2. FEA TURES Specifications
UltraDMA/100 Support: Comes with an onboard PCI Bus Master IDE controller with two connectors that support four ATA100/66/33 devices on two channels. Supports UltraDMA/100, UltraDMA/66, UltraDMA/33, PIO Modes 3 & 4 and Bus Master IDE DMA Mode 2, and Enhanced IDE devices, such as DVDROM, CD-ROM, CD-R/RW, LS-120, and Tape Backup drives. Wake-On-LAN Connector: Supports Wake-On-LAN activity through an optional ASUS PCI-L101 10/100 Fast Ethernet PCI card (see 7. Appendix). Wake-On-Ring Connector: Supports Wake-On-Ring activity through a PCI modem card that supports a WOR connector. USB: Supports up to four USB ports, two on the back panel and two midboard, for more peripheral connectivity options. PC Health Monitoring: Provides an easy way to examine and manage system status information, such as CPU and systerm voltages, temperatures, and fan status through the onboard hardware ASUS ASIC and the bundled ASUS PC Probe. SMBus: Features the System Management Bus interface, which is used to physically transport commands and information between SMBus devices. PCI/AMR Expansion Slots: Provides five 32-bit PCI (Rev. 2.2) expansion slots, which can support Bus Master PCI cards, such as SCSI or LAN cards (PCI supports up to 133MB/s maximum throughput), and one Audio Modem Riser (AMR) slot (shared), which supports a very affordable audio and/or modem riser card. Super Multi-I/O: Provides two high-speed UART compatible serial ports and one parallel port with EPP and ECP capabilities. Enhanced ACPI & Anti-Boot Virus Protection: Programmable BIOS (Flash EEPROM), offering enhanced ACPI for Windows 98 compatibility, built-in firmware-based virus protection, and autodetection of most devices for virtually automatic setup. Concurrent PCI: Concurrent PCI allows multiple PCI transfers from PCI master busses to the memory and processor. Smart BIOS: 2Mb firmware provides Vcore and CPU/SDRAM frequency adjustments, boot block write protection, and HD/SCSI/MO/ZIP/CD/Floppy boot selection. Power supply is autodetected to enable/disable suspend-to-RAM. Integrated Infrared (IrDA) Support: Integrated IR supports an optional remote control package for wireless interfacing with external peripherals, personal gadgets, or an optional remote controller. Desktop Management Interface (DMI): Supports DMI through BIOS, which allows hardware to communicate within a standard protocol creating a higher level of compatibility. (Requires DMI-enabled components.) Color-coded Connectors: To enhance user accessibility to system components and to meet PC 99 compliancy, major connectors in this motherboard are color-coded.

2. FEA TURES Intelligence
2.2 Motherboard Components
See opposite page for locations.
Location Processor Support Socket A for Socket A AMD Athlon/Duron Processors. 3 (NOTE: the CPU thermal sensor is integrated on the motherboard, located near the center of the CPU heat source, just below the CPU socket) Feature Setting DIP Switches... 6
2. FEA TURES Motherboard Parts
Chipsets VIA VT8363A (VIA Apollo KT133A) system controller. 2 VIA VT82C686B PCIset.. 16 2Mbit Programmable Flash EEPROM.. 12 Main Memory Maximum 1.5GB support 3 DIMM Sockets... 4 VC133/PC133 memory support Expansion Slots 5 PCI Slots... Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) Pro Slot.. Audio Modem Riser (AMR) Slot. (Shared) 18 System I/O 1 Floppy Disk Driver Connector... IDE Connectors (UltraDMA/100 Support).. IDE Connectors (UltraDMA/100/RAID 0 or 1 Support). Panel Connector...Parallel Port Connector.. (Top) Serial COM1 Port Connector.. (Bottom) Serial COM2 Port Connector.. (Bottom) 24 USB Connectors (Port 0 & Port 1).. 27 USB Connectors (Ports 46).. PS/2 Mouse Connector... (Top) PS/2 Keyboard Connector.. (Bottom) 28 Audio AC97 V2.1 Audio Codec (optional).. Game/MIDI Connector (on audio model only). (Top) Line Out Connector (on audio model only). (Bottom) Line In Connector (on audio model only). (Bottom) Microphone Connector (on audio model only). (Bottom) 23 Network Features Wake-On-LAN Connector.. 17 Wake-On-Ring Connector.. 13 Hardware Monitoring System Voltage Monitoring (integrated in ASUS ASIC). Fan Power and Speed Monitoring Connectors Power ATX Power Supply Connector.. 5 Special Feature Onboard LED... 21 Promise Ultra DMA/100 Chip (optional).. 11 VRM Module... 1 Form Factor ATX
2.2.1 Component Locations

