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, modied or altered, unless
such repair, modication 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 identication or explanation and to the
owners’ benet, without intent to infringe.
ii
Page 3
Contents
Notices ......................................................................................................... vi
Safety information ..................................................................................... vii
About this guide ........................................................................................ vii
M3N78 SE specications summary .......................................................... ix
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 manufacturer’s 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 modications to this unit not
expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority
to operate this equipment.
Canadian Department of Communications Statement
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.
DO NOT throw the motherboard in municipal waste. This product has been designed to
enable proper reuse of parts and recycling. This 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.
DO NOT throw the mercury-containing button cell battery in municipal waste. This symbol
of the crossed out wheeled bin indicates that the battery should not be placed in municipal
waste.
vi
Page 7
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 x it by yourself. Contact a qualied 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 that 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 qualied service
technician or your retailer.
About this guide
This user guide contains the information you need when installing and conguring 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. This chapter also 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.
• 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.
vii
Page 8
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.
Where to nd 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 yers,
that may have been added by your dealer. These documents are not part of the
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
<Key1>+<Key2>+<Key3> If you must press two or more keys simultaneously,
Command Means that you must type the command exactly
sign means that you must press the enclosed key.
Example: <Enter> means that you must press the
Enter or Return key.
the key names are linked with a plus sign (+).
Example: <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<D>
as shown, then supply the required item or value
enclosed in brackets.
Example: At the DOS prompt, type the command
line:
afudos /i[lename]
afudos /iM3N78SE.ROM
viii
Page 9
M3N78 SE specications summary
CPUAMD® Socket AM2+ / AM2 for AMD Phenom™FX / Phenom
ChipsetNvidia® nForce™ 720D
System busUp to 5200 MT/s HyperTransport™ 3.0 interface
MemoryDual-channel memory architecture
Expansion slots1 x PCI Express™ x16 slot
Storage / RAID1 x UltraDMA 133/100 connector
AudioALC662 High Denition Audio 6-channel CODEC
USBSupports up to 12 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (6 ports
LANNvidia nForce built-in Gigabit MAC with external Realtek
ASUS overclocking
features
/ Athlon™ / Sempron™ processor
AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ Technology
AMD Live!™ Ready
Supports CPU up to 125W
for AM2+ CPU
2000 / 1600 MT/s for AM2 CPU
2 x 240-pin DIMM slots support unbuffered
ECC and non-ECC DDR2 1066/800/667/533MHz
memory modules
Supports up to 8GB system memory
* Refer to www.asus.com for the latest Memory QVL
(Qualied Vendors List).
* When you install a total memory of 4GB or more,
Windows® 32-bit operation system may only recognize
less than 3GB. Hence, a maximum of 3GB system
memory is recommended if you are using a Windows
- HT tuning from 200MHz up to 550MHz
at 1MHz increment
- Memory tuning from 533MHz up to 1066MHz
- PCIe frequency tuning from 100MHz up to 150MHz
at 1MHz increment
Overclocking Protection
- ASUS C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)
(continued on the next page)
ix
Page 10
M3N78 SE specications summary
ASUS special featuresASUS Quiet Thermal Solution
Back panel I/O ports1 x PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse Combo port
Internal I/O connectors3 x USB 2.0/1.1 connectors support additional
BIOS8Mb Flash ROM, AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0,
Accessories1 x Serial ATA cable
Form FactorATX form factor: 12’’ x 8.6’’ (30.5cm x 21.8cm)
Support DVDDrivers
- ASUS Q-Fan
ASUS EZ DIY
- ASUS CrashFree BIOS3
- ASUS EZ Flash2
ASUS AI NET 2
ASUS MyLogo2
1 x RJ45 port
6 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
6-channel Audio I/O ports
1 x LPT port
1 x COM port
6 USB 2.0/1.1 ports
1 x Floppy disk drive connector
4 x SATA connectors
1 x system panel connector
1 x CD audio-in connector
1 x S/PDIF Out connector
1 x Front panel audio connector
1x CPU Fan connectors
24-pin EATX power connector
4-pin ATX 12V power connector
ACPI2.0, SM BIOS 2.5, ASUS EZ Flash 2
1 x Serial ATA power cable
1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable
1x IO Shield
User manual
ASUS Update
ASUS PC Probe II
Anti-Virus software (OEM version)
*Specications are subject to change without notice.
x
Page 11
Chapter 1
Product introduction
1.1 Welcome!
Thank you for buying an ASUS® M3N78 SE motherboard!
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.
MotherboardASUS M3N78 SE motherboard
Cables1 x Serial ATA cable
Accessories1 x I/O shield
Application DVDASUS motherboard support DVD
DocumentationUser guide
If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.
1 x Serial ATA power cable
1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 cable
1.3 Special features
1.3.1 Product highlights
ASUS M3N78 SE1-1
AMD® Socket AM2+ Phenom™ FX /Phenom / Athlon™ / CPU
support
This motherboard supports AMD® Socket AM2+ multi-core processors
with unique L3 cache and delivers better overclocking capabilities
with less power consumption. It features dual-channel DDR2 1066
memory support and accelerates data transfer rate up to 5200MT/s via
HyperTransport™ 3.0 based system bus. See page 1-7 for details.
AMD® Socket AM2 Athlon™ / Sempron CPU support
The motherboard supports AMD® Socket AM2 Athlon™ / Sempron
processors. It features 2000 / 1600 MT/s HyperTransport™-based system
bus, dual-channel un-buffered DDR2 800 memory support and AMD™
Cool ‘n’ Quiet! Technology. See page 1-7 for details.
Page 12
NVIDIA® nForce™ 720D chipset
MT/s
5200
The NVIDIA® nForce 720D supports HyperTransport™3.0 interface,
PCI Express™ 2.0 bus architecture, and Serial ATA 3 GB/s devices. It
is optimized with AMD’s latest AM2+ and multi-core CPUs to provide
excellent system performance.
HyperTransport 3.0 support
HyperTransport 3.0 technology provides 2.6 times more bandwidth than
HT1.0 that radically improves system efciency for a smoother, faster
computing environment.
AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet Technology
The motherboard supports the AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet Technology, which
monitors system operation and automatically adjusts CPU voltage and
frequency for a cool and quiet operating environment.
Native DDR2 1066 support
This motherboar dsupports native DDR2 1066. It provides faster data
transfer rate and more bandwidth to increase memory data transfer rate
and computing efciency, enhancing system performance in 3D graphics
and other memory demanding applications. See pages 1-10 for details.
Due to AM2+ CPU limitation, only one DDR2 1066 is supported per channel. When four
DDR2 1066 DIMMs are installed, all DIMMs run at 800MHz frequency by default for
system stability.
Gigabit LAN solution
The onboard LAN controller is a highly integrated Gb LAN controller. It is
enhanced with an ACPI management function to provide efcient power
management for advanced operating systems. See page 1-16 for details.
PCI Express 2.0 support
This motherboard supports the latest PCIe 2.0 devices for double speed
and bandwidth which enhances system performance.
Serial ATA 3Gb/s technology
The motherboard supports next-generation SATA hard drives
based on the new SATA 3Gb/s storage specication. The onboard
The onboard 6-channel HD audio (High Denition Audio, previously
codenamed Azalia) CODEC enables high-quality 192KHz/24-bit audio
output, jack-detect feature, and multi-streaming technology. This enables
you do multiple tasks, such as talking to your partners on the headphone
while playing a multi-channel network game, on just one computer.
1.3.2 Innovative ASUS features
Green ASUS
This motherboard and its packaging comply with the European Union’s
Restriction on the use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). This is in line
with the ASUS vision of creating environment-friendly and recyclable
products/packaging to safeguard consumers’ health while minimizing the
impact on the environment.
ASUS MyLogo2™
Turn your favorite photos into 256-color boot logos to personalize your
system. See page 2-20 for details.
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
The ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 allows you to restore corrupted BIOS data
from a USB ash disk containing the BIOS le. This utility saves you the
cost and hassle of buying a replacement BIOS chip. See page 2-5 for
details.
