ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS, M5A78L-M LX3 User Manual

M5A78L-M LX3 Series
• M5A78L-M LX3
• M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS
Motherboard
E7475 First Edition
June 2012
No part of this manual, including the products and software described in it, may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form or by any means, except documentation kept by the purchaser for backup purposes, without the express written permission of ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. (“ASUS”).
Product warranty or service will not be extended if: (1) the product is repaired, modied or altered, unless such repair, modication of alteration is authorized in writing by ASUS; or (2) the serial number of the
product is defaced or missing. ASUS PROVIDES THIS MANUAL “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL ASUS, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF USE OR DATA, INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS AND THE LIKE), EVEN IF ASUS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES ARISING FROM ANY DEFECT OR ERROR IN THIS MANUAL OR PRODUCT.
SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL ARE FURNISHED FOR INFORMATIONAL USE ONLY, AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE, AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY ASUS. ASUS ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS OR INACCURACIES THAT MAY APPEAR IN THIS MANUAL, INCLUDING THE PRODUCTS AND SOFTWARE DESCRIBED IN IT.
Products and corporate names appearing in this manual may or may not be registered trademarks or
copyrights of their respective companies, and are used only for identication or explanation and to the owners’ benet, without intent to infringe.
Offer to Provide Source Code of Certain Software
This product contains copyrighted software that is licensed under the General Public License (“GPL”), under the Lesser General Public License Version (“LGPL”) and/or other Free Open Source Software Licenses. Such software in this product is distributed without any warranty to the extent permitted by the applicable law. Copies of these licenses are included in this product.
Where the applicable license entitles you to the source code of such software and/or other additional data, you may obtain it for a period of three years after our last shipment of the product, either
(1) for free by downloading it from http://support.asus.com/download or (2) for the cost of reproduction and shipment, which is dependent on the preferred carrier and the location
where you want to have it shipped to, by sending a request to:
ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Legal Compliance Dept. 15 Li Te Rd., Beitou, Taipei 112 Taiwan
In your request please provide the name, model number and version, as stated in the About Box of the product for which you wish to obtain the corresponding source code and your contact details so that we can coordinate the terms and cost of shipment with you.
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This offer is valid to anyone in receipt of this information. ASUSTeK is eager to duly provide complete source code as required under various Free Open Source
Software licenses. If however you encounter any problems in obtaining the full corresponding source code we would be much obliged if you give us a notication to the email address gpl@asus.com, stating the product and describing the problem (please DO NOT send large attachments such as source code archives, etc. to this email address).
ii
Contents
Safety information ...................................................................................................... vi
About this guide ......................................................................................................... vi
M5A78L-M LX3 Series specications summary .................................................... viii
Package contents ........................................................................................................ x
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.1 Special features ............................................................................................ 1-1
1.1.1 Product highlights ...........................................................................1-1
1.1.2 ASUS Exclusive Features ............................................................... 1-2
1.2 Before you proceed ...................................................................................... 1-3
1.3 Motherboard overview .................................................................................1-4
1.3.1 Placement direction ........................................................................1-4
1.3.2 Screw holes ....................................................................................1-4
1.3.3 Motherboard layout .........................................................................1-5
1.3.4 Layout contents ...............................................................................1-6
1.4 Central Processing Unit (CPU) .................................................................... 1-6
1.4.1 CPU installation ..............................................................................1-7
1.4.2 CPU heatsink and fan assembly installation ................................... 1-8
1.5 System memory .......................................................................................... 1-10
1.5.1 Overview .......................................................................................1-10
1.5.2 Memory congurations .................................................................. 1-11
