Preface Copyright This publication, including all photographs, illustrations and software, is protected under international copyright laws, with all rights reserved. Neither this manual, nor any of the material contained herein, may be reproduced without written consent of the author. Version 1.0 Disclaimer The information in this document is subject to change without notice.
ii Declaration of Conformity This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following conditions: • • This device may not cause harmful interference, and This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Canadian Department of Communications This class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interferencecausing Equipment Regulations.
iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface i Chapter 1 1 Introducing the Motherboard 1 Introduction............................................................................................1 Feature.....................................................................................................2 Specifications.........................................................................................4 Motherboard Components...................................................................
iv Chipset Menu................................................................................39 M.I.B.III (MB Intelligent BIOS III) Menu......................................41 Boot Menu.....................................................................................44 Security Menu.. .............................................................................45 Save & Exit Menu..........................................................................46 Updating the BIOS.............................
1 Chapter 1 Introducing the Motherboard Introduction Thank you for choosing the A960M-M2 motherboard. This motherboard is a high performance, enhanced function motherboard that supports socket AM3+ for AMD AM3+ FXTM / PhenomTM II /AthlonTM II / SempronTM 100 Series processors for highend business or personal desktop markets. The motherboard incorporates the AMD 760G Northbridge (NB) and SB710 Southbridge (SB) chipsets. The Northbridge supports the HyperTransportTM 3.0 interface.
2 Feature Processor This motherboard uses a Socket AM3+ that carries the following features: • Accommodates socket AM3+ for AMD AM3+ FXTM / PhenomTM II /AthlonTM II/SempronTM 100 Series processors • Supports 125W PhenomTM II X6 processors • Supports HyperTransportTM (HT) 3.0 interface speeds HyperTransportTM Technology is a point-to-point link between two devices, it enables integrated circuits to exchange information at much higher speeds than currently available interconnect technologies.
3 Onboard LAN The onboard LAN provides the following features: • • • Supports PCI ExpressTM 1.1 Integrated 10/100/1000 transceiver Wake-on-LAN and remote wake-up support Expansion Options The motherboard comes with the following expansion options: • One PCI Express x16 for Graphics Interface • One PCI Express x1 slot • Two 32-bit PCI v2.
4 Specifications • • Socket AM3+ for AMD AM3+ FXTM / PhenomTM II /AthlonTM II/ SempronTM 100 Series processors Supports 125W PhenomTM II X6 processors Supports “Hyper-Threading” technology CPU Chipset • AMD 760G (RS780L) & AMD SB710 Graphics • On Chip (AMD 760G-based with ATI TM Radean HD3000 graphics) Integrated DirectX 10 graphics processor Share memory maximum update to 512MB CPU • • • Memory • • • 2 x 240-pin DDR3 DIMM sockets support up to 16 GB Supports Dual-Channel DDR3 up to 1866 with A
5 System BIOS • • • • • • • Form Factor • AMI BIOS with 16Mb SPI Flash ROM Supports Plug and Play, STR(S3) / STD (S4), Hardware monitor, Multi Boot Audio, LAN, can be disabled in BIOS F7 hot key for boot up devices option Support Over-Clocking Support eBLU / Supoort eDLU / Supoort eOC Support ECS M.I.
6 Table of Motherboard Components LABEL COMPONENTS 1. CPU Socket Socket AM3+ for AMD AM3+ FXTM /PhenomTM II /AthlonTM II/SempronTM 100 Series processors 2. CPU_FAN CPU cooling fan connector 3. DDR3_1~2 240-pin DDR3 SDRAM slots 4. ATX_POWER Standard 24-pin ATX power connector 5. IDE Primary IDE connector 6. SYS_FAN System cooling fan connector 7. SPK Speaker header 8. SATA1~6 Serial ATA connectors 9. F_PANEL Front panel switch/LED header 10. CLR_CMOS Clear CMOS jumper 11.
7 Chapter 2 Installing the Motherboard Safety Precautions • • • • • Follow these safety precautions when installing the motherboard Wear a grounding strap attached to a grounded device to avoid damage from static electricity Discharge static electricity by touching the metal case of a safely grounded object before working on the motherboard Leave components in the static-proof bags they came in Hold all circuit boards by the edges.
8 Do not over-tighten the screws as this can stress the motherboard. Checking Jumper Settings This section explains how to set jumpers for correct configuration of the motherboard. Setting Jumpers Use the motherboard jumpers to set system configuration options. Jumpers with more than one pin are numbered. When setting the jumpers, ensure that the jumper caps are placed on the correct pins. The illustrations show a 2-pin jumper. When the jumper cap is placed on both pins, the jumper is SHORT.
