GIGABYTE GA-X48-DQ6 User Manual

GA-X48-DQ6

LGA775 socket motherboard for Intel® Core Intel® Pentium® processor family/Intel® Celeron® processor family

User's Manual

Rev. 1002

12ME-X48DQ6-1002R

processor family/

Dec. 14, 2007

Motherboard

GA-X48-DQ6

Dec. 14, 2007

GA-X48-DQ6

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-X48-DQ6 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

1-3-3 Installing the Crazy Cool Heatsink on the Back of the Motherboard ............ 16

1-4 Installing the Memory ..................................................................................... 17

1-4-1 Dual Channel Memory Configuration ................................................................ 17

1-4-2 Installing a Memory ............................................................................................. 18

1-5 Installing an Expansion Card ......................................................................... 19

1-6 Installing the SATA Bracket ............................................................................. 20

1-7 Back Panel Connectors ................................................................................. 21

1-8 Internal Connectors ........................................................................................ 23

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

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

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

2-3 Standard CMOS Features ............................................................................. 41

2-4 Advanced BIOS Features .............................................................................. 43

2-5 Integrated Peripherals ..................................................................................... 45

2-6 Power Management Setup ............................................................................. 49

2-7 PnP/PCI Configurations ................................................................................. 51

2-8 PC Health Status ........................................................................................... 52

2-9 MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.) ....................................................................... 54

2-10 Load Fail-Safe Defaults ................................................................................... 58

2-11 Load Optimized Defaults ................................................................................. 58

2-12 Set Supervisor/User Password ..................................................................... 59

2-13 Save & Exit Setup......................................................................................... 60

- 4 -

2-14 Exit Without Saving ....................................................................................... 60

Chapter 3 Drivers Installation ...................................................................................... 61

3-1 Installing Chipset Drivers ............................................................................... 61

3-2 Software Applications ..................................................................................... 62

3-3 Driver CD Information .................................................................................... 62

3-4 Hardware Information ..................................................................................... 63

3-5 Contact Us ..................................................................................................... 63

Chapter 4 Unique Features ......................................................................................... 65

4-1 Xpress Recovery2 ......................................................................................... 65

4-2 BIOS Update Utilities ..................................................................................... 70

4-2-1 Updating the BIOS with the Q-Flash Utility ...................................................... 70

4-2-2 Updating the BIOS with the @BIOS Utility ....................................................... 73

4-3 EasyTune 5 Pro ............................................................................................. 75

4-4 Dynamic Energy Saver ................................................................................. 76

4-5 Windows Vista ReadyBoost ........................................................................... 78

Chapter 5 Appendix .................................................................................................... 79

5-1 Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s) .................................................................... 79

5-1-1 Configuring Intel® ICH9R SATA Controllers ...................................................... 79

5-1-2 Configuring GIGABYTE SATA2 SATA Controller ............................................. 85

5-1-3 Making a SATA RAID/AHCI Driver Diskette ..................................................... 91

5-1-4 Installing the SATA RAID/AHCI Driver and Operating System ...................... 92

5-2 Configuring Audio Input and Output ............................................................... 100

5-2-1 Configuring 2/4/5.1/7.1-Channel Audio .......................................................... 100

5-2-2 Installing the S/PDIF In Cable (Optional) ......................................................... 102

5-2-3 Enabling the DTS (Digital Theater Systems) Function ................................. 104

5-2-4 Configuring Microphone Recording ................................................................. 105

5-2-5 Using the Sound Recorder ............................................................................... 107

5-3 Teaming ........................................................................................................ 108

5-4 Troubleshooting .............................................................................................. 110

5-4-1 Frequently Asked Questions ........................................................................... 110

5-4-2 Troubleshooting Procedure ............................................................................... 111

Regulatory Statements ................................................................................................113

- 5 -

Box Contents

GA-X48-DQ6 motherboard

Motherboard driver disk

User's Manual

Quick Installation Guide

Intel® LGA775 CPU Installation Guide

One IDE cable and one floppy disk drive cable

Four SATA 3Gb/s cables

Two SATA brackets

I/O Shield

Three screws

• 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)

COM port cable (Part No. 12CF1-1CM001-32R)

