ASUS A8N-SLI User Manual

A8N-SLI

Premium

Motherboard

E243 5

Revi s e d Edi t i o n V3
Febr u a r y 20 0 6

Copyright © 2006 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 by ASUS; 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.

ii

Contents

Notices ...............................................................................................viii

Safety information .............................................................................. ix

About this guide ................................................................................... x

How this guide is organized ...................................................... x

Where to find more information .............................................. xi

Conventions used in this guide ................................................ xi

Typography ......................................................................................... xi

A8N-SLI Premium specifications summary ..........................................xii

Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.1 Welcome! .............................................................................. 1-1

1.2 Package contents ................................................................. 1-1

1.3 Special features .................................................................... 1-2

1.3.1 Product highlights ................................................... 1-2

1.3.2 ASUS Proactive features ........................................ 1-5

1.3.3 Innovative ASUS features ....................................... 1-6

Chapter 2: Hardware information

2.1 Before you proceed .............................................................. 2-1

2.2 Motherboard overview .......................................................... 2-2

2.2.1 Placement direction ................................................ 2-2

2.2.2 Screw holes ............................................................. 2-2

2.2.3 Motherboard layout ................................................ 2-3

2.2.4 Layout Contents ..................................................... 2-4

2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) .............................................. 2-6

2.3.1 Overview ................................................................. 2-6

2.3.2 Installling the CPU ................................................... 2-6

2.3.3 Installing the heatsink and fan ................................ 2-8

2.4 System memory .................................................................. 2-11

2.4.1 Overview ............................................................... 2-11

2.4.2 Memory Configurations ......................................... 2-11

2.4.3 Installing a DIMM ...................................................2-14

2.4.4 Removing a DIMM .................................................. 2-14

2.5 Expansion slots ................................................................... 2-15

2.5.1 Installing an expansion card .................................. 2-15

2.5.2 Configuring an expansion card .............................. 2-15

iii

Contents

2.5.3 Interrupt assignments ........................................... 2-16

2.5.4 PCI slots ................................................................ 2-16

2.5.5 Two PCI Express x16 slots .................................... 2-17

2.5.6 PCI Express x1 slot ............................................... 2-17

2.5.7 Universal PCIe slot (PCI Express x4 slot) .............. 2-17

2.6 Jumpers .............................................................................. 2-18

2.7 Connectors .........................................................................2-19

2.7.1 Rear panel connectors .......................................... 2-19

2.7.2 Internal connectors ............................................... 2-21

Chapter 3: Powering up

3.1 Starting up for the first time ................................................ 3-1

3.2 Powering off the computer ................................................... 3-2

3.2.1 Using the OS shut down function ........................... 3-2

3.2.2 Using the dual function power switch ..................... 3-2

3.3 ASUS POST Reporter™ .......................................................... 3-3

3.3.1 Vocal POST messages ............................................. 3-3

3.3.2 Winbond Voice Editor ............................................. 3-5

Chapter 4: BIOS setup

4.1 Managing and updating your BIOS ........................................ 4-1

4.1.1 Creating a bootable floppy disk .............................. 4-1

4.1.2 Updating the BIOS ................................................... 4-2

4.1.3 Saving the current BIOS file .................................... 4-4

4.1.4 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2 utility ................................ 4-5

