Asus A7N8X X User Manual

A7N8X-X

User Guide

Contents

Notices ............................................................................................v

Safety information .......................................................................... vi

ASUS contact information ............................................................ viii

A7N8X-X specifications summary .................................................. ix

Chapter 1: Motherboard Info

1.1 Welcome! ........................................................................... 1-2

1.2 Package contents ............................................................... 1-2

1.3 Motherboard components .................................................. 1-3

1.4 Motherboard layout ............................................................ 1-6

1.5 Before you proceed ............................................................ 1-7

1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU)........................................... 1-7

1.7 System memory ................................................................. 1-8

1.7.1 Installing a DIMM ................................................... 1-8

1.8 Expansion slots .................................................................. 1-8

1.8.1 Configuring an expansion card .............................. 1-8

1.8.2 Standard Interrupt Assignments ............................ 1-9

1.8.3 AGP slot ................................................................. 1-9

1.9 Jumpers............................................................................ 1-10

1.10 Connectors ....................................................................... 1-12

Chapter 2: BIOS Information

2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS .................................... 2-2

2.1.1 Using the computer system for the first time ......... 2-2

2.1.2 Updating BIOS procedures .................................... 2-3

2.2 BIOS Setup program .......................................................... 2-6

2.2.1 BIOS menu bar ...................................................... 2-7

2.2.2 Legend bar............................................................. 2-7

2.3 Main Menu.......................................................................... 2-9

2.3.1 Primary Master/Slave .......................................... 2-10

2.3.2 Secondary Master/Slave...................................... 2-12

2.4 Advanced Menu ............................................................... 2-13

2.4.1 Advanced BIOS Features .................................... 2-14

2.4.2 Advanced Chipset Features ................................ 2-15

iii

Contents

2.4.3 Integrated Peripherals ......................................... 2-18

2.4.4 Power Management Setup .................................. 2-20

2.4.5 PnP / PCI Configurations ..................................... 2-22

2.5 Security Menu .................................................................. 2-23

2.6 Hardware Monitor Menu ................................................... 2-24

2.7 Exit Menu ......................................................................... 2-26

Chapter 3: Starting Up

3.1 Install an operating system................................................. 3-2

3.2 Support CD information ...................................................... 3-2

3.2.1 Running the support CD ........................................ 3-2

3.2.2 Drivers menu ......................................................... 3-3

3.2.3 Utilities menu ......................................................... 3-3

3.2.4 ASUS Contact Information ................................................. 3-4

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’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 modifications 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.

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 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 fix it by yourself. Contact a

qualified 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.

Conventions used in this guide

To make sure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the

following symbols used throughout this manual.

WARNING/DANGER: 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 find 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. The ASUS websites are listed in the

ASUS Contact Information on page viii.

2. Optional Documentation

Your product package may include optional documentation, such as

warranty flyers, that may have been added by your dealer. These

documents are not part of the standard package.

vii

ASUS contact information

ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. (Asia-Pacific)

Address:

150 Li-Te Road, Peitou, Taipei, Taiwan 112

+886-2-2894-3447

+886-2-2894-3449

General Tel:

General Fax:

Web Site:

www.asus.com.tw

Technical Support

MB/Others (Tel):

Notebook (Tel):

+886-2-2890-7121 (English)

+886-2-2890-7122 (English)

Desktop/Server (Tel): +886-2-2890-7123 (English)

Support Fax: +886-2-2890-7698

ASUS COMPUTER INTERNATIONAL (America)

Address:

44370 Nobel Drive, Fremont, CA 94538, USA

+1-502-933-8713

tmd1@asus.com

General Fax:

General Email:

Web Site:

usa.asus.com

Technical Support

Support Fax:

General Support:

Notebook Support:

Support Email:

+1-502-933-8713

+1-502-995-0883

+1-510-739-3777 x5110

tsd@asus.com

ASUS COMPUTER GmbH (Germany and Austria)

Address:

Harkortstr. 25, 40880 Ratingen, BRD, Germany

sales@asuscom.de (for marketing requests only)

+49-2102-9599-31

General Email:

General Fax:

Web Site:

www.asuscom.de

Technical Support

Components:

+49-2102-9599-0

Notebook PC:

Support Fax:

+49-2102-9599-10

+49-2102-9599-11

Support Email:

www.asuscom.de/support (for online support)

ASUSTeK COMPUTER (Middle East and North Africa)

Address:

P.O. Box 64133, Dubai, U.A.E.

+9714-283-1774

+9714-283-1775

General Tel:

General Fax:

Web Site:

www.ASUSarabia.com

viii

A7N8X-X specifications summary

CPU

Socket A for AMD Duron™/Athlon™/Athlon™ XP 3200+ or

higher

400/333 MHz FSB Support

Chipset

Northbridge: NVIDIA^®nForce2 400

Southbridge: NVIDIA^®nForce2 MCP

Front Side Bus (FSB)

Memory

400/333/266/200Mhz

3 x 184-pin DDR DIMM Sockets

Max. 3 GB unbuffered PC3200/2700/2100/1600 non-ECC

DDR RAM memory.

