User manual ASUS M2N8-VMX

Motherboard M2N8-VMX E2813 First Edition V1 September 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 ................................................................................................ vi Safety information ..............................................................................vii M2N8-VMX specifications summary ..................................................... x Chapter 1: Product introduction 1.1 1.2 1.3 Welcome! .............................................................................. 1-2 Package contents ................................................................. 1-2 Special features .................................................................... 1-2 1.3.1 1.3.2 1.4 1.5 Product highlights ................................................... 1-2 Innovative ASUS features ...................................... 1-5 Before you proceed .............................................................. 1-6 Motherboard overview .......................................................... 1-7 1.5.1 1.5.2 1.5.3 Motherboard layout ................................................ 1-7 Placement direction ................................................ 1-8 Screw holes ............................................................. 1-8 Installing the CPU .................................................... 1-9 Installing the heatsink and fan .............................. 1-11 Overview ............................................................... 1-13 Memory configurations ......................................... 1-13 Installing a DIMM ................................................... 1-17 Removing a DIMM .................................................. 1-17 Installing an expansion card .................................. 1-18 Configuring an expansion card .............................. 1-18 PCI slots ................................................................ 1-20 PCI Express x1 slot ............................................... 1-20 PCI Express x8 slot ............................................... 1-20 1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU) .............................................. 1-9 1.6.1 1.6.2 1.7 System memory.................................................................. 1-13 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 1.8.5 1.9 1.10 Jumpers .............................................................................. 1-21 Connectors ......................................................................... 1-23 1.10.1 Rear panel connectors .......................................... 1-23 1.10.2 Internal connectors ............................................... 1-24 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 2.2.3 2.2.4 2.2.5 2.2.6 2.2.7 2.2.8 2.2.9 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 2.4.6 2.5 2.5.1 2.5.2 Creating a bootable floppy disk .............................. 2-2 ASUS EZ Flash utility ............................................... 2-3 AFUDOS utility ........................................................ 2-4 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2 utility ................................ 2-6 ASUS Update utility ................................................ 2-8 BIOS menu screen ................................................. 2-12 Menu bar ............................................................... 2-12 Navigation keys..................................................... 2-12 Menu items ........................................................... 2-13 Sub-menu items .................................................... 2-13 Configuration fields ............................................... 2-13 Pop-up window ...................................................... 2-13 Scroll bar ............................................................... 2-13 General help .......................................................... 2-13 System Time ......................................................... 2-14 System Date ......................................................... 2-14 Legacy Diskette A ............................................... 2-14 IDE Configuration .................................................. 2-15 Primary IDE Master/Slave ...................................... 2-15 SATA1, SATA2 ..................................................... 2-17 System Information............................................... 2-18 Jumperfree Configuration ..................................... 2-19 CPU Configuration ................................................ 2-20 Chipset .................................................................. 2-21 Onboard Devices Configuration............................. 2-25 PCI PnP .................................................................. 