F2A55
Contents
About this guide........................................................................................................ vii
F2A55 specifications summary ................................................................................ ix
Chapter 1:
Special features............................................................................................1-1
Before you proceed......................................................................................1-4
Motherboard overview .................................................................................1-5
Overview....................................................................................... 1-11
Expansion slots..........................................................................................1-20
PCI slots........................................................................................1-20
Jumpers.......................................................................................................1-22
Connectors..................................................................................................1-23
Onboard switch ..........................................................................................1-31
1.10 Onboard LEDs ............................................................................................1-32
1.11 Software support........................................................................................1-33
iii
Chapter 2:
BIOS setup program.....................................................................................2-6
Main menu...................................................................................................2-10
Security.........................................................................................2-10
Ai Tweaker menu ........................................................................................2-12
Advanced menu..........................................................................................2-17
APM ..............................................................................................2-20
Monitor menu..............................................................................................2-22
iv
Boot menu...................................................................................................2-25
Tools menu..................................................................................................2-30
Exit menu ....................................................................................................2-31
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.
Ensure 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, ensure all cables are correctly connected and the power
cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage, contact your dealer immediately.
To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from connectors,
slots, sockets and circuitry.
Avoid dust, humidity, and temperature extremes. Do not place the product in any area
where it may become wet.
•
•
Place the product on a stable surface.
If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualified service
technician or your retailer.
vi
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: BIOS information
This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS Setup menus.
Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided.
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.
vii
Conventions used in this guide
To ensure 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 (+).
viii
F2A55 specifications summary
APU
FM2 socket for AMD® A-Series accelerated processors (APU) with AMD
Radeon™ HD 7000 Series graphics, up to 4 CPU cores
AMD® Turbo Core Technology 3.0 support
•
•
The AMD® Turbo Core Technology 3.0 support depends on the APU types.
Chipset
Memory
AMD® A55 FCH
4 x 240-pin DIMM slots support maximum 64GB unbuffered non-ECC DDR3
2400(O.C.)/2250(O.C.)/2200(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)1866/1600/1333/1066 MHz
memory modules
Dual-channel memory architecture
•
The maximum 64GB memory capacity can be supported with 16GB or above
DIMMs. ASUS will update the memory QVL once the DIMMs are available in the
market.
•
•
When you install a total memory of 4GB capacity or more, Windows® 32-bit
operating system may only recognize less than 3GB. We recommend a
maximum of 3GB system memory if you are using a Windows® 32-bit operating
system.
Graphics
Integrated AMD® Radeon™ HD 7000 series graphics in Trinity APU
Supports AMD® Dual Graphics
Expansion slots
2 x PCIe 2.0 x16 slots (blue @x16 mode, black @x4 mode)
2 x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots
3 x PCI slots
Multi-GPU
support
Supports AMD® CrossFireX™ Technology
Storage / RAID
AMD® A55 FCH:
-
6 x Serial ATA 3.0Gb/s connectors support RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 10
and JBOD configurations
LAN
Realtek® 8111F PCIe Gigabit LAN controller
Audio
ALC887 8-channel High Definition Audio CODEC
-
Supports Jack-Detection, Multi-Streaming, and Front Panel Jack-
Retasking
-
Supports S/PDIF out interface at the back I/O
USB
AMD® A55 FCH:
12 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports (6 ports at the mid-board, 6 ports at the back
panel)
Asmedia® PCIe USB3.0 controller:
-
-
2 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports (blue, at the back panel)
(continued on the next page)
ix
F2A55 specifications summary
ASUS unique
features
ASUS DIGI+ VRM:
-
-
Digital Power Control for APU
ASUS 4+2 Phase Power Design
ASUS Exclusive Features
-
ASUS Network iControl* featuring instant network bandwidth
domination for top network program in use
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
ASUS USB 3.0 Boost featuring the latest USB 3.0 UASP standard
MemOK!
