Asus CROSSHAIR E2711 User Manual

Crosshair  
Contents  
Notices......................................................................................................... vi  
Safety information ..................................................................................... vii  
About this guide ....................................................................................... viii  
Crosshair specifications summary............................................................ x  
Chapter 1:  
Product introduction  
1.1  
1.2  
1.3  
Welcome! ...................................................................................... 1-1  
Package contents......................................................................... 1-1  
Special features............................................................................ 1-2  
1.3.1  
1.3.2  
Product highlights ........................................................... 1-2  
ASUS Unique features .................................................. 1-5  
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  
2.2.5  
Placement direction ........................................................ 2-2  
Screw holes .................................................................... 2-2  
Motherboard layout......................................................... 2-3  
Audio card layout ............................................................ 2-3  
Layout contents............................................................... 2-4  
2.3  
2.4  
Central Processing Unit (CPU) ................................................... 2-6  
2.3.1  
2.3.2  
2.3.3  
Installing the CPU ........................................................... 2-6  
Installing the heatsink and fan ........................................ 2-8  
Installing the optional fan ...............................................2-11  
System memory ......................................................................... 2-12  
2.4.1  
2.4.2  
2.4.3  
2.4.4  
Overview....................................................................... 2-12  
Memory configurations.................................................. 2-12  
Installing a DIMM .......................................................... 2-19  
Removing a DIMM ........................................................ 2-19  
2.5  
Expansion slots.......................................................................... 2-20  
2.5.1  
2.5.2  
2.5.3  
2.5.4  
2.5.5  
2.5.6  
Installing an expansion card ......................................... 2-20  
Configuring an expansion card ..................................... 2-20  
Interrupt assignments ................................................... 2-21  
PCI slots........................................................................ 2-22  
PCI Express x4 slot....................................................... 2-22  
PCI Express x16 slots................................................... 2-22  
iii  
Contents  
2.6  
2.7  
Jumper ........................................................................................ 2-23  
Audio Card and EL I/O Installation........................................... 2-24  
2.7.1  
2.7.2  
Audio Card Installation.................................................. 2-24  
EL I/O Installation.......................................................... 2-24  
2.8  
Connectors ................................................................................. 2-25  
2.8.1  
2.8.2  
2.8.3  
Rear panel connectors.................................................. 2-25  
Internal connectors ....................................................... 2-28  
Onboard switches ......................................................... 2-35  
Chapter 3:  
Powering up  
3.1  
Starting up for the first time........................................................ 3-1  
3.2  
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:  
4.1  
BIOS setup  
Managing and updating your BIOS ............................................ 4-1  
4.1.1  
4.1.2  
4.1.3  
4.1.4  
4.1.5  
4.1.6  
ASUS Update utility ........................................................ 4-1  
Creating a bootable floppy disk....................................... 4-4  
ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility................................................... 4-5  
Updating the BIOS.......................................................... 4-6  
Saving the current BIOS file............................................ 4-8  
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility ...................................... 4-9  
4.2  
BIOS setup program .................................................................. 4-10  
4.2.1  
4.2.2  
4.2.3  
4.2.4  
4.2.5  
4.2.6  
4.2.7  
4.2.8  
BIOS menu screen.........................................................4-11  
Menu bar........................................................................4-11  
Legend bar.................................................................... 4-12  
Menu items ................................................................... 4-12  
Sub-menu items............................................................ 4-12  
Configuration fields ....................................................... 4-12  
Pop-up window ............................................................. 4-13  
General help ................................................................. 4-13  
4.3  
Main menu .................................................................................. 4-14  
4.3.1  
4.3.2  
4.3.3  
4.3.4  
4.3.5  
System Time ................................................................ 4-14  
System Date ................................................................ 4-14  
