Asus E8025 User Manual

M5A78L-M LX3 Series  
• M5A78L-M LX3  
• M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS  
Contents  
Chapter 1:  
Chapter 2:  
iii  
iv  
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.  
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.  
vi  
 
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.  
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 (+).  
vii  
M5A78L-M LX3 Series specifications summary  
CPU  
AMD® Socket AM3+ for AMD® FX™ / Phenom™ II / Athlon™ II /  
Sempron™ 100 series processors  
AMD® Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ Technology  
Supports AMD® AM3/AM3+ CPU up to 95W  
Chipset  
AMD® 760G(780L) / SB710  
Front side bus  
Memory  
Up to 5200 MT/s HyperTransport™ 3.0 interface  
Dual-channel memory architecture  
2 x 240-pin DIMM slots support maximum 16GB unbuffered ECC and non-  
ECC DDR3 1866 / 1600 / 1333 / 1066MHz memory modules  
* AMD® FX™ Series CPU on this motherboard supports up to DDR3  
1866MHz as its standard memory frequency.  
** Due to CPU specification, AMD® AM3 CPUs on this motherboard support  
up to DDR3 1333MHz.  
*** Refer to www.asus.com for the latest Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors  
List).  
**** Use a 64-bit Windows® OS if you want to install 4GB or more memory  
on the motherboard.  
Graphics  
Integrated ATI Radeon™ HD 3000 GPU  
Supports max. shared memory of 1GB  
Supports RGB with max. resolution of 2560 x 1440 (@75Hz)  
Supports Microsoft® DirectX 10  
Supports Hybrid CrossFireXTM (For Windows Vista or later versions)  
CrossFireX™.  
Expansion slots  
1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 slot  
1 x PCIe 2.0 x1 slot  
1 x PCI slot  
Storage / RAID  
LAN  
4 x Serial ATA 3Gb/s connectors support RAID 0, 1, 10 and JBOD  
Qualcomm Atheros Gb LAN  
Audio  
Realtek® ALC887 8-channel* High Definition Audio CODEC  
* Use the chassis with HD audio module in the front panel to support 8-  
channel audio output.  
USB  
Supports up to 8 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (4 ports at mid-board, 4 ports at the  
back panel)  
ASUS Unique  
Features  
ASUS MyLogo 2  
ASUS EZ Flash 2  
ASUS EPU  
ASUS Anti-Surge  
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3  
ASUS Fan Xpert  
ASUS Core Unlocker  
(continued on the next page)  
viii  
 
M5A78L-M LX3 Series specifications summary  
Special features  
100% All high quality conductive polymer capacitors (M5A78L-M LX3  
PLUS only)  
Back panel I/O ports  
1 x PS/2 Keyboard port  
1 x PS/2 Mouse port  
1 x COM port  
1 x D-Sub port  
1 x LAN (RJ-45) port  
4 x USB 2.0 ports  
3 x Audio jacks  
Internal I/O connectors  
2 x USB 2.0 connectors support additional 4 USB 2.0 ports  
4 x SATA 3.0Gb/s connectors  
1 x CPU fan connector  
1 x Chassis fan connector  
1 x Front panel audio connector  
1 x Speaker connector  
1 x System panel connector  
1 x 24-pin EATX power connector  
1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector  
BIOS  
16Mb Flash ROM, AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI v2.0, WfM2.0, ACPI v2.0a,  
SM BIOS 2.7  
Support DVD  
Drivers  
ASUS Update  
ASUS PC Probe II  
Anti-Virus software (OEM version)  
Form factor  
MicroATX form factor: 9.6 in x 7.4 in (24.4 cm x 18.8 cm)  
Specifications are subject to change without notice.  
ix  
Package contents  
Check your motherboard package for the following items.  
KBMS  
CPU_FAN  
EPU  
ATX12V  
USB34  
LAN1_USB12  
CHA_FAN  
AMD®  
RS780L  
AUDIO  
PCIEX1_1  
AR  
8161  
PCIEX16  
16Mb  
BIOS  
M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS  
Super  
I/O  
AMD®  
Lithium Cell  
CMOS Power  
SB710  
SATA3G_2 SATA3G_4  
PCI1  
ALC  
SB_PWR  
887-VD2  
USB78  
USB56  
F_PANEL  
AAFP  
CLRTC  
SPEAKER  
USBPW5-8  
SATA3G_1 SATA3G_3  
ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 Series motherboard  
2 x Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s cables  
User Manual  
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.  
x
 
Product introduction  
1
1.1  
Special features  
Product highlights  
1.1.1  
AMD® FX™ / Phenom™ II / Athlon™ II / Sempron™ 100 series CPU support  
This motherboard supports AMD® Socket AM3+ multi-core processors with unique L3  
cache and delivers better overclocking capabilities with less power consumption. It features  
dual-channel DDR3 memory support and accelerates data transfer rate up to 5200MT/s via  
HyperTransport™ 3.0-based system bus. This motherboard also supports AMD® CPUs in the  
new 32nm manufacturing process.  
HyperTransport™ 3.0 support  
HyperTransport™ 3.0 technology provides 2.6 times more bandwidth than HT1.0 that  
radically improves system efficiency for a smoother and faster computing environment.  
AMD® Cool ‘n’ Quiet Technology  
This 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.  
Dual-Channel DDR3 1866 support  
This motherboard supports DDR3 memory that features data transfer rates of 1866 /1600  
/1333/1066 MHz to meet the higher bandwidth requirements of the latest operating system,  
3D graphics, multimedia, and Internet applications.  
Hybrid CrossFireX™ support  
ATI Hybrid CrossFireX™ technology greatly boosts graphics performance with an onboard  
GPU and a discrete GPU.  
*
Hybrid CrossFireX™ is supported by Windows® Vista or later versions only.  
Gigabit LAN solution  
The onboard LAN controller is a highly integrated Gb LAN controller. It is enhanced with an  
ACPI management function to provide efficient power management for advanced operating  
systems.  
Serial ATA 3Gb/s technology and RAID support  
This motherboard supports hard drives based on the Serial ATA (SATA) 3Gb/s storage  
specification, delivering enhanced scalability and doubling the bus bandwidth for high-speed  
data retrieval and save. It also supports RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 0+1 configurations for  
Serial ATA hard drives.  
1-1  
ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 Series  
 
