E2126

First Edition

July 2005

Copyright ?? 2005 ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this manual, including the products and software described in it, may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form or by any means, except documentation kept by the purchaser for backup purposes, without the express written permission of ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. (??? ASUS???).

Product warranty or service will not be extended if: (1) the product is repaired, modi???ed or altered, unless such repair, modi???cation of alteration is authorized in writing by ASUS; or (2) the serial number of the product is defaced or missing.

ASUS PROVIDES THIS MANUAL ???AS IS??? WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER

EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES

OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

IN NO EVENT SHALL ASUS, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS BE

LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES

(INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF USE

OR DATA, 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.

SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL ARE FURNISHED

FOR INFORMATIONAL USE ONLY, AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT 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 THAT MAY APPEAR IN THIS MANUAL, INCLUDING THE PRODUCTS

AND SOFTWARE 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 identi???cation or explanation and to the owners?? bene???t, without intent to infringe.

ii

Contents

iii

Contents

iv

Notices

Federal Communications Commission Statement

This device complies with FCC Rules Part 15. 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?? s 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 different from that to which the receiver is connected.

???Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

The use of shielded cables for connection of the monitor to the graphics card is required to assure compliance with FCC regulations. Changes or modi???cations to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user??s authority to operate this equipment.

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.

v

Safety Information

Electrical safety

???To prevent electrical shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electrical outlet before relocating the system.

???When adding or removing devices to or from the system, ensure that the power cables for the devices are unplugged before the signal cables are connected. If possible, disconnect all power cables from the existing system before you add a device.

???Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard, ensure that all power cables are unplugged.

???Seek professional assistance before using an adapter 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 fix it by yourself. Contact a quali???ed 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.

???To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from connectors, slots, sockets and circuitry.

???Avoid 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 qualified service technician or your retailer.

vi

About This Guide

How this guide is organized

This manual contains the following parts:

???Chapter 1: Product Introduction

This chapter describes the features of the motherboard and the new technology it supports. It also lists the hardware setup procedures that you have to perform when installing system components. It includes description of the jumpers and connectors on the motherboard.

???Chapter 2: BIOS Information

This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS Setup menus. Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided.

???Chapter 3: Software Support

This chapter describes the contents of the support CD that comes with the motherboard package.

Conventions used in this guide

To make sure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following symbols used throughout this guide.

WARNING: Information to prevent injury to yourself when trying to complete a task.

CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components when trying to complete a task.

IMPORTANT: Information that you MUST follow to complete a task.

NOTE: Tips and additional information to aid in completing a task.

Where to ???nd more information

Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and software updates.

1.ASUS websites

The ASUS websites worldwide provide updated information on ASUS hardware and software products. Refer to the ASUS contact information.

2.Optional documentation

Your product package may include optional documentation, such as warranty ???yers, that may have been added by your dealer. These documents are not part of the standard package.

vii

A7N8X-XE Speci???cations Summary

viii

A7N8X-XE Speci???cations Summary

* Speci???cations are subject to change without notice.

ix

1.1Welcome!

Thank you for buying an ASUS?? A7N8X-XE motherboard!

The motherboard delivers a host of new features and latest technologies, making it another standout in the long line of ASUS quality motherboards!

Before you start installing the motherboard, and hardware devices on it, check the items in your package with the list below.

1.2Package contents

Check your motherboard package for the following items.

If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.

1.3Special features

1.3.1Product highlights

400 MHz FSB Athlon XP CPU Support

The motherboard supports 400MHz front side bus frequency for AMD??s Athlon XP and Sempron processors allowing increased of???ce productivity and enhanced digital media experience. See page 1-8.

Dual-Channel DDR 400

The 128-bit TwinBank DDR Memory architecture doubles the DDR 400 (PC3200) bandwidth. System bottlenecks are eliminated with balanced architecture and peak bandwidths up to 6.4 GB/s. See page 1-9 for details.

Serial ATA technology

Serial ATA is the next generation ATA specification that provides scalable performance for today and tomorrow. With up to 150MB/s data transfer rate, Serial ATA is faster than current Parallel ATA, while providing 100% software compatibility. A7N8X-XE supports RAID 0, RAID 1 and RAID 0 + 1. See page 1-19 for details.

Integrated 10/100 LAN controller

A 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet controller is embedded in this motherboard to give you a fast and reliable connection to a local area network (LAN) and the Internet. See page 1-20

Coaxial S/PDIF out

This motherboard provides convenient connectivity to external home theater audio systems via an coaxial S/PDIF-out (SONY-PHILIPS Digital Interface) jack. it allows to transfer digital audio without converting to analog format and keeps the best signal quality. See page 1-17 for details.

USB 2.0 technology

USB 2.0 is the latest connectivity standard for next generation components and peripherals. Backwards compatible with current USB 1.1 peripherals, USB 2.0 delivers transfer speeds up to 40 times faster at 480 MB/s, for easy connectivity and ultra-fast data transfer rate. See pages1-17 & 1-20 for details.

AGP8X

AGP8X (AGP 3.0) is the mainstream VGA interface specification that enables enhanced graphices performance with high bandwidth up to 2.13 GB/s. See page 1-14 for details.

1.3.2Innovative ASUS features

CrashFree BIOS

CrashFree BIOS allows users to restore BIOS data from a ???oppy diskette even when BIOS code and data are corrupted during upgrade or invaded by virus. Unlike other competing vendors?? products, ASUS motherboards now enable users to enjoy this protection feature without the need to pay for an extra ROM. See page 2-5 for details.

ASUS EZ Flash BIOS

With ASUS EZ Flash, you can update BIOS before entering operating system. No more DOS-based flash utility and bootable diskette required. See page 2-6 for details.

ASUS C.O.P. (CPU Overheating Protection)

The ASUS C.O.P. (CPU Overheating Protection) is a hardware protection circuit that automatically shuts down the system power before temperatures go high enough to permanently damage the CPU. See page 2-26 for details.

C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)

When the system hangs due to overclocking failure, there is no need to open the case to clear CMOS data. Just simply restrart the system, the BIOS would show the previous setting and then users can amend the CPU setting again.

