Asus M3N-HD User Manual
Motherboard M3 N- HD / HDMI
ii E3528 First Edition February 2008 Copyright é 2008 ASUST eK 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 ASUST eK COMPUTER INC. (âÂÂASUSâÂÂ). Product warranty or service will not be extended if: (1) the product is repaired, modiîÂÂed or altered, unless such repair , modiîÂÂcation of alteration is authorized in writing by ASUS; or (2) the serial number of the product is defaced or missing. ASUS PROVIDES THIS MANUAL âÂÂAS ISâ WITHOUT W ARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANT ABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A P AR TICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL ASUS, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT , SPECIAL, INCIDENT AL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF USE OR DA T A, INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS AND THE LIKE), EVEN IF ASUS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES ARISING FROM ANY DEFECT OR ERROR IN THIS MANUAL OR PRODUCT . SPECIFICA TIONS AND INFORMA TION CONT AINED IN THIS MANUAL ARE FURNISHED FOR INFORMA TIONAL USE ONL Y , AND ARE SUBJECT T O CHANGE A T ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE, AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY ASUS. ASUS ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS OR INACCURACIES THA T MA Y APPEAR IN THIS MANUAL, INCLUDING THE PRODUCTS AND SOFTW ARE DESCRIBED IN IT . Products and corporate names appearing in this manual may or may not be registered trademarks or copyrights of their respective companies, and are used only for identiîÂÂcation or explanation and to the ownersâ beneîÂÂt, without intent to infringe.
iii Contents Contents ...................................................................................................... iii Notices ........................................................................................................ vii Safety information .................................................................................... viii About this guide ......................................................................................... ix M3N-HD/HDMI speciîÂÂcations summary .................................................... xi Chapter 1: Product introduction 1.1 Welcome! ...................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Package contents ......................................................................... 1-1 1.3 Special features ............................................................................ 1-2 1.3.1 Product highlights ........................................................... 1-2 1.3.2 ASUS AI Lifestyle unique features .................................. 1-4 1.3.3 ASUS intelligent performance and overclocking features ...................................................... 1-7 Chapter 2: Hardware information 2.1 Before you proceed ..................................................................... 2-1 Onboard LED ................................................................................. 2-1 2.2 Motherboard overview ................................................................. 2-2 2.2.1 Placement direction ........................................................ 2-2 2.2.2 Screw holes .................................................................... 2-2 2.2.3 Motherboard layout ......................................................... 2-3 2.2.4 Layout contents ............................................................... 2-4 2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) ................................................... 2-6 2.3.1 Installing the CPU ........................................................... 2-6 2.3.2 Installing the heatsink and fan ........................................ 2-8 2.4 System memory ......................................................................... 2-1 1 2.4.1 Overview ........................................................................2-1 1 2.4.2 Memory conîÂÂgurations ...................................................2-1 1 2.4.3 Installing a DIMM .......................................................... 2-15 2.4.4 Removing a DIMM ........................................................ 2-15 2.5 Expansion slots .......................................................................... 2-16 2.5.1 Installing an expansion card ......................................... 2-16 2.5.2 ConîÂÂguring an expansion card ..................................... 2-16 2.5.3 Interrupt assignments ................................................... 2-17 2.5.4 PCI slots ........................................................................ 2-18
iv Contents 2.5.5 PCI Express x1 slots ..................................................... 2-18 2.5.6 PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot (blue) .................................... 2-18 2.5.7 Universal PCI Express x16 slot (black) ......................... 2-18 2.6 Jumper ........................................................................................ 2-20 2.7 Connectors ................................................................................. 2-21 2.7.1 Rear panel connectors .................................................. 2-21 2.7.2 Internal connectors ....................................................... 2-24 Chapter 3: Powering up 3.1 Starting up for the îÂÂrst time ........................................................ 3-1 3.2 T urning off the computer ............................................................. 3-2 3.2.1 Using the OS shut down function .................................... 3-2 3.2.2 Using the dual function power switch .............................. 3-2 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.1 Managing and updating your BIOS ............................................ 4-1 4.1.1 ASUS Update utility ........................................................ 4-1 4.1.2 Creating a bootable îÂÂoppy disk ....................................... 4-4 4.1.3 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility ................................................... 4-5 4.1.4 Updating the BIOS .......................................................... 4-6 4.1.5 Saving the current BIOS îÂÂle ............................................ 4-8 4.2 BIOS setup program .................................................................... 4-9 4.2.1 BIOS menu screen ........................................................ 4-10 4.2.2 Menu bar ....................................................................... 4-10 4.2.3 Legend bar .....................................................................4-1 1 4.2.4 Menu items .................................................................... 4-1 1 4.2.5 Sub-menu items .............................................................4-1 1 4.2.6 ConîÂÂguration îÂÂelds ........................................................4-1 1 4.2.7 Pop-up window ............................................................. 4-12 4.2.8 General help ................................................................. 4-12 4.3 Main menu .................................................................................. 4-13 4.3.1 System T ime ................................................................. 4-13 4.3.2 System Date ................................................................. 4-13 4.3.3 Legacy Diskette A ......................................................... 4-13 4.3.4 Primary IDE Master/Slave ............................................. 4-14 4.3.5 SA T A1/2/3/4 .................................................................. 4-16
v Contents 4.3.6 HDD SMART Monitoring ............................................... 4-1 7 4.3.7 Installed Memory ........................................................... 4-17 4.3.8 Usable Memory ............................................................. 4-17 4.4 Advanced menu ......................................................................... 4-18 4.4.1 JumperFree ConîÂÂguration ............................................ 4-18 4.4.2 AI Net 2 ......................................................................... 4-20 4.4.3 CPU ConîÂÂguration ........................................................ 4-20 4.4.4 Chipset .......................................................................... 4-22 4.4.5 PCIPnP ......................................................................... 4-23 4.4.6 Onboard Device ConîÂÂguration ...................................... 4-24 4.4.7 USB ConîÂÂguration ........................................................ 4-26 4.5 Power menu ................................................................................ 4-27 4.5.1 ACPI Suspend T ype ...................................................... 4-27 4.5.2 ACPI APIC Support ....................................................... 4-27 4.5.3 APM ConîÂÂguration ........................................................ 4-27 4.5.4 Hardware Monitor ......................................................... 4-29 4.6 Boot menu .................................................................................. 4-31 4.6.1 Boot Device Priority ...................................................... 4-31 4.6.2 Removable Drives ......................................................... 4-31 4.6.3 Boot Settings ConîÂÂguration ......................................... 4-32 4.6.4 Security ......................................................................... 4-33 4.7 T ools menu ................................................................................. 4-35 4.7.1 ASUS O.C. ProîÂÂle ......................................................... 4-35 4.7.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 .......................................................... 4-37 4.7.3 Express Gate Lite ......................................................... 4-38 4.8 Exit menu .................................................................................... 4-39 Chapter 5: Software support 5.1 Installing an operating system ................................................... 5-1 5.2 Support DVD information ............................................................ 5-1 5.2.1 Running the support DVD ............................................... 5-1 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
vi Contents 5.2.7 Other information ............................................................ 5-7 5.3 Software information ................................................................... 5-9 5.3.1 ASUS MyLogo2⢠........................................................... 5-9 5.3.2 Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠T echnology ..........................................5-1 1 5.3.3 Audio conîÂÂgurations ..................................................... 5-14 5.3.4 ASUS PC Probe II ......................................................... 5-18 5.3.5 ASUS AI Suite ............................................................... 5-24 5.3.6 ASUS AI Gear 2 ............................................................ 5-26 5.3.7 ASUS AI Nap ................................................................ 5-27 5.3.8 ASUS Q-Fan 2 .............................................................. 5-28 5.3.9 ASUS AI Booster ........................................................... 5-29 5.3.10 ASUS Express Gate Lite ............................................... 5-30 5.4 RAID conîÂÂgurations .................................................................. 5-37 5.4.1 RAID deîÂÂnitions ............................................................ 5-37 5.4.2 NVIDIA î RAID conîÂÂgurations ........................................ 5-38 5.5 Creating a RAID driver disk ....................................................... 5-45 5.5.1 Creating a RAID driver disk without entering the OS .... 5-45 5.5.2 Creating a RAID/SA T A driver disk in Windows î ............ 5-45 Chapter 6: NVIDIA î SLI⢠technology support 6.1 Overview ....................................................................................... 6-1 Requirements ................................................................................. 6-1 6.2 Dual graphics card setup ............................................................ 6-2 6.2.1 Installing SLI-ready graphics cards ................................. 6-2 6.2.2 Installing the device drivers ............................................. 6-5 6.2.3 Enabling the multi-GPU feature in Windows î ................. 6-5
vii 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. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with manufacturer âÂÂs instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However , there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: ⢠Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. ⢠Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver . ⢠Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit dif ferent from that to which the receiver is connected. ⢠Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. Canadian Department of Communications Statement This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications. This class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003. The use of shielded cables for connection of the monitor to the graphics card is required to assure compliance with FCC regulations. Changes or modiîÂÂcations to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user âÂÂs authority to operate this equipment.
viii Safety information Electrical safety ⢠T o 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. ⢠Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard, ensure that all power cables are unplugged. ⢠Seek professional assistance before using an adpater or extension cord. These devices could interrupt the grounding circuit. ⢠Make sure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your area. If you are not sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you are using, contact your local power company . ⢠If the power supply is broken, do not try to îÂÂx it by yourself. Contact a qualiîÂÂed service technician or your retailer . Operation safety ⢠Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully read all the manuals that came with the package. ⢠Before using the product, make sure all cables are correctly connected and the power cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage, contact your dealer immediately . ⢠T o avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from connectors, slots, sockets and circuitry . ⢠A void dust, humidity , and temperature extremes. Do not place the product in any area where it may become wet. ⢠Place the product on a stable surface. ⢠If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualiîÂÂed service technician or your retailer . This symbol of the crossed out wheeled bin indicates that the product (electrical, electronic equipment, and mercury-containing button cell battery) should not be placed in municipal waste. Check local regulations for disposal of electronic products.
ix About this guide This user guide contains the information you need when installing and conîÂÂguring 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. It includes description of the switches, jumpers, and connectors on the motherboard. ⢠Chapter 3: Powering up This chapter describes the power up sequence and ways of shutting down the system. ⢠Chapter 4: BIOS setup This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS Setup menus. Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided. ⢠Chapter 5: Software support This chapter describes the contents of the support DVD that comes with the motherboard package and the software. ⢠Chapter 6: NVIDIA SLI⢠technology support This chapter describes the NVIDIA SLI⢠feature and shows the graphics card installation procedures. Where to îÂÂnd more information Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and software updates. 1. ASUS websites The ASUS website provides updated information on ASUS hardware and software products. Refer to the ASUS contact information. 2. Optional documentation Y our product package may include optional documentation, such as warra nty îÂÂyers, that may have been added by your dealer . These documents are not part of the standard package.
x Conventions used in this guide T o make sure that you perform certain tasks properly , take note of the following symbols used throughout this manual. T ypography Bold text Indicates a menu or an item to select. Italics Used to emphasize a word or a phrase. <Key> Key s en clos ed i n th e le ss-t han and grea ter- than sig n mea ns t hat you must pre ss t he e nclo sed key. Example: <Enter> means that you must press the Enter or Return key . <Key1 Key2 Key3> If you must press two or more keys simultaneously , the key names are linked with a plus sign ( ). Example: <Ctrl Alt D> Command Means that you must type the command exactly as shown, then supply the required item or value enclosed in brackets. Example: At the DOS prompt, type the command line: afudos /i /i M3N-HD.ROM DANGER/W ARNING: 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. NOTE: T ips and additional information to help you complete a task. IMPORT ANT : Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task.
xi M3N-HD/HDMI speciî¿cations summary (continued on the next page) CPU AMD î Socket AM2 Phenom⢠FX / Phenom⢠/ Athlon⢠/ Sempron⢠processors AMD î Socket AM2 Athlon Series / Sempron processors AMD Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet⢠T echnology Chipset NVIDIA î nForce 750a SLI System bus Up to 5200 MT/s; HyperT ransport⢠3.0 interface for AM2 CPU 2000 / 1600 MT/s for AM2 CPU Memory Dual-channel memory architecture - 4 x 240-pin DIMM sockets support unbufferred ECC/non-ECC DDR2 1066*/800/667 MHz memory modules - Supports up to 8 GB system memory *DDR2 1066 is supported by some of the AM2 CPUs only . Refer to www.asus.com for the supported CPU models and the Memory QVL (QualiîÂÂed V endors Lists). VGA Integrated NVIDIA î GPU - Maximum shared memory of 512MB - Supports HDMI⢠T echnology with HDCP compliant with max. resolution up to 1920 x 1200 - Supports D-Sub with max. resolution up to 1920 x 1440 @ 75 Hz - Multi VGA output support: HDMI/DVI & D-Sub - Hybrid SLI Support (For Windows Vista only) - Supports PCIe 2.0/1.0 architecture Expansion slots 2 x PCIe x16 slots @ dual x8 mode 2 x PCIe x1 slots 2 x PCI 2.2 slots Storage 1 x Ultra DMA 133/100 interface 6 x SA T A 3.0 Gb/s connectors supporting RAID 0, 1, 0 1, 5, and JBOD conîÂÂguration LAN Atheros î F1 Phy Gigabit LAN controller High DeîÂÂnition audio Realtek î ALC1200 8-channel High DeîÂÂnition audio CODEC - Supports Jack-Detection and Multi-Streaming - Coaxial S/PDIF Out port at back I/O IEEE 1394 LSI î FW322 controller supports 2 x IEEE 1394a ports (1 at mid-board; 1 on the rear panel) USB 12 x USB 2.0 ports (6 at mid-board; 6 on the rear panel)
xii ASUS AI Lifestyle unique features ASUS Express Gate Lite: - Web browser , îÂÂle downloading and uploading* - Further free features upgradable * File downloading and uploading through USB devices only . ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution: - ASUS 4 1 Phase Power Design - ASUS AI Gear 2 - ASUS AI Nap - ASUS Fanless Design: Heat-pipe solution - ASUS Q-Fan 2 ASUS Crystal Sound - ASUS Noise Filter ASUS EZ DIY - ASUS Q-Shield - ASUS Q-Connector - ASUS O.C. ProîÂÂle - ASUS EZ Flash 2 Other features ASUS MyLogo 2⢠ASUS exclusive overclocking features Intelligent overclocking tools: - AI Overclocking (intelligent CPU frequency tuner) - ASUS AI Booster utility Precision T weaker: - vCore: Adjustable CPU voltage at 0.0125V increment - vDIMM: 8-step DRAM voltage control - vChipset: 4-step Chipset voltage control SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection): - FSB tuning from 200MHz up to 600MHz at 1MHz increment - Memory tuning from 533MHz up to 1066MHz - PCI Express frequency tuning from 100MHz to 200 MHz at 1MHz increment Overclocking protection: - ASUS C.P .R. (CPU Parameter Recall) (continued on the next page) M3N-HD/HDMI speciî¿cations summary
xiii M3N-HD/HDMI speciî¿cations summary Rear panel I/O ports 1 x PS/2 keyboard port (purple) 1 x S/PDIF Out (Coaxial) 1 x HDMI Out 1 x IEEE 1394a port 1 x LAN (RJ-45) 6 x USB 2.0/1.1 8-channel audio I/O Internal I/O connectors 3 x USB connectors support additional 6 USB ports 1 x Floppy disk drive connector 1 x COM connector 1 x IDE connector 6 x SA T A connectors 1 x CPU Fan connector 1 x Chassis Fan connector 1 x Power Fan connector 1 x IEEE1394a connector 1 x Front panel audio connector 1 x S/PDIF Out Header 1 x VGA connector 1 x Chassis Intrusion connector 1 x CD audio in 1 x 24-pin A TX Power connector 1 x 4-pin A TX 12V Power connector 1 x System Panel (Q-Connector) BIOS features 8 Mb Flash ROM, Award BIOS, PnP , DMI 2.0, WfM2.0, SM B IOS 2.3, ACPI 2.0a , ASUS E Z Fla sh 2 Support DVD contents Drivers Express Gate Lite ASUS PC Probe II ASUS Update Anti-virus Utility (OEM version) Form factor A TX form factor: 12 in x 9.6 in (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm) *SpeciîÂÂcations are subject to change without notice.
xiv
1 Chapter 1: Product introduction This chapter describes the motherboard features and the new technologies it supports.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI Chapter summary 1 1.1 Welcome! ...................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Package contents ......................................................................... 1-1 1.3 Special features ............................................................................ 1-2
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 1-1 1.1 Welcome! Thank you for buying an ASUS î M3N-HD/HDMI 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 . If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer . 1.2 Package contents Check your motherboard package for the following items. Motherboard ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI Cables 1 x ASUS SLI bridge cable Serial A T A power cable for 4 devices Serial A T A power cable for 4 devices Serial A T A signal cable for 6 devices 1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 cable 1 x Floppy disk drive cable Accessories 1 x ASUS Q- Shie ld 1 x ASUS Q- Shi eld ASUS Q-S hiel d 1 x ASUS Q-Connector Kit (USB, 1394, system panel; Retail version only) 1 x D-Sub connector module 1 x HDMI to DVI convertor 1 x USB module supporting 2 ports Application DVD ASUS motherboard support DVD Documentation User guide
1-2 Chapter 1: Product Introduction 1.3 Special features 1.3.1 Product highlights Green ASUS This motherboard and its packaging comply with the European UnionâÂÂs 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 consumersâ health while minimizing the impact on the environment. AMD î Socket AM2 Phenom⢠FX / Phenom / Athlon⢠/ Sempron⢠CPU support This motherboard supports AMD î Socket AM2 multi-core processors with unique L3 cache and delivers better overclocking capabilities with less power consumption. It features dual-channel DDR2 1066 memory support and accelerates data transfer rate up to 5200MT/s via HyperT ransport⢠3.0 based system bus. See page 2-6 for details. HyperT ransport⢠3.0 support HyperT ransport⢠3.0 technology provides 2.6 times more bandwidth than HyperT ransport⢠1.0, radically improving system efîÂÂciency to create a smoother , faster computing environment. AMD î Socket AM2 Athlon⢠Series / Sempron⢠CPU support This motherboard supports AMD î Socket AM2 Athlon⢠Series / Sempron⢠processors. It features 2000 / 1600 MT/s HyperT ransportâ¢-based system bus, dual-channel un-buffered DDR2 800 memory support, and AMD î Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet⢠T echnology . See page 2-6 for details. NVIDIA î nForce 750a Chipset NVIDIA î nForce 750a Chipset is designed to support up to 5200MT/s HyperT ransport⢠3.0 (HT 3.0) interface speed and dual PCI Express⢠2.0 x16 graphics. It is optimized with AMD î âÂÂs latest AM2 and multi-core CPUs to provide excellent system performance and overclocking capabilities. Native DDR2 1066 support This motherboard provides native DDR2 1066 support. It provides faster data transfer rate and more bandwidth to increase memory computing efîÂÂciency , enhancing system performance in 3D graphics and other memory demanding applications. See page 2-1 1 for details. DDR2 1066 is supported by some of the AM2 CPUs only . Refer to www .asus. com for the supported CPU models.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 1-3 NVIDIA î Hybrid SLI T echnology Hybrid SLI⢠T echnology is a unique hybrid multi-GPU technology . It includes two primary features: GeForce Boost and HybridPowerâ¢. GeForce Boost turbo-charges performance of discrete graphics cards when combined with M3N series motherboard GPUs. HybridPower⢠unleashes graphics performance for demanding 3D applications and enables low-power operation for everyday computing needs. Y ou can switch from the discrete GeForce GPU(s) to the motherboard GPU for a quiet, low power PC experience. See page 2-19 for details. Geforce Boost and HybridPower⢠are independent on select GeForce GPUs. Visit www .nvidia.com/hybridsli for more information. HDMI / DVI / D-Sub Interface HDMI (High-DeîÂÂnition Multimedia Interface) is a set of digital video standards that delivers multi-channel audio and uncompressed digital video through a single cable for full HD 1080p visuals. Supporting HDCP copy protection such as HD DVD and Blu-ray Discs, HDMI provides you with the highest-quality home theater experience. DVI (Digital Visual Interface) provides high quality visuals for digital display devices like LCD monitors. See page 2-22 for details. This motherboard is bundled with an HDMI-to-DVI converter . PCIe 2.0 support This motherboard supports the latest PCIe 2.0 devices for double speed and bandwidth which enhances system performance. See page 2-18 for details. Serial A T A 3.0 Gb/s technology This motherboard supports the next-generation hard disk drives based on the Serial A T A (SA T A) 3Gb/s storage speciîÂÂcations, delivering enhanced scalability and doubling the bus bandwidth for high-speed data retrieval and save. It allows RAID 0, 1, 0 1, 5 and JBOD conîÂÂgurations for two SA T A connectors. See page 2-26 for details. IEEE 1394a support The IEEE 1394a interface provides high speed digital interface for audio/video appliances such as digital television, digital video camcorders, storage peripherals, and other PC portable devices. See page 2-21 and 2-28 for details.
1-4 Chapter 1: Product Introduction S/PDIF digital sound ready This motherboard provides convenient connectivity to external home theater audio systems via the coaxial S/PDIF (SONY -PHILIPS Digital Interface) Out jack. It allows digital audio transferring without converting it to analog format, and therefore well preserves signal quality . See page 2-22 and 2-34 for details. High DeîÂÂnition Audio Enjoy high-end sound quality on your PC! The onboard 8-channel HD audio (High DeîÂÂnition Audio, previously codenamed Azalia) CODEC enables high-quality 192KHz/24-bit audio output that simultaneously sends different audio streams to different destinations. Y ou can now talk to your partners on the headphones while playing multi-channel network games. See pages 2-21 and 2-22 for details. 1.3.2 ASUS AI Lifestyle unique features ASUS Express Gate Lite Just 5 seconds to boot up, the ASUS Express Gate Lite allows you to instantly surf the Internet without entering Windows. Y ou can now enjoy Skype, IM, Y ouTube, webmail and Internet îÂÂle downloads and sharing whenever and wherever you want! See page 5-30 to 5-36 for details . ⢠ASUS Express Gate Lite supports USB devices or SA T A HDDs (IDE mode) only . Set the SA T A Operation Mode item in the BIOS to [IDE] before installing and using ASUS Express Gate Lite. ⢠Currently , ASUS Express Gate Lite DOES NOT support P A T A IDE HDDs. Visit www .asus.com for future BIOS and Express Gate Lite software updates. ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution ASUS Quiet Thermal solution makes system more stable and enhances the overclocking capability . AI Gear 2 AI Gear 2 allows you to choose from proîÂÂles to adjust CPU frequency and vCore voltage, minimizing system noise and saving CPU power consumption at most. Y ou can real-time chnage the mode under operating system to suit your needs. See page 5-26 for details.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 1-5 AI Nap With AI Nap, the system can continue running at minimum power and noise when you are temporarily away . T o wake the system and return to the OS environment, simply click the mouse or press a key . See page 5-27 for details. Q-Fan 2 ASUS Q-Fan2 technology intelligently adjusts both CPU fan and chassis fan speeds according to system loading to ensure quiet, cool and efîÂÂcient operation. See pages 4-29 and 5-28 for details. 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 airîÂÂow 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-îÂÂow fan or passive cooler . The Heat Pipe design is the most reliable fanless thermal solution to date. DO NOT uninstall the heat-pipe by yourself. Doing so may bend the tubing and affect the heat dissipation performance. ASUS Crystal Sound This feature can enhance speech-centric applications like Skype, online game, video conference and recording. Noise Filter This feature detects repetitive and stationary noises (non-voice signals) like computer fans, air conditioners, and other background noises then eliminates it in the incoming audio stream while recording. See page 5-17 for details. ASUS EZ DIY ASUS EZ DIY feature collection provides you easy ways to install computer components, update the BIOS or back up your favorite settings.
1-6 Chapter 1: Product Introduction ASUS Q-Shield The specially designed ASUS Q-Shield does without the usual âÂÂîÂÂngersâÂÂâ making it convenient and easy to install. With better electric conductivity , it ideally protects your motherboard against static electricity and shields it against Electronic Magnetic Interference (EMI). ASUS Q-Connector ASUS Q-Connector allows you to easily connect or disconnect the chassis front panel cables to the motherboard. This unique module eliminates the trouble of connecting the system panel cables one at a time and avoiding wrong cable connections. See page 2-36 for details. ASUS O.C. ProîÂÂle The motherboard features the ASUS O.C. ProîÂÂle that allows users to conveniently store or load multiple BIOS settings. The BIOS settings can be stored in the CMOS or a separate îÂÂle, giving users freedom to share and distribute their favorite settings. See page 4-35 for details. ASUS EZ Flash 2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 is a user-friendly BIOS update utility . Simply press the predeîÂÂned hotkey to launch the utility and update the BIOS without entering the OS. Update your BIOS easily without preparing a bootable diskette or using an OS-based îÂÂash utility . See page 4-5 and 4-37 for details. Smart Support DVD This feature provides a checklist that allows the user to know which drivers are already installed, as well as those that are not. When using ASUS PC Probe II, you can easily monitor the critical components of the computer . ASUS MyLogo 2⢠This feature allows you to convert your favorite photo into a 256-color boot logo for a more colorful and vivid image on your screen. See pages 4-33 and 5-9 for details.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 1-7 1.3.3 ASUS intelligent performance and overclocking features Precision T weaker This feature allows you to îÂÂne tune the CPU/memory voltage and gradually increase the memory , Front Side Bus (FSB) and PCI Express frequency at 1MHz increment to achieve maximum system performance. AI Booster The ASUS AI Booster allows you to overclock the CPU speed in Windows environment without the hassle of booting the BIOS. See page 5-29 for details. C.P .R. (CPU Parameter Recall) The C.P .R. feature of the motherboard BIOS allows automatic re-setting to the BIOS default settings in case the system hangs due to overclocking. When the system hangs due to overclocking, C.P .R. eliminates the need to open th e system chassis and clear the RTC data. Simply shut down and reboot the system, and the BIOS automatically restores the CPU default setting for each parameter .
1-8 Chapter 1: Product Introduction
2 Chapter 2: Hardware information 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.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 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 ......................................................................... 2-1 1 2.5 Expansion slots .......................................................................... 2-16 2.6 Jumper ........................................................................................ 2-20 2.7 Connectors ................................................................................. 2-21
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-1 Onboard LED The motherboard comes with a standby power LED. The green LED lights up to indicate that the system is ON, in sleep mode, or in soft-off mode. This is a reminder that you should shut down the system and unplug the power cable before removing or plugging in any motherboard component. The illustration below shows the location of the onboard LED. 2.1 Before you proceed T ake note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change any motherboard settings. ⢠Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any component. ⢠Use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or to a metal object, such as the power supply case, before handling components to avoid damaging them due to static electricity . ⢠Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them. ⢠Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded antistatic pad or in the bag that came with the component. ⢠Before you install or remove any component, ensure that the A TX power supply is switched off or the power cord is detached from the power supply . Failure to do so may cause severe damage to the motherboard, peripherals, and/or components. M3N-HD/HDMI î SB_PWR ON Standy Power Powered Off OFF M3N-HD/HDMI Onboard LED
2-2 Chapter 2: Hardware information 2.2 Motherboard overview Before you install the motherboard, study the conîÂÂguration of your chassis to ensure that the motherboard îÂÂts into it. 2.2.1 Placement direction When installing the motherboard, make sure that you place it into the chassis in the correct orientation. The edge with external ports goes to the rear part of the chassis as indicated in the image below . 2.2.2 Screw holes Place nine (9) screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the motherboard to the chassis. Place this side towards the rear of the chassis 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. Do not overtighten the screws! Doing so can damage the motherboard. M3N-HD/HDMI î
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-3 2.2.3 Motherboard layout 24.5cm (9.6in) 30.5cm (12.0in) M3N-HD/HDMI î DDR DIMM_A1 (64bit, 240-pin module) DDR DIMM_B1 (64bit, 240-pin module) DDR DIMM_A2 (64bit, 240-pin module) DDR DIMM_B2 (64bit, 240-pin module) PCIEX16_1 PCIEX16_2 FLOPPY CD ALC883 Attansic F1 AAFP SPDIF_OUT CHA_FAN1 PWR_FAN COM1 IE1394_2 USB78 BIOS USB910 VGA USB1112 CLRTC PRI_IDE SATA2 SATA4 SATA1 SATA3 SATA5 SATA6 CHASSIS PANEL SB_PWR PCI1 PCI2 PCIEX1_1 PCIEX1_2 ATX12V EATXPWR CPU_FAN KB_USB56 F_USB34 HDMI SPDIF_O1 LAN1_USB12 AUDIO NVIDIA î nForce 750a SLI Super I/O agere L-FW3227 SOCKET AM2 Lithium Cell CMOS Power Refer to 2.7 Connectors for more information about rear panel connectors and internal connectors.
2-4 Chapter 2: Hardware information 2.2.4 Layout contents Slots Page 1. DDR2 DIMM slots 2-1 1 2. PCI slots 2-18 3. PCI Express x1 slots 2-18 4. PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot (blue) 2-18 5. Universal PCI Express x16 slot (black) 2-18 Jumper Page Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLR TC) 2-20 Rear panel connectors Page 1. PS/2 keyboard port (purple) 2-21 2. IEEE 1394a port 2-21 3. LAN (RJ-45) port. 2-21 4. Center/Subwoofer port (orange) 2-21 5. Rear Speaker Out port (black) 2-21 6. Line In port (light blue) 2-21 7. Line Out port (lime) 2-21 8. Microphone port (pink) 2-21 9. Side Speaker Out port (gray) 2-21 10. USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2 2-22 1 1. USB 2.0 ports 3 and 4 2-22 12. HDMI Out port 2-22 13. Coaxial S/PDIF Out port 2-22 14. USB 2.0 ports 5 and 6 2-22
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-5 Internal connectors Page 1. Floppy disk drive connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY) 2-24 2. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE) 2-25 3. nVIDIA î nForce 750a SLI Serial A T A connectors (7-pin SA T A1-6) 2-26 4. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB78, USB910, USB1 1 12) USB connectors (10-1 pin USB78, USB910, USB1 1 12) 2-27 5. IEEE 1394a port connector (10-1 pin IE1394_2) IEEE 139 4a port connector (10-1 pin IE1394_2) 2-28 6. CPU, chassis, and power fan connectors (4-pin CPU_F AN; 3-pin CHA_F AN1; 3-pin PWR_F AN) 2-29 7. Chassis intrusion connector (4-1 pin CHASSIS) 2-30 8. AT X pow er c on nec to rs (24-pin EA TXPWR; 4-pin A TX12V) 2-31 9. Front panel audio co nn ect or (10-1 pin AAFP) 2-32 10. Optical drive audio co nn ect or (4-pin CD) 2-33 1 1. Serial port co nn ect or (10-1 pin COM1) 2-33 12. Digital audio co nn ect or (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT) 2-34 13. Video Graphics Adapter (VGA) connector (16-pin VGA) 2-34 14. System panel connector (20-8-pin P ANEL) 2-35 15. ASUS Q-Connector (system panel) 2-36
2-6 Chapter 2: Hardware information 2.3.1 Installing the CPU T o install a CPU: 1. Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard. Make sure that the socket lever is lifted up to a 90ú angle; otherwise, the CPU will not îÂÂt in completely . 2. Unlock the socket by pressing the lever sideways, then lift it up to a 90ú angle. 2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) The motherboard comes with an AM2 /AM2 socket designed for AMD AM2 /AM2 socket designed for AMD socket designed for AMD AMD î Socket AM2 Phenom⢠FX / Phenom / Athlon⢠/ Sempron⢠processors or for Socket Phenom⢠FX / Phenom / Athlon⢠/ Sempron⢠processors or for Socket AM2 Athlon series / Sempron processors. Socket lever The AM2 /AM2 socket has a different pinout from the 940-pin socket designed for the AMD Opteron processor . Make sure you use a CPU designed for the AM2 /AM2 socket. The CPU îÂÂts in only one correct orientation. DO NOT force the CPU into the socket to prevent bending the connectors on the socket and damaging the CPU! M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI CPU SOCKET AM2
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-7 3. Position the CPU above the socket such that the CPU corner with the gold triangle matches the socket corner with a small triangle. 4. Carefully insert the CPU into the socket until it îÂÂts in place. 5. When the CPU is in place, push down the socket lever to secure the CPU. The lever clicks on the side tab to indicate that it is locked. 6. Install a CPU heatsink and fan following the instructions that came with the heatsink package. Gold triangle Small triangle
2-8 Chapter 2: Hardware information 2.3.2 Installing the heatsink and fan The AMD î Phenom⢠FX / Phenom / Athlonâ¢/ Sempron⢠processor requires a Phenom⢠FX / Phenom / Athlonâ¢/ Sempron⢠processor requires a processor requires a specially designed heatsink and fan assembly to ensure optimum thermal condition and performance. T o install the CPU heatsink and fan: 1. Place the heatsink on top of the installed CPU, making sure that the heatsink îÂÂts properly on the retention module base. Retention module base CPU heatsink CPU fan Retention bracket lock Retention bracket Y our boxed CPU heatsink and fan assembly should come with installation instructions for the CPU, heatsink, and the retention mechanism. If the instructions in this section do not match the CPU documentation, follow the latter . Make sure that you use only AMD-certiîÂÂed heatsink and fan assembly . ⢠The retention module base is already installed on the motherboard upon purchase. ⢠Y ou do not have to remove the retention module base when installing the CPU or installing other motherboard components. ⢠If you purchased a separate CPU heatsink and fan assembly , make sure that a Thermal Interface Material is properly applied to the CPU heatsink or CPU before you install the heatsink and fan assembly .
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-9 2. Attach one end of the retention bracket to the retention module base. 3. Align the other end of the retention bracket (near the retention bracket lock) to the retention module base. A clicking sound denotes that the retention bracket is in place. 4. Push down the retention bracket lock on the retention mechanism to secure the heatsink and fan to the module base. Make sure that the fan and heatsink assembly perfectly îÂÂts the retention mechanism module base, otherwise you cannot snap the retention bracket in place.