1110 9

3. HARDWARE SETUP

3.1 Motherboard Layout

24.5cm (9.64in)

T: Mouse B: Keyboard

PWR_FAN VIO

ATX Power Connector

T: Port0 B: Port1

Socket 462

SK7VRM
DIMM3 (64/72 bit, 168-pin module)
DIMM2 (64/72 bit, 168-pin module)
DIMM1 (64/72 bit, 168-pin module)

PARALLEL PORT

ON Standby Power

A7V133

OFF Powered Off

A7V133 Onboard LED
3. H/W SETUP Motherboard Settings
1) Motherboard Features Settings (DIP Switches - DSW) The motherboards onboard functions are adjusted through the DIP switches The white block represents the switchs position. The example below shows all the switches in the ON position. The default setting is OFF.

OFF ON

A7V133 DIP Switches
1. Frequency Selection 2. Frequency Selection 3. Frequency Selection 4. Frequency Selection 5. Frequency Selection
A7V133 Jumper Mode Settings
2) 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 Jumper Mode JumperFreeMode (Default) DSW (See #7 External Frequency Setting) All OFF VID (See #9 Voltage Regulator Output) All [3-4] JEN [1-2] [2-3]

Jumper Mode

JumperFree Mode (Default)
See Frequency External Setting
See Voltage Reg. Out. (VID)

JEN 1 2

VID4 VID3 VID2 VID1 JEN 2 3
3) Onboard Audio Setting (AUDIOCODEC) The onboard audio CODEC may be enabled or disabled using all of these jumpers. Disable the onboard audio CODEC if you are using a PCI audio card on any of the expansion slots or a primary AMR on the AMR slot. If using a PCI audio expansion card, Onboard AC97 Audio Controller in 4.4.2 I/O Device Configuration of the BIOS must also be disabled. NOTE: This setting is available only on motherboards with the onboard audio option. Setting Enable Disable
AUDIOCODEC [1-2] [1-2] [1-2] [1-2] (default) [2-3] [2-3] [2-3] [2-3]
Onboard Audio Codec (Default) SPK ADN# AUD_EN2 AUD_EN1
Onboard Audio Codec SPK ADN# AUD_EN2 AUD_EN1
A7V133 Audio Codec Setting

Enable

Disable
4) PCI 3Volt Setting (3VSBSLT) This jumper allows you to select the voltage supplied to PCI devices. If you have PCI devices that require auxiliary power, set this jumper to 3 VSB. Setting 3 Volt 3 VSB 3VSBSLT [1-2] [2-3] (default)
Add 3 Volt Add 3 VSB (Default)

Short solder points to Clear CMOS

A7V133 Clear RTC RAM

Halt On [All Errors] This field determines which types of errors will cause the system to halt. Configuration options: [All Errors] [No Error] [All but Keyboard] [All but Disk] [All but Disk/Keyboard] Installed Memory [XXX MB] This display-only field displays the amount of conventional memory detected by the system during bootup. You do not need to make changes to this field. ASUS A7V133 Users Manual 59

