Asus M3N WS User’s Manual

M3N WS

Motherboard

E3762

First Edition April 2008

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, modied or altered, unless such repair, modication 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 identication or explanation and to the owners’ benet, without intent to infringe.

Contents ...................................................................................................... iii

Notices ........................................................................................................ vii

Safety information .................................................................................... viii

About this guide ......................................................................................... ix

M3N WS specications summary ............................................................. xi

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 unique features .................................................... 1-4

1.3.3 ASUS intelligent performance and

overclocking features ...................................................... 1-7

Chapter 2: Hardware information

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

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

2.2.1 Motherboard layout ......................................................... 2-2

2.2.2 Layout contents ............................................................... 2-3

2.2.3 Placement direction ........................................................ 2-4

2.2.4 Screw holes .................................................................... 2-4

2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) ................................................... 2-5

2.3.1 Installing the CPU ........................................................... 2-5

2.3.2 Installing the heatsink and fan ........................................ 2-7

2.4 System memory ......................................................................... 2-10

2.4.1 Overview ....................................................................... 2-10

2.4.2 Memory congurations ...................................................2-11

2.4.3 Installing a DDR2 DIMM ............................................... 2-12

2.4.4 Removing a DDR2 DIMM ............................................. 2-12

2.5 Expansion slots .......................................................................... 2-13

2.5.1 Installing an expansion card ......................................... 2-13

2.5.2 Conguring an expansion card ..................................... 2-13

2.5.3 Interrupt assignments ................................................... 2-14

2.5.4 PCI slots ........................................................................ 2-15

2.5.5 PCI-X slot ...................................................................... 2-15

iii

Contents

2.5.6 PCI Express x1 slots ..................................................... 2-15

2.5.7 PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot ............................................... 2-15

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

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

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

2.7.2 Internal connectors ....................................................... 2-22

2.8 G.P. Diagnosis card installation ................................................ 2-34

2.8.1 G.P. Diagnosis card layout ............................................ 2-34

2.8.2 Installing G.P. Diagnosis card ....................................... 2-34

2.8.3 G.P. Diagnosis card check codes.................................. 2-35

2.9 Starting up for the rst time ...................................................... 2-37

2.10 Turning off the computer ........................................................... 2-38

2.10.1 Using the OS shut down function .................................. 2-38

2.10.2 Using the dual function power switch ............................ 2-38

Chapter 3: BIOS setup

3.1 Managing and updating your BIOS ............................................ 3-1

3.1.1 ASUS Update utility ........................................................ 3-1

3.1.2 Creating a bootable oppy disk ....................................... 3-4

3.1.3 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility ................................................... 3-5

3.1.4 Updating the BIOS .......................................................... 3-6

3.1.5 Saving the current BIOS le ............................................ 3-8

3.1.6 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility ...................................... 3-9

