GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-DS4 Owner's Manual

GA-MA790X-DS4

AM2+/AM2 socket motherboard for AMD PhenomTM FX processor/ AMD PhenomTM processor/ AMD Athlon AMD Athlon AMD Athlon

User's Manual

Rev. 1002

12ME-MA790XDS4-1002R

64 FX processor/

64 X2 Dual-Core processor/

64 processor/AMD SempronTM processor

Oct. 16, 2007

GA-MA790X-DS4

Motherboard

Oct. 16, 2007

GA-MA790X-DS4

Motherboard

The trademarks mentioned in this manual are legally registered to their respective owners.

The logo is exclusively licensed to GIGABYTE UNITED INC. by GIGA-BYTE

TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.

GIGABYTE UNITED INC. is designated by GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD as the exclu-

sive global distributor of GIGABYTE branded motherboards.

Disclaimer

Information in this manual is protected by copyright laws and is the property of GIGABYTE.

Changes to the specifications and features in this manual may be made by GIGABYTE without 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 Classifications

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\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-MA790X-DS4 Motherboard Layout ......................................................................... 7

Block Diagram ................................................................................................................ 8

Chapter 1 Hardware Installation .................................................................................... 9

1-1 Installation Precautions ..................................................................................... 9

1-2 Product Specifications .................................................................................... 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 Configuration ................................................................ 16

1-4-2 Installing a Memory ............................................................................................. 17

1-5 Installing an Expansion Card ......................................................................... 18

1-6 Back Panel Connectors ................................................................................. 20

1-7 Internal Connectors ........................................................................................ 22

Chapter 2 BIOS Setup ................................................................................................. 35

2-1 Startup Screen ................................................................................................ 36

2-2 The Main Menu .............................................................................................. 37

2-3 Standard CMOS Features ............................................................................. 39

2-4 Advanced BIOS Features .............................................................................. 41

2-5 Integrated Peripherals ..................................................................................... 43

2-6 Power Management Setup ............................................................................. 46

2-7 PnP/PCI Configurations ................................................................................. 48

2-8 PC Health Status ........................................................................................... 49

2-9 MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.) ....................................................................... 51

2-10 Load Fail-Safe Defaults ................................................................................... 54

2-11 Load Optimized Defaults ................................................................................. 54

2-12 Set Supervisor/User Password ..................................................................... 55

2-13 Save & Exit Setup......................................................................................... 56

2-14 Exit Without Saving ....................................................................................... 56

- 4 -

Chapter 3 Drivers Installation ...................................................................................... 57

3-1 Installing Chipset Drivers ............................................................................... 57

3-2 Software Applications ..................................................................................... 58

3-3 Driver CD Information .................................................................................... 58

3-4 Hardware Information ..................................................................................... 59

3-5 Contact Us ..................................................................................................... 59

Chapter 4 Unique Features ......................................................................................... 61

4-1 Xpress Recovery2 ......................................................................................... 61

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 5 Pro ............................................................................................. 71

4-4 Windows Vista ReadyBoost ........................................................................... 72

Chapter 5 Appendix .................................................................................................... 73

5-1 Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s) .................................................................... 73

5-1-1 Configuring the Onboard SATA Controller......................................................... 73

5-1-2 Making a SATA RAID/AHCI Driver Diskette ..................................................... 79

5-1-3 Installing the SATA RAID/AHCI Driver and Operating System ...................... 80

5-2 Configuring Audio Input and Output ................................................................. 85

5-2-1 Configuring 2/4/5.1/7.1-Channel Audio ............................................................ 85

5-2-2 Installing the S/PDIF In Cable (Optional) ........................................................... 87

5-2-3 Configuring Microphone Recording ................................................................... 89

5-2-4 Using the Sound Recorder ................................................................................. 91

5-3 Troubleshooting ............................................................................................... 92

5-3-1 Frequently Asked Questions ............................................................................. 92

5-3-2 Troubleshooting Procedure ................................................................................ 93

Regulatory Statements ................................................................................................. 95

- 5 -

Box Contents

GA-MA790X-DS4 motherboard

Motherboard driver disk

User's Manual

Quick Installation Guide

One IDE cable and one floppy disk drive cable

Two SATA 3Gb/s cables

I/O Shield

• The box contents above are for reference only and the actual items shall depend on product package you obtain.