100% All High-quality Conductive Polymer Capacitors (M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS  
only)  
This motherboard uses all high-quality conductive polymer capacitors for durability, improved  
lifespan, and enhanced thermal capacity.  
1.1.2  
ASUS Exclusive Features  
Core Unlocker  
ASUS Core Unlocker simplifies the activation of a latent AMD® CPU-with just pressing a key.  
Enjoy an instant performance boost by simply unlocking the extra cores, without performing  
complicated BIOS changes.  
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).  
ASUS EPU  
ASUS EPU is a unique power saving technology that detects the current system loadings and  
adjusts the power consumption in real time.  
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™  
This feature allows you to convert your favorite photo into a 256-color boot logo for a more  
colorful and vivid image on your screen.  
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.  
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.  
1-2  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
 
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.  
Standby Power LED  
The motherboard comes with a standby power LED that lights up to indicate that the system  
is ON, in sleep mode, or in soft-off mode. This is a reminder that you should shut down  
the system and unplug the power cable before removing or plugging in any motherboard  
component. The illustration below shows the location of the onboard LED.  
SB_PWR  
M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS  
ON  
OFF  
Standby Power Powered Off  
M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS Onboard LED  
1-3  
ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 Series  
 
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.  
M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS  
1-4  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
 
1.3.3  
Motherboard layout  
M5A78L-M LX3 Series motherboards include M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS and M5A78L-M LX3  
models. The package contents vary from models. The layout illustrations in this user guide  
are for M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS only.  
1
2
3
4
4
5
6
3
18.8cm(7.4in)  
KBMS  
CPU_FAN  
EPU  
ATX12V  
USB34  
LAN1_USB12  
CHA_FAN  
AMD®  
RS780L  
AUDIO  
PCIEX1_1  
AR  
8161  
PCIEX16  
16Mb  
BIOS  
M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS  
Super  
I/O  
AMD®  
Lithium Cell  
CMOS Power  
SB710  
SATA3G_2 SATA3G_4  
7
8
7
PCI1  
USB78  
ALC  
887-VD2  
SB_PWR  
USB56  
F_PANEL  
SPEAKER  
AAFP  
SATA3G_1 SATA3G_3  
CLRTC  
USBPW5-8  
13 12  
11  
10  
1
9
1-5  
ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 Series  
 
1.3.4  
Layout contents  
Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED  
Page  
1. USB device wake-up (3-pin USBPW 1-4, USBPW 5-8)  
1-18  
2. Keyboard power (3-pin KBPWR)  
1-18  
1-21  
1-24  
1-6  
3. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V)  
4. CPU and chassis fan connectors (4-pin CPU_FAN and 3-pin CHA_FAN)  
5. AMD CPU socket  
6. DDR3 DIMM slots  
1-10  
1-22  
1-3  
7. SATA 3.0Gb/s connectors (7-pin SATA3G_1~4)  
8. Standby power LED (SB_PWR)  
9. System panel connector (10-1 pin F_PANEL)  
10. Speaker connector (4-pin SPEAKER)  
11. USB 2.0 connectors (10-1 pin USB56, USB78)  
12. Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC)  
1-23  
1-23  
1-24  
1-17  
1-20  
13. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP)  
1.4  
Central Processing Unit (CPU)  
This motherboard comes with an AM3+ socket designed for FX™ / Phenom™ II / Athlon™ II /  
Sempron™ 100 series processors.  
The AM3+ socket has a different pinout from the AM2+/AM2 socket. Ensure that you use a  
CPU designed for the AM3+ socket. The CPU fits in only one correct orientation. DO NOT  
force the CPU into the socket to prevent bending the pins and damaging the CPU!  
M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS  
M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS CPU socket AM3+  
1-6  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
 
1.4.1  
1
CPU installation  
2
3
4
1-7  
ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 Series  
 
1.4.2  
CPU heatsink and fan assembly installation  
Apply the Thermal Interface Material  
to the CPU heatsink and CPU  
before you install the heatsink and  
fan if necessary.  
To install the CPU heatsink and fan assembly  
1
2
3
4
5
1-8  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
 
To uninstall the CPU heatsink and fan assembly  
1
2
3
4
5
1-9  
ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 Series  
1.5  
System memory  
Overview  
1.5.1  
This motherboard comes with two Double Data Rate 3 (DDR3) Dual Inline Memory Modules  
(DIMM) sockets.  
A DDR3 module has the same physical dimensions as a DDR2 DIMM but is notched  
differently to prevent installation on a DDR2 DIMM socket. DDR3 modules are developed for  
better performance with less power consumption.  
The figure illustrates the location of the DDR3 DIMM sockets:  
Channel  
Sockets  
DIMM_A1  
DIMM_B1  
Channel A  
Channel B  
M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS  
M5A78L-M LX3 PLUS 240-pin DDR3 DIMM sockets  
1-10  
Chapter 1: Product introduction