M2N8-VMX
Contents
Notices................................................................................................ vi
Safety information ..............................................................................vii
M2N8-VMX specifications summary ..................................................... x
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.1
1.2
1.3
Welcome!.............................................................................. 1-2
Package contents ................................................................. 1-2
Special features.................................................................... 1-2
1.3.1
1.3.2
Product highlights................................................... 1-2
Innovative ASUS features ...................................... 1-5
1.4
1.5
Before you proceed .............................................................. 1-6
Motherboard overview.......................................................... 1-7
1.5.1
1.5.2
1.5.3
Motherboard layout ................................................ 1-7
Placement direction ................................................ 1-8
Screw holes............................................................. 1-8
1.6
1.7
Central Processing Unit (CPU) .............................................. 1-9
1.6.1
1.6.2
Installing the CPU.................................................... 1-9
Installing the heatsink and fan..............................1-11
System memory.................................................................. 1-13
1.7.1
1.7.2
1.7.3
1.7.4
Overview............................................................... 1-13
Memory configurations .........................................1-13
Installing a DIMM ...................................................1-17
Removing a DIMM..................................................1-17
1.8
Expansion slots................................................................... 1-18
1.8.1
1.8.2
1.8.3
1.8.4
1.8.5
Installing an expansion card..................................1-18
Configuring an expansion card..............................1-18
PCI slots................................................................ 1-20
PCI Express x1 slot ...............................................1-20
PCI Express x8 slot ...............................................1-20
1.9
Jumpers .............................................................................. 1-21
1.10 Connectors ......................................................................... 1-23
1.10.1 Rear panel connectors ..........................................1-23
1.10.2 Internal connectors...............................................1-24
iii
Contents
Chapter 2: BIOS setup
2.1
Managing and updating your BIOS ........................................ 2-2
2.1.1
2.1.2
2.1.3
2.1.4
2.1.5
Creating a bootable floppy disk.............................. 2-2
ASUS EZ Flash utility............................................... 2-3
AFUDOS utility ........................................................ 2-4
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2 utility ................................ 2-6
ASUS Update utility ................................................ 2-8
2.2
BIOS setup program............................................................ 2-11
2.2.1
2.2.2
2.2.3
2.2.4
2.2.5
2.2.6
2.2.7
2.2.8
2.2.9
BIOS menu screen.................................................2-12
Menu bar............................................................... 2-12
Navigation keys.....................................................2-12
Menu items ........................................................... 2-13
Sub-menu items....................................................2-13
Configuration fields...............................................2-13
Pop-up window......................................................2-13
Scroll bar............................................................... 2-13
General help..........................................................2-13
2.3
Main menu........................................................................... 2-14
2.3.1
2.3.2
2.3.3
2.3.4
2.3.5
2.3.6
2.3.7
System Time.........................................................2-14
System Date .........................................................2-14
Legacy Diskette A ...............................................2-14
IDE Configuration ..................................................2-15
Primary IDE Master/Slave......................................2-15
SATA1, SATA2 .....................................................2-17
System Information...............................................2-18
2.4
Advanced menu.................................................................. 2-19
2.4.1
2.4.2
2.4.3
2.4.4
2.4.5
2.4.6
Jumperfree Configuration .....................................2-19
CPU Configuration ................................................2-20
Chipset.................................................................. 2-21
Onboard Devices Configuration.............................2-25
PCI PnP.................................................................. 2-26
USB Configuration.................................................2-27
2.5
Power menu........................................................................ 2-28
2.5.1
2.5.2
Suspend Mode.......................................................2-28
ACPI Support ........................................................2-28
iv
Contents
2.5.3
2.5.4
2.5.5
ACPI APIC Support ................................................2-28
APM Configuration ................................................2-29
Hardware Monitor..................................................2-30
2.6
Boot menu.......................................................................... 2-31
2.6.1
2.6.2
2.6.3
2.6.4
Boot Device Priority..............................................2-31
Removable Drives..................................................2-31
Boot Settings Configuration .................................2-32
Security................................................................. 2-33
2.7
Exit menu............................................................................ 2-35
Chapter 3: Software support
3.1
3.2
Installing an operating system.............................................. 3-2
Support CD information........................................................ 3-2
3.2.1
3.2.2
3.2.3
3.2.4
3.2.5
3.2.6
3.2.7
Running the support CD.......................................... 3-2
Drivers menu........................................................... 3-3
Utilities menu.......................................................... 3-4
Make Disk menu...................................................... 3-5
Manual menu........................................................... 3-6
ASUS Contact information...................................... 3-7
Other information ................................................... 3-7
3.3
Creating a RAID driver disk ................................................... 3-9
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 adapter 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 extreme temperature. 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.