4.1.5 ASUS EZ Flash utility ............................................... 4-7

4.1.6 ASUS Update utility ................................................ 4-8

4.2 BIOS setup program ............................................................ 4-11

4.2.1 BIOS menu screen ................................................. 4-12

4.2.2 Menu bar ............................................................... 4-12

4.2.3 Legend bar ............................................................ 4-13

4.2.4 Menu items ........................................................... 4-13

4.2.5 Sub-menu items .................................................... 4-13

4.2.6 Configuration fields ............................................... 4-13

4.2.8 General help .......................................................... 4-14

4.2.7 Pop-up window ...................................................... 4-14

iv

Contents

4.3 Main menu ........................................................................... 4-15

4.3.1 System Time ........................................................ 4-15

4.3.2 System Date ........................................................ 4-15

4.3.3 Language ............................................................. 4-15

4.3.4 Legacy Diskette A ...............................................4-15

4.3.5 Primary and Secondary IDE Master/Slave ............. 4-16

4.3.5 First, Second, Third, Fourth SATA Master ............4-18

4.3.7 HDD SMART Monitoring ......................................... 4-19

4.3.8 Installed Memory ................................................... 4-19

4.4 Advanced menu .................................................................. 4-20

4.4.1 CPU Configuration ................................................. 4-20

4.4.2 PCIPnP ................................................................... 4-23

4.4.3 Onboard Devices Configuration ............................. 4-24

4.4.4 SLI Configuration ................................................... 4-29

4.4.5 JumperFree Configuration ..................................... 4-30

4.4.6 LAN Cable Status .................................................. 4-32

4.4.7 PEG Link Mode ....................................................... 4-33

4.4.8 Speech Configuration ............................................ 4-34

4.4.9 Instant Music ......................................................... 4-34

4.5 Power menu ........................................................................ 4-35

4.5.1 ACPI Suspend Type ............................................... 4-35

4.5.2 ACPI APIC Support ................................................ 4-35

4.5.3 APM Configuration ................................................4-36

4.5.4 Hardware Monitor .................................................. 4-38

4.6 Boot menu .......................................................................... 4-40

4.6.1 Boot Device Priority .............................................. 4-40

4.6.3 Hard Disk Drives .................................................... 4-41

4.6.2 Removable Drives .................................................. 4-41

4.6.4 CDROM Drives ....................................................... 4-42

4.6.5 Boot Settings Configuration ................................4-42

4.6.6 Security ................................................................. 4-44

4.7 Exit menu ............................................................................ 4-46

Chapter 5: Software support

5.1 Installing an operating system .............................................. 5-1

v

Contents

5.2 Support CD information ........................................................ 5-1

5.2.1 Running the support CD .......................................... 5-1

5.2.2 Drivers menu ........................................................... 5-2

5.2.3 Utilities menu .......................................................... 5-3

5.2.4 Manuals menu ......................................................... 5-5

5.2.5 ASUS Contact information ...................................... 5-6

5.2.6 Other information ................................................... 5-6

5.4 Software information ............................................................ 5-9

5.4.1 ASUS MyLogo2™ ..................................................... 5-9

5.4.2 AI NET 2 ................................................................ 5-11

Using the Virtual Cable Tester™ ........................... 5-11

5.4.3 Audio configurations ............................................. 5-12

5.4.4 Using the NVIDIA® Firewall™ .................................. 5-18

5.5 RAID configurations ............................................................ 5-21

5.5.1 Installing hard disks ............................................... 5-22

5.5.2 NVIDIA® RAID configurations ................................. 5-23

5.5.3 Silicon Image RAID configurations ......................... 5-30

5.6 Creating a RAID driver disk ................................................. 5-40

5.7 Cool ʻnʼ Quiet!™ Technology ............................................... 5-41

5.7.1 Enabling Cool ʻnʼ Quiet!™ Technology ................... 5-41

5.7.2 Launching the Cool ʻnʼ Quiet!™ software .............. 5-42

5.8 Using the NVIDIA® nTune™ utility ....................................... 5-43

5.8.1 Managing your nForce™ system ............................ 5-43

5.8.2 Clock control ......................................................... 5-44

5.8.3 Voltage/Fan control .............................................. 5-44

5.8.4 Information ........................................................... 5-45

5.8.5 Other options ........................................................ 5-45

5.9 Using the ASUS AI Selector utility ...................................... 5-46

5.9.1 Launching the ASUS AI Selector ........................... 5-46