1.5.3 Installing a DIMM ..........................................................................1-15
1.6 Expansion slots .......................................................................................... 1-16
1.6.1 Installing an expansion card .........................................................1-16
1.6.2 Conguring an expansion card ..................................................... 1-16
1.6.3 PCI slot .........................................................................................1-16
1.6.4 PCI Express x1 slot .......................................................................1-16
1.6.5 PCI Express x16 slot .....................................................................1-16
1.7 Jumpers.......................................................................................................1-17
1.8 Connectors ..................................................................................................1-19
1.8.1 Rear panel ports ...........................................................................1-19
1.8.2 Internal connectors .......................................................................1-20
1.9 Software support ........................................................................................ 1-25
1.9.1 Installing an operating system ......................................................1-25
1.9.2 Support DVD information ..............................................................1-25
Chapter 2: 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
iii
2.1.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 ................................................................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 ...............................................................................2-5
2.2.4 Menu items .....................................................................................2-6
2.2.5 Submenu items ...............................................................................2-6
2.2.6 Conguration elds ......................................................................... 2-6
2.2.7 Pop-up window ...............................................................................2-6
2.2.8 Scroll bar ......................................................................................... 2-6
2.2.9 General help ...................................................................................2-6
2.3 Main menu ..................................................................................................... 2-7
2.3.1 System Time [xx:xx:xx] ...................................................................2-7
2.3.2 System Date [Day xx/xx/xxxx] .........................................................2-7
2.3.3 SATA3G_1~4 ..................................................................................2-7
2.3.4 SATA Conguration ......................................................................... 2-8
2.3.5 System Information .........................................................................2-8
2.4 Advanced menu ............................................................................................ 2-9
2.4.1 JumperFree Conguration .............................................................. 2-9
2.4.2 CPU Conguration ........................................................................2-12
2.4.3 Chipset .......................................................................................... 2-13
2.4.4 Onboard Devices Conguration ....................................................2-14
2.4.5 PCIPnP .........................................................................................2-14
2.4.6 USB Conguration ........................................................................ 2-15
2.5 Power menu ................................................................................................2-16
2.5.1 Suspend Mode [Auto] ...................................................................2-16
2.5.2 ACPI 2.0 Support [Enabled] .......................................................... 2-16
2.5.3 ACPI APIC Support [Enabled] .......................................................2-16
2.5.4 APM Conguration ........................................................................ 2-16
2.5.5 HW Monitor Conguration .............................................................2-17
2.5.6 Anti Surge Support [Enabled] .......................................................2-18
2.6 Boot menu ................................................................................................... 2-19
2.6.1 Boot Device Priority ......................................................................2-19
2.6.2 Boot Settings Conguration .......................................................... 2-19
2.6.3 Security .........................................................................................2-20
2.7 Tools menu .................................................................................................. 2-22
2.7.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2 .......................................................................... 2-22
2.7.2 ASUS O.C. Prole .........................................................................2-22
2.8 Exit menu ....................................................................................................2-23
iv
Appendices
Notices ..................................................................................................................... A-1
ASUS contact information ...................................................................................... A-3
v

