ASRock Z68M-ITX__HT: 2. Installation

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ASRock  Z68M-ITX/HT  Motherboard

2. Installation 

Pre-installation Precautions

Take note of the following precautions before you install mother-

board components or change any motherboard settings.

1.  Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any 

component. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to the 

motherboard, peripherals, and/or components. 

2.  To avoid damaging the motherboard components due to static 

electricity, NEVER place your motherboard directly on the car-

pet or the like. Also remember to use a grounded wrist strap or 

touch a safety grounded object before you handle components.

3.  Hold components by the edges and do not touch the ICs. 

4.  Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded 

antstatic pad or in the bag that comes with the component. 

5.  When placing screws into the screw holes to secure the moth-

erboard to the chassis, please do not over-tighten the screws! 

Doing so may damage the motherboard. 

2.1 CPU Installation 

For the installation of Intel 1155-Pin CPU, 

please follow the steps below.

Before you insert the 1155-Pin CPU into the socket, please check if the 

CPU surface is unclean or if there is any bent pin on the socket. Do not 

force to insert the CPU into the socket if above situation is found. Other-

wise, the CPU will be seriously damaged.

1155-Pin Socket Overview

Contact Array

Socket Body

Load Lever

Load Plate

English

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Step 1.  Open the socket:

Step 1-1.  Disengaging the lever by depressing 

down and out on the hook to clear 

retention tab.

Step 1-2.  Rotate the load lever to fully open po-

sition at approximately 135 degrees.

Step 1-3.  Rotate the load plate to fully open po-

sition at approximately 100 degrees.

Step 2.  Remove PnP Cap (Pick and Place Cap).

1. It is recommended to use the cap tab to handle and avoid kicking  

    off the PnP cap.

2. This cap must be placed if returning the motherboard for after  

    service.

Step 3.  Insert the 1155-Pin CPU:

Step 3-1.  Hold the CPU by the edges where 

are marked with black lines.

Step 3-2.  Orient the CPU with IHS (Integrated 

Heat Sink) up. Locate Pin1 and the 

two orientation key notches.

For proper inserting, please ensure to match the two orientation key 

notches of the CPU with the two alignment keys of the socket.

black line

Pin1

alignment  key 

alignment  key 

Pin1

1155-Pin CPU

1155-Pin Socket

orientation key  notch

orientation key  notch

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ASRock  Z68M-ITX/HT  Motherboard

Step 3-3.  Carefully place the CPU into the 

socket by using a purely vertical mo-

tion.

Step 3-4.  Verify that the CPU is within the sock-

et and properly mated to the orient 

keys.

Step 4.  Close the socket:

Step 4-1.  Rotate the load plate onto the IHS.

Step 4-2.  While pressing down lightly on load 

plate, engage the load lever.

Step 4-3.  Secure load lever with load plate tab 

under retention tab of load lever.

2.2    Installation of CPU Fan and Heatsink

For proper installation, please kindly refer to the instruction manuals of your CPU 

fan and heatsink.

Below is an example to illustrate the installation of the heatsink for 1155-Pin CPU.

Step 1.  Apply thermal interface material onto center of 

IHS on the socket surface.

Step 2.  Place the heatsink onto the socket. Ensure 

fan cables are oriented on side closest to the 

CPU fan connector on the motherboard (CPU_

FAN1, see page 2, No. 18).

Step 3.  Align fasteners with the motherboard through-

holes.

Step 4.  Rotate the fastener clockwise, then press 

down on fastener caps with thumb to install 

and lock. Repeat with remaining fasteners.

If you press down the fasteners without rotating them clockwise, the 

heatsink cannot be secured on the motherboard.

Step 5.  Connect fan header with the CPU fan connector on the motherboard.

Step 6.  Secure excess cable with tie-wrap to ensure cable does not interfere with  

fan operation or contact other components.

