Asus A7V400 MX SE User Manual

A7V400-MX SE  
Contents  
Notices.................................................................................................v  
Safety information .............................................................................. vi  
About this guide ................................................................................ vii  
A7V400-MX SE specifications summary ........................................... viii  
Chapter 1:  
Product introduction  
1.1  
1.2  
1.3  
Welcome!.............................................................................. 1-2  
Package contents ................................................................. 1-2  
Special features.................................................................... 1-2  
1.3.1  
1.3.2  
Product highlights................................................... 1-2  
Innovative ASUS features ....................................... 1-4  
1.4  
1.5  
Before you proceed .............................................................. 1-5  
Motherboard overview.......................................................... 1-6  
1.5.1  
1.5.2  
1.5.3  
Motherboard layout ................................................ 1-6  
Placement direction ................................................ 1-7  
Screw holes ............................................................ 1-7  
1.6  
1.7  
Central Processing Unit (CPU) .............................................. 1-8  
1.6.1  
1.6.2  
Overview................................................................. 1-8  
Installing the CPU.................................................... 1-8  
System memory ................................................................... 1-9  
1.7.1  
1.7.2  
1.7.3  
1.7.4  
Overview................................................................. 1-9  
Memory configurations ........................................... 1-9  
Installing a DIMM ...................................................1-13  
Removing a DIMM .................................................1-13  
1.8  
Expansion slots...................................................................1-14  
1.8.1  
1.8.2  
1.8.3  
1.8.4  
Installing an expansion card..................................1-14  
Configuring an expansion card..............................1-14  
AGP slot................................................................1-16  
PCI slots................................................................1-16  
1.9  
Switch and jumpers ............................................................1-17  
1.10 Connectors .........................................................................1-20  
1.10.1 Rear panel connectors ..........................................1-20  
1.10.2 Internal connectors...............................................1-21  
iii  
Contents  
Chapter 2:  
BIOS setup  
2.1  
Managing and updating your BIOS ........................................ 2-2  
2.1.1  
2.1.2  
2.1.3  
2.1.4  
2.1.5  
Creating a bootable floppy disk.............................. 2-2  
AwardBIOS Flash Utility .......................................... 2-3  
ASUS CrashFree BIOS utility ................................... 2-4  
ASUS EZ Flash utility .............................................. 2-4  
ASUS Update utility ................................................ 2-5  
2.2  
2.3  
BIOS beep codes .................................................................. 2-7  
BIOS setup program ............................................................. 2-7  
2.3.1  
2.3.2  
BIOS menu bar ........................................................ 2-8  
Legend bar ............................................................. 2-8  
2.4  
2.5  
Main menu ..........................................................................2-10  
Advanced menu..................................................................2-15  
2.5.1  
2.5.2  
2.5.3  
2.5.4  
2.5.5  
2.5.6  
CPU Configuration.................................................2-15  
Memory Configuration ..........................................2-16  
Chipset .................................................................2-17  
PCIPnP...................................................................2-19  
Onboard Devices Configuration ............................2-20  
USB Configuration.................................................2-22  
2.6  
2.7  
Power menu........................................................................2-23  
2.6.1  
2.6.2  
APM Configuration ................................................2-24  
Hardware Monitor .................................................2-26  
Boot menu ..........................................................................2-27  
2.7.1  
2.7.2  
2.7.3  
2.7.4  
2.7.5  
2.7.6  
Boot Device Priority..............................................2-27  
Removable Drives .................................................2-28  
Hard Disk Drives ...................................................2-28  
CDROM Drives .......................................................2-29  
Boot Settings Configuration .................................2-29  
Security ................................................................2-30  
2.8  
Exit menu ...........................................................................2-32  
Chapter 3:  
Software support  
3.1  
3.2  
Installing an operating system ............................................. 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.......................................................... 3-3  
Contacts menu ....................................................... 3-4  
i v  
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 adapter or extension  
cord. These devices could interrupt the grounding circuit.  
Make sure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your  
area. If you are not sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you  
are using, contact your local power company.  
If the power supply is broken, do not try to fix it by yourself. Contact  
a 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.  
v i  
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.  
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. Refer to the ASUS contact  
information.  
