Summary of the content on the page No. 1
M4A78-EM
Motherboard
Summary of the content on the page No. 2
E4419 First Edition V1 February 2009 Copyright © 2009 ASUSTeK Computer Inc. All Rights Reserved. No part of this manual, including the products and software described in it, may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form or by any means, except documentation kept by the purchaser for backup purposes, without the express written permission of ASUSTeK Computer Inc. (“ASUS”). Product warranty or service will not be extended
Summary of the content on the page No. 3
Contents Notices ......................................................................................................... vi Safety information ..................................................................................... vii About this guide ........................................................................................ vii M4A78-EM specifications summary .......................................................... ix Chapter 1: Product introduction 1.1 Welcome! ................
Summary of the content on the page No. 4
Contents 1.11 Software support ........................................................................ 1-29 1.11.1 Installing an operating system ...................................... 1-29 1.11.2 Support DVD information .............................................. 1-29 Chapter 2: BIOS information 2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS ............................................ 2-1 2.1.1 ASUS Update utility ........................................................ 2-1 2.1.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 util
Summary of the content on the page No. 5
Contents 2.5 Power menu ................................................................................ 2-15 2.5.1 Suspend Mode .............................................................. 2-15 2.5.2 ACPI 2.0 Support .......................................................... 2-15 2.5.3 ACPI APIC Support ....................................................... 2-15 2.5.4 APM Configuration ........................................................ 2-15 2.5.5 HW Monitor Configuration ..............
Summary of the content on the page No. 6
Notices Federal Communications Commission Statement This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: • This device may not cause harmful interference, and • This device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide r
Summary of the content on the page No. 7
Safety information Electrical safety • To prevent electric shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electric outlet before relocating the system. • When adding or removing devices to or from the system, ensure that the power cables for the devices are unplugged before the signal cables are connected. If possible, disconnect all power cables from the existing system before you add a device. • Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard, ensure that all power cabl
Summary of the content on the page No. 8
Conventions used in this guide To ensure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following symbols used throughout this manual. DANGER/WARNING: Information to prevent injury to yourself when trying to complete a task. CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components when trying to complete a task. IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task. NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a task. Where to find more infor
Summary of the content on the page No. 9
M4A78-EM specifications summary ® ® CPU AMD Socket AM2+ / AM2 for AMD Phenom™ x4 / Phenom™ x3 / Athlon™ x2 / Athlon™ / Sempron™ processors Compatible with Phenom™ II / Athlon™ x4 / Athlon™ x3 / Athlon™ x2 processors (AM3 CPU) Supports 45nm CPU AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ 2.0 Technology (depends on CPU type) Supports CPU up to 125W Refer to www.asus.com for the AMD CPU support list Chipset AMD 780G / SB700 Front side bus Up to 5200MT/s HyperTransport™ 3.0 interface for AM3 / AM2+ CPU
Summary of the content on the page No. 10
M4A78-EM specifications summary Storage / RAID AMD SB700 southbridge: - 1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 connector - 5 x Serial ATA 3Gb/s connectors support RAID 0, ® RAID 1, and RAID 0+1 configurations (for Windows Vista only) - 1 x eSATA 3Gb/s port supports JBOD ® Audio Realtek ALC887 High Definition Audio 8-channel CODEC Supports Jack-detect and Multi-streaming technologies Supports S/PDIF_OUT interface USB Supports up to 12 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (6 ports at mid-board, 6 ports at the back
Summary of the content on the page No. 11
