National Instruments RMC-8354 User Manual
NI RMC-8354
User Manual
NI RMC-8354 User Manual
June 2014
373136C-01
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Compliance
Electromagnetic Compatibility Information
This hardware has been tested and found to comply with the applicable regulatory requirements and limits
for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) as indicated in the hardware’s Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
These requirements and limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
when the hardware is operated in the intended electromagnetic environment. In special cases, for example
when either highly sensitive or noisy hardware is being used in close proximity, additional mitigation
measures may have to be employed to minimize the potential for electromagnetic interference.
While this hardware is compliant with the applicable regulatory EMC requirements, there is no guarantee
that interference will not occur in a particular installation. To minimize the potential for the hardware to
cause interference to radio and television reception or to experience unacceptable performance degradation,
install and use this hardware in strict accordance with the instructions in the hardware documentation and
1
.
the DoC
If this hardware does cause interference with licensed radio communications services or other nearby
electronics, which can be determined by turning the hardware off and on, you are encouraged to try to correct
the interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient the antenna of the receiver (the device suffering interference).
• Relocate the transmitter (the device generating interference) with respect to the receiver.
• Plug the transmitter into a different outlet so that the transmitter and the receiver are on different branch
circuits.
Some hardware may require the use of a metal, shielded enclosure (windowless version) to meet the EMC
requirements for special EMC environments such as, for marine use or in heavy industrial areas. Refer to
the hardware’s user documentation and the DoC
When the hardware is connected to a test object or to test leads, the system may become more sensitive to
disturbances or may cause interference in the local electromagnetic environment.
Operation of this hardware in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference. Users are required to
correct the interference at their own expense or cease operation of the hardware.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by National Instruments could void the user’s right to
operate the hardware under the local regulatory rules.
1
for product installation requirements.
1
.
1
The Declaration of Conformity (DoC) contains important EMC compliance information and instructions
for the user or installer. To obtain the DoC for this product, visit
model number or product line, and click the appropriate link in the Certification column.
ni.com/certification, search by
Contents
About This Manual
Related Documentation .................................................................................................... xi
Chapter 1
Getting Started
Unpacking......................................................................................................................... 1-1
What You Need to Get Started ......................................................................................... 1-1
NI RMC-8354 Overview .................................................................................................. 1-2
Key Features ..................................................................................................................... 1-2
Mainboard Features .................................................................................................. 1-2
CPU .................................................................................................................. 1-2
Chipset .............................................................................................................. 1-2
Memory ............................................................................................................ 1-2
Slots .................................................................................................................. 1-3
Video ................................................................................................................ 1-3
HDD.................................................................................................................. 1-3
DVD-ROM ....................................................................................................... 1-3
Onboard LAN ................................................................................................... 1-3
Onboard I/O...................................................................................................... 1-3
Power Management Features............................................................................ 1-3
Front Panel LEDs ............................................................................................. 1-3
System Management......................................................................................... 1-4
NI RMC-8354 Description ............................................................................................... 1-4
Optional Equipment.......................................................................................................... 1-5
Memory Upgrades .................................................................................................... 1-5
USB Floppy Disk Drive ........................................................................................... 1-5
National Instruments Software ......................................................................................... 1-5
Chapter 2
Installation and BIOS Setup
Safety Information ............................................................................................................ 2-1
Chassis Cooling Considerations ....................................................................................... 2-2
Providing Adequate Clearance ................................................................................. 2-2
Installation ........................................................................................................................ 2-2
Connecting Safety Ground ............................................................................................... 2-3
Connecting to Power Source ............................................................................................ 2-3
BIOS Setup ....................................................................................................................... 2-3
Main BIOS Setup Menu ........................................................................................... 2-4
Advanced Setup Configurations............................................................................... 2-4
Boot Feature ..................................................................................................... 2-4
Processor and Clock Options............................................................................ 2-5
Advanced Chipset Control................................................................................ 2-7
© National Instruments | vii
Contents
SATA/Floppy Configuration ............................................................................ 2-8
PCI/PnP Configuration ..................................................................................... 2-10
Super IO Device Configuration ........................................................................ 2-12
Remote Access Configuration .......................................................................... 2-12
Hardware Health Configuration........................................................................ 2-13
ACPI Configuration .......................................................................................... 2-15
Event Log Configuration .................................................................................. 2-16
Security Settings ...................................................................................................... 2-16
Supervisor Password......................................................................................... 2-16
User Password................................................................................................... 2-16
Change Supervisor Password............................................................................ 2-16
User Access Level ............................................................................................ 2-17
Change User Password ..................................................................................... 2-17
Clear User Password ......................................................................................... 2-17
Password Check ................................................................................................ 2-17
Boot Sector Virus Protection ............................................................................ 2-17
Boot Settings ............................................................................................................ 2-17
Boot Device Priority ......................................................................................... 2-17
Hard Disk Drives .............................................................................................. 2-17
Removable Drives............................................................................................. 2-18
Retry Boot Devices ........................................................................................... 2-18
Exit Options ............................................................................................................. 2-18
Save Changes and Exit ..................................................................................... 2-18
Discard Changes and Exit................................................................................. 2-18
Discard Changes ............................................................................................... 2-18
Load Optimal Defaults...................................................................................... 2-18
Load Fail-Safe Defaults ....................................................................................2-18
POST Error Beep Codes ...........................................................................................2-18
Recoverable POST Error Beep Codes .............................................................. 2-19
Rack Mounting ................................................................................................................. 2-19
Installing the Inner Slides ......................................................................................... 2-20
Assembling the Outer Slide Assemblies................................................................... 2-21
Installing the Outer Slide Assemblies in the Rack ................................................... 2-22
Installing the Chassis into the Rack .......................................................................... 2-23
OS Reinstallation and Recovery ....................................................................................... 2-25
Cleaning ............................................................................................................................ 2-26
Exterior Cleaning ......................................................................................................2-26
viii | ni.com
NI RMC-8354 User Manual
Chapter 3
I/O Information
Rear Panel Connectors...................................................................................................... 3-1
PS/2........................................................................................................................... 3-2
Universal Serial Bus ................................................................................................. 3-3
Serial ......................................................................................................................... 3-4
VGA.......................................................................................................................... 3-4
Ethernet..................................................................................................................... 3-6
MXI-Express Connectors ................................................................................................. 3-7
Chapter 4
Common Configuration Questions
General Questions............................................................................................................. 4-1
Boot Options..................................................................................................................... 4-2
Chassis Configuration....................................................................................................... 4-2
Upgrade Information ........................................................................................................ 4-3
Chapter 5
Troubleshooting
Appendix A
Specifications
Appendix B
Hardware Configuration
Appendix C
Intel SATA RAID Utility for Intel ICH10R
Appendix D
NI Services
Glossary
Index
© National Instruments | ix
About This Manual
The User Manual contains information about installing, configuring, using, and maintaining the
NI RMC-8354.
