Asus Computer Hardware N4L VM DH User Manual

N4L-VM DH  
Contents  
Notices............................................................................................... vii  
Safety information ............................................................................ viii  
About this guide ................................................................................. ix  
N4L-VM DH 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  
1.3.2  
Product highlights................................................... 1-2  
ASUS Special 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  
Placement direction ................................................ 2-2  
Screw holes ............................................................ 2-2  
Motherboard layout ................................................ 2-3  
Layout contents ..................................................... 2-4  
2.3  
2.4  
Central Processing Unit (CPU) .............................................. 2-6  
2.3.1  
2.3.2  
Installing the CPU.................................................... 2-6  
Installing the CPU heatsink and fan ........................ 2-8  
System memory .................................................................2-10  
2.4.1  
2.4.2  
2.4.3  
2.4.4  
Overview...............................................................2-10  
Memory configurations .........................................2-10  
Installing a DIMM ...................................................2-15  
Removing a DIMM .................................................2-15  
2.5  
Expansion slots...................................................................2-16  
2.5.1  
2.5.2  
2.5.3  
2.5.4  
2.5.5  
2.5.6  
Installing an expansion card..................................2-16  
Configuring an expansion card..............................2-16  
Interrupt assignments ..........................................2-17  
PCI slots................................................................2-18  
PCI Express x1 slot ...............................................2-18  
PCI Express x16 slot .............................................2-18  
2.6  
Jumpers..............................................................................2-21  
iii  
Contents  
2.7  
Connectors .........................................................................2-24  
2.7.1  
2.7.2  
Rear panel connectors ..........................................2-24  
Internal connectors...............................................2-26  
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  
4.3.5  
4.3.6  
System Time.........................................................4-14  
System Date .........................................................4-14  
Legacy Diskette A ................................................4-14  
Primary and Secondary IDE Master/Slave.............4-15  
IDE 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  
JumperFree Configuration ....................................4-18  
CPU Configuration.................................................4-20  
Chipset .................................................................4-21  
Onboard Devices Configuration ............................4-24  
PCI PnP .................................................................4-26  
USB Configuration.................................................4-27  
4.5  
Power menu........................................................................4-29  
4.5.1  
4.5.2  
4.5.3  
4.5.4  
4.5.5  
4.5.6  
4.5.7  
Suspend Mode ......................................................4-29  
Repost Video on S3 Resume ................................4-29  
ACPI 2.0 Support..................................................4-29  
ACPI APIC Support ................................................4-29  
APM Configuration ................................................4-30  
Hardware Monitor .................................................4-32  
Energy Lake Feature.............................................4-33  
4.6  
4.7  
Boot menu ..........................................................................4-34  
4.6.1  
4.6.2  
4.6.3  
Boot Device Priority..............................................4-34  
Boot Settings Configuration .................................4-35  
Security ................................................................4-36  
Exit menu ...........................................................................4-38  
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.......................................................... 5-4  
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 MyLogo....................................................... 5-9  
Audio configurations ............................................5-11  
ASUS PC Probe II...................................................5-18  
Intel® Viiv™ ...........................................................5-24  
v
5.4  
5.5  
RAID configurations ............................................................5-27  
5.4.1  
5.4.2  
5.4.3  
Installing hard disks ..............................................5-27  
Intel® RAID configurations ....................................5-28  
JMicron® RAID Configuration.................................5-36  
Creating a RAID driver disk .................................................5-42  
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 adpater or extension cord.  
These devices could interrupt the grounding circuit.  
Make sure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your  
area. If you are not sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you  
are using, contact your local power company.  
If the power supply is broken, do not try to fix it by yourself. Contact a  
qualified service technician or your retailer.  
Operation safety  
Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully read  
all the manuals that came with the package.  
Before using the product, make sure all cables are correctly connected  
and the power cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage,  
contact your dealer immediately.  
To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from  
connectors, slots, sockets and circuitry.  
