Gigabyte GA-970A-D3 User Manual
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Gigabyte GA-970A-D3 User Manual

Gigabyte GA-970A-D3 User Manual

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GA-970A-D3
User's Manual
Rev. 3001
12ME-970AD3-3001R

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Summary of Contents for Gigabyte GA-970A-D3

  • Page 1 GA-970A-D3 User's Manual Rev. 3001 12ME-970AD3-3001R...

  • Page 3: Identifying 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 docu- mentations: „ 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-970A-D3 Motherboard Layout ...................7 GA-970A-D3 Motherboard 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...
  • Page 5 Chapter 3 Drivers Installation ..................51 Installing Chipset Drivers ................51 Application Software ..................52 Technical Manuals ..................52 Contact ......................53 System ......................53 Download Center ................... 54 New Program ....................54 Chapter 4 Unique Features ...................55 BIOS Update Utilities ..................55 4-1-1 Updating the BIOS with the Q-Flash Utility .............55 4-1-2...

  • Page 6: Box Contents

    Box Contents 5 GA-970A-D3 motherboard 5 Motherboard driver disk 5 User's Manual 5 Quick Installation Guide 5 Two SATA cables 5 I/O Shield The box contents above are for reference only and the actual items shall depend on the product package you obtain.

  • Page 7: Ga-970A-D3 Motherboard Layout

    GA-970A-D3 Motherboard Layout CPU_FAN KB_MS_USB OPTICAL ATX_12V Socket AM3+ R_USB2 R_USB1 PWR_FAN R_USB30 USB_LAN Etron EJ168 AUDIO AMD 970 PCIEX1_1 (Note) PCIEX16 Realtek GbE LAN GA-970A-D3 PCIEX1_2 CODEC PCIEX1_3 AMD SB950 PCIEX4 PCI1 B_BIOS M_BIOS PCI2 SYS_FAN1 CLR_CMOS F_AUDIO F_PANEL...

  • Page 8: Ga-970A-D3 Motherboard Block Diagram

    GA-970A-D3 Motherboard Block Diagram CPU CLK+/- (200 MHz) DDR3 2000 (O.C.)/1866/1600/ AM3+/AM3 CPU 1333/1066 MHz 1 PCI Express x16 Dual Channel Memory Hyper Transport PCIe CLK (100 MHz) 2 USB 3.0/2.0 3 PCI Express x1 RJ45 Etron Realtek GbE LAN EJ168 PCIe CLK AMD 970 (100 MHz) PCI Express Bus...

  • 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, make sure the chassis is suitable for the motherboard. • 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

    * D ue to a Windows 32-bit operating system limitation, when more than 4 GB of physical memory is installed, the actual memory size displayed will be less than the size of the physical memory installed. Dual channel memory architecture Š Support for DDR3 2000(O.C.)/1866/1600/1333/1066 MHz memory modules Š * T o support a DDR3 1866 MHz (and above) memory, you must install an AM3+ CPU first. ( Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest supported memory speeds and memory modules.) Audio VIA VT2021 codec Š High Definition Audio Š 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel Š...
  • Page 11 Internal 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector Š Connectors 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector Š 6 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors Š 1 x CPU fan header Š 2 x system fan headers Š 1 x power fan header Š 1 x front panel header Š 1 x front panel audio header Š...
  • Page 12 Support for 3TB+ Unlock Š Support for Q-Share Š Bundled Norton Internet Security (OEM version) Š Software Operating Support for Microsoft Windows 8/7/Vista/XP Š ® System Form Factor ATX Form Factor; 30.5cm x 22.4cm Š * G IGABYTE reserves the right to make any changes to the product specifications and product-related information without prior notice. * P lease visit the Support & Downloads\Utility page on GIGABYTE's website to check the supported operating system(s) for the software listed in the "Unique Features" and "Bundled Software" columns. Hardware Installation - 12 -...

  • 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. •...

  • 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 CPU. (The following procedure uses the GIGABYTE cooler as the example.) Step 1: Step 2: Place the CPU cooler on the CPU. Apply an even and thin layer of thermal grease on the surface of the installed CPU.

