GIGABYTE GA-790XT-USB3 Owner's Manual

GA-790XT-USB3
AM3 socket motherboard for AMD Phenom™ II processor/AMD Athlon™ II processor
User's Manual
Rev. 1001
Dec. 21, 2009
GA-790XT-USB3
Motherboard
Dec. 21, 2009
Motherboard
GA-790XT-USB3
Copyright
© 2009 GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. All rights reserved.
The trademarks mentioned in this manual are legally registered to their respective owners.
Disclaimer
Information in this manual is protected by copyright laws and is the property of GIGABYTE.
Changes to the specications and features in this manual may be made by GIGABYTE with-
out prior notice. No part of this manual may be reproduced, copied, translated, transmitted, or
published in any form or by any means without GIGABYTE's prior written permission.
Documentation Classications
In order to assist in the use of this product, GIGABYTE provides the following types of documentations:
 For quick set-up of the product, read the Quick Installation Guide included with the product.  For detailed product information, carefully read the User's Manual.  For instructions on how to use GIGABYTE's unique features, read or download the information on/from the Support&Downloads\Motherboard\Technology Guide page on our website.
For product-related information, check on our website at:
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw
Identifying Your Motherboard Revision
The revision number on your motherboard looks like this: "REV: X.X." For example, "REV: 1.0"
means the revision of the motherboard is 1.0. Check your motherboard revision before updating
motherboard BIOS, drivers, or when looking for technical information.
Example:
Table of Contents
Box Contents ...................................................................................................................6
Optional Items .................................................................................................................6
GA-790XT-USB3 Motherboard Layout ............................................................................7
Block Diagram .................................................................................................................8
Chapter 1 Hardware Installation .....................................................................................9
1-1 Installation Precautions .................................................................................... 9
1-2 Product Specications .................................................................................... 10
1-3 Installing the CPU and CPU Cooler ............................................................... 13
1-3-1 Installing the CPU ...................................................................................................13
1-3-2 Installing the CPU Cooler .......................................................................................15
1-4 Installing the Memory ..................................................................................... 16
1-4-1 Dual Channel Memory Conguration .....................................................................16
1-4-2 Installing a Memory ...............................................................................................17
1-5 Installing an Expansion Card ......................................................................... 18
1-6 Setup of the ATI CrossFireX™ Conguration .................................................. 19
1-7 Back Panel Connectors .................................................................................. 20
1-8 Internal Connectors ........................................................................................ 22
Chapter 2 BIOS Setup ..................................................................................................33
2-1 Startup Screen ............................................................................................... 34
2-2 The Main Menu .............................................................................................. 35
2-3 MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.) ........................................................................ 37
2-4 Standard CMOS Features .............................................................................. 44
2-5 Advanced BIOS Features .............................................................................. 46
2-6 Integrated Peripherals .................................................................................... 48
2-7 Power Management Setup ............................................................................. 51
2-8 PC Health Status ............................................................................................ 53
2-9 Load Fail-Safe Defaults .................................................................................. 55
2-10 Load Optimized Defaults ................................................................................55
2-11 Set Supervisor/User Password ...................................................................... 56
2-12 Save & Exit Setup .......................................................................................... 57
2-13 Exit Without Saving ........................................................................................ 57
- 4 -
Chapter 3 Drivers Installation ........................................................................................59
3-1 Installing Chipset Drivers ............................................................................... 59
3-2 Application Software ...................................................................................... 60
3-3 Technical Manuals ..........................................................................................60
3-4 Contact ........................................................................................................... 61
3-5 System ........................................................................................................... 61
3-6 Download Center ........................................................................................... 62
Chapter 4 Unique Features ...........................................................................................63
4-1 Xpress Recovery2 .......................................................................................... 63
4-2 BIOS Update Utilities ..................................................................................... 66
4-2-1 Updating the BIOS with the Q-Flash Utility .............................................................66
4-2-2 Updating the BIOS with the @BIOS Utility .............................................................69
4-3 EasyTune 6 .................................................................................................... 70
4-4 Easy Energy Saver ........................................................................................ 71
4-5 Q-Share .......................................................................................................... 73
4-6 Time Repair .................................................................................................... 74
Chapter 5 Appendix ......................................................................................................75
5-1 Conguring SATA Hard Drive(s) ..................................................................... 75
5-1-1 Conguring the Onboard SATA Controller ............................................................75
5-1-2 Conguring JMicron JMB362 SATA Controller .......................................................81
5-1-3 Making a SATA RAID/AHCI Driver Diskette ............................................................87
5-1-4 Installing the SATA RAID/AHCI Driver and Operating System ...............................89
5-2 Conguring Audio Input and Output ............................................................... 98
5-2-1 Conguring 2/4/5.1/7.1-Channel Audio ...................................................................98
5-2-2 Conguring S/PDIF In/Out ....................................................................................100
5-2-3 Conguring Microphone Recording ......................................................................102
5-2-4 Using the Sound Recorder ...................................................................................104
5-3 Troubleshooting............................................................................................ 105
5-3-1 Frequently Asked Questions ................................................................................105
5-3-2 Troubleshooting Procedure ..................................................................................106
5-4 Regulatory Statements ................................................................................. 108
- 5 -

Box Contents

GA-790XT-USB3 motherboard
Motherboard driver disk
User's Manual
Quick Installation Guide
One IDE cable
Four SATA 3Gb/s cables
I/O Shield
The box contents above are for reference only and the actual items shall depend on the product package you obtain.
The box contents are subject to change without notice.
The motherboard image is for reference only.

