Asus M3A78-EH User Manual Page 1

MotherboardM3A78-EH

xM3A78-EH specications summary(continued on the next page)CPU AMD® Socket AM2+ Phenom™FX / Phenom / Athlon™ 64 / Sempron™ processor AMD Socket AM2

xiM3A78-EH specications summaryASUS special features ASUS Q-Fan ASUS CrashFree BIOS3 ASUS EZ Flash2 ASUS MyLogo2Back panel I/O ports 1 x PS/2 Mouse

xii

1Product introductionThis chapter describes the motherboard features and the new technologies it supports.

1-2 Chapter 1: Product introduction1.1 Welcome!Thank you for buying an ASUS® M3A78-EH motherboard!The motherboard delivers a host of new features and

ASUS M3A78-EH 1-3HyperTransport 3.0 support HyperTransport 3.0 technology provides 2.6 times more bandwidth than HT1.0 that radically improves syst

1-4 Chapter 1: Product introductionAMD® 780G and ATI SB700 chipsets AMD 780G Northbridge is the latest AMD chipset designed for both HT1.0 and 5200MT/

ASUS M3A78-EH 1-5Serial ATA 3Gb/s technology The motherboard supports next-generation SATA hard drives based on the new SATA 3Gb/s storage specica

1-6 Chapter 1: Product introduction1.3.2 Innovative ASUS features ASUS Q-Fan technology The ASUS Q-Fan technology smartly adjusts the CPU fan s

ASUS M3A78-EH 1-7Onboard LEDThe motherboard comes with a standby power LED that lights up to indicate that the system is ON, in sleep mode, or in soft

iiCopyright © 2008 ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. All Rights Reserved.No part of this manual, including the products and software described in it, may be repro

1-8 Chapter 1: Product introduction1.5.1 Motherboard layout1.5 Motherboard overview22.4cm (8.8in)Super I/OSATA4SATA5SATA6SATA1SATA2SATA3SocketAM2+/A

ASUS M3A78-EH 1-9Do not overtighten the screws! Doing so can damage the motherboard.1.5.2 Placement directionWhen installing the motherboard, make su

1-10 Chapter 1: Product introduction1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU)The motherboard comes with an AM2+/AM2 socket designed for AMD® Socket AM2+ Phen

ASUS M3A78-EH 1-113. Position the CPU above the socket such that the CPU corner with the gold triangle matches the socket corner with a small triang

1-12 Chapter 1: Product introduction1.6.2 Installing the heatsink and fanThe AMD Phenom™ FX / Phenom / Athlon™ 64 / Sempron™ / Athlon 64X2 / Athlon 6

ASUS M3A78-EH 1-132. Attach one end of the retention bracket to the retention module base.3. Align the other end of the retention bracket (near the

1-14 Chapter 1: Product introduction1.7 System memory1.7.1 OverviewThe motherboard comes with four Double Data Rate 2 (DDR2) Dual Inline Memory Modu

ASUS M3A78-EH 1-15• When using only one memory module, start installing the DDR2 DIMM from slot DIMM_A1 or DIMM_B1 for better overclocking capability

1-16 Chapter 1: Product introductionDDR2-800 MHz capabilitySize Vendor Model CL BrandSS/DSComponentDIMM SupportA* B* C* 1G Kingston KVR800D2N5/1G N/A

ASUS M3A78-EH 1-17DDR2-667MHz capability Size Vendor Model CL BrandSS/DSComponentDIMM supportA* B* C* 256MB Kingston KVR667D2N5/256 N/A Kingston SS D3

iiiContentsNotices ... viSafety information ...

1-18 Chapter 1: Product introductionSize Vendor Model CL BrandSS/DSComponentDIMM supportA* B* C* 512MB ADATA M20EL5G3H3160B1C0Z N/A Elpida SS E5108AE-

ASUS M3A78-EH 1-19DDR-533MHz capabilitySize Vendor Model CL BrandSS/DSComponentDIMM support A* B* C* 256MBKingston KVR533D2N4/256 N/A Elpida SS E5116A

1-20 Chapter 1: Product introduction1.7.3 Installing a DIMM1. Unlock a DIMM socket by pressing the retaining clips outward.2. Align a DIMM on the s

ASUS M3A78-EH 1-211.8 Expansion slotsIn the future, you may need to install expansion cards. The following sub-sections describe the slots and the ex

1-22 Chapter 1: Product introduction* These IRQs are usually available for ISA or PCI devices.Interrupt assignmentsIRQ Standard function0 System timer

ASUS M3A78-EH 1-23A B C D E F G HPCIEX1 Slot1 shared – – – – – – –PCIEX1 Slot2 – shared – – – – –PCIEx16 Slot – – shared – – – – –Onboard USB1.1 Contr

1-24 Chapter 1: Product introduction1.8.3 PCI slotsThe PCI slots support cards such as a LAN card, SCSI card, USB card, and other cards that comply w

