EPOX EP-8RDAE User manual

TRADEMARK
All products and company names are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective holders.
These specifications are subject to change without notice.
Manual Revision 1.1
May 09, 2003
nVIDIAnVIDIA
nVIDIAnVIDIA
nVIDIA nForce2 400nForce2 400
nForce2 400nForce2 400
nForce2 400 mainboardmainboard
mainboardmainboard
mainboard
for AMD Socket A processorfor AMD Socket A processor
for AMD Socket A processorfor AMD Socket A processor
for AMD Socket A processor
User’User’
User’User’
User’ss
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ManualManual
ManualManual
Manual
60000028EN110

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES:
THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES WHICH EXTEND BEYOND THE
DESCRIPTION ON THE FACE OF THE MANUFACTURER LIMITED
WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER EXPRESSLY EXCLUDES ALL
OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING ITS
PRODUCTS; INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR
NONINFRINGEMENT. THIS DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES SHALL
APPLY TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED UNDER LOCAL LAWS IN THE
COUNTRY PURCHASED IN WHICH LOCAL LAWS DO NOT ALLOW OR
LIMIT THE EXCLUSION OF THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES.

POST Port Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of some basic POST Codes possible problems and solutions. For
more detailed information about POST Codes refer to Appendix D in this manual.
POST CODE Problem Soluti on
FFh or CFh 1.BIOS chip inserted
incorrectly
2. Incorrect BIOS update
version
3. M ainboard problem
4. dd-on card inserted
incorrectly.
1. Reinsert the BIOS
chip
2. Download the correct
BIOS version update
from the manufacturer's
Web site.
3. Replace mainboard
4. Remove and replace the
add-on card
C1h - C5h 1. Memory module
inserted incorrectly
2. Memory compatibility
problem
3. M emory module
damaged
1. Reinsert memory
module
2. Replace memory
with correct type
3. Replace memory
module
2Dh 1. Error occured in VG
BIOS
2. VG card inserted
incorrectly
1. Replace VG card
2. Reinsert the VG
card
26h Overclock error Clear CMOS or press the insert
key to power on the system
07h - 12h 1. Init keyboard
controller error
2. RTC error
1. Ensure that the keyboard and
mouse are connected
correctly.
2. Replace the RTC battery.

Table of Contents
Section 1 Introduction
Package Contents ................................................ 1-1
Overview
AthlonTM Processors ............................................ 1- 2
Chipset Overview................................................. 1-3
Accelerated Graphics Port .................................. 1-4
Ultra ATA66/100/133 ............................................ 1- 4
LAN (Optional)..................................................... 1- 4
Hardware Monitoring ........................................... 1- 4
Mainboard Form-Factor ....................................... 1- 5
I/O Shield Connector ............................................ 1- 6
Power-On/Off (Remote) ........................................ 1- 6
System Block Diagram .......................................... 1- 7
Section 2 Features
Mainboard Features ............................................. 2-1
Section 3 Installation
Mainboard Layout ............................................... 3- 2
Easy Installation Procedure
CPU Insertion ...................................................... 3-3
Jumper Settings ................................................... 3-5
System Memory Configuration ............................ 3- 6
Expansion Slots .................................................... 3- 8
Device Connectors ............................................... 3- 10
STR (Suspend To RAM) Function....................... 3- 16
CPU Overheating Protection ................................ 3- 17
Page

Section 4 Award BIOS Setup
BIOS Instructions................................................. 4-1
Standard CMOS Setup ......................................... 4-2
Advanced BIOS Features..................................... 4-3
Advanced Chipset Features ................................ 4-8
Integrated Peripherals .......................................... 4-12
Power Management Setup ................................... 4-18
PNP/PCI Configuration Setup .............................. 4-21
PC Health Status .................................................. 4-23
Power BIOS Features............................................ 4-25
Defaults Menu ..................................................... 4-26
Supervisor/User Password Setting ...................... 4-27
Exit Selecting ........................................................ 4-28
Section 5 Driver Installation
Easy Driver Installation ........................................ 5-1
C-Media Audio Configuration Brief Guide........... 5-2
Appendi Appendi A
Update Your System BIOS ................................... A-1
Appendi B
EEPROM BIOS Remover ...................................... B-1
Appendi C
GHOST 7 Quick Users Guide (Optional) ................. C-1
Appendi D
POST Codes (Optional) ......................................... D-1