Related Documentation
The following documents contain information that you may find helpful as you read this manual:
• CompactPCI Specification PICMG 2.0 R 3.0
• PXI Hardware Specification, Revision 2.1
• PXI Software Specification, Revision 2.1
• ANSI/IEEE Standard 1014-1987, IEEE Standard for a Versatile Backplane Bus: VMEbus
• ANSI/VITA 1-1994, VME64
• NI-VISA User Manual
• NI-VISA Programmer Reference Manual
• Read Me First: Safety and Electromagnetic Compatibility, National Instruments
© National Instruments | xi
1
Getting Started
This chapter describes the key features of the NI RMC-8354 and lists the kit contents and
optional equipment you can order from National Instruments.
Unpacking
Carefully inspect the shipping container and the NI RMC-8354 for damage. Check for visible
damage to the metal work. Check to make sure all hardware and switches are undamaged. If
damage appears to have been caused during shipment, file a claim with the carrier. Retain the
packing material for possible inspection and/or reshipment.
What You Need to Get Started
The NI RMC-8354 kit contains the following items:
NI RMC-8354 rack mount controller
NI RMC-8354 User Manual
Windows recovery CD/DVD
Rack mount kit
Front bezel
AC power cable (refer to Table 1-1 for a list of AC power cables)
© National Instruments | 1-1
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Table 1-1. AC Power Cables
Power Cable Reference Standards
Standard 120 V (USA) ANSI C73.11/NEMA 5-15-P/IEC83
Switzerland 220 V SEV
Australia 240 V AS C112
Universal Euro 230 V CEE (7), II, IV, VII IEC83
North America 240 V ANSI C73.20/NEMA 6-15-P/IEC83
United Kingdom 230 V BS 1363/IEC83
Japan 100 V ANSI C73.11/NEMA 5-15-P/IEC83
The unit comes with the standard 120 V (USA) cable. If you have the incorrect AC power cable,
contact National Instruments.
NI RMC-8354 Overview
The NI RMC-8354 is a 1U PC-server-based controller for remote control of PXI chassis. The
controller provides leading-edge processing power with Intel Core i7 Quad Core processors,
high disk bandwidth with hardware RAID support, high I/O bandwidth with a PCI Express 2.0
x16 slot, and up to 16 GB of memory.
Key Features
The NI RMC-8354 offers the performance of a high-end PC in a compact 1U rack-mountable
form factor for controlling a PXI or PXI Express system using a National Instruments remote
controller.
Mainboard Features
CPU
• Intel Core i7-860 Quad Core 2.8 GHz, 8 MB Cache, LGA1156
Chipset
• Intel 3420 chipset
Memory
• 1/2 GB DDR3 memory standard (1/2 × 1 GB)
• Maximum memory supported: 16 GB DDR3-1333 in 4 DIMM sockets
1-2 | ni.com
Slots
• One PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot
Video
• Matrox G200eW 16 MB DDR2 (max resolution 1280 × 1024)
HDD
• 1 × 500 GB or 4 × 500 GB SATA (3 Gbps) hard drive JBOD/RAID5
DVD-ROM
• Slim DVD-ROM drive
Onboard LAN
• 2 × Intel 82574L Gigabit Ethernet controller
Onboard I/O
• PS/2 keyboard port
• PS/2 mouse port
• Serial port
• VGA port
• Two USB 2.0 ports (rear)
• Two USB 2.0 ports (front)
• Two RJ-45 ports
NI RMC-8354 User Manual
Power Management Features
• ACPI/ACPM power management
• Main switch override mechanism
• Wake-On-LAN (WOL) header
• Wake up on keyboard/mouse from Soft-Off
• Power-on mode from AC power recovery
• Internal/external modem ring-on
Front Panel LEDs
• Power indicator
• LAN status indicators
• HDD indicator
• System temp (overheat) and fan (fail) warning indicator
© National Instruments | 1-3
Chapter 1 Getting Started
System Management
• Monitoring for CPU and chassis environment
• CPU thermal trip support
• +5 V standby alert LED
• Fan speed control
NI RMC-8354 Description
Figure 1-1 shows the key features of the NI RMC-8354 front panel. For detailed information
about the NI RMC-8354 rear panel, refer to Chapter 3, I/O Information.
