Motherboard

A8N-VM CSM
E2294 Revised Edition V2 October 2005
Copyright 2005 ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. All Rights Reserved. No part of this manual, including the products and software described in it, may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form or by any means, except documentation kept by the purchaser for backup purposes, without the express written permission of ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. (ASUS). Product warranty or service will not be extended if: (1) the product is repaired, modified or altered, unless such repair, modification of alteration is authorized in writing by ASUS; or (2) the serial number of the product is defaced or missing. ASUS PROVIDES THIS MANUAL AS IS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL ASUS, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF USE OR DATA, INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS AND THE LIKE), EVEN IF ASUS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES ARISING FROM ANY DEFECT OR ERROR IN THIS MANUAL OR PRODUCT. SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL ARE FURNISHED FOR INFORMATIONAL USE ONLY, AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE, AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY ASUS. ASUS ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS OR INACCURACIES THAT MAY APPEAR IN THIS MANUAL, INCLUDING THE PRODUCTS AND SOFTWARE DESCRIBED IN IT. Products and corporate names appearing in this manual may or may not be registered trademarks or copyrights of their respective companies, and are used only for identification or explanation and to the owners benefit, without intent to infringe.

Contents

Notices... vi Safety information.... vii A8N-VM CSM specifications summary... viii
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.1 1.2 1.3 Welcome!... 1-2 Package contents... 1-2 Special features... 1-2 1.3.1 1.3.2 1.4 1.5 Product highlights... 1-2 Innovative ASUS features.. 1-5
Before you proceed.. 1-6 Motherboard overview... 1-7 1.5.1 1.5.2 1.5.3 Motherboard layout.. 1-7 Placement direction.. 1-8 Screw holes.. 1-8

1.6 1.7

Central Processing Unit (CPU)... 1-9 System memory... 1-11 1.7.1 1.7.2 1.7.3 1.7.4 Overview... 1-11 Memory configurations... 1-11 Installing a DIMM... 1-13 Removing a DIMM.. 1-13 Installing an expansion card.. 1-14 Configuring an expansion card.. 1-14 PCI slots... 1-16 PCI Express x1 slot.. 1-16 PCI Express x16 slot.. 1-16
Expansion slots.. 1-14 1.8.1 1.8.2 1.8.3 1.8.4 1.8.5

1.9 1.10

Jumpers... 1-17 Connectors... 1-20 1.10.1 Rear panel connectors.. 1-20 1.10.2 Internal connectors.. 1-22

Chapter 2: BIOS setup

2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS.. 2-2 2.1.1 2.1.2 2.1.3 2.1.4 2.2 2.2.1 2.2.2 2.2.3 2.2.4 2.2.5 2.2.6 2.2.7 2.2.8 2.2.9 2.3 2.3.1 2.3.2 2.3.3 2.3.4 2.3.5 2.3.6 2.4 2.4.1 2.4.2 2.4.3 2.4.4 2.4.5 2.4.6 2.4.7 Creating a bootable floppy disk.. 2-2 ASUS EZ Flash utility... 2-3 AFUDOS utility... 2-4 ASUS Update utility.. 2-6 BIOS menu screen.. 2-10 Menu bar... 2-10 Navigation keys.. 2-10 Menu items... 2-11 Sub-menu items... 2-11 Configuration fields... 2-11 Pop-up window... 2-11 Scroll bar.. 2-11 General help... 2-11 System Time.. 2-12 System Date.. 2-12 Legacy Diskette A.. 2-12 Primary and Secondary IDE Master/Slave; First, Second, Third, and Fourth SATA.. 2-13 IDE Configuration.. 2-14 System Information... 2-15 AMD Cool n Quiet Configuration.. 2-16 JumperFree Configuration. 2-17 CPU Configuration.. 2-18 Chipset... 2-18 Onboard Devices Configuration.. 2-25 PCI PnP... 2-26 USB Configuration.. 2-27
BIOS setup program... 2-9