The box contents are subject to change without notice.

• The motherboard image is for reference only.

Optional Items

2-port USB 2.0 bracket (Part No. 12CR1-1UB030-51R)

2-port IEEE 1394a bracket (Part No. 12CF1-1IE008-01R)

2-port SATA power cable (Part No. 12CF1-2SERPW-01R)

S/PDIF in cable (Part No. 12CR1-1SPDIN-01R)

LPT port cable (Part No. 12CF1-1LP001-01R)

- 6 -

GA-MA790X-DS4 Motherboard Layout

KB_MS

RCA

COMA

USB

AUDIO

CODEC

F1_1394

SPDIF

1394

LAN

RTL

8111B

SPDIF_OUT

TSB43AB23

SYS_FAN2

ATX_12V_2X4

F_AUDIO

CD_IN

SPDIF_IN

PCIE_12V

CPU_FAN

NB_FAN

PCIE_1

PCIE_2

PCIE_3

PCI1

PCI2

Socket AM2

AMD 790X

GA-MA790X-DS4

PCIE_16_2

FDD

PCIE_16_1

IT8718

LPT

DDRII_2

DDRII_1

AMD SB600

F_USB1

Main BIOS

Backup BIOS

SYS_FAN1

DDRII_3

DDRII_4

SATAII2

F_USB2

ATX

PWR_FAN

IDE

SATAII0

SATAII1SATAII3

BAT

CLR_CMOS

PWR_LED

- 7 -

F_PANEL

Block Diagram

1 PCIe x16

PCIe CLK

(100 MHz)

PCIe CLK

(100 MHz)

2 PCIe x8

Switch

PCI Express x 16 Bus

PCI Express Bus

x1 x1

3 PCI Express x1

PCI Bus

TSB43AB23

RTL8111B

RJ45

LAN

AMD

Socket AM2

CPU

Hyper Transport 3.0

AMD 790X

AMD SB600

CODEC

CPU CLK+/-(200 MHz)

DDR2 1066/800/667 MHz DIMM

Dual BIOS

4 SATA 3Gb/s

LPC BUS

Dual Channel Memory

ATA-133/100/66/33 IDE Channel

10 USB Ports

IT8718

LPT Port

COM Port

Floppy

2 PCI

3 IEEE 1394a

MIC

Line-In

Line-Out

SPDIF In

SPDIF Out

Side Speaker Out

Surround Speaker Out

Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out

- 8 -

PS/2 KB/Mouse

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

components such as a motherboard, CPU or memory. If you do not have an ESD wrist strap,

keep your hands dry and first 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 supply

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 hardware

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 system

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 certified computer technician.

Hardware Installation- 9 -

1-2 Product Specifications

CPU  Support for Socket AM2+/AM2 processors:

AMD PhenomTM FX processor/AMD PhenomTM processor/ AMD AthlonTM 64 FX processor/AMD AthlonTM 64 X2 Dual-Core processor/ AMD AthlonTM 64 processor/AMD SempronTM processor

(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest CPU support list.) Hyper Transport Bus 5200/2000 MT/s Chipset  North Bridge: AMD 790X

 South Bridge: AMD SB600

Memory  4 x 1.8V DDR2 DIMM sockets supporting up to 16 GB of system memory

 Dual channel memory architecture  Support for DDR2 1066

(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest memory support list.) Audio  Realtek ALC889A codec

 High Definition Audio  2/4/5.1/7.1-channel  Support for S/PDIF In/Out  Support for CD In

LAN  RTL 8111B chip (10/100/1000 Mbit) Expansion Slots  2 x PCI Express x16 slots supporting ATI CrossFireXTM technology

(The PCIE_16_1 slot supports x16; the PCIE_16_2 supports x8.

