Corvalent Gator Mini-ITX User manual

+
Gator Mini-IT
X
Motherboard
Installation Guide

Introduction
Table of Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................ IV
Chapter 1 Pre-Configuration ....................................................1
Step 1 Setting the Jumpers 2
Jumper Locations............................................................................................................................... 3
CMOS Reset ........................................................................................................................................ 4
ATA-Disk Connector Voltage Selection ...........................................................................................4
RS422/RS485 Termination Resistors (optional).............................................................................. 4
Audio Jack Output Selection ............................................................................................................ 4
Backlight Logic Voltage Selection.................................................................................................... 4
Inverter Voltage Selection ................................................................................................................. 5
Step 2 SDRAM, CPU, and Cables Installation 5
Gator Mini-ITX Memory Configuration .............................................................................................5
CPU Installation .................................................................................................................................. 5
Installing Cables................................................................................................................................. 6
Power and Control Panel Cables ...................................................................................................... 6
Installing Peripheral Cables .............................................................................................................. 7
Index of Connectors........................................................................................................................... 9
Chapter 2 AMIBIOS8 Setup....................................................11
Main Setup ........................................................................................................................................ 14
Advanced BIOS Setup ..................................................................................................................... 14
PCI/PnP Setup................................................................................................................................... 22
Boot Setup ........................................................................................................................................ 24
Security Setup .................................................................................................................................. 26
Chipset Setup ................................................................................................................................... 27
Power Management Setup............................................................................................................... 29
Exit Menu........................................................................................................................................... 30
Chapter 3 Upgrading ..................................................................31
Upgrading the Microprocessor ....................................................................................................... 31
Upgrading the System Memory ...................................................................................................... 31
Appendix A Technical Specifications................................32
Chipsets ............................................................................................................................................ 32
BIOS................................................................................................................................................... 32
Embedded I/O ................................................................................................................................... 32
Industrial Devices............................................................................................................................. 34
Miscellaneous ................................................................................................................................... 34
Memory Map...................................................................................................................................... 35
DMA Channels .................................................................................................................................. 35
I

Gator Mini-ITX – Installation Guide
I/O Map............................................................................................................................................... 35
PCI Configuration Space Map ......................................................................................................... 36
Interrupts........................................................................................................................................... 37
SMBUS............................................................................................................................................... 37
PCI Interrupt Routing Map............................................................................................................... 37
Connectors Pin-out .......................................................................................................................... 38
Appendix B Flash BIOS programming and codes .....45
Troubleshooting POST .................................................................................................................... 45
Critical Error BEEP Codes............................................................................................................... 49
Appendix C On-Board Industrial Devices.......................51
DC power brick connector............................................................................................................... 51
On-board Ethernet............................................................................................................................ 51
Serial Ports........................................................................................................................................ 51
Watchdog Timer ............................................................................................................................... 56
Appendix On-Board Video Controller ...............................57
II

Introduction
Notice
The company reserves the right to revise this publication or to change its contents without notice. Information
contained herein is for reference only and does not constitute a commitment on the part of the manufacturer or any
subsequent vendor. They are in no way responsible for any loss or damage resulting from the use (or misuse) of this
publication.
This publication and any accompanying software may not, in whole or in part, be copied, photocopied, translated or
reduced to any machine readable form without prior consent from the vendor, manufacturer or creators of this
publication, except for copies kept by the user for backup purposes.
Brand and product names mentioned in this publication may or may not be copyrights and/or registered trademarks
of their respective companies. They are mentioned for identification purposes only and are not intended as an
endorsement of that product or its manufacturer.
First Edition.
December 2005
III

