Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD7 (rev. 1.0) User Manual [ru]

GA-P55A-UD7

LGA1156 socket motherboard for Intel® Core™ i7 processor family/
Intel® Core™ i5 processor family/Intel® Core™ i3 processor family

User's Manual

Rev. 1001

12ME-P55AUD7-1001R

Jan. 26, 2010

GA-P55A-UD7

Motherboard

Jan. 26, 2010

Motherboard

GA-P55A-UD7

Copyright

© 2010 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-P55A-UD7 Motherboard Layout ................................................................................7

GA-P55A-UD7 Motherboard 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 Hybrid Silent-Pipe Module ........................................................ 16

1-5 Installing the Memory .....................................................................................17

1-5-1 Dual Channel Memory Conguration .....................................................................17

1-5-2 Installing a Memory ...............................................................................................18

1-6 Installing an Expansion Card ......................................................................... 19

1-7 Setup of ATI CrossFireX™/NVIDIA SLI Conguration ..................................... 20

1-8 Installing the SATA Bracket ............................................................................ 21

1-9 Back Panel Connectors .................................................................................. 22

1-10 Onboard LEDs and Buttons ........................................................................... 24

1-11 Internal Connectors ........................................................................................ 26

Chapter 2 BIOS Setup ..................................................................................................37

2-1 Startup Screen ............................................................................................... 38

2-2 The Main Menu .............................................................................................. 39

2-3 MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.) ........................................................................ 41

2-4 Standard CMOS Features .............................................................................. 50

2-5 Advanced BIOS Features .............................................................................. 52

2-6 Integrated Peripherals .................................................................................... 54

2-7 Power Management Setup ............................................................................. 58

2-8 PC Health Status ............................................................................................ 60

2-9 Load Fail-Safe Defaults .................................................................................. 62

2-10 Load Optimized Defaults ................................................................................ 62

2-11 Set Supervisor/User Password ...................................................................... 63

2-12 Save & Exit Setup .......................................................................................... 64

2-13 Exit Without Saving ........................................................................................ 64

- 4 -

Chapter 3 Drivers Installation ........................................................................................65

3-1 Installing Chipset Drivers ............................................................................... 65

3-2 Application Software ...................................................................................... 66

3-3 Technical Manuals .......................................................................................... 66

3-4 Contact ........................................................................................................... 67

3-5 System ........................................................................................................... 67

3-6 Download Center ........................................................................................... 68

3-7 New Utilities ................................................................................................... 68

Chapter 4 Unique Features ...........................................................................................69

4-1 Xpress Recovery2 .......................................................................................... 69

4-2 BIOS Update Utilities ..................................................................................... 72

4-2-1 Updating the BIOS with the Q-Flash Utility .............................................................72

4-2-2 Updating the BIOS with the @BIOS Utility .............................................................75

4-3 EasyTune 6 .................................................................................................... 76

4-4 Dynamic Energy SaverTM 2 ............................................................................77

4-5 Q-Share .......................................................................................................... 79

4-6 Smart 6™ ........................................................................................................ 80

4-7 Auto Green ..................................................................................................... 83

4-8 eXtreme Hard Drive (X.H.D) .......................................................................... 84

4-9 Teaming

..............................................................................................85

Chapter 5 Appendix ......................................................................................................87

5-1 Conguring SATA Hard Drive(s) ..................................................................... 87

5-1-1 Conguring Intel P55 SATA Controllers .................................................................87

5-1-2 Conguring JMicron JMB362/GIGABYTE SATA2 SATA Controller ........................95

5-1-3 Conguring Marvell 9128 SATA Controller ...........................................................101

5-1-4 Making a SATA RAID/AHCI Driver Diskette ..........................................................106

5-1-5 Installing the SATA RAID/AHCI Driver and Operating System .............................108

5-2 Conguring Audio Input and Output ............................................................. 121

5-2-1 Conguring 2/4/5.1/7.1-Channel Audio .................................................................121