  • 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 supported memory speeds and memory modules.) • 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. Notch DDR3 DIMM A DDR3 memory module has a notch, so it can only fit in one direction. Follow the steps below to correctly install...

  • 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 keyboard/mouse, USB printer, USB flash drive and etc. PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse Port Use this port to connect a PS/2 mouse or keyboard. Optical S/PDIF Out Connector This connector provides digital audio out to an external audio system that supports digital optical audio.
  • 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 F_PANEL CPU_FAN F_AUDIO SYS_FAN1/SYS_FAN2 SPDIF_O PWR_FAN F_USB1/F_USB2/F_USB3 CLR_CMOS COMA SATA3 0/1/2/3/4/5 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. Unplug the power cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the devices.
  • Page 22 1/2) ATX_12V/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 components 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. The 12V power connector mainly supplies power to the CPU. If the 12V power connector is not connected, the computer will not start. To meet expansion requirements, it is recommended that a power supply that can withstand high power consumption be used (500W or greater). If a power supply is used that does not provide the required power, the result can lead to an unstable or unbootable system.

  • Page 23: Fan Headers

    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 3-pin (SYS_FAN2) and a 4-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). The speed control function requires the use of a fan with fan speed control design. For optimum heat dissipation, it is recommended that a system fan be installed inside the chassis. CPU_FAN: Pin No. Definition +12V /Speed Control Sense CPU_FAN Speed Control SYS_FAN1: Pin No. Definition +12V /Speed Control Sense SYS_FAN1 Reserve...
  • Page 24 7) SATA3 0/1/2/3/4/5 (SATA 6Gb/s Connectors) The SATA connectors conform to SATA 6Gb/s standard and are compatible with SATA 3Gb/s and SATA 1.5Gb/s standard. Each SATA connector supports a single SATA device. The AMD SB950 South Bridge supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, and JBOD. Refer to Chapter 5, "Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s)," for instructions on configuring a RAID array. Pin No. Definition SATA3 0 2 4 1 3 5...

  • Page 25: F_Panel Front Panel Header

    9) 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 26: Front Panel Audio Header

    10) 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.

  • Page 27: Serial Port Header

    12) F_USB1/F_USB2/F_USB3 (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 When the system is in S4/S5 mode, only the USB ports routed to the F_USB1 header can support the ON/OFF Charge function. • Do not plug the IEEE 1394 bracket (2x5-pin) cable into the USB header. • Prior to installing the USB bracket, be sure to turn off your computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the USB bracket.
  • Page 28 BIOS S DB_PORT 14) TPM (Trusted Platform Module Header) You may connect a TPM (Trusted Platform Module) to this header. Voltage measurement module(X58A-OC) w/housing Pin No. Definition Pin No. Definition LCLK LAD0 PCIe power connector (SATA)(X58A-OC) LFRAME No Pin LRESET SB3V SERIRQ LAD3 LAD2 VCC3 LAD1 SUSCLK BIOS Switcher (SW4) Voltage measurement points(G1.Sniper 3) Hardware Installation - 28 -...

  • Page 29: Chapter 2 Bios Setup

    To access the BIOS Setup program, press the <Delete> key during the POST when the power is turned on. 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 system.

  • Page 30: Startup Screen

    Startup Screen The following startup Logo screen will appear when the computer boots. Function Keys Function Keys: <DEL>: BIOS SETUP\Q-FLASH Press the <Delete> key to enter BIOS Setup or to access the Q-Flash utility in BIOS Setup. <F9>: SYSTEM INFORMATION Press the <F9>...

  • Page 31: The Main Menu

    The Main Menu On the main menu of the BIOS Setup program, press arrow keys to move among the items and press <Enter> to accept or enter a sub-menu. Or you can use your mouse to select the item you want. (Sample BIOS Version: E17) Setup Menus Enter Q-Flash...