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  
A7V400-MX SE specifications summary  
CPU  
Socket A for AMD AthlonXP/Sempronprocessors  
Thoroughbred/Barton core support  
Chipset  
VIA KM400A  
VIA VT8237 (no RAID support)  
Front Side Bus (FSB)  
Memory  
400/333/266/200 MHz  
2 x 184-pin DDR DIMM sockets support up to maximum  
2 GB unbuffered DDR400*/333/266/200 non-ECC  
DDR SDRAM memory  
*may run only at 333 MHz (DDR333)  
Expansion slots  
Storage  
3 x PCI  
1 x AGP 8X/4X (1.5V only)  
2 x IDE connectors support up to four  
UltraATA133/100/66 hard disk drives  
2 x Serial ATA connectors support up to two  
Serial ATA hard disk drives  
Graphics  
Audio  
Integrated VIA UniChrome3D/2D graphics and  
video controller  
AD1888 SoundMAX 6-channel audio CODEC  
S/PDIF out interface  
LAN  
USB  
VIA VT6103 10/100 Mbps Ethernet LAN PHY  
Supports up to eight USB 2.0 ports  
Hardware  
monitoring  
Super I/O integrated monitoring of CPU/chassis fan  
and MB/CPU temperature  
Rear panel I/O  
ports  
1 x Parallel port  
1 x Serial (COM1) port  
1 x VGA port  
1 x PS/2 keyboard port (purple)  
1 x PS/2 mouse port (green)  
1 x LAN (RJ-45) port  
4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports  
6-channel audio ports  
Internal  
connectors  
1 x Floppy disk drive connectors  
2 x IDE connectors  
2 x Serial ATA connectors  
2 x USB connectors  
1 x S/PDIF out connector  
1 x GAME connector  
1 x CD connector  
(continued next page)  
viii  
A7V400-MX SE specifications summary  
Internal  
1 x AUX connector  
connectors  
(continuation)  
1 x Front panel audio connector  
CPU/chassis fan connectors  
ATX power connector  
Panel connector  
BIOS features  
2 Mb Flash ROM, Phoenix Award BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0,  
WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.3,ASUS EZ Flash, ASUS CrashFree  
BIOS, ASUS C.O.P. (CPU Overheating Protection)  
Industry standard  
Manageability  
PCI 2.2, USB 2.0/1.1  
Wake on Ring (WOR), Wake on LAN (WOL)  
Support CD  
contents  
Drivers  
ASUS PC Probe  
ASUS Live Update Utility  
Award BIOS Flash Utility  
Adobe Acrobat Reader  
Anti-virus Utility (OEM version)  
Microsoft® DirectX 9.0c  
Form factor  
Micro-ATX form factor: 9.6 in x 9.6 in  
* Specifications are subject to change without notice.  
i x  
x
This chapter describes the  
motherboard features and the new  
technologies it supports.  
Product  
1
introduction  
1.1 Welcome!  
Thank you for buying an ASUS® A7V400-MX SE motherboard!  
The motherboard delivers a host of new features and latest technologies,  
making it another standout in the long line of ASUS quality motherboards!  
Before you start installing the motherboard, and hardware devices on it,  
check the items in your package with the list below.  
1.2 Package contents  
Check your motherboard package for the following items.  
Motherboard  
Cables  
ASUS A7V400-MX SE motherboard  
Serial ATA signal cable and Serial ATA power cable  
Ultra DMA 133/100/66 cable  
Floppy disk drive cable  
Accessories  
I/O shield  
Application CDs ASUS motherboard support CD  
Documentation User guide  
If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.  
1.3 Special features  
1.3.1 Product highlights  
400 MHz FSB support  
The motherboard comes with a Socket A that supports AthlonXP/  
Sempronprocessor with up to 400 MHz front side bus frequency for  
increased application productivity and enhanced digital multimedia  
experience. See page 1-8.  
VIA KM400A and VT8237  
The VIA KM400A Northbridge and the VIA VT8237 Southbridge chipset  
provides support for vital motherboard interfaces. The Northridge chip  
features an integrated VIA Unichrome2D/3D graphics core allowing  
efficient execution of multimedia applications and playback support for  
DVD video. The chipsets communicate at speeds of up to 533 MB/s using  
the fast 8X V-Link connection.  
The VT8237 chip provides native support for Serial ATA, USB, Parallel ATA,  
LAN, and audio interfaces.  
