A7V8X-MX SE
User Guide
Contents
Notices ........................................................................................................ v
Safety information ...................................................................................... vi
A7V8X-MX SE specification summary* .....................................................vii
About this guide ........................................................................................ viii
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.1 Welcome! ....................................................................................... 1-2
1.2 Package contents .......................................................................... 1-2
1.3 Special features ............................................................................. 1-2
1.4 Motherboard components.............................................................. 1-4
1.5 Motherboard layout........................................................................ 1-7
1.6 Motherboard installation ................................................................ 1-8
1.6.1
1.6.2
Placement direction ......................................................... 1-8
Screw holes ..................................................................... 1-8
1.7 Before you proceed ....................................................................... 1-9
1.8 Central Processing Unit (CPU) .................................................... 1-10
1.9 System memory ........................................................................... 1-11
1.10 Expansion slots ........................................................................... 1-12
1.10.1 Configuring an expansion card ...................................... 1-12
1.10.2 AGP slot ......................................................................... 1-13
1.10.3 PCI slots ........................................................................ 1-13
1.11 Switch and jumpers ..................................................................... 1-14
1.12 Connectors .................................................................................. 1-17
Chapter 2: BIOS information
2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS ............................................... 2-2
2.1.1
2.1.2
2.1.3
Creating a bootable floppy disk ....................................... 2-2
Using the AwardBIOS Flash Utility .................................. 2-3
CrashFree BIOS feature .................................................. 2-4
2.2 BIOS beep codes .......................................................................... 2-5
2.3 BIOS Setup program ..................................................................... 2-5
2.3.1
2.3.2
BIOS menu bar ................................................................ 2-6
Legend bar....................................................................... 2-6
iii
Contents
2.4 Main menu ..................................................................................... 2-8
2.5 Advanced menu ........................................................................... 2-12
2.5.1
2.5.2
2.5.3
Chip Configuration ......................................................... 2-13
I/O Device Configuration................................................ 2-18
PCI Configuration .......................................................... 2-20
2.6 Power menu ................................................................................ 2-22
2.6.1
2.6.2
Power Up Control .......................................................... 2-23
Hardware Monitor .......................................................... 2-25
2.7 Boot menu ................................................................................... 2-26
2.8 Exit menu ..................................................................................... 2-27
Chapter 3: Software support
3.1 Installing an operating system ....................................................... 3-2
3.2 Support CD information ................................................................. 3-2
3.2.1
3.2.2
3.2.3
3.2.4
Running the support CD .................................................. 3-2
Drivers menu ................................................................... 3-3
Utilities menu ................................................................... 3-4
ASUS contact information................................................ 3-5
iv
Notices
Federal Communications Commission Statement
This device complies with FCC Rules Part 15. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
•
•
This device may not cause harmful interference, and
This device must accept any interference received including interference that
may cause undesired operation.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential
installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy
and, if not installed and used in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions, may
cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee
that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined
by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:
•
•
•
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
•
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
The use of shielded cables for connection of the monitor to the
graphics card is required to assure compliance with FCC regulations.
Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the
party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to
operate this equipment.
Canadian Department of Communications Statement
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions
from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian
Department of Communications.
This class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
v
Safety information
Electrical safety
•
To prevent electrical shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the
electrical outlet before relocating the system.
•
When adding or removing devices to or from the system, ensure that the power
cables for the devices are unplugged before the signal cables are connected. If
possible, disconnect all power cables from the existing system before you add a
device.
•
•
•
Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard, ensure that
all power cables are unplugged.
Seek professional assistance before using an adpater or extension cord. These
devices could interrupt the grounding circuit.
Make sure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your area. If you
are not sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you are using, contact your
local power company.
•
If the power supply is broken, do not try to fix it by yourself. Contact a qualified
service technician or your retailer.
Operation safety
•
Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully read all the
manuals that came with the package.
•
Before using the product, make sure all cables are correctly connected and the
power cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage, contact your dealer
immediately.
•
•
To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from
connectors, slots, sockets and circuitry.
Avoid dust, humidity, and temperature extremes. Do not place the product in any
area where it may become wet.
•
•
Place the product on a stable surface.
If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualified service
technician or your retailer.
vi
A7V8X-MX SE specification summary*
CPU
Socket A for AMD Athlon™XP up to 3200+ processor
Thoroughbred/Barton core support
Chipset
VIA KM400
VIA VT8235 CE
Front Side Bus (FSB)
Memory
333/266/200 MHz
2 x 184-pin DDR DIMM sockets support up to maximum 2 GB
unbuffered PC2700/2100/1600 non-ECC DDR SDRAM
memory.
Expansion slots
3 x PCI
1 x AGP 8X/4X (0.8V or 1.5V only)
IDE
2 x UltraATA133/100/66/33
Graphics
Audio
Integrated VIA UniChrome™ Graphics
AD1980 6-channel AUDIO CODEC
S/PDIF out interface
LAN
VIA VT6103 10/100 Mbps Ethernet PHY
Hardware monitoring
Super I/O integrated monitoring of CPU/chassis fan and
MB/CPU temperature
Rear panel I/O ports
1 x Parallel
1 x Serial
1 x PS/2 keyboard
1 x PS/2 mouse
1 x RJ-45 port
1 x Audio I/O
1 x VGA
4 x USB 2.0/1.1
Internal connectors
1 x USB connector supports additional 2 USB 2.0 ports
CPU/chassis FAN connectors
Chassis intrusion connector
20-pin ATX power connector
PANEL connector
CD/AUX connectors
S/PDIF Out connector
GAME/MIDI connector
Front panel audio connector
BIOS features
2Mb Flash EEPROM, Award BIOS, ACPI, DMI2.0,
PnP features, TCAV, CrashFree BIOS
(continued next page)
vii
A7V8X-MX SE specification summary*
Industry standard
Manageability
PCI 2.2, USB 2.0/1.1
WOL, WOR, chassis intrusion
Support CD contents
Device drivers
ASUS PC Probe
ASUS Screensaver
Award BIOS Flash Utility
Microsoft DirectX
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Trend Micro™ PC-cillin 2002
Accessories
Form Factor
User Guide
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE support CD
UltraATA cable
FDD cable
I/O shield
Micro-ATX form factor: 9.6 in x 9.6 in
* Specifications are subject to change without notice.
About this guide
Conventions used in this guide
To make sure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following
symbols used throughout this guide.
WARNING. Information to prevent injury to yourself when trying to
complete a task.
CAUTION. Information to prevent damage to the components when
trying to complete a task.
IMPORTANT. Information that you MUST follow to complete a task.
NOTE. Tips and additional information to aid in completing a task.
viii
Chapter 1
This chapter describes the features of
the motherboard. It includes brief
descriptions of the motherboard
components, and illustrations of the
layout, jumper settings, and connectors.
Product introduction
1.1 Welcome!
Thank you for buying the ASUS® A7V8X-MX SE motherboard!
The ASUS A7V8X-MX SE motherboard comes with the most advanced
technologies to deliver maximum performance for Socket A processors. This
motherboard is also packed with value-added features for guaranteed consumer
satisfaction. The following sections provide important technical information about
the motherboard for future upgrades or system reconfiguration.
Before you start installing the motherboard and hardware devices on it, check the
items in your package with the list below.
1.2 Package contents
Check your ASUS A7V8X-MX SE package for the following items.
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE motherboard.(Micro-ATX form factor: 9.6 in x 9.6 in)
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE support CD
40-pin 80-conductor ribbon cable for UltraATA133 IDE drives
Ribbon cable for a 3.5-inch floppy drive
Bag of extra jumper caps
I/O shield
User Guide
1.3 Special features
333MHz FSB support for Athlon™ XP processors
The A7V8X-MX SE motherboard supports 333MHz front side bus frequency for
Athlon™ XP processors allowing increased application program productivity and
enhanced digital media experience. See page 1-10 for details.
AGP 8X support
AGP 8X (AGP 3.0) is the next generation VGA interface specification that enables
enhanced graphics performance with high bandwidth speeds of up to 2.12 GB/s.
See page 1-13 for details.
Integrated graphics
The A7V8X-MX SE motherboard comes with an integrated VIA Unichrome™
2D/3D graphics core allowing efficient execution of multimedia applications and
playback support for video and DVD.
1-2
Chapter 1: Product introduction
Integrated 10/100 LAN
The A7V8X-MX SE motherboard comes with an onboard 10/100Mbps Fast
Ethernet controller to give you a fast and reliable connection to a local area
networks (LANs) and the Internet.
USB 2.0 technology
The motherboard implements the Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 specification,
dramatically increasing the connection speed from the 12 Mbps bandwidth on USB
1.1 to a fast 480 Mbps on USB 2.0. USB 2.0 is backward compatible with USB 1.1.
Digital audio support
A Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) connector is onboard to give you
convenient connectivity to external home theater audio systems. The S/PDIF
technology allows direct digital audio transfers keeping the best signal quality.
SoundMAX Digital Audio System
The SoundMax Digital Audio System is the industry’s highest performance and
most reliable audio solution for business professionals, audiophiles, musicians,
and gamers. SoundMAX Digital Audio System can output 5.1 channel surround
and features state-of-the-art DLS2 MIDI synthesizer with Yamaha DLSbyXG sound
set, 5.1 Virtual Theater™ and supports all major game audio technologies
including Microsoft DirectX™8.0, Microsoft DirectSound 3D™, A3D, MacroFX,
ZoomFX, MultiDrive 5.1 and EAX.
ASUS C.O.P.
The ASUS C.O.P. (CPU Overheating Protection) is a hardware protection circuit
that automatically shuts down the system power before temperatures go high
enough to permanently damage the CPU.
