Asus K8U-X - Socket 754 Motherboard User manual

Motherboard
K8U-X
User Guide

ii
E2010
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 FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN
NO EVENT SHALL ASUS, 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
MANUAL ARE FURNISHED FOR INFORMATIONAL USE ONLY, AND
ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE, AND
SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY ASUS. 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 ownersʼ benefit,
without intent to infringe.
Copyright© 2005 ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. All Rights Reserved
First Edition V1
July 2005

iii
ASUS K8U-X Motherboard
Contents
Notice ................................................................................................................ vi
Safety Information ............................................................................................ vii
Electrical safety ...................................................................................... vii
Operation safety ..................................................................................... vii
About This Guide .............................................................................................viii
Layout in this guide ................................................................................viii
Conventions used in this guide ..............................................................viii
Where to find more information ..............................................................viii
K8U-X specifications summary ......................................................................... ix
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.1 Welcome! ..................................................................................................1-2
1.2 Package Contents .....................................................................................1-2
1.3 Special Features ......................................................................................1-2
1.3.1 Product highlights .........................................................................1-2
1.3.2 Unique ASUS features .................................................................1-4
1.4 Before You Proceed .................................................................................1-5
Onboard LED ........................................................................................1-5
1.5 Motherboard Overview ..............................................................................1-6
1.5.1 Motherboard layout ......................................................................1-6
1.5.2 Placement direction ......................................................................1-7
1.5.3 Screw holes ..................................................................................1-7
1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU) .................................................................1-8
1.6.1 Overview ......................................................................................1-8
1.6.2 Installing the CPU ........................................................................1-9
1.7 System Memory .....................................................................................1-10
1.7.1 DIMM sockets location ...............................................................1-10
1.7.2 Memory configurations ..............................................................1-10
1.7.3 Installing a DIMM ......................................................................1-13
1.8 Expansion Slots ......................................................................................1-13
1.8.1 Standard interrupt assignments .................................................1-14
1.8.2 IRQ assignments for this motherboard .....................................1-14
1.8.3 PCI slots ....................................................................................1-15
1.8.4 AGP SlotDIMM sockets location ................................................1-15

iv
1.9 Jumpers ..................................................................................................1-16
1.10 Connectors ............................................................................................1-18
1.10.1 Rear panel connectors .......................................................................1-18
1.10.2 Internal connectors .............................................................................1-20
Chapter 2: BIOS Information
2.1 Managing and Updating Your BIOS ..........................................................2-2
2.1.1 Creating a bootable floppy disk ....................................................2-2
2.1.2 Using AFUDOS to update the BIOS .............................................2-3
2.1.3 Using AFUDOS to copy BIOS from PC ........................................2-4
2.1.4 Using ASUS EZ Flash to update the BIOS ..................................2-5
2.1.5 Recovering the BIOS with CrashFree BIOS 2 .............................2-6
2.2 BIOS Setup Programm .............................................................................2-8
2.2.1 BIOS menu screen .......................................................................2-9
2.2.2 Menu bar ......................................................................................2-9
2.2.3 Navigation keys ...........................................................................2-9
2.2.4 Menu items ................................................................................2-10
2.2.5 Sub-menu items .........................................................................2-10
2.2.6 Configruation .............................................................................2-10
2.2.7 Pop-up window ...........................................................................2-10
2.2.8 Scroll bar ....................................................................................2-10
2.2.9 General help ...............................................................................2-10
2.3 Main Menu .............................................................................................2-11
2.3.1 System Time .............................................................................2-11
2.3.2 System Date ..............................................................................2-11
2.3.3 Legacy Diskeete A, B ................................................................2-11
2.3.4 Primary/Secondary/Third/Fourth IDE Master/Slave ...................2-12
2.3.5 System Information ....................................................................2-13
2.4 Advanced Menu ......................................................................................2-14
2.4.1 JumperFree Configuration .........................................................2-14
2.4.2 CPU Configuration .....................................................................2-15
2.4.3 Chipset .......................................................................................2-16
2.4.4 Onboard Devices Configuration .................................................2-21
2.4.5 PCI PnP .....................................................................................2-22
2.5 Power Menu ............................................................................................2-24
2.5.1 Suspend Mode ..........................................................................2-24

