Copyright 1997 Micronics Computers, Inc. The information con-
tained in the Stingray PCI/ISA Pentium Processor system board
2
manual has been carefully checked and is believed to be accurate.
Micronics assumes no responsibility for any inaccuracies that may be
contained in this document. Micronics makes no commitments to
update or to keep the information in this manual at a current level when
changes are made to the product.
Micronics reserves the right to make improvements to this document
and/or product at any time and without notice. All Rights Reserved. No
part of this document may be photocopied, reproduced, translated, or
reduced to any medium or machine form without prior, written consent
from Micronics.
Portions of the Manual
Portions of this manual were copied (with permission) from Award
Software Inc. All rights reserved.
Trademarks
Award Modular BIOS is a registered trademark of Award Software
Inc. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Intel and PCI are registered trademarks of Intel
Corporation. All other product names mentioned herein are used for
identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their
respective companies.
Stingray System Board Manual
Page 3
Table of Contents
Introduction5
Features6
Software Compatibility7
Before You Begin8
Chapter 1 - Quick Installation9
Installing the Stingray9
Chapter 2 - Configuring the Stingray 13
Static Electricity13
Environment Considerations13
Stingray System Board14
Jumper Settings15
Chapter 3 - Installing the Stingray17
Introduction17
System Memory Support17
Installing the Stingray18
Removing SIMMs27
CPU Installation28
CPU Installation Overview31
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CPU Installation (Box version)32
Installing a PCI Peripheral Card33
Installing an ISA Peripheral Card34
Chapter 4 - The BIOS Setup Utility 35
Configuration 35
Initial Bootup35
Setup35
Running the Setup Procedure37
Standard CMOS Setup38
BIOS Features Setup40
Chipset Features Setup43
Power Management Setup48
PnP/PCI Configuration Setup51
Load BIOS Defaults53
Load Setup Defaults53
Integrated Peripherals54
Supervisor Password57
User Password57
IDE HDD Auto Detection58
HDD Low Level Format59
Save and Exit Setup60
Exit Without Saving60
Appendix A - Technical Information61
Specifications61
Environmental Specifications62
Temperature Range62
Relative Humidity62
Battery Disposal63
Support and Information Services64
Technical Support64
2
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Appendix B - Post Messages67
Appendix C - Updating the System BIOS71
Appendix D - Warranties and Notices73
Non-Warranty Service73
FCC Statement75
Glossary76
Index80
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List of Figures
Figure 1.1: Power-Up Screen10
Figure 2.1: Stingray System Board14
Figure 3.1: Installing a 168-pin DIMM26
Figure 3.2: Installing a 72-Pin SIMM27
Figure 3.3: CPU Installation Overview31
Figure 3.4: CPU Installation (Boxed version)32
Figure 3.5: Installing a PCI Peripheral Card33
Figure 3.6: Installing an ISA Peripheral Card34
Figure 4.1: Power-Up Screen36
Figure 4.2: Main CMOS Setup Screen37
Figure 4.3: Standard CMOS Setup Screen38
Figure 4.4: BIOS Features Setup Screen40
Figure 4.5: Chipset Features Setup Screen43
Figure 4.6: Power Management Screen48
Figure 4.7: PnP/PCI Configuration Screen51
Figure 4.8: Integrated Peripherals Screen54
Figure 4.9: IDE HDD Auto Detection Screen58
Figure 4.10: HDD Low Level Format Screen59
List of Tables
Table 2.1: CPU Speed Selection15
Table 2.2: Clear CMOS Memory Selection15
Table 2.3: Connector Settings and Functions16
Table A.1: Support and Information Services65
4
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Page 7
Introduction
Introduction
Thank you for choosing the Stingray system board. The
Stingray is a high performance Pentium processor
solution for the industry's most demanding workstation
applications.
Based on the Intel 440FX PCIset, the Stingray supports
the latest advanced processor architecture, the Pentium
II (processor-on-a-cartridge), which provides the speed
and performance necessary to address the most intensive
computational applications. Integrated MMX technology, maximum memory of 1 GByte and up to 512K of
Level 2 cache on the CPU make this board powerful and
feature rich.
The Stingray provides features such as Extended Data
Out (EDO) memory, Error Checking and Correction
(ECC), pipelined-burst level 2 cache, the Award Plug
and Play BIOS and Universal Serial Bus (USB) support.
The USB interface has a maximum bandwidth of 12Mbps
and can connect as many as 127 devices to a host system.
USB supports both standard devices that operate at the
full 12Mbps rate and low-end devices that use only a
1.5Mbps subchannel.
In addition, the Stingray is designed to fit into the most
modern ATX form factor, which allows critical components such as floppy drive connectors, chassis fan, CPU
and memory to be strategically located so that full length
cards can be installed in all slots.
Micronics builds all products to exacting standards, using
the highest quality components available. We are proud
to provide this system board and believe you will be
pleased with your purchase.
Stingray System Board Manual
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Introduction
Features
The Stingray includes the following features:
▲ Single Intel Slot 1
Intel Pentium II chip - 233/266/300MHz
Integrated Voltage Regulator Module
▲ Intel 440FX PCIset
Intel PIIX 3
SMC FDC37C93x Ultra I/O chip
▲ 256 or 512K Pipelined Burst Level 2 in CPU package
▲ Four 32-bit PCI slots
Four 16-bit ISA slots
(One is a shared PCI/ISA slot)
▲ Maximum memory - 1 GByte
Two 3.3V unbuffered 168-pin DIMM sockets
Four 72-pin SIMM sockets
Supports FPM and EDO DRAM memory
ECC support via chipset when using parity DIMMs and
SIMMs
▲ Two Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports for desktop periph-
eral expansion
▲ Mini-ATX form factor
Stingray System Board Manual6
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Introduction
Software Compatibility
The Stingray system board has been thoroughly tested for
compatibility with a variety of operating systems and environments, including:
▲ Microsoft
DOS 5.0
DOS 6.2x
Windows 95
Windows NT 3.5x
Windows NT 4.0
▲ IBM
OS/2 Warp 3.0
OS/2 Warp 4.0
▲ SCO
UNIXWare 2.1.1
Open Server 5.02
UNIX 3.2.4.2
▲ Novell Netware
Stingray System Board Manual
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Introduction
This manual will familiarize you with the features, installation and use of your Stingray. There are several symbols and
conventions used throughout this manual to help draw your
attention to a feature or to focus on important information:
Common Names
DIMMDual Inline Memory Module
DRAMDynamic Random Access Memory
ECCError Checking and Correction
EDOExtended Data Out
FPMFast Page Mode
IDEIntegrated Drive Electronics
PCIPeripheral Component Interconnect
SIMMSingle Inline Memory Module
USBUniversal Serial Bus
VRMVoltage Regulator Module
Before You Begin
When you see the Magnifying Glass, it refers
to something you should take a closer look at
before proceeding further.
When you see the Exclamation Mark, it gives
important information on avoiding damage.
8
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Chapter
1
Chapter 1: Quick Installation
Quick Installation
We know that many experienced people prefer to read as
little of the documentation as possible. If this sounds like
you, here’s the short form to get up and running quickly.
Installing the Stingray
1.Make backup copies of your installation and configuration diskettes.
2.Ground yourself to prevent damaging static discharge by using an anti-static wrist or ankle strap, or
touch a safely grounded metal object.
3.Remove the Stingray from its packaging.
4.Configure and verify the system board’s jumper settings (refer to Jumper Settings in Chapter 2).
5.Install the CPU and the system memory. Be sure to
attach the Retention Mechanism as described in Chapter 2.
6.Install the system board in the chassis and make all
necessary case connections. NOTE: You may use
either an AT or ATX power supply.
7.Install any ISA and/or PCI add-on peripherals.
8.Connect any optional devices.
9.Turn the computer on and press the <DEL> key
when you see the screen shown in Figure 1.1.
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Chapter 1: Quick Installation
Figure 1.1: Power-Up Screen
10. If necessary, use the arrow keys to move the highlight to
STANDARD CMOS SETUP and press <Enter>.
11. Set the time and date.
12. If necessary, adjust the settings for the floppy drive(s)
and hard drive(s) to match your configuration. If you
are installing one or more IDE drives, the BIOS automatically configures your drive(s) for you when the
setting in the Type column is Auto. See Chapter 4 for
additional information and additional instructions.
13. Verify that the floppy drive type(s) shown for Drive A
(and Drive B, if installed) are correct. If necessary
change the setting(s) for the floppy drive(s) using the
<Pg Up> and/or <Pg Dn> keys or the <+> and
<–> keys.