ASUS CrashFree BIOS
CrashFree BIOS allows users to restore BIOS data from a floppy disk even when
BIOS code and data are corrupted. Users can now enjoy this feature without the
need to buy a new ROM.
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE motherboard user guide
1-3
1.4 Motherboard components
Before you install the motherboard, learn about its major components and
available features to facilitate the installation and future upgrades. Refer to the
succeeding pages for the component descriptions.
1 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
14
13
10
12 11
15
16
17
18
19
20
25
24
23
21
22
1-4
Chapter 1: Product introduction
CPU socket. Socket 462 (Socket A) Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) socket for
AMD Athlon XP™ up to 3200+ processors.
1
2
North bridge controller. The VIA KM400 North bridge controller chipset
supports a 64-bit DDR memory controller and up to 2 GB of
333/266/200MHz DDR memory. It also incorporates the fast
HyperTransport™ link to the CPU and supports AGP 8X technology. VIA
KM400 also features the VIA UniChrome™ 2D/3D graphics core for
efficient multimedia applications including DVD and video playback.
DDR DIMM sockets. The motherboard comes with two Double Data Rate
Dual Inline Memory Module (DDR DIMM) sockets to support up to 2GB of
system memory. This memory architecture allows data transfer rates of up
to 2.7 GB/s with PC2700 DDR DIMMs.
3
4
ATX power connector. This connects the standard 20-pin plug from the
power supply unit. The power supply unit must have at least 1A on the +5V
standby lead (+5VSB).
DIP switches. This 5-pin Dual Inline Package (DIP) switches allows you to
select the CPU frequency multiple.
5
6
Floppy disk drive connector. This connects the provided ribbon cable for
the floppy disk drive. One side of the connector is slotted to prevent
incorrect insertion of the floppy disk drive cable.
IDE connectors. These dual-channel bus master IDE connectors support
up to four UltraATA133, PIO Modes 0 ~ 4 IDE devices. Both the primary
(blue) and secondary (black) connectors are slotted to prevent incorrect
insertion of the IDE ribbon cable.
7
8
AGP slot. The Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) slot supports 1.5V and
0.8V AGP 8X/4X mode AGP cards for graphics and multimedia
applications.
Flash EEPROM. This 2Mb Firmware Hub contains the programmable
BIOS program.
9
Super I/O chipset. The Winbond 83697HF I/O controller offers support for
a variety of I/O functions including two high-speed UART compatible serial
ports and one parallel port with EPP and ECP capabilities. The Super I/O
controller also supports a floppy disk drive, Game/MIDI port, PS/2
keyboard, and PS/2 mouse.
10
Onboard LED. This onboard LED lights up if there is a standby power on
the motherboard. This LED acts as a reminder to turn off the system power
before plugging or unplugging devices.
11
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE motherboard user guide
1-5
South bridge controller. The VIA VT8235 CE integrated South bridge
controller provides efficient bandwith requirements for PCI, USB and
support for LAN devices. This controller also supports standard
UltraATA133 IDE drives and provides separate data paths for each IDE
channel. The controller supports six USB ports, one LAN port and is PCI
2.2 compliant. The VIA VT8235 communicates with the North bridge chip
at rates of up to 533MB/s using the VIA 8X VLink Technology.
12
Audio CODEC. The ADI AD1980 6-channel Audio CODEC is AC’97
compliant and designed for PC multimedia systems.
13
14
PCI slots. These 32-bit PCI 2.2 expansion slots support bus master PCI
cards such as SCSI and LAN cards. The PCI slots operates at up to
133MB/s maximum output.
15
16
PS/2 mouse port. This green 6-pin connector is for a PS/2 mouse.
Parallel port. This 25-pin port connects a parallel printer, a scanner, or
other devices.
RJ-45 port. Using the South bridge integrated MAC and the VIA VT6103
LAN PHY Fast Ethernet controller, this port allows connection to a Local
Area Network (LAN) through a network hub.
17
Line In port. This Line In (light blue) port connects a tape player or other
audio sources. In a 6-channel mode, this port functions as Bass/Center.
18
19
20
21
22
Line Out port. This Line Out (lime) port connects a headphone or a
speaker. In a 6-channel mode, this port functions as Front Speaker Out.
Microphone port. This Mic (pink) port connects a microphone. In a
6-channel mode, this port functions as Rear Speaker Out.
USB 1 & 2 ports. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus 2.0/1.1 ports are
available for connecting USB devices such as mouse and PDA.
USB 3 & 4 ports. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus 2.0/1.1 ports are
available for connecting USB devices such as mouse and PDA.
23
24
VGA port. This 15-pin VGA port connects to a VGA monitor.
Serial port. This port connects a serial mouse. modem or other serial
devices.
25
PS/2 keyboard port. This purple 6-pin connector is for a PS/2 keyboard.
1-6
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.5 Motherboard layout
24.5cm (9.6in)
PS/2KBMS
T: Mouse
B: Keyboard
Socket 462
CPU_FAN
COM1
DSW
VGA1
USB1
USB2
VIA
KM400
USB2.0
Top:
T: USB3
RJ-45
B: USB4
Top:Line In
Center:Line Out
Below:Mic In
Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP1)
®
VIA
VT6103
PCI1
VIA
VT8235CE
A7V8X-MX SE
PCI2
CHA_FAN1
CR2032 3V
Lithium Cell
CMOS Power
Super
I/O
SPDIF
AD1980
CODEC
PCI3
CLRTC
USBPWR56
CHASSIS
USB56
FP_AUDIO
AUX1 CD1
GAME
PANEL
SB_PWR
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE motherboard user guide
1-7
1.6 Motherboard installation
The A7V8X-MX SE uses the Micro ATX form factor, measuring 24.5 cm (9.6 in.) x
24.5 cm (9.6 in.) - a standard fit for most Micro ATX chassis.
WARNING! Unplug the power cord before installing the motherboard. Failure to
do so may cause you physical injury and damage Motherboard components.
1.6.1 Placement direction
When installing the motherboard to the chassis, make sure to place it in the correct
orientation. The edge with external ports goes to the rear part of the chassis as
indicated in the image below. It may be more convenient to install major cables,
the CPU and modular components before fixing the motherboard inside the case
frame.
1.6.2 Screw holes
Place eight (8) screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the
motherboard to the chassis.
Do not overtighten the screws! Doing so may damage the motherboard.
Place this side
towards the rear of
the chassis
1-8
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.7 Before you proceed
Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components
or change any motherboard settings.
1. Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any
component.
2. Use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or to a metal
object, such as the power supply case, before handling components to
avoid damaging them due to static electricity.
3. Avoid touching the ICs on components.
4. Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded antistatic
pad or in the bag that came with the component.
5. Before you install or remove any component, ensure that the ATX
power supply is switched off or the power cord is detached from the
power supply. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to the
motherboard, peripherals, and/or components.
Onboard LED
The A7V8X-MX SE motherboard comes with a standby power LED. When lit, this
green LED (SB_PWR) indicates that the system is ON, in sleep mode, or in soft-off
mode, a reminder that you should shut down the system and unplug the power cable
before removing or plugging in any motherboard component.
SB_PWR
®
A7V8X-MX SE
ON
OFF
Standby
Power
Powered
Off
A7V8X-MX SE Onboard LED
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE motherboard user guide
1-9
1.8 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The motherboard provides a Socket A (462) for CPU installation. The A7V8X-MX
SE supports Athlon™ XP processors with “QuantiSpeed” data processing, large
data caches, 3D enhancements and 333/266/200MHz bus speeds. AMD Athlon™
XP processors offer gigahertz speeds to support all the latest computing platforms
and applications.
This motherboard does not support AMD processors with less than 1GHz core
speed.
CPU NOTCH
TO INNER
CORNER
LOCK
LEVER
®
CPU NOTCH
A7V8X-MX SE
AMD™ CPU
A7V8X-MX SE Socket 462
Each AMD CPU has a “marked” corner. This corner is usually indicated with a
notch, and/or a golden square or triangle. Refer to this indicator while orienting
the CPU. A fan and heatsink should be attached to the CPU to prevent
overheating.
Installing the CPU
Follow these steps to install a CPU:
Golden corner
1. Locate the Socket 462 and open it by
pulling the lever gently sideways away
from the socket. Then lift the lever
upwards. The socket lever must be fully
opened (90 to 100 degrees).
2. Insert the CPU with the correct
orientation. The notched or golden
corner of the CPU must be oriented
toward the inner corner of the socket
base nearest to the lever hinge.
The CPU should drop easily into place. Do not force the CPU into the socket
to avoid bending the pins. If the CPU does not fit, check its alignment and look
for bent pins.
1-10
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.9 System memory
The motherboard has two Double Data Rate (DDR) DIMM sockets that supports
up to 2GB non-ECC PC2700/2100/1600 DDR SDRAM DIMMs. Each DIMM socket
is double-sided. DIMMs come in combinations of single or double-sided types
ranging through 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, and 1 GB.
®
A7V8X-MX SE
A7V8X-MX SE
184-Pin DDR DIMM Sockets
Installing a DIMM
DDR DIMM notch
1. Unlock a DIMM socket by pressing
the retaining clips outward.
2. Align a DIMM on the socket. Make
sure the notches on the DIMM
exactly match the notches in the
socket.
3. Firmly insert the DIMM into the
socket until the retaining clips lock
into place.
Unlocked retaining clip
A DDR DIMM is keyed with a notch so that it fits in only one direction. DO NOT
force a DIMM into a socket to avoid damaging the DIMM.