(Visit ASUS website for latest qualified DDR400 module list.)

Expansion slots

5 x PCI

1 x AGP 8X (1.5V only)

IDE

2 x UltraDMA 133/100/66/33

Audio

LAN

Realtek ALC650 6CH with built-in HP amplifier

1 Port

MCP integrated NVIDIA MAC + Realtek 8201BL PHY

Special Features

ASUS Q-Fan Technology

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

Power Loss Restart

CPU Throttle

Support S/PDIF in/out (optional)

Back Panel I/O Ports

1 x Parallel

1 x Serial

1 x PS/2 Keyboard

1 x PS/2 Mouse

1 x RJ45 port

1 x Audio I/O

4 x USB 2.0

Internal I/O

Connectors

1 x USB 2.0 connector supports additional 2 USB 2.0 ports

(optional)

Game connector (optional)

CPU/Power/Chassis FAN connectors

20-pin ATX Power connector

IDE LED connector, Power LED connector

Chassis Intrusion, SIR

Headphone (optional)

Front MIC (optional)

CD / AUX / Modem audio in

Front Panel Audio connector (optional)

(continued on the next page)

A7N8X-X specifications summary

BIOS features

2Mb Flash ROM, Award BIOS, TCAV, PnP, DMI2.0, DMI,

Green

PCI 2.2, USB 1.1/2.0.

Industry standard

Manageability

DMI 2.0, WOL, WOR, Chassis Intrusion, SM Bus

Device drivers

Support CD contents

ASUS PC Probe

Trend Micro^tmPC-cillin 2002 anti-virus software

ASUS LiveUpdate Utility

Accessories

User’s manual

Support CD

1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable

FDD cable

9-pin COM cable (optional)

2-port USB/Game port bracket (optional)

I/O shield

ATX form factor: 12 in x 9.6 in

Form Factor

* Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Chapter 1

This chapter gives information about the ASUS

A7N8X-X motherboard that came with the

system.This chapter includes the motherboard

layout, jumper settings, and connector locations.

ASUS A7N8X-X Motherboard

1-1

1.1 Welcome!

Thank you for buying the ASUS^®A7N8X-X motherboard!

The ASUS A7N8X-X motherboard is loaded with the most advanced technologies to

deliver the maximum performance for socketAprocessors. This motherboard is loaded

with value-added features for guaranteed consumer satisfaction. Unique ASUS

features such as ASUS C.O.P., ASUS Q-Fan Technology and more are included to

ensure the best user experience and value in a motherboard. For future upgrades or

system reconfiguration, this chapter provides technical information about the

motherboard.

Before you start installing the motherboard and hardware devices on it, check the

items in your package with the list below.

1.2 Package contents

Check your ASUS A7N8X-X package for the following items.

ASUS A7N8X-X motherboard

ATX form factor: 12 in x 9.6 in

ASUS A7N8X-X series support CD

40-pin 80-conductor ribbon cable for UltraDMA/66/100/133 IDE drives

Ribbon cable for a 3.5-inch floppy drive

Bag of extra jumper caps

I/O shield

User’s Manual

1-2

1.3 Motherboard components

1 2

4 5

ASUS A7N8X-X Motherboard

1-3

CPU Sockets. Socket 462 (Socket A) Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) socket for

the AMD Duron™/Athlon™/Athlon XP™ 3000+ processors.

NorthBridge Controller. The NVIDIA^®nForce2™ 400 North Bridge

controller chipset. The controller supports a 64-bit DDR memory controller

and up to 3 GB of 400/333/266/200MHz DDR memory.

DDR DIMM Sockets. Equipped with three Double Data Rate Dual Inline

Memory Module (DDR DIMM) sockets to support up to 3GB of DDR

DRAM, the newest memory standard with the highest bandwidth and

lowest latency currently available. This memory technology supplies data

transfer rates up to 3.2 GB/s for 400MHz DDR SDRAM and 2.7GB/s for

333MHz DDR SDRAM.

ATX power connector. This standard 20-pin connector connects to an

ATX 12V power supply. The power supply must have at least 1A on the

+5V standby lead (+5VSB).

Floppy Disk connector. This connector connects the provided ribbon

cable for the floppy disk drive. One side of the connector is slotted to

prevent incorrect insertion of the floppy disk cable.

IDE Connectors. These dual-channel bus master IDE connectors support

up to four Ultra DMA133/100/66, PIO Modes 3 & 4 IDE devices. Both the

primary(blue) and secondary(black) connectors are slotted to prevent

incorrect insertion of the IDE ribbon cable.

Flash ROM. This 2Mb firmware contains the programmable BIOS

program. (Refer to section “2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS” on

page 2-2 for more information)

South bridge controller. Features the brand new nVidia^®nForce2^™MCP

integrated peripheral South Bridge controller operates at 800MB/sec to

communicate with the North Bridge for maximum bandwith required for

PCI, USB and support for Fast Ethernet devices. The controller supports

standard UltraDMA133/100/66/33 and separate data paths for each IDE

channel are built-in for up to two IDE devices. The controller supports six

USB ports, one LAN port and is PCI rev2.2 compliant.

