User manual ASUS A8N5X

Motherboard A8N5X E2138 First Edition July 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 ............................................................................................... vii Safety information ............................................................................ viii About this guide ................................................................................. ix How this guide is organized .................................................... ix Where to find more information .............................................. ix Conventions used in this guide ................................................ x Typography .......................................................................................... x A8N5X specifications summary .......................................................... xi 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 1.3.3 1.4 1.5 Product highlights ................................................... 1-3 ASUS Proactive features ........................................ 1-5 Innovative ASUS features ....................................... 1-6 Before you proceed .............................................................. 1-7 Motherboard overview .......................................................... 1-8 1.5.1 1.5.2 1.5.3 Placement direction ................................................ 1-8 Screw holes ............................................................ 1-8 Motherboard layout ................................................ 1-9 Overview ............................................................... 1-10 Installling the CPU ................................................. 1-10 Installing the heatsink and fan .............................. 1-12 Overview ............................................................... 1-15 Memory Configurations ......................................... 1-15 Installing a DIMM ................................................... 1-17 Removing a DIMM ................................................. 1-17 Installing an expansion card .................................. 1-18 Configuring an expansion card .............................. 1-18 Interrupt assignments .......................................... 1-19 PCI slots ................................................................ 1-20 1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU) ............................................ 1-10 1.6.1 1.6.2 1.6.3 1.7 System memory ................................................................. 1-15 1.7.1 1.7.2 1.7.3 1.7.4 1.8 Expansion slots ................................................................... 1-18 1.8.1 1.8.2 1.8.3 1.8.4 iii Contents 1.8.5 1.8.6 1.9 1.10 PCI Express x16 slot ............................................. 1-20 PCI Express x1 slot ............................................... 1-20 Jumpers .............................................................................. 1-21 Connectors ......................................................................... 1-22 1.10.1 Rear panel connectors .......................................... 1-22 1.10.2 Internal connectors ............................................... 1-24 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 2.1.6 2.2 2.2.1 2.2.2 2.2.3 2.2.4 2.2.5 2.2.6 2.2.8 2.2.7 2.3 2.3.1 2.3.2 2.3.3 2.3.4 2.3.5 2.3.6 2.3.7 2.3.8 2.4 2.4.1 Creating a bootable floppy disk .............................. 2-2 Updating the BIOS .................................................. 2-3 Saving the current BIOS file .................................... 2-5 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2 utility ................................ 2-6 ASUS EZ Flash utility .............................................. 2-8 ASUS Update utility ................................................ 2-9 BIOS menu screen ................................................. 2-13 Menu bar ............................................................... 2-13 Legend bar ........................................................... 2-14 Menu items ........................................................... 2-14 Sub-menu items ................................................... 2-14 Configuration fields .............................................. 2-14 General help .......................................................... 2-15 Pop-up window ..................................................... 2-15 System Time ......................................................... 2-16 System Date ......................................................... 2-16 Language .............................................................. 2-16 Legacy Diskette A ................................................ 2-16 Primary and Secondary IDE Master/Slave ............. 2-17 First, Second, Third, Fourth SATA Master ............ 2-19 HDD SMART Monitoring ........................................ 2-20 Installed Memory .................................................. 2-20 CPU Configuration ................................................. 2-21 BIOS setup program ........................................................... 2-12 Main menu .......................................................................... 2-16 Advanced menu .................................................................. 2-21 iv Contents 2.4.2 2.4.3 2.4.4 2.4.5 2.4.6 2.4.7 2.5 2.5.1 2.5.2 2.5.3 2.5.4 2.6 2.6.1 2.6.2 2.6.3 2.6.4 2.6.5 2.6.6 2.7 PCIPnP ................................................................... 2-23 Onboard Devices Configuration ............................ 2-24 JumperFree Configuration .................................... 2-28 LAN Cable Status ................................................. 2-30 PEG Link Mode ...................................................... 2-30 Instant Music ........................................................ 2-31 ACPI Suspend Type ............................................... 2-32 ACPI APIC Support ................................................ 2-32 APM Configuration ................................................ 2-33 Hardware Monitor ................................................. 2-35 Boot Device Priority .............................................. 