14. Verify that the amounts of memory shown in the Standard CMOS Setup screen correctly reflect the amount
of RAM installed in your system.
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Chapter 1: Quick Installation
15. Press <ESC> to return to the main setup menu.
16. Use the arrow keys to move the highlight to any of the
other setup options in the main menu that contain
settings you want to review or change (for information
on the various setup options in the main menu, see
Chapter 4). When you are finished, press <F10> to
select Save & Exit Setup. You are now finished with
the BIOS configuration.
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Chapter 1: Quick Installation
12
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Chapter 2: Configuring the Stingray
Chapter
2
Configuring the Stingray
Although the Stingray system board is packaged in materials that are designed to protect it from physical damage
and static electricity, it is important to use care while
unpacking the board and setting it up.
Static Electricity
The Stingray is shipped from the factory in an anti-static
bag. To reduce the possibility of damage from static
discharge, it is important to neutralize any static charges
your body may have accumulated before handling the
board.
The best way to do this is to ground yourself using a
special anti-static wrist or ankle strap. If you do not have
an anti-static strap available, touch both of your hands
to a safely grounded object, such as the power supply or
chassis of a computer that is connected to the power
socket. After you have grounded yourself, ground the
Stingray board via one of the solder pads that surround
its mounting holes. When you remove the Stingray from
its packaging, place it on top of the anti-static bag, and
carefully inspect the board for damage which might have
occurred during shipment.
Environment Considerations
Make sure the finished computer system is in an area with
good ventilation. The system should not be in direct
sunlight, near heaters, or exposed to moisture, dust, or
dirt.
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Chapter 2: Configuring the Stingray
Stingray System Board
14
Figure 2-1. Stingray System Board Diagram
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Chapter 2: Configuring the Stingray
Jumper Settings
This section provides the jumper settings for the Stingray system board.
Table 2-1 lists the jumper settings to select the system speed settings.
CPU Speed Bus SpeedW2W3
1-23-45-67-81-2
233MHz66 x 3.5Close Open Open Close1-2
266MHz66 x 4.0Close Close Close Open1-2
300MHz66 x 4.5Close Open Close Open1-2
333MHz66 x 5.0Close Close Open Open1-2
T a ble 2-1: System Speed Selection
Table 2-2 lists the settings to clear the CMOS settings. With your
computer's power off, close pins 2-3, wait ten seconds and place the
jumper back on pins 1-2. (The jumper must be placed back on pins 12 for the system to function properly.)
NOTE: This will reset all BIOS default settings. Any changes you have made
will be lost.
JumperFunctionSettings
W1Normal
Clear CMOS
Table 2-2: Clear CMOS Settings
Stingray System Board Manual
1-2
2-3
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Chapter 2: Configuring the Stingray
Table 2-3 lists all of the connectors and their functions.
ConnectorFunctionNotes
J10Primary IDE Port
J11Secondary IDE Port
J22Chassis Fan12V
J23CPU Fan1 - +12V Power; 2 - Ground
J24Parallel Port ConnectorCan be disabled at the CMOS
J28Floppy Drive Connector
J30ATX Power Connector
J31Turbo LED
J32USB ConnectorPort 0
J33USB ConnectorPort 1
J37AT Power Connector
COM 1Serial Port (COM 1)Can be disabled at the CMOS
COM 2Serial Port (COM 2)Can be disabled at the CMOS
CPUIntel Slot 1
Mouse/KBPS/2 Keyboard & Mouse
Connector
HD LEDHard Drive LED1 - IDE; 2 - Positive
PWR SWSoft Power Switch1 -FPPwr; 2,3 - Switch On
SleepSleep Switch3 - Sleep_REQ; 4 -
IRInfrared (IR)6 - +5V; 7 - Key; 8 - Receive
HD LEDHD LED13 - +5V; 14 - Key; 15 - HDD
PWR LEDPower LED18 - Ground; 19 - Key; 20 -
ResetReset Switch22 - Ground; 23 - FP_Reset
SPKRSpeaker24 - +5V; 25 - Key; 26 -
KeylockKeylock Switch1 - Power; 2 - No Connect;
configuration screen
configuration screen
configuration screen
FPSleep_Pwr
Data; 9 - Ground; 10 - Transmit
Data; 11 - No connect
Active; 16 - +5V
Power_DRV
Speaker Data Connect; 27 - PC
Speaker Output
3 - Ground; 4 - Keyboard Lock;
5 - Ground
16
T a ble 2-3: Connector Settings and Functions
Stingray System Board Manual
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Chapter 3: Installing the Stingray
Chapter
3
Installing the Stingray
Introduction
This chapter explains how to install the Stingray system
board, memory, CPU and peripherals.
WARNING: Before installing or removing any peripherals
or components, make sure you have a clear work space and
that you adhere to all anti-static precautions described in
Chapter 1. Micronics recommends that only trained technicians install and configure the system board.
Damage which occurs to the board while adding or removing
peripherals or components may void the warranty. If problems arise while installing peripherals, contact the computer
dealer where you purchased the peripheral or Micronics’
Technical Support Department.
System Memory Support
The flexibility of the Stingray is augmented by its support for EDO, BEDO and FPM DRAM memory and
ECC. The Stingray supports ECC (with 72-bit DIMMs
or 36-bit SIMMs) via the chipset.
EDO memory is designed to keep data available to the
processor for an extended period of time. The EDO
memory support extends the performance of conventional DRAM memory. The result is an improvement in
memory-access performance on the Stingray system
board.
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Chapter 3: Installing the Stingray
Installing the Stingray
Installation of the Stingray system board depends on the
type of case you use. The Stingray is designed for the mini
ATX form factor and must be installed in an ATX chassis.
NOTE: If you are unfamiliar with installing a system board,
Micronics highly recommends that you read the computer user’s
manual or contact your dealer’s technical support department.
Tools Required
Micronics recommends using the following tools to install
the Stingray:
❏Small Phillips screwdriver
❏Tweezers or a pair of needle-nose pliers
❏Tray (to hold loose screws)
Equipment Required
Micronics recommends using the following equipment
with the Stingray for a typical configuration:
❏ATX chassis with standard hardware.
❏A high-quality ATX power supply capable of provid-
ing continuous power within a 3 volt range. A power
filter may be used with a noisy AC power source.
❏PS/2 mouse and compatible keyboard.
❏Eight ohm speaker.
❏Standard ribbon cables for internal connections.
❏Standard power cord (grounded).
18
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Chapter 3: Installing the Stingray
System Memory
System memory is necessary to operate the Stingray
system board. The Stingray supports DIMM modules
and/or SIMM modules for a maximum of 1 GByte of
memory. There are two 168-pin 3.3V unbuffered DIMM
sockets. Each DIMM socket provides a 72-bit wide data
path. There are four 72-pin SIMM sockets. Each SIMM
socket provides a 36-bit wide data path.
Support is provided for EDO, BEDO and FPM DRAM
memory. This section list the rules for adding memory to
the Stingray, give some examples of common memory
configurations and show how to physically install the
memory.
Adding Memory
The following is a list of rules to follow when installing
DIMMs and SIMMs. If you follow these rules, your upgrade
should be trouble-free:
❏Use 70ns or faster DIMMs and SIMMs.
NOTE: For long term reliability, Micronics recommends
using DIMMs with gold-plated contacts and SIMMs with
tin-plated contacts.
❏SIMM memory modules support FPM and EDO DRAM
memory types. DIMM memory modules support FPM
and EDO (unbuffered) memory types.
❏Singled-sided and double-sided memory modules are
supported.
❏The same type and size of memory for every bank
recommended. Different memory types and sizes in
separate banks will cause the performance of the
memory to run at the speed of the slowest RAM
installed.
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Chapter 3: Installing the Stingray
Memory Usage
The following information lists sample configurations for
utilizing both SIMM and DIMM memory modules:
SIMM Configurations
D2D1
S1 S2 S3
S4
D1 D2
DIMM Configurations
or
or
S1 S2 S3S4S1 S2 S3S4
D1 D2
or
S1 S2 S3S4
20
D1 D2
S1 S2 S3
S4
Stingray System Board Manual
D1 D2
Page 23
Chapter 3: Installing the Stingray
SIMM and DIMM Configurations
oror
S1 S2 S3 S4
S1 S2 S3
S4
D1 D2
D2D1
S1 S2 S3 S4
D1 D2
S = SIMM
D = DIMM
NOTE:
DIMM socket 1 is a shared socket with SIMM sockets 3
and 4. A shared socket means that either SIMMs or
DIMMs may occupy, but not together. Therefore, if you
are using a DIMM in DIMM socket 1, you may not use
SIMM sockets 3 and 4 at the same time.