Super I/O chipset. ITE IT8708 offers support for a variety of I/O functions.

Provides two high-speed UART compatible serial ports and one parallel

port with EPP and ECP capabilities. UART2 can also be directed from

COM2 to the Infrared Module for wireless connections. The Super I/O

controller supports a floppy disk drive, PS/2 keyboard, and PS/2 mouse.

COM2 Header. This 9-pin connects to a COM2 port.

GAME port header. This header connects to a GAME port module.

ASUS ASIC. This chip performs multiple system functions that include

hardware and system voltage monitoring among others.

1-4

Chapter 1: Motherboard Information

Onboard LED. This onboard LED lights up if there is a standby power on

the motherboard. This LED acts as a reminder to turn off the system power

before plugging or unplugging devices.

PCI slots. These 32-bit PCI 2.2 expansion slots support bus master PCI

cards like SCSI or LAN cards with 133MB/s maximum output.

S/PDIF connector. This header connects to the S/PDIF bracket. (optional)

Audio CODEC. The Realtek 6-channel CODEC is an AC’97 compliant

audio CODEC designed for PC multimedia systems.

LAN chip. The MCP integrated NVIDIA^®MAC + Realtek 8201BL PHY

Fast Ethernet controller allows connection to a Local Area Network (LAN)

through a network hub.

AGP Slot. This Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) slot only supports 1.5V

AGP 8X mode graphics cards for 3D graphical applications.

PS/2 mouse port. This green 6-pin connector is for a PS/2 mouse.

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

other devices.

RJ-45 port. Using the NVIDIA^®LAN 10/100 Mbps fast ethernet controller,

this port allows connection to a Local Area Network (LAN) through a

network hub.

Line In jack. This Line In (light blue) jack connects a tape player or other

audio sources.

Line Out jack. This Line Out (lime) jack connects a headphone or a

speaker.

Microphone jack. This Mic (pink) jack connects a microphone.

USB 2.0 ports. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus 2.0 (USB 2.0) ports

are available for connecting USB devices such as a mouse and PDA.

Serial ports. This port connects to your serial mouse and other serial

devices.

USB 2.0 ports. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus 2.0 (USB 2.0) ports

are available for connecting USB devices such as a mouse and PDA.

PS/2 keyboard port. This purple 6-pin connector is for a PS/2 keyboard.

ASUS A7N8X-X Motherboard

1-5

1.4 Motherboard layout

24.5cm (9.64in)

PS/2

T: Mouse

B: Keyboard

CPU_FAN1

KBPWR1

Socket 462

USBPWR_34

USB3

USB4

COM1

USBPWR_12

nVidia

nForce2

400

Chipset

Bottom:

Top:

CPU_FSB

USB1

RJ-45

USB2

Top:Line In

Center:Line Out

Below:Mic In

CHA_FAN1

Realtek

RTL8201

Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP)

2Mb

BIOS

CD1

FPAUDIO1

PCI 1

PCI 2

nForce2

MCP

Chipset

AUX1

Audio

Codec

Super

I/O

SPDIF1

A7N8X-X

CLRTC1

CR2032 3V

Lithium Cell

CMOS Power

PCI 3

PCI 4

COM2

USB56

USBPWR_56

GAME1

ASUS

ASIC

PWR_LED1

MODEM1

with Hardware

Monitor

IR_CON1

PCI 5

IDELED1

PWRTMP1

CHASSIS1

CTRL_PANEL1

1-6

Chapter 1: Motherboard Information

1.5 Before you proceed

Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components

or change any motherboard settings.

1. Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any

component.

2. 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.

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

4. Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded

antistatic pad or in the bag that came with the component.

5. 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.

1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The motherboard provides a Socket A (462) for CPU installation. AMD processors

offer gigahertz speeds to support all the latest computing platforms and applications.

The A7N8X-X supports Athlon^™XP processors with “QuantiSpeed” data processing,

large data caches, 3D enhancements and 400/333/266Mhz bus speeds.

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

motherboard.

CPU NOTCH

TO INNER

CORNER

LOCK

LEVER

CPU NOTCH

A7N8X-X

AMD™ CPU

A7N8X-X Socket 462

Each AMD CPU has a “marked” corner. This corner is usually indicated with a notch,

and/or a golden square or triangle. Refer to this indicator while orienting the CPU.

ASUS A7N8X-X Motherboard

1-7

1.7 System memory

The motherboard has three Double Data Rate (DDR) DIMM sockets that supports

up to 3GB non-ECC PC3200/2700/2100/1600 DDR..

104 Pins

A7N8X-X

80 Pins

A7N8X-X 184-Pin DDR

DIMM Sockets

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 fits in only one

direction. DO NOT force a DIMM into a socket to avoid damaging

the DIMM.

4. Visit ASUS website (www.asus.com) for latest DDR400 Qualified

Vendor List.

1.7.1 Installing a DIMM

1. Unlock a DIMM socket by pressing the retaining clips outward.

2. Align a DIMM on the socket. Make sure the notches on the DIMM exactly match

the notches in the socket.

