Asus AW171 User manual

Motherboard
SK8N
User Guide

ii
Checklist
Copyright © 2003 ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. All Rights Reserved.
No part of this manual, including the products and software described in it, may be
reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any
language in any form or by any means, except documentation kept by the purchaser for
backup purposes, without the express written permission of ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
(“ASUS”).
Product warranty or service will not be extended if: (1) the product is repaired, modified or
altered, unless such repair, modification of alteration is authorized in writing by ASUS; or (2)
the serial number of the product is defaced or missing.
ASUS PROVIDES THIS MANUAL “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FORA PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
IN NO EVENT SHALLASUS, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS BE
LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
(INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF USE
OR DATA, INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS AND THE LIKE), EVEN IF ASUS HAS BEEN
ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES ARISING FROM ANY DEFECT OR
ERROR IN THIS MANUAL OR PRODUCT.
SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MANUALARE FURNISHED
FOR INFORMATIONAL USE ONLY, AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGEATANY TIME
WITHOUT NOTICE,AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BYASUS.
ASUS ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS OR
INACCURACIES THAT MAY APPEAR IN THIS MANUAL, INCLUDING THE PRODUCTS
AND SOFTWARE DESCRIBED IN IT.
Products and corporate names appearing in this manual may or may not be registered
trademarks or copyrights of their respective companies, and are used only for identification or
explanation and to the owners’ benefit, without intent to infringe.
E1379
Revised Edition V2
November 2003

iii
Features
Contents
Notices ...........................................................................................vi
Safety information ......................................................................... vii
About this guide............................................................................ viii
How this guide is organized ................................................ viii
Conventions used in this guide .............................................ix
Typography............................................................................ix
Where to find more information .............................................ix
SK8N specifications summary.........................................................x
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.1 Welcome! ........................................................................... 1-1
1.2 Package contents............................................................... 1-1
1.3 Special features.................................................................. 1-2
1.3.1 Product Highlights.................................................. 1-2
1.3.2 Unique ASUS features ........................................... 1-4
Chapter 2: Hardware information
2.1 Before you proceed ............................................................ 2-1
2.2 Motherboard overview........................................................ 2-2
2.2.1 Placement direction ............................................... 2-2
2.2.2 Screw holes ........................................................... 2-2
2.2.3 Motherboard layout ................................................ 2-3
2.2.4 Layout Contents..................................................... 2-4
2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU)........................................... 2-6
2.3.1 Overview ................................................................ 2-6
2.3.2 Installing the CPU .................................................. 2-6
2.3.3 Installing the heatsink and fan ............................... 2-8
2.3.4 Connecting the CPU fan cable ............................ 2-10
2.3.5 CPU heatsink and fan Qualified Vendors List...... 2-10
2.4 System memory ................................................................2-11
2.4.1 Overview ...............................................................2-11
2.4.2 Memory configurations .........................................2-11
2.4.3 Qualified Vendor List............................................ 2-12
2.4.4 Installing a DIMM ................................................. 2-13
2.4.5 Removing a DIMM ............................................... 2-14
2.5 Expansion slots ................................................................ 2-15
2.5.1 Installing an expansion card ................................ 2-15
2.5.2 Configuring an expansion card ............................ 2-15

iv
Safeguards
Contents
2.5.3 Interrupt assignments .......................................... 2-16
2.5.4 PCI slots .............................................................. 2-17
2.5.5 AGP slot............................................................... 2-17
2.6 Jumpers............................................................................ 2-18
2.7 Connectors ....................................................................... 2-20
2.7.1 Rear panel connectors......................................... 2-20
2.7.2 Internal connectors .............................................. 2-21
Chapter 3: Powering up
3.1 Starting up for the first time ................................................ 3-1
3.2 Powering off the computer ................................................. 3-2
3.2.1 Using the OS shut down function .......................... 3-2
3.2.2 Using the dual function power switch .................... 3-2
Chapter 4: BIOS setup
4.1 Managing and updating your BIOS .................................... 4-1
4.1.1 Creating a bootable floppy disk ............................. 4-1
4.1.2 Using AFUDOS to update the BIOS ...................... 4-2
4.1.3 Using AFUDOS to copy BIOS from PC ................. 4-3
4.1.4 Using ASUS EZ Flash to update the BIOS ............ 4-4
4.1.5 Recovering the BIOS with CrashFree BIOS 2 ....... 4-5
4.1.6 ASUS Update ........................................................ 4-7
4.2 BIOS Setup program .......................................................... 4-9
4.2.1 BIOS menu screen .............................................. 4-10
4.2.2 Menu bar.............................................................. 4-10
4.2.3 Navigation keys ................................................... 4-10
4.2.4 Menu items ...........................................................4-11
4.2.5 Sub-menu items....................................................4-11
4.2.6 Configuration fields ...............................................4-11
4.2.7 Pop-up window .....................................................4-11
4.2.8 Scroll bar...............................................................4-11
4.2.9 General help .........................................................4-11
4.3 Main menu........................................................................ 4-12
4.3.1 System Time [xx:xx:xxxx]..................................... 4-12
4.3.2 System Date [Day xx/xx/xxxx] ............................. 4-12
4.3.3 Legacy Diskette A [1.44M, 3.5 in.] ....................... 4-12
4.3.4 Primary and Secondary IDE Master/Slave .......... 4-13
4.3.5 System Information .............................................. 4-14

