User manual ASUS A7S8X-MX

Motherboard A7S8X-MX E1766 First Edition V1 September 2004 Copyright © 2004 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 Typography ......................................................................................... ix A7S8X-MX specifications summary ...................................................... x Chapter 1: Product introduction 1.1 1.2 1.3 Welcome! .............................................................................. 1-2 Package contents ................................................................. 1-2 Special features .................................................................... 1-3 1.3.1 1.3.2 1.4 1.5 Product highlights ................................................... 1-3 Innovative ASUS features ....................................... 1-4 Before you proceed .............................................................. 1-5 Motherboard overview .......................................................... 1-6 1.5.1 1.5.2 1.5.3 Placement direction ................................................ 1-6 Screw holes ............................................................ 1-6 Motherboard layout ................................................ 1-7 1.6 1.7 Central Processing Unit (CPU) .............................................. 1-8 System memory ................................................................. 1-10 1.7.1 1.7.2 1.7.3 1.7.4 Overview ............................................................... 1-10 Memory Configurations ......................................... 1-10 Installing a DIMM ................................................... 1-12 Removing a DIMM ................................................. 1-12 Installing an expansion card .................................. 1-13 Configuring an expansion card .............................. 1-13 Interrupt assignments .......................................... 1-14 PCI slots ................................................................ 1-15 AGP slot ................................................................ 1-15 1.8 Expansion slots ................................................................... 1-13 1.8.1 1.8.2 1.8.3 1.8.4 1.8.5 1.9 1.10 Jumpers .............................................................................. 1-16 Connectors ......................................................................... 1-19 1.10.1 Rear panel connectors .......................................... 1-19 1.10.2 Internal connectors ............................................... 1-21 iii Contents Chapter 2: BIOS setup 2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS ........................................ 2-2 2.1.1 2.1.2 2.1.3 2.1.4 2.1.5 2.2 2.2.1 2.2.2 2.3 2.3.1 2.3.2 2.3.3 2.3.4 2.3.5 2.3.6 2.3.7 2.4 2.4.1 2.4.2 2.4.3 2.4.4 2.4.5 2.5 2.5.1 2.5.2 2.6 2.6.1 2.6.2 2.6.3 2.6.4 2.6.5 2.6.6 2.7 Creating a bootable floppy disk .............................. 2-2 AwardBIOS Flash Utility .......................................... 2-3 ASUS EZ Flash utility .............................................. 2-5 ASUS CrashFree BIOS utility ................................... 2-6 ASUS Update utility ................................................ 2-7 BIOS menu bar ...................................................... 2-11 Legend bar ........................................................... 2-11 System Time ......................................................... 2-13 System Date ......................................................... 2-13 Legacy Diskette A ................................................ 2-13 HDD SMART Monitoring ........................................ 2-13 Installed Memory .................................................. 2-13 Primary and Secondary IDE Master/Slave ............. 2-14 First and Second SATA Master ............................. 2-15 CPU configuration ................................................. 2-17 Chipset configuration ........................................... 2-18 PCIPnP ................................................................... 2-21 Onboard device configuration ............................. 2-22 USB configuration ................................................ 2-24 APM configuration ................................................ 2-26 Hardware monitor ................................................. 2-29 Boot Device Priority .............................................. 2-30 Removable drives ................................................. 2-31 Hard Disk Drives ................................................... 2-31 CD-ROM drives ...................................................... 2-32 Boot settings configuration .................................. 2-32 Security ................................................................ 2-34 BIOS Setup program ........................................................... 2-10 Main Menu ........................................................................... 2-13 Advanced Menu .................................................................. 2-16 Power Menu ........................................................................ 2-25 Boot Menu .......................................................................... 2-30 Exit menu ........................................................................... 2-35 iv Contents Chapter 3: Software support 3.1 3.2 Installing an operating system ............................................. 3-2 Support CD information ........................................................ 