5.9.2 Using the SLI mode ............................................... 5-47

Chapter 6: SLI™ technology support

6.1 Overview ............................................................................... 6-1

6.1.1 Requirements .......................................................... 6-1

6.1.2 ASUS Certified SLI Graphics cards .......................... 6-1

vi

6.2 Dual graphics card setup ...................................................... 6-3

6.2.1 Installing SLI-ready graphics cards .......................... 6-3

6.2.2 Setting the SLI mode in BIOS .................................. 6-7

6.2.3 Installing the device drivers .................................... 6-7

6.2.4 Enabling the multi-GPU feature in Windows ............ 6-7

Appendix

A.1 Using the SATA extension module ....................................... A-1

A.1.1 Installing the 2-port SATA extension module ......... A-1

A.1.1 Installing SATA hard drives ..................................... A-2

vii

Notices

Fed er al Co mm un ica ti on s C om mi ssi on S tat em en t

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. These limits
are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
manufacturerʼs instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will
not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful
interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by
turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct
the interference by one or more of the following measures:

•

Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

•

Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

•

Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to
which the receiver is connected.

•

Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

The use of shielded cables for connection of the monitor to the graphics
card is required to assure compliance with FCC regulations. Changes
or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could void the userʼs authority to operate
this equipment.

Can ad ia n D ep ar tme nt o f C om mu nic at io ns St at eme nt

This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise
emissions from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference
Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.

This class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian
ICES-003.

viii

Safety information

Ele ct ri cal s af ety

•

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.

•

Make sure 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.

Ope ra ti on sa fe ty

•

Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully
read all the manuals that came with the package.

•

Before using the product, make sure 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.

The symbol of the crossed out wheeled bin indicates that the product
(electrical and electronic equipment) should not be placed in municipal
waste. Check local regulations for disposal of electronic products.

ix

About this guide

This user guide contains the information you need when installing and
configuring the motherboard.

How t hi s g ui de is o rg ani ze d

This manual contains the following parts:

• Chap t e r 1: P r o duct i n trod u c t ion
This chapter describes the features of the motherboard and the new

technology it supports.

• Chap t e r 2: H a r dwar e i nfor m a t ion
This chapter lists the hardware setup procedures that you have to

perform when installing system components. It includes description of
the switches, jumpers, and connectors on the motherboard.

• Chap t e r 3: P o w erin g u p
This chapter describes the power up sequence, the vocal POST

messages, and ways of shutting down the system.

• Chap t e r 4: B I O S se t u p
This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS

Setup menus. Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also
provided.

• Chap t e r 5: S o f twar e s uppo r t
This chapter describes the contents of the support CD that comes

with the motherboard package.

• Chap t e r 6: N V I DIA® SLI ™ t echn o l o gy s u p p ort
This chapter tells how to install SLI-ready PCI Express graphics cards.

• Appe n d i x: I n s t alla t i o n op t i o ns
This appendix describes how to install optional accessories to your

motherboard.

x

Whe re t o f in d mor e in for ma ti on

Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product
and software updates.

1. A S U S we b s i tes
The ASUS website provides updated information on ASUS hardware

and software products. Refer to the ASUS contact information.

2. O p t iona l d ocum e n t atio n
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.

Con ve nt ion s us ed in t his g ui de

To make sure 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 (+)

Example: <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<D>

Command

then supply the required item or value enclosed in
brackets
Example: At the DOS prompt, type the command line:
awdflash A8NSLI.ROM

Means that you must type the command exactly as shown,

xi

A8N-SLI Premium specifications summary

CPU

Chipset

System Bus

Memory

Expansion slots

Scalable Link
Interface (SLI™)

Storage

Socket 939 for AMD Athlon™ 64FX/AMD Athlon™ 64
processor
Supports AMD 64 architecture that enables simultaneous
32-bit and 64-bit architecture
Supports AMD® Cool ʻnʼ Quiet! Technology

NVIDIA® nForce™ 4 SLI
Supports NVIDIA® Scalable Link Interface™ (SLI)
technology

1600/2000 MT per second

Dual-channel memory architecture
4 x 184-pin DIMM sockets support ECC/non-ECC
unbufferred 400/333/266 MHz DDR memory modules
Supports up to 4 GB system memory

2 x PCI Express x16 slots with Scalable Link Interface
(SLI™) support
1 x PCI Express x1 slot
1 x PCI Express x4 slot running at 1 GB/s bandwidth
3 x PCI slots

SLI™ mode supports:

- 2 x identical SLI™-ready PCI Express x16 graphics
cards
(Note: In SLI mode, the PCI Express x16 slots work at the

bandwidth of PCI Express x8. The combined bandwidth of
these maintain the bandwidth of PCI Express x16.)

