Asus P8H61_EVO Owner's Manual Page 1

MotherboardP8H61 EVO

xP8H61 EVO specications summary(continued on the next page)ASUS Special features100% All High-quality Conductive Polymer CapacitorsASUS Exclusive Ove

xiP8H61 EVO specications summary* Specications are subject to change without notice. Internal connectors / switches1 x USB 3.0/2.0 connector suppor

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ASUS P8H61 EVO 1-1Chapter 1Product introduction Motherboard ASUS P8H61 EVO motherboardCables 2 x Serial ATA 6.0Gb/s cablesAccessories 1 x I/O shi

1-2 Chapter 1: Product introductionIntel® H61 Express ChipsetThe Intel® H61 Express Chipset is the latest single-chipset design to support the new 115

ASUS P8H61 EVO 1-3100% All High-quality Conductive Polymer CapacitorsThis motherboard uses all high-quality conductive polymer capacitors for durabili

1-4 Chapter 1: Product introductionFan XpertASUS Fan Xpert intelligently allows you to adjust the CPU and chassis fan speeds according to different am

ASUS P8H61 EVO 1-51.4 Before you proceedTake note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change any motherboard se

1-6 Chapter 1: Product introductionP8H61 EVO1.5 Motherboard overviewBefore you install the motherboard, study the conguration of your chassis to ens

ASUS P8H61 EVO 1-71.5.3 Motherboard layout1.5.4 Layout contentsConnectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED Page Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED Page1.CPU and chassis

iiE6571First Edition (V1)April 2011Copyright © 2011 ASUSTeK Computer Inc. All Rights Reserved.No part of this manual, including the products and softw

1-8 Chapter 1: Product introduction1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU)The motherboard comes with a surface mount LGA1155 socket designed for the Intel®

ASUS P8H61 EVO 1-93. Lift the load lever in the direction of the arrow until the load plate is completely lifted.Load plate4. Remove the PnP cap fro

1-10 Chapter 1: Product introduction7. Close the load plate (A), and then push down the load lever (B), ensuring that the front edge of the load plat

ASUS P8H61 EVO 1-111.6.2 Installing the CPU heatsink and fanThe Intel® LGA1155 processor requires a specially designed heatsink and fan assembly to e

1-12 Chapter 1: Product introduction3. Connect the CPU fan cable to the connector on the motherboard labeled CPU_FAN.Do not forget to connect the CPU

ASUS P8H61 EVO 1-131.7 System memory1.7.1 OverviewThe motherboard comes with four Double Data Rate 3 (DDR3) Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMM) socket

1-14 Chapter 1: Product introductionRecommended memory congurationsOne DIMM:We recommend you install one memory module in the blue slots (DIMM_A2 or

ASUS P8H61 EVO 1-151.7.2 Memory congurationsYou may install 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB unbuffered non-ECC DDR3 DIMMs into the DIMM sockets.P8H61 EVO M

1-16 Chapter 1: Product introductionDDR3-1333MHz capabilityVendors Part No. SizeSS/DSChip Brand Chip NO. Timing VoltageDIMM socket support (Optional)1

ASUS P8H61 EVO 1-17Vendors Part No. SizeSS/DSChip Brand Chip NO. Timing VoltageDIMM socket support (Optional)1 DIMM 2 DIMM 4 DIMMOCZ OCZ3G1333LV8GK 8G

iiiContentsNotices ... viSafety information ...

1-18 Chapter 1: Product introduction1.7.4 Removing a DIMM1. Simultaneously press the retaining clips outward to unlock the DIMM.2. Remove the DIMM

ASUS P8H61 EVO 1-191.8 Expansion slotsIn the future, you may need to install expansion cards. The following sub-sections describe the slots and the e

1-20 Chapter 1: Product introduction1.9 JumpersClear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC)This jumper allows you to clear the Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM in CMOS. You

ASUS P8H61 EVO 1-211.10 Connectors1.10.1 Rear panel connectors29101113121143 4 5 6781. PS/2 Mouse port (green). This port is for a PS/2 mouse.2. L

1-22 Chapter 1: Product introduction9. USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports connect to USB 2.0/1.1 devices. 10.

ASUS P8H61 EVO 1-231.10.2 Internal connectors1. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP)This connector is for a chassis-mounted front panel audio

1-24 Chapter 1: Product introduction3. ASMedia Serial ATA 6.0Gb/s connectors (7-pin SATA6G_E1/E2 [navy blue])These connectors connect to Serial ATA 6

ASUS P8H61 EVO 1-255. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 8-pin EATX12V)These connectors are for an ATX power supply. The plugs from the power supp

1-26 Chapter 1: Product introduction6. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB78, USB910)These connectors are for USB 2.0 ports. Connect the USB module cable to

ASUS P8H61 EVO 1-278. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT) This connector is for an additional Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) port.P8

ivContents1.10.1 Rear panel connectors ... 1-211.10.2 Internal connectors ...

