Nvidia NFORCE 780I SLI User manual

NVIDIACorporation
October, 2007|DU-03597-001_v01
UserGuide
NVIDIAnForce780iSLI
Motherboard

780i 3-Way SLIMotherboard
NVIDIACorporation
ii October17,2007|DU-03597-001_v01

nForce780iSLI Motherboard
NVIDIACorporation
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TableofContents
BeforeYouBegin…................................................................................................ix
PartsNOTin theKit.............................................................................................ix
IntentionsoftheKit..............................................................................................x
NVIDIAnForce 780iMotherboard...........................................................................1
MotherboardSpecifications..................................................................................1
UnpackingandPartsDescriptions.........................................................................3
Unpacking............................................................................................................3
Equipment............................................................................................................3
NVIDIAnForce780i SLIMotherboard...................................................................4
HardwareInstallation...............................................................................................7
SafetyInstructions................................................................................................7
PreparingtheMotherboard...................................................................................8
InstallingtheCPU.............................................................................................8
InstallingtheCPUFan......................................................................................9
InstallingMemoryDIMMs.................................................................................9
InstallingtheMotherboard..................................................................................10
InstallingtheI/OShield...................................................................................10
SecuringtheMotherboardintotheChassis....................................................11
ConnectingCablesandSettingSwitches...........................................................11
PowerConnections........................................................................................12
24-pin ATX Power(PWR1)..........................................................................13
8-pin ATX 12VPower(PWR2).....................................................................14

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ConnectingIDEHardDiskDrives....................................................................14
ConnectingSerialATACables........................................................................16
ConnectingInternalHeaders...........................................................................17
FrontPanelHeader.....................................................................................17
IEEE 1394a.................................................................................................18
USBHeaders..............................................................................................19
Audio..............................................................................................................20
FanConnections.............................................................................................21
COM1.............................................................................................................22
FDDConnector...............................................................................................23
ExpansionSlots..............................................................................................23
PCISlots.....................................................................................................23
PCIExpress x1Slot....................................................................................24
PCIExpress x16 Slots.................................................................................24
JumperSettings.................................................................................................25
ClearCMOSJumper: CLR_CMOS..................................................................25
ConfiguringtheBIOS.............................................................................................27
EnterBIOSSetup...............................................................................................28
Main Menu.........................................................................................................28
StandardCMOSFeaturesMenu.........................................................................31
DateandTime................................................................................................32
IDEChannelandSATAChannel.....................................................................32
DriveA............................................................................................................34
HaltOn...........................................................................................................34
Memory..........................................................................................................35
AdvancedBIOSFeatures...................................................................................36
RemovableDevicePriority..............................................................................37
HardDiskBootPriority...................................................................................37

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NetworkBootPriority......................................................................................37
CPUInternalCache........................................................................................37
QuickPowerOnSelfTest...............................................................................38
First/Second/ThirdBootDevice......................................................................38
BootOtherDevice..........................................................................................38
BootUpNumLockStatus...............................................................................38
SecurityOption...............................................................................................39
APICMode.....................................................................................................39
MPS VersionControlForOS..........................................................................39
Full ScreenLOGOShow.................................................................................39
AdvancedChipsetFeatures................................................................................40
SystemClocks................................................................................................41
FrequencySettings.....................................................................................42
HTMultiplier...............................................................................................43
SpreadSpectrum........................................................................................43
FSB&MemoryConfig....................................................................................44
CPUConfiguration..........................................................................................48
SystemVoltages.............................................................................................50
NVMEMMemory Test.....................................................................................52
LoadTiming/VoltageSet.................................................................................52
SaveTiming/VoltageSet.................................................................................53
SystemBIOSCacheable.................................................................................53
HPETFunction................................................................................................53
NVIDIAGPUEx...............................................................................................53
IntegratedPeripheralsMenu...............................................................................54
IDEFunctionSetup.........................................................................................55
RAIDConfig....................................................................................................56
USBConfig.....................................................................................................56