ASUS MyLogo 2

You can convert your favorite photo into a 256-color boot logo for a more colorful and vivid image on your screen.

1.4Before you proceed

Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change any motherboard settings.

???Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any component.

???Use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or a metal object, such as the power supply case, before handling components to avoid damaging them due to static electricity

???Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them.

???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 ATX 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.

1.5Motherboard overview

1.5.1Motherboard layout

1.5.2Placement 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.

1.5.3Screw holes

Place seven screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the motherboard to the chassis.

Do not overtighten the screws! Doing so can damage the motherboard.

1.6Central Processing Unit (CPU)

1.6.1Overview

The motherboard has a Socket A for installation. The AMD Athlon???/Sempron??? /Duron??? CPU has a ???marked??? corner. This corner is usually indicated with a notch, and/or a golden square or triangle. Refer to this indicator when orienting the CPU. A fan and heatsink should be installed on top of the CPU to prevent overheating.

Do not use processors with core speeds of less than 1GHz.

Follow these steps to install a CPU:

1.Locate the CPU socket. Open the socket by pulling the lever gently sideways away from the socket, then lift the lever upwards to a 90 to 100-degree angle.

2.Insert the CPU with the correct orientation. The notched or golden corner of the CPU must be oriented toward the inner corner of the socket base nearest to the lever hinge.

The CPU should drop easily into place. Do not force the CPU into the socket to avoid bending the pins. If the CPU does not ???t, check its alignment and look for bent pins.

1.7System memory

1.7.1Overview

The motherboard has three Double Data Rate (DDR) DIMM sockets that support up to 3 GB unbuffered non-ECC DDR400/333/266 DDR SDRAM DIMMs. Each DIMM socket is double-sided.

A7N8X-XE 184-pin DDR DIMM sockets

1.7.2Memory con???gurations

You may install single or double-sided 64 MB, 128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB, and 1 GB DDR DIMMs to the sockets.

Table 1 Recommended memory con???gurations

1.DIMMs with more than 8 devices on each side of the module are not supported.

2.Make sure the memory frequency and bus frequency setting in the BIOS are the same or set to [Auto] ensure system stability.

3.A DDR DIMM is keyed with a notch so that it ???ts in only one direction. DO NOT force a DIMM into a socket to avoid damaging the DIMM.

4.For optimum compatibility, it is recommended that you obtain memory modules from quali???ed vendors. See the next page for a list of quali???ed DDR400 DIMM vendors.

5.Visit ASUS website (www.asus.com) for latest DDR400 Quali???ed Vendor List.

DDR400 Quali???ed Vendors List

A*: Supports one module inserted in any slot as Single-channel memory conguration

B*: Supports one pair of modules inserted into either the blue slots or the black slots as one pair of Dual- channel memory conguration

C*: Supports 3 modules inserted into both the blue and black slots as two pairs of Dual-channel memory conguration

1.7.3Installing a DIMM

Make sure to unplug the power supply before adding or removing DIMMs or other system components. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to both the motherboard and the components.

A DDR DIMM is keyed with a notch so that it ???ts in only one direction. DO NOT force a DIMM into a socket to avoid damaging the DIMM.

4.Firmly insert the DIMM into the socket until the retaining clips snap back in place and the DIMM is properly seated.

Locked Retaining Clip

1.7.4Removing a DIMM

Follow these steps to remove a DIMM.

1.Simultaneously press the retaining clips outward to unlock the DIMM.

Support the DIMM lightly with your ???ngers when pressing the retaining clips. The DIMM might get damaged when it ???ips out with extra force.

2.Remove the DIMM from the socket.

1.8Expansion slots

In the future, you may need to install expansion cards. The following sub-sections describe the slots and the expansion cards that they support.

Make sure to unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. Failure to do so may cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components.

1.8.1Installing an expansion card

To 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 firmly 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.

1.8.2Con???guring an expansion card

After installing the expansion card, con???gure it by adjusting the software settings.

1.Turn on the system and change the necessary BIOS settings, if any. See Chapter 2 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.

Standard interrupt assignments

IRQ assignments for this motherboard

When using PCI cards on shared slots, ensure that the drivers support ???Share IRQ??? or that the cards do not need IRQ assignments; otherwise, con???icts will arise between the two PCI groups, making the system unstable and the card inoperable.

1.8.3AGP slot

The motherboard has an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) slot that supports +1.5 V 8X AGP graphics card. Note the notches on the card golden ???ngers to ensure that they ???t into the AGP slot.

A7N8X-XE

Keyed for 1.5v

A7N8X-XE Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP)

1.8.4PCI slots

The PCI slots support cards such as a LAN card, SCSI card, USB card, and other cards that comply with PCI speci???cations. The ???gure shows a LAN card installed on a PCI slot.

1.9Jumpers

1.Clear RTC RAM (CLRTC)

This jumper allows you to clear the Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM in CMOS. You can clear the CMOS memory of date, time, and system setup parameters by erasing the CMOS RTC RAM data. The onboard button cell battery powers the RAM data in CMOS, which include system setup information such as system passwords.

To erase the RTC RAM:

a.Turn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord.

b.Remove the onboard battery.

c.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.

d.Reinstall the battery.

e.Plug the power cord and turn ON the computer.

f.Hold down the <Del> key during the boot process and enter BIOS setup to re-enter data. Please save all data before you exist.

Except when clearing the RTC RAM, never remove the cap on CLRTC jumper default position. Removing the cap will cause system boot failure!

A7N8X-XE Clear RTC RAM

2.PS2/USB Device Wake-up (3-pin PS2USBPW)

This jumper allows you to enable or disable the USB/PS2 keyboard or mouse wake-up feature. Set this jumper to +5V to wake up the computer from S1 sleep mode (CPU stopped, DRAM refreshed, system running in low power mode) using the connected keyboard, mouse or USB devices. Set this jumper to pins 2-3 (+5VSB) to wake up from S3 and S4 sleep modes (no power to CPU, DRAM in slow refresh, power supply in reduced power mode).

A7N8X-XE PS2/USB Device Wake-up

1.This device wake-up feature requires a power supply that can provide 500mA on the +5VSB lead for each USB, keyboard and mouse devices, otherwise, the system will not power up.

