Biostar A960A3+ Owner's Manual
A960A3+ Setup Manual
FCC Information and Copyright
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits of 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 the instructions, may
cause harmful interference to radio communications. There is no guarantee
that interference will not occur in a particular installation.
The vendor makes no representations or warranties with respect to the
contents here and specially disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability
or fitness for any purpose. Further the vendor reserves the right to revise this
publication and to make changes to the contents here without obligation to
notify any party beforehand.
Duplication of this publication, in part or in whole, is not allowed without first
obtaining the vendor’s approval in writing.
The content of this user’s manual is subject to be changed without notice and
we will not be responsible for any mistakes found in this user’s manual. All the
brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies.
Dichiaraz ione di confor mità
sintetica
Ai sensi dell’art. 2 comma 3 del D.M.
275 del 30/10/2002
Si dichiara che questo prodotto è
conforme alle normative vigenti e
soddisfa i requisiti essenziali richiesti
dalle direttive
2004/108/CE, 2006/95/CE e
1999/05/CE
quando ad esso applicabili
Short Declaration of confor mity
We declare this product is complying
with the laws in force and meeting all
the essential requirements as specified
by the directives
2004/108/CE, 2006/95/CE and
1999/05/CE
whenever these laws may be applied
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction.......................................... 1
1.1 Before You Start ............................................................................ 1
1.2 Package Checklist......................................................................... 1
1.3 Motherboard Features.................................................................. 2
1.4 Rear Panel Connectors.................................................................. 3
1.5 Motherboard Layout..................................................................... 4
Chapter 2: Hardware Installation ........................... 5
2.1 Installing Central Processing Unit (CPU)..................................... 5
2.2 FAN Headers................................................................................. 7
2.3 Installing System Memory............................................................. 8
2.4 Connectors and Slots ................................................................... 10
Chapter 3: Headers & Jumpers Setup ................... 13
3.1 How to Setup Jumpers................................................................. 13
3.2 Detail Settings ............................................................................. 13
Chapter 4: RAID Functions ................................... 17
4.1 Operating System........................................................................ 17
4.2 Raid Arrays.................................................................................. 17
4.3 How RAID Works......................................................................... 17
Chapter 5: Useful Help ......................................... 20
5.1 Driver Installation Note.............................................................. 20
5.2 Software....................................................................................... 21
5.3 Extra Information ....................................................................... 25
5.4 AMI BIOS Beep Code ................................................................... 27
5.5 Troubleshooting........................................................................... 28
Appendix: SPEC In Other Languages .................... 30
German............................................................................................................ 30
French.............................................................................................................. 32
Italian .............................................................................................................. 34
Spanish............................................................................................................. 36
Portuguese ...................................................................................................... 38
Polish ............................................................................................................... 40
Russian............................................................................................................. 42
Arabic .............................................................................................................. 44
Japanese .......................................................................................................... 46
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
A960A3+
1.1 B
EFORE YOU START
Thank you for choosing our product. Before you start installing the
motherboard, please make sure you follow the instructions below:
Prepare a dry and stable working environment with
sufficient lighting.
Always disconnect the computer from power outlet
before operation.
Before you take the motherboard out from anti-static
bag, ground yourself properly by touching any safely
grounded appliance, or use grounded wrist strap to
remove the static charge.
Avoid touching the components on motherboard or the
rear side of the board unless necessary. Hold the board
on the edge, do not try to bend or flex the board.
Do not leave any unfastened small parts inside the
case after installation. Loose parts will cause short
circuits which may damage the equipment.
Keep the computer from dangerous area, such as heat
source, humid air and water.
The operating temperatures of the computer should be
0 to 45 degrees Celsius.
1.2 PACKAGE CHECKLIST
Serial ATA Cable X 2
Rear I/O Panel for ATX Case X 1
User’s Manual X 1
Fully Setup Driver CD X 1
Note: The package contents may be different due to area or your motherboard version.