2-10 Chapter 2: Hardware information 5. When the fan and heatsink assembly is in place, connect the CPU fan cable to the connector on the motherboard labeled CPU_F AN. ⢠Do not forget to connect the CPU fan connector! Hardware monitoring errors can occur if you fail to plug this connector . ⢠This connector is backward compatiable with old 3-pin CPU fan. M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI CPU fan connector CPU_F AN CPU FAN PWM CPU FAN IN CPU FAN PWR GND
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-1 1 2.4 System memory 2.4.1 Overview The motherboard comes with four Double Data Rate 2 (DDR2) Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMM) sockets. The îÂÂgure illustrates the location of the DDR2 DIMM sockets: Channel Sockets Channel A DIMM_A1 and DIMM_A2 Channel B DIMM_B1 and DIMM_B2 M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI 240-pin DDR2 DIMM sockets 2.4.2 Memory conîÂÂgurations Y ou may install 512 MB, 1 GB, and 2 GB unbuffered ECC and non-ECC DDR2 DIMMs into the DIMM sockets. Recommended Memory ConîÂÂgurations Mode Sockets DIMM_A1 (yellow) DIMM_A2 (black) DIMM_B1 (yellow) DIMM_B2 (black) Single-Channel â â Populated â Populated â â â Dual-channel (1) Populated â Populated â Dual-channel (2) Populated Populated Populated Populated
2-12 Chapter 2: Hardware information This motherboard can support 4 GB physical memory on the operating systems listed below . Y ou may install a maximum of 2 GB DIMMs on each slot. 64-bit Windows î XP Professional x64 Edition Windows î Vista x64 Edition Always use identical DDR2 DIMM pairs for dual channel mode. For optimum compatibility , it is recommended that you obtain memory modules from the same vendor . Visit the ASUS website (www .asus.com) for the latest QualiîÂÂed V endors list. Important notice on installing Windows î XP 32-bit version If you install Windows î XP 32-bit version Operating System (OS), the limitation of this OS version is that it may reserve a certain amount of memory space for system devices. We recommend that you install less than 3 GB system memory if you would like to work under Windows î XP 32-bit version OS. The excess memory installation will not cause any usage problem, but it will not give users the beneîÂÂt of manipulating this excess memory space. Visit the ASUS FAQ site for further explanation: http://support.asus.com/faq/faq. aspx?SLanguage=en-us Under General Search, make the selections as shown, then click Search. Click the article titled â 4GB memory installed but less memory size detected. â Y ou also may check the URLs below for third party comments on this issue: http://dlsvr01.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/4GB_Rev1.pdf http:/ /www .inte l.co m/sup port /moth erbo ards/ serv er/sb /cs- 01659 4.ht m
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-13 M3N-HD/HDMI Motherboard QualiîÂÂed V endors Lists (QVL) DDR2-800MHz capability for AM2 CPU Size V endor Chip No. CL Chip Brand SS/ DS Part No. DIMM socket support (Optional) A* B* C* 512MB KINGSTON K4T51083QC 5 SEC SS KVR800D2N5/512 ⢠⢠⢠1GB KINGSTON Heat-Sink Package 4-4-4-12 N/A SS KHX6400D2LLK2/1GN ⢠⢠1GB KINGSTON V59C1512804QBF25 N/A N/A DS KVR800D2N5/1G ⢠⢠1GB KINGSTON Heat-Sink Package N/A N/A SS KHX6400D2ULK2/1G ⢠512MB Qimonda HYB18T512800BF25F 5-5-5 N/A SS HYS64T64000HU-25F-B ⢠⢠512MB Hynix HY5PS12821CFP-S5 5-5-5 Hynix SS HYMP564U64CP8-S5 ⢠⢠1GB Hynix HY5PS12821CFP-S5 5-5-5 Hynix DS HYMP512U64CP8-S5 ⢠⢠⢠512MB MICRON D9GKX N/A N/A SS MT8HTF6464A Y -80ED4 ⢠⢠1GB CORSAIR Heat-Sink Package 4 N/A DS CM2X1024-6400C4 ⢠⢠1GB Crucial Heat-Sink Package 4 N/A DS BL12864AL804.16FD3 ⢠⢠1GB Crucial Heat-Sink Package 4 N/A DS BL12864AA804.16FD3 ⢠⢠1GB Apacer Heat-Sink Package 5 N/A DS AHU01GE800C5K1C ⢠1GB A-DA T A AD26908A8A-25EG N/A N/A DS M2OAD6G3I4170I1E58 ⢠⢠⢠512MB KINGMAX KKA8FEIBF-HJK-25A N/A KINGMA X SS KLDC28F-A8KI5 ⢠⢠1GB KINGMAX KKA8FEIBF-HJK-25A N/A KINGMA X DS KLDD48F-ABKI5 ⢠⢠512MB Super T alent Heat-Sink Package N/A N/A SS T800UA12C4 ⢠⢠1GB Super T alent Heat-Sink Package N/A N/A DS T800UB1GC4 ⢠512MB NANY A NT5TU64M8BE-25C 5 NANY A SS NT512T64U880BY -25C ⢠⢠1GB NANY A NT5TU64M8BE-25C 5 NANY A DS NT1GT64U8HB0BY -25C ⢠⢠⢠1GB NANY A NT5TU64M8CE-25D N/A NANY A DS NT1GT64U8HCOBY-25D ⢠⢠⢠512MB PSC A3R1 2E3HEF 641B9 A05 5 PSC SS AL6E8E63B8E1K ⢠⢠⢠1GB PSC A3R1 2E3HEF 641B9 A05 5 PSC DS AL7E8E63B-8E1K ⢠⢠⢠1GB Elixir N2TU51280BE-25C N/A Elixir DS M2Y1G64TU8HB0B-25C â¢
2-14 Chapter 2: Hardware information M3N-HD/HDMI Motherboard QualiîÂÂed V endors Lists (QVL) DDR2-667MHz capability for AM2 CPU Size V endor Chip No. CL Chip Brand SS/ DS Part No. DIMM socket support (Optional) A* B* C* 512MB KINGSTON D6408TEBGGL3U 5 KI NGST ON SS KVR667D2N5/512 ⢠⢠⢠256MB KINGSTON 6SBI2D9DCG 5 MICRON SS KVR667D2N5/256 ⢠2GB KINGSTON E1 108AB-6E-E N/A ELPIDA DS KVR667D2N5/2G ⢠⢠⢠512MB Qimonda HYB18T512800BF3S(ECC) 5-5-5 N/A SS HYS72T64000HU-3S-B ⢠1GB Qimonda HYB18T512800BF3S(ECC) 5-5-5 N/A DS HYS72T128020HU-3S-B ⢠512MB Qimonda HYB18T512800BF3S 5 N/A SS HYS64T64000HU-3S-B ⢠⢠1GB Qimonda HYB18T512800BF3S 5 N/A DS HYS64T128020HU-3S-B ⢠⢠512MB SAMSUNG K4T51 163QE-ZCE6 5 SAMSUNG DS M378T3354EZ3-CE6 ⢠⢠256MB SAMSUNG K4T51083QE 5 SAMSUNG SS M378T6553EZS-CE6 ⢠1GB SAMSUNG K4T51083QE 5 SAMSUNG DS M378T2953EZ3-CE6 ⢠256MB Hynix HY5PS121621CFP-Y5 5 Hynix SS HYMP532U64CP6-Y5 ⢠⢠1GB Hynix HY5PS12821CFP-Y5 5 Hynix DS HYMP512U64CP8-Y5 ⢠⢠⢠256MB CORSAIR MIII00605 N/A N/A SS VS256MB667D2 ⢠⢠512MB CORSAIR 64M8CFEG N/A N/A SS VS512MB667D2 ⢠⢠1GB CORSAIR 64M8CFEG N/A N/A DS VS1GB667D2 ⢠⢠⢠256MB ELPIDA E2508AB-6E-E 5 ELPIDA SS EBE25UC8ABFA-6E-E ⢠512MB A-DA T A AD29608A8A-3EG 5 A-DA T A SS M2OAD5G3H3166I1C52 ⢠⢠2GB A-DA T A NT5TU128M8BJ-3C N/A N/A DS M2ONY5H3J4170I1C5Z ⢠512MB crucial Heat-Sink Package 3 N/A SS BL6464AA663.8FD ⢠1GB crucial Heat-Sink Package 3 N/A DS BL12864AA663.16FD ⢠⢠⢠1GB crucial Heat-Sink Package 3 N/A DS BL12864AL664.16FD ⢠⢠1GB crucial Heat-Sink Package 3 N/A DS BL12864AA663.16FD2 ⢠1GB Apacer AM4B5708GQJS7E 5 AP ACER DS AU01GE667C5KBGC ⢠⢠256MB Kingmax N2TU51216AG-3C 5 NANYA SS KLCB68F-36KH5 ⢠512MB Kingmax KKEA88B4LAUG-29DX 5 KINGMAX SS KLCC28F-A8KB5 ⢠⢠1GB Kingmax KKEA88B4LAUG-29DX 5 KINGMAX DS KLCD48F-A8KB5 ⢠512MB Super T alent Heat-Sink Package 5 N/A SS T6UA512C5 ⢠⢠1GB Super T alent Heat-Sink Package 5 N/A DS T6UB1GC5 ⢠⢠Visit the ASUS website for the latest QVL. Side(s): SS - Single-sided DS - Double-sided DIMM support: ⢠A*: Supports one module inserted into either slot as Single-channel memory conîÂÂguration. ⢠B*: Supports two modules inserted into either the yellow slots or the black slots as one pair of Dual-channel memory conîÂÂguration. ⢠C*: Supports four modules inserted into both the yellow slots and the black slots as two pairs of Dual-channel memory conîÂÂguration.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-15 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. T o install a DIMM: 1. Unlock a DIMM socket by pressing the retaining clips outward. 2. Align a DIMM on the socket such that the notch on the DIMM matches the break on the socket. 3. Firmly insert the DIMM into the socket until the retaining clips snap back in place and the DIMM is properly seated. 2.4.4 Removing a DIMM T o remove a DIMM: 1. Simultaneously press the retaining clips outward to unlock the DIMM. 2. Remove the DIMM from the socket. ⢠A DDR2 DIMM is keyed with a notch so that it îÂÂts in only one direction. Do not force a DIMM into a socket to avoid damaging the DIMM. ⢠The DDR2 DIMM sockets do not support DDR DIMMs. DO not install DDR DIMMs to the DDR2 DIMM sockets. Support the DIMM lightly with your îÂÂngers when pressing the retaining clips. The DIMM might get damaged when it îÂÂips out with extra force. 1 2 1 DDR2 DIMM notch Unlocked retaining clip DDR2 DIMM notch 1 2 3
2-16 Chapter 2: Hardware information 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. 2.5.1 Installing an expansion card T o install an expansion card: 1. Before installing the expansion card, read the documentation that came with it and make the necessary hardware settings for the card. 2. Remove the system unit cover (if your motherboard is already installed in a chassis). 3. Remove the bracket opposite the slot that you intend to use. Keep the screw for later use. 4. Align the card connector with the slot and press îÂÂrmly until the card is completely seated on the slot. 5. Secure the card to the chassis with the screw you removed earlier . 6. Replace the system cover . 2.5.2 ConîÂÂguring an expansion card After installing the expansion card, conîÂÂgure the it by adjusting the software settings. 1. T urn on the system and change the necessary BIOS settings, if any . See Chapter 4 for information on BIOS setup. 2. Assign an IRQ to the card. Refer to the tables on the next page. 3. Install the software drivers for the expansion card. 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. When using PCI cards on shared slots, ensure that the drivers support âÂÂShare IRQâ or that the cards do not need IRQ assignments; otherwise, conîÂÂicts will arise between the two PCI groups, making the system unstable and the card inoperable.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-17 2.5.3 Interrupt assignments Standard interrupt assignments * These IRQs are usually available for ISA or PCI devices. IRQ Priority Standard function 0 1 System T imer 1 2 Keyboard Controller 2 â Redirect to IRQ#9 4 12 Communications Port (COM1)* 5 13 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering* 6 14 Floppy Disk Controller 7 15 Reserved 8 3 System CMOS/Real T ime Clock 9 4 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering* 10 5 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering* 1 1 6 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering* 12 7 Reserved 13 8 Numeric Data Processor 14 9 Primary IDE Channel IRQ assignments for this motherboard A B C D E F G H PCIE x16_1 shared shared shared shared â â â â PCIE x16_2 shared shared shared shared â â â â USB 1.0 controller 1 â â â shared â â â â USB 1.0 controller 2 â â â shared â â â â USB 1.0 controller 3 â â â shared â â â â USB 1.0 controller 4 â â â shared â â â â USB 2.0 controller â â â shared â â â â HD audio shared â â â â â â â Onboard SA T A â â â â shared â âÂÂ
2-18 Chapter 2: Hardware information 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 speciîÂÂcations. Refer to the îÂÂgure below for the location of the slots. 2.5.5 PCI Express x1 slots This motherboard supports PCI Express x1 network cards, SCSI cards and other cards that comply with the PCI Express speciîÂÂcations. Refer to the îÂÂgure below for the location of the slots. 2.5.6 PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot (blue) This motherboard supports PCI Express 2.0 x16 graphics cards that complies with the PCI Express speciîÂÂcations. Refer to the îÂÂgure below for the location of the slot. 2.5.7 Universal PCI Express x16 slot (black) This motherboard also supports a universal PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot at maximum x8 mode. The operating frequency of this slot changes, depending on the type of PCI Express card you install. Refer to the îÂÂgure below for the location of the slot. PCI Express x16_1 slot PCI_1 slot Universal PCI Express x16_2 slot PCI Express x 1_2 slot PCI_2 slot PCI Express x1_1 slot
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-19 ⢠Currently , only Windows î Vista operation system supports Hybrid SLI⢠mode. ⢠Currently , only NVIDIA î GeForce î 8500 GT and GeForce î 8400 GS graphics cards support GeForce Boost function under Hybrid SLI⢠mode. ⢠Currently , only NVIDIA î GeForce î 9800 GX2 and GeForce î 9800 GTX graphics cards support Hybrid Power function under Hybrid SLI⢠mode. ⢠Use only the onboard HDMI/DVI/D-Sub port for video signal output when activating the Hybird Power function under Hybrid SLI⢠mode. ⢠Visit www .nvidia.com/hybridsli for more information about Hybrid SLI⢠support. ⢠If you install two VGA cards, we recommend that you plug the rear chassis fan cable to the motherboard connector labeled CHA_F AN1 for better thermal environment. See page 2-29 for the connector location. VGA conîÂÂguration PCI Express operating mode PCIex16_1 PCIex16_2 Single VGA/PCIe card x16 x8 Dual VGA/PCIe card x8 x8
2-20 Chapter 2: Hardware information 2.6 Jumper Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC) This jumper allows you to clear the Real T ime Clock (R TC) RAM in CMOS. Y ou 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. T o erase the RTC RAM: 1. T urn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord. 2. Move the jumper cap from pins 1-2 (default) to pins 2-3. Keep the cap on pins 2-3 for about 5~10 seconds, then move the cap back to pins 1-2. 3. Plug the power cord and turn ON the computer . 4. Hold down the <Del> key during the boot process and enter BIOS setup to re-enter data. M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI Clear RTC RAM 2 1 2 3 Disable (Default) Enable (Default) CLRTC ⢠Y ou do not need to clear the RTC when the system hangs due to overclocking. For system failure due to overclocking, use the C.P .R. (CPU Parameter Recall) feature. Shut down and reboot the system so the BIOS can automatically reset parameter settings to default values. ⢠Due to the chipset limitation, AC power off is required prior using C.P .R. function. Y ou must turn off and on the power supply or unplug and plug the power cord before reboot the system. Except when clearing the RTC RAM, never remove the cap on CLR TC jumper default position. Removing the cap will cause system boot failure! If the steps above do not help, remove the onboard battery and move the jumper again to clear the CMOS RTC RAM data. After the CMOS clearance, reinstall the battery .
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-21 2.7 Connectors 2.7.1 Rear panel connectors 1. PS/2 keyboard port (purple). This port is for a PS/2 keyboard. 2. IEEE 1394a port. IEEE 1394a port. This 6-pin IEEE 1394a port provides high-speed connectivity for audio/video devices, storage peripherals, PCs, or portable devices. 3. LAN (RJ-45) port. Supported by Marvell î 88E1 1 16 Gigabit LAN controller , this port allows Gigabit connection to a Local Area Network (LAN) through a network hub. Refer to the table below for the LAN port LED indications. 1 2 3 4 9 11 14 10 13 5 6 8 7 12 LAN port LED indications 4. Center/Subwoofer port (orange). This port connects the center/subwoofer speakers. 5. Rear Speaker Out port (black). This port connects the rear speakers in a 4-channel, 6-channel, or 8-channel audio conîÂÂguration. 6. Line In port (light blue). This port connects the tape, CD, DVD player , or other audio sources. 7. Line Out port (lime). This port connects a headphone or a speaker . In 4-channel, 6-channel, and 8-channel conîÂÂguration, the function of this port becomes Front Speaker Out. 8. Microphone port (pink). This port connects a microphone. 9. Side Speaker Out port (gray). This port connects the side speakers in an 8-channel audio conîÂÂguration. SPEED LED ACT/LINK LED LAN port Activity/Link LED Speed LED Status Description Status Description OFF No link OFF 10 Mbps connection ORANGE Linked ORANGE 100 Mbps connection BLINKING Data activity GREEN 1 Gbps connection Refer to the audio conîÂÂguration table on the next page for the function of the audio ports in 2, 4, 6, or 8-channel conîÂÂguration.
2-22 Chapter 2: Hardware information 10. USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2. These 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are available for connecting USB 2.0 devices. 1 1. USB 2.0 ports 3 and 4. These 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are available for connecting USB 2.0 devices. 12. HDMI Out port. This port is for a high-deîÂÂnition multimedia interface (HDMI) connector . ⢠This motherboard comes with dual-VGA outputs that features different displays on 2 monitors at the same time if you connect 2 monitors to both the onboard VGA and HDMI ports. ⢠With the bundled HDMI-to-DVI conversion adapter , this motherboard can also support DVI output. ⢠Playback of HD DVD and Blu-Ray Discs The speed and bandwidth of the CPU/Memory , DVD player, and drivers will affect the playback quality . Following is a conîÂÂguration example for your reference. Using the CPU/Memory of higher speed and bandwidth with the higher-version DVD player and drivers will upgrade the playback quality . CPU: AMD Athlon64 ADH3200IAA4DE/512KB (single core) DIMM: Kingston DDR2-800 1G x1 (BIOS share memory: 256MB) HDD: Seagate ST3160023A (A T A100) ODD: Sony BWU100A ⢠T o play HD DVD or Blu-Ray Disc, make sure to use an HDCP compliant monitor . Before enabling the HybridPower⢠function, ensure that you have connected your display to the onboard VGA port or the HDMI/DVI port at the rear panel. 13. Coaxial S/PDIF Out port. Coaxial S/PDIF Out port. This port connects an external audio output device via a coaxial S/PDIF cable. 14. USB 2.0 ports 5 and 6. These 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are available for connecting USB 2.0 devices. Audio 2, 4, 6, or 8-channel conîÂÂguration Port Headset 2-channel 4-channel 6-channel 8-channel Light Blue Line In Line In Line In Line In Lime Line Out Front Speaker Out Front Speaker Out Front Speaker Out Pink Mic In Mic In Mic In Mic In Orange â â Center/Subwoofer Center/Subwoofer Black â Rear Speaker Out Rear Speaker Ou Rear Speaker Out Gray â â â Side Speaker Out
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-23 T roubleshooting on HDTV overscaling or underscaling: If your desktop is extending beyond the viewable display area or the desktop or image is not îÂÂlling the entire display area while using the onboard HDMI out port and the HDMI cable, you can resize the desktop appearing on your HDTV screen. T o resize your HDTV desktop: 1. Install NVIDIA Chipset Driver Program from the motherboard support DVD. 2. Right-click the desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel . 3. Under Video & T elevision , select Resize HDTV desktop . 4. Select Resize my desktop and click Resize Desktop. 5. A full-screen adjustment tool appears. Use the scroll bar to resize the desktop to îÂÂt your display device. Click OK to exit. The Resize my desktop function in the NVIDIA Control Panel appears only when you are using an HDTV compliance resolution such as 480i, 720i, or 1080i.
2-24 Chapter 2: Hardware information 2.7.2 Internal connectors 1. Floppy disk drive connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY) This connector is for the provided îÂÂoppy 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 îÂÂoppy disk drive. Pin 5 on the connector is removed to prevent incorrect cable connection when using a FDD cable with a covered Pin 5. M3N-HD/HDMI î FLOPPY NOTE: Orient the red markings on the floppy ribbon cable to PIN 1. PIN1 M3N-HD/HDMI Floppy disk drive connector
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-25 M3N-HD/HDMI î PRI_IDE NOTE: Orient the red markings on the IDE ribbon cable to PIN 1. PIN1 M3N-HD/HDMI IDE connector 2. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE) The onboard IDE connector is for the Ultra DMA 133/100/66 signal cable. There are three connectors on each Ultra DMA 133/100/66 signal cable: blue, black, and gray . Connect the blue connector to the motherboardâÂÂs IDE connector , then select one of the following modes to conîÂÂgure your device. If any device jumper is set as âÂÂCable-Select,â make sure all other device jumpers have the same setting. ⢠Pin 20 on the IDE connector is removed to match the covered hole on the Ultra DMA cable connector . This prevents incorrect insertion when you connect the IDE cable. ⢠Use the 80-conductor IDE cable for Ultra DMA 100/66 IDE devices. Drive jumper setting Mode of device(s) Cable connector Single device Cable-Select or Master â Black T wo devices Cable-Select Master Black Slave Gray Master Master Black or gray Slave Slave
2-26 Chapter 2: Hardware information 3. NVIDIA î nForce 750a SLI Serial A T A connectors (7-pin SA T A1-6) These connectors are for the Serial A T A signal cables for Serial A T A hard disk and optical disk drives. If you install SA T A hard disk drives to the SA T A connectors, you can create a RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0 1, RAID 5, or JBOD conîÂÂguration through the onboard NVIDIA î nForce 750a SLI controller . M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI SA T A connectors GND RSATA_TXP5 RSATA_TXN5 GND RSATA_RXP5 RSATA_RXN5 GND SA T A5 GND RSATA_TXP2 RSATA_TXN2 GND RSATA_RXP2 RSATA_RXN2 GND SA T A2 GND RSATA_TXP1 RSATA_TXN1 GND RSATA_RXP1 RSATA_RXN1 GND SA T A1 GND RSATA_TXP4 RSATA_TXN4 GND RSATA_RXP4 RSATA_RXN4 GND SA T A4 GND RSATA_TXP6 RSATA_TXN6 GND RSATA_RXP6 RSATA_RXN6 GND SA T A6 GND RSATA_TXP3 RSATA_TXN3 GND RSATA_RXP3 RSATA_RXN3 GND SA T A3 Connect the right-angle side of SA T A signal cable to SA T A device. Or you may connect the right-angle side of SA T A cable to the onboard SA T A port to avoid mechanical conîÂÂict with huge graphics cards. right angle side ⢠SA T A 5-6 connectors support AHCI mode and RAID mode only . Make sure to install the AHCI driver or RAID driver in the bundled support DVD before connecting devices to SA T A 5-6 connectors. Otherwise, the devices will not work. ⢠Due to chipset limitation, when set any of SA T A ports to RAID mode, all SA T A ports run at RAID mode together . ⢠Y ou must install the Windows XP î Service Pack 1 before using Serial A T A hard disk drives. The Serial A T A RAID feature (RAID 0 and RAID 1) is available only if you are using Windows XP î or later version. ⢠SA T A1-4 connectors are set to [IDE] by default. If you intend to create a Serial A T A RAID set using these connectors, set the SA T A Operation Mode item in the BIOS to [RAID]. ⢠Before creating a RAID set, refer to the manual bundled in the motherboard support DVD.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-27 4. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB 78, USB910, USB1 1 12) These connectors are for USB 2.0 ports. Connect the USB module cable to any of these connectors, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis. These USB connectors comply with USB 2.0 speciîÂÂcation that supports up to 480 Mbps connection speed. Never connect a 1394 cable to the USB connectors. Doing so will damage the motherboard! M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI USB 2.0 connectors PIN 1 USB 5V USB_P8- USB_P8 GND NC USB 5V USB_P7- USB_P7 GND USB78 PIN 1 USB 5V USB_P10- USB_P10 GND NC USB 5V USB_P9- USB_P9 GND USB910 PIN 1 USB 5V USB_P12- USB_P12 GND NC USB 5V USB_P11- USB_P11 GND USB1 1 12 Y ou can connect the front panel USB cable to the ASUS Q-Connector (USB, blue) îÂÂrst, and then install the Q-Connector (USB) to the USB connector onboard if your chassis supports front panel USB ports.
2-28 Chapter 2: Hardware information 5. IEE E 13 94a port connector (10-1 pin IE1394_2) This connector is for a IEEE 1394a port. Connect the IEEE 1394a module cable to this connector , then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis. M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI IEEE 1394 connector PIN 1 TPA2- GND TPB2- 12V GND TPA2 GND TPB2 12V IE1394_2 Never connect a USB cable to the IEEE 1394a connector . Doing so will damage the motherboard! The IEEE 1394a module is purchased separately . Y ou can connect the front panel 1394 cable to the ASUS Q-Connector (1394, red) îÂÂrst, and then install the Q-Connector (1394) to the 1394 connector onboard if your chassis supports front panel 1394 ports.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-29 6. CPU, chassis, and power fan connectors (4-pin CPU_F AN; 3-pin CHA_F AN1; 3-pin PWR_F AN) 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 . Do not forget to connect the fan cables to the fan connectors. InsufîÂÂcient air îÂÂow inside the system may damage the motherboard components. These are not jumpers! Do not place jumper caps on the fan connectors! ⢠Only the CPU_F AN and CHA_F AN 1 connectors support the ASUS Q F AN2 feature. ⢠If you install two VGA cards, we recommend that you plug the rear chassis fan cable to the motherboard connector labled CHA_F AN1 for better themal environment. M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI Fan connectors CHA_F AN1 CPU_F AN PWR_F AN Rotation 12V GND GND 12V Rotation CPU FAN PWM CPU FAN IN CPU FAN PWR GND
2-30 Chapter 2: Hardware information 7. Chassis intrusion connector (4-1 pin CHASSIS) This connector is for a chassis-mounted intrusion detection sensor or switch. Connect one end of the chassis intrusion sensor or switch cable to this connector . The chassis intrusion sensor or switch sends a high-level signal to this connector when a chassis component is removed or replaced. The signal is then generated as a chassis intrusion event. By default , the pin labeled âÂÂChassis Signalâ and âÂÂGroundâ are shorted with a jumper cap. Remove the jumper caps only when you intend to use the chassis intrusion detection feature. M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI Chassis intrusion connector GND Chassis Signal 5VSB_MB CHASSIS
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-31 ⢠For a fully conîÂÂgured system, we recommend that you use a power supply unit (PSU) that complies with A TX 12 V SpeciîÂÂcation 2.0 (or later version) and provides a minimum power of 600 W . ⢠Do not forget to connect the 4-pin A TX 12 V power plug; otherwise, the system will not boot. ⢠Use of a PSU with a higher power output is recommended when conîÂÂguring a system with more power-consuming devices. The system may become unstable or may not boot up if the power is inadequate. ⢠If you are uncertain about the minimum power supply requirement for your system, refer to the Recommended Power Supply W attage Calculator at http://support.asus.com/PowerSupplyCalculator/PSCalculator . aspx?SLanguage=en-us for details. ⢠The A TX 12 V SpeciîÂÂcation 2.0-compliant (500W) PSU has been tested to support the motherboard power requirements with the following conîÂÂguration: CPU: AMD FX-62 Memory 1024 MB DDR2-800 (x4) Graphics card: PCI Express x16 NVIDIA 7900GTX Serial A T A device: SA T A hard disk drive (x2) Optical drives: DVD-RW 8. AT X po we r co nn ec to rs (24-pin EA TXPWR; 4-pin A TX12V) These connectors are for A TX power supply plugs. The power supply plugs are designed to îÂÂt these connectors in only one orientation. Find the proper orientation and push down îÂÂrmly until the connectors completely îÂÂt. M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI A TX power connectors EATXPWR PIN 1 GND 5 Volts 5 Volts 5 Volts -5 Volts GND GND GND PSON# GND -12 Volts 3 Volts 3 Volts 12 Volts 12 Volts 5V Standby Power OK GND 5 Volts GND 5 Volts GND 3 Volts 3 Volts ATX12V PIN 1 12V DC 12V DC GND GND
2-32 Chapter 2: Hardware information M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI Analog front panel connector PIN 1 AAFP GND PRESENCE# SENSE1_RETUR SENSE2_RETUR PORT1 L PORT1 R PORT2 R SENSE_SEND PORT1 L HD-audio-compliant pin definition PIN 1 AGND NC NC NC MIC2 MICPWR Line out_R NC Line out_L Legacy ACâÂÂ97 compliant definition 9. Front panel audio co nn ec to r (10-1 pin AAFP) This connector is for a chassis-mounted front panel audio I/O module that supports either HD Audio or legacy AC`97 audio standard. Connect one end of the front panel audio I/O module cable to this connector . ⢠We recommend that you connect a high-deîÂÂnition front panel audio module to this connector to avail of the motherboardâÂÂs high-deîÂÂnition audio capability . ⢠If you want to connect a high-deîÂÂnition front panel audio module to this connector , set the Front Panel Support T ype item in the BIOS setup to [HD Audio]; if you want to connect an AC'97 front panel audio module to this connector , set the item to [AC97]. By default, this connector is set to [HD Audio] . See section 4.4.6 Onboard Devices ConîÂÂguration for details.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-33 10. Optical drive audio con ne ct or (4-pin CD) These connectors allow you to receive stereo audio input from sound sources such as a CD-ROM, TV tuner , or MPEG card. M3N-HD/HDMI î CD Left Audio Channel GND GND Right Audio Channel M3N-HD/HDMI Internal audio connector 1 1. 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. The COM module is purchased separately . M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI Serial port (COM1) connector COM1
2-34 Chapter 2: Hardware information 12. Digital audio con ne ct or (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT) This connector is for an additional Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) port(s). Connect the S/PDIF Out module cable to this connector , then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis. The S/PDIF module is purchased separately . M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI Digital audio connector 5V SPDIFOUT GND SPDIF_OUT 13. Video Graphics Adapter (VGA) connector (16-pin VGA) This connector is for the onboard VGA connection, allowing you to connect a display device to your system. Connect the VGA Out module cable to this connector , then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis. M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI Onboard VGA connector For easier VGA module installation, install the VGA module to an expansion slot below the discrete graphics card. Graphics card VGA module
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-35 ⢠System power LED (2-pin PLED) This 2-pin connector is for the system power LED. Connect the chassis power LED cable to this connector . The system power LED lights up when you turn on the system power , and blinks when the system is in sleep mode. ⢠Hard disk drive activity LED (2-pin IDE_LED) This 2-pin connector is for the HDD Activity LED. Connect the HDD Activity LED cable to this connector . The IDE LED lights up or îÂÂashes when data is read from or written to the HDD. ⢠System warning speaker (4-pin SPEAKER) This 4-pin connector is for the chassis-mounted system warning speaker . The speaker allows you to hear system beeps and warnings. ⢠A TX power button/soft-off button (2-pin PWRSR) This connector is for the system power button. Pressing the power button turns the system on or puts the system in sleep or soft-off mode depending on the BIOS settings. Pressing the power switch for more than four seconds while the system is ON turns the system OFF . ⢠Reset button (2-pin RESET) This 2-pin connector is for the chassis-mounted reset button for system reboot without turning off the system power . 14. System panel connector (20-8 pin P ANEL) This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions. M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI System panel connector PIN 1 * Requires an ATX power supply PLED SPEAKER PLED PLED- 5V Ground Ground Speaker IDE_LED IDE_LED- PWR Ground Reset Ground P ANEL IDE_LED PWRSW RESET
2-36 Chapter 2: Hardware information 15. ASUS Q-Connector (system panel) Y ou can use the ASUS Q-Connector to connect/disconnect chassis front panel cables in a few steps. Refer to the instructions below to install the ASUS Q-Connector . 1. Connect the front panel cables to the ASUS Q-Connector . Refer to the labels on the Q-Connector to know the detailed pin deîÂÂnitions, then match them to the respective front panel cable labels. 2. Install the ASUS Q-Connector to the system panel connector , making sure the orientation matches the labels on the motherboard. 3. The front panel functions are now enabled. The îÂÂgure shows the Q-Connector properly installed on the motherboard.
3 Chapter 3: Powering up This chapter describes the power up sequence, the vocal POST messages, and ways of shutting down the system.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI Chapter summary 3 3.1 Starting up for the îÂÂrst time ........................................................ 3-1 3.2 T urning off the computer ............................................................. 3-2
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 3-1 3.1 Starting up for the î¿rst 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. T urn on the devices in the following order: a. Monitor b. External SCSI devices (starting with the last device on the chain) c. System power 6. After applying power , the system power LED on the system front panel case lights up. For systems with A TX power supplies, the system LED lights up when you press the A TX power button. If your monitor complies with âÂÂgreenâ standards or if it has a âÂÂpower standbyâ feature, the monitor LED may light up or switch between orange and green after the system LED turns on. The system then runs the power-on self tests or POST . While the tests are running, the BIOS beeps or additional messages appear on the screen. If you do not see anything within 3 0 seconds from the time you turned on th e power , the system may have failed a power-on test. Check the jumper settings and connections or call your retailer for assistance. 7. At power on, hold down the <Delete> key to enter the BIOS Setup. Follow the instructions in Chapter 4.
3-2 Chapter 3: Powering up 3.2 Turning off the computer 3.2.1 Using the OS shut down function If you are using Windows î XP: 1. Click the Start button then select T urn Off Computer . 2. Click the T urn Off button to shut down the computer . 3. The power supply should turn off after Windows î shuts down. If you are using Windows î Vistaâ¢: 1. Click the Start button then select ShutDown. 2. The power supply should turn off after Windows î shuts down. 3.2.2 Using the dual function power switch While the system is ON, pressing the power switch for less than four seconds puts the system to sleep mode or to soft-off mode, depending on the BIOS setting. Pressing the power switch for more than four seconds lets the system enter the soft-off mode regardless of the BIOS setting. Refer to section 4.5 Power Menu in Chapter 4 for details.
4 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 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 ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4.1 Managing and updating your BIOS ............................................ 4-1 4.2 BIOS setup program .................................................................... 4-9 4.3 Main menu .................................................................................. 4-13 4.4 Advanced menu ......................................................................... 4-18 4.5 Power menu ................................................................................ 4-27 4.6 Boot menu .................................................................................. 4-31 4.7 T ools menu ................................................................................. 4-35 4.8 Exit menu .................................................................................... 4-39
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-1 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 î environment.) 2. ASUS EZ Flash 2 (Updates the BIOS using a îÂÂoppy disk or USB îÂÂash disk.) 3. ASUS AFUDOS (Updates the BIOS using a bootable îÂÂoppy disk.) Refer to the corresponding sections for details on these utilities. Save a copy of the original motherboard BIOS îÂÂle to a bootable îÂÂoppy disk or USB îÂÂash disk in case you need to restore the BIOS in the future. Copy the original motherboard BIOS using the ASUS Update or AFUDOS utilities. Installing ASUS Update T o install ASUS Update: 1. Place the support DVD in the optical drive. The Drivers menu appears. 2. Click the Utilities tab, then click Install ASUS Update . 3. The ASUS Update utility is copied to your system. 4.1.1 ASUS Update utility The ASUS Update is a utility that allows you to manage, save, and update the motherboard BIOS in Windows î environment. The ASUS Update utility allows you to: ⢠Save the current BIOS îÂÂle ⢠Download the latest BIOS îÂÂle from the Internet ⢠Update the BIOS from an updated BIOS îÂÂle ⢠Update the BIOS directly from the Internet, and ⢠View the BIOS version information. This utility is available in the support DVD that comes with the motherboard package. ASUS Update requires an Internet connection either through a network or an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
4-2 Chapter 4: BIOS setup Quit all Windows î applications before you update the BIOS using this utility . 3. Select the ASUS FTP site nearest you to avoid network trafîÂÂc, or click Auto Select. Click Next. Updating the BIOS through the Internet T o update the BIOS through the Internet: 1. Launch the ASUS Update utility from the Windows î 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.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-3 Updating the BIOS through a BIOS îÂÂle T o update the BIOS through a BIOS îÂÂle: 1. Launch the ASUS Update utility from the Windows î desktop by clicking Start > Programs > ASUS > ASUSUpdate > ASUSUpdate . The ASUS Update main window appears. 2. Select Update BIOS from a îÂÂle option from the drop-down menu, then click Next. 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. 3. Locate the BIOS îÂÂle from the Open window , then click Open. 4. Follow the screen instructions to complete the update process. M3N-HD-HDMI M3N-HD-HDMI.rom
4-4 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.1.2 Creating a bootable îÂÂoppy disk 1. Do either one of the following to create a bootable îÂÂoppy disk. DOS environment a. Insert a 1.44MB îÂÂoppy disk into the drive. b. At the DOS prompt, type format A:/ S then press <Enter>. Windows î XP environment a. Insert a 1.44 MB îÂÂoppy disk to the îÂÂoppy disk drive. b. Click Start from the Windows î 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. e. Select Create an MS-DOS startup disk from the format options îÂÂeld, then click Start. Windows î Vista environment a. Insert a formatted, high density 1.44 MB îÂÂoppy disk to the îÂÂoppy disk drive. b. Click from the Windows î desktop, then select Computer. c. Right-click Floppy Disk Drive then click Format to display the Format 3 1/2 Floppy dialog box . d. Select the Create an MS-DOS startup disk check box. e. Click Start. 2. Copy the original or the latest motherboard BIOS îÂÂle to the bootable îÂÂoppy disk.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-5 T o update the BIOS using EZ Flash 2: 1. Visit the ASUS website (www .asus.com) to download the latest BIOS îÂÂle for the motherboard. 2. Save the BIOS îÂÂle to a îÂÂoppy disk or a USB îÂÂash disk, then restart the system. 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 îÂÂoppy disk and using a DOS-based utility . The EZ Flash 2 utility is built-in the BIOS chip so it is accessible by pressing <Alt> <F2> during the Power-On Self T ests (POST). (2) Enter BIOS setup program. Go to the T ools menu to select EZ Flash 2 and press <Enter> to enable it. Y ou can switch between drives by pressing <T ab> before the correct îÂÂle is found. Then press <Enter>. 3. Y ou can launch the EZ Flash 2 by two methods. (1) Insert the îÂÂoppy disk / USB îÂÂash disk that contains the BIOS îÂÂle to the îÂÂoppy disk drive or the USB port. Press <Alt> <F2> during POST to display the following. ⢠This function can support devices such as USB îÂÂash disk, or îÂÂoppy disk with F A T 32/16 format and single partition only . ⢠Do not shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS to prevent system boot failure! 4. When the correct BIOS îÂÂle is found, EZ Flash 2 performs the BIOS update process and automatically reboots the system when done. ASUSTek EZ Flash 2 BIOS ROM Utility B325 Current ROM Update ROM A: Note [Enter] Select or Load [B] Backup [ESC] Exit [Tab] Switch [Up/Down/Home/End] Move FLASH TYPE: EON EN25F80 8MB SPI PATH: A:\ BOARD: M3N-HD VER: 0104 DATE: 01/10/2008 BOARD: Unknown VER: Unknown DATE: Unknown
4-6 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.1.4 Updating the BIOS The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) can be updated using the A wardBIOS Flash Utility . Follow these instructions to update the BIOS using this utility . 1. Visit the ASUS website (www .asus.com) and download the latest BIOS îÂÂle for the motherboard. Save the BIOS îÂÂle to a bootable îÂÂoppy disk. Write the BIOS îÂÂlename on a piece of paper . Y ou need to type the exact BIOS îÂÂlename at the DOS prompt. 2. Copy the A wardBIOS Flash Utility (awdîÂÂash.exe) from the Software folder of the support DVD to the îÂÂoppy disk, DVD ROM or a USB îÂÂash disk with the latest BIOS îÂÂle. 3. Boot the system in DOS mode using the bootable îÂÂoppy disk, DVD ROM or a USB îÂÂash disk you created earlier . 4. Under the DOS mode, use <X:> (X stands for the name of the disk assignment) to switch to the folder of îÂÂoppy disk, DVD ROM or USB îÂÂash disk you saved the BIOS îÂÂleand A wardBIOS Flash Utility . 5. At the prompt, type awdîÂÂash then press <Enter>. The Award BIOS Flash Utility screen appears. AwardBIOS Flash Utility for ASUS V1.33 (C) Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All Rights Reserved Message: Please input File Name! For MCP72P-M3N-HD-00 DATE:01/09/2008 Flash Type - File Name to Program:
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-7 7. Press <N> when the utility prompts you to save the current BIOS îÂÂle. The following screen appears. 8. The utility veriîÂÂes the BIOS îÂÂle in the îÂÂoppy disk, DVD ROM or a USB îÂÂash disk and starts îÂÂashing the BIOS îÂÂle. Do not turn off or reset the system during the îÂÂashing process! AwardBIOS Flash Utility for ASUS V1.33 (C) Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All Rights Reserved Warning: DonâÂÂt Turn Off Power Or Reset System! 9. The utility displays a Flashing Complete message indicating that you have successfully îÂÂashed the BIOS îÂÂle. Remove the disk then press <F1> to restart the system. AwardBIOS Flash Utility for ASUS V1.33 (C) Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All Rights Reserved F1 Reset For MCP72P-M3N-HD-00 DATE:01/09/2008 Flash Type - File Name to Program: M3N-HD.bin Flashing Complete Press <F1> to Continue Write OK No Update Write Fail For MCP72P-M3N-HD-00 DATE:01/09/2008 Flash Type - File Name to Program: M3N-HD.bin Programming Flash Memory - OFE00 OK Write OK No Update Write Fail AwardBIOS Flash Utility for ASUS V1.33 (C) Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All Rights Reserved For MCP72P-M3N-HD-00 DATE:01/09/2008 Flash Type - File Name to Program: M3N-HD.bin Message: Do You Want To Save Bios (Y/N) 6. T ype the BIOS îÂÂle name in the File Name to Program îÂÂeld, then press <Enter>.
4-8 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4. The utility saves the current BIOS îÂÂle to the îÂÂoppy disk, then returns to the BIOS îÂÂashing process. 3. T ype a îÂÂlename for the current BIOS îÂÂle in the Save current BIOS as îÂÂeld, then press <Enter>. T o save the current BIOS îÂÂle using the AwardBIOS Flash Utility: 1. Follow steps 1 to 6 of the previous section. 2. Press <Y> when the utility prompts you to save the current BIOS îÂÂle. The following screen appears. 4.1.5 Saving the current BIOS îÂÂle Y ou can use the A wardBIOS Flash Utility to save the current BIOS îÂÂle. Y ou can load the current BIOS îÂÂle when the BIOS îÂÂle gets corrupted during the îÂÂashing process. AwardBIOS Flash Utility for ASUS V1.14 (C) Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All Rights Reserved Message: For MCP72P-M3N-HD-00 DATE:01/09/2008 Flash Type - File Name to Program: 0112.bin Save current BIOS as: AwardBIOS Flash Utility for ASUS V1.14 (C) Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All Rights Reserved Message: Please Wait! For MCP72P-M3N-HD-00 DATE:01/09/2008 Flash Type - File Name to Program: 0112.bin Checksum: 810DH Save current BIOS as: 0113.bin AwardBIOS Flash Utility for ASUS V1.14 (C) Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All Rights Reserved Message: Please Wait! For MCP72P-M3N-HD-00 DATE:01/09/2008 Flash Type - File Name to Program: 0113.bin Now Backup System BIOS to File! Make sure that the îÂÂoppy disk, DVD ROM or a USB îÂÂash disk has enough disk space to save the îÂÂle.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-9 4.2 BIOS setup program This motherboard supports a programmable Low-Pin Count (LPC) chip that you can update using the provided utility described in section 4.1 Managing and updating your BIOS . Use the BIOS Setup program when you are installing a motherboard, reconîÂÂguring your system, or prompted to âÂÂRun Setup.â This section explains how to conîÂÂgure your system using this utility . Even if you are not prompted to use the Setup program, you can change the conîÂÂguration of your computer in the future. For example, you can enable the security password feature or change the power management settings. This requires you to reconîÂÂgure your system using the BIOS Setup program so that the computer can recognize these changes and record them in the CMOS RAM of the LPC chip. The LPC chip on the motherboard stores the Setup utility . When you start up the computer , the system provides you with the opportunity to run this program. Press <Del> during the Power-On Self-T est (POST) to enter the Setup utility; otherwise, POST continues with its test routines. If you wish to enter Setup after POST , restart the system by pressing <Ctrl Alt Delete>, or by pressing the reset button on the system chassis. Y ou can also restart by turning the system off and then back on. Do this last option only if the îÂÂrst two failed. The Setup program is designed to make it as easy to use as possible. Being a menu-driven program, it lets you scroll through the various sub-menus and make your selections from the available options using the navigation keys. ⢠The default BIOS settings for this motherboard apply for most conditions to ensure optimum performance. If the system becomes unstable after changing any BIOS settings, load the default settings to ensure system compatibility and stability . Select the Load Default Settings item under the Exit Menu. See section 4.8 Exit Menu. ⢠The BIOS setup screens shown in this section are for reference purposes only , and may not exactly match what you see on your screen. ⢠Visit the ASUS website (www.asus.com) to download the latest BIOS îÂÂle for this motherboard.
