Asus M4A78 EM User Manual

M4A78-EM  
Contents  
iii  
Contents  
iv  
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.  
DO NOT throw the motherboard in municipal waste. This product has been designed to  
enable proper reuse of parts and recycling. This 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.  
DO NOT throw the mercury-containing button cell battery in municipal waste. This symbol  
of the crossed out wheeled bin indicates that the battery should not be placed in municipal  
waste.  
vi  
 
Safety information  
Electrical safety  
To prevent electric shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electric 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 that 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.  
vii  
 
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.  
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.  
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 /iM4A78EM.ROM  
viii  
M4A78-EM specifications summary  
CPU  
AMD® Socket AM2+ / AM2 for AMD® Phenom™ x4 /  
Phenom™ x3 / Athlon™ x2 / Athlon™ / Sempron™  
processors  
Compatible with Phenom™ II / Athlon™ x4 / Athlon™ x3 /  
Athlon™ x2 processors (AM3 CPU)  
Supports 45nm CPU  
AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ 2.0 Technology (depends on CPU  
type)  
Supports CPU up to 125W  
Chipset  
AMD 780G / SB700  
Front side bus  
Up to 5200MT/s HyperTransport™ 3.0 interface for  
AM3 / AM2+ CPU  
2000 / 1600MT/s for AM2 CPU  
Memory  
Dual-channel memory architecture  
4 x 240-pin DIMM slots support maximum 16GB unbuffered  
ECC and non-ECC DDR2 1066/800/667MHz memory  
modules  
* DDR2 1066 is supported by AM3 / AM2+ CPU only.  
(Qualified Vendors List).  
*** When you install a total memory of 4GB or more,  
Windows® 32-bit operating system may only recognize  
less than 3GB. We recommend a maximum of 3GB  
system memory if you are using a Windows® 32-bit  
operating system.  
Graphics  
Integrated ATI Radeon™ HD 3200 GPU  
Supports HDMI™ with max. resolution up to  
1920x1200 (1080P)  
Supports DVI-D (HDCP compliant) with max. resolution up to  
2560x1600@60Hz dual-link  
Supports RGB with max. resolution up to 2048x1536@85Hz  
Supports Hybrid CrossFireX™ (for Windows® Vista only)  
Dual VGA output supports:  
RGB & DVI  
RGB & HDMI  
Maximum shared memory up to 256MB  
support Hybrid CrossFireX™.  
** The minimum system requirements of playing HD-DVD  
and Blu-ray disc: Graphics shared memory of 256MB /  
Dual-Core CPU / 1GB dual-channel DDR2 667 or  
single-channel DDR2 800  
Expansion slots  
1 x PCIe x16 slot  
1 x PCIe x1 slot  
2 x PCI slots  
(continued on the next page)  
ix  
 
M4A78-EM specifications summary  
Storage / RAID  
AMD SB700 southbridge:  
-
-
1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 connector  
5 x Serial ATA 3Gb/s connectors support RAID 0,  
RAID 1, and RAID 0+1 configurations (for Windows®  
Vista only)  
-
1 x eSATA 3Gb/s port supports JBOD  
Audio  
USB  
Realtek® ALC887 High Definition Audio 8-channel CODEC  
Supports Jack-detect and Multi-streaming technologies  
Supports S/PDIF_OUT interface  
Supports up to 12 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (6 ports at mid-board,  
6 ports at the back panel)  
LAN  
PCIe Gb LAN  
ASUS special features  
ASUS Q-Fan  
ASUS CrashFree BIOS3  
ASUS EZ Flash2  
ASUS MyLogo2  
ASUS Express Gate  
ASUS AI NET2  
ASUS AI Nap  
ASUS EPU-4 Engine  
ASUS Turbo Key  
ASUS overclocking  
features  
SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection) from 200MHz to  
400MHz at 1MHz increment  
Adjustable CPU voltage at 0.05V increment  
ASUS C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)  
Back panel I/O ports  
1 x PS/2 Keyboard / Mouse Combo port  
1 x RJ-45 port  
1 x VGA port  
1 x DVI port  
1 x eSATA port  
1 x HDMI port  
1 x Optical S/PDIF_OUT port  
6 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports  
8-channel audio ports  
(continued on the next page)  
x
M4A78-EM specifications summary  
Internal I/O connectors  
3 x USB 2.0/1.1 connectors support additional  
6 USB 2.0/1.1 ports  
1 x IDE connector  
1 x COM connector  
1 x LPT connector  
5 x SATA connectors  
1 x High definition front panel audio connector  
1 x System panel connector  
1 x CD audio-in connector  
1 x S/PDIF_OUT connector  
1 x CPU / 1 x Power / 1 x Chassis fan connectors  
1 x Chassis intrusion connector  
1 x 24-pin EATX power connector  
1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector  
BIOS  
8Mb Flash ROM, AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0,  
ACPI2.0a, SM BIOS 2.5  
Accessories  
1 x Serial ATA cable  
1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable  
1 x I/O shield  
1 x User Manual  
Form factor  
MicroATX form factor: 9.6 in x 9.6 in (24.4 cm x 24.4 cm)  
Support DVD  
Drivers  
ASUS LiveUpdate Utility  
ASUS PC Probe II  
Anti-Virus software (OEM version)  
*Specifications are subject to change without notice.  
xi  
xii  
Chapter 1  
Product introduction  
1.1  
Welcome!  
Thank you for buying an ASUS® M4A78-EM 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 M4A78-EM motherboard  
1 x Serial ATA cable  
1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable  
Accessories  
1 x I/O shield  
Application DVD  
Documentations  
ASUS motherboard Support DVD  
User Manual  
If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.  
1.3  
Special features  
1.3.1  
Product highlights  
AMD® Phenom™ II / Athlon™ x4 / Athlon™ x3 / Athlon™ x2  
AM3 CPU support  
This motherboard supports AMD® AM3 multi-core processors with unique  
L3 cache and delivers better overclocking capabilities with less power  
consumption. It features dual-channel DDR2 1066 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 45nm manufacturing process.  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
1-1  
 
AMD® Socket AM2+/AM2 Phenom™ x4 / Phenom™ x3 /  
Athlon™ x2 / Athlon™ / Sempron™ CPU support  
This motherboard supports AMD® Socket AM2+ multi-core processors. It  
features dual-channel DDR2 1066 memory support and accelerates data  
transfer rate up to 5200MT/s via HyperTransport™ 3.0-based system  
bus. It also supports AMD® Cool ‘n’ Quiet Technology.  
AMD® 780G chipset  
The AMD 780G Northbridge is the latest AMD chipset designed for both  
HT1.0 and HT 3.0 interface speed. It features the future mainstream  
Hybrid CrossFire technology that significantly optimizes your 3D  
performance.  
HyperTransport™ 3.0 support  
5200  
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.  
MT/s  
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.  
Native DDR2 1066 support  
This motherboard supports native DDR2 1066. It provides faster data  
transfer rate and more bandwidth to increase memory computing  
efficiency, enhancing system performance in 3D graphics and other  
memory demanding applications.  
DDR2 1066 is supported by AM3 / AM2+ CPU only. Refer to www.asus.com for the AM3  
/ AM2+ CPU models.  
Due to AM2+ / AM3 CPU limitation, only one DDR2 1066 DIMM is supported per  
channel. When four DDR2 1066 DIMMs are installed, all DIMMs run at 800MHz  
frequency by default for system stability.  
Hybrid CrossFireX support  
ATI Hybrid CrossFireX™ technology greatly boosts graphics performance  
with an onboard GPU and a discrete graphics card.  
Hybrid CrossFireX is supported by Windows® Vista OS only.  
1-2  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
64-bit CPU support  
64-bit computing, the next generation technology that replaces the  
current 32-bit architecture, delivers advanced system performance, faster  
memory access, and increased productivity. This motherboard provides  
excellent compatibility and flexibility by supporting both 64-bit and 32-bit  
architecture.  
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 SATA-On-The-Go  
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. The external  
SATA port provides smart setup and hot-plug functions for easy data  
backup to external devices.  
8-channel high definition audio  
The onboard 8-channel HD audio (High Definition Audio, previously  
codenamed Azalia) CODEC enables high-quality 192KHz/24-bit audio  
output and jack-detect feature that automatically detects and identifies  
what types of peripherals are plugged into the audio I/O jacks and notifies  
users of inappropriate connection, which means there will be no more  
confusion of Line-in, Line-out, and Mic jacks.  
1.3.2  
Innovative ASUS features  
ASUS Express Gate  
ASUS Express Gate is an instant-on environment that gives you quick  
access to the Internet. A few seconds after bootup, you can instantly surf  
the Internet without entering the Windows® OS.  
ASUS MyLogo2™  
Turn your favorite photos into 256-color boot logos to personalize your  
system.  
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.  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
1-3  
 
ASUS EZ Flash 2  
ASUS EZ Flash 2 allows you to update the BIOS from a USB flash disk  
before entering the OS.  
ASUS Q-Fan  
ASUS Q-Fan technology intelligently adjusts CPU fan speeds according  
to system loading to ensure a quiet, cool, and efficient operation.  
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 AI Nap  
With AI Nap, the system can keep running at minimum power and noise  
when you are temporarily away. To wake the system and return to the OS  
environment, simply click the mouse or press a key.  
ASUS AI NET2  
ASUS AI NET2 remotely detects the cable connection immediately after  
you turn on the system and any faulty cable connections are reported  
back up to 100 meters at 1 meter accuracy.  
Green ASUS  
This motherboard and its packaging comply with the European Union’s  
Restriction on the use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). This is in line  
with the ASUS vision of creating environment-friendly and recyclable  
products/packaging to safeguard consumers’ health while minimizing the  
impact on the environment.  
C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)  
The BIOS C.P.R. feature automatically restores the CPU default settings  
when the system hangs due to overclocking failure. 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 parameters to their default settings.  
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.  
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.  
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.  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
1-5  
 
1.5  
Motherboard overview  
1.5.1  
Placement direction  
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.  
1.5.2  
Screw holes  
Place eight 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.  
1-6  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
 
1.5.3  
Motherboard layout  
1.5.4  
Layout contents  
Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED  
Page Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED  
Page  
1. CPU, power, and chassis fan connectors  
1-28 9. Chassis intrusion connector  
1-21  
(4-pin CPU_FAN, 3-pin PWR_FAN, and 3-pin CHA_FAN)  
(4-1 pin CHASSIS)  
2. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V) 1-22 10. Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC)  
1-18  
1-5  
3. CPU Socket AM2+  
4. DDR2 DIMM slots  
1-8  
11. Onboard LED (SB_PWR)  
1-11  
12. SATA connectors (7-pin SATA1, SATA2,  
1-24  
SATA3, SATA5, SATA6)  
5. LPT connector (26-1 pin LPT)  
1-23 13. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB78, USB910,  
USB1112)  
1-26  
6. Serial port connector (10-1 pin COM1)  
7. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE)  
1-24 14. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT) 1-27  
1-23 15. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP)  
1-27  
1-26  
8. System panel connector (20-8 pin PANEL)  
1-25 16. Optical drive audio connector (4-pin CD)  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
1-7  
 