Language ..................................................................... 4-14  
Legacy Diskette A ........................................................ 4-14  
Primary IDE Master/Slave............................................. 4-15  
iv  
Contents  
4.3.6  
4.3.7  
4.3.8  
4.3.9  
SATA 1/2/3/4/5/6 .......................................................... 4-17  
HDD SMART Monitoring .............................................. 4-18  
Installed Memory........................................................... 4-18  
Usable Memory............................................................. 4-18  
4.4  
Extreme Tweaker menu ............................................................. 4-19  
4.4.1  
4.4.2  
4.4.3  
4.4.4  
4.4.5  
4.4.6  
4.4.7  
4.4.8  
LinkBoost ...................................................................... 4-19  
AI Tuning....................................................................... 4-19  
DRAM Configuration..................................................... 4-23  
SLI-Ready Memory....................................................... 4-28  
SLI-Ready Memory CPUOC......................................... 4-28  
AMD Live! ..................................................................... 4-28  
AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet Function......................................... 4-28  
NVIDIA GPU Ex ............................................................ 4-28  
4.5  
4.6  
4.7  
Advanced menu ......................................................................... 4-29  
4.5.1  
4.5.2  
4.5.3  
4.5.4  
AI NET2 ........................................................................ 4-29  
PEG Link Mode............................................................. 4-30  
PCIPnP ......................................................................... 4-30  
Onboard Device Configuration...................................... 4-31  
Power menu................................................................................ 4-35  
4.6.1  
4.6.2  
4.6.3  
4.6.4  
ACPI Suspend Type ..................................................... 4-35  
ACPI APIC Support....................................................... 4-35  
APM Configuration........................................................ 4-36  
Hardware Monitor ......................................................... 4-37  
Boot menu .................................................................................. 4-41  
4.7.1  
4.7.2  
4.7.3  
4.7.4  
4.7.5  
Boot Device Priority ...................................................... 4-41  
Removable Drives......................................................... 4-42  
Hard Disk Drives........................................................... 4-42  
Boot Settings Configuration ......................................... 4-43  
Security......................................................................... 4-44  
4.8  
4.9  
Tools menu ................................................................................. 4-46  
4.8.1  
4.8.2  
4.8.3  
ASUS Music Alarm........................................................ 4-46  
ASUS O.C. Profile......................................................... 4-47  
ASUS EZ Flash 2.......................................................... 4-49  
Exit menu.................................................................................... 4-50  
v
Contents  
Chapter 5:  
Software support  
5.1  
5.2  
Installing an operating system ................................................... 5-1  
Support DVD 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 DVD............................................... 5-1  
Drivers menu................................................................... 5-2  
Utilities menu .................................................................. 5-3  
Make Disk menu ............................................................. 5-5  
Manuals menu ................................................................ 5-6  
ASUS Contact information.............................................. 5-6  
Other information ............................................................ 5-7  
5.3  
Software information ................................................................... 5-9  
5.3.1  
5.3.2  
5.3.3  
5.3.4  
ASUS MyLogo3 .............................................................. 5-9  
SoundMAX ADI1988......................................................5-11  
Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ Technology.......................................... 5-16  
ASUS PC Probe II......................................................... 5-18  
5.4  
RAID configurations .................................................................. 5-24  
5.4.1  
5.4.2  
NVIDIA® MediaShield RAID configurations.................. 5-25  
Silicon Image RAID configurations ............................... 5-32  
5.5  
Creating a RAID driver disk....................................................... 5-40  
Chapter 6:  
NVIDIA® SLI™ technology support  
6.1  
6.2  
Overview ....................................................................................... 6-1  
Dual graphics card setup ............................................................ 6-2  
6.2.1  
6.2.2  
6.2.3  
Installing SLI-ready graphics cards................................. 6-2  
Installing the device drivers............................................. 6-5  
Enabling the multi-GPU feature in Windows® ................ 6-5  
Appendix:  
A.1  
Debug Code  
Debug code table .........................................................................A-1  
vi  
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 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.  
