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M4A78-VM IN/SI
Motherboard
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E4596
First Edition V1
May 2009
Copyright © 2009 ASUSTeK Computer Inc. All Rights Reserved.
No part of this manual, including the products and software described in it, may be reproduced,
transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form or by any
means, except documentation kept by the purchaser for backup purposes, without the express written
permission of ASUSTeK Computer Inc. (“ASUS”).
Product warranty or service will not be extended if: (1) the product is repaired, 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.
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Contents
Notices .......................................................................................................... v
Safety information ...................................................................................... vi
About this guide ......................................................................................... vi
M4A78-VM IN/SI specications summary ............................................... viii
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.1 Before you proceed ..................................................................... 1-1
1.2 Motherboard overview .................................................................
1.2.1 Motherboard layout .........................................................
1.2.2 Layout contents ...............................................................
1.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) ...................................................
1.4 System memory ...........................................................................
1.4.1 Overview .........................................................................
1.4.2 Memory congurations ....................................................
1.5 Expansion slots ............................................................................
1.5.1 Installing an expansion card ...........................................
1.5.2 Conguring an expansion card .......................................
1.5.3 PCI slots ..........................................................................
1.5.4 PCI Express x16 slot .......................................................
1.6 Jumpers ........................................................................................
1.7 Connectors ...................................................................................
1.7.1 Rear panel ports .............................................................
1.7.2 Internal connectors ........................................................
1.8 Software support ........................................................................
1.8.1 Installing an operating system ......................................
1.8.2 Support DVD information ..............................................
1-2
1-2
1-2
1-3
1-3
1-3
1-3
1-6
1-6
1-6
1-6
1-6
1-7
1-9
1-9
1-11
1-17
1-17
1-17
Chapter 2: BIOS information
2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS ............................................ 2-1
2.1.1 ASUS Update utility ........................................................
2.1.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility ...................................................
2.1.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility ......................................
2.2 BIOS setup program ....................................................................
2.3 Main menu ....................................................................................
2.3.1 System Time ...................................................................
2.3.2 System Date ...................................................................
2-1
2-2
2-2
2-3
2-4
2-4
2-4
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Contents
2.3.3 Primary IDE Master/Slave, SATA1-4 ............................... 2-4
2.3.4 SATA Conguration .........................................................
2.3.5 System Information .........................................................
2.4 Advanced menu ...........................................................................
2.4.1 Hyper Transport Conguration ........................................
2.4.2 CPU Conguration ..........................................................
2.4.3 Chipset ............................................................................
2.4.4 Onboard Devices Conguration ......................................
2.4.5 PCI PnP ..........................................................................
2.4.6 USB Conguration ..........................................................
2.5 Power menu ................................................................................
2.5.1 Suspend Mode ..............................................................
2.5.2 ACPI 2.0 Support ..........................................................
2.5.3 ACPI APIC Support .......................................................
2.5.4 APM Conguration .........................................................
2.5.5 HW Monitor Conguration ..............................................
2.6 Boot menu ..................................................................................
2.6.1 Boot Device Priority ......................................................
2.6.2 Boot Settings Conguration ..........................................
2.6.3 Security .........................................................................
2.7 Tools menu .................................................................................
2.7.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2 ..........................................................
2.8 Exit menu ....................................................................................
2-5
2-5
2-6
2-6
2-6
2-7
2-9
2-9
2-9
2-10
2-10
2-10
2-10
2-11
2-11
2-12
2-12
2-12
2-13
2-14
2-14
2-14
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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 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.
REACH
Complying with the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of
Chemicals) regulatory framework, we published the chemical substances in our products at
ASUS REACH website at http://green.asus.com/english/REACH.htm.
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.
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Safety information
Electrical safety
•
To prevent electric shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electric 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.
• 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.
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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
standard package.
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>
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M4A78-VM IN/SI specications summary
CPU AMD® Phenom™ X4 / Phenom™ X3 / Athlon™ X2 / Athlon™ /
Chipset AMD® 780G / SB700
System bus Up to 5200 MT/s HyperTransport™ 3.0 interface for
Memory Dual-channel memory architecture
Graphics Integrated ATI Radeon™ HD3200 GPU
Expansion slots 1 x PCI Express x16 slot
LAN PCIe Gigabit LAN
Audio VT1708S High Denition Audio 6-channel CODEC
Sempron™ processors (socket AM2+/AM2)
Compatible with Phenom™ II / Athlon™ X4 / Athlon™ X3 /
Athlon™ X2 processors (AM3 CPU)
Supports 45nm CPU
Supports AMD® Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ 2.0 Technology (depends on
CPU type)
Supports CPU up to 125W
* Refer to www.asus.com for the AMD® CPU support list.
AM2+/AM3 CPU
2000/1600 MT/s for AM2 CPU
- 2 x 240-pin DIMM slots support unbuffered ECC and
non-ECC DDR2 1066*/800/667MHz memory modules
- Supports up to 8GB system memory
* DDR2 1066 is supported by AM2+/AM3 CPU only.
Refer to www.asus.com for the AM2+/AM3 CPU models.
** 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 operating system may only recognize less than 3GB.
Hence, a total installed memory of less than 3GB is
recommended if you are using a Windows® 32-bit OS.
