A7N8X-E Deluxe User Guide Motherboard E1876 Checklist Revised Edition V3 January 2005 Copyright © 2005 ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. All Rights Reserved. No part of this manual, including the products and software described in it, may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form or by any means, except documentation kept by the purchaser for backup purposes, without the express written permission of ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. ("ASUS"). Product warranty or service will not be extended if: (1) the product is repaired, modified or altered, unless such repair, modification of alteration is authorized in writing by ASUS; or (2) the serial number of the product is defaced or missing. ASUS PROVIDES THIS MANUAL "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL ASUS, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF USE OR DATA, INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS AND THE LIKE), EVEN IF ASUS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES ARISING FROM ANY DEFECT OR ERROR IN THIS MANUAL OR PRODUCT. SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL ARE FURNISHED FOR INFORMATIONAL USE ONLY, AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE, AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY ASUS. ASUS ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS OR INACCURACIES THAT MAY APPEAR IN THIS MANUAL, INCLUDING THE PRODUCTS AND SOFTWARE DESCRIBED IN IT. Products and corporate names appearing in this manual may or may not be registered trademarks or copyrights of their respective companies, and are used only for identification or explanation and to the owners' benefit, without intent to infringe. ii Contents Notices ........................................................................................... vi Safety information ......................................................................... vii About this guide ............................................................................ viii How this guide is organized ................................................ viii Conventions used in this guide ............................................. ix Where to find more information ............................................. ix A7N8X-E Deluxe specifications summary ....................................... x Features Chapter 1: Product introduction 1.1 1.2 1.3 Welcome! ........................................................................... 1-1 Package contents ............................................................... 1-1 Special features .................................................................. 1-2 1.3.1 Product Highlights .................................................. 1-2 1.3.2 Unique ASUS features ........................................... 1-3 Chapter 2: Hardware information 2.1 2.2 Before you proceed ............................................................ 2-1 Motherboard overview ........................................................ 2-2 2.2.1 Placement direction ............................................... 2-2 2.2.2 Screw holes ........................................................... 2-2 2.2.3 Motherboard layout ................................................ 2-3 2.2.4 Layout Contents ..................................................... 2-4 Central Processing Unit (CPU) ........................................... 2-6 2.3.1 Overview ................................................................ 2-6 2.3.2 Installing the CPU .................................................. 2-6 System memory ................................................................. 2-8 2.4.1 Overview ................................................................ 2-8 2.4.2 Memory configurations .......................................... 2-8 2.4.3 Installing a DIMM ................................................. 2-10 2.4.4 Removing a DIMM ............................................... 2-10 Expansion slots ................................................................. 2-11 2.5.1 Installing an expansion card .................................2-11 2.5.2 Configuring an expansion card ............................. 2-11 2.5.3 Interrupt assignments .......................................... 2-12 2.5.4 PCI slots .............................................................. 2-13 2.5.5 AGP slot ............................................................... 2-13 2.5.6 Wi-Fi slot .............................................................. 2-14 2.3 2.4 2.5 iii Contents 2.6 2.7 Jumpers ............................................................................ 2-15 Connectors ....................................................................... 2-18 2.7.1 Rear panel connectors ......................................... 2-18 2.7.2 Internal connectors .............................................. 2-19 Safeguards Chapter 3: Powering up 3.1 3.2 Starting up for the first time ................................................ 3-1 Powering off the computer ................................................. 3-2 3.2.1 Using the OS shut down function .......................... 3-2 3.2.2 Using the dual function power switch .................... 3-2 ASUS POST ReporterTM .................................................... 3-3 3.3.1 Vocal POST messages .......................................... 3-3 3.3.2 Winbond Voice Editor ............................................ 3-5 3.3 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.1 Managing and updating your BIOS .................................... 4-1 4.1.1 Creating a bootable floppy disk ............................. 