The PCI Express x16 slots conform to PCI Express 2.0 standard.)

 3 x PCI Express x1 slots  2 x PCI slots

Storage Interface  South Bridge:

- 1 x IDE connector supporting ATA-133/100/66/33 and up to 2 IDE devices

- 4 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors supporting up to 4 SATA 3Gb/s devices

- Support for SATA RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 10

 iTE IT8718 chip:

- 1 x floppy disk drive connector supporting up to 1 floppy disk drive

IEEE 1394a  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) USB  Integrated in the South Bridge

 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)

(Note 2)

/800/667 MHz memory modules

(Note 1)

(Note 3)

GA-MA790X-DS4 Motherboard - 10 -

Internal Connectors  1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector

 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector  1 x 4-pin PCIe 12V power connector  1 x floppy disk drive connector  1 x IDE connector  4 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors  1 x CPU fan header  2 x system fan headers  1 x power fan header  1 x North Bridge 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  1 x IEEE 1394a header  2 x USB 2.0/1.1 headers  1 x parallel port header  1 x chassis intrusion header  1 x power LED header

Back Panel  1 x PS/2 keyboard port Connectors  1 x PS/2 mouse port

 1 x optical S/PDIF Out connector  1 x coaxial S/PDIF Out connector  1 x COMA port  2 x IEEE 1394a ports  6 x USB 2.0/1.1 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) I/O Controller  iTE IT8718 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

BIOS  2 x 4 Mbit flash

 Use of licensed AWARD BIOS  PnP 1.0a, DMI 2.0, SM BIOS 2.4, ACPI 1.0b  Support for Dual BIOS

Hardware Installation- 11 -

Unique Features  Support for @BIOS

 Support for Download Center  Support for Q-Flash  Support for EasyTune

(Note 4)

 Support for Xpress Install  Support for Xpress Recovery2  Support for Virtual Dual BIOS

Bundled Software  Norton Internet Security (OEM version) Overclocking  Voltage adjustments in BIOS Setup (CPU/DDR2/North Bridge/South Bridge)

allow you to:

- Increase CPU voltage

(Note 5)

- Increase DDR2 voltage by 0.025V to 0.3750V with 0.025V increment

- Increase North Bridge voltage by 0.025V to 0.3750V with 0.025V increment

- Increase South Bridge voltage by 0.025V to 0.3750V with 0.025V increment

 Frequency adjustments in BIOS Setup (CPU/HT Link/PCIE/DDR2)

allow you to:

- Adjust CPU host frequency from 200 MHz to 500 MHz with 1 MHz increment

- Adjust HT Link frequency

- Adjust PCI Express frequency from 100 MHz to 200 MHz with 1 MHz increment

- Adjust DDR2 frequency

Operating System  Support for Microsoft® Windows® Vista/XP/2000 Form Factor  ATX form factor; 30.5cm x 22.4cm

(Note 1) Due to Windows XP 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) Whether 1066 MHz memory speed is supported depends on the CPU being used. (Note 3) When the CrossFireXTM technology is enabled, the PCIE_16_1 slot will operate in x8 mode. If

you are installing a single PCI Express x16 graphics card, please install it in the PCIE_16_1

slot for optimum performance. (Note 4) Available functions in Easytune may differ by motherboard model. (Note 5) The adjustable CPU voltage range depends on the CPU being used.

GA-MA790X-DS4 Motherboard - 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.

• 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

damage of the CPU may occur.

• Set the CPU host frequency in accordance with the CPU specifications. It is not recommended that the system bus frequency be set beyond hardware specifications since it does not meet the standard requirements for the peripherals. If you wish to set the frequency beyond the standard specifications, please do so according to your hardware specifications 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 Small Triangle Mark

Denotes Pin One of the

Socket

A Small Triangle Marking

Denotes CPU Pin One

AM2 CPU Socket

AM2 CPU

Hardware Installation- 13 -

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.

CPU Socket Locking

Lever

Step 1: 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 fit perfectly into their holes. Once the CPU is positioned into its socket, place one finger down on the middle of the CPU, lowering the locking lever and latching it into the fully locked position.

