Deluxe Motherboard M2N32-SLI
E2697 Third Edition V3 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”).
Contents Notices......................................................................................................... vii Safety information..................................................................................... viii About this guide.......................................................................................... ix M2N32-SLI Deluxe specifications summary.............................................. xi Chapter 1: Product introduction 1.1 Welcome!..............................
Contents 2.6 2.7 Jumper......................................................................................... 2-19 Connectors.................................................................................. 2-20 2.7.1 Rear panel connectors................................................... 2-20 2.7.2 Internal connectors........................................................ 2-23 Chapter 3: Starting up for the first time......................................................... 3-1 3.
Contents 4.3.7 4.4 Installed Memory............................................................ 4-18 4.3.9 Usable Memory.............................................................. 4-18 Advanced menu.......................................................................... 4-19 4.4.1 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 HDD SMART Monitoring................................................ 4-18 4.3.8 JumperFree Configuration............................................. 4-19 4.4.2 LAN Cable Status..................
Contents Chapter 5: Installing an operating system.................................................... 5-1 5.2 Support CD information............................................................... 5-1 5.3 5.2.1 Running the support CD.................................................. 5-1 5.2.2 Drivers menu.................................................................... 5-2 5.2.3 Utilities menu................................................................... 5-3 5.2.4 Make Disk menu.........
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.
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.
About this guide This user guide contains the information you need when installing and configuring the motherboard. How this guide is organized This guide 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.
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.
M2N32-SLI Deluxe specifications summary CPU Socket AM2 for AMD Athlon™ 64 X2/ Athlon™64 /Athlon™ 64 FX/Sempron™ processor Supports AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ Technology AMD64 architecture enables simultaneous 32-bit and 64-bit computing AMD LIVE!™ Ready Chipset NVIDIA® nForce® 590 SLI™ MCP NVIDIA® LinkBoost™ Technology System bus 2000 / 1600 MT/s Memory Dual-channel memory architecture - 4 x 240-pin DIMM sockets support unbufferred ECC/non-ECC DDR2 800/667/533 MHz memory modules - Supports up to 8 GB
M2N32-SLI Deluxe specifications summary High Definition Audio SoundMAX® ADI AD1988B 8-channel CODEC Supports Jack-Sensing, Enumeration, Multi-Streaming, and Jack-Retasking Technology Optical and Coaxial S/PDIF Out interfaces Supports DTS® Connect function Wireless LAN (Optional) Wi-Fi-AP Solo USB wireless module supports IEEE 802.11 b/g IEEE 1394 T1 1394 controller supports: - 2 x IEEE 1394a connectors (1 at mid-board, 1 on the rear panel) USB Wireless Edition: Supports up to 8 USB 2.0/1.
M2N32-SLI Deluxe specifications summary ASUS Exclusive Overclocking features Intelligent overclocking tools: - AI NOS™ (Non-delay Overclocking System) - AI Overclocking (intelligent CPU frequency tuner) - AI Clock Skew - ASUS PEG Link (automatic performance tuning for graphics cards) ASUS O.C. Profile: overclocking configuration-sharing tool Precision Tweaker: - vDIMM: 25-step DRAM voltage control - vCore: Adjustable CPU voltage at 0.
M2N32-SLI Deluxe specifications summary Internal connectors Wireless Edition: 2 x USB 2.0 connectors support four additional USB 2.0 ports Standard Version: 3 x USB 2.0 connectors support six additional USB 2.
This chapter describes the motherboard features and the new technologies it supports.
Chapter summary 1 1.1 Welcome!....................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Package contents.......................................................................... 1-1 1.3 Special features.............................................................................
1.1 Welcome! Thank you for buying an ASUS® M2N32-SLI Deluxe motherboard! The motherboard delivers a host of new features and the 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 Check your motherboard package for the following items.
1.3 Special features 1.3.1 Product highlights Latest processor technology The motherboard comes with a 940-pin AM2 socket that supports AMD Athlon™ 64 X2/Athlon™ 64/Athlon™ 64 FX/Sempron™ processor. With an integrated lowlatency high-bandwidth memory controller and a highly scalable HyperTransport™ 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 2-7 for details.
Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s technology and SATA-On-The-Go The motherboard fully supports the Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s technology through the Serial ATA interfaces and the NVIDIA® nForce® 590 SLI™ chipset. The Serial ATA 3 Gb/s specification provides twice the bandwidth of the current Serial ATA products with a host of new features, including Nativa Command Queueing (NCQ), and Power Management (PM) Implementation Algorithm.
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 2-21 and 2-26 for details. Dual Gigabit LAN solution The motherboard comes with dual Gigabit LAN controllers to provide the total solution for your networking needs.
1.3.2 ASUS AI Lifestyle features AI Gear AI Gear allows users to choose from four modes to adjust CPU and Vcore voltage, minimizing noise and power consumption. Users can choose the mode that best suits their needs. See page 5-18 for details AI Nap With AI Nap, the system can continue running at minimum power and noise when the user is temporarily away. To wake the system and return to the OS environment, simply click the mouse or press a key. See page 5-20 for details.
8-Phase Power Design The ASUS 8-Phase Power Design prolongs CPU lifespan and keeps the system stable by preventing high power stress to the CPU and power supply module. The design ensures high efficiency operation to generate less heat compared with conventional power solutions, thus achieving cool system environment and making this motherboard ideal for overclocking.
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 4-5 for details. ASUS MyLogo 3 ASUS My Logo 3 is the new feature present in the motherboard that allows you to personalize and add style to your system with customizable and animated boot logos. See page 5-8 for details.
ASUS Multi-language BIOS The multi-language BIOS allows you to select the language from the available options. The localized BIOS menus allow easier and faster configuration. See page 4-14 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.
This chapter lists the hardware setup procedures that you have to perform when installing system components. It includes description of the jumpers and connectors on the motherboard.
Chapter summary 2 2.1 Before you proceed...................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Motherboard overview.................................................................. 2-2 2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU).................................................... 2-7 2.4 System memory.......................................................................... 2-12 2.5 Expansion slots........................................................................... 2-16 2.
2.1 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.
2.2 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. 2.2.1 Placement direction When installing the motherboard, make sure that you place it into the chassis in the correct orientation.
2.2.3 ASUS Stack Cool 2 The motherboard comes with the ASUS Stack Cool 2 cooling solution that lowers the temperature of critical heat generating components by 20ºC. The motherboard uses a special design on the printed circuit board (PCB) to dissipate heat that critical components generate.
2.2.4 Motherboard layout 24.5cm (9.6in) SATA_RAID2 SPDIF_O1 DDR2 DIMM_B2 (64 bit, 240-pin module) FLOPPY DDR2 DIMM_A2 (64 bit, 240-pin module) DDR2 DIMM_B1 (64 bit, 240-pin module) CPU_FAN DDR2 DIMM_A1 (64 bit, 240-pin module) PRI_IDE SPDIF_O2 COM1 PS2/2KBMS T:Mouse B:Keyboard ESATA_1394 SOCKET AM2 LAN1_USB12 EATXPWR LAN2_USB34 30.