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Chapter 3: Installing the Stingray
Memory Configurations
The following table lists the most common memory configurations. The memory available depends on the number
of DIMMs and/or SIMMs installed.
❏ Use the same type and size of memory for every bank.
❏ When mixing different memory types, the memory will default
to the speed of the slowest RAM installed.
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Chapter 3: Installing the Stingray
Installing DIMMs
To install the DIMMs, locate the memory banks on the
system board and perform the following steps:
1.Hold the DIMM so that the notched edge is aligned
with the notch on the DIMM socket (Figure 3-2).
2.Insert the DIMM at a 90 degree angle.
3.Gently push the DIMM straight down until it locks into
place (past the release tabs).
Figure 3-1: Installing a 168-Pin DIMM
Removing DIMMs
To remove DIMMs, follow the steps below:
1.With both thumbs (or fingers), press the release tabs
away from the socket.
2.With the DIMM free from the release tabs, lift the
module up and place in an anti-static bag or package.
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Chapter 3: Installing the Stingray
Installing SIMMs
To install the SIMMs, locate the memory banks on the
system board and perform the following steps:
1.Hold the SIMM so that the notched edge is aligned
with the notch on the SIMM socket (Figure 3-1).
2.Insert the SIMM at a 45 degree angle.
3.Gently push the SIMM into an upright position until it
locks into place (past the release tabs).
Figure 3-2: Installing a 72-Pin SIMM
Removing SIMMs
To remove SIMMs, follow the steps below:
1.With both thumbs (or fingers), press the release tabs
away from the socket.
2.With the SIMM free from the release tabs, lift the
module up and place in an anti-static bag or package.
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Chapter 3: Installing the Stingray
CPU Installation
The Stingray is designed to support Pentium II processors.
The Pentium II processor comes installed in a Single Edge
Contact (SEC) cartridge that connects into "Slot 1" on
the system board.
A Retention Mechanism is supplied to anchor the processor to the system board. Attach the Retention Mechanism
before inserting the processor.
Installing the CPU Retention Mechanism
Before you begin, verify that your Retention Mechanism
Kit contains the following items:
❏ Retention Base (black plastic module)
❏ Support Bridges with Studs (plastic
mounts).
Support Bridge
with Studs
Follow the steps below to install the kit:
1.Locate the four Retention Base holes (near each end
of the Slot 1 socket). Insert the two Support Bridges
with studs (plastic mounts) from the bottom side of
the Stingray toward the component side until they
snap into place.
(Orient the loops toward
the outer edges of the
system board)
Retention
Base
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Chapter 3: Installing the Stingray
2.Place the Retention Base over the Slot 1 connector
and insert it down into the Support Bridges with studs.
Note the “Keyed” location of both Slot 1 and the
Retention Base.
Keyed
Retention Base
3.Using a screwdriver, tighten all four
sides of the Retention Base.
Installing a CPU
Follow the steps below to install the Pentium II processor:
1.Locate the Slot 1 connector (refer to Figure 2-1).
2.If you are installing the boxed version of the Pentium
II processor, follow the instructions in the section
“CPU Installation (Boxed version).”
3.If you are installing the optional Heat Sink Support,
continue to step 4; if not, go to step 5.
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Chapter 3: Installing the Stingray
4.The Heatsink components consist of a top bar, base
and two pins. Gently insert the Heatsink base into the
holes next to the DIMM 1 socket. Push down until the
base snaps into place.
Top Bar
Pin
Base
Pin
5.Gently insert the processor cartridge down into the
Retention Module, making sure the connector on the
processor cartridge and the connector on the Slot 1
connector are aligned (refer to the keyed location on
the previous page).
6.Push the processor cartridge down until it snaps into
place.
7.Lock the processor cartridge into place by pushing
outward on the tabs located on both sides of the
processor cartridge. The processor cartridge is locked
when the tabs snap into the holes on the side of the
Bridge.
8.After the processor cartridge is locked into place,
connect the Heatsink’s top bar to the base.
9.Lock the base into place by inserting a pin down into
the base on both sides.
10. Make sure the speed selection jumpers are set correctly (refer to Chapter 2 - Jumper Settings).
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Chapter 3: Installing the Stingray
CPU Installation Overview
CPU Installation
1. Mount the Retention
Mechanism for the
CPU.
2. Mount the (optional)
heatsink support base
onto the system board.
Overview
3
3. Slide the CPU into the
Retention Mechanism.
4
4. Lock the CPU into the
Retention mechanism
using the tabs.
5. Slide in the Heat Sink
Top Bar, then insert
the pins to lock it in
place.
1
2
5
Figure 3-4: Installing a CPU
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Chapter 3: Installing the Stingray
CPU Installation (Boxed version)
A boxed version of the CPU is offered through Intel. This
packaging uses an active cooling fan. The mounting hardware is described below. For detailed instructions, please
refer to the documentation that is supplied with your
CPU.
NOTE: Make sure the speed selection jumpers are set
correctly (refer to Chapter 2 - Jumper Settings).
3
32
4
3
1
2
Install to
system board
Figure 3-3: Installing a CPU (Boxed version)
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Chapter 3: Installing the Stingray
Installing a PCI Peripheral Card
Micronics PCI slots accommodate all PCI peripherals that
meet the PCI 2.1 specifications. Follow the steps below to
install a PCI card:
1.Turn the computer system off and remove its cover.
2.Choose an unused PCI slot and remove the slot cover.
3.Insert the card with the bottom edge level to the slot.
Never insert the card at an angle.
4.Carefully push the card straight down, making sure
the card is fully inserted.
5.Replace the screw which holds the card in place.
6.Replace the computer cover.
7.Refer to the PCI card’s documentation additional
instructions regarding installation and software drivers.
Figure 3-4: Installing a PCI Card
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Chapter 3: Installing the Stingray
Installing an ISA Peripheral Card
Micronics ISA slots accommodate all standard ISA peripherals. Follow the steps below to install a PCI card:
1.Turn the computer system off and remove its cover.
2.Choose an unused ISA slot and remove the slot cover.
3.Insert the card with the bottom edge level to the slot.
Never insert the card at an angle.
4.Carefully push the card straight down, making sure
the card is inserted fully.
5.Replace the screw that holds the card in place.
6.Replace the computer cover.
7.Refer to the ISA card’s documentation for additional
instructions regarding installation and software drivers.
34
Figure 3-5: Installing an ISA P eripheral Card
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Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility
Chapter
4
The BIOS Setup Utility
Configuration
After the Stingray system board and all hardware is installed, the system is ready for configuration. Before turning on the computer, make sure all cables are correctly
connected and all jumpers are correctly set.
We recommend that you keep the computer cover off the
first time you boot the system. This makes it faster and
easier to correct any difficulties that might arise.
Initial Boot Up
Power up the Stingray. If the system does not properly boot,
check all your cables and peripherals for bad connections.
You may also get beep codes or error messages. If this
occurs, consult Appendix B for a guide to possible solutions.
After the system properly boots, it is ready to be configured. The following information explains the proper
procedures for BIOS configuration.
Setup
The Setup program is used to configure the computer’s
BIOS (Basic Input/Output System). The computer’s
BIOS is responsible for configuring the system board and
providing hardware information to the operating system.
In order for the computer to run properly, run the Setup
procedure after first installing the system board and
whenever you make a hardware change to the system.
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Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility
When the system is turned on, it performs a memory test,
and a BIOS identification and system information screen
is displayed on your monitor, as shown in Figure 4-1.
Figure 4-1: P ower-Up Screen
When “To enter Setup before boot, press CTRL-ALTESC or DEL key” appears at the bottom of the screen,
press the <DEL> key to start the Setup program. The
main CMOS Setup utility screen (Figure 4-2) appears.
Note that the Setup program can only be activated
during the boot sequence.
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Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility
Figure 4-2: Main CMOS Setup Screen
Running the Setup Program
The Stingray system board has six primary CMOS configuration screens: main setup menu, Standard CMOS
Setup, BIOS Features Setup, Chipset Features Setup,
PNP/PCI Configuration and Integrated Peripherals screen.
In addition, there are four screens containing options that
do not have to be set unless you want to: the Power
Management Setup screen, the Supervisor Password, the
User Password and the IDE HDD Auto Detection screen.
