A7V266-M

User Guide

Motherboard

Product Name: Manual Revision: Release Date:
A7V266-M 1.00 E921 December 2001

Checklist

Copyright 2001 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. 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. Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation. VIA is a registered trademark of VIA Technologies, Inc. 3Com is a registered trademark of 3Com Corporation. C-Media is a registered trademark of C-Media Electronics Inc. Windows and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Adobe and Acrobat are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated. Trend and ChipAwayVirus are trademarks of Trend Micro, Inc. Symbios is a registered trademark of Symbios Logic Corporation. nVidia is a registered trademark of NVIDIA Corporation. The product name and revision number are both printed on the product itself. Manual revisions are released for each product design represented by the digit before and after the period of the manual revision number. Manual updates are represented by the third digit in the manual revision number. For previous or updated manuals, BIOS, drivers, or product release information, contact ASUS at: http://www.asus.com or through any of the means indicated on the following page.
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.

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 manufacturers 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 users 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.

ASUS contact information

ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. (Asia-Pacific)

Marketing

Address: Telephone: Fax: Email: Tel (English): Tel (Chinese): Fax: Email: Newsgroup: WWW: FTP: 150 Li-Te Road, Peitou, Taipei, Taiwan 112 +886-2-2894-3447 +886-2-2894-3449 info@asus.com.tw +886-2-2890-7123 +886-2-2890-7113 +886-2-2890-7698 tsd@asus.com.tw cscnews.asus.com.tw www.asus.com.tw ftp.asus.com.tw/pub/ASUS

Technical Support

ASUS COMPUTER INTERNATIONAL (America)
Address: Fax: Email: Fax: BBS: Email: WWW: FTP: 6737 Mowry Avenue, Mowry Business Center, Building 2 Newark, CA 94560, USA +1-510-608-4555 info-usa@asus.com.tw +1-510-608-4555 +1-510-739-3774 tsd@asus.com www.asus.com ftp.asus.com/pub/ASUS
ASUS COMPUTER GmbH (Europe)
Address: Fax: Email: Hotline: Fax: Support (Email): WWW: FTP: Harkortstr. 25, 40880 Ratingen, BRD, Germany +49-2102-442066 sales@asuscom.de (for marketing requests only) MB/Others: +49-2102-9599-0 Notebook: +49-2102-9599-10 +49-2102-9599-11 www.asuscom.de/de/support (for online support) www.asuscom.de ftp.asuscom.de/pub/ASUSCOM

Chapter 1

Product introduction
ASUS P4S333-M motherboard

Welcome!

Thank you for buying the ASUS A7V266-M motherboard! The A7V266-M is powered by AMD Athlon, Athlon XP and Duron processors and supplies advanced features to ensure long-lasting, superlative performance. The ASUS A7V266-M motherboard is the prime choice for home PCs and workstations. ~ CPU Thermal Protection ~ Up to 3GB of system memory of the latest DDR RAM ~ High-resolution graphics via an AGP 4X slot ~ Digital Audio Interface for 3D sound ~ Realtek LAN networking ~ UltraDMA 100 data rates The A7V266-M is the perfect vehicle to get ahead in the world of power computing!

Package contents

ASUS A7V266-M motherboard (MicroATX form factor: 9.6 in x 9.6 in) ASUS A7V266-M support CD ASUS 2-port USB module 80-conductor ribbon cable for UltraDMA/33/66/100 IDE drives 40-conductor IDE cable Ribbon cable for a 3.5-inch floppy drive Bag of extra jumper caps User Guide
Check your A7V266-M package for the following items.
If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.
ASUS A7V266-M motherboard user guide

Core Specifications

The A7V266-M motherboard is designed and assembled according to the highest standards. This ASUS motherboard represents the latest advances and offers users the finest componentry available today. AMD Athlon/ Athlon XP and Duron Socket A (462) Processor North Bridge Chipset: the VIA KT266A supports AGP 4X/2X mode, 133/100MHz Front Side Bus, and the fastest 266/200MHz memory bus. South Bridge Chipset: the VIA VT8233 integrated peripheral controller supports UltraDMA/100/66/33 for burst mode data transfer rates of up to 100MB/sec, and USB controller with three root hubs for six USB ports. PC2100 / PC1600 DDR Support: Equipped with three Double Data Rate Dual Inline Memory Module (DDR DIMM) sockets to support up to 3GB of DDR DRAM, the newest memory standard with the highest bandwidth and lowest latency currently available. This new memory technology increases performance by executing two actions per clock cycle, resulting in data transfer rates of up to 2.1 GB/s for 133MHz DDR SDRAM and 1.6GB/s for 100MHz DDR SDRAM. UltraDMA/100 Support: Comes with an onboard PCI Bus Master IDE controller with two connectors that support four IDE devices on two channels. Supports UltraDMA/100/66/33, PIO Modes 3 & 4, Bus Master IDE DMA Mode 2, and Enhanced IDE devices, such as DVD-ROM, CDROM, CD-R/RW, LS-120, and Tape Backup drives. Multi-I/O Chipset: Offers complete support for a variety of I/O functions. Provides two high-speed UART compatible serial ports and one parallel port with EPP and ECP capabilities. UART2 can also be directed from COM2 to the Infrared Module for wireless connections. The Super I/O controller supports a floppy disk drive, PS/2 keyboard, and PS/2 mouse. Smart BIOS: 2Mb firmware enables Vcore and CPU/DDR SDRAM frequency adjustments, boot block write protection, and HD/SCSI/MO/ZIP/CD/Floppy boot selection. Expansion: One AGP 4X, four USB ports, two PCI slots, Infrared port Connections: Parallel Port, PS/2 mouse Port, PS/2 keyboard, RJ-45, Microphone, Line In Jack, Line Out Jack, Game/MIDI Connector, Standard ATX power.

CAUTION! Take care not to scrape the motherboard surface when mounting a clamp-style processor fan, or else damage may occur. When mounting a heatsink onto your CPU, make sure that exposed CPU capacitors do not touch the heatsink, or damage may occur! NOTE! Do not neglect to set the correct Bus Frequency and leave the CPU Multiple setting at default to avoid start-up problems.

System memor y

2.5.1 Overview
This motherboard uses only Double Data Rate (DDR) Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM) Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMMs). These sockets support up to 3GB system memory using non-ECC PC200/ 266 DIMMs. Each DIMM socket/module is two-sided: each side defines one row of memory. DIMMs come in combinations of single or double-sided types ranging through 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB and 1GB to form a total memory size of 64MB to 3GB. ~ Three (3) sockets are available for both 266MHz-PC2100 or 200MHzPC1600 DDR DIMMs to form a memory size of 64MB to 3GB.

104 Pins

80 Pins
A7V266-M 184-Pin DDR DIMM Sockets
CAUTION! DIMMs are keyed to fit into notches with only one direction. DO NOT force a DIMM into a socket to avoid damaging the DIMM. DIMMs with more than 18 chips are not supported. ASUS motherboards support SPD (Serial Presence Detect)DIMMs. This is the memory of choice for best performance vs. stability BIOS shows DDR SDRAM memory on bootup screen. This motherboard supports three pairs of differential clock signals per DIMM.
2.5.2 Memory configurations
Install DIMMs in any of the following combinations.
DIMM Location Socket 1 (Rows 0&1) Socket 2 (Rows 2&3) Socket 3 (Rows 4&5) 168-pin DIMM (SDR) 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB x1 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB x1 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB x1 = Total Memory
Total system memory (Max. 3GB)

2.5.3 Installing a DIMM

CAUTION! Make sure to unplug the power supply before adding or removing DIMMs or other system components. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to both the motherboard and the components.