3.2 BIOS setup program .................................................................. 3-11

3.2.1 BIOS menu screen ........................................................ 3-12

3.2.2 Menu bar ....................................................................... 3-12

3.2.3 Legend bar .................................................................... 3-13

3.2.4 Menu items ................................................................... 3-13

3.2.5 Sub-menu items ............................................................ 3-13

3.2.6 Conguration elds ....................................................... 3-13

3.2.7 Pop-up window ............................................................. 3-14

3.2.8 General help ................................................................. 3-14

3.3 Main menu .................................................................................. 3-15

3.3.1 System Time ................................................................. 3-15

3.3.2 System Date ................................................................. 3-15

3.3.3 Language ...................................................................... 3-15

Contents

3.3.4 Legacy Diskette A ......................................................... 3-15

3.3.5 Primary IDE Master/Slave ............................................. 3-16

3.3.6 SATA1/2/3/4 ....................................................................................3-18

3.3.7 HDD SMART Monitoring ............................................... 3-19

3.3.8 Installed Memory ........................................................... 3-19

3.3.9 Usable Memory ............................................................. 3-19

3.4 Advanced menu ......................................................................... 3-20

3.4.1 JumperFree Conguration ............................................ 3-20

3.4.2 Ai Net 2 ......................................................................... 3-22

3.4.3 CPU Conguration ........................................................ 3-22

3.4.4 Chipset .......................................................................... 3-25

3.4.5 PCIPnP ......................................................................... 3-27

3.4.6 Onboard Device Conguration ...................................... 3-28

3.4.7 USB Conguration ........................................................ 3-30

3.5 Power menu ................................................................................ 3-31

3.5.1 ACPI Suspend Type ...................................................... 3-31

3.5.2 ACPI APIC Support ....................................................... 3-31

3.5.3 APM Conguration ........................................................ 3-31

3.5.4 Hardware Monitor ......................................................... 3-33

3.6 Boot menu .................................................................................. 3-35

3.6.1 Boot Device Priority ...................................................... 3-35

3.6.2 Removable Drives ......................................................... 3-35

3.6.3 Boot Settings Conguration ......................................... 3-36

3.6.4 Security ......................................................................... 3-37

3.7 Tools menu ................................................................................. 3-39

3.7.1 ASUS O.C. Prole ......................................................... 3-39

3.7.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 .......................................................... 3-41

3.8 Exit menu .................................................................................... 3-42

Chapter 4: Software support

4.1 Installing an operating system ................................................... 4-1

4.2 Support DVD information ............................................................ 4-1

4.2.1 Running the support DVD ............................................... 4-1

4.2.2 Drivers menu ................................................................... 4-2

4.2.3 Utilities menu .................................................................. 4-3

4.2.4 Make Disk menu ............................................................. 4-5

Contents

4.2.5 Manual menu .................................................................. 4-6

4.2.6 ASUS Contact information .............................................. 4-6

4.2.7 Other information ............................................................ 4-7

4.3 Software information ................................................................... 4-9

4.3.1 ASUS MyLogo2™ ........................................................... 4-9

4.3.2 Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ Technology ..........................................4-11

4.3.3 Audio congurations ..................................................... 4-14

4.3.4 ASUS PC Probe II ......................................................... 4-18

4.3.5 ASUS AI Suite ............................................................... 4-24

4.3.6 ASUS AI Gear 2 ............................................................ 4-26

4.3.7 ASUS AI Nap ................................................................ 4-27

4.3.8 ASUS AI N.O.S. ............................................................ 4-28

4.3.9 ASUS Q-Fan 2 .............................................................. 4-29

4.3.10 ASUS AI Booster ........................................................... 4-30

4.4 RAID congurations .................................................................. 4-31

4.4.1 RAID denitions ............................................................ 4-31

4.4.2 NVIDIA® RAID congurations........................................ 4-32

4.5 Creating a RAID driver disk ....................................................... 4-39

4.5.1 Creating a RAID driver disk without entering the OS .... 4-39

4.5.2 Creating a RAID/SATA driver disk in Windows

® .......................... 4-39

Chapter 5: NVIDIA® Hybrid SLI™ technology support

5.1 NVIDIA® Hybrid SLI® Technology ............................................... 5-1

5.1.1 System requirements ..................................................... 5-1

5.1.2 Enabling GeForce® Boost and HybridPower™ ............... 5-2

Notices

Federal Communications Commission Statement

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 modications

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.

vii

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 adpater 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 x it by yourself. Contact a qualied

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, 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 qualied

service technician or your retailer.

viii

This symbol of the crossed out wheeled bin indicates that the product (electrical, electronic equipment, and mercury-containing button cell battery) should not be placed in municipal waste. Check local regulations for disposal of electronic products.

About this guide

This user guide contains the information you need when installing and conguring

the motherboard.

How this guide is organized

This guide contains the following parts:

• Chapter 1: Product introduction

This chapter describes the features of the motherboard and the new technology it supports.

• Chapter 2: Hardware information

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.

• Chapter 3: BIOS setup

This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS Setup menus. Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided.

• Chapter 4: Software support

This chapter describes the contents of the support DVD that comes with the motherboard package and the software.

• Chapter 5: nVIDIA Hybrid SLI™ support

This chapter describes the nVIDIA Hybrid SLI™ feature and shows the graphics card installation procedures.

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 standard package.

Conventions used in this guide

To make sure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following symbols used throughout this manual.

DANGER/WARNING: Information to prevent injury to yourself

when trying to complete a task.

CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components

when trying to complete a task.

IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a

task.

NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a

task.

Typography

Bold text Indicates a menu or an item to select.

Italics

Used to emphasize a word or a phrase.

<Key> Keys enclosed in the less-than and greater-than sign

means that you must press the enclosed key.

Example: <Enter> means that you must press the Enter or Return key.

<Key1+Key2+Key3> If you must press two or more keys simultaneously, the

key names are linked with a plus sign (+).

