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Motherboard
M4N78 SE
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ii
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.
E4424
First Edition
February 2009
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Contents
Notices ......................................................................................................... vi
Safety information ..................................................................................... vii
About this guide ........................................................................................ vii
M4N78 SE specications summary .......................................................... ix
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.1 Welcome! ...................................................................................... 1-1
1.2 Package contents .........................................................................
1.3 Special features ............................................................................
1.3.1 Product highlights ...........................................................
1.3.2 Innovative ASUS features ...............................................
1.4 Before you proceed .....................................................................
1.5 Motherboard overview .................................................................
1.5.1 Placement direction ........................................................
1.5.2 Screw holes ....................................................................
1.5.3 Motherboard layout .........................................................
1.5.4 Layout contents ...............................................................
1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU) ...................................................
1.6.1 Installing the CPU ...........................................................
1.6.2 Installing the heatsink and fan ........................................
1.7 System memory .........................................................................
1.7.1 Overview .......................................................................
1.7.2 Memory congurations ...................................................
1.7.3 Installing a DIMM ..........................................................
1.7.4 Removing a DIMM ........................................................
1.8 Expansion slots ..........................................................................
1.8.1 Installing an expansion card .........................................
1.8.2 Conguring an expansion card .....................................
1.8.3 PCI slots ........................................................................
1.8.4 PCI Express x1 slot .......................................................
1.8.5 PCI Express x16 slot .....................................................
1.9 Jumpers ......................................................................................
1.10 Connectors .................................................................................
1.10.1 Rear panel connectors ..................................................
1.10.2 Internal connectors .......................................................
1-1
1-1
1-1
1-3
1-4
1-5
1-5
1-5
1-6
1-6
1-7
1-7
1-9
1-10
1-10
1-11
1-16
1-16
1-17
1-17
1-17
1-17
1-17
1-17
1-18
1-20
1-20
1-21
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Contents
1.11 Software support ........................................................................ 1-26
1.11.1 Installing an operating system ......................................
1-26
1.11.2 Support DVD information ..............................................
1-26
Chapter 1: BIOS information
2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS ............................................ 2-1
2.1.1 ASUS Update utility ........................................................
2-1
2.1.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility ...................................................
2-2
2.1.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility ......................................
2-3
2.2 BIOS setup program ....................................................................
2-4
2.2.1 BIOS menu screen ..........................................................
2-5
2.2.2 Menu bar .........................................................................
2-5
2.2.3 Navigation keys ...............................................................
2-6
2.2.4 Menu items .....................................................................
2-6
2.2.5 Sub-menu items ..............................................................
2-6
2.2.6 Conguration elds .........................................................
2-6
2.2.7 General help ...................................................................
2-6
2.2.8 Pop-up window ...............................................................
2-6
2.2.9 Scroll bar .........................................................................
2-6
2.3 Main menu ....................................................................................
2-7
2.3.1 System Time ..................................................................
2-7
2.3.2 System Date ...................................................................
2-7
2.3.3 Primary IDE Master/Slave and SATA 1~4 .......................
2-7
2.3.4 Storage Conguration .....................................................
2-8
2.3.5 System Information .........................................................
2-9
2.4 Advanced menu ...........................................................................
2-9
2.4.1 JumperFree Conguration ..............................................
2-9
2.4.2 CPU Conguration ........................................................
2-12
2.4.3 Chipset ..........................................................................
2-12
2.4.4 Onboard Devices Conguration ....................................
2-13
2.4.5 PCI PnP ........................................................................
2-14
2.4.6 USB Conguration ........................................................
2-14
2.5 Power menu ................................................................................
2-15
2.5.1 Suspend Mode ..............................................................
2-15
2.5.2 ACPI
2.0 Support ........................................................ 2-15
2.5.3 ACPI APIC Support ......................................................
2-15
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Contents
2.5.4 APM Conguration ........................................................ 2-15
2.5.5 Hardware Monitor .........................................................
2-16
2.6 Boot menu ..................................................................................
2-17
2.6.1 Boot Device Priority ......................................................
2-17
2.6.2 Boot Settings Conguration ..........................................
2-17
2.6.3 Security .........................................................................
2-18
2.7 Tools menu .................................................................................
2-19
2.7.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2 ..........................................................
2-19
2.7.2 Express Gate ...............................................................
2-20
2.7.3 AI NET 2
........................................................................ 2-20
2.8 Exit menu ....................................................................................
2-21
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Safety information
Electrical safety
•
To prevent electrical shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electrical outlet
before relocating the system.
•
When adding or removing devices to or from the system, ensure that the power cables
for the devices are unplugged before the signal cables are connected. If possible,
disconnect all power cables from the existing system before you add a device.
•
Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard, ensure that all
power cables are unplugged.
•
Seek professional assistance before using an adapter or extension cord. These devices
could interrupt the grounding circuit.
•
Ensure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your area. If you are not
sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you are using, contact your local power
company.
•
If the power supply is broken, do not try to x it by yourself. Contact a qualied service
technician or your retailer.
Operation safety
•
Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully read all the manuals
that came with the package.
•
Before using the product, ensure that all cables are correctly connected and the power
cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage, contact your dealer immediately.
•
To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from connectors,
slots, sockets and circuitry.
•
Avoid dust, humidity, and temperature extremes. Do not place the product in any area
where it may become wet.
•
Place the product on a stable surface.
•
If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualied service
technician or your retailer.
About this guide
This user guide contains the information you need when installing and conguring the
motherboard.
How this guide is organized
This guide contains the following parts:
•
Chapter 1: Product introduction
This chapter describes the features of the motherboard and the new technology it
supports. This chapter also lists the hardware setup procedures that you have to
perform when installing system components. It includes description of the jumpers and
connectors on the motherboard.
• Chapter 2: BIOS information
This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS Setup menus.
Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided.
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viii
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 ensure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following symbols used
throughout this manual.
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:
afudos /i[lename]
afudos /iM4N78SE.ROM
DANGER/WARNING: Information to prevent injury to yourself
when trying to complete a task.
CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components
when trying to complete a task.
NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a
task.
IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a
task.
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ix
CPU AMD Phenom™x4/Phenom™x3/ Athlon™x2/ Athlon ™
/Sempron™ processors (Socket AM2+ / AM2)
Compatible with Phenom™ II/ Athlon™x4/ Athlon™x3/
Athlon™x2 (AM3 CPU)
AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ Technology
AMD Live!™ Ready
Supports CPU up to 125W
Chipset NVIDIA® nForce™ 720D
System bus Up to 5200 MT/s HyperTransport™ 3.0 interface
for AM2+ CPU
2000 / 1600 MT/s for AM2 CPU
Memory Dual-channel memory architecture
2 x 240-pin DIMM slots support unbuffered ECC and
non-ECC DDR2 1066/800/667MHz memory modules
Supports up to 8GB system memory
* Refer to www.asus.com for the latest Memory QVL
(Qualied Vendors List).
** Due to the memory address limitation on 32-bit
Windows OS, when you install 4GB or more memory on
the motherboard, the actual usable memory for the OS
can be about 3GB or less. For effective use of memory,
we recommend that you install a 64-bit Windows OS
when having 4GB or more memory installed on the
motherboard.
Expansion slots 1 x PCI Express™ x16 slot
2 x PCI Express™ x1 slots
3 x PCI 2.2 slots
Storage / RAID 1 x UltraDMA 133/100 connector
4 x Serial ATA 3Gb/s connectors
Nvidia® MediaShield™ RAID supports RAID 0, RAID 1,
RAID 0+1, RAID 5, and JBOD congurations (on
Windows Vista only)
Audio ALC662 High Denition Audio 6-channel CODEC
Supports Jack-detection and Multi-streaming
Supports S/PDIF out interface
USB Supports up to 12 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (6 ports
at mid-board, 6 ports at back panel)
LAN Nvidia nForce built-in Gigabit MAC with external Realtek
8211CL-GR PHY
M4N78 SE specications summary
(continued on the next page)
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M4N78 SE specications summary
ASUS special features ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution
- ASUS Q-Fan
ASUS EZ DIY
- ASUS CrashFree BIOS3
- ASUS EPU 4-Engine
- ASUS EZ Flash2
ASUS Express Gate
Turbo key
ASUS AI NAP
ASUS AI NET 2
ASUS MyLogo2
Back panel I/O ports 1 x PS/2 Keyboard port
1 x RJ45 port
6 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
6-channel Audio I/O ports
1 x LPT port
1 x COM port
Internal I/O connectors 3 x USB 2.0/1.1 connectors support additional
6 USB 2.0/1.1 ports
4 x SATA connectors
1 x system panel connector
1 x CD audio-in connector
1 x S/PDIF Out connector
1 x Front panel audio connector
1x CPU Fan connectors
24-pin EATX power connector
4-pin ATX 12V power connector
Accessories 1 x Serial ATA cable
1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable
1x IO Shield
User manual
Form Factor ATX form factor: 12’’ x 7.6’’ (30.5cm x 19.3cm)
Support DVD Drivers
ASUS Update
ASUS PC Probe II
Anti-Virus software (OEM version)
*Specications are subject to change without notice.
