Gigabyte GA-MA790FXT-UD5P: Chapter 1 Hardware Installation
Chapter 1 Hardware Installation: Gigabyte GA-MA790FXT-UD5P
Chapter 1 Hardware Installation
1-1 Installation Precautions
The motherboard contains numerous delicate electronic circuits and components which can become
damaged as a result of electrostatic discharge (ESD). Prior to installation, carefully read the user's
manual and follow these procedures:
• Prior to installation, do not remove or break motherboard S/N (Serial Number) sticker or
warranty sticker provided by your dealer. These stickers are required for warranty validation.
• Always remove the AC power by unplugging the power cord from the power outlet before
installing or removing the motherboard or other hardware components.
• When connecting hardware components to the internal connectors on the motherboard,
make sure they are connected tightly and securely.
• When handling the motherboard, avoid touching any metal leads or connectors.
• It is best to wear an electrostatic discharge (ESD) wrist strap when handling electronic
components such as a motherboard, CPU or memory. If you do not have an ESD wrist strap,
keep your hands dry and first touch a metal object to eliminate static electricity.
• Prior to installing the motherboard, please have it on top of an antistatic pad or within an
electrostatic shielding container.
• Before unplugging the power supply cable from the motherboard, make sure the power supply
has been turned off.
• Before turning on the power, make sure the power supply voltage has been set according to
the local voltage standard.
• Before using the product, please verify that all cables and power connectors of your hardware
components are connected.
• To prevent damage to the motherboard, do not allow screws to come in contact with the
motherboard circuit or its components.
• Make sure there are no leftover screws or metal components placed on the motherboard or
within the computer casing.
• Do not place the computer system on an uneven surface
.
• Do not place the computer system in a high-temperature environment.
• Turning on the computer power during the installation process can lead to damage to system
components as well as physical harm to the user.
• If you are uncertain about any installation steps or have a problem related to the use of the
product, please consult a certified computer technician.
Hardware Installation- 9 -
1-2 Product Specifications
CPU Support for Socket AM3 processors:
TM
TM
AMD Phenom
II X3 processor/AMD Phenom
II X4 processor
(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest CPU support list.)
Hyper Transport Bus 5200/2000 MT/s
Chipset North Bridge: AMD 790FX
South Bridge: AMD SB750
(Note 1)
Memory 4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 16 GB of system memory
Dual channel memory architecture
Support for DDR3 1666(O.C.)/1333/1066 MHz
memory modules
(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest memory support list.)
Audio Realtek ALC889A codec
High Definition Audio
2/4/5.1/7.1-channel
®
(Note 2)
Support for Dolby
Home Theater
Support for S/PDIF In/Out
Support for CD In
LAN 2 x Realtek 8111DL chips (10/100/1000 Mbit)
Support for Teaming
Expansion Slots 2 x PCI Express x16 slots, running at x16
TM
(The PCIEX16_1 and PCIEX16_2 slots support ATI CrossFireX
technology and conform to PCI Express 2.0 standard.)
