A7V266-MX
User Guide
Contents
Contents .....................................................................................................iii
Notices ........................................................................................................ v
Safety information ...................................................................................... vi
A7V266-MX specification summary ...........................................................vii
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.1 Welcome! ....................................................................................... 1-2
1.2 Package contents .......................................................................... 1-2
1.3 Special features ............................................................................. 1-2
1.4 Motherboard components.............................................................. 1-4
1.5 Motherboard layout........................................................................ 1-7
1.6 Motherboard installation ................................................................ 1-8
1.6.1
1.6.2
Placement direction ......................................................... 1-8
Screw holes ..................................................................... 1-8
1.7 Before you proceed ....................................................................... 1-9
1.8 Central Processing Unit (CPU) .................................................... 1-10
Installing the CPU ........................................................................ 1-10
1.9 System memory ........................................................................... 1-11
Installing a DIMM ......................................................................... 1-11
1.10 Expansion slots ........................................................................... 1-12
1.10.1 Configuring an expansion card ...................................... 1-12
1.10.2 AGP slot ......................................................................... 1-13
1.10.3 PCI slots ........................................................................ 1-13
1.11 Switch and jumpers ..................................................................... 1-14
1.12 Connectors .................................................................................. 1-17
Chapter 2: BIOS information
2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS ............................................... 2-2
2.1.1
2.1.2
2.1.3
Creating a bootable floppy disk ....................................... 2-2
Updating BIOS using the AwardBIOS Flash Utility .......... 2-3
CrashFree BIOS feature .................................................. 2-4
2.2 BIOS beep codes .......................................................................... 2-5
2.3 BIOS Setup program ..................................................................... 2-5
2.3.1
2.3.2
BIOS menu bar ................................................................ 2-6
Legend bar....................................................................... 2-6
2.4 Main Menu ..................................................................................... 2-8
2.4.1
IDE Primary Master/Slave
IDE Secondary Master/Slave......................................... 2-10
iii
Contents
2.5 Advanced Menu ........................................................................... 2-12
2.5.1
2.5.2
2.5.3
2.5.4
Chip Configuration ......................................................... 2-13
I/O Device Configuration................................................ 2-18
PCI Configuration .......................................................... 2-20
Frequency/Voltage Control ............................................ 2-22
2.6 Power Menu ................................................................................ 2-23
2.6.1
2.6.2
Power Up Control .......................................................... 2-25
Hardware Monitor .......................................................... 2-26
2.7 Boot Menu ................................................................................... 2-27
2.8 Exit Menu ..................................................................................... 2-28
Chapter 3: Software support
3.1 Installing an operating system ....................................................... 3-2
3.2 Support CD information ................................................................. 3-2
3.2.1
3.2.2
3.2.3
3.2.4
Running the support CD .................................................. 3-2
Drivers menu ................................................................... 3-3
Utilities menu ................................................................... 3-4
ASUS contact information................................................ 3-5
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 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.
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 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.
vi
A7V266-MX specification summary
CPU
Socket A for AMD Athlon™ XP/Athlon™/Duron processors
Chipset
VIA KM266
VIA VT8235 CE
Front Side Bus (FSB)
Memory
266/200 MHz
2 x 184-pin DDR DIMM sockets support up to maximum 2GB
unbuffered PC2100/1600 non-ECC DDR SDRAM memory.