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ASUS M4N78 SE 1-1
1.1 Welcome!
Thank you for buying an ASUS® M4N78 SE motherboard!
The motherboard delivers a host of new features and latest technologies, making it another
standout in the long line of ASUS quality motherboards!
Before you start installing the motherboard, and hardware devices on it, check the items in
your package with the list below.
If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.
1.2 Package contents
Check your motherboard package for the following items.
Motherboard ASUS M4N78 SE motherboard
Cables 1 x Serial ATA cable
1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 cable
Accessories 1 x I/O shield
Application DVD ASUS motherboard support DVD
Documentation User guide
Chapter 1
Product introduction
AMD® Socket AM2+ Phenom™ FX /Phenom™ II / Athlon™ /
CPU support
This motherboard supports AMD® Socket AM2+ multi-core processors
with unique L3 cache and delivers better overclocking capabilities
with less power consumption. It features dual-channel DDR2 1066
memory support and accelerates data transfer rate up to 5200MT/s via
HyperTransport™ 3.0 based system bus.
AMD® Socket AM2 Athlon™ / Sempron CPU support
The motherboard supports AMD® Socket AM2 Athlon™ / Sempron
processors. It features 2000 / 1600 MT/s HyperTransport™-based system
bus, dual-channel un-buffered DDR2 800 memory support and AMD™
Cool ‘n’ Quiet! Technology.
1.3 Special features
1.3.1 Product highlights
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1-2 Chapter 1: Product introduction
NVIDIA® nForce™ 720D chipset
The NVIDIA® nForce 720D supports HyperTransport™3.0 interface,
PCI Express™ 2.0 bus architecture, and Serial ATA 3 GB/s devices. It
is optimized with AMD’s latest AM2+ and multi-core CPUs to provide
excellent system performance.
MT/s
5200
HyperTransport 3.0 support
HyperTransport 3.0 technology provides 2.6 times more bandwidth than
HT1.0 that radically improves system efciency for a smoother, faster
computing environment.
AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet Technology
The motherboard supports the AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet Technology, which
monitors system operation and automatically adjusts CPU voltage and
frequency for a cool and quiet operating environment.
Native DDR2 1066 support
This motherboard supports native DDR2 1066. It provides faster data
transfer rate and more bandwidth to increase memory data transfer rate
and computing efciency, enhancing system performance in 3D graphics
and other memory demanding applications.
Gigabit LAN solution
The onboard LAN controller is a highly integrated Gb LAN controller. It is
enhanced with an ACPI management function to provide efcient power
management for advanced operating systems.
PCI Express 2.0 support
This motherboard supports the latest PCIe 2.0 devices for double speed
and bandwidth which enhances system performance.
Serial ATA 3Gb/s technology
The motherboard supports hard drives based on the SATA 3Gb/s storage
specication. The onboard NVIDIA nForce 720D southbridge allows RAID
0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 5, and JBOD congurations for Serial ATA
drives.
AI NET2
AI NET2 remotely detects cable connection the second you turn on the
system, and any faulty connections are reported back up to 100 meters at
1 meter accuracy.
High Denition Audio
The onboard 6-channel ALC662 High Denition Audio CODEC enables
high-quality audio that automatically detects peripherals plugged into the
audio I/O jacks. ALC662 also supports the Windows® Vista Premium OS.
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ASUS M4N78 SE 1-3
1.3.2 Innovative ASUS features
Green ASUS
This motherboard and its packaging comply with the European Union’s
Restriction on the use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). This is in line
with the ASUS vision of creating environment-friendly and recyclable
products/packaging to safeguard consumers’ health while minimizing the
impact on the environment.
ASUS MyLogo2™
Turn your favorite photos into 256-color boot logos to personalize your
system.
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 is an auto-recovery tool that allows you to
restore a corrupted BIOS le using the bundled support DVD, or USB
disk that contains the BIOS le.
ASUS EZ Flash 2
ASUS EZ Flash 2 is a utility that allows you to update the BIOS without
using a bootable oppy disk or an OS-based utility.
ASUS Express Gate
With on 5 seconds boot-up time, the ASUS Express Gate allows you to
instantly surf the Internet without entering Windows or the Hard Disk. You
can now enjoy Skype, IM, YouTube, webmail and internet le downloads
and sharing whenever and whatever you want.
• File downloading and uploading support USB devices only.
• The actural boot time is subject to hardware conguration and product models.
ASUS EPU
The ASUS EPU (Energy Processing Unit) provides total system
power management by detecting current PC loadings and intelligently
moderating power usage for critical PC components in real-time-helping
save power and money!
CPU Parameter Recall (C.P.R)
The BIOS C.P.R. feature automatically restores the CPU default settings
when the system hangs due to overclocking failure. 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 parameters to their default settings.
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1-4 Chapter 1: Product introduction
Onboard LED
The motherboard comes with a standby power LED that lights up to indicate that the system
is ON, in sleep mode, or in soft-off mode. This is a reminder that you should shut down
the system and unplug the power cable before removing or plugging in any motherboard
component. The illustration below shows the location of the onboard LED.
1.4 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.
• Use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or a metal object, such
as the power supply case, before handling components to avoid damaging them due to
static electricity
• Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them.
• Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded antistatic pad or in the
bag that came with the component.
• Before you install or remove any component, ensure that the ATX power supply is
switched off or the power cord is detached from the power supply. Failure to do so may
cause severe damage to the motherboard, peripherals, or components.
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ASUS M4N78 SE 1-5
Do not overtighten the screws! Doing so can damage the motherboard.
1.5.1 Placement direction
When installing the motherboard, ensure that you place it into the chassis in the correct
orientation. The edge with external ports goes to the rear part of the chassis as indicated in
the image below.
Place this side towards
the rear of the chassis.
1.5.2 Screw holes
Place six screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the motherboard to the chassis.
1.5 Motherboard overview
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1-6 Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.5.3 Motherboard layout
Connectors/Jumpers/Slots Page Connectors/Jumpers/Slots Page
1. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V) 1-21 9. Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC) 1-18
2. Keyboard power (3-pin KBPWR) 1-19 10. Speaker (4-pin SPEAKER) 1-24
3. USB device wake-up (3-pin USBPW1-6, USBPW7-12) 1-19 11. System panel connector (10-1 pin F_PANEL) 1-24
4. CPU fan connector (4-pin CPU_FAN) 1-8 12. Onboard LED 1-4
5. AM2/AM2+ CPU socket 1-7 13. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB78, USB910,
USB1112)
1-25
6. DDR2 DIMM slots 1-10 14. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT) 1-22
7. Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1, SATA2, SATA3, SATA4) 1-23 15.Optical drive audio in connector (4-pin CD) 1-23
8. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE) 1-22 16. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP) 1-25
1.5.4 Layout contents
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ASUS M4N78 SE 1-7
1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The motherboard comes with an AM2+ / AM2 socket designed for AMD® AM2+ / AM2
Phenom™ FX / Phenom™ / Athlon™ / Sempron™ processor.
The AM2/AM2+ socket has a different pinout from the 940-pin socket designed for the AMD
Opteron™ processor. Use a CPU that is designed for the AM2/AM2+ socket.
1.6.1 Installing the CPU
To install a CPU:
1. Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard.
Make sure that the socket lever is lifted up to
a 90º angle; otherwise, the CPU will not t in
completely.
2. Unlock the socket by pressing the lever
sideways, then lift it up to a 90º angle.
Socket lever
3. Position the CPU above the socket such that
the CPU corner with the gold triangle matches
the socket corner with a small triangle.
4. Carefully insert the CPU into the socket until it
ts in place.
The CPU ts only in one correct
orientation. DO NOT force the
CPU into the socket to prevent
bending the pins and damaging
the CPU.
Gold triangle
Small triangle
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1-8 Chapter 1: Product introduction
7. Connect the CPU fan cable to the CPU_FAN connector on the motherboard.
Do not forget to connect the
CPU fan connector! Hardware
monitoring errors can occur if
you fail to plug this connector.
5. When the CPU is in place, push down the
socket lever to secure the CPU. The lever
clicks on the side tab to indicate that it is
locked.
6. Install a CPU heatsink and fan following
the instructions that came with the heatsink
package.
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ASUS M4N78 SE 1-9
1.6.2 Installing the heatsink and fan
Ensure that you use only AMD-certied heatsink and fan assembly.
To install the CPU heatsink and fan:
1. Place the heatsink on top of the installed CPU, making sure that the heatsink ts
properly on the retention module base.
• The retention module base is already installed on the motherboard upon purchase.
• You do not have to remove the retention module base when installing the CPU or
installing other motherboard components.
• If you purchased a separate CPU heatsink and fan assembly, ensure that a Thermal
Interface Material is properly applied to the CPU heatsink or CPU before you install the
heatsink and fan assembly.
CPU Fan
CPU Heatsink
Retention bracket
Retention bracket lock
Retention Module Base
Your boxed CPU heatsink and fan assembly should come with installation instructions for
the CPU, heatsink, and the retention mechanism. If the instructions in this section do not
match the CPU documentation, follow the latter.
