User’s Guide EVGA H55 Motherboard
Table of Contents User’s Guide .................................................................................................................1 EVGA H55 Motherboard ...............................................................................................1 Before You Begin… ......................................................................................................6 Parts NOT in the Kit .................................................................................................
EVGA H55 Motherboard Expansion Slots ................................................................................................. 22 PCI Slots ........................................................................................................ 22 PCI Express x16/x8/x4 Slots .......................................................................... 22 Onboard Buttons .................................................................................................... 23 Clear CMOS Button ...........
PCI IDE BusMaster ............................................................................................ 35 OffBoard PCI/ISA IDE Card ............................................................................... 35 Boot Configuration Features .................................................................................. 36 Boot Device Priority ............................................................................................ 36 Hard Disk Drives .........................................
EVGA H55 Motherboard List of Figures Figure 1. PW1 Motherboard Connector ................................................................ 15 Figure 2. CMOS Setup Utility Main Menu ............................................................. 27 Figure 3. Standard BIOS Features Menu .............................................................. 28 Figure 4. Advanced BIOS Features ...................................................................... 30 Figure 5. Advanced Chipset Features .........
Before You Begin… Parts NOT in the Kit This kit contains all the hardware necessary to install and connect your new EVGA H55 Motherboard. However, it does not contain the following items that must be purchased separately to make the motherboard functional.
EVGA H55 Motherboard Motherboard Specifications Size ATX form factor of 12 inch x 9.6 inch Processor support Intel Socket 1156 CPU’s Operating systems: Supports Windows XP 32bit/64bit, Windows Vista 32bit/64bit, and Windows 7 32bit/64bit Intel H55 Express Chipset System Display output interface Supports D-SUB, DVI and DP (Display Port).
Eight(8) onboard Serial ATA II 300MBps data transfer rate Two Serial ATA II connectors from JMicron’s JMB363 with support for RAID 0, RAID 1 Onboard LAN Integrated LAN port’s Supports 10/100/1000 Mb/sec Ethernet Onboard IEEE1394a (Firewire) Support hot plug Two IEEE1394a ports (One rear panel port, one onboard 1394 header) with a rate transmission of 400 Mbps Onboard Audio Realtek High-Definition audio Supports 8-channel audio Supports Jack-Sensing function Green Function Supports ACPI (Ad
Hardware Installation This section will guide you through the installation of the motherboard. The topics covered in this section are: Preparing the motherboard Installing the CPU Installing the CPU fan Installing the memory Installing the motherboard Connecting cables Safety Instructions To reduce the risk of fire, electric shocks, and injury, always follow basic safety precautions.
Preparing the Motherboard Installing the CPU Be very careful when handling the CPU. Hold the processor only by the edges and do not touch the contacts on the motherboard or CPU. Any physical damage to the motherboard pins will void the warranty. Use the following procedure to install the CPU onto the motherboard: Unhook the socket lever by pushing down and away from the socket. Pull the socket lever back and the load plate will automatically lift.
Align the notches in the processor with the notches on the socket. Lower the processor straight down into the socket without tilting or sliding it into the socket Note: Make sure the CPU is fully seated and level. Lower the load plate so it is resting on the CPU. Align notches with notches on the CPU Pull back the socket lever again to ensure the load plate tip engages under the shoulder screw cap. Carefully close and latch the lever.
Installing System Memory (DIMMs) Your new motherboard has four 240-pin slots for DDR3 memory. These slots support 256 MB, 512 MB, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB DDR3 technologies. There must be at least one memory bank populated to ensure normal operation. Use the following the recommendations for installing memory. One DIMM: If using 1 DIMM (Single Channel), install into: DIMM slot 1. Two DIMMs: If using 2 DIMMs (Dual Channel), install into: DIMM slots 1 and 3.
Installing the I/O Shield The motherboard kit comes with an I/O shield that is used to block radio frequency transmissions, protects internal components from dust and foreign objects, and promotes correct airflow within the chassis. Before installing the motherboard, install the I/O shield from the inside of the chassis. Press the I/O shield into place and make sure it fits securely.
