ASROCK M3A790GXH/128M User Manual

11111M3A790GXH/128MUser ManualVersion 1.1Published July 2009Copyright©2009 ASRock INC. All rights reserved.

101010101015. ASRock Instant Flash is a BIOS flash utility embedded in Flash ROM.This convenient BIOS update tool allows you to update system BIOSwith

11111111111.31.31.31.31.3TTTTTwo CrossFwo CrossFwo CrossFwo CrossFwo CrossFireXireXireXireXireXTMTMTMTMTM Graphics Card Suppor Graphics Card Suppor Gr

12121212121.51.51.51.51.5Minimum Hardware Requirement for 1080p Blu-rayMinimum Hardware Requirement for 1080p Blu-rayMinimum Hardware Requirement for

13131313131.61.61.61.61.6PPPPPassed 1080p Blu-ray (BD) / HDassed 1080p Blu-ray (BD) / HDassed 1080p Blu-ray (BD) / HDassed 1080p Blu-ray (BD) / HDasse

14141414141.7 Motherboard Layout1.7 Motherboard Layout1.7 Motherboard Layout1.7 Motherboard Layout1.7 Motherboard LayoutIDE1SOCKET AM3FSB800DDR3_A1 (6

15151515151.81.81.81.81.8I/O PI/O PI/O PI/O PI/O Panelanelanelanelanel** If you use 2-channel speaker, please connect the speaker’s plug into “Front S

16161616162.2.2.2.2.InstallationInstallationInstallationInstallationInstallationThis is an ATX form factor (12.0-in x 8.8-in, 30.5 cm x 22.4 cm) mothe

17171717172.12.12.12.12.1CPU InstallationCPU InstallationCPU InstallationCPU InstallationCPU InstallationStep 1. Unlock the socket by lifting the leve

18181818182.3 Installation of Memory Modules (DIMM)2.3 Installation of Memory Modules (DIMM)2.3 Installation of Memory Modules (DIMM)2.3 Installat

1919191919notchbreaknotchbreakInstalling a DIMMInstalling a DIMMInstalling a DIMMInstalling a DIMMInstalling a DIMMPlease make sure to disconnect powe

22222Copyright Notice:Copyright Notice:Copyright Notice:Copyright Notice:Copyright Notice:No part of this manual may be reproduced, transcribed, trans

20202020202.4 Expansion Slots (PCI and PCI Express Slots)2.4 Expansion Slots (PCI and PCI Express Slots)2.4 Expansion Slots (PCI and PCI Express Slots

2121212121Installing an expansion cardInstalling an expansion cardInstalling an expansion cardInstalling an expansion cardInstalling an expansion card

22222222222. If you have installed onboard VGA driver from our support CD to your system already, you can freely enjoy the benefits of dual monitor

2323232323Surround Display FeatureThis motherboard supports surround display upgrade. With the internal VGA outputsupport (DVI-D, D-Sub and HDMI) and

2424242424HDCP FunctionHDCP function is supported on this motherboard. To use HDCP functionwith this motherboard, you need to adopt the monitor that s

25252525251. If a customer incorrectly configures their system they will not see the performance benefits of CrossFireXTM. All three CrossFireXTM c

2626262626Step 2. To change it to CrossFireXTM mode, you need to reverse the direction of ASRockSLI/XFire Switch Card. Please simultaneously pull open

2727272727Step 6. Install one Radeon graphics card to PCIE3 slot. For the proper installationprocedures, please refer to section “Expansion Slots”.Cro

28282828282.6.1.2 Installing Three CrossFireX2.6.1.2 Installing Three CrossFireX2.6.1.2 Installing Three CrossFireX2.6.1.2 Installing Three CrossFireX

2929292929CrossFireTM BridgeStep 6. Connect the DVI monitor cable to the DVI connector on the Radeon graphicscard on PCIE2 slot. (You may use the DVI

33333ContentsContentsContentsContentsContents1.1.1.1.1.IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction...

3030303030Step 6. Double-click “ATI Catalyst Control Center”. Click “View”, select “CrossFireXTM”,and then check the item “Enable CrossFireXTM”. Selec

3131313131Although you have selected the option “Enable CrossFireTM”, the CrossFireXTMfunction may not work actually. Your computer will automatically

32323232322.72.72.72.72.7Hybrid CrossFireXHybrid CrossFireXHybrid CrossFireXHybrid CrossFireXHybrid CrossFireXTMTMTMTMTM Operation Guide Operation Gui

3333333333 * Hybrid CrossFireXTM appearing here is a registered trademark of ATITM Technologies Inc., and is used only for identification or explan

