Gigabyte GA-G41M-ES2H User manual

GA-G41M-ES2H
LGA775 socket motherboard for Intel®Core™ processor family/
Intel®Pentium®processor family/Intel®Celeron®processor family
User's Manual
Rev. 1003
12ME-G41MES2H-1003R

Motherboard
GA-G41M-ES2H
June 10, 2009
June 10, 2009
Motherboard
GA-G41M-ES2H

Copyright
©2009 GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. All rights reserved.
The trademarks mentioned in this manual are legally registered to their respective owners.
Disclaimer
Information in this manual is protected by copyright laws and is the property of GIGABYTE.
Changes to the specications and features in this manual may be made by GIGABYTE with-
out prior notice. No part of this manual may be reproduced, copied, translated, transmitted, or
published in any form or by any means without GIGABYTE's prior written permission.
Documentation Classications
In order to assist in the use of this product, GIGABYTE provides the following types of documentations:
For detailed product information, carefully read the User's Manual.
For instructions on how to use GIGABYTE's unique features, read or download the information
on/from the Support&Downloads\Motherboard\Technology Guide page on our website.
For product-related information, check on our website at:
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw
Identifying Your Motherboard Revision
The revision number on your motherboard looks like this: "REV: X.X." For example, "REV: 1.0"
means the revision of the motherboard is 1.0. Check your motherboard revision before updating
motherboard BIOS, drivers, or when looking for technical information.
Example:

- 4 -
Table of Contents
Box Contents...................................................................................................................6
Optional Items .................................................................................................................6
GA-G41M-ES2H Motherboard Layout.............................................................................7
Block Diagram .................................................................................................................8
Chapter 1 Hardware Installation .....................................................................................9
1-1 Installation Precautions.................................................................................... 9
1-2 Product Specications.................................................................................... 10
1-3 Installing the CPU and CPU Cooler ............................................................... 13
1-3-1 Installing the CPU...................................................................................................13
1-3-2 Installing the CPU Cooler .......................................................................................15
1-4 Installing the Memory..................................................................................... 16
1-4-1 Dual Channel Memory Conguration .....................................................................16
1-4-2 Installing a Memory ...............................................................................................17
1-5 Installing an Expansion Card ......................................................................... 18
1-6 Back Panel Connectors.................................................................................. 19
1-7 Internal Connectors........................................................................................ 21
Chapter 2 BIOS Setup ..................................................................................................31
2-1 Startup Screen ............................................................................................... 32
2-2 The Main Menu .............................................................................................. 33
2-3 MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)........................................................................ 35
2-4 Standard CMOS Features.............................................................................. 41
2-5 Advanced BIOS Features .............................................................................. 43
2-6 Advanced Chipset Features........................................................................... 45
2-7 Integrated Peripherals.................................................................................... 47
2-8 Power Management Setup............................................................................. 50
2-9 PnP/PCI Congurations ................................................................................. 52
2-10 PC Health Status............................................................................................ 53
2-11 Load Fail-Safe Defaults.................................................................................. 54
2-12 Load Optimized Defaults................................................................................ 54
2-13 Set Supervisor/User Password ...................................................................... 55
2-14 Save & Exit Setup .......................................................................................... 56
2-15 Exit Without Saving........................................................................................ 56

