Asus A8R MVP User Manual

A8R-MVP  
Contents  
Notices............................................................................................... vii  
Safety information ............................................................................ viii  
About this guide ................................................................................. ix  
A8R-MVP specifications summary....................................................... xi  
Chapter 1:  
Product introduction  
1.1  
1.2  
1.3  
Welcome!.............................................................................. 1-1  
Package contents ................................................................. 1-1  
Special features.................................................................... 1-2  
1.3.1  
1.3.3  
Product highlights................................................... 1-2  
Innovative ASUS features ....................................... 1-4  
Chapter 2:  
Hardware information  
2.1  
2.2  
Before you proceed .............................................................. 2-1  
Motherboard overview.......................................................... 2-2  
2.2.1  
2.2.2  
2.2.3  
2.2.4  
Placement direction ................................................ 2-2  
Screw holes ............................................................ 2-2  
Motherboard layout ................................................ 2-3  
Layout Contents..................................................... 2-4  
2.3  
2.4  
Central Processing Unit (CPU) .............................................. 2-5  
2.3.1  
2.3.2  
Installing the CPU.................................................... 2-5  
Installing the heatsink and fan................................ 2-7  
System memory .................................................................2-10  
2.4.1  
2.4.2  
2.4.3  
2.4.4  
Overview...............................................................2-10  
Memory Configurations.........................................2-11  
Installing a DDR DIMM ...........................................2-13  
Removing a DDR DIMM ..........................................2-13  
2.5  
Expansion slots...................................................................2-14  
2.5.1  
2.5.2  
2.5.3  
2.5.4  
2.5.5  
2.5.6  
Installing an expansion card..................................2-14  
Configuring an expansion card..............................2-14  
Interrupt assignments ..........................................2-15  
PCI slots................................................................2-16  
PCI Express x1 slot ...............................................2-16  
Two PCI Express x16 slots ...................................2-16  
iii  
Contents  
2.6  
2.7  
Jumper ...............................................................................2-18  
Connectors .........................................................................2-19  
2.7.1  
2.7.2  
Rear panel connectors ..........................................2-19  
Internal connectors...............................................2-21  
Chapter 3:  
Powering up  
3.1  
3.2  
Starting up for the first time................................................ 3-1  
Powering off the computer .................................................. 3-2  
3.2.1  
3.2.2  
Using the OS shut down function ........................... 3-2  
Using the dual function power switch .................... 3-2  
Chapter 4:  
BIOS setup  
4.1  
Managing and updating your BIOS ........................................ 4-1  
4.1.1  
4.1.2  
4.1.3  
4.1.4  
4.1.5  
ASUS Update utility ................................................ 4-1  
Creating a bootable floppy disk.............................. 4-4  
ASUS EZ Flash utility .............................................. 4-5  
AFUDOS utility ........................................................ 4-6  
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2 utility ................................ 4-9  
4.2  
BIOS setup program ...........................................................4-11  
4.2.1  
4.2.2  
4.2.3  
4.2.4  
4.2.5  
4.2.6  
4.2.7  
4.2.8  
4.2.9  
BIOS menu screen.................................................4-12  
Menu bar...............................................................4-12  
Navigation keys ....................................................4-12  
Menu items ...........................................................4-13  
Sub-menu items ...................................................4-13  
Configuration fields ..............................................4-13  
Pop-up window .....................................................4-13  
Scroll bar ..............................................................4-13  
General help ..........................................................4-13  
4.3  
Main menu ..........................................................................4-14  
4.3.1  
4.3.2  
4.3.3  
4.3.4  
System Time.........................................................4-14  
System Date .........................................................4-14  
Legacy Diskette A ................................................4-14  
Primary, Secondary, Third, and Fourth  
IDE Master/Slave ..................................................4-15  
4.3.5  
4.3.6  
Storage Configuration ..........................................4-16  
System Information ..............................................4-17  
i v  
Contents  
4.4  
Advanced menu..................................................................4-18  
4.4.1  
4.4.2  
4.4.3  
4.4.4  
4.4.5  
4.4.6  
4.4.7  
JumperFree Configuration ....................................4-18  
