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  3.0
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  publica-
tion 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, Turion, 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  instal-
lation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and,
if  not  installed  and  used  in  accordance  with  the  instructions,  may  cause  harmful
interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interfer-
ence 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:
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•
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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  govern-
ing  this  device.  Changes  or  modifications  not  expressly  approved  by  the  system’s
manufacturer  could  void  the  user’s  authority  to  operate  the  equipment.
A55F-M4 USER MANUAL
Declaration of Conformity
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the follow-
ing  conditions:
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This  device  may  not  cause  harmful  interference.
This device must accept any interference received, including interference
that  may  cause  undesired  operation.
This  device  is  in  conformity  with  the  following  EC/EMC  directives:
Limits  and  methods  of  mesurement  of  radio  disturbance  char-
acteristics  of  information  technology  equipment
EN 55022
EN 61000-3-2 Disturbances  in  supply  systems  caused
EN 61000-3-3 Disturbances  in  supply  systems  caused  by  household  appli-
ances  and  similar  electrical  equipment  “  Voltage  fluctuations”
Information  technology  equipment-Immunity  characteristics-
Limits  and  methods  of  measurement
Safety  for  information  technology  equipment  including  electri-
cal  business  equipment
EN 60950
EN 55024
CE marking
 page  1
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
Chapter 4
Using the Motherboard Software
Chapter 5
CrossFireTM Technology  (AMD
Dual Graphics) Support
Chapter 6
Setting Up AMD A55  RAID
Configuration
Chapter 7
Trouble Shooting
Describes  features  of  the
motherboard.
Describes 
motherboard  components.
Provides  information  on  us-
ing  the  BIOS  Setup  Utility.
Describes  the  motherboard
software.
Describes the ATI CrossfireTM
Technology
Provides  information  about
SATA  RAID  Setup
Provides 
shooting  tips.
installation  of
basic 
trouble
 page  7
page  57
 page  25
 page  53
page  61
page  69
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A55F-M4 USER MANUAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface
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Chapter 1
Introducing the Motherboard
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 1
Introduction...........................................................................................1
Pakage Contents..................................................................................1
Specifications......................................................................................2
Motherboard Components................................................................4
I/O Ports...............................................................................................6
Chapter 2
  7
Installing the Motherboard                                                                             7
Safety Precautions..............................................................................7
Installing the Motherboard in a Chassis.......................................7
Checking Jumper Settings..................................................................8
Installing Hardware...........................................................................9
Installing the Processor............................................................9
Installing the CPU Cooler........................................................10
Installing Memory Modules...................................................11
Installing Add-on Cards..........................................................12
Connecting Optional Devices.................................................14
Installing a SATA Hard Drive...................................................19
Connecting Case Components........................................................20
Front Panel Header................................................................23
Chapter 3
Using BIOS
   25
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About the Setup Utility......................................................................25
The Standard Configuration........................ ...........................25
Entering the Setup Utility.......................................................25
Resetting the Default CMOS Values.....................................26
Using BIOS.........................................................................................26
BIOS Navigation Keys..............................................................27
Main Menu.............................................................................28
Advanced Menu......................................................................29
Chipset Menu..........................................................................42
M.I.B III(MB Intelligent Bios III) Menu....................................44
Boot Menu...............................................................................45
Security Menu.........................................................................47
Exit Menu...............................................................................50
Updating the BIOS......................................................................51
A55F-M4 USER MANUAL
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Chapter 4
Using the Motherboard Software
     53
           53
Auto-installing under Windows XP/7/8.......................................53
Running Setup........................................................................53
Manual Installation..........................................................................55
ECS Utility Software (Intelligent EZ Utility).....................................55
Chapter 5
CrossFireTM Technology [AMD Dual Graphics] Support
57
           57
CrossFireTM Technology...................................................................57
Chapter 6
Setting Up AMD A55 RAID Configuration
     61
                                           61
Setting Up a Bootable RAID Array..................................................61
Chapter 7
Trouble Shooting
   69
           69
Start up problems during assembly..............................................69
Start up problems after prolong use............................................70
Maintenance and care tips..............................................................70
Basic Troubleshooting Flowchart.....................................................71
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Chapter 1
Introducing the Motherboard
Introduction
Thank you for choosing the  A55F-M4 motherboard. This motherboard is a high per-
formance,  enhanced  function  motherboard  that  supports  socket  FM1  for  AMD  A
series  processor  for  high-end  business  or  personal  desktop  markets.