The main menu screen also contains the following options: Load BIOS Defaults, Load Setup Defaults, HDD
Low Level Format, Save & Exit Setup and the Exit
Without Saving.
To select any of these screens or options, use the arrow
keys (<↑←↓→>) to move the highlight to the desired
item and press <Enter>. NOTE: A brief description of
each highlighted selection appears at the bottom of the screen.
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Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility
Standard CMOS Setup
The STANDARD CMOS SETUP allows checking or
modification of general configuration information. To
access the STANDARD CMOS SETUP screen, highlight this option on the main menu screen and press
<Enter>.
Figure 4-3. Standard CMOS Setup Screen
Date and Time
To set the date, use <→/←↑/↓> arrow keys to highlight
the date and follow the same procedure to set the time.
Hard Disks Setup
The BIOS supports up to four IDE drives. You can specify
the physical and electronic properties of the disk drives
installed. Relevant specifications include the type, number of cylinders (CYLS), heads (HEAD), write pre-
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Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility
compensation time (PRECOMP), read/write head landing zone (LANDZ), number of sectors per track
(SECTOR), and HDD mode (MODE). NOTE: We rec-
ommend that you select type Auto for all drives.
Diskette A or B
To configure a floppy drive added to or removed from
your computer, use <→/←↑/↓> arrow keys to select the
desired drive. Use the <PU/PD/+/-> arrow keys to
change the setting until it matches the floppy drive you
installed. The BIOS supports 2.88MB, 1.44MB, 1.2MB,
720KB and 360KB floppy drives.
Video
Select the type of video card installed into your system.
The default setting is EGA/VGA.
Halt On
During the Power-On Self-Test (POST), the system
stops if the BIOS detects a hardware error. The default
setting is All Errors.
Base/Extended/Other Memory
A small section in the lower right corner of the screen
displays important information about your system that
includes the base, extended and other memory sizes.
They are updated automatically by the Setup program
according to the status detected by the BIOS self-test.
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Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility
BIOS Features Setup
This feature allows you to set the Award enhanced BIOS
options of your choice, such as External Cache and boot
operations. To access the BIOS FEATURES SETUP screen,
highlight this option on the main menu screen and press
<Enter>.
Figure 4-4: BIOS Features Setup Screen
CPU Internal Cache
This selection enables the internal cache of the Intel
Pentium II CPU. The default setting is Disabled.
External Cache
The External Cache selection enables or disables the
external (L2) cache and the onboard secondary cache.
The default setting is Disabled.
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Quick Power-On Self-Test
When enabled, this selection will reduce the amount of
time required to run the Power-On Self-Test (POST). A
quick POST skips certain steps. We recommend that you
disable quick POST. The default setting is Disabled.
Boot Sequence
Boot Sequence selects the order in which the system
searches for a boot disk. The default setting is A, C, SCSI.
Swap Floppy Drive
This selection can be set to remap the floppy drives.
When set to Disabled (default), drive A: becomes drive
B: and drive B: becomes drive A:.
Boot Up Floppy Seek
When set to Disabled (default), the BIOS tests (seeks)
floppy drives to determine whether they have 40 or 80
tracks. Drives with 720KB, 1.2MB and 1.44MB capacity
all have 80 tracks. The default setting is Disabled.
Boot Up Numlock Status
Toggle between On and Off to control the state of the
Numlock key when the system boots. When toggled On,
the numeric keypad generates numbers instead of controlling cursor operations. The default setting is Off.
Gate A20 Option
Gate A20 refers to the way the system addresses memory
above 1MB (extended memory). When set to Fast
(default), the system chipset controls Gate A20. When set
to Normal, a pin in the keyboard controller controls Gate
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Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility
A20. Setting Gate A20 to Fast improves system speed,
particularly with OS/2 and Windows.
Security Option
This selection determines whether the password will be
asked for at every system boot or only when entering into
the Setup (default) program.
PCI/VGA Palette Snoop
Alters the VGA palette setting while graphic signals pass
through the feature connector of the VGA card and are
processed by the MPEG card. Enable this option only if you
have MPEG connections through the VGA feature connector; this means you can adjust PCI/VGA palettes. The
default setting is Disabled.
OS Select for DRAM>64MB
This selection allows you to select the amount of memory
installed for your operating system. Select NON-OS2 (default) if your operating system has less than 64MB of
memory or if running a non-OS/2 operating system. If your
operating system has more than 64MB of memory installed,
select the OS2 setting.
Video BIOS Shadow
Enabling this selection allows you to shadow the BIOS on
the video card for faster video performance. Some video
cards do not support video BIOS shadowing. Disable this
option if problems occur.
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Chipset Features Setup
The Chipset Features Setup allows you to program the
Intel 440FX PCI chipset features. To access the CHIPSET
FEATURES SETUP screen, highlight this option on the
main menu screen and press <Enter>.
Figure 4-5: Chipset Features Setup Screen
Auto Configuration
Auto Configuration selects predetermined optimal values
of the chipset parameters. When Disabled, chipset parameters revert to setup information stored in CMOS. Many
fields in this screen are not available when Auto Configuration is Enabled.
DRAM Speed Selection
The value in this field must correspond to the speed of the
DRAM installed in your system. Before changing this selec-
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Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility
tion, verify the speed of the DRAM currently installed. This
value is access speed, so a lower value means a faster
system.
DRAM RAS# Precharge Time
The precharge time is the number of cycles it takes for the
RAS to accumulate its charge before DRAM refresh. If
insufficient time is allowed, refresh may be incomplete and
the DRAM may fail to retain data.
MA Additional Wait State
Selecting Enabled inserts an additional wait state before
the beginning of a memory read. The setting of this parameter depends on the system board design. Do not change
from the manufacturer’s default setting unless you are
getting memory addressing errors.
Fast RAS# to CAS# Delay
This selection allows you to insert a timing delay between
the CAS and RAS strobe signals, used when DRAM is
written to, read from, or refreshed. Disabled gives faster
performance; and Enabled gives more stable performance.
DRAM Read Burst (B/E/F)
Set the timing for burst-mode reads from DRAM. The
lower the timing numbers, the faster the system addresses
memory
DRAM Write Burst (B/E/F)
Set the timing for burst-mode writes from DRAM. The
lower the timing numbers, the faster the system addresses
memory.
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Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility
ISA Bus Clock
You can set the speed of the AT bus here. The settings are
tied to the speed of the PCI bus. If the PCI bus operates at
33 MHz, a setting of PCICLK/4 (default) would yield an
ISA bus speed of approximately 8 MHz, the standard speed
of the ISA bus. While most devices operate at higher ISA
bus speeds, try a slower bus speed if your ISA device does
not function properly at a high bus speed.
DRAM Refresh Queue
When Enabled, you can queue up to four DRAM refresh
requests, so DRAM can refresh at optimal times.
Disabled makes all refreshes priority requests.
DRAM RAS Only Refresh
An alternate to CAS-before-RAS refresh. Leave
Disabled (default) unless your DRAM requires this older
method of refresh generation.
DRAM ECC/Parity Select
Select Parity, ECC or Disabled, depending on the type of
DRAM installed in your system.
Fast DRAM Refresh
The cache DRAM controller offers two refresh modes,
Normal and Hidden. In both modes, CAS takes place
before RAS but the Normal mode requires a CPU cycle for
each. Alternately, a cycle is eliminated by “hiding” the
CAS refresh in Hidden mode. Not only is the Hidden
mode faster and more efficient, but it also allows the CPU
to maintain the status of the cache even if the system goes
into a power management “suspend” mode.
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Read-Around-Write
DRAM optimization feature. If a memory read is addressed
to a location whose latest write is being held in a buffer
before being written to memory, the read is satisfied through
the buffer contents and is not sent to the DRAM.
PCI Burst Write Combine
When this selection is Enabled, the chipset assembles long
PCI bursts from the data held in these buffers.
PCI-To-DRAM Pipeline
DRAM optimization feature. When Enabled, full PCI-toDRAM write pipelining is enabled. Buffers in the chipset
store data written from the PCI bus to memory. When
Disabled, PCI writes to DRAM are limited to a single
transfer per write cycle.
CPU-To-PCI Write Post
When this field is Enabled, writes from the CPU to the PCI
bus are buffered to compensate for the speed differences
between the CPU and the PCI bus. When Disabled, the
writes are not buffered and the CPU must wait until the
write is complete before starting another write cycle.
