Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD3 User Manual
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Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD3 User Manual

Lga1156 socket motherboard
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GA-P55A-UD3
LGA1156 socket motherboard for Intel
Core
i7 processor family/
®
™
Intel
Core
i5 processor family
®
™
User's Manual
Rev. 1002
12ME-P55AUD3-1002R

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Summary of Contents for Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD3

  • Page 1 GA-P55A-UD3 LGA1156 socket motherboard for Intel Core i7 processor family/ ® ™ Intel Core i5 processor family ® ™ User's Manual Rev. 1002 12ME-P55AUD3-1002R...

  • Page 3: Identifying Your Motherboard Revision

    GIGABYTE's prior written permission. Documentation Classifications In order to assist in the use of this product, GIGABYTE provides the following types of documentations:  For quick set-up of the product, read the Quick Installation Guide included with the product.

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Box Contents ........................6 Optional Items .........................6 GA-P55A-UD3 Motherboard Layout ................7 Block Diagram .........................8 Chapter 1 Hardware Installation ..................9 Installation Precautions ..................9 1-2 Product Specifications ..................10 Installing the CPU and CPU Cooler ............... 13 1-3-1 Installing the CPU ....................13 1-3-2 Installing the CPU Cooler ..................15 Installing the Memory ..................
  • Page 5 Chapter 3 Drivers Installation ..................61 Installing Chipset Drivers ................61 Application Software ..................62 Technical Manuals ..................62 Contact ......................63 System ......................63 Download Center ................... 64 New Utilities ....................64 Chapter 4 Unique Features ...................65 Xpress Recovery2 ..................65 BIOS Update Utilities ..................

  • Page 6: Box Contents

    Box Contents GA-P55A-UD3 motherboard Motherboard driver disk User's Manual Quick Installation Guide One IDE cable Two SATA 3Gb/s cables I/O Shield • The box contents above are for reference only and the actual items shall depend on the product package you obtain. The box contents are subject to change without notice.

  • Page 7: Ga-P55A-Ud3 Motherboard Layout

    GA-P55A-UD3 Motherboard Layout CPU_FAN PHASE LED KB_USB ATX_12V_2X4 R_SPDIF LGA1156 R_USB3 R_USB2 R_USB1 PWR_FAN USB30_LAN GA-P55A-UD3 AUDIO F_AUDIO M_BIOS B_BIOS (Note) PCIEX1_1 SYS_FAN1 PCIEX16 SYS_FAN2 RTL8111D GSATA3_6 GSATA3_7 PCIEX1_2 Marvell 9128 PCI1 CODEC Intel ® SATA2_3 SATA2_0 PCIEX4 SATA2_1 SATA2_4 SATA2_2 SATA2_5 PCI2...

  • Page 8: Block Diagram

    Block Diagram PCIe CLK CPU CLK+/- (133 MHz) (100 MHz) DDR3 2200/1333/1066/800 MHz LGA1156 Dual Channel Memory 1 PCI Express x16 PCI Express x1 (PCIEX1_2) 1 PCI Express x4 Interface PCI Express x1 PCI Express Bus (PCIEX1_1) 2 USB 3.0/2.0 RJ45 PCIe CLK Switch...

  • Page 9: Chapter 1 Hardware Installation

    Chapter 1 Hardware Installation Installation Precautions The motherboard contains numerous delicate electronic circuits and components which can become damaged as a result of electrostatic discharge (ESD). Prior to installation, carefully read the user's manual and follow these procedures: • Prior to installation, do not remove or break motherboard S/N (Serial Number) sticker or warranty sticker provided by your dealer.

  • Page 10: Product Specifications

    Core i5 series processor ® ™ ® ™  in the LGA1156 package (Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest CPU support list.) L3 cache varies with CPU  Chipset Intel P55 Express Chipset ®  Memory 4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 16 GB of system memory...
  • Page 11 Chipset:  Up to 12 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (8 on the back panel, 4 via the USB brackets connected to the internal USB headers) NEC chip:  Up to 2 USB 3.0/2.0 ports on the back panel Internal 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector ...
  • Page 12 BIOS  2 x 16 Mbit flash Use of licensed AWARD BIOS  Support for DualBIOS ™  PnP 1.0a, DMI 2.0, SM BIOS 2.4, ACPI 1.0b  Unique Features  Support for @BIOS Support for Q-Flash  Support for Xpress BIOS Rescue  Support for Download Center ...

  • Page 13: Installing The Cpu And Cpu Cooler

    Read the following guidelines before you begin to install the CPU: • Make sure that the motherboard supports the CPU. (Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest CPU support list.) • Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing the CPU to prevent hardware damage.
  • Page 14 B. Follow the steps below to correctly install the CPU into the motherboard CPU socket. Before installing the CPU, make sure to turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the CPU. Step 1: Step 2: Gently press the CPU socket lever handle down...

  • Page 15: Installing The Cpu Cooler

    1-3-2 Installing the CPU Cooler Follow the steps below to correctly install the CPU cooler on the motherboard. (The following procedure uses Intel boxed cooler as the example cooler.) ® Male Push Direction of the Arrow Sign on The Top the Male Push of Female Push Pin...

  • Page 16: Installing The Memory

    • Make sure that the motherboard supports the memory. It is recommended that memory of the same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used. (Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest memory support list.) • Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing the memory to prevent hardware damage.