ASUS EZ Flash 2
EZ Flash 2 is a user-friendly BIOS update utility. Simply launch this tool
and update BIOS from a USB ash disk before entering the OS. You can
update your BIOS only in a few clicks without preparing an additional
oppy diskette or using an OS-based ash utility. See page 2-3 for
details.
CPU Parameter Recall (C.P.R)
When the system hangs due to overclocking failure, there is no need to
open the case to clear CMOS data. Just simply restart the system, the
BIOS would show the previous setting and then users can amend the
CPU setting again. See page 1-15 for details.
ASUS M3N78 SE1-3
Page 14
1.4 Before you proceed
M3N78 SE
SB_PWR
ON
Standy Power Powered Off
OFF
M3N78 SE Onboard LED
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.
• Use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or 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, 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.
1-4Chapter 1: Product introduction
Page 15
M3N78 SE
1.5 Motherboard overview
1.5.1 Placement 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.
1.5.2 Screw holes
Place six (6) 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.
5. Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1, SATA2, SATA3, SATA4) 1-19 12. Optical drive audio connector (4-pin CD)1-20
6. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB78, USB 910, USB1112)1-20 13. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP)1-21
7. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE)1-18 14. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT)1-21
1-6Chapter 1: Product introduction
Page 17
1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
M3N78 SE
M3N78 SE CPU socket 940
The motherboard comes with an AM2+ / AM2 socket designed for AMD® AM2+ / AM2
Phenom™ FX / Phenom / Athlon™ / Sempron™ processor
The AM2/AM2+ socket has a different pinout from the 940-pin socket designed for the
AMD Opteron™ processor. Ensure that you use a CPU that is designed for the AM2/AM2+
socket. The CPU ts in only one correct orientation. DO NOT force the CPU into the socket
to prevent bending the connectors on the socket and damaging the CPU!
1.6.1 Installing the CPU
To install a CPU:
1. Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard.
2. Unlock the socket by pressing the lever
sideways, then lift it up to a 90º angle.
Make sure that the socket lever is lifted up to
a 90º angle; otherwise, the CPU will not t in
completely.
3. Position the CPU above the socket such that
the CPU corner with the gold triangle matches
the socket corner with a small triangle.
4. Carefully insert the CPU into the socket until it
ts in place.
The CPU ts only in one correct
orientation. DO NOT force the
CPU into the socket to prevent
bending the pins and damaging
the CPU.
ASUS M3N78 SE1-7
Socket lever
Gold triangle
Small triangle
Page 18
5. When the CPU is in place, push down the
CPU_FAN
CPU FAN PWM
CPU FAN IN
CPU FAN PWR
GND
M3N78 SE
M3N78 SE CPU fan connector
socket lever to secure the CPU. The lever
clicks on the side tab to indicate that it is
locked.
6. Install a CPU heatsink and fan following
the instructions that came with the heatsink
package.
7. Connect the CPU fan cable to the CPU_FAN connector on the motherboard.
Do not forget to connect the
CPU fan connector! Hardware
monitoring errors can occur if
you fail to plug this connector.
1-8Chapter 1: Product introduction
Page 19
1.6.2 Installing the heatsink and fan
1
3
4
5
2
The AMD Phenom™ FX / Phenom / Athlon™ / Sempron™ processor requires a specially
designed heatsink and fan assembly to ensure optimum thermal condition and performance
Ensure that you use only qualied heatsink and fan assembly.
To install the CPU heatsink and fan:
1. Place the heatsink on top of the installed CPU, making sure that the heatsink ts
properly on the retention module base.
• The retention module base is already installed on the motherboard upon purchase.
• You do not have to remove the retention module base when installing the CPU or
installing other motherboard components.
• If you purchased a separate CPU heatsink and fan assembly, ensure that a Thermal
Interface Material is properly applied to the CPU heatsink or CPU before you install the
heatsink and fan assembly.
CPU Fan
CPU Heatsink
Retention bracket
Retention bracket Retention Module Base
Your boxed CPU heatsink and fan assembly should come with installation instructions for
the CPU, heatsink, and the retention mechanism. If the instructions in this section do not
match the CPU documentation, follow the latter.
2. Attach one end of the retention bracket to the retention module base.
ASUS M3N78 SE1-9
Page 20
3. Align the other end of the retention bracket (near the retention bracket lock) to the
M3N78 SE
M3N78 SE 240-pin DDR2 DIMM sockets
DIMM_A1
DIMM_B1
retention module base. A clicking sound denotes that the retention bracket is in place.
Ensure that the fan and heatsink assembly perfectly ts the retention mechanism module
base. Otherwise, you cannot snap the retention bracket in place.
4. Push down the retention bracket lock on the retention mechanism to secure the
heatsink and fan to the module base.
5. Connect the CPU fan cable to the connector on the motherboard labeled CPU_FAN.
1.7 System memory
1.7.1 Overview
The motherboard comes with two Double Data Rate 2 (DDR2) Dual Inline Memory Modules
(DIMM) sockets. A DDR2 module has the same physical dimensions as a DDR DIMM but
has a 240-pin footprint compared to the 184-pin DDR DIMM. DDR2 DIMMs are notched
differently to prevent installation on a DDR DIMM socket. The gure illustrates the location of
the DDR2 DIMM sockets:
ChannelSockets
Channel 1DIMM_A1
Channel 2DIMM_B1
1-10Chapter 1: Product introduction
Page 21
1.7.2 Memory congurations
You may install 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB unbuffered ECC/non-ECC DDR2 DIMMs into
the DIMM sockets.
• You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B. The system maps
the total size of the lower-sized channel for the dual-channel conguration. Any excess
memory from the higher-sized channel is then mapped for single-channel operation.
• Always install DIMMs with the same CAS latency. For optimum compatibility, we
recommend that you obtain memory modules from the same vendor. Refer to the DDR2
Qualied Vendors List below.
• 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 install a 64-bit
Windows OS when having 4GB or more memory installed on the motherboard.
OCZOCZ2N1066SR2DK 2G(kit of 2) DS5-5-5-15 Heat-Sink Package(EPP) SN:00482080600160-1 OCZ••
GEILGB24GB8500C5QC 1GSS5GL2L128M88BA25ABGEIL••
SS/
CL Chip No.
DS
Chip
Brand
DIMM support
A*B*
• The default DIMM frequency depends 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.
• The memory modules may require a better cooling system to work stably under full
• A*: Supports one module inserted into any slot as Single-channel memory
conguration.
• B*: Supports one pair of modules inserted into the yellow slots as one pair of
Dual-channel memory conguration.
Visit the ASUS website for the latest DDR2-533/667/800/1066MHz QVL.
1-12Chapter 1: Product introduction
Page 23
1.7.3 Installing a DIMM
Unplug the power supply before adding or removing DIMMs or other system components.
Failure to do so can cause severe damage to both the motherboard and the components.
1. Unlock a DDR2 DIMM socket by
pressing the retaining clips outward.
DDR2 DIMM notch
2. Align a DIMM on the socket such that
the notch on the DIMM matches the
break on the socket.
1
Unlocked retaining clip
A DDR2 DIMM is keyed with a notch so that it ts in only one direction. DO NOT force a DIMM
into a socket to avoid damaging the DIMM.
3. Firmly insert the DIMM into the socket
until the retaining clips snap back in place
and the DIMM is properly seated.
Locked retaining clip
3
1.7.4 Removing a DIMM
To remove a DIMM:
1. Simultaneously press the retaining clips outward to unlock the DIMM.
2
1
2
Support the DIMM lightly with
your ngers when pressing the
retaining clips. The DIMM might
get damaged when it ips out with
extra force.
1
DDR2 DIMM notch
1
2. Remove the DIMM from the socket.
ASUS M3N78 SE1-13
Page 24
1.8 Expansion slots
In the future, you may need to install expansion cards. The following sub-sections describe
the slots and the expansion cards that they support.
Ensure that you unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. Failure
to do so may cause you physical injury and damage to the motherboard components.