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 qualied service
• technician or your retailer.
Operation safety
Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully read all the manuals
• that came with the package.
Before using the product, ensure all cables are correctly connected and the power
• cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage, contact your dealer immediately.
To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from connectors,
• slots, sockets and circuitry.
Avoid dust, humidity, and temperature extremes. Do not place the product in any area
• where it may become wet.
Place the product on a stable surface.
If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualied service
• technician or your retailer.

About this guide

This user guide contains the information you need when installing and conguring the
motherboard.
How this guide is organized
This guide contains the following parts:
Chapter 1: Product introduction
This chapter describes the features of the motherboard and the new technology it supports.
Chapter 2: BIOS information
This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS Setup menus. Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided.
vi
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.
DANGER/WARNING: Information to prevent injury to yourself when trying to complete a task.
CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components when trying to complete a task
IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task. .
NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a task.
Typography
Bold text Indicates a menu or an item to select.
Italics
<Key> Keys enclosed in the less-than and greater-than sign
<Key1> + <Key2> + <Key3> If you must press two or more keys simultaneously, the key
Used to emphasize a word or a phrase.
means that you must press the enclosed key.
Example: <Enter> means that you must press the Enter or Return key.
names are linked with a plus sign (+).
vii
M5A78L-M LX3 Series specications summary
CPU AMD
Chipset AMD® 760G(780L) / SB710
Front side bus Up to 5200 MT/s HyperTransport™ 3.0 interface
Memory Dual-channel memory architecture
Graphics Integrated ATI Radeon™ HD 3000 GPU
Expansion slots 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 slot
Storage / RAID 4 x Serial ATA 3Gb/s connectors support RAID 0, 1, 10 and JBOD
LAN Qualcomm Atheros Gb LAN
Audio Realtek® ALC887 8-channel* High Denition Audio CODEC
USB Supports up to 8 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (4 ports at mid-board, 4 ports at the
ASUS Unique Features
®
Socket AM3+ for AMD® FX™ / Phenom™ II / Athlon™ II /
Sempron™ 100 series processors
AMD® Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ Technology
Supports AMD® AM3/AM3+ CPU up to 95W
* Refer to www.asus.com for the AMD® CPU support list
2 x 240-pin DIMM slots support maximum 16GB unbuffered ECC and non-
ECC DDR3 1866 / 1600 / 1333 / 1066MHz memory modules
* AMD® FX™ Series CPU on this motherboard supports up to DDR3
1866MHz as its standard memory frequency.
** Due to CPU specication, AMD® AM3 CPUs on this motherboard support
up to DDR3 1333MHz.
*** Refer to www.asus.com for the latest Memory QVL (Qualied Vendors
List).
**** Use a 64-bit Windows® OS if you want to install 4GB or more memory
on the motherboard.
Supports max. shared memory of 1GB
Supports RGB with max. resolution of 2560 x 1440 (@75Hz)
Supports Microsoft® DirectX 10
Supports Hybrid CrossFireXTM (For Windows Vista or later versions)
* Refer to www.amd.com for the discrete GPUs that support Hybrid
CrossFireX™.
1 x PCIe 2.0 x1 slot
1 x PCI slot
* Use the chassis with HD audio module in the front panel to support 8-
channel audio output.
back panel)
ASUS MyLogo 2
ASUS EZ Flash 2
ASUS EPU
ASUS Anti-Surge
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
ASUS Fan Xpert
ASUS Core Unlocker
viii
(continued on the next page)
M5A78L-M LX3 Series specications summary
Special features 100% All high quality conductive polymer capacitors (M5A78L-M LX3
Back panel I/O ports 1 x PS/2 Keyboard port
Internal I/O connectors 2 x USB 2.0 connectors support additional 4 USB 2.0 ports
BIOS 16Mb Flash ROM, AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI v2.0, WfM2.0, ACPI v2.0a,
Support DVD Drivers
Form factor MicroATX form factor: 9.6 in x 7.4 in (24.4 cm x 18.8 cm)
PLUS R2.0 only)
1 x PS/2 Mouse port
1 x COM port
1 x D-Sub port
1 x LAN (RJ-45) port
4 x USB 2.0 ports
3 x Audio jacks
4 x SATA 3.0Gb/s connectors
1 x CPU fan connector
1 x Chassis fan connector
1 x Front panel audio connector
1 x Speaker connector
1 x System panel connector
1 x 24-pin EATX power connector
1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector
SM BIOS 2.7
ASUS Update
ASUS PC Probe II
Anti-Virus software (OEM version)
Specications are subject to change without notice.
ix

Package contents

M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS
PCIEX16
PCIEX1_1
PCI1
USB78 USB56
AAFP
ATX12V
EATXPWR
CPU_FAN
Lithium Cell
CMOS Power
Super
I/O
ALC
887-VD2
AR 8161
ICS
9LPRS483
KBMS
16Mb BIOS
SB_PWR
CLRTC
USBPW5-8
USBPW1-4
KBPWR
AMD
®
RS780L
AMD
®
SB710
DDR3 DIMM_A1 (64bit, 240-pin module)
SOCKET AM3+
DDR3 DIMM_B1 (64bit, 240-pin module)
SATA3G_2 SATA3G_4
SATA3G_1 SATA3G_3
AUDIO
LAN1_USB12
USB34
CHA_FAN
SPEAKER
EPU
F_PANEL
VGA COM1
User Manual
Check your motherboard package for the following items.
ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 Series motherboard 2 x Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s cables
1 x I/O Shield User Guide Support DVD
x
If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.
The illustrated items above are for reference only. Actual product specications may
vary with different models.
Product introduction
1

