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M2N68-AM SE2
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Copyright 2009 ASUSTeK Computer Inc. All Rights Reserved.
No part of this manual, including the products and software described in it, may be reproduced,
transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form or by any
means, except documentation kept by the purchaser for backup purposes, without the express written
permission of ASUSTeK Computer Inc. (ASUS).
Product warranty or service will not be extended if: (1) the product is repaired, modifed or altered, unless
such repair, modifcation of alteration is authorized in writing by ASUS; or (2) the serial number of the
product is defaced or missing.
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. IN NO EVENT SHALL ASUS, ITS
DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL,
INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS,
LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF USE OR DATA, INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS AND THE LIKE),
EVEN IF ASUS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES ARISING FROM ANY
DEFECT OR ERROR IN THIS MANUAL OR PRODUCT.
SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL ARE FURNISHED FOR
INFORMATIONAL USE ONLY, AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE,
AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY ASUS. ASUS ASSUMES NO
RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS OR INACCURACIES THAT MAY APPEAR IN THIS
MANUAL, INCLUDING THE PRODUCTS AND SOFTWARE DESCRIBED IN IT.
Products and corporate names appearing in this manual may or may not be registered trademarks or
copyrights of their respective companies, and are used only for identifcation or explanation and to the
owners beneft, without intent to infringe.
E4438
First Edition V1
January 2009
iii
Contents
Notices .......................................................................................................... v
Safety information ...................................................................................... vi
About this guide ......................................................................................... vi
M2N68-AM SE2 specifcations summary ................................................ viii
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.1 Before you proceed ..................................................................... 1-1
1.2 Motherboard overview ................................................................. 1-2
1.2.1 Motherboard layout ......................................................... 1-2
1.2.2 Layout contents ............................................................... 1-2
1.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) ................................................... 1-3
1.4 System memory ........................................................................... 1-3
1.4.1 Overview ......................................................................... 1-3
1.4.2 Memory confgurations .................................................... 1-4
1.5 Expansion slots ............................................................................ 1-6
1.5.1 Installing an expansion card ........................................... 1-6
1.5.2 Confguring an expansion card ....................................... 1-7
1.5.3 PCI slot ........................................................................... 1-7
1.5.4 PCI Express x1 slot ......................................................... 1-7
1.5.5 PCI Express x16 slot ....................................................... 1-7
1.6 Jumpers ........................................................................................ 1-7
1.7 Connectors ................................................................................... 1-9
1.7.1 Rear panel ports ............................................................. 1-9
1.7.2 Internal connectors ....................................................... 1-10
1.8 Software support ........................................................................ 1-15
1.8.1 Installing an operating system ...................................... 1-15
1.8.2 Support DVD information .............................................. 1-15
Chapter 2: BIOS information
2.1 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 utility ...................................... 2-3
2.2 BIOS setup program .................................................................... 2-4
iv
Contents
2.3 Main menu .................................................................................... 2-4
2.3.1 System Time ................................................................... 2-4
2.3.2 System Date ................................................................... 2-4
2.3.3 IDE Confguration ............................................................ 2-5
2.3.4 Primary IDE Master/Slave ............................................... 2-5
2.3.5 SATA 1-2 ......................................................................... 2-6
2.3.6 System Information ......................................................... 2-6
2.4 Advanced menu ........................................................................... 2-7
2.4.1 JumperFree Confguration .............................................. 2-7
2.4.2 CPU Confguration .......................................................... 2-9
2.4.3 Chipset .......................................................................... 2-10
2.4.4 Onboard Devices Confguration .....................................2-11
2.4.5 PCI PnP .........................................................................2-11
2.4.6 USB Confguration .........................................................2-11
2.5 Power menu ................................................................................ 2-12
2.5.1 Suspend Mode .............................................................. 2-12
2.5.2 ACPI 2.0 Support ......................................................... 2-12
2.5.3 ACPI APIC Support ....................................................... 2-13
2.5.4 APM Confguration ........................................................ 2-13
2.5.5 Hardware Monitor ......................................................... 2-13
2.6 Boot menu .................................................................................. 2-14
2.6.1 Boot Device Priority ...................................................... 2-14
2.6.2 Boot Settings Confguration .......................................... 2-14
2.6.3 Security ......................................................................... 2-15
2.7 Tools menu ................................................................................. 2-16
2.7.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2 .......................................................... 2-16
2.8 Exit menu .................................................................................... 2-16
v
Notices
Federal Communications Commission Statement
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
This device may not cause harmful interference, and
This device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
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 installation. This
equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with manufacturers instructions, may cause harmful interference
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 receiver.
Connect the equipment to 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.
The use of shielded cables for connection of the monitor to the graphics card is required
to assure compliance with FCC regulations. Changes or modifcations to this unit not
expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the users authority
to operate this equipment.
Canadian Department of Communications Statement
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from
digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department
of Communications.
This class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
DO NOT throw the motherboard in municipal waste. This product has been designed to
enable proper reuse of parts and recycling. This symbol of the crossed out wheeled bin
indicates that the product (electrical and electronic equipment) should not be placed in
municipal waste. Check local regulations for disposal of electronic products.
DO NOT throw the mercury-containing button cell battery in municipal waste. This symbol
of the crossed out wheeled bin indicates that the battery should not be placed in municipal
waste.
vi
Safety information
Electrical safety
To prevent electric shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electric outlet
before relocating the system.
When adding or removing devices to or from the system, ensure that the power cables
for the devices are unplugged before the signal cables are connected. If possible,
disconnect all power cables from the existing system before you add a device.
Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard, ensure that all
power cables are unplugged.
Seek professional assistance before using an adapter or extension cord. These devices
could interrupt the grounding circuit.
Ensure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your area. If you are not
sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you are using, contact your local power
company.
If the power supply is broken, do not try to fx it by yourself. Contact a qualifed service
technician or your retailer.
Operation safety
Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully read all the manuals
that came with the package.
Before using the product, ensure that all cables are correctly connected and the power
cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage, contact your dealer immediately.
To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from connectors,
slots, sockets, and circuitry.
Avoid dust, humidity, and temperature extremes. Do not place the product in any area
where it may become wet.
Place the product on a fat and stable surface.
If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualifed service
technician or your retailer.
About this guide
This user guide contains the information you need when installing and confguring the
motherboard.
How this guide is organized
This guide contains the following parts:
Chapter 1: Product introduction
This chapter describes the features of the motherboard and the new technology it
supports.
Chapter 2: BIOS information
This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS setup menus.
Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided.
vii
Conventions used in this guide
To ensure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following symbols used
throughout this manual.
DANGER/WARNING: Information to prevent injury to yourself when trying to Information to prevent injury to yourself when trying to
complete a task.
CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components when trying to Information to prevent damage to the components when trying to
complete a task.
NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a task. Tips and additional information to help you complete a task.
IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task.
Where to fnd more information
Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and software
updates.
1. ASUS websites
The ASUS website provides updated information on ASUS hardware and software
products.
2. Optional documentation
Your product package may include optional documentation, such as warranty fyers,
that may have been added by your dealer. These documents are not part of the
standard package.
Typography
Bol d t ext Indicates a menu or an item to select.
Italics Used to emphasize a word or a phrase.
<Key> Keys enclosed in the less-than and greater-than sign means
that you must press the enclosed key.
Example: <Enter> means that you must press the Enter or
Return key.
<Key1>+<Key2>+<Key3> If you must press two or more keys simultaneously, the key
names are linked with a plus sign (+).
Example: <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<D>
Command Means that you must type the command exactly as shown, Means that you must type the command exactly as shown,
then supply the required item or value enclosed in brackets.
Example: At the DOS prompt, type the command line:
afudos /i[flename]
afudos /iM2NAMSE2.ROM
viii
CPU AMD