The symbol of the crossed out wheeled bin indicates that the product
(electrical and electronic equipment) should not be placed in municipal
waste. Check local regulations for disposal of electronic products.
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 features of the motherboard and the new
technology it supports. It also 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 2: 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 3: 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.
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: 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]
ix
M2N8-VMX specifications summary
Supports AMD socket AM2 for AMD Athlon™ 64/
Athlon™ FX/Athlon™ X2/Sempron processors
AMD64 architecture enables simultaneous 32-bit and
64-bit computing
CPU
Supports AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ Technology
NVIDIA® nForce 405/GeForce6100
2000/1600 MT/s
Chipset
Front Side Bus
Memory
Dual-channel memory architecture
4 x 240-pin DIMM sockets support up to 4 GB of
unbufferred/ECC or non-ECC 800/667/533 MHz
DDR2 memory modules
1 x PCI Express™ x8 slot
1 x PCI Express™ x1 slot
2 x PCI slots
Expansion slots
Graphics
Integrated in the NVIDIA® GeForce™ 6100 Graphics
Processing Unit (GPU)
High definition video processing with maximum
resolution of 1920 x 1440 x 32bpp pixels (@75Hz)
NVIDIA® nForce™405 Media and Communications
Processor (MCP) with NVIDIA MediaShield™ supports:
- 1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 interfaces for two (2)
hard disk drives
Storage
- 2 x Serial ATA 3 Gb/s hard disk drives with RAID 0
and RAID 1
Azalia ALC883-GR High Definition Audio 6-channel CODEC
Supports Jack-Sensing & Enumeration technology
S/PDIF OUT interface
High Definition Audio
ATTANSIC Gigabit LAN PCIe
LAN
USB
Supports up to 8 USB 2.0/1.1 ports
(continued on the next page)
x
M2N8-VMX specifications summary
Manageability
Special features
ASUS Q-Fan
ASUS C.P.R.
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2
ASUS EZ Flash
ASUS MyLogo2™
Stepless Frequency Selection (SFS) allows FSB tuning
from 200 MHz to 300 MHz at 1 MHz increment
Note: ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2 and ASUS EZ Flash only
support VGA/RGB output.
BIOS features
Rear panel
4 Mb Flash ROM, Award BIOS,Green, PnP, DMI, Wfm2.0,
ACPI v 2.0a, SM BIOS v 2.3
1 x Parallel port
1 x LAN (RJ-45) port
4 x USB 2.0 ports
1 x COM1 port
1 x PS/2 keyboard port
1 x PS/2 mouse port
1 x 6-channel audio port
Internal Connector
1 x 10-pin Azalia Analog Front panel connector
1 x CD audio in connector
1 x CPU fan connector
1 x Chassis fan connectors
1 x Floppy disk drive connector
1 x S/PDIF Out connector
1 x PRI_IDE connectors
2 x Serial ATA connectors
2 x USB 2.0 connectors for 4 additional USB 2.0 ports
1 x 24-pin ATX power connector
1 x 4-pin EATX 12V power connector
1 x System panel connector
Power Requirement
ATX power supply (with 24-pin and 4-pin 12 V plugs)
ATX 12 V 2.0 compliant
Form Factor
Support CD
uATX: 9.6 in. x 8.8 in (24.5cm x 22.4cm)
Device drivers
ASUS PC Probe II
AMD Cool ‘n’Quiet™ utility
ASUS Update
*Specifications are subject to change without notice.
xi
xii
This chapter describes the motherboard
features and the new technologies
it supports.
Product
1
introduction
1.1
Welcome!
Thank you for buying an ASUS® M2N8-VMX 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
Cables
ASUS M2N8-VMX motherboard
1 x Serial ATA signal cable
1 x Serial ATA power cable
1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 cable
1 x Floppy disk drive cable
Accessories
I/O shield
Application CD
Documentation
ASUS motherboard support CD
User guide
If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.
