Asus M2N68-LA User manual

Motherboard
M2N68-LA
(Narra 3)

ii
E3503
First Edition V1
October 2007
M2N68-LA (Narra 3) specications summary .......................................... iii
1. Motherboard layout......................................................................... 1
2. Central Processing Unit (CPU) ...................................................... 2
2.1 Overview ............................................................................ 2
2.2 Installing the CPU .............................................................. 2
3. System memory .............................................................................. 4
3.1 Memorycongurations....................................................... 4
3.2 Installing a DIMM ............................................................... 5
3.3 Removing a DIMM ............................................................. 5
4. Expansion slots .............................................................................. 6
4.1 PCI Express x16 slot.......................................................... 6
4.2 PCI Express x1 slot............................................................ 6
4.3 PCI slots............................................................................. 6
5. Jumpers ........................................................................................... 7
6. Connectors ...................................................................................... 9
6.1 Rear panel connectors....................................................... 9
6.2 Internal connectors ...........................................................11
Contents

iii
M2N68-LA (Narra 3) specications summary
(continued on the next page)
CPU Socket AM2 for AMD Athlon™64 / Athlon™64 X2 /
Sempron™Rev F / Rev G 89W/ Phenom X4 9600 95W/
Phenom X2 65W and 89W (Socket-AM2+) processor
CPUFSBsupportsupto2000MT/sec
Chipset NVIDIA®MCP61P(co-layoutwithMCP68)
Memory Dual-channelmemoryarchitecture
 4x240-pinDIMMsocketssupportupto8GBnon-
 ECC1.8VDualChannelDDR2800/667SDRAM
 memory(registeredDIMMsarenotsupported)
Expansion slots 1 x PCI Express™x16 slot for discrete graphics card
2 x PCI Express™x1 slot
1 x PCI slots
Onboard I/O 1 x PS/2 keyboard port
1xPS/2mouseport
1 x VGA port
6xAudiojacks
1 x RJ-45 10/100 LAN connector
10xUSB2.0ports(supporthot-plugfunction)
1 x Floppy connector
1 x IDE connector
4xSATA3Gconnectors
Onboard IDE NVIDIA® MCP61embeddedonechannelBusMasterIDE
 portsupportsUltraDMA66/100,PIOMode3/4
NVIDIA®MCP61embedded4SATAports
ATAPIIDEDVD-ROM,CD-ROM,CD-R,CD-RWand
 LS-120supported
Onboard audio SupportsHDaudiocodecthatincludesline-in,line-out
 (7.1channel),microphone-in,andS/PDIF-out
AudioJackPresenceDetection(allfrontandrearjacks)
 mustcomplywithIntel®HighDenitionaudio
 specication1.0section7.4.2
Using Realtek®audiocodecALC888S
Onboard LAN Realtek® RTL8201n10/100MbpsEthernetPHY
PC health monitoring ASUSF8000forCPU/Systemfancontrol,linearfan
 speedcontrolandCPUtemperaturemonitoring

iv
M2N68-LA (Narra 3) specications summary
Front panel and back
panel
Front panel:
 1x9-pinheaderforPowerButton,ResetButton,
  PowerLED,HDDLED
2 x 9-pin header for USB front panel (4 ports)
 2x4-pinheaderforUSBminiPMDuse(2ports)
 1x9-pinheaderforAudio
1 x 9-pin header for IEEE 1394
Back panel:
1 x PS/2 keyboard
 1xPS/2mouse
1 x 15-pin VGA
2 x USB + RJ-45 LAN connector
2 x USB + 1 x IEEE 1394
 Azalia6portsaudiojack:4xLine-out,1xLine-in,
  1xMic-in(withjackretaskingsupport)
Onboard connector 24-pinATXpowerconnector
4-pinATX12Vpowerconnector
1 x Intel®HDaudiofrontpanel2x5-pinheader
1 x Front line-in
2 x USB front panel 9-pin headers
2 x USB front panel 4-pin headers
1 x IEEE 1394 9-pin header
1xS/PDIF-out(forHDMI)
1xHDMI2x8-pinheader
1 x CPU fan connector
1 x System fan connector
BIOS features Award code base
4Mb SPI Serial Flash
HPBIOSwithEnhancedACPI,DMI,Green,PnP
 FeaturesPlus
Form factor uATXformfactor:9.6”x9.6”
*Specicationsaresubjecttochangewithoutnotice.

