Motherboard P5N64 WS Professional
E3685 First Edition March 2008 Copyright © 2008 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 Contents....................................................................................................... iii Notices........................................................................................................ viii Safety information....................................................................................... ix About this guide........................................................................................... x P5N64 WS Professional specifications ..............
Contents 2.5.6 PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots (blue).................................... 2-18 2.5.7 Universal PCI Express x16 slots (black and white)........ 2-18 2.6 Jumper......................................................................................... 2-20 2.7 Connectors.................................................................................. 2-21 2.8 2.7.1 Rear panel connectors................................................... 2-21 2.7.2 Internal connectors......................
Contents 4.3.2 System Date.................................................................. 4-12 4.3.3 Legacy Diskette A.......................................................... 4-12 4.3.4 Language....................................................................... 4-12 4.3.5 Primary IDE Master/Slave.............................................. 4-13 4.3.6 SATA 1~6....................................................................... 4-14 4.3.7 IDE Configuration.............................
Contents 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.2.2 Drivers menu.................................................................... 5-2 5.2.3 Utilities menu................................................................... 5-3 5.2.4 Make Disk menu.............................................................. 5-5 5.2.5 Manual menu................................................................... 5-6 5.2.6 ASUS Contact information............................................... 5-6 5.2.7 Other information............
Contents Using the Intel® EM64T feature.......................................................A-1 A.2 A.3 Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology (EIST).........................A-1 A.2.1 System requirements.......................................................A-1 A.2.2 Using the EIST.................................................................A-2 Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology............................................A-3 Using the Hyper-Threading Technology . ...................................
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.
P5N64 WS Professional specifications CPU LGA775 socket for Intel® Core™ 2 / Pentium® D / Pentium® 4 / Celeron® processor Supports Intel® 45nm, Core™ 2 Extreme / Core™ 2 Quad / Core™ 2 Duo processor Intel® EM64T / EIST / Hyper-Threading Technology * Refer to www.asus.com for Intel® CPU support list Chipset NVIDIA® nForce® 790i Ultra SLI™ System bus 1600 / 1333 / 1066 / 800 MHz Memory Dual-channel memory architecture - 4 x 240-pin DIMM sockets support non-ECC unbuffered DDR3 2000 (O.C.) / 1800 (O.C.
P5N64 WS Professional specifications IEEE 1394 VIA VT6308S 1394a controller supports 2 x IEEE 1394a ports (one at midboard; one at back panel) USB 8 x USB 2.0 ports (2 ports at mid-board, 6 ports at back panel) AI Lifestyle Unique Features ASUS Power Saving solution: - ASUS HE95 - ASUS 3rd Generation 8-Phase Power Design - ASUS EPU (Energy Processing Unit) with AI Gear 3+ utility - ASUS AI Nap ASUS Workstation Features: - G.P.
P5N64 WS Professional specifications Internal connectors 1 x USB connector supports two additional USB ports 1 x Floppy disk drive connector 1 x IDE connector 6 x Serial ATA connectors 2 x SAS ports 1 x CPU fan connector with PWM control 3 x Chassis fan connectors (CHA_FAN1/2 with Q-fan 2 control) 1 x Power fan connector 1 x IEEE1394a connector 1 x COM connector 1 x TPM connector 1 x Chassis intrusion connector 1 x Front panel audio connector 1 x CD audio in connector 1 x 24-pin ATX power connector 1 x 8-p
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® P5N64 WS Professional 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.
1.3 Special features 1.3.1 Product highlights Green ASUS This motherboard and its packaging comply with the European Union’s Restriction on the use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). This is in line with the ASUS vision of creating environment-friendly and recyclable products/packaging to safeguard consumers’ health while minimizing the impact on the environment.
ASUS Express Gate With only 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 wherever you want! �������������������������� See page 5-33 for details. WiFi-AP @n With spec 300 Mbps transfer rates, WiFi-AP @n supports the latest WiFi specifications, 802.
Triple RAID solution The NVIDIA® nForce 790i Ultra SLI chipset incorporates six Serial ATA connectors with high performance RAID 0, 1, 10 and 5 functions, the Marvell® 88SE6121 controller provides two external Serial ATA connectors for RAID 0, 1, 10 and 5 functions, and the Marvell® 88SE6320 controller provides two internal SAS connectors for RAID 0 and 1 functions, making this motherboard an ideal solution to enhance hard disk performance and data back up protection without the cost of add-on cards.
1.3.2 ASUS special features ASUS Power Saving Solution ASUS Power Saving solution intelligently and automatically provides balanced computing power and energy consumption. HE 95 With the whole new high power efficiency design – HE 95, this motherboard is able to achieve 95%+ power efficiency in light loading mode and 90%+ in full/heavy loading mode. No software or driver required, the hardware-based HE 95 automatically saves power for users.
ASUS Workstation Features ASUS Workstation features provide complete support to system maintenance and storage technology. Onboard SAS interface P5N64 WS Professional provides users with two onboard SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) ports with RAID 0 and RAID 1 support, providing more flexibility for storage expansion and upgrade needs. See page 2-27 for details. G.P. Diagnosis card Bundled with P5N64 WS Professional motherboard (retail version), the G.P.
Fanless Design - Heat-pipe The Heat Pipe design effectively directs the heat generated by the chipsets to the heatsink near the back IO ports, where it can be carried away by existing airflow from CPU fan or bundled optional fan. The purpose of the innovative heat pipe design on this motherboard is that the groundbreaking fanless design does not have lifetime problems as a chipset fan does. Furthermore, it provides options for users to install side-flow fan or passive cooler.
ASUS O.C. Profile The motherboard features the ASUS O.C. Profile that allows users to conveniently store or load multiple BIOS settings. The BIOS settings can be stored in the CMOS or a separate file, giving users freedom to share and distribute their favorite settings. See page 4-35 for details. ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 The ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 allows users to restore corrupted BIOS data from a USB flash disk containing the BIOS file. See page 4-8 for details.
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).................................................... 2-6 2.4 System memory.......................................................................... 2-13 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 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.
2.2.4 Slots 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 2-4 Layout contents DDR3 DIMM slots PCI slots PCI Express x1 slot PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots (blue) Universal PCI Express x16 slots (black and white) Page 2-13 2-18 2-18 2-18 2-18 Jumper Page Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC) 2-20 Rear panel connectors 1. PS/2 keyboard port (purple) 2. Coaxial S/PDIF Out port 3. LAN 1 (RJ-45) port 4. IEEE 1394a 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.