2-36 Removable Drives ................................................. 2-37 Hard Disk Drives ................................................... 2-37 CDROM Drives ....................................................... 2-37 Boot Settings Configuration ................................. 2-38 Security ................................................................ 2-39 Power menu ........................................................................ 2-32 Boot menu .......................................................................... 2-36 Exit menu ........................................................................... 2-41 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 3.2.5 3.2.6 3.3 3.3.1 3.3.2 3.3.3 3.3.4 Running the support CD ......................................... 3-2 Drivers menu .......................................................... 3-3 Utilities menu .......................................................... 3-4 Manuals menu ......................................................... 3-6 ASUS Contact information ...................................... 3-7 Other information ................................................... 3-7 ASUS MyLogo2TM .................................................... 3-9 AI NET 2 ............................................................... 3-11 Using the Virtual Cable TesterTM ........................... 3-11 Audio configurations ............................................ 3-12 Using the NVIDIA® FirewallTM ................................. 3-18 Software information ........................................................... 3-9 v Contents 3.4 RAID configurations ............................................................ 3-21 3.4.1 3.4.2 3.5 3.6 Installing hard disks .............................................. 3-22 NVIDIA® RAID configurations ............................... 3-23 Creating a RAID driver disk ................................................. 3-30 Cool `n' Quiet!TM Technology ............................................... 3-31 3.6.1 3.6.2 Enabling Cool `n' Quiet!TM Technology ................... 3-31 Launching the Cool `n' Quiet!TM software .............. 3-32 vi 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. vii 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. viii 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. It 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. ix 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: Italics Command Means that you must type the command exactly as shown, then supply the required item or value enclosed in brackets Example: At the DOS prompt, type the command line: awdflash A8NE.ROM x A8N5X specifications summary CPU Socket 939 for AMD AthlonTM 64 X2/AMD AthlonTM 64FX and AMD AthlonTM 64 processors Supports AMD 64 architecture that enables simultaneous 32-bit and 64-bit architecture Supports AMD® Cool `n' Quiet! Technology NVIDIA® nForceTM 4 1600/2000 MT per second Dual-channel memory architecture 4 x 184-pin DIMM sockets support ECC/non-ECC unbufferred 400/333/266 MHz DDR memory modules Supports up to 4 GB system memory 1 x PCI Express x16 slots 2 x PCI Express x1 slots 1 x PCI Express x4 slot (Note: Supports a total bandwidth of 1GB/s) 3 x PCI slots NVIDIA® nForceTM 4 chipset supports: - 2 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66/33 - 4 x Serial ATA with RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 1+0, and JBOD that spans across the Serial ATA and Parallel ATA drives AI NOSTM (Non-Delay Overclocking System) ASUS AI Overclocking (Intelligent CPU frequency tuner) ASUS PEG Link Fixed PCI Express/PCI/SATA frequencies ASUS C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall) Precision Tweaker supports: - DIMM voltage: 9-step DRAM voltage control - Core voltage: Adjustable CPU voltage at 0.0125 increment - PCI Express Frequency: Allows 1MHz increment from 100MHz to 200MHz - Stepless Frequency Selection(SFS) allows 1MHz increment from 200 MHz to 400 MHz ASUS EZFlash ASUS Q-Fan ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2 ASUS Multi-language BIOS ASUS MyLogo2 ASUS Instant Music Chipset System Bus Memory Expansion slots Storage Overclocking Special features (continued on the next page) xi A8N5X specifications summary Internal connectors 1 x Floppy disk drive connector 2 x IDE connectors 4 x Serial ATA connectors 1 x CPU fan connector 1 x Power fan connector 2 x Chassis fan connector 1 x Chipset fan connector 1 x Serial port connector (COM port) 1 x 24-pin ATX power connector 1 x 4-pin ATX 12 V power connector 3 x USB 2.0 connectors for 6 additional USB 2.0 ports 1 x Internal audio connectors (CD\AUX) 1 x GAME/MIDI connector 1 x Chassis intrusion connector 1 x Front panel audio connector System panel connector NVIDIA® nForceTM 4 built-in Gigabit MAC with external Marvell® PHY supports: - NV FirewallTM AI NET2 Realtek® ALC850 8-channel CODEC 1 x Coaxial S/PDIF out port 1 x Optical S/PDIF out port Supports Universal Audio Jack (UAJ®) Technology Supports Audio Sensing and Enumeration Technology Supports up to 10 USB 2.0 ports 1 x Parallel port 1 x LAN (RJ-45) port 4 x USB 2.0 ports 1 x Optical S/PDIF out port 1 x Coaxial S/PDIF out port 1 x PS/2 keyboard port 1 x PS/2 mouse port 8-channel audio ports 4 Mb Flash ROM, Phoenix-Award BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.3 ATX power supply (with 24-pin and 4-pin 12 V plugs) ATX 12 V 2.0 compliant LAN AI Audio USB Rear panel BIOS features Power Requirement (continued on the next page) xii A8N5X specifications summary Form Factor Support CD contents ATX form factor: 12 in x 9.6 in (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm) Device drivers ASUS PC Probe II ASUS Live Update utility ASUS Cool'n'Quiet! utility Anti-virus utility (OEM version) NVIDIA® nTuneTM utility *Specifications are subject to change without notice. xiii xiv This chapter describes the motherboard features and the new technologies it supports. Product introduction 1 ASUS A8N5X 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 8 N 5 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 A8N5X motherboard USB 2.0 2-port module 2 x Serial ATA signal cables 1 x Serial ATA power cables (dual plugs) Ultra DMA/133 cable 40-conductor IDE cable Floppy disk drive cable I/O