Standard Interrupt Assignments
This table lists the standard IRQ assignments for most PC devices. Standard Function System Timer Keyboard Controller Programmable Interrupt Communications Port (COM2) Communications Port (COM1) Sound Card (sometimes LPT2) Floppy Disk Controller Printer Port (LPT1) System CMOS/Real Time Clock ACPI Mode when used 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 IRQ 2 3* 4* 5* 6 7* 8 9* 10* 11* 12* 13 14* 15* Priority N/A 10
Interrupt Request Table for this Motherboard
This table lists the default IRQ assignments forthis motherboard. Use this table when configuring your system and for resolving IRQ conflicts. A PCI slot 1 PCI slot 2 Onboard USB controller HC0 Onboard USB controller HC1 AGP used Onboard Audio B C D used E F G H shared used shared shared

2.6.3 PCI slots

Two 32-bit PCI slots are available on this motherboard. The slots support PCI cards such as a 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:

2.6.4 AGP slot

This motherboard provides an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP 4X) slot to support AGP graphics cards. Take note of the notches on the card golden fingers to ensure that they fit the AGP slot on your motherboard. Below is an example of a +1.5V AGP card.
A7V266-M Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP )
CAUTION! To avoid damaging your AGP/AGP Pro graphics card, your computers power supply should be unplugged before inserting your graphics card into the slot.

Switches and jumpers

Motherboard Frequency Settings (DIP Switches) The motherboard frequency is adjusted through the DIP switches. The white block represents the switchs position. The illustration below shows all the switches in the OFF position.

ATXPWR

+12.0VDC +5VSB PWR_OK COM +5.0VDC COM +5.0VDC COM +3.3VDC +3.3VDC +5.0VDC +5.0VDC -5.0VDC COM COM COM PS_ON# COM -12.0VDC +3.3VDC
A7V266-M ATX Power Connectors
14) SMBus Connector (5-1 pin SMB) This connector allows you to connect SMBus (System Management Bus) devices. SMBus devices communicate by means of the SMBus with an SMBus host and/or other SMBus devices. SMBus is a multi-device bus that permits multiple chips to connect to the same bus and enable each one to act as a master by initiating data transfer.

SMB_COM

A7V266-M SMBus Connector

Ground SMBDATA +3V

SMBCLK
15) Internal Audio Connectors (4-1 pin CD, AUX, MODEM) (optional) These connectors allow you to receive stereo audio input from sound sources as a CD-ROM, TV tuner, or MPEG card. The MODEM connector allows the onboard audio to interface with a voice modem card with a similar connector. It also allows the sharing of mono_in (such as a phone) and a mono_out (such as a speaker) between the audio and a voice modem card.

CD1 (Black) AUX (White)

Right Audio Channel Ground Ground Left Audio Channel
A7V266-M Internal Audio Connectors
16) USB Headers (10-1 pin USB2_3) If the USB port connectors on th e back panel are inadequate, two USB headers are available for four additional USB port connectors. Connect a 2port USB connector set to a USB header and mount the USB bracket to an open slot in the chassis. (The USB connector set is optional and does not come with the motherboard package.)

USB2_3

GND USBP3+ USBP3 USB Power
NC GND USBP2+ USBP2 USB Power
A7V266-M Front Panel USB Headers
17) Power Supply Thermal Sensor Connector (2 pin JTPWR) If you have a power supply with thermal monitoring, connect its thermal sensor cable to this connector.
Power Supply Thermal Sensor
A7V266-M Thermal Sensor Connector
18) Chassis Open Alarm Lead (4 pin CHASSIS) This lead is for a chassis designed for chassis intrusion detection. This requires an external detection mechanism such as a chassis intrusion monitor/ sensor or microswitch. When any chassis component is removed, the sensor is triggered and a high-level signal is sent to this lead to record a chassis intrusion event.The event is then be processed by software such as LDCM. When not using the chassis intrusion lead, place a jumper cap over the pins to close the circuit.

1. FTP) (see ASUS CONTACT INFORMATION on page x for details) and save to the boot floppy disk you created earlier. 2. Boot from the floppy disk. 3. At the A:\ prompt, type AFLASH and then press <Enter>. 4. At the Main Menu, type 2 then press <Enter>. The Update BIOS Including Boot Block and ESCD screen appears. 5. Type the filename of your new BIOS and the path, for example, A:\XXXXX.XXX, then press <Enter>. To cancel this operation, press <Enter>.
6. When prompted to confirm the BIOS update, press Y to start the update.
7. The utility starts to program the new BIOS information into the Flash ROM. The boot block is updated automatically only when necessary. This minimizes the possibility of boot problems in case of update failures. When the programming is done, the message Flashed Successfully appears.
8. Follow the onscreen instructions to continue.
WARNING! If you encounter problems while updating the new BIOS, DO NOT turn off the system because this may cause boot problems. Just repeat the process, and if the problem persists, load the original BIOS file you saved to the boot disk. If the Flash Memory Writer utility is not able to successfully update a complete BIOS file, the system may not boot. If this happens, call the ASUS service center for support.

BIOS Setup program

This motherboard supports a programmable EEPROM that you can update using the provided utility described in section 4.1 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 EEPROM. The 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 submenus and make your selections among the predetermined choices.

NOTE! 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.

4.2.1 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 Use this menu to enable and make changes to the advanced features. POWER Use this menu to configure and enable Power Management features. BOOT Use this menu to configure the default system device used to locate and load the Operating System. EXIT Use this menu to exit the current menu or to exit the Setup program. To access the menu bar items, press the right or left arrow key on the keyboard until the desired item is highlighted.

4.2.2 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 keys found in the legend bar with their corresponding functions. Navigation Key(s)
<F1> or <Alt + H>

Function Description

Displays the General Help screen from anywhere in the BIOS Setup <Esc> Jumps to the Exit menu or returns to the main menu from a sub-menu Left or Right arrow Selects the menu item to the left or right Up or Down arrow Moves the highlight up or down between fields - (minus key) Scrolls backward through the values for the highlighted field + (plus key) or spacebar Scrolls forward through the values for the highlighted field <Enter> Brings up a selection menu for the highlighted field <Home> or <PgUp> Moves the cursor to the first field <End> or <PgDn> Moves the cursor to the last field <F5> Resets the current screen to its Setup Defaults <F10> Saves changes and exits Setup

General help

In addition to the Item Specific Help window, the BIOS setup program also provides a General Help screen. You may launch this screen from any menu by simply pressing <F1> or the <Alt> + <H> combination. The General Help screen lists the legend keys and their corresponding functions.