Internal connectors 1. Floppy disk drive connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY) 2. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE) 3. nForce® 790i Ultra SLI™ Serial ATA connectors [red] (7-pin SATA1-6) 4 Marvell® 88SE6320 SAS RAID connectors [yellow] (7-pin SAS1-2) 5. USB connector (10-1 pin USB910) 6. IEEE 1394a port connector (10-1 pin IE1394_1) 7. Optical audio drive connector (4-pin CD) 8. Serial port connector (10-1 pin COM1) 9. CPU, chassis, and power fan connectors (4-pin CPU_FAN, 3-pin CHA_FAN1-3, 3-pin PWR_FAN) 10.
2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) The motherboard comes with a surface mount LGA775 socket designed for the Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme / Core™ 2 Quad / Core™ 2 Duo / Core™ 2 / Pentium® D / Pentium® 4 / Celeron® processors. 2-6 • Make sure that all power cables are unplugged before installing the CPU. • Connect the chassis fan cable to the CHA_FAN1 connector to ensure system stability. • Upon purchase of the motherboard, make sure that the PnP cap is on the socket and the socket contacts are not bent.
2.3.1 Installing the CPU To install a CPU: 1. Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard. P5N64 WS PRO P5N64 WS Professional CPU socket 775 Before installing the CPU, make sure that the socket box is facing towards you and the load lever is on your left. 2. Press the load lever with your thumb (A), then move it to the left (B) until it is released from the retention tab. Retention tab A Load lever PnP cap B This side of the socket box should face you.
4. Lift the load plate with your thumb and forefinger to a 100º angle (A), then push the PnP cap from the load plate window to remove (B). B A Load plate Alignment key 5. Position the CPU over the socket, making sure that the gold triangle is on the bottom‑left corner of the socket then fit the socket alignment key into the CPU notch. CPU notch Gold triangle mark The CPU fits in only one correct orientation.
2.3.2 Installing the CPU heatsink and fan The Intel LGA775 processor requires a specially designed heatsink and fan assembly to ensure optimum ���������������������������������� thermal �������������������������� condition and performance. ® • When you buy a boxed Intel® processor, the package includes the CPU fan and heatsink assembly. If you buy a CPU separately, make sure that you use only Intel®‑certified multi‑directional heatsink and fan.
2. Push down two fasteners at a time in a diagonal sequence to secure the heatsink and fan assembly in place. B A A 3. A B B A B 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 CPU_FAN P5N64 WS PRO P5N64 WS Professional CPU fan connector Do not forget to connect the CPU fan connector! Hardware monitoring errors can occur if you fail to plug this connector.
2.3.3 Uninstalling the CPU heatsink and fan To uninstall the CPU heatsink and fan: 1. Disconnect the CPU fan cable from the connector on the motherboard. 2. Rotate each fastener counterclockwise. 3. Pull up two fasteners at a time in a diagonal sequence to disengage the heatsink and fan assembly from the motherboard. 4. A B B A B A A B Carefully remove the heatsink and fan assembly from the motherboard.
5. Rotate each fastener clockwise to ensure correct orientation when reinstalling. Narrow end of the groove The narrow end of the groove should point outward after resetting. (The photo shows the groove shaded for emphasis.) Refer to the documentation in the boxed or stand-alone CPU fan package for detailed information on CPU fan installation.
2.4 System memory 2.4.1 Overview The motherboard comes with four Double Data Rate 3 (DDR3) Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMM) sockets. DDR3 modules are developed for better performance with less power consumption.
2.4.2 Memory configurations You may install 512 MB, 1 GB, and 2 GB unbuffered DDR3 DIMMs into the DIMM sockets. Recommended Memory Configurations Sockets Mode Single-Channel DIMM_A1 DIMM_A2 DIMM_B1 DIMM_B2 Populated — — — — — Populated — Dual-channel (1) Populated — Populated — Dual-channel (2) Populated Populated Populated Populated • You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B.
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. To install a DIMM: 1. 2 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.
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 x1 slot This motherboard supports 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. Install a PCIe x1 device to a PCIe x1 slot prior to a PCIe x16 slot. 2.5.6 PCI Express 2.
• In single VGA card mode, use any of the PCIe 2.0 slots (blue) for a PCI Express x16 graphics card to get better performance. • In SLI™ mode, use the PCIe 2.0 slots (blue) for PCI Express x16 graphics cards to get better performance. • Use the two PCIe 2.0 slots (blue) and the black Universal PCIe x16 slot for 3-Way SLI™ mode. • We recommend that you provide sufficient power when running SLI™ mode. See page 2-32 for details.
2.6 Jumper Clear RTC RAM (3-pin 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.
2.7 Connectors 2.7.1 Rear panel connectors 1 3 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 1. ��������������������������� PS/2 keyboard port (purple). This port is for a PS/2 keyboard. 2. Coaxial S/PDIF Out port. This port connects an external audio output device via a coaxial S/PDIF cable. 3. LAN1 (RJ-45) port. Supported by Marvell® Gigabit LAN controller, this port allows Gigabit connection to a Local Area Network (LAN) through a network hub.
10. Wireless LAN ports. These ports are on the onboard wireless LAN module that allow you to set up a wireless network and exchange information with other wireless devices without tagling cables and wires. Connect the moveable omni-directional antennas to these ports. 11. Wireless LAN Activity LED. The wireless module comes with an activity LED. 12. Microphone port (pink). This port connects a microphone. 13. Side Speaker Out port (gray).
16. USB 2.0 ports 3 and 4 . These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are available for connecting USB 2.0 devices. 17. Optical S/PDIF Out port. This port connects an external audio output device via an optical S/PDIF cable. 18. USB 2.0 ports 5 and 6. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are available for connecting USB 2.0 devices.
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. FLOPPY NOTE:Orient the red markings on the floppy ribbon cable to PIN 1.
2. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE) The onboard IDE connector is for the Ultra DMA 133/100 signal cable. There are three connectors on each Ultra DMA 133/100 signal cable: blue, black, and gray. Connect the blue connector to the motherboard’s IDE connector, then select one of the following modes to configure your device. PRI_IDE NOTE:Orient the red markings on the IDE ribbon cable to PIN 1.
3. nForce® 790i Ultra SLI™ Serial ATA connectors [red] (7-pin SATA1-6) SATA6 GND SATA1 SATA2 RSATA_TXP6 GND RSATA_RXN1 RSATA_RXP1 GND RSATA_TXN1 RSATA_TXP1 GND RSATA_TXN6 GND RSATA_RXP6 RSATA_RXN6 GND GND RSATA_RXN2 RSATA_RXP2 GND RSATA_TXN2 RSATA_TXP2 GND SATA5 GND RSATA_TXP5 RSATA_TXN5 GND RSATA_RXP5 RSATA_RXN5 GND R P5B These connectors are for the Serial ATA signal cables for Serial ATA hard disk drives and optical disk drives.