Do not force the CPU into the CPU socket. The CPU cannot fit in if oriented incorrectly. Adjust the CPU orientation if this occurs.

GA-MA790X-DS4 Motherboard - 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.

Hardware Installation- 15 -

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 Configuration

This motherboard provides four DDR2 memory sockets and supports Dual Channel Technology. After the memory is installed, the BIOS will automatically detect the specifications and capacity of the memory. Enabling Dual Channel memory mode will double the original memory bandwidth.

The four DDR2 memory sockets are divided into two channels and each channel has two memory sockets as following:

Channel 0: DDRII_1, DDRII_3 Channel 1: DDRII_2, DDRII_4

Dual Channel Memory Configurations Table

Two Modules

Four Modules

(SS=Single-Sided, DS=Double-Sided, "- -"=No Memory)

DDRII_1 DDRII_2 DDRII_3 DDRII_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 recom-

mended that you install them in the DDRII_1 and DDRII_2

sockets.

DDRII_1

DDRII_2

DDRII_3

DDRII_4

Due to CPU limitation, read the following guidelines before installing the memory in Dual Channel mode.

1. Dual Channel mode cannot be enabled if only one DDR2 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 DDR2 sockets for optimum performance.

GA-MA790X-DS4 Motherboard - 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.

DDR2 DIMMs are not compatible to DDR DIMMs. Be sure to install DDR2 DIMMs on

this motherboard.

Notch

DDR2 DIMM

A DDR2 memory module has a notch, so it can only fit 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 fingers 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.

Hardware Installation- 17 -

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 x16 Slot (PCIE_16_1)

PCI Express x16 Slot (PCIE_16_2)

PCI Express x1 Slot

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 x16 Graphics Card:

• Installing a Graphics Card: Gently insert the graphics card into the PCI Express x16 slot. Make sure the small white-drawable bar securely locks the graphics card.

GA-MA790X-DS4 Motherboard - 18 -

• Removing the Card from the PCIE_16_1 Slot: Pull out the small white- drawable bar at the end of the PCI Express x16 slot to release the card and then pull the card straight up from the slot.

You can also press the latch on the back of the white-drawable bar to release the card.

• Removing the Card from the PCIE_16_2 Slot: Press the white latch at the end of the PCI Express x16 slot to release the card and then pull the card straight up from the slot.

• The motherboard provides a PCIE_12V power connector, which can supply extra power to the onboard PCI Express x16 slots. When you install two graphics cards, connect the power cable from your power supply to this connector.

Hardware Installation- 19 -

1-6 Back Panel Connectors

PS/2 Keyboard and PS/2 Mouse Port

Use the upper port (green) to connect a PS/2 mouse and the lower port (purple) to connect a PS/2 keyboard.

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.

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.

Serial Port

Use the serial port to connect devices such as a mouse, modem or other peripherals.

IEEE 1394a Port

The IEEE 1394 port supports the IEEE 1394a specification, featuring high speed, high bandwidth and hotplug capabilities. Use this port for an IEEE 1394a device.

USB Port

The USB port supports the USB 2.0/1.1 specification. Use this port for USB devices such as an USB keyboard/mouse, USB printer, USB flash drive and etc.

RJ-45 LAN Port

The Gigabit Ethernet LAN port provides Internet connection at up to 1 Gbps data rate. The following describes the states of the LAN port LEDs.

Connection/ Speed LED

LAN Port

Activity LED

Connection/Speed LED:

State Description

Orange 1 Gpbs data rate

Green 100 Mpbs data rate

Off 10 Mpbs data rate

Activity LED:

State Description

Blinking Data transmission or receiving is occurring

Off No data transmission or receiving is occurring

• When removing the cable connected to a back panel connector, first 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.

GA-MA790X-DS4 Motherboard - 20 -

Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out Jack (Orange)

Use this audio jack to connect center/subwoofer speakers in a 5.1/7.1-channel audio configuration.