Optional Items

Floppy disk drive cable (Part No. 12CF1-1FD001-7*R)
2-port USB 2.0 bracket (Part No. 12CR1-1UB030-5*R)
2-port IEEE 1394a bracket (Part No. 12CF1-1IE008-0*R)
2-port SATA power cable (Part No. 12CF1-2SERPW-0*R)
S/PDIF In cable (Part No. 12CR1-1SPDIN-0*R)
COM port cable (Part No. 12CF1-1CM001-3*R)
- 6 -

GA-790XT-USB3 Motherboard Layout

KB_MS
RCA_SPDIF
ATX_12V
USB_1394_ESATA2
USB_1394_ESATA1
R_USB
USB30_LAN
AUDIO
F_AUDIO
RTL8111D
CD_IN
CODEC
SPDIF_IN
SPDIF_OUT
IT8720
NEC
PCI1
PCI2
PCI3
CPU_FAN
PCIEX1_1
PCIEX16
PCIEX1_2
CLR_CMOS
PCIEX8
JMB362
AMD 790X
BAT
GA-790XT-USB3
Socket AM3
TSB43AB23
DDR3_1
AMD SB750
B_BIOS
M_BIOS
DDR3_2
DDR3_3
DDR3_4
PWR_FAN
ATX
IDE
SATA2_4 SATA2_5
SATA2_2 SATA2_3
SATA2_0 SATA2_1
COM
FDD
F_1394
- 7 -
F_USB2
F_USB1
SYS_FAN2
F_PANEL
SYS_FAN1

Block Diagram

1 PCI Express x16
PCIe CLK (100 MHz)
(Note 1)
or
2 PCI Express x8
(Note 1)
AM3 CPU
Hyper Transport 3.0
CPU CLK+/- (200 MHz)
DDR3 1866 (O.C.)
1333/1066 MHz
Dual Channel Memory
(Note 2)
/
Switch
PCI Express Bus
x16
x1x1
PCIe CLK
(100 MHz)
2 PCI Express x1
6 SATA 3Gb/s
ATA-133/100/66/33 IDE Channel
PCI Bus
TSB43AB23
3 IEEE 1394a
3 PCI
x1
RTL8111D
RJ45
LAN
AMD 790X
AMD SB750
CODEC
MIC
Line In
Line Out
Side Speaker Out
Surround Speaker Out
LPC
Bus
S/PDIF In
S/PDIF Out
PCI Express Bus
Dual BIOS
IT8720
x1x1
NECJMB362
2 USB 3.0/2.02 SATA 3Gb/s
12 USB Ports
Floppy
COM Port
PS/2 KB/Mouse
PCI CLK (33 MHz)
(Note 1) For optimum performance, if only one PCI Express graphics card is to be installed, be sure to install it in the
PCIEX16 slot. The PCIEX8 slot shares bandwidth with the PCIEX16 slot. When PCIEX8 is populated with a PCI Express graphics card, the PCIEX16 slot will operate at up to x8 mode.
(Note 2) To reach DDR3 1866 MHz or above, you must install two memory modules and install them in the DDR3_3 and
DDR3_4 memory sockets.
Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out
- 8 -

Chapter 1 Hardware Installation

1-1 Installation Precautions

The motherboard contains numerous delicate electronic circuits and components which can
become damaged as a result of electrostatic discharge (ESD). Prior to installation, carefully read
the user's manual and follow these procedures:
• Prior to installation, do not remove or break motherboard S/N (Serial Number) sticker or
warranty sticker provided by your dealer. These stickers are required for warranty validation.
• Always remove the AC power by unplugging the power cord from the power outlet before
installing or removing the motherboard or other hardware components.
• When connecting hardware components to the internal connectors on the motherboard,
make sure they are connected tightly and securely.
• When handling the motherboard, avoid touching any metal leads or connectors.
• It is best to wear an electrostatic discharge (ESD) wrist strap when handling electronic com-
ponents such as a motherboard, CPU or memory. If you do not have an ESD wrist strap,
keep your hands dry and rst touch a metal object to eliminate static electricity.
Prior to installing the motherboard, please have it on top of an antistatic pad or within an
electrostatic shielding container.
• Before unplugging the power supply cable from the motherboard, make sure the power sup-
ply has been turned off.
• Before turning on the power, make sure the power supply voltage has been set according to
the local voltage standard.
• Before using the product, please verify that all cables and power connectors of your hard-
ware components are connected.
• To prevent damage to the motherboard, do not allow screws to come in contact with the
motherboard circuit or its components.
• Make sure there are no leftover screws or metal components placed on the motherboard or
within the computer casing.
• Do not place the computer system on an uneven surface
• Do not place the computer system in a high-temperature environment.
• Turning on the computer power during the installation process can lead to damage to sys-
tem components as well as physical harm to the user.
• If you are uncertain about any installation steps or have a problem related to the use of the
product, please consult a certied computer technician.
.
- 9 - Hardware Installation
1-2 Product Specications
CPU  Support for AM3 processors: AMD Phenom™ II processor/ AMD Athlon™ II processor/ (Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest CPU support list.)
Hyper Transport Bus  5200 MT/s
Chipset