4. Marvell® 88SE6320 SAS RAID connectors [yellow] (7-pin SAS1-2) These connectors are for SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) signal cables that support SAS hard disk drives. To configure RAID 0 or RAID 1, install two SAS hard disk drives to these two connectors.
5. USB connector (10-1 pin USB 910) USB+5V USB_P10USB_P10+ GND NC This connector is for USB 2.0 ports. Connect the USB module cable to this connector, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis. This USB connector complies with USB 2.0 specification that supports up to 480 Mbps connection speed. P5N64 WS PRO USB910 USB+5V USB_P9USB_P9+ GND PIN 1 P5N64 WS Professional USB2.0 connector Never connect a 1394 cable to the USB connector.
7. Optical drive audio connector (4-pin CD) P5N64 WS PRO Left Audio Channel GND GND Right Audio Channel These connectors allow you to receive stereo audio input from sound sources such as a CD-ROM, TV tuner, or MPEG card. CD P5N64 WS Professional Internal audio connector 8. Serial port connector (10-1 pin COM1) This connector is for a serial (COM) port. Connect the serial port module cable to this connector, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis.
9. CPU, chassis, and power fan connectors (4-pin CPU_FAN, 3-pin CHA_FAN1-3, 3-pin PWR_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.) at +12V. Connect the fan cables to the fan connectors on the motherboard, making sure that the black wire of each cable matches the ground pin of the connector.
11. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP) NC AGND NC NC SENSE2_RETUR GND PRESENCE# SENSE1_RETUR This connector is for a chassis-mounted front panel audio I/O module that supports the HD Audio standard. Connect one end of the front panel audio I/O module cable to this connector.
13. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 8-pin EATX12V) These connectors are for ATX power supply plugs. The power supply plugs are designed to fit these connectors in only one orientation. Find the proper orientation and push down firmly until the connectors completely fit.
14. System panel connector (20-8 pin PANEL) This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions. SPEAKER +5V Ground Ground Speaker PLED- PLED+ PLED PANEL IDE_LED PWRSW Reset Ground PWR Ground PIN 1 IDE_LED+ IDE_LED- P5N64 WS PRO RESET * Requires an ATX power supply P5N64 WS Professional System panel connector • 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.
15. Q-Connector (system panel) You can use ASUS Q-Connector to connect / disconnect chassis front panel cables by only a few steps. Directions below shows how to install ASUS QConnector. Step1. Connect correct front panel to ASUS QConnector first. You can refer to the marking on Q-Connector itself to know the detail pin definition. Step2. Properly install the ASUS Q-Connector to the System panel connctor. Step3. Front panel functions are enabled.
2.8 G.P. Diagnosis card installation 2.8.1 G.P. Diagnosis card layout LED 0 and 1 Power Switch. Press to turn ON or OFF the computer. Reset Button. Press to restart the computer. Card connector 2.8.2 Installing G.P. Diagnosis card Make sure to turn off the power supply unit before instaling the diagnosis card to avoid electrical shock hazard. 1. Locate the TPM connector (20-1 pin TPM) on the motherboard. P5N64 WS PRO P5N64 WS Professional TPM connector 2.
3. You may also install the G.P. Diagnosis card via a bundled 90degree TPM adaptor for a more flexible application. 2.8.3 2-36 G.P.
This chapter describes the power up sequence, the vocal POST messages, and ways of shutting down the system.
Chapter summary 3 3.1 Starting up for the first time......................................................... 3-1 3.2 Turning 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 Turning off the computer 3.2.1 Using the OS shut down function If you are using Windows® XP or later version: 1. Click the Start button then select Turn Off Computer. 2. Click the Turn Off button to shut down the computer. 3. The power supply should turn off after Windows® shuts down. If you are using Windows® Vista: 1. 2. Click the Start button then select ShutDown. The power supply should turn off after Windows® shuts down. 3.2.
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..................................................................... 4-9 4.3 Main menu................................................................................... 4-12 4.4 Ai Tweaker menu ........................................................................ 4-17 4.5 Advanced menu.......................................................................... 4-21 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 using a floppy disk or USB flash disk.) 3. ASUS AFUDOS (Updates the BIOS using a bootable floppy disk.) 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: 4-2 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 AFUDOS utility The AFUDOS utility allows you to update the BIOS file in DOS environment using a bootable floppy disk with the updated BIOS file. This utility also allows you to copy the current BIOS file that you can use as backup when the BIOS fails or gets corrupted during the updating process. Copying the current BIOS To copy the current BIOS file using the AFUDOS utility: • Make sure that the floppy disk is not write-protected and has at least 1024KB free space to save the file.
Write the BIOS filename on a piece of paper. You need to type the exact BIOS filename at the DOS prompt. 2. Copy the AFUDOS utility (afudos.exe) from the motherboard support DVD to the bootable floppy disk you created earlier. 3. Boot the system in DOS mode, then at the prompt type: afudos /i[filename] where [filename] is the latest or the original BIOS file on the bootable floppy disk. A:\>afudos /iP5N64WP.ROM 4. The utility verifies the file and starts updating the BIOS. A:\>afudos /iP5N64WP.
4.1.5 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 DVD or the USB flash disk that contains the updated BIOS file. Prepare the motherboard support DVD, 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 firmware 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 Ai Tweaker Configuration fields BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Power Boot System Time System Date Legacy Diskette A Language Primary IDE Master Primary IDE Slave SATA 1 SATA 2 SATA 3 SATA 4 SATA 5 SATA 6 [10:55:25] [Thu 03/06/2008] [1.44M, 3.
4.2.4 Menu items The highlighted item on the menu bar displays the specific items for that menu. For example, selecting Main shows the Main menu items. The other items (Advanced, Power, Boot, and Exit) on the menu bar have their respective menu items. 4.2.5 System Time System Date Floppy Diskette A Language Primary IDE Master Primary IDE Slave SATA1 SATA2 SATA3 SATA4 SATA5 SATA6 Use [ENTER], [TAB], or [SHIFT-TAB] to select a field. [06:22:54] [Wed 03/06/2008] [1.44M, 3.5 in.
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 Ai Tweaker BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Power Boot System Time System Date Legacy Diskette A Language Primary IDE Master Primary IDE Slave SATA 1 SATA 2 SATA 3 SATA 4 SATA 5 SATA 6 Tools [10:55:25] [Wed 03/06/2008] [1.
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. BIOS SETUP UTILITY Main Primary IDE Master Device : Not Detected Select the type of device connected to the system.
DMA Mode [Auto] Selects the DMA mode. Configuration options: [Auto] [SWDMA0] [SWDMA1] [SWDMA2] [MWDMA0] [MWDMA1] [MWDMA2] [UDMA0] [UDMA1] [UDMA2] [UDMA3] [UDMA4] [UDMA5] SMART Monitoring [Auto] Allows you to enable or disable the HDD Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (SMART) feature. Configuration options: [Auto] [Disabled] [Enabled] 32Bit Data Transfer [Enabled] Enables or disables 32-bit data transfer. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] 4.3.
