ASUS A8N-SLI SE User Manual

Motherboard

A8N-SLI SE

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.

E225 2

Revi s e d Edi t i o n V1 Sept e m b er 2 0 0 5

iii

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 SE 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 ........................................ 1-4

1.3.3 Innovative ASUS features ....................................... 1-5

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 Installing 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

Contents

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contents

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

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

4.3.3 Legacy Diskette A ...............................................4-15

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

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

4.3.6 HDD SMART Monitoring ......................................... 4-19

4.3.7 Installed Memory ................................................... 4-19

4.3.8 Usable Memory ...................................................... 4-19

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

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

4.4.2 PCI PnP .................................................................. 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 PEG Link Mode ....................................................... 4-32

4.5 Power menu ........................................................................ 4-34

4.5.1 ACPI Suspend Type ............................................... 4-34

4.5.2 ACPI APIC Support ................................................ 4-34

4.5.3 APM Conﬁguration ................................................4-35

4.5.4 Hardware Monitor .................................................. 4-37

4.6 Boot menu .......................................................................... 4-39

4.6.1 Boot Device Priority .............................................. 4-39

4.6.2 Removable Drives .................................................. 4-40

4.6.3 Hard Disk Drives .................................................... 4-40

4.6.4 Boot Settings Conﬁguration ................................4-41

4.6.5 Security ................................................................. 4-43

4.7 Exit menu ............................................................................ 4-45

Chapter 5: Software support

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

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

5.3 Software information ............................................................ 5-9

5.3.1 ASUS MyLogo2™ ..................................................... 5-9

5.3.2 Audio conﬁgurations ............................................. 5-11

5.3.3 Using the NVIDIA® Firewall™ .................................. 5-17

5.4 RAID conﬁgurations ............................................................ 5-20

5.4.1 Installing hard disks ............................................... 5-21

5.4.2 NVIDIA® RAID conﬁgurations ................................. 5-22

5.5 Creating a RAID driver disk ................................................. 5-29

5.6 Cool ʻnʼ Quiet!™ Technology ............................................... 5-30

5.6.1 Enabling Cool ʻnʼ Quiet!™ Technology ................... 5-30

5.6.2 Launching the Cool ʻnʼ Quiet!™ software .............. 5-31

5.7 Using the NVIDIA® nTune™ utility ....................................... 5-32

5.7.1 Managing your nForce™ system ............................ 5-32

5.7.2 Clock control ......................................................... 5-33

5.7.3 Voltage/Fan control .............................................. 5-33

5.7.4 Information ........................................................... 5-34

5.7.5 Other options ........................................................ 5-34

5.8 Using the ASUS AI Selector utility ...................................... 5-35

5.8.1 Launching the ASUS AI Selector ........................... 5-35

5.8.2 Using the SLI mode ............................................... 5-36

Chapter 6: SLI™ technology support

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

6.2 Dual graphics card setup ...................................................... 6-2

6.2.1 Installing SLI-ready graphics cards .......................... 6-2

Contents

vii

6.2.2 Installing the device drivers .................................... 6-5

6.2.3 Installing the ASUS AI Selector utility ..................... 6-5

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

6.2.5 Setting the ASUS AI Selector utility ....................... 6-8

viii

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.

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.

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.

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.

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, and the 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.

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.

Typography

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.

NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a

task.

IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a

task.

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+Del>

Command

Means that you must type the command exactly as shown, then supply the required item or value enclosed in brackets Example: At the DOS prompt, type the command line: awdﬂash A8NSLISE.ROM

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.

xii

A8N-SLI SE speciﬁcations summary

(continued on the next page)

CPU

Chipset

System Bus

Memory

Expansion slots

Scalable Link Interface (SLI™)

Storage

AI Overclocking

Socket 939 for AMD Athlon™ 64FX/AMD Athlon™ 64/ AMD Athlon 64X2 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 2x bandwidth that supports X1 and X4 add-on cards 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 ASUS AI Selector ASUS EZ Plug™ ASUS Two-slot thermal design