Figure 1-1. Front View of the NI RMC-8354
1
7
6
1USB Ports
2 Reset Switch
3 Power Switch
4 Hard Drive Activity Indicator
5 Hard Drive Error Indicator
10
9
8
6 Power Indicator
7 HDD Indicator
8 LAN1 Status Indicator
9 LAN2 Status Indicator
10 System Temp and Fan Warning Indicator
The front panel includes the following LEDs:
• Power indicator—glows when the NI RMC-8354 is powered on.
• LAN status indicators—flash when there is activity on LAN1 or LAN2.
• Overheat/FanFail LED
– Off—Normal
– On—Overheat
– Flashing—Fan failure warning
2
3
4
RESET
5
1-4 | ni.com
NI RMC-8354 User Manual
Optional Equipment
Memory Upgrades
You can upgrade the NI RMC-8354 memory to a maximum of 16 GB.
Note A 32-bit operating system such as Windows XP Pro addresses a maximum
of 4 GB.
The NI RMC-8354 supports dual-channel DDR-3 SDRAM unbuffered memory in four 240-pin
DIMM sockets. The NI RMC-8354 is compatible with ECC memory.
Note Supported DIMM sizes are 1 GB, 2 GB, and 4 GB.
Note National Instruments has tested and verified that the DDR-3 DIMMs we sell
work with the NI RMC-8354. We recommend you purchase your DDR-3 DIMM
modules from National Instruments. Other off-the-shelf DDR-3 DIMM modules
are not guaranteed to work properly.
USB Floppy Disk Drive
A USB floppy drive is available from National Instruments, part number 778492-02.
National Instruments Software
National Instruments hardware and software work together to help you make the most of your
PXI Express system. The LabVIEW, Measurement Studio, and LabWindows™/CVI™
application development environments combine with leading hardware drivers such as
NI-DAQmx to provide exceptional control of NI hardware. Instrument drivers are available at
ni.com/idnet to simplify communication with instruments over a variety of buses.
LabVIEW is a powerful and easy-to-use graphical programming environment you can use to
acquire data from thousands of different instruments including USB, IEEE 488.2, VXI, serial,
PLCs, and plug-in boards. LabVIEW helps you convert acquired data into meaningful results
using powerful data analysis routines. Add-on tools provide additional specialized functionality.
For more information, visit
If you prefer to use Microsoft’s Visual Basic, Visual C++, and Visual Studio .NET for the core
of your application, Measurement Studio adds tools for measurement and automation to each
language. For more information, visit
LabWindows/CVI is an interactive ANSI C programming environment designed for building
virtual instrument applications. LabWindows/CVI includes a drag-and-drop editor for building
user interfaces, a complete ANSI C environment for building your test program logic, and a
collection of automated code generation tools, as well as utilities for building automated test
ni.com/labview and ni.com/toolkits.
ni.com/mstudio.
© National Instruments | 1-5
Chapter 1 Getting Started
systems, monitoring applications, or laboratory experiments. For more information, visit
ni.com/lwcvi.
NI-DAQmx provides an extensive library of functions you can call from your application
development environment or interactive environment, such as NI Signal Express. These
functions provide an intuitive API for National Instruments multifunction DAQ products.
Features include analog input (A/D conversion), buffered data acquisition (high-speed A/D
conversion), analog output (D/A conversion), waveform generation, digital I/O, counter/timer
operations, SCXI signal conditioning, RTSI or PXI synchronization, self-calibration, messaging,
and acquiring data to extended memory. For more information, visit
ni.com/daq.
National Instruments modular instruments use specialized drivers suited to each product’s
specialization. Express VIs provide customized, interactive programming of instruments in a
single interface, and soft front panels provide an interface for testing the functionality of each
instrument with no programming required. NI switches, DMMs, high-speed DIO, high-speed
digitizers, and sources each have customized drivers for high-end modular instrumentation
systems. RF applications leverage two drivers, NI-RFSG and NI-RFSA, and dynamic signal
acquisition is available through NI-DAQmx. For more information, visit
modularinstruments
.
ni.com/
You can expand the timing and triggering functionality of your PXI system with PXI timing and
synchronization products. These products provide precision clock sources, custom routing of
triggers for multichassis synchronization, clock sharing, and more, and are programmed with
NI-Sync. For more information, visit
ni.com/pxi.
NI-VISA is the National Instruments implementation of the VISA specification. VISA is a
uniform API for communicating and controlling USB, Serial, GPIB, PXI, VXI, and various
other types of instruments. This API aids in the creation of portable applications and instrument
drivers. For information about writing your own PXI instrument driver with NI-VISA, refer to
the NI-VISA Help and the
readme.txt file in the NI-VISA directory. For more information,
visit ni.com/visa.
1-6 | ni.com
2
Installation and BIOS Setup
This chapter describes how to install, configure, and use the NI RMC-8354.
Before connecting the NI RMC-8354 to a power source, read this chapter and the Read Me First:
Safety and Electromagnetic Compatibility document included with your NI RMC-8354.
Safety Information
Caution Before undertaking any troubleshooting, maintenance, or exploratory
procedure, carefully read the following caution notices.
Caution Overloading the circuits may damage supply wiring. Do not exceed the
ratings on the equipment nameplate when connecting equipment to the supply circuit.
Caution Risk of explosion if battery is replaced by an incorrect type. dispose of
used batteries according to instructions.
This equipment contains voltage hazardous to human life and safety, and is capable of inflicting
personal injury.