Handle the product with caution. Some sharp edges and points might cause  
physical injury. Installing the motherboard with cut or puncture resistant gloves  
is highly recommended.  
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.  
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 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 DVD that comes with the  
motherboard package.  
Chapter 6: NVIDIA® SLI™ technology support  
This chapter tells ow to install SLI-ready PCI Express graphics cards.  
Appendix: Debug Code  
This appendix explains the debug code on the LCD poster.  
Where to find more information  
Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and  
software updates.  
1.  
2.  
ASUS websites  
The ASUS website provides updated information on ASUS hardware and  
software products. Refer to the ASUS contact information.  
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.  
ix  
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:  
format A: /S  
x
Crosshair specifications summary  
CPU  
Support AMD® Socket AM2 Athlon 64 X2 / Athlon 64 FX /  
Athlon 64/ Sempron  
AMD Cool 'n' Quiet™ Technology  
AMD64 architecture enables simultaneous 32-bit and  
64-bit computing  
AMD Live!™ Ready  
Chipset  
NVIDIA nForce® 590 SLI™ MCP  
NVIDIA LinkBoost™ Technology  
System bus  
Memory  
2000 / 1600 MT/s  
Dual channel memory architecture  
4 x DIMM, max. 8GB, DDR2-800/667/533, ECC and non-  
ECC, un-buffered memory  
Expansion slots  
2 x PCI Express x16 slot with NVIDIA® SLI™ technology  
support, at full x16, x16 speed  
1 x PCI Express x4  
3 x PCI 2.2  
Scalable Link Interface  
(SLI™)  
Support two identical NVIDIA SLI-Ready graphics cards  
(both at x16 mode)  
ASUS two-slot thermal design  
ASUS PEG Link  
High Definition Audio  
SupremeFX Audio Card  
featuring ADI 1988B 8-channel High Definition Audio  
CODEC  
Support Jack-Sensing, Enumeration, Multi-streaming and  
Jack-Retasking  
8 channel audio ports  
Coaxial, Optical S/PDIF out on back I/O port  
* ASUS Array Mic  
* Noise Filter  
Storage  
NVIDIA nForce® 590 SLI™ MCP supports:  
* 1 x Ultra DMA 133 / 100 / 66 / 33  
* 6 x Serial ATA 3.0Gb/s with NCQ  
* NVIDIA MediaShield™ RAID supports RAID 0, 1, 0+1,  
5 and JBOD span cross Serial ATA drives  
Silicon Image® 3132 SATA controller supports:  
* 2 x External Serial ATA 3.0Gb/s port on back I/O (SATA  
On-the-Go)  
* Support RAID 0, 1, JBOD, RAID 0+1(10) and 5 through  
multiplier  
(continued on the next page)  
xi  
Crosshair specifications summary  
Dual Gigabit LAN  
Dual Gigabit LAN controllers support NVIDIA DualNet®  
technology  
NVIDIA nForce® 590 SLI™ MCP built-in dual Gigabit  
MAC with external Marvell PHY  
* Support Teaming and fail-over functions  
* Support TCP/IP Acceleration  
IEEE 1394  
USB  
TI 1394 controller supports 2 x 1394a ports  
max. 10 USB2.0/1.1 ports  
ASUS Exclusive  
Overclocking features  
Intelligent overclocking tools:  
* ASUS AI NOS™ (Non-delay Overclocking System)  
* AI Overclocking (intelligent CPU frequency tuner)  
* AI Clock Skew  
* ASUS PEG Link - automatically performance tuning for  
graphics cards  
* ASUS O.C. Profile: overclocking configuration-sharing  
tool  
* Extreme Tweaker  
* ASUS AI Booster Utility  
* Adjustable FSB/DDR2 ratio. Fixed PCI/PCIe  
frequencies.  