Apply Thermal

Interface Material

Fan cables on side

closest to MB header

Fastener slots

pointing straight out

Press Down

(4 Places)

English

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ASRock  Z68M-ITX/HT  Motherboard

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2.3  Installation of Memory Modules (DIMM)

This motherboard provides two 240-pin DDR3 (Double Data Rate 3) DIMM slots, 

and supports Dual Channel Memory Technology. For dual channel configuration, 

you always need to install two identical (the same brand, speed, size and chip-

type) memory modules in the DDR3 DIMM slots to activate Dual Channel Memory 

Technology. Otherwise, it will operate at single channel mode.

1. 

It is not allowed to install a DDR or DDR2 memory module into  

DDR3 slot;otherwise, this motherboard and DIMM may be  

 damaged. 

2. 

If you install only one memory module or two non-identical  

memory modules, it is unable to activate the Dual Channel  

 Memory 

Technology. 

3. 

Some DDR3 1GB double-sided DIMMs with 16 chips may not  

work on this motherboard. It is not recommended to install them  

on this motherboard. 

notch

break

notch

break

Installing a DIMM

Please make sure to disconnect power supply before adding or    

removing DIMMs or the system components.  

Step 1.  Unlock a DIMM slot by pressing the retaining clips outward. 

Step 2.  Align a DIMM on the slot such that the notch on the DIMM matches the   

break on the slot. 

The DIMM only 

fi

 ts in one correct orientation. It will cause permanent 

damage to the motherboard and the DIMM if you force the DIMM into 

the slot at incorrect orientation. 

Step 3.  Firmly insert the DIMM into the slot until the retaining clips at both ends   

fully snap back in place and the DIMM is properly seated.

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2.4 Expansion Slot (PCI Express Slot)

There is 1 PCI Express slot on this motherboard.     

PCIE slots:

PCIE1 (PCIE x16 slot; Blue) is used for PCI Express x16 lane width 

graphics cards. 

Installing an expansion card

Step 1. 

Before installing the expansion card, please make sure that the power  

supply is switched off or the power cord is unplugged. Please read the  

documentation of the expansion card and make necessary hardware 

settings for the card before you start the installation.

Step 2. 

Remove the system unit cover (if your motherboard is already installed 

in a chassis).

Step 3. 

Remove  the  bracket facing the slot that you intend to use. Keep the 

screws for later use. 

Step 4. 

Align the card connector with the slot and press 

fi

 rmly until the card is  

completely seated on the slot. 

Step 5. 

Fasten the card to the chassis with screws. 

Step 6.  

Replace the system cover.

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HDMI port

2. If you have installed onboard VGA driver from our support CD to your system        

    already, you can freely enjoy the bene

fi

 ts of dual monitor function after your        

    system boots. If you haven’t installed onboard VGA driver yet, please install        

    onboard VGA driver from our support CD to your system and restart your  

    computer.

2.5 Dual Monitor and Surround Display Features

Dual Monitor Feature

This motherboard supports dual monitor feature. With the internal VGA output sup-

port (DVI-D, D-Sub and HDMI), you can easily enjoy the bene

fi

 ts of dual monitor 

feature without installing any add-on VGA card to this motherboard. This mother-

board also provides independent display controllers for DVI-D, D-Sub and HDMI to 

support dual VGA output so that DVI-D, D-sub and HDMI can drive same or different 

display contents.

To enable dual monitor feature, please follow the below steps:

1. Connect DVI-D monitor cable to DVI-D port on the I/O panel, connect D-Sub       

    monitor cable to D-Sub port on the I/O panel, or connect HDMI monitor  

    cable to HDMI port on the I/O panel.

D-Sub port

DVI-D port

D-Sub, DVI-D and HDMI monitors cannot be enabled at the same time. 

You can only choose the combination: DVI-D + HDMI, DVI-D + D-Sub, 

or HDMI + D-Sub.

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Surround Display Feature

This motherboard supports surround display upgrade. With the internal VGA output 

support (DVI-D, D-Sub and HDMI) and external add-on PCI Express VGA cards, 

you can easily enjoy the bene

fi

 ts of surround display feature. 

Please refer to the following steps to set up a surround display environment:

1. Install the PCI Express VGA card on PCIE1 slot. Please refer to page 16 for 

    proper expansion card installation procedures for details.

