American Megatrends Megathon User manual

Megathon®AMD Athlon®PCI ISA
Motherboard User's Guide
MAN-804
2/9/00

Megathon PCI Motherboard User’s Guideii
© Copyright 2000 American Megatrends, Inc.
All rights reserved.
American Megatrends, Inc.
6145F Northbelt Parkway
Norcross, GA 30071
This publication contains proprietary information which is protected by copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, translated into any language or computer language, or transmitted in any form whatsoever without
the prior written consent of the publisher, American Megatrends, Inc.
Limited Warranty
Buyer agrees if this product proves to be defective, that American Megatrends, Inc. is obligated only to replace or refund the purchase price
of this product at American Megatrend's discretion according to the terms and conditions on the motherboard warranty card. American
Megatrends shall not be liable in tort or contract for any loss or damage, direct, incidental or consequential. Please see the Warranty
Registration Card shipped with this product for full warranty details.
Limitations of Liability
In no event shall American Megatrends be held liable for any loss, expenses, or damages of any kind whatsoever, whether direct, indirect,
incidental, or consequential, arising from the design or use of this product or the support materials provided with the product.
Trademarks
AMD Athlon is a registered trademark of Advanced Micro Devices.
VESA is a registered trademark of the Video Electronics Standards Association.
MS-DOS, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft
Windows, Windows NT, and Windows 95 are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
IBM, AT, XT, CGA, VGA, PS/2, OS/2, and EGA are registered trademarks of International Business Machines
Corporation.
Fujitsu is a registered trademark of Fujitsu America, Inc.
Motorola is a registered trademark of Motorola Corporation.
Hitachi is a registered trademark of Hitachi America, Ltd.
PNY is a registered trademark of PNY Corporation.
Oki is a registered trademark of Oki America, Inc.
NEC is a registered trademark of NEC Corporation.
Micron is a registered trademark of Micron Corporation.
SCO, Unix, and UnixWare are registered trademarks of the Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Revision History
2/9/00 Initial release.

Preface iii
Table of Contents
1Hardware Installation..................................1
Overview.....................................................................................1
Megathon PCI Motherboard Layout.....................................3
Installation Steps.......................................................................4
Step 1 Unpack the Motherboard............................................5
Avoid Static Electricity.............................................................5
Step 2 Clear CMOS RAM.........................................................6
Step 3 Install Memory...............................................................7
Step 4 Install CPU......................................................................9
Step 5 Connect CPU Fan........................................................13
Step 6 Connect System Case Fan.........................................13
Step 7 Install the Motherboard.............................................14
Step 8 Attach Cables..............................................................15
Step 9 Connect I/O..................................................................20
Step 10 Install Drivers.............................................................27
Step 11 Test and Configure...................................................28
2AMIBIOS Setup............................................29
AMIBIOS Main Setup Menu................................................30
Advanced Setup......................................................................33
Security Setup..........................................................................34
Exit Setup..................................................................................37
3Programming Flash ROM.........................39
Bootblock Code Checkpoint Codes.....................................42
4Deleting a Password.................................43
Avoid Static Electricity...........................................................44
ASpecifications..............................................45
Engineering Specifications....................................................45
Index..........................................................................47

Megathon PCI Motherboard User’s Guideiv
Preface
To the OEM Thank you for purchasing the high performance American Megatrends
MegathonAMD AthlonPCI ISA motherboard. This product is a state of the
art motherboard that includes the famous AMIBIOS. It is assumed that you have
also licensed the rights to use the American Megatrends documentation for the
American Megatrends Megathon motherboard.
This manual was written for the OEM to assist in the proper installation and
operation of this motherboard. This manual describes the specifications and
features of the Megathon PCI motherboard. It explains how to assemble a system
based on the Megathon PCI motherboard and how to use the AMIBIOS that is
specifically designed for this motherboard.
This manual is not meant to be read by the computer owner who purchases a
computer with this motherboard. It is assumed that you, the computer
manufacturer, will use this manual as a sourcebook of information, and that parts
of this manual will be included in the computer owner's manual.
Disclaimer
AMI certifies only that this product will work correctly when this
product is used with the same jumper settings, the same system
configuration, the same memory module parts, and the same
peripherals that were tested by AMI with this product. The complete
list of tested jumper settings, system configurations, peripheral
devices, and memory modules are documented in the AMI
Compatibility Report for this product. Call your AMI sales
representative for a copy of the Compatibility Report for this product.

Preface v
Technical Support
AMI provides technical support only for AMI products purchased directly from
AMI or from an AMI-authorized reseller.
If…Then…
You purchased this product from AMI or
from a certified AMI reseller, Call AMI technical support at 770-246- 8600. Please be prepared to specify the
serial number of the product.
This AMI product was installed as part of a
system manufactured by a company other
than AMI or you purchased an AMI
product from an unauthorized reseller,
Call the technical support department of
the computer manufacturer or the
unauthorized reseller. AMI does not
provide direct technical support in this
case.
If an American Megatrends motherboard fails to operate as described or you are
in doubt about a configuration option, please call technical support at 770-246-
8600.
Web Site We invite you to access the American Megatrends world wide web site at:
http://www.ami.com.
Packing List
You should have received the following:
•a Megathon AMD Athlon motherboard,
•on AGP miniport driver diskette for Windows 98,
•one retention mechanism for the AMD Athlon CPUs,
•a warranty card, and
•the American Megatrends MegathonAMD AthlonPCI ISA
Motherboard User's Guide.