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MACConfig....................................................................................................57
IEEE1394 controller........................................................................................57
HDAudio........................................................................................................57
IDEHDD BlockMode.....................................................................................57
OnboardFDCController.................................................................................57
OnboardSerialPort1.....................................................................................58
PowerManagementSetupMenu........................................................................58
ACPIFunction.................................................................................................59
ACPISuspendType........................................................................................59
Soft-Off byPBNT............................................................................................59
WOL(PME#)FromSoft-Off..............................................................................59
PowerOnbyAlarm.........................................................................................59
POWERONFunction......................................................................................60
PnP/PCIConfigurationMenu..............................................................................61
InitDisplayFirst..............................................................................................62
ResetConfigurationData................................................................................62
ResourcesControlledBy................................................................................62
IRQResources...............................................................................................63
PCI/VGAPaletteSnoop..................................................................................63
MaximumPayloadSize...................................................................................63
SystemMonitorMenu........................................................................................64
DynamicFanControl......................................................................................65
InstallingDriversand Software.............................................................................67
WindowsXPDrivers Install.................................................................................68
UsingtheNVIDIASoftware...................................................................................69
NVIDIAPerformanceGroupofNVIDIAControlPanel..........................................70
DeviceSettings...............................................................................................71
CurrentHardwareSettings..........................................................................72

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DynamicBIOSAccess....................................................................................78
ViewSystemInformation................................................................................79
ProfilePolicies................................................................................................80
ManageYourSystemBIOS............................................................................81
NVIDIASystemMonitor......................................................................................82
AppendixA.POSTCodesforTritiumPlatform.....................................................87
AppendixB. ConfiguringanSLI Configuration.....................................................97
SLIConnector....................................................................................................97
ForceWareDriver................................................................................................98
Enabling3-WaySLI......................................................................................100
Verifying3-waySLIisActive.............................................................................102
Index....................................................................................................................103

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ListofFigures
Figure1. NVIDIAnForce780i SLIMotherboardLayout.......................................5
Figure2. ChassisBackpanelConnectors...........................................................6
Figure3. PowerSupplyConnectors.................................................................12
Figure4. PWR1MotherboardConnector.........................................................13
Figure5. BIOSCMOSSetupUtilityMain Menu................................................29
Figure6. StandardCMOSFeaturesMenu........................................................31
Figure7. AdvancedBIOSFeaturesMenu.........................................................36
Figure8. AdvancedChipsetFeatures...............................................................40
Figure9. SystemClocksMenu.........................................................................41
Figure10. FSB&MemoryConfigMenu.............................................................44
Figure11. CPUConfigurationMenu...................................................................48
Figure12. SystemVoltagesMenu......................................................................50
Figure13. IntegratedPeripheralsMenu..............................................................54
Figure14. PowerManagementSetupMenu.......................................................58
Figure15. PnP/PCIConfigurationMenu.............................................................61
Figure16. SystemMonitorMenu.......................................................................64
Figure31. 3-wayNVIDIASLIconnector(600-10732-0000-000).........................98
Figure18. WindowsVistaDeviceManager.........................................................99
Figure19. NVIDIAControlPanel,SetSLIConfiguration...................................100
Figure20. SLIVisualIndicatorsOperatingin 3DMark2006...............................101

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BeforeYouBegin…
Parts NOTin theKit
Thiskitcontainsall thehardwarenecessaryto installandconnectyournew
NVIDIA®nForce®780iSLI motherboard. However,itdoesnot containthe
followingitemsthatmustbepurchasedseparatelyto makethemotherboard
functional.
qIntelmicroprocessor:
Intel Core2 Extreme,Intel Core2 Quad,Intel Core2DuoPentiumEE,
PentiumD,Pentium
qCoolingfanforthemicroprocessor
qSystemmemorysupport:
Supportsdualchannel DDR2533/667/800,andupto 1200 MHzSLI-Ready
Memory.Supportsupto 8 GBsDDR2 memory.
qGraphicsCard
Thismotherboardsupports3-waySLI with three x16 PCIExpress slots.
qPowerSupply
Thepowersupplyrequirement isdependent upon thepowerandthenumber
oftheGPUsyou install.Ifyou aregoingto SLI two graphicscards,youare
goingto requiremorepower.Asarule,foroneGPU youneedaminimumof
a300Wpowersupply.Ifyou havetwoGPUsin anSLI configuration,you
will needaminimumofa500Wpowersupply.Ifyou havethree GPUsin an
SLI configuration,you will needaminimumofa1000Wpowersupply.To
calculatethepoweryouaregoingto requireforyourspecificconfiguration,
goto www.slizone.com.
Theseinstructionstellyou howto install eachofthepartslistedsoyou can
haveafunctioningmotherboard. Asyougothroughtheinstallation
instructions,weareassumingyou havepurchasedthenecessaryparts.