Block (Multi-Sector Transfer) [Auto] Enables or disables data multi-sectors transfers. When set to [Auto], the data transfer from and to the device occurs multiple sectors at a time if the device supports multi-sector transfer feature. When set to [Disabled], the data transfer from and to the device occurs one sector at a time. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Auto] PIO Mode [Auto] Allows you to select the data transfer mode.
SATA1/2/3/4/5/6 [Disabled] This item appears only when you set the nVidia RAID Function item to [Enabled] and allows you to assign the SATA ports used for creating RAID sets. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] 4.3.8 System Information This menu gives you an overview of the general system specifications. The BIOS automatically detects the items in this menu. BIOS SETUP UTILITY Main AMIBIOS Version : 0136 Build Date : 03/19/08 Processor Type Speed Count : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU @ 3.
4.4 Ai Tweaker menu The Ai Tweaker menu items allow you to configure overclocking-related items. Take caution when changing the settings of the Ai Tweaker menu items. Incorrect field values can cause the system to malfunction.
FSB Clock (Mhz) [1333] This sub-item appears only when you set the System Clock Mode item to [Linked] or [Unlinked] and allows you to manually enter the desired FSB clock in MHz. Use the <+> and <-> keys to adjust the value. You can also type the desired value using the numeric keypad. The values range from 400 to 2500. Refer to the table below for the correct FSB and CPU external frequency settings.
Command Per Clock (CMD) [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [1T] [2T] tRRD [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [1] [2] - [14] [15] tRC [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [1] [2] - [62] [63] tWR [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [1] [2] - [14] [15] tWTR [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [1] [2] - [30] [31] tREF [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [7.8uS] [3.
DRAM Voltage [Auto] Allows you to set the DRAM voltage. The values range from 1.50V to 3.10V with a 0.02V interval. NB Voltage [Auto] Allows you to set the North Bridge voltage. The values range from 1.30V to 2.00V with a 0.02V interval. • Setting the FSB Termination Voltage, DRAM Voltage and NB Voltage items to a high level may damage the chipset, memory module and CPU permanently. Proceed with caution.
4.5 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 BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Power Boot Ai Tweaker Tools Exit Configure the USB support.
USB 2.0 Controller Mode [HiSpeed] Allows you to set the USB 2.0 controller mode to HiSpeed (480 Mbps) or FullSpeed (12 Mbps). This item appears only when you set the Legacy USB Support item to [Enabled] or [Auto]. Configuration options: [FullSpeed ] [HiSpeed ] BIOS EHCI Hand-off [Enabled] Allows you to enable support for operating systems without an EHCI hand‑off feature. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] 4.5.
Vanderpool Technology [Enabled] The Vanderpool Technology allows a hardware platform to run multiple operating systems separately and simultaneously, enabling one system to virtually function as several systems. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Execute Disable Bit [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the No-Execution Page Protection Technology. Setting this item to [Disabled] forces the XD feature flag to always return to zero (0).
Primary Graphics Adapter [PCI Express] Allows you to decide which graphics controller to use as the primary boot device. Configuration options: [PCI] [PCI Express] 4.5.
6320 Boot ROM [Enabled] This item appears only when you set the previous item to [Enabled]. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] Onboard 1394 [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the onboard IEEE 1394 connectors. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] Serial Port1 Address [3F8/IRQ4] Allows the BIOS to select the Serial Port1 base address. Configuration options: [Disabled] [3F8/IRQ4] [2F8/IRQ3] [3E8/IRQ4] [2E8/IRQ3] 4.5.
4.6 Power menu The Power menu items allow you to change the settings for the Advanced Power Management (APM). Select an item then press to display the configuration options. Main Ai Tweaker BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Power Boot Suspend Mode Repost Video on S3 Resume ACPI 2.0 Support ACPI APIC Support Tools [Auto] [No] [Disabled] [Enabled] Exit Select the ACPI state used for System Suspend.
4.6.5 APM Configuration BIOS SETUP UTILITY Power APM Configuration Restore on AC Power Loss [Power Off] Power Power Power Power Power Power [Disabled] [Disabled] [Disabled] [Disabled] [Disabled] [Disabled] On On On On On On By By By By By By PCI Devices PCIE Devices LAN(PHY) External Modems PS/2 Keyboard RTC Alarm to select whether or not to restart the system after AC power loss. +F1 F10 ESC Select Screen Select Item Change Option General Help Save and Exit Exit v02.
Power On By PS/2 Keyboard [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable the Power On by PS/2 keyboard function. This feature requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB lead. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] 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 RTC Alarm Date and System Time will become userconfigurable with set values. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] 4.6.
CPU Q-Fan Function [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable the CPU Q-Fan function. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Smart Fan Mode [Optimal] This item appears only when you enable the CPU Q-Fan Function item and allows you to set the appropriate performance level of the CPU Q-Fan. When set to [Optimal], the CPU fan automatically adjusts depending on the CPU temperature.
4.7 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 Ai Tweaker BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit Specifies the Boot Device Priority sequence. Boot Device Priority A virtual floppy disk drive (Floppy Drive B: ) may appear when you set the CD-ROM drive as the first boot device.
4.7.2 Boot Settings Configuration BIOS SETUP UTILITY Boot Boot Settings Configuration Quick Boot Full Screen Logo AddOn ROM Display Mode Bootup Num-Lock Wait for ‘F1’ If Error Hit ‘DEL’ Message Display Interrupt 19 Capture [Enabled] [Enabled] [Force BIOS] [On] [Enabled] [Enabled] [Disabled] Allows BIOS to skip certain tests while booting. This will decrease the time needed to boot the system. +F1 F10 ESC Select Screen Select Item Change Option General Help Save and Exit Exit v02.
4.7.3 Security The Security menu items allow you to change the system security settings. Select an item then press to display the configuration options. BIOS SETUP UTILITY Boot Security Settings Supervisor Password User Password :Not Installed :Not Installed to change password. again to disabled password. Change Supervisor Password Change User Password Enter F1 F10 ESC Select Screen Select Item Change General Help Save and Exit Exit v02.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY Boot Security Settings Supervisor Password User Password :Installed :Installed Change Supervisor Password User Access Level Change User Password Clear User Password Password Check to change password. again to disabled password. [Full Access] [Setup] Enter F1 F10 ESC Select Screen Select Item Change General Help Save and Exit Exit v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2008, American Megatrends, Inc.