  • Page 17: Installing A Memory

    1-4-2 Installing a Memory Before installing a memory module, make sure to turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the memory module. DDR3 and DDR2 DIMMs are not compatible to each other or DDR DIMMs. Be sure to install DDR3 DIMMs on this motherboard.

  • Page 18: Installing An Expansion Card

    Installing an Expansion Card Read the following guidelines before you begin to install an expansion card: • Make sure the motherboard supports the expansion card. Carefully read the manual that came with your expansion card. • Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing an expansion card to prevent hardware damage.

  • Page 19: Back Panel Connectors

    Back Panel Connectors USB 2.0/1.1 Port The USB port supports the USB 2.0/1.1 specification. Use this port for USB devices such as a USB key- board/mouse, USB printer, USB flash drive and etc. PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse Port Use this port to connect a PS/2 keyboard or mouse. Optical S/PDIF Out Connector This connector provides digital audio out to an external audio system that supports digital optical audio. Before using this feature, ensure that your audio system provides an optical digital audio in connector.
  • Page 20 Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out Jack (Orange) Use this audio jack to connect center/subwoofer speakers in a 5.1/7.1-channel audio configuration. Rear Speaker Out Jack (Black) Use this audio jack to connect rear speakers in a 4/5.1/7.1-channel audio configuration. Side Speaker Out Jack (Gray) Use this audio jack to connect side speakers in a 7.1-channel audio configuration. Line In Jack (Blue) The default line in jack. Use this audio jack for line in devices such as an optical drive, walkman, etc. Line Out Jack (Green) The default line out jack.

  • Page 21: Internal Connectors

    Internal Connectors ATX_12V_2X4 F_PANEL F_AUDIO CPU_FAN CD_IN SYS_FAN1/2 SPDIF_I PWR_FAN SPDIF_O F_USB1/F_USB2 SATA2_0/1/2/3/4/5 COMA GSATA3_6/7 CLR_CMOS PHASE LED Read the following guidelines before connecting external devices: • First make sure your devices are compliant with the connectors you wish to connect. • Before installing the devices, be sure to turn off the devices and your computer.
  • Page 22 1/2) ATX_12V_2X4/ATX (2x4 12V Power Connector and 2x12 Main Power Connector) With the use of the power connector, the power supply can supply enough stable power to all the com- ponents on the motherboard. Before connecting the power connector, first make sure the power supply is turned off and all devices are properly installed. The power connector possesses a foolproof design. Connect the power supply cable to the power connector in the correct orientation.

  • Page 23: Fdd (Floppy Disk Drive Connector)

    3/4/5) CPU_FAN/SYS_FAN1/SYS_FAN2/PWR_FAN (Fan Headers) The motherboard has a 4-pin CPU fan header (CPU_FAN), a 4-pin (SYS_FAN2) and two 3-pin (SYS_ FAN1) system fan headers, and a 3-pin power fan header (PWR_FAN). Most fan headers possess a foolproof insertion design. When connecting a fan cable, be sure to connect it in the correct orientation (the black connector wire is the ground wire).
  • Page 24 7) IDE (IDE Connector) The IDE connector supports up to two IDE devices such as hard drives and optical drives. Before attach- ing the IDE cable, locate the foolproof groove on the connector. If you wish to connect two IDE devices, remember to set the jumpers and the cabling according to the role of the IDE devices (for example, master or slave). (For information about configuring master/slave settings for the IDE devices, read the instructions from the device manufacturers.)

  • Page 25: Bat Battery

    9) GSATA3_6/7 (SATA 6Gb/s Connectors, Controlled by Marvell 9128) The SATA connectors conform to SATA 6Gb/s standard and are compatible with SATA 3Gb/s and SATA 1.5Gb/s standards. Each SATA connector supports a single SATA device. The Marvell 9128 supports RAID 0 and RAID 1. Refer to Chapter 5, "Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s)," for instructions on configur- ing a RAID array.

  • Page 26: F_Panel Front Panel Header

    11) F_PANEL (Front Panel Header) Connect the power switch, reset switch, speaker, chassis intrusion switch/sensor and system status indicator on the chassis to this header according to the pin assignments below. Note the positive and negative pins before connecting the cables. Message/Power/ Power Speaker...

  • Page 27: Cd In Connector

    12) F_AUDIO (Front Panel Audio Header) The front panel audio header supports Intel High Definition audio (HD) and AC'97 audio. You may connect your chassis front panel audio module to this header. Make sure the wire assignments of the module con- nector match the pin assignments of the motherboard header. Incorrect connection between the module connector and the motherboard header will make the device unable to work or even damage it. For HD Front Panel Audio: For AC'97 Front Panel Audio: Pin No. Definition...
  • Page 28 14) SPDIF_I (S/PDIF In Header) This header supports digital S/PDIF In and can connect to an audio device that supports digital audio out via an optional S/PDIF In cable. For purchasing the optional S/PDIF In cable, please contact the local dealer.
  • Page 29 16) F_USB1/F_USB2 (USB Headers) The headers conform to USB 2.0/1.1 specification. Each USB header can provide two USB ports via an optional USB bracket. For purchasing the optional USB bracket, please contact the local dealer. Pin No. Definition Power (5V) Power (5V) USB DX- USB DY- USB DX+ USB DY+ No Pin • Do not plug the IEEE 1394 bracket (2x5-pin) cable into the USB header. •...