1.6  
Central Processing Unit (CPU)  
This motherboard comes with an AM2+ / AM2 socket designed for AMD® Phenom™ x4 /  
Phenom™ x3 / Athlon™ x2 / Athlon™ / Sempron™ processors. It also supports AM3 CPUs  
including Phenom™ II / Athlon™ x4 / Athlon™ x3 / Athlon™ x2 processors.  
The AM2+ / AM2 socket has a different pinout from the 940-pin socket designed for the  
AMD Opteron™ processor. Use a CPU that is designed for the AM2+ / AM2 socket.  
1.6.1  
Installing the CPU  
To install a CPU:  
1.  
Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard.  
Socket lever  
2.  
Press the lever sideways to unlock the  
socket, then lift it up to a 90°-100° angle.  
Ensure that the socket lever is lifted up to a 90°-100° angle; otherwise, the CPU will 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.  
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!  
Small triangle  
Gold triangle  
1-8  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
 
5.  
6.  
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.  
Install a CPU heatsink and fan following the  
instructions that comes with the heatsink package.  
You can also refer to section 1.6.2 Installing  
heatsink and fan for instructions.  
7.  
Connect the CPU fan cable to the CPU_FAN connector on the motherboard.  
DO NOT forget to connect the CPU fan connector! Hardware monitoring errors can occur if  
you fail to plug this connector.  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
1-9  
1.6.2  
Installing the heatsink and fan  
Ensure that you use only AMD-certified heatsink and fan assembly.  
To install the CPU heatsink and fan:  
1.  
Place the heatsink on top of the installed CPU, ensuring that the heatsink fits properly  
on the retention module base.  
The retention module base is already installed on the motherboard upon purchase.  
You do not have to remove the retention module base when installing the CPU or  
installing other motherboard components.  
If you purchased a separate CPU heatsink and fan assembly, ensure that a Thermal  
Interface Material is properly applied to the CPU heatsink or CPU before you install the  
heatsink and fan assembly.  
CPU Fan  
CPU Heatsink  
Retention bracket  
Retention Module Base  
Retention bracket lock  
Your boxed CPU heatsink and fan assembly should come with installation instructions for  
the CPU, heatsink, and the retention mechanism. If the instructions in this section do not  
match the CPU documentation, follow the latter.  
2.  
Attach one end of the retention bracket to the retention module base.  
1
2
4
3
5
1-10  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
 
3.  
Align the other end of the retention bracket to the retention module base. A clicking  
sound denotes that the retention bracket is in place.  
Ensure that the fan and heatsink assembly perfectly fits the retention mechanism module  
base, otherwise you cannot snap the retention bracket in place.  
4.  
5.  
Push down the retention bracket lock on the retention mechanism to secure the  
heatsink and fan to the module base.  
When the fan and heatsink assembly is in place, connect the CPU fan cable to the  
connector on the motherboard labeled CPU_FAN.  
DO NOT forget to connect the CPU fan connector! Hardware monitoring errors can occur if  
you fail to plug this connector.  
1.7  
System memory  
1.7.1  
Overview  
The motherboard comes with four Double Data Rate 2 (DDR2) Dual Inline Memory Modules  
(DIMM) sockets. A DDR2 module has the same physical dimensions as a DDR DIMM but  
has a 240-pin footprint compared to the 184-pin DDR DIMM. DDR2 DIMMs are notched  
differently to prevent installation on a DDR DIMM socket. The figure illustrates the location of  
the DDR2 DIMM sockets:  
Channel  
Sockets  
Channel A  
Channel B  
DIMM_A1 and DIMM_A2  
DIMM_B1 and DIMM_B2  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
1-11  
 
1.7.2  
Memory configurations  
You may install 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB unbuffered ECC and non-ECC DDR2 DIMMs  
into the DIMM sockets.  
You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B. The system maps  
the total size of the lower-sized channel for the dual-channel configuration. Any excess  
memory from the higher-sized channel is then mapped for single-channel operation.  
Always install DIMMs with the same CAS latency. For optimum compatibility, we  
recommend that you obtain memory modules from the same vendor.  
Due to the memory address limitation on 32-bit Windows® OS, when you install 4GB  
or more memory on the motherboard, the actual usable memory for the OS can be  
about 3GB or less. For effective use of memory, we recommend that you do any of the  
following:  
-
Install a maximum of 3GB system memory if you are using a 32-bit Windows®  
OS.  
-
Use a 64-bit Windows® OS if you want to install 4GB or more memory on the  
motherboard.  
This motherboard does not support DIMMs made up of 256 megabits (Mb) chips or less.  
The motherboard supports up to 16GB memory modules on Windows® XP Professional x64  
and Vista x64 editions. You may install a maximum of 4GB DIMMs on each slot.  
M4A78-EM Motherboard Qualified Vendors Lists (QVL)  
DDR2-1066MHz capability  
DIMM  
support  
SS/  
DS  
Chip  
Brand  
Size  
Vendor  
Part No.  
CL  
Chip No.  
A* B* C*  
512MB  
512MB  
512MB  
1G  
Kingston  
Kingston  
Kingston  
Kingston  
Kingston  
Kingston  
KHX8500D2/512  
SS N/A  
SS N/A  
SS N/A  
DS N/A  
DS N/A  
DS N/A  
Heat-Sink Package  
E5108AJBG-1J-E  
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
E5108AJBG-1J-E  
Heat-Sink Package  
Kingston  
Elpida  
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
KVR1066D2N7/512  
KHX8500D2K2/1GN  
KHX8500D2K2/2GN  
KVR1066D2N7/1G  
KHX8500D2/1G  
Kingston  
Kingston  
Elpida  
1G  
1G  
Kingston  
1G  
Qimonda HYS64T128020EU-19F-C DS  
6
HYB18T512800CF19FFSS24313 Qimonda  
1G  
Kingmax  
Crucial  
KLED48F-A8K15  
DS N/A  
SS 5-5-5-15 Heat-Sink Package  
KKA8FFIXF-JFS-18A  
Kingmax  
N/A  
1G  
BL12864AA1065.8FE5  
1G  
Transcend TX1066QLJ-2GK1GB  
DS  
SS  
DS  
5
5
5
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
GL2L128M88BA25AB  
GL2L128M88BA25AB  
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
Transced  
Transced  
Transced  
OCZ  
2G(kit of 2) Transcend TX1066QLU-2GK  
2G  
1G  
1G  
1G  
1G  
1G  
Transcend TX1066QLU-4GK  
OCZ  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
OCZ2N10662GK  
DS N/A  
GB22GB8500C5DC  
GB24GB8500C5QC  
GE22GB1066C5DC  
GE24GB1066C5QC  
F2-8500CL5D-2GBPK  
F2-8500CL5S-1GBPK  
SS  
SS  
SS  
SS  
5
5
5
5
GEIL  
·
·
·
·
·
·
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
2G(kit of 2) G.SKILL  
1G G.SKILL  
DS 5-5-5-15 Heat-Sink Package  
DS 5-5-5-15 Heat-Sink Package  
N/A  
G.SKILL  
1-12  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
 