4-1 4.1.2 AwardBIOS Flash Utility ......................................... 4-2 4.1.3 ASUS Update ........................................................ 4-5 BIOS Setup program .......................................................... 4-7 4.2.1 BIOS menu screen ................................................ 4-8 4.2.2 Menu bar ................................................................ 4-8 4.2.3 Navigation keys ..................................................... 4-8 4.2.4 Menu items ............................................................ 4-9 4.2.5 Sub-menu items ..................................................... 4-9 4.2.6 Configuration fields ................................................ 4-9 4.2.7 General help .......................................................... 4-9 4.2.8 Pop-up window ...................................................... 4-9 4.2.9 Scroll bar ................................................................ 4-9 Main menu ........................................................................ 4-10 4.3.1 System Time [xx:xx:xxxx] ..................................... 4-10 4.3.2 System Date [Day xx/xx/xxxx] ............................. 4-10 4.3.3 Legacy Diskette A [1.44M, 3.5 in.] ....................... 4-10 4.3.4 Halt On [All Errors] ............................................... 4-10 4.3.5 Primary and Secondary Master/Slave .................. 4-11 Advanced menu ............................................................... 4-14 4.4.1 Advanced BIOS Features .................................... 4-15 4.4.2 Advanced Chipset Features ................................ 4-18 4.4.3 Integrated Peripherals ......................................... 4-22 4.2 4.3 4.4 iv Contents 4.5 4.6 4.7 5.1 5.2 4.4.4 Power Management Setup .................................. 4-24 4.4.5 PnP/PCI Configurations ....................................... 4-26 Security Menu .................................................................. 4-27 Hardware Monitor Menu ................................................... 4-29 Exit Menu ......................................................................... 4-30 Install an operating system ................................................. 5-1 Support CD information ...................................................... 5-1 5.2.1 Running the support CD ........................................ 5-1 5.2.2 Drivers menu ......................................................... 5-2 5.2.3 Utilities menu ......................................................... 5-3 5.2.4 ASUS Contact Information ..................................... 5-4 5.2.5 Other information ................................................... 5-5 NVIDIA® nForce control panel ............................................ 5-7 5.3.1 Launching the NVIDIA® control panel .................... 5-7 5.3.2 Main ....................................................................... 5-7 5.3.3 Speaker Setup ....................................................... 5-7 5.3.4 MIDI ....................................................................... 5-9 5.3.5 Environment ........................................................... 5-9 5.3.6 Applications ........................................................... 5-9 5.3.7 Information ........................................................... 5-10 NVIDIA® NVSwap 1.0 Utility ..............................................5-11 RAID 0/RAID 1 Configurations ......................................... 5-13 5.5.1 Install the hard disks ............................................ 5-13 5.5.2 Creating and deleting RAID sets ......................... 5-14 Onboard Marvell Gigabit LAN drivers for ................................ Windows 98SE/ME ........................................................... 5-16 Marvell® Virtual Cable TesterTM (VCT) Technology ........... 5-17 Chapter 5: Software support 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Quick Reference Card v Notices Federal Communications Commission Statement This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: · This device may not cause harmful interference, and · This device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation. 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 in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: · Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. · Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. · Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. · Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. The use of shielded cables for connection of the monitor to the graphics card is required to assure compliance with FCC regulations. Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate this equipment. Canadian Department of Communications Statement This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications. This class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003. vi Safety information Electrical safety · To prevent electrical shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electrical outlet before relocating the system. · When adding or removing devices to or from the system, ensure that the power cables for the devices are unplugged before the signal cables are connected. If possible, disconnect all power cables from the existing system before you add a device. · Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard, ensure that all power cables are unplugged. · Seek professional assistance before using an adpater or extension cord. These devices could interrupt the grounding circuit. · Make sure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your