2. Connect DVI-D monitor cable to DVI-D port on the I/O panel, connect D-Sub        

    monitor cable to D-Sub port on the I/O panel, or connect HDMI monitor  

    cable to HDMI port on the I/O panel. Then connect other monitor cables to the       

    corresponding connectors of the add-on PCI Express VGA card on PCIE1 slot.

3. Boot your system. Press <F2> or <Del> to enter UEFI setup. Enter “Share 

    Memory” option to adjust the memory capability to [32MB], [64MB], [128MB], 

    [256MB] or [512MB] to enable the function of D-sub. Please make sure that        

    the value you select is less than the total capability of the system memory. If you 

    do not adjust the UEFI setup, the default value of “Share Memory”, [Auto], will 

    disable D-Sub function when the add-on VGA card is inserted to this 

    motherboard.

4. Install the onboard VGA driver and the add-on PCI Express VGA card driver to  

    your system. If you have installed the drivers already, there is no need to install  

    them again. 

5. Set up a multi-monitor display. 

    For Windows

®

 XP / XP 64-bit OS:

Right click the desktop, choose “Properties”, and select the “Settings” tab  

so that you can adjust the parameters of the multi-monitor according to  

the steps below. 

A. Click the “Identify” button to display a large number on each monitor. 

B. Right-click the display icon in the Display Properties dialog that you   

    wish to be your primary monitor, and then select “Primary”. When 

    you use multiple monitors with your card, one monitor will always be   

    Primary, and all additional monitors will be designated as Secondary.

C. Select the display icon identi

fi

 ed by the number 2. 

D. Click “Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor”. 

E. Right-click the display icon and select “Attached”, if necessary. 

F. Set the “Screen Resolution” and “Color Quality” as appropriate for the      

    second monitor. Click “Apply” or “OK” to apply these new values. 

G. Repeat steps C through E for the diaplay icon identi

fi

 ed by the number  

     one, two, three and four.

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    For Windows

®

 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista

TM

 / Vista

TM

 64-bit OS:

Right click the desktop, choose “Personalize”, and select the “Display    

Settings” tab so that you can adjust the parameters of the multi-monitor  

according to the steps below. 

A. Click the number ”2” icon. 

B. Click the items “This is my main monitor” and “Extend the desktop onto      

    this monitor”. 

C. Click “OK” to save your change. 

D. Repeat steps A through C for the display icon identi

fi

 ed by the number      

     three and four.

6. Use Surround Display. Click and drag the display icons to positions representing  

    the physical setup of your monitors that you would like to use. The placement        

    of display icons determines how you move items from one monitor to another.

HDCP Function 

HDCP function is supported on this motherboard. To use HDCP  

function with this motherboard, you need to adopt the monitor  

that supports HDCP function as well. Therefore, you can enjoy  

the superior display quality with high-de

fi

 nition HDCP 

encryption contents. Please refer to below instruction for more  

details about HDCP function.

  What 

is 

HDCP?

HDCP stands for High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection, 

  a 

speci

fi

 cation developed by Intel

®

 for protecting digital 

entertainment content that uses the DVI interface. HDCP is a

copy protection scheme to eliminate the possibility of 

intercepting digital data midstream between the video source, 

or transmitter - such as a computer, DVD player or set-top box - 

and the digital display, or receiver - such as a monitor, television 

or projector. In other words, HDCP speci

fi

 cation is designed to 

protect the integrity of content as it is being transmitted.

Products compatible with the HDCP scheme such as DVD 

players, satellite and cable HDTV set-top-boxes, as well as few 

entertainment PCs requires a secure connection to a compliant 

display. Due to the increase in manufacturers employing HDCP  

in their equipment, it is highly recommended that the HDTV or  

LCD monitor you purchase is compatible. 

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* ASRock Smart Remote is only supported by some of ASRock motherboards. Please refer to 

  ASRock website for the motherboard support list: http://www.asrock.com   

USB 2.0 header (9-pin, blue) 

CIR header (4-pin, white) 

2.6 ASRock Smart Remote Installation Guide

ASRock Smart Remote is only used for ASRock motherboard with CIR header. 

