Motherboard M3A76-CM
E4414 First Edition V1 January 2009 Copyright © 2009 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.......................................................................................................... vi Safety information...................................................................................... vii About this guide......................................................................................... vii M3A76-CM specifications summary.......................................................... ix Chapter 1: Product introduction 1.1 Welcome!............................
Contents 1.11 Software support......................................................................... 1-27 1.11.1 1.11.2 Installing an operating system....................................... 1-27 Support DVD information............................................... 1-27 Chapter 2: BIOS information 2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS............................................. 2-1 2.1.1 ASUS Update utility......................................................... 2-1 2.1.
Contents 2.5.4 2.6 2.5.5 2.8 HW Monitor Configuration.............................................. 2-16 Boot menu................................................................................... 2-17 2.6.1 Boot Device Priority....................................................... 2-17 2.6.3 Security.......................................................................... 2-18 2.6.2 2.7 APM Configuration......................................................... 2-15 Boot Settings Configuration.
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.
Conventions used in this guide To ensure 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.
M3A76-CM specifications summary CPU AMD® Socket AM2+ / AM2 for AMD Phenom™ FX / Phenom™ / Athlon™ / Sempron™ processor AMD64 architecture enables simultaneous 32-bit and 64-bit computing Supports up to 125W CPU AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ Technology Chipset AMD 760G / SB710 System bus Up to 5200 MT/s HyperTransport™ 3.
M3A76-CM specifications summary Internal I/O connectors Graphics ASUS special features ASUS Overclocking features BIOS Accessories Form Factor Support DVD 3 x USB 2.0 connectors support additional 6 USB 2.0/1.
Chapter 1 Product introduction 1.1 Welcome! Thank you for buying an ASUS® M3A76-CM 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 Check your motherboard package for the following items.
AMD® Socket AM2 Athlon™ / Sempron™ CPU support The motherboard supports AMD® Socket AM2 Athlon™ processors. It features 2000 / 1600 MT/s HyperTransport™-based system bus, dualchannel un-buffered DDR2 800 memory support and AMD™ Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ Technology. 5200 MT/s HyperTransport™ 3.0 support HyperTransport™ 3.0 technology provides 2.6 times more bandwidth than HT1.0 that radically improves system efficiency for a smoother, faster computing environment.
AMD 760G The AMD 760G Northbridge is the latest AMD chipset designed for 5200MT/s HyperTransport™ 3.0 (HT 3.0) interface speed and external graphics in PCI Express™ 2.0 standard. It features the integrated ATI HD3000 graphics and fully DirectX 10.0 compliant. DVI Interface DVI (Digital Visual Interface) provides high visual quality of digital display devices such as LCD monitors.
ASUS Express Gate With on 5 seconds boot-up time, the ASUS Express Gate allows you to instantly surf the Internet without entering Windows or the Hard Disk. You can now enjoy Skype, IM, YouTube, webmail and internet file downloads and sharing whenever and whatever you want. • ASUS Express Gate supports file uploading from SATA HDDs, ODDs and USB drives and downloading to USB drives only. • The actural boot time is subject to hardware configuration and product models.
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. • Before handling components, use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or a metal object, such as the power supply case, to avoid damaging them due to static electricity. • Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them.
1.5 Motherboard overview 1.5.1 Placement direction 1.5.2 Screw holes When installing the motherboard, ensure 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. Place eight 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.
1.5.3 Motherboard layout 1.5.4 Layout contents Connectors/Jumpers/Slots Page Connectors/Jumpers/Slots Page 1. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V) 1-21 9. LPT connector (26-1 pin LPT) 1-22 2. AM2/AM2+ CPU socket 1-8 10. System panel connector (20-8 pin PANEL) 1-23 3. CPU, CHASSIS fan connectors (4-pin CPU_FAN, 3-pin CHA_FAN) 1-24 11. Chassis intrusion connector 1-26 4. DDR2 DIMM slots 1-11 12. Clear RTC RAM (CLRTC) 1-17 5.
1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU) The motherboard comes with an AM2+ / AM2 socket designed for AMD® AM2+ / AM2 Phenom™ FX / Phenom™ / Athlon™ / Sempron™ processor. The AM2/AM2+ socket has a different pinout from the 940-pin socket designed for the AMD Opteron™ processor. Use a CPU that is designed for the AM2/AM2+ socket. 1.6.1 Installing the CPU To install a CPU: 1. Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard. 2. Press the lever sideways to unlock the socket, then lift it up to a 90°100° angle.