Example: <Ctrl+Alt+D>

Command 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:

awdas M3N WS.bin

M3N WS specications summary

CPU AMD® Socket AM2/AM2+ for Phenom™ FX / Phenom™ /

Chipset NVIDIA® GeForce® 8200

System Bus Up to 5200 MT/s; HyperTransport™ 3.0 interface

Memory Dual-channel memory architecture

VGA Integrated NVIDIA® 8 Series GPU

Expansion Slots 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 slot at full x16 speed

Storage 1 x Ultra DMA 133/100 interface

LAN 2 x Realtek® 8111C Gigabit LAN controllers support

High Denition Audio Realtek® ALC888 8-channel High Denition audio

IEEE 1394a Agere® FW3227 controller supports 2 x IEEE 1394a ports

USB 12 x USB 2.0 ports (6 at mid-board; 6 on the rear panel)

Athlon™ / Sempron™ processors

AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ Technology AMD Live!™ Ready

for AM2+ CPU 2000 / 1600 MT/s for AM2 CPU

- 4 x 240-pin DIMM sockets support unbufferred ECC/ ECC/ECC/ non-ECC DDR2 1066*/800/667/533 MHz memory modules

- Supports up to 8 GB system memory *DDR2 1066 is supported by AM2+ CPUs only.

- Maximum shared memory of 512MB

- Supports HDMI™ Technology with HDCP compliant with max. resolution up to 1920 x 1200

- Supports DVI Technology with max. resolution up to 1920 x 1440 @ 60 Hz

- Supports D-Sub with max. resolution up to 1920 x 1440 @ 75 Hz

- Multi VGA output support: HDMI/DVI & D-Sub

- Hybrid SLI Support (For Windows Vista only)

2 x PCIe x1 slots 1 x PCI-X slot 2 x PCI 2.2 slots

6 x SATA 3Gb/s ports (Use SATA1-4 for IDE mode) NVIDIA® MediaShield™ RAID supports RAID 0, 1, 0+1, 5, and JBOD

teaming function

CODEC

- Supports Jack-Detection and Multi-StreamingSupports Jack-Detection and Multi-StreamingMulti-Streaming

- Coaxial S/PDIF Out port at back I/O S/PDIF Out port at back I/O

(1 at mid-board; 1 on the rear panel)

(continued on the next page)

M3N WS specications summary

ASUS AI Lifestyle Unique Features

Other Features ASUS MyLogo 2™

Rear panel I/O ports 1 x PS/2 keyboard port (purple)

Internal I/O connectors 3 x USB connectors support additional 6 USB ports

ASUS Workstation Features:

- G.P. Diagnosis card

- ASUS SASsaby cards support

ASUS Power Saving Solution:

- ASUS AI Nap

- ASUS AI Gear 2

ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution:

- ASUS Heat-pipe thermal solution

- ASUS Q-Fan 2

- ASUS Stack Cool 2

ASUS EZ DIY:

- ASUS Q-Shield

- ASUS Q-Connector

- ASUS EZ Flash 2

- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3

Multi-language BIOS ASUS AI NET 2

1 x Coaxial S/PDIF Out port 1 x Optical S/PDIF Out port 1 x HDMI Out port 1 x D-sub Out port 2 x LAN ports (RJ-45) 6 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports 8-channel audio I/O

1 x Floppy disk drive connector 1 x IDE connector 6 x SATA connectors 1 x Parallel connector 1 x CPU Fan connector 2 x Chassis Fan connectors 1 x Power Fan connector 2 x IEEE1394a connectors 1 x Front panel audio connector 1 x Chassis Intrusion connector 1 x CD audio in 1 x 24-pin ATX Power connector 1 x 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector 1 x System Panel (Q-Connector)

(continued on the next page)

xii

M3N WS specications summary

BIOS features 8 Mb Flash ROM, Award BIOS, PnP, DMI 2.0, WfM2.0,

Support DVD contents Drivers

Form factor ATX form factor: 12 in x 9.6 in (30.5 cm x 24.5 cm)

*Specications are subject to change without notice.

SM BIOS 2.3

BIOS ash utility under DOS ASUS Update Anti-virus Utility (OEM version)

xiii

xiv

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

Chapter 1: Product

introduction

Chapter summary

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

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

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

ASUS M3N WS

1.1 Welcome!

Thank you for buying an ASUS® M3N WS 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.