4.4 Advanced Menu

Operating Frequency Setting [User Define] When the motherboard is set to JumperFree mode, this field allows you to configure the external frequency of your CPU. Select [User Define] if you want to make changes to the CPU Clock Multiplier or the CPU Frequency field. When [Standard] is selected, the Clock Mutliplier will be fixed and the CPU (external) Frequency will be fixed at 100MHz. Configuration options: [Standard] [User Define] CPU Clock Multiplier (if Operating Frequency Setting is set to [User Define]) This feature signals the CPU and North Bridge to initialize the appropriate power sequence. Select the desired multiplier appropriate for your system. CPU Frequency (if Operating Frequency Setting is set to [User Define]) This feature tells the clock generator which frequency to send to the system bus and PCI bus. Select the desired frequency appropriate for your system. NOTE: The bus frequency (external frequency) multiplied by the bus clock multiple equals the CPU speed (the CPUs internal frequency). Selecting a frequency higher than what the CPU manufacturer recommends may cause the system to hang or crash. See System Hangup later in this section.
4. BIOS SETUP Advanced Menu
DRAM Frequency This field determines whether the memory clock frequency is set to be in synchronous or asynchronous mode with respect to the CPU Frequency. This must be set in conjunction with CPU (external) Frequency to match the speed of your SDRAM. When you press <Enter> on this field, the first available option in the pop-up menu equals the CPU Frequency you select for the previous field, and the second available option is the CPU Frequency multiplied by 4/3. To maintain and ensure system stability, DRAM Frequency is set to [100 MHz] when the BIOS setup default settings are loaded/ selected. System Performance Setting [Optimal] This function controls settings related to system memory performance. When [Optimal] is selected, DRAM bank interleave, 4k page, and burst refresh will be enabled to boost system performance. For more system stability, select [Normal]. Configuration options: [Optimal] [Normal] CPU Vcore Setting [Auto] In JumperFree mode, this field allows you to select the core voltage supplied to the CPU. Leave on [Auto] to use the CPU default setting. If you want to set it manually, select [User Define], go to the subsequent CPU Vcore field, and refer to your CPU documentation to make the configuration. CPU Level 1 Cache, CPU Level 2 Cache [Enabled] These fields allow you to choose from the default of [Enabled] or choose [Disabled] to turn on or off the CPUs Level 1 and Level 2 built-in cache. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] CPU Level 2 Cache ECC Check [Disabled] This function controls the ECC capability in the CPU level 2 cache. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] BIOS Update [Enabled] This functions as an update loader integrated into the BIOS to supply the processor with the required data. In the default position of [Enabled], the BIOS will load the update on all processors during system bootup. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] PS/2 Mouse Function Control [Auto] The default of [Auto] allows the system to detect a PS/2 mouse on startup. If detected, IRQ12 will be used for the PS/2 mouse. IRQ12 will be reserved for expansion cards only if a PS/2 mouse is not detected. [Enabled] will always reserve IRQ12, whether on startup a PS/2 mouse is detected or not. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Auto]

Default: [Enabled] for Athlon Processors / [Disabled] for Duron Processors
Leave on default setting. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Delayed Transaction
Leave on default setting. Enabled, this frees the PCI Bus when the CPU is accessing 8-bit legacy devices that normally consume about 50-60 PCI Clocks without PCI delayed transaction. Select [Disabled] for legacy devices that are not PCI 2.1 compliant. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] PCI to DRAM Prefetch [Enabled] Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Byte Merge [Enabled] To optimize the data transfer on PCI, this merges a sequence of individual memory writes (bytes or words) into a single 32-bit block of data. However, byte merging may only be done when the bytes within a data phase are in a prefetchable address range. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] DRAM Read Latch Delay [Auto] Configuration options: [-0.01 ns] [0.75 ns].[Auto] ASUS A7V133 Users Manual
Memory Early/Delay Write [Auto] Configuration options: [0.0 ns] [0.5 ns].[Auto] Memory Data Drive [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [Weak] [Strong] CAS# Drive [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [Weak] [Strong] Memory Data Drive Ext. [Disabled] Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] SDRAM Com. Drive Ext. [Disabled] Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] DIMM Interleave Setting [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [Disabled] I/O Recovery Time [Disabled] Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Graphics Aperture Size [64MB] This feature allows you to select the size of mapped memory for AGP graphic data. Configuration options: [4MB] [8MB] [16MB] [32MB] [64MB] [128MB] [256MB]
Video Memory Cache Mode [UC] USWC (uncacheable, speculative write combining) is a new cache technology for the video memory of the processor. It can greatly improve the display speed by caching the display data. You must set this to UC (uncacheable) if your display card cannot support this feature; otherwise your system may not boot. Configuration options: [UC] [USWC]
4.4.2 I/O Device Configuration
Onboard FDC Swap A & B [No Swap] This field allows you to reverse the hardware drive letter assignments of your floppy disk drives. Configuration options: [No Swap] [Swap AB] Floppy Disk Access Control [R/W] When set to [Read Only], this field protects files from being copied to floppy disks by allowing reads from the floppy disk drive but not writes. The setup default [R/W] allows both reads and writes. Configuration options: [R/W] [Read Only] Onboard Serial Port 1 [3F8H/IRQ4] Onboard Serial Port 2 [2F8H/IRQ3] These fields allow you to set the addresses for the onboard serial connectors. Serial Port 1 and Serial Port 2 must have different addresses. Configuration options: [3F8H/IRQ4] [2F8H/IRQ3] [3E8H/IRQ4] [2E8H/IRQ10] [Disabled] UART2 Use Infrared [Disabled] When enabled, this field activates the onboard standard infrared feature and sets the second serial UART to support the infrared module connector on the motherboard. If your system already has a second serial port connected to the onboard COM2 connector, it will no longer work if you enable the infrared feature. See Standard and Consumer Infrared Module Connector in 3.8 External Connectors. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

