ASUS M4A785T-M Users Manual

M4A785T-M
Motherboard
E4903
First Edition V1
August 2009
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, modified or altered, unless
such repair, modification 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 identification or explanation and to the
owners’ benefit, without intent to infringe.
ii
Contents
Notices.......................................................................................................... vi
Safety information...................................................................................... vii
About this guide........................................................................................ viii
M4A785T-M specifications summary.......................................................... x
Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.1 Welcome!....................................................................................... 1-1
1.2 Package contents.......................................................................... 1-1
1.3 Special features............................................................................. 1-1
1.3.1 Product highlights............................................................ 1-1
1.3.2 Innovative ASUS features................................................ 1-3
1.4 Before you proceed...................................................................... 1-5
1.5 Motherboard overview.................................................................. 1-6
1.5.1 Placement direction......................................................... 1-6
1.5.2 Screw holes..................................................................... 1-6
1.5.3 Motherboard layout.......................................................... 1-7
1.5.4 Layout contents................................................................ 1-7
1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU).................................................... 1-8
1.6.1 Installing the CPU............................................................ 1-8
1.6.2 Installing the heatsink and fan....................................... 1-10
1.7 System memory.......................................................................... 1-11
1.7.1 Overview.........................................................................1-11
1.7.2 Memory configurations................................................... 1-12
1.7.3 Installing a DIMM........................................................... 1-16
1.7.4 Removing a DIMM......................................................... 1-16
1.8 Expansion slots........................................................................... 1-17
1.8.1 Installing an expansion card.......................................... 1-17
1.8.2 Configuring an expansion card...................................... 1-17
1.8.3 PCI slots......................................................................... 1-17
1.8.4 PCI Express x1 slot........................................................ 1-17
1.8.5 PCI Express x16 slot...................................................... 1-17
1.9 Jumpers....................................................................................... 1-18
1.10 Connectors.................................................................................. 1-19
1.10.1 Rear panel ports............................................................ 1-19
1.10.2 Internal connectors........................................................ 1-22
iii
Contents
1.11 Software support......................................................................... 1-29
1.11.1 Installing an operating system....................................... 1-29
1.11.2 Support DVD information............................................... 1-29
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............................................................. 2-2
2.1.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS.................................................... 2-3
2.2 BIOS setup program..................................................................... 2-4
2.2.1 BIOS menu screen........................................................... 2-5
2.2.2 Menu bar.......................................................................... 2-5
2.2.3 Navigation keys................................................................ 2-5
2.2.4 Menu items...................................................................... 2-6
2.2.5 Submenu items................................................................ 2-6
2.2.6 Configuration fields.......................................................... 2-6
2.2.7 Pop-up window................................................................ 2-6
2.2.8 Scroll bar.......................................................................... 2-6
2.2.9 General help.................................................................... 2-6
2.3 Main menu..................................................................................... 2-7
2.3.1 System Time.................................................................... 2-7
2.3.2 System Date.................................................................... 2-7
2.3.3 Primary IDE Master/Slave, SATA 1~6.............................. 2-7
2.3.4 SATA Configuration.......................................................... 2-8
2.3.5 System Information.......................................................... 2-9
2.4 Advanced menu............................................................................ 2-9
2.4.1 JumperFree Configuration............................................... 2-9
2.4.2 CPU Configuration......................................................... 2-12
2.4.3 Chipset........................................................................... 2-13
2.4.4 Onboard Device Configuration....................................... 2-14
2.4.5 PCIPnP.......................................................................... 2-15
2.4.6 USB Configuration......................................................... 2-15
2.5 Power menu................................................................................. 2-16
2.5.1 Suspend Mode............................................................... 2-16
2.5.2 ACPI 2.0 Support........................................................... 2-16
iv
Contents
2.5.3 ACPI APIC Support........................................................ 2-16
2.5.4 APM Configuration......................................................... 2-16
2.5.5 HW Monitor Configuration.............................................. 2-17
2.6 Boot menu................................................................................... 2-18
2.6.1 Boot Device Priority....................................................... 2-18
2.6.2 Boot Settings Configuration........................................... 2-18
2.6.3 Security.......................................................................... 2-19
2.7 Tools menu.................................................................................. 2-20
2.7.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2........................................................... 2-20
2.7.2 Express Gate................................................................. 2-21
2.7.3 AI NET 2........................................................................ 2-21
2.8 Exit menu..................................................................................... 2-22

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 manufacturer’s 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 modifications to this unit not
expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s 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.
REACH
Complying with the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of
Chemicals) regulatory framework, we published the chemical substances in our products at
ASUS REACH website at http://green.asus.com/english/REACH.htm.
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 fix it by yourself. Contact a qualified service
technician or your retailer.
• The optical S/PDIF is an optional component (may or may not be included in your
motherboard) and is defined as a CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT.
INVISIBLE LASER RADIATION, AVOID EXPOSURE TO BEAM.
• Never dispose of the battery in fire. It could explode and release harmful substances into
the environment.
• Never dispose of the battery with your regular household waste. Take it to a hazardous
material collection point.
• Never replace the battery with an incorrect battery type.
• RISK OF EXPLOSION IF BATTERY IS REPLACED BY AN INCORRECT TYPE.
• DISPOSE OF USED BATTERIES ACCORDING TO THE ABOVE BATTERY-RELATED

INSTRUCTIONS.
vii
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.
This motherboard should only be used in environments with ambient temperatures between
5ºC (41ºF) and 40ºC (104ºF).
• Place the product on a stable surface.

• If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualified service
technician or your retailer.
About this guide

This user guide contains the information you need when installing and configuring 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.
viii
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

complete a task.
CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components when trying to

complete a task.
IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task.
NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a task.
Where to find 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. Refer to the ASUS contact information.
2. Optional documentation
Your product package may include optional documentation, such as warranty flyers,
that may have been added by your dealer. These documents are not part of the
standard package.
Typography
Bold text 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>
ix
M4A785T-M specifications summary
CPU AMD® Socket AM3 for AMD® Phenom™ II / Athlon™ II /
Sempron™ 100 series processors
Supports 45nm CPU
Supports CPU up to 125W
AMD® Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ Technology
* Refer to www.asus.com for the AMD® CPU support list
Chipset AMD® 785G / SB710
Front Side Bus Up to 5200MT/s HyperTransport™ 3.0 interface
Memory Dual-channel memory architecture
4 x 240-pin DIMM slots support maximum 16GB unbuffered ECC
and non-ECC DDR3 1800(O.C.)/1600(O.C.)/1333/1066MHz
memory modules
* Refer to www.asus.com for the latest Memory QVL
(Qualified Vendors List).
** When you install a total memory of 4GB or more, Windows®
32-bit operating system may only recognize less than 3GB. We
recommend a maximum of 3GB system memory if you are
using a Windows® 32-bit operating system.
Graphics Integrated ATI Radeon™ HD 4200 GPU
Supports DVI-D with HDCP compliant with max. resolution up to
2560x1600 (@60Hz Dual-link)
Supports HDMI™ with max. resolution up to 1920x1200 (@60Hz)
Supports RGB with max. resolution up to 2048x1536 (@85Hz)
Supports Microsoft® DirectX 10.1, OpenGL 2.0, Shader Model 4.1,
Hardware Decode Acceleration for H.264, VC-1, and MPEG-2
Supports Hybrid CrossFireX™ (for Windows® Vista only)
Dual VGA output supports:
– RGB & DVI
– RGB & HDMI
Maximum shared memory up to 512MB
* Refer to www.amd.com for the discrete GPUs which support
Hybrid CrossFireX™.
Expansion slots 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 slot
1 x PCIe x1 slot
2 x PCI 2.2 slots
Storage / RAID AMD® SB710 southbridge:
– 1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 connector
– 6 x Serial ATA 3Gb/s connectors support RAID 0, RAID 1,
RAID 0+1, and JBOD configurations
Audio VIA® VT1708S 8-channel High Definition Audio CODEC
Supports Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, and Front Panel
Retasking technologies
(continued on the next page)

USB Supports up to 12 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (6 ports at mid-board,
6 ports at the back panel)
LAN Realtek® 8112L PCIe Gigabit LAN controller
ASUS unique ASUS Q-Fan
features ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
ASUS EZ Flash 2
ASUS MyLogo 2
ASUS Express Gate
ASUS AI NET 2
ASUS EPU-4 Engine
ASUS Anti-Surge Protection
ASUS overclocking Intelligent overclocking tool:
features – Turbo Key
– GPU NOS
SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection):
– FSB tuning from 200MHz to 550MHz at 1MHz increment
– PCIe frequency tuning from 100MHz to 150MHz at 1MHz
increment
Overclocking Protection:
ASUS C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)
Back panel I/O ports 1 x PS/2 Keyboard port
1 x LAN (RJ-45) port
1 x VGA port
1 x DVI-D port
1 x HDMI port
1 x Optical S/PDIF Out port
6 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
8-channel audio I/O ports
Internal I/O 3 x USB 2.0/1.1 connectors support additional
connectors 6 USB 2.0/1.1 ports
1 x IDE connector
1 x COM connector
1 x LPT connector
6 x SATA connectors
1 x High definition front panel audio connector
1 x System panel connector
1 x S/PDIF Out connector
1 x CPU fan connector
1 x Chassis fan connector
1 x 24-pin EATX power connector
1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector
xi
BIOS 8Mb Flash ROM, AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI 2.0, WfM 2.0,
SM BIOS 2.5,ACPI 2.0a, ASUS EZ Flash 2,
CrashFree BIOS 3
Accessories 1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 cable
2 x Serial ATA cables
1 x I/O shield
1 x User Manual
Support DVD Drivers
ASUS Update
ASUS PC Probe II
ASUS Express Gate
Anti-Virus software (OEM version)
Form factor MicroATX form factor: 9.6 in x 9.6 in (24.4 cm x 24.4 cm)
* Specifications are subject to change without notice.
xii
Chapter 1
Product introduction
1.1 Welcome!
Thank you for buying an ASUS® M4A785T-M 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 below.
1.2 Package contents