Motherboard ASUS M3N WS

I/O module 1 x 2-port USB + 1-port IEEE 1394a module

Cables 2 x 2-port Serial ATA power cable 2 x 2-port Serial ATA power cable2 x 2-port Serial ATA power cable 6 x Serial ATA signal cables 1 x Ultra DMA 133/100 cable 1 x Floppy disk drive cable 1 x HDMI to DVI cable

Accessories 1 x I/O Shield 1 x I/O ShieldI/O Shield 1 x ASUS Q-Connector Kit (USB, 1394, system panel; Retail version only) 1 x G.P. Diagnosis Card (Retail version only)

Application DVD ASUS motherboard support DVD

Documentation User guide

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

ASUS M3N WS 1-1

1.3 Special features

1.3.1 Product highlights

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.

AMD® Socket AM2+ Phenom™ FX / Phenom / Athlon™ / Sempron™ 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 2-5 for details.

HyperTransport™ 3.0 support

HyperTransport™ 3.0 technology provides 2.6 times more bandwidth than

HyperTransport™ 1.0, radically improving system efciency to create a smoother,

faster computing environment.

AMD® Socket AM2 Athlon™ Series / Sempron™ CPU support

This motherboard supports AMD 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 2-5 for details.

Socket AM2 Athlon™ Series / Sempron™

NVIDIA® GeForce 8200

NVIDIA® GeForce 8200 offers the latest support of Hybrid SLI Technology, DirectX® 10 graphics features, HD video playback with HDMI/DVI output. It also supports HyperTransport™ 3.0 interface, PCI Express™ 2.0 bus architecture,

Serial ATA 3 Gb/s devices and is optimized with AMD’s latest AM2+ and multi-core

CPUs to provide excellent system performance.

Native DDR2 1066 support

This motherboard is the rst AMD® platform with native DDR2 1066 support.

It provides faster data transfer rate and more bandwidth to increase memory

computing efciency, enhancing system performance in 3D graphics and other

memory demanding applications. See page 2-10 for details.

DDR2 1066 is supported by AM2+ CPUs only.

1-2 Chapter 1: Product Introduction

NVIDIA® Hybrid SLI Technology

Hybrid SLI™ Technology is a unique hybrid multi-GPU technology. It includes two primary features: GeForce Boost and HybridPower™. GeForce Boost turbo-charges performance of discrete graphics cards when combined with M3N series motherboard GPUs. HybridPower™ unleashes graphics performance for demanding 3D applications and enables low-power operation for everyday computing needs. You can switch from the discrete GeForce GPU(s) to the motherboard GPU for a quiet, low power PC experience. See page 2-16 and chapter 5 for details.

Geforce Boost and HybridPower™ are independent on select GeForce GPUs. Visit www.nvidia.com/hybridsli for more information.

HDMI/DVI/D-Sub Interface

HDMI (High-Denition Multimedia Interface) is a set of digital video standards that

delivers multi-channel audio and uncompressed digital video through a single cable for full HD 1080p visuals. Supporting HDCP copy protection such as HD DVD and Blu-ray Discs, HDMI provides you with the highest-quality home theater experience.

DVI (Digital Visual Interface) provides high quality visuals for digital display devices like LCD monitors. See page 2-20 for details.

This motherboard is bundled with an HDMI-to-DVI conversion adaptor.

PCIe 2.0 support

This motherboard supports the latest PCIe 2.0 devices for double speed and bandwidth which enhances system performance. See page 2-15 for details.

Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s technology

This motherboard supports the next-generation hard disk drives based on the

Serial ATA (SATA) 3Gb/s storage specications, delivering enhanced scalability

and doubling the bus bandwidth for high-speed data retrieval and save. It allows

RAID 0, 1, 0+1 and 5 congurations for two SATA connectors. See page 2-24 for

details.

ASUS M3N WS 1-3

High Denition Audio

Enjoy high-end sound quality on your PC! The onboard 8-channel HD audio (High Denition Audio, previously codenamed Azalia) CODEC enables high-quality 192KHz/24-bit audio output that simultaneously sends different audio streams to

different destinations. You can now talk to your partners on the headphones while playing multi-channel network games. See page 2-19 and 2-20 for details.

1.3.2 ASUS unique features

ASUS Power Saving Solution

ASUS Power Saving solution intelligently and automatically provides balanced computing power and energy consumption.

AI Gear 2

AI Gear 2 allows you to choose from proles to adjust CPU frequency and vCore voltage, minimizing system noise and saving CPU power consumption

at most. You can real-time chnage the mode under operating system to suit your needs. See page 4-26 for details.