4-10 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.2.1 BIOS menu screen Legend bar General help Menu bar Sub-menu items ConîÂÂguration îÂÂelds Menu items Phoenix-AwardBIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit System Time 15 : 30 : 36 System Date Sat, Oct 26 2007 Legacy Diskette A: [1.44M, 3.5 in.] Primary IDE Master [ST321122A] Primary IDE Slave [ASUS DVDS520/A] SATA1 [None] SATA3 [None] SATA2 [None] SATA4 [None] HDD SMART Monitoring [Disabled] Installed Memory 1024MB Usable Memory 991MB F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit 4.2.2 Menu bar The menu bar on top of the screen has the following main items: Main For changing the basic system conîÂÂguration Advanced For changing the advanced system settings Power For changing the advanced power management (APM) conîÂÂguration Boot For changing the system boot conîÂÂguration T ools For conîÂÂguring options for special functions Exit For selecting the exit options and loading default settings T o select an item on the menu bar , press the right or left arrow key on the keyboard until the desired item is highlighted. ⢠The BIOS setup screens shown in this chapter are for reference purposes only , and may not exactly match what you see on your screen. ⢠Visit the ASUS website (www.asus.com) to download the latest BIOS information. Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Change the internal time.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-1 1 4.2.4 Menu items The highlighted item on the menu bar displays the speciîÂÂc items for that menu. For example, selecting Main shows the Main menu items. The other items (Advanced, Power , Boot, T ools and Exit) on the menu bar have their respective menu items. 4.2.5 Sub-menu items A solid triangle before each item on any menu screen means that the item has a sub-menu. T o display the sub-menu, select the item and press <Enter>. 4.2.6 ConîÂÂguration îÂÂelds These îÂÂelds show the values for the menu items. If an item is user-conîÂÂgurable, you can change the value of the îÂÂeld opposite the item. Y ou cannot select an item that is not user-conîÂÂgurable. A conîÂÂgurable îÂÂeld is enclosed in brackets, and is highlighted when selected. T o change the value of a îÂÂeld, select it then press <Enter> to display a list of options. Refer to 4.2.7 Pop-up window. 4.2.3 Legend bar At the bottom of the Setup screen is a legend bar . The keys in the legend bar allow you to navigate through the various setup menus. The following table lists the keys found in the legend bar with their corresponding functions. Navigation Key Function <F1> Displays the General Help screen <F5> Loads setup default values <Esc> Exits the BIOS setup or returns to the main menu from a sub-menu Left or Right arrow Selects the menu item to the left or right Up or Down arrow Moves the highlight up or down between îÂÂelds Page Down or â (minus) Scrolls backward through the values for the highlighted îÂÂeld Page Up or (plus) Scrolls forward through the values for the highlighted îÂÂeld <Enter> Brings up a selection menu for the highlighted îÂÂeld <F10> Saves changes and exit
4-12 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.2.7 Pop-up window Select a menu item then press <Enter> to display a pop-up window with the conîÂÂguration options for that item. Phoenix-AwardBIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Speciî¿es the capacity and physical size of diskette drive A. System Time 15 : 30 : 36 System Date Thu, Apr 6 2006 Legacy Diskette A: [1.44M, 3.5 in.] Primary IDE Master [ST321122A] Primary IDE Slave [ASUS CDS520/A] SATA1 [None] SATA3 [None] SATA2 [None] SATA4 [None] HDD SMART Monitoring [Disabled] Installed Memory 512MB Usable Memory 512MB 4.2.8 General help At the top right corner of the menu screen is a brief description of the selected item. Pop-up menu F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit Legacy Diskette A: Disabled ..... [ ] 720K , 3.5 in. ..... [ ] 1.44M, 3.5 in. ..... [ ] âÂÂâ :Move ENTER:Accept ESC:Abort
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-13 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. 4.3.1 System Time [xx:xx:xx] Allows you to set the system time. 4.3.2 System Date [Day xx/xx/xxxx] Allows you to set the system date. 4.3.3 Legacy Diskette A [1.44M, 3.5 in.] Sets the type of îÂÂoppy drive installed. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [720K , 3.5 in.] [1.44M, 3.5 in.] Phoenix-AwardBIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Change the internal time. System Time 19 : 49 : 36 System Date Fri, Dec 21 2007 Legacy Diskette A: [1.44M, 3.5 in.] Primary IDE Master [None] Primary IDE Slave [None] SATA1 [HDT722516DLA380] SATA3 [ASUS CRW-5232] SATA2 [None] SATA4 [None] HDD SMART Monitoring [Disabled] Installed Memory 1024MB Usable Memory 911MB F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit
4-14 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.3.4 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 <Enter> to display the IDE device information. The BIOS automatically detects the values opposite the dimmed items (Capacity , Cylinder , Head, Sector and T ransfer Mode). These values are not user-conîÂÂgurable. These items show N/A if no IDE device is installed in the system. PIO Mode [Auto] Sets the PIO mode for the IDE device. ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [Mode 0] [Mode 1] [Mode 2] [Mode 3] [Mode 4] UDMA Mode [Auto] Disables or sets the UDMA mode. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disable] [Auto] Primary IDE Master/Slave [Auto] Select [Auto] to automatically detect an IDE hard disk drive. If automatic detection is successful, the BIOS automatically îÂÂlls in the correct values for the remaining îÂÂelds on this sub-menu. If the hard disk was already formatted on a previous system, the setup BIOS may detect incorrect parameters. Select [Manual] to manually enter the IDE hard disk drive parameters. If no drive is installed select [None]. ConîÂÂguration options: [None] [Auto] [Manual] Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Primary IDE Master PIO Mode [Auto] UDMA Mode [Auto] Primary IDE Master [Auto] Access Mode [Auto] Capacity 0 GB Cylinder 0 Head 0 Sector 0 Transfer Mode None F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-15 Capacity Displays the auto-detected hard disk capacity . This item is not conîÂÂgurable. Cylinder Shows the number of the hard disk cylinders. This item is not conîÂÂgurable. Head Shows the number of the hard disk read/write heads. This item is not conîÂÂgurable. Sector Shows the number of sectors per track. This item is not conîÂÂgurable. T ransfer Mode Shows the T ransfer mode. This item is not conîÂÂgurable. Access Mode [Auto] The default [Auto] allows automatic detection of an IDE hard disk drive. Select [CHS] for this item if you set the IDE Primary Master/Slave to [Manual]. ConîÂÂguration options: [CHS] [LBA] [Large] [Auto] After entering the IDE hard disk drive information into BIOS, use a disk utility , such as FDISK, to partition and format new IDE hard disk drives. This is necessary so that you can write or read data from the hard disk. Make sure to set the partition of the Primary IDE hard disk drives to active. Before attempting to conîÂÂgure a hard disk drive, make sure you have the correct conîÂÂguration information supplied by the drive manufacturer . Incorrect settings may cause the system to fail to recognize the installed hard disk.
4-16 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.3.5 S A T A 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 While entering Setup, the BIOS automatically detects the presence of Serial A T A devices. There is a separate sub-menu for each SA T A device. Select a device item then press <Enter> to display the SA T A device information. The BIOS automatically detects the values opposite the dimmed items (Capacity , Cylinder , Head, Landing Zone and Sector). These values are not user- conîÂÂgurable. These items show 0 if no SA T A device is installed in the system. Extended IDE Drive [Auto] Selects the type of îÂÂxed disk connected to the system. ConîÂÂguration options: [None] [Auto] Access Mode [Auto] Sets the sector addressing mode. ConîÂÂguration options: [Large] [Auto] Capacity Displays the auto-detected hard disk capacity . This item is not conîÂÂgurable. Cylinder Shows the number of the hard disk cylinders. This item is not conîÂÂgurable. Before attempting to conîÂÂgure a hard disk drive, make sure you have the correct conîÂÂguration information supplied by the drive manufacturer . Incorrect settings may cause the system to fail to recognize the installed hard disk. Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Selects the type of î¿xed disk connected to the system. SATA1 Extended IDE Drive [Auto] Access Mode [Auto] Capacity 164 GB Cylinder 65535 Head 16 Landing Zone 65534 Sector 255 F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-17 Head Shows the number of the hard disk read/write heads. This item is not conîÂÂgurable. Landing Zone Shows the number of landing zone per track. This item is not conîÂÂgurable. Sector Shows the number of sectors per track. This item is not conîÂÂgurable. After entering the IDE hard disk drive information into BIOS, use a disk utility , such as FDISK, to partition and format new IDE hard disk drives. This is necessary so that you can write or read data from the hard disk. Make sure to set the partition of the Primary IDE hard disk drives to active. 4.3.6 HDD SMART Monitoring [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable the HDD Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting T echnology (SMART) feature. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] 4.3.7 Installed Memory [xxx MB] Shows the size of installed memory . This item is not conîÂÂgurable. 4.3.8 Usable Memory [XXX MB] Shows the size of usable memory . This item is not conîÂÂgurable.
4-18 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.4 Advanced menu The Advanced menu items allow you to change the settings for the CPU and other system devices. 4.4.1 JumperFree ConîÂÂguration T ake caution when changing the settings of the Advanced menu items. Incorrect îÂÂeld values can cause the system to malfunction. Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Adjust system frequency/voltage. JumperFree Conî¿guration AI NET 2 CPU Conî¿guration Chipset PCIPnP Onboard Device Conî¿guration USB Conî¿guration Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit AI T uning [Auto] Allows selection of CPU overclocking options to achieve desired CPU internal frequency . Select either one of the preset overclocking conîÂÂguration options: Manual Allows you to individually set overclocking parameters. Auto Loads the optimal settings for the system. Standard Loads the standard settings for the system. AI Overclock Loads overclocking proîÂÂles with optimal parameters for stability when overclocking. The conîÂÂguration options for the Advanced menu items vary depending on the CPU and DIMMs you install on the motherboard. Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced JumperFree Conî¿guration AI Tuning [Auto] x Overclock Options Disabled CPU VTT Voltage [AUTO] Memory Voltage [AUTO] 1.2V HT Voltage [AUTO] NB CHIP Voltage [AUTO] x CPU Multiplier Auto x CPU Frequency 200 x PCIE Clock 100 Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Press [Enter] to select overclock proî¿le
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-19 Overclock Options [Disabled] This item becomes user-conîÂÂgurable only when you set the AI T uning item to [AI Overclock] and allows you to set the overclocking options. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Overclock 3%] [Overclock 5%] [Overclock 8%] [Overclock 10%] CPU VTT V oltage [AUTO] Allows you to set the CPU VTT voltage. ConîÂÂguration options: [AUTO] [0.8000v] [0.8125v] [0.8250v] [0.8375v] [0.8500v] ~ [1.6250v] [1.6375v] [1.6500v] [1.6625v] [1.6750v] Memory V oltage [Auto] Allows you to set the memory voltage. ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [1.978V] [2.080V] [2.155V] [2.237V] [2.313V] [2.415V] [2.490V] 1.2V HT V oltage [Auto] Allows you to set the 1.2V HyperT ransport voltage. ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [1.309V] [1.425V] [1.525V] NB CHIP V oltage [Auto] ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [1.213V] [1.313V] [1.409V] CPU Multiplier [Auto] This item becomes user-conîÂÂgurable only when you set the AI T uning item to [Manual] and allows conîÂÂguration of the CPU Multiplier . ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [5x] [5.5x] [6x]...[10.5x] [1 1.x] [1 1.5x] CPU Frequency [200] This item becomes user-conîÂÂgurable only when you set the AI T uning item to [Manual] and allows conîÂÂguration of the CPU frequency . Depending on the CPU allows conîÂÂguration of the CPU frequency . Depending on the CPU model you install, the minimum and maximum values of this item vary or may not be user-conîÂÂgurable. PCIE Clock [100] This item becomes user-conîÂÂgurable only when you set the AI T uning item to [Manual] and is adjusted by typing the desired values using the numeric keypad and press the <Enter> key . The values range from 100 to 200. The values range from 100 to 200.
4-20 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.4.2 AI Net 2 This menu displays the status of the Local Area Network (LAN) cable connected to the LAN (RJ-45) port. POST Check LAN cable [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable LAN cable check during POST . When enabled, the menu reports the cable faults or shorts, and displays the point (length) where the faults or shorts are detected. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] 4.4.3 CPU ConîÂÂguration DRAM ConîÂÂguration This sub-menu allows you to adjust the DRAM-related items. Select an item, then press <Enter> to edit. Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced DRAM Conî¿guration Timing Mode [Auto] x Memory clock Frequency Auto Memory Hole Remapping [Enabled] Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Auto, no user limit MaxMemClk, limit by Memory clock value Manual, use Memory Clock value Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced CPU Conî¿guration CPU Type AMD Phenom(tm)9600 Quad-Core Processor CPU Speed 2300MHz Cache RAM 512K x4 DRAM Conî¿guration AMD Virtualization [Enabled] AMD Live! [Disabled] AMD CoolâÂÂnâÂÂQuiet Function [Disabled] Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help DRAM timing and control Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced AI NET 2 POST Check LAN Cable [Disabled] Pair Status Length LAN1(1-2) Open N/A LAN1(3-6) Open N/A LAN1(4-5) Open N/A LAN1(7-8) Open N/A Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Enable or Disable LAN cable check during POST.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-21 T iming Mode [Auto] Allows selection of the DRAM timing mode. ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [MaxMemClk] [Manual] Memory Clock Frequency [Auto] This item becomes user-conîÂÂgurable when you set the Timing Mode item to [MaxMemClk] or [Manual] and allows you to adjust the memory clock frequency . ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [DDR2 533] [DDR2 667] [DDR2 800] [DDR2 1066] Memory Hole Remapping [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable memory hole remapping support. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] AMD Virtualization [Enabled] The V anderpool T echnology allows a hardware platform to run multiple operating systems separately and simultaneously , enabling one system to virtually function as several systems. ConîÂÂguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] AMD Live! [Disabled] Enables or disables the AMD î Live! T echnology . ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] AMD CoolâÂÂnâÂÂQuiet Function [Disabled] Enables or disables the AMD CoolâÂÂnâÂÂQuiet function. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
4-22 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.4.4 Chipset iGPU Frame Buffer Control [Auto] Allows you to set the onboard GPU frame buffer control mode. ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [Manual] Frame Buffer Size [128M] This item becomes user-conîÂÂgurable when you set the iGPU Frame Buffer Control item to [Manual] and allows you to set frame buffer size for onboard GPU. ConîÂÂguration options: [64M] [128M] [256M] [512M] Onboard GPU [Auto] Allows you to enable or disable the onboard GPU. Set this item to [Auto] to disable the onboard GPU if the system detects any external graphics card. Set this item to [Always Enable] to enable the onboard GPU even if the system detects any external graphics card. ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [Always Enable] K8<->NB HT Speed [Auto] Allows you to set the HyperT ransport speed between the CPU and the Northbridge. ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [200 MHz] [400 MHz] [600 MHz].[800 MHz] [1 GHz] [1.2 GHz] [1.4 GHz] [1.6 GHz] [1.8 GHz] [2 GHz] [2.2 GHz] [2.4 GHz] [2.6 GHz] K8<->NB HT Width [Auto] Allows you to set the HyperT ransport width between the CPU and the Northbridge.. between the CPU and the Northbridge.. . ConîÂÂguration options: [ â 8 â 8 ] [ â 16 â 16 ] [Auto] CPU Spread Spectrum [Disabled] Set to [Disabled] to enhance FSB overclocking ability or [Enabled] for EMI control. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] PCIE Spread Spectrum [Disabled] Set to [Disabled] to enhance PCIE overclocking ability or [Down Spread] for EMI control. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Down Spread] Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced Chipset iGPU Frame Buffer Control [Auto] x Frame Buffer Size 128M Onboard GPU [Auto] K8<->NB HT Speed [Auto] K8<->NB HT Width [Auto] CPU Spread Spectrum [Disabled] PCIE Spread Spectrum [Disabled] SATA Spread Spectrum [Disabled] Primary Display Adapter [PCI-E] Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-23 SA T A Spread Spectrum [Disabled] Allows you to adjust the SA T A spread spectrum setting. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Down Spread] Primary Display Adapter [PCI-E] Allows you to select which graphics controller to use as the primary boot device. ConîÂÂguration options: [PCI] [Onboard] [PCI-E] 4.4.5 PCIPnP Plug & Play O/S [No] When set to [No], the BIOS conîÂÂgures all the devices in the system. When set to [Y es] and if you install a Plug and Play operating system, the operating sy stem conîÂÂgures the Plug and Play devices not required for boot. ConîÂÂguration options: [No] [Y es] Resources Controlled By [Auto] When set to [Auto], the BIOS automatically conîÂÂgures all the boot and Plug and Play compatible devices. Set to [Manual] if you want to assign the IRQ DMA and memory base address îÂÂelds. ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [Manual] When the item Resources Controlled By is set to [Auto], the item IRQ Resources is grayed out and not user-conîÂÂgurable. Refer to the section IRQ Resources for information on how to enable this item. IRQ Resources This sub-menu is activated only when the Resources Controlled By item is set to [Manual]. Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced PCIPnP Plug & Play O/S [No] Resources Controlled By [Auto] x IRQ Resources **PCI Express relative items ** Maximum Payload Size [4096] Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Select Yes if you are using a Plug and Play capable operating system Select No if you need the BIOS to conî¿gure non-boot devices Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Legacy ISA for devices compliant with the original PC AT bus speciî¿cation, PCI/ ISA PnP for devices compliant with the Plug and Play standard IRQ Resources IRQ-5 assigned to [PCI Device] IRQ-7 assigned to [PCI Device] IRQ-9 assigned to [PCI Device] IRQ-10 assigned to [PCI Device] IRQ-11 assigned to [PCI Device] IRQ-14 assigned to [PCI Device] Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced
4-24 Chapter 4: BIOS setup IRQ-xx assigned to [PCI Device] When set to [PCI Device], the speciîÂÂc IRQ is free for use of PCI/PnP devices. When set to [Reserved], the IRQ is reserved for legacy ISA devices. ConîÂÂguration options: [PCI Device] [Reserved] Maximum Payload Size [4096] Sets maximum TLP payload size for the PCI Express devices. The unit is byte. ConîÂÂguration options: [128] [256] [512] [1024] [2048] [4096] 4.4.6 Onboard Device ConîÂÂguration OnChip IDE Channel 0 [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the onchip IDE channel 0 controller . ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] IDE DMA transfer access [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the IDE DMA transfer access. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] SA T A Controller [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the onboard SA T A controller . ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] IDE Prefetch Mode [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable the IDE PIO read prefetch mode. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] IDE Function Setup Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced IDE Function Setup OnChip IDE Channel0 [Enabled] IDE DMA transfer access [Enabled] SATA Controller [Enabled] IDE Prefetch Mode [Enabled] Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced Onboard Device Conî¿guration IDE Function Setup MCP Storage Conî¿g Onboard 1394 [Enabled] HD Audio [Auto] Front Panel Support Type [HD Audio] HDMI Audio [Auto] Onboard LAN Device [Enabled] Onboard LAN Boot ROM [Disabled] Serial Port1 Address [3F8/IRQ4] Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-25 MCP Storage ConîÂÂg Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced MCP Storage Conî¿g SATA Operation Mode [IDE] SA T A Operation Mode [IDE] Allows you to select the onboard Serial A T A type. ConîÂÂguration options: [IDE] [RAID] [AHCI] ⢠If you want to use the Serial A T A hard disk drives as Parallel A T A physical storage devices, keep the default setting [IDE]. ⢠If you want the Serial A T A hard disk drives to use the Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI), set this item to [AHCI]. The AHCI allows the onboard storage driver to enable advanced Serial A T A features that increases storage performance on random workloads by allowing the drive to internally optimize the order of commands. ⢠If you want to create a RAID 0, 1, 0 1, 5, or JBOD conîÂÂguration from the Serial A T A hard disk drives, set this item to [RAID]. ⢠SA T A 5-6 connectors support AHCI mode and RAID mode only . Make sure to install the AHCI driver or RAID driver in the bundled support DVD before connecting devices to SA T A 5-6 connectors. Otherwise, the devices will not work. ⢠Due to chipset limitation, when set any of SA T A ports to RAID mode, all SA T A ports run at RAID mode together . Onboard 1394 [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the onboard 1394 device support. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] HD Audio [Auto] Allows you to enable or disable the High-DeîÂÂnition audio CODEC. ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [Disabled] Front Panel Support T ype [HD Audio] Allows you to set the front panel audio connector (AAFP) mode to legacy AC`97 or high-deîÂÂnition audio depending on the audio standard that the front panel audio module supports. ConîÂÂguration options: [AC97] [HD Audio]
4-26 Chapter 4: BIOS setup HDMI Audio [Auto] Allows you to disable or enable the HDMI Audio function. ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [Disabled] Make sure to set the HDMI Audio item to [Auto] to enable HDMI audio output. Onboard LAN Device [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the OnBoard LAN device. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Onboard LAN Boot ROM [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable the OnBoard LAN Boot ROM. ConîÂÂguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] Serial Port1 Address [3F8/IRQ4] Allows you to select the Serial Port1 base address. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [3F8/IRQ4][2F8/IRQ3] [3E8/IRQ4] [2E8/IRQ3] [Auto] 4.4.7 USB ConîÂÂguration Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced USB Conî¿guration USB Controller [Enabled] USB 2.0 Controller [Enabled] USB Legacy support [Enabled] USB Controller [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the USB 1.1 and 2.0 controller . ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] USB 2.0 Controller [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the USB 2.0 controller . ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] USB Legacy support [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable support for USB devices on legacy operating systems (OS). ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-27 4.5 Power menu The Power menu items allow you to change the settings for the Advanced ConîÂÂguration and Power Interface (ACPI) and the Advanced Power Management (APM). Select an item then press <Enter> to display the conîÂÂguration options. 4.5.1 ACPI Suspend T ype [S1&S3] Allows you to select the Advanced ConîÂÂguration and Power Interface (ACPI) state to be used for system suspend. ConîÂÂguration options: [S1(POS)] [S3(STR)] [S1&S3] 4.5.2 ACPI APIC Support [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the Advanced ConîÂÂguration and Power Interface (ACPI) support in the Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller (APIC). When set to [Enabled], the ACPI APIC table pointer is included in the RSDT pointer list. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] 4.5.3 APM ConîÂÂguration Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Select the ACPI state used for System Suspend. ACPI Suspend Type [S1&S3] ACPI APIC support [Enabled] APM Conî¿guration Hardware Monitor Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Press [Enter] to select whether or not to restart the system after AC power loss Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Power APM Conî¿guration Restore on AC Power Loss [Power-Off] PWR Button < 4 secs [Instant-Off] Power Up On PCI/PCIE Devices [Disabled] Power On By External Modems [Disabled] Power On by RTC Alarm [Disabled] x Date(of Month) Alarm 0 x Alarm Time(hh:mm) 0 : 0 : 0 HPET Support [Enabled] Power On By PS/2 Keyboard [Disabled] Restore on AC Power Loss [Power-Off] Allows you to enable or disable the Restore on AC Power Loss function. ConîÂÂguration options: [Power-Off] [Power-On] [Last State]
4-28 Chapter 4: BIOS setup PWR Button < 4 secs [Instant-Off] When set to [Instant-Off], the system goes into Soft-of f mode after you press the power button for less than 4 seconds. When set to [Suspend], the system goes into Suspend mode after you press the power button for less than 4 seconds. ConîÂÂguration options: [Suspend] [Instant-Off] Power Up On PCI/PCIE Devices [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable the PME to wake up from S5 by PCI/PCIE devices and the NVIDIA î onboard LAN. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Power On By External Modems [Disabled] When set to [Enabled], this item allows you to power on the computer in Soft-off mode with an external modem. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] When a computer is off, turning an external modem of f and then on causes an initialization string that turns on the computer . Power On By RTC Alarm [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable RTC to generate a wake event. When this item is set to [Enabled], the items Date (of Month) Alarm and Alarm Time (hh:mm) become user-conîÂÂgurable with set values. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Date (of Month) Alarm [XX] T o set the date of alarm, highlight this item and press <Enter> to display the Date (of Month) Alarm pop-up menu. Key-in a value within the speciîÂÂed range then press <Enter>. V alue âÂÂ0â means everyday . ConîÂÂguration options: [Min=0] [Max=31] Alarm Time (hh:mm) [ XX: XX: XX] T o set the time of alarm, highlight this item and press <Enter> to display the Alarm highlight this item and press <Enter> to display the Alarm T ime pop-up menu. Key-in a value within the speciîÂÂed range then press <Enter>. ConîÂÂguration options: [Min=0] [Max=23]---hour [Min=0] [Max=59]---minute [Min=0] [Max=59]---second HPET Support [Enabled] The hardware High Precision EfîÂÂcient T imer (HPET) is to increase the performance of the Vista Multimedia player and can meet V istaâÂÂs requirement. Disable this feature if your system is running under XP environment. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-29 4.5.4 Hardware Monitor The items in this sub-menu displays the hardware monitor values automatically detected by the BIOS. It also allows you to change CPU Q-Fan feature-related parameters. Select an item then press <Enter> to display the conîÂÂguration options. CPU Fan T ype [DC] Allows you to select the CPU fan type you installed on the motherboard. ConîÂÂguration options: [DC] [PWM] ⢠If you install a PWM (4-pin) fan but set this item to [DC], the fan you installed may not work. ⢠If you install a DC (3-pin) fan but set this item to a [PWM], the Q-Fan Control function will not work and the fan you install will always run at full speed. CPU Q-Fan Control [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable the CPU Q-Fan controller . ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] The CPU Q-Fan ProîÂÂle item becomes user-conîÂÂgurable when you enable the CPU Q-Fan Control feature. Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Press [Enter] to enable or disable Hardware Monitor CPU Fan Type [DC] CPU Q-Fan Control [Disabled] CPU Q-Fan Proî¿le Performance Chassis Q-Fan Control [Disabled] Chassis Q-Fan Proî¿le Performance Vcore Voltage [ 1.16V] 3.3V Voltage [ 3.31V] 5V Voltage [ 4.97V] 12V Voltage [11.96V] CPU Temperature 39úC M/B Temperature 33úC CPU Fan Speed 2922 RPM CHA_FAN1 Speed 0 RPM PWR_FAN Speed 0 RPM CPU Fan Speed Warning [800 RPM] Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Power F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit Power Up By PS/2 Keyboard [Disabled] Allows you to disable the Power On by PS/2 keyboard function or set speciîÂÂc keys on the PS/2 keyboard to turn on the system. This feature requires an A TX power supply that provides at least 1A on the 5VSB lead. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Space Bar] [Ctrl-ESC] [Power Key]
4-30 Chapter 4: BIOS setup CPU Q-Fan ProîÂÂle [Performance] 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. Set this item to [Silent] to minimize fan speed for quiet CPU fan operation, or [Performance] to achieve maximum CPU fan speed. ConîÂÂguration options: [Performance] [Optimal] [Silent] [Optimal] [Silent] Chassis Q-Fan Control [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable the Chassis Q-Fan controller . ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] The Chassis Q-Fan ProîÂÂle item becomes user-conîÂÂgurable when you enable the Chassis Q-Fan Control feature. Chassis Q-Fan ProîÂÂle [Auto] Allows you to set the appropriate performance level of the Chassis Q-Fan. ConîÂÂguration options: [Performance] [Optimal] [Silent] [Optimal] [Silent] Vcore V oltage, 3.3V V oltage, 5V V oltage, 12V V oltage The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects the voltage output through the onboard voltage regulators. Select [Ignored] if you do not want to detect this item. CPU T emperature [xxxúC/xxxúF] M/B T emperature [xxxúC/xxxúF] The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the motherboard and CPU temperatures. These items are not user-conîÂÂgurable. CPU Fan Speed [xxxxRPM] CHA_F AN1 Speed [xxxxRPM] PWR_F AN Speed [xxxxRPM] The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the CPU/ Chassis/Power fan speed in rotations per minute (RPM). If the fan is not connected to the motherboard, the îÂÂeld shows 0 RPM. These items are not user-conîÂÂgurable. CPU Fan Speed W arning [800 RPM] Allows you to set the CPU fan warning speed function, which gives off a warning when the CPU fan speed is too low . If you set this item to [Disabled], the system will not warn you even if no fan is installed or if the fan is not functioning properly . ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [800 RPM] [1200 RPM] [1600 RPM]
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-31 4.6 Boot menu The Boot menu items allow you to change the system boot options. Select an item then press <Enter> to display the sub-menu. 4.6.1 Boot Device Priority Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Select Your Boot Device Priority Boot Device Priority 1st Boot Device [Removable] 2nd Boot Device [Hard Disk] 3rd Boot Device [CDROM] 4th Boot Device [Disabled] 1st ~ 4th Boot Device [Removable] These items specify the boot device priority sequence from the available devices. The number of device items that appears on the screen depends on the number of devices installed in the system. ConîÂÂguration options: [Removable] [Hard Disk] [CDROM] [Disabled] 4.6.2 Removable Drives 1. Floppy Disks Allows you to assign a removable drive attached to the system. Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Select Boot Device Priority Boot Device Priority Removable Drives Boot Settings Conî¿guration Security Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Boot Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Removable Drives 1. Floppy Disks Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Boot
4-32 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.6.3 Boot Settings ConîÂÂguration Case Open W arning [Enabled] Enables or disables the chassis open status feature. Setting to [Enabled] to send warning messages when the chassis is opened. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Quick Boot [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the system quick boot feature. When Enabled, the system skips certain tests while booting. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Boot Up Floppy Seek [Disabled] Enable this item to run îÂÂoppy drives test during POST to determine whether they have 40 or 80 tracks. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Bootup Num-Lock [On] Allows you to select the power-on state for the NumLock. ConîÂÂguration options: [Off] [On] T ypematic Rate Setting [Disabled] Allows you to set the keystroke rate. Enable this item to conîÂÂgure the T ypematic Rate (Chars/Sec) and the T ypematic Delay (Msec) items. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] T ypematic Rate (Chars/Sec) [6] Allows you to select the rate at which a character repeats when you hold a key . ConîÂÂguration options: [6] [8] [10] [12] [15] [20] [24] [30] T ypematic Delay (Msec) [250] Allows you to set the delay before keystrokes begin to repeat. ConîÂÂguration options: [250] [500] [750] [1000] Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Allows the system to skip certain tests while booting. This will decrease the time needed to boot the system Boot Settings Conî¿guration Case Open Warning [Enabled] Quick Boot [Enabled] Boot Up Floppy Seek [Disabled] Bootup Num-Lock [On] Typematic Rate Setting [Disabled] x Typematic Rate (Chars/Sec) 6 x Typematic Delay (Msec) 250 OS Select For DRAM > 64MB [Non-OS2] Full Screen LOGO [Enabled] Halt On [All, But Keyboard] Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Boot
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-33 4.6.4 Security Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Security Supervisor Password Clear User Password Clear Password Check [Setup] Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Boot Supervisor Password User Password These îÂÂelds allow you to set passwords: T o set a password: 1. Select an item then press <Enter>. 2. T ype in a password using a combination of a maximum of eight (8) alpha-numeric characters, then press <Enter>. 3. When prompted, conîÂÂrm the password by typing the exact characters again, then press <Enter>. The password îÂÂeld setting is changed to [Set]. T o clear the password: 1. Select the password îÂÂeld and press <Enter> twice. The following message appears: PASSWORD DISABLED !!! Press any key to continue... OS Select for DRAM > 64MB [Non-OS2] Set this item to OS2 only when you are running on an OS/2 operating system with an installed RAM of greater than 64 MB. ConîÂÂguration options: [Non-OS2] [OS2] Full Screen LOGO [Enabled] This allows you to enable or disable the full screen logo display feature. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Set this item to [Enabled] to use the ASUS MyLogo 2⢠feature. Halt On [All, But Keyboard] Allows you to set the error report type. ConîÂÂguration options: [All Errors] [No Errors] [All, But Keyboard] [All, But Diskette] [All, But Disk/Key]
4-34 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 2. Press any key to continue. The password îÂÂeld setting is changed to [Clear]. A note about passwords The Supervisor password is required to enter the BIOS Setup program preventing unauthorized access. The User password is required to boot the system preventing unauthorized use. Forgot your password? If you forget your password, you can clear it by erasing the CMOS Real T ime Clock (RTC) RAM. The RAM data containing the password information is powered by the onboard button cell battery . If you need to erase the CMOS RAM, refer to section 2.6 Jumper for instructions. Password Check This îÂÂeld requires you to enter the password before entering the BIOS setup or the system. Select [Setup] to require the password before entering the BIOS Setup. Select [System] to require the password before entering the system. ConîÂÂguration options: [Setup] [System]
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-35 4.7 Tools menu The T ools menu items allow you to conîÂÂgure options for special function s. Select an item then press <Enter> to display the sub-menu. 4.7.1 ASUS O.C. ProîÂÂle This item allows you to store or load multiple BIOS settings. Load BIOS ProîÂÂle Load from ProîÂÂle 1/2 Allows you to load the previous BIOS settings saved in the BIOS Flash. Press <Enter> to load the îÂÂle. Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help ASUS O.C. Proî¿le ASUS EZ Flash 2 Express Gate Lite Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Press [Enter] to select. ASUS BIOS Proî¿le Load BIOS Proî¿le Save BIOS Proî¿le Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Tools Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Load BIOS Proî¿le from Proî¿le 1. Load BIOS Proî¿le Load from Proî¿le 1 Load from Proî¿le 2 Load from File Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Tools
4-36 Chapter 4: BIOS setup Load from File Allows you to load the previous BIOS îÂÂle saved in the hard disk/îÂÂoppy disk/USB îÂÂash disk with the F A T32/16/12 format. Follow the instructions below to load the BIOS îÂÂle. 1. Insert the storage devices that contains the âÂÂxxx.CMOâ îÂÂle. 2. T urn on the system. 3. Enter BIOS setup program. Go to the âÂÂT oolsâ menu to select ASUS O.C. ProîÂÂle > Load from File . Press <Enter> then the setup screen will appear . 4. Press <T ab> to switch between drives before the correct âÂÂxxx.CMOâ îÂÂle is found. Then press <Enter> to load the îÂÂle. 5. A pop-up message will inform you when the loading process îÂÂnishes. ⢠Suggest only to update the BIOS îÂÂle coming from the same memory/CPU conîÂÂguration and BIOS version. ⢠Only the âÂÂxxx.CMOâ îÂÂle can be loaded. Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Save current BIOS Proî¿le to Proî¿le 1. Save BIOS Proî¿le Save to Proî¿le 1 Save to Proî¿le 2 Save to File Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Tools Save BIOS ProîÂÂle Save to ProîÂÂe 1/2 Allows you to save the current BIOS îÂÂle to the BIOS Flash. Press <Enter> to save the îÂÂle. Save to File Allows you to save the current BIOS îÂÂle to the hard disk/îÂÂoppy disk/USB îÂÂash disk with F A T32/16/12 format. Follow the instructions below to save the BIOS îÂÂle. 1. Insert the storage devices with enough space. 2. T urn on the system. 3. Enter the BIOS setup program. Go to the âÂÂT oolsâ menu to select âÂÂSave to File.â Press <Enter> then the setup screen will appear . 4. Press <T ab> to switch between the drives. Press hot-key <S> to save the îÂÂle. 5. Key in the îÂÂle name. Then press <Enter>. 6. A pop-up message will inform you when the saving process îÂÂnishes.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-37 ASUSTek O.C. Proî¿le Utility B325 BOARD: M3N-HD VER: 0101 DATE: 11/20/2007 Current CMOS Update CMOS BOARD: Unknown VER: Unknown DATE: Unknown PATH: A:\ A: Note [Enter] Select [S] Save [ESC]: Exit [Tab] Switch [Up/Down/Home/End] Move CMOS backup is done! Press any key to Exit. The BIOS îÂÂle will be saved as âÂÂxxx.CMOâÂÂ. 4.7.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 Allows you to run ASUS EZ Flash 2. When you press <Enter>, a conîÂÂrmation message appears. Use the left/right arrow key to select between [Y es] or [No], then press <Enter> to conîÂÂrm your choice. ASUSTek EZ Flash 2 BIOS ROM Utility B325 Current ROM Update ROM A: Note [Enter] Select or Load [B] Backup [ESC] Exit [Tab] Switch [Up/Down/Home/End] Move FLASH TYPE: EON EN25F80 8MB SPI PATH: A:\ BOARD: M3N-HD VER: 0101 DATE: 11/20/2007 BOARD: Unknown VER: Unknown DATE: Unknown
4-38 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.7.3 Express Gate Lite Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Express Gate Lite Express Gate Lite [Enabled] Timeout [10] Reset User Data [No] Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Tools Express Gate Lite [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the ASUS Express Gate Lite feature. The ASUS Express Gate Lite is a unique instant-on environment that provides quick access to the Internet browser and Skype. Refer to section 5.3.10 ASUS Express Gate Lite for details. ConîÂÂguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] Boot Out T imer [10] Sets countdown duration that the system waits at the Express Gate LiteâÂÂs îÂÂrst screen before starting Windows or other installed OS. Choose [Disabled] to stay at the îÂÂrst screen of Express Gate Lite for user action. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [1 second] ~ [30 seconds] The time length is adjusted by typing the desired values using the numeric keypad and press the <Enter> key . Reset User Data [No] Allows you to clear Express Gate LiteâÂÂs user data. ConîÂÂguration options: [No] [Reset] When setting this item to [Reset], make sure to save the setting to the BIOS so that the user data will be cleared the next time you enter the Express Gate Lite. User data includes the Express Gate LiteâÂÂs settings as well as any personal information stored by the web browser (bookmarks, cookies, browsing history , etc.). This is useful in the rare case where corrupt settings prevent the Express Gate Lite environment from launching properly . The îÂÂrst time wizard will run again when you enter the Express Gate environment after clearing its settings.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-39 4.8 Exit menu The Exit menu items allow you to load the optimal or failsafe default values for the BIOS items, and save or discard your changes to the BIOS items. Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help This option save data to CMOS and exiting the setup menu. Exit & Save Changes Exit & Discard Changes Load Setup Default Discard Changes Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit Pressing <Esc> does not immediately exit this menu. Select one of the options from this menu or <F10> from the legend bar to exit. Exit & Save Changes Once you are îÂÂnished making your selections, choose this option from the Exit menu to ensure the values you selected are saved to the CMOS RAM. An onboard backup battery sustains the CMOS RAM so it stays on even when the PC is turned off. When you select this option, a conîÂÂrmation window appears. Select YES to save changes and exit. If you attempt to exit the Setup program without saving your changes, the program prompts you with a message asking if you want to save your changes before exiting. Press <Enter> to save the changes while exiting. Exit & Discard Changes Select this option only if you do not want to save the changes that you made to the Setup program. If you made changes to îÂÂelds other than System Date, System T ime, and Password, the BIOS asks for a conîÂÂrmation before exiting. Load Setup Default This option allows you to load the default values for each of the parameters on the Setup menus. When you select this option or if you press <F5>, a conîÂÂrmation window appears. Select YES to load default values. Select Exit & Save Changes or make other changes before saving the values to the non-volatile RAM. Discard Changes This option allows you to discard the selections you made and restore the previously saved values. After selecting this option, a conîÂÂrmation appears. Select YES to discard any changes and load the previously saved values.
4-40 Chapter 4: BIOS setup
5 Chapter 5: Software support This chapter describes the contents of the support DVD that comes with the motherboard package.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 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 conîÂÂgurations .................................................................. 5-37 5.5 Creating a RAID driver disk ....................................................... 5-45
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-1 If Autorun is NOT enabled in your computer , browse the contents of the support DVD to locate the îÂÂle ASSETUP .EXE from the BIN folder . Double-click the ASSETUP .EXE to run the DVD. Click an item to install 5.1 Installing an operating system This motherboard supports Windows î XP / 64-bit XP / Vista / 64-bit V ista operating systems (OS). Always install the latest OS version and corresponding updates to maximize the features of your hardware. 5.2 Support DVD information The support DVD that came with the motherboard package contains the drivers, software applications, and utilities that you can install to avail all motherboard features. 5.2.1 Running the support DVD Place the support DVD to the optical drive. The DVD automatically displays the Drivers menu if Autorun is enabled in your computer . ⢠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. ⢠Make sure that you install Windows î XP Service Pack 2 or later versions before installing the drivers for better compatibility and system stability . The contents of the support DVD are subject to change at any time without notice. Visit the ASUS website(www.asus.com) for updates. Click an icon to display support DVD/motherboard information
5-2 Chapter 5: Software support 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 î chipset drivers for the nVIDIA nForce 750a SLI chipset. Realtek Audio Driver Installs the Realtek î ALC883 audio driver and application. AMD Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet Driver Installs the AMD î Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet⢠technology driver . USB 2.0 Driver Installs the Universal Serial Bus 2.0 (USB 2.0) driver .