4. BIOS SETUP I/O Device Config
Onboard Parallel Port [378H/IRQ7] This field sets the address of the onboard parallel port connector. If you disable this feature, Parallel Port Mode and ECP DMA Select configurations will not be available. Configuration options: [Disabled] [378H/IRQ7] [278H/IRQ5] Parallel Port Mode [ECP+EPP] This field allows you to set the operation mode of the parallel port. [Normal] allows normal-speed operation but in one direction only; [EPP] allows bidirectional parallel port operation; [ECP] allows the parallel port to operate in bidirectional DMA mode; [ECP+EPP] allows normal speed operation in a two-way mode. Configuration options: [Normal] [ECP] [EPP] [ECP+EPP] ECP DMA Select [3] This field allows you to configure the parallel port DMA channel for the selected ECP mode. This selection is available only if you select [ECP] or [ECP+EPP] in Parallel Port Mode above. Configuration options: [1] [3]
Onboard Peripheral Resource Control
Onboard AC97 Modem Controller [Auto] Onboard AC97 Audio Controller [Auto] [Auto] allows the motherboards BIOS to detect whether you are using any modem/audio device. If a modem/audio device is detected, the onboard modem/audio controller will be enabled; if no modem/audio device is detected, the onboard modem/audio controller will be disabled. If you have conflicts with the onboard modem/audio controller, you may set the appropriate field to [Disabled]. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Auto]
Game Port Function [Disabled] Enable this field to use the game port. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enable (200h-207h)] Onboard Legacy Audio Support [Disabled] The onboard chipset is integrated with a SoundBlaster Pro controller. To use it, you must enable this field. Leave on the default setting [Disabled] if you want to use an add-on audio device. NOTE: To display the rest of the setup items, this field must be enabled (as shown below).
Sound Blaster Emulation [Disabled] Select [Enabled] for this field if you want to use the Sound Blaster emulation feature. Sound Blaster I/O Base Address [220h-22Fh] Sound Blaster IRQ [IRQ5] Sound Blaster DMA [DMA 1] These fields set the I/O address, IRQ, and DMA channel for the Sound Blaster feature. MPU 401 [Enabled] Enable this field if you want to use the MIDI device onboard. MPU 401 I/O Base Address [300h-303h] This sets the I/O address for the onboard MIDI device. FM Enable (388h-38Bh) [Disabled] This field enables or disables the FM modulation feature.