CPU Configuration.................................................4-22  
Chipset Configuration ...........................................4-26  
Onboard Devices Configuration ............................4-27  
PCI PnP .................................................................4-29  
LAN Cable Status .................................................4-30  
USB Configuration.................................................4-30  
4.5  
Power menu........................................................................4-32  
4.5.1  
4.5.2  
4.5.3  
4.5.4  
4.5.5  
4.5.6  
Suspend Mode ......................................................4-32  
Repost Video on S3 Resume ................................4-32  
ACPI 2.0 Support..................................................4-32  
ACPI APIC Support ................................................4-32  
APM Configuration ................................................4-33  
Hardware Monitor .................................................4-35  
4.6  
4.7  
Boot menu ..........................................................................4-37  
4.6.1  
4.6.2  
4.6.3  
Boot Device Priority..............................................4-38  
Boot Settings Configuration .................................4-39  
Security ................................................................4-40  
Exit menu ...........................................................................4-42  
Chapter 5:  
Software support  
5.1  
5.2  
Installing an operating system ............................................. 5-1  
Support CD information........................................................ 5-1  
5.2.1  
5.2.2  
5.2.3  
5.2.4  
5.2.5  
5.2.6  
5.2.7  
Running the support CD ......................................... 5-1  
Drivers menu .......................................................... 5-2  
Utilities menu.......................................................... 5-3  
Make Disk menu...................................................... 5-4  
Manuals menu ......................................................... 5-5  
ASUS Contact information...................................... 5-6  
Other information ................................................... 5-6  
v
Contents  
5.3  
Software information ........................................................... 5-8  
5.3.1  
5.3.2  
ASUS MyLogo....................................................... 5-8  
AI Net 2 ................................................................5-10  
Using the Virtual Cable Tester™ .........................................5-10  
5.3.3  
5.3.4  
5.3.5  
ASUS PC Probe II...................................................5-11  
Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ Technology ..................................5-17  
SoundMAX® High Definition Audio utility ..............5-19  
Audio Setup Wizard............................................................5-20  
RAID configurations ............................................................5-24  
5.4  
5.5  
5.4.1  
5.4.2  
Installing hard disks ..............................................5-25  
ULI® RAID configurations ......................................5-25  
Creating a RAID driver disk .................................................5-33  
Chapter 6:  
ATI® MVP technology support  
6.1  
6.2  
Overview............................................................................... 6-1  
Hardware installation ............................................................ 6-2  
6.2.1  
6.2.2  
Installing a single graphics card .............................. 6-2  
Installing CrossFire™ graphics cards ....................... 6-3  
6.3  
Software information ........................................................... 6-6  
6.3.1  
6.3.2  
Installing the device drivers.................................... 6-6  
Using the Catalyst™ Control Center ....................... 6-8  
v i  
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.  
vii  
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.  
The symbol of the crossed out wheeled bin indicates that the product  
(electrical and electronic equipment) should not be placed in municipal  
waste. Please check local regulations for disposal of electronic products.  
viii  
About this guide  
This user guide contains the information you need when installing and  
configuring the motherboard.  
How this guide is organized  
This guide contains the following parts:  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
This chapter describes the features of the motherboard and the new  
technology it supports.  
Chapter 2: Hardware information  
This chapter lists the hardware setup procedures that you have to  
perform when installing system components. It includes description of  
the switches, jumpers, and connectors on the motherboard.  
Chapter 3: Powering up  
This chapter describes the power up sequence, the vocal POST  
messages, and ways of shutting down the system.  
Chapter 4: BIOS setup  
This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS  
Setup menus. Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also  
provided.  
Chapter 5: Software support  
This chapter describes the contents of the support CD that comes  
with the motherboard package.  
Chapter 6: ATI® MVP technology support  
This chapter tells how to install ATI® MVP graphics cards.  
Where to find more information  
Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product  
and software updates.  
1 . ASUS websites  
The ASUS website provides updated information on ASUS hardware  
and software products. Refer to the ASUS contact information.  
