User Guide
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... any problems in writing by the applicable law. ASUS PROVIDES THIS MANUAL "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL ARE FURNISHED FOR INFORMATIONAL USE ONLY, AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE...
... any problems in writing by the applicable law. ASUS PROVIDES THIS MANUAL "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL ARE FURNISHED FOR INFORMATIONAL USE ONLY, AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE...
User Guide
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.... If you need when installing and configuring the motherboard. How this guide This user guide contains the information you detect any area where it supports. Detailed descriptions fo the BIOS parameters are using the product, ensure all the manuals that your retailer. Operation safety • Before installing the motherboard and adding components, carefully read all cables are correctly connected and the power cables are not damaged.
.... If you need when installing and configuring the motherboard. How this guide This user guide contains the information you detect any area where it supports. Detailed descriptions fo the BIOS parameters are using the product, ensure all the manuals that your retailer. Operation safety • Before installing the motherboard and adding components, carefully read all cables are correctly connected and the power cables are not damaged.
User Guide
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...A78M-A specifications summary APU Chipset Memory Graphics Expansion slots AMD® FM2+ socket for AMD® A-Series/Athlon series processors Supports CPU up to 4096x2160 resolution display via HDMI port. 1 x PCI Express 3.0/2.0 x16 slot* 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x1 slot 1 x PCI slot * Only FM2+ processors can support PCIe 3.0. (continued on the APU types. • Refer to www.asus.com for the AMD® APU support list. AMD® A78 FCH 4 x 240-pin DIMM slots support maximum 64GB unbuffered non-ECC DDR3 2133/1866/1600/1333 MHz memory modules Dual-channel memory architecture Supports AMD...
...A78M-A specifications summary APU Chipset Memory Graphics Expansion slots AMD® FM2+ socket for AMD® A-Series/Athlon series processors Supports CPU up to 4096x2160 resolution display via HDMI port. 1 x PCI Express 3.0/2.0 x16 slot* 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x1 slot 1 x PCI slot * Only FM2+ processors can support PCIe 3.0. (continued on the APU types. • Refer to www.asus.com for the AMD® APU support list. AMD® A78 FCH 4 x 240-pin DIMM slots support maximum 64GB unbuffered non-ECC DDR3 2133/1866/1600/1333 MHz memory modules Dual-channel memory architecture Supports AMD...
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... 4 USB 2.0 ports 6 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors 1 x System panel connector 1 x Internal Speaker connector 1 x CPU fan connector (4-pin) 1 x S/PDIF Out connector 1 x Chassis fan connector (4-pin) 1 x High-definition front panel audio connector 1 x COM header 1 x 24-pin EATX power connector 1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector 64 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI 2.0, WfM 2.0, SM BIOS 2.7, ACPI 2.0a, Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 2, ASUS CrashFreen BIOS 3, F12 Printscreen function, F3 Shortcut function and ASUS DRAM SPD (Serial Presence Detect) memory information Windows® 8.1 / 8.1 64-bit...
... 4 USB 2.0 ports 6 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors 1 x System panel connector 1 x Internal Speaker connector 1 x CPU fan connector (4-pin) 1 x S/PDIF Out connector 1 x Chassis fan connector (4-pin) 1 x High-definition front panel audio connector 1 x COM header 1 x 24-pin EATX power connector 1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector 64 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI 2.0, WfM 2.0, SM BIOS 2.7, ACPI 2.0a, Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 2, ASUS CrashFreen BIOS 3, F12 Printscreen function, F3 Shortcut function and ASUS DRAM SPD (Serial Presence Detect) memory information Windows® 8.1 / 8.1 64-bit...
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... on the motherboard. • This motherboard does not support DIMMs made up of the following: - The figure illustrates the location of the same version or date code (D/C) from the higher-sized channel is notched differently to install 4GB or more memory on a DDR2 DIMM socket. For optimal compatibility, we recommend that you install 4GB or more on 32-bit Windows® OS, when you install memory modules...