CPU-To-PCI IDE Posting
Select Enabled to post write cycles from the CPU to the PCI
IDE interface. IDE accesses are posted in the CPU to PCI
buffers, for cycle optimization.
System BIOS Cacheable
Selecting Enabled allows caching of the system BIOS ROM
at F0000h-FFFFFh, resulting in better system performance.
However, if any program writes to this memory area, a
system error may result.
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Video RAM Cacheable
Selecting Enabled allows caching of the video BIOS ROM
at C0000h to C7FFFh, resulting in better video performance. However, if any program writes to this memory
area, a system error may result.
8-Bit/16-Bit I/O Recovery Time
The I/O recovery mechanism adds bus clock cycles between PCI-originated I/O cycles to the ISA bus. This delay
takes place because the PCI bus is much faster than the
ISA bus. These two fields let you add recovery time (in bus
clock cycles) for 16-bit and 8-bit I/O.
Memory Hole at 15M-16M
You can reserve this area of system memory for the ISA
adapter ROM. When this area is reserved, it cannot be
cached.
DRAM Fast Leadoff
Select Enabled to shorten the leadoff cycles and optimize
performance.
Passive Release
This selection will enable or disable the CPU to PCI bus
accesses during passive release. When disabled, the arbiter only accepts another PCI master access to local DRAM.
Delayed Transaction
When enabled, this selection turns on compliance with
the PCI specification version 2.1 in regards to embedded
32-bit posted write buffer to support delay transaction
cycles. The default setting is Disabled.
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Power Management Setup
The Power Management Setup option controls the power
management functions of the system. To access the
POWER MANAGEMENT SETUP screen, highlight this
option on the main menu screen and press <Enter>.
Figure 4-6: Po wer Management Screen
Power Management
This selection allows you to select the type (or degree) of
power saving for Doze, Standby and Suspend modes. See
the section PM Timers for a brief description of each mode.
The following table describes each power management
mode:
Max Saving Maximum power savings. Inactivity period is
User Define Set each mode individually. Select time-out
Min Saving Minimum power savings. Inactivity period is
48
1 minute in each mode.
periods in the PM Timers section.
1 hour in each mode (except the hard drive).
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PM Control By APM
When enabled, power management is controlled by the
Advanced Power Management (APM) feature, which gives
better power savings. The default setting is Yes.
Video OFF Method
This selection defines the video off method in standby
mode. The following table describes each option:
SYNC+Blank System turns off vertical and horizontal
DPMS Support Select this option if your monitor supports the
Blank ScreenSystem only writes blanks to the video buffer.
synchronization ports and writes blanks to the
video buffer.
Display Power Management Signaling
(DPMS) standard of the Video Electronics
Standards Association (VESA). Use the
software supplied for your video subsystem to
select video power management values.
Modem Use IRQ
Name the interrupt request (IRQ) line assigned to the
modem (if any) on your system. Activity of the selected
IRQ always awakens the system.
PM Timers
The following modes are Green PC power saving functions.
They are user-configurable only during User Defined Power
Management mode:
Sleep Mode
After the selected period of system inactivity (1 minute to
1 hour), the CPU clock runs at slower speed while all other
devices still operate at full speed.
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Standby Mode
After the selected period of system inactivity (1 minute to
1 hour), the fixed disk drive and the video shut off while all
other devices still operate at full speed.
Suspend Mode
After the selected period of system inactivity (1 minute to
1 hour), all devices except the CPU shut off.
HDD Power Down
After the selected period of drive inactivity (1 to 15
minutes), the hard disk drive powers down while all other
devices remain active.
Wake-Up Events
You can turn On or Off monitoring of four commonly used
interrupt requests so they do not awaken the system from,
or reset activity timers for, Doze and Standby modes.
For example, if you have a modem on IRQ3, you can turn
On IRQ3 as a wake-up event, so an interrupt from the
modem can wake up the system. Or you may wish to turn
Off IRQ12 (the PS/2) mouse as a wake-up event, so
accidentally brushing the mouse does not awaken the
system. The default wake-up event is keyboard activity.
Power Down and Resume Events
You can disable monitoring of common interrupt requests
so they do not awaken the system from, or reset activity
timers for Suspend mode.
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PnP/PCI Configuration Setup
The PnP/PCI Configuration Setup option sets the various
system functions and internal addresses of PnP and PCI
devices and onboard PCI IDE controller. To access the
PnP/PCI CONFIGURATION SETUP screen, highlight
this option on the main menu screen and press <Enter>.
Figure 4-7: PnP/PCI Configuration Screen
PnP OS Installed
When set to Yes, this selection allows the system to work
with a Plug and Play (PnP) operating system such as
Windows 95. The PnP BIOS will configure only PCI and
ISA Plug and Play cards needed to boot the system, and
allow the operating system or device drivers to configure
the remaining cards. The default setting is No.
Resources Controlled By
The Stingray Plug and Play BIOS can automatically configure all the boot and Plug and Play-compatible devices.
If you select Auto, all the interrupt request (IRQ) and
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Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility
DMA assignment fields disappear, as the BIOS automatically assigns them.
Reset Configuration Data
Select Enabled to reset Extended System Configuration
Data (ESCD) when you exit Setup. This selection allows
the PnP BIOS to detect your PCI and ISA PnP devices and
reallocate resources to them. The default setting is Disabled.
IRQ n Assigned To
When resources are controlled manually, assign each system interrupt as one of the following types, depending on
the type of device using the interrupt:
Legacy ISADevices compliant with the original PC AT
bus specification, requiring a specific interrupt (such as IRQ4 for COM 1) or older
ISA cards that use jumpers to adjust resources.
PCI/ISA PnPDevices compliant with the Plug and Play
standard, whether designed for PCI or ISA
bus architecture.
DMA n Assigned To
When resources are controlled manually, assign each system DMA channel as one of the following types, depending
on the type of device using the interrupt:
Legacy ISADevices compliant with the original PC AT
bus specification, requiring a specific DMA
channel or older ISA cards that use jumpers to adjust resources.
PCI/ISA PnPDevices compliant with the Plug and Play
standard, whether designed for PCI or ISA
bus architecture.
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Load BIOS Defaults
This selection loads the BIOS default values that would
allow safe booting of the system in the event of a BIOS
configuration memory loss. To select LOAD BIOS
DEFAULTS, highlight this option on the main menu screen
and press <Enter>. Press <Y> or <N> when the program prompts you with the Load BIOS Defaults question.
Load Setup Defaults
This selection allows automatic configuration of all the
options in the Standard CMOS Setup, BIOS Features
Setup and Chipset Features Setup with the setup defaults.
If problems are encountered after loading the setup defaults, reboot the system and load the BIOS defaults. To
select LOAD SETUP DEFAULTS, highlight this option on
the main menu screen and press <Enter>. Press <Y> or
<N> when the program prompts you with the Load Setup
Defaults question.
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Integrated Peripherals
This option sets the addresses of I/O subsystems that
depend on the integrated peripherals controller in your
system. To access the INTEGRATED PERIPHERALS
screen, highlight this option on the main menu screen and
press <Enter>.
Figure 4-8: Integrated P eripherals Configuration Screen
IDE HDD Block Mode
Block mode is also called block transfer, multiple commands, or multiple sector read/write. If your IDE hard
drive supports block mode (most new drives do), select
Enabled (default) for automatic detection of the optimal
number of block read/writes per sector the drive can
support.
IDE Primary/Secondary Master/Slave PIO
The four IDE PIO (Programmed Input/Output) fields
allow you to set a PIO mode (0-4) for each of the four IDE
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devices that the onboard IDE interface supports. Modes 0
through 4 provide successively increased performance. In
Auto (default) mode, the system automatically determines the best mode for each device.
On-Chip Primary/Secondary PCI IDE
The integrated peripheral controller contains an IDE interface with support for two IDE channels. Select Enabled
to activate each channel separately.
PCI Slot IDE 2nd Channel
You may separately disable the second channel on an IDE
interface installed in a PCI expansion slot.
Onboard FDC Controller
Select Enabled if your system has a floppy disk controller
installed on the system board and you wish to use it. If you
install an add-in controller or the system has no floppy
drive, select Disabled (default).
Onboard Serial Port 1/Serial Port 2
Select a logical COM port name and matching address for
the first and second serial ports.
Onboard Parallel Port
Select an address and interrupt for the physical parallel
(printer) port.
Parallel Port Mode/Type
Select an operating mode for the onboard parallel (printer)
port. Select Normal (default) unless your hardware and
software require one of the other modes offered in this
field.