4.8 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 BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Power Boot Ai Tweaker Exit Press ENTER to run the utility to select and update BIOS. This utility doesn't support : 1.NTFS format ASUS EZ Flash 2 Express Gate Reset User Data Enter OS Timer Tools [Enabled] [10] [10 Seconds] ASUS O.C.
4.8.2 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. Refer to section 5.3.11 for details. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] Reset User Data [No] Allows you to clear Express Gate’s user data.
Save to Profle 1/2 Allows you to save the current BIOS file to the BIOS Flash. Press to save the file. Load from Profile 1/2 Allows you to load the previous BIOS settings saved in the BIOS Flash. Press to load the file. Start O.C. Profile Allows you to run the utility to save and load CMOS. Press to run the utility. ASUSTek O.C. Profile Utility V1.
4.8.4 Ai Net 2 This menu displays the status of the Local Area Network (LAN) cables connected to the LAN (RJ-45) ports. BIOS SETUP UTILITY AI NET 2 Pair Status Length 1-2 3-6 4-5 7-8 N/A N/A N/A N/A Marvell Phy 0 1-2 3-6 4-5 7-8 N/A N/A N/A N/A Marvell Phy 1 Marvell Phy POST Check LAN cab [Disabled] Tools Marvell Phy Check LAN cable during POST. +- F1 F10 ESC Select Screen Select Item Change Option General Help Save and Exit Exit v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2007, American Megatrends, Inc.
4.9 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 Ai Tweaker BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Power Boot Exit Options Exit & Save Changes Exit & Discard Changes Discard Changes Load Setup Defaults Tools Exit Exit system setup after saving the changes. F10 key can be used for this operation. Select Screen Select Item Enter Go to Sub Screen F1 General Help F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit v02.
This chapter describes the contents of the support DVD that comes with the motherboard package.
Chapter summary 5 5.1 Installing an operating system.................................................... 5-1 5.2 Support DVD information............................................................. 5-1 5.3 Software information.................................................................... 5-9 5.4 RAID configurations................................................................... 5-40 5.5 Creating a RAID driver disk........................................................
5.1 Installing an operating system This motherboard supports Windows® XP/64-bit XP/Vista/64-bit Vista 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. ASUS InstAll - Installation Wizard for Drivers Installs all of the drivers through the Installation Wizard. NVIDIA Chipset Driver Program Installs the NVIDIA® chipset driver program. SoundMAX ADI Audio Driver Installs the ADI 1988B audio driver and application.
5.2.3 Utilities menu The Utilities menu shows the applications and other software that the motherboard supports. Click to display the next page Click to return to the previous page ASUS InstAll - Installation Wizard for Utilities Installs all of the utilities through the Installation Wizard. ASUS Update Allows you to download the latest version of the BIOS from the ASUS website. Before using the ASUS Update, make sure that you have an Internet connection so you can connect to the ASUS website.
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 AI Suite Installs the ASUS AI Suite. ASUS Express Gate Updater Installs the ASUS Express Gate™ update application. Adobe Reader V7.0 Installs the Adobe® Reader that allows you to open, view, and print documents in Portable Document Format (PDF).
5.2.4 Make Disk menu The Make Disk menu contains items to create NVIDIA® nForce ������® 790i Ultra SLI™ SATA RAID driver disk / Marvell® 61xx eSATA driver disk / Marvell® 63xx SAS controller driver disk. NVIDIA 32/64bit XP SATA RAID Driver Allows you to create an NVIDIA® nForce® 790i Ultra SLI������������������������ ™����������������������� SATA RAID driver disk for a 32/64-bit Windows® XP OS.
5.2.5 Manual menu The Manual menu contains a list of supplementary user manuals. Click an item to open the folder of the user manual. Most user manual files are in Portable Document Format (PDF). Install the Adobe® Acrobat® Reader from the Utilities tab before opening a user manual file. 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 DVD. Click an icon to display the specified information. Motherboard Info Displays the general specifications of the motherboard. Browse this DVD Displays the support DVD contents in graphical format.
Technical support Form Displays the ASUS Technical Support Request Form that you have to fill out when requesting technical support. File list Displays the contents of the support DVD and a brief description of each in text format.
5.3 Software information Most of the applications in the Support DVD 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 MyLogo2™ The ASUS MyLogo2™ 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 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 realtime 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 available physical memory. 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.
5.3.3 ASUS AI Suite ASUS AI Suite allows you to launch AI Gear 3+, AI Booster, AI Nap, and Q-Fan 2 utilities easily. Install the ASUS EPU + AI Gear 3 Driver before the ASUS AI Suite utility. Otherwise, ASUS AI Suite will not function properly. Installing AI Suite To install AI Suite on your computer: 1. Place the support DVD to the optical drive. The Drivers installation tab appears if your computer has an enabled Autorun feature. 2. Click the Utilities tab, then click AI Suite. 3.
Other feature buttons Click on right corner of the main window to open the monitor window. Displays the CPU/ system temperature, CPU/memory/PCIE voltage, and CPU/ chassis fan speed Displays the FSB/CPU frequency Click on right corner of the expanded window to switch the temperature from degrees Centigrade to degrees Fahrenheit.
5.3.4 ASUS EPU Utility -- AI Gear 3+ ASUS AI Gear 3+ is a utility designed to configure and support all ASUS EPU (Energy Processing Unit) features. This easy-to-use utility provides four system performance profiles that adjusts the processor frequency and vCore voltage for different computing needs.
Energy Saving Status Displays the current CPU power Displays the amount of electricity saved since the system started up Displays the time/date the calculator starts counting Click to switch to the “Total Electricity Savings” window Click to switch to the “Electricity Savings Calculator” window Displays the amount of CO2 that has been reduced Click to open the Electricity Savings Calculator window. You may reset the time for the calculator to start counting.
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 quieter system operation. After installing AI Suite from the bundled Support DVD, you can launch the utility by double-clicking the AI Suite icon on the Windows OS taskbar and click the AI Nap button on the AI Suite main window. Click Yes on the confirmation screen.
5.3.6 ASUS Q-Fan 2 This ASUS Q-Fan 2 Control feature allows you to set the appropriate performance level of the CPU Q-Fan 2 or the Chassis Q-Fan 2 for more efficient system operation. After enabling the Q-Fan 2 function, the fans can be set to automatically adjust depending on the temperature, to decrease fan speed, or to achieve the maximum fan speed.
5.3.7 ASUS AI Booster The ASUS AI Booster application allows you to overclock the CPU speed in WIndows® environment without the hassle of booting the BIOS. After installing AI Suite from the bundled Support DVD, you can launch the utility by double-clicking the AI Suite icon on the Windows® OS taskbar and click the AI Booster button on the AI Suite main window.
5.3.8 AI Audio 2 (SoundMAX® High Definition Audio utility) The ADI AD1988 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.