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-3 5.2.3 Utilities menu The Utilities menu shows the applications and other software that the motherboard supports. ASUS InstAll - Installation Wizard for Utilities Installs all of the utilities through the Installation Wizard. 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. Click to display the next page Click to return to the previous page
5-4 Chapter 5: Software support 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 CoolâÂÂnâÂÂQuiet Utility This item installs the ASUS CoolâÂÂnâÂÂQuiet utility . ASUS Express Gate Lite Installer Allows you to Install or update ASUS Express Gate Lite functions. Adobe Acrobat Reader V7.0 Installs the Adobe î Acrobat î Reader that allows you to open, view , and print documents in Portable Document Format (PDF). Microsoft DirectX 9.0c Installs the Microsoft î DirectX 9.0 driver . The Microsoft DirectX î 9.0 is a multimedia technology that enhances computer graphics and sound. DirectX î improves the multimedia features of you computer so you can enjoy watching TV and movies, capturing videos, or playing games in your computer . V isit the Microsoft website (www .microsoft.com) for updates. Anti-Virus Utility The anti-virus application detects and protects your computer from viruses that destroys data. WinDVD Copy5 T rial Installs the InterVideo DVD Copy5 trial version. Corel SnapîÂÂre Plus SE Installs Corel SnapîÂÂre Plus SE.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-5 5.2.4 Make Disk menu The Make Disk menu contains items to create the NVIDIA î nForce⢠750 SLI SA T A/RAID driver disk. NVIDIA 32/64bit XP SA T A RAID Driver (Disk 1/2) Allows you to create NVIDIA SA T A RAID driver disks for 32/64bit Windows î XP . NVIDIA 32/64bit XP AHCI Driver (Disk 1/2) Allows you to create an NVIDIA AHCI driver disk for 32/64bit Windows î XP . Due to îÂÂoppy disc capacity limitation, when creating a RAID conîÂÂguration under 32/64bit Windows î Vista, please install the AHCI/RAID driver through the motherboard support DVD or a USB device. Find RAID driver in the support DVD through the path below: Drivers\Chipset\Disk\RAID Find AHCI driver in the support DVD through the path below: Drivers\Chipset\Disk\AHCI Click to display the next page Click to return to the previous page
5-6 Chapter 5: Software support 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 îÂÂles are in Portable Document Format (PDF). Install the Adobe î Acrobat î Reader from the Utilities menu before opening a user manual îÂÂle. 5.2.6 ASUS Contact information Click the Contact tab to display the ASUS contact information. Y ou can also îÂÂnd this information on the inside front cover of this user guide.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-7 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 speciîÂÂed information. Motherboard Info Displays the general speciîÂÂcations of the motherboard. Browse this DVD Displays the support DVD contents in graphical format.
5-8 Chapter 5: Software support T echnical support Form Displays the ASUS T echnical Support Request Form that you have to îÂÂll out when requesting technical support. File list Displays the contents of the support DVD and a brief description of each in text format.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-9 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 îÂÂle 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-T ests (POST). The ASUS MyLogo2⢠is automatically installed when you install the ASUS Update utility from the support DVD. See section 5.2.3 Utilities menu for details. T o launch the ASUS MyLogo2â¢: 1. Launch the ASUS Update utility . Refer to section 4.1.1 ASUS Update utility for details. 2. Select Options from the drop down menu, then click Next. 3. Check the option Launch MyLogo to replace system boot logo before îÂÂashing BIOS, then click Next . 4. Select Update BIOS from a îÂÂle from the drop down menu, then click Next. 5. When prompted, locate the new BIOS îÂÂle, then click Next . The ASUS MyLogo window appears. 6. From the left window pane, select the folder that contains the image you intend to use as your boot logo. ⢠Before using the ASUS MyLogo2â¢, use the AFUDOS utility to make a copy of your original BIOS îÂÂle, or obtain the latest BIOS version from the ASUS website. See section 4.1.4 AFUDOS utility . ⢠Make sure that the BIOS item Full Screen Logo is set to [Enabled] if you wish to use ASUS MyLogo2. See section 4.6.2 Boot Settings ConîÂÂguration . ⢠Y ou can create your own boot logo image in GIF , or BMP îÂÂle formats. ⢠The îÂÂle size should be smaller than 150 K.
5-10 Chapter 5: Software support 9. When the screen returns to the ASUS Update utility , îÂÂash the original BIOS to load the new boot logo. 10. After îÂÂashing the BIOS, restart the computer to display the new boot logo during POST . 8. Adjust the boot image to your desired size by selecting a value on the Ratio box. 7. When the logo images appear on the right window pane, select an image to enlarge by clicking on it.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-1 1 5.3.2 Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠T echnology The motherboard supports the AMD Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠T echnology that dynamically and automatically change the CPU speed, voltage, and amount of power depending on the task the CPU performs. Enabling Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠T echnology T o enable Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠T echnology: 1. T urn on the system and enter BIOS by pressing the <Del> key during the Power On Self-T ests (POST). 2. Go to Advanced > CPU ConîÂÂguration > AMD Cool âÂÂnâÂÂQuiet Function and set it to [Enabled]. See section 4.4 Advanced menu . 3. Save your changes and exit BIOS Setup. 4. Reboot your computer and set your Power Option Properties depending on your operating system. Windows î XP 1. From the Windows î XP operating system, click Start. Select Settings > Control Panel . 2. Make sure the Control Panel is set to Classic View. 3. Double-click the Display icon in the Control Panel then select the Screen Saver tab. 4. Click the Power button. The following dialogue box appears. 5. From the Power schemes combo list box, select Minimal Power Management . 6. Click OK to effect settings.
5-12 Chapter 5: Software support ⢠Make sure to install the AMD Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠driver and application before using this feature. ⢠The AMD Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠technology feature works only with the AMD heatsink and fan assembly with monitor chip ⢠If you purchased a separate heatsink and fan package, use the ASUS Q-Fan technology feature to automatically adjust the CPU fan speed according to your system loading. Windows î Vista 1. From the Windows î Vista operating system, click Start. Select Control Panel . 2. Make sure the Control Panel is set to Classic View. 3. Double-click the Personalization icon in the Control Panel then click the Screen Saver item. 4. Click â Change power settings...âÂÂ. The following dialogue box appears. 5. From the Preferred plans, select Power saver. 6. Close all windows.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-13 Launching the Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠software The motherboard support DVD includes the Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠software that enables you to view your systemâÂÂs real-time CPU Frequency and voltage. T o launch the Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠program: 1. If you are using Windows î XP , click the Start button. Select Programs > ASUS > Cool & Quiet > Cool & Quiet . 2. If you are using Windows î Vista, click the Start button. Select All Programs > ASUS > Cool & Quiet > Cool & Quiet . 3. The Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠technology screen appears and displays the current CPU Frequency and CPU V oltage. Make sure to install the Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠software from the motherboard support DVD. Refer to section 5.2.3 Utilities menu for details.
5-14 Chapter 5: Software support 5.3.3 Audio conîÂÂgurations The Realtek î ALC1200 audio CODEC provides 8-channel audio capability to deliver the ultimate audio experience on your computer . The software provides Jack-Sensing function, S/PDIF Out support, and interrupt capability . The ALC1200 also includes the Realtek î proprietary UAJ î (Universal Audio Jack) technology for all audio ports, eliminating cable connection errors and giving users plug and play convenience. Follow the installation wizard to install the Realtek î Audio Driver from the Support DVD that came with the motherboard package. If the Realtek audio software is correctly installed, you will îÂÂnd the Realtek HD Audio Manager icon on the taskbar . From the taskbar , double-click on the SoundEf fect icon to display the Realtek HD Audio Manager . Realtek HD Audio Manager Control settings window ConîÂÂguration options Information button Realtek HD Audio Manager Exit button Minimize button
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-15 Information Click the information button ( ) to display information about the audio driver version, DirectX version, audio controller , audio codec, and language setting. Minimize Click the minimize button ( ) to minimize the window . Exit Click the exit button ( ) to exit the Realtek HD Audio Manager . ConîÂÂguration options Click any of the tabs in this area to conîÂÂgure your audio settings. Sound Effect The Realtek î ALC1200 Audio CODEC allows you to set your listening environment, adjust the equalizer , set the karaoke, or select pre-programmed equalizer settings for your listening pleasure. T o set the sound effect options: 1. From the Realtek HD Audio Manager , click the Sound Ef fect tab. 2. Click the shortcut buttons or the drop-down menus for options on changing the acoustic environment, adjust the equalizer , or set the karaoke to your desired settings. 3. Click to effect the Sound Ef fect settings and exit.
5-16 Chapter 5: Software support Mixer The Mixer option allows you to conîÂÂgure audio output (playback) volume and audio input (record) volume. T o set the mixer options: 1. From the Realtek HD Audio Manager , click the Mixer tab. 2. T urn the volume buttons to adjust the Playback and/or Record volume. The Mixer option activates voice input from all channels by default. Make sure to set all channels to mute ( ) if you do not want voice input. 3. Make adjustments to W ave, SW Synth, Front, Rear , Subwoofer , CD volume, Mic volume, Line V olume, and Stereo mix by clicking the control tabs and dragging them up and down until you get the desired levels. 4. Click to effect the Mixer settings and exit. Audio I/O The Audio I/O option allows you conîÂÂgure your input/output settings. T o set the Audio I/O options: 1. From the Realtek HD Audio Manager , click the Audio I/O tab. 2. Click the drop-down menu to select the channel conîÂÂguration. 3. The control settings window displays the status of connected devices. Click for analog and digital options. 4. Click <OK> to effect the Audio I/O settings and exit
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-17 3D Audio Demo The 3D Audio Demo option gives you a demonstration of the 3D audio feature. T o start the 3D Audio Demo: 1. From the Realtek HD Audio Manager , click the 3D Audio Demo tab. 2. Click the option buttons to change the sound, moving path, or environment settings. 3. Click to test your settings. 4. Click to effect the 3D Audio Demo settings and exit. Microphone The Microphone option allows you conîÂÂgure your input/output settings and to check if your audio devices are connected properly . T o set the Microphone options: 1. From the Realtek HD Audio Manager , click the Microphone tab. 2. Click the Noise Suppression option button to reduce the static background noise when recording. 3. Click the Acoustic Echo Cancellation option button to reduce the echo from the front speakers when recording. 4. Click to effect the Microphone settings and exit.
5-18 Chapter 5: Software support 5.3.4 ASUS PC Probe II PC Probe II is a utility that monitors the computer âÂÂs 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. Installing PC Probe II T o install PC Probe II 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. If Autorun is not enabled in your computer , browse the contents of the support DVD to locate the setup.exe îÂÂle from the ASUS PC Probe II folder . Double-click the setup.exe îÂÂle to start installation. 2. Click the Utilities tab, then click ASUS PC Probe II. 3. Follow the screen instructions to complete installation. Launching PC Probe II Y ou can launch the PC Probe II right after installation or anytime from the Windows î desktop. T o launch the PC Probe II from the Windows î desktop, click Start > All Programs > ASUS > PC Probe II > PC Probe II v1.xx.xx . The PC Probe II main window appears. After launching the application, the PC Probe II icon appears in the Windows î taskbar . Click this icon to close or restore the application. Using PC Probe II Main window The PC Probe II main window allows you to view the current status of your system and change the utility conîÂÂguration. By default, the main window displays the Preference section. Y ou can close or restore the Preference section by clicking on the triangle on the main window right handle. Click to close the Preference panel
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-19 Button Function Opens the ConîÂÂguration 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 . When displayed, the monitor panel for that sensor also turns red. Refer to the Monitor panels section for details. Preference Y ou can customize the application using the Preference section in the main window . Click the box before each preference to activate or deactivate.
5-20 Chapter 5: Software support Changing the monitor panels position T o change the position of the monitor panels in the desktop, click the arrow down button of the Scheme options, then select another position from the list box. Click OK when îÂÂnished. Moving the monitor panels All monitor panels move together using a magnetic effect. If you want to detach a monitor panel from the group, click the horseshoe magnet icon. Y ou can now move or reposition the panel independently . 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 âÂÂs desktop. Large display Small display Click to increase value Click to decrease value Adjusting the sensor threshold value Y ou can adjust the sensor threshold value in the monitor panel by clicking the or buttons. Y ou can also adjust the threshold values using the ConîÂÂg window . Y ou cannot adjust the sensor threshold values in a small monitoring panel.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-21 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 . Large display Small display WMI browser Click to display the WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) browser . This browser displays various Windowsî 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. Y ou can enlarge or reduce the browser size by dragging the bottom right corner of the browser . DMI browser Click to display the DMI (Desktop Management Interface) browser . This browser displays various desktop and system information. Click the plus sign ( ) before DMI Information to display the available information.
5-22 Chapter 5: Software support PCI browser Click to display the PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) browser . This browser provides information on the PCI devices installed on your system. Click the plus sign ( ) before the PCI Information item to display available information. Usage The Usage browser displays real-time information on the CPU, hard disk drive space, and memory usage. Click to display the Usage browser. CPU usage The CPU tab displays real- time CPU usage in line graph representation. If the CPU has an enabled Hyper-Threading, two separate line graphs display the operation of the two logical processors. Hard disk drive space usage The Hard Disk tab displays the used and available hard disk drive space. The left panel of the tab lists all logical drives. Click a hard disk drive to display the information on the right panel. The pie chart at the bottom of the window represents the used (blue) and the available HDD space.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-23 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 . ConîÂÂguring PC Probe II Click to view and adjust the sensor threshold values. The ConîÂÂg window has two tabs: Sensor/Threshold and Preference. The Sensor/ Threshold tab enables you to activate the sensors or to adjust the sensor threshold values. The Preference tab allows you to customize sensor alerts, or change the temperature scale. Loads the default threshold values for each sensor Applies your changes Cancels or ignores your changes Lo a ds y ou r s av e d co n îÂÂg ur at i on Saves your conîÂÂguration
5-24 Chapter 5: Software support 5.3.5 ASUS AI Suite ASUS AI Suite allows you to launch AI Gear 2, AI Booster , AI Nap, and Q-Fan 2 utilities easily . Installing AI Suite T o 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. Follow the screen instructions to complete installation. Launching AI Suite Y ou can launch the AI Suite right after installation or anytime from the Windows î desktop. T o launch the AI Suite from the Windows î desktop, click Start > All Programs > ASUS > AI Suite > AI Suite v1.xx.xx . The AI Suite main window appears. After launching the application, the AI Suite icon appears in the Windows î taskbar . Click this icon to close or restore the application. Using AI Suite Click the AI Gear 2, AI Nap, AI Booster , or Q-Fan 2 icon to launch the utility , or click the Normal icon to restore the system to normal state. Press to launch AI Gear 2 Press to launch AI Nap Press to launch Q-Fan 2 Pr ess t o l aun ch AI Bo ost er Press to restore to normal
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI M3N-HD/HDMI 5-25 Other feature buttons Click on right corner of the main window to open the monitor window . Click on right corner of the expanded window to switch the temperature from degrees Centigrade to degrees Fahrenheit. Displays the CPU/ system temperature, CPU/memory/PCIE voltage, and CPU/ chassis fan speed Displays the FSB/CPU frequency
5-26 Chapter 5: Software support 5.3.6 ASUS AI Gear 2 ASUS AI Gear 2 provides four system performance options that allows you to select the best performance setting for your computing needs. This easy-to-use utility adjusts the processor frequency and vCore voltage to minimize system noise and power consumption. After installing AI Suite from the bundled support DVD, you can launch AI Gear 2 by double-clicking the AI Suite icon on your Windows OS taskbar and then click the AI Gear 2 button on the AI Suite main window . Shift the gear to the performance setting that you like. Maximum Performance Medium Performance High Performance Maximum Power Saving
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI M3N-HD/HDMI 5-27 5.3.7 ASUS AI Nap This feature allows you to minimize the power consumption of your computer whenever you are away . Enable this feature for minimum power consumption and a more quiet system operation. After installing AI 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 Y es on the conîÂÂrmation screen. T o exit AI Nap mode, press the system power or mouse button then click Y es on the conîÂÂrmation screen. T o switch the power button functions from AI Nap to shutting down, just right click the AI Suite icon on the OS taskbar , select AI Nap and click Use power button . Unclick the the item to switch the function back.
5-28 Chapter 5: Software support 5.3.8 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 efîÂÂcient 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. After installing AI Suite from the bundled support DVD, you can launch the utility by double-clicking the AI Suite icon on the Windows î OS taskbar and click the Q-Fan 2 button on the AI Suite maIn window . Click the drop-down menu button and display the fan names. Select CPU Q-Fan 2 or CHASSIS Q-Fan 2. Click the box of Enable Q-Fan 2 to activate this function. drop-down list button Enable Q-Fan 2 box ProîÂÂle list appears after clicking the Enable Q-Fan 2 box. Click the drop-down list button and select a proîÂÂle. Optimal mode makes the fans adjust speed with the temperature; Silent mode minimizes fan speed for quiet fan operation; Performance mode boosts the fan to achieve maximal fan speed for the best cooling effect. click to display the drop- down list and select a Q-Fan 2 mode Click Apply at the bottom to save the setup.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI M3N-HD/HDMI 5-29 5.3.9 ASUS AI Booster The ASUS AI Booster application allows you to overclock the CPU speed in WIndows î 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 î OS taskbar and click the AI Booster button on the AI Suite main window . The options on the taskbar allow you to use the default settings, adjust CPU/ Memory/PCI-E frequency manually , or create and apply your personal overclocking conîÂÂgurations.
5-30 Chapter 5: Software support 5.3.10 ASUS Express Gate Lite ASUS Express Gate Lite 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 Lite menu where you can start the web browser , Skype, or other Express Gate Lite softwares. Installing ASUS Express Gate Lite ⢠ASUS Express Gate Lite supports USB devices or SA T A HDDs (IDE mode) only . Set the SA T A Operation Mode item in the BIOS to [IDE] before installing and using ASUS Express Gate Lite. ⢠Currently , ASUS Express Gate Lite DOES NOT support P A T A IDE HDDs. Visit www .asus.com for future BIOS and Express Gate Lite software updates. T o install Express Gate Lite on your computer: 1. Place the support DVD to the optical drive. The Drivers installation tab appears if your computer has enabled Autorun feature. 2. Click the Utilities tab, then click ASUS Express Gate Lite Installer. 3. Select the language for installation and click OK. 4. The InstallShield Wizard for Express Gate Lite appears. Click Next to continue. 5. Select the target disk volume for you to install Express Gate Lite. If you have multiple volumes and OS installed in your hard drive, it is recommended to install Express Gate Lite in V olume C . Click Next to continue. 6. Follow the screen instructions to complete installation.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI M3N-HD/HDMI 5-31 The First Screen Express Gate LiteâÂÂs îÂÂrst screen appears within a few seconds after you power on the computer . From here, you can immediately start the web browser or Skype. Y ou can also choose to continue booting normally (e.g. to your installed OS such as Windows), enter BIOS setup, or power off. If you donâÂÂt make any selection, Express Gate Lite will automatically exit and boot to your normal OS after a certain amount of time. The timer countdown is shown on-screen inside the âÂÂboot to OSâ button. As you move the mouse or type a key , the countdown stops and the timer disappears, so you can take your time to make a selection. The Express Gate Lite Environment The very îÂÂrst time you enter the Express Gate Lite environment (by launching either web or Skype from the îÂÂrst screen), a îÂÂrst time wizard will guide you through basic Express Gate Lite conîÂÂgurations. Basic conîÂÂgurations include language, date and time and screen resolution. Once inside the Express Gate LIte environment, click on the icons on the LaunchBar , by default at bottom of the screen, to launch or switch between softwares. Y ou can re-arrange, re-size and move windows. Bring a window to the foreground by clicking within it or by clicking on its corresponding software icon. Re-size a window by dragging any of its four corners. Move a window by dragging its title bar . Besides using the LaunchBar , you can also switch between softwares by pressing <Alt> <T ab> on the keyboard. Y ou can also right-click anywhere on the desktop to bring up a menu of softwares. The red triangle on an software icon in the LaunchBar denotes that the software is already running. This means that you can switch to it without any delay . In the rare case where an software stops responding, right-click on its icon to force close it.
5-32 Chapter 5: Software support Using the ConîÂÂguration Panel Use the conîÂÂguration panel to change various Express Gate Lite settings. Click on an icon to open a particular conîÂÂguration tool. The following tools are available: ⢠Date and Time: set current date and time as well as time zone. ⢠Input Method: choose your preferred input language and method. ⢠Language and Keyboard: choose your language and keyboard preferences. ⢠LaunchBar Setting: customize your LaunchBar (where it docks, whether it auto-hides, etc.) ⢠Network: Specify how your computer connects to the Internet. Enable all the network ports that you may use (LAN1, LAN2, and/or wireless [optional]). LAN1 and LAN2 refer to the two RJ-45 network ports on your computer . ⢠The number of the LAN ports may differ from motherboards. ⢠Y ou can connect the LAN cable to either port, and Express Gate Lite 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. ⢠Environment Settings: This function allows you to clear the Express Gate Lite settings, as well as any personal information stored by the web browser (Bookmarks, Cookies, History , etc.). The user data will be reset to the original default conîÂÂguration. After you click Restore System , a conîÂÂrmation dialog box will open. If you click âÂÂY esâ in the conîÂÂrmation dialog box, your system will immediately re start and then re-enter Express Gate Lite to îÂÂnish clearing the settings. This is also useful in the rare case where settings might become corrupted. The îÂÂrst-time Wizard will run again when you enter the Express Gate Lite environment after clearing its settings.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI M3N-HD/HDMI 5-33 ⢠Screen Settings: Choose the most optimal screen resolution for your display . ⢠V olume Control: Control the volume for your speaker output, microphone input, etc. Using the LaunchBar The LaunchBar has several system icons that show you various system statuses and let you conîÂÂgure individual Express Gate Lite settings. The LaunchBar can be conîÂÂgured to auto-hide, if you want more screen space for the softwares. It can also be conîÂÂgured to dock on any of the four sides of the screen. Starts the Web Browser for quick access to the W orld Wide Web. Starts the Chat instant messaging tool. Start the Skype software, which lets you call other people on Skype for free, as well as offering affordable, high quality voice communications to phones all over the world. Opens the ConîÂÂguration Panel, which lets you specify network settings and other preferences. In the rare case that one of the above softwares stops responding, you can right- click on its icon and then select Close to force it to close. The smaller icons on the right side of the LaunchBar are: Click on this icon to open the File Manager window , which lets you conveniently access the îÂÂles on the USB drive. If a USB device is detected, the icon contains a green arrow . Shows network status; click to conîÂÂgure network. Shows mute status; click to change volume. 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).
5-34 Chapter 5: Software support How Do I Get on to the Internet If Internet doesnâÂÂt seem to be working in the Express Gate Lite environment, check the following: 1. Open the ConîÂÂguration Panel. 2. Open Network. Click to show âÂÂAbout Express Gate LiteâÂÂ. Click to open Express Gate Lite Help. Click to bring up power options window to boot to OS, restart or power down. This window is also shown when you press Ctrl-Alt-Del on the keyboard. Power off Enter OS Cancel and return to Express Gate Lite Restart Open ConîÂÂguration Panel Network
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI M3N-HD/HDMI 5-35 3. Make the proper network conîÂÂgurations. 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 Lite will automatically use whichever port (LAN1 or LAN2) is connected. If you plug the network cable into a different port while Express Gate Lite is running (e.g. move the cable from LAN1 to LAN2), you may need to restart Express Gate LIte for it to detect the change. ⢠The most common scenario is for your computer to automatically obta in network settings (i.e. DHCP). If this is the case, you donâÂÂt need to click Setup for any LAN port. If this is not the case, click Setup to conîÂÂgure the static IP settings manually . ⢠If you use wireless, click Setup for the WiFi option. In the WiFi tab of the Advanced Network Settings box, enter the name of your wireless access point in the SSID îÂÂeld. If your wireless access point has security enabled, select the corresponding security algorithm from the drop-down list (e.g. WEP AUTO) in the Encryption T ype îÂÂeld, and enter the password. Click OK to enable WiFi and establish the wireless connection. ⢠If you use a network cable connected directly to your DSL/cable mode m (no router in between), click Setup for xDSL/cable dial-up. This method is also referred to as PPPoE. Choose whether the DSL/cable modem is connected to your computer âÂÂs LAN port. Then enter the username and password for your dial-up account. Click OK to enable xDSL/cable dial-up and establish the PPPoE connection. When PPPoE is enabled, the port it uses will automatically be unchecked and grayed out.
5-36 Chapter 5: Software support ConîÂÂguring Express Gate Lite in BIOS Setup Enter BIOS setup by pressing DEL key after powering on or by clicking on the BIOS setup icon on Express Gate LiteâÂÂs îÂÂrst screen. Express Gate Lite conîÂÂguration options are under the T ools menu. Refer to section 4.7.2 Express Gate Lite for details. Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Express Gate Lite Express Gate Lite [Enabled] Boot Out Timer [10] Reset User Data [No] Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Tools Updating Express Gate Lite Y ou may update your existing Express Gate Lite software to new versions . New versions of the Express Gate Lite software will be released regularly , adding reîÂÂnements or new applications. Y ou can îÂÂnd original version of the software on the support DVD or download new versions from the ASUS support website. T o update Express Gate Lite: 1. Double-click the Express Gate Lite setup îÂÂle to start software update. 2. A software update conîÂÂrmation dialog box appears. Click Y es to continue. 3. The InstallShield Wizard for Express Gate Lite appears. Click Next to continue. 4. Follow the screen instructions to complete installation. Repairing Express Gate Lite In case Express Gate Lite cannot start normally , you can repair Express Gate Lite by reinstalling the software or using the repairing utility . T o repair Express Gate Lite: ⢠Click Start > All Programs > Express Gate > Express Gate Installer > Repair this software . OR ⢠Double click the Express Gate Lite setup îÂÂle, choose Repair , and click Next to continue.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-37 For Windows XP , If you want to boot the system from a hard disk drive included in a RAID set, îÂÂrst copy the RAID driver from the support DVD to a îÂÂoppy disk before you install an operating system to a selected hard disk drive. Refer to section 5.5 Creating a RAID driver disk for details. 5.4 RAID conî¿gurations The motherboard comes with the NVIDIA GeForce 8200 chipset that allows you to conîÂÂgure Serial A T A hard disk drives as RAID sets. The motherboard supports the following RAID conîÂÂgurations: RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0 1, RAID 5 and JBOD. 5.4.1 RAID deîÂÂnitions RAID 0 (Data striping) optimizes two identical hard disk drives to read and write data in parallel, interleaved stacks. T wo hard disks perform the same work as a single drive but at a sustained data transfer rate, double that of a single disk alone, thus improving data access and storage. Use of two new identical hard disk drives is required for this setup. RAID 1 (Data mirroring) copies and maintains an identical image of data from one drive to a second drive. If one drive fails, the disk array management software directs all applications to the surviving drive as it contains a complete copy of the data in the other drive. This RAID conîÂÂguration provides data protection and increases fault tolerance to the entire system. Use two new drives or use an existing drive and a new drive for this setup. The new drive must be of the same size or larger than the existing drive. RAID 0 1 is data striping and data mirroring combined without parity (redundancy data) having to be calculated and written. With the RAID 0 1 conîÂÂguration you get all the beneîÂÂts of both RAID 0 and RAID 1 conîÂÂgurations. Use four new hard disk drives or use an existing drive and three new drives for this setup. RAID 5 stripes both data and parity information across three or more hard disk drives. Among the advantages of RAID 5 conîÂÂguration include better HDD performance, fault tolerance, and higher storage capacity . The RAID 5 conîÂÂguration is best suited for transaction processing, relational database applications, enterprise resource planning, and other business systems. Use a minimum of three identical hard disk drives for this setup. JBOD (Spanning) stands for Just a Bunch of Disks and refers to hard disk drives that are not yet conîÂÂgured as a RAID set. This conîÂÂguration stores the same data redundantly on multiple disks that appear as a single disk on the operating system. Spanning does not deliver an y advantage over using separate disks i ndependently and does not provide fault tolerance or other RAID performance beneîÂÂts.
5-38 Chapter 5: Software support Setting the BIOS RAID items After installing the hard disk drives, make sure to set the necessary RAID items in the BIOS before setting your RAID conîÂÂguration. T o set the BIOS RAID items: 1. Boot the system and press <Del> during the Power-On Self-T est (POST) to enter the BIOS Setup Utility . 2. Set the SA T A Operation Mode item to [RAID]. See section 4.4.6 Onboard Device ConîÂÂguration > MCP Storage ConîÂÂg for details. 3. Save your changes and Exit Setup. 5.4.2 NVIDIA î RAID conîÂÂgurations The motherboard includes a high performance SA T A RAID controller integrated in the NVIDIA î nForce⢠750a SLI chipset. It supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0 1 and RAID 5 for six independent Serial A T A channels. Installing Serial A T A (SA T A) hard disks The motherboard supports Ultra DMA 133/100/66 and Serial A T A hard disk drives. For optimal performance, install identical drives of the same model and capacity when creating a disk array . T o install the SA T A hard disks for a RAID conîÂÂguration: 1. Install the SA T A hard disks into the drive bays. 2. Connect the SA T A signal cables. 3. Connect a SA T A power cable to the power connector on each drive. Refer to the RAID controllers user manual in the motherboard support DVD for detailed information on RAID conîÂÂgurations. See section 5.2.5 Manuals menu . ⢠For detailed descriptions on the NVIDIA î RAID conîÂÂguration, refer to the âÂÂNVIDIA î RAID User Guideâ found in your motherboard support DVD. ⢠When using Windows î XP operating system, make sure to install the Windows î XP Service Pack 2 or later versions. ⢠Due to chipset limitation, when set any of SA T A ports to RAID mode, all SA T A ports run at RAID mode together . ⢠Make sure to re-enter your NVRAID settings after the CMOS is cleared; otherwise, the system will not recognize your RAID setup.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-39 Entering the NVIDIA î RAID utility T o enter the NVIDIA î RAID utility: 1. Boot up your computer . 2. During POST , press <F10> 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. [F6] Back [F7] Finish [TAB] Navigate [ âÂÂâÂÂ] Select [ENTER] Popup At the bottom of the screen are the navigation keys. These keys allow you to move through and select menu options. NVIDIA RAID Utility Oct 5 2004 - Deî¿ne a New Array - RAID Mode: Striping Striping Block: Optimal Free Disks Array Disks Loc Disk Model Name Loc Disk Model Name 1.0.M XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 1.1.M XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX [ âÂÂ] Add 2.0.M XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 2.1.M XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX [ âÂÂ] Del
5-40 Chapter 5: Software support Creating a RAID V olume T o create a RAID volume: 1. From the NVIDIA î RAID utility DeîÂÂne a New Array menu, select RAID Mode then press <Enter>. The following submenu appears. Use the up or down arrow keys to select a RAID mode then press <Enter>. Mirroring Striping Stripe Mirroring Spanning TIP: For server systems, we recommend using a lower array block size. For multimedia computer systems used mainly for audio and video editing, we recommend a higher array block size for optimum performance. T ake caution in using this option. All data on the RAID drives will be lost! 2. Press <T AB> select the Striping Block then press <Enter>. The following submenu appears: If you selected Striping or Stripe Mirroring, use the up or down arrow keys to select the stripe size for your RAID 0 array then press <Enter>.The available values range from 8 KB to 128 KB. The default selection is 128 KB. The strip value should be chosen based on the planned drive usage. ⢠8 /16 KB - low disk usage ⢠64 KB - typical disk usage ⢠128 KB - performance disk usage 3.` Press <T AB> to select the Free Disks area. Use the left or right arrow keys to assign the array disks. 4. Press <F7> to create RAID set. The following message box appears. Clear disk data? [Y] YES [N] NO 5. Press <Y> to clear the selected disks or <N> to proceed without clearing the disks. The following screen appears. 8K â 16K 32K 64K 128K Optim âÂÂ
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-41 Rebuilding a RAID array T o rebuild a RAID array: 1. From the Array List menu, use the up or down arrow keys to select a RAID array then press <Enter>. The RAID Array details appear . [Ctrl-X]Exit [ âÂÂâÂÂ]Select [B]Set Boot [N]New Array [ENTER]Detail NVIDIA RAID Utility Oct 5 2004 - Array List - Boot Id Status Vendor Array Model Name No 4 Healthy NVIDIA MIRROR XXX.XXG A new set of navigation keys is displayed on the bottom of the screen. 6. Press <Ctrl X> to save settings and exit. [R] Rebuild [D] Delete [C] Clear Disk [ENTER] Return Array 1 : NVIDIA MIRROR XXX.XXG - Array Detail - RAID Mode: Mirroring Striping Width: 1 Striping Block: 64K Adapt Channel M/S Index Disk Model Name Capacity 2 1 Master 0 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XXGB 1 0 Master 1 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XXGB
5-42 Chapter 5: Software support A new set of navigation keys is displayed on the bottom of the screen. 2. Press <R> to rebuild a RAID array . The following screen appears. 3. Use the up or down arrow keys to select a RAID array to rebuild, then press <F7>. The following conîÂÂrmation message appears. [ âÂÂâÂÂ] Select [F6] Back [F7] Finish Array 1 : NVIDIA MIRROR XXX.XXG - Select Disk Inside Array - RAID Mode: Mirroring Striping Width: 1 Striping Block: 64K Adapt Channel M/S Index Disk Model Name Capacity 2 1 Master 0 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XXGB 1 0 Master 1 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XXGB Rebuild array? [ENTER] OK [ESC] Cancel 4. Press <Enter> to start rebuilding array or press <Esc> to cancel. 5. After the rebuild process, the Array list menu appears. Y ou will need to enter Window î XP and run the NVIDIA utility in order to complete the rebuilt process.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-43 Deleting a RAID array T o delete a RAID array: 1. From the Array List menu, use the up or down arrow keys to select a RAID array then press <Enter>. The RAID Array details appear . [R] Rebuild [D] Delete [C] Clear Disk [ENTER] Return Array 1 : NVIDIA MIRROR XXX.XXG - Array Detail - RAID Mode: Mirroring Striping Width: 1 Striping Block: 64K Adapt Channel M/S Index Disk Model Name Capacity 2 1 Master 0 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XXGB 1 0 Master 1 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XXGB A new set of navigation keys is displayed on the bottom of the screen. 2. Press <D> to delete a RAID array . The following conîÂÂrmation message appears. Delete this array? [Y] YES [N] No 4. If you selected Y es, the DeîÂÂne a New Array menu appears. T ake caution in using this option. All data on the RAID drives will be lost! 3. Press <Y> to delete array or press <N> to cancel.
5-44 Chapter 5: Software support Clearing a disk data T o clear disk data: 1. From the Array List menu, use the up or down arrow keys to select a RAID array then press <Enter>. The RAID Array details appear . [R] Rebuild [D] Delete [C] Clear Disk [ENTER] Return Array 1 : NVIDIA MIRROR XXX.XXG - Array Detail - RAID Mode: Mirroring Striping Width: 1 Striping Block: 64K Adapt Channel M/S Index Disk Model Name Capacity 2 1 Master 0 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XXGB 1 0 Master 1 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XXGB A new set of navigation keys is displayed on the bottom of the screen. 2. Press <C> to clear disk. The following conîÂÂrmation message appears. T ake caution in using this option. All data on the RAID drives will be lost! Clear disk data? [Y] YES [N] 3. Press <Y> to clear the disk data or press <N> to cancel.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-45 5.5 Creating a RAID driver disk A îÂÂoppy disk with the RAID driver is required when installing Windows î XP operating system on a hard disk drive that is included in a RAID set. For Windows î Vista⢠operating system, use either the motherboard support DVD or a USB device with the RAID driver . 5.5.1 Creating a RAID driver disk without entering the OS T o create a RAID/SA T A driver disk without entering the OS: 1. Boot your computer . 2. Press <Del> 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. Save changes and exit BIOS. 6. Press any key when the system prompts âÂÂPress any key to boot from the optical drive.â 7. When the menu appears, press <1> to create a RAID driver disk. 8. Insert a formatted îÂÂoppy disk into the îÂÂoppy drive then press <Enter>. 9. Follow succeeding screen instructions to complete the process. 5.5.2 Creating a RAID/SA T A driver disk in Windows î T o create a RAID driver disk in Windows î : 1. Start Windows î . 2. Place the motherboard support DVD into the optical drive. 3. Go to the Make Disk menu, then click NVIDIA 32/64bit XP SA T A RAID Driver to create a NVIDIA î 32/64 bit XP SA T A RAID driver disk. 4. Insert a îÂÂoppy disk or USB device into the îÂÂoppy disk drive or USB port. 5. Follow succeeding screen instructions to complete the process. Write-protect the îÂÂoppy disk to avoid computer virus infection. T o install the RAID driver in Windows î 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 <F6> then insert the îÂÂoppy disk with RAID driver into the îÂÂoppy disk drive. 3. Follow the succeeding screen instructions to complete the installation.
5-46 Chapter 5: Software support T o install the RAID driver in Windows î Vistaâ¢: 1. Insert the motherboard support DVD or USB device with RAID driver into the optical drive or USB port. Find RAID driver in the support DVD through the path below: Drivers\Chipset\Disk\RAID Find AHCI driver in the support DVD through the path below: Drivers\Chipset\Disk\AHCI 2. Follow the succeeding screen instructions to complete the installation. Due to chipset limitation, the Serial A T A ports supported by the NVIDIA chipset doesnâÂÂt support Serial Optical Disk Drives (Serial ODD) under DOS.
6 Chapter 6: NVIDIA î SLI⢠technology support This chapter tells how to set up NVIDIA î SLI⢠graphics cards to avail of nVIDIA âÂÂs Multi-Video Processing technology .
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI Chapter summary 6.1 Overview ....................................................................................... 6-1 6.2 Installing CrossFire⢠graphics cards ....................................... 6-2 6.3 Software information ................................................................... 6-5
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 6-1 6.1 Overview The motherboard supports the NVIDIA î SLI⢠(Scalable Link Interface)-Intel î Edition technology that allows you to install two identical PCI Express⢠x16 graphics cards. Follow the installation procedures in this section. Requirements ⢠Y ou should have two identical SLI-ready graphics cards that are NVIDIA î certiîÂÂed. ⢠Make sure that your graphics card driver supports the NVIDIA î SLI⢠technology . Download the latest driver from the NVIDIA website (www .nvidia. com). ⢠Make sure that your power supply unit (PSU) can provide at least the minimum power required by your system. See 9. A TX power connectors on page 2-31 for details. ⢠The NVIDIA î SLI⢠technology supports Windows î XP⢠32-bit/64bit operating system. Visit the NVIDIA website (www.nvidia.com) for the NVIDIA î SLI⢠technology under Windows î Vista⢠⢠Visit the NVIDIA zone website (http://www .nzone.com) for the latest certiîÂÂed graphics card and supported 3D application list.
6-2 Chapter 6: nVIDIA î SLI⢠technology support 6.2 Dual graphics card setup 6.2.1 Installing SLI-ready graphics cards Install only identical SLI-ready graphics cards that are NVIDIA î -certiîÂÂed. Different types of graphics cards will not work together properly . T o install the graphics cards: 1. Prepare two graphics cards. Each graphics card should have goldîÂÂngers for the SLI connector . 2. Remove the metal bracket covers opposite the two PCI Express x16 slots. GoldîÂÂngers
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 6-3 4. Insert the second graphics card into the other slot. Make sure that the card is properly seated on the slot. If required, connect an auxiliary power source to the PCI Express graphics cards. 3. Insert one graphics card into either the blue or black slot. Make sure that the card is properly seated on the slot.
6-4 Chapter 6: nVIDIA î SLI⢠technology support 7. Connect a VGA cable or a DVI-I cable to the graphics card/s. We recommend to install an additional chassis fan for better thermal environment. 5. Align and insert the SLI connector to the goldîÂÂngers on each graphics card. Make sure that the connector is îÂÂrmly in place. 6. When installing two VGA cards using a 20-pin A TX PSU with sufîÂÂcient 12v capability , we recommend that you connect the auxillary power source from the power supply to the graphics card. Refer to the PSU documentation for dual VGA power requirements. SLI connector
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 6-5 NVIDIA Settings icon T o enable the multi-GPU feature: 1. Click the NVIDIA Settings icon on your Windows taskbar . 2. From the pop-up menu, select nView Desktop Manager then click nView Properties. Make sure that your PCI Express graphics card driver supports the NVIDIA SLI technology . Download the latest driver from the NVIDIA website (www .nvidia. com). 6.2.2 Installing the device drivers Refer to the documentation that came with your graphics card package to install the device drivers. 6.2.3 Enabling the multi-GPU feature in Windows î After installing your graphics cards and the device drivers, enable the Multi-Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) feature in the NVIDIA nV iew properties. 3. From the nView Desktop Manager window , select the Desktop Management tab. 4. Click Properties to display the Display Properties dialog box.
