Asus P8C WS manual

Motherboard P8C WS[...]

ii E7435 Revised Edition V2 May 2012 Copyright © 2012 ASUST eK 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 purch[...]

iii Contents Notices ....................................................................................................................... vi Safety information ..................................................................................................... vii About this guide ................................................................[...]

iv Contents Chapter 3: BIOS setup 3.1 Knowing BIOS ............................................................................................ 3-1 3.2 BIOS setup program .................................................................................. 3-1 3.2.1 EZ Mode ..............................................................................[...]

v 4.3.1 EPU ............................................................................................. 4-4 4.3.2 F AN Xpert .................................................................................... 4-5 4.3.3 Probe II ........................................................................................ 4-6 4.3.4 Sensor Recorder ....[...]

vi 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 b[...]

vii Safety information Electrical safety • T o prevent electrical shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electrical 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 al[...]

viii About this guide Th is u se r gu id e co nt ai ns t he in fo rm at io n yo u ne ed w he n in st al li ng a nd co n gu ri ng t he m ot he rb oa rd. 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.[...]

ix Conventions used in this guide T o ensure that you perform certain tasks properly , take note of the following symbols used throughout this manual. T ypography Bold text Indicates a menu or an item to select. Italic s Used to emphasize a word or a phrase. <Key> Keys enclosed in the less-than and greater-than sign means that you must press [...]

x P8C WS specications summary CPU LGA1 155 socket for Intel ® 2 nd / 3 rd Generation Core™ i3 desktop processor LGA1 155 socket for Intel ® Xeon ® E3-1200/ 12x5 v2 series processor Supports 32nm / 22nm CPU * Supports Intel ® T urbo Boost technology 2.0. ** Refer to www .asus.com for Intel ® CPU support list. Chipset Intel ® C216 Chipset [...]

xi P8C WS specications summary ASUS Unique Features GPU Boost with switch ASUS Power Design - 8+2 Phase Power Design ASUS EPU - EPU, EPU Switch ASUS Exclusive Features - MemOK! - AI Suite II - Anti Surge - ASUS EFI BIOS EZ Mode featuring friendly graphics user interface ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution: - ASUS Fanless Design: Heat-pipe solution - ASU[...]

xii[...]

ASUS P8C WS 1-1 1.1 Welcome! Thank you for buying an ASUS ® P8C WS motherboard! The motherboard delivers a host of new features and latest technologies, making it another standout in the long line of ASUS quality motherboards! Before you start installing the motherboard, and hardware devices on it, check the items in your package with the list bel[...]

1-2 Chapter 1: Product Introduction Chapter 1 1.3 Special features 1.3.1 Product highlights Green ASUS This motherboard complies with the European Union’s Energy-related Products (ErP) requirements, which requires products to meet certain energy efciency criteria for energy consumption. This in in keeping with ASUS’ vision of creating enviro[...]

ASUS P8C WS 1-3 Chapter 1 Complete USB 3.0 Integration This motherboard offers you the strategic USB 3.0 accessibility for both the front and rear panels, allowing you to experience the convenience of the latest plug & play connectivity solution at speed up to ten times faster than USB 2.0. GPU Boost GPU Boost accelerates the integrated GPU for[...]

1-4 Chapter 1: Product Introduction Chapter 1 Quick Gate Quick Gate is a vertical USB connector on the motherboard that allows you to install USB devices directly without any messy cables and stops important data storage devices from breaking off unexpectedly . This revolutionary and unique design offers a convenient and safe way to install data an[...]

ASUS P8C WS 1-5 Chapter 1 ASUS Fanless Design—Heat-pipe solution The aesthetically-designed crystal-shaped heatsink features the 0-dB thermal solution for a noiseless and stable computing environment. DO NOT uninstall the heat-pipe by yourself. Doing so may bend the tubing and affect the heat dissipation performance. Fan Xpert ASUS Fan Xpert inte[...]

1-6 Chapter 1: Product Introduction Chapter 1 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 allows you to restore a corrupted BIOS le from a USB storage device containing the BIOS le. Precision T weaker 2 Precision T weaker 2 allows you to adjust the CPU voltager in 0.01V steps and the DRAM voltage in 0.001V steps to achieve the most precise an[...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-1 2.1 Before you proceed T ake 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, suc[...]

2-2 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 Refer to 2.2.8 Internal connectors and 2.3.10 Rear panel connection for more information about rear panel connectors and internal connectors. 2.2 Motherboard overview 2.2.1 Motherboard layout[...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-3 Chapter 2 Layout contents Connectors/Jumpers/Switches/Slots Page 1. LGA1 155 CPU Socket 2-4 2. Power connectors (24-pin EA TXPWR, 8-pin EA TX12V) 2-26 3. DDR3 DIMM slots 2-5 4. CPU, chassis, and power fan connectors (4-pin CPU_F AN, 4-pin CHA_F AN1-3, 3-pin PWR_F AN) 2-22 5. MemOK! switch 2-1 1 6. USB 3.0 connector (20-1 pin USB3_12[...]