NVIDIA® nForce™ 4 SLI chipset supports:

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

- 4 x Serial ATA devices

- RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, and JBOD that spans across the Serial ATA and Parallel ATA drives

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)

xiii

A8N-SLI SE speciﬁcations summary

Special features

Internal connectors

LAN

AI Audio

USB

Rear panel

BIOS features

ASUS AI Selector ASUS EZFlash ASUS Q-Fan2 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2 ASUS MyLogo2™ ASUS SLI Warning LED ASUS EZ Plug

1 x Floppy disk drive connector 2 x IDE connectors 4 x Serial ATA connectors 1 x CPU fan connector 1 x Power fan connector 1 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 GAME/MIDI connector 1 x Chassis intrusion connector 1 x Front panel audio connector System panel connector

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

- NV ActiveArmor

- NV Firewall

Realtek® ALC850 6-channel CODEC 1 x Coaxial S/PDIF out port Supports Universal Audio Jack (UAJ®) Technology Supports Audio Sensing and Enumeration Technology

Supports up to 10 USB 2.0 ports

1 x Parallel port 1 x LAN (RJ-45) port 4 x USB 2.0 ports 1 x Coaxial S/PDIF out port 1 x PS/2 keyboard port 1 x PS/2 mouse port 6-channel audio ports

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

(continued on the next page)

xiv

A8N-SLI SE speciﬁcations summary

Power Requirement

Form Factor

Support CD contents

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 II ASUS Live Update utility ASUS CoolʼnʼQuiet! utility Anti-virus utility (OEM version) NVIDIA® nTune™ utility

*Speciﬁcations are subject to change without notice.

Product

introduction

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

ASUS A8N-SLI SE

Chapter summary

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

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

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

ASUS A8N-SLI SE 1-1

1.1 Welcome!

T h a n k y o u f o r b u y i n g a n A S U S® A 8 N - S L I S E m o t h e r b o 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.

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

1.2 Package contents

Check your motherboard package for the following items.

Motherboard ASUS A8N-SLI SE motherboard

Cables 2 x Serial ATA signal cables Serial ATA power cable with dual plugs Ultra DMA/133 cable 40-conductor IDE cable Floppy disk drive cable

Accessories I/O shield SLI™ ﬂexible cable USB2.0 2-port module

Application CDs ASUS motherboard support CD

Documentation User guide

1-2 Chapter 1: Product introduction

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, Athlon™ 64 and Athlon 64x2 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 for details.

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 F i rew a ll ™ an d N V Ac t iv e Arm o r™

The NVIDIA® Firewall™ (NV Firewall™) 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 5-17 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 4-22 and 5-31.

ASUS A8N-SLI SE 1-3

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 2-21.

RAI D S o lut i on

The NVIDIA® nForce4® SLI™ allows RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1 and JBOD conﬁguration for four SATA and two PATA connectors. See pages 2-21 and 5-22 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 2-15 and 2-16 for details.

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 2-18 for details.

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 A ud i o t e ch n olo g y

The motherboard supports 6-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 2-18, 2-19 and 5-11 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 2-18 and 2-23 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 4-37.

ASUS A8N-SLI SE 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 5-35 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 6-4 for illustration.

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

The motherboard is designed with one PCI Express x1 slots and PCI Express x4 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 page 4-5 for details.

ASU S Q - Fan 2 te chn o log y

The ASUS Q-Fan2 technology smartly adjusts the fan speeds according to the system loading to ensure quiet, cool, and efﬁcient operation. See page 4-37 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.

1-6 Chapter 1: Product introduction

Hardware

information

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.

ASUS A8N-SLI SE

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 ................................................................... 2-14

2.6 Jumpers .............................................................................. 2-17

2.7 Connectors .........................................................................2-18

ASUS A8N-SLI SE 2-1

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.

2.1 Before you proceed

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 “7. ATX power connectors” on page 2-25 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.