Securing the Motherboard into a System Case Most system cases have a base with mounting studs or spacers to allow the motherboard to be secured to the chassis and help to prevent short circuits. If there are studs that do not align with a mounting hole on the motherboard, it is recommended that you remove that stud to prevent the possibility of a short circuit. In most cases, it is recommended to secure the motherboard using a minimum of nine (9) spacers and screws. 1.
24-pin ATX Power (PW1) is the main power supply connector located along the edge of the board next to the DIMM slots. Make sure that the power supply cable and pins are properly aligned with the connector on the motherboard. Firmly plug the power supply cable into the connector and make sure it is secure. PW1 PW1 connector Plug power cable from system power supply to PW1 Figure 1. PW1 Motherboard Connector Table 1. PW1 Pin Assignments Connector 1 13 Pin 12 24 Signal Pin Signal 1 +3.
Connecting IDE Hard Disk Drives The IDE connector supports Ultra ATA 133/100/66 IDE hard disk drives. Connect the blue connector (the cable end with a single connector) to the motherboard. 2. Connect the black connector (the cable with the two closely spaced black and gray connectors) to the Ultra ATA master device. 3. Connect the gray connector to a slave device. If you install two hard disk drives, you must configure the second drive as a slave device by setting its jumper accordingly.
Connecting Serial ATA Cables The Serial ATA II connector is used to connect the Serial ATA II device to the motherboard. These connectors support the thin Serial ATA II cables for primary storage devices. The current Serial ATA II interface allows up to 300MB/s data transfer rate. There are eight (8) internal serial ATA connectors on this motherboard. These connections are designed to be angled to not interfere with any expansions cards.
Connecting Internal Headers Front Panel Header The front panel header on this motherboard is one connector used to connect the following four cables. (see Table 2 for pin definitions): PWRLED Attach the front panel power LED cable to these two pins of the connector. The Power LED indicates the system’s status. When the system is turned on, the LED is on. When the system is turned off, the LED is off. Note: Some system cases do not have all four cables.
IEEE1394a (Firewire) This motherboard has one IEEE 1394a onboard header. Alternatively, you can also connect this to your system case (if applicable). 1. Secure the bracket to either the front or rear panel of the system case (not all system cases are equipped with the front panel option). Connect the end of the cable to the IEEE1394a header on the motherboard. Table 3.
USB Headers This motherboard contains eight (8) USB 2.0 ports that are exposed on the rear panel of the chassis (Figure 2). The motherboard also contains two (2) 10pin internal header connectors onboard that can be used to connect an optional external bracket containing up to four (4) USB 2.0 ports. 1. Secure the bracket to either the front or rear panel of your chassis (not all chassis are equipped with the front panel option). 2. Connect the end of the cable(s) to the USB 2.0 header on the motherboard.
Audio The audio connector supports HD audio standard and provides two kinds of audio output choices: the Front Audio, the Rear Audio. The front Audio supports re-tasking function. Table 5.
Expansion Slots PCI Slots The PCI slot supports many expansion cards such as a LAN card, USB card, SCSI card and other cards that comply with PCI specifications. When installing a card into the PCI slot, be sure that it is fully seated. Secure the card’s metal bracket to the chassis back panel with the screw used to hold the blank cover. PCI Express x16/x8/x4 Slots These PCI Express slots are reserved for Graphic Cards and PCI Express x1 and x4 devices.
Onboard Buttons These onboard buttons include RESET, POWER and Clear CMOS. These functions allow you to easily reset the system, turn on/off the system, or clear the CMOS. Clear CMOS Button The motherboard uses the CMOS RAM to store all the set parameters. The CMOS can be cleared by pressing the Clear CMOS button either onboard or on the external I/O Panel. RESET and POWER Button External Clear CMOS Button These onboard buttons allow you to easily turn on/off the system.