2-4 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 2.2.2 Central Processing Unit (CPU) The motherboard comes with a surface mount LGA1 155 socket designed for the Intel ® 2nd/ 3rd Generation Core™ i3 desktop Processors and Intel ® Xeon ® E3-1200/ 12x5 v2 series Server/Workstation Processors. • Upon purchase of the motherboard, ensure that the PnP[...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-5 Chapter 2 Recommended memory congurations 2.2.3 System memory The motherboard comes with four Double Data Rate 3 (DDR3) Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMM) slots. A DDR3 module is notched differently from a DDR or DDR2 module. DO NOT install a DDR or DDR2 memory module to the DDR3 slot.[...]

2-6 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 Memory congurations Y ou may install 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB unbuffered ECC or non-ECC DDR3 DIMMs into the DIMM sockets depending on the installed CPU. • Y ou 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 con?[...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-7 Chapter 2 2.2.4 Expansion slots Ensure to unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. Failure to do so may cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components. Slot No. Slot Description 1 PCIe 3.0 x16_1 slot (single at x16 or dual at x8/x8 mode) 2 PCIe 3.0 x16_2 slot (x8 mode) 3 PCIe 2.0 x1_1 slot 4 PCIe[...]

2-8 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 IRQ assignments for this motherboard A B C D E F G H PCIEx16_1 shared – – – – – – – PCIEx16_2 shared – – – – – – PCIEx16_3 – – – shared – – – – PCIEx16_4 shared – – – – – – – PCIEx1_1 shared – – – – – – – PCI1 shared – – – – –[...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-9 Chapter 2 2.2.5 Onboard buttons and switches Onboard buttons and switches enhance overclocking and gaming performance when working on a bare or open-case system. 1. EPU switch Turning t his swit ch to Enable wil l aut omat ica lly d ete ct th e cur ren t PC l oadi ngs a nd intelligently moderate the power consumption. For ensuring t[...]

2-10 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 2. GPU Boost switch T urning this switch to Enable will automatically optimize the system for fast, yet stable GPU speed. For ensuring the system performance, turn the switch setting to Enable when the system is powered off. The GPU Boost Switch functions only when you install the DESKTOP CPU that supp[...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-1 1 Chapter 2 3. MemOK! button When you install DIMMs that are not compatible with the motherboard, this may cause the system boot failure, and the DRAM_LED near the MemOK switch lights continuously . Simply press the MemOK button until the DRAM_LED starts blinking to patch memory compatibility issues and ensure the system’s success[...]

2-12 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 2.2.6 Onboard LEDs 1. POST State LEDs The POST State LEDs indicate the status of these key components during POST (Power-on-Self T est): CPU, memory modules, VGA card, and hard disk drive. If an error is found, the critical component’s LED stays lit up until the problem is solved. 2. GPU Boost LED Th[...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-13 Chapter 2 3. EPU LED The EPU LED lights up when the EPU switch is turned to Enable . 4. Standby power LED The 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 should shut down the system and unplug the power cable before remo[...]

2-14 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 5. DRAM LED The DRAM_LED lig hts up when the installed DIMMs i ncompatible with the motherboard or improperly installed. When using the MemOK! switch for automatic memory compatibility tuning, the DRAM_LED will blink.[...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-15 Chapter 2 2.2.7 Jumper 1. Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC) This jumper allows you to clear the Real T ime Clock (RTC) RAM in CMOS. Y ou 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[...]

2-16 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 2. Chassis Fan control setting (3-pin CHAF AN_SEL) These jumpers allow you to switch for fan pin selection. The CHAF AN_SEL jumper is for the front fans and rear fans control. Set to pins 1–2 when using 3-pin fans or pins 2–3 when using 4-pin fans. • If you use a 4-pin fan but set the jumper to p[...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-17 Chapter 2 2.2.8 Internal connectors 1. Intel ® C216 Serial A T A 6.0 Gb/s connectors (7-pin SA T A6G_1-2 [gray]) These connectors connect to Serial A T A 6.0 Gb/s hard disk drives via Serial A T A 6.0 Gb/s signal cables. • These connectors are set to [AHCI Mode] by default. If you intend to create a Serial A T A RAID set using t[...]

2-18 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 2. Intel ® C216 Serial A T A 3.0 Gb/s connectors (7-pin SA T A3G_3–6 [blue]) These connectors connect to Serial A T A 3.0 Gb/s hard disk drives and optical disc drives via Serial A T A 3.0 Gb/s signal cables. If you installed Serial A T A hard disk drives, you can create a RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 con?[...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-19 Chapter 2 Y ou can connect the front panel USB cable to the ASUS Q-Connector (USB, blue) rst, and then install the Q-Connector (USB) to the USB connector onboard if your chassis supports front panel USB ports. Never connect a 1394 cable to the USB connectors. Doing so will damage the motherboard! 3. USB 2.0 connectors (T ype A: [...]

2-20 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 4. USB 3.0 connector (20-1 pin USB3_12) This connector is for the additional USB 3.0 ports, and complies with the USB 3.0 specicaton that supports up to 5Gbps connection speed. If the USB 3.0 front panel cable is available from your system chassis, with this USB 3.0 connector , you can have a front [...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-21 Chapter 2 6. IEEE 1394a port connector (10-1 pin IE1394_2) This connector is for an IEEE 1394a port. Connect the IEEE 1394a module cable to this connector , then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis. Never connect a USB cable to the IEEE 1394a connector . Doing so will damage the motherboard! The I[...]

