).
•When you install a total memory of 4GB capacity or more, Windows® 32-bit operating system may only recognize less than 3GB. We recommend a maximum of 3GB system memory if you are using a Windows® 32-bit operating system.
Integrated AMD® Radeon™ HD 7000 Series Graphics in the A-Series APU
Supports HDMI with a maximum resolution of 1920x1080@60Hz Supports Dual-link DVI with a maximum resolution of 2560x1600@60Hz Supports D-Sub with a maximum resolution of 1920x1600@60Hz
AMD® Dual Graphics technology support* Maximum shared memory of 2GB Supports Microsoft® DirectX 11
•Refer to http://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/dual-graphics/ Pages/dual-graphics.aspx#3 for the discrete GPUs which support Dual Graphics technology.
1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 slot
1 x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots
1 x PCI slot
AMD® A55 FCH:
-6 x Serial ATA 3.0Gb/s connectors support RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 10 and JBOD configurations
Realtek® 8111F PCIe Gigabit LAN controller
Realtek® ALC887-VD 8-channel High DefinitionAudio CODEC
|
• Use a chassis with HD audio module in the front panel to support an 8-channel |
|
|
audio output. |
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USB |
A55M-A/USB3 |
|
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ASMedia 1042 |
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- 2 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports at the back panel |
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AMD® A55 FCH: |
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- 6 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports (4 ports at the mid-board, 2 ports at the back |
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panel) |
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A55M-A |
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AMD® A55 FCH: |
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- 8 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports (4 ports at the mid-board, 4 ports at the back |
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panel) |
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(continued on the next page) |
|
ix
A55M-A Series specifications summary
ASUS unique features
Back Panel I/O ports
Internal I/O connectors / buttons / switches
BIOS
Support DVD
Form factor
ASUS USB 3.0 Boost (A55M-A/USB3 only)
DIGI+ Power Control: Digital Power Design for the APU ASUS 3+2 Phase Power Design
Network iControl ASUS EPU ASUS AI Suite II
ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode
ASUS Anti-Surge Protection ASUS Fan Xpert
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
ASUS Fanless Design: Stylish Heatsink Solution ASUS ESD
ASUS EZ Flash 2
ASUS MyLogo 2™
100% All high-quality conductive polymer
1 x PS/2 mouse port (green)
1 x PS/2 keyboard port (purple)
1 x HDMI port
1 x DVI port
1 x D-Sub output port
1 x LAN (RJ-45) port
2 x USB 3.0 ports and 2 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports (A55M-A/USB3 only) 4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports (A55M-A only)
8-channel audio I/O ports (3-jack)
2 x USB 2.0/1.1 connectors support additional 4 USB 2.0/1.1 ports 6 x SATA 3.0Gb/s connectors
1 x System panel connector
1 x Internal Speaker connector
1 x CPU fan connector (4-pin)
1 x S/PDIF output connector
1 x Chassis fan connector (3-pin)
1 x High-definition front panel audio connector
1 x 24-pin EATX power connector
1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector
32 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI 2.0, WfM 2.0, SM BIOS 2.6, ACPI 2.0a, Multi-language BIOS
Drivers
ASUS Update
ASUS utilities
Anti-Virus software (OEM version)
uATX form factor: 23.6cm x 18.8cm
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Package contents
Check your motherboard package for the following items.
KBMS |
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CPU_FAN CHA_FAN |
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DIGI |
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ATX12V |
+VRM |
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HDMI |
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USB1112DVIVGA |
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SOCKET FM2 |
DIMM A1 (64bit, 240-pin module) |
DIMM B1 (64bit, 240-pin module) |
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DDR3 |
DDR3 |
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LAN1_USB12 |
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ASM |
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1042 |
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EATXPWR |
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AUDIO |
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KB USBWB |
A55M-A/USB3 |
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PCIEX16 |
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RTL |
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SATA6G_5 SATA6G_6 |
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8111F |
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PCIEX1_1 |
BATTERY |
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AMD® |
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A55 |
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Super |
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SATA6G_3 SATA6G_4 |
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I/O |
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PCI1 |
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SB_PWR |
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SATA6G_1 SATA6G_2 |
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ALC |
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887 |
USBPWF |
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32Mb |
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SPDIF_OUT |
USB56 |
USB34 |
BIOS |
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AAFP |
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CLRTC SPEAKER |
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F_PANEL |
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ASUS A55M-A Series motherboard |
2 x Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s |
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cables |
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Guide |
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User |
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1 x I/O Shield |
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User Guide |
Support DVD |
||
•A55M-A Series motherboards include A55M-A and A55M-A/USB3 models. The package contents vary from models.