... on the motherboard. • This motherboard does not support DIMMs made up of the following: - The figure illustrates the location of the same version or date code (D/C) from the higher-sized channel is notched differently to install 4GB or more memory on a DDR2 DIMM socket. For optimal compatibility, we recommend that you install 4GB or more on 32-bit Windows® OS, when you install memory modules...
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... support. See Chapter 2 for later use . When using PCI cards on BIOS setup. 2. Unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. Keep the screw for information on shared slots, ensure that the drivers support "Share IRQ" or that came with the screw you removed earlier. 6. Replace the system cover. 1.5.2 Configuring an expansion card After installing the expansion card, configure it and make the necessary hardware settings for the expansion card...
... support. See Chapter 2 for later use . When using PCI cards on BIOS setup. 2. Unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. Keep the screw for information on shared slots, ensure that the drivers support "Share IRQ" or that came with the screw you removed earlier. 6. Replace the system cover. 1.5.2 Configuring an expansion card After installing the expansion card, configure it and make the necessary hardware settings for the expansion card...
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... with PCI specifications. 1.5.4 PCI Express 2.0 x1 slot This motherboard supports PCI Express x1 network cards, SCSI cards, and other cards that comply with the PCI Express specifications. 1.5.5 PCI Express x16 slot This motherboard supports PCI Express x16 network cards, SCSI cards, and other cards that comply with the PCI Express specifications. OnChip XHCI controller1 - - shared - - - - - SATA controller - - - OnChip XHCI controller2 - OnChip USB OHCI - - ASUS A78M-A 1-11 Realtek LAN controller - shared - - - - OnChip USB EHCI 1/2/3 - HD audio shared...
... with PCI specifications. 1.5.4 PCI Express 2.0 x1 slot This motherboard supports PCI Express x1 network cards, SCSI cards, and other cards that comply with the PCI Express specifications. 1.5.5 PCI Express x16 slot This motherboard supports PCI Express x16 network cards, SCSI cards, and other cards that comply with the PCI Express specifications. OnChip XHCI controller1 - - shared - - - - - SATA controller - - - OnChip XHCI controller2 - OnChip USB OHCI - - ASUS A78M-A 1-11 Realtek LAN controller - shared - - - - OnChip USB EHCI 1/2/3 - HD audio shared...
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... jumper to +5V to enable or disable the keyboard wake-up feature. Set to +5VSB to wake up from S3 and S4 sleep modes (no power to pins 2-3 (+5VSB), you to wake up (3-pin USBPWF) Set this jumper to CPU, DRAM in slow refresh, power supply in low power mode) using the connected USB devices. This feature requires an ATX power supply that can provide 500mA on the +5VSB lead for each USB port; USB device wake-up the computer from S1 sleep mode (CPU stopped, DRAM...
... jumper to +5V to enable or disable the keyboard wake-up feature. Set to +5VSB to wake up from S3 and S4 sleep modes (no power to pins 2-3 (+5VSB), you to wake up (3-pin USBPWF) Set this jumper to CPU, DRAM in slow refresh, power supply in low power mode) using the connected USB devices. This feature requires an ATX power supply that can provide 500mA on the +5VSB lead for each USB port; USB device wake-up the computer from S1 sleep mode (CPU stopped, DRAM...
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.... ASUS A78M-A 1-23 Click Drivers, Utilities, Make Disk, Manual, and Contact tabs to avail all motherboard features. The contents of the Support DVD are subject to change at www.asus.com for updates. Double-click the ASSETUP.EXE to your OS documentation for detailed information. • Ensure that you install Windows® XP Service Pack 3 or later versions / Windows® 7 / 64-bit Windows® 7 / Windows® 8 / 64-bit Windows® 8 / Windows® 8.1 / 64-bit Windows...