Main menu... 2-12

Advanced menu... 2-16
2.5 Power menu.. 2-28 2.5.1 2.5.2 2.5.3 2.5.4 2.5.5 2.5.6 2.6 2.6.1 2.6.2 2.6.3 2.7 Suspend Mode.. 2-28 Repost Video on S3 Resume.. 2-28 ACPI 2.0 Support.. 2-28 ACPI APIC Support.. 2-28 APM Configuration.. 2-29 Hardware Monitor.. 2-30 Boot Device Priority... 2-32 Boot Settings Configuration.. 2-33 Security... 2-34

Boot menu... 2-32

Exit menu... 2-36
Chapter 3: Software support
3.1 3.2 Installing an operating system.. 3-2 Support CD information... 3-2 3.2.1 3.2.2 3.2.3 3.2.4 3.2.5 3.2.6 3.2.7 Running the support CD... 3-2 Drivers menu... 3-3 Utilities menu... 3-4 Make Disk menu.. 3-5 Manual menu... 3-6 ASUS Contact information.. 3-7 Other information... 3-7

ASUS MyLogo2

This feature allows you to personalize and add style to your system with customizable boot logos. See page 2-33 for details.
C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)
The C.P.R. feature of the motherboard BIOS allows automatic re-setting to the BIOS default settings in case the system hangs due to overclocking. When the system hangs due to overclocking, C.P.R. eliminates the need to open the system chassis and clear the RTC data. Simply shut down and reboot the system, and the BIOS automatically restores the CPU default setting for each parameter.

ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2

This feature allows you to restore the original BIOS data from the support CD in case when the BIOS codes and data are corrupted. This protection eliminates the need to buy a replacement ROM chip.

Before you proceed

Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change any motherboard settings.
Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any component. Use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or a metal object, such as the power supply case, before handling components to avoid damaging them due to static electricity Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them. Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded antistatic pad or in the bag that came with the component. Before you install or remove any component, ensure that the ATX power supply is switched off or the p o w e r c o r d i s d e t a c h e d f r o m t h e p o w e r s u p p l y. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to the motherboard, peripherals, and/or components.

Onboard LED

The motherboard comes with a standby power LED that lights up to indicate that the system is ON, in sleep mode, or in soft-off mode. This is a reminder that you should shut down the system and unplug the power cable before removing or plugging in any motherboard component. The illustration below shows the location of the onboard LED.

SB_PWR

A8N-VM CSM Onboard LED

ON Standby Power

OFF Powered Off

Motherboard overview

Motherboard layout

24.5cm (9.6in)

PARALLEL PORT

ATX12V

Socket 939
DDR DIMM_A2 (64 bit,184-pin module)
DDR DIMM_A1 (64 bit,184-pin module)
DDR DIMM_B2 (64 bit,184-pin module)
DDR DIMM_B1 (64 bit,184-pin module)

Super I/O

PS/2KBMS T: Mouse B: Keyboard KBPWR

CPU_FAN

F_USB12

USBPW12

DDR DIMM notch

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.
Firmly insert the DIMM into the socket until the retaining clips snap back in place and the DIMM is properly seated.

Locked Retaining Clip

Removing a DIMM
To remove a DIMM: 1. Simultaneously press the retaining clips outward to unlock the DIMM.
Support the DIMM lightly with your fingers when pressing the retaining clips. The DIMM might get damaged when it flips out with extra force.
Remove the DIMM from the socket.
In the future, you may need to install expansion cards. The following sub-sections describe the slots and the expansion cards that they support.
Make sure to unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. Failure to do so may cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Installing an expansion card
To install an expansion card: Before installing the expansion card, read the documentation that came with it and make the necessary hardware settings for the card. Remove the system unit cover (if your motherboard is already installed in a chassis). Remove the bracket opposite the slot that you intend to use. Keep the screw for later use. Align the card connector with the slot and press firmly until the card is completely seated on the slot. Secure the card to the chassis with the screw you removed earlier. Replace the system cover.
Configuring an expansion card
After installing the expansion card, configure it by adjusting the software settings. 1. 2. 3. Turn on the system and change the necessary BIOS settings, if any. See Chapter 2 for information on BIOS setup. Assign an IRQ to the card. Refer to the tables on the next page. Install the software drivers for the expansion card.
Standard interrupt assignments
IRQ Priority 10 Standard Function System Timer Keyboard Controller Re-direct to IRQ#9 IRQ holder for PCI steering* Communications Port (COM1)* IRQ holder for PCI steering* Floppy Disk Controller Printer Port (LPT1)* System CMOS/Real Time Clock IRQ holder for PCI steering* IRQ holder for PCI steering* IRQ holder for PCI steering* PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port* Numeric Data Processor Primary IDE Channel Secondary IDE Channel
* These IRQs are usually available for ISA or PCI devices.
IRQ assignments for this motherboard
A PCI slot 1 PCI slot 2 IEEE 1394 used B used C D shared
When using PCI cards on shared slots, ensure that the drivers support Share IRQ or that the cards do not need IRQ assignments; otherwise, conflicts will arise between the two PCI groups, making the system unstable and the card inoperable.