2-22 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 8. CPU, chassis, and power fan connectors (4-pin CPU_F AN, 4-pin CHA_F AN1-3, 3-pin PWR_F AN) Connect the fan cables to the fan connectors on the motherboard, ensuring that the black wire of each cable matches the ground pin of the connector . • The CPU_F AN connector supports the CPU fan of maximum [...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-23 Chapter 2 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 HD Audio or legacy AC`97 audio standard. Connect one end of the front panel audio I/O module cable to this connector . • We recommend that you connect a high-denition front panel au[...]

2-24 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 1 1. TPM connector (20-1 pin TPM) This connector supports a T rusted Platform Module (TPM) system, which can securely store keys, digital certicates, passwords, and data. A TPM system also helps enhance network security , protects digital identities, and ensures platform integrity . This connector c[...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-25 Chapter 2 Code table for G.P . Diagnosis card 15, 19 Initiate chip AC OS in PIC mode E0 Check and wake up system AA OS in APIC mode 2B-2F Prepare system for memory detection and sizing 00 Leave BIOS and pass control to OS 32 Early CPU initiation 01 S1 34 W ake up AP 03 S3 98 Detect PS2 mouse/keyboard 04 S4 97 Initiate VGA BIOS 05 S[...]

2-26 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 12. A TX power connectors (24-pin EA TXPWR, 8-pin EA TX12V) These connectors are for A TX power supply plugs. The power supply plugs are designed to t these connectors in only one orientation. Find the proper orientation and push down rmly until the connectors completely t. • For a fully con[...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-27 Chapter 2 • System power LED (2-pin PLED) This 2-pin connector is for the system power LED. Connect the chassis power LED cable to this connector . 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 IDE_LED) This 2-pin connector i[...]

2-28 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 2.3 Building your computer system 2.3.1 Additional tools and components to build a PC system 1 bag of screws Philips (cross) screwdriver PC chassis Power supply unit Intel LGA 1 155 CPU Intel LGA 1 155 compatible CPU Fan DIMM SA T A hard disk drive SA T A optical disc drive (optional) Graphics card (op[...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-29 Chapter 2 A B 1 2 3 2.3.2 CPU installation[...]

2-30 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 C B A 5 6 4[...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-31 Chapter 2 2.3.3 CPU heatsink and fan assembly installation Apply the Thermal Interface Material to the CPU heatsink and CPU before you install the heatsink and fan if necessary . T o install the CPU heatsink and fan assembly 2 B B A A 1 3 4[...]

2-32 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 T o uninstall the CPU heatsink and fan assembly 2 A B B A 1[...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-33 Chapter 2 1 2 3 T o remove a DIMM 2.3.4 DIMM installation B A[...]

2-34 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 2.3.5 Motherboard installation 2 1 The diagrams in this section are for reference only . The motherboard layout may vary with models, but the installation steps remain the same.[...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-35 Chapter 2 DO NOT overtighten the screws! Doing so can damage the motherboard. 3[...]

2-36 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 2.3.6 A TX Power connection 1 OR 2[...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-37 Chapter 2 2.3.7 SA T A device connection OR 2 OR 1[...]

2-38 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 2.3.8 Front I/O Connector IDE_LED POWER SW RESET SW IDE_LED- IDE_LED+ PWR Reset Ground Ground 2 USB 2.0 1 USB 3.0 T o install USB 3.0 Connector AAFP T o install ASUS Q-Connector T o install USB 2.0 Connector T o install front panel audio connector[...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-39 Chapter 2 2.3.9 Expansion Card installation T o install PCIe x16 cards T o install PCIe x1 cards T o install PCI cards[...]

2-40 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 2.3.10 Rear panel connection Rear panel connectors 1. PS/2 mouse and keyboard port 7. USB 2.0 ports 7 and 8 2. IEEE 1394a port 8. USB 2.0 ports 5 and 6 3. LAN (RJ-45) port 2* 9. Coaxial S/PDIF Out port 4. DVI port 10. Optical S/PDIF Out port 5. LAN (RJ-45) port 1* 1 1. USB 3.0 ports 3 and 4 6. USB 2.0 [...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-41 Chapter 2 **Audio 2, 4, 6, or 8-channel conguration Port H e a d s e t 2-channel 4-channel 6-channel 8-channel Light Blue Line In Line In Line In Line In Lime Line Out Front Speaker Out Front Speaker Out Front Speaker Out Pink Mic In Mic In Mic In Mic In Orange – – Center/Subwoofer Center/Subwoofer Black – Rear Speaker Out[...]

2-42 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 Connect to Headphone and Mic Connect to Stereo Speakers Connect to 2.1 channel Speakers Connect to 4.1 channel Speakers[...]

ASUS P8C WS 2-43 Chapter 2 Connect to 5.1 channel Speakers Connect to 7.1 channel Speakers[...]

2-44 Chapter 2: Hardware information Chapter 2 2.4 Starting up for the rst time 1. After making all the connections, replace the system case cover . 2. Be sure that all switches are of f. 3. Connect the power cord to the power connector at the back of the system chassis. 4. Connect the power cord to a power outlet that is equipped with a surge p[...]