3434343434+5V1_2+5VSB2_32.82.82.82.82.8Jumpers SetupJumpers SetupJumpers SetupJumpers SetupJumpers SetupThe illustration shows how jumpers are setup.W

3535353535FLOPPY1Pin1the red-striped side to Pin12.9 Onboard Headers and Connectors2.9 Onboard Headers and Connectors2.9 Onboard Headers and Connector

3636363636USB 2.0 Headers Besides six default USB 2.0(9-pin USB10_11) ports on the I/O panel, there are(see p.14 No. 27) three USB 2.0 headers on thi

37373737371. High Definition Audio supports Jack Sensing, but the panel wire on the chassis must support HDA to function correctly. Please follow t

3838383838ATX 12V Power Connector Please connect an ATX 12V(8-pin ATX12V1) power supply to this connector.(see p.14 No. 1)CPU Fan Connector Please c

3939393939Serial port Header This COM1 header supports a(9-pin COM1) serial port module.(s

444442.18.2 Installing Windows® VistaTM / VistaTM 64-bit Without RAID Functions ...

4040404040CBGND+5 VSPD IFOU TblueblackblueblackGNDSPD IFOU TblueblackGNDSPD IFOU TAHDMI_SPDIF Cable Please connect the black end (A)(Optional) of HDM

41414141412.10 HDMI_SPDIF Header Connection Guide2.10 HDMI_SPDIF Header Connection Guide2.10 HDMI_SPDIF Header Connection Guide2.10 HDMI_SPDIF Header

42424242422.112.112.112.112.11SASASASASATTTTTAII Hard Disk Setup GuideAII Hard Disk Setup GuideAII Hard Disk Setup GuideAII Hard Disk Setup GuideAII H

43434343432.12 eSA2.12 eSA2.12 eSA2.12 eSA2.12 eSATTTTTAII InterAII InterAII InterAII InterAII Interface Introductionface Introductionface Introductio

4444444444Connect one end of the eSATAIIdevice cable to eSATAII device2. Use the eSATAII device cable to connect eSATAII device and the eSATAII port o

4545454545Comparison between eSATAII and other devicesIEEE 1394 400Mb/sUSB 2.0 480Mb/sSATA 1.5Gb/s (1500Mb/s)eSATAII/SATAII 3.0Gb/s (3000Mb/s)

46464646462.14 Hot Plug and Hot Swap F2.14 Hot Plug and Hot Swap F2.14 Hot Plug and Hot Swap F2.14 Hot Plug and Hot Swap F2.14 Hot Plug and Hot S

4747474747 Caution1. Without SATA 15-pin power connector interface, the SATA / SATAII Hot Plug cannot be processed.2. Even some SATA / SATAII HDDs

4848484848 How to Hot Plug a SATA / SATAII HDD:Points of attention, before you process the Hot Plug:Please do follow below instruction sequence to pro

49494949492.162.162.162.162.16Driver Installation GuideDriver Installation GuideDriver Installation GuideDriver Installation GuideDriver Installation

555551.1.1.1.1.IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroductionThank you for purchasing ASRock M3A790GXH/128M motherboard, a reliablemothe

5050505050 NOTE. If you install Windows® XP / Windows® XP 64-bit on IDE HDDs and want to manage(create, convert, delete, or rebuild) RAID function

51515151512.182.182.182.182.18Installing WindowsInstalling WindowsInstalling WindowsInstalling WindowsInstalling Windows®®®®® XP / XP 64-bit / Vista X

52525252522.18.2 Installing Windows2.18.2 Installing Windows2.18.2 Installing Windows2.18.2 Installing Windows2.18.2 Installing Windows®®®®® Vist

53535353532.192.192.192.192.19DTS Operation GuideDTS Operation GuideDTS Operation GuideDTS Operation GuideDTS Operation GuideDTS (Digital Theater Syst

5454545454Music ModeThe music mode is for use with any stereo music recordings, whichpreserves the integrity of the stereo mix while augmenting it wit

55555555552.202.202.202.202.20Untied Overclocking TUntied Overclocking TUntied Overclocking TUntied Overclocking TUntied Overclocking Technologyechnol

56565656563.3.3.3.3.BIOS SETUP UTILITYBIOS SETUP UTILITYBIOS SETUP UTILITYBIOS SETUP UTILITYBIOS SETUP UTILITY3.1 Introduction3.1 Introduction3.1 I

5757575757BIOS SETUP UTILITYMainSmart H/W Monitor Boot Security ExitAdvancedUse [Enter], [TAB]or [SHIFT-TAB] toselect a field.Use [+] or [-] toconfigu

58585858583.33.33.33.33.3Smart ScreenSmart ScreenSmart ScreenSmart ScreenSmart ScreenIn the Smart screen, you can load the BIOS setup according to you

5959595959ASRock Instant FlashASRock Instant Flash is a BIOS flash utility embedded in Flash ROM. Thisconvenient BIOS update tool allows you to update

666661.21.21.21.21.2SpecificationsSpecificationsSpecificationsSpecificationsSpecifications Platform - ATX Form Factor: 12.0-in x 8.8-in, 30.5 cm x 22.

