Asus P5VDC-X User manual

Motherboard
P5VDC-X

ii
Copyright © 2006 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 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 owners’ benefit, without intent to infringe.
E2466
First Edition
April 2006

iii
Contents
Notices ................................................................................................ vi
Safety information ............................................................................. vii
About this guide .................................................................................viii
P5VDC-X specifications summary ......................................................... x
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 Innovative ASUS features ....................................... 1-4
1.4 Before you proceed .............................................................. 1-5
1.5 Motherboard overview .......................................................... 1-6
1.5.1 Placement direction ................................................ 1-6
1.5.2 Screw holes ............................................................. 1-6
1.5.3 Motherboard layout ................................................ 1-7
1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU) .............................................. 1-8
1.6.1 Installling the CPU ................................................... 1-8
1.6.2 Installling the CPU heatsink and fan ...................... 1-11
1.6.3 Uninstalling the CPU heatsink and fan ................... 1-13
1.7 System memory .................................................................. 1-15
1.7.1 Overview ............................................................... 1-15
1.7.2 Memory configurations ......................................... 1-15
1.7.3 Installing a DDR1 DIMM ......................................... 1-18
1.7.4 Removing a DDR1 DIMM ........................................ 1-18
1.7.5 Installing a DDR2 DIMM ......................................... 1-19
1.7.6 Removing a DDR2 DIMM ........................................ 1-19
1.8 Expansion slots ................................................................... 1-20
1.8.1 Installing an expansion card .................................. 1-20
1.8.2 Configuring an expansion card .............................. 1-20
1.8.3 Interrupt assignments ........................................... 1-21
1.8.4 PCI slots ................................................................ 1-22
1.8.5 PCI Express x16 ................................................... 1-22
1.8.6 PCI Express x1 ..................................................... 1-22
1.9 Jumpers .............................................................................. 1-24

iv
Contents
1.10 Connectors ......................................................................... 1-26
1.10.1 Rear panel connectors .......................................... 1-26
1.10.2 Internal connectors ............................................... 1-27
Chapter 2: BIOS setup
2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS ........................................ 2-2
2.1.1 Creating a bootable floppy disk .............................. 2-2
2.1.2 ASUS EZ Flash utility ............................................... 2-3
2.1.3 AFUDOS utility ........................................................ 2-4
2.1.4 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2 utility ................................ 2-6
2.1.5 ASUS Update utility ................................................ 2-8
2.2 BIOS setup program ............................................................ 2-11
2.2.1 BIOS menu screen ................................................. 2-12
2.2.2 Menu bar ............................................................... 2-12
2.2.3 Navigation keys ..................................................... 2-12
2.2.4 Menu items ........................................................... 2-13
2.2.5 Sub-menu items .................................................... 2-13
2.2.6 Configuration fields ............................................... 2-13
2.2.7 Pop-up window ...................................................... 2-13
2.2.8 Scroll bar ............................................................... 2-13
2.2.9 General help .......................................................... 2-13
2.3 Main menu ........................................................................... 2-14
2.3.1 System Time ......................................................... 2-14
2.3.2 System Date ......................................................... 2-14
2.3.3 Legacy Diskette A/B ............................................. 2-14
2.3.4 Primary, Third and Fourth IDE Master/Slave ......... 2-15
2.3.5 System Information .............................................. 2-16
2.4 Advanced menu .................................................................. 2-17
2.4.1 JumperFree Configuration ..................................... 2-17
2.4.2 USB Configuration ................................................. 2-19
2.4.3 CPU Configuration ................................................. 2-21
2.4.4 Chipset .................................................................. 2-22
2.4.5 Onboard Devices Configuration ............................. 2-27
2.4.6 PCI PnP .................................................................. 2-28