Expansion slots
3 x PCI
1 x AGP 4X (1.5V only)
IDE
2 x UltraDMA133/100/66
Graphics
Audio
Integrated VIA UniChrome™ Graphics
AD1980 6-channel AUDIO CODEC
S/PDIF out interface
LAN
VIA VT6103 10/100 Mbps Ethernet PHY
Hardware monitoring
Super I/O integrated monitoring of CPU/chassis fan and
MB/CPU temperature
Rear panel I/O ports
Internal connectors
BIOS features
1 x Parallel
1 x Serial (COM1)
1 x PS/2 keyboard
1 x PS/2 mouse
1 x RJ45
1 x Audio I/O
1 x VGA
4 x USB 2.0
1 x USB connector supports additional 2 USB 2.0 ports
CPU/chassis FAN connectors
Chassis intrusion connector
20-pin ATX power connector
CD / AUX connectors
S/PDIF out connector
GAME/MIDI connector
Front panel audio connector
2Mb Flash ROM, Award BIOS, ACPI, DMI2.0, WfM 2.0,
SMBIOS 2.3, PnP features, TCAV, ASUS EZ Flash,
CrashFree BIOS, ASUS C.O.P. (CPU Overheating
Protection)
(continued next page)
vii
A7V266-MX specification summary
Industry standard
Manageability
PCI 2.2, USB 2.0
WfM 2.0, DMI 2.0, WOL/WOR by PME, chassis intrusion
Support CD contents
Device drivers
ASUS PC Probe
ASUS Update
ASUS Screensaver
Award BIOS Flash Utility
Microsoft® Direct X
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Trend Micro™ PC-cillin 2002
Accessories
Form factor
User Guide
ASUS A7V266-MX support CD
UltraATA cable
FDD cable
I/O shield
Micro-ATX form factor: 9.6 in x 9.6 in
* Specifications are subject to change without notice.
About this guide
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.
viii
Chapter 1
This chapter describes the features of
this motherboard. It includes brief
descriptions of the motherboard
components, and illustrations of the
layout, jumper settings, and connectors.
Product introduction
1.1 Welcome!
Thank you for buying the ASUS® A7V266-MX motherboard!
The ASUS A7V266-MX motherboard is loaded with the most advanced
technologies to deliver maximum performance for Socket A processors. This
motherboard is packed with value-added features for guaranteed consumer
satisfaction. The following sections provide important technical information about
the motherboard for future upgrades or system reconfiguration.
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 A7V266-MX package for the following items.
ASUS A7V266-MX motherboard. (Micro-ATX form factor: 9.6 in x 9.6 in)
ASUS A7V266-MX support CD
40-pin 80-conductor ribbon cable for UltraDMA133 IDE drives
Ribbon cable for a 3.5-inch floppy drive
Bag of extra jumper caps
I/O shield
User Guide
1.3 Special features
266MHz FSB support for Athlon™ XP/Athlon™/Duron™
processors
The A7V266-MX motherboard supports 266MHz front side bus frequency for
Athlon™ XP/ Athlon™/Duron™ processors allowing increased application program
productivity and enhanced digital media experience. See page 1-10 for details.
Integrated graphics
The A7V266-MX motherboard is loaded with an integrated VIA Unichrome™
2D/3D graphics core allowing efficient execution of multimedia applications and
playback support for video and DVD.
1-2
Chapter 1: Product introduction
SoundMAX Digital Audio System
The SoundMax Digital Audio System is the industry’s highest performance and
most reliable audio solution for business professionals, audiophiles, musicians,
and gamers. SoundMAX Digital Audio System can output 5.1 channel surround
and features state-of-the-art DLS2 MIDI synthesizer with Yamaha DLSbyXG sound
set, 5.1 Virtual Theater™ and supports all major game audio technologies
including Microsoft DirectX™8.0, Microsoft DirectSound 3D™, A3D, MacroFX,
ZoomFX, MultiDrive 5.1 and EAX.
USB 2.0 technology
The motherboard implements the Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 specification,
dramatically increasing the connection speed from the 12 Mbps bandwidth on USB
1.1 to a fast 480 Mbps on USB 2.0. USB 2.0 is backward compatible with USB 1.1.
ASUS C.O.P.
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.
ASUS CrashFree BIOS
CrashFree BIOS allows users to restore BIOS data from a floppy disk even when
BIOS code and data are corrupted. Users can now enjoy this feature without the
need to buy a new ROM.
Digital audio support
A Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) connector is onboard to give you
convenient connectivity to external home theater audio systems. The S/PDIF
technology allows direct digital audio transfers keeping the best signal quality.
NOTE: The S/PDIF module is purchased separately.
Integrated 10/100 LAN
The A7V266-MX motherboard is equipped with an onboard 10/100Mbps Fast
Ethernet controller to give you a fast and reliable connection to Local Area
Networks (LANs) and the Internet.
ASUS A7V266-MX motherboard user guide
1-3
1.4 Motherboard components
Before you install the motherboard, learn about its major components and
available features to facilitate the installation and future upgrades. Refer to the
succeeding pages for the component descriptions.