Overclocking Protection:  
* ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)  
ASUS Unique features  
LCD Poster  
EL I/O  
Onboard LED  
Onboard switches: Power / Reset / Clr CMOS  
Q-Connector  
Q-Fan Plus  
ASUS CrashFree BIOS3  
ASUS EZ Flash2  
ASUS Music Alarm  
ASUS MyLogo3  
AI NET2  
Multi-language BIOS  
Rear panel I/O Ports  
1 x PS/2 Keyboard port  
1 x PS/2 Mouses  
1 x Optical + 1 x Coaxial S/PDIF Output  
2 x External SATA  
2 x LAN (RJ45) port  
4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports  
1 x IEEE 1394a port  
1 x onboard LED switch  
1 x LCD Poster  
BIOS features  
8Mb AWARD BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.3  
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3  
(continued on the next page)  
xii  
Crosshair specifications summary  
Internal connectors  
3 x USB 2.0 connectors supports additional 6 USB 2.0  
ports  
1 x Floppy disk drive connector  
1 x IDE connector for two devices  
6 x SATA connectors  
1 x CPU / 7 x option Fan  
3 x thermal sensor connector  
1 x IEEE1394a connector  
1 x S/PDIF output connector  
Chassis Intrusion connector  
Front Panel Audio connector  
24-pin ATX Power connector  
8-pin ATX 12V Power connector  
System panel connector  
1 x EL I/O Shield connector  
Manageability  
WOL by PME, WOR by PME, Chasis Intrusion, PXE  
Power requirements  
ATX power supply (with 24-pin and 8-pin 12 V plugs)  
ATX 12 V 2.0 compliant  
Support DVD contents  
Drivers  
ASUS PC Probe II  
ASUS Update  
ASUS AI Booster  
Futuremark ® 3DMark® 06 Advanced Edition  
NVIDIA MediaShield™ RAID  
Kaspersky® Anti-Virus  
Accessories  
1 x SLI bridge  
1 x ASUS Array Mic  
1 x ASUS Optional Fan  
1 x ASUS Q-Connector Kit (system panel; Retail version  
only)  
3 x Thermo sensor cables  
1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable  
1 x Floppy disk drive cable  
6 x SATA cables  
7 x Cable ties  
3 x SATA power cable for 6 devices  
1 x 2-port USB2.0 module  
1 x IEEE1394a module  
1 x EL I/O Shield  
InterVideo® Media Launcher (OEM version only)  
User's manual  
Form factor  
ATX Form Factor, 12”x 9.6” (30.5cm x 24.5cm)  
*Specifications are subject to change without notice.  
xiii  
xiv  
This chapter describes the motherboard  
features and the new technologies  
it supports.  
Product  
1
introduction  
Chapter summary  
1
1.1  
1.2  
1.3  
Welcome! ...................................................................................... 1-1  
Package contents......................................................................... 1-1  
Special features............................................................................ 1-2  
ASUS Crosshair  
1.1  
Welcome!  
Thank you for buying an ASUS® Crosshair 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  
I/O modules  
ASUS Crosshair motherboard  
USB 2.0 module  
IEEE 1394a module  
Cables  
Ultra DMA 133/100/66 cable  
Floppy disk drive cable  
Serial ATA cables  
Serial ATA power cables  
Thermal sensor cables  
Accessories  
I/O shield with EL  
ASUS SLI Bridge  
Optional fan for water-cooling/passive cooling only  
Application CD  
Documentation  
ASUS motherboard support DVD  
Intervideo® WinDVD Suite (OEM version)  
User guide  
If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.  
ASUS Crosshair  
1-1  
1.3  
Special features  
1.3.1  
Product highlights  
Latest processor technology  
The motherboard comes with a 940-pin AM2 socket that supports AMD Athlon™  
64 X2/Athlon™ 64/Athlon™ FX/Sempron™ processor. 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 2-6for details.  
NVIDIA® nForce® 590-SLI chipset  
The NVIDIA® nForce 590-SLI chipset supports the NVIDIA® Scalable Link Interface  
(SLI™) technology that allows two graphics processing units (GPUs) in a single  
system. This technology takes advantage of the PCI Express™ bus architecture  
and features intelligent hardware and software solutions that allows multiple GPUs  
to work together and achieve exceptional graphics performance. See Chapter 6 for  
details. The NVIDIA® nForce 590-SLI chipset also supports six (6) Serial ATA 3.0  
Gb/s devices, dual PCI Express™ x16 slots at with NVIDIA® SLIsupport at full  
x16, x16 mode, and up to 10 USB 2.0 ports.  