PCI slots

The PCI slots support cards such as a LAN card, SCSI card, USB card, and other cards that comply with PCI specifications. The figure shows a LAN card installed on a PCI slot.

CPU and Chassis fan connectors (3-pin CPU_FAN, 3-pin CHA_FAN) The fan connectors support cooling fans of 350mA~740mA (8.88W max.) or a total of 1A~2.22A (26.64W max.) at +12V. 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.
Do not forget to connect the fan cables to the fan connectors. Insufficient air flow inside the system may damage the motherboard components. These are not jumpers! DO NOT place jumper caps on the fan connectors.
A8N-VM CSM Fan connectors
Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT) This connector is for an additional Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) port(s). Connect the S/PDIF module cable to this connector, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis.
The S/PDIF module is purchased separately.
SPDIF_OUT A8N-VM CSM Digital audio connector

SPDIFOUT GND

USB connectors (10-1 pin USB56, USB78) These connectors are for USB 2.0 ports. Connect the USB module cable to any of these connectors, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis. These USB connectors comply with USB 2.0 specification that supports up to 480 Mbps connection speed.
USB+5V USB_P6USB_P6+ GND NC

USB+5V USB_P5USB_P5+ GND

A8N-VM CSM USB 2.0 connectors
Never connect a c a b l e to the USB connectors. Doing so will damage the motherboard! The USB 2.0 module is purchased separately.
Optical drive audio in connector (4-pin CD) These connectors allow you to receive stereo audio input from sound sources such as a CD-ROM, TV tuner, or MPEG card.

CD (black)

Left Audio Channel Ground Ground Right Audio Channel
A8N-VM CSM Internal audio connector

USB+5V USB_P7USB_P7+ GND

USB+5V USB_P8USB_P8+ GND NC
IEEE 1394a connector (10-1 pinIE1394_1 [orange]) This connector is for an additional IEEE 1394a port. Connect the IEEE 1394a module cable (orange) to this connector, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis.

IE1394_1

A8N-VM CSM IEEE 1394a connector
Never connect a U S B p o r t m o d u l e c a b l e to the IEEE 1394a connector. Doing so will damage the motherboard!
1 0. Serial port connector (10-1 pin COM1) This connector is for a serial (COM) port. Connect the serial port module cable to this connector, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis.
The serial port bracket (COM1) is purchased separately.
A8N-VM CSM COM port connector

TPA1+ GND TPB1+ +12V

TPA1GND TPB1+12V GND
1 1. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP) This connector is for a chassis-mounted front panel audio I/O module that supports either High Definition Audio or AC `97 audio standard. Connect one end of the front panel audio I/O module cable to this connector.
Azalia-compliant pin definition
GND PRESENCE# SENSE1_RETUR SENSE2_RETUR
Legacy AC97-compliant pin definition