2-26 USB Configuration ................................................. 2-27 Suspend Mode ....................................................... 2-28 ACPI Support ........................................................ 2-28 BIOS setup program ............................................................ 2-11 Main menu........................................................................... 2-14 Advanced menu .................................................................. 2-19 Power menu ........................................................................ 2-28 iv Contents 2.5.3 2.5.4 2.5.5 2.6 2.6.1 2.6.2 2.6.3 2.6.4 2.7 3.1 3.2 ACPI APIC Support ................................................ 2-28 APM Configuration ................................................ 2-29 Hardware Monitor.................................................. 2-30 Boot Device Priority .............................................. 2-31 Removable Drives.................................................. 2-31 Boot Settings Configuration ................................. 2-32 Security ................................................................. 2-33 Boot menu .......................................................................... 2-31 Exit menu ............................................................................ 2-35 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 3.2.7 Running the support CD .......................................... 3-2 Drivers menu ........................................................... 3-3 Utilities menu .......................................................... 3-4 Make Disk menu ...................................................... 3-5 Manual menu ........................................................... 3-6 ASUS Contact information ...................................... 3-7 Other information ................................................... 3-7 Chapter 3: Software support 3.3 Creating a RAID driver disk ................................................... 3-9 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 extreme temperature. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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: 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 Italics simultaneously, the key names are linked with a plus sign (+). Example: ++ 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: afudos /i[filename] ix M2N8-VMX specifications summary CPU Supports AMD socket AM2 for AMD AthlonTM 64/ AthlonTM FX/AthlonTM X2/Sempron processors AMD64 architecture enables simultaneous 32-bit and 64-bit computing Supports AMD Cool `n' QuietTM Technology NVIDIA® nForce 405/GeForce6100 2000/1600 MT/s Dual-channel memory architecture 4 x 240-pin DIMM sockets support up to 4 GB of unbufferred/ECC or non-ECC 800/667/533 MHz DDR2 memory modules 1 x PCI ExpressTM x8 slot 1 x PCI ExpressTM x1 slot 2 x PCI slots Integrated in the NVIDIA® GeForceTM 6100 Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) High definition video processing with maximum resolution of 1920 x 1440 x 32bpp pixels (@75Hz) NVIDIA® nForceTM405 Media and Communications Processor (MCP) with NVIDIA MediaShieldTM supports: - 1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 interfaces for two (2) hard disk drives - 2 x Serial ATA 3 Gb/s hard disk drives with RAID 0 and RAID 1 Azalia ALC883-GR High Definition Audio 6-channel Supports Jack-Sensing & Enumeration technology S/PDIF OUT interface ATTANSIC Gigabit LAN PCIe Supports up to 8 USB 2.0/1.1 ports CODEC Chipset Front Side Bus Memory Expansion slots Graphics Storage High Definition Audio LAN USB (continued on the next page) x M2N8-VMX specifications summary Manageability Special features ASUS Q-Fan ASUS C.P.R. ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2 ASUS EZ Flash ASUS MyLogo2TM Stepless Frequency Selection (SFS) allows FSB tuning from 200 MHz to 300 MHz at 1 MHz increment Note: ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2 and ASUS EZ Flash only support VGA/RGB output. 4 Mb Flash ROM, Award BIOS,Green, PnP, DMI, Wfm2.0, ACPI v 2.0a, SM BIOS v 2.3 1 x Parallel port 1 x LAN (RJ-45) port 4 x USB 2.0 ports 1 x COM1 port 1 x PS/2 keyboard port 1 x PS/2 mouse port 1 x 6-channel audio port 1 x 10-pin Azalia Analog Front panel connector 1 x CD audio in connector 1 x CPU fan connector 1 x Chassis fan connectors 1 x Floppy disk drive connector 1 x S/PDIF Out connector 1 x PRI_IDE connectors 2 x Serial ATA connectors 2 x USB 2.0 connectors for 4 additional USB 2.0 ports 1 x 24-pin ATX power connector 1 x 4-pin EATX 12V power connector 1 x System panel connector ATX power supply (with 24-pin and 4-pin 12 V plugs) ATX 12 V 2.0 compliant uATX: 9.6 in. x 8.8 in (24.5cm x 22.4cm) Device drivers ASUS PC Probe II AMD Cool `n'QuietTM utility ASUS Update BIOS features Rear panel