4.4.3 PCI Configuration

PCI/VGA Palette Snoop [Disabled] Some nonstandard VGA cards, such as graphics accelerators or MPEG video cards, may not show colors properly. The setting [Enabled] should correct this problem. Otherwise, leave this on the default setting of [Disabled]. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] PCI Latency Timer [32] Leave on default setting for best performance vs. stability. USB Function [Enabled] This motherboard supports Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices. Set to [Enabled] if you want to use USB devices. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
4. BIOS SETUP PCI Configuration
Slot 1, Slot 2, Slot 3, Slot 4/5 IRQ [Auto] These fields set how IRQ use is determined for each PCI slot. The default setting for each field is [Auto], which utilizes auto-routing to determine IRQ use. Configuration options: [Auto] [NA] [3] [4] [5] [7] [9] [10] [11] [12] [14] [15]
PCI/PNP IRQ Resource Exclusion
IRQ XX Reserved for Legacy Device [No/ICU] These fields indicate whether or not the displayed IRQ for each field is being used by an onboard legacy (non-PnP) device. The default value indicates either that the displayed IRQ is not used or that the legacy Configuration Utility (ICU) is being used to determine if a legacy device is using that IRQ. Configuration options: [No/ICU] [Yes]
70 ASUS A7V133 Users Manual
PCI/PNP DMA Resource Exclusion
DMA x Reserved for Legacy Device [No/ICU] These fields indicate whether or not the displayed DMA channel for each field is being used by an onboard legacy (non-PnP) device. The default setting indicates either that the displayed DMA channel is not used or an ICU is being used to determine if a legacy device is using that channel. Configuration options: [No/ICU] [Yes]
PCI/PNP UMB Resource Exclusion
Reserved MEM Block BASE [No/ICU] This field allows you to set the base address and block size of an onboard legacy ISA device that uses any memory segment within the C800 and DFFF address range. If you have such a device and you are not using an ICU to specify its address range, select a base address from the six available options; the Reserved MEM Block SIZE field will then appear for selecting the block size. If you have more than one legacy device onboard that requires the use of this address range, you can increase the block size to 8K, 16K, 32K, or 64K. If you are using an ICU to accomplish this task, leave Reserved MEM Block BASE to its default setting of [No/ICU]. Configuration options: [No/ICU] [C800] [CC00] [D000] [D400] [D800] [DC00]

4.6 Boot Menu

Boot Sequence
The Boot menu allows you to select among the four possible types of boot devices listed using the up and down arrow keys. By using the <+> or <Space> key, you can promote devices and by using the <-> key, you can demote devices. Promotion or demotion of devices alters the priority which the system uses to search for a boot device on system power up. Configuration fields include Removable Devices, IDE Hard Drive, ATAPI CD-ROM, and Other Boot Device. Removable Device [Legacy Floppy] Configuration options: [Disabled] [Legacy Floppy] [LS120] [ZIP-100] [ATAPI MO] [USB FDD] [USB ZIP] IDE Hard Drive This field allows you to select which IDE hard disk drive to use in the boot sequence. Pressing [Enter] will show the product IDs of all connected IDE hard disk drives. ATAPI CD-ROM This field allows you to select which ATAPI CD-ROM drive to use in the boot sequence. Pressing [Enter] will show the product IDs of all your connected ATAPI CD-ROM drives. IMPORTANT: Make sure the ATAPI CD-ROM drive that you want to use in the boot sequence is connected to either the PRIMARY or SECONDARY IDE connectors, not to the ATA100 connectors. Currently, the Promise Ultra DMA/100 chip does not support this feature. ASUS A7V133 Users Manual 79

4. BIOS SETUP Boot Menu

Other Boot Device Select [INT18 Device (Network)] Configuration options: [Disabled] [SCSI/Onboard ATA Boot Device] [INT18 Device (Network)] [LANDesk (R) Service Agent] Plug & Play O/S [No] This field allows you to use a Plug-and-Play (PnP) operating system to configure the PCI bus slots instead of using the BIOS. When [Yes] is selected, interrupts may be reassigned by the OS. When a non-PnP OS is installed or you want to prevent reassigning of interrupt settings, select the default setting of [No]. Configuration options: [No] [Yes] Reset Configuration Data [No] The Extended System Configuration Data (ESCD) contain information about non-PnP devices. It can also hold the complete record of how the system was configured the last time it was booted. Select [Yes] only if you want to clear these data during the Power-On Self Test (POST). Configuration options: [No] [Yes] Boot Virus Detection [Enabled] This field allows you to set boot virus detection, ensuring a virus-free boot sector. The system halts and displays a warning message when it detects a virus. If this occurs, you can either allow the operation to continue or use a virus-free bootable floppy disk to restart and investigate your system. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Quick Power On Self Test [Enabled] This field speeds up the Power-On-Self Test (POST) routine by skipping retesting a second, third, and fourth time. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Boot Floppy Seek [Disabled] When enabled, the BIOS will seek the floppy disk drive to determine whether the drive has 40 or 80 tracks. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] SCSI/ATA100 Boot Sequence [ATA100/SCSI] Configuration options: [ATA100/SCSI] [SCSI/ATA100] Load Onboard ATA Bios [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [Disabled] Primary VGA Bios [PCI Card] Configuration options: [PCI Card] [AGP Card]