• Chassis Grounding—The NI RMC-8354 requires a connection from the premise wire
safety ground to the NI RMC-8354 chassis ground. The earth safety ground must be
connected during use of this equipment to minimize shock hazards. Refer to the Connecting
Safety Ground section for instructions on connecting safety ground.
• Live Circuits—Operating personnel and service personnel must not remove protective
covers when operating or servicing the NI RMC-8354. Adjustments and service to internal
components must be undertaken by qualified service technicians. During service of
this product, the mains connector to the premise wiring must be disconnected. Dangerous
voltages may be present under certain conditions; use extreme caution.
• Explosive Atmosphere—Do not operate the chassis in conditions where flammable gases are
present. Under such conditions, this equipment is unsafe and may ignite the gases or gas fumes.
• Parts Replacement—Service this equipment only with parts that are exact replacements,
both electrically and mechanically. Contact National Instruments for replacement part
information. Installation of parts with those that are not direct replacements may cause
harm to personnel operating the chassis. Furthermore, damage or fire may occur if
replacement parts are unsuitable.
• Modification—Do not modify any part of the NI RMC-8354 from its original condition.
Unsuitable modifications may result in safety hazards.
© National Instruments | 2-1
Chapter 2 Installation and BIOS Setup
Chassis Cooling Considerations
The NI RMC-8354 is designed to operate in an instrument rack. Follow the appropriate
installation instructions.
Caution If installed in a closed or multiunit rack assembly, the rack environment
operating ambient temperature may be greater than room ambient temperature.
Therefore, install the equipment in an environment compatible with the maximum
ambient operating temperature (Tma) specified in Appendix A, Specifications.
Providing Adequate Clearance
Apertures in the front, top, rear, and along both sides of the chassis facilitate power supply and
motherboard cooling. Air enters through the front and top inlets of the chassis and exits through
the fans on the rear of the chassis. Place the NI RMC-8354 in an instrument rack so that the fans
(air outlets) and the air inlet apertures along the top and front of the chassis have adequate
ventilation. Keep other equipment a minimum of 76.2 mm (3 in.) away from the air outlets on
the rear of the chassis.
Installation
Follow these steps to connect devices to the NI RMC-8354:
Caution Because of the risk of high energy (>240VA), the unit must be installed
only in a Restricted Access Location.
1. Connect a keyboard and mouse to the appropriate connectors on the NI RMC-8354 rear
panel.
2. Connect the VGA monitor video cable to the VGA connector on the rear panel.
3. (Optional) To boot into LabVIEW RT, connect the network cable to LAN jack 1 on the rear
panel. (Refer to Figure 3-1, NI RMC-8354 Rear Panel Layout, for the location of LAN jack 1.)
4. Connect the USB, serial, and parallel devices as necessary to the NI RMC-8354 front and
rear panel ports.
Caution To minimize shock hazard, make sure the electrical power outlet you use
to power the NI RMC-8354 has an appropriate earth safety ground. Refer to the
Connecting Safety Ground section for more information.
5. Connect the AC power cable to the AC inlet on the rear panel and to an AC power outlet.
For more information, refer to the Connecting to Power Source section.
6. Power on the NI RMC-8354.
7. Verify that the NI RMC-8354 boots. If it does not boot, refer to the What if the NI
RMC-8354 does not boot? section of Chapter 5, Troubleshooting.
2-2 | ni.com
NI RMC-8354 User Manual
Connecting Safety Ground
The NI RMC-8354 is designed with a three-position NEMA 5-15 style plug for the U.S. that
connects the ground line to the chassis ground. To minimize shock hazard, make sure the
electrical power outlet you use to power the chassis has an appropriate earth safety ground.
Connecting to Power Source
Attach input power through the rear AC inlet using the appropriate AC power cable supplied.
Caution Overloading the circuits may damage supply wiring. Do not exceed the
ratings on the equipment nameplate when connecting equipment to the supply circuit.
Caution To completely remove power, you must disconnect the AC power cable.
The power switch allows you to power on the chassis or place it in standby mode. Push the power
switch to the On position (if not already on). Observe that all fans become operational and the
power indicator is lit.
BIOS Setup
This section describes all main BIOS setup options.
To enter the BIOS menu, press <Del>. Use the up and down arrow keys to move among the
different settings in each menu. Use the left and right arrow keys to change the options for each
setting.
Press <Esc> to exit the CMOS setup menu. The next section describes in detail how to navigate
through the menus.
To access submenus, highlight a menu item and press <Enter>.
Note To reset the BIOS to the default settings, load the optimal defaults by pressing
<F9> in the BIOS Setup Utility. Optimal default settings default to the following:
• Disable the floppy controller
• Disable serial port 2 (COM2)
• Enable RAID (Intel)
• Set the fan speed control modes to balanced
• Enable Intel C-STATE tech
• Disable Remote Access configuration
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Chapter 2 Installation and BIOS Setup
Main BIOS Setup Menu
The main BIOS setup menu includes the following items:
• Device name: Supermicro X8SIE/X8SIE-F/X8SIE-LN4/X8SI6-F
•Version
• Build date
• Processor
The AMI BIOS automatically displays the following processor status items:
– Type of processor
–Speed
– Physical count
– Logical count
• System memory
The system memory displays the following memory sizes available in the system:
– Populated size
– Available size
Advanced Setup Configurations
Use the arrow keys to select Boot Setup and press <Enter> to access the submenu items.
Boot Feature
This menu includes the following options.
Quick Boot
If enabled, this option skips certain tests during POST to reduce the time needed for system boot.