1-28 Chapter 1: Product introduction10. System panel connector (20-8 pin PANEL)This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions.• System po

ASUS P8H61 EVO 1-291.11 Onboard switchesOnboard switches allow you to ne-tune performance when working on a bare or open-casesystem. This is ideal f

1-30 Chapter 1: Product introduction1.12 Onboard LEDs1. Standby Power LEDThe motherboard comes with a standby power LED that lights up to indicate t

ASUS P8H61 EVO 1-312. DRAM LEDDRAM LED checks the DRAM in sequence during motherboard booting process. If an error is found , the LED next to the err

1-32 Chapter 1: Product introduction1.13 Software support1.13.1 Installing an operating systemThis motherboard supports Windows® XP / Vista / 7 Oper

Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-1Chapter 2BIOS informationSave a copy of the original motherboard BIOS le to a USB ash disk in case you need to restor

2-2 ASUS P8H61 EVOThe ASUS Update utility is capable of updating itself through the Internet. Always update the utility to avail all its features.Upda

Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-3DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS! Doing so can cause system boot failure!2.1.3 ASUS CrashF

2-4 ASUS P8H61 EVOWelcome to FreeDOS (http://www.freedos.org)!C:\>d:D:\>3. When the Make Disk menu appears, select the FreeDOS command prompt

Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-52. The BIOS Updater backup screen appears indicating the BIOS backup process. When BIOS backup is done, press any key

vContents2.5 Advanced menu ... 2-172.5.1 CPU Conguration ...

2-6 ASUS P8H61 EVOUpdating the BIOS leTo update the BIOS le using BIOS Updater1. At the FreeDOS prompt, type bupdater /pc /g and press <Enter>

Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-7Using the power button, reset button, or the <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Del> keys to force reset from a running op

2-8 ASUS P8H61 EVOBIOS menu screenThe BIOS setup program can be used under two modes: EZ Mode and Advanced Mode. You can change modes from the Exit me

Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-9Advanced ModeThe Advanced Mode provides advanced options for experienced end-users to congure the BIOS settings. The 

2-10 ASUS P8H61 EVOMenu itemsThe highlighted item on the menu bar displays the specic items for that menu. For example, selecting Main shows the Main

Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-112.3 Main menuThe Main menu screen appears when you enter the Advanced Mode of the BIOS Setup program. The Main menu p

2-12 ASUS P8H61 EVOAdministrator PasswordIf you have set an administrator password, we recommend that you enter the administrator password for accessi

Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-132.4 Ai Tweaker menuThe Ai Tweaker menu items allow you to congure overclocking-related items.Be cautious when changi

2-14 ASUS P8H61 EVOBCLK/PEG Frequency [XXX]Appears when you set the Ai Overclock Tuner item to [Manual] and allows you to adjust the CPU and VGA frequ

Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-15Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology [Enabled]Allows you to enable or disable the Enhanced Intel® SpeedStep Technology

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

2-16 ASUS P8H61 EVO2.4.8 DRAM Voltage [Auto]Allows you to set the DRAM voltage. The values range from 1.185V to 2.135V with a 0.005V interval.Accordi

Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-17Be cautious when changing the settings of the Advanced menu items. Incorrect eld values can cause the system to malfu

2-18 ASUS P8H61 EVOHyper-threading [Enabled]The Intel Hyper-Threading Technology allows a hyper-threading processor to appear as two logical processor

Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-192.5.2 System Agent CongurationThe System Agent Conguration menu allows you to change the northbridge chipset settin

2-20 ASUS P8H61 EVO2.5.5 USB CongurationThe items in this menu allow you to change the USB-related features.The USB Devices item shows the auto-dete

Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-21ASM1061 Storage OPROM [Enabled]This item appears only when you set the previous item to [Enabled] and allows you to en

2-22 ASUS P8H61 EVO2.5.7 APMRestore AC Power Loss [Power Off][Power On] The system goes into on state after an AC power loss.[Power Off] The system

Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-232.6 Monitor menuThe Monitor menu displays the system temperature/power status, and allows you to change the fan setti

2-24 ASUS P8H61 EVOCPU Fan Speed Low Limit [600 RPM]This item appears only when you enable the CPU Q-Fan Control feature and allows you to disable or

Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-25The following four items appear only when you set Chassis Fan Prole to [Manual].Chassis Upper Temperature [70]Use the

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

2-26 ASUS P8H61 EVO2.7 Boot menuThe Boot menu items allow you to change the system boot options.2.7.1 Bootup NumLock State [On][On] Sets the power-

Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-272.7.4 Option ROM Messages [Force BIOS][Force BIOS] The third-party ROM messages will be forced to display during the

2-28 ASUS P8H61 EVO2.8 Tools menuThe Tools menu items allow you to congure options for special functions. Select an item then press <Enter> to

Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-292.9 Exit menuThe Exit menu items allow you to load the optimal default values for the BIOS items, and save or discard

2-30 ASUS P8H61 EVO

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

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

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

ixP8H61 EVO specications summary(continued on the next page)CPU LGA1155 socket for Intel® Second Generation Core™ i7 / Core™ i5 / Core™ i3 Process