Avoid dust, humidity, and temperature extremes. Do not place the  
product in any area where it may become wet.  
Place the product on a stable surface.  
If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualified  
service technician or your retailer.  
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 CD that comes  
with the motherboard package.  
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 /iN4L-VM.ROM  
x
N4L-VM DH specifications summary  
CPU  
Socket 479 for Intel® Core™ Duo/Core™ Solo processor  
Supports Intel® Viiv™ Technology*  
*Note: Requires Intel® Core™ Duo processor  
Chipset  
Northbridge: Intel® 945GM Memory Controller Hub  
(MCH)  
Southbridge: Intel® ICH7-M (DH)  
Front Side Bus  
Memory  
667/533 MHz  
Dual-channel memory architecture  
2 x 240-pin DIMM sockets support up to 2 GB  
unbuffered non-ECCDDR2 667/533 MHz memory  
modules  
Note: Refer to www.asus.com for the latest memory Qualified Vendors  
List (QVL).  
1 x PCI Express™ x16 slot  
1 x PCI Express™ x1 slot  
2 x PCI slots  
Expansion slots  
Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950  
Graphics  
Storage  
Intel® ICH7-M (DH) Southbridge supports:  
- 1 x Ultra DMA 100 connector for two devices  
- 2 x Serial ATA devices with RAID 0, RAID 1, and  
Intel® Matrix Storage configuration  
JMicron® Serial ATA controller supports:  
- 1 x Internal Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s  
- 1 x External Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s (SATA On-the-Go)  
- RAID O, RAID 1 configuration  
Note: Do not remove/unplug External SATA device when running under  
RAID mode .  
Realtek® ALC882M 8-channel CODEC  
1 x Coaxial S/PDIF out port  
AI Audio  
1 x Optical S/PDIF out port  
Supports Jack Sensing, Retasking, and Enumeration  
Technology  
Supports Multi-Streaming  
Intel® 82573L Gigabit LAN controller (Vidalia)  
LAN  
TI 1394a controller supports:  
IEEE 1394a  
- 2 x IEEE 1394a connectors at 400 Mbps speed  
(1 at midboard, 1 on the rear panel)  
Supports up to 8 USB 2.0 ports  
USB  
(continued on the next page)  
x i  
N4L-VM DH specifications summary  
ASUS Special  
features  
ASUS C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)  
ASUS MyLogo  
ASUS Q-Fan  
ASUS EZ Flash  
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2  
Rear panel  
1 x VGA port  
1 x LAN (RJ-45) port  
4 x USB 2.0 ports  
1 x IEEE 1394a port  
1 x External Serial ATA port  
1 x Optical S/PDIF Out port  
1 x Coaxial S/PDIF Out port  
1 x PS/2 keyboard port (purple)  
1 x PS/2 mouse port (green)  
8-channel audio ports  
Internal  
connectors  
1 x 24-pin ATX power connector  
1 x 4-pin ATX 12 V power connector  
2 x USB connectors for 4 additional USB 2.0 ports  
1 x CD audio in connector  
1 x Chassis intrusion connector  
1 x LPT connector  
1 x Serial (COM1) connector  
1 x Game connector  
1 x CPU fan connector  
1 x Chassis fan connector  
1 x Front panel audio connector  
1 x SPDIF In/Out connector  
1 x TV Out connector  
System panel connector  
BIOS features  
Manageability  
8 Mb Flash ROM, AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI, WfM2.0,  
ACPI 2.0a, SM BIOS 2.3  
PXE, WOR by Ring, WOL/WOR by PME, WO USB,  
WO KB/MS  
Support CD  
contents  
Device drivers  
ASUS PC Probe II  
ASUS LiveUpdate  
Anti-Virus Utility  
Intervideo® WinDVD® Suite  
Form Factor  
uATX form factor: 9.6 in x 9.6 in (24.5 cm x 24.5 cm)  
*Specifications are subject to change without notice.  
xii  
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 N4L-VM DH  
1.1 Welcome!  
Thank you for buying an ASUS® N4L-VM DH 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 N4L-VM DH motherboard  
1 x 2-port USB 2.0 module  
1 x IEEE 1394a module  
Cables  
1 x Serial ATA cable  
1 x Serial ATA power cable  
1 x Ultra DMA 100 cable  
1 x Floppy disk drive cable  
Accessory  
I/O shield  
CPU fan and heatsink  
Application CDs  
Documentation  
ASUS motherboard support CD  
WinDVD Suite  
User guide  
If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.  