Memory  4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 16 GB of system memory  Dual channel memory architecture  Support for DDR3 1866 (O.C.)  (Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest memory support list.)
Audio
   
High Denition Audio 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel
     
LAN  1 x RTL8111D chip (10/100/1000 Mbit)
Expansion Slots  1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 (PCIEX16)  1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x8 (PCIEX8) (The PCIEX16 and PCIEX8 slots conform to PCI Express 2.0 standard.)  2 x PCI Express x1 slots  3 x PCI slots
Multi-Graphics  Support for ATI CrossFireX™ technology Technology
Storage Interface  Chipset:
- 1 x IDE connector supporting ATA-133/100/66/33 and up to 2 IDE devices
- 6 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors (SATA2_0, SATA2_1, SATA2_2, SATA2_3, SATA2_4, SATA2_5) supporting up to 6 SATA 3Gb/s devices
- Support for SATA RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, and JBOD
 JMicron JMB362 chip:
- 2 x eSATA 3Gb/s connectors on the back panel supporting up to 2 SATA 3Gb/s devices
- Support for SATA RAID 0, RAID 1, and JBOD
 iTE IT8720 chip:
- 1 x oppy disk drive connector supporting up to 1 oppy disk drive
North Bridge: AMD 790X

South Bridge: AMD SB750

Realtek ALC889 codec
Support for S/PDIF In/Out
Support for CD In
(Note 2)
/1333/1066 MHz memory modules
(Note 3)
(Note 3)
(Note 1)
Hardware Installation - 10 -
USB  Chipset:
- Up to 10 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (6 on the back panel, 4 via the USB brackets connected to the internal USB headers)  NEC chip:
- Up to 2 USB 3.0/2.0 ports on the back panel
IEEE 1394  T.I. TSB43AB23 chip:
- Up to 3 IEEE 1394a ports (2 on the back panel, 1 via the IEEE 1394a bracket connected to the internal IEEE 1394a header)
Internal  1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector Connectors  1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector  1 x oppy disk drive connector  1 x IDE connector  6 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors  1 x CPU fan header  2 x system fan headers  1 x power fan header  1 x front panel header  1 x front panel audio header  1 x CD In connector  1 x S/PDIF In header  1 x S/PDIF Out header  2 x USB 2.0/1.1 headers  1 x IEEE 1394a header  1 x serial port header  1 x clearing CMOS jumper
Back Panel  1 x PS/2 keyboard port Connectors   1 x optical S/PDIF Out connector  1 x coaxial S/PDIF Out connector  6 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports  2 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports  2 x IEEE 1394a ports  2 x eSATA 3Gb/s ports  1 x RJ-45 port  6 x audio jacks (Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out/Rear Speaker Out/ Side Speaker Out/Line In/Line Out/Microphone)
1 x PS/2 mouse port
- 11 - Hardware Installation
I/O Controller  iTE IT8720 chip
Hardware Monitor  System voltage detection  CPU/System temperature detection  CPU/System/Power fan speed detection  CPU overheating warning  CPU/System/Power fan fail warning  CPU/System fan speed control
(Note 4)
BIOS  2 x 8 Mbit ash  Use of licensed AWARD BIOS  Support for DualBIOS
 PnP 1.0a, DMI 2.0, SM BIOS 2.4, ACPI 1.0b
Unique Features  Support for @BIOS  Support for Q-Flash  Support for Xpress BIOS Rescue  Support for Download Center  Support for Xpress Install  Support for Xpress Recovery2  Support for EasyTune
(Note 5)
 Support for Easy Energy Saver  Support for Time Repair  Support for Q-Share
Bundled Software  Norton Internet Security (OEM version)
Operating System  Support for Microsoft® Windows® 7/Vista/XP
Form Factor  ATX Form Factor; 30.5cm x 24.4cm
(Note 1) Due to Windows 32-bit operating system limitation, when more than 4 GB of physical memory is
installed, the actual memory size displayed will be less than 4 GB.
(Note 2) To reach DDR3 1866 MHz or above, you must install two memory modules and install them in the
DDR3_3 and DDR3_4 memory sockets.
(Note 3) For optimum performance, if only one PCI Express graphics card is to be installed, be sure to install
it in the PCIEX16 slot. The PCIEX8 slot shares bandwidth with the PCIEX16 slot. When PCIEX8 is populated with a PCI Express graphics card, the PCIEX16 slot will operate at up to x8 mode.
(Note 4) Whether the CPU/system fan speed control function is supported will depend on the CPU/system
cooler you install.
(Note 5) Available functions in EasyTune may differ by motherboard model.
Hardware Installation - 12 -