Socket AM2+ / AM2 for AMD PhenomFX / Phenom /

Athlon / Sempron processors
AMD Cool n Quiet Technology
AMD64 architecture enables simultaneous 32-bit and 64-bit
computing
Chipset NVIDIA

GeForce 7025/nForce 630a (MCP68 SE)

System bus 2000 / 1600MT/s
Memory Dual-channel memory architecture
2 x 240-pin DIMM slots support unbuffered ECC and
non-ECC DDR2 1066/800/667MHz memory modules
Supports up to 4GB system memory
* DDR2 1066 is supported by AM2+ CPU only. Refer to
www.asus.com for the AM2+ CPU models.
** Refer to www.asus.com for the latest Memory QVL
(Qualifed Vendors List).
*** When you install a total memory of 4GB or more,
Windows

32-bit operating system may only recognize

less than 3GB. Hence, a total installed memory of less
than 3GB is recommended if you are using a Windows
32-bit operating system.
Graphics Integrated programmable Shader model 3.0 DirectX 9
graphics processor
Maximum shared memory of 256MB
Supports RGB with max. resolution 1920 x 1440 @
75MHz*32bpp
Expansion slots 1 x PCIe x16 slot
1 x PCIe x1 slot
1 x PCI slot
Storage 1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 connector
2 x Serial ATA 3Gb/s connectors support RAID 0, 1, and
JBOD confgurations on Windows

Vista OS
Audio ALC662 High Defnition Audio 6-channel CODEC
Supports Jack-detect and Multi-streaming
USB Supports up to 10 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (6 ports at mid-board,
4 ports at the back panel)
LAN Realtek RTL8201CP Phy 10/100 LAN
M2N68-AM SE2 specifcations summary
(continued on the next page)
ix
M2N68-AM SE2 specifcations summary
ASUS special features ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution
- ASUS Q-Fan
ASUS EZ DIY
- ASUS CrashFree BIOS3
- ASUS EZ Flash2
ASUS MyLogo2
Back panel I/O ports 1 x PS/2 Keyboard port
1 x PS/2 Mouse port
1 x RJ45 port
1 x VGA port
4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
6-channel audio I/O ports
1 x COM port
Internal I/O connectors 3 x USB 2.0/1.1 connectors support additional
6 USB 2.0/1.1 ports
1 x IDE connector
2 x SATA connectors
1 x system panel connector
1 x CD audio-in connector
1 x Internal speaker connector
1 x Front panel audio connector
1 x CPU fan connector
1 x 24-pin EATX power connector
1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector
BIOS 8Mb Flash ROM, AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0,
ACPI2.0, SM BIOS 2.5
Accessories 1 x Serial ATA cable
1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable
1 x IO shield
User Manual
Form Factor MicroATX form factor: 9.6 in x 8.0 in
Support DVD Drivers
ASUS Update
ASUS PC Probe II
Anti-Virus software (OEM version)
*Specifcations are subject to change without notice.
Chapter 1
Product introduction
Thank you for buying an ASUS

M2N68-AM SE2 motherboard!

Before you start installing the motherboard, and hardware devices on it, check the items in
your motherboard package. Refer to page ix for the list of accessories.
If any of the items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.
1.1 Before you proceed
Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change
any motherboard settings.
Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any component.
Before handling components, use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded
object or a metal object, such as the power supply case, to avoid damaging them due to
static electricity
Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them.
Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded antistatic pad or in the
bag that came with the component.
Before you install or remove any component, switch off the ATX power supply and
detach its power cord. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to the motherboard,
peripherals, or components.
Onboard LED
This motherboard comes with a standby power LED that lights up to indicate that the system
is ON, in sleep mode, or in soft-off mode. This is a reminder that you must 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.
Chapter 1: Product introduction 1-1
1.2 Motherboard overview
1.2.1 Motherboard layout
Place six screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the motherboard to the
chassis. DO NOT overtighten the screws! Doing so can damage the motherboard.
Ensure that you install the motherboard into the chassis in the correct orientation. The edge
with external ports goes to the rear part of the chassis.
1.2.2 Layout contents
Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED Page Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED Page
1. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V) 1-13 9. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB56, USB 78, USB910) 1-12
2. AM2 CPU Socket 1-3 10. Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC) 1-7
3. DDR2 DIMM slots 1-3 11. Internal speaker connector (4-pin SPEAKER) 1-13
4. Keyboard/mouse power (3-pin PS2_USBPW 1-4) 1-9 12. Standby power LED (SB_PWR) 1-1
5. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE) 1-11 13. System panel connector (10-1 pin F_PANEL) 1-14
6. CPU fan connector (4-pin CPU_FAN) 1-12 14. Optical drive audio connector (4-pin CD) 1-11
7. Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1, SATA2) 1-10 15. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP) 1-14
8. USB device wake-up (3-pin USBPW 5-10) 1-8 16. PCIe x16/PCIe x1/PCI slots 1-7
Place this side towards
the rear of the chassis.
1-2 ASUS M2N68-AM SE2
1.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
This motherboard comes with a 940-pin AM2+ / AM2 socket designed for AMD

PhenomFX
/ Phenom / Athlon / Sempron processors.
The AM2+ / AM2 socket has a different pinout from the 940-pin socket designed for the
AMD Opteron processor. Use a CPU that is designed for the AM2+ / AM2 socket.
1.4 System memory
1.4.1 Overview
This motherboard comes with two Double Data Rate 2 (DDR2) Dual Inline Memory Modules
(DIMM) sockets. A DDR2 DIMM has the same physical dimensions as a DDR DIMM but
has a 240-pin footprint compared to the 184-pin DDR DIMM. DDR2 DIMMs are notched
differently to prevent installation on a DDR DIMM socket.The fgure illustrates the location of
the DDR2 DIMM sockets:
Channel Sockets
Channel A DIMM_A1
Channel B DIMM_B1
Chapter 1: Product introduction 1-3
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 confguration. Any excess
memory from the higher-sized channel is then mapped for the single-channel operation.
Always install DIMMs with the same CAS latency. For optimum compatibility, we
recommend that you obtain memory modules from the same vendor.
Due to the memory address limitation on the 32-bit Windows

OS, when you install

4GB or more memory on the motherboard, the actual usable memory for the OS can be
about 3GB or less. For effective use of memory, we recommend that you do either of the
following:
- Install a maximum of 3GB system memory if you are using a 32-bit Windows

OS.
- Use a 64-bit Windows

OS if you want to install 4GB or more memory on the

motherboard.
This motherboard does not support DIMMs made up of 256 megabits (Mb) chips or less.
This motherboard supports up to 4GB memory modules on Windows