3. Firmly insert the DIMM into the socket until the retaining clips lock into place.

1.8 Expansion slots

The A7N8X-X motherboard has six (6) expansion slots. The following sub-sections

describe the slots and the expansion cards that they support.

1.8.1 Configuring an expansion card

Some expansion cards need an IRQ to operate. Generally, an IRQ must be exclusively

assigned to one function at a time. In a standard design configuration, 16 IRQs are

available but most are already in use.

1-8

Chapter 1: Motherboard Information

Normally, 6 IRQs are free for expansion cards. Sometimes IRQs are “shared” by

more than one function; in this case, IRQ assignments are swapped automatically or

adjusted through the BIOS firmware.

1.8.2 Standard Interrupt Assignments

IRQ

Standard Function

System Timer

Keyboard Controller

Programmable Interrupt Controller

USB Universal Host Controller

Communications Port (COM1)

Onboard Audio

Standard Floppy Disk Controller

Printer Port (LPT1)

System CMOS/Real Time Clock

Onboard LAN

USB Universal Host Controller

External AGP card

10*

11*

12*

14*

15*

PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port

Numeric Data Processor

Primary Ultra ATA Controller

Secondary Ultra ATA Controller

*These IRQs are usually available for ISA or PCI devices.

IRQ assignments for this motherboard

shared

—

shared

—

used

—

used

—

used

—

PCI slot 1

PCI slot 2

PCI slot 3

PCI slot 4

PCI slot 5

1.8.3 AGP slot

This motherboard has an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) slot that supports

+1.5V AGP 8X cards. Note the notches on the card golden fingers to ensure that

they fit the AGP slot on your motherboard.

A7N8X-X

Keyed for 1.5v

A7N8X-X Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP)

ASUS A7N8X-X Motherboard

1-9

1.9 Jumpers

This section describes and illustrates the jumpers on the motherboard.

USB device wake-up (3-pin USBPWR_12,USBPWR_34,USBPWR_56)

Set these jumpers to +5V to wake up the computer from S1 sleep mode

(CPU stopped, DRAM refreshed, system running in low power mode) using

the connected USB devices. Set to +5VSB to wake up from S3 sleep mode

(no power to CPU, DRAM in slow refresh, power supply in reduced power

mode). Both jumpers are set to pins 1-2 (+5V) by default because not all

computers have the appropriate power supply to support this feature.

The USBPWR_12 and USBPWR_34 jumpers are for the rear USB port.

USBPWR_56 is for the internal USB header that you can connect to the front

USB ports.

This feature requires a power supply that can provide at least 2A on

the +5VSB lead when these jumpers are set to +5VSB. Otherwise, the

system does not power up.

The total current consumed must NOT exceed the power supply

capability (+5VSB) whether under normal condition or in sleep mode.

USBPWR_12

USBPWR_34

1 2

2 3

+5V

(Default)

+5VSB

USBPWR_56

A7N8X-X

+5V

(Default)

+5VSB

A7N8X-X USB Device Wake Up

2. Central Processing Unit FSB (CPU_FSB)

This jumper when set to 1-2 pins (default), enable support for Front Side Bus

400/333/266. When set to pins 2-3, it sets support for FSB 200 only.

CPU_FSB

A7N8X-X

FSB400/333/266

(Default)

FSB200

A7N8X-X CPU FSB Jumper Setting

1-10

Chapter 1: Motherboard Information

3. Clear RTC RAM (CLRTC1) (optional)

This jumper clears the Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM of date, time and system

setup parameters in CMOS. The RAM data in CMOS is powered by the

onboard button cell battery.

To erase the RTC RAM:

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

2. Remove the battery.

3. Move the jumper caps from [1-2] to [2-3] momentarily. Replace the

jumper cap to the original position, [1-2].

4. Re-install the battery.

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

6. Hold down the <Del> key during the boot process and enter BIOS setup

to re-enter data.

CLRTC1

1 2

2 3

A7N8X-X

Normal

Clear CMOS

(Default)

A7N8X-X Clear RTC RAM

4. Keyboard power (3-pin KBPWR1)

This jumper allows you to enable or disable the keyboard wake-up feature. Set

this jumper to pins 2-3 (+5VSB) if you wish to wake up the computer when you

press a key on the keyboard (the default value is [Disabled]). This feature

requires an ATX power supply that can supply at least 1A on the +5VSB lead,

and a corresponding setting in the BIOS (see section 2.5.1 Power Up Control).

KBPWR1

1 2

2 3

+5V

(Default)

+5VSB

A7N8X-X

A7N8X-X Keyboard Power Setting

ASUS A7N8X-X Motherboard

1-11

1.10 Connectors

This section describes and illustrates the connectors on the motherboard.

IDE connectors (40-1 pin PRI_IDE1, SEC_IDE1)

This connector supports the provided UltraDMA/133/100/66 IDE hard disk

ribbon cable. Connect the cable’s blue connector to the primary

(recommended) or secondary IDE connector, then connect the gray

connector to the UltraDMA/133/100/66 slave device (hard disk drive) and the

black connector to the UltraDMA/133/100/66 master device. It is

recommended that you connect non-UltraDMA/133/100/66 devices to the

secondary IDE connector. If you install two hard disks, 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. BIOS supports specific

device bootup. If you have more than two UltraDMA/133/100/66 devices,

purchase another UltraDMA/133/100/66 cable. You may configure two hard

disks to be both master devices with two ribbon cables – one for the primary

IDE connector and another for the secondary IDE connector.

