Asus Motherboard A7N8X VM User Manual

A7N8X-VM

User Manual

Contents

Notices ........................................................................................................ v

Safety information ...................................................................................... vi

About this manual ......................................................................................vii

ASUS contact information......................................................................... viii

A7N8X-VM specifications summary .......................................................... ix

Chapter 1 - Motherboard Info

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

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

1.3 Special Features............................................................................ 1-3

1.4 Motherboard components.............................................................. 1-4

1.5 Motherboard layout........................................................................ 1-7

1.6 Motherboard installtion .................................................................. 1-8

1.7 Before you proceed ....................................................................... 1-9

1.8 Central Processing Unit (CPU) .................................................... 1-10

1.9 System memory ........................................................................... 1-11

1.10 Expansion Slots ........................................................................... 1-12

1.10.1 Configuring an expansion card ...................................... 1-12

1.10.2 Standard Interrupt Assignments .................................... 1-12

1.10.3 AGP Slot ........................................................................ 1-13

1.10.4 PCI Slot.......................................................................... 1-13

1.11 Jumpers ......................................................................................... 1-14

1.12 Connectors .................................................................................... 1-16

Chapter 2 - BIOS Information

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

2.1.1

2.1.2

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

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

Using ASUS EZ Flash to update the BIOS ...................... 2-4

2.2 BIOS Setup Program ..................................................................... 2-5

2.2.1

2.2.2

BIOS menu bar ................................................................ 2-5

Legend bar....................................................................... 2-6

2.3 Main Menu ..................................................................................... 2-7

2.3.1

2.3.2

Primary and Secondary Master/Slave ............................. 2-8

System Information .......................................................... 2-9

2.4 Advanced Menu ........................................................................... 2-10

2.4.1

2.4.2

2.4.3

Chipset........................................................................... 2-10

Onboard Devices Configuration..................................... 2-11

PCI PnP ......................................................................... 2-13

iii

Contents

2.5 Power Menu ................................................................................ 2-14

2.5.1

2.5.2

Power-up control............................................................ 2-15

Hardware Monitor .......................................................... 2-16

2.6 Boot Menu ................................................................................... 2-17

2.6.1

2.6.2

Boot Settings Configuration ........................................... 2-17

Security .......................................................................... 2-19

2.7 Exit Menu ..................................................................................... 2-20

Chapter 3 - Software support

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

3.2 Support CD Information ................................................................. 3-2

3.2.1

3.2.2

3.2.3

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

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

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

Notices

Federal Communications Commission Statement

This device complies with FCC Rules Part 15. 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.

Safety information

Electrical safety

• To prevent electrical shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from

the electrical outlet before relocating the system.

• When adding or removing devices to or from the system, ensure that

the power cables for the devices are unplugged before the signal

cables are connected. If possible, disconnect all power cables from the

existing system before you add a device.

• Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard,

ensure that all power cables are unplugged.

• Seek professional assistance before using an adpater or extension

cord. These devices could interrupt the grounding circuit.

• Make sure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your

area. If you are not sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you

are using, contact your local power company.

• If the power supply is broken, do not try to fix it by yourself. Contact a

qualified service technician or your retailer.

Operation safety

• Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully

read all the manuals that came with the package.

• Before using the product, make sure all cables are correctly connected

and the power cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage,

contact your dealer immediately.

• To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from

connectors, slots, sockets and circuitry.

• Avoid dust, humidity, and temperature extremes. Do not place the

product in any area where it may become wet.

• Place the product on a stable surface.

• If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a

qualified service technician or your retailer.

About this manual

Conventions used in this guide

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

following symbols used throughout this manual.

WARNING: Information to prevent injury to yourself when trying

to complete a task.

CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components

when trying to complete a task.

IMPORTANT: Information that you MUST follow to complete a

task.

NOTE: Tips and additional information to aid in completing a task.

Where to find more information

Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product

and software updates.

1. ASUS Websites

The ASUS websites worldwide provide updated information on ASUS

hardware and software products. The ASUS websites are listed in the

ASUS Contact Information on page viii.

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.

vii

ASUS contact information

ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. (Asia-Pacific)

Address:

150 Li-Te Road, Peitou, Taipei, Taiwan 112

+886-2-2894-3447

+886-2-2894-3449

General Tel:

General Fax:

General Email:

info@asus.com.tw

Technical Support

MB/Others (Tel):

Notebook (Tel):

+886-2-2890-7121 (English)

+886-2-2890-7122 (English)

Desktop/Server (Tel): +886-2-2890-7123 (English)

Support Fax:

Web Site:

+886-2-2890-7698

www.asus.com.tw

ASUS COMPUTER INTERNATIONAL (America)

Address:

General Fax:

General Email:

44370 Nobel Drive, Fremont, CA 94538, USA

+1-502-933-8713

tmd1@asus.com

Technical Support

Support Fax:

General Support:

Notebook Support:

Web Site:

+1-502-933-8713

+1-502-995-0883

+1-510-739-3777 x5110

www.asus.com

Support Email:

tsd@asus.com

ASUS COMPUTER GmbH (Germany and Austria)

Address:

General Email:

General Fax:

Harkortstr. 25, 40880 Ratingen, BRD, Germany

sales@asuscom.de (for marketing requests only)

+49-2102-9599-31

Technical Support

Support Hotlines:

(Components) +49-2102-9599-0

(Notebook PC) +49-2102-9599-10

+49-2102-9599-11

www.asuscom.de/support (for online support)

www.asuscom.de

Support Fax:

Support Email:

Web Site:

viii

A7N8X-VM specifications summary

CPU

Socket A Type 462 for AMD Athlon™ XP up to 3000+ processors

Chipset

NVIDIA^®nForce2 IGP North bridge

NVIDIA^®nForce2 MCP South bridge

Front Side Bus (FSB)

Memory

333/266 MHz

2 x 184-pin DDR DIMM sockets support up to maximum 2 GB

unbuffered PC3200/2700/2100/1600 non-ECC DDR

SDRAM memory. (PC3200 is supported only when using an

add-on VGA card.)

Dual-channel memory architecture

Expansion slots

3 x PCI

1 x AGP 8X (1.5V only)

IDE

2 x UltraDMA133/100

Graphics

Integrated GeForce4 MX GPU

Supports DVI (AGP-NV-DVI) and TV-out (AV/S) cards

Audio

Realtek ALC650 6-channel CODEC

S/PDIF in/out interface

LAN

Realtek 8201BL PHY 10/100 Mbps

Hardware Monitoring

Super I/O integrated monitoring of CPU/chassis fan rotation

and MB/CPU temperature

Back Panel I/O Ports

1 x Parallel

1 x Serial (COM1)

1 x PS/2 Keyboard

1 x PS/2 Mouse

1 x RJ45 port

1 x Audio I/O

1 x VGA port

4 x USB 2.0/1.1

Internal I/O

Connectors

1 x USB connector supports additional 2 USB 2.0 ports

CPU/chassis FAN connectors

Chassis intrusion connector

20-pin ATX power connector

PANEL connector

CD / AUX connectors

S/PDIF in/out connector

GAME/MIDI connector

TV-out connector

Serial (COM2) connector

Front panel audio connector

(continued next page)

A7N8X-VM specifications summary

BIOS features

4Mb Flash ROM, AMI BIOS, ACPI, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, Green,

PnP, TCAV, SMBIOS 2.3 ASUS EZ Flash, ASUS MyLogo2

Industry standard

Manageability

PCI 2.2, USB 2.0

DMI 2.0, WOL by PME, WOR by PME,

WO_USB, WO_KB/MS

Support CD contents

Device drivers

ASUS PC Probe

ASUS Update

ASUS Screen Saver

E-Color 3Deep

Direct X

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Trend Micro^tmPC-cillin 2002 anti-virus software

Accessories

Form Factor

User Manual

ASUS A7N8X-VM series support CD

UltraDMA133/100 cable

FDD cable

I/O shield

Micro-ATX form factor: 9.6 in x 9.6 in

* Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Chapter 1

This chapter describes the features of the

A7N8X-VM motherboard. It includes brief

descriptions of the motherboard components,

and illustrations of the layout, jumper settings,

and connectors.