Please refer to below procedures for the quick installation and usage of ASRock 

Smart Remote.

Step1. 

Find the CIR header located next  

to the USB 2.0 header on ASRock 

 motherboard. 

Step2. 

Connect the front USB cable to the 

USB 2.0 header (as below, pin 1-5) 

and the CIR header. Please make 

sure the wire assignments and the 

pin assignments are matched 

 correctly. 

1 2

4

3

5

USB_PWR

P-

P+

GND

ATX+5VSB

IRRX

IRTX

GND

DUMMY

Step3. Install 

Multi-Angle CIR Receiver to 

the front USB port. If Multi-Angle 

 CIR 

Receiver cannot successfully 

receive the infrared signals from 

MCE Remote Controller, please try 

to install it to the other front USB 

 port. 

3 CIR sensors in different angles

1. 

Only one of the front USB port can support CIR function. When 

the CIR function is enabled, the other port will remain USB    

 function.

2. 

Multi-Angle CIR Receiver is used for front USB only. Please do 

not use the rear USB bracket to connect it on the rear panel.  

Multi-Angle CIR Receiver can receive the multi-direction infrared 

signals (top, down and front), which is compatible with most of 

the chassis on the market.

3. 

The Multi-Angle CIR Receiver does not support Hot-Plug 

function. Please install it before you boot the system.

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2.7 Jumpers Setup 

The illustration shows how jumpers are 

setup. When the jumper cap is placed on 

pins, the jumper is “Short”. If no jumper cap 

is placed on pins, the jumper is “Open”. The 

illustration shows a 3-pin jumper whose 

pin1 and  pin2 are “Short” when jumper cap 

is placed on these 2 pins.

Jumper Setting 

Description

Clear CMOS Jumper

(CLRCMOS1)  

(see p.2,  No. 6)

Note:  CLRCMOS1 allows you to clear the data in CMOS. To clear and reset the 

system parameters to default setup, please turn off the computer and unplug 

the power cord from the power supply. After waiting for 15 seconds, use a 

jumper cap to short pin2 and pin3 on CLRCMOS1 for 5 seconds. However, 

please do not clear the CMOS right after you update the BIOS. If you need 

to clear the CMOS when you just 

fi

 nish updating the BIOS, you must boot up 

the system 

fi

 rst, and then shut it down before you do the clear-CMOS action. 

Please be noted that the password, date, time and user default pro

fi

 le will be 

cleared only if the CMOS battery is removed. 

Clear CMOS

Default

2.8 Onboard Headers and Connectors

Onboard headers and connectors are NOT jumpers. Do NOT place 

jumper caps over these headers and connectors. Placing jumper caps 

over the headers and connectors will cause permanent damage of the 

motherboard!

Serial ATAII Connectors 

These two Serial ATAII 

(SATA_2 (PORT 4): 

(SATAII) connectors support   

see  p.2, No. 4)

SATA data cables for internal  

(SATA_3 (PORT 3):

storage devices. The current  

see  p.2, No. 5)

SATAII interface allows up to 

3.0 Gb/s data transfer rate.

SATA_3 (PORT 3)

SATA_2 (PORT 4)

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USB 2.0 Headers 

Besides four default USB 2.0 

(9-pin USB6_7)

ports on the I/O panel, there   

(see p.2  No. 11)

are two USB 2.0 headers on   

this motherboard. Each 

USB 2.0 header can support   

two USB 2.0 ports.

(9-pin USB8_9)

(see p.2  No. 9)

1

USB_PWR

P-8

GND

DUMMY

USB_PWR

P+8

GND

P-9

P+9

Consumer Infrared Module Header 

This header can be used to    

(4-pin CIR1)

connect the remote   

(see  p.2  No. 10)

 controller 

receiver.