9 Checking Jumper Settings The following illustration shows the location of the motherboard jumpers. Pin 1 is labeled. Jumper Settings Jumper Type Description Setting (default) 1-2: NORMAL CLR_CMOS 3-pin Clear CMOS 2-3: CLEAR CMOS Before clearing the CMOS, make sure to turn off the system. 1 CLR_CMOS 1. To avoid the system unstability after clearing CMOS, we recommend users to enter the main BIOS setting page to “Load Optimal Defaults” and then “Save Changes and Exit”.
10 Installing Hardware Installing the Processor Caution: When installing a CPU heatsink and cooling fan make sure that you DO NOT scratch the motherboard or any of the surfacemount resistors with the clip of the cooling fan. If the clip of the cooling fan scrapes across the motherboard, you may cause serious damage to the motherboard or its components. On most motherboards, there are small surface-mount resistors near the processor socket, which may be damaged if the cooling fan is carelessly installed.
11 CPU Installation Procedure The following illustration shows CPU installation components. 1 2 3 4 5 Install your CPU. Pull up the lever away from the socket and lift up to 90-degree angle. Locate the CPU cut edge (the corner with the pin hold noticeably missing). Align and insert the CPU correctly. Press the lever down and apply thermal grease on top of the CPU. Put the CPU Fan down on the retention module and snap the four retention legs of the cooling fan into place.
12 Installing Memory Modules This motherboard accommodates two memory modules. It can support two 240-pin DDR3 1866 with AM3+ CPU, or two 240-pin DDR3 1333/1066 with AM3 CPU. The total memory capacity is 16 GB. You must install at least one module in any of the two slots. Each module can be installed with 8 GB of memory. Do not remove any memory module from its antistatic packaging until you are ready to install it on the motherboard. Handle the modules only by their edges.
13 Expansion Slots Installing Add-on Cards The slots on this motherboard are designed to hold expansion cards and connect them to the system bus. Expansion slots are a means of adding or enhancing the motherboard’s features and capabilities. With these efficient facilities, you can increase the motherboard’s capabilities by adding hardware that performs tasks that are not part of the basic system.
14 Follow these instructions to install an add-on card: 1 2 3 Remove a blanking plate from the system case corresponding to the slot you are going to use. Install the edge connector of the add-on card into the expansion slot. Ensure that the edge connector is correctly seated in the slot. Secure the metal bracket of the card to the system case with a screw.
15 Connecting Optional Devices Refer to the following for information on connecting the motherboard’s optional devices: F_USB1~2: Front Panel USB headers The motherboard has four USB ports installed on the rear edge I/O port array. Additionally, some computer cases have USB ports at the front of the case. If you have this kind of case, use auxiliary USB connector to connect the front-mounted ports to the motherboard.
16 LPT: Onboard parallel port header This is a header that can ba used to connect to the printer, scanner or other devices.
17 SPDIFO: SPDIF out header This is an optional header that provides an S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) output to digital multimedia device through optical fiber or coaxial connector. Pin 1 2 3 4 Signal Name Function SPDIF SPDIF digital output +5VA 5V analog Power Key GND No pin Ground CASE: Chassis intrusion detect header This detects if the chassis cover has been removed. This function needs a chassis equipped with instrusion detection switch and needs to be enabled in BIOS.
18 Installing a Hard Disk Drive/CD-ROM/SATA Hard Drive This section describes how to install IDE devices such as a hard disk drive and a CDROM drive. About IDE Devices Your motherboard has one IDE interface. IDE1: IDE Connector This motherboard supports Six high data transfer SATA ports with each runs up to 3.0 Gb/s. To get better system performance, we recommend users connect the CDROM to the IDE channel, and set up the hard dives on the SATA ports.
19 Refer to the illustration below for proper installation: 1 2 3 Attach either cable end to the connector on the motherboard. Attach the other cable end to the SATA hard drive. Attach the SATA power cable to the SATA hard drive and connect the other end to the power supply. This motherboard does not support the “Hot-Plug” function.
20 Connecting I/O Devices The backplane of the motherboard has the following I/O ports: PS2 Mouse Use the upper PS/2 port to connect a PS/2 pointing device. PS2 Keyboard Use the lower PS/2 port to connect a PS/2 keyboard. Serial port (COM) Use the COM port to connect serial devices such as mouse or fax/modems. VGA Port Connect your monitor to the VGA port. HDMI Port (or DVI Port) Connect your monitor to the HDMI or DVI port.
