Asus M4A78-E User Manual - Page 16

1-2

Chapter 1: Product Introduction

Chapter 1

1.3

Special features

1.3.1

Product highlights

AMD

®

Phenom™ X4 / Phenom™ X3 / Athlon™ X2 / Athlon™ / Sempron™

processors (socket AM2�/AM2)

socket AM2�/AM2)

This motherboard supports AMD

®

Socket AM2+ multi-core processors. It features

dual-channel DDR2 1066 memory support, data transfer rate up to 5200MT/s via

HyperTransport™ 3.0 based system bus, and AMD

®

Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ Technology.

AMD

®

Phenom™ II / Athlon™ X4 / Athlon™ X3 / Athlon™ X2 (AM3 CPU)

Phenom™ II / Athlon™ X4 / Athlon™ X3 / Athlon™ X2 (AM3 CPU)

X3 / Athlon™ X2 (AM3 CPU)

X3 / Athlon™ X2 (AM3 CPU)

(AM3 CPU)

AM3 CPU)

This motherboard supports AMD

®

AM3 multi-core processors with unique L3 cache and

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

. This motherboard also supports AMD

®

CPUs in the

new 45nm manufacturing process.

AMD

®

790GX � SB750 Chipset

AMD

®

790GX+SB750 Chipset is designed to support up to 5200MT/s HyperTransport™ 3.0

(HT3.0) interface speed and PCI Express™ 2.0 x 16 graphics. It is optimized with AMD's

latest AM3 and multi-core CPUs to provide excellent system performance and overclocking

capabilities.

ATI Hybrid CrossFireX™ Technology

Boosted Performance with onboard GPU and discrete graphics card

ATI Hybrid CrossFireX™ technology is a unique hybrid multi-GPU technology. It takes your

gaming experience to the next level boosting PC performance by enabling the chipset’s

integrated graphics processor and a discrete GPU to operate simultaneously with combined

output for blisteringly-fast frame rates unleashing the graphics performance

Visit www.amd.com for the Hybrid CrossFireX selected GPUs.

Dual channel DDR2 1066 support

This motherboard supports DDR2 1066, which provides faster data transfer rate and more

bandwidth to increase memory data transfer rate and computing efficiency. This enhances

system performance in 3D graphics and other memory demanding applications.

Due to AM2+ / AM3 CPU limitation, only one DDR2 1066 is supported per channel. When

four DDR2 1066 DIMMs are installed, all DIMMs run at 800MHz frequency by default for

system stability.

ATI

®

CrossFireX™ Technology

ATI’s CrossFireX™ boosts image quality along with rendering speed, eliminating the

need to scale down screen resolution to get high quality images. CrossFireX™ allows

higher antialiasing, anisotropic filtering, shading, and texture settings. Adjust your display

configurations, experiment with the advanced 3D settings, and check the effects with a real-

time 3D-rendered previews within ATI Catalyst™ Control Center.