v
Contents
4.4 Advanced menu ............................................................... 4-15
4.4.1 CPU Configuration ............................................... 4-15
4.4.2 Chipset................................................................. 4-16
4.4.3 Onboard Devices Configuration........................... 4-24
4.4.4 PCI PnP ............................................................... 4-25
4.5 Power menu ..................................................................... 4-27
4.5.1 ACPI Suspend Mode [S3 only] ............................ 4-27
4.5.2 Repost Video on S3 Resume [No] ....................... 4-27
4.5.3 ACPI 2.0 Support [No] ......................................... 4-27
4.5.4 ACPI APIC Support [Enabled] ............................. 4-27
4.5.5 BIOS -> AMLACPI Table [Enabled] ..................... 4-27
4.5.6 APM Configuration............................................... 4-28
4.5.7 Hardware Monitor ................................................ 4-29
4.6 Boot menu ........................................................................ 4-31
4.6.1 Boot Device Priority ............................................. 4-31
4.6.2 Boot Settings Configuration ................................. 4-32
4.6.3 Security ................................................................ 4-34
4.7 Exit menu ......................................................................... 4-36
Chapter 5: Software support
5.1 Install an operating system................................................. 5-1
5.2 Support CD information...................................................... 5-1
5.2.1 Running the support CD ........................................ 5-1
5.2.2 Drivers menu ......................................................... 5-2
5.2.3 Utilities menu ......................................................... 5-3
5.2.4 ASUS Contact Information..................................... 5-4
5.2.5 Other information ................................................... 5-5
5.3 Software Information .......................................................... 5-7
5.3.1 ASUS MyLogo2™.................................................. 5-7
5.4 Multi-channel audio feature ................................................ 5-9
5.5 RAID configurations ..........................................................5-11
5.5.1 Install the hard disks ............................................ 5-12
5.5.2 Enter the MBFastBuild™ utility ............................ 5-13
5.5.3 Creating a RAID 0 array (Performance) .............. 5-14
5.5.4 Creating a RAID 1 array (Security) ...................... 5-15
5.5.5 Other FastBuild Utility Commands....................... 5-17
5.6 Creating a floppy disk with RAID driver............................ 5-19

vi
Notices
Federal Communications Commission Statement
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
• This device may not cause harmful interference, and
• This device must accept any interference received including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits
are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
manufacturer’s instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not
occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful
interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by
turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to
which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Canadian Department of Communications Statement
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise
emissions from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference
Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.
This class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
The use of shielded cables for connection of the monitor to the
graphics card is required to assure compliance with FCC regulations.
Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the
party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to
operate this equipment.

vii
Safety information
Electrical safety
• To prevent electrical shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from
the electrical outlet before relocating the system.
• When adding or removing devices to or from the system, ensure that
the power cables for the devices are unplugged before the signal
cables are connected. If possible, disconnect all power cables from the
existing system before you add a device.
• Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard,
ensure that all power cables are unplugged.
• Seek professional assistance before using an adpater or extension
cord. These devices could interrupt the grounding circuit.
• Make sure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your
area. If you are not sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you
are using, contact your local power company.
• If the power supply is broken, do not try to fix it by yourself. Contact a
qualified service technician or your retailer.
Operation safety
• Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully
read all the manuals that came with the package.
• Before using the product, make sure all cables are correctly connected
and the power cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage,
contact your dealer immediately.
• To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from
connectors, slots, sockets and circuitry.
• Avoid dust, humidity, and temperature extremes. Do not place the
product in any area where it may become wet.
• Place the product on a stable surface.
• If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a
qualified service technician or your retailer.

viii
About this guide
This user guide contains the information you need when installing the
motherboard.
How this guide is organized
This manual contains the following parts:
• Chapter 1: Product introduction
This chapter describes the motherboard features of the and the new
technologies it supports.
• Chapter 2: Hardware information
This chapter lists the hardware setup procedures that you have to
perform when installing system components. It includes description of
the jumpers and connectors on the motherboard.
•Chapter 3: Powering up
This chapter describes the power up sequence, the vocal POST
messages, and ways of shutting down the system.
• Chapter 4: BIOS setup
This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS
Setup menus. Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also
provided.
• Chapter 5: Software support
This chapter describes the contents of the support CD that comes with
the motherboard package.