Saving changes and exiting the Setup program
See 4.7 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

Note that a right pointer symbol (as shown on the left) appears to the left of certain fields. This pointer indicates that you can display a sub-menu from this field. A sub-menu contains additional options for a field parameter. To display a sub-menu, move the highlight to the field and press <Enter>. The sub-menu appears. Use the legend keys to enter values and move from field to field within a 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. If you accidentally make unwanted changes to any of the fields, use the set default hot key <F5> to load the Setup default values. While moving around through the Setup program, note that explanations appear in the Item Specific Help window located to the right of each menu. This window displays the help text for the currently highlighted field.

Main Menu

When you enter the Setup program, the following screen appears.

System Time [XX:XX:XX]

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> or <Shift> + <Tab> keys to move between the hour, minute, and second fields.

System Date [XX/XX/XXXX]

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: (up to 2084). Use the <Tab> or <Shift> + <Tab> keys to move between the month, day, and year fields.

NOTE! Even if installed, your screen saver does not display when you select [Blank Screen] for the above field.
[V/H SYNC+Blank] blanks the screen and turns off vertical and horizontal scanning. Configuration options: [Blank Screen] [V/H SYNC+Blank] [DPMS Standby] [DPMS Suspend] [DPMS OFF] [DPMS Reduce ON]
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: [Disabled] [1 Min] [2 Min] [3 Min].[15 Min]
Suspend-to-RAM Capability [Disabled]
This field allows you to enable or disable the ACPI Suspend-to-RAM feature. To support this feature, the +5VSB of the power supply should have the capacity to provide more than 720mA current. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

Suspend Mode [Disabled]

Sets the time period before the system goes into suspend mode. Configuration options: [Disabled] [1~2 Min] [2~3 Min] [4~5 min] [8~9 Min] [20 Min] [30 Min]
PWR Button < 4 Secs [Soft Off]
When set to [Soft off], the ATX switch can be used as a normal system poweroff 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: [Soft off] [Suspend]
CPU Thermal Option [Disabled]
This feature prolongs the life of the CPU and motherboard by monitoring the temperature of the CPU; if overheating occurs, the CPU throttles down or shuts down completely. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

4.5.1 Power Up Control

AC PWR Loss Restart [Disabled]
This allows you to set whether or not to reboot the system after power interruptions. [Disabled] leaves your system off while [Enabled] reboots the system. [Previous State] sets the system back to the state it was before the power interruption. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] [Previous State]
PWR Up On External Modem Act [Disabled]
The computer may be powered up the computer if the external modem receives a call while the system is in Soft-off mode. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
NOTE! The computer cannot receive or transmit data until the computer and applications are fully running. Thus, connection cannot be made on the first try. Turning an external modem off and then back on while the computer is off sends an initialization string that turns system power on.
Wake On LAN or PCI Modem [Disabled]
When set to [Enabled], the system through a network or a PCI modem. This feature requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB lead. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

Exit Saving Changes

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.
NOTE! If you attempt to exit the Setup program without saving your changes, the program prompts you with a message asking if you want to save your changes before exiting. Pressing <Enter> saves the changes while exiting.

Exit Discarding Changes

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 Setup Defaults

This option allows you to load the default values for each of the parameters on the Setup menus. When you select this option or if you press <F5>, a confirmation window appears. Select [Yes] to load default values. Select Exit Saving Changes or make other changes before saving the values to the non-volatile RAM.

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 any changes to the non-volatile RAM.

Chapter 5

Software support
Install an operating system
This motherboard supports Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP and OS/2 operating system (OS). Always install the latest OS version and corresponding updates so you can maximize the features of your hardware.
5.1.1 Windows 98 first time installation
When you start Windows for the first time after installing the motherboard, Windows 98 detects all Plug-n-Play devices devices. Follow the Add New Hardware wizard to install the necessary device drivers. When prompted to restart, select No. Refer to the following sections in this chapter to install the software and drivers contained in the support CD.

NOTE! 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.

Suppor t CD information

The support CD that came with the motherboard contains useful software and several utility drivers that enhance the motherboard features.
NOTE! The contents of the support CD are subject to change at any time without notice. Visit the ASUS website for updates.
5.2.1 Running the support CD
To begin using the support CD, simply insert the CD into your CD-ROM drive. The CD automatically displays the welcome screen and the installation menus if Autorun is enabled in your computer.
5.3 A7V266-M Motherboard Support CD
To begin using the support CD disc, insert it into the CD-ROM drive and the CD installation menu should appear. If the menu does not appear, use the explorer to locate the contents of the CD ROM and then double-click ASSETUP.EXE.

5.3.1 Installation Menu

VIA 4 in 1 drivers: Installs PCI Bus Master IDE Driver, VIA AGP Driver, VIA INF Driver, and IRQ Routing Driver. VIA Bus Master PCI IDE MPD Driver: Installs PCI Bus Master IDE Driver Audio Driver: Installs the latest audio driver. Audio Patch Driver: Installs a patch to resolve audio-muting problems after returning from S1 sleep state. Realtek RTL8139C PCI Fast Ethernet NIC Driver: Installs the network driver to support the onboard NIC. ASUS PC Probe: Installs a smart utility to monitor your computers fan, temperature, and voltages. ASUS Update: Instals a program that can help you update BIOS or download a BIOS image file. Microsoft DirectX Driver: Installs basic drivers to enable compatibility with audio, video and other system operations. PC-Cillin 2000 Vx.xx: Installs the PC-cillin virus protection software. View online help for more information. ADOBE Acrobat Reader Vx.xx: Installs the Adobe Acrobat Reader software necessary to view users manuals saved in PDF format. Updated or other language versions of this motherboard's manual is available in PDF format at any of our web sites.
(CLICK RIGHT ARROW ON THE LOWER-RIGHT CORNER)
Chapter 5: Software support
Cyberlink Video and Audio Applications: Installs Cyberlink PowerPlayer SE and Cyberlink VideoLive Mail. ASUS Screen Saver: Installs a nifty ASUS screen saver. E-Color 3Deep: Installs graphical driver and an application for tuning the quality of color output from CRT and LCD monitors. Show Motherboard Information: Allows you to view information about your motherboard, such as product name, BIOS version, and CPU. Browse Support CD: Allows you to view the contents of the CD. ReadMe: Allows you to view the support CD file list and contact information. Exit: Exits the CD installation menu.

(CLICK LEFT ARROW ON THE LOWER-RIGHT CORNER)
5.3.2 Installation Procedure
Click on the name of the driver or program group on the Installation Items Menu to begin installation. Follow the instructions that appear on the setup screens. All drivers and programs install automatically. Refer to 6. Software Reference for operating instructions.

ASUS PC Probe

ASUS PC Probe is a convenient utility to continuously monitor your computer systems vital components, such as fan rotations, Voltages, and temperatures. It also has a utility that lets you review useful information about your computer, such as hard disk space, memory usage, and CPU type, CPU speed, and internal/external frequencies through the DMI Explorer.
5.4.1 Starting ASUS PC Probe
When ASUS PC Probe starts, a splash screen appears allowing you to select whether or not to show the screen the next time you open PC Probe. To bypass this startup screen, clear the Show up in next execution check box.
To start ASUS PC Probe, click the Windows Start button, point to Programs, and then ASUS Utility, and then click Probe Vx.xx. will appear on the taskbars system tray indicating The PC Probe icon that ASUS PC Probe is running. Clicking the icon will allow you to see the status of your PC.
5.4.2 Using ASUS PC Probe

Monitoring

Monitor Summary Shows a summary of the items being monitored.
Temperature Monitor Shows the PCs temperature.
Temperature Warning threshold adjustment (Move the slider up to increase the threshold level or down to decrease the threshold level)
Fan Monitor Shows the PCs fan rotation.
Fan Warning threshold adjustment (Move the slider up to increase the threshold level or down to decrease the threshold level)
Voltage Monitor Shows the PCs voltages.
Chapter 5: Software reference
Settings Lets you set threshold levels and polling intervals or refresh times of the PCs temperature, fan rotation, and voltages.
CPU Cooling System Setup Lets you select when to enable software CPU cooling. When When CPU Overheated is selected, the CPU cooling system is enabled whenever the CPU temperature reaches the threshold value.