1.8.1 Installing an expansion card
To install an expansion card:
1. Before installing the expansion card, read the documentation that came with it and
make the necessary hardware settings for the card.
2. Remove the system unit cover (if your motherboard is already installed in a chassis).
3. Remove the bracket opposite the slot that you intend to use. Keep the screw for later
use.
4. Align the card connector with the slot and press rmly until the card is completely
seated on the slot.
5. Secure the card to the chassis with the screw you removed earlier.
6. Replace the system cover.
1.8.2 Conguring an expansion card
After installing the expansion card, congure it by adjusting the software settings.
1. Turn on the system and change the necessary BIOS settings, if any. See Chapter 2 for
information on BIOS setup.
2. Assign an IRQ to the card.
3. Install the software drivers for the expansion card.
When using PCI cards on shared slots, ensure that the drivers support “Share IRQ“ or that
the cards do not need IRQ assignments. Otherwise, conicts will arise between the two PCI
groups, making the system unstable and thee card inoperable.
1.8.3 PCI slots
The PCI slots support cards such as a LAN card, SCSI card, USB card, and other cards that
comply with PCI specications.
1.8.4 PCI Express x1 slot
This motherboard supports PCI Express x1 network cards, SCSI cards and other cards that
comply with the PCI Express specications.
1.8.5 PCI Express x16 slot
This motherboard has supports PCI Express x16 graphic cards that comply with PCI Express
specications.
1-14Chapter 1: Product introduction
Page 25
1.9 Jumpers
M3N78 SE
M3N78 SE Clear RTC RAM
1
22 3
Normal
(Default)
Clear RTC
CLRTC
1. Clear RTC RAM (CLRTC)
This jumper allows you to clear the Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM in CMOS. You can
clear the CMOS memory of date, time, and system setup parameters by erasing
the CMOS RTC RAM data. The onboard button cell battery powers the RAM data in
CMOS, which include system setup information such as system passwords.
To erase the RTC RAM:
1. Turn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord.
2. Remove the onboard battery.
3. Move the jumper cap from pins 1-2 (default) to pins 2-3. Keep the cap on pins 2-3
for about 5~10 seconds, then move the cap back to pins 1-2.
4. Reinstall the battery.
5. Plug the power cord and turn ON the computer.
6. Hold down the
reenter data.
Except when clearing the RTC RAM, never remove the cap on CLRTC jumper default
position. Removing the cap will cause system boot failure!
<Del> key during the boot process and enter BIOS setup to
You do not need to clear the RTC when the system hangs due to overclocking. For system
failure due to overclocking, use the CPU Parameter Recall (C.P.R) feature. Shut down and
reboot the system so the BIOS can automatically reset parameter settings to default values.
ASUS M3N78 SE1-15
Page 26
1.10 Connectors
4 53
687
2
9
1
10
1.10.1 Rear panel connectors
1. PS/2 keyboard/Mouse Combo port (purple). This port is for a PS/2 keyboard or
mouse.
2. Parallel port.
3. LAN (RJ-45) port.
through a network hub.
LAN port LED indications
Activity/Link LED Speed LED
StatusDescriptionStatusDescription
OFFNo linkOFF10 Mbps connection
ORANGELinkedORANGE100 Mbps connection
BLINKINGData activityGREEN1 Gbps connection
4.Line In port (light blue). This port connects the tape, CD, DVD player, or other audio
sources.
5. Line Out port (lime).
6-channel conguration, the function of this port becomes Front Speaker Out.
6. Microphone port (pink).
This 25-pin port connects a parallel printer, a scanner, or other devices.
This port allows Gigabit connection to a Local Area Network (LAN)
LED
LAN port
SPEED
LED
ACT/LINK
This port connects a headphone or a speaker. In 4-channel and
This port connects a microphone.
Refer to the audio conguration table below for the function of the audio ports in 2, 4, or
6-channel conguration.
Audio 2, 4, and 6-channel conguration
PortHeadset 2-channel4-channel6-channel
Light BlueLine InRear Speaker OutRear Speaker Out
1-16Chapter 1: Product introduction
LimeLine OutFront Speaker OutFront Speaker Out
PinkMic InMic InBass/Center
Page 27
7. USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are
M3N78 SE
M3N78 SE Floppy disk drive connector
FLOPPY
NOTE:Orient the red markings
on the floppy ribbon cable to PIN 1.
PIN1
available for connecting USB 2.0 devices.
8. USB 2.0 ports 3 and 4.
These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are
available for connecting USB 2.0 devices.
9. COM port.
This 9-pin COM1 port is for pointing devices or other serial devices.
10.USB 2.0 ports 5 and 6. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are
available for connecting USB 2.0 devices.
1.10.2 Internal connectors
1. Floppy disk drive connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY)
This connector is for a Floppy Disk Drive (FDD) signal cable. Insert one end of the
cable to this connector, then connect the other end to the signal connector at the back
of the oppy disk drive.
• Pin 5 on the connector is removed to prevent incorrect cable connection when using an
FDD cable with a covered Pin 5.
• The Floppy Disk Drive singal cable is purchased separately.
ASUS M3N78 SE1-17
Page 28
2. Speaker connector (4- pin SPEAKER)
M3N78 SE
+5V
GND
GND
Speaker Out
SPEAKER
PIN 1
M3N78 SE Speaker Out Connector
PRI_IDE
NOTE:Orient the red markings
on the IDE ribbon cable to PIN 1.
PIN1
M3N78 SE
M3N78 SE IDE connector
This 4-pin connector is for the chassis-mounted system warning speaker. The speaker
allows you to hear system beeps and warnings.
3. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE)
The onboard IDE connector is for Ultra DMA 133/100/66 signal cable. There are
three connectors on each Ultra DMA 133 / 100 / 66 signal cable: blue, black, and gray.
Connect the blue connector to the motherboard’s IDE connector, then select one of the
following modes to congure your device(s).
Single deviceCable-Select or Master-Black
Two devices
Drive jumper settingMode of device(s)Cable connector
Cable-Select
MasterMaster
SlaveSlave
MasterBlack
SlaveGray
Black or gray
• Pin 20 on the IDE connector is removed to match the covered hole on the Ultra DMA
cable connector. This prevents incorrect insertion when you connect the IDE cable.
• Use the 80-conductor IDE cable for Ultra DMA 133/100/66 IDE devices.
If any device jumper is set as “Cable-Select”, ensure that all other device jumpers have the
same setting.
1-18Chapter 1: Product introduction
Page 29
4. Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1, SATA2, SATA3, SATA4)
SATA1
GND
RSATA_RXN1
RSATA_RXP1
GND
RSATA_TXN1
RSATA_TXP1
GND
SATA2
GND
RSATA_RXN2
RSATA_RXP2
GND
RSATA_TXN2
RSATA_TXP2
GND
SATA3
GND
RSATA_RXN3
RSATA_RXP3
GND
RSATA_TXN3
RSATA_TXP3
GND
SATA4
GND
RSATA_RXN4
RSATA_RXP4
GND
RSATA_TXN4
RSATA_TXP4
GND
M3N78 SE
M3N78 SE SATA connectors
These connectors are for the Serial ATA signal cables for Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard disk
and optical disk drives. The Serial ATA 3Gb/s is backward compatible with Serial ATA
1.5Gb/s specication. The data transfer rate of the Serial ATA 3Gb/s is faster than the
standard parallel ATA with 133 MB/s (Ultra DMA133). If you install Serial ATA hard disk
drives, you can create a RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 5, and JBOD conguration
through the onboard NVIDIA nForce 720D chipset.
Important note on Serial ATA
Install the Windows® XP Service Pack 1 before using Serial ATA.
• For detailed instructions on how to congure RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 0+1, RAID 5,
• If you intend to create a Serial ATA RAID set using these connectors, set the
ASUS M3N78 SE1-19
and JBOD, refer to the RAID manual in the support DVD.
Mode select item in the BIOS to [RAID Mode]. See page 2-11 for details.
