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Copyright
This publication, including all photographs, illustrations and software, is protected
under international copyright laws, with all rights reserved. Neither this manual, nor
any of the material contained herein, may be reproduced without written consent of
the author.
Version 1.0
Disclaimer
The information in this document is subject to change without notice. The manufac-
turer makes no representations or warranties with respect to the contents hereof and
specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any
particular purpose. The manufacturer reserves the right to revise this publication and
to make changes from time to time in the content hereof without obligation of the
manufacturer to notify any person of such revision or changes.
Trademark Recognition
Microsoft, MS-DOS and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
AMD, Phenom, Athlon, Sempron and Duron are registered trademarks of AMD
Corporation.
Other product names used in this manual are the properties of their respective
owners and are acknowledged.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installa-
tion. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if
not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful inter-
ference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference
will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful
interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one
or more of the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.
Connect the equipment onto an outlet on a circuit different from that to
which the receiver is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Shielded interconnect cables and a shielded AC power cable must be employed with
this equipment to ensure compliance with the pertinent RF emission limits govern-
ing this device. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the system's
manufacturer could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
Preface
Preface

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  • Page 1 Preface Copyright This publication, including all photographs, illustrations and software, is protected under international copyright laws, with all rights reserved. Neither this manual, nor any of the material contained herein, may be reproduced without written consent of the author. Version 1.0 Disclaimer The information in this document is subject to change without notice.
  • Page 2: Declaration Of Conformity

    Declaration of Conformity This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following conditions: • This device may not cause harmful interference, and • This device must accept any interference received, including interfer- ence that may cause undesired operation. Canadian Department of Communications This class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference- causing Equipment Regulations.
  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    T T T T T ABLE OF CONTENTS ABLE OF CONTENTS ABLE OF CONTENTS ABLE OF CONTENTS ABLE OF CONTENTS Preface Chapter 1 Introducing the Motherboard Introduction....................1 Feature.....................2 Specifications..................4 Motherboard Components..............5 7 7 7 7 7 Chapter 2 Installing the Motherboard Safety Precautions................7 Choosing a Computer Case..............7 Installing the Motherboard in a Case..........7...
  • Page 4 Chipset Menu................39 M.I.B.III (MB Intelligent BIOS III) Menu........41 Boot Menu..................44 Security Menu................45 Save & Exit Menu................46 Updating the BIOS ................. Chapter 4 49 49 49 49 Using the Motherboard Software About the Software DVD-ROM/CD-ROM........49 Auto-installing under Windows Vista/7...........49 Running Setup................50 Manual Installation................52 Utility Software Reference..............52 Chapter 5...
  • Page 5: Introducing The Motherboard

    Chapter 1 Introducing the Motherboard Introduction Thank you for choosing the A960M-M2 motherboard. This motherboard is a high performance, enhanced function motherboard that supports socket AM3+ for AMD AM3+ FX / Phenom II /Athlon II / Sempron 100 Series processors for high- end business or personal desktop markets.
  • Page 6: Feature

    Feature Processor This motherboard uses a Socket AM3+ that carries the following features: • Accommodates socket AM3+ for AMD AM3+ FX / Phenom II /Athlon II/Sempron 100 Series processors • Supports 125W Phenom II X6 processors • Supports HyperTransport (HT) 3.0 interface speeds HyperTransport Technology is a point-to-point link between two devices, it enables integrated circuits to exchange information at much higher speeds than...
  • Page 7: Onboard Lan

    8-Core CPU may cause harsh thermal condition to the system, it is recommended to use AMD CPU Cooler to maintain the optimum system temperature. ECS does not warrant the damage of the system caused by any improper use or configuration not recommended by the component vendors.
  • Page 8: Specifications

    Supports Dual-Channel DDR3 up to 1866 with AM3+ CPU • Supports Dual-Channel DDR3 1333 / 1066 with AM3 CPU Due to AMD CPU spec limitation, please refer to Memory QVL on ECS website for more information. Expansion • 1 x PCI Express x16 slot Slots •...
  • Page 9: Motherboard Components