64-bit CPU support  
The motherboard supports 64-bit computing, which is the next generation  
technology to replace the current 32-bit architecture. The 64-bit architecture  
delivers advanced system performance, faster memory access, and increased  
productivity. This motherboard provides excellent compatibility and flexibility by  
support either 64-bit or 32-bit architecture. See page 2-6 for details.  
DDR2 memory support  
The motherboard supports DDR2 memory that features data transfer rates of 800  
MHz, 667 MHz or 533 MHz to meet the higher bandwidth requirements of the  
latest 3D graphics, multimedia, and Internet applications. The dual-channel DDR2  
architecture doubles the bandwidth of your system memory to boost system  
performance, eliminating bottlenecks with peak bandwidths of up to 10.7 GB/s.  
See pages 2-12 to 2-16 for details.  
1-2  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
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 2-20 for details.  
Serial ATA I/II technology and SATA-On-The-Go  
The motherboard fully supports the Serial ATA II 3.0 Gb/s technology through the  
Serial ATA interfaces and the NVIDIA® NF590-SLI chipset. The Serial ATA 3 Gb/s  
specification provides twice the bandwidth of the current Serial ATA products with  
a host of new features, including Nativa Command Queueing (NCQ), and Power  
Management (PM) Implementation Algorithm. Serial ATA allows for thinner, more  
flexible cables with lower pin count and reduced voltage required. Leveraging  
these Serial ATA 3Gb/s features is the SATA-On-The-Go. Supported by the  
Silicon Image Sil3132 Serial ATA controller, external SATA ports on the rear panel  
I/O provide smart setup, hot-plug and support for up to 16 devices per port with  
port-multiplier functions. See pages 2-23 and 2-27 for details.  
Dual RAID solution  
Onboard RAID controllers provide the motherboard with dual-RAID functionality  
that allows you to select the best RAID solution using IDE or Serial ATA devices.  
The NVIDIA® NF590-SLI chipset allows RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 5, and  
JBOD configuration for six SATA 3.0 Gb/s. See pages 2-27 and 5-24.  
The Silicon Image® 3132 controller supports two additional external Serial ATA  
3.0 Gb/s ports on the rear panel and allows RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 5  
through port multiplier and JBOD configurations on these ports. See pages 2-23  
and 5-31 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 the IEEE 1394a standard.  
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 2-22 and 2-28 for details.  
ASUS Crosshair  
1-3  
S/PDIF digital sound ready  
The motherboard supports the S/PDIF technology through the S/PDIF interfaces  
on the rear panel. The S/PDIF technology turns your computer into a high-end  
entertainment system with digital connectivity to powerful audio and speaker  
systems. See page 2-25 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 2-25 and 2-28 for details.  
Dual Gigabit LAN solution  
The motherboard comes with dual Gigabit LAN controllers to provide the total  
solution for your networking needs. These network controllers use the PCI Express  
segment to provide faster data bandwidth for your wired or wireless Internet, LAN,  
and file sharing requirements. See page 2-23 for details.  
AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet Technology  
The motherboard supports the AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet Technology, which monitors  
system operation and automatically adjusts CPU voltage and frequency for a cool  
and quiet operating environment.  
1-4  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
1.3.2  
ASUS Unique features  
8-Phase Power Design  
The ASUS 8-Phase Power Design prolongs CPU lifespan and keeps the system stable by  
preventing high power stress to the CPU and power supply module. The design ensures high  
efficiency operation to generate less heat compared with conventional power solutions, thus  
achieving cool system environment and making this motherboard ideal for overclocking.  