3-2 3.2.1 3.2.2 3.2.3 3.2.4 Running the support CD ......................................... 3-2 Drivers menu .......................................................... 3-3 Utilities menu .......................................................... 3-4 ASUS Contact information ...................................... 3-5 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 adapter 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 features of the motherboard and the new technology it supports. This chapter also 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 2: 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 3: Software support This chapter describes the contents of the support CD that comes with the motherboard package. · Where to find more information Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and software updates. 1. ASUS websites The ASUS website provides updated information on ASUS hardware and software products. Refer to the ASUS contact information. 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. 2. 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. D A N G E R / W A R N I N G : Information to prevent injury to yourself when trying to complete a task. C A U T I O N : Information to prevent damage to the components when trying to complete a task. I M P O R T A N T : Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task. N O T E : Tips and additional information to help you complete a task. Typography Bold text Indicates a menu or an item to select Used to emphasize a word or a phrase Keys enclosed in the less-than and greater-than sign means that you must press the enclosed key Example: means that you must press the Enter or Return key If you must press two or more keys simultaneously, the key names are linked with a plus sign (+) Example: Command Means that you must type the command exactly as shown Example: At the DOS prompt, type the command line: D:\bootdisk\makeboot a: Italics ix A7S8X-MX specifications summary CPU Chipset Front Side Bus Memory Expansion slots Storage Socket A for AMD AthlonTM XP/SempronTM processors Northbridge: SiS 741GX Southbridge: SiS 964 (without RAID support) 333/266/200 MHz 2 x 184-pin DIMM sockets support unbufferred non-ECC 333/266/200 MHz DDR SDRAM memory modules 1 x AGP slot for 1.5V AGP cards 2 x PCI slots SiS 964 Southbridge supports: - 4 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 hard disk drives - 2 x Serial ATA hard disk drives (supported only under Windows® XP/2000/2003 ADI AD1888 SoundMax® 6-channel CODEC S/PDIF out interface support Realtek® RTL 8201CL 10/100 Mbps LAN PHY Supports up to 8 USB 2.0 ports ASUS EZ Flash ASUS CrashFree BIOS ASUS C.O.P. (CPU Overheating Protection) ASUS MyLogoTM 2 Mb Flash EEPROM, Phoenix-Award BIOS with enhanced ACPI, DMI, Green, and PnP features 1 x PS/2 mouse port 1 x Parallel port 1 x LAN (RJ-45) port 4 x USB 2.0 ports 1 x VGA port 1 x Coaxial S/PDIF out port 1 x PS/2 keyboard port 6-channel audio ports (continued on the next page) Audio LAN USB Special features BIOS features Rear panel x A7S8X-MX specifications summary Internal connectors 1 x Floppy disk drive connector 1 x Primary IDE connector 1 x Secondary IDE connector 2 x Serial ATA connectors 1 x CPU fan connector 1 x Chassis fan connector 2 x USB 2.0 connectors for 4 additional USB 2.0 ports 1 x GAME/MIDI connector 1 x 20-pin ATX power connector 1 x CD in connector 1 x AUX connector 1 x Front panel audio connector 1 x COM port connector 1 x Speaker out connector 1 x Power LED connector 1 x System panel connector PCI 2.2, USB 2.0 Device drivers ASUS PC Probe ASUS Update Anti-virus software (OEM version) Micro ATX form factor: 9.6 in x 7.8 in (24.4 cm x 19.8 cm) ustry standard I n d ustry standard Support CD contents Form Factor *Specifications are subject to change without notice. xi xii This chapter describes the motherboard features and the new technologies it supports. Product introduction 1 ASUS A7S8X-MX 1-1 1.1 Welcome! T h a n k y o u f o r b u y i n g a n A S U S® A 7 S 8 X - M X m o t h e r b o a r d ! The motherboard delivers a host of new features and latest technologies, making it another standout in the long line of ASUS quality motherboards! 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 A7S8X-MX motherboard 1 x Serial port (COM) cable 1 x Ultra DMA cable 1 x Floppy disk drive cable I/O shield ASUS motherboard support CD User guide Check your motherboard package for the following items. Motherboard Cables Accessory Application CD Documentation If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer. 1-2 Chapter 1: Product introduction 1.3 1.3.1 Special features Product highlights AMD AthonTM XP/SempronTM processor support The motherboard comes with a 462-pin surface mount, Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) socket that supports 333 MHz front side bus frequency for AMD AthlonTM XP/SempronTM processors. With an integrated low-latency high-bandwidth memory controller, the motherboard allows increased office productivity and enhanced digital media experience. See page 1-8. AGP 8X support The AGP 8X (AGP 3.0) VGA interface specification enables enhanced graphics performance with high bandwidth speeds up to 2.12 GB/s. See page 1-15. Powerful integrated graphics The SiS 741GX IGUI Host Memory Controller (HMC) features the SiS Real256E, an integrated graphics engine for enhanced 3D, 2D, and video capabilities. Serial ATA technology The motherboard supports the Serial ATA technology through the Serial ATA interfaces and the SiS 964. The SATA specification allows for thinner, more flexible cables with lower pin count, reduced voltage requirement, and up to 150 MB/s data transfer rate. See page 1-23. 