XP Professional x64
and Vista x64 editions. You may install a maximum of 2GB DIMMs on each slot.
1.4.2 Memory confgurations
You may install 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, and 2GB unbuffered ECC and non-ECC DDR2 DIMMs
into the DIMM sockets.
1-4 ASUS M2N68-AM SE2
Vendor Part No. Size
SS/
DS
CL Chip No.
Chip
Brand
DIMM support
A* B*
Kingston KVR667D2N5/512 512MB SS N/A
SO1237650821 SBP D6408TR4CGL25
USL074905PECNB
Kingston

Qimonda HYS64T64000EU-3S-B2 512MB SS 5 HYB18T512B00B2F3SFSS28171 Qimonda
Micron MT8HTF12864AY-667E1 1G SS 5 D9HNL 7ZE17 Micron
HY HYMP512U64CP8-Y5 AB 1G DS 5 HY5PS12521CFP-Y5 Hynix
Apacer AU512E667C5KBGC 512MB SS 5 AM4B5708GQJS7E06332F Apacer
Transcend 506010-4894 1G DS 5 E5108AJBG-6E-E Elpida
ADATA M2OAD5G3H3160Q1C52 512MB SS N/A AD29608A8A-3EG20813 ADATA
ADATA M2OAD5G314170Q1C58 1G DS N/A AD29608A8A-3EG80814 ADATA
ADATA M2OAD5H3J4170I1C53 2G DS N/A AD20908A8A-3EG 30724 ADATA
PSC AL6E8E63J-6E1 512MB SS 5 A3R12E3JFF717B9A00 PSC
PSC AL7E8E63J-6E1 1G DS 5 A3R12E3JFF717B9A01 PSC
GEIL GX21GB5300SX 1G DS 3 Heat-Sink Package GEIL
G.SKILL F2-5400PHU2-2GBNT 2G(kit of 2) DS 5-5-5-15 D2 64M8CCF 0815 C7173S G.SKILL
Twinmos 8D-A3JK5MPETP 512MB SS 5 A3R12E3GEF633ACAOY PSC
ELIXIR M2Y1G64TU8HA2B-3C 1G DS 5 M2TU51280AE-3C717095R28F ELIXIR
Leadmax LRMP512U64A8-Y5 1G DS N/A HY5PS12821CFP-Y5 C 702AA Hynix
DDR2-800MHz capability
Vendor Part No. Size
SS/
DS
CL Chip No.
Chip
Brand
DIMM support
A* B*
Kingston KHX6400D2LLK2/1GN 512MB SS N/A Heat-Sink Package Kingston
Kingston KVR800D2N5/1G 1G DS N/A E5108AJBG-8E-E Elpida
Samsung M378T2863QZS-CF7 1G SS 6 K4T1G084QQ-HCF7 Samsung
Samsung M391T2863QZ3-CF7 1G SS 6 K4T1G084QQ-HCF7(ECC) Samsung
Samsung M378T5263AZ3-CF7 4G DS N/A K4T2G084QA-HCF7 Samsung
Qimonda HYS64T64000EU-2.5-B2 512MB SS 6 HYB18T512800B2F25FSS28380 Qimonda
Corsair CM2X2048-6400C5DHX 2G(Kit of 2) DS 5 Heat-Sink Package Corsair
Crucial BL12864AA804.8FE5 2G(Kit of 2)(EPP) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package N/A
HY HYMP564U64CP8-S5 AB 512MB SS 5 HY5PS12821CFP-S5 Hynix
Kingmax KLDC28F-A8KI5 512MB SS N/A KKA8FF1XF-JFS-25A Kingmax
Apacer 78.91G91.9K5 512MB SS 5 AM4B5708JQJS8E0751C Apacer
Apacer 78.A1GA0.9K4 2G DS 5 AM4B5808CQJS8E0747D Apacer
VDATA M2GVD6G3H3160Q1E52 512MB SS N/A VD29608A8A-25EG20813 VDATA
ADATA M2OAD6G314170Q1E58 1G DS N/A AD29608A8A-25EG80810 ADATA
PSC AL7E8E63H-10E1K 2G DS 5 A3R1GE3CFF750RABBP(ECC) PSC
GEIL GX22GB6400LX 2G DS 5 Heat-Sink Package GEIL
G.SKILL F2-6400CL4D-2GBHK 1G DS 4 Heat-Sink Package G.SKILL
G.SKILL F2-6400CL4D-4GBPK 2G DS 4 Heat-Sink Package G.SKILL
OCZ OCZ2VU8004GK 1G DS 6 Heat-Sink Package OCZ
Century 28V0H8 1G DS 5 HY5PS12821CFP-S5 Hynix
M2N68-AM SE2 Motherboard Qualifed Vendors List (QVL)
DDR2-667MHz capability
Chapter 1: Product introduction 1-5
SS: Single-sided / DS: Double-sided
DIMM support:
A*: Supports one module inserted into either slot as the single-channel memory
confguration.
B*: Supports one pair of modules inserted into both the yellow slots as one pair of
dual-channel memory confguration.
Visit the ASUS website at www.asus.com for the latest QVL.
DDR2 1066 is supported by AM2+ CPU only.
The default DIMM frequency depends on its Serial Presence Detect (SPD), which is the
standard way of accessing information from a memory module. Under the default state,
some memory modules for overclocking may operate at a lower frequency than the
vendor-marked value.
1.5 Expansion slots
In the future, you may need to install expansion cards. The following sub-sections describe
the slots and the expansion cards that they support.
Unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. Failure to do so may
cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components.
1.5.1 Installing an expansion card
To install an expansion card:
1. Before installing the expansion card, read the documentation that comes with it and
make the necessary hardware settings for the card.
2. Remove the chassis cover (if your motherboard is already installed in a chassis).
3. Remove the bracket opposite the slot that you intend to use.
4. Align the card connector with the slot and press frmly until the card is completely
seated on the slot.
5. Secure the card to the chassis with the screw.
6. Replace the chassis cover.
DDR2-1066MHz capability
Vendor Part No. Size
SS/
DS
CL Chip No.
Chip
Brand
DIMM support
A* B*
Corsair CM2X1024-8500C5 1G DS N/A Heat-Sink Package N/A
GEIL GB24GB8500C5QC 1G SS 5 GL2L128M88BA25AB GEIL
1-6 ASUS M2N68-AM SE2
When using PCI cards on shared slots, ensure that the drivers support Share IRQ or that
the cards do not need IRQ assignments; otherwise, conficts will arise between the two PCI
groups, making the system unstable and the card inoperable.
1.5.3 PCI slot
The PCI slots support cards such as LAN cards, SCSI cards, USB cards, and other cards
that comply with the PCI specifcations.
1.5.2 Confguring an expansion card
After installing the expansion card, confgure it by adjusting the software settings.
1. Turn on the system and change the necessary BIOS settings, if any. See Chapter 2 for
information on BIOS setup.
2. Assign an IRQ to the card.
3. Install the software drivers for the expansion card.
1.5.4 PCI Express x1 slot
This motherboard supports PCI Express x1 network cards, SCSI cards, and other cards that
comply with the PCI Express specifcations.
1.5.5 PCI Express x16 slot
This motherboard supports PCI Express x16 graphics cards that comply with the PCI
Express specifcations.
1.6 Jumpers
1. Clear RTC RAM (3-pin 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.
Chapter 1: Product introduction 1-7
Except when clearing the RTC RAM, never remove the cap on CLRTC jumper default
position. Removing the cap will cause system boot failure!
If the steps above do not help, remove the onboard battery and move the jumper again
to clear the CMOS RTC RAM data. After clearing the CMOS, reinstall the battery.
You do not need to clear the RTC when the system hangs due to overclocking. For
system failure due to overclocking, use the CPU Parameter Recall (C.P.R.) feature. Shut
down and reboot the system, then the BIOS automatically resets parameter settings to
default values.
2. USB device wake-up (3-pin USBPW5-10)
Set these jumpers to +5V to wake up the computer from S1 sleep mode (CPU stopped,
DRAM refreshed, system running in low power mode) using the connected USB
devices. Set to +5VSB to wake up from S3 and S4 sleep modes (no power to CPU,
DRAM in slow refresh, power supply in reduced power mode). The USBPW5-10
jumper is for the internal USB connectors that you can connect to additional USB ports.
To erase the RTC RAM:
1. Turn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord.
2. Move the jumper cap from pins 1-2 (default) to pins 2-3. Keep the cap on pins 2-3
for about 5-10 seconds, then move the cap back to pins 1-2.
3. Plug the power cord and turn ON the computer.
4. Hold down the <Del> key during the boot process and enter BIOS setup to reenter
data.
1-8 ASUS M2N68-AM SE2
3. Keyboard/mouse power (3-pin PS2_USBPW1-4)
This jumper allows you to enable or disable the keyboard/mouse and USB port 1-4
wake-up feature. When you set this jumper to pins 2-3 (+5VSB), you can wake up the
computer by pressing a key on the keyboard (the default is the Space Bar), clicking
the mouse, or using a USB device. This feature requires an ATX power supply that can
supply at least 1A on the +5VSB lead, and a corresponding setting in the BIOS. The
PS2_USBPW1-4 jumper is for the rear USB ports.
1.7 Connectors
1.7.1 Rear panel ports
1. PS/2 Mouse port. This port is for a PS/2 mouse.
2. LAN (RJ-45) port. This port allows 10/100 PHY connection to a Local Area Network
(LAN) through a network hub.
LED (Orange) LED (Green)
Status Description Status Description
OFF No link OFF No link
ORANGE 100Mbps connection Green 10Mbps connection
3 4 2
5 7 6 9 8
1
10
LAN port LED indications
LAN port
LED
(Green)
LED
(Orange)
Chapter 1: Product introduction 1-9
3. Line In port (light blue). This port connects to the tape, CD, DVD player, or other
audio sources.
4. Line Out port (lime). This port connects to a headphone or a speaker. In 4-channel
and 6-channel confgurations, the function of this port becomes Front Speaker Out.
5. Microphone port (pink). This port connects to a microphone.
Refer to the audio confguration table below for the function of the audio ports in 2, 4, or
6-channel confguration.
Audio 2, 4, 6-channel confguration
Port Headset 2-channel 4-channel 6-channel
Light Blue Line In Rear Speaker Out Rear Speaker Out
Lime Line Out Front Speaker Out Front Speaker Out
Pink Mic In Mic In Bass/Center
6. USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports connect to
USB 2.0 devices.
7. USB 2.0 ports 3 and 4. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports connect to
USB 2.0 devices.
8. Video Graphics Adapter (VGA) port. This 15-pin port is for a VGA monitor or other
VGA-compatible devices.
9. COM port. This 9-pin COM1 port is for pointing devices or other serial devices.
10. PS/2 Keyboard port. This port is for a PS/2 keyboard.
1.7.2 Internal connectors
1. Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1, SATA2)
These connectors are for the Serial ATA signal cables for Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard disk
and optical disk drives. The Serial ATA 3Gb/s is backward compatible with Serial ATA
1.5Gb/s specifcation. The data transfer rate of the Serial ATA 3Gb/s is faster than the
standard parallel ATA with 133MB/s (Ultra DMA133).
Install the Windows