The options are Enabled and Disabled.
Quiet Boot
Use this option to modify the bootup screen options between POST messages or the OEM logo.
Select Disabled to display the POST messages. Select Enabled to display the OEM logo instead
of the normal POST messages. The options are Enabled and Disabled.
AddOn ROM Display Mode
This option sets the option ROM display mode. The options are Force BIOS and Keep Current.
Bootup Num-Lock
This option selects the numlock key power-on state. The options are Off and On.
PS/2 Mouse Support
This option enables support for the PS/2 mouse. The options are Disabled, Enabled, and Auto.
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Wait For “F1” If Error
This option forces the system to wait until <F1> is pressed if an error occurs. The options are
Disabled and Enabled.
Hit “Del” Message Display
This option displays Press DEL to run Setup during POST. The options are Enabled and
Disabled.
Watch Dog Function
If enabled, the watch dog timer allows the system to reboot when it is inactive for more than
5 minutes. The options are Enabled and Disabled.
Power Button Mode
Use this option to decide whether the power button turns off the system instantly or waits
4 seconds when pressed. The options are Instant Off and 4 Seconds Override.
Restore on AC Power Loss
Use this option to set the power state after a power outage. Select Power-Off for the system
power to remain off after a power loss. Select Power-On for the system power to be turned on
after a power loss. Select Last State to allow the system to resume its last state before a power
loss. The options are Power-On, Power-Off, and Last State.
Interrupt 19 Capture
Interrupt 19 is the software interrupt that handles the boot disk function. When you set this item
to Enabled, the host adaptors ROM BIOS “captures” interrupt 19 at boot and allows the drives
attached to these host adaptors to function as bootable disks. If you set this item to Disabled, the
host adaptors ROM BIOS does not capture interrupt 19, and the drives attached to these adaptors
do not function as bootable devices. The options are Enabled and Disabled.
Processor and Clock Options
Caution Be careful when changing the advanced settings. An incorrect value, very
high DRAM frequency, or incorrect DRAM timing may cause the system to become
unstable. If this occurs, revert to the default setting.
CPU Ratio
Use this option to use the CPU clock multiplier to multiply CPU speed to enhance performance.
Select Manual to set the multiplier setting manually. Select Auto for the BIOS to select the CPU
multiplier setting for your system automatically. The options are Default and Manual.
Clock Spread Spectrum
Select Enable to use the clock spectrum feature, which allows the BIOS to monitor and reduce
the electromagnetic interference level that the components cause. Select Disabled to enhance
system stability. The options are Disabled and Enabled.
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Chapter 2 Installation and BIOS Setup
Hardware Prefetcher (Available Subject to CPU Support)
If set to Enabled, the hardware prefetcher prefetches streams of data and instructions from the
main memory to the L2 cache in the forward or backward manner to improve CPU performance.
The options are Disabled and Enabled.
Adjacent Cache Line Prefetch (Available Subject to CPU Support)
The CPU fetches the cache line for 64 bytes if you set this option to Disabled. If you set this
option to Enabled, the CPU fetches both cache lines for 128 bytes as comprised.
MPS and ACPI MADT Ordering
Use this option to choose the ordering method for the Multiple ACPI Description Table
(MADT). Select Modern Ordering for Windows XP or later. Select Legacy Ordering for
Microsoft Windows 2000 or earlier. The options are Modern Ordering and Legacy Ordering.
Intel Virtualization Technology (Available Subject to CPU Support)
Select Enabled to use the virtualization technology feature to allow one platform to run multiple
OSs and applications in independent partitions, creating multiple “virtual” systems in one
physical computer. The options are Enabled and Disabled.
Note If you change to this setting, you must power off and restart the system for the
change to take effect. Refer to
virtualization
for detailed information.
www.intel.com/technology/
Execute Disable Bit Capability (Available Subject to OS and CPU Support)
Set to Enabled to enable the Execute Disable Bit, which allows the processor to designate areas
in the system memory where application code can execute and where it cannot, thus preventing
a worm or virus from flooding illegal codes to overwhelm the processor or damage the system
during an attack. The default is Enabled. (Refer to the Intel and Microsoft Web sites for more
information.)
Simultaneous Multithreading (Available Subject to CPU Support)
Set to Enabled to use hyperthreading technology for increased CPU performance. The options
are Disabled and Enabled.
Active Processor Cores
Set to Enabled to use a processor’s second core and beyond. (Refer to the Intel Web site for
more information.) The options are All, 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Intel EIST Technology
With Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology (EIST), the system can adjust processor voltage and
core frequency automatically to reduce power consumption and heat dissipation. Refer to the
Intel Web site for detailed information. The options are Disabled and Enabled.
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Intel Turbo Boost Technology (Available If Intel EIST is Enabled)
With this option, processor cores can run faster than the marked frequency in specific conditions.
The options are Disabled and Enabled.
C1E Support
Select Enabled to use the Enhanced Halt State feature. C1E significantly reduces CPU power
consumption by reducing the CPU clock cycle and voltage during a Halt State. The options are
Disabled and Enabled.
Intel C-State Tech
If enabled, the system automatically sets the C-state to either C2, C3, or C4 state. The options
are Default and Enabled.
C-State Package Limit Setting
If set to Auto, the AMI BIOS automatically sets the C-state package register limit. The options
are Auto, C1, C3, C6, and C7.
C1 Auto Demotion
When enabled, the CPU conditionally demotes C3, C6, or C7 requests to C1 based on un-core
auto-demote information. The options are Disabled and Enabled.