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Intentions oftheKit
Thiskitprovidesyouwith themotherboardandallconnectingcablesnecessary
to installthemotherboardinto aPCcabinet.Ifyouare building aPC,youwill
usemostofthecablesprovidedinthekit.Ifhowever,you are replacing a
motherboard, you will not needmanyofthecables.
When replacing amotherboardinaPCcabinet,you will needto reinstallan
operatingsystemeventhoughthecurrent driveshavean operatingsystem.

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NVIDIAnForce780i
Motherboard
Thank you forbuyingtheNVIDIANFORCE 780iSLI Motherboard. This
motherboardoffersthetoolsandperformance PCusers’demand. When
combinedwith twoorthree SLI-ReadyNVIDIAGeForcegraphicscards,you
getinnovativeNVIDIASLI Technologyforenhancedsystemperformance.
Motherboard Specifications
qSize
ATXformfactorof12inchx9.6inch
qMicroprocessorsupport
Intel Core2 Extreme,Intel Core2 Quad,Intel Core2Duo,PentiumEE,
PentiumD,Pentium
qOperatingsystems:
SupportsWindowsXP32bit/64bit andWindowsVista32bit/64bit
qContainsNVIDIAnForce780iSLI MCPandSPP
qSystemMemorysupport
Supportsdualchannel JEDEC DDR2-800andSLI-Readymemoryupto
1200MHz.Supportsupto 8GBsDDR2memories.
qTenUSB2.0Ports
ØSupportshot plug
ØTenUSB2.0 ports(sixrearpanelports,fouronboardUSBheaders)
ØSupportswake-up from S1andS3mode
ØSupportsUSB2.0 protocol upto 480Mbpstransmission rate

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qOnboardSerial ATAII
Ø300MBpsdatatransferrate
ØSixSerialATAII connectors
ØNVIDIAMediaShieldRAIDwith supportforRAID0,RAID1,RAID
0+1,RAID 5,andJBOD
ØSupportshot plug andNCQ(NativeCommandQueuing)
qOnboardLAN
ØDualLANinterface built-inonboard
ØSupports10/100/1000Mbit/sec Ethernet
qOnboard1394
ØSupporthotplug
ØTwo1394aports(onerearpanel port,oneonboardheader)with rateof
transmission at 400 Mbps
qOnboardAudio
ØAzaliaHigh-Definition audio
ØSupports8-channel audio
ØSupportsS/PDIFoutput
ØSupportsJack-Sensingfunction
qTriplePCI Express x16Support
Ø2 x16PCI Express 2.0
Ø1 x16PCI Express 1.0
ØSupports4 GB/sec (8GB/sec concurrent) bandwidth
ØLowpowerconsumption andpowermanagement features
qGreenFunction
ØSupportsACPI(AdvancedConfiguration andPowerInterface)
ØSupportsS0 (normal),S1 (poweron suspend),S3 (suspendto RAM),S4
(Suspendto disk -dependson OS),andS5 (soft-off)
qExpansion Slots
ØTwoPCI slots
ØOnePCI Express x1slot
ØThree PCI Express x16Graphicsslots

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Unpackingand
PartsDescriptions
Unpacking
TheNVIDIAnForce 780i SLImotherboardcomeswith allthenecessarycables
foraddingamotherboardto anewchassis.Ifyou arereplacingamotherboard,
you maynot needmanyofthesecables.
Besureto inspecteachpiece ofequipment shippedinthepackingbox. If
anythingismissingordamaged,contactyourreseller.
Allpartsshippedinthiskit areRoHS-compliant (lead-free)parts.
Equipment
Thefollowingequipment isincludedintheNVIDIAnForce 780i SLI
motherboardbox.
NVIDIAnForce780i SLIMotherboard
ThisPCIExpressmotherboardcontainsthe
NVIDIAnForce780i SLISPPandMCPandis
SLI-ready.
I/OShield
Installsinthechassisto blockradio
frequencytransmissions,protectinternet
componentsfromdustandforeignobjects
andaidsinproperairflowwithinthechassis.
NotetoPartners:
Revisethislistwith
theequipment you
areshippinginthe
kit.