Product introduction

1.1 Welcome!

Thank you for buying the ASUS^®A7N8X-VM motherboard!

The ASUS A7N8X-VM motherboard is loaded with the most advanced

technologies to deliver maximum performance for Socket A processors. This

motherboard is packed with value-added features for guaranteed consumer

satisfaction. The following sections provide important technical information about

the motherboard for future upgrades or system reconfiguration.

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 ASUS A7N8X-VM package for the following items.

ASUS A7N8X-VM motherboard

Micro-ATX form factor: 9.6 in x 9.6 in

ASUS A7N8X-VM series support CD

40-pin 80-conductor ribbon cable for UltraDMA133/100 IDE drives

Ribbon cable for a 3.5-inch floppy drive

Bag of extra jumper caps

I/O shield

User Manual

1-2

Chapter 1: Product Information

1.3 Special features

Dual Channel DDR memory support

With the 128-bit Twinbank DDR memory architecture, the A7N8X-VM doubles the

DDR400 bandwidth thus eliminating system bottlenecks. The A7N8X-VM is

capable of performing at peak bandwidth of up to 6.4GB/s assuring you of fast,

reliable computing solution. See details on page 1-11.

PC3200 DDR is supported only when the motherboard is using an

add-on VGA card.

AGP 8X support

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

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

See details on page 1-13.

Integrated GeForce4 MX GPU

This motherboard is equipped with an integrated GeForce MX GPU, a second-

generation mainstream graphics processing unit designed to deliver the best

graphics experience with its high texture content and scene complexity capabilities.

See details on page 2-10.

ASUS MyLogo2

The ASUS MyLogo2 allows you to personalize and add style to your system with

customizable boot logos. See details on pages 2-18 and 3-8.

ASUS C.O.P.

The ASUS C.O.P. (CPU Overheating Protection) is a hardware protection circuit

that automatically shuts down the system power before temperatures go high

enough to permanently damage the CPU.

ASUS EZ Flash BIOS

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

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

floppy disk. See details on page 2-4.

Digital Video Output interface

The DVO interface feature of this motherboard allows you to enjoy simultaneous

digital display and TV output with the separately purchased AGP-NV-DVI and AV/S

TV-out cards. See details on pages 1-13, 1-21 and 2-11.

ASUS A7N8X-VM motherboard user manual

1-3

1.4 Motherboard components

Before you install the motherboard, learn about its major components and

available features to facilitate the installation and future upgrades. Refer to the

succeeding pages for the component descriptions.

1 2

3 4

6 7

1-4

Chapter 1: Product Information

Onboard LED. This onboard LED lights up if there is a standby power on

the motherboard. This LED acts as a reminder to turn off the system power

before plugging or unplugging devices.

ATX power connector. This standard 20-pin connector connects to an

ATX 12V power supply. The power supply must have at least 1A on the

+5V standby lead (+5VSB).

CPU Socket. Socket 462 (Socket A) Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) socket for

AMD Athlon XP™ up to 3000+ processors.

NorthBridge Controller. The NVIDIA^®nForce2™ IGP North Bridge

controller chipset. The controller supports a 64/128bit DDR memory

controller and up to 2 GB of 400/333/266/200MHz DDR memory. The

Northbridge controller is equipped with a maximum 128MB integrated

graphics UMA share memory for the onboard VGA.

DDR DIMM Sockets. Equipped with two Double Data Rate Dual Inline

Memory Module (DDR DIMM) sockets to support up to 2GB of DDR

SDRAM, the newest memory standard with the highest bandwidth and

lowest latency currently available. This memory technology supplies data

transfer rates up to 6.4GB/s for 400MHz DDR SDRAM.

IDE Connectors. These dual-channel bus master IDE connectors support

up to four UltraDMA133/100, PIO Modes 0-4 IDE devices. Both the

primary(blue) and secondary(black) connectors are slotted to prevent

incorrect insertion of the IDE ribbon cable.

Floppy Disk connector. This connector connects the provided ribbon

cable for the floppy disk drive. One side of the connector is slotted to

prevent incorrect insertion of the floppy disk cable.

Flash ROM. This 4Mb ISA chip contains the programmable BIOS program.

Super I/O chipset. ITE IT8712F-A offers support for a variety of I/O

functions. Provides two high-speed UART compatible serial ports and one

parallel port with EPP and ECP capabilities. The Super I/O controller

supports a floppy disk drive, PS/2 keyboard, and PS/2 mouse.

South bridge controller. This motherboard is loaded with the brand new

NVIDIA^®nForce2™ MCP integrated peripheral South Bridge controller

which operates at 800MB/s to communicate with the North Bridge for

maximum bandwith required for PCI, USB and support for Fast Ethernet

devices. The controller supports standard UltraDMA133/100 and separate

data paths for each IDE channel are built-in for up to two IDE devices. The

controller supports six USB ports, one LAN port and is PCI rev2.2

compliant.

ASUS A7N8X-VM motherboard user manual

1-5

AGP Slot. The Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) slot only supports 1.5V

AGP 8X/4X mode graphics cards for 3D graphical applications. The AGP

slot also supports digital visual interface (DVI) cards for digital display on

LCD monitors and projectors.

Audio CODEC. The Realtek ALC650 6-channel Audio CODEC is an

AC’97 compliant audio CODEC designed for PC multimedia systems.

PCI slots. These 32-bit PCI 2.2 expansion slots support bus master PCI

cards like SCSI and LAN cards with 133MB/s maximum output.

LAN chip. The Realtek 8201BL PHY Fast Ethernet controller allows

connection to a Local Area Network (LAN) through a network hub.

PS/2 mouse port. This green 6-pin connector is for a PS/2 mouse.

Parallel port. This 25-pin port connects a parallel printer, a scanner, or

other devices.

RJ-45 port. Using the NVMAC^®in the Southbridge controller and the

Realtek 8201BL PHY Fast Ethernet controller, this port allows connection

to a Local Area Network (LAN) through a network hub.

Line In jack. This Line In (light blue) jack connects a tape player or other

audio sources.

Line Out jack. This Line Out (lime) jack connects a headphone or a

speaker.

Microphone jack. This Mic (pink) jack connects a microphone.

USB 1 & 2 ports. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus 2.0/1.1 ports are

available for connecting USB devices such as mouse and PDA.

VGA port. This 15-pin VGA port connects to a VGA monitor.

Serial port (COM1). This port connects to your serial mouse and other

serial devices.

USB 3 & 4 ports. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus 2.0/1.1 ports are

available for connecting USB devices such as mouse and PDA.

PS/2 keyboard port. This purple 6-pin connector is for a PS/2 keyboard.

1-6

Chapter 1: Product Information

1.5Motherboard layout

24.5cm (9.64in)

PS/2

T: Mouse

B: Keyboard

Socket 462

USBPW34

CPU_FAN1

USB3

USB4

COM1

PWR_LED1

VGA

U46

nVidia

USBPW12

nForce2

IGP

Bottom:

USB1

USB2

Top:

RJ-45

CHA_FAN

Top:Line In

Center:Line Out

Below:Mic In

A7N8X-VM

Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP8X1)

Realtek

RTL8201

CR2032 3V

Lithium Cell

CMOS Power

Super

I/O

PCI 1

PCI 2

nVidia

4Mb

BIOS

FPAUDIO

MCP

CLRTC1

CHASSIS1

SPDIF1

COM2

GAME1

PCI 3

USBPW56

Audio

Codec

PANEL1

USB56

ASUS A7N8X-VM motherboard user manual

1-7

1.6 Motherboard installation

The A7N8X-VM uses the Micro ATX form factor, measuring 24.5 cm (9.6 in.) x 24.5

cm (9.6 in.) - a standard fit for most large chassis.