ASUS N4L-VM DH  
1-1  
1.3 Special features  
1.3.1 Product highlights  
Latest processor technology  
The motherboard comes with a 479-pin, surface-mount, Zero Insertion  
Force (ZIF) mPGA479M socket designed for the Intel® CoreDuo and Core™  
Solo processors. Built on Intel® 65-nanometer process technology with  
copper interconnect, the Intel® CoreDuo processor delivers breakthrough  
dual-core performance and enhanced media experience with low power  
consumption. The Intel® Core™ Duo processor utilizes the latest package  
technologies for a thinner, lighter design without compromising  
performance. See page 2-6 for details.  
Intel® Dual-Core Technology CPU support  
The motherboard supports dual-core processors containing two physical  
CPU cores with dedicated L2 caches to meet demands for more powerful  
processing. See page 2-6 for details.  
Intel® 945GM/Intel® ICH7-M (DH) chipset  
The Intel® 945GM Memory Controller Hub (MCH) and the Intel® ICH7-M  
(DH) I/O controller hub provide the vital interfaces for the motherboard.  
The Intel® 945GM is the latest chipset designed to support the Intel®  
Core™ family processor in the 479-ball Micro FCPGA package to deliver  
enhanced performance at low power consumption. The chipset supports  
high-bandwidth interfaces such as PCI Express, Serial ATA, and USB 2.0.  
The chipset also features the Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950, an  
integrated graphics engine for enhanced 3D, 2D, and video capabilities.  
Intel® Viiv™ Technology support  
Intel® Viiv™ Technology transforms your PC into an entertainment center,  
allowing you to enjoy and share digital multi-media content like never  
before. With Intel® Viiv™ Technology-based computers, you can record,  
playback, organize, and edit digital media content easily. Enjoy the  
entertainment experience even more with sharp graphics, flawless video  
playback, and support for up to 7.1 channel surround sound. To enable  
Intel® Viiv™ Technology, make sure you enable the Quick Resume function  
called Energy Lake in the BIOS. Refer to the BIOS screen on page 4-29.  
You also need to install the Intel® Viiv™ Technology driver and software.  
See pages 5-3 and 5-24 for details.  
1-2  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
DDR2 memory support  
The motherboard supports DDR2 memory that features data transfer rates of  
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 2-10 to 2-14 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 Serial  
ATA devices.  
The Intel® ICH7-M (DH) Southbridge allows RAID 0, RAID 1, and Intel® Matrix  
Storage configuration with two Serial ATA connectors. See pages 2-27 and  
5-28.  
The Jmicron® JMB363 Serial ATA controller supports one internal and one  
external Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s devices with RAID 0 and RAID 1 configuration.  
See pages 2-28 and 5-36 for details.  
Gigabit LAN solution  
The motherboard comes with the Intel® 82573L Gigabit LAN controller to  
provide the total solution for your networking needs. This network  
controller uses the PCI Express segment to provide faster data bandwidth  
for your wired or wireless Internet, LAN, and file sharing requirements. See  
page 2-24 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 2-18 for details.  
S/PDIF digital sound ready  
The motherboard supports the S/PDIF technology through the S/PDIF  
interfaces on the rear panel and at midboard. The S/PDIF technology turns  
your computer into a high-end entertainment system with digital connectivity  
to powerful audio and speaker systems. See page 2-35 for details.  