Maximum shared memory of 256 MB
Supports DVI-D with HDCP compliant with max. resolution
2560 x 1600 (@60Hz dual-link)
Supports HDMI™ Technology with max. resolution up to
1920 x 1200 (1080P)
Supports RGB with max. resolution 2048 x 1536 (@75Hz)
Hybrid CrossFireX™ Support (for Windows® Vista and XP only)
Dual VGA out supports: RGB & DVI, RGB & HDMI
* Refer to www.amd.com for the discrete GPUs which support
Hybrid CrossFireX™.
** To playback the HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc, we recommend
system conguration: Graphic shared memory 256MB /
Dual-Core CPU minimum / Maximum 1GB memory of
Dual-channel DDR2 667 or Single-channel DDR2 800.
2 x PCI slots
Supports PCI Express™ 2.0/1.0 Architecture
viii
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M4A78-VM IN/SI specications summary
Storage AMD® SB700 southbridge:
USB Supports up to 8 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (4 port at mid-board, 4 ports at
ASUS special
features
Back panel I/O
ports
Internal I/O
connectors
BIOS 8Mb Flash ROM, AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI v2.0, WfM 2.0, ACPI 2.0a,
Accessories 1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable
Support DVD Drivers
Form Factor MicroATX form factor: 9.6 in x 8.3 in (24.4cm x 21.1cm)
- 1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 connector
- 4 x Serial ATA 3Gb/s connectors support RAID 0, RAID 1,
and RAID 0+1 congurations (*for Windows® Vista only)
* Due to the Windows® XP/Vista limitation, the RAID array with the
total capacity over 2TB cannot be set as a boot disk. A RAID
array over 2TB can only be set as a data disk only.
back panel)
ASUS Q-Fan
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
ASUS EZ Flash 2
ASUS MyLogo 2
1 x PS/2 Keyboard port
1 x PS/2 Mouse port
1 x DVI port
1 x HDMI port
1 x VGA port
1 x LAN (RJ-45) port
4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
6-channel audio I/O ports
2 x USB 2.0/1.1 connectors support additional 4 USB 2.0/1.1 ports
1 x IDE connector
1 x COM connector
4 x SATA connectors
1 x High denition front panel audio connector
1 x System panel connector
1 x Chassis intrusion connector
1 x S/PDIF Out connector
1 x CPU/Chassis/Power fan connectors
1 x LPT connector (optional)
1 x TPM connector (optional)
1 x 24-pin EATX power connector
1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector
SM BIOS v2.5
1 x Serial ATA cable
1x I/O shield
User manual
ASUS PC Probe II
ASUS LiveUpdate Utility
Anti-Virus software (OEM version)
*Specications are subject to change without notice.
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Chapter 1
Product introduction
Thank you for buying an ASUS® M4A78-VM IN/SI motherboard!
Before you start installing the motherboard, and hardware devices on it, check the items in
your motherboard package. Refer to page ix for the list of accessories.
If any of the items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.
1.1 Before you proceed
Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change
any motherboard settings.
• Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any component.
• Before handling components, use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded
object or a metal object, such as the power supply case, to avoid damaging them due to
static electricity
• Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them.
• Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded antistatic pad or in the
bag that came with the component.
• Before you install or remove any component, switch off the ATX power supply and
detach its power cord. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to the motherboard,
peripherals, or components.
Onboard LED
This 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 must 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.
Chapter 1: Product introduction1-1
Page 11
1.2 Motherboard overview
1.2.1 Motherboard layout
Ensure that you install the motherboard into the chassis in the correct orientation. The edge
with external ports goes to the rear part of the chassis.
Place this side towards
the rear of the chassis.
Place six screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the motherboard to the
chassis. DO NOT overtighten the screws! Doing so can damage the motherboard.
1.2.2 Layout contents
Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED Page Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED Page
1. Keyboard power (3-pin KBPWR) 1-7 10. Chassis intrusion connector (4-1 pin CHASSIS) 1-14
2. HDSW setting (30-pin HDSW)
3. USB device wake-up (3-pin USBPW1-4,
3-pin USBPW5-8)
4. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR,
4-pin ATX12V)
5. Power, CPU, and chassis fan connectors (3-pin
PWR_FAN, 4-pin CPU_FAN, 3-pin CHA_FAN)
6. CPU Socket AM2+
7. DDR2 DIMM slots
8. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE)
9. Onboard LED (SB_PWR)
1-8 11. Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1-4) 1-11
1-8 12. System panel connector (10-1 pin F_PANEL) 1-16
1-15 13. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB56, USB78) 1-13
1-14 14. Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC) 1-7
1-3 15. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT) 1-11
1-3 16. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP) 1-13
1-12 17. PCI / PCIe x16 slots 1-6
1-1 18. Serial port connector (10-1 pin COM1) 1-15
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1.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
This motherboard comes with an AM2+ / AM2 socket designed for AMD® Phenom™ x4 /
Phenom™ x3 / Athlon™ x2 / Athlon™ / Sempron™ processors. It also supports AM3 CPUs
including Phenom™ II / Athlon™ x4 / Athlon™ x3 / Athlon™ x2 processors.