1
Motherboard Manual
1.3 MOTHERBOARD FEATURES
Socket AM3+
CPU
FSB
Chipset
Super I/O
Main
Memory
IDE Integrated IDE Controller
SATA II Integrated Serial ATA Controller
LAN Realtek RTL 8111F
Sound ALC662
Slots
On Board
Connector
AMD Sempron /Athlon II /Phenom II /FX
processors (Maximum Watt: 125W)
Support HyperTransport 3.0
Suppo rts up to 5. 2 GT/s Bandwidth
Northbridge: AMD RX881
Southbridge: AMD SB710
ITE 8728F
Provides the most commonly used legacy
Super I/O functionality
DDR3 DIMM Slots x 4
Max Memory Capacity 32GB
Each DIMM supports
512MB/1GB/2GB/4GB/8GB DDR3
PCI Express Gen2 x16 slot x1
PCI Express Gen2 x1 slot x2
PCI slot x3
Floppy Connector x1 Each connector supports 2 Floppy drives
IDE Connector x1 Each connector supports 2 IDE device
SATA Connector x6 Each connector supports 1 SATA devices
SPEC
AMD 64 Architecture enables 32 and 64 bit
computing
Supports Hyper Transport 3.0
Low Pin Count Interface
Environment Control initiatives
H/W Monitor
ITE's "Smart Guardian" function
Dual Channel Mode DDR3 memory module
Supports DDR3 800 / 1066 / 1333
Supports DDR3 1600 (OC) / 1866 (OC)
DDR3-1866 for AM3+ CPU only
Registered DIMM and ECC DIMM is not suppo rted
Multi-word DMA, and Ultra DMA 33/66/100/133
modes
Data transfer rates up to 3 Gb/s
SATA Version 2.5 specification compliant
10 / 100 /1000 Mb/s auto negotiation
Half / Full duplex capability
5.1 channels audio out
High Definition Audio
Supports PCI-E Gen2 x16 expansion cards
Supports PCI-E Gen2 x1 expansion cards
Supports PCI expansion cards
2
SPEC
Front Panel Connector x1 Supports front panel facilities
Front Audio Connector x1 Supports fro nt panel audio function
S/PDIF Out Connector x1 Supports digital audio out function
CPU Fan Header x1 CPU Fan power supply (with Smart Fan function)
System Fan Header x1 System Fan Power supply
CMOS Clear Header x1 Restore CMOS data to factory default
USB Connector x2 Each connector supports 2 front panel USB ports
Power Connector (24pin) x1 Co nnects to Power supply
Power Connector (4pin) x1 Connects to Power supply
Printer Port Connector x1 Each connector suppo rts 1 Printer port
PS/2 Keyboard x1
PS/2 Mouse x1
Rear Panel
I/O
Board Size 205 mm(W) x 305 mm(L) ATX
Special
Features
OS Suppo rt Windows XP / Vista / 7
Serial Port x1
LAN port x1
USB Port x4
Audio Jack x3
RAID 0 / 1 / 10 support
Connects to PS/2 Keyboard
Connects to PS/2 Mouse
Connects to RS-232 Port
Connect to RJ-45 ethernet cable
Connect to USB devices
Provide Audio-In/Out and microphone connection
Biostar reserves the right to add or remove support
for any OS With or without notice.
A960A3+
1.4 REAR PANEL CONNECTORS
PS/2
Mouse
PS/2
Keyboard
COM1 USBX2USBX2
LAN
Line In/
Surround
Line Out
Mic In 1/
Bass/ Center
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Motherboard Manual
1.5 MOTHERBOARD LAYOUT
4
Note: represents the 1■
st
pin.
CHAPTER 2: HARDWARE INSTALLATION
A960A3+
2.1 I
NSTALLING CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU)
Step 1: Pull the lever toward direction A from the socket and then raise the
lever up to a 90-degree angle.
Step 2: Look for the white triangle on socket, and the gold triangle on
CPU should point towards this white triangle. The CPU will fit only
in the correct orientation.
5
Motherboard Manual
Step 3: Hold the CPU down firmly, and then close the lever toward direct
B to complete the installation.
Step 4: Put the CPU Fan on the CPU and buckle it. Connect the CPU
FAN power cable to the CPU_FAN1. This completes the
installation.
Note: Please update the BIOS to the latest version while using AM3+ CPUs. Due to the latest CPU
transition, you may encounter the situation that the new system failed to boot while using new
AM3+ CPUs. In this c ase, please install one standard AM2 CPU to boot your s ystem, and
update the latest BIOS fr om our website for AM3+ CPUs support.
6
A960A3+
2.2 FAN HEADERS
These fan headers support cooling-fans built in the computer. The fan
cable and connector may be different according to the fan manufacturer.
Connect the fan cable to the connector while matching the black wire to
pin#1.
CPU_FAN1: CPU Fan Header
Pin Assi gnment
1 Ground
2 +12V
3
FAN RPM rate sense
4 Smart Fan Control (By Fan)
SYS_FAN1: System Fan Header
Pin Assignment
1 Ground
2 +12V
3
FAN RPM rate sense
Note:
The CPU_FAN1 and S YS_FAN1 support 4-pin and 3-pin head connector. When
connecting with wires onto connectors, please note that the red wire is the positive and
should be connected to pin#2, and the black wire is Ground and should be connected to
GND.