6-6 Chapter 6: nVIDIA î SLI⢠technology support 5. From the Display Properties dialog box, select the Settings tab then click Advanced. 6. Select the NVIDIA GeForce tab. 7. Click the slider to display the following screen, then select the SLI multi-GPU item. 8. Click the Enable SLI multi-GPU check box. 9. Click OK when done. Slider
ii E3528 First Edition February 2008 Copyright é 2008 ASUST eK 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 ASUST eK COMPUTER INC. (âÂÂASUSâÂÂ). Product warranty or service will not be extended if: (1) the product is repaired, modiîÂÂed or altered, unless such repair , modiîÂÂcation of alteration is authorized in writing by ASUS; or (2) the serial number of the product is defaced or missing. ASUS PROVIDES THIS MANUAL âÂÂAS ISâ WITHOUT W ARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANT ABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A P AR TICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL ASUS, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT , SPECIAL, INCIDENT AL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF USE OR DA T A, INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS AND THE LIKE), EVEN IF ASUS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES ARISING FROM ANY DEFECT OR ERROR IN THIS MANUAL OR PRODUCT . SPECIFICA TIONS AND INFORMA TION CONT AINED IN THIS MANUAL ARE FURNISHED FOR INFORMA TIONAL USE ONL Y , AND ARE SUBJECT T O CHANGE A T ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE, AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY ASUS. ASUS ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS OR INACCURACIES THA T MA Y APPEAR IN THIS MANUAL, INCLUDING THE PRODUCTS AND SOFTW ARE DESCRIBED IN IT . Products and corporate names appearing in this manual may or may not be registered trademarks or copyrights of their respective companies, and are used only for identiîÂÂcation or explanation and to the ownersâ beneîÂÂt, without intent to infringe.
iii Contents Contents ...................................................................................................... iii Notices ........................................................................................................ vii Safety information .................................................................................... viii About this guide ......................................................................................... ix M3N-HD/HDMI speciîÂÂcations summary .................................................... xi Chapter 1: Product introduction 1.1 Welcome! ...................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Package contents ......................................................................... 1-1 1.3 Special features ............................................................................ 1-2 1.3.1 Product highlights ........................................................... 1-2 1.3.2 ASUS AI Lifestyle unique features .................................. 1-4 1.3.3 ASUS intelligent performance and overclocking features ...................................................... 1-7 Chapter 2: Hardware information 2.1 Before you proceed ..................................................................... 2-1 Onboard LED ................................................................................. 2-1 2.2 Motherboard overview ................................................................. 2-2 2.2.1 Placement direction ........................................................ 2-2 2.2.2 Screw holes .................................................................... 2-2 2.2.3 Motherboard layout ......................................................... 2-3 2.2.4 Layout contents ............................................................... 2-4 2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) ................................................... 2-6 2.3.1 Installing the CPU ........................................................... 2-6 2.3.2 Installing the heatsink and fan ........................................ 2-8 2.4 System memory ......................................................................... 2-1 1 2.4.1 Overview ........................................................................2-1 1 2.4.2 Memory conîÂÂgurations ...................................................2-1 1 2.4.3 Installing a DIMM .......................................................... 2-15 2.4.4 Removing a DIMM ........................................................ 2-15 2.5 Expansion slots .......................................................................... 2-16 2.5.1 Installing an expansion card ......................................... 2-16 2.5.2 ConîÂÂguring an expansion card ..................................... 2-16 2.5.3 Interrupt assignments ................................................... 2-17 2.5.4 PCI slots ........................................................................ 2-18
iv Contents 2.5.5 PCI Express x1 slots ..................................................... 2-18 2.5.6 PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot (blue) .................................... 2-18 2.5.7 Universal PCI Express x16 slot (black) ......................... 2-18 2.6 Jumper ........................................................................................ 2-20 2.7 Connectors ................................................................................. 2-21 2.7.1 Rear panel connectors .................................................. 2-21 2.7.2 Internal connectors ....................................................... 2-24 Chapter 3: Powering up 3.1 Starting up for the îÂÂrst time ........................................................ 3-1 3.2 T urning off the computer ............................................................. 3-2 3.2.1 Using the OS shut down function .................................... 3-2 3.2.2 Using the dual function power switch .............................. 3-2 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.1 Managing and updating your BIOS ............................................ 4-1 4.1.1 ASUS Update utility ........................................................ 4-1 4.1.2 Creating a bootable îÂÂoppy disk ....................................... 4-4 4.1.3 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility ................................................... 4-5 4.1.4 Updating the BIOS .......................................................... 4-6 4.1.5 Saving the current BIOS îÂÂle ............................................ 4-8 4.2 BIOS setup program .................................................................... 4-9 4.2.1 BIOS menu screen ........................................................ 4-10 4.2.2 Menu bar ....................................................................... 4-10 4.2.3 Legend bar .....................................................................4-1 1 4.2.4 Menu items .................................................................... 4-1 1 4.2.5 Sub-menu items .............................................................4-1 1 4.2.6 ConîÂÂguration îÂÂelds ........................................................4-1 1 4.2.7 Pop-up window ............................................................. 4-12 4.2.8 General help ................................................................. 4-12 4.3 Main menu .................................................................................. 4-13 4.3.1 System T ime ................................................................. 4-13 4.3.2 System Date ................................................................. 4-13 4.3.3 Legacy Diskette A ......................................................... 4-13 4.3.4 Primary IDE Master/Slave ............................................. 4-14 4.3.5 SA T A1/2/3/4 .................................................................. 4-16
v Contents 4.3.6 HDD SMART Monitoring ............................................... 4-1 7 4.3.7 Installed Memory ........................................................... 4-17 4.3.8 Usable Memory ............................................................. 4-17 4.4 Advanced menu ......................................................................... 4-18 4.4.1 JumperFree ConîÂÂguration ............................................ 4-18 4.4.2 AI Net 2 ......................................................................... 4-20 4.4.3 CPU ConîÂÂguration ........................................................ 4-20 4.4.4 Chipset .......................................................................... 4-22 4.4.5 PCIPnP ......................................................................... 4-23 4.4.6 Onboard Device ConîÂÂguration ...................................... 4-24 4.4.7 USB ConîÂÂguration ........................................................ 4-26 4.5 Power menu ................................................................................ 4-27 4.5.1 ACPI Suspend T ype ...................................................... 4-27 4.5.2 ACPI APIC Support ....................................................... 4-27 4.5.3 APM ConîÂÂguration ........................................................ 4-27 4.5.4 Hardware Monitor ......................................................... 4-29 4.6 Boot menu .................................................................................. 4-31 4.6.1 Boot Device Priority ...................................................... 4-31 4.6.2 Removable Drives ......................................................... 4-31 4.6.3 Boot Settings ConîÂÂguration ......................................... 4-32 4.6.4 Security ......................................................................... 4-33 4.7 T ools menu ................................................................................. 4-35 4.7.1 ASUS O.C. ProîÂÂle ......................................................... 4-35 4.7.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 .......................................................... 4-37 4.7.3 Express Gate Lite ......................................................... 4-38 4.8 Exit menu .................................................................................... 4-39 Chapter 5: Software support 5.1 Installing an operating system ................................................... 5-1 5.2 Support DVD information ............................................................ 5-1 5.2.1 Running the support DVD ............................................... 5-1 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
vi Contents 5.2.7 Other information ............................................................ 5-7 5.3 Software information ................................................................... 5-9 5.3.1 ASUS MyLogo2⢠........................................................... 5-9 5.3.2 Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠T echnology ..........................................5-1 1 5.3.3 Audio conîÂÂgurations ..................................................... 5-14 5.3.4 ASUS PC Probe II ......................................................... 5-18 5.3.5 ASUS AI Suite ............................................................... 5-24 5.3.6 ASUS AI Gear 2 ............................................................ 5-26 5.3.7 ASUS AI Nap ................................................................ 5-27 5.3.8 ASUS Q-Fan 2 .............................................................. 5-28 5.3.9 ASUS AI Booster ........................................................... 5-29 5.3.10 ASUS Express Gate Lite ............................................... 5-30 5.4 RAID conîÂÂgurations .................................................................. 5-37 5.4.1 RAID deîÂÂnitions ............................................................ 5-37 5.4.2 NVIDIA î RAID conîÂÂgurations ........................................ 5-38 5.5 Creating a RAID driver disk ....................................................... 5-45 5.5.1 Creating a RAID driver disk without entering the OS .... 5-45 5.5.2 Creating a RAID/SA T A driver disk in Windows î ............ 5-45 Chapter 6: NVIDIA î SLI⢠technology support 6.1 Overview ....................................................................................... 6-1 Requirements ................................................................................. 6-1 6.2 Dual graphics card setup ............................................................ 6-2 6.2.1 Installing SLI-ready graphics cards ................................. 6-2 6.2.2 Installing the device drivers ............................................. 6-5 6.2.3 Enabling the multi-GPU feature in Windows î ................. 6-5
vii 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. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with manufacturer âÂÂs instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However , there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: ⢠Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. ⢠Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver . ⢠Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit dif ferent from that to which the receiver is connected. ⢠Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. Canadian Department of Communications Statement This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications. This class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003. The use of shielded cables for connection of the monitor to the graphics card is required to assure compliance with FCC regulations. Changes or modiîÂÂcations to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user âÂÂs authority to operate this equipment.
viii Safety information Electrical safety ⢠T o 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. ⢠Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard, ensure that all power cables are unplugged. ⢠Seek professional assistance before using an adpater or extension cord. These devices could interrupt the grounding circuit. ⢠Make sure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your area. If you are not sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you are using, contact your local power company . ⢠If the power supply is broken, do not try to îÂÂx it by yourself. Contact a qualiîÂÂed service technician or your retailer . Operation safety ⢠Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully read all the manuals that came with the package. ⢠Before using the product, make sure all cables are correctly connected and the power cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage, contact your dealer immediately . ⢠T o avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from connectors, slots, sockets and circuitry . ⢠A void dust, humidity , and temperature extremes. Do not place the product in any area where it may become wet. ⢠Place the product on a stable surface. ⢠If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualiîÂÂed service technician or your retailer . This symbol of the crossed out wheeled bin indicates that the product (electrical, electronic equipment, and mercury-containing button cell battery) should not be placed in municipal waste. Check local regulations for disposal of electronic products.
ix About this guide This user guide contains the information you need when installing and conîÂÂguring 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. It includes description of the switches, jumpers, and connectors on the motherboard. ⢠Chapter 3: Powering up This chapter describes the power up sequence and ways of shutting down the system. ⢠Chapter 4: BIOS setup This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS Setup menus. Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided. ⢠Chapter 5: Software support This chapter describes the contents of the support DVD that comes with the motherboard package and the software. ⢠Chapter 6: NVIDIA SLI⢠technology support This chapter describes the NVIDIA SLI⢠feature and shows the graphics card installation procedures. Where to îÂÂnd more information Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and software updates. 1. ASUS websites The ASUS website provides updated information on ASUS hardware and software products. Refer to the ASUS contact information. 2. Optional documentation Y our product package may include optional documentation, such as warra nty îÂÂyers, that may have been added by your dealer . These documents are not part of the standard package.
x Conventions used in this guide T o make sure that you perform certain tasks properly , take note of the following symbols used throughout this manual. T ypography Bold text Indicates a menu or an item to select. Italics Used to emphasize a word or a phrase. <Key> Key s en clos ed i n th e le ss-t han and grea ter- than sig n mea ns t hat you must pre ss t he e nclo sed key. Example: <Enter> means that you must press the Enter or Return key . <Key1 Key2 Key3> If you must press two or more keys simultaneously , the key names are linked with a plus sign ( ). Example: <Ctrl Alt D> Command Means that you must type the command exactly as shown, then supply the required item or value enclosed in brackets. Example: At the DOS prompt, type the command line: afudos /i /i M3N-HD.ROM DANGER/W ARNING: 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. NOTE: T ips and additional information to help you complete a task. IMPORT ANT : Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task.
xi M3N-HD/HDMI speciî¿cations summary (continued on the next page) CPU AMD î Socket AM2 Phenom⢠FX / Phenom⢠/ Athlon⢠/ Sempron⢠processors AMD î Socket AM2 Athlon Series / Sempron processors AMD Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet⢠T echnology Chipset NVIDIA î nForce 750a SLI System bus Up to 5200 MT/s; HyperT ransport⢠3.0 interface for AM2 CPU 2000 / 1600 MT/s for AM2 CPU Memory Dual-channel memory architecture - 4 x 240-pin DIMM sockets support unbufferred ECC/non-ECC DDR2 1066*/800/667 MHz memory modules - Supports up to 8 GB system memory *DDR2 1066 is supported by some of the AM2 CPUs only . Refer to www.asus.com for the supported CPU models and the Memory QVL (QualiîÂÂed V endors Lists). VGA Integrated NVIDIA î GPU - Maximum shared memory of 512MB - Supports HDMI⢠T echnology with HDCP compliant with max. resolution up to 1920 x 1200 - Supports D-Sub with max. resolution up to 1920 x 1440 @ 75 Hz - Multi VGA output support: HDMI/DVI & D-Sub - Hybrid SLI Support (For Windows Vista only) - Supports PCIe 2.0/1.0 architecture Expansion slots 2 x PCIe x16 slots @ dual x8 mode 2 x PCIe x1 slots 2 x PCI 2.2 slots Storage 1 x Ultra DMA 133/100 interface 6 x SA T A 3.0 Gb/s connectors supporting RAID 0, 1, 0 1, 5, and JBOD conîÂÂguration LAN Atheros î F1 Phy Gigabit LAN controller High DeîÂÂnition audio Realtek î ALC1200 8-channel High DeîÂÂnition audio CODEC - Supports Jack-Detection and Multi-Streaming - Coaxial S/PDIF Out port at back I/O IEEE 1394 LSI î FW322 controller supports 2 x IEEE 1394a ports (1 at mid-board; 1 on the rear panel) USB 12 x USB 2.0 ports (6 at mid-board; 6 on the rear panel)
xii ASUS AI Lifestyle unique features ASUS Express Gate Lite: - Web browser , îÂÂle downloading and uploading* - Further free features upgradable * File downloading and uploading through USB devices only . ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution: - ASUS 4 1 Phase Power Design - ASUS AI Gear 2 - ASUS AI Nap - ASUS Fanless Design: Heat-pipe solution - ASUS Q-Fan 2 ASUS Crystal Sound - ASUS Noise Filter ASUS EZ DIY - ASUS Q-Shield - ASUS Q-Connector - ASUS O.C. ProîÂÂle - ASUS EZ Flash 2 Other features ASUS MyLogo 2⢠ASUS exclusive overclocking features Intelligent overclocking tools: - AI Overclocking (intelligent CPU frequency tuner) - ASUS AI Booster utility Precision T weaker: - vCore: Adjustable CPU voltage at 0.0125V increment - vDIMM: 8-step DRAM voltage control - vChipset: 4-step Chipset voltage control SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection): - FSB tuning from 200MHz up to 600MHz at 1MHz increment - Memory tuning from 533MHz up to 1066MHz - PCI Express frequency tuning from 100MHz to 200 MHz at 1MHz increment Overclocking protection: - ASUS C.P .R. (CPU Parameter Recall) (continued on the next page) M3N-HD/HDMI speciî¿cations summary
xiii M3N-HD/HDMI speciî¿cations summary Rear panel I/O ports 1 x PS/2 keyboard port (purple) 1 x S/PDIF Out (Coaxial) 1 x HDMI Out 1 x IEEE 1394a port 1 x LAN (RJ-45) 6 x USB 2.0/1.1 8-channel audio I/O Internal I/O connectors 3 x USB connectors support additional 6 USB ports 1 x Floppy disk drive connector 1 x COM connector 1 x IDE connector 6 x SA T A connectors 1 x CPU Fan connector 1 x Chassis Fan connector 1 x Power Fan connector 1 x IEEE1394a connector 1 x Front panel audio connector 1 x S/PDIF Out Header 1 x VGA connector 1 x Chassis Intrusion connector 1 x CD audio in 1 x 24-pin A TX Power connector 1 x 4-pin A TX 12V Power connector 1 x System Panel (Q-Connector) BIOS features 8 Mb Flash ROM, Award BIOS, PnP , DMI 2.0, WfM2.0, SM B IOS 2.3, ACPI 2.0a , ASUS E Z Fla sh 2 Support DVD contents Drivers Express Gate Lite ASUS PC Probe II ASUS Update Anti-virus Utility (OEM version) Form factor A TX form factor: 12 in x 9.6 in (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm) *SpeciîÂÂcations are subject to change without notice.
xiv
1 Chapter 1: Product introduction This chapter describes the motherboard features and the new technologies it supports.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI Chapter summary 1 1.1 Welcome! ...................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Package contents ......................................................................... 1-1 1.3 Special features ............................................................................ 1-2
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 1-1 1.1 Welcome! Thank you for buying an ASUS î M3N-HD/HDMI 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 . If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer . 1.2 Package contents Check your motherboard package for the following items. Motherboard ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI Cables 1 x ASUS SLI bridge cable Serial A T A power cable for 4 devices Serial A T A power cable for 4 devices Serial A T A signal cable for 6 devices 1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 cable 1 x Floppy disk drive cable Accessories 1 x ASUS Q- Shie ld 1 x ASUS Q- Shi eld ASUS Q-S hiel d 1 x ASUS Q-Connector Kit (USB, 1394, system panel; Retail version only) 1 x D-Sub connector module 1 x HDMI to DVI convertor 1 x USB module supporting 2 ports Application DVD ASUS motherboard support DVD Documentation User guide
1-2 Chapter 1: Product Introduction 1.3 Special features 1.3.1 Product highlights Green ASUS This motherboard and its packaging comply with the European UnionâÂÂs 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 consumersâ health while minimizing the impact on the environment. AMD î Socket AM2 Phenom⢠FX / Phenom / Athlon⢠/ Sempron⢠CPU support This motherboard supports AMD î Socket AM2 multi-core processors with unique L3 cache and delivers better overclocking capabilities with less power consumption. It features dual-channel DDR2 1066 memory support and accelerates data transfer rate up to 5200MT/s via HyperT ransport⢠3.0 based system bus. See page 2-6 for details. HyperT ransport⢠3.0 support HyperT ransport⢠3.0 technology provides 2.6 times more bandwidth than HyperT ransport⢠1.0, radically improving system efîÂÂciency to create a smoother , faster computing environment. AMD î Socket AM2 Athlon⢠Series / Sempron⢠CPU support This motherboard supports AMD î Socket AM2 Athlon⢠Series / Sempron⢠processors. It features 2000 / 1600 MT/s HyperT ransportâ¢-based system bus, dual-channel un-buffered DDR2 800 memory support, and AMD î Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet⢠T echnology . See page 2-6 for details. NVIDIA î nForce 750a Chipset NVIDIA î nForce 750a Chipset is designed to support up to 5200MT/s HyperT ransport⢠3.0 (HT 3.0) interface speed and dual PCI Express⢠2.0 x16 graphics. It is optimized with AMD î âÂÂs latest AM2 and multi-core CPUs to provide excellent system performance and overclocking capabilities. Native DDR2 1066 support This motherboard provides native DDR2 1066 support. It provides faster data transfer rate and more bandwidth to increase memory computing efîÂÂciency , enhancing system performance in 3D graphics and other memory demanding applications. See page 2-1 1 for details. DDR2 1066 is supported by some of the AM2 CPUs only . Refer to www .asus. com for the supported CPU models.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 1-3 NVIDIA î Hybrid SLI T echnology Hybrid SLI⢠T echnology is a unique hybrid multi-GPU technology . It includes two primary features: GeForce Boost and HybridPowerâ¢. GeForce Boost turbo-charges performance of discrete graphics cards when combined with M3N series motherboard GPUs. HybridPower⢠unleashes graphics performance for demanding 3D applications and enables low-power operation for everyday computing needs. Y ou can switch from the discrete GeForce GPU(s) to the motherboard GPU for a quiet, low power PC experience. See page 2-19 for details. Geforce Boost and HybridPower⢠are independent on select GeForce GPUs. Visit www .nvidia.com/hybridsli for more information. HDMI / DVI / D-Sub Interface HDMI (High-DeîÂÂnition Multimedia Interface) is a set of digital video standards that delivers multi-channel audio and uncompressed digital video through a single cable for full HD 1080p visuals. Supporting HDCP copy protection such as HD DVD and Blu-ray Discs, HDMI provides you with the highest-quality home theater experience. DVI (Digital Visual Interface) provides high quality visuals for digital display devices like LCD monitors. See page 2-22 for details. This motherboard is bundled with an HDMI-to-DVI converter . PCIe 2.0 support This motherboard supports the latest PCIe 2.0 devices for double speed and bandwidth which enhances system performance. See page 2-18 for details. Serial A T A 3.0 Gb/s technology This motherboard supports the next-generation hard disk drives based on the Serial A T A (SA T A) 3Gb/s storage speciîÂÂcations, delivering enhanced scalability and doubling the bus bandwidth for high-speed data retrieval and save. It allows RAID 0, 1, 0 1, 5 and JBOD conîÂÂgurations for two SA T A connectors. See page 2-26 for details. IEEE 1394a support The IEEE 1394a interface provides high speed digital interface for audio/video appliances such as digital television, digital video camcorders, storage peripherals, and other PC portable devices. See page 2-21 and 2-28 for details.
1-4 Chapter 1: Product Introduction S/PDIF digital sound ready This motherboard provides convenient connectivity to external home theater audio systems via the coaxial S/PDIF (SONY -PHILIPS Digital Interface) Out jack. It allows digital audio transferring without converting it to analog format, and therefore well preserves signal quality . See page 2-22 and 2-34 for details. High DeîÂÂnition Audio Enjoy high-end sound quality on your PC! The onboard 8-channel HD audio (High DeîÂÂnition Audio, previously codenamed Azalia) CODEC enables high-quality 192KHz/24-bit audio output that simultaneously sends different audio streams to different destinations. Y ou can now talk to your partners on the headphones while playing multi-channel network games. See pages 2-21 and 2-22 for details. 1.3.2 ASUS AI Lifestyle unique features ASUS Express Gate Lite Just 5 seconds to boot up, the ASUS Express Gate Lite allows you to instantly surf the Internet without entering Windows. Y ou can now enjoy Skype, IM, Y ouTube, webmail and Internet îÂÂle downloads and sharing whenever and wherever you want! See page 5-30 to 5-36 for details . ⢠ASUS Express Gate Lite supports USB devices or SA T A HDDs (IDE mode) only . Set the SA T A Operation Mode item in the BIOS to [IDE] before installing and using ASUS Express Gate Lite. ⢠Currently , ASUS Express Gate Lite DOES NOT support P A T A IDE HDDs. Visit www .asus.com for future BIOS and Express Gate Lite software updates. ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution ASUS Quiet Thermal solution makes system more stable and enhances the overclocking capability . AI Gear 2 AI Gear 2 allows you to choose from proîÂÂles to adjust CPU frequency and vCore voltage, minimizing system noise and saving CPU power consumption at most. Y ou can real-time chnage the mode under operating system to suit your needs. See page 5-26 for details.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 1-5 AI Nap With AI Nap, the system can continue running at minimum power and noise when you are temporarily away . T o wake the system and return to the OS environment, simply click the mouse or press a key . See page 5-27 for details. Q-Fan 2 ASUS Q-Fan2 technology intelligently adjusts both CPU fan and chassis fan speeds according to system loading to ensure quiet, cool and efîÂÂcient operation. See pages 4-29 and 5-28 for details. 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 airîÂÂow 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-îÂÂow fan or passive cooler . The Heat Pipe design is the most reliable fanless thermal solution to date. DO NOT uninstall the heat-pipe by yourself. Doing so may bend the tubing and affect the heat dissipation performance. ASUS Crystal Sound This feature can enhance speech-centric applications like Skype, online game, video conference and recording. Noise Filter This feature detects repetitive and stationary noises (non-voice signals) like computer fans, air conditioners, and other background noises then eliminates it in the incoming audio stream while recording. See page 5-17 for details. ASUS EZ DIY ASUS EZ DIY feature collection provides you easy ways to install computer components, update the BIOS or back up your favorite settings.
1-6 Chapter 1: Product Introduction ASUS Q-Shield The specially designed ASUS Q-Shield does without the usual âÂÂîÂÂngersâÂÂâ making it convenient and easy to install. With better electric conductivity , it ideally protects your motherboard against static electricity and shields it against Electronic Magnetic Interference (EMI). ASUS Q-Connector ASUS Q-Connector allows you to easily connect or disconnect the chassis front panel cables to the motherboard. This unique module eliminates the trouble of connecting the system panel cables one at a time and avoiding wrong cable connections. See page 2-36 for details. ASUS O.C. ProîÂÂle The motherboard features the ASUS O.C. ProîÂÂle that allows users to conveniently store or load multiple BIOS settings. The BIOS settings can be stored in the CMOS or a separate îÂÂle, giving users freedom to share and distribute their favorite settings. See page 4-35 for details. ASUS EZ Flash 2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 is a user-friendly BIOS update utility . Simply press the predeîÂÂned hotkey to launch the utility and update the BIOS without entering the OS. Update your BIOS easily without preparing a bootable diskette or using an OS-based îÂÂash utility . See page 4-5 and 4-37 for details. Smart Support DVD This feature provides a checklist that allows the user to know which drivers are already installed, as well as those that are not. When using ASUS PC Probe II, you can easily monitor the critical components of the computer . ASUS MyLogo 2⢠This feature allows you to convert your favorite photo into a 256-color boot logo for a more colorful and vivid image on your screen. See pages 4-33 and 5-9 for details.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 1-7 1.3.3 ASUS intelligent performance and overclocking features Precision T weaker This feature allows you to îÂÂne tune the CPU/memory voltage and gradually increase the memory , Front Side Bus (FSB) and PCI Express frequency at 1MHz increment to achieve maximum system performance. AI Booster The ASUS AI Booster allows you to overclock the CPU speed in Windows environment without the hassle of booting the BIOS. See page 5-29 for details. C.P .R. (CPU Parameter Recall) The C.P .R. feature of the motherboard BIOS allows automatic re-setting to the BIOS default settings in case the system hangs due to overclocking. When the system hangs due to overclocking, C.P .R. eliminates the need to open th e system chassis and clear the RTC data. Simply shut down and reboot the system, and the BIOS automatically restores the CPU default setting for each parameter .
1-8 Chapter 1: Product Introduction
2 Chapter 2: Hardware information 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.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 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 ......................................................................... 2-1 1 2.5 Expansion slots .......................................................................... 2-16 2.6 Jumper ........................................................................................ 2-20 2.7 Connectors ................................................................................. 2-21
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-1 Onboard LED The motherboard comes with a standby power LED. The green LED lights up to indicate that the system is ON, in sleep mode, or in soft-off mode. This is a reminder that you should shut down the system and unplug the power cable before removing or plugging in any motherboard component. The illustration below shows the location of the onboard LED. 2.1 Before you proceed T ake note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change any motherboard settings. ⢠Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any component. ⢠Use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or to a metal object, such as the power supply case, before handling components to avoid damaging them due to static electricity . ⢠Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them. ⢠Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded antistatic pad or in the bag that came with the component. ⢠Before you install or remove any component, ensure that the A TX power supply is switched off or the power cord is detached from the power supply . Failure to do so may cause severe damage to the motherboard, peripherals, and/or components. M3N-HD/HDMI î SB_PWR ON Standy Power Powered Off OFF M3N-HD/HDMI Onboard LED
2-2 Chapter 2: Hardware information 2.2 Motherboard overview Before you install the motherboard, study the conîÂÂguration of your chassis to ensure that the motherboard îÂÂts into it. 2.2.1 Placement direction When installing the motherboard, make sure that you place it into the chassis in the correct orientation. The edge with external ports goes to the rear part of the chassis as indicated in the image below . 2.2.2 Screw holes Place nine (9) screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the motherboard to the chassis. Place this side towards the rear of the chassis 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. Do not overtighten the screws! Doing so can damage the motherboard. M3N-HD/HDMI î
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-3 2.2.3 Motherboard layout 24.5cm (9.6in) 30.5cm (12.0in) M3N-HD/HDMI î DDR DIMM_A1 (64bit, 240-pin module) DDR DIMM_B1 (64bit, 240-pin module) DDR DIMM_A2 (64bit, 240-pin module) DDR DIMM_B2 (64bit, 240-pin module) PCIEX16_1 PCIEX16_2 FLOPPY CD ALC883 Attansic F1 AAFP SPDIF_OUT CHA_FAN1 PWR_FAN COM1 IE1394_2 USB78 BIOS USB910 VGA USB1112 CLRTC PRI_IDE SATA2 SATA4 SATA1 SATA3 SATA5 SATA6 CHASSIS PANEL SB_PWR PCI1 PCI2 PCIEX1_1 PCIEX1_2 ATX12V EATXPWR CPU_FAN KB_USB56 F_USB34 HDMI SPDIF_O1 LAN1_USB12 AUDIO NVIDIA î nForce 750a SLI Super I/O agere L-FW3227 SOCKET AM2 Lithium Cell CMOS Power Refer to 2.7 Connectors for more information about rear panel connectors and internal connectors.
2-4 Chapter 2: Hardware information 2.2.4 Layout contents Slots Page 1. DDR2 DIMM slots 2-1 1 2. PCI slots 2-18 3. PCI Express x1 slots 2-18 4. PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot (blue) 2-18 5. Universal PCI Express x16 slot (black) 2-18 Jumper Page Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLR TC) 2-20 Rear panel connectors Page 1. PS/2 keyboard port (purple) 2-21 2. IEEE 1394a port 2-21 3. LAN (RJ-45) port. 2-21 4. Center/Subwoofer port (orange) 2-21 5. Rear Speaker Out port (black) 2-21 6. Line In port (light blue) 2-21 7. Line Out port (lime) 2-21 8. Microphone port (pink) 2-21 9. Side Speaker Out port (gray) 2-21 10. USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2 2-22 1 1. USB 2.0 ports 3 and 4 2-22 12. HDMI Out port 2-22 13. Coaxial S/PDIF Out port 2-22 14. USB 2.0 ports 5 and 6 2-22
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-5 Internal connectors Page 1. Floppy disk drive connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY) 2-24 2. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE) 2-25 3. nVIDIA î nForce 750a SLI Serial A T A connectors (7-pin SA T A1-6) 2-26 4. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB78, USB910, USB1 1 12) USB connectors (10-1 pin USB78, USB910, USB1 1 12) 2-27 5. IEEE 1394a port connector (10-1 pin IE1394_2) IEEE 139 4a port connector (10-1 pin IE1394_2) 2-28 6. CPU, chassis, and power fan connectors (4-pin CPU_F AN; 3-pin CHA_F AN1; 3-pin PWR_F AN) 2-29 7. Chassis intrusion connector (4-1 pin CHASSIS) 2-30 8. AT X pow er c on nec to rs (24-pin EA TXPWR; 4-pin A TX12V) 2-31 9. Front panel audio co nn ect or (10-1 pin AAFP) 2-32 10. Optical drive audio co nn ect or (4-pin CD) 2-33 1 1. Serial port co nn ect or (10-1 pin COM1) 2-33 12. Digital audio co nn ect or (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT) 2-34 13. Video Graphics Adapter (VGA) connector (16-pin VGA) 2-34 14. System panel connector (20-8-pin P ANEL) 2-35 15. ASUS Q-Connector (system panel) 2-36
2-6 Chapter 2: Hardware information 2.3.1 Installing the CPU T o install a CPU: 1. Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard. Make sure that the socket lever is lifted up to a 90ú angle; otherwise, the CPU will not îÂÂt in completely . 2. Unlock the socket by pressing the lever sideways, then lift it up to a 90ú angle. 2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) The motherboard comes with an AM2 /AM2 socket designed for AMD AM2 /AM2 socket designed for AMD socket designed for AMD AMD î Socket AM2 Phenom⢠FX / Phenom / Athlon⢠/ Sempron⢠processors or for Socket Phenom⢠FX / Phenom / Athlon⢠/ Sempron⢠processors or for Socket AM2 Athlon series / Sempron processors. Socket lever The AM2 /AM2 socket has a different pinout from the 940-pin socket designed for the AMD Opteron processor . Make sure you use a CPU designed for the AM2 /AM2 socket. The CPU îÂÂts in only one correct orientation. DO NOT force the CPU into the socket to prevent bending the connectors on the socket and damaging the CPU! M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI CPU SOCKET AM2
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-7 3. Position the CPU above the socket such that the CPU corner with the gold triangle matches the socket corner with a small triangle. 4. Carefully insert the CPU into the socket until it îÂÂts in place. 5. When the CPU is in place, push down the socket lever to secure the CPU. The lever clicks on the side tab to indicate that it is locked. 6. Install a CPU heatsink and fan following the instructions that came with the heatsink package. Gold triangle Small triangle
2-8 Chapter 2: Hardware information 2.3.2 Installing the heatsink and fan The AMD î Phenom⢠FX / Phenom / Athlonâ¢/ Sempron⢠processor requires a Phenom⢠FX / Phenom / Athlonâ¢/ Sempron⢠processor requires a processor requires a specially designed heatsink and fan assembly to ensure optimum thermal condition and performance. T o install the CPU heatsink and fan: 1. Place the heatsink on top of the installed CPU, making sure that the heatsink îÂÂts properly on the retention module base. Retention module base CPU heatsink CPU fan Retention bracket lock Retention bracket Y our boxed CPU heatsink and fan assembly should come with installation instructions for the CPU, heatsink, and the retention mechanism. If the instructions in this section do not match the CPU documentation, follow the latter . Make sure that you use only AMD-certiîÂÂed heatsink and fan assembly . ⢠The retention module base is already installed on the motherboard upon purchase. ⢠Y ou do not have to remove the retention module base when installing the CPU or installing other motherboard components. ⢠If you purchased a separate CPU heatsink and fan assembly , make sure that a Thermal Interface Material is properly applied to the CPU heatsink or CPU before you install the heatsink and fan assembly .
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-9 2. Attach one end of the retention bracket to the retention module base. 3. Align the other end of the retention bracket (near the retention bracket lock) to the retention module base. A clicking sound denotes that the retention bracket is in place. 4. Push down the retention bracket lock on the retention mechanism to secure the heatsink and fan to the module base. Make sure that the fan and heatsink assembly perfectly îÂÂts the retention mechanism module base, otherwise you cannot snap the retention bracket in place.
