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.
Offer to Provide Source Code of Certain Software
This product may contain copyrighted software that is licensed under the General Public License (“GPL”)
and under the Lesser General Public License Version (“LGPL”). The GPL and LGPL licensed code in this
product is distributed without any warranty. Copies of these licenses are included in this product.
You may obtain the complete corresponding source code (as dened in the GPL) for the GPL Software,
and/or the complete corresponding source code of the LGPL Software (with the complete machinereadable “work that uses the Library”) for a period of three years after our last shipment of the product
including the GPL Software and/or LGPL Software, which will be no earlier than December 1, 2011, 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.
The source code will be distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY and licensed under the same license as
the corresponding binary/object code.
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 notication to the email address [email protected], stating the
product and describing the problem (please do NOT send large attachments such as source code archives
etc to this email address).
ii
Page 3
Contents
Notices .......................................................................................................... v
Safety information ...................................................................................... vi
About this guide ......................................................................................... vi
P7H55-M LE Series specications summary ......................................... viii
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.1 Before you proceed ..................................................................... 1-1
Congurations for the PCI Express x16 slots ............................... 2-21
iv
Page 5
Notices
Federal Communications Commission Statement
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
• This device may not cause harmful interference, and
• This device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This
equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions, may cause harmful interference
to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur
in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user
is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
•
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
•
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
•
Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is
connected.
•
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
The use of shielded cables for connection of the monitor to the graphics card is required
to assure compliance with FCC regulations. Changes or modications to this unit not
expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority
to operate this equipment.
Canadian Department of Communications Statement
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from
digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department
of Communications.
This class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
REACH
Complying with the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of
Chemicals) regulatory framework, we published the chemical substances in our products at
ASUS REACH website at http://csr.asus.com/english/REACH.htm.
DO NOT throw the motherboard in municipal waste. This product has been designed to
enable proper reuse of parts and recycling. This symbol of the crossed out wheeled bin
indicates that the product (electrical and electronic equipment) should not be placed in
municipal waste. Check local regulations for disposal of electronic products.
DO NOT throw the mercury-containing button cell battery in municipal waste. This symbol
of the crossed out wheeled bin indicates that the battery should not be placed in municipal
waste.
v
Page 6
Safety information
Electrical safety
• To prevent electric shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electric outlet
before relocating the system.
• When adding or removing devices to or from the system, ensure that the power cables
for the devices are unplugged before the signal cables are connected. If possible,
disconnect all power cables from the existing system before you add a device.
• Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard, ensure that all
power cables are unplugged.
• Seek professional assistance before using an adapter or extension cord. These devices
could interrupt the grounding circuit.
• Ensure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your area. If you are not
sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you are using, contact your local power
company.
• If the power supply is broken, do not try to x it by yourself. Contact a qualied service
technician or your retailer.
Operation safety
•
Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully read all the manuals
that came with the package.
•
Before using the product, ensure that all cables are correctly connected and the power
cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage, contact your dealer immediately.
•
To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from connectors,
slots, sockets and circuitry.
•
Avoid dust, humidity, and temperature extremes. Do not place the product in any area
where it may become wet.
•
Place the product on a stable surface.
•
If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualied service
technician or your retailer.
About this guide
This user guide contains the information you need when installing and conguring the
motherboard.
How this guide is organized
This guide contains the following parts:
• Chapter 1: Product introduction
This chapter describes the features of the motherboard and the new technology it
supports.
• Chapter 2: BIOS information
This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS Setup menus.
Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided.
vi
Page 7
Conventions used in this guide
To ensure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following symbols used
throughout this manual.
DANGER/WARNING: Information to prevent injury to yourself when trying to
complete a task.
CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components when trying to
complete a task.
IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task.
NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a task.
Where to nd more information
Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and software
updates.
1. ASUS websites
The ASUS website provides updated information on ASUS hardware and software
products. Refer to the ASUS contact information.
2. Optional documentation
Your product package may include optional documentation, such as warranty yers,
that may have been added by your dealer. These documents are not part of the
standard package.
Typography
Bold text Indicates a menu or an item to select.
Italics
Used to emphasize a word or a phrase.
<Key> Keys enclosed in the less-than and greater-than sign means
that you must press the enclosed key.
Example: <Enter> means that you must press the Enter or
Return key.
<Key1>+<Key2>+<Key3> If you must press two or more keys simultaneously, the key
names are linked with a plus sign (+).
Example: <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<D>
vii
Page 8
P7H55-M LE Series specications summary
CPULGA1156 socket for Intel® Core™ i7/ Core™ i5/ Core™ i3/
AudioVIA® VT1708S 8-channel High Denition Audio CODEC
USB12 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports (6 ports at the mid-board, 6 ports at the
ASUS unique
features
Pentium® processors
Supports Intel® next generation 32nm multi-core CPU
* Refer to www.asus.com for Intel® CPU support list.
2 x DIMM, max. 8GB, DDR3 1333/1066 MHz, non-ECC,
un-buffered memory
* When you install a total memory of 4GB capacity or more,
Windows® 32-bit operating system may only recognize less
than 3GB. We recommend a maximum of 3GB system
memory if you are using a Windows® 32-bit operating system.