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. The CPU fits only in one correct orientation. DO NOT force the CPU into the socket to prevent bending the pins and damaging the CPU! Small triangle Gold triangle 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.
1.6.2 Installing the heatsink and fan Ensure 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. • The retention module base is already installed on the motherboard upon purchase. • You do not have to remove the retention module base when installing the CPU or installing other motherboard components.
3. Align the other end of the retention bracket to the retention module base. A clicking sound denotes that the retention bracket is in place. Ensure that the fan and heatsink assembly perfectly fits the retention mechanism module base, otherwise you cannot snap the retention bracket in place. 4. Push down the retention bracket lock on the retention mechanism to secure the heatsink and fan to the module base. 5.
1.7.2 Memory configurations You may install 512MB, 1GB and 2GB unbuffered ECC/non-ECC DDR2 DIMMs into the DIMM sockets. • You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B. The system maps the total size of the lower-sized channel for the dual-channel configuration. Any excess memory from the higher-sized channel is then mapped for single-channel operation. • Always install DIMMs with the same CAS latency.
DDR2-800MHz capability DIMM support (Optional) Size Vendor Part No. CL Chip Brand SS/ DS Chip No.
DDR2-533MHz capability DIMM support (Optional) Size Vendor Part No. CL Chip Brand SS/ DS Chip No.
1.7.3 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 1. Press the retaining clips outward to unlock a DDR2 DIMM socket. 2. Align a DIMM on the socket such that the notch on the DIMM matches the break on the socket. DDR2 DIMM notch 1 1 Unlocked retaining clip A DDR2 DIMM is keyed with a notch so that it fits in only one direction.
1.8 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. Unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. Failure to do so may cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components. 1.8.1 Installing an expansion card To install an expansion card: 1.
1.9 1. Jumpers 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. Move the jumper cap from pins 1-2 (default) to pins 2-3.
1.10 Connectors 1.10.1 Rear panel connectors 1. PS/2 Keyboard port (purple). This port is for a PS/2 keyboard / mouse. 2. Video Graphics Adapter (VGA) port. This 15-pin port is for a VGA monitor or other VGA-compatible devices. 3. LAN (RJ-45) port. This port allows Gigabit connection to a Local Area Network (LAN) through a network hub.
Audio 2, 4, 6, 8-channel configuration Port Headset 2-channel 4-channel 6-channel 8-channel Lime Line Out Front Speaker Out Front Speaker Out Front Speaker Out Orange - - Center/Subwoofer Center/Subwoofer Black - Rear Speaker Out Rear Speaker Out Rear Speaker Out Gray - - - Side Speaker Out Light Blue Pink Line In Mic In Line in Mic In Line in Mic in Line in Mic in Ensure that the audio device of Sound playback is VIA High Definition Audio (the name may be different based on th
1.10.2 1. Internal connectors Serial port connector (10-1 pin COM1) The connector is for a serial (COM) port. Connect the serial port module cable to the connector, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis. The serial port bracket (COM1) is purchased separately. 2. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE) The onboard IDE connector is for an Ultra DMA 133/100/66 signal cable. There are three connectors on each Ultra DMA 133/100/66 signal cable: blue, black, and gray.
3. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V) These connectors are for an ATX power supply. The plugs from the power supply are designed to fit these connectors in only one orientation. Find the proper orientation and push down firmly until the connectors completely fit. • We recommend that you use an ATX 12 V Specification 2.0‑compliant power supply unit (PSU) with a minimum of 300 W power rating. This PSU type has 24-pin and 4-pin power plugs.
5. Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1, SATA2, SATA3, SATA4, SATA5, SATA6) These connectors are for the Serial ATA signal cables for Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard disk and optical disk drives. The Serial ATA 3Gb/s is backward compatible with Serial ATA 1.5Gb/s specification. The data transfer rate of the Serial ATA 3Gb/s is faster than the standard parallel ATA with 133 MB/s (Ultra DMA133). Install the Windows® XP Service Pack 2 or later version before using Serial ATA.
7. System panel connector (20-8 pin PANEL) This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions. • 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. The system power LED lights up when you turn on the system power, and blinks when the system is in sleep mode. • Hard disk drive activity LED (2-pin IDE_LED) This 2-pin connector is for the HDD Activity LED. Connect the HDD Activity LED cable to this connector.
8. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB78, USB910, USB1112) 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 1394 cable to the USB connectors. Doing so will damage the motherboard! The USB 2.0 module is purchased separately. 9.
10. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP) This connector is for a chassis-mounted front panel audio I/O module that supports either High Definition Audio or AC`97 audio standard. Connect one end of the front panel audio I/O module cable to this connector. • We recommend that you connect a high-definition front panel audio module to this connector to avail of the motherboard high-definition audio capability. • By default, this connector is set to [HD Audio].
12. 13. 1-26 Optical drive audio in connector (4-pin CD) This connector allows you to receive stereo audio input from sound sources such as a CD-ROM, TV tuner, or MPEG card. 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.
1.11 Software support 1.11.1 Installing an operating system This motherboard supports Windows® XP/Vista Operating Systems (OS). Always install the latest OS version and corresponding updates to maximize the features of your hardware. • 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.
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Chapter 2 BIOS information 2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS Save a copy of the original motherboard BIOS file to a USB flash disk in case you need to restore the BIOS in the future. Copy the original motherboard BIOS using the ASUS Update or AFUDOS utilities. 2.1.1 ASUS Update utility The ASUS Update is a utility that allows you to manage, save, and update the motherboard BIOS in Windows® environment.
Updating from the Internet a. Select Update BIOS from the Internet, then click Next. b. Select the ASUS FTP site nearest you to avoid network traffic, or click Auto Select then click Next. c. From the FTP site, select the BIOS version that you wish to download then click Next. The ASUS Update utility is capable of updating itself through the Internet. Always update the utility to avail all its features. Updating from a BIOS file 3. a. Select Update BIOS from a file, then click Next. b.
• 4. Enter the BIOS setup program. Go to the Tools menu to select EZ Flash 2 and press to enable it. Press to switch between drives until the correct BIOS file is found. When the correct BIOS file is found, EZ Flash 2 performs the BIOS update process and automatically reboots the system when done. • Only a USB flash disk with FAT 32/16 format and single partition can support the ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility.
4. Restart the system after the utility completes the updating process. • Only a USB flash disk with FAT 32/16 format and single partition can support ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3. The device size should be smaller than 8GB. • DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS! Doing so can cause system boot failure! The recovered BIOS may not be the latest BIOS version for this motherboard. Download the latest BIOS file from the ASUS website at www.asus.com. 2.
• The default BIOS settings for this motherboard apply for most conditions to ensure optimum performance. If the system becomes unstable after changing any BIOS settings, load the default settings to ensure system compatibility and stability. Select the Load Setups Default item under the Exit Menu. See section 2.8 Exit Menu. • The BIOS setup screens shown in this section are for reference purposes only, and may not exactly match what you see on your screen. • Visit the ASUS website at www.asus.
2.2.3 Navigation keys At the bottom right corner of a menu screen are the navigation keys for that particular menu. Use the navigation keys to select items in the menu and change the settings. Some of the navigation keys differ from one screen to another. 2.2.4 Menu items 2.2.5 Submenu items 2.2.6 Configuration fields 2.2.7 General help 2.2.8 Pop-up window The highlighted item on the menu bar displays the specific items for that menu. For example, selecting Main shows the Main menu items.
2.3 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 “2.2.1 BIOS menu screen” for information on the menu screen items and how to navigate through them.
This item does not appear when you select the SATA 1/2/3/4/5/6 devices. LBA/Large Mode [Auto] Enables or disables the LBA mode. Setting to [Auto] enables the LBA mode if the device supports this mode, and if the device was not previously formatted with LBA mode disabled. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Auto] Block (Multi-Sector Transfer) M [Auto] Enables or disables data multi-sectors transfers.
2.3.5 System Information This menu gives you an overview of the general system specifications. The BIOS automatically detects the items in this menu. BIOS Information Displays the auto-detected BIOS information. Processor Displays the auto-detected CPU specification. System Memory Displays the auto-detected system memory. 2.4 Advanced menu The Advanced menu items allow you to change the settings for the CPU and other system devices.
The following item appears only when you set the AI Overclocking item to [Manual]. CPU /HT Reference Clock (MHz) [200] Allows you to manually adjust CPU/HT reference clock. Key in a number between 200 to 550. The following item appears only when you set the AI Overclocking item to [Overclock Profile]. Overclock Options [Auto] Allows you to select the overclock options.