  • Page 30: Serial Port Header

    18) COMA (Serial Port Header) The COMA header can provide one serial port via an optional COM port cable. For purchasing the op- tional COM port cable, please contact the local dealer. Pin No. Definition NDCD- NSIN NSOUT NDTR- NDSR- NRTS- NCTS- NRI- No Pin...
  • Page 31 20) PHASE LED The number of lighted LEDs indicates the CPU loading. The higher the CPU loading, the more the number of lighted LEDs. To enable the Phase LED display function, please first enable Dynamic Energy Saver 2. Refer to Chapter 4, "Dynamic Energy Saver 2," for more details. ™ ™ - 31 - Hardware Installation...
  • Page 32 Hardware Installation - 32 -...

  • Page 33: Chapter 2 Bios Setup

    To see more advanced BIOS Setup menu options, you can press <Ctrl> + <F1> in the main menu of the BIOS Setup program. To upgrade the BIOS, use either the GIGABYTE Q-Flash or @BIOS utility. Q-Flash allows the user to quickly and easily upgrade or back up BIOS without entering the operating •...

  • Page 34: Startup Screen

    Startup Screen The following screens may appear when the computer boots. A. The LOGO Screen (Default) Function Keys B. The POST Screen Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG, An Energy Star Ally Copyright (C) 1984-2009, Award Software, Inc. P55A-UD3 D4c Motherboard Model BIOS Version Function Keys <DEL>: BIOS Setup <F9>: XpressRecovery2 <F12>: Boot Menu <End>: Qflash...

  • Page 35: The Main Menu

    The Main Menu Once you enter the BIOS Setup program, the Main Menu (as shown below) appears on the screen. Use ar- row keys to move among the items and press <Enter> to accept or enter a sub-menu. (Sample BIOS Version: D4c) CMOS Setup Utility-Copyright (C) 1984-2009 Award Software MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.) Load Fail-Safe Defaults...

  • Page 36: Standard Cmos Features

     The Functions of the <F11> and <F12> keys (For the Main Menu Only)  F11: Save CMOS to BIOS This function allows you to save the current BIOS settings to a profile. You can create up to 8 profiles (Profile 1-8) and name each profile. First enter the profile name (to erase the default profile name, use the SPACE key) and then press <Enter> to complete.  F12: Load CMOS from BIOS If your system becomes unstable and you have loaded the BIOS default settings, you can use this function to load the BIOS settings from a profile created before, without the hassles of reconfiguring the BIOS settings. First select the profile you wish to load, then press <Enter> to complete.

  • Page 37: Mb Intelligent Tweaker(M.i.t.)

    MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.) CMOS Setup Utility-Copyright (C) 1984-2009 Award Software MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.) Item Help  M.I.T Current Status [Press Enter] Menu Level   Advanced Frequency Settings [Press Enter]  Advanced Memory Settings [Press Enter]  Advanced Voltage Settings [Press Enter] ...

  • Page 38: Cpu Clock Ratio

    CPU Clock Ratio Allows you to alter the clock ratio for the installed CPU. The adjustable range is dependent on the CPU being installed. CPU Frequency Displays the current operating CPU frequency.  Advanced CPU Core Features CMOS Setup Utility-Copyright (C) 1984-2009 Award Software Advanced CPU Core Features Item Help Intel(R) Turbo Boost Tech.
  • Page 39 C3/C6/C7 State Support (Note) Allows you to determine whether to let the CPU enter C3/C6/C7 mode in system halt state. When en- abled, the CPU core frequency and voltage will be reduced during system halt state to decrease power consumption. The C3/C6/C7 state is a more enhanced power-saving state than C1. Auto lets the BIOS automatically configure this setting. (Default: Auto) CPU Thermal Monitor (Note)
  • Page 40 BCLK Frequency(Mhz) Allows you to manually set the CPU base clock. The adjustable range is from 100 MHz to 1200 MHz. This item is configurable only if the Base Clock(BCLK) Control option is enabled. Important: It is highly recommended that the CPU frequency be set in accordance with the CPU specifi- cations. Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.) (Note) Allows the BIOS to read the SPD data on XMP memory module(s) to enhance memory performance when enabled.

  • Page 41: Cpu Clock Skew

    CPU Clock Skew Allows you to set the CPU clock prior to the Chipset clock. Options are: 0ps~750ps. (Default: 0ps)  Advanced Memory Settings CMOS Setup Utility-Copyright (C) 1984-2009 Award Software Advanced Memory Settings Item Help Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.) [Disabled] (Note) Menu Level  System Memory Multiplier (SPD) [Auto]...

  • Page 42: Channel Interleaving

    Profile DDR Voltage When using a non-XMP memory module or Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.) is set to Disabled, this item will display as 1.5V. When Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.) is set to Profile1 or Profile2, this item will display the value based on the SPD data on the XMP memory. Profile QPI Voltage The value displayed here is dependent on the CPU being used.
  • Page 43 tWTR Options are: Auto (default), 1~31. Options are: Auto (default), 1~15. tWTP Options are: Auto (default), 1~31. Options are: Auto (default), 1~10 tRFC Options are: Auto (default), 1~255. tRTP Options are: Auto (default), 1~15. tFAW Options are: Auto (default), 1~63. Command Rate(CMD) Options are: Auto (default), 1~3.
  • Page 44 >>> CPU Load-Line Calibration Enables or disables Load-Line Calibration. Enabling this feature adjusts Vdroop, keeping the CPU voltage more constant under light and heavy CPU load. Disabled sets the CPU voltage following Intel specifications. (Default: Disabled) Note: Enabling Load-Line Calibration may result in damage to your CPU or reduce the useful life of the CPU.
  • Page 45  Miscellaneous Settings CMOS Setup Utility-Copyright (C) 1984-2009 Award Software Miscellaneous Settings Item Help Isochronous Support [Enabled] Menu Level  Virtualization Technology [Enabled] (Note) higf : Move Enter: Select +/-/PU/PD: Value F10: Save ESC: Exit F1: General Help F5: Previous Values F6: Fail-Safe Defaults F7: Optimized Defaults Isochronous Support...