- 5 -
Chapter 3 Drivers Installation........................................................................................57
3-1 Installing Chipset Drivers ............................................................................... 57
3-2 Application Software ...................................................................................... 58
3-3 Technical Manuals.......................................................................................... 58
3-4 Contact........................................................................................................... 59
3-5 System ........................................................................................................... 59
3-6 Download Center ........................................................................................... 60
Chapter 4 Unique Features...........................................................................................61
4-1 Xpress Recovery2.......................................................................................... 61
4-2 BIOS Update Utilities ..................................................................................... 64
4-2-1 Updating the BIOS with the Q-Flash Utility.............................................................64
4-2-2 Updating the BIOS with the @BIOS Utility .............................................................67
4-3 EasyTune 6 .................................................................................................... 68
4-4 Easy Energy Saver ........................................................................................ 69
4-5 Q-Share.......................................................................................................... 71
4-6 Time Repair.................................................................................................... 72
Chapter 5 Appendix ......................................................................................................73
5-1 Conguring Audio Input and Output............................................................... 73
5-1-1 Conguring 2/4/5.1/7.1-Channel Audio...................................................................73
5-1-2 Conguring S/PDIF In/Out......................................................................................76
5-1-3 Conguring Microphone Recording........................................................................78
5-1-4 Using the Sound Recorder .....................................................................................80
5-2 Troubleshooting.............................................................................................. 81
5-2-1 Frequently Asked Questions ..................................................................................81
5-2-2 Troubleshooting Procedure ....................................................................................82
5-3 Regulatory Statements................................................................................... 84

- 6 -
Box Contents
GA-G41M-ES2H motherboard
Motherboard driver disk
User's Manual
One IDE cable
Two SATA 3Gb/s cables
I/O Shield
Optional Items
Floppy disk drive cable (Part No. 12CF1-1FD001-7*R)
2-port USB 2.0 bracket (Part No. 12CR1-1UB030-5*R)
2-port SATA power cable (Part No. 12CF1-2SERPW-0*R)
S/PDIF in and out cable (Part No. 12CR1-1SPINO-1*R)
COM port cable (Part No. 12CF1-1CM001-3*R)
•The box contents above are for reference only and the actual items shall depend on the product package you obtain.
The box contents are subject to change without notice.
•The motherboard image is for reference only.

- 7 -
GA-G41M-ES2H Motherboard Layout
KB_MS
VGA_DVI
CPU_FAN
LGA775
ATX
GA-G41M-ES2H
CD_IN
F_AUDIO
AUDIO
B_BIOS
M_BIOS
IT8720
IDE
SPDIF_IO
DDR2_1
DDR2_2
BATTERY
ATX_12V
Intel®G41
Intel®ICH7
FDD
PCI3
HDMI
USB_LAN
CLR_CMOS
CODEC
SYS_FAN
COMA F_USB1
F_USB2
F_PANEL
SATA2_0
SATA2_1
SATA2_2
SATA2_3
RTL8110SC
R_USB
PCI2
PCI1
PCIEX4
Level Shifter
Level Shifter

- 8 -
Block Diagram
PS/2 KB/Mouse
8 USB Ports
LGA775
Processor
Host
Interface
Intel®G41
GMCH CLK
(333/266/200 MHz)
DDR2 800/667 MHz
Intel®ICH7
3 PCI
PCI Bus
Dual Channel Memory
PCI CLK
(33 MHz)
PCIe CLK
(100 MHz)
PCI Express Bus
IT8720
Floppy
CPU CLK+/-
(333/266/200 MHz)
4 SATA 3Gb/s
ATA-100/66/33
IDE Channel
1 PCI Express x4
Dual BIOS
COM Port
LAN
RJ45
RTL8110SC
Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out
Line Out
MIC
Line In
S/PDIF In
S/ PDIF Out
Side Speaker Out
Surround Speaker Out
CODEC
Level
Shifter
Level
Shifter
HDMI
DVI-D (Note)
D-Sub
(Note) The DVI-D port does not support D-Sub connection by adapter.