Due to AM2+ / AM3 CPU limitation, only one DDR2 1066 DIMM is supported per  
channel. When four DDR2 1066 DIMMs are installed, all DIMMs run at 800Mhz  
frequency by default for system stability.  
The default DIMM frequency depends on its Serial Presence Detect (SPD), which is the  
standard way of accessing information from a memory module. Under the default state,  
some memory modules for overclocking may operate at a lower frequency than the  
vendor-marked value.  
DDR2-800MHz capability  
DIMM support  
SS/  
DS  
Chip  
Brand  
Size  
Vendor  
Part No.  
CL  
Chip No.  
A* B*  
C*  
1G  
Kingston  
Kingston  
Kingston  
KHX6400D2LL/1G  
KHX6400D2LLK2/1GN  
KVR800D2N6/512  
DS N/A Heat-Sink Package  
SS N/A Heat-Sink Package  
SS N/A E5108AJBG-8E-E  
Kingston  
Kingston  
Elpida  
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
512MB  
512MB  
D6408TR4CGL25USL362406  
PECXA  
1G  
Kingston  
KVR800D2N5/1G  
DS N/A  
Kingston  
·
·
·
2G  
Kingston  
Kingston  
Kingston  
Kingston  
Samsung  
Samsung  
Samsung  
Samsung  
Samsung  
Samsung  
Samsung  
Qimonda  
Micron  
KVR800D2N5/2G  
DS N/A E1108ACBG-8E-E  
Elpida  
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
2G  
KHX6400D2/2G  
DS N/A Heat-Sink Package  
DS N/A E2108ABSE-8G-E  
Kingston  
Elpida  
4G  
KVR800D2N6/4G  
512MB  
512MB  
1G  
KVR800D2N5/512  
SS N/A E5108AJBG-8E-E 0803A9082  
Kingston  
Samsung  
Samsung  
Samsung  
Samsung  
Samsung  
Samsung  
Samsung  
M378T6553GZS-CF7  
M378T2863QZS-CF7  
M391T2863QZ3-CF7  
M378T2953GZ3-CF7  
M37875663QZ3-CF7  
M391T5663QZ3-CF7  
M378T5263AZ3-CF7  
HYS64T64000EU-2.5-B2 SS  
SS  
SS  
SS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
6
6
6
6
6
6
K4T51083QG-HCF7  
K4T1G084QQ-HCF7  
K4T1G084QQ-HCF7(ECC)  
K4T51083QG-HCF7  
1G  
1G  
2G  
K4T1G084QQ-HCF7  
K4T1G084QQ-HCF7(ECC)  
2G  
4G  
DS N/A K4T2G084QA-HCF7  
512MB  
512MB  
1G  
6
5
6
5
4
5
HYB18T512800B2F25FSS28380 Qimonda  
MT9HTF6472AY-80ED4  
MT9HTF12872AY-800E1  
SS  
SS  
6ED22D9GKX(ECC)  
D9HNP 7YE22(ECC)  
6TD22D9GKX(ECC)  
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
Micron  
Micron  
Micron  
Corsair  
Corsair  
Micron  
1G  
Micron  
MT18HTF12872AY-80ED4 DS  
1G  
Corsair  
XMS2-6400  
XMS2-6400  
DS  
DS  
1G  
Corsair  
4G(Kit  
of 2)  
Corsair  
Corsair  
Crucial  
CM2X2048-6400C5DHX  
CM2X2048-6400C5  
DS  
DS  
5
5
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
Corsair  
Corsair  
N/A  
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
4G(Kit  
of 2)  
2G(Kit of  
2)(EPP)  
BL12864AA804.8FE5  
SS N/A Heat-Sink Package  
512MB  
1G  
HY  
HYMP564U64CP8-S5 AB SS  
5
5
HY5PS12821CFP-S5  
HY5PS12821CFPS5  
Hynix  
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
HY  
HYMP512U64CP8-S5 AB DS  
Hynix  
512MB  
1G  
Kingmax  
Kingmax  
Kingmax  
Apacer  
Apacer  
KLDC28F-A8KI5  
KLDD48F-B8KB5  
KLDE88F-B8KB5  
78.01GA0.9K5  
SS N/A KKA8FF1XF-JFS-25A  
SS N/A KKB8FFBXF-CFA-25U  
DS N/A KKB8FFBXF-CFA-25U  
Kingmax  
Kingmax  
Kingmax  
Apacer  
2G  
1G  
SS  
DS  
SS  
DS  
DS  
SS  
5
5
5
5
5
5
AM4B5808CQJS8E0749D  
AM4B5808CQJS8E0740E  
7HD22 D9GMH  
2G  
78.A1GA0.9K4  
Apacer  
512MB  
1G  
Transcend TS64MLQ64V8J512MB  
Transcend 505649-1993  
Micron  
7HD22D9GMH  
Micron  
1G  
Transcend TS128MLQ64V8J  
Transcend JM800QLU-1G  
TQ123PJF8F0801  
TQ1243PCF8  
Transcend  
Transcend  
1G  
(continued on the next page)  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
1-13  
DDR2-800MHz capability  
DIMM support  
A* B*  
SS/  
DS  
Chip  
Brand  
Size  
Vendor  
Part No.  
CL  
Chip No.  
C*  
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
1G  
2G  
2G  
1G  
512MB  
2G  
2G  
2G  
2G  
1G  
1G  
1G  
1G  
1G  
1G  
1G  
1G  
1G  
2G  
2G  
2G  
2G  
2G  
2G  
2G  
1G  
1G  
2G  
2G  
4G  
Transcend TS128MLQ64V8U  
Transcend JM800QLU-2G  
Transcend TS256MLQ64V8U  
SS  
DS  
DS  
5
5
5
E1108ACBG-8E-E  
TQ243PCF8  
Elpida  
Transcend  
Elpida  
ADATA  
VDATA  
PSC  
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
E1108ACBG-8E-E  
ADATA  
VDATA  
PSC  
M2OAD6G314170Q1E58 DS N/A AD29608A8A-25EG80810  
M2GVD6G3H3160Q1E52 SS N/A VD29608A8A-25EG20813  
AL8E8F73C-8E1  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
5
5
5
5
4
4
5
5
5
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
5
4
4
5
4
5
5-5-  
A3R1GE3CFF734MAA0E  
SHG772-AA3G  
PSC  
PL8E8F73C-8E1  
PSC  
PSC  
PL8E8G73E-8E1  
XCP271A3G-A  
PSC  
PSC  
AL7E8E63H-10E1K  
GB22GB6400C4DC  
GB24GB6400C4QC  
GB22GB6400C5DC  
GB24GB6400C5QC  
GX22GB6400DC  
A3R1GE3CFF750RABBP(ECC)  
GL2L64M088BA30EB  
GL2L64M088BA30EB  
GL2L64M088BA30EB  
GL2L64M088BA30EB  
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
GL2L128M88BA25AB  
GL2L128M88BA25AB  
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
PSC  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GE22GB800C4DC  
GE24GB800C4QC  
GX22GB6400UDC  
GE22GB800C5DC  
GB24GB6400C5DC  
GB28GB6400C5QC  
GX24GB6400DC  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GE28GB800C5QC  
GE28GB800C4QC  
GE24GB800C4DC  
GE24GB800C5DC  
F2-6400CL4D-2GBPK  
F2-6400CL4D-2GBHK  
F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ  
F2-6400CL4D-4GBPK  
F2-6400CL5Q-16GNQ  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
GEIL  
G.SKILL  
G.SKILL  
G.SKILL  
G.SKILL  
G.SKILL  
G.SKILL  
G.SKILL  
G.SKILL  
G.SKILL  
G.SKILL  
1G(Kit  
of 2)  
G.SKILL  
F2-6400CL5D-1GBNQ  
SS 5-  
15  
Heat-Sink Package  
G.SKILL  
·
·
·
1G  
1G  
1G  
2G  
1G  
OCZ  
OCZ  
OCZ  
OCZ  
Elixir  
OCZ2RPR8002GK  
OCZ2G800R22GK  
OCZ2P800R22GK  
OCZ2P8004GK  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
DS  
4
5
4
5
5
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
Heat-Sink Package  
OCZ  
OCZ  
OCZ  
OCZ  
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
M2Y1G64TU8HB0B-25C  
N2TU51280BE-25C802006Z1DV Elixir  
M2Y1G64TU88D5B-AC  
0828.GS  
1G  
Elixir  
SS  
5
N2TU16800E-AC Elixir  
·
·
·
1-14  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
DDR2-667MHz capability  
DIMM  
support  
SS/  
DS  
Chip  
Brand  
Size  
Vendor  
Part No.  
CL  
Chip No.  
A* B* C*  
2G  
Kingston  
Kingston  
Kingston  
Kingston  
KVR667D2N5/2G  
KVR667D2N5/512  
KVR667D2N5/2G  
KVR667D2N5/1G  
DS N/A  
SS N/A  
DS N/A  
DS N/A  
7RE22 D9HNL  
Micron  
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
SO1237650821 SBP D6408TR4CG  
L25USL074905PECNB  
512MB  
2G  
Kingston  
Elpida  
E1108ACBG-8E-E 0813A90CC  
SO1280420822 SOP D6408TR4CG  
L25USL156304PECXA  
1G  
Kingston  
512MB  
1G  
Qimonda HYS64T64000EU-3S-B2  
SS  
5
5
HYB18T512B00B2F3SFSS28171  
HYB18T512B00B2F3SFSS28171  
MID095D62864M8CEC  
Heat-Sink Package  
Qimonda  
Qimonda  
Corsair  
Corsair  
Kingmax  
Kingmax  
Apacer  
Apacer  
Apacer  
Apacer  
Apacer  
Apacer  
Apacer  
Elpida  
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
Qimonda HYS64T128020EU-3S-B2 DS  
1G  
Corsair  
Corsair  
Kingmax  
Kingmax  
Apacer  
Apacer  
Apacer  
Apacer  
Apacer  
Apacer  
Apacer  
VS1GB667D2  
DS N/A  
DS  
1G  
XMS2-5400  
4
512MB  
1G  
KLCC28F-A8KB5  
KLCD48F-A8KB5  
AU512E667C5KBGC  
AU512E667C5KBGC  
78.91G92.9K5  
SS N/A  
KKEA88B4LAUG-29DX  
KKEA88B4LAUG-29DX  
AM4B5708MIJS7E0627B  
AM4B5708GQJS7E06332F  
AM4B5708JQJS7E0751C  
AM4B5808CQJS7E0751C  
AM4B5708GQJS7E0636B  
AM4B5708MIJS7E0627B  
AM4B5808CQJS7E0749B  
E5108AJBG-6E-E  
DS N/A  
512MB  
512MB  
512MB  
1G  
SS  
SS  
SS  
SS  
5
5
5
5
78.01G9O.9K5  
1G  
AU01GE667C5KBGC  
AU01GE667C5KBGC  
78.A1G9O.9K4  
DS N/A  
1G  
DS  
DS  
DS  
5
5
5
2G  
1G  
Transcend 506010-4894  
512MB  
1G  
ADATA  
ADATA  
ADATA  
PSC  
M2OAD5G3H3160Q1C52 SS N/A  
AD29608A8A-3EG20813  
AD29608A8A-3EG80814  
AD20908A8A-3EG 30724  
A3R12E3JFF717B9A00  
A3R12E3JFF717B9A01  
A3R1GE3CFF734MAA0J  
NT5TU64M8AE-3C  
ADATA  
ADATA  
ADATA  
PSC  
M2OAD5G314170Q1C58 DS N/A  
2G  
M2OAD5H3J4170I1C53  
AL6E8E63J-6E1  
DS N/A  
512MB  
1G  
SS  
DS  
SS  
5
5
5
PSC  
AL7E8E63J-6E1  
PSC  
1G  
PSC  
AL7E8F73C-6E1  
PSC  
512MB  
1G  
Nanya  
Nanya  
GEIL  
NT512T64U88A1BY-3C  
NT1GT64U8HB0BY-3C  
GX21GB5300SX  
SS N/A  
Nanya  
Nanya  
GEIL  
DS  
DS  
DS  
5
3
5
NT5TU64M8BE-3C72155700CP  
Heat-Sink Package  
1G  
2G  
GEIL  
GX24GB5300LDC  
F2-5400PHU2-2GBNT  
F2-5300CL5D-4GBMQ  
Heat-Sink Package  
GEIL  
2G(kit of 2) G.SKILL  
DS 5-5-5-15 D2 64M8CCF 0815 C7173S  
G.SKILL  
G.SKILL  
PSC  
4G(kit of 2) G.SKILL  
DS 5-5-5-15 Heat-Sink Package  
512MB  
4G  
Twinmos 8D-A3JK5MPETP  
SS  
5
A3R12E3GEF633ACAOY  
Samsung M378T5263AZ3-CE6  
DS N/A  
K4T2G084QA-HCE6  
Samsung  
ELIXIR  
ELIXIR  
Hynix  
1G  
ELIXIR  
ELIXIR  
M2Y1G64TU8HA2B-3C  
M2Y1G64TU8HBOB-3C  
DS  
DS  
5
5
M2TU51280AE-3C717095R28F  
N2TU51280BE-3C639009W1CF  
HY5PS12821CFP-Y5 C 702AA  
1G  
1G  
Leadmax LRMP512U64A8-Y5  
DS N/A  
SS: Single-sided / DS: Double-sided  
DIMM support:  
A*: Supports one module inserted into any slot as single-channel memory configuration.  
B*: Supports one pair of modules inserted into either the yellow slots or the black slots  
as one pair of dual-channel memory configuration.  
C*: Supports two pairs of modules inserted into both the yellow slots and the black slots  
as two pairs of dual-channel memory configuration.  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
1-15  
1.7.3  
Installing a DIMM  
Unplug the power supply before adding or removing DIMMs or other system components.  
Failure to do so can cause severe damage to both the motherboard and the components.  
2
1.  
Press the retaining clips outward to  
DDR2 DIMM notch  
unlock a DDR2 DIMM socket.  
2.  
Align a DIMM on the socket such that  
the notch on the DIMM matches the  
break on the socket.  
1
1
Unlocked retaining clip  
A DDR2 DIMM is keyed with a notch so that it fits in only one direction. DO NOT force a  
DIMM into a socket to avoid damaging the DIMM.  
3.  
Firmly insert the DIMM into the socket  
until the retaining clips snap back in place  
and the DIMM is properly seated.  
3
Locked Retaining Clip  
1.7.4  
Removing a DIMM  
To remove a DIMM:  
1.  
Simultaneously press the retaining clips  
outward to unlock the DIMM.  
2
Support the DIMM lightly with your  
fingers when pressing the retaining  
clips. The DIMM might get damaged  
when it flips out with extra force.  
1
1
DDR2 DIMM notch  
2.  
Remove the DIMM from the socket.  
1-16  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
 