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ECP Mode Use DMA
Select a DMA channel for the parallel port when using
ECP (Expanded Capabilities Port) mode.
Infrared Duplex Type
Select the value required by the IR device connected to
the IR port. Full Duplex Mode (default) permits simultaneous two-direction transmission. Half Duplex Mode permits transmission in one direction at a time.
USB Support
Select Enabled (default) if your system contains a Universal Serial Bus (USB) controller and you have USB peripherals.
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Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility
Supervisor Password
The Supervisor Password utility allows you to setup, change
or disable the password stored in the BIOS. The Supervisor
Password allows access to the system and Setup. To setup
or change a password, highlight the SUPERVISOR PASSWORD option on the main menu screen and press <Enter>.
The password can be no more than eight characters long.
The program will prompt you to confirm the new password
before exiting and enabling the utility. To disable the
password, press <Enter> when the program prompts you
to enter the new password.
WARNING: If you forget the Supervisor Password, it cannot be
disabled without resetting the CMOS.
User Password
The User Password utility allows you to setup, change or
disable the password stored in the BIOS. Follow the same
procedure used to setup the Supervisor Password. The
User Password allows access to the system, but will not
allow you to modify the CMOS settings.
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IDE HDD Auto Detection
The IDE HDD Auto Detection option provides auto
configuration of the hard drive installed in your system. To
access the IDE HDD Auto Detection screen, highlight
this option on the main menu screen and press <Enter>.
Figure 4-9: IDE HDD Auto Detection Screen
The IDE HDD Auto Detection option provides auto
configuration of the hard drive installed in your system. It
supports LBA, Large and Normal modes.
If your hard disk drive’s capacity is under 528MB, select
Normal mode. NOTE: It is recommended that you select
Normal mode for your hard disk drive if you will be using
UNIX. If the system’s hard disk drive has a capacity of over
528MB and supports LBA functions, you may enable either
the LBA mode or the Large Mode.
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HDD Low Level Format
Micronics recommends that only trained technicians use this
utility. This selection allows you to perform a low level
format of your hard disk drive. To select the HDD LOW
LEVEL FORMAT option, highlight this option on the main
menu screen and press <Enter>.
Figure 4:10: HDD Low Level Format Screen
The selections available are: Low Level Format Utility,
Select Drive Bad Track List and Preformat.
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Save and Exit Setup
This selection saves the changes you have made in the
setup program, then exits and reboots the system. After
making all modifications in the setup program, exit to the
main menu screen. Highlight the SAVE AND EXIT SETUP
option and press <Enter>. Press <Y> to confirm the
changes made and <N> or <ESC> if additional modifications are needed before exiting the setup program.
Exit Without Saving
This selection abandons all previous settings, then exits
and reboots the system. From the main menu screen
highlight the EXIT WITHOUT SAVING option and press
<Enter>. Press <Y> and the system will exit the setup
program, then reboot without saving any of the changes
made.
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Appendix A: Technical Information
Appendix
A
Specifications
Part Number:09-00311
Processor:Single Intel Slot 1
Intel Pentium
Integrated Voltage Regulator Module
Chipset:Intel 440FX PCI chipset
Intel PIIX 3
SMC FDC37C932 Ultra I/O chip
CPU Clock Select: Support for 66MHz CPU bus speed
configurations.
Form Factor:ATX form factor
Expansion:Four 32-bit PCI slots
Four 16-bit ISA slots
One is a shared PCI/ISA slot
BIOS:Award BIOS w/ 1MB Flash
PCI auto configuration
APM 1.2
Auto-detection of memory size
Auto-detection and display of ECC
and EDO memory.
Auto-configuration of IDE disk drives
Soft Power Down
Multi-boot II
DMI
II - 233/266/300MHz
Memory :Maximum Memory - 1 GByte
Four 72-pin SIMM sockets
Two 3.3V unbuffered 168-pin
DIMM sockets.
Supports FPM and EDO memory
ECC supported via chipset
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Appendix A: Technical Information
Keyboard/Mouse:PS/2 style keyboard and mouse connectors
Cache:256 or 512K Pipelined Burst Level 2 cache in
CPU package.
I/O Ports:Two high speed serial ports (16550 compatible)
Enhanced 25-pin parallel port w/ EPP and ECP
IrDA compliant IR header
Two USB ports via cable w/ bracket
Floppy Port:Supports two floppy drives
(2.88MB, 1.44MB, 1.2MB, 720KB, 360KB).
PCI IDE Ports:Two 40-pin IDE connectors
(Primary and Secondary IDE).
Multiple sector transfer support
Auto detection of add-in IDE board
Environmental Specifications
The environment in which the Stingray is located is critical.
Micronics recommends the following environmental specifications:
Temperature Range
Operating: 50 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 40 degrees Celsius).
Non -Operating: 50 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 60 degrees
Celsius). Shipping: -22 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (-30 to 60 degrees
Celsius).
Relative Humidity
Operating: 20% to 80%.
Non-Operating: 5% to 90%.
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Appendix A: Technical Information
Battery Disposal
WARNING:
Please do not open battery, dispose of in fire, recharge, put in
backwards or mix with used or other battery types. The battery may
explode or leak and cause personal injury.
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Appendix A: Technical Information
Support and Information Services
Micronics offers a variety of support and information services
to help you get the most from your product. The following
services are available:
▲ Technical Support
▲ Electronic Bulletin Board Service (BBS)
▲ Return Materials Authorization (RMA)
▲ Fax-On-Demand
▲ World Wide Web
▲ Customer Service
Refer to Table A-1 for details on these services.
Technical Support
If you need technical assistance, our Technical Support
Engineers will be glad to help you. You can contact us via
telephone, fax or BBS. Before calling Technical Support
please have the following information ready:
❏ The model name and 09 part number of your Micronics
product, which is silk screened on the face of the Stingray
system board.
❏ Your computer information such as CPU type, operat-
ing system, amount of installed memory and other
peripherals installed in your computer.
❏ Try to call from the location of your computer.
NOTE: For Return Material Authorization purposes, please
keep a copy of your product receipt.
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Appendix A: Technical Information
ServiceHoursCountryTelephone Number
Technical Support - Live phone help
from Technical Support Engineers
Electronic Bulletin Board Service
(BBS) - Information on software
upgrades, new releases and other
helpful information
RMA (Return Materials Authorization)
- Return products for repair
Fax-On-Demand - Automated system
for product literature, technical
bulleti ns and oth er hel pful in formation
World Wide Web - Product
information, technical support, press
releases and other helpful information
Customer Service - Order Micronics
and Orchid products
During the Power-On Self Test (POST), the BIOS either
sounds a beep code or displays a message when it detects
a correctable error. Currently the only beep code indicates that a video error has occurred and the BIOS
cannot initialize the video screen to display any additional information. The beep code consists of a single
long beep followed by two short beeps.
MessagePossible CauseSolution
BIOS ROM
CHECKSUM ERROR
- SYSTEM HAL TED
CMOS BATTERY
FAILED
CMOS CHECKSUM
ERROR-DEFAULTS
LOADED
DISKETTE DRIVES
OR TYPES
MISMATCH ERROR
DISPLAY SWITCH I S
SET INCORRECTLY
KEYBOARD ERROR
OR NO KEYBOARD
PRESENT
The checksum of the
BIOS code in the BIOS
chip is incorrect
indicating the BIOS code
ma
have become
corrupt .
CMOS batter
longe r functional.
Checksum of CMOS is
incorrect
loads the default
equip m ent conf iguration.
Type of diskette drive
installed in the s
different from the CMOS
configuration.
The display switch on
the s
set to either
monochrome or co l or .
This messa
the switch is set to a
different settin
indicated i n Setup.
Cannot init ialize the
keyboard.
is no
so the system
stem i s
stem board can be
e indicates
than
uires a BIOS
Re
replacement.
Requires a batter
replacement.
This error ma
been caused b
weak batter
the batter
if necessary.
Run Se tup to
reconfi
type correctly.
Determine which
settin
either turn off the
s
ste m and change the
umper, or enter Setup
and chan
selection.