Fanless Design  
The ASUS fanless design allows multi-directional heat flow from major thermal  
sources in the motherboard to lower overall system temperature, resulting in  
quieter operation and longer system life. ASUS has devoted special efforts to  
address the thermal issues across the motherboard, and most notably in the  
following areas: CPU, power, VGA, Northbridge and Southbridge. The heat pipe,  
heatsink, and strategic board layout were tailor made to dissipate heat in the most  
efficient manner.  
PEG Link Mode for two graphics cards  
This feature enhances your PCI Express graphics card performance. It allows 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 4-24 for details.  
ASUS Two-slot thermal design  
The motherboard is designed with one PCI slot  
and one PCIEx4 slot placed between the PCI Express  
x16 slots, allowing increased airflow between the two PCI  
Express x16 graphics cards. This special design permits more  
room for ventilation, thus lowering the overall system  
temperature.  
AI NOS™ (Non-Delay Overclocking System)  
ASUS Non-delay Overclocking System™ (NOS) is a technology that auto-detects  
the CPU loading and dynamically overclocks the CPU speed only when needed.  
See page 4-20 for details.  
ASUS Crosshair  
1-5  
AI NET 2  
AI NET 2 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 Marvell® LAN (RJ-45) port. During the bootup  
process, AI NET 2 immediately diagnoses the LAN cable and reports shorts and  
faults up to 100 meters at 1 meter accuracy. See pages 4-23 and 5-11 for details.  
Extreme 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.  
Optional fan (for water-cooling/passive-cooling only)  
The optional fan is specifically designed to provide sufficient airflow over the CPU  
power modules and chipset area when water-cooling or passive-cooling is utilized,  
ensuring effective heat dissipation for the entire system. See page 2-11 for details.  
ASUS Q-Connector  
The ASUS Q-Connector allows you to connect or disconnect chassis front panel  
cables in one easy step. This unique adapter eliminates the trouble of plugging in  
one cable at a time, making connection quick and error-free. See pages 2-34 for  
details.  
ASUS LCD Poster  
The LCD Poster displays actual boot error messages instead of codes that other  
debug cards show. This unique feature allows you to easily find out which devices  
fail during the boot process, eliminating guesswork and allowing you to solve the  
problem immediately.  
Onboard LEDs  
This motherboard features onboard LEDs located near connector labels, allowing  
you to connect cables and devices without a flashlight. With this ASUS-patented  
feature, you can easily identify connector locations to make sure that cables and  
devices are plugged in and installed correctly.  
1-6  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
Onboard Switches  
A power-on button, a resetbutton, and a clear CMOS button are onboard to provide  
overclockers and gamers the convenience of fine-tuning performance when  
working on a bare (open-case) system. Press the power-on button to wake up  
the system, the reset button to reboot, and the clear CMOS button to clear setup  
information when the system hangs due to overclocking. See page 2-34 for details.  
CrashFree BIOS 3  
This feature allows you to restore the original BIOS data from the support DVD in  
case the BIOS codes and data are corrupted. This protection eliminates the need  
to buy a replacement ROM chip. See page 4-9 for details.  
ASUS Q-Fan plus technology  
The ASUS Q-Fan plus technology smartly adjusts the CPU and chassis fan  
1 speeds according to the system loading to ensure quiet, cool, and efficient  
operation. See page 4-40 for details.  
ASUS Multi-language BIOS  
The multi-language BIOS allows you to select the language of your choice from the  
available options. The localized BIOS menus allow easier and faster configuration.  
See page 4-14 for details.  
ASUS MyLogo3  
This new feature present in the motherboard allows you to personalize and add  
style to your system with customizable boot logos. See page 5-9 for details.  
ASUS Crosshair  
1-7  
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.  
