MB Manual Ga-970a-Ud3 v.3.x e
MB Manual Ga-970a-Ud3 v.3.x e
MB Manual Ga-970a-Ud3 v.3.x e
User's Manual
Rev. 3001
12ME-970AUD3-3001R
Motherboard
GA-970A-UD3
Motherboard
GA-970A-UD3
Sept. 21, 2012
Sept. 21, 2012
Copyright
© 2012 GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. All rights reserved.
The trademarks mentioned in this manual are legally registered to their respective owners.
Disclaimer
Information in this manual is protected by copyright laws and is the property of GIGABYTE.
Changes to the specifications and features in this manual may be made by GIGABYTE with-
out prior notice. No part of this manual may be reproduced, copied, translated, transmitted, or
published in any form or by any means without GIGABYTE's prior written permission.
Documentation Classifications
In order to assist in the use of this product, GIGABYTE provides the following types of documentations:
For quick set-up of the product, read the Quick Installation Guide included with the product.
For detailed product information, carefully read the User's Manual.
Example:
Table of Contents
Box Contents....................................................................................................................6
Optional Items..................................................................................................................6
GA-970A-UD3 Motherboard Layout.................................................................................7
GA-970A-UD3 Motherboard Block Diagram.....................................................................8
-4-
Chapter 3 Drivers Installation.........................................................................................53
3-1 Installing Chipset Drivers................................................................................ 53
3-2 Application Software....................................................................................... 54
3-3 Technical Manuals........................................................................................... 54
3-4 Contact............................................................................................................ 55
3-5 System............................................................................................................ 55
3-6 Download Center............................................................................................ 56
3-7 New Utilities.................................................................................................... 56
Chapter 5 Appendix.......................................................................................................67
5-1 Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s) ..................................................................... 67
5-1-1 Configuring SATA Controllers .................................................................................67
5-1-2 Installing the SATA RAID/AHCI Driver and Operating System................................73
5-2 Configuring Audio Input and Output................................................................ 77
5-2-1 Configuring 2/4/5.1/7.1-Channel Audio....................................................................77
5-2-2 Configuring S/PDIF Out...........................................................................................79
5-2-3 Configuring Microphone Recording.........................................................................80
5-2-4 Using the Sound Recorder......................................................................................82
5-3 Troubleshooting.............................................................................................. 83
5-3-1 Frequently Asked Questions ...................................................................................83
5-3-2 Troubleshooting Procedure.....................................................................................84
5-3-3 Regulatory Statements............................................................................................86
-5-
Box Contents
55 GA-970A-UD3 motherboard
55 Motherboard driver disk
55 User's Manual
55 Quick Installation Guide
55 Four SATA cables
55 I/O Shield
The box contents above are for reference only and the actual items shall depend on the product package you
obtain. The box contents are subject to change without notice.
Optional Items
2-port USB 2.0 bracket (Part No. 12CR1-1UB030-6*R)
2-port IEEE 1394a bracket (Part No. 12CF1-1IE008-0*R)
eSATA bracket (Part No. 12CF1-3SATPW-4*R)
3.5" Front Panel with 2 USB 3.0/2.0 ports (Part No. 12CR1-FPX582-0*R)
COM port cable (Part No. 12CF1-1CM001-3*R)
-6-
GA-970A-UD3 Motherboard Layout
KB_MS_USB
ATX_12V CPU_FAN
OPTICALI
Socket AM3+
USB_1394
PWR_FAN
R_USB
R_USB30
USB_LAN
Etron
EJ168
AUDIO
PCIEX1_1 (Note)
AMD
DDR3_4 ATX
DDR3_2
DDR3_3
DDR3_1
970
PCIEX16
Realtek BAT
GbE LAN
PCIEX1_2
CODEC GA-970A-UD3
0 2 4
1 3 5
PCIEX1_3
AMD SB950
SATA3
VT6308
PCIEX4
VIA
B_BIOS
PCI1
Super I/O
SYS_FAN1
Etron M_BIOS
iTE
PCI2 EJ168
CLR_CMOS
F_AUDIO F_USB1 F_USB30
SPDIF_O
F_1394
(Note) Due to a hardware limitation, the PCIEX1_1 slot can only accommodate a shorter PCI Express x1
expansion card. For a longer expansion card, use other expansion slots.
-7-
GA-970A-UD3 Motherboard Block Diagram
1 PCI Express x16
CPU CLK+/- (200 MHz)
LPC
VIA VT6308 Bus iTE COM
Super
I/O
CODEC
PS/2 KB/Mouse
2 IEEE 1394a
Rear Speaker Out
Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out
Side Speaker Out
MIC
Line Out
Line In
S/PDIF Out
2 PCI
PCI CLK
(33 MHz)
-8-
Chapter 1 Hardware Installation
1-1 Installation Precautions
The motherboard contains numerous delicate electronic circuits and components which can
become damaged as a result of electrostatic discharge (ESD). Prior to installation, carefully read
the user's manual and follow these procedures:
•• Prior to installation, make sure the chassis is suitable for the motherboard.
•• Prior to installation, do not remove or break motherboard S/N (Serial Number) sticker or
warranty sticker provided by your dealer. These stickers are required for warranty validation.
•• Always remove the AC power by unplugging the power cord from the power outlet before
installing or removing the motherboard or other hardware components.
•• When connecting hardware components to the internal connectors on the motherboard,
make sure they are connected tightly and securely.
•• When handling the motherboard, avoid touching any metal leads or connectors.
•• It is best to wear an electrostatic discharge (ESD) wrist strap when handling electronic com-
ponents such as a motherboard, CPU or memory. If you do not have an ESD wrist strap,
keep your hands dry and first touch a metal object to eliminate static electricity.
•• Prior to installing the motherboard, please have it on top of an antistatic pad or within an
electrostatic shielding container.
•• Before unplugging the power supply cable from the motherboard, make sure the power sup-
ply has been turned off.
•• Before turning on the power, make sure the power supply voltage has been set according to
the local voltage standard.
•• Before using the product, please verify that all cables and power connectors of your hard-
ware components are connected.
•• To prevent damage to the motherboard, do not allow screws to come in contact with the
motherboard circuit or its components.
•• Make sure there are no leftover screws or metal components placed on the motherboard or
within the computer casing.
•• Do not place the computer system on an uneven surface.
•• Do not place the computer system in a high-temperature environment.
•• Turning on the computer power during the installation process can lead to damage to sys-
tem components as well as physical harm to the user.
•• If you are uncertain about any installation steps or have a problem related to the use of the
product, please consult a certified computer technician.
Hardware Installation - 10 -
Internal 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector
Connectors 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector
6 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
1 x CPU fan header
2 x system fan headers
1 x power fan header
1 x front panel header
1 x front panel audio header
1 x S/PDIF Out header
3 x USB 2.0/1.1 headers
1 x USB 3.0/2.0 header
1 x IEEE 1394a header
1 x serial port header
1 x Clear CMOS jumper
1 x Trusted Platform Module (TPM) header
Back Panel 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port
Connectors 1 x optical S/PDIF Out connector
1 x IEEE 1394 port
8 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
2 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports
1 x RJ-45 port
6 x audio jacks (Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out/Rear Speaker Out/Side Speaker
Out/Line In/Line Out/Microphone)
I/O Controller iTE I/O Controller Chip
Hardware System voltage detection
Monitor CPU/System temperature detection
CPU/System/Power fan speed detection
CPU overheating warning
CPU/System/Power fan fail warning
CPU/System fan speed control
* W
hether the CPU/system fan speed control function is supported will depend on
the CPU/system cooler you install.
BIOS 2 x 32 Mbit flash
Use of licensed AMI EFI BIOS
Support for DualBIOS™
PnP 1.0a, DMI 2.0, SM BIOS 2.6, ACPI 2.0a
- 11 - Hardware Installation
Unique Features Support for @BIOS
Support for Q-Flash
Support for Xpress Install
Support for EasyTune
* Available functions in EasyTune may differ by motherboard model.
Support for Smart Recovery 2
Support for Auto Green
Support for ON/OFF Charge
Support for 3TB+ Unlock
Support for Q-Share
Bundled
Norton Internet Security (OEM version)
Software
Operating
Support for Microsoft® Windows 8/7/Vista/XP
System
Form Factor ATX Form Factor; 30.5cm x 24.4cm
* G IGABYTE reserves the right to make any changes to the product specifications and product-related information without
prior notice.
* Please visit the Support & Downloads\Utility page on GIGABYTE's website to check the supported operating system(s)
for the software listed in the "Unique Features" and "Bundled Software" columns.
Hardware Installation - 12 -
1-3 Installing the CPU and CPU Cooler
Read the following guidelines before you begin to install the CPU:
• Make sure that the motherboard supports the CPU.
(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest CPU support list.)
• Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing
the CPU to prevent hardware damage.