C3 Auto Demotion
When enabled, the CPU conditionally demotes C6 or C7 requests to C3 based on un-core
auto-demote information. The options are Disabled and Enabled.
Advanced Chipset Control
The Advanced Chipset Control submenu includes the following items.
Memory Remap Feature
Enable this option to remap overlapped PCI memory above the total physical memory. The
settings are Enabled and Disabled.
Intel VT-d
Select Enabled to enable Intel virtualization technology support for direct I/O VT-d by
reporting the I/O device assignments to VMM through the DMAR ACPI tables. This feature
offers fully protected I/O resource sharing across Intel platforms for greater reliability, security,
and availability in networking and data sharing. The settings are Enabled and Disabled.
Active State Power Management
Select Enabled to start Active State Power Management for signal transactions between L0 and
L1 links on the PCI Express bus. This maximizes power saving and transaction speed. The
options are Enabled and Disabled.
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Route Port 80h Cycles to
Use this option to send debug information to a specific bus. The options are Disabled, PCI,
and LPC.
USB Functions
Use this option to decide the number of onboard USB ports to enable. The options are Disabled
and Enabled.
Legacy USB Support (Available if USB Functions is Enabled)
Select Enabled to use legacy USB devices. If you set this item to Auto, legacy USB support is
enabled automatically if a legacy USB device is installed on the motherboard, and vise versa.
The settings are Disabled, Enabled, and Auto.
SATA/Floppy Configuration
When you select this submenu, the AMI BIOS automatically detects IDE device presence and
displays the following items.
Floppy A
Use this option to select the type of floppy drive connected to the system. The options are
Disabled, 360 KB 5 1/4”, 1.2 MB 5 1/4”, 720 KB 3 1/2”, 1.44 MB 3 1/2”, and 2.88 MB 3 1/2”.
SATA#1 Configuration
Selecting Compatible sets SATA#1 to legacy compatibility mode, while selecting Enhanced
sets SATA#1 to native SATA mode. The options are Disabled, Compatible, and Enhanced.
Configure SATA as
Use this item to select the SATA#1 drive type. The options are IDE, RAID, and AHCI.
PCH RAID CodeBase
Select Intel to enable the Intel SATA HostRAID Utility. Select Adaptec to use the Adaptec
HostRAID Utility. The options are Intel and Adaptec.
SATA#2 Configuration (Available If IDE Is Enabled Under Configure
SATA#1 as)
Select Enhanced to set SATA#2 to native SATA mode. The options are Disabled and
Enhanced.
IDE Detect Timeout (sec)
Use this option to set the timeout value for the BIOS to detect the ATA and ATAPI devices
installed in the system. The options are 0 (seconds), 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35.
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SATA 0 ~ 5r
Use these settings to set the parameters of the disc storage devices attached to the SATA ports.
Press <Enter> to activate the submenu screen for detailed item options. Set the correct
configurations accordingly. The submenu items are listed below.
Type
Select the device type connected to the system. The options are Not Installed, Auto, CD/DVD,
and ARMD.
LBA/Large Mode
Logical Block Addressing (LBA) is a method of addressing data on a disk drive. In the LBA
mode, the maximum drive capacity is 137 GB. For drive capacities over 137 GB, your system
must be equipped with a 48-bit LBA mode addressing. If not, install an ATA/133 IDE controller
card that supports 48-bit LBA mode. The options are Disabled and Auto.
Block (Multi-Sector Transfer)
Block Mode boosts the IDE drive performance by increasing the amount of data transferred. You
can transfer only 512 bytes of data per interrupt if you do not use Block Mode. Block Mode
allows transfers of up to 64 KB per interrupt. If you select Disabled, data can transfer to and
from the device one sector at a time. If you select Auto, data can transfer to and from the device
multiple sectors at a time if the device supports this transfer method. The options are Auto and
Disabled.
PIO Mode
The IDE Programmable I/O (PIO) mode programs timing cycles between the IDE drive and
programmable IDE controller. As the PIO mode increases, the cycle time decreases. The options
are Auto, 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4.
If you select Auto, the AMI BIOS detects the PIO mode automatically. Use this value if you
cannot determine IDE disk drive support.
If you select 0, the AMI BIOS uses PIO mode 0. The data transfer rate is 3.3 Mbytes/s.
If you select 1, the AMI BIOS uses PIO mode 1. The data transfer rate is 5.2 Mbytes/s.
If you select 2, the AMI BIOS uses PIO mode 2. The data transfer rate is 8.3 Mbytes/s.
If you select 3, the AMI BIOS uses PIO mode 3. The data transfer rate is 11.1 Mbytes/s.
If you select 4, the AMI BIOS uses PIO mode 4. The data transfer bandwidth is 32 bits. Select
Enabled to enable 32-bit data transfer.
DMA Mode
If you select Auto, the BIOS detects IDE DMA mode automatically when you cannot determine
IDE disk drive support.
If you select SWDMA0, the BIOS uses single word DMA mode 0. The data transfer rate is
2.1 Mbytes/s.
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If you select SWDMA1, the BIOS uses single word DMA mode 1. The data transfer rate is
4.2 Mbytes/s.
If you select SWDMA2, the BIOS uses single word DMA mode 2. The data transfer rate is
8.3 Mbytes/s.
If you select MWDMA0, the BIOS uses multiword DMA mode 0. The data transfer rate is
4.2 Mbytes/s.
If you select MWDMA1, the BIOS uses multiword DMA mode 1. The data transfer rate is
13.3 Mbytes/s.
If you select MWDMA2, the BIOS uses multiword DMA mode 2. The data transfer rate is
16.6 Mbytes/s.
If you select UDMA0, the BIOS uses ultra DMA mode 0. The data transfer rate is 16.6 Mbytes/s.