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Introduction
Page 1-1
Section 1
INTRODUCTION
Package Contents
A
B
USERS
MANUAL
H
G
F
I
CD
E
or
Contents
A. Mainboard
B. Users manual
C. Floppy disk drive cable
D. HDD drive cable or round cable
E. CD and diskette (drivers and
utilities
F. Game & COM port cable
G. I/O Shield
Other Optional Items
H. Extra USB2.0 port cable
I. S/PDIF Module
If you need the other optional item,
please contact your dealer for
assistance.

Introduction
Page 1-2
AthlonTM Processors
The AMD AthlonTM is a seventh-generation micro architecture with an integrated
L2 cache, which is powerful enough to support the bandwidth requirements of a
large range of applications, hardware, graphics, and memory technologies. These
processors implement advanced design techniques such as:
Socket A (PGA 462
266/333/400MHz system interface based on the Alpha EV6 bus protocol.
Three out-of-order, superscalar, pipelined Multimedia Units.
Three out-of-order, superscaler, pipelined Integer Units.
Fixed-sized internal instruction formats (MacroOPs .
72-entry Instruction Control Units.
AMD enhanced 3DNow! technology
L1 and L2 caches.
Dynamic branch prediction.
Socket A is the name for AMDs new socketed interface designed to support AMD
AthlonTM processors. This innovation is made possible by integrating the L2 cache
memory on chip with the processor. Socket A will help enable smaller enclosures,
and ultimately result in a wider variety of solutions in the market.
The AthlonTM processors in the Socket A format continue to deliver the ultimate
performance for cutting-edge applications. Both bring to desktop systems running
industry-standard x86 software superscalar RISC performance. Being provided in
the Socket A format they are the worlds most powerful x86 processors. They easily
deliver the highest integer, floating-point, and 3D multimedia performance for
applications running on x86 platforms around.
It features full-speed, on-chip cache memory, a 266/333/400MHz front side system
bus, and enhanced 3DNow! technology. The AMD AthlonTM processor is
targeted at the performance segment, and as such will have more cache memory and
higher clock speeds.

Introduction
Page 1-3
Chipset Overview
This board is designed with nVidia chipset, nForce2TM 400 as North Bridge and
nForce2TM MCP as South Bridge. NVIDIA® has developed the next generation
System Platform Processor (SPP nForce 2, to provide the highest-
performance, fullest-featured system architecture for the AMD Athlon XP
Processor. The second generation System Platform Processor works together
with the second generation of the NVIDIA Media Communication Processor, the
MCP.
The nForce2 was architected specifically for the AMD AthlonXP Processor.
NVIDIAs patent-pending DASP (Dynamic Adaptive Speculative Pre-Processor
technology intelligently predicts and prefetches requests from the AMD Athlon
XP Processor to boost system performance beyond its nominal speed grade.
The nForce2 400 delivers twice the bandwidth by implementing the new NVIDIA
DDR Memory Architecture speed to DDR 400 memories. This generation System
Platform Processor also implements the AGP 8× interface, HyperTransport Link, and
is fully compliant with industry standard power management specifications such as
ACPI 2.0 and PCI Power Management Interface (PMI Spec 1.1.
The NVIDIA® nForce MCP Media and Communications Processor (MCP
provides a highly integrated, high-performance, low-cost PC2001-compliant
peripheral controller that supports NVIDIA processor bridge functionality for
next-generation PCs. No other single-device controller provides all the function-
ality of NVIDIAs MCP.