The following item appears only when you set the Memory Clock Mode item to [Manual]. Memclock Value [266 MHz] Allows you to select the memclock value. Configuration options: [200 MHz] [266 MHz] [333MHz] [400 MHz] [533 MHz] DRAM Timing Mode [Auto] Allows you to set the DRAM timing mode. Configuration options: [Auto] [DCT 0] The following items appear only when the DRAM Timing Mode item is set to [DCT 0]. CAS# Latency [ Auto] Allows you to set CAS# latency.
tRFC0/1/2/3[ Auto] Allows you to specify the Trfc0/1/2/3 time. Configuration options: [Auto] [75ns] [105ns] [127.5ns] [195ns] [327.5ns] Memory Over Voltage [Auto] Allows you to set the Memory Over Voltage. Use +/- to adjust the voltage. The increment is 0.00625V. The standard value is 1.85000V. Configuration options: [Auto] [Min = 1.850000V] [Max = 2.24375V] Chipset Voltage [Auto] Allows you to set the Chipset Voltage. Configuration options: [Auto][+ 50mv] [+ 100mv] [+ 150mv] 2.4.
MemClk Tristate C3/ATLVID [Disabled] Enables or disables the MemClk Tristate C3/ALTVID. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Memory Hole Remapping [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable memory remapping around memory hole. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] DCT Unganged Mode [Auto] DCT Unganged Mode [Auto] Allows you to select unganged DRAM mode (64-bit width). Configuration options: [Auto] [Always] Power Down Enable [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable DDR power down mode.
Parallel Port Mode [Normal] Allows you to select the Parallel Port mode. Configuration options: [Normal] [EPP] [ECP] [EPP+ECP] Parallel Port IRQ [IRQ7] Configuration options: [IRQ5] [IRQ7] HDAudio Controller [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the HD Audio Controller. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Front Panel Select [HD Audio] Allows you to set the HD audio mode.
Legacy USB Support [Auto] Allows you to enable or disable support for USB devices on legacy operating systems (OS). Setting to Auto allows the system to detect the presence of USB devices at startup. If detected, the USB controller legacy mode is enabled. If no USB device is detected, the legacy USB support is disabled. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] [Auto] USB 2.0 Controller Mode [HiSpeed] Allows you to configure the USB 2.0 controller in HiSpeed (480 Mbps) or Full Speed (12 Mbps).
Power On From S5 By PME# [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable PME wake from sleep state. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Power On From S5 By Ring [Disabled] Enable or disable RI to generate a wake event. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Power On From S5 By PS/2 KB/MS [Disabled] Enable or disable PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse to generate a wake event.
Fan Auto Mode Full Speed Temp [55ºC] Allows you to set the smart Q-Fan full speed temperature. Configuration options: [51ºC] [52ºC] [53ºC] ... [74ºC] [75ºC] 2.6 Boot menu The Boot menu items allow you to change the system boot options. Select an item then press to display the submenu. Main Advanced Power BIOS SETUP UTILITY Boot Tools Exit Boot Settings Boot Device Priority Specifies the Boot Device Priority sequence. Boot Settings Configuration Security 2.6.
Wait for ‘F1’ If Error [Enabled] When set to Enabled, the system waits for the F1 key to be pressed when error occurs. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Hit ‘DEL’ Message Display [Enabled] When set to Enabled, the system displays the message Press DEL to run Setup during POST. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] 2.6.3 Security The Security menu items allow you to change the system security settings. Select an item then press to display the configuration options.
Change User Password Select this item to set or change the user password. The User Password item on top of the screen shows the default Not Installed. After you set a password, this item shows Installed. To set a User Password: 1. Select the Change User Password item and press . 2. On the password box that appears, type a password composed of at least six letters and/or numbers, then press . 3. Confirm the password when prompted.
2.7.2 Express Gate [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the ASUS Express Gate feature. The ASUS Express Gate feature is a unique instant-on environment that provides quick access to the Internet browser and Skype. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] Enter OS Timer [10 Seconds] Sets countdown duration that the system waits at the Express Gate’s first screen before starting Windows or other installed OS. Choose [Prompt User] to stay at the first screen of Express Gate for user action.
2.8 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. Exit Options Exit & Save Changes Exit & Discard Changes Discard Changes Load Setup Defaults Exit system setup after saving the changes. F10 key can be used for this operation. Pressing does not immediately exit this menu. Select one of the options from this menu or from the legend bar to exit.
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