Make sure the
ke
board is attac hed
correctl
are pressed durin
POST. Check the Halt
On confi
Setup. Ma
replacem ent of
keyboard.
have
. Check
and replace
ure the drive
is correct. Then
e the Video
and no keys
urati on in
require
a
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Appendix B: POST Messages
y
y
g
j
)
y
y
,
y
,
)
y
g
g
g
y
y
y
y
y
y
y
y
y
y
y
y
MessagePossible CauseSolution
KEYBO AR D IS
LOCKED OUT UNLOCK THE KEY
FLOPPY D I SK(s
FAILED
HARD DISK INSTALL
FAILURE
HARD DISK(s
DIAGNOSTICS
FAILED
PRIMARY MASTER
HARD DISK FAILED
PRIMARY SLAVE
HARD DISK FAILED
SECONDARY
MASTER HARD
DISK FA ILED
SECONDARY
MASTER HARD
DISK FA ILED
This message usuall
indicates that one or
more ke
pressed durin
keyboard tests.
Cannot find or initialize
the flopp
controller or the drive.
Cannot find or initialize
the hard drive controller
or the drive.
The s
specific disk dia
routines. This messa
appears if one or more
hard disks return an
error when runnin
diagnostics.
POST detects an error
in the primar
IDE hard drive.
POST detects an error
in the secondar
IDE hard drive.
POST detects an error
in the primar
hard drive.
POST detects an error
in the secondar
IDE hard drive.
s have been
the
drive
stem may run
nostic
master
master
slave IDE
slave
Be sure no ob
resting on the keyboard.
Make sure the cont rol l er
is installed correctly. If
no flopp
installed
Diskett e D ri ve se l ection
in Setup is set to None
or Auto.
Make sure the cont rol l er
is installed correctl
no hard drives are
installed
Hard Drive selection in
Setup is set to None.
Rerun Setup and check
connections. Ma
e
require a hard disk
replacement.
the
Ma
replaceme nt of the
primar
disk.
Ma
replaceme nt of the
secondar
disk.
Ma
replaceme nt of the
primary hard disk.
Ma
replaceme nt of the
secondar
disk.
ects are
drives are
be sure the
. If
be sure the
require a
master hard
require a
master hard
require a
require a
slave hard
68
Stingray System Board Manual
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Appendix B: POST Messages
g
y
g
y
y
y
y
y
,
y
g
g
,
g
,
MessagePossible CauseSolution
MEMORY TEST
FAILE D
MEMORY PARITY
ERROR AT........
PRESS F1 TO
DISABLE NMI
REBOOT
OVERRIDE
ENABLED DEFAULTS LOADED
F2 TO
If POST detects an
error durin
testing, additional
information appears
iving specifics about
the t
the memory error.
Indicates a memor
parity error at a specific
location.
The BI OS de tect ed a
nonmaskable Interrupt
condition during boot.
If the system cannot
boot usin
CMOS confi
the BIOS can override
the current
configuration.
memor
pe and location of
the current
uration
Ma
of defective memory.
You c a n use t his
loca tion alo ng with the
memor
s
replace the defective
memory chips.
Reboot the s
the NMI enabled.
The BIOS contains a set
of defaults desi
the most stable
minimal-performance
system operations.
require replacement
map for your
stem to find and
stem with
ned for
Stingray System Board Manual
69
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Appendix B: POST Messages
70
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Appendix C: Updating the System BIOS
Appendix
C
Updating the System BIOS
The Micronics system boards are designed so that the
BIOS can be reprogrammed using a BIOS file. You can
easily FLASH a BIOS by following the steps below:
1) After downloading the appropriate BIOS file from
our BBS or Website, extract it to a bootable MSDOS 6.X or Windows 95 diskette.
2) If you are using MS-DOS 6.X, reboot your system
with the bootable diskette in the A: drive. To make
sure a clean DOS environment is loaded, press the
F5 key while "Starting MS-DOS" is displayed. After
the system has rebooted, the cursor will appear at
the A:\> prompt.
3) If you are using Windows 95, press F8 when you see
"Starting MS Windows 95." Select the option "Safe
Mode Command Prompt."
4) Now you can run the FLASH utility from the A:\>
prompt. For example, to update the Stingray to
BIOS version XX, you would type:
If you
encounter
any
problems
during this
process, or
if you have
questions
about the
procedure,
please call
Technical
Support.
A:\>AWDFLASH STNGRYXX.BIN [ENTER]
5) After the FLASH screen appears, select [Y]es to save
the current BIOS or [N]o if you do not want to save
the current BIOS. NOTE: It is recommended that
you save the current BIOS.
6) When prompted, select [Y]es to reprogram the
BIOS.
7) After the update process has completed, you will be
prompted to power off or reset your system. Once
the system reboots, verify that the new BIOS version
appears on the screen. NOTE: After reprogramming the BIOS, you may need to enter Setup and
reset your settings.
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71
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Appendix C: Updating the System BIOS
NOTE: If the BIOS is somehow erased or does not seem to
accept the upgrade, you can purchase a new BIOS from
MicroNiche Information Systems (800-733-9188). There is
a $30.00 fee plus shipping charges for this service. (Price and
availability subject to change.)
If you prefer to send your system board in for the upgrade,
the Micronics RMA department offers this service free of
charge if your system board is under warranty.
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Stingray System Board Manual
Page 75
Appendix D: Warranties and Notices
Appendix
D
Limited Warranty
Except as described below, Micronics warrants the products to be free from defects in material and workmanship in
normal use for a period of one (1) year from date of purchase. Should any product fail to perform according to this
warranty at any time during the warranty period, except as
provided below, Micronics or its authorized service centers
will, at Micronics’ option, repair or replace the product at no
additional charge.
The warranty does not cover loss or damage which occurs
in shipment or which is due to: (1) improper installation
or maintenance, misuse, neglect or any cause other than
ordinary commercial application, including without limitation, accidents or acts of God; (2) adjustment, repair, or
modification by other than a Micronics authorized service
center; (3) improper environment, excessive or inadequate heating or air conditioning, or electrical power
failures, surges or other irregularities; (4) any statement
about the product other than those set forth in this
warranty; or (5) nonconformity to models or samples
shown to the purchaser. Any models or samples were for
the sole purpose of suggesting the character of the product
and are not intended to form the basis of the bargain.
A receipt or copy of the invoice with the date of purchase
from a Micronics reseller is required before any warranty
service can be rendered. Service can be obtained by
calling Micronics for a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) Number.
The RMA Number should be prominently displayed on
the outside of the shipping carton of the returned product.
Returned product should be shipped prepaid or hand
carried to Micronics. The purchaser assumes risk of loss or
damage in transit, and unless otherwise agreed to in
writing by Micronics, will pay inbound shipping charges.
The exclusive remedy of the purchaser under this warranty above will be repair or replace at Micronics’ option,
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Appendix D: Warranties and Notices
but if for any reason that remedy should fail of its essential
purpose, the exclusive remedy of the purchaser shall then be
actual damages up to amounts paid for the defective product by the purchaser. This limited warranty shall be deemed
to “fail of its essential purpose” if, after repeated efforts,
Micronics is unable to make the product operate as warranted. Micronics’ liability for damages to the purchaser for
any cause whatsoever; regardless of the form of action and
whether in contract or in tort, shall be limited to the
purchase price in effect when the cause of action arose for
the product that is the basis of the claim.
Micronics will not be liable for any lost profits or any indirect,
special incidental or consequential damages in connection
with the product, even if Micronics has been advised of the
possibility of such damages.
Micronics makes no warranties or representations as to
performance of products or as to service to distributor or
to any person, except as set forth in Micronics; limited
warranty accompanying delivery of product.
Micronics disclaims all other warranties whether oral,
written, expressed, or implied, including without limitation, the warranties of design, merchantability, or fitness
for a particular purpose, if applicable, or arising from a
course of dealing, usage or trade practice.
Non-Warranty Service
After the one year warranty service is no longer in effect,
repair service is still available for Micronics products. For
more information, contact Micronics’ RMA department
at (510) 661-3030. The RMA department is open between
8:30 A.M. and 4:45P.M. Pacific Standard Time.
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Appendix D: Warranties and Notices
FCC Statement
This equipment has been tested and found to comply
within the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to
Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if
not used in accordance with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. Interference to radio or television reception can be determined by
turning the equipment off and on. You are encouraged to
try to correct the interference by one or more of the
following measures:
▲Reorient the receiving antenna.
▲Increase the separation between the equipment and
the receiver.
▲Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit
different from that to which the receiver is connected.
▲Consult your dealer or an experienced radio/TV
technician for help.
To meet FCC requirements, shielded cables are required.
NOTE: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by
Micronics could void your authority to operate the equipment.
Stingray System Board Manual
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Glossary
Glossary
16550 UART - A high speed chip for
controlling serial ports. Although unnecessary for a mouse, it is required for
modems that are 14,400 baud or faster.