2. FEATURES Specifications
PCI Expansion Slots: Five 32-bit PCI (Rev. 2.2) expansion slots that support Bus Master PCI cards, like SCSI or LAN cards, with 133MB/s maximum throughput. Advanced Communication Riser (ACR): Features an ACR slot for the Advanced Communication Riser card. The ACR specification supports modem, audio and LAN technologies. The ACR is backward compatible with the Audio Modem Riser (AMR). Wake-On-LAN: Supports Wake-On-LAN activity through an optional ASUS PCI-L/100 Fast Ethernet PCI card. Wake-On-Ring: Supports Wake-On-Ring activity through a PCI modem card. Super Multi-I/O: The multi-I/O chipset offers complete support for a variety of I/O functions. Provides two high-speed UART compatible serial ports and one parallel port with EPP and ECP capabilities. UART2 can also be directed from COM2 to the Infrared Module for wireless connections. The Super I/O controller also supports a floppy disk drive, PS/2 keyboard, and PS/2 mouse. Smart BIOS: 2Mb firmware provides Vcore and CPU/DDR SDRAM frequency adjustments, boot block write protection, and HD/SCSI/MO/ZIP/CD/Floppy boot selection. Enhanced ACPI and Anti-Boot Virus Protection: Programmable BIOS (Flash EEPROM) that offers enhanced ACPI for Windows 98/2000/ME compatibility, built-in firmware-based virus protection, and autodetection of most devices for a virtual automatic setup. IrDA: Supports an optional infrared port module for wireless interface. Desktop Management Interface (DMI): Supports DMI through BIOS that allows hardware to communicate within a standard protocol and create a higher level of compatibility. (Requires DMI-enabled components.) Onboard LED: Comes with a power LED that lights up if there is any standby power on the motherboard. This LED acts as a reminder to turn off the system power before plugging or unplugging devices to prevent damage to the motherboard, peripherals, and other system components. Easy Connectivity and System Information Access: Supports an optional ASUS iPanel, an easy-to-access box with system diagnostic display area, system status LEDs, USB ports, and hot keys. The AFPANEL connector on the motherboard accommodates the ASUS iPanel.

2.1.2 Performance

DDR DRAM Optimized Performance: This motherboard supports a new generation memory, Double Data Rate (DDR) Dynamic Random Access Memory (DDR DRAM). This new memory technology increases performance by executing two actions per clock cycle, resulting in data transfer rates of up to 2.1 GB/s for 133MHz DDR SDRAM and 1.6GB/s for 100MHz DDR SDRAM. Onboard Audio: Audio models come with the six-channel C-Media CMI8738 PCI audio controller that supplies HRTF 3D positional audio functions. The chip supports software access to PC DVD 5.1/6.1 and AC-3/DTS via SPDIF. Other integrative featues include: full DVD playback, PCtel 56K modem, and even Karaoke echo effects. The chip offers 24-bit SPDIF digital recording and playback with additional support for legacy audio SBPRO and FM emulator/ DLS wavetable music synthesis. A software package helps setup the multichannel PC sound system. ACPI Ready: Advanced Configuration Power Interface (ACPI) provides more Energy Saving Features for operating systems that support OS Direct Power Management (OSPM) functionality. With these features employed in the OS, PCs can be ready around the clock but comply with energy saving standards. To fully utilize the ACPI benefits, use an ACPI-supported OS such as Windows 98. Smartcard Reader Connector: Features a connector that provides the convenience of PS/SC compatible Smart Card security along with support for a multitude of new financial, telephonic, and mobile access services. PC99 Compliant: Both the BIOS and hardware levels of ASUS smart series motherboards are PC99 compliant. The new PC99 requirements for systems and components are based on the following high-level goals: Support for Plugn-Play compatibility and power management for configuring and managing all system components, and 32-bit device drivers and installation procedures for Windows95/98/NT. Color-coded connectors and descriptive icons make identification easy as required by PC99. High-Speed Data Transfer Interface: Support for UltraDMA/100 through the onboard IDE bus master controller triples the UltraDMA/33 burst transfer rate. UltraDMA/100 is backward compatible with DMA/66, DMA/33, and other existing DMA devices to save the need to upgrade current EIDE/IDE drives. (UltraDMA/66 requires a 40-pin 80-conductor cable). Concurrent PCI: Concurrent PCI allows multiple PCI transfers from PCI master busses to the memory and processor.

2. FEATURES Performance

2.1.3 Intelligence
Auto Fan Off: The system fans powers off automatically even in sleep mode. This function reduces both energy consumption and system noise, and is an important feature in implementing silent PC systems. Dual Function Power Button: Pushing the power button for less than 4 seconds when the system is in the working state places the system into one of two states: sleep mode or soft-off mode, depending on the BIOS or OS setting (See PWR Button < 4 Secs in 4.5 Power Menu). When the power button is pressed for more than 4 seconds, the system enters the soft-off mode regardless of the BIOS setting. Fan Status Monitoring and Alarm: To prevent system overheat and system damage, the CPU and system fans can be monitored for RPM and failure. All fans are set for its normal RPM range and alarm thresholds. Power LED (requires ACPI OS support): The power LED indicates the system status. Remote Ring-On (requires modem): This allows a computer to be turned on remotely through an internal or external modem. With this benefit on-hand, users can access vital information from their computers anywhere. Temperature Monitoring and Alert: CPU temperature is monitored by the ASUS ASIC through the CPUs internal thermal diode (on Pentium III and Celeron) to prevent system overheat and system damage. Voltage Monitoring and Alert: System voltage levels are monitored to ensure stable voltage to critical motherboard components. Voltage specifications are more critical for future processors, so monitoring is necessary to ensure proper system configuration and management. Chassis Intrusion Detection: Supports chassis-intrusion monitoring through the ASUS ASIC. A chassis intrusion event is kept in memory on battery power for more protection.

