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Motherboard Specifications, M2N78-LA (Viola)

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Support details

Motherboard specifications table
Part / FeatureSpecification / Support
Motherboard description
  • Motherboard manufacturer's name: ASUS M2N78-LA
  • HP/Compaq name: Viola-GL8E
CPU/Processor
  • Socket: AM2+
  • These additional features are supported when using processors designed for socket AM2+:
    • HyperTransport 3.0. Faster system bus on hardware that supports HyperTransport 3.0
    • Split power planes for CPU and integrated memory controller for improved power savings.
    Socket AM2+ is backwards compatible with processors designed for socket AM2.
    NOTE: This motherboard supports HyperTransport 3.0 when using Phenom processors. If the motherboard is not equipped with a Phenom processor it will default to HyperTransport 1.0.
  • Supports the following processors:
    • Phenom with Quad Core technology 9xxx series (AM2+) up to 9700 (up to 125 watt)
    • Phenom with Triple-Core technology 8xxx series (AM2+) up to 8xxx (up to 125 watt)
    • Athlon 64 X2 with Dual Core technology (AM2) up to 6400+ (up to 125 watt)
Front-side bus (FSB)
  • 5200MT/s (5.2 GT/s)
Chipset
  • NVIDIA GeForce 8200 (MCP78PV)
BIOS features
  • Keyboard combination to used to enter BIOS: F10
  • System BIOS core brand: AMI
Form factor
  • micro-ATX: 9.6 in X 9.6 in
Memory
  • Dual channel memory architecture
  • Four 240-pin DDR2 DIMM sockets
  • Supported DIMM types:
    • PC2-5300 (667 MHz)
    • PC2-6400 (800 MHz)
    • PC2-8500 (1066 MHz)*
    NOTE: HP does not recommend using PC2-8500. This motherboard can support only one PC2-8500 DIMM per channel (2 DIMMS total), which limits the maximum memory.
  • Non-ECC memory only, unbuffered
  • Supports 2GB DDR2 DIMMs
  • Supports up to 8 GB on 64 bit PCs
  • Supports up to 4 GB* on 32 bit PCs


NOTE: *Actual available memory may be less
Expansion slots
  • One PCI Express x16 graphics (for graphics cards)
  • Three PCI Express x1 (for cards such as network, sound, tv-tuner)
  • Supports an optional PCI extender card providing two PCI slots.
Video graphics
  • Integrated graphics using nVidia GeForce 8200
  • Supports concurrent use of dual displays connected to onboard DVI and VGA connectors.
  • Also supports PCI Express x16 graphics cards as independent graphics adapters.


NOTE: Either integrated graphics or the PCI Express x16 slot are usable at one time; they are not usable concurrently.
Serial ATA
  • Six SATA connectors:
    • Supports 1 SATA-150 or SATA-300 disk drive on each SATA connector
    • Speed up to 1.5Gb/sec or 3.0Gb/sec, complying with SATA 1.0 and SATA 2.0 specifications


NOTE: The faster rate of 3.0Gb/sec requires that both the hard drive and the motherboard support it. If one or the other does not support 3.0 Gb/sec, the PC negotiates down to the slower 1.5 Gb/sec.
RAID
  • Some Viola models ship with RAID (model dependent)
  • nVidia's onboard RAID solution is called nVidia Storage
  • RAID modes supported*:
    • RAID 0
    • RAID 1


NOTE: RAID 5 and 10 are not supported by this motherboard.
Onboard audio
  • Audio CODEC: Realtek ALC888S
  • 8 channel high-definition audio
Onboard LAN
  • 1 Realtek PHY RTL8211B-GR 10/100/1000 Mb/s (Gigabit Ethernet)
Onboard USB
  • USB 2.0
  • Twelve ports total
    • Four connectors on back panel
    • Six headers support eight additional USB ports/devices