3 x PCI Express x1 slots
2 x PCI slots
Storage Interface South Bridge:
- 1 x IDE connector supporting ATA-133/100/66/33 and up to 2 IDE devices
- 6 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors (SATA2_0, SATA2_1, SATA2_2, SATA2_3,
SATA2_4, SATA2_5) supporting up to 6 SATA 3Gb/s devices
- Support for SATA RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10 and JBOD
GIGABYTE SATA2 chip:
2 x JMB322 chips (Smart Backup):
- 4 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors (GSATA2_0, GSATA2_1, GSATA2_2,
(Note 3)
GSATA2_3) supporting up to 4 SATA 3Gb/s devices
- Support for SATA RAID 0, RAID 1 and JBOD
iTE IT8720 chip:
- 1 x floppy disk drive connector supporting up to 1 floppy disk drive
IEEE 1394 T.I. TSB43AB23 chip
Up to 3 IEEE 1394a ports (2 on the back panel, 1 via the IEEE 1394a bracket
connected to the internal IEEE 1394a header)
USB Integrated in the South Bridge
Up to 12 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (8 on the back panel, 4 via the USB brackets
connected to the internal USB headers)
GA-MA790FXT-UD5P Motherboard - 10 -
Internal Connectors 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector
1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector
1 x floppy disk drive connector
1 x IDE connector
10 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors
1 x CPU fan header
2 x system fan headers
1 x power fan header
1 x North Bridge fan header
1 x front panel header
1 x front panel audio header
1 x CD In connector
1 x S/PDIF In/Out header
1 x IEEE 1394a header
2 x USB 2.0/1.1 headers
1 x parallel port header
1 x serial port header
1 x chassis intrusion header
1 x power LED header
1 x power switch
1 x reset switch
1 x clearing CMOS switch
Back Panel 1 x PS/2 keyboard port
Connectors 1 x PS/2 mouse port
1 x coaxial S/PDIF Out connector
1 x optical S/PDIF Out connector
2 x IEEE 1394a ports
8 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
2 x RJ-45 ports
6 x audio jacks (Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out/Rear Speaker Out/Side
Speaker Out/Line In/Line Out/Microphone)
I/O Controller iTE IT8720 chip
Hardware Monitor System voltage detection
CPU/System temperature detection
CPU/System/Power fan speed detection
CPU overheating warning
CPU/System fan fail warning
(Note 4)
CPU/System fan speed control
BIOS 2 x 8 Mbit flash
Use of licensed AWARD BIOS
TM
Support for DualBIOS
PnP 1.0a, DMI 2.0, SM BIOS 2.4, ACPI 1.0b
Hardware Installation- 11 -
Unique Features Support for @BIOS
Support for Q-Flash
Support for Virtual Dual BIOS
Support for Download Center
Support for Xpress Install
Support for Xpress Recovery2
(Note 5)
Support for EasyTune
Support for Easy Energy Saver
Support for Time Repair
Support for Q-Share
Bundled Software Norton Internet Security (OEM version)
®
®
Operating System Support for Microsoft
Windows
Vista/XP
Form Factor ATX Form Factor; 30.5cm x 24.4cm
(Note 1) Due to Windows Vista/XP 32-bit operating system limitation, when more than 4 GB of physical
memory is installed, the actual memory size displayed will be less than 4 GB.
(Note 2) For Windows Vista/XP 32-bit operating system only.
(Note 3) A JMB322 chip supports two SATA 3Gb/s connectors, so the four SATA 3Gb/s connectors are
divided into to two pairs: GSATA2_0 and GSATA2_1 as a pair and GSATA2_2 and GSATA2_3 as
a pair. (Refer to Chapter 2, "Integrated Peripherals" and Chapter 5, "Configuring SATA Hard
Drive(s)," for how to enable the Smart Backup function.)
(Note 4) Whether the CPU/system fan speed control function is supported will depend on the CPU/
system cooler you install.
(Note 5) Available functions in EasyTune may differ by motherboard model.
GA-MA790FXT-UD5P Motherboard - 12 -
1-3 Installing the CPU and CPU Cooler
Read the following guidelines before you begin to install the CPU:
• Make sure that the motherboard supports the CPU.
(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest CPU support list.)
• Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before
installing the CPU to prevent hardware damage.
• Locate the pin one of the CPU. The CPU cannot be inserted if oriented incorrectly.
• Apply an even and thin layer of thermal grease on the surface of the CPU.
• Do not turn on the computer if the CPU cooler is not installed, otherwise overheating and
damage of the CPU may occur.
• Set the CPU host frequency in accordance with the CPU specifications. It is not recom-
mended that the system bus frequency be set beyond hardware specifications since it
does not meet the standard requirements for the peripherals. If you wish to set the frequency
beyond the standard specifications, please do so according to your hardware specifications
including the CPU, graphics card, memory, hard drive, etc.
