MSI K7N420 Pro User manual

i
Version1.1
G52-MA00470
MS-6373(v1.X)ATXMainboard
MSIK7N420 Pro

ii
ManualRev:1.1
ReleaseDate:Dec.2001
FCC-BRadioFrequencyInterferenceStatement
Thisequipmenthasbeentestedandfound tocomplywiththelimitsforaclass
Bdigitaldevice,pursuanttopart15oftheFCCrules.Theselimitsaredesigned
toprovidereasonableprotectionagainstharmfulinterferencewhentheequip-
mentisoperatedinacommercialenvironment.Thisequipmentgenerates,uses
and canradiateradiofrequencyenergy and,ifnotinstalledand usedinaccor-
dance withtheinstruction manual,maycauseharmfulinterference toradio
communications.Operationofthisequipmentinaresidentialarea islikelyto
causeharmfulinterference,inwhichcasetheuserwill berequiredtocorrect
theinterferenceathisownexpense.
Notice1
Thechangesormodificationsnotexpresslyapprovedby thepartyrespon-
sibleforcompliance couldvoidtheuser’sauthoritytooperatetheequipment.
Notice2
Shieldedinterfacecablesand A.C.powercord,ifany,mustbeusedinorderto
complywiththeemissionlimits.
VOIRLANOTICED’INSTALLATIONAVANTDERACCORDERAU
RESEAU.
Micro-StarInternationalMS-6373
Testedtocomply
withFCCStandard
ForHomeorOfficeUse

iii
Edition
Dec.2001
CopyrightNotice
ThematerialinthisdocumentistheintellectualpropertyofMICRO-STAR
INTERNATIONAL.Wetakeeverycareinthepreparationofthisdocument,
butno guarantee isgivenastothecorrectness ofitscontents.Ourproducts
areundercontinualimprovementand wereservetherighttomakechanges
withoutnotice.
Trademarks
All trademarksarethepropertiesoftheirrespectiveowners.
Intel®and Pentium®areregisteredtrademarksofIntelCorporation.
PS/2and OS®/2areregisteredtrademarksofInternationalBusiness Machines
Corporation.
Windows®95/98/2000/NT/XPareregisteredtrademarksofMicrosoft
Corporation.
Netware®isaregisteredtrademarkofNovell,Inc.
Award®isaregisteredtrademarkofPhoenixTechnologiesLtd.
AMI®isaregisteredtrademarkofAmericanMegatrendsInc.
RevisionHistory
RevisionRevisionHistoryDate
V1.1ReleaseforchannelDec.2001
product

iv
1.Readthesafetyinstructionscarefully.
2.SavethisUser’sGuideforpossibleuselater.
3.Keepthisequipmentawayfromhumidity.
4.Laythisequipmenton astableand flatsurfacebeforesetting it up.
5.Theopeningson theenclosureareusedforairconvection andtoprevent
theequipmentfromoverheating.Note:Donotcovertheopenings.
6.Makesurethatthepowervoltageiswithinitssafetyrangeand hasbeen
adjustedproperlytothevalueof110/220Vbeforeconnectingtheequip-
menttothepowerinlet.
7.Placethepowercordinawaythatpeopleareunlikelytostepon it.Donot
place anythingon thepowercord.
8.Alwaysunplugthepowercordbeforeinserting anyadd-oncardormodule.
9.All cautionsandwarningsontheequipmentshouldbenoted.
10.Neverpouranyliquidintotheopening thatcoulddamagetheequipment
orcauseanelectricalshock.
11.If any ofthefollowing situationsarises,gettheequipmentcheckedby a
servicepersonnel:
lthepowercordorplugisdamaged
lliquidhaspenetratedintotheequipment
ltheequipmenthasbeenexposedtomoisture
ltheequipmenthasnotworkwelloryoucannotgetitworkaccording
toUser’sGuide
ltheequipmentwasdroppedand damaged
ltheequipmenthasobvioussignsofbreakage
12.Donotleavetheequipmentinanunconditionedenvironmentwithastor-
agetemperatureof600 C(1400F)orabove,whichmaydamagethe
equipment.
SafetyInstructions
CAUTION:Topreventexplosion causedby improperbattery
replacement,usethesameorequivalenttypeofbatteryrecommended
by themanufactureronly.