•If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.
•The illustrated items above are for reference only.Actual product specifications may vary with different models.
xi
xii
Product introduction |
1 |
1.1Special features
1.1.1Product highlights
AMD® A-series accelerated processors with AMD® Radeon™ HD 7000 series graphics
This motherboard supports AMD® A-series accelerated processors with AMD® Radeon™ HD 7000 series graphics. This revolutionary APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) combines processing power and advanced DirectX 11 graphics in one small, energy-efficient design to enable accelerated performance and an industry-leading visual experience. It features Dualchannel DDR3 memory support and accelerated data transfer rates of up to 5GT/s.
AMD® A55 FCH chipset
AMD® A55 FCH is designed to support up to 5GT/s interface speed and 6 x SATA 3.0Gb/s ports.
Dual-Channel DDR3 1866 / 1600 / 1333 / 1066 MHz Support
This motherboard supports dual-channel DDR3 memory with data transfer rates of DDR3
1866 / 1600 / 1333 / 1066 MHz to boost the system’s performance, and to meet the higher bandwidth requirements of 3D graphics, multimedia, and Internet applications.
100% All High-quality Conductive Polymer Capacitors
This motherboard uses all high-quality conductive polymer capacitors for durability, improved lifespan, and enhanced thermal capacity.
1.1.2ASUS DIGI+ VRM
DIGI+POWER CONTROL: Digital Power Design for the APU*
ASUS motherboards using the AMD® A55 chipset employ precise digital voltage regulation for the APU, called DIGI+ VRM (Voltage Regulation Modules) digital power design. The APU voltage is adjusted either through carefully developed automated modes, or by using userdefined profiles. The result is that DIGI+ VRM technology ensures better energy efficiency and precise power delivery. Boosted by world-renowned ASUS quality, DIGI+ VRM creates an ideal computing platform for a diverse range of applications, from gaming to multimedia or office work and heavy multitasking. Engineered and tested to assure unmitigated performance,ASUSA55 boards with DIGI+ VRM remain efficient and accurate for reliable performance in every scenario.
* DIGI+ VRM features are also available in FM2 socket compatible CPUs
ASUS A55M-A Series |
1-1 |
1.1.3ASUS Exclusive Features
ASUS Network iControl
With a single-click on/off button, the application currently in use has its data and network badndwidth prioritized over other programs. Moreover, you can prioritize your favorite software easily by configuring profiles through the inuitive user interface. Within the profile, programs can be prescheduled to run during a specific time period to avoid network congestion and long-waits for downloads. Auto PPPoE network connection povides a onestep setup for enhanced online convenience. Overall, it’s an intuitive network bandwidth control center.
ASUS UEFI BIOS (EZ Mode)
ASUS UEFI BIOS, a UEFI compliant architecture, offers the first mouse-controlled intuitive graphical BIOS interface that goes beyond the traditional keyboard-only BIOS controls, providing you with more flexibility, convenience, and easy to navigate EFI BIOS than the traditional BIOS versions. It offers you with dual selectable modes and native support for hard drives larger than 2.2 TB.
ASUS UEFI BIOS includes the following new features:
•F12 BIOS snapshot hotkey
•F3 Shortcut for most accessed information
•ASUS DRAM SPD (Serial Presence Detect) information detecting faulty DIMMs, and helping with difficult POST situations.
EPU
EPU (Energy Processing Unit), the world’s first real-time system power-saving chip, automatically detects the current system load and intelligently moderates power usage.
It offers a total system-wide energy optimization, reduces fan noise, and extends the component’s lifespan.
ASUS Anti-Surge Protection
This special design protects expensive devices and the motherboard from damage caused by power surges from switching power supply unit (PSU).
AI Suite II
With its user interface, ASUS AI Suite II integrates several ASUS utilities and allows you to launch and operate these utilities simultaneously. It allows you to configure the overclocking settings, adjust the frequencies and related voltages, remotely control the system via a mobile device, and other easy-to-use helpful utilities.
ASUS Fan Xpert
ASUS Fan Xpert intelligently allows you to adjust the CPU fan speed based on different ambient temperatures, resulting in a quiet and cool computing environment.