1 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
14
13
10
12 11
15
16
17
18
19
20
25
24
23
21
22
1-4
Chapter 1: Product introduction
CPU socket. Socket 462 (Socket A) Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) socket for
AMD Athlon XP™/Athlon™/Duron™ processor.
1
2
Northbridge. The VIA KM266 Northbridge controller chipset supports a
64-bit DDR memory controller and up to 2GB of 266/200MHz DDR
memory. It also supports AGP 4X technology. VIA KM266 is also loaded
with the VIA UniChrome™ 2D/3D graphics core for efficient multimedia
applications including DVD and video playback support.
DDR DIMM sockets. Equipped with two Double Data Rate Dual Inline
Memory Module (DDR DIMM) sockets to support up to 2GB of DDR
SDRAM, the newest memory standard with the highest bandwidth and
lowest latency currently available. This memory technology supplies allows
data transfer rates of up to 2.1GB/s on 266MHz DDR SDRAM.
3
4
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).
DIP switches. This 5-pin Dual Inline Package (DIP) switches allows you to
select the CPU frequency multiple.
5
6
Floppy disk drive 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 UltraDMA133/100/66, PIO Modes 0-4 IDE devices. Both the
primary (blue) and secondary (black) connectors are slotted to prevent
incorrect insertion of the IDE ribbon cable.
7
8
AGP slot. The Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) slot only supports 1.5V
AGP 4X mode graphics cards for 3D graphical applications.
9
Flash ROM. This 2Mb ISA chip contains the programmable BIOS program.
Super I/O chip. Winbond 83697HF I/O controller 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. The Super I/O
controller supports a floppy disk drive, Game/MIDI port, PS/2 keyboard,
and PS/2 mouse.
10
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.
11
ASUS A7V266-MX motherboard user guide
1-5
Southbridge. The VIA VT8235 CE Southbridge controller communicates
with the north bridge at rates of up to 533MB/s using the VIA 8X VLink
Technology. The Southbridge controller provides efficient bandwith
requirements for PCI, USB and support for LAN devices. The controller
also supports standard UltraDMA133/100/66 and provides separate data
paths for each IDE channel for up to two IDE devices. The controller
supports six USB ports, one LAN port and is PCI 2.2 compliant.
12
Audio CODEC. The ADI AD1980 6-channel Audio CODEC is AC’97
compliant and is designed for PC multimedia systems.
13
14
PCI slots. These 32-bit PCI 2.2 expansion slots support bus master PCI
cards like SCSI and LAN cards with 133MB/s maximum output.
15
16
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 South bridge integrated MAC and the VIA VT6103
LAN PHY Fast Ethernet controller, this port allows connection to a Local
Area Network (LAN) through a network hub.
17
Line In jack. This Line In (light blue) jack connects a tape player or other
audio sources. In a 6-channel mode, this jack functions as Bass/Center.
18
19
20
21
22
Line Out jack. This Line Out (lime) jack connects a headphone or a
speaker. In a 6-channel mode, this jack functions as Front Speaker Out.
Microphone jack. This Mic (pink) jack connects a microphone. In a
6-channel mode, this jack functions as Rear Speaker Out.
USB 1 & 2 ports. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus 2.0/1.1 ports are
available for connecting USB devices such as mouse and PDA.
USB 3 & 4 ports. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus 2.0/1.1 ports are
available for connecting USB devices such as mouse and PDA.
23
24
VGA port. This 15-pin VGA port connects to a VGA monitor.
Serial port (COM1). This port connects to your serial mouse and other
serial devices.
PS/2 keyboard port. This purple 6-pin connector is for a PS/2 keyboard.
