P27G(1.0)
P27G(1.0)
P27G(1.0)
Copyright © 2005
All Rights Reserved
P27G Series, V1.0
December 2005
i
Motherboard User’s Guide
Table of Contents
Trademark ............................................................................................................ i
Static Electricity Precautions ......................................................................................... i
Pre-Installation Inspection ............................................................................................. i
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Motherboard User’s Guide
Notice:
Owing to Microsoft’s certifying schedule is various to every supplier, we might
have some drivers not certified yet by Microsoft. Therefore, it might happen
under Windows XP that a dialogue box (shown as below) pop out warning you
this software has not passed Windows Logo testing to verify its compatibility
with Windows XP. Please rest assured that our RD department has already
tested and verified these drivers. Just click the “Continue Anyway” button and
go ahead the installation.
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Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 1 Introduction
This motherboard has an LGA775 socket for the latest Intel Pentium 4/Celeron
D/ Pentium D processors with Hyper-Threading Technology and Front-Side Bus
(FSB) speeds up to 1066/800/533 MHz. Hyper-Threading Technology, designed
to take advantage of the multitasking features in Windows XP, gives you the
power to do more things at once.
It integrates the VIA P4M800Pro Northbridge and VT8237 Southbridge that
supports the Serial ATA interface for high-performance and mainstream desktop
PCs; the built-in USB 2.0 providing higher bandwidth, implementing Universal
Serial Bus Specification Revision 2.0 and is compliant with UHCI 1.1 and EHCI
1.0. It supports AC’ 97 Audio Codec and provides Ultra DMA 133/100/66
function. It has one 8X AGP, one CNR and three 32-bit PCI slots. There is a full
set of I/O ports including two PS/2 ports for mouse and keyboard, one serial
port, one parallel port, one VGA port, one LAN port (optional), three audio
jacks for Line-in, Line-out and Microphone, four back-panel USB 2.0 ports and
onboard USB headers providing extra ports by connecting the Extended USB
Module to the motherboard.
It is a Micro ATX motherboard and has power connectors for an ATX power
supply.
Key Features
The key features of this motherboard include:
LGA775 Socket
• Supports the latest Intel Pentium 4/Celeron D/Pentium D Series
processors with Hyper-Threading Technology
• Supports up to 1066/800/533 MHz Front-Side Bus
Hyper-Threading technology enables the operating system into thinking it’s
hooked up to two processors, allowing two threads to be run in parallel, both
on separate ‘logical’ processors within the same physical processor.
Chipset
There are VIA P4M800Pro Northbridge and VT8237 in the chipsets in accor-
dance with an innovative and scalable architecture with proven reliability and
performance.
• High Performance Northbridge with 1066/800/533 MHz FSB for
Pentium 4/Celeron D/Pentium D processors
• V-link 533 MB/s high bandwidth North/South Bridge interconnect
• Integrated UniChrome Pro 3D/2D Graphics & Video Controller,
Microsoft DirectX 9.0 compatible, OpenGL supported
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Motherboard User’s Guide
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Chapter 1: Introduction
The firmware can also be used to set parameters for different processor clock
speeds.
Dimensions
• Micro ATX form factor of 244 x 220 mm
Package Contents
Your motherboard package ships with the following items:
The motherboard
The User’s Guide
One diskette drive ribbon cable (optional)
One IDE drive ribbon cable
The Software support CD
Optional Accessories
You can purchase the following optional accessories for this motherboard.
The Extended USB module
The CNR v.90 56 K Fax/Modem card
The Serial ATA cable
The Serial ATA power cable
Note: You can purchase your own optional accessories from the third party,
but please contact your local vendor on any issues of the specification
and compatibility.
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Chapter 2: Motherboard Installation
Note:
1. Before installing this motherboard, make sure jumper CLR_CMOS1
is under Normal setting. See this chapter for information about
locating CLR_CMOS1 and the setting options.
2. Never connect power to the system during installation; otherwise, it
may damage the motherboard.
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Motherboard User’s Guide
Motherboard Components
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Chapter 2: Motherboard Installation
I/O Ports
The illustration below shows a side view of the built-in I/O ports on the
motherboard.