Post Port Debug LED and LED Status Indicators Post Port Debug LED Provides two-digit POST codes to show why the system may be failing to boot. It is useful during troubleshooting situations. This Debug LED will also display current CPU temperatures after the system has fully booted into the Operating System. Debug LED with CPU Temperature Monitor LED Status Indicators The LEDs near the 24pin ATX connector indicate the system’s status. POWER LED (Green): When the System is powered on: This LED is on.
Configuring the BIOS This section discusses how to change the system settings through the BIOS Setup menus. Descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided.
Enter BIOS Setup The BIOS is the communication bridge between hardware and software. Correctly setting the BIOS parameters is critical to maintain optimal system performance and stability. Use the following procedure to verify/change BIOS settings. 2. Power on the computer. 3. Press the Del key when the following message briefly displays at the bottom of the screen during the Power On Self Test (POST). Press F2 to Load Defaults, DEL to enter Setup.
Configuring the BIOS Figure 2. CMOS Setup Utility Main Menu Standard BIOS Features Use this menu to set up the basic system configuration. Advanced BIOS Features Use this menu to set up the advanced system features and boot sequence. Advanced Chipset Features Use this menu to set up onboard peripherals such as IDE, USB, LAN, and MAC control. PCI/PNP Resource Management Use this menu to configure resource management.
Standard BIOS Features Menu The Standard CMOS Features menu is used to configure the standard CMOS information, such as the date, time, and so on. Use the + and - keys to scroll through the options. Use the arrow keys to position the selector in the option you choose. To go back to the previous menu, press Esc. CMOS Setup Utility – Copyright (C) 1985-2005, American Megatrends Standard BIOS Features System Overview ______________________________________________ AMIBIOS Version :08.00.
Configuring the BIOS System Time / System Date Using the arrow keys, position the cursor over the month, day, and year. Use the + and - keys to scroll through dates and times. Note that the weekday (Sun through Sat) cannot be changed. This field changes to correspond to the date you enter. Note that the hour value is shown in a 24-hour clock format. Time is represented as hour : minute : second.
Advanced BIOS Features Access the Advanced BIOS Features menu from the CMOS Setup Utility screen. Use the + and - keys to scroll through the options or press Enter to display the sub-menu. Use the arrow keys to position the selector in the option you choose. To go back to the previous menu, press Esc. The options that have associated sub-menus are designated by a , which precedes the option. Press Enter to display the sub-menus.
Configuring the BIOS Boot Settings Configuration Use this option to configure various system options, such as Bootup Num-Lock status, Quiet Boot and other advanced features. USB Configuration This option menu allows you to enable Legacy USB support, force USB 1.1 mode and more.
Advanced Chipset Features Select Advanced Chipset Features from the CMOS Setup Utility menu and press Enter to change the settings. CMOS Setup Utility – Copyright (C) 1985-2005, American Megatrends Advanced Chipset Features Advanced Chipset Settings ______________________________________________ WARNING: Setting wrong values in below sections may cause system to malfunction. Help Item Configure North Bridge features.
Configuring the BIOS The Advanced Chipset Features menu also allows you to enable/disable some onboard devices, they are as follows: HD Audio Controller Use this function to set the onboard audio chip function. It is recommended to leave this enabled, unless you are using an external sound, add-on sound card. IEEE1394 This function allows you to enable or disable the IEEE1394 (Firewire) interface.
PCI/PNP Resource Management Select PCI/PNP Resource Management from the CMOS Setup Utility menu and press Enter to display the advanced settings. CMOS Setup Utility – Copyright (C) 1985-2005, American Megatrends PCI/PNP Resource Management Advanced PCI/PnP Settings ______________________________________________ WARNING: Setting wrong values in below sections may cause system to malfunction.
Configuring the BIOS Allocate IRQ to PCI VGA This function allows an IRQ to be assigned to a PCI VGA. Palette Snooping This function allows the BIOS to inform the system that an ISA graphics device is installed. PCI IDE BusMaster This function allows the BIOS to use PCI BusMastering for reading or writing to IDE drives. OffBoard PCI/ISA IDE Card This function allows manual override of PCI/ISA external cards. A setting of [Auto] works for most devices.