- 9 - Hardware Installation
1-1 Installation Precautions
The motherboard contains numerous delicate electronic circuits and components which can
become damaged as a result of electrostatic discharge (ESD). Prior to installation, carefully read
the user's manual and follow these procedures:
• Prior to installation, do not remove or break motherboard S/N (Serial Number) sticker or
warranty sticker provided by your dealer. These stickers are required for warranty validation.
• Always remove the AC power by unplugging the power cord from the power outlet before
installing or removing the motherboard or other hardware components.
• When connecting hardware components to the internal connectors on the motherboard,
make sure they are connected tightly and securely.
• When handling the motherboard, avoid touching any metal leads or connectors.
• It is best to wear an electrostatic discharge (ESD) wrist strap when handling electronic com-
ponents such as a motherboard, CPU or memory. If you do not have an ESD wrist strap,
keep your hands dry and rst touch a metal object to eliminate static electricity.
• Prior to installing the motherboard, please have it on top of an antistatic pad or within an
electrostatic shielding container.
• Before unplugging the power supply cable from the motherboard, make sure the power sup-
ply has been turned off.
• Before turning on the power, make sure the power supply voltage has been set according to
the local voltage standard.
• Before using the product, please verify that all cables and power connectors of your hard-
ware components are connected.
• To prevent damage to the motherboard, do not allow screws to come in contact with the
motherboard circuit or its components.
• Make sure there are no leftover screws or metal components placed on the motherboard or
within the computer casing.
• Do not place the computer system on an uneven surface .
• Do not place the computer system in a high-temperature environment.
• Turning on the computer power during the installation process can lead to damage to sys-
tem components as well as physical harm to the user.
• If you are uncertain about any installation steps or have a problem related to the use of the
product, please consult a certied computer technician.
Chapter 1 Hardware Installation

Hardware Installation - 10 -
1-2 Product Specications
CPU wSupport for an Intel®Core™ 2 Extreme processor/
Intel®Core™ 2 Quad processor/Intel®Core™ 2 Duo processor/
Intel®Pentium®processor/Intel®Celeron®processor in the LGA775 package
(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest CPU support list.)
wL2 cache varies with CPU
Front Side Bus w1333/1066/800 MHz FSB
Chipset w
North Bridge: Intel®G41 Express Chipset
w South Bridge: Intel®ICH7
Memory w2 x 1.8V DDR2 DIMM sockets supporting up to 8 GB of system memory (Note 1)
w Dual channel memory architecture
wSupport for DDR2 800/667 MHz memory modules
(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest memory support list.)
Audio   w Realtek ALC888B codec
w High Denition Audio
w 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel (Note 2)
    w Support for S/PDIF In/Out
w Support for CD In
LAN wRTL8110SC chips (10/100/1000 Mbit)
Expansion Slots w1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x4
w 3 x PCI slots
Storage Interface wSouth Bridge:
- 1 x IDE connector supporting ATA-100/66/33 and up to 2 IDE devices
- 4 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors supporting up to 4 SATA 3Gb/s devices
wiTE IT8720 chip:
- 1 x oppy disk drive connector supporting up to 1 oppy disk drive
USB wIntegrated in the South Bridge
wUp to 8 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (4 on the back panel, 4 via the USB brackets
connected to the internal USB headers)

- 11 - Hardware Installation
Internal w1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector
Connectors w1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector
w 1 x oppy disk drive connector
w1 x IDE connector
w4 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors
w1 x CPU fan header
w1 x system fan header
w1 x front panel header
w1 x front panel audio header
w1 x CD In connector
w1 x S/PDIF In/Out header
w2 x USB 2.0/1.1 headers
w1 x serial port header
w1 x clearing CMOS jumper
Back Panel w1 x PS/2 keyboard port
Connectors w1 x PS/2 mouse port
w
1 x D-Sub port
w1 x DVI-D port (Note 3)
w1 x HDMI port
w4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
w1 x RJ-45 port
w3 x audio jacks (Line In/Line Out/Microphone)
I/O wiTE IT8720
Hardware Monitor wSystem voltage detection
wCPU/System temperature detection
wCPU/System fan speed detection
wCPU overheating warning
wCPU/System fan fail warning
wCPU fan speed control (Note 4)
BIOS w 2 x 8 Mbit ash
wUse of licensed AWARD BIOS
wSupport for DualBIOS™
wPnP 1.0a, DMI 2.0, SM BIOS 2.4, ACPI 1.0b