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Motherboard Manual
2.3 INSTALLING SYSTEM MEMORY
A. DDR3 Modules
1. Unlock a DIMM slot by pressing the retaining clips outward. Align a
DIMM on the slot such that the notch on the DIMM matches the
break on the Slot.
2. Insert the DIMM vertically and firmly into the slot until the retaining
chip snap back in place and the DIMM is properly seated.
8
A960A3+
B. Memory Capacity
DIMM Socket
Location
DIMMA1 512MB/1GB/2GB/4GB/8GB
DIMMA2 512MB/1GB/2GB/4GB/8GB
DIMMB1 512MB/1GB/2GB/4GB/8GB
DIMMB2 512MB/1GB/2GB/4GB/8GB
DDR3 Module
Total Memory Size
Max is 32GB.
C. Dual Channel Memory installation
Please refer to the following requirements to activate Dual Channel function:
Install memory module of the same density in pairs, shown in the table.
Dual Channel Status DDR3_A1 DDR3_A2 DDR3_B1 DDR3_B2
Enabled X O X O
Enabled O O O O
(O means memory installed, X means memory not installed.)
The DRAM bus width of the memory module must be the same (x8 or
x16)
Note:
Memory module must be installed in DDR3-A2 or DDR3-B2 to boot the
system.
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Motherboard Manual
2.4 CONNECTORS AND SLOTS
FDD1: Floppy Disk Connector
The motherboard provides a standard floppy disk connector that supports 360K,
720K, 1.2M, 1.44M and 2.88M floppy disk types.
IDE1: Hard Disk Connector
The motherboard has a 32-bit Enhanced IDE Controller that provides PIO Mode
0~4, Bus Master, Multi-word DMA, and Ultra DMA 33/66/100/133 functionality.
SATA1~SATA6: Serial ATA Connectors
The motherboard has a PCI to SATA Controller with 6 channels SATA interface,
it satisfies the SATA 2.0 spec and with transfer rate of 3.0Gb/s.
10
Assignment
Pin
1 Ground
2 TX+
3 TX4 Ground
5 RX6 RX+
7 Ground
ATXPWR1: ATX Power Source Connector
This connector allows user to connect 24-pin power connector on the ATX
power supply.
Pin Assignment Pin Assignment
13 +3.3V 1 +3.3V
14 -12V 2 +3.3V
15 Ground 3 Ground
16 PS_ON 4 +5V
17 Ground 5 Ground
18 Ground 6 +5V
19 Ground 7 Ground
20 NC 8 PW_OK
21 +5V 9 Standby Voltage+5V
22 +5V 10 +12V
23 +5V 11 +12V
24 Ground 12 +3.3V
A960A3+
ATXPWR2: ATX Power Source Connector
Connecting this connector will provide +12V to CPU power circuit.
Pin Assignment
1 +12V
2 +12V
3 Ground
4 Ground
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Motherboard Manual
PEX16_1: PCI-Express Gen2 x16 Slot
- PCI-Express 2.0 compliant.
- Maximum theoretical realized bandwidth of 8GB/s simultaneously per
direction, for an aggregate of 16GB/s totally.
PEX1_1/PEX1_2: PCI-Express Gen2 x1 Slots
- PCI-Express 2.0 compliant.
- Data transfer bandwidth up to 500MB/s per direction; 1GB/s in total.
- PCI-Express Gen2 supports a raw bit-rate of 5.0Gb/s on the data pins.
- 2X bandwidth over the PCI-Express 1.0 architecture.
PCI1~PCI3: Peripheral Component Interconnect Slots
This motherboard is equipped with 3 standard PCI slots. PCI stands for
Peripheral Component Interconnect, and it is a bus standard for expansion
cards. This PCI slot is designated as 32 bits.
12
CHAPTER 3: HEADERS & JUMPERS SETUP
A960A3+
3.1 H
OW TO SETUP JUMPERS
The illustration shows how to set up jumpers. When the jumper cap is
placed on pins, the jumper is “close”, if not, that means the jumper is
“open”.
Pin opened Pin closed Pin1-2 closed
3.2 DETAIL SETTINGS
PANEL1: Front Panel Header
This 16-pin connector includes Power-on, Reset, HDD LED, Power LED, and
speaker connection. It allows user to connect the PC case’s front panel switch
functions.
Pin Assignment Function Pin Assignment Function
1 +5V 9 N/A
2N/A 10N/A
3 N/A 11 N/A N/A
4 Speaker
5 HDD LED (+) 13 Power LED (+)
6 HDD LED (-)
7 Ground 15 Power button
8 Reset control
Speaker
Connector
Hard drive
LED
Reset button
12 Power LED (+)
14 Power LED (-)
16 Ground
N/A
Power LED
Power-on button
13
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