Asus DELUXE A7N8X E User Manual

A7N8X-E  
Deluxe  
User Guide  
Contents  
Notices ........................................................................................... vi  
Safety information ......................................................................... vii  
About this guide............................................................................ viii  
How this guide is organized ................................................ viii  
Conventions used in this guide ............................................. ix  
Where to find more information ............................................. ix  
A7N8X-E Deluxe specifications summary .......................................x  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
1.1 Welcome! ........................................................................... 1-1  
1.2 Package contents ............................................................... 1-1  
1.3 Special features.................................................................. 1-2  
1.3.1 Product Highlights.................................................. 1-2  
1.3.2 Unique ASUS features ........................................... 1-3  
Chapter 2: Hardware information  
2.1 Before you proceed ............................................................ 2-1  
2.2 Motherboard overview ........................................................ 2-2  
2.2.1 Placement direction ............................................... 2-2  
2.2.2 Screw holes ........................................................... 2-2  
2.2.3 Motherboard layout ................................................ 2-3  
2.2.4 Layout Contents..................................................... 2-4  
2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU)........................................... 2-6  
2.3.1 Overview ................................................................ 2-6  
2.3.2 Installing the CPU .................................................. 2-6  
2.4 System memory ................................................................. 2-8  
2.4.1 Overview ................................................................ 2-8  
2.4.2 Memory configurations .......................................... 2-8  
2.4.3 Installing a DIMM ................................................. 2-10  
2.4.4 Removing a DIMM ............................................... 2-10  
2.5 Expansion slots .................................................................2-11  
2.5.1 Installing an expansion card .................................2-11  
2.5.2 Configuring an expansion card .............................2-11  
2.5.3 Interrupt assignments .......................................... 2-12  
2.5.4 PCI slots .............................................................. 2-13  
2.5.5 AGP slot ............................................................... 2-13  
2.5.6 Wi-Fi slot .............................................................. 2-14  
iii  
Contents  
2.6 Jumpers............................................................................ 2-15  
2.7 Connectors ....................................................................... 2-18  
2.7.1 Rear panel connectors ......................................... 2-18  
2.7.2 Internal connectors .............................................. 2-19  
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 Using the OS shut down function .......................... 3-2  
3.2.2 Using the dual function power switch .................... 3-2  
3.3 ASUS POST Reporter™ .................................................... 3-3  
3.3.1 Vocal POST messages .......................................... 3-3  
3.3.2 Winbond Voice Editor ............................................ 3-5  
Chapter 4: BIOS setup  
4.1 Managing and updating your BIOS .................................... 4-1  
4.1.1 Creating a bootable floppy disk ............................. 4-1  
4.1.2 AwardBIOS Flash Utility......................................... 4-2  
4.1.3 ASUS Update ........................................................ 4-5  
4.2 BIOS Setup program .......................................................... 4-7  
4.2.1 BIOS menu screen ................................................ 4-8  
4.2.2 Menu bar ................................................................ 4-8  
4.2.3 Navigation keys ..................................................... 4-8  
4.2.4 Menu items ............................................................ 4-9  
4.2.5 Sub-menu items..................................................... 4-9  
4.2.6 Configuration fields ................................................ 4-9  
4.2.7 General help .......................................................... 4-9  
4.2.8 Pop-up window ...................................................... 4-9  