1.8  
Expansion slots  
In the future, you may need to install expansion cards. The following sub-sections describe  
the slots and the expansion cards that they support.  
Unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. Failure to do so may  
cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components.  
1.8.1  
Installing an expansion card  
To install an expansion card:  
1.  
Before installing the expansion card, read the documentation that came with it and  
make the necessary hardware settings for the card.  
2.  
Remove the system unit cover (if your motherboard is already installed in a chassis).  
3.  
Remove the bracket opposite the slot that you intend to use. Keep the screw for later  
use.  
4.  
Align the card connector with the slot and press firmly until the card is completely  
seated on the slot.  
5.  
6.  
Secure the card to the chassis with the screw you removed earlier.  
Replace the system cover.  
1.8.2  
Configuring an expansion card  
After installing the expansion card, configure it by adjusting the software settings.  
1.  
Turn on the system and change the necessary BIOS settings, if any. See Chapter 2 for  
information on BIOS setup.  
2.  
Assign an IRQ to the card.  
3.  
Install the software drivers for the expansion card.  
When using PCI cards on shared slots, ensure that the drivers support “Share IRQ” or that  
the cards do not need IRQ assignments. Otherwise, conflicts will arise between the two PCI  
groups, making the system unstable and the card inoperable.  
1.8.3  
PCI slots  
The PCI slots support cards such as a LAN card, SCSI card, USB card, and other cards that  
comply with PCI specifications.  
1.8.4  
PCI Express x1 slot  
This motherboard supports PCI Express x1 network cards, SCSI cards, and other cards that  
comply with the PCI Express specifications.  
1.8.5  
PCI Express x16 slot  
This motherboard supports a PCI Express x16 graphics card that complies with the PCI  
Express specifications.  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
1-17  
 
1.9  
Jumpers  
1.  
Clear RTC RAM (CLRTC)  
This jumper allows you to clear the Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM in CMOS. You can  
clear the CMOS memory of date, time, and system setup parameters by erasing  
the CMOS RTC RAM data. The onboard button cell battery powers the RAM data in  
CMOS, which include system setup information such as system passwords.  
To erase the RTC RAM:  
1. Turn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord.  
2. Move the jumper cap from pins 1-2 (default) to pins 2-3. Keep the cap on pins 2-3  
for about 5~10 seconds, then move the cap back to pins 1-2.  
3. Plug the power cord and turn ON the computer.  
4. Hold down the <Del> key during the boot process and enter BIOS setup to reenter  
data.  
Except when clearing the RTC RAM, never remove the cap on CLRTC jumper default  
position. Removing the cap will cause system boot failure!  
If the steps above do not help, remove the onboard battery and move the jumper again  
to clear the CMOS RTC RAM data. After clearing the CMOS, reinstall the battery.  
You do not need to clear the RTC when the system hangs due to overclocking. For  
system failure due to overclocking, use the CPU Parameter Recall (C.P.R) feature. Shut  
down and reboot the system so the BIOS can automatically reset parameter settings to  
default values.  
1-18  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
 
1.10  
Connectors  
1.10.1  
Rear panel ports  
1.  
2.  
PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse Combo port (purple). This port is for a PS/2 keyboard or  
mouse.  
Optical S/PDIF_OUT port. This port connects to an external audio output device via  
an optical S/PDIF cable.  
3.  
4.  
VGA port. This 15-pin port is for a VGA monitor or other VGA-compatible devices.  
USB 2.0 ports 3 and 4. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are for USB  
2.0 devices.  
5.  
LAN (RJ-45) port. This port allows Gigabit connection to a Local Area Network (LAN)  
through a network hub.  
LAN port LED indications  
ACT/LINK SPEED  
LED LED  
Activity/Link LED  
Speed LED  
Status  
Status  
Description  
No link  
Description  
OFF  
OFF  
10Mbps connection  
100Mbps connection  
1Gbps connection  
ORANGE  
BLINKING  
Linked  
ORANGE  
GREEN  
Data activity  
LAN port  
6.  
7.  
8.  
9.  
Center/Subwoofer port (orange). This port connects to the center/subwoofer  
speakers.  
Rear Speaker Out port (black). This port connects to the rear speakers in the  
4, 6, and 8-channel audio configurations.  
Line In port (light blue). This port connects to the tape, CD, DVD player, or other  
audio sources.  
Line Out port (lime). This port connects to a headphone or a speaker. In the 4, 6 and  
8-channel configurations, the function of this port becomes Front Speaker Out.  
10. Microphone port (pink). This port connects to a microphone.  
11. Side Speaker Out port (gray). This port connects to the side speakers in the  
8-channel audio configuration.  
Refer to the audio configuration table on the next page for the function of the audio ports in  
the 2, 4, 6, or 8-channel configuration.  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
1-19  
 
Audio 2, 4, 6, or 8-channel configuration  
Headset  
2-channel  
Port  
4-channel  
6-channel  
8-channel  
Light Blue  
Lime  
Line In  
Line In  
Line In  
Front Speaker Out  
Mic In  
Line In  
Line Out  
Front Speaker Out  
Front Speaker Out  
Mic In  
Pink  
Mic In  
Mic In  
Orange  
Black  
Center/Subwoofer  
Rear Speaker Out  
Center/Subwoofer  
Rear Speaker Out  
Side Speaker Out  
Rear Speaker Out  
Gray  
Ensure the audio device of sound playback is Realtek High Definition Audio (the name  
may be different based on the OS). Go to Start > Control Panel > Sounds and Audio  
Devices > Sound Playback to configure the settings.  
12. USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are for  
USB 2.0 devices.  
13. eSATA port. This port connects to an external Serial ATA hard disk drive.  
To use hot-plug, set the OnChip SATA Type item in the BIOS to [AHCI]. See section 2.3.4  
SATA Configuration for details.  
14. DVI-D Out port. This port is for any DVI-D compatible device and is HDCP compliant  
allowing playback of HD DVD, Blu-Ray, and other protected content.  
15. HDMI port. This port is for a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connector,  
and is HDCP compliant allowing playback of HD DVD, Blu-Ray, and other protected  
content.  
Dual display output support  
This table indicates that whether the following dual display outputs are supported on  
your motherboard:  
Dual display outputs  
Supported  
Not supported  
DVI + D-Sub  
DVI + HDMI  
HDMI + D-Sub  
During POST, only the monitor connected to the D-Sub port has display. The dual  
display function works only under Windows.  
1-20  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
Playback of HD DVD and Blu-Ray discs  
For better playback quality, we recommend that you follow the system requirements  
listed below.  
Suggested list  
CPU  
DIMM  
AMD® Athlon 4400+  
DDR2 800 (1GB or higher)  
BIOS setup  
Frame Buffer Size--256MB or higher  
Best resolution  
File format  
Windows XP  
1920 x 1080p  
1920 x 1080p  
1280 x 1080p  
Windows Vista  
Non-protected clips  
HD-DVD  
1920 x 1080p  
1280 x 1080p  
1280 x 1080p  
Blu-Ray  
To play HD DVD or Blu-Ray disc, ensure to use HDCP compliant devices and software.  
16. USB 2.0 ports 5 and 6. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are for  
USB 2.0 devices.  
1.10.2  
Internal connectors  
1.  
Chassis intrusion connector (4-1 pin CHASSIS)  
This connector is for a chassis-mounted intrusion detection sensor or switch. Connect  
one end of the chassis intrusion sensor or switch cable to this connector. The chassis  
intrusion sensor or switch sends a high-level signal to this connector when a chassis  
component is removed or replaced. The signal is then generated as a chassis intrusion  
event.  
By default, the pins labeled “Chassis Signal” and “GND” are shorted with a jumper cap.  
Remove the jumper caps only when you intend to use the chassis intrusion detection  
feature.  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
1-21  
 