  • Page 46: Standard Cmos Features

    Standard CMOS Features CMOS Setup Utility-Copyright (C) 1984-2009 Award Software Standard CMOS Features Item Help Date (mm:dd:yy) Thu, Oct 8 2009 Menu Level  Time (hh:mm:ss) 22:31:24  IDE Channel 0 Master [None]  IDE Channel 0 Slave [None]  IDE Channel 1 Master [None] ...
  • Page 47 If no IDE/SATA devices are used, set this item to None so the system will skip • None the detection of the device during the POST for faster system startup. Lets the BIOS automatically detect IDE/SATA devices during the POST. (Default) • Auto Allows you to manually enter the specifications of the hard drive when the hard • Manual...

  • Page 48: Advanced Bios Features

    Advanced BIOS Features CMOS Setup Utility-Copyright (C) 1984-2009 Award Software Advanced BIOS Features Item Help  Hard Disk Boot Priority [Press Enter] Menu Level  Quick Boot [Disabled] First Boot Device [Hard Disk] Second Boot Device [CDROM] Third Boot Device [Floppy] Password Check [Setup]...

  • Page 49: Init Display First

    Allows you to set a delay time for the BIOS to initialize the hard drive as the system boots up. The ad- justable range is from 0 to 15 seconds. (Default: 0) Full Screen LOGO Show Allows you to determine whether to display the GIGABYTE Logo at system startup. Disabled displays normal POST message. (Default: Enabled) Backup BIOS Image to HDD Allows the system to copy the BIOS image file to the hard drive. If the system BIOS is corrupted, it will...

  • Page 50: Integrated Peripherals

    Enables or disables the X.H.D function for the SATA controllers integrated in the Intel P55 Chipset. When set to Enabled, the PCH SATA Control Mode item below will be set to RAID(XHD) automatically. For details on using the GIGABYTE X.H.D utility, refer to Chaper 4, "eXtreme Hard Drive (X.H.D)." (Default: Disabled)

  • Page 51: Usb Storage Function

    PCH SATA Control Mode (Intel P55 Chipset) Enables or disables RAID for the SATA controllers integrated in the Intel P55 Chipset or configures the SATA controllers to AHCI mode. IDE Disables RAID for the SATA controllers and configures the SATA controllers to IDE mode. (Default) RAID(XHD) Enables RAID for the SATA controllers. AHCI Configures the SATA controllers to AHCI mode. Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) is an interface specification that allows the storage driver to enable advanced Serial ATA features such as Native Command Queuing and hot plug. SATA Port0-3 Native Mode (Intel P55 Chipset) Specifies the operating mode of the integrated SATA controllers.
  • Page 52 SMART LAN CMOS Setup Utility-Copyright (C) 1984-2009 Award Software SMART LAN Item Help Start detecting at Port..Menu Level  Part1-2 Status = Open / Length = Part3-6 Status = Open / Length = Part4-5 Status = Open / Length = Part7-8 Status = Open / Length = higf : Move Enter: Select...

  • Page 53: Onboard Parallel Port

    Onboard LAN Boot ROM Allows you to decide whether to activate the boot ROM integrated with the onboard LAN chip. (Default: Disabled) Onboard USB 3.0 Controller (NEC Chip) Enables or disables the integrated USB 3.0 controller. (Default: Enabled) Onboard IDE Controller (IT8213 Chip) Enables or disables the IDE controller integrated in the IT8213 chip.

  • Page 54: Power Management Setup

    Power Management Setup CMOS Setup Utility-Copyright (C) 1984-2009 Award Software Power Management Setup Item Help ACPI Suspend Type [S3(STR)] Menu Level  Soft-Off by PWR-BTTN [Instant-Off] PME Event Wake Up [Enabled] Power On by Ring [Enabled] Resume by Alarm [Disabled] Date (of Month) Alarm Everyday Time (hh:mm:ss) Alarm...

  • Page 55: Eup Support

    Resume by Alarm Determines whether to power on the system at a desired time. (Default: Disabled) If enabled, set the date and time as following: Date (of Month) Alarm: Turn on the system at a specific time on each day or on a specific day in a month. Time (hh: mm: ss) Alarm: Set the time at which the system will be powered on automatically. Note: When using this function, avoid inadequate shutdown from the operating system or removal of the AC power, or the settings may not be effective.

  • Page 56: Pc Health Status

    PC Health Status CMOS Setup Utility-Copyright (C) 1984-2009 Award Software PC Health Status Item Help Reset Case Open Status [Disabled] Menu Level  Case Opened Vcore 1.220V DDR15V 1.504V 4.972V +12V 12.048V Current System Temperature Current CPU Temperature Current CPU FAN Speed 3375 RPM Current SYSTEM FAN2 Speed 0 RPM...
  • Page 57 CPU Smart FAN Control Specifies how to control CPU fan speed. This item is configurable only if CPU Smart FAN Control is set to Enabled. Auto Lets the BIOS automatically detect the type of CPU fan installed and sets the optimal CPU fan control mode. (Default) Voltage Sets Voltage mode for a 3-pin CPU fan. Sets PWM mode for a 4-pin CPU fan.