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE motherboard user guide
1-11
1.10 Expansion slots
The A7V8X-MX SE motherboard has three (3) PCI slots and one (1) Accelerated
Graphics Port (AGP). The following sub-sections describe the slots and the
expansion cards that they support.
1.10.1 Configuring an expansion card
Some expansion cards need an IRQ to operate. Generally, an IRQ must be
exclusively assigned to one function at a time. In a standard design configuration,
16 IRQs are available but most are already in use.
Normally, 6 IRQs are free for expansion cards. Sometimes IRQs are “shared” by
more than one function; in this case, IRQ assignments are swapped automatically
or adjusted through the BIOS firmware.
Standard Interrupt Assignments
IRQ
Standard Function
System Timer
0
1
Keyboard Controller
2
Programmable Interrupt Controller
USB Universal Host Controller
Communications Port (COM1)
Onboard Audio
3*
4*
5*
6
Standard Floppy Disk Controller
Printer Port (LPT1)
7*
8
System CMOS/Real Time Clock
Onboard LAN
9*
10*
11*
12*
13
14*
15*
USB Universal Host Controller
Onboard VGA
PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port
Numeric Data Processor
Ultra ATA Controller
Secondary Ultra ATA Controller
*
These IRQs are usually available for ISA or PCI devices.
IRQ assignments for this motherboard
A
B
C
PCI slot 1
PCI slot 2
PCI slot 3
AGP slot
shared
––
––
shared
––
––
––
––
shared
––
shared
––
1-12
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.10.2 AGP slot
This motherboard has an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) slot that supports
+0.8V and +1.5V AGP 8X cards. Note the notches on the card golden fingers to
ensure that they fit the AGP slot on your motherboard.
®
A7V8X-MX SE
Keyed for 1.5v
A7V8X-MX SE Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP)
1.10.3 PCI slots
Three 32-bit PCI slots are available on this motherboard. The slots support PCI
cards such as LAN card, SCSI card, USB card, and other cards that comply with
PCI specifications. This figure shows a typical PCI card installed into a slot:
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE motherboard user guide
1-13
1.11 Switch and jumpers
The motherboard frequency is adjusted through the DIP switches. The white block
represents the switch position. The illustration below shows the ON and OFF
positions of the switches.
DSW
ON
ON
OFF
1 2 3 4 5
1.Frequency Selection
®
2.Frequency Selection
3.Frequency Selection
4.Frequency Selection
5.Frequency Selection
A7V8X-MX SE
A7V8X-MX SE DIP Switches
The option to set the CPU core bus frequency multiple is available only on
unlocked CPUs. If you are using a locked CPU, setting the switches does not
produce any effect.
1. CPU external frequency selection (SW1 Switches 1-5)
This option tells the clock generator what frequency to send the CPU. This
allows the selection of the CPU’s external frequency (or Bus Clock). The BUS
Clock multiplied by the Frequency Multiple equals the CPU’s internal frequency
(the advertised CPU speed).
The default CPU external frequency is 100MHz. If your CPU supports
133/166MHz external frequency, adjust the DSW settings before installing the
motherboard to the chassis.
DSW
ON
ON
ON
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
CPU
AGP
PCI
100MHz 166.67MHz 133.33MHz
®
66.67MHz
33.33MHz
66.67MHz 66.67MHz
33.33MHz 33.33MHz
A7V8X-MX SE
(Default)
A7V8X-MX SE CPU
External Frequency Selection
Set the CPU frequency only to the recommended settings. Frequencies other
than the recommended CPU bus frequencies are not guaranteed to be stable.
1-14
Chapter 1: Product introduction
2. USB device wake-up (3-pin USBPW12, USBPW34, USBPW56)
Set these jumpers to +5V to wake up the computer from S1 sleep mode (CPU
stopped, DRAM refreshed, system running in low power mode) using the
connected USB devices. Set to +5VSB to wake up from S3 sleep mode (no
power to CPU, DRAM in slow refresh, power supply in reduced power mode).
Both jumpers are set to pins 1-2 (+5V) by default because not all computers
have the appropriate power supply to support this feature.
The USBPW12 and USBPW34 jumpers are for rear USB ports. USBPW56 is
for the internal USB header that you can connect to front USB ports.
The USB device wake-up feature requires a power supply that can provide
500mA on the +5VSB lead for each USB port. Otherwise, the system does not
power up.
The total current consumed must NOT exceed the power supply capability
(+5VSB) whether under normal condition or in sleep mode.
USBPWR12
USBPWR34
3
2
1
2
+5V
+5VSB
(Default)
®
USBPWR56
A7V8X-MX SE
1 2
2 3
+5V
+5VSB
(Default)
A7V8X-MX SE USB Device Wake Up
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE motherboard user guide
1-15
3. Clear RTC RAM (CLRTC)
This jumper clears the Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM of date, time and system
setup parameters in CMOS. The RAM data in CMOS is powered by the
onboard button cell battery.
To erase the RTC RAM:
1. Turn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord.
2. Remove the battery.
3. Move the jumper caps from [2-3] to [1-2] momentarily. Replace the jumper
cap to the original position, [2-3].
4. Re-install the battery.
5. Plug the power cord and turn ON the computer.
6. Hold down the <Del> key during the boot process and enter BIOS setup to
re-enter data.
®
CLRTC
A7V8X-MX SE
1 2
2 3
Clear CMOS
Normal
(Default)
A7V8X-MX SE Clear RTC RAM
1-16
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.12 Connectors
This section describes and illustrates the connectors on the motherboard.
1. IDE connectors (40-1 pin PRI_IDE, SEC_IDE)
This connector supports the provided UltraATA133 IDE hard disk ribbon cable.
Connect the cable’s blue connector to the primary (recommended) or
secondary IDE connector, then connect the gray connector to the UltraATA133
slave device (hard disk drive) and the black connector to the UltraATA133
master device.
Pin 20 on each IDE connector is removed to match the covered hole on the
UltraATA133 cable connector. This prevents incorrect orientation when you
connect the cables.
For UltraATA133 IDE devices, use 40-pin 80-conductor cable.
NOTE: Orient the red markings
(usually zigzag) on the IDE
ribbon cable to PIN 1.
®
A7V8X-MX SE
PIN 1
A7V8X-MX SE IDE Connectors
2. Front panel audio connectors (10-1 pin FPAUDIO)
This is an interface for front panel audio cable that allows convenient
connection and control of audio devices.
FP_AUDIO
®
A7V8X-MX SE
A7V8X-MX SE Front Panel Audio Connector
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE motherboard user guide
1-17
3. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF)
This connector is for an optional S/PDIF audio module that allows digital
instead of analog sound input and output.
SPDIF
®
A7V8X-MX SE
A7V8X-MX SE Digital Audio Connector
•
•
When you input sound for S/PDIF IN, the LINE_OUT will output the sound.
Mute LINE_OUT to impede sound output from S/PDIF IN.
The S/PDIF module is purchased separately.
4. ATX power connectors (20-pin ATXPWR)
These connectors connect to an ATX 12V power supply. The plugs from the
power supply are designed to fit these connectors in only one orientation. Find
the proper orientation and push down firmly until the connectors completely fit.
ATXPWR
+12.0VDC
+5VSB
PWR_OK
COM
+5.0VDC
+5.0VDC
-5.0VDC
COM
+5.0VDC
COM
COM
COM
®
+5.0VDC
COM
PS_ON#
COM
A7V8X-MX SE
+3.3VDC
+3.3VDC
-12.0VDC
+3.3VDC
A7V8X-MX SE ATX Power Connector
If you will need to replace the power supply in the future, make sure that your
new ATX 12V power supply can provide 8A on the +12V lead and at least 1A on
the +5-volt standby lead (+5VSB). The minimum recommended wattage is
230W, or 300W for a fully configured system. The system may become unstable
and may experience difficulty powering up if the power supply is inadequate.
1-18
Chapter 1: Product introduction
5. USB header (10-1 pin USB56)
If the USB 2.0 port connectors on the back panel are inadequate, a USB
header is available for two additional USB ports. Connect a 2-port USB/GAME
module cable to this connector, then mount the module to an open slot in the
chassis.
®
A7V8X-MX SE
USB56
1
A7V8X-MX SE USB 2.0 Header
The USB/GAME module is purchased separately.
6. GAME/MIDI connector (16-1 pin GAME)
This connector supports a GAME/MIDI module. If your package came with an
optional USB/GAME module, connect the module cable to this connector. The
GAME/MIDI port on the module connects a joystick or a game pad for playing
games, and MIDI devices for playing or editing audio files.
®
A7V8X-MX SE
GAME
A7V8X-MX SE Game Connector
The USB/GAME module is purchased separately.
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE motherboard user guide
1-19
7. CPU and chassis fan connectors (3-pin CPU_FAN, CHA_FAN)
The fan connectors support cooling fans of 350mA ~ 740mA (8.88W max).
Connect the fan cables to the fan connectors on the motherboard, making sure
that the black wire of each cable matches the ground pin of the connector.
CPU_FAN
®
CHA_FAN
A7V8X-MX SE
GND
+12V
Rotation
A7V8X-MX SE 12-Volt Fan Connectors
Do not forget to connect the fan cables to the fan connectors. Lack of sufficient
air flow within the system may damage the motherboard components. These
are not jumpers! DO NOT place jumper caps on the fan connectors!
8. Chassis intrusion connector (4-1 pin CHASSIS)
This lead is for a chassis designed with intrusion detection feature. This
requires an external detection mechanism such as a chassis intrusion sensor
or microswitch. When you remove any chassis component, the sensor triggers
and sends a high-level signal to this lead to record a chassis intrusion event.