2. Attach one end of the retention bracket to the retention module base.
1
3
4
5
2
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1-10 Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.7 System memory
1.7.1 Overview
The motherboard comes with two Double Data Rate 2 (DDR2) Dual Inline Memory Modules
(DIMM) sockets. A DDR2 module has the same physical dimensions as a DDR DIMM but
has a 240-pin footprint compared to the 184-pin DDR DIMM. DDR2 DIMMs are notched
differently to prevent installation on a DDR DIMM socket. The gure illustrates the location of
the DDR2 DIMM sockets:
Channel Sockets
Channel A DIMM_A1
Channel B DIMM_B1
3. Align the other end of the retention bracket to the retention module base. A clicking
sound denotes that the retention bracket is in place.
Ensure that the fan and heatsink assembly perfectly ts the retention mechanism module
base, otherwise you cannot snap the retention bracket in place.
4. Push down the retention bracket lock on the retention mechanism to secure the
heatsink and fan to the module base.
5. When the fan and heatsink assembly is in place, connect the CPU fan cable to the
connector on the motherboard labeled CPU_FAN.
Do not forget to connect the CPU fan connector! Hardware monitoring errors can occur if
you fail to plug this connector.
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ASUS M4N78 SE 1-11
1.7.2 Memory congurations
You may install 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB unbuffered ECC/non-ECC DDR2 DIMMs into
the DIMM sockets.
M4N78 SE Motherboard Qualied Vendors Lists (QVL)
• You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B. The system maps
the total size of the lower-sized channel for the dual-channel conguration. Any excess
memory from the higher-sized channel is then mapped for single-channel operation.
• Always install DIMMs with the same CAS latency. For optimum compatibility, we
recommend that you obtain memory modules from the same vendor.
• Due to the memory address limitation on 32-bit Windows
®
OS, when you install 4GB
or more memory on the motherboard, the actual usable memory for the OS can be
about 3GB or less. For effective use of memory, we recommend that you do any of the
following:
- Use a maximum of 3GB system memory if you are using a 32-bit Windows
®
OS.
- Install a 64-bit Windows
®
OS when 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 4 GB DIMMs on each slot.
DDR2-667MHz capability
(continued on the next page)
Size Vendor Part No.
SS/
DS
CL Chip No.
Chip
Brand
DIMM support
A* B*
2G Kingston KVR667D2N5/2G DS N/A 7RE22 D9HNL Micron · ·
512MB Kingston KVR667D2N5/512 SS N/A SO1237650821 SBP
D6408TR4CGL25USL0749
05PECNB
Kingston · ·
2G Kingston KVR667D2N5/2G DS N/A E1108ACBG-8E-E
0813A90CC
Elpida · ·
1G Kingston KVR667D2N5/1G DS N/A SO1280420822 SOP
D6408TR4CGL25USL1563
04PECXA
Kingston · ·
512MB Qimonda HYS64T64000EU-3S-B2 SS 5 HYB18T512B00B2F3SFS
S28171
Qimonda · ·
1G Qimonda HYS64T128020EU-3S-B2 DS 5 HYB18T512B00B2F3SFS
S28171
Qimonda · ·
1G Corsair VS1GB667D2 DS N/A MID095D62864M8CEC Corsair · ·
1G Corsair XMS2-5400 DS 4 Heat-Sink Package Corsair · ·
512MB Kingmax KLCC28F-A8KB5 SS N/A KKEA88B4LAUG-29DX Kingmax · ·
1G Kingmax KLCD48F-A8KB5 DS N/A KKEA88B4LAUG-29DX Kingmax · ·
512MB Apacer AU512E667C5KBGC SS 5 AM4B5708MIJS7E0627B Apacer · ·
512MB Apacer AU512E667C5KBGC SS 5 AM4B5708GQJS7E06332F Apacer · ·
512MB Apacer 78.91G92.9K5 SS 5 AM4B5708JQJS7E0751C Apacer · ·
Page 22
1-12 Chapter 1: Product introduction
DDR2-667MHz capability
Size Vendor Part No.
SS/
DS
CL Chip No.
Chip
Brand
DIMM support
A* B*
1G Apacer 78.01G9O.9K5 SS 5 AM4B5808CQJS7E0751C Apacer · ·
1G Apacer AU01GE667C5KBGC DS N/A AM4B5708GQJS7E0636B Apacer · ·
1G Apacer AU01GE667C5KBGC DS 5 AM4B5708MIJS7E0627B Apacer · ·
2G Apacer 78.A1G9O.9K4 DS 5 AM4B5808CQJS7E0749B Apacer · ·
1G Transcend 506010-4894 DS 5 E5108AJBG-6E-E Elpida · ·
512MB ADATA M2OAD5G3H3160Q1C52 SS N/A AD29608A8A-3EG20813 ADATA · ·
1G ADATA M2OAD5G314170Q1C58 DS N/A AD29608A8A-3EG80814 ADATA · ·
2G ADATA M2OAD5H3J4170I1C53 DS N/A AD20908A8A-3EG 30724 ADATA · ·
512MB PSC AL6E8E63J-6E1 SS 5 A3R12E3JFF717B9A00 PSC · ·
1G PSC AL7E8E63J-6E1 DS 5 A3R12E3JFF717B9A01 PSC · ·
1G PSC AL7E8F73C-6E1 SS 5 A3R1GE3CFF734MAA0J PSC · ·
512MB Nanya NT512T64U88A1BY-3C SS N/A NT5TU64M8AE-3C Nanya · ·
1G Nanya NT1GT64U8HB0BY-3C DS 5 NT5TU64M8BE-
3C72155700CP
Nanya · ·
1G GEIL GX21GB5300SX DS 3 Heat-Sink Package GEIL · ·
2G GEIL GX24GB5300LDC DS 5 Heat-Sink Package GEIL · ·
2G(kit of 2) G.SKILL F2-5400PHU2-2GBNT DS 5-5-5-15 D2 64M8CCF 0815 C7173S G.SKILL · ·
4G(kit of 2) G.SKILL F2-5300CL5D-4GBMQ DS 5-5-5-15 Heat-Sink Package G.SKILL · ·
512MB Twinmos 8D-A3JK5MPETP SS 5 A3R12E3GEF633ACAOY PSC · ·
4G Samsung M378T5263AZ3-CE6 DS N/A K4T2G084QA-HCE6 · ·
1G ELIXIR M2Y1G64TU8HA2B-3C DS 5 M2TU51280AE-
3C717095R28F
ELIXIR · ·
1G ELIXIR M2Y1G64TU8HBOB-3C DS 5 N2TU51280BE-
3C639009W1CF
ELIXIR · ·
1G Leadmax LRMP512U64A8-Y5 DS N/A HY5PS12821CFP-Y5 C
702AA
Hynix · ·
Page 23
ASUS M4N78 SE 1-13
DDR2-800MHz capability
(continued on the next page)
Size Vendor Part No.
SS/
DS
CL Chip No.