• Locate the pin one of the CPU. The CPU cannot be inserted if oriented incorrectly. (Or you may
locate the notches on both sides of the CPU and alignment keys on the CPU socket.)
• Apply an even and thin layer of thermal grease on the surface of the CPU.
• Do not turn on the computer if the CPU cooler is not installed, otherwise overheating and dam-
age of the CPU may occur.
• Set the CPU host frequency in accordance with the CPU specifications. It is not recommended
that the system bus frequency be set beyond hardware specifications since it does not meet the
standard requirements for the peripherals. If you wish to set the frequency beyond the standard
specifications, please do so according to your hardware specifications including the CPU, graph-
ics card, memory, hard drive, etc.
- 13 - Hardware Installation
B. Follow the steps below to correctly install the CPU into the motherboard CPU socket.
• Before installing the CPU, make sure to turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the
power outlet to prevent damage to the CPU.
• Do not force the CPU into the CPU socket. The CPU cannot fit in if oriented incorrectly. Adjust the
CPU orientation if this occurs.
Step 1:
CPU Socket Completely lift up the CPU socket locking lever.
Locking Lever
Step 2:
Align the CPU pin one (small triangle marking) with the triangle mark
on the CPU socket and gently insert the CPU into the socket. Make
sure that the CPU pins fit perfectly into their holes. Once the CPU is
positioned into its socket, place one finger down on the middle of the
CPU, lowering the locking lever and latching it into the fully locked
position.
Hardware Installation - 14 -
1-3-2 Installing the CPU Cooler
Follow the steps below to correctly install the CPU cooler on the CPU. (The following procedure uses the
GIGABYTE cooler as the example.)
Step 1: Step 2:
Apply an even and thin layer of thermal grease Place the CPU cooler on the CPU.
on the surface of the installed CPU.
Step 3: Step 4:
Hook the CPU cooler clip to the mounting lug Turn the cam handle from the left side to the
on one side of the retention frame. On the other right side (as the picture above shows) to lock
side,push straight down on the CPU cooler clip into place. (Refer to your CPU cooler installation
to hook it to the mounting lug on the retention manual for instructions on installing the cooler.)
frame.
Step 5:
Finally, attach the power connector of the CPU cooler to the CPU
fan header (CPU_FAN) on the motherboard.
Use extreme care when removing the CPU cooler because the thermal grease/tape between the
CPU cooler and CPU may adhere to the CPU. Inadequately removing the CPU cooler may damage
the CPU.
- 15 - Hardware Installation
1-4 Installing the Memory
Read the following guidelines before you begin to install the memory:
• Make sure that the motherboard supports the memory. It is recommended that memory of the
same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used.
(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest supported memory speeds and memory modules.)
• Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing
the memory to prevent hardware damage.
• Memory modules have a foolproof design. A memory module can be installed in only one direc-
tion. If you are unable to insert the memory, switch the direction.
Due to CPU limitations, read the following guidelines before installing the memory in Dual Channel mode.
1. Dual Channel mode cannot be enabled if only one DDR3 memory module is installed.
2. When enabling Dual Channel mode with two or four memory modules, it is recommended that
memory of the same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used and installed in the same colored
DDR3 sockets for optimum performance. when enabling Dual Channel mode with two memory mod-
ules, we recommend that you install them in the DDR3_1 and DDR3_2 sockets.
Hardware Installation - 16 -
1-4-2 Installing a Memory
Before installing a memory module, make sure to turn off the computer and unplug the power
cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the memory module.
DDR3 and DDR2 DIMMs are not compatible to each other or DDR DIMMs. Be sure to install
DDR3 DIMMs on this motherboard.
Notch
DDR3 DIMM
A DDR3 memory module has a notch, so it can only fit in one direction. Follow the steps below to correctly
install your memory modules in the memory sockets.
Step 1:
Note the orientation of the memory module. Spread the retaining
clips at both ends of the memory socket. Place the memory module
on the socket. As indicated in the picture on the left, place your fin-
gers on the top edge of the memory, push down on the memory and
insert it vertically into the memory socket.
Step 2:
The clips at both ends of the socket will snap into place when the
memory module is securely inserted.
- 17 - Hardware Installation
1-5 Installing an Expansion Card
Read the following guidelines before you begin to install an expansion card:
• Make sure the motherboard supports the expansion card. Carefully read the manual that came
with your expansion card.
• Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing
an expansion card to prevent hardware damage.
PCI Slot
Follow the steps below to correctly install your expansion card in the expansion slot.
1. Locate an expansion slot that supports your card. Remove the metal slot cover from the chassis back panel.
2. Align the card with the slot, and press down on the card until it is fully seated in the slot.
3. Make sure the metal contacts on the card are completely inserted into the slot.
4. Secure the card’s metal bracket to the chassis back panel with a screw.
5. After installing all expansion cards, replace the chassis cover(s).
6. Turn on your computer. If necessary, go to BIOS Setup to make any required BIOS changes for your
expansion card(s).
7. Install the driver provided with the expansion card in your operating system.
Hardware Installation - 18 -
1-6 Back Panel Connectors
- 19 - Hardware Installation
Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out Jack (Orange)
Use this audio jack to connect center/subwoofer speakers in a 5.1/7.1-channel audio configuration.
Rear Speaker Out Jack (Black)
Use this audio jack to connect rear speakers in a 4/5.1/7.1-channel audio configuration.
Side Speaker Out Jack (Gray)
Use this audio jack to connect side speakers in a 7.1-channel audio configuration.
Line In Jack (Blue)
The default line in jack. Use this audio jack for line in devices such as an optical drive, walkman, etc.
Line Out Jack (Green)
The default line out jack. Use this audio jack for a headphone or 2-channel speaker. This jack can be
used to connect front speakers in a 4/5.1/7.1-channel audio configuration.
Mic In Jack (Pink)
The default Mic in jack. Microphones must be connected to this jack.
In addition to the default speakers settings, the ~ audio jacks can be reconfigured to perform
different functions via the audio software. Only microphones still MUST be connected to the
default Mic in jack ( ). Refer to the instructions on setting up a 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel audio con-
figuration in Chapter 5, "Configuring 2/4/5.1/7.1-Channel Audio."
•• When removing the cable connected to a back panel connector, first remove the cable from your
device and then remove it from the motherboard.
•• When removing the cable, pull it straight out from the connector. Do not rock it side to side to
prevent an electrical short inside the cable connector.
Hardware Installation - 20 -
1-7 Internal Connectors
1 3
15
4
16
8
9
12 14 13 10 4 11 7
1) ATX_12V 9) SPDIF_O
2) ATX 10) F_USB1/F_USB2/F_USB3
3) CPU_FAN 11) F_USB30
4) SYS_FAN1/2 12) F_1394
5) PWR_FAN 13) COMA
6) SATA3 0/1/2/3/4/5 14) TPM
7) F_PANEL 15) BAT
8) F_AUDIO 16) CLR_CMOS
- 21 - Hardware Installation
1/2) ATX_12V/ATX (2x4 12V Power Connector and 2x12 Main Power Connector)
With the use of the power connector, the power supply can supply enough stable power to all the
components on the motherboard. Before connecting the power connector, first make sure the power
supply is turned off and all devices are properly installed. The power connector possesses a foolproof
design. Connect the power supply cable to the power connector in the correct orientation. The 12V
power connector mainly supplies power to the CPU. If the 12V power connector is not connected, the
computer will not start.
To meet expansion requirements, it is recommended that a power supply that can withstand
high power consumption be used (500W or greater). If a power supply is used that does not
provide the required power, the result can lead to an unstable or unbootable system.
ATX_12V:
Pin No. Definition
8 4
1 GND (Only for 2x4-pin 12V)
2 GND (Only for 2x4-pin 12V)
5 1 3 GND
4 GND
ATX_12V
5 +12V (Only for 2x4-pin 12V)
6 +12V (Only for 2x4-pin 12V)
7 +12V
8 +12V
ATX:
12 24 Pin No. Definition Pin No. Definition
1 3.3V 13 3.3V
2 3.3V 14 -12V
3 GND 15 GND
4 +5V 16 PS_ON (soft On/Off)
5 GND 17 GND
6 +5V 18 GND
7 GND 19 GND
8 Power Good 20 -5V
9 5VSB (stand by +5V) 21 +5V
10 +12V 22 +5V
11 +12V (Only for 2x12-pin ATX) 23 +5V (Only for 2x12-pin ATX)
1 13 12 3.3V (Only for 2x12-pin ATX) 24 GND (Only for 2x12-pin ATX)
ATX
Hardware Installation - 22 -
3/4/5) CPU_FAN/SYS_FAN1/SYS_FAN2/PWR_FAN (Fan Headers)
The motherboard has a 4-pin CPU fan header (CPU_FAN), a 4-pin (SYS_FAN1) and a 3-pin (SYS_FAN2)
system fan headers, and a 3-pin power fan header (PWR_FAN). Most fan headers possess a foolproof
insertion design. When connecting a fan cable, be sure to connect it in the correct orientation (the black
connector wire is the ground wire). The motherboard supports CPU fan speed control, which requires the
use of a CPU fan with fan speed control design. For optimum heat dissipation, it is recommended that a
system fan be installed inside the chassis.