Section	Page
Contents	3
Notices	7
Safety information	8
About this guide	9
M4A78-E specifications summary	11
Chapter 1: Product introduction	15
1.1 Welcome!	15
1.2 Package contents	15
1.3 Special features	16
1.3.1 Product highlights	16
1.3.2 ASUS unique features	17
1.3.3 ASUS intelligent performance and overclocking features	19
Chapter 2: Hardware information	21
2.1 Before you proceed	21
2.2 Motherboard overview	22
2.2.1 Motherboard layout	22
2.2.2 Layout contents	23
2.2.3 Placement direction	24
2.2.4 Screw holes	24
2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU)	25
2.3.1 Installing the CPU	25
2.3.2 Installing the CPU heatsink and fan	27
2.4 System memory	30
2.4.1 Overview	30
2.4.2 Memory configurations	31
2.4.3 Installing a DIMM	36
2.4.4 Removing a DIMM	36
2.5 Expansion slots	37
2.5.1 Installing an expansion card	37
2.5.2 Configuring an expansion card	37
2.5.3 Interrupt assignments	38
2.5.4 PCI slots	39
2.5.5 PCI Express x1 slots	39
2.5.6 Two PCI Express x16 slots	39
2.6 ASUS VGA SWITCH CARD	40
2.7 Jumpers	41
2.8 Connectors	43
2.8.1 Rear panel connectors	43
2.8.2 Audio I/O connections	44
2.8.3 Internal connectors	47
2.9 Starting up for the first time	58
2.10 Turning off the computer	58
Chapter 3: BIOS setup	59
3.1 Knowing BIOS	59
3.2 Updating BIOS	59
3.2.1 ASUS Update utility	60
3.2.2 Creating a bootable floppy disk	62
3.2.3 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility	63
3.2.4 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility	64
3.3 BIOS setup program	65
3.3.1 BIOS menu screen	65
3.3.2 Menu bar	65
3.3.3 Navigation keys	66
3.3.4 Menu items	66
3.3.5 Submenu items	66
3.3.6 Configuration fields	66
3.3.7 Pop-up window	66
3.3.8 Scroll bar	66
3.3.9 General help	66
3.4 Main menu	67
3.4.1 Primary IDE Master/Slave; SATA 1–5; ESATA	67
3.4.2 Storage Configuration	69
3.4.3 System Information	70
3.5 Ai Tweaker menu	70
3.5.1 AI Overclocking Tuner [Auto]	70
3.5.2 CPU Ratio [Auto]	71
3.5.3 CPU Bus Frequency [XXX]	71
3.5.4 PCIE Frequency [XXX]	71
3.5.5 DRAM Frequency Control [Auto]	71
3.5.6 CPU/NB Frequency [Auto]	71
3.5.7 HT Link Speed [Auto]	71
3.5.8 Memory Configuration	72
3.5.9 DRAM Timing Configuration	73
3.5.10 CPU Voltage [Auto]	74
3.5.11 CPU/NB Voltage [Auto]	75
3.5.12 CPU VDDA Voltage [Auto]	75
3.5.13 DRAM Voltage [Auto]	75
3.5.14 HT Voltage [Auto]	75
3.5.15 NB Voltage [Auto]	75
3.5.16 NB 1.8V Voltage [Auto]	75
3.5.17 SB Voltage [Auto]	75
3.5.18 CPU Spread Spectrum [Enabled]	75
3.5.19 PCIE Spread Spectrum [Enabled]	75
3.6 Advanced menu	76
3.6.1 CPU Configuration	76
3.6.2 Chipset	77
3.6.3 Onboard Devices Configuration	81
3.6.4 USB Configuration	82
3.6.5 PCIPnP	83
3.7 Power menu	84
3.7.1 Suspend Mode [Auto]	84
3.7.2 ACPI 2.0 Support [Disabled]	84
3.7.3 ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]	84
3.7.4 APM Configuration	85
3.7.5 Hardware Monitor	86
3.8 Boot menu	87
3.8.1 Boot Device Priority	87
3.8.2 Boot Settings Configuration	88
3.8.3 Security	89
3.9 Tools menu	91
3.9.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2	91
3.9.2 Express Gate	92
3.9.3 ASUS O.C. Profile	93
3.9.4 AI NET 2	94
3.10 Exit menu	95
Chapter 4: Software support	97
4.1 Installing an operating system	97
4.2 Support DVD information	97
4.2.1 Running the support DVD	97
4.2.2 Obtaining the software manuals	98
4.3 Software information	99
4.3.1 Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ Technology	99
4.3.2 Audio configurations	100
4.3.3 ASUS PC Probe II	101
4.3.4 ASUS Express Gate SSD / ASUS Express Gate	102
4.3.5 ASUS AI Suite	103
4.3.6 ASUS EPU	104
4.3.7 ASUS Q-Fan 2	105
4.3.8 ASUS AI Nap	106
4.3.9 ASUS TurboV	107
4.3.10 ASUS Turbo Key	108
4.4 RAID configurations	109
4.4.1 RAID definitions	109
4.4.2 Installing Serial ATA hard disks	110
4.4.3 Setting the RAID item in BIOS	110
4.4.4 AMD® Option ROM Utility®	111
4.5 Creating a RAID driver disk	114
4.5.1 Creating a RAID driver disk without entering the OS	114
4.5.2 Creating a RAID/SATA driver disk in Windows®	114
Chapter 5: ATI® CrossFireX™ technology support	115
5.1 ATI® CrossFireX™ technology	115
5.1.1 Requirements	115
5.1.2 Before you begin	115
5.1.3 Installing CrossFireX™ graphics cards	116
5.1.4 Installing the device drivers	117
5.1.5 Enabling the ATI® CrossFireX™ technology	117
5.2 ATI® Hybrid CrossFireX™	119
5.2.1 System requirements	119
5.2.2 Before you proceed	119
5.2.3 Installing AMD Chipset Driver	120

Asus M4A78-E User Manual - Page 16

Special features - 790gx

Page 16 highlights