2.The total current consumed must NOT exceed the power supply capability (+5VSB) whether under normal condition or in sleep mode.

1.10 Connectors

1.10.1 Rear panel connectors

1.PS/2 mouse port (green). This port is for a PS/2 mouse.

2.Parallel port. This 25-pin port connects a parallel printer, a scanner, or other devices.

3.LAN (RJ-45) port. This port allows 10/100 Mbps connection to a Local Area Network (LAN) through a network hub.

4.Line In port (light blue). This port connects a tape, CD, DVD player or other audio sources. In 4/6-channel mode, the function of this port becomes Surround (Rear Speaker) Out.

5.Line Out port (lime). This port connects a headphone or a speaker. In 4/6-channel mode, the function of this port becomes Front Speaker Out.

6.Microphone port (pink). This port connects a microphone. In 6-channel mode, the function of this port becomes Bass/Center.

The functions of the Line Out, Line In, and Microphone ports change when you select the 4 or 6-channel audio con???guration as shown in the following table.

Audio 2, 4, or 6-channel con???guration

7.USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are available for connecting USB 2.0 devices.

8.USB 2.0 ports 3 and 4. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are available for connecting USB 2.0 devices.

9.Serial connector. This 9-pin COM1 port is for pointing devices or other serial devices.

10.S/PDIF Coaxial out jack. This jack connects to external audio output devices with coaxial cable connectors.

11.PS/2 keyboard port (purple). This port is for a PS/2 keyboard.

1.10.2 Internal connectors

1.Floppy disk drive connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY)

This connector is for the provided ???oppy 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 ???oppy disk drive.

Pin 5 on the connector is removed to prevent incorrect cable connection when using a FDD cable with a covered Pin 5.

A7N8X-XE Floppy disk drive connector

2.IDE connectors (40-1 pin PRI_IDE, SEC_IDE)

This connector is for an Ultra DMA 133 signal cable. The Ultra DMA 133 signal cable has three connectors: a blue connector for the IDE connector on the motherboard, a black connector for an Ultra DMA 133/100/66 IDE slave device (optical drive/hard disk drive), and a gray connector for an Ultra DMA 133/100/66 IDE master device (hard disk drive). If you install two hard disk drives, you must configure the second drive as a slave device by setting its jumper accordingly. Refer to the hard disk documentation for the jumper settings.

???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 133/100/66 IDE devices.

A7N8X-XE IDE connectors

3.Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1, SATA2)

These connectors are for the Serial ATA signal cables for Serial ATA hard disk drives.

Important notes on Serial ATA

???You must install Windows?? 2000 SP4, Windows?? XP SP1, Windows?? 2003, or newer OS versions before using Serial ATA hard disk drives.

???The Serial ATA interface is not supported when using Windows?? 98SE/Me operating system.

4.CPU and chassis fan connectors (3-pin CPU_FAN, CHA_FAN)

The fan connectors support cooling fans of 350 mA~740 mA (8.88 W max.) or a total of 1 A~2.22 A (26.64 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. Insuf???cient air ???ow inside the system may damage the motherboard components. These are not jumpers! Do not place jumper caps on the fan connectors!

5.USB connectors (10-1 pin USB56, USB78)

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.

The USB module is purchased separately.

Never connect a 1394 cable to the USB connectors. Doing so will damage the motherboard!

6.Internal audio connectors (4-pin CD, AUX)

These connectors allow you to receive stereo audio input from sound sources such as a CD-ROM, TV tuner, or MPEG card.

A7N8X-XE Internal audio connectors

7.Front panel audio connectors (10-1 pin FP_AUDIO)

This connector is for the front panel audio cable. This connector supports the front panel audio I/O ports.

A7N8X-XE Front panel audio connector

8.ATX power connector (20-pin ATXPWR)

This connector is for the 20-pin ATX power supply plug. The plug from the power supply is designed to ???t this connector in only one orientation. Find the proper orientation and push down ???rmly until the connector completely ???t.

+5.0VDC +5.0VDC -5.0VDC GND GND GND PS_ON# GND -12.0VDC +3.3VDC

A7N8X-XE ATX power connectors

If you will need to replace the power supply in the future, make sure that your new ATX 12V power supply can provide 8 A on the +12 V lead and at least 1 A on the +5 V standby lead (+5VSB). The minimum recommended wattage is 230W, or 300W for a fully con???gured system. The system may become unstable and may experience dif???culty powering up if the power supply is inadequate.

9.System panel connector (20-pin PANEL)

This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions.

A7N8X-XE System panel connector

???System power LED (3-1 pin PLED)

This 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.

???System warning speaker (4-pin SPEAKER)

This connector is for the chassis-mounted system warning speaker. The speaker allows you to hear system beeps and warnings.

???Reset button (2-pin RESET)

This connector is for the chassis-mounted reset button for system reboot without turning off the system power.

???ATX power button/soft-off button (2-pin PWRBTN)

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.

???System Management Interrupt (2-pin SMI)

This connector is for the chassis-mounted suspend switch that allows you to manually place the system into a suspend mode, or ???green??? mode. When in suspend mode, the system activity is instantly decreased to save power and to expand the life of certain system components.

???Hard disk drive activity LED (2-pin HDLED)

This connector is for the HDD Activity LED. Connect the HDD Activity LED cable to this connector. The IDE LED lights up or ???ashes when data is read from or written to the HDD.

2.1Managing and updating your BIOS

The following utilities allow you to manage and update the motherboard Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) setup.

1.ASUS AFUDOS (Updates the BIOS in DOS mode using a bootable ???oppy disk.)

2.ASUS CrashFree BIOS (Updates the BIOS using a ???oppy disk when the BIOS ???le fails or gets corrupted.)

3.ASUS EZ Flash (Updates the BIOS in DOS mode using a ???oppy disk.)

4.ASUS Update (Updates the BIOS in Windows?? environment.)

Refer to the corresponding sections for details on these utilities.

Save a copy of the original motherboard BIOS ???le to a ???oppy disk in case you need to restore the BIOS in the future. Copy the original motherboard BIOS using the ASUS Update or AFUDOS utilities.