CPU_FAN:
Pin No. Definition
1 1 GND
CPU_FAN 2 +12V /Speed Control
3 Sense
4 Speed Control
SYS_FAN1:
Pin No. Definition
1 GND
1
SYS_FAN1 2 +12V /Speed Control
3 Sense
4 Reserve
SYS_FAN2/PWR_FAN:
Pin No. Definition
1
1 1 GND
SYS_FAN2 PWR_FAN
2 +12V
3 Sense
• Be sure to connect fan cables to the fan headers to prevent your CPU and system from over-
heating. Overheating may result in damage to the CPU or the system may hang.
• These fan headers are not configuration jumper blocks. Do not place a jumper cap on the
headers.
• A RAID 0 or RAID 1 configuration requires at least two hard drives. If more than two hard
drives are to be used, the total number of hard drives must be an even number.
• A RAID 5 configuration requires at least three hard drives. (The total number of hard drives
does not have to be an even number.)
• A RAID 10 configuration requires four hard drives.
- 23 - Hardware Installation
BUG DEBUG
RT PORT
7) F_PANEL (Front Panel Header)
Connect the power switch, reset switch, speaker, chassis intrusion switch/sensor and system status
indicator on the chassis to this header according to the pin assignments below. Note the positive and
negative pins before connecting the cables.
Message/Power/ Power
Sleep LED Switch Speaker
MSG+
PW+
SPEAK+
SPEAK-
MSG-
PW-
2 20
1 19
HD-
RES+
CI+
PWR+
PWR-
HD+
RES-
CI-
Hard Drive Reset Power LED
Activity LED Switch
Chassis Intrusion
Header
The front panel design may differ by chassis. A front panel module mainly consists of power
switch, reset switch, power LED, hard drive activity LED, speaker and etc. When connecting your
chassis front panel module to this header, make sure the wire assignments and the pin assign-
ments are matched correctly.
Hardware Installation - 24 -
8) F_AUDIO (Front Panel Audio Header)
The front panel audio header supports Intel High Definition audio (HD) and AC'97 audio. You may connect
your chassis front panel audio module to this header. Make sure the wire assignments of the module con-
nector match the pin assignments of the motherboard header. Incorrect connection between the module
connector and the motherboard header will make the device unable to work or even damage it.
For HD Front Panel Audio: For AC'97 Front Panel Audio:
Pin No. Definition Pin No. Definition
9 1 1 MIC2_L 1 MIC
F_AUDIO(H) 2 GND
F_PANEL(NH) 2 GND F_PANEL
3 MIC2_R 3 MIC Power (H61M-D2)
10 2 4 -ACZ_DET 4 NC
5 LINE2_R 5 Line Out (R)
6 GND 6 NC
7 FAUDIO_JD 7 NC
8 No Pin 8 No Pin
9 LINE2_L 9 Line Out (L)
10 GND 10 NC
ously. If you want to mute the back panel audio (only supported when using an HD front panel
audio module), refer to Chapter 5, "Configuring 2/4/5.1/7.1-Channel Audio."
Voltage measurement
• Some module(X58A-OC)
chassis provide a front panel audio module that has separated connectors on each wire
PWMinformation
instead of a single plug. For Switch (X58A-OC)
about connecting the front panel audio module that
has different wire assignments, please contact the chassis manufacturer.
1 2 3
DIP
1 2 3
DIP
DIP
This header supports digital S/PDIF Out and connects a S/PDIF digital audio cable (provided by expan-
1 2 3
sion
PCIe cards) for digital
power connector audio output from your motherboard to certain expansion cards like graphics cards
(SATA)(X58A-OC)
and sound cards. For example, some graphics cards may require you to use a S/PDIF digital audio cable
for digital audio output from your motherboard to your graphics card if you wish to connect an HDMI
display to the graphics card and have digital audio output from the HDMI display at the same time. For
information about connecting the S/PDIF digital audio cable, carefully read the manual for your expan-
sion card.
- 25 - Hardware Installation
10) F_USB1/F_USB2/F_USB3 (USB 2.0/1.1 Headers)
The headers conform to USB 2.0/1.1 specification. Each USB header can provide two USB ports via an
UG
T optional USB bracket. For purchasing the optional USB bracket, please contact the local dealer.
20 11
When the system is in S4/S5 mode, only the USB ports routed to the F_USB1 Voltage
headermeasurement
can sup- module(X58A-OC)
TPM
port the ON/OFF Charge function. w/housing PW
•• Do not plug the IEEE 1394 bracket (2x5-pin) cable into the USB 2.0/1.1 header.
•• Prior to installing the USB bracket, be sure to turn off your computer and unplug the power
cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the USB bracket.
PCIe power connector (SATA)(X58A-OC)
Hardware Installation - 26 -
12) F_1394 (IEEE 1394a Header)
The header conforms to IEEE 1394a specification. The IEEE 1394a header can provide one IEEE 1394a
UG
T port via an optional IEEE 1394a bracket. For purchasing the optional IEEE 1394a bracket, please con-
tact the local dealer.
Pin No. Definition
1 TPA+
9 1 2 TPA-
10 2
3 GND-
4 GND
5 TPB+
6 TPB-
7 Power (12V)
8 Power (12V)
9 No Pin
10 GND
• Do not plug the USB bracket cable into the IEEE 1394a header.
• Prior to installing the IEEE 1394a bracket, be sure to turn off your computer and unplug the
power cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the IEEE 1394a bracket.
• To connect an IEEE 1394a device, attach one end of the device cable to your computer and
then attach the other end of the cable to the IEEE 1394a device. Ensure that the cable is se-
curely connected.
- 27 - Hardware Installation
BIOS Switc
DB_PORT
1
1
You may connect a TPM (Trusted Platform Module) to this header.
DIP
20 2
DIP
Hardware Installation - 28 -
16) CLR_CMOS (Clearing CMOS Jumper)
Use this jumper to clear the CMOS values (e.g. date information and BIOS configurations) and reset
the CMOS values to factory defaults. To clear the CMOS values use a metal object like a screwdriver to
touch the two pins for a few seconds.
Open: Normal
•• Always turn off your computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before clear-
ing the CMOS values.
•• After system restart, go to BIOS Setup to load factory defaults (select Load Optimized De-
faults) or manually configure the BIOS settings (refer to Chapter 2, "BIOS Setup," for BIOS
configurations).
- 29 - Hardware Installation
Hardware Installation - 30 -
Chapter 2 BIOS Setup
BIOS (Basic Input and Output System) records hardware parameters of the system in the CMOS on the
motherboard. Its major functions include conducting the Power-On Self-Test (POST) during system startup,
saving system parameters and loading operating system, etc. BIOS includes a BIOS Setup program that allows
the user to modify basic system configuration settings or to activate certain system features.
When the power is turned off, the battery on the motherboard supplies the necessary power to the CMOS to
keep the configuration values in the CMOS.
To access the BIOS Setup program, press the <Delete> key during the POST when the power is turned on.
To upgrade the BIOS, use either the GIGABYTE Q-Flash or @BIOS utility.
•• Q-Flash allows the user to quickly and easily upgrade or back up BIOS without entering the operating system.
•• @BIOS is a Windows-based utility that searches and downloads the latest version of BIOS from the Internet
and updates the BIOS.
For instructions on using the Q-Flash and @BIOS utilities, refer to Chapter 4, "BIOS Update Utilities."
•• Because BIOS flashing is potentially risky, if you do not encounter problems using the current
version of BIOS, it is recommended that you not flash the BIOS. To flash the BIOS, do it with
caution. Inadequate BIOS flashing may result in system malfunction.
•• It is recommended that you not alter the default settings (unless you need to) to prevent system
instability or other unexpected results. Inadequately altering the settings may result in system's
failure to boot. If this occurs, try to clear the CMOS values and reset the board to default values.
(Refer to the "Load Optimized Defaults" section in this chapter or introductions of the battery/clear
CMOS jumper in Chapter 1 for how to clear the CMOS values.)
- 31 - BIOS Setup
2-1 Startup Screen
The following startup Logo screen will appear when the computer boots.
Function Keys
Function Keys:
<DEL>: BIOS SETUP\Q-FLASH
Press the <Delete> key to enter BIOS Setup or to access the Q-Flash utility in BIOS Setup.
<F9>: SYSTEM INFORMATION
Press the <F9> key to display your system information.
<F12>: BOOT MENU
Boot Menu allows you to set the first boot device without entering BIOS Setup. In Boot Menu, use the up
arrow key <h> or the down arrow key <i> to select the first boot device, then press <Enter> to accept.