2 . Optional documentation  
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.  
i x  
Conventions used in this guide  
To make sure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the  
following symbols used throughout this manual.  
DANGER/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: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a  
task.  
NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a  
task.  
Typography  
Bold text  
Italics  
Indicates a menu or an item to select.  
Used to emphasize a word or a phrase.  
<Key>  
Keys enclosed in the less-than and greater-than sign means  
that you must press the enclosed key.  
Example: <Enter> means that you must press the Enter or  
Return key.  
<Key1+Key2+Key3>  
If you must press two or more keys simultaneously, the  
key names are linked with a plus sign (+).  
Example: <Ctrl+Alt+D>  
Command  
Means that you must type the command exactly as shown,  
then supply the required item or value enclosed in  
brackets.  
Example: At the DOS prompt, type the command line:  
afudos /i[filename]  
afudos /iA8R-MVP.ROM  
x
A8R-MVP specifications summary  
CPU  
Socket 939 for AMD Athlon™ 64FX/Athlon™ 64 X2/  
Athlon™ 64/Sempron™ processor*  
AMD64 architecture enables simultaneous 32- and  
64-bit computing  
Supports AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ Technology  
Supports AMD HyperTransport™ Technology  
ATI Radeon® Xpress 200 CrossFire™  
2000/1600 MT/s  
Chipset  
System bus  
Memory  
Dual-channel memory architecture  
4 x 184-pin DIMM sockets support up to 4 GB  
unbufferred ECC/non-ECC 400/333/266 MHz DDR  
memory modules  
Expansion slots  
2 x PCI Express™ x16 slot for discrete graphics card  
1 x PCI Express™ x1 slot  
3 x PCI slots  
Supports ATI CrossFire™ graphics cards (both at x8  
mode)  
CrossFire™  
Storage  
ULi M1575 Southbridge supports:  
- 2 x IDE connectors for up to four Ultra DMA  
133/100/66/33 hard disks  
- 4 x Serial ATA I/II 3.0 Gb/s hard disks with RAID 0,  
RAID 1, RAID 1+0, RAID 5, and JBOD configuration  
ADI SoundMAX® AD1986A 6-channel CODEC  
S/PDIF Out port on the rear panel  
AI Audio  
LAN  
Marvell® 88E8001 Gigabit LAN controller featuring  
AI NET2  
T1 1394 controller supports:  
IEEE 1394a  
- 2 x IEEE 1394a ports (one on the rear panel and one at  
mid-board)  
USB  
Supports up to 8 USB 2.0/1.1 ports  
4 Mb Flash ROM, AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0  
BIOS features  
Special features  
ASUS MyLogo™  
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2  
ASUS Q-Fan2 Technology  
ASUS EZ Flash  
(continued on the next page)  
x i  
A8R-MVP specifications summary  
ASUS PEG Link  
Overclocking  
AI Overclocking (intelligent CPU frequency tuner)  
Precision Tweaker:  
- vDIMM: 8-step DRAM voltage control  
- vCore: Adjustable CPU voltage at 0.025 increment  
- Stepless Frequency Selection (SFS) allows FSB  
tuning from 200 MHz up to 400 MHz at 1 MHz  
increment  
ASUS C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)  
Rear panel  
1 x PS/2 mouse port  
1 x PS/2 keyboard port  
1 x Parallel port  
1 x LAN (RJ-45) port  
4 x USB 2.0 ports  
1 x Serial (COM) port  
1 x Coaxial S/PDIF port  
1 x IEEE 1394a port  
6-Channel audio ports  
WfM 2.0, DMI 2.0, WOL by PME, WOR by PME, chassis  
intrusion, PXE, and RPL  
Manageabiity  
Internal  
connectors  
1 x Floppy disk drive connector  
2 x IDE connectors  
4 x Serial ATA connectors  
1 x CPU fan connector  
1 x Chassis fan connector  
1 x Power fan connector  
1 x IEEE 1394a connector  
2 x USB 2.0 connectors for four additional USB 2.0 ports  
1 x 24-pin EATX power connector  
1 x 4-pin ATX 12 V power connector  
1 x EZ Plug connector  
1 x GAME/MIDI port connector  
1 x CD-in connector  
1 x AUX connector  
1 x Chassis intrusion connector  
1 x Front panel High Definition Audio connector  
1 x System panel connector  
Support CD  
contents  
Drivers  
ASUS PC Probe 2  
ASUS LiveUpdate Utility  
Anti-virus software (OEM version)  
Form factor  
ATX form factor: 12 in x 9.6 in (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm)  
Specifications are subject to change without notice.  