shield ASUS motherboard support CD User guide Check your motherboard package for the following items. Motherboard I/O modules Cables Accessories Application CDs 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 Dual-Core Architecture The motherboard supports AMD dual-core processors containing two physical CPU cores with discrete L2 cache structure for each core to meet demands for more powerful computing. See page 1-10. Latest processor technology The AMD AthlonTM 64FX and AthlonTM 64 desktop processors are based on AMD's 64-bit and 32-bit architecture, which represents the landmark introduction of the industry's first x86-64 technology. These processors provide a dramatic leap forward in compatibility, performance, investment protection, and reduced total cost of ownership and development. See page 1-10. Built-in NVFirewallTM The NVIDIA® FirewallTM (NVFirewallTM) is an easy-to-use high-performance desktop firewall application that protects your system from intruders. Integrated into the NVIDIA® nForceTM 4 chipset with the NVIDIA® Gigabit Ethernet, it provides advanced anti-computer-hacking technologies, remote management capabilities, and a user-friendly setup wizard that improves overall system security. AMD Cool `n' Quiet!TM Technology The motherboard supports the AMD Cool `n' Quiet!TM Technology that dynamically and automatically changes the CPU speed, voltage and amount of power depending on the task the CPU performs. See pages 2-22, 3-29. HyperTransportTM Technology HyperTransportTM Technology is a high-speed, low latency, point-to-point link designed to increase the communication speed between integrated circuits in computers, networking and telecommunicatons equipment up to 48 times faster than other existing technologies. ASUS A8N5X 1-3 Dual Channel DDR memory support Employing the Double Data Rate (DDR) memory technology, the motherboard supports up to 4GB of system memory using DDR400/333/ 266 DIMMs. The ultra-fast 400MHz memory bus delivers the required bandwidth for the latest 3D graphics, multimedia, and Internet applications. See page 1-13. Serial ATA technology The motherboard supports the next-generation Serial ATA technology through the Serial ATA interfaces and the NVIDIA® nForceTM 4 chipset. Serial ATA allows thinner, more flexible cables with lower pin count, and reduced voltage requirement. See pages 1-23. RAID solution The NVIDIA® nForceTM 4 RAID controller onboard provides the motherboard with RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 1+0 and JBOD configuration for four SATA and two PATA connectors. See page 3-21 for details. PCI ExpressTM interface The motherboard fully supports PCI Express, the latest I/O interconnect technology that speeds up the PCI bus. PCI Express features point-to-point serial interconnections between devices and allows higher clockspeeds by carrying data in packets. This high speed interface is software compatible with existing PCI specifications. See page 1-18 for details. S/PDIF digital sound ready The motherboard supports the S/PDIF Out function through the S/PDIF interfaces on the rear panel. The S/PDIF technology turns your computer into a high-end entertainment system with digital connectivity to powerful audio and speaker systems. See page 1-21 for details. 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 page 1-21 and 1-25 for details. 1-4 Chapter 1: Product introduction Temperature, fan, and voltage monitoring The CPU temperature is monitored by the ASIC (integrated in the Winbond Super I/O) to prevent overheating and damage. The system fan rotations per minute (RPM) is monitored for timely failure detection. The ASIC monitors the voltage levels to ensure stable supply of current for critical components. See section "2.5.4 Hardware Monitor" on page 2-35. 1.3.2 ASUS Proactive features AI NOSTM (Non-Delay Overclocking System) ASUS Non-delay Overclocking SystemTM (NOS) is a technology that auto-detects the CPU loading and dynamically overclocks the CPU speed only when needed. See page 2-28 for details. Precision Tweaker Designed for overclocking aficionados, this feature allows you to fine tune the CPU and memory voltage and gradually increase the Front Side Bus (FSB) and PCI Express frequency to achieve maximum system performance. PEG Link mode This feature allows you to adjust the PCI Express graphics frequency according to your system configuration for optimized graphics performance. AI NET 2 AI NET 2 is a BIOS-based diagnostic tool that detects and reports Ethernet cable faults and shorts. With this utility, you can easily monitor the condition of the Ethernet cable(s) connected to the LAN (RJ-45) port(s). During the bootup process, AI NET 2 immediately diagnoses the LAN cable(s) and reports shorts and faults up to 100 meters at 1 meter accuracy. See pages 2-30 and 3-9 for details. AI Audio technology The motherboard supports 8-channel audio through the onboard ALC850 CODEC with 16-bit DAC, a stereo 16-bit ADC, and an AC97 2.3 compatible multi-channel audio designed for PC multimedia systems. It also provides Jack-Sensing function, S/PDIF out support, interrupt capability and includes the Realtek® proprietary UAJ® (Universal Audio Jack) technology. See pages 1-22, 1-23 and 3-10 for details. ASUS A8N5X 1-5 1.3.3 Innovative ASUS features CrashFree BIOS 2 This feature allows you to restore the original BIOS data from the support CD in case when the BIOS codes and data are corrupted. This protection eliminates the need to buy a replacement ROM chip. See details on page 2-5. 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 page 2-35 for details. ASUS Multi-language BIOS The multi-language BIOS allows you to select the language of your choice from the available options. The localized BIOS menus allow you to configure easier and faster. See page 2-16 for details. ASUS MyLogo2TM This new feature present in the motherboard allows you to personalize and add style to your system with customizable boot logos. See page 3-9 for details. ASUS Instant Lite This unique feature allows you to playback audio files even without booting the system to Windows. Just press the ASUS Instant Music Lite special function keys and enjoy the music! See pages 2-31. 1-6 Chapter 1: Product introduction