Rear Speaker Out Jack (Black)

Use this audio jack to connect rear speakers in a 4/5.1/7.1-channel audio configuration.

Side Speaker Out Jack (Gray)

Use this audio jack to connect side speakers in a 7.1-channel audio configuration.

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 configuration.

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 reconfigured 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 configuration in Chapter 5, "Configuring 2/4/5.1/7.1-Channel Audio."

Hardware Installation- 21 -

1-7 Internal Connectors

34 5

17 16

1) ATX_12V_2X4

2) ATX

3) CPU_FAN

4) SYS_FAN1/SYS_FAN2

5) PWR_FAN

6) NB_FAN

7) PCIE_12V

8) FDD

9) IDE

10) SATAII0 / 1 / 2 / 3

11) PWR_LED

7 22

813

12) BAT

13) F_PANEL

14) F_AUDIO

15) CD_IN

16) SPDIF_IN

17) SPDIF_OUT

18) F_USB1 / F_USB2

19) F1_1394

20) LPT

21) CLR_CMOS

22) CI

18 12

21 11

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.

GA-MA790X-DS4 Motherboard - 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 components on the motherboard. Before connecting the power connector, first 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 (400W 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:

ATX_12V_2X4

Pin No. Definition

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

1224

ATX

ATX:

Pin No. Definition

1 3.3V

2 3.3V

3 GND

4 +5V

5 GND

6 +5V

7 GND

8 Power Good

9 5V SB(stand by +5V)

10 +12V

11 +12V (Only for 2x12 pin ATX)

12 3.3V (Only for 2x12 pin ATX)

Pin No. Definition

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)

Hardware Installation- 23 -

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 4-pin (SYS_FAN1) and a 3-pin (SYS_FAN2) system fan header, and a 3-pin power fan header (PWR_FAN). Each fan header supplies a +12V power voltage and possesses a foolproof insertion design. When connecting a fan cable, be sure to connect it in the correct orientation. Most fans are designed with color-coded power connector wires. A red power connector wire indicates a positive connection and requires a +12V voltage. 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.

CPU_FAN/SYS_FAN1:

Pin No. Definition

1 GND

2 +12V

PWR_FAN

SYS_FAN2/PWR_FAN:

Pin No. Definition

3 Sense

4 Speed Control

1 GND

2 +12V

3 Sense

CPU_FAN SYS_FAN1

SYS_FAN2

6) NB_FAN (North Bridge Fan Header)

Connect the North Bridge fan cable to this header. The fan header has a foolproof insertion design. When connecting a fan cable, be sure to connect it in the correct orientation. Most fans are designed with color-coded power connector wires. A red power connector wire indicates a positive connection and requires a +12V voltage. The black connector wire is the ground wire.

• Be sure to connect fan cables to the fan headers to prevent your CPU, North Bridge and system from overheating. Overheating may result in damage to the CPU/North Bridge or the system may hang.

• These fan headers are not configuration jumper blocks. Do not place a jumper cap on the headers.

GA-MA790X-DS4 Motherboard - 24 -

Pin No. Definition

1 GND

2 +12V

3NC

7) PCIE_12V (Power Connector)

This power connector can supply extra power to the PCI Express x16 slots on the motherboard. Connect the power supply cable to this connector when using two graphics cards. Failure to do so may lead to an unstable system.

PIin No. Definition

1NC

2 GND

3 GND

4 +12V

8) FDD (Floppy Disk Drive Connector)

This connector is used to connect a floppy disk drive. The types of floppy disk drives supported are: 360 KB, 720 KB, 1.2 MB, 1.44 MB, and 2.88 MB. Before connecting a floppy disk drive, be sure to locate pin 1 of the connector and the floppy disk drive cable. The pin 1 of the cable is typically designated by a stripe of different color.

Hardware Installation- 25 -

9) IDE (IDE Connector)

The IDE connector supports up to two IDE devices such as hard drives and optical drives. Before attaching 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 configuring master/slave settings for the IDE devices, read the instructions from the device manufacturers.)