It has the same transfer rate as PIO mode 4 and multiword DMA mode 2.
If you select UDMA1, the BIOS uses ultra DMA mode 1. The data transfer rate is 25 Mbytes/s.
If you select UDMA2, the BIOS uses ultra DMA mode 2. The data transfer rate is 33.3 Mbytes/s.
If you select UDMA3, the BIOS uses ultra DMA mode 3. The data transfer rate is 66.6 Mbytes/s.
If you select UDMA4, the BIOS uses ultra DMA mode 4. The data transfer rate is 100 Mbytes/s.
The options are Auto, SWDMAn, MWDMAn, and UDMAn.
SMART for Hard Disk Drives
Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (SMART) helps predict impending drive
failures. If you select Auto, the AMI BIOS detects hard disk drive support automatically. Select
Disabled to prevent the AMI BIOS from using the SMART. Select Enabled to allow the AMI
BIOS to use the SMART. to support the hard drive disk. The options are Disabled, Enabled,
and Auto.
32-Bit Data Transfer
Select Enable to enable the function of 32-bit IDE data transfer. The options are Enabled and
Disabled.
PCI/PnP Configuration
Use this menu to set the PCI/PnP configurations for the following items.
Clear NVRAM
This option clears the NVRAM during system boot. The options are No and Yes.
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Plug & Play OS
If you select Yes, the OS configures Plug & Play devices. (This is not required for system boot
if your system has an OS that supports Plug & Play.) If you select No, the AMI BIOS configures
all devices in the system.
PCI Latency Timer
This option sets the latency timer of each PCI device installed on a PCI bus. Select 64 to set the
PCI latency to 64 PCI clock cycles. The options are 32, 64, 96, 128, 160, 192, 224, and 248.
PCI IDE Bus Master
When enabled, the BIOS uses PCI bus mastering for reading/writing to IDE drives. The options
are Disabled and Default.
PCIE I/O Performance
This feature selects the setting for the IOH PCI Express maximum payload size. The options are
128B and 256B.
ROM Scan Ordering
This option determines what kind of option ROM activates over another. The options are
Onboard First and Add-On First.
PCI Slot 1, PCIe Slot 2 & 6 OPROM
Use this option to enable or disable PCI slot option ROMs. The options are Disabled and
Enabled.
Load Onboard LAN1 Option ROM
This option enables or disables the onboard LAN option ROMs. The options are Disabled and
Enabled.
Load Onboard LAN2 Option ROM
This option enables or disables the onboard LAN option ROMs. The options are Disabled and
Enabled.
Boot Graphics Adapter Priority
Use this option to select the graphics controller used as the primary boot device. The options are
Other, Onboard VGA, and Slot 6. Select Slot 6 if a graphics controller is installed in the
CPU-controlled slot 6 slot.
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Super IO Device Configuration
This menu includes the following options.
Serial Port1 Address/Serial Port2 Address
This option specifies the Serial Port 1 and Serial Port 2 base I/O port address and Interrupt
Request address. Select Disabled to prevent the serial port from accessing any system resources.
When you set this option to Disabled, the serial port physically becomes unavailable. If you
select 3F8/IRQ4, the serial port uses 3F8 as its I/O port address and IRQ 4 for the interrupt
address. The options for Serial Port1 are Disabled, 3F8/IRQ4, and 2E8/IRQ3. The options for
Serial Port2 are Disabled, 2F8/IRQ3, and 2E8/IRQ3.
Onboard Floppy Controller
Select Enabled to enable the onboard floppy controller. The options are Enabled and Disabled.
Remote Access Configuration
This menu includes the following items.
Remote Access
Use this option to enable the Remote Access feature. The options are Disabled and Enabled.
If you set Remote Access to Enabled, the following items display.
Serial Port Number
Use this option to select the serial port for console redirection. The options are COM 1,
COM 2, and COM 3.
Note Serial Over LAN (SOL) is enabled on COM 3 on the X8SIE-F and X8SI6-F.
Serial Port Mode
Use this option to set the serial port mode for Console Redirection. The options are 115200 8, n,
1; 57600 8, n, 1; 38400 8, n, 1; 19200 8, n, 1; and 9600 8, n, 1.
Flow Control
Use this option to set the flow control for Console Redirection. The options are None,
Hardware, and Software.
Redirection After BIOS POST
Select Disabled to turn off Console Redirection after Power-On Self-Test (POST). Select
Always to keep Console Redirection active all the time after POST. (Some OSs may not support
this setting.) Select Boot Loader to keep Console Redirection active during POST and Boot
Loader. The options are Disabled, Boot Loader, and Always.
Terminal Type
Use this option to select the target terminal type for Console Redirection. The options are ANSI,
VT100, and VT-UTF8.
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VT-UTF8 Combo Key Support
This option is a terminal keyboard definition for sending commands from a remote console.
Available options are Enabled and Disabled.
Sredir Memory Display Delay
This feature defines the length of time in seconds to display memory information. The options
are No Delay, Delay 1 Sec, Delay 2 Sec, and Delay 4 Sec.
Hardware Health Configuration
Use this menu to monitor system hardware health and review the status of each item when
displayed.
CPU Overheat Alarm
Use this option to select the CPU Overheat Alarm setting, which determines when the CPU
overheat alarm is activated to warn of possible CPU overheat.