XP Service Pack 1 before using Serial ATA.

1-10 ASUS M2N68-AM SE2
2. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE)
The onboard IDE connector is for an Ultra DMA 133/100/66 signal cable. There are
three connectors on each Ultra DMA 133/100/66 signal cable: blue, black, and gray.
Connect the blue connector to the motherboards IDE connector, then select one of the
following modes to confgure your devices.
Drive jumper setting Mode of device(s) Cable connector
Single device Cable-Select or Master - Black
Two devices
Cable-Select
Master Black
Slave Gray
Master Master
Black or gray
Slave Slave
Pin 20 on the IDE connector is removed to match the covered hole on the Ultra DMA cable
connector. This prevents incorrect insertion when you connect the IDE cable.
If any device jumper is set as Cable-Select, ensure that all other device jumpers have
the same setting.
Use the 80-conductor IDE cable for Ultra DMA 133/100/66 IDE devices.
3. Optical drive audio in connector (4-pin CD)
This connector allows you to receive stereo audio input from sound sources such as a
CD-ROM, TV tuner, or MPEG card.
Chapter 1: Product introduction 1-11
4. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB56, USB78, USB910)
These connectors are for USB 2.0 ports. Connect the USB module cable to any of
these connectors, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system
chassis. These USB connectors comply with the USB 2.0 specifcation that supports up
to 480Mbps connection speed.
Never connect a 1394 cable to the USB connectors. Doing so will damage the
motherboard!
The USB 2.0 module is purchased separately.
5. CPU fan connector (4-pin CPU_FAN)
The CPU fan connector supports cooling fans of 350mA~740mA (8.88W max.) or a
total of 1A~2.22A (26.64W max.) at +12V. Connect the CPU fan cable to the CPU fan
connector on the motherboard, ensuring that the black wire of each cable matches the
ground pin of the connector.
Only the CPU fan supports the ASUS Q-Fan feature.
DO NOT forget to connect the CPU fan cable to the CPU fan connector. Insuffcient air fow
inside the system may damage the motherboard components. It is not a jumper! DO NOT
place a jumper cap on the CPU fan connector.
1-12 ASUS M2N68-AM SE2
6. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V)
These connectors are for an ATX power supply. The plugs from the power supply are
designed to ft these connectors in only one orientation. Find the proper orientation and
push down frmly until the connectors completely ft.
We recommend that you use an ATX 12V Specifcation 2.0-compliant power supply unit
(PSU) with a minimum of 300W power rating. This PSU type has 24-pin and 4-pin power
plugs.
If you intend to use a PSU with 20-pin and 4-pin power plugs, make sure that the 20-pin
power plug can provide at least 15 A on +12 V and that the PSU has a minimum power
rating of 300 W. The system may become unstable or may not boot up if the power is
inadequate.
DO NOT forget to connect the 4-pin ATX +12 V power plug; otherwise, the system will
not boot up.
We recommend that you use a PSU with higher power output when confguring a
system with more power-consuming devices or when you intend to install additional
devices. 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.
7. Speaker connector (4- pin SPEAKER)
This 4-pin connector is for the chassis-mounted system warning speaker. The speaker
allows you to hear system beeps and warnings.
Chapter 1: Product introduction 1-13
8. System panel connector (10-1 pin F_PANEL)
This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions.
System power LED (2-pin PWRLED)
This 2-pin connector is for the system power LED. Connect the chassis power LED
cable to this connector. The system power LED lights up when you turn on the system
power, and blinks when the system is in sleep mode.
Hard disk drive activity LED (2-pin HDLED)
This 2-pin connector is for the HDD Activity LED. Connect the HDD Activity LED cable
to this connector. The IDE LED lights up or fashes when data is read from or written to
the HDD.
Power/Soft-off button (2-pin PWRBTN)
This 2-pin connector is for the system power button. Pressing the power button turns
the system ON or puts the system in SLEEP or SOFT-OFF mode depending on the
BIOS settings. Pressing the power switch for more than four seconds while the system
is ON turns the system OFF.
Reset button (2-pin RESET)
This 2-pin connector is for the chassis-mounted reset button for system reboot without
turning off the system power.
9. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP)
This connector is for a chassis-mounted front panel audio I/O module that supports
either High Defnition Audio or AC`97 audio standard. Connect one end of the front
panel audio I/O module cable to this connector.
If you want to connect a high-defnition front panel audio module to this connector, ensure
that the Front Panel Select item in the BIOS is set to [HD Audio]. If you want to connect
an AC97 front panel audio module to this connector, set the item to [AC97]. See page 2-10
for details.
1-14 ASUS M2N68-AM SE2
Click an item to install
Click an icon to
display Support DVD/
motherboard information
If the Autorun function is NOT enabled on your computer, browse the contents of the
Support DVD to locate the fle ASSETUP.EXE from the BIN folder. Double-click
ASSETUP.EXE to run the DVD.
1.8 Software support
1.8.1 Installing an operating system
This motherboard supports Windows