Chip
Brand
DIMM support
A* B*
1G Kingston KHX6400D2LL/1G DS N/A Heat-Sink Package Kingston · ·
512MB Kingston KHX6400D2LLK2/1GN SS N/A Heat-Sink Package Kingston · ·
512MB Kingston KVR800D2N6/512 SS N/A E5108AJBG-8E-E Elpida · ·
1G Kingston KVR800D2N5/1G DS N/A D6408TR4CGL25USL36240
6PECXA
Kingston · ·
2G Kingston KVR800D2N5/2G DS N/A E1108ACBG-8E-E Elpida · ·
2G Kingston KHX6400D2/2G DS N/A Heat-Sink Package Kingston · ·
4G Kingston KVR800D2N6/4G DS N/A E2108ABSE-8G-E Elpida · ·
512MB Kingston KVR800D2N5/512 SS N/A E5108AJBG-8E-E 0803A9082 Kingston · ·
512MB Samsung M378T6553GZS-CF7 SS 6 K4T51083QG-HCF7 Samsung · ·
1G Samsung M378T2863QZS-CF7 SS 6 K4T1G084QQ-HCF7 Samsung · ·
1G Samsung M391T2863QZ3-CF7 SS 6 K4T1G084QQ-HCF7(ECC) Samsung · ·
1G Samsung M378T2953GZ3-CF7 DS 6 K4T51083QG-HCF7 Samsung · ·
2G Samsung M37875663QZ3-CF7 DS 6 K4T1G084QQ-HCF7 Samsung · ·
2G Samsung M391T5663QZ3-CF7 DS 6 K4T1G084QQ-HCF7(ECC) Samsung · ·
4G Samsung M378T5263AZ3-CF7 DS N/A K4T2G084QA-HCF7 Samsung · ·
512MB Qimonda HYS64T64000EU-2.5-B2 SS 6 HYB18T512800B2F25FS
S28380
Qimonda · ·
512MB Micron MT9HTF6472AY-80ED4 SS 5 6ED22D9GKX(ECC) Micron · ·
1G Micron MT9HTF12872AY-800E1 SS 6 D9HNP 7YE22(ECC) Micron · ·
1G Micron MT18HTF12872AY-80ED4 DS 5 6TD22D9GKX(ECC) Micron · ·
1G Corsair XMS2-6400 DS 4 Heat-Sink Package Corsair · ·
1G Corsair XMS2-6400 DS 5 Heat-Sink Package Corsair · ·
4G(Kit of 2) Corsair CM2X2048-6400C5DHX DS 5 Heat-Sink Package Corsair · ·
4G(Kit of 2) Corsair CM2X2048-6400C5 DS 5 Heat-Sink Package Corsair · ·
2G(Kit of 2)
(EPP)
Crucial BL12864AA804.8FE5 SS N/A Heat-Sink Package N/A · ·
512MB HY HYMP564U64CP8-S5 AB SS 5 HY5PS12821CFP-S5 Hynix · ·
1G HY HYMP512U64CP8-S5 AB DS 5 HY5PS12821CFPS5 Hynix · ·
512MB Kingmax KLDC28F-A8KI5 SS N/A KKA8FF1XF-JFS-25A Kingmax · ·
1G Kingmax KLDD48F-B8KB5 SS N/A KKB8FFBXF-CFA-25U Kingmax · ·
2G Kingmax KLDE88F-B8KB5 DS N/A KKB8FFBXF-CFA-25U Kingmax · ·
1G Apacer 78.01GA0.9K5 SS 5 AM4B5808CQJS8E0749D Apacer · ·
2G Apacer 78.A1GA0.9K4 DS 5 AM4B5808CQJS8E0740E Apacer · ·
512MB Transcend TS64MLQ64V8J512MB SS 5 7HD22 D9GMH Micron · ·
1G Transcend 505649-1993 DS 5 7HD22D9GMH Micron · ·
1G Transcend TS128MLQ64V8J DS 5 TQ123PJF8F0801 Transcend · ·
1G Transcend JM800QLU-1G SS 5 TQ1243PCF8 Transcend · ·
1G Transcend TS128MLQ64V8U SS 5 E1108ACBG-8E-E Elpida · ·
2G Transcend JM800QLU-2G DS 5 TQ243PCF8 Transcend · ·
2G Transcend TS256MLQ64V8U DS 5 E1108ACBG-8E-E Elpida · ·
1G ADATA M2OAD6G314170Q1E58 DS N/A AD29608A8A-25EG80810 ADATA · ·
512MB VDATA M2GVD6G3H3160Q1E52 SS N/A VD29608A8A-25EG20813 VDATA · ·
Page 24
1-14 Chapter 1: Product introduction
DDR2-800 MHz capability
Size Vendor Part No.
SS/
DS
CL Chip No.
Chip
Brand
DIMM support
A* B*
2G PSC AL8E8F73C-8E1 DS 5 A3R1GE3CFF734MAA0E PSC · ·
2G PSC PL8E8F73C-8E1 DS 5 SHG772-AA3G PSC · ·
2G PSC PL8E8G73E-8E1 DS 5 XCP271A3G-A PSC · ·
2G PSC AL7E8E63H-10E1K DS 5 A3R1GE3CFF750RABBP(ECC) PSC · ·
1G GEIL GB22GB6400C4DC DS 4 GL2L64M088BA30EB GEIL · ·
1G GEIL GB24GB6400C4QC DS 4 GL2L64M088BA30EB GEIL · ·
1G GEIL GB22GB6400C5DC DS 5 GL2L64M088BA30EB GEIL · ·
1G GEIL GB24GB6400C5QC DS 5 GL2L64M088BA30EB GEIL · ·
1G GEIL GX22GB6400DC DS 5 Heat-Sink Package GEIL · ·
1G GEIL GE22GB800C4DC DS 4 Heat-Sink Package GEIL · ·
1G GEIL GE24GB800C4QC DS 4 Heat-Sink Package GEIL · ·
1G GEIL GX22GB6400UDC DS 4 Heat-Sink Package GEIL · ·
1G GEIL GE22GB800C5DC DS 5 Heat-Sink Package GEIL · ·
2G GEIL GB24GB6400C5DC DS 5 GL2L128M88BA25AB GEIL · ·
2G GEIL GB28GB6400C5QC DS 5 GL2L128M88BA25AB GEIL · ·
2G GEIL GX24GB6400DC DS 5 Heat-Sink Package GEIL · ·
2G GEIL GE28GB800C5QC DS 5 Heat-Sink Package GEIL · ·
2G GEIL GE28GB800C4QC DS 4 Heat-Sink Package GEIL · ·
2G GEIL GE24GB800C4DC DS 4 Heat-Sink Package GEIL · ·
2G GEIL GE24GB800C5DC DS 5 Heat-Sink Package GEIL · ·
1G G.SKILL F2-6400CL4D-2GBPK DS 4 Heat-Sink Package G.SKILL · ·
1G G.SKILL F2-6400CL4D-2GBHK DS 4 Heat-Sink Package G.SKILL · ·
2G G.SKILL F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ DS 5 Heat-Sink Package G.SKILL · ·
2G G.SKILL F2-6400CL4D-4GBPK DS 4 Heat-Sink Package G.SKILL · ·
4G G.SKILL F2-6400CL5Q-16GNQ DS 5 Heat-Sink Package G.SKILL · ·
1G(Kit of 2) G.SKILL F2-6400CL5D-1GBNQ SS 5-5-5-15Heat-Sink Package G.SKILL · ·
1G OCZ OCZ2RPR8002GK DS 4 Heat-Sink Package OCZ · ·
1G OCZ OCZ2G800R22GK DS 5 Heat-Sink Package OCZ · ·
1G OCZ OCZ2P800R22GK DS 4 Heat-Sink Package OCZ · ·
1G OCZ OCZ2VU8004GK DS 6 Heat-Sink Package OCZ · ·
2G OCZ OCZ2P8004GK DS 5 Heat-Sink Package OCZ · ·
1G Elixir M2Y1G64TU8HB0B-25C DS 5 N2TU51280BE-
25C802006Z1DV
Elixir · ·
1G Elixir M2Y1G64TU88D5B-AC
0828.GS
SS 5 N2TU16800E-AC Elixir · ·
2G Elixir M2Y2G64TU8HD5B-AC
0826.SG
DS 5 N2TUG80DE-AC Elixir ·
Page 25
ASUS M4N78 SE 1-15
SS - Single-sided / DS - Double - sided
DIMM support:
• A*: Supports one module inserted into any slot as Single-channel memory
conguration.
• B*:
Supports one pair of modules inserted into the yellow slots as one pair of
Dual-channel memory conguration.
Visit the ASUS website for the latest DDR2-667/800/1066MHz QVL.
DDR2-1066MHz capability
• The default DIMM frequency depends on its Serial Presence Detect (SPD), which is the
standard way of accessing information from a memory module. Under the default state,
some memory modules for overclocking may operate at a lower frequency than the
vendor-marked value.
• The memory modules may require a better cooling system to work stably under full
loading (2 DIMMs) or overclocking setting.
Size Vendor Part No.
SS/
DS
CL Chip No.
Chip
Brand
DIMM support
A* B*
512MB Kingston KHX8500D2/512 SS N/A Heat-Sink Package Kingston · ·
512MB Kingston KVR1066D2N7/512 SS N/A E5108AJBG-1J-E Elpida · ·
512MB Kingston KHX8500D2K2/1GN SS N/A Heat-Sink Package Kingston · ·
1G Kingston KHX8500D2K2/2GN DS N/A Heat-Sink Package Kingston · ·
1G Kingston KVR1066D2N7/1G DS N/A E5108AJBG-1J-E Elpida · ·
1G Kingston KHX8500D2/1G DS N/A Heat-Sink Package Kingston · ·
1G Qimonda HYS64T128020EU-
19F-C
DS 6 HYB18T512800CF19FF
SS24313
Qimonda · ·
1G Kingmax KLED48F-A8K15 DS N/A KKA8FFIXF-JFS-18A Kingmax · ·
1G Crucial BL12864AA1065.8FE5 SS 5-5-5-15 Heat-Sink Package N/A · ·
1G Transcend TX1066QLJ-2GK1GB DS 5 Heat-Sink Package Transced · ·
2G(kit of 2) Transcend TX1066QLU-2GK SS 5 Heat-Sink Package Transced · ·
2G Transcend TX1066QLU-4GK DS 5 Heat-Sink Package Transced · ·
1G OCZ OCZ2N10662GK DS N/A Heat-Sink Package OCZ ·
1G GEIL GB22GB8500C5DC SS 5 GL2L128M88BA25AB GEIL · ·
1G GEIL GB24GB8500C5QC SS 5 GL2L128M88BA25AB GEIL · ·
1G GEIL GE22GB1066C5DC SS 5 Heat-Sink Package GEIL · ·
1G GEIL GE24GB1066C5QC SS 5 Heat-Sink Package GEIL · ·
2G(kit of 2) G.SKILL F2-8500CL5D-2GBPK DS 5-5-5-15 Heat-Sink Package N/A · ·
1G G.SKILL F2-8500CL5S-1GBPK DS 5-5-5-15 Heat-Sink Package G.SKILL · ·
Page 26
1-16 Chapter 1: Product introduction
DDR2 DIMM notch
1
1
2
Unlocked retaining clip
1
DDR2 DIMM notch
2
1
1.7.3 Installing a DIMM
Unplug the power supply before adding or removing DIMMs or other system components.