By default, the pins labeled “Chassis Signal” and “Ground” are shorted with a
jumper cap. If you wish to use the chassis intrusion detection feature, remove
the jumper cap from the pins.
CHASSIS
®
A7V8X-MX SE
A7V8X-MX SE Chassis Alarm Lead
(Default)
1-20
Chapter 1: Product introduction
9. Floppy disk drive connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY)
This connector supports the provided floppy drive ribbon cable. After
connecting one end to the motherboard, connect the other end to the floppy
drive. (Pin 5 is removed to prevent incorrect insertion when using ribbon cables
with pin 5 plug.)
FLOPPY
NOTE: Orient the red markings on
the floppy ribbon cable to PIN 1.
®
A7V8X-MX SE
PIN 1
A7V8X-MX SE Floppy Disk Drive Connector
10. Internal audio connectors (4-pin CD, AUX)
These connectors allow you to receive stereo audio input from sound sources
such as a CD-ROM, TV tuner, or MPEG card.
AUX(White) CD(Black)
®
A7V8X-MX SE
A7V8X-MX SE Internal Audio Connectors
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE motherboard user guide
1-21
11. System panel connector (20-pin PANEL)
This connector accommodates several system front panel functions.
Speaker
Connector
Power LED
Reset SW
®
IDELED
A7V8X-MX SE
ATX Power
Switch*
SMI Lead
*
Requires an ATX power supply.
A7V8X-MX SE System Panel Connectors
•
System Power LED Lead (3-1 pin PLED)
This 3-1 pin connector connects to the system power LED. The LED lights up
when you turn on the system power, and blinks when the system is in sleep
mode.
•
•
System Warning Speaker Lead (4-pin SPEAKER)
This 4-pin connector connects to the case-mounted speaker and allows you to
hear system beeps and warnings.
System Management Interrupt Lead (2-pin SMI)
This 2-pin connector allows you to manually place the system into a suspend
mode, or “green” mode, where system activity is instantly decreased to save
power and to expand the life of certain system components. Attach the
case-mounted suspend switch to this 2-pin connector.
•
•
Reset Switch (2-pin RESET)
This 2-pin connector connects to the case-mounted reset switch for rebooting
the system without turning off the power switch.
ATX Power Switch/Soft-Off Switch Lead (2-pin PWR)
This connector connects a switch that controls the system power. Pressing the
power switch turns the system between ON and SLEEP, or ON and SOFT
OFF, depending on the BIOS or OS settings. Pressing the power switch while
in the ON mode for more than 4 seconds turns the system OFF.
•
Hard Disk Activity Lead (2-pin IDE LED)
This connector supplies power to the hard disk activity LED. The read or write
activities of any device connected to the primary or secondary IDE connector
cause this LED to light up.
1-22
Chapter 1: Product introduction
Chapter 2
This chapter tells how to change system settings
through the BIOS Setup Menus. Detailed
descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also
provided.
BIOS information
2.1Managing and updating your BIOS
•
•
The original BIOS file for this motherboard is in the support CD.
Copy the original BIOS to a bootable floppy disk in case you
need to restore the BIOS in the future.
2.1.1 Creating a bootable floppy disk
1. Do either one of the following to create a bootable floppy disk.
DOS environment
Insert a 1.44 MB floppy disk into the drive. At the DOS prompt, type:
format a: /s , then press the <Enter> key
Windows® 98SE/ME environment
a. From your Windows desktop, click Start, point to Settings, then click
Control Panel.
b. Double-click Add/Remove Programs icon from the Control Panel window.
c. Click on the Startup Disk tab, then on Create Disk... button.
d. Insert a 1.44 MB floppy disk when prompted. Follow the suceeding screen
instructions to complete the process.
Windows® XP environment
a. Insert a new 1.44 MB floppy disk in the floppy disk drive.
b. From the Windows desktop, click Start > My Computer.
c. In the My Computer window, click the 3 1/2 Floppy icon.
d. From the Menu bar, click File > Format.
e. Select “Create an MS-DOS Startup Disk” in the Format Options field,
then click Start.
2. Copy the original (or the latest) motherboard BIOS to the bootable floppy disk.
2-2
Chapter 2: BIOS information
2.1.2 Using the AwardBIOS Flash Utility
You may update the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) using the built-in Award
BIOS Flash utility or using a bootable floppy disk with the executable Award BIOS
Flash utility (AWDFLASH.EXE). Follow these instructions to update the BIOS using
this utility.
the file to *.BIN, then save it to the bootable floppy disk you created earlier.
2. Insert the disk that contains the new BIOS file to the floppy drive.
Save only the updated BIOS file in the floppy disk to avoid loading a
wrong BIOS file.
3. Reboot the computer.
4. Press <Alt> + <F2> during POST to display the following screen.
5. AWDFLASH checks the new BIOS file on the floppy disk.
6. After verification, AWDFLASH flashes the new BIOS file. Do not shut down the
computer during the flash process.
7. The computer returns to POST after the new BIOS file is copied.
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2-3
Updating the BIOS using a bootable floppy disk
1. Boot from the floppy disk.
2. At the “A:\” prompt, type “C:\” and then press <Enter>.
3. At the “C:\” prompt, type “AWDFLASH/ BIOSFILENAME” and then <Enter>.
For example: “AWDFLASH/ aw0702.bin” The AWDFLASH screen appears.
4. Follow steps 5 to 7 in “2.1.2 Using the Award BIOS Flash Utility.”
2.1.3 CrashFree BIOS feature
The CrashFree BIOS feature allows you to boot the computer from a floppy disk
and update the BIOS in case the original BIOS fails or gets corrupted.
1. You must have a bootable floppy disk ready before updating the
BIOS.
2. The bootable floppy disk could be the one that you created
following the procedure in section 2.1.1, and should contain the
AWDFLASH.EXE utility.
3. If the BIOS fails (ROM data or codes are corrupted), a message
appears during POST to indicate the failure.
To update the BIOS:
1. Turn on the computer, and when prompted, place the bootable floppy disk to
the floppy drive.
2. Follow the BIOS update procedure in section “2.1.2 Using the Award BIOS
Flash Utility.”
To use the CrashFree BIOS feature on this motherboard, install a VGA
card into one of the expansion slots before rebooting the computer. On
motherboards with onboard VGA, such as the A7V8X-MX SE, you will
not see the screen display when the BIOS crashes even if you reboot
the computer.
2-4
Chapter 2: BIOS information
2.2 BIOS beep codes
When you turn the power on and the system runs POST (Power On Self Tests),
you will hear BIOS beeps. Refer to the following table for the meaning of the
beeps.
Award BIOS beep codes
Beep
Meaning
One short beep when
displaying logo
No error during POST
Long beeps in an endless loop
No DRAM installed or detected
One long beep followed by
three short beeps
Video card not found or video card
memory bad
High frequency beeps when
system is working
CPU overheated;
System running at a lower frequency
2.3 BIOS Setup program
This motherboard supports a programmable FLASH EEPROM that you can update
using the provided utility described in section “2.1 Managing and updating your
BIOS.”
Use the BIOS Setup program when you are installing a motherboard, reconfiguring
your system, or prompted to “Run Setup”. This section explains how to configure
your system using this utility.
Even if you are not prompted to use the Setup program, you may want to change
the configuration of your computer in the future. For example, you may want to
enable the security password feature or make changes to the power management
settings. This requires you to reconfigure your system using the BIOS Setup
program so that the computer can recognize these changes and record them in the
CMOS RAM of the FLASH EEPROM.
The FLASH EEPROM on the motherboard stores the Setup utility. When you start
up the computer, the system provides you with the opportunity to run this program.
Press <Delete> during the Power-On Self Test (POST) to enter the Setup utility,
otherwise, POST continues with its test routines.
If you wish to enter Setup after POST, restart the system by pressing <Ctrl> +
<Alt> + <Delete>, or by pressing the reset button on the system chassis. You can
also restart by turning the system off and then back on. Do this last option only if
the first two failed.
The Setup program is designed to make it as easy to use as possible. It is a menu-
driven program, which means you can scroll through the various sub-menus and
make your selections among the predetermined choices.
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE motherboard user guide
2-5
Because the BIOS software is constantly being updated, the following
BIOS setup screens and descriptions are for reference purposes only,
and may not exactly match what you see on your screen.
2.3.1 BIOS menu bar
The top of the screen has a menu bar with the following selections:
MAIN
Use this menu to make changes to the basic system
configuration.
ADVANCED
POWER
BOOT
Use this menu to enable and make changes to the advanced
features.
Use this menu to configure and enable Power Management
features.
Use this menu to configure the default system device used to
locate and load the Operating System.
Use this menu to exit the current menu or to exit the Setup
program.
EXIT
To access the menu bar items, press the right or left arrow key on the keyboard
until the desired item is highlighted.
2.3.2 Legend bar
At the bottom of the Setup screen is a legend bar. The keys in the legend bar allow
you to navigate through the various setup menus. The following table lists the
legend bar keys and their corresponding functions.
Navigation Key
<F1>
Function
Displays the General Help screen
<F2>
Navigates the Item Specific Help screen
Loads previous values
<F5>
<Esc>
Jumps to the Exit menu or returns to the main menu from a sub-menu
Selects the menu item to the left or right
Left or Right arrow
Up or Down arrow
Moves the highlight up or down between fields
Page Down or – (minus) Scrolls backward through the values for the highlighted field
Page Up or + (plus)
<Enter>
Scrolls forward through the values for the highlighted field
Brings up a selection menu for the highlighted field
Saves changes and exit
<F10>
2-6
Chapter 2: BIOS information
General help
In addition to the Item Help window, the BIOS setup program also provides a
General Help screen. You may launch this screen from any menu by simply
pressing <F1>. The General Help screen lists the legend keys and their
corresponding functions.
