Asus M5A78LM_LX Owner's Manual Page 1

MotherboardM5A78L-M LX

xM5A78L-M LX specications summaryBack panel I/O ports 1 x PS/2 Keyboard port 1 x PS/2 Mouse port1 x COM port1 x LPT port1 x D-Sub port 1 x LAN (RJ-45

1.2 Package contentsCheck your motherboard package for the following items.Motherboard ASUS M5A78L-M LX motherboardCables 2 x Serial ATA cablesAcce

HyperTransport™ 3.0 supportHyperTransport™ 3.0 technology provides 2.6 times more bandwidth than HT1.0 that radically improves system efciency for

1.3.2 Innovative ASUS features1 2Core UnlockerASUS Core Unlocker simplies the activation of a latent AMD® CPU-with just pressing a key. Enjoy an ins

C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)The BIOS C.P.R. feature automatically restores the CPU default settings when the system hangs due to overclocking failure

1.4 Before you proceedTake note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change any motherboard settings.• Unplug t

M5A78L-M LX1.5 Motherboard overview1.5.1 Placement directionWhen installing the motherboard, ensure that you place it into the chassis in the correc

1.5.3 Motherboard layout1.5.4 Layout contentsConnectors/Jumpers/Slots Page Connectors/Jumpers/Slots Page1. Keyboard power (3-pin KBPWR) 1-19 8. Sys

1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU)This motherboard comes with an AM3+ socket designed for FX™ / Phenom™ II / Athlon™ II / Sempron™ 100 series processo

5. When the CPU is in place, push down the socket lever to secure the CPU. The lever clicks on the side tab to indicate that it is locked.6. Install

iiCopyright © 2011 ASUSTeK Computer Inc. All Rights Reserved.No part of this manual, including the products and software described in it, may be repro

1.6.2 Installing the heatsink and fanEnsure that you use only AMD-certied heatsink and fan assembly.To install the CPU heatsink and fan:1. Place th

3. Align the other end of the retention bracket to the retention module base. A clicking sound denotes that the retention bracket is in place.Ensure

1.7.2 Memory congurationsYou may install 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB unbuffered ECC and non-ECC DDR3 DIMMs into the DIMM sockets.• You may install var

DDR3-1600(O.C.) MHz capability(continued on the next page)Vendor Part No. SizeSS/DSBrand Chip NO.Timing DIMM (BIOS)VoltageDIMM SupportA* B*G.SKILL F3-

DDR3-1333 MHz capabilityVendor Part No. SizeSS/DSBrand Chip NO.Timing DIMM (BIOS)VoltageDIMM SupportA* B*G.SKILL F3-10600CL8D-2GBHK 1024MB SS G.SKILL

DDR3-1066 MHz capabilityVendor Part No. SizeSS/DSBrand Chip NO.Timing DIMM (BIOS)VoltageDIMM SupportA* B*Crucial CT12864BA1067.8FF 1024MB SS Micron 9G

1.7.3 Installing a DIMMUnplug the power supply before adding or removing DIMMs or other system components. Failure to do so can cause severe damage t

1.8 Expansion slotsIn the future, you may need to install expansion cards. The following sub-sections describe the slots and the expansion cards that

1.9 Jumpers1. Clear RTC RAM (CLRTC)This jumper allows you to clear the Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM in CMOS. You can clear the CMOS memory of date, ti

2. USB device wake-up (3-pin USBPW1-4, USBPW5-10)Set these jumpers to +5V to wake up the computer from S1 sleep mode (CPU stopped, DRAM refreshed, sy

iiiContentsNotices ... viSafety information ...

1.10 Connectors1.10.1 Rear panel ports1. PS/2 Mouse port (green). This port is for a PS/2 mouse.2. Parallel port. This 25-pin port connects a para

7. USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports connect to USB 2.0 devices.8. USB 2.0 ports 3 and 4. These two 4-pin Univ

2. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V)These connectors are for an ATX power supply. The plugs from the power supply are designed to 

3. Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1, SATA2, SATA3, SATA4, SATA5, and SATA6)These connectors are for the Serial ATA signal cables for Serial ATA 3Gb

4. System panel connector (10-1 pin F_PANEL)This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions.• System power LED (2-pin PLED)This 2-pin conn

6. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB56, USB78, USB910)These connectors are for USB 2.0 ports. Connect the USB module cable to any of these connectors, the

8. CPU and chassis fan connectors (4-pin CPU_FAN and 3-pin CHA_FAN)Connect the fan cables to the fan connectors on the motherboard, ensuring that the

1.11 Software support1.11.1 Installing an operating systemThis motherboard supports Windows® XP/Vista/7 Operating Systems (OS). Always install the l

Chapter 1: Product introduction1-28

ASUS M5A78L-M LX 2-1Chapter 2BIOS information2.1 Managing and updating your BIOSSave a copy of the original motherboard BIOS le to a USB ash disk

ivContents1.11 Software support ... 1-271.11.1 Installing an operating system .

