Preface
Copyright
This  publication,  including  all  photographs,  illustrations  and  software,  is  protected
under  international  copyright  laws,  with  all  rights  reserved.  Neither  this  manual,  nor
any  of  the  material  contained  herein,  may  be  reproduced  without  written  consent  of
the  author.
Version  1.0b
Disclaimer
The  information  in  this  document  is  subject  to  change  without  notice.  The  manufac-
turer  makes  no  representations  or  warranties  with  respect  to  the  contents  hereof  and
specifically  disclaims  any  implied  warranties  of  merchantability  or  fitness  for  any
particular  purpose.  The  manufacturer  reserves  the  right  to  revise  this  publication  and
to  make  changes  from  time  to  time  in  the  content  hereof  without  obligation  of  the
manufacturer  to  notify  any  person  of  such  revision  or  changes.
Trademark Recognition
Microsoft,  MS-DOS  and Windows  are  registered  trademarks  of  Microsoft  Corp.
AMD,  Phenom, Athlon,  Sempron  and Duron  are  registered  trademarks  of AMD
Corporation.
Other product names used in this manual are the properties of their respective owners
and  are  acknowledged.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
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  installa-
tion.  This  equipment  generates,  uses,  and  can  radiate  radio  frequency  energy  and,  if
not  installed  and  used  in  accordance  with  the  instructions,  may  cause  harmful  inter-
ference  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 the receiver
Connect the equipment onto 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
Shielded  interconnect  cables  and  a  shielded AC  power  cable  must  be  employed  with
this equipment to ensure compliance with the pertinent RF emission limits governing
this  device.  Changes  or  modifications  not  expressly  approved  by  the  system’s  manu-
facturer  could  void  the  user’s  authority  to  operate  the  equipment.
Preface
ii
Declaration of Conformity
This  device  complies  with  part  15  of  the  FCC  rules.  Operation  is  subject  to  the
following  conditions:
•
•
This device may not cause harmful interference, and
This device must accept any interference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired operation
Canadian Department of Communications
This  class  B  digital  apparatus  meets  all  requirements  of  the  Canadian  Interference-
causing  Equipment  Regulations.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences du Réglement sur
le matériel brouilieur du Canada.
About the Manual
The  manual  consists  of  the  following:
Chapter 1
Introducing the Motherboard
Chapter 2
Installing the Motherboard
Chapter 3
Using BIOS
Describes  features  of  the
motherboard.
Go to  page  1
Describes  installation  of
motherboard  components.
Go to  page 7
Provides information on us-
ing the BIOS Setup Utility.
page  27
Go to
Chapter 4
Using the Motherboard Software
Chapter 5
Setting Up NVIDIA RAID Configuration
Chapter 6
NVIDIA®®®®® Hybrid SLI®®®®® Technology Support
Preface
Describes  the  motherboard
software
Go to  page  45
Provides  information  about
SATA RAID Setup
Go to  page  51
Provides  information  about
Hybrid SLI technology
Go to  page  61
iii
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Preface
                      i
Chapter 1
Introducing the Motherboard
      1
  1
Introduction......................................................................................1
Feature ..............................................................................................2
Motherboard Components.............................................................5
   7  7  7  7  7
Chapter 2
Installing the Motherboard                                                                           7
Safety Precautions...........................................................................7
Choosing a Computer Case............................................................7
Installing the Motherboard in a Case............................................7
Checking Jumper Settings...............................................................8
Setting Jumpers...................................................................8
Checking Jumper Settings...................................................9
Jumper Settings...................................................................9
Installing Hardware........................................................................10
Installing the Processor.....................................................10
Installing Memory Modules...............................................11
                Expansion Slots..................................................................15
Connecting Optional Devices..............................................17
Installing a Hard Disk Drive/CD-ROM/SATA Hard Drive...20
                Installing a Floppy Diskette Drive......................................21
Connecting I/O Devices................................................................22
Connecting Case Components....................................................23
Front Panel Header.............................................................25
Chapter 3
Using BIOS
   27
27
About the Setup Utility................................................................ 27
The Standard Configuration..............................................27
Entering the Setup Utility...................................................27
Using BIOS......................................................................................28
BIOS Navigation Keys......................................................28
Standard CMOS Setup......................................................29
Advanced Setup.................................................................31
Advanced Chipset Setup....................................................32
iv
Integrated Peripherals.......................................................34
Power Management Setup.................................................35
PCI/PNP Configuration.....................................................37
PC Health Status................................................................38
Frequency/Voltage Control................................................40
Load  Default Settings.......................................................41
Supervisor Password........................................................41
User Password..................................................................42
Save & Exit Setup..............................................................42
Exit Without Saving............................................................42
Updating the BIOS.............................................................43
Chapter 4
Using the Motherboard Software
     45 45 45 45 45
  45
About the Software CD-ROM......................................................45
Auto-installing under Windows XP/Vista..................................45
Running Setup....................................................................46
Manual Installation........................................................................50
Utility Software Reference............................................................50
Chapter 5
Setting Up NVIDIA RAID Configuration
     51 51 51 51 51
   51
Setting Up a Non-Bootable RAID Array....................................51
 Setting Up a Bootable RAID Array.............................................54
Chapter 6
NVIDIA®®®®® Hybrid SLI®®®®® Technology Support
     61 61 61 61 61
61
Key Features...................................................................................61
Hybrid SLI Products......................................................................62
Hybrid Requirements and Constraints.......................................63
Installation and Use.......................................................................64
1
Chapter 1
Introducing the Motherboard
Introduction
Thank  you  for  choosing  the  GF8100VM-M3  motherboard.  This  motherboard  is  a
high  performance,  enhanced  function  motherboard  that  supports  socket  for AMD
PhenomTM processor  (socket AM2+)/AMD AthlonTM  64  X2 Dual-Core/AthlonTM  64/
SempronTM  processors  for  high-end  business  or  personal  desktop  markets.