v
ASUS K8U-X Motherboard
2.5.2 Repost Video on S3 Resume ....................................................2-24
2.5.3 ACPI 2.0 Support ......................................................................2-24
2.5.4 ACPI APIC Support ...................................................................2-24
2.5.5 APM Configuration .....................................................................2-25
2.5.6 Hardware Monitor .......................................................................2-27
2.6 Boot Menu ...............................................................................................2-28
2.6.1 Boot Device Priority ...................................................................2-28
2.6.2 Hard Disk Drives ........................................................................2-28
2.6.3 Boot Settings Configuration .......................................................2-29
2.6.4 Security ......................................................................................2-30
2.7 Exit Menu ................................................................................................2-32
Chapter 3: Software support
3.1 Install an Operating System ......................................................................3-2
3.2 Support CD Information ............................................................................3-2
3.2.1 Running the support CD ...............................................................3-2
3.2.2 Drivers menu ................................................................................3-3
3.2.3 Utilities menu ................................................................................3-4
3.2.4 Manual menu ...............................................................................3-5
3.2.5 ASUS Contact Information ...........................................................3-6
3.3 RAID Configurations .................................................................................3-7
3.3.1 Installing hard disks ......................................................................3-7
3.4 Creating a VIA RAID Driver Disk ...............................................................3-8
3.5 Cool ʻnʼ Quiet!™ Technology .....................................................................3-9
3.5.1 Opening Cool ʻnʼ Quiet!™ Technology .........................................3-9
3.5.2 Running Cool ʻnʼ Quiet!™ Software ..........................................3-11

vi
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 userʼs authority to operate
this equipment.
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 manufacturerʼs 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.

vii
ASUS K8U-X Motherboard
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 adapter 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
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.
NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a task.
IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task.
Conventions used in this guide
To make sure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the
following symbols used throughout this manual.
About This Guide
This user guide includes all tthe information about installing ASUS
Motherboard K8U-X.
Layout of user guide
This User Guide is composed of three chapters which are as follows:
• Chapter 1: Product Introduction
In this chapter, you can find many excellent features about K8U-X,
and you can easily grasp each feature through simple and clear
explanation. It also mentions about all the new technologies which are
applied to on K8U-X.
• Chapter 2: BIOS Information
In this chapter, it describes how to use each item of menu which is in
BIOS configuration to change combinations configuration. In addition,
the time of using each configuration data and parameter configuration
will be introduced in details.
• Chapter 3: Software Support
You can find all the related software information which is included in
support CD.
Where to find more information
Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product
and software updates.
1. ASUS websites
The ASUS website provides 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.

ix
ASUS K8U-X Motherboard
K8U-X Specifications Summary
CPU Socket 754 for AMD Athlon 64 / Sempron CPU
Support AMD 64 architecture that enables
simultaneous 32-biit and 64-bit computing
Supports AMD Cool 'n' Quiet Technology
Chipset ULi M1689
System bus 800 MHz (1600 MT/s)
Memory 2 x 184-pin DIMM Sockets support up to 2GB
PC3200/PC2700/PC2100 non-ECC un-buffered
DDR SDRAM memory
Expansion slots 1 x AGP 8X
4 x PCI
Storage 2 x UltraATA 133/100
2 x SATA with RAID 0, RAID 1and JBOD
Audio ADI AD1888 SoundMAX 6-channel audio Codec
support for S/PDIF out interfafce
Lan Realtek 8201CL 10/100 Mbps Ethernet Controller
USB 8 USB 2.0/1.1 ports
Overclocking SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection) from 200
MHz up to 300 MHz at 1 MHz increment
Adjustable FSB/DDR ratio
ASUS JumperFree
ASUS C.P
.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)
ASUS EZ Flash
Special features ASUS CrashFree BIOS2
ASUS MyLogoTM
AMD Cool ʻnʼ QuietTM Technology
Back panel I/O 1 x Parallel port
1 x Serial port
1 x PS/2 keyboard port
1 x PS/2 mouse port
4 x USB 2.0 ports
1 x S/PDIF out
1 x RJ-45
Line In/Line Out/Microphone ports