2.1.1Creating a bootable ???oppy disk

1.Do either one of the following to create a bootable ???oppy disk. DOS environment

a.Insert a 1.44MB ???oppy disk into the drive.

b.At the DOS prompt, type format A:/S then press <Enter>.

Windows?? XP environment

a.Insert a 1.44 MB ???oppy disk to the ???oppy disk drive.

b.Click Start from the Windows?? desktop, then select My Computer.

c.Select the 3 1/2 Floppy Drive icon.

d.Click File from the menu, then select Format. A Format 3 1/2 Floppy Disk window appears.

e.Select Create an MS-DOS startup disk from the format options ???eld, then click Start.

Windows?? 2000 environment

To create a set of boot disks for Windows?? 2000:

a.Insert a formatted, high density 1.44 MB ???oppy disk into the drive.

b.Insert the Windows?? 2000 CD to the optical drive.

c.Click Start, then select Run.

d.From the Open ???eld, type

D:\bootdisk\makeboot a: assuming that D: is your optical drive.

e.Press <Enter>, then follow screen instructions to continue.

2.Copy the original or the latest motherboard BIOS ???le to the bootable ???oppy disk.

2.1.2Using AFUDOS to copy the current BIOS

The AFUDOS.EXE utility can also be used to copy the current system BIOS settings to a ???oppy or hard disk. The copy can be used as a backup in case the system BIOS fails or gets corrupted.

1. At the DOS prompt, type the command line:

afudos /o[???lename]

where ??????lename??? can be any user-provided ???lename of not more than eight alphanumeric characters for the main filename and three alphanumeric characters for the extension name.

Press <Enter>.

The BIOS information on the screen is for reference only. What you see on your screen may not be exactly the same as shown.

Main ???lename Extension name

A:\>afudos /oMYBIOS03.rom

AMI Firmware Update Utility - Version 1.10

Copyright (C) 2002 American Megatrends, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reading ???ash ..... 0x0008CC00 (9%)

2.The utility will copy the current system BIOS by default to the ???oppy disk. Make sure that the ???oppy disk is not write-protected and has enough space (at least 600KB) to store the ???le.

A:\>afudos /oMYBIOS03.rom

AMI Firmware Update Utility - Version 1.10

Copyright (C) 2002 American Megatrends, Inc. All rights reserved. Reading ???ash ..... done

A:\>

When the BIOS copy process is complete, the utility returns to the DOS prompt.

2.1.3Using AFUDOS to update the BIOS

The AFUDOS is a DOS-based application that lets you update the BIOS ???le using a bootable ???oppy diskette. AFUDOS also allows you to copy the original BIOS ???le to a ???oppy diskette.

To update the BIOS using the AFUDOS.EXE:

1. Download the latest BIOS ???le from the website provided by the system builder.

Write the BIOS ???lename on a piece of paper. You need to type the exact BIOS ???le name at the prompt.

2.Copy the AFUDOS.EXE utility from the support CD to the bootable ???oppy disk that contains the BIOS ???le.

3.Boot the system from the ???oppy disk.

4.At the DOS prompt, type the command line:

afudos /i [???lename.rom]

where [???lename.rom] means the latest (or original) BIOS ???le that you copied to the bootable ???oppy disk.

5. Press <Enter>. The screen displays the status of the update process.

The BIOS information on the screen is for reference only. What you see on your screen may not be exactly the same as shown.

A:\>afudos /iA7N8X-XE.rom

AMI Firmware Update Utility - Version 1.10

Copyright (C) 2002 American Megatrends, Inc. All rights reserved. Reading ???le ..... done

Erasing ???ash .... done

Writing ???ash .... 0x0008CC00 (9%)

DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS! Doing so can cause system boot failure!

When the BIOS update process is complete, the utility returns to the DOS prompt.

A:\>afudos /iA7N8X-XE.rom

AMI Firmware Update Utility - Version 1.10

Copyright (C) 2002 American Megatrends, Inc. All rights reserved. Reading ???le ..... done

Erasing ???ash .... done

Writing ???ash .... 0x0008CC00 (9%)

Verifying ???ash .. done

A:\>

6. Reboot the system from the hard disk.

2.1.4ASUS CrashFree BIOS utility

The ASUS CrashFree BIOS allows you to update the BIOS ???le when it fails or gets corrupted. You can update a corrupted BIOS ???le using a ???oppy disk that contains the updated BIOS ???le and the AFUDOS utility.

Before using this utility, prepare the ???oppy disk containing the updated motherboard BIOS. The AFUDOS.EXE utility is available from the support CD.

To update the BIOS using CrashFree BIOS:

1.Turn on the system.

2.When prompted, place the ???oppy disk with the updated BIOS ???le to the ???oppy disk drive.

3.Follow the instructions in the previous section to update the BIOS.

Before using the ASUS CrashFree BIOS feature on this motherboard, you must install an AGP or PCI VGA card to one of the expansion slots before you turn on the computer.

2.1.5Using ASUS EZ Flash to update the BIOS

The ASUS EZ Flash feature allows you to easily update the BIOS without having to go through the long process of booting from a ???oppy disk and using a DOS-based utility. The EZ Flash is built-in the BIOS LPC chip so it is accessible by simply pressing <Alt> + <F2> during the Power-On Self Tests (POST).

To update the BIOS using ASUS EZ Flash:

1.Visit the system builder??s website to download the latest BIOS file for your motherboard and rename it to A7N8X-XE.ROM. Save the BIOS ???le to a ???oppy disk.

2.Reboot the system.

3.To launch EZ Flash, press <Alt> + <F2> during POST to display the following.

User recovery requested. Starting BIOS recovery...

Checking for ???oppy...

??? If there is no ???oppy disk in the drive, the error message ???Floppy not found!??? appears.

??? If the correct BIOS ???le is not found in the ???oppy disk, the error message ???A7N8X-XE.ROM not found!??? is displayed.

4.Insert the ???oppy disk that contains the BIOS ???le. If the A7N8X-XE.ROM ???le is found in the ???oppy disk, EZ Flash performs the BIOS update process and automatically reboots the system when done.

DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS! Doing so can cause system boot failure!

User recovery requested. Starting BIOS recovery...

Checking for ???oppy...

Floppy found!

Reading ???le ???a7n8x-xe.rom???. Completed.

Start ???ashing...

Flashed successfully. Rebooting.

2.1.6ASUS Update utility

The ASUS Update is a utility that allows you to manage, save, and update the motherboard BIOS in Windows?? environment. The ASUS Update utility allows you to:

???Save the current BIOS ???le

???Download the latest BIOS ???le from the Internet

???Update the BIOS from an updated BIOS ???le

???Update the BIOS directly from the Internet, and

???View the BIOS version information.

This utility is available in the support CD that comes with the motherboard package.

Installing ASUS Update

To install ASUS Update:

1.Place the support CD in the optical drive. The Drivers menu appears.

2.Click the Utilities tab, then click ASUS Update. See page 3-3 for the Utilities screen menu.

3.The ASUS Update utility is copied to your system.

???ASUS Update requires an Internet connection either through a network or an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

??? Quit all Windows?? applications before you update the BIOS using this utility.

Updating the BIOS through the Internet

To update the BIOS through the Internet:

1.Launch the ASUS Update utility from the Windows?? desktop by clicking Start > Programs > ASUS > ASUSUpdate > ASUSUpdate. The ASUS Update main window appears.

4.From the FTP site, select the BIOS version that you wish to download. Click Next.

5.Follow the screen instructions to complete the update process.

The ASUS Update utility is capable of updating itself through the Internet. Always update the utility to avail all its features.

Updating the BIOS through a BIOS ???le

To update the BIOS through a BIOS ???le:

1.Launch the ASUS Update utility from the Windows?? desktop by clicking Start > Programs > ASUS > ASUSUpdate > ASUSUpdate. The ASUS Update main window appears.

2.Select Update BIOS from a file option from the drop-down menu, then click Next.

3.Locate the BIOS ???le from the Open window, then click Open.

4.Follow the screen instructions to complete the update process.

2.2BIOS setup program

This motherboard supports a programmable FLASH ROM that you can update using the provided utility described in section ???2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS.???

Use the BIOS Setup program when you are installing a motherboard, recon???guring your system, or prompted to ???Run Setup.??? This section explains how to con???gure your system using this utility.

Even if you are not prompted to use the Setup program, you can change the configuration of your computer in the future. For example, you can enable the security password feature or change the power management settings. This requires you to recon???gure your system using the BIOS Setup program so that the computer can recognize these changes and record them in the CMOS RAM of

FLASH ROM.

The FLASH ROM 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-Test (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. You can also restart by turning the system off and then back on. Do this last option only if the ???rst 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 ???2.7 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 ???le for this motherboard.

2.2.1BIOS menu bar

The top of the screen has a menu bar with the following selections:

To access the menu bar items, press the right or left arrow key on the keyboard until the desired item is highlighted.

2.2.2Navigation keys

At the bottom right corner of a menu screen are the navigation keys for that particular menu. Use the navigation keys to select items in the menu and change the settings.

Some of the navigation keys differ from one screen to another.

General help

In addition to the Item Help window, the BIOS setup program also provides a General Help screen. You may launch this screen from any menu by simply pressing <F1>. The General Help screen lists the legend keys and their corresponding functions.

Scroll bar

When a scroll bar appears to the right of a help window, it indicates that there is more information to be displayed that will not ???t in the window. Use <PgUp> and <PgDn> or the up and down arrow keys to scroll through the entire help document. Press <Home> to display the ???rst page, press <End> to go to the last page. To exit the help window, press <Enter> or <Esc>.

Saving changes and exiting the Setup program

See ???2.7 Exit menu??? for detailed information on saving changes and exiting the setup program.

2.3Main menu

When you enter the BIOS Setup program, the Main menu screen appears, giving you an overview of the basic system information.

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System Time [hh:mm:ss]

Sets the system to the time that you specify (usually the current time). The format is hour, minute, second. Valid values for hour, minute and second are Hour: (00 to 23), Minute: (00 to 59), Second: (00 to 59). Use the <Tab> key to move between the hour, minute, and second ???elds.

System Date [day, mm dd yyyy]

Sets the system to the date that you specify (usually the current date). The format is month, day, year. Valid values for month, day, and year are Month: (1 to 12), Day: (1 to 31), Year: (1999 to 2099). Use the <Tab> key to move between the month, day, and year ???elds.

Legacy Diskette A [1.44M, 3.5 in.]

Sets the type of floppy drive installed. Configuration options: [None] [360K, 5 . 25 in . ] [1 . 2M , 5 . 25 in . ] [720K , 3 . 5 in . ] [1 . 44M, 3 . 5 in . ] [2.88M, 3.5 in.]

Legacy Diskette B [Disabled]

Sets the type of floppy drive installed. Configuration options: [None] [360K, 5 . 25 in . ] [1 . 2M , 5 . 25 in . ] [720K , 3 . 5 in . ] [1 . 44M, 3 . 5 in . ] [2.88M, 3.5 in.]

Primary and Secondary IDE Master/Slave; Third

and Fourth IDE Master

While entering Setup, BIOS auto-detects the presence of IDE devices. There is a separate sub-manu for each IDE device. Select a device item then press Enter to display the IDE device information.

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The BIOS automatically detects the values opposite the dimmed items (Device, Vendor, Size, LBA Mode, Block Mode, PIO Mode, Async DMA, Ultra DMA, and SMART monitoring). These values are not user-con???gurable. These items show N/A if no IDE device is installed in the system.