M2N68-LA (Narra 3) 1
1. Motherboard layout
PCIE_X1_1
M2N68-LA
PS/2KBMS
T: Mouse
B: Keyboard
ALC888
CLEAR CMOS
CLEAR P.W
F_USB1
PC2
BUZZER
F_PANEL
F_USB2
Super
I/O
Asus
F8000
F_AUDIO
F_LINE_IN
ATXPOWER
Socket AM2
CR2032 3V
Lithium Cell
CMOS Power
NVIDIA®
MCP61P
PCIE_X16
SATA4 SATA3
RTL8201N
DDR2 XMM1 (64 bit,240-pin module)
DDR2 XMM2 (64 bit,240-pin module)
PRIMARY_IDE
FLOPPY
CPU_FAN
ATX_CPU
CHASSIS_FAN1
VGA
24.5cm (9.6in)
24.5cm (9.6in)
SATA1 SATA2
DDR2 XMM3 (64 bit,240-pin module)
DDR2 XMM4 (64 bit,240-pin module)
F_1394
agere
L-FW3227-100
1394+USB
LAN+USB
AUDIO
SPDIF_OUT
SPDIF_OUT
BIOS
F_USB3
F_USB4
PCIE_X1_2

2 M2N68-LA (Narra 3)
2. Central Processing Unit (CPU)
2.1 Overview
Themotherboardcomeswitha940-pinAM2socketdesignedfortheAMDAthlon™
64/ Athlon™64 X2/Sempron™Rev F/Rev G 89W processor.
2.2 Installing the CPU
ToinstallaCPU:
1. Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard.
Makesurethatthesocketleverislifteduptoa90ºangle;otherwise,theCPU
willnottincompletely.
2. Unlock the socket by pressing the
leversideways,thenliftituptoa
90ºangle.
TheAM2sockethasadifferentpinoutfromthe940-pinsocketdesignedforthe
AMD Opteron™processor.MakesureyouuseaCPUdesignedfortheAM2
socket.TheCPUtsinonlyonecorrectorientation.DONOTforcetheCPUinto
the socket to prevent bending the connectors on the socket and damaging the
CPU!
Socket lever
M2N68-LA
M2N68-LA CPU Socket AM2

M2N68-LA (Narra 3) 3
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tsinplace.
Gold triangle
Small triangle
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 a CPU heatsink and fan
followingtheinstructionsthatcame
with the heatsink package.

4 M2N68-LA (Narra 3)
3. System memory
ThemotherboardcomeswithfourDoubleDataRate2(DDR2)DualInlineMemory
Modules(DIMM)sockets.
ADDR2modulehasthesamephysicaldimensionsasaDDRDIMMbuthasa
240-pin footprint compared to the 184-pin DDR DIMM. DDR2 DIMMs are notched
differently to prevent installation on a DDR DIMM socket.
ThefollowinggureillustratesthelocationoftheDDR2DIMMsockets:
3.1 Memory congurations
Youmayinstall256MB,512MB,and1GBDDR2SDRAMDIMMsintotheDIMM
sockets.
M2N68-LA
M2N68-LA 240-pin DDR2 DIMM sockets
XMM1
XMM2
XMM3
XMM4
• Alwaysuseidentical (thesametypeandsize)DDR2DIMMpairsfordual
channelmode.Foroptimumcompatibility,werecommendthatyouobtain
memorymodulesfromthesamevendor.
• Thismotherboarddoesnotsupportdouble-sided16-bitDDRDIMMs.

M2N68-LA (Narra 3) 5
3.2 Installing a DIMM
UnplugthepowersupplybeforeaddingorremovingDIMMsorother
systemcomponents.Failuretodosocancauseseveredamagetoboththe
motherboard and the components.
• ADDR2DIMMiskeyedwithanotchsothatittsinonlyonedirection.Do
not force a DIMM into a socket to avoid damaging the DIMM.
• TheDDR2DIMMsocketsdonotsupportDDRDIMMs.DOnotinstallDDR
DIMMs to the DDR2 DIMM sockets.
3.3 Removing a DIMM
ToremoveaDIMM:
1. Simultaneouslypresstheretaining
clipsoutwardtounlocktheDIMM.
2. Remove the DIMM from the socket.
SupporttheDIMMlightlywith
yourngerswhenpressingthe
retainingclips.TheDIMMmight
getdamagedwhenitipsout
with extra force.
1
2
1DDR2 DIMM notch
ToinstallaDIMM:
1. Unlock a DIMM socket by
pressing the retaining clips
outward.
2. Align a DIMM on the socket
suchthatthenotchontheDIMM
matches the break on the socket.
3. Firmly insert the DIMM into the
socketuntiltheretainingclips
snap back in place and the
DIMM is properly seated.
Unlocked retaining clip
DDR2 DIMM notch
1
2
3
1