2.  
ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V)  
These connectors are for an ATX power supply. The plugs from the power supply are  
designed to fit these connectors in only one orientation. Find the proper orientation and  
push down firmly until the connectors completely fit.  
We recommend that you use an ATX 12V Specification 2.0-compliant power supply unit  
(PSU) with a minimum of 300W power rating. This PSU type has 24-pin and 4-pin power  
plugs.  
If you intend to use a PSU with 20-pin and 4-pin power plugs, ensure that the 20-pin  
power plug can provide at least 15 A on +12 V and that the PSU has a minimum power  
rating of 300W. The system may become unstable or may not boot up if the power is  
inadequate.  
DO NOT forget to connect the 4-pin ATX +12V power plug. Otherwise, the system will  
not boot up.  
We recommend that you use a PSU with higher power output when configuring a  
system with more power-consuming devices or when you intend to install additional  
devices. The system may become unstable or may not boot up if the power is  
inadequate.  
If you are uncertain about the minimum power supply requirement for your system,  
refer to the Recommended Power Supply Wattage Calculator at http://support.asus.  
com/PowerSupplyCalculator/PSCalculator.aspx?SLanguage=en-us for details.  
1-22  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
3.  
IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE)  
The onboard IDE connector is for Ultra DMA 133/100/66 signal cable. There are three  
connectors on each Ultra DMA 133/100/66 signal cable: blue, black, and gray. Connect  
the blue connector to the motherboard’s IDE connector, then select one of the following  
modes to configure your devices:  
Drive jumper setting  
Mode of device(s)  
Cable connector  
Black  
Single device  
Two devices  
Cable-Select or Master  
-
Master  
Slave  
Master  
Slave  
Black  
Cable-Select  
Gray  
Master  
Slave  
Black or gray  
Pin 20 on the IDE connector is removed to match the covered hole on the Ultra DMA  
cable connector. This prevents incorrect insertion when you connect the IDE cable.  
Use the 80-conductor IDE cable for Ultra DMA 133/100/66 IDE devices.  
If any device jumper is set as “Cable-Select”, ensure that all other device jumpers have the  
same setting.  
4.  
LPT connector  
The LPT (Line Printing Terminal) connector supports devices such as a printer. LPT is  
standardized as IEEE 1284, which is the parallel port interface on IBM PC-compatible  
computers.  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
1-23  
5.  
Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1, SATA2, SATA3, SATA5, and SATA6)  
These connectors are for the Serial ATA signal cables for Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard disk  
and optical disk drives. The Serial ATA 3Gb/s is backward compatible with Serial ATA  
1.5Gb/s specification. The data transfer rate of the Serial ATA 3Gb/s is faster than the  
standard parallel ATA with 133 MB/s (Ultra DMA133). If you install Serial ATA hard disk  
drives, you can create a RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 0+1 configurations through the  
onboard SB700 chipset.  
Install the Windows® XP Service Pack 1 before using Serial ATA.  
For detailed instructions on RAID configurations, refer to the RAID manual in the  
Support DVD.  
If you intend to create a Serial ATA RAID set using these connectors, set the OnChip  
SATA Type item in the BIOS to [RAID]. See 2.3.4 SATA Configuration for details.  
6.  
Serial port connector (10-1 pin COM1)  
The connector is for a serial (COM) port. Connect the serial port module cable to the  
connector, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis.  
The serial port bracket (COM1) is purchased separately.  
1-24  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
7.  
System panel connector (20-8 pin F_PANEL)  
This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions.  
System power LED  
This 2-pin connector is for the system power LED. Connect the chassis power LED  
cable to this connector. The system power LED lights up when you turn on the system  
power, and blinks when the system is in sleep mode.  
Hard disk drive activity LED  
This 2-pin connector is for the HDD Activity LED. Connect the HDD Activity LED cable  
to this connector. The IDE LED lights up or flashes when data is read from or written to  
the HDD.  
System warning speaker  
This 4-pin connector is for the chassis-mounted system warning speaker. The speaker  
allows you to hear system beeps and warnings.  
Power/Soft-off button  
This 2-pin connector is for the system power button. Pressing the power button turns  
the system ON or puts the system in SLEEP or SOFT-OFF mode depending on the  
BIOS settings. Pressing the power switch for more than four seconds while the system  
is ON turns the system OFF.  
Reset button  
This 2-pin connector is for the chassis-mounted reset button for system reboot without  
turning off the system power.  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
1-25  
8.  
USB connectors (10-1 pin USB78, USB910, USB1112)  
These connectors are for USB 2.0 ports. Connect the USB module cable to any of  
these connectors, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system  
chassis. These USB connectors comply with USB 2.0 specification that supports up to  
480Mbps connection speed.  
Never connect a 1394 cable to the USB connectors. Doing so will damage the  
motherboard!  
The USB 2.0 module is purchased separately.  
9.  
Optical drive audio in connector (4-pin CD)  
This connector allows you to receive stereo audio input from sound sources such as a  
CD-ROM, TV tuner, or MPEG card.  
1-26  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
10. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT)  
This connector is for an additional Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) ports.  
Ensure that the audio device of Sound playback is Realtek High Definition Audio (the  
name may be different based on the OS). Go to Start > Control Panel > Sounds and  
Audio Devices > Sound Playback to configure the setting.  
The S/PDIF module is purchased separately.  
11. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP)  
This connector is for a chassis-mounted front panel audio I/O module that supports  
either High Definition Audio or AC`97 audio standard. Connect one end of the front  
panel audio I/O module cable to this connector.  
We recommend that you connect a high-definition front panel audio module to this  
connector to avail of the motherboard high-definition audio capability.  
If you want to connect a high definition front panel audio module to this connector, set  
the Front Panel Select item in the BIOS to [HD Audio]. See section 2.4.4 Onboard  
Device Configuration for details.  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
1-27  
12. Power, CPU, and chassis fan connectors (3-pin PWR_FAN, 4-pin CPU_FAN,  
3-pin CHA_FAN)  
The fan connectors support cooling fans of 350mA~740mA (8.88W max.) or a total of  
1A~2.22A (26.64W max.) at +12V. Connect the fan cables to the fan connectors on the  
motherboard, ensuring that the black wire of each cable matches the ground pin of the  
connector.  
DO NOT forget to connect the fan cables to the fan connectors. Insufficient air flow inside  
the system may damage the motherboard components. These are not jumpers! DO NOT  
place jumper caps on the fan connectors.  
Only the CPU fan supports the ASUS Q-Fan feature.  
1-28  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
1.11  
Software support  
1.11.1  
Installing an operating system  
This motherboard supports Windows® XP/Vista Operating Systems (OS). Always install the  
latest OS version and corresponding updates to maximize the features of your hardware.  
Motherboard settings and hardware options vary. Refer to your OS documentation for  
detailed information.  
Ensure that you install Windows® XP Service Pack 3 or later versions / Windows® Vista  
Service Pack 1 or later versions before installing the drivers for better compatibility and  
system stability.  
1.11.2  
Support DVD information  
The Support DVD that comes with the motherboard package contains the drivers, software  
applications, and utilities that you can install to avail all motherboard features.  
The contents of the Support DVD are subject to change at any time without notice. Visit the  
To run the Support DVD  
Place the Support DVD into the optical drive. The DVD automatically displays the Drivers  
menu if Autorun is enabled on your computer.  
Click an icon to  
display Support DVD/  
motherboard information  
Click an item to install  
If Autorun is NOT enabled on your computer, browse the contents of the Support DVD to  
locate the file ASSETUP.EXE from the BIN folder. Double-click the ASSETUP.EXE to run  
the DVD.  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
1-29  
 
1-30  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
Chapter 2  
BIOS information  
2.1  
Managing and updating your BIOS  
Save a copy of the original motherboard BIOS file to a USB flash disk in case you need to  
restore the BIOS in the future. Copy the original motherboard BIOS using the ASUS Update  
or AFUDOS utilities.  
2.1.1  
ASUS Update utility  
The ASUS Update is a utility that allows you to manage, save, and update the motherboard  
BIOS in Windows® environment.  
ASUS Update requires an Internet connection either through a network or an Internet  
Service Provider (ISP).  
This utility is available in the support DVD that comes with the motherboard package.  
Installing ASUS Update  
To install ASUS Update:  
1.  
2.  
3.  
Place the support DVD into the optical drive. The Drivers menu appears.  
Click the Utilities tab, then click ASUS Update.  
Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.  
Quit all Windows® applications before you update the BIOS using this utility.  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
2-1  
 
Updating the BIOS  
To update the BIOS:  
1.  
From the Windows® desktop, click Start > Programs > ASUS > ASUS Update >  
ASUS Update to launch the ASUS Update utility.  
2.  
From the dropdown list, select either of the following methods:  
Updating from the Internet  
a. Select Update BIOS from the Internet, then click Next.  
b. Select the ASUS FTP site nearest you to avoid network traffic, or click Auto  
Select then click Next.  
c. From the FTP site, select the BIOS version that you want to download then click  
Next.  
The ASUS Update utility is capable of updating itself through the Internet. Always update  
the utility to avail all its features.  
Updating from a BIOS file  
a. Select Update BIOS from a file, then click Next.  
b. Locate the BIOS file from the Open window, then click Open.  
3.  
Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the updating process.  
2-2  
Chapter 2: BIOS information  
2.1.2  
ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility  
The ASUS EZ Flash 2 feature allows you to update the BIOS without using an OS-based  
utility.  
Before you start using this utility, download the latest BIOS file from the ASUS website at  
To update the BIOS using EZ Flash 2:  
1.  
Insert the USB flash disk that contains the latest BIOS file to the USB port, then launch  
EZ Flash 2 in either of these two ways:  
Press <Alt> + <F2> during POST to display the following:  
ASUSTek EZ Flash 2 BIOS ROM Utility V3.21  
FLASH TYPE: MXIC 25L8005  
Current ROM  
BOARD: M4A78-EM  
VER: 0304 (H:00 B:06)  
DATE: 01/19/2009  
Update ROM  
BOARD: Unknown  
VER: Unknown  
DATE: Unknown  
PATH: C:\  
C:  
Note  
[Enter] Select or Load [Tab] Switch  
[Up/Down/Home/End] Move [B] Backup  
[V] Drive Info  
[ESC] Exit  
Enter the BIOS setup program. Go to the Tools menu to select EZ Flash 2 and  
press <Enter> to enable it.  
2.  
Press <Tab> to switch between drives until the correct BIOS file is found, then press  
<Enter>. EZ Flash 2 performs the BIOS updating process and automatically reboots  
the system when done.  
This function supports USB flash disks with FAT 32/16 format and single partition only.  
DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS to prevent system boot  
failure!  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
2-3  
 
2.1.3  
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility  
The ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 is an auto recovery tool that allows you to restore the BIOS file  
when it fails or gets corrupted during the updating process. You can update a corrupted BIOS  
file using the motherboard support DVD or a USB flash disk that contains the updated BIOS  
file.  
Prepare the motherboard support DVD or the USB flash disk containing the updated  
motherboard BIOS before using this utility.  
Always connect the SATA cable to the SATA1/2/3/5/6 connector. Otherwise, the utility  
will not function.  
Recovering the BIOS  
To recover the BIOS:  
1.  
Turn on the system.  
2.  
Insert the support DVD or the USB flash disk containing the BIOS file to the optical  
drive or USB port.  
The utility displays the following message and automatically checks the support DVD  
or USB flash disk for the BIOS file.  
Bad BIOS checksum. Starting BIOS recovery...  
Checking for CD-ROM...  
When the BIOS file is found, the utility reads it and starts erasing the corrupted BIOS  
file.  
Bad BIOS checksum. Starting BIOS recovery...  
Checking for CD-ROM...  
CD-ROM found!  
Reading file “M4A78EM.ROM”. Completed.  
Start erasing...  
Start programming...  
3.  
Restart the system after the utility completes the updating process.  
Only the USB flash disk with FAT 32/16 format and single partition supports ASUS  
CrashFree BIOS 3. The device size should be smaller than 8GB.  
DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS! Doing so can cause  
system boot failure!  
The recovered BIOS may not be the latest BIOS version for this motherboard. Download  
the latest BIOS file from the ASUS website at www.asus.com.  
2-4  
Chapter 2: BIOS information  
 