1-3 Installing the CPU and CPU Cooler

Read the following guidelines before you begin to install the CPU:
• Make sure that the motherboard supports the CPU. (Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest CPU support list.)
• Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing the CPU to prevent hardware damage.
• Locate the pin one of the CPU. The CPU cannot be inserted if oriented incorrectly. (Or you may locate the notches on both sides of the CPU and alignment keys on the CPU socket.)
• Apply an even and thin layer of thermal grease on the surface of the CPU.
• Do not turn on the computer if the CPU cooler is not installed, otherwise overheating and dam-
age of the CPU may occur.
• Set the CPU host frequency in accordance with the CPU specications. It is not recommended that the system bus frequency be set beyond hardware specications since it does not meet the
standard requirements for the peripherals. If you wish to set the frequency beyond the standard specications, please do so according to your hardware specications including the CPU, graph­ics card, memory, hard drive, etc.

1-3-1 Installing the CPU

A. Locate the pin one (denoted by a small triangle) of the CPU socket and the CPU.
A Smal l Triangle Mark
Denotes Pin One of the
Socket
AM3 Socket
A Small Triangle Marking
Denotes CPU Pin One
AM3 CPU
- 13 - Hardware Installation
B. Follow the steps below to correctly install the CPU into the motherboard CPU socket.
• Before installing the CPU, make sure to turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the CPU.
• Do not force the CPU into the CPU socket. The CPU cannot t in if oriented incorrectly. Adjust the
CPU orientation if this occurs.
Step 1:
CPU Socket Locking Lever
Completely lift up the CPU socket locking lever.
Step 2: Align the CPU pin one (small triangle marking) with the triangle mark on the CPU socket and gently insert the CPU into the socket. Make
sure that the CPU pins t perfectly into their holes. Once the CPU is positioned into its socket, place one nger down on the middle of the
CPU, lowering the locking lever and latching it into the fully locked position.
Hardware Installation - 14 -

1-3-2 Installing the CPU Cooler

Follow the steps below to correctly install the CPU cooler on the CPU. (The following procedure uses the GIGABYTE cooler as the example.)
Step 1: Apply an even and thin layer of thermal grease on the surface of the installed CPU.
Step 3: Hook the CPU cooler clip to the mounting lug on one side of the retention frame. On the other side,push straight down on the the CPU cooler clip to hook it to the mounting lug on the reten­tion frame.
Step 5: Finally, attach the power connector of the CPU cooler to the CPU fan header (CPU_FAN) on the motherboard.
Step 2: Place the CPU cooler on the CPU.
Step 4: Turn the cam handle from the left side to the right side (as the picture above shows) to lock into place. (Refer to your CPU cooler installation manual for instructions on installing the cooler.)
Use extreme care when removing the CPU cooler because the thermal grease/tape between the CPU cooler and CPU may adhere to the CPU. Inadequately removing the CPU cooler may damage the CPU.
- 15 - Hardware Installation

1-4 Installing the Memory

Read the following guidelines before you begin to install the memory:
Make sure that the motherboard supports the memory. It is recommended that memory of the same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used.
(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest memory support list.)
Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing the memory to prevent hardware damage.
Memory modules have a foolproof design. A memory module can be installed in only one direc­tion. If you are unable to insert the memory, switch the direction.
1-4-1 Dual Channel Memory Conguration
This motherboard provides four DDR3 memory sockets and supports Dual Channel Technology. After the memory is installed, the BIOS will automatically detect the specications and capacity of the memory. En­abling Dual Channel memory mode will double the original memory bandwidth.
The four DDR3 memory sockets are divided into two channels and each channel has two memory sockets as following:
Channel 0: DDR3_1, DDR3_3 Channel 1: DDR3_2, DDR3_4
DDR3_1
DDR3_2
Dual Channel Memory Congurations Table
Two Modules
Four Modules
(SS=Single-Sided, DS=Double-Sided, "- -"=No Memory)
DDR3_3
DDR3_4
DDR3_1 DDR3_2 DDR3_3 DDR3_4
DS/SS DS/SS - - - -
- - - - DS/SS DS/SS
DS/SS DS/SS DS/SS DS/SS
If two memory modules are to be installed, it is rec­ommended that you install them in the DDR3_1 and DDR3_2 sockets.
Due to CPU limitations, read the following guidelines before installing the memory in Dual Channel mode.
1. Dual Channel mode cannot be enabled if only one DDR3 memory module is installed.
2. When enabling Dual Channel mode with two or four memory modules, it is recommended that memory of the same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used and installed in the same colored DDR3 sockets for optimum performance.
Hardware Installation - 16 -

1-4-2 Installing a Memory

Before installing a memory module, make sure to turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the memory module. DDR3 and DDR2 DIMMs are not compatible to each other or DDR DIMMs. Be sure to install DDR3 DIMMs on this motherboard.
Notch
DDR3 DIMM
A DDR3 memory module has a notch, so it can only t in one direction. Follow the steps below to correctly
install your memory modules in the memory sockets.
Step 1: Note the orientation of the memory module. Spread the retaining clips at both ends of the memory socket. Place the memory module on the socket. As indicated in the picture on the left, place your n­gers on the top edge of the memory, push down on the memory and insert it vertically into the memory socket.
Step 2: The clips at both ends of the socket will snap into place when the memory module is securely inserted.
- 17 - Hardware Installation