Failure to do so can cause severe damage to both the motherboard and the components.
1. Press the retaining clips outward to
unlock a DDR2 DIMM socket.
2. Align a DIMM on the socket such that
the notch on the DIMM matches the
break on the socket.
A DDR2 DIMM is keyed with a notch so that it ts in only one direction. DO NOT force a
DIMM into a socket to avoid damaging the DIMM.
3. Firmly insert the DIMM into the socket
until the retaining clips snap back in place
and the DIMM is properly seated.
1.7.4 Removing a DIMM
To remove a DIMM:
1. Simultaneously press the retaining clips
outward to unlock the DIMM.
2. Remove the DIMM from the socket.
Support the DIMM lightly with
your ngers when pressing the
retaining clips. The DIMM might
get damaged when it ips out with
extra force.
Locked Retaining Clip
3
Page 27
ASUS M4N78 SE 1-17
1.8 Expansion slots
In the future, you may need to install expansion cards. The following sub-sections describe
the slots and the expansion cards that they support.
Unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. Failure to do so may
cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components.
1.8.1 Installing an expansion card
To install an expansion card:
1. Before installing the expansion card, read the documentation that came with it and
make the necessary hardware settings for the card.
2. Remove the system unit cover (if your motherboard is already installed in a chassis).
3. Remove the bracket opposite the slot that you intend to use. Keep the screw for later
use.
4. Align the card connector with the slot and press rmly until the card is completely
seated on the slot.
5. Secure the card to the chassis with the screw you removed earlier.
6. Replace the system cover.
1.8.2 Conguring an expansion card
After installing the expansion card, congure it by adjusting the software settings.
1. Turn on the system and change the necessary BIOS settings, if any. See Chapter 2 for
information on BIOS setup.
2. Assign an IRQ to the card.
3. Install the software drivers for the expansion card.
When using PCI cards on shared slots, ensure that the drivers support “Share IRQ” or that
the cards do not need IRQ assignments. Otherwise, conicts will arise between the two PCI
groups, making the system unstable and the card inoperable.
1.8.3 PCI slots
The PCI slots support cards such as a LAN card, SCSI card, USB card, and other cards that
comply with PCI specications.
1.8.4 PCI Express x1 slot
This motherboard supports PCI Express x1 network cards, SCSI cards, and other cards that
comply with the PCI Express specications.
1.8.5 PCI Express x16 slot
This motherboard supports a PCI Express x16 graphics card that complies with the PCI
Express specications.
Page 28
1-18 Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.9 Jumpers
1. Clear RTC RAM (CLRTC)
This jumper allows you to clear the Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM in CMOS. You can
clear the CMOS memory of date, time, and system setup parameters by erasing
the CMOS RTC RAM data. The onboard button cell battery powers the RAM data in
CMOS, which include system setup information such as system passwords.
Except when clearing the RTC RAM, never remove the cap on CLRTC jumper default
position. Removing the cap will cause system boot failure!
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
<Del> key during the boot process and enter BIOS setup to
reenter data.
• 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.
• You do not need to clear the RTC when the system hangs due to overclocking.
For system failure due to overclocking, use the CPU Parameter Recall (C.P.R)
feature. Shut down and reboot the system so the BIOS can automatically reset
parameter settings to default values.
Page 29
ASUS M4N78 SE 1-19
2. Keyboard power (3-pin KBPW)
This jumper allows you to enable or disable the keyboard wake-up feature. Set this
jumper to pins 2-3 (+5VSB) if you wish to wake up the computer when you press a key
on the keyboard (the default is the Space Bar). This feature requires an ATX power
supply that can supply at least 1A on the +5VSB lead, and a corresponding setting in
the BIOS.
3. USB device wake-up (3-pin USBPW1-6, USBPW7-12)
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). These jumpers are for
the rear and internal USB connectors that you can connect to additional USB ports.
Page 30
1-20 Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.10 Connectors
1.10.1 Rear panel connectors
1. PS/2 keyboard port (purple). This port is for a PS/2 keyboard.
2. Parallel port.
This 25-pin port connects a parallel printer, a scanner, or other devices.
3. LAN (RJ-45) port.
This port allows Gigabit connection to a Local Area Network (LAN)
through a network hub.
4. Line In port (light blue). This port connects the tape, CD, DVD player, or other audio
sources.
5. Line Out port (lime).
This port connects a headphone or a speaker. In 4-channel and
6-channel conguration, the function of this port becomes Front Speaker Out.
6. Microphone port (pink).
This port connects a microphone.
LAN port LED indications
Activity/Link LED Speed LED
Status Description Status Description
OFF No link OFF 10 Mbps connection
Yellow Linked ORANGE 100 Mbps connection
BLINKING Data activity GREEN 1 Gbps connection
LAN port
SPEED
LED
ACT/LINK
LED
2
9
1
10
4 53
68 7
Refer to the audio conguration table below for the function of the audio ports in 2, 4, or
6-channel conguration.
Audio 2, 4, and 6-channel conguration
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
Page 31
ASUS M4N78 SE 1-21
7. USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are
available for connecting USB 2.0 devices.
8. USB 2.0 ports 3 and 4.
These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are
available for connecting USB 2.0 devices.
9. COM port.
This 9-pin COM1 port is for pointing devices or other serial devices.
10. USB 2.0 ports 5 and 6. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are
available for connecting USB 2.0 devices.
1.10.2 Internal connectors
1. 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.
•
We recommend that you use an ATX 12 V Specication 2.0-compliant power supply
unit (PSU) with a minimum of 300 W power rating. This PSU type has 24-pin and 4-pin
power plugs.
•
If you intend to use a PSU with 20-pin and 4-pin power plugs, ensure that the 20-pin
power plug can provide at least 15 A on +12 V and that the PSU has a minimum power
rating of 300 W. The system may become unstable or may not boot up if the power is
inadequate.
•
Do not forget to connect the 4-pin ATX +12 V power plug. Otherwise, the system will not
boot up.
• We recommend that you use a PSU with higher power output when conguring a
system with more power-consuming devices or when you intend to install additional
devices. The system may become unstable or may not boot up if the power is
inadequate.
•
If you are uncertain about the minimum power supply requirement for your system,
refer to the Recommended Power Supply Wattage Calculator at http://support.asus.
com/PowerSupplyCalculator/PSCalculator.aspx?SLanguage=en-us for details.
Page 32
1-22 Chapter 1: Product introduction
2. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE)
The onboard IDE connector is for Ultra DMA 133/100/66 signal cable. There are
three connectors on each Ultra DMA 133 / 100 / 66 signal cable: blue, black, and gray.
Connect the blue connector to the motherboard’s IDE connector, then select one of the
following modes to congure your devices:
Drive jumper setting Mode of device(s) Cable connector
Single device Cable-Select or Master - Black
Two devices
Cable-Select
Master Black
Slave Gray
Master Master
Black or gray
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.
• Use the 80-conductor IDE cable for Ultra DMA 133/100/66 IDE devices.
If any device jumper is set as “Cable-Select”, ensure that all other device jumpers have the
same setting.
3. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT)
This connector is for an additional Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) port.
The S/PDIF module is purchased separately.
Page 33
ASUS M4N78 SE 1-23
• 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
Mode select item in the BIOS to [RAID Mode]. See page 2-8 for details.
4. 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 133 MB/s (Ultra DMA133). If you install Serial ATA hard disk
drives, you can create a RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 5, and JBOD congurations
through the onboard chipset.
Install the Windows® XP Service Pack 2 or later version before using Serial ATA.
5. Optical drive audio in connector (4-pin CD)
This connector allows you to receive stereo audio input from sound sources such as a
CD-ROM, TV tuner, or MPEG card.
Page 34
1-24 Chapter 1: Product introduction
6. System panel connector (10-1 pin F_PANEL)
This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions.
• System power LED (2-pin PWRLED)
This 2-pin connector is for the system power LED. Connect the chassis power LED
cable to this connector. The system power LED lights up when you turn on the system
power, and blinks when the system is in sleep mode.
•
Hard disk drive activity LED (2-pin HDLED)
This 2-pin connector is for the HDD Activity LED. Connect the HDD Activity LED cable
to this connector. The IDE LED lights up or ashes when data is read from or written to
the HDD.
•
Power/Soft-off button (2-pin PWRBTN)
This 2-pin connector is for the system power button. Pressing the power button turns
the system ON or puts the system in SLEEP or SOFT-OFF mode depending on the
BIOS settings. Pressing the power switch for more than four seconds while the system
is ON turns the system OFF.
•
Reset button (2-pin RESET)
This 2-pin connector is for the chassis-mounted reset button for system reboot without
turning off the system power.
7. Speaker (4-pin SPEAKER)
The 4-pin connector is for the chassis-mounted system warning speaker. The speaker
allows you to hear system beeps and warnings.
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ASUS M4N78 SE 1-25
8. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB78, USB910, USB1112)
These connectors are for USB 2.0 ports. Connect the USB module cable to any of
these connectors, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system
chassis. These USB connectors comply with USB 2.0 specication that supports up to
480 Mbps connection speed.
Never connect a 1394 cable to the USB connectors. Doing so will damage the
motherboard!