xii  
This chapter describes the  
motherboard features and the new  
technologies it supports  
Product  
1
information  
Chapter summary  
1
1.1  
1.2  
1.3  
Welcome!.............................................................................. 1-1  
Package contents ................................................................. 1-1  
Special features.................................................................... 1-2  
ASUS A8R-MVP  
1.1 Welcome!  
Thank you for buying an ASUS® A8R-MVP 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 A8R-MVP motherboard  
1 x Floppy disk drive signal cable  
1 x IDE cable  
1 x Ultra DMA cable 133/100/66 cable  
2 x Serial ATA signal cables  
1 x Serial ATA power cable (dual-plug)  
1 x IEEE 1394a cable  
Accessories  
I/O shield  
1 x MVP Switch Card  
1 x 2-port USB 2.0/Game module  
Application CDs ASUS motherboard support CD  
Documentation User guide  
If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.  
In single card mode, install the MVP Switch Card on the black PCI Express  
slot.  
ASUS A8R-MVP  
1-1  
1.3 Special features  
1.3.1 Product highlights  
Latest processor technology  
The motherboard comes with a 939-pin surface mount, Zero Insertion  
Force (ZIF) socket that supports AMD Athlon™ 64/Athlon™ 64 FX/Athlon™  
64 X2/Sempron™ processors. With an integrated low-latency  
high-bandwidth memory controller and a highly-scalable HyperTransport™  
technology-based system bus, the motherboard provides a powerful  
platform for your diverse computing needs, increased office productivity,  
and enhanced digital media experience. See page 2-5.  
ATI Radeon® Xpress 200 CrossFire™  
The ATI Radeon® Xpress 200 CrossFire™ boosts image quality and  
rendering speed, eliminating the need to crank down screen resolutions to  
get high quality images. The chipset allows higher antialiasing, anisotropic  
filtering, shading, and texture settings. ATI Radeon® Xpress 200 CrossFire™  
features the ATI Catalyst™ Control Center that allows you to get real-time  
3D-rendered previews of adjustments to your display configurations and  
advanced 3D settings. See Chapter 6 for details.  
PCI Express™ interface  
The motherboard fully supports PCI Express, the latest I/O interconnect  
technology that speeds up the PCI bus. PCI Express features point-to-point  
serial interconnections between devices and allows higher clockspeeds by  
carrying data in packets. This high speed interface is software compatible  
with existing PCI specifications. See page 2-16 for details.  
6-channel High Definition audio  
Onboard is the SoundMAX® ADI AD1986A 6-channel CODEC that supports  
Jack Sensing and Enumeration Technology. The CODEC supports High  
Definition Audio standard. With the CODEC, 6-channel audio ports, and  
S/PDIF interface, your computer will produce crystal-clear digital audio.  
See page 5-19 for details.  
1-2  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
Serial ATA I/II technology  
The motherboard supports the Serial ATA II 3 Gb/s technology through the  
Serial ATA interfaces and the ULI M1575 Southbridge. The Serial ATA II 3  
Gb/s specification provides twice the bandwidth of the current Serial ATA  
products with a host of new features, including Native Command Queueing  
(NCQ), and Power Management (PM) Implementation Algorithm. Serial ATA  
allows for thinner, more flexible cables with lower pin count, reduced voltage  
requirement. See page 2-22 for details.  
SATA RAID solution  
Onboard RAID controllers provide the motherboard with RAID functionality.  
The ULI M1575 Southbridge allows RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 5, and  
JBOD configuration. See page 5-25 for details.  