Check your motherboard package for the following items.
Motherboard ASUS M4A785T-M motherboard

Cables 2 x Serial ATA cables
1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 cable
Accessories 1 x I/O shield
Application DVD ASUS motherboard Support DVD
Documentations User Manual
If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.
1.3 Special features

1.3.1 Product highlights
AMD® Phenom™ II / Athlon™ II / Sempron™ 100 series CPU

support
This motherboard supports AMD® Socket AM3 multi-core processors
with unique L3 cache and delivers better overclocking capabilities
with less power consumption. It features dual-channel DDR3 1333
memory support and accelerates data transfer rate up to 5200MT/s via
HyperTransport™ 3.0-based system bus. This motherboard also supports
AMD® CPUs in the new 45nm manufacturing process.
ASUS M4A785T-M 1-1

AMD® 785G Chipset
The AMD® 785G Chipset is designed to support up to 5200MT/s
HyperTransport™ 3.0 (HT 3.0) interface speed and PCI Express 2.0
x16 graphics. It is optimized with AMD’s latest AM3 multi-core CPUs to
provide excellent system performance and overclocking capabilities.
HyperTransport™ 3.0 support

HyperTransport™ 3.0 technology provides 2.6 times more bandwidth
than HT1.0 that radically improves system efficiency for a smoother and
faster computing environment.
AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet Technology

This motherboard supports the AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet technology which
monitors system operation and automatically adjusts CPU voltage and
frequency for a cool and quiet operating environment.
DDR3 1800(O.C.) support

The motherboard supports DDR3 memory that features data transfer
rates of 1800 (O.C.)/1600 (O.C.)/1333/1066 MHz to meet the higher
bandwidth requirements of the latest operation system, 3D graphics,
multimedia, and Internet applications. The dual-channel DDR3
architecture doubles the bandwidth of your system memory to boost
system performance, eliminating bottlenecks with peak bandwidths of up
to 25.6 GB/s. Furthermore, the supply voltage for the memory is reduced
from 1.8 V for DDR2 to just 1.5 V for DDR3. This voltage reduction limits
the power consumption and heat generation of DDR3 which makes it an
ideal memory solution.
PCI Express 2.0 support

This motherboard supports PCI Express 2.0 devices for double speed
and bandwidth which enhances system performance.
S/PDIF digital sound ready

This motherboard provides convenient connectivity to external home
theater audio systems via coaxial and optical S/PDIF_OUT (SONY-
PHILIPS Digital Interface) jacks. The S/PDIF transfers digital audio
without converting it to analog format and keeps the best signal quality.
Hybrid CrossFireX™ support

ATI Hybrid CrossFireX™ technology greatly boosts graphics performance
with an onboard GPU and a discrete graphics GPU.
• Hybrid CrossFireX™ is supported by Windows® Vista OS only.
• Refer to www.amd.com for the discrete GPUs which support Hybrid CrossFireX™.
1-2 Chapter 1: Product introduction

Serial ATA 3Gb/s technology
This motherboard supports hard drives based on the Serial ATA (SATA)
3Gb/s storage specifications, delivering enhanced salability and doubling
the bus bandwidth for high-speed data saving and retrieval.
8-channel high definition audio

The onboard 8-channel HD audio (High Definition Audio, previously
codenamed Azalia) CODEC enables high-quality 192KHz/24-bit audio
output and jack-detect feature that automatically detects and identifies
what types of peripherals are plugged into the audio I/O jacks and notifies
users of inappropriate connection, which means there will be no more
confusion of Line-in, Line-out, and Mic jacks.
HDMI support
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a set of digital video
standards that deliver multi-channel digital audio and uncompressed
digital video for full HD 1080p visuals through a single cable. Supporting
HDCP copy protection such as HD DVD and Blu-ray discs, HDMI
provides you with the highest-quality home theater experience.
Dual VGA output

This motherboard supports dual display output on digital HDMI/DVI and
analog D-Sub. DVI (Digital Visual Interface) provides high quality visuals
for digital display devices like LCD monitors.
1.3.2 Innovative ASUS features
ASUS Express Gate

ASUS Express Gate is an instant-on environment that gives you quick
access to the Internet. Five seconds after powering on your computer,
you can instantly surf the Internet without entering the Windows® OS.
• ASUS Express Gate supports installation on SATA HDDs, USB HDDs and flash
drives with at least 1.2GB free disk space. When installing it on USB HDDs or
flash drives, connect the drives to the motherboard USB port before turning on the
computer.
• The actual boot time depends on the system configuration.
• ASUS Express Gate supports file uploading from SATA HDDs, ODDs and USB
drives. It supports file downloading to USB drives only.
• ASUS Express Gate complies with the OpenGL standard. Refer to support.asus.com
for Express Gate source codes.
ASUS M4A785T-M 1-3

ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 is an auto-recovery tool that allows you to
restore a corrupted BIOS file using the bundled support DVD or a USB
flash disk that contains the BIOS file.
ASUS EZ Flash 2
ASUS EZ Flash 2 allows you to update the BIOS from a USB flash disk
before entering the OS.
ASUS EPU
ASUS EPU is a unique power saving technology that detects the current
system loadings and adjusts the power consumption in real time.
ASUS Turbo Key

ASUS Turbo Key allows you to turn the PC power button into
an overclocking button. After the easy setup, Turbo Key boosts
performances without interrupting ongoing work or games, simply through
pressing the button.
ASUS Anti-Surge Protection

This special design prevents expensive devices and the motherboard
from damage caused by power surges from switching power supply
(PSU).
GPU NOS
ASUS GPU NOS technology intelligently detects graphics loading
and automatically boosts performance for the most demanding tasks.
It provides you with a faster reaction time for an excellent graphics
performance.
ASUS MyLogo 2™
Turn your favorite photos into 256-color boot logos to personalize your
system.
ASUS Q-Fan
ASUS Q-Fan technology intelligently adjusts CPU fan speeds according
to system loading to ensure a quiet, cool, and efficient operation.
ASUS AI NET 2
ASUS AI NET 2 remotely detects the cable connection immediately after
you turn on the system and any faulty cable connections are reported
back up to 100 meters at 1 meter accuracy.

C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)
The BIOS C.P.R. feature automatically restores the CPU default settings
when the system hangs due to overclocking failure. C.P.R. eliminates the
need to open the system chassis and clear the RTC data. Simply shut
down and reboot the system, and the BIOS automatically restores the
CPU parameters to their default settings.
Green ASUS
This motherboard and its packaging comply with the European Union’s
Restriction on the use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). This is in line
with the ASUS vision of creating environment-friendly and recyclable
products/packaging to safeguard consumers’ health while minimizing the
impact on the environment.
1.4 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
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 removing or plugging in any motherboard
component. The illustration below shows the location of the onboard LED.
ASUS M4A785T-M 1-5

1.5 Motherboard overview
1.5.1 Placement direction
When installing the motherboard, ensure that you place it into the chassis in the correct
orientation. The edge with external ports goes to the rear part of the chassis as indicated in
the image below.
1.5.2 Screw holes

Place eight 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.
Place this side towards

the rear of the chassis.

1.5.3 Motherboard layout
1.5.4 Layout contents

Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED Page Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED Page
1. CPU and chassis fan connectors 1-28 8. Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC) 1-18
(4-pin CPU_FAN and 3-pin CHA_FAN)
2. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 1-22 9. SATA connectors (7-pin SATA1-6) 1-24
4-pin ATX12V)
3. CPU Socket AM3 1-8 10. System panel connector (20-8 pin PANEL) 1-25
4. DDR3 DIMM slots 1-11 11. Onboard power LED (SB_PWR) 1-5
5. Serial port connector (10-1 pin COM1) 1-26 12. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB78, USB910, 1-26
USB1112)
6. LPT connector (26-1 pin LPT) 1-28 13. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT) 1-27
7. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE) 1-23 14. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP) 1-27
ASUS M4A785T-M 1-7

1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
This motherboard comes with an AM3 socket designed for Phenom™ II / Athlon™ II /
Sempron™ 100 series processors.
The AM3 socket has a different pinout from the AM2+/AM2 socket. Ensure that you use a
CPU designed for the AM3 socket. The CPU fits in only one correct orientation. DO NOT
force the CPU into the socket to prevent bending the pins and damaging the CPU!
1.6.1 Installing the CPU

To install a CPU:
1. Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard.
2. Press the lever sideways to unlock the Socket lever

socket, then lift it up to a 90°-100° angle.
Ensure that the socket lever is lifted up to a 90°-100° angle; otherwise, the CPU will not fit
in completely.
3. Position the CPU above the socket such that the CPU
corner with the gold triangle matches the socket corner
with a small triangle.
4. Carefully insert the CPU into the socket until it fits in place.
The CPU fits only in one correct orientation.