Single card mode supports (default):

- 1 x any PCI Express x16 graphics card on the first
slot (blue)
ASUS AI Selector
ASUS EZ Plug™
ASUS PEG Link for dual PCI Express graphics cards
ASUS Two-slot thermal design

NVIDIA® nForce™ 4 SLI chipset supports:

- 2 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66/33

- 4 x Serial ATA II devices

- RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, and JBOD

Silicon Image 3114R RAID controller supports:

- 4 x Serial ATA with RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, and
RAID 5 configuration

xii

(continued on the next page)

A8N-SLI Premium specifications summary

AI Overclocking

Special features

Internal
connectors

AI NOS™ (Non-Delay Overclocking System)
ASUS AI Overclocking (Intelligent CPU frequency tuner)
ASUS PEG Link for single/dual graphics card
Fixed PCI Express/PCI/SATA frequencies
ASUS C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)
Precision Tweaker supports:

- DIMM voltage: 9-step DRAM voltage control

- Core voltage: Adjustable CPU voltage at 0.0125
increment

- PCI Express Frequency: Allows 1MHz increment from
100MHz to 200MHz

- Stepless Frequency Selection(SFS) allows 1MHz
increment from 200 MHz to 400 MHz

ASUS AI Cool-Pipe
ASUS AI Selector
ASUS Post Reporter™
ASUS EZFlash
ASUS Q-Fan
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2
ASUS Multi-language BIOS
ASUS MyLogo2
ASUS Instant Music
ASUS SLI Warning LED
ASUS EZ Plug

1 x Floppy disk drive connector
2 x IDE connectors
8 x Serial ATA connectors
1 x CPU fan connector
1 x Power fan connector
2 x Chassis fan connector
1 x Chipset fan connector
1 x Serial port connector (COM port)
1 x 24-pin ATX power connector
1 x 4-pin ATX 12 V power connector
1 x 4-pin ASUS EZ Plug™ connector
3 x USB 2.0 connectors for 6 additional USB 2.0 ports
1 x Internal audio connectors (CD\AUX)
1 x IEEE 1394 connector
1 x GAME/MIDI connector
1 x Chassis intrusion connector
1 x Front panel audio connector
System panel connector

(continued on the next page)

xiii

A8N-SLI Premium specifications summary

LAN

AI Audio

IEEE 1394

USB

Rear panel

BIOS features

Power Requirement

Form Factor

Support CD
contents

NVIDIA® nForce™ 4 built-in Gigabit MAC with external
Marvell® PHY supports:

- NV ActiveArmor

- NV Firewall

- AI NET2
Marvell® 88E8001 PCI Gigabit LAN controller supports:

- Marvell® Virtual Cable Tester technology

- AI NET2

Realtek® ALC850 8-channel CODEC
1 x Coaxial S/PDIF out port
1 x Optical S/PDIF out port
Supports Universal Audio Jack (UAJ®) Technology
Supports Audio Sensing and Enumeration Technology

T1 1394a controller supports:

- 2 x IEEE 1394 connector

Supports up to 10 USB 2.0 ports

1 x Parallel port
1 x IEEE 1394 port
2 x LAN (RJ-45) port
4 x USB 2.0 ports
1 x Optical S/PDIF out port
1 x Coaxial S/PDIF out port
1 x PS/2 keyboard port
1 x PS/2 mouse port
8-channel audio ports