Type [Auto]

Selects the type of IDE drive. Setting to Auto allows automatic selection of the appropriate IDE device type. Select CDROM if you are speci???cally con???guring a CD-ROM drive. Select ARMD (ATAPI Removable Media Device) if your device is either a ZIP, LS-120, or MO drive. Con???guation options: [Not Installed] [Auto] [CDROM] [ARMD]

LBA/Large Mode [Auto]

Enables or disables the LBA mode. Setting to Auto enables the LBA mode if the device supports this mode, and if the device was not previously formatted with LBA mode disabled. Con???guration options: [Disabled] [Auto]

Block (Multi-sector Transfer) M [Auto]

Enables or disables data multi-sectors transfers. When set to Auto, the data transfer from and to the device occurs multiple sectors at a time if the device supports multi-sector transfer feature. When set to [Disabled], the data transfer from and to the device occurs one sector at a time. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Auto]

PIO Mode [Auto]

Selects the PIO mode. Con???guration options: [Auto] [0] [1] [2] [3] [4]

DMA Mode [Auto]

Selects the DMA mode. Configuration options: [Auto] [SWDMA0] [SWDMA1] [SWDMA2] [MWDMA0] [MWDMA1] [MWDMA2] [UDMA0] [UDMA1] [UDMA2] [UDMA3] [UDMA4] [UDMA5]

If the hard disk supports DMA6, UDMA6 will appears in the con???guration options.

SMART Monitoring [Auto]

Sets the Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology. Configuration options: [Auto] [Disabled] [Enabled]

32Bit Data Transfer [Disabled]

Enables or disables 32-bit data transfer. Con???guration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

System Information

This menu gives you an overview of the general system speci???cations. The BIOS automatically detects the items in this menu.

?????? Select Screen ?????? Select Item

F1 General Help

F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit

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AMI BIOS

Displays the auto-detected BIOS information.

Processor

Displays the auto-detected CPU speci???cation.

System Memory

Displays the auto-detected system memory.

2.4Advanced menu

The Advanced menu items allow you to change the settings for the CPU and other system devices.

Take caution when changing the settings of the Advaced menu items. Incorrect ???eld values can cause the system to malfunction.

CPU Con???guration

Chipset

Onboard Devices Con???guration

PCIPnP

?????? Select Screen ?????? Select Item +- Change Field

Enter Go to Sub Screen F1 General Help F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit

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2.4.1JumperFree Con???guration

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AI Overclock Tuner [Auto]

Allows selection of CPU overclocking options to achieve desired CPU internal frequency. Select either one of the preset overclocking options and the relevant parameters will appear. Con???guration options: [Auto] [Manual]

CPU Frequency [166]

Allows you to set the CPU host frequency. Range: 100MHz-300MHz.

FSB Spread Spectrum [Disabled]

Allows you to enable and disable the FSB clock generator spread spectrum. Con???guration options: [Auto] [Disabled]

AGP Spread spectrum [Disabled]

Allows you to enable and disable the AGP clock generator spread spectrum. Con???guration options: [Auto] [Disabled]

2.4.2USB Con???guration

The USB Con???guration menu allows you to adjust the settings for the onboard USB controllers. Select an item then press <Enter> to display the sub-menu.

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USB Controller [Enabled]

Allows you to enable or disable the integrated USB controller. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]

USB 2.0 Support [Enabled]

Con???guration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]

Legacy USB Support [Auto]

Allows you to enable or disable support for legacy USB devices. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] [Auto]

2.4.3CPU Con???guration

This menu displays the CPU type, speed, cache RAM, and current front side bus frequency auto-detected by the BIOS.

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CPU Internal Cache [Disabled]

Allows you to enable and disable the CPU Internal Cache. Con???guration options: [Disabled] [Write-Thru] [Write-Back]

2.4.4Chipset

The Chipset menu allows you to change the advanced chipset settings. Select an item then press <Enter> to display the sub-menu.

BIOS SETUP UTILITY

NorthBridge Con???guration

SouthBridge Con???guration

?????? Select Screen ?????? Select Item

Enter Go to Sub Screen F1 General Help F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit

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NorthBridge Chipset Con???guration

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Primary Graphices Adapter [PCI]

Allows selection of the graphics controller to use as a primary boot device. Con???guration options: [PCI] [AGP]

Graphics Aperture Size [64MB]

Allows you to select the size of mapped memory for AGP graphic data. Con???guration options: [Disabled] [32MB] [64MB] [128MB] [256MB] [512MB]

MDA Access Control [PCI]

Allows you to control MDA Access. Con???guration options: [PCI] [AGP]

TV Mode Support [Default]

Con???guration options: [NTSC-M] [NTSC-J] [PAL-M] [PAL-BDGHI] [PAL-N] [PAL- NC] [Default]

C1 Discounnect [Auto Mode]

Con???guration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] [Auto Mode]

System Performance Settings

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Memory Clock [Auto]

Allows you to set the Memory Clock. Configuration options: [Auto] [133MHz (DDR266)] [166MHz (DDR333)] [200MHz (DDR400)]

DRAM Timing [Auto]

Allows you to set the DRAM Timing. Con???guration options: [Auto] [Manual]

TRAS [7]

Allows you to set the TRAS. Range: 2-15

TRCD [4]

Allows you to set the TRCD. Range: 2-7

TRP [2]

Allows you to set the TRP. Range: 2-7

CAS# Latency [Auto]

Con???guration options: [Auto] [2.0] [2.5] [3.0]

South Bridge Chipset Con???guration

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Onboard LAN [Enabled]

Allows you to enable and disable the Onboard LAN. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]

MAC Bridge Mode [Auto]

Allows you to enable and disable the MAC Bridge Mode. Con???guration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]

AC97 Audio [Auto]

Allows you to enable and disable the AC97 Audio. Con???guration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] [Auto]

Modem CODEC Interface [Auto]

Allows you to enable and disable the Modem CODEC Interface. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] [Auto]

OnBoard SATA Controller [Enabled]

Allows you to enable and disable the OnBoard SATA Controller. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]

SATA Operation Mode [non-RAID]

Allows you to set the SATA Operation Mode. Configuration options: [non-RAID] [RAID]

SMBus Interface [Enabled]

Allows you to enable and disable the SMBus Interface. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]

IOAPIC [Enabled]

Allows you to enable and disable the IOAPIC. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]

2.4.5Onboard Devices Con???guration

The Onboard Devices Con???guration menu allows you to adjust the settings for onboard devices. Select an item then press <Enter> to display the sub-menu.

