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Table of Contents 1 Hardware Installation ...1 Merlin PCI Dimensions Merlin PCI Motherboard Layout Step 1 Unpack the Motherboard Avoid Static Electricity Step 2 Configure CPU Step 3 Install Memory Step 4 Install the Motherboard Step 5 Attach Cables ..1 7 Step 6 Test and Configure 2 WINBIOS Setup ...
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This manual describes the specifications and features of the Merlin PCI motherboard. It explains how to assemble a system based on the Merlin PCI motherboard and how to use the AMIBIOS that is specifically designed for this motherboard. This manual is not meant to be read by the computer owner who purchases a computer with this motherboard.
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BIOS products. Product Engineering Change Notices, Tech Tips, Technical Notes, and complete technical manuals are available. Data Transmission Rates T he American Megatrends BBS automatically handles modems with data transmission rates from 1,200 to 28,800 bps. BBS Phone Numbers of the BBS phone numbers.
Packing List You should have received the following: Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide a Merlin PCI motherboard, two serial cables, one parallel cable, a Warranty Card, and the American Megatrends Merlin PCI Pentium Pro Motherboard User's Guide.
ISA expansion slots, and four PCI expansion slots. ISA DMA or Bus Masters The Merlin Pentium Pro PCI ISA motherboard conforms to the PCI Version 2.1 specification, if the PCI 2.1 Compliance option in Chipset Setup is set to Enabled. The Version 2.1 PCI specification requires a deterministic latency for PCI devices.
Merlin PCI Dimensions The motherboard is approximately 8” by 10” (the standard baby AT size and mounting holes). Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide...
Installation Steps Step Unpack the motherboard. Configure the CPU. Configure the CPU. Select the CPU 3.3V Power Source Select the CPU Voltage. Select the CPU Speed. Install the CPU. Install memory. Install System Memory. Install the Motherboard. Attach cables to connectors. Connect the Power Supply.
Step 1 Unpack the Motherboard Step Inspect the cardboard carton for obvious damage. If damaged, call 770-246 original packing. Perform all unpacking and installation procedures on a ground-connected anti - static mat. Wear an anti -static wristband grounded at the same point as the anti -static mat.
Regulator Power Set J3 and J22 as follows to configure 3.3V power from the regulator: Pin 1 From 3.3V Power Supply power from the 3.3V power supply: Pin 1 Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Important the CPU. Important Pin 1 Pin 6 Set J3 and J22 as follows to configure 3.3V...
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Step 2 Configure CPU, CPU Voltage J16 is an 8-pin berg that sets the core CPU voltage. J16 is near the CPU, as shown below: Core CPU Voltage 3.5V 3.4V 3.3V (Factory Setting) 3.2V 3.1V 3.0V 2.9V 2.8V 2.7V 2.6V 2.5V 2.4V 2.3V...
Please contact American Megatrends technical support at 770-246-8645 to support a CPU running at a higher speed. Internal External Speed Speed 66.66 66.66 Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Continued Shorted OPEN Shorted J28 sets the CPU clock multiplier Shorted Shorted Shorted...
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Step 2 Configure CPU, Connect CPU Fan J4 (shown below) is a two-pin berg that connects the fan on the CPU heat sink. All Pentium Pro CPUs are shipped with and a CPU fan. As shown below, the wire from the CPU fan has two leads.
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Make sure you wear an antistatic wristband while installing the CPU. Follow all antistatic procedures described on page 5. Step Lift the lever on the ZIF socket. The empty CPU socket looks like this. Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Continued Warning Action...
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Step Check for bent pins on the CPU. Gently straighten any bent pins with pliers. Place the CPU in the middle of the socket, as shown below. Make sure that pin 1 of the CPU is aligned with pin 1 of the socket. Make sure you are properly grounded while handling the CPU.
MB SIMM must be installed in the second Bank0 SIMM socket. The minimum amount of system memory supported my the Merlin PCI is 8 MB. Each socket can hold one SIMM. You can use: Fast Page Mode, EDO, and Burst EDO SIMMs cannot be mixed.