2.2.5 Layout contents Slots 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. DDR2 DIMM slots PCI slots PCI Express x 4 slot PCI Express x16 slots PCI Express x 1 slot Page 2-12 2-18 2-18 2-18 2-18 Jumper 1. Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC) Page 2-19 Rear panel connectors 1. PS/2 mouse port (green) 2. Serial (COM) port 3. IEEE 1394a port 4. LAN 1 (RJ-45) port. 5. LAN 2 (RJ-45) port. 6. Center/Subwoofer port (orange) 7. Rear Speaker Out port (black) 8. Line In port (light blue) 9. Line Out port (lime) 10. Microphone port (pink) 11.
Internal connectors 1. Floppy disk drive connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY) 2. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE) 3. NVIDIA® nForce SLI Southbridge Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1 [red], SATA2 [red], SATA3 [red], SATA4 [red], SATA5 [red], SATA6 [red]) 4. Silicon Image® Serial ATA RAID connector (7-pin SATA_RAID2) Page 2-23 2-23 2-24 5. 2-26 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) The motherboard comes with a 940-pin AM2 socket designed for the Athlon™ 64 X2/Athlon™ 64/Athlon™ 64FX/Sempron™ processor. The AM2 socket has a different pinout from the 940-pin socket designed for the AMD Opteron processor. Make sure you use a CPU designed for the AM2 socket. The CPU fits in only one correct orientation. DO NOT force the CPU into the socket to prevent bending the connectors on the socket and damaging the CPU! 2.3.
3. Position the CPU above the socket such that the CPU corner with the gold triangle matches the socket corner with a small triangle. 4. Carefully insert the CPU into the socket until it fits in place. Gold triangle Small triangle 2- 5. When the CPU is in place, push down the socket lever to secure the CPU. The lever clicks on the side tab to indicate that it is locked. 6. Install a CPU heatsink and fan following the instructions that came with the heatsink package.
2.3.2 Installing the heatsink and fan The AMD Athlon™ 64FX/Athlon™ 64/Athlon™ 64 X2/Sempron™ processor requires a specially designed heatsink and fan assembly to ensure optimum thermal condition and performance. Make sure that you use only AMD-certified heatsink and fan assembly. To install the CPU heatsink and fan: 1. Place the heatsink on top of the installed CPU, making sure that the heatsink fits properly on the retention module base.
2. Attach one end of the retention bracket to the retention module base. 3. Align the other end of the retention bracket (near the retention bracket lock) to the retention module base. A clicking sound denotes that the retention bracket is in place. Make sure that the fan and heatsink assembly perfectly fits the retention mechanism module base, otherwise you cannot snap the retention bracket in place. 4.
5. When the fan and heatsink assembly is in place, connect the CPU fan cable to the connector on the motherboard labeled CPU_FAN. CPU_FAN CPU FAN PWM CPU FAN IN CPU FAN PWR GND M2N32-SLI DELUXE M2N32-SLI DELUXE CPU Fan connectors • Do not forget to connect the CPU fan connector! Hardware monitoring errors can occur if you fail to plug this connector. • This connector is backward compatiable with old 3-pin CPU fan.
2.4 System memory 2.4.1 Overview The motherboard comes with four Double Data Rate 2 (DDR2) Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMM) sockets. A DDR2 module has the same physical dimensions as a DDR DIMM but has a 240-pin footprint compared to the 184-pin DDR DIMM. DDR2 DIMMs are notched differently to prevent installation on a DDR DIMM socket.
• • • When using only one memory module, start installing the DDR2 DIMMs from slot DIMM_A1 or DIMM_B1 for better overclocking capability. For dual-channel configuration (2), you may: • install identical DIMMs in all four sockets OR • install identical DIMM pair in DIMM_A1 and DIMM_B1 (yellow sockets) and another identical DIMM pair in DIMM_A2 and DIMM_B2 (black sockets) Always use identical DDR2 DIMM pairs for dual channel mode.
2.4.3 Installing a DIMM Unplug the power supply before adding or removing DIMMs or other system components. Failure to do so can cause severe damage to both the motherboard and the components. 2 To install a DIMM: 1. Unlock a DIMM socket by pressing the retaining clips outward. 2. Align a DIMM on the socket such that the notch on the DIMM matches the break on the socket. 3. Firmly insert the DIMM into the socket until the retaining clips snap back in place and the DIMM is properly seated.
M2N32-SLI Deluxe Series Motherboard Qualified Vendors Lists (QVL) DDR2-800 MHz capability Size Vendor Chip No. Chip Brand Side(s) Part No.
2.5 Expansion slots In the future, you may need to install expansion cards. The following sub‑sections describe the slots and the expansion cards that they support. Make sure to unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. Failure to do so may cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components. 2.5.1 Installing an expansion card To install an expansion card: 1.
2.5.
2.5.4 PCI slots The PCI slots support cards such as a LAN card, SCSI card, USB card, and other cards that comply with PCI specifications. Refer to the figure below for the location of the slots. 2.5.5 PCI Express x4 slot & PCI Express x1 slot This motherboard supports PCI Express x4 and PCI Express x1 network cards, SCSI cards and other cards that comply with the PCI Express specifications. Refer to the figure below for the location of the slot. 2.5.
2.6 Jumper Clear RTC RAM (CLRTC) This jumper allows you to clear the Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM in CMOS. You can clear the CMOS memory of date, time, and system setup parameters by erasing the CMOS RTC RAM data. The onboard button cell battery powers the RAM data in CMOS, which include system setup information such as system passwords. To erase the RTC RAM: 1. Turn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord. 2. Remove the onboard battery. 3. Move the jumper cap from pins 1-2 (default) to pins 2-3.
2.7 Connectors 2.7.1 Rear panel connectors 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 1. PS/2 mouse port (green). This port is for a PS/2 mouse. 2. Serial port. This 9-pin COM1 port is for pointing devices and other serial devices. 3. IEEE 1394a port. This 6-pin IEEE 1394a port provides high-speed connectivity for audio/video devices, storage peripherals, PCs, or portable devices. 4. LAN 1 (RJ-45) port.
9. Line Out port (lime). This port connects a headphone or a speaker. In 4-channel, 6-channel, and 8-channel configuration, the function of this port becomes Front Speaker Out. 10. Microphone port (pink). This port connects a microphone. 11. Side Speaker Out port (gray). This port connects the side speakers in an 8-channel audio configuration. Refer to the audio configuration table below for the function of the audio ports in 2, 4, 6, or 8-channel configuration.
• Before creating a RAID set using Serial ATA hard disks, make sure that you have connected the Serial ATA signal cable and installed Serial ATA hard disk drives; otherwise, you cannot enter the Silicon Image RAID utility and SATA BIOS setup during POST. • If you intend to create a RAID configuration using this connector, set the Silicon 3132 Controller item in the BIOS to [RAID Mode]. See section “4.4.7 Onboard Device Configuration” for details.
2.7.2 1. Internal connectors Floppy disk drive connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY) This connector is for the provided floppy disk drive (FDD) signal cable. Insert one end of the cable to this connector, then connect the other end to the signal connector at the back of the floppy disk drive. Pin 5 on the connector is removed to prevent incorrect cable connection when using a FDD cable with a covered Pin 5. FLOPPY NOTE:Orient the red markings on the floppy ribbon cable to PIN1.