Gator Mini-ITX – Installation Guide
Introduction
Thank you for your purchase of the Gator Mini-ITX industrial embedded motherboard. The Gator Mini-ITX design
was based on the Intel 855GME chipset providing the ideal platform to industrial applications. The Gator Mini-ITX
design is based on the Intel Pentium M and Celeron M (µFC-PGA 478) processors.
With proper installation and maintenance, your Gator Mini-ITX will provide years of high performance and trouble
free operation.
This manual provides a detailed explanation into the installation and use of the Gator Mini-ITX industrial embedded
motherboard. This manual is written for the novice PC user/installer. However, as with any major computer
component installation, previous experience is helpful and should you not have prior experience, it would be prudent
to have someone assist you in the installation. This manual is broken down into 3 chapters and 4 appendixes.
Chapter 1 - System Board Pre-Configuration
This chapter provides all the necessary information for installing the Gator Mini-ITX. Topics discussed
include: installing the CPU (if necessary), DRAM installation and jumper settings. Connecting all the
cables from the system board to the chassis and peripherals is also explained.
Chapter 2 - BIOS Configuration
This chapter shows the final step in getting your system firmware setup.
Chapter 3 - Upgrading
The Gator Mini-ITX provides a number of expansion options including memory. All aspects of the upgrade
possibilities are covered.
Appendix A - Technical Specifications
A complete listing of all the major technical specifications of the Gator Mini-ITX is provided.
Appendix B - Flash BIOS Programming and Codes
Provides all information necessary to program your AMIBIOS8 Flash BIOS. POST Codes and beep codes
are described in details.
Appendix C – On-Board Industrial Devices
Two on-board 10/100 (10/100/1000 optional) Ethernet controllers (second Ethernet optional), six serial
ports (one optional RS422/485), watchdog timer and DC power connector for brick power supply
(optional).
Appendix D - On-Board Video Controller
On-board CRT and LVDS (optional) video controller.
IV

Introduction
Static Electricity Warning!
The Gator Mini-ITX has been designed as rugged as possible but can still be damaged if jarred sharply or struck.
Handle the motherboard with care.
The Gator Mini-ITX also contains delicate electronic circuits that can be damaged or weakened by static electricity.
Before removing the Gator Mini-ITX from its protective packaging, it is strongly recommended that you use a
grounding wrist strap. The grounding strap will safely discharge any static electricity build up in your body and will
avoid damaging the motherboard. Do not walk across a carpet or linoleum floor with the bare board in hand.
Warranty
This product is warranted against material and manufacturing defects for two years from the date of delivery. Buyer
agrees that if this product proves defective the manufacturer is only obligated to repair, replace or refund the
purchase price of this product at manufacturer's discretion. The warranty is void if the product has been subjected to
alteration, misuse or abuse; if any repairs have been attempted by anyone other than the manufacturer; or if failure is
caused by accident, acts of God, or other causes beyond the manufacturer's control.
Gator Mini-ITX - An Overview
The Gator Mini-ITX represents the ultimate in industrial embedded motherboard technology. No other system
board available today provides such impressive list of features:
CPU Support
• Supports low power/low profile series of Intel Pentium M and Celeron M 400MHz PSB processors
featuring next-generation Intel SpeedStep® technology on the µFC-PGA 478 package.
Supported Bus Clocks
• 400MHz.
Memory
• Two DIMM sockets up to 2GB (unbuffered, ECC & non-ECC) DDR SDRAM, PC1600 (DDR 200MHz),
PC2100 (DDR 266MHz) and PC2700 (DDR 333MHz). Please, refer to chapter 3 for memory details.
On-Board I/O
• 2 Floppies up to 2.88 MB.
• Dual channel PCI 32-bit EIDE controller – UDMA 66/100 supported. One standard 40-pin header and one
mini-Header 44-pin for Solid State IDE disk or any 44-pin IDE device support.
• Dual independent Serial ATA ports with transfer rates up to 150 MB/s per port.
• Six high speed RS-232 serial ports 16 Bytes FIFO (16550). COM2 optional RS-232 IrDA and COM1
optional RS-422/485.
• One bi-directional parallel port. EPP/ECP mode compatible.
• One PS/2 mouse/keyboard connector.
• Six Universal Serial Bus connectors, USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 compliant.
V