A. SoundMAX BlackHawk (AI Audio 2) If you are using Windows Vista™ operating system, from the taskbar, double-click on the SoundMAX® BlackHawk icon to display the SoundMAX® control panel. Enabling AI Audio 2 Click the power button to activate digital signal processing. AI Audio 2, with the new SoundMAX® BlackHawk by Sonic Focus, brings you more multimedia enjoyment.
Playback Settings To configure the playback settings, click the Playback button on the control panel. You can adjust the volume of the Speakers and SPDIF Interface or mute the audio. Preset settings Click and expand the drop-down menu to select your preferred Digital Signal Processing (DSP) preset. Move the sliders to customize the values of Voice Clarity, Dynamics, Brilliance, and Deep Bass of each preset. Click Save to save the changes to the current preset.
Recording Settings To change the recording settings, click the Recording button on the control panel. You can adjust the speaker delay of Microphone or Line In by moving the slider rightward or leftward. Record testing Click the tab to perform test recording and play the test sample through the speakers or the SPDIF interface. Port settings Click the tab to display the rear panel ports for Microphone or Line In.
Speakers Allows you to adjust the Speaker Trim and Speaker Delay. Bass Allows you to do the Bass management. Preferences Displays the preference options for this utility, version information, AudioESP, etc.
B. SoundMAX If you are using Windows XP operating system, 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 This screen helps you configure your computer’s audio ports, depending on the audio devices you have installed. Adjust speaker volume 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. Listening Environment options Click the Listening Environment tab to set up your speaker, acoustic environment, and enable/disable the Virtual Theater Surround function.
Microphone options Click the Microphone 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.
5.3.9 ASUS Express Gate ASUS Express Gate is an instant-on environment that gives you quick access to web and Skype. Within a few seconds of powering on your computer, you will be at the Express Gate menu where you can start the web browser, Skype, or other Express Gate applications. Express Gate is entirely self-contained on the motherboard, so you can use it at any time, even without a hard drive attached! The First Screen Express Gate’s first screen appears within a few seconds after you power on.
Besides using the LaunchBar, you can also switch between applications by pressing + on the keyboard. You can also right-click anywhere on the desktop to bring up a menu of applications. The red triangle on an application icon in the LaunchBar denotes that the application is already running. This means that you can switch to it without any delay. In the rare case where an application stops responding, right-click on its icon to force close it.
• The number of the LAN ports may differ from motherboards. • You can connect the LAN cable to either port, and Express Gate will automatically use the connected port. Also specify whether each port uses DHCP (most common) or static IP. For PPPoE and wireless (optional), set the login credentials (user name, password, SSID, etc.) as well.
click to choose input language and method as well as keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl-Space by default) click to change LaunchBar options (auto-hide, docking position, etc). click to show ”About Express Gate”. click to open Express Gate Help. click to bring up power options window to boot to OS, restart or power down. left-click to set date and time; right-click to choose between 12-hour and 24-hour display formats. This power option window is also shown when you press Ctrl-Alt-Del on the keyboard.
3. Make the proper network configurations in the Network dialog box. Each network interface is enabled immediately when you check the box next to it. • If you use a network cable connected to a home router (which is then connected to your DSL/cable modem), enable both LAN1 and LAN2. Express Gate will automatically use whichever port (LAN1 or LAN2) is connected. If you plug the network cable into a different port while Express Gate is running (e.g.
Configuring Express Gate in BIOS Setup Enter BIOS setup by pressing DEL key after powering on or by clicking on the BIOS setup icon on Express Gate’s first screen. Express Gate configuration options are under Tools configuration menu page. See page 4-35 for details. Main Ai Tweaker BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Power Boot ASUS EZ Flash 2 Express Gate Reset User Data Enter OS Timer ASUS O.C. Profile [Enabled] [10] [10 Seconds] Tools Exit Press ENTER to run the utility to select and update BIOS.
The Updater can preserve your Express Gate settings and personal data (web browser bookmarks, etc.) while doing an update. Use the checkbox “Keep user profile” to decide whether the Updater should do so. Clearing the user data is useful in the rare case where corrupt settings prevent the Express Gate environment from launching properly. The first time wizard will run again when you enter the Express Gate environment after clearing its settings.
5.4 RAID configurations The motherboard comes with three RAID controllers that allow you to configure SATA / SAS hard disk drives as RAID sets. • • • The NVIDIA® nForce® 790i Ultra SLI™ SATA RAID includes a high performance SATA RAID controller that supports RAID 0, 1, 10, and 5 for six independent Serial ATA channels. Marvell® 88SE6121 eSATA RAID.
5.4.2 NVIDIA® RAID configurations The motherboard includes a high performance SATA RAID controller integrated in the NVIDIA® nForce® 790i Ultra SLI™ chipset. It supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 10, and RAID 5 for six independent Serial ATA channels. Installing Serial ATA (SATA) hard disks The motherboard supports Ultra DMA 133/100/66 and Serial ATA hard disk drives. For optimal performance, install identical drives of the same model and capacity when creating a disk array.
Entering the NVIDIA® MediaShield BIOS RAID utility To enter the NVIDIA® MediaShield BIOS 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. MediaShield BIOS Dec 13 2007 - Define a New Array RAID Mode: Mirrored Striping Block: Free Disks Port Disk Model Array Disks Port Disk Model 0.0. 0.1. 1.0. 1.1.
Creating a RAID Volume To create a RAID volume: From the Define a New Array screen, use the key to highlight the RAID Mode field, and then press . The following sub-menu appears. 1. Use the up or down arrow keys to select a RAID mode, and then press . Mirrored ↑ Striped Spanned Striped Mirror ↓ Press to highlight the Stripe Block field, and then press . The following sub-menu appears: 2.
The Array List screen appears, where you can review the RAID arrays that you have set up. Mediashield BIOS Dec 13 2007 - Array List Boot [Ctrl-X] Exit Status Vendor Array Size Healthy NVIDIA MIRROR 149.04G [↑↓] Select [B] Set Bootable [N] New Array [ENTER] Detail A new set of navigation keys is displayed on the bottom of the screen. 7. Press to save settings and exit. Rebuilding a RAID array To rebuild a RAID array 1.
2. Press to rebuild a RAID array. The following screen appears. Array 4 : NVIDIA MIRROR 149.04G - Select Disk Inside Array RAID Mode: Mirrored Striping Width: 1 Striping Block: 64K Port Index Disk Model 0.0 0.1 0 1 WDC1600AAJS-22PSA0 WDC1600AAJS-22PSA0 [↑↓] Select 3. Capacity [F6] Back 149.05G 149.05G [F7] Finish Use the up or down arrow keys to select a RAID array to rebuild, then press . The following confirmation message appears. Rebuild array? [ENTER] OK [ESC] Cancel 4.