x
K8U-X Specifications Summary
Internal I/O 2 x USB 2.0 connectors for 4 additional USB 2.0 Ports
CPU/Chassis fan connectors
20-pin ATX/4-pin ATX 12V power connectors
CD/AUX audio in connectors
Front panel audio connector
System pannel connector
GAME/MIDI connector
Chassis intrusion
BIOS features 4Mb Flash EEPROM
AMI BIOS, ACPI, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM 2.0, SM BIOS
2.3, ASUS EZ Flash, CrashFree BIOS 2
Industry standard PCI 2.2, USB 2.0/1.1
Manageability WOL by PME, WOR by PME
Power Requirement ATX power supply (with 20-pin and 4-pin 12V plugs)
ATX 12V 2.0 compliant
Form Factor ATX form factor: 12 in x 7 in (30.5 cm x 17.8 cm)
Support CD contents Device drivers
ASUS PC Probe
Anti-virus utility (OEM Version)

This chapter describes the features of the
motherboard. It includes brief descriptions
of the motherboard components, and
illustrations of the layout, jumper settings,
and connectors.
Product Introduction
Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Product Introduction
1-2
1.1 Welcome!
Thank you for buying the ASUS® K8U-X 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 processor and the
ULi M1689 chipset to set a new benchmark for an effective desktop platform solution.
Supporting up to 2GB of system memory with PC3200/PC2700/PC2100/PC1600
DDR SDRAM, high-resolution graphics via an AGP 8X slot, Serial ATA RAID, 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.
1.2 Package Contents
Check your motherboard package for the following items.
ASUS K8U-X motherboard
ASUS motherboard support CD
1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 cables
1 x Serial ATA cables
1 x Serial ATA power cables
1 x 3.5” Floppy disk cable
I/O shield
User guide
1.3 Special Features
1.3.1 Product Highlights
Latest processor technology
The AMD Athlon™ 64 desktop processor is based on AMDʼs 64-bit architecture,
which represents the landmark introduction of the industryʼs first x86-64 technology.
This processor provides a dramatic leap forward in compatibility, performance,
investment protection, and reduced total cost of ownership and development.

ASUS K8U-X Motherboard
1-3
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.
Cool ʻnʼ Quiet!™ Technology
The motherboard supports the AMD
® Cool ʻnʼ Quiet!™ Technology that dynamically
and automatically changes the CPU speed, voltage and amount of power
depending on the task the CPU performs.
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 Serial ATA specification allows for thinner, more flexible cables with lower pin
count, reduced voltage requirement, up to 150 MB/s data transfer rate.
Serial ATA RAID solution
The motherboard provides a high-performance Serial ATA RAID controller that
enhance hard disk performance and data backup protection without the cost of
additional RAID cards. The onboard ULI M1689 RAID controller provides two Serial
ATA connectors for RAID 0, 1 and JBOD functions.
AGP 8X support
AGP 8X (AGP 3.0) is the VGA interface specification that enables enhanced
graphics performance with maximum bandwidth speeds of up to 2.12 GB/s.
S/PDIF out
The motherboardʼs S/PDIF out function turns your computer into a high-end
entertainment system with digital connectivity to powerful speaker systems.
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 eight 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.

Chapter 1: Product Introduction
1-4
6-Channel Audio solution
The motherboard uses an onboard audio CODEC that lets you enjoy high-quality
6-channel audio without having to buy advanced sound cards.
1.3.2 Unique ASUS features
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 2-6.
C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)
The C.P.R. feature of the motherboard BIOS allows automatic re-setting to the
BIOS default settings in case the system hangs due to overclocking. When the
system hangs due to overclocking, C.P.R. eliminates the need to open the system
chassis and clear the RTC data. Simply shut down and reboot the system, and
BIOS automatically restores the CPU previous setting for each parameter.
ASUS MyLogo™
This new feature present in the motherboard allows you to personalize and add
style to your system with customizable boot logos. See pages 2-31.
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 2-5.

ASUS K8U-X Motherboard
1-5
1.4 Before You Proceed
Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components
or change any motherboard settings.
K8U-X
®
K8U-X Onboard LED
SB_PWR
ON
Standby
Power
OFF
Powered
Off
1. Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any
component.
2. Use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or
to a metal object, such as the power supply case, before handling
components to avoid damaging them due to static electricity.
3. Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them.
4. Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded
antistatic pad or in the bag that came with the component.
5. Before you install or remove any component, ensure that the ATX
power supply is switched off or the power cord is detached from
the power supply. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to
the motherboard, peripherals, and/or components.
Onboard LED
The motherboard comes with a stand-by power LED. When lit, this green LED
indicates that the system is ON, in sleep mode, or in soft-off mode, a reminder that
you should shut down the system and unplug the power cable before removing or
plugging in any motherboard component. The illustration below shows the location
of the onboard LED.