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

- 6 -

GA-X48-DQ6 Motherboard Layout

KB_MS

RCA_SPDIF

USB_1394_1

USB_1394_2

USB_LAN1

USB_LAN2

AUDIO

RTL8111C

CODEC

CD_IN

IT8718

LPT

RTL8111C

F_AUDIO

PCIE_1

PCIE_16_1

PCIE_2

PCIE_3

PCIE_16_2

SPDIF_O

PCI1

PCI2

SYS_FAN1

ATX_12V_2X

NB_FAN

BP_BIOS

MAIN_BIOS

TPM

LGA775

Intel® X48

GA-X48-DQ6

BAT

COM

CLR_CMOS

TSB43AB23

F_USB2

F_1394

CPU_FAN

F_USB1

PWR_LED

DDRII1

Intel® ICH9R

SATAII4

DDRII2

V_PHASE LED

DDRII3

SATAII0

SATAII1

GIGABYTE SATA2

SATAII2

ATX

PWR_FAN

FDD

DDRII4

IDE

GSATAIIA

SPDIF_IN

SYS_FAN2

- 7 -

F_PANEL

SATAII5 SATAII3

GSATAIIB

Block Diagram

2 PCI Express x16

3 PCI Express x1

PCIe CLK

(100 MHz)

PCI Express Bus

2 SATA 3Gb/s

ATA-133/100/66/ 33 IDE Channel

PCI Bus

PCIe CLK

(100 MHz)

PCI Express x16

x1 x1

TSB43AB23

LAN2

RJ45

RTL

8111C

GIGABYTE

SATA2

LAN1

RJ45

RTL

8111C

LGA775

Processor

Intel

X48

Intel

ICH9R

CODEC

Host

Interface

CPU CLK+/-

(400/333/266/200 MHz)

DDR2 1200/1066/800/667 MHz

Dual Channel Memory

MCH CLK (400/333/266/200 MHz)

Dual BIOS

6 SATA 3Gb/s

12 USB Ports

Floppy

IT8718

LPT Port

COM Port

2 PCI

PCI CLK

(33 MHz)

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

TPM

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 an Intel® Core

Intel® Core

2 Quad processor/Intel® Core Intel® Pentium® processor Extreme Edition/Intel® Pentium® D processor/ Intel® Pentium® 4 processor Extreme Edition/Intel® Pentium® 4 processor/ Intel® Celeron® processor in the LGA 775 package (Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest CPU support list.)

 L2 cache varies with CPU Front Side Bus  1600/1333/1066/800 MHz FSB Chipset  North Bridge: Intel® X48 Express Chipset

 South Bridge: Intel® ICH9R Memory  4 x 1.8V DDR2 DIMM sockets supporting up to 8 GB of system memory

 Dual channel memory architecture

 Support for DDR2 1200/1066/800/667 MHz memory modules

(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 DTS (dts NEO:PC)

 Support for S/PDIF In/Out

 Support for CD In LAN  2 x Realtek 8111C chips (10/100/1000 Mbit)

 Support for Teaming

Expansion Slots  2 x PCI Express x16 slots supporting ATI CrossFireXTM technology

(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:

- 6 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors (SATAII0, SATAII1, SATAII2, SATAII3, SATAII4, SATAII5) supporting up to 6 SATA 3Gb/s devices

- Support for SATA RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10

 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 (GSATAIIA, GSATAIIB) supporting up to 2 SATA 3Gb/s devices

- Support for SATA RAID 0, RAID 1 and JBOD

 iTE IT8718 chip:

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

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)

2 Extreme processor/

2 Duo processor/

(Note 1)

GA-X48-DQ6 Motherboard - 10 -

USB  Integrated in the South Bridge

 Up to 12 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (8 on the back panel, 4 via the USB brackets

connected to the internal USB headers)

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

 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector  1 x floppy disk drive connector  1 x IDE connector  8 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  2 x USB 2.0/1.1 headers  1 x IEEE 1394a header  1 x parallel port header  1 x Trusted Platform Module (TPM) header  1 x serial port header  1 x power LED header  1 x chassis intrusion header

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

 1 x coaxial S/PDIF Out connector  1 x optical S/PDIF Out connector  8 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports  2 x IEEE 1394a ports  2 x RJ-45 ports  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 fan speed control

(Note 2)

Hardware Installation- 11 -

BIOS  2 x 8 Mbit flash

 Use of licensed AWARD BIOS  Support for Dual BIOS

 PnP 1.0a, DMI 2.0, SM BIOS 2.4, ACPI 1.0b

Unique Features  Support for @BIOS

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

(Note 3)