ASUS N4L-VM DH  
1-3  
8-channel High Definition Audio  
Onboard is the Realtek® ALC882M High Definition Audio 8-channel audio  
CODEC. This CODEC is fully-compliant with Intel® High Definition Audio  
standard (192 KHz, 24-bit audio). With the CODEC, audio ports, and S/PDIF  
interfaces, you can connect your computer to home theater decoders to  
produce crystal-clear digital audio.  
The Realtek® ALC882M CODEC comes with an AC-3 encoder capable of  
transforming your computer’s digital audio contents into real-time Dolby®  
Digital stream. This digital stream passes through the S/PDIF out interfaces  
to an AC-3 decoder for 7.1-channel feedback.  
The Realtek® ALC882M CODEC comes with a software application that  
features jack detection to monitor the plugging status of each jack,  
impedance sensing to determine audio device classes, and pre-defined  
equalization for various audio devices. See pages 2-24, 2-25, and 5-11 for  
details.  
Theater-level audio  
(designed for Dolby® Master Studio
This motherboard offers theater-level 7.1 surround sound and audio  
specifications higher than that of DVD. Enjoy true home theater experience  
with the following advanced sound technologies: Dolby IIX, Dolby  
Headphone, Dolby Virtual Speaker, and Dolby Digital Live. See page 5-16  
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  
page 2-24 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 2-29 for details.  
1-4  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
1.3.2 ASUS Special features  
Serial ATA II and SATA-On-The-Go  
The motherboard supports the Serial ATA II 3 Gb/s technology through the  
JMicron Serial ATA interfaces. The Serial ATA 3 Gb/s specification provides  
twice the bandwidth of the current Serial ATA products with a host of new  
features, including Native Command Queuing (NCQ), Power Management  
(PM) Implementation Algorithm, and Hot Swap. Serial ATA allows thinner,  
more flexible cables with lower pin count and reduced voltage requirements.  
Leveraging these Serial ATA II 3Gb/s features is the SATA-On-The-Go. This  
external port on the rear panel I/O provides smart setup, hot-plug and  
support for up to 16 devices with port-multiplier functions. See pages 2-25  
and 2-26 for details.  
ASUS Q-Fan technology  
The ASUS Q-Fan technology smartly adjusts the CPU fan speeds according  
to the system loading to ensure quiet, cool, and efficient operation. See  
page 4-32 for details.  
ASUS MyLogo™  
This feature allows you to personalize and add style to your system with  
customizable boot logos. See page 5-9 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 N4L-VM DH  
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) .............................................. 2-6  
System memory .................................................................2-10  
Expansion slots...................................................................2-16  
Jumpers ..............................................................................2-21  
Connectors .........................................................................2-24  
ASUS N4L-VM DH  
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. The green LED  
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.  
N4L-VM DH  
SB_PWR  
®
ON  
OFF  
Standby  
Power  
Powered  
Off  
N4L-VM DH Onboard LED  
ASUS N4L-VM DH  
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.  
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 eight (8) 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  
N4L-VM DH  
®
2-2  
Chapter 2: Hardware information  
2.2.3 Motherboard layout  
CPU_FAN  
PS/2KBMS  
T: Mouse  
B: Keyboard  
KBPWR  
mPGA479  
JMicron  
JMB363  
Coaxial  
S/PDIF-out  
Optical  
S/PDIF-out  
USBPW34  
USBPW12  
1394_USB12  
LAN_USB34  
ATX12V  
Intel®  
MCH  
945GM  
AUDIO  
SATA_RAID  
1
CHA_FAN  
N4L-VM DH  
TV_C  
PCIEX16  
CR2032 3V  
Lithium Cell  
CMOS Power  
Intel  
82573L  
PCIEX1_1  
Intel®  
ICH7-M  
DH  
Intel FWH  
8Mb  
PCI1  
®
TSB43AB22A  
SATA2  
SATA  
CHASSIS  
CLRTC  
COM1  
0
PCI2  
SB_PWR  
ALC882M  
USBPW56  
USBPW78  
SPDIF  
CD  
IE1394_2  
USB56  
USB78  
GAME  
LPT  
AAFP  
ASUS N4L-VM DH  
2-3  
2.2.4 Layout contents  
Slots  
Page  
2-10  
2-18  
2-18  
2-18  
1.  