M4A78-EM specifications summary Internal I/O connectors 3 x USB 2.0/1.1 connectors support additional 6 USB 2.0/1.1 ports 1 x IDE connector 1 x COM connector 1 x LPT connector 5 x SATA connectors 1 x High definition front panel audio connector 1 x System panel connector 1 x CD audio-in connector 1 x S/PDIF_OUT connector 1 x CPU / 1 x Power / 1 x Chassis fan connectors 1 x Chassis intrusion connector 1 x 24-pin EATX power connector 1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector BIOS 8Mb Flash ROM,
Summary of the content on the page No. 12
xii
Summary of the content on the page No. 13
Chapter 1 Product introduction 1.1 Welcome! ® Thank you for buying an ASUS M4A78-EM motherboard! The motherboard delivers a host of new features and latest technologies, making it another standout in the long line of ASUS quality motherboards! Before you start installing the motherboard, and hardware devices on it, check the items in your package with the list below. 1.2 Package contents Check your motherboard package for the following items. Motherboard ASUS M4A78-EM motherboard Cables 1 x
Summary of the content on the page No. 14
® AMD Socket AM2+/AM2 Phenom™ x4 / Phenom™ x3 / Athlon™ x2 / Athlon™ / Sempron™ CPU support ® This motherboard supports AMD Socket AM2+ multi-core processors. It features dual-channel DDR2 1066 memory support and accelerates data transfer rate up to 5200MT/s via HyperTransport™ 3.0-based system ® bus. It also supports AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet Technology. ® AMD 780G chipset The AMD 780G Northbridge is the latest AMD chipset designed for both HT1.0 and HT 3.0 interface speed. It features
Summary of the content on the page No. 15
64-bit CPU support 64-bit computing, the next generation technology that replaces the current 32-bit architecture, delivers advanced system performance, faster memory access, and increased productivity. This motherboard provides excellent compatibility and flexibility by supporting both 64-bit and 32-bit architecture. Gigabit LAN solution The onboard LAN controller is a highly integrated Gb LAN controller. It is enhanced with an ACPI management function to provide efficient power managemen
Summary of the content on the page No. 16
ASUS EZ Flash 2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 allows you to update the BIOS from a USB flash disk before entering the OS. ASUS Q-Fan ASUS Q-Fan technology intelligently adjusts CPU fan speeds according to system loading to ensure a quiet, cool, and efficient operation. ASUS EPU ASUS EPU is a unique power saving technology that detects the current system loadings and adjusts the power consumption in real time. ASUS AI Nap With AI Nap, the system can keep running at minimum power and noise when you are temp
Summary of the content on the page No. 17
1.4 Before you proceed Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change any motherboard settings. • Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any component. • Before handling components, use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or a metal object, such as the power supply case, to avoid damaging them due to static electricity. • Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them. • Whenever you uninstall
Summary of the content on the page No. 18
1.5 Motherboard overview 1.5.1 Placement direction When installing the motherboard, ensure that you place it into the chassis in the correct orientation. The edge with external ports goes to the rear part of the chassis as indicated in the image below. 1.5.2 Screw holes Place eight screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the motherboard to the chassis. DO NOT overtighten the screws! Doing so can damage the motherboard. Place this side towards the rear of the chassis. 1-6 Chapter
Summary of the content on the page No. 19
1.5.3 Motherboard layout 1.5.4 Layout contents Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED Page Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED Page 1. CPU, power, and chassis fan connectors 1-28 9. Chassis intrusion connector 1-21 (4-pin CPU_FAN, 3-pin PWR_FAN, and 3-pin CHA_FAN) (4-1 pin CHASSIS) 2. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V) 1-22 10. Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC) 1-18 3. CPU Socket AM2+ 1-8 11. Onboard LED (SB_PWR) 1-5 4. DDR2 DIMM slots 1-11 12. SATA connectors (7-pin SATA1, SATA2, 1-24 SATA3, SA
Summary of the content on the page No. 20
Right 1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU) ® This motherboard comes with an AM2+ / AM2 socket designed for AMD Phenom™ x4 / Phenom™ x3 / Athlon™ x2 / Athlon™ / Sempron™ processors. It also supports AM3 CPUs including Phenom™ II / Athlon™ x4 / Athlon™ x3 / Athlon™ x2 processors. The AM2+ / AM2 socket has a different pinout from the 940-pin socket designed for the AMD Opteron™ processor. Use a CPU that is designed for the AM2+ / AM2 socket. 1.6.1 Installing the CPU To install a CPU: 1. Locate the