SATA
Page 30
5. Optical drive audio in connector (4-pin CD)
CD
Left Audio Channel
GND
GND
Right Audio Channel
M3N78 SE
M3N78 SE Internal audio connector
M3N78 SE
M3N78 SE USB2.0 connectors
PIN 1
USB+5V
USB_P10-
USB_P10+
GND
NC
USB+5V
USB_P9-
USB_P9+
GND
USB910USB78
PIN 1
USB+5V
USB_P8-
USB_P8+
GND
NC
USB+5V
USB_P7-
USB_P7+
GND
USB1112
PIN 1
USB+5V
USB_P12-
USB_P12+
GND
NC
USB+5V
USB_P11-
USB_P11+
GND
This connector allows you to receive stereo audio input from sound sources such as a
CD-ROM, TV tuner, or MPEG card.
6. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB78, USB 910, USB1112)
These connectors are for USB 2.0 ports. Connect the USB module cable to any of
these connectors, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system
chassis. These USB connectors comply with USB 2.0 specication that supports up to
480 Mbps connection speed.
Never connect a 1394 cable to the USB connectors. Doing so will damage the
motherboard!
The USB 2.0 module is purchased separately.
1-20Chapter 1: Product introduction
Page 31
7. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP)
M3N78 SE
M3N78 SE Analog front panel connector
AAFP
PIN 1
GND
PRESENCE#
SENSE1_RETUR
SENSE2_RETUR
PORT1 L
PORT1 R
PORT2 R
SENSE_SEND
PORT1 L
HD-audio-compliant
pin definition
PIN 1
AGNDNCNC
NC
MIC2
MICPWR
Line out_R
NC
Line out_L
Legacy AC’97
compliant definition
SPDIF_OUT
+5V
SPDIFOUT
GND
M3N78 SE
M3N78 SE Digital audio connector
This connector is for a chassis-mounted front panel audio I/O module that supports
either High Denition Audio or AC`97 audio standard. Connect one end of the front
panel audio I/O module cable to this connector.
• We recommend that you connect a high-denition front panel audio module to this
connector to avail of the motherboard high-denition audio capability.
• By default, this connector is set to
[HD Audio]. If you want to connect a High Denition
front panel audio module to this connector, set the Front Panel Select item in the BIOS
to [HD Audio]. See section “2.4.3 Chipset” for details.
8. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT)
This connector is for an additional Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) port(s).
ASUS M3N78 SE1-21
Page 32
9. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V)
M3N78 SE
M3N78 SE ATX power connectors
EATXPWR
PIN 1
GND
+5 Volts
+5 Volts
+5 Volts
-5 Volts
GND
GND
GND
PSON#
GND
-12 Volts
+3 Volts
+3 Volts
+12 Volts
+12 Volts
+5V Standby
Power OK
GND
+5 Volts
GND
+5 Volts
GND
+3 Volts
+3 Volts
ATX12V
PIN 1
+12V DC
+12V DC
GND
GND
These connectors are for an ATX power supply. The plugs from the power supply are
designed to t these connectors in only one orientation. Find the proper orientation and
push down rmly until the connectors completely t.
•
We recommend that you use an ATX 12 V Specication 2.0-compliant power supply
unit (PSU) with a minimum of 300 W power rating. This PSU type has 24-pin and 4-pin
power plugs.
•
If you intend to use a PSU with 20-pin and 4-pin power plugs, make sure that the 20-pin
power plug can provide at least 15 A on +12 V and that the PSU has a minimum power
rating of 300 W. The system may become unstable or may not boot up if the power is
inadequate.
•
Do not forget to connect the 4-pin ATX +12 V power plug; otherwise, the system will not
boot up.
• We recommend that you use a PSU with higher power output when conguring a
system with more power-consuming devices. The system may become unstable or may
not boot up if the power is inadequate.
• If you are uncertain about the minimum power supply requirement for your system,
refer to the Recommended Power Supply Wattage Calculator at http://support.asus.
com/PowerSupplyCalculator/PSCalculator.aspx?SLanguage=en-us for details.
• You must install a PSU with a higher power rating if you intend to install additional
devices.
1-22Chapter 1: Product introduction
Page 33
10. System panel connector (10-1 pin F_PANEL)
M3N78 SE
M3N78 SE System panel connector
PIN 1
PWR BTN
PLED+
PLED-
PWR
GND
IDE_LED+
IDE_LED-
Ground
Reset
F_PANEL
PWR LED
HD_LED RESET
This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions.
•
System power LED (2-pin PWRLED)
This 2-pin connector is for the system power LED. Connect the chassis power LED
cable to this connector. The system power LED lights up when you turn on the system
power, and blinks when the system is in sleep mode.
•
Hard disk drive activity LED (2-pin HDLED)
This 2-pin connector is for the HDD Activity LED. Connect the HDD Activity LED cable
to this connector. The IDE LED lights up or ashes when data is read from or written to
the HDD.
•
Power/Soft-off button (2-pin PWRBTN)
This 2-pin connector is for the system power button. Pressing the power button turns
the system ON or puts the system in SLEEP or SOFT-OFF mode depending on the
BIOS settings. Pressing the power switch for more than four seconds while the system
is ON turns the system OFF.
•
Reset button (2-pin RESET)
This 2-pin connector is for the chassis-mounted reset button for system reboot without
turning off the system power.
ASUS M3N78 SE1-23
Page 34
1.11 Software support
1.11.1 Installing an operating system
This motherboard supports Windows® XP/Vista Operating Systems (OS). Always install the
latest OS version and corresponding updates to maximize the features of your hardware.
• Motherboard settings and hardware options vary. Use the setup procedures presented in
this chapter for reference only. Refer to your OS documentation for detailed information.
• Ensure that you install Windows
the drivers for better compatibility and system stability.
1.11.2 Support DVD information
The Support DVD that came with the motherboard package contains the drivers, software
applications, and utilities that you can install to avail all motherboard features.
The contents of the Support DVD are subject to change at any time without notice. Visit the
ASUS website at www.asus.com for updates.
To run the Support DVD:
Place the Support DVD to the optical drive. The DVD automatically displays the Drivers menu
if Autorun is enabled in your computer.
®
XP Service Pack 1 or later versions before installing
Click an icon to
display Support DVD/
motherboard information
Click an item to install
If Autorun is NOT enabled in your computer, browse the contents of the Support DVD to
locate the le ASSETUP.EXE from the BIN folder. Double-click the ASSETUP.EXE to run
the DVD.
1-24Chapter 1: Product introduction
Page 35
1.11.3 Creating a RAID driver disk
A oppy disk with the RAID driver is required when installing Windows
drive that is included in a RAID set.
To create a RAID driver disk:
1. Place the motherboard Support DVD into the DVD-ROM drive.
2. Select Make Disk tab.
3. From the Make Disk menu, select the RAID driver disk you want to create or browse
the contents of the Support DVD to locate the driver disk utility.
For detailed descriptions on the NVIDIA RAID conguration, refer to the “NVIDIA SATA
RAID User’s Manual” found in your motherboard Support DVD.
4. Insert a oppy disk to the oppy disk drive.
5. Follow the succeeding screen information to complete the process.
6. Write-protect the oppy disk to avoid computer virus infection.
To install the RAID driver:
1. During the OS installation, the system prompts you to press the
party SCSI or RAID driver.
2. Press
<F6> then insert the oppy disk with RAID driver into the oppy disk drive.
3. Follow the succeeding screen instructions to complete the installation.
Due to chipset limitation, the Serial ATA ports supported by the NVIDIA chipset does not
support Serial Optical Disk Drives (Serial ODD) under DOS.
®
XP OS on a hard disk
F6 key to install third-
ASUS M3N78 SE1-25
Page 36
1-26Chapter 1: Product introduction
Page 37
Chapter 2
BIOS information
2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS
Save a copy of the original motherboard BIOS le to a bootable oppy disk or a USB ash
disk in case you need to restore the BIOS in the future. Copy the original motherboard
BIOS using the ASUS Update or AFUDOS utilities.