WARNING! Unplug the power cord before installing the motherboard.

Failure to do so may cause you physical injury and damage

Motherboard components.

1.6.1 Placement direction

When installing the motherboard, take care to orient the chassis correctly: The

edge with external ports goes to the rear part of the chassis. Refer to the image

below. It may be more convenient to install major cables, the CPU and modular

components before fixing the motherboard inside the case frame.

1.6.2 Screw holes

Place eight (8) screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the

motherboard to the chassis.

Do not overtighten the screws! Doing so may damage the

motherboard.

Place this side

towards the rear of

the chassis

1-8

Chapter 1: Product Information

1.7 Before you proceed

Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components

or change any motherboard settings.

1. Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any

component.

2. Use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or to

a metal object, such as the power supply case, before handling

components to avoid damaging them due to static electricity.

3. Avoid touching the ICs on components.

4. Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded

antistatic pad or in the bag that came with the component.

5. Before you install or remove any component, ensure that the

ATX power supply is switched off or the power cord is

detached from the power supply. Failure to do so may cause

severe damage to the motherboard, peripherals, and/or

components.

When lit, the onboard LED indicates that the system is ON, in sleep

mode or in soft-off mode, not powered OFF. See the illustration below.

SB_PWR1

A7N8X-VM

OFF

Standby

Power

Powered

Off

A7N8X-VM Onboard LED

ASUS A7N8X-VM motherboard user manual

1-9

1.8 Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The motherboard provides a Socket A (462) for CPU installation. The A7N8X-VM

supports Athlon™ XP processors with “QuantiSpeed” data processing, large data

caches, 3D enhancements and 333/266MHz bus speeds. AMD Athlon™ XP

processors offer gigahertz speeds to support all the latest computing platforms and

applications

CPU NOTCH

TO INNER

CORNER

LOCK

LEVER

A7N8X-VM

CPU NOTCH

AMD™ CPU

A7N8X-VM Socket 462

Each AMD CPU has a “marked” corner. This corner is usually indicated with a notch,

and/or a golden square or triangle. Refer to this indicator while orienting the CPU.

A fan and heatsink should be attached to the CPU to prevent overheating.

This motherboard does not support Athlon™ and Duron™ processors.

1.8.2 Installing the CPU

Follow these steps to install a CPU:

1. Locate the Socket 462 and open it by

pulling the lever gently sideways away from

the socket. Then lift the lever upwards.

The socket lever must be fully opened (90

to 100 degrees).

2. Insert the CPU with the correct orientation.

The notched or golden corner of the CPU

must be oriented toward the inner corner of

the socket base nearest to the lever hinge.

The CPU should drop easily into place. Do not force the CPU into the

socket to avoid bending the pins. If the CPU does not fit, check its

alignment and look for bent pins.

1-10

Chapter 1: Product Information

1.9 System memory

The motherboard has two Double Data Rate (DDR) DIMM sockets that supports

up to 2GB non-ECC PC3200/2700/2100/1600 DDR Synchronous Dynamic

Random Access Memorry (SDRAM) DIMMs. Each DIMM socket/module is two-

sided. DIMMs come in combinations of single or double-sided types ranging

through 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB and 1 GB. The A7N8X-VM motherboard

supports the dual-channel memory architecture when two DIMMs are installed on

the sockets.

104 Pins

A7N8X-VM

80 Pins

A7N8X-VM 184-Pin DDR

DIMM Sockets

PC3200 DDR is supported only when the motherboard is using an

add-on VGA card. Visit www.asus.com to view a list of qualified

PC3200 DDR SDRAM DIMM vendors.

1.9.1 Installing a DIMM

1. Unlock a DIMM socket by pressing

the retaining clips outward.

DDR DIMM notch

2. Align a DIMM on the socket. Make

sure the notches on the DIMM

exactly match the notches in the

socket.

3. Firmly insert the DIMM into the

socket until the retaining clips lock

into place.

Unlocked Retaining Clip

A DDR 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.

ASUS A7N8X-VM motherboard user manual

1-11

1.10 Expansion slots

The A7N8X-VM motherboard has three (3) PCI and one (1) Accelerated Graphics

Port (AGP). The following sub-sections describe the slots and the expansion cards

that they support.

1.10.1 Configuring an expansion card

Some expansion cards need an IRQ to operate. Generally, an IRQ must be

exclusively assigned to one function at a time. In a standard design configuration,

16 IRQs are available but most are already in use.

Normally, 6 IRQs are free for expansion cards. Sometimes IRQs are “shared” by

more than one function; in this case, IRQ assignments are swapped automatically

or adjusted through the BIOS firmware.

1.10.2 Standard Interrupt Assignments

IRQ

Standard Function

System Timer

Keyboard Controller

Programmable Interrupt Controller

USB Universal Host Controller

Communications Port (COM1)

Onboard Audio

Standard Floppy Disk Controller

Printer Port (LPT1)

System CMOS/Real Time Clock

Onboard LAN

10*

11*

12*

14*

15*

USB Universal Host Controller

Onboard VGA

PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port

Numeric Data Processor

Ultra ATA Controller

Secondary Ultra ATA Controller

*These IRQs are usually available for ISA or PCI devices.

IRQ assignments for this motherboard

PCI slot 1

PCI slot 2

PCI slot 3

AGP slot

used

–

used

–

used

–

used

–

1-12

Chapter 1: Product Information

1.10.3 AGP slot

This motherboard has an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) slot that supports

+1.5V AGP 8X cards. Note the notches on the card golden fingers to ensure that

they fit the AGP slot on your motherboard. This AGP slot also supports Digital

Video Output (DVO) interface cards (AGP-NV-DVI) for digital display on new-

generation LCD monitors and projectors.

AGP Card without Retention Notch

A7N8X-VM

ASUS AGP-NV-DVI

A7N8X-VM Accelerated

Graphics Port (AGP8X)

The ASUS AGP-NV-DVI card is not included in this motherboard

package.

1.10.4 PCI slots

Three 32-bit PCI slots are available on this motherboard. The slots support PCI

cards such as LAN card, SCSI card, USB card, and other cards that comply with

PCI specifications. This figure shows a typical PCI card installed into a slot:

ASUS A7N8X-VM motherboard user manual

1-13

1.11 Jumpers

This section describes and illustrates the jumpers on the motherboard.

1. USB device wake-up (3-pin USBPW12, USBPW34, USBPW56)

Set these jumpers to +5V to wake up the computer from S1 sleep mode (CPU

stopped, DRAM refreshed, system running in low power mode) using the

connected USB devices. Set to +5VSB to wake up from S3 sleep mode (no

power to CPU, DRAM in slow refresh, power supply in reduced power mode).

Both jumpers are set to pins 1-2 (+5V) by default because not all computers

have the appropriate power supply to support this feature.

The USBPW12 jumper is for the rear USB port. USBPW34 and USBPW56 are

for the internal USB header that you can connect to front USB ports.

This feature requires a power supply that can provide at least 2A on

the +5VSB lead when these jumpers are set to +5VSB. Otherwise, the

system does not power up.

The total current consumed must NOT exceed the power supply

capability (+5VSB) whether under normal condition or in sleep mode.