Gator Mini-ITX – Installation Guide
• One (1) 32-bit PCI slot (supports 2 devices via optional riser card) One (1) Mini-PCI slot (PCI 2.2
33/32MHz connector Type III).
• Two RJ45 Ethernet connectors (second optional, both optional 10/100/1000).
• Power Button – advanced management support.
• Automatic CPU voltage & temperature monitoring device.
• On-board Buzzer.
• Audio (AD1981B) AC97 compliant. Microphone In, Stereo Line In and Out, Stereo Headphone Out and
CD In.
• On-board watchdog timer.
ROM BIOS
• American Megatrends AMIBIOS8 with FLASH ROM.
On-Board CRT & LVDS video controller
• Standard CRT video controller (Intel 855GME chipset).
• Optional dedicated Local Flat Panel (LFP) LVDS interface.
Conventions Used in this Manual

Notes - Such as a brief discussion of memory types.
Important Information - such as static warnings, o
r
very important instructions.
8
When instructed to enter keyboard keystrokes, the
text will be noted by this graphic.

VI

Chapter 1: Pre-Configuration
Chapter 1 Pre-Configuration
This chapter provides all the necessary information for installing the Gator Mini-ITX into a standard PC chassis.
Topics discussed include: installing the CPU (if necessary), DRAM installation and jumper settings.
Handling Precautions
The Gator Mini-ITX has been designed to be as rugged as possible but it can be damaged if dropped, jarred sharply
or struck. Damage may also occur by using excessive force in performing certain installation procedures such as
forcing the system board into the chassis or placing too much torque on a mounting screw.
Take special care when installing or removing the system memory DIMMs. Never force a DIMM into a socket.
Screwdrivers slipping off a screw and scraping the board can break a trace or component leads, rendering the board
unusable. Always handle the Gator Mini-ITX with care.
Special Warranty Note:
Products returned for warranty repair will be
inspected for damage caused by imprope
r
installation and misuse as described in the
p
revious section and the static warning below.
Should the board show signs of abuse, the
warranty will become void and the customer wil
l
be billed for all repairs and shipping an
d
handling costs.
Static Warning
The Gator Mini-ITX contains delicate electronic semiconductors that are highly sensitive to static electricity. These
components, if subjected to a static electricity discharge, can be weakened thereby reducing the serviceable life of
the system board. BEFORE THE BOARD IS REMOVED FROM ITS PROTECTIVE ANTISTATIC
PACKAGING, TAKE PROPER PRECAUTIONS! Work on a conductive surface that is connected to the ground.
Before touching any electronic device, ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal object or, and highly
recommended, use a grounding strap.
1

Gator Mini-ITX – Installation Guide
Step 1 Setting the Jumpers
Your Gator Mini-ITX is equipped with a large number of peripherals. As such, there are a large number of
configuration jumpers on the board. Taken step by step, setting these jumpers is easy. We suggest you review each
section and follow the instructions.

Special note about operating frequency:
The Gator Mini-ITX has the ability to run at a
variety of speeds without the need to change an
y
crystal, oscillator or jumper.
Jumper Types
Jumpers are small copper pins attached to the system board. Covering two pins with a shunt closes the connection
between them. The Gator Mini-ITX examines these jumpers to determine specific configuration information. There
are two different categories of jumpers on the Gator Mini-ITX.
A. Two pin jumpers are used for binary selections such as enable, disable. Instructions for this type of jumper are
open, for no shunt over the pins or closed, when the shunt covers the pins.
B. Three or four pin jumpers are used for multiple selections. Instructions for these jumpers will indicate which two
pins to cover. For example: for JPx2-3 the shunt will be covering pins 2 and 3 leaving pins 1 and 4 exposed.
How to identify pin number 1 on Figure 1-1: Looking to the solder side (The board side with fewer components) of
the PCB (Printed Circuit Board), pin number 1 will have a squared pad J. Other pins will have a circular pad Q.
They are numbered sequentially.
Double row jumpers are numbered alternately, i.e. pin number 2 is in the other row, but in the same column of pin
number 1. Pin number 3 is in the same row of pin 1, but in the next column and so forth.
2

Chapter 1: Pre-Configuration
Jumper Locations
Use the diagram below and the tables on the following pages to locate and set the on-board configuration jumpers.
Figure 1-1 Jumper Locations
3