4.2.9 Scroll bar ................................................................ 4-9  
4.3 Main menu........................................................................ 4-10  
4.3.1 System Time [xx:xx:xxxx]..................................... 4-10  
4.3.2 System Date [Day xx/xx/xxxx] ............................. 4-10  
4.3.3 Legacy Diskette A [1.44M, 3.5 in.] ....................... 4-10  
4.3.4 Halt On [All Errors] ............................................... 4-10  
4.3.5 Primary and Secondary Master/Slave ..................4-11  
4.4 Advanced menu ............................................................... 4-14  
4.4.1 Advanced BIOS Features .................................... 4-15  
4.4.2 Advanced Chipset Features ................................ 4-18  
4.4.3 Integrated Peripherals ......................................... 4-22  
iv  
Contents  
4.4.4 Power Management Setup .................................. 4-24  
4.4.5 PnP/PCI Configurations ....................................... 4-26  
4.5 Security Menu .................................................................. 4-27  
4.6 Hardware Monitor Menu ................................................... 4-29  
4.7 Exit Menu ......................................................................... 4-30  
Chapter 5: Software support  
5.1 Install an operating system................................................. 5-1  
5.2 Support CD information ...................................................... 5-1  
5.2.1 Running the support CD ........................................ 5-1  
5.2.2 Drivers menu ......................................................... 5-2  
5.2.3 Utilities menu ......................................................... 5-3  
5.2.4 ASUS Contact Information..................................... 5-4  
5.2.5 Other information ................................................... 5-5  
5.3 NVIDIA® nForce control panel ............................................ 5-7  
5.3.1 Launching the NVIDIA® control panel .................... 5-7  
5.3.2 Main ....................................................................... 5-7  
5.3.3 Speaker Setup ....................................................... 5-7  
5.3.4 MIDI ....................................................................... 5-9  
5.3.5 Environment........................................................... 5-9  
5.3.6 Applications ........................................................... 5-9  
5.3.7 Information ........................................................... 5-10  
5.4 NVIDIA® NVSwap 1.0 Utility ..............................................5-11  
5.5 RAID 0/RAID 1 Configurations ......................................... 5-13  
5.5.1 Install the hard disks ............................................ 5-13  
5.5.2 Creating and Deleting RAID sets ......................... 5-14  
5.6 Onboard LAN drivers for Windows 98SE/ME................... 5-16  
5.7 Marvell® Virtual Cable Tester™ (VCT) Technology........... 5-17  
5.8 I’m InTouch™ Remote Access Application ....................... 5-18  
5.8.1 Installing I’m InTouch....................................... 5-18  
5.8.2 Using I’m InTouch............................................ 5-20  
Quick Reference Card  
v
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.  
vi  
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.  
vii  
About this guide  
This user guide contains the information you need when installing and  
configuring the motherboard.  
How this guide is organized  
This manual contains the following parts:  
• Chapter 1: Product introduction  
This chapter describes the motherboard features of the and the new  
technologies 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 jumpers and connectors on the motherboard.  
Chapter 3: Powering up  
This chapter describes the power up sequence, the vocal POST  
messages, and ways of shutting down the system.  
• Chapter 4: BIOS setup  
This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS  
Setup menus. Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also  
provided.  
• Chapter 5: Software support  
This chapter describes the contents of the support CD that comes with  
the motherboard package.  
viii  
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: Information that you MUST follow to complete a  
task.  
NOTE: Tips and additional information to aid in completing a task.  
Where to find more information  
Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product  
and software updates.  
1. ASUS websites  
The ASUS websites worldwide provide updated information on ASUS  
hardware and software products. Refer to the ASUS contact  
information.  
2. Optional documentation  
Your product package may include optional documentation, such as  
warranty flyers, that may have been added by your dealer. These  
documents are not part of the standard package.  