The USB 2.0 module is purchased separately.
• We recommend that you connect a high-denition front panel audio module to this
connector to avail of the motherboard high-denition audio capability.
• By default, this connector is set to
[HD Audio]. If you want to connect a High Denition
front panel audio module to this connector, set the Front Panel Select item in the BIOS
to [HD Audio]. See section “2.4.3 Chipset” for details.
9. 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.
Page 36
1-26 Chapter 1: Product introduction
Click an item to install
Click an icon to
display Support DVD/
motherboard information
To run the Support DVD
Place the Support DVD to the optical drive. The DVD automatically displays the Drivers menu
if Autorun is enabled on your computer.
If Autorun 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 the ASSETUP.EXE to run
the DVD.
1.11 Software support
1.11.1 Installing an operating system
This motherboard supports Windows® XP/Vista Operating Systems (OS). Always install the
latest OS version and corresponding updates to maximize the features of your hardware.
• Motherboard settings and hardware options vary. Use the setup procedures presented
in this chapter for reference only. Refer to your OS documentation for detailed
information.
• Ensure that you install Windows
®
XP Service Pack 3 or later versions/ Windows® Vista
Service Pack 1 or later versions before installing the drivers for better compatibility and
system stability.
1.11.2 Support DVD information
The Support DVD that comes with the motherboard package contains the drivers, software
applications, and utilities that you can install to avail all motherboard features.
The contents of the Support DVD are subject to change at any time without notice. Visit the
ASUS website at www.asus.com for updates.
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ASUS M4N78 SE 2-1
Chapter 2
BIOS information
2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS
• 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.
Updating the BIOS
To update the BIOS:
1. From the Windows
®
desktop, click Start > Programs > ASUS > ASUSUpdate >
ASUSUpdate to launch the ASUS Update utility.
2. From the dropdown list, select any of the updating process:
Updating from the Internet
a. Select Update BIOS from the Internet, then click Next.
b. Select the ASUS FTP site nearest you to avoid network trafc, or click Auto
Select
then click Next.
c. From the FTP site, select the BIOS version that you wish to download then click
Next.
The ASUS Update utility is capable of updating itself through the Internet. Always update
the utility to avail all its features.
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.
Installing ASUS Update
To install ASUS Update:
1. Place the support DVD in the optical drive. The
Drivers menu appears.
2. Click the
Utilities tab, then click Install ASUS Update.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.
Quit all Windows® applications before you update the BIOS using this utility.
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2-2 Chapter 2: BIOS information
2.1.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility
The ASUS EZ Flash 2 feature allows you to update the BIOS without having to use an
OS-based utility.
Before using this 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 the USB port, then launch
EZ Flash 2. You can launch EZ Flash 2 in two ways.
• Press
<Alt> + <F2> during POST to display the following:
• Enter the BIOS setup program. Go to the
Tools menu to select EZ Flash 2 and
press <Enter> to enable it.
Press <Tab> to switch between drives until the correct BIOS le is found.
2. When the correct BIOS le is found, EZ Flash 2 performs the BIOS update process
and automatically reboots the system when done.
• This function can support devices such as USB ash disk with FAT 32/16 format and
single partition only.
• Do not shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS to prevent system boot
failure!
ASUSTek EZ Flash 2 BIOS ROM Utility V3.21
Current ROM
Update ROM
A:
Note
FLASH TYPE: MXIC 25L8005
PATH: A:\
BOARD: M4N78 SE
VER: 0210 (H:00 B:04)
DATE: 01/21/2009
BOARD: Unknown
VER: Unknown
DATE: Unknown
[Enter] Select or Load [Tab] Switch [V] Drive Info
[Up/Down/Home/End] Move [B] Backup [ESC] Exit
Updating from a BIOS file
a. Select Update BIOS from a le, then click Next.
b. Locate the BIOS le from the
Open window, then click Open.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the updating process.
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ASUS M4N78 SE 2-3
• Only the USB ash disk with FAT 32/16 format and single partition can support 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!
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 the USB ash disk containing the updated
motherboard BIOS before using this utility.
• Updating from a SATA optical drive is not supported when both an IDE optical drive and
a SATA optical drive are installed in this motherboard.
Bad BIOS checksum. Starting BIOS recovery...
Checking for CD-ROM...
When found, the utility reads the BIOS le and starts erasing the corrupted BIOS le.
Bad BIOS checksum. Starting BIOS recovery...
Checking for CD-ROM
CD-ROM found!
Reading le “M4N78SE.ROM”. Completed.
Start erasing...
Recovering the BIOS
To recover the BIOS:
1. Turn on the system.
2. Insert the support DVD, or USB ash disk containing BIOS le to the disk drive or port.
3.
The utility displays the following message and automatically checks the support DVD,
or USB ash disk for the BIOS le.
4. Restart the system after the utility completes the updating process.
• The utility automatically checks the optical drive rst. If no optical drive is found, the
utility then checks the USB ash disk.
• The recovered BIOS may not be the latest BIOS version for this motherboard. Download
the latest BIOS le from the ASUS website at www.asus.com.
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2-4 Chapter 2: BIOS information
• The default BIOS settings for this motherboard apply for most conditions to ensure
optimum performance. If the system becomes unstable after changing any BIOS
settings, load the default settings to ensure system compatibility and stability. Select the
Load Setup Defaults item under the Exit menu. See section “2.8 Exit menu”.
• The BIOS setup screens shown in this section are for reference purposes only, and may
not exactly match what you see on your screen.
• Visit the ASUS website at www.asus.com to download the latest BIOS le for this
motherboard.
2.2 BIOS setup program
This motherboard supports a programmable rmware chip that you can update using the
provided utility described in section “2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS.”
Use the BIOS Setup program when you are installing a motherboard, reconguring your
system, or prompted to “Run Setup.” This section explains how to congure your system
using this utility.
Even if you are not prompted to use the Setup program, you can change the conguration of
your computer in the future. For example, you can enable the security password feature or
change the power management settings. This requires you to recongure your system using
the BIOS Setup program so that the computer can recognize these changes and record them
in the CMOS RAM of the rmware chip.
The rmware chip on the motherboard stores the Setup utility. When you start up the
computer, the system provides you with the opportunity to run this program. Press <Del>
during the Power-On Self-Test (POST) to enter the Setup utility. Otherwise, POST continues
with its test routines.
If you wish to enter Setup after POST, reboot the system by doing any of the following
procedures:
• Restart using the OS standard shut-down procedure.
• Press
<Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Del> simultaneously.
• Press the reset button on the system chassis.
•
Press the power button to turn the system off then back on.
Using the power button, reset button, or the <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Del> keys to force
reset from a running operating system can cause damage to your data or system. We
recommend to always shut-down the system properly from the operating system.
The Setup program is designed to make it as easy to use as possible. Being a menu-driven
program, it lets you scroll through the various sub-menus and make your selections from the
available options using the navigation keys.
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ASUS M4N78 SE 2-5
2.2.1 BIOS menu screen
2.2.2 Menu bar
The menu bar on top of the screen has the following main items:
Main For changing the basic system conguration
Advanced For changing the advanced system settings
Power For changing the advanced power management (APM) conguration
Boot For changing the system boot conguration
Tools For changing the system tools conguration
Exit For selecting the exit options and loading default settings
To select an item on the menu bar, press the right or left arrow key on the keyboard until the
desired item is highlighted.
• The BIOS setup screens shown in this chapter are for reference purposes only, and may
not exactly match what you see on your screen.
• Visit the ASUS website at www.asus.com to download the latest BIOS information.
Select Screen
Select Item
+-
Change Field
Tab Select Field
F1 General Help
F10 Save and Exit
ESC Exit
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2008, American Megatrends, Inc.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
Use [ENTER], [TAB]
or [SHIFT-TAB] to
select a eld.
Use [+] or [-] to
congure system
Time.
System Time [19:34:30]
System Date [Tue 02/03/2009]
Primary IDE Master :[Not Detected]
Primary IDE Slave :[Not Detected]
SATA1 :[Not Detected]
SATA2 :[Not Detected]
SATA3 :[Not Detected]
SATA4 :[Not Detected]
Storage Conguration
System Information
Menu items
Menu bar
Conguration elds
General help
Sub-menu items
Navigation keys
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2-6 Chapter 2: BIOS information
2.2.4 Menu items
The highlighted item on the menu bar displays the specic items for that menu. For example,
selecting Main shows the Main menu items.
The other items (Advanced, Power, Boot, Tools, and Exit) on the menu bar have their
respective menu items.
2.2.5 Sub-menu items
A solid triangle before each item on any menu screen means that the iteam has a sub-menu.
To display the sub-menu, select the item and press <Enter>.
2.2.6 Conguration elds
These elds show the values for the menu items. If an item is user-congurable, you can
change the value of the eld opposite the item. You cannot select an item that is not usercongurable.
A congurable eld is enclosed in brackets, and is highlighted when selected. To change the
value of a eld, select it then press <Enter> to display a list of options. Refer to “2.2.8 Pop-up
window.”