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FloppyCable
Usedtoattachafloppy drive tothe
motherboard.
2-PortSATAPowerCable(QtyThree)
1394 Cable
Provides twoadditional1394portstoeither
thefrontorbackpanelsofthechassis.
USB2.04-PortCable
Provides fouradditionalUSBportstoeither
thefrontorbackpanelsofthechassis.
SATASignalCable(QtySix)
UsedtosupporttheSerialATAprotocoland
eachoneconnectsasingledrive tothe
motherboard
Comm2BracketCable
IDE-ATA133HDDCable
NVIDIAnForce 780iSLI
Motherboard
TheNVIDIAnForce 780i SLImotherboardwith theNVIDIAnForce 780iSLI
SPP andMCPprocessorsisaPCI Express,SLI-readymotherboard. Figure1
showsthemotherboardandFigures2showstheback panel connectors.

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1. CPUSocket 11. USB headers 21. SPDIFconnector
2. NVIDIASPPwithActivefan 12. Motherboard battery 22. PCI slots
3. CPUfanconnector 13. Fanconnector 23. PCI Expressx16slots(SLI)
4. DDRDIMMSlots0-3 14. Serialconnector 24. 1394aconnector
5. 24-pinATXPowerConnector 15. Frontpanelconnector 25. PCI Expressx1slot
6. IDEConnector 16. Jumper 26. Backpanelconnectors(Figure 2)
7. Serial-ATA(SATA)connectors 17. Powerbutton 27. Heatdissipater
8. FDD connector 18. ResetButton 28. 8-pinATX_12Vpowerconnector
9. NVIDIAMCP(passiveheatsink) 19. Azalia HD AudioHeader29 MCP/SPPfanconnector
10. Serial-ATA(SATA)connectors 20. FP Audioconnector
Figure1. NVIDIAnForce780iSLIMotherboard Layout
2
1
4
3
5
10
8
9
7
6
4
13
14
15
16
22
23
22
25
23
26
28
11
12
20
23
24
17
13
13
27
29
19
21
18

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1.PS/2MousePort
2.PS/2KeyboardPort
3.1394a(Firewire)Port
4.USB2.0ports(SIX)
5.SPDIFoutput
6.Port 2-Channel 4-Channel 6-Channel/8-Channel
Blue Line-In Line-In Line-In
Green Line-Out FrontSpeakerOut FrontSpeakerOut
Pink MicIn MicIn MicIn
Orange Center/Subwoofer
Black RearSpeakerOut RearSpeakerOut
Grey
7.LanPort withLEDsto indicatestatus.
•Yellow/LightUp/Blink=10Mbps/Link/Activity
•YellowandGreen/LightUp/Blink=100Mbps/link/Activity
•Green/LightUp/Blink=1000Mbps/Link/Activity
Figure2. ChassisBackpanelConnectors
1
2
5
6
7
4
3
4
7
4

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HardwareInstallation
Thissection willguideyou throughtheinstallation ofthemotherboard. The
topicscoveredinthissection are:
qPreparingthemotherboard
ØInstallingtheCPU
ØInstallingtheCPUfan
ØInstallingthememory
qInstallingthemotherboard
qConnectingcablesandsettingswitches
SafetyInstructions
Toreducetheriskoffire,electricshock,and injury,alwaysfollow basic
safety precautions.
Remembertoremove powerfromyourcomputerby disconnectingthe
AC mainsourcebeforeremovingorinstallinganyequipment from/tothe
computerchassis.

