This equipment has been tested and found to comply with 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 when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual , may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to
cause harmful interference, in which case the user will be required to correct
the interference at his ow n expense.
Notice 1
The changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible
for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
Notice 2
Shielded interface cables and A.C. power cord, if any, must be used in order to
comply w ith the emission limits.
V OIR LA NOTICE D’INSTALLATION AVANT DE RACCORDER AU RESEAU.
Micro-Star International
MS-6712
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. O peration is subject to
the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation
ii
Copyright Notice
The material in this document is the intellectual property of MICRO-STAR
INTERNATIONAL. We take every care in the preparation of this document,
but no guarantee is given as to the correctness of its contents. Our products
are under continual improvement and we reserve the right to make changes
without notice.
Trademarks
All trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.
AMD, Athlon™, Athlon™ XP, Thoroughbred™, and Duron™ are registered
trademarks of AMD Corporation.
Intel® and Pentium® are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation.
PS/2 and OS®/2 are registered trademarks of International Business Machines
Corporation.
Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Windows® 98/
2000/NT/XP are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, DualNet, and nForce are registered trademarks or
trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
Netw are® is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc.
Award® is a registered trademark of Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
AMI® is a registered trademark of American Megatrends Inc.
Kensington and MicroSaver are registered trademarks of the Kensington Technology Group.
PCMCIA and CardBus are registered trademarks of the Personal Computer
Memory Card International Association.
Revision History
RevisionRevision HistoryDate
V 1.5Update CPU spec. forMay 2004
KT4AV S eries
iii
Technical Support
If a problem arises with your system and no solution can be obtained from the
user’s manual, please contact your place of purchase or local distributor.
Alternatively, please try the following help resources for further guidance.
V isit the MSI website for FAQ, technical guide, BIOS updates, driver
updates, and other information: http://w ww.msi.com.tw/
Contact our technical staff at: s upport@msi.com.tw
Safety I nstructions
1.Always read the safety instructions carefu lly.
2.Keep this User’ s Manual for future reference.
3.Keep this equipment away from h umidity.
4.Lay this equipment on a reliable flat surface before setting it u p.
5.The openi ngs on the enclosure are for air convection hence protects the equipment
from overheating. DO NOT COVER THE OPENINGS.
6.Make sure th e voltage of the power source and adjust properly 110/220V before
connecting the equ ipment to the power inlet.
7.Place th e power cord such a way that people can not step on it. Do not place
a nything over the power cord.
8.Always Unplug the Power Cord before inserting any add-on card or module.
9.All cautions and warnings on the equipment should be noted.
10. Never pour any liqui d into the opening that could damage or cause electrical shock.
11. If any of th e following situations arises, get the equipment checked by a service
personn el:
lThe power cord or plug is damaged.
lLiquid has penetrated into the equipmen t.
lThe equipment has been exposed to moisture.
lThe eq uipment has not work well or you can not get it work according to
User’ s Manual.
lThe equipment has dropped and damaged.
lThe equipment h as obvious sign of breakage.
12. DO NOT L EAVE THIS EQUIPMENT IN AN ENV IRO NMENT
UNCON DITIONED, STORAGE TEMPERATURE ABOVE 600 C (1 400F), IT
MAY DAMAGE T HE EQUIPMENT.
CAUTION: Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced.
Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the
manufacturer.
iv
CONTENTS
FCC-B Radio Frequency Interference Statement ........................................ ii
Thank you for purchasing the MS-6712 v1.X ATX
mainboard. The MS-6712 v1.X ATX mainboard is based on
VIA® Apollo KT400A North Bridge & VT8235 South Bridge
chipset for optimal system efficiency. Designed to fit the advanced AMD® Athlon™, Athlon™ XP or Duron™ processors,
the MS-6712 delivers a high performance and professional desktop platform solution.
1-1
MS-6712 ATX Mainboard
Mainboard Specifications
CPU
† Supports S ocket A (Socket-462) for AMD® Athlon™/Athlon™ XP /Duron™
processors
† S upports from 1100MHz up to 2800+ or higher speed
(For the latest information about CPU, please visit our Web s ite at http://www.
msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_cpu_support.php)
- ACPI & PC2001 compliant enhanced power management
- Integrated USB 2.0 controller
Main Memory
† S upports six memory banks using three 184-pin DDR DIMMs
† Supports up to 3GB PC1600/2100/2700/3200* D DR SDRAMs
† Supports 2.5v DDR SDRAM
* Please refer to Glossary: Recommended DDR400 Modules for details.