Gigabit LAN  
The motherboard comes with the Marvell® Yukon88E8001 Gigabit LAN  
controller to meet your growing networking needs. See pages 2-19 and  
5-10 for details.  
IEEE 1394a support  
The IEEE 1394a interface provides high-speed and flexible PC connectivity  
to a wide range of peripherals and devices compliant to IEEE 1394a  
standards. The IEEE 1394a interface allows up to 400 Mbps transfer rates  
through simple, low-cost, high-bandwidth asynchronous (real-time) data  
interfacing between computers, peripherals, and consumer electronic  
devices such as camcorders, VCRs, printers,TVs, and digital cameras. See  
pages 2-19 and 2-26 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 2-20 and 2-24 for details.  
ASUS A8R-MVP  
1-3  
1.3.3 Innovative ASUS features  
AI NET2  
The AI NET2 is a BIOS-based diagnostic tool that detects and reports  
Ethernet cable faults and shorts. With this utility, you can easily monitor  
the condition of the Ethernet cable(s) connected to the LAN (RJ-45)  
port(s). During the bootup process, AI NET2 immediately diagnoses the  
LAN cable(s) and reports shorts and faults up to 100 meters at 1 meter  
accuracy. See page 5-10 for details.  
Precision Tweaker  
This feature allows you to fine tune the CPU/memory voltage and gradually  
increase the memory Front Side Bus (FSB) and PCI Express frequency at  
1MHz increment to achieve maximum system performance. See pages 4-19  
and 4-20 for details.  
PEG Link Mode for two graphics cards  
This feature enhances your PCI Express graphics card performance, allowing  
the motherboard to automatically adjust the PCI Express graphics link mode  
to the correct frequency based on the system configuration. Four  
additional settings are available for overclocking the PEG Link Mode. See  
page 4-20 for details.  
ASUS Q-Fan 2 technology  
The ASUS Q-Fan 2 technology smartly adjusts the CPU fan speed according  
to the system loading to ensure quiet, cool, and efficient operation. See  
page 4-35 for details.  
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2  
This feature allows you to restore the original BIOS data from the support CD  
when the BIOS codes and data are corrupted. This protection eliminates the  
need to buy a replacement ROM chip. See page 4-9 for details.  
1-4  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
ASUS MyLogo™  
This feature allows you to personalize and add style to your system with  
customizable boot logos. See page 5-8 for details.  
C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)  
The C.P.R. feature of the motherboard BIOS allows automatic re-setting to  
the BIOS default settings in case the system hangs due to overclocking.  
When the system hangs due to overclocking, C.P.R. eliminates the need to  
open the system chassis and clear the RTC data. Simply shut down and  
reboot the system, and the BIOS automatically restores the CPU default  
setting for each parameter.  
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 4-5 for details.  
ASUS A8R-MVP  
1-5  
1-6  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
This chapter lists the hardware setup  
procedures that you have to perform  
when installing system components.  
It includes description of the jumpers  
and connectors on the motherboard.  
Hardware  
2
information  
Chapter summary  
2
2.1  
2.2  
2.3  
2.4  
2.5  
2.6  
2.7  
Before you proceed .............................................................. 2-1  
Motherboard overview.......................................................... 2-2  
Central Processing Unit (CPU) .............................................. 2-5  
System memory .................................................................2-10  
Expansion slots...................................................................2-14  
Jumper ...............................................................................2-18  
Connectors .........................................................................2-19  
ASUS A8R-MVP  
2.1 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  
A8R-MVP  
®
ON  
OFF  
Standby  
Power  
Powered  
Off  
A8R-MVP Onboard LED  
Make sure to connect the EZPlug when using two PCI Express graphics  
cards and a 20-pin ATX power supply unit, or if the graphics cards do  
not have auxiliary power plugs. See page 2-24 for the location of the  
EZPlug connector.  
ASUS A8R-MVP  
2-1  
2.2 Motherboard overview  
Before you install the motherboard, study the configuration of your chassis  
to ensure that the motherboard fits into it. Refer to the chassis  
documentation before installing the motherboard.  
