User manual ASUS M2N4-SLI

Motherboard M2N4-SLI E2670 First Edition July 2006 Copyright © 2006 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 Typography .......................................................................................... x M2N4-SLI specifications summary....................................................... xi Chapter 1: Product introduction 1.1 1.2 1.3 Welcome! .............................................................................. 1-1 Package contents ................................................................. 1-1 Special features .................................................................... 1-2 1.3.1 1.3.2 2.1 2.2 Product highlights ................................................... 1-2 ASUS Special features............................................. 1-4 Chapter 2: Hardware information Before you proceed .............................................................. 2-1 Motherboard overview .......................................................... 2-2 2.2.1 2.2.2 2.2.3 2.2.4 2.3 2.3.1 2.3.2 2.4 2.4.1 2.4.2 2.4.3 2.4.4 2.5 2.5.1 2.5.2 2.5.3 2.5.4 2.5.5 2.5.6 Placement direction ................................................ 2-2 Screw holes ............................................................. 2-2 Motherboard layout ................................................ 2-3 Layout Contents ..................................................... 2-4 Installing the CPU .................................................... 2-5 Installing the heatsink and fan ................................ 2-7 Overview ............................................................... 2-10 Memory configurations ......................................... 2-10 Installing a DIMM ................................................... 2-15 Removing a DIMM .................................................. 2-15 Installing an expansion card .................................. 2-16 Configuring an expansion card .............................. 2-16 Interrupt assignments ........................................... 2-17 PCI slots ................................................................ 2-17 PCI Express x1 slot ............................................... 2-18 PCI Express x16 slots............................................ 2-18 Central Processing Unit (CPU) .............................................. 2-5 System memory.................................................................. 2-10 Expansion slots ................................................................... 2-16 iii Contents 2.6 2.7 Jumpers .............................................................................. 2-19 Connectors ......................................................................... 2-22 2.7.1 2.7.2 3.1 3.2 Rear panel connectors .......................................... 2-22 Internal connectors ............................................... 2-24 Chapter 3: Powering up Starting up for the first time ................................................ 3-1 Powering off the computer ................................................... 3-2 3.2.1 3.2.2 4.1 Using the OS shut down function ........................... 3-2 Using the dual function power switch ..................... 3-2 Chapter 4: BIOS setup Managing and updating your BIOS ........................................ 4-1 4.1.1 4.1.2 4.1.3 4.1.4 4.1.5 4.1.6 4.2 4.2.1 4.2.2 4.2.3 4.2.4 4.2.5 4.2.6 4.2.7 4.2.8 4.3 4.3.1 4.3.2 4.3.3 4.3.5 4.3.6 4.3.7 Creating a bootable floppy disk .............................. 4-1 Updating the BIOS ................................................... 4-2 Saving the current BIOS file .................................... 4-4 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility ................................ 4-5 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility............................................ 4-7 ASUS Update utility ................................................ 4-8 BIOS menu screen ................................................. 4-12 Menu bar ............................................................... 4-12 Legend bar ............................................................ 4-13 Menu items ........................................................... 4-13 Sub-menu items .................................................... 4-13 Configuration fields ............................................... 4-13 Pop-up window ...................................................... 4-14 General help .......................................................... 4-14 System Time ........................................................ 4-15 System Date ........................................................ 4-15 Legacy Diskette A ............................................... 4-15 Primary and Secondary IDE Master/Slave ............. 4-16 SATA 1, 2, 3, 4..................................................... 4-18 HDD SMART Monitoring ......................................... 4-19 BIOS setup program ............................................................ 4-11 Main menu........................................................................... 4-15 iv Contents 4.3.8 4.4 4.4.1 4.4.3 4.4.4 4.4.5 4.4.6 4.5 4.5.1 4.5.2 4.5.3 4.5.4 4.6 4.6.1 4.6.2 4.6.3 4.6.4 4.6.5 4.7 4.8 5.1 5.2 Installed Memory ................................................... 4-19 JumperFree Configuration ..................................... 4-20 CPU Configuration ................................................. 4-23 PCIPnP ................................................................... 4-25 Onboard Device Configuration .............................. 4-26 SLI Configuration................................................... 4-31 ACPI Suspend Type .............................................. 4-32 ACPI APIC Support ............................................... 4-32 APM Configuration ................................................ 4-33 Hardware Monitor.................................................. 