ASUS AI Suite II
AI Charger+
ASUS TurboV
Disk Unlocker featuring 3TB+ HDD support
ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode featuring friendly graphics user interface
ASUS Protect 3.0 technology
-
-
-
-
ASUS EPU
ASUS Anti-Surge Protection
Low EMI solution
100% solid capacitors
ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution
-
-
ASUS Fanless Design: Stylish heatsink solution
ASUS Fan Xpert+
ASUS EZ DIY
-
-
-
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
ASUS EZ Flash 2
ASUS MyLogo 2™
* The ASUS Network iControl feature does not support Windows®
XP/Vista operating systems.
Special features
100% All high quality conductive polymer
ASUS exclusive
overclocking
features
Precision Tweaker 2
-
-
-
vCore: Adjustable CPU voltage at 0.00325V increment
vDRAM: Adjustable DRAM voltage at 0.01V increment
vFCH: Adjustable FCH voltage at 0.01V increment
SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection):
-
APU frequency tuning from 90MHz up to 300MHz at 1MHz
increment
Overclocking Protection:
-
ASUS C.P.R (CPU Parameter Recall)
(continued on the next page)
x
F2A55 specifications summary
Back Panel I/O ports
1 x PS/2 mouse port (green)
1 x PS/2 keyboard port (purple)
1 x Optical S/PDIF output port
1 x LAN (RJ-45) port
6 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
2 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports (blue)
8-channel audio I/O ports
Internal I/O connectors /
buttons / switches
3 x USB 2.0/1.1 connectors support additional 6 USB 2.0/1.1 ports
6 x SATA 3.0Gb/s connectors
1 x COM connector
1 x CPU fan connector
2 x Chassis fan connectors
1 x Front panel audio connector
1 x S/PDIF output connector
1 x System panel connector
1 x 24-pin EATX power connector
1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector
1 x MemOK! button
BIOS
64Mb Flash ROM, UEFI BIOS, PnP, DMI 2.0, WfM 2.0, ACPI 2.0a,
SM BIOS 2.6
Support DVD
Drivers
ASUS Update
ASUS utilities
Anti-Virus software (OEM version)
Form factor
ATX form factor: 12.0 in x 8.8 in (30.5 cm x 22.4 cm)
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
xi
Package contents
Check your motherboard package for the following items.
22.4cm(8.8in)
KBMS
CHA_FAN2 CPU_FAN
ATX12V
USB56
SPDIFO
USB34
USB3_E12
MemOK!
DRAM_LED
LAN_USB12
CHA_FAN1
ASM
1042
AUDIO
PCIEX1_1
F2A55
Realtek®
8111F
PCIEX16_1
Lithium Cell
PCIEX1_2
CMOS Power
AMD®
A55
PCI1
Super
I/O
PCIEX16_2
64Mb
BIOS
PCI2
ALC
887
SATA3G_1 SATA3G_2 SATA3G_3 SATA3G_4
PCI3
SPDIF_OUT
SB_PWR
USB78
USB910
USB1112 PANEL
COM
AAFP
CLRTC
SATA3G_5 SATA3G_6
2 x Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s
cables
ASUS F2A55 motherboard
User Guide
1 x I/O Shield
User Guide
Support DVD
•
If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.
•
The illustrated items above are for reference only. Actual product specifications may
vary with different models.
xii
Product introduction
1
1.1
Special features
Product highlights
1.1.1
AMD® A-series accelerated processors with AMD® Radeon™ HD 7000 series
graphics
This motherboard supports AMD® A-series accelerated processor with AMD® Radeon™
HD 7000 series graphics. This revolutionary APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) combines
processing power and advanced DirectX 11 graphics in one small, energy-efficient design to
enable accelerated performance and an industry-leading visual experience. It features Dual-
channel DDR3 memory support and accelerates data transfer rate up to 5GT/s.
AMD® A55 FCH chipset
AMD® A55 FCH is designed to support up to 5GT/s interface speed and AMD® CrossFireX™
multi-GPU technology. It also supports 6 x SATA 3.0Gb/s ports.