  • Page 32: Bios Features

    BIOS Setup Menus „ M.I.T. Use this menu to configure the clock, frequency, and voltages of your CPU and memory, etc. Or check the system/CPU temperatures, voltages, and fan speeds. „ System Use this menu to configure the default language used by the BIOS and system time and date. This menu also displays information on the devices connected to the SATA ports. „ BIOS Features Use this menu to configure the device boot order, advanced features available on the CPU, and the primary display adapter. „ Peripherals Use this menu to configure all peripheral devices, such as SATA, USB, integrated audio, and integrated LAN, etc. „ Power Management Use this menu to configure all the power-saving functions.

  • Page 33: M.i.t

    M.I.T. Whether the system will work stably with the overclock/overvoltage settings you made is dependent on your overall system configurations. Incorrectly doing overclock/overvoltage may result in damage to CPU, chipset, or memory and reduce the useful life of these components. This page is for advanced users only and we recommend you not to alter the default settings to prevent system instability or other unexpected results. (Inadequately altering the settings may result in system's failure to boot. If this occurs, clear the CMOS values and reset the board to default values.) This section provides information on the BIOS version, CPU base clock, CPU frequency, memory frequency, total memory size, CPU temperature, Vcore, and memory voltage.
  • Page 34 ` M.I.T. Current Status This screen provides information on CPU/memory frequencies/parameters. ` Advanced Frequency Settings & BCLK Clock Control Allows you to manually set the CPU base clock in 1 MHz increments. (Default: Auto) Important: It is highly recommended that the CPU frequency be set in accordance with the CPU specifications. & CPU NorthBridge Frequency Allows you to alter the North Bridge controller frequency for the installed CPU.

  • Page 35: C1E Support

    ` Advanced CPU Core Features & CPU Clock Ratio, CPU Frequency The settings above are synchronous to those under the same items on the Advanced Frequency Settings menu. & Core Performance Boost (Note) Allows you to determine whether to enable the Core Performance Boost (CPB) technology, a CPU performance-boost technology. (Default: Auto) &...
  • Page 36 & CPU core Control (Note 1) Allows you to determine whether to manually enable/disable CPU cores. Automatic mode allows the BIOS to enable all CPU cores (number of cores available depends on the CPU being used). (Default: Automatic mode) & Core C6 State (Note 1) A llows you to determine whether to let the CPU enter C6 mode in system halt state. When enabled, the CPU core frequency will be reduced during system halt state to decrease power consumption. The C6 state is a more enhanced power-saving state than C1. (Default: Enabled) &...
  • Page 37 ` Advanced Memory Settings & Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.) , System Memory Multiplier, Memory Frequency(MHz) (Note) The settings above are synchronous to those under the same items on the Advanced Frequency Settings menu. & Performance Enhance Allows the system to operate at three different performance levels. Lets the system operate at its basic performance level.
  • Page 38 Channel A/B Timing Settings This sub-menu provides memory timing settings for each channel of memory. The respective timing setting screens are configurable only when DRAM Timing Selectable is set to Quick or Expert. Note: Your system may become unstable or fail to boot after you make changes on the memory timings. If this occurs, please reset the board to default values by loading optimized defaults or clearing the CMOS values.

  • Page 39: Pc Health Status

    ` PC Health Status & Reset Case Open Status Disabled Keeps or clears the record of previous chassis intrusion status. (Default) Clears the record of previous chassis intrusion status and the Case Open field will show Enabled "No" at next boot. & Case Open Displays the detection status of the chassis intrusion detection device attached to the motherboard CI header. If the system chassis cover is removed, this field will show "Yes", otherwise it will show "No". To clear the chassis intrusion status record, set Reset Case Open Status to Enabled, save the settings to the CMOS, and then restart your system.
  • Page 40 & CPU Vcore/Dram Voltage/+3.3V/+5V/+12V Displays the current system voltages. & CPU/System Temperature Displays current CPU/system temperature. & CPU/System/Power Fan Speed Displays current CPU/system/power fan speed. & CPU Warning Temperature Sets the warning threshold for CPU temperature. When CPU temperature exceeds the threshold, BIOS will emit warning sound. Options are: Disabled (default), 60 C/140 F, 70 C/158 F, 80 C/176 F, 90 C/194 &...

