Asus M4N98TD EVO User Manual - Page 17

ASUS M4N98TD EVO

1-3

Chapter 1

1.3.2

ASUS unique features

ASUS Power Solutions

ASUS power solutions intelligently and automatically provide balanced computing power and

energy consumption.

8+1 Phase Power Design

To fully unleash the next-generation AM3 CPU’s potential, the ASUS M4N98TD EVO

motherboard has adopted a brand new 8-phase VRM power design. It delivers high

power efficiency and supreme overclocking ability. Furthermore, high quality power

components can effectively lower system temperature to ensure longer component

lifespan. This series also features an extra 1 phase power dedicated to integrated

memory/HT controller.

100% Long-Life Solid Cap.

This motherboard uses all long-life capacittors onboard for durability, imporved

lifespan, and enhanced thermal capacity.

ASUS EPU

The ASUS EPU (Energy Processing Unit) provides total system power management by

detecting current PC loadings and intelligently moderating power usage for critical PC

components in real-time–helping save power and money! Refer to page 4-6 for details.

ASUS Quiet Thermal Solutions

ASUS Quiet Thermal solutions make the system more stable and enhance the overclocking

capability.

ASUS Fanless Design–Heat pipe solution

The Heat Pipe design effectively directs the heat generated by the chipsets to the

heatsink near the back IO ports, where it can be carried away by existing airflow from

CPU fan. The purpose of the innovative heat pipe design on this motherboard is that

the groundbreaking fanless design does not have lifetime problems as a chipset fan

does. Furthermore, it provides options for users to install side-flow fan or passive

cooler. The Heat Pipe design is the most reliable fanless thermal solution to date.

DO NOT uninstall the heat pipe by yourself. Doing so may bend the tubing and affect the

heat dissipation performance.

Up to 20ºC (36ºF) Cooler—Stack Cool 3+

Stack Cool 3+ is a fanless cooling solution offered exclusively by ASUS. It effectively

and noiselessly transfers heat generated by the critical components to the other side

of the specially designed PCB (printed circuit board) for effective heat dissipation—

making temperatures cooler by up to 20ºC.

Fan Xpert

ASUS Fan Xpert intelligently allows you to adjust both the CPU and chassis fan speeds

according to different ambient temperatures caused by different climate conditions

in different geographic regions and your PC’s loading. The built-in variety of useful

profiles offer flexible controls of fan speed to achieve a quiet and cool environment.

Refer to page 4-5 for details.

Section	Page
Contents	3
Notices	7
Safety information	8
About this guide	9
M4N98TD 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
Chapter 2: Hardware information	19
2.1 Before you proceed	19
2.2 Motherboard overview	20
2.2.1 Motherboard layout	20
2.2.2 Layout contents	21
2.2.3 Placement direction	22
2.2.4 Screw holes	22
2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU)	23
2.3.1 Installing the CPU	23
2.3.2 Installing the CPU heatsink and fan	25
2.4 System memory	28
2.4.1 Overview	28
2.4.2 Memory configurations	29
2.4.3 Installing a DIMM	32
2.4.4 Removing a DIMM	32
2.5 Expansion slots	33
2.5.1 Installing an expansion card	33
2.5.2 Configuring an expansion card	33
2.5.3 Interrupt assignments	34
2.5.4 PCI slots	35
2.5.5 PCI Express x1 slots	35
2.5.6 PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots	35
2.6 Jumpers	36
2.7 Onboard switches	38
2.8 Connectors	40
2.8.1 Rear panel connectors	40
2.8.2 Audio I/O connections	41
2.8.3 Internal connectors	44
2.8.4. ASUS Q-Connector (system panel)	52
2.9 Onboard LEDs	53
2.10 Starting up for the first time	55
2.11 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 1–4	64
3.4.2 Storage Configuration	66
3.4.3 System Information	66
3.5 Ai Tweaker menu	67
3.5.1 Ai Overclock Tuner [Auto]	67
3.5.6 DRAM Timing Configuration	68
3.5.2 CPU Ratio [Auto]	68
3.5.3 DRAM Frequency [Auto]	68
3.5.4 CPU/NB Frequency [Auto]	68
3.5.5 HT Link Speed [Auto]	68
3.5.7 DRAM Driving Configuration	69
3.5.8 Processor Voltage [Auto]	70
3.5.9 CPU/NB Voltage [Auto]	70
3.5.10 CPU VDDA Voltage [Auto]	70
3.5.11 DRAM Voltage [Auto]	70
3.5.12 HT Voltage [Auto]	70
3.5.13 NB Voltage [Auto]	70
3.5.14 nForce200 Voltage [Auto]	71
3.5.15 CPU/LDT Spread Spectrum [Disabled]	71
3.5.16 PCIE Spread Spectrum [Disabled]	71
3.5.17 SATA Spread Spectrum [Disabled]	71
3.5.18 PCI Spread Spectrum [Disabled]	71
3.6 Advanced menu	72
3.6.1 CPU Configuration	72
3.6.2 Chipset	74
3.6.3 Onboard Devices Configuration	76
3.6.4 PCIPnP	77
3.6.5 USB Configuration	77
3.7 Power menu	78
3.7.1 Suspend Mode [Auto]	78
3.7.2 ACPI 2.0 Support [Enabled]	78
3.7.3 ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]	78
3.7.4 APM Configuration	79
3.7.5 Hardware Monitor	80
3.8 Boot menu	82
3.8.1 Boot Device Priority	82
3.8.2 Boot Settings Configuration	83
3.8.3 Security	84
3.9 Tools menu	86
3.9.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2	86
3.9.2 Express Gate [Auto]	86
3.9.3 ASUS O.C. Profile	87
3.9.4 AI NET 2	88
3.10 Exit menu	89
Chapter 4: Software support	91
4.1 Installing an operating system	91
4.2 Support DVD information	91
4.2.1 Running the support DVD	91
4.2.2 Obtaining the software manuals	92
4.3 Software information	93
4.3.1 ASUS PC Probe II	93
4.3.2 ASUS AI Suite	94
4.3.3 ASUS Fan Xpert	95
4.3.4 ASUS EPU	96
4.3.6 ASUS Express Gate	97
4.3.6 Audio configurations	98
4.3.7 ASUS AI Nap	99
4.3.8 ASUS TurboV	100
4.3.9 ASUS Turbo Key	101
4.4 RAID configurations	102
4.4.1 RAID definitions	102
4.4.2 Installing Serial ATA hard disks	102
4.4.3 Setting the RAID item in BIOS	103
4.4.4 NVIDIA® MediaShield BIOS RAID configurations	103
4.5 Creating a RAID driver disk	107
4.5.1 Creating a RAID driver disk without entering the OS	107
4.5.2 Creating a RAID driver disk in Windows®	107
4.5.3 Installing the RAID driver during Windows® OS installation	108
4.5.4 Using a USB floppy disk drive	108
Chapter 5: NVIDIA® SLI™ technology support	111
5.1 NVIDIA® SLI™ technology	111
5.1.1 Requirements	111
5.1.2 Installing two SLI-ready graphics cards	111
5.1.3 Installing the device drivers	112
5.1.4 Enabling the NVIDIA® SLI™ technology	112

Asus M4N98TD EVO User Manual - Page 17

ASUS unique features - overclocking

Page 17 highlights