Deleting a RAID array To delete a RAID array 1. From the Array List screen, use the up or down arrow keys to select a RAID array, and then press . The RAID Array details appear. Array 4 : NVIDIA MIRROR 149.04G - Array Detail RAID Mode: Mirrored Striping Width: 1 Striping Block: 64K Port Index Disk Model 0.0 0.1 0 1 WDC1600AAJS-22PSA0 WDC1600AAJS-22PSA0 [R] Rebuild Capacity [D] Delete [C] Clear MBR 149.05G 149.
Clearing a disk MBR To clear disk MBR 1. From the Array List screen, use the up or down arrow keys to select a RAID array, and then press . The RAID Array details appear. Array 4 : NVIDIA MIRROR 149.04G - Array Detail RAID Mode: Mirrored Striping Width: 1 Striping Block: 64K Port Index Disk Model 0.0 0.1 0 1 WDC1600AAJS-22PSA0 WDC1600AAJS-22PSA0 [R] Rebuild [D] Delete Capacity [C] Clear MBR 149.05G 149.
5.4.3 Marvell® eSATA RAID configurations The Marvell® 88SE6121 external SATA controller allows you to configure RAID 0 and RAID 1 sets on the external SATA hard disk drives, or RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 set(s) on external port-multiplier devices. Setting the RAID item in BIOS You must set the RAID item in the BIOS Setup before you can create a RAID set(s). To do this: 1. Install two external Serial ATA hard disk drives to the external SATA ports labeled ESATA1/2. 2.
Marvell® RAID BIOS Configuration utility To enter the Marvell® RAID BIOS Configuration utility: 1. Boot up your computer. 2. During POST, press + to enter the utility main menu. ENTER/SPACE:Select, ESC:Back/Exit [Adapter] [Create] [Delete] Adapter 1 Arrays Information: No array is defined! Disks Information: No hard disk is detected! Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2006 Marvell Technology, Ltd. 3. Highlight Adapter and press . Select Adapter 2 for RAID configuration.
Creating a RAID 0 or RAID 1 set To create a RAID set: 1. From the utility menu bar, highlight Create on the top. ENTER/SPACE:Select, ESC:Back/Exit [Adapter] [Create] [Delete] Adapter 2 Arrays Information: No array is defined! Disks Information: ID Port Disk Name 0 0 SATA: HDS721010KLA330 4 1 SATA: HDS721010KLA330 Size Speed 164.6GB SATA II 82.3GB SATA II Status FREE FREE Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2006 Marvell Technology, Ltd. 2. Press .
4. The "Create Array" screen appears. ENTER/SPACE:Select, ESC:Back/Exit [Adapter] [Create] [Delete] Select free disks to create IDCreate Port Array Disk Name * 0 Raid 0 Level SATA: :HDS721010KLA330 RAID0 * 4 Max 1 Size(MB) SATA: :HDS721010KLA330 164526 Capacity(MB) Stripe Size Quick Init Cache Mode Array Name Disks ID NEXT : : : : : : 164526 64KB No Write Back Size Speed 164.6GB SATA II 82.3GB SATA II Status FREE FREE 0 1 Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2006 Marvell Technology, Ltd. 5.
6. A confirmation screen appears. Press to confirm the array creation. Create the array?[Y] [Adapter] [Create] [Delete] Select free disks to create IDCreate Port Array Disk Name * 0 Raid 0 Level SATA: :HDS721010KLA330 RAID0 * 4 Max 1 Size(MB) SATA: :HDS721010KLA330 164526 Capacity(MB) Stripe Size Quick Init Cache Mode Array Name Disks ID NEXT : : : : : : 164526 64KB No Write Back Size Speed 164.6GB SATA II 82.3GB SATA II Status FREE FREE 0 1 Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2006 Marvell Technology, Ltd.
Deleting an array To delete a RAID set: 1. From the utility menu bar, select Delete on the top and press . The "Delete array" screen appears. ENTER/SPACE:Select, ESC:Back/Exit [Adapter] [Create] [Delete] Delete array ID Array Name Size Level Status 0 164.5GB RAID0 ONLINE NEXT Stripe Members 64KB 0,4 Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2006 Marvell Technology, Ltd. 2. Select a desired array to delete and select NEXT. Press after the confirmation screen appears.
5.4.4 Marvell® SAS RAID configurations The Marvell® 88SE6320 SAS controller allows you to configure RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 10 set(s) on the SAS hard disk drives. Setting the RAID item in BIOS You must set the RAID item in the BIOS Setup before you can create a RAID set. To do this: 1. Install two internal SAS hard disk drives to the SAS connectors labeled SAS1/2. 2. Boot up your computer, and press during POST to enter the BIOS setup. 3.
Marvell® RAID BIOS Configuration utility To enter the Marvell® RAID BIOS setup utility 1. Boot up your computer. 2. During POST, press + to enter the utility main menu. Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2007 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. [Selection] [Controller] [ Devices ] [ RAID ] Adapter 1 VendorID:DeviceID: BIOS Version: PCI Slot: Adapter Serial Number: IRQ Number: Port 0 SAS Address: Port 1 SAS Address: Port 2 SAS Address: Port 3 SAS Address: 11AB:6320 2.1.0.
Creating a RAID 0 or RAID 1 set To create a RAID set: 1. From the utility menu bar, select RAID > Create array. Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2007 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. [Selection] [Controller] [ Devices ] [ RAID ] RAID Config Create array Delete array Spare Management ENTER/SPACE:Select, ESC:Back/Exit 2. Press . The screen shows the disks you can add to make up the RAID set. Use the arrow key to select a disk and press or to include this disk in the array.
4. The Create Array screen appears. Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2007 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. [Selection] [Controller] [ Devices ] [ RAID ] RAID Config Select free disks to create Create ID PortArray Disk Name Size Max Speed RAID0 *0 Raid 0 Level SAS : :ST336754SS 36.6GB SAS 3.0 73240 *1 Max 1 Size(MB) SAS : :ST336754SS 36.6GB SAS 3.
6. A confirmation screen appears. Press to confirm the array creation. Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2007 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. [Selection] [Controller] [ Devices ] [ RAID ] RAID Config Select free disks to create Create ID PortArray Disk Name Size Max Speed RAID0 *0 Raid 0 Level SAS : :ST336754SS 36.6GB SAS 3.0 73240 *1 Max 1 Size(MB) SAS : :ST336754SS 36.6GB SAS 3.