2. FEATURES Intelligence

2.2 Motherboard Components
See opposite page for locations.
Location Processor Support Socket A for AMD Athlon and Duron Processors. 2 Feature Setting DIP Switches... 3 Chipsets VIA VT8366 North Bridge... 1 VIA VT8233 South Bridge... 9 ASUS System Monitor controller.. 7 C-Media 6 Channel CMI8738 PCI audio controller. 13 Multi-I/O controller... 18 2Mbit Programmable Flash EEPROM.. 17 Main Memory Maximum 3GB support 3 DDR DIMM Sockets... 4 Expansion Slots 5 PCI Slots... Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) Pro/4X Slot. Advanced Communication Riser... 12 System I/O 1 Floppy Disk Drive Connector.. IDE Connectors (UltraDMA/100 Support).. ASUS iPanel Connector... Parallel Port... (Top) Serial Ports (COM1/COM2).. (Bottom) 22, 24 USB Connectors (Port 0 & Port 1). (Bottom) 25 USB Connectors (Ports 2/3/4/5).. PS/2 Mouse Connector... (Top) PS/2 Keyboard Connector.. (Bottom) 26 Hardware Monitoring System Voltage Monitoring (integrated in ASUS ASIC). Fan Power and Speed Monitoring Connectors Special Feature Onboard LED... 19 Smart Card Connector (optional).. 16 Audio Features (on audio models only) CMI8738 6-Channel Audio Controller.. ASUS iPanel Audio Connector.. Game/MIDI Port... (Top) Line Out Connector.. (Bottom, left) Line In Connector.. (Bottom, center) Microphone Connector.. (Bottom, right) 21 Internal Audio Connectors Power ATX Power Supply Connector.. 5 Form Factor ATX

ON Standby Power

OFF Powered Off

A7V266 Onboard LED

3. H/W SETUP Motherboard Settings
Motherboard Frequency Settings (DIP Switches) The motherboard frequency is adjusted through the DIP switches. The white block represents the switchs position. The illustration below shows all the switches in the OFF position.

CPU_RATIO

A7V266 DIP Switch
1) JumperFree Mode (JEN) This jumper allows you to enable or disable the JumperFree mode. The JumperFree mode allows processor settings to be made through the BIOS setup (see 4.4 Advanced Menu). Setting Enable (JumperFree) Disable (Jumper Mode) JEN [2-3] (default) [1-2]
A7V266 Jumper Mode Setting
NOTE: In JumperFree mode, set all DIP switches (DIP_SW) to OFF.

ON OFF

Jumper Mode

Jumper Free (Default)

2) CPU External Frequency Selection (DIP_SW Switches 14) This option tells the clock generator what frequency to send to the CPU, DRAM, and the PCI bus. This allows the selection of the CPUs External frequency (or BUS Clock). The BUS Clock multiplied by the Frequency Multiple equals the CPUs Internal frequency (the advertised CPU speed).

ON ON ON ON

CPU 100MHz AGP 60.67MHz PCI 33.33MHz
133.33MHz 140MHz 66.67MHz 70MHz 33.33MHz 35MHz

(JumperFree Mode)

WARNING! Set the CPU frequency only to the recommended settings. Frequencies other than the recommended CPU bus frequencies are not guaranteed to be stable. Overclocking the processor is not recommended. It may result in a slower speed. 3) Manual CPU Ratio Settings (DSW Switches 5-10) Set DSW switches (5-10) to use the clock multiplier to coordinate the ratio of bus speeds with CPU settings. Set the DSW switches according to the internal speed of your processor and the bus frequency (133/100MHz). IMPORTANT: 1. To use this feature, JEN must be set to Jumper Mode, [1-2]. (See 1, JumperFree Mode (JEN) in 3, HARDWARE SETUP.) 2. When JumperFree mode is enabled, use BIOS setup in place of these switches. (Set Operating Frequency Setting to User Define under 4.4 Advanced Menu in BIOS Setup so you can set the CPU Frequency.)

ON 5 ON

A7V266 CPU External Clock (BUS) Frequency Selection
A7V266 CPU External Frequency Selection
4) CPU Type Frequency Setting (PALO_FREQ) This jumper setting accomodates the difference between the internal frequency between standard and new AMD CPUs. If changing from one type of CPU to another, the jumper caps must be adjusted. The factory default setting, [2-3], is for standard Athlon/Duron CPUs. The Palomino processor will only function on this motherboard after the jumpers are adjusted to [1-2].

A7V266 PALO_FREQ Setting

5) I/O Voltage Settings (JP1, JP2) These jumpers allow you to select the voltage supplied to the DRAM, chipset, AGP, and PCI. The default setting for the jumpers is: JP1 [2-3] and JP2 [1-2], 2.65 volts. Use the default setting for better system reliability.

A7V266 Voltage Setting

FID0 FID1 FID2 FID3

3 FID0 FID1 FID2 FID3

PALOMINO

ATHLON/DURON (Default)

JP1/JP2
3 JP1 JP2 2.5V 2.65V (Default) 2.75V 2.8V 3
6) Voltage Regulator Output Setting (VID1, VID2, VID3, VID4) This jumpers allow you to manually adjust the CPU core voltage. It is recommended to use CPU Default as the CPU core voltage. CPU Default means the Vcore is generated according to the CPU VID configuration. For each jumper setting, there are two voltage options, depending on the CPU used.
A7V266 CPU Core Voltage Selection
7) Bass Center Setting (CENTER/BASS, BASS/CENTER) Use these jumpers in conjunction with the C-Media PCI Audio Driver and to adjust output for 4 or 6 speaker audio. No audio standard exists for the three pick-up surfaces on male audio jacks, therefore it may be necessary to switch jumpers from the default position, type 1, to type 2, in order to help reroute signals among the internal leads in the Line-In, Line-Out, Mic female sockets. Make sure a test is made using the C-Media Audio Driver software setup available on the Support CD.
type 1 Bass (CENTER/BASS) (Default)
type 2 Bass (BASS/CENTER)
A7V266 Bass Center Setting
1.85/1.825Volts VID4 VID3 VID2 VID2 3

1.8/1.775Volts 3

1.75/1.725Volts

1.7/1.675Volts

8) Keyboard Wake Up (KBWK) This allows you to disable or enable the keyboard power up function. Set this jumper to Enable if you wish to use your keyboard (by pressing <Spacebar>) to power up your computer. This feature requires an ATX power supply that can supply at least 300mA on the +5VSB lead. The default is set to Enable. (The computer will not power ON if you set this to Enable but do not have the correct ATX power supply. NOTE: This jumper must be set in conjunction with Wake On PS2 KB/PS2 Mouse/CIR in 4.5.1 Power Up Control. Setting Enable Disable

3.5 System Memory
This motherboard features three Double Data Rate (DDR) Dual Inline Memory Module sockets.

3.5.1 DDR DIMM Support

The two DDR DIMM sockets support 2.5Volt (power level) unbuffered/registered Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (DDR SDRAM) of 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, and 1GB to form a memory size between 64MB to 3GB. One side (with memory chips) of the DIMM takes up one row on the motherboard. DDR DIMMs support non-ECC memory (used on desktops/laptops). Install memory in any combination as follows:
Socket 1 (Rows 0&1) Socket 2 (Rows 2&3) Socket 3 (Rows 4&5)
64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB Total System Memory (Max 3GB)

x1 x1 x1 =

3. H/W SETUP System Memory

DIMM Location

184-pin DDR DIMM

Total Memory

3.5.1 General DIMM Notes
DIMMs that have more than 18 chips are not supported on this motherboard. ASUS motherboards support SPD (Serial Presence Detect) DIMMs. This is the memory of choice for best performance vs. stability. BIOS shows SDRAM memory on bootup screen. Single-sided DDR DIMMs come in 64, 128, and 256MB; double-sided come in 128, 256, and 512MB.
WARNING! Be sure that the DIMMs you use can handle the specified DDR RAM MHz or else bootup will not be possible.
3.5.2 Memory Installation
26 WARNING! Make sure that you unplug your power supply when adding or removing memory modules or other system components. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to both your motherboard and expansion cards (see 3.3 Hardware Setup Procedure for more information). Insert the module(s) as shown. Because the number of pins are different on either side of the breaks, the module will only fit in the orientation shown. A 184-pin DDR DRAM DIMM has a single notch slightly to the right of center.
A7V266 184-Pin DDR DIMM Sockets
This motherboard supports three pairs of differential clock signals per DIMM.

