Asus K8S MX User Manual

K8S-MX

User Guide

Contents

Notices ........................................................................................... vi

Safety information ......................................................................... vii

About this guide............................................................................ viii

Conventions used in this guide ........................................... viii

Typography.......................................................................... viii

K8S-MX specifications summary.................................................... ix

Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.1 Welcome! ........................................................................... 1-2

1.2 Package contents ............................................................... 1-2

1.3 Special features.................................................................. 1-3

1.3.1 Product Highlights.................................................. 1-3

1.3.2 Unique ASUS features ........................................... 1-4

1.4 Before you proceed ............................................................ 1-5

1.5 Motherboard overview ........................................................ 1-6

1.5.1 Motherboard layout ................................................ 1-6

1.5.2 Placement direction ............................................... 1-7

1.5.3 Screw holes ........................................................... 1-7

1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU)........................................... 1-8

1.6.1 Overview ................................................................ 1-8

1.6.2 Installing the CPU .................................................. 1-9

1.7 System memory ............................................................... 1-10

1.7.1 DIMM sockets location......................................... 1-10

1.7.2 Memory configurations ........................................ 1-10

1.7.3 Installing a DIMM ................................................. 1-13

1.8 Expansion slots ................................................................ 1-13

1.8.1 Standard interrupt assignments ........................... 1-13

1.8.2 IRQ assignments for this motherboard ................ 1-14

1.8.3 PCI slots .............................................................. 1-14

1.8.4 PCI Express x1 slot ............................................. 1-14

1.8.5 AGP slot ............................................................... 1-15

1.9 Jumpers............................................................................ 1-16

1.10 Connectors ....................................................................... 1-18

1.10.1 Rear panel connectors......................................... 1-18

1.10.2 Internal connectors .............................................. 1-19

iii

Contents

Chapter 2: BIOS Information

2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS .................................... 2-2

2.1.1 Creating a bootable floppy disk ............................. 2-2

2.1.2 Using AFUDOS to update the BIOS ...................... 2-3

2.1.3 Using AFUDOS to copy BIOS from PC ................. 2-4

2.1.4 Using ASUS EZ Flash to update the BIOS ............ 2-5

2.1.5 Recovering the BIOS with CrashFree BIOS 2 ....... 2-6

2.2 BIOS Setup program .......................................................... 2-8

2.2.1 BIOS menu screen ................................................ 2-9

2.2.2 Menu bar ................................................................ 2-9

2.2.3 Navigation keys ..................................................... 2-9

2.2.4 Menu items .......................................................... 2-10

2.2.5 Sub-menu items................................................... 2-10

2.2.6 Configuration fields .............................................. 2-10

2.2.7 Pop-up window .................................................... 2-10

2.2.8 Scroll bar .............................................................. 2-10

2.2.9 General help ........................................................ 2-10

2.3 Main menu.........................................................................2-11

2.3.1 System Time .........................................................2-11

2.3.2 System Date .........................................................2-11

2.3.3 Legacy Diskette A .................................................2-11

2.3.4 Primary and Secondary IDE Master/Slave .......... 2-12

2.3.5 Onboard PCI S-ATA Controller ............................ 2-13

2.3.6 System Information .............................................. 2-13

2.4 Advanced menu ............................................................... 2-14

2.4.1 JumperFree Configuration ................................... 2-14

2.4.2 CPU Configuration ............................................... 2-15

2.4.3 Chipset................................................................. 2-16

2.4.4 Onboard Devices Configuration........................... 2-19

2.4.5 PCI PnP ............................................................... 2-22

2.5 Power menu ..................................................................... 2-23

2.5.1 ACPI Aware O/S .................................................. 2-23

2.5.2 Suspend Mode..................................................... 2-24

2.5.3 ACPI 2.0 Support ................................................. 2-24

2.5.4 ACPI APIC Support.............................................. 2-24

2.5.5 BIOS--> AML ACPI table ...................................... 2-24

2.5.6 Headless mode .................................................... 2-24

2.5.7 APM Configuration ............................................... 2-24

Contents

2.5.8 Hardware Monitor ................................................ 2-26

2.6 Boot menu ........................................................................ 2-27

2.6.1 Boot Device Priority ............................................. 2-27

2.6.2 Hard Disk Drives .................................................. 2-27

2.6.3 Boot Settings Configuration ................................. 2-28

2.6.4 Security ................................................................ 2-29

2.7 Exit menu ......................................................................... 2-31

Chapter 3: Software support

3.1 Install an operating system................................................. 3-2

3.2 Support CD information ...................................................... 3-2

3.2.1 Running the support CD ........................................ 3-2

3.2.2 Drivers menu ......................................................... 3-3

3.2.3 Utilities menu ......................................................... 3-3

3.2.4 Manuals ................................................................. 3-5

3.2.5 ASUS Contact Information..................................... 3-5

3.3 RAID configurations ........................................................... 3-6

3.3.1 Installing hard disks ............................................... 3-6

3.3.2 SIS RAID configurations ........................................ 3-7

3.4 Creating a RAID driver disk .............................................. 3-16

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.

