Page
Page
Chapter 1:
Product introduction
Chapter 2:
BIOS setup
Chapter 3:
Software support
Appendix:
Federal Communications Commission Statement
Canadian Department of Communications Statement
Electrical safety
Operation safety
How this guide is organized
Where to find more information
Conventions used in this guide
Typography
M3A78-EMspecifications summary
CPU
Chipset
System bus
Memory
USB
Storage / RAID
Audio
LAN
ASUS overclocking
Internal I/O connectors
Accessories
Form Factor
Support CD
Product1 introduction
1.3.1Product highlights
Green ASUS
AMD® Socket AM2+ Phenom™ FX / . Phenom / Athlon™ / Sempron™ CPU support
AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet Technology
AMD® 780G and ATI SB700 chipsets
HDMI Interface
HDMI/DVI/RGB Support
Hybrid CrossFireX
PCI Express 2.0 support
DDR2 memory support
Serial ATA 3Gb/s technology
Gigabit LAN solution
USB 2.0 technology
8-channelhigh definition audio
DisplayPort
1.3.2ASUS unique features
ASUS AI Life Features
ASUS Power Saving Solution
ASUS EZ DIY
ASUS Crystal Sound
1.3.3ASUS stylish features
ASUS MyLogo2™
1.3.4ASUS intelligent overclocking features
C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)
Onboard LED
1.5.1Motherboard layout
1.5.2Placement direction
1.5.3Screw holes
1.6.1Installing the CPU
M3A78-EMCPU Fan Connector
1.6.2Installing the heatsink and fan
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1.7.1Overview
1.7.2Memory configurations
Recommended memory configurations
Important notice on installing Windows® Vista / XP 32-bitversion
64-bit
M3A78-EMMotherboard Qualified Vendors Lists (QVL). DDR2-1066MHz capability
DDR2-800MHz capability
DDR2-667MHzcapability
1.7.3Installing a DIMM
Removing a DIMM
1.8.1Installing an expansion card
1.8.2Configuring an expansion card
Interrupt assignments
IRQ assignments for this motherboard
1.8.3PCI slots
1.8.4PCI Express x1 slot
1.8.5PCI Express x16 slot
1.9Jumpers
1.Clear RTC RAM (CLRTC)
<Del
M3A78-EMClear RTC RAM
1.10.1Rear panel connectors
Playback of HD DVD and Blu-RayDiscs
Audio 2, 4, 6, or 8-channelconfiguration
USB 2.0 ports 1 and
External SATA port
[AHCI]
DVI-D
Out port
1.10.2Internal connectors
3.IDE connector (40-1pin PRI_IDE)
Mode of
M3A78-EMIDE Connector
4.Serial ATA connectors
(7-pinSATA1, SATA2, SATA3, SATA5, SATA6)
M3A78-EMSATA Connectors
Important note on Serial ATA
[RAID]
5.Power, CPU, and Chassis Fan connectors
(3-pinPWR_FAN, 4-pinCPU_FAN, 3-pinCHA_FAN)
M3A78-EMFan Connectors
6.USB connectors (10-1pin USB78, USB910, USB1112)
M3A78-EMUSB 2.0 Connectors
7.Optical drive audio in connector (4-pinCD)
M3A78-EMInternal Audio Connector
8.Digital audio connector (4-1pin SPDIF_OUT)
M3A78-EMDigital Audio Connector
9.LPT connector
M3A78-EMParallel Port Connector
10.Front panel audio connector (10-1pin AAFP)
M3A78-EMAzalia Analog Front Panel Connector
Realtek High Definition
11.Chassis intrusion connector (4-1pin CHASSIS)
M3A78-EMIntrusion Connector
12.IEEE 1394a port connector (10-1pin IE1394_1)
M3A78-EMIEEE 1394a Connector
13.ATX power connectors (24-pinEATXPWR, 4-pinATX12V)
M3A78-EMATX Power Connector
14.System panel connector (20-8pin PANEL)
M3A78-EMSystem Panel Connector
Q-Connector(system panel)
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2.1.1Creating a bootable floppy disk
2.1.2AFUDOS utility
Copying the current BIOS
Updating the BIOS file
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2.1.3ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility
Recovering the BIOS from a floppy disk
Recovering the BIOS from the Support DVD
Recovering the BIOS from the USB flash disk
2.1.4ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility
2.1.5ASUS Update utility
Installing ASUS Update
Updating the BIOS through the Internet
Updating the BIOS through a BIOS file
2.2BIOS setup program
<Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Del
2.2.1BIOS menu screen
2.2.2Menu bar
2.2.3Navigation keys
2.2.4Menu items
2.2.5Sub-menuitems
2.2.6Configuration fields
2.2.7General help
2.2.8Pop-upwindow
2.3.1System Time [xx:xx:xx]
2.3.2System Date [Day xx/xx/xxxx]
2.3.3Legacy Diskette A [1.44M, 3.5 in.]