ASUS P8C WS 3-1 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3 3.1 Knowing BIOS The new ASUS UEFI BIOS is a Unied Extensible Interface that complies with UEFI architecture, offering a user-friendly interface that goes beyond the traditional keyboard- only BIOS controls to enable a more exible and convenient mouse input. Users can easily navigate the new UEF[...]

3-2 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3 3.2.1 EZ Mode By default, the EZ Mode screen appears when you enter the BIOS setup program. The EZ Mode provides you an overview of the basic system information, and allows you to select the display language, system performance mode and boot device priority . T o access the Advanced Mode, click Exit/Advanced Mode[...]

ASUS P8C WS 3-3 Chapter 3 3.2.2 Advanced Mode The Advanced Mode provides advanced options for experienced end-users to congure the BIOS settings. The gure below shows an example of the Advanced Mode. Refer to the following sections for the detailed congurations. T o access the EZ Mode, click Exit , then select ASUS EZ Mode . Menu bar The m[...]

3-4 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3 Menu items The highlighted item on the menu bar displays the specic items for that menu. For example, selecting Main shows the Main menu items. The other items (Ai T weaker, Advanced, Monitor , Boot, T ool, and Exit) on the menu bar have their respective menu items. Back button This button appears when enterin[...]

ASUS P8C WS 3-5 Chapter 3 3.3 Main menu The Main menu screen appears when you enter the Advanced Mode of the BIOS Setup program. The Main menu provides you an overview of the basic system information, and allows you to set the system date, time, language, and security settings. 3.3.1 System Language [English] Allows you to choose the BIOS language [...]

3-6 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3 Administrator Password If you have set an administrator password, we recommend that you enter the administrator password for accessing the system. Otherwise, you might be able to see or change only selected elds in the BIOS setup program. T o set an administrator password: 1. Select the Administrator Password [...]

ASUS P8C WS 3-7 Chapter 3 User Password If you have set a user password, you must enter the user password for accessing the system. The User Password item on top of the screen shows the default Not Installed . After you set a password, this item shows Installed . T o set a user password: 1. Select the User Password item and press <Enter>. 2. [...]

3-8 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3 3.4 Ai Tweaker menu The Ai T weaker menu items allow you to congure overclocking-related items. Be cautious when changing the settings of the Ai T weaker menu items. Incorrect eld values can cause the system to malfunction. The conguration options for this section vary depending on the CPU and DIMM model[...]

ASUS P8C WS 3-9 Chapter 3 Ai Overclock T uner [Auto] Allows you to select the CPU overclocking options to achieve the desired CPU internal frequency . Select any of these preset overclocking conguration options: [Auto] Loads the optimal settings for the system. [X.M.P .] If you install memory modules supporting the eXtreme Memory Prole (X.M.P[...]

3-10 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3 Primary Timings DRAM CAS# Latency [Auto] Conguration options: [Auto] [3 DRAM Clock] – [15 DRAM Clock] DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay [Auto] Conguration options: [Auto] [4 DRAM Clock] – [15 DRAM Clock] DRAM RAS# PRE T ime [Auto] Conguration options: [Auto] [4 DRAM Clock] – [15 DRAM Clock] DRAM RAS# ACT Ti[...]

ASUS P8C WS 3-1 1 Chapter 3 tRWDR (DD) [Auto] Conguration options: [Auto] [1 DRAM Clock] – [6 DRAM Clock] tRWSR [Auto] Conguration options: [Auto] [1 DRAM Clock] – [6 DRAM Clock] tRR (DD) [Auto] Conguration options: [Auto] [1 DRAM Clock] – [6 DRAM Clock] tRR (DR) [Auto] Conguration options: [Auto] [1 DRAM Clock] – [6 DRAM Clock][...]

3-12 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3 Long Duration Maintained [Auto] Use the <+> and <-> keys to adjust the value. Short Duration Power Limit [Auto] Use the <+> and <-> keys to adjust the value. Primary Plane Current Limit [Auto] Use the <+> and <-> keys to adjust the value. Secondary Plane Current Limit [Auto] U[...]

ASUS P8C WS 3-13 Chapter 3 According to Intel CPU spec, DIMMs with voltage requirement over 1.5V may damage the CPU permanently . We recommend you install the DIMMs with the voltage requirement below 1.5V . VCCIO V oltage [Auto] Allows you to set the VCCIO voltage. The values range from 0.90V to 1.70V with a 0.01V interval. VCCSA V oltage [Auto] Al[...]

3-14 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3 Be cautious when changing the settings of the Advanced menu items. Incorrect eld values can cause the system to malfunction. 3.5 Advanced menu The Advanced menu items allow you to change the settings for the CPU and other system devices. 3.5.1 T rusted Computing TPM SUPORT [Disabled] Allows you to enable or d[...]

ASUS P8C WS 3-15 Chapter 3 3.5.2 CPU Conguration The items in this menu show the CPU-related information that the BIOS automatically detects. The items shown in this screen may be different due to the CPU you installed. Scroll down to display the following items: Intel Adaptive Thermal Monitor [Enabled] [Disabled] Disables the CPU thermal monito[...]