4 Mb Flash ROM, Phoenix-Award BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0,
WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.3

ATX power supply (with 24-pin and 4-pin 12 V plugs)
ATX 12 V 2.0 compliant

ATX form factor: 12 in x 9.6 in (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm)

Device drivers
ASUS PC Probe
ASUS Live Update utility
ASUS CoolʼnʼQuiet! utility
Anti-virus utility (OEM version)
NVIDIA® nTune™ utility

*Specifications are subject to change without notice.

xiv

This chapter describes the motherboard
features and the new technologies
it supports.

introduction

Product

1

Chapter summary

1.1 Welcome! .............................................................................. 1-1

1.2 Package contents ................................................................. 1-1

1.3 Special features .................................................................... 1-2

ASUS A8N-SLI Premium

1.1 Welcome!

Than k y ou f o r buyi n g an A S U S® A8N - S L I Pr e m i um m o t h erbo a r d !

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 A8N-SLI Premium motherboard

I/O modules Serial ATA 2-port extension module
IEEE1394 (1 port) module
USB 2.0 2-port module
USB 2.0 + GAME port module

Cables 8 x Serial ATA signal cables
Serial ATA power cable with dual plugs
Ultra DMA/133 cable
40-conductor IDE cable
Floppy disk drive cable
COM cable

Accessories I/O shield
SLI™ flexible cable

Application CDs ASUS motherboard support CD
InterVideo® WinDVD Suite® (retail box only)

Documentation User guide

If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.

ASUS A8N-SLI Premium 1-1

1.3 Special features

1.3 .1 Pro du ct hi gh li ght s

Lat e st pro c es s or t ec h nol o gy

The AMD Athlon™ 64FX and Athlon™ 64 desktop processors are based
on AMDʼs 64-bit and 32-bit architecture, which represents the landmark
introduction of the industryʼs first x86-64 technology. These processors
provide a dramatic leap forward in compatibility, performance, investment
protection, and reduced total cost of ownership and development.
See page 2-6.

Sca l ab l e L i nk Int e rf a ce ( SL I ™) t ec h nol o gy

The NVIDIA® nForce4® Scalable Link Interface (SLI™) technology allows two
graphics processing units (GPUs) in a single system. This technology takes
advantage of the PCI Express™ bus architecture and features intelligent
hardware and software solutions that allows multiple GPUs to work
together and achieve exceptional graphics performance. See Chapter 6 for
details.

Bui l t- i n N V Fi r ewa l l™ and NV A cti v eA r mor ™

The NVIDIA® Firewall™ (NVFirewall™) is an easy-to-use high-performance
desktop firewall application that protects your system from intruders.
Integrated into the NVIDIA® nForce4® SLI™ chipset with the NVIDIA® Gigabit
Ethernet, it provides advanced anti-computer-hacking technologies, remote
management capabilities, and a user-friendly setup wizard that improves
overall system security.

Enhancing your network security is the NVIDIA® ActiveArmor™
(NV ActiveArmor™) engine that provides advanced data packet inspection.
This innovative technology ensures that only safe data packets are passed
on the network. It boosts overall system performance by offloading the
CPU from the rigorous task of filtering data packets. See page 5-18 for
details.

AMD Co o l ʻ n ʼ Q uie t !™ Tec h no l ogy

The motherboard supports the AMD Cool ʻnʼ Quiet!™ Technology that
dynamically and automatically changes the CPU speed, voltage and amount
of power depending on the task the CPU performs. See pages 4-20 and
5-41.

1-2 Chapter 1: Product introduction

Hyp e rT r ans p or t ™ T e ch n olo g y

HyperTransport™ Technology is a high-speed, low latency, point-to-point
link designed to increase the communication speed between integrated
circuits in computers, networking and telecommunicatons equipment up to
48 times faster than other existing technologies.