USB 3.0 support
Experience ultra-fast data transfer at 4.8Gbps with USB 3.0 – the latest connectivity
standard. Built to connect easily with next-generation components and peripherals, USB 3.0
transfers data 10x faster and is also backward compatible with USB 2.0 components.
AMD® CrossFireX™ Technology
AMD’s CrossFireX™ boosts image quality along with rendering speed, eliminating the
need to scale down screen resolution to get high quality images. CrossFireX™ allows
higher antialiasing, anisotropic filtering, shading, and texture settings. Adjust your display
configurations, experiment with the advanced 3D settings, and check the effects with a real-
time 3D-rendered previews within AMD® VISION Engine Control Center.
100% All High-quality Conductive Polymer Capacitors
This motherboard uses all high-quality conductive polymer capacitors for durability, improved
lifespan, and enhanced thermal capacity.
1.1.2
ASUS DIGI+ VRM
DIGI+ Power Control: Digital Power Design for the APU*
ASUS motherboards using the AMD® A55 chipset employ precise digital voltage regulation
for the APU, called DIGI+ VRM (Voltage Regulation Modules) digital power design. The APU
voltage is adjusted via either carefully developed automated modes, or by using user-defined
profiles. The effect is that DIGI+ VRM technology ensures greater energy efficiency and the
most precise power delivery. Boosted by world-renowned ASUS quality, it creates an ideal
computing platform for a diverse range of applications, from gaming to multimedia or office
work and heavy multitasking. Engineered and tested to assure unmitigated performance,
ASUS A55 boards with DIGI+ VRM remain efficient and accurate, for reliable application in
every scenario.
* DIGI+ VRM functions also available in FM2 socket compatible CPUs
1-1
ASUS F2A55
1.1.3
ASUS Exclusive Features
USB 3.0 Boost
With USB 3.0 Boost technology, USB transfer speeds are significantly increased up to
132%, enhancing an already impressive USB 3.0 transfer rate. ASUS software automatically
accelerates data speeds for compatible USB 3.0 peripherals without the need for any further
user interaction.
Network iControl
Network iControl is an intuitive one-step network control center that makes it easier for you to
manage your bandwidth and allows you to set, monitor, and schedule the bandwidth priorities
for your network programs. It allows you to automatically connect to a PPPoE network for a
more convenient online experience.
*
The ASUS Network iControl feature does not support Windows® XP/Vista operating systems.
ASUS UEFI BIOS (EZ Mode)
ASUS UEFI BIOS, a UEFI compliant architecture, offers the first mouse-controlled intuitive
graphical BIOS interface that goes beyond the traditional keyboard-only BIOS controls,
providing you with more flexibility, convenience, and easy to navigate EFI BIOS than the
traditional BIOS versions. It offers you with dual selectable modes and native support for hard
drives larger than 2.2 TB.
ASUS UEFI BIOS includes the following new features:
•
•
•
F12 BIOS snapshot hotkey
F3 Shortcut for most accessed information
ASUS DRAM SPD (Serial Presence Detect) information detecting faulty DIMMs, and
helping with difficult POST situations.
ASUS TurboV
With its user-friendly interface, ASUS TurboV offers you the adrenaline rush of real-time
overclocking without exiting or rebooting the OS. It also provides you with the ASUS OC
profiles for the best overclocking settings in different scenarios.
MemOK!
MemOK!, the remarkable memory rescue tool, allows you to simply press a button to
patch memory issues, ensure memory boot compatibility, determine fail-safe settings, and
dramatically improve the system’s bootup.
ASUS Anti-Surge Protection
This special design protects expensive devices and the motherboard from damage caused
by power surges from switching power supply unit (PSU).
AI Suite II
With its user interface, ASUS AI Suite II integrates several ASUS utilities and allows you to
launch and operate these utilities simultaneously. It allows you to configure the overclocking
settings, adjust the frequencies and related voltages, remotely control the system via a
mobile device, and other easy-to-use helpful utilities.