USBPW34

1 2

2 3

+5V

+5VSB

(Default)

1 2

USBPW12

2 3

A7N8X-VM

+5V

+5VSB

(Default)

USBPW56

1 2

2 3

A7N8X-VM USB Device Wake Up

+5V

(Default)

+5VSB

1-14

Chapter 1: Product Information

2. Clear RTC RAM (CLRTC1)

This jumper clears the Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM of date, time and system

setup parameters in CMOS. The RAM data in CMOS is powered by the

onboard button cell battery.

To erase the RTC RAM:

1. Turn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord.

2. Remove the battery.

3. Move the jumper caps from [1-2] to [2-3] momentarily. Replace the jumper

cap to the original position, [1-2].

4. Re-install the battery.

5. Plug the power cord and turn ON the computer.

6. Hold down the <Del> key during the boot process and enter BIOS setup to

re-enter data.

A7N8X-VM

CLRTC1

1 2

2 3

Normal

Clear CMOS

A7N8X-VM Clear RTC RAM

(Default)

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1-15

1.12 Connectors

This section describes and illustrates the connectors on the motherboard.

1. IDE connectors (40-1 pin PRI_IDE, SEC_IDE)

This connector supports the provided UltraDMA133/100 IDE hard disk ribbon

cable. Connect the cable’s blue connector to the primary (recommended) or

secondary IDE connector, then connect the gray connector to the

UltraDMA133/100 slave device (hard disk drive) and the black connector to the

UltraDMA133/100 master device. It is recommended that you connect non-

UltraDMA133/100 devices to the secondary IDE connector. If you install two

hard disks, you must configure the second drive as a slave device by setting its

jumper accordingly. Refer to the hard disk documentation for the jumper

settings. BIOS supports specific device bootup. If you have more than two

UltraDMA133/100 devices, purchase another UltraDMA133/100 cable. You

may configure two hard disks to be both master devices with two ribbon cables

– one for the primary IDE connector and another for the secondary IDE

connector.

Pin 20 on each IDE connector is removed to match the covered hole

on the UltraDMA cable connector. This prevents incorrect orientation

when you connect the cables.

For UltraDMA133/100 IDE devices, use 40-pin 80-conductor cable.

NOTE: Orient the red markings

(usually zigzag) on the IDE

ribbon cable to PIN 1.

A7N8X-VM

A7N8X-VM IDE Connectors

PIN 1

1-16

Chapter 1: Product Information

2. Floppy disk drive connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY1)

This connector supports the provided floppy drive ribbon cable. After

connecting one end to the motherboard, connect the other end to the floppy

drive. (Pin 5 is removed to prevent incorrect insertion when using ribbon cables

with pin 5 plug.)

FLOPPY1

NOTE: Orient the red markings on

the floppy ribbon cable to PIN 1

A7N8X-VM

PIN 1

A7N8X-VM Floppy Disk Drive Connector

3. ATX power connectors (20-pin ATXPWR1)

These connectors connect to an ATX 12V 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.

ATXPWR1

+12.0VDC

+5VSB

PWR_OK

COM

+5.0VDC

-5.0VDC

COM

+5.0VDC

COM

A7N8X-VM

+5.0VDC

COM

PS_ON#

COM

+3.3VDC

-12.0VDC

+3.3VDC

A7N8X-VM ATX Power Connector

If you will need to replace the power supply in the future, make sure

that your new ATX 12V power supply can provide 8A on the +12V lead

and at least 1A on the +5-volt standby lead (+5VSB). The minimum

recommended wattage is 230W, or 300W for a fully configured system.

The system may become unstable and may experience difficulty

powering up if the power supply is inadequate.

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1-17

4. USB header (10-1 pin USB56)

If the USB 2.0 port connectors on the back panel are inadequate, a USB

header is available for two additional USB port connectors. Connect a 2-port

USB connector set to a USB header and mount the USB bracket to an open

slot in the chassis.

A7N8X-VM

USB56

A7N8X-VM USB 2.0 Header

The USB connector module is not included in this motherboard

package.

5. GAME/MIDI connector (16-1 pin GAME1)

This connector supports a GAME/MIDI module. If your package came with the

optional USB 2.0/GAME module, connect the GAME/MIDI cable to this

connector. The GAME/MIDI port on the module connects a joystick or a game

pad for playing games, and MIDI devices for playing or editing audio files.

A7N8X-VM

GAME1

A7N8X-VM Game Connector

The GAME port module is not included in this motherboard package.

1-18

Chapter 1: Product Information

6. CPU and Chassis Fan Connectors

(3-pin CPU_FAN1, CHA_FAN)

The fan connectors support cooling fans of 350mA~740mA (8.88W max).

Connect the fan cables to the fan connectors on the motherboard, making sure

that the black wire of each cable matches the ground pin of the connector.

CPU_FAN1

CHA_FAN

A7N8X-VM

GND

+12V

Rotation

A7N8X-VM 12-Volt Cooling Fan Power

Do not forget to connect the fan cables to the fan connectors. Lack of

sufficient air flow within the system may damage the motherboard

components. These are not jumpers! DO NOT place jumper caps on

the fan connectors!

7. Chassis intrusion connector (4-1 pin CHASSIS1)

This lead is for a chassis designed with intrusion detection feature. This

requires an external detection mechanism such as a chassis intrusion sensor

or microswitch. When you remove any chassis component, the sensor triggers

and sends a high-level signal to this lead to record a chassis intrusion event.

By default, the pins labeled “Chassis Signal” and “Ground” are shorted with a

jumper cap. If you wish to use the chassis intrusion detection feature, remove

the jumper cap from the pins.

CHASSIS1

A7N8X-VM

A7N8X-VM Chassis Alarm Lead

(Default)

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1-19

8. Front panel audio connectors (10-1 pin FPAUDIO)

This is an interface for front panel audio cable that allows convenient

connection and control of audio devices.

A7N8X-VM

FP_AUDIO

A7N8X-VM Front Panel Audio Connector

9. Internal audio connectors (4 pin CD1, AUX1)

These connectors allow you to receive stereo audio input from sound sources

such as a CD-ROM, TV tuner, MPEG card or modem.

AUX1 (White) CD1 (Black)

A7N8X-VM

Left Audio Channel

Ground

Right Audio Channel

A7N8X-VM Internal Audio Connectors

1-20

Chapter 1: Product Information

10. TV out connector (6-1 pin U46)

This 6-1 pin connector connects to the front panel daughter card with the audio

TV-out port. This connector allows dual display (TV+VGA or TV+DVI) with the

ASUS AV/S and AGP-NV-DVI cards.

U46

A7N8X-VM

A7N8X-VM TV Out Connector

ASUS AV/S

The AV/S module is not included in this motherboard package.

11. Digital Audio Connector (6-1 pin SPDIF1)

This connector is for optional S/PDIF audio module that allows digital instead

of analog sound input and output.

A7N8X-VM

SPDIF1

A7N8X-VM Digital Audio Connector

When you input sound for S/PDIF IN, the LINE_OUT will output the

sound. Mute LINE_OUT to impede sound output from S/PDIF IN. The

S/PDIF module is not included in this motherboard package.

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12. Serial Port 2 connector (10-1 pin COM2)

This connector accommodates a second serial port using an optional serial

port bracket. Connect the bracket cable to this connector then install the

bracket into a slot opening at the back of the system chassis.

COM2

PIN 1

A7N8X-VM

A7N8X-VM Serial COM2 Connector

The serial port bracket is not included in this motherboard package.

1-22

Chapter 1: Product Information

13. System panel connector (20-pin PANEL1)

This connector accommodates several system front panel functions.