Dua l C h ann e l D DR m em o ry s up p ort

Employing the Double Data Rate (DDR) memory technology,
the motherboard supports up to 4GB of system memory using
DDR400/333/266 DIMMs. The ultra-fast 400MHz memory bus delivers the
required bandwidth for the latest 3D graphics, multimedia, and Internet
applications. See page 2-11.

Ser i al ATA II tec h no l ogy

The motherboard supports the next-generation Serial ATA 3Gb/s
technology through the Serial ATA interfaces and the NVIDIA® SLI™ chipset.
The SATA 3Gb/s specification provides twice the bandwidth of the current
Serial ATA products with a host of new features including Native Command
Queuing (NCQ), Power Management (PM) Implementation Algorithm, and
Hot Swap. Additionally, Serial ATA allows thinner, more flexible cables with
lower pin count, and reduced voltage requirement. See pages 2-22 and
2-23.

Dua l R A ID s ol u tio n

Onboard RAID controllers provide the motherboard with dual-RAID
functionality that allows you to select the best RAID solution using IDE or
Serial ATA devices.

The NVIDIA® nForce4® SLI™ allows RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1 and JBOD
configuration for four SATA connectors or two PATA connectors. See
pages 2-22 and 5-23 for details.

The Sil3114R controller supports four additional SATA connectors and
allows RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, and a software patch to support a
bootable RAID 5 configuration. See pages 2-23 and 5-30 for details.

PCI Ex p res s ™ i nte r fa c e

The motherboard fully supports PCI Express, the latest I/O interconnect
technology that speeds up the PCI bus. PCI Express features point-to-point
serial interconnections between devices and allows higher clockspeeds by
carrying data in packets. This high speed interface is software compatible
with existing PCI specifications. See page 2-17 for details.

ASUS A8N-SLI Premium 1-3

S/P D IF dig i ta l so u nd rea d y

The motherboard supports the S/PDIF Out function through the S/PDIF
interfaces on the rear panel. The S/PDIF technology turns your computer
into a high-end entertainment system with digital connectivity to powerful
audio and speaker systems. See page 2-19 for details.

IEE E 1 3 94a sup p or t

The IEEE 1394a interface provides high-speed and flexible PC connectivity
to a wide range of peripherals and devices compliant to the IEEE 1394a
standard. The IEEE 1394a interface allows up to 400 Mbps transfer rates
through simple, low-cost, high-bandwidth asynchronous (real-time) data
interfacing between computers, peripherals, and consumer electronic
devices such as camcorders, VCRs, printers, TVs, and digital cameras. See
pages 2-19 and 2-28 for details.

USB 2.0 te c hno log y

The motherboard implements the Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0
specification, dramatically increasing the connection speed from the
12 Mbps bandwidth on USB 1.1 to a fast 480 Mbps on USB 2.0. USB 2.0 is
backward compatible with USB 1.1. See page 2-19 and 2-25 for details.

Tem p er a tur e , f an, an d vo l ta g e m o ni t ori n g

The CPU temperature is monitored by the ASIC (integrated in the Winbond
Super I/O) to prevent overheating and damage. The system fan rotations
per minute (RPM) is monitored for timely failure detection. The ASIC
monitors the voltage levels to ensure stable supply of current for critical
components. See section “4.5.4 Hardware Monitor” on page 4-38.

1-4 Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.3 .2 ASU S Pr oac ti ve fe at ur es

AI N OS ™ (N o n- D ela y O v erc l oc k ing Sy s tem )

ASUS Non-delay Overclocking System™ (NOS) is a technology that
auto-detects the CPU loading and dynamically overclocks the CPU speed
only when needed. See page 4-30 for details.

AI C oo l -Pi p e

ASUS AI Cool-Pipe is a unique heat pipe design that dissipates heat
away from the chipset. This device significantly lowers overall system
temperature for a quiet and stable system performance.

Pre c is i on T we a ker

Designed for overclocking aficionados, this feature allows you to fine tune
the CPU/memory voltage and gradually increase the Front Side Bus (FSB)
and PCI Express frequency to achieve maximum system performance.