1 x PCIe 2.0 x4 slot
2 x PCI slots
Multi-VGA output support: HDMI, DVI-D, and RGB ports
- HDMI with Max. resolution: 1920 x 1200 @60Hz
- DVI-D with Max. resolution: 1920 x 1200 @60Hz
- D-Sub with Max. resolution: 2048 x 1536 @75Hz
P7H55-M LX:
Multi-VGA output support: DVI-D, and RGB ports
- DVI-D with Max. resolution: 1920 x 1200 @60Hz
- D-Sub with Max. resolution: 2048 x 1536 @75Hz
P7H55-M LX2:
Multi-VGA output support: RGB port
- D-Sub with Max. resolution: 2048 x 1536 @75Hz
Supports Microsoft® DirectX 10
- 6 x Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s connectors
- 1 x Ultra DMA 100/66 connector (for P7H55-M LE only)
- 1 x Floppy connector (for P7H55-M LE only)
Realtek® 8112L PCIe Gigabit LAN controller
- Supports Multi-streaming
back panel)
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
Anti-Surge protection
ASUS EZ Flash 2
ASUS Q-Fan 2
ASUS AI NET 2
ASUS MyLogo 2
viii
(continued on the next page)
Page 9
P7H55-M LE Series specications summary
Rear panel ports1 x PS/2 Mouse port
Internal connectors 3 x USB 2.0/1.1 connectors support additional 6 USB 2.0/1.1 ports
1 x PS/2 Keyboard port
1 x COM port (for P7H55-M LE only)
1 x D-Sub port
1 x DVI-D port (for P7H55-M LE and P7H55-M LX only)
1 x HDMI port (for P7H55-M LE only)
1 x LAN (RJ-45) port
6 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
3 x audio jacks
6 x SATA connectors
1 x 24-pin EATX power connector
1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector
1 x CPU fan connector
1 x Chassis fan connector
1 x Front panel audio connector
1 x System panel connector
1 x S/PDIF Out connector (for P7H55-M LE and P7H55-M LX only)
1 x COM connector (for P7H55-M LE and P7H55-M LX only)
1 x IDE connector (for P7H55-M LE only)
1 x Floppy disk drive connector (for P7H55-M LE only)
1 x LPT connector (for P7H55-M LE only)
SM BIOS v2.5
WOL, PXE, PME Wake up, WOR by Ring
1 x I/O shield
1 x IDE cable (for P7H55-M LE only)
1 x User Manual
1 x Support DVD
ASUS PC Probe II
ASUS Update
Anti-virus software (OEM version)
uATX form factor: 9.6 in x 8.6 in (24.4 cm x 22.9 cm)
* Specications are subject to change without notice.
ix
Page 10
Chapter 1
SB_PWR
ON
Standby Power Powered Off
OFF
P
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H
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M
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P7H55-M LE Onboard LED
Product introduction
Thank you for buying an ASUS® P7H55-M LE Series motherboard!
Before you start installing the motherboard, and hardware devices on it, check the items in
your motherboard package. Refer to page ix for the list of accessories.
If any of the items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.
1.1 Before you proceed
Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change
any motherboard settings.
• Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any component.
• Before handling components, use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded
object or a metal object, such as the power supply case, to avoid damaging them due to
static electricity
• Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them.
• Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded antistatic pad or in the
bag that came with the component.
• Before you install or remove any component, switch off the ATX power supply and
detach its power cord. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to the motherboard,
peripherals, or components.
Onboard LED
This motherboard comes with a standby power LED that lights up to indicate that the system
is ON, in sleep mode, or in soft-off mode. This is a reminder that you must shut down
the system and unplug the power cable before removing or plugging in any motherboard
component. The illustration below shows the location of the onboard LED.
Chapter 1: Product introduction1-1
Page 11
1.2 Motherboard overview
P7H55-
M
LE
PCIEX16
PCI1
PCIEX4_1
LPT
USB1112USB910 USB78
AAFP
ATX12V
EATXPWR
CPU_FAN
CHA_FAN
Lithium Cell
CMOS Power
Super
I/O
ICS
954 A4
VIA
VT1708S
RTL
8112L
64Mb
BIOS
SB_PWR
PCI2
SPDIF_OUT
24.4cm(9.6in)
21.8cm(8.6in)
LGA1156
Intel
®
H55
DDR3 DIMM_A1 (64bit, 240-pin module)
DDR3 DIMM_B1 (64bit, 240-pin module)
SATA1
SATA2
SATA3
SATA4
SATA5
SATA6
PRI_EIDE
COM2
KBMS
HDMI
COM1
DVI
AUDIO
VGA
LAN1_USB12
USB3_6
FLOPPY
F_PANEL
CLRTC
21435 6
2
8
7
9
10
1113121415
1.2.1 Motherboard layout
The layout varies with models. The layout illustrations in this user guide are for
P7H55-M LE only.
Ensure that you install the motherboard into the chassis in the correct orientation. The edge
with external ports goes to the rear part of the chassis.
Place this side towards
the rear of the chassis.
1.2.2 Layout contents
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.
7. Floppy disk drive connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY)1-14 15. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP) 1-14
8. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_EIDE) 1-16
CPU and Chassis fan connectors (4-pin CPU_FAN,
3-pin CHA_FAN)
ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin
ATX12V)
1-12 9. Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1-6)1-11
1-13 10. Onboard LED (SB_PWR)1-1
USB connectors (10-1 pin USB78, USB910,
USB1112)
1-10
1-2ASUS P7H55-M LE Series
Page 12
1.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
P
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P7H55-M LE 240-pin DDR3 DIMM sockets
DIMM_A1
DIMM_B1
This motherboard comes with a surface mount LGA1156 socket designed for the
Intel® Core™ i7 / Core™ i5 / Core™ i3 / Pentium® processors.
Ensure that all power cables are unplugged before installing the CPU.
• Upon purchase of the motherboard, ensure that the PnP cap is on the socket and the
socket contacts are not bent. Contact your retailer immediately if the PnP cap is missing,
or if you see any damage to the PnP cap/socket contacts/motherboard components.
ASUS will shoulder the cost of repair only if the damage is shipment/transit-related.
• Keep the cap after installing the motherboard. ASUS will process Return Merchandise
Authorization (RMA) requests only if the motherboard comes with the cap on the
LGA1156 socket.
• The product warranty does not cover damage to the socket contacts resulting from
incorrect CPU installation/removal, or misplacement/loss/incorrect removal of the PnP
cap.
1.4 System memory
1.4.1 Overview
This motherboard comes with two Double Data Rate 3 (DDR3) Dual Inline Memory Module
(DIMM) sockets.
A DDR3 module has the same physical dimensions as a DDR3 DIMM but is notched
differently to prevent installation on a DDR3 DIMM socket. DDR3 modules are developed
for better performance with less power consumption. The gure illustrates the location of the
DDR3 DIMM sockets:
Chapter 1: Product introduction1-3
Page 13
1.4.2 Memory congurations
You may install 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB unbuffered non-ECC DDR3 DIMMs into the
DIMM sockets.
• You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B. The system maps
the total size of the lower-sized channel for the dual-channel conguration. Any excess
memory from the higher-sized channel is then mapped for single-channel operation.
• Always install DIMMs with the same CAS latency. For optimum compatibility, it is
recommended that you obtain memory modules from the same vendor.
• Due to the memory address limitation on the 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 either of the
following:
Voltage
voltage)
voltage)
®
OS.
- Use a maximum of 3GB system memory if you are using a 32-bit Windows
- Use a 64-bit Windows® OS if you want to install 4GB or more memory on the
motherboard.
• This motherboard does not support DIMMs made up of 256 megabits (Mb) chips or less.