Keyboard Lock

Power LED

Speaker

Connector

A7N8X-VM

Reset SW

IDE LED

ATX Power

Switch*

SMI Lead

A7N8X-VM System Panel Connectors

System Power LED Lead (3-1 pin PLED)

Requires an ATX power supply.

•

This 3-1 pin connector connects to the system power LED. The LED lights up

when you turn on the system power.

Keyboard Lock Lead (2-1 pin KEYLOCK)

This 2-1 pin connector connects to the case-mounted switch to allow the use of

the keyboard lock feature.

System Warning Speaker Lead (4-pin SPEAKER)

This 4-pin connector connects to the case-mounted speaker and allows you to

hear system beeps and warnings.

System Management Interrupt Lead (2-pin SMI)

This 2-pin connector permits switching to suspend mode, or “Green” mode, in

which system activity is instantly decreased to save power and to expand the

life of certain system components.

•

Reset Switch (2-pin RESET)

This 2-pin connector connects to the case-mounted reset switch for rebooting

the system without turning off the power switch.

ATX Power Switch / Soft-Off Switch Lead (2-pin PWR)

This connector connects a switch that controls the system power. Pressing the

power switch turns the system between ON and SLEEP, or ON and SOFT

OFF, depending on the BIOS or OS settings. Pressing the power switch while

in the ON mode for more than 4 seconds turns the system OFF.

•

Hard Disk Activity Lead (2-pin IDE LED)

This connector supplies power to the hard disk activity LED. The read or write

activities of any device connected to the primary or secondary IDE connector

cause this LED to light up.

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1-24

Chapter 1: Product Information

Chapter 2

This chapter tells how to change system settings

through the BIOS Setup Menus. Detailed

descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also

provided.

BIOS information

2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS

•

The original BIOS file for this motherboard is in the support CD.

Copy the original BIOS to a bootable floppy disk in case you

need to restore the BIOS in the future.

2.1.1 Creating a bootable floppy disk

1. Do either one of the following to create a bootable floppy disk.

DOS environment

Insert a 1.44 MB floppy disk into the drive. At the DOS prompt, type:

format a: /s , then press the <Enter> key

Windows environment

a. From your Windows desktop, click on Start, point to Settings, then click

on Control Panel.

b. Double-click on Add/Remove Programs icon from the Control Panel

window.

c. Click on the Startup Disk tab, then on Create Disk... button.

d. Insert a 1.44 MB floppy disk when prompted. Follow the suceeding screen

instructions to complete the process.

2. Copy the original (or the latest) motherboard BIOS to the bootable floppy disk.

2-2

Chapter 2: BIOS information

2.1.2 Using AFUDOS to update the BIOS

Update the BIOS only if you are sure that the new BIOS revision will solve your

problems. Careless updating may result to more problems with the

motherboard!

1. Download an updated ASUS BIOS file from the Internet (see ASUS CONTACT

INFORMATION on page ix for details) and save to the boot floppy disk you

created earlier.

Write down the BIOS file name to a piece of paper. You need to type

the exact BIOS file name at the prompt.

2. Copy the AFUDOS.EXE utility from the support CD to the bootable floppy disk

that contains the BIOS file.

3. Boot the system from the floppy disk.

3. At the DOS prompt, type afudos /i<filename.rom> and then press <Enter>.

4. The utility starts to program the new BIOS information into the Flash ROM.

Several tasks are performed and when the programming is done, the message

“Done” appears at the end of each task.

A:\AFUDOS>afudos /ia7n8x000.rom

AMI Firmware Update Utility - Version 1.10

Reading file.......done

Erasing flash......done

Writing flash......0x0008CC00 (9%)

DO NOT shutdown or reset the system while updating the BIOS! Doing

so may cause system boot failure!

5. After all tasks are performed, AFUDOS utility automatically exits to DOS.

A:\AFUDOS>afudos /ia7n8x000.rom

AMI Firmware Update Utility - Version 1.10

Reading file.......done

Erasing flash......done

Writing flash......done

Verifying flash....done

A:\

6. Reboot the system from the hard disk.

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2-3

2.1.3 Using ASUS EZ Flash to update the BIOS

The ASUS EZ Flash feature allows you to easily update the BIOS without having to

go through the long process of booting from a diskette and using a DOS-based

utility. The EZ Flash is built-in the BIOS firmware so it is accessible by simply

pressing <Alt> + <F2> during the Power-On Self Tests (POST).

To update the BIOS using ASUS EZ Flash:

1. Visit the ASUS website (www.asus.com) to download the latest BIOS file for your

motherboard. Save the BIOS file to a floppy disk.

2. Reboot the system.

3. To launch EZ Flash, press <Alt> + <F2> during POST to display the following.

User recovery requested. Starting BIOS recovery...

Checking for floppy...

•

If there is no floppy disk found in the drive, the error message

“Floppy not found!” appears.

If the correct BIOS file is not found in the floppy disk, the error

message “A7N8X-VM.ROM not found!” is displayed. Make sure to

rename the downloaded BIOS file as “A7N8X-VM.ROM”.

4. Insert the floppy disk that contains the BIOS file. If all the necessary files are

found in the floppy disk, EZ Flash performs the BIOS update process and

automatically reboots the system when done.

DO NOT shutdown or reset the system while updating the BIOS! Doing

so may cause system boot failure!

User recovery requested. Starting BIOS recovery...

Checking for floppy...

Floppy found!

Reading file “a7n8x-vm.rom”. Completed.

Start flashing...

Flashed successfully. Rebooting.

2-4

Chapter 2: BIOS information

2.2 BIOS Setup program

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 may want to change

the configuration of your computer in the future. For example, you may want to

enable the security password feature or make changes to 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 Flash ROM.

The Flash ROM 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

<Delete> during the Power-On Self Test (POST) to enter the Setup utility,

otherwise, POST continues with its test routines.

The Setup program is designed to make it as easy to use as possible. It is a menu-

driven program, which means you can scroll through the various sub-menus and

make your selections among the predetermined choices.

Because the BIOS software is constantly being updated, the following BIOS

setup screens and descriptions are for reference purposes only, and may not

exactly match what you see on your screen.

2.2.1 BIOS menu bar

The top of the screen has a menu bar with the following selections:

MAIN

Use this menu to make changes to the basic system configuration.

ADVANCED Use this menu to enable and make changes to the advanced

features.

POWER

BOOT

EXIT

Use this menu to configure and enable Power Management

features.

Use this menu to configure the default system device used to

locate and load the Operating System.

Use this menu to exit the current menu or to exit the Setup

program.

To access the menu bar items, press the right or left arrow key on the keyboard

until the desired item is highlighted.

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2-5

2.2.2 Legend bar

At the bottom of the Setup screen is a legend bar. The keys in the legend bar allow

you to navigate through the various setup menus. The following table lists the keys

found in the legend bar with their corresponding functions.

Navigation Key(s)

Function Description

Displays the General Help screen from anywhere in

the BIOS Setup

<Esc>

Jumps to the Exit menu or returns to the main menu

from a sub-menu

Left or Right arrow

Up or Down arrow

- (minus key)

Selects the menu item to the left or right

Moves the highlight up or down between fields

Scrolls backward through the values for the high-

lighted field

+ (plus key) or spacebar

<Enter>

Scrolls forward through the values for the highlighted

field

Brings up a selection menu for the highlighted field

<F5>

Moves the cursor to the first field

Moves the cursor to the last field

Resets the current screen to its Setup Defaults

Saves changes and exits Setup

<F10>

General help

In addition to the Item Specific Help window, the BIOS setup program also

provides a General Help screen. You may launch this screen from any menu by

simply pressing <F1> or the <Alt> + <H> combination. The General Help screen

lists the legend keys and their corresponding functions.