1

ATX+5VSB

IRTX

GND

IRRX

J_SENSE

OUT2_L

1

MIC_RET

PRESENCE#

GND

OUT2_R

MIC2_R

MIC2_L

OUT_RET

Front Panel Audio Header 

This is an interface for front 

(9-pin HD_AUDIO1)

panel audio cable that allows  

(see p.2  No. 15)

convenient connection and    

control of audio devices.

3.5mm Audio Cable 

Either end of the 3.5mm audio   

(Optional)

cable can be connected to the  

portable audio devices, such 

as MP3 player and mobile 

phone or the Line-in port of    

 your 

PC.

Serial ATA3 Connectors 

These two Serial ATA3 (SATA3) 

(SATA_0 (PORT 0):

connectors support SATA data  

see  p.2, No. 3)

cables for internal storage   

(SATA_1 (PORT 1):

devices. The current SATA3  

see  p.2, No. 2)

interface allows up to 6.0 Gb/s  

data transfer rate.

SATA_1 (PORT 1)

SATA_0 (PORT 0)

Serial ATA (SATA) 

Either end of the SATA data  

Data Cable 

cable can be connected to the  

(Optional)

SATA / SATAII / SATA3 hard   

disk or the SATAII / SATA3 

connector on this motherboard.

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1. High De

fi

 nition Audio supports Jack Sensing, but the panel wire on  

    the chassis must support HDA to function correctly. Please follow the  

    instruction in our manual and chassis manual to install your system.

2. If you use AC’97 audio panel, please install it to the front panel audio    

    header as below:

    A. Connect Mic_IN (MIC) to MIC2_L.

    B. Connect Audio_R (RIN) to OUT2_R and Audio_L (LIN) to OUT2_L.

    C. Connect Ground (GND) to Ground (GND). 

    D. MIC_RET and OUT_RET are for HD audio panel only. You don’t     

         need to connect them for AC’97 audio panel.

    E. To activate the front mic. 

         For Windows

®

 XP / XP 64-bit OS:

                 Select “Mixer”. Select “Recorder”. Then click “FrontMic”.

         For Windows

®

 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista

TM

 / Vista

TM

 64-bit OS:

         Go to the "FrontMic" Tab in the Realtek Control panel. Adjust  

         “Recording Volume”.

System Panel Header 

This header accommodates

(9-pin PANEL1)

several system front panel   

(see p.2  No. 1)

 functions.

Connect the power switch, reset switch and system status indicator on the 

chassis to this header according to the pin assignments below. Note the 

positive and negative pins before connecting the cables.

PWRBTN (Power Switch): 

Connect to the power switch on the chassis front panel. You may con

fi

 gure 

the way to turn off your system using the power switch.

RESET (Reset Switch): 

Connect to the reset switch on the chassis front panel. Press the reset 

switch to restart the computer if the computer freezes and fails to perform a 

normal restart.

PLED (System Power LED): 

Connect to the power status indicator on the chassis front panel. The LED 

is on when the system is operating. The LED keeps blinking when the sys-

tem is in S1 sleep state. The LED is off when the system is in S3/S4 sleep 

state or powered off (S5).

HDLED (Hard Drive Activity LED): 

Connect to the hard drive activity LED on the chassis front panel. The LED 

is on when the hard drive is reading or writing data.

The front panel design may differ by chassis. A front panel module mainly 

consists of power switch, reset switch, power LED, hard drive activity LED, 

speaker and etc. When connecting your chassis front panel module to this 

header, make sure the wire assignments and the pin assign-ments are 

matched correctly.

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Power LED Header 

Please connect the chassis   

(3-pin PLED1)

power LED to this header to 

(see p.2  No. 20)

indicate system power status.  

The LED is on when the system  

is operating. The LED keeps 

blinking in S1 state. The LED is  

off in S3/S4 state or S5 state  

(power 

off).

1

PLED+

PLED+

PLED-

Chassis Fan Connector 

Please connect the fan cables  

(3-pin CHA_FAN1)

to the fan connectors and  

(see p.2  No. 19)

match the black wire to the    

ground 

pin.

CPU Fan Connectors 

Please connect the CPU fan 

(4-pin CPU_FAN1)

cable to the connector and 

(see p.2  No. 18)

match the black wire to the    

ground 

pin.