v
Contents
2.5 Power menu ........................................................................ 2-29
2.5.1 Suspend Mode ....................................................... 2-29
2.5.2 Repost Video on S3 Resume ................................. 2-29
2.5.3 ACPI 2.0 Support ................................................. 2-29
2.5.4 ACPI APIC Support ............................................... 2-29
2.5.5 APM Configuration ............................................... 2-30
2.5.6 Hardware Monitor ................................................ 2-32
2.6 Boot menu .......................................................................... 2-33
2.6.1 Boot Device Priority .............................................. 2-33
2.6.2 Boot Settings Configuration ................................. 2-34
2.6.3 Security ................................................................. 2-35
2.7 Exit menu ............................................................................ 2-37
Chapter 3: Software support
3.1 Installing 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 Make Disk ................................................................ 3-5
3.2.5 Manual menu ........................................................... 3-6
3.2.6 ASUS Contact information ...................................... 3-7

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
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.
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.

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 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.
The 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.

viii
About this guide
This user guide contains the information you need when installing and
configuring the motherboard.
How this guide is organized
This manual contains the following parts:
• Chapter 1: Product introduction
This chapter describes the features of the motherboard and the
new technology it supports. This chapter also 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 2: 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 3: Software support
This chapter describes the contents of the support CD that comes
with the motherboard package.
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
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
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.
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:
afudos /i[filename]
afudos /iP5VDC-X.ROM

x
P5VDC-X specifications summary
(continued on the next page)
CPU
Chipset
Front Side Bus
Memory
Expansion slots
Storage
Audio
LAN
USB
BIOS
ASUS Special
Features
Rear panel
LGA775 socket for Intel® Pentium® 4/ Pentium® D/
Celeron processors
Supports Intel® Dual-Core 65nm Intel® processors
Supports Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology
Supports Intel® Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology (EIST)
Northbridge: VIA PT880 Ultra
Southbridge: VIA VT8237A
1066/ 800/533 MHz
2 x 184-pin DIMM sockets support up to 2GB 400/333/
266 unbufferred non-ECC DDR memory modules
2 x 240-pin DIMM sockets support up to 2GB DDR2
533/400 unbufferred non-ECC memory modules
1 x AGP 8X slot
1 x PCI Express x16 (max. x4 mode)
3 x PCI slots
Southbridge VIA VT8237A supports:
- 2 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66
- 2 x Serial ATA with RAID 0, RAID 1, and JBOD
configuration
ADI AD1986A High Definition Audio 6-channel CODEC
Supports Jack-Sensing and Enumeration Technology
S/PDIF Out interface
Realtek® 10/100 Mbps LAN PHY
Supports up to 8 USB 2.0 ports
4 MB Flash ROM, AMI BIOS, Green, PnP, DMI, WfM 2.0,
SM BIOS 2.3
ASUS EZ Flash
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2
ASUS MyLogo
1 x PS/2 mouse port
1 x Parallel port
1 x LAN (RJ-45) port
6-channel audio ports
4 x USB ports
1 x Serial port
1 x PS/2 keyboard port
1 x SPDIF out port

xi
1 x Floppy disk drive connector
2 x IDE connectors
2 x Serial ATA connectors
2 x USB 2.0 connectors for 4 additional USB ports
1 x 24-pin EATX power connector
1 x 4-pin ATX 12 V power connector
1 x Front panel audio connector
1 x CD audio-in connector
CPU/Chassis/Power fan connectors
ATX form factor: 12 in x 8.6 in
Drivers
ASUS PC Probe II
ASUS Live Update utility
Anti-virus software
P5VDC-X specifications summary
*Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Internal
connectors
Form factor
Support CD
contents

xii

1-1
ASUS P5VDC-X
1
Product
introduction
This chapter describes the motherboard
features and the new technologies
it supports.