25
1-6
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.5 Motherboard layout
24.5cm (9.6in)
PS/2KBMS
T: Mouse
B: Keyboard
Socket 462
CPU_FAN
COM1
DSW
VGA1
USB1
USB2
VIA
KM266
USB2.0
Top:
T: USB3
RJ-45
B: USB4
Top:Line In
Center:Line Out
Below:Mic In
Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP1)
®
VIA
VT6103
PCI1
VIA
A7V266-MX
PCI2
VT8235CE
CHA_FAN1
CR2032 3V
Lithium Cell
CMOS Power
Super
I/O
SPDIF
AD1980
CODEC
PCI3
CLRTC
USBPWR56
CHASSIS
USB56
FP_AUDIO
AUX1 CD1
GAME
PANEL
SB_PWR
ASUS A7V266-MX motherboard user guide
1-7
1.6 Motherboard installation
The A7V266-MX uses the Micro ATX form factor, measuring 24.5 cm (9.6 in.) x
24.5 cm (9.6 in.) - a standard fit for most large chassis.
Unplug the power cord before installing the motherboard. Failure to do so may
cause you physical injury and damage Motherboard components.
1.6.1 Placement direction
Orient the motherboard with the chassis before installation. The edge with external
ports goes to the rear part of the chassis. Refer to the image below. It may be
more convenient to install major cables, the CPU and modular components before
fixing the motherboard inside the case frame.
1.6.2 Screw holes
Place eight (8) screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the
motherboard to the chassis.
Do not overtighten the screws! Doing so may damage the motherboard.
Place this side
towards the rear of
the chassis
1-8
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.7 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. Avoid touching the ICs on components.
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.
When lit, the onboard LED indicates that the system is ON, in sleep mode or in
soft-off mode, not powered OFF. See the illustration below.
SB_PWR
®
A7V266-MX
ON
OFF
Standby
Power
Powered
Off
A7V266-MX Onboard LED
ASUS A7V266-MX motherboard user guide
1-9
1.8 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The motherboard provides a Socket A (462) for CPU installation. The A7V266-MX
supports Athlon™ XP processors with “QuantiSpeed” data processing, large data
caches, 3D enhancements and 266/200MHz bus speeds. AMD Athlon™ XP
processors offer gigahertz speeds to support all the latest computing platforms and
applications
CPU NOTCH
TO INNER
CORNER
LOCK
LEVER
®
CPU NOTCH
A7V266-MX
AMD™ CPU
A7V266-MX 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.
A fan and heatsink should be attached to the CPU to prevent overheating.
Installing the CPU
Follow these steps to install a CPU:
1. Locate the Socket 462 and open it by
pulling the lever gently sideways away
from the socket. Then lift the lever
upwards. The socket lever must be
fully opened (90 to 100 degrees).
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 fit, check its alignment and look
for bent pins.
1-10
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.9 System memory
The motherboard has two Double Data Rate (DDR) DIMM sockets that supports
up to 2GB non-ECC PC2100/1600 DDR SDRAM DIMMs. Each DIMM socket is
two-sided. DIMMs come in combinations of single or double-sided types ranging
through 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB and 1 GB.
®
A7V266-MX
A7V266-MX 184-Pin DDR DIMM Sockets
DDR DIMM notch
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.
Unlocked Retaining Clip
3. Firmly insert the DIMM into the
socket until the retaining clips lock
into place.
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.
ASUS A7V266-MX motherboard user guide
1-11
1.10 Expansion slots
The A7V266-MX motherboard has three (3) PCI and one (1) Accelerated Graphics
Port (AGP). The following sub-sections describe the slots and the expansion cards
that they support.
1.10.1 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.
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.
Standard Interrupt Assignments
IRQ
Standard Function
System Timer
0
1
Keyboard Controller
2
Programmable Interrupt Controller
USB Universal Host Controller
Communications Port (COM1)
Onboard Audio
3*
4*
5*
6
Standard Floppy Disk Controller
Printer Port (LPT1)
7*
8
System CMOS/Real Time Clock
Onboard LAN
9*
10*
11*
12*
13
14*
15*
USB Universal Host Controller
Onboard VGA
PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port
Numeric Data Processor
Ultra ATA Controller
Secondary Ultra ATA Controller
* These IRQs are usually available for ISA or PCI devices.
IRQ assignments for this motherboard
A
B
C
D
PCI slot 1
PCI slot 2
PCI slot 3
AGP slot
shared
–
–
–
–
–
shared
–
shared
–
–
–
–
–
–
shared
1-12
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.10.2 AGP slot
This motherboard has an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) slot that supports
+1.5V AGP 4X cards. Note the notches on the card golden fingers to ensure that
they fit the AGP slot on your motherboard.