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.

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. The ASUS websites are listed in the ASUS Contact

Information on the inside front cover.

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.

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

Conventions used in this guide

To make sure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following

symbols used throughout this manual.

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.

Typography

Bold text

Indicates a menu or an item to select.

Used to emphasize a word or a phrase.

Italics

<Key>

Keys enclosed in the less-than and greater-than sign

indicates that you must press the enclosed key.

Example: <Enter> indicates that you must press the

Enter or Return key.

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 enter the command exactly as

shown then supply the appropriate values that

appear in brackets. Example:

At the DOS prompt, type the command line:

afudos /i[filename]

In this example, you must supply a filename for

[filename].

afudos /iK8S-MX.ROM

viii

K8S-MX specifications summary

CPU

Socket 754 that supports:

- AMD Athlon™ 64 processor with built-in 1MB L2 cache

- AMD Sempron™ processor with built-in 256K L2 cache

AMD 64 architecture that enables simultaneous 32-bit and

64-bit computing

Chipset

SiS 760GX

SiS 965L

System Bus

Memory

800 MHz

2 x 184-pin DDR DIMM sockets for up to 2GB non-ECC

PC3200/PC2700/PC2100/PC1600 DDR DIMMs

Expansion slots

Storage

1 x AGP 8X/4X slot

1 x PCI Express 1x slot

2 x PCI slots

South Bridge supports

- 2 x UltraATA 133 connectors

- 2 x SATA with RAID 0, RAID 1

Audio

ADI AD1888 SoundMAX^®6-channel audio CODEC

support for S/PDIF out interface

LAN

USB

SIS 191/190 MAC + Realtek^®RTL8201CL 10/100 LAN PHY

Maximum of eight (8) USB 2.0 ports

Overclocking

Features

Memory voltage adjustable

SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection) from 200 MHz up to

250 MHz at 1 MHz increment

Adjustable FSB/DDR ratio

ASUS JumperFree

ASUS C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)

Special features

Back panel I/O

ASUS EZ Flash

ASUS CrashFree BIOS2

ASUS MyLogo™

AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet! Technology

1 x Parallel port

1 x Serial port

1 x PS/2 keyboard port

1 x PS/2 mouse port

4 x USB 2.0 ports

1 x VGA port

1 x RJ-45 port

Line In/Line Out/Microphone ports

(continued on the next page)

K8S-MX specifications summary

2 x USB 2.0 connector for 4 additional USB ports

Internal I/O

CPU/Chassis fan connectors

20-pin/4-pin ATX 12V power connectors

CD/AUX connectors

S/PDIF out connector

GAME/MIDI connector

Front panel audio connector

4Mb Flash EEPROM

BIOS features

AMI BIOS with enhanced ACPI, PnP, DMI, ASUS MyLogo™,

SM BIOS 2.3

PCI 2.2, USB 2.0/1.1

Industry standard

Manageability

Wake-On-LAN by PME, Wake-On-Ring by PME

ATX power supply (with 4-pin 12V plug)

micro-ATX form factor: 9.6 in x 7.6 in (24.4 cm x 19.3 cm)

Power Requirement

Form Factor

Device drivers

Support CD contents

ASUS PC Probe

Anti-virus software (OEM version)

* Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Chapter 1

This chapter describes the features of the

motherboard. It includes brief descriptions of the

motherboard components, and illustrations of the

layout, jumper settings, and connectors.

Product introduction

1.1 Welcome!

Thank you for buying the ASUS^®K8S-MX 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 combines the powers of the AMD Athlon™ 64 or AMD

Sempron™ processor and the SiS 760GX chipset to set a new benchmark for an

effective desktop platform solution.

Supporting up to 2GB of system memory with PC3200/PC2700/PC2100/PC1600

DDR DIMMs, high-resolution graphics via an AGP 8X slot, Serial ATA RAID, 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 K8S-MX motherboard

ASUS motherboard support CD

1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 cables

2 x Serial ATA cables

1 x Floppy disk cable

I/O shield

User guide

If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.

1-2

Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.3 Special features

1.3.1 Product Highlights

Latest processor technology

The motherboard supports the AMD Athlon™ 64 and AMD Sempron™ desktop

processors. The AMD Athlon™ 64 is based on AMD’s 64-bit architecture, which

represents the landmark introduction of the industry’s first x86-64 technology. This

processor provides a dramatic leap forward in compatibility, performance,

investment protection, and reduced total cost of ownership and development.