v
CONTENTS
Chapter1GettingStarted................................................................................. 1-1
Specification...................................................................................................1-2
MainboardLayout........................................................................................1-5
MSISpecialFeatures....................................................................................1-6
PCAlertTMIII ..........................................................................................1-6
D-BracketTM(optional)...........................................................................1-8
LiveBIOSTM/LiveDriverTM.................................................................................................. 1-10
Chapter2HardwareSetup ................................................................................ 2-1
CentralProcessing Unit:CPU......................................................................2-2
CPUInstallationProcedure..................................................................2-2
CPUCoreSpeedDerivationProcedure..............................................2-3
Memory...........................................................................................................2-4
IntroductiontoDDR.............................................................................2-4
DDRModuleCombination...................................................................2-5
DDRModuleInstallationProcedure..................................................2-5
PowerSupply.................................................................................................2-6
ATX20-PinPowerConnector..............................................................2-6
BackPanel......................................................................................................2-7
MouseConnector..................................................................................2-7
KeyboardConnector.............................................................................2-8
USBConnectors....................................................................................2-8
SerialPortConnectors:COMA/COM2............................................2-9
VGAConnector......................................................................................2-9
LANJack(optional)............................................................................2-10
GamePort&AudioPorts...................................................................2-10
ParallelPort...........................................................................................2-11
Connectors...................................................................................................2-12
FloppyDiskDriveConnector:FDD1................................................2-12
USBFrontConnector:USB3&USB4.............................................2-12

vi
HardDiskConnectors:IDE1&IDE2..................................................2-13
CD1/AUX1/MODEM1/JSP1..............................................................2-14
CPUFAN1/PSFAN1/SYSFAN1..........................................................2-15
IrDA InfraredModuleHeader:IRorIR1.........................................2-16
Case/SpeakerConnectors:JFP2/MSIFP ..........................................2-17
D-BracketTMConnector:JDLED(optinal)........................................2-18
FrontPanelAudioConnector:JAUDIO2........................................2-19
Jumpers.........................................................................................................2-20
ClearCMOSJumper:JBAT1..............................................................2-20
FSBModeJumper:SW2....................................................................2-21
AudioContorlJumper:JA1...............................................................2-22
KeyboardWake-up Jumper:JKBV1.................................................2-23
Slots..............................................................................................................2-24
AGPSlot..............................................................................................2-24
PCISlots...............................................................................................2-25
CNRSlot...............................................................................................2-25
Chapter3AWARDBIOSSetup....................................................................... 3-1
EnteringSetup ...............................................................................................3-2
ControlKeys..........................................................................................3-2
GettingHelp...................................................................................................3-3
MainMenu.............................................................................................3-3
Sub-Menu...............................................................................................3-3
GeneralHelp<F1>.................................................................................3-3
DefaultSettings.....................................................................................3-3
Setup Menus.................................................................................................3-4
MainMenu.............................................................................................3-4
StandardCMOSFeatures....................................................................3-6
AdvancedBIOSFeatures....................................................................3-9
AdvancedChipsetFeatures..............................................................3-13
IntegratedPeripherals.........................................................................3-15

vii
PowerManagementSetup .................................................................3-20
PnP/PCIConfigurations......................................................................3-24
PCHealthStatus..................................................................................3-26
Frequency/VoltageControl................................................................3-28
LoadHighPerformance/BIOSSetup Defaults................................3-29
SetSupervisor/UserPassword..........................................................3-30
Appendix:DDRDIMMConfiguration.............................................................A-1
Glossary................................................................................................................G-1

Getting Started
1-1
Chapter1. Getting Started1
Getting Started
Congratulationson purchasing theMSImainboard.K7N420Pro
(MS-6373)ATXmainboardisanexcellentcomputermainboardbasedon
theinnovativenForce 420Dchipset,whichsupportsthelatestAMD®
Athlon/AthlonXP/Duronprocessorseriesand providesyou withacost-
effectivesolution.
TOPICS
MainboardSpecification 1-2
MainboardLayout1-5
MSISpecialFeatures1-6

Chapter1
1-2
MainboardSpecification
CPU
SupportsSocketA(Socket462)forAMDAthlon/Athlon XP/Duron
processorsupto1800+MHz
Chipset
nForce420Dchipset
-Support200/266MHzFSB
-Twinbank MemoryArchitecture/128-bitDDRmemorycontroller
-IntegratedGeForceMX-classadvancedGraphicsProcessing Unit
-AGP4xsupport
-HyperTransportinterfacetoMCP(800MB/sec max.)
MCP-D(MediaCommunicationsProcessor)
-DualATA/100controller
-SupportUSBUHCI1.0a,provideuptosixUSBports
-IEEE802.3compatibleMAC(MII)
-IntegratedAudioProcessorUnit,AC’972.1compliant
-SPDIFoutputfunction
MainMemory
Supportup tothree DDRDIMMs
-Maximummemorysizeupto1.5GB
-Support128-bitsystemmemory
Slots
OneAGPslot
-SupportAGP2.02x/4x(1.5Vonly)
OneCNRslot
FivePCIslots
-32-bitMasterPCI2.2compliant
-Support3.3v/5v PCIbusinterface
On-boardIDE
AnIDEcontrolleron theMCPchipsetprovidesIDEHDD/CD-ROM
withPIO,BusMasterand UltraDMA100 operation modes
SupportuptofourIDEdevicesconnection