Gator Mini-ITX – Installation Guide
CMOS Reset
This option is provided as a convenience for those who need to reset the CMOS registers. It should always be set to
"Normal" for standard operation. If the CMOS needs to be reset, turn off the system, move JP3 to 2-3, turn the
system on, move jumper to 1-2 and press reset.
Table 1-1 CMOS Reset
Reset CMOS Normal Clear CMOS
JP3 1-2* 2-3
* Manufacturer's Settings.
ATA-Disk Connector Voltage Selection
The ATA-Disk Connector J8 can provide either 5Vcc or 3.3Vcc. The jumper JP4 selects the voltage.
Table 1-2 ATA-Disk Connector Voltage Select
ATA-Disk Voltage 5Vcc 3.3Vcc
JP4 1-2* 2-3
*Manufacturer's Settings.
RS422/RS485 Termination Resistors (optional)
The Jumper JP6 allows the insertion/removal of the termination resistors (120Ω) in the Receiver and Transmitter
lines of the COM1 when operating in RS-422/485 mode.
Table 1-3 COM1 RS-422/485 Tx & Rx Termination Resistor Selection
Termination resistor
selection Transmitter Receiver
JP6 1-3 2-4
* Manufacturer's Setting is off.
Audio Jack Output Selection
The audio output on the jack connector J3B can be selected to be stereo line out or stereo headphone out (amplified
signal). The jumper JP5 selects the audio output signals.
Table 1-4 Audio Output Mode Selection
Audio Output Mode Selection Headphone Line Out
JP5 3-5, 4-6 1-3, 2-4*
* Manufacturer's Settings.
Backlight Logic Voltage Selection
The (optional) LVDS power connector J5 can supply either 5Vcc or 3.3Vcc for the logic circuits in the backlight
inverter. The jumper JP1 selects the voltage.
4

Chapter 1: Pre-Configuration
Table 1-5 Backlight Logic Voltage Select
Backlight Logic
Voltage 5Vcc 3.3Vcc
JP1 1-2 2-3*
* Manufacturer's Settings.
Inverter Voltage Selection
The (optional) LVDS power connector J5 can supply either 5Vcc or 12Vcc for the backlight inverter. The jumper
JP2 selects the voltage.
Table 1-6 Inverter Voltage Select
Inverter Voltage 12Vcc 5Vcc
JP2 1-2 2-3*
* Manufacturer's Settings.
Step 2 SDRAM, CPU, and Cables Installation
Depending upon how your Gator Mini-ITX is configured you may need to install the following:
• SDRAM (DIMMs)
• CPU
Gator Mini-ITX Memory Configuration
The Gator Mini-ITX offers 2 DIMM memory sockets (Locations J1 and J2 – Figure 1-3). They can be configured
with 2.5V unbuffered SDRAM DDR modules. It is very important that the quality of the DIMMs is good. Unreliable
operation of the system may result if poor quality DIMMs are used. Always purchase your memory from a reliable
source. Please, refer to chapter 3 for memory details.
CPU Installation
The Gator Mini-ITX currently supports the following CPUs:
• Low Power/low profile series of Intel Pentium M and Celeron M 400MHz PSB processors featuring next-
generation Intel SpeedStep® technology on the µFC-PGA 478 package.

1. Improper installation of the CPU may cause
p
ermanent damage to both the system board and the
CPU. -- Void of warranty
2. Always handle the CPU by the edges, never touch the
p
ins.
3. Alwa
y
s use a hea
t
-
s
ink and a CPU
f
an.
5