2.2  
BIOS setup program  
This motherboard supports a programmable Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) chip that you  
can update using the provided utility described in section 2.1 Managing and updating your  
BIOS.  
Use the BIOS Setup program when you are installing a motherboard, reconfiguring your  
system, or prompted to “Run Setup.” This section explains how to configure your system  
using this utility.  
Even if you are not prompted to use the Setup program, you can change the configuration of  
your computer in the future. For example, you can enable the security password feature or  
change the power management settings. This requires you to reconfigure your system using  
the BIOS Setup program so that the computer can recognize these changes and record them  
in the CMOS RAM of the SPI chip.  
The SPI chip on the motherboard stores the Setup utility. When you start up the computer,  
the system provides you with the opportunity to run this program. Press <Del> during the  
Power-On Self-Test (POST) to enter the Setup utility; otherwise, POST continues with its test  
routines.  
If you want to enter Setup after POST, reboot the system by doing any of the following  
procedures:  
Restart using the OS standard shut-down procedure.  
Press <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Del> simultaneously.  
Press the reset button on the system chassis.  
Press the power button to turn the system off then back on.  
Using the power button, reset button, or the <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Del> keys to force  
reset from a running operating system can cause damage to your data or system. We  
recommend that you always shut down the system properly from the operating system.  
The Setup program is designed to make it as easy to use as possible. Being a menu-driven  
program, it lets you scroll through the various sub-menus and make your selections from the  
available options using the navigation keys.  
The default BIOS settings for this motherboard apply to most conditions to ensure  
optimum performance. If the system becomes unstable after changing any BIOS  
settings, load the default settings to ensure system compatibility and stability. Select the  
Load Setup Defaults item under the Exit menu. See section 2.8 Exit Menu.  
The BIOS setup screens in this chapter are for reference only. They may not exactly  
match what you see on your screen.  
Visit the ASUS website at www.asus.com to download the latest BIOS file for this  
motherboard.  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
2-5  
 
2.2.1  
BIOS menu screen  
Menu items  
Menu bar  
Power  
Configuration fields  
General help  
BIOS SETUP UTILITY  
Main Advanced  
Boot  
Tools  
Exit  
Main Settings  
Use [ENTER], [TAB]  
or [SHIFT-TAB] to  
select a field.  
System Time  
System Date  
[19:34:30]  
[Tue 11/19/2007]  
Primary IDE Master  
Primary IDE Slave  
SATA1  
:[Not Detected]  
:[Not Detected]  
:[Not Detected]  
:[Not Detected]  
:[Not Detected]  
:[Not Detected]  
:[Not Detected]  
:[Not Detected]  
Use [+] or [-] to  
configure system  
Time.  
SATA2  
SATA3  
SATA5  
SATA6  
E-SATA  
SATA Configuration  
Select Screen  
Select Item  
Change Field  
+-  
System Information  
Tab  
F1  
Select Field  
General Help  
Save and Exit  
Exit  
F10  
ESC  
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2008, American Megatrends, Inc.  
Navigation keys  
Submenu items  
2.2.2  
Menu bar  
The menu bar on top of the screen has the following main items:  
Main  
For changing the basic system configuration  
Advanced  
Power  
Boot  
For changing the advanced system settings  
For changing the advanced power management (APM) configuration  
For changing the system boot configuration  
Tools  
Exit  
For configuring options for special functions  
For selecting the exit options and loading default settings.  
To select an item on the menu bar, press the right or left arrow key on the keyboard until the  
desired item is highlighted.  
2.2.3  
Navigation keys  
At the bottom right corner of a menu screen are the navigation keys for that particular menu.  
Use the navigation keys to select items in the menu and change the settings.  
Some of the navigation keys differ from one screen to another.  
2-6  
Chapter 2: BIOS information  
 
2.2.4  
Menu items  
The highlighted item on the menu bar displays the specific items for that menu. For example,  
selecting Main shows the Main menu items.  
The other items (Advanced, Power, Boot, Tools, and Exit) on the menu bar have their  
respective menu items.  
2.2.5  
Submenu items  
A solid triangle before each item on a menu screen means that the item has a submenu. To  
display the submenu, select the item and press <Enter>.  
2.2.6  
Configuration fields  
These fields show the values for the menu items. If an item is user- configurable, you can  
change the value of the field opposite the item. You cannot select an item that is not  
user-configurable.  
A configurable field is enclosed in brackets, and is highlighted when selected. To change the  
value of a field, select it then press <Enter> to display a list of options. Refer to 2.2.7 Pop-up  
window.  
BIOS SETUP UTILITY  
Advanced  
2.2.7  
Pop-up window  
CPU Configuration  
Sets the ratio  
between CPU Core  
Clock and the FSB  
Frequency.  
NOTE: If an invalid  
ratio is set in CMOS  
then actual and  
setpoint values may  
differ.  
Module Version: 13.40  
AGESA Version: 3.3.1.0  
Select a menu item then press <Enter>  
to display a pop-up window with the  
configuration options for that item.  
AMD Sempron(tm) Processor 3200+  
Revision: F2  
Cache L1: :128KB  
Cache L2  
Cache L3  
:128KB  
N/A:  
Options  
Disabled  
Enabled  
Speed: 1800MHz  
HT Frequency: 800MHz  
Current FSB Multiplier: 9x  
Maximum FSB Multiplier: 9x  
Able to Change Freq.: Yes  
uCode Patch Level: 0x62  
Select Screen  
Select Item  
F1  
General Help  
GART Error Reporting  
Microcode Updation  
[Disabled]  
[Enabled]  
2.2.8  
Scroll bar  
F10 Save and Exit  
ESC Exit  
Secure Virtual Machine Mode [Enabled]  
Cool ‘n‘ Quiet  
CPU Prefetching  
[Enalbed]  
[Enabled]  
A scroll bar appears on the right side of  
a menu screen when there are items that  
do not fit on the screen. Press the <Up> /  
<Down> arrow keys or <Page Up> /<Page  
Down> keys to display the other items on  
the screen.  
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2008, American Megatrends, Inc.  
Pop-up window  
Scroll bar  
2.2.9  
General help  
At the top right corner of the menu screen is a brief description of the selected item.  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
2-7  
 
2.3  
Main menu  
When you enter the BIOS Setup program, the Main menu screen appears, giving you an  
overview of the basic system information.  
Refer to section 2.2.1 BIOS menu screen for information on the menu screen items and  
how to navigate through them.  
BIOS SETUP UTILITY  
Main  
Advanced  
Power  
Boot  
Tools  
Exit  
Main Settings  
Use [ENTER], [TAB]  
or [SHIFT-TAB] to  
select a field.  
System Time  
System Date  
[19:34:30]  
[Tue 11/19/2007]  
Primary IDE Master  
Primary IDE Slave  
SATA1  
:[Not Detected]  
:[Not Detected]  
:[Not Detected]  
:[Not Detected]  
:[Not Detected]  
:[Not Detected]  
:[Not Detected]  
:[Not Detected]  
Use [+] or [-] to  
configure system  
Time.  
SATA2  
SATA3  
SATA5  
SATA6  
E-SATA  
SATA Configuration  
Select Screen  
Select Item  
Change Field  
+-  
System Information  
Tab  
F1  
Select Field  
General Help  
Save and Exit  
Exit  
F10  
ESC  
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2008, American Megatrends, Inc.  
2.3.1  
System Time [xx:xx:xx]  
Allows you to set the system time.  
2.3.2  
System Date [Day xx/xx/xxxx]  
Allows you to set the system date.  
2.3.3  
Primary IDE Master/Slave, SATA 1/2/3/5/6, E-SATA  
While entering Setup, the BIOS automatically detects the presence of IDE/SATA devices.  
There is a separate submenu for each IDE/SATA device. Select a device item then press  
<Enter> to display the IDE/SATA device information.  
The BIOS automatically detects the values opposite the dimmed items (Device, Vendor, Size,  
LBA Mode, Block Mode, PIO Mode, Async DMA, Ultra DMA, and SMART monitoring). These  
values are not user-configurable. These items show Not Detected if no IDE/SATA device is  
installed in the system.  
Type [Auto]  
Selects the type of IDE drive. Setting this item to [Auto] allows automatic selection of the  
appropriate IDE device type. Select [CDROM] if you are specifically configuring a CD-ROM  
drive. Select [ARMD] (ATAPI Removable Media Device) if your device is either a ZIP, LS-120,  
or MO drive. Configuration options: [Not Installed] [Auto] [CDROM] [ARMD]  
This item only appears in the Primary IDE Master/Slave menus.  
2-8  
Chapter 2: BIOS information  
 
LBA/Large Mode [Auto]  
Enables or disables the LBA mode. Setting this item to [Auto] enables the LBA mode if the  
device supports this mode, and if the device was not previously formatted with LBA mode  
disabled. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Auto]  
Block (Multi-Sector Transfer) M [Auto]  
Enables or disables data multi-sectors transfers. When this item is set to [Auto], the data  
transfer from and to the device occurs multiple sectors at a time if the device supports multi-  
sector transfer feature. When this item is set to [Disabled], the data transfer from and to the  
device occurs one sector at a time. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Auto]  
PIO Mode [Auto]  
Selects the PIO mode. Configuration options: [Auto] [0] [1] [2] [3] [4]  
DMA Mode [Auto]  
Selects the DMA mode. Configuration options: [Auto]  
SMART Monitoring [Auto]  
Sets the Smart Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology.  
Configuration options: [Auto] [Disabled] [Enabled]  
32Bit Data Transfer [Enabled]  
Enables or disables 32-bit data transfer. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]  
2.3.4  
SATA Configuration  
The Storage Configuration menu allows you to configure your storage devices. Select an  
item then press <Enter> to display the submenu.  
OnChip SATA Channel [Enabled]  
Enables or disables OnChip SATA Channel. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]  
OnChip SATA Type [SATA]  
This item appears only when you set the OnChip SATA Channel item to [Enabled]. Allows you  
to set the OnChip SATA Type. Configuration options: [SATA] [RAID] [AHCI]  
If you want to boot the system from a hard disk drive included in a created RAID set, copy  
the RAID driver from the Support DVD to a USB flash disk before you install an operating  
system to the selected hard disk drive.  
2.3.5  
System Information  
This menu gives you an overview of the general system specifications. The BIOS  
automatically detects the items in this menu.  
BIOS Information  
Displays the auto-detected BIOS information.  
Processor  
Displays the auto-detected CPU specification.  
System Memory  
Displays the auto-detected system memory.  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
2-9  
 