6 M2N68-LA (Narra 3)
4.3 PCI slots
ThePCIslotssupportcardssuchas
aLANcard,SCSIcard,USBcard,
and other cards that comply with PCI
specications.ThegureshowsaLAN
card installed on a PCI slot.
4.1 PCI Express x16 slot
ThismotherboardsupportsPCI
Express x16 graphic cards that comply
withthePCIExpressspecications.
Thegureshowsagraphicscard
installed on the PCI Express x16 slot.
4. Expansion slots
4.2 PCI Express x1 slot
ThismotherboardsupportsPCI
Expressx1networkcards,SCSIcards
and other cards that comply with the
PCIExpressspecications.Thegure
shows a network card installed on the
PCI Express x1 slot.

M2N68-LA (Narra 3) 7
5. Jumpers
1. Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC)
ThisjumperallowsyoutocleartheRealTimeClock(RTC)RAMin
CMOS.YoucancleartheCMOSmemoryofdate,time,andsystemsetup
parametersbyerasingtheCMOSRTCRAMdata.Theonboardbutton
cellbatterypowerstheRAMdatainCMOS,whichincludesystemsetup
informationsuchassystempasswords.
 ToerasetheRTCRAM:
1. TurnOFFthecomputerandunplugthepowercord.
2. Remove the onboard battery.
3. Movethejumpercapfrompins2-3(Normal)topins1-2(ClearCMOS).
Keepthecaponpins1-2forabout5~10seconds,thenmovethecap
back to pins 2-3.
4. Reinstall the battery.
5. PlugthepowercordandturnONthecomputer.
6. Holddownthe<F1>keyduringthebootprocessandenterBIOSsetup
to re-enter data.
ExceptwhenclearingtheRTCRAM,neverremovethecaponCLRTCjumper
defaultposition.Removingthecapwillcausesystembootfailure!
M2N68-LA
M2N68-LA Clear RTC RAM
CLEAR CMOS
Normal
(Default)
Clear CMOS
1
2 2
3

8 M2N68-LA (Narra 3)
2. Clear password (3-pin CLRPW)
Thisjumperallowsyoutoclearthepasswordifyouforgotyourpassword.
 Toerasethepassword:
1. TurnOFFthecomputerandunplugthepowercord.
2. Movethejumpercapfrompins2-3(Normal)topins1-2(Clear
Password).
3. PlugthepowercordandturnONthecomputer.
4. Afterthecomputerbootsup,turnOFFthecomputer.
5. Movethejumpercapfrompins1-2topins2-3.
6. Holddownthe<F1>keyduringthebootprocessandenterBIOSsetup
to verify that the password has been cleared.
M2N68-LA
M2N68-LA Clear password setting
CLEAR P.W
Normal
(Default)
Clear Password
1
2 2
3

M2N68-LA (Narra 3) 9
6. Connectors
6.1 Rear panel connectors
1. PS/2 mouse port (green).ThisportisforaPS/2mouse.
2. Coaxial S/PDIF Out port.Thisportconnectsanexternalaudiooutputdevice
via a coaxial S/PDIF cable.
3. IEEE 1394a port.This6-pinIEEE1394aportproviedshigh-speed
connectivityforaudio/videodevices,storageperipherals,PCs,orportable
devices.
4. LAN (RJ-45) port.Thisportallows10/100connectiontoaLocalArea
Network(LAN)throughanetworkhub.RefertothetablebelowfortheLAN
port LED indications.
1
13
8
9
10
43
5
6
7
12 11
2
LINK
LED
ACT
LED
LAN port
LAN port LED indications
LINK LED ACT LED
Status Description Status Description
OFF No link OFF NotTransmitting
GREEN Linked ORANGE Transmitting
5. Side Speaker Out port (gray).Thisportconnectstothesidespeakersinan
8-channelaudioconguration.
6. Rear Speaker Out port (black).Thisportconnectstotherearspeakersona
4-channel,6-channel,or8-channelaudioconguration.
7. Center/Subwoofer port (yellow orange).Thisportconnectsthecenter/
subwooferspeakers.
8. Line In port (light blue).Thisportconnectsthetape,CD,DVDplayer,or
otheraudiosources.
9. Line Out port (lime).Thisportconnectsaheadphoneoraspeaker.In4-
channel,6-channel,and8-channelmode,thefunctionofthisportbecomes
FrontSpeakerOut.
10. Microphone port (pink).Thisportconnectsamicrophone.