ix  
A7N8X-E Deluxe specifications summary  
CPU  
Socket A for AMD Duron™/AMD Athlon™/AMD Athlon™ XP  
3200+ processors  
Front Side Bus (FSB)  
Chipset  
400/333/266/200Mhz  
Northbridge: NVIDIA® nForce2 Ultra 400  
Southbridge: NVIDIA® nForce2 MCP-T  
Memory  
Dual-channel memory architecture  
3 x 184-pin DDR DIMM sockets for up to 3GB memory  
Supports PC3200/PC2700/PC2100/PC1600 unbuffered  
non-ECC DDR DIMMs  
Expansion slots  
5 x PCI  
1 x AGP Pro/8X (1.5V only)  
1 x ASUS proprietary Wi-Fi slot  
Storage  
Audio  
LAN  
2 x UltraDMA 133/100/66/33  
2 x Serial ATA with RAID 0, 1 support  
MCP-T southbridge integrated Audio Processor Unit (APU) +  
Realtek ALC650 6-channel audio CODEC  
Marvell® 88E8001 Gigabit LAN  
MCP-T southbridge integrated controller MAC + Realtek  
8201BL LAN PHY  
1394  
MCP-T southbridge integrated IEEE1394a controller +  
Realtek 8801B PHY  
Special Features  
ASUS Q-Fan Technology  
ASUS POST Reporter  
ASUS C.O.P. (CPU Overheating Protection)  
Power Loss Restart  
CPU Throttle  
Rear Panel I/O  
1 x parallel port  
1 x serial port  
1 x PS/2 keyboard port  
1 x PS/2 mouse port  
1 x S/PDIF in/out port  
1 x surround L/R audio jack  
1 x CNTR/LFE audio jack  
1 x audio I/O port  
1 x Gigabit RJ-45 Port  
1 x Fast Ethernet RJ-45 port  
4 x USB 2.0 ports  
(continued on the next page)  
x
A7N8X-E Deluxe specifications summary  
USB 2.0 connector supports additional 2 USB 2.0 ports  
Game/MIDI connector  
Internal I/O  
Connectors  
CPU/Power/Chassis fan connectors  
2 x IDE connectors  
20-pin ATX power connector  
2 x SATA connectors  
2 x 1394 connectors  
Chassis intrusion connector  
Infrared module connector  
CD / AUX / Modem connector  
Front panel audio connector  
Serial port 2 connector  
S/PDIF connector  
4Mb Flash ROM, Award BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, Green  
PCI 2.2, USB 1.1/2.0.  
BIOS features  
Industry standard  
Manageability  
DMI 2.0, WOL, WOR, Chassis Intrusion  
ATX form factor: 12 in x 9.6 in (30.5 cm x 24.5 cm)  
Form Factor  
Device drivers  
Support CD contents  
ASUS PC Probe  
I’m InTouch™ Remote Access Application  
Trend MicroTM PC-cillin 2002 anti-virus software  
ASUS LiveUpdate Utility  
* Specifications are subject to change without notice.  
xi  
xii  
Chapter 1  
This chapter describes the motherboard  
features and the new technologies it  
supports.  
Product introduction  
Chapter summary  
1.1 Welcome! ........................................................ 1-1  
1.2 Package contents .......................................... 1-1  
1.3 Special features ............................................. 1-2  
ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe motherboard  
1.1 Welcome!  
®
Thank you for buying the ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe motherboard!  
The motherboard delivers a host of new features and latest technologies  
making it another standout in the long line of ASUS quality motherboards!  
The motherboard supports the AMD Athlon™, AMD Athlon™ XP or AMD  
Duron™ processors in a Socket A (462-pin) package with the NVIDIA®  
nForce2™ Ultra 400 chipset to set a new benchmark for an effective  
desktop platform solution.  
Supporting up to 3GB of system memory with PC3200/PC2700/PC2100/  
PC1600 DDR SDRAM, high-resolution graphics via an AGP 8X slot, SATA,  
RAID, IEEE 1394, USB 2.0, and 6-channel audio features, the  
motherboard takes you ahead in the world of power computing!  
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.  
ASUS motherboard  
ASUS support CD  
2 x SATA cables  
1 x 2-port USB module w/ cable  
1 x 2-port IEEE1394 module  
1 x S/PDIF out module  
2 x 80-conductor ribbon cable for UltraDMA/66/100/133 IDE drives  
1 x 40-conductor IDE cable  
1 x Ribbon cable for a 3.5-inch floppy drive  
2 x SATA power cable  
WinDVD Suite  
I/O shield  
Bag of extra jumper caps  
User Guide (includes Quick Reference Card)  
Quick Setup Guide  
Jumper/Connector sticker  
If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.  
ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe motherboard  
1-1  
1.3 Special features  
1.3.1 Product Highlights  
Latest processor technology  
The motherboard supports the latest AMD Athlon™, Athlon™ XP and AMD  
Duron™ processors via a 462-pin surface mount ZIF socket. The AMD  
Athlon™ and AMD Athlon™ XP processors features a 400Mhz front side  
bus and the QuantiSpeed™ architecture for rapid execution of  
applications.  