2.1.1 Creating a bootable oppy disk
1. Do either one of the following to create a bootable oppy disk.
DOS environment
a. Insert a 1.44MB oppy disk into the drive.
b. At the DOS prompt, type
Windows® XP environment
a. Insert a 1.44 MB oppy disk to the oppy disk drive.
b. Click
c. Select the 3 1/2 Floppy Drive icon.
d. Click
appears.
e. Windows
options eld, then click Start.
Start from the Windows® desktop, then select My Computer.
File from the menu, then select Format. A Format 3 1/2 Floppy Disk window
®
XP users: Select Create an MS-DOS startup disk from the format
format A:/S then press <Enter>.
Windows® Vista environment
a. Insert a formatted, high density 1.44 MB oppy disk to the oppy disk drive.
b. Click
from the Windows® desktop, then select Computer.
c. Right-click
Format 3 1/2 Floppy dialog box.
d. Select the
e. Click
2. Copy the original or the latest motherboard BIOS le to the bootable oppy disk.
ASUS M3N78 SE2-1
Floppy Disk Drive then click Format to display the
Create an MS-DOS startup disk check box.
Start.
Page 38
2.1.2 ASUS Update utility
The ASUS Update is a utility that allows you to manage, save, and update the motherboard
BIOS in Windows® environment.
• ASUS Update requires an Internet connection either through a network or an Internet
Service Provider (ISP).
• This utility is available in the support DVD that comes with the motherboard package.
Installing ASUS Update
To install ASUS Update:
1. Place the Support DVD in the optical drive. The
2. Click the
Utilities tab, then click Install ASUS Update.
3. The ASUS Update utility is copied to your system.
Quit all Windows® applications before you update the BIOS using this utility.
Updating the BIOS
To update the BIOS:
1. From the Windows
ASUSUpdate to launch the ASUS Update utility.
2. From the dropdown list, select any of the updating process:
Updating from the Internet
a. Select Update BIOS from the Internet, then click Next.
b. Select the ASUS FTP site nearest you to avoid network trafc, or click
then click Next.
c. From the FTP site, select the BIOS version that you wish to download then click
Next.
®
desktop, click Start > Programs > ASUS > ASUSUpdate >
Drivers menu appears.
Auto Select
The ASUS Update utility is capable of updating itself through the Internet. Always update the
utility to avail all its features.
Updating from a BIOS file
a. Select Update BIOS from a le, then click Next.
b. Locate the BIOS le from the
Open window, then click Open.
3. Follow the screen instructions to complete the update process.
2-2Chapter 2: BIOS information
Page 39
2.1.3 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility
The ASUS EZ Flash 2 feature allows you to update the BIOS without having to go through the
long process of booting from a oppy disk or a DOS-based utility.
Download the lates BIOS le from the ASUS website at www.asus.com.
To update the BIOS using EZ Flash 2:
1.
Insert the oppy disk / USB ash disk that contains the BIOS le to the oppy disk drive
or the USB port, then launch EZ Flash 2. You can launch EZ Flash 2 in two ways:
• Press
<Alt> + <F2> during POST to display the following.
ASUSTek EZ Flash 2 BIOS ROM Utility V3.21
FLASH TYPE: MXIC 25L8005
Current ROM
BOARD: M3N78 SE
VER: 0204 (H:00 B:00)
DATE: 08/27/2008
PATH: A:\
A:
Note
[Enter] Select or Load [Tab] Switch [ V] Dr iv e In fo
[Up/Down/Home/End] Move [B] Backup [ESC] Exit
Update ROM
BOARD: Unknown
VER: Unknown
DATE: Unknown
• Enter BIOS setup program. Go to the
Tools menu to select EZ Flash2 and press
<Enter> to enable it.
Press <Tab> to switch drives until the correct BIOS le is found.
2. When the correct BIOS le is found, EZ Flash 2 performs the BIOS update process
and automatically reboots the system when done.
• This function can support devices such as USB ash disk, or oppy disk with FAT 32/16
format and single partition only.
• DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS to prevent
system boot failure!
ASUS M3N78 SE2-3
Page 40
2.1.4 AFUDOS utility
The AFUDOS utility allows you to update the BIOS le in DOS environment using a bootable
oppy disk. This utility also allows you to copy the current BIOS le that you can use as
backup when the BIOS fails or gets corrupted during the updating process.
• Ensure that you prepare two oppy disks: the bootable oppy disk and the oppy disk
containing the AFUDOS utility and the latest BIOS le.
• Ensure that the oppy disk is not write-protected and has at least 1072KB to save the
AFUDOS and BIOS les.
• The succeeding BIOS screens are for reference only. The actual BIOS screen displays
may not be the same as shown.
Updating the BIOS le
To update the BIOS le using the AFUDOS utility:
1. Insert the bootable oppy disk into the oppy disk drive to boot the system in DOS
mode.
2. Replace the bootable oppy disk and insert the oppy disk that contains the AFUDOS
utility and the latest BIOS le.
• Obtain the AFUDOS utility (afudos.exe) from the bundled support DVD and the latest
BIOS le from the ASUS website at www.asus.com.
• We recommend that you write the BIOS lename on a piece of paper. You will need to
key in the exact BIOS lename at the DOS prompt later.
3. At the DOS prompt, key in afudos /i[lename]
where [lename] is the BIOS le in the oppy disk.
A:\>afudos /iM3N78SE.ROM
Press <Enter>.
Do not shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS to prevent system boot
failure!
5. The utility returns to the DOS prompt after the BIOS updating process is completed.
Reboot the system from the hard disk drive.
2-4Chapter 2: BIOS information
Page 41
2.1.5 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility
The ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 is an auto recovery tool that allows you to restore the BIOS le
when it fails or gets corrupted during the updating process. You can update a corrupted BIOS
le using the motherboard Support DVD, a oppy disk or a USB ash disk that contains the
updated BIOS le.
• Prepare the motherboard Support DVD,the oppy disk or the USB ash disk containing
the updated motherboard BIOS before using this utility.
• Ensure that you rename the original or updated BIOS le in the oppy disk or the USB
ash disk to M3N78SE.ROM.
Recovering the BIOS from a oppy disk
To recover the BIOS:
1. Turn on the system.
2. Insert the oppy disk, support DVD, or USB ash disk containing BIOS le to the disk
drive or port.
3. The utility displays the following message and automatically checks the oppy disk,
support DVD, or USB ash disk for the BIOS le.
Bad BIOS checksum. Starting BIOS recovery...
Checking for oppy...
When found, the utility reads the BIOS le and starts ashing the corrupted BIOS le.
Bad BIOS checksum. Starting BIOS recovery...
Checking for oppy...
Floppy found!
Reading le “M3N78SE.ROM”. Completed.
Start erasing...
4. Restart the system after the utility completes the updating process.
• Only the USB ash disk with FAT 32/16 format and single partition can support ASUS
CrashFree BIOS 3. The device size shoud be smaller than 8GB.
• DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS! Doing so can cause
system boot failure!
• The utility automatically checks the oppy disk rst. If no oppy disk is found, the utility
then checks the optical drive and the USB ash disk.
• The recovered BIOS may not be the latest BIOS version for this motherboard. Download
the latest BIOS le from the ASUS website at www.asus.com.
ASUS M3N78 SE2-5
Page 42
2.2 BIOS setup program
This motherboard supports a programmable rmware chip that you can update using the
provided utility described in section “2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS.”
Use the BIOS Setup program when you are installing a motherboard, reconguring your
system, or prompted to “Run Setup.” This section explains how to congure your system
using this utility.
Even if you are not prompted to use the Setup program, you can change the conguration of
your computer in the future. For example, you can enable the security password feature or
change the power management settings. This requires you to recongure your system using
the BIOS Setup program so that the computer can recognize these changes and record them
in the CMOS RAM of the rmware chip.
The rmware chip on the motherboard stores the Setup utility. When you start up the
computer, the system provides you with the opportunity to run this program. Press <Del>
during the Power-On Self-Test (POST) to enter the Setup utility. Otherwise, POST continues
with its test routines.
