Asus M2N32-SLI PREMIUM VISTA User manual

Motherboard
M2N32-SLI
Premium
Vista Edition

ii
E2982
First Edition V1
January 2007
Copyright © 2007 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, modied or altered, unless
such repair, modication 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
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owners’ benet, without intent to infringe.

iii
Contents
Notices........................................................................................................ vii
Safety information .................................................................................... viii
About this guide ......................................................................................... ix
M2N32-SLI Premium Vista Edition specications summary .................. xi
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 ASUS AI Lifestyle features ............................................. 1-4
1.3.3 ASUS special features .................................................... 1-7
1.3.4 ASUS Intelligent Overclocking features .......................... 1-8
1.3.5 ASUS features and the supporting OS ........................... 1-9
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 ASUS Stack Cool 2......................................................... 2-3
2.2.4 Motherboard layout ......................................................... 2-4
2.2.5 Layout contents............................................................... 2-5
2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) ................................................... 2-7
2.3.1 Installing the CPU ........................................................... 2-7
2.3.2 Installing the heatsink and fan ........................................ 2-9
2.3.3 Installing the optional fan .............................................. 2-12
2.4 System memory ......................................................................... 2-13
2.4.1 Overview ....................................................................... 2-13
2.4.2 Memory congurations.................................................. 2-13
2.4.3 Installing a DIMM .......................................................... 2-15
2.4.4 Removing a DIMM ........................................................ 2-15
2.5 Expansion slots.......................................................................... 2-19
2.5.1 Installing an expansion card ......................................... 2-19
2.5.2 Conguring an expansion card ..................................... 2-19
2.5.3 Interrupt assignments ................................................... 2-20
2.5.4 PCI slots........................................................................ 2-21

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Contents
2.5.5 PCI Express x4 slot & PCI Express x1 slot .................. 2-21
2.5.6 PCI Express x16 slots................................................... 2-21
2.6 Jumper ........................................................................................ 2-22
2.7 Connectors ................................................................................. 2-23
2.7.1 Rear panel connectors.................................................. 2-23
2.7.2 Internal connectors ....................................................... 2-26
Chapter 3: Powering up
3.1 Starting up for the rst time........................................................ 3-1
3.2 Turning 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 ASUS Update utility ........................................................ 4-1
4.1.2 Creating a bootable oppy disk....................................... 4-4
4.1.3 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility................................................... 4-5
4.1.4 Updating the BIOS .......................................................... 4-6
4.1.5 Saving the current BIOS le............................................ 4-8
4.1.6 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility ...................................... 4-9
4.2 BIOS setup program .................................................................. 4-10
4.2.1 BIOS menu screen.........................................................4-11
4.2.2 Menu bar........................................................................4-11
4.2.3 Legend bar.................................................................... 4-12
4.2.4 Menu items ................................................................... 4-12
4.2.5 Sub-menu items............................................................ 4-12
4.2.6 Conguration elds ....................................................... 4-12
4.2.7 Pop-up window ............................................................. 4-13
4.2.8 General help ................................................................. 4-13
4.3 Main menu .................................................................................. 4-14
4.3.1 System Time ................................................................ 4-14
4.3.2 System Date ................................................................. 4-14
4.3.3 Language ...................................................................... 4-14
4.3.4 Legacy Diskette A ........................................................ 4-14
4.3.5 Primary IDE Master/Slave............................................. 4-15
4.3.6 SATA 1-6..........................................................................................4-17