  • Page 58: Load Fail-Safe Defaults

    Load Fail-Safe Defaults CMOS Setup Utility-Copyright (C) 1984-2009 Award Software MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.) Load Fail-Safe Defaults  Standard CMOS Features Load Optimized Defaults  Advanced BIOS Features Set Supervisor Password  Integrated Peripherals Set User Password  Power Management Setup Save &...

  • Page 59: Set Supervisor/User Password

    2-11 Set Supervisor/User Password CMOS Setup Utility-Copyright (C) 1984-2009 Award Software MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.) Load Fail-Safe Defaults  Standard CMOS Features Load Optimized Defaults  Advanced BIOS Features Set Supervisor Password  Integrated Peripherals Set User Password  Power Management Setup Enter Password: Save &...

  • Page 60: Save & Exit Setup

    2-12 Save & Exit Setup CMOS Setup Utility-Copyright (C) 1984-2009 Award Software MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.) Load Fail-Safe Defaults  Standard CMOS Features Load Optimized Defaults  Advanced BIOS Features Set Supervisor Password  Integrated Peripherals Set User Password  Power Management Setup Save &...

  • Page 61: Chapter 3 Drivers Installation

    Chapter 3 Drivers Installation • Before installing the drivers, first install the operating system. • After installing the operating system, insert the motherboard driver disk into your optical drive. The driver Autorun screen is automatically displayed which looks like that shown in the screen shot below. (If the driver Autorun screen does not appear automatically, go to My Computer, double-click the optical drive and execute the Run.exe program.) Installing Chipset Drivers After inserting the driver disk, "Xpress Install"...

  • Page 62: Application Software

    Application Software This page displays all the utilities and applications that GIGABYTE develops and some free software. You can click the Install button on the right of an item to install it. Technical Manuals This page provides GIGABYTE's application guides, content descriptions for this driver disk, and the mother- board manuals.

  • Page 63: Contact

    Contact For the detailed contact information of the GIGABYTE Taiwan headquarter or worldwide branch offices, click the URL on this page to link to the GIGABYTE website. System This page provides the basic system information. - 63 - Drivers Installation...

  • Page 64: Download Center

    The latest version of the BIOS, drivers, or applications will be displayed. New Utilities This page provides a quick link to GIGABYTE's lately developed utilities for users to install. You can click the Install button on the right of an item to install it.

  • Page 65: Chapter 4 Unique Features

    Chapter 4 Unique Features Xpress Recovery2 Xpress Recovery2 is a utility that allows you to quickly compress and back up your system data and perform restoration of it. Supporting NTFS, FAT32, and FAT16 file systems, Xpress Recovery2 can back up data on PATA and SATA hard drives and restore it.
  • Page 66 Step 3: Step 4: When partitioning your hard drive, make sure to After the operating system is installed, right-click the Computer icon on your desktop and select leave unallocated space (10 GB or more is recom- mended; actual size requirements vary, depending Manage.
  • Page 67 D. Using the Restore Function in Xpress Recovery2 Select RESTORE to restore the backup to your hard drive in case the system breaks down. The RESTORE option will not be present if no backup is created before. E. Removing the Backup Step 1: Step 2: If you wish to remove the backup file, select...

  • Page 68: Bios Update Utilities

    BIOS Update Utilities GIGABYTE motherboards provide two unique BIOS update tools, Q-Flash and @BIOS . GIGABYTE ™ ™ Q-Flash and @BIOS are easy-to-use and allow you to update the BIOS without the need to enter MS-DOS mode. Additionally, this motherboard features the DualBIOS design, which enhances protection for the ™...
  • Page 69 B. Updating the BIOS When updating the BIOS, choose the location where the BIOS file is saved. The following procedure as- sumes that you save the BIOS file to a floppy disk. Step 1: 1. Insert the floppy disk containing the BIOS file into the floppy disk drive. In the main menu of Q-Flash, use the up or down arrow key to select Update BIOS from Drive and press <Enter>. •...
  • Page 70 Step 4: Press <Esc> and then <Enter> to exit Q-Flash and reboot the system. As the system boots, you should see the new BIOS version is present on the POST screen. Step 5: During the POST, press <Delete> to enter BIOS Setup. Select Load Optimized Defaults and press <Enter> to load BIOS defaults.

  • Page 71: Updating The Bios With The @Bios Utility

    BIOS or a system that is unable to start. Do not use the G.O.M. (GIGABYTE Online Management) function when using @BIOS. GIGABYTE product warranty does not cover any BIOS damage or system failure resulting from an inad- equate BIOS flashing.

  • Page 72: Easytune 6

    EasyTune 6 GIGABYTE's EasyTune 6 is a simple and easy-to-use interface that allows users to fine-tune their system settings or do overclock/overvoltage in Windows environment. The user-friendly EasyTune 6 interface also includes tabbed pages for CPU and memory information, letting users read their system-related information without the need to install additional software. The EasyTune 6 Interface...