The system will boot from the device immediately.
Note: The setting in Boot Menu is effective for one time only. After system restart, the device boot order
will still be based on BIOS Setup settings.
<END>: Q-FLASH
Press the <End> key to access the Q-Flash utility directly without having to enter BIOS Setup first.
BIOS Setup - 32 -
2-2 The Main Menu
The Main Menu
On the main menu of the BIOS Setup program, press arrow keys to move among the items and press <Enter>
to accept or enter a sub-menu. Or you can use your mouse to select the item you want.
(Sample BIOS Version: D8c)
Setup Menus
Enter Q-Flash
Help
Function Keys
- 33 - BIOS Setup
BIOS Setup Menus
M.I.T.
Use this menu to configure the clock, frequency, and voltages of your CPU and memory, etc. Or check the
system/CPU temperatures, voltages, and fan speeds.
System
Use this menu to configure the default language used by the BIOS and system time and date. This menu
also displays information on the devices connected to the SATA ports.
BIOS Features
Use this menu to configure the device boot order, advanced features available on the CPU, and the primary
display adapter.
Peripherals
Use this menu to configure all peripheral devices, such as SATA, USB, integrated audio, and integrated
LAN, etc.
Power Management
Use this menu to configure all the power-saving functions.
Save & Exit
Save all the changes made in the BIOS Setup program to the CMOS and exit BIOS Setup. You can save
the current BIOS settings to a profile or load optimized defaults for optimal-performance system operations.
•• When the system is not stable as usual, select the Load Optimized Defaults item to set your
system to its defaults.
•• The BIOS Setup menus described in this chapter are for reference only and may differ by BIOS
version.
BIOS Setup - 34 -
2-3 M.I.T.
Whether the system will work stably with the overclock/overvoltage settings you made is dependent
on your overall system configurations. Incorrectly doing overclock/overvoltage may result in damage
to CPU, chipset, or memory and reduce the useful life of these components. This page is for advanced
users only and we recommend you not to alter the default settings to prevent system instability or
other unexpected results. (Inadequately altering the settings may result in system's failure to boot. If
this occurs, clear the CMOS values and reset the board to default values.)
This section provides information on the BIOS version, CPU base clock, CPU frequency, memory frequency,
total memory size, CPU temperature, Vcore, and memory voltage.
- 35 - BIOS Setup
`` M.I.T. Current Status
This screen provides information on CPU/memory frequencies/parameters.
BIOS Setup - 36 -
`` Advanced CPU Core Features
&& Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.) (Note 2), System Memory Multiplier, Memory
Frequency(MHz)
The settings above are synchronous to those under the same items on the Advanced Frequency Settings
menu.
(Note 1) This item is present only when you install a CPU that supports this feature.
(Note 2) This item is present only when you install a memory module that supports this feature.
BIOS Setup - 38 -
&& Performance Enhance
Allows the system to operate at three different performance levels.
Normal Lets the system operate at its basic performance level.
Turbo Lets the system operate at its good performance level. (Default)
Extreme Lets the system operate at its best performance level.
&& DRAM Timing Selectable
Quick and Expert allows the memory timing settings below to be configurable. Options are: Auto (default),
Quick, Expert.
&& Profile DDR Voltage
When using a non-XMP memory module or Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.) is set to Disabled, this item
will display as 1.50V. When Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.) is set to Profile1 or Profile2, this item will
display the value based on the SPD data on the XMP memory.
&& Profile VTT Voltage
The value displayed here is dependent on the CPU being used.
&& Channel Interleaving
Enables or disables memory channel interleaving. Enabled allows the system to simultaneously access
different channels of the memory to increase memory performance and stability. Auto lets the BIOS
automatically configure this setting. (Default: Auto)
&& Rank Interleaving
Enables or disables memory rank interleaving. Enabled allows the system to simultaneously access different
ranks of the memory to increase memory performance and stability. Auto lets the BIOS automatically
configure this setting. (Default: Auto)
This sub-menu provides memory timing settings for each channel of memory. The respective timing setting
screens are configurable only when DRAM Timing Selectable is set to Quick or Expert. Note: Your system
may become unstable or fail to boot after you make changes on the memory timings. If this occurs, please reset
the board to default values by loading optimized defaults or clearing the CMOS values.
- 39 - BIOS Setup
`` Advanced Voltage Settings
This sub-menu allows you to set CPU, Chipset and memory voltages.
`` PC Health Status
BIOS Setup - 40 -
&& Reset Case Open Status
Disabled Keeps or clears the record of previous chassis intrusion status. (Default)
Enabled Clears the record of previous chassis intrusion status and the Case Open field will show
"No" at next boot.
&& Case Open
Displays the detection status of the chassis intrusion detection device attached to the motherboard CI
header. If the system chassis cover is removed, this field will show "Yes", otherwise it will show "No". To
clear the chassis intrusion status record, set Reset Case Open Status to Enabled, save the settings to
the CMOS, and then restart your system.
&& CPU Vcore/Dram Voltage/+3.3V/+5V/+12V
Displays the current system voltages.
&& CPU/System Temperature
Displays current CPU/system temperature.
&& CPU/System/Power Fan Speed
Displays current CPU/system/power fan speed.
&& CPU Warning Temperature
Sets the warning threshold for CPU temperature. When CPU temperature exceeds the threshold, BIOS
will emit warning sound. Options are: Disabled (default), 60oC/140oF, 70oC/158oF, 80oC/176oF, 90oC/194oF.
&& CPU/System/Power Fan Fail Warning
Allows the system to emit warning sound if the CPU fan, power fan, or system fans are not connected or
fail. Check the fan condition or fan connection when this occurs. (Default: Disabled)
&& CPU Fan Control Mode
Auto Lets the BIOS automatically detect the type of CPU fan installed and sets the optimal CPU
fan control mode. (Default)
Voltage Sets Voltage mode for a 3-pin CPU fan.
PWM Sets PWM mode for a 4-pin CPU fan.
- 41 - BIOS Setup
&& CPU Fan Speed Control
Allows you to determine whether to enable the CPU fan speed control function and adjust the fan speed.
Normal Allows the CPU fan to run at different speeds according to the CPU temperature. You can
adjust the fan speed with EasyTune based on your system requirements. (Default)
Silent Allows the CPU fan to run at slow speeds.
Manual Allows you to control the CPU fan speed under the Slope PWM item.
Disabled Allows the CPU fan to run at full speeds.
&& Slope PWM
Allows you to control the CPU fan speed. This item is configurable only when CPU Fan Speed Control is
set to Manual. Options are: 0.75 PWM value /oC ~ 2.50 PWM value /oC.
&& 1st System Fan Speed Control
Allows you to determine whether to enable the system fan speed control function for the system fan
connected to the SYS_FAN1 connector and adjust the fan speed.
Normal Allows the system fan to run at different speeds according to the system temperature. You
can adjust the fan speed with EasyTune based on your system requirements. (Default)
Silent Allows the system fan to run at slow speeds.
Manual Allows you to control the system fan speed under the Slope PWM item.
Disabled Allows the system fan to run at full speeds.
&& Slope PWM
Allows you to control the system fan speed. This item is configurable only when 1st System Fan Speed
Control is set to Manual. Options are: 0.75 PWM value /oC ~ 2.50 PWM value /oC.
BIOS Setup - 42 -
2-4 System
This section provides information on your motherboard model, and BIOS version. You can also select the default
language used by the BIOS and manually set the system time.
- 43 - BIOS Setup
2-5 BIOS Features
- 45 - BIOS Setup
&& Display Boot Option Control
Allows you to select whether to enable the UEFI or legacy option ROM for the graphics controller.
Disabled Disables option ROM.
Legacy Only Enables legacy option ROM only. (Default)
UEFI Only Enables UEFI option ROM only.
Legacy First Enables legacy option ROM first.
UEFI First Enables UEFI option ROM first.
This item is configurable only when CSM Support is set to Always.
&& Other PCI Device ROM Priority
Allows you to select whether to enable the UEFI or Legacy option ROM for the PCI device controller other
than the LAN, storage device, and graphics controllers.
Legacy OpROM Enables legacy option ROM only.
UEFI OpROM Enables UEFI option ROM only. (Default)
&& Network stack
Disables or enables booting from the network to install a GPT format OS, such as installing the OS from
the Windows Deployment Services server. (Default: Disable)
&& Ipv4 PXE Support
Enables or disables IPv4 PXE Support. This item is configurable only when Network stack is enabled.
&& Ipv6 PXE Support
Enables or disables IPv6 PXE Support. This item is configurable only when Network stack is enabled.
To cancel the password, press <Enter> on the password item and when requested for the password, enter the
correct one first. When prompted for a new password, press <Enter> without entering any password. Press
<Enter> again when prompted to confirm.