2.2.3 Navigation keys
At the bottom right corner of a menu screen are the navigation keys for that particular menu.
Use the navigation keys to select items in the menu and change the settings.
Some of the navigation keys differ from one screen to another.
2.2.7 General help
At the top right corner of the menu screen is a brief description of the selected item.
2.2.8 Pop-up window
Select a menu item then press
<Enter> to display a pop-up window
with the conguration options for
that item.
2.2.9 Scroll bar
A scroll bar appears on the right side
of a menu screen when there are
items that do not t on the screen.
Press the <Up> / <Down> arrow
keys or <Page Up> / <Page Down>
keys to display the other items on
the screen
Select Screen
Select Item
+- Change Field
Tab Select Field
F1 General Help
F10 Save and Exit
ESC Exit
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2008, American Megatrends, Inc.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
Suspend Mode [Auto]
ACPI 2.0 Support [Disabled]
ACPI APIC support [Enabled]
APM Conguration
Hardware Monitor
Use [ENTER], [TAB] or
[SHIFT-TAB] to select
a eld.
Use [+] or [-] to
congure system
Time.
Pop-up window
Scroll bar
Options
Disabled
Enabled
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ASUS M4N78 SE 2-7
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.
2.3.1 System Time [xx:xx:xx]
Allows you to set the system time.
2.3.2 System Date [Day xx/xx/xxxx]
Allows you to set the system date.
Refer to section “2.2.1 BIOS menu screen” for information on the menu screen items and
how to navigate through them.
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2008, American Megatrends, Inc.
Select Screen
Select Item
+-
Change Field
Tab Select Field
F1 General Help
F10 Save and Exit
ESC Exit
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2008, American Megatrends, Inc.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
Use [ENTER], [TAB]
or [SHIFT-TAB] to
select a eld.
Use [+] or [-] to
congure system
Time.
System Time [19:34:30]
System Date [Tue 02/03/2009]
Primary IDE Master :[Not Detected]
Primary IDE Slave :[Not Detected]
SATA1 :[Not Detected]
SATA2 :[Not Detected]
SATA3 :[Not Detected]
SATA4 :[Not Detected]
Storage Conguration
System Information
2.3.3 Primary IDE Master/Slave and SATA 1~4
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 does not appear when you select the SATA 1/2/3/4 devices.
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2-8 Chapter 2: BIOS information
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 Storage Conguration
The Storage Conguration menu allows you to congure your storage device(s). Select an
item then press <Enter> to display the sub-menu.
Onboard PCI IDE Controller [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the onboard PCI IDE controller.
Conguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
OnChip S-ATA Controller [Enabled]
Allows you to disable or enable the OnChip S-ATA devices.
Conguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
The following item appears only when the OnChip S-ATA Controller item is set to
[Enabled].
SATA Mode select [SATA Mode]
Allows you to select the SATA Mode. Conguration options: [SATA Mode] [RAID Mode]
[AHCI Mode]
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ASUS M4N78 SE 2-9
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
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.
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2008, American Megatrends, Inc.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
JumperFree Conguration
CPU Conguration
Chipset
Onboard Devices Conguration
PCIPnP
USB Conguration
Select Screen
Select Item
+- Change Field
Tab Select Field
F1 General Help
F10 Save and Exit
ESC Exit
Adjust System
Frequency/Voltage
etc.
2.4.1 JumperFree Conguration
CPU Overclocking [Auto]
Allows selection of CPU overclocking options to achieve desired CPU internal frequency.
Select either one of the preset overclocking.
• Manual - Allows you to individually set overclocking parameters.
• Auto - Loads the optimal settings for the system.
• Overclock Prole - Loads overclocking proles with optimal parameters for stability when
overclocking.
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2-10 Chapter 2: BIOS information
Processor Frequency Multiplier [Auto]
Allows you to set the processor frequency multiplier. Conguration options: [Auto] [x4.0
800MHz] [x5.0 1000MHz] [x6.0 1200MHz] [x7.0 1400MHz] [x8.0 1600MHz] [x9.0 1800MHz]
CPU Over Voltage [Auto]
Allows you to set the processor over voltage. Conguration options: [Auto] [+50mv] [+100mv]
[+150mv]
VDDNB Over Voltage [Auto]
Allows you to set the NorthBridge over voltage. Conguration options: [Audo] [+33mv]
[+66mv] [+100mv]
Hyper Transport Speed [Auto]
Allows you to set the HyperTransport link speed. Conguration options: [200MHz] [400MHz]
[600MHz] [800 MHZ] [1 GHz] [Auto]
Hyper Transport Width [16
16
]
Allows you to set the HyperTransport link width. Conguration options: [16
16
] [8
8
]
Memory Clock Mode [Auto]
Allows you to set the memory clock mode. Conguration options: [Auto] [Manual]
The following item appears only when the Memory Clock Mode item is set to [Manual].
Memclock Value [333MHz]
Allows you to set the memory clock value.
Conguration options: [333MHz] [400MHz]
The following item appears only when the CPU Overclocking item is set to [Manual].
CPU Frequency [200]
Allows you to set the CPU frequency. The valid value is from 200 MHz to 550 MHz.
The following item appears only when the CPU Overclocking item is set to [Overclock
Prole].
Overclok Options [Auto]
Allows you to set the overclock options.
Conguration options: [Auto] [Overclock 3%] [Overclock 5%] [Overclock 7%] [Test
mode]
PCIE Overclocking [Auto]
Allows you to select the PCIE Overclocking. Conguration options: [Auto] [Manual]
The following item appears only when the PCIE Overclocking item is set to [Manual].
PCIE Frequency [100]
Allows you to set the PCIE frequency. The valid value is between 100 and 150.
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ASUS M4N78 SE 2-11
DRAM Timing Mode [Auto]
Allows you to set the DRAM timing mode. Conguration options: [Auto] [DCT 0]
The following sub-items appear only when you set the DRAM Timing Mode item to [DCT 0].
CAS Latency (CL) [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [3 CLK] [4 CLK] [5 CLK] [6 CLK] [7 CLK DH_Only]
TRCD [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [3 CLK] [4 CLK] [5 CLK] [6 CLK]
TRP [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [3 CLK] [4 CLK] [5 CLK] [6 CLK]
tRTP [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [2-4 CLK] [3-5 CLK]
TRAS [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [5 CLK] [6 CLK] ~ [17 CLK] [18 CLK]
TRC [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto]
tWR [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [3 CLK] [4 CLK] [5 CLK] [6 CLK]
TRRD [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [2 CLK] [3 CLK] [4 CLK] [5 CLK]
tRWTTO [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [2 CLK] [3 CLK] [4 CLK] [5 CLK] [6 CLK] [7 CLK] [8 CLK]
[9 CLK]
tWRRD [Auto]
Species the write to read delay when accessing different DIMMs.
Conguration options: [Auto] [0 CLK] [1 CLK] [2 CLK] [3 CLK]
tWTR [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [1 CLK] [2 CLK] [3 CLK]
tWRWR [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [1 CLK] [2 CLK] [3 CLK]
TRDRD [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [2 CLK] [3 CLK] [4 CLK] [5 CLK]
tRFC0 [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [75ns] [105ns] [127.5ns] [195ns] [327.5ns]
tRFC1 [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [75ns] [105ns] [127.5ns] [195ns] [327.5ns]
tRFC2 [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [75ns] [105ns] [127.5ns] [195ns] [327.5ns]
tRFC3 [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [75ns] [105ns] [127.5ns] [195ns] [327.5ns]
Memory Over Voltage [Auto]
Allows you to set the memory over voltage. The value ranges from 1.85000V to 2.24375V
with a 0.00625V interval. Press +/- to adjust the value.
Chipset Voltage [Auto]
Allows you to set the chipset voltage. Conguration options: [Auto] [+50mv] [+100mv]
[+150mv]
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2-12 Chapter 2: BIOS information
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]
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 [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the generation of ACPI_PPC, _PSS, and _PCT objects.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
CPU Prefetching [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the CPU Prefetching. Conguration options: [Enabled]
[Disabled]
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ASUS M4N78 SE 2-13
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]
SouthBridge Conguration
Primary Graphics Adapter [PCIE -> PCI]
Display Device Priority, from high to low. Conguration options: [PCIE -> PCI] [PCI -> PCIE]
PCIE 2.0 Support [Auto]
Allows you to enable or disable the PCIE 2.0 feature. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Auto]
AZALIA AUDIO [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the HD audio mode. Conguration options: [Disabled]
[Enabled]
Front Panel Select [HD Audio]
Allows you to set HD Audio mode. Conguration options: [AC97] [HD Audio]
Onboard LAN [Enabled]
Allows you to set or disable the Onboard 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]
SouthBridge ACPI HPET TABLE [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable SouthBridge ACPI HPET TABLE.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
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]
Parallel Port Address [378]
Allows you to select the Parallel Port base addresses.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [378] [278] [3BC]
Parallel Port Mode [Normal]
Allows you to select the Parallel Port mode. Conguration options: [Normal] [EPP] [ECP]
[EPP+ECP]
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2-14 Chapter 2: BIOS information
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]
The Module Version and USB Devices Enabled items show the auto-detected values. If no
USB device is detected, the item shows None.