Chapter 1: Product Introduction
1-6
1.5 Motherboard Overview
1.5.1 Motherboard layout
K8U-X
R
PCI1
PANEL
K8U-X
R
CR2032 3V
Lithium Cell
CMOS Power
CD
AUX
Super
I/O
4Mbit
BIOS
Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP)
FP_AUDIO
ADI
AD1888
ATX12V
CHASSIS
CLRTC
ATXPWR
USB56
SB_PWR
CHA_FAN
USBPW12 USBPW34
USBPW56
USBPW78
18.3cm (7in)
30.5cm (12in)
SATA1
FLOPPY
ULI
M1689
USB78
SATA2
CPU_FAN
PARALLEL PORT
COM1
SPDIF_O
PS/2KBMS
T: Mouse
B: Keyboard
Below:Mic In
Center:Line Out
Top:Line In
F_USB12
RJ-45
Top:
USB3
USB4
Bottom:
DDR DIMM1 (64 bit,184-pin module)
DDR DIMM2 (64 bit,184-pin module)
Socket 754
PCI2
PCI3
PCI4
RTL8201CL
PRI_IDESEC_IDE
GAME

ASUS K8U-X Motherboard
1-7
1.5.2 Placement direction
When installing the motherboard, make sure that you place it into the chassis in the
correct orientation. The edge with external ports goes to the rear part of the chassis
as indicated in the image below.
1.5.3 Screw holes
Place 9 screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the motherboard to the chassis.
Do not overtighten the screws! Doing so may damage the motherboard.
Place this side towards
the rear of the chassis
K8U-X
®

Chapter 1: Product Introduction
1-8
1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
1.6.1 Overview
The motherboard comes with a surface mount 754-pin Zero Insertion Force (ZIF)
socket designed for the AMD Athlon™ 64 processor.
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.
Incorrect installation of the CPU into the socket may bend the pins and
severely damage the CPU!
K8U-X
®
K8U-X CPU Socket 754
Gold Arrow

ASUS K8U-X Motherboard
1-9
1.6.2 Installing the CPU
Follow these steps to install a CPU:
1. Locate the 754-pin ZIF socket on
the motherboard.
Socket Lever
2. Unlock the socket by pressing the
lever sideways, then lift it up to a
90°-100° angle
Make sure that the socket lever is lifted up to 90°-100° angle,
otherwise the CPU does not fit in completely.
3. Position the CPU above the
socket such that the CPU corner
with the gold triangle matches
the socket corner with a small
triangle.
4. Carefully insert the CPU into the
socket until it fits in place.
The CPU fits only in one correct orientation. DO NOT force the CPU
into the socket to prevent bending the pins and damaging the CPU!
5. When the CPU is in place, push
down the socket lever to secure
the CPU. The lever clicks on the
side tab to indicate that it is locked.
6. Install specifically designed
heatsink and fan assembly.
Gold triangle
Small triangle

Chapter 1: Product Introduction
1-10
1.7 System Memory
1.7.1 DIMM sockets location
The following figure illustrates the location of the DDR DIMM sockets.
K8U-X
®
K8U-X 184-pin DDR DIMM sockets
80 Pins
104 Pins
DIMM1
DIMM2
1.7.2 Memory configurations
You may install 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB DDR DIMMs into the DIMM sockets
using the memory configurations in this section.
1. Installing DDR DIMMs other than the recommended
configurations may cause memory sizing error or system boot
failure. Use any of the recommended configurations in Table 1.
2. For optimum compatibility, obtain memory modules from qualified
vendors. See Qualified Vendors List on page 1-11.
3. Always install DIMMs with the same CAS Latency. For optimum
compatibility, obtain memory modules from the same vendors. See
Qualified Vendors List on page 1-11.
4. Obtain DDR DIMMs only from ASUS qualified vendors for better
system performance.
Important notes
Make sure to unplug the power supply before adding or removing
DIMMs or other system components. Failure to do so may cause
severe damage to both the motherboard and the components.