The motherboard is based on AMD A55 (Hudson D2) express chipset for best desktop
platform. A55 is a single-chip, highly integrated, high performance Hyper-Transport
peripheral  controller,  unmatched  by  any  other  single  chip-device  controller.  The
memory controller supports DDR3 memory DIMM frequencies of 1866*1/1600/1333.
It supports two DDR3 slots with maximum memory size of 16 GB. One PCI Express x16
slot, intended for Graphics Interface, is fully compliant to the PCI Express Gen2 (ver-
sion 2.0). In addition, one PCI Express x1 slot and one PCI slot are supported.
It implements USB 2.0 interface, supporting up to eight USB 2.0 ports (four USB 2.0
ports  and  two  USB  2.0  headers  support  additional  four  USB  2.0  ports).  This
motherboard integrates a Serial ATA host controller, supporting four SATA ports with
maximum  transfer  rate  up  to  3Gb/s  each.
There is an full set of I/O ports in the rear panel, including PS/2 mouse and keyboard
connectors, one D-sub (VGA) port, one HDMI(Optional*2), four USB 2.0 ports, one LAN
port, three audio jacks for microphone, line-in and 6-ch line-out.
*1.  Due  to  the  limitation  of  chipset  spec,  it  supports  up  to  1866  MHz  for
motherboard  with  a  single  DIMM  per  channel.
*2. The HDMI port is optional, please take the actual motherboard as stan-
dard. If you have any questions, please contact the sellers.
Package Contents
Your motherboard package ships with the following items:
A55F-M4  Motherboard
Quick  Installation  Guide
User  Manual
DVD
I/O  Shield
2 SATA 3Gb/s Cables
The package contents above are for reference only, please take the actual
package  items  as  standard.
A55F-M4  USER MANUAL
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Specifications
CPU
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Socket FM1 for AMD A series processors
Supports CPU up to 100W TDP
Chipset
Memory
Note: Please go to ECS website for the latest CPU support list.
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AMD  A55  Chipset
Dual-channel  DDR3  memory  architecture
2 x 240-pin DDR3 UDIMM sockets support up to 16 GB
Supports DDR3 1866*/1600/1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM
Expansion
Slots
Storage
Audio
LAN
Rear Panel I/O
Internal I/O
Connectors &
Headers
Note: *Due to the limitation of chipset spec, it supports up to
1866 MHz for motherboard with a single DIMM per channel.
Please go to ECS website for the latest Memory support list.
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1 x PCI Express x16 Gen2 slot
1 x PCI Express x1 Gen2 slot
1 x PCI slot
Supported by AMD  A55 (Hudson D2)
- 4 x Serial ATA 3Gb/s devices
VT1705CE 6-Ch High Definition audio CODEC
- 6  Channel  High  Definiton  Audio  Codec
-  Compliant  with  HD  audio  specification
Realtek  RTL8111E-VL-CG  Giga  Lan
1 x PS/2 keyboard and PS/2 mouse connectors
1 x D-Sub port (VGA)
1 x HDMI port (optional)
4 x USB 2.0 ports
1 x RJ45 LAN connector
1 x Audio port (Line in, Line out, Mic_in Rear)
1 x 24-pin ATX Power Supply connector
1 x 4-pin 12V Power connector
1 x 4-pin CPU_FAN connector
1 x 3-pin SYS_FAN connector
2 x USB 2.0 headers support additional four USB 2.0 ports
4 x Serial SATA 3Gb/s connectors
1 x COM header
1 x Case open header
1 x SPDIF out header
1 x Front panel USB power select jumper
1 x Rear USB/PS2 power select jumper
1 x Front Panel audio header
1 x Front Panel switch/LED header
1  x  Speaker  header
1  x  Parallel  port  header(LPT)
1 x CLR_CMOS header
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A55F-M4  USER MANUAL
System BIOS
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Form Factor
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AMI BIOS with 32Mb SPI Flash ROM
- Supports ECS MIB III Utility
- Supports Plug and Play, STR(S3)/STD(S4)
-  Supports  Hardware  Monitor
- Supports ACPI 3.0 version & DMI
- Audio, LAN, can be disabled in BIOS
- Supports ECS GUI UEFI BIOS
-  Supports  Graphic  Over-Clocking
-  Supports  Dual-Monitor  function
- F7 hot key for boot up devices option
- Supports Pgup clear CMOS Hotkey (Has PS2 KB Model only)
Micro-ATX Size, 230mm x 180mm
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Motherboard Components
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A55F-M4  USER MANUAL