1.1 Special features

1.1.1 Product highlights

AMD® FX™ / Phenom™ II / Athlon™ II / Sempron™ 100 series CPU support
This motherboard supports AMD® Socket AM3+ multi-core processors with unique L3 cache and delivers better overclocking capabilities with less power consumption. It features dual-channel DDR3 memory support and accelerates data transfer rate up to 5200MT/s via HyperTransport™ 3.0-based system bus. This motherboard also supports AMD® CPUs in the new 32nm manufacturing process.
HyperTransport™ 3.0 support
HyperTransport™ 3.0 technology provides 2.6 times more bandwidth than HT1.0 that
radically improves system efciency for a smoother and faster computing environment.
AMD® Cool ‘n’ Quiet Technology
This 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.
Dual-Channel DDR3 1866 support
This motherboard supports DDR3 memory that features data transfer rates of 1866 /1600
/1333/1066 MHz to meet the higher bandwidth requirements of the latest operating system,
3D graphics, multimedia, and Internet applications.
Hybrid CrossFireX™ support
ATI Hybrid CrossFireX™ technology greatly boosts graphics performance with an onboard GPU and a discrete GPU.
* Hybrid CrossFireX™ is supported by Windows® Vista or later versions only.
** Refer to www.amd.com for the discrete GPUs that support Hybrid CrossFireX™.
Gigabit LAN solution
The onboard LAN controller is a highly integrated Gb LAN controller. It is enhanced with an
ACPI management function to provide efcient power management for advanced operating
systems.
Serial ATA 3Gb/s technology and RAID support
This motherboard supports hard drives based on the Serial ATA (SATA) 3Gb/s storage
specication, delivering enhanced scalability and doubling the bus bandwidth for high-speed data retrieval and save. It also supports RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 0+1 congurations for
Serial ATA hard drives.
ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 Series
1-1
100% All High-quality Conductive Polymer Capacitors (M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS only)
This motherboard uses all high-quality conductive polymer capacitors for durability, improved lifespan, and enhanced thermal capacity.

1.1.2 ASUS Exclusive Features

Core Unlocker
ASUS Core Unlocker simplies the activation of a latent AMD® CPU-with just pressing a key.
Enjoy an instant performance boost by simply unlocking the extra cores, without performing complicated BIOS changes.
ASUS Anti-Surge Protection
This special design protects expensive devices and the motherboard from damage caused by power surges from switching power supply unit (PSU).
ASUS EPU
ASUS EPU is a unique power saving technology that detects the current system loadings and adjusts the power consumption in real time.
ASUS EZ Flash 2
ASUS EZ Flash 2 is a user-friendly utility that allows you to update the BIOS without using a
bootable oppy disk or an OS-based utility.
ASUS MyLogo2™
This feature allows you to convert your favorite photo into a 256-color boot logo for a more colorful and vivid image on your screen.
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 a USB ash disk that contains the BIOS le.
ErP ready
The motherboard is European Union´s Energy-related Products (ErP) ready, and ErP
requires products to meet certain energy efciency requirements in regards to energy
consumptions. This is in line with ASUS vision of creating environment-friendly and energy-
efcient products through product design and innovation to reduce carbon footprint of the
product and thus mitigate environmental impacts.
1-2
Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.2 Before you proceed

M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS
M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS Onboard LED
SB_PWR
ON
Standby Power Powered Off
OFF
Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change any motherboard settings.
Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any component.
Before handling components, use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or a metal object, such as the power supply case, to avoid damaging them due to static electricity.
Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them.
Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded antistatic pad or in the bag that came with the component.
Before you install or remove any component, switch off the ATX power supply and detach its power cord. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to the motherboard, peripherals, or components.
Standby Power 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.
ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 Series
1-3

1.3 Motherboard overview

M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS

1.3.1 Placement direction

When installing the motherboard, ensure that you place it into the chassis in the correct orientation. The edge with external ports goes to the rear part of the chassis as indicated in the image below.