PRI_IDE NOTE:Orient the red markings (usually zigzag) on the IDE ribbon cable to PIN1. PIN1 M2N32-SLI DELUXE M2N32-SLI DELUXE IDE connector 3. NVIDIA® nForce® 590 SLI Southbridge Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1 [red], SATA2 [red], SATA3 [red], SATA4 [red], SATA5 [red], SATA6 [red]) These connectors are for the Serial ATA signal cables for Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s hard disk and optical disk drives. The Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s is backward compatible with Serial ATA 1.5 Gb/s specification.
right angle side Connect the right-angle side of SATA signal cable to SATA device. Or you may connect the right-angle side of SATA cable to the onboard SATA port to avoid mechanical conflict with huge graphics cards. 4. Silicon Image® Serial ATA RAID connector (7-pin SATA_RAID2) This connector is for a Serial ATA signal cable. This connector supports a Serial ATA hard disk drive that you can configure for RAID through the onboard Serial ATA RAID controller.
5. USB connectors Wireless Edition: (10-1 pin USB56, USB78) Standard Version: (10-1 pin USB56, USB 78, USB910_WFGBT) USB+5V USB_P10USB_P10+ GND NC These connectors are for USB 2.0 ports. Connect the USB module cable to any of these connectors, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis. These USB connectors comply with USB 2.0 specification that supports up to 480 Mbps connection speed.
Never connect a USB cable to the IEEE 1394a connector. Doing so will damage the motherboard! You can connect the 1394 cable to ASUS Q-Connector (1394, red) first, and then install the Q-Connector (1394) to the 1394 connector onboard. 7. CPU, chassis, power, and chipset fan connectors (4-pin CPU_FAN, 3-pin CHA_FAN1, 3-pin CHA_FAN2, 3-pin CHA_FAN3, 3-pin CHA_FAN4, 3-pin PWR_FAN, 3-pin CHIP_FAN ) The fan connectors support cooling fans of 350 mA ~ 2000 mA (24 W max.) or a total of 1 A ~ 7 A (84 W max.
8. Chassis intrusion connector (4-1 pin CHASSIS) This connector is for a chassis-mounted intrusion detection sensor or switch. Connect one end of the chassis intrusion sensor or switch cable to this connector. The chassis intrusion sensor or switch sends a high-level signal to this connector when a chassis component is removed or replaced. The signal is then generated as a chassis intrusion event.
• For a fully configured system, we recommend that you use a power supply unit (PSU) that complies with ATX 12 V Specification 2.0 (or later version) and provides a minimum power of 600 W. • Do not forget to connect the 4-pin ATX +12 V power plug; otherwise, the system will not boot. • Use of a PSU with a higher power output is recommended when configuring a system with more power-consuming devices. The system may become unstable or may not boot up if the power is inadequate.
11. Optical drive audio connector (4-pin CD) These connectors allow you to receive stereo audio input from sound sources such as a CD-ROM, TV tuner, or MPEG card. CD M2N32-SLI DELUXE (black) Right Audio Channel GND GND Left Audio Channel M2N32-SLI DELUXE Internal audio connector 12. Parallel port connector (26-1 pin LPT) AFD# ERROR# PINIT# SLIN# GND GND GND GND GND GND GND GND STB# SPD0 SPD1 SPD2 SPD3 SPD4 SPD5 SPD6 SPD7 ACK# BUSY PE This connector is for a parallel port.
13. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF) +5V M2N32-SLI DELUXE SPDIFOUT GND This connector is for an additional Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) port(s). Connect the S/PDIF Out module cable to this connector, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis. SPDIF_OUT M2N32-SLI DELUXE Digital audio connector The S/PDIF module is purchased separately.
14. System panel connector (20-8 pin PANEL) This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions. Ground Ground Speaker Ground +5V Reset SPEAKER PLED- PLED+ PLED PWR Ground IDE_LED+ IDE_LED- PANEL M2N32-SLI DELUXE IDE_LED RESET PWRSW * Requires an ATX power supply M2N32-SLI DELUXE System panel connsector • System power LED (2-pin PLED) This 2-pin connector is for the system power LED. Connect the chassis power LED cable to this connector.
Q-Connector (System panel) ASUS Q-Connector allows you to easily to connect the chassis front panel cables to the motherboard. Perform these steps to install ASUS Q-Connector. Step1. Connect the front panel cables to their respective connectors on the ASUS QConnector. Refer to the labels on the Q-Connector for proper connection and pin definition. Step2. Carefully connect the ASUS Q-Connector to the System panel connector.
2-34 Chapter 2: Hardware information
This chapter describes the power up sequence and ways of shutting down the system.
Chapter summary 3 3.1 Starting up for the first time......................................................... 3-1 3.2 Powering off the computer...........................................................
3.1 Starting up for the first time 1. After making all the connections, replace the system case cover. 2. Be sure that all switches are off. 3. Connect the power cord to the power connector at the back of the system chassis. 4. Connect the power cord to a power outlet that is equipped with a surge protector. 5. Turn on the devices in the following order: 6. a. Monitor b. External SCSI devices (starting with the last device on the chain) c.
3.2 Powering off the computer 3.2.1 Using the OS shut down function If you are using Windows® 2000: 1. Click the Start button then click Shut Down... 2. Make sure that the Shut Down option button is selected, then click the OK button to shut down the computer. 3. The power supply should turn off after Windows® shuts down. If you are using Windows® XP: 1. Click the Start button then select Turn Off Computer. 2. Click the Turn Off button to shut down the computer. 3.
This chapter tells how to change the system settings through the BIOS Setup menus. Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided.
Chapter summary 4 4.1 Managing and updating your BIOS............................................. 4-1 4.2 BIOS setup program................................................................... 4-10 4.3 Main menu................................................................................... 4-14 4.4 Advanced menu.......................................................................... 4-19 4.5 Power menu................................................................................. 4-32 4.
4.1 Managing and updating your BIOS The following utilities allow you to manage and update the motherboard Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) setup. 1. ASUS Update (Updates the BIOS in Windows® environment.) 2. ASUS EZ Flash 2 (Updates the BIOS in DOS using a floppy disk / USB flash disk, or the motherboard support CD.) 3. Award BIOS Flash Utility (Updates the BIOS using a bootable floppy disk / USB flash disk or a CD ROM.) 4.
Quit all Windows® applications before you update the BIOS using this utility. Updating the BIOS through the Internet To update the BIOS through the Internet: 4- 1. Launch the ASUS Update utility from the Windows® desktop by clicking Start > Programs > ASUS > ASUSUpdate > ASUSUpdate. The ASUS Update main window appears. 2. Select Update BIOS from the Internet option from the drop‑down menu, then click Next. 3. Select the ASUS FTP site nearest you to avoid network traffic, or click Auto Select.
4. From the FTP site, select the BIOS version that you wish to download. Click Next. 5. Follow the screen instructions to complete the update process. The ASUS Update utility is capable of updating itself through the Internet. Always update the utility to avail all its features. Updating the BIOS through a BIOS file To update the BIOS through a BIOS file: 1. Launch the ASUS Update utility from the Windows® desktop by clicking Start > Programs > ASUS > ASUSUpdate > ASUSUpdate.