AGND NC NC NC

PORT1 L PORT1 R PORT2 R SENSE_SEND PORT2 L MIC2_L MIC2_R Line out_R NC Line out_L
A8N-VM CSM Analog front panel connector We recommend that you connect a high-definition front panel audio module to this connector to avail of the motherboard high-definition audio capability. If you want to connect a high-definition front panel audio module to this connector, make sure that the Onboard AUDIO item in the BIOS is set to [Enabled]. See page 2-25 for details.
1 2. TV-out connector (6-1 pin TV_OUT) This 6-1 pin connector is for the TV-out port module that allows you to connect a television to your system. Connect one end of the TV-out cable to this connector and the other end to the TV-out module.
The TV-out module is purchased separately.
A8N-VM CSM TV out connector
CVBS out S-video C out S-video Y out
1 3. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V) These connectors are for an ATX power supply. The plugs from the power supply are designed to fit these connectors in only one orientation. Find the proper orientation and push down firmly until the connectors completely fit.
We recommend that you use an ATX 12 V Specification 2.0-compliant power supply unit (PSU) with a minimum of 300 W power rating. This PSU type has 24-pin and 4-pin power plugs. If you intend to use a PSU with 20-pin and 4-pin power plugs, make sure that the 20-pin power plug can provide at least 15 A on +12 V and that the PSU has a minimum power rating of 300 W. The system may become unstable or may not boot up if the power is inadequate. Do not forget to connect the 4-pin ATX +12 V power plug; otherwise, the system will not boot up. We recommend that you use a PSU with higher power output when configuring a system with more power-consuming devices. The system may become unstable or may not boot up if the power is inadequate. You must install a PSU with a higher power rating if you intend to install additional devices.
A8N-VM CSM ATX power connectors
+3 Volts -12 Volts Ground PSON# Ground Ground ATX12V Ground GND GND -5 Volts +12V DC +12V DC +5 Volts +5 Volts +5 Volts Ground

A S U S U p d a t e (Updates the BIOS in Windows environment.)
Refer to the corresponding sections for details on these utilities.
Save a copy of the original motherboard BIOS file to a bootable floppy disk in case you need to restore the BIOS in the future. Copy the original motherboard BIOS using the ASUS Update or AFUDOS utilities.
Creating a bootable floppy disk
Do either one of the following to create a bootable floppy disk.

DOS environment

a. Insert a 1.44MB floppy disk into the drive. b. At the DOS prompt, type format A:/S then press <Enter>.

Windows XP environment

a. Insert a 1.44 MB floppy disk to the floppy disk drive. b. Click S t a r t from the Windows desktop, then select M y r. Computer c. Select the 3 1/2 Floppy Drive icon. d. Click F i l e from the menu, then select F o r m a t A F o r m a t / 2 t. F l o p p y D i s k window appears. e. Select C r e a t e a n M S - D O S s t a r t u p d i s k from the format options field, then click S t a r t t.

Windows 2000 environment

To create a set of boot disks for Windows 2000: a. Insert a formatted, high density 1.44 MB floppy disk into the drive. b. Insert the Windows 2000 CD to the optical drive. c. Click S t a r t then select R u n t, n.
d. From the Open field, type D:\bootdisk\makeboot a: assuming that D: is your optical drive. e. Press <Enter>, then follow screen instructions to continue. 2. Copy the original or the latest motherboard BIOS file to the bootable floppy disk.

ASUS EZ Flash utility

The ASUS EZ Flash feature allows you to update the BIOS without having to go through the long process of booting from a floppy disk and using a DOS-based utility. The EZ Flash utility is built-in the BIOS chip so it is accessible by pressing <Alt> + <F2> during the Power-On Self Tests (POST). To update the BIOS using EZ Flash: 1. 2. 3. Visit the ASUS website (www.asus.com) to download the latest BIOS file for the motherboard and rename the same to A 8 N V M C S M. R O M M. Save the BIOS file to a floppy disk, then restart the system. Press <Alt> + <F2> during POST to display the following.
EZFlash starting BIOS update Checking for floppy.
Insert the floppy disk that contains the BIOS file to the floppy disk drive. When the correct BIOS file is found, EZ Flash performs the BIOS update process and automatically reboots the system when done.
EZFlash starting BIOS update Checking for floppy. Floppy found! Reading file A8NVMCSM.ROM. Completed. Start erasing.| Start programming.| Flashed successfully. Rebooting.
Do not shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS to prevent system boot failure! A Floppy not found! error message appears if there is no floppy disk in the drive. A A8NVMCSM.ROM not found! error message appears if the correct BIOS file is not found in the floppy disk. Make sure that you rename the BIOS file to A8NVMCSM.ROM.