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Onboard Floppy Controller [Enabled]

Allows you to enable or disable the onboard Floppy controller. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

Serial Port1 Address [3F8/IRQ4]

Allows you to select the Serial Port 1 base address. Configuration options: [Disabled] [3F8/IRQ4] [2F8/IRQ3] [3E8/IRQ4] [2E8/IRQ3]

Parallel Port Address [378]

Allows you to select the Parallel Port base addresses. Configuration options: [Disabled] [378] [278]

Parallel Port Mode [ECP+EPP]

Allows you to select the Parallel Port mode. Con???guration options: [Normal] [Bi- Directional] [ECP+EPP]

EPP Version [1,9]

Allows selection of the Parallel Port EPP version. This item appears only when the Parallel Port Mode is set to [EPP] or [EPP+ECP. Con???guration options: [1.9] [1.7]

ECP Mode DMA Channel [DMA3]

Allows you to set the Parallel Port ECP DMA. This item appears only when the Parallel Port Mode is set to [ECP] or [EPP+ECP]. Con???guration options: [DMA0] [DMA1] [DMA3]

Parallel Port IRQ [IRQ7]

Allows selection of the Parallel Port IRQ. Con???guration options: [IRQ5] [IRQ7]

2.4.6PCIPnP

The PCIPnP menu allows you to change the settings for installed PCI devices. Select an item then press <Enter> to display the sub-menu.

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Plug and Play OS [No]

When set to [No], BIOS con???gures all devices in the system. When set to [Yes], and if you installed a Plug and Play operating system, the operating system con???gures the Plug and Play devices not required for boot. Con???guration options: [No] [Yes]

PCI Latency Timer [64]

Allows you to select the value in units of PCI clocks for the PCI device latency timer

register. Con???guration options: [32] [64] [96] [128] [160] [192] [224] [248]

Allocate IRQ to PCI VGA [Yes]

When set to [Yes], BIOS assigns an IRQ to PCI VGA card if the card requests for an IRQ. When set to [No], BIOS does not assign an IRQ to the PCI VGA card even if requested. Con???guration options: [No] [Yes]

Palette Snooping [Disabled]

When set to [Enabled], the pallete snooping feature informs the PCI devices that an ISA graphics device is installed in the system so that the latter can function correctly. Setting to [Disabled] deactivates this feature. Configuration options:

[Disabled] [Enabled]

IRQ xx [PCI Device]

Allows you to set the PCI slot IRQ preference. Configuration options: [PCI

Device] [Reserved]

2.5Power menu

The Power menu items allow you to change the settings for the Advanced Power Management (APM). Select an item, then press <Enter> to display the con???guration options.

BIOS SETUP UTILITY

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Suspend Mode [Auto]

Allows you to select the (ACPI) state to be used for system suspend. Con???guration options: [S1 (POS) only] [S3 only] [Auto]

Repost Video on S3 Resume [No]

Determines whether to invoke VGA BIOS POST on S3/STR resume. Con???guration options: [No] [Yes]

ACPI 2.0 Support [Yes]

Allows you to add more tables for Advanced Con???guration and Power interface (ACPI) 2.0 speci???cations. Con???guration options: [No] [Yes]

ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]

Allows you to enable or disable the Advanced con???guration 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. Con???guration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

2.5.1APM Con???guration

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Power Management/APM [Enabled]

Allows you to enable or disable the Advanced Power Management (APM) feature. Con???guration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

Suspend Power Saving Type [S1]

Con???guration options: [C2] [S1]

Power Button Mode [On/Off]

Con???guration options: [On/Off] [Suspend]

Video Power Down Mode [Suspend]

Allows you to select the video power down mode. Configuration options:

[Disabled] [Suspend]

Hard Disk Power Down Mode [Suspend]

Allows you to select the hard disk power down mode. Configuration options:

[Disabled] [Suspend]

Manual Throttle Ratio [50%]

Con???guration options: [87.5%] [75.0%] [62.5%] [50%] [37.5%] [25%] [12.5%]

THRM throttle Ratio [50%]

Con???guration options: [87.5%] [75.0%] [62.5%] [50%] [37.5%] [25%] [12.5%]

PME Resume [Disabled]

Con???guration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

Ring-In Power On [Disabled]

This field allows you to enable or disable the Ring-In Power on function. Con???guration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

RTC Resume [Disabled]

Allows you to enable or disable RTC to generate a wake event. When this item is enabled, the Date and Resume Time fields are activated for manual setup. Con???guration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

Resume On PS/2 Keyboard [Enabled]

Allows you to use any key on the keyboard to turn on the system. This feature requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB lead. Con???guration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

Resume On PS/2 Mouse [Disabled]

When set to [Enabled], this parameter allows you to use the PS/2 mouse to turn on the system. This feature requires an ATX pwer supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB lead. Con???guration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

Restore on AC Power Loss [Power Off]

When set to Power Off, the system goes into off state after an AC power loss. When set to Power On, the system goes on after an AC power loss. When set to Last State, then system goes into either off or on state whatever the system state was before the AC power loss. Con???guration options: [Power Off] [Power On] [Last State]

2.5.2Hardware Monitor

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MB Temperature [xxx??C/xxx??F]

CPU Temperature [xxx??C/xxx??F]

The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the motherboard and CPU temperatures. Seclect Disabled if you do not wish to display the detected temperatures.

CPU Fan Speed [xxxxRPM] or [N/A]

Chassis Fan Speed [xxxxRPM] or [N/A]

The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the CPU and chassis fan speeds in rotations per minute (RPM). If any of the fans is not connected to the motherboard, that ???eld shows N/A.

Vcore Voltage, 3.3V Voltage, 5V Voltage, 12V Voltage

The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects the voltage output through the onboard voltage regulators.

2.6Boot menu

The Boot menu items allow you to change the system boot settings. Select a sub- menu, then press <Enter> to display the con???guration options.

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2.6.1Boot Device Priority

This menu allows you to arrange the boot device priority.

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1st ~ xxth Boot Device [Removable]

Allows you to specify the boot device priority sequence from the available devices. The number of device items that apear on the screen depends on the number of devices installed in the system. Con???guration options: [xxxxx Drive] [Disabled]

2.6.2Boot Settings Con???guration

This menu allows you to adjust the system boot settings.