2.  
3.  
4.  
DDR2 DIMM slots  
PCI slots  
PCI Express x1 slot  
PCI Express x16 slot  
Jumper  
Page  
2-21  
2-22  
1.  
2.  
Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC)  
USB device wake-up (3-pin USBPW12, USBPW34,  
USBPW56, USBPW78)  
3.  
Keyboard power (3-pin KBPWR)  
2-23  
Rear panel connectors  
Page  
2-24  
2-24  
2-24  
2-24  
2-24  
2-24  
2-24  
2-24  
2-24  
2-25  
2-25  
2-25  
2-25  
2-25  
2-25  
1.  
2.  
PS/2 mouse port (green)  
VGA port  
3.  
IEEE 1394a port  
4.  
LAN (RJ-45) port  
5.  
Rear Speaker Out port (black)  
Center/Subwoofer port (orange)  
Line In port (light blue)  
Line Out port (lime)  
6.  
7.  
8.  
9.  
Microphone port (pink)  
Side Speaker Out port (gray)  
USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2  
Optical S/PDIF Out port  
Coaxial S/PDIF Out port  
External SATA port  
10.  
12.  
13.  
14.  
15.  
16.  
PS/2 keyboard port (purple)  
2-4  
Chapter 2: Hardware information  
Internal connectors  
                                                                                                                                                               
P
                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                                  
a
                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                                    
g
                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                                      
e
                                                                                                                                                                      
1.  
2.  
3.  
Floppy disk drive connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY)  
2-26  
2-26  
2-27  
IDE connector (40-1 pin IDE)  
Intel® ICH7-M DH Southbridge Serial ATA connectors  
(7-pin SATA0 [black], SATA2 [black])  
4.  
JMicron Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s RAID connector  
(7-pin SATA_RAID1 [red])  
2-28  
5.  
6.  
CD audio in connector (4-pin CD)  
2-28  
2-29  
2-30  
2-30  
2-31  
2-31  
2-32  
USB connectors (10-1 pin USB56, USB78)  
Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP)  
IEEE 1394a port connector (10-1 pin IE1394_2)  
GAME/MIDI port connector (16-1 pin GAME)  
Serial port connector (10-1 pin COM1)  
7.  
8.  
9.  
10.  
11.  
CPU and chassis fan connectors  
(3-pin CPU_FAN, 3-pin CHA_FAN)  
12.  
13.  
14.  
15.  
16.  
17.  
Chassis intrusion connector (4-1 pin CHASSIS)  
ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V)  
Parallel port connector (26-1 pin LPT)  
2-32  
2-33  
2-34  
2-35  
2-35  
2-36  
S/PDIF In/Out connector (6-1 pin SPDIF)  
TV Out connector (6-1 pin TV_C)  
System panel connector (20-pin PANEL)  
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 (Light green 2-pin PWR)  
Reset button (Blue 2-pin RESET)  
ASUS N4L-VM DH  
2-5  
2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU)  
The motherboard comes with a 479-pin, surface-mount, Zero Insertion  
Force (ZIF) mPGA479M socket designed for the Intel® CoreDuo/Core™  
Solo processor.  
2.3.1 Installing the CPU  
To install a CPU:  
1. Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard.  
mPGA479  
N4L-VM DH  
®
N4L-VM DH CPU Socket 479  
2. Unlock the socket by pressing  
the lever sideways, then lift it up  
to a 90º- 100º angle.  
Socket lever  
Make sure that the socket lever is lifted up to 90º-100º angle;  
otherwise, the CPU will not fit in completely.  
2-6  
Chapter 2: Hardware information