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PreparingtheMotherboard
Themotherboardshippedintheboxdoes not containaCPU ormemory.You
needto purchasetheseto completethisinstallation.
InstallingtheCPU
BeverycarefulwhenhandlingtheCPU.Makesurenot to bendorbreak any
pinson theback.Holdtheprocessoronlybytheedgesanddonot touchthe
bottom oftheprocessor.
Usethefollowingprocedureto install theCPU onto
themotherboard.
1. Unhook thesocketleverbypushing down and
away from thesocket.
2. Lifttheloadplate.Thereisaprotectivesocket
coveron theloadplateto protectthesocketwhen
thereisno CPUinstalled.
3. Removetheprotectivesocketcoverfrom theloadplate.
4. Removetheprocessorfrom itsprotectivecover,
makingsureyou holditonlybytheedges.
Itisagoodideato savethecoversothat
wheneveryou removetheCPU,you haveasafe
place to storeit.
5. Alignthenotchesintheprocessorwith the
notcheson thesocket.
6. Lowertheprocessorstraight down into thesocket
with outtiltingorslidingitinto thesocket
Note: MakesuretheCPUisfullyseatedandlevelinthe
socket.
Alignnotcheswith
notchesonthe CPU

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7. ClosetheloadplateovertheCPUandpress downwhileyou closeand
engagethesocket lever.
InstallingtheCPUFan
Therearemanydifferent fantypesthatcanbeusedwith thismotherboard.
Followtheinstruction thatcamewith you fanassembly.Besurethatthefan
orientation iscorrectforyourchassistypeandyourfan assembly.
InstallingMemoryDIMMs
Yournewmotherboardhasfour1.8V240-pinslotsforDDR2 memory.These
slotssupport256Mb,512Mband1 Gb DDR2technologiesforx8andx16
devices.They alsosupportdual channelDDR2 memorytechnologyupto
10.7GB/s.Theremustbeatleastonememorybank populatedto ensure
normal operation.Usethefollowingtherecommendationsforinstalling
memory.(See Figure1on page5forthelocation ofthememoryslots.)
qOne DIMM:Installinto slot 0.You caninstall theDIMM into anyslot,
however,slot 0ispreferred.
qTwoDIMMs:Installinto eitherslots0and1 or2and3.Theideaisto not
havetheDIMMsin adjacent slots.
qFourDIMMS:Installinto slots0,1,2,and3.
DIMM Slot0
DIMM Slot2
DIMM Slot1
DIMM Slot3
CPUside
Card
-
edge

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Usethefollowingprocedureto install memoryDIMMs.Notethatthereisonly
onegapnearthecenteroftheDIMM slot.Thisslot matchestheslot on the
memoryDIMM to ensurethecomponent isinstalledproperly.
1. UnlockaDIMM slot bypressingthemoduleclipsoutward.
2. Alignthememorymoduleto theDIMM slot,andinsertthemodule
verticallyinto theDIMM slot.Theplasticclipsatboth sidesoftheDIMM
slot automaticallylocktheDIMM into theconnector.
InstallingtheMotherboard
Thesequence ofinstallingthemotherboardinto thechassisdependson the
chassisyouareusingandifyou arereplacinganexistingmotherboardor
workingwith anemptychassis.Determineifitwouldbeeasierto makeallthe
connectionspriorto thissteporto securethemotherboardandthenmakeall
theconnections.Itisnormallyeasierto securethemotherboardfirst.
Usethefollowingprocedureto install theI/Oshieldandsecurethe
motherboardinto thechassis.
Note: BesurethattheCPUfanassemblyhasenoughclearanceforthechassis
coverstolock intoplaceand fortheexpansion cards.Alsomakesurethe
CPUFan assemblyisalignedwiththeventsonthecovers.
InstallingtheI/OShield
Themotherboardkitcomeswith anI/Oshieldthatisusedto block radio
frequency transmissions,protectsinternal componentsfrom dustandforeign
objects,andpromotescorrectairflowwithinthechassis.
Beforeinstallingthemotherboard, install theI/O shieldfrom the inside ofthe
chassis.PresstheI/O shieldinto place andmakesureitfitssecurely.Ifthe
I/O shielddoesnot fitinto thechassis,you wouldneedto obtaintheproper
sizefrom thechassissupplier.