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Product warranty or service will not be extended if: (1) the product is repaired, modified or altered, unless such repair, modification of alteration is authorized in writing by ASUS; or (2) the serial number of the product is defaced or missing.
Welcome! ..................1-1 Package contents ................. 1-1 Special features ................1-1 1.3.1 Product highlights ............1-1 1.3.2 Innovative ASUS features ..........1-3 Before you proceed ..............1-5 Motherboard overview ..............1-6 1.5.1 Placement direction ............1-6 1.5.2 Screw holes ..............1-6 1.5.3...
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Chapter 2: BIOS information Managing and updating your BIOS ..........2-1 2.1.1 ASUS Update utility ............2-1 2.1.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility ........... 2-2 2.1.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 ..........2-3 BIOS setup program ..............2-4 2.2.1 BIOS menu screen ............2-5 2.2.2...
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Boot menu .................. 2-19 2.6.1 Boot Device Priority ............2-19 2.6.2 Boot Settings Configuration .......... 2-19 2.6.3 Security ................. 2-20 Tools menu ................. 2-22 2.7.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2 ............2-22 2.7.2 ASUS O.C. Profile ............2-22 Exit menu ..................2-23...
This class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003. ASUS Recycling/Takeback Services ASUS recycling and takeback programs come from our commitment to the highest standards for protecting our environment. We believe in providing solutions for you to be able to responsibly recycle our products, batteries, other components as well as the packaging materials.
Complying with the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals) regulatory framework, we published the chemical substances in our products at ASUS REACH website at http://csr.asus.com/english/REACH.htm. DO NOT throw the motherboard in municipal waste. This product has been designed to enable proper reuse of parts and recycling.
Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and software updates. ASUS websites The ASUS website provides updated information on ASUS hardware and software products. Refer to the ASUS contact information. Optional documentation Your product package may include optional documentation, such as warranty flyers, that may have been added by your dealer.
DDR3 1333MHz. *** When overclocking, some AMD CPU models may not support DDR3 1600 MHz or higher frequency DIMMs. **** Refer to www.asus.com for the latest Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors List). ***** Use a 64-bit Windows OS if you want to install 4GB or ®...
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SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection): - FSB frequency tuning from 200MHz up to 550MHz at 1MHz increment - Adjustable DRAM Voltage Overclocking Protection: - ASUS C.P.R (CPU Parameter Recall) Accessories 2 x Serial ATA 3Gb/s cables 1 x I/O shield 1 x User Manual...
® The motherboard delivers a host of new features and latest technologies, making it another standout in the long line of ASUS quality motherboards! Before you start installing the motherboard, and hardware devices on it, check the items in your package with the list below.
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HyperTransport™ 3.0 support HyperTransport™ 3.0 technology provides 2.6 times more bandwidth than HT1.0 that radically improves system efficiency for a smoother and faster computing environment. Cool ‘n’ Quiet Technology ® This motherboard supports the AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet technology which ®...
BIOS file using the bundled support DVD or a USB flash disk that contains the BIOS file. ASUS EZ Flash 2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 allows you to update the BIOS from a USB flash disk before entering the OS. ASUS Q-Fan...
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ErP requires products to meet certain energy efficiency requirements in regards to energy consumptions. This is in line with ASUS vision of creating environment-friendly and energy-efficient products through product design and innovation to reduce carbon footprint of the product and thus mitigate environmental impacts.
ON, in sleep mode, or in soft-off mode. This is a reminder that you should shut down the system and unplug the power cable before removing or plugging in any motherboard component. The illustration below shows the location of the onboard LED. SB_PWR M5A78L-M LX Standby Power Powered Off M5A78L-M LX Onboard LED ASUS M5A78L-M LX...
Motherboard overview 1.5.1 Placement direction When installing the motherboard, ensure that you place it into the chassis in the correct orientation. The edge with external ports goes to the rear part of the chassis as indicated in the image below. 1.5.2 Screw holes Place six screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the motherboard to the chassis.