Step 3 Install Memory, Select SIMMs SIMMs must meet the following specifications: Parameter Page Mode Refresh SIMM Part Numbers Type Manufacturer 1 MB x 36 Micron “ Mitsubishi “ “ Motorola “ “ Samsung 2 MB x 36 “ Samsung 4 MB x 36 Micron “...
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SIMM facing you, firmly push the SIMM into the socket at an angle, then push it up. When properly inserted, the SIMM clicks into place as the latching pins engage. The SIMM installation process is shown below: Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Continued...
Step 4 Install the Motherboard The motherboard mounting hole pattern is the same as the mounting hole pattern on the standard baby AT motherboard. Standoffs and mounting screws are not supplied with the motherboard. The chassis manufacturer should supply these parts. Step Place the chassis on an anti - static mat.
Step 5 Attach Cables Connectors The Merlin PCI motherboard includes many connectors. Connection instructions, illustrations of connectors, and pinouts are supplied in the following pages. A list of all connectors described in this section follows: Connector Power supply connectors P1, P2, and P3 pages 18 through 20...
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P1 pins 1-6. The other connector on the end of the power cable is attached to P2 pins 1-6. Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Continued Cont’d...
Step 5 Attach Cables, Power Connector Keys The power connectors ar prevent incorrect installation. The keys on the connector must be cut to fit on some power supplies, as shown below. Pin 1 P1 Pinout Power Good (Orange wire) (Not used) VCC (Red wire) +12 Volts (Yellow wire) -12 Volts (Blue wire)
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P3 Pinout P3 provides optional 3.3V power. Keyboard Connector DIN socket. The J5 pinout is shown below. The keyboard connector position is shown on page Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Continued Description Ground (Black wire) Ground (Black wire) -5 Volts (White wire) 3.3V...
Connect Mouse Cable The mouse connector (J11 berg. The mouse cable is the same as the serial cable in the Merlin PCI motherboard. Two serial cables are shipped with the motherboard. Use one of these cables for the mouse, or you can make your own cable using the following pinout.
AMIBIOS signals hardware problems through the speaker. Pin 1 on the motherboard is identified by the arrow on the white box around the berg. The Merlin PCI motherboard also has a built- in speaker mounted on the motherboard. Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide...
Step 5 Attach Cables, Keyboard LockJ37 is a five pin single via a cable to the keyboard lock connector (or separate keyboard lock and Power LED connectors). The computer chassis may not include the keyboard lock and Power LED on a single connector. The keyboard lock allows the user to lock the keyboard, protecting the system from unauthorized use.
AMIBIOS minimizes conflicts between onboard and offboard I/O devices. AMIBIOS automatically checks the adapter cards installed in the expansion slots on the Merlin PCI motherboard for a hard disk or floppy controller and serial or parallel ports. J13 SER1 J12 SER2 J13 and J12 are 10-pin connectors that provide an AT-compatible serial port interface.
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Step 5 Attach Cables, J1 Parallel Port J1 is a 26-pin connector for a parallel port. The J1 pinout is shown below. Connect the 16-pin to DB25 cable provided with the motherboard to J6. The parallel port interface supports the standard Centronics-compatible, ECP (Extended Capabilities Port ) , and EPP (Enhanced Parallel Port ports.
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34-pin edge connectors for attaching the floppy disk drives. There is a small twist in the cable between the floppy connectors. The last (end) connector should be connected to floppy drive A: as shown below. Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Continued Cont’d...
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Step 5 Attach Cables, J6 Floppy Connector Pinout Twist in Floppy Cable Floppy B to A Floppy B to A 10 to 16 11 to 15 Chapter 1 Hardware Installation Continued Floppy B to A 12 to 14 14 to 12 13 to 13 15 to 11 DENSE1...