Hardware Installation - 12 -
(Note 1) Due to Windows Vista/XP 32-bit operating system limitation, when more than 4 GB of physical
memory is installed, the actual memory size displayed will be less than 4 GB.
(Note 2) To congure 7.1-channel audio, you need connect with the port of HD Audio standard via front
panel and enable the multi-channel audio feature through the audio driver.
(Note 3) The DVI-D port does not support D-Sub connection by adapter.
(Note 4) Whether the CPU fan speed control function is supported will depend on the CPU cooler you install.
(Note 5) Available functions in EasyTune may differ by motherboard model.
(Note 6) Due to the hardware limitation, you must install the Intel®CoreTM 2 Extreme/ CoreTM 2 Quad/
CoreTM 2 Duo/ Pentium Dual-Core/ Celeron Dual-Core/ Celeron 400 Series CPU to enable support
for Easy Energy Saver.
Unique Features wSupport for @BIOS
wSupport for Q-Flash
wSupport for Xpress BIOS Rescue
wSupport for Download Center
wSupport for Xpress Install
wSupport for Xpress Recovery2
wSupport for EasyTune(Note 5)
wSupport for Easy Energy Saver (Note 6)
wSupport for Time Repair
wSupport for Q-Share
Bundled Software wNorton Internet Security (OEM version)
Operating System wSupport for Microsoft®Windows®Vista/XP
Form Factor wMicro ATX Form Factor; 24.4cm x 20.8cm

- 13 - Hardware Installation
1-3 Installing the CPU and CPU Cooler
Read the following guidelines before you begin to install the CPU:
• Make sure that the motherboard supports the CPU.
(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest CPU support list.)
• Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing
the CPU to prevent hardware damage.
• Locate the pin one of the CPU. The CPU cannot be inserted if oriented incorrectly. (Or you may
locate the notches on both sides of the CPU and alignment keys on the CPU socket.)
• Apply an even and thin layer of thermal grease on the surface of the CPU.
• Do not turn on the computer if the CPU cooler is not installed, otherwise overheating and dam-
age of the CPU may occur.
• Set the CPU host frequency in accordance with the CPU specications. It is not recommended
that the system bus frequency be set beyond hardware specications since it does not meet the
standard requirements for the peripherals. If you wish to set the frequency beyond the standard
specications, please do so according to your hardware specications including the CPU, graph-
ics card, memory, hard drive, etc.
1-3-1 Installing the CPU
A. Locate the alignment keys on the motherboard CPU socket and the notches on the CPU.
Notch Notch
Alignment KeyAlignment Key
LGA775 CPU
LGA775 CPU Socket
Pin One Corner of the CPU Socket
Triangle Pin One Marking on the CPU

Hardware Installation - 14 -
B. Follow the steps below to correctly install the CPU into the motherboard CPU socket.
Step 1:
Completely raise the CPU socket lever.
Step 3:
Remove the protective socket cover from the
load plate. (To protect the CPU socket, always
replace the protective socket cover when the
CPU is not installed.)
Step 5:
Once the CPU is properly inserted, replace the
load plate and push the CPU socket lever back
into its locked position.
Step 2:
Lift the metal load plate from the CPU socket.
(DO NOT touch socket contacts.)
Step 4:
Hold the CPU with your thumb and index ngers.
Align the CPU pin one marking (triangle) with the
pin one corner of the CPU socket (or you may
align the CPU notches with the socket alignment
keys) and gently insert the CPU into position.
CPU Socket Lever
Before installing the CPU, make sure to turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from
the power outlet to prevent damage to the CPU.