4.1.2 1. Creating a bootable floppy disk Do either one of the following to create a bootable floppy disk. DOS environment a. Insert a 1.44MB floppy disk into the drive. b. At the DOS prompt, type format A:/S then press . Windows® XP environment a. Insert a 1.44 MB floppy disk to the floppy disk drive. b. Click Start from the Windows® desktop, then select My Computer. c. Select the 3 1/2 Floppy Drive icon. d. Click File from the menu, then select Format. A Format 3 1/2 Floppy Disk window appears.
4.1.3 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility The ASUS EZ Flash 2 feature allows you to update the BIOS without having to go through the long process of booting from a floppy disk and using a DOS‑based utility. The EZ Flash 2 utility is built-in the BIOS chip so it is accessible by pressing + during the Power-On Self Tests (POST). To update the BIOS using EZ Flash 2: 1. Visit the ASUS website (www.asus.com) to download the latest BIOS file for the motherboard. 2.
4.1.4 Updating the BIOS The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) can be updated using the AwardBIOS Flash Utility. Follow these instructions to update the BIOS using this utility. 1. Download the latest BIOS file from the ASUS web site. Rename the file to M2N32SLI.BIN and save it to a floppy disk, CD ROM or a USB flash disk in FAT 16/12 format. Save only the updated BIOS file in the disk to avoid loading the wrong BIOS file. 2. Copy the AwardBIOS Flash Utility (awdflash.
6. Type the BIOS file name in the File Name to Program field, then press . AwardBIOS Flash Utility for ASUS V1.14 (C) Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All Rights Reserved For NF590-SLI-M2N32-SLI-DELUXE DATE:03/30/2006 Flash Type - PMC Pm49FL004T LPC/FWH File Name to Program: M2N32SLI.bin Message: Do You Want To Save Bios (Y/N) 7. Press when the utility prompts you to save the current BIOS file. The following screen appears. 8.
4.1.5 Saving the current BIOS file You can use the AwardBIOS Flash Utility to save the current BIOS file. You can load the current BIOS file when the BIOS file gets corrupted during the flashing process. Make sure that the floppy disk, CD ROM or a USB flash disk has enough disk space to save the file. To save the current BIOS file using the AwardBIOS Flash Utility: 1. Follow steps 1 to 6 of the previous section. 2. Press when the utility prompts you to save the current BIOS file.
4.1.6 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility The ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 is an auto recovery tool that allows you to restore the BIOS file when it fails or gets corrupted during the updating process. You can update a corrupted BIOS file using the motherboard support CD, the floppy disk, or the USB flash disk that contains the updated BIOS file. Prepare the motherboard support CD, the floppy disk or the USB flash disk containing the updated motherboard BIOS before using this utility.
4.2 BIOS setup program This motherboard supports a programmable Low-Pin Count (LPC) chip that you can update using the provided utility described in section “4.1 Managing and updating your BIOS.” Use the BIOS Setup program when you are installing a motherboard, reconfiguring your system, or prompted to“Run Setup.” This section explains how to configure your system using this utility. Even if you are not prompted to use the Setup program, you can change the configuration of your computer in the future.
4.2.1 BIOS menu screen Menu items Main Menu bar Advanced Power Configuration fields Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Boot Tools Exit System Time System Date Language 15 : 30 : 36 Thu, Apr 6 2006 [English] Legacy Diskette A: [1.44M, 3.5 in.
4.2.3 Legend bar At the bottom of the Setup screen is a legend bar. The keys in the legend bar allow you to navigate through the various setup menus. The following table lists the keys found in the legend bar with their corresponding functions.
4.2.7 Pop-up window Select a menu item then press to display a pop-up window with the configuration options for that item. Main Advanced Power Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Boot Tools Exit System Time System Date Language 15 : 30 : 36 Thu, Apr 6 2006 [English] Legacy Diskette A: [1.44M, 3.5 in.] A: Primary IDE Master Legacy Diskette [ST321122A] Primary IDE Slave [ASUS CDS520/A] ..... [ ] First SATA Master Disabled [None] ..... [ ] Second SATA Master 720K , 3.5 in. [None] .....
4.3 Main menu When you enter the BIOS Setup program, the Main menu screen appears, giving you an overview of the basic system information. Refer to section “4.2.1 BIOS menu screen” for information on the menu screen items and how to navigate through them. Main Advanced Power Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Boot Tools Exit System Time System Date Language 15 : 30 : 36 Thu, Apr 6 2006 [English] Legacy Diskette A: [1.44M, 3.5 in.
4.3.5 Primary IDE Master/Slave While entering Setup, the BIOS automatically detects the presence of IDE devices. There is a separate sub-menu for each IDE device. Select a device item then press to display the IDE device information.
Access Mode [Auto] The default [Auto] allows automatic detection of an IDE hard disk drive. Select [CHS] for this item if you set the IDE Primary Master/Slave to [Manual]. Configuration options: [CHS] [LBA] [Large] [Auto] Before attempting to configure a hard disk drive, make sure you have the correct configuration information supplied by the drive manufacturer. Incorrect settings may cause the system to fail to recognize the installed hard disk. Capacity Displays the auto-detected hard disk capacity.
4.3.6 SATA 1-6 While entering Setup, the BIOS automatically detects the presence of Serial ATA devices. There is a separate sub-menu for each SATA device. Select a device item then press to display the SATA device information.
Head Shows the number of the hard disk read/write heads. This item is not configurable. Landing Zone Shows the number of landing zone per track. This item is not configurable. Sector Shows the number of sectors per track. This item is not configurable. After entering the IDE hard disk drive information into BIOS, use a disk utility, such as FDISK, to partition and format new IDE hard disk drives. This is necessary so that you can write or read data from the hard disk.
4.4 Advanced menu The Advanced menu items allow you to change the settings for the CPU and other system devices. Take caution when changing the settings of the Advanced menu items. Incorrect field values can cause the system to malfunction. Main Advanced Power Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Boot Tools Exit Select Menu JumperFree Configuration AI Net2 PEG Link Mode Item Specific Help Adjust system frequency/ voltage.
AI Overclock Loads overclocking profiles with optimal parameters for stability when overclocking. AI N.O.S. The ASUS Non-delay Overclocking System feature intelligently determines the system load and automatically boosts the performance for the most demanding tasks. The following item becomes user-configurable when you set AI Tuning to [AI Overclock]. Overclock Options [Disabled] Allows you to set the overclocking options.
DDR2 Voltage Control [Auto] Allows you to set the operating DDR2 voltage. Configuration options: [Auto] [1.800V] [1.825V] [1.850V] ~ [2.500V] CPU Multiplier [Auto] Allows you to set the operating CPU multiplier. The configuration options may vary depending on the type of CPU installed. Configuration options: [Auto] [5x] [6x] ~ [25x] CPU Voltage [Auto] Allows you to set the operating CPU voltage. The configuration options may vary depending on the type of CPU installed.
NB to SB HT Voltage [Auto] Allows you to set the NB to SB HT voltage. Configuration options: [+1.300V] [+1.325V] [+1.350V] ~ [+1.500V] [Auto] NB Core/PCI-E Voltage [Auto] Allows you to set the NB Core/PCI-E voltage. Configuration options: [+1.200V] [+1.250V] [+1.300V] [+1.350V] [+1.400V] [Auto] SB Core/PCI-E Voltage [Auto] Allows you to set the Southbridge core/PCI Express voltage. Configuration options: [+1.500V] [+1.525V] [+1.550V] ~ [+1.700V] [+1.750V] [Auto] SB Standby Core Voltage [+1.