Pin 20 on each IDE connector is removed to match the covered hole

on the UltraDMA cable connector. This prevents incorrect orientation

when you connect the cables.

For UltraDMA/133/100/66 IDE devices, use an 80-conductor IDE

cable.

NOTE: Orient the red markings

(usually zigzag) on the IDE

ribbon cable to PIN 1.

A7N8X-X

PIN 1

A7N8X-X IDE Connectors

1-12

Chapter 1: Motherboard Information

Floppy disk drive connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY1)

This connector supports the provided floppy drive ribbon cable. After

connecting one end to the motherboard, connect the other end to the

floppy drive. (Pin 5 is removed to prevent incorrect insertion when

using ribbon cables with pin 5 plug).

FLOPPY1

NOTE: Orient the red markings on

the floppy ribbon cable to PIN 1

A7N8X-X

PIN 1

A7N8X-X Floppy Disk Drive Connector

ATX power connectors (20-pin ATXPWR1)

These connectors connect to an ATX 12V power supply. The plugs from the

power supply are designed to fit these connectors in only one orientation. Find

the proper orientation and push down firmly until the connectors completely fit.

ATXPWR1

+3.3VDC

-12.0VDC

COM

+3.3VDC

COM

PS_ON#

COM

+5.0VDC

COM

+5.0VDC

COM

-5.0VDC

+5.0VDC

PWR_OK

+5VSB

+12.0VDC

A7N8X-X

A7N8X-X ATX Power Connector

If you will need to replace the power supply in the future, make sure

that your new ATX 12V power supply can provide 8A on the +12V lead

and at least 1A on the +5-volt standby lead (+5VSB). The minimum

recommended wattage is 230W, or 300W for a fully configured system.

The system may become unstable and may experience difficulty

powering up if the power supply is inadequate.

ASUS A7N8X-X Motherboard

1-13

USB header (10-1 pin USB56) (optional)

If the USB 2.0 port connectors on the back panel are inadequate, one USB

header is available for four additional USB port connectors. Connect a 2-port

USB connector set to a USB header and mount the USB bracket to an open

slot in the chassis.

A7N8X-X

USB56

A7N8X-X USB 2.0 Header

5. GAME/MIDI connector (16-1 pin GAME1) (optional)

This connector supports a GAME/MIDI module. If your package came with the

optional USB 2.0/GAME module, connect the GAME/MIDI cable to this

connector. The GAME/MIDI port on the module connects a joystick or a game

pad for playing games, and MIDI devices for playing or editing audio files.

A7N8X-X

GAME1

A7N8X-X Game Connector

1-14

Chapter 1: Motherboard Information

CPU and Chassis Fan Connectors

(3-pin CPU_FAN1, CHA_FAN1)

The fan connectors support cooling fans of 350mA~740mA (8.88W max.) or a

total of 1A~2.22A (26.64W 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.

CPU_FAN1

Rotation

+12V

GND

CHA_FAN1

A7N8X-X

A7N8X-X 12-Volt Cooling Fan Power

Do not forget to connect the fan cables to the fan connectors. Lack of

sufficient air flow within the system may damage the motherboard

components. These are not jumpers! DO NOT place jumper caps on

the fan connectors!

7. Chassis intrusion connector (4-1 pin CHASSIS1)

This lead is for a chassis designed with intrusion detection feature. This

requires an external detection mechanism such as a chassis intrusion sensor

or microswitch. When you remove any chassis component, the sensor

triggers and sends a high-level signal to this lead to record a chassis

intrusion event.

By default, the pins labeled “Chassis Signal” and “Ground” are shorted with a

jumper cap. If you wish to use the chassis intrusion detection feature, remove

the jumper cap from the pins.

CHASSIS1

A7N8X-X

A7N8X-X Chassis Open Alarm Lead

ASUS A7N8X-X Motherboard

1-15

Front panel audio connectors (10-1 pin FP_AUDIO1)

This is an interface for the Intel front panel audio cable that allow convenient

connection and control of audio devices.

FPAUDIO1

A7N8X-X

A7N8X-X Front Panel Audio Connector

Hard disk connector (2-pin IDELED1)

This 2-pin connector connects to the front panel HD LED and lights up on

every read/write activity of any of the disc drives connected to the primary or

secondary IDE slots.

IDELED1

A7N8X-X

TIP: If the case-mounted LED does not

light, try reversing the 2-pin plug.

A7N8X-X IDE Activity LED

10. OnBoard LED

The green Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights-ON if there is standby power and

lights-OFF when the power is turned off.

PWR_LED1

A7N8X-X

OFF

Standby

Power

Powered

Off

A7N8X-X Onboard LED

1-16

Chapter 1: Motherboard Information

11. Internal audio connectors (4-pin CD1, AUX1, MODEM1)

These connectors allow you to receive stereo audio input from sound sources

such as a CD-ROM, TV tuner, MPEG card or modem.