NVIDIA® nForce™ Platform Processing Architecture  
The motherboard combines the power of NVIDIA’s nForce2™ Ultra 400  
and nForce2™ MCP-T chipsets that improves processing efficiency and  
overall system performance.  
Serial ATA solution  
The motherboard supports two interfaces compliant to the Serial ATA  
(SATA) specification, an evolutionary replacement of the Parallel ATA  
storage interface. The Serial ATA specification allows for thinner, more  
flexible cables with lower pin count, reduced voltage requirement, up to  
150 MB/s data transfer rate. See page 2-21.  
AGP 8X support  
The motherboard support AGP 8X (AGP 3.0) specification offering 2.12  
GB/s bandwidth. See page 2-13.  
Dual LAN (Fast-Ethernet and Gigabit) solution  
The onboard Marvell® Gigabit LAN controller and Fast-Ethernet LAN  
controller integrated in the southbridge supply two separate ports for LAN  
on Motherboard (LOM) applications. The Marvell® Gigabit LAN controller is  
equipped with the net-diagnosing utility, VCT (Virtual Cable Tester), that  
intelligently diagnoses and reports cable faults from a remote location up  
to 100 meters. This feature helps maintain a more stable network  
connection. See pages 2-18, 5-17.  
S/PDIF out  
The motherboard’s S/PDIF out function turns your computer into a high-  
end entertainment system with digital connectivity.  
1-2  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
IEEE 1394 support  
The IEEE 1394 interface provides high-speed and flexible PC connectivity  
to a wide range of peripherals and devices compliant to IEEE 1394a  
standards. The IEEE 1394 interface allows up to 400Mbps 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 2-25.  
6-channel digital audio  
The Realtek ALC650 AC’97 audio 6-channel CODEC works with the Audio  
Processing Unit (APU) integrated in the NVIDIA® NForce2™ MCP-T  
southbridge to provide 3D surround audio effects and Dolby® Digital  
cinematic-quality audio.  
6 USB 2.0 ports  
The motherboard implements the Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0  
specification to provide up to 480Mbps connection speed. See page 2-24.  
1.3.2 Unique ASUS features  
ASUS Wi-Fi slot  
The ASUS Wi-Fi slot is based on the 802.11b/g wireless standard that is  
specifically designed for the ASUS WiFi-b™ add-on card to set up a  
wireless LAN environment. The ASUS WiFi-b™ add-on card bundles the  
Software AP (Access Point) to save the extra cost of a stand-alone AP.  
The card comes with user-friendly utilities and applications that allow quick  
connection to notebooks, PDAs, and other wireless LAN peripherals. See  
page 2-14.  
ASUS Q-Fan technology  
The ASUS Q-Fan technology smartly adjusts the fan speeds according to  
the system loading to ensure quiet, cool, and efficient operation. See  
pages 4-29.  
ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe motherboard  
1-3  
ASUS POST Reporter™  
The motherboard offers a new exciting feature called the ASUS POST  
Reporter™ to provide friendly voice messages and alerts during the  
Power-On Self-Tests (POST). Through an added external speaker, you will  
hear the messages informing you of the system boot status and causes of  
boot errors, if any. The bundled Winbond Voice Editor software allows you  
to customize the voice messages, and provides multi-language support.  
See page 3-3.  
1-4  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
Chapter 2  
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 information  
Chapter summary  
2.1 Before you proceed ....................................... 2-1  
2.2 Motherboard overview................................... 2-2  
2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) ..................... 2-6  
2.4 System memory ............................................. 2-8  
2.5 Expansion slots ............................................2-11  
2.6 Jumpers ........................................................ 2-15  
2.7 Connectors ................................................... 2-18  
ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe motherboard  
2.1 Before you proceed  
Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard  
components or change any motherboard settings.  
1. Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any  
component.  
2. 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.  
3. Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them.  
4. Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded  
antistatic pad or in the bag that came with the component.  
5. 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. When lit, the green  
LED indicates that the system is ON, in sleep mode, or in soft-off mode, 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.  
PWR_LED1  
A7N8X-E  
®
ON  
OFF  
Standby  
Power  
Powered  
Off  
A7N8X-E Onboard LED  
ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe motherboard  
2-1