10 M2N68-LA (Narra 3)
Port Headset
2-channel 4-channel 6-channel 8-channel
LightBlue Line In Line In Line In Line In
Lime LineOut FrontSpeakerOut FrontSpeakerOut FrontSpeakerOut
Pink Mic In Mic In Mic In Mic In
Orange – – Center/Subwoofer Center/Subwoofer
Black – RearSpeakerOut RearSpeakerOut RearSpeakerOut
Gray – – – SideSpeakerOut
Audio 2, 4, 6, or 8-channel conguration
Refertotheaudiocongurationtableforthefunctionoftheaudioportsin2,4,
6,or8-channelconguration.
11. USB 2.0 ports.Thesefour4-pinUniversalSerialBus(USB)portsare
available for connecting USB 2.0 devices.
12. VGA port.This15-pinVGAportconnectstoaVGAmonitor.
13. PS/2 keyboard port (purple).ThisportisforaPS/2keyboard.

M2N68-LA (Narra 3) 11
6.2 Internal connectors
Thissectiondescribesandillustratestheinternalconnectorsonthemotherboard.
1. Floppy disk drive connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY)
Thisconnectorisfortheprovidedoppydiskdrive(FDD)signalcable.Insert
oneendofthecabletothisconnector,thenconnecttheotherendtothe
signalconnectoratthebackoftheoppydiskdrive.
Pin 5 on the connector is removed to prevent incorrect cable connection when
usingaFDDcablewithacoveredPin5.
M2N68-LA
NOTE: Orient the red markings on
the floppy ribbon cable to PIN 1.
M2N68-LA Floppy disk drive connector
FLOPPY
PIN 1

12 M2N68-LA (Narra 3)
2. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRIMARY_IDE)
TheonboardIDEconnectorisfortheUltraDMA133/100/66signalcable.
TherearethreeconnectorsoneachUltraDMA133/100/66signalcable:
blue,black,andgray.Connecttheblueconnectortothemotherboard’sIDE
connector,thenselectoneofthefollowingmodestocongureyourdevice.
• Pin 20 on the IDE connector is removed to match the covered hole on the
UltraDMAcableconnector.Thispreventsincorrectinsertionwhenyou
connect the IDE cable.
• Usethe80-conductorIDEcableforUltraDMA100/66IDEdevices.
Ifanydevicejumperissetas“Cable-Select,”makesureallotherdevice
jumpershavethesamesetting.
Drive jumper setting Mode of
device(s) Cable connector
Single device Cable-Select or Master - Black
Twodevices
Cable-Select Master Black
Slave Gray
Master Master Black or gray
Slave Slave
M2N68-LA
M2N68-LA IDE connector
NOTE: Orient the red markings
(usually zigzag) on the IDE
ribbon cable to PIN 1.
PRIMARY_IDE
PIN 1