P7H55-M LE Series Motherboard Qualied Vendors List (QVL)
• A*: Supports one module inserted into any slot as Single-channel memory conguration.
• B*: Supports one pair of modules inserted into both the slots as one pair of Dual-channel
memory conguration.
Visit the ASUS website at www.asus.com for the latest QVL.
1-6ASUS P7H55-M LE Series
Page 16
1.5 Expansion slots
In the future, you may need to install expansion cards. The following sub-sections describe
the slots and the expansion cards that they support.
Unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. Failure to do so may
cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components.
1.5.1 Installing an expansion card
To install an expansion card:
1. Before installing the expansion card, read the documentation that comes with it and
make the necessary hardware settings for the card.
2. Remove the chassis cover (if your motherboard is already installed in a chassis).
3. Remove the bracket opposite the slot that you intend to use.
4. Align the card connector with the slot and press rmly until the card is completely
seated on the slot.
5. Secure the card to the chassis with the screw.
6. Replace the chassis cover.
1.5.2 Conguring an expansion card
After installing the expansion card, congure it by adjusting the software settings.
1. Turn on the system and change the necessary BIOS settings, if any. See Chapter 2 for
information on BIOS setup.
2. Assign an IRQ to the card.
3. Install the software drivers for the expansion card.
When using PCI cards on shared slots, ensure that the drivers support “Share IRQ” or that
the cards do not need IRQ assignments; otherwise, conicts will arise between the two PCI
groups, making the system unstable and the card inoperable.
1.5.3 PCI slots
The PCI slots support cards such as LAN cards, SCSI cards, USB cards, and other cards
that comply with the PCI specications.
1.5.4 PCI Express x4 slot
This motherboard supports PCI Express x4 network cards, SCSI cards and other cards that
comply with the PCI Express specications.
1.5.5 PCI Express x16 slot
This motherboard supports PCI Express x16 graphics cards that comply with the PCI
Express specications.
Chapter 1: Product introduction1-7
Page 17
1.6 Jumpers
P
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P7H55-M LE Clear RTC RAM
1
22 3
Normal
(Default)
Clear RTC
CLRTC
Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC)
This jumper allows you to clear the Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM in CMOS. You can clear the
CMOS memory of date, time, and system setup parameters by erasing the CMOS RTC RAM
data. The onboard button cell battery powers the RAM data in CMOS, which include system
setup information such as system passwords.
To erase the RTC RAM:
1. Turn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord.
2. Move the jumper cap from pins 1-2 (default) to pins 2-3. Keep the cap on pins 2-3 for
about 5-10 seconds, then move the cap back to pins 1-2.
3. Plug the power cord and turn ON the computer.
4. Hold down the <Del> key during the boot process and enter BIOS setup to reenter
data.
Except when clearing the RTC RAM, never remove the cap on CLRTC jumper default
position. Removing the cap will cause system boot failure!
• 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 cut off the AC power, then reboot the system, the BIOS automatically resets
parameter settings to default values.
1-8ASUS P7H55-M LE Series
Page 18
1.7 Connectors
5 6
7
2
3
11
4
8
10
9
1
12
1.7.1 Rear panel ports
1. PS/2 Mouse port. This port is for a PS/2 mouse.
2. COM port (for P7H55-M LE only). This 9-pin COM1 port is for serial devices.
3. Video Graphics Adapter (VGA) port. This 15-pin port is for a VGA monitor or other
VGA-compatible devices.
4. LAN (RJ-45) port. This port allows Gigabit connection to a Local Area Network (LAN)
through a network hub. Refer to the table on the next page for the LAN port LED
indicators.
LAN port LED indications
ACT/LINK LEDSPEED LED
StatusDescriptionStatusDescription
OFFNo linkOFF10 Mbps connection
ORANGELinkedORANGE 100 Mbps connection
BLINKING Data activityGREEN1 Gbps connection
ACT/LINK
LED
LAN port
SPEED
LED
5. Line In port (light blue). This port connects the tape, CD, DVD player, or other audio
sources.
6. Line Out port (lime). This port connects to a headphone or a speaker. In 4-channel,
6-channel, and 8-channel congurations, the function of this port becomes Front
Speaker Out.
7. Microphone port (pink). This port connects a microphone.
Refer to the audio conguration table below for the function of the audio ports in the 2, 4, 6,
or 8-channel conguration.
Audio 2, 4, 6, 8-channel conguration
PortHeadset 2-channel4-channel6-channel8-channel
Light Blue (Rear panel)Line InRear Speaker OutRear Speaker OutRear Speaker Out
Lime (Rear panel)Line OutFront Speaker Out Front Speaker Out Front Speaker Out
Use a chassis with HD audio module in the front panel to support an 8-channel audio
output.
8. USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports connect to
USB 2.0/1.1 devices.
9. USB 2.0 ports 3, 4, 5, and 6. These four 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports
connect to USB 2.0/1.1 devices.
10. DVI-D port (for P7H55-M LE and P7H55-M LX only). This port is for any DVI-D
compatible device. DVI-D can’t be converted to output RGB Signal to CRT and isn’t
compatible with DVI-I.
11. HDMI port (for P7H55-M LE only). This is a High-Denition Mulltimedia Interface
(HDMI) connector, and is HDCP compliant allowing playback of HD DVD, Blu-Ray, and
other protected content.
12. PS/2 Keyboard port. This port is for a PS/2 keyboard.
1.7.2 Internal connectors
1. 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 the USB 2.0 specication that supports up
to 480Mbps connection speed.
Never connect a 1394 cable to the USB connectors. Doing so will damage the
motherboard!
The USB 2.0 module is purchased separately.
1-10ASUS P7H55-M LE Series
Page 20
2. Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1-6)
SATA3
GND
RSATA_RXN3
RSATA_RXP3
GND
RSATA_TXN3
RSATA_TXP3
GND
SATA4
GND
RSATA_RXN4
RSATA_RXP4
GND
RSATA_TXN4
RSATA_TXP4
GND
SATA1
GND
RSATA_RXN1
RSATA_RXP1
GND
RSATA_TXN1
RSATA_TXP1
GND
SATA2
GND
RSATA_RXN2
RSATA_RXP2
GND
RSATA_TXN2
RSATA_TXP2
GND
SATA5
GND
RSATA_RXN5
RSATA_RXP5
GND
RSATA_TXN5
RSATA_TXP5
GND
SATA6
GND
RSATA_RXN6
RSATA_RXP6
GND
RSATA_TXN6
RSATA_TXP6
GND
P
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P7H55-M LE SATA connectors
P
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SPDIF_OUT
+5V
SPDIFOUT
GND
P7H55-M LE Digital audio connector
These connectors are for the Serial ATA signal cables for Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard disk
and optical disk drives. The Serial ATA 3Gb/s is backward compatible with Serial ATA
1.5Gb/s specication. The data transfer rate of the Serial ATA 3Gb/s is faster than the
standard parallel ATA with 133MB/s (Ultra DMA133).
