Asus M4A79XTD EVO User Manual - Page 16

1-2

Chapter 1: Product Introduction

Chapter 1

1.3

Special features

1.3.1

Product highlights

AMD

®

Phenom™ II / Athlon™ II / Sempron™ 100 series CPU support

This motherboard supports AMD

®

Socket AM3 multi-core processors with unique L3 cache

and delivers better overclocking capabilities with less power consumption. It features dual-

channel DDR3 1333 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.

AMD

®

790X / SB750 Chipset

The AMD

®

790X / SB750 Chipset is designed to support up to 5200MT/s HyperTransport™

3.0 (HT 3.0) interface speed and PCI Express™ 2.0 x16 graphics. It is optimized with AMD’s

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

capabilities.

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.

Dual-Channel DDR3 1800 (O.C.)

The motherboard supports DDR3 memory that features data transfer rates of 1800

(O.C.)/1600/1333/1066 MHz to meet the higher bandwidth requirements of the latest

operation system, 3D graphics, multimedia, and Internet applications. The dual-channel

DDR3 architecture doubles the bandwidth of your system memory to boost system

performance, eliminating bottlenecks with peak bandwidths of up to 25.6 GB/s. Furthermore,

the supply voltage for the memory is reduced from 1.8 V for DDR2 to just 1.5 V for DDR3.

This voltage reduction limits the power consumption and heat generation of DDR3 which

makes it an ideal memory solution.

100% All High-quality Conductive Polymer Capacitors

This motherboard uses all high-quality conductive polymer capacitors for durability, improved

lifespan, and enhanced thermal capacity.

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.

Section	Page
Notices	7
Safety information	8
About this guide	9
M4A79XTD EVO 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	35
2.4.4 Removing a DIMM	35
2.5 Expansion slots	36
2.5.1 Installing an expansion card	36
2.5.2 Configuring an expansion card	36
2.5.3 Interrupt assignments	37
2.5.4 PCI slots	38
2.5.5 PCI Express x1 slots	38
2.5.6 Two PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots	38
2.6 Jumpers	39
2.7 Connectors	41
2.7.1 Rear panel connectors	41
2.7.2 Audio I/O connections	42
2.7.3 Internal connectors	45
2.7.4. ASUS Q-Connector (system panel)	54
2.8 Starting up for the first time	55
2.9 Turning off the computer	55
Chapter 3: BIOS setup	57
3.1 Knowing BIOS	57
3.2 Updating BIOS	57
3.2.1 ASUS Update utility	58
3.2.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility	60
3.2.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility	61
3.3 BIOS setup program	62
3.3.1 BIOS menu screen	62
3.3.2 Menu bar	62
3.3.3 Navigation keys	63
3.3.4 Menu items	63
3.3.5 Submenu items	63
3.3.6 Configuration fields	63
3.3.7 Pop-up window	63
3.3.8 Scroll bar	63
3.3.9 General help	63
3.4 Main menu	64
3.4.1 Primary IDE Master/Slave; SATA 1-6	64
3.4.2 Storage Configuration	66
3.4.3 System Information	67
3.5 Advanced menu	67
3.5.1 JumperFree Configuration	68
3.5.2 CPU Configuration	72
3.5.3 Chipset	73
3.5.4 Onboard Devices Configuration	74
3.5.5 USB Configuration	75
3.5.6 PCIPnP	76
3.6 Power menu	77
3.6.1 Suspend Mode	77
3.6.2 ACPI 2.0 Support	77
3.6.3 ACPI APIC Support	77
3.6.4 APM Configuration	78
3.6.5 Hardware Monitor	79
3.7 Boot menu	81
3.7.1 Boot Device Priority	81
3.7.2 Boot Settings Configuration	82
3.7.3 Security	83
3.8 Tools menu	85
3.8.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2	85
3.8.2 Express Gate	85
3.8.3 ASUS O.C. Profile	86
3.8.4 AI NET 2	87
3.9 Exit menu	88
Chapter 4: Software support	89
4.1 Installing an operating system	89
4.2 Support DVD information	89
4.2.1 Running the support DVD	89
4.2.2 Obtaining the software manuals	90
4.3 Software information	91
4.3.1 ASUS PC Probe II	91
4.3.2 Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ Technology	92
4.3.3 ASUS AI Suite	93
4.3.4 ASUS EPU	94
4.3.5 ASUS Q-Fan 2	95
4.3.6 ASUS TurboV	96
4.3.7 ASUS Turbo Key	97
4.3.8 ASUS Express Gate	98
4.3.9 VIA® High Definition Audio utility	99
4.4 RAID configurations	100
4.4.1 RAID definitions	100
4.4.2 Installing Serial ATA hard disks	101
4.4.3 Setting the RAID item in BIOS	101
4.4.4 AMD® Option ROM Utility®	101
4.5 Creating a RAID driver disk	105
4.5.1 Creating a RAID driver disk without entering the OS	105
4.5.2 Creating a RAID driver disk in Windows®	105
4.5.3 Installing the RAID driver during Windows® OS installation	105
4.5.4 Using a USB floppy disk drive	106
Chapter 5: ATI® CrossFireX™ technology support	109
5.1 ATI® CrossFireX™ technology	109
5.1.1 Requirements	109
5.1.2 Before you begin	109
5.2 Installing CrossFireX™ graphics cards	110
5.3 Software information	111
5.3.1 Installing the device drivers	111

Asus M4A79XTD EVO User Manual - Page 16

Special features - amd 790x socket am3 motherboard

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