5-2-2 Conguring S/PDIF In/Out ....................................................................................123

5-2-3 Enabling the Dolby Home Theater Function ........................................................125

5-2-4 Conguring Microphone Recording ......................................................................126

5-2-5 Using the Sound Recorder ...................................................................................128

5-3 Troubleshooting............................................................................................ 129

5-3-1 Frequently Asked Questions ................................................................................129

5-3-2 Troubleshooting Procedure ..................................................................................130

5-4 POST Error Code ......................................................................................... 132

5-5 Regulatory Statements ................................................................................. 136

- 5 -

Box Contents

GA-P55A-UD7 motherboard

Motherboard driver disk

User's Manual

Quick Installation Guide

One IDE cable

Four SATA 3Gb/s cables

I/O Shield

One SATA bracket

2-Way SLI bridge connector

3-Way SLI bridge connector

One Hybrid Silent-Pipe module kit

• 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-P55A-UD7 Motherboard Layout

F_AUDIO

RTL8111D

RTL8111D

CODEC

CD_IN

SPDIF_O

SYS_FAN3

NEC

D720200F1

SPDIF_I

IT8720

KB_USB

R_SPDIF

USB_1394_ESATA_2

USB_1394_ESATA_1

USB_LAN

USB30_LAN

AUDIO

ATX_12V_2X

JMicron JMB362

(Note 1)

PCIEX1_1

PCIEX8_1

PCIEX16_2

PCI1

GA-P55A-UD7

PCIEX8_2

PCI2

PCH_FAN

LGA1156

NF200

F_1394

PCIEX16_1

CPU_FAN

P EX 8608

Bridge

M_BIOS

TSB43AB23

B_BIOS

DDR3_2

DDR3_1

S4_S5_LED
S3_LED
S1_LED
S0_LED

BAT

DDR3_4

DDR3_3

Intel® P55

Marvell 9128

RST_SW

CMOS_SW

PW_SW

M_P_LED

V_P_LED

PHASE LED

G I GA B Y T E

SATA2

SYS_FAN1

ATX

PWR_FAN

IDE

Debug LED

GSATA2_7
GSATA2_6

SATA2_1
SATA2_0

SATA2_3
SATA2_2

SATA2_5
SATA2_4

GSATA3_9
GSATA3_8

(Note 2)

COMA

SYS_FAN2

FDD

F_USB2

F_USB1

F_PANEL

(Note 1) Due to a hardware limitation, the PCIEX1_1 slot can only accommodate a shorter PCI Express x1
expansion card. For a longer expansion card, use other expansion slots.
(Note 2) For error code information, please refer to Chapter 5.

- 7 -

GA-P55A-UD7 Motherboard Block Diagram

2 PCI Express x8

Switch

PCIe CLK

(100 MHz)

PCIe CLK

(100 MHz)

2 SATA 6Gb/s

x8

x16

NF200

PCI Express Bus

2 USB 3.0

NEC

x1

PEX8608 Bridge

x1

Marvell 9128

2 PCI Express x8

1 PCI Express x16

1 PCI Express x16

x16

Switch

1 PCI Express x1

x1

x4

PCI Express Bus

PCI Bus

TSB43AB23

LGA1156

CPU

x8

DMI

Interface

Intel® P55

CODEC

CPU CLK+/- (133 MHz)

DDR3 2200/1333/1066/800 MHz

Dual Channel Memory

LAN1

RJ45

LAN2

RJ45

GIGABYTE

RTL8111D

RTL8111D

x1

SATA2

x1

PCI Express Bus

Dual BIOS

6 SATA 3Gb/s

14 USB 2.0/1.1

LPC

Bus

IT8720

2 SATA 3Gb/s

ATA-133/100/66/33

IDE Channel

x1

PCIe CLK (100 MHz)

x1

JMicron
JMB362

(Note)

Floppy

COM Port

2 SATA 3Gb/s

PCI CLK

(33 MHz)

2 PCI

3 IEEE 1394a

MIC

Line In

Line Out

S/PDIF In

S/PDIF Out

Side Speaker Out

Surround Speaker Out

(Note) Two share the same ports with USB 3.0

Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out

and another two with eSATA.