1-5 Installing an Expansion Card

Read the following guidelines before you begin to install an expansion card:
Make sure the motherboard supports the expansion card. Carefully read the manual that came
with your expansion card.
Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing
an expansion card to prevent hardware damage.
PCI Express x1 Slot
PCI Express x16 Slot (PCIEX16)
PCI Express x16 Slot (PCIEX8)
PCI Slot
Follow the steps below to correctly install your expansion card in the expansion slot.
1. Locate an expansion slot that supports your card. Remove the metal slot cover from the chassis back panel.
2. Align the card with the slot, and press down on the card until it is fully seated in the slot.
3. Make sure the metal contacts on the card are completely inserted into the slot.
4. Secure the card’s metal bracket to the chassis back panel with a screw.
5. After installing all expansion cards, replace the chassis cover(s).
6. Turn on your computer. If necessary, go to BIOS Setup to make any required BIOS changes for your
expansion card(s).
7. Install the driver provided with the expansion card in your operating system.
Example: Installing and Removing a PCI Express Graphics Card:
Installing a Graphics Card: Gently push down on the top edge of the card until
it is fully inserted into the PCI Express slot. Make sure the card is securely seated in the slot and does not rock.
Removing the Card from the PCIEX16 slot:
Gently push back on the
lever on the slot and then lift the card straight out from the slot.
Hardware Installation - 18 -
Removing the Card from the PCIEX8 slot:
Press the white latch at
the end of the slot to re­lease the card and then lift the card straight out from the slot.
1-6 Setup of the ATI CrossFireX™ Conguration
A. System Requirements
- Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP operating system
- A CrossFireX-supported motherboard with two PCI Express x16 slots and correct driver
- Two CrossFireX-ready graphics cards of identical brand and chip and correct driver
- Two CrossFire bridge connectors
- A power supply with sufcient power is recommended (Refer to the manual of your graphics cards for
the power requirement)
B. Connecting the Graphics Cards
Step 1: Observe the steps in "1-5 Installing an Expansion Card" and install two CrossFireX graphics cards on the PCI Express x16 slots.
(Note)
Step 2: Insert the CrossFire bridge connectors in the CrossFireX gold edge connectors on top of the two cards.
Step 3: Plug the display cable into the graphics card on the PCIEX16_1 slot.
C. Conguring the Graphics Card Driver
After installing the graphics card driver in the operating system, go to the Catalyst Control Center. Browse to the CrossFireX menu and ensure the Enable CrossFireX™ check box is selected.
(Note)
(Note) The bridge connectors may be needed or not depending on your graphics cards.
Procedure and driver screen for enabling CrossFireX technology may differ by graphics cards. Refer to the manual that came with your graphics cards for more information about enabling Cross­FireX technology.
- 19 - Hardware Installation

1-7 Back Panel Connectors

PS/2 Keyboard and PS/2 Mouse Port
Use the upper port to connect a PS/2 mouse and the lower port to connect a PS/2 keyboard.
Optical S/PDIF Out Connector
This connector provides digital audio out to an external audio system that supports digital optical audio.
Before using this feature, ensure that your audio system provides an optical digital audio in connector.
Coaxial S/PDIF Out Connector
This connector provides digital audio out to an external audio system that supports digital coaxial audio.
Before using this feature, ensure that your audio system provides a coaxial digital audio in connector.
USB 2.0/1.1 Port
The USB port supports the USB 2.0/1.1 specication. Use this port for USB devices such as a USB key-
board/mouse, USB printer, USB ash drive and etc.
IEEE 1394a Port
The IEEE 1394 port supports the IEEE 1394a specication, featuring high speed, high bandwidth and
hotplug capabilities. Use this port for an IEEE 1394a device.
eSATA 3Gb/s Port
The eSATA 3Gb/s port conforms to SATA 3Gb/s standard and is compatible with SATA 1.5Gb/s standard.
Use the port to connect an external SATA device. Refer to Chapter 5, "Conguring SATA Hard Drive(s)," for instructions on conguring a RAID array.
RJ-45 LAN Port
The Gigabit Ethernet LAN port provides Internet connection at up to 1 Gbps data rate. The following de-
scribes the states of the LAN port LEDs.
Connection/ Speed LED
LAN Port
Activity LED
Connection/Speed LED:
State Description
Orange 1 Gbps data rate
Green 100 Mbps data rate
Off 10 Mbps data rate
Activity LED:
State Description
Blinking Data transmission or receiving is occurring
Off No data transmission or receiving is occurring
USB 3.0/2.0 Port
The USB 3.0 port supports the USB 3.0 specication and is compatible to the USB 2.0/1.1 specication.
Use this port for USB devices such as a USB keyboard/mouse, USB printer, USB ash drive and etc.
• When removing the cable connected to a back panel connector, rst remove the cable from your
device and then remove it from the motherboard.
• When removing the cable, pull it straight out from the connector. Do not rock it side to side to prevent an electrical short inside the cable connector.
Hardware Installation - 20 -
Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out Jack (Orange)
Use this audio jack to connect center/subwoofer speakers in a 5.1/7.1-channel audio conguration.
Rear Speaker Out Jack (Black)
Use this audio jack to connect rear speakers in a 4/5.1/7.1-channel audio conguration.
Side Speaker Out Jack (Gray)
Use this audio jack to connect side speakers in a 7.1-channel audio conguration.
Line In Jack (Blue)
The default line in jack. Use this audio jack for line in devices such as an optical drive, walkman, etc.
Line Out Jack (Green)
The default line out jack. Use this audio jack for a headphone or 2-channel speaker. This jack can be
used to connect front speakers in a 4/5.1/7.1-channel audio conguration.
Mic In Jack (Pink)
The default Mic in jack. Microphones must be connected to this jack.
In addition to the default speakers settings, the ~ audio jacks can be recongured to perform different functions via the audio software. Only microphones still MUST be connected to the default Mic in jack ( ). Refer to the instructions on setting up a 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel audio con-
guration in Chapter 5, "Conguring 2/4/5.1/7.1-Channel Audio."
- 21 - Hardware Installation