1-3-1 Installing the CPU
A. Locate the pin one (denoted by a small triangle) of the CPU socket and the CPU.
A Small Triangle Mark
AM3 Socket
Denotes Pin One of the
Socket
A Small Triangle Marking
Denotes CPU Pin One
AM3 CPU
Hardware Installation- 13 -
B. Follow the steps below to correctly install the CPU into the motherboard CPU socket.
Before installing the CPU, make sure to turn off the computer and unplug the power
cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the CPU.
CPU Socket Locking
Lever
Step 1:
Step 2:
Completely lift up the CPU socket locking lever.
Align the CPU pin one (small triangle marking)
with the triangle mark on the CPU socket and
gently insert the CPU into the socket. Make
sure that the CPU pins fit perfectly into their
holes. Once the CPU is positioned into its
socket, place one finger down on the middle of
the CPU, lowering the locking lever and latch-
ing it into the fully locked position.
Do not force the CPU into the CPU socket. The CPU cannot fit in if oriented incorrectly. Adjust
the CPU orientation if this occurs.
GA-MA790FXT-UD5P Motherboard - 14 -
1-3-2 Installing the CPU Cooler
Follow the steps below to correctly install the CPU cooler on the CPU. (The following procedure uses
the GIGABYTE cooler as the example.)
Step 1:
Step 2:
Apply an even and thin layer of thermal grease
Place the CPU cooler on the CPU.
on the surface of the installed CPU.
Step 3:
Step 4:
Hook the CPU cooler clip to the mounting lug on
Turn the cam handle from the left side to the
one side of the retention frame. On the other side,
right side (as the picture above shows) to lock
push straight down on the the CPU cooler clip to
into place. (Refer to your CPU cooler installa-
hook it to the mounting lug on the retention frame.
tion manual for instructions on installing the
cooler.)
Step 5:
Finally, attach the power connector of the CPU
cooler to the CPU fan header (CPU_FAN) on
the motherboard.
Use extreme care when removing the CPU cooler because the thermal grease/tape between
the CPU cooler and CPU may adhere to the CPU. Inadequately removing the CPU cooler
may damage the CPU.
Hardware Installation- 15 -
1-4 Installing the Memory
Read the following guidelines before you begin to install the memory:
• Make sure that the motherboard supports the memory. It is recommended that memory of
the same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used.
(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest memory support list.)
• Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before
installing the memory to prevent hardware damage.
• Memory modules have a foolproof design. A memory module can be installed in only one
direction. If you are unable to insert the memory, switch the direction.
1-4-1 Dual Channel Memory Configuration
This motherboard provides four DDR3 memory sockets and supports Dual Channel Technology. After
the memory is installed, the BIOS will automatically detect the specifications and capacity of the
memory. Enabling Dual Channel memory mode will double the original memory bandwidth.
The four DDR3 memory sockets are divided into two channels and each channel has two memory
sockets as following:
Channel 0: DDR3_1, DDR3_3
Channel 1: DDR3_2, DDR3_4
Dual Channel Memory Configurations Table
DDR3_1 DDR3_2 DDR3_3 DDR3_4
Two Modules
DS/SS DS/SS - - - -
- - - - DS/SS DS/SS
Four Modules
DS/SS DS/SS DS/SS DS/SS
(SS=Single-Sided, DS=Double-Sided, "- -"=No Memory)
If two memory modules are to be installed, it is recom-
mended that you install them in the DDR3_1 and DDR3_2
sockets.
DDR3_1
DDR3_2
DDR3_3
DDR3_4
Due to CPU limitation, read the following guidelines before installing the memory in Dual Channel mode.
1. Dual Channel mode cannot be enabled if only one DDR3 memory module is installed.
2. When enabling Dual Channel mode with two or four memory modules, it is recommended that
memory of the same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used and installed in the same
colored DDR3 sockets for optimum performance.
GA-MA790FXT-UD5P Motherboard - 16 -
1-4-2 Installing a Memory
Before installing a memory module , make sure to turn off the computer and unplug
the power cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the memory module.