Saving changes and exiting the Setup program
See “2.8 Exit menu” for detailed information on saving changes and exiting the
setup program.
Scroll bar
When a scroll bar appears to the right of a help window, it indicates that there is
more information to be displayed that will not fit in the window. Use <PgUp> and
<PgDn> or the up and down arrow keys to scroll through the entire help document.
Press <Home> to display the first page, press <End> to go to the last page. To exit
the help window, press <Enter> or <Esc>.
Sub-menu
The right pointer symbol that appears at the left of
certain parameters indicates that a sub-menu exists
Date (mm:dd:yy)
for this field. A sub-menu offers additional parameter
options. To display a sub-menu, move the highlight
to the field and press <Enter>. The sub-menu
Time (hh:mm:ss)
Drive A
Drive B
IDE Primary Master
IDE Primary Slave
IDE Secondary Master
IDE Secondary Slave
Chassis intrude detection
Set Supervisor Password
Set User Password
appears. Use the legend keys to navigate and enter
values within each sub-menu as you would within a
menu. Use the <Esc> key to return to the main
menu. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the
legend keys and their corresponding functions.
Practice navigating through the various menus and
sub-menus. While moving around through the Setup
program, note that explanations appear in the Item
Help window located to the right of each menu. This
window displays the help text for the highlighted field.
Security Option
Installed Memory
Halt On
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2-7
2.4 Main menu
Select Menu
System Date
System Time
Wed, Dec 03 2003
15 : 30 : 30
Item Specific Help
Legacy Diskette A:
[1.44M, 3.5 in.]
Change the day, month,
year and century.
IDE Primary Master
IDE Primary Slave
IDE Secondary Master
IDE Secondary Slave
Case Open Warning
Supervisor Password
User Password
[ST321122A]
[ASUS CDS520/A]
[None]
[None]
[Enabled]
Clear
Clear
Security Option
[Setup]
Installed Memory
Halt On
256MB
[All Errors]
F1 : Help
ESC : Exit
↑↓ : Select Item
→← : Select Menu
-/+
: Change Value
F5 : Setup Defaults
Enter : Select Sub-menu F10 : Save and Exit
System Date [day:mm:dd:yy]
Sets the system to the date that you specify (usually the current date). The format
is month, day, year. Valid values for month, day, and year are Month: (1 to 12),
Day: (1 to 31), Year: (1999 to 2099). Use the <Tab> key to move between the
month, day, and year fields.
System Time [hh:mm:ss]
Sets the system to the time that you specify (usually the current time). The format
is hour, minute, second. Valid values for hour, minute and second are Hour: (00 to
23), Minute: (00 to 59), Second: (00 to 59). Use the <Tab> key to move between
the hour, minute, and second fields.
Legacy Diskette A [1.44M, 3.5 in.]
Sets the type of floppy drive installed. Configuration options: [None] [360K, 5.25
in.] [1.2M , 5.25 in.] [720K , 3.5 in.] [1.44M, 3.5 in.] [2.88M, 3.5 in.]
Case Open Warning [Enabled]
Enable this option to activate the chassis intrusion feature of the motherboard.
Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
Supervisor Password [Clear] / User Password [Clear]
These fields allow you to set passwords. To set a password, highlight the
appropriate field and press <Enter>. Type in a password then press <Enter>. You
can type up to eight alphanumeric characters. Symbols and other characters are
ignored. To confirm the password, type the password again and press <Enter>.
The password is now set to [Set]. This password allows full access to the BIOS
Setup menus. To clear the password, highlight this field and press <Enter>. When
the same dialog box appear, press <Enter>. The password is set to [Clear].
2-8
Chapter 2: BIOS information
A note about passwords
The BIOS Setup program allows you to specify passwords in the Main menu.
The passwords control access to the BIOS during system startup. Passwords
are not case sensitive, meaning, passwords typed in either uppercase or
lowercase letters are accepted. The BIOS Setup program allows you to specify
two different passwords: a Supervisor password and a User password. If you
did not set a Supervisor password, anyone can access the BIOS Setup
program. If you did, the Supervisor password is required to enter the BIOS
Setup program and to gain full access to the configuration fields.
Forgot the password?
If you forget your password, you can clear it by erasing the CMOS Real Time
Clock (RTC) RAM. The RAM data containing the password information is
powered by the onboard button cell battery. If you need to erase the CMOS
RAM, unplug the all the power cables and remove the button cell battery. Re-
install the battery after about 2 seconds, then power up the system. Refer to
section “1.11 Switch and Jumpers - Clear RTC RAM” on how to erase CMOS
RTC RAM.
Security Option [Setup]
This field requires users to enter the password before entering the BIOS setup or
the system. Select [Setup] to require the password before entering the BIOS
Setup. Select [System] to require the password before entering the system.
Configuration options: [Setup] [System]
Installed Memory [XXX MB]
This field automatically displays the amount of conventional memory detected by
the system during the boot process.
Halt On [All Errors]
This field sets the system to halt on errors according to the system functions
specified in each option. Configuration options: [All Errors] [No Errors]
[All, But Keyboard] [All, But Diskette] [All, But Disk/Key]
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2-9
IDE Primary Master/Slave
IDE Secondary Master/Slave
IDE Primary Master
Select Menu
IDE HDD Auto-Detection
[Press Enter]
Item Specific Help
To auto-detect the
HDD’s size, head...on
this channel.
IDE Primary Master
Access Mode
[Auto]
[Auto]
Capacity
40020 MB
Cylinder
Head
Sector
19158
16
255
Transfer Mode
UDMA 2
F1 : Help
ESC : Exit
↑↓ : Select Item
→← : Select Menu
-/+
: Change Value
F5 : Setup Defaults
Enter : Select Sub-menu F10 : Save and Exit
IDE HDD Auto-Detection [Press Enter]
Press enter to automatically detect an IDE hard disk drive, if the hard drive is not
already detected. In cases of undetected HDDs, pressing enter will detect the HDD
and then open access to both the IDE Primary Master and Access Mode fields.
IDE Primary Master/Slave [Auto]
IDE Secondary Master/Slave [Auto]
Select [Auto] to automatically detect an IDE hard disk drive. If automatic detection
is successful, the setup BIOS automatically fills in the correct values for the
remaining fields on this sub-menu. If automatic detection fails, this may be
because the hard disk drive is too old or too new. If the hard disk was already
formatted on a previous system, the setup BIOS may detect incorrect parameters.
In these cases, select [Manual] to manually enter the IDE hard disk drive
parameters. If no drive is installed or if you are removing a drive and not replacing
it, select [None]. Configuration options: [None] [Auto [Manual]
Access Mode [Auto]
The default [Auto] automatically detects an IDE hard disk drive. Select [CHS] in
coordination with the [Manual] setting of the IDE Primary Master in order to enter
the Hard Disk Drive values manually.
Before attempting to configure a hard disk drive, make sure you have
the correct configuration information supplied by the drive
manufacturer. Incorrect settings may cause the system to fail to
recognize the installed hard disk.
2-10
Chapter 2: BIOS information
[Manual] & [CHS] Settings
IDE Primary Master
Select Menu
IDE HDD Auto-Detection
[Press Enter]
Item Specific Help
IDE Primary Master
Access Mode
[Manual]
[CHS]
Press [Enter] to select
sector addressing
method.
Capacity
40020 MB
Cylinder
Head
Sector
[19158]
[
16]
[ 255]
UDMA 2
Transfer Mode
F1 : Help
ESC : Exit
↑↓ : Select Item
→← : Select Menu
-/+
: Change Value
F5 : Setup Defaults
Enter : Select Sub-menu F10 : Save and Exit
Manually enter the number of cylinders, heads and sectors per track for the drive.
Refer to the drive documentation or the drive label for this information.
After entering the IDE hard disk drive information into BIOS, use a disk
utility, such as FDISK, to partition and format new IDE hard disk drives.
This is necessary so that you can write or read data from the hard disk.
Make sure to set the partition of the Primary IDE hard disk drives to active.
After making your selections on this sub-menu, press the <Esc> key to return to
the Main menu. The Main menu displays the hard disk drive field with your
configuration.
Access Mode [Auto]
Select the hard disk drive type in this field. When Logical Block Addressing (LBA)
is enabled, the 28-bit addressing of the hard drive is used without regard for
cylinders, heads, or sectors. Note that LBA Mode is necessary for drives with more
than 504MB storage capacity. Select [CHS] to make manual entries for configuring
the fields below. Configuration options: [CHS] [LBA] [Large] [Auto]
Cylinders
This field configures the number of cylinders. Refer to the drive documentation to
determine the correct value. To make changes to this field, set the IDE Primary
Master field to [Manual] and the Access Mode to [CHS].
Head
This field configures the number of read/write heads. Refer to the drive
documentation to determine the correct value. To make changes to this field, set
the IDE Primary Master field to [Manual] and the Access Mode to [CHS].
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE motherboard user guide
2-11
Sector
This field configures the number of sectors per track. Refer to the drive
documentation to determine the correct value. To make changes to this field, set
the Type field to [User Type HDD] and the Translation Method field to [Manual].