NOTE: Some USB ports may not be available externally for customer use. For more information, see model specifications.
Onboard 1394
  • Type: IEEE 1394a 400Mb/s
  • LSI L-FW3227-100 (or equivalent) controller chip
  • Two ports total
  • One port on back panel
  • One header on motherboard supporting one additional port/device
Back panel I/0
  • One PS/2 mouse port (green)
  • One PS/2 keyboard port (purple)
  • One Coaxial SPDIF out port
  • One VGA port
  • One DVI port
  • Four USB 2.0
  • One IEEE 1394a
  • One RJ-45 networking port
  • Six audio ports support 8-channel audio:
    • Line-in (light blue)
    • Microphone-in (pink)
    • Line-out (lime)
    • Center/Subwoofer-out (yellow-orange)
    • Side speaker-out (gray)
    • Rear speaker-out (black)
Internal connectors
  • One 24-pin ATX power connector
  • One 4-pin ATX power connector
  • Six SATA connectors
  • One floppy drive connector
  • Two 12v fan connectors for CPU fan and PC fan
  • One 9-pin header for power button, reset button, power LED, and HDD LED
  • One SPDIF audio output connector
  • One front line input connector (interrupts line input on back panel, Vista capable, requires matching front audio jack module)
  • One 9-pin audio header for headphone-out and microphone-in (yellow, Vista capable, requires matching front audio jack module)
  • Six USB 2.0 headers supporting 8 USB ports or devices
  • One 1394a header
  • One jumper for resetting BIOS settings
  • One jumper to disable BIOS password checking
NOTE: Motherboard specifications are subject to change without notice.
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Motherboard layout and photos
Figure 1: layout
Figure 2: Photograph
Figure 3: Backplate
1 - PS/2 mouse port (green). This port is for a PS/2 mouse.
2 - SPDIF coaxial out port. This port connects to external audio output devices with coaxial cable connectors.
3 - Video Graphics Adapter port. This port is for a VGA monitor or other VGA-compatible devices.
4 - IEEE 1394 port. This 6-pin IEEE 1394 port provides high-speed connectivity for audio/video devices, storage peripherals, PCs, or portable devices.
5 - LAN (RJ-45) port. This port allows connection to a Local Area Network (LAN) through a network hub.
6 - Center/Subwoofer port (yellow orange). This port connects the center/subwoofer speakers.
7 - Rear Speaker Out port (black). This port connects to the rear speakers on a 4-channel, 6-channel, or 8-channel audio configuration.
8 - Line In port (light blue). This port connects a tape, CD, DVD player, or other audio sources.
9 - Line Out port (lime). This port connects to headphones or a speaker. In 4-channel, 6-channel, and 8-channel mode, the function of this port becomes Front Speakers Out.
10 - Microphone port (pink). This port connects a microphone.
11 - Side Speaker Out port (gray). This port connects to the side speakers in an 8-channel audio configuration.
12 - USB 2.0 ports 1, 2, 3, and 4. These four 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are available for connecting USB 2.0 devices.
13 - DVI port. DVI is a standard for connecting computers to digital monitors and provides a pure digital video signal to a digital flat-panel display or projector.
14 - PS/2 keyboard port (purple). This port is for a PS/2 keyboard.
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Clearing the BIOS settings
CAUTION: Do not change any jumper setting while the computer is on. Damage to the motherboard can result.
This motherboard has jumpers to clear the Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM in CMOS.
Clearing CMOS
To clear CMOS, follow these steps:
  1. Temporarily set jumper CLEAR_CMOS to pins 1-2.
  2. Wait 5-10 seconds and then return the jumper to pins 2-3.
  3. When you startup, enter BIOS setup to reset any custom BIOS settings.
Clearing the BIOS password settings
The BIOS password is used to protect BIOS settings from unwanted changes. If you have forgotten your password you may disable password checking.
To erase the BIOS password follow these steps:
  1. Turn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord.
  2. Locate the jumper labeled CLEAR_PW.
  3. Move the jumper CLEAR_PW to pins 1-2.
  4. Plug in the power cord and turn ON the computer.
  5. Hold down the F10 key during the startup process and enter BIOS setup to change or clear the password.
  6. After changing or clearing the BIOS passwords, remember to reset the jumper to pins 2-3.
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