Getting Started
1-3
Video
256-bit2D/3Dgraphicsaccelerator
Supportsthe2nd generationT&Lengine,nVIDIAShadingRasterizer
SupportsTV-outdaughtercard(optional)
Audio
APU(audioprocessingunit)integratedinMCP
-Supportup to256 hardware-processedvoicesor64 hardwarevoice in
3D
-S/PDIFoutthroughexternalbracket
-CNRcardfor6channelanalog (optional)
Network(optional)
Chipsetintegrated10/100Base-TEthernet/FastEthernet
On-boardPeripherals
Onefloppy portthatsupportstwoFDDwith360KB,720KB,1.44MB
and2.88MB
TwoserialportsCOMA+COM2(pinheader)
OneparallelportthatsupportsSPP/EPP/ECPmodes
OneVGA connector
SixUSBports(2xrearconnectorsand 2xUSBfrontpinheaderto
supportfourports)
OneIrDA connector
OneRJ-45 connectorforEthernet(optional)
OneAudio/Gameport
OneD-Bracketpinheader
BIOS
ThemainboardBIOSprovides“Plug &Play”BIOSthatcandetect
theperiph-eraldevicesand expansioncardsinstalledontheboard
automatically
SupportDesktop ManagementInterface(DMI) functionthatcanrecord
yourmainboardspecifications

Chapter1
1-4
Dimension
30.5cmx22.5cm
Mounting
Sixmountingholes

Getting Started
1-5
MainboardLayout
K7N420 Pro(MS-6373 v1.X)ATXMainboard
AGP Slot
BATT
+
nVIDIA
MCP-D
nVIDIA
CRUSH 12
D DR
1
D DR
2
D DR
3
USB3
JFP2
USB4 JDLED
JA1
JAUDIO2
ATX
Power Supply
SYSFAN1
JBAT1
W
i n
b
o
n
d
W
8
3
6
2
7
F H
-
A W
IR
MSIFP
SW2
JSP1
SOCKET462
BIOS
PCI Slot 5
PCI Slot 4
PCI Slot 3
PCI Slot 2
PCI Slot 1
IDE2 IDE1
CNR
Top : Parallel Port
Bottom:
COM A
VGA Port
JKBV1
PSFAN1
CPUFAN1
Top : mouse
Bottom:keyboard
Top: LAN Jack
Bottom:USB
ports
CD1
MODEM1
AUX1
Top:
Gameport
Bottom:
Line-Out
Line-In
Mic
COM 2
FDD 1
IR1

Chapter1
1-6
PCAlert™ III
ThePCAlertTMIII isautilityyou canfind intheCD-ROMdisk.The
utilityisjustlikeyourPCdoctorthatcandetectthefollowing PChardware
statusduring realtimeoperation:
*monitorCPU&systemtemperatures
*monitorfanspeed(s)
*monitorsystemvoltage
*monitorchassisintrusion
If oneoftheitemsaboveisabnormal,theprogrammainscreenwill be
immediatelyshownon thescreen,withtheabnormalitemhighlightedinred.
Thiswillcontinuetobeshown,until userdisablesthewarning.
Note:Itemsshownon PCAlertIII varydepending on yoursystem’s
status.
MSISpecialFeatures

Getting Started
1-7
Features:
lNetworkManagement
-Monitoring &remotecontrol
lBasicSystemUtilities
-Scandisk&DefragmenttomaintainyourHDD
l3DGraphicsDesign
-Enablesamorefriendlyuserinterface
lSofwareUtilities
-SoftCoolerOptimizedCooling

Chapter1
1-8
D-Bracket™(optional)
-Bracket™isanUSBbracketintegrating fourDiagnosticLEDs,which
usegraphicsignaldisplaytohelpusersunderstand theirsystem.TheLEDs
provideupto16combinationsofsignalstodebugthesystem.The4LEDscan
debug all problemsthatfail thesystem,suchasVGA,RAMorotherfailures.
Thisspecialfeatureisveryusefulfortheoverclockingusers.Theseuserscan
usethefeaturetodetectifthereareanyproblemsorfailures.
D-Bracket™
D-Bracket Description
System Power ON
-The D-LED will hang here if the processor is damaged or
not installed properly.
Early Chipset Initialization
Memory Detection Test
-Testing onboard memory size. The D-LED will hang if
thememory module is damaged or not installed properly.
Decompressing BIOS image to RAM for fast booting.
Initializing Keyboard Controller.
Testing VGA BIOS
-This will start writing VGA sign-on message to the screen.
12
34
RedGreen