 Support for Xpress Install  Support for Xpress Recovery2  Support for Virtual Dual BIOS  Support for Dynamic Energy Saver

Bundled Software  Norton Internet Security (OEM version) Overclocking  Voltage adjustments in BIOS Setup (CPU/DDR2/PCIe/FSB/(G)MCH)

allow you to:

- Increase CPU voltage

(Note 4)

- Increase DDR2 voltage by 0.05V to 1.55V with 0.05V increment

- Increase PCIe voltage by 0.05V to 0.75V with 0.05V increment

- Increase FSB voltage by 0.05V to 0.35V with 0.05V increment

- Increase (G)MCH voltage by 0.025V to 0.375V with 0.025V increment

 Frequency adjustments in BIOS Setup (CPU/DDR2/PCIe) allow you to:

- Adjust CPU host frequency from 100 MHz to 700 MHz with 1 MHz increment

- Adjust DDR2 frequency

- Adjust PCI Express frequency from 90 MHz to 150 MHz with 1 MHz increment

Operating System  Support for Microsoft® Windows® Vista/XP/2000

(Note 5)

Form Factor  ATX Form Factor; 30.5cm x 24.4cm

(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 the CPU fan speed control function is supported will depend on the CPU cooler you

install. (Note 3) Available functions in Easytune may differ by motherboard model. (Note 4) The adjustable CPU voltage range depends on the CPU being used. (Note 5) Due to chipset limitation, Intel ICH9R RAID driver does not support Windows 2000 operating

system.

GA-X48-DQ6 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. (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

damage of the CPU may occur.

• Set the CPU host frequency in accordance with the CPU specifications. It is not recom-

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

LGA775 CPU Socket

Alignment Key

Pin One Corner of the CPU Socket

LGA 775 CPU

NotchNotch

Triangle Pin One Marking on the 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 Lever

Step 1: Completely raise the CPU socket lever.

Step 3: Lift the metal load plate on the CPU socket.

Step 5: Once the CPU is properly inserted, replace the load plate and push the CPU socket lever back into its locked position.

Step 2: Remove the protective socket cover.

Step 4: Hold the CPU with your thumb and index fingers. 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.

GA-X48-DQ6 Motherboard - 14 -

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

Direction of the Arrow Sign on the Male Push Pin

Push 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 motherboard. If the push pin is inserted as the picture above, 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.

Hardware Installation- 15 -

1-3-3 Installing the Crazy Cool Heatsink on the Back of the Motherboard

Please follow the steps below to install the Crazy Cool heatsink provided with the motherboard.

• Use extreme care when installing or removing the

Crazy Cool heatsink. The user shall be responsible for damage of motherboard function(s) or component(s) resulting from the removal of the Crazy Cool heatsink.

• Always keep the removed screws in a safe place.

Please prepare:

1. A Philips screwdriver

The Crazy Cool Heatsink/Screws

2. The Crazy Cool heatsink and three screws provided with the motherboard

Step 1: Unfasten the two bolts holding the North Bridge heatsink (as shown in the picture

to the left) and remove the bolts. Remove the back plate from the back of the motherboard.

Step 3: On the front side of the motherboard, align the the two bolts removed in Step 1 with the nuts

on the Crazy Cool heatsink and then fasten the bolts tightly.

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

Step 2: Affix the Crazy Cool heatsink to the back of the motherboard.

Step 4: As shown, align the three provided screws with the mounting holes on the

motherboard and the Crazy Cool heatsink and then tighten the screws to complete the Crazy Cool installation.

GA-X48-DQ6 Motherboard - 16 -

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: DDRII1, DDRII2 Channel 1: DDRII3, DDRII4

Dual Channel Memory Configurations Table

Two Modules

Four Modules

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

DDRII1 DDRII2 DDRII3 DDRII4

DS/SS - - DS/SS - -

- - DS/SS - - DS/SS

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

DDRII1

DDRII2

DDRII3

DDRII4

Due to chipset 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.

When memory modules of different capacity and chips are installed, a message which says memory is operating in Flex Memory Mode will appear during the POST. Intel® Flex Memory Technology offers greater flexibility to upgrade by allowing different memory sizes to be populated and remain in Dual Channel mode/performance.

Hardware Installation- 17 -

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.

GA-X48-DQ6 Motherboard - 18 -

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

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 push down on the top edge of the card until it is fully inserted into the PCI Express x16 slot. Make sure the card is securely seated in the slot and does not rock.