- 15 - Hardware Installation
1-3-2 Installing the CPU Cooler
Follow the steps below to correctly install the CPU cooler on the motherboard. (The following procedure uses
Intel®boxed cooler as the example cooler.)
Step 1:
Apply an even and thin layer of thermal grease
on the surface of the installed CPU.
Male Push
Pin
Female
Push Pin
The Top
of Female
Push Pin
Direction of the
Arrow Sign on
the Male Push
Pin
Step 2:
Before installing the cooler, note the direction of
the arrow sign on the male push pin. (Turn-
ing the push pin along the direction of arrow is to
remove the cooler, on the contrary, is to install.)
Step 3:
Place the cooler atop the CPU, aligning the four
push pins through the pin holes on the mother-
board. Push down on the push pins diagonally.
Step 4:
You should hear a "click" when pushing down
each push pin. Check that the Male and Female
push pins are joined closely. (Refer to your CPU
cooler installation manual for instructions on
installing the cooler.)
Step 5:
After the installation, check the back of the moth-
erboard. If the push pin is inserted as the picture
above shows, the installation is complete.
Step 6:
Finally, attach the power connector of the CPU
cooler to the CPU fan header (CPU_FAN) on the
motherboard.
Use extreme care when removing the CPU cooler because the thermal grease/tape between the
CPU cooler and CPU may adhere to the CPU. Inadequately removing the CPU cooler may damage
the CPU.

Hardware Installation - 16 -
1-4 Installing the Memory
DDR2_1
DDR2_2
Due to chipset limitations, read the following guidelines before installing the memory in Dual Channel mode.
1. Dual Channel mode cannot be enabled if only one DDR2 memory module is installed.
2. When enabling Dual Channel mode with two memory modules, it is recommended that memory of
the same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used.
Read the following guidelines before you begin to install the memory:
•Make sure that the motherboard supports the memory. It is recommended that memory of the
same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used.
(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest memory support list.)
•Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing
the memory to prevent hardware damage.
•Memory modules have a foolproof design. A memory module can be installed in only one direc-
tion. If you are unable to insert the memory, switch the direction.
1-4-1 Dual Channel Memory Conguration
This motherboard provides four DDR2 memory sockets and supports Dual Channel Tech-
nology. After the memory is installed, the BIOS will automatically detect the specications
and capacity of the memory. Enabling Dual Channel memory mode will double the original
memory bandwidth.
The four DDR2 memory sockets are divided into two channels and each channel has two memory sockets as
following:
Channel 0: DDR2_1
Channel 1: DDR2_2

- 17 - Hardware Installation
1-4-2 Installing a Memory
Notch
Before installing a memory module, make sure to turn off the computer and unplug the power
cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the memory module.
DDR2 DIMMs are not compatible to DDR DIMMs. Be sure to install DDR2 DIMMs on this moth-
erboard.
DDR2 DIMM
A DDR2 memory module has a notch, so it can only t in one direction. Follow the steps below to correctly
install your memory modules in the memory sockets.
Step 1:
Note the orientation of the memory module. Spread the retaining
clips at both ends of the memory socket. Place the memory module
on the socket. As indicated in the picture on the left, place your n-
gers on the top edge of the memory, push down on the memory and
insert it vertically into the memory socket.
Step 2:
The clips at both ends of the socket will snap into place when the
memory module is securely inserted.

Hardware Installation - 18 -
1-5 Installing an Expansion Card
Read the following guidelines before you begin to install an expansion card:
•Make sure the motherboard supports the expansion card. Carefully read the manual that came
with your expansion card.
•Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing
an expansion card to prevent hardware damage.
Follow the steps below to correctly install your expansion card in the expansion slot.
1. Locate an expansion slot that supports your card. Remove the metal slot cover from the chassis back panel.
2. Align the card with the slot, and press down on the card until it is fully seated in the slot.
3. Make sure the metal contacts on the card are completely inserted into the slot.
4. Secure the card’s metal bracket to the chassis back panel with a screw.
5. After installing all expansion cards, replace the chassis cover(s).
6. Turn on your computer. If necessary, go to BIOS Setup to make any required BIOS changes for your
expansion card(s).
7. Install the driver provided with the expansion card in your operating system.
Example: Installing and Removing a PCI Express Graphics Card:
•Installing a Graphics Card:
Gently push down on the top edge of the card until
it is fully inserted into the PCI Express slot. Make
sure the card is securely seated in the slot and
does not rock.
•Removing the Card from the PCIEX4 slot:
Press the white latch at the end of the slot to release the card and then lift the
card straight out from the slot.
PCI Express x4 Slot
PCI Slot