Getting Started
1-9
D-Bracket Description
Processor Initialization
-This will show information regarding the processor (like
brand name, system bus, etc…)
Testing RTC (Real Time Clock)
Initializing Video Interface
-This will start detecting CPU clock,
checking type of video
onboard. Then, detect and initialize the video adapter.
BIOS Sign On
-This will start showing information about logo, processor
brand name, etc….
Testing Base and Extended Memory
-Testing base memory from 240K to 640K and extended
memory above 1MB using various patterns.
Assign Resources to all ISA.
Initializing Hard Drive Controller
-This will initialize IDE drive and controller.
Initializing Floppy Drive Controller
-This will initializing Floppy Drive and controller.
Boot Attempt
-This will set low stack and boot via INT 19h.
Operating System Booting
12
34

Chapter1
1-10
LiveBIOS™/LiveDriver™
TheLiveBIOSTMisatoolusedtodetectandupdateyour
BIOSonlinesothatyou don’tneedtosearchforthecorrect
BIOSversionthrough thewholewebsite.Tousethefunction,
you needtoinstall the“MSILiveUpdateSeries”application.
Afterinstallation,the“MSILiveUpdateSeries”icon (asthe
rightview)will appearonthescreen.
Doubleclickthe“MSILiveUpdateSeries”icon,andthefollowingscreen
willappear.
Fourbuttonsareplacedon theleftcolumnofthescreen.Clickthedesired
button tostarttheupdateprocess.
l LiveBIOS– UpdatestheBIOSonline. If yourmotherboard doesnotsupport
thefunction, the“sorry” messageisdisplayed.
l LiveDriver – Updatesthedriversonline. If yourmotherboard doesnotsup-
portthefunction, the“sorry” messageisdisplayed.
l LiveVGABIOS– UpdatestheVGA BIOSonline. If yourVGA device does
notsupportthefunction, the“sorry” messageappears.
l LiveVGADriver – UpdatestheVGA driveronline. If yourVGA device does
notsupportthefunction, the“sorry” messageisdisplayed.
Formoreinformationon theupdateinstructions,insertthecompanion CDand
refertothe“LiveUpdateSeriesGuide”underthe“Manual”tab.

Hardware Setup
2-1
This chapter provides you with the information about hardware setup
procedures. While doing the installation, be careful in holding the components
and follow the installation procedures. For some components, if you install in
the wrong orientation, the components will not work properly.
Use a grounded wrist strap before handling computer components. Static
electricity may damage the components.
TOPICS
Central Processing Unit: CPU 2-2
Memory 2-4
Power Supply 2-6
Back Panel 2-7
Connectors 2-12
Jumpers 2-20
Slots 2-24
Chapter 2. Hardware Setup 2
Hardware Setup

Chapter 2
2-2
Central Processing Unit: CPU
The mainboard provides a Socket A (Socket 462) to support the latest
AMD Athlon/Athlon XP processor series. To avoid the thermal issue* of
the CPU, please make sure that the CPU has a heatsink and a cooling fan
attached on its top.
CPU Installation Procedure
To install the CPU, please follow the steps below:
1. Pull the lever sideways away
from the socket; then, raise it
up to a 90-degree angle.
2. Locate the cut edge on the CPU,
and point it towards the lever
pivot. Insert the pins of the CPU
directly into the holes on the socket.
3. Press the lever down to complete
the installation.
Note: The CPU is designed with the corner pin on the
two of the four corners; thus, it should only fit in one correctly
orientation as installing. In addition, with the weight of the
heatsink and cooling fan attached, you can insert the CPU into
the socket easily. DO NOT press the CPU down by force when
installing in wrong orientation, this would bend and damage
Open Lever
Cut edge
Sliding
Plate
Close
Lever

Hardware Setup
2-3
CPU Core Speed Derivation Procedure
If CPUClock = 100MHz
Core/Bus ratio = 14
then CPU core speed = Host Clock x Core/Bus ratio
= 100MHzx 14
= 1.4GHz
* Thermal issue for CPU
As processor technology pushes to faster speeds and higher performance,
thermal management becomes increasingly crucial when building computer
system. Maintaining the proper thermal environment is key to reliable
operation. As such, the processor must be maintained in the specified
thermal requirements. AMD recommends the use of high performance
thermal interface material.
AMD Athlon/Athlon XP processors with a speed of 600MHz and above
require the LARGER heatsink and cooling fan. You also need to add thermal
grease between the CPU and heatsink to improve heat dissipation; then,
make sure that the CPU and the heatsink are securely fastened and in good
contact with each other. These are needed to prevent damaging the proces-
sor and ensuring reliable operation.
For more information on the issue and proper cooling solution, please visit
AMD website at: http:// www.amd.com/products/cpg/athlon/pdf/
cooling_guide.pdf