4.4.3 PEG Link Mode Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced Select Menu PEG Link Mode PEG Link Mode [Auto] Item Specific Help Enhance performance on PCIE serial graphic card. PEG Link Mode [Auto] Allows you to enhance the performance of your PCI Express graphics card. Configuration options: [Auto] [Disabled] [Normal] [Fast] [Faster] Setting to [Fast] or [Faster] may cause your system to be unstable. If this happens, revert to the default setting [Auto]. 4.4.
Memory Clock Frequency [Auto] Sets the memory clock frequency. Configuration options: [Auto] [DDR2 400] [DDR2 533] [DDR2 667] [DDR2 800] Tcl [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [3] [4] [5] [6] Trcd [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [3] [4] [5] [6] Trp [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [3] [4] [5] [6] Tras [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [5] [6] [7] ~ [18] 1T/2T Memory Timing [Auto] Sets the memory timing.
Twrwr Configuration options: [Auto] [1] [2] [3] Trdrd Configuration options: [Auto] [2] [3] [4] [5] Tref Configuration options: [Auto] [Undef] [7.8 us] [3.9 us] Trfc Configuration options: [Auto] [0] [1] [2] [3] [4] DRAM Termination Configuration options: [Auto] [Disabled] [75 ohms] [150 ohms] [50 ohms] Max Async Latency Configuration options: [Auto] [0 ns] [1 ns] [2 ns] [3 ns]...
Address/Command Fine Delay Configuration options: [Auto] [No delay] [1/64 MEMCLK delay] [2/64 MEMCLK delay] [3/64 MEMCLK delay] [4/64 MEMCLK delay] [5/64 MEMCLK delay]...[30/64 MEMCLK delay] [31/64 MEMCLK delay] Address/Command Setup Time Configuration options: [Auto] [1/2 MEMCLK] [1 MEMCLK] Read DQS Timing Control Configuration options: [Auto] [No delay] [1/64 MEMCLK delay] [2/64 MEMCLK delay] [3/64 MEMCLK delay] [4/64 MEMCLK delay] [5/64 MEMCLK delay]...
4.4.
4.4.6 PCIPnP Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced PCIPnP Select Menu Plug & Play O/S [No] Item Specific Help Resources Controlled By x IRQ Resources [Auto] Select Yes if you are using a Plug and Play capable operating system. Select No if you need the BIOS to configure non-boot devices. Plug & Play O/S [No] When set to [No], the BIOS configures all the devices in the system.
4.4.
Serial-ATA Configuration This sub-menu allows you to change Serial ATA settings. Select an item then press to edit.
Onboard 1394 Controller [Enabled] Allows you to disable or enable the onboard 1394 device support. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Onboard 1st/2nd nVidia LAN [Enabled] Enables or disables the onboard NVIDIA® LAN controller. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] OnBoard nVidid LAN Boot ROM [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable the onboard LAN boot ROM.
Parallel Port Mode [EPP] Allows you to select the Parallel Port mode. Configuration options: [Normal] [EPP] [ECP] [Bi-Directional] The “ECP Mode Use DMA” item becomes user-configurable when the “ Parallel Port Mode” item is set to [ECP] or [Bi-Directional] ECP Mode Use DMA [3] Allows selection of ECP Mode. Configuration options: [1] [3] 4.
4.5.
Power On By RTC Alarm [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable RTC to generate a wake event. When this item is set to Enabled, the items Date of Month Alarm and Time (hh:mm:ss) Alarm items become user-configurable with set values. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Date (of Month) Alarm [31] To set the date of alarm, highlight this item and press to display the Date of Month Alarm pop-up menu. Key-in a value within the specified range then press .
4.5.4 Hardware Monitor The items in this sub-menu displays the hardware monitor values automatically detected by the BIOS. It also allows you to change CPU Q-Fan feature-related parameters. Select an item then press to display the configuration options. Power Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Hardware Monitor x x Select Menu CPU Q-Fan Control CPU Q-Fan Profile Chassis Q-Fan Control Chassis Q-Fan Profile Vcore Voltage 3.
The succeeding item becomes user-configurable when you set the Chassis Q-Fan Control item to [Enabled]. Chassis Q-Fan Profile [Performance] Allows you to set the appropriate performance level of the chassis Q-Fan. When set to [Optimal], the chassis fan automatically adjusts depending on the chassis temperature. Set this item to [Silent] to minimize fan speed for quiet chassis fan operation, or [Performance] to achieve maximum chassis fan speed.
4.6 Boot menu The Boot menu items allow you to change the system boot options. Select an item then press to display the sub-menu. Main Advanced Power Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Boot Tools Exit Select Menu Boot Device Priority Removable Drives Hard Disk Drives CDROM Drives Boot Settings Configuration Security F1:Help ESC: Exit 4.6.
4.6.2 Removable Drives Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Boot Removable Drives 1. Floppy Disks Select Menu Item Specific Help 1. Floppy Disks Allows you to assign a removable drive attached to the system. 4.6.3 Hard Disk Drives Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Boot Hard Disk Drives 1. 1st Master: XXXXXXXXX Select Menu Item Specific Help 1. 1st Master: XXXXXXXXX Allows you to assign hard disk drives attached to the system. 4.6.
4.6.5 Boot Settings Configuration Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Boot Boot Settings Configuration x x Case Open Warning Quick Boot Boot Up Floppy Seek Bootup Num-Lock Typematic Rate Setting Typematic Rate (Chars/Sec) Typematic Delay (Msec) OS Select For DRAM > 64MB Full Screen LOGO Halt On F1:Help ESC: Exit ↑↓ : Select Item →←: Select Menu [Enabled] [Enabled] [Disabled] [On] [Disabled] 6 250 [Non-OS2] [Enabled] [All Errors] Select Menu Item Specific Help Press [Enter] to enable or disable.
Typematic Rate (Chars/Sec) [6] Allows you to select the rate at which a character repeats when you hold a key. Configuration options: [6] [8] [10] [12] [15] [20] [24] [30] Typematic Delay (Msec) [250] Allows you to set the delay before keystrokes begin to repeat. Configuration options: [250] [500] [750] [1000] OS Select for DRAM > 64MB [Non-OS2] Set this item to OS2 only when you are running on an OS/2 operating system with an installed RAM of greater than 64 KB.
3. When prompted, confirm the password by typing the exact characters again, then press . The password field setting is changed to Set. To clear the password: 1. Select the password field and press twice. The following message appears: PASSWORD DISABLED !!! Press any key to continue... 2. Press any key to continue. The password field setting is changed to Clear. A note about passwords The Supervisor password is required to enter the BIOS Setup program preventing unauthorized access.
4.7 Tools menu The Tools menu items allow you to configure options for special functions. Select an item then press to display the sub-menu. Main Advanced Power Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Boot Tools Exit ASUS Music Alarm ASUS O.C. Profile ASUS EZ Flash 2 F1:Help ESC: Exit 4.7.