       Though this motherboard provides 4-Pin CPU fan (Quiet Fan) support, the 3-Pin  

       CPU fan still can work successfully even without the fan speed control function.  

       If you plan to connect the 3-Pin CPU fan to the CPU fan connector on this  

       motherboard, please connect it to Pin 1-3.  

3-Pin Fan Installation

Pin 1-3 Connected

ATX Power Connector 

Please connect an ATX power 

(24-pin ATXPWR1)

supply to this connector. 

(see p.2  No. 8)

20-Pin ATX Power Supply Installation

Though this motherboard provides 24-pin ATX power connector, it can still work if 

you adopt a traditional 20-pin ATX power supply. To use the 20-pin ATX power 

supply, please plug your power supply along with Pin 1 and Pin 13.

ATX 12V Power Connector   

Please connect an ATX 12V  

(4-pin  ATX12V1)

power supply to this connector.

(see p.2  No. 16)

12                                 1

24 

         13

12                                             1

24 

                      13

GND

+12V

CPU_FAN_SPEED

FAN_SPEED_CONTROL

4  3  2  1

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2.9   Driver Installation Guide

To install the drivers to your system, please insert the support CD to your optical 

drive 

fi

 rst. Then, the drivers compatible to your system can be auto-detected and 

listed on the support CD driver page. Please follow the order from up to bottom side 

to install those required drivers. Therefore, the drivers you install can work properly.

2.10 Installing 

Windows

®

 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista

TM 

/ Vista

TM

64-bit With RAID Functions 

If you want to install Windows

®

 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista

TM

 / Vista

TM

 64-bit on your SATA 

/ SATAII / SATA3 HDDs with RAID functions, please refer to the document at the 

following path in the Support CD for detailed procedures:

..\ RAID Installation Guide 

RAID mode is not supported under Windows

®

 XP / XP 64-bit OS.

2.11 Installing 

Windows

®

 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista

TM 

/ Vista

TM 

64-bit / XP  

/ XP 64-bit Without RAID Functions 

If you want to install Windows

®

 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista

TM

 / Vista

TM

 64-bit / XP / XP 64-

bit OS on your SATA / SATAII / SATA3 HDDs without RAID functions, please follow 

below procedures according to the OS you install.

2.11.1   Installing Windows

®

 XP / XP 64-bit Without RAID   

 Functions 

If you want to install Windows

®

 XP / XP 64-bit OS on your SATA / SATAII / SATA3 

HDDs without RAID functions, please follow below steps.

STEP 1: Set up UEFI.

A. Enter UEFI SETUP UTILITY        Advanced screen        SATA Con

fi

 guration.

B. Set the option “SATA Mode” to [IDE]. 

STEP 2: Install Windows

®

 XP / XP 64-bit OS on your system.

Using SATA / SATAII / SATA3 HDDs without NCQ function

AHCI mode is not supported under Windows

®

 XP / XP 64-bit OS.

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2.11.2   Installing Windows

®

 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista

TM 

/ Vista

TM 

64-bit    

Without RAID Functions 

If you want to install Windows

®

 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista

TM

 / Vista

TM

 64-bit OS on your SATA 

/ SATAII / SATA3 HDDs without RAID functions, please follow below steps.

Using SATA / SATAII / SATA3 HDDs with NCQ function

STEP 1: Set Up UEFI.

A. Enter UEFI SETUP UTILITY        Advanced screen        SATA Con

fi

 guration.

B. Set the option “SATA Mode” to [IDE]. 

STEP 2: Install Windows

®

 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista

TM

 / Vista

TM

 64-bit OS on your 

 system.

Using SATA / SATAII / SATA3 HDDs without NCQ function

STEP 1: Set up UEFI.

A. Enter UEFI SETUP UTILITY        Advanced screen        SATA Con

fi

 guration.

B. Set the option “SATA Mode” to [AHCI]. 

STEP 2: Install Windows

®

 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista

TM

 / Vista

TM

 64-bit OS on your 

 system.