4-35 Boot Device Priority .............................................. 4-37 Removable Drives.................................................. 4-38 Hard Disk Drives .................................................... 4-38 Boot Settings Configuration ................................ 4-39 Security ................................................................. 4-41 Advanced menu .................................................................. 4-20 Power menu ........................................................................ 4-32 Boot menu .......................................................................... 4-37 Tools menu ......................................................................... 4-43 ASUS EZ Flash 2.................................................................. 4-43 Exit menu ............................................................................ 4-44 Installing an operating system .............................................. 5-1 Support CD information ........................................................ 5-1 5.2.1 5.2.2 5.2.3 5.2.4 5.2.5 5.2.6 Running the support CD .......................................... 5-1 Drivers menu ........................................................... 5-2 Utilities menu .......................................................... 5-3 Manuals menu ......................................................... 5-4 ASUS Contact information ...................................... 5-5 Other information ................................................... 5-5 Cool `n' Quiet!TM Technology ................................... 5-8 ASUS PC Probe II ................................................... 5-10 Chapter 5: Software support 5.3 Software information ............................................................ 5-8 5.3.1 5.3.2 5.4 RAID configurations ............................................................ 5-16 v Contents 5.4.1 5.4.2 5.5 6.1 6.2 Installing hard disks ............................................... 5-17 NVIDIA® RAID configurations ................................. 5-18 Creating a RAID driver disk ................................................. 5-25 Overview ............................................................................... 6-1 Requirements ........................................................................ 6-1 Dual graphics card setup ...................................................... 6-2 6.2.1 6.2.2 6.2.3 Installing SLI-ready graphics cards .......................... 6-2 Installing the device drivers .................................... 6-5 Enabling the multi-GPU feature in Windows ............ 6-5 Chapter 6: NVIDIA® SLITM technology support 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. The symbol of the crossed out wheeled bin indicates that the product (electrical and electronic equipment) should not be placed in municipal waste. Check local regulations for disposal of electronic products. 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. · 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 switches, 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. · Chapter 6: NVIDIA® SLITM technology support This chapter tells how to install SLI-ready PCI Express graphics cards. ix 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. 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. 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: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task. NOTE: 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 M2N4SLI.ROM x M2N4-SLI specifications summary CPU Socket AM2 for AMD AthlonTM 64 FX/AMD AthlonTM 64 X2 /AMD Athlon 64TM/AMD SempronTM processors Supports AMD Cool `n' QuietTM Technology AMD64 architecture enables simultaneous 32-bit and 64-bit computing AMD Live!TM ready NVIDIA® nForce® 4 SLITM MCP 2000 / 1600 MT/s Dual-channel memory architecture - 4 x 240-pin DIMM sockets support unbuffered ECC/non-ECC DDR2 800/667/533 MHz memory modules - Supports up to 8 GB system memory 2 x PCI ExpressTM x16 slots Supports NVIDIA® SLITM Technology (both at x8 mode) 2 x PCI ExpressTM x1 slots 2 x PCI 2.2 slots Supports two identical NVIDIA®SLITM-ready graphics card ASUS two-slot thermal design NVIDIA® nForce® 4 SLITM MCP supports: - 2 x IDE connector for up to four Ultra DMA 133/100/66/33 devices - 4 x Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s connectors support four Serial ATA devices - RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 5, and JBOD configurations spanning across Serial ATA drives NVIDIA® nForce® 4 SLITM MCP built-in Gigabit MAC with external Attansic PHY Supports TCP/IP Acceleration Realtek® ALC850 6-channel AC'97 CODEC Supports Jack-Sensing and Enumeration Technology Supports S/PDIF Out interface Supports up to 10 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (six at mid-board, fourontherearpanel) AI Overclocking (intelligent CPU frequency tuner) Stepless Frequency Selection(SFS) allows FSB tuning from 200 MHz up to 400 MHz at 1 MHz increment ASUS C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall) Adjustable FSB/DDR2 ratio. Fixed PCI/PCIe frequencies Chipset System bus Memory Expansion slots Scalable Link Interface (SLITM) Storage LAN Audio USB 2.0 ASUS Exclusive Overclocking features (continued on the next page) xi M2N4-SLI specifications summary Special features ASUS EZ DIY: - Q-Connector - ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 - ASUS EZ Flash 2 ASUS Q-Fan 2 ASUS MyLogo2 1xParallelport 1 x PS/2 keyboard port (purple) 1 x PS/2 mouse port (green) 1 x Serial (COM1) port 1 x Coaxial S/PDIF Out port 1 x LAN (RJ-45) ports 4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports 6-channel audio ports 3 x USB 2.0 connectors support six additional USB 2.0 ports 1 x Floppy disk drive connector 2 x IDE connector for four devices 4 x Serial ATA connectors 1 x CPU / 1 x Chassis / 1 x Power fan connectors S/PDIF