ASRock b85 pro4: Chapter 3 Software and Utilities Operation

B85M Pro4

Chapter 3 Software and Utilities Operation

3.1 Installing Drivers

e Support CD that comes with the motherboard contains necessary drivers and

useful utilities that enhance the motherboard’s features.

Running The Support CD

To begin using the support CD, insert the CD into your CD-ROM drive. e CD

automatically displays the Main Menu if “AUTORUN” is enabled in your computer.

If the Main Menu does not appear automatically, locate and double click on the le

“ASRSETUP.EXE” in the Support CD to display the menu.

Drivers Menu

e drivers compatible to your system will be auto-detected and listed on the

support CD driver page. Please click Install All or follow the order from top to

bottom to install those required drivers. erefore, the drivers you install can work

properly.

Utilities Menu

e Utilities Menu shows the application soware that the motherboard supports.

Click on a specic item then follow the installation wizard to install it.

To improve Windows 7 compatibility, please download and install the following hot

x provided by Microso.

“KB2720599”: http://support.microso.com/kb/2720599/en-us

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3.2 A-Tuning

A-Tuning is ASRock’s multi purpose soware suite with a new interface, more new

features and improved utilities, including XFast RAM, Dehumidier, Good Night

LED, FAN-Tastic Tuning, OC Tweaker and a whole lot more.

3.2.1 Installing A-Tuning

When you install the all-in-one driver to your system from ASRock’s support CD,

A-Tuning will be auto-installed as well. Aer the installation, you will nd the icon

“A-Tuning“ on your desktop. Double-click the “A-Tuning“ icon, A-Tuning

main menu will pop up.

3.2.2 Using A-Tuning

ere are ve sections in AXTU main menu: Operation Mode, Tools, OC Tweaker,

System Info and Tech Service.

Operation Mode

Choose an operation mode for your computer.

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B85M Pro4

Tools

Various tools and utilities.

XFast RAM

Boost the system’s performance and extend the HDD’s or SDD’s lifespan! Create a

hidden partition, then assign which les should be stored in the RAM drive.

Fast Boot

Fast Boot minimizes your computer's boot time. Please note that Ultra Fast mode

is only supported by Windows 8 and the VBIOS must support UEFI GOP if you are

using an external graphics card.

OMG

Schedule the starting and ending hours of Internet access granted to other users.

Place X marks on the time table to disable the Internet.

Good Night LED

Switch o the Power/HDD/LAN LEDs when the system is on, and automatically

switch o the Power and Keyboard LEDs when the system enters into Standby/

Hibernation mode.

FAN-Tastic Tuning

Congure up to ve dierent fan speeds using the graph. e fans will automatically

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shi to the next speed level when the assigned temperature is met.

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Dehumidier

Prevent motherboard damages due to dampness. Enable this function and

congure the period of time until the computer powers on, and the duration of the

dehumidifying process.

HDMI-IN

Connect two dierent devices to one monitor and toggle between the primary and

secondary screen without replugging the connectors every time. Please set a hotkey

for switching between the two devices.

OC Tweaker

Congurations for overclocking the system.

System Info

View information about the system.

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B85M Pro4

Tech Service

Contact Tech Service.

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3.3 Intel® Rapid Start Technology

Intel® Rapid Start Technology enables your system to wake up faster from deep

sleep, saving time and power consumption. Feel secure to know that your system

will resume to working condition even if an unexpected power loss happens while

the PC is in sleep mode.

3.3.1 System Requirements

• Conrm whether your motherboard supports this feature.

• Operating system: Microso Windows 8/7 (32- or 64-bit edition)

• Set the SATA mode to AHCI. If Windows 8/7 is already installed under IDE

mode, directly changing the SATA mode to AHCI may cause Windows 8/7

to crash while booting. If your system is not in AHCI mode, please follow the

instructions below.

ere are certain risks. Please backup any important data before operating to avoid

loss.

1. Press Win + R simultaneously in Windows 8/7, type "Regedit" into the word

box then click OK.

2. Enter into HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\

msahci in Windows Registry Editor. Double click on the value Start and

change the value from 3 into 0. Click on OK.

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B85M Pro4

3. Exit the Registry Editor window and restart the computer.

4. Press F2 to enter BIOS, then go to Advanced > Storage Conguration and

change SATA Mode to AHCI. Press F10 to save changes and exit.

5. Enter Windows 8/7. Windows will discover the new device and install AHCI

drivers automatically.

3.3.2 Setup Guide

Conguring Rapid Start

Step 1

Run ASRock Rapid Start utility from Start -> All Programs -> ASRock Utility.

Step 2

If you have more than one hard drives in your system, you must select one, then

choose the Partition Size desired for your hidden partition and click on Create. e

system will automatically create a hidden partition according to your settings. If

there are SSD’s installed into your system, it is recommended to create the partition

on the SSD.

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Step 6

Double-click the Intel® Smart Connect Technology Manager icon in the

Windows system tray.

Step 7

Drag the slider to congure how oen the system will connect to the network to

download updates. Shorter durations will provide more frequent updates, but may

cause more power consumption.

Using Smart Connect

1. Keep the applications which you wish to connect to the internet and receive

updates while the system is in sleep state running. Foxmail for instance, keep

Foxmail running.

2. Click on Windows Start -> the arrow next to Shut down, and click on Sleep.

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3. Windows system will enter sleep state.

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4. e system will wake up from sleep state periodically, and then start to update

Foxmail. e screen will not display anything so the computer can maintain

minimum power usage. Aerwards, the system will automatically return to

sleep state again.

5. Upon waking up the system, you will nd the new mail that were sent to you

during sleep state are already updated and ready to be read in Foxmail.

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3.5 Start8

For those Windows 8 users who miss the Start Menu, Start8 is an ideal solution that

brings back the familiar Start Menu along with added customizations for greater

eciency.

3.5.1 Installing Start8

Install Start8, which is located in the folder at the following path of the Support CD:

\ ASRock Utility > Start8.

3.5.2 Conguring Start8

Style

Select between the Windows 7 style and Windows 8 style Start Menu. en select

the theme of the Start Menu and customize the style of the Start icon.

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Congure

Congure provides conguration options, including icon sizes, which shortcuts you

want Start Menu to display, quick access to recently used apps, the functionality of

the power button, and more.

Control

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Control lets you congure what a click on the start button or a press on the

Windows key does.

Desktop

Desktop allows you to disable the hot corners when you are working on the desktop.

It also lets you choose whether or not the system boots directly into desktop mode

and bypass the Metro user interface.

About

Displays information about Start8.

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