Step 5 Attach Cables, IDE Drives Attach the IDE drives in the following manner. Choose Peripheral Setup in WINBIOS Setup to enable the onboard IDE controller. Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Continued Cont’d...
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Step 5 Attach Cables, Attach IDE Cable to J2 J2 is the primary IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) hard disk drive connector. Both the primary master and the primary slave IDE drives must be connected by cable to J2, as shown below. J2 is a 40-pin dual-inline berg that connects an IDE drive to the primary onboard IDE connector.
IDE drives to the secondary onboard IDE controller. Attach the secondary master and slave IDE drives to J7 via a standard 40-pin IDE cable as shown on page 29 . Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Continued -RESET DATA7 DATA6...
NVRAM. The system will then reset, run POST, and boot the operating system. See page for information on configuring the computer. Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide make sure that all adapter cards are seated properly, make sure all connectors are properly installed,...
Graphical Setup American Megatrends has a new type of system BIOS Setup utility. WINBIOS Setup has a graphical user interface the end user can access using a mouse.
<PgUp> <PgDn> <Home> <End> <Ctrl><Alt><+ > <Ctrl><Alt><-> Change to low speed. Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Action Change or select a global field. Change or select the current field. Perform an operation in the current field Increment a value. Decrement a value.
WINBIOS Setup Menu The WINBIOS Setup main menu, shown below, is organized into four sections. Each of these sections corresponds to a section in this chapter. Each section contains several icons. Clicking on each icon activates a specific AMIBIOS function. The WINBIOS Setup main windows and related functions are described on the next page.
PgUp and PgDn keys and select the floppy type. The settings are 360 KB 5¼ inch, 1.2 MB 5¼ inch, 720 KB 3½ inch, 1.44 MB 3½ inch, or 2.88 MB 3½ inch. Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Move the cursor to these fields via the Cont’d...
Standard Setup, Pri Master, Pri Slave, Sec Master, Sec Slave disk drive icons to configure the hard disk drive named in the option. Select parameters screen to let AMIBIOS automatically configure the drive. A screen with a list of drive parameters appears.
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The formatted capacity of the drive is the number of heads times the number of cylinders times the number of sectors per track) times 512 (bytes per sector). Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Continued You can also enter the hard disk drive Description Cont’d...
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Standard Setup, MFM Hard Disk Drive Types Type Cylinders Heads 1024 1024 1024 1024 1024 1024 1224 Chapter 2 WINBIOS Setup Continued Write Landing Precompensation Zone 65535 65535 65535 65535 65535 65535 65535 65535 1023 65535 65535 65535 65535 1024 65535 1024 1024...
PS/2-type mouse. Pins 1-2 of the motherboard must be shorted together to enable PS/2 mouse support Disabled. The Optimal and Fail-Safe default settings are Enabled. Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Mono, VGA/EGA. . The settings are Enabled or Fast. J38 on...
Advanced Setup, Hit <DEL> Message Display Hit <DEL> if you want to run Setup from appearing when the system boots. The settings are Enabled or Disabled. The Optimal and Fail-Safe default settings are Wait for <F1> If Error AMIBIOS POST runs system diagnostic tests that can generate a message followed by: Press <F1>...
Set this option to Enabled to enable L1 internal and L2 secondary cache memory. The settings are Enabled or Disabled. The Optimal default setting is Enabled. The Fail-Safe default setting is Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Continued A:,C:,CDROM. Enabled or Disabled.
Advanced Setup, Continued System BIOS CacheableWhen this option is set to Enabled, the contents of the F0000h system memory segment can be read from or written to L2 secondary cache memory. The contents of the F0000h memory segment are always copied from the BIOS ROM to system RAM for faster execution.
The contents of the video ROM area from C0000h - C7FFFh are copied (shadowed) from ROM to RAM for faster execution. The Optimal and Fail-Safe defaults are Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Continued This option specifies the way that the 32 KB...