Central Processing Unit (CPU) This motherboard comes with an AM3+ socket designed for FX™ / Phenom™ II / Athlon™ II / Sempron™ 100 series processors. The AM3+ socket has a different pinout from the AM2+/AM2 socket. Ensure that you use a CPU designed for the AM3+ socket.
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CPU FAN PWR CPU FAN IN CPU FAN PWM M5A78L-M LX M5A78L-M LX CPU fan connector DO NOT forget to connect the CPU fan connector! Hardware monitoring errors can occur if you fail to plug this connector. ASUS M5A78L-M LX...
1.6.2 Installing the heatsink and fan Ensure that you use only AMD-certified heatsink and fan assembly. To install the CPU heatsink and fan: Place the heatsink on top of the installed CPU, ensuring that the heatsink fits properly on the retention module base. •...
The motherboard comes with two Double Data Rate 3 (DDR3) Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMM) sockets. The figure illustrates the location of the DDR3 DIMM sockets: Channel Sockets Channel A DIMM_A1 Channel B DIMM_B1 M5A78L-M LX M5A78L-M LX 240-pin DDR3 DIMM sockets ASUS M5A78L-M LX 1-11...
1.7.2 Memory configurations You may install 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB unbuffered ECC and non-ECC DDR3 DIMMs into the DIMM sockets. • You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B. The system maps the total size of the lower-sized channel for the dual-channel configuration. Any excess memory from the higher-sized channel is then mapped for single-channel operation.
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• Due to CPU spec., AMD 100 and 200 series CPUs support up to DDR3 1066MHz. With ® ASUS design, this motherboard can support up to DDR3 1333MHz. • When overclocking, some AMD CPU models may not support DDR3 1600 MHz or higher frequency DIMMs.
1.7.3 Installing a DIMM Unplug the power supply before adding or removing DIMMs or other system components. Failure to do so can cause severe damage to both the motherboard and the components. Press the retaining clips outward to DIMM notch unlock a DIMM socket.
This motherboard supports PCI Express x1 network cards, SCSI cards, and other cards that comply with the PCI Express specifications. 1.8.5 PCI Express x16 slot This motherboard supports a PCI Express x16 graphics card that comply with the PCI Express specifications. ASUS M5A78L-M LX 1-17...
Jumpers Clear RTC RAM (CLRTC) This jumper allows you to clear the Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM in CMOS. You can clear the CMOS memory of date, time, and system setup parameters by erasing the CMOS RTC RAM data. The onboard button cell battery powers the RAM data in CMOS, which include system setup information such as system passwords.
This feature requires an ATX power supply that can supply at least 1A on the +5VSB lead, and a corresponding setting in the BIOS. KBPWR +5VSB (Default) M5A78L-M LX M5A78L-M LX Keyboard power setting ASUS M5A78L-M LX 1-19...
1.10 Connectors 1.10.1 Rear panel ports PS/2 Mouse port (green). This port is for a PS/2 mouse. Parallel port. This 25-pin port connects a parallel printer, a scanner, or other devices. LAN (RJ-45) port. This port allows Gigabit connection to a Local Area Network (LAN) through a network hub.
• If you want to connect a high definition front panel audio module to this connector, set the Front Panel Select item in the BIOS to [HD Audio]. See section 2.4.4 Onboard Device Configuration for details. • The front panel audio I/O module is purchased separately. ASUS M5A78L-M LX 1-21...
The system may become unstable or may not boot up if the power is inadequate. • If you are uncertain about the minimum power supply requirement for your system, refer to the Recommended Power Supply Wattage Calculator at http://support.asus. com/PowerSupplyCalculator/PSCalculator.aspx?SLanguage=en-us for details. 1-22...
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XP limitation, Windows XP may not recognize the USB floppy disk ® ® drive. • For more details on RAID/AHCI, refer to the RA ID/AHCI Supplementary Guide included in the folder named Manual in the support DVD. ASUS M5A78L-M LX 1-23...
