ECS A55F-A2 User Manual
Preface
Preface
Copyright
This publication, including all photographs, illustrations and software, is protected
under international copyright laws, with all rights reserved. Neither this manual, nor
any of the material contained herein, may be reproduced without written consent of
the author.
Version 1.0A
Disclaimer
The information in this document is subject to change without notice. The manufacturer makes no representations or warranties with respect to the contents hereof and
specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any
particular purpose. The manufacturer reserves the right to revise this publication and
to make changes from time to time in the content hereof without obligation of the
manufacturer to notify any person of such revision or changes.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
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 the 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 the receiver.
• Connect the equipment onto 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.
Shielded interconnect cables and a shielded AC power cable must be employed with
this equipment to ensure compliance with the pertinent RF emission limits governing this device. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the system’s
manufacturer could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
Trademark Recognition
Microsoft, MS-DOS and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
AMD, Llano, Phenom, Athlon, Sempron and Duron are registered trademarks of
AMD Corporation.
Other product names used in this manual are the properties of their respective
owners and are acknowledged.
ii
Preface
Declaration of Conformity
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the
following conditions:
• This device may not cause harmful interference.
• This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Canadian Department of Communications
This class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interferencecausing Equipment Regulations.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences du Réglement sur
le matériel brouilieur du Canada.
About the Manual
The manual consists of the following:
Chapter 1
Introducing the Motherboard
Describes features of the motherboard.
Go to
H
page 1
Describes installation of motherboard
components.
Go to
H
page 9
Provides information on using the BIOS
Setup Utility.
Go to
H
page 27
Describes the motherboard software
Go to
H
page 53
Chapter 2
Installing the Motherboard
Chapter 3
Using BIOS
Chapter 4
Using the Motherboard Software
page 57
Chapter 5
Trouble Shooting
Provides basic troubleshooting tips
Go to
H
iii
TT
TT
T
ABLE OF CONTENTSABLE OF CONTENTS
ABLE OF CONTENTSABLE OF CONTENTS
ABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface i
Chapter 1 1
Introducing the Motherboard 1
Introduction............................................................................................1
Feature.....................................................................................................2
Motherboard Components...................................................................6
Chapter 2
9 9
9 9
9
Installing the Motherboard 9
Safety Precautions............................................................................9
Choosing a Computer Case.............................................................9
Installing the Motherboard in a Case............................................9
Checking Jumper Settings...............................................................8
Setting Jumpers........................................................................8
Checking Jumper Settings......................................................
..10
Jumper Settings......................................................................
..11
Installing Hardware...................................................................12
Installing the Processor..........................................................12
Installing Memory Modules...................................................13
Expansion Slots......................................................................15
Connecting Optional Devices.................................................17
Installing a SATA Hard Drive................................................20
Connecting I/O Devices............................................................... 21
Connecting Case Components.....................................................22
Front Panel Header................................................................25
Chapter 3
27 27
27 27
27
Using BIOS 27
About the Setup Utility.................................................................... 27
The Standard Configuration..........................................................27
Entering the Setup Utilities............................................................27
Resetting the Default CMOS Values............................................28
Using BIOS........................................................................................28
BIOS Navigation Key....................................................................29
Main Menu....................................................................................31
Advanced Menu............................................................................32
Chipset Menu................................................................................43
M.I.B III (MB Intelligent BIOS III) Menu.........................................47
Boot Menu......................................................................................47
iv
Chapter 4
53 53
53 53
53
Using the Motherboard Software 53
About the Software DVD-ROM/CD-ROM.......................................53
Auto-installing under Windows XP/Vista/7.....................................53
Running Setup...............................................................................54
Manual Installation..........................................................................56
Utility Software Reference...............................................................56
Chapter 5
57 57
57 57
57
Trouble Shooting 57
Start up problems during assembly.................................................57
Start up problems after prolong use..................................................58
Maintenance and care tips.................................................................58
Basic Troubleshooting Flowchart.....................................................59
Security Menu..............................................................................60
Save & Exit Menu.........................................................................61
Updating the BIOS.......................................................................63
1
Introducing the Motherboard
Chapter 1
Introducing the Motherboard
Introduction
Thank you for choosing the A55F-A2 motherboard. This motherboard is a high
performance, enhanced function motherboard that supports socket FM1 for AMD
Llano processors for high-end business or personal desktop markets.