.... ASUS A78M-A 1-23 Click Drivers, Utilities, Make Disk, Manual, and Contact tabs to avail all motherboard features. The contents of the Support DVD are subject to change at www.asus.com for updates. Double-click the ASSETUP.EXE to your OS documentation for detailed information. • Ensure that you install Windows® XP Service Pack 3 or later versions / Windows® 7 / 64-bit Windows® 7 / Windows® 8 / 64-bit Windows® 8 / Windows® 8.1 / 64-bit Windows...
User Guide
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... a network or an ISP (Internet Service Provider). With this utlity, you to automatically update your motherboard's softwares, drivers and the BIOS version easily. BIOS information 2 2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS Save a copy of the original motherboard BIOS file to a USB flash disk in the future. To launch EZ Update, click EZ Update on the AI Suite 3 main menu bar. ASUS A78M-A 2-1 Copy the original motherboard BIOS using the ASUS Update utility. 2.1.1 EZ Update EZ Update is a utility that allows you can also manually update...
... a network or an ISP (Internet Service Provider). With this utlity, you to automatically update your motherboard's softwares, drivers and the BIOS version easily. BIOS information 2 2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS Save a copy of the original motherboard BIOS file to a USB flash disk in the future. To launch EZ Update, click EZ Update on the AI Suite 3 main menu bar. ASUS A78M-A 2-1 Copy the original motherboard BIOS using the ASUS Update utility. 2.1.1 EZ Update EZ Update is a utility that allows you can also manually update...
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... start using an OS‑based utility. Enter the Advanced Mode of the BIOS setup program. Press to switch to enable it. 3. Before you to update the BIOS without using this utility, download the latest BIOS file from the ASUS website at www.asus.com. Go to the Tool menu to select ASUS EZ Flash Utility and press to the Folder Info field. 6. Press the Up/Down arrow keys to the USB port. 2. Insert the USB flash disk...
... start using an OS‑based utility. Enter the Advanced Mode of the BIOS setup program. Press to switch to enable it. 3. Before you to update the BIOS without using this utility, download the latest BIOS file from the ASUS website at www.asus.com. Go to the Tool menu to select ASUS EZ Flash Utility and press to the Folder Info field. 6. Press the Up/Down arrow keys to the USB port. 2. Insert the USB flash disk...
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... actual utility screen displays may not be same as a backup when the BIOS fails or gets corrupted during the updating process. Prepare the motherboard support DVD and a USB flash drive formatted using this utility, rename the BIOS file in the removable device into A78MA.CAP. • The BIOS file in the support DVD may not be the latest version. Do not save them on the system. 2. Turn off the computer and disconnect all SATA hard disk drives (optional...
... actual utility screen displays may not be same as a backup when the BIOS fails or gets corrupted during the updating process. Prepare the motherboard support DVD and a USB flash drive formatted using this utility, rename the BIOS file in the removable device into A78MA.CAP. • The BIOS file in the support DVD may not be the latest version. Do not save them on the system. 2. Turn off the computer and disconnect all SATA hard disk drives (optional...
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... 1. Updating the BIOS file To update the BIOS file using BIOS Updater: 1. ASUSTek BIOS Updater for DOS V1.30 A78M-A 0301 05/08/2013 A78MA.CAP 8194 2013-05-08 15:25:48 2-4 Chapter 2: BIOS information Booting the system to the USB port. 2. Boot your computer. When the ASUS Logo appears, press to Drive D (USB flash drive). At the FreeDOS prompt, type d: and press to switch the disk from Drive C (optical drive) to show the BIOS Boot Device Select Menu. The BIOS Updater screen...
... 1. Updating the BIOS file To update the BIOS file using BIOS Updater: 1. ASUSTek BIOS Updater for DOS V1.30 A78M-A 0301 05/08/2013 A78MA.CAP 8194 2013-05-08 15:25:48 2-4 Chapter 2: BIOS information Booting the system to the USB port. 2. Boot your computer. When the ASUS Logo appears, press to Drive D (USB flash drive). At the FreeDOS prompt, type d: and press to switch the disk from Drive C (optical drive) to show the BIOS Boot Device Select Menu. The BIOS Updater screen...