21 Connecting Case Components After you have installed the motherboard into a case, you can begin connecting the motherboard components. Refer to the following: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Connect the CPU cooling fan cable to CPU_FAN. Connect the standard power supply connector to ATX_POWER. Connect the case speaker cable to SPK. Connect the case switches and indicator LEDs to the F_PANEL. Connect the system cooling fan connector to SYS_FAN. Connect the auxiliary case power supply connector to ATX12V.
22 CPU_FAN: Cooling FAN Power Connector Pin 1 2 3 4 Function Signal Name GND +12V System Ground Power +12V Sense Sensor PWM CPU FAN control Users please note that the fan connector supports the CPU cooling fan of 1.1A~2.2A (26.4W max.) at +12V. ATX_POWER: ATX 24-pin Power Connector Pin 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Signal Name Pin Signal Name 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 +3.3V +3.3V Ground +5V Ground +5V Ground PWRGD +5VSB +3.3V -12V COM PS_ON COM COM COM -5V +5V 10 11 +12V 22 23 +5V +12V 12 +3.
23 Front Panel Header The front panel header (F_PANEL) provides a standard set of switch and LED headers commonly found on ATX or Micro ATX cases.
24 Memo Installing the Motherboard
25 Chapter 3 Using BIOS About the Setup Utility The computer uses the latest “American Megatrends Inc. ” BIOS with support for Windows Plug and Play. The CMOS chip on the motherboard contains the ROM setup instructions for configuring the motherboard BIOS. The BIOS (Basic Input and Output System) Setup Utility displays the system’s configuration status and provides you with options to set system parameters.
26 Press the delete key to access BIOS Setup Utility. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit Choose the system default language BIOS Information System Language [English] System Date System Time [Tue 11/29/2011] [18:13:45] lk: Select Screen mn/Click: Select Item Enter/Dbl Click : Select +/- : Change Opt. F1: General Help F2: Previous Values F3: Optimized Defaults F4: Save & Exit ESC/Right Click: Exit Version 2.11.
27 In this manual, default values are enclosed in parenthesis. Submenu items are denoted by a triangle f . The default BIOS setting for this motherboard apply for most conditions with optimum performance. We do not suggest users change the default values in the BIOS setup and take no responsibility to any damage caused by changing the BIOS settings.
28 Date & Time The Date and Time items show the current date and time on the computer. If you are running a Windows OS, these items are automatically updated whenever you make changes to the Windows Date and Time Properties utility. Advanced Menu The Advanced menu items allow you to change the settings for the CPU and other system. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.
29 LAN Configuration The item in the menu shows the LAN-related information that the BIOS automatically detects. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit LAN Configuration Onboard LAN Controller [Enabled] lk: Select Screen mn/Click: Select Item Enter/Dbl Click : Select +/- : Change Opt. F1: General Help F2: Previous Values F3: Optimized Defaults F4: Save & Exit ESC/Right Click: Exit Version 2.11.1210.
30 PC Health Status On motherboards support hardware monitoring, this item lets you monitor the parameters for critical voltages, temperatures and fan speeds. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit PC Health Status f Smart Fan Function CPU temperature(0C) CPU FAN Speed System FAN Speed CPU Voltage DIMM Voltage NB Voltage : : : : : : 67 N/A 4245 RPM +1.356 V +1.596 V +1.
31 SMART Fan Start PWM Value (30) This item allows you to enable/disable the control of the system fan speed by changing the fan voltage. SMART Fan Start PWM Temp (40) This item is used to set the start PWM value of the smart fan. DeltaT (+3) This item specifies the range that controls CPU temperature and keeps it from going so high or so low when smart fan works. SMART Fan Slope PWM Value (7 PWM value/unite) This item is used to set the Slope Select PWM of the smart fan.
32 Power Management Setup This page sets up some parameters for system power management operation. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit Power Management Setup Resume By RING Resume By PME Resume By USB 1.x/2.
33 ACPI Configuration The item in the menu shows the highest ACPI sleep state when the system enters suspend. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit ACPI Configuration ACPI Sleep State [S3 (Suspend to RAM)] Select the highest ACPI sleep state the system will enter when the Suspend button is pressed. lk: Select Screen mn/Click: Select Item Enter/Dbl Click : Select +/- : Change Opt.
34 CPU Configuration The item in the menu shows the CPU. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.
35 SATA Configuration Use this item to show the mode of serial ATA configuration options. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.