- 19 - Hardware Installation
1-6 Back Panel Connectors
• When removing the cable connected to a back panel connector, rst remove the cable from your
device and then remove it from the motherboard.
• When removing the cable, pull it straight out from the connector. Do not rock it side to side to
prevent an electrical short inside the cable connector.
PS/2 Keyboard and PS/2 Mouse Port
Use the upper port (green) to connect a PS/2 mouse and the lower port (purple) to connect a PS/2 key-
board.
D-Sub Port
The D-Sub port supports a 15-pin D-Sub connector. Connect a monitor that supports D-Sub connection
to this port.
DVI-D Port(Note)
The DVI-D port supports DVI-D specictation. Connect a monitor that supports DVI-D connection to this
port.
HDMI Port
The HDMI (High-Denition Multimedia Interface) provides an all-digital audio/video interface to transmit
the uncompressed audio/video signals and is HDCP compliant. Connect the HDMI audio/video device to
this port. The HDMI Technology can support a maximum resolution of 1920x1080 but the actual resolu-
tions supported depend on the monitor being used.
(Note)
Please note the HDMI audio output only supports AC3, DTS and 2-channel-LPCM formats.
(AC3 and DTS require the use of an external decoder for decoding.)
In Windows Vista, select Start>Control Panel>Sound,
select Digital Output Device (HDMI) and then click Set
Default.
(Note ) The DVI-D port does not support D-Sub connection by adapter.

Hardware Installation - 20 -
A. Dual Display Congurations:
This motherboard provides three display ports, DVI-D, HDMI, and D-Sub ports and supports dual-display
congurations. Note that the DVI-D+HDMI conguration only works in operating system environments.
In addition, under this conguration, the BIOS Setup and POST screens can only be output from the
HDMI port.
B. Playback of HD DVD and Blu-ray Discs:
In order to get better playback quality, when playing the HD DVD or Blu-ray discs, refer to the recommended
system requirements (or better) below.
• CPU:IntelDual-Coreprocessor
• Memory:Two1GBDDR2800memorymoduleswithdualchannelmodeenabled
• Playbacksoftware:CyberLinkPowerDVD8.0orlater(Note:PleaseensureHard
 wareAccelerationisenabled.)
• HDCPcompliantmonitor(s)
USB Port
The USB port supports the USB 2.0/1.1 specication. Use this port for USB devices such as a USB key-
board/mouse, USB printer, USB ash drive and etc.
RJ-45 LAN Port
The Gigabit Ethernet LAN port provides Internet connection at up to 1 Gbps data rate. The following de-
scribes the states of the LAN port LEDs.
To configure 7.1-channel audio, you need connect with the port of HD Audio standard via
front panel and enable the multi-channel audio feature through the audio driver. Refer to the
instructions on setting up a 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel audio conguration in Chapter 5, "Conguring
2/4/5.1/7.1-Channel Audio."
Activity LED:
State Description
Blinking Data transmission or receiving is occurring
Off No data transmission or receiving is occurring
Connection/Speed LED:
State Description
Orange 1 Gbps data rate
Green 100 Mbps data rate
Off 10 Mbps data rate
Activity LED
Connection/
Speed LED
LAN Port
Line In Jack (Blue)
The default line in jack. Use this audio jack for line in devices such as an optical drive, walkman, etc.
Line Out Jack (Green)
The default line out jack. Use this audio jack for a headphone or 2-channel speaker. This jack can be
used to connect front speakers in a 4/5.1-channel audio conguration.
Mic In Jack (Pink)
The default Mic in jack. Microphones must be connected to this jack.