  • Page 73: Dynamic Energy Saver ™ 2

    The Dynamic Energy Saver 2 Interface ™ A. Meter Mode In Meter Mode, GIGABYTE Dynamic Energy Saver 2 shows how much power they have saved in a set pe- ™ riod of time. 12 13 14 Meter Mode - Button Information Table...
  • Page 74 B. Total Mode In Total Mode, users are able to see how much total power savings they have accumulated in a set period of time since activating Dynamic Energy Saver 2 for the first time ™ (Note 3) 11 12 13 Total Mode - Button Information Table Button Description Dynamic Energy Saver On/Off Switch (Default: Off) Current CPU Power Consumption...

  • Page 75: Q-Share

    Q-Share, you are able to share your data with computers on the same network, making full use of Internet resources. Directions for using Q-Share After installing Q-Share from the motherboard driver disk, go to Start>All Programs>GIGABYTE>Q-Share. exe to launch the Q-Share tool. Find the Q-Share icon in the notification area and right-click on this icon to configure the data sharing settings.

  • Page 76: Smart 6

    Smart 6 ™ GIGABYTE Smart 6 is designed with user-friendliness in mind, and offers a combination of 6 innovative ™ (Note 1) software utilities that provide easier and smarter PC system management. Smart 6 allows you to speed up ™...

  • Page 77: Smart Recovery

    SMART Recovery With SMART Recovery, users can quickly create backups of changed data files or copy (Note 2) files from a specific backup on PATA and SATA hard drives (partitioned on NTFS file system) in Windows Vista. Instructions: In the main menu, click the Config button to open the Smart Recov- ery Preference dialog box. The Smart Recovery Preference dialog box: Button Function Enable...

  • Page 78: Smart Timelock

    SMART Recorder SMART Recorder monitors and records the activities in a system such as the time when the computer was turned on/off or even when large data files were moved within the hard drive or copied to an external storage device (Note 5) Instructions: Select the Enable check box at the bottom of the ON/OFF Recorder or File Monitor tab to enable the recording of system on/off time or files copying. Entering the Smart 6 password is required before you...

  • Page 79: Auto Green

    Auto Green Auto Green is an easy-to-use tool that provides users with simple options to enable system power savings via a Bluetooth cell phone. When the phone is out of the range of the computer's Bluetooth receiver, the sys- tem will enter the specified power saving mode. The Configuration dialog box: First, you have to set your Bluetooth cell phone as a portable key.

  • Page 80: Extreme Hard Drive (X.h.d)

    After installing the operating system, insert the motherboard driver disk. You can click the Xpress Install All button to automatically install all motherboard drivers, including the X.H.D utility. Or you can go to the Applica- tion Software screen to individually install the X.H.D utility later. B. Using GIGABYTE eXtreme Hard Drive (X.H.D) (Note 2) Instructions: Before launching X.H.D, make sure the newly added hard-...

  • Page 81: Chapter 5 Appendix

    Chapter 5 Appendix Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s) To configure SATA hard drive(s), follow the steps below: A. Install SATA hard drive(s) in your computer. B. Configure SATA controller mode in BIOS Setup. C. Configure a RAID array in RAID BIOS. (Note 1) D. Make a floppy disk containing the SATA RAID/AHCI driver for Windows XP. (Note 2) E. Install the SATA RAID/AHCI driver and operating system. (Note 2) Before you begin Please prepare:...
  • Page 82 B. Configuring SATA controller mode in BIOS Setup Make sure to configure the SATA controller mode correctly in system BIOS Setup. Step 1: Turn on your computer and press <Delete> to enter BIOS Setup during the POST (Power-On Self-Test). To create RAID, set PCH SATA Control Mode under the Integrated Peripherals menu to RAID(XHD) (Figure 1) (Disabled by default).
  • Page 83 C. Configuring a RAID array in RAID BIOS Enter the RAID BIOS setup utility to configure a RAID array. Skip this step and proceed with the installation of Windows operating system for a non-RAID configuration. Step 1: After the POST memory test begins and before the operating system boot begins, look for a message which says "Press <Ctrl-I> to enter Configuration Utility" (Figure 2). Press <Ctrl> + <I> to enter the P55 RAID Con- figuration Utility. Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager option ROM v8.9.0.1023 PCH-D wRAID5 Copyright(C) 2003-09 Intel Corporation.
  • Page 84 Step 3: After entering the CREATE VOLUME MENU screen, enter a volume name with 1~16 letters (letters cannot be special characters) under the Name item and press <Enter>. Then, select a RAID level (Figure 4). RAID levels supported include RAID 0, RAID 1, Recovery, RAID 10, and RAID 5 (the selections available depend on the number of the hard drives being installed).
  • Page 85 Step 5: Enter the array capacity and press <Enter>. Finally press <Enter> on the Create Volume item to begin creat- ing the RAID array. When prompted to confirm whether to create this volume, press <Y> to confirm or <N> to cancel (Figure 6). Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager option ROM v8.9.0.1023 PCH-D wRAID5 Copyright(C) 2003-09 Intel Corporation. All Rights Reserved. [ CREATE VOLUME MENU ] Name : Volume0 RAID Level : RAID0(Stripe)
  • Page 86 Recovery Volume Options Intel Rapid Recover Technology provides data protection by allowing users to easily restore data and system operation using a designated recovery drive. With the Rapid Recovery Technology, which employs RAID 1 functionality, users can copy the data from the master drive to the recovery drive; if needed, the data on the recovery drive can be restored back to the master drive.
  • Page 87 Step 3: Press <Enter> under the Select Disks item. In the SELECT DISKS box, press <Tab> on the hard drive you want to use for the master drive and press <Space> on the hard drive you want to use for the recovery drive. (Make sure the recovery drive has equal or larger capacity than the master drive.) Then press <Enter>...
  • Page 88 Delete RAID Volume To delete a RAID array, select Delete RAID Volume in MAIN MENU and press <Enter>. In the DELETE VOLUME MENU section, use the up or down arrow key to select the array to be deleted and press <Delete>. When prompted to confirm your selection (Figure 12), press <Y> to confirm or <N> to abort.