MODEM1

CD1 (Black) AUX1 (White)

A7N8X-X

A7N8X-X Internal Audio Connectors

12. Power Supply Thermal Sensor (2-pin PWRTMP1)

This header supports a thermal sensor for the power supply.

PWRTMP1

A7N8X-X

PWRTMP

Ground

A7N8X-X Power Supply Thermal Connector

13. Serial Port 2 connector (10-1 pin COM2) (optional)

This connector accomodates a second serial port using an optional serial port

bracket. Connect the bracket cable to this connector then install the bracket

into a slot opening at the back of the system chassis.

COM2

PIN 1

A7N8X-X

A7N8X-X Serial COM2 Bracket

ASUS A7N8X-X Motherboard

1-17

14. Digital Audio Connector (6 pin SPDIF1) (optional)

This connector is for optional S/PDIF audio module that allows digital instead

of analog sound input and output.

SPDIF1

A7N8X-X

A7N8X-X Digital Audio Connector

When you input sound for S/PDIF IN, the LINE_OUT will output the

sound. Mute LINE_OUT to impede sound output from S/PDIF IN.

15. Infrared Module connector (10-1 or 10-2 pin IR_CON1) (optional)

These connectors support an optional wireless transmitting and receiving

infrared module. The module mounts to a small opening on the system chassis

that support this feature. You must also configure the UART2 Use As

parameter in BIOS to set UART2 for use with IR.

Use the ten pins as shown in Back View and connect a ribbon cable from the

module to the motherboard SIR connector according to the pin definitions.

IR_CON1

Standard Infrared (SIR)

Front View

Back View

SIR

CIR

A7N8X-X

+5V

(NC)

IRTX

GND

IRRX

A7N8X-X Infrared Connector

1-18

Chapter 1: Motherboard Information

16. System panel connector (20-pin PANEL1)

This connector accommodates several system front panel functions.

Keyboard Lock

Power LED

Speaker

Connector

Reset SW

A7N8X-X

ATX Power

Switch*

SMI Lead

Requires an ATX power supply.

A7N8X-X System Panel Connectors^*

•

System Power LED Lead (3-1 pin PLED)

This 3-1 pin connector connects to the system power LED. The LED lights

up when you turn on the system power.

Keyboard Lock Lead (2-1 pin KEYLOCK)

This 2-1 pin connector connects to the case-mounted switch to allow the use

of the keyboard lock feature.

System Warning Speaker Lead (4-pin SPEAKER)

This 4-pin connector connects to the case-mounted speaker and allows you

to hear system beeps and warnings.

System Management Interrupt Lead (2-pin SMI)

This 2-pin connector permits switching to suspend mode, or “Green” mode, in

which system activity is instantly decreased to save power and to expand the

life of certain system components.

•

Reset Switch (2-pin RESET)

This 2-pin connector connects to the case-mounted reset switch for rebooting

the system without turning off the power switch.

ATX Power Switch / Soft-Off Switch Lead (2-pin PWR)

This connector connects a switch that controls the system power. Pressing

the power switch turns the system between ON and SLEEP, or ON and

SOFT OFF, depending on the BIOS or OS settings. Pressing the power

switch while in the ON mode for more than 4 seconds turns the system OFF.

ASUS A7N8X-X Motherboard

1-19

1-20

Chapter 1: Motherboard Information

Chapter 2

This chapter gives information about the ASUS

A7N8X-X Basic Input/Output System

(BIOS).This chapter includes updating the BIOS

using the ASUS AFLASH BIOS that is bundled

with the support CD.

2-1

ASUS A7N8X-X Motherboard

2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS

2.1.1 Using the computer system for the first time

It is recommended that you save a copy of the original motherboard BIOS along with

a Flash Memory Writer utility (AWDFLASH.EXE) to a bootable floppy disk in case

you need to reinstall the BIOS later. AWDFLASH.EXE is a Flash Memory Writer

utility that updates the BIOS by uploading a new BIOS file to the programmable flash

ROM on the motherboard. This file works only in DOS mode. To determine the BIOS

version of your motherboard, check the last four numbers of the code displayed on

the upper left-hand corner of your screen during bootup. Larger numbers represent

a newer BIOS file.

1. Type FORMATA:/S at the DOS prompt to create a bootable system disk. DO NOT

copy AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS to the disk.

2. Type COPY D:\SOFTWARE\AWDFLASH\AWDFLASH.EXE A:\ (assuming D is

your CD-ROM drive) to copy AWDFLASH.EXE to the boot disk you created.

AWDFLASH works only in DOS mode. It does not work in the DOS prompt

within Windows, and does not work with certain memory drivers that may be

loaded when you boot from the hard drive. It is recommended that you reboot

using a floppy disk in order to open DOS mode.

Reboot the computer from the floppy disk. To use AWDFLASH.EXE must be

operated from the ROOT directory. Therefore, copy the AWDFLASH.EXE

program and the NEW BIOS file to the root directory on the hard disk drive;

for example: type, “COPY A:\AWDFLASH.EXE C:\” and “COPY

A:\BIOSNAME.BIN C:\.