The AM2+ / AM2 socket has a different pinout from the 940-pin socket designed for the
AMD Opteron™ processor. Use a CPU that is designed for the AM2+ / AM2 socket.
1.4 System memory
1.4.1 Overview
This motherboard comes with two Double Data Rate 2 (DDR2) Dual Inline Memory Modules
(DIMM) sockets. The gure illustrates the location of the DDR2 DIMM sockets:
Channel Sockets
Channel A DIMM_A1
Channel B DIMM_B1
1.4.2 Memory congurations
You may install 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB unbuffered ECC and 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 the 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.
• Due to the memory address limitation on the 32-bit Windows
4GB or more memory on the motherboard, the actual usable memory for the OS can be
about 3GB or less. For effective use of memory, we recommend that you do either of the
following:
- Install a maximum of 3GB system memory if you are using a 32-bit Windows
OS.
- Use a 64-bit Windows® OS if you want to install 4GB or more memory on the
motherboard.
• This motherboard does not support DIMMs made up of 256 megabits (Mb) chips or less.
The motherboard supports up to 8GB memory modules on Windows® XP Professional x64
and Vista x64 editions. You may install a maximum of 4GB DIMMs on each slot.
®
OS, when you install
Chapter 1: Product introduction1-3
®
Page 13
M4A78-VM IN/SI Motherboard Qualied Vendors List (QVL)
DDR2-1066MHz capability
DIMM sockets
Chip
Size Vendor Part No. SS/DS CL Chip NO.
4096MB(Kit of 2) A-Data AD21066E002GU DS 5-5-5-15 Heat-Sink Package N/A ·
4096MB(kit of 2) Apacer 78.AAGAL.9KZ DS 5-5-5-15 Heat-Sink Package N/A · ·
1024MB Corsair CM2X1024-8500C5 DS N/A Heat-Sink Package Corsair · ·
1024MB Crucial BL12864AA1065.8FE5 SS N/A Heat-Sink Package N/A ·
2048MB(Kit of 2) G.SKILL F2-8500CL5D-2GBPK DS 5-5-5-15 Heat-Sink Package N/A · ·
1024MB GEIL GB22GB8500C5DC SS 5 GL2L128M88BA18BW GEIL · ·
1024MB(Kit of 2) Kingston KHX8500D2K2/1GN(EPP) SS 5-5-5-18 Heat-Sink Package Kingston · ·
1024MB Kingston KHX8500D2K2/2GN(EPP) DS 5-5-5-18 Heat-Sink Package Kingston · ·
2048MB(Kit of 2) OCZ OCZ2N1066SR2DK(Epp) DS 5-5-5-15 Heat-Sink Package 004820806001601-2 OCZ ·
2048MB PSC AL8E8G73F-AE1 DS 5-5-5-12 A3R1GE3FGF907MAT0FTAIWAN-G8E PSC ·
1024MB Qimonda HYS64T128000EU-1.9-C2 DS N/A HYB18T1G800C2F-1.9FSS25253 Qimonda · ·
2048MB(Kit of 2) Transcend TX1066QLU-2GK SS 5 Heat-Sink Package N/A · ·
Brand
support
A* B*
• DDR2 1066 is supported by AM3/AM2+ CPU only.
• 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.
DDR2-800MHz capability
DIMM sockets
Chip
Size Vendor Part No. SS/DS CL Chip NO.
2048MB(Kit of 2) A-Data AD2800E001G0U SS 4-4-4-12 Heat-Sink Package N/A · ·
512MB Apacer 78.91G91.9K5 SS 5 AM4B5708JQJS8E0751C Apacer · ·
1024MB Corsair XMS2-6400 DS 4 Heat-Sink Package Corsair · ·
4096MB(kit of 2) Crucial BL25664AL80A.16FE5(EPP) DS 4-4-4-12 Heat-Sink Package N/A · ·
4096MB G.SKILL F2-6400CL6Q-16GMQ DS 5 Heat-Sink Package N/A · ·
1024MB GEIL GB24GB6400C5QC DS 5 GL2L64M088BA30EB GEIL · ·
2048MB GEIL GX24GB6400DC DS 5 Heat-Sink Package GEIL · ·
1024MB Kingmax KKB8FFBXF-CFA-25U SS N/A KLDD48F-B8KB5 Kingmax ·
1024MB Kingston KVR800D2N6/1G(low prole) DS 6 E510BAJBG-8E-E Elpida · ·
1024MB OCZ OCZ2RPR8002GK DS 4-4-4-15 Heat-Sink Package OCZ · ·
2048MB OCZ OCZ2F8004GK(EPP) DS 5-4-4-18 Heat-Sink Package N/A · ·
2048MB PSC AL8E8G73F-8E1 DS N/A P3R1GE3FGF850MAC19 PSC · ·
2048MB PSC PL8E8F73C-8E1 DS 5 SHG772-AA3G PSC · ·
512MB Samsung K4T51083QG-HCF7 SS 6 M378T6553GZS-CF7 Qimonda · ·
1024MB Samsung M378T2953GZ3-CF7 DS N/A K4T51083QG Samsung · ·
1024MB Super Talent T800UB1GC4 DS 4 Heat-Sink Package
2048MB Transcend TS256MLQ64V8U DS 5 E1108ACBG-8E-E Elpida · ·
512MB V-Data M2GVD6G3H3160Q1E52 SS N/A VD29608A8A-25EG20813 VDATA · ·
Brand
Super
Talent
support
A* B*
· ·
1-4ASUS M4A78-VM IN/SI
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DDR2-667MHz capability
DIMM sockets
Chip
Size Vendor Part No. SS/DS CL Chip NO.