Install the Windows® XP Service Pack 2 or later version before using Serial ATA.
3. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT)
(for P7H55-M LE and P7H55-M LX only)
This connector is for an additional Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) port.
The S/PDIF module is purchased separately.
Chapter 1: Product introduction1-11
Page 21
4. CPU and Chassis fan connectors (4-pin CPU_FAN, 3-pin CHA_FAN)
P
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P7H55-M LE fan connectors
Rotation
+12V
GND
CHA_FAN
CPU_FAN
CPU FAN PWM
CPU FAN IN
CPU FAN PWR
GND
P
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M
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P7H55-M LE System panel connector
PIN 1
PWR BTN
PLED+
PLED-
PWR
GND
IDE_LED+
IDE_LED-
Ground
Reset
F_PANEL
PWR LED
HD_LED RESET
Connect the fan cables to the fan connectors on the motherboard, making sure that the
black wire of each cable matches the ground pin of the connector.
DO NOT forget to connect the fan cables to the fan connectors. Insufcient air ow inside
the system may damage the motherboard components. They are not jumpers! DO NOT
place jumper caps on the fan connectors.
5. System panel connector (10-1 pin F_PANEL)
This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions.
• System power LED (2-pin PLED)
This 2-pin connector is for the system power LED. Connect the chassis power LED
cable to this connector. The system power LED lights up when you turn on the system
power, and blinks when the system is in sleep mode.
• Hard disk drive activity LED (2-pin +HDLED)
This 2-pin connector is for the HDD Activity LED. Connect the HDD Activity LED cable
to this connector. The 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.
• 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.
1-12ASUS P7H55-M LE Series
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6. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V)
P
7
H
5
5
-
M
L
E
P7H55-M LE ATX power connectors
EATXPWR
PIN 1
GND
+5 Volts
+5 Volts
+5 Volts
-5 Volts
GND
GND
GND
PSON#
GND
-12 Volts
+3 Volts
+3 Volts
+12 Volts
+12 Volts
+5V Standby
Power OK
GND
+5 Volts
GND
+5 Volts
GND
+3 Volts
+3 Volts
ATX12V
PIN 1
+12V DC
+12V DC
GND
GND
These connectors are for an ATX power supply. The plugs from the power supply are
designed to t these connectors in only one orientation. Find the proper orientation and
push down rmly until the connectors completely t.
•
We recommend that you use an ATX 12V Specication 2.0-compliant power supply unit
(PSU) with a minimum of 300W power rating. This PSU type has 24-pin and 4-pin power
plugs.
•
If you intend to use a PSU with 20-pin and 4-pin power plugs, make sure that the 20-pin
power plug can provide at least 15 A on +12 V and that the PSU has a minimum power
rating of 300 W. The system may become unstable or may not boot up if the power is
inadequate.
• DO NOT forget to connect the 4-pin ATX +12 V power plug; otherwise, the system will
not boot up.
• We recommend that you use a PSU with higher power output when conguring a
system with more power-consuming devices 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.
Chapter 1: Product introduction1-13
Page 23
7. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP)
P
7
H
5
5
-
M
L
E
P7H55-M LE Front panel audio connector
AAFP
PIN 1
GND
PRESENCE#
SENSE1_RETUR
SENSE2_RETUR
PORT1 L
PORT1 R
PORT2 R
SENSE_SEND
PORT2 L
HD-audio-compliant
pin definition
PIN 1
AGNDNCNC
NC
MIC2
MICPWR
Line out_R
NC
Line out_L
Legacy AC’97
compliant definition
P
7
H
5
5
-
M
L
E
P7H55-M LE Floppy disk drive connector
FLOPPY
NOTE:Orient the red markings
on the floppy ribbon cable to PIN 1.
PIN1
This connector is for a chassis-mounted front panel audio I/O module that supports
either High Denition Audio or AC`97 audio standard. Connect one end of the front
panel audio I/O module cable to this connector.
If you want to connect a high-denition front panel audio module to this connector, ensure
that the Front Panel Type item in the BIOS is set to [HD Audio]. If you want to connect an
AC97 front panel audio module to this connector, set the item to [AC97]. See section 2.4.3 Onboard Devices Conguration for details.
8. Floppy disk drive connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY) (for P7H55-M LE only)
This connector is for the oppy disk drive (FDD) signal cable. Insert one end of the
cable to this connector, then connect the other end to the signal connector at the back
of the oppy disk drive.
• Pin 5 on the connector is removed to prevent incorrect cable connection when using a
FDD cable with a covered Pin 5.
• The FDD cable is purchased separately.
1-14ASUS P7H55-M LE Series
Page 24
9. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_EIDE) (for P7H55-M LE only)
P
7
H
5
5
-
M
L
E
P7H55-M LE IDE connector
PRI_EIDE
NOTE:Orient the red markings
on the IDE ribbon cable to PIN 1.
PIN1
The onboard IDE connector is for Ultra DMA 100/66 signal cable. There are three
connectors on each Ultra DMA 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 settingMode of device(s)Cable connector
Single deviceCable-Select or Master-Black
Cable-Select
Two devices
MasterMaster
SlaveSlave
• 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 100/66 IDE devices.
If any device jumper is set as “Cable-Select”, ensure that all other device jumpers have the
same setting.
MasterBlack
SlaveGray
Black or gray
Chapter 1: Product introduction1-15
Page 25
10. Serial port connectors (10-1 pin COM2) (for P7H55-M LE and P7H55-M LX only)
P
7
H
5
5
-
M
L
E
P7H55-M LE Serial port (COM2) connector
PIN 1
COM2
The connector is for a serial (COM) port. Connect the serial port module cable to the
connector, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis.
The serial port bracket (COM2) is purchased separately.
1-16ASUS P7H55-M LE Series
Page 26
1.8 Software support
1.8.1 Installing an operating system
This motherboard supports Windows® XP/Vista/7 Operating Systems (OS). Always install the
latest OS version and corresponding updates to maximize the features of your hardware.