area. If you are not sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you are using, contact your local power company. · If the power supply is broken, do not try to fix it by yourself. Contact a qualified service technician or your retailer. Operation safety · Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully read all the manuals that came with the package. · Before using the product, make sure all cables are correctly connected and the power cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage, contact your dealer immediately. · To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from connectors, slots, sockets and circuitry. · Avoid dust, humidity, and temperature extremes. Do not place the product in any area where it may become wet. · Place the product on a stable surface. · If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualified service technician or your retailer. vii About this guide This user guide contains the information you need when installing and configuring the motherboard. How this guide is organized This manual contains the following parts: · Chapter 1: Product introduction This chapter describes the motherboard features of the and the new technologies it supports. · Chapter 2: Hardware information This chapter lists the hardware setup procedures that you have to perform when installing system components. It includes description of the jumpers and connectors on the motherboard. · Chapter 3: Powering up This chapter describes the power up sequence, the vocal POST messages, and ways of shutting down the system. · Chapter 4: BIOS setup This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS Setup menus. Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided. · Chapter 5: Software support This chapter describes the contents of the support CD that comes with the motherboard package. viii Conventions used in this guide To make sure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following symbols used throughout this manual. DANGER/WARNING: Information to prevent injury to yourself when trying to complete a task. CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components when trying to complete a task. IMPORTANT: Information that you MUST follow to complete a task. NOTE: Tips and additional information to aid in completing a task. Where to find more information Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and software updates. 1. ASUS websites The ASUS websites worldwide provide updated information on ASUS hardware and software products. Refer to the ASUS contact information. 2. Optional documentation Your product package may include optional documentation, such as warranty flyers, that may have been added by your dealer. These documents are not part of the standard package. ix A7N8X-E Deluxe specifications summary CPU Front Side Bus (FSB) Chipset Memory Socket A for AMD DuronTM/AMD AthlonTM/AMD AthlonTM XP 3200+ processors 400/333/266/200Mhz Northbridge: NVIDIA® nForce2 Ultra 400 Southbridge: NVIDIA® nForce2 MCP-T Dual-channel memory architecture 3 x 184-pin DDR DIMM sockets for up to 3GB memory Supports PC3200/PC2700/PC2100/PC1600 unbuffered non-ECC DDR DIMMs 5 x PCI 1 x AGP Pro/8X (1.5V only) 1 x ASUS proprietary Wi-Fi slot 2 x UltraDMA 133/100/66/33 2 x Serial ATA with RAID 0, 1 support MCP-T southbridge integrated Audio Processor Unit (APU) + Realtek ALC650 6-channel audio CODEC Marvell® 88E8001 Gigabit LAN MCP-T southbridge integrated controller MAC + Realtek 8201BL LAN PHY MCP-T southbridge integrated IEEE1394a controller + Realtek 8801B PHY ASUS Q-Fan Technology ASUS POST Reporter ASUS C.O.P. (CPU Overheating Protection) Power Loss Restart CPU Throttle 1 x parallel port 1 x serial port 1 x PS/2 keyboard port 1 x PS/2 mouse port 1 x S/PDIF in/out port 1 x surround L/R audio jack 1 x CNTR/LFE audio jack 1 x audio I/O port 1 x Gigabit RJ-45 Port 1 x Fast Ethernet RJ-45 port 4 x USB 2.0 ports (continued on the next page) Expansion slots Storage Audio LAN 1394 Special Features Rear Panel I/O x A7N8X-E Deluxe specifications summary Internal I/O Connectors USB 2.0 connector supports additional 2 USB 2.0 ports Game/MIDI connector CPU/Power/Chassis fan connectors 2 x IDE connectors 20-pin ATX power connector 2 x SATA connectors 2 x 1394 connectors Chassis intrusion connector Infrared module connector CD / AUX / Modem connector Front panel audio connector Serial port 2 connector S/PDIF connector 4Mb Flash ROM, Award BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, Green PCI 2.2, USB 1.1/2.0. DMI 2.0, WOL, WOR, Chassis Intrusion ATX form factor: 12 in x 9.6 in (30.5 cm x 24.5 cm) Device drivers ASUS PC Probe Anti-virus utility ASUS LiveUpdate Utility BIOS features Industry standard Manageability Form Factor Support CD contents * Specifications are subject to change without notice. xi xii Chapter 1 This chapter describes the motherboard features and the new technologies it supports. Product introduction Chapter summary 1.1 1.2 1.3 Welcome! ........................................................ 1-1 Package contents .......................................... 1-1 Special features ............................................. 1-2 ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe motherboard 1.1 Welcome! Thank you for buying the ASUS® A7N8X-E Deluxe motherboard! The motherboard delivers a host of new features and latest technologies making it another standout in the long line of ASUS quality motherboards! The motherboard supports the AMD AthlonTM, AMD AthlonTM XP or AMD DuronTM processors in a Socket A (462-pin) package with the NVIDIA® nForce2TM Ultra 400 chipset to set a new benchmark for an effective desktop platform solution. Supporting up to 3GB of system memory with PC3200/PC2700/PC2100/ PC1600 DDR SDRAM, high-resolution graphics via an AGP 8X slot, SATA, RAID, IEEE 1394, USB 2.0, and 6-channel audio features, the motherboard takes you ahead in the world of power computing! Before you start installing the motherboard, and hardware devices on it, check the items in your package with the list below. 