- 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 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 an Intel® Core™ i7 series processor/Intel® Core™ i5 series processor/
Intel® Core™ i3 series processor in the LGA1156 package
(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest CPU support list.)
 L3 cache varies with CPU

Chipset

Memory  4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 16 GB of system memory
 Dual channel memory architecture
 Support for DDR3 2200/1333/1066/800 MHz memory modules
 Support for non-ECC memory modules
 Support for Extreme Memory Prole (XMP) memory modules
 (Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest memory support list.)

Audio

   

High Denition Audio
2/4/5.1/7.1-channel
Support for Dolby® Home Theater

    


LAN  2 x Realtek RTL8111D chips (10/100/1000 Mbit)

 Support for Teaming



Expansion Slots  2 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 (PCIEX16_1, PCIEX16_2)


 1 x PCI Express x1 slot

form to PCI Express 2.0 standard.)
 2 x PCI slots

Multi-Graphics 

Technology

Storage Interface  Chipset:

- 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 and RAID 10
 Marvell 9128 chip:

- 2 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors (GSATA3_8, GSATA3_9) supporting up to
2 SATA 6Gb/s devices

- Support for SATA RAID 0 and RAID 1
 GIGABYTE SATA2 chip:

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

- 2 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors (GSATA2_6, GSATA2_7) supporting up to 2
SATA 3Gb/s devices

- Support for SATA RAID 0, RAID 1 and JBOD

 Intel® P55 Express Chipset



Realtek ALC889 codec

Support for S/PDIF In/Out

Support for CD In

Support for Smart Dual LAN

2 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x8 (PCIEX8_1, PCIEX8_2)

(The PCIEX16_1, PCIEX16_2, PCIEX8_1, PCIEX8_2, and PCIEX1 slots con-

Support for 2-Way/3-Way ATI CrossFireX™/NVIDIA SLI technology

(Note 3)

(Note 2)

(Note 1)

- 10 -Hardware Installation

Storage Interface  JMicron JMB362 chip:

- 2 x eSATA 3Gb/s connectors (eSATA/USB Combo) on the back panel sup­ porting 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

USB  Chipset

- Up to 14 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (10 on the back panel

(Note 4)

, 4 via the USB brackets
connected to the internal USB headers)
 NEC D720200F1 chip

- Up to 2 USB 3.0 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
 8 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors
 2 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
 1 x CPU fan header
 3 x system fan headers
 1 x power fan header
 1 x Chipset 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 button
 1 x power button
 1 x reset button

Back Panel  1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port
Connectors  1 x coaxial S/PDIF Out connector
 1 x optical S/PDIF Out connector
 2 x IEEE 1394a ports
 6 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
 2 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports
 2 x eSATA/USB Combo connectors
 2 x RJ-45 ports
 6 x audio jacks (Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out/Rear Speaker Out/
Side Speaker Out/Line In/Line Out/Microphone)

- 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 5)

BIOS  2 x 16 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 6)

 Support for Dynamic Energy Saver™ 2
 Support for Smart 6

Support for Auto Green



™

 Support for eXtreme Hard Drive
 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) For optimum performance, if only one PCI Express graphics card is to be installed, be sure to install
it in the PCIEX16_1 slot; if you are installing two PCI Express graphics cards, it is recommended
that you install them in the PCIEX16_1 and PCIEX16_2 slots.
(Note 3) The PCIEX8_1 slot shares bandwidth with the PCIEX16_1 slot and the PCIEX8_2 slot with
PCIEX16_2. The PCIEX16_1/PCIEX16_2 slot will operate at up to x8 mode when the PCIEX8_1/
PCIEX8_2 is populated.
(Note 4) Two share the same ports with USB 3.0 and another two with eSATA.
(Note 5) Whether the CPU/system fan speed control function is supported will depend on the CPU/system
cooler you install.
(Note 6) Available functions in EasyTune may differ by motherboard model.