    F7 hot key for boot up devices option • Support Over-Clocking • Support eBLU / Supoort eDLU / Supoort eOC • Support ECS M.I.B III Utility CPU Voltage Adjustable Memory Voltage Adjustable Chipset Voltage Adjustable HT Voltage Adjustable External Clock Adjustable...
  • Page 10 Table of Motherboard Components LABEL COMPONENTS 1. CPU Socket Socket AM3 for AMD AM3 /Phenom II /Athlon II/Sempron 100 Series processors 2. CPU_FAN CPU cooling fan connector 3. DDR3_1~2 240-pin DDR3 SDRAM slots 4. ATX_POWER Standard 24-pin ATX power connector 5.
  • Page 11: Installing The Motherboard

    Chapter 2 Installing the Motherboard Safety Precautions • Follow these safety precautions when installing the motherboard • Wear a grounding strap attached to a grounded device to avoid dam- age from static electricity • Discharge static electricity by touching the metal case of a safely grounded object before working on the motherboard •...
  • Page 12: Checking Jumper Settings

    Do not over-tighten the screws as this can stress the motherboard. Checking Jumper Settings This section explains how to set jumpers for correct configuration of the motherboard. Setting Jumpers Use the motherboard jumpers to set system configuration options. Jumpers with more than one pin are numbered.
  • Page 13: Checking Jumper Settings

    Checking Jumper Settings The following illustration shows the location of the motherboard jumpers. Pin 1 is labeled. Jumper Settings Jumper Type Description Setting (default) 1-2: NORMAL 2-3: CLEAR CMOS CLR_CMOS 3-pin Clear CMOS Before clearing the CLR_CMOS CMOS, make sure to turn off the system.
  • Page 14: Installing Hardware

    Installing Hardware Installing the Processor Caution: When installing a CPU heatsink and cooling fan make sure that you DO NOT scratch the motherboard or any of the surface- mount resistors with the clip of the cooling fan. If the clip of the cooling fan scrapes across the motherboard, you may cause serious damage to the motherboard or its components.
  • Page 15: Cpu Installation Procedure

    CPU Installation Procedure The following illustration shows CPU installation components. Install your CPU. Pull up the lever away from the socket and lift up to 90-degree angle. Locate the CPU cut edge (the corner with the pin hold noticeably missing). Align and insert the CPU correctly.
  • Page 16: Installing Memory Modules

    Installing Memory Modules This motherboard accommodates two memory modules. It can support two 240-pin DDR3 1866 with AM3+ CPU, or two 240-pin DDR3 1333/1066 with AM3 CPU. The total memory capacity is 16 GB. You must install at least one module in any of the two slots. Each module can be installed with 8 GB of memory.
  • Page 17: Installing Add-On Cards

    Expansion Slots Installing Add-on Cards The slots on this motherboard are designed to hold expansion cards and connect them to the system bus. Expansion slots are a means of adding or enhancing the motherboard’s features and capabilities. With these efficient facilities, you can in- crease the motherboard’s capabilities by adding hardware that performs tasks that are not part of the basic system.
  • Page 18 Follow these instructions to install an add-on card: Remove a blanking plate from the system case corresponding to the slot you are going to use. Install the edge connector of the add-on card into the expansion slot. Ensure that the edge connector is correctly seated in the slot. Secure the metal bracket of the card to the system case with a screw.
  • Page 19: Connecting Optional Devices

    Connecting Optional Devices Refer to the following for information on connecting the motherboard’s optional devices: F_USB1~2: Front Panel USB headers The motherboard has four USB ports installed on the rear edge I/O port array. Additionally, some computer cases have USB ports at the front of the case. If you have this kind of case, use auxiliary USB connector to connect the front-mounted ports to the motherboard.
  • Page 20 LPT: Onboard parallel port header This is a header that can ba used to connect to the printer, scanner or other devices. Pin Signal Name Signal Name STROBE ERROR INIT SLCTIN Ground Ground Ground Ground Ground Ground Ground BUSK Ground SLCT F_AUDIO: Front Panel Audio header This header allows the user to install auxiliary front-oriented microphone and line-...
  • Page 21 SPDIFO: SPDIF out header This is an optional header that provides an S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) output to digital multimedia device through optical fiber or coaxial connector. Signal Name Function SPDIF SPDIF digital output +5VA 5V analog Power No pin Ground CASE: Chassis intrusion detect header This detects if the chassis cover has been removed.
  • Page 22: Installing A Hard Disk Drive/Cd-Rom/Sata Hard Drive