®
A7V266-MX
Keyed for 1.5v
A7V266-MX Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP)
1.10.3 PCI slots
Three 32-bit PCI slots are available on this motherboard. The slots support PCI
cards such as LAN card, SCSI card, USB card, and other cards that comply with
PCI specifications. This figure shows a typical PCI card installed into a slot:
ASUS A7V266-MX motherboard user guide
1-13
1.11 Switch and jumpers
The motherboard frequency is adjusted through the DIP switches. The white block
represents the switch position. The illustration below shows the ON and OFF
positions of the switches.
DSW
ON
ON
OFF
1 2 3 4 5
1.Frequency Selection
®
2.Frequency Selection
3.Frequency Selection
4.Frequency Selection
5.Frequency Selection
A7V266-MX
A7V266-MX DIP Switches
The option to set the CPU core bus frequency multiple is available only on
unlocked CPUs. If you are using a locked CPU, setting the switches does not
produce any effect.
1. CPU external frequency selection (SW1 Switches 1-5)
This option tells the clock generator what frequency to send the CPU. This
allows the selection of the CPU’s external frequency (or Bus Clock). The BUS
Clock multiplied by the Frequency Multiple equals the CPU’s internal frequency
(the advertised CPU speed).
DSW
ON
ON
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
CPU
AGP 66.67MHz
PCI 33.33MHz
100MHz
133.33MHz
66.67MHz
33.33MHz
®
A7V266-MX
(Default)
A7V266-MX CPU
External Frequency Selection
The default CPU external frequency is 100MHz. If your CPU supports 133MHz
external frequency, adjust the DSW settings before installing the motherboard.
Set the CPU frequency only to the recommended settings. Frequencies other
than the recommended CPU bus frequencies are not guaranteed to be stable.
1-14
Chapter 1: Product introduction
2. USB device wake-up (3-pin USBPWR12, USBPWR34, USBPWR56)
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 USBPWR12 and USBPWR34 jumpers are for rear USB ports.
USBPWR56 is for the internal USB header that you can connect to front USB
ports.
The USB device wake-up feature requires a power supply that can provide
500mA on the +5VSB lead for each USB port. 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.
USBPWR12
USBPWR34
3
2
1
2
+5V
+5VSB
(Default)
®
USBPWR56
A7V266-MX
1 2
2 3
+5V
+5VSB
(Default)
A7V266-MX USB Device Wake Up
ASUS A7V266-MX motherboard user guide
1-15
3. Clear RTC RAM (CLRTC)
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 [2-3] to [1-2] momentarily. Replace the jumper
cap to the original position, [2-3].
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.
®
CLRTC
A7V266-MX
1 2
2 3
Clear CMOS
Normal
(Default)
A7V266-MX Clear RTC RAM
1-16
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.12 Connectors
This section describes and illustrates the connectors on the motherboard.
1. IDE connectors (40-1 pin PRI_IDE, SEC_IDE)
This connector supports the provided UltraDMA 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
UltraDMA133 slave device (hard disk drive) and the black connector to the
UltraDMA133 master device.
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 UltraDMA133 IDE devices, use 40-pin 80-conductor cable.
NOTE: Orient the red markings
(usually zigzag) on the IDE
ribbon cable to PIN 1.
®
A7V266-MX
PIN 1
A7V266-MX IDE Connectors
2. 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.)
FLOPPY
NOTE: Orient the red markings on
the floppy ribbon cable to PIN 1.
®
A7V266-MX
PIN 1
A7V266-MX Floppy Disk Drive Connector
ASUS A7V266-MX motherboard user guide
1-17
3. Digital Audio Connector (6-1 pin SPDIF)
This connector is for optional S/PDIF audio module that allows digital instead
of analog sound input and output.
SPDIF
®
A7V266-MX
A7V266-MX 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. The S/PDIF module
is not included in this motherboard package.
4. ATX power connectors (20-pin ATXPWR)
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.
ATXPWR
+12.0VDC
+5VSB
PWR_OK
COM
+5.0VDC
+5.0VDC
-5.0VDC
COM
+5.0VDC
COM
COM
COM
®
+5.0VDC
COM
PS_ON#
COM
A7V266-MX
+3.3VDC
+3.3VDC
-12.0VDC
+3.3VDC
A7V266-MX 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.