DDR3 and DDR2 DIMMs are not compatible to each other or DDR DIMMs. Be sure to
install DDR3 DIMMs on this motherboard.
Notch
DDR3 DIMM
A DDR3 memory module has a notch, so it can only fit in one direction. Follow the steps below to
correctly install your memory modules in the memory sockets.
Step 1:
Note the orientation of the memory module. Spread the retaining
clips at both ends of the memory socket. Place the memory
module on the socket. As indicated in the picture on the left,
place your fingers on the top edge of the memory, push down
on the memory and insert it vertically into the memory socket.
Step 2:
The clips at both ends of the socket will snap into place when
the memory module is securely inserted.
Hardware Installation- 17 -
1-5 Installing an Expansion Card
Read the following guidelines before you begin to install an expansion card:
• Make sure the motherboard supports the expansion card. Carefully read the manual that
came with your expansion card.
• Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before
installing an expansion card to prevent hardware damage.
PCI Express x1 Slot
PCI Express x16 Slot
PCI Slot
Follow the steps below to correctly install your expansion card in the expansion slot.
1. Locate an expansion slot that supports your card. Remove the metal slot cover from the chassis back panel.
2. Align the card with the slot, and press down on the card until it is fully seated in the slot.
3. Make sure the metal contacts on the card are completely inserted into the slot.
4. Secure the card's metal bracket to the chassis back panel with a screw.
5. After installing all expansion cards, replace the chassis cover(s).
6. Turn on your computer. If necessary, go to BIOS Setup to make any required BIOS changes for
your expansion card(s).
7. Install the driver provided with the expansion card in your operating system.
Example: Installing and Removing a PCI Express x16 Graphics Card:
• Installing a Graphics Card:
Gently push down on the top edge of the card
until it is fully inserted into the PCI Express x16
slot. Make sure the card is securely seated in
the slot and does not rock.
• Removing the Card from the PCI Express x16 Slot:
Gently push back on the lever on the slot and then lift the card straight out
from the slot.
GA-MA790FXT-UD5P Motherboard - 18 -
TM
1-6 Configuring an ATI CrossFireX
System
TM
TM
To enable CrossFireX
technology, you need two graphics cards that support ATI CrossFire
technology.
Before You Begin--
A. Power Requirements:
Use a power supply that is able to provide sufficient power to fully support an CrossFireX configuration and
other components in your system. We recommend a power supply that provides at least 20A 12V current.
The exact power requirements depend on your overall system configurations.
B. Supported Operating Systems:
Windows Vista and Windows XP.
C. BIOS Settings:
Before configuring your system for CrossFireX, make sure to set Init Display First under Advanced BIOS
Features in BIOS Setup to PEG first. (Start your system with a single PCIe x16 graphics card and then go
to BIOS Setup to set Init Display First to PEG. Then install the second graphics card to enable CrossFireX.)
Enabling CrossFireX Mode--
Connecting Two Graphics Cards:
Step 1:
Observe the steps in "1-5 Installing an Expansion Card" and install
the graphics cards in the PCIEX16_1 slot and the PCIEX16_2 slot.
Step 2:
Depending on your graphics cards, install the connecting bridges
on the two cards.
(Note: Procedure for enabling CrossFireX may slightly differ by graphics cards. Refer
to the manual that came with your graphics cards for more information about enabling
CrossFireX.)
Step 3:
Connect your LCD monitor cable to the DVI port on the graphics
card on the PCIEX16_1 slot (or connect your D-Sub monitor via a
DVI-to-D-Sub adapter).
Graphics Card Driver Setting:
After installing the graphics card driver in your operating system,
access the Catalyst Control Center. From the CATALYST Con-
trol Center, enter the CrossFire menu and select the Enable
CrossFire checkbox to complete the configuration.
Hardware Installation- 19 -
1-7 Installing the SATA Bracket
The SATA bracket allows you to connect external SATA device(s) to your system by expanding the
internal SATA port(s) to the chassis back panel.