There is an advanced full set of I/O ports in the rear panel, including one PS2 mouse
and one PS2 keyboard connector, one HDMI port, one D-sub (VGA) port, one DVI
port, four USB 2.0 ports, one Giga LAN port, Audio jacks for microphone, line-in
and 6-ch line-out.
The motherboard is based on AMD A55 (Hudson D2) express chipset for best desktop platform. A55 is a single-chip, highly integrated, high performance HyperTransport peripheral controller, umatched by any other single chip-device controller
. The memory controller supports DDR3 memory DIMM frequencies of 2600 (OC)/2400
(OC)/2133 (OC)/1866/1600/1333/1066*1. It supports two DDR3 slots with maximum memory
size of 32 GB. One PCI Express x16 slot, intended for Graphics Interface, are fully compliant
to the PCI Express Gen2 (version 2.0). In addition, three PCI Express x1 slots and three PCI
slots are supported.
It integrates USB 2.0 and supporting up to eight USB 2.0 ports (four USB 2.0 ports
and two USB 2.0 headers support additional four USB 2.0 ports) .The gray USB 2.0
header provides EZ charger technology, please refer to chapter 2 parts of
Front
Panel USB 2.0 headers to check the detail information. This motherboard integrates
a Serial ATA host controller, supporting six SATA ports with maximum transfer rate
up to 3Gb/s each.
*1. Due to the limitation of AMD CPU spec, please refer to Memory QVL
for more information.
2
Feature
Processor
• Accommodates AMD Llano processors
• Supports CPU up to 100W TDP
This motherboard uses a socket FM1 that carries the following features:
The AMD A55 (Hudson D2) chipset is based on an innovative and scalable
architecture with proven reliability and performance.
Chipset
Introducing the Motherboard
• Supports one PCI-Express x16 Gen2 slot
• Supports three PCI Express x1 Gen2 slots
• Compliant with PCI 2.3 specification at 33 MHz
• Supports six Serial ATA devices which speeds up to 3 Gb/s
• Integrated USB 2.0 Host Controller supporting up to eight USB 2.0 ports
• Supports ACPI states S3, S4 and S5
Memory
• Supports2600(OC)/ 2400(OC)/2133 (OC)/1866/1600/1333/1066 DDR3
SDRAM with Dual-channel architecture
• Accommodates two unbuffered DIMMs
• Up to 16 GB per DIMM with maximum memory size up to 32 GB
Audio
• 5.1 Channel High Definition Audio Codec
• ADCs support 44.1k/48k/96kHz sample rate
• Meets Microsoft WLP 3.10 Vista premium and mobile PCs audio requirements
• Software selectable 2.5V/3.2V/4.0V VREFOUT
• Direct Sound 3D. compatible
• Power Support: Digital: 3.3V; Analog: 5.0V
Onboard LAN
The onboard LAN provides the following features:
• Supports PCI ExpressTM 2.0
• Integrated 10/100/1000 transceiver
• Wake-on-LAN and remote wake-up support
3
Expansion Options
• One PCI Express x16 slot for Graphics Interface
• Three PCI Express x1 slots
• Three 32-bit PCI v2.2 compliant slots
• Six 7-pin SATA connectors
Integrated I/O
The motherboard has a full set of I/O ports and connectors:
• One PS/2 keyboard and one PS/2 mouse
• Four USB 2.0 ports
• One VGA port
• One DVI port
• One HDMI port
• One RJ45 LAN port
• One audio jacks for microphone, line-in and 6-ch line-out
The motherboard comes with the following expansion options:
Introducing the Motherboard
BIOS Firmware
• Power management
• Wake-up alarms
• CPU parameters
• CPU and memory timing
The firmware can also be used to set parameters for different processor clock
speeds.