  • Page 41: System

    System This section provides information on your motherboard model and BIOS version. You can also select the default language used by the BIOS and manually set the system time. & System Language Selects the default language used by the BIOS. &...

  • Page 42: Bios Features

    BIOS Features & Boot Option Priorities Specifies the overall boot order from the available devices. For example, you can set hard drive as the first priority (Boot Option #1) and DVD ROM drive as the second priority (Boot Option #2). The list only displays the device with the highest priority for a specific type. For example, only hard drive defined as the first priority on the Hard Drive BBS Priorities submenu will be presented here. Removable storage devices that support GPT format will be prefixed with "UEFI:" string on the boot device list. To boot from an operating system that supports GPT partitioning, select the device prefixed with "UEFI:" string. Or if you want to install an operating system that supports GPT partitioning such as Windows 7 64-bit, select the optical drive that contains the Windows 7 64-bit installation disk and is prefixed with "UEFI:" string. BIOS Setup - 42 -...

  • Page 43: Bootup Numlock State

    A password is required for booting the system and for entering the BIOS Setup program. System (Default) & Full Screen LOGO Show Allows you to determine whether to display the GIGABYTE Logo at system startup. Disabled skips the GIGABYTE Logo when the system starts up. (Default: Enabled) & CSM Support Enables or disables UEFI CSM (Compatibility Support Module) to support a legacy PC boot process.

  • Page 44: Network Stack

    & Display Boot Option Control Allows you to select whether to enable the UEFI or legacy option ROM for the graphics controller. Disables option ROM. Disabled Enables legacy option ROM only. (Default) Legacy Only UEFI Only Enables UEFI option ROM only. Enables legacy option ROM first. Legacy First UEFI First Enables UEFI option ROM first. This item is configurable only when CSM Support is set to Always. &...

  • Page 45: Peripherals

    Peripherals & OnChip SATA Controller Enables or disables the integrated SATA controllers. (Default: Enabled) & OnChip SATA Type Enables or disables RAID for the SATA controllers integrated in the AMD Chipset or configures the SATA controllers to AHCI mode. Native IDE Configures the SATA controller to IDE mode. (Default) Enables RAID for the SATA controller. RAID AHCI C onfigures 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. & OnChip SATA Port4/5 Type (SATA3 4/SATA3 5 connectors) This option is configurable only when OnChip SATA Type is set to RAID or AHCI. Configures the operating mode of the integrated SATA3 4/SATA4 5 connectors.

  • Page 46: Trusted Computing

    & Onboard LAN Controller Enables or disables the onboard LAN function. (Default: Enabled) If you wish to install a 3rd party add-in network card instead of using the onboard LAN, set this item to Disabled. & Legacy USB Support Allows USB keyboard/mouse to be used in MS-DOS. (Default: Enabled) & XHCI Hand-off Determines whether to enable XHCI Hand-off feature for an operating system without XHCI Hand-off support. (Default: Enabled) &...
  • Page 47 ` SB SATA Configuration & SATA Hot Plug on PORT0~SATA Hot Plug on PORT5 Enables or disable the hot plug capability for each SATA port. (Default: Disabled) & SATA Power on PORT0~SATA Power on PORT5 Enables or disables each SATA port. (Default: Enabled) ` Super IO Configuration This section provides information on the super I/O chip and allows you to configure the serial port.

  • Page 48: Power Management

    Power Management & 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: Wake up day: Turn on the system at a specific time on each day or on a specific day in a month. Wake up hour/minute/second: 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. & HPET Support Enables or disables High Precision Event Timer (HPET) for Windows 7/Vista operating system. (Default: Enabled) & Soft-Off by PWR-BTTN Configures the way to turn off the computer in MS-DOS mode using the power button. Instant-Off Press the power button and then the system will be turned off instantly. (Default) Delay 4 Sec Press and hold the power button for 4 seconds to turn off the system.