BIOS Setup - 46 -
2-6 Peripherals
- 47 - BIOS Setup
&& R_USB3.0 Controller (Etron EJ168 USB Controller, USB 3.0/2.0 ports on the back
panel)
Enables or disables the Etron EJ168 USB controller. (Default: Enabled)
&& Onboard LAN Controller
Enables or disables the onboard LAN function. (Default: Enabled)
If you wish to install a 3rd party add-in network card instead of using the onboard LAN, set this item to
Disabled.
&& F_USB30 Controller (Etron EJ168 USB Controller, USB 3.0/2.0 ports routed to the
onboard F_USB30 header)
Enables or disables the Etron EJ168 USB controller. (Default: Enabled)
&& Legacy USB Support
Allows USB keyboard/mouse to be used in MS-DOS. (Default: Enabled)
&& XHCI Hand-off
Determines whether to enable XHCI Hand-off feature for an operating system without XHCI Hand-off
support. (Default: Enabled)
&& EHCI Hand-off
Determines whether to enable EHCI Hand-off feature for an operating system without EHCI Hand-off
support. (Default: Disabled)
&& Port 60/64 Emulation
Enables or disables emulation of I/O ports 64h and 60h. This should be enabled for full legacy support
for USB keyboards/mice in MS-DOS or in operating system that does not natively support USB devices.
(Default: Disabled)
&& USB Storage Devices
Displays a list of connected USB mass storage devices. This item appears only when a USB storage device
is installed.
&& IOMMU Controller
Enables or disables AMD IOMMU support. (Default: Enabled)
`` Trusted Computing
&& TPM SUPPORT
Enables or disables Trusted Platform Module (TPM). Set this item to Enable when a TPM device is installed.
(Default: Disable)
BIOS Setup - 48 -
`` SB SATA Configuration
`` Super IO Configuration
This section provides information on the super I/O chip and allows you to configure the serial port.
&& Serial Port A
Enables or disables the onboard serial port. (Default: Enabled)
- 49 - BIOS Setup
2-7 Power Management
BIOS Setup - 50 -
&& Power On By Keyboard
Allows the system to be turned on by a PS/2 keyboard wake-up event.
Note: To use this function, you need an ATX power supply providing at least 1A on the +5VSB lead.
Disabled Disables this function. (Default)
Password Set a password with 1~5 characters to turn on the system.
Keyboard 98 Press POWER button on the Windows 98 keyboard to turn on the system.
Key
Any Press any key to turn on the system.
&& Power On Password
Set the password when Power On By Keyboard is set to Password.
Press <Enter> on this item and set a password with up to 5 characters and then press <Enter> to accept.
To turn on the system, enter the password and press <Enter>.
Note: To cancel the password, press <Enter> on this item. When prompted for the password, press <Enter>
again without entering the password to clear the password settings.
&& Power On By Mouse
Allows the system to be turned on by a PS/2 mouse wake-up event.
Note: To use this function, you need an ATX power supply providing at least 1A on the +5VSB lead.
Disabled Disables this function. (Default)
Move Move the mouse to turn on the system.
Double Click Double click on left button on the mouse to turn on the system.
&& ErP
Determines whether to let the system consume least power in S5 (shutdown) state. (Default: Disabled)
Note: When this item is set to Enabled, the following functions will become unavailable: PME event wake
up, power on by mouse, power on by keyboard, and wake on LAN.
- 51 - BIOS Setup
2-8 Save & Exit
BIOS Setup - 52 -
Chapter 3 Drivers Installation
• Before installing the drivers, first install the operating system.
• After installing the operating system, insert the motherboard driver disk into your optical drive.
The driver Autorun screen is automatically displayed which looks like that shown in the screen
shot below. (If the driver Autorun screen does not appear automatically, go to My Computer,
double-click the optical drive and execute the Run.exe program.)
After inserting the driver disk, "Xpress Install" will automatically scan your system and then list all the drivers
that are recommended to install. You can click the Install All button and "Xpress Install" will install all the rec-
ommended drivers. Or click Install Single Items to manually select the drivers you wish to install.
• Please ignore the popup dialog box(es) (e.g. the Found New Hardware Wizard) displayed
when "Xpress Install" is installing the drivers. Failure to do so may affect the driver installation.
• Some device drivers will restart your system automatically during the driver installation. After the
system restart, "Xpress Install" will continue to install other drivers.
• After "Xpress Install" installs all of the drivers, a dialog box will appear asking whether to install
new GIGABYTE utilities. Click Yes to automatically install the utilities. Or click No if you want to
manually select the utilities to install on the Application Software page later.
• For USB 2.0 driver support under the Windows XP operating system, please install the Windows
XP Service Pack 1 or later. After installing the SP1 (or later), if a question mark still exists in
Universal Serial Bus Controller in Device Manager, please remove the question mark (by
right-clicking your mouse and select Uninstall) and restart the system. (The system will then
autodetect and install the USB 2.0 driver.)
- 53 - Drivers Installation
3-2 Application Software
This page displays all the utilities and applications that GIGABYTE develops and some free software. You
can click the Install button on the right of an item to install it.
Drivers Installation - 54 -
3-4 Contact
For the detailed contact information of the GIGABYTE Taiwan headquarter or worldwide branch offices, click
the URL on this page to link to the GIGABYTE website.
3-5 System
This page provides the basic system information.
- 55 - Drivers Installation
3-6 Download Center
To update the BIOS, drivers, or applications, click the Download Center button to link to the GIGABYTE
website. The latest version of the BIOS, drivers, or applications will be displayed.
Drivers Installation - 56 -
Chapter 4 Unique Features
4-1 BIOS Update Utilities
GIGABYTE motherboards provide two unique BIOS update tools, Q-Flash™ and @BIOS™. GIGABYTE Q-Flash
and @BIOS are easy-to-use and allow you to update the BIOS without the need to enter MS-DOS mode.
Additionally, this motherboard features the DualBIOS™ design, which enhances protection for the safety and
stability of your computer by adding one more physical BIOS chip.
What is DualBIOS™?
Motherboards that support DualBIOS have two BIOS onboard, a main BIOS and
a backup BIOS. Normally, the system works on the main BIOS. However, if the
main BIOS is corrupted or damaged, the backup BIOS will take over on the next system boot and copy the
BIOS file to the main BIOS to ensure normal system operation. For the sake of system safety, users cannot
update the backup BIOS manually.
What is Q-Flash™?
With Q-Flash you can update the system BIOS without having to enter operating
systems like MS-DOS or Window first. Embedded in the BIOS, the Q-Flash tool
frees you from the hassles of going through complicated BIOS flashing process.
What is @BIOS™?
@BIOS allows you to update the system BIOS while in the Windows environment.
@BIOS will download the latest BIOS file from the nearest @BIOS server site
and update the BIOS.
Because BIOS flashing is potentially risky, please do it with caution. Inadequate BIOS flashing may
result in system malfunction.
- 57 - Unique Features
B. Updating the BIOS
In the main menu of Q-Flash, use the keyboard or mouse to select an item to execute. When updating the
BIOS, choose the location where the BIOS file is saved. The following procedure assumes that you save the
BIOS file to a USB flash drive.
Step 1:
1. Insert the USB flash drive containing the BIOS file into the computer. In the main menu of Q-Flash, select
Update BIOS From Drive.
•• The Save BIOS to Drive option allows you to save the current BIOS file.
•• Q-Flash only supports USB flash drive or hard drives using FAT32/16/12 file system.
•• If the BIOS update file is saved to a hard drive in RAID/AHCI mode or a hard drive attached to
an independent SATA controller, use the <End> key during the POST to access Q-Flash.
Step 2:
The process of the system reading the BIOS file from the USB flash drive is displayed on the screen. When
the message "Are you sure to update BIOS?" appears, select Yes to begin the BIOS update. The monitor will
display the update process.
•• Do not turn off or restart the system when the system is reading/updating the BIOS.
•• Do not remove the USB flash drive or hard drive when the system is updating the BIOS.
Step 3:
When the update process is complete, select Reboot to reboot the system.
Q-Flash
BIOS update is completed.
Power off
Reboot
Unique Features - 58 -
Step 4:
During the POST, press <Delete> to enter BIOS Setup. Select Load Optimized Defaults on the Save & Exit
screen and press <Enter> to load BIOS defaults. System will re-detect all peripheral devices after a BIOS update,
so we recommend that you reload BIOS defaults.
Step 5:
Select Save & Exit Setup and press <Enter>. And then select Yes to save settings to CMOS and exit BIOS
Setup. The procedure is complete after the system restarts.
- 59 - Unique Features
4-1-2 Updating the BIOS with the @BIOS Utility
A. Before You Begin
1. In Windows, close all applications and TSR (Terminate and Stay Resident) programs. This helps prevent
unexpected failures when performing a BIOS update.