2.4  
Advanced menu  
The Advanced menu items allow you to change the settings for the CPU and other system  
devices.  
Take caution when changing the settings of the Advanced menu items. Incorrect field  
values can cause the system to malfunction.  
BIOS SETUP UTILITY  
Main  
Advanced  
Power  
Boot  
Tools  
Exit  
Advanced Settings  
Adjust System  
Frequency/Voltage etc.  
JumperFree Configuration  
CPU Configuration  
Chipset  
Onboard Devices Configuration  
PCIPnP  
USB Configuration  
Select Screen  
Select Item  
+-  
Change Field  
Tab Select Field  
F1  
General Help  
F10 Save and Exit  
ESC Exit  
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2008, American Megatrends, Inc.  
2.4.1  
JumperFree Configuration  
CPU Overclocking [Auto]  
Allows selection of CPU overclocking options to achieve desired CPU internal frequency.  
Select either one of the preset overclocking. Configuration options: [Auto] [Manual]  
[Overclock Profile] [Test Mode]  
GPU Overclocking [Auto]  
Allows you to configure overclocking of GPU. Configuration options: [Auto] [Manual]  
PCIE Overclocking [Auto]  
Allows you to to configure overclocking of PCIE. Configuration options: [Auto] [Manual]  
Processor Frequency Multiplier [Auto]  
Allows you to set the processor frequency multiplier. Configuration options: [Auto]  
[x4.0 800MHz] [x5.0 1000MHz] [x6.0 1200MHz] [x7.0 1400MHz] [x8.0 1600MHz]  
[x9.0 1800MHz]  
CPU Over Voltage [Auto]  
Allows you to set the CPU over voltage. Configuration options: [Auto] [+33mv] [+66mv]  
[+99mv]  
VDDNB Over Voltage [Auto]  
Allows you to set the VDDNB over voltage. Configuration options: [Auto] [+12.5mv] [+25mv]  
[+50mv]  
Hyper Transport Speed [Auto]  
Allows you to set the HyperTransport link speed. Configuration options: [200MHz] [400MHz]  
[600MHz] [800 MHZ] [1GHz] [Auto]  
2-10  
Chapter 2: BIOS information  
 
Hyper Transport Width [Auto]  
Allows you to set the HyperTransport link width. Configuration options: [Auto] [4 Bit] [8 Bit]  
[16 Bit]  
Memory Clock Mode [Auto]  
Allows you to set the memory clock mode. Configuration options: [Auto] [Manual]  
DRAM Timing Mode [Auto]  
Allows you to set the DRAM timing mode. Configuration options: [Auto] [DCT 0]  
Memory Over Voltage [Auto]  
Allows you to set the memory over voltage. The values range from 1.85000V to 2.24375V  
with a 0.00625V increment. Use the <+> / <-> keys to adjust the value. Configuration options:  
[Auto] [Max. = 2.24375V] [Min. = 1.85000V]  
Chipset Over Voltage [Auto]  
Allows you to set the chipset over voltage. Configuration options: [Auto] [+50mv] [+100mv]  
[+150mv]  
2.4.2  
CPU Configuration  
The items in this menu show the CPU-related information that the BIOS automatically  
detects.  
GART Error Reporting [Disabled]  
This option should remain disabled for the normal operation. The driver developer may  
enable it for testing purpose. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]  
Microcode Updation [Enabled]  
Enables or disables Microcode Updation. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]  
Secure Virtual Machine Mode [Disabled]  
Enables or disables Secure Virtual Machine Mode (SVM) Configuration options: [Disabled]  
[Enabled]  
Cool ‘n’ Quiet [Disabled]  
Enables or disables the AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet technology. Configuration options: [Enabled]  
[Disabled]  
CPU Prefetching [Enabled]  
Enables or disables CPU prefetching. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]  
C1E Configuration [Disabled]  
Allows you to enable or disable the CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) function, a CPU power-saving  
function in system halt state. When this item is enabled, the CPU core frequency and voltage  
will be reduced during the system halt state to decrease power consumption.  
Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
2-11  
 
2.4.3  
Chipset  
NorthBridge Configuration  
Memory Configuration  
Bank Interleaving [Auto]  
Allows you to enable the bank memory interleaving. Configuration options: [Disabled]  
[Auto]  
Channel Interleaving [Disabled]  
Allows you to enable the channel memory interleaving.  
Configuration options: [Disabled] [Address bits 6] [Address bits 12]  
[XOR of Address bits [20:16, 6]] [XOR of Address bits [20:16, 9]]  
Enable Clock to All DIMMs [Disabled]  
Enables unused Clocks to DIMMs even though memory slots are not populated.  
Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]  
MemClk Tristate C3/ATLVID [Disabled]  
Allows you to enable or disable MemClk Tri-Stating during C3 and Alt VID.  
Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]  
Memory Hole Remapping [Enabled]  
Allows you to enable or disable memory remapping around memory hole.  
Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]  
DCT Unganged Mode [Auto]  
Allows you to select unganged DRAM mode (64-bit width).  
Configuration options: [Auto] [Always]  
Power Down Enable [Enabled]  
Allows you to enable or disable DDR power down mode.  
Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]  
ECC Configuration  
ECC Mode [Disabled]  
Allows you to set the ECC mode. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Basic] [Good]  
[Super] [Max] [User]  
Internal Graphics  
Primary Video Controller [GFX0-GPP-IGFX-PCI]  
Configuration options: [GFX0-GPP-IGFX-PCI] [GPP-GFX0-IGFX-PCI]  
[PCI-GFX0-GPP-IGFX] [IGFX-GFX0-GPP-PCI]  
GFX0:VGA port on a graphics card inserted into a PCIe x16 slot  
GPP: VGA port on a graphics card inserted into a PCIe x1 slot  
IGFX: Onboard VGA port  
PCI: VGA port on a graphics card inserted into a PCI slot  
UMA Frame Buffer Size [Auto]  
Configuration options: [Auto] [32MB] [64MB] [128MB] [256MB]  
2-12  
Chapter 2: BIOS information  
 
Surround View [Auto]  
Allows you to disable or enable the Surround View function. Configuration options: [Auto]  
[Disabled] [Enabled]  
This item becomes user-configurable when you install an ATI graphics card into the  
PCIe x16 slot.  
AMD 780 HD Audio [Enabled]  
Allows you to enable or disable AMD 780 HD audio. Configuration options: [Enabled]  
[Disabled]  
2.4.4  
Onboard Device Configuration  
Serial Port1 Address [3F8/IRQ4]  
Allows you to select the Serial Port1 base address. Configuration options: [Disabled]  
[3F8/IRQ4][2F8/IRQ3] [3E8/IRQ4] [2E8/IRQ3]  
Parallel Port Address [378]  
Allows you to select the Parallel Port base addresses. Configuration options: [Disabled] [378]  
[278] [3BC]  
Parallel Port Mode [Normal]  
Allows you to select the Parallel Port mode. Configuration options: [Normal] [EPP] [ECP]  
[EPP+ECP]  
Parallel Port IRQ [IRQ7]  
Configuration options: [IRQ5] [IRQ7]  
HDAudio Controller [Enabled]  
Enables or disables the high definition audio controller. Configuration options: [Enabled]  
[Disabled]  
Front Panel Select [HD Audio]  
Configuration options: [HD Audio] [AC97]  
SPDIF_OUT Mode Setting [SPDIF Output]  
Allows you to set the SPDIF_OUT mode. Configuration options: [HDMI Output]  
[SPDIF Output]  
OnBoard LAN Controller [Enabled]  
Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]  
OnBoard LAN Boot ROM [Disabled]  
Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
2-13  
 
2.4.5  
PCIPnP  
The PCI PnP menu items allow you to change the advanced settings for PCI/PnP devices.  
The menu includes setting IRQ and DMA channel resources for either PCI/PnP or legacy ISA  
devices, and setting the memory size block for legacy ISA devices.  
Take caution when changing the settings of the PCI PnP menu items. Incorrect field values  
can cause the system to malfunction.  
Plug and Play O/S [No]  
When set to [No], BIOS configures all the devices in the system. When set to [Yes] and if you  
install a Plug and Play operating system, the operating system configures the Plug and Play  
devices not required for boot. Configuration options: [No] [Yes]  
2.4.6  
USB Configuration  
The items in this menu allows you to change the USB-related features. Select an item then  
press <Enter> to display the configuration options.  
The Module Version and USB Devices Enabled items show the auto-detected values. If no  
USB device is detected, the item shows None.  
USB Functions [Enabled]  
Allows you to enable or disable the USB functions. Configuration options: [Disabled]  
[Enabled]  
USB 2.0 Controller [Enabled]  
Enables or disables USB 2.0 Controllers. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]  
Legacy USB Support [Auto]  
Allows you to enable or disable support for Legacy USB storage devices, including USB flash  
drives and USB hard drives. Setting to Auto allows the system to detect the presence of USB  
devices at startup. If detected, the USB controller legacy mode is enabled. If no USB device  
is detected, the legacy USB support is disabled. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]  
[Auto]  
USB 2.0 Controller Mode [HiSpeed]  
Allows you to configure the USB 2.0 controller in HiSpeed (480Mbps) or Full Speed  
(12Mbps). Configuration options: [FullSpeed] [HiSpeed]  
2-14  
Chapter 2: BIOS information  
 
2.5  
Power menu  
The Power menu items allow you to change the settings for the Advanced Configuration and  
Power Interface (ACPI) and the Advanced Power Management (APM). Select an item then  
press <Enter> to display the configuration options.  
BIOS SETUP UTILITY  
Main  
Advanced  
Power  
Boot  
Tools  
Exit  
Select the ACPI state  
used for System  
Suspend.  
Power Settings  
Suspend Mode  
ACPI 2.0 Support  
ACPI APIC support  
[Auto]  
[Disabled]  
[Enabled]  
APM Configuration  
HW Monitor Configuration  
Select Screen  
Select Item  
+-  
F1  
Change Option  
General Help  
F10 Save and Exit  
ESC Exit  
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2008, American Megatrends, Inc.  
2.5.1  
Suspend Mode [Auto]  
Allows you to select the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) state to be used  
for system suspend. Configuration options: [S1 (POS) Only] [S3 Only] [Auto]  
2.5.2  
ACPI 2.0 Support [Disabled]  
Allows you to enable or disable the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) 2.0  
support. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]  
2.5.3  
ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]  
Allows you to enable or disable the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)  
support in the Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller (APIC). When set to Enabled, the  
ACPI APIC table pointer is included in the RSDT pointer list. Configuration options: [Disabled]  
[Enabled]  
2.5.4  
APM Configuration  
Restore on AC Power Loss [Power Off]  
When set to Power Off, the system goes into off state after an AC power loss. When set to  
Power On, the system goes on after an AC power loss. Configuration options: [Power Off]  
[Power On] [Last State]  
Power on From S5 By PME# [Disabled]  
Enables or disables PME wake from sleep states. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]  
Power on From S5 By Ring [Disabled]  
Enables or disables ring to generate a wake event. Configuration options: [Disabled]  
[Enabled]  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
2-15  
 