System panel connector (10-1 pin F_PANEL) This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions. F_PANEL PLED PWRBTN PIN 1 M5A78L-M LX +HDLED RESET M5A78L-M LX System panel connector • System power LED (2-pin PLED) This 2-pin connector is for the system power LED. Connect the chassis power LED cable to this connector.
Ensure that the audio device of Sound playback is Realtek High Definition Audio (the name may be different based on the OS). Go to Start > Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices > Sound Playback to configure the setting. The S/PDIF module is purchased separately. ASUS M5A78L-M LX 1-25...
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DO NOT forget to connect the fan cables to the fan connectors. Insufficient air flow inside the system may damage the motherboard components. These are not jumpers! DO NOT place jumper caps on the fan connectors. Only the 4-pin CPU fan connector supports the ASUS Q-Fan feature. 1-26 Chapter 1: Product introduction...
The contents of the Support DVD are subject to change at any time without notice. Visit the ASUS website at www.asus.com for updates. To run the Support DVD Place the Support DVD into the optical drive.
BIOS in the future. Copy the original motherboard BIOS using the ASUS Update utility. 2.1.1 ASUS Update utility The ASUS Update is a utility that allows you to manage, save, and update the motherboard BIOS in Windows environment. ®...
Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the updating process. 2.1.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility The ASUS EZ Flash 2 feature allows you to update the BIOS without using an OS-based utility. Before you start using this utility, download the latest BIOS file from the ASUS website at www.asus.com.
2.1.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 is an auto recovery tool that allows you to restore the BIOS file when it fails or gets corrupted during the updating process. You can restore a corrupted BIOS file using the motherboard support DVD or a USB flash drive that contains the BIOS file.
• The BIOS setup screens in this chapter are for reference only. They may not exactly match what you see on your screen. • Visit the ASUS website at www.asus.com to download the latest BIOS file for this motherboard. Chapter 2: BIOS information...
At the bottom right corner of a menu screen are the navigation keys for that particular menu. Use the navigation keys to select items in the menu and change the settings. Some of the navigation keys differ from one screen to another. ASUS M5A78L-M LX...
2.2.4 Menu items The highlighted item on the menu bar displays the specific items for that menu. For example, selecting Main shows the Main menu items. The other items (Advanced, Power, Boot, Tools, and Exit) on the menu bar have their respective menu items.
SATA device type. Select [CDROM] if you are specifically configuring a CD-ROM drive. Select [ARMD] (ATAPI Removable Media Device) if your device is either a ZIP, LS-120, or MO drive. Configuration options: [Not Installed] [Auto] [CDROM] [ARMD] This item only appears in the SATA_5/6 menus. ASUS M5A78L-M LX...
LBA/Large Mode [Auto] Enables or disables the LBA mode. Setting this item to [Auto] enables the LBA mode if the device supports this mode, and if the device was not previously formatted with LBA mode disabled. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Auto] Block (Multi-Sector Transfer) M [Auto] Enables or disables data multi-sectors transfers.
Advanced Settings Adjust System Frequency/Voltage etc. JumperFree Configuration CPU Configuration Chipset Onboard Devices Configuration PCIPnP USB Configuration Select Screen Select Item Change Field Select Field General Help Save and Exit Exit v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2011, American Megatrends, Inc. ASUS M5A78L-M LX...
2.4.1 JumperFree Configuration The items and configuration options in this menu may vary depending on the AMD CPU type. CPU OverClocking [Auto] Selects the CPU overclocking options to achieve desired CPU internal frequency. Configuration options: [Manual] [Auto] [Overclock Profile] [Test Mode] The following item only appears when you set CPU Overclocking to [Manual].
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DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [5 CLK] ~ [12 CLK] DRAM RAS# PRE Time [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [5 CLK] ~ [12 CLK] DRAM RAS# ACT Time [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [15 CLK] ~ [30 CLK] ASUS M5A78L-M LX 2-11...