1-8 Internal Connectors

123 5
10
7
18 11 17
12
13
1) ATX_12V_2X4
2) ATX
3) CPU_FAN
4) SYS_FAN1/SYS_FAN2
5) PWR_FAN
6) FDD
7) IDE
8) SATA2_0/1/2/3/4/5
9) F_PANEL
16 6 15
10) F_AUDIO
11) CD_IN
12) SPDIF_IN
13) SPDIF_OUT
14) F_USB1/F_USB2
15) F_1394
16) COM
17) CLR_CMOS
18) BAT
14
4 49
8
Read the following guidelines before connecting external devices:
• First make sure your devices are compliant with the connectors you wish to connect.
• Before installing the devices, be sure to turn off the devices and your computer. Unplug the
power cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the devices.
• After installing the device and before turning on the computer, make sure the device cable has been securely attached to the connector on the motherboard.
Hardware Installation - 22 -
1/2) ATX_12V_2X4/ATX (2x4 12V Power Connector and 2x12 Main Power Connector)
With the use of the power connector, the power supply can supply enough stable power to all the com-
ponents on the motherboard. Before connecting the power connector, rst make sure the power supply
is turned off and all devices are properly installed. The power connector possesses a foolproof design. Connect the power supply cable to the power connector in the correct orientation. The 12V power con­nector mainly supplies power to the CPU. If the 12V power connector is not connected, the computer will not start.
To meet expansion requirements, it is recommended that a power supply that can withstand high power consumption be used (500W or greater). If a power supply is used that does not provide the required power, the result can lead to an unstable or unbootable system.
The power connectors are compatible with power supplies with 2x2 12V and 2x10 power connectors. When using a power supply providing a 2x4 12V and a 2x12 power connector, remove the protective covers from the 12V power connector and the main power connector on the motherboard. Do not insert the power supply cables into pins under the protective covers when using a power supply providing a 2x2 12V and a 2x10 power connector.
ATX_12V_2X4:
8
5
ATX_12V_2X4
4
1
Pin No. Denition
1 GND (Only for 2x4-pin 12V)
2 GND (Only for 2x4-pin 12V)
3 GND
4 GND
5 +12V (Only for 2x4-pin 12V)
6 +12V (Only for 2x4-pin 12V)
7 +12V
8 +12V
ATX
ATX:
2412
131
Pin No. Denition
1 3.3V
2 3.3V
3 GND
4 +5V
5 GND
6 +5V
7 GND
8 Power Good
9 5VSB (stand by +5V)
10 +12V
11 +12V (Only for 2x12-pin ATX)
12 3.3V (Only for 2x12-pin ATX)
Pin No. Denition
13 3.3V
14 -12V
15 GND
16 PS_ON (soft On/Off)
17 GND
18 GND
19 GND
20 -5V
21 +5V
22 +5V
23 +5V (Only for 2x12-pin ATX)
24 GND (Only for 2x12-pin ATX)
- 23 - Hardware Installation
3/4/5) CPU_FAN/SYS_FAN1/SYS_FAN2/PWR_FAN (Fan Headers)
The motherboard has a 4-pin CPU fan header (CPU_FAN), a 3-pin (SYS_FAN2) and a 4-pin (SYS_
FAN1) system fan headers, and a 3-pin power fan header (PWR_FAN). Most fan headers possess a foolproof insertion design. When connecting a fan cable, be sure to connect it in the correct orientation (the black connector wire is the ground wire). The motherboard supports CPU fan speed control, which requires the use of a CPU fan with fan speed control design. For optimum heat dissipation, it is recom­mended that a system fan be installed inside the chassis.
1
CPU_FAN
1
SYS_FAN1
1
SYS_FAN2
PWR_FAN
Be sure to connect fan cables to the fan headers to prevent your CPU and system from over­heating. Overheating may result in damage to the CPU or the system may hang.
These fan headers are not conguration jumper blocks. Do not place a jumper cap on the
headers.
CPU_FAN:
Pin No. Denition
1 GND
2 +12V / Speed Control
3 Sense
4 Speed Control
SYS_FAN1:
Pin No. Denition
1 GND
2 +12V / Speed Control
3 Sense
4 Reserve
SYS_FAN2/PWR_FAN:
Pin No. Denition
1 GND
1
2 +12V
3 Sense
6) FDD (Floppy Disk Drive Connector)
This connector is used to connect a oppy disk drive. The types of oppy disk drives supported are:
360 KB, 720 KB, 1.2 MB, 1.44 MB, and 2.88 MB. Before connecting a oppy disk drive, be sure to locate pin 1 of the connector and the oppy disk drive cable. The pin 1 of the cable is typically designated by a stripe of different color. For purchasing the optional oppy disk drive cable, please contact the local dealer.
33
34
Hardware Installation - 24 -
1
2
7) IDE (IDE Connector)
G.QBOFM
G.QBOFM
G.QBOFM
The IDE connector supports up to two IDE devices such as hard drives and optical drives. Before attach-