1024MB Apacer 78.01G9O.9K5 SS 5 AM4B5808CQJS7E0751C Apacer · ·
1024MB Corsair VS1GB667D2 DS N/A MID095D62864M8CEC Corsair · ·
4096MB(Kit of 2) G.SKILL F2-5300CL5D-4GBMQ DS 5-5-5-15 Heat-Sink Package SN:8151030036559 G.SKILL · ·
1024MB Kingmax KLCD48F-A8KB5 DS N/A KKEA88B4LAUG-29DX Kingmax · ·
1024MB Kingston KVR667D2N5/1G(low prole) DS 5 E5108AJBG-8E-E PSC · ·
1024MB Transcend JM667QLJ-1G DS 5 E5108AJBG-6E-E Elpida · ·
SS: Single-sided / DS: Double-sided
DIMM support:
• A*: Supports one module inserted into either slot as the single-channel memory
conguration.
• B*: Supports one pair of modules inserted into both the blue slots as one pair of
dual-channel memory conguration.
Visit the ASUS website at www.asus.com for the latest QVL.
Brand
support
A* B*
Chapter 1: Product introduction1-5
Page 15
1.5 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.
Unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. Failure to do so may
cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components.
1.5.1 Installing an expansion card
To install an expansion card:
1. Before installing the expansion card, read the documentation that comes with it and
make the necessary hardware settings for the card.
2. Remove the chassis cover (if your motherboard is already installed in a chassis).
3. Remove the bracket opposite the slot that you intend to 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.
6. Replace the chassis cover.
1.5.2 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 the card inoperable.
1.5.3 PCI slots
The PCI slots support cards such as LAN cards, SCSI cards, USB cards, and other cards
that comply with the PCI specications.
1.5.4 PCI Express x16 slot
This motherboard supports PCI Express x16 graphics cards that comply with the PCI
Express specications.
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1.6 Jumpers
1. Clear RTC RAM (3-pin 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. 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.
3. Plug the power cord and turn ON the computer.
4. Hold down the
data.
Except when clearing the RTC RAM, never remove the cap on CLRTC jumper default
position. Removing the cap will cause system boot failure!
If the steps above do not help, remove the onboard battery and move the jumper again to
clear the CMOS RTC RAM data. After clearing the CMOS, reinstall the battery.
<Del> key during the boot process and enter BIOS setup to reenter
2. Keyboard power (3-pin KBPWR)
This jumper allows you to enable or disable the keyboard wake-up feature. When you
set this jumper to pins 2–3 (+5VSB), you can wake up the computer by pressing a key
on the keyboard (the default is the Space Bar)s. This feature requires an ATX power
supply that can supply at least 1A on the +5VSB lead, and a corresponding setting in
the BIOS.
Chapter 1: Product introduction1-7
Page 17
3. USB device wake-up (3-pin USBPW1-4, 3-pin USBPW5-8)
Set these jumpers to +5V to wake up the computer from S1 sleep mode (CPU stopped,
DRAM refreshed, system running in low power mode) using the connected USB
devices. Set to +5VSB to wake up from S3 and S4 sleep modes (no power to CPU,
DRAM in slow refresh, power supply in reduced power mode).
• The USB device wake-up feature requires a power supply that can provide 500mA on
the +5VSB lead for each USB port; otherwise, the system would not power up.
• The total current consumed must NOT exceed the power supply capability (+5VSB)
whether under normal condition or in sleep mode.
4. HDSW setting (30-pin HDSW)
This jumper allows you to switch between the HDMI and the DVI features. By default,
the HDMI feature is enabled. To enable the DVI feature, set this jumber to pins 2-3. To
switch to HDMI, set this jumper to pins 1-2.
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1.7 Connectors
1.7.1 Rear panel ports
1. PS/2 Mouse port (green). This port is for a PS/2 mouse.
2. Video Graphics Adapter (VGA) port.
VGA-compatible devices.
3. LAN (RJ-45) port.
This port allows Gigabit connection to a Local Area Network (LAN)
through a network hub.
LAN port LED indications
Activity/Link LED Speed LED
Status Description Status Description
OFF No link OFF 10Mbps connection
ORANGE Linked ORANGE 100Mbps connection
BLINKING Data activity GREEN 1Gbps connection
4. Line In port (light blue). This port connects to the tape, CD, DVD player, or other
audio sources.
5. Line Out port (lime).
This port connects to a headphone or a speaker. In 4-channel
and 6-channel congurations, the function of this port becomes Front Speaker Out.
6. Microphone port (pink).
This port connects to a microphone.
This 15-pin port is for a VGA monitor or other
ACT/LINK
SPEED
LED
LAN port
LED
Refer to the audio conguration table below for the function of the audio ports in 2, 4, or
6-channel conguration.