The AMD Sempron™ is a 32-bit processor that provides the performance needs of

value-conscious buyers. This processor is designed to deliver best-in-class

performance for everyday computing.

HyperTransport™ Technology

HyperTransport™ Technology is a high-speed, low latency, point-to-point link

designed to increase the communication speed between integrated circuits in

computers, networking and telecommunicatons equipment up to 48 times faster

than other existing technologies.

Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ Technology

The motherboard supports the AMD^®Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ Technology that dynamically

and automatically changes the CPU speed, voltage and amount of power

depending on the task the CPU performs.

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.

Serial ATA RAID solution

The motherboard provides a high-performance Serial ATA RAID controller that

enhance hard disk performance and data backup protection without the cost of

additional RAID cards. The onboard SIS 965L RAID controller provides two Serial

ATA connectors for RAID 0 and RAID 1 functions.

AGP 8X support

AGP 8X (AGP 3.0) is the VGA interface specification that enables enhanced

graphics performance with maximum bandwidth speeds of up to 2.12 GB/s.

ASUS K8S-MX motherboard

1-3

S/PDIF out

The motherboard’s S/PDIF out function turns your computer into a high-end

entertainment system with digital connectivity to powerful speaker systems.

USB 2.0 technology

The motherboard implements the Universal Serial Bus 2.0 (USB 2.0) specification,

extending the connection speed from 12 Mbps on USB 1.1 to a fast 480Mbps on

USB 2.0.

6-Channel Audio solution

The motherboard uses an onboard audio CODEC that lets you enjoy high-quality

6-channel audio without having to buy advanced sound cards.

1.3.2 Unique ASUS features

CrashFree BIOS 2

This feature allows you to restore the original BIOS data from the ASUS support

CD in case when the BIOS codes and data are corrupted. This protection

eliminates the need to buy a replacement ROM chip. See page 2-6.

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

BIOS automatically restores the CPU previous setting for each parameter.

ASUS MyLogo™

This new feature present in the motherboard allows you to personalize and add

style to your system with customizable boot logos. See pages 2-31.

ASUS EZ Flash BIOS

With the ASUS EZ Flash, you can easily update the system BIOS even before

loading the operating system. No need to use a DOS-based utility or boot from a

floppy disk. See page 2-5.

1-4

Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.4 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 stand-by power LED. When lit, this 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.

SB_PWR

K8S-MX

OFF

Standby

Power

Powered

Off

K8S-MX Onboard LED

ASUS K8S-MX motherboard

1-5

1.5 Motherboard overview

1.5.1 Motherboard layout

19.3cm (7.6in)

PS/2KBMS

T: Mouse

B: Keyboard

CPU_FAN

ATX12V

COM1

VGA

USB12

USBPW34

USBPW12

Bottom:

Top:

RJ-45

USB34

SIS

760GX

Top:Line In

Center:Line Out

Below:Mic In

RTL8201CL

PCIEX1_1

K8S-MX

BIOS

Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP)

SIS

965L

PCI1

SATA2

SATA1

SB_PWR

CR2032 3V

AUX

SPDIF_OUT

Lithium Cell

CMOS Power

USB78

PCI2

AD1888

USBPW78

USBPW56

FP_AUDIO

GAME

USB56

FLOPPY

PANEL

1-6

Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.5.2 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.

1.5.3 Screw holes

Place six (6) screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the motherboard

to the chassis.

Do not overtighten the screws! Doing so may damage the motherboard.

Place this side towards

the rear of the chassis

K8S-MX

ASUS K8S-MX motherboard

1-7

1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU)

1.6.1 Overview

The motherboard comes with a surface mount 754-pin Zero Insertion Force (ZIF)

socket designed for the AMD Athlon™ 64 processor.

The 128-bit-wide data paths of these processors can run applications faster than

processors with only 32-bit or 64-bit wide data paths.

K8S-MX

Gold Arrow

K8S-MX CPU Socket 754

Incorrect installation of the CPU into the socket may bend the pins and severely

damage the CPU!

1-8

Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.6.2 Installing the CPU

Follow these steps to install a CPU.

1. Locate the 754-pin ZIF socket on the motherboard.

2. Unlock the socket by pressing the

lever sideways, then lift it up to a

90°-100° angle.

Socket Lever

Make sure that the socket lever is lifted up to 90°-100° angle, otherwise the

CPU does not fit in completely.

3. Position the CPU above the socket

such that the CPU corner with the

gold triangle matches the socket

corner with a small triangle.