Slots
† One A GP (Accelerated Graphics Port) 1.5V 8x/4x slot
† S ix 32-bit PCI bus slots (support 3.3v/5v PCI bus interface)
† One CNR (Communication Network Riser) slot
On -Board IDE
† An IDE controller on the VT8235 chips et provides IDE HDD/CD-ROM with
PIO, Bus Master and Ultra DMA133/100/66/33 operation modes
† Can connect up to four IDE devices
On-Board Peripherals
† On-Board Peripherals include:
- 1 floppy port supports 2 FDDs with 360K, 720K, 1.2M, 1.44M and
1-2
Getting Started
2.88Mbytes
- 2 s erial ports (COM A + COM B)
- 1 parallel port supports SPP/EPP/ECP mode
- Vertical audio ports
- 1 SPD IF output (2 x 6 pin) with housing (Optional)
- 6 U SB ports (Rear * 4/ Front * 2)
Audio
† RealTek ALC650 6-channel audio
LA N
† VIA VT6103 LAN controller
BIOS
† The mainboard BIOS provides “Plug & Play” BIOS which detects the pe-
ripheral devices and expansion cards of the board automatically.
† The mainboard provides a Desktop Management Interface (DMI) function
which records your mainboard specifications.
Dimension
† ATX Form Factor: 30.5 cm (L) x 21 cm (W)
Moun ting
† 6 mounting holes
Others
† S uspend to RAM/Disk (S3/S4)
† PC2001 compliant
† Support WOL/WOR
1-3
MS-6712 ATX Mainboard
Mainboard Layout
Top : mouse
Bottom: keyboard
USB
port s
Top : Parallel Port
Bottom:
COM A
COM B
T: L AN j a ck
B: USB ports
T: M IC
M: Line-In
B: Line-Out
Winbond
W83697HF
S
O
I
B
JSP3
Codec
JCD1
BATT
CFAN1
1
D
D
F
1
2
3
R
R
R
D
D
D
D
D
D
VIA
VT6103
SOCKET 462
y
l
p
p
u
X
S
T
r
A
e
w
o
P
VIA
KT400A
AGP Slot
PCI Slot 1
PCI Slot 2
JCI1
JBAT1
JIR1
PCI Slot 3
PCI Slot 4
PCI Slot 5
PCI Slot 6
JLED1
VIA
VT8235
SFAN1
IDE 1
IDE 2
+
1-4
CNR
JAUD1
JUSB1
MS-6712 v1.X ATX Mainboard
JFP1
JFP2
Getting Started
MSI Special Features
Live Monitor™
The Live Monitor™ is a tool used to schedule the search
for the latest BIOS/drivers version on the MSI Web site. To use
the function, you need to install the “MSI Live Update 2”
application. After the installation, the “MSI Live Monitor” icon
(as shown on the right) will appear on the screen. Double click
this icon to run the application.
Double click the “MSI Live Monitor” icon at the lower-right corner
of the taskbar, and the following dialog box will appear. You can specify how
often the system will automatically search for the BIOS/drivers version, or
change the LAN settings right from the dialog box.
You can right-click the MSI Live Monitor icon to perform the functions
listed below:
zz
z Auto Search – Searches for the BIOS/drivers version you need immediately.
zz
zz
z View Last Result – Allows you to view the last search result if there is any.
zz
zz
z Preference – Configures the Search function, including the Search schedule.
zz
zz
z Exit – Exits the Live Monitor™ application.
zz
zz
z FAQ – Provides a link to a database which contents various possible questions
zz
about MSI's products for users to inquire.
1-5
MS-6712 ATX Mainboard
D-Bracket™ 2 (Optional)
D-Bracket™ 2 is a USB bracket integrating four Diagnostic LEDs, which
use graphic signal display to help users understand their system. The LEDs
provide up to 16 combinations of signals to debug the system. The 4 LEDs can
detect all problems that fail the system, such as VGA, RAM or other failures.
This special feature is very useful for overclocking users. These users can use
the feature to detect if there are any problems or failures. D-Bracket™ 2 supports both USB 1.1 & 2.0 spec.
