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Asus M5A88-M User Manual - Page 18

ASUS unique features - motherboard bios update

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Chapter 1 1.3.4 ASUS unique features ASUS Power Solutions ASUS Power solutions intelligently and automatically provide balanced computing power and energy consumption. 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! Anti-Surge Protection This special design protects expensive devices and the motherboard from damage caused by power surges from switching power supply unit (PSU). ASUS Quiet Thermal Solutions ASUS Quiet Thermal solution makes system more stable and enhances the overclocking capability. Fanless Design: stylish heatsink solution The stylish heatsink features a 0-dB thermal solution that offers users a noiseless PC environment. Not only the beautiful shape upgrades the visual enjoyment for motherboard users, but also the heatsink design lowers the temperature of the chipset and power phase area through high efficient heat-exchange. Combined with usability and aesthetics, the ASUS stylish heatsink will give users an extremely silent and cooling experience with the elegant appearance! Fan Xpert ASUS Fan Xpert intelligently allows you to adjust the CPU fan speed 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. ASUS EZ DIY ASUS EZ DIY feature collection provides you with easy ways to install computer components, update the BIOS or back up your favorite settings. ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 allows you to restore corrupted BIOS data from a USB flash disk containing the BIOS file. This protection eliminates the need to buy a replacement ROM chip. ASUS EZ-Flash 2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 is a user-friendly utility that allows you to update the BIOS without using a bootable floppy disk or an OS-based utility. Precision Tweaker 2 Allows you to fine-tune the VCore / VDDNB voltage in 0.003125V steps and DRAM voltage in 0.015V steps to achieve the most precise setting for the ultimate overclocking configuration. 1-4 Chapter 1: Product Introduction

Section	Page
Notices	7
Safety information	8
About this guide	9
M5A88-M 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 Hybrid Processor - TPU (TurboV Processing Unit)*	17
1.3.3 ASUS Xtreme Design—Hybrid Switch*	17
1.3.4 ASUS unique features	18
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	30
2.4.4 Removing a DIMM	30
2.5 Expansion slots	31
2.5.1 Installing an expansion card	31
2.5.2 Configuring an expansion card	31
2.5.3 Interrupt assignments	32
2.5.4 PCI slot	33
2.5.5 PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots	33
2.5.6 PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot	33
2.6 Jumper	34
2.7 Onboard switches	35
2.8 Connectors	37
2.8.1 Rear panel connectors	37
2.8.2 Audio I/O connections	40
2.8.3 Internal connectors	42
2.8.4. ASUS Q-Connector (system panel)	48
2.9 Onboard LEDs	49
2.10 Starting up for the first time	50
2.11 Turning off the computer	50
Chapter 3: BIOS setup	51
3.1 Knowing BIOS	51
3.2 Updating BIOS	51
3.2.1 ASUS Update utility	52
3.2.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility	54
3.2.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility	55
3.2.4 ASUS BIOS Updater	56
3.3 BIOS setup program	59
3.3.1 BIOS menu screen	59
3.3.2 Menu bar	59
3.3.3 Navigation keys	60
3.3.4 Menu items	60
3.3.5 Submenu items	60
3.3.6 Configuration fields	60
3.3.7 Pop-up window	60
3.3.8 Scroll bar	60
3.3.9 General help	60
3.4 Main menu	61
3.4.1 SATA6G_1~6	61
3.4.2 SATA Configuration	63
3.4.3 System Information	64
3.5 Ai Tweaker menu	65
3.5.1 CPU Level UP [Auto]	65
3.5.2 CPU OverClocking [Auto]	66
3.5.3 CPU Ratio [Auto]	67
3.5.4 DRAM Frequency [Auto]	67
3.5.5 CPU/NB Frequency [Auto]	67
3.5.6 HT Link Speed [Auto]	67
3.5.7 GPU Booster [Enabled]	67
3.5.8 OC Tuner Utility	68
3.5.9 DRAM Timing Configuration	68
3.5.10 DRAM Driving Configuration	69
3.5.11 CPU & NB Voltage Mode [Offset]	70
3.5.12 CPU VDDA Voltage [Auto]	70
3.5.13 DRAM Voltage [Auto]	70
3.5.14 HT Voltage [Auto]	70
3.5.15 NB Voltage [Auto]	70
3.5.16 NB 1.8V Voltage [Auto]	70
3.5.17 SB Voltage [Auto]	70
3.5.18 CPU Load-Line Calibration [Auto]	71
3.5.19 CPU/NB Load-Line Calibration [Auto]	71
3.5.20 PCI/PCIe CLK Status [Enabled]	71
3.6 Advanced menu	71
3.6.1 CPU Configuration	71
3.6.2 Chipset	73
3.6.3 Onboard Devices Configuration	75
3.6.4 PCIPnP	76
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 HW Monitor Configuration	80
3.7.6 Anti Surge Support [Enabled]	81
3.7.7 NB Thermal Protect [Enabled]	81
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 ASUS O.C. Profile	86
3.10 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 Fan Xpert	94
4.3.5 ASUS EPU	95
4.3.6 Audio configurations	96
4.3.7 ASUS GPU Boost	97
4.3.8 Turbo Unlocker	98
4.4 ASUS Unique Overclocking Utility—TurboV EVO	99
4.4.1 Using ASUS TurboV	99
4.4.2 Using ASUS TurboV Auto Tuning Mode	100
4.4.3 Using CPU Level UP	101
4.4.4 Using ASUS Turbo Key	101
4.5 RAID configurations	102
4.5.1 RAID definitions	102
4.5.2 Installing Serial ATA hard disks	103
4.5.3 Setting the RAID item in BIOS	103
4.5.4 AMD® Option ROM Utility	104
4.6 Creating a RAID driver disk	107
4.6.1 Creating a RAID driver disk without entering the OS	107
4.6.2 Creating a RAID driver disk in Windows®	107
4.6.3 Installing the RAID driver during Windows® OS installation	107
4.6.4 Using a USB floppy disk drive	108
Chapter 5: ATI® Hybrid CrossFireX™ technology support	111
ATI® Hybrid CrossFireX™	111
System requirements	111
Before you proceed	111
Installing AMD Chipset Driver	112