Gator Mini-ITX – Installation Guide
Locate the CPU socket on your Gator Mini-ITX system board (µFC-PGA 478 Socket – Location U2 – Figure 1-3).
To install the processor, rotate the screw of the ZIF socket counter clock-wise until the open position and gently
insert the CPU. The CPU will fit only in the right alignment. Make sure the CPU is inserted all the way. Rotate the
screw clock-wise until the closed position. Install the CPU fan. Make sure it is locked and connected to J26 (see
pin-out in Appendix A).
The continued push of technology to increase performance levels (higher operating speeds) and packaging density
(more transistors) is aggravating the thermal management of the CPU. As operating frequencies increase and
packaging sizes decreases, the power density increases and the thermal cooling solution space and airflow become
more constrained. The result is an increased importance on system design to ensure that thermal design requirements
are met for the CPU.
The objective of thermal management is to ensure that the temperature of the processor is maintained within
functional limits. The functional temperature limit is the range within which the electrical circuits can be expected to
meet their specified performance requirements. Operation outside the functional limit can degrade system
performance, cause logic errors or cause component and/or system damage. Temperatures exceeding the maximum
operating limits may result in irreversible changes in the operating characteristics of the component.
If the Gator Mini-ITX industrial embedded motherboard is acquired without the CPU and the thermal solution,
extremely care must be taken to avoid improper thermal management. All Intel thermal solution specifications,
design guidelines and suggestions to the CPU being used must be followed. The Gator Mini-ITX warranty is void if
the thermal management does not comply with Intel requirements.
Designing for thermal performance
In designing for thermal performance, the goal is to keep the processor within the operational thermal specifications.
The inability to do so will shorten the life of the processor.
Fan Heatsink
An active fan heatsink can be employed as a mechanism for cooling the Intel processors. This is the acceptable
solution for most chassis. Adequate clearance must be provided around the fan heatsink to ensure unimpeded air
flow for proper cooling.
Airflow management
It is important to manage the velocity, quantity and direction of air that flows within the system (and how it flows)
to maximize the volume of air that flows over the processor.
Thermal interface management
To optimize the heatsink design for the Pentium M processor, it is important to understand the impact of factors
related to the interface between the processor and the heatsink base. Specifically, the bond line thickness, interface
material area, and interface material thermal conductivity should be managed to realize the most effective thermal
solution.
Once used, the thermal interface should be discarded and a new one installed. Never assemble the heatsink with a
previously used thermal interface.
This completes the installation of the CPU. Now is it a good time to double check both the CPU and DIMM
installation to make sure that these devices have been properly installed.
Installing Cables
Power and Control Panel Cables
The Gator Mini-ITX gets power from the ATX connector J30 (Figure 1-3) or the optional 12VDC brick connector
J29 (Figure 1-2).
6

Chapter 1: Pre-Configuration
Installing Peripheral Cables
Now it is a good time to install the internal peripherals such as floppy and hard disk drives. Do not connect the
power cable to these peripherals, as it is easier to attach the bulky ribbon cables before the smaller power
connectors. If you are installing more than one IDE drive double check your master/slave jumpers on the drives.
Review the information supplied with your drive for more information on this subject.
Most modern HDDs are UDMA-5 capable. To make use of the Ultra DMA-5 capabilities, 80-conductor cables must
be used. The BIOS and the HDD will check for the existence of the 80-conductor cable. The long leg of the cable
must be connected to the board; otherwise it won’t work as an 80-conductor cable. If connecting another peripheral
that is not UDMA-5 capable (most optical devices are not), the whole IDE channel will be downgraded to UDMA-2.
In that case, it is recommended to use a different IDE channel for the non-UDMA-5 capable peripherals.
Connect the floppy cable (not included) to the system board. Finally, connect the IDE cable (not included) to the
system. If using a Solid State Device, connect it to the mini-ATA connector. Connect all interface cables to their
headers. Then connect remaining ends of the ribbon cable to the appropriate peripherals.
This concludes the hardware installation of your Gator Mini-ITX system. Now it is a good time to re-check all of the
cable connections to make sure they are correct.
Figure 1-2 Location of Connectors on the Back Panel
7

Gator Mini-ITX – Installation Guide
Figure 1-3 Location of Components and Connectors
8

Chapter 1: Pre-Configuration
Index of Connectors
Please refer to Appendix A for pin-out descriptions.
Table 1-7 Connectors description
Connector Description
J1 DDR DIMM Socket 0
J2 DDR DIMM Socket 1
J3A VGA DB15
J3B Audio – Line Out/Headphone Out
J3C Audio – Line In
9