• Turn off your system and the power switch on the power supply before installing or
removing the SATA bracket and SATA power cable to prevent damage to hardware.
• Insert the SATA signal cable and SATA power cable securely into the corresponding connec-
tors when installing.
SATA Bracket
SATA Signal Cable SATA Power Cable
The SATA bracket includes one SATA bracket, one
External
SATA signal cable, and one SATA power cable.
SATA
Power
Connector
External SATA
Connector
Connector
Follow the steps below to install the SATA bracket:
Step 1:
Step 2:
Locate one free PCI
Connect the SATA
slot and secure the
cable from the bracket
SATA bracket to the
to the SATA port on
chassis back panel
your motherboard.
with a screw.
Step 3:
Step 4:
Connect the power
Plug one end of the
cable from the bracket
SATA signal cable into
to the power supply.
the external SATA con-
nector on the bracket.
Then attach the SATA
power cable to the
power connector on
the bracket.
Step 5:
Connect the other ends of the SATA signal cable and SATA power cable
to your SATA device. For SATA device in external enclosure, you only
need to connect the SATA signal cable. Before connecting the SATA signal
cable, make sure to turn off the power of the external enclosure.
GA-MA790FXT-UD5P Motherboard - 20 -
1-8 Back Panel Connectors
PS/2 Keyboard and PS/2 Mouse Port
Use the upper port (green) to connect a PS/2 mouse and the lower port (purple) to connect a PS/2
keyboard.
Optical S/PDIF Out Connector
This connector provides digital audio out to an external audio system that supports digital optical
audio. Before using this feature, ensure that your audio system provides an optical digital audio in
connector.
Coaxial S/PDIF Out Connector
This connector provides digital audio out to an external audio system that supports digital coaxial
audio. Before using this feature, ensure that your audio system provides a coaxial digital audio in
connector.
IEEE 1394a Port
The IEEE 1394 port supports the IEEE 1394a specification, featuring high speed, high bandwidth
and hotplug capabilities. Use this port for an IEEE 1394a device.
USB Port
The USB port supports the USB 2.0/1.1 specification. Use this port for USB devices such as an
USB keyboard/mouse, USB printer, USB flash drive and etc.
RJ-45 LAN Port
The Gigabit Ethernet LAN port provides Internet connection at up to 1 Gbps data rate. The following
describes the states of the LAN port LEDs.
Connection/
Speed LED
Activity LED
Connection/Speed LED:
Activity LED:
State Description
State Description
Orange 1 Gbps data rate
Blinking Data transmission or receiving is occurring
Green 100 Mbps data rate
Off No data transmission or receiving is occurring
Off 10 Mbps data rate
LAN Port
• When removing the cable connected to a back panel connector, first remove the cable
from your device and then remove it from the motherboard.
• When removing the cable, pull it straight out from the connector. Do not rock it side to side
to prevent an electrical short inside the cable connector.
Hardware Installation- 21 -
Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out Jack (Orange)
Use this audio jack to connect center/subwoofer speakers in a 5.1/7.1-channel audio configuration.
Rear Speaker Out Jack (Black)
Use this audio jack to connect rear speakers in a 4/5.1/7.1-channel audio configuration.
Side Speaker Out Jack (Gray)
Use this audio jack to connect side speakers in a 7.1-channel audio configuration.
Line In Jack (Blue)
The default line in jack. Use this audio jack for line in devices such as an optical drive, walkman, etc.
Line Out Jack (Green)
The default line out jack. Use this audio jack for a headphone or 2-channel speaker. This jack can
be used to connect front speakers in a 4/5.1/7.1-channel audio configuration.
Mic In Jack (Pink)
The default Mic in jack. Microphones must be connected to this jack.
In addition to the default speakers settings, the ~ audio jacks can be reconfigured to
perform different functions via the audio software. Only microphones still MUST be con-
nected to the default Mic in jack ( ). Refer to the instructions on setting up a 2/4/5.1/
7.1-channel audio configuration in Chapter 5, "Configuring 2/4/5.1/7.1-Channel Audio."