104 Pins

80 Pins
3.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The motherboard provides a Socket 462 or Socket A for CPU installation. A fan and heatsink should be attached to the CPU to prevent overheating. Purchase and install a fan and heatsink before turning on the system.
CPU NOTCH TO INNER CORNER

LOCK LEVER

AMD CPU A7V266 Socket A

CPU NOTCH

2. Insert the CPU with the correct orientation. The notched corner of the CPU must be oriented toward the inner corner of the socket base nearest to the lever hinge. CAUTION! The CPU fits in one orientation and 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. 3. Once completely inserted, press the CPU firmly and close the socket lever until it snaps into its locked position. 4. Place the CPU fan and heatsink on the CPU. The heatsink should entirely cover the CPU. Carefully attach the heatsink locking brace to the plastic clips on the socket base. With the added weight of the CPU fan and heatsink locking brace, no extra force is required to keep the CPU in place. CAUTION! Take care not to scrape the motherboard surface when mounting a clamp-style processor fan, or else damage may occur. When mounting a heatsink onto your CPU, make sure that exposed CPU capacitors do not touch the heatsink, or else damage may occur! Refer to heatsink/CPU documentation. NOTE! Do not forget to set the correct Bus Frequency and Multiple (available only on unlocked processors) to avoid start-up problems.
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).

3.7 Expansion Cards

In the future, you may need to install expansion cards. The motherboard has five PCI expansion slots to support these cards. Follow the steps in the next section when installing expansion cards. WARNING! Unplug the system power cord when adding or removing expansion cards or other system components. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to both the motherboard and expansion cards.

3. H/W SETUP Connectors

1) PS/2 Mouse Port (Green 6-pin PS2KBMS) The system automatically directs IRQ12 to the PS/2 mouse if one is detected. If no mouse is detected, IRQ12 become available to expansion cards. See PS/2 Mouse Function Control in 4.4 Advanced Menu.
3) Universal Serial Bus Ports 1 & 2 (Black two 4-pin USB) Two USB ports are available for connecting USB devices.
Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2
4) Parallel Port (Burgundy 25-pin PRINTER) You can enable the parallel port and choose the IRQ through Onboard Parallel Port (see 4.4.2 I/O Device Configuration). NOTE: Serial printers must be connected to the serial port.
Parallel Port (25-pin Female)
5) Serial Ports (Teal/Turquoise 9-pin COM1 / 9-pin COM2) Two serial ports can be used for pointing devices or other serial devices. To enable these ports, see Onboard Serial Port 1 / Onboard Serial Port 2 in 4.4.2 I/O Device Configuration for the settings.
COM1 COM2 Serial Ports (9-pin Male)
6) Game/MIDI Ports (Gold 15-pin GAME_AUDIO) (optional) This connector supports a joystick or a game pad for playing games, and MIDI devices for playing or editing audio files.
Joystick/Midi (15-pin Female)
7) Audio Connectors (Three 1/8 AUDIO) (optional) The Line Out (lime) connects a headphone or speakers. The Line In (light blue) connects a tape players or other audio sources. The Mic (pink) connects a microphone. NOTE: The functions of the audio connectors Line Out, Line In, and Mic change when the 6-channel audio feature is enabled. Refer to Chapter 5. SOFTWARE SETUP.
Line Out Line In Mic 1/8" Stereo Audio Connectors
8) IDE Activity LED (2-pin IDELED) This connector supplies power to the cabinets IDE activity LED. Read and write activity by devices connected to the Primary or Secondary IDE connectors cause the IDE LED to light up.
TIP: If the case-mounted LED does not light, try reversing the 2-pin plug.

A7V266 IDE Activity LED

A7V266 Floppy Disk Drive Connector
9) Floppy Disk Drive Connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY) This connector supports the provided floppy drive ribbon cable. After connecting the single end to the board, connect the two plugs on the other end to the floppy drives. (Pin 5 is removed to prevent inserting in the wrong orientation when using ribbon cables with pin 5 plugged).
NOTE: Orient the red markings on the floppy ribbon cable to PIN 1
10) Primary (Blue) / Secondary IDE Connectors (40-1 pin IDE1/IDE2) These connectors support the UltraDMA/100/66 IDE hard disk ribbon cable supplied with the motherboard. Connect the cables blue connector to the primary (recommended) or secondary IDE connector, then connect the gray connector to the UltraDMA/100/66 slave device (hard disk drive) and the black connector to the UltraDMA/100/66 master device. It is recommended that non-UltraDMA/ 100/66 devices be connected to the secondary IDE connector. If you install two hard disks, you must configure the second drive as a slave device by setting its jumper accordingly. Refer to the hard disk documentation for the jumper settings. BIOS supports specific device bootup (see 4.6. Boot Menu). If you have more than two UltraDMA/100/66 devices, purchase another UltraDMA/100/66 cable. NOTES: 1. Pin 20 on each IDE connector is removed to match the covered hole on the UltraDMA cable connector. This prevents incorrect orientation when you connect the cables. 2. The hole near the blue connector on the UltraDMA/100/66 cable is intentional. TIP: You may configure two hard disks to be both Masters with two ribbon cables: one for the primary IDE connector and another for the secondary IDE connector. IMPORTANT: For UltraDMA/100/66 IDE devices,use a 40-pin 80-conductor IDE cable. The UltraDMA/66 cable included in the motherboard package also supports UltraDMA/100.

4.3 Main Menu

When you enter the Setup program, the following screen appears:
System Time [XX:XX:XX] 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> or <Shift> + <Tab> keys to move between the hour, minute, and second fields. System Date [XX/XX/XXXX] 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: (100 year range). Use the <Tab> or <Shift> + <Tab> keys to move between the month, day, and year fields. Legacy Diskette A [1.44M, 3.5 in.], Legacy Diskette B [None] Sets the type of floppy drives 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.] Floppy 3 Mode Support [Disabled] This is required to support older Japanese floppy drives. The Floppy 3 Mode feature allows reading and writing of 1.2MB (as opposed to 1.44MB) on a 3.5-inch diskette. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

4. BIOS SETUP Main Menu

4.3.1 Primary & Secondary Master/Slave
NOTE: 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. CAUTION! Before attempting to configure a hard disk drive, make sure you have the configuration information supplied by the drive manufacturer. Incorrect settings may cause the system to fail to recognize the installed hard disk.
4. BIOS SETUP Master/Slave Drives
Type [Auto] Select [Auto] to automatically detect an IDE hard disk drive. If automatic detection is successful, Setup 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 an older system, Setup may detect incorrect parameters. In these cases, select [User Type HDD] to manually enter the IDE hard disk drive parameters. Refer to the next section for details.