Caution Any temperature that exceeds the CPU threshold temperature that the
CPU manufacturer predefines may result in CPU overheat or system instability.
When the CPU temperature reaches this predefined threshold, the CPU and system
cooling fans run at full speed.
The options are:
• Early Alarm—Select this setting to trigger the CPU overheat alarm (including the LED
and buzzer) as soon as the CPU temperature reaches the CPU overheat threshold that the
CPU manufacturer predefines.
• Default Alarm—Select this setting to trigger the CPU overheat alarm (including the LED
and buzzer) when the CPU temperature reaches about 5 °C above the threshold temperature
that the CPU manufacturer predefines, to give the CPU and system fans additional time
needed for CPU and system cooling. In both the alarms above, take immediate action as
described below.
System Temperature
This option displays the absolute system temperature (for example, 34 °C).
CPU Temperature
The CPU Temperature option displays the CPU temperature status as the BIOS detects it:
• Low—This level is considered the normal operating state. The CPU temperature is well
below the CPU temperature tolerance. The motherboard fans and CPU run normally as
configured in the BIOS (Fan Speed Control).
User Intervention: No action required.
• Medium—The processor is running warmer. This is a precautionary level and generally
means there may be factors contributing to this condition, but the CPU still is within its
normal operating state and below the CPU temperature tolerance. The motherboard fans
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Chapter 2 Installation and BIOS Setup
and CPU run normally as configured in the BIOS. The fans may adjust to a faster speed
depending on the Fan Speed Control settings.
User Intervention: No action is required. However, consider checking the CPU fans and
chassis ventilation for blockage.
• High—The processor is running hot. This is a caution level, because the CPU temperature
tolerance has been reached (or has been exceeded) and may activate an overheat alarm:
– Default Alarm—The Overheat LED and system buzzer activate if the High condition
continues for some time after it is reached. The CPU fan runs at full speed to bring
down the CPU temperature. If the CPU temperature still increases even with the CPU
fan running at full speed, the system buzzer activates and the Overheat LED turns on.
– Early Alarm—The Overheat LED and system buzzer are activated exactly when the
High level is reached. The CPU fan runs at full speed to bring down the CPU
temperature.
Caution In both the alarms above, take immediate action as described below.
Refer to the CPU Overheat Alarm section to modify the above alarm settings.
User Intervention: If the system buzzer and Overheat LED has activated, take action
immediately by checking the system fans, chassis ventilation, and room temperature to
correct any problems.
Note The system may shut down if it continues for a long period to prevent damage
to the CPU.
Note In its newer processors, Intel has upgraded the CPU thermal technology that
reports absolute temperatures (Celsius/Fahrenheit) to a more advanced feature. The
basic concept is that each CPU has unique embedded temperature information that
the motherboard can read. This temperature threshold or temperature tolerance is
assigned at the factory and is the baseline by which the motherboard takes action
during different CPU temperature conditions (for example, increasing CPU fan
speed, triggering the overheat alarm, etc.). Because CPUs can have different
temperature tolerances, the installed CPU now can send its temperature tolerance to
the motherboard, resulting in better CPU thermal management.
The information provided above is for your reference only. For more information about thermal
management, refer to the Intel Web site at
www.Intel.com.
Fan Speed Control Modes
Use this option to decide how the system controls the speeds of the onboard fans. The CPU
temperature and fan speed are correlative. When the CPU on-die temperature increases, the fan
speed also increases for effective system cooling.
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Select Full Speed to allow the onboard fans to run at full speed (100 percent Pulse Width
Modulation Duty Cycle) for maximum cooling. The Full Speed setting is recommended for
special system configuration or debugging.
Select Performance for the onboard fans to run at 70 percent of the Initial PWM Cycle for better
system cooling. The Performance setting is recommended for high-power-consuming and
high-density systems.
Select Balanced for the onboard fans to run at 50 percent of the Initial PWM Cycle to balance
the needs between system cooling and power saving. The Balanced setting is recommended for
regular systems with normal hardware configurations.
Select Energy Saving for the onboard fans to run at 30 percent of the Initial PWM Cycle for
best power efficiency and maximum quietness.
The options are Full Speed (@100% of PWM Cycle), Performance (@70% of PWM Cycle),
Balanced (@50% of PWM Cycle), and Energy Saving (@30% of PWM Cycle).
Fan1 ~ Fan 6 Reading
This option displays the fan speed readings from fan interfaces Fan1 through Fan5. The options
are Vcore, AVCC, 3.3Vcc, 12V, V_DIMM, 5V, –12V, 3.3Vsb, and Vbat.
ACPI Configuration
Use this menu to configure Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) power
management settings for your system.
High-Performance Event Timer
Select Enabled to activate the High-Performance Event Timer (HPET) that produces periodic
interrupts at a much higher frequency than a real-time clock (RTC) does in synchronizing
multimedia streams. This provides smooth playback and reduces the dependency on other
timestamp calculation devices such as an x86 RDTSC Instruction embedded in the CPU. The
High-Performance Event Timer replaces the 8254 Programmable Interval Timer. The options
are Enabled and Disabled.
ACPI Aware O/S
This option enables ACPI support (if the OS supports it) to control ACPI through the OS.
Otherwise, disable this feature. The options are Yes (enabled) and No (disabled).
ACPI APIC Support
Select Enabled to include the ACPI APIC Table Pointer in the Root System Description Table
(RSDT) pointer list. The options are Enabled and Disabled.
APIC ACPI SCI IRQ
When you set this item to Enabled, the system supports APIC ACPI SCI IRQ. The options are
Enabled and Disabled.
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