Audio 2, 4, 6-channel conguration
Port Headset 2-channel 4-channel 6-channel
Light Blue Line In Rear Speaker Out Rear Speaker Out
Lime Line Out Front Speaker Out Front Speaker Out
Pink Mic In Mic In Bass/Center
Chapter 1: Product introduction1-9
Page 19
7. USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports connect to
USB 2.0/1.1 devices.
8. USB 2.0 ports 3 and 4.
These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports connect to
USB 2.0/1.1 devices.
9. DVI-D Out port.
This port is for any DVI-D compatible device and is HDCP compliant
allowing playback of HD DVD, Blu-Ray, and other protected content.
10. HDMI port.
This port is for a High-Denition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connector,
and is HDCP compliant allowing playback of HD DVD, Blu-Ray, and other protected
content.
Dual display output support
• This table indicates that whether the following dual display outputs are supported on
your motherboard:
Dual display outputs Supported Not supported
DVI + D-Sub •
DVI + HDMI •
• During POST, only the monitor connected to the D-Sub port has display. The dual
Playback of HD DVD and Blu-Ray discs
• For better playback quality, we recommend that you follow the system requirements
• To play HD DVD or Blu-Ray disc, ensure to use HDCP compliant devices and software.
HDMI + D-Sub •
display function works only under Windows.
listed below.
Suggested list
CPU AMD® Athlon 4400+
DIMM DDR2 800 (1GB or higher)
BIOS setup Frame Buffer Size--256MB or higher
File format
Non-protected clips 1920 x 1080p 1920 x 1080p
HD-DVD 1920 x 1080p 1280 x 1080p
Blu-Ray 1280 x 1080p 1280 x 1080p
Windows® XP Windows® Vista
Best resolution
11. PS/2 Keyboard port (purple). This port is for a PS/2 keyboard.
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1.7.2 Internal connectors
1. Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1, SATA2, SATA3, SATA4)
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 133MB/s (Ultra DMA133).
Install the Windows® XP Service Pack 1 before using Serial ATA.
• For detailed instructions on RAID congurations, refer to the RAID manual in the
Support DVD.
• If you intend to create a Serial ATA RAID set using these connectors, set the
SATA Type item in the BIOS to [RAID]. See 2.3.4 SATA Conguration for details.
The numbers (1, 3, 2, 4) on the SATA ports only indicate the order that the SATA devices
are detected and will not affect the use of the SATA devices.
OnChip
2. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT)
This connector is for an additional Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) port.
Ensure that the audio device of Sound playback is VIA High Denition Audio (the name
may be different based on the OS). Go to Start > Control Panel > Sounds and Audio
Devices > Sound Playback to congure the setting.
The S/PDIF module is purchased separately.
Chapter 1: Product introduction1-11
Page 21
3. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE)
The onboard IDE connector is for an 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 devices.
Drive jumper setting Mode of device(s) Cable connector
Single device Cable-Select or Master - Black
Cable-Select
Two devices
Master Master
Slave Slave
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.
• If any device jumper is set as “Cable-Select”, ensure that all other device jumpers have
the same setting.
• Use the 80-conductor IDE cable for Ultra DMA 133/100/66 IDE devices.
Master Black
Slave Gray
Black or gray
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4. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB56, USB78)
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 the USB 2.0 specication that supports up
to 480Mbps 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.
5. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP)
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.
If you want to connect a high-denition front panel audio module to this connector, ensure
that the Front Panel Type item in the BIOS is set to [HD Audio]. If you want to connect
an AC97 front panel audio module to this connector, set the item to [AC97]. See 2.4.4
Onboard Devices Conguration for details.
Chapter 1: Product introduction1-13
Page 23
6. Power, CPU, and chassis fan connectors (3-pin PWR_FAN, 4-pin CPU_FAN,
3-pin CHA_FAN)
The fan connectors support cooling fans of 350mA~740mA (8.88W max.) or a total of
1A~2.22A (26.64W max.) at +12V. Connect the fan cables to the fan connectors on the
motherboard, ensuring that the black wire of each cable matches the ground pin of the
connector.
DO NOT forget to connect the fan cables to the fan connectors. Insufcient air ow inside
the system may damage the motherboard components. These are not jumpers! DO NOT
place jumper caps on the fan connectors.
Only the CPU fan supports the ASUS Q-Fan feature.
7. Chassis intrusion connector (4-1 pin CHASSIS)
This connector is for a chassis-mounted intrusion detection sensor or switch. Connect
one end of the chassis intrusion sensor or switch cable to this connector. The chassis
intrusion sensor or switch sends a high-level signal to this connector when a chassis
component is removed or replaced. The signal is then generated as a chassis intrusion
event.
By default, the pins labeled “Chassis Signal” and “GND” are shorted with a jumper cap.
Remove the jumper caps only when you intend to use the chassis intrusion detection
feature.
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8. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V)
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.
•
For a fully congured system, we recommend that you use a power supply unit (PSU)
that complies with ATX 12 V Specication 2.0 (or later version) and provides a minimum
power of 400 W.
• Do not forget to connect the 4-pin ATX12V power plug. Otherwise, the system will not
boot.