If you wish to enter Setup after POST, reboot the system by doing any of the following
procedures:
• Restart using the OS standard shut-down procedure.
• Press
• Press the reset button on the system chassis.
• Press the power button to turn the system off then back on.
<Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Del> simultaneously.
Using the power button, reset button, or the <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Del> keys to force
reset from a running operating system can cause damage to your data or system. We
recommend to always shut-down the system properly from the operating system.
The Setup program is designed to make it as easy to use as possible. Being a menu-driven
program, it lets you scroll through the various sub-menus and make your selections from the
available options using the navigation keys.
• The default BIOS settings for this motherboard apply for most conditions to ensure
optimum performance. If the system becomes unstable after changing any BIOS
settings, load the default settings to ensure system compatibility and stability. Select the
Load Setup Defaults item under the Exit menu. See section “2.8 Exit menu”.
• The BIOS setup screens shown in this section are for reference purposes only, and may
not exactly match what you see on your screen.
• Visit the ASUS website at www.asus.com to download the latest BIOS le for this
motherboard.
2-6Chapter 2: BIOS information
Page 43
2.2.1 BIOS menu screen
Menu items
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
System Time [19:34:30]
System Date [Wed 08/27/2008]
Legacy Diskette A [1.44M, 3.5 in.]
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2008, American Megatrends, Inc.
Sub-menu items
Menu bar
Conguration elds
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
General help
Use [ENTER], [TAB]
or [SHIFT-TAB] to
select a eld.
Use [+] or [-] to
congure system
Time.
Select Screen
Select Item
Change Field
+-
Tab Select Field
F1 General Help
F10 Save and Exit
ESC Exit
Navigation keys
2.2.2 Menu bar
The menu bar on top of the screen has the following main items:
Main For changing the basic system conguration
Advanced For changing the advanced system settings
Power For changing the advanced power management (APM) conguration
Boot For changing the system boot conguration
Tools For changing the system tools conguration
Exit For selecting the exit options and loading default settings
To select an item on the menu bar, press the right or left arrow key on the keyboard until the
desired item is highlighted.
• The BIOS setup screens shown in this chapter are for reference purposes only, and may
not exactly match what you see on your screen.
• Visit the ASUS website at www.asus.com to download the latest BIOS information.
ASUS M3N78 SE2-7
Page 44
2.2.3 Navigation keys
At the bottom right corner of a menu screen are the navigation keys for that particular menu.
Use the navigation keys to select items in the menu and change the settings.
Some of the navigation keys differ from one screen to another.
2.2.4 Menu items
The highlighted item on the menu bar displays the specic items for that menu. For example,
selecting Main shows the Main menu items.
The other items (Advanced, Power, Boot, Tools, and Exit) on the menu bar have their
respective menu items.
2.2.5 Sub-menu items
A solid triangle before each item on any menu screen means that the iteam has a sub-menu.
To display the sub-menu, select the item and press <Enter>.
2.2.6 Conguration elds
These elds show the values for the menu items. If an item is user-congurable, you can
change the value of the eld opposite the item. You cannot select an item that is not usercongurable.
A congurable eld is enclosed in brackets, and is highlighted when selected. To change the
value of a eld, select it then press <Enter> to display a list of options. Refer to “2.2.8 Pop-up
window.”
2.2.7 General help
At the top right corner of the menu screen is a brief description of the selected item.
2.2.8 Pop-up window
Select a menu item then press
<Enter> to display a pop-up window
with the conguration options for
that item.
2.2.9 Scroll bar
A scroll bar appears on the right side
of a menu screen when there are
items that do not t on the screen.
Press the <Up> / <Down> arrow
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
Suspend Mode [Auto]
ACPI Version Features [Disabled]
ACPI APIC support [Enabled]
APM Conguration
Hardware Monitor
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2008, A m e r i c a n Megatrends, Inc.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Options
Disabled
Enabled
Pop-up window
Use [ENTER], [TAB] or
[SHIFT-TAB] to select
a eld.
Use [+] or [-] to
congure system
Time.
Scroll bar
Select Screen
Select Item
+- Change Field
Tab Select Field
F1 General Help
F10 Save and Exit
ESC Exit
keys or <Page Up> / <Page Down>
keys to display the other items on
the secreen
2-8Chapter 2: BIOS information
Page 45
2.3 Main menu
When you enter the BIOS Setup program, the Main menu screen appears, giving you an
overview of the basic system information.
Refer to section “2.2.1 BIOS menu screen” for information on the menu screen items and
how to navigate through them.
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
System Time [19:34:30]
System Date [Wed 08/27/2008]
Legacy Diskette A [1.44M, 3.5 in.]
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2008, American Megatrends, Inc.
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2008, American Megatrends, Inc.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Use [ENTER], [TAB]
or [SHIFT-TAB] to
select a eld.
Use [+] or [-] to
congure system
Time.
Select Screen
Select Item
Change Field
+-
Tab Select Field
F1 General Help
F10 Save and Exit
ESC Exit
2.3.1 System Time [xx:xx:xx]
Allows you to set the system time.
2.3.2 System Date [Day xx/xx/xxxx]
Allows you to set the system date.
2.3.3 Legacy Diskette A [1.44M, 3.5 in.]
Sets the type of oppy drive installed. Conguration options: [Disabled]
[360K, 5.25 in.] [1.2M , 5.25 in.] [720K , 3.5 in.] [1.44M, 3.5 in.] [2.88M, 3.5 in.]
2.3.4 Primary IDE Master/Slave
While entering Setup, the BIOS automatically detects the presence of IDE devices. There is a
separate sub-menu for each IDE device. Select a device item then press <Enter> to display
the IDE device information.
The BIOS automatically detects the values opposite the dimmed items (Device, Vendor,
Size, LBA Mode, Block Mode, PIO Mode, Async DMA, Ultra DMA, and SMART monitoring).
These values are not user-congurable. These items show Not Detected if no IDE device is
installed in the system.
Type [Auto]
Selects the type of IDE drive. Setting to [Auto] allows automatic selection of the appropriate
IDE device type. Select [CDROM] if you are specically conguring a CD-ROM drive. Select
[ARMD] (ATAPI Removable Media Device) if your device is either a ZIP, LS-120, or MO drive.
Conguration options: [Not Installed] [Auto] [CDROM] [ARMD]
ASUS M3N78 SE2-9
Page 46
LBA/Large Mode [Auto]
Enables or disables the LBA mode. Setting to [Auto] enables the LBA mode if the device
supports this mode, and if the device was not previously formatted with LBA mode disabled.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Auto]
Block (Multi-Sector Transfer) M [Auto]
Enables or disables data multi-sectors transfers. When set to [Auto], the data transfer from
and to the device occurs multiple sectors at a time if the device supports multi-sector transfer
feature. When set to [Disabled], the data transfer from and to the device occurs one sector
at a time. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Auto]
PIO Mode [Auto]
Selects the PIO mode.
Conguration options: [Auto] [0] [1] [2] [3] [4]
DMA Mode [Auto]
Selects the DMA mode.
Conguration options: [Auto]
SMART Monitoring [Auto]
Sets the Smart Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology.
Conguration options: [Auto] [Disabled] [Enabled]
32Bit Data Transfer [Enabled]
Enables or disables 32-bit data transfer.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
2.3.5 SATA 1~4
While entering Setup, the BIOS automatically detects the presence of Serial ATA devices.
There is a separate sub-menu for each SATA device. Select a device item then press
<Enter> to display the SATA device information.
The BIOS automatically detects the values opposite the dimmed items (Device, Vendor, Size,
LBA Mode, Block Mode, PIO Mode, Async DMA, Ultra DMA, and SMART monitoring). These
values are not user-congurable. These items show Not Detected if no SATA device is
installed in the system.