2. During the BIOS update process, ensure the Internet connection is stable and do NOT interrupt the Internet
connection (for example, avoid a power loss or switching off the Internet). Failure to do so may result in a
corrupted BIOS or a system that is unable to start.
3. Do not use the G.O.M. (GIGABYTE Online Management) function when using @BIOS.
4. GIGABYTE product warranty does not cover any BIOS damage or system failure resulting from an
inadequate BIOS flashing.
B. Using @BIOS
Make sure that the BIOS file to be flashed matches your motherboard model. Updating the
BIOS with an incorrect BIOS file could cause your system not to boot.
Unique Features - 60 -
4-2 EasyTune 6
GIGABYTE's EasyTune 6 is a simple and easy-to-use interface that allows users to fine-tune their system
settings or do overclock/overvoltage in Windows environment. The user-friendly EasyTune 6 interface also
includes tabbed pages for CPU and memory information, letting users read their system-related information
without the need to install additional software.
Tabs Information
Tab Function
The CPU tab provides information on the installed CPU and motherboard.
The Memory tab provides information on the installed memory module(s). You can select memory
module on a specific slot to see its information.
The Tuner tab allows you to change memory settings and voltages.
•• Easy mode provides information on CPU/memory.
•• Advanced mode allows you to individually change system clock settings and voltages settings
using the sliders.
•• Easy Boost is an easy-to-use auto-overclocking function (Note). When activated, the system
automatically experiments all sorts of overclocking configurations till it hangs. After restart,
the system will operate with the optimum configurations tested to let the CPU reach the best
overclocking performance.
•• Save allows you to save the current settings to a new profile (.txt file).
•• Load allows you to load previous settings from a profile.
After making changes in Easy mode/Advanced mode, be sure to click Set for these changes to take
effect or click Default to restore to default values.
The Graphics tab allows you to change the core clock and memory clock for your AMD or NVIDIA
graphics card.
The Smart tab allows you to specify a Smart Fan mode. Smart Fan Advanced mode allows the fan
speed to be changed linearly based on the temperature thresholds you set.
The HW Monitor tab allows you to monitor hardware temperature, voltage and fan speed and set
temperature/fan speed alarm. You can choose the alert sound from the buzzer or use your own sound
file (.wav file).
(Note) Before enabling Easy Boost, right-click the EasyTune 6 icon in the notification area. Select Auto overclock last
tune on the next reboot to allow the system to work with the optimum overclocking configuration after restart.
Available functions in EasyTune 6 may differ by motherboard model. Grayed-out area(s) indicates that the item is not
configurable or the function is not supported.
Incorrectly doing overclock/overvoltage may result in damage to the hardware components such as CPU, chipset, and
memory and reduce the useful life of these components. Before you do the overclock/overvoltage, make sure that you
fully know each function of EasyTune 6, or system instability or other unexpected results may occur.
- 61 - Unique Features
4-3 Q-Share
Q-Share is an easy and convenient data sharing tool. After configuring your LAN connection settings and Q-Share,
you are able to share your data with computers on the same network, making full use of Internet resources.
Options Descriptions
Option Description
Connect ... Displays the computers with data sharing enabled
Enable Incoming Folder ... Enables data sharing
Disable Incoming Folder ... Disables data sharing
Open Incoming Folder : Accesses the shared data folder
C:\Q-ShareFolder
Change Incoming Folder : Changes the data folder to be shared (Note)
C:\Q-ShareFolder
Update Q-Share ... Updates Q-Share online
About Q-Share ... Displays the current Q-Share version
Exit... Exits Q-Share
(Note) This option is available only when data sharing is NOT enabled.
Unique Features - 62 -
4-4 Smart Recovery 2
Smart Recovery 2 allows you to back up a partition as an image file every hour. You can use these images to
restore your system or files when needed.
Creating a backup:
Click the Settings button on the main menu. In the Settings dialog
box, select the source partition and destination partition and click OK.
The initial backup will start after 10 minutes and regular backup will be
performed hourly. Note: By default, all partitions on the system drive
are selected as the backup source. The backup destination cannot be
on the same partition as the backup source.
Recovering a file:
Click the File Recovery button on the main menu. Use the time slider on
the top of the popped out window to select a previous backup time. The
right pane will display the backed-up partitions in the backup destination
(in the My Backup folder). Browse to the file you want and copy it.
- 63 - Unique Features
Recovering your system with Smart Recovery 2 (Windows 7 only):
Steps:
1. Click the System Recovery button on the main menu.
2. Select the location where your backup is saved.
3. Use the time slider to select a time point.
4. Select a partition backup created on the selected time point and
click Restore.
5. Confirm whether to restart your system to proceed with the restore
immediately or later. Once you respond "Yes" the system will restart to
the Windows recovery environment. Follow the onscreen instructions
to restore your system.
•• For Windows Vista, refer to the steps below to use the original
Windows installation disk for system recovery.
•• All of your files and programs will be deleted and replaced with those
on the selected backup. If needed, be sure to make a copy of your
data before the restore.
Unique Features - 64 -
4-5 Auto Green
Auto Green is an easy-to-use tool that provides users with simple options to enable system power savings via
a Bluetooth cell phone. When the phone is out of the range of the computer's Bluetooth receiver, the system
will enter the specified power saving mode.
The Configuration dialog box:
First, you have to set your Bluetooth cell phone as a portable key. On the Auto Green main
menu, click Configure and then click Configure BT devices. Select the Bluetooth cell
phone that you want to use as the portable key (Note 1). (If the screen doesn't display your
Bluetooth cell phone, click Refresh to let Auto Green re-detect the device.)
Before creating a Bluetooth cell phone key, make sure your motherboard
has a Bluetooth receiver and you have turned on the search and Bluetooth
functions on your phone.
Configuring the Bluetooth cell phone key:
After you select a cell phone, the Add device as shown on the left will appear. Enter a
passkey (8~16 digits recommended) which will be used for pairing with the cell phone.
Then enter the same passkey on your cell phone.
(Note 1) If your cell phone has been configured as the Auto Green key, you'll not be able to use it to connect to other Bluetooth
device(s) when Auto Green is enabled.
(Note 2) Whether the Bluetooth dongle is included depends on the motherboard models. Before installing the Bluetooth
dongle, be sure to turn off other Bluetooth receiver on your computer.
- 65 - Unique Features
Unique Features - 66 -
Chapter 5 Appendix
5-1 Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s)
RAID Levels
RAID 0 RAID 1 RAID 5 RAID 10
Minimum
Number of Hard ≥2 2 ≥3 ≥4
Drives
Array Capacity Number of hard Size of the smallest (Number of hard (Number of hard
drives * Size of the drive drives -1) * Size of drives/2) * Size of the
smallest drive the smallest drive smallest drive
Fault Tolerance No Yes Yes Yes
(Note 1) Skip this step if you do not want to create RAID array on the SATA controller.
(Note 2) Required when the SATA controller is set to AHCI or RAID mode.
- 67 - Appendix
B. Configuring SATA controller mode in BIOS Setup
Make sure to configure the SATA controller mode correctly in system BIOS Setup.
Step 1:
Turn on your computer and press <Delete> to enter BIOS Setup during the POST (Power-On Self-Test).
Make sure OnChip SATA Controller is enabled. To enable RAID for the SATA3 0/1/2/3 connectors, set On-
Chip SATA Type to RAID. To enable RAID for the SATA3 4/5 connectors, set OnChip SATA Type to RAID
and set OnChip SATA Port4/5 Type to As SATA Type (Figure 1). To enable support for RAID 5, set OnChip
SATA RAID5 Support to Enabled.
Figure 1
Step 2:
Save changes and exit BIOS Setup.
The BIOS Setup menus described in this section may differ from the exact settings for your moth-
erboard. The actual BIOS Setup menu options you will see shall depend on the motherboard you
have and the BIOS version.
Appendix - 68 -
C. Configuring RAID set in RAID BIOS
Enter the RAID BIOS setup utility to configure a RAID array. Skip this step and proceed with the installation of
Windows operating system for a non-RAID configuration.
Step 1:
After the POST memory test begins and before the operating system boot begins, look for a message which
says "Press <Ctrl-F> to enter RAID Option ROM Utility" (Figure 2). Press <Ctrl> + <F> to enter the RAID
BIOS setup utility.
RAID Option ROM Version 3.3.1540.11
(c) 2011 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. All rights reserved.
No Array is defined..
Figure 2
Step 2:
Main Menu
This is the first option screen when you enter the BIOS RAID Setup utility. (Figure 3).
To view the disk drives assigned to arrays, press <1> to enter the View Drive Assignments window.
To create an array, press <2> to enter the LD View/LD Define Menu window.
To delete an array, press <3> to enter the Delete LD Menu window.
To view controller settings, press <4> to enter the Controller Configuration window.