DO NOT force the CPU into the socket to
prevent bending the pins and damaging the
CPU!
Small triangle
Gold triangle

5. When the CPU is in place, push down the socket
lever to secure the CPU. The lever clicks on the side
tab to indicate that it is locked.
6. Install a CPU heatsink and fan following the
instructions that comes with the heatsink package.
You can also refer to section 1.6.2 Installing
heatsink and fan for instructions.
7. Connect the CPU fan cable to the CPU_FAN connector on the motherboard.
DO NOT forget to connect the CPU fan connector! Hardware monitoring errors can occur if
you fail to plug this connector.
ASUS M4A785T-M 1-9

1.6.2 Installing the heatsink and fan
Ensure that you use only AMD-certified heatsink and fan assembly.
To install the CPU heatsink and fan:

1. Place the heatsink on top of the installed CPU, ensuring that the heatsink fits properly
on the retention module base.
• The retention module base is already installed on the motherboard upon purchase.
• You do not have to remove the retention module base when installing the CPU or
installing other motherboard components.
• If you purchased a separate CPU heatsink and fan assembly, ensure that a Thermal
Interface Material is properly applied to the CPU heatsink or CPU before you install the
heatsink and fan assembly.
CPU Fan
CPU Heatsink
Retention bracket
Retention Module Base
Retention bracket lock
Your boxed CPU heatsink and fan assembly should come with installation instructions for
the CPU, heatsink, and the retention mechanism. If the instructions in this section do not
match the CPU documentation, follow the latter.
2. Attach one end of the retention bracket to the retention module base.
3 4
5

3. Align the other end of the retention bracket to the retention module base. A clicking
sound denotes that the retention bracket is in place.
Ensure that the fan and heatsink assembly perfectly fits the retention mechanism module
base, otherwise you cannot snap the retention bracket in place.
4. Push down the retention bracket lock on the retention mechanism to secure the
heatsink and fan to the module base.
5. When the fan and heatsink assembly is in place, connect the CPU fan cable to the
connector on the motherboard labeled CPU_FAN.
DO NOT forget to connect the CPU fan connector! Hardware monitoring errors can occur if
you fail to plug this connector.
1.7 System memory

1.7.1 Overview
This motherboard comes with four Double Data Rate 3 (DDR3) Dual Inline Memory Modules
(DIMM) sockets. A DDR3 module has the same physical dimensions as a DDR2 DIMM but
is notched differently to prevent installation on a DDR2 DIMM socket. DDR3 modules are
developed for better performance with less power consumption. The figure illustrates the
location of the DDR3 DIMM sockets:
Channel Sockets
Channel A DIMM_A1 and DIMM_A2
Channel B DIMM_B1 and DIMM_B2
ASUS M4A785T-M 1-11

1.7.2 Memory configurations
You may install 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB unbuffered ECC and non-ECC DDR3 DIMMs
into the DIMM sockets.
• 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 configuration. Any excess
memory from the higher-sized channel is then mapped for 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 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 any 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.
The motherboard supports up to 16GB memory modules on Windows® XP Professional x64

and Vista x64 editions. You may install a maximum of 4GB DIMMs on each slot.
M4A785T-M Motherboard Qualified Vendors Lists (QVL)

DDR3-1866(O.C.)MHz capability
SS/ Chip DIMM support

Vendor Part No. Size Chip NO. CL
DS Brand A* B* C*
Kingston KHX14900D3K3/3GX(XMP) 3072MB(kit of 3) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-27 • •
Vendor Part No. Size SS/ Chip Chip NO. CL DIMM support
DS Brand
A* B* C*
Corsair CM3X2G1800C8D 2048MB DS N/A Heat-Sink Package N/A • •
Kingston KHX14400D3K2/2G 2048MB(Kit of 2) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24 • •
Kingston KHX14400D3K3/3GX(XMP) 3072MB(kit of 3) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-27 • •
Kingston KHX14400D3K2/2GN(EPP) 4096MB(kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24 •


DS Brand A* B* C*
A-Data AD31600X002GMU 4096MB(Kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7-7-7-20 •
Corsair CM3X1G1600C9DHX 2048MB(Kit of 2) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-24 • • •
CRUCIAL BL12864BA1608.8SFB(XMP) 3072MB(Kit of 3) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24 • • •
CRUCIAL BL12864BE2009.8SFB3(EPP) 3072MB(Kit of 3) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-28 • • •
Crucial BL25664TB1608.K16SF(XMP) 6144MB(Kit of 3) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24 •
Crucial BL25664TG1608.K16SF(XMP) 6144MB(Kit of 3) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24 • • •
Crucial BL25664TR1608.K16SF(XMP) 6144MB(Kit of 3) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24 • • •
G.SKILL F3-12800CL9D-2GBNQ 2048MB(Kit of 2) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-24 • • •
G.SKILL F3-12800CL8T-6GBHK 2048MB DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-21 • • •
G.SKILL F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ 6144MB(Kit of 3) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-24 • • •
kingmax FLGD45F-B8KG9 1024MB SS kingmax KFB8FNGXF-ANX-12A N/A • • •
kingmax FLGE85F-B8KG9 2048MB DS kingmax KFB8FNGXF-ANX-12A N/A • • •
Kingston KHX12800D3LLK3/3GX(XMP) 3072MB(kit of 3) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24 • • •
Kingston KHX12800D3K2/4G 4096MB(kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-27 • • •
Kingston KHX12800D3LLK3/6GX(XMP) 6144MB(Kit of 3) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24 • • •
We recommend that you install the DDR3 1600+ memory modules on the blue slots for
better overclocking performance.
DDR3-1333MHz capability

DS Brand A* B* C*
A-Data AD31333001GOU 1024MB SS A-Data AD30908C8D-151C E0906 N/A • •
A-Data AD31333002GOU 2048MB DS A-Data AD30908C8D-151C E0903 N/A • •
Apacer 78.01GC6.9L0 1024MB SS Apacer AM5D5808AEWSBG0914E 9 • • •
Apacer 78.A1GC6.9L1 2048MB DS Apacer AM5D5808AEWSBG0908D 9 • • •
Corsair CM3X1024-1333C9DHX 1024MB SS N/A Heat-Sink Package N/A • •
Corsair CM3X1024-1333C9 1024MB SS N/A Heat-Sink Package N/A • • •
CORSAIR TR3X3G1333C9 3072MB(Kit of 3) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9 • • •
Corsair CM3X1024-1333C9DHX 1024MB DS Corsair Heat-Sink Package N/A • • •
CRUCIAL BL12864TA1336.8SFB1 2048MB(Kit of 2) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 6-6-6-20 • • •
Crucial MT8JTF12864AY-1G4D1 3072MB(Kit of 3) DS Micron 9FD22D9JNM 9 • • •
Crucial BL25664ABA1336.16SFB1 4096MB(Kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 6-6-6-20 • • •
Crucial MT16JTF25664AY-1G4D1 6144MB(Kit of 3) DS Micron 8UD22D9JMN 9 • • •
G.SKILL F3-10600CL8D-2GBHK 1024MB SS G.SKILL Heat-Sink Package N/A • • •
G.SKILL F3-10600CL9D-2GBPK 1024MB SS G.SKILL Heat-Sink Package N/A • • •
G.SkiLL F3-10666CL7T-3GBPK 3072MB(Kit of 3) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7-7-7-18 • • •
G.SkiLL F3-10666CL9T-3GBNQ 3072MB(Kit of 3) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-24 • • •
G.SKILL F3-10600CL7D-2GBPI 1024MB DS G.SKILL Heat-Sink Package N/A • • •
G.SKILL F3-10600CL9D-2GBNQ 1024MB DS G.SKILL Heat-Sink Package N/A • • •
G.SKILL F3-10666CL9D-4GBPK 2048MB DS G.SKILL Heat-Sink Package N/A • • •
G.SkiLL F3-10666CL7T-6GBPK 6144MB(Kit of 3) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7-7-7-18 • • •
ASUS M4A785T-M 1-13


DS Brand A* B* C*
G.SKILL F3-1066CL9T-6GBNQ 6144MB(Kit of 3) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-24 • • •
GEIL DDR3-1333 CL9-9-9-24 1024MB SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9 • • •
GEIL GV34GB1333C7DC 2048MB DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7-7-7-24 • • •
GEIL DDR3-1333 CL9-9-9-24 6144MB(Kit of 3) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9 • • •
Kingston KVR1333D3N9/1G 1024MB SS elpida J1108BABG-DJ-E 9 • • •
Kingston KVR1333D3N9/2G 2048MB DS elpida J1108BABG-DJ-E 9 • • •
Micron MT8JTF12864AY-1G4D1 1024MB SS Micron 8LD22D9JNM N/A • • •
Micron MT16JTF25664AY-1G1D1 2048MB DS Micron 8LD22 D9JNM N/A • • •
Micron MT8JTF12864AY-1G4D1 3072MB(Kit of 3) DS Micron 9FD22D9JNM 9 • • •
Micron MT16JTF25664AY-1G4D1 6144MB(Kit of 3) DS Micron 8UD22D9JMN 9 • • •
OCZ OCZ3P13334GK 4096MB(Kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7-7-7-20 • • •
OCZ OCZ3P13334GK 4096MB(Kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7-7-7-20 • •
Samsung M378B2873DZ1-CH9 1024MB SS Samsung K4B1G0846D-HCH9 N/A • •
SEC 846 HCH9
SAMSUNG M378B2873DZ1-CH9 1024MB SS SAMSUNG N/A • • •
K4B1G08460
SEC 913 HCH9
Samsung M378B2873EH1-CH9 1024MB SS Samsung N/A • • •
K4B1G0846E
Samsung M391B2873DZ1-CH9 1024MB SS Samsung K4B1G0846D-HCH9 N/A • • •
Samsung M378B5673DZ1-CH9 2048MB DS Samsung K4B1G0846D-HCH9 N/A • • •
SEC 913 HCH9
Samsung M378B5673EH1-CH9 2048MB DS Samsung N/A • • •
K4B1G0846E
Samsung M391B5673DZ1-CH9 2048MB DS Samsung K4B1G0846D-HCH9 N/A • • •
Super Talent W1333X2GB8 1024MB SS N/A Heat-Sink Package N/A • • •
SEC 813HCH9
Transcend 1024MB SS N/A TS128MLK64V3U N/A • • •
K4B1G0846D
Transcend TS128MLK72V3U 1024MB SS N/A K4B1G0846D(ECC) N/A • • •
Transcend SEC816HCH9K4B1G0846D 2048MB DS N/A TS256MLK64V3U N/A • • •
Adata AD31333G002GMU 2048MB DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24 • • •
ASint SLY3128M8-EDJ 1024MB SS ASint DDRII1208-DJ 0844 N/A • • •
ASint SLY3128M8-EDJ 2048MB DS ASint DDRII1208-DJ 0844 N/A • •
PC3-10600 DDR3-1333
CENTURY 1024MB SS Micron 8FD22D9JNM N/A •
9-9-9
SEC 904 HCH9
Kingtiger 2GB DIMM PC3-10666 2048MB DS Samsung N/A •
K4B1G0846D
Kingtiger KTG2G1333PG3 2048MB DS N/A Heat-Sink Package N/A •
PATRIOT PSD31G13332H 1024MB DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9 • • •
Patriot PSD31G13332 1024MB DS Patriot PM64M8D38U-15 N/A • •
Takems TMS1GB364D081-107EY 1024MB SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7-7-7-20 • • •
Takems TMS1GB364D081-138EY 1024MB SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24 • • •