PS/2 Mouse Use the upper PS/2 port to connect a PS/2 pointing
device.
Parallel Port (LPT1) Use the Parallel port to connect printers or other
parallel communications devices.
LAN Port (optional) Connect an RJ-45 jack to the LAN port to connect
your computer to the Netw ork.
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Motherboard User’s Guide
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Chapter 2: Motherboard Installation
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Motherboard User’s Guide
Note1: Do not remove any memory module from its antistatic packaging until
you are ready to install it on the motherboard. Handle the modules
only by their edges. Do not touch the components or metal parts.
Always wear a grounding strap when you handle the modules.
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Chapter 2: Motherboard Installation
Jumper Settings
Connecting two pins with a jumper cap is SHORT; removing a jumper cap from
these pins, OPEN.
Note: Make sure the power supply provides enough SB5V voltage before
selecting the SB5V function.
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Motherboard User’s Guide
If there is a cooling fan installed in the system chassis, connect the cable from the
cooling fan to the SYS_FAN1 fan power connector on the motherboard.
Connect the case switches and indicator LEDs to the PANEL1 header.
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Chapter 2: Motherboard Installation
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Motherboard User’s Guide
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Chapter 2: Motherboard Installation
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Motherboard User’s Guide
When you first start up your system, the BIOS should automatically detect
your CD-ROM/DVD drive. If it doesn’t, enter the Setup Utility and configure
the CD-ROM/DVD drive that you have installed. On the motherboard, locate
the 4-pin header CD_IN1.
Pin Signal
1 CD IN L
2 GND
3 GND
4 CD IN R
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Chapter 2: Motherboard Installation
Expansion Slots
This motherboard has one AGP, CNR and three 32-bit PCI slots.
8X AGP Slot
You can install a graphics adapter that supports the 8X AGP specification and
has an 8X AGP edge connector in the AGP slot.
CNR Slot
You can install the CNR (Communications and Networking Riser) cards in this
slot, including LAN, Modem, and Audio functions.
PCI Slots
You can install the 32-bit PCI interface expansion cards in the slots.
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Motherboard User’s Guide
Memo
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Chapter 3: BIOS Setup Utility
Standards COMOS setup for changing time, date, hard disk type, etc.
V02.54 (C) 1985-2003, American Megatrends, Inc.
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Motherboard User’s Guide
You can use cursor arrow keys to highlight anyone of options on the main menu
page. Press Enter to select the highlighted option. Press the Escape key to leave
the setup utility. Press +/-/ to modify the selected field’s values.
Some options on the main menu page lead to tables of items with installed values
that you can use cursor arrow keys to highlight one item, and press + and - keys
to cycle through alternative values of that item. The other options on the main
menu page lead to dialog boxes requiring your answer OK or Cancel by selecting
[OK] or [Cancel].
If you have already changed the setup utility, press F10 to save those changes
and exit the utility. Press F1 to display a screen describing all key functions.
Press F9 to install the setup utility with a set of default values.
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Chapter 3: BIOS Setup Utility
Quick Boot
If you enable this item, the system starts up more quickly be elimination some
of the power on test routines.
1st Boot Device/2nd Boot Device/3rd Boot Device
Use these items to determine the device order the computer uses to look for an
operating system to load at start-up time.
Try Other Boot Device
If you enable this item, the system will also search for other boot devices if it
fails to find an operating system from the first two locations.
BootUp Num-Lock
This item determines if the Num Lock key is active or inactive at system start-
up time.
Boot To OS/2> 64MB
Enable this item if you are booting the OS/2 operating system and you have
more than 64MB of system memory installed.
AGP Aperture Size
This item defines the size of aperture if you use a graphic adapter.
DRAM Timing
This item allows you to enable or disable the DRAM timing defined by the
Serial Presence Detect electrical.
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Motherboard User’s Guide
DRAM Driving
When this item is defaulted at “Normal”, some DDRs might cause the problem
of booting or system stability; in that case, please set it at “High”.
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Motherboard User’s Guide
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Chapter 3: BIOS Setup Utility
Supervisor Password
This item indicates whether a supervisor password has been set. If the password
has been installed, Installed displays. If not, Not Installed displays.