ing the IDE cable, locate the foolproof groove on the connector. If you wish to connect two IDE devices, remember to set the jumpers and the cabling according to the role of the IDE devices (for example,
master or slave). (For information about conguring master/slave settings for the IDE devices, read the
instructions from the device manufacturers.)
40
39
2
1
8) SATA2_0/1/2/3/4/5 (SATA 3Gb/s Connectors, Controlled by AMD SB750)
The SATA connectors conform to SATA 3Gb/s standard and are compatible with SATA 1.5Gb/s standard.
Each SATA connector supports a single SATA device. The AMD SB750 controller supports RAID 0, RAID 1,
RAID 5, RAID 10, and JBOD. Refer to Chapter 5, "Conguring SATA Hard Drive(s)," for instructions on conguring a RAID array.
SATA2_4SATA2_2SATA2_0
7 1
7 1
SATA2_5SATA2_3SATA2_1
Pin No. Denition
1 GND
2 TXP
3 TXN
4 GND
5 RXN
6 RXP
7 GND
Please connect the L-shaped end of the SATA 3 Gb/s cable to your SATA hard drive.
A RAID 0 or RAID 1 conguration requires at least two hard drives. If more than two hard
drives are to be used, the total number of hard drives must be an even number.
A RAID 5 conguration requires at least three hard drives. (The total number of hard drives
does not have to be an even number.)
A RAID 10 conguration requires at least four hard drives and the total number of hard drives
must be an even number.
- 25 - Hardware Installation
9) F_PANEL (Front Panel Header)
Connect the power switch, reset switch, speaker, chassis intrusion switch/sensor and system status
indicator on the chassis to this header according to the pin assignments below. Note the positive and negative pins before connecting the cables.
Message/Power/
Sleep LED
2 1
Hard Drive
Activity LED
MSG+
HD+
Power Switch
MSG-
HD-
Reset Switch
PW+
PW-
RES+
RES-
Speaker
SPEAK+
CI+
PWR+
CI-
Power LED
Chassis Intrusion Header
SPEAK-
20 19
PWR-
MSG/PWR (Message/Power/Sleep LED, Yellow/Purple):
System Status LED
S0 On
S1 Blinking
S3/S4/S5 Off
Connects to the power status indicator on the chassis front panel. The LED
is on when the system is operating. The LED keeps blinking when the sys­tem is in S1 sleep state. The LED is off when the system is in S3/S4 sleep state or powered off (S5).
PW (Power Switch, Red):
Connects to the power switch on the chassis front panel. You may congure the way to turn off your
system using the power switch (refer to Chapter 2, "BIOS Setup," "Power Management Setup," for more information).
SPEAK (Speaker, Orange): Connects to the speaker on the chassis front panel. The system reports system startup status by is-
suing a beep code. One single short beep will be heard if no problem is detected at system startup. If a problem is detected, the BIOS may issue beeps in different patterns to indicate the problem. Refer to Chapter 5, "Troubleshooting," for information about beep codes.
HD (Hard Drive Activity LED, Blue) Connects to the hard drive activity LED on the chassis front panel. The LED is on when the hard drive
is reading or writing data.
RES (Reset Switch, Green): Connects to the reset switch on the chassis front panel. Press the reset switch to restart the computer
if the computer freezes and fails to perform a normal restart.
CI (Chassis Intrusion Header, Gray): Connects to the chassis intrusion switch/sensor on the chassis that can detect if the chassis cover
has been removed. This function requires a chassis with a chassis intrusion switch/sensor.
The front panel design may differ by chassis. A front panel module mainly consists of power switch, reset switch, power LED, hard drive activity LED, speaker and etc. When connecting your chassis front panel module to this header, make sure the wire assignments and the pin assign­ments are matched correctly.
Hardware Installation - 26 -
10) F_AUDIO (Front Panel Audio Header)
The front panel audio header supports Intel High Denition audio (HD) and AC'97 audio. You may connect
your chassis front panel audio module to this header. Make sure the wire assignments of the module con­nector match the pin assignments of the motherboard header. Incorrect connection between the module connector and the motherboard header will make the device unable to work or even damage it.
1 2
9
The front panel audio header supports HD audio by default. If your chassis provides an AC'97 front panel audio module, refer to the instructions on how to activate AC'97 functionality via
the audio software in Chapter 5, "Conguring 2/4/5.1/7.1-Channel Audio."
Audio signals will be present on both of the front and back panel audio connections simultane­ously. If you want to mute the back panel audio (only supported when using an HD front panel