If you encounter problems while updating the new BIOS, DO NOT turn off the

system because this may cause boot problems. Just repeat the process, and if

the problem persists, load the original BIOS file you saved to the boot disk, or

try to clear the CMOS memory (see section 1.7, Jumpers). If the Flash Memory

Writer utility is not able to successfully update a complete BIOS file, the system

may not boot. If this happens, call the ASUS service center for support.

2-2

Chapter 2: BIOS Setup

2.1.2 Updating BIOS procedures

Update the BIOS only if you have problems with the motherboard and you are

sure that the new BIOS revision will solve your problems. Careless updating

may create more problems !

The Binary Input/Output System (BIOS) can be updated using the built-in Flash

Memory Writer utility or using a bootable floppy disk with the executable Flash

Memory Writer Utility (AWDFLASH.EXE). The following sub-sections explain the

steps in flashing your BIOS.

Updating BIOS via Built-in AwardBIOS Flash Utility

1. Download the latest BIOS file from the ASUS website (see ASUS contact info on

Page viii). Save the copy to a floppy disk.

Write down the BIOS file name on a piece of paper. You need to type the exact

BIOS file name at the Award BIOS Flash Utility.

Reboot the computer.

To use AwardBIOS Flash Utility, press <Alt> + <F2> during POST to display

the following screen.

The BIOS information in the above screen is for reference only. what you see

on your screen may not be exactly the same as shown.

Insert the disk that contains the new BIOS file into the floppy drive. You will

receive the error message, “WARNING! Device not ready!” if you proceed to

step 5 without the disk in the drive.

5. Type the name of the new BIOS file, for example: “AW0702.BIN” then press <Enter>.

The program asks if you want to save the previous BIOS. Select <Y> since it is

advisable to back-up the original BIOS in case you need to reprogram it.

2-3

ASUS A7N8X-X Motherboard

The program asks to save the previous BIOS to a separate file. Type a file

name for the old bios and then press <Y>. The AWDFLASH program backs-

up the file.

AWDFLASH proceeds to check the new BIOS file and asks the user to

program (flash) the new BIOS file to the motherboard.

Type <Y> and Press <Enter> to flash the new Bios file. NOTE: Do not shut

off system power or unplug the supply during the flash process.

2-4

Chapter 2: BIOS Setup

9. The BIOS flashes and displays the results. Press <F1> to restart.

Updating BIOS via Bootable Floppy Disk

1. Boot from the floppy disk.

At the “A:\” prompt, type “C:\” and then press <Enter>.

3. At the “C:\” prompt, type “AWDFLASH /e BIOSFILE” and then <Enter>. For

example: “AWDFLASH /e aw0702.bin” The AWDFLASH screen appears, and

the BIOS file appears in the space, “File Name to Program”.

4. Type the name of the new BIOS file, for example: “AW0702.BIN” then press <Enter>.

The program asks if you want to save the previous BIOS. Select <Y> since it is

advisable to back-up the original BIOS in case you need to reprogram it.

5. Follow steps 6 to 9 in “2.1.2.1 Updating BIOS via Built-in Award BIOS Flash

Utility.”

2-5

ASUS A7N8X-X Motherboard

2.2 BIOS 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, reconfiguring

your system, or prompted to “Run Setup”. This section explains how to configure

your system using this utility.

Even if you are not prompted to use the Setup program, you may want to change the

configuration of your computer in the future. For example, you may want to enable

the security password feature or make changes to the power management settings.

This requires you to reconfigure your system using the BIOS Setup program so that

the computer can recognize these changes and record them in the CMOS RAM of

the 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

<Delete> 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 first

two failed.

The Setup program is designed to make it as easy to use as possible. It is a menu-

driven program, which means you can scroll through the various sub-menus and

make your selections among the predetermined choices.

Because the BIOS software is constantly being updated, the following BIOS

setup screens and descriptions are for reference purposes only, and may not

exactly match what you see on your screen.

2-6

Chapter 2: BIOS Setup

2.2.1 BIOS menu bar

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

MAIN

Use this menu to make changes to the basic system configuration.

ADVANCED Use this menu to enable and make changes to the advanced

features, including BIOS, Chipset, Peripheral, Power and PnP/ PCI

configurations.

SECURITY Use this menu to set the Supervisor and User passwords.

HARDWARE Monitor the status of vital components, including voltages and fan

speeds.

EXIT

MONITOR

Use this menu to exit the current menu or to exit the Setup

program.

To access the menu bar items, press the right or left arrow key on the keyboard until

the desired item is highlighted.

2.2.2 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(s)

Function Description

<F1>

Displays the General Help screen

<Esc>

Jumps to the Exit menu 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 fields

Page Down and – (minus)

Scrolls backward through the values for the highlighted

field

Page Up and + (plus)

<Enter>

Scrolls forward through the values for the highlighted field

Brings up a selection menu for the highlighted field

Saves changes and Exit

<F10>

2-7

ASUS A7N8X-X Motherboard

General help

In addition to the Item Specific Help window, the BIOS setup program also provides

a General Help screen. You may launch this screen from any menu by simply pressing

<F1> or the <Alt> + <H> combination. The General Help screen lists the legend keys

and their corresponding functions.