6060606060BIOS SETUP UTILITYMain SmartH/W Monitor Boot Security ExitSelect ScreenSelect ItemEnter Go to Sub ScreenF1 General HelpF9 Load DefaultsF10 S

6161616161Spread SpectrumThis item should always be [Auto] for better system stability.Boot Failure Guard Enable or disable the feature of Boot

6262626262BIOS SETUP UTILITYCPU ConfigurationSelect ScreenSelect Item+- Change OptionF1 General HelpF9 Load DefaultsF10 Save and ExitESC Exitv02.54 (C

63636363633.4.23.4.23.4.23.4.23.4.2Memory ConfigurationMemory ConfigurationMemory ConfigurationMemory ConfigurationMemory ConfigurationBIOS SETUP UTIL

6464646464TRASUse this to adjust TRAS values. Configuration options: [Auto], [15CLK] to[30CLK]. The default value is [Auto].TRTPUse this to adjust TRT

6565656565CHA Addr/Cmd Fine DelayUse this to adjust values for CHA Addr/Cmd Fine Delay feature. Configura-tion options: [Auto], [No Delay], [1/64CLK]

6666666666CHA DATA Drive StrengthUse this to adjust values for CHA DATA Drive Strength. Configuration options:[Auto], [0.75x], [1.00x], [1.25x] and [1

6767676767BIOS SETUP UTILITYv02.54 (C) Copyright 1985-2003, American Megatrends, Inc.Chipset SettingsOnboard HD AudioFront PanelOnBoard LanOnboard IEE

6868686868SidePort Clock SpeedThis allows you to select sideport clock speed. The default value is [Auto].Configuration options: [Auto], [400 MHz], [5

6969696969BIOS SETUP UTILITYACPI SettingsSelect auto-detect ordisable the STRfeature.Select ScreenSelect Item+- Change OptionF1 General HelpF9 Load De

77777 LAN - PCIE x1 Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000 Mb/s- Realtek RTL8111DL- Supports Wake-On-LAN Rear Panel I/O I/O Panel- 1 x PS/2 Keyboard Port- 1 x VGA/D-

7070707070PCI Devices Power OnUse this item to enable or disable PCI devices to turn on the system from thepower-soft-off mode.PS/2 Keyboard Power OnU

7171717171BIOS SETUP UTILITYStorage Configurationv02.54 (C) Copyright 1985-2003, American Megatrends, Inc.AdvancedOnboard SATA ControllerSATA Operatio

7272727272TYPEUse this item to configure the type of the IDE device that you specify.Configuration options: [Not Installed], [Auto], [CD/DVD], and [AR

7373737373BIOS SETUP UTILITYAdvanced PCI / PnP SettingsValue in units of PCIclocks for PCI devicelatency timerregister.Select ScreenSelect Item+- Chan

7474747474BIOS SETUP UTILITYFloppy ConfigurationSelect the type offloppy driveconnected to thesystem.Select ScreenSelect Item+- Change OptionF1 Genera

7575757575BIOS SETUP UTILITYUSB ConfigurationTo enable or disablethe onboard USBcontrollers.Select ScreenSelect Item+- Change OptionF1 General HelpF9

7676767676BIOS SETUP UTILITYHardware Health Event MonitoringSelect ScreenSelect ItemF1 General HelpF9 Load DefaultsF10 Save and ExitESC Exitv02.54 (C)

7777777777BIOS SETUP UTILITYMain Smart Advanced H/W MonitorSecurity ExitBoot SettingsConfigure Settingsduring System Boot.Select ScreenSelect ItemEnte

7878787878BIOS SETUP UTILITYMain Smart Advanced H/W Monitor BootExitInstall or Change thepassword.Select ScreenSelect ItemEnter ChangeF1 General HelpF

7979797979BIOS SETUP UTILITYMain Smart Advanced H/W Monitor Boot SecurityExit system setupafter saving thechanges.F10 key can be usedfor this operatio

88888WARNINGPlease realize that there is a certain risk involved with overclocking, including adjustingthe setting in the BIOS, applying Untied Overcl

80808080804.4.4.4.4.SofSofSofSofSoftware Supportware Supportware Supportware Supportware Supporttttt4.1 Install Operating System4.1 Install Operating

999994. Due to the operating system limitation, the actual memory size may beless than 4GB for the reservation for system usage under Windows® XPand W