  • Page 49: Power On Password

    & Power On By Keyboard Allows the system to be turned on by a PS/2 keyboard wake-up event. Note: To use this function, you need an ATX power supply providing at least 1A on the +5VSB lead. Disabled Disables this function. (Default) Set a password with 1~5 characters to turn on the system. Password Press POWER button on the Windows 98 keyboard to turn on the system. Keyboard 98 Any key Press any key to turn on the system. &...

  • Page 50: Save & Exit

    Save & Exit & Save & Exit Setup Press <Enter> on this item and select Yes. This saves the changes to the CMOS and exits the BIOS Setup program. Select No or press <Esc> to return to the BIOS Setup Main Menu. &...

  • Page 51: Chapter 3 Drivers Installation

    • Some device drivers will restart your system automatically during the driver installation. After the system restart, "Xpress Install" will continue to install other drivers. • After "Xpress Install" installs all of the drivers, a dialog box will appear asking whether to install new GIGABYTE utilities. Click Yes to automatically install the utilities. Or click No if you want to manually select the utilities to install on the Application Software page later. • For USB 2.0 driver support under the Windows XP operating system, please install the Windows XP Service Pack 1 or later. After installing the SP1 (or later), if a question mark still exists in...

  • Page 52: 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 the content descriptions for this driver disk.

  • Page 53: 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. - 53 - Drivers Installation...

  • Page 54: Download Center

    The latest version of the BIOS, drivers, or applications will be displayed. New Program 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 55: Chapter 4 Unique Features

    @BIOS will download the latest BIOS file from the nearest @BIOS server site and update the BIOS. 4-1-1 Updating the BIOS with the Q-Flash Utility A. Before You Begin From GIGABYTE's website, download the latest compressed BIOS update file that matches your motherboard model. Extract the file and save the new BIOS file (e.g. 970AD33.F1) to your USB flash drive or hard drive. Note: The USB flash drive or hard drive must use FAT32/16/12 file system. Restart the system. During the POST, press the <End> key to enter Q-Flash. Note: You can access Q-Flash by either pressing the <End>...
  • Page 56 B. Updating the BIOS In the main menu of Q-Flash, use the keyboard or mouse to select an item to execute. When updating the BIOS, choose the location where the BIOS file is saved. The following procedure assumes that you save the BIOS file to a USB flash drive. Step 1: 1. Insert the USB flash drive containing the BIOS file into the computer. In the main menu of Q-Flash, select Update BIOS From Drive. • The Save BIOS to Drive option allows you to save the current BIOS file. • Q-Flash only supports USB flash drive or hard drives using FAT32/16/12 file system. • If the BIOS update file is saved to a hard drive in RAID/AHCI mode or a hard drive attached to an independent SATA controller, use the <End> key during the POST to access Q-Flash. Select USB Flash Drive. Q-Flash Utility v1.05 Model Name : 970A-D3 BIOS Version : E7...
  • Page 57 Step 4: During the POST, press <Delete> to enter BIOS Setup. Select Load Optimized Defaults on the Save & Exit screen and press <Enter> to load BIOS defaults. System will re-detect all peripheral devices after a BIOS update, so we recommend that you reload BIOS defaults. Select Yes to load BIOS defaults Step 5: Select Save &...

  • Page 58: Updating The Bios With The @Bios Utility

    B. Using @BIOS Update the BIOS Using the Internet Update Function: Click Update BIOS from GIGABYTE Server, select the @BIOS server site closest to your location and then download the BIOS file that matches your motherboard model. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete. If the BIOS update file for your motherboard is not present on the @BIOS server site, please manually download the BIOS update file from GIGABYTE's website and follow the instructions in "Update the BIOS without Using the Internet Update Function" below.

  • Page 59: 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 Tabs Information Function The CPU tab provides information on the installed CPU and motherboard.

  • Page 60: Q-Share

    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 61: Smart Recovery 2

    Smart Recovery 2 Smart Recovery 2 allows you to back up a partition as an image file every hour. You can use these images to restore your system or files when needed. The Smart Recovery 2 main menu: Button Function Settings Allows you to select the source and destination partition Backup Now Allows you to perform the backup immediately File Recovery... Allows you to recover your files from the backup image System Allows you to recover your system from the backup Recovery...
  • Page 62 Recovering your system with Smart Recovery 2 (Windows 7 only): Steps: 1. Click the System Recovery button on the main menu. 2. Select the location where your backup is saved. 3. Use the time slider to select a time point. 4.