AI N ET 2

AI NET 2 is a BIOS-based diagnostic tool that detects and reports
Ethernet cable faults and shorts. With this utility, you can easily monitor
the condition of the Ethernet cable(s) connected to the LAN (RJ-45)
port(s). During the bootup process, AI NET 2 immediately diagnoses the
LAN cable(s) and reports shorts and faults up to 100 meters at 1 meter
accuracy. See pages 4-32 and 5-11 for details.

AI A ud i o t e ch n olo g y

The motherboard supports 8-channel audio through the onboard ALC850
CODEC with 16-bit DAC, a stereo 16-bit ADC, and an AC97 2.3 compatible
multi-channel audio designed for PC multimedia systems. It also provides
Jack-Sensing function, S/PDIF out support, interrupt capability and includes
the Realtek® proprietary UAJ® (Universal Audio Jack) technology. See pages
2-19, 2-20 and 5-12 for details.

ASUS A8N-SLI Premium 1-5

1.3 .3 Inn ov at ive A SU S f ea tu res

ASU S A I Se l ec t or

The AI Selector allows you to set the video card mode of your system. This
utility works when you have two graphics cards installed in your system.
See page 5-46 for details.

ASU S E Z Pl u g™

This patented ASUS technology is a 4-pin auxiliary +12V connector that
is designed to maintain the voltage integrity of your system. This plug
guarantees adequate supply of power to the motherboard and other
installed peripherals. See page 6-5 for illustration.

ASU S T w o-s l ot the r ma l de s ig n

The motherboard is designed with two PCI Express x1 slots placed between
the PCI Express x16 slots allowing an increase in airflow between the two
PCI Express x16 graphics cards. This special design permits more room for
ventilation thus lowering the overall system temperature.

Cra s hF r ee B IO S 2

This feature allows you to restore the original BIOS data from the support
CD in case when the BIOS codes and data are corrupted. This protection
eliminates the need to buy a replacement ROM chip. See details on page 4-5.

ASU S Q - Fan te c hno l og y

The ASUS Q-Fan technology smartly adjusts the fan speeds according to
the system loading to ensure quiet, cool, and efficient operation. See page
4-38 for details.

ASU S P O ST R ep o rte r ™

The motherboard offers a new exciting feature called the ASUS POST
Reporter™ to provide friendly voice messages and alerts during the
Power-On Self-Tests (POST) informing you of the system boot status and
causes of boot errors, if any. The bundled Winbond Voice Editor software
lets you to customize the voice messages in different languages. See page
3-4 for details.

1-6 Chapter 1: Product introduction

ASU S M u lti - la n gua g e B IOS

The multi-language BIOS allows you to select the language of your choice
from the available options. The localized BIOS menus allow you to configure
easier and faster. See page 4-15 for details.

ASU S M y Log o 2™

This new feature present in the motherboard allows you to personalize and
add style to your system with customizable boot logos. See page 5-9 for
details.

ASU S I n sta n t M usi c

This unique feature allows you to playback audio files even without booting
the system to Windows™. Just press the ASUS Instant Music special
function keys and enjoy the music! See pages 4-34.

ASUS A8N-SLI Premium 1-7

1-8 Chapter 1: Product introduction

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.

information

Hardware

2

Chapter summary

2.1 Before you proceed .............................................................. 2-1

2.2 Motherboard overview .......................................................... 2-2

2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) .............................................. 2-6

2.4 System memory .................................................................. 2-11

2.5 Expansion slots ................................................................... 2-15

2.6 Jumpers .............................................................................. 2-18

2.7 Connectors .........................................................................2-19

ASUS A8N-SLI Premium

2.1 Before you proceed

A8N-SLI PREMIUM

®

A8N-SLI PREMIUM Onboard LED

SB_PWR

ON

Standby

Power

OFF

Powered

Off

SLI_WARN_LED

When use 2 Graphics

but do not plug EZ-PLUG

ON OFF

When use 2 Graphics
but do plug EZ-PLUG

Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard
components or change any motherboard settings.