5. SOFTWARE SETUP

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. NOTE: To configure your system to use the RAID 0 or 1 option, you must run the FastTrack100 BIOS before installing the OS. Normally, this firmware will be activated automatically when the ATA100 and RAID 0 or 1 jumpers have been adjusted correctly; (see Section 3.4.5 Motherboard Settings, Hardware Setup and Section 5.5 Manual Installation fo IDE/RAID Drivers for more information about driver installation.)

5.2 Start Windows

When you start Windows 98 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 Windows 98

5.3 A7V133 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. Win95-98 Promise Promise 100 IDE Controller: Shows instructions on how to install the Promise Ultra 100 IDE Controller Driver for Windows 9x. Software setup options will vary according to choice of either ATA100 or RAID 0 jumper settings. Audio Driver: Installs the necessary audio drivers for the onboard audio CODEC. Realtek RTL8139C PCI Fast Ethernet NIC Driver: (Optional) Installs drivers for Realtek Ethernet cards. USB patch file for AMD K7: Updates USB support for K7 CPUs. Install 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. YAMAHA Soft Synthesizer: (Optional) Installs the Yamaha SoftSynthesizer for playing MIDI files. View online help for more information. 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.

(TO SEE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, CLICK RIGHT ARROW ON THE LOWER-RIGHT CORNER OF THE MAIN MENU)

5. S/W SETUP Support CD

Install Cyberlink Video and Audio Applications: Installs Cyberlink PowerPlayer SE, PowerDVD Trial, and Cyberlink VideoLive Mail. ASUS Screen Saver: Installs a nifty ASUS screen saver. 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.
( RETURN TO THE MAIN MENU, CLICK LEFT ARROW ON THE LOWER-RIGHT CORNER )
5.4 Using the Promise Chip for RAID 0 or 1
The optional Promise chip, PDC20265R, onboard the A7V133, offers a high performance Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) configuration that supports only UltraATA-100/66/33, EIDE or FastATA-2 hard disks. After connecting two hard disks to the motherboard, activating either RAID 0 or 1 function is easily configured through the FastTrak100 Lite firmware BIOS during boot up. In addition, the support CD allows you to install system drivers according to the Operating System (OS) on your computer. Read through this section in its entirety before setting up your RAID system. RAID 0 is also known as data striping. Striping optimizes two identical hard disk drives to read and write data in parallel, interleaved stacks. Two hard disks perform the same work as a single drive, and at a sustained data transfer rate double that of a single disk alone. The main advantage of a RAID 0 array is to improve the Speed Performance of data access and storage. With FAT32 and NTFS partitioning, the array will be addressed as one large volume. RAID 1 is also known as data mirroring. Mirroring optimizes two identical hard disk drives to copy all data from one hard disk drive to the other and vice versa. As new data is written, it is duplicated onto both disks using a parallel write process. The main advantage of RAID 1 is that it greatly increases Fault Tolerance of the entire system, especially if each hard disk is connected separately to both ATA-100 IDE channels available on the A7V133. Should one hard disk suffer mechanical trouble, all system data will be successfully preserved on the other drive. IMPORTANT! Before setting up your new RAID array, verify the status of your hard disks. It is possible to use a pre-existing hard disk for RAID 0 only if the data is backed up before configuring the array as all hard disk data will be lost during the set up. RAID 0 requires at least two hard disks for optimal results. It is possible to use a pre-existing hard disk for RAID 1 to duplicate the source data; also, RAID 1 can set up two or more new disks. The Promise chip, the FastTrak Lite BIOS and the FastBuild Utility on the A7V133 permit only two disks to be configured in RAID 0 or RAID 1 pairs and combinations; a third, hot spare hard disk may be used to support a RAID 1 array; (see the end of this section for more detail). For optimal performance, install only identical hard disks of the same model and storage capacity. Use only Ultra ATA-100/66 compatible IDE cables and connectors. The Promise chip also supports UltraATA-100 specifications of up to 100 MB/sec per disk, with or without multiple disk arrays up to four hard disks. (See Section 3.4.5, Hardware Setup: Motherboard Settings for information about changing the jumper cap IDE default settings to support ATA-100 instead of RAID 0 and 1.)