3-16 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3 Execute Disable Bit [Enabled] [Disabled] Forces the XD feature ag to always return to zero (0). [Enabled] Enables the No-Execution Page Protection T echnology . Intel(R) Virtualization T echnology [Disabled] [Disabled] Disables this function. [Enabled] Allows a hardware platform to run multiple operating syst[...]

ASUS P8C WS 3-17 Chapter 3 3.5.3 PCH Conguration High Precision Timer [Enabled] Allows you to enable or disable the High Precision Event T imer . Conguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] Intel(R) Rapid Start T echnology Intel(R) Rapid Start T echnology [Disbled] Allows you to enable or disable Intel(R) Rapid Start T echnology . Conguratio[...]

3-18 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3 3.5.4 SA T A Conguration Whil e ente ring Se tup, t he BIOS autom atical ly d etects the pr esence of SA T A dev ices. The S A T A Port items show N ot Pre sent if no SA T A device is in stalled to th e corre spondi ng SA T A port . Scroll down to display the following items: Active Page Threshold Support [En[...]

ASUS P8C WS 3-19 Chapter 3 SA T A Mode Selection [AHCI] Allows you to set the SA T A conguration. [IDE] Set to [IDE] when you want to use the Serial A T A hard disk drives as Parallel A T A physical storage devices. [AHCI] Set to [AHCI] when you want the SA T A hard disk drives to use the AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface). The AHCI allow[...]

3-20 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3 3.5.5 System Agent Conguration Memory Remap Feature [Enabled] Allows you to enable remapping the memory above 4GB. [Enabled] Enables the function. [Disabled] Disables this function. Graphics Conguration Allows you to select a primary display from iGPU, and PCIe graphical devices. Primary Display [Auto] All[...]

ASUS P8C WS 3-21 Chapter 3 3.5.6 USB Conguration The items in this menu allow you to change the USB-related features. The USB Devices item shows the auto-detected values. If no USB device is detected, the item shows None . Legacy USB Support [Enabled] [Enabled] Enables the support for USB devices on legacy operating systems (OS). [Disabled] The [...]

3-22 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3 3.5.7 Onboard Devices Conguration HD Audio Controller [Enabled] [Disabled] Disables the controller . [Enabled] Enables the High Denition Audio Controller . The following two items appear only when you set the HD Audio Controller item to [Enabled]. Front Panel T ype [HD] Allows you to set the front panel au[...]

ASUS P8C WS 3-23 Chapter 3 Intel LAN1 OPROM [Disabled] This item appears only when you set the previous item to [Enabled] and allows you to enable or disable the PXE OptionRom of the Intel LAN1 controller . Conguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] Intel LAN2 Controller [Enabled] [Disabled] Disables the controller . [Enabled] Enables the Intel L[...]

3-24 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3 3.5.8 APM ErP Ready [Disabled] This item allows user to switch off some power at S5 to get the system ready for ErP requirement. When set enabled to Enabled, all other PME options will be switched off. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Restore AC Power Loss [Power Off] [Power Off] The system goes into[...]

ASUS P8C WS 3-25 Chapter 3 3.5.9 Network Stack Network Stack [Disable Link] This item allows user to disable or enable the UEFI network stack. Conguration options: [Disable Link] [Enabled] The following items appears only when you set the Network Stack to [Enabled] . Ipv4 PXE Support [Enable] This item allows user to disable or enable the Ipv4 P[...]

3-26 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3 3.6 Monitor menu The Monitor menu displays the system temperature/power status, and allows you to change the fan settings. Scroll down to display the following items: CPU T emperature / MB T emperature [xxxºC/xxxºF] The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the CPU and motherboard tempera[...]

ASUS P8C WS 3-27 Chapter 3 CPU Q-Fan Control [Enabled] [Disabled] Disables the CPU Q-Fan control feature. [Enabled] Enables the CPU Q-Fan control feature. CPU Fan Speed Low Limit [600 RPM] This item appears only when you enable the CPU Q-Fan Control feature and allows you to disable or set the CPU fan warning speed. Conguration options: [Ignore][...]

3-28 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3 Chassis Fan Speed Low Limit [600 RPM] This item appears only when you enable the Chassis Q-Fan Control feature and allows you to disable or set the chassis fan warning speed. Conguration options: [Ignore] [200 RPM] [300 RPM] [400 RPM] [500 RPM] [600 RPM] Chassis Fan Profile [Standard] This item appears only w[...]

ASUS P8C WS 3-29 Chapter 3 3.7 Boot menu The Boot menu items allow you to change the system boot options. Scroll down to display the following items: Bootup NumLock State [On] [On] Sets the power-on state of the NumLock to [On]. [Off] Sets the power-on state of the NumLock to [Off]. Full Screen Logo [Enabled] [Disabled] Disables the full screen log[...]

3-30 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3 PCI ROM Priority [Legacy ROM] [Legacy ROM] Launch Legacy ROM [EFI Compatibe ROM] Launch UEFI Compatible ROM Option ROM Messages [Force BIOS] [Force BIOS] The third-party ROM messages will be forced to display during the boot sequence. [Keep Current] The third-party ROM messages will be displayed only if the thir[...]