• Motherboard settings and hardware options vary. Refer to your OS documentation for
detailed information.
• Ensure that you install Windows® 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.
1.8.2 Support DVD information
The Support DVD that comes with the motherboard package contains drivers, software
applications, and utilities that you can install to get all motherboard features.
To run the Support DVD
Place the Support DVD into the optical drive. The DVD automatically displays the Drivers
menu if the Autorun function is enabled on your computer.
The contents of the Support DVD are subject to change at any time without notice. Visit the
ASUS website at www.asus.com for updates.
Click an icon to
display Support
DVD/motherboard
information
Click an item to install
If the Autorun function is NOT enabled on your computer, browse the contents of the
Support DVD to locate the le ASSETUP.EXE from the BIN folder. Double-click
ASSETUP.EXE to run the DVD.
Chapter 1: Product introduction1-17
Page 27
Chapter 2
BIOS information
2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS
Save a copy of the original motherboard BIOS le to a USB ash disk in case you need to
restore the BIOS in the future. Copy the original motherboard BIOS using the ASUS Update
utility.
2.1.1 ASUS Update
The ASUS Update is a utility that allows you to manage, save, and update the motherboard
BIOS in Windows® environment.
• ASUS Update requires an Internet connection either through a network or an Internet
Service Provider (ISP).
• This utility is available in the support DVD that comes with the motherboard package.
Installing ASUS Update
To install ASUS Update:
1. Place the support DVD into the optical drive. The Drivers menu appears.
2. Click the Utilities tab, then click ASUS Update.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.
Quit all Windows® applications before you update the BIOS using this utility.
Updating the BIOS
To update the BIOS:
1. From the Windows® desktop, click Start > Programs > ASUS > ASUS Update >
ASUS Update to launch the ASUS Update utility.
2. From the dropdown list, select either of the following methods:
Updating from the Internet
a. Select Update BIOSfrom 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 want to download then click
Next.
ASUS P7H55-M LE Series2-1
Page 28
The ASUS Update utility is capable of updating itself through the Internet. Always update
the utility to avail all its features.
Updating from a BIOS file
a. Select Update BIOS from a le, then click Next.
b. Locate the BIOS le from the Open window, then click Open.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the updating process.
2.1.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2
The ASUS EZ Flash 2 feature allows you to update the BIOS without using an OS-based
utility.
Before you start 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 in either of these two ways:
• Press <Alt> + <F2> during POST.
• 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.
[Enter] Select or Load [Tab] Switch [V] Drive Info
[Up/Down/Home/End] Move [B] Backup [ESC] Exit
Update ROM
BOARD: Unknown
VER: Unknown
DATE: Unknown
2. When the correct BIOS le is found, EZ Flash 2 performs the BIOS update process
and automatically reboots the system when done.
2-2Chapter 2: BIOS information
Page 29
• This function supports USB ash disks 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!
2.1.3 ASUS BIOS Updater
The ASUS BIOS Updater allows you to update BIOS in DOS environment. This utility also
allows you to copy the current BIOS le that you can use as a backup when the BIOS fails or
gets corrupted during the updating process.
The succeeding utility screens are for reference only. The actual utility screen displays may
not be same as shown.
Before updating BIOS
1. Prepare the motherboard support DVD and a USB ash drive in FAT32/16 format and
single partition.
2. Download the latest BIOS le and BIOS Updater from the ASUS website at http://
support.asus.com and save them on the USB ash drive.
• NTFS is not supported under DOS environment. Do not save the BIOS le and BIOS
Updater to a hard disk drive or USB ash drive in NTFS format.
• Do not save the BIOS le to a oppy disk due to low disk capacity.
3. Turn off the computer and disconnect all SATA hard disk drives (optional).
Booting the system in DOS environment
1. Insert the USB ash drive with the latest BIOS le and BIOS Updater to the USB port.
2. Boot your computer. When the ASUS Logo appears, press <F8> to show the BIOS
Boot Device Select Menu. Insert the support DVD into the optical drive and select the
optical drive as the boot device.
Please select boot device:
SATA:XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
CDROM:XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
USB:XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Network:XXXXXXXXXXXXX
↑ and ↓ to move selection
ENTER to select boot device
ESC to boot using defaults
ASUS P7H55-M LE Series2-3
Page 30
3. When the Make Disk menu appears, select the FreeDOS command prompt item by
pressing the item number.
4. At the FreeDOS prompt, type d: and press <Enter> to switch the disk from
Drive C (optical drive) to Drive D (USB ash drive).
Welcome to FreeDOS (http://www.freedos.org)!
C:\>d:
D:\>
Backing up the current BIOS
To backup the current BIOS le using the BIOS Updater
Ensure that the USB ash drive is not write-protected and has at least 1024KB free space
to save the le.
1. At the FreeDOS prompt, type bupdater /o[lename] and press <Enter>.
D:\>bupdater /oOLDBIOS1.rom
Filename Extension
The [lename] is any user-assigned lename with no more than eight alphanumeric
characters for the lename and three alphanumeric characters for the extension.
2. The BIOS Updater backup screen appears indicating the BIOS backup process. When
BIOS backup is done, press any key to return to the DOS prompt.
ASUSTek BIOS Updater for DOS V1.00b [09/06/22]
Current ROM
BOARD: P7H55-M LX
VER: 0301
DATE: 07/12/2010
PATH: A:\
Update ROM
BOARD: Unknown
VER: Unknown
DATE: Unknown
BIOS backup is done! Press any key to continue.
Note
Saving BIOS:
2-4Chapter 2: BIOS information
Page 31
Updating the BIOS le
To update the BIOS le using BIOS Updater
1. At the FreeDOS prompt, type bupdater /pc /g and press <Enter>.
D:\>bupdater /pc /g
2. The BIOS Updater screen appears as below.
ASUSTek BIOS Updater for DOS V1.00b [09/06/22]
Current ROM
BOARD: P7H55-M LX
VER: 0301
DATE: 07/12/2010
PATH: A:\
A:
Note
[Enter] Select or Load [Tab] Switch [V] Drive Info
[Up/Down/Home/End] Move [B] Backup [Esc] Exit
P7H55MLX.ROM 2097152 2010-07-12 17:30:48
Update ROM
BOARD: Unknown
VER: Unknown
DATE: Unknown
3. Press <Tab> to switch between screen elds and use the <Up/Down/Home/End> keys
to select the BIOS le and press <Enter>. BIOS Updater checks the selected BIOS le
and prompts you to conrm BIOS update.