[User Type HDD]

Manually enter the number of cylinders, heads and sectors per track for the drive. Refer to the drive documentation or on the drive label for this information. If no drive is installed or if you are removing a drive and not replacing it, select [None]. Translation Method [LBA] Select the hard disk drive type in this field. When Logical Block Addressing (LBA) is enabled, 28-bit addressing of the hard drive disregarding cylinders, heads, or sectors. Note that LBA Mode is necessary for drives with more than 504MB storage capacity. Configuration options: [LBA] [LARGE] [Normal] [Match Partition Table] [Manual] Cylinders This field configures the number of cylinders. Refer to the drive documentation to determine the correct value to enter into this field. NOTE: To make changes to this field, set the Type field to [User Type HDD] and the Translation Method field to [Manual]. Head This field configures the number of read/write heads. Refer to the drive documentation to determine the correct value to enter into this field. NOTE: To make changes to this field, set the Type field to [User Type HDD] and the Translation Method field to [Manual]. Sector This field configures the number of sectors per track. Refer to the drive documentation to determine the correct value to enter into this field. NOTE: To make changes to this field, set the Type field to [User Type HDD] and the Translation Method field to [Manual]. 54 ASUS A7V266 Users Manual

4.4.3 PCI Configuration

Slot 1, Slot 2, Slot 3, Slot 4/5 IRQ [Auto] These fields automatically assign the IRQ for each PCI slot. The default setting for each field is [Auto], which utilizes auto-routing to determine IRQ assignments. Configuration options: [Auto] [NA] [3] [4] [5] [7] [9] [10] [11] [12] [14] [15] PCI/VGA Palette Snoop [Disabled] Some non-standard VGA cards, such as graphics accelerators or MPEG video cards, may not show colors properly. Setting this field to [Enabled] corrects this problem. If you are using standard VGA cards, leave this field to the default setting [Disabled]. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] PCI Latency Timer [32] Leave this field to the default setting [32] for best performance and stability. SYMBIOS SCSI BIOS [Auto] [Auto] allows the BIOS to detect whether you have a SYMBIOS SCSI card. If such card is detected, the SCSI BIOS is enabled. Otherwise, the onboard SCSI BIOS is disabled. The setting [Disabled] disables the onboard SYMBIOS SCSI BIOS so that the BIOS on an add-on SYMBIOS SCSI card can be used. If the SYMBIOS SCSI card does not have a BIOS, the Symbios SCSI card will not work. Configuration options: [Auto] [Disabled]
4. BIOS SETUP PCI Configuration
USB Function [Enabled] Set this field to [Enabled] if you want to use Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Primary VGA BIOS [PCI Card] This field allows you to select the primary graphics card. Configuration options: [PCI Card] [AGP Card]
PCI IRQ Resource Exclusion
IRQ XX Used By ISA [No/ICU] These fields indicate whether or not the displayed IRQ for each field is being used by a legacy (non-PnP) ISA card. The setting [No/ICU] for an IRQ field indicates that you are using the ISA Configuration Utility (ICU), and that this particular IRQ is NOT required by a legacy ISA card. Set the IRQ field to [Yes] if you install a legacy ISA card that requires a unique IRQ and you are NOT using ICU. Configuration options: [No/ICU] [Yes]

4.5 Power Menu

The Power menu allows you to reduce power consumption. This feature turns off the video display and shuts down the hard disk after a period of inactivity.

5.1 Install Operating System
You should always use the latest operating system and updates when using new hardware to ensure full compliancy. You may use any version of Windows 98/2000/ Millenium, but for Windows 95, you must use OSR 2.0 or later. For Windows NT 4.0, you must use Service Pack 3.0 or later.

5.2 Start Windows

When you start Windows for the first time after installing your motherboard, Windows will detect all plug-and play devices. Follow the Add New Hardware Wizard to install all necessary device drivers. When prompted to restart, select No and then follow the setup procedures in this section. NOTE: Because there are various motherboard settings, options, and expansion cards, the following can only be used as a general reference and may not reflect exactly the screen contents displayed on your screen.

5. S/W SETUP OS

5.3 A7V266 Series Motherboard Support CD
NOTE: The support CD contents are subject to change at any time without notice. To begin using your support CD disc, just insert it into your CD-ROM drive and the support CD installation menu should appear. If the menu does not appear, doubleclick or run D:\ASSETUP.EXE (assuming that your CD-ROM drive is drive D:).

5.3.1 Installation Menu

VIA 4 in 1 drivers: Installs Bus Master PCI IDE Driver, AGP VxD Driver, VIA Chipset Functions Registry, and IRQ Routing Miniport Driver. C-Media PCI Audio Driver and Application: Installs the drivers for the C-Media Audio Driver and its program applications to set-up multi-channel audio features. Windbond Smart Manager Application: Installs the Smart Manager program, base components and drivers to read smart cards for system security and file encryption. ASUS PC Probe Vx.xx: Installs a smart utility to monitor your computers fan, temperature, and voltages. ASUS Update Vx.xx: Instals a program that can help you update BIOS or download a BIOS image file. Microsoft DirectX Driver: Installs basic drivers to enable compatibility with audio and other special functions. PC-Cillin 2000 Vx.xx: Installs the PC-cillin virus protection software. View online help for more information. ADOBE Acrobat Reader Vx.xx: Installs the Adobe Acrobat Reader software necessary to view users manuals saved in PDF format. Updated or other language versions of this motherboard's manual is available in PDF format at any of our web sites. Cyberlink Video and Audio Applications: Installs Cyberlink PowerPlayer SE, PowerDVD Trial, and Cyberlink VideoLive Mail. ASUS Screen Saver: Installs a nifty ASUS screen saver.

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) BIOS is a set of routines that affect how the computer transfers data between computer components, such as memory, disks, and the display adapter. The BIOS instructions are built into the computers read-only memory. BIOS parameters can be configured by the user through the BIOS Setup program. The BIOS can be updated using the provided utility to copy a new BIOS file into the EEPROM. Bit (Binary Digit) Represents the smallest unit of data used by the computer. A bit can have one of two values: 0 or 1.