audio module), refer to Chapter 5, "Conguring 2/4/5.1/7.1-Channel Audio."
Some chassis provide a front panel audio module that has separated connectors on each wire instead of a single plug. For information about connecting the front panel audio module that has different wire assignments, please contact the chassis manufacturer.
For HD Front Panel Audio: For AC'97 Front Panel Audio:
Pin No. Denition
1 MIC2_L
10
2 GND
3 MIC2_R
4 -ACZ_DET
5 LINE2_R
6 GND
7 FAUDIO_JD
8 No Pin
9 LINE2_L
10 GND
Pin No. Denition
1 MIC
2 GND
3 MIC Power
4 NC
5 Line Out (R)
6 NC
7 NC
8 No Pin
9 Line Out (L)
10 NC
11) CD_IN (CD In Connector)
You may connect the audio cable that came with your optical drive to the header.
Pin No. Denition
1
- 27 - Hardware Installation
1 CD-L
2 GND
3 GND
4 CD-R
12) SPDIF_IN (S/PDIF In Header)
This header supports digital S/PDIF In and can connect to an audio device that supports digital audio out
via an optional S/PDIF In cable. For purchasing the optional S/PDIF In cable, please contact the local dealer.
1
Pin No. Denition
1 Power
2 SPDIFI
3 GND
13) SPDIF_OUT (S/PDIF Out Header)
This header supports digital S/PDIF Out and connects a S/PDIF digital audio cable (provided by expan-
sion cards) for digital audio output from your motherboard to certain expansion cards like graphics cards and sound cards. For example, some graphics cards may require you to use a S/PDIF digital audio cable for digital audio output from your motherboard to your graphics card if you wish to connect an HDMI display to the graphics card and have digital audio output from the HDMI display at the same time. For information about connecting the S/PDIF digital audio cable, carefully read the manual for your expan­sion card.
1
Hardware Installation - 28 -
Pin No. Denition
1 SPDIFO
2 GND
G.QBOFM
14) F_USB1/F_USB2 (USB Headers)
G.QBOFM
The headers conform to USB 2.0/1.1 specication. Each USB header can provide two USB ports via an
optional USB bracket. For purchasing the optional USB bracket, please contact the local dealer.
Pin No. Denition
9
10
1 2
1 Power (5V)
2 Power (5V)
3 USB DX-
4 USB DY-
5 USB DX+
6 USB DY+
7 GND
8 GND
9 No Pin
10 NC
Do not plug the IEEE 1394 bracket (2x5-pin) cable into the USB header.
Prior to installing the USB bracket, be sure to turn off your computer and unplug the power
cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the USB bracket.
15) F_1394 (IEEE 1394a Header)
The header conforms to IEEE 1394a specication. The IEEE 1394a header can provide one IEEE 1394a
port via an optional IEEE 1394a bracket. For purchasing the optional IEEE 1394a bracket, please con­tact the local dealer.
9
10
1 2
Pin No. Denition
1 TPA+
2 TPA-
3 GND
4 GND
5 TPB+
6 TPB-
7 Power (12V)
8 Power (12V)
9 No Pin
10 GND
Do not plug the USB bracket cable into the IEEE 1394a header.
Prior to installing the IEEE 1394a bracket, be sure to turn off your computer and unplug the
power cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the IEEE 1394a bracket.
To connect an IEEE 1394a device, attach one end of the device cable to your computer and then attach the other end of the cable to the IEEE 1394a device. Ensure that the cable is se­curely connected.
- 29 - Hardware Installation
16) COM (Serial Port Header)
The COM header can provide one serial port via an optional COM port cable. For purchasing the op-
tional COM port cable, please contact the local dealer.
Pin No. Denition
1 NDCD-
9
10
1 2
2 NSIN
3 NSOUT
4 NDTR-
5 GND
6 NDSR-
7 NRTS-
8 NCTS-
9 NRI-
10 No Pin
17) CLR_CMOS (Clearing CMOS Jumper)
Use this jumper to clear the CMOS values (e.g. date information and BIOS congurations) and reset
the CMOS values to factory defaults. To clear the CMOS values, place a jumper cap on the two pins to temporarily short the two pins or use a metal object like a screwdriver to touch the two pins for a few seconds.
Always turn off your computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before clear­ing the CMOS values.
After clearing the CMOS values and before turning on your computer, be sure to remove the jumper cap from the jumper. Failure to do so may cause damage to the motherboard.
After system restart, go to BIOS Setup to load factory defaults (select Load Optimized De- faults) or manually congure the BIOS settings (refer to Chapter 2, "BIOS Setup," for BIOS
congurations).
Hardware Installation - 30 -
Open: Normal
Short: Clear CMOS Values
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