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.
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.
USB Functions [Enabled]
Enables or disables the USB functions. Conguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
USB 2.0 Controller [Enabled]
Enables or disables the USB 2.0 Controller. Conguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
Legacy USB Support [Auto]
Allows you to enable or disable support for Legacy USB storage devices, including USB ash
drives and USB hard drives. Setting to Auto allows the system to detect the presence of USB
devices at startup. If detected, the USB controller legacy mode is enabled. If no USB device
is detected, the legacy USB support is disabled. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
[Auto]
USB 2.0 Controller Mode [HiSpeed]
Allows you to congure the USB 2.0 controller in HiSpeed (480 Mbps) or Full Speed (12
Mbps). Conguration options: [FullSpeed] [HiSpeed]
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ASUS M4N78 SE 2-15
Suspend Mode [Auto]
ACPI 2.0 Support [Disabled]
ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]
APM Conguration
Hardware Monitor
Select the ACPI state
used for System
Suspend.
2.5 Power menu
The Power menu items allow you to change the settings for the Advanced Conguration and
Power Interface (ACPI) and the Advanced Power Management (APM). Select an item then
press <Enter> to display the conguration options.
2.5.1 Suspend Mode [Auto]
Allows you to select the Advanced Conguration and Power Interface (ACPI) state to be used
for system suspend. Conguration options: [S1 (POS) Only] [S3 Only] [Auto]
[S1(POS) Only] - Enables the system to enter the ACPI S1 (Power on Suspend) sleep state.
In S1 sleep state, the system appears suspended and stays in a low power
mode. The system can be resumed at any time.
[S3 Only] - Enables the system to enter the ACPI S3 (Suspend to RAM) sleep state (default).
In S3 sleep state, the system appears to be off and consumes less power than in
the S1 state. When signaled by a wake-up device or event, the system resumes
to its working state exactly where it was left off.
[Auto] - Detected by OS.
2.5.2 ACPI 2.0 Support [Disabled]
Allows you to add additional tables as per Advanced Conguration and Power Interface
(ACPI) 2.0 specications. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
2.5.3 ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the Advanced Conguration and Power Interface (ACPI)
support in the Application-Specic Integrated Circuit (ASIC). When set to Enabled, the ACPI
APIC table pointer is included in the RSDT pointer list. Conguration options: [Disabled]
[Enabled]
2.5.4 APM Conguration
Restore on AC Power Loss [Power Off]
When set to Power Off, the system goes into off state after an AC power loss. When set to
Power On, the system goes on after an AC power loss.
Conguration options: [Power On] [Power Off]
Power On By PCI/PCIE Device [Disabled]
When set to [Enabled], this parameter allows you to turn on the system through a PCI/PCIE
card. This feature requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB lead.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
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2-16 Chapter 2: BIOS information
2.5.5 Hardware Monitor
CPU Temperature [xxxºC/xxxºF]
MB Temperature [xxxºC/xxxºF]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the motherboard and CPU
temperatures. Select Ignored if you do not wish to display the detected temperatures.
CPU Fan Speed [xxxxRPM] or [Ignored]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the CPU fan speed in
rotations per minute (RPM). If the fan is not connected to the motherboard, the eld shows
N/A. Select Ignored if you do not wish to display the detected speed.
VCORE Voltage, 3.3V Voltage, 5V Voltage, 12V Voltage
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects the voltage output through the onboard
voltage regulators.
Smart Q-Fan Function [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the ASUS Q-Fan feature that smartly adjusts the fan speeds
for more efcient system operation. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Power On By Ring [Disabled]
Enable or disable RI to generate a wake event. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Power On By PS/2 KB/MS [Disabled]
Enable or disable PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse to generate a wake event.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Power On By RTC Alarm [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable RTC to generate a wake event. When this item is set to
Enabled, the items RTC Alarm Date, RTC Alarm Hour, RTC Alarm Minute, and RTC Alarm
Second appear with set values. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
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ASUS M4N78 SE 2-17
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.
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 CDROM ] [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]
Select Screen
Select Item
Enter Go to Sub Screen
F1 General Help
F10 Save and Exit
ESC Exit
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2008, American Megatrends, Inc.
Boot Settings Conguration
Security
Species the Boot
Device Priority
sequence.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
Boot Device Priority
Boot Settings
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]
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2-18 Chapter 2: BIOS information
If you forget your BIOS password, you can clear it by erasing the CMOS Real Time Clock
(RTC) RAM. See section “1.9 Jumpers” for information on how to erase the RTC RAM.
After you have set a supervisor password, the other items appear to allow you to change
other security settings.
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]
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
Change Supervisor Password item and press <Enter>.
2. From the password box, type a password composed of at most six letters and/or
numbers, then press <Enter>.
3. Conrm the password when prompted.
The message “Password Installed” appears after you successfully set your password.
To change the supervisor password, follow the same steps as in setting a supervisor
password.
To clear the supervisor password, select the Change Supervisor Password then press
<Enter> twice. The message “Password Uninstalled” appears.
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.
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ASUS M4N78 SE 2-19
Change User Password
Select this item to set or change the user password. The User Password item on top of the
screen shows the default Not Installed. After you set a password, this item shows Installed.
To set a User Password:
1. Select the
Change User Password item and press <Enter>.
2. On the password box that appears, type a password composed of at most six letters
and/or numbers, then press <Enter>.
3. Conrm the password when prompted.
The message “Password Installed” appears after you set your password successfully.
To change the user password, follow the same steps as in setting a user password.
Clear User Password
Select this item to clear the user password.
Password Check [Setup]
When set to [Setup], BIOS checks for user password when accessing the Setup utility. When
set to [Always], BIOS checks for user password both when accessing Setup and booting the
system. Conguration options: [Setup] [Always]
2.7 Tools menu
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.
Select Screen
Select Item
+- Change Field
Enter Go to Sub
Screen
F1 General Help
F10 Save and Exit
ESC Exit
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2007, American Megatrends, Inc.
ASUS EZ Flash 2
Express Gate [Auto]
Enter OS Timer [10 Seconds]
Reset User Data [No]
AI NET2
Press ENTER to run
the utility to select
and update BIOS.
This utility doesn't
support :
1.NTFS format
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
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2-20 Chapter 2: BIOS information
2.7.3 AI NET 2
Check Realtek Phy LAN cable [Disabled]
Enables or disables checking of the Realtek Phy LAN cable during the Power-On Self-Test
(POST).
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
2.7.2 Express Gate [Auto]
Allows you to enable or disable the ASUS Express Gate feature. The ASUS Express Gate
feature is a unique instant-on environment that provides quick access to the Internet browser
and Skype. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] [Auto]
Enter OS Timer [10 Seconds]
Allows you to set the countdown duration that the system waits at the Express Gate’s rst
screen before starting Windows or other installed OS. Choose [Prompt User] to stay at the
rst screen of Express Gate for user action.
Conguration options: [Prompt User] [1 Second] [3 Seconds] [5 Seconds] [10 Seconds] [15
Seconds] [20 Seconds] [30 Seconds]
Reset User Data [No]
Allows you to clear Express Gate’s user data. Conguration options: [No] [Reset]
When setting this item to [Reset], the user data is cleared the next time you enter the Express
Gate. User data includes the Express Gate’s settings as well as any personal information
stored by the web browser such as bookmarks, cookies, or browsing history. This is useful in
the rare case where corrupt settings prevent the Express Gate environment from launching
properly.
• The rst time wizard runs again when you enter the Express Gate environment after
clearing its settings.
• When changing any of the Express Gate settings, ensure to save the settings to the
BIOS.
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ASUS M4N78 SE 2-21
Exit & Discard Changes
Select this option only if you do not want to save the changes that you made to the
Setup program. If you made changes to elds other than System Date, System Time, and
Password, the BIOS asks for a conrmation before exiting.
Discard Changes
This option allows you to discard the selections you made and restore the previously saved
values. After selecting this option, a conrmation appears. Select OK to discard any changes
and load the previously saved values.
Load Setup Defaults
This option allows you to load the default values for each of the parameters on the Setup
menus. When you select this option or if you press <F5>, a conrmation window appears.
Select OK to load default values. Select Exit & Save Changes or make other changes
before saving the values to the non-volatile RAM.
Exit & Save Changes
Once you are nished making your selections, choose this option from the Exit menu to
ensure the values you selected are saved to the CMOS RAM. An onboard backup battery
sustains the CMOS RAM so it stays on even when the PC is turned off. When you select this
option, a conrmation window appears. Select OK to save changes and exit.
2.8 Exit menu
Pressing <Esc> does not immediately exit this menu. Select one of the options from this
menu or <F10> from the legend bar to exit.
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.
If you attempt to exit the Setup program without saving your changes, the program
prompts you with a message asking if you want to save your changes before exiting. Press
<Enter> to save the changes while exiting.
Exit Options
Exit & Save Changes
Exit & Discard Changes
Discard Changes
Load Setup Defaults
Exit system setup
after saving the
changes.
F10 key can be used
for this operation.
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