2.3.4Primary IDE Master/Slave
Type [Auto]
LBA/Large Mode [Auto]
Block (Multi-SectorTransfer) M [Auto]
PIO Mode [Auto]
2.3.5SATA 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and E-SATA
Block (Multi-sectorTransfer) M [Auto]
2.3.6SATA Configuration
OnChip SATA Channel [Enabled]
OnChip SATA Type [SATA]
SATA IDE Combined Mode [Enabled]
2.3.7System Information
AMI BIOS
Processor
System Memory
2.4.1JumperFree Configuration
CPU Overclocking [Auto]
GPU Overclocking [Auto]
PCIE Overclocking [Auto]
Processor Frequency Multiplier [Auto]
Processor Voltage [Auto]
2.4.2CPU Configuration
GART Error Reporting [Disabled]
Microcode Updation [Enabled]
Secure Virtual Machine Mode [Enabled]
Cool ‘n’ Quiet [Enabled]
2.4.3Chipset
NorthBridge Configuration
Memory Configuration
ECC Configuration
Internal Graphics
Primary Video Controller [GFX0-GPP-IGFX-PCI]
Surround View [Auto]
AMD 780 HD Audio [Enabled]
DisplayPort Configuration [Disabled]
2.4.4Onboard Device Configuration
Serial Port1 Address [3F8/IRQ4]
Parallel Port Address [378]
Parallel Port Mode [Normal]
HDAudio Controller [Enabled]
2.4.5PCIPnP
Plug and Play O/S [No]
2.4.6USB Configuration
USB Functions [Enabled]
USB 2.0 Controllers [Enabled]
Legacy USB Support [Auto]
USB 2.0 Controller Mode [HiSpeed]
2.5.1Suspend Mode [Auto]
2.5.2ACPI Support [Disabled]
2.5.3ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]
2.5.4APM Configuration
Restore on AC Power Loss [Always Off]
Power on From S5 By PME# [Disabled]
Power on From S5 By Ring [Disabled]
Power on From S5 By PS/2 KB/MS [Disabled]
2.5.5HW Monitor Configuration
CPU Temperature [xxxºC/xxxºF] or [Ignored]
MB Temperature [xxxºC/xxxºF] or [Ignored]
CPU Fan Speed [xxxxRPM] or [Ignored]
Chassis Fan Speed [N/A] or [Ignored]
Smart Q-FanFunction [Enabled]
Fan Auto Mode Start Voltage [5.0V]
Fan Auto Mode Start Speed Temp [25ºC]
Fan Auto Mode Full Speed Temp [55ºC]
2.6.1Boot Device Priority
1st ~ xxth Boot Device [xxx Drive]
2.6.2Boot Settings Configuration
Quick Boot [Enabled]
Full Screen Logo [Enabled]
AddOn ROM Display Mode [Force BIOS]
Bootup Num-Lock[On]
Wait for ‘F1’ If Error [Enabled]
Hit ‘DEL’ Message Display [Enabled]
2.6.3Security
Change Supervisor Password
User Access Level [Full Access]
Change User Password
Clear User Password
Password Check [Setup]
2.7.1ASUS EZ Flash
2.7.2Express Gate [Enabled]
2.7.3AI NET
Check Realtek LAN cable [Disabled]
Exit & Save Changes
Exit & Discard Changes
Discard Changes
Load Setup Defaults
Software3 support
3.2.1Running the Support DVD
3.2.2Drivers menu
ASUS InstAll - Installation Wizard for Drivers
AMD Chipset Driver
Realtek Audio Driver
ATI HDMI Driver
3.2.3Utilities menu
ASUS InstAll - Installation Wizard for Utilities
ASUS Cool‘n’Quiet Utility
ASUS PC Probe
ASUS Update
Microsoft DirectX 9.0c
Corel MediaOne Starter
CyberLink PowerBackup
Adobe Acrobat Reader
WinZip
3.2.4Make Disk menu
Make ATI RAID/AHCI Vista32 Driver
Make ATI RAID/AHCI Vista64 Driver
Make ATI RAID/AHCI Driver XP 32/64bit Driver
3.2.5Manual menu
3.2.6ASUS Contact information
3.2.7Other information
Motherboard Info
Browse this DVD
Technical support Form
Filelist
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A.1 System requirements
A.2 Before you proceed
A.3 Installing AMD Chipset Driver
A.4 Using the ATI CATALYST® Control Center
Using an add-ongraphics card
Using the onboard graphics card
1.Follow steps 1 to 3 on Using the onboard graphics card
Using
the onboard graphics card