ASUS P8C WS 3-31 Chapter 3 3.8 Tools menu The T ools menu items allow you to congure options for special functions. Select an item then press <Enter> to display the submenu. 3.8.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2 Utility Allows you to run ASUS EZ Flash 2. When you press <Enter>, a conrmation message appears. Use the left/right arrow key to select [...]

3-32 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3 • DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS to prevent the system boot failure! • We rec ommend that you up date the BIO S le o nly com ing from th e sa me memor y/CPU con guratio n an d BIOS v ersion. Label Allows you to input the label of the setup proles. Save to Prole Allow[...]

ASUS P8C WS 3-33 Chapter 3 3.9 Exit menu The Exit menu items allow you to load the optimal default values for the BIOS items, and save or discard your changes to the BIOS items. Y ou can access the EZ Mode from the Exit menu. Load Optimized Defaults This option allows you to load the default values for each of the parameters on the Setup menus. Whe[...]

3-34 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3 3.10 Updating BIOS The ASUS website publishes the latest BIOS versions to provide enhancements on system stability , compatibility , or performance. However , BIOS updating is potentially risky . If there is no problem using the current version of BIOS, DO NOT manually update the BIOS . Inappropriate BIOS updati[...]

ASUS P8C WS 3-35 Chapter 3 Updating the BIOS through the Internet 2. Select the ASUS FTP site nearest you to avoid network trafc. If you want to enable the BIOS downgradable function and auto BIOS backup function, check the checkboxs before the two items on the screen. 4. Y ou can decide whether to change the BIOS boot logo, which is the image a[...]

3-36 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3 • The screenshots in this section are for reference only . The actual BIOS information vary by models. • Refer to the software manual in the support DVD or visit the ASUS website at www .asus.com for detailed software conguration. Updating the BIOS through a BIOS le 2. Locate the BIOS le from the Op[...]

ASUS P8C WS 3-37 Chapter 3 3.10.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility The ASUS EZ Flash 2 feature allows you to update the BIOS without having to use a bootable oppy disk or an OS-based utility . Before you start using this utility , download the latest BIOS from the ASUS website at www .asus.com. T o update the BIOS using EZ Flash 2: 1. Insert the USB a[...]

3-38 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3 3.10.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility The ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility is an auto recovery tool that allows you to restore the BIOS le when it fails or gets corrupted during the updating process. Y ou can restore a corrupted BIOS le using the motherboard support DVD or a USB ash drive that contains the [...]

ASUS P8C WS 3-39 Chapter 3 Booting the system in DOS environment 1. Insert the USB ash drive with the latest BIOS le and BIOS Updater to the USB port. 2. Boot your computer . When the ASUS Logo appears, press <F8> to show the BIOS Boot Device Select Menu . Insert the support DVD into the optical drive and select the optical drive as the[...]

3-40 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3 2. The BIOS Updater backup screen appears indicating the BIOS backup process. When BIOS backup is done, press any key to return to the DOS prompt. Current ROM Update ROM Note Saving BIOS: PATH: A: BOARD: P8C WS VER: 0301 DATE: 01/24/2011 BOARD: Unknown VER: Unknown DATE: Unknown BIOS backup is done! Press any k[...]

ASUS P8C WS 3-41 Chapter 3 4. Select Y es and press <Enter>. When BIOS update is done, press <ESC> to exit BIOS Updater . Restart your computer . DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS to prevent system boot failure! • For BIOS Updater version 1.04 or later , the utility automatically exits to the DOS prompt afte[...]

3-42 Chapter 3: BIOS setup Chapter 3[...]

ASUS P8C WS 4-1 If Autorun is NOT enabled in your computer , browse the contents of the support DVD to locate the le ASSETUP .EXE from the BIN folder . Double-click the ASSETUP .EXE to run the DVD. 4.1 Installing an operating system This motherboard supports Windows ® XP/ 64-bit XP/ 7 / 64-bit 7 operating systems (OS). Always install the latest[...]

4-2 Chapter 4: Software support Chapter 4 4.2.2 Obtaining the software manuals The software manuals are included in the support DVD. Follow the instructions below to get the necessary software manuals. The software manual les are in Portable Document Format (PDF). Install the Adobe ® Acrobat ® Reader from the Utilities menu before opening the [...]

ASUS P8C WS 4-3 Chapter 4 • The applications in the T ool menu vary with models. • The screeshots of AI Suite II in this user manual are for reference only . The actual screenshots vary with models. • Refer to the software manual in the support DVD or visit the ASUS website at www .asus.com for detailed software conguration. Click to selec[...]

4-4 Chapter 4: Software support Chapter 4 *• Select From EPU Installation to show the CO2 that has been reduced since you installed EPU. *• Select From the Last Reset to show the total CO2 that has been reduced since you click the Clear button . • Refer to the software manual in the support DVD or visit the ASUS website at www .asus.com for d[...]

ASUS P8C WS 4-5 Chapter 4 Click to select a fan type Click to select a fan prole Click to apply the settings Click to discard the settings Refer to the software manual in the support DVD or visit the ASUS website at www .asus.com for detailed software conguration. 4.3.2 F AN Xpert Fan Xpert intelligently allows you to adjust both the CPU and [...]