7. APPENDIX Glossary

Boot Boot means to start the computer operating system by loading it into system memory. When the manual instructs you to boot your system (or computer), it means to turn ON your computer. Reboot means to restart your computer. When using Windows 95 or later, selecting Restart from Start | Shut Down. will reboot your computer. Bus Master IDE PIO (Programmable I/O) IDE requires that the CPU be involved in IDE access and waiting for mechanical events. Bus master IDE transfers data to/from the memory without interrupting the CPU. Bus master IDE driver and bus master IDE hard disk drives are required to support bus master IDE mode. Byte (Binary Term) One byte is a group of eight contiguous bits. A byte is used to represent a single alphanumeric character, punctuation mark, or other symbol. COM Port COM is a logical device name used by to designate the computer serial ports. Pointing devices, modems, and infrared modules can be connected to COM ports. Each COM port is configured to use a different IRQ and address assignment. Concurrent PCI Concurrent PCI maximizes system performance with simultaneous CPU, PCI and ISA bus activities. It includes multi-transaction timing, enhanced write performance, a passive release mechanism and support for PCI 2.1 compliant delayed transactions. Concurrent PCI provides increased bandwidth, reduced system latencies, improves video and audio performance, and improves processing of host based applications. CPU (Central Processing Unit) The CPU, sometimes called Processor, actually functions as the brain of the computer. It interprets and executes program commands and processes data stored in memory. Currently, there are socket 370 (for Pentium III FC-PGA and CeleronPPGA), socket 7 (for Pentium, AMD, Cyrix, IBM), slot 1 (for Pentium II and III), slot 2 (for Xeon), and slot A (for AMD) processors. Device Driver A device driver is a special set of instructions that allows the computers operating system to communicate with devices such as VGA, audio, printer, or modem. DOS (Disk Operating System) DOS is the foundation on which all other programs and software applications operate, including Windows. DOS is responsible for allocating system resources such as memory, CPU time, disk space, and access to peripheral devices. For this reason, DOS constitutes the basic interface between you and your computer. DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) There are several different types of DRAM such as, EDO DRAM (Extended Data Output DRAM), SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM), and RDRAM (Rambus DRAM). Flash ROM The flash ROM is designed to be a resident program and can be updated by a specific programming method. Normally, the flash ROM is used for system BIOS which initiates hardware devices and sets up necessary parameters for the OS. Since the contents of flash ROM can be modified, users are able to update the BIOS by themselves. IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) IDE devices integrate the drive control circuitry directly on the drive itself, eliminating the need for a separate adapter card (in the case for SCSI devices). UltraDMA/ 33 IDE devices can achieve up to 33MB/Sec transfer.

ROM (Read Only Memory) ROM is nonvolatile memory used to store permanent programs (called firmware) used in certain computer components. Flash ROM (or EEPROM) can be reprogrammed with new programs (or BIOS). SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) High speed multi-threaded I/O interface defined by the X3T9.2 committee of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for connecting many peripheral devices. The standard started from 10MBytes/sec to 160MBytes/sec available today. SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM) The SDRAM features a fully synchronous operation referenced to a positive edge clock whereby all operations are synchronized at a clock input which enables the coexistence of high performance and a simple user interface. SDRAM takes memory access away from the CPU's control; internal registers in the chips accept the request, and let the CPU do something else while the data requested is assembled for the next time the CPU talks to the memory. As they work on their own clock cycle, the rest of the system can be clocked faster. There is a version optimized for video cards, and main memory for motherboards. SPD for SDRAM module Serial Presence Detect (SPD) is most like an ID detect for SDRAM module, it using a EEPROM component on DIMM module for storing module configuration information inside. The Serial Presence Detect function is implemented using a 2048 bit EEPROM component. This nonvolatile storage device contains data programmed by the DIMM manufacturer that identifies the module type and various SDRAM organization and timing parameters. SSE (Streaming SIMD Extensions) A set of new instructions added to existing architectures that enables a better visual experience with an accelerated 3D geometry pipeline and support for new applications, such as real-time video encoding and speech recognition. System Disk A system disk contains the core file of an operating system and is used to boot up the operating system. UltraDMA Ultra DMA/33 is a "synchronous DMA" protocol designed by Intel. This function is included into Intel's PIIX4 chipset. The traditional IDE transfer only uses one edge of the data stroke as the data transfer. Ultra DMA/33 uses both edges of data strobe when the data is transferred. Hence, the data transfer rate is double of the PIO mode 4 or DMA mode 2 (16.6MB/s x2 = 33MB/s) on ATA-2 devices. Ultra ATA/66, also known as Ultra DMA/66, is an extension of current Ultra ATA/ 33 interface. This new high-speed interface has doubled the Ultra ATA/33 burst data transfer rate to 66.6 Mbytes/sec and maximized disk performance under current PCI local bus environment USB (Universal Serial Bus) A 4-pin serial cable bus that allows up to 127 plug and play computer peripherals such as keyboard, mouse, joystick, scanner, printer, modem, and monitor to share a bandwidth through a host scheduled token based protocol. This allows attaching or detaching while the host and other peripherals are in operation. Supports synchronous and asynchronous transfer types over the same set of wires up to 12Mbit/sec. USB 2.0 provides twice the transfer rate compared to USB 1.0 and competes with the 1394 standard. Wake-On-LAN The computer automatically wakes up upon receiving a wake-up packet through a Network interface when it is under power soft-off, suspend or sleep mode.

Symbols

3Deep Color Tuner Using 95 External Frequency 19 Level 1/Level 2 Cache 59 Speed 58 Upgrade/Reinstallation 60 Chassis Intrusion 41 Chip Configuration 62 Connectors Audio 33 Chassis Fan 36 CPU Fan 36 External 31 Floppy Disk Drive 34 Game/MIDI 33 IDE 35 Infrared Module 37 Internal Audio 39 Panel 43 Parallel Port 32 Power Supply Thermal Sensor 43 PS/2 Keyboard 31 PS/2 Mouse 31 Serial Port 32 SMBus 36, 38 USB 32 CPU. See Central Processing Unit CyberLink PowerDVD 98 PowerPlayer SE 97 VideoLive Mail 99 CyberLink PowerDVD Using 98 CyberLink PowerPlayer SE Using 97 CyberLink VideoLive Mail Using 99
Accelerated Graphics Port 8 AGP Capability 63 AGP Pro Slot 30 Accessories Modem Riser 101 AGP. See Accelerated Graphics Port ASUS PC Probe Using 87 ATAPI CD-ROM 74 Automatic Power Up 72
BIOS Advanced Menu 58 Beep Codes 44 Boot Menu 74 Boot Sequence 74 Exit Menu 76 Language 57 Legend Bar 50 Main Menu 52 Menu Bar 50 Power Menu 69 Setup Defaults, loading 77 Setup Program 49 Smart BIOS 9 Sub-menu launching 51 Updating 45 Boot Device Selection 74 Boot Up NumLock Status 56 Boot Virus Detection 75
DIMMs. See Dual Inline Memory Modules DIP Switches 18
C-Media Audio Setup 92 Central Processing Unit 27 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Expansion Cards Assigning IRQs 29 Installing 28 Expansion Slots 9 Interrupt Request (IRQ) Standard Assignments 29
JumperFree Mode Notes for 60 JumperFree Mode 18
Floppy 3 Mode 52 Floppy Disk Drive Connector 34
Keyboard Auto-Repeat Delay 56 Auto-Repeat Rate 56 Connector 31 Features 56 Keyboard Lock Switch Lead 43
Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) CHS Capacity 55 Cylinders 54 Heads 55 LBA Capacity 55 Primary/Secondary Master 53 Primary/Secondary Slave 53 Sectors 54 Translation Method 54 Types 53 Hardware Monitor 73 Hardware Setup CPU Installation 27 Memory Installation 26 Procedure 17 Headers USB 36
LAN Jumper Setting 23 Legacy Diskette 52 LiveUpdate Using 94
Memory Hole 64 Memory Installation 26 Modem Riser 101 Motherboard Components 12, 13 IRQ Table 29 Layout 14 Settings 17 Specifications 8 Mouse Connector 31 Multi-Channel Audio Using 92 Multi-Sector Transfers 55
IDE Activity LED 34 IDE Connectors 35 IDE Hard Disks. See Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) Infrared Module Connector 37 Installation CPU 27