DS Brand A* B* C*
Elpida EBJ51UD8BAFA-AC-E 512MB SS elpida J5308BASE-AC-E N/A • • •
Elpida EBJ51UD8BAFA-AE-E 512MB SS elpida J5308BASE-AC-E N/A • • •
G.SKILL F3-8500CL6D-2GBHK 1024MB SS G.SKILL Heat-Sink Package N/A • • •
Kingston KVR1066D3N7/1G 1024MB SS elpida J1108BABG-DJ-E 7 • • •
Kingston KVR1066D3N7/1G 1024MB SS elpida J5308BASE-AE-E S 7 • • •
Kingston KVR1066D3N7/2G 2048MB DS elpida J1108BABG-DJ-E 7 • • •
Micron MT8JTF12864AY-1G1D1 1024MB SS Micron 8ED22D9JNL N/A • • •
Micron MT16JTF25664AY-1G1D1 2048MB DS Micron 8LD22D9JNL N/A • • •
OCZ OCZ3SOE10662GK 2048MB(Kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7-7-7-16 • • •
Samsung M378B2873CZ0-CF8 1024MB SS Samsung K4B1G0846C-ZCF8 N/A • • •
Samsung M378B2873CZ0-CG8 1024MB SS Samsung K4B1G0846C-ZCG8 N/A • • •
Samsung M378B2873EH1-CF8 1024MB SS Samsung SEC 901 HCF8 K4B1G0846E N/A • • •
SAMSUNG M378B5273BH1-CF8 4096MB DS SAMSUNG 846 K4B2G0846B-HCF8 N/A • • •
Kingtiger 2GB DIMM PC3-8500 2048MB DS Hynix H5TQ1G83AFP G7C N/A • •
SS: Single-sided / DS: Double-sided

DIMM support:
• A*: Supports one module inserted into any slot as single-channel memory configuration.
• B*: Supports one pair of modules inserted into either the blue slots or the black slots as
one pair of dual-channel memory configuration.
• C*: Supports two pairs of modules inserted into both the blue slots and the black slots as
two pairs of dual-channel memory configuration.
Visit the ASUS website at www.asus.com for the latest QVL.
ASUS M4A785T-M 1-15

1.7.3 Installing a DIMM
Unplug the power supply before adding or removing DIMMs or other system components.
Failure to do so can cause severe damage to both the motherboard and the components.
2
1. Press the retaining clips outward to DIMM notch
unlock a DIMM socket.
2. Align a DIMM on the socket such that
the notch on the DIMM matches the
1
break on the socket.
Unlocked retaining clip
A DIMM is keyed with a notch so that it fits in only one direction. DO NOT force a DIMM into
a socket to avoid damaging the DIMM.
3. Firmly insert the DIMM into the socket 3

until the retaining clips snap back in place
and the DIMM is properly seated.
Locked Retaining Clip
1.7.4 Removing a DIMM

To remove a DIMM:
1. Simultaneously press the retaining clips
outward to unlock the DIMM.
2
Support the DIMM lightly with your
fingers when pressing the retaining 1
clips. The DIMM might get damaged
when it flips out with extra force.
1
DIMM notch
2. Remove the DIMM from the socket.

1.8 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.
1.8.1 Installing an expansion card

To install an expansion card:
1. Before installing the expansion card, read the documentation that came with it and
make the necessary hardware settings for the card.
2. Remove the system unit cover (if your motherboard is already installed in a chassis).
3. Remove the bracket opposite the slot that you intend to use. Keep the screw for later
use.
4. Align the card connector with the slot and press firmly until the card is completely
seated on the slot.
5. Secure the card to the chassis with the screw you removed earlier.
6. Replace the system cover.
1.8.2 Configuring an expansion card

After installing the expansion card, configure 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.
When using PCI cards on shared slots, ensure that the drivers support “Share IRQ” or that
the cards do not need IRQ assignments. Otherwise, conflicts will arise between the two PCI
groups, making the system unstable and the card inoperable.
1.8.3 PCI slots

The PCI slots support cards such as a LAN card, SCSI card, USB card, and other cards that
comply with PCI specifications.
1.8.4 PCI Express x1 slot

This motherboard supports PCI Express x1 network cards, SCSI cards, and other cards that
comply with the PCI Express specifications.
1.8.5 PCI Express x16 slot

This motherboard supports a PCI Express x16 graphics card that complies with the PCI
Express specifications.
ASUS M4A785T-M 1-17

1.9 Jumpers
1. Clear RTC RAM (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.
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.
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 so the BIOS can automatically reset parameter settings to
default values.

1.10 Connectors
1.10.1 Rear panel ports
1. PS/2 Keyboard port (purple). This port is for a PS/2 keyboard.

2. Optical S/PDIF_OUT port. This port connects to an external audio output device via
an optical S/PDIF cable.
3. VGA port. This 15-pin port is for a VGA monitor or other VGA-compatible devices.
4. LAN (RJ-45) port. This port allows Gigabit connection to a Local Area Network (LAN)
through a network hub.
LAN port LED indications ACT/LINK SPEED
LED LED
Activity/Link LED Speed LED
Status Description Status Description
OFF No link OFF 10Mbps connection
ORANGE Linked ORANGE 100Mbps connection
BLINKING Data activity GREEN 1Gbps connection
LAN port
5. Center/Subwoofer port (orange). This port connects to the center/subwoofer

speakers.
6. Rear Speaker Out port (black). This port connects to the rear speakers in the
4, 6, and 8-channel audio configurations.
7. Line In port (light blue). This port connects to the tape, CD, DVD player, or other
audio sources.
8. Line Out port (lime). This port connects to a headphone or a speaker. In the 4, 6 and
8-channel configurations, the function of this port becomes Front Speaker Out.
9. Microphone port (pink). This port connects to a microphone.
10. Side Speaker Out port (gray). This port connects to the side speakers in the
8-channel audio configuration.
ASUS M4A785T-M 1-19

Refer to the audio configuration table below for the function of the audio ports in the 2, 4, 6,
or 8-channel configuration.
Audio 2, 4, 6, or 8-channel configuration
Headset
Port 4-channel 6-channel 8-channel
2-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 Rear Speaker Out Rear Speaker Out
Gray – – – Side Speaker Out
Ensure the audio device of sound playback is VIA High Definition Audio (the name may
be different based on the OS). Go to Start > Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices
> Sound Playback to configure the settings.
11. USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are for
USB 2.0 devices.
12. USB 2.0 ports 3 and 4. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are for USB
2.0 devices.
13. DVI-D port. This port is for any DVI-D compatible device and is HDCP compliant
allowing playback of HD DVD, Blu-ray, and other protected content.
14. HDMI port. This port is for a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connector,
and is HDCP compliant allowing playback of HD DVD, Blu-ray, and other protected
content.
Dual display output support
• This table indicates that whether the following dual display outputs are supported on
your motherboard:
Dual display outputs Supported Not supported

DVI + D-Sub •
DVI + HDMI •
HDMI + D-Sub •

• During POST, only the monitor connected to the D-Sub port has display. The dual
display function works only under Windows.

Playback of HD DVD and Blu-ray discs
• For better playback quality, we recommend that you follow the system requirements
listed below.
Suggested list
CPU AMD® Phenom™ II x3 720
DIMM DDR3 1333 (1GB or higher)
BIOS setup Frame Buffer Size – 256MB or higher

Best resolution
File format
Windows® XP Windows® Vista
Non-protected clips 1920 x 1080p 1920 x 1080p
HD-DVD 1920 x 1080p 1280 x 1080p
Blu-ray 1280 x 1080p 1280 x 1080p

• To play HD DVD or Blu-ray discs, ensure to use HDCP compliant devices and software.
15. USB 2.0 ports 5 and 6. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are for
USB 2.0 devices.
ASUS M4A785T-M 1-21

1.10.2 Internal connectors
1. 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 fit these connectors in only one orientation. Find the proper orientation and
push down firmly until the connectors completely fit.
• We recommend that you use an ATX 12V Specification 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, ensure 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 300W. The system may become unstable or may not boot up if the power is
inadequate.
• DO NOT forget to connect the 4-pin ATX +12V power plug. Otherwise, the system will
not boot up.
• We recommend that you use a PSU with higher power output when configuring 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.

2. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE)
The onboard IDE connector is for 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 motherboard’s IDE connector, then select one of the following
modes to configure your devices:
Drive jumper setting Mode of device(s) Cable connector

Single device Cable-Select or Master - Black
Master Black
Cable-Select
Slave Gray
Two devices
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.
• Use the 80-conductor IDE cable for Ultra DMA 133/100/66 IDE devices.
If any device jumper is set as “Cable-Select”, ensure that all other device jumpers have the
same setting.
ASUS M4A785T-M 1-23

3. Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1-6)
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 specification. The data transfer rate of the Serial ATA 3Gb/s is faster than the
standard parallel ATA with 133 MB/s (Ultra DMA133). If you install Serial ATA hard disk
drives, you can create RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, and JBOD configurations through
the onboard SB710 chipset.
• Install the Windows® XP Service Pack 1 or later versions before using Serial ATA.
• If you intend to create a Serial ATA RAID set using these connectors, set the SATA
Port1-Port4 and SATA Port5-Port6 items in the BIOS to [RAID]. See 2.3.4 SATA
Configuration for details.
• The motherboard does not provide a floppy disk drive connector. You could use a USB
floppy disk drive when installing Windows® XP operating system on a hard disk drive
that includes a RAID/AHCI set.
• Due to Windows® XP limitation, Windows® XP may not recognize the USB floppy disk
drive.
• For more details on RAID/AHCI, refer to the RAID/AHCI Supplementary Guide included
in the folder named Manual in the support DVD.

4. System panel connector (20-8 pin PANEL)
This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions.
• 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 is for the HDD Activity LED. Connect the HDD Activity LED cable
to this connector. The IDE LED lights up or flashes when data is read from or written to
the HDD.
• System warning speaker (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.
• ATX power button/soft-off button (2-pin PWRSW)
This 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.
ASUS M4A785T-M 1-25

5. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB78, USB910, USB1112)
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 USB 2.0 specification 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.
6. Serial port connector (10-1 pin COM1)

The connector is for a serial (COM) port. Connect the serial port module cable to the
connector, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis.
The serial port module is purchased separately.

7. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT)
This connector is for an additional Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) port.
Ensure that the audio device of Sound playback is VIA High Definition Audio (the name
may be different based on the OS). Go to Start > Control Panel > Sounds and Audio
Devices > Sound Playback to configure the setting.
The S/PDIF module is purchased separately.
8. 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 Definition Audio or 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-definition front panel audio module to this
connector to avail of the motherboard high-definition audio capability.
• If you want to connect a high definition front panel audio module to this connector, set
the Front Panel Select item in the BIOS to [HD Audio]. See section 2.4.4 Onboard
Device Configuration for details.
• The front panel audio I/O module is purchased separately.
ASUS M4A785T-M 1-27

9. CPU and chassis fan connectors (4-pin CPU_FAN and 3-pin CHA_FAN)
The fan connectors support cooling fans of 350mA~740mA (8.88W max.) or a total of
1A~2.22A (26.64W max.) at +12V. 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.
DO NOT forget to connect the fan cables to the fan connectors. Insufficient air flow inside
the system may damage the motherboard components. These are not jumpers! DO NOT
place jumper caps on the fan connectors.
Only the 4-pin CPU fan supports the ASUS Q-Fan feature.
10. LPT connector (26-1 pin LPT)

The LPT (Line Printing Terminal) connector supports devices such as a printer. LPT is
standardized as IEEE 1284, which is the parallel port interface on IBM PC-compatible
computers.

1.11 Software support
1.11.1 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.
1.11.2 Support DVD information

The Support DVD that comes with the motherboard package contains the drivers, software
applications, and utilities that you can install to avail 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 Autorun is enabled on your computer.
The following screen is for reference only.
Click an icon to
display Support DVD/
motherboard information
Click an item to install
If Autorun is NOT enabled on your computer, browse the contents of the Support DVD to
locate the file ASSETUP.EXE from the BIN folder. Double-click the ASSETUP.EXE to run
the DVD.
ASUS M4A785T-M 1-29

Chapter 2
BIOS information
2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS

Save a copy of the original motherboard BIOS file to a USB flash disk in case you need to
restore the BIOS in the future. Copy the original motherboard BIOS using the ASUS Update
utility.
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

To install ASUS Update:
1. Place the support DVD into the optical drive. The Drivers menu appears.
2. Click the Utilities tab, then click ASUS Update.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.
Quit all Windows® applications before you update the BIOS using this 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:
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 traffic, or click Auto
Select then click Next.
c. From the FTP site, select the BIOS version that you want to download then click
Next.
ASUS M4A785T-M 2-1

The ASUS Update utility is capable of updating itself through the Internet. Always update
the utility to avail all its features.
Updating from a BIOS file

a. Select Update BIOS from a file, then click Next.
b. Locate the BIOS file from the Open window, then click Open.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the updating process.
2.1.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2

The ASUS EZ Flash 2 feature allows you to update the BIOS without using an OS‑based
utility.
Before you start using this utility, download the latest BIOS file from the ASUS website at
www.asus.com.
To update the BIOS using EZ Flash 2:

1. Insert the USB flash disk that contains the latest BIOS file to the USB port, then launch
EZ Flash 2 in either of these two ways:
• Press <Alt> + <F2> during POST.
• Enter the BIOS setup program. Go to the Tools menu to select EZ Flash 2 and
press <Enter> to enable it.
Press <Tab> to switch between drives until the correct BIOS file is found.
ASUSTek EZ Flash 2 BIOS ROM Utility V3.36

FLASH TYPE: MXIC 25L8005
Current ROM Update ROM
BOARD: M4A785T-M BOARD: Unknown
VER: 0203 (H:00 B:02) VER: Unknown
DATE: 07/13/2009 DATE: Unknown
PATH: C:\
C:
Note
[Enter] Select or Load [Tab] Switch [V] Drive Info
[Up/Down/Home/End] Move [B] Backup [ESC] Exit
2. When the correct BIOS file is found, EZ Flash 2 performs the BIOS update process
and automatically reboots the system when done.
2-2 Chapter 2: BIOS information

• This function supports USB flash disks with FAT 32/16 format and single partition only.
• DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS to prevent system boot
failure!
2.1.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS

The ASUS CrashFree BIOS is an auto recovery tool that allows you to restore the BIOS file
when it fails or gets corrupted during the updating process. You can restore a corrupted BIOS
file using the motherboard support DVD or a removable device that contains the updated
BIOS file.
• The BIOS file in the support DVD may not be the latest version. Download the latest
BIOS file from the ASUS website at www.asus.com.
• The removable devices that ASUS CrashFree BIOS support vary with motherboard
models. For motherboards without the floppy connector, prepare a USB flash disk before
using this utility.
Recovering the BIOS

To recover the BIOS:
1. Turn on the system.
2. Insert the support DVD to the optical drive or the removable device that contains the
BIOS file to the USB port or to the floppy disk drive, if supported.
3. The utility automatically checks the devices for the BIOS file. When found, the utility
reads the BIOS file and starts flashing the corrupted BIOS file.
4. Turn off the system after the utility completes the updating process and turn on again.
DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS! Doing so can cause
system boot failure!
Ensure to load the BIOS default settings to ensure system compatibility and stability. Select
the Load Setup Defaults item under the Exit menu. Refer to section 2.8 Exit menu for
details.
ASUS M4A785T-M 2-3

2.2 BIOS setup program
This motherboard supports a programmable Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) chip that you
can update using the provided utility described in section 2.1 Managing and updating your
BIOS.
Use the BIOS Setup program when you are installing a motherboard, reconfiguring your
system, or prompted to “Run Setup.” This section explains how to configure your system
using this utility.
Even if you are not prompted to use the Setup program, you can change the configuration of
your computer in the future. For example, you can enable the security password feature or
change the power management settings. This requires you to reconfigure your system using
the BIOS Setup program so that the computer can recognize these changes and record them
in the CMOS RAM of the SPI chip.
The SPI chip on the motherboard stores the Setup utility. When you start up the computer,
the system provides you with the opportunity to run this program. Press <Del> during the
Power-On Self-Test (POST) to enter the Setup utility; otherwise, POST continues with its test
routines.
Entering BIOS Setup at startup
To enter BIOS Setup at startup:
• Press <Delete> during the Power-On Self Test (POST). If you do not press <Delete>,
POST continues with its routines.
Entering BIOS Setup after POST

To enter BIOS Setup after POST:
• 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. Do this option only if you
failed to enter BIOS Setup using the first two options.
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 chapter 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 file for this
motherboard.