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... to your CPU model. 2.5.4 NB Frequency [Auto] Allows you set the Ai Overclock Tuner item to adjust the NB frequency. Configuration options: [Auto] [Light Power Saving Mode] [Medium Power Saving Mode] [Max Power Saving Mode] ASUS A78M-A 2-13 APU Frequency [XXX] This item appears only when you to [Manual]. You can also key in the desired value using the numeric keypad. 2.5.5 EPU Power Saving Mode [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable the EPU power saving function. Use the and keys to...
... to your CPU model. 2.5.4 NB Frequency [Auto] Allows you set the Ai Overclock Tuner item to adjust the NB frequency. Configuration options: [Auto] [Light Power Saving Mode] [Medium Power Saving Mode] [Max Power Saving Mode] ASUS A78M-A 2-13 APU Frequency [XXX] This item appears only when you to [Manual]. You can also key in the desired value using the numeric keypad. 2.5.5 EPU Power Saving Mode [Disabled] Allows you to enable or disable the EPU power saving function. Use the and keys to...
User Guide
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... SATA hard disk drives to use the AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface). Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] Channel Interleaving [Enabled] Enables or disables the channel memory interleaving. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] Core Leveling Mode [Automatic mode] Allows you to set it to change the number of commands. ASUS A78M-A 2-17 Configuration options: [Disabled] [Auto] APM Master enable [Auto] Enables or disables APM Master. OnChip SATA Channel [Enabled] Enables or disables onboard channel SATA port. Configuration options: [Auto] [Enabled] [Disabled...
... SATA hard disk drives to use the AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface). Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] Channel Interleaving [Enabled] Enables or disables the channel memory interleaving. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] Core Leveling Mode [Automatic mode] Allows you to set it to change the number of commands. ASUS A78M-A 2-17 Configuration options: [Disabled] [Auto] APM Master enable [Auto] Enables or disables APM Master. OnChip SATA Channel [Enabled] Enables or disables onboard channel SATA port. Configuration options: [Auto] [Enabled] [Disabled...
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... used under Windows® OS with the requested drivers installed. Configuration options: [SATA 6.0Gb/s] [SATA 3.0Gb/s] S.M.A.R.T. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] 2-18 Chapter 2: BIOS information Set to [IDE] instead of [AHCI] to support SATA 6.0Gb/s HDDs. Configuration options: [RAID] [IDE] OnChip SATA MAX Speed [SATA 6.0Gb/s] For better HDD compatibility, set to access devices on SATA ports 5, 6 before entering OS. Set to [IDE] instead of [RAID] to [AHCI]. When read/write of your hard disk errors occur, this feature allows the hard disk to [RAID]. SATA Port...
... used under Windows® OS with the requested drivers installed. Configuration options: [SATA 6.0Gb/s] [SATA 3.0Gb/s] S.M.A.R.T. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] 2-18 Chapter 2: BIOS information Set to [IDE] instead of [AHCI] to support SATA 6.0Gb/s HDDs. Configuration options: [RAID] [IDE] OnChip SATA MAX Speed [SATA 6.0Gb/s] For better HDD compatibility, set to access devices on SATA ports 5, 6 before entering OS. Set to [IDE] instead of [RAID] to [AHCI]. When read/write of your hard disk errors occur, this feature allows the hard disk to [RAID]. SATA Port...
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... Rom of the Realtek LAN controller. IRQ=4] [IO=2F8h; This feature requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on state, whatever the system state was before the AC power loss. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] Serial Port Configuration The sub-items in this menu allow you to turn on the system through a PCI/PCIE LAN or modem card. IRQ=4] [IO=2E8h; WOL (include AC Power Loss) [Disabled] [Disabled] Disables Wake On LAN after a power failure (G3 state). [Enabled] Enables Wake...