Introduction
Page 1-4
Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP or A.G.P.)
Typically, 3D graphics rendering requires a tremendous amount of memory, and
demands ever increasing throughput speed as well. As 3D products for the
personal computer become more and more popular, these demands will only
increase. This will cause a rise in costs for both end users and manufacturers.
Lowering these costs as well as improving performance is the primary motivation
behind AGP. By providing a massive increase in the bandwidth available between
the video card and the processor, it will assist in relieving some of these pressures
for quite sometime.
The board provides the AGP 3.0 interface. The AGP interface can support external
AGP slot (1.5V only with AGP 8X/4X and Fast Write Transactions. The AGP
Interface Specification revision 3.0 enhances the functionality of the original AGP
Interface Specification by allowing 8X data transfers (8 data samples per clock and
1.5 volt (Power supply operation. Supports Maximum AGP interface bandwidth 2.
1GB/s. (1.5 volt AGP Card supports only .
Ultra ATA/66/100/133
The MCP provides two independent ATA133 IDE controllers, supporting standard
programmable input/output (PIO and Direct Memory Access (DMA mode
operations, as well as UltraDMA-133/100/66/33 standards for a maximum data
transfer rate of 133MBps per channel.
LAN (Optional)
This mainboard is optionally mounted with LAN chip. It allows the mainboard to
connect to a local area network by means of a network hub.
Hardware Monitoring
Hardware monitoring allows you to monitor various aspects of your system
operations and status. The features include CPU temperature, voltage and RPM of
fan.

Introduction
Page 1-5
Mainboard Form-Factor
This board is designed with ATX form factor - the latest industry standard for
chassis design. The ATX form factor is essentially a Baby-AT baseboard rotated
90 degrees within the chassis enclosure and a new mounting configuration for
the power supply. With these changes the processor is relocated away from the
expansion slots, allowing them all to hold full length add-in cards. ATX defines
a double height aperture to the rear of the chassis which can be used to host a
wide range of onboard I/O. Only the size and position of this aperture is
defined, allowing PC manufacturers to add new I/O features (e.g.; TV input, TV
output, joystick, modem, LAN, audio, etc. to systems. This will help systems
integrators differentiate their products in the marketplace, and better meet your
needs.
 By integrating more I/O down onto the board and better positioning the
hard drive and floppy connectors material cost of cables and add-in cards is
reduced.
 By reducing the number of cables and components in the system, manufac-
turing time and inventory holding costs are reduced and reliability will
increase.
 By using an optimized power supply, it's possible to reduce cooling costs
and lower acoustical noise. An ATX power supply, which has a side-
mounted fan, allows direct cooling of the processor and add-in cards making
a secondary fan or active heatsink unnecessary in most system applications.
Expandable I/O
Figure 2: Summary of ATX chassis features
CPU socket
Sin le chassis fan
for system
IDE connectors 5 1/4"
Bay
3 1/2"
Bay
AT X
Power
Supply
PCI slots
AGP slot ATX 12V power
connector
ATX power
connector
Floppy
connector

Introduction
Page 1-6
I/O Shield Connector
The board is equipped with an I/O back panel. Please use the appropriate I/O shield
(figure 3 .
Power-On/Off (Remote)
This board has a 20-pin ATX and a 4-pin ATX12V power supply connector (Figure
4 . For power supplies that support the Remote On/Off feature, this should be
connected to the mainboard front panel PW_ON connector for the computer power
On/Off button.
The board has been designed with Soft Off" function. You can turn off the system
in two ways: by pressing the front panel power On/Off button or using the "Soft
Off" function (incorporated in the mainboards onboard circuit controller that can
be controlled by an operating system such as Windows®ME/2000/98SE/XP.
Note: For maintaining the DDR SDRAM power during STR (ACPI S3) fun tion, it is
strongly re ommended to use ATX power supplies that have a +5VSB urrent
of (>=) 1A (1000mA). Please he k the 5VSBs spe ifi ation that has been
printed on the ATX power supplys outer ase.
Note: The board requires a minimum of 250 Watt ATX power supply to operate. Your
system onfiguration (amount of memory, add-in ards, peripherals, et .) may
ex eed the minimum power requirement but to ensure that adequate power is
provided, use a 300 Watt (or greater) ATX power supply.
Figure 3: I/O back panel layout
USB2.0 ports
Parallel Port
PS/2
Mouse
PS/2
Keyboard
RJ45 LAN
(Optional)
Mi -in/Center&Subwoofer (Pink)
Line-out/Front out (Green)
Line-in/Rear out (Blue)
PW-ON
ase (chassis) Power ON/OFF button (PW-ON)
POWER SUPPLY
12V 4-pin
20-pin
Figure 4: Simple ATX power ON/OFF controller