Transfer Mode
This field selects the UDMA transfer mode. Configuration options: [Auto] [UDMA0]
[UDMA1] [UDMA2] [UDMA3] [UDMA4] [UDMA5]
2.5 Advanced menu
Select Menu
CPU Type
CPU Speed
Cache RAM
AMD Athlon(tm)
1050MHz/280MHz
256K
Item Specific Help
Current FSB Frequency
Current DRAM Frequency
DRAM Clock
133MHz
166MHz
[By SPD]
[Enabled]
Press [Enter] to select
the DRAM clock.
External Cache
PS/2 Mouse Function Control [Enabled]
USB Legacy Support
Chip Configuration
I/O Device Configuration
PCI Configuration
[Auto]
F1 : Help
ESC : Exit
↑↓ : Select Item
→← : Select Menu
-/+
: Change Value
F5 : Setup Defaults
Enter : Select Sub-menu F10 : Save and Exit
The Advanced menu displays the CPU type, speed, cache RAM, front side bus
frequency and DRAM frequency information. It also contains the following BIOS
parameters.
DRAM Clock [By SPD]
The DRAM clock are set according to the DRAM SPD (Serial Presence Detect).
You can manually set the DRAM clock parameters.
Configuration options: [By SPD] [133] [166]
External Cache [Enabled]
These fields allow you enable or disable the built-in CPU internal and external
cache. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
PS/2 Mouse Function Control [Enabled]
Setting this option to Enabled allows the operating system to determine whether to
enable or disable the mouse. Set to Disabled prevents any installed PS/2 mouse
from functioning and frees up IRQ 12. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
2-12
Chapter 2: BIOS information
USB Legacy Support [Enabled]
This motherboard supports Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices. When enabled,
this item allows the system to detect a USB device at startup. When you set this
field to [Disabled], the USB controller legacy mode is disabled whether or not you
are using a USB device. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]]
2.5.1 Chip Configuration
Chip Configuration
AGP & P2P Bridge Control
Select Menu
Item Specific Help
DRAM Clock/Drive Control
CPU & PCI Bus Control
VIA OnChip IDE Device
VGA Share Memory Size
tWTR
Press [Enter] to go
to sub menu.
[32MB]
[2T]
F1 : Help
ESC : Exit
↑↓ : Select Item
→← : Select Menu
-/+
: Change Value
F5 : Setup Defaults
Enter : Select Sub-menu F10 : Save and Exit
VGA Share Memory Size [32M]
This field displays the share memory size for the onboard VGA.
Configuration options: [16] [32] [64] [Disabled]
tWTR [2T]
Configuration options: [1T] [2T]
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2-13
AGP & P2P Bridge Control
AGP & P2P Bridge Control
Select Menu
Item Specific Help
AGP Aperture Size
AGP Mode
[64MB]
[4X]
AGP Driving Control
AGP Driving Value
AGP Fast Write
AGP Master 1 WS Write
AGP Master 1 WS Read
AGP 3.0 Calibration Cycle
[Auto]
DA
[Disabled]
[Disabled]
[Disabled]
[Enabled]
F1 : Help
ESC : Exit
↑↓ : Select Item
→← : Select Menu
-/+
: Change Value
F5 : Setup Defaults
Enter : Select Sub-menu F10 : Save and Exit
AGP Aperture Size [XXXMB]
This field sets the size of mapped memory for AGP graphic data.
Configuration options: [4M] [8M] [16M] [32M] [64M] [128M] [256M] [512M] [1G]
AGP Mode [4X]
AGP 4X transfers video data at 1066MB/s and is backward-compatible to AGP 1X
video card. When set to [1X], the AGP interface only provides a peak data
throughput of 266MB/s even if you are using an AGP 4X card. This motherboard
also supports the AGP 8X interface. If you install an AGP 8X card, an [8X] option
appears in the configuration options. Configuration options: [1X] [2X] [4X] [8X]
AGP Driving Control [Auto]
This option allows you to automatically select or manually assign the AGP Driving
Value. Configuration options: [Auto] [Manual]
AGP Driving Value [DA]
This item is enabled when you set the AGP Driving Control to [Manual]. Press
<Enter> to assign a hexadecimal AGP Driving Value.
Configuration options: [Min = 0000, Max = 00FF]
AGP Fast Write [Disabled]
This field enables or disables the AGP Fastwrite function.
Configuration options: [Disable] [Enable]
AGP Master 1 WS Write [Disabled]
Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
AGP Master 1 WS Read [Disabled]
Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
2-14
Chapter 2: BIOS information
AGP 3.0 Calibration Cycle [Enabled]
Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
DRAM Clock/Drive Control
DRAM Clock/Drive Control
Select Menu
DRAM Timing
DRAM CAS Latency
Bank Interleave
[Auto by SPD]
[2.5]
[Disabled]
Item Specific Help
Pre-charge to Active (Trp) [5T]
Active to Precharge (Tras) [7T]
Active to CMD (Trcd)
DRAM Burst Length
DRAM Command Rate
Write Recovery Time
[5T]
[4]
[2T Command]
[3T]
F1 : Help
ESC : Exit
↑↓ : Select Item
→← : Select Menu
-/+
: Change Value
F5 : Setup Defaults
Enter : Select Sub-menu F10 : Save and Exit
DRAM Timing [Auto by SPD]
It is recommended that you set this parameter to [Auto by SPD]. Setting to [Auto by
SPD] synchronizes the DRAM timing with the DRAM Clock. Setting to [Manual]
allows you to set the values for DRAM CAS Latency, Bank Interleave, Pre-charge
to Active (TRP) and Active to CMD (Trcd) prameters.
Configuration options: [Manual] [Auto By SPD] [Turbo] [Ultra]
DRAM CAS Latency [2.5]
This field sets the override clock cycle for the latency time between the DRAM read
command and the moment that the data actually becomes available. Normally, the
system determines the rate automatically by default.
Configuration options: [1.5] [2] [2.5] [3]
Bank Interleave [Disabled]
Configuration options: [Disabled] [2 Bank] [4 Bank]
Precharge to Active (Trp) [5T]
Configuration options: [2T] [3T] [4T] [5T]
Active to Precharge (Tras) [7T]
Configuration options: [6T] [7T] [8T] [9T]
Active to CMD (Trcd) [5T]
Configuration options: [2T] [3T] [4T] [5T]
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE motherboard user guide
2-15
DRAM Burst Lenght [4]
Configuration options: [4] [8]
DRAM Command Rate [2T Command]
Configuration options: [2T Command] [1T Command]
Write Recovery Time [3T]
Configuration options: [3T] [2T]
CPU & PCI Bus Control
CPU & PCI Bus Control
Select Menu
Item Specific Help
PCI1 Master 0 WS Write
PCI2 Master 0 WS Write
PCI1 Post Write
PCI2 Post Write
VLink 8X Support
[Enabled]
[Enabled]
[Enabled]
[Enabled]
[Enabled]
[Enabled]
PCI Delay Transaction
F1 : Help
ESC : Exit
↑↓ : Select Item
→← : Select Menu
-/+
: Change Value
F5 : Setup Defaults
Enter : Select Sub-menu F10 : Save and Exit
PCI1 Master 0 WS Write [Enabled]
PCI2 Master 0 WS Write [Enabled]
Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
PCI1 Post Write [Enabled]
PCI2 Post Write [Enabled]
Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
VLink 8X Support [Enabled]
This option enables or disables the VLink 8X feature of the motherboard. The
VLink 8X technology allows high bandwidth connection between the North bridge
and South bridge chipsets. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
PCI Delay Transaction [Enabled]
When set to [Enabled], this feature frees the PCI bus when the CPU is accessing
8-bit ISA cards. This process consumes 50-60 PCI clocks without PCI delayed
transaction. Set this field to [Disabled] when using ISA cards that are not PCI 2.2
compliant. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
2-16
Chapter 2: BIOS information
VIA OnChip IDE Device
VIA OnChip IDE Devices
Select Menu
Item Specific Help
IDE DMA Transfer Access
OnChip Pri IDE Controller
OnChip Sec IDE Controller
[Enabled]
[Enabled]
[Enabled]
[Auto]
Press [Enter] to enable
or disable IDE DMA
transfer access.
Primary Master
Primary Slave
PIO
PIO
[Auto]
Secondary Master PIO
Secondary Slave PIO
[Auto]
[Auto]
[Auto]
[Auto]
Primary Master
Primary Slave
UDMA
UDMA
Secondary Master UDMA
Secondary Slave UDMA
[Auto]
[Auto]
F1 : Help
ESC : Exit
↑↓ : Select Item
→← : Select Menu
-/+
: Change Value
F5 : Setup Defaults
Enter : Select Sub-menu F10 : Save and Exit
IDE DMA Transfer Access [Enabled]
Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
OnChip Pri IDE Controller [Enabled]
OnChip Sec IDE Controller [Enabled]
Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
Primary Master PIO [Auto]
Primary Slave PIO [Auto]
This option lets you set a PIO (Programmable Input/Output) mode for Primary IDE
devices. Configuration options: [Auto] [Mode 0] [Mode 1] [Mode 2] [Mode 3]
[Mode4]
Secondary Master PIO [Auto]
Secondary Slave PIO [Auto]
This option lets you set a PIO (Programmable Input/Output) mode for Secondary
IDE devices. Configuration options: [Auto] [Mode 0] [Mode 1] [Mode 2] [Mode 3]
[Mode 4]
Primary Master/Slave UDMA [Auto]
Secondary Master/Slave UDMA [Auto]
UltraDMA capability allows improved transfer speeds and data integrity for
compatible IDE devices. Set to Auto to for automatic configuration.