2.2.1 BIOS menu screen
Menu items Menu bar Configuration fields General help
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Main Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
Main Settings
Use [ENTER], [TAB]
System Time [19:34:30] or [SHIFT-TAB] to
System Date [Thu 01/10/2002] select a field.
Primary IDE Master :[Not Detected] Use [+] or [-] to
Primary IDE Slave :[Not Detected] configure system
SATA1 :[Not Detected] Time.
SATA2 :[Not Detected]
SATA Configuration Select Screen
Select Item
System Information +- Change Field
Tab Select Field
F1 General Help
F10 Save and Exit
ESC Exit
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2009, American Megatrends, Inc.
Submenu items Navigation keys
2.2.2 Menu bar

The menu bar on top of the screen has the following main items:
Main For changing the basic system configuration
Advanced For changing the advanced system settings
Power For changing the advanced power management (APM) configuration
Boot For changing the system boot configuration
Tools For configuring options for special functions
Exit For selecting the exit options and loading default settings.
To select an item on the menu bar, press the right or left arrow key on the keyboard until the
desired item is highlighted.
2.2.3 Navigation keys

At the bottom right corner of a menu screen are the navigation keys for that particular menu.
Use the navigation keys to select items in the menu and change the settings.
Some of the navigation keys differ from one screen to another.
ASUS M4A785T-M 2-5

2.2.4 Menu items
The highlighted item on the menu bar displays the specific items for that menu. For example,
selecting Main shows the Main menu items.
The other items (Advanced, Power, Boot, Tools, and Exit) on the menu bar have their
respective menu items.
2.2.5 Submenu items

A solid triangle before each item on a menu screen means that the item has a submenu. To
display the submenu, select the item and press <Enter>.
2.2.6 Configuration fields

These fields show the values for the menu items. If an item is user- configurable, you can
change the value of the field opposite the item. You cannot select an item that is not
user-configurable.
A configurable field is enclosed in brackets, and is highlighted when selected. To change the
value of a field, select it then press <Enter> to display a list of options. Refer to 2.2.7 Pop-up
window.
2.2.7 Pop-up window

Select a menu item then press <Enter> Advanced
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
to display a pop-up window with the CPU Configuration

Module Version: 13.55
This option should
remain disabled for
the normal operation.
configuration options for that item.

AGESA Version: 3.5.2.0 The driver developer
may enable it for
AMD Phenom(tm) II X4 945 Processor testing purpose.
Revision: C2
Cache L1: 512KB
Cache L2: 2048KB
2.2.8 Scroll bar

Cache L3: 6MB Options
Speed : 3000MHz, NB Cl Disabled
Able to Change Freq.: Yes Enabled
uCode Patch Level: 0x1
GART Error Reporting [Disabled]
A scroll bar appears on the right side of

Microcode Updation [Enabled]
Secure Virtual Machine Mode [Disabled] Select Screen
Cool ‘n‘ Quiet [Enalbed] Select Item
C1E Configuration [Disabled] F1 General Help
a menu screen when there are items that

Advanced Clock Calibration [Disabled] F10 Save and Exit
ESC Exit
do not fit on the screen. Press the <Up> / v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2009, American Megatrends, Inc.
<Down> arrow keys or <Page Up> /<Page Pop-up window

Scroll bar
Down> keys to display the other items on

the screen.
2.2.9 General help

At the top right corner of the menu screen is a brief description of the selected item.

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.
Refer to section 2.2.1 BIOS menu screen for information on the menu screen items and
how to navigate through them.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY

Main Settings
Use [ENTER], [TAB]
System Time [19:34:30] or [SHIFT-TAB] to
System Date [Thu 01/10/2002] select a field.
Primary IDE Master :[Not Detected] Use [+] or [-] to
Primary IDE Slave :[Not Detected] configure system
SATA1 :[Not Detected] Time.
SATA Configuration Select Screen
Select Item
System Information +- Change Field
Tab Select Field
F1 General Help
F10 Save and Exit
ESC Exit
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.
2.3.3 Primary IDE Master/Slave, SATA 1~6

While entering Setup, the BIOS automatically detects the presence of IDE/SATA devices.
There is a separate submenu for each IDE/SATA device. Select a device item then press
<Enter> to display the IDE/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-configurable. These items show Not Detected if no IDE/SATA device is
installed in the system.
Type [Auto]
Selects the type of IDE/SATA drive. Setting this item to [Auto] allows automatic selection of
the appropriate IDE/SATA device type. Select [CDROM] if you are specifically configuring a
CD-ROM drive. Select [ARMD] (ATAPI Removable Media Device) if your device is either a
ZIP, LS-120, or MO drive. Configuration options: [Not Installed] [Auto] [CDROM] [ARMD]
This item only appears in the Primary IDE Master/Slave, SATA5/6 menus.
ASUS M4A785T-M 2-7

LBA/Large Mode [Auto]
Enables or disables the LBA mode. Setting this item to [Auto] enables the LBA mode if the
device supports this mode, and if the device was not previously formatted with LBA mode
disabled. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Auto]
Block (Multi-Sector Transfer) M [Auto]
Enables or disables data multi-sectors transfers. When this item is 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 this item is set to [Disabled], the data transfer from and to the
device occurs one sector at a time. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Auto]
PIO Mode [Auto]
Selects the PIO mode. Configuration options: [Auto] [0] [1] [2] [3] [4]
DMA Mode [Auto]
Selects the DMA mode. Configuration options: [Auto]
SMART Monitoring [Auto]
Sets the Smart Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology.
Configuration options: [Auto] [Disabled] [Enabled]
32Bit Data Transfer [Enabled]
Enables or disables 32-bit data transfer. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
2.3.4 SATA Configuration

The SATA Configuration menu allows you to configure your storage devices. Select an item
then press <Enter> to display the submenu.
OnChip SATA Channel [Enabled]
Enables or disables OnChip SATA Channel. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
The following two items only appear when you set OnChip SATA Channel to [Enabled].
SATA Port1-Port4 [IDE]

Sets the SATA 1~4 type. Configuration options: [IDE] [RAID] [AHCI]
When this item is set to [IDE], SATA 5~6 can only be set to [IDE].
SATA Port5-Port6 [IDE]

Set the SATA 5~6 type. Configuration options: [IDE] [RAID] [AHCI]
When this item is set to [AHCI], SATA 5~6 can only be used under OS with AHCI driver
installed. Sets this item to [IDE] to use SATA 5~6 before entering OS.

2.3.5 System Information
This menu gives you an overview of the general system specifications. The BIOS
automatically detects the items in this menu.
BIOS Information
Displays the auto-detected BIOS information.
Processor
Displays the auto-detected CPU specification.
System Memory
Displays the auto-detected system memory.
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 field
values can cause the system to malfunction.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY

Advanced Settings Adjust System

Frequency/Voltage etc.
JumperFree Configuration
CPU Configuration
Chipset
Onboard Devices Configuration
PCIPnP
USB Configuration
Select Screen
Select Item
+- Change Field
Tab Select Field
F1 General Help
F10 Save and Exit
ESC Exit
2.4.1 JumperFree Configuration
The items and configuration options in this menu may vary depending on the AMD CPU
type.
CPU Overclocking [Auto]

Selects the CPU overclocking options to achieve desired CPU internal frequency.
Configuration options: [Manual] [Auto] [Overclock Profile] [Test Mode]
ASUS M4A785T-M 2-9

The following item only appears when you set CPU Overclocking to [Manual].
CPU/HT Reference Clock (MHz) [200]

Sets the CPU/HT Reference Clock. Configuration options: [Min.=200] [Max.=550]
The following item only appears when you set CPU Overclocking to [Overclock Profile].
Overclock Options [Auto]

Selects the overclocking profile. Configuration options: [Auto] [Overclock 2%]
[Overclock 5%] [Overclock 8%] [Overclock 10%]
GPU Overclocking [Auto]

Sets the GPU overclocking. Configuration options: [Auto] [Manual]
The following item only appears when you set GPU Overclocking to [Manual].
GPU Engine Clock [500]

Sets the GPU Engine Clock. Configuration options: [Min.=150] [Max.=1500]
PCIE Overclocking [Auto]

Sets the PCIE overclocking. Configuration options: [Auto] [Manual]
The following item only appears when you set PCIE Overclocking to [Manual].
PCIE Clock [100]

Sets the PCIE Clock. Configuration options: [Min.=100] [Max.=150]
Processor Frequency Multiplier [Auto]

Sets the processor frequency multiplier. Configuration options: [Auto] [x8.0 1600MHz]
[x8.5 1700MHz] [x9.0 1800MHz] [x9.5 1900MHz] [x10.0 2000MHz] [x10.5 2100MHz]
[x11.0 2200MHz] [x11.5 2300MHz] [x12.0 2400MHz] [x12.5 2500MHz] [x13.0 2600MHz]
[x13.5 2700MHz] [x14.0 2800MHz] [x14.5 2900MHz] [x15.0 3000MHz]
HT Over Voltage [Auto]
Sets the HT over voltage. Configuration options: [Auto=1.25000V] [Max.=1.38500V]
CPU Over Voltage [Auto]
Sets the CPU over voltage. Configuration options: [Auto]
VDDNB Over Voltage [Auto]
Sets the VDDNB over voltage. Configuration options: [Auto]
HT Link Frequency [Auto]
Sets the HyperTransport link speed. Configuration options: [200MHz] [400MHz] [600MHz]
[800MHZ] [1000MHz] [1200MHz] [1400MHz] [1600MHz] [1800MHz] [2200MHz] [Auto]

HT Link Width [Auto]
Sets the HyperTransport link width. Configuration options: [Auto] [8 Bit] [16 Bit]
Memory Clock Mode [Auto]
Sets the memory clock mode. Configuration options: [Auto] [Manual]
The following item only appears when you set Memory Clock Mode to [Manual].
Memclock Value [400MHz]

Selects the DRAM frequency programming method. Configuration options: [400MHz]
[533MHz] [667MHz] [800MHz]
DRAM Timing Mode [Auto]