Match case Limit results 1 per page

1-4

Chapter 1: Product Introduction

Chapter 1

1.3.4

ASUS unique features

ASUS Power Solutions

ASUS Power solutions intelligently and automatically provide balanced computing power and

energy consumption.

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!

Anti-Surge Protection

This special design protects expensive devices and the motherboard from damage

caused by power surges from switching power supply unit (PSU).

ASUS Quiet Thermal Solutions

ASUS Quiet Thermal solution makes system more stable and enhances the overclocking

capability.

Fanless Design: stylish heatsink solution

The stylish heatsink features a 0-dB thermal solution that offers users a noiseless

PC environment. Not only the beautiful shape upgrades the visual enjoyment for

motherboard users, but also the heatsink design lowers the temperature of the chipset

and power phase area through high efﬁcient heat-exchange. Combined with usability

and aesthetics, the ASUS stylish heatsink will give users an extremely silent and

cooling experience with the elegant appearance!

Fan Xpert

ASUS Fan Xpert intelligently allows you to adjust the CPU fan speed 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.

ASUS EZ DIY

ASUS EZ DIY feature collection provides you with easy ways to install computer components,

update the BIOS or back up your favorite settings.

ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3

ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 allows you to restore corrupted BIOS data from a USB ﬂash

disk containing the BIOS ﬁle. This protection eliminates the need to buy a replacement

ROM chip.

ASUS EZ-Flash 2

ASUS EZ Flash 2 is a user-friendly utility that allows you to update the BIOS without

using a bootable ﬂoppy disk or an OS-based utility.

Precision Tweaker 2

Allows you to ﬁne-tune the VCore / VDDNB voltage in 0.003125V steps and DRAM voltage in

0.015V steps to achieve the most precise setting for the ultimate overclocking conﬁguration.