D-Bracket™ 2 for mainboard with bluetooth
connector (1 port)
1 2
3 4
D-Bracket™ 2 for mainboard without
bluetooth connector (2 ports)
D-Bracket™ 2 Description
System Power ON
- The D-LED will hang here if the processor is damaged or
not installed properly.
Early Chipset Initialization
Memory Detection Test
- Testing onboard memory size. The D-LED will hang if the
memory module is damaged or not installed properly.
Testing VGA BIOS
Decompressing BIOS image to RAM for fast booting.
Initializing Keyboard Controller.
- This will start writing VGA sign-on message to the screen.
1-6
Getting Started
Red
Green
D-Bracket™ 2 Description
Processor Initialization
- This will show information regarding the processor (like
brand name, system bus, etc…)
Initializing Video Interface
BIOS Sign On
Testing Base and Extended Memory
Initializing Hard Drive Controller
Initializing Floppy Drive Controller
Boot Attempt
Operating System Booting
Testing RTC (Real Time Clock)
- This will start detecting CPU clock, checking type of video
onboard. Then, detect and initialize the video adapter.
- This will start showing information about logo, processor
brand name, etc….
- Testing base memory from 240K to 640K and extended
memory above 1MB using various patterns.
Assign Resources to all ISA.
- This will initialize IDE drive and controller.
- This will initializing Floppy Drive and controller.
- This will set low stack and boot via INT 19h.
1-7
MS-6712 ATX Mainboard
MSI DVD 5.1 Channel (Optional)
The motherboard comes with MSI DVD application which supports 5.1
channel (6-channel audio) operation. The accompanying MSI DVD is a convenient tool to meet increasing demands for home entertainment.
To play DVD with 6-channel audio output, you must configure both the
MSI DVD application and the audio codec’s software utility. Otherwise, the 6channel audio function will not work properly. For information on how to
select 6-channel mode in the audio software utility, refer to Appendix. Using 4-or 6-Channel Audio Function.
Follow the procedures below to enable 6-channel support with MSI DVD:
1. Click on this button from the control panel of MSI DVD.
2. Click the Audio tab.
3. Select 6 speaker mode (5.1 channel).
MSI Reminds You...
MSI DVD supports Dolby Digital format only. To view DTSformatted video, you should convert it to Dolby Digital format
first.
1-8
Getting Started
4. Click OK.
For more information about MSI DVD, you can refer to the online help coming
with the application.
To enter the online help:
1. Click on the icon at the bottom-right corner of the control panel.
2. The following window appears.
Click here
3. Click MSIDVD FAQ.
1-9
MS-6712 ATX Mainboard
Live BIOS™/Live Driver™
The Live BIOS™/Live Driver™ is a tool used to detect and
update your BIOS/drivers online so that you don’t need to search
for the correct BIOS/driver version throughout the Web site. To
use the function, you need to install the “MSI Live Update 2”
application. After the installation, the “MSI Live Update 2” icon
(as shown on the right) will appear on the screen.
Double click the “MSI Live Update 2” icon, and the following screen will appear:
Five buttons are placed on the leftmost pane of the screen. Click the desired
button to start the update process.
zz
z Live BIOS – Updates the BIOS online.
zz
zz
z Live Driver – Updates the drivers online.
zz
zz
z Live VGA BIOS – Updates the VGA BIOS online.
zz
zz
z Live VGA Driver – Updates the VGA driver online.
zz
zz
z Live Utility – Updates the utilities online.
zz
If the product you purchased does not support any of the functions listed
above, a “sorry” message is displayed. For more information on the update
instructions, insert the companion CD and refer to the “Live Update Guide”
under the “Manual” Tab.
1-10
Getting Started
CPU Thermal Protection
Aimed to prevent the CPU from overheating, MSI has developed a CPU
Thermal Protection mechanism for AMD Athlon™ XP CPU platform. This CPU
Thermal Protection mechanism works on a thermal signal sensor. If the
mechanism senses an abnormal temperature rise, it will automatically shut down
the system and the CPU temperature will then drop down and resume normal.
With this unique feature, users can better protect their CPU. Please note that
this feature is for AMD Athlon™ XP CPU only.
S-Bracket (Optional)
S-Bracket is a bracket which provides 2 SPDIF jacks for digital audio
transmission and 2 analog Line-Out connectors for additional 4-channel analog audio output. With the S-Bracket, your system will be able to perform 6channel audio operation for wonderful surround sound effect, or connect to
Sony & Philips Digital Interface (SPDIF) speakers for audio transmission with
better quality.