• We recommend that you use a PSU with a higher power output when conguring a
system with more power-consuming devices or when you intend to install additional
devices. The system may become unstable or may not boot up if the power is
inadequate.
9. Serial port connector (10-1 pin COM1)
The connector is for a serial (COM) port. Connect the serial port module cable to the
connector, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis.
The serial port bracket (COM1) is purchased separately.
Chapter 1: Product introduction1-15
Page 25
10. System panel connector (10-1 pin F_PANEL)
This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions.
• System power LED (2-pin PLED)
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 HD 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.
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1.8 Software support
1.8.1 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. Refer to your OS documentation for
detailed information.
• Ensure that you install Windows
Service Pack 1 or later versions before installing the drivers for better compatibility and
system stability.
1.8.2 Support DVD information
The Support DVD that comes with the motherboard package contains drivers, software
applications, and utilities that you can install to get 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 into the optical drive. The DVD automatically displays the Drivers
menu if the Autorun function is enabled on your computer.
The following screen is for reference only.
®
XP Service Pack 3 or later versions / Windows® Vista
Click an icon to
display Support DVD/
motherboard information
Click an item to install
If the Autorun function is NOT enabled on your computer, browse the contents of the
Support DVD to locate the le ASSETUP.EXE from the BIN folder. Double-click
ASSETUP.EXE to run the DVD.
Chapter 1: Product introduction1-17
Page 27
Chapter 2
BIOS information
2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS
Save a copy of the original motherboard BIOS le to a USB ash disk in case you need to
restore the BIOS in the future. Copy the original motherboard BIOS using the ASUS Update
utility.
2.1.1 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:
1. Place the Support DVD into the optical drive. The Drivers menu appears.
2. Click the
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.
Updating the BIOS:
To update the BIOS:
1. From the Windows
2. From the dropdown list, select either of the following methods:
Utilities tab, then click ASUS Update.
Quit all Windows® applications before you update the BIOS using this utility.
®
ASUS Update to launch the ASUS Update utility.
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 you want to download then click
desktop, Click Start > Programs > ASUS > ASUS Update >
Auto Select
Next.
The ASUS Update utility is capable of updating itself through the Internet. Always update
the utility to get 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
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the updating process.
Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-1
Open window, then click Open.
Page 28
2.1.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility
The ASUS EZ Flash 2 feature allows you to update the BIOS without using an OS-based
utility.
Download the latest BIOS le from the ASUS website at www.asus.com.
To update the BIOS using EZ Flash 2:
1. Insert the USB ash disk that contains the latest BIOS le to a USB port, then launch
EZ Flash 2 in either of the following ways.
• Press
• Enter the BIOS setup program. Go to the Tools menu to select EZ Flash 2 and
press <Enter> to enable it.
2. Press
When the correct BIOS le is found, EZ Flash 2 performs the BIOS updating process and
automatically reboots the system when done.
<Alt> + <F2> during POST to display the following:
ASUSTek EZ Flash 2 BIOS ROM Utility V3.36
FLASH TYPE: WOINBOND W25X80
Current ROM
BOARD: M4A78-VM IN
VER: 0308 (H:00 B:01)
DATE: 04/29/2009
PATH: A:\
A:
Note
[Enter] Select or Load [Tab] Switch [V] Drive Info
[Up/Down/Home/End] Move[B] Backup [Esc] Exit
Update ROM
BOARD: Unknown
VER: Unknown
DATE: Unknown
<Tab> to locate the correct le. Press <Enter>.
• Only a USB ash disk with FAT 32/16 format and single partition supports the ASUS EZ
Flash 2 utility.
• DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS to prevent system boot
failure!
2.1.3 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 or a USB ash disk that contains the updated BIOS
le.
• Prepare the motherboard Support DVD or a USB ash disk containing the updated
motherboard BIOS before using this utility.
• Always connect the SATA cable to the SATA1/2/3/4 connector; otherwise, the utility will
not function.
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Recovering the BIOS
To recover the BIOS:
1. Turn on the system.
2. Insert the Support DVD or USB ash disk containing the BIOS le to the optical disk
drive or a USB port.
The utility displays the following message and automatically checks the Support DVD
or the USB ash disk for the BIOS le.
Bad BIOS checksum. Starting BIOS recovery...
Checking for CD-ROM...
When the BIOS le is found, the utility reads it and starts erasing the corrupted BIOS
le.
Bad BIOS checksum. Starting BIOS recovery...
Checking for CD-ROM...
CD-ROM found!
Reading le “M4A78VSI.ROM”. Completed.
Start Erasing...
Start Programming...
3. Restart the system after the utility completes the updating process.
• Only a USB ash disk with FAT 32/16 format and single partition supports ASUS
CrashFree BIOS 3. The device size should be smaller than 8GB.
• DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS! Doing so can cause
system boot failure!
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.
2.2 BIOS setup program
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.
If you want 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.
Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-3
<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 that you always shut down the system properly from the operating system.
Page 30
• The default BIOS settings for this motherboard apply to 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 in this section are for reference only. They may not exactly
match what you see on your screen.
• Visit the ASUS website at
motherboard.
www.asus.com to download the latest BIOS le for this
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.