This  motherboard  is  based  on  NVIDIA® GeForce8100  (MCP78V)  Premium  media
and  communications  processor  (MCP)  for  best  desktop  platform  solution.
GeForce8100  is  a  single-chip,  highly  integrated,  high  performance  HyperTransport
peripheral  controller,  unmatched  by  any  other  single  chip-device  controller.  The
memory  controller  supports  DDR2  memory  DIMM  frequencies  of  1066*1  (AM2+)/
800/667/533/400.  It  supports  four  DDR2  sockets  with  maximum  memory  size  of  32
GB*2.  High  resolution  graphics  via  one  PCI  Express  x16  slot,  two  PCI  Express  x1
slots, 12 USB 2.0 ports (6 USB ports and 3 USB 2.0 headers support additional 6 USB
ports)  and  SATA  support  with  RAID  function.
There is an advanced full set of I/O ports in the rear panel, including PS/2 mouse and
keyboard  connectors,  COM,  one VGA  port,  one  optional DVI  port,  six  USB  ports,
one  LAN  port  and  audio  jacks  for  microphone,  line-in  and  6/8-ch  (optional)  line-out.
This  motherboard  is  designed  in  a  Micro ATX  form  factor  using  a  four-layer  printed
circuit  board  and  measures  244  mm  x  244  mm.
*
1. Due  to  the  limitation  of AMD  CPU  spec,  please  refer  to  Memory  QVL
for  more  information.
2.  Due  to  the  DRAM  maximum  size  (2  GB  per  dimm)  at  present,  the
memory  maximum  size  we  have  tested  is  8  GB.
Introducing the Motherboard
2
Feature
Processor
This  motherboard  uses  a  socket AM2+/AM2  that  carries  the  following  features:
Accommodates AMD PhenomTM processor (socket AM2+)
AMD AthlonTM 64 X2 Dual-Core/AthlonTM 64/SempronTM processors
Supports  HyperTransportTM  (HT)  3.0  interface  speeds
•
•
HyperTransportTM  Technology  is  a  point-to-point  link  between  two  devices,  it
enables  integrated  circuits  to  exchange  information  at  much  higher  speeds  than
currently  available  interconnect  technologies.
              This board supports CPU up to 95W TDP only
Chipset
The  NVIDIA®  GeForce8100  is  a  single-chip  with  proven  reliability  and  perfor-
mance.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
HyperTransport 3.0 x16 up and down links to the AMD socket AM2+/
AM2 CPU
PCI Express 16-lane link interface for external graphics processors
PCI Express Generation 2.0 compatible
Integrated NVIDIA GeForce® Series DirectX 10 Vertex Shader 4.0 graph-
ics  processor
Compliant with PCI v2.3 interface at 33 MHz
Integrated SATA 3.0 Gb/s Host Controller
Twelve USB 2.0 ports supported
Fast ATA-133 IDE controller
NVIDIA® MediaShieldTM RAID with support for RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1,
RAID 5, and JBOD
Integrated Hybrid SLI technology, NVIDIA® UltraShadowTM technology,
full NVIDIA® nView® multi-display technology capability
There  are  three  Hybrid  SLI  modes  for  you  to  select:  Save  Power,
Boost  Performance  and  Additional  Displays.
Memory
•
•
•
Supports DDR2 1066 (AM2+)/800/667/533/400 DDR2 SDRAM with Dual-
channel  architecture
Accommodates four unbuffered DIMMs
Up to 8 GB per DIMM with maximum memory size up to 32 GB*
Introducing the Motherboard