ASUS EZ Flash 2
ASUS EZ Flash 2 is a user-friendly utility that allows you to update the BIOS without using a bootable floppy disk or an OS-based utility.
1-2 |
Chapter 1: Product introduction |
ASUS MyLogo2™
Turn your favorite photos into 256-color boot logos to personalize your system.
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 allows you to restore a corrupted BIOS file from a USB storage device that contains the BIOS file.
USB 3.0 Boost (A55M-A/USB3 only)
With USB 3.0 Boost technology, a USB device’s transmission speed is significantly increased, adding to an already impressive USB 3.0 transfer speed. ASUS software automatically accelerates data speeds for compatible USB 3.0 peripherals without the need for any user interaction.
ASUS A55M-A Series |
1-3 |
1.2Before 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.
• Before handling components, use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or a metal object, such as the power supply case, to avoid damaging them due to static electricity.
•Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them.
•Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded antistatic pad or in the bag that came with the component.
•Before you install or remove any component, switch off the ATX power supply and detach its power cord. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to the motherboard, peripherals, or components.
Standby Power LED
The motherboard comes with a standby power LED that lights up to indicate that the system is ON, in sleep mode, or in soft-off mode. This is a reminder that you should shut down
the system and unplug the power cable before removing or plugging in any motherboard component. The illustration below shows the location of the onboard LED.
SB_PWR |
|
A55M-A/USB3 |
|
ON |
OFF |
Standby Power |
Powered Off |
A55M-A/USB3 Onboard LED
1-4 |
Chapter 1: Product introduction |
1.3Motherboard overview
1.3.1Placement 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.
1.3.2Screw holes
Place six 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.
Place this side towards |
the rear of the chassis. |
A55M-A/USB3
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ASUS A55M-A Series |
1-5 |
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1.3.3Motherboard layout
A55M-A Series motherboards include A55M-A and A55M-A/USB3 models. The package contents vary between models. The layout illustrations in this user guide are for A55M- A/USB3 only.
KBMS
HDMI
DVI_VGA
USB1112
LAN1_USB12
AUDIO
RTL 8111F
Super
I/O
ALC 887
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18.8cm(7.4in) |
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CPU_FAN CHA_FAN |
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ATX12V |
DIGI |
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+VRM |
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FM2 |
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240-pin module) |
240-pin module) |
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ASM |
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SOCKET |
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DDR3 DIMM A1 (64bit, |
DDR3 DIMM B1 (64bit, |
23.6cm(9.3in) |
USBWBKB |
1042 |
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EATXPWR |
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A55M-A/USB3 |
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2 |
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PCIEX16 |
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SATA6G_5 SATA6G_6 |
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PCIEX1_1 |
BATTERY |
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AMD® |
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A55 |
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SATA6G_3 SATA6G_4 |
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6 |
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PCI1 |
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SB_PWR |
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SATA6G_1 SATA6G_2 |
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USBPWF |
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32Mb |
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SPDIF_OUT |
USB56 |
USB34 |
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BIOS |
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7 |
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CLRTC |
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AAFP |
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SPEAKER |
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F_PANEL |
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14 |
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1-6 |
Chapter 1: Product introduction |
1.3.4Layout contents
Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED |
Page |
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1. |
Keyboard power (3-pin KB_USBPWB) |
1-21 |
2. |
ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V) |
1-24 |
3. |
AMD FM2 socket |
1-7 |
4. |
CPU fan connector (4-pin CPU_FAN) and Chassis fan connector (3-pin CHA_FAN) |
1-23 |
5. |
DDR3 DIMM slots |
1-11 |
6. |
SATA 3.0Gb/s connectors (7-pin SATA3G_1~6) |
1-25 |
7. |
System panel connector (10-1 pin F_PANEL) |
1-26 |
8. |
Speaker connector (4-pin SPEAKER) |
1-26 |
9. |
Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC) |
1-20 |
10. |
USB 2.0 connectors (10-1 pin USB56, USB34) |
1-28 |
11. |
USB device wake-up (3-pin USBPWF) |
1-21 |
12. |
Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT) |
1-27 |
13. |
Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP) |
1-27 |
14. |
Standby power LED (SB_PWR) |
1-4 |
1.4Accelerated Processing Unit (APU)
This motherboard comes with an FM2 socket designed for AMD® A-series accelerated processors with AMD® Radeon™ HD 7000 series graphics.