The S-Bracket offers two types of SPDIF connectors: one for optical
fiber and the other for coaxial connection. Select the appropriate one to meet
your own need. For more information on S-Bracket, refer to Appendix. Using4- or 6-Channel Audio Function.
SPDIF jack (optical)
S-Bracket
SPDIF jack (coaxial)
CEN/SUB RL/RR
Analog Line-Out jacks
1-11
Hardware Setup
Hardware Setup
This chapter tells you how to install the CPU, memory
modules, and expansion cards, as well as how to setup the jumpers on the mainboard. Also, it provides the instructions on connecting the peripheral devices, such as the mouse, keyboard,
etc.
While doing the installation, be careful in holding the
components and follow the installation procedures.
2-1
MS-6712 ATX Mainboard
Quick Components Guide
Back Panel
I/O, p.2-10
JCD1, p.2-25
JCI1, p.2-24
JSP3, p.2-22
JIR1, p.2-24
JBAT1, p.2-26
JWR1, p.2-9
CPU, p.2-3
CFAN1, p.2-17
DDR DIMMs, p.2-7
FDD1, p.2-15
AGP Slot, p.2-27
PCI Slots, p.2-27
SFAN1, p.2-17
IDE1
IDE2, p.2-16
2-2
CNR Slot, p.2-27
JAUD1, p.2-19
JLED1, p.2-21
JFP1 & JFP2,
p.2-18
JUSB1, p.2-20
Hardware Setup
Central Pr ocessing Unit: CPU
The mainboard supports AMD® Athlon™, Athlon™ XP and Duron™
processors in the 462 pin package. The mainboard uses a CPU socket called
Socket A for easy CPU installation. When you are installing the CPU, make
sure the CPU has a heat sink and a cooling fan attached on the top to
prevent overheating. If you do not find the heat sink and cooling fan, contact
your dealer to purchase and install them before turning on the computer.
CPU Core Speed Derivation Procedure
IfCPU Clock=100MHz
Core/Bus ratio=14
then CPU core speed=Host Clock x Core/Bus ratio
=100MHz x 14
=1.4 GHz
WARNING!
As processor technology pushes to faster speeds and higher performance, thermal ma nagement becomes increasingly crucial when building computer
systems. Maintaining the proper thermal environment is key to reliable
operation. As such, the process or must be maintained in the specified thermal
requirements.
AMD Athlon™/Duron™/Athlon™ XP processor with a speed of 1100MHzand above requires a LARGER heatsink and fan. You also need to add thermal
grease between the CPU and heatsink to improve heat dissipation. Then, make
sure that the CPU and heatsink are securely fastened and in good contact with
each other. These are needed to prevent damaging the processor and ensuring
reliable operation. If you want to get more information on the proper cooling,
you can visit AMD’s website for reference.
Thermal Issue for CPU
2-3
MS-6712 ATX Mainboard
CPU Installation Procedures for Socket 462
1. Please turn off the power and
unplug the power cord before
installing the CPU.
Open Lever
2. Pull the lever sideways away
from the socket. Make sure
to raise the lever up to a 90degree angle.
3. Look for the gold arrow. The
gold arrow should point towards the lever pivot. The
CPU can only fit in the correct
orientation.
4. If the CPU is correctly
installed, the pins should be
completely embedded into the
socket and can not be seen.
Please note that any violation
of the correct installation
procedures may cause
permanent damages to your
mainboard.
5. Press the CPU down firmly
into the socket and close the
lever. As the CPU is likely to
move while the lever is being
closed, always close the lever
with your fingers pressing
tightly on top of the CPU to
make sure the CPU is
properly and completely
embedded into the socket.
Sliding
Plate
Gold arrow
Gold arrow
Gold arrow
Press down
the CPU
90 degree
Correct CPU placem ent
O
Incorrect CPU placem en t
X
Close
Lever
2-4
Hardware Setup
Installing AMD Athlon CPU (Socket 462) Cooler Set
The following instructions will guide
you through the heat sink installation
procedures. Please consult your agent
for the proper CPU cooler set.
1. Position your CPU cooler set onto
the CPU.
2. Use one end of the clip to hook
the latch of the CPU sliding plate.
3. Hook the other latch to fix the
cooling fan set. You may need a
screw drive to press down the
other side of the clip.