1-2
Chapter 1: Product introduction
Ai Charger+
ASUS Ai Charger+, the latest Ai Charger* version, brings you to a new level of USB3.0 fast
charging experience. With its easy and user-friendly interface, you can not only easily charge
iPod, iPhone and iPad, but also BC 1.1** standard mobile devices three times*** as fast as
before.
*
Ai Charger is ASUS unique fast-charging software which supports iPod, iPhone and iPad.
** Check your USB mobile device manufacturer if it fully supports the BC 1.1 function.
***The actual charging speed may vary with your USB device’s conditions.
ASUS EZ Flash 2
ASUS EZ Flash 2 is a user-friendly utility that allows you to update the BIOS without using a
bootable floppy disk or an OS-based utility.
ASUS MyLogo2™
Turn your favorite photos into 256-color boot logos to personalize your system.
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 is an auto-recovery tool that allows you to restore a corrupted BIOS
file using the bundled support DVD or a USB flash disk that contains the BIOS file.
C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)
The BIOS C.P.R. feature automatically restores the CPU default settings when the system
hangs due to overclocking failure. 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 parameters to their default settings.
ErP ready
The motherboard is European Union´s Energy-related Products (ErP) ready, and ErP
requires products to meet certain energy efficiency requirements in regards to energy
consumptions. This is in line with ASUS vision of creating environment-friendly and energy-
efficient products through product design and innovation to reduce carbon footprint of the
product and thus mitigate environmental impacts.
1-3
ASUS F2A55
1.2
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.
Before handling components, use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded
object or a metal object, such as the power supply case, 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, switch off the ATX power supply and
detach its power cord. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to the motherboard,
peripherals, or components.
1-4
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.3
Motherboard overview
Placement direction
1.3.1
When installing the motherboard, ensure 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.
1.3.2
Screw holes
Place six 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.
F2A55
1-5
ASUS F2A55
1.3.3
Motherboard layout
1
2
2
3
4
22.4cm(8.8in)
KBMS
CHA_FAN2 CPU_FAN
ATX12V
USB56
SPDIFO
USB34
5
6
USB3_E12
MemOK!
DRAM_LED
LAN_USB12
1
CHA_FAN1
ASM
1042
AUDIO
PCIEX1_1
F2A55
Realtek®
8111F
PCIEX16_1
Lithium Cell
CMOS Power
PCIEX1_2
AMD®
A55
PCI1
Super
I/O
PCIEX16_2
PCI2
7
8
64Mb
BIOS
ALC
887
SATA3G_1 SATA3G_2 SATA3G_3 SATA3G_4
SB_PWR
PCI3
SPDIF_OUT
USB78
CLRTC
USB910
USB1112 PANEL
COM
AAFP
SATA3G_5 SATA3G_6
14
13
12 11
10
9
1-6
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.3.4
Layout contents
Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED
Page
1. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V)
1-26
2. CPU and chassis fan connectors (4-pin CPU_FAN, and 4-pin CHA_FAN1/2)
3. AMD FM2 socket
1-25
1-7
4. DDR3 DIMM slots
1-11
1-32
1-31
1-32
1-27
1-28
1-30
1-22
1-27
1-29
1-29
5. DRAM LED (DRAM_LED)
6. MemOK! switch
7. Standby power LED (SB_PWR)
8. SATA 3.0Gb/s connectors (7-pin SATA3G_1~6)
9. System panel connector (20-8 pin PANEL)
10. USB 2.0 connectors (10-1 pin USB78, USB910, USB1112)
11. Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC)
12. Serial port connector (10-1 pin COM)
13. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP)
14. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT)
1.4
Accelerated Processing Unit (APU)
This motherboard comes with an FM2 socket designed for AMD® A-series accelerated
processors with AMD® Radeon™ HD 7000 series graphics.
Ensure that you use a APU designed for the FM2 socket. The APU fits in only one correct
orientation. DO NOT force the APU into the socket to prevent bending the pins and
damaging the APU!
F2A55
F2A55 CPU socket FM2
1-7
ASUS F2A55
|