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Chipset Setup Chipset Setup options are displayed by choosing the Chipset icon from the WINBIOS Setup main menu. All Chipset Setup options are described in this section. PCI 2.1 Compliance Set this option to Enabled to program the chipset to comply with the PCI V2.1 specification. The Version 2.1 PCI specification requires a deterministic latency for PCI devices.
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The chipset generates a Parity Error, indicating an uncorrectable memory error. The Optimal and Fail-Safe defaults are Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Description Standard Power Advanced Power then...
Disabled or Enabled. The Optimal and Fail-Safe default settings are Optional ROM The Merlin PCI Pentium Pro motherboard has an empty option ROM socket near the ISA expansion slots. See page 4 for the exact location of this ROM socket.
Pentium Pro CPU overheats. The settings are Enabled or Disabled. The Optimal and Fail-Safe default settings are Disabled. Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Set this option to Enabled to Set this option to Enabled to allow the option is set to Disabled.
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Chipset Setup, Continued ISA 8 Bit I/O Recovery Time delay that is added to the CPU cycle between consecutive 8-bit I/O operations. The length of the delay is related to the CPU type and frequency. The settings are 1 Sysclock, 2 Sysclocks, 3 Sysclocks, 4 Sysclocks, 5 Sysclocks, 6 Sysclocks, 7 Sysclocks, 8 Sysclocks, or Disabled.
The settings are Megakey (the power savings state determined by the Megakey keyboard controller), Standby, Suspend or Disabled. The Optimal and Fail-Safe default settings are Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Set this option to Enabled to enable Set this option to Enabled to Enabled or Disabled.
Power Management Setup, DPMS Video Power Down Mode This option specifies the power state that a DPMS (Display Power Management Specification)-compliant video subsystem enters when AMIBIOS places it in a power saving state after the specified period of display inactivity has expired.
CPU clock speed when the computer is in the power-conserving state. The settings are 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:16, 1:32, 1:64, and 1:128. The Optimal and Fail-Safe defaults are Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Continued Disabled and 1 Min. Disabled.
Power Management Setup, IRQ3 IRQ4 IRQ5 IRQ7 IRQ9 IRQ10 IRQ11 IRQ12 IRQ15 When set to Monitor, these options enable event monitoring on the specified hardware interrupt request line. If set to Monitor and the computer is in a power saving state, AMIBIOS watches for activity on the specified IRQ line.
This option must be set to Enabled if any ISA adapter card installed in the system requires VGA palette snooping. The Optimal and Fail-Safe default settings are Disabled. Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide When this option is set to Enabled, multiple Action Cont’d...
PCI/PnP Setup, Continued PCI Slot-1 Latency Timer PCI Slot-2 Latency Timer PCI Slot-3 Latency Timer PCI Slot-4 Latency Timer (in PCI clocks) for PCI devices installed in the four PCI expansion slots. The settings are 128, 160, 192, 224, or 248. The Optimal and Fail- Safe default settings are PCI Slot-1 IRQ Preference PCI Slot-2 IRQ Preference...
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The settings are ISA/EISA or PCI/PnP. The Optimal and Fail-Safe default settings for IRQ3 through 7 are ISA/EISA. The Optimal and Fail-Safe default settings for IRQ0 through 15 are Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Continued hat the specified . If more IRQs must PCI/PnP.
PCI/PnP Setup, Continued Reserved Memory Size This option specifies the size of the memory area reserved for legacy ISA adapter cards. The settings are Disabled, 16K, 32K, or 64K. The Optimal and Fail-Safe default settings are Reserved Memory Address address (in hex) of the reserved memory area. The specified ROM memory area is reserved for use by legacy ISA adapter cards.
Secondary IDE controller. The settings are Slave, Both, or Disabled. The Optimal and Fail-Safe default settings are Disabled. Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Set this option to Enabled to enable the Enabled. Set this option to Enabled if the onboard Enabled.
Peripheral Setup, Continued Offboard PCI/ISA IDE Card that the offboard PCI or ISA IDE Controller adapter card is installed in. The IDE option must be set to Disabled if this option is set to any value except Disabled. The settings are Absent, ISA, Slot1, Slot2, Slot3, or Slot4.