Apply some heat
sink paste
4. Connect the fan to the power supply connector provided on your
mainboard.
MSI Reminds You...
Please apply some heat sink paste on top of your CPU to
dissipate the heat more effectively.
2-5
MS-6712 ATX Mainboard
CPU Clock Frequency Selection through BIOS
The hardware configuration for CPU clock frequency of the motherboard
is set to 100MHz by default. Therefore, to make a 133MHz CPU run at
133MHz when it is installed on the board, you have to adjust the CPU clock
frequency in the BIOS setup utility.
To set the clock frequency for the installed CPU, refer to Frequency/Voltage Control in Chapter 3. BIOS Setup.
MSI Reminds You...
Overheating
Overheating will seriously damage the CPU and system, always make sure the cooling fan can work properly to protect
the CPU from overheating.
Replacing the CPU
While replacing the CPU, always turn off the ATX power supply or unplug the power supply’s power cord from grounded
outlet first to ensure the safety of CPU.
Overclocking
This motherboard is designed to support overclocking.
However, please make sure your components are able to tolerate such abnormal setting, while doing overclocking. Any attempt to operate beyond product specifications is not
recommended. We do not guarantee the damages or risks
caused by inadequate operation or beyond product
specifications.
2-6
Hardware Setup
Memory
The mainboard provides 3 slots for 184-pin DDR SDRAM DIMM
(Double In-Line Memory Module) modules and supports the memory size up
to 3GB. You can install PC3200/DDR400, PC2700/DDR333, PC2100/
DDR266 or PC1600/DDR200 modules on the DDR DIMM slots. Please note
that the mainboard supports only one DDR400 DIMM.
DDR DIMM Slots
(DDR 1~3)
Introduction to DDR SDRAM
DDR (Double Data Rate) SDRAM is similar to conventional SDRAM,
but doubles the rate by transferring data twice per cycle. It uses 2.5 volts as
opposed to 3.3 volts used in SDR SDRAM, and requires 184-pin DIMM modules rather than 168-pin DIMM modules used by SDR SDRAM. High memory
bandwidth makes DDR an ideal solution for high performance PC, workstations and servers.
2-7
MS-6712 ATX Mainboard
DIMM Module Combination
Install at least one DIMM module on the slots. You can install either
single- or double-sided modules in any order to meet your own needs.
Memory modules can be installed in any combination as follows:
1. The DDR DIMM has only one notch on the center of module. The mod-
ule will only fit in the right orientation.
2. Insert the DIMM memory module vertically into the DIMM slot. Then
push it in until the golden finger on the memory module is deeply inserted in the socket.
3. The plastic clip at each side of the DIMM slot will automatically close.
2-8
Volt
Notch
MSI Reminds You...
You can barely see the golden finger if the module is properly
inserted in the socket.
Hardware Setup
Power Supply
The mainboard supports ATX power supply for the power system. Before inserting the power supply connector, always make sure that all components are installed properly to ensure that no damage will be caused.
ATX 20-Pin Power Connector: JWR1
This connector allows you to connect to an ATX power supply. To
connect to the ATX power supply, make sure the plug of the power supply is
inserted in the proper orientation and the pins are aligned. Then push down
the power supply firmly into the connector.
The mainboard provides a standard PS/2® mouse mini DIN connector
for attaching a PS/2® mouse. You can plug a PS/2® mouse directly into this
connector. The connector location and pin assignments are as follows:
The mainboard provides a standard PS/2® keyboard mini DIN connector for attaching a PS/2® keyboard. You can plug a PS/2® keyboard directly
into this connector.
The mainboard provides a UHCI (Universal Host Controller Interface)
Universal Serial Bus root for attaching USB devices such as keyboard, mouse
or other USB-compatible devices. You can plug the USB device directly into
the connector.
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
USB Ports
USB Port Description
PINSIGNALDESCRIPTION
1VCC+5V
2-Data 0Negative Data Channel 0
3+Data0Positive Data Channel 0
4GNDGround
5VCC+5V
6-Data 1Negative Data Channel 1
7+Data 1Positive Data Channel 1
8GNDGround
2-11
MS-6712 ATX Mainboard
Parallel Port Connector: LPT1
The mainboard provides a 25-pin female centronic connector as LPT.
A parallel port is a standard printer port that supports Enhanced Parallel Port
(EPP) and Extended Capabilities Parallel Port (ECP) mode.