- 12 -Hardware Installation

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 alignment keys on the motherboard CPU socket and the notches on the CPU.

LGA1156 CPU Socket

Alignment Key

Pin One Corner of the CPU Socket

LGA1156 CPU

Triangle Pin One Marking on the CPU

Alignment Key

NotchNotch

- 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.

Step 1:
Gently press the CPU socket lever handle down

and away from the socket with your nger. Then

completely lift the CPU socket lever and the metal
load plate will be lifted as well.

Step 3:

Hold the CPU with your thumb and index ngers.

Align the CPU pin one marking (triangle) with the
pin one corner of the CPU socket (or you may
align the CPU notches with the socket alignment
keys) and gently insert the CPU into position.

Step 2:
Remove the CPU socket cover as shown. Hold

your index finger down on the rear grip of the
socket cover and use your thumb to lift up the
front edge (next to the "REMOVE" mark) and
then remove the cover. (DO NOT touch socket
contacts. To protect the CPU socket, always re­place the protective socket cover when the CPU
is not installed.)

Step 4:
Onc e the CPU is properly inse rted, use one
hand to hold the socket lever and use the other
to lightly replace the load plate. When replacing
the load plate, make sure the front end of the
load plate is under the shoulder screw.

Step 5:
Push the CPU socket lever back into its locked
position.

NOTE:

Hold the CPU socket lever by the handle, not the
lever base portion.

- 14 -Hardware Installation

1-3-2 Installing the CPU Cooler

Follow the steps below to correctly install the CPU cooler on the motherboard. (The following procedure uses
Intel® boxed cooler as the example cooler.)

Male Push

Direction of the
Arrow Sign on
the Male Push
Pin

Pin

The Top
of Female
Push Pin

Female
Push Pin

Step 1:
Apply an even and thin layer of thermal grease
on the surface of the installed CPU.

Step 3:
Place the cooler atop the CPU, aligning the four

push pins through the pin holes on the mother­board. Push down on the push pins diagonally.

Step 2:
Before installing the cooler, note the direction of

the arrow sign on the male push pin. (Turn­ing the push pin along the direction of arrow is to
remove the cooler, on the contrary, is to install.)

Step 4:
You should hear a "click" when pushing down

each push pin. Check that the Male and Female
push pins are joined closely. (Refer to your CPU
cooler installation manual for instructions on
installing the cooler.)

Step 5:
After the installation, check the back of the moth-

erboard. If the push pin is inserted as the picture
above shows, the installation is complete.

Step 6:
Finally, attach the power connector of the CPU

cooler to the CPU fan header (CPU_FAN) on the
motherboard.

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 Hybrid Silent-Pipe Module

Read the following guideline before you begin to install the Hybrid Silent-Pipe module:

If you want to connect the front audio module from your chassis to the F_AUDIO connector on the moth­erboard, be sure to connect it before installing the Hybrid Silent-Pipe module to avoid interference.

Tools needed:

1. A Philip's screwdriver

2. Thermal grease

Hybrid Silent-Pipe

Follow the steps below to install the Hybrid Silent-Pipe module:

Step 1:
Unfasten the diago­nally placed screws
from the waterblock
on NF200 and

PEX8608

heatsink and then
remove the water­block.

Step 3:
Place the heat­sink of the Hybrid
Silent-Pipe module
atop NF200 and

PEX8608

heatsink as shown.

chips'

chips'

Step 2:
Apply an even thin
layer of thermal
grease on the sur­face of the heatsink.

Step 4:
Secure the heatsink
using the included
screws. (Use one

hand to hold the ns

to avoid shaking
during the installa­tion.)