Deleting an array To delete a RAID set 1. From the utility menu bar, select RAID > Delete array, and then press . The Delete array screen appears. Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2007 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. [Controller] [ Devices ] [ RAID ] [Selection] RAID Config Delete array ID Name Size Level Status Stripe CacheMode Members 0 73.2GB RAID0 ONLINE 64KB WriteBack 0,1 NEXT ENTER/SPACE:Select, ESC:Back/Exit 2. Select a desired array to delete and select NEXT.
Advanced Operation From the utility menu bar, select Devices, and then press . The Advanced Operation screen appears. You can run Disk Verify and Low Level Format in the Advanced Operation screen. Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2007 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. [Selection] [Controller] [ Devices ] [ RAID ] Select Device For Advanced Operation [Physical Disks] ID Port Disk Name Size Max Speed 0 0 SAS : ST336754SS 36.7GB SAS 3.0 1 1 SAS : ST336754SS 36.7GB SAS 3.
To run Low Level Format 1. In the Advanced Operation screen, use the arrow key to select a disk and press or . The Advanced Menu appears. Select Low Level Format and press . Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2007 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. [Selection] [Controller] [ Devices ] [ RAID ] Select Device For Advanced Operation [Physical Disks] Menu ID Port Disk Name Size Max Advanced Speed 0 0 SAS : ST336754SS 36.7GB SAS 3.0Disk Verify 1 1 SAS : ST336754SS 36.7GB SAS 3.
Controller Configuration From the utility menu bar, select Controller, and then press . The Controller Config screen appears and allows you to change controller settings. Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2007 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. [Selection] [Controller] [ Devices ] [ RAID ] [Controller Config] INT 13h [Enable] Silent Mode [Disable] Halt On Error [Disable] ENTER/SPACE:Select, ESC:Back/Exit INT 13h [Enable] Allows you to enable or disable the Interrupt 13h support.
5.5 Creating a RAID driver disk A floppy disk with the RAID driver is required when installing Windows® XP/Vista operating system on a hard disk drive that is included in a RAID set. 5.5.1 Creating a RAID driver disk without entering the OS To create a RAID/SATA driver disk without entering the OS: 1. Boot your computer. 2. Press during POST to enter the BIOS setup utility. 3. Set the optical drive as the primary boot device. 4. Insert the support DVD into the optical drive. 5.
To install the RAID driver in Windows® XP: 1. During the OS installation, the system prompts you to press the F6 key to install third-party SCSI or RAID driver. 2. Press then insert the floppy disk with RAID driver into the floppy disk drive. 3. Follow the succeeding screen instructions to complete the installation. To install the RAID driver in Windows® Vista: 5-64 1. Insert the floppy disk with the RAID driver into the floppy disk drive. 2.
This chapter tells how to set up NVIDIA® SLI™ graphics cards to avail of NVIDIA’s Multi-Video Processing technology.
Chapter summary 6.1 Overview........................................................................................ 6-1 6.2 Graphics card setup.....................................................................
6.1 Overview The motherboard supports the NVIDIA® SLI™ (Scalable Link Interface) technology that allows you to install up to three identical PCI Express™ x16 graphics cards. Follow the installation procedures in this section. Requirements • In Dual SLI mode, you should have two identical SLI-ready graphics cards that are NVIDIA® certified. • In 3-way SLI mode, you should have three identical SLI-ready graphics cards that are NVIDIA® certified.
6.2 Graphics card setup 6.2.1 Installing three 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 three graphics cards. Each graphics card should have goldfingers for the 3-way SLI connector.
2. Insert the first graphics card into the PCIEX16_1 slot (blue), the second into the PCIEX16_3 slot (white), and the third into the PCIEX16_2 slot (blue). Make sure that the cards are properly seated on the slots. 3. Align and firmly insert the 3-way SLI bridge connector to the goldfingers on each graphics card. Make sure that the connector is firmly in place.
4. Connect auxiliary power source from the power supply to the three graphics cards separately. 5. Connect a VGA or a DVI-I cable to the graphics card/s. We recommend that you install an additional chassis fan for better thermal environment.
6.2.2 Installing two SLI-ready graphics cards 1. Insert one graphics card into the PCIEX16_1 slot (blue) and the other into the PCIEX16_2 slot (blue). Make sure that the cards are properly seated on the slots. 2. Align and insert the SLI connector to the goldfingers on each graphics card. Make sure that the connector is firmly in place. 3. Connect auxiliary power source from the power supply to he two graphics cards separately. 4. Connect a VGA or a DVI-I cable to the graphics card/s.
6.2.3 Installing the device drivers Refer to the documentation that came with your graphics card package to install the device drivers. 6.2.4 • 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). • If you are using s 3-way SLI system, make sure to install the 3-way SLI driver under Windows® Vista™ OS. The NVIDIA 3-way SLI technology is supported by Windows® Vista™ only.
From the Personalization window, select Display Settings. From the Display Settings dialog box, click Advanced Settings. Select the NVIDIA GeForce tab, and then click Start the NVIDIA Control Panel.
The NVIDIA Control Panel window appears. Enabling SLI configuration When installing two graphics gards: From the NVIDIA Control Panel window, select Set SLI Configuration. Click Enable SLI and set the display for viewing SLI rendered content. When done, click Apply. When installing three graphics gards: 1. From the NVIDIA Control Panel window, select Set SLI Configuration, and then click Enable 3-way NVIDIA SLI. When done, click Apply. 2.
The Appendix describes the CPU features and technologies that the motherboard supports.
Chapter summary A.1 A.2 A.3 ® A Intel EM64T...................................................................................A-1 Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology (EIST).........................A-1 Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology............................................
A.1 Intel® EM64T • The motherboard is fully compatible with Intel® LGA775 processors running on 32-bit operating systems. • The motherboard comes with a BIOS file that supports EM64T. You can download the latest BIOS file from the ASUS website (www.asus.com/ support/download/) if you need to update the BIOS file. See Chapter 4 for details. • Visit www.intel.com for more information on the EM64T feature. • Visit www.microsoft.com for more information on Windows® 64-bit OS.
A.2.2 Using the EIST To use the EIST feature: 1. Turn on the computer, then enter the BIOS Setup. 2. Go to the Advanced Menu, highlight CPU Configuration, then press . 3. Set the Intel(R) SpeedStep Technology item to [Automatic], then press . 4. Press to save your changes and exit the BIOS setup. 5. After the computer restarts, right click on a blank space on the desktop, then select Properties from the pop-up menu. 6.
A.3 Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology • The motherboard supports Intel® Pentium® 4 LGA775 processors with Hyper-Threading Technology. • Hyper-Threading Technology is supported under Windows® Vista/XP and Linux 2.4.x (kernel) and later versions only. Under Linux, use the HyperThreading compiler to compile the code. If you are using any other operating systems, disable the Hyper-Threading Technology item in the BIOS to ensure system stability and performance.
A-4 Appendix: CPU features