out connector Front panel audio connector CD/AUX audio in connectors 24-pin ATX power connector 4-pin ATX 12 V power connector System panel connector 4 Mb BIOS ROM, AWARD BIOS, PnP, DMI 2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.3 WOL by PME, WOR by PME, Chassis intrusion, PXE ATX power supply with 24-pin and 4-pin 12V plugs ATX 12V 2.0 compliant Device drivers ASUS PC Probe II ASUS Update NVIDIA® MediaShieldTM RAID Anti-virus software (OEM version) ATX form factor: 12 in x 9 in (30.5 cm x 22.8 cm) Rear panel Internal connectors BIOS features Manageability Power requirements Support CD contents Form factor *Specifications are subject to change without notice. xii This chapter describes the motherboard features and the new technologies it supports. Product introduction 1 Chapter summary 1.1 1.2 1.3 Welcome! .............................................................................. 1-1 Package contents ................................................................. 1-1 Special features .................................................................... 1-2 ASUS M2N4-SLI 1.1 Welcome! Thank you for buying an ASUS ® M2N4-SLI motherboard! 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 M2N4-SLI motherboard 2 x Serial ATA signal cables 1 x Serial ATA power cable with dual plugs 1 x Ultra DMA/133 cable 1 x Floppy disk drive cable I/O shield ASUS SLITM bridge 1 x ASUS Q-Connector Kit (USB, System panel; Retail version only) ASUS motherboard support CD User guide Check your motherboard package for the following items. Motherboard Cables Accessories Application CDs Documentation If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer. ASUS M2N4-SLI 1-1 1.3 1.3.1 Special features Product highlights Latest processor technology The motherboard comes with a 940-pin AM2 socket that supports AMD AthlonTM 64 X2/AMD AthlonTM 64/AMD AthlonTM 64 FX/AMD SempronTM processors. With an integrated low-latency high-bandwidth memory controller and a highly scalable HyperTransportTM technology-based system bus, the motherboard provides a powerful platform for your diverse computing needs, increased office productivity, and enhanced digital media experience. See page 2-5 for details. Scalable Link Interface (SLITM) technology The NVIDIA® nForce4® Scalable Link Interface (SLITM) technology allows two graphics processing units (GPUs) in a single system. This technology takes advantage of the PCI ExpressTM bus architecture and features intelligent hardware and software solutions that allows multiple GPUs to work together and achieve exceptional graphics performance. See Chapter 6 for details. 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 4-25, 5-3 and 5-9. Gigabit LAN The motherboard comes with a Gigabit LAN controller built into the NVIDIA® nForceTM4 chipset to meet your growing networking needs. The controller uses the PCI Express segment to provide faster data bandwidth for your Internet, LAN, and file sharing requirements. See page 2-22 for details. DDR2 memory support The motherboard supports DDR2 memory that features data transfer rates of 800/667/533 MHz to meet the higher bandwidth requirements of the latest 3D graphics, multimedia, and Internet applications. The dual-channel DDR2 architecture doubles the bandwidth of your system memory to boost system performance, eliminating bottlenecks with peak bandwidths of up to 12.8 GB/s. See pages 2-10 to 2-13 for details. 1-2 Chapter 1: Product introduction Serial ATA 3Gb/s RAID The motherboard supports the next-generation Serial ATA hard drives based on the SATA 3Gb/s storage specification. The onboard NVIDIA nForce® 4 SLITM MCP allows RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 5, and JBOD. See page 2-25. 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 2-18 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 2-23 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 2-23 and 2-27 for details. ASUS M2N4-SLI 1-3 1.3.2 ASUS Special features ASUS Two-slot thermal design The motherboard is designed with two PCI Express x1 slots placed between the PCI Express x16 slots allowing an increase in airflow between the two PCI Express x16 graphics cards. This special design permits more room for ventilation thus lowering the overall system temperature. ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 The ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 allows users to restore corrupted BIOS data from a USB flash disk containing the BIOS file. This utility saves users the cost and hassle of buying a replacement BIOS chip. See page 4-5 for details. ASUS EZ Flash 2 EZ Flash 2 is a user-friendly BIOS update utility. Simply press the predefined hotkey to launch the utility and update the BIOS without entering the OS. Update your BIOS easily without preparing a bootable diskette or using an OS-based flash utility. See page 4-7 for details. ASUS Q-Connector ASUS Q-Connector allows you to easily connect or disconnect the chassis front panel cables to the motherboard. This unique module eliminates the trouble of connecting the system panel cables one at a time and avoiding wrong cable connections. ASUS Q-Fan 2 technology The ASUS Q-Fan technology smartly adjusts the CPU and chassis fan speeds according to the system loading to ensure quiet, cool, and efficient operation. See page 4-35 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. 1-4 Chapter 1: Product introduction 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 2 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) .............................................. 2-5 System memory.................................................................. 2-10 Expansion slots ................................................................... 2-16 Jumpers .............................................................................. 2-19 Connectors ......................................................................... 2-22 ASUS M2N4-SLI