8. If duplicating an original Operating System to another new hard disk, the system will start up automatically. If creating a brand new RAID 1 array only, it will be necessary to intstall a new OS. Reboot with a rescue floppy disk to format the hard disks with the FDISK command and then install the OS from a CD; alternatively, with a bootable OS CD, install the new OS automatically. NOTES for Troubleshooting Array Set Ups: Always use two separate UltraDMA/100 cables for linking each of two hard disks to the Primary ATA-100 and the Secondary ATA-100 connectors. Usually, a two disk array will set up properly if both sets of hard disk jumpers are set to Master. However, it may be necessary to reset the jumpers on each of the hard disks; in such cases, try Master for the Source disk, and Master/Slave or Slave for the Target disk. Also, if a Source hard disk larger than the Target disk is selected, the FastBuild utility suggests using a larger or equal size disk for the Target instead. During reboots after configuring a RAID array, the IDE scan process determines if the system is working okay. Normally the FastTrak100 Lite BIOS displays system status as Functional after rebooting the new RAID array. However, two warnings may appear: Critical indicates that one or more drives in the array are not functional, or are disconnected. In this case, enter the FastBuild Utitility to diagnose the problem and replace the faulty drive. The second warning, Offline, indicates that one hard disks in a striped array has failed, cannot be detected, or has become disconnected. In this case, adjust or replace the hard disk if necessary and rebuild data from a back-up source.
5.4.5 Other FastBuild Utility Commands
Command options 3-6 on the FastBuild Utility Main Menu are not required for setting up an array, but they are useful for modifying or reconfiguring an array: View Array (3): View the drive assignments of hard disks in an array. Delete Array (4): Deletes an array to reconfigure the system. Deleting an array does not remove information on the hard disks. If an array is deleted by mistake, recover it immediately by redefining it as the deleted array. Rebuild Array (5): This command restores the array and system data after faults on RAID 1 arrays. Follow the steps below to rebuild and restore data in the array: 1. On boot-up, an error message notifies of a system failure. 2. Press <Ctrl-F> keys to enter the FastBuildMain Menu. 3. Select <3> for View Array to verify the ID of the defunct hard disk. 4. Power off the system and replace the hard disk with an identical model. 5. Reboot and enter the FastBuild Main Menu again. 6. Select <5> for Rebuild Array. The malfunctioning array is highlighted. Press <Enter> to select it:
[ Rebuild Array Menu ] Array No RAID Mode Total Drv Capacity Status

Array Array Array Array

Mirror -------------

2 -------------

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.
6.1.1 Starting ASUS PC Probe
When ASUS PC Probe starts, a splash screen appears allowing you to select whether to show the screen again when you open PC Probe or not. To bypass this startup screen, clear the Show up in next execution check box.
To open ASUS PC Probe, click the Windows Start button, point to Programs, and then ASUS Utility, and then click Probe Vx.xx.
6. S/W SETUP Software Reference
The PC Probe icon will appear on the taskbars system tray indicating that ASUS PC Probe is running. Clicking the icon will allow you to see the status of your PC.

Monitoring

Monitor Summary Shows a summary of the items being monitored.
Temperature Monitor Shows the PCs temperature (for supported processors only).
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.
6. S/W REFERENCE ASUS PC Probe
6.1.2 Using ASUS PC Probe
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.
History Lets you record the monitoring activity of a certain component of your PC for future reference.
Fan Control Lets you enable/disable Smart Fan Control. Smart Fan Control adjusts the fan speed automatically based on the current CPU temperature and predefined threshold.

Information

Hard Drives Shows the used and free space of the PCs hard disk drives and the file allocation table or file system used.
97 Memory Shows the PCs memory load, memory usage, and paging file usage.
Device Summary Shows a summary of devices in your PC.
DMI Explorer Shows information pertinent to the PC, such as CPU type, CPU speed, and internal/external frequencies, and memory size.