Power on From S5 By PS/2 KB/MS [Disabled]  
Enables or disables PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse to generate a wake event.  
Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]  
Power on From S5 By RTC Alarm [Disabled]  
Enables or disables RTC to generate a wake event. Configuration options: [Disabled]  
[Enabled]  
2.5.5  
HW Monitor Configuration  
CPU Temperature [xxxºC/xxxºF] or [Ignored]  
MB Temperature [xxxºC/xxxºF] or [Ignored]  
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the motherboard and CPU  
temperatures. Select Ignored if you do not wish to display the detected temperatures.  
CPU Fan Speed [xxxxRPM] or [Ignored]  
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the CPU fan speed in  
rotations per minute (RPM). If the fan is not connected to the motherboard, the field shows  
N/A. Select Ignored if you do not wish to display the detected speed.  
Chassis Fan Speed [N/A] or [Ignored]  
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the chassis fan speed in  
rotations per minute (RPM). If the fan is not connected to the motherboard, the specific field  
shows N/A. Select Ignored if you do not wish to display the detected speed.  
Power Fan Speed [N/A] or [Ignored]  
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the power fan speed in  
rotations per minute (RPM). If the fan is not connected to the motherboard, the specific field  
shows N/A. Select Ignored if you do not wish to display the detected speed.  
VCORE Voltage, 3.3V Voltage, 5V Voltage, 12V Voltage [xx.xxxV] or [Ignored]  
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects the voltage output through the onboard  
voltage regulators.  
Smart Q-Fan Function [Enabled]  
Allows you to enable or disable the ASUS Q-Fan feature that smartly adjusts the fan speeds  
for more efficient system operation.  
Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]  
Fan Auto Mode Start Voltage [5.0V]  
Allows you to select the fan auto mode start voltage. Configuration options: [4.0V] [4.5V]  
[5.0V] [5.5V] [6.0V]  
Fan Auto Mode Start Speed Temp [25ºC]  
Allows you to set the smart Q-Fan start working temperature. Configuration options: [25ºC] ~  
[48ºC]  
Fan Auto Mode Full Speed Temp [55ºC]  
Allows you to set the smart Q-Fan full speed temperature. Configuration options: [51ºC] ~  
[75ºC]  
2-16  
Chapter 2: BIOS information  
 
2.6  
Boot menu  
The Boot menu items allow you to change the system boot options. Select an item then  
press <Enter> to display the sub-menu.  
BIOS SETUP UTILITY  
Main  
Advanced  
Power  
Boot  
Tools  
Exit  
Specifies the Boot  
Device Priority  
sequence.  
Boot Settings  
Boot Device Priority  
A virtual floppy disk  
drive (Floppy Drive B:)  
may appear when you set  
the CD-ROM drive as the  
first boot device.  
Boot Settings Configuration  
Security  
Select Screen  
Select Item  
Enter Go to Sub Screen  
F1  
F10  
ESC  
General Help  
Save and Exit  
Exit  
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2008, American Megatrends, Inc.  
2.6.1  
Boot Device Priority  
1st ~ xxth Boot Device [xxx Drive]  
These items specify the boot device priority sequence from the available devices. The  
number of device items that appears on the screen depends on the number of devices  
installed in the system. Configuration options: [Removable Dev.] [Hard Drive]  
[ATAPI CD-ROM] [Disabled]  
2.6.2  
Boot Settings Configuration  
Quick Boot [Enabled]  
Enabling this item allows the BIOS to skip some power on self tests (POST) while booting to  
decrease the time needed to boot the system. When set to [Disabled], BIOS performs all the  
POST items. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]  
Full Screen Logo [Enabled]  
This allows you to enable or disable the full screen logo display feature. Configuration  
options: [Disabled] [Enabled]  
Set this item to [Enabled] to use the ASUS MyLogo2™ feature.  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
2-17  
 
AddOn ROM Display Mode [Force BIOS]  
Sets the display mode for option ROM. Configuration options: [Force BIOS] [Keep Current]  
Bootup Num-Lock [On]  
Allows you to select the power-on state for the NumLock. Configuration options: [Off] [On]  
Wait for ‘F1’ If Error [Enabled]  
When set to Enabled, the system waits for the F1 key to be pressed when error occurs.  
Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]  
Hit ‘DEL’ Message Display [Enabled]  
When set to Enabled, the system displays the message Press DEL to run Setup during  
POST. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]  
2.6.3  
Security  
The Security menu items allow you to change the system security settings. Select  
an item then press <Enter> to display the configuration options.  
Change Supervisor Password  
Select this item to set or change the supervisor password. The Supervisor Password item  
on top of the screen shows the default Not Installed. After you set a password, this item  
shows Installed.  
To set a Supervisor Password:  
1.  
Select the Change Supervisor Password item and press <Enter>.  
2.  
From the password box, type a password composed of at least six letters and/or  
numbers, then press <Enter>.  
3.  
Confirm the password when prompted.  
The message Password Installed appears after you successfully set your password.  
To change the supervisor password, follow the same steps as in setting a supervisor  
password.  
To clear the supervisor password, select the Change Supervisor Password then press  
<Enter> twice. The message Password uninstalled appears.  
If you forget your BIOS password, you can clear it by erasing the CMOS Real Time Clock  
(RTC) RAM. See section 1.9 Jumpers for information on how to erase the RTC RAM.  
2-18  
Chapter 2: BIOS information  
 
After you have set a supervisor password, the other items appear to allow you to change  
other security settings.  
User Access Level [Full Access]  
This item allows you to select the access restriction to the Setup items. Configuration options:  
[No Access] [View Only] [Limited] [Full Access]  
No Access prevents user access to the Setup utility.  
View Only allows access but does not allow change to any field.  
Limited allows changes only to selected fields, such as Date and Time.  
Full Access allows viewing and changing all the fields in the Setup utility.  
Change User Password  
Select this item to set or change the user password. The User Password item on top of the  
screen shows the default Not Installed. After you set a password, this item shows Installed.  
To set a User Password:  
1.  
Select the Change User Password item and press <Enter>.  
2.  
On the password box that appears, type a password composed of at least six letters  
and/or numbers, then press <Enter>.  
3.  
Confirm the password when prompted.  
The message “Password Installed” appears after you set your password successfully.  
To change the user password, follow the same steps as in setting a user password.  
Clear User Password  
Select this item to clear the user password.  
Password Check [Setup]  
When set to [Setup], BIOS checks for user password when accessing the Setup utility. When  
set to [Always], BIOS checks for user password both when accessing Setup and booting the  
system. Configuration options: [Setup] [Always]  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
2-19  
2.7  
Tools menu  
The Tools menu items allow you to configure options for special functions. Select an item  
then press <Enter> to display the sub-menu.  
BIOS SETUP UTILITY  
Main  
Advanced  
Power  
Boot  
Tools  
Exit  
Press ENTER to run  
the utility to select  
and update BIOS.  
This utility doesn't  
support :  
ASUS EZ Flash 2  
Express Gate  
[Auto]  
[10 Seconds]  
[No]  
Enter OS Timer  
Reset User Data  
1.NTFS format  
AI NET2  
Select Screen  
Select Item  
+-  
Change Field  
Enter Go to Sub  
Screen  
F1  
General Help  
F10 Save and Exit  
ESC Exit  
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2008, American Megatrends, Inc.  
2.7.1  
ASUS EZ Flash 2  
Allows you to run ASUS EZ Flash 2. When you press <Enter>, a confirmation message  
appears. Use the left/right arrow key to select between [Yes] or [No], then press <Enter> to  
confirm your choice.  
2.7.2  
Express Gate [Auto]  
Allows you to enable or disable the ASUS Express Gate feature. ASUS Express Gate is  
a unique instant-on environment that provides quick access to the Internet and Skype.  
Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] [Auto]  
Enter OS Timer [10 Seconds]  
Sets countdown duration that the system waits at the Express Gate’s first screen  
before starting Windows or other installed OS. Choose [Prompt User] to stay at the  
first screen of Express Gate for user action. Configuration options: [Prompt User]  
[1 second] [3 seconds] [5 seconds] [10 seconds] [15 seconds] [20 seconds]  
[30 seconds]  
Reset User Data [No]  
Allows you to clear Express Gate’s user data. Configuration options: [No] [Reset]  
When setting this item to [Reset], ensure to save the setting to the BIOS so that the  
user data will be cleared the next time you enter the Express Gate. User data includes  
the Express Gate’s settings as well as any personal information stored by the web  
browser (bookmarks, cookies, browsing history, etc.). This is useful in the rare case  
where corrupt settings prevent the Express Gate environment from launching properly.  
The first time wizard will run again when you enter the Express Gate environment after  
clearing its settings.  
2.7.3  
AI NET 2  
Check Realtek LAN cable [Disabled]  
Enables or disables checking of the Realtek LAN cable during the Power-On Self-Test  
(POST). Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]  
2-20  
Chapter 2: BIOS information  
 
2.8  
Exit menu  
The Exit menu items allow you to load the optimal or failsafe default values for the BIOS  
items, and save or discard your changes to the BIOS items.  
BIOS SETUP UTILITY  
Main  
Advanced  
Power  
Boot  
Tools  
Exit  
Exit Options  
Exit system setup  
after saving the  
changes.  
Exit & Save Changes  
Exit & Discard Changes  
Discard Changes  
F10 key can be used  
for this operation.  
Load Setup Defaults  
Pressing <Esc> does not immediately exit this menu. Select one of the options from this  
menu or <F10> from the legend bar to exit.  
Exit & Save Changes  
Once you are finished making your selections, choose this option from the Exit menu to  
ensure the values you selected are saved to the CMOS RAM. An onboard backup battery  
sustains the CMOS RAM so it stays on even when the PC is turned off. When you select this  
option, a confirmation window appears. Select OK to save changes and exit.  
If you attempt to exit the Setup program without saving your changes, the program  
prompts you with a message asking if you want to save your changes before exiting. Press  
<Enter> to save the changes while exiting.  
Exit & Discard Changes  
Select this option only if you do not want to save the changes that you made to the Setup  
program. If you made changes to fields other than System Date, System Time, and  
Password, the BIOS asks for a confirmation before exiting.  
Discard Changes  
This option allows you to discard the selections you made and restore the previously saved  
values. After selecting this option, a confirmation appears. Select OK to discard any changes  
and load the previously saved values.  
Load Setup Defaults  
This option allows you to load the default values for each of the parameters on the Setup  
menus. When you select this option or if you press <F5>, a confirmation window appears.  
Select OK to load default values. Select Exit & Save Changes or make other changes  
before saving the values to the non-volatile RAM.  
ASUS M4A78-EM  
2-21  
 
2-22  
Chapter 2: BIOS information  

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