4-6 Chapter 4: Software support Chapter 4 Loads the default threshold values for each sensor Applies your changes Lo ads yo ur sa ved co ng ura tio n Saves your conguration 4.3.3 Probe II Probe II is a utility that monitors the computer’s vital components, and detects and alerts you of any problem with these components. Probe II senses fan [...]

ASUS P8C WS 4-7 Chapter 4 Click on Monitor > Sensor on the AI Suite II main menu bar and a highlight of the system statuses will appear on the right panel. 4.3.4 Sensor Recorder Sensor Recorder monitors the changes in the system voltage, temperature, and fan speed on a timeline. The History Record function allows you to designate specic time [...]

4-8 Chapter 4: Software support Chapter 4 4.3.5 ASUS Update ASUS Update is a utility that allows you to manage, save, and update the motherboard BIOS in Windows ® environment. Launching ASUS Update T o launch ASUS Update, click Update > ASUS Update on the AI Suite II main menu bar . Using ASUS Update Select any of these options to update the BI[...]

ASUS P8C WS 4-9 Chapter 4 4.3.6 MyLogo MyLogo allows you to customize t he boot logo, which is the image that appears on the screen during the Power On Self T ests (POST). Launching ASUS Update T o launch MyLogo, click Update > MyLogo on the AI Suite II main menu bar. Select the option that you want to use to update your boot logo, click Next an[...]

4-10 Chapter 4: Software support Chapter 4 Ensure to enable the Full Screen Logo in BIOS to use this feature. 5. Click Flash to update the boot logo. 6. When prompted, click Y es to reboot the system. Y ou will see the new boot logo the next time you start up the system. 3. Do any of the following: • Click Auto T une to adjust the image size or t[...]

ASUS P8C WS 4-1 1 Chapter 4 4.4 Audio congurations The Realtek ® audio CODEC provides 8-channel audio capability to deliver the ultimate audio experience on your computer . The software provides Jack-Sensing function, S/PDIF Out support, and interrupt capability . The CODEC also includes the Realtek ® proprietary UAJ ® (Universal Audio Jack) [...]

4-12 Chapter 4: Software support Chapter 4 4.5 RAID congurations The motherboard supports the following SA T A RAID solutions: • Intel ® Rapid Storage T echnology with RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 10 and RAID 5 support. • Mavell ® RAID utility with RAID 0 and RAID 1 support. • Y ou must install Windows ® XP Service Pack 3 or later versions befo[...]

ASUS P8C WS 4-13 Chapter 4 4.5.2 Installing Serial A T A hard disks The motherboard supports Serial A T A hard disk drives. For optimal performance, install identical drives of the same model and capacity when creating a disk array . T o install the SA T A hard disks for a RAID conguration: 1. Install the SA T A hard disks into the drive bays. 2[...]

4-14 Chapter 4: Software support Chapter 4 Creating a RAID set T o create a RAID set: 1. From the utility main menu, select 1. Create RAID V olume and press <Enter>. The following screen appears: 2. Enter a name for the RAID set and press <Enter>. 3. When the RAID Level item is selected, press the up/down arrow key to select a RAID leve[...]

ASUS P8C WS 4-15 Chapter 4 5. Use the up/down arrow key to select a drive, and then press <Space> to sel ect. A small triangle marks the selected drive. Press <Enter> after completing your selection. 6. Use the up/down arrow key to select the stripe size for the RAID array (for RAID 0, 10 and 5 only),and then press <Enter>. The av[...]

4-16 Chapter 4: Software support Chapter 4 Deleting a RAID set T ake caution when deleting a RAID set. Y ou will lose all data on the hard disk drives when you delete a RAID set. T o delete a RAID set: 1. From the utility main menu, select 2. Delete RAID V olume and press <Enter>. The following screen appears: Exiting the Intel ® Rapid Stora[...]

ASUS P8C WS 4-17 Chapter 4 Intel ® Smart Response T echnology Intel ® Smart Response T echnology boosts overall system performance. It uses an installed fast SSD (min. 20GB available) as a cache for frequently accessed operations, speeding up hard drive/main memory interaction. Key benets are expedited hard drive speeds, reduced load and wait [...]

4-18 Chapter 4: Software support Chapter 4 Select Disable Acceleration to disable this function, and select Change Mode to switch acceleration mode to Enhanced/ Maximized. • T o enable Intel ® Smart Response T echnology , you need at least one SSD ( 20GB) and a HDD, and only one SSD can be assigned for caching. • If you want to restore the OS,[...]

ASUS P8C WS 4-19 Chapter 4 Right click the New V olume that you want to shrink from, and select Shrink V olume . If your SSD is not initialized and unformatted: a. Right click the disk that you want to create the partition, and select Initialize . b. Right click the unallocated volume, select New Simple V olume , and follow the remaining steps. Key[...]

4-20 Chapter 4: Software support Chapter 4 T o launch the disk partitioning tool, click Start > Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt tool. T ype diskpart and press Enter . In the diskpart prompt, type list disk after DISKP ART , and press Enter . Select the disk with the unallocated volume by typing select disk x (x = disk number), and [...]