Ensure that you use aAPU designed for the FM2 socket. TheAPU fits in only one correct orientation. DO NOT force the APU into the socket to prevent bending the pins and damaging the APU!
A55M-A/USB3
A55M-A/USB3 CPU socket FM2
ASUS A55M-A Series |
1-7 |
1.4.1APU installation
1 |
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3 |
4 |
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1-8 |
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Chapter 1: Product introduction |
1.4.2APU heatsink and fan assembly installation
Apply the Thermal Interface Material to the APU heatsink and APU before you install the heatsink and fan if necessary.
To install the APU heatsink and fan assembly
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
ASUS A55M-A Series |
1-9 |
To uninstall the APU heatsink and fan assembly
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5
1-10 |
Chapter 1: Product introduction |
1.5System memory
1.5.1Overview
This motherboard comes with two 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.
The figure illustrates the location of the DDR3 DIMM sockets:
DIMM_B1
DIMM_A1
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Channel |
Sockets |
A55M-A/USB3 |
Channel A |
DIMM_A1 |
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Channel B |
DIMM_B1 |
A55M-A/USB3 240-pin DDR3 DIMM sockets
ASUS A55M-A Series |
1-11 |
1.5.2Memory configurations
You may install 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB unbuffered non-ECC DDR3 DIMMs into the DIMM sockets.
•You may install varying memory sizes in ChannelAand 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.
•Always install DIMMs with the same CAS latency. For optimal compatibility, we recommend that you install memory modules of the same version or date code (D/C) from the same vendor. Check with the retailer to get the correct memory modules.
•Due to the memory address limitation on 32-bit Windows® OS, when you install 4GB or more memory on the motherboard, the actual usable memory for the OS can be about 3GB or less. For effective use of memory, we recommend that you do any of the following:
-Install a maximum of 3GB system memory if you are using a 32-bit Windows® OS.
-Use a 64-bit Windows® OS if you want to install 4GB or more memory on the motherboard.
•This motherboard does not support DIMMs made up of 512Mb (64MB) chips or less.
•The maximum 32GB memory capacity can be supported with 16GB or above DIMMs. ASUS will update the memory QVL once the DIMMs are available in the market.
• The default memory operation frequency is dependent on its Serial Presence Detect (SPD), which is the standard way of accessing information from a memory module. Under the default state, some memory modules for overclocking may operate at a lower frequency than the vendor-marked value. To operate at the vendor-marked
or at a higher frequency, refer to section 2.4 Ai Tweaker menu for manual memory frequency adjustment.
•For system stability, use a more efficient memory cooling system to support a full memory load (2 DIMMs) or overclocking condition.
A55M-A Series Motherboard Qualified Vendors Lists (QVL)
DDR3 1866 MHz capability
Vendors |
Part No. |
Size |
SS/DS |
Chip |
Chip NO. Timing |
Voltage |
DIMM socket |
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support (Optional) |
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Brand |
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1 DIMM |
2 DIMMs |
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CORSAIR |
CMT6GX3MA1866C9(XMP) |
6GB(3 x 2GB) |
DS |
- |
- |
9-9-9-24 |
1.65V |
• |
• |
CORSAIR |
CMZ8GX3M2A1866C9(XMP) |
8GB(2 x 4GB) |
DS |
- |
- |
9-10-9-27 |
1.50V |
• |
• |
G.SKILL |
F3-14900CL9Q-16GBZL(XMP1.3) |
16GB(4GB x 4) |
DS |
- |
- |
9-10-9-28 |
1.5V |
• |
• |
G.SKILL |
F3-14900CL10Q2-64GBZLD(XMP1.3) |
64GB(8GB x 8) |
DS |
- |
- |
10-11-10-30 |
1.5V |
• |
• |
KINGSTON |
KHX1866C9D3K4/16GX(XMP) |
16GB(4GB x 4) |
DS |
- |
- |
- |
1.65V |
• |
• |
KINGSTON |
KHX1866C9D3T1K3/6GX(XMP) |
6GB(3 x 2GB) |
DS |
- |
- |
- |
1.65V |
• |
• |
KINGSTON |
KHX1866C11D3P1K2/8G |
8GB(4GB x 2) |
DS |
- |
- |
- |
1.5V |
• |
• |
KINGSTON |
KHX1866C9D3K2/8GX(XMP) |
8GB(4GB x 2) |
DS |
- |
- |
- |
1.65V |
• |
• |
1-12 |
Chapter 1: Product introduction |
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