Sets the DRAM timing mode. Configuration options: [Auto] [DCT 0] [DCT 1] [Both]
The following sub-items appear only when you set the DRAM Timing Mode item to
[DCT 0], [DCT 1] or [Both].
TCL [Auto]
Configuration options: [Auto] [4 CLK] ~ [12 CLK]
TRCD [Auto]
TRP [Auto]
tRTP [Auto]
TRAS [Auto]
TRC [Auto]
tWR [Auto]
TRRD [Auto]
tRWTTO [Auto]
tWRRD [Auto]
tWTR [Auto]
tWRWR [Auto]
tRDRD [Auto]
ASUS M4A785T-M 2-11

tRFC0/1/2/3 [Auto]
Configuration options: [Auto] [90ns] [110ns] [160ns] [300ns] [350ns]
Memory Over Voltage [Auto]
Sets the memory over voltage. The values range from 1.5000V to 2.2050V with a 0.0150V
increment. Use the <+> / <-> keys to adjust the value. Configuration options: [Auto]
[Max. = 2.2050V] [Min. = 1.5000V]
Chipset Over Voltage [Auto]
Sets the chipset over voltage. The values range from 1.10000V to 1.59500V with a 0.01500V
increment. Use the <+> / <-> keys to adjust the value. Configuration options: [Auto]
[Max. = 1.59500V] [Min. = 1.10000V]
2.4.2 CPU Configuration

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. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Microcode Updation [Enabled]
Enables or disables Microcode Updation. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Secure Virtual Machine Mode [Disabled]
Enables or disables Secure Virtual Machine Mode (SVM) Configuration options: [Disabled]
[Enabled]
Cool ‘n’ Quiet [Enabled]
Enables or disables the AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet technology. Configuration options: [Enabled]
[Disabled]
C1E Configuration [Disabled]
Enables or disables the CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) function, a CPU power-saving function
in system halt state. When this item is enabled, the CPU core frequency and voltage will be
reduced during the system halt state to decrease power consumption.
Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
ASUS AMD ACC Function
Advanced Clock Calibration [Disabled]
Adjusts the processor’s overclocking capability. When this item is set to [Auto], the
BIOS automatically adjusts this function. When this item is set to [All Cores], the
processor has the best overclocking performance. When this item is set to [Per Core],
the processor’s overclocking capability is enhanced. Configuration options: [Disabled]
[Auto] [All Cores] [Per Core]
CPU 3rd/4th Core [Enabled]
Enables or disables CPU cores to tweak system stability. Configuration options:
[Disabled] [Enabled]

2.4.3 Chipset
NorthBridge Configuration
Memory Configuration
Bank Interleaving [Auto]
Allows you to enable the bank memory interleaving. Configuration options: [Disabled]
[Auto]
Channel Interleaving [Disabled]
Allows you to enable the channel memory interleaving.
Configuration 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 unused Clocks to DIMMs even though memory slots are not populated.
MemClk Tristate C3/ATLVID [Disabled]
Enables or disables MemClk Tri-Stating during C3 and Alt VID.
Memory Hole Remapping [Enabled]
Enables or disables memory remapping around memory hole.
DCT Unganged Mode [Always]
Enables or disables the unganged DRAM mode (64-bit width).
Configuration options: [Auto] [Always]
Power Down Enable [Disabled]
Enables or disables the DDR power down mode. Configuration options: [Disabled]
[Enabled]
ECC Configuration
ECC Mode [Disabled]
Enables or disables the DRAM ECC that allows the hardware to report and correct
memory errors automatically. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Basic] [Good] [Super]
[Max] [User]
Internal Graphics
Primary Video Controller [GFX0-GPP-IGFX-PCI]
Allows you to set the primary video controller. Configuration options: [GFX0-GPP-IGFX-PCI]
[GPP-GFX0-IGFX-PCI] [PCI-GFX0-GPP-IGFX] [IGFX-GFX0-GPP-PCI]
GFX0: primary video controller on a PCIe x16 slot

GPP: primary video controller on a PCIe x1 slot
IGFX: onboard VGA port
PCI: primary video controller on a PCI slot
Internal Graphics Mode [UMA]

Selects the internal graphics mode. Configuration options: [Disabled] [UMA]
UMA Frame Buffer Size [Auto]
Configuration options: [Auto] [32MB] [64MB] [128MB] [256MB] [512MB]
ASUS M4A785T-M 2-13

Surround View [Auto]
Disables or enables the Surround View function. Configuration options: [Auto] [Disabled]
[Enabled]
This item becomes user-configurable when you install an ATI graphics card into the
PCIe x16 slot.
Frame Buffer Location [Above 4G]

Configuration options: [Below 4G] [Above 4G]
AMD 785 HDMI Audio [Enabled]
Enables or disables AMD 785 HD audio. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
2.4.4 Onboard Device Configuration

Serial Port1 Address [3F8/IRQ4]
Selects the Serial Port1 base address. Configuration options: [Disabled] [3F8/IRQ4]
[2F8/IRQ3] [3E8/IRQ4] [2E8/IRQ3]
Parallel Port Address [378]
Selects the Parallel Port base addresses. Configuration options: [Disabled] [378] [278] [3BC]
Parallel Port Mode [Normal]
Selects the Parallel Port mode. Configuration options: [Normal] [EPP] [ECP] [EPP+ECP]
Parallel Port IRQ [IRQ7]
Allows BIOS to select the Parallel Port IRQ. Configuration options: [IRQ5] [IRQ7]
HDAudio Controller [Enabled]
Enables or disables the high definition audio controller. Configuration options: [Enabled]
[Disabled]
Front Panel Select [HD Audio]
Selects the front panel type. Configuration options: [HD Audio] [AC97]
SPDIF_OUT Mode Setting [SPDIF Output]
Sets the SPDIF_OUT mode. Configuration options: [HDMI Output] [SPDIF Output]
OnBoard LAN Controller [Enabled]
Enables or disables the onboard LAN controller. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
OnBoard LAN Boot ROM [Disabled]
Enables or disables the Onboard LAN Boot ROM. Configuration options: [Disabled]
[Enabled]

2.4.5 PCIPnP
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.
Take caution when changing the settings of the PCI PnP menu items. Incorrect field values
can cause the system to malfunction.
Plug And Play O/S [No]

When this item is set to [No], BIOS configures all the devices in the system. When this item
is set to [Yes] and if you install a Plug and Play operating system, the operating system
configures the Plug and Play devices not required for boot. Configuration options: [No] [Yes]
2.4.6 USB Configuration

The items in this menu allows you to change the USB-related features. Select an item then
press <Enter> to display the configuration 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. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
USB 2.0 Controller [Enabled]
Enables or disables the USB 2.0 controller. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Legacy USB Support [Auto]
Enables or disables support for Legacy USB storage devices including USB flash drives and
USB hard drives. Setting this item 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. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
[Auto]
USB 2.0 Controller Mode [HiSpeed]
Configures the USB 2.0 controller in HiSpeed (480Mbps) mode or FullSpeed (12Mbps)
mode. Configuration options: [FullSpeed] [HiSpeed]
The following items only appear when a USB storage device is plugged in.
USB Mass Storage Device Configuration

USB Mass Storage Reset Delay [20 Sec]
Sets the maximum time that the BIOS waits for the USB storage device to initialize.
Configuration options: [10 Sec] [20 Sec] [30 Sec] [40 Sec]
Emulation Type [Auto]
Allows you to set the emulation type. Configuration options: [Auto] [Floppy]
[Forced FDD] [Hard Disk] [CDROM]
ASUS M4A785T-M 2-15

2.5 Power menu
The Power menu items allow you to change the settings for the Advanced Configuration and
Power Interface (ACPI) and the Advanced Power Management (APM). Select an item then
press <Enter> to display the configuration options.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Power Settings Select the ACPI state

used for System
Suspend.
Suspend Mode [Auto]
ACPI 2.0 Support [Enabled]
ACPI APIC support [Enabled]
APM Configuration
HW Monitor Configuration
Select Screen
Select Item
+- Change Option
F1 General Help
F10 Save and Exit
ESC Exit
2.5.1 Suspend Mode [Auto]

Selecta the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) state to be used for system
suspend. Configuration options: [S1 (POS) Only] [S3 Only] [Auto]
2.5.2 ACPI 2.0 Support [Enabled]

Enables or disables the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) 2.0 support.
2.5.3 ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]

Enables or disables the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) support in the
Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller (APIC). When this item is set to [Enabled], the
ACPI APIC table pointer is included in the RSDT pointer list. Configuration options: [Disabled]
[Enabled]
2.5.4 APM Configuration

Restore on AC Power Loss [Power Off]
When this item set to [Power Off], the system goes into off state after an AC power loss.
When this item set to [Power On], the system goes on after an AC power loss.
Configuration options: [Power Off] [Power On] [Last State]
Power on From S5 By PME# [Disabled]
Enables or disables PME wake from sleep states. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Power on From S5 By Ring [Disabled]
Enables or disables ring to generate a wake event. Configuration options: [Disabled]
[Enabled]

Power on From S5 By PS/2 KB/MS [Disabled]
Enables or disables PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse to generate a wake event.
Power on From S5 By RTC Alarm [Disabled]
Enables or disables RTC to generate a wake event. Configuration options: [Disabled]
[Enabled]
2.5.5 HW Monitor Configuration