Step 5:
Secure the Hybrid Silent-Pipe bracket to the chassis back panel with a
screw to complete the installation.

For the waterblock, we recommend using tubes with inner diameter of 7.5mm and outer diameter of
10mm. After connecting the tubes, make sure that the tubes are attached to the waterblock securely
and tightly and there is no leak.

(Note) The components received may vary in appearance from the products illustrated.

- 16 -Hardware Installation

1-5 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.

1-5-1 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_2
Channel 1: DDR3_3, DDR3_4

DDR3_2

DDR3_1

Dual Channel Memory Congurations Table

Two Modules

Four Modules

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

DDR3_4

DDR3_3

DDR3_2 DDR3_1 DDR3_4 DDR3_3

- - DS/SS - - DS/SS

DS/SS DS/SS DS/SS DS/SS

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 for optimum performance. When
enabling Dual Channel mode with two memory modules, be sure to install them in the DDR3_1 and

DDR3_ 3 sockets.

 If only one DDR3 memory module is installed, be sure to install it in the DDR3_1 or DDR3_3

socket.

- 17 - Hardware Installation

1-5-2 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.

- 18 -Hardware Installation

1-6 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_1/PCIEX16_2)

PCI Express x16 Slot (PCIEX8_1/PCIEX8_2)

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.

• Re mo v in g t h e Ca r d
from the PCIEX16_1/
PCIEX16_2 Slot:

Gently push back on the

lever on the slot and then
lift the card straight out
from the slot.

• Removing the Card from
the PCIEX8_1/PCIEX8_2
Slot:
Press the white latch at
the end of the PCI Ex­press slot to release the
card and then pull the card
straight up from the slot.

- 19 - Hardware Installation

1-7 Setup of ATI CrossFireX™/NVIDIA SLI Conguration

A. System Requirements

- The 2-Way SLI and 2-Way CrossFireX technologies currently support Windows 7, Vista, XP operating systems

- The 3-Way SLI and 3-Way CrossFireX technologies currently support Windows 7 and Vista operating systems

- A CrossFireX/SLI-supported motherboard with two/three PCI Express x16 slots and correct driver

- Two/three CrossFireX/SLI-ready graphics cards of identical brand and chip and correct driver
(Current NVIDIA GPUs that support 3-Way SLI technology include the 8800 GTX, 8800 Ultra, 9800 GTX, GTX 260 and
GTX 280. Current ATI GPUs that support 3-Way CrossFireX technology include the Radeon HD 3800, 4800, and 5800 series)

- One/two CrossFire

- 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 "1-6 Installing an Expansion Card" and install two/three CrossFireX/SLI graphics cards on the PCI Ex-

press x16 slots. (To set up a 2-Way conguration, we recommend installing the graphics cards on the PCIEX16_1 and

PCIEX16_2 slots. )

(Note)

/SLI bridge connectors

Step 2:
Insert the CrossFire

Step 3:
Plug the display cable into the graphics card on the PCIEX16_1 slot.

(Note )

/SLI bridge connectors in the CrossFireX/SLI gold edge connectors on top of the two/three cards.

C. Conguring the Graphics Card Driver

C-1. To Enable CrossFireX Function

For 2-Way CrossFireX:
After installing the
gra phi cs card drive r in
the operating system, go
to the Catalyst Control

Center. Bro wse t o the
CrossFireX menu and
ensure the Enable
CrossFireX™ check box

is selected.

C-2. To Enable SLI Function

For 2-Way/3-Way SLI:

After installing the graphics card driver in the operating system, go to the NVIDIA Control

Panel. Browse to the Set SLI and Physx Conguration screen and ensure the SLI con-

guration and Physx is enabled.

(Note) The bridge connectors may be needed or not depending on your graphics cards.