1-18
Chapter 1: Product introduction
5. USB header (10-1 pin USB56)
If the USB 2.0 port connectors on the back panel are inadequate, a USB
header is available for two 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.
®
A7V266-MX
USB56
1
A7V266-MX USB Connectors
The USB connector module is not included in this motherboard package.
6. GAME/MIDI connector (16-1 pin GAME)
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.
®
A7V266-MX
GAME
A7V266-MX Game Connector
The GAME port module is not included in this motherboard package.
ASUS A7V266-MX motherboard user guide
1-19
7. CPU and Chassis Fan Connectors
(3-pin CPU_FAN, CHA_FAN)
The fan connectors support cooling fans of 350mA~740mA (8.88W max).
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_FAN
®
CHA_FAN
A7V266-MX
GND
+12V
Rotation
A7V266-MX Fan Connectors
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!
8. Chassis intrusion connector (4-1 pin CHASSIS)
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.
CHASSIS
®
A7V266-MX
A7V266-MX Chassis Alarm Lead
(Default)
1-20
Chapter 1: Product introduction
9. Front panel audio connectors (10-1 pin FP_AUDIO)
This is an interface for front panel audio cable that allows convenient
connection and control of audio devices.
®
FP_AUDIO
A7V266-MX
A7V266-MX Front Panel Audio Connector
10. 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, MPEG card or modem.
AUX (White) CD (Black)
®
A7V266-MX
A7V266-MX Internal Audio Connectors
ASUS A7V266-MX motherboard user guide
1-21
11. System panel connector (20-pin PANEL)
This connector accommodates several system front panel functions.
Speaker
Connector
Power LED
®
Reset SW
A7V266-MX
IDELED
ATX Power
Switch*
SMI Lead
*
Requires an ATX power supply.
A7V266-MX 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, and blinks when the system is in sleep
mode.
•
•
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 allows you to manually place the system into a suspend
mode, or “green” mode, where system activity is instantly decreased to save
power and to expand the life of certain system components. Attach the
case-mounted suspend switch to this 2-pin connector.
•
•
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.
•
Hard Disk Activity Lead (2-pin IDE LED)
This connector supplies power to the hard disk activity LED. The read or write
activities of any device connected to the primary or secondary IDE connector
cause this LED to light up.
1-22
Chapter 1: Product introduction
Chapter 2
This chapter tells how to change system settings
through the BIOS Setup menus. Detailed
descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also
provided.
BIOS information
2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS
•
•
The original BIOS file for this motherboard is in the support CD.
Copy the original BIOS to a bootable floppy disk in case you
need to restore the BIOS in the future.
2.1.1 Creating a bootable floppy disk
1. Do either one of the following to create a bootable floppy disk.
DOS environment
Insert a 1.44 MB floppy disk into the drive. At the DOS prompt, type:
format a: /s , then press the <Enter> key
Windows® 98SE environment
a. From your Windows desktop, click Start, point to Settings, then click
Control Panel.
b. Double-click Add/Remove Programs icon from the Control Panel window.
c. Click on the Startup Disk tab, then on Create Disk... button.
d. Insert a 1.44 MB floppy disk when prompted. Follow the suceeding screen
instructions to complete the process.
Windows® XP environment
a. Insert a new 1.44 MB floppy disk in the floppy disk drive.
b. From the Windows desktop, click Start > My Computer.
c. In the My Computer window, click the 3 1/2 Floppy icon.
d. From the Menu bar, click File > Format.
e.
Select “Create an MS-DOS Startup Disk” in
the Format Options field, then click Start.
2. Copy the original (or the latest) motherboard BIOS to the bootable floppy disk.
2-2
Chapter 2: BIOS Information
2.1.2 Updating BIOS using the AwardBIOS Flash
Utility
The Basic 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). Follow these instructions to update the
BIOS using this utility.
1. Download the latest BIOS file from the ASUS website (see ASUS contact info
on page vi). Rename the file to *.BIN and save it to a floppy disk.
Save only the updated BIOS file in the floppy disk to avoid loading a
wrong BIOS file.