A:\>afudos /iA8NVMCSM.ROM AMI Firmware Update Utility - Version 1.10 Copyright (C) 2002 American Megatrends, Inc. All rights reserved. Reading file.. done Erasing flash. done Writing flash. 0x0008CC00 (9%)
Do not shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS to prevent system boot failure! 5. The utility returns to the DOS prompt after the BIOS update process is completed. Reboot the system from the hard disk drive.
A:\>afudos /iA8NVMCSM.ROM AMI Firmware Update Utility - Version 1.10 Copyright (C) 2002 American Megatrends, Inc. All rights reserved. Reading file.. done Erasing flash. done Writing flash. 0x0008CC00 (9%) Verifying flash. done A:\>

ASUS Update utility

The ASUS Update is a utility that allows you to manage, save, and update the motherboard BIOS in Windows environment. The ASUS Update utility allows you to: Save the current BIOS file Download the latest BIOS file from the Internet Update the BIOS from an updated BIOS file Update the BIOS directly from the Internet, and View the BIOS version information. This utility is available in the support CD that comes with the motherboard package.
ASUS Update requires an Internet connection either through a network or an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Installing ASUS Update

To install ASUS Update: 1. 2. 3. Place the support CD in the optical drive. The D r i v e r s menu appears. Click the U t i l i t i e s tab, then click A S U S U p d a t e See page 3-4 for e. the U t i l i t i e s screen menu. The ASUS Update utility is copied to your system.
Quit all Windows applications before you update the BIOS using this utility.
Updating the BIOS through the Internet
To update the BIOS through the Internet: 1. Launch the ASUS Update utility from the Windows desktop by clicking e. S t a r t > P r o g r a m s > A S U S > A S U S U p d a t e > A S U S U p d a t e The ASUS Update main window appears.
Select U p d a t e B I O S f r o m t h e I n t e r n e t option from the drop-down menu, then click t. Next
Select the ASUS FTP site nearest you to avoid network traffic, or click A u t o S e l e c t t. Click N e x t t.
From the FTP site, select the BIOS version that you wish to download. Click Next. Follow the screen instructions to complete the update process.
The ASUS Update utility is capable of updating itself through the Internet. Always update the utility to avail all its features.
Updating the BIOS through a BIOS file

Primary and Secondary IDE Master/Slave; First, Second, Third, and Fourth SATA
While entering Setup, the BIOS automatically detects the presence of IDE devices. There is a separate sub-menu for each IDE device. Select a device item then press <Enter> to display the IDE device information.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY Main Primary IDE Master Device : Hard Disk Vendor : ST320410A Size : 20.0GB LBA Mode : Supported Block Mode : 16 Sectors PIO Mode : 4 Async DMA : MultiWord DMA-2 Ultra DMA : Ultra DMA-6 SMART Monitoring: Supported Type LBA/Large Mode Block(Multi-sector Transfer) M PIO Mode DMA Mode Smart Monitoring 32Bit Data Transfer [Auto] [Auto] [Auto] [Auto] [Auto] [Auto] [Enabled] Select the type of device connected to the system.

+F1 F10 ESC

Select Screen Select Item Change Option General Help Save and Exit Exit
The BIOS automatically detects the values opposite the dimmed items (Device, Vendor, Size, LBA Mode, Block Mode, PIO Mode, Async DMA, Ultra DMA, and SMART monitoring). These values are not user-configurable. These items show N/A if no IDE device is installed in the system.

Type [Auto]

Selects the type of IDE drive. Setting to Auto allows automatic selection of the appropriate IDE device type. Select CDROM if you are specifically configuring a CD-ROM drive. Select ARMD (ATAPI Removable Media Device) if your device is either a ZIP, LS-120, or MO drive. Configuration options: [Not Installed] [Auto] [CDROM] [ARMD]

LBA/Large Mode [Auto]

Enables or disables the LBA mode. Setting to Auto enables the LBA mode if the device supports this mode, and if the device was not previously formatted with LBA mode disabled. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Auto]
Block (Multi-sector Transfer) M [Auto]
Enables or disables data multi-sectors transfers. When set to Auto, the data transfer from and to the device occurs multiple sectors at a time if the device supports multi-sector transfer feature. When set to [Disabled], the data transfer from and to the device occurs one sector at a time. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Auto]