ix
Conventions used in this guide
To make sure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the
following symbols used throughout this manual.
Where to find more information
Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product
and software updates.
1. ASUS websites
The ASUS websites worldwide provide updated information on ASUS
hardware and software products. Refer to the ASUS contact
information.
2. Optional documentation
Your product package may include optional documentation, such as
warranty flyers, that may have been added by your dealer. These
documents are not part of the standard package.
DANGER/WARNING: Information to prevent injury to yourself
when trying to complete a task.
CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components
when trying to complete a task.
IMPORTANT: Information that you MUST follow to complete a
task.
NOTE: Tips and additional information to aid in completing a task.
Typography
Bold Text Indicates a menu or an item to select.
Keyboard key names If you must press two or more keys
simultaneously, the key names are linked with a
plus sign (+). Example: Ctrl+F
Words in Italics Italics are used to emphasize a point.

x
SK8N specifications summary
(continued on the next page)
CPU
Chipset
System Bus
Memory
Expansion slots
Storage
Audio
LAN
Overclocking
Features
Special features
Rear Panel I/O
Socket 940 for AMD Athlon™ 64 FX and AMD Opteron™
processors
NVIDIA
®
nForce 3 Pro150
Scalable Hyper-Transport Bus
Dual-channel memory architecture
4 x 184-pin DDR DIMM sockets for up to 8GB memory that
supports registered ECC and non-ECC PC3200/
PC2700/PC2100 DDR DIMMs
1 x AGP 8X/4X
5 x PCI
Supported by SouthBridge
- 2 x UltraDMA 133/100 connectors
Supported by Promise PDC20378 RAID controller
- 1 x UltraDMA 133
- 2 x SATA connectors
- RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 0+1 configurations
ALC 650 6-channel audio controller
support for S/PDIF out interface
CK8 MAC + Realtek RTL8201BL PHY
Adjustable Memory and AGP voltage
SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection) from 200 MHz up to
300 MHz at 1 MHz increments
ASUS JumperFree
Adjustable CPU Frequency Multiple
ASUS MyLogo2
ASUS EZ Flash
ASUS CrashFree BIOS2
ASUS Q-Fan
1 x Parallel port
1 x Serial port
1 x PS/2 keyboard
1 x PS/2 mouse
1 x Audio I/O
4 x USB 2.0
1 x RJ-45 port
1 x IEEE 1394 port

xi
SK8N specifications summary
* Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Internal I/O
BIOS features
Industry standard
Manageability
Power Requirement
Form Factor
Support CD contents
Floppy disk drive connector
Primary/Secondary IDE connectors
2 x Serial ATA connectors
RAID ATA connector
Internal audio connectors
Front panel audio connector
2 x USB 2.0 connectors for 4 additional USB ports
CPU/Chassis/Power fan connectors
20-pin/4-pin ATX 12V power connectors
CD/AUX connectors
S/PDIF out connector
GAME/MIDI connector
IEEE 1394 connector
Serial port 2 connector
4Mb Flash EEPROM
AMI BIOS with enhanced ACPI, PnP, DMI2.0, Green
ASUS EZ Flash, ASUS MyLogo2, Q-Fan, SM BIOS 2.3,
Multi-Language BIOS, CrashFree BIOS2
PCI 2.3, USB 2.0/1.1
DMI 2.0, WOL by PME, WOR by PME
ATX power supply (with 4-pin 12V plug)
ATX form factor: 12 in x 9.6 in (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm)
Device drivers
ASUS PC Probe
Trend Micro™ PC-cillin 2002 anti-virus software

xii

Chapter 1
This chapter describes the motherboard
features and the new technologies it
supports.
Product introduction

ASUS SK8N motherboard
Chapter summary
1.1 Welcome! ........................................................ 1-1
1.2 Package contents .......................................... 1-1
1.3 Special features ............................................. 1-2