GA-MA790FXT-UD5P Motherboard - 22 -
1-9 Onboard Switches
Quick Switches
This motherboard has 3 quick switches: power switch, reset switch and clearing CMOS switch,
allowing users to quickly turn on/off or reset the system or clear the CMOS values.
PW_SW: Power switch
RST_SW: Reset switch
CMOS_SW: Clearing CMOS switch
Hardware Installation- 23 -
1-10 Internal Connectors
1
3
2
5
14
7
6
8
12
15
9
16
21
10
20
22 418
17 1319
11
4
1) ATX_12V_2X4
12) BATTERY
2) ATX
13) F_PANEL
3) CPU_FAN
14) F_AUDIO
4) SYS_FAN1/SYS_FAN2
15) CD_IN
5) PWR_FAN
16) SPDIF_IO
6) NB_FAN
17) F_USB1 / F_USB2
7) FDD
18) F_1394
8) IDE
19) LPT
9) SATA2_0 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
20) COM
10) GSATA2_0 / 1 / 2 / 3
21) CI
11) PWR_LED
22) CLR_CMOS
Read the following guidelines before connecting external devices:
• First make sure your devices are compliant with the connectors you wish to connect.
• Before installing the devices, be sure to turn off the devices and your computer. Unplug the
power cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the devices.
• After installing the device and before turning on the computer, make sure the device cable
has been securely attached to the connector on the motherboard.
GA-MA790FXT-UD5P Motherboard - 24 -
1/2) ATX_12V_2X4/ATX (2x4 12V Power Connector and 2x12 Main Power Connector)
With the use of the power connector, the power supply can supply enough stable power to all the
components on the motherboard. Before connecting the power connector, first make sure the
power supply is turned off and all devices are properly installed. The power connector possesses
a foolproof design. Connect the power supply cable to the power connector in the correct orientation.
The 12V power connector mainly supplies power to the CPU. If the 12V power connector is not
connected, the computer will not start.
• To meet expansion requirements, it is recommended that a power supply that can withstand
high power consumption be used (500W or greater). If a power supply is used that does not
provide the required power, the result can lead to an unstable or unbootable system.
• The power connectors are compatible with power supplies with 2x2 12V and 2x10 power
connectors. When using a power supply providing a 2x4 12V and a 2x12 power connector,
remove the protective covers from the 12V power connector and the main power connector on
the motherboard. Do not insert the power supply cables into pins under the protective covers
when using a power supply providing a 2x2 12V and a 2x10 power connector.
ATX_12V_2X4:
8
4
Pin No. Definition
1 GND (Only for 2x4 pin 12V)
2 GND (Only for 2x4 pin 12V)
3 GND
5
1
4 GND
ATX_12V_2X4
5 +12V (Only for 2x4 pin 12V)
6 +12V (Only for 2x4 pin 12V)
7 +12V
8 +12V
ATX:
12
24
Pin No. Definition
Pin No. Definition
1 3.3V
13 3.3V
2 3.3V
14 -12V
3 GND
15 GND
4 +5V
16 PS_ON(soft On/Off)
5 GND
17 GND
6 +5V
18 GND
7 GND
19 GND
8 Power Good
20 -5V
9 5V SB(stand by +5V)
21 +5V
10 +12V
22 +5V
11 +12V (Only for 2x12-pin ATX)
23 +5V (Only for 2x12-pin ATX)
131
12 3.3V (Only for 2x12-pin ATX)
24 GND (Only for 2x12-pin ATX)
ATX
Hardware Installation- 25 -
3/4/5) CPU_FAN/SYS_FAN1/SYS_FAN2/PWR_FAN (Fan Headers)
The motherboard has a 4-pin CPU fan header (CPU_FAN), a 3-pin (SYS_FAN2) and a 4-pin
(SYS_FAN1) system fan headers, and a 3-pin power fan header (PWR_FAN). Most fan headers
possess a foolproof insertion design. When connecting a fan cable, be sure to connect it in the
correct orientation (the black connector wire is the ground wire). The motherboard supports CPU
fan speed control, which requires the use of a CPU fan with fan speed control design. For optimum
heat dissipation, it is recommended that a system fan be installed inside the chassis.