AI Nap

With AI Nap, the system can continue running at minimum power and noise when you are temporarily away. To wake the system and return to the OS environment, simply click the mouse or press a key. See page 4-27 for details.

ASUS Workstation Features

ASUS Workstation features provide complete support to system maintenance and storage technology.

G.P. Diagnosis card

Bundled with M3N WS motherboard (retail version), the G.P. Diagnosis card assists users in system checking by effortlessly and quickly providing precise system checks right after they switch on their PCs. See page 2-34 for details.

ASUS SASsaby cards support

This motherboard is fully compatible with ASUS SASsaby cards (optional). Faster, safer and more stable, SAS will provide users with a better choice for storage expansion and upgrade needs. See page 2-16 for details.

1-4 Chapter 1: Product Introduction

ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution

ASUS Quiet Thermal solution makes system more stable and enhances the overclocking capability.

ASUS Stack Cool 2

Stack Cool 2 is a fan-less and zero-noise cooling solution offered exclusively

by ASUS. It effectively transfers heat generated by the critical components to the other side of the specially designed PCB (printed circuit board) for effective heat dissipation.

Fanless Design - Heat-pipe

The Heat Pipe design effectively directs the heat generated by the chipsets to the heatsink near the back IO ports, where it can be carried away by existing

airow from CPU fan or bundled optional fan. The purpose of the innovative

heat pipe design on this motherboard is that the groundbreaking fanless design does not have lifetime problems as a chipset fan does. Furthermore, it

provides options for users to install side-ow fan or passive cooler. The Heat

Pipe design is the most reliable fanless thermal solution to date.

DO NOT uninstall the heat-pipe by yourself. Doing so may bend the tubing and affect the heat dissipation performance.

Q-Fan 2

ASUS Q-Fan2 technology intelligently adjusts both CPU fan and chassis

fan speeds according to system loading to ensure quiet, cool and efcient

operation. See page 3-33 and 4-29 for details.

ASUS EZ DIY

ASUS EZ DIY feature collection provides you easy ways to install computer components, update the BIOS or back up your favorite settings.

ASUS Q-Shield

The specially designed ASUS Q-Shield does without the usual “ngers”—

making it convenient and easy to install. With better electric conductivity, it ideally protects your motherboard against static electricity and shields it against Electronic Magnetic Interference (EMI).

ASUS M3N WS 1-5

ASUS Q-Connector

ASUS Q-Connector allows you to easily connect or disconnect the chassis front panel cables to the motherboard. This unique module eliminates the trouble of connecting the system panel cables one at a time and avoiding wrong cable connections. See page 2-33 for details.

ASUS EZ Flash 2

ASUS EZ Flash 2 is a user-friendly BIOS update utility. Simply press the

predened hotkey to launch the utility and update the BIOS without entering

the OS. Update your BIOS easily without preparing a bootable diskette or

using an OS-based ash utility. See page 3-5 and 3-41 for details.

Smart Support DVD

This feature provides a checklist that allows the user to know which drivers are already installed, as well as those that are not. When using ASUS PC Probe II, you can easily monitor the critical components of the computer.

ASUS MyLogo 2™

This feature allows you to convert your favorite photo into a 256-color boot logo for a more colorful and vivid image on your screen. See page 3-37 and 4-9 for details.

1-6 Chapter 1: Product Introduction

1.3.3 ASUS intelligent performance and overclocking features

Precision Tweaker

This feature allows you to ne tune the CPU/memory voltage and gradually increase the memory, Front Side Bus (FSB) and PCI Express frequency at 1MHz

increment to achieve maximum system performance.

AI Booster

The ASUS AI Booster allows you to overclock the CPU speed in Windows environment without the hassle of booting the BIOS. See page 4-30 for details.

C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)

The C.P.R. feature of the motherboard BIOS allows automatic re-setting to the BIOS default settings in case the system hangs due to overclocking. When the system hangs due to overclocking, C.P.R. eliminates the need to open the system chassis and clear the RTC data. Simply shut down and reboot the system, and the BIOS automatically restores the CPU default setting for each parameter.

ASUS M3N WS 1-7

1-8 Chapter 1: Product Introduction

This chapter lists the hardware setup procedures that you have to perform when installing system components. It includes description of the jumpers and connectors on the motherboard.

Chapter 2: Hardware

information