2-2 Chapter 2: BIOS informationUpdating from a BIOS file a. Select Update BIOS from a le, then click Next. b. Locate the BIOS le from the Open w

ASUS M5A78L-M LX 2-32.1.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 is an auto recovery tool that allows you to restore the BIOS le when it fails

2-4 Chapter 2: BIOS information2.2 BIOS setup programUse the BIOS Setup program to update the BIOS or congure its parameters. The BIOS screens inclu

ASUS M5A78L-M LX 2-52.2.1 BIOS menu screen2.2.2 Menu barThe menu bar on top of the screen has the following main items:Main For changing the b

2-6 Chapter 2: BIOS information2.2.4 Menu itemsThe highlighted item on the menu bar displays the specic items for that menu. For example, selecting

ASUS M5A78L-M LX 2-72.3 Main menuWhen you enter the BIOS Setup program, the Main menu screen appears, giving you an overview of the basic system inf

2-8 Chapter 2: BIOS informationLBA/Large Mode [Auto]Enables or disables the LBA mode. Setting this item to [Auto] enables the LBA mode if the device s

ASUS M5A78L-M LX 2-92.4 Advanced menuThe Advanced menu items allow you to change the settings for the CPU and other system devices.Take caution when

2-10 Chapter 2: BIOS informationProcessor Frequency Multiplier [Auto]Sets the processor frequency multiplier. Conguration options: [Auto] [x4.0 800MH

ASUS M5A78L-M LX 2-11VDDNB Over Voltage [Auto]Sets the VDDNB over voltage. The valid value ranges vary depending on your CPU model. Use <+> / &

vContents2.5.3 ACPI APIC Support [Enabled] ... 2-172.5.4 APM Conguration ...

2-12 Chapter 2: BIOS informationDRAM READ to PRE Time [Auto]Conguration options: [Auto] [4 CLK] [5 CLK] [6 CLK] [7 CLK]DRAM Row Cycle Time [Auto]Con

ASUS M5A78L-M LX 2-13GART Error Reporting [Disabled]This option should remain disabled for the normal operation. The driver developer may enable it f

2-14 Chapter 2: BIOS informationECC CongurationECC Mode [Disabled]Allows you to set the ECC mode. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Basic] [Good] Int

ASUS M5A78L-M LX 2-152.4.4 Onboard Device CongurationSerial Port1 Address [3F8/IRQ4]Allows you to select the Serial Port1 base address. Congurati

2-16 Chapter 2: BIOS information2.4.6 USB CongurationThe items in this menu allows you to change the USB-related features. Select an item then press

ASUS M5A78L-M LX 2-172.5 Power menuThe Power menu items allow you to change the settings for the Advanced Conguration and Power Interface (ACPI) an

2-18 Chapter 2: BIOS information2.5.5 HW Monitor CongurationCPU Temperature [xxxºC/xxxºF] or [Ignored] MB Temperature [xxxºC/xxxºF] or [Ignored]The

ASUS M5A78L-M LX 2-192.6 Boot menuThe Boot menu items allow you to change the system boot options. Select an item then press <Enter> to displa

2-20 Chapter 2: BIOS informationAddOn ROM Display Mode [Force BIOS]Sets the display mode for option ROM. Conguration options: [Force BIOS] [Keep Curr

ASUS M5A78L-M LX 2-21Change User PasswordSelect this item to set or change the user password. The User Password item on top of the screen shows the d

viNoticesFederal Communications Commission StatementThis device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two cond

2-22 Chapter 2: BIOS information2.7 Tools menuThe Tools menu items allow you to congure options for special functions. Select an item then press <

ASUS M5A78L-M LX 2-23Exit & Discard ChangesSelect this option only if you do not want to save the changes that you made to the Setup program. If

2-24 Chapter 2: BIOS information

ASUS contact informationASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.Address 15 Li-Te Road, Peitou, Taipei, Taiwan 11259Telephone +886-2-2894-3447Fax +886-2-2890-

EC Declaration of Conformity We, the undersigned, Manufacturer: ASUSTek COMPUTER INC. Address, City: No. 150, LI-TE RD., PEITOU, TAIPEI 112, TAIWAN R.

viiDO NOT throw the motherboard in municipal waste. This product has been designed to enable proper reuse of parts and recycling. This symbol of the c

viiiConventions used in this guideTo ensure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following symbols used throughout this manual.

ixM5A78L-M LX specications summary(continued on the next page)CPU AMD® Socket AM3+ for AMD® FX™ / Phenom™ II / Athlon™ II / Sempron™ 100 series p