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
Main Settings
System Time [19:34:30]
System Date [Tue 01/01/2002]
Primary IDE Master :[Not Detected]
Primary IDE Slave :[Not Detected]
SATA1 :[Not Detected]
SATA2 :[Not Detected]
SATA3 :[Not Detected]
SATA4 :[Not Detected]
SATA Conguration
System Information
2.3.1 System Time [xx:xx:xx]
Allows you to set the system time.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Use [ENTER], [TAB]
or [SHIFT-TAB] to
select a eld.
Use [+] or [-] to
congure system
Time.
2.3.2 System Date [Day xx/xx/xxxx]
Allows you to set the system date.
2.3.3 Primary IDE Master/Slave, SATA1-4
While entering Setup, the BIOS automatically detects the presence of IDE/SATA devices.
There is a separate submenu for each IDE/SATA device. Select a device item then press
<Enter> to display the IDE/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 IDE/SATA 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]
This item only appears in the Primary IDE Master/Slave menus.
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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]
2.3.4 SATA Conguration
The SATA Conguration menu allows you to congure your SATA device(s). Select an item
then press <Enter> to display the sub-menu.
OnChip SATA Channel [Enabled]
Enables or disables OnChip SATA Channel. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
OnChip SATA Type [SATA]
Allows you to select the SATA type. Conguration options: [SATA] [RAID] [AHCI]
2.3.5 System Information
This menu gives you an overview of the general system specications. The BIOS
automatically detects the items in this menu.
BIOS Information
Displays the auto-detected BIOS information
Processor
Displays the auto-detected CPU specication
System Memory
Displays the auto-detected system memory
Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-5
Page 32
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
Advanced Settings
Hyper Transport Conguration
CPU Conguration
Chipset
Onboard Devices Conguration
PCIPnP
USB Conguration
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Congure HT links.
2.4.1 Hyper Transport Conguration
Hyper Transport Speed [Auto]
Allows you to select the Hyper Transport speed. Conguration options: [Auto] [200 MHz] [400
MHz] [600 MHz] [800 MHz] [1 GHz] [1.2 GHz] [1.4 GHz] [1.6 GHz] [1.8 GHz] [2.0 GHz]
Hyper Transport Width [Auto]
Allows you to select the Hyper Transport width. Conguration options: [Auto] [8 Bit] [16 Bit]
2.4.2 CPU Conguration
The items in this menu show the CPU-related information that the BIOS automatically
detects.
GART Error Reporting [Disabled]
This option should remain disabled for the normal operation. The driver developer may
enable it for testing purpose. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Microcode Updation [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the microcode updation. Conguration options: [Disabled]
[Enabled]
Secure Virtual Machine Mode [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the AMD Secure Virtual Machine mode.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Cool ‘n’ Quiet [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the generation of ACPI_PPC, _PSS, and _PCT objects.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Processor Frequency Multiplier [Auto]
Allows you to select the processor frequency. Conguration options: [Auto] [x8.0 1600 MHz]
[x8.5 1700 MHz] [x9.0 1800 MHz] [x9.5 1900 MHz] ... [x23.5 4700 MHz] [x24.0 4800 MHz]
[x24.5 4900 MHz] [x25 5000 MHz]
CPU Prefetching [Enabled]
Enables or disables the CPU prefetching. Conguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
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C1E Conguration [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable C1E Dual-Core related CPU power State. Conguration
options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
2.4.3 Chipset
The Chipset menu allows you to change the advanced chipset settings. Select an item then
press <Enter> to display the sub-menu.
NorthBridge Conguration
Memory Conguration
Bank Interleaving [Auto]
Allows you to enable the bank memory interleaving.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Auto]
Channel Interleaving [Disabled]
Allows you to enable the channel memory interleaving.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Address bits 6] [Address bits 12]
[XOR of Address bits [20:16, 6]] [XOR of Address bits [20:16, 9]]
Enable Clock to All DIMMs [Disabled]
Enables or disables clock to all DIMMs. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
MemClk Tristate C3/ATLVID [Disabled]
Enables or disables the MemClk Tristate C3/ALTVID.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Memory Hole Remapping [Enabled]
Enables or disables the memory remapping around memory hole.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
DCT Unganged Mode [Auto]
Allows you to enable or disable Unganed mode.
Conguration options: [Auto] [Always]
Power Down Enable [Enabled]
Enables or disables the DDR power down mode.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
ECC Conguration
ECC Mode [Disabled]
Enables or disables the DRAM ECC that allows the hardware to report and correct
memory errors automatically. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Basic] [Good] [Super]
[Max] [User]
DRAM Timing Conguration
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].
Memclock Value [333 MHz]
Allows you to set the Memclock value. Conguration options: [333 MHz] [400 MHz] [533 MHz]
DRAM Timing Mode [Auto]
Allows you to set the DRAM timing mode. Conguration options: [Auto] [Both]
Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-7
Page 34
The following items appear only when the DRAM Timing Mode item is set to [Both].