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Quick Boot [Enabled]

Allows you to enable or disable the system quick boot feature. When enabled, the system skips certain tests while booting. Con???guration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

Full Screen Logo [Enabled]

This allows you to enable or disable the full screen logo display feature. Con???guration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

Set this item to [Enable] to use the ASUS MyLogo??? feature.

AddOn ROM Display Mode [Force BIOS]

Sets the display mode for option ROM. Con???guration options: [Force BIOS] [Keep Current]

Boot From Network [Disabled]

Allows you to boot from network. Con???guration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

Bootup Num-Lock [On]

Allows you to select the power-on state for the NumLock. Con???guration options: [Off] [On]

PS/2 Mouse Support [Auto]

Allows you to enable or disable support for PS/2 mouse. Con???guration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] [Auto]

Wait for ??F1?? If Error [Enabled]

When set to Enabled, the system waits for the F1 key to be pressed when error occurs. con???guration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

Hit ??DEL?? Message Display [Enabled]

When set to Enabled, the system displays the message ???Press DEL to run Setup??? during POST. Con???guration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

2.6.3Security

This menu allows you to adjust the system security settings.

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Change Supervisor Password

Select this item to set or change the supervisor password. The Supervisor Password item on top of the screen shows the default Not Installed. After you set a password, this item shows Installed.

To set a password:

1.Select the Change Supervisor Password item and press <Enter>.

2.From the password box, type a password composed of at least six letters and/or numbers, then press <Enter>.

3.Con???rm the password when prompted.

The message ???Password Installed??? appears after you successfully set your password.

To change the supervisor password, follow the same steps as in setting a user password.

To clear the supervisor passowrd, select the Change Supervisor Password then press <Enter>. The message ???Password Uninistalled??? appears.

If you forget your BIOS password, you can clear it by erasing the CMOS Real TMe Clock (RTC) RAM. See section ???1.6 Jumpers??? for information on how to erase the

RTC RAM.

Change User Password

Select this item to set or change the user password. The Supervisor Password item on top of the screen shows the default Not Installed. After you set a password, this item shows Installed.

To set a password:

1.Select the Change User Password item and press <Enter>.

2.On the password box that appears, type a password composed of at least six letters and/or numbers, then press <Enter>.

3.Con???rm the password when prompted.

The message ???Password Installed??? appears after you successfully set your password. To change the user password, follow the same steps as in setting a user password.

2.7Exit menu

The Exit menu items allow you to save or discard your changes to, and/or load the optimal or failsafe default values for the BIOS items.

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Pressing <Esc> does not immediately exit this menu. Select one of the options from this menu, or press <F10> to exit.

Exit & Save Changes

Once you are ???nished making your selections, choose this option 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 system is turned off. When you select this option, a con???rmation window appears. Select Yes to save changes and exit the BIOS Setup.

Exit & Discard Changes

Select this option only if you do not want to save the changes that you made to the BIOS Setup. If you made changes to ???elds other than the system date, system time, and password, the BIOS asks for a con???rmation before exiting.

Discard Changes

This option allows you to discard the selections you made and restore the previously saved values. After selecting this option, a con???rmation appears. Select Yes to discard any changes and load the previously saved values.

Load Setup Defaults

This option allows you to load the default values for each of the parameters on the BIOS Setup menus. When you select this option, or if you press <F5>, a con???rmation window appears. Select Yes to load the default values. Select Exit & Save Changes or make other changes before saving the values to the non-volatile RAM.

3.1Installing an operating system

This motherboard supports Windows?? 98SE/ME/2000/XP operating systems (OS). Always install the latest OS version and corresponding updates to maximize the features of your hardware.

Motherboard settings and hardware options vary. Use the setup procedures presented in this chapter for reference only. Refer to your OS documentation for detailed information.

3.2Support CD information

The support CD that came with the motherboard package contains the drivers, software applications, and utilities that you can install to avail all motherboard features.

The contents of the support CD are subject to change at any time without notice. Visit the ASUS website(www.asus.com) for updates.

3.2.1Running the support CD

Place the support CD to the optical drive. The CD automatically displays the Drivers menu if Autorun is enabled in your computer.

Click an icon to display support CD/motherboard information

Click an item to install

If Autorun is NOT enabled in your computer, browse the contents of the support CD to locate the file ASSETUP.EXE from the BIN folder. Double-click the ASSETUP.EXE to run the CD.

3.2.2Drivers menu

The drivers menu shows the available device drivers if the system detects installed devices. Install the necessary drivers to activate the devices.

NVIDIA ALL in 1 Driver

Install NVIDIA ALL in 1 Driver.

Make NVIDIA nForce Chipset Driver Disk

Make NVIDIA nForce Chipset Driver Disk.

*Note: you can browse the path\Drivers\NVIDIA\winxp_2kIDE Driver to refer the uncompressed ???les.

C-Media??s Xear 3D Driver

Install C-Media??s Xear 3D Driver.

USB 2.0 Driver

Install USB 2.0 driver.

The screen display and drivers option may not be the same for different operating system versions.

3.2.3Utilities menu

The Utilities menu shows the applications and other software that the motherboard supports.

ASUS PC Probe

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 Update

The ASUS Update utility allows you to update the motherboard BIOS in a Windows ?? environment. This utility requires an Internet connection either through a network or an Internet Service Provider (ISP). See pages 2-7 to 2-8 for details.

ASUS Screen Saver

Bring life to your idle screen by installing the ASUS screen saver.

ADOBE Acrobat Reader V5.0

The Adobe Acrobat?? Reader V5.0 is for opening, viewing, and printing documents in Portable Document Format (PDF).

Microsoft DirectX 9.0c

The Microsoft DirectX?? 9.0c is a multimedia technology that enhances computer graphics and sounds. DirectX?? improves the multimedia features of your computer so you can enjoy watching TV and movies, capturing videos, or playing games in your computer.

Anti-Virus Utility

The anti-virus application scans, identi???es, and removes computer viruses. View the online help for detailed information.

3.2.4Contacts menu

Click the Contact tab to display the ASUS contact information. You can also ???nd this information on the inside front cover of this user guide.