    Installing a Hard Disk Drive/CD-ROM/SATA Hard Drive This section describes how to install IDE devices such as a hard disk drive and a CD- ROM drive. About IDE Devices Your motherboard has one IDE interface. IDE1: IDE Connector This motherboard supports Six high data transfer SATA ports with each runs up to 3.0 Gb/s.
  • Page 23 Refer to the illustration below for proper installation: Attach either cable end to the connector on the motherboard. Attach the other cable end to the SATA hard drive. Attach the SATA power cable to the SATA hard drive and connect the other end to the power supply.
  • Page 24: Connecting I/O Devices

    Connecting I/O Devices The backplane of the motherboard has the following I/O ports: PS2 Mouse Use the upper PS/2 port to connect a PS/2 pointing device. PS2 Keyboard Use the lower PS/2 port to connect a PS/2 keyboard. Use the COM port to connect serial devices such as mouse Serial port (COM) or fax/modems.
  • Page 25: Connecting Case Components

    Connecting Case Components After you have installed the motherboard into a case, you can begin connecting the motherboard components. Refer to the following: Connect the CPU cooling fan cable to CPU_FAN. Connect the standard power supply connector to ATX_POWER. Connect the case speaker cable to SPK. Connect the case switches and indicator LEDs to the F_PANEL.
  • Page 26 CPU_FAN: Cooling FAN Power Connector Function Signal Name System Ground +12V Power +12V Sense Sensor CPU FAN control Users please note that the fan connector supports the CPU cooling fan of 1.1A~2.2A (26.4W max.) at +12V. ATX_POWER: ATX 24-pin Power Connector Signal Name Signal Name +3.3V...
  • Page 27: Front Panel Header

    Front Panel Header The front panel header (F_PANEL) provides a standard set of switch and LED headers commonly found on ATX or Micro ATX cases. Refer to the table below for information: Signal Function Signal Function HD_LED_P Hard disk LED (+) 2 FP PWR/SLP *MSG LED (+) HD_LED_N Hard disk LED (-) FP PWR/SLP *MSG LED (-)
  • Page 28 Memo Installing the Motherboard...
  • Page 29: Using Bios

    Chapter 3 Using BIOS About the Setup Utility The computer uses the latest “American Megatrends Inc. ” BIOS with support for Windows Plug and Play. The CMOS chip on the motherboard contains the ROM setup instructions for configuring the motherboard BIOS. The BIOS (Basic Input and Output System) Setup Utility displays the system’s configuration status and provides you with options to set system parameters.
  • Page 30: Resetting The Default Cmos Values

    Press the delete key to access BIOS Setup Utility. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit Choose the system default BIOS Information language System Language [English] System Date [Tue 11/29/2011] : Select Screen System Time...
  • Page 31: Bios Navigation Keys

    In this manual, default values are enclosed in parenthesis. Submenu items are denoted by a triangle The default BIOS setting for this motherboard apply for most conditions with optimum performance. We do not suggest users change the default values in the BIOS setup and take no responsibility to any damage caused by changing the BIOS settings.
  • Page 32: Advanced Menu

    Date & Time The Date and Time items show the current date and time on the computer. If you are running a Windows OS, these items are automatically updated whenever you make changes to the Windows Date and Time Properties utility. Advanced Menu The Advanced menu items allow you to change the settings for the CPU and other system.
  • Page 33: Lan Configuration

    LAN Configuration The item in the menu shows the LAN-related information that the BIOS automatically detects. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit LAN Configuration Onboard LAN Controller [Enabled] : Select Screen /Click: Select Item...
  • Page 34: Pc Health Status

    PC Health Status On motherboards support hardware monitoring, this item lets you monitor the parameters for critical voltages, temperatures and fan speeds. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit PC Health Status : Select Screen Smart Fan Function...
  • Page 35 SMART Fan Start PWM Value (30) This item allows you to enable/disable the control of the system fan speed by changing the fan voltage. SMART Fan Start PWM Temp (40) This item is used to set the start PWM value of the smart fan. DeltaT (+3) This item specifies the range that controls CPU temperature and keeps it from going so high or so low when smart fan works.
  • Page 36: Power Management Setup