Alarm Day: Sunday/Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday/ Saturday [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the alarm for a particular day. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Alarm Time (hh:mm) 0 : 0 Allows you to set the alarm time. Press to select the field, then use <+> or <-> to change the value. Audio CD Drive [Primary IDE Master] Allows you to select the connection configuration of the optical storage device from which the alarm music will play from.
4.7.2 ASUS O.C. Profile This item allows you to store or load multiple BIOS settings. Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Tools ASUS O.C. Profile Load BIOS Profile Save BIOS Profile Select Menu Item Specific Help Press [Enter] to select. Load BIOS Profile Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Tools Load BIOS Profile Load from Profile 1 Load from Profile 2 Load from File Select Menu Item Specific Help Load BIOS Profile from Profile 1.
Save BIOS Profile Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Tools Select Menu Save BIOS Profile Save to Profile 1 Save to Profile 2 Save to File Item 0 Help Save current BIOS Profile to Profile 1. Save to Profle 1/2 Allows you to save the current BIOS file to the BIOS Flash. Press to save the file. Save to File Allows you to save the current BIOS file to the hard disk/floppy disk/USB flash disk with FAT32/16/12 format. Follow the instructions below to save the BIOS file. 1.
4.7.3 ASUS EZ Flash 2 Allows you to run ASUS EZ Flash 2. When you press , a confirmation message appears. Use the left/right arrow key to select between [Yes] or [No], then press to confirm your choice. Please see page 4-5, section 4.1.3 for details. ASUSTek EZ Flash 2 BIOS ROM Utility B311 FLASH TYPE: Winbond W39V080A 8Mb LPC Current ROM Update ROM BOARD: M2N32SLI Deluxe BOARD: Unknown VER: 0122.
4.8 Exit menu The Exit menu items allow you to load the optimal or failsafe default values for the BIOS items, and save or discard your changes to the BIOS items. Main Advanced Power Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Boot Tools Exit Exit & Save Changes Exit & Discard Changes Load Setup Default Discard Changes F1:Help ESC: Exit ↑↓ : Select Item →←: Select Menu Select Menu Item Specific Help This option save data to CMOS and exiting the setup menu.
4-48 Chapter 4: BIOS setup
This chapter describes the contents of the support CD that comes with the motherboard package.
Chapter summary 5 5.1 Installing an operating system.................................................... 5-1 5.2 Support CD information............................................................... 5-1 5.3 Software informtion...................................................................... 5-8 5.4 RAID configurations...................................................................
5.1 Installing an operating system This motherboard supports Windows® 2000/2003 Server/XP/64-bit XP operating systems (OS). Always install the latest OS version and corresponding updates to maximize the features of your hardware. 5.2 • Motherboard settings and hardware options vary. Use the setup procedures presented in this chapter for reference only. Refer to your OS documentation for detailed information.
5.2.2 Drivers menu The drivers menu shows the available device drivers if the system detects installed devices. Install the necessary drivers to activate the devices. Nvidia Chipset Driver Program Installs the NVIDIA® Chipset drivers for the NVIDIA® nForce™ 590 SLI chipset. AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet Driver Installs the AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ technology driver. SoundMAX ADI1988 Audio Driver Installs the SoundMAX® ADI1988 audio driver and application.
5.2.3 Utilities menu The Utilities menu shows the applications and other software that the motherboard supports. ASUS Cool ‘n’ Quiet Utility Installs the AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ software. ASUS PC Probe II This smart utility monitors the fan speed, CPU temperature, and system voltages, and alerts you of any detected problems. This utility helps you keep your computer in healthy operating condition. ASUS Update The ASUS Update utility allows you to update the motherboard BIOS in Windows® environment.
Microsoft DirectX 9.0c Installs the Microsoft® DirectX 9.0c driver. The Microsoft DirectX® 9.0c is a multimedia technology that enhances computer graphics and sound. DirectX® improves the multimedia features of you computer so you can enjoy watching TV and movies, capturing videos, or playing games in your computer. Visit the Microsoft website (www.microsoft.com) for updates. ASUS Ai Booster The ASUS AI Booster application allows you to overclock the CPU speed in Windows® environment.
Make NV SATA/RAID 64bit XP Driver Make NV SATA/RAID 64bit 2K3 Driver Allows you to create an NVIDIA® Serial ATA RAID driver disk for a 64-bit XP/2K3 system. Make Silicon Image 32bit RAID Driver Make Silicon Image 32bit SATA Driver Allows you to create a Silicon Image® Serial ATA/RAID driver disk for a 32-bit system. Make Silicon Image 64bit RAID Driver Make Silicon Image 64bit SATA Driver Allows you to create a Silicon Image® Serial ATA/RAID driver disk for a 64-bit system. 5.2.
5.2.6 ASUS Contact information Click the Contact tab to display the ASUS contact information. You can also find this information on the inside front cover of this user guide. 5.2.7 Other information The icons on the top right corner of the screen give additional information on the motherboard and the contents of the support CD. Click an icon to display the specified information. Motherboard Info Displays the general specifications of the motherboard.
Browse this CD Displays the support CD contents in graphical format. Technical support Form Displays the ASUS Technical Support Request Form that you have to fill out when requesting technical support.
5.3 Software information Most of the applications in the support CD have wizards that will conveniently guide you through the installation. View the online help or readme file that came with the software application for more information. 5.3.1 ASUS MyLogo3™ The ASUS MyLogo3™ utility lets you customize the boot logo. The boot logo is the image that appears on screen during the Power‑On Self-Tests (POST).
7. When the logo images appear on the right window pane, select an image to enlarge by clicking on it. 8. Adjust the boot image to your desired size by selecting a value on the Ratio box. 9. When the screen returns to the ASUS Update utility, flash the original BIOS to load the new boot logo. 10. After flashing the BIOS, restart the computer to display the new boot logo during POST.
5.3.2 Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ Technology The motherboard supports the AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ Technology that dynamically and automatically change the CPU speed, voltage, and amount of power depending on the task the CPU performs. Enabling Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ Technology To enable Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ Technology: 1. Turn on the system and enter BIOS by pressing the key during the Power On Self-Tests (POST). 2. Go to Advanced -> CPU Configuration -> AMD Cool ‘n’Quiet function and set it to [Enabled].
• Make sure to install the AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ driver and application before using this feature. • The AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ technology feature works only with the AMD heatsink and fan assembly with monitor chip • If you purchased a separate heatsink and fan package, use the ASUS Q-Fan technology feature to automatically adjust the CPU fan speed according to your system loading.
5.3.3 ASUS PC Probe II PC Probe II is a utility that monitors the computer’s vital components, and detects and alerts you of any problem with these components. PC Probe II senses fan rotations, CPU temperature, and system voltages, among others. Because PC Probe II is software-based, you can start monitoring your computer the moment you turn it on. With this utility, you are assured that your computer is always at a healthy operating condition.
Button Function Opens the Configuration window Opens the Report window Opens the Desktop Management Interface window Opens the Peripheral Component Interconnect window Opens the Windows Management Instrumentation window Opens the hard disk drive, memory, CPU usage window Shows/Hides the Preference section Minimizes the application Closes the application Sensor alert When a system sensor detects a problem, the main window right handle turns red, as the illustrations below show.