Saving changes and exiting the Setup program

See “2.7 Exit Menu” for detailed information on saving changes and exiting the

setup program.

When a scroll bar appears to the right of a help window, it indicates that there is

more information to be displayed that will not fit in the window. Use <PgUp> and

<PgDn> or the up and down arrow keys to scroll through the entire help document.

Press <Home> to display the first page, press <End> to go to the last page. To exit

the help window, press <Enter> or <Esc>.

The BIOS information on the screen is for reference only. What you

see on your screen may not be exactly the same as shown.

2-6

Chapter 2: BIOS information

Sub-menu

Note that a right pointer symbol (as shown on

the

left) appears to the left of certain fields. This pointer

indicates that you can display a sub-menu from this

field. A sub-menu contains additional options for a

field parameter. To display a sub-menu, move the

highlight to the field and press <Enter>. The sub-

menu appears. Use the legend keys to enter values

and move from field to field within a sub-menu as

you would within a menu. Use the <Esc> key to

return to the main menu. Take some time to

familiarize yourself with the legend keys and their

corresponding functions. Practice navigating through the various menus and sub-

menus. If you accidentally make unwanted changes to any of the fields, use the set

default hot key <F5> to load the Setup default values. While moving around

through the Setup program, note that explanations appear in the Item Specific Help

window located to the right of each menu. This window displays the help text for the

currently highlighted field.

2.3 Main Menu

When you enter the Setup program, the following screen appears.

System Time [XX:XX:XX]

Sets the system to the time that you specify (usually the current time). The format

is hour, minute, second. Valid values for hour, minute and second are Hour: (00 to

23), Minute: (00 to 59), Second: (00 to 59). Use the <Tab> or <Shift> + <Tab> keys

to move between the hour, minute, and second fields.

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2-7

System Date [XX/XX/XXXX]

Sets the system to the date that you specify (usually the current date). The format

is month, day, year. Valid values for month, day, and year are Month: (1 to 12),

Day: (1 to 31), Year: (up to 2099). Use the <Tab> or <Shift> + <Tab> keys to move

between the month, day, and year fields.

Legacy Diskette A [1.44M, 3.5 in.]

Sets the type of floppy drive installed. Configuration options: [Disabled]

[360K, 5.25 in.] [1.2M , 5.25 in.] [720K , 3.5 in.] [1.44M, 3.5 in.] [2.88M, 3.5 in.]

2.3.1 Primary and Secondary IDE Master/Slave

Type [Auto]

Select [Auto] to automatically detect an IDE hard disk drive. If automatic detection

is successful, Setup automatically fills in the correct values for the remaining fields

on this sub-menu. Configuration options: [Not Installed] [Auto] [CDROM] [ARMD]

Before attempting to configure a hard disk drive, make sure you have the correct

configuration information supplied by the drive manufacturer.

LBA/Large Mode [Auto]

This field configures the LBA mode. Select [Auto] to enable LBA mode if the device

supports it and the device is not already formatted with LBA Mode disabled.

[Disabled] disables the LBA mode.

Block (Multi-Sector Transfer) [Auto]

This field configures the Multi-Sector Transfer Block. Select [Auto] to enable the

data to transfer from and to the device occurs multiple sectors at a time if the

device supports it. When [Disabled], the data transfer from and to the device

occurs one sector at a time.

2-8

Chapter 2: BIOS information

PIO Mode [Auto]

This option lets you set a PIO (Programmed Input/Output) mode for the IDE

device. Modes 0 through 4 provide successive increase in performance.

Configuration options: [0] [1] [2] [3] [4]

Ultra DMA Mode [Auto]

This field enables you to select the DMA mode. Configuration options: [Auto]

[SWDMA0] [SWDMA1] [SWDMA2] [MWDMA0] [MWDMA1] [MWDMA2] [UDMA0]

[UDMA1] [UDMA2] [UDMA3] [UDMA4]

SMART Monitoring [Auto]

This field allows you to enable or disable the S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis

and Reporting Technology) system that utilizes internal hard disk drive monitoring

technology. This parameter is normally disabled because the resources used in the

SMART monitoring feature may decrease system performance. Configuration

options: [Disabled] [Enabled] [Auto]

32-bit DataTransfer Mode [Disabled]

This field enables you enable or disable 32-bit data transfer mode. Configuration

option: [Disabled] [Enabled]

2.3.2 System Information

This option displays detailed information about the BIOS, processor and system

memory. The values for these fields are automatically detected. Refer to the

screen capture below for details.

ASUS A7N8X-VM motherboard user manual

2-9

2.4 Advanced Menu

2.4.1 Chipset

Video Frame Buffer Size [ 32 MB]

This field sets the size of the video frame buffer. The settings on this field is valid

only for motherboard models with onboard VGA controller.

Configuration options: [Auto] [8MB] [16MB] [32MB] [64MB] [128MB]

Graphics Aperture Size [ 64MB]

This feature allows you to select the size of mapped memory for AGP graphic data.

Configuration options: [32MB] [64MB] [128MB] [256MB] [512MB] [Disabled]

The [512MB] configuration option is available only when you use AGP 8X

graphics card.

2-10

Chapter 2: BIOS information

MDA Access Control [PCI]

This field selects the MDAAccess cycles direction. Configuration options: [AGP]

[PCI]

Primary Video [PCI]

This will switch the PCI Bus scanning order while searching for a video card. This

allows the user to select the type of Primary VGA in case of multiple video

controllers. Configuration options: [PCI] [AGP/Onboard]

Onboard TV-out format [PAL]

This field sets the onboard TV-out format. Configuration options: [PAL] [NTSC]

2.4.2 Onboard Devices Configuration

Onboard Floppy Controller [Enabled]

This field allows you to enable or disable the onboard floppy controller.

Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]

Serial Port1 Address [3F8/IRQ4]

This field allows you to set the address for the onboard serial port (COM1).

Configuration options: [3F8/IRQ4] [2F8/IRQ3] [3E8/IRQ4] [2E8/IRQ3]

Serial Port2 Address [2F8/IRQ3]

This field allows you to set the address for the onboard serial connector (COM2)

connector. Configuration options: [3F8/IRQ4] [2F8/IRQ3] [3E8/IRQ4] [2E8/IRQ3]

Parallel Port Address [Disabled]

This field allows the BIOS to select the Parallel Port Base Address. Configuration

options: [Disabled] [378] [278] [3BC]

ASUS A7N8X-VM motherboard user manual

2-11

Parallel Port Mode [Disabled]

This field allows the BIOS to select the Parallel Port Mode. Configuration options:

[Normal] [EPP] [ECP] [EPP+ECP]

ECP Mode DMA Channel [DMA3]

This field allows the BIOS to select the Parallel Port ECP DMA. Configuration

options: [DMA0] [DMA1] [DMA3]

Parallel Port IRQ [IRQ7]

This field allows the BIOS to select the Parallel Port IRQ. Configuration options:

[IRQ5l] [IRQ7]

Onboard Game Port [Disabled]

Allows you to select the Game Port address or to disable the port. Configuration

options: [Disabled] [200/300] [200/330] [208/300 [208/330]

Onboard MIDI Port [Disabled]

Allows you to select the MIDI Port address or to disable the port. Configuration

options: [Disabled] [200/300] [200/330] [208/300 [208/330]

SMBUS Interface [Enabled]

This field allows you to enable or disable the SMBus interface. Configuration

options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

Audio CODEC Interface [Auto]

This field allows you to disable or set to automatic the AUDIO CODEC interface.

Configuration options: [Disabled] [Auto]

Onboard LAN [Enabled]

This field allows you to disable or set to automatic the onboard LAN interface.

Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]

LAN Boot ROM [Disabled]

This field allows you to disable or set to automatic the onboard boot ROM

interface. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Auto]

2-12

Chapter 2: BIOS information

2.4.3 PCIPnP

Plug and Play O/S [No]

This field configures the Plug and Play O/S feature. If set to [No] the BIOS

configures all the devices attached to the system. If set to [Yes], the operating

system configures Plug and Play (PnP) devices not required for boot if the system

has a Plug and Play operating system feature. Configuration options: [No] [Yes]

PCI Latency Timer [64]

Leave this field to the default setting [32] for best performance and stability.

Configuration options: [32] [64] [96] [128] [160] [192] [224] [248]

Allocate IRQ to PCI VGA [Yes]

Select [Yes] to automatically assign IRQ to PCI VGA card if card requests IRQ. If

set to [No], no IRQ is assigned even the card requests an IRQ.

Palette Snooping [Disabled]

This field enables or disables the Palette Snooping feature. Set to [Enabled] and

the PCI devices will detect that an ISA graphics device is installed in the system so

the device will function correctly. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

ASUS A7N8X-VM motherboard user manual

2-13

PCI IDE BusMaster [Disabled]

This field allows the BIOS, when [Enabled], to use PCI busmastering for reading

and writing to IDE drives. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

Offboard PCI/ISA IDE Card [Auto]

This field allows the setting of the proper slot of installed PCI IDE cards. Some PCI

IDE cards require this to be set to the PCI slot number that is holding the card.

Configuration options: [Auto] [PCI Slot1] [PCI Slot2] [PCI Slot3] [PCI Slot4] [PCI

Slot5] [PCI Slot6]

IRQ3, IRQ4, IRQ5, IRQ7, IRQ9, IRQ10, IRQ11, IRQ14, IRQ15

[Available]

This field specifies if the IRQ is reserved or available for use by Legacy ISA

devices. Configuration options: [Available] [Reserved]

DMA Channel 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 [Available]

This field specifies if the DMA Channel is reserved or available for use by Legacy

ISA devices. Configuration options: [Available] [Reserved]

Reserved Memory Size [Disabled]

This field specifies the reserved memory block for use of legacy ISA devices.

Configuration options: [Disabled] [16k] [32k] [64k]

2.5 Power Menu

The Power menu allows you to reduce power consumption. This feature turns off

the video display and shuts down the hard disk after a period of inactivity.

Suspend Mode [S1 & S3 (STR)]

This field allows the BIOS to select the ACPI state used for System Suspend .

Configuration options: [S1 & S3 (STR)] [S1 (POS) only]

2-14

Chapter 2: BIOS information

2.5.1 Power Up Control

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. When set to

Last State, the system goes into either off or on state whatever was the system

state before the AC power loss. Configuration options: [Power Off] [Power On]

[Last State]

Resume on Keyboard [Disabled]

This parameter allows you to use the keyboard keys to turn on the system. This

feature requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB lead.

Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

Resume on PS/2 Mouse [Disabled]

This parameter allows you to use the PS/2 mouse to turn on the system. This

feature requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB lead.

Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

PME Resume [Disabled]

This parameter enables or disables PME to generate a wake event. This feature

requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB lead.

Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

Ring In Resume [Disabled]

This parameter enables or disables RI to generate a wake event. This feature

requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB lead.

Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

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2-15

Onboard LAN Resume [Disabled]

This parameter enables or disables the onboard LAN to generate a wake event.

This feature requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB

lead. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

RTC Resume [Disabled]

This parameter enables or disables RTC to generate a wake event. This feature

requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB lead.

Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

2.5.2 Hardware Monitor

MB Temperature [xxxC/xxxF]

CPU Temperature [xxxC/xxxF]

The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the

motherboard, CPU, and power temperatures

CPU Fan Speed [xxxxRPM] or [Disabled]

Chassis Fan Speed [xxxxRPM] or [Disabled]

The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the CPU,

chassis, and power fan speeds in rotations per minute (RPM). If any of the fans is

not connected to the motherboard, that field shows 0RPM.

VCORE Voltage, 3.3V Voltage, 5V Voltage, 12V Voltage

The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects the voltage output through

the onboard voltage regulators.

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Chapter 2: BIOS information

2.6 Boot Menu

1st, 2nd, 3rd Boot Device

This field specifies the boot sequence from the available devices. Additional plug-in

boot devices installed appear in sequence after the list of current boot devices .

Configuration fields include FLOPPY DRIVE, IDE Hard Drive, ATAPI CD-ROM, and

Other Boot Device.

2.6.1 Boot Settings Configuration

Quick Boot [Enabled]

This field allows BIOS to skip certain tests while booting. This will decrease the

time needed to boot the system. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

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Full Screen Logo [Enabled]

When [Enabled], MyLogo is displayed instead of the POST messages. Setting to

[Disabled] displays the normal POST messages. Configuration options: [Disabled]

[Enabled]

Make sure that the above item is set to [Enabled] if you wish to use the

ASUS MyLogo2 feature. See MyLogo2 details on page 3-8.

AddOn ROM Display Mode [Force BIOS]

This field sets the display mode for option ROM. Configuration options: [Force

BIOS] [Keep Current]

Bootup Num-Lock [On]

This field selects the power-on state for the NumLock key. Configuration options:

[Off] [On]

PS/2 Mouse Support [Enabled]

This sets the PS/2 mouse support. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

Typematic Rate [Fast]

This field configures the typematic rate of the keyboard. Configuration options:

[Slow] [Fast]

System Keyboard [Present]

This allows you to enable or disable all the keyboards attached to the system.

Configuration options: [Absent] [Present]

Parity Check [Disabled]

This field enables or disables the memory or parity error checking feature.

Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

Boot to OS/2 [No]

This field sets compatibility mode to OS/2 operating system. Configuration options:

[No] [Yes]

Wait for ‘F1’ If Error [Enabled]

This field sets whether to wait for F1 key to be pressed if an error occurs.

Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

Hit ‘Del’ Message Display [Disabled]

This field toggles the display of “Press DEL to run Setup”. Configuration options:

[Disabled] [Enabled]

Interrupt 19 Capture [Disabled]

When [Enabled], it allows option ROMs to trap interrupt 19. This is required by

some PCI cards that provide a ROM based setup utility. Configuration options:

[Disabled] [Enabled]

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Chapter 2: BIOS information

2.6.2 Security

Change Supervisor Password / User Password

These fields allow you to set passwords. To set a password, highlight the

appropriate field and press <Enter>. A pop-up window will appear; Type in a

password then press <Enter>. You can type up to eight alphanumeric characters.

Symbols and other characters are ignored. To confirm the password, type the

password again and press <Enter>. The password is now set. This password

allows full access to the BIOS Setup menus. To clear the password, highlight this

field and press <Enter>. The same dialog box as above appears. Press <Enter>.

The password is cleared.

Make a copy of the original BIOS on a bootable floppy disk before setting

passwords. You will need to upload the BIOS file in case you erase the CMOS

RAM in the future.

A note about passwords

The BIOS Setup program allows you to specify passwords in the Boot menu. The passwords

control access to the BIOS during system startup. Passwords are not case sensitive,

meaning, passwords typed in either uppercase or lowercase letters are accepted. The BIOS

Setup program allows you to specify two different passwords: a Supervisor password and a

User password. If you did not set a Supervisor password, anyone can access the BIOS

Setup program. If you did, the Supervisor password is required to enter the BIOS Setup

program and to gain full access to the configuration fields.

Forgot the password?