ASUS P8C WS 4-21 Chapter 4 T ype set id=84 override , press Enter , and wait for the “shrinking process” until the Disk Management utility identies a new partition called Hibernation Partition . Reboot the system after creating the partition. The partition for Intel ® Rapid Start T echnology is incomplete if the computer is not rebooted, an[...]

4-22 Chapter 4: Software support Chapter 4 Recovering the partition This procedure allows you to delete the Intel ® Rapid Start T echnology from your system, and recover the partition you made for the Intel Rapid ® Start T echnology installation. Run the Command Prompt tool. T ype diskpart and press Enter . At the diskpart prompt, type list disk [...]

ASUS P8C WS 4-23 Chapter 4 T ype list partition , press Enter , and select the partition where the Intel ® Rapid Start T echnology is installed by typing select partition x (x = number), and press Enter . T ype delete partition override , and press Enter . The diskpart utility deletes the selected partition. In the desktop, click Start , right-cli[...]

4-24 Chapter 4: Software support Chapter 4 Click Next after selecting the default selected disk. Extend volume setup is completed. Click Finish to recover the Intel ® Rapid Start T echnology partition. Reboot the system after deleting the partition. Go to Start > Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > to remove the Intel ®[...]

ASUS P8C WS 4-25 Chapter 4 Select all and click Next for Custom Setup . Click Install to proceed the installation. Click Y es to restart your system, and for the newly installed Intel ® Smart Connect T echnology to take effect. Using the Intel ® Smart Connect T echnology • Before the system goes to sleep mode, ensure to keep your applications o[...]

4-26 Chapter 4: Software support Chapter 4 T o disable the updating function, click Disable Updating . Clicking this button automatically disables the conguration in the Advanced tab. T o reset to defaults, click Reset All to Defaults . In the Advanced tab, set up the schedule during low power usage time period for power saving. This setting onl[...]

ASUS P8C WS 4-27 Chapter 4 4.6 Creating a RAID driver disk A oppy disk with the RAID driver is required when installing a Windows ® operating system on a hard disk drive that is included in a RAID set. • The motherboard does not provide a oppy drive connector . Y ou have to use a USB oppy disk drive when creating a SA T A RAID driver di[...]

4-28 Chapter 4: Software support Chapter 4 4.6.3 Installing the RAID driver during Windows ® OS installation T o install the RAID driver in Windows ® XP: 1. During the OS installation, the system prompts you to press the F6 key to install third- party SCSI or RAID driver . 2. Pre ss <F6 >, a nd the n i nser t t he op py di sk with RA ID [...]

ASUS P8C WS 4-29 Chapter 4 4.6.4 Using a USB oppy disk drive Due to OS limitation, Windows ® XP may not recognize the USB oppy disk drive when you install the RAID driver from a oppy disk during the OS installation. T o solve this issue, add the USB oppy disk drive’s V endor ID (VID) and Product ID (PID) to the oppy disk containin[...]

4-30 Chapter 4: Software support Chapter 4 8. Find the [HardwareIds.scsi.iaAHCI_DesktopWorkstationServer] and [HardwareIds.scsi.iaStor_DesktopWorkstationServer] sections in the txtsetup.oem le. 9. Type the following line to the bottom of the two sections: id = “USBVID_xxxx&PID_xxxx”, “usbstor” 10. Save and exit the le. Add the sa[...]

ASUS P8C WS 5-1 Chapter 5 5.1 AMD ® CrossFireX™ technology The motherboard supports the AMD ® CrossFireX™ technology that allows you to install multi-graphics processing units (GPU) graphics cards. Follow the installation procedures in this section. 5.1.1 Requirements • In Dual CrossFireX mode, you should have two identical CrossFireX-ready[...]

5-2 Chapter 5: Multiple GPU technology support Chapter 5 5. Connect two independent auxiliary power sources from the power supply to the two graphics cards separately . 6. Connect a VGA or a DVI cable to the graphics card. 4. Align and rmly insert the CrossFireX bridge connector to the goldngers on each graphics card. Ensure that the connecto[...]

ASUS P8C WS 5-3 Chapter 5 2. The VISION Engine Control Center Setup Assistant appears when the system detects the existance of multi- graphics cards. Click Go to continue to the VISION Engine Control Center Advanced View window . 5.1.4 Installing the device drivers Refer to the documentation that came with your graphics card package to install the [...]

5-4 Chapter 5: Multiple GPU technology support Chapter 5[...]

ASUS contact information ASUST eK COMPUTER INC. Address 15 Li-T e Road, Peitou, T aipei, T aiwan 1 1259 T elephone +886-2-2894-3447 Fax +886-2-2890-7798 E-mail info@asus.com.tw Web site www .asus.com.tw T echnical Support T elephone +86-21-3842991 1 Online support support.asus.com ASUS COMPUTER INTERNA TIONAL (America) Address 800 Corporate W ay , [...]

EC Declaration of Conformity We, the undersigned, Manufacturer: ASUSTek COMPUTER INC. Address, City: No. 150, LI-TE RD., PEITOU, TAIPEI 112, TAIWAN R.O.C. Country: TAIWAN Authorized representative in Europe: ASUS COMPUTER GmbH Address, City: HARKORT STR. 21-23, 40880 RATINGEN Country: GERMANY declare the following apparatus: Product name : Motherbo[...]