1-2 Chapter 1: Hardware information
1.1 Welcome!
Thank you for buying an ASUS® P5VDC-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!
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.
Motherboard ASUS P5VDC-X motherboard
Cables 1 x Serial ATA cable
1 x Serial ATA power cable
1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 cable
1 x Floppy disk drive cable
Accessories I/O shield
Application CD ASUS motherboard support CD
Documentation User guide
1.3 Special features
1.3.1 Product highlights
Latest processor technology
The motherboard comes with a 775-pin surface mount Land Grid Array
(LGA) socket designed for the Intel® Pentium® 4 processor in the 775-land
package. The motherboard supports the Intel® Pentium® 4 processor with
1066/800/533 MHz Front Side Bus (FSB).
The motherboard also supports the Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology,
the Intel® Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T) that allows 64-bit
computing, and the Enhanced Intel Speedstep® Technology (EIST) that
intelligently adjusts the CPU voltage and frequency depending on the CPU
loading, system speed or power requirement. See page 1-8 for details.

1-3
ASUS P5VDC-X
Intel® 65nm Dual-Core CPU support
This motherboard supports Intel® Pentium® D/Pentium® 4/Celeron®
dual-core processors built on the 65-nanometer (nm) process technology
with copper interconnect. Dual-core processors contain two physical
CPU cores with dedicated L2 caches to meet demands for more powerful
processing. Intel®ʼs 65nm process is the most advanced chip manufacturing
technology, delivering breakthrough performance, enhanced media
experience, and low power consumption. Intel® 65nm dual-core processors
utilize the latest package technologies for a thinner, lighter design without
compromising performance.
PCI Express™ & AGP8X
This motherboard supports PCI Express x16 and AGP8X slots to provide
ultimate flexibility for graphics card upgrade. The PCI Express x16 slot
running at PCI Express x4 speed outperforms PCI interface with its
exceptional high bandwidth up to 2GB/s. See page 1-22 for details.
Dual Channel DDR and DDRII support
Employing the Double Data Rate (DDR) memory technology, the motherboard
supports up to 2GB of system memory using DDR400/333/266 DIMMs. The
ultra-fast 400MHz memory bus delivers the required bandwidth for the latest
3D graphics, multimedia, and Internet applications.
DDR2 is the next generation memory technology to replace the current DDR.
With initial speeds of 533MHz, DDR2 memory provides bandwidth up to 4.3GB/
s. Doubled by the dual-channel architecture, the widest memory bus bandwidth
8.6GB/s is achieved on this motherboard. See page 1-15 for details.
Serial ATA RAID technology
Serial ATA is the next generation ATA specification that provides scalable
performance for today and tomorrow. With up to 150MB/s data transfer
rate, Serial ATA is faster than current Parallel ATA, while providing 100%
software compatibility. The onboard VIA VT8237A southbridge allows
RAID 0, RAID 1, and JBOD configuration for two SATA connectors. See
page 1-29 for details.
10/100 Mbps LAN
Easy connectivity to your network or broadband connection with the
onboard LAN port. Allows you to play online games without buying
expensive additional LAN cards. See page 1-26 for details.

1-4 Chapter 1: Hardware information
1.3.2 Innovative ASUS features
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 2-3 for details.
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2
This feature allows you to restore the original BIOS data from the 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 for
details.
ASUS MyLogo™
This new feature present in the motherboard allows you to personalize and
add style to your system with customizable boot logos. See details on page
2-34.
ADI SoundMAX High-Definition audio
The onboard 6-channel AD1986A High Definition audio CODEC enables
high-quality audio which automatically detects and identifies what type of
peripherals are plugged into the audio I/O jacks. It also notifies the user of
inappropriate connection. See pages 1-26 and 1-27 for details.
S/PDIF digital sound ready
The motherboard supports the S/PDIF Out function through the S/PDIF
interfaces on the rear panel. The S/PDIF technology turns your computer
into a high-end entertainment system with digital connectivity to powerful
audio and speaker systems. See page 1-26 for details.
USB 2.0 technology
The motherboard implements the Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0
specification, dramatically increasing the connection speed from the
12 Mbps bandwidth on USB 1.1 to a fast 480 Mbps on USB 2.0. USB 2.0
is backward compatible with USB 1.1. See pages 1-25, 1-27 and 1-31 for
details.