Are you sure to update BIOS?
YesNo
4. Select Yes and press <Enter>. When BIOS update is done, press <ESC> to exit BIOS
Updater. Restart your computer.
DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS to prevent system boot
failure!
• For BIOS Updater version 1.04 or later, the utility automatically exits to the DOS prompt
after updating BIOS.
• Ensure to load the BIOS default settings to ensure system compatibility and stability.
Select the Load Setup Defaults item under the Exit BIOS menu. See section 2.8 Exit menu for details.
• Ensure to connect all SATA hard disk drives after updating the BIOS le if you have
disconnected them.
ASUS P7H55-M LE Series2-5
Page 32
2.1.4 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
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 restore a corrupted BIOS
le using the motherboard support DVD or a USB ash drive that contains the BIOS le.
• Before using this utility, rename the BIOS le in the USB ash drive into
• Download the latest BIOS le from the ASUS website at www.asus.com.
Recovering the BIOS
To recover the BIOS:
1. Turn on the system.
2. Insert the support DVD to the optical drive or the removable device that contains the
BIOS le to the USB port or to the oppy disk drive, if supported.
3. The utility automatically checks the devices for the BIOS le. When found, the utility
reads the BIOS le and starts ashing the corrupted BIOS le.
4. Turn off the system after the utility completes the updating process and turn on again.
DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS! Doing so can cause
system boot failure!
Ensure to load the BIOS default settings to ensure system compatibility and stability. Select
the Load Setup Defaults item under the Exit menu. Refer to section 2.8 Exit menu for
details.
2-6Chapter 2: BIOS information
Page 33
2.2 BIOS setup program
Use the BIOS Setup program to update the BIOS or congure its parameters. The BIOS
screens include navigation keys and brief online help to guide you in using the BIOS Setup
program.
Entering BIOS Setup at startup
To enter BIOS Setup at startup:
• Press <Delete> during the Power-On Self Test (POST). If you do not press <Delete>,
POST continues with its routines.
Entering BIOS Setup after POST
To enter BIOS Setup after POST:
• Press <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Delete> simultaneously.
• Press the reset button on the system chassis.
• Press the power button to turn the system off then back on. Do this option only if you
failed to enter BIOS Setup using the rst two options.
Using the power button, reset button, or the <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Delete> 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 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 Setups Default 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.
ASUS P7H55-M LE Series2-7
Page 34
2.3 Main menu
When you enter the BIOS Setup program, the Main menu screen appears, giving you an
overview of the basic system information.
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
System Time [00:31:48]
System Date [Fri 04/10/2009]
Legacy Diskette A [1.44M, 3.5 in.]
Language [English]
SATA 1 :[Not Detected]
SATA 2 :[Not Detected]
SATA 3 :[Not Detected]
SATA 4 :[Not Detected]
SATA 5 :[Not Detected]
SATA 6 :[Not Detected]
Storage Conguration
System Information
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2010, American Megatrends, Inc.
2.3.1 System Time [xx:xx:xx]
Allows you to set the system time.
2.3.2 System Date [Day xx/xx/xxxx]
Allows you to set the system date.
2.3.3 Legacy Diskette A [1.44M, 3.5 in.]
Sets the type of oppy drive installed. Conguration options: [Disabled] [360K, 5.25 in.]
[1.2M , 5.25 in.] [720K , 3.5 in.] [1.44M, 3.5 in.] [2.88M, 3.5 in.]
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Use [ENTER], [TAB] or
[SHIFT-TAB] to select
a eld.
Use [+] or [-] to
congure system time.
Select Screen
Select Item
+- Change Field
Tab Select Field
F1 General Help
F10 Save and Exit
ESC Exit
This item appears only on P7H55-M LE.
2.3.4 Language [English]
Allows you to choose the display language in BIOS.
Conguration options: [繁體中文] [简体中文] [日本語] [Français] [Deutsch] [English]
2.3.5 SATA 1-6
While entering Setup, the BIOS automatically detects the presence of SATA devices. There
is a separate sub-menu for each SATA device. Select a device item then press <Enter> to
display the SATA device information.
The BIOS automatically detects the values opposite the dimmed items (Device, Vendor, Size,
LBA Mode, Block Mode, PIO Mode, Async DMA, Ultra DMA, and SMART Monitoring). These
values are not user-congurable. These items show N/A if no Serial ATA device is installed in
the system.
2-8Chapter 2: BIOS information
Page 35
Type [Auto]
Selects the type of SATA drive. Setting to [Auto] allows automatic selection of the appropriate
SATA 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.
This item does not appear if you select SATA 5/6 devices.
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]
2.3.6 Storage Conguration
The items in this menu allow you to set or change the congurations for the SATA devices
installed in the system. Select an item then press <Enter> if you want to congure the item.
SATA Conguration [Enhanced]
Allows you to set the SATA conguration. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Compatible]
[Enhanced]
Configure SATA as [IDE]
Sets the conguration for the Serial ATA connectors supported by the Southbridge chip.
Conguration options: [IDE] [AHCI]
Due to Intel chipset driver support regulation, the AHCI mode is not supported in Windows
XP environment. The AHCI mode is only supported by Windows Vista/7 with OS built-in
driver.
ASUS P7H55-M LE Series2-9
Page 36
Hard Disk Write Protect [Disabled]
Disables or enables device write protection. This will be effective only if device is accessed
through BIOS. Conguration option: [Disabled] [Enabled]
IDE Detect Time Out (Sec) [35]
Selects the time out value for detecting ATA/ATAPI devices.
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.
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
CPU Conguration
Chipset
Onboard Devices Conguration
USB Conguration
PCIPnP
Intel VT-d Conguration
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Congure CPU.
2.4.1 CPU Conguration
The items in this menu show the CPU-related information that the BIOS automatically
detects.
Ratio CMOS Setting [Auto]
Sets the ration between CPU core clock and the FSB frequency. Key in ratio numbers
directly.
If an invalid ratio is set in CMOS, then the actual and set values may differ.