Configuration options: [Auto] [Disabled]
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE motherboard user guide
2-17
2.5.2 I/O Device Configuration
I/O Device Configuration
Select Menu
Item Specific Help
Onboard FDC Controller
Onboard Serial Port 1
Onboard Parallel Port
Parallel Port Mode
ECP Mode USE DMA
EPP Mode Select
[Enabled]
[3F8/IRQ4]
[378/IRQ7]
[ECP+EPP]
[3]
[EPP1.7]
[Auto]
VIA-3058 AC97 Audio
Onboard LAN
[Auto]
Onboard LAN Boot ROM
Game Port Address
MIDI Port Address
MIDI Port IRQ
[Disabled]
[201]
[330]
[10]
F1 : Help
ESC : Exit
↑↓ : Select Item
→← : Select Menu
-/+
: Change Value
F5 : Setup Defaults
Enter : Select Sub-menu F10 : Save and Exit
Onboard FDC Controller [Enabled]
This field allow you to enable the onboard FDC controller.
Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
Onboard Serial Port 1 [3F8/IRQ4]
These fields allow you to set the address for the onboard serial connector.
Configuration options: [3F8/IRQ4] [2F8/1RQ3] [3E8/IRQ4] [2E8/IRQ3] [Auto]
[Disabled]
Onboard Parallel Port [378/IRQ7]
This field allows you to set the address of the onboard parallel port connector.
Configuration options: [378/IRQ7] [278/IRQ5] [3BC/1RQ7]
Parallel Port Mode [ECP+EPP]
This field allows you to set the operation mode of the parallel port. [SPP] allows
normal-speed operation but in one direction only; [EPP] allows bidirectional parallel
port operation; [ECP] allows the parallel port to operate in bidirectional DMA mode;
[ECP+EPP] allows normal speed operation in a two-way mode.
Configuration options: [EPP] [ECP] [SPP] [ECP+EPP]
ECP Mode USE DMA [3]
This field sets the parallel port DMA channel for the selected ECP mode. The
default setting is 3. This selection is available only if you select [ECP] or
[ECP+EPP] in the Parallel Port Mode item. Configuration options: [1] [3]
EPP Mode Select [EPP1.7]
This field sets the EPP mode. The default setting is EPP1.7. This selection is
available only if you select [EPP] or [ECP+EPP] in the Parallel Port Mode item.0
Configuration options: [EPP1.7] [EPP1.9]
2-18
Chapter 2: BIOS information
VIA-3058 AC97 Audio [Auto]
This field allows you to enable or disable the onboard AC97 audio controller.
Configuration options: [Auto] [Disabled]
Onboard LAN [Auto]
This field allows you to enable or disable the onboard LAN controller.
Configuration options: [Auto] [Disabled]
Onboard LAN Boot ROM [Disabled]
This field allows you to turn on or off the onboard LAN boot ROM.This item
appears only when onboard LAN is enabled.
Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Game Port Address [201]
This field allows you to select the onboard Game port address.
Configuration options: [201] [209] [Disabled]
MIDI Port Address [330]
This field allows you to select the onboard MIDI port address.
Configuration options: [330] [300] [290] [Disabled]
MIDI Port IRQ [10]
This field allows you to set the IRQ assignment of the onboard MIDI port.
Configuration options: [330] [300] [290] [Disabled]
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE motherboard user guide
2-19
2.5.3 PCI Configuration
PCI Configuration
Select Menu
Resources controlled by
IRQ Resources
[Auto (ESCD)]
Item Specific Help
BIOS can automatically
configure all the boot
Plug and Play
compatible devices. If
you choose [Auto], you
cannot select IRQ DMA
and memory base address
fields, since BIOS
automatically assigns
them.
PCI/VGA Palette Snoop
Assign IRQ for VGA
Assign IRQ for USB
[Disabled]
[Enabled]
[Enabled]
F1 : Help
ESC : Exit
↑↓ : Select Item
→← : Select Menu
-/+
: Change Value
F5 : Setup Defaults
Enter : Select Sub-menu F10 : Save and Exit
Resources Controlled by [Auto (ESCD)]
When set to [Auto (ESCD)], BIOS automatically configures all Plug and Play
devices. Setting this item to [Manual], allows manual assignment of IRQ addresses
to Plug and Play devices using the IRQ Resources sub-menu.
Configuration options: [Auto (ESCD)] [Manual]
PCI/VGA Snoop Palette [Disabled]
Some non-standard VGA cards, like graphics accelerators or MPEG video cards,
may not show colors properly. Setting this field to [Enabled] corrects this problem.
If you are using a standard VGA card, leave this field to the default setting
[Disabled]. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Assign IRQ for VGA [Enabled]
Setting this option to [Enabled] allows the BIOS to automatically assign an IRQ
address for the VGA controller. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
Assign IRQ for USB [Enabled]
Setting this option to [Enabled] allows the BIOS to automatically assign an IRQ
address for the USB controller. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
2-20
Chapter 2: BIOS information
IRQ Resources
Select Menu
IRQ Resources
IRQ 3 assigned to
IRQ 4 assigned to
IRQ 5 assigned to
IRQ 7 assigned to
IRQ 9 assigned to
IRQ 10 assigned to
IRQ 11 assigned to
IRQ 12 assigned to
IRQ 14 assigned to
IRQ 15 assigned to
[PCI Device]
[PCI Device]
[PCI Device]
[PCI Device]
[PCI Device]
[PCI Device]
[PCI Device]
[PCI Device]
[PCI Device]
[PCI Device]
Item Specific Help
Where resources are
controlled manually,
assign each system
interrupt a type,
depending on the type
of device using the
interrupt.
F1 : Help
ESC : Exit
↑↓ : Select Item
→← : Select Menu
-/+
: Change Value
F5 : Setup Defaults
Enter : Select Sub-menu F10 : Save and Exit
IRQ 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 assigned to [PCI Device]
The IRQ Resources sub-menu is activated when the Resources Controlled by
parameter is set to [Manual]. Select [PCI Device] to assign an IRQ address to a
Plug and Play device. Setting to [Reserved] reserves the IRQ address.
Configuration options: [PCI Devices] [Reserved]
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE motherboard user guide
2-21
2.6 Power menu
ACPI Suspend Type
Power Management
HDD Power Down
[S1&S3]
[User Define]
[Disabled]
Select Menu
Item Specific Help
Suspend Mode
[Disabled]
Video-off Option
AC Loss Auto Restart
Video Off Method
C.O.P. Control
PWR Button < 4 Sec
Power Up Control
Hardware Monitor
[Suspend -> Off]
[Auto]
[V/H SYNC+Blank]
[85 degree]
[Instant-off]
Select the ACPI state
used for System
Suspend.
F1 : Help
ESC : Exit
↑↓ : Select Item
→← : Select Menu
-/+
: Change Value
F5 : Setup Defaults
Enter : Select Sub-menu F10 : Save and Exit
ACPI Suspend Mode [S1&S3]
Allows you to select the ACPI state to used for system suspend.
Configuration options: [S1 (POS)] [S3 (STR)] [S1 & S3]
Power Management [User Define]
Configuration options: [USer Define] [Min Saving] [Max Saving]
HDD Power Down [Disabled]
Shuts down any IDE hard disk drives in the system after a period of inactivity as
set in this user-configurable field. This feature does not affect SCSI hard drives.
Configuration options: [1Min]...[15Min]
Suspend Mode [Disabled]
Sets the time period before the system goes into suspend mode.
Configuration options: [1Min] [2Min] [4Min] [6Min] [8Min] [10Min] [20Min] [30Min]
[40Min] [1Hour]
Video Off Option [Suspend -> Off ]
This field determines when to activate the video off feature for monitor power
management. Configuration options: [Always On] [Suspend -> Off]
AC Loss Auto Restart [Auto]
This allows you to set whether or not to reboot the system after AC power loss.
[Off] leaves your system off while [On] reboots the system. [Auto] sets the system
back to the state it was before the power interruption.
Configuration options: [Auto] [On] [Off]
2-22
Chapter 2: BIOS information
Video Off Method [V/H SYNC+Blank]
This field defines the video off features. The Display Power Management System
(DPMS) feature allows the BIOS to control the video display card if it supports the
DPMS feature. [Blank Screen] only blanks the screen. Use this for monitors without
power management or “green” features. Configuration options: [Blank Screen]
[V/H Sync+Blank] [DPMS support]
C.O.P. Control [85 degree]
Sets the threshold value for the CPU temperature. The ASUS CPU Overheating
Protection (C.O.P.) feature of this motherboard automatically shuts down the
system when the CPU temperature reaches or exceeds the threshold value.
Configuration options: [85 degree] [95 degree]
PWR Button < 4 Sec [Instant-Off]
When set to [Instant-off], the ATX switch can be used as a normal system
power-off button when pressed for less than 4 seconds. [Suspend] allows the
button to have a dual function where pressing less than 4 seconds puts the system
in sleep mode. Regardless of the setting, holding the ATX switch for more than 4
seconds powers off the system. Configuration options: [Instant-off] [Suspend]
2.6.1 Power Up Control
Power Up Control
Select Menu
Power Up On PCI Devices
PS2KB Wakeup Select
[Disabled]
[Hot Key]
Item Specific Help
PS2KB Wakeup from S3/S4/S5 [Disabled]
PS2MS Wakeup from S3/S4/S5 [Disabled]
Allows keyboard keys to
turn on the system.