    Power Management Setup This page sets up some parameters for system power management operation. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit Power Management Setup About Resume by RING Resume By RING [Disabled] Resume By PME...
  • Page 37: Acpi Configuration

    ACPI Configuration The item in the menu shows the highest ACPI sleep state when the system enters suspend. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit ACPI Configuration Select the highest ACPI sleep state the system will enter ACPI Sleep State [S3 (Suspend to RAM)]...
  • Page 38: Cpu Configuration

    CPU Configuration The item in the menu shows the CPU. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit Enable/disable C6 CPU Configuration Socket0: AMD Phonem(tm) II x4 955 Processor Max Speed: 3200 MHZ Intended Speed: 3200 MHZ Microcode Patch Level: 10000c6...
  • Page 39: Sata Configuration

    SATA Configuration Use this item to show the mode of serial ATA configuration options. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit Serial-ATA Controller SATA Configuration Serial-ATA Controller [Enhanced] SATA Mode [IDE Mode] : Select Screen...
  • Page 40: Usb Configuration

    USB Configuration Use this item to show the information of USB configuration. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit Enabled/Disabled All USB Devices USB Configuration All USB Devices [Enabled] : Select Screen Legacy USB Support...
  • Page 41: Super Io Configuration

    Super IO Configuration Use this item to show the information of Super IO configuration. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit Set Parameters of Serial Port Super IO Configuration 0 (COMA) Super IO Chip IT8728...
  • Page 42 Parallel Port Configuration Scroll to this item and press <Enter> to view the following screen: Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit Enable or Disable Parallel Parallel Port Configuration Port (LPT/LPTE) Parallel Port [Enabled]...
  • Page 43: Chipset Menu

    Chipset Menu The chipset menu items allow you to change the settings for the North Bridge chipset, South Bridge chipset and other system. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit North Bridge Parameters North Bridge South Bridge...
  • Page 44 South Bridge Scroll to this item and press <Enter> to view the following screen. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit South Bridge Specify what state to go to when power is re-applied after a power Restore AC Power Loss [Power Off]...
  • Page 45: M.i.b.iii (Mb Intelligent Bios Iii) Menu

    M.I.B.III (MB Intelligent BIOS III) Menu This page enables you to set the clock speed and system bus for your system. The clock speed and system bus are determined by the kind of processor you have installed in your system. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc.
  • Page 46 Memory Control Scroll to this item and press <Enter> to view the following screen. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit Memory Control Slow Access Mode Memory Clock DCT0 is : None Memory Clock DCT1 is : (DDR-1333/667Mhz)
  • Page 47 HT Control Scroll to this item and press <Enter> to view the following screen. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit HT Control Set Upstream Link Width Current Width Up: 16 bit Upstream Link Width [Auto]...
  • Page 48: Boot Menu

    Boot Menu This page enables you to set the keyboard NumLock state. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit Select the keyboard NumLock Boot Configuration state Bootup NumLock State [On] Set Boot Priority 1st Boot...
  • Page 49: Security Menu

    USB Key Drive BBS Priorities This item enables you to specify the sequence of loading the operating system from the installing USB Key drives. Network Device BBS Priorities This item enables you to specify the sequence of loading the operating system from the installing network devices.
  • Page 50: Save & Exit Menu

    Save & Exit Menu This page enables you to exit system setup after saving or without saving the changes. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit Exit system setup after saving Save Changes and Exit the changes.
  • Page 51: Boot Override

    Boot Override This item enables you to set the device order. Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2011 American Megatrends, Inc. Main Advanced Chipset M.I.B.III Boot Security Save & Exit Exit system setup after saving Save Changes and Exit the changes. Discard Changes and Exit Save Changes and Reset Discard Changes and Reset...
  • Page 52: Updating The Bios

    Updating the BIOS You can download and install updated BIOS for this motherboard from the manufacturer’s Web site. New BIOS provides support for new peripherals, improve- ments in performance, or fixes for known bugs. Install new BIOS as follows: If your motherboard has a BIOS protection jumper, change the setting to allow BIOS flashing.
  • Page 53: Using The Motherboard Software