1-5
ASUS P5VDC-X
Onboard LED
The motherboard comes with a standby power LED that lights up to
indicate that the system is ON, in sleep mode, or in soft-off mode.
This is 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.
• Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any
component.
• Use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or
a metal object, such as the power supply case, before handling
components to avoid damaging them due to static electricity.
• Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them.
• Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded
antistatic pad or in the bag that came with the component.
• 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.
1.4 Before you proceed
Take note of the following precautions before you install components into
the system.
Below:Mic In
Center:Line Out
Top:Line In
P5VDC-X
R
SB_PWR
ON
Standby
Power
OFF
Powered
Off
P5VDC-X Onboard LED

1-6 Chapter 1: Hardware information
Below:Mic In
Center:Line Out
Top:Line In
P5VDC-X
R
1.5 Motherboard overview
Before you install the motherboard, study the configuration of your chassis
to ensure that the motherboard fits into it.
Make sure to unplug the power cord before installing or removing the
motherboard. Failure to do so can cause you physical injury and damage
motherboard components.
1.5.1 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.
1.5.2 Screw holes
Place six (6) screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the
motherboard to the chassis.
Do not overtighten the screws! Doing so can damage the motherboard.
Place this side towards
the rear of the chassis

1-7
ASUS P5VDC-X
1.5.3 Motherboard layout
DDR DIMM_B1 (64 bit,184-pin module)
DDR2 DIMM_B1 (128 bit,240-pin module)
DDR2 DIMM_A1 (128 bit,240-pin module)
DDR DIMM_A1 (64 bit,184-pin module)
VIA PT880
Ultra
VT8237A
VIA
PCI1
PCI3
PCI2
AGP
PCIEX16
Below:Mic In
Center:Line Out
Top:Line In
Below:Mic In
Center:Line Out
Top:Line In
LAN_USB34
USB12
PS/2KBMS
T:Mouse
B:Keyboard
LGA775
ATX12V
EATXPWR
CR2032 3V
Lithium Cell
CMOS Power
R
P5VDC-X
FLOPPY
AAFP
CD
SATA1
SATA2
CHA_FAN
AD1986A
USB56 PANEL
USB78_WIFI
SPDIF_O
REALTEK
RTL8201CL
Super I/O
4Mb
BIOS
PRI_IDE
SEC_IDE
CLRTC
SB_PWR
COM1
PARALLEL PORT
USBPW12 USBPW34
USBPW56
USBPW78
PWR_FAN
CPU_FAN
21.8cm (8.6in)
30.5cm (12in)

1-8 Chapter 1: Hardware information
1.6.1 Installing the CPU
To install a CPU:
1. Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard.
Before installing the CPU, make sure that the socket box is facing
towards you and the load lever is on your left.
1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The motherboard comes with a surface mount LGA775 socket designed for
the Intel® Pentium® 4/Pentium® D processor in the 775-land package.
• Your boxed Intel® Pentium® 4 LGA775 processor package should
come with installation instructions for the CPU, heatsink, and the
retention mechanism. If the instructions in this section do not match
the CPU documentation, follow the latter.
• Upon purchase of the motherboard, make sure that the PnP cap is
on the socket and the socket contacts are not bent. Contact your
retailer immediately if the PnP cap is missing, or if you see any
damage to the PnP cap/socket contacts/motherboard components.
ASUS will shoulder the cost of repair only if the damage is shipment/
transit-related.
• Keep the cap after installing the motherboard. ASUS will process
Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) requests only if the
motherboard comes with the cap on the LGA775 socket.
• The product warranty does not cover damage to the socket
contacts resulting from incorrect CPU installation/removal, or
misplacement/loss/incorrect removal of the PnP cap.
Below:Mic In
Center:Line Out
Top:Line In
P5VDC-X
R
P5VDC-X CPU Socket 775