A8N-SLI SE

A8N-SLI SE Onboard LED

SB_PWR

Standby

Power

OFF

Powered

Off

WARN_LED

When use 2 Graphics

but do not plug EZ-PLU

ON OFF

When use 2 Graphics but do plug EZ-PLUG

If you are using a 24-pin power connector, you may ignore the warning LED.

2-2 Chapter 2: Hardware information

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.

Do not overtighten the screws! Doing so can damage the motherboard.

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.

A8N-SLI SE

Place this side towards the rear of the chassis

ASUS A8N-SLI SE 2-3

2.2 .3 Mot he rb oar d la you t

Bottom:Mic In

Center:Line Out

p:Line In

PANEL

A8N-SLI SE

CR2032 3V Lithium Cell

CMOS Power

AUX

FP_AUDIO

GAME

CHASSIS

PRI_IDE

SEC_IDE

EATXPWR

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

F_USB12

PWR_FAN

FLOPPY

Super

I/O

4Mb

BIOS

PS/2KBMS

T: Mouse B: Keyboard

PARALLEL PORT

SPDIF_O

LAN_USB34

WARN_LED

EZ_PLUG

ALC850

PCIEX16_1

PCIEX1_1

PCIEX16_2

PCI1

PCI2

PCI3

Gigabit PHY

CLRTC

USB78 USB56 USB910

SATA1SATA2

SATA3SATA4

CHA1_FAN

X12V

NVIDIA

nForce4 SLI

CHIP_FAN

SB_PWR

PCIEX4_1

2-4 Chapter 2: Hardware information

2.2 .4 Lay ou t Con te nt s

Slots Page

1. DDR DIMM slots 2-11

2. PCI slots 2-16

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 (RJ-45) port 2-19

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

5. Line Out port (lime) 2-19

6. Microphone port (pink) 2-19

7. USB 2.0 ports 3 and 4 2-19

8. USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2 2-19

9. Coaxial S/PDIF out port 2-19

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

ASUS A8N-SLI SE 2-5

Internal connectors Page

1. Floppy disk drive connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY) 2-21

2. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE, 40-1 pin SEC_IDE) 2-21

3. nForce 4 Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1, SATA2, SATA3, SATA4) 2-22

4. CPU, Chassis, Chipset and Power fan connectors(3-pin CPU_FAN, 2-23 3-pin CHA2_FAN, 3-pin CHIP_FAN, 3-pin PWR_FAN, 3-pin CHA1_FAN)

5. Serial port connector (10-1 pin COM1) 2-24

6. USB headers (10-1 USB56, USB78, USB910) 2-24 7 ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR1, 4-pin ATX12V1, 4-pin EZ_PLUG) 2-25

8. Internal audio connectors (4-pin CD, AUX) 2-26

9. GAME/MIDI connector (16-1 pin GAME) 2-26

10. Chassis intrusion connector (4-1 pin CHASSIS) 2-27

11. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin FP_AUDIO) 2-27

12. System panel connectors (20-1 pin PANEL) 2-28

- System Power LED (Green 3-pin PLED)

- Hard Disk activity (Red 2-pin IDE_LED)

- System warning speaker (Orange 4-pin SPEAKER)

- Power/Soft-off button(Yellow 2-pin PWRSW)

- Reset switch (Blue 2-pin RESET)

2-6 Chapter 2: Hardware information

2.3 .2 Ins ta ll ing t he CP U

To install a CPU:

1. Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard.

2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU)

2.3 .1 Ove rv ie w

The motherboard comes with a surface mount 939-pin Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) socket designed for the AMD Athlon™ 64FX, AMD Athlon™ 64 or AMD Athlon™ 64X2 processor.

The 128-bit-wide data paths of these processors can run applications faster than processors with only 32-bit or 64-bit wide data paths.

Before installing the CPU, make sure that the socket box is facing towards you and the load lever is on your left.

Take note of the marked corner (with gold triangle) on the CPU. This mark should match a speciﬁc corner on the socket to ensure correct installation.

Gold triangle

A8N-SLI SE

A8N-SLI SE CPU Socket 939

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