36 USB Configuration Use this item to show the information of USB configuration. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit Enabled/Disabled All USB Devices USB Configuration All USB Devices Legacy USB Support [Enabled] [Enabled] lk: Select Screen mn/Click: Select Item Enter/Dbl Click : Select +/- : Change Opt. F1: General Help F2: Previous Values F3: Optimized Defaults F4: Save & Exit ESC/Right Click: Exit Version 2.11.
37 Super IO Configuration Use this item to show the information of Super IO configuration. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit Set Parameters of Serial Port 0 (COMA) Super IO Configuration Super IO Chip IT8728 f Serial Port 0 Configuration f Parallel Port Configuration lk: Select Screen mn/Click: Select Item Enter/Dbl Click : Select +/- : Change Opt.
38 fParallel Port Configuration Scroll to this item and press to view the following screen: Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit Enable or Disable Parallel Port (LPT/LPTE) Parallel Port Configuration Parallel Port Device Settings [Enabled] IO=378h; IRQ=5; Change Settings Device Mode [Auto] [Standard Parallel Po ...] lk: Select Screen mn/Click: Select Item Enter/Dbl Click : Select +/- : Change Opt.
39 Chipset Menu The chipset menu items allow you to change the settings for the North Bridge chipset, South Bridge chipset and other system. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit North Bridge Parameters f North Bridge f South Bridge lk: Select Screen mn/Click: Select Item Enter/Dbl Click : Select +/- : Change Opt.
40 fSouth Bridge Scroll to this item and press to view the following screen. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit South Bridge Restore AC Power Loss [Power Off] Specify what state to go to when power is re-applied after a power failure (G3 state).
41 M.I.B.III (MB Intelligent BIOS III) Menu This page enables you to set the clock speed and system bus for your system. The clock speed and system bus are determined by the kind of processor you have installed in your system. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit M.I.B.
42 f Memory Control Scroll to this item and press to view the following screen. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.
43 fHT Control Scroll to this item and press to view the following screen. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit HT Control Set Upstream Link Width Current Width Up: Upstream Link Width Current Width Down: Downstream Link Width Current IO HT Freq: IO HT Frequency 16 bit [Auto] 16 bit [Auto] 2000MHz [Auto] lk: Select Screen mn/Click: Select Item Enter/Dbl Click : Select +/- : Change Opt.
44 Boot Menu This page enables you to set the keyboard NumLock state. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit Select the keyboard NumLock state Boot Configuration Bootup NumLock State [On] Set Boot Priority 1st Boot 2nd Boot 3rd Boot 4th Boot 5th Boot 6th Boot 7th Boot 8th Boot [Hard Disk:ST3200064...] [CD/DVD] [USB IDE/Floppy] [USB CD/DVD] [USB Hard Disk] [USB Key: Kingmax USB2...
45 USB Key Drive BBS Priorities This item enables you to specify the sequence of loading the operating system from the installing USB Key drives. Network Device BBS Priorities This item enables you to specify the sequence of loading the operating system from the installing network devices. UEFI Boot Drive BBS Priorities This item enables you to specify the sequence of loading the operating system from the installing UEFI Boot drives.
46 Save & Exit Menu This page enables you to exit system setup after saving or without saving the changes. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit Exit system setup after saving the changes.
47 Boot Override This item enables you to set the device order. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit Exit system setup after saving the changes.
48 Updating the BIOS You can download and install updated BIOS for this motherboard from the manufacturer’s Web site. New BIOS provides support for new peripherals, improvements in performance, or fixes for known bugs. Install new BIOS as follows: 1 If your motherboard has a BIOS protection jumper, change the setting to allow BIOS flashing. 2 If your motherboard has an item called Firmware Write Protect in Advanced BIOS features, disable it. (Firmware Write Protect prevents BIOS from being overwritten.
49 Chapter 4 Using the Motherboard Software About the Software DVD-ROM/CD-ROM The support software DVD-ROM/CD-ROM that is included in the motherboard package contains all the drivers and utility programs needed to properly run the bundled products. Below you can find a brief description of each software program, and the location for your motherboard version. More information on some programs is available in a README file, located in the same directory as the software.
50 Drivers Tab Click the Setup button to run the software installation program. Select from the menu which software you want to install. Setup Browse CD The Browse CD button is the standard Windows command that allows you to open Windows Explorer and show the contents of the support disk. Before installing the software from Windows Explorer, look for a file named README.TXT or something similar. This file may contain important information to help you install the software correctly.