LBA/Large Mode [Auto]
Enables or disables the LBA mode. Setting to [Auto] enables the LBA mode if the device
supports this mode, and if the device was not previously formatted with LBA mode disabled.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Auto]
Block (Multi-sector Transfer) M [Auto]
Enables or disables data multi-sectors transfers. When set to [Auto], the data transfer from
and to the device occurs multiple sectors at a time if the device supports multi-sector transfer
feature. When set to [Disabled], the data transfer from and to the device occurs one sector
at a time. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Auto]
2-10Chapter 2: BIOS information
Page 47
PIO Mode [Auto]
Selects the PIO mode.
Conguration options: [Auto] [0] [1] [2] [3] [4]
DMA Mode [Auto]
Selects the DMA mode.
Conguration options: [Auto]
SMART Monitoring [Auto]
Sets the Smart Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology.
Conguration options: [Auto] [Disabled] [Enabled]
32Bit Data Transfer [Enabled]
Enables or disables 32-bit data transfer.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
2.3.6 Storage Conguration
The Storage Conguration menu allows you to congure your storage device(s). Select an
item then press <Enter> to display the sub-menu.
Onboard PCI IDE Controller [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the onboard PCI IDE controller.
Conguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
OnChip S-ATA Controller [Enabled]
Allows you to disable or enable the OnChip S-ATA devices.
Conguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
The following item appears only when the OnChip S-ATA Controller item is set to
[Enabled].
SATA Mode select [SATA Mode]
Allows you to select the SATA Mode. Conguration options: [SATA Mode]
[RAID Mode] [AHCI Mode]
ASUS M3N78 SE2-11
Page 48
2.3.7 System Information
This menu gives you an overview of the general system specications. The BIOS
automatically detects the items in this menu.
AMI BIOS
Displays the auto-detected BIOS information
Processor
Displays the auto-detected CPU specication
System Memory
Displays the auto-detected system memory
2.4 Advanced menu
The Advanced menu items allow you to change the settings for the CPU and other system
devices.
Take caution when changing the settings of the Advanced menu items. Incorrect eld
values can cause the system to malfunction.
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
JumperFree Conguration
CPU Conguration
Chipset
Onboard Devices Conguration
PCIPnP
USB Conguration
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2008, American Megatrends, Inc.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Adjust System
Frequency/Voltage
etc.
Select Screen
Select Item
+- Change Field
Tab Select Field
F1 General Help
F10 Save and Exit
ESC Exit
2.4.1 JumperFree Conguration
CPU Overclocking [Auto]
Allows selection of CPU overclocking options to achieve desired CPU internal frequency.
Select either one of the preset overclocking.
• Manual - Allows you to individually set overclocking parameters.
• Auto - Loads the optimal settings for the system.
• Overclock Prole - Loads overclocking proles with optimal parameters for stability when
overclocking.
2-12Chapter 2: BIOS information
Page 49
The following item appears only when the CPU Overclocking item is set to [Manual].
CPU Frequency [200]
Allows you to set the CPU frequency. The valid value is from 200 MHz to 550 MHz.
The following item appears only when the CPU Overclocking item is set to [Overclock
Allows you to set the processor frequency multiplier. Conguration options: [Auto] [x4.0
800MHz] [x5.0 1000MHz] [x6.0 1200MHz] [x7.0 1400MHz] [x8.0 1600MHz] [x9.0 1800MHz]
Processor Voltage [Standard]
Allows you to set the processor voltage. Conguration options: [Power Saving Mode]
[Standard] [+50mv] [+100mv]
Hyper Transport Speed [Auto]
Allows you to set the HyperTransport link speed. Conguration options: [200MHz] [400MHz]
[600MHz] [800 MHZ] [1 GHz] [Auto]
Hyper Transport Width [16 16 ]
Allows you to set the HyperTransport link width. Conguration options: [16 16 ] [8 8 ]
Memory Clock Mode [Auto]
Allows you to set the memory clock mode. Conguration options: [Auto] [Manual]
The following item appears only when the Memory Clock Mode item is set to [Manual].
Allows you to select the Parallel Port mode. Conguration options: [Normal] [EPP] [ECP]
[EPP+ECP]
2.4.5 PCI PnP
The PCI PnP menu items allow you to change the advanced settings for PCI/PnP devices.
The menu includes setting IRQ and DMA channel resources for either PCI/PnP or legacy ISA
devices, and setting the memory size block for legacy ISA devices.
Take caution when changing the settings of the PCI PnP menu items. Incorrect eld values
can cause the system to malfunction.
2-16Chapter 2: BIOS information
Page 53
Plug and Play O/S [No]
When set to [No], BIOS congures all the devices in the system. When set to [Yes] and if
you install a Plug and Play operating system, the operating system congures the Plug and
Play devices not required for boot.
Conguration options: [No] [Yes]
PCI Latency Timer [64]
Allows you to select the value in units of PCI clocks for the PCI device latency timer register.
When set to [Yes], BIOS assigns an IRQ to PCI VGA card if the card requests for an IRQ.
When set to [No], BIOS does not assign an IRQ to the PCI VGA card even if requested.
Conguration options: [Yes] [No]
Palette Snooping [Disabled]
When set to [Enabled], the palete snooping feature informs the PCI devices that an
ISA graphics device is installed in the system so that the latter can function correctly.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
IRQ-xx assigned to [PCI Device]
When set to [PCI Device], the specic IRQ is free for use of PCI/PnP devices. When set to
[Reserved], the IRQ is reserved for legacy ISA devices.
Conguration options: [PCI Device] [Reserved]
2.4.6 USB Conguration
The items in this menu allows you to change the USB-related features. Select an item then
press <Enter> to display the conguration options.
The Module Version and USB Devices Enabled items show the
auto-detected values. If no USB device is detected, the item shows None.
USB Functions [Enabled]
Enables or disables the USB functions. Conguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
USB 2.0 Controller [Enabled]
Enables or disables the USB 2.0 Controller. Conguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
Legacy USB Support [Auto]
Allows you to enable or disable support for Legacy USB storage devices, including USB ash
drives and USB hard drives. Setting to Auto allows the system to detect the presence of USB
devices at startup. If detected, the USB controller legacy mode is enabled. If no USB device
is detected, the legacy USB support is disabled. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
[Auto]
USB 2.0 Controller Mode [HiSpeed]
Allows you to congure the USB 2.0 controller in HiSpeed (480 Mbps) or Full Speed (12
Mbps). Conguration options: [FullSpeed] [HiSpeed]
ASUS M3N78 SE2-17
Page 54
2.5 Power menu
The Power menu items allow you to change the settings for the Advanced Conguration and
Power Interface (ACPI) and the Advanced Power Management (APM). Select an item then
press <Enter> to display the conguration options.
2.5.1 Suspend Mode [Auto]
Allows you to select the Advanced Conguration and Power Interface (ACPI) state to be used
for system suspend. Conguration options: [S1 (POS) Only] [S3 Only] [Auto]
[S1(POS) Only] - Enables the system to enter the ACPI S1 (Power on Suspend) sleep state.
Suspend Mode [Auto]
ACPI 2.0 Support [Disabled]
ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]
APM Conguration
Hardware Monitor
Select the ACPI state
used for System
Suspend.
In S1 sleep state, the system appears suspended and stays in a low power
mode. The system can be resumed at any time.
[S3 Only] - Enables the system to enter the ACPI S3 (Suspend to RAM) sleep state (default).
In S3 sleep state, the system appears to be off and consumes less power than in
the S1 state. When signaled by a wake-up device or event, the system resumes
to its working state exactly where it was left off.
[Auto] - Detected by OS.
2.5.2 ACPI 2.0 Support [Disabled]
Allows you to add additional tables as per Advanced Conguration and Power Interface
(ACPI) 2.0 specications. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
2.5.3 ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the Advanced Conguration and Power Interface (ACPI)
support in the Application-Specic Integrated Circuit (ASIC). When set to Enabled, the ACPI
APIC table pointer is included in the RSDT pointer list. Conguration options: [Disabled]
[Enabled]
2.5.4 APM Conguration
Restore on AC Power Loss [Power Off]
When set to Power Off, the system goes into off state after an AC power loss. When set to
Power On, the system goes on after an AC power loss.