CAS Latency (CL) [Auto]
Allows you to set CAS latency. Conguration options: [Auto] [3 CLK] [4 CLK] [5 CLK]
[6 CLK] [7 CLK DH_Only]
TRCD [Auto]
Allows you to set TRCD. Conguration options: [Auto] [3 CLK] [4 CLK] [5 CLK] [6 CLK]
TRP [Auto]
Allows you to set TRP. Conguration options: [Auto] [3 CLK] [4 CLK] [5 CLK] [6 CLK]
tRTP [Auto]
Allows you to specify the read CAS# to percharge time.
Conguration options: [Auto] [2-4 CLK] [3-5 CLK]
TRAS [Auto]
Allows you to set TRAS.
Conguration options: [Auto] [5 CLK] [6 CLK] [7 CLK] [8 CLK] ... [17 CLK] [18 CLK]
TRRD [Auto]
Allows you to set TRRD. Conguration options: [Auto] [2 CLK] [3 CLK] [4 CLK] [5 CLK]
TRC [Auto]
Allows you to set TRC. Conguration options: [Auto]
tWR [Auto]
Allows you to specify when the last write is registered by the DRAM. Conguration
options: [Auto] [3 CLK] [4 CLK] [5 CLK] [6 CLK]
tWTR [Auto]
Allows you to specify the write to read delay when accessing the same DRAM.
Conguration options: [Auto] [1 CLK] [2 CLK] [3 CLK]
tRFC0/1/2/3 [Auto]
Allows you to specify the Trfc0/1/2/3 time. Conguration options: [Auto] [75ns] [105ns]
[127.5ns] [195ns] [327.5ns]
Alternate VID [Auto]
Allows you to specify the alternate VID while in low power states. Conguration options:
[Auto] [0.800 V] [0.825V] [0.850V] [0.875V] [0.900V] ... [1.500V] [1.525V] [1.550V]
Internal Graphics
Primary Video Controller [GFX0-GPP-IGFX-PCI]
Allows you to set the primary video controller. Conguration options: [GFX0-GPP-IGFX-PCI]
[GPP-GFXO-IGFX-PCI] [PCI-GFXO-GPP-IGFX] [IGFX-GFXO-GPP-PCI]
UMA Frame Buffer Size [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [32MB] [64MB] [128MB] [256MB]
Surround View [Auto]
Allows you to disable or enable the Surround View function. Conguration options: [Auto]
[Disabled] [Enabled]
This item becomes user-congurable when you install an ATI graphics card into the
PCIe x16 slot.
Frame Buffer Location [Above 4G]
Conguration options: [Below 4G] [Above 4G]
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AMD 780 HD Audio [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable AMD 780 HD audio. Conguration options: [Enabled]
[Disabled]
2.4.4 Onboard Devices Conguration
Serial Port1 Address [3F8/IRQ4]
Allows you to select the Serial Port1 base address.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [3F8/IRQ4][2F8/IRQ3] [3E8/IRQ4] [2E8/IRQ3]
Onboard HD Audio Controller [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the onboard HD Audio Controller. Conguration options:
[Disabled] [Enabled]
Front Panel Type [HD Audio]
Allows you to set the HD audio mode. Conguration options: [AC97] [HD Audio]
Onboard Gigabit LAN [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the onboard Gigabit LAN. Conguration options: [Enabled]
[Disabled]
Onboard LAN Boot ROM [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the Onboard LAN Boot ROM. Conguration options:
[Enabled] [Disabled]
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.
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]
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]
Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-9
Page 36
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]
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.
Power Settings
Suspend Mode [Auto]
ACPI 2.0 Support [Disabled] ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]
APM Conguration
HW Monitor Conguration
Select the ACPI state
used for System
Suspend.
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.
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]
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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] [Last State]
Power On By PME [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable PME wake from sleep state. Conguration options: [Disabled]
[Enabled]
Power On By Ring [Disabled]
Enable or disable Ring to generate a wake event. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Power On By PS/2 Keyboard [Disabled]
Allows you to use the PS/2 keyboard to turn on the system. This feature requires an ATX
power supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB lead. Conguration options: [Disabled]
[Enabled]
Power On By PS/2 Mouse [Disabled]
When set to [Enabled], this parameter allows you to use the PS/2 mouse to turn on the
system. This feature requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB
lead. 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 HW Monitor Conguration
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/Power/Chassis 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 or [Ignored]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects the voltage output through the onboard
voltage regulators. Select Ignored if you do not wish to display the detected voltage output.
CPU Q-Fan Function [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the CPU Q-Fan function.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-11
Page 38
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
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: [Removable Device] [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]
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.
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]
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]
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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 up to 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 in setting a supervisor password.
To clear the supervisor password, select the Change Supervisor Password then press
<Enter> twice. The message Password uninstalled appears.
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.
[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.
Change Supervisor Password item then press <Enter>.
If you forget your BIOS password, you can clear it by erasing the CMOS Real Time Clock
(RTC) RAM. See section 1.6 Jumpers for information on how to erase the RTC RAM.
To set a User Password:
1. Select the
2. From the password box, type a password composed of up to 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 in setting a user password.
Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-13
Change User Password item.
Page 40
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
Tools Settings
ASUS EZ Flash 2
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Press ENTER to run
the utility to select
and update BIOS. This
utility supports
1.FAT 12/16/32(r/w)
2.NTFS(read only)
3.CD-DISC(read only)
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. See 2.1.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility for details.
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.
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