6-channel digital audio Providing high-quality, 6-channel audio solution is the onboard ADI AD1888 AC`97 audio CODEC. This motherboard comes with a coaxial S/PDIF connector on the rear panel to turn your computer into a high-end entertainment system with digital connectivity to powerful sound systems. See page 1-19. Integrated 10/100 LAN controller The onboard Realtek RTL8201CL is an integrated single-chip Fast Ethernet LAN controller with enhanced ACPI management function to provide efficient power management for advanced operating systems. See page 1-19. ASUS A7S8X-MX 1-3 S/PDIF digital sound ready The motherboard supports the S/PDIF In/Out function through the S/PDIF interfaces on the rear panel and at midboard. The S/PDIF technology turns your computer into a high-end entertainment system with digital connectivity to powerful audio and speaker systems. See page 1-20. USB 2.0 technology The motherboard implements the Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 specification, dramatically increasing the connection speed from the 12 Mbps bandwidth on USB 1.1 to a fast 480 Mbps on USB 2.0. USB 2.0 is backward compatible with USB 1.1. See pages 1-20 and 1-25. 1.3.2 Innovative ASUS features Protection) C.O.P. (CPU Overheating Protection With AMD® Athlon XPTM installed, the motherboard offers automatic CPU Overheating Protection to prolong the life of the entire system. If the CPU temperature exceeds the set criteria, the PC shuts down automatically. ASUS EZ Flash BIOS With the ASUS EZ Flash, you can easily update the system BIOS even before loading the operating system. No need to use a DOS-based utility or boot from a floppy disk. See page 2-5. ASUS CrashFree BIOS This feature allows you to restore the original BIOS data from a floppy disk when the BIOS codes and data are corrupted. This protection eliminates the need to buy a replacement ROM chip. See page 2-6 for details. ASUS MyLogoTM This new feature present in the motherboard allows you to personalize and add style to your system with customizable boot logos. See page 2-33. 1-4 Chapter 1: Product introduction 1.4 Before you proceed Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change any motherboard settings. · · Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any component. Use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or to a metal object, such as the power supply case, before handling components to avoid damaging them due to static electricity Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them. Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded antistatic pad or in the bag that came with the component. Before you install or remove any component, ensure that the ATX power supply is switched off or the p o w e r c o r d i s d e t a c h e d f r o m t h e p o w e r s u p p l y . Failure to do so may cause severe damage to the motherboard, peripherals, and/or components. · · · Onboard LED The motherboard comes with a standby power LED that lights up to indicate that the system is ON, in sleep mode, or in soft-off mode. This is a reminder that you should shut down the system and unplug the power cable before removing or plugging in any motherboard component. The illustration below shows the location of the onboard LED. A7S8X-MX SB_PWR1 ® A7S8X-MX Onboard LED ON Standby Power OFF Powered Off ASUS A7S8X-MX 1-5 1.5 Motherboard overview Before you install the motherboard, study the configuration of your chassis to ensure that the motherboard fits into it. Make sure to unplug the power cord before installing or removing the motherboard. Failure to do so can cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components. 1.5.1 Placement direction When installing the motherboard, make sure that you place it into the chassis in the correct orientation. The edge with external ports goes to the rear part of the chassis as indicated in the image below. 1.5.2 Screw holes Place six (6) screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the motherboard to the chassis. Do not overtighten the screws! Doing so can damage the motherboard. Place this side towards the rear of the chassis A7S8X-MX ® 1-6 Chapter 1: Product introduction 1.5.3 Motherboard layout 19.8cm (7.8in) PS/2KBMS T: Mouse B: Keyboard CPU_FAN1 SPDIF_O PARALLEL PORT DDR DIMM1 (64/72 bit, 184-pin module) VGA1 USB2.0 Top: T: USB1 RJ-45 B: USB2 Top:Line In Center:Line Out Below:Mic In FSB_SEL1 FSB_SEL0 AGP1 CD1 AD1888 PCI1 ® SEC_IDE PRI_IDE AUX1 FP_AUDIO1 Super I/O SB_PWR1 2Mbit ISA FLOPPY1 CR2032 3V Lithium Cell CMOS Power USBPW5678 USB78 SPEAKER1 CHA_FAN1 PWRLED1 CLRTC1 PANEL1 COM1 GAME1 USB56 ASUS A7S8X-MX SATA1 PCI2 SIS 964 SATA2 24.4cm (9.6in) 1-7 SIS 741GX A7S8X-MX T:USB4 B:USB3 REL8201CL DDR DIMM2 (64/72 bit, 184-pin module) USBPW1234 ATXPWR Socket 462 1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU) The motherboard comes with a surface mount 462-pin Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) socket designed for the AMD AthlonTM XP/SempronTM processor. Take note of the marked corner (with gold triangle) on the CPU. This mark should match a specific corner on the socket to ensure correct installation. Gold triangle Do not use processors with core speeds of less than 1 GHz on this motherboard. Installing the CPU Follow these steps to install a CPU. 1. Locate the 462-pin ZIF socket on the motherboard. CPU NOTCH TO INNER CORNER A7S8X-MX LOCK LEVER ® AMDTM CPU CPU NOTCH A7S8X-MX CPU Socket 462 1-8 Chapter 1: Product introduction