Megathon PCI Motherboard User’s Guidevi

Chapter 1 Hardware Installation 1
1Hardware Installation
Overview
The Megathon motherboard is powered by the AMD Athlon processors at
speeds up to 600 MHz. The Megathon provides the high speed data transfer and
data integrity required for graphics and audio applications, and supports Ultra
DMA/33, and Ultra DMA/66.
Megathon features include:
•support for one AMD Athlon CPU operating at 500, 550, 600, 700, or 750
MHz,
•up to 768 MB RAM available using three DIMMs (up to 256 MB in each
slot), with support for SDRAM (66/100MHz),
•one 32-bit AGP bus with a dedicated 66MHz/133MHz path from the graphics
card to system memory,
•support for 3D/NOWtechnology,
•system memory parity checking or ECC (Error Checking and Correction),
•AMD-751 system controller for the North Bridge, and VIA Super South
(686A) for the South Bridge,
•PCI local bus throughput of 132 MB/s,
•five 32-bit PCI expansion slots, and
•one 16-bit ISA expansion slot.
Cont’d

Megathon PCI Motherboard User’s Guide2
Overview, Continued
CPUs This motherboard will support all AMD Athlon CPUs operating at 500 MHz, 550
MHz, 600 MHz, 700 MHz, or 750MHz.
PCI Bus Speed AMIBIOS automatically configures the PCI slots. The PCI slots are synchronous
with the CPU clock:
CPU External Clock Frequency PCI Expansion Slot Frequency
100 MHz 33 MHz
200 MHz 33 MHz
Onboard I/O The Megathon AMD Athlon motherboard includes:
•two 40-pin IDE connectors for 1 – 4 IDE drives,
•a 34-pin floppy drive connector,
•two serial bus connectors, along with a connector, J4, to connect USB
devices,
•a 25-pin parallel port connector,
•a 6-pin keyboard DIN connector, and
•a 6-pin mouse connector.

Chapter 1 Hardware Installation 3
Megathon PCI Motherboard Layout

Megathon PCI Motherboard User’s Guide4
Installation Steps
Use the following steps to install the motherboard, memory, jumpers, and
connectors.
Step Action
1Unpack the motherboard.
2Clear CMOS RAM.
3Install memory.
4Install CPU.
5Connect CPU Fan.
6Connect System Case Fan.
7Install the motherboard.
8Attach cables.
9Connect I/O (input/output).
10 Install drivers.
11 Test and configure.

Chapter 1 Hardware Installation 5
Step 1 Unpack the Motherboard
Step Action
1Inspect the cardboard carton for obvious damage. If damaged,
call 770-246-8600. Leave the motherboard in its original packing.
2Perform all unpacking and installation procedures on a ground-
connected anti-static mat. Wear an anti-static wristband
grounded at the same point as the anti-static mat. Or use a sheet
of conductive aluminum foil grounded through a 1 megohm
resistor instead of the anti-static mat. Similarly, a strip of
conductive aluminum foil wrapped around the wrist and
grounded through a 1 megohm resistor serves the same purpose
as the wristband.
3Inside the carton, the motherboard is packed in an anti-static bag,
and sandwiched between sheets of sponge. Remove the sponge
and the anti-static bag. Place the motherboard on a grounded
anti-static surface component side up. Save the original packing
material.
4Inspect the motherboard for damage. Press down on all ICs
mounted in sockets to verify proper seating. Do not apply power
to the motherboard if it has been damaged.
5If the motherboard is undamaged, it is ready to be installed.
Set Jumpers Set all jumpers and install the CPU before placing the motherboard in the chassis.
The steps for setting the jumpers and installing the CPU are in the following
pages.
Avoid Static Electricity
Static electricity can damage the motherboard and other computer components.
Keep the motherboard in the anti-static bag until it is to be installed. Wear an
anti-static wrist grounding strap before handling the motherboard. Make sure
you stand on an anti-static mat when handling the motherboard.
Avoid contact with any component or connector on any adapter card, printed
circuit board, or memory module. Handle these components by the mounting
bracket.

Megathon PCI Motherboard User’s Guide6
Step 2 Clear CMOS RAM
The J3 CMOS RAM (Random Access Memory) contains volatile memory that
you can write to as well as read. It contains the Real Time Clock (RTC)
information. Use the following procedure to clear the RTC data:
Step Action
1Turn the computer off.
Set the jumper to CLEAR, as shown below. (Put the
black jumper cap over the jumper pins according to
the required configuration.)
2
Clear:
Set the jumper back to NORMAL:3Normal (default):
4Turn the computer on.
5During bootup, hold the <Delete> key down to
enter BIOS setup, where you can reset your
preferences.