    Chapter 4 Using the Motherboard Software About the Software DVD-ROM/CD-ROM The support software DVD-ROM/CD-ROM that is included in the motherboard package contains all the drivers and utility programs needed to properly run the bundled products. Below you can find a brief description of each software program, and the location for your motherboard version.
  • Page 54: Running Setup

    Drivers Tab Setup Click the Setup button to run the software installation program. Select from the menu which software you want to install. Browse CD The Browse CD button is the standard Windows command that al- lows you to open Windows Explorer and show the contents of the support disk.
  • Page 55 Click Next. The following screen appears: Check the box next to the items you want to install. The default options are recom- mended. Click Next run the Installation Wizard. An item installation screen appears: Follow the instructions on the screen to install the items. Drivers and software are automatically installed in sequence.
  • Page 56: Manual Installation

    Windows Vista/7 will appear below UAC (User Account Control) message after the system restart. You must select “Allow” to install the next driver. Continue this process to complete the drivers installation. Manual Installation Insert the disk in the DVD-ROM/CD-ROM drive and locate the PATH.DOC file in the root directory.
  • Page 57: Setting Up Amd Sb710 Raid Configuration

    Chapter 5 Setting Up AMD SB710 RAID Configuration Setting Up a bootable RAID Array This section explains how to configure a bootable AMD RAID array. Setting Up the BIOS Start your computer, then press Delete to enter the BIOS setup. The BIOS CMOS Setup Utility screen appears.
  • Page 58: Entering The Raid Bios Setup

    Press F4 to save the configuration and exit. The PC reboots. Enter the RAID BIOS Setup by pressing Ctrl-F when prompted, and proceed to set up the AMD RAID BIOS as described in the next section. Configuring the AMD RAID BIOS (Windows XP Installation) The AMD RAID BIOS set up lets you choose the RAID type and which hard drives you want to make part of the array.
  • Page 59 Select [2], then select LD 1 in the following page. The Define LD Menu screen appears (Figure 1.4). FastBuild (tm) Utility (c) 2006 ATI Technology, Inc. [ Define LD Menu ] LD No RAID Mode Total Drv LD 1 RAID 0 Stripe Block : 64 KB Past Init :...
  • Page 60: Assigning The Disks

    Assigning the Disks 1. Select the Assignment to Y to designate a free disk to be used as a RAID array disk. Figure 1.5 illustrates the Define a New Array screen after two disks have been assigned as RAID 0 array disks. FastBuild (tm) Utility (c) 2006 ATI Technology, Inc.
  • Page 61 3. Press ESC to exit. The Main Menu screen appears (Figure 1.7). FastBuild (tm) Utility (c) 2006 ATI Technology, Inc. [ Main Menu ] View Drive Assignments....[ 1 ] Define LD..........[ 2 ] Define LD..........[ 3 ] System is going to REBOOT! Controller Configuration....[ 4 ] Are You Sure? Y - Reboot / Any Key - Back...
  • Page 62: Installing The Raid Drivers

    Installing the RAID Drivers Your system may come with a Windows install CD that already includes AMD RAID drivers. If so, then this section is not relevant. If that is not the case (or you are trying to install a new version of Windows), then you will need an AMD RAID driver F6 install floppy.
  • Page 63 The following Windows Setup screen appears: Windows Setup --------- You have chosen to configure a SCSI Adapter for use with windows£¬ using a device support disk provided bu an adapter manufacturer. Select the SCSI Adapter you want from the following list, or press ESC to return to the previous screen.
  • Page 64 Memo Setting Up AMD RAID Configuration...
  • Page 65: Trouble Shooting

    Chapter 6 Trouble Shooting Start up problems during assembly After assembling the PC for the first time you may experience some start up problems. Before calling for technical support or returning for warranty, this chapter may help to address some of the common questions using some basic troubleshooting tips.
  • Page 66: Start Up Problems After Prolong Use

    c) The PC suddenly shuts down while booting up. 1. The CPU may experience overheating so it will shutdown to protect itself. Ensure the CPU fan is working properly. 2. From the BIOS setting, try to disable the Smartfan function to let the fan run at default speed.
  • Page 68 Memo Trouble Shooting...

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