Saving changes and exiting the Setup program

See “4.7 Exit Menu” for detailed information on saving changes and exiting the setup

program.

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 fit 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 first page, press <End> to go to the last page. To exit the help

window, press <Enter> or <Esc>.

Sub-menu

Note that a right pointer symbol (as shown on the

left) appears to the left of certain fields. This pointer

indicates that you can display a sub-menu from this

field. A sub-menu contains additional options for a

field parameter. To display a sub-menu, move the

highlight to the field and press <Enter>. The sub-

menu appears. Use the legend keys to navigate

and enter values within each sub-menu as you

would within a menu. Use the <Esc> key to return

to the main menu. Take some time to familiarize

yourself with the legend keys and their

corresponding functions. Practice navigating

through the various menus and sub-menus. While

moving around through the Setup program, note that explanations appear in the Item

Specific Help window located to the right of each menu. This window displays the

help text for the currently highlighted field.

2-8

Chapter 2: BIOS Setup

2.3 Main Menu

When you enter the Setup program, the following screen appears.

System Date [mm/dd/yy]

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: (up to 2084). Use the <Tab> or <Shift> + <Tab> keys to move between

the month, day, and year fields.

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> or <Shift> + <Tab> keys to

move between the hour, minute, and second fields.

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.]

Halt On [All Errors]

This field sets the system to halt on errors according to the system functions specified

in each option. Configuration options: [All Errors] [No Errors] [All, But Keyboard] [All

, But Diskette] [All, But Disk/Key]

2-9

ASUS A7N8X-X Motherboard

2.3.1 Primary Master/Slave

IDE HDD Auto-Detection [Press Enter]

Press enter to automatically detect an IDE hard disk drive, if the hard drive is not

already detected. In cases of undetected HDDs, pressing enter will detect the HDD

and then open access to both the IDE Primary Master and Access Mode fields.

IDE Primary Master/Slave [Auto]

Select [Auto] to automatically detect an IDE hard disk drive. If automatic detection is

successful, the setup BIOS automatically fills in the correct values for the remaining

fields on this sub-menu. If automatic detection fails, this may be because the hard

disk drive is too old or too new. If the hard disk was already formatted on a previous

system, the setup BIOS may detect incorrect parameters. In these cases, select

[Manual] to manually enter the IDE hard disk drive parameters. See Access Mode

below and refer to the next page for more details. If no drive is installed or if you are

removing a drive and not replacing it, select [None]. Configuration options: [None]

[Auto [Manual]

Access Mode [Auto]

The default [Auto] automatically detects an IDE hard disk drive. Select [CHS] in

coordination with the [Manual] setting of the IDE Primary Master in order to enter the

Hard Disk Drive values manually.

Before attempting to configure a hard disk drive, make sure you have the

correct configuration information supplied by the drive manufacturer. Incorrect

settings may cause the system to fail to recognize the installed hard disk.

2-10

Chapter 2: BIOS Setup

[Manual] & [CHS] Settings

Manually enter the number of cylinders, heads and sectors per track for the drive.

Refer to the drive documentation or on the drive label for this information.

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.

After making your selections on this sub-menu, press the <Esc> key to return to the

Main menu. When the Main menu appears, the hard disk drive field displays the size

for the hard disk drive that you configured.

Access Mode [Auto]

Select the hard disk drive type in this field. When Logical Block Addressing (LBA) is

enabled, the 28-bit addressing of the hard drive is used without regard for cylinders,

heads, or sectors. Note that LBA Mode is necessary for drives with more than 504MB

storage capacity. Select [CHS] to make manual entries for configuring the fields below.

Configuration options: [CHS] [LBA] [Large] [Auto]

Cylinders

This field configures the number of cylinders. Refer to the drive documentation to

determine the correct value. To make changes to this field, set the IDE Primary

Master field to [Manual] and the Access Mode to [CHS].

Head

This field configures the number of read/write heads. Refer to the drive documentation

to determine the correct value. To make changes to this field, set the IDE Primary

Master field to [Manual] and the Access Mode to [CHS].

Precomp

This field displays the precompressed volumes on the hard disk, if any, in MB.

2-11

ASUS A7N8X-X Motherboard

Landing Zone

This field displays the drive’s maximum useable capacity as calculated by the BIOS

based on the drive information you entered.

Sector

This field configures the number of sectors per track. Refer to the drive documentation

to determine the correct value. To make changes to this field, set the Type field to

[User Type HDD] and the Translation Method field to [Manual].

2.3.2 Secondary Master/Slave

IDE HDD Auto-Detection [Press Enter]

Press enter to automatically detect an IDE hard disk drive, if the hard drive is not

already detected. In cases of undetected HDDs, pressing enter will detect the HDD

and then open access to both the IDE Primary Master and Access Mode fields.

IDE Secondary Master/Slave [Auto]