Change Supervisor Password
You can select this option and press <Enter> to access the sub menu. You can
use the sub menu to change the supervisor password.
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Chapter 3: BIOS Setup Utility
Manufacturer
These items show the brand of the CPU installed in your system.
Ratio Status
This item shows the Locked/Unlocked ratio status of CPU installed in your
system.
CPU Over-clocking Func.
This item decides the CPU over-clocking function installed in your system. If
the over-clocking fails, please turn off the system power. And then, hold the
PageUp key (similar to the Clear CMOS function) and turn on the power, the
BIOS will recover the safe default.
CPU Frequency
This item shows the frequency of the CPU installed in your system.
DRAM Frequency
This item shows the frequency of the DRAM in your system.
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Motherboard User’s Guide
CPU/System Temperature
These items display CPU and system temperature measurement.
FANs & Voltage Measurements
These items indicate cooling fan speeds in RPM and the various system voltage
measurements.
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Chapter 3: BIOS Setup Utility
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Motherboard User’s Guide
Memo
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Chapter 4: Software & Applications
The Setup button runs the software auto-installing program as explained in next
section.
The Browse CD button is a standard Windows command that you can check the
contents of the disc with the Windows 98 file browsing interface.
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Motherboard User’s Guide
The Exit button closes the Auto Setup window. To run the program again,
reinsert the CD-ROM disc in the drive; or click the CD-ROM driver from the
Windows Explorer, and click the Setup icon.
The Application button brings up a software menu. It shows the bundled
software that this motherboard supports.
The ReadMe brings you to the Install Path where you can find out path names
of software driver.
Auto-Installing under Windows 98SE/ME2000/XP
If you are under Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP, please click the Setup button to
run the software auto-installing program while the Auto Setup screen pops out
after inserting the support CD-ROM:
1 The installation program loads and displays the following screen.
Click the Next button.
2 Select the items that you want to setup by clicking on it (the default
options are recommended). Click the Next button to proceed.
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Chapter 4: Software & Applications
WinFlash Utility
The WinFlash utility is a Windows version of the DOS BIOS flash writer utility.
The utility enables you to flash the system BIOS stored on a Flash Memory chip
on the motherboard while in a Windows environment. This utility is currently
available for WINXP\2000. To install the WinFlash utility, run AFUWIN.EXE
(AMI) or WINFLASH.EXE (Award) from the following directory:
\Utility\AMIFlash or AWDFlash.
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Motherboard User’s Guide
Memo
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Chapter 5: VIA VT8237 SATA RAID Setup Guide
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Motherboard User’s Guide
Follow these steps to install the SATA hard disks for RAID configuration.
i Before setting up your new RAID array, verify the status of your hard
disks. Make sure the Master/Slave jumpers are configured properly.
ii Both the data and power SATA cables are new cables. You cannot use
older 40-pin 80-conductor IDE or regular IDE power cables with Serial
ATA drives. Installing Serial ATA (SATA) hard disks require the use of
new Serial ATA cable (4-conductor) which supports the Serial ATA
protocol and a Serial ATA power cable.
iii Either end of the Serial ATA data cable can be connected to the SATA
hard disk or the SATA connector on the motherboard.
1 Install the Serial ATA hard disks into the drive bays.
2 Connect one end of the Serial ATA cable to the motherboard’s primary
Serial ATA connector (SATA1).
3 Connect the other end of Serial ATA cable to the master Serial ATA hard
disk.
4 Connect one end of the second Serial ATA cable to the motherboard’s
secondary Serial ATA connector (SATA2).
5 Connect the other end of Serial ATA cable to the secondary Serial ATA
hard disk.
6 Connect the Serial ATA power cable to the power connector on each
drive.
7 Proceed to section “Entering VIA Tech RAID BIOS Utility” for the next
procedure.
Entering VIA Tech RAID BIOS Utility
1 Boot-up your computer.
2 During POST, press <TAB> to enter VIA RAID configuration utility.
The following menu options will appear.