1.3.2 Screw holes

Place six screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the motherboard to the chassis.
DO NOT overtighten the screws! Doing so can damage the motherboard.
Place this side towards the rear of the chassis.
1-4
Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.3.3 Motherboard layout

M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS
PCIEX16
PCIEX1_1
PCI1
USB78 USB56
AAFP
ATX12V
EATXPWR
CPU_FAN
Lithium Cell
CMOS Power
Super
I/O
ALC
887-VD2
AR
8161
ICS
9LPRS483
KBMS
16Mb BIOS
SB_PWR
CLRTC
USBPW5-8
USBPW1-4
KBPWR
18.8cm(7.4in)
24.4cm(9.6in)
AMD
®
RS780L
AMD
®
SB710
DDR3 DIMM_A1 (64bit, 240-pin module)
SOCKET AM3+
DDR3 DIMM_B1 (64bit, 240-pin module)
SATA3G_2 SATA3G_4
SATA3G_1 SATA3G_3
AUDIO
LAN1_USB12
USB34
CHA_FAN
SPEAKER
EPU
F_PANE
L
VGA COM1
31 53 42 6
11 1 913 12
4
7
10
8
7
M5A78L-M LX3 Series motherboards include M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS and M5A78L-M LX3 models. The package contents vary from models. The layout illustrations in this user guide are for M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS only.
ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 Series
1-5

1.3.4 Layout contents

M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS
M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS CPU socket AM3+
Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED Page
1. USB device wake-up (3-pin USBPW 1-4, USBPW 5-8) 1-18
2. Keyboard power (3-pin KBPWR) 1-18
3. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V) 1-21
4. CPU and chassis fan connectors (4-pin CPU_FAN and 3-pin CHA_FAN) 1-24
5. AMD CPU socket 1-6
6. DDR3 DIMM slots 1-10
7. SATA 3.0Gb/s connectors (7-pin SATA3G_1~4) 1-22
8. Standby power LED (SB_PWR) 1-3
9. System panel connector (10-1 pin F_PANEL) 1-23
10. Speaker connector (4-pin SPEAKER) 1-23
11. USB 2.0 connectors (10-1 pin USB56, USB78) 1-24
12. Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC) 1-17
13. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP) 1-20

1.4 Central Processing Unit (CPU)

This motherboard comes with an AM3+ socket designed for FX™ / Phenom™ II / Athlon™ II / Sempron™ 100 series processors.
The AM3+ socket has a different pinout from the AM2+/AM2 socket. Ensure that you use a
CPU designed for the AM3+ socket. The CPU ts in only one correct orientation. DO NOT
force the CPU into the socket to prevent bending the pins and damaging the CPU!
1-6
Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.4.1 CPU installation

1
2
43
ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 Series
1-7

1.4.2 CPU heatsink and fan assembly installation

Apply the Thermal Interface Material to the CPU heatsink and CPU before you install the heatsink and fan if necessary.
To install the CPU heatsink and fan assembly
1
2
53 4
1-8
Chapter 1: Product introduction
To uninstall the CPU heatsink and fan assembly
1
3
2
4
5
ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 Series
1-9
M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS
M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS 240-pin DDR3 DIMM sockets
DIMM_A1
DIMM_B1

1.5 System memory

1.5.1 Overview

This motherboard comes with two Double Data Rate 3 (DDR3) Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMM) sockets.
A DDR3 module has the same physical dimensions as a DDR2 DIMM but is notched differently to prevent installation on a DDR2 DIMM socket. DDR3 modules are developed for better performance with less power consumption.
The gure illustrates the location of the DDR3 DIMM sockets:
Channel Sockets
Channel A DIMM_A1
Channel B DIMM_B1
1-10
Chapter 1: Product introduction
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