  • Page 63: 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 system will enter the specified power saving mode. The Configuration dialog box: First, you have to set your Bluetooth cell phone as a portable key. On the Auto Green main menu, click Configure and then click Configure BT devices.
  • Page 64 Unique Features - 64 -...

  • Page 65: Chapter 5 Appendix

    Chapter 5 Appendix 5-1 Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s) RAID Levels RAID 0 RAID 1 RAID 5 RAID 10 Minimum Number of Hard ≥2 ≥3 ≥4 Drives Array Capacity Number of hard Size of the smallest (Number of hard (Number of hard drives * Size of the drive drives -1) * Size of drives/2) * Size of the smallest drive the smallest drive smallest drive Fault Tolerance To configure SATA hard drive(s), follow the steps below:...
  • Page 66 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). Make sure OnChip SATA Channel is enabled. To enable RAID for the SATA3 0/1/2/3 connectors, set OnChip SATA Type to RAID. To enable RAID for the SATA3 4~SATA3 5 connectors, set OnChip SATA Type to RAID and set OnChip SATA Port4/5 Type to As SATA Type (Figure 1).
  • Page 67 C. Configuring RAID set 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-F> to enter RAID Option ROM Utility" (Figure 2). Press <Ctrl> + <F> to enter the RAID BIOS setup utility. RAID Option ROM Version 3.3.1540.17 (c) 2011 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. All rights reserved. No Array is defined..
  • Page 68 LD No LD Name RAID Mode LD 1 Logical Drive 1 RAID 0 Stripe Block 64 KB Initialization Fast Gigabyte Boundary Sector Size 512 B Read Policy Read Ahead Write Policy WriteBack [ Drives Assignments ] Port:ID Drive Model Capabilities...
  • Page 69 In the following procedure, we'll create RAID 0 as an example. 1. Under the RAID Mode section, press the <SPACE> key to select RAID 0. 2. Set the Stripe Block size. 64 KB is the default. 3. Under the Drives Assignments section, press the up or down arrow key to highlight a drive. 4.
  • Page 70 View Drive Assignments The View Drive Assignments option in the Main Menu displays whether the attached hard drives are assigned to a disk array or are unassigned. Under the Assignment column, drives are labeled with their assigned disk array or shown as Free if unassigned. Option ROM Utility (c) 2011 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

  • Page 71: Installing The Sata Raid/Ahci Driver And Operating System

    5-1-2 Installing the SATA RAID/AHCI Driver and Operating System With the correct BIOS settings, you are ready to install Windows 7/Vista/XP. A. Installing Windows 7/Vista (The following instructions use Windows 7 as the example operating system.) Step 1: You need to install the SATA RAID/AHCI driver during the OS installation. Use an alternative system to copy the SATA RAID/AHCI driver from the motherboard driver disk to a USB flash drive. Copy the Hw7 folder under BootDrv in the driver disk. Step 2: Boot from the Windows 7/Vista setup disk and perform standard OS installation steps. When the screen requesting you to load the driver appears, select Browse.
  • Page 72 B. Installing Windows XP Before installing Windows XP, connect a USB floppy disk drive to your computer first because you need to install the SATA RAID/AHCI driver from a floppy disk that contains the driver during the OS installation. Without the driver, the hard drive(s) may not be recognized during the Windows setup process. First, copy the driver from the motherboard driver disk to a floppy disk. Refer to the methods below. Method A: • For the AMD SB950, copy all files in the \BootDrv\Hxp folder to your floppy disk. Method B: Steps: 1. Use an alternative system and insert the motherboard driver disk. 2. From your optical drive folder, double click the Menu.exe file in the BootDrv folder. A Command Prompt window will open similar to that in Figure 2.
  • Page 73 Refer to the following for installing the driver during the Windows setup process. Step 1: Restart your system to boot from the Windows XP setup disk and press <F6> as soon as you see the message "Press F6 if you need to install a 3rd party SCSI or RAID driver." A screen will then appear asking you to specify an additional SCSI adapter. Press <S>. Step 2: Insert the floppy disk containing the SATA RAID/AHCI driver and press <Enter>. Then a controller menu similar to that in Figure 3 will appear. Select AMD AHCI Compatible RAID Controller-x86 platform and press <Enter>. Windows Setup You have chosen to configure a SCSI Adapter for use with Windows, using a device support disk provided by an adapter manufacturer.
  • Page 74 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, and RAID 10. To replace the old drive, make sure to use a new drive of equal or greater capacity.