Gator Mini-ITX – Installation Guide
Connector Description
J3D Audio - Microphone In
J4 LVDS (Optional)
J5 LVDS Backlight (Optional)
J6 USB Header (Ports 4 & 5)
J7 Primary IDE
J8 Secondary IDE – 44-pin
J9 Audio – CD In Header
J12 Buzzer – Alt. Speaker Header
J14 Mini-PCI Slot – Back side of the board
J15 Serial ATA 1
J16 Serial ATA 2
J17 LPT - Parallel Port
J19A COM1
J19B COM2
J20A COM3(Optional)
J20B COM4(Optional)
J20C COM5(Optional)
J20D COM6(Optional)
J24 Floppy Disk Drive Connector
J25 Keyboard/Mouse PS/2
J26 CPU Fan
J27 Rear Chassis Fan
J28 Front Panel Header
J29 Optional 12VDC Power Brick Connector
J30 ATX Power Connector
J31 Floppy Power Connector
J32 Front Panel Header - IR
JP7 External RTC/CMOS Battery
S1 PCI Connector
S2 PCI Riser Connector
U2 CPU Socket
U13A Ethernet 1 (Optional 10/100/1000) RJ45
U13B USB (Ports 0 & 1)
U14A Ethernet 2 (Optional 10/100 or 10/100/1000) RJ45
U14B USB (Ports 2 & 3)
U17 BIOS Socket
User's Notes:
10

Chapter 2: BIOS Configuration
Chapter 2 AMIBIOS8 Setup
Your Gator Mini-ITX features American Megatrends AMIBIOS8. The system configuration parameters are set via
the BIOS setup. Since the BIOS Setup resides in the ROM BIOS, it is available each time the computer is turned on.
American Megatrends’s AMIBIOS8 brand BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) pre-boot firmware is the industry’s
standard product used by most designers of X86 computer equipment in the world today. Its superior combination of
configurability and functionality enables it to satisfy the most demanding ROM BIOS needs for x86 designers. Its
modular architecture and high degree of configurability make it the most flexible BIOS in the world.
When your platform is powered on, AMIBIOS8 tests and initializes the hardware and programs the chipset and
other peripheral components. During this time, Power On Self Test (POST) progress codes are written by the system
BIOS to I/O port 80h, allowing the user to monitor the progress with a special monitor. Appendix B lists the POST
codes and their meanings.
During early POST, no video is available to display error messages should a critical error be encountered; therefore,
POST uses beeps on the speaker to indicate the failure of a critical system component during this time. Consult
Appendix B for a list of Beep codes used by the BIOS.
Starting BIOS Setup
AMIBIOS has been integrated into many motherboards for over a decade. In the past, people often referred to the
AMIBIOS setup menu as BIOS, BIOS setup, or CMOS setup.
American Megatrends refers to this setup as ezPORT. Specifically, it is the name of theAMIBIOS8 BIOS setup
utility. This chapter describes the basic navigation of the ezPORT setup screens.
To enter the ezPORT setup screens, follow the steps below:
1 Power on the motherboard
2 Press the <Delete> key on your keyboard when you see the following text prompt:
Press DEL to run Setup
3 After you press the <Delete> key, the ezPORT main BIOS setup menu displays. You can access the other setup
screens from the main BIOS setup menu, such as the Chipset and PCI/PnP menus.
BIOS Setup Main Menu
The ezPORT main BIOS setup menu is the first screen that you can navigate. Each main BIOS setup menu option is
described in the Chapter 2.
The Main BIOS setup menu screen has two main frames. The left frame displays all the options that can be
configured. “Grayed-out” options cannot be configured. Options in blue can be.
The right frame displays the key legend. Above the key legend is an area reserved for a text message. When an
option is selected in the left frame, it is highlighted in white. Often a text message will accompany it.
The ezPORT BIOS setup/utility uses a key-based navigation system called hot keys. Most of the ezPORT BIOS
setup utility hot keys can be used at any time during the setup navigation process. These keys include <F1>, <F10>,
<Enter>, <ESC>, <Arrow> keys, and so on.
11

Gator Mini-ITX – Installation Guide
The <F8> key on your keyboard is the Fail-Safe key. It is not displayed on the ezPORT key legend by default. To
set the Fail-Safe settings of the BIOS, press the <F8> key on your keyboard. It is located on the upper row of a
standard 101 keyboard. The Fail-Safe settings allow the motherboard to boot up with the least amount of options set.
This can lessen the probability of conflicting settings.
12