  • Page 89: Configuring Marvell 9128 Sata Controller

    5-1-2 Configuring Marvell 9128 SATA Controller A. Installing SATA hard drive(s) in your computer Attach one end of the SATA signal cable to the rear of the SATA hard drive and the other end to available SATA port on the motherboard. The Marvell 9128 SATA controller controls the GSATA3_6/7 ports on the motherboard.
  • Page 90 C. Configuring a RAID array Create a RAID Array: Move the selection bar to HBA 0: Marvell 0 and press <Enter>. Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2009 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. Topology Information Vendor ID 1B4B HBA 0 : Marvell 0 Device ID 91A3 Virtual Disks...
  • Page 91 2. Stripe Size: Select the stripe block size. Options include 32 KB and 64 KB. 3. Gigabyte Rounding: Select whether to permit the installation of a replacement drive that is smaller than the failed drive when performing a RAID 1 rebuild. Options include None, 1G, and 10G.
  • Page 92 When completed, you can see the new array under Topology\Virtual Disks (Figure 6). Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2009 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. Topology Information Vendor ID 1B4B HBA 0 : Marvell 0 Device ID 91A3 Virtual Disks Revision ID VD 0: New_VD BIOS Version 1.0.0.1006 PD 0: WDC WD800JD-22L...
  • Page 93 With the Marvell RAID utility, you can set up an array or view the current array status in the operating system. To install the utility, insert the motherboard driver disk, then go to Application Software\Install GIGABYTE Utilities and select Marvell Raid Utility to install. Note: After the installation, you must login the utility with the same account name and password that you use to login the operating system.

  • Page 94: Making A Sata Raid/Ahci Driver Diskette

    5-1-3 Making a SATA RAID/AHCI Driver Diskette (Required for AHCI and RAID Mode) To successfully install operating system onto SATA hard drive(s) that is/are configured to RAID/AHCI mode, you need to install the SATA controller driver during the OS installation. Without the driver, the hard drive may not be recognized during the Windows setup process. First of all, copy the driver for the SATA controller from the motherboard driver disk to a floppy disk. For installing Windows Vista, you also can copy the SATA con- troller driver from the motherboard driver disk to a USB flash drive. See the instructions below about how to copy the driver in MS-DOS and Windows mode.

  • Page 95: Installing The Sata Raid/Ahci Driver And Operating System

    5-1-4 Installing the SATA RAID/AHCI Driver and Operating System With the SATA RAID/AHCI driver diskette and correct BIOS settings, you are ready to install Windows Vista/ XP onto your hard drive(s). The followings are examples of Windows XP and Vista installation. A.
  • Page 96 For the Marvell 9128: Insert the floppy disk containing the SATA AHCI driver and press <S>. The screen will display two drivers, both of which need to be installed (Figure 3). First select Marvell shared library (install first) and press <Enter>. On the next screen, press <S> to return to the screen in Figure 3. Then select Marvell 91xx SATA Controller 32bit Driver and press <Enter>. When both of the two drivers appear on the confirmation screen, press <Enter>...
  • Page 97 B. Installing Windows Vista The procedure below assumes that only one RAID array exists in your system. Note: You are not required to load the SATA AHCI driver first when installing Windows Vista onto the RAID drives attached to the Marvell 9128 controller. For the Intel P55: Step 1: Restart your system to boot from the Windows Vista setup disk and perform standard OS installation steps. When a screen similar to that below appears, select Load Driver (Figure 4).
  • Page 98 Step 3: When a screen as shown in Figure 6 appears, select Intel(R) ICH8R/ICH9R/ICH10R/DO/PCH SATA RAID Controller and click Next. Figure 6 Step 4: After the driver is loaded, select the RAID/AHCI drive(s) where you want to install the operating system and then click Next to continue the OS installation (Figure 7).
  • Page 99 C. Rebuilding an Array Rebuilding is the process of restoring data to a hard drive from other drives in the array. Rebuilding applies only to fault-tolerant arrays such as RAID 1, RAID 5 or RAID 10 arrays. The procedures below assume a new drive is added to replace a failed drive to rebuild a RAID 1 array.
  • Page 100 • Performing the Rebuild in the Operating System While in the operating system, make sure the chipset driver has been installed from the motherboard driver disk. Then launch the Intel Matrix Storage Console from All Programs in the Start menu. Step 1: Step 2: On the View menu of the Intel Matrix Storage...
  • Page 101 • Restoring the Master Drive to a Previous State (for Recovery Volume only) When two hard drives are set to Recovery Volume in Update on Request mode, you can restore the master drive data to the last backup state when needed. For example, in case the master drive detects a virus, you can restore the recovery drive data to the master drive.
  • Page 102 For the Marvell 9128: Turn off your computer and replace the failed hard drive with a new one. Please note to perform the rebuild, you must enter the GSATA RAID Configuration menu in BIOS Setup. Step 1: After the system starts, enter the BIOS Setup program and go to Integrated Peripherals. Press <Enter> on GSATA RAID Configuration to access the RAID configuration menu. Move the selection bar to the array to be rebuilt (for example, VD 0: New_VD) and press <Enter>...
  • Page 103 Step 3: The BGA Rebuild item in the Information block will display the current rebuild progress. After the rebuild is complete, the Status will display as Functional. Please note the rebuild will be stopped if you exit the rebuild screen before the rebuild is complete. Marvell BIOS Setup (c) 2009 Marvell Technology Group Ltd.