Hardware monitor panels The hardware monitor panels display the current value of a system sensor such as fan rotation, CPU temperature, and voltages. The hardware monitor panels come in two display modes: hexagonal (large) and rectangular (small). When you check the Enable Monitoring Panel option from the Preference section, the monitor panels appear on your computer’s desktop.
Monitoring sensor alert The monitor panel turns red when a component value exceeds or is lower than the threshold value. Refer to the illustrations below. Small display Large display WMI browser Click to display the WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) browser. This browser displays various Windows ® management information. Click an item from the left panel to display on the right panel. Click the plus sign (+) before WMI Information to display the available information.
PCI browser Click to display the PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) browser. This browser provides information on the PCI devices installed on your system. Click the plus sign (+) before the PCI Information item to display available information. Usage The Usage browser displays real-time information on the CPU, hard disk drive space, and memory usage. Click to display the Usage browser. CPU usage The CPU tab displays real-time CPU usage in line graph representation.
Memory usage The Memory tab shows both used and available physical memory. The pie chart at the bottom of the window represents the used (blue) and the Configuring PC Probe II Click to view and adjust the sensor threshold values. The Config window has two tabs: Sensor/Threshold and Preference. The Sensor/ Threshold tab enables you to activate the sensors or to adjust the sensor threshold values. The Preference tab allows you to customize sensor alerts, or change the temperature scale.
5.3.4 ASUS AI Gear ASUS AI Gear provides four system performance options that allows you to select the best performance setting for your computing needs. This easy-to-use utility adjusts the processor frequency and VCore voltage to minimize system noise and power consumption. After installing AI Gear from the bundled support CD, you can launch AI Gear by double-clicking the AI Gear icon on your Windows OS taskbar. Shift the gear to the performance setting that you like.
You can also set the AI Gear modes by clicking the AI Gear icon on the Windows taskbar. • When AI Gear is enabled, the system will automatically optimize the CPU and chassis fan speed according to the system loading.
5.3.5 ASUS AI Nap This feature allows you to minimize the power consumption of your computer whenever you are away. Enable this feature for minimum power consumption and a more quiet system operation. After installing AI Nap from the bundled support CD, you can launch the utility by double-clicking the AI Nap icon on the Windows OS taskbar. Click Yes on the confirmation screen. To exit AI Nap mode, press the system power or mouse button then click Yes on the confirmation screen.
5.3.6 ASUS Music Alarm This motherboard is equipped with an audio alarm clock called ASUS Music Alarm. The ASUS Music Alarm gives you a personal wake-up called with your favorite CD music when the system is off. The onboard audio CODEC supports this feature, which requires an optical drive (CD-ROM, CD-RW, or DVD-ROM). • Make sure that the power cord is plugged to a grounded power source so that the system has standby power. • ASUS Music Alarm only supports audio CDs.
OS configuration To configure ASUS Music Alarm in Windows® 1. Place the support CD into the optical drive. 2. Click the Utilities tab and choose ASUS Music Alarm to install the utility. 3. Insert an audio CD into the optical drive. 4. Launch the ASUS Music Alarm application by going to Start > ASUS > ASUS Music Alarm. The main window appears.
7. Click the arrow ( ) next to Options in the Options section. The Options panel appears. Disable or select the Repeat mode, then specify the length of the alarm music to play. Set the desired volume. When done, click OK. 8. After you have finished making all the required settings, turn off the system. Adjusting the volume To adjust the volume while the music alarm is playing: • Use the or arrow key to increase or decrease the volume.
5.3.7 SoundMAX® High Definition Audio utility The ADI AD1988B High Definition Audio CODEC provides 8-channel audio capability through the SoundMAX® audio utility with AudioESP™ software to deliver the ultimate audio experience on your PC. The software implements high quality audio synthesis/rendering, 3D sound positioning, and advanced voice-input technologies.
From the taskbar, double-click on the SoundMAX® icon to display the SoundMAX® Control Panel. Audio Setup Wizard By clicking the icon from the SoundMAX® control panel, you can easily configure your audio settings. Simply follow succeeding screen instructions and begin enjoying High Definition Audio.
Jack configuration Adjust speaker volume This screen helps you configure your computer’s audio ports, depending on the audio devices you have installed. This screen helps you adjust speaker volume. Click the Test button to hear the changes you have made. Adjust microphone volume This screen helps you adjust microphone volume. You will be asked to read prewritten text to allow the AudioWizard to adjust the volume as you speak.
Audio preferences Click the icon to go to the Preferences page. This page allows you to change various audio settings. General options Click the General tab to choose your playback and recording devices, enable/ disable the AudioESP™ feature, and enable/disable digital output. DTS. This feature is consists of two elements: DTS interactive and DTS NEO:PC. DTS interactive re-encodes your stereo or multi-channel sound into a DTS audio signal and send it out from your PC to any DTS enabled system.
Microphone options Click the Listening Environment tab allows you to optimize your microphone input settings. Enhanced Microphone Features Voice recording Enables Noise Filter function. Detects repetitive and stationary noises like computer fans, air conditioners, and other background noises then eliminates it in the incoming sudio stream while recording. You can enable it for a better recording quality.
5.4 RAID configurations The motherboard comes with the Silicon Image Sil3132 and the NVIDIA® nForce ™ 590 SLI Southbridge RAID controllers that allow you to configure Serial ATA hard disk drives as RAID sets. The motherboard supports the following RAID configurations. RAID 0 (Data striping) optimizes two identical hard disk drives to read and write data in parallel, interleaved stacks.
If you want to boot the system from a hard disk drive included in a RAID set, copy first the RAID driver from the support CD to a floppy disk before you install an operating system to a selected hard disk drive. Refer to section “5.6 Creating a RAID driver disk” for details. 5.4.1 Installing hard disks The motherboard supports Serial ATA hard disk drives. For optimal performance, install identical drives of the same model and capacity when creating a disk array.
5.4.2 NVIDIA® MediaShield RAID configurations The motherboard includes a high performance RAID controller integrated in the NVIDIA® nForce™ 590 SLI southbridge chipset. It supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 5 and JBOD for six independent Serial ATA channels. Setting the BIOS RAID items After installing the hard disk drives, make sure to set the necessary RAID items in the BIOS before setting your RAID configuration. To set the BIOS RAID items: 1.
Entering the NVIDIA® MeidaShield RAID utility To enter the NVIDIA® RAID utility: 1. Boot up your computer. 2. During POST, press to display the main menu of the utility. The RAID BIOS setup screens shown in this section are for reference only, and may not exactly match the items on your screen. NVIDIA RAID Utility Oct 5 2004 - Define a New Array RAID Mode: Striping Striping Block: Free Disks Loc Disk Model Name Array Disks Loc Disk Model Name 1.0.M 1.1.M 2.0.M 2.1.
2. Press select the Striping Block then press . The following submenu appears: 8K ↑ 16K 32K 64K 128K Optim↓ If you selected Striping or Stripe Mirroring, use the up or down arrow keys to select the stripe size for your RAID 0 array then press .The available values range from 8 KB to 128 KB. The default selection is 128 KB. The strip value should be chosen based on the planned drive usage.