2-10 Chapter 2: Hardware information 5. When the fan and heatsink assembly is in place, connect the CPU fan cable to the connector on the motherboard labeled CPU_F AN. ⢠Do not forget to connect the CPU fan connector! Hardware monitoring errors can occur if you fail to plug this connector . ⢠This connector is backward compatiable with old 3-pin CPU fan. M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI CPU fan connector CPU_F AN CPU FAN PWM CPU FAN IN CPU FAN PWR GND
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-1 1 2.4 System memory 2.4.1 Overview The motherboard comes with four Double Data Rate 2 (DDR2) Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMM) sockets. The îÂÂgure illustrates the location of the DDR2 DIMM sockets: Channel Sockets Channel A DIMM_A1 and DIMM_A2 Channel B DIMM_B1 and DIMM_B2 M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI 240-pin DDR2 DIMM sockets 2.4.2 Memory conîÂÂgurations Y ou may install 512 MB, 1 GB, and 2 GB unbuffered ECC and non-ECC DDR2 DIMMs into the DIMM sockets. Recommended Memory ConîÂÂgurations Mode Sockets DIMM_A1 (yellow) DIMM_A2 (black) DIMM_B1 (yellow) DIMM_B2 (black) Single-Channel â â Populated â Populated â â â Dual-channel (1) Populated â Populated â Dual-channel (2) Populated Populated Populated Populated
2-12 Chapter 2: Hardware information This motherboard can support 4 GB physical memory on the operating systems listed below . Y ou may install a maximum of 2 GB DIMMs on each slot. 64-bit Windows î XP Professional x64 Edition Windows î Vista x64 Edition Always use identical DDR2 DIMM pairs for dual channel mode. For optimum compatibility , it is recommended that you obtain memory modules from the same vendor . Visit the ASUS website (www .asus.com) for the latest QualiîÂÂed V endors list. Important notice on installing Windows î XP 32-bit version If you install Windows î XP 32-bit version Operating System (OS), the limitation of this OS version is that it may reserve a certain amount of memory space for system devices. We recommend that you install less than 3 GB system memory if you would like to work under Windows î XP 32-bit version OS. The excess memory installation will not cause any usage problem, but it will not give users the beneîÂÂt of manipulating this excess memory space. Visit the ASUS FAQ site for further explanation: http://support.asus.com/faq/faq. aspx?SLanguage=en-us Under General Search, make the selections as shown, then click Search. Click the article titled â 4GB memory installed but less memory size detected. â Y ou also may check the URLs below for third party comments on this issue: http://dlsvr01.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/4GB_Rev1.pdf http:/ /www .inte l.co m/sup port /moth erbo ards/ serv er/sb /cs- 01659 4.ht m
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-13 M3N-HD/HDMI Motherboard QualiîÂÂed V endors Lists (QVL) DDR2-800MHz capability for AM2 CPU Size V endor Chip No. CL Chip Brand SS/ DS Part No. DIMM socket support (Optional) A* B* C* 512MB KINGSTON K4T51083QC 5 SEC SS KVR800D2N5/512 ⢠⢠⢠1GB KINGSTON Heat-Sink Package 4-4-4-12 N/A SS KHX6400D2LLK2/1GN ⢠⢠1GB KINGSTON V59C1512804QBF25 N/A N/A DS KVR800D2N5/1G ⢠⢠1GB KINGSTON Heat-Sink Package N/A N/A SS KHX6400D2ULK2/1G ⢠512MB Qimonda HYB18T512800BF25F 5-5-5 N/A SS HYS64T64000HU-25F-B ⢠⢠512MB Hynix HY5PS12821CFP-S5 5-5-5 Hynix SS HYMP564U64CP8-S5 ⢠⢠1GB Hynix HY5PS12821CFP-S5 5-5-5 Hynix DS HYMP512U64CP8-S5 ⢠⢠⢠512MB MICRON D9GKX N/A N/A SS MT8HTF6464A Y -80ED4 ⢠⢠1GB CORSAIR Heat-Sink Package 4 N/A DS CM2X1024-6400C4 ⢠⢠1GB Crucial Heat-Sink Package 4 N/A DS BL12864AL804.16FD3 ⢠⢠1GB Crucial Heat-Sink Package 4 N/A DS BL12864AA804.16FD3 ⢠⢠1GB Apacer Heat-Sink Package 5 N/A DS AHU01GE800C5K1C ⢠1GB A-DA T A AD26908A8A-25EG N/A N/A DS M2OAD6G3I4170I1E58 ⢠⢠⢠512MB KINGMAX KKA8FEIBF-HJK-25A N/A KINGMA X SS KLDC28F-A8KI5 ⢠⢠1GB KINGMAX KKA8FEIBF-HJK-25A N/A KINGMA X DS KLDD48F-ABKI5 ⢠⢠512MB Super T alent Heat-Sink Package N/A N/A SS T800UA12C4 ⢠⢠1GB Super T alent Heat-Sink Package N/A N/A DS T800UB1GC4 ⢠512MB NANY A NT5TU64M8BE-25C 5 NANY A SS NT512T64U880BY -25C ⢠⢠1GB NANY A NT5TU64M8BE-25C 5 NANY A DS NT1GT64U8HB0BY -25C ⢠⢠⢠1GB NANY A NT5TU64M8CE-25D N/A NANY A DS NT1GT64U8HCOBY-25D ⢠⢠⢠512MB PSC A3R1 2E3HEF 641B9 A05 5 PSC SS AL6E8E63B8E1K ⢠⢠⢠1GB PSC A3R1 2E3HEF 641B9 A05 5 PSC DS AL7E8E63B-8E1K ⢠⢠⢠1GB Elixir N2TU51280BE-25C N/A Elixir DS M2Y1G64TU8HB0B-25C â¢
2-14 Chapter 2: Hardware information M3N-HD/HDMI Motherboard QualiîÂÂed V endors Lists (QVL) DDR2-667MHz capability for AM2 CPU Size V endor Chip No. CL Chip Brand SS/ DS Part No. DIMM socket support (Optional) A* B* C* 512MB KINGSTON D6408TEBGGL3U 5 KI NGST ON SS KVR667D2N5/512 ⢠⢠⢠256MB KINGSTON 6SBI2D9DCG 5 MICRON SS KVR667D2N5/256 ⢠2GB KINGSTON E1 108AB-6E-E N/A ELPIDA DS KVR667D2N5/2G ⢠⢠⢠512MB Qimonda HYB18T512800BF3S(ECC) 5-5-5 N/A SS HYS72T64000HU-3S-B ⢠1GB Qimonda HYB18T512800BF3S(ECC) 5-5-5 N/A DS HYS72T128020HU-3S-B ⢠512MB Qimonda HYB18T512800BF3S 5 N/A SS HYS64T64000HU-3S-B ⢠⢠1GB Qimonda HYB18T512800BF3S 5 N/A DS HYS64T128020HU-3S-B ⢠⢠512MB SAMSUNG K4T51 163QE-ZCE6 5 SAMSUNG DS M378T3354EZ3-CE6 ⢠⢠256MB SAMSUNG K4T51083QE 5 SAMSUNG SS M378T6553EZS-CE6 ⢠1GB SAMSUNG K4T51083QE 5 SAMSUNG DS M378T2953EZ3-CE6 ⢠256MB Hynix HY5PS121621CFP-Y5 5 Hynix SS HYMP532U64CP6-Y5 ⢠⢠1GB Hynix HY5PS12821CFP-Y5 5 Hynix DS HYMP512U64CP8-Y5 ⢠⢠⢠256MB CORSAIR MIII00605 N/A N/A SS VS256MB667D2 ⢠⢠512MB CORSAIR 64M8CFEG N/A N/A SS VS512MB667D2 ⢠⢠1GB CORSAIR 64M8CFEG N/A N/A DS VS1GB667D2 ⢠⢠⢠256MB ELPIDA E2508AB-6E-E 5 ELPIDA SS EBE25UC8ABFA-6E-E ⢠512MB A-DA T A AD29608A8A-3EG 5 A-DA T A SS M2OAD5G3H3166I1C52 ⢠⢠2GB A-DA T A NT5TU128M8BJ-3C N/A N/A DS M2ONY5H3J4170I1C5Z ⢠512MB crucial Heat-Sink Package 3 N/A SS BL6464AA663.8FD ⢠1GB crucial Heat-Sink Package 3 N/A DS BL12864AA663.16FD ⢠⢠⢠1GB crucial Heat-Sink Package 3 N/A DS BL12864AL664.16FD ⢠⢠1GB crucial Heat-Sink Package 3 N/A DS BL12864AA663.16FD2 ⢠1GB Apacer AM4B5708GQJS7E 5 AP ACER DS AU01GE667C5KBGC ⢠⢠256MB Kingmax N2TU51216AG-3C 5 NANYA SS KLCB68F-36KH5 ⢠512MB Kingmax KKEA88B4LAUG-29DX 5 KINGMAX SS KLCC28F-A8KB5 ⢠⢠1GB Kingmax KKEA88B4LAUG-29DX 5 KINGMAX DS KLCD48F-A8KB5 ⢠512MB Super T alent Heat-Sink Package 5 N/A SS T6UA512C5 ⢠⢠1GB Super T alent Heat-Sink Package 5 N/A DS T6UB1GC5 ⢠⢠Visit the ASUS website for the latest QVL. Side(s): SS - Single-sided DS - Double-sided DIMM support: ⢠A*: Supports one module inserted into either slot as Single-channel memory conîÂÂguration. ⢠B*: Supports two modules inserted into either the yellow slots or the black slots as one pair of Dual-channel memory conîÂÂguration. ⢠C*: Supports four modules inserted into both the yellow slots and the black slots as two pairs of Dual-channel memory conîÂÂguration.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-15 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. T o install a DIMM: 1. Unlock a DIMM socket by pressing the retaining clips outward. 2. Align a DIMM on the socket such that the notch on the DIMM matches the break on the socket. 3. Firmly insert the DIMM into the socket until the retaining clips snap back in place and the DIMM is properly seated. 2.4.4 Removing a DIMM T o remove a DIMM: 1. Simultaneously press the retaining clips outward to unlock the DIMM. 2. Remove the DIMM from the socket. ⢠A DDR2 DIMM is keyed with a notch so that it îÂÂts in only one direction. Do not force a DIMM into a socket to avoid damaging the DIMM. ⢠The DDR2 DIMM sockets do not support DDR DIMMs. DO not install DDR DIMMs to the DDR2 DIMM sockets. Support the DIMM lightly with your îÂÂngers when pressing the retaining clips. The DIMM might get damaged when it îÂÂips out with extra force. 1 2 1 DDR2 DIMM notch Unlocked retaining clip DDR2 DIMM notch 1 2 3
2-16 Chapter 2: Hardware information 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. 2.5.1 Installing an expansion card T o install an expansion card: 1. Before installing the expansion card, read the documentation that came with it and make the necessary hardware settings for the card. 2. Remove the system unit cover (if your motherboard is already installed in a chassis). 3. Remove the bracket opposite the slot that you intend to use. Keep the screw for later use. 4. Align the card connector with the slot and press îÂÂrmly until the card is completely seated on the slot. 5. Secure the card to the chassis with the screw you removed earlier . 6. Replace the system cover . 2.5.2 ConîÂÂguring an expansion card After installing the expansion card, conîÂÂgure the it by adjusting the software settings. 1. T urn on the system and change the necessary BIOS settings, if any . See Chapter 4 for information on BIOS setup. 2. Assign an IRQ to the card. Refer to the tables on the next page. 3. Install the software drivers for the expansion card. 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. When using PCI cards on shared slots, ensure that the drivers support âÂÂShare IRQâ or that the cards do not need IRQ assignments; otherwise, conîÂÂicts will arise between the two PCI groups, making the system unstable and the card inoperable.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-17 2.5.3 Interrupt assignments Standard interrupt assignments * These IRQs are usually available for ISA or PCI devices. IRQ Priority Standard function 0 1 System T imer 1 2 Keyboard Controller 2 â Redirect to IRQ#9 4 12 Communications Port (COM1)* 5 13 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering* 6 14 Floppy Disk Controller 7 15 Reserved 8 3 System CMOS/Real T ime Clock 9 4 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering* 10 5 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering* 1 1 6 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering* 12 7 Reserved 13 8 Numeric Data Processor 14 9 Primary IDE Channel IRQ assignments for this motherboard A B C D E F G H PCIE x16_1 shared shared shared shared â â â â PCIE x16_2 shared shared shared shared â â â â USB 1.0 controller 1 â â â shared â â â â USB 1.0 controller 2 â â â shared â â â â USB 1.0 controller 3 â â â shared â â â â USB 1.0 controller 4 â â â shared â â â â USB 2.0 controller â â â shared â â â â HD audio shared â â â â â â â Onboard SA T A â â â â shared â âÂÂ
2-18 Chapter 2: Hardware information 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 speciîÂÂcations. Refer to the îÂÂgure below for the location of the slots. 2.5.5 PCI Express x1 slots This motherboard supports PCI Express x1 network cards, SCSI cards and other cards that comply with the PCI Express speciîÂÂcations. Refer to the îÂÂgure below for the location of the slots. 2.5.6 PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot (blue) This motherboard supports PCI Express 2.0 x16 graphics cards that complies with the PCI Express speciîÂÂcations. Refer to the îÂÂgure below for the location of the slot. 2.5.7 Universal PCI Express x16 slot (black) This motherboard also supports a universal PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot at maximum x8 mode. The operating frequency of this slot changes, depending on the type of PCI Express card you install. Refer to the îÂÂgure below for the location of the slot. PCI Express x16_1 slot PCI_1 slot Universal PCI Express x16_2 slot PCI Express x 1_2 slot PCI_2 slot PCI Express x1_1 slot
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-19 ⢠Currently , only Windows î Vista operation system supports Hybrid SLI⢠mode. ⢠Currently , only NVIDIA î GeForce î 8500 GT and GeForce î 8400 GS graphics cards support GeForce Boost function under Hybrid SLI⢠mode. ⢠Currently , only NVIDIA î GeForce î 9800 GX2 and GeForce î 9800 GTX graphics cards support Hybrid Power function under Hybrid SLI⢠mode. ⢠Use only the onboard HDMI/DVI/D-Sub port for video signal output when activating the Hybird Power function under Hybrid SLI⢠mode. ⢠Visit www .nvidia.com/hybridsli for more information about Hybrid SLI⢠support. ⢠If you install two VGA cards, we recommend that you plug the rear chassis fan cable to the motherboard connector labeled CHA_F AN1 for better thermal environment. See page 2-29 for the connector location. VGA conîÂÂguration PCI Express operating mode PCIex16_1 PCIex16_2 Single VGA/PCIe card x16 x8 Dual VGA/PCIe card x8 x8
2-20 Chapter 2: Hardware information 2.6 Jumper Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC) This jumper allows you to clear the Real T ime Clock (R TC) RAM in CMOS. Y ou 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. T o erase the RTC RAM: 1. T urn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord. 2. Move the jumper cap from pins 1-2 (default) to pins 2-3. Keep the cap on pins 2-3 for about 5~10 seconds, then move the cap back to pins 1-2. 3. Plug the power cord and turn ON the computer . 4. Hold down the <Del> key during the boot process and enter BIOS setup to re-enter data. M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI Clear RTC RAM 2 1 2 3 Disable (Default) Enable (Default) CLRTC ⢠Y ou do not need to clear the RTC when the system hangs due to overclocking. For system failure due to overclocking, use the C.P .R. (CPU Parameter Recall) feature. Shut down and reboot the system so the BIOS can automatically reset parameter settings to default values. ⢠Due to the chipset limitation, AC power off is required prior using C.P .R. function. Y ou must turn off and on the power supply or unplug and plug the power cord before reboot the system. Except when clearing the RTC RAM, never remove the cap on CLR TC jumper default position. Removing the cap will cause system boot failure! If the steps above do not help, remove the onboard battery and move the jumper again to clear the CMOS RTC RAM data. After the CMOS clearance, reinstall the battery .
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-21 2.7 Connectors 2.7.1 Rear panel connectors 1. PS/2 keyboard port (purple). This port is for a PS/2 keyboard. 2. IEEE 1394a port. IEEE 1394a port. This 6-pin IEEE 1394a port provides high-speed connectivity for audio/video devices, storage peripherals, PCs, or portable devices. 3. LAN (RJ-45) port. Supported by Marvell î 88E1 1 16 Gigabit LAN controller , this port allows Gigabit connection to a Local Area Network (LAN) through a network hub. Refer to the table below for the LAN port LED indications. 1 2 3 4 9 11 14 10 13 5 6 8 7 12 LAN port LED indications 4. Center/Subwoofer port (orange). This port connects the center/subwoofer speakers. 5. Rear Speaker Out port (black). This port connects the rear speakers in a 4-channel, 6-channel, or 8-channel audio conîÂÂguration. 6. Line In port (light blue). This port connects the tape, CD, DVD player , or other audio sources. 7. Line Out port (lime). This port connects a headphone or a speaker . In 4-channel, 6-channel, and 8-channel conîÂÂguration, the function of this port becomes Front Speaker Out. 8. Microphone port (pink). This port connects a microphone. 9. Side Speaker Out port (gray). This port connects the side speakers in an 8-channel audio conîÂÂguration. SPEED LED ACT/LINK LED LAN port Activity/Link LED Speed LED Status Description Status Description OFF No link OFF 10 Mbps connection ORANGE Linked ORANGE 100 Mbps connection BLINKING Data activity GREEN 1 Gbps connection Refer to the audio conîÂÂguration table on the next page for the function of the audio ports in 2, 4, 6, or 8-channel conîÂÂguration.
2-22 Chapter 2: Hardware information 10. USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2. These 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are available for connecting USB 2.0 devices. 1 1. USB 2.0 ports 3 and 4. These 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are available for connecting USB 2.0 devices. 12. HDMI Out port. This port is for a high-deîÂÂnition multimedia interface (HDMI) connector . ⢠This motherboard comes with dual-VGA outputs that features different displays on 2 monitors at the same time if you connect 2 monitors to both the onboard VGA and HDMI ports. ⢠With the bundled HDMI-to-DVI conversion adapter , this motherboard can also support DVI output. ⢠Playback of HD DVD and Blu-Ray Discs The speed and bandwidth of the CPU/Memory , DVD player, and drivers will affect the playback quality . Following is a conîÂÂguration example for your reference. Using the CPU/Memory of higher speed and bandwidth with the higher-version DVD player and drivers will upgrade the playback quality . CPU: AMD Athlon64 ADH3200IAA4DE/512KB (single core) DIMM: Kingston DDR2-800 1G x1 (BIOS share memory: 256MB) HDD: Seagate ST3160023A (A T A100) ODD: Sony BWU100A ⢠T o play HD DVD or Blu-Ray Disc, make sure to use an HDCP compliant monitor . Before enabling the HybridPower⢠function, ensure that you have connected your display to the onboard VGA port or the HDMI/DVI port at the rear panel. 13. Coaxial S/PDIF Out port. Coaxial S/PDIF Out port. This port connects an external audio output device via a coaxial S/PDIF cable. 14. USB 2.0 ports 5 and 6. These 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are available for connecting USB 2.0 devices. Audio 2, 4, 6, or 8-channel conîÂÂguration Port Headset 2-channel 4-channel 6-channel 8-channel Light Blue Line In Line In Line In Line In Lime Line Out Front Speaker Out Front Speaker Out Front Speaker Out Pink Mic In Mic In Mic In Mic In Orange â â Center/Subwoofer Center/Subwoofer Black â Rear Speaker Out Rear Speaker Ou Rear Speaker Out Gray â â â Side Speaker Out
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-23 T roubleshooting on HDTV overscaling or underscaling: If your desktop is extending beyond the viewable display area or the desktop or image is not îÂÂlling the entire display area while using the onboard HDMI out port and the HDMI cable, you can resize the desktop appearing on your HDTV screen. T o resize your HDTV desktop: 1. Install NVIDIA Chipset Driver Program from the motherboard support DVD. 2. Right-click the desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel . 3. Under Video & T elevision , select Resize HDTV desktop . 4. Select Resize my desktop and click Resize Desktop. 5. A full-screen adjustment tool appears. Use the scroll bar to resize the desktop to îÂÂt your display device. Click OK to exit. The Resize my desktop function in the NVIDIA Control Panel appears only when you are using an HDTV compliance resolution such as 480i, 720i, or 1080i.
2-24 Chapter 2: Hardware information 2.7.2 Internal connectors 1. Floppy disk drive connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY) This connector is for the provided îÂÂoppy 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 îÂÂoppy disk drive. Pin 5 on the connector is removed to prevent incorrect cable connection when using a FDD cable with a covered Pin 5. M3N-HD/HDMI î FLOPPY NOTE: Orient the red markings on the floppy ribbon cable to PIN 1. PIN1 M3N-HD/HDMI Floppy disk drive connector
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-25 M3N-HD/HDMI î PRI_IDE NOTE: Orient the red markings on the IDE ribbon cable to PIN 1. PIN1 M3N-HD/HDMI IDE connector 2. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE) The onboard IDE connector is for the Ultra DMA 133/100/66 signal cable. There are three connectors on each Ultra DMA 133/100/66 signal cable: blue, black, and gray . Connect the blue connector to the motherboardâÂÂs IDE connector , then select one of the following modes to conîÂÂgure your device. If any device jumper is set as âÂÂCable-Select,â make sure all other device jumpers have the same setting. ⢠Pin 20 on the IDE connector is removed to match the covered hole on the Ultra DMA cable connector . This prevents incorrect insertion when you connect the IDE cable. ⢠Use the 80-conductor IDE cable for Ultra DMA 100/66 IDE devices. Drive jumper setting Mode of device(s) Cable connector Single device Cable-Select or Master â Black T wo devices Cable-Select Master Black Slave Gray Master Master Black or gray Slave Slave
2-26 Chapter 2: Hardware information 3. NVIDIA î nForce 750a SLI Serial A T A connectors (7-pin SA T A1-6) These connectors are for the Serial A T A signal cables for Serial A T A hard disk and optical disk drives. If you install SA T A hard disk drives to the SA T A connectors, you can create a RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0 1, RAID 5, or JBOD conîÂÂguration through the onboard NVIDIA î nForce 750a SLI controller . M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI SA T A connectors GND RSATA_TXP5 RSATA_TXN5 GND RSATA_RXP5 RSATA_RXN5 GND SA T A5 GND RSATA_TXP2 RSATA_TXN2 GND RSATA_RXP2 RSATA_RXN2 GND SA T A2 GND RSATA_TXP1 RSATA_TXN1 GND RSATA_RXP1 RSATA_RXN1 GND SA T A1 GND RSATA_TXP4 RSATA_TXN4 GND RSATA_RXP4 RSATA_RXN4 GND SA T A4 GND RSATA_TXP6 RSATA_TXN6 GND RSATA_RXP6 RSATA_RXN6 GND SA T A6 GND RSATA_TXP3 RSATA_TXN3 GND RSATA_RXP3 RSATA_RXN3 GND SA T A3 Connect the right-angle side of SA T A signal cable to SA T A device. Or you may connect the right-angle side of SA T A cable to the onboard SA T A port to avoid mechanical conîÂÂict with huge graphics cards. right angle side ⢠SA T A 5-6 connectors support AHCI mode and RAID mode only . Make sure to install the AHCI driver or RAID driver in the bundled support DVD before connecting devices to SA T A 5-6 connectors. Otherwise, the devices will not work. ⢠Due to chipset limitation, when set any of SA T A ports to RAID mode, all SA T A ports run at RAID mode together . ⢠Y ou must install the Windows XP î Service Pack 1 before using Serial A T A hard disk drives. The Serial A T A RAID feature (RAID 0 and RAID 1) is available only if you are using Windows XP î or later version. ⢠SA T A1-4 connectors are set to [IDE] by default. If you intend to create a Serial A T A RAID set using these connectors, set the SA T A Operation Mode item in the BIOS to [RAID]. ⢠Before creating a RAID set, refer to the manual bundled in the motherboard support DVD.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-27 4. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB 78, USB910, USB1 1 12) These connectors are for USB 2.0 ports. Connect the USB module cable to any of these connectors, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis. These USB connectors comply with USB 2.0 speciîÂÂcation that supports up to 480 Mbps connection speed. Never connect a 1394 cable to the USB connectors. Doing so will damage the motherboard! M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI USB 2.0 connectors PIN 1 USB 5V USB_P8- USB_P8 GND NC USB 5V USB_P7- USB_P7 GND USB78 PIN 1 USB 5V USB_P10- USB_P10 GND NC USB 5V USB_P9- USB_P9 GND USB910 PIN 1 USB 5V USB_P12- USB_P12 GND NC USB 5V USB_P11- USB_P11 GND USB1 1 12 Y ou can connect the front panel USB cable to the ASUS Q-Connector (USB, blue) îÂÂrst, and then install the Q-Connector (USB) to the USB connector onboard if your chassis supports front panel USB ports.
2-28 Chapter 2: Hardware information 5. IEE E 13 94a port connector (10-1 pin IE1394_2) This connector is for a IEEE 1394a port. Connect the IEEE 1394a module cable to this connector , then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis. M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI IEEE 1394 connector PIN 1 TPA2- GND TPB2- 12V GND TPA2 GND TPB2 12V IE1394_2 Never connect a USB cable to the IEEE 1394a connector . Doing so will damage the motherboard! The IEEE 1394a module is purchased separately . Y ou can connect the front panel 1394 cable to the ASUS Q-Connector (1394, red) îÂÂrst, and then install the Q-Connector (1394) to the 1394 connector onboard if your chassis supports front panel 1394 ports.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-29 6. CPU, chassis, and power fan connectors (4-pin CPU_F AN; 3-pin CHA_F AN1; 3-pin PWR_F AN) 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 . Do not forget to connect the fan cables to the fan connectors. InsufîÂÂcient air îÂÂow inside the system may damage the motherboard components. These are not jumpers! Do not place jumper caps on the fan connectors! ⢠Only the CPU_F AN and CHA_F AN 1 connectors support the ASUS Q F AN2 feature. ⢠If you install two VGA cards, we recommend that you plug the rear chassis fan cable to the motherboard connector labled CHA_F AN1 for better themal environment. M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI Fan connectors CHA_F AN1 CPU_F AN PWR_F AN Rotation 12V GND GND 12V Rotation CPU FAN PWM CPU FAN IN CPU FAN PWR GND
2-30 Chapter 2: Hardware information 7. Chassis intrusion connector (4-1 pin CHASSIS) This connector is for a chassis-mounted intrusion detection sensor or switch. Connect one end of the chassis intrusion sensor or switch cable to this connector . The chassis intrusion sensor or switch sends a high-level signal to this connector when a chassis component is removed or replaced. The signal is then generated as a chassis intrusion event. By default , the pin labeled âÂÂChassis Signalâ and âÂÂGroundâ are shorted with a jumper cap. Remove the jumper caps only when you intend to use the chassis intrusion detection feature. M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI Chassis intrusion connector GND Chassis Signal 5VSB_MB CHASSIS
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-31 ⢠For a fully conîÂÂgured system, we recommend that you use a power supply unit (PSU) that complies with A TX 12 V SpeciîÂÂcation 2.0 (or later version) and provides a minimum power of 600 W . ⢠Do not forget to connect the 4-pin A TX 12 V power plug; otherwise, the system will not boot. ⢠Use of a PSU with a higher power output is recommended when conîÂÂguring a system with more power-consuming devices. The system may become unstable or may not boot up if the power is inadequate. ⢠If you are uncertain about the minimum power supply requirement for your system, refer to the Recommended Power Supply W attage Calculator at http://support.asus.com/PowerSupplyCalculator/PSCalculator . aspx?SLanguage=en-us for details. ⢠The A TX 12 V SpeciîÂÂcation 2.0-compliant (500W) PSU has been tested to support the motherboard power requirements with the following conîÂÂguration: CPU: AMD FX-62 Memory 1024 MB DDR2-800 (x4) Graphics card: PCI Express x16 NVIDIA 7900GTX Serial A T A device: SA T A hard disk drive (x2) Optical drives: DVD-RW 8. AT X po we r co nn ec to rs (24-pin EA TXPWR; 4-pin A TX12V) These connectors are for A TX power supply plugs. The power supply plugs are designed to îÂÂt these connectors in only one orientation. Find the proper orientation and push down îÂÂrmly until the connectors completely îÂÂt. M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI A TX power connectors EATXPWR PIN 1 GND 5 Volts 5 Volts 5 Volts -5 Volts GND GND GND PSON# GND -12 Volts 3 Volts 3 Volts 12 Volts 12 Volts 5V Standby Power OK GND 5 Volts GND 5 Volts GND 3 Volts 3 Volts ATX12V PIN 1 12V DC 12V DC GND GND
2-32 Chapter 2: Hardware information M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI Analog front panel connector PIN 1 AAFP GND PRESENCE# SENSE1_RETUR SENSE2_RETUR PORT1 L PORT1 R PORT2 R SENSE_SEND PORT1 L HD-audio-compliant pin definition PIN 1 AGND NC NC NC MIC2 MICPWR Line out_R NC Line out_L Legacy ACâÂÂ97 compliant definition 9. Front panel audio co nn ec to r (10-1 pin AAFP) This connector is for a chassis-mounted front panel audio I/O module that supports either HD Audio or legacy AC`97 audio standard. Connect one end of the front panel audio I/O module cable to this connector . ⢠We recommend that you connect a high-deîÂÂnition front panel audio module to this connector to avail of the motherboardâÂÂs high-deîÂÂnition audio capability . ⢠If you want to connect a high-deîÂÂnition front panel audio module to this connector , set the Front Panel Support T ype item in the BIOS setup to [HD Audio]; if you want to connect an AC'97 front panel audio module to this connector , set the item to [AC97]. By default, this connector is set to [HD Audio] . See section 4.4.6 Onboard Devices ConîÂÂguration for details.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-33 10. Optical drive audio con ne ct or (4-pin CD) These connectors allow you to receive stereo audio input from sound sources such as a CD-ROM, TV tuner , or MPEG card. M3N-HD/HDMI î CD Left Audio Channel GND GND Right Audio Channel M3N-HD/HDMI Internal audio connector 1 1. 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. The COM module is purchased separately . M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI Serial port (COM1) connector COM1
2-34 Chapter 2: Hardware information 12. Digital audio con ne ct or (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT) This connector is for an additional Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) port(s). Connect the S/PDIF Out module cable to this connector , then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis. The S/PDIF module is purchased separately . M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI Digital audio connector 5V SPDIFOUT GND SPDIF_OUT 13. Video Graphics Adapter (VGA) connector (16-pin VGA) This connector is for the onboard VGA connection, allowing you to connect a display device to your system. Connect the VGA Out module cable to this connector , then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis. M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI Onboard VGA connector For easier VGA module installation, install the VGA module to an expansion slot below the discrete graphics card. Graphics card VGA module
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 2-35 ⢠System power LED (2-pin PLED) This 2-pin connector is for the system power LED. Connect the chassis power LED cable to this connector . The system power LED lights up when you turn on the system power , and blinks when the system is in sleep mode. ⢠Hard disk drive activity LED (2-pin IDE_LED) This 2-pin connector is for the HDD Activity LED. Connect the HDD Activity LED cable to this connector . The IDE LED lights up or îÂÂashes when data is read from or written to the HDD. ⢠System warning speaker (4-pin SPEAKER) This 4-pin connector is for the chassis-mounted system warning speaker . The speaker allows you to hear system beeps and warnings. ⢠A TX power button/soft-off button (2-pin PWRSR) This connector is for the system power button. Pressing the power button turns the system on or puts the system in sleep or soft-off mode depending on the BIOS settings. Pressing the power switch for more than four seconds while the system is ON turns the system OFF . ⢠Reset button (2-pin RESET) This 2-pin connector is for the chassis-mounted reset button for system reboot without turning off the system power . 14. System panel connector (20-8 pin P ANEL) This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions. M3N-HD/HDMI î M3N-HD/HDMI System panel connector PIN 1 * Requires an ATX power supply PLED SPEAKER PLED PLED- 5V Ground Ground Speaker IDE_LED IDE_LED- PWR Ground Reset Ground P ANEL IDE_LED PWRSW RESET
2-36 Chapter 2: Hardware information 15. ASUS Q-Connector (system panel) Y ou can use the ASUS Q-Connector to connect/disconnect chassis front panel cables in a few steps. Refer to the instructions below to install the ASUS Q-Connector . 1. Connect the front panel cables to the ASUS Q-Connector . Refer to the labels on the Q-Connector to know the detailed pin deîÂÂnitions, then match them to the respective front panel cable labels. 2. Install the ASUS Q-Connector to the system panel connector , making sure the orientation matches the labels on the motherboard. 3. The front panel functions are now enabled. The îÂÂgure shows the Q-Connector properly installed on the motherboard.
3 Chapter 3: Powering up This chapter describes the power up sequence, the vocal POST messages, and ways of shutting down the system.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI Chapter summary 3 3.1 Starting up for the îÂÂrst time ........................................................ 3-1 3.2 T urning off the computer ............................................................. 3-2
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 3-1 3.1 Starting up for the î¿rst 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. T urn on the devices in the following order: a. Monitor b. External SCSI devices (starting with the last device on the chain) c. System power 6. After applying power , the system power LED on the system front panel case lights up. For systems with A TX power supplies, the system LED lights up when you press the A TX power button. If your monitor complies with âÂÂgreenâ standards or if it has a âÂÂpower standbyâ feature, the monitor LED may light up or switch between orange and green after the system LED turns on. The system then runs the power-on self tests or POST . While the tests are running, the BIOS beeps or additional messages appear on the screen. If you do not see anything within 3 0 seconds from the time you turned on th e power , the system may have failed a power-on test. Check the jumper settings and connections or call your retailer for assistance. 7. At power on, hold down the <Delete> key to enter the BIOS Setup. Follow the instructions in Chapter 4.
3-2 Chapter 3: Powering up 3.2 Turning off the computer 3.2.1 Using the OS shut down function If you are using Windows î XP: 1. Click the Start button then select T urn Off Computer . 2. Click the T urn Off button to shut down the computer . 3. The power supply should turn off after Windows î shuts down. If you are using Windows î Vistaâ¢: 1. Click the Start button then select ShutDown. 2. The power supply should turn off after Windows î shuts down. 3.2.2 Using the dual function power switch While the system is ON, pressing the power switch for less than four seconds puts the system to sleep mode or to soft-off mode, depending on the BIOS setting. Pressing the power switch for more than four seconds lets the system enter the soft-off mode regardless of the BIOS setting. Refer to section 4.5 Power Menu in Chapter 4 for details.
4 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 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 ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4.1 Managing and updating your BIOS ............................................ 4-1 4.2 BIOS setup program .................................................................... 4-9 4.3 Main menu .................................................................................. 4-13 4.4 Advanced menu ......................................................................... 4-18 4.5 Power menu ................................................................................ 4-27 4.6 Boot menu .................................................................................. 4-31 4.7 T ools menu ................................................................................. 4-35 4.8 Exit menu .................................................................................... 4-39
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-1 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 î environment.) 2. ASUS EZ Flash 2 (Updates the BIOS using a îÂÂoppy disk or USB îÂÂash disk.) 3. ASUS AFUDOS (Updates the BIOS using a bootable îÂÂoppy disk.) Refer to the corresponding sections for details on these utilities. Save a copy of the original motherboard BIOS îÂÂle to a bootable îÂÂoppy disk or USB îÂÂash disk in case you need to restore the BIOS in the future. Copy the original motherboard BIOS using the ASUS Update or AFUDOS utilities. Installing ASUS Update T o install ASUS Update: 1. Place the support DVD in the optical drive. The Drivers menu appears. 2. Click the Utilities tab, then click Install ASUS Update . 3. The ASUS Update utility is copied to your system. 4.1.1 ASUS Update utility The ASUS Update is a utility that allows you to manage, save, and update the motherboard BIOS in Windows î environment. The ASUS Update utility allows you to: ⢠Save the current BIOS îÂÂle ⢠Download the latest BIOS îÂÂle from the Internet ⢠Update the BIOS from an updated BIOS îÂÂle ⢠Update the BIOS directly from the Internet, and ⢠View the BIOS version information. This utility is available in the support DVD that comes with the motherboard package. ASUS Update requires an Internet connection either through a network or an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
4-2 Chapter 4: BIOS setup Quit all Windows î applications before you update the BIOS using this utility . 3. Select the ASUS FTP site nearest you to avoid network trafîÂÂc, or click Auto Select. Click Next. Updating the BIOS through the Internet T o update the BIOS through the Internet: 1. Launch the ASUS Update utility from the Windows î 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.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-3 Updating the BIOS through a BIOS îÂÂle T o update the BIOS through a BIOS îÂÂle: 1. Launch the ASUS Update utility from the Windows î desktop by clicking Start > Programs > ASUS > ASUSUpdate > ASUSUpdate . The ASUS Update main window appears. 2. Select Update BIOS from a îÂÂle option from the drop-down menu, then click Next. 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. 3. Locate the BIOS îÂÂle from the Open window , then click Open. 4. Follow the screen instructions to complete the update process. M3N-HD-HDMI M3N-HD-HDMI.rom
4-4 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.1.2 Creating a bootable îÂÂoppy disk 1. Do either one of the following to create a bootable îÂÂoppy disk. DOS environment a. Insert a 1.44MB îÂÂoppy disk into the drive. b. At the DOS prompt, type format A:/ S then press <Enter>. Windows î XP environment a. Insert a 1.44 MB îÂÂoppy disk to the îÂÂoppy disk drive. b. Click Start from the Windows î 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. e. Select Create an MS-DOS startup disk from the format options îÂÂeld, then click Start. Windows î Vista environment a. Insert a formatted, high density 1.44 MB îÂÂoppy disk to the îÂÂoppy disk drive. b. Click from the Windows î desktop, then select Computer. c. Right-click Floppy Disk Drive then click Format to display the Format 3 1/2 Floppy dialog box . d. Select the Create an MS-DOS startup disk check box. e. Click Start. 2. Copy the original or the latest motherboard BIOS îÂÂle to the bootable îÂÂoppy disk.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-5 T o update the BIOS using EZ Flash 2: 1. Visit the ASUS website (www .asus.com) to download the latest BIOS îÂÂle for the motherboard. 2. Save the BIOS îÂÂle to a îÂÂoppy disk or a USB îÂÂash disk, then restart the system. 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 îÂÂoppy disk and using a DOS-based utility . The EZ Flash 2 utility is built-in the BIOS chip so it is accessible by pressing <Alt> <F2> during the Power-On Self T ests (POST). (2) Enter BIOS setup program. Go to the T ools menu to select EZ Flash 2 and press <Enter> to enable it. Y ou can switch between drives by pressing <T ab> before the correct îÂÂle is found. Then press <Enter>. 3. Y ou can launch the EZ Flash 2 by two methods. (1) Insert the îÂÂoppy disk / USB îÂÂash disk that contains the BIOS îÂÂle to the îÂÂoppy disk drive or the USB port. Press <Alt> <F2> during POST to display the following. ⢠This function can support devices such as USB îÂÂash disk, or îÂÂoppy disk with F A T 32/16 format and single partition only . ⢠Do not shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS to prevent system boot failure! 4. When the correct BIOS îÂÂle is found, EZ Flash 2 performs the BIOS update process and automatically reboots the system when done. ASUSTek EZ Flash 2 BIOS ROM Utility B325 Current ROM Update ROM A: Note [Enter] Select or Load [B] Backup [ESC] Exit [Tab] Switch [Up/Down/Home/End] Move FLASH TYPE: EON EN25F80 8MB SPI PATH: A:\ BOARD: M3N-HD VER: 0104 DATE: 01/10/2008 BOARD: Unknown VER: Unknown DATE: Unknown
4-6 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.1.4 Updating the BIOS The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) can be updated using the A wardBIOS Flash Utility . Follow these instructions to update the BIOS using this utility . 1. Visit the ASUS website (www .asus.com) and download the latest BIOS îÂÂle for the motherboard. Save the BIOS îÂÂle to a bootable îÂÂoppy disk. Write the BIOS îÂÂlename on a piece of paper . Y ou need to type the exact BIOS îÂÂlename at the DOS prompt. 2. Copy the A wardBIOS Flash Utility (awdîÂÂash.exe) from the Software folder of the support DVD to the îÂÂoppy disk, DVD ROM or a USB îÂÂash disk with the latest BIOS îÂÂle. 3. Boot the system in DOS mode using the bootable îÂÂoppy disk, DVD ROM or a USB îÂÂash disk you created earlier . 4. Under the DOS mode, use <X:> (X stands for the name of the disk assignment) to switch to the folder of îÂÂoppy disk, DVD ROM or USB îÂÂash disk you saved the BIOS îÂÂleand A wardBIOS Flash Utility . 5. At the prompt, type awdîÂÂash then press <Enter>. The Award BIOS Flash Utility screen appears. AwardBIOS Flash Utility for ASUS V1.33 (C) Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All Rights Reserved Message: Please input File Name! For MCP72P-M3N-HD-00 DATE:01/09/2008 Flash Type - File Name to Program:
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-7 7. Press <N> when the utility prompts you to save the current BIOS îÂÂle. The following screen appears. 8. The utility veriîÂÂes the BIOS îÂÂle in the îÂÂoppy disk, DVD ROM or a USB îÂÂash disk and starts îÂÂashing the BIOS îÂÂle. Do not turn off or reset the system during the îÂÂashing process! AwardBIOS Flash Utility for ASUS V1.33 (C) Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All Rights Reserved Warning: DonâÂÂt Turn Off Power Or Reset System! 9. The utility displays a Flashing Complete message indicating that you have successfully îÂÂashed the BIOS îÂÂle. Remove the disk then press <F1> to restart the system. AwardBIOS Flash Utility for ASUS V1.33 (C) Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All Rights Reserved F1 Reset For MCP72P-M3N-HD-00 DATE:01/09/2008 Flash Type - File Name to Program: M3N-HD.bin Flashing Complete Press <F1> to Continue Write OK No Update Write Fail For MCP72P-M3N-HD-00 DATE:01/09/2008 Flash Type - File Name to Program: M3N-HD.bin Programming Flash Memory - OFE00 OK Write OK No Update Write Fail AwardBIOS Flash Utility for ASUS V1.33 (C) Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All Rights Reserved For MCP72P-M3N-HD-00 DATE:01/09/2008 Flash Type - File Name to Program: M3N-HD.bin Message: Do You Want To Save Bios (Y/N) 6. T ype the BIOS îÂÂle name in the File Name to Program îÂÂeld, then press <Enter>.
4-8 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4. The utility saves the current BIOS îÂÂle to the îÂÂoppy disk, then returns to the BIOS îÂÂashing process. 3. T ype a îÂÂlename for the current BIOS îÂÂle in the Save current BIOS as îÂÂeld, then press <Enter>. T o save the current BIOS îÂÂle using the AwardBIOS Flash Utility: 1. Follow steps 1 to 6 of the previous section. 2. Press <Y> when the utility prompts you to save the current BIOS îÂÂle. The following screen appears. 4.1.5 Saving the current BIOS îÂÂle Y ou can use the A wardBIOS Flash Utility to save the current BIOS îÂÂle. Y ou can load the current BIOS îÂÂle when the BIOS îÂÂle gets corrupted during the îÂÂashing process. AwardBIOS Flash Utility for ASUS V1.14 (C) Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All Rights Reserved Message: For MCP72P-M3N-HD-00 DATE:01/09/2008 Flash Type - File Name to Program: 0112.bin Save current BIOS as: AwardBIOS Flash Utility for ASUS V1.14 (C) Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All Rights Reserved Message: Please Wait! For MCP72P-M3N-HD-00 DATE:01/09/2008 Flash Type - File Name to Program: 0112.bin Checksum: 810DH Save current BIOS as: 0113.bin AwardBIOS Flash Utility for ASUS V1.14 (C) Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All Rights Reserved Message: Please Wait! For MCP72P-M3N-HD-00 DATE:01/09/2008 Flash Type - File Name to Program: 0113.bin Now Backup System BIOS to File! Make sure that the îÂÂoppy disk, DVD ROM or a USB îÂÂash disk has enough disk space to save the îÂÂle.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-9 4.2 BIOS setup program This motherboard supports a programmable Low-Pin Count (LPC) chip that you can update using the provided utility described in section 4.1 Managing and updating your BIOS . Use the BIOS Setup program when you are installing a motherboard, reconîÂÂguring your system, or prompted to âÂÂRun Setup.â This section explains how to conîÂÂgure your system using this utility . Even if you are not prompted to use the Setup program, you can change the conîÂÂguration of your computer in the future. For example, you can enable the security password feature or change the power management settings. This requires you to reconîÂÂgure your system using the BIOS Setup program so that the computer can recognize these changes and record them in the CMOS RAM of the LPC chip. The LPC chip on the motherboard stores the Setup utility . When you start up the computer , the system provides you with the opportunity to run this program. Press <Del> during the Power-On Self-T est (POST) to enter the Setup utility; otherwise, POST continues with its test routines. If you wish to enter Setup after POST , restart the system by pressing <Ctrl Alt Delete>, or by pressing the reset button on the system chassis. Y ou can also restart by turning the system off and then back on. Do this last option only if the îÂÂrst two failed. The Setup program is designed to make it as easy to use as possible. Being a menu-driven program, it lets you scroll through the various sub-menus and make your selections from the available options using the navigation keys. ⢠The default BIOS settings for this motherboard apply for most conditions to ensure optimum performance. If the system becomes unstable after changing any BIOS settings, load the default settings to ensure system compatibility and stability . Select the Load Default Settings item under the Exit Menu. See section 4.8 Exit Menu. ⢠The BIOS setup screens shown in this section are for reference purposes only , and may not exactly match what you see on your screen. ⢠Visit the ASUS website (www.asus.com) to download the latest BIOS îÂÂle for this motherboard.