Introduction
Page 1-7
Figure 5: System Block Diagram
System Block Diagram

Introduction
Page 1-8
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Page 2-1
Section 2
FEATURES
Mainboard Features
Processor
Supports 462-pin SocketA for AMD Athlon XP and Barton processors
with 266/333/4 MHz Front Side Bus
- Athlon XP (15 + to 28 +) with 266/333MHz Front Side Bus,
- Barton (25 + to 3 +) with 333/4 MHz Front Side Bus
Chipset
nVidia AGPset (nForce2 4 + MCP)
Main Memory
Three 184-pin DDR DIMM sockets for 64-bit, Unbuffered, Single/
Double-side and Non-ECC DDR-2 /266/333/4 DIMMs
Supports up to 3GB memory size
BIOS
Flash EEPROM with Award BIOS
- ACPI v2. compliant
- S3 (Suspend to DRAM) sleep-state support
- SMBIOS (System Management BIOS) v2.2 compliant
- Supports Power failure recovery
- Able to wake the computer up from specific states by LAN, Power switch,
PME#, RTC alarm, USB, PS2 KB&Mouse, Modem ring on COM#1
Onboard PCI Devices
LAN --> Embedded 1 /1 Mbps Fast Ethernet controller with
RTL82 1BL PHY
Embedded 1 /1 Mbps Fast Ethernet controller with
RTL81 1L chip
(Optional)

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Page 2-2
IDE --> Embedded IDE controller supports 2 ordinary IDE ports for up
to 4 IDE devices
- Supports ATA-133 with up to 133Mbps bandwidth
Legacy IO Controller
Winbond W83627HF LPC IO controller with floppy, printer, game,
serial and CIR/SIR interface
udio
Six channel audio with analog and digital output using CMI9739A AC97
CODEC
- AC97 v2.2 compliant
- In 2-CH mode, supports Line-In (Blue), Line-Out (Green) and Mic-In
(Pink) at rear panel
- In 6-CH mode, supports Rear speaker-out (Blue), Front speaker-out
(Green) and Center&Subwoofer speaker-out (Pink) at rear panel
- Supports CD-In, Aux-In and S/PDIF-in/out interface
- Supports Line-out and Mic-In for front panel
Peripheral Interfaces
PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports (at rear panel)
One Parallel (printer) port (at rear panel)
Two RJ45 LAN connector (at rear panel)(Optional)
Six USB2. ports (4 at rear panel)
One game port
Two Serial ports
One floppy drive interface
Two IDE interface
Three Fan connectors
Front Panel Controller
Supports Reset & Soft-Off switches

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Page 2-3
Supports HDD & Power LEDs
Supports PC speaker
Expansion Slots
One AGP slots supporting 1.5v 4X/8X AGP cards
- AGP v3. compliant
Five PCI slots with Bus Master support
- PCI v2.2 compliant
Other Features
Magic Health  a H/W monitoring software utility, for voltages, tempera-
tures and fan-speeds sensing
EZ Boot  An easy way let end-user can choose to boot from hard drive,
CD-ROM, floppy, 
Excellent Overclocking capabilities through
- subtle voltage tuning for CPU, Memory, AGP
- subtle frequency tuning on FSB
Supports complete Asynchronous FSB/Memory and Asynchronous FSB/
AGP scheme for overclocking
P8 P for system debugging
CPU Overheating Protection
Form Factor
3 5mm x 245 mm ATX size

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Installation
Page 3-1
Section 3
INSTALLATION

Installation
Page 3-2
Mainboard Layout
Figure 1