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Chapter 5: VIA VT8237 SATA RAID Setup Guide
On the upper-right side of the screen is the message and legend box. The keys on
the legend box allow you to navigate through the setup menu options. The
message describes the function of each menu item. The following lists the keys
found in the legend box with their corresponding functions.
F1 View Array
mn Move to the next item
Enter Confirm the selection
ESC Exit
Create Array
1 In the VIA RAID BIOS utility main menu, select Create Array then
press the <Enter> key. The main menu items on the upper-left corner of
the screen are replaced with create array menu options.
2 Select RAID 0 for performance from the menu and press <Enter>.
From this point, you may choose to auto-configure the RAID array by
selecting Auto Setup for Performance or manually configure the RAID
array for stripped sets. If you want to manually configure the RAID
array continue with next step, otherwise, proceed to step #5.
3 Select Select Disk Drives, then press <Enter>. Use arrow keys to
select disk drive/s, then press <Enter> to mark selected drive. An
asterisk is placed before the selected drive.
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Motherboard User’s Guide
4 Select Block Size, then press <Enter> to set array block size. Lists of
valid array block sizes are displayed on a pop-up menu.
Use arrow keys to move selection bar on items and press <Enter> to select.
5 Select Start Create Process and press <Enter> to setup hard disk for
RAID system. The following confirmation appears:
The same confirmation message appears when
the Auto Setup for Performance option is selected.
2 Select RAID 1 for data protection from the menu and press <Enter>.
Select next task from pop-up menu. The task Create only creates the
mirrored set without creating a backup. Create and duplicate creates
both mirrored set and backup.
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Chapter 5: VIA VT8237 SATA RAID Setup Guide
3 Select task and press <Enter>. The screen returns to Create Array menu
items. From this point, you may choose to auto-configure the RAID
array by selecting Auto Setup for Data Security or manually configure
the RAID array for mirrored sets. If you want to manually configure the
RAID array continue with next step, otherwise, proceed to step #5.
4 Select Select Disk Drives, then press <Enter>. Use arrow keys to select
disk drive/s, then press <Enter> to mark selected drive. (An asterisk is
placed before a selected drve.)
5 Select Start Create Process and press <Enter> to setup hard disk for
RAID system. The following confirmation message appears:
Delete Array
1 In the VIA RAID BIOS utility main menu, select Delete Array then
press the <Enter> key. The focus is directed to the list of channel used for
IDE RAID arrays.
2 Press the <Enter> key to select a RAID array to delete. The following
confirmation message appears.
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Motherboard User’s Guide
If user selects Continue to boot, it will enable duplicating the array after
booting into OS.
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Chapter 5: VIA VT8237 SATA RAID Setup Guide
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Motherboard User’s Guide
Highlight the target hard drive and press <Enter>, a warning message will appear.
Press Y to use that hard drive to rebuild, or press N to cancel. Please note
selecting option Y will destroy all the data on the selected hard drive.
4. Continue to boot:
This item enables BIOS to skip the problem and continue booting into OS.
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Chapter 5: VIA VT8237 SATA RAID Setup Guide
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Motherboard User’s Guide
The InstallShield Wizard will begin automatically for installation. Click on the
Next button to proceed the installation in the welcoming window.
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Chapter 5: VIA VT8237 SATA RAID Setup Guide
Put a check mark in the check box to install the feature you want. Then click
Next button to proceed the installation.
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Motherboard User’s Guide
The main interface is divided into two windows and the toolbar above contain
the main functions. Click on these toolbar buttons to execute their specific
functions. The left windowpane displays the controller and disk drives and the
right windowpane displays the details of the controller or disk drives. The
available features are as following:
View by Controller
View by Devices
Help Topics
It means that VT8237 SATA RAID only has the feature of monitoring the
statuses of RAID 0 and RAID 1.
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Chapter 5: VIA VT8237 SATA RAID Setup Guide
Click on the plus (+) symbol next to Array 0--RAID 0 to see the details of each
disk.
You may also use the same or button to view the statuses of
Array 0--RAID 1.
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Motherboard User’s Guide
Click on the plus (+) symbol next to Array 0; RAID 1 to see the details of each
disk.
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