XP/Vista Operating Systems (OS). Always install the

latest OS version and corresponding updates to maximize the features of your hardware.
Motherboard settings and hardware options vary. Refer to your OS documentation for
detailed information.
Ensure that you install Windows

XP Service Pack 3 or later versions / Windows

Vista
Service Pack 1 or later versions before installing the drivers for better compatibility and
system stability.
1.8.2 Support DVD information
The Support DVD that comes with the motherboard package contains drivers, software
applications, and utilities that you can install to get all motherboard features.
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. The DVD automatically displays the Drivers
menu if the Autorun function is enabled on your computer.
Chapter 1: Product introduction 1-15
Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-1
Chapter 2
BIOS information
2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS
Save a copy of the original motherboard BIOS fle to a USB fash disk in case you need to
restore the BIOS in the future. Copy the original motherboard BIOS using the ASUS Update
utility..
Updating the BIOS:
To update the BIOS:
1. From the Windows

desktop, Click Start > Programs > ASUS > ASUS Update >
ASUS Update to launch the ASUS Update utility.
2. From the dropdown list, select either of the following methods:
The ASUS Update utility is capable of updating itself through the Internet. Always update
the utility to get all its features.
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.
ASUS Update requires an Internet connection either through a network or an Internet
Service Provider (ISP).
This utility is available in the Support DVD that comes with the motherboard package.
Installing ASUS Update:
1. Place the Support DVD into the optical drive. The Drivers menu appears.
2. Click the Utilities tab, then click Install ASUS Update.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.
Quit all Windows

applications before you update the BIOS using this utility.