4-10 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.2.1 BIOS menu screen Legend bar General help Menu bar Sub-menu items ConîÂÂguration îÂÂelds Menu items Phoenix-AwardBIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit System Time 15 : 30 : 36 System Date Sat, Oct 26 2007 Legacy Diskette A: [1.44M, 3.5 in.] Primary IDE Master [ST321122A] Primary IDE Slave [ASUS DVDS520/A] SATA1 [None] SATA3 [None] SATA2 [None] SATA4 [None] HDD SMART Monitoring [Disabled] Installed Memory 1024MB Usable Memory 991MB F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit 4.2.2 Menu bar The menu bar on top of the screen has the following main items: Main For changing the basic system conîÂÂguration Advanced For changing the advanced system settings Power For changing the advanced power management (APM) conîÂÂguration Boot For changing the system boot conîÂÂguration T ools For conîÂÂguring options for special functions Exit For selecting the exit options and loading default settings T o select an item on the menu bar , press the right or left arrow key on the keyboard until the desired item is highlighted. ⢠The BIOS setup screens shown in this chapter are for reference purposes only , and may not exactly match what you see on your screen. ⢠Visit the ASUS website (www.asus.com) to download the latest BIOS information. Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Change the internal time.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-1 1 4.2.4 Menu items The highlighted item on the menu bar displays the speciîÂÂc items for that menu. For example, selecting Main shows the Main menu items. The other items (Advanced, Power , Boot, T ools and Exit) on the menu bar have their respective menu items. 4.2.5 Sub-menu items A solid triangle before each item on any menu screen means that the item has a sub-menu. T o display the sub-menu, select the item and press <Enter>. 4.2.6 ConîÂÂguration îÂÂelds These îÂÂelds show the values for the menu items. If an item is user-conîÂÂgurable, you can change the value of the îÂÂeld opposite the item. Y ou cannot select an item that is not user-conîÂÂgurable. A conîÂÂgurable îÂÂeld is enclosed in brackets, and is highlighted when selected. T o change the value of a îÂÂeld, select it then press <Enter> to display a list of options. Refer to 4.2.7 Pop-up window. 4.2.3 Legend bar At the bottom of the Setup screen is a legend bar . The keys in the legend bar allow you to navigate through the various setup menus. The following table lists the keys found in the legend bar with their corresponding functions. Navigation Key Function <F1> Displays the General Help screen <F5> Loads setup default values <Esc> Exits the BIOS setup or returns to the main menu from a sub-menu Left or Right arrow Selects the menu item to the left or right Up or Down arrow Moves the highlight up or down between îÂÂelds Page Down or â (minus) Scrolls backward through the values for the highlighted îÂÂeld Page Up or (plus) Scrolls forward through the values for the highlighted îÂÂeld <Enter> Brings up a selection menu for the highlighted îÂÂeld <F10> Saves changes and exit
4-12 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.2.7 Pop-up window Select a menu item then press <Enter> to display a pop-up window with the conîÂÂguration options for that item. Phoenix-AwardBIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Speciî¿es the capacity and physical size of diskette drive A. System Time 15 : 30 : 36 System Date Thu, Apr 6 2006 Legacy Diskette A: [1.44M, 3.5 in.] Primary IDE Master [ST321122A] Primary IDE Slave [ASUS CDS520/A] SATA1 [None] SATA3 [None] SATA2 [None] SATA4 [None] HDD SMART Monitoring [Disabled] Installed Memory 512MB Usable Memory 512MB 4.2.8 General help At the top right corner of the menu screen is a brief description of the selected item. Pop-up menu F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit Legacy Diskette A: Disabled ..... [ ] 720K , 3.5 in. ..... [ ] 1.44M, 3.5 in. ..... [ ] âÂÂâ :Move ENTER:Accept ESC:Abort
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-13 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. 4.3.1 System Time [xx:xx:xx] Allows you to set the system time. 4.3.2 System Date [Day xx/xx/xxxx] Allows you to set the system date. 4.3.3 Legacy Diskette A [1.44M, 3.5 in.] Sets the type of îÂÂoppy drive installed. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [720K , 3.5 in.] [1.44M, 3.5 in.] Phoenix-AwardBIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Change the internal time. System Time 19 : 49 : 36 System Date Fri, Dec 21 2007 Legacy Diskette A: [1.44M, 3.5 in.] Primary IDE Master [None] Primary IDE Slave [None] SATA1 [HDT722516DLA380] SATA3 [ASUS CRW-5232] SATA2 [None] SATA4 [None] HDD SMART Monitoring [Disabled] Installed Memory 1024MB Usable Memory 911MB F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit
4-14 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.3.4 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 <Enter> to display the IDE device information. The BIOS automatically detects the values opposite the dimmed items (Capacity , Cylinder , Head, Sector and T ransfer Mode). These values are not user-conîÂÂgurable. These items show N/A if no IDE device is installed in the system. PIO Mode [Auto] Sets the PIO mode for the IDE device. ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [Mode 0] [Mode 1] [Mode 2] [Mode 3] [Mode 4] UDMA Mode [Auto] Disables or sets the UDMA mode. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disable] [Auto] Primary IDE Master/Slave [Auto] Select [Auto] to automatically detect an IDE hard disk drive. If automatic detection is successful, the BIOS automatically îÂÂlls in the correct values for the remaining îÂÂelds on this sub-menu. If the hard disk was already formatted on a previous system, the setup BIOS may detect incorrect parameters. Select [Manual] to manually enter the IDE hard disk drive parameters. If no drive is installed select [None]. ConîÂÂguration options: [None] [Auto] [Manual] Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Primary IDE Master PIO Mode [Auto] UDMA Mode [Auto] Primary IDE Master [Auto] Access Mode [Auto] Capacity 0 GB Cylinder 0 Head 0 Sector 0 Transfer Mode None F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-15 Capacity Displays the auto-detected hard disk capacity . This item is not conîÂÂgurable. Cylinder Shows the number of the hard disk cylinders. This item is not conîÂÂgurable. Head Shows the number of the hard disk read/write heads. This item is not conîÂÂgurable. Sector Shows the number of sectors per track. This item is not conîÂÂgurable. T ransfer Mode Shows the T ransfer mode. This item is not conîÂÂgurable. Access Mode [Auto] The default [Auto] allows automatic detection of an IDE hard disk drive. Select [CHS] for this item if you set the IDE Primary Master/Slave to [Manual]. ConîÂÂguration options: [CHS] [LBA] [Large] [Auto] After entering the IDE hard disk drive information into BIOS, use a disk utility , such as FDISK, to partition and format new IDE hard disk drives. This is necessary so that you can write or read data from the hard disk. Make sure to set the partition of the Primary IDE hard disk drives to active. Before attempting to conîÂÂgure a hard disk drive, make sure you have the correct conîÂÂguration information supplied by the drive manufacturer . Incorrect settings may cause the system to fail to recognize the installed hard disk.
4-16 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.3.5 S A T A 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 While entering Setup, the BIOS automatically detects the presence of Serial A T A devices. There is a separate sub-menu for each SA T A device. Select a device item then press <Enter> to display the SA T A device information. The BIOS automatically detects the values opposite the dimmed items (Capacity , Cylinder , Head, Landing Zone and Sector). These values are not user- conîÂÂgurable. These items show 0 if no SA T A device is installed in the system. Extended IDE Drive [Auto] Selects the type of îÂÂxed disk connected to the system. ConîÂÂguration options: [None] [Auto] Access Mode [Auto] Sets the sector addressing mode. ConîÂÂguration options: [Large] [Auto] Capacity Displays the auto-detected hard disk capacity . This item is not conîÂÂgurable. Cylinder Shows the number of the hard disk cylinders. This item is not conîÂÂgurable. Before attempting to conîÂÂgure a hard disk drive, make sure you have the correct conîÂÂguration information supplied by the drive manufacturer . Incorrect settings may cause the system to fail to recognize the installed hard disk. Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Selects the type of î¿xed disk connected to the system. SATA1 Extended IDE Drive [Auto] Access Mode [Auto] Capacity 164 GB Cylinder 65535 Head 16 Landing Zone 65534 Sector 255 F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-17 Head Shows the number of the hard disk read/write heads. This item is not conîÂÂgurable. Landing Zone Shows the number of landing zone per track. This item is not conîÂÂgurable. Sector Shows the number of sectors per track. This item is not conîÂÂgurable. After entering the IDE hard disk drive information into BIOS, use a disk utility , such as FDISK, to partition and format new IDE hard disk drives. This is necessary so that you can write or read data from the hard disk. Make sure to set the partition of the Primary IDE hard disk drives to active. 4.3.6 HDD SMART Monitoring [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable the HDD Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting T echnology (SMART) feature. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] 4.3.7 Installed Memory [xxx MB] Shows the size of installed memory . This item is not conîÂÂgurable. 4.3.8 Usable Memory [XXX MB] Shows the size of usable memory . This item is not conîÂÂgurable.
4-18 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.4 Advanced menu The Advanced menu items allow you to change the settings for the CPU and other system devices. 4.4.1 JumperFree ConîÂÂguration T ake caution when changing the settings of the Advanced menu items. Incorrect îÂÂeld values can cause the system to malfunction. Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Adjust system frequency/voltage. JumperFree Conî¿guration AI NET 2 CPU Conî¿guration Chipset PCIPnP Onboard Device Conî¿guration USB Conî¿guration Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit AI T uning [Auto] Allows selection of CPU overclocking options to achieve desired CPU internal frequency . Select either one of the preset overclocking conîÂÂguration options: Manual Allows you to individually set overclocking parameters. Auto Loads the optimal settings for the system. Standard Loads the standard settings for the system. AI Overclock Loads overclocking proîÂÂles with optimal parameters for stability when overclocking. The conîÂÂguration options for the Advanced menu items vary depending on the CPU and DIMMs you install on the motherboard. Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced JumperFree Conî¿guration AI Tuning [Auto] x Overclock Options Disabled CPU VTT Voltage [AUTO] Memory Voltage [AUTO] 1.2V HT Voltage [AUTO] NB CHIP Voltage [AUTO] x CPU Multiplier Auto x CPU Frequency 200 x PCIE Clock 100 Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Press [Enter] to select overclock proî¿le
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-19 Overclock Options [Disabled] This item becomes user-conîÂÂgurable only when you set the AI T uning item to [AI Overclock] and allows you to set the overclocking options. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Overclock 3%] [Overclock 5%] [Overclock 8%] [Overclock 10%] CPU VTT V oltage [AUTO] Allows you to set the CPU VTT voltage. ConîÂÂguration options: [AUTO] [0.8000v] [0.8125v] [0.8250v] [0.8375v] [0.8500v] ~ [1.6250v] [1.6375v] [1.6500v] [1.6625v] [1.6750v] Memory V oltage [Auto] Allows you to set the memory voltage. ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [1.978V] [2.080V] [2.155V] [2.237V] [2.313V] [2.415V] [2.490V] 1.2V HT V oltage [Auto] Allows you to set the 1.2V HyperT ransport voltage. ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [1.309V] [1.425V] [1.525V] NB CHIP V oltage [Auto] ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [1.213V] [1.313V] [1.409V] CPU Multiplier [Auto] This item becomes user-conîÂÂgurable only when you set the AI T uning item to [Manual] and allows conîÂÂguration of the CPU Multiplier . ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [5x] [5.5x] [6x]...[10.5x] [1 1.x] [1 1.5x] CPU Frequency [200] This item becomes user-conîÂÂgurable only when you set the AI T uning item to [Manual] and allows conîÂÂguration of the CPU frequency . Depending on the CPU allows conîÂÂguration of the CPU frequency . Depending on the CPU model you install, the minimum and maximum values of this item vary or may not be user-conîÂÂgurable. PCIE Clock [100] This item becomes user-conîÂÂgurable only when you set the AI T uning item to [Manual] and is adjusted by typing the desired values using the numeric keypad and press the <Enter> key . The values range from 100 to 200. The values range from 100 to 200.
4-20 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.4.2 AI Net 2 This menu displays the status of the Local Area Network (LAN) cable connected to the LAN (RJ-45) port. POST Check LAN cable [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable LAN cable check during POST . When enabled, the menu reports the cable faults or shorts, and displays the point (length) where the faults or shorts are detected. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] 4.4.3 CPU ConîÂÂguration DRAM ConîÂÂguration This sub-menu allows you to adjust the DRAM-related items. Select an item, then press <Enter> to edit. Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced DRAM Conî¿guration Timing Mode [Auto] x Memory clock Frequency Auto Memory Hole Remapping [Enabled] Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Auto, no user limit MaxMemClk, limit by Memory clock value Manual, use Memory Clock value Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced CPU Conî¿guration CPU Type AMD Phenom(tm)9600 Quad-Core Processor CPU Speed 2300MHz Cache RAM 512K x4 DRAM Conî¿guration AMD Virtualization [Enabled] AMD Live! [Disabled] AMD CoolâÂÂnâÂÂQuiet Function [Disabled] Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help DRAM timing and control Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced AI NET 2 POST Check LAN Cable [Disabled] Pair Status Length LAN1(1-2) Open N/A LAN1(3-6) Open N/A LAN1(4-5) Open N/A LAN1(7-8) Open N/A Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Enable or Disable LAN cable check during POST.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-21 T iming Mode [Auto] Allows selection of the DRAM timing mode. ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [MaxMemClk] [Manual] Memory Clock Frequency [Auto] This item becomes user-conîÂÂgurable when you set the Timing Mode item to [MaxMemClk] or [Manual] and allows you to adjust the memory clock frequency . ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [DDR2 533] [DDR2 667] [DDR2 800] [DDR2 1066] Memory Hole Remapping [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable memory hole remapping support. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] AMD Virtualization [Enabled] The V anderpool T echnology allows a hardware platform to run multiple operating systems separately and simultaneously , enabling one system to virtually function as several systems. ConîÂÂguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] AMD Live! [Disabled] Enables or disables the AMD î Live! T echnology . ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] AMD CoolâÂÂnâÂÂQuiet Function [Disabled] Enables or disables the AMD CoolâÂÂnâÂÂQuiet function. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
4-22 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.4.4 Chipset iGPU Frame Buffer Control [Auto] Allows you to set the onboard GPU frame buffer control mode. ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [Manual] Frame Buffer Size [128M] This item becomes user-conîÂÂgurable when you set the iGPU Frame Buffer Control item to [Manual] and allows you to set frame buffer size for onboard GPU. ConîÂÂguration options: [64M] [128M] [256M] [512M] Onboard GPU [Auto] Allows you to enable or disable the onboard GPU. Set this item to [Auto] to disable the onboard GPU if the system detects any external graphics card. Set this item to [Always Enable] to enable the onboard GPU even if the system detects any external graphics card. ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [Always Enable] K8<->NB HT Speed [Auto] Allows you to set the HyperT ransport speed between the CPU and the Northbridge. ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [200 MHz] [400 MHz] [600 MHz].[800 MHz] [1 GHz] [1.2 GHz] [1.4 GHz] [1.6 GHz] [1.8 GHz] [2 GHz] [2.2 GHz] [2.4 GHz] [2.6 GHz] K8<->NB HT Width [Auto] Allows you to set the HyperT ransport width between the CPU and the Northbridge.. between the CPU and the Northbridge.. . ConîÂÂguration options: [ â 8 â 8 ] [ â 16 â 16 ] [Auto] CPU Spread Spectrum [Disabled] Set to [Disabled] to enhance FSB overclocking ability or [Enabled] for EMI control. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] PCIE Spread Spectrum [Disabled] Set to [Disabled] to enhance PCIE overclocking ability or [Down Spread] for EMI control. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Down Spread] Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced Chipset iGPU Frame Buffer Control [Auto] x Frame Buffer Size 128M Onboard GPU [Auto] K8<->NB HT Speed [Auto] K8<->NB HT Width [Auto] CPU Spread Spectrum [Disabled] PCIE Spread Spectrum [Disabled] SATA Spread Spectrum [Disabled] Primary Display Adapter [PCI-E] Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-23 SA T A Spread Spectrum [Disabled] Allows you to adjust the SA T A spread spectrum setting. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Down Spread] Primary Display Adapter [PCI-E] Allows you to select which graphics controller to use as the primary boot device. ConîÂÂguration options: [PCI] [Onboard] [PCI-E] 4.4.5 PCIPnP Plug & Play O/S [No] When set to [No], the BIOS conîÂÂgures all the devices in the system. When set to [Y es] and if you install a Plug and Play operating system, the operating sy stem conîÂÂgures the Plug and Play devices not required for boot. ConîÂÂguration options: [No] [Y es] Resources Controlled By [Auto] When set to [Auto], the BIOS automatically conîÂÂgures all the boot and Plug and Play compatible devices. Set to [Manual] if you want to assign the IRQ DMA and memory base address îÂÂelds. ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [Manual] When the item Resources Controlled By is set to [Auto], the item IRQ Resources is grayed out and not user-conîÂÂgurable. Refer to the section IRQ Resources for information on how to enable this item. IRQ Resources This sub-menu is activated only when the Resources Controlled By item is set to [Manual]. Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced PCIPnP Plug & Play O/S [No] Resources Controlled By [Auto] x IRQ Resources **PCI Express relative items ** Maximum Payload Size [4096] Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Select Yes if you are using a Plug and Play capable operating system Select No if you need the BIOS to conî¿gure non-boot devices Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Legacy ISA for devices compliant with the original PC AT bus speciî¿cation, PCI/ ISA PnP for devices compliant with the Plug and Play standard IRQ Resources IRQ-5 assigned to [PCI Device] IRQ-7 assigned to [PCI Device] IRQ-9 assigned to [PCI Device] IRQ-10 assigned to [PCI Device] IRQ-11 assigned to [PCI Device] IRQ-14 assigned to [PCI Device] Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced
4-24 Chapter 4: BIOS setup IRQ-xx assigned to [PCI Device] When set to [PCI Device], the speciîÂÂc IRQ is free for use of PCI/PnP devices. When set to [Reserved], the IRQ is reserved for legacy ISA devices. ConîÂÂguration options: [PCI Device] [Reserved] Maximum Payload Size [4096] Sets maximum TLP payload size for the PCI Express devices. The unit is byte. ConîÂÂguration options: [128] [256] [512] [1024] [2048] [4096] 4.4.6 Onboard Device ConîÂÂguration OnChip IDE Channel 0 [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the onchip IDE channel 0 controller . ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] IDE DMA transfer access [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the IDE DMA transfer access. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] SA T A Controller [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the onboard SA T A controller . ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] IDE Prefetch Mode [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable the IDE PIO read prefetch mode. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] IDE Function Setup Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced IDE Function Setup OnChip IDE Channel0 [Enabled] IDE DMA transfer access [Enabled] SATA Controller [Enabled] IDE Prefetch Mode [Enabled] Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced Onboard Device Conî¿guration IDE Function Setup MCP Storage Conî¿g Onboard 1394 [Enabled] HD Audio [Auto] Front Panel Support Type [HD Audio] HDMI Audio [Auto] Onboard LAN Device [Enabled] Onboard LAN Boot ROM [Disabled] Serial Port1 Address [3F8/IRQ4] Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-25 MCP Storage ConîÂÂg Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced MCP Storage Conî¿g SATA Operation Mode [IDE] SA T A Operation Mode [IDE] Allows you to select the onboard Serial A T A type. ConîÂÂguration options: [IDE] [RAID] [AHCI] ⢠If you want to use the Serial A T A hard disk drives as Parallel A T A physical storage devices, keep the default setting [IDE]. ⢠If you want the Serial A T A hard disk drives to use the Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI), set this item to [AHCI]. The AHCI allows the onboard storage driver to enable advanced Serial A T A features that increases storage performance on random workloads by allowing the drive to internally optimize the order of commands. ⢠If you want to create a RAID 0, 1, 0 1, 5, or JBOD conîÂÂguration from the Serial A T A hard disk drives, set this item to [RAID]. ⢠SA T A 5-6 connectors support AHCI mode and RAID mode only . Make sure to install the AHCI driver or RAID driver in the bundled support DVD before connecting devices to SA T A 5-6 connectors. Otherwise, the devices will not work. ⢠Due to chipset limitation, when set any of SA T A ports to RAID mode, all SA T A ports run at RAID mode together . Onboard 1394 [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the onboard 1394 device support. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] HD Audio [Auto] Allows you to enable or disable the High-DeîÂÂnition audio CODEC. ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [Disabled] Front Panel Support T ype [HD Audio] Allows you to set the front panel audio connector (AAFP) mode to legacy AC`97 or high-deîÂÂnition audio depending on the audio standard that the front panel audio module supports. ConîÂÂguration options: [AC97] [HD Audio]
4-26 Chapter 4: BIOS setup HDMI Audio [Auto] Allows you to disable or enable the HDMI Audio function. ConîÂÂguration options: [Auto] [Disabled] Make sure to set the HDMI Audio item to [Auto] to enable HDMI audio output. Onboard LAN Device [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the OnBoard LAN device. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Onboard LAN Boot ROM [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable the OnBoard LAN Boot ROM. ConîÂÂguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] Serial Port1 Address [3F8/IRQ4] Allows you to select the Serial Port1 base address. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [3F8/IRQ4][2F8/IRQ3] [3E8/IRQ4] [2E8/IRQ3] [Auto] 4.4.7 USB ConîÂÂguration Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Advanced USB Conî¿guration USB Controller [Enabled] USB 2.0 Controller [Enabled] USB Legacy support [Enabled] USB Controller [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the USB 1.1 and 2.0 controller . ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] USB 2.0 Controller [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the USB 2.0 controller . ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] USB Legacy support [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable support for USB devices on legacy operating systems (OS). ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-27 4.5 Power menu The Power menu items allow you to change the settings for the Advanced ConîÂÂguration and Power Interface (ACPI) and the Advanced Power Management (APM). Select an item then press <Enter> to display the conîÂÂguration options. 4.5.1 ACPI Suspend T ype [S1&S3] Allows you to select the Advanced ConîÂÂguration and Power Interface (ACPI) state to be used for system suspend. ConîÂÂguration options: [S1(POS)] [S3(STR)] [S1&S3] 4.5.2 ACPI APIC Support [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the Advanced ConîÂÂguration and Power Interface (ACPI) support in the Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller (APIC). When set to [Enabled], the ACPI APIC table pointer is included in the RSDT pointer list. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] 4.5.3 APM ConîÂÂguration Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Select the ACPI state used for System Suspend. ACPI Suspend Type [S1&S3] ACPI APIC support [Enabled] APM Conî¿guration Hardware Monitor Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Press [Enter] to select whether or not to restart the system after AC power loss Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Power APM Conî¿guration Restore on AC Power Loss [Power-Off] PWR Button < 4 secs [Instant-Off] Power Up On PCI/PCIE Devices [Disabled] Power On By External Modems [Disabled] Power On by RTC Alarm [Disabled] x Date(of Month) Alarm 0 x Alarm Time(hh:mm) 0 : 0 : 0 HPET Support [Enabled] Power On By PS/2 Keyboard [Disabled] Restore on AC Power Loss [Power-Off] Allows you to enable or disable the Restore on AC Power Loss function. ConîÂÂguration options: [Power-Off] [Power-On] [Last State]
4-28 Chapter 4: BIOS setup PWR Button < 4 secs [Instant-Off] When set to [Instant-Off], the system goes into Soft-of f mode after you press the power button for less than 4 seconds. When set to [Suspend], the system goes into Suspend mode after you press the power button for less than 4 seconds. ConîÂÂguration options: [Suspend] [Instant-Off] Power Up On PCI/PCIE Devices [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable the PME to wake up from S5 by PCI/PCIE devices and the NVIDIA î onboard LAN. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Power On By External Modems [Disabled] When set to [Enabled], this item allows you to power on the computer in Soft-off mode with an external modem. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] When a computer is off, turning an external modem of f and then on causes an initialization string that turns on the computer . Power On By RTC Alarm [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable RTC to generate a wake event. When this item is set to [Enabled], the items Date (of Month) Alarm and Alarm Time (hh:mm) become user-conîÂÂgurable with set values. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Date (of Month) Alarm [XX] T o set the date of alarm, highlight this item and press <Enter> to display the Date (of Month) Alarm pop-up menu. Key-in a value within the speciîÂÂed range then press <Enter>. V alue âÂÂ0â means everyday . ConîÂÂguration options: [Min=0] [Max=31] Alarm Time (hh:mm) [ XX: XX: XX] T o set the time of alarm, highlight this item and press <Enter> to display the Alarm highlight this item and press <Enter> to display the Alarm T ime pop-up menu. Key-in a value within the speciîÂÂed range then press <Enter>. ConîÂÂguration options: [Min=0] [Max=23]---hour [Min=0] [Max=59]---minute [Min=0] [Max=59]---second HPET Support [Enabled] The hardware High Precision EfîÂÂcient T imer (HPET) is to increase the performance of the Vista Multimedia player and can meet V istaâÂÂs requirement. Disable this feature if your system is running under XP environment. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-29 4.5.4 Hardware Monitor The items in this sub-menu displays the hardware monitor values automatically detected by the BIOS. It also allows you to change CPU Q-Fan feature-related parameters. Select an item then press <Enter> to display the conîÂÂguration options. CPU Fan T ype [DC] Allows you to select the CPU fan type you installed on the motherboard. ConîÂÂguration options: [DC] [PWM] ⢠If you install a PWM (4-pin) fan but set this item to [DC], the fan you installed may not work. ⢠If you install a DC (3-pin) fan but set this item to a [PWM], the Q-Fan Control function will not work and the fan you install will always run at full speed. CPU Q-Fan Control [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable the CPU Q-Fan controller . ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] The CPU Q-Fan ProîÂÂle item becomes user-conîÂÂgurable when you enable the CPU Q-Fan Control feature. Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Press [Enter] to enable or disable Hardware Monitor CPU Fan Type [DC] CPU Q-Fan Control [Disabled] CPU Q-Fan Proî¿le Performance Chassis Q-Fan Control [Disabled] Chassis Q-Fan Proî¿le Performance Vcore Voltage [ 1.16V] 3.3V Voltage [ 3.31V] 5V Voltage [ 4.97V] 12V Voltage [11.96V] CPU Temperature 39úC M/B Temperature 33úC CPU Fan Speed 2922 RPM CHA_FAN1 Speed 0 RPM PWR_FAN Speed 0 RPM CPU Fan Speed Warning [800 RPM] Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Power F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit Power Up By PS/2 Keyboard [Disabled] Allows you to disable the Power On by PS/2 keyboard function or set speciîÂÂc keys on the PS/2 keyboard to turn on the system. This feature requires an A TX power supply that provides at least 1A on the 5VSB lead. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Space Bar] [Ctrl-ESC] [Power Key]
4-30 Chapter 4: BIOS setup CPU Q-Fan ProîÂÂle [Performance] 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. Set this item to [Silent] to minimize fan speed for quiet CPU fan operation, or [Performance] to achieve maximum CPU fan speed. ConîÂÂguration options: [Performance] [Optimal] [Silent] [Optimal] [Silent] Chassis Q-Fan Control [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable the Chassis Q-Fan controller . ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] The Chassis Q-Fan ProîÂÂle item becomes user-conîÂÂgurable when you enable the Chassis Q-Fan Control feature. Chassis Q-Fan ProîÂÂle [Auto] Allows you to set the appropriate performance level of the Chassis Q-Fan. ConîÂÂguration options: [Performance] [Optimal] [Silent] [Optimal] [Silent] Vcore V oltage, 3.3V V oltage, 5V V oltage, 12V V oltage The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects the voltage output through the onboard voltage regulators. Select [Ignored] if you do not want to detect this item. CPU T emperature [xxxúC/xxxúF] M/B T emperature [xxxúC/xxxúF] The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the motherboard and CPU temperatures. These items are not user-conîÂÂgurable. CPU Fan Speed [xxxxRPM] CHA_F AN1 Speed [xxxxRPM] PWR_F AN Speed [xxxxRPM] The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the CPU/ Chassis/Power fan speed in rotations per minute (RPM). If the fan is not connected to the motherboard, the îÂÂeld shows 0 RPM. These items are not user-conîÂÂgurable. CPU Fan Speed W arning [800 RPM] Allows you to set the CPU fan warning speed function, which gives off a warning when the CPU fan speed is too low . If you set this item to [Disabled], the system will not warn you even if no fan is installed or if the fan is not functioning properly . ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [800 RPM] [1200 RPM] [1600 RPM]
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-31 4.6 Boot menu The Boot menu items allow you to change the system boot options. Select an item then press <Enter> to display the sub-menu. 4.6.1 Boot Device Priority Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Select Your Boot Device Priority Boot Device Priority 1st Boot Device [Removable] 2nd Boot Device [Hard Disk] 3rd Boot Device [CDROM] 4th Boot Device [Disabled] 1st ~ 4th Boot Device [Removable] These items specify the boot device priority sequence from the available devices. The number of device items that appears on the screen depends on the number of devices installed in the system. ConîÂÂguration options: [Removable] [Hard Disk] [CDROM] [Disabled] 4.6.2 Removable Drives 1. Floppy Disks Allows you to assign a removable drive attached to the system. Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Select Boot Device Priority Boot Device Priority Removable Drives Boot Settings Conî¿guration Security Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Boot Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Removable Drives 1. Floppy Disks Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Boot
4-32 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.6.3 Boot Settings ConîÂÂguration Case Open W arning [Enabled] Enables or disables the chassis open status feature. Setting to [Enabled] to send warning messages when the chassis is opened. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Quick Boot [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the system quick boot feature. When Enabled, the system skips certain tests while booting. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Boot Up Floppy Seek [Disabled] Enable this item to run îÂÂoppy drives test during POST to determine whether they have 40 or 80 tracks. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Bootup Num-Lock [On] Allows you to select the power-on state for the NumLock. ConîÂÂguration options: [Off] [On] T ypematic Rate Setting [Disabled] Allows you to set the keystroke rate. Enable this item to conîÂÂgure the T ypematic Rate (Chars/Sec) and the T ypematic Delay (Msec) items. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] T ypematic Rate (Chars/Sec) [6] Allows you to select the rate at which a character repeats when you hold a key . ConîÂÂguration options: [6] [8] [10] [12] [15] [20] [24] [30] T ypematic Delay (Msec) [250] Allows you to set the delay before keystrokes begin to repeat. ConîÂÂguration options: [250] [500] [750] [1000] Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Allows the system to skip certain tests while booting. This will decrease the time needed to boot the system Boot Settings Conî¿guration Case Open Warning [Enabled] Quick Boot [Enabled] Boot Up Floppy Seek [Disabled] Bootup Num-Lock [On] Typematic Rate Setting [Disabled] x Typematic Rate (Chars/Sec) 6 x Typematic Delay (Msec) 250 OS Select For DRAM > 64MB [Non-OS2] Full Screen LOGO [Enabled] Halt On [All, But Keyboard] Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Boot
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-33 4.6.4 Security Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Security Supervisor Password Clear User Password Clear Password Check [Setup] Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Boot Supervisor Password User Password These îÂÂelds allow you to set passwords: T o set a password: 1. Select an item then press <Enter>. 2. T ype in a password using a combination of a maximum of eight (8) alpha-numeric characters, then press <Enter>. 3. When prompted, conîÂÂrm the password by typing the exact characters again, then press <Enter>. The password îÂÂeld setting is changed to [Set]. T o clear the password: 1. Select the password îÂÂeld and press <Enter> twice. The following message appears: PASSWORD DISABLED !!! Press any key to continue... OS Select for DRAM > 64MB [Non-OS2] Set this item to OS2 only when you are running on an OS/2 operating system with an installed RAM of greater than 64 MB. ConîÂÂguration options: [Non-OS2] [OS2] Full Screen LOGO [Enabled] This allows you to enable or disable the full screen logo display feature. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Set this item to [Enabled] to use the ASUS MyLogo 2⢠feature. Halt On [All, But Keyboard] Allows you to set the error report type. ConîÂÂguration options: [All Errors] [No Errors] [All, But Keyboard] [All, But Diskette] [All, But Disk/Key]
4-34 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 2. Press any key to continue. The password îÂÂeld setting is changed to [Clear]. A note about passwords The Supervisor password is required to enter the BIOS Setup program preventing unauthorized access. The User password is required to boot the system preventing unauthorized use. Forgot your password? If you forget your password, you can clear it by erasing the CMOS Real T ime Clock (RTC) RAM. The RAM data containing the password information is powered by the onboard button cell battery . If you need to erase the CMOS RAM, refer to section 2.6 Jumper for instructions. Password Check This îÂÂeld requires you to enter the password before entering the BIOS setup or the system. Select [Setup] to require the password before entering the BIOS Setup. Select [System] to require the password before entering the system. ConîÂÂguration options: [Setup] [System]
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-35 4.7 Tools menu The T ools menu items allow you to conîÂÂgure options for special function s. Select an item then press <Enter> to display the sub-menu. 4.7.1 ASUS O.C. ProîÂÂle This item allows you to store or load multiple BIOS settings. Load BIOS ProîÂÂle Load from ProîÂÂle 1/2 Allows you to load the previous BIOS settings saved in the BIOS Flash. Press <Enter> to load the îÂÂle. Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help ASUS O.C. Proî¿le ASUS EZ Flash 2 Express Gate Lite Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Press [Enter] to select. ASUS BIOS Proî¿le Load BIOS Proî¿le Save BIOS Proî¿le Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Tools Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Load BIOS Proî¿le from Proî¿le 1. Load BIOS Proî¿le Load from Proî¿le 1 Load from Proî¿le 2 Load from File Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Tools
4-36 Chapter 4: BIOS setup Load from File Allows you to load the previous BIOS îÂÂle saved in the hard disk/îÂÂoppy disk/USB îÂÂash disk with the F A T32/16/12 format. Follow the instructions below to load the BIOS îÂÂle. 1. Insert the storage devices that contains the âÂÂxxx.CMOâ îÂÂle. 2. T urn on the system. 3. Enter BIOS setup program. Go to the âÂÂT oolsâ menu to select ASUS O.C. ProîÂÂle > Load from File . Press <Enter> then the setup screen will appear . 4. Press <T ab> to switch between drives before the correct âÂÂxxx.CMOâ îÂÂle is found. Then press <Enter> to load the îÂÂle. 5. A pop-up message will inform you when the loading process îÂÂnishes. ⢠Suggest only to update the BIOS îÂÂle coming from the same memory/CPU conîÂÂguration and BIOS version. ⢠Only the âÂÂxxx.CMOâ îÂÂle can be loaded. Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Save current BIOS Proî¿le to Proî¿le 1. Save BIOS Proî¿le Save to Proî¿le 1 Save to Proî¿le 2 Save to File Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Tools Save BIOS ProîÂÂle Save to ProîÂÂe 1/2 Allows you to save the current BIOS îÂÂle to the BIOS Flash. Press <Enter> to save the îÂÂle. Save to File Allows you to save the current BIOS îÂÂle to the hard disk/îÂÂoppy disk/USB îÂÂash disk with F A T32/16/12 format. Follow the instructions below to save the BIOS îÂÂle. 1. Insert the storage devices with enough space. 2. T urn on the system. 3. Enter the BIOS setup program. Go to the âÂÂT oolsâ menu to select âÂÂSave to File.â Press <Enter> then the setup screen will appear . 4. Press <T ab> to switch between the drives. Press hot-key <S> to save the îÂÂle. 5. Key in the îÂÂle name. Then press <Enter>. 6. A pop-up message will inform you when the saving process îÂÂnishes.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-37 ASUSTek O.C. Proî¿le Utility B325 BOARD: M3N-HD VER: 0101 DATE: 11/20/2007 Current CMOS Update CMOS BOARD: Unknown VER: Unknown DATE: Unknown PATH: A:\ A: Note [Enter] Select [S] Save [ESC]: Exit [Tab] Switch [Up/Down/Home/End] Move CMOS backup is done! Press any key to Exit. The BIOS îÂÂle will be saved as âÂÂxxx.CMOâÂÂ. 4.7.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 Allows you to run ASUS EZ Flash 2. When you press <Enter>, a conîÂÂrmation message appears. Use the left/right arrow key to select between [Y es] or [No], then press <Enter> to conîÂÂrm your choice. ASUSTek EZ Flash 2 BIOS ROM Utility B325 Current ROM Update ROM A: Note [Enter] Select or Load [B] Backup [ESC] Exit [Tab] Switch [Up/Down/Home/End] Move FLASH TYPE: EON EN25F80 8MB SPI PATH: A:\ BOARD: M3N-HD VER: 0101 DATE: 11/20/2007 BOARD: Unknown VER: Unknown DATE: Unknown
4-38 Chapter 4: BIOS setup 4.7.3 Express Gate Lite Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Express Gate Lite Express Gate Lite [Enabled] Timeout [10] Reset User Data [No] Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Tools Express Gate Lite [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the ASUS Express Gate Lite feature. The ASUS Express Gate Lite is a unique instant-on environment that provides quick access to the Internet browser and Skype. Refer to section 5.3.10 ASUS Express Gate Lite for details. ConîÂÂguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] Boot Out T imer [10] Sets countdown duration that the system waits at the Express Gate LiteâÂÂs îÂÂrst screen before starting Windows or other installed OS. Choose [Disabled] to stay at the îÂÂrst screen of Express Gate Lite for user action. ConîÂÂguration options: [Disabled] [1 second] ~ [30 seconds] The time length is adjusted by typing the desired values using the numeric keypad and press the <Enter> key . Reset User Data [No] Allows you to clear Express Gate LiteâÂÂs user data. ConîÂÂguration options: [No] [Reset] When setting this item to [Reset], make sure to save the setting to the BIOS so that the user data will be cleared the next time you enter the Express Gate Lite. User data includes the Express Gate LiteâÂÂs settings as well as any personal information stored by the web browser (bookmarks, cookies, browsing history , etc.). This is useful in the rare case where corrupt settings prevent the Express Gate Lite environment from launching properly . The îÂÂrst time wizard will run again when you enter the Express Gate environment after clearing its settings.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 4-39 4.8 Exit menu The Exit menu items allow you to load the optimal or failsafe default values for the BIOS items, and save or discard your changes to the BIOS items. Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help This option save data to CMOS and exiting the setup menu. Exit & Save Changes Exit & Discard Changes Load Setup Default Discard Changes Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit F1:Help âÂÂâ : Select Item -/ : Change Value F5: Setup Defaults ESC: Exit âÂÂâÂÂ: Select Menu Enter: Select SubMenu F10: Save and Exit Pressing <Esc> does not immediately exit this menu. Select one of the options from this menu or <F10> from the legend bar to exit. Exit & Save Changes Once you are îÂÂnished making your selections, choose this option from the Exit menu to ensure the values you selected are saved to the CMOS RAM. An onboard backup battery sustains the CMOS RAM so it stays on even when the PC is turned off. When you select this option, a conîÂÂrmation window appears. Select YES to save changes and exit. If you attempt to exit the Setup program without saving your changes, the program prompts you with a message asking if you want to save your changes before exiting. Press <Enter> to save the changes while exiting. Exit & Discard Changes Select this option only if you do not want to save the changes that you made to the Setup program. If you made changes to îÂÂelds other than System Date, System T ime, and Password, the BIOS asks for a conîÂÂrmation before exiting. Load Setup Default This option allows you to load the default values for each of the parameters on the Setup menus. When you select this option or if you press <F5>, a conîÂÂrmation window appears. Select YES to load default values. Select Exit & Save Changes or make other changes before saving the values to the non-volatile RAM. Discard Changes This option allows you to discard the selections you made and restore the previously saved values. After selecting this option, a conîÂÂrmation appears. Select YES to discard any changes and load the previously saved values.
4-40 Chapter 4: BIOS setup
5 Chapter 5: Software support This chapter describes the contents of the support DVD that comes with the motherboard package.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 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 conîÂÂgurations .................................................................. 5-37 5.5 Creating a RAID driver disk ....................................................... 5-45
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-1 If Autorun is NOT enabled in your computer , browse the contents of the support DVD to locate the îÂÂle ASSETUP .EXE from the BIN folder . Double-click the ASSETUP .EXE to run the DVD. Click an item to install 5.1 Installing an operating system This motherboard supports Windows î XP / 64-bit XP / Vista / 64-bit V ista operating systems (OS). Always install the latest OS version and corresponding updates to maximize the features of your hardware. 5.2 Support DVD information The support DVD that came with the motherboard package contains the drivers, software applications, and utilities that you can install to avail all motherboard features. 5.2.1 Running the support DVD Place the support DVD to the optical drive. The DVD automatically displays the Drivers menu if Autorun is enabled in your computer . ⢠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. ⢠Make sure that you install Windows î XP Service Pack 2 or later versions before installing the drivers for better compatibility and system stability . The contents of the support DVD are subject to change at any time without notice. Visit the ASUS website(www.asus.com) for updates. Click an icon to display support DVD/motherboard information
5-2 Chapter 5: Software support 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 î chipset drivers for the nVIDIA nForce 750a SLI chipset. Realtek Audio Driver Installs the Realtek î ALC883 audio driver and application. AMD Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet Driver Installs the AMD î Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet⢠technology driver . USB 2.0 Driver Installs the Universal Serial Bus 2.0 (USB 2.0) driver .