[ Main Menu ]
Delete LD Menu....................................... [ 3 ]
Controller Configuration............................ [ 4 ]
[ Keys Available ]
Figure 3
- 69 - Appendix
Create Arrays Manually
To create a new array, press <2> to enter the LD View Menu window (Figure 4). To create an array, press
<Ctrl+C> to access the LD Define Menu.
[ LD View Menu ]
[ Keys Available ]
[h] Up [i] Down [PaUp/PaDn] Switch Page [Ctrl+C] Define LD
[Enter] View LD [Ctrl+V] View Single Disk [ESC] Exit
Figure 4
In the LD Define Menu, use the up or down arrow key to move to an item for further configuration (Figure 5).
[[Keys
KeysAvailable
Available]]
[h] Up [i] Down [PaUp/PaDn] Switch Page [Space] Change Option
[Ctrl+Y] Save [ESC] Exit
Figure 5
Appendix - 70 -
In the following procedure, we'll create RAID 0 as an example.
1. Under the RAID Mode section, press the <SPACE> key to select RAID 0.
2. Set the Stripe Block size. 64 KB is the default.
3. Under the Drives Assignments section, press the up or down arrow key to highlight a drive.
4. Press the <SPACE> key or <Y>to change the Assignment option to Y. This action adds the drive to the
disk array. The Drv section will show the number of disks assigned.
5. Press <Ctrl>+<Y> keys to save the information. The message in Figure 6 will appear. Press <Ctrl+Y> to
input the array name. If you do not input the array name, the default array name will be used.
Please press Ctrl-Y key to input the LD name
or press any key to exit.
If you do not input any LD name, the default
LD name will be used.
Figure 6
6. When the next message appears, press <Ctrl>+<Y> to clear the MBR or press other keys to ignore this
option.
Fast Initialization option has been selected
It will erase the MBR data of the disks.
<Press Ctrl-Y key if you are sure to erase it>
<Press any other key to ignore this option>
Figure 7
7. Then, the message in Figure 8 will appear. Press <Ctrl>+<Y> to set the capacity of the RAID array or
press other keys to set the array to its maximum capacity.
Figure 8
8. After the creation is complete, the screen will return to LD View Menu where you will see the newly-
created array.
9. Press <Esc> to return to Main Menu and press <Esc> again if you want to exit the RAID BIOS utility.
- 71 - Appendix
View Drive Assignments
The View Drive Assignments option in the Main Menu displays whether the attached hard drives are as-
signed to a disk array or are unassigned. Under the Assignment column, drives are labeled with their as-
signed disk array or shown as Free if unassigned.
[ Keys Available ]
[h] Up [i] Down [PaUp/PaDn] Switch Page [Ctrl+H] Secure Erase
[ESC] Exit
Figure 9
Delete an Array
The Delete Array menu option allows for deletion of disk array assignments.
Deleting an existing disk array could result in loss of data. Record all array information including the
array type, the disk members, and stripe block size in case you wish to undo a deletion.
1. To delete an array, press <3> in the Main Menu to enter the Delete LD Menu. Then highlight the array you
wish to delete and press the <Delete> key or the <Alt>+<D> keys.
2. The View LD Defination Menu will appear (as shown in Figure 10) showing which drives are assigned to
this array. Press <Ctrl>+<Y> if you are sure to delete the array or other keys to abort.
3. When the array is deleted, the screen will return to Delete LD Menu. Press <Esc>to return to Main Menu.
LD 1 GBT RAID 0 2 80
Stripe Block 64 KB
Read Policy Read Ahead Write Policy WriteBack
[ Drives Assignments ]
Figure 10
Appendix - 72 -
5-1-2 Installing the SATA RAID/AHCI Driver and Operating System
With the correct BIOS settings, you are ready to install Windows 7/Vista/XP.
Step 1:
You need to install the SATA RAID/AHCI driver during the OS installation. Use an alternative system to copy
the SATA RAID/AHCI driver from the motherboard driver disk to a USB flash drive. Copy the Hw7 folder un-
der BootDrv in the driver disk.
Step 2:
Boot from the Windows 7 setup disk and perform standard OS installation steps. When the screen requesting
you to load the driver appears, select Browse.
Step 3:
Then browse to the USB flash drive and select the location of the driver. The locations of the drivers are as
follows:
RAID driver for Windows 7 32-bit: Hw7\RAID\x86
RAID driver for Windows 7 64-bit: Hw7\RAID\x64
AHCI driver for Windows 7 32-bit: Hw7\AHCI\W7
AHCI driver for Windows 7 64-bit: Hw7\AHCI\W764A
Step 4:
When a screen as shown in Figure 1 appears, select AMD AHCI Compatible RAID Controller and click
Next to load the driver and continue the OS installation.
Figure 1
- 73 - Appendix
B. Installing Windows XP
Before installing Windows XP, connect a USB floppy disk drive to your computer first because you need to in-
stall the SATA RAID/AHCI driver from a floppy disk that contains the driver during the OS installation. Without
the driver, the hard drive(s) may not be recognized during the Windows setup process. First, copy the driver
from the motherboard driver disk to a floppy disk. Refer to the methods below.
Method A:
For the AMD SB950, copy all files in the \BootDrv\Hxp folder to your floppy disk.
Method B:
Steps:
1: Use an alternative system and insert the motherboard driver disk.
2: From your optical drive folder, double click the Menu.exe file in the BootDrv folder. A Command Prompt
window will open similar to that in Figure 2.
3: nsert the blank formatted disk (if you're using a USB floppy disk drive, make sure it is designated as drive
A). Select the controller driver by pressing the corresponding letter from the menu and press <Enter>. For
example, from the menu in Figure 2,
• For the AMD SB950, select 6) Hseries AHCI/RAID for XP.
Your system will then automatically copy the driver files to the floppy disk. Press any key to exit when finished.
Figure 2
Appendix - 74 -
Refer to the following for installing the driver during the Windows setup process.
Step 1:
Restart your system to boot from the Windows XP setup disk and press <F6> as soon as you see the mes-
sage "Press F6 if you need to install a 3rd party SCSI or RAID driver." A screen will then appear asking you to
specify an additional SCSI adapter. Press <S>.
Step 2:
Insert the floppy disk containing the SATA RAID/AHCI driver and press <Enter>. Then a controller menu simi-
lar to that in Figure 3 will appear. Select AMD AHCI Compatible RAID Controller-x86 platform and press
<Enter>.
Windows Setup
You have chosen to configure a SCSI Adapter for use with Windows,
using a device support disk provided by an adapter manufacturer.
Select the SCSI Adapter you want from the following list, or press ESC
to return to the previous screen.
ENTER=Select F3=Exit
Figure 3
Step 3:
On the next screen, press <Enter> to continue the driver installation. After the driver installation, you can pro-
ceed with the Windows XP installation.
- 75 - Appendix
Rebuilding an Array:
Rebuilding is the process of restoring data to a hard drive from other drives in the array. Rebuilding applies
only to fault-tolerant arrays such as RAID 1, RAID 5, or RAID 10. To replace the old drive, make sure to use a
new drive of equal or greater capacity. The procedures below assume a new drive is added to replace a failed
drive to rebuild a RAID 1 array.
While in the operating system, make sure the chipset drivers have been installed from the motherboard driver
disk. Then launch the AMD RAIDXpert from All Programs in the Start Menu.
Step 1: Step 2:
Enter the login ID and password (default: "admin"), Select the RAID array to be rebuilt under Logical
and then click Sign in to launch AMD RAIDXpert. Drive View and click the Rebuild tab in the Logi-
cal Drive Information pane.
Step 3: Step 4:
Select one available drive and click Start Now to The rebuilding progress is displayed on the
start the rebuilding process. screen and you can select Pause/Resume/Abort
during the rebuilding process.
Step 5:
When done, the array's status on the Information page
in the Logical Drive Information pane will display as
Functional.
Appendix - 76 -
5-2 Configuring Audio Input and Output
5-2-1 Configuring 2/4/5.1/7.1-Channel Audio
The motherboard provides six audio jacks on the back
panel which support 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel (Note) audio.
The picture to the right shows the default audio jack Center/Subwoofer Line In
Speaker Out
assignments.
Rear Speaker Out Front Speaker Out
The integrated HD (High Definition) audio provides
Side Mic In
jack retasking capability that allows the user to change Speaker Out
•• To install a microphone, connect your microphone to the Mic in jack and manually configure the
jack for microphone functionality.
•• To configure 7.1-channel audio, you have to retask one of the audio jacks to be Side speaker out
through the audio driver.
•• Audio signals will be present on both of the front and back panel audio connections simultane-
ously. If you want to mute the back panel audio (only supported when using an HD front panel
audio module), refer to instructions on the next page.
A. Configuring Speakers
(The following instructions use Windows 7 as the example operating system.)
Step 1:
After installing the audio driver, the VIA HD Audio Deck
icon will appear in the notification area. Click the
icon to access the VIA HD Audio Deck .