Updating from the Internet
a. Select Update BIOS from the Internet, then click Next.
b. Select the ASUS FTP site nearest you to avoid network traffc, or click Auto Select
then click Next.
c. From the FTP site, select the BIOS version you want to download then click Next.
2-2 ASUS M2N68-AM SE2
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.
ASUSTek EZ Flash 2 BIOS ROM Utility V3.34
Current ROM
Update ROM
A:
Note
FLASH TYPE: MXIC 25L8005
PATH: A:\
BOARD: M2N68-AM SE2
VER: 0207 (H:00 B01)
DATE: 01/07/2009
BOARD: Unknown
VER: Unknown
DATE: Unknown
[Enter] Select or Load [Tab] Switch [V] Drive Info
[Up/Down/Home/End] Move[B] Backup [Esc] Exit
Enter the BIOS setup program. Go to the Tools menu to select EZ Flash 2 and
press <Enter> to enable it.
2. Press <Tab> to locate the correct fle. Press <Enter>.
When the correct BIOS fle is found, EZ Flash 2 performs the BIOS updating process and
automatically reboots the system when done.
Only a USB fash disk with FAT 32/16 format and single partition supports the ASUS EZ
Flash 2 utility.
DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS to prevent system boot
failure!
Download the latest BIOS fle from the ASUS website at www.asus.com.
To update the BIOS using EZ Flash 2:
1. Insert the USB fash disk that contains the latest BIOS fle to a USB port, then launch
EZ Flash 2 in either of the following ways.
Press <Alt> + <F2> during POST to display the following:
Updating from a BIOS file
a. Select Update BIOS from a fle, then click Next.
b. Locate the BIOS fle from the Open window, then click Open.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the updating process.
Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-3
2.1.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility
The ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 is an auto recovery tool that allows you to restore the BIOS fle
when it fails or gets corrupted during the updating process. You can update a corrupted BIOS
fle using the motherboard Support DVD or a USB fash disk that contains the updated BIOS
fle.
Prepare the motherboard Support DVD or a USB fash disk containing the updated
motherboard BIOS before using this utility.
Always connect the SATA cable to the SATA1/2 connector; otherwise, the utility will not
function.
Recovering the BIOS
To recover the BIOS:
1. Turn on the system.
2. Insert the Support DVD or USB fash disk containing the BIOS fle to the optical disk
drive or a USB port.
The utility displays the following message and automatically checks the Support DVD
or the USB fash disk for the BIOS fle.
Bad BIOS checksum. Starting BIOS recovery...
Checking for CD-ROM...
CD-ROM found!
Reading fle M2NAMSE2.ROM. Completed.
Start Erasing...
Start Programming...
3. Restart the system after the utility completes the updating process.
The recovered BIOS may not be the latest BIOS version for this motherboard. Download
the latest BIOS fle from the ASUS website at www.asus.com.
Only a USB fash disk with FAT 32/16 format and single partition supports ASUS
CrashFree BIOS 3. The device size should be smaller than 8GB.
DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS! Doing so can cause
system boot failure!
Bad BIOS checksum. Starting BIOS recovery...
Checking for CD-ROM...
When the BIOS fle is found, the utility reads it and starts erasing the corrupted BIOS
fle.
2-4 ASUS M2N68-AM SE2
2.2 BIOS setup program
Use the BIOS Setup program when you are installing a motherboard, reconfguring your
system, or prompted to Run Setup. This section explains how to confgure your system
using this utility.
If you want to enter Setup after POST, reboot the system by doing any of the following
procedures:
Restart using the OS standard shut-down procedure.
Press <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Del> simultaneously.
Press the reset button on the system chassis.
Press the power button to turn the system off then back on.
Using the power button, reset button, or the <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Del> keys to force
reset from a running operating system can cause damage to your data or system. We
recommend that you always shut down the system properly from the operating system.
The default BIOS settings for this motherboard apply to most conditions to ensure
optimum performance. If the system becomes unstable after changing any BIOS
settings, load the default settings to ensure system compatibility and stability. Select the
Load Setup Defaults item under the Exit menu. See section 2.8 Exit menu.
The BIOS setup screens in this section 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 fle for this
motherboard.
2.3 Main menu
When you enter the BIOS Setup program, the Main menu screen appears, giving you an
overview of the basic system information.
2.3.1 System Time [xx:xx:xx]
Allows you to set the system time.
2.3.2 System Date [Day xx/xx/xxxx]
Allows you to set the system date.
Select Screen
Select Item
+- Change Field
Tab Select Field
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
Use [ENTER], [TAB]
or [SHIFT-TAB] to
select a feld.
Use [+] or [-] to
confgure system Time.
System Time [19:34:30]
System Date [Wed 08/27/2008]
IDE Confguration
Primary IDE Master :[Not Detected]
Primary IDE Slave :[Not Detected]
SATA1 :[Not Detected]
SATA2 :[Not Detected]
System Information
Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-5
2.3.3 IDE Confguration
The items in this menu allow you to set or change the confgurations for the IDE devices
installed in the system. Select an item then press <Enter> if you want to confgure the item.
Onboard IDE Controller [Enabled]
Enables or disables the onboard IDE controller. Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Serial ATA Devices [Enabled]
Enables or disables the Serial ATA devices. Confguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
nVidia RAID Function [Disabled]
Enables or disables the NVIDIA RAID function. Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
2.3.4 Primary IDE Master/Slave
While entering Setup, the BIOS automatically detects the presence of IDE devices. There is
a separate submenu for each IDE device. Select a device item then press <Enter> to display
the IDE device information.
The BIOS automatically detects the values opposite the dimmed items (Device, Vendor,
Size, LBA Mode, Block Mode, PIO Mode, Async DMA, Ultra DMA, and SMART monitoring).
These values are not user-confgurable. These items show Not Detected if no IDE device is
installed in the system.
Type [Auto]
Selects the type of IDE drive. Setting to [Auto] allows automatic selection of the appropriate
IDE device type. Select [CDROM] if you are specifcally confguring a CD-ROM drive. Select
[ARMD] (ATAPI Removable Media Device) if your device is either a ZIP, LS-120, or MO drive.
Confguration options: [Not Installed] [Auto] [CDROM] [ARMD]
LBA/Large Mode [Auto]
Enables or disables the LBA mode. Setting to [Auto] enables the LBA mode if the device
supports this mode, and if the device was not previously formatted with LBA mode disabled.
Confguration options: [Disabled] [Auto]
Block (Multi-Sector Transfer) M [Auto]
Enables or disables data multi-sectors transfers. When set to [Auto], the data transfer from
and to the device occurs multiple sectors at a time if the device supports multi-sector transfer
feature. When set to [Disabled], the data transfer from and to the device occurs one sector
at a time. Confguration options: [Disabled] [Auto]
PIO Mode [Auto]
Selects the PIO mode. Confguration options: [Auto] [0] [1] [2] [3] [4]
DMA Mode [Auto]
Selects the DMA mode. Confguration options: [Auto]
SMART Monitoring [Auto]
Sets the Smart Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology.
Confguration options: [Auto] [Disabled] [Enabled]
32Bit Data Transfer [Enabled]
Enables or disables 32-bit data transfer. Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
2-6 ASUS M2N68-AM SE2
2.3.6 System Information
This menu gives you an overview of the general system specifcations. The BIOS
automatically detects the items in this menu.
AMI BIOS
Displays the auto-detected BIOS information
Processor
Displays the auto-detected CPU specifcation
System Memory
Displays the auto-detected system memory
2.3.5 SATA 1-2
While entering Setup, the BIOS automatically detects the presence of SATA devices. There
is a separate submenu for each SATA device. Select a device item then press <Enter> to
display the SATA device information.
The BIOS automatically detects the values opposite the dimmed items (Device, Vendor, Size,
LBA Mode, Block Mode, PIO Mode, Async DMA, Ultra DMA, and SMART monitoring). These
values are not user-confgurable. These items show Not Detected if no SATA device is
installed in the system.
LBA/Large Mode [Auto]
Enables or disables the LBA mode. Setting to [Auto] enables the LBA mode if the device
supports this mode, and if the device was not previously formatted with LBA mode disabled.
Confguration options: [Disabled] [Auto]
Block (Multi-Sector Transfer) M [Auto]
Enables or disables data multi-sectors transfers. When set to [Auto], the data transfer from
and to the device occurs multiple sectors at a time if the device supports multi-sector transfer
feature. When set to [Disabled], the data transfer from and to the device occurs one sector