CPU_FAN:
Pin No. Definition
1
1 GND
CPU_FAN
2 +12V / Speed Control
3 Sense
4 Speed Control
SYS_FAN1
Pin No. Definition
1
1 GND
SYS_FAN1
2 +12V / Speed Control
3 Sense
4 Reserve
SYS_FAN2/PWR_FAN:
Pin No. Definition
1
1 GND
1
2 +12V
SYS_FAN2
PWR_FAN
3 Sense
6) NB_FAN (North Bridge Fan Header)
Connect the North Bridge fan cable to this header. The fan header has a foolproof insertion design.
When connecting a fan cable, be sure to connect it in the correct orientation. Most fans are designed
with color-coded power connector wires. A red power connector wire indicates a positive connec-
tion and requires a +12V voltage. The black connector wire is the ground wire.
Pin No. Definition
1 GND
1
2 +12V
3NC
• Be sure to connect fan cables to the fan headers to prevent your CPU, North Bridge and
system from overheating. Overheating may result in damage to the CPU/North Bridge or
the system may hang.
• These fan headers are not configuration jumper blocks. Do not place a jumper cap on the
headers.
GA-MA790FXT-UD5P Motherboard - 26 -
7) FDD (Floppy Disk Drive Connector)
This connector is used to connect a floppy disk drive. The types of floppy disk drives supported
are: 360 KB, 720 KB, 1.2 MB, 1.44 MB, and 2.88 MB. Before connecting a floppy disk drive, be
sure to locate pin 1 of the connector and the floppy disk drive cable. The pin 1 of the cable is
typically designated by a stripe of different color.
34
33
2
1
8) IDE (IDE Connector)
The IDE connector supports up to two IDE devices such as hard drives and optical drives. Before
attaching the IDE cable, locate the foolproof groove on the connector. If you wish to connect two IDE
devices, remember to set the jumpers and the cabling according to the role of the IDE devices (for
example, master or slave). (For information about configuring master/slave settings for the IDE
devices, read the instructions from the device manufacturers.)
40
39
2
1
Hardware Installation- 27 -
9) SATA2_0/1/2/3/4/5 (SATA 3Gb/s Connectors, Controlled by AMD SB750, Blue)
The SATA connectors conform to SATA 3Gb/s standard and are compatible with SATA 1.5Gb/s
standard. Each SATA connector supports a single SATA device. The AMD SB750 controller
supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10 and JBOD. Refer to Chapter 5, "Configuring SATA Hard
Drive(s)," for instructions on configuring a RAID array.
Pin No. Definition
SATA2_0
SATA2_2
SATA2_4
1 GND
7
1
2 TXP
3 TXN
4 GND
7
1
5 RXN
SATA2_1
SATA2_3 SATA2_5
6 RXP
7 GND
Please connect the L-shaped end
of the SATA 3Gb/s cable to your
SATA hard drive.
• A RAID 0 or RAID 1 configuration requires at least two hard drives. If more than two hard
drives are to be used, the total number of hard drives must be an even number.
• A RAID 5 configuration requires at least three hard drives. (The total number of hard drives
does not have to be an even number.)
• A RAID 10 configuration requires at least four hard drives and the total number of hard
drives must be an even number.
GA-MA790FXT-UD5P Motherboard - 28 -
10) GSATA2_0/1/2/3 (SATA 3Gb/s Connectors, Controlled by GIGABYTE SATA2/JMB322, White)
The SATA connectors conform to SATA 3Gb/s standard and are compatible with SATA 1.5Gb/s
standard. Each SATA connector supports a single SATA device. The GIGABYTE SATA2/JMB322
controller supports RAID 0, RAID 1 and JBOD. Refer to Chapter 2, "Integrated Peripherals" and
Chapter 5, "Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s)," for instructions on configuring a RAID array.