1-2  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
DDR memory support  
Employing the Double Data Rate (DDR) memory technology, the  
motherboard supports up to 2 GB of system memory using DDR 333/266/  
200 DIMMs. The fast 333 MHz memory bus delivers the required bandwidth  
for the latest 3D graphics, multimedia, and Internet applications.  
See page 1-9 for details.  
Serial ATA technology  
The motherboard supports the Serial ATA technology through the Serial ATA  
connectors and the VIA VT8237R. The SATA specification allows for thinner,  
more flexible cables with lower pin count, reduced voltage requirement, and  
up to 150 MB/s data transfer rate. See page 1-22 for details.  
Integrated Ethernet LAN controller  
A 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet controller is embedded in this motherboard  
to give you a fast and reliable connection to a local area network (LAN)  
and the Internet. See page 1-20.  
SoundMax 6-channel audio  
Onboard is the ADI SoundMax 5.1-channel audio CODEC. The SoundMAX  
Digital Audio System is the industrys highest performance and most  
reliable audio solution for business professionals, audiophiles, musicians,  
and gamers. SoundMAX Digital Audio System can output 5.1 channel  
surround sound and features state-of-the-art DLS2 MIDI synthesizer and  
supports all major game audio technologies. See page 1-20.  
S/PDIF digital sound ready  
The motherboard supports the S/PDIF Out function through the S/PDIF  
connector at midboard. The S/PDIF technology turns your computer into a  
high-end entertainment system with digital connectivity to powerful audio and  
speaker systems. See page 1-25 for details.  
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. See pages 1-20 and 1-23 for details.  
ASUS A7V400-MX SE  
1-3  
1.3.2 Innovative ASUS features  
CrashFree BIOS  
This feature allows you to restore the original BIOS data from a floppy disk  
(with the original BIOS file and the AwardBIOS Flash Utility) in case the BIOS  
file gets corrupted. This utility eliminates the need to buy a replacement  
ROM chip. See page 2-4 for details.  
ASUS EZ Flash BIOS  
With the ASUS EZ Flash, you can easily update the system BIOS even  
before loading the operating system. No need to use a DOS-based utility or  
boot from a floppy disk. See page 2-4 for details.  
ASUS C.O.P. (CPU Overheating Protection)  
The ASUS C.O.P. (CPU Overheating Protection) is a hardware protection  
circuit that automatically shuts down the system power before  
temperatures go high enough to permanently damage the CPU. See page  
2-26 for details.  
1-4  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
1.4 Before you proceed  
Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard  
components or change any motherboard settings.  
Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any  
component.  
Use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or a  
metal object, such as the power supply case, before handling  
components to avoid damaging them due to static electricity  
Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them.  
Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded  
antistatic pad or in the bag that came with the component.  
Before you install or remove any component, ensure  
that the ATX power supply is switched off or the  
power cord is detached from the power supply. Failure  
to do so may cause severe damage to the motherboard, peripherals,  
and/or components.  
Onboard LED  
The motherboard comes with a standby power LED that lights up to  
indicate that the system is ON, in sleep mode, or in soft-off mode. This is a  
reminder that you should shut down the system and unplug the power  
cable before removing or plugging in any motherboard component. The  
illustration below shows the location of the onboard LED.  
SB_PWR  
A7V400-MX SE  
ON  
OFF  
Standby  
Power  
Powered  
Off  
A7V400-MX SE Onboard LED  
ASUS A7V400-MX SE  
1-5  
1.5 Motherboard overview  
1.5.1 Motherboard layout  
24.5cm (9.6in)  
PS/2KBMS  
T: Mouse  
B: Keyboard  
Socket 462  
CPU_FAN  
COM1  
DSW  
VGA1  
USB12  
VIA  
KM400A  
LAN_USB34  
Top:Line In  
Center:Line Out  
Below:Mic In  
Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP1)  
SATA2  
SATA1  
VIA  
VT6103  
PCI1  
VIA  
A7V400-MX SE  
PCI2  
VT8237  
CR2032 3V  
Lithium Cell  
Super  
I/O  
CMOS Power  
SPDIF  
CHA_FAN1  
PANEL  
PCI3  
CLRTC  
USBPWR56  
USBPWR78  
AD1888  
SB_PWR  
FP_AUDIO  
AUX  
CD  
USB56  
USB78  
GAME  
1-6  
Chapter 1: Product introduction