2-10Chapter 2: BIOS information
Page 37
C1E Support [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable C1E Support. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Hardware Prefetcher [Enabled]
Setting this item to [Enabled] allows the processor to fetch data and instructions from the
memory into the cache that are likely to be required in the near future. This reduces the
latency associated with memory reads. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Adjacent Cache Line Prefetch [Enabled]
When this item is set to [Enabled], the processor fetches the currently requested cache line,
as well as the subsequent cache line. This reduces the cache latency by making the next
cache line immediately available if the processor requires it as well. When set to [Disabled],
the processor fetches only the currently requested cache line. Conguration options:
[Disabled] [Enabled]
Max CPUID Value Limit [Disabled]
Setting this item to [Enabled] allows legacy operating systems to boot even without support
for CPUs with extended CPUID functions. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Intel® Virtualization Tech [Enabled]
Enables or disables Intel® Virtualization Technology. Virtualization enhanced by Intel®
Virtualization Technology allows a platform to run multiple operating systems and applications
in independent partitions. With virtualization, one computer system can function as multiple
virtual systems. Conguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
CPU TM function [Enabled]
Enables or disables Intel® CPU Thermal Monitor (TM) function, a CPU overheating protection
function. When enabled, the CPU core frequency and voltage are reduced when the CPU
Allows you to enable or disable the No-Execution Page Protection Technology. Setting this
item to [Disabled] forces the XD feature ag to always return to zero (0). Conguration
options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Active Processor Cores [All]
Allows you to choose the number of CPU cores to activate in each processor package.
Conguration options: [All] [1] [2]
A20M [Disabled]
Setting this item to [Enabled] allows Legacy OSes to be compatible with APs. Conguration
options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
The following item appears only when you installed an Intel® CPU that supports the
Enhanced Intel® SpeedStep® Technology (EIST).
ASUS P7H55-M LE Series2-11
Page 38
Intel(R) SpeedStep(TM) Tech [Enabled]
When this item is set to [Enabled], the CPU speed is controlled by the operating system.
When this item is set to [Disabled], the CPU runs at its default speed.
Conguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
Intel(R) TurboMode Tech [Enabled]
This item appears only if you set the CPU Ratio Setting item to [Auto]. Turbo mode allows
processor cores to run faster than marked frequency in specic condition. Conguration
options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Intel(R) C-STATE Tech [Enabled]
Allows you enable or disable the Intel® C-STATE Technology. When enabled, the CPU idle is
set to C2/C3/C4/C6. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
C State package limit setting [Auto]
This item appears only when you set the Intel® C-STATE Tech item to [Enabled]. We
recommend that you set this item to [Auto] for BIOS to automatically detect the C-State mode
supported by your CPU. Conguration options: [Auto] [C1] [C3] [C6]
2.4.2 Chipset
The Chipset menu allows you to change the advanced chipset settings. Select an item then
press <Enter> to display the submenu.
Allows you to enabled or disable the remapping of the overlapped PCI memory above
the total physical memory. Enable this option only when you install 64-bit operating
Allows you to decide which graphics controller to use as the primary boot device. The
conguration options for this item vary with CPUs. When a Lynneld CPU is installed,
the default setting is [PCIE/PCI]. The conguration options are [PCI/PCIE] [PCIE/PCI].
When a Clarkdale CPU is installed, the default setting is [PEG/PCI]. The conguration
options are [IGD] [PCI/IGD] [PCI/PEG] [PEG/IGD] [PEG/PCI].
2.4.3 Onboard Devices Conguration
HDA Controller [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the high denition audio controller.
Conguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
Front Panel Type [HD Audio]
Allows you to select the front panel type. If High Denition Audio Front Panel used,
please set HD Audio mode. Conguration options: [AC97] [HD Audio]
2-12Chapter 2: BIOS information
Page 39
JMB368 IDE [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the JMB368 IDE Controller.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
This item appears only on P7H55-M LE.
Onboard LAN [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the onboard LAN controller.
Conguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
Onboard LAN Boot ROM [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the boot ROM in the onboard LAN controller. This item
appears only when the Onboard LAN item is set to [Enabled]. Conguration options:
[Disabled] [Enabled]
Serial Port1 Address [3F8/IRQ4]
Allows you to select the Serial Port1 base address.
Appears only when the Parallel Port Mode item is set to [ECP] or [EPP+ECP]. This
item allows you to set the Parallel Port ECP DMA. Conguration options: [DMA0]
[DMA1] [DMA3]
EPP Version [1.9]
Appears only when the Parallel Port Mode item is set to [EPP] or [EPP+ECP]. This
item allows you to select the EPP version. Conguration options: [1.9] [1.7]
Parallel Port IRQ [IRQ7]
Allows you to select parallel port IRQ. Conguration options: [IRQ5] [IRQ7]
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2.4.4 USB Conguration
The items in this menu allows you to change the USB-related features. Select an item then
press <Enter> to display the conguration options.
The Module Version and USB Devices Enabled items show the auto-detected values. If no
USB device is detected, the item shows None.
USB Functions [Enabled]
Allows you to disable or enable the USB functions. Conguration options: [Disabled]
[Enabled]
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]
BIOS EHCI Hand-off [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the BIOS EHCI Hand-off function.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
The following items may only appear when a USB storage device is plugged.
USB Mass Storage Device Conguration
USB Mass Storage Reset Delay [20 Sec]
Allows you to set the maximum time that the BIOS waits for the USB storage device to
Allows you to select the emulation type. Conguration options: [Auto] [Floppy] [Forced
2.4.5 PCI PnP
The PCI PnP menu items allow you to change the advanced settings for PCI/PnP devices.
The menu includes setting IRQ and DMA channel resources for either PCI/PnP or legacy ISA
devices, and setting the memory size block for legacy ISA devices.
Take caution when changing the settings of the PCI PnP menu items. Incorrect eld values
can cause the system to malfunction.
Plug and Play O/S [No]
When set to [No], BIOS congures all the devices in the system. When set to [Yes] and if you
install a Plug and Play operating system, the operating system congures the Plug and Play
devices not required for boot. Conguration options: [No] [Yes]
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2.4.6 Intel VT-d Conguration
Intel VT-d [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
2.5 Power menu
The Power menu items allow you to change the settings for the Advanced Power
Management (APM). Select an item then press <Enter> to display the conguration options.
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
Suspend Mode [Auto]
ACPI 2.0 Support [Enabled]
ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]
Anti Surge Support [Disabled]
APM Conguration
Hardware Monitor
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 [Enabled]
Allows you to add more tables for 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 Anti Surge Support [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the Anti Surge function. Conguration options: [Disabled]
[Enabled]
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Select the ACPI state
used for System
Suspend.