PIO Mode [Auto]

Sets the PIO mode. Configuration options: [Auto] [0] [1] [2] [3] [4]

DMA Mode [Auto]

Sets the DMA mode. Configuration options: [Auto] [SWDMA0] [SWDMA1] [SWDMA2] [MWDMA0] [MWDMA1] [MWDMA2] [UDMA0] [UDMA1] [UDMA2] [UDMA3] [UDMA4] [UDMA5] [UDMA6]

SMART Monitoring [Auto]

Sets the Smart Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology monitoring support. Configuration options: [Auto] [Disabled] [Enabled]
32Bit Data Transfer [Enabled]
Enables or disables 32-bit data transfer. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

IDE Configuration

The items in this menu allow you to set or change the configurations for the IDE devices installed in the system. Select an item then press <Enter> if you want to configure the item.

BIOS SETUP UTILITY Main RAID Setup Options
Serial-ATA Serial-ATA Serial-ATA Serial-ATA
[Enabled] [Enabled] [Enabled] [Enabled] [Disabled]

Enabled Disabled

nVidia RAID Function
Serial-ATA 1/2/3/4 [Enabled]
Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
nVidia RAID Function [Disabled]

System Information

This menu gives you an overview of the general system specifications. The BIOS automatically detects the items in this menu.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY Main AMIBIOS Version : 0110 Build Date : 09/04/05 Processor Type Speed Count : AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3200+ : 2020 MHz : 1
System Memory Size : 240 MB F1 F10 ESC Select Screen Select Item General Help Save and Exit Exit

AMI BIOS

Displays the auto-detected BIOS information.

Processor

Displays the auto-detected CPU specification.

System Memory

Displays the auto-detected system memory.

Advanced menu

The Advanced menu items allow you to change the settings for the CPU and other system devices.
Take caution when changing the settings of the Advanced menu items. Incorrect field values can cause the system to malfunction.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY Boot Exit Configure AMD Cool N Quiet support
AMD Cool N Quiet Configuration JumperFree Configuration CPU Configuration Chipset Onboard Devices Configuration PCI PnP USB Configuration
Select Screen Select Item Enter Go to Sub Screen F1 General Help F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit v02.58 (C)Copyright 1985-2004, American Megatrends, Inc.
AMD Cool n Quiet Configuration
Enabled/Disabled Cool n Quiet [Enabled]
AMD Cool n Quiet Configuration Cool n Quiet

Cool n Quiet [Enabled]

Allows you to enable or disable the AMD Cool n Quiet technology feature. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]

JumperFree Configuration

BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Adjust CPU FSB Select the target CPU frequency. frequency, and the relevant parameters will be auto-adjusted. Frequencies higher than CPU manufacturer recommends are not guaranteed to be stable. If the system becomes unstable, return to the default.

USB Configuration

BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Enables 1.1 USB host controllers.
USB Configuration Module Version - 2.24.0-11.4 USB Devices Enabled: None Legacy USB Support USB 2.0 Controller Mode BIOS EHCI Hand-Off [Auto] [HiSpeed] [Enabled]
The Module Version and USB Devices Enabled items show the auto-detected values. If no USB device is detected, the item shows None.
Legacy USB Support [Auto]
Allows you to enable or disable support for USB devices on legacy operating systems (OS). Setting to Auto allows the system to detect the presence of USB devices at startup. If detected, the USB controller legacy mode is enabled. If no USB device is detected, the legacy USB support is disabled. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] [Auto]
USB 2.0 Controller Mode [HiSpeed]
Allows you to set the USB 2.0 controller mode to HiSpeed (480 Mbps) or FullSpeed (12 Mbps). Configuration options: [FullSpeed] [HiSpeed]
BIOS EHCI Hand-Off [Enabled]
Allows you to enable support for operating systems without an EHCI hand-off feature. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