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-3 5.2.3 Utilities menu The Utilities menu shows the applications and other software that the motherboard supports. ASUS InstAll - Installation Wizard for Utilities Installs all of the utilities through the Installation Wizard. 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. Click to display the next page Click to return to the previous page
5-4 Chapter 5: Software support 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 CoolâÂÂnâÂÂQuiet Utility This item installs the ASUS CoolâÂÂnâÂÂQuiet utility . ASUS Express Gate Lite Installer Allows you to Install or update ASUS Express Gate Lite functions. Adobe Acrobat Reader V7.0 Installs the Adobe î Acrobat î Reader that allows you to open, view , and print documents in Portable Document Format (PDF). Microsoft DirectX 9.0c Installs the Microsoft î DirectX 9.0 driver . The Microsoft DirectX î 9.0 is a multimedia technology that enhances computer graphics and sound. DirectX î improves the multimedia features of you computer so you can enjoy watching TV and movies, capturing videos, or playing games in your computer . V isit the Microsoft website (www .microsoft.com) for updates. Anti-Virus Utility The anti-virus application detects and protects your computer from viruses that destroys data. WinDVD Copy5 T rial Installs the InterVideo DVD Copy5 trial version. Corel SnapîÂÂre Plus SE Installs Corel SnapîÂÂre Plus SE.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-5 5.2.4 Make Disk menu The Make Disk menu contains items to create the NVIDIA î nForce⢠750 SLI SA T A/RAID driver disk. NVIDIA 32/64bit XP SA T A RAID Driver (Disk 1/2) Allows you to create NVIDIA SA T A RAID driver disks for 32/64bit Windows î XP . NVIDIA 32/64bit XP AHCI Driver (Disk 1/2) Allows you to create an NVIDIA AHCI driver disk for 32/64bit Windows î XP . Due to îÂÂoppy disc capacity limitation, when creating a RAID conîÂÂguration under 32/64bit Windows î Vista, please install the AHCI/RAID driver through the motherboard support DVD or a USB device. Find RAID driver in the support DVD through the path below: Drivers\Chipset\Disk\RAID Find AHCI driver in the support DVD through the path below: Drivers\Chipset\Disk\AHCI Click to display the next page Click to return to the previous page
5-6 Chapter 5: Software support 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 îÂÂles are in Portable Document Format (PDF). Install the Adobe î Acrobat î Reader from the Utilities menu before opening a user manual îÂÂle. 5.2.6 ASUS Contact information Click the Contact tab to display the ASUS contact information. Y ou can also îÂÂnd this information on the inside front cover of this user guide.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-7 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 speciîÂÂed information. Motherboard Info Displays the general speciîÂÂcations of the motherboard. Browse this DVD Displays the support DVD contents in graphical format.
5-8 Chapter 5: Software support T echnical support Form Displays the ASUS T echnical Support Request Form that you have to îÂÂll out when requesting technical support. File list Displays the contents of the support DVD and a brief description of each in text format.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-9 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 îÂÂle 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-T ests (POST). The ASUS MyLogo2⢠is automatically installed when you install the ASUS Update utility from the support DVD. See section 5.2.3 Utilities menu for details. T o launch the ASUS MyLogo2â¢: 1. Launch the ASUS Update utility . Refer to section 4.1.1 ASUS Update utility for details. 2. Select Options from the drop down menu, then click Next. 3. Check the option Launch MyLogo to replace system boot logo before îÂÂashing BIOS, then click Next . 4. Select Update BIOS from a îÂÂle from the drop down menu, then click Next. 5. When prompted, locate the new BIOS îÂÂle, then click Next . The ASUS MyLogo window appears. 6. From the left window pane, select the folder that contains the image you intend to use as your boot logo. ⢠Before using the ASUS MyLogo2â¢, use the AFUDOS utility to make a copy of your original BIOS îÂÂle, or obtain the latest BIOS version from the ASUS website. See section 4.1.4 AFUDOS utility . ⢠Make sure that the BIOS item Full Screen Logo is set to [Enabled] if you wish to use ASUS MyLogo2. See section 4.6.2 Boot Settings ConîÂÂguration . ⢠Y ou can create your own boot logo image in GIF , or BMP îÂÂle formats. ⢠The îÂÂle size should be smaller than 150 K.
5-10 Chapter 5: Software support 9. When the screen returns to the ASUS Update utility , îÂÂash the original BIOS to load the new boot logo. 10. After îÂÂashing the BIOS, restart the computer to display the new boot logo during POST . 8. Adjust the boot image to your desired size by selecting a value on the Ratio box. 7. When the logo images appear on the right window pane, select an image to enlarge by clicking on it.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-1 1 5.3.2 Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠T echnology The motherboard supports the AMD Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠T echnology that dynamically and automatically change the CPU speed, voltage, and amount of power depending on the task the CPU performs. Enabling Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠T echnology T o enable Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠T echnology: 1. T urn on the system and enter BIOS by pressing the <Del> key during the Power On Self-T ests (POST). 2. Go to Advanced > CPU ConîÂÂguration > AMD Cool âÂÂnâÂÂQuiet Function and set it to [Enabled]. See section 4.4 Advanced menu . 3. Save your changes and exit BIOS Setup. 4. Reboot your computer and set your Power Option Properties depending on your operating system. Windows î XP 1. From the Windows î XP operating system, click Start. Select Settings > Control Panel . 2. Make sure the Control Panel is set to Classic View. 3. Double-click the Display icon in the Control Panel then select the Screen Saver tab. 4. Click the Power button. The following dialogue box appears. 5. From the Power schemes combo list box, select Minimal Power Management . 6. Click OK to effect settings.
5-12 Chapter 5: Software support ⢠Make sure to install the AMD Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠driver and application before using this feature. ⢠The AMD Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠technology feature works only with the AMD heatsink and fan assembly with monitor chip ⢠If you purchased a separate heatsink and fan package, use the ASUS Q-Fan technology feature to automatically adjust the CPU fan speed according to your system loading. Windows î Vista 1. From the Windows î Vista operating system, click Start. Select Control Panel . 2. Make sure the Control Panel is set to Classic View. 3. Double-click the Personalization icon in the Control Panel then click the Screen Saver item. 4. Click â Change power settings...âÂÂ. The following dialogue box appears. 5. From the Preferred plans, select Power saver. 6. Close all windows.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-13 Launching the Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠software The motherboard support DVD includes the Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠software that enables you to view your systemâÂÂs real-time CPU Frequency and voltage. T o launch the Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠program: 1. If you are using Windows î XP , click the Start button. Select Programs > ASUS > Cool & Quiet > Cool & Quiet . 2. If you are using Windows î Vista, click the Start button. Select All Programs > ASUS > Cool & Quiet > Cool & Quiet . 3. The Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠technology screen appears and displays the current CPU Frequency and CPU V oltage. Make sure to install the Cool âÂÂnâ Quiet!⢠software from the motherboard support DVD. Refer to section 5.2.3 Utilities menu for details.
5-14 Chapter 5: Software support 5.3.3 Audio conîÂÂgurations The Realtek î ALC1200 audio CODEC provides 8-channel audio capability to deliver the ultimate audio experience on your computer . The software provides Jack-Sensing function, S/PDIF Out support, and interrupt capability . The ALC1200 also includes the Realtek î proprietary UAJ î (Universal Audio Jack) technology for all audio ports, eliminating cable connection errors and giving users plug and play convenience. Follow the installation wizard to install the Realtek î Audio Driver from the Support DVD that came with the motherboard package. If the Realtek audio software is correctly installed, you will îÂÂnd the Realtek HD Audio Manager icon on the taskbar . From the taskbar , double-click on the SoundEf fect icon to display the Realtek HD Audio Manager . Realtek HD Audio Manager Control settings window ConîÂÂguration options Information button Realtek HD Audio Manager Exit button Minimize button
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-15 Information Click the information button ( ) to display information about the audio driver version, DirectX version, audio controller , audio codec, and language setting. Minimize Click the minimize button ( ) to minimize the window . Exit Click the exit button ( ) to exit the Realtek HD Audio Manager . ConîÂÂguration options Click any of the tabs in this area to conîÂÂgure your audio settings. Sound Effect The Realtek î ALC1200 Audio CODEC allows you to set your listening environment, adjust the equalizer , set the karaoke, or select pre-programmed equalizer settings for your listening pleasure. T o set the sound effect options: 1. From the Realtek HD Audio Manager , click the Sound Ef fect tab. 2. Click the shortcut buttons or the drop-down menus for options on changing the acoustic environment, adjust the equalizer , or set the karaoke to your desired settings. 3. Click to effect the Sound Ef fect settings and exit.
5-16 Chapter 5: Software support Mixer The Mixer option allows you to conîÂÂgure audio output (playback) volume and audio input (record) volume. T o set the mixer options: 1. From the Realtek HD Audio Manager , click the Mixer tab. 2. T urn the volume buttons to adjust the Playback and/or Record volume. The Mixer option activates voice input from all channels by default. Make sure to set all channels to mute ( ) if you do not want voice input. 3. Make adjustments to W ave, SW Synth, Front, Rear , Subwoofer , CD volume, Mic volume, Line V olume, and Stereo mix by clicking the control tabs and dragging them up and down until you get the desired levels. 4. Click to effect the Mixer settings and exit. Audio I/O The Audio I/O option allows you conîÂÂgure your input/output settings. T o set the Audio I/O options: 1. From the Realtek HD Audio Manager , click the Audio I/O tab. 2. Click the drop-down menu to select the channel conîÂÂguration. 3. The control settings window displays the status of connected devices. Click for analog and digital options. 4. Click <OK> to effect the Audio I/O settings and exit
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-17 3D Audio Demo The 3D Audio Demo option gives you a demonstration of the 3D audio feature. T o start the 3D Audio Demo: 1. From the Realtek HD Audio Manager , click the 3D Audio Demo tab. 2. Click the option buttons to change the sound, moving path, or environment settings. 3. Click to test your settings. 4. Click to effect the 3D Audio Demo settings and exit. Microphone The Microphone option allows you conîÂÂgure your input/output settings and to check if your audio devices are connected properly . T o set the Microphone options: 1. From the Realtek HD Audio Manager , click the Microphone tab. 2. Click the Noise Suppression option button to reduce the static background noise when recording. 3. Click the Acoustic Echo Cancellation option button to reduce the echo from the front speakers when recording. 4. Click to effect the Microphone settings and exit.
5-18 Chapter 5: Software support 5.3.4 ASUS PC Probe II PC Probe II is a utility that monitors the computer âÂÂs 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. Installing PC Probe II T o install PC Probe II 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. If Autorun is not enabled in your computer , browse the contents of the support DVD to locate the setup.exe îÂÂle from the ASUS PC Probe II folder . Double-click the setup.exe îÂÂle to start installation. 2. Click the Utilities tab, then click ASUS PC Probe II. 3. Follow the screen instructions to complete installation. Launching PC Probe II Y ou can launch the PC Probe II right after installation or anytime from the Windows î desktop. T o launch the PC Probe II from the Windows î desktop, click Start > All Programs > ASUS > PC Probe II > PC Probe II v1.xx.xx . The PC Probe II main window appears. After launching the application, the PC Probe II icon appears in the Windows î taskbar . Click this icon to close or restore the application. Using PC Probe II Main window The PC Probe II main window allows you to view the current status of your system and change the utility conîÂÂguration. By default, the main window displays the Preference section. Y ou can close or restore the Preference section by clicking on the triangle on the main window right handle. Click to close the Preference panel
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-19 Button Function Opens the ConîÂÂguration 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 . When displayed, the monitor panel for that sensor also turns red. Refer to the Monitor panels section for details. Preference Y ou can customize the application using the Preference section in the main window . Click the box before each preference to activate or deactivate.
5-20 Chapter 5: Software support Changing the monitor panels position T o change the position of the monitor panels in the desktop, click the arrow down button of the Scheme options, then select another position from the list box. Click OK when îÂÂnished. Moving the monitor panels All monitor panels move together using a magnetic effect. If you want to detach a monitor panel from the group, click the horseshoe magnet icon. Y ou can now move or reposition the panel independently . 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 âÂÂs desktop. Large display Small display Click to increase value Click to decrease value Adjusting the sensor threshold value Y ou can adjust the sensor threshold value in the monitor panel by clicking the or buttons. Y ou can also adjust the threshold values using the ConîÂÂg window . Y ou cannot adjust the sensor threshold values in a small monitoring panel.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-21 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 . Large display Small display WMI browser Click to display the WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) browser . This browser displays various Windowsî 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. Y ou can enlarge or reduce the browser size by dragging the bottom right corner of the browser . DMI browser Click to display the DMI (Desktop Management Interface) browser . This browser displays various desktop and system information. Click the plus sign ( ) before DMI Information to display the available information.
5-22 Chapter 5: Software support PCI browser Click to display the PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) browser . This browser provides information on the PCI devices installed on your system. Click the plus sign ( ) before the PCI Information item to display available information. Usage The Usage browser displays real-time information on the CPU, hard disk drive space, and memory usage. Click to display the Usage browser. CPU usage The CPU tab displays real- time CPU usage in line graph representation. If the CPU has an enabled Hyper-Threading, two separate line graphs display the operation of the two logical processors. Hard disk drive space usage The Hard Disk tab displays the used and available hard disk drive space. The left panel of the tab lists all logical drives. Click a hard disk drive to display the information on the right panel. The pie chart at the bottom of the window represents the used (blue) and the available HDD space.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-23 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 . ConîÂÂguring PC Probe II Click to view and adjust the sensor threshold values. The ConîÂÂg window has two tabs: Sensor/Threshold and Preference. The Sensor/ Threshold tab enables you to activate the sensors or to adjust the sensor threshold values. The Preference tab allows you to customize sensor alerts, or change the temperature scale. Loads the default threshold values for each sensor Applies your changes Cancels or ignores your changes Lo a ds y ou r s av e d co n îÂÂg ur at i on Saves your conîÂÂguration
5-24 Chapter 5: Software support 5.3.5 ASUS AI Suite ASUS AI Suite allows you to launch AI Gear 2, AI Booster , AI Nap, and Q-Fan 2 utilities easily . Installing AI Suite T o 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. Follow the screen instructions to complete installation. Launching AI Suite Y ou can launch the AI Suite right after installation or anytime from the Windows î desktop. T o launch the AI Suite from the Windows î desktop, click Start > All Programs > ASUS > AI Suite > AI Suite v1.xx.xx . The AI Suite main window appears. After launching the application, the AI Suite icon appears in the Windows î taskbar . Click this icon to close or restore the application. Using AI Suite Click the AI Gear 2, AI Nap, AI Booster , or Q-Fan 2 icon to launch the utility , or click the Normal icon to restore the system to normal state. Press to launch AI Gear 2 Press to launch AI Nap Press to launch Q-Fan 2 Pr ess t o l aun ch AI Bo ost er Press to restore to normal
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI M3N-HD/HDMI 5-25 Other feature buttons Click on right corner of the main window to open the monitor window . Click on right corner of the expanded window to switch the temperature from degrees Centigrade to degrees Fahrenheit. Displays the CPU/ system temperature, CPU/memory/PCIE voltage, and CPU/ chassis fan speed Displays the FSB/CPU frequency
5-26 Chapter 5: Software support 5.3.6 ASUS AI Gear 2 ASUS AI Gear 2 provides four system performance options that allows you to select the best performance setting for your computing needs. This easy-to-use utility adjusts the processor frequency and vCore voltage to minimize system noise and power consumption. After installing AI Suite from the bundled support DVD, you can launch AI Gear 2 by double-clicking the AI Suite icon on your Windows OS taskbar and then click the AI Gear 2 button on the AI Suite main window . Shift the gear to the performance setting that you like. Maximum Performance Medium Performance High Performance Maximum Power Saving
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI M3N-HD/HDMI 5-27 5.3.7 ASUS AI Nap This feature allows you to minimize the power consumption of your computer whenever you are away . Enable this feature for minimum power consumption and a more quiet system operation. After installing AI 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 Y es on the conîÂÂrmation screen. T o exit AI Nap mode, press the system power or mouse button then click Y es on the conîÂÂrmation screen. T o switch the power button functions from AI Nap to shutting down, just right click the AI Suite icon on the OS taskbar , select AI Nap and click Use power button . Unclick the the item to switch the function back.
5-28 Chapter 5: Software support 5.3.8 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 efîÂÂcient 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. After installing AI Suite from the bundled support DVD, you can launch the utility by double-clicking the AI Suite icon on the Windows î OS taskbar and click the Q-Fan 2 button on the AI Suite maIn window . Click the drop-down menu button and display the fan names. Select CPU Q-Fan 2 or CHASSIS Q-Fan 2. Click the box of Enable Q-Fan 2 to activate this function. drop-down list button Enable Q-Fan 2 box ProîÂÂle list appears after clicking the Enable Q-Fan 2 box. Click the drop-down list button and select a proîÂÂle. Optimal mode makes the fans adjust speed with the temperature; Silent mode minimizes fan speed for quiet fan operation; Performance mode boosts the fan to achieve maximal fan speed for the best cooling effect. click to display the drop- down list and select a Q-Fan 2 mode Click Apply at the bottom to save the setup.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI M3N-HD/HDMI 5-29 5.3.9 ASUS AI Booster The ASUS AI Booster application allows you to overclock the CPU speed in WIndows î 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 î OS taskbar and click the AI Booster button on the AI Suite main window . The options on the taskbar allow you to use the default settings, adjust CPU/ Memory/PCI-E frequency manually , or create and apply your personal overclocking conîÂÂgurations.
5-30 Chapter 5: Software support 5.3.10 ASUS Express Gate Lite ASUS Express Gate Lite 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 Lite menu where you can start the web browser , Skype, or other Express Gate Lite softwares. Installing ASUS Express Gate Lite ⢠ASUS Express Gate Lite supports USB devices or SA T A HDDs (IDE mode) only . Set the SA T A Operation Mode item in the BIOS to [IDE] before installing and using ASUS Express Gate Lite. ⢠Currently , ASUS Express Gate Lite DOES NOT support P A T A IDE HDDs. Visit www .asus.com for future BIOS and Express Gate Lite software updates. T o install Express Gate Lite on your computer: 1. Place the support DVD to the optical drive. The Drivers installation tab appears if your computer has enabled Autorun feature. 2. Click the Utilities tab, then click ASUS Express Gate Lite Installer. 3. Select the language for installation and click OK. 4. The InstallShield Wizard for Express Gate Lite appears. Click Next to continue. 5. Select the target disk volume for you to install Express Gate Lite. If you have multiple volumes and OS installed in your hard drive, it is recommended to install Express Gate Lite in V olume C . Click Next to continue. 6. Follow the screen instructions to complete installation.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI M3N-HD/HDMI 5-31 The First Screen Express Gate LiteâÂÂs îÂÂrst screen appears within a few seconds after you power on the computer . From here, you can immediately start the web browser or Skype. Y ou can also choose to continue booting normally (e.g. to your installed OS such as Windows), enter BIOS setup, or power off. If you donâÂÂt make any selection, Express Gate Lite will automatically exit and boot to your normal OS after a certain amount of time. The timer countdown is shown on-screen inside the âÂÂboot to OSâ button. As you move the mouse or type a key , the countdown stops and the timer disappears, so you can take your time to make a selection. The Express Gate Lite Environment The very îÂÂrst time you enter the Express Gate Lite environment (by launching either web or Skype from the îÂÂrst screen), a îÂÂrst time wizard will guide you through basic Express Gate Lite conîÂÂgurations. Basic conîÂÂgurations include language, date and time and screen resolution. Once inside the Express Gate LIte environment, click on the icons on the LaunchBar , by default at bottom of the screen, to launch or switch between softwares. Y ou can re-arrange, re-size and move windows. Bring a window to the foreground by clicking within it or by clicking on its corresponding software icon. Re-size a window by dragging any of its four corners. Move a window by dragging its title bar . Besides using the LaunchBar , you can also switch between softwares by pressing <Alt> <T ab> on the keyboard. Y ou can also right-click anywhere on the desktop to bring up a menu of softwares. The red triangle on an software icon in the LaunchBar denotes that the software is already running. This means that you can switch to it without any delay . In the rare case where an software stops responding, right-click on its icon to force close it.
5-32 Chapter 5: Software support Using the ConîÂÂguration Panel Use the conîÂÂguration panel to change various Express Gate Lite settings. Click on an icon to open a particular conîÂÂguration tool. The following tools are available: ⢠Date and Time: set current date and time as well as time zone. ⢠Input Method: choose your preferred input language and method. ⢠Language and Keyboard: choose your language and keyboard preferences. ⢠LaunchBar Setting: customize your LaunchBar (where it docks, whether it auto-hides, etc.) ⢠Network: Specify how your computer connects to the Internet. Enable all the network ports that you may use (LAN1, LAN2, and/or wireless [optional]). LAN1 and LAN2 refer to the two RJ-45 network ports on your computer . ⢠The number of the LAN ports may differ from motherboards. ⢠Y ou can connect the LAN cable to either port, and Express Gate Lite 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. ⢠Environment Settings: This function allows you to clear the Express Gate Lite settings, as well as any personal information stored by the web browser (Bookmarks, Cookies, History , etc.). The user data will be reset to the original default conîÂÂguration. After you click Restore System , a conîÂÂrmation dialog box will open. If you click âÂÂY esâ in the conîÂÂrmation dialog box, your system will immediately re start and then re-enter Express Gate Lite to îÂÂnish clearing the settings. This is also useful in the rare case where settings might become corrupted. The îÂÂrst-time Wizard will run again when you enter the Express Gate Lite environment after clearing its settings.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI M3N-HD/HDMI 5-33 ⢠Screen Settings: Choose the most optimal screen resolution for your display . ⢠V olume Control: Control the volume for your speaker output, microphone input, etc. Using the LaunchBar The LaunchBar has several system icons that show you various system statuses and let you conîÂÂgure individual Express Gate Lite settings. The LaunchBar can be conîÂÂgured to auto-hide, if you want more screen space for the softwares. It can also be conîÂÂgured to dock on any of the four sides of the screen. Starts the Web Browser for quick access to the W orld Wide Web. Starts the Chat instant messaging tool. Start the Skype software, which lets you call other people on Skype for free, as well as offering affordable, high quality voice communications to phones all over the world. Opens the ConîÂÂguration Panel, which lets you specify network settings and other preferences. In the rare case that one of the above softwares stops responding, you can right- click on its icon and then select Close to force it to close. The smaller icons on the right side of the LaunchBar are: Click on this icon to open the File Manager window , which lets you conveniently access the îÂÂles on the USB drive. If a USB device is detected, the icon contains a green arrow . Shows network status; click to conîÂÂgure network. Shows mute status; click to change volume. 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).
5-34 Chapter 5: Software support How Do I Get on to the Internet If Internet doesnâÂÂt seem to be working in the Express Gate Lite environment, check the following: 1. Open the ConîÂÂguration Panel. 2. Open Network. Click to show âÂÂAbout Express Gate LiteâÂÂ. Click to open Express Gate Lite Help. Click to bring up power options window to boot to OS, restart or power down. This window is also shown when you press Ctrl-Alt-Del on the keyboard. Power off Enter OS Cancel and return to Express Gate Lite Restart Open ConîÂÂguration Panel Network
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI M3N-HD/HDMI 5-35 3. Make the proper network conîÂÂgurations. 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 Lite will automatically use whichever port (LAN1 or LAN2) is connected. If you plug the network cable into a different port while Express Gate Lite is running (e.g. move the cable from LAN1 to LAN2), you may need to restart Express Gate LIte for it to detect the change. ⢠The most common scenario is for your computer to automatically obta in network settings (i.e. DHCP). If this is the case, you donâÂÂt need to click Setup for any LAN port. If this is not the case, click Setup to conîÂÂgure the static IP settings manually . ⢠If you use wireless, click Setup for the WiFi option. In the WiFi tab of the Advanced Network Settings box, enter the name of your wireless access point in the SSID îÂÂeld. If your wireless access point has security enabled, select the corresponding security algorithm from the drop-down list (e.g. WEP AUTO) in the Encryption T ype îÂÂeld, and enter the password. Click OK to enable WiFi and establish the wireless connection. ⢠If you use a network cable connected directly to your DSL/cable mode m (no router in between), click Setup for xDSL/cable dial-up. This method is also referred to as PPPoE. Choose whether the DSL/cable modem is connected to your computer âÂÂs LAN port. Then enter the username and password for your dial-up account. Click OK to enable xDSL/cable dial-up and establish the PPPoE connection. When PPPoE is enabled, the port it uses will automatically be unchecked and grayed out.
5-36 Chapter 5: Software support ConîÂÂguring Express Gate Lite in BIOS Setup Enter BIOS setup by pressing DEL key after powering on or by clicking on the BIOS setup icon on Express Gate LiteâÂÂs îÂÂrst screen. Express Gate Lite conîÂÂguration options are under the T ools menu. Refer to section 4.7.2 Express Gate Lite for details. Select Menu Item Speciî¿c Help Express Gate Lite Express Gate Lite [Enabled] Boot Out Timer [10] Reset User Data [No] Phoenix-Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Tools Updating Express Gate Lite Y ou may update your existing Express Gate Lite software to new versions . New versions of the Express Gate Lite software will be released regularly , adding reîÂÂnements or new applications. Y ou can îÂÂnd original version of the software on the support DVD or download new versions from the ASUS support website. T o update Express Gate Lite: 1. Double-click the Express Gate Lite setup îÂÂle to start software update. 2. A software update conîÂÂrmation dialog box appears. Click Y es to continue. 3. The InstallShield Wizard for Express Gate Lite appears. Click Next to continue. 4. Follow the screen instructions to complete installation. Repairing Express Gate Lite In case Express Gate Lite cannot start normally , you can repair Express Gate Lite by reinstalling the software or using the repairing utility . T o repair Express Gate Lite: ⢠Click Start > All Programs > Express Gate > Express Gate Installer > Repair this software . OR ⢠Double click the Express Gate Lite setup îÂÂle, choose Repair , and click Next to continue.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-37 For Windows XP , If you want to boot the system from a hard disk drive included in a RAID set, îÂÂrst copy the RAID driver from the support DVD to a îÂÂoppy disk before you install an operating system to a selected hard disk drive. Refer to section 5.5 Creating a RAID driver disk for details. 5.4 RAID conî¿gurations The motherboard comes with the NVIDIA GeForce 8200 chipset that allows you to conîÂÂgure Serial A T A hard disk drives as RAID sets. The motherboard supports the following RAID conîÂÂgurations: RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0 1, RAID 5 and JBOD. 5.4.1 RAID deîÂÂnitions RAID 0 (Data striping) optimizes two identical hard disk drives to read and write data in parallel, interleaved stacks. T wo hard disks perform the same work as a single drive but at a sustained data transfer rate, double that of a single disk alone, thus improving data access and storage. Use of two new identical hard disk drives is required for this setup. RAID 1 (Data mirroring) copies and maintains an identical image of data from one drive to a second drive. If one drive fails, the disk array management software directs all applications to the surviving drive as it contains a complete copy of the data in the other drive. This RAID conîÂÂguration provides data protection and increases fault tolerance to the entire system. Use two new drives or use an existing drive and a new drive for this setup. The new drive must be of the same size or larger than the existing drive. RAID 0 1 is data striping and data mirroring combined without parity (redundancy data) having to be calculated and written. With the RAID 0 1 conîÂÂguration you get all the beneîÂÂts of both RAID 0 and RAID 1 conîÂÂgurations. Use four new hard disk drives or use an existing drive and three new drives for this setup. RAID 5 stripes both data and parity information across three or more hard disk drives. Among the advantages of RAID 5 conîÂÂguration include better HDD performance, fault tolerance, and higher storage capacity . The RAID 5 conîÂÂguration is best suited for transaction processing, relational database applications, enterprise resource planning, and other business systems. Use a minimum of three identical hard disk drives for this setup. JBOD (Spanning) stands for Just a Bunch of Disks and refers to hard disk drives that are not yet conîÂÂgured as a RAID set. This conîÂÂguration stores the same data redundantly on multiple disks that appear as a single disk on the operating system. Spanning does not deliver an y advantage over using separate disks i ndependently and does not provide fault tolerance or other RAID performance beneîÂÂts.
5-38 Chapter 5: Software support Setting the BIOS RAID items After installing the hard disk drives, make sure to set the necessary RAID items in the BIOS before setting your RAID conîÂÂguration. T o set the BIOS RAID items: 1. Boot the system and press <Del> during the Power-On Self-T est (POST) to enter the BIOS Setup Utility . 2. Set the SA T A Operation Mode item to [RAID]. See section 4.4.6 Onboard Device ConîÂÂguration > MCP Storage ConîÂÂg for details. 3. Save your changes and Exit Setup. 5.4.2 NVIDIA î RAID conîÂÂgurations The motherboard includes a high performance SA T A RAID controller integrated in the NVIDIA î nForce⢠750a SLI chipset. It supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0 1 and RAID 5 for six independent Serial A T A channels. Installing Serial A T A (SA T A) hard disks The motherboard supports Ultra DMA 133/100/66 and Serial A T A hard disk drives. For optimal performance, install identical drives of the same model and capacity when creating a disk array . T o install the SA T A hard disks for a RAID conîÂÂguration: 1. Install the SA T A hard disks into the drive bays. 2. Connect the SA T A signal cables. 3. Connect a SA T A power cable to the power connector on each drive. Refer to the RAID controllers user manual in the motherboard support DVD for detailed information on RAID conîÂÂgurations. See section 5.2.5 Manuals menu . ⢠For detailed descriptions on the NVIDIA î RAID conîÂÂguration, refer to the âÂÂNVIDIA î RAID User Guideâ found in your motherboard support DVD. ⢠When using Windows î XP operating system, make sure to install the Windows î XP Service Pack 2 or later versions. ⢠Due to chipset limitation, when set any of SA T A ports to RAID mode, all SA T A ports run at RAID mode together . ⢠Make sure to re-enter your NVRAID settings after the CMOS is cleared; otherwise, the system will not recognize your RAID setup.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-39 Entering the NVIDIA î RAID utility T o enter the NVIDIA î RAID utility: 1. Boot up your computer . 2. During POST , press <F10> 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. [F6] Back [F7] Finish [TAB] Navigate [ âÂÂâÂÂ] Select [ENTER] Popup At the bottom of the screen are the navigation keys. These keys allow you to move through and select menu options. NVIDIA RAID Utility Oct 5 2004 - Deî¿ne a New Array - RAID Mode: Striping Striping Block: Optimal Free Disks Array Disks Loc Disk Model Name Loc Disk Model Name 1.0.M XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 1.1.M XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX [ âÂÂ] Add 2.0.M XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 2.1.M XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX [ âÂÂ] Del
5-40 Chapter 5: Software support Creating a RAID V olume T o create a RAID volume: 1. From the NVIDIA î RAID utility DeîÂÂne a New Array menu, select RAID Mode then press <Enter>. The following submenu appears. Use the up or down arrow keys to select a RAID mode then press <Enter>. Mirroring Striping Stripe Mirroring Spanning TIP: For server systems, we recommend using a lower array block size. For multimedia computer systems used mainly for audio and video editing, we recommend a higher array block size for optimum performance. T ake caution in using this option. All data on the RAID drives will be lost! 2. Press <T AB> select the Striping Block then press <Enter>. The following submenu appears: If you selected Striping or Stripe Mirroring, use the up or down arrow keys to select the stripe size for your RAID 0 array then press <Enter>.The available values range from 8 KB to 128 KB. The default selection is 128 KB. The strip value should be chosen based on the planned drive usage. ⢠8 /16 KB - low disk usage ⢠64 KB - typical disk usage ⢠128 KB - performance disk usage 3.` Press <T AB> to select the Free Disks area. Use the left or right arrow keys to assign the array disks. 4. Press <F7> to create RAID set. The following message box appears. Clear disk data? [Y] YES [N] NO 5. Press <Y> to clear the selected disks or <N> to proceed without clearing the disks. The following screen appears. 8K â 16K 32K 64K 128K Optim âÂÂ
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-41 Rebuilding a RAID array T o rebuild a RAID array: 1. From the Array List menu, use the up or down arrow keys to select a RAID array then press <Enter>. The RAID Array details appear . [Ctrl-X]Exit [ âÂÂâÂÂ]Select [B]Set Boot [N]New Array [ENTER]Detail NVIDIA RAID Utility Oct 5 2004 - Array List - Boot Id Status Vendor Array Model Name No 4 Healthy NVIDIA MIRROR XXX.XXG A new set of navigation keys is displayed on the bottom of the screen. 6. Press <Ctrl X> to save settings and exit. [R] Rebuild [D] Delete [C] Clear Disk [ENTER] Return Array 1 : NVIDIA MIRROR XXX.XXG - Array Detail - RAID Mode: Mirroring Striping Width: 1 Striping Block: 64K Adapt Channel M/S Index Disk Model Name Capacity 2 1 Master 0 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XXGB 1 0 Master 1 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XXGB
5-42 Chapter 5: Software support A new set of navigation keys is displayed on the bottom of the screen. 2. Press <R> to rebuild a RAID array . The following screen appears. 3. Use the up or down arrow keys to select a RAID array to rebuild, then press <F7>. The following conîÂÂrmation message appears. [ âÂÂâÂÂ] Select [F6] Back [F7] Finish Array 1 : NVIDIA MIRROR XXX.XXG - Select Disk Inside Array - RAID Mode: Mirroring Striping Width: 1 Striping Block: 64K Adapt Channel M/S Index Disk Model Name Capacity 2 1 Master 0 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XXGB 1 0 Master 1 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XXGB Rebuild array? [ENTER] OK [ESC] Cancel 4. Press <Enter> to start rebuilding array or press <Esc> to cancel. 5. After the rebuild process, the Array list menu appears. Y ou will need to enter Window î XP and run the NVIDIA utility in order to complete the rebuilt process.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-43 Deleting a RAID array T o delete a RAID array: 1. From the Array List menu, use the up or down arrow keys to select a RAID array then press <Enter>. The RAID Array details appear . [R] Rebuild [D] Delete [C] Clear Disk [ENTER] Return Array 1 : NVIDIA MIRROR XXX.XXG - Array Detail - RAID Mode: Mirroring Striping Width: 1 Striping Block: 64K Adapt Channel M/S Index Disk Model Name Capacity 2 1 Master 0 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XXGB 1 0 Master 1 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XXGB A new set of navigation keys is displayed on the bottom of the screen. 2. Press <D> to delete a RAID array . The following conîÂÂrmation message appears. Delete this array? [Y] YES [N] No 4. If you selected Y es, the DeîÂÂne a New Array menu appears. T ake caution in using this option. All data on the RAID drives will be lost! 3. Press <Y> to delete array or press <N> to cancel.
5-44 Chapter 5: Software support Clearing a disk data T o clear disk data: 1. From the Array List menu, use the up or down arrow keys to select a RAID array then press <Enter>. The RAID Array details appear . [R] Rebuild [D] Delete [C] Clear Disk [ENTER] Return Array 1 : NVIDIA MIRROR XXX.XXG - Array Detail - RAID Mode: Mirroring Striping Width: 1 Striping Block: 64K Adapt Channel M/S Index Disk Model Name Capacity 2 1 Master 0 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XXGB 1 0 Master 1 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XXGB A new set of navigation keys is displayed on the bottom of the screen. 2. Press <C> to clear disk. The following conîÂÂrmation message appears. T ake caution in using this option. All data on the RAID drives will be lost! Clear disk data? [Y] YES [N] 3. Press <Y> to clear the disk data or press <N> to cancel.
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 5-45 5.5 Creating a RAID driver disk A îÂÂoppy disk with the RAID driver is required when installing Windows î XP operating system on a hard disk drive that is included in a RAID set. For Windows î Vista⢠operating system, use either the motherboard support DVD or a USB device with the RAID driver . 5.5.1 Creating a RAID driver disk without entering the OS T o create a RAID/SA T A driver disk without entering the OS: 1. Boot your computer . 2. Press <Del> 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. Save changes and exit BIOS. 6. Press any key when the system prompts âÂÂPress any key to boot from the optical drive.â 7. When the menu appears, press <1> to create a RAID driver disk. 8. Insert a formatted îÂÂoppy disk into the îÂÂoppy drive then press <Enter>. 9. Follow succeeding screen instructions to complete the process. 5.5.2 Creating a RAID/SA T A driver disk in Windows î T o create a RAID driver disk in Windows î : 1. Start Windows î . 2. Place the motherboard support DVD into the optical drive. 3. Go to the Make Disk menu, then click NVIDIA 32/64bit XP SA T A RAID Driver to create a NVIDIA î 32/64 bit XP SA T A RAID driver disk. 4. Insert a îÂÂoppy disk or USB device into the îÂÂoppy disk drive or USB port. 5. Follow succeeding screen instructions to complete the process. Write-protect the îÂÂoppy disk to avoid computer virus infection. T o install the RAID driver in Windows î 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 <F6> then insert the îÂÂoppy disk with RAID driver into the îÂÂoppy disk drive. 3. Follow the succeeding screen instructions to complete the installation.
5-46 Chapter 5: Software support T o install the RAID driver in Windows î Vistaâ¢: 1. Insert the motherboard support DVD or USB device with RAID driver into the optical drive or USB port. Find RAID driver in the support DVD through the path below: Drivers\Chipset\Disk\RAID Find AHCI driver in the support DVD through the path below: Drivers\Chipset\Disk\AHCI 2. Follow the succeeding screen instructions to complete the installation. Due to chipset limitation, the Serial A T A ports supported by the NVIDIA chipset doesnâÂÂt support Serial Optical Disk Drives (Serial ODD) under DOS.
6 Chapter 6: NVIDIA î SLI⢠technology support This chapter tells how to set up NVIDIA î SLI⢠graphics cards to avail of nVIDIA âÂÂs Multi-Video Processing technology .
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI Chapter summary 6.1 Overview ....................................................................................... 6-1 6.2 Installing CrossFire⢠graphics cards ....................................... 6-2 6.3 Software information ................................................................... 6-5
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 6-1 6.1 Overview The motherboard supports the NVIDIA î SLI⢠(Scalable Link Interface)-Intel î Edition technology that allows you to install two identical PCI Express⢠x16 graphics cards. Follow the installation procedures in this section. Requirements ⢠Y ou should have two identical SLI-ready graphics cards that are NVIDIA î certiîÂÂed. ⢠Make sure that your graphics card driver supports the NVIDIA î SLI⢠technology . Download the latest driver from the NVIDIA website (www .nvidia. com). ⢠Make sure that your power supply unit (PSU) can provide at least the minimum power required by your system. See 9. A TX power connectors on page 2-31 for details. ⢠The NVIDIA î SLI⢠technology supports Windows î XP⢠32-bit/64bit operating system. Visit the NVIDIA website (www.nvidia.com) for the NVIDIA î SLI⢠technology under Windows î Vista⢠⢠Visit the NVIDIA zone website (http://www .nzone.com) for the latest certiîÂÂed graphics card and supported 3D application list.
6-2 Chapter 6: nVIDIA î SLI⢠technology support 6.2 Dual graphics card setup 6.2.1 Installing SLI-ready graphics cards Install only identical SLI-ready graphics cards that are NVIDIA î -certiîÂÂed. Different types of graphics cards will not work together properly . T o install the graphics cards: 1. Prepare two graphics cards. Each graphics card should have goldîÂÂngers for the SLI connector . 2. Remove the metal bracket covers opposite the two PCI Express x16 slots. GoldîÂÂngers
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 6-3 4. Insert the second graphics card into the other slot. Make sure that the card is properly seated on the slot. If required, connect an auxiliary power source to the PCI Express graphics cards. 3. Insert one graphics card into either the blue or black slot. Make sure that the card is properly seated on the slot.
6-4 Chapter 6: nVIDIA î SLI⢠technology support 7. Connect a VGA cable or a DVI-I cable to the graphics card/s. We recommend to install an additional chassis fan for better thermal environment. 5. Align and insert the SLI connector to the goldîÂÂngers on each graphics card. Make sure that the connector is îÂÂrmly in place. 6. When installing two VGA cards using a 20-pin A TX PSU with sufîÂÂcient 12v capability , we recommend that you connect the auxillary power source from the power supply to the graphics card. Refer to the PSU documentation for dual VGA power requirements. SLI connector
ASUS M3N-HD/HDMI 6-5 NVIDIA Settings icon T o enable the multi-GPU feature: 1. Click the NVIDIA Settings icon on your Windows taskbar . 2. From the pop-up menu, select nView Desktop Manager then click nView Properties. Make sure that your PCI Express graphics card driver supports the NVIDIA SLI technology . Download the latest driver from the NVIDIA website (www .nvidia. com). 6.2.2 Installing the device drivers Refer to the documentation that came with your graphics card package to install the device drivers. 6.2.3 Enabling the multi-GPU feature in Windows î After installing your graphics cards and the device drivers, enable the Multi-Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) feature in the NVIDIA nV iew properties. 3. From the nView Desktop Manager window , select the Desktop Management tab. 4. Click Properties to display the Display Properties dialog box.
6-6 Chapter 6: nVIDIA î SLI⢠technology support 5. From the Display Properties dialog box, select the Settings tab then click Advanced. 6. Select the NVIDIA GeForce tab. 7. Click the slider to display the following screen, then select the SLI multi-GPU item. 8. Click the Enable SLI multi-GPU check box. 9. Click OK when done. Slider