• Make sure that your power supply unit (PSU) can provide at least
the minimum power required by your system. See “8. ATX power
connectors” on page 2-26 for details.

• Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any
component.

• Use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or
to 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.

• 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, ensure that the ATX
power supply is switched off or the power cord is detached from
the power supply. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to the
motherboard, peripherals, and/or components.

Onboard 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.

The red warning LED lights up when you installed two graphics card
but did not connect the ASUS EZ Plug™. The illustration below shows
the location of the onboard LEDs.

ASUS A8N-SLI Premium 2-1

A8N-SLI PREMIUM

®

2.2 Motherboard overview

Before you install the motherboard, study the configuration of your chassis
to ensure that the motherboard fits into it.

Make sure to unplug the power cord before installing or removing the
motherboard. Failure to do so can cause you physical injury and damage
motherboard components.

2.2 .1 Pla ce me nt di re cti on

When installing the motherboard, make sure 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 .2 Scr ew h ole s

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.

Place this side towards
the rear of the chassis

2-2 Chapter 2: Hardware information

Bottom:Mic In

Center:Line Out

Top:Line In

Below:
Center/Subwoofer

Center

:

Side Speaker Ou

t

Top:Rear Speaker Out

PANEL

A8N-SLI PREMIUM

R

CR2032 3V
Lithium Cell

CMOS Power

AUX

FP_AUDIO

GAME

CHASSIS

PRI_IDE

SEC_IDE

EATXPWR

Marvell

88E8001

COM1

24.5cm (9.6in)

30.5cm (12.0in)

CPU_FAN

Socket 939

DDR DIMM_B1 (64 bit,184-pin module)

DDR DIMM_A1 (64 bit,184-pin module)

DDR DIMM_A2 (64 bit,184-pin module)

DDR DIMM_B2 (64 bit,184-pin module)

CHA2_FAN

LAN2_USB12

IE_1394_2

SATA_RAID3

PWR_FAN

FLOPPY

Super

I/O

1394

Controller

4Mb

BIOS

Silicon Image

Sil3114

PS/2KBMS

T: Mouse
B: Keyboard

PARALLEL PORT

SPDIF_O

SPDIF_O2

LAN1_USB34

CD

WARN_LED

EZ_PLUG

Speech

Controller

ACL850

PCIEX16_1

PCIEX1_1

PCIEX16_2

PCI

1

PCI

2

PCI

3

Marvell

88E1115

CLRTC

USB78 USB56 USB910

SATA3SATA4

SATA1SATA2

SATA_RAID4

SATA_RAID1SATA_RAID2

CHA1_FAN

ATX12V

1394

nVIDIA

CK804

CHIP_FAN

SB_PWR

PCIEX4_1

AI Cool-Pipe

2.2 .3 Mot he rb oar d la you t

ASUS A8N-SLI Premium 2-3

2.2 .4 Lay ou t Con te nt s

Slots Page

1. DDR DIMM slots 2-11

2. PCI slots 2-17

3. PCI Express x16 slot 2-17

4. PCI Express x1 slot 2-17

5. PCI Express x4 slot 2-17

Jumpers Page

1. Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC1) 2-18

Rear panel connectors Page

1. PS/2 mouse port (green) 2-19

2. Parallel port 2-19

3. LAN 2 (RJ-45) port 2-19

4. LAN 1 (RJ-45) port 2-19

5. Rear Speaker Out port (gray) 2-19

6. Side Speaker Out port (black) 2-19

7. Line In port (light blue) 2-19

8. Line Out port (lime) 2-19

9. Microphone port (pink) 2-20

10. Center/Subwoofer port (yellow orange) 2-20

11. USB 2.0 ports 3 and 4 2-20

12. USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2 2-20

13. IEEE 1394a port 2-20

14. Optical S/PDIF out port 2-20

15. Coaxial S/PDIF out port 2-20

16. PS/2 keyboard port (purple) 2-20

2-4 Chapter 2: Hardware information