Pin No. Definition
GSATA2_0
GSATA2_2
1 GND
7
1
2 TXP
3 TXN
4 GND
7
1
5 RXN
GSATA2_1
GSATA2_3
6 RXP
7 GND
A RAID 0 or RAID 1 configuration requires two hard
drives. The two hard drives must be connected to either
the GSATA2_0 and GSATA2_1 connectors as an array
Please connect the L-shaped end of the
or to the GSATA2_2 and GSATA2_3 connectors.
SATA 3Gb/s cable to your SATA hard drive.
11) PWR_LED (System Power LED Header)
This header can be used to connect a system power LED on the chassis to indicate system power
status. The LED is on when the system is operating. The LED keeps blinking when the system is
in S1 sleep state. The LED is off when the system is in S3/S4 sleep state or powered off (S5).
Pin No. Definition
1 MPD+
2 MPD-
1
3 MPD-
System Status LED
S0 On
S1 Blinking
S3/S4/S5 Off
Hardware Installation- 29 -
12) BATTERY
The battery provides power to keep the values (such as BIOS configurations, date, and time
information) in the CMOS when the computer is turned off. Replace the battery when the battery
voltage drops to a low level, or the CMOS values may not be accurate or may be lost.
You may clear the CMOS values by removing the battery:
1. Turn off your computer and unplug the power cord.
2. Gently remove the battery from the battery holder and wait for one minute.
(Or use a metal object like a screwdriver to touch the positive and
negative terminals of the battery holder, making them short for 5 seconds.)
3. Replace the battery.
4. Plug in the power cord and restart your computer.
• Always turn off your computer and unplug the power cord before replacing the battery.
• Replace the battery with an equivalent one. Danger of explosion if the battery is replaced
with an incorrect model.
• Contact the place of purchase or local dealer if you are not able to replace the battery by
yourself or uncertain about the battery model.
• When installing the battery, note the orientation of the positive side (+) and the negative
side (-) of the battery (the positive side should face up).
• Used batteries must be handled in accordance with local environmental regulations.
GA-MA790FXT-UD5P Motherboard - 30 -
13) F_PANEL (Front Panel Header)
Connect the power switch, reset switch, speaker and system status indicator on the chassis front
panel to this header according to the pin assignments below. Note the positive and negative pins
before connecting the cables.
Message/Power/
Power
Sleep LED
Switch
Speaker
MSG+
PW+
MSG-
PW-
SPEAK+
SPEAK-
2
20
1
19
HD-
RES+
NC
HD+
RES-
Hard Drive
Reset
Activity LED
Switch
• MSG (Message/Power/Sleep LED, Yellow):
System Status LED
Connects to the power status indicator on the chassis front panel. The
S0 On
LED is on when the system is operating. The LED keeps blinking when
S1 Blinking
the system is in S1 sleep state. The LED is off when the system is in
S3/S4/S5 Off
S3/S4 sleep state or powered off (S5).
• PW (Power Switch, Red):
Connects to the power switch on the chassis front panel. You may configure the way to turn off
your system using the power switch (refer to Chapter 2, "BIOS Setup," "Power Management
Setup," for more information).
• SPEAK (Speaker, Orange):
Connects to the speaker on the chassis front panel. The system reports system startup status
by issuing a beep code. One single short beep will be heard if no problem is detected at system
startup. If a problem is detected, the BIOS may issue beeps in different patterns to indicate the
problem. Refer to Chapter 5, "Troubleshooting," for information about beep codes.
• HD (Hard Drive Activity LED, Blue)
Connects to the hard drive activity LED on the chassis front panel. The LED is on when the hard
drive is reading or writing data.
• RES (Reset Switch, Green):
Connects 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.
• NC (Purple