M2N68-LA (Narra 3) 13
3. ATX power connectors (24-pin ATXPOWER, 4-pin ATX_CPU)
TheseconnectorsareforATXpowersupplyplugs.Thepowersupplyplugs
aredesignedtottheseconnectorsinonlyoneorientation.Findtheproper
orientationandpushdownrmlyuntiltheconnectorscompletelyt.
M2N68-LA
M2N68-LA ATX power connectors
ATXPOWER
ATX_CPU
+3 Volts
+3 Volts
Ground
+5 Volts
+5 Volts
Ground
Ground
Power OK
+5V Standby
+12 Volts
-5 Volts
+5 Volts
+3 Volts
-12 Volts
Ground
Ground
Ground
PSON#
Ground
+5 Volts
+12 Volts
+3 Volts
+5 Volts
Ground
+12V DC
GND
+12V DC
GND
• Donotforgettoconnectthe4-pinATX+12Vpowerplug;otherwise,the
systemwillnotbootup.
• MakesurethatyourATX12Vpowersupplycanprovide8Aonthe+12V
leadandatleast1Aonthe+5-voltstandbylead(+5VSB).Theminimum
recommendedwattageis230W,or300Wforafullyconguredsystem.
Thesystemcanbecomeunstableandmightexperiencedifcultypowering
upifthepowersupplyisinadequate.
• UseofaPSUwithahigherpoweroutputisrecommendedwhen
conguringasystemwithmorepower-consumingdevices.Thesystem
maybecomeunstableormaynotbootupifthepowerisinadequate.

14 M2N68-LA (Narra 3)
M2N68-LA
M2N68-LA SATA connectors
GND
RSATA_TXP1
RSATA_TXN1
GND
RSATA_RXP1
RSATA_RXN1
GND
SATA1
GND
RSATA_TXP2
RSATA_TXN2
GND
RSATA_RXP2
RSATA_RXN2
GND SATA2
GND
RSATA_TXP4
RSATA_TXN4
GND
RSATA_RXP4
RSATA_RXN4
GND GND
RSATA_TXP3
RSATA_TXN3
GND
RSATA_RXP3
RSATA_RXN3
GND
SATA4 SATA3
4. Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1, SATA2, SATA3, SATA4)
TheseconnectorsarefortheSerialATAsignalcablesforSerialATAharddisk
drives.
YoumustinstallWindows®2000 Service Pack 4 or the Windows®XP Service
Pack1beforeusingSerialATAharddiskdrive.
5. USB connectors (10-1 pin P24 F_USB1, 10-1 pin P150 F_USB2,
5-1 pin P151 F_USB1, 5-1 pin P152 F_USB2)
TheseconnectorsareforUSB2.0ports.ConnecttheUSB/GAMEmodule
cabletoanyoftheseconnectors,theninstallthemoduletoaslotopeningat
thebackofthesystemchassis.TheseUSBconnectorscomplywithUSB2.0
specicationthatsupportsupto480Mbpsconnectionspeed.
M2N68-LA
M2N68-LA USB 2.0 connectors
F_USB1 F_USB2
USB+5V
USB_P5-
USB_P5+
GND
USB+5V USB_P6- USB_P6+ GND NC
USB+5V
USB_P5-
USB_P5+
GND
USB+5V USB_P6- USB_P6+ GND NC
Never connect a 1394 cable to the USB connectors. Doing so will damage the
motherboard!

M2N68-LA (Narra 3) 15
6. CPU and Chassis fan connectors (3-pin CPU_FAN,
3-pin CHASSIS_FAN1)
Thefanconnectorssupportcoolingfansof350mA~740mA(8.88Wmax.)or
atotalof1A~2.22A(26.64Wmax.)at+12V.Connectthefancablestothefan
connectorsonthemotherboard,makingsurethattheblackwireofeachcable
matchesthegroundpinoftheconnector.
M2N68-LA
M2N68-LA Fan connectors
CPU_FAN
CHASSIS_FAN1
GND
Rotation
+12V
GND
Rotation
+12V
Donotforgettoconnectthefancablestothefanconnectors.Insufcientair
owinsidethesystemmaydamagethemotherboardcomponents.Theseare
notjumpers!DONOTplacejumpercapsonthefanconnectors.
M2N68-LA
M2N68-LA Front audio connector
F_AUDIO
AUD_GND AUD_VCC AUD_RET_R AUD_VCC AUD_RET_L
AUD_MIC1 AUD_MIC2
AUD_FPOUT_R
AUD_MIC_JD
AUD_FPOUT_L
PIN1
7. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin F_AUDIO)
Thisconnectorisforachassis-mountedfrontpanelaudioI/Omodulethat
supportsAzaliaaudiostandard.

16 M2N68-LA (Narra 3)
8. Internal audio connector (4-pin F_LINE_IN)
Thisconnectorallowsyoutoreceivestereoaudioinputfromsoundsources
suchasaCD-ROM,TVtuner,orMPEGcard.
M2N68-LA
M2N68-LA Internal audio connector
F_LINE_IN