The motherboard uses AMI BIOS that enables users to configure many system features including the following:
1. Some hardware specifications and software items are subject to change
without prior notice.
2. Due to chipset limitation, we recommend that motherboard be operated in
the ambiance between 0 and 50°C.
4
Introducing the Motherboard
• AMD A55 (Hudson D2)
•
FM1 for AMD Llano processors
• Supports CPU up to 100W TDP
• Dual-channel DDR3 memory architecture
• 2 x 240-pin DDR3 DIMM sockets support up to 32 GB
• Supports 2600(OC)/2400(OC)/2133 (OC)/1866/1600 DDR3
SDRAM
Chipset
Memory
CPU
Specifications
• Supported by AMD A55 (Hudson D2)
-6 x Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s Host Controllers
Storage
• ALC662 6-Ch High Definition audio CODEC
• Compliant with HD audio specification
• Realtek 8111E VL-CG Gigabit Lan
• 1 x D-sub (VGA) port
• 1 x HDMI port
• 1 x PS/2 keyboard and 1 x PS/2 mouse
• 4 x USB 2.0 ports
• 1 x RJ45 LAN port
• 1 x DVI Port
• Audio jacks for microphone, line-in and 6-ch line-out
Audio
LAN
Rear Panel I/O
• 1 x 24-pin ATX Power Supply connector
• 1 x 4-pin ATX Power Supply connector
• 1 x 4-pin CPU_FAN connector
• 1 x 3-pin SYS_FAN connector
• 1 x 3-pin PWR_FAN connector
• 2 x USB 2.0 headers support additional 4 USB 2.0 ports
(F_USB1 supports EZ charger)
• 6 x Serial ATA 3Gb/s connectors
• 1 x COM header
• 1 x LPT header
• 1 x CASE header
• 1 x Front panel audio header
• 1 x Front panel header
• 1 x Speaker header
• 1 x Front panel switch/LED header
• 1 x SPDIF out header
• 1 x SPK header
• 1 x CLR_CMOS header
• 1 x PCI Express Gen2 x16 slot
• 3 x PCI Express Gen2 x1 slots
• 3 x PCI slots
Expansion
Slots
Internal I/O
Connectors &
Headers
5
Introducing the Motherboard
• Support eBLU
• Support eDLU
• Support eSF
• Support EZ Charger
• Support UEFI BIOS GUI
• Supoort eOC
AP Support*
1
• AMI BIOS with 32Mb SPI Flash ROM
• Supports Multi-language BIOS Utility
• Supports ECS M.I.B III Utility
• Support Non-disk utility
System BIOS
Form Factor • ATX Size, 305mm x 190mm
*1. Users can download all ECS supporting software on ECS official
website. http://www.ecs.com.tw
6
Introducing the Motherboard
Motherboard Components
7
Introducing the Motherboard
Table of Motherboard Components
This concludes Chapter 1. The next chapter explains how to install the motherboard.
LABEL COMPONENTS
1. CPU Socket Socket FM1 for AMD Llano processors
2. CPU_FAN CPU cooling fan connector
3. DDR3_1~2 240-pin DDR3 SDRAM slots
4. ATX_POWER Standard 24-pin ATX power connector
5. PWR_FAN Power cooling fan connector
6. SATA1~6 Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s connectors
7. SPI_DEBUG SPI_debug header-for factory use only
8. CLR_CMOS Clear CMOS jumper
9. SYS_FAN System cooling fan connector
10. F_USB1~2 Front panel USB 2.0 headers
11. F_PANEL Front panel switch/LED header
12. LPT Onboard parallel port header
13. SPK Speaker header
14. SPDIFO SPDIF out header
15. CASE Case open header
16. COM Onboard serial port header
17. PCI1~3 32-bit add-on card slots
18. PCIEX1 PCI Express x 1slot
19. PCIEX16 PCI Express slot for graphics interface
20. F_AUDIO Front panel audio header
21. ATX12V 4-pin +12V power connector
8
Introducing the Motherboard
Memo
9
Installing the Motherboard
Chapter 2
Installing the Motherboard
Safety Precautions
• Follow these safety precautions when installing the motherboard
• Wear a grounding strap attached to a grounded device to avoid damage from static electricity
• Discharge static electricity by touching the metal case of a safely
grounded object before working on the motherboard
• Leave components in the static-proof bags they came in
• Hold all circuit boards by the edges. Do not bend circuit boards
Choosing a Computer Case
There are many types of computer cases on the market. The motherboard complies
with the specifications for the ATX system case. Some features on the motherboard
are implemented by cabling connectors on the motherboard to indicators and switches
on the system case. Make sure that your case supports all the features required. Make
sure that your case has sufficient power and space for all drives that you intend to
install.