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2.5.5 APM Conguration
Restore on AC Power Loss [Power Off] (P7H55-M LE only)
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. When set to [Last State], the
system goes into either off or on state, whatever the system state was before the AC power
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]
Power On By External Modems [Disabled]
This allows either settings of [Enabled] or [Disabled] for powering up the computer when the
external modem receives a call while the computer is in Soft-off mode. Conguration options:
[Disabled] [Enabled]
Power On PCI Devices [Disabled]
When set to [Enabled], this parameter allows you to wake the system through a PCI LAN
or modem card. This feature requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the
When set to [Enabled], this parameter allows you to wake the system through a PCI Express
card. This feature requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB lead.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Power On By PS/2 KB [Disabled]
Allows you to use specic keys on the PS/2 keyboard to turn on the system. This feature
requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB lead. Conguration
When set to [Enabled], this parameter allows you to use the PS/2 mouse to turn on the
system. This feature requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB
lead. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
2.5.6 Hardware Monitor
CPU/MB Temperature [xxxºC/xxxºF] or [Ignored]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the motherboard and CPU
temperatures. Select Ignored if you do not wish to display the detected temperatures.
CPU/Chassis Fan Speed [xxxxRPM] or [Ignored]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the CPU/chassis 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.
CPU Voltage, 3.3V Voltage, 5V Voltage, 12V Voltage [xxxV] or [Ignored]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects the voltage output through the onboard
voltage regulators.
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CPU/Chassis Q-Fan Function [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the CPU/Chassis Q-Fan function.
The Boot menu items allow you to change the system boot options. Select an item then
press <Enter> to display the sub-menu.
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
Boot Settings
Boot Device Priority
Boot Settings Conguration
Security
2.6.1 Boot Device Priority
1st ~ xxth Boot Device
These items specify the boot device priority sequence from the available devices. The
number of device items that appears on the screen depends on the number of devices
installed in the system. Conguration options: [1st FLOPPY DRIVE] (for P7H55-M LE) /
A virtual drive (Drive
B:) may appear when you
set the CD-ROM drive as
the rst boot device.
• To select the boot device suring system startup, press <F8> when ASUS Logo appears.
• To access Windows® OS in Safe Mode, do any of the following:
• Press <F5> when ASUS Logo appears.
• Press <F8> after POST.
2.6.2 Boot Settings Conguration
Quick Boot [Enabled]
Enabling this item allows the BIOS to skip some power on self tests (POST) while booting to
decrease the time needed to boot the system. When set to [Disabled], BIOS performs all the
POST items. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Full Screen Logo [Enabled]
This allows you to enable or disable the full screen logo display feature. Conguration
options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Set this item to [Enabled] to use the ASUS MyLogo2™ feature.
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AddOn ROM Display Mode [Force BIOS]
Sets the display mode for option ROM. Conguration options: [Force BIOS]
[Keep Current]
Bootup Num-Lock [On]
Allows you to select the power-on state for the NumLock.
Conguration options: [Off] [On]
Wait For ‘F1’ If Error [Enabled]
When set to Enabled, the system waits for the F1 key to be pressed when error occurs.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Hit ‘DEL’ Message Display [Enabled]
When set to [Enabled], the system displays the message Press DEL to run Setup during
POST. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
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. On the password box, key in a password containing up to six letters, or numbers, or
both, then press <Enter>.
3. Conrm the password when prompted.
The message Password Installed appears after you successfully set your password.
To change the supervisor password, follow the same steps in setting a supervisor password.
To clear the supervisor password, select the Change Supervisor Password then press
<Enter> twice. The message Password uninstalled appears.
If you forget your BIOS password, you can clear it by erasing the CMOS Real Time Clock
(RTC) RAM. See section 1.6 Jumpers for information on how to erase the RTC RAM.
After you have set a supervisor password, the other items appear to allow you to change
other security settings.
User Access Level [Full Access]
This item allows you to select the access restriction to the Setup items.
[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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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, key in a password containing up to six letters, or numbers, or
both, then press <Enter>.
3. Conrm the password when prompted.
The message Password Installed appears after you set your password successfully.
To change the user password, follow the same steps in setting a user password.
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
The Tools menu items allow you to congure options for special functions. Select an item then
press <Enter> to display the sub-menu.
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
ASUS EZ Flash 2
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Press ENTER to run the
utility to select andd
update BIOS.
This utility supports
1. FAT 12/16/32 (R/W)
2. NTFS (read only)
3. CD-DISC (read only)
ASUS EZ Flash 2
Allows you to run ASUS EZ Flash 2. When you press <Enter>, a conrmation message
appears. Use the left/right arrow key to select between [Yes] or [No], then press <Enter> to
conrm your choice. Please see section 2.1.2 for details.
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2.8 Exit menu
The Exit menu items allow you to load the optimal or failsafe default values for the BIOS
items, and save or discard your changes to the BIOS items.
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
Exit Options
Exit & Save Changes
Exit & Discard Changes
Discard Changes
Load Setup Defaults
Pressing <Esc> does not immediately exit this menu. Select one of the options from this
menu or <F10> from the legend bar to exit.
Exit & 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.
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.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Exit system setup
after saving the
cahnges.
F10 key can be used
for this operation.
2-20Chapter 2: BIOS information
Page 47
P7P55/P7H57/P7H55 series motherboards
installation notices
Intel® LGA1156 processor and chipset combination instruction
* Only available for motherboards with this function.
CPU type
Memory conguration
Clarkdale CPU (with integrated
GPU)
• Integrated GPU enabled
• HDMI/DVI/D-Sub ports enabled*
Lynneld CPU
Discrete VGA card required
Chipset
1 DIMM
2 DIMMs
4 DIMMs
CPU type
Clarkdale CPU (with integrated
GPU)
supports one module inserted
into ANY slot as Single-channel
memory conguration
supports two modules inserted into
either the blue slots or the black
slots as one pair of Dual-channel
memory conguration
supports four modules inserted into both the blue and the black slots as two
pairs of Dual-channel memory conguration
Lynneld CPU
supports one module inserted into Slot
A1 or B1 as Single-channel memory
conguration
supports two modules inserted into the
blue slots (A1 and B1) as one pair of
Dual-channel memory conguration
Congurations for the PCI Express x16 slots
According to Intel® CPU spec, the PCIe x 6_2 slot of the H57/H55 chipset will be disabled
when using Clarkdale CPU. Refer to the table below for details.
ChipsetPCI Express x16 slot
PCIe x16_1 (blue)OO
H57/H55
P55
* The color of the PCIe x16_2 slot varies by model.
** The PCIe x16_2 slot can work at maximum x8 link only.