ASRock h81m-itx: Chapter 3 Software and Utilities Operation

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.

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

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

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.

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OC Tweaker

Congurations for overclocking the system.

System Info

View information about the system.

Tech Service

Contact Tech Service.

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3.3 Intel® Smart Connect Technology

Intel® Smart Connect Technology is a feature that periodically wakes your computer

from Windows® sleep state to refresh email or social networking applications. It

saves your waiting time and keeps the content always up-to-date.

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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3.3.2 Setup Guide

Installing ASRock Smart Connect Utility

Step 1

Install ASRock Smart Connect Utility, which is located in the folder at the following

path of the Support CD: \ ASRock Utility > Smart Connect.

Step 2

Once installed, run ASRock Smart Connect from your desktop or go to Windows

Start -> All Programs -> ASRock Utility.

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Step 3

Click the Add button. Take Foxmail as an example, add Foxmail to the Application

list.

Step 4

Select Foxmail from the Application List, then click the arrow pointing right to add

this application to the Smart Connect List.

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Step 5

Click Apply to enable Smart Connect.

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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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3.4 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.

3.4.1 Installing Start8

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

\ ASRock Utility > Start8.

3.4.2 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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