For 3-Way CrossFireX:
After installing the graph­ics ca rd dr iv er in t he
operating syste m, go to
the Ca ta lyst Co nt rol

Center. Bro ws e to th e
CrossFireX menu, select

the Enable CrossFireX™
check box, and select the
3 GPUs com bina ti on.
Click OK to apply.

Procedure and driver screen for enabling CrossFireX/SLI technology may differ by graphics cards. Refer to the
manual that came with your graphics cards for more information about enabling CrossFireX/SLI technology.

- 20 -Hardware Installation

1-8 Installing the SATA Bracket

The SATA bracket allows you to connect external SATA device(s) to your system by expanding the internal
SATA port(s) to the chassis back panel.

• Turn off your system and the power switch on the power supply before installing or removing the
SATA bracket and SATA power cable to prevent damage to hardware.

• Insert the SATA signal cable and SATA power cable securely into the corresponding connectors
when installing.

SATA Bracket

External SATA
Connector

Power Connector

External SATA Connector

Follow the steps below to install the SATA bracket:

Step 1:
Locate one free PCI
slot and sec ur e the
SATA bracket to the
ch as sis back pa nel
with a screw.

Step 3:
Co nne ct th e pow er
c a b l e f r o m t h e
bracket to the power
supply.

Step 5:
Connect the other ends of the SATA signal cable and SATA power cable to
your SATA device. For SATA device in external enclosure, you only need to
connect the SATA signal cable. Before connecting the SATA signal cable,
make sure to turn off the power of the external enclosure.

SATA Signal Cable SATA Power Cable

The SATA bracket includes one SATA bracket, one
SATA signal cable, and one SATA power cable.

Step 2:
Connect the SATA ca­ble from the bracket
to the SATA port on
your motherboard.

Step 4:
Plug one end of the

SATA signal cable
into the external SATA
connector on the
bracket. Then attach
the SATA power cable
to the power connec­tor on the bracket.

- 21 - Hardware Installation

1-9 Back Panel Connectors

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.

PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse Port

Use this port to connect a PS/2 mouse or 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.

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/USB Combo Connector

This connector supports SATA 3Gb/s and USB 2.0/1.1 specication. Use the port to connect an external

SATA device; or use this port for USB devices such as a USB keyboard/mouse, USB printer, USB ash

drive and etc.

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

• 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.

- 22 -Hardware Installation

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.

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 7.1-channel audio conguration.

Side Speaker Out Jack (Gray)

Use this audio jack to connect side speakers in a 4/5.1/7.1-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 per-

form 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."

- 23 - Hardware Installation

1-10 Onboard LEDs and Buttons

CPU VTT/Memory Phase Indicator LEDs

This motherboard contains 4 phase indicator LEDs controlled by the system BIOS to indicate the phase sta­tus of the CPU VTT and memory. The green LEDs light up under normal working conditions; the yellow LEDs
will be illuminated during an overvoltage or heavy loading state.

M_P_LED (Memory):

MD1: Normal working conditions (green LED)

MD2: Overvoltage or heavy loading (yellow LED)

V_P_LED (CPU VTT):

GD1: Normal working conditions (green LED)

GD2: Excessive overvoltage or heavy loading (yellow LED)

ACPI LEDs

The 4 embedded ACPI LEDs indicate the system power status (S0, S1, S3, S4, S5) to prevent potential hard­ware damage due to improper plug/unplug actions.

ACPI LEDs:

S4_S5_LED

S3_LED

S1_LED

S0_LED

- 24 -Hardware Installation

Quick Buttons

This motherboard has 3 quick buttons: power button, reset button and clearing CMOS button. The power
button and reset button allow users to quickly turn on/off or reset the computer in an open-case environment
when they want to change hardware components or conduct hardware testing. Use the clearing CMOS but-

ton to clear the CMOS values (e.g. date information and BIOS congurations) and reset the CMOS values to

factory defaults when needed.

PW_SW: Power button

RST_SW: Reset button

CMOS_SW: Clearing CMOS button

• Always turn off your computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before clear­ing the CMOS values.

