American Megatrends SX-10 User manual

AMERICAN MEGATRENDS INC.
AMI 386SX
MOTHERBOARD
(Intel Chipset)
PRELIMINARY MANUAL
S10C
05/14/90
American Megatrends, Inc.
Ph. [phone]
1346 Oakbrook Drive, Suite 120
Norcross, GA 30093

Introduction ........................ iii
Section 1 UNPACKING AND INSTALLATION
INSTRUCTIONS
1.1Unpacking the AMI 386SX
Motherboard
.................................
............ 1-1
1.2Video Display Select Switch Setting
....... 1-3
1.3Installing the AMI 386SX
Motherboard
.................................
............ 1-4
1.4Connecting the AMI 386SX
Motherboard
.................................
............ 1-5
1.5Installing Input/Output Cards
................ 1-9
Section 2 POWERING UP YOUR MOTHERBOARD
2.1Before Power-Up Checklist
.................... 2-1
2.2Initial Power-Up
.................................
...... 2-1
2.3Memory Test
.................................
............ 2-3
2.4Run System Setup (SETUP) Utility
........ 2-4
2.5SETUP Screen Display
........................... 2-5

2.6Summary of SETUP Screen
.................. 2-12
2.7Errors Reported by BIOS
...................... 2-12
2.8User Selectable Options Through
Keyboard Key
.................................
........ 2-14
Section 3 SYSTEM OVERVIEW
3.1The Microprocessor
.................................
3-2
3.2System Performance
................................
3-3
Section 4 ADVANCED ROM DIAGNOSTICS
4.1 Selecting the various Advanced
Diagnostics Options
.............................. 4-
1
4.2 Diagnostics Menu
.................................
. 4-2
4.3 Hard Disk Diagnostics
........................... 4-3
4.4 Floppy Diagnostics
................................
4-9
4.5 Keyboard Diagnostics
.......................... 4-11
4.6 Video Diagnostics
.................................

4-11
4.7 Miscellaneous Diagnostics
................... 4-12
Section 5 INSTALLING MOTHERBOARD DRAM
5.1 Installing SIMM modules
....................... 5-1
Section 6 INSTALLING A 387SX COPROCESSOR
6.1 Installing the 387SX
...............................
6-1
Appendix A HARD DISK DRIVE TYPES

Congratulations.
You have purchased a AMI 386SX System Motherboard.
This manual was written to assist you in insuring that your board works the
first time. Please take a few minutes and read section 1 on Unpacking and
Installation Instructions before installing your new motherboard.
After integrating the whole system, if it does not function properly or behaves
erratically after it is powered on, give our Technical Support a call. Please
have the following information available:
1.Serial Number ....................................................
2.Rev Number .......................................................
3.Memory Configuration Type ..............................
Speed .........................
4.System BIOS reference number ........................
(Bottom of Opening Screen)
5.Input/Output cards installed ............................
.........................................................................
.....
.........................................................................
.....
6.A description of the malfunction and what procedures you have already
taken.
Our number is 1-800-U-BUY-AMI (1-800-828-9264)
or 1-404-263-8181
THANK YOU from
AMERICAN MEGATRENDS, INCORPORATED
1346 Oakbrook Drive, Suite 120
Norcross, GA 30093
(C) COPYRIGHT AMERICAN MEGATRENDS, INC. 1990
All rights reserved. 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,
Incorporated (hereafter referred to as AMI) is only obligated to replace or
refund the purchase price of this product at AMI's discretion. AMI shall not
be liable in tort or contract for any loss or damage, direct, incidental or
consequential. Please read enclosed warranty card.
Important Notice
AMI is not responsible for any errors or omissions in writing this manual. AMI
reserves the right to change, modify or append any part or section of this
manual at any time.
TRADEMARKS
Intel, 286, 80286, 386, 80386, 486, 80486, 387, and 80387 are all trademarks of
Intel Corporation.
IBM and AT are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation.
WEITEK is a trademark of WEITEK Corporation.