Boot Configuration Features Select Boot Configuration Features from the CMOS Setup Utility menu and press Enter to display the settings. CMOS Setup Utility – Copyright (C) 1985-2005, American Megatrends Boot Configuration Features Boot Device Priority Hard Disk Drives [Press Enter] [Press Enter] Help Item Specifies the Boot Device Priority sequence.
Configuring the BIOS Power Management Features Select Power Management Features from the CMOS Setup Utility menu and press Enter to display the settings. CMOS Setup Utility – Copyright (C) 1985-2005, American Megatrends Power Management Features Power Management Features ______________________________________________ ACPI Configuration [Press Enter] SLP_S4# Min. Assertion Width [4 to 5 seconds] Restore on AC Power Loss [Power Off] Help Item Section for Advanced ACPI Configuration.
Hardware Health Configure Select Hardware Health Configure from the CMOS Setup Utility menu and press Enter to display the settings.
Configuring the BIOS Frequency/Voltage Control Menu Select Frequency/Voltage Control from the CMOS Setup Utility menu and press Enter to display the settings.
Installing Drivers and Software The CD that has been shipped with the EVGA H55 SLI Motherboard contains the following software and drivers: Chipset Drivers Audio drivers LAN Drivers EVGA E-LEET Overclocking Utility Adobe Acrobat Reader User’s Manual Windows XP/Vista/7 Driver Installation 1. Insert the Intel H55 installation CD for the motherboard included in the kit. 2. The CD will autorun, install the drivers and utilities listed on the install screen.
Configuring the BIOS Appendix A. POST Codes for the EVGA H55 Motherboard This section provides the AMI POST Codes (Table 6) for the EVGA H55 Motherboard during system boot up. The POST Codes are displayed on the Debug LED readout located directly onboard the motherboard. This Debug LED will also display current CPU temperatures after the system has fully booted into the Operating System. Table 6. Code Debug LED with CPU Temperature Monitor AMI POST Code Description 03 Initialize BIOS.
Code Description 0C Detect Keyboard 0E Test input devices 13 Early POST initialization of chipset registers 20 Relocate System Management interrupt vector 24 Uncompress and initialize BIOS module 2A Initialize devices primary 2C Initialize devices secondary 2E Initialize output devices 31 Allocate memory for ADM module 33 Initialize silent boot module 37 Display sign-on message 38 Initialize USB controller 39 Initialize DMAC-1 & DMAC-2 3A Initialize real time clock 3B Test sys
Configuring the BIOS Code Description AA Uninstall POST vector AB Prepare BBS for Int 19 boot AC End of POST initialization B1 Save system context for ACPI 00 Pass control to OS (can vary) Show CPU Temp (if enabled)
EVGA Glossary of Terms ACPI - Advanced Configuration and Power Interface AFR – Alternate Frame Rendering APIC - Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller BIOS - Basic Input Output System CD-ROM - Compact Disc Read-Only Memory CMOS - Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor CPU – Central Processing Unit D-ICE – Dry Ice Cooling DDR2 - Double Data Rate 2 DDR3 - Double Data Rate 3 DIMM - Dual In-line Memory Module DRAM - Dynamic random access memory DVD - Digital Versatile Disc DVI – Digital Video Interface FD
Configuring the BIOS JEDEC - Joint Electron Device Engineering Council LAN - Local Area Network LCD - Liquid Crystal Display LGA – Land Grid Array LN2 – Liquid Nitrogen Cooling MAC - Media Access Control MCP - Media and Communications Processor MHz - Megahertz NB - Northbridge NCQ - Native Command Queuing NIC - Network Interface Card NTFS - New Technology File System OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturer PATA - Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment PCB - Printed Circuit Board PCI - Peripheral Component I
TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol USB - Universal Serial Bus VDroop - V-core Voltage Drop VGA - Video Graphics Array