Chapter 1 Hardware Installation 7
Step 3 Install Memory
System Memory There are three 72-bit SDRAM DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module) sockets.
System memory must be PC100 Specification and populated one bank at a time.
Each bank has one socket. The minimum amount of system memory supported
by the Megathon PCI is 8 MB. Each socket can hold one DIMM. You can use:
•8 MB 168-pin 3.3V SDRAM,
•16 MB 168-pin 3.3V SDRAM,
•32 MB 168-pin 3.3V SDRAM,
•64 MB 168-pin 3.3V SDRAM,
•128 MB 168-pin 3.3V SDRAM, or
•256 MB 168-pin 3.3V SDRAM.
Memory Display System memory is reported by AMIBIOS as it boots and again when the AMIBIOS
System Configuration Screen is displayed just before the operating system boots.
The memory displayed by AMIBIOS on the System Configuration Screen is 384 KB
less than the total memory installed.
Cont’d

Megathon PCI Motherboard User’s Guide8
Step 3 Install Memory, Continued
Installing DIMMs The three SDRAM DIMM sockets on the motherboard can be filled with either 1
MB x 64 (or 72), 2 MB x 64 (or 72), 4 MB x 64 (or 72), 8 MB x 64 (or 72), or 16 MB x
64 (or 72) DIMMs.
Place the motherboard on an anti-static mat. With the component side of the
DIMM facing you, firmly push the DIMM into the socket at an angle, then push
it up. When properly inserted, the DIMM clicks into place as the latching pins
engage. The DIMM installation process is shown below:

Chapter 1 Hardware Installation 9
Step 4 Install CPU
The AMD Athlon CPU is on Slot A adapter cards. The CPU card fits into the
Retention Mechanism Assembly in Slot A. The Retention Mechanism Assembly
has folding arms to save space in shipping.
Warning
Improper CPU installation can damage the CPU and the
motherboard. You must follow the procedures in this
section exactly as documented. Make sure you wear an
antistatic wristband while installing the CPU. Follow
all antistatic procedures described on page 5.
Perform the following procedure to install the CPU.
Step Action
1Locate the CPU slot for the AMD Athlon. See page
3 to view the board layout.
2Open the two arms of the Retention Mechanism
Assembly upward to the position shown below:

Megathon PCI Motherboard User’s Guide10
Step Action
3Place the CPU module in the open Retention
Mechanism Assembly and carefully slide it down
until it is inserted in the CPU slot firmly.
4Pull the buttons outward until they click in the right
position.
5Hook the heat sink top support to the heat sink
support base to firmly hold the CPU module in
place.
Cont’d

Chapter 1 Hardware Installation 11
Step 4 Install CPU, Continued
Install the Heat Sink If the heat sink is not already installed on the CPU module, slide the heat sink
top support into the lowest gap on the CPU module, as shown below:
Then slide the CPU module into the Retention Mechanism Assembly, as shown
below:
Cont’d

Megathon PCI Motherboard User’s Guide12
Step 4 Install CPU, Continued
Install the Heat Sink, cont’d Press the buttons on either side of the CPU module, as shown below:
Hook the top support of the heat sink to the support base of the heat sink to
complete the CPU module installation:

Chapter 1 Hardware Installation 13
Step 5 Connect CPU Fan
J9 (shown below) is a 3-pin berg that connects the fan on the CPU heat sink to
the motherboard power. J9 is located next to the ATX Power Connector.
All AMD Athlon CPUs are shipped with a heat sink and a CPU fan. J9 and J11
are keyed in such a way that the CPU connector can be attached only in the
correct manner.
When the system is in sleep mode, the CPU fan stops. When the system returns
to full-on mode, the fan starts again
Step 6 Connect System Case Fan
The system case fan connector is used with the cooling fan in your system case
to lower the temperature in the system. The system case fan connector is located
by the end of the K7 slot for the CPU. The pinout is:

Megathon PCI Motherboard User’s Guide14
Step 7 Install the Motherboard
Step Action
1Place the chassis on an anti-static mat. Connect the chassis to
ground to avoid static damage during installation. Connect an
alligator clip with a wire lead to any unpainted part of the chassis.
Ground the other end of the lead at the same point as the mat and
the wristband.
2Rotate the chassis so the front is to the right, and the rear is to
the left. The side facing you is where the motherboard is
mounted. The power supply is mounted at the far end of the
chassis.
3Hold the motherboard, component-side up, with the edge with
the SIMM sockets toward you and the edge with the power
supply connector away from you. The keyboard, mouse, and
video connectors should be to the left.
4Carefully slide the motherboard into the chassis. Make certain the
edge connectors fit the ports in the rear of the chassis. The
motherboard should rest level with the chassis.
5Place the mounting screws in the holes provided and tighten
them. If necessary, shift the motherboard slightly to align the
mounting holes on the motherboard with the holes on the
chassis,
Warning
If using metallic screws, make sure you use them only in
the plated mounting holes.
If using metallic screws, make sure the head of the screw
fits completely inside the plated mounting holes.