• After system restart, go to BIOS Setup to load factory defaults (select Load Optimized
Defaults) or manually congure the BIOS settings (refer to Chapter 2, "BIOS Setup," for BIOS

congurations).

PHASE LED

The Phase LEDs indicate the CPU loading. The higher the CPU loading, the more the number of lighted

LEDs. To enable the PHASE LED display function, please rst enable Dynamic Energy Saver™ 2. Refer to

Chapter 4, "Dynamic Energy Saver™ 2," for more details.

- 25 - Hardware Installation

1-11 Internal Connectors

14

6

15
16
17

1) ATX_12V_2X

2) ATX

3) CPU_FAN

4) SYS_FAN1/2/3

5) PWR_FAN

6) PCH_FAN

7) FDD

8) IDE

9) SATA2_0/1/2/3/4/5

10) GSATA2_6/7

4

1

3

5

2

8

10

9

11
4

13420 197 18

12

11) GSATA3_8/9

12) BAT

13) F_PANEL

14) F_AUDIO

15) CD_IN

16) SPDIF_I

17) SPDIF_O

18) F_USB1/F_USB2

19) F_1394

20) COMA

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.

- 26 -Hardware Installation

1/2) ATX_12V_2X/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.

• Use of a power supply providing a 2x4 12V power connector is recommended by the CPU
manufacturer when using an Intel Extreme Edition CPU (130W).

• 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.

ATX_12V_2X:

8

5

ATX_12V_2X

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:

12

24

131

ATX

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)

- 27 - Hardware Installation

3/4/5) CPU_FAN/SYS_FAN1/SYS_FAN2/SYS_FAN3/PWR_FAN (Fan Headers)

The motherboard has a 4-pin CPU fan header (CPU_FAN), a 4-pin (SYS_FAN2) and two 3-pin (SYS_

FAN1/SYS_FAN3) 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_FAN2

SYS_FAN1/SYS_FAN3
PWR_FAN

1

CPU_FAN:

Pin No. Denition

1 GND

2 +12V / Speed Control

3 Sense

4 Speed Control

SYS_FAN2:

Pin No. Denition

1 GND

2 +12V / Speed Control

3 Sense

4 Reserve

SYS_FAN1/SYS_FAN3/PWR_FAN:

Pin No. Denition

1 GND

2 +12V

3 Sense

6) PCH_FAN (Chipset Fan Header)

Connect the Chipset 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 color­coded 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.

1

Pin No. Denition

1 GND

2 +12V

3 NC

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

• These fan headers are not conguration jumper blocks. Do not place a jumper cap on the

headers.

- 28 -Hardware Installation

7) 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

1

2

8) IDE (IDE Connector)

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

- 29 - Hardware Installation

9) SATA2_0/1/2/3/4/5 (SATA 3Gb/s Connectors, Controlled by P55 Chipset)

G.QBOFM

G.QBOFM

The SATA connectors con for m to SATA 3Gb/s standard and are compatible with SATA 1.5Gb/s

standard. Each SATA connector supports a single SATA device. The P55 Chipset supports RAID 0,

RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10. Refer to Chapter 5, "Conguring SATA Hard Drive(s)," for instructions on
conguring a RAID array.

Pin No. Denition

SATA2_1SATA2_3SATA2_5

7

7

SATA2_0SATA2_2SATA2_4

1 GND

2 TXP

1

3 TXN

1

4 GND

5 RXN

6 RXP

7 GND

10) GSATA2_6/7 (SATA 3Gb/s Connectors, Controlled by GIGABYTE SATA2)

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.

Refer to Chapter 5, "Conguring SATA Hard Drive(s)," for instructions on conguring a RAID array.

The GIGABYTE SATA2 supports RAID 0 and RAID 1.

Pin No. Denition

GSATA2_7

7 1

7 1

GSATA2_6

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.

- 30 -Hardware Installation