ASUS M3A78-EH 1-251.9 Jumpers1. Clear RTC RAM (CLRTC)This jumper allows you to clear the Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM in CMOS. You can clear the CMOS

1-26 Chapter 1: Product introduction2. USB device wake-up (3-pin USBPW1-4, USBPW5-8, USBPW9-12)Set these jumpers to +5V to wake up the computer from

ASUS M3A78-EH 1-271.10 Connectors1.10.1 Rear panel connectors1. PS/2 mouse port (green). This port is for a PS/2 mouse.2. Parallel port. This 25-pi

ivContentsChapter 2: BIOS setup2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS ... 2-22.1.1 Creating a bootable oppy d

1-28 Chapter 1: Product introductionRefer to the audio conguration table for the function of the audio ports in 2, 4, 6, or 8-channel conguration.Au

ASUS M3A78-EH 1-291.10.2 Internal connectors1. Floppy disk drive connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY)This connector is for the provided oppy disk drive (FDD

1-30 Chapter 1: Product introduction3. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE)The onboard IDE connector is for an Ultra DMA 133/100/66 signal cable. There a

ASUS M3A78-EH 1-314. Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1, SATA2, SATA3, SATA4, SATA5, SATA6)These connectors are for the Serial ATA signal cables for

1-32 Chapter 1: Product introduction5. CPU and Chassis Fan connectors (4-pin CPU_FAN, 3-pin CHA_FAN)The fan connectors support cooling fans of 350mA~

ASUS M3A78-EH 1-336. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB56, USB78, USB910, USB1112)These connectors are for USB 2.0 ports. Connect the USB module cable to a

1-34 Chapter 1: Product introduction7. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT)This connector is for an additional Sony/Philips Digital Interface

ASUS M3A78-EH 1-358. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP)This connector is for a chassis-mounted front panel audio I/O module that supports ei

1-36 Chapter 1: Product introduction9. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V)These connectors are for an ATX power supply. The plugs fro

ASUS M3A78-EH 1-3710. System panel connector (20-8 pin PANEL) This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions.• System power LED This 2-p

vContents2.5 Power menu ... 2-302.5.1 Suspend Mode ...

1-38 Chapter 1: Product introduction

2This chapter tells how to change the system settings through the BIOS Setup menus. Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided.B

2-2 Chapter 2: BIOS setup2.1 Managing and updating your BIOSThe following utilities allow you to manage and update the motherboard Basic Input/Output

ASUS M3A78-EH 2-32.1.2 AFUDOS utilityThe AFUDOS utility allows you to update the BIOS le in DOS environment using a bootable oppy disk with the upd

2-4 Chapter 2: BIOS setupThe utility returns to the DOS prompt after copying the current BIOS le.3. Press <Enter> The utility copies the curre

ASUS M3A78-EH 2-55. The utility returns to the DOS prompt after the BIOS update process is completed. Reboot the system from the hard disk drive.A:\&

2-6 Chapter 2: BIOS setup2.1.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utilityThe ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 is an auto recovery tool that allows you to restore the BIOS l

ASUS M3A78-EH 2-7Recovering the BIOS from the support CDTo recover the BIOS from the support CD:1. Remove any oppy disk from the oppy disk drive, t

2-8 Chapter 2: BIOS setupTo update the BIOS using EZ Flash 2:1. Visit the ASUS website (www.asus.com) to download the latest BIOS le for the motherb

ASUS M3A78-EH 2-9Installing ASUS UpdateTo install ASUS Update:1. Place the support CD in the optical drive. The Drivers menu appears. 2. Click the U

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

2-10 Chapter 2: BIOS setup3. Select the ASUS FTP site nearest you to avoid network trafc, or click Auto Select. Click Next.Updating the BIOS through

ASUS M3A78-EH 2-11Updating the BIOS through a BIOS leTo update the BIOS through a BIOS le:1. Launch the ASUS Update utility from the Windows® deskt

2-12 Chapter 2: BIOS setup2.2 BIOS setup programThis motherboard supports a programmable Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) chip that you can update u

ASUS M3A78-EH 2-132.2.1 BIOS menu screen2.2.2 Menu barThe menu bar on top of the screen has the following main items:Main For changing the basi

2-14 Chapter 2: BIOS setup2.2.4 Menu itemsThe highlighted item on the menu bar displays the specic items for that menu. For example, selecting Main

ASUS M3A78-EH 2-152.2.8 Pop-up windowSelect a menu item then press <Enter> to display a pop-up window with the conguration options for that i

2-16 Chapter 2: BIOS setup2.3 Main menuWhen you enter the BIOS Setup program, the Main menu screen appears, giving you an overview of the basic syste

ASUS M3A78-EH 2-172.3.4 Primary IDE Master/SlaveWhile entering Setup, the BIOS automatically detects the presence of IDE devices. There is a separat

2-18 Chapter 2: BIOS setupDMA Mode [Auto]Selects the DMA mode. Conguration options: [Auto]SMART Monitoring [Auto]Sets the Smart Monitoring, Analysis