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Contents
4.3.7 HDD SMART Monitoring ............................................... 4-18
4.3.8 Installed Memory........................................................... 4-18
4.3.9 Usable Memory............................................................. 4-18
4.4 Advanced menu ......................................................................... 4-19
4.4.1 JumperFree Conguration ............................................ 4-19
4.4.2 AI NET2 ........................................................................ 4-22
4.4.3 CPU Conguration ........................................................ 4-23
4.4.4 Chipset.......................................................................... 4-27
4.4.5 PCIPnP ......................................................................... 4-29
4.4.6 Onboard Device Conguration...................................... 4-30
4.5 Power menu................................................................................ 4-33
4.5.1 ACPI Suspend Type...................................................... 4-33
4.5.2 ACPI APIC Support....................................................... 4-33
4.5.3 APM Conguration........................................................ 4-34
4.5.4 Hardware Monitor ......................................................... 4-36
4.6 Boot menu .................................................................................. 4-38
4.6.1 Boot Device Priority ...................................................... 4-38
4.6.2 Removable Drives......................................................... 4-39
4.6.3 Hard Disk Drives ........................................................... 4-39
4.6.4 CDROM Drives ............................................................. 4-39
4.6.5 Boot Settings Conguration ......................................... 4-40
4.6.6 Security ......................................................................... 4-41
4.7 Tools menu ................................................................................. 4-43
4.7.1 ASUS O.C. Prole......................................................... 4-43
4.7.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2.......................................................... 4-46
4.8 Exit menu.................................................................................... 4-47
Chapter 5: Software support
5.1 Installing an operating system ................................................... 5-1
5.2 Support DVD information ............................................................ 5-1
5.2.1 Running the support DVD ............................................... 5-1
5.2.2 Drivers menu................................................................... 5-2
5.2.3 Utilities menu .................................................................. 5-3
5.2.4 Make Disk menu ............................................................. 5-5
5.2.5 Manuals menu ................................................................ 5-6
5.2.6 ASUS Contact information .............................................. 5-6
5.2.7 Other information ............................................................ 5-7

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Contents
5.3 Software information ................................................................... 5-9
5.3.1 ASUS MyLogo3 .............................................................. 5-9
5.3.2 Cool ‘n’ Quiet™Technology ............................................5-11
5.3.3 SoundMAX® High Denition Audio utility....................... 5-13
5.3.4 ASUS PC Probe II......................................................... 5-18
5.3.5 ASUS AI Suite............................................................... 5-24
5.3.6 ASUS AI N.O.S ............................................................. 5-26
5.3.7 ASUS AI Gear ............................................................... 5-27
5.3.8 ASUS AI Nap ................................................................ 5-28
5.3.9 ASUS AI Booster........................................................... 5-29
5.3.10 ASUS Q-Fan ................................................................. 5-30
5.3.11 ASUS AI Remote .......................................................... 5-31
5.4 Windows®Vista feature ............................................................. 5-39
5.4.1 ASAP (ASUS Accelerated Propeller) ............................ 5-39
5.5 RAID congurations .................................................................. 5-40
5.5.1 Installing hard disks ...................................................... 5-41
5.5.2 NVIDIA® MediaShield RAID congurations................... 5-42
5.5.3 Silicon Image RAID congurations ............................... 5-49
5.6 Creating a RAID driver disk....................................................... 5-56
Chapter 6: NVIDIA®SLI™technology support
6.1 Overview ....................................................................................... 6-1
6.2 Dual graphics card setup ............................................................ 6-2
6.2.1 Installing SLI-ready graphics cards................................. 6-2
6.2.2 Installing the device drivers............................................. 6-5
6.2.3 Enabling the multi-GPU feature in Windows®................. 6-5

vii
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 modications
to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance
could void the user’s authority to operate this equipment.

viii
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 x it by yourself. Contact a
qualied 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 qualied
service technician or your retailer.
This symbol of the crossed out wheeled bin indicates that the product (electrical
and electronic equipment) should not be placed in municipal waste. Check local
regulations for disposal of electronic products.

ix
About this guide
This user guide contains the information you need when installing and conguring
the motherboard.
How this guide is organized
This guide contains the following parts:
• Chapter 1: Product introduction
This chapter describes the features of the motherboard and the new
technology 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 switches,
jumpers, and connectors on the motherboard.
• Chapter 3: Powering up
This chapter describes the power up sequence 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 DVD that comes with the
motherboard package.
• Chapter 6: NVIDIA®SLI™technology support
This chapter tells how to install SLI-ready PCI Express graphics cards.
Where to nd 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
yers, that may have been added by your dealer. These documents are not
part of the standard package.

x
Conventions used in this guide
To make sure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following
symbols used throughout this manual.
Typography
Bold text Indicates a menu or an item to select.
Italics Used to emphasize a word or a phrase.
<Key> Keys enclosed in the less-than and greater-than sign
means that you must press the enclosed key.
Example: <Enter> means that you must press the
Enter or Return key.
<Key1+Key2+Key3> If you must press two or more keys simultaneously, the
key names are linked with a plus sign (+).
Example: <Ctrl+Alt+D>
Command Means that you must type the command exactly
as shown, then supply the required item or value
enclosed in brackets.
Example: At the DOS prompt, type the command line:
awdash M2N32SLI.bin
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.