ASUS A8N-VM CSM 2-27

Power menu
The Power menu items allow you to change the settings for the Advanced Power Management (APM). Select an item then press <Enter> to display the configuration options.
Main Advanced Power BIOS SETUP UTILITY Boot Exit [Auto] [No] [Enabled] [Enabled] Select the ACPI state used for System Suspend.
Suspend Mode Repost Video on S3 Resume ACPI 2.0 Support ACPI APIC Support APM Configuration Hardware Monitor
Select Screen Select Item Change Field General Help Save and Exit Exit

Suspend Mode [Auto]

Allows you to select the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) state to be used for system suspend. Configuration options: [S1 (POS) Only] [S3 Only] [Auto]
Repost Video on S3 Resume [No]
Determines whether to invoke VGA BIOS POST on S3/STR resume. Configuration options: [No] [Yes]
ACPI 2.0 Support [Enabled]
Specifies the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) version supported. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) support in the Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller (APIC). When set to Enabled, the ACPI APIC table pointer is included in the RSDT pointer list. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

APM Configuration

BIOS SETUP UTILITY Power Go into On/Off or Suspend when Power button is pressed.
Power Button Mode Resume On PME# Resume On Ring Resume On LAN(MAC) Resume On RTC Alarm Resume On PS/2 Keyboard Resume On PS/2 Mouse Restore on AC Power Loss
[On/Off] [Disabled] [Disabled] [Disabled] [Disabled] [Disabled] [Disabled] [Last State]
Power Button Mode [On/Off]
Allows the system to go into On/Off mode or suspend mode when the power button is pressed. Configuration options: [On/Off] [Suspend]

CPU Temperature

CPU Temperature [xxxC/xxxF] or [Ignored] MB Temperature [xxxC/xxxF] or [Ignored]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the motherboard and CPU temperatures. Select Disabled if you do not wish to display the detected temperatures.
CPU Fan Speed [xxxxRPM] or [Ignored] / [N/A]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the CPU fan speed in rotations per minute (RPM). If the fan is not connected to the motherboard, the field shows N/A.
CPU Q-Fan Control [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the ASUS Q-Fan feature that smartly adjusts the fan speeds for more efficient system operation. Configuration options: [Ignored] [Enabled]
CPU Target Temperature [XXXC]
Allows you to set the CPU temperature threshold when the CPU fan speed is increased to lower CPU temperature. The configuration options for this item depend on the recommended temperature settings. Target temperature options are at 3C intervals.
Chassis Fan Speed [xxxxRPM] or [Ignored] / [N/A]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the chassis fan speed in rotations per minute (RPM). If the fan is not connected to the motherboard, the field shows N/A.
VCORE Voltage, 3.3V Voltage, 5V Voltage, 12V Voltage
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects the voltage output through the onboard voltage regulators.

Boot menu

The Boot menu items allow you to change the system boot options. Select an item then press <Enter> to display the sub-menu.
Main Advanced Power BIOS SETUP UTILITY Boot Exit Specifies the Boot Device Boot Priority sequence. A virtual floppy disk drive (Floppy Drive B:) may appear when you set the CD-ROM drive as the first boot device. Select Screen Select Item Enter Go to Sub Screen F1 General Help F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit v02.58 (C)Copyright 1985-2004, American Megatrends, Inc.
Boot Settings Boot Device Priority Boot Settings Configuration Security

Boot Device Priority

BIOS SETUP UTILITY Boot Specifies the boot sequence from the availabe devices. A device enclosed in parenthesis has been disabled in the corresponding menu.
Boot Device Priority 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Boot Boot Boot Boot Device Device Device Device [1st FLOPPY DRIVE] [HDD:PM-ST320410A] [ATAPI CD-ROM:PS-ASUS CD-S520/A] [NVIDIA Boot Agent]
1st ~ xxth Boot Device [xxx Drive]
These items specify the boot device priority sequence from the available devices. The number of device items that appears on the screen depends on the number of devices installed in the system. Configuration options: [xxx Drive] [Disabled]
Boot Settings Configuration
BIOS SETUP UTILITY Boot Allows BIOS to skip certain tests while booting. This will decrease the time needed to boot the system.
Boot Settings Configuration Quick Boot Full Screen Logo AddOn ROM Display Mode Bootup Num-Lock PS/2 Mouse Support Wait for F1 if Error Hit DEL Message Display Interrupt 19 Capture [Enabled] [Enabled] [Force BIOS] [On] [Auto] [Enabled] [Enabled] [Disabled]