2. Insert the disk that contains the new BIOS file into the floppy drive.
3. Reboot the computer.
4. Press <Alt> + <F2> during POST to display the following screen.
5. AWDFLASH checks the new BIOS file from the floppy disk.
6. After verification, AWDFLASH flashes the new BIOS file. Do not shut down the
computer during the flash process.
7. After the new BIOS file is copied, the computer returns to POST.
ASUS A7V266-MX motherboard user guide
2-3
Updating BIOS via a bootable floppy disk
1. Boot from the floppy disk.
2. At the “A:\” prompt, type “C:\” and then press <Enter>.
3. At the “C:\” prompt, type “AWDFLASH/ BIOSFILENAME” and then <Enter>.
For example: “AWDFLASH/ aw0702.bin” The AWDFLASH screen appears.
4. Follow steps 5 to 7 in “2.1.2 Updating BIOS using the Built-in Award BIOS
Flash Utility.”
2.1.3 CrashFree BIOS feature
The CrashFree BIOS feature allows you to boot the computer from a floppy disk
and update the BIOS in case the original BIOS fails or gets corrupted.
1. You must have a bootable floppy disk ready before updating the
BIOS.
2. The bootable floppy disk could be the one that you created
following the procedure in section 2.1.1, and should contain the
AWDFLASH.EXE utility.
3. If the BIOS fails (ROM data or codes are corrupted), a message
appears during POST indicating the failure.
To update the BIOS:
1. Turn on the computer, and when prompted, place the bootable floppy disk into
the floppy drive, so that the computer boots from the floppy disk.
2. Follow the BIOS update procedure in section “2.1.2 Updating BIOS using the
AwardBIOS Flash Utility.”
To use the CrashFree BIOS feature on this motherboard, install a VGA
card into one of the expansion slots before rebooting the computer. On
motherboards with onboard VGA, such as the A7V8X-MX, you will not
see the screen display when the BIOS crashes even if you reboot the
computer.
2-4
Chapter 2: BIOS Information
2.2 BIOS beep codes
When you turn the power on and the system runs POST (Power On Self Tests),
you will hear BIOS beeps. Refer to the following table for the meaning of the
beeps.
Award BIOS Beep Codes
Beep
Meaning
One short beep when
displaying logo
No error during POST
Long beeps in an endless loop
No DRAM installed or detected
One long beep followed by
three short beeps
Video card not found or video card
memory bad
High frequency beeps when
system is working
CPU overheated;
System running at a lower frequency
2.3 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.
ASUS A7V266-MX motherboard user guide
2-5
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.
2.3.1 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
POWER
BOOT
Use this menu to enable and make changes to the advanced
features.
Use this menu to configure and enable Power Management
features.
Use this menu to configure the default system device used to
locate and load the Operating System.
Use this menu to exit the current menu or to exit the Setup
program.
EXIT
To access the menu bar items, press the right or left arrow key on the keyboard until
the desired item is highlighted.
2.3.2 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
Displays the General Help screen
Navigates the Item Help screen
Loads previous values
<F1>
<F2>
<F5>
<F6>
<F7>
<Esc>
Loads fail-safe default values
Loads optimized values
Jumps to the Exit menu or returns to the main menu from
a sub-menu
Left or Right arrow
Up or Down arrow
Selects the menu item to the left or right
Moves the highlight up or down between fields
Page Down or – (minus)
Scrolls backward through the values for the highlighted
field
Page Up or + (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>
2-6
Chapter 2: BIOS Information
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.
Saving changes and exiting the Setup program
See “2.8 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
The right pointer symbol that appears at the left of certain
parameters indicates that a sub-menu exists for this
Date (mm:dd:yy)
Time (hh:mm:ss)
field. A sub-menu offers additional parameter options.
To display a sub-menu, move the highlight to the field
Drive A
Drive B
and press <Enter>. The sub-menu appears. Use the
IDE Primary Master
legend keys to navigate and enter values within each
IDE Primary Slave
IDE Secondary Master
IDE Secondary Slave
sub-menu as you would within a menu. Use the <Esc>
Chassis intrude detection
Set Supervisor Password
Set User Password
Security Option
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
Installed Memory
various menus and sub-menus. While moving around
Halt On
through the Setup program, note that explanations
appear in the Item Help window located to the right of
each menu. This window displays the help text for the
highlighted field.