AMI 386SX
S10C USER MANUAL
This manual edited and designed by James C. Helman.
Release date May 14, 1990.

PAGE
INTENTIONALLY

WARNING !!!
The AMI 386SX motherboard contains static sensitive components. Follow
instructions to prevent damage to these components by static electricity.
1.1 Unpacking the AMI 386SX Motherboard
Please read this section carefully to ensure that you do not damage the AMI 386
SX through a commonly ignored hazard: electro-static discharge (ESD). Use a
pencil and check off each step as you go. AMI wishes you to have a trouble-
free installation and be using your system to its full potential in the least
amount of time.
CAUTION !!!
Do not remove the AMI 386SX motherboard from its protective anti-static bag
until you are ready to install it in the system. Unpacking should be done on
an anti-static mat grounded to a good earth ground point. You should also be
wearing an anti-static wristband, grounded at the same point as the anti-static
mat. (An alternative is to use a sheet of conductive aluminum foil grounded
through a 1 Meg-ohm resistor to ground. Similarly, a strip of conductive
aluminum foil wrapped around the wrist and grounded through a 1 Meg-ohm
resister will serve the purpose of a wristband.)
1) Inspect the shipping container for obvious damage. If there is any
damage to the shipping container, keep it, do not throw it away. In the
event of damage to the motherboard, caused by handling, the shipping
container is required to file a claim against the carrier. NOTE: Save
the original AMI Motherboard box, two pieces of foam, and the anti-static
bag. These will be needed if you return the motherboard to the
distributor for any reason.
2) The motherboard is packaged in an anti-static bag inserted between two
sheets of foam. Remove the top layer of foam and carefully remove the
anti-static bag. DO NOT remove the motherboard from the anti-static bag
until it is placed on the grounded mat. Place the anti-static bag on the
grounded mat with the component side up. With your wrist strap on, grasp
the end of the motherboard and slowly withdraw the motherboard from the
anti-static bag, being careful not to snag any components. Place the
motherboard on the grounded mat with the component side up. Inspect the
motherboard for visible damage.
NOTE
If there is any apparent damage at this time do not proceed any further.
Place all pieces back in the box and immediately contact the distributor
you purchased the motherboard from.
3) It is possible that during shipment the socketed Integrated Circuits
(IC's) may have vibrated loose in their sockets. Ensure that the
motherboard is positioned component side up, flat with nothing under the

motherboard, then firmly and gently press down on all socketed IC's to
ensure they are properly seated.
4) Inspect all the connectors for foreign material and ensure that all the
pins on the berg-pins are straight. Use a pressurized spray to remove
the foreign material, do not use any metal tools in the connectors. If
the material cannot be removed using pressurized spray, contact your
distributor. Straighten berg-pins using a small pair of straight long-
tipped needle nose pliers. Slowly reshape the pin, do not bend back and
forth.
1.2 Video Display Select Switch Setting
In the vicinity of PS8 and PS9 you will see a 2 position DIP switch marked SW1.
Inspect the switch and pay note to the numbering of the two slide switchs.
Also note the direction to slide the switch to turn it OFF or ON. Switch 1
will always be in the OFF position, it is used for factory testing only.
Switch 2 is used to set the type of video display adapter card installed in the
system. The shipped position of this switch in normally OFF position for a
MONOCHROME DISPLAY (MDA, HERC, etc). Set this switch to ON position if you
want to use a COLOR DISPLAY (CGA). The setting of this switch has no effect if
the display adapter is an EGA or a VGA.
1.3 Installing the AMI 386SX Motherboard
Before proceeding, familiarize yourself with the layout of the AMI 386SX
motherboard using Figure 1.1.
1) When you purchased your AMI 386SX motherboard, it was configured as you
requested. If the SIMM (Single In line Memory Module) modules are not
installed or you are adding SIMM modules to increase memory size proceed
to section 5 at this time.
2) If you purchased a Intel 80387SX and it is not installed, proceed to