ASUS SK8N motherboard 1-1
1.1 Welcome!
1.2 Package contents
Check your motherboard package for the following items.
Thank you for buying the ASUS
®
SK8N motherboard!
The motherboard delivers a host of new features and latest technologies
making it another standout in the long line of ASUS quality motherboards!
The motherboard combines the powers of the AMD Athlon™ 64 FX or
AMD Opteron™ processor and the NVIDIA nForce3 Pro150 chipset to set
a new benchmark for an effective desktop platform solution.
Supporting up to 8GB of system memory with PC3200/PC2700/PC2100
registered DDR SDRAM, high-resolution graphics via an AGP 8X slot,
SATA RAID, IEEE 1394, USB 2.0, and 6-channel audio features, the
motherboard takes you ahead in the world of power computing!
Before you start installing the motherboard, and hardware devices on it,
check the items in your package with the list below.
If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.
ASUS SK8N motherboard
ASUS support CD
2 x SATA cable
1 x 4 port USB module w/ cable
1 x Single port 1394 module
1 x S/PDIF out module
2 x 80-conductor ribbon cables for UltraDMA/66/100/133 IDE drives
1 x 40-conductor IDE cable
1 x Ribbon cable for a 3.5-inch floppy drive
I/O shield
Bag of extra jumper caps
User Guide
WinDVD Suite (Retail boxes only)
Instant Music Label (Retail boxes only)

1-2 Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.3 Special features
1.3.1 Product Highlights
Latest processor technology
The 940-pin ZIF socket on the motheboard supports the AMDAthlon™ 64
FX and AMD Opteron™ processors. The AMD Opteron™ processor
represents the industry’s first x86-64 technology, while the AMD Athlon™
64 FX is a 64-bit PC processor designed specifically for cinematic
computing. The 128-bit-wide data paths of these processors can run
applications faster than processors with only 32-bit or 64-bit wide data
paths.
HyperTransport™ Technology
HyperTransport™ Technology is a high-speed, low latency, point-to-point
link designed to increase the communication speed between integrated
circuits in computers, networking and telecommunicatons equipment up to
48 times faster than other existing technologies.
Serial ATA solution
The motherboard supports two interfaces compliant to the Serial ATA
(SATA) specification, an evolutionary replacement of the Parallel ATA
storage interface. The SerialATA specification allows for thinner, more
flexible cables with lower pin count, reduced voltage requirement, up to
150 MB/s data transfer rate. With the Promise PDC 20378 RAID controller
onboard, the motherboard supports RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 0+1
configurations using Serial ATA drives.
Dual Channel DDR memory support
Employing the Double Data Rate (DDR) memory technology, the
motherboard supports up to 8GB of system memory using PC3200/
PC2700/PC2100 registered DDR DIMMs. The ultra-fast 400MHz memory
bus delivers the required bandwidth for the latest 3D graphics, multimedia,
and Internet applications.
AGP 8X support
AGP 8X (AGP 3.0) is the next generation VGA interface specification that
enables enhanced graphics performance with high bandwidth speeds up
to 2.12 GB/s.

ASUS SK8N motherboard 1-3
S/PDIF out
The motherboard supports S/PDIF out function that turns your computer
into a high-end entertainment system with digital connectivity to powerful
speaker systems.
IEEE 1394 support
The IEEE 1394 interface provides high-speed and flexible PC connectivity
to a wide range of peripherals and devices compliant to IEEE 1394a
standards. The IEEE 1394 interface allows up to 400Mbps transfer rates
through simple, low-cost, high-bandwidth asynchronous (real-time) data
interfacing between computers, peripherals, and consumer electronic
devices such as camcorders, VCRs, printers,TVs, and digital cameras.
USB 2.0 technology
The motherboard implements the new Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0
specification, extending the connection speed from 12 Mbps on USB 1.1
to a fast 480 Mbps on USB 2.0 - supporting up to 8 USB 2.0 ports. The
higher bandwidth of USB 2.0 allows connection of devices such as high
resolution video conferencing cameras, next generation scanners and
printers, and fast storage units. USB 2.0 is backward compatible with USB
1.1.

1-4 Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.3.2 Unique ASUS features
ASUS Q-Fan technology
The ASUS Q-Fan technology smartly adjusts the fan speeds according to
the system loading to ensure quiet, cool, and efficient operation. See page
4-30.
CrashFree BIOS 2
This feature allows you to restore the original BIOS data from the ASUS
support CD in case when the BIOS codes and data are corrupted. This
protection eliminates the need to buy a replacement ROM chip. See page
4-5.
ASUS MyLogo2™
This new feature present in the SK8N motherboard allows you to
personalize and add style to your system with customizable boot logos.
See page 4-32.
ASUS EZ Flash BIOS
With the ASUS EZ Flash, you can easily update the system BIOS even
before loading the operating system. No need to use a DOS-based utility
or boot from a floppy disk. See page 4-4.

Chapter 2
Hardware information
This chapter lists the hardware setup
procedures that you have to perform when
installing system components. It includes
description of the jumpers and connectors
on the motherboard.

ASUS SK8N motherboard
Chapter summary
2.1 Before you proceed ....................................... 2-1
2.2 Motherboard overview................................... 2-2
2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) ..................... 2-6
2.4 System memory ............................................2-11
2.5 Expansion slots ........................................... 2-15
2.6 Jumpers ........................................................ 2-18
2.7 Connectors ................................................... 2-20