APM - An acronym for Advanced
Power Management.
The APM specification defines a layer of software
that supports power management
in computers with power manageable hardware.
Asynchronous - Operations that do
not require the clocks of communicating devices to be coordinated. See Synchronous.
ATX - A system board size measuring
approximately 12” x 9.6”.
Bidirectional Parallel Port - A type of
parallel port that can send and receive
information.
BIOS - An Acronym for Basic Input/
Output System. Configures the system
board and provides hardware information to the operating system.
Bit - A contraction of Binary digit.
The smallest unit of information in a
binary number system. A bit represents a choice between either zero or
one.
Boot - To start up the computer and
load the operating system software. See
cold boot and warm boot.
Buffered DIMMs - The 168-pin buffered DIMM modules use buffer logic
chips on their control lines to reduce
loading on the system board. This buff-
ering action increases the maximum
number of modules on the same system board. The buffered DIMMs come
with standard DRAM chips for either
5V or 3.3V operation.
Bus - A group of electronic paths used
to send data between parts of the system. On a system board, the bus connects the peripheral cards with the
microprocessor via the expansion slots.
Bus Mastering - The ability of a
peripheral card to control the bus
without requiring intervention of the
CPU.
Byte - A group of adjacent bits treated
as a unit. Eight bits are typically considered one byte. Also called a character.
Cache - A process where information
is copied from the slower memory
(DRAM) to the faster memory
(SRAM). Information that is likely to
be read or edited is stored in the cache
providing significant performance increases.
Cache Hit - The percentage of request
for data from memory that can be
served from the cache.
Cache Miss - A memory access which
cannot be supplied from cache.
Cold Boot - Starting the computer by
turning on the power or pressing the
RESET button. A cold boot makes the
processor execute all of the diagnostics. See boot and warm boot.
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Glossary
CPU - An acronym for Central Processing Unit. A CPU performs arithmetic calculations, makes logical
decisions, and directs the operation of
the computer in conjunction with the
operating system.
DIMM - An acronym for Dual Inline
Memory Module. A small printed circuit board containing memory chips.
Disk Drive - A hardware device which
provides for the storage of data on diskettes or hard metal disks that have a
magnetic coating. A disk drive functions by spinning at high speed while
moving a device called the read/write
head across the disk’s surface in order
to read or write data in magnetic code.
DMI - An acronym for Desktop Management Interface. DMI makes hardware inventory easier. It defines a format of a management agent for desktop systems. Its layered-model architecture allows a wide range of software and
hardware components to pass information about themselves to an asset management system.
DRAM - An acronym for Dynamic
Random Access Memory. A type of
memory chip that only keeps its
memory if supplied with regular clock
pulses and a chance to regularly refresh
its data. It is slower and more cost effective than SRAM. See SRAM.
ECC - An acronym for Error Checking and Correction. ECC is logic designed to correct memory errors. The
number of errors that can be corrected
depends upon the algorithms used, and
the number of error correction bits
(non-data bits) present.
ECP - An acronym for Expanded
Capabilities Port. A standard set by
Hewlett Packard and Microsoft Corporation to expand the capabilities of the
parallel port.
EDO Memory - An acronym for Extended Data Out. A DRAM performance feature that permits multiple bit
of data in a single row to be accessed
quickly.
EPP - An acronym for Enhanced Parallel Port. A standard which increases
the capabilities of the parallel port.
EPROM - Acronym for Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory. A
type of ROM chip that can be programmed with relatively simple tools
that will retain its data until erased. It
can only be erased by exposing the circuitry in the chip to ultraviolet light.
See also Flash ROM.
Flash ROM - A type of ROM chip that
will retain its data until erased. It can
be erased or reprogrammed by supplying it with +12V of voltage. See ROM
and EPROM.
FPM - An acronym for Fast Page
Mode. A timing option that permits
several bits of data in a single row on a
DRAM to accessed at an accelerated
rate.
Gigabyte - A disk storage capacity
measurement. Approximately one
thousand megabytes or 1,073,741,824
bytes.
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Glossary
IDE - An acronym for Integrated
Device Electronics. A standard for
communicating between a hard drive
and a computer.
Internal Cache - Cache which is built
into the CPU. See Cache.
ISA - An acronym for Industry Standard Architecture. A well-established
bus standard that originated with the
IBM AT. See PCI and VESA Local Bus.
NS - An acronym for Nanosecond.
One billionth of a second. Measure of
the access time of RAM.
Parallel - A form of data transmission
in which the data is sent one byte at a
time over several wires that each carry
one byte. In parallel transmission, all
the bytes arrive simultaneously, as opposed to serial transmission in which
bits arrive one by one.
Parallel Port - A connection for a
printer or similar peripheral. Generally,
parallel ports are output only. See Bidirectional Parallel Port and ECP.
Parity - Logic that detects the presence
of an error in memory. Generally, a
single parity bit is used for each byte
(8 bits) of data. The most commonly
used forms of parity are even parity,
odd parity and checksums.
PCI - An acronym for Peripheral Component Interconnect. A high performance 32-bit or 64-bit bus developed
by Intel Corporation. PCI is
designed to be independent of the
hardware architecture to ensure compatibility with future computer systems. See VESA Local Bus and ISA.
Pentium - A high performance 64-bit
CISC processor designed and manufactured by Intel Corporation.
Pipeline - In DRAMs and SRAMs, a
method for increasing the performance
using multistage circuitry to stack or
save data while new data is being accessed.
Plug and Play - A standard developed
to ensure easy installation of peripherals. Theoretically, a newly installed
card will automatically configure itself
and work properly without requiring
jumper configuration or device drivers.
POST - An acronym for Power On Self
Test. A diagnostic program that is run
whenever the system is cold booted.
RAM - An acronym for Random
Access Memory. A type of memory
that is used as the “working memory”
of a computer system. See DRAM and
SRAM.
ROM - An acronym for Read Only
Memory. A type of memory that retains its data without requiring power.
Once written, it cannot be modified.
See EPROM and Flash ROM.
Serial Port - A communications port
used to connect peripherals such as
modems and mice.
Setup - A program that allows you to
make changes to the system configuration.
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Glossary
Shadow RAM - A technique used to
load a duplicate copy of BIOS from
slower ROM into faster RAM. This
enhances system performance because
it provides higher access speed to the
BIOS.
SIMM - An acronym for Standard
Inline Memory Module. A small
printed circuit board containing
memory chips.
SRAM - An acronym for Static Random Access Memory. A type of
memory that can retain data without
requiring a regular clock signal.
Although they are faster than DRAM,
they hold less data and are more expensive.
Synchronous Cache - A type of cache
that uses a clock signal to latch the
inputs and the data output. This structure spreads the cache access across
two or three cycles while maintaining
a bandwidth of one access per cycle.
Improves performance by 5-10%.
jumper cables, software drivers, IRQ settings, DMA channels and I/O addresses.
With USB, you can attach and detach
peripherals without opening the computer or even shutting it down.
VESA - An acronym for Video Electronics and Standards Association.
VESA Local Bus (VL-Bus) - A high
performance bus designed by VESA. A
32-bit version of the ISA bus which operates at the speed of the computer’s
CPU. See PCI and ISA.
VRM - Voltage Regulator Module.
Supplies CPU specific voltages for the
Secondary CPU.
Warm Boot - Restarting the system by
simultaneously pressing the <Ctrl>,
<Alt> and <Delete> keys.
Write-Back Cache - Upon a cache hit,
the cache is updated and the main
memory is not affected. Upon a cache
miss, only the main memory is updated.
Unbuffered DIMMs - The unbuffered
DIMM modules do not use any buffer
logic chips, thus achieving faster operation due to the elimination of the
propagation delay of the logic buffer.
This increase in speed comes at the
cost of reducing the maximum number
of modules on the same system board.
USB - An acronym for Universal Serial Bus. The simple and flexible way
to connect devices to your desktop or
notebook PC. USB allows virtually unlimited PC expansion with no more
hassles over add-in cards, dip switches,
Stingray System Board Manual
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Index
Index
B
Battery Disposal - 63
POST Messages - 67
BIOS
Configuration - 35
Setup - 35
Bulletin Board System (BBS) - 65
C
Configuring the Stingray - 13
D
Diagram (Stingray) - 14
80
E
Extended Data Out (EDO) Memory - 17, 19
Environmental Specifications - 62
Error Checking (ECC) - 17, 19