51 2. Click Next. The following screen appears: 3. Check the box next to the items you want to install. The default options are recommended. 4. Click Next run the Installation Wizard. An item installation screen appears: 5. Follow the instructions on the screen to install the items. Drivers and software are automatically installed in sequence. Follow the onscreen instructions, confirm commands and allow the computer to restart a few times to complete the installation.
52 Windows Vista/7 will appear below UAC (User Account Control) message after the system restart. You must select “Allow” to install the next driver. Continue this process to complete the drivers installation. Manual Installation Insert the disk in the DVD-ROM/CD-ROM drive and locate the PATH.DOC file in the root directory. This file contains the information needed to locate the drivers for your motherboard.
53 Chapter 5 Setting Up AMD SB710 RAID Configuration Setting Up a bootable RAID Array This section explains how to configure a bootable AMD RAID array. Setting Up the BIOS 1 Start your computer, then press Delete to enter the BIOS setup. 2 Select Advanced icon and press Enter (or double click it). The BIOS CMOS Setup Utility screen appears. Figure 1.1 3 BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Screen Use the arrow keys to select the SATA Configuration (see Figure 1.2) and globally set SATA Mode to RAID.
54 4 Press F4 to save the configuration and exit. The PC reboots. 5 Enter the RAID BIOS Setup by pressing Ctrl-F when prompted, and proceed to set up the AMD RAID BIOS as described in the next section. Configuring the AMD RAID BIOS (Windows XP Installation) The AMD RAID BIOS set up lets you choose the RAID type and which hard drives you want to make part of the array. Entering the RAID BIOS Setup: 1 Wait until you see the RAID software prompting you to press Ctrl-F.
55 3 Select [2], then select LD 1 in the following page. The Define LD Menu screen appears (Figure 1.4). FastBuild (tm) Utility (c) 2006 ATI Technology, Inc.
56 Assigning the Disks 1. Select the Assignment to Y to designate a free disk to be used as a RAID array disk. Figure 1.5 illustrates the Define a New Array screen after two disks have been assigned as RAID 0 array disks. FastBuild (tm) Utility (c) 2006 ATI Technology, Inc.
57 3. Press ESC to exit. The Main Menu screen appears (Figure 1.7). FastBuild (tm) Utility (c) 2006 ATI Technology, Inc. [ Main Menu ] View Drive Assignments..................[ 1 ] Define LD..........................................[ 2 ] Define LD..........................................[ 3 ] is going to REBOOT!4 ] ControllerSystem Configuration...................[ Are You Sure? Y - Reboot / Any Key - Back [ Keys Available ] Press 1..4 to Select Option Figure 1.7 [ESC] Exit Main Menu 4.
58 Installing the RAID Drivers Your system may come with a Windows install CD that already includes AMD RAID drivers. If so, then this section is not relevant. If that is not the case (or you are trying to install a new version of Windows), then you will need an AMD RAID driver F6 install floppy. Check to see if one came with your system. If not, you can create one by downloading the appropriate driver package and following the steps in this section. 1 Copy all files in "...
59 The following Windows Setup screen appears: Windows Setup --------You have chosen to configure a SCSI Adapter for use with windows£¬ using a device support disk provided bu an adapter manufacturer. Select the SCSI Adapter you want from the following list, or press ESC to return to the previous screen. ATI AHCI Compatible RAID Controller-x86 platform ATI AHCI Compatible RAID Controller-x64 platform ENTER=Select F3=Exit Figure 1.
60 Memo Setting Up AMD RAID Configuration
61 Chapter 6 Trouble Shooting Start up problems during assembly After assembling the PC for the first time you may experience some start up problems. Before calling for technical support or returning for warranty, this chapter may help to address some of the common questions using some basic troubleshooting tips. a) System does not power up and the fans are not running. 1.Disassemble the PC to remove the VGA adaptor card, DDR memory, LAN, USB and other peripherals including keyboard and mouse.
62 c) The PC suddenly shuts down while booting up. 1. The CPU may experience overheating so it will shutdown to protect itself. Ensure the CPU fan is working properly. 2. From the BIOS setting, try to disable the Smartfan function to let the fan run at default speed. Doing a Load Optimised Default will also disable the Smartfan. Start up problems after prolong use After a prolong period of use your PC may experience start up problems again.
If fail, contact RMA CLR CMOS and restart. Yes Halt at POST screenΛ Yes Check if monitor has display Yes Check if Power Supply Unit (PSU) is working Power Bu on is pressed but PC fails to start. - need to CLRCMOS. HDD problem.
64 Memo Trouble Shooting