at a time. Confguration options: [Disabled] [Auto]
PIO Mode [Auto]
Selects the PIO mode. Confguration options: [Auto] [0] [1] [2] [3] [4]
DMA Mode [Auto]
Selects the DMA mode. Confguration options: [Auto]
SMART Monitoring [Auto]
Sets the Smart Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology. Confguration options: [Auto]
[Disabled] [Enabled]
32Bit Data Transfer [Enabled]
Enables or disables 32-bit data transfer. Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-7
2.4 Advanced menu
The Advanced menu items allow you to change the settings for the CPU and other system
devices.
Take caution when changing the settings of the Advanced menu items. Incorrect feld
values can cause the system to malfunction.
2.4.1 JumperFree Confguration
CPU Overclocking [Auto]
Selects the CPU overclocking options to achieve desired CPU internal frequency.
[Manual] - Allows you to manually set overclocking parameters.
[Auto] - Loads the optimal settings for the system.
[Overclock Profle] - Loads overclocking profles with optimal parameters for stability when
overclocking.
[Standard] - Load the standard settings for the system.
The following item appears only when the CPU Overclocking item is set to [Manual].
CPU Frequency [200.0]
Allows you to set the CPU frequency. Confguration options: [200.0] [201.0] - [299.0]
[300.0]
The following item appears only when the CPU Overclocking item is set to
[Overclock Profle].
Overcloking Options [Auto]
Allows you to select the overclocking profle. Confguration options: [Auto]
[Overclock 3%] [Overclock 5%] [Overclock 7%]
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
JumperFree Confguration
CPU Confguration
Chipset
Onboard Devices Confguration
PCIPnP
USB Confguration
Adjust System
Frequency etc.
PCIE Overclocking [Auto]
Confgures the PCIE overclocking options. Confguration options: [Auto] [Manual]
The following item appears only when the PCIE Overclocking item is set to [Manual].
PCIE Frequency [100]
Allows you to set the PCIE frequency. Confguration options: [100] [101] - [149] [150]
2-8 ASUS M2N68-AM SE2
The following item appears only when the Memory Clock Mode item is set to [Manual].
Memclock Value [200MHz]
Allows you to set the memory clock value.
Confguration options: [200MHz] [266MHz] [333MHz] [400MHz]
The following sub-items appear only when you set the DRAM Timing Mode item to
[DCT 0].
CAS Latency (CL) [Auto]
Confguration options: [Auto] [3 CLK] ~ [6 CLK] [7 CLK DH_Only]
TRCD [Auto]
Confguration options: [Auto] [3 CLK] ~ [6 CLK]
TRP [Auto]
Confguration options: [3 CLK] ~ [6 CLK] [Auto] ~ [6 CLK] [Auto]
tRTP [Auto]
Confguration options: [Auto] [2-4 CLK] [3-5 CLK]
TRAS [Auto]
Confguration options: [Auto] [5 CLK] ~ [18 CLK]
TRC [Auto]
Confguration options: [Auto]
tWR [Auto]
Confguration options: [Auto] [3 CLK] ~ [6 CLK]
TRRD [Auto]
Confguration options: [Auto] [2 CLK] ~ [5 CLK]
tRWTTO [Auto]
Confguration options: [Auto] [2 CLK] ~ [9 CLK]
tWRRD [Auto]
Confguration options: [Auto] [0 CLK] ~ [3 CLK]
tWTR [Auto]
Confguration options: [Auto] [1 CLK] [2 CLK] [3 CLK] [Auto] [1 CLK] [2 CLK] [3 CLK]
tWRWR [Auto]
Confguration options: [Auto] [1 CLK] [2 CLK] [3 CLK]
Processor Frequency Multiplier [Auto]
Allows you to select the processor frequency. Confguration options: [Auto] [x4.0 800MHz]
[x5.0 1000MHz] [x6.0 1200MHz] [x7.0 1400MHz] [x8.0 1600MHz] [x9.0 1800MHz]
Processor Voltage [Standard]
Allows you to set the processor voltage. Confguration options: [Power Saving Mode]
[Standard] [+50mv] [+100mv]
Memory Clock Mode [Auto]
Allows you to select the memory clock mode. Confguration options: [Auto] [Manual]
DRAM Timing Mode [Auto]
Allows you to set the DRAM timing mode. Confguration options: [Auto] [DCT 0]
Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-9
Memory Voltage [Auto]
Allows you to set the memory voltage. Confguration options: [Auto] [2.050V] [2.150V]
[2.250V]
Chipset Voltage [Auto]
Allows you to set the chipset voltage. Confguration options: [Auto] [1.35V]
tRDRD [Auto]
Confguration options: [Auto] [2 CLK] ~ [5 CLK]
tRFCO [Auto]
Confguration options: [Auto] [75ns] [105ns] [127.5ns] [195ns] [327.5ns]
tRFC1 [Auto]
Confguration options: [Auto] [75ns] [105ns] [127.5ns] [195ns] [327.5ns]
tRFC2 [Auto]
Confguration options: [Auto] [75ns] [105ns] [127.5ns] [195ns] [327.5ns]
tRFC3 [Auto]
Confguration options: [Auto] [75ns] [105ns] [127.5ns] [195ns] [327.5ns]
2.4.2 CPU Confguration
The items in this menu show the CPU-related information that the BIOS automatically
detects.
GART Error Reporting [Disabled]
This option should remain disabled for the normal operation. The driver developer may
enable it for testing purpose. Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Microcode Updation [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the microcode updation. Confguration options: [Disabled]
[Enabled]
Secure Virtual Machine Mode [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the AMD Secure Virtual Machine mode. Confguration
options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Cool n Quiet [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the generation of ACPI_PPC, _PSS, and _PCT objects.
Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
CPU Prefetching [Enabled]
Enables or disables the CPU prefetching. Confguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
2-10 ASUS M2N68-AM SE2
2.4.3 Chipset
The Chipset menu allows you to change the advanced chipset settings. Select an item then
press <Enter> to display the sub-menu.
NorthBridge Confguration
Memory Confguration
Bank Interleaving [Disabled]
Allows you to enable the bank memory interleaving.
Confguration options: [Disabled] [Auto]
Channel Interleaving [Disabled]
Allows you to enable the channel memory interleaving.
Confguration options: [Disabled] [Address bits 6] [Address bits 12]
[XOR of Address bits [20:16, 6]] [XOR of Address bits [20:16, 9]]
Enable Clock to All DIMMs [Disabled]
Enables or disables clock to all DIMMs. Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
MemClk Tristate C3/ATLVID [Disabled]
Enables or disables the MemClk Tristate C3/ALTVID.
Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Memory Hole Remapping [Enabled]
Enables or disables the memory remapping around memory hole.
Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
DCT Unganged Mode [Auto]
Allows you to enable or disable Unganed mode.
Confguration options: [Auto] [Always]
Power Down Enable [Enabled]
Enables or disables the DDR power down mode.
Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
ECC Confguration
ECC Mode [Disabled]
Enables or disables the DRAM ECC that allows the hardware to report and correct
memory errors automatically. Confguration options: [Disabled] [Basic] [Good] [Super]
[Max] [User]
SouthBridge Confguration
Primary Graphics Adapter [PCIE -> PCI -> IGP]
Allows you to select the primary graphics adapter.
Confguration options: [PCIE -> PCI -> IGP] [IGP -> PCI-> PCIE]
OnChip VGA Frame Buffer Size [128MB]
Sets the onchip VGA frame buffer size. Confguration options: [32MB] [64MB] [128MB]
[256MB]
AZALIA AUDIO [Auto]
Allows you to enable or disable the HD audio mode. Confguration options: [Disabled] [Auto]
Front Panel Select [HD Audio]
Allows you to set the HD audio mode. Confguration options: [AC97] [HD Audio]
Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-11
2.4.4 Onboard Devices Confguration
Serial Port1 Address [3F8/IRQ4]
Allows you to select the Serial Port1 base address.
Confguration options: [Disabled] [3F8/IRQ4][2F8/IRQ3] [3E8/IRQ4] [2E8/IRQ3]
Take caution when changing the settings of the PCI PnP menu items. Incorrect feld values
can cause the system to malfunction.
Plug and Play O/S [No]
When set to [No], BIOS confgures all the devices in the system. When set to [Yes] and if
you install a Plug and Play operating system, the operating system confgures the Plug and
Play devices not required for boot. Confguration options: [No] [Yes]
2.4.5 PCI PnP
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.
MAC LAN [Auto]
Allows you to set or disable the onboard LAN. Confguration options: [Auto] [Disabled]
Onboard LAN Boot ROM [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the Onboard LAN boot ROM.
Confguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
MCP68 SE ACPI HPET TABLE [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the MCP68 SE ACPI HPET TABLE.
Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
2.4.6 USB Confguration
The items in this menu allows you to change the USB-related features. Select an item then
press <Enter> to display the confguration options.
The Module Version and USB Devices Enabled items show the auto-detected values. If
no USB device is detected, the item shows None.
USB Functions [Enabled]
Enables or disables the USB functions. Confguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
USB 2.0 Controller [Enabled]
Enables or disables the USB 2.0 Controller. Confguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
2-12 ASUS M2N68-AM SE2
Legacy USB Support [Auto]
Allows you to enable or disable support for Legacy USB storage devices, including USB fash
drives and USB hard drives. Setting to Auto allows the system to detect the presence of USB
devices at startup. If detected, the USB controller legacy mode is enabled. If no USB device