  • Page 104: Configuring Audio Input And Output

    Configuring Audio Input and Output 5-2-1 Configuring 2/4/5.1/7.1-Channel Audio The motherboard provides six audio jacks on the back panel which support 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel (Note) audio. The picture to the right shows the default audio Center/Subwoofer Line In Speaker Out jack assignments. Rear Speaker Out Front Speaker Out The integrated HD (High Definition) audio provides...
  • Page 105 Step 2: Connect an audio device to an audio jack. The The cur- rent connected device is dialog box appears. Select the device according to the type of device you connect. Then click OK. Step 3: On the Speakers screen, click the Speaker Configura- tion tab.

  • Page 106: Configuring S/Pdif In/Out

    5-2-2 Configuring S/PDIF In/Out A. S/PDIF In The S/PDIF In cable (optional) allows you to input digital audio signals to the computer for audio processing. S/PDIF In Cable Optical Coaxial S/PDIF In S/PDIF In 1. Installing the S/PDIF In Cable: Step 1: Step 2: First, attach the connector at the end of the cable...
  • Page 107 B. S/PDIF Out The S/PDIF Out jacks can transmit audio signals to an external decoder for decoding to get the best audio quality. 1. Connecting a S/PDIF Out Cable: S/PDIF Coaxial Cable S/PDIF Optical Cable Connect a S/PDIF coaxial cable or a S/PDIF optical cable (either one) to an external decoder for transmitting the S/PDIF digital audio signals.

  • Page 108: Configuring Microphone Recording

    5-2-3 Configuring Microphone Recording Step 1: After installing the audio driver, the HD Audio Manager icon will appear in the notification area. Double-click the icon to access the HD Audio Manager. Step 2: Connect your microphone to the Mic in jack (pink) on the back panel or the Mic in jack (pink) on the front panel. Then configure the jack for microphone function- ality.
  • Page 109 Step 4: To raise the recording and playback volume for the microphone, click the Microphone Boost icon the right of the Recording Volume slider and set the Microphone Boost level. Step 5: After completing the settings above, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Sound Recorder to begin the sound recording.

  • Page 110: Using The Sound Recorder

    Step 3: When the Stereo Mix item appears, right-click on this item and select Enable. Then set it as the default de- vice. Step 4: Now you can access the HD Audio Manager to config- ure Stereo Mix and use Sound Recorder to record the sound.

  • Page 111: Troubleshooting

    New Hardware Wizard appears, click Cancel. Then install the onboard HD audio driver from the motherboard driver disk or download the audio driver from GIGABYTE's website to install. For more details, go to the Support&Downloads\Motherboards\FAQ page on our website and search for "onboard HD audio driver."...

  • Page 112: Troubleshooting Procedure

    5-3-2 Troubleshooting Procedure If you encounter any troubles during system startup, follow the troubleshooting procedure below to solve the problem. START Turn off the power. Remove all peripherals, connecting cables, and power cord etc. Make sure the motherboard does not short-circuit with the chassis or Isolate the short circuit.
  • Page 113 The power supply, CPU or When the computer is turned on, is the CPU cooler running? CPU socket might fail. The problem is verified and solved. The graphics card, expansion slot, or monitor Check if there is display on your monitor. might fail. The problem is verified and solved. Turn off the computer. Plug in the keyboard and mouse and restart the computer.

  • Page 114: Regulatory Statements

    Contravention will be prosecuted. We believe that the information contained herein was accurate in all respects at the time of printing. GIGABYTE cannot, however, assume any responsibility for errors or omissions in this text. Also note that the informa- tion in this document is subject to change without notice and should not be construed as a commitment by GIGABYTE.
  • Page 115 Finally, we suggest that you practice other environmentally friendly actions by understanding and using the energy-saving features of this product (where applicable), recycling the inner and outer packaging (including shipping containers) this product was delivered in, and by disposing of or recycling used batteries properly. With your help, we can reduce the amount of natural resources needed to produce electrical and electronic equipment, minimize the use of landfills for the disposal of "end of life" products, and generally improve our quality of life by ensuring that potentially hazardous substances are not released into the environment and...
  • Page 116 Appendix - 116 -...
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  • Page 119 Shenyang http://rma.gigabyte.us Web address: http://latam.giga-byte.com TEL: +86-24-83992901 • Giga-Byte SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. - Singapore FAX: +86-24-83992909 • GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY (INDIA) LIMITED - India WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.sg • Thailand WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.in WEB address : http://th.giga-byte.com • Saudi Arabia •...
  • Page 120 WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.com.gr WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.kz • Czech Republic You may go to the GIGABYTE website, select your language WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.cz in the language list on the top right corner of the website. • GIGABYTE Global Service System...

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