• Removing the Card:

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

Hardware Installation- 19 -

1-6 Installing the SA TA 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 connec-

tors 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 secure the SATA bracket to the chassis back panel with a screw.

Step 3: Connect the power cable from the 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.

GA-X48-DQ6 Motherboard - 20 -

1-7 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.

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.

* The positions of the optical S/PDIF out and coaxial S/PDIF out connectors may be interchanged

based on the hardware design.

Hardware Installation- 21 -

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."

GA-X48-DQ6 Motherboard - 22 -

1-8 Internal Connectors

24 12

15 17

1) ATX_12V_2X

2) ATX

3) CPU_FAN

4) SYS_FAN1/SYS_FAN2

5) PWR_FAN

6) NB_FAN

7) FDD

8) IDE

9) SATAII0/1/2/3/4/5

10) GSATAIIA/B

11) PWR_LED

12) B AT

13) F_PANEL

1016

91821 22

14) F_AUDIO

15) CD_IN

16) SPDIF_IN

17) SPDIF_O

18) F_USB1/F_USB2

19) F_1394

20) L PT

21) T P M

22) COM

23) CI

24) CLR_CMOS

25) V_PHASE LED

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- 23 -

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 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.

• 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). The main power connector is compatible with power supplies with 2x10 power connectors. To prevent system instability or system's failure to boot, be sure to connect a power supply providing a 2x12 power connector.

• The ATX_12V_2X power connector is compatible with power supplies with 2x2 12V power

connector. When using a power supply providing a 2x4 12V and 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 power connector.

ATX_12V_2X:

ATX_12V_2X

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

131

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

12 3.3V

GA-X48-DQ6 Motherboard - 24 -

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

24 GND

3/4/5) CPU_FAN/SYS_F AN1/SYS_F AN2/PWR_FAN (Fan Headers)

The motherboard has a 4-pin CPU fan header (CPU_FAN), a 3-pin (SYS_FAN1) and a 4-pin (SYS_FAN2) system fan headers, 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:

Pin No. Definition

CPU_FAN

SYS_FAN2

SYS_FAN1

PWR_FAN

1 GND

2 +12V / Speed Control

3 Sense

4 Speed Control

SYS_FAN2:

Pin No. Definition

1 GND

2 Speed Control

3 Sense

4 +5V

SYS_FAN1/PWR_FAN:

Pin No. Definition

1 GND

2 +12V

3 Sense

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.

Pin No. Definition

1 GND

2 +12V

3NC

• 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.

Hardware Installation- 25 -

7) 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.

8) 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.)

GA-X48-DQ6 Motherboard - 26 -

4039

9) SATAII0/1/2/3/4/5 (SATA 3Gb/s Connectors, Controlled by ICH9R)

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 ICH9R controller supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10. Refer to Chapter 5, "Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s)," for instructions on configuring a RAID array.

SATAII0

Pin No. Definition

SATAII4

SATAII1

SATAII2

1 GND

2 TXP

3 TXN

4 GND

5 RXN

6 RXP

7 GND

SATAII5

SATAII3

10 ) GSATAIIA/GSA TAIIB (SA TA 3Gb/s Connectors, Controlled by GIGABYTE SAT A2, Purple)

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 GIGABYTE SATA2 controller supports RAID 0 and RAID 1. Refer to Chapter 5, "Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s)," for instructions on configuring a RAID array.

Pin No. Definition

1 GND

GSATAIIA

GSATAIIB

• 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 5 configuration requires at least three hard drives. (The total number of hard

drives does not have to 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.

2 TXP

3 TXN

4 GND

5 RXN

6 RXP

7 GND

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

Hardware Installation- 27 -

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.

GA-X48-DQ6 Motherboard - 28 -

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/

Activity LED

• 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 (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

Sleep LED

2 1

Hard Drive

MSG+

HD+

MSG-

HD-

Power Switch

PW+

RES-

Reset Switch

PW-

RES+

Speaker

SPEAK-

SPEAK+

20 19

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- 29 -

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.

For HD Front Panel Audio:

Pin No. Definition

1 MIC2_L

2 GND

3 MIC2_R

4 -ACZ_DET

5 LINE2_R

6 GND

7 FAUDIO_JD

8 No Pin

9 LINE2_L

10 GND

• 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

For AC'97 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

GA-X48-DQ6 Motherboard - 30 -

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