Internal Connector Power Requirement Form Factor Support CD *Specifications are subject to change without notice. xi xii This chapter describes the motherboard features and the new technologies it supports. Product introduction 1 1.1 Welcome! Thank you for buying an ASUS® M2N8-VMX 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 M2N8-VMX motherboard 1 x Serial ATA signal cable 1 x Serial ATA power cable 1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 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 Accessories Application CD Documentation If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer. 1.3 1.3.1 Special features Product highlights Latest processor technology The motherboard supports AMD socket AM2 single-core Athlon 64/ Sempron and dual-core Athlon 64 X2/Athlon 64 FX processors with 2MB/1MB/512KB L2 cache, which is based on 64-bit architecture. It features 2000/1600 MT/s HyperTransport Bus, dual-channel un-buffered DDR2 800 memory support and AMD Cool `n' Quiet Technology. See page 1-9 for details. 1-2 Chapter 1: Product introduction AMD Cool `n' Quiet Technology The motherboard supports the AMD Cool `n' Quiet Technology, which monitors system operation and automatically adjusts CPU voltage and frequency for a cool and quiet operating environment. NVIDIA ® GeForceTM 6100 GPU and NVIDIA ® nForceTM 405 MCP chipsets The NVIDIA® GeForceTM 6100 graphics processing unit (GPU) Northbridge supports Microsoft® DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0, and PCI Express interface. The NVIDIA® nForceTM 405 MCP delivers NVIDIA® MediaShield storage management technology, allowing easy RAID configuration (RAID 0, RAID 1) for Serial ATA 3Gb/s. DDR2 memory support The motherboard supports DDR2 memory which 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 1-13 to 1-16 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. ASUS M2N8-VMX 1-3 Serial ATA 3Gb/s technology The motherboard supports next-generation SATA hard drives based on the new SATA 3Gb/s storage specification. The onboard NVIDIA® nForce 405 MCP southbridge allows RAID 0 and RAID 1 configurations for two SATA connectors. Gigabit LAN solution Gb LAN controller delivers transfer speeds up to ten times faster than conventional 10/100 Ethernet connections. Gigabit LAN is the networking standard for the early future and is ideal for handling large amounts of data such as video, audio, and voice. 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 1-26 for details. High Definition Audio SoundMAX is the highest performing, most reliable and user-friendly PC audio solution for business professionals, audiophiles, musicians, and gamers. Hear crystal-clear quality from all your audio - MP3 playback, home theatre, advanced gaming, VOIP and more, and never worry - SoundMAX high-definition audio is there to enhance your experience! 1-4 Chapter 1: Product introduction 1.3.2 Innovative ASUS features ASUS 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 BIOS chip. See page 2-6 for details. Install memory module in DIMM_A1 or DIMM_A2 slots. ASUS EZ Flash 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 2-3. 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 2-31 for details. C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall) The C.P.R. feature of the motherboard BIOS allows automatic re-setting to the BIOS default settings in case the system hangs due to overclocking. When the system hangs due to overclocking, C.P.R. eliminates the need to open the system chassis and clear the RTC data. Simply shut down and reboot the system, and the BIOS automatically restores the CPU default setting for each parameter. ASUS MyLogo2TM This feature allows you to personalize and add style to your system with customizable boot logos. ASUS M2N8-VMX 1-5 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 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 power cord is detached from the power supply. 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. SB_PWR ON Standby Power OFF Powered Off M2N8-VMX Onboard LED 1-6 Chapter 1: Product introduction 1.5 1.5.1 Motherboard overview Motherboard layout 22.4cm (8.8in) PS/2KBMS T Mouse : B: Keyboard ATX12V COM1 DDR2 DIMM_A1 (64 bit,240-pin module) DDR2 DIMM_B1 (64 bit,240-pin module) DDR2 DIMM_A2 (64 bit,240-pin module) DDR2 DIMM_B2 (64 bit,240-pin module) PARALLEL PORT Socket M2 VGA USB12 PS2_USB_PWR CHA_ FAN EATXPWR SATA1 PANEL USB78 R LAN_USB34 4Mb BIOS AUDIO CD M2N8-VMX CPU_FAN PCIEX8 Attansic L1 PCIEX1_1 CR2032 3V Lithium Cell CMOS Power CLRTC Nvidia MCP61S SATA2 PCI1 USB56 PCI2 ALC883 SPDIF_OUT SB_PWR AAFP FLOPPY ASUS M2N8-VMX PRI_IDE Super I/O 1-7 24.5cm (9.6in) 1.5.2 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. 1.5.3 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 R M2N8-VMX 1-8 Chapter 1: Product introduction