DRAM READ to PRE Time [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [4 CLK] [5 CLK] [6 CLK] [7 CLK] DRAM Row Cycle Time [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [11 CLK] ~ [41 CLK] DRAM WRITE Recovery Time [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [5 CLK] [6 CLK] [7 CLK] [8 CLK] [10 CLK] [12 CLK] DRAM RAS# to RAS# Delay [Auto] Configuration options: [Auto] [4 CLK] [5 CLK] [6 CLK] [7 CLK] DRAM READ to WRITE Delay [Auto]...
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This item only appears when you set Advanced Clock Calibration to [All Cores]. It allows you to set the overclocking percentage for all the processor cores as a whole. Configuration options: [0%] [+2%] [+4%] [+6%] [+8%] [+10%] [+12%] [-2%] [-4%] [-6%] [-8%] [-10%] [-12%] ASUS M5A78L-M LX 2-13...
Value (Core 0) / (Core 1) / (Core 2) / (Core 3) [-2%] These items only appear when you set Advanced Clock Calibration to [Per Core] and allow you to set the overclocking percentage for each process core separately. Configuration options: [0%] [+2%] [+4%] [+6%] [+8%] [+10%] [+12%] [-2%] [-4%] [-6%] [-8%] [-10%] [-12%] 2.4.3 Chipset...
2.4.5 PCIPnP The PCI PnP menu items allow you to change the advanced settings for PCI/PnP devices. The menu includes setting IRQ and DMA channel resources for either PCI/PnP or legacy ISA devices, and setting the memory size block for legacy ISA devices. Take caution when changing the settings of the PCI PnP menu items.
Power on From S5 By PME# [Disabled] Enables or disables PME wake from sleep states. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Power on From S5 By Ring [Disabled] Enables or disables ring to generate a wake event. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] ASUS M5A78L-M LX 2-17...
CPU Q-Fan Function [Enabled] Enables or disables the ASUS Q-Fan feature that smartly adjusts the CPU fan speeds for more efficient system operation. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] The following item only appears when you set CPU Q-Fan Function to [Enabled].
Configuration options: [Removable Dev.] [Hard Drive] [ATAPI CD-ROM] [Disabled] • To select the boot device during system startup, press <F8> when ASUS logo appears. • To access Windows OS in Safe Mode, do any of the following: Press <F5>...
AddOn ROM Display Mode [Force BIOS] Sets the display mode for option ROM. Configuration options: [Force BIOS] [Keep Current] Bootup Num-Lock [On] Selects the power-on state for the NumLock. Configuration options: [Off] [On] Wait for ‘F1’ If Error [Enabled] When this item is set to [Enabled], the system waits for the F1 key to be pressed when error occurs.
Password Check [Setup] When set to [Setup], BIOS checks for user password when accessing the Setup utility. When set to [Always], BIOS checks for user password both when accessing Setup and booting the system. Configuration options: [Setup] [Always] ASUS M5A78L-M LX 2-21...
2.7.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2 Allows you to run ASUS EZ Flash 2. When you press <Enter>, a confirmation message appears. Use the left/right arrow key to select between [Yes] or [No], then press <Enter> to confirm your choice. See section 2.1.2 for details.
When you select this option or if you press <F5>, a confirmation window appears. Select OK to load default values. Select Exit & Save Changes or make other changes before saving the values to the non-volatile RAM. ASUS M5A78L-M LX 2-23...
+1-510-608-4555 Web site usa.asus.com Technical Support Telephone +1-812-282-2787 Support fax +1-812-284-0883 Online support support.asus.com ASUS COMPUTER GmbH (Germany and Austria) Address Harkort Str. 21-23, D40880 Ratingen, Germany +49-2102-9599-11 Online contact www.asus.com.de/sales Technical Support Component Telephone +49-1805-010923 System/Notebook /Eee/LCD Telephone +49-1805-010920...