4. Carefully insert the CPU into the

socket until it fits in place.

Gold triangle

Small triangle

The CPU fits only in one correct orientation. DO NOT force the CPU into the

socket to prevent bending the pins and damaging the CPU!

5. When the CPU is in place, push

down the socket lever to secure the

CPU. The lever clicks on the side tab

to indicate that it is locked.

6. Install specifically designed heatsink

and fan assembly.

ASUS K8S-MX motherboard

1-9

1.7 System memory

1.7.1 DIMM sockets location

The following figure illustrates the location of the DDR DIMM sockets.

K8S-MX

K8S-MX 184-pin DDR DIMM sockets

•

Make sure to unplug the power supply before adding or removing DIMMs or

other system components. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to

both the motherboard and the components.

When installing long AGP cards, it is recommended to install the memory

modules first. Long AGP cards, when installed, may interfere with the

memory sockets.

1.7.2 Memory configurations

You may install 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, and 1GB DDR DIMMs into the

DIMM sockets using the memory configurations in this section.

Important notes

•

Installing DDR DIMMs other than the recommended configurations may

cause memory sizing error or system boot failure. Use any of the

recommended configurations in Table 1.

•

For optimum compatibility, obtain memory modules from qualified vendors.

See Qualified Vendors List on page 1-12.

Stacked RAM and DDR DIMM modules with more than 18 chips are not

supported.

Always install DIMMs with the same CAS Latency. For optimum

compatibility, obtain memory modules from the same vendors. See

Qualified Vendors List on page 1-12.

1-10

Chapter 1: Product introduction

Table 1

Recommended memory configurations

Number of

DIMMs

DIMM Slot

DIMM2

DIMM1

Single Side

Max Speed

DDR 400

Single Side

Double Side

Single Side

Double Side

Single Side

Double Side

Single Side

Double Side

Table 2

DDR400 Qualified Vendor List (QVL)

DIMM support

Size

Vendor

Model

Brand

Side(s)

Component

D3208DH1T-6

256MB

257MB

512MB

256MB

512MB

256MB

512MB

256MB

512MB

256MB

512MB

256MB

512MB

256MB

512MB

256MB

512MB

256MB

512MB

256MB

512MB

256MB

512MB

256MB

512MB

256MB

Kingston

Infineon

KVR333X64C25/256

KVR333X64C25/512

KVR400X643A/512

KVR400X64C3A/512

KVR400X64C3A/256

HYS64D64320GU-5-C

HYS64D32300GU-5-C

HYS64D64320GU-5-C

HYS64D64320GU-6-C

DDR400-256

Kingston

Hynix

•

HY5DU56822BT-J

HY5DU56822BT-D43

D3208DL3T-5

Hynix

Kingston

Hynix

HY5DU56822BT-D43

HYB25D256800CE-5C

HYB25D256800CE-6C

HY5DU56822BT-D43

HY5DU56822AT-H

HY5DU56822BT-J

VS32M8-5 2B0409

VS32M8-5 2B0402

K4H5608380-TCB3

VS32M8-6 2B0412

MT46V32M8-G

Infineon

Hynix

•

DDR400-512

Hynix

DDR266-256

Hynix

DDR333-256

Hynix

DDR333-512

Hynix

Corsair

Micron

VS256MB400

Value select

SAMSUNG

Value select

MICRON

SAMSUNG

Winbond

Elpida

VS512MB400

VS256MB333

•

VS512MB333

MT16VDDT6464AG-335GB

MT8VDDT3264AG-335GB

MT8VDDT3264AG-40BGB

MT16VDDT6464AG-40BGB

M368L3223FTN-CCC

M368L6423FTN-CCC

M368L3223FTN-CB3

M368L6423FTN-CB3

U24256ADWBG6H20

U24256AAWBG6H20

DDR333-512

Micron

MT46V32M8-G

Micron

MT46V32M8-G

Micron

MT46V32M8-G

Samsung

Winbond

Elpida

K4H560838F-TCCC

K4H560838F-TCB3

K4H5608838F-TCB3

W942508CH-5

W942508CH-6

W942508BH-6

U24512ADWBG6H20

U24256AD1PG6H20

U24512AD1PG6H20

DDR400-256

W942508CH-5

DD2508AKTA-5C

DD2508AMTA

Elpida

•

Transcend

SAMSUNG

Mosel

K4H560838F-TCCC

V58C2256804SAT5B

DDR400-256

(Continued on the next page)

ASUS K8S-MX motherboard

1-11

Table 2

DDR400 Qualified Vendor List (QVL)

DIMM support

Size

Vendor

Model

DDR400-512

Brand

Mosel

Side(s)

Component