Conguration options: [Power On] [Power Off]
Power On By PCI/PCIE Device [Disabled]
When set to [Enabled], this parameter allows you to turn on the system through a PCI/PCIE
card. This feature requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB lead.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
2-18Chapter 2: BIOS information
Page 55
Power On By Ring [Disabled]
Enable or disable RI to generate a wake event. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Power On By PS/2 KB/MS [Disabled]
Enable or disable PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse to generate a wake event.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Power On By RTC Alarm [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable RTC to generate a wake event. When this item is set to
Enabled, the items RTC Alarm Date, RTC Alarm Hour, RTC Alarm Minute, and RTC Alarm
Second appear with set values. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
2.5.5 Hardware Monitor
CPU Temperature [xxxºC/xxxºF]
MB Temperature [xxxºC/xxxºF]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the motherboard and CPU
temperatures. Select Ignored if you do not wish to display the detected temperatures.
CPU / Chassis / Power Fan Speed [xxxxRPM] or [Ignored]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the CPU, chassis,
and power fan speed in rotations per minute (RPM). If the fan is not connected to the
motherboard, the eld shows N/A. Select Ignored if you do not wish to display the detected
speed.
VCORE Voltage, 3.3V Voltage, 5V Voltage, 12V Voltage
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects the voltage output through the onboard
voltage regulators.
Smart Q-Fan Function [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the ASUS Q-Fan feature that smartly adjusts the fan speeds
for more efcient system operation. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
ASUS M3N78 SE2-19
Page 56
2.6 Boot menu
The Boot menu items allow you to change the system boot options. Select an item then
press <Enter> to display the sub-menu.
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
Boot Settings
Boot Device Priority
Boot Settings Conguration
Security
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2008, American Megatrends, Inc.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Species the Boot
Device Priority
sequence.
A virtual oppy disk
drive (Floppy Drive B:)
may appear when you set
the CD-ROM drive as the
rst boot device.
Select Screen
Select Item
Enter Go to Sub Screen
F1 General Help
F10 Save and Exit
ESC Exit
2.6.1 Boot Device Priority
1st ~ xxth Boot Device
These items specify the boot device priority sequence from the available devices. The
number of device items that appears on the screen depends on the number of devices
installed in the system. Conguration options: [1st FLOPPY DRIVE]
[Hard Drive] [ATAPI CD-ROM ] [Disabled]
2.6.2 Boot Settings Conguration
Quick Boot [Enabled]
Enabling this item allows the BIOS to skip some power on self tests (POST) while booting to
decrease the time needed to boot the system. When set to [Disabled], BIOS performs all the
POST items. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Full Screen Logo [Enabled]
This allows you to enable or disable the full screen logo display feature. Conguration
options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Set this item to [Enabled] to use the ASUS MyLogo 2™ feature.
AddOn ROM Display Mode [Force BIOS]
Sets the display mode for option ROM. Conguration options: [Force BIOS]
[Keep Current]
Bootup Num-Lock [On]
Allows you to select the power-on state for the NumLock.
Conguration options: [Off] [On]
2-20Chapter 2: BIOS information
Page 57
PS/2 Mouse Support [Auto]
Allows you to enable or disable support for PS/2 mouse.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] [Auto]
Wait for ‘F1’ If Error [Enabled]
When set to Enabled, the system waits for the F1 key to be pressed when error occurs.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Hit ‘DEL’ Message Display [Enabled]
When set to Enabled, the system displays the message Press DEL to run Setup during
POST. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Interrupt 19 Capture [Disabled]
When set to [Enabled], this function allows the option ROMs to trap Interrupt 19.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
2.6.3 Security
The Security menu items allow you to change the system security settings. Select an item
then press <Enter> to display the conguration options.
Change Supervisor Password
Select this item to set or change the supervisor password. The Supervisor Password item on
top of the screen shows the default Not Installed. After you set a password, this item shows
Installed.
To set a Supervisor Password:
1. Select the
2. From the password box, type a password composed of at least six letters and/or
numbers, then press <Enter>.
3. Conrm the password when prompted.
The message “Password Installed” appears after you successfully set your password.
To change the supervisor password, follow the same steps as in setting a supervisor
password.
To clear the supervisor password, select the Change Supervisor Password then press
<Enter>. The message “Password Uninstalled” appears.
Change Supervisor Password item and press <Enter>.
If you forget your BIOS password, you can clear it by erasing the CMOS Real Time Clock
(RTC) RAM. See section “1.9 Jumpers” for information on how to erase the RTC RAM.
After you have set a supervisor password, the other items appear to allow you to change
other security settings.
User Access Level [Full Access]
This item allows you to select the access restriction to the Setup items. Conguration options:
[No Access] [View Only] [Limited] [Full Access]
No Access prevents user access to the Setup utility.
View Only allows access but does not allow change to any eld.
ASUS M3N78 SE2-21
Page 58
Limited allows changes only to selected elds, such as Date and Time.
Full Access allows viewing and changing all the elds in the Setup utility.
Change User Password
Select this item to set or change the user password. The User Password item on top of the
screen shows the default Not Installed. After you set a password, this item shows Installed.
To set a User Password:
1. Select the
Change User Password item and press <Enter>.
2. On the password box that appears, type a password composed of at least six letters
and/or numbers, then press <Enter>.
3. Conrm the password when prompted.
The message “Password Installed” appears after you set your password successfully.
To change the user password, follow the same steps as in setting a user password.
Clear User Password
Select this item to clear the user password.
Password Check [Setup]
When set to [Setup], BIOS checks for user password when accessing the Setup utility. When
set to [Always], BIOS checks for user password both when accessing Setup and booting the
system. Conguration options: [Setup] [Always]
2.7 Tools menu
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
ASUS EZ Flash 2
AI NET2
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Press ENTER to run
the utility to select
and update BIOS.
This utility doesn't
support :
1.NTFS format
Select Screen
Select Item
+- Change Field
Enter Go to Sub
Screen
F1 General Help
F10 Save and Exit
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2007, American Megatrends, Inc.
ESC Exit
2.7.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2
Allows you to run ASUS EZ Flash 2. When you press <OK>, a conrmation message
appears. Use the left/right arrow key to select between [Yes] or [No], then press <OK> to
conrm your choice.
2-22Chapter 2: BIOS information
Page 59
2.7.2 AI NET 2
Check Realtek Phy LAN cable [Disabled]
Enables or disables checking of the Realtek Phy LAN cable during the Power-On Self-Test
(POST).
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
2.8 Exit menu
The Exit menu items allow you to load the optimal or failsafe default values for the BIOS
items, and save or discard your changes to the BIOS items.
Exit Options
Exit & Save Changes
Exit & Discard Changes
Discard Changes
Load Setup Defaults
Pressing <Esc> does not immediately exit this menu. Select one of the options from this
menu or <F10> from the legend bar to exit.
Exit system setup
after saving the
changes.
F10 key can be used
for this operation.
Exit & Save Changes
Once you are nished making your selections, choose this option from the Exit menu to
ensure the values you selected are saved to the CMOS RAM. An onboard backup battery
sustains the CMOS RAM so it stays on even when the PC is turned off. When you select this
option, a conrmation window appears. Select OK to save changes and exit.
If you attempt to exit the Setup program without saving your changes, the program
prompts you with a message asking if you want to save your changes before exiting. Press
<Enter> to save the changes while exiting.
Exit & Discard Changes
Select this option only if you do not want to save the changes that you made to the
Setup program. If you made changes to elds other than System Date, System Time, and
Password, the BIOS asks for a conrmation before exiting.
Discard Changes
This option allows you to discard the selections you made and restore the previously saved
values. After selecting this option, a conrmation appears. Select OK to discard any changes
and load the previously saved values.
Load Setup Defaults
This option allows you to load the default values for each of the parameters on the Setup
menus. When you select this option or if you press <F5>, a conrmation window appears.
Select OK to load default values. Select Exit & Save Changes or make other changes
before saving the values to the non-volatile RAM.
ASUS M3N78 SE2-23
Page 60
2-24Chapter 2: BIOS information
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