... Rom of the Realtek LAN controller. IRQ=4] [IO=2F8h; This feature requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on state, whatever the system state was before the AC power loss. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] Serial Port Configuration The sub-items in this menu allow you to turn on the system through a PCI/PCIE LAN or modem card. IRQ=4] [IO=2E8h; WOL (include AC Power Loss) [Disabled] [Disabled] Disables Wake On LAN after a power failure (G3 state). [Enabled] Enables Wake...
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... 60% to 75ºC. Configuration options: [Auto] [Disabled] [Enabled] 2-24 Chapter 2: BIOS information Enables the Chassis1 Q-Fan control feature. Q-Fan Min. 2.7.4 [Disabled] [Enabled] Chassis Q-Fan Control [Enabled] Disables the Chassis1 Q-Fan control feature. Q-Fan Lower Temperature [40] Displays the lower limit of the chassis fan. [Standard] Sets to [Standard] to make the chassis fan automatically adjust depending on the chassis temperature. [Silent] Sets to [Silent] to minimize the fan speed for quiet chassis fan operation. [Turbo] Sets to [Turbo] to achieve...
... 60% to 75ºC. Configuration options: [Auto] [Disabled] [Enabled] 2-24 Chapter 2: BIOS information Enables the Chassis1 Q-Fan control feature. Q-Fan Min. 2.7.4 [Disabled] [Enabled] Chassis Q-Fan Control [Enabled] Disables the Chassis1 Q-Fan control feature. Q-Fan Lower Temperature [40] Displays the lower limit of the chassis fan. [Standard] Sets to [Standard] to make the chassis fan automatically adjust depending on the chassis temperature. [Silent] Sets to [Silent] to minimize the fan speed for quiet chassis fan operation. [Turbo] Sets to [Turbo] to achieve...
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... be accessible via PS/2 devices. [Full Initialization] For full system control, PS/2 devices will be available during POST. This process will extend the POST time. [Partial Initialization] For a faster POST time, only the USB ports with keyboard and mouse connections will not be detected during POST. [Boot Drive Only] Only boot drives connected to load the network stack driver during POST. Network Stack Driver Support [Disabled] [Disabled] Select to skip the network stack driver from loading during POST. [Enabled] Select to SATA ports...
... be accessible via PS/2 devices. [Full Initialization] For full system control, PS/2 devices will be available during POST. This process will extend the POST time. [Partial Initialization] For a faster POST time, only the USB ports with keyboard and mouse connections will not be detected during POST. [Boot Drive Only] Only boot drives connected to load the network stack driver during POST. Network Stack Driver Support [Disabled] [Disabled] Select to skip the network stack driver from loading during POST. [Enabled] Select to SATA ports...
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... launch. Configuration options: [Legacy OpROM first] [UEFI driver first] [Ignore] Boot from Network Devices [Legacy OpROM first] Allows you to select the type of PCIe/PCI expansion devices that you set Launch CSM to fully support the various VGA, bootable devices and add-on devices or the Windows® UEFI mode. [Disabled] Disable the CSM to launch. Launch CSM [Enabled] [Auto] The system automatically detects the bootable devices and the add-on devices. [Enabled] For better compatibility, enable the CSM...
... launch. Configuration options: [Legacy OpROM first] [UEFI driver first] [Ignore] Boot from Network Devices [Legacy OpROM first] Allows you to select the type of PCIe/PCI expansion devices that you set Launch CSM to fully support the various VGA, bootable devices and add-on devices or the Windows® UEFI mode. [Disabled] Disable the CSM to launch. Launch CSM [Enabled] [Auto] The system automatically detects the bootable devices and the add-on devices. [Enabled] For better compatibility, enable the CSM...