The message Password Installed appears after you successfully set your password. To change the supervisor password, follow the same steps as in setting a user password.
To clear the supervisor password, select the Change Supervisor Password then press <Enter>. The message Password Uninstalled appears.
If you forget your BIOS password, you can clear it by erasing the CMOS Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM. See section 1.9 Jumpers for information on how to erase the RTC RAM.
After you have set a supervisor password, the other items appear to allow you to change other security settings.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY Boot Security Settings Supervisor Password User Password : Not Installed : Not Installed [Full Access] [Setup] Select Screen Select Item Enter Change F1 General Help F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit v02.58 (C)Copyright 1985-2004, American Megatrends, Inc. <Enter> to change password. <Enter> again to disabled password.
Change Supervisor Password User Access Level Change User Password Clear User Password Password Check
User Access Level (Full Access]
This item allows you to select the access restriction to the Setup items. Configuration options: [No Access] [View Only] [Limited] [Full Access] N o A c c e s s prevents user access to the Setup utility. V i e w O n l y allows access but does not allow change to any field. L i m i t e d allows changes only to selected fields, such as Date and Time. F u l l A c c e s s allows viewing and changing all the fields in the Setup utility.

Change User Password

Select this item to set or change the user password. The User Password item on top of the screen shows the default N o t I n s t a l l e d After you set d. Installed a password, this item shows d.
To set a User Password: 1. 2. 3. Select the Change User Password item and press <Enter>. On the password box that appears, type a password composed of at least six letters and/or numbers, then press <Enter>. Confirm the password when prompted.
The message Password Installed appears after you set your password successfully. To change the user password, follow the same steps as in setting a user password.

Clear User Password

Select this item to clear the user password.

Password Check [Setup]

When set to [Setup], BIOS checks for user password when accessing the Setup utility. When set to [Always], BIOS checks for user password both when accessing Setup and booting the system. Configuration options: [Setup] [Always]

Exit menu

The Exit menu items allow you to load the optimal or failsafe default values for the BIOS items, and save or discard your changes to the BIOS items.

The Adobe Acrobat Reader V7.0 is for opening, viewing, and printing documents in Portable Document Format (PDF).
ASUS Cool n Quiet Utility
This item installs the ASUS Cool n Quiet utility.

Microsoft DirectX 9.0c

The Microsoft DirectX 9.0c is a multimedia technology that enhances computer graphics and sounds. DirectX improves the multimedia features of your computer so you can enjoy watching TV and movies, capturing videos, or playing games on your computer.
Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 already includes Microsoft DirectX 9.0c. If your system is Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2-embedded, skip Microsoft DirectX 9.0c installation.

Anti-virus utility

The anti-virus utility scans, identifies, and removes computer viruses. View the online help for detailed information.
The screen display and utilities option may not be the same for different operating system versions.

Make Disk menu

The Make Disk menu allows you to make a RAID driver disk.
Make NV Win2K SATA RAID Driver Disk
Allows you to create an NVIDIA Windows 2000 Serial ATA (SATA) RAID driver disk.
Make NV WinXP SATA RAID Driver Disk
Allows you to create an NVIDIA Windows XP Serial ATA (SATA) RAID driver disk.

Manual menu

The Manual menu contains a list of supplementary user manuals. Click an item to open the folder of the user manual.
Most user manual files are in Portable Document Format (PDF). Install the Adobe Acrobat Reader from the U t i l i t i e s m e n u before opening a user manual file.

NVIDIA RAID Users Manual

Allows you to open the NVIDIA RAID users manual.

ASUS Contact information

Click the C o n t a c t tab to display the ASUS contact information. You can also find this information on the inside front cover of this user guide.

Other information

The icons on the top right corner of the screen give additional information on the motherboard and the contents of the support CD. Click an icon to display the specified information.

Motherboard Info

Displays the general specifications of the motherboard.

Browse this CD

Displays the support CD contents in graphical format.

Technical support Form

Displays the ASUS Technical Support Request Form that you have to fill out when requesting technical support.

Filelist

Displays the contents of the support CD and a brief description of each in text format.