  • Page 75: Configuring Audio Input And Output

    5-2 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 audio. (Note) The picture to the right shows the default audio jack Center/Subwoofer Line In assignments. Speaker Out Rear Speaker Out Front Speaker Out The integrated HD (High Definition) audio provides jack Side Speaker Out retasking capability that allows the user to change the...
  • Page 76 Step 2: Connect an audio device to an audio jack. The Please select a function dialog box appears. Select the device according to the type of device you connect. Then click OK. Step 3: Go to the Speaker screen. On the Speaker Setting and Test tab, select 2, 4, 6, or 8-channel speaker according to the type of speaker configuration you wish to set up. Then the speaker setup is completed.

  • Page 77: Configuring S/Pdif Out

    5-2-2 Configuring S/PDIF Out The S/PDIF Out jack can transmit audio signals to an external decoder for decoding to get the best audio quality. 1. Connecting a S/PDIF Out Cable: Connect a S/PDIF optical cable to the corresponding S/PDIF out connector as shown below and an external decoder for transmitting the S/PDIF digital audio signals.

  • Page 78: Configuring Microphone Recording

    5-2-3 Configuring Microphone Recording Step 1: After installing the audio driver, the VIA HD Audio Deck icon will appear in the notification area. Click the icon to access the VIA HD Audio Deck. 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 functionality. Note: The microphone functions on the front panel and back panel cannot be used at the same time. Step 3: Go to the Microphone screen.
  • Page 79 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. * Enabling Stereo Mix If the VIA HD Audio Deck does not display the recording device you wish to use, refer to the steps below. The following steps explain how to enable Stereo Mix (which may be needed when you want to record sound from your computer).

  • Page 80: Using The Sound Recorder

    Step 4: Now you can access the VIA HD Audio Deck to configure Stereo Mix and use Sound Recorder to record the sound. 5-2-4 Using the Sound Recorder A. Recording Sound 1. Make sure you have connected the sound input device (e.g. microphone) to the computer. 2. To record the audio, click the Start Recording button 3.

  • Page 81: Troubleshooting

    Troubleshooting 5-3-1 Frequently Asked Questions To read more FAQs for your motherboard, please go to the Support & Downloads\FAQ page on GIGABYTE's website. Q: Why is the light of my keyboard/optical mouse still on after the computer shuts down? A: Some motherboards provide a small amount of standby power after the computer shuts down and that's why the light is still on.

  • Page 82: 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 83 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 84: Regulatory Statements

    This document must not be copied without our written permission, and the contents there of must not be imparted to a third party nor be used for any unauthorized purpose. 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 information in this document is subject to change without notice and should not be construed as a commitment by GIGABYTE.
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  • Page 86 Appendix - 86 -...
  • Page 87 FAX: +86-29-85510930 Shenyang Web address: http://latam.giga-byte.com • Giga-Byte SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. - Singapore TEL: +86-24-83992901 WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.sg FAX: +86-24-83992909 • Thailand • GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY (INDIA) LIMITED - India WEB address : http://th.giga-byte.com WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.in • Vietnam • Saudi Arabia WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.vn WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.com.sa • Gigabyte Technology Pty. Ltd. - Australia WEB address : http://www.gigabyte.com.au...
  • Page 88 • Greece • Kazakhstan 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 To submit a technical or non-technical (Sales/Marketing) question, please link to: http://ggts.gigabyte.com.tw...

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