Make sure to unplug the power cord before installing or removing the  
motherboard. Failure to do so can cause you physical injury and damage  
motherboard components.  
2.2.1 Placement direction  
When installing the motherboard, make sure that you place it into the  
chassis in the correct orientation. The edge with external ports goes to the  
rear part of the chassis as indicated in the image below.  
2.2.2 Screw holes  
Place nine (9) screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the  
motherboard to the chassis.  
Do not overtighten the screws! Doing so can damage the motherboard.  
Place this side towards  
the rear of the chassis  
A8R-MVP  
®
2-2  
Chapter 2: Hardware information  
2.2.3 Motherboard layout  
24.5cm (9.6in)  
PS/2KBMS  
T: Mouse  
B: Keyboard  
CPU_FAN  
ATX12V  
Super  
I/O  
SPDIF_O  
COM1  
Bottom:  
Top:  
USB1  
1394  
USB2  
USB2.0  
Top:  
T: USB3  
B: USB4  
RJ-45  
Top:Line In  
Center:Line Out  
Below:Mic In  
CHA_FAN  
ATI  
Radeon  
®
Xpress 200  
CrossFire™  
USB78_WFG  
EZ_PLUG  
CD  
AUX  
AAFP  
PCIEX16_2  
PCIEX1_1  
AD1986A  
A8R-MVP  
CR2032 3V  
Lithium Cell  
CMOS Power  
PCIEX16_1  
ULI  
M1575  
PCI1  
PCI2  
PCI3  
88E8001  
®
4Mbit  
BIOS  
CLRTC  
CHASSIS  
TI 1394  
PWR_FAN  
GAME  
PANEL  
IE1394_1  
USB56  
ASUS A8R-MVP  
2-3  
2.2.4 Layout Contents  
Slots  
Page  
1. DDR DIMM slots  
2. PCI slots  
2-10  
2-16  
2-16  
2-16  
3. PCI Express x1 slot  
4. PCI Express x16 slots  
Jumper  
Page  
2-18  
1. Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC)  
Rear panel connectors  
Page  
1. PS/2 mouse port  
2. Parallel port  
2-19  
2-19  
2-19  
2-19  
2-19  
2-19  
2-19  
2-20  
2-20  
2-20  
2-20  
2-20  
3. IEEE 1394a port  
4. LAN (RJ-45) port  
5. Line In port  
6. Line Out port  
7. Microphone port  
8. USB 2.0 ports 3 and 4  
9. USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2  
10. Serial port  
11. Coaxial S/PDIF Out port  
12. PS/2 keyboard port  
Internal connectors  
                                                                                                                                                                
P
                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                  
a
                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                                    
g
                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                                       
e
                                                                                                                                                                       
1. Floppy disk drive connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY)  
2-21  
2-21  
2. IDE connectors (40-1 pin PRI_IDE, 40-1 pin SEC_IDE)  
3. Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1 [red], SATA2 [red],  
SATA3 [black], SATA4 [black])  
2-22  
2-23  
4. CPU, Chassis, and Power fan connectors  
(3-pin CPU_FAN, 3-pin CHA_FAN, 3-pin PWR_FAN )  
5. USB connectors (10-1 USB56, USB78_WFG)  
2-24  
2-24  
2-25  
2-26  
2-26  
2-27  
2-27  
2-28  
6. Power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V; 4-pin EZ_PLUG)  
7. GAME/MIDI port connector (16-1 pin GAME)  
8. IEEE 1394a connector (10-1 pin IE1394_1)  
9. Chassis intrusion connector (4-1 pin CHASSIS)  
10. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP)  
11. Internal audio connectors (4-pin CD [black], 4-pin AUX [white])  
12. System panel connectors (20 pin PANEL)  
- System Power LED (Green 3-pin PLED)  
- Hard Disk activity (Red 2-pin IDE_LED)  
- System warning speaker (Orange 4-pin SPEAKER)  
- Power/Soft-off button(Yellow 2-pin PWRSW)  
- Reset switch (Blue 2-pin RESET)  
2-4  
Chapter 2: Hardware information