Step 3:
Go to the Speaker screen. On the Speaker Setting and
Test tab, select 2, 4, 6, or 8-channel speaker according to
the type of speaker configuration you wish to set up. Then
the speaker setup is completed.
Appendix - 78 -
5-2-2 Configuring S/PDIF Out
The S/PDIF Out jack can transmit audio signals to an external decoder for decoding to get the best audio
quality.
(Note) Enter the SPDIF OUT screen to configure further settings if you use the S/PDIF Out connector(s) on
the back panel for digital audio output or enter the SPDIF HDMI screen if you use the internal S/PDIF
Out connector (SPDIF_O) for digital audio output.
- 79 - Appendix
5-2-3 Configuring Microphone Recording
Step 1:
After installing the audio driver, the VIA HD Audio Deck
icon will appear in the notification area. Click the
icon to access the VIA HD Audio Deck.
Step 2:
Connect your microphone to the Mic in jack (pink) on
the back panel or the Mic in jack (pink) on the front
panel. Then configure the jack for microphone function-
ality.
Note: The microphone functions on the front panel and
back panel cannot be used at the same time.
Step 3:
Go to the Microphone screen. Do not mute the record-
ing volume (REC Vol), or you'll not be able to record
the sound. To hear the sound being recorded during the
recording process, do not mute the microphone volume
(Microphone). It is recommended that you set the vol-
umes at a middle level.
Step 4:
To raise the recording and playback volume for the
microphone, use the slider on the right to set the micro-
phone boost level.
Appendix - 80 -
Step 5:
After completing the settings above, click Start, point
to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click
Sound Recorder to begin the sound recording.
Step 1:
Locate the icon in the notification area and right-
click on this icon. Select Recording Devices.
Step 2:
On the Recording tab, right-click on an empty space
and select Show Disabled Devices.
Step 3:
When the Stereo Mix item appears, right-click on this
item and select Enable. Then set it as the default de-
vice.
- 81 - Appendix
Step 4:
Now you can access the VIA HD Audio Deck to con-
figure Stereo Mix and use Sound Recorder to record
the sound.
A. Recording Sound
1. Make sure you have connected the sound input device (e.g. microphone) to the computer.
2. To record the audio, click the Start Recording button .
3. To stop recording audio, click the Stop Recording button .
Be sure to save the recorded audio file upon completion.
Appendix - 82 -
5-3 Troubleshooting
Q: In the BIOS Setup program, why are some BIOS options missing?
A: Some advanced options are hidden in the BIOS Setup program. Press <Delete> to enter BIOS Setup during the POST. In
the Main Menu, press <Ctrl>+<F1> to show the advanced options.
Q: Why is the light of my keyboard/optical mouse still on after the computer shuts down?
A: Some motherboards provide a small amount of standby power after the computer shuts down and that's why the light is
still on.
Q: Why do I still get a weak sound even though I have turned my speaker to the maximum volume?
A: Make sure your speaker is equipped with an internal amplifier. If not, try a speaker with power/amplifier.
Q: Why cannot I install the onboard HD audio driver successfully? (For Windows XP only)
A: Step 1: First, make sure Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2 has been installed (check in My Computer > Properties > Gen-
eral > System). If not, please update it from Microsoft's website. Then make sure the Microsoft UAA Bus Driver for
High Definition Audio has been installed successfully (check in My Computer > Properties > Hardware > Device
Manager > System Devices).
Step 2: Check if Audio Device on High Definition Audio Bus or Unknown device is present in Device Manager or
Sound, video, and game controllers. If yes, please disable this device. (If not, skip this step.)
Step 3: Then go back to My Computer > Properties > Hardware > Device Manager > System devices and right-click on
Microsoft UAA Bus Driver for High Definition Audio and select Disable and Uninstall.
Step 4: In Device Manager, right-click on the computer name and select Scan for hardware changes. When the Add
New Hardware Wizard appears, click Cancel. Then install the onboard HD audio driver from the motherboard
driver disk or download the audio driver from GIGABYTE's website to install.
For more details, go to the Support & Downloads\FAQ page on our website and search for "onboard HD audio driver."
- 83 - Appendix
5-3-2 Troubleshooting Procedure
If you encounter any troubles during system startup, follow the troubleshooting procedure below to solve the
problem.
START
Turn off the power. Remove all peripherals, connecting cables, and
power cord etc.
Make sure the motherboard does not short-circuit with the chassis or Yes
Isolate the short circuit.
other metal objects.
Insert the graphics card. Connect the ATX main power cable and the
12V power cable. Turn on the power to start the computer.
Make sure the graphics card is securely seated in the
expansion slot and power connectors are firmly attached.
(Continued...)
Appendix - 84 -
A
Turn off the computer. Plug in the keyboard and mouse and restart
the computer.
END
If the procedure above is unable to solve your problem, contact the place of purchase or local deal-
er for help. Or go to the Support & Downloads\Technical Support page to submit your question.
Our customer service staff will reply you as soon as possible.
- 85 - Appendix
5-3-3 Regulatory Statements
Regulatory Notices
This document must not be copied without our written permission, and the contents there of must not be
imparted to a third party nor be used for any unauthorized purpose. Contravention will be prosecuted. We
believe that the information contained herein was accurate in all respects at the time of printing. GIGABYTE
cannot, however, assume any responsibility for errors or omissions in this text. Also note that the information
in this document is subject to change without notice and should not be construed as a commitment by
GIGABYTE.
Finally, we suggest that you practice other environmentally friendly actions by understanding and using the
energy-saving features of this product (where applicable), recycling the inner and outer packaging (including
shipping containers) this product was delivered in, and by disposing of or recycling used batteries properly.
With your help, we can reduce the amount of natural resources needed to produce electrical and electronic
equipment, minimize the use of landfills for the disposal of "end of life" products, and generally improve our
quality of life by ensuring that potentially hazardous substances are not released into the environment and
are disposed of properly.
Appendix - 86 -
Contact Us
•• GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. •• NINGBO G.B.T. TECH. TRADING CO., LTD. - China
Address: No.6, Bao Chiang Road, Hsin-Tien Dist., WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.cn
New Taipei City 231,Taiwan Shanghai
TEL: +886-2-8912-4000 TEL: +86-21-63410999
FAX: +886-2-8912-4003 FAX: +86-21-63410100
Tech. and Non-Tech. Support (Sales/Marketing) : Beijing
http://ggts.gigabyte.com.tw TEL: +86-10-62102838
WEB address (English): http://www.gigabyte.com FAX: +86-10-62102848
WEB address (Chinese): http://www.gigabyte.tw Wuhan
•• G.B.T. INC. - U.S.A. TEL: +86-27-87851061
TEL: +1-626-854-9338 FAX: +86-27-87851330
FAX: +1-626-854-9326 GuangZhou
Tech. Support: http://ggts.gigabyte.com.tw TEL: +86-20-87540700
Warranty Info: http://rma.gigabyte.us FAX: +86-20-87544306
Web address: http://www.gigabyte.us Chengdu
•• G.B.T. INC (USA) - Mexico TEL: +86-28-85236930
Tel: +1-626-854-9338 x 215 (Soporte de habla hispano) FAX: +86-28-85256822
FAX: +1-626-854-9326 Xian
Correo: soporte@gigabyte-usa.com TEL: +86-29-85531943
Tech. Support: http://rma.gigabyte.us FAX: +86-29-85510930
Web address: http://latam.giga-byte.com Shenyang
•• Giga-Byte SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. - Singapore TEL: +86-24-83992901
WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.sg FAX: +86-24-83992909
•• Thailand •• GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY (INDIA) LIMITED - India
WEB address : http://th.giga-byte.com WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.in
•• Vietnam •• Saudi Arabia
WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.vn WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.com.sa
•• Gigabyte Technology Pty. Ltd. - Australia
WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.com.au
- 87 - Appendix
•• G.B.T. TECHNOLOGY TRADING GMBH - Germany •• Hungary
WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.de WEB address : http://www.giga-byte.hu
•• G.B.T. TECH. CO., LTD. - U.K. •• Turkey
WEB address : http://www.giga-byte.co.uk WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.com.tr
•• Giga-Byte Technology B.V. - The Netherlands •• Russia
WEB address : http://www.giga-byte.nl WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.ru
•• GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY FRANCE - France •• Poland
WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.fr WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.pl
•• Sweden •• Ukraine
WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.se WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.ua
•• Italy •• Romania
WEB address : http://www.giga-byte.it WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.com.ro
•• Spain •• Serbia
WEB address : http://www.giga-byte.es WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.co.rs
•• Greece •• Kazakhstan
WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.com.gr WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.kz
•• Czech Republic You may go to the GIGABYTE website, select your language
WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.cz in the language list on the top right corner of the website.
Appendix - 88 -