1.2 Package contents ASUS motherboard ASUS support CD 2 x SATA cables 1 x SATA power cable 1 x 2-port USB module w/ cable 1 x 2-port IEEE1394 module 1 x 80-conductor ribbon cable for UltraDMA/66/100/133 IDE drives 1 x 40-conductor IDE cable 1 x Ribbon cable for a 3.5-inch floppy drive WinDVD Suite I/O shield Bag of extra jumper caps User Guide (includes Quick Reference Card) Quick Setup Guide Jumper/Connector sticker If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer. Check your motherboard package for the following items. ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe motherboard 1-1 1.3 Special features 1.3.1 Product Highlights Latest processor technology The motherboard supports the latest AMD AthlonTM, AthlonTM XP and AMD DuronTM processors via a 462-pin surface mount ZIF socket. The AMD AthlonTM and AMD AthlonTM XP processors features a 400Mhz front side bus and the QuantiSpeedTM architecture for rapid execution of applications. NVIDIA® nForceTM Platform Processing Architecture The motherboard combines the power of NVIDIA's nForce2TM Ultra 400 and nForce2TM MCP-T chipsets that improves processing efficiency and overall system performance. Serial ATA solution The motherboard supports two interfaces compliant to the Serial ATA (SATA) specification, an evolutionary replacement of the Parallel ATA storage interface. The Serial ATA specification allows for thinner, more flexible cables with lower pin count, reduced voltage requirement, up to 150 MB/s data transfer rate. See page 2-21. AGP 8X support The motherboard support AGP 8X (AGP 3.0) specification offering 2.12 GB/s bandwidth. See page 2-13. Dual LAN (Fast-Ethernet and Gigabit) solution The onboard Marvell® Gigabit LAN controller and Fast-Ethernet LAN controller integrated in the southbridge supply two separate ports for LAN on Motherboard (LOM) applications. The Marvell® Gigabit LAN controller is equipped with the net-diagnosing utility, VCT (Virtual Cable Tester), that intelligently diagnoses and reports cable faults from a remote location up to 100 meters. This feature helps maintain a more stable network connection. See pages 2-18, 5-17. S/PDIF in/out function The motherboard's S/PDIF out function turns your computer into a highend entertainment system with digital connectivity. 1-2 Chapter 1: Product introduction IEEE 1394 support The IEEE 1394 interface provides high-speed and flexible PC connectivity to a wide range of peripherals and devices compliant to IEEE 1394a standards. The IEEE 1394 interface allows up to 400Mbps transfer rates through simple, low-cost, high-bandwidth asynchronous (real-time) data interfacing between computers, peripherals, and consumer electronic devices such as camcorders, VCRs, printers,TVs, and digital cameras. See page 2-25. 6-channel digital audio The Realtek ALC650 AC'97 audio 6-channel CODEC works with the Audio Processing Unit (APU) integrated in the NVIDIA® NForce2TM MCP-T southbridge to provide 3D surround audio effects and Dolby® Digital cinematic-quality audio. 6 USB 2.0 ports The motherboard implements the Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 specification to provide up to 480Mbps connection speed. See page 2-24. 1.3.2 Unique ASUS features ASUS Wi-Fi slot The ASUS Wi-Fi slot is based on the 802.11b/g wireless standard that is specifically designed for the ASUS WiFi-bTM add-on card to set up a wireless LAN environment. The ASUS WiFi-bTM add-on card bundles the Software AP (Access Point) to save the extra cost of a stand-alone AP. The card comes with user-friendly utilities and applications that allow quick connection to notebooks, PDAs, and other wireless LAN peripherals. See page 2-14. ASUS Q-Fan technology The ASUS Q-Fan technology smartly adjusts the fan speeds according to the system loading to ensure quiet, cool, and efficient operation. See pages 4-29. ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe motherboard 1-3 ASUS POST ReporterTM The motherboard offers a new exciting feature called the ASUS POST ReporterTM to provide friendly voice messages and alerts during the Power-On Self-Tests (POST). Through an added external speaker, you will hear the messages informing you of the system boot status and causes of boot errors, if any. The bundled Winbond Voice Editor software allows you to customize the voice messages, and provides multi-language support. See page 3-3. 1-4 Chapter 1: Product introduction Chapter 2 This chapter lists the hardware setup procedures that you have to perform when installing system components. It includes description of the jumpers and connectors on the motherboard. Hardware information Chapter summary 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Before you proceed ....................................... 2-1 Motherboard overview ................................... 2-2 Central Processing Unit (CPU) ..................... 2-6 System memory ............................................. 2-8 Expansion slots ............................................ 2-11 Jumpers ........................................................ 2-15 Connectors ................................................... 2-18 ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe motherboard