Most cases have a choice of I/O templates in the rear panel. Make sure that the I/O
template in the case matches the I/O ports installed on the rear edge of the
motherboard.
This motherboard carries an ATX form factor of 305 X 190 mm. Choose a case that
accommodates this form factor.
Installing the Motherboard in a Case
Refer to the following illustration and instructions for installing the motherboard in
a case.
Most system cases have mounting brackets installed in the case, which correspond
the holes in the motherboard. Place the motherboard over the mounting brackets
and secure the motherboard onto the mounting brackets with screws.
Ensure that your case has an I/O template that supports the I/O ports and expansion
slots on your motherboard.
10
Installing the Motherboard
Checking Jumper Settings
This section explains how to set jumpers for correct configuration of the motherboard.
Setting Jumpers
Use the motherboard jumpers to set system configuration options. Jumpers with more than
one pin are numbered. When setting the jumpers, ensure that the jumper caps are placed on
the correct pins.
The illustrations show a 2-pin jumper. When the
jumper cap is placed on both pins, the jumper is
SHORT. If you remove the jumper cap, or place
the jumper cap on just one pin, the jumper is
OPEN.
This illustration shows a 3-pin jumper. Pins 1 and
2 are SHORT.
SHORT OPEN
Do not over-tighten the screws as this can stress the motherboard.
11
Installing the Motherboard
Checking Jumper Settings
The following illustration shows the location of the motherboard jumpers. Pin 1 is labeled.
Jumper Settings
To avoid the system instability after clearing CMOS, we recommend users to
enter the main BIOS setting page to “Load Default Settings” and then “Save
and Exit Setup”.
Jumper
Ty pe
Description Setting (default)
CLR_CMOS
3-pin
Clear CMOS
1-2: NORMAL
2-3: CLEAR
Before clearing the
CMOS, make sure to
turn off the system.
CLR_CMOS
1
12
Installing the Motherboard
Installing Hardware
Installing the Processor
Caution: When installing a CPU heatsink and cooling fan make sure that you
DO NOT scratch the motherboard or any of the surface-mount resistors with the
clip of the cooling fan. If the clip of the cooling fan scrapes across the
motherboard, you may cause serious damage to the motherboard or its components.
On most motherboards, there are small surface-mount resistors near the processor socket, which may be damaged if the cooling fan is carelessly installed.
Avoid using cooling fans with sharp edges on the fan casing and the clips. Also,
install the cooling fan in a well-lit work area so that you can clearly see the
motherboard and processor socket.
This motherboard has a
socket FM1 processor socket. When choosing a processor, con-
sider the performance requirements of the system. Performance is based on the processor
design, the clock speed and system bus frequency of the processor, and the quantity of
internal cache memory and external cache memory.
Before installing the Processor
This motherboard automatically determines the CPU clock frequency and system bus frequency for the processor. You may be able to change these settings by making changes to
jumpers on the motherboard, or changing the settings in the system Setup Utility. We
strongly recommend that you do not over-clock processors or other components to run
faster than their rated speed.
Warning:
1. Over-clocking components can adversely affect the reliability of the system
and introduce errors into your system. Over-clocking can permanently damage
the motherboard by generating excess heat in components that are run beyond
the rated limits.