CPU/MB Temperature [xxxºC/xxxºF] or [Ignored]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the motherboard and CPU
temperatures. Select [Ignored] if you do not want the detected temperatures to be displayed.
CPU/Chassis Fan Speed [xxxxRPM] or [Ignored]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the CPU / Chassis fan
speeds in rotations per minute (RPM). If the fan is not connected to the motherboard, the field
shows N/A. Select [Ignored] if you do not wish to display the detected speed.
VCORE Voltage, 3.3V Voltage, 5V Voltage, 12V Voltage [xx.xxxV] or [Ignored]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects the voltage output through the onboard
voltage regulators. Select [Ignored] if you do not want the detected voltage to be displayed.
Smart Q-FAN Function [Enabled]
Enables or disables the ASUS Q-Fan feature that smartly adjusts the CPU fan speed for
more efficient system operation. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Fan Auto Mode Start Voltage [5.0V]
Allows you to select the fan auto mode start voltage. Configuration options: [4.0V] [4.5V]
[5.0V] [5.5V] [6.0V]
Fan Auto Mode Start Speed Temp [25ºC]
Allows you to set the smart Q-Fan start working temperature. Configuration options: [25ºC]
[26ºC] [27ºC] ... [47ºC] [48ºC]
Fan Auto Mode Full Speed Temp [55ºC]
Allows you to set the smart Q-Fan full speed temperature. Configuration options: [51ºC]
[52ºC] [53ºC] ... [74ºC] [75ºC]
ASUS M4A785T-M 2-17

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.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Boot Settings Specifies the Boot

Device Priority
sequence.
Boot Device Priority
A virtual floppy disk
drive (Floppy Drive B:)
Boot Settings Configuration may appear when you set
Security the CD-ROM drive as the
first boot device.
Select Screen
Select Item
Enter Go to Sub Screen
F1 General Help
F10 Save and Exit
ESC Exit
2.6.1 Boot Device Priority

1st ~ xxth Boot Device [xxx Drive]
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. Configuration options: [Removable Dev.] [Hard Drive]
[ATAPI CD-ROM] [Disabled]
• To select the boot device during system startup, press <F8> when ASUS Logo appears.
• To access Windows® OS in Safe Mode, do any of the following:

• Press <F5> when ASUS Logo appears.
• Press <F8> after POST.
2.6.2 Boot Settings Configuration

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 this item is set to [Disabled], BIOS
performs all the POST items. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Full Screen Logo [Enabled]
Enables or disables the full screen logo display feature. Configuration options: [Disabled]
[Enabled]
Set this item to [Enabled] to use the ASUS MyLogo2™ feature.

AddOn ROM Display Mode [Force BIOS]
Sets the display mode for option ROM. Configuration options: [Force BIOS] [Keep Current]
Bootup Num-Lock [On]
Selects the power-on state for the NumLock. Configuration options: [Off] [On]
Wait for ‘F1’ If Error [Enabled]
When this item is set to [Enabled], the system waits for the F1 key to be pressed when error
occurs. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Hit ‘DEL’ Message Display [Enabled]
When this item is set to [Enabled], the system displays the message Press DEL to run
Setup during POST. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
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 configuration 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 and press <Enter>.
2. In the password box, key in a password containing up to six letters or numbers, or
both, then press <Enter>.
3. Confirm the password when prompted.
The message Password Installed appears after you successfully set your password.
If you forget your BIOS password, you can clear it by erasing the CMOS Real Time Clock
(RTC) RAM. See section 1.9 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. Configuration 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 field.
Limited allows changes only to selected fields, such as Date and Time.
Full Access allows viewing and changing all the fields in the Setup utility.
ASUS M4A785T-M 2-19

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 and press <Enter>.
2. In the password box, key in a password containing up to six letters or numbers, or
both, then press <Enter>.
3. Confirm the password when prompted.
The message “Password Installed” appears after you set your password successfully.
To change the user password, follow the same steps as in setting a user password.
Clear User Password

Select this item to clear the user password.
Password Check [Setup]
When this item is set to [Setup], BIOS checks for user password when accessing the
Setup utility. When this item is set to [Always], BIOS checks for user password both when
accessing Setup and booting the system. Configuration options: [Setup] [Always]
2.7 Tools menu

The Tools menu items allow you to configure options for special functions. Select an item
then press <Enter> to display the submenu.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY

Press ENTER to run the

ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility to select and
update BIOS.
This utility supports:
Express Gate [Auto] 1.FAT 12/16/32 (r/w)
Enter OS Timer [10 Seconds] 2.NTFS (read only)
Reset User Data [No] 3.CD-DISC (read only)
AI NET2
Select Screen
Select Item
Enter Go to Sub Screen
F1 General Help
F10 Save and Exit
ESC Exit
2.7.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2

Allows you to run ASUS EZ Flash 2. When you press <Enter>, a confirmation message
appears. Use the left/right arrow key to select between [Yes] or [No], then press <Enter> to
confirm your choice.

2.7.2 Express Gate [Auto]
Enables or disables the ASUS Express Gate feature. ASUS Express Gate is a unique
instant-on environment that provides quick access to the Internet and Skype.
Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] [Auto]
Enter OS Timer [10 Seconds]
Sets countdown duration that the system waits at the Express Gate’s first screen
before starting Windows or other installed OS. Choose [Prompt User] to stay at the
first screen of Express Gate for user action. Configuration options: [Prompt User]
[1 second] [3 seconds] [5 seconds] [10 seconds] [15 seconds] [20 seconds]
[30 seconds]
Reset User Data [No]
Allows you to clear Express Gate’s user data. Configuration options: [No] [Reset]
When setting this item to [Reset], ensure to save the setting to the BIOS so that the
user data will be cleared the next time you enter the Express Gate. User data includes
the Express Gate’s settings as well as any personal information stored by the web
browser (bookmarks, cookies, browsing history, etc.). This is useful in the rare case
The first time wizard will run again when you enter the Express Gate environment after
clearing its settings.
2.7.3 AI NET 2
Check Realtek LAN cable [Disabled]
Enables or disables checking of the Realtek LAN cable during the Power-On Self‑Test
(POST). Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
ASUS M4A785T-M 2-21

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.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY

Exit Options Exitsystem

Exit systemsetup
setup
aftersaving
after savingthe
the
Exit & Save Changes changes.
Exit & Discard Changes changes.
Discard Changes F10key
keycan
canbe
beused
used
F10
forthis
for thisoperation.
operation.
Load Setup Defaults
Select Screen
Select Screen
Pressing <Esc> does not immediately exit this menu. Select one ofSelect
the options
Select
Itemfrom this
Item
menu or <F10> from the legend bar to exit. +- Change
EnterGeneral
F1
Option
Go to Sub-screen
Help
F1
F10 General
Save Help
and Exit
F10 Exit
ESC Save and Exit
Exit & Save Changes
ESC Exit
Once you are finished making your selections, choose this option from the Exit menu to
ensure the values you selected are saved to the CMOS RAM. An onboard backup battery
sustains the CMOS RAM so it stays on even when the PC is turned off. When you select this
option, a confirmation window appears. Select OK to save changes and exit.
Exit & Discard Changes
Select this option only if you do not want to save the changes that you made to the Setup
program. If you made changes to fields other than System Date, System Time, and
Password, the BIOS asks for a confirmation before exiting.
Discard Changes
This option allows you to discard the selections you made and restore the previously saved
values. After selecting this option, a confirmation appears. Select OK to discard any changes
and load the previously saved values.
Load Setup Defaults
This option allows you to load the default values for each of the parameters on the Setup
menus. When you select this option or if you press <F5>, a confirmation window appears.
Select OK to load default values. Select Exit & Save Changes or make other changes before
saving the values to the non-volatile RAM.

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M4A785T-M

Copyright © 2009 ASUSTeK Computer Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Chapter 1: Product introduction

Chapter 2: BIOS information

Canadian Department of Communications Statement

INVISIBLE LASER RADIATION, AVOID EXPOSURE TO BEAM.

• RISK OF EXPLOSION IF BATTERY IS REPLACED BY AN INCORRECT TYPE.

• DISPOSE OF USED BATTERIES ACCORDING TO THE ABOVE BATTERY-RELATED

• Place the product on a stable surface.

About this guide

How this guide is organized

DANGER/WARNING: Information to prevent injury to yourself when trying to

CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components when trying to

IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task.

NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a task.

Where to find more information

(continued on the next page)

(continued on the next page)

* Specifications are subject to change without notice.

1.2 Package contents

Motherboard ASUS M4A785T-M motherboard

If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.

1.3 Special features

AMD® Phenom™ II / Athlon™ II / Sempron™ 100 series CPU

ASUS M4A785T-M 1-1

HyperTransport™ 3.0 support

AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet Technology

DDR3 1800(O.C.) support

PCI Express 2.0 support

S/PDIF digital sound ready

Hybrid CrossFireX™ support

• Hybrid CrossFireX™ is supported by Windows® Vista OS only.

1-2 Chapter 1: Product introduction

8-channel high definition audio

Dual VGA output

1.3.2 Innovative ASUS features

ASUS Express Gate

• The actual boot time depends on the system configuration.

ASUS M4A785T-M 1-3

ASUS Turbo Key

ASUS Anti-Surge Protection

1-4 Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.4 Before you proceed

• Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them.

ASUS M4A785T-M 1-5

1.5.2 Screw holes

DO NOT overtighten the screws! Doing so can damage the motherboard.

Place this side towards

1-6 Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.5.4 Layout contents

ASUS M4A785T-M 1-7

1.6.1 Installing the CPU

2. Press the lever sideways to unlock the Socket lever

The CPU fits only in one correct orientation.

1-8 Chapter 1: Product introduction

ASUS M4A785T-M 1-9

To install the CPU heatsink and fan:

Retention Module Base