USB Resume from S3
Modem Ring Resume
RTC Alarm Resume
Date (of Month)
Resume Time
[Disabled]
[Disabled]
[Disabled]
0
0 : 0 : 0
F1 : Help
ESC : Exit
↑↓ : Select Item
→← : Select Menu
-/+
: Change Value
F5 : Setup Defaults
Enter : Select Sub-menu F10 : Save and Exit
Power Up On PCI Devices [Disabled]
When set to [Enabled], this parameter allows tyou to turn on the system through a
PCI LAN or modem card. This feature requires an ATX power supply that provides
at least 1A on the +5VSB lead. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE motherboard user guide
2-23
PS2KB Wakeup Select [Hot Key]
This parameter allows you to use specific keys on the keyboard to turn on the
system. This feature requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the
+5VSB lead. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Ctrl+F1]...[Ctrl+F12] [Power] [Wake]
[Any Key]
PS2KB Wakeup from S3/S4/S5 [Disabled]
When set to [Enabled], this parameter allows you to use the PS/2 keyboard to turn
on the system. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
PS2MS Wakeup from S3/S4/S5 [Disabled]
When set to [Enabled], this parameter allows you to use the PS/2 mouse to turn on
the system. This requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the
+5VSB lead. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
USB Resume from S3 [Disabled]
Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
Modem Ring Resume [Disabled]
This allows either settings of [Enabled] or [Disabled] for powering up the computer
when the external modem receives a call while the computer is in Soft-off mode.
Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
RTC Alarm Resume [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable RTC to generate a wake event. When this item is
enabled, the Date and Resume Time fields are activated for manual setup.
Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
2-24
Chapter 2: BIOS information
2.6.2 Hardware Monitor
Hardware Monitor
Select Menu
Shutdown Temperature
[Disabled]
Item Specific Help
System Temperature
CPU Temperature
33ºC / 91ºF
33ºC / 91ºF
System will shutdown
when motherboard
temperature is too
high.
Chassis Fan Speed
CPU Fan Speed
0 RPM
8881 RPM
Vcore
+ 3.3 V
+ 5 V
1.56 V
3.34 V
4.91 V
11.36 V
+12 V
F1 : Help
ESC : Exit
↑↓ : Select Item
→← : Select Menu
-/+
: Change Value
F5 : Setup Defaults
Enter : Select Sub-menu F10 : Save and Exit
Shutdown Temperature [Disabled]
This option allows BIOS to set a threshold value for the CPU temperature. The
system shuts down when the CPU temperature reaches the threshold value.
Configuration options: [Disabled] [60°C/140°F] [65°C/149°F] [70°C/158°F]
[75°C/167°F]
System Temp [xxx°C/xxx°F]
CPU Temp [xxx°C/xxx°F]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the system and
CPU temperatures.
Chassis Fan Speed [xxxxRPM] or [0RPM]
CPU Fan Speed [xxxxRPM] or [0RPM]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the CPU and
chassis fan speeds in rotations per minute (RPM). If any of the fans is not
connected to the motherboard, that field shows 0RPM.
Vcore, +3.3V, +5V, +12V
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects the voltage output through
the onboard voltage regulators.
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE motherboard user guide
2-25
2.7 Boot menu
Select Menu
First Boot Device
Second Boot Device
Third Boot Device
Fourth Boot Device
Plug and Play OS
Reset Configuration Data
Quick Power On Self Test
Boot Up Floppy Seek
Boot Up NumLock Status
APIC Mode
[HDD-0]
[CDROM]
Item Specific Help
[Floppy]
[Disabled]
[Yes]
[Disabled]
[Enabled]
[Disabled]
[On]
Select your boot device
priority.
[Enabled]
F1 : Help
ESC : Exit
↑↓ : Select Item
→← : Select Menu
-/+
: Change Value
F5 : Setup Defaults
Enter : Select Sub-menu F10 : Save and Exit
First/Second/Third/Fourth Boot Device
The Boot Menu allows you to select 13 types of boot devices. Promotion or
demotion of devices alters the priority which the system uses to boot on system
power up. Configuration options include [Floppy] [LS120] [HDD-0] [SCSI]
[CDROM] [HDD-1] [HDD-2] [HDD-3] [ZIP100] [USB-FDD] [USB-ZIP]
[USB-CDROM] [USB-HDD] [LAN] [Disabled]
Plug and Play OS [Yes]
This field allows you to use a Plug and Play (PnP) operating system to configure
the PCI bus slots instead of using the BIOS. When [Yes] is selected, interrupts may
be reassigned by the OS. If you installed a non-PnP OS or if you want to prevent
reassigning of interrupt settings, keep the default setting [No]. Configuration
options: [No] [Yes]
Reset Configuration Data [Disabled]
Select [Enabled], if you want to clear the Extended System Configuration Data
(ESCD).Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
Quick Power On Self Test [Enabled]
This field speeds up the Power-On-Self Test (POST) routine by skipping retesting
several times. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
Boot up Floppy Seek [Disabled]
When enabled, the BIOS will seek the floppy disk drive to determine whether the
drive has 40 or 80 tracks. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Boot up NumLock Status [On]
Allows you to select the power-on state for the NumLock key.
Configuration options: [On] [Off]
2-26
Chapter 2: BIOS information
APIC Mode [Enabled]
When enabled, this option allows you to distribute interrupt routings other than the
16 IRQs. The Programmable Interrupt Controller (PIC) setting allows you to use
the 16 IRQs only. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
2.8 Exit menu
Select Menu
Save & Exit Setup
Exit Without Saving
Load Optimized Defaults
Discard Changes
Item Specific Help
This option saves data
to CMOS and exits the
BIOS setup.
Save Changes
F1 : Help
ESC : Exit
↑↓ : Select Item
→← : Select Menu
-/+
: Change Value
F5 : Setup Defaults
Enter : Select Sub-menu F10 : Save and Exit
Save & Exit Setup
Once you are finished making your selections, choose this option from the Exit
menu to ensure the values you selected are saved to the CMOS RAM. The CMOS
RAM is sustained by an onboard backup battery and stays on even when the PC is
turned off. When you select this option, a confirmation window appears. Select
[Yes] to save changes and exit.
Exit Without Saving
Select this option only if you do not want to save the changes that you made to the
Setup program. If you made changes to fields other than system date, system
time, and password, the BIOS asks for a confirmation before exiting.
Load Optimized Defaults
This option allows you to load the optimized values for each of the parameters on
the Setup menus. When you select this option or if you press <F7>, a confirmation
window appears. Select [Yes] to load optimized values. Select Save & Exit or make
other changes before saving the values to the non-volatile RAM.
ASUS A7V8X-MX SE motherboard user guide
2-27
Discard Changes
This option allows you to discard the selections you made and restore the
previously saved values. After selecting this option, a confirmation appears. Select
[Yes] to discard any changes and load the previously saved values.
Save Changes
This option saves your selections without exiting the Setup program. You can then
return to other menus and make further changes. After you select this option, a
confirmation window appears. Select [Yes] to save changes to the non-volatile RAM.
2-28
Chapter 2: BIOS information
Chapter 3
This chapter describes the contents of the
support CD that comes with the motherboard
package.
Software support
3.1Installing an operating system
This motherboard supports Windows® 98SE/ME/2000/XP as well as Linux Red
Hat, SuSE, TurboLinux and Caldera operating systems (OS). Always install the
latest OS version and corresponding updates so you can maximize the features of
your hardware.
Because motherboard settings and hardware options vary, use the
setup procedures presented in this chapter for general reference only.
Refer to your OS documentation for more information.
3.2 Support CD information
The support CD that came with the motherboard contains useful software and
several utility drivers that enhance the motherboard features.
The contents of the support CD are subject to change at any time
without notice. Visit the ASUS website for updates.
3.2.1 Running the support CD
To begin using the support CD, place the CD into the optical drive. The CD
automatically displays the Drivers menu if Autorun is enabled in your computer.
Click an item to install
Click an icon to display
more information
If Autorun is NOT enabled in your computer, browse the contents of
the support CD to locate the file ASSETUP.EXE from the BIN folder.
Double-click the ASSETUP.EXE to run the CD.
3-2
Chapter 3: Software support
3.2.2 Drivers menu
The drivers menu displays the available device drivers for this motherboard. Install
the necessary drivers to activate the devices.
VIA 4 in 1 Driver
This item installs the VIA 4-in-1 drivers.
KM400 Display Driver
Click this item to install the KM400 display driver for the onboard VGA.
AD1980 SoundMAX Audio Driver
This item installs the AD1980 SoundMAX audio driver and applications.
Install VIA LAN Driver
Click this item to install the VIA 10/100Mb Fast Ethernet driver for the onboard
local area network (LAN) controller.
USB 2.0 Driver
This item installs the USB 2.0 driver.
Some items appear only on specific operating system versions.
ASUS A7V8X-MX motherboard user manual
3-3
3.2.3 Utilities menu
The Utilities menu shows the applications and other software that the motherboard
supports.
ASUS PC Probe
This convenient utility continuously monitors your computer systems vital
components such as fan rotations, CPU temperature, and system voltages, and
alerts you on any detected problems. This utility helps you keep your computer at a
healthy operating condition.
Install ASUS Update
The ASUS Update is a utility that allows you to update the motherboard BIOS and
drivers. This utility requires an Internet connection either through a network or an
Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Microsoft DirectX 8.1
This item installs the Microsoft® DirectX 8.1.
PC-CILLIN 2002
This item installs the PC-cillin 2002 anti-virus program. View the PC-cillin online
help for detailed information.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
This item installs the Adobe® Acrobat Reader®. The Acrobat Reader® software is for
viewing files saved in Portable Document Format (PDF).
ASUS Screensaver
This item installs the ASUS screensaver.
3-4
Chapter 3: Software support
3.2.4 ASUS contact information
Click the Contact tab to display ASUS contact information.
Screen display and driver options may not be the same for other
operating system versions.
ASUS A7V8X-MX motherboard user manual
3-5
3-6
Chapter 3: Software support
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