ASUS A7V266-MX motherboard user guide
2-7
2.4 Main Menu
Date (mm:dd:yy)
Time (hh:mm:ss)
Wed, May 28 2003
15 : 30 : 30
Drive A
Drive B
[1.44M, 3.5 in.]
[None]
Change the day, month,
year and century.
IDE Primary Master
IDE Primary Slave
IDE Secondary Master
IDE Secondary Slave
Chassis intrude detection
Set Supervisor Password
Set User Password
[ST321122A]
[ASUS CDS520/]
[None]
[None]
[Enabled]
Clear
Clear
Security Option
[Setup]
Installed Memory
Halt On
[256MB]
[No Errors]
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: (1999 to 2099). Use the <Tab> key to move between the
month, day, and year fields.
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 fields.
Drive 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.]
Drive B [None]
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.]
Chassis intrude detection [Enabled]
Enable this option to activate the chassis intrusion feature of the motherboard.
Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
2-8
Chapter 2: BIOS Information
Set Supervisor Password [Clear] / Set User Password [Clear]
These fields allow you to set passwords. To set a password, highlight the
appropriate field and press <Enter>. Type in a password then press <Enter>. You
can type up to eight alphanumeric characters. Symbols and other characters are
ignored. To confirm the password, type the password again and press <Enter>.
The password is now set to [Set]. This password allows full access to the BIOS
Setup menus. To clear the password, highlight this field and press <Enter>. When
the same dialog box appear, press <Enter>. The password is set to [Clear].
A note about passwords
The BIOS Setup program allows you to specify passwords in the Main menu.
The passwords control access to the BIOS during system startup. Passwords
are not case sensitive, meaning, passwords typed in either uppercase or
lowercase letters are accepted. The BIOS Setup program allows you to specify
two different passwords: a Supervisor password and a User password. If you
did not set a Supervisor password, anyone can access the BIOS Setup
program. If you did, the Supervisor password is required to enter the BIOS
Setup program and to gain full access to the configuration fields.
Forgot the password?
If you forget your password, you can clear it by erasing the CMOS Real Time
Clock (RTC) RAM. The RAM data containing the password information is
powered by the onboard button cell battery. If you need to erase the CMOS
RAM, unplug the all the power cables and remove the button cell battery. Re-
install the battery after about 2 seconds, then power up the system. Refer to
section “1.11 Switch and Jumpers” on how to erase the CMOS RTC RAM.
Security Option [Setup]
This field requires users to enter the password before entering the BIOS setup or
the system. Select [Setup] to require the password before entering the BIOS
Setup. Select [System] to require the password before entering the system.
Configuration options: [Setup] [System]
Installed Memory [XXX MB]
This field automatically displays the amount of conventional memory detected by
the system during the boot process.
Halt On [No 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]
ASUS A7V266-MX motherboard user guide
2-9
2.4.1 IDE Primary Master/Slave
IDE Secondary Master/Slave
IDE Primary Master
IDE HDD Auto-Detection
[Press Enter]
To auto-detect the
HDD’s size, head...on
this channel.
IDE Primary Master
Access Mode
[Auto]
[Auto]
Capacity
40020 MB
Cylinder
Head
Precomp
19158
16
0
Landing Zone
Sector
Transfer Mode
19157
255
UDMA 2
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]
IDE Secondary 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. 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 Information
[Manual] & [CHS] Settings
IDE Primary Master
IDE HDD Auto-Detection
[Press Enter]
Press [Enter] to
select sector
addressing method.
IDE Primary Master
Access Mode
[Manual]
[CHS]
Capacity
40020 MB
Cylinder
Head
Precomp
[19158]
[
[
16]
0]
Landing Zone
Sector
Transfer Mode
[19157]
[ 255]
UDMA 2
Manually enter the number of cylinders, heads and sectors per track for the drive.
Refer to the drive documentation or 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. The Main menu displays the hard disk drive field with your
configuration.
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.
ASUS A7V266-MX motherboard user guide
2-11
|