is detected, the legacy USB support is disabled. Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
[Auto]
USB 2.0 Controller Mode [HiSpeed]
Allows you to confgure the USB 2.0 controller in HiSpeed (480 Mbps) or Full Speed
(12 Mbps). Confguration options: [FullSpeed] [HiSpeed]
Suspend Mode [Auto]
ACPI 2.0 Support [Disabled]
ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]
APM Confguration
Hardware Monitor
Select the ACPI state
used for System
Suspend.
2.5.1 Suspend Mode [Auto]
Allows you to select the Advanced Confguration and Power Interface (ACPI) state to be used
for system suspend. Confguration options: [S1 (POS) Only] [S3 Only] [Auto]
[S1(POS) Only] - Enables the system to enter the ACPI S1 (Power on Suspend) sleep state.
In S1 sleep state, the system appears suspended and stays in a low power
mode. The system can be resumed at any time.
[S3 Only] - Enables the system to enter the ACPI S3 (Suspend to RAM) sleep state (default).
In S3 sleep state, the system appears to be off and consumes less power than in
the S1 state. When signaled by a wake-up device or event, the system resumes
to its working state exactly where it was left off.
[Auto] - Detected by OS.
2.5 Power menu
The Power menu items allow you to change the settings for the Advanced Confguration and
Power Interface (ACPI) and the Advanced Power Management (APM). Select an item then
press <Enter> to display the confguration options.
2.5.2 ACPI 2.0 Support [Disabled]
Allows you to add additional tables as per Advanced Confguration and Power Interface
(ACPI) 2.0 specifcations. Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-13
2.5.3 ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the Advanced Confguration and Power Interface (ACPI)
support in the Application-Specifc Integrated Circuit (ASIC). When set to Enabled, the ACPI
APIC table pointer is included in the RSDT pointer list. Confguration options: [Disabled]
[Enabled]
2.5.5 Hardware Monitor
CPU Temperature [xxxC/xxxF]
MB Temperature [xxxC/xxxF]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the motherboard and CPU
temperatures. Select Ignored if you do not wish to display the detected temperatures.
CPU Fan Speed [xxxxRPM] or [Ignored]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the CPU fan speed in
rotations per minute (RPM). If the fan is not connected to the motherboard, the feld shows
N/A. Select Ignored if you do not want the detected speed to be displayed.
VCORE Voltage, 3.3V Voltage, 5V Voltage, 12V Voltage
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects the voltage output through the onboard
voltage regulators.
Smart Q-Fan Function [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the ASUS Q-Fan feature that smartly adjusts the CPU fan
speeds for more effcient system operation. Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
2.5.4 APM Confguration
Restore on AC Power Loss [Power Off]
When set to Power Off, the system goes into off state after an AC power loss. When set to
Power On, the system goes on after an AC power loss. Confguration options: [Power On]
[Power Off]
Power On By PCI(-E) Device [Disabled]
When set to [Enabled], this parameter allows you to turn on the system through a PCI/PCIE
card. This feature requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB lead.
Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Power On By Ring [Disabled]
Enable or disable RI to generate a wake event. Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Power On By PS/2 KB/MS [Disabled]
Enable or disable PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse to generate a wake event.
Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Power On By RTC Alarm [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable RTC to generate a wake event. When this item is set to
Enabled, the items RTC Alarm Date, RTC Alarm Hour, RTC Alarm Minute, and RTC Alarm
Second appear with set values. Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
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2.6 Boot menu
The Boot menu items allow you to change the system boot options. Select an item then
press <Enter> to display the sub-menu.
2.6.1 Boot Device Priority
1st ~ xxth Boot Device
These items specify the boot device priority sequence from the available devices. The
number of device items that appears on the screen depends on the number of devices
installed in the system. Confguration options: [Removable Device] [Hard Drive]
[ATAPI CD-ROM ] [Disabled]
Set this item to [Enabled] to use the ASUS MyLogo 2 feature.
2.6.2 Boot Settings Confguration
Quick Boot [Enabled]
Enabling this item allows the BIOS to skip some power on self tests (POST) while booting to
decrease the time needed to boot the system. When set to [Disabled], BIOS performs all the
POST items. Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Full Screen Logo [Enabled]
This allows you to enable or disable the full screen logo display feature.
Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Boot Settings Confguration
Security
Specifes the Boot
Device Priority
sequence.
A virtual foppy disk
drive (Floppy Drive B:)
may appear when you set
the CD-ROM drive as the
frst boot device.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
Boot Device Priority
Boot Settings
AddOn ROM Display Mode [Force BIOS]
Sets the display mode for option ROM. Confguration options: [Force BIOS] [Keep Current]
Bootup Num-Lock [On]
Allows you to select the power-on state for the NumLock. Confguration options: [Off] [On]
Wait for F1 If Error [Enabled]
When set to Enabled, the system waits for the F1 key to be pressed when error occurs.
Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Hit DEL Message Display [Enabled]
When set to Enabled, the system displays the message Press DEL to run Setup during
POST. Confguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Chapter 2: BIOS information 2-15
2.6.3 Security
The Security menu items allow you to change the system security settings. Select an item
then press <Enter> to display the confguration options.
Change Supervisor Password
Select this item to set or change the supervisor password. The Supervisor Password item
on top of the screen shows the default Not Installed. After you set a password, this item
shows Installed.
To set a Supervisor Password:
1. Select the Change Supervisor Password item then press <Enter>.
2. From the password box, type a password composed of at least six letters and/or
numbers, then press <Enter>.
3. Confrm the password when prompted.
The message Password Installed appears after you successfully set your password.
To change the supervisor password, follow the same steps in setting a supervisor password.
To clear the supervisor password, select the Change Supervisor Password then press
<Enter> twice. The message Password uninstalled appears.
If you forget your BIOS password, you can clear it by erasing the CMOS Real Time Clock
(RTC) RAM. See section 1.6 Jumpers for information on how to erase the RTC RAM.
After you have set a supervisor password, the other items appear to allow you to change
other security settings.
User Access Level [Full Access]
This item allows you to select the access restriction to the Setup items.
Confguration options: [No Access] [View Only] [Limited] [Full Access]
[No Access] - prevents user access to the Setup utility.
[View Only] - allows access but does not allow change to any feld.
[Limited] - allows changes only to selected felds, such as Date and Time.
[Full Access] - allows viewing and changing all the felds in the Setup utility.
Change User Password
Select this item to set or change the user password. The User Password item on top of the
screen shows the default Not Installed. After you set a password, this item shows Installed.
To set a User Password:
1. Select the Change User Password item.
2. From the password box, type a password composed of at least six letters and/or
numbers, then press <Enter>.
3. Confrm the password when prompted.
The message Password Installed appears after you set your password successfully.
To change the user password, follow the same steps in setting a user password.
2-16 ASUS M2N68-AM SE2
2.7 Tools menu
2.7.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2
Allows you to run ASUS EZ Flash 2. When you press <OK>, a confrmation message
appears. Use the left/right arrow key to select between [Yes] or [No], then press <OK> to
confrm your choice.
Clear User Password
Select this item to clear the user password.
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. Confguration options: [Setup] [Always]
ASUS EZ Flash 2
Press ENTER to run
the utility to select
and update BIOS.
This utility doesn't
support :
1.NTFS format
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
2.8 Exit menu
The Exit menu items allow you to load the optimal or failsafe default values for the BIOS
items, and save or discard your changes to the BIOS items.
Exit Options
Exit & Save Changes
Exit & Discard Changes
Discard Changes
Load Setup Defaults
Exit system setup
after saving the
changes.
F10 key can be
used for this
operation.
Pressing <Esc> does not immediately exit this menu. Select one of the options from this
menu or <F10> from the legend bar to exit.