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Line) used by the parallel port. The settings are Disabled, IRQ 5, or IRQ 7. The Optimal default setting is IRQ 7. The Fail-Safe default setting is Disabled. Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Continued Enabled or Disabled. Caution attached to COM1.
Peripheral Setup, Parallel Port Address This option specifies the base I/O port address for the parallel port. The settings are Disabled. The Optimal default setting is Fail-Safe default setting is Parallel Port Mode This option specifies the parallel port mode. ECP and EPP are both bidirectional data transfer modes that adhere to the IEEE P1284 specifications.
WINBIOS Setup has an optional password feature. The system can be configured so that all users must enter a password every time the system boots or when WINBIOS Setup is executed. Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Supervisor (Password), User (Password), and Anti-Virus (see page 64 ).
Setting a Password The password check option is enabled in Advanced Setup (see page 41 by choosing either Always (the password prompt appears every time the system is powered on) or Setup (the password prompt appears only when WINBIOS is run). The password is encrypted and stored in NVRAM.
The following appears after any attempt to format any cylinder, head, or sector of any hard disk drive via the BIOS INT 13 Hard Disk Drive Service: Format!!! Possible VIRUS: Continue (Y/N)? _ Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide 71 for information about N several times...
Section 3 Utility The following icons appear in this section of the WINBIOS Setup main screen: Color Set Color Set sets the Setup screen colors. Language If this feature is enabled, you can select WINBIOS Setup messages in different languages. Chapter 2 WINBIOS Setup...
Default section of the WINBIOS Setup main menu. The Fail-Safe settings provide far from optimal system performance, but are the most stable settings. Use this option as a diagnostic aid if the system is behaving erratically. Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide...
Programming Flash All versions of the Merlin PCI motherboard use Flash EPROM to store the system BIOS. The advantage of Flash EPROM is the EPROM chip does not have to be replaced to update the BIOS. The end user can actually reprogram the BIOS, using a ROM file supplied by American Megatrends.
BIOS code. American Megatrends will provide this file when the AMIBIOS for the Merlin PCI ISA motherboard must be updated. S735P.ROM must be present in the root directory of the floppy disk before the onboard Flash EPROM can be reprogrammed.
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Programming the Flash ROM, Beep Codes The bootblock code produces a series of beeps during Flash ROM programming to: signify completion of a step (as shown on the previous page), or to signal an error. Error beeps are arranged in a coded sequence and have different meanings depending on when they occur.
Flash ROM. Detect the flash type. Start erasing flash blocks. Program the Flash ROM in the E0000-EFFFFh region. Start programming Flash at F0000-FFFFF region. Flash programming is successful. The computer reboots. Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide Description...
Deleting a Password If you forget the passwords you set up through WINBIOS Setup, the only way you can restart the computer is to erase the system configuration information where the passwords are stored. System configuration data is stored in CMOS RAM, a type of memory that consumes very little power.
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Make sure you stand on an anti- static mat when handling the motherboard. Avoid contact with any component or connector on any adapter card, printed circuit board, or memory module. Handle these components by the mounting bracket. Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide...
Index 16 Bit I/O Recovery, 49 3.3V CPU Power, 6 8 Bit I/O Recovery Time, 49 Advanced Power Management (APM), Advanced Setup, 40 AMIFlash Beep Codes, 69 Anti-Virus WINBIOS Setup, 64 Auxiliary Power Supply Timeout, 50 BIOS Password Support, 62 BIOS Errors, 32 Boot Sequence, 42 Boot Up Num Lock, 41...
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Hard Disk Drive Type D:, 37 Hard Disk Power Down Mode, Hard Disk Timeout (Minute Height restrictions, 2 Hit <DEL> Message Display, Merlin PCI Motherboard User’s Guide IDE Activity Indicator IDE drive Configuring, 37 IDE Hard Disk Connector, 29 Install Memory, 12...