2. Always remove the AC power by unplugging the power cord from the power
outlet before installing or removing the motherboard or other hardware components.
13
Installing the Motherboard
1 Install your CPU. Pull up the lever away from
the socket and lift up to 90-degree angle.
2 Locate the CPU cut edge (the corner with
the pin hold noticeably missing). Align and
insert the CPU correctly.
3 Press the lever down and apply thermal
grease on top of the CPU.
4 Put the CPU Fan down on the retention mod-
ule and snap the four retention legs of the
cooling fan into place.
5 Flip the levers over to lock the heat sink in
place and connect the CPU cooling Fan power
cable to the CPU FAN connector. This completes the installation.
CPU Installation Procedure
The following illustration shows CPU installation components.
To achieve better airflow rates and heat dissipation, we suggest that you
use a high quality fan with 4800 rpm at least. CPU fan and heatsink
installation procedures may vary with the type of CPU fan/heatsink supplied. The form and size of fan/heatsink may also vary.
Installing Memory Modules
This motherboard accommodates two memory modules. It can support two 240-pin DDR3
2600(OC)/2400 (OC)/2133 (OC)/1866/1600/1333/1066*1. The total memory capacity is 32 GB.
DDR3 SDRAM memory module table
You must install at least one module in any of the two slots. Each module can be installed
with 16 GB of memory.
1. Due to the limitation of AMD CPU spec, please refer to Memory QVL for
more information.
*
* For reference only
Do not remove any memory module from its antistatic packaging until you
are ready to install it on the motherboard. Handle the modules only by their
edges. Do not touch the components or metal parts. Always wear a grounding strap when you handle the modules.
Memory module Memory Bus
DDR3 1066
DDR3 1333 667 MHz
533 MHz
DDR3 1600
800 MHz
DDR3 1866
933 MHz
DDR3 2133
DDR3 2400
1200 MHz
DDR3 2600
1300 MHz
1067 MHz
14
Installing the Motherboard
Installation Procedure
Refer to the following to install the memory modules.
1 This motherboard supports unbuffered DDR3 SDRAM only.
2 Push the latches on each side of the DIMM slot down.
3 Align the memory module with the slot. The DIMM slots are keyed with
notches and the DIMMs are keyed with cutouts so that they can only be
installed correctly.
4 Check that the cutouts on the DIMM module edge connector match the
notches in the DIMM slot.
5 Install the DIMM module into the slot and press it firmly down until it
seats correctly. The slot latches are levered upwards and latch on to
the edges of the DIMM.
6 Install any remaining DIMM modules.
For best performance and compatibility, we recommend that users install
DIMMs in the sequence of DIMM1, DIMM2.
* For reference only
15
Installing the Motherboard
Expansion Slots
Installing Add-on Cards
The slots on this motherboard are designed to hold expansion cards and connect
them to the system bus. Expansion slots are a means of adding or enhancing the
motherboard’s features and capabilities. With these efficient facilities, you can increase the motherboard’s capabilities by adding hardware that performs tasks that are
not part of the basic system.
The PCI Express x1 slots are fully compliant to the PCI
Express Gen2 (version 2.0).
PCIE1~3 Slots
The PCI Express x16 slot is used to install external PCI
Express graphics cards that are fully compliant to the PCI
Express Gen2 (version 2.0).
PCIEX16 Slot
PCI1~3 Slots
This motherboard are equipped with three standard PCI slots.
PCI stands for Peripheral Component Interconnect and is a
bus standard for expansion cards, which for the most part, is
a supplement of the older ISA bus standard. The PCI slots on
this board are PCI v2.3 compliant.
Before installing an add-on card, check the documentation
for the card carefully. If the card is not Plug and Play, you
may have to manually configure the card before installation.
16
Installing the Motherboard
Follow these instructions to install an add-on card:
1 Remove a blanking plate from the system case corresponding to the
slot you are going to use.
2 Install the edge connector of the add-on card into the expansion slot.
Ensure that the edge connector is correctly seated in the slot.
3 Secure the metal bracket of the card to the system case with a screw.
* For reference only
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