2-10 Chapter 2: BIOS setup
• The default BIOS settings for this motherboard apply for 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 “2.9 Exit Menu.”
• The BIOS setup screens shown in this section are for reference purposes only,
and may not exactly match what you see on your screen.
• Visit the ASUS website (www.asus.com) to download the latest BIOS le
for this motherboard.
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, reconguring your
system, or prompted to “Run Setup.” This section explains how to congure your system
using this utility.
Even if you are not prompted to use the Setup program, you can change the conguration 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 recongure 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.
If you wish to enter Setup after POST, reboot the system by doing any of the following
procedures:
• Restart using the OS standard shut-down procedure.
• 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.
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 to always shut-down the system properly from the operating system.
The Setup program is designed to make it as easy to use as possible. Being a menu-driven
program, it lets you scroll through the various sub-menus and make your selections from the
available options using the navigation keys.
P5Q-EM DO.indb 10 12/9/08 12:35:22 PM