Supreme FX features  
This feature can enhance speech-centric applications like Skype, online game,  
video conference and recording.  
ASUS Array Mic  
The Bundled Superbeam Array Microphone receives only the sound  
coming from the reception cone and ignores the sounds coming from other  
directions. This mechanism eliminates a large number of interferences,  
including neighboring speakers and reverberations. It also uses advanced  
de-reverberation techniques to reduce echo and minimize its effect on the  
speech engine. This feature can enchance speech-centric applications like  
Skype, online game, video conference, and recording. See page 5-15 for  
details.  
Noise Filter  
This feature detects repetitive and stationary noises (non-voice signals) like  
computer fans, air conditioners, and other background noises then eliminates  
it in the incoming audio stream while recording. See page 5-15 for details.  
DTS® Connect  
This feature is consists of two elements: DTS interactive and DTS NEO:PC.  
DTS interactive re-encodes your stereo or multi-channel sound into a DTS  
audio signal and send it out from your PC to any DTS enabled system. While  
DTS NEO:PC turns your stereo audio such as MP3, WMA, CD, and other  
sound format into a convincing multi-channel audio experience. See page  
5-14 for details.  
1-8  
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  
2.8  
Before you proceed ..................................................................... 2-1  
Motherboard overview................................................................. 2-2  
Central Processing Unit (CPU) ................................................... 2-6  
System memory ......................................................................... 2-12  
Expansion slots.......................................................................... 2-20  
Jumper ........................................................................................ 2-23  
Audio Card and EL I/O Installation........................................... 2-24  
Connectors ................................................................................. 2-25  
ASUS Crosshair  
2.1  
Before you proceed  
Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components  
or change any motherboard settings.  
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.  
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.  
Onboard LED  
Blue lights strategically located beside key motherboard connectors allow you  
to install components conveniently, even without a flashlight.  
Before you install or remove any component, make sure to press the onboard  
LED switch first and the standby power LED is off. Failure to do so may cause  
injury or severe damage to the motherboard, peripherals, and/or components.  
On Board LED switch  
ASUS Crosshair  
2-ꢀ  
2.2  
Motherboard overview  
Before you install the motherboard, study the configuration of your chassis to  
ensure that the motherboard fits into it.  
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.  
Remove the film on the heatsink before installation.  
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  
CROSSHAIR  
2-2  
Chapter 2: Hardware information  
2.2.3  
Motherboard layout  
24.5cm (9.6in)  
WIFI_G_USB910  
OPT_FAN5  
PS2/2KBMS  
T:Mouse  
B:Keyboard  
ATX12V1  
P_ELJ1  
SPDIF_OUT  
IE1394_1  
ESATA12  
SPDIF_OUT  
CPU_FAN  
LAN1_USB12  
LAN2_USB34  
OPT_FAN4  
NVIDIA®  
C51XE  
WJ3  
AUDIO_1  
CLRTC_EN  
O_SW2  
OPT_FAN3  
PCI1  
EATXPWR  
CHA_REAR_FAN  
PRI_IDE  
PCIEX16_1  
WJ1  
OPT_FAN2  
OPT_FAN1  
WJ2  
PCIEX4_1  
NVIDIA®  
MCP55PXE  
CROSSHAIR  
SATA5  
SATA6  
SATA4  
SATA2  
PCI2  
SATA3  
SATA1  
PCIEX16_2  
CHASSIS1  
TSB43AB22A  
CR2032 3V  
Lithium Cell  
CMOS Power  
Super  
I/O  
SB_PWR  
8Mb  
BIOS  
PCI3  
IE1394_2  
ADFP1  
PANEL  
FLOPPY  
USB78  
USB56  
PWN_SW RST_SW  
2.2.4  
Audio card layout  
ASUS Crosshair  
2-ꢁ  
2.2.5  
Layout contents  
Slots  
Page  
2-12  
2-22  
2-22  
2-22  
1.  
2.  
3.  
4.  