ASUS M3A78-EH 2-19Block (Multi-sector Transfer) M [Auto]Enables or disables data multi-sectors transfers. When set to [Auto], the data transfer from

viiSafety informationElectrical safety• To prevent electrical shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electrical outlet before relocating th

2-20 Chapter 2: BIOS setupOnChip SATA Type [SATA]This item appears only when you set the OnChip SATA Channel item to [Enabled]. Allows you to set the

ASUS M3A78-EH 2-212.4.1 JumperFree Conguration2.4 Advanced menuThe Advanced menu items allow you to change the settings for the CPU and other syst

2-22 Chapter 2: BIOS setup2.4.3 CPU CongurationThe items in this menu show the CPU-related information that the BIOS automatically detects.GART Erro

ASUS M3A78-EH 2-23Microcode Updation [Enabled]Enables or disables Microcode Updation. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]Secure Virtual Machin

2-24 Chapter 2: BIOS setupMemory CongurationBank Interleaving [Auto]Allows you to enable the bank memory interleaving. Conguration options: [Disabl

ASUS M3A78-EH 2-25ECC Conguration AdvancedECC CongurationECC Mode [Disabled] DRAM ECC Enable [Disabled] DRAM SCRUB REDIRECT [Disabled]

2-26 Chapter 2: BIOS setupAlternate VID [Auto]This option allows you to specify the alternate VID while in low power states.Conguration options: [1.1

ASUS M3A78-EH 2-272.4.5 Onboard Devices CongurationSerial Port1 Address [3F8/IRQ4]Allows you to select the Serial Port1 base address. Conguratio

2-28 Chapter 2: BIOS setup2.4.6 PCIPnPThe PCI PnP menu items allow you to change the advanced settings for PCI/PnP devices. The menu includes setting

ASUS M3A78-EH 2-29IRQ-xx assigned to [PCI Device]When set to [PCI Device], the specic IRQ is free for use of PCI/PnP devices. When set to [Reserved]

viiiAbout this guideThis user guide contains the information you need when installing and conguring the motherboard.How this guide is organizedThis g

2-30 Chapter 2: BIOS setup2.5 Power menuThe Power menu items allow you to change the settings for the Advanced Conguration and Power Interface (ACPI

ASUS M3A78-EH 2-312.5.4 APM CongurationRestore on AC Power Loss [Always Off]When set to Power Off, the system goes into off state after an AC power

2-32 Chapter 2: BIOS setup2.5.5 Hardware Monitorv02.58 (C)Copyright 1985-2006, American Megatrends, Inc. Select Screen Select Item+- Change Fi

ASUS M3A78-EH 2-332.6 Boot menuThe Boot menu items allow you to change the system boot options. Select an item then press <Enter> to display t

2-34 Chapter 2: BIOS setup2.6.2 Boot Settings Conguration Select Screen Select Item+- Change OptionF1 General HelpF10 Save and ExitESC

ASUS M3A78-EH 2-35AddOn ROM Display Mode [Force BIOS]Sets the display mode for option ROM. Conguration options: [Force BIOS] [Keep CurrentBootup Num

2-36 Chapter 2: BIOS setupChange Supervisor PasswordSelect this item to set or change the supervisor password. The Supervisor Password item on top of

ASUS M3A78-EH 2-37 Select Screen Select ItemEnter ChangeF1 General HelpF10 Save and ExitESC Exitv02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2008, American Me

2-38 Chapter 2: BIOS setup2.7 Tools menuThe Tools menu items allow you to congure options for special functions. Select an item then press <Enter

ASUS M3A78-EH 2-392.8 Exit menuThe Exit menu items allow you to load the optimal or failsafe default values for the BIOS items, and save or discard y

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

2-40 Chapter 2: BIOS setup

3Software supportThis chapter describes the contents of the support DVD that comes with the motherboard package.

3-2 Chapter 3: Software supportIf Autorun is NOT enabled in your computer, browse the contents of the support DVD to locate the le ASSETUP.EXE from t

3-3ASUS M3A78-EH3.2.2 Drivers menuThe drivers menu shows the available device drivers if the system detects installed devices. Install the necessary

3-4 Chapter 3: Software support3.2.3 Utilities menuThe Utilities menu shows the applications and other software that the motherboard supports. ASUS I

3-5ASUS M3A78-EH3.2.4 Make Disk menuThe Make Disk menu allows you to make a RAID driver disk.Make ATI RAID/AHCI Vista32 DriverAllows you to create an

3-6 Chapter 3: Software support3.2.5 Manual menuThe Manual menu contains a list of supplementary user manuals. Click an item to open the folder of th

3-7ASUS M3A78-EH3.2.6 ASUS Contact informationClick the Contact tab to display the ASUS contact information. You can also nd this information on the

3-8 Chapter 3: Software supportTechnical support FormDisplays the ASUS Technical Support Request Form that you have to ll out when requesting technic