3940

10) SATAII0/1/2/3 (SATA 3Gb/s Connectors, Controlled by AMD SB600)

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 SB600 controller supports RAID 0, RAID 1 and RAID 10. Refer to Chapter 5, "Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s)," for instructions on configuring a RAID array.

SATAII2

SATAII3

SATAII0

SATAII1

Pin No. Definition

1 GND

2 TXP

3 TXN

4 GND

5 RXN

6 RXP

7 GND

• A RAID 0 or RAID 1 configuration 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 10 configuration requires at least four hard drives and the total number of hard drives must be an even number.

GA-MA790X-DS4 Motherboard - 26 -

Please connect the L-shaped end of the SATA 3Gb/s cable to your SATA hard drive.

11) PWR_LED (System Power LED Header)

This header can be used to connect a system power LED on the chassis to indicate system power status. 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).

Pin No. Definition

1 MPD+

2 MPD-

3 MPD-

System Status LED

S0 On

S1 Blinking

S3/S4/S5 Off

12) BAT (Battery)

The battery provides power to keep the values (such as BIOS configurations, date, and time information) in the CMOS when the computer is turned off. Replace the battery when the battery voltage drops to a low level, or the CMOS values may not be accurate or may be lost.

You may clear the CMOS values by removing the battery:

1. Turn off your computer and unplug the power cord.

2. Gently remove the battery from the battery holder and wait for one minute.

(Or use a metal object like a screwdriver to touch the positive and

negative terminals of the battery holder, making them short for 5 seconds.)

3. Replace the battery.

4. Plug in the power cord and restart your computer.

• Always turn off your computer and unplug the power cord before replacing the battery.

• Replace the battery with an equivalent one. Danger of explosion if the battery is replaced

with an incorrect model.

• Contact the place of purchase or local dealer if you are not able to replace the battery by yourself or uncertain about the battery model.

• When installing the battery, note the orientation of the positive side (+) and the negative side (-) of the battery (the positive side should face up).

• Used batteries must be handled in accordance with local environmental regulations.

Hardware Installation- 27 -

13) F_PANEL (Front Panel Header)

Connect the power switch, reset switch, speaker and system status indicator on the chassis front panel 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

MSG+

HD+

MSG-

HD-

Power Switch

PW+

RES-

PW-

RES+

Speaker Connector

SPEAK+

SPEAK-

20 19

IDE Hard Disk

Active LED

Reset Switch

• MSG (Message/Power/Sleep LED, Yellow):

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 configure 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 issuing 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 (IDE 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.

• NC (Purple): No connection

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.

GA-MA790X-DS4 Motherboard - 28 -

14) F_AUDIO (Front Panel Audio Header)

The front panel audio header supports Intel High Definition 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.

910

Pin No. Definition

1 MIC2_L

2 GND

3 MIC2_R

4 -ACZ_DET

5 LINE2_R

6 FSENSE1

7 FAUDIO_JD

8 No Pin

9 LINE2_L

10 FSENSE2

For AC'97 Front Panel Audio:For HD Front Panel Audio:

Pin No. Definition

1 MIC

2 GND

3 MIC Power

4NC

5 Line Out (R)

6NC

7NC

8 No Pin

9 Line Out (L)

10 NC

• 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 functioninality via the audio software in Chapter 5, "Configuring 2/4/5.1/7.1-Channel Audio."

• When using an AC'97 front panel audio module, you can use either the front or the back panel audio connectors, but not both at the same time.

• 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.

15) CD_IN (CD In Connector, Black)

You may connect the audio cable that came with your optical drive to the header.

Pin No. Definition

1 CD-L

2 GND

3 GND

4 CD-R

Hardware Installation- 29 -

16) SPDIF_IN (S/PDIF In Header, Red)

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.

Pin No. Definition

1 Power

2 SPDIFI

3 GND

17) SPDIF_OUT (S/PDIF Out Header)

This header supports digital S/PDIF out and connects a S/PDIF digital audio cable (provided by expansion 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.

Pin No. Definition

1 SPDIFO

2 GND

GA-MA790X-DS4 Motherboard - 30 -

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