DDR2 DIMM slots  
PCI slots  
PCI Express x 4 slot  
PCI Express x16 slots  
Jumper  
Page  
1.  
Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC)  
2-23  
Rear panel connectors  
Page  
2-25  
2-25  
2-25  
2-25  
2-25  
2-26  
2-26  
1.  
2.  
3.  
4.  
5.  
6.  
7.  
PS/2 mouse port (green)  
Coaxial S/PDIF Out port  
Onboard LED switch  
IEEE 1394a port  
External SATA ports  
LAN 2 (RJ-45) port.  
LAN 1 (RJ-45) port  
8.  
USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2, 3 and 4  
Optical S/PDIF Out port  
2-27  
2-27  
2-27  
9.  
10.  
PS/2 keyboard port (purple)  
Supreme FX  
Page  
2-27  
2-27  
1.  
2.  
Line In port (light blue)  
Line Out port (lime)  
3.  
4.  
5.  
6.  
Microphone port (pink)  
2-27  
2-27  
2-27  
2-27  
Center/Subwoofer port (orange)  
Side Speaker Out port (gray)  
Rear Speaker Out port (black)  
2-ꢂ  
Chapter 2: Hardware information  
Internal connectors  
Page  
2-28  
2-28  
2-29  
1.  
2.  
3.  
Floppy disk drive connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY)  
IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE)  
NVIDIA® NF590-SLI Southbridge Serial ATA connectors  
(7-pin SATA1 [blue], SATA2 [blue], SATA3 [blue], SATA4 [blue],  
SATA5 [blue], SATA6 [blue])  
4.  
5.  
6.  
USB connectors (10-1 pin USB56, USB78)  
2-30  
2-30  
2-31  
IEEE 1394a port connector (10-1 pin IE1394_2)  
CPU, chassis, and optional fan connectors (4-pin CPU_FAN,  
3-pin CHA_REAR_FAN, 3-pin CHA_FRONT_FAN, 3-pin  
OPT_FAN1, 3-pin OPT_FAN2, 3-pin OPT_FAN3, 3-pin  
OPT_FAN4, 3-pin OPT_FAN5)  
7.  
8.  
9.  
Chassis intrusion connector (4-1 pin CHASSIS)  
ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 8-pin EATX12V,  
System panel connector (20-pin PANEL)  
2-31  
2-32  
2-33  
System power LED (Green 3-pin PLED)  
Hard disk drive activity LED (Red 2-pin IDE_LED)  
System warning speaker (Orange 4-pin SPEAKER)  
ATX power button/soft-off button (Yellow 2-pin PWR)  
Reset button (Blue 2-pin RESET)  
10.  
Thermo sensor cable connectors (WJ1/2/3, 2-pin)  
2-34  
Onboard switches  
Page  
2-33  
2-33  
2-34  
1.  
2.  
3.  
Clear CMOS switch  
Power-on switch  
Reset switch  
ASUS Crosshair  
2-ꢃ  
2.3  
Central Processing Unit (CPU)  
The motherboard comes with a 940-pin AM2 socket designed for the AMD  
Athlon™ 64 X2/Athlon™ 64/Athlon™ FX/Sempron™ processor.  
The AM2 socket has a different pinout from the 940-pin socket designed for the  
AMD Opteron™ processor. Make sure you use a CPU is designed for the AM2  
socket. The CPU fits in only one correct orientation. DO NOT force the CPU into  
the socket to prevent bending the connectors on the socket and damaging the  
CPU!  
2.3.1  
Installing the CPU  
To install a CPU:  
1. Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard.  
CROSSHAIR  
CROSSHAIR CPU AM2 940  
2.  
Unlock the socket by pressing the  
lever sideways, then lift it up to a  
90º angle.  
Socket lever  
Make sure that the socket lever is lifted up to 90º angle; otherwise, the CPU will  
not fit in completely.  
2-ꢄ  
Chapter 2: Hardware information