If you forget your password, you can clear it by erasing the CMOS Real Time Clock (RTC)

RAM. The RAM data containing the password information is powered by the onboard button

cell battery. If you need to erase the CMOS RAM, unplug the all the power cables and

remove the button cell battery. Re-install the battery after about 2 seconds, then power up

the system. Refer to section “Jumpers - Clear RTC RAM” on how to erase the CMOS RAM.

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2.7 Exit Menu

When you have made all of your selections from the various menus in the Setup

program, save your changes and exit Setup. Select Exit from the menu bar to

display the following menu.

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. The CMOS

RAM is sustained by an onboard backup battery and stays on even when the PC is

turned off. When you select this option, a confirmation window appears. Select

[Yes] 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. Pressing <Enter> saves 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

[Yes] 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 [Yes] to load default values. Select Exit Saving Changes

or make other changes before saving the values to the non-volatile RAM.

2-20

Chapter 2: BIOS information

Chapter 3

This chapter describes the contents of the

support CD that comes with the motherboard

package.

Software support

3.1 Installing an operating system

This motherboard supports Windows^®98SE/ME/NT/2000/XP as well as Linux Red

Hat, SuSE, TurboLinux and Caldera operating systems (OS). Always install the

latest OS version and corresponding updates so you can maximize the features of

your hardware.

Because motherboard settings and hardware options vary, use the setup

procedures presented in this chapter for general reference only. Refer to your

OS documentation for more information.

3.2 Support CD information

The support CD that came with the motherboard contains useful software and

several utility drivers that enhance the motherboard features.

The contents of the support CD are subject to change at any time without

notice. Visit the ASUS website for updates.

3.2.1 Running the support CD

To begin using the support CD, simply insert the CD into your CD-ROM drive. The

CD automatically displays the Drivers menu if Autorun is enabled in your

computer.

Click an item to install

Click an icon to display

more information

If Autorun is NOT enabled in your computer, browse the contents of the

support CD to locate the file ASSETUP.EXE from the BIN folder. Double-click

the ASSETUP.EXE to run the CD.

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Chapter 3: Software support

3.2.2 Drivers menu

The drivers menu shows the available device drivers if the system detects installed

devices. Install the necessary drivers to activate the devices.

Screen display and driver options may not be the same for other operating

system versions.

3.2.3 Utilities menu

The Utilities menu shows the applications and other software that the motherboard

supports.

ASUS PC Probe

This convenient utility continuously monitors your computer systems vital

components such as fan rotations, CPU temperature, and system voltages, and

alerts you on any detected problems. This utility helps you keep your computer at a

healthy operating condition.

Using ASUS PC Probe

Monitoring

Monitor Summary

Shows a summary of the items

being monitored.

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3-3

Temperature Monitor

Shows the PC temperature (for

supported processors only).

Temperature Warning

threshold adjustment

(Move the slider up to increase the

threshold level or down to decrease

the threshold level)

Fan Monitor

Shows the PC fan rotation.

Fan Warning

threshold adjustment

(Move the slider up to increase the

threshold level or down to decrease

the threshold level)

Voltage Monitor

Shows the PC voltages.

Settings

Lets you set threshold levels and

polling intervals or refresh times of the

PC’s temperature, fan rotation, and

voltages.

CPU Cooling System Setup

Lets you select when to enable software CPU

cooling. When When CPU Overheated is

selected, the CPU cooling system is enabled

whenever the CPU temperature reaches the

threshold value.

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Chapter 3: Software support

History

Lets you record the monitoring activity

of a certain component of your PC for

future reference.

Fan Control

Lets you enable/disable Smart Fan

Control. Smart Fan Control adjusts the

fan speed automatically based on the

current CPU temperature and

predefined threshold.

Hard Drives

Shows the used and free space of the

PC’s hard disk drives and the file

allocation table or file system used.

Information

Memory

Shows the PC memory load, memory

usage, and paging file usage.

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3-5

Device Summary

Shows a summary of devices present

in your PC.

DMI Explorer

Shows information pertinent to the PC,

such as CPU type, CPU speed, and

internal/external frequencies, and

memory size.

Utility

Lets you run programs outside of the

ASUS Probe modules. To run a

program, click Execute Program.

NOTE: This feature is currently

unavailable.

ASUS PC Probe Task Bar Icon

Right clicking the PC Probe icon

brings up a menu to open or exit

ASUS PC Probe and pause or

resume all system monitoring.

When the ASUS PC Probe senses a

problem with your PC, portions of

the ASUS PC Probe icon change to

red, the PC speaker beeps, and the

ASUS PC Probe monitor appears.

3-6

Chapter 3: Software support

ASUS Update

The ASUS Update is a utility that allows you to update the motherboard BIOS and

drivers. This utility requires an Internet connection either through a network or an

Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Follow these steps to use the ASUS Update.

1. Launch the utility from your Windows

Start menu:

Programs/AsusUpdate Vx.xx.xx/

AsusUpdate

The ASUS Update initial screen appears.

2. Select your desired update method, then

click Next.

3. If you selected updating/downloading

from the Internet, select the ASUS FTP

site nearest you to avoid network traffic,

or choose Auto Select. Click Next.

4. From the FTP site, select the BIOS

version that you wish to download.

Click Next.

5. Follow the instructions on the

succeeding screens to complete the

update process.

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3-7

If you selected the option to update the

BIOS from a file, a window pops up

prompting you to locate the file. Select the

file, click Save, then follow the screen

instructions to complete the update

process.

ASUS MyLogo2™

The ASUS MyLogo2™ is automatically installed when you install the ASUS Update

utility from the software menu. See page 3-7 for installation of ASUS Update.

Before using ASUS MyLogo2 feature, use the AFUDOS utility to make a copy of

your original BIOS file, or obtain the latest BIOS version from the ASUS

website.

Make sure that the BIOS item Full Screen Logo is set to [Enabled] if you wish to

use ASUS MyLogo2. See details on page 2-18.

Follow these steps to use ASUS MyLogo2.

1. Launch the ASUS Update utility. See

page 3-7 “ASUS Update”.

2. When prompted for the BIOS update

method, select the option “Update

BIOS from a file.”

3. Specify the location of the BIOS file,

such as from a floppy disk. Click Next.

4. From the selection that appears,

choose a logo image. Click Next.

If you wish, you may create your

own boot logo image in GIF, JPG,

or BMP file formats.

3-8

Chapter 3: Software support

5. When you click on an image, it

displays larger on the MyLogo2

screen.

MyLogo2 may not support too complex images. If you encounter any problems on

complex images, try using a simpler image. You may also use a photo editing

software to shink the complex image, lay it over a one-color 640x480 pixel

background, and save the image with the background. When you use the image,

it will appear smaller and centered on the screen.

6. The next screen prompts you to

flash the original BIOS to update it

with the new boot logo. Click Flash

to update the BIOS.

7. When finished, click Exit, then reboot

your computer.

Your system boots with the new

boot logo.

Instead of starting from ASUS Update, you may also launch ASUS MyLogo2

directly from the Windows Start menu to change your BIOS boot logo. After you

have modified the BIOS file with the new logo, use the ASUS Update utility to

upload the new BIOS.

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3-9

PC-CILLIN 2002

This item installs the PC-cillin 2002 anti-virus program. View the PC-cillin online

help for detailed information.

Adobe Acrobat Reader

This item installs the Adobe Acrobat Reader. The Acrobat Reader software is for

viewing files saved in Portable Document Format (PDF).

ASUS Screen Saver

This item installs the ASUS screen saver.

E-Color 3Deep

This item installs the 3Deep software. 3Deep is the first application that gives

online gamers the competitive edge in multi-player skirmishes. This application

removes dark washed-out graphics to deliver true vibrant colors.

3-10

Chapter 3: Software support

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