1.3
Special features
1.3.1 Product highlights
Latest processor technology
The motherboard supports AMD socket AM2 single-core Athlon 64/
Sempron and dual-core Athlon 64 X2/Athlon 64 FX processors with
2MB/1MB/512KB L2 cache, which is based on 64-bit architecture. It
features 2000/1600 MT/s HyperTransport Bus, dual-channel un-buffered
DDR2 800 memory support and AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet Technology. See page
1-9 for details.
1-2
Chapter 1: Product introduction
AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet Technology
The 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.
NVIDIA® GeForce™ 6100 GPU
and NVIDIA® nForce™ 405 MCP chipsets
The NVIDIA® GeForce™ 6100 graphics processing unit (GPU) Northbridge
supports Microsoft® DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0, and PCI Express
interface.
The NVIDIA® nForce™ 405 MCP delivers NVIDIA® MediaShield storage
management technology, allowing easy RAID configuration (RAID 0, RAID 1)
for Serial ATA 3Gb/s.
DDR2 memory support
The motherboard supports DDR2 memory which features data transfer
rates of 800/667/533 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 12.8 GB/s. See pages 1-13 to 1-16 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 1-18 for details.
ASUS M2N8-VMX
1-3
Serial ATA 3Gb/s technology
The motherboard supports next-generation SATA hard drives based on the
new SATA 3Gb/s storage specification. The onboard NVIDIA® nForce 405
MCP southbridge allows RAID 0 and RAID 1 configurations for two SATA
connectors.
Gigabit LAN solution
Gb LAN controller delivers transfer speeds up to ten times faster than
conventional 10/100 Ethernet connections. Gigabit LAN is the networking
standard for the early future and is ideal for handling large amounts of data
such as video, audio, and voice.
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 1-26 for details.
High Definition Audio
SoundMAX is the highest performing, most reliable and user-friendly PC
audio solution for business professionals, audiophiles, musicians, and
gamers. Hear crystal-clear quality from all your audio - MP3 playback, home
theatre, advanced gaming, VOIP and more, and never worry - SoundMAX
high-definition audio is there to enhance your experience!
1-4
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.3.2 Innovative ASUS features
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2
This feature allows you to restore the original BIOS data from the support
CD in case when the BIOS codes and data are corrupted. This protection
eliminates the need to buy a replacement BIOS chip. See page 2-6 for
details.
Install memory module in DIMM_A1 or DIMM_A2 slots.
ASUS EZ Flash
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 2-3.
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 page 2-31 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 MyLogo2™
This feature allows you to personalize and add style to your system with
customizable boot logos.
ASUS M2N8-VMX
1-5
1.4
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 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
ON
OFF
Standby
Power
Powered
Off
M2N8-VMX Onboard LED
1-6
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.5
Motherboard overview
1.5.1 Motherboard layout
22.4cm (8.8in)
PS/2KBMS
T: Mouse
B: Keyboard
ATX12V
USB12
PS2_USB_PWR
Super I/O
R
LAN_USB34
AUDIO
M2N8-VMX
4Mb BIOS
CPU_FAN
PCIEX8
Attansic
L1
CR2032 3V
Lithium Cell
CMOS Power
PCIEX1_1
Nvidia
CLRTC
MCP61S
PCI1
PCI2
USB56
SB_PWR
ALC883
SPDIF_OUT
PANEL
AAFP
FLOPPY
USB78
ASUS M2N8-VMX
1-7
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 can damage the motherboard.
Place this side towards
the rear of the chassis
R
M2N8-VMX
1-8
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.6
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The motherboard comes with a 940-pin AM2 socket designed for the AMD
Athlon™ 64 X2/Athlon™ 64/Athlon™ FX/Sempron™ processor.
Make sure you use a CPU designed for the AM2 socket. The CPU fits in
only one correct orientation. DO NOT force the CPU into the socket to
prevent bending the connectors on the socket and damaging the CPU!
1.6.1 Installing the CPU
To install a CPU.
1. Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard.
M2N8-VMX CPU Socket M2
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.
ASUS M2N8-VMX
1-9
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