NVIDIA RAID Utility Oct 5 2004 - Array List Boot Id Status Vendor Array Model Name No 4 Healthy NVIDIA MIRROR [Ctrl-X]Exit [↑↓]Select [B]Set Boot XXX.XXG [N]New Array [ENTER]Detail A new set of navigation keys is displayed on the bottom of the screen. 6. Press to save settings and exit. Rebuilding a RAID array To rebuild a RAID array: 1. From the Array List menu, use the up or down arrow keys to select a RAID array then press . The RAID Array details appear.
A new set of navigation keys is displayed on the bottom of the screen. 2. Press to rebuild a RAID array. The following screen appears. Array 1 : NVIDIA MIRROR XXX.XXG - Select Disk Inside Array RAID Mode: Mirroring Striping Width: 1 Striping Block: 64K Adapt Channel M/S Index Disk Model Name Capacity 2 1 1 0 Master Master 0 1 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XXGB XXX.XXGB [↑↓] Select [F6] Back 3.
Deleting a RAID array To delete a RAID array: 1. From the Array List menu, use the up or down arrow keys to select a RAID array then press . The RAID Array details appear. Array 1 : NVIDIA MIRROR XXX.XXG - Array Detail RAID Mode: Mirroring Striping Width: 1 Striping Block: 64K Adapt Channel M/S Index Disk Model Name Capacity 2 1 1 0 Master Master 0 1 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XXGB XXX.
Clearing a disk data To clear disk data: 1. From the Array List menu, use the up or down arrow keys to select a RAID array then press . The RAID Array details appear. Array 1 : NVIDIA MIRROR XXX.XXG - Array Detail RAID Mode: Mirroring Striping Width: 1 Striping Block: 64K Adapt Channel M/S Index Disk Model Name Capacity 2 1 1 0 Master Master 0 1 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XXGB XXX.
5.4.3 Silicon Image RAID configurations The Silicon Image RAID controller supports RAID 0, RAID 1 and JBOD configurations. Use the Silicon Image RAID utility to configure a disk array. Setting the BIOS RAID items After installing the hard disk drives, make sure to set the necessary RAID items in the BIOS before setting your RAID configuration. To set the BIOS RAID items: 1. Boot the system and press during the Power-On Self-Test (POST) to enter the BIOS Setup Utility. 2.
Entering the Silicon Image BIOS RAID Configuration Utility To enter the Silicon Image BIOS RAID configuration utility: 1. Boot up your computer. 2. During POST, press or . The RAID BIOS setup screens shown in this section are for reference only, and may not exactly match the items on your screen. RAID Configuration Utility - Silicon Image Inc.
Creating a RAID 0 set (Striped) To create a RAID set: 1. From the Silicon Image configuration utility main menu, select Create RAID set then press to display an option menu. 2. Select RAID 0 then press to display the following. 3. MAIN MENU Create RAID set Delete RAID set Rebuild Raid1 set Resolve Conflicts Low Level Format Logical Drive Info RAID0 RAID1 SPARE DRIVE CONCATENATION MAIN MENU Auto configuration Manual configuration Select your desired method of configuration.
TIP: For server systems, we recommend using a lower array block size. For multimedia computer systems used mainly for audio and video editing, we recommend a higher array block size for optimum performance. c. The selection bar moves to the Physical Drive menu. Using the up or down arrow keys, select a drive then press to set the first drive of the RAID set. PHYSICAL DRIVE 0 1 2 3 XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXMB XXXXXXMB XXXXXXMB XXXXXXMB d.
3. Select your desired method of configuration. Auto configuration a. Select Auto Configuration then press . b. The utility prompts a message to input the RAID size, use the up or down arrow keys to set the RAID size then press . c. Press to confirm or to return to the Main Menu. • Auto-configuration creates a RAID 1 set without a backup copy of the current source disk data.
e. If you selected Create with data copy, the following pop-up menu appears. MAIN MENU Auto configuration Manual configuration online copy offline copy The online copy option automatically copies the data to the target drives on the background while writing to the source drives. The offline copy option allows you to copy the contents of the source drive to the target drives now. f. Use the up or down arrow keys to select desired copy method, then press . g.
Creating a CONCATENATION set To create a CONCATENATION set: 1. From the Silicon Image configuration utility main menu, select Create RAID set then press . MAIN MENU Create RAID set Delete RAID set Rebuild Raid1 set Resolve Conflicts Low Level Format Logical Drive Info 2. From the sub-menu Select CONCATENATION then press . 3. The selection bar moves to the Physical Drive menu. Using the up or down arrow keys, select a drive then press to set a drive for the RAID set.
5.5 Creating a RAID driver disk A floppy disk with the RAID driver is required when installing Windows® 2000/XP operating system on a hard disk drive that is included in a RAID set. To create a RAID driver disk: 1. Place the motherboard support CD into the CD-ROM drive. 2. Select Make Disk tab. 3. From the Make Disk menu, select the RAID driver disk you want to create or browse the contents of the support CD to locate the driver disk utility. Refer to section “5.2.4 Make Disk menu” for details. 4.
5-46 Chapter 5: Software support
This chapter tells how to install SLI‑ready PCI Express graphics cards.
Chapter summary 6.1 Overview........................................................................................ 6-1 6.2 Dual graphics cards setup...........................................................
6.1 Overview The motherboard supports the NVIDIA® SLI™ (Scalable Link Interface) ‑ Intel ® Edition technology that allows you to install two identical PCI Express™ x16 graphics cards. Follow the installation procedures in this section. Requirements • You should have two identical SLI-ready graphics cards that are NVIDIA® certified. • Make sure that your graphics card driver supports the NVIDIA SLI technology. Download the latest driver from the NVIDIA website (www.nvidia.com).
6.2 Dual graphics card setup 6.2.1 Installing SLI-ready graphics cards Install only identical SLI-ready graphics cards that are NVIDIA®-certified. Different types of graphics cards will not work together properly. To install the graphics cards: 1. Prepare two graphics cards. Each graphics card should have goldfingers for the SLI connector. Goldfingers 2. 6- Remove the metal bracket covers opposite the two PCI Express x16 slots.
3. Insert one graphics card into either the blue or black slot. Make sure that the card is properly seated on the slot. 4. Insert the second graphics card into the other slot. Make sure that the card is properly seated on the slot. If required, connect an auxiliary power source to the PCI Express graphics cards.
5. Align and insert the SLI connector to the goldfingers on each graphics card. Make sure that the connector is firmly in place. SLI connector 6. When installing two VGA cards using a 20-pin ATX PSU with sufficient+12v capability, we recommend that you connect the auxillary power source from the power supply to the graphics card. Refer to the PSU documentation for dual VGA power requirements. 7. Connect a VGA cable or a DVI-I cable to the graphics card/s.
6.2.2 Installing the device drivers Refer to the documentation that came with your graphics card package to install the device drivers. Make sure that your PCI Express graphics card driver supports the NVIDIA SLI technology. Download the latest driver from the NVIDIA website (www.nvidia. com). 6.2.3 Enabling the multi-GPU feature in Windows® After installing your graphics cards and the device drivers, enable the Multi‑Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) feature in the NVIDIA nView properties.
5. From the Display Properties dialog box, select the Settings tab then click Advanced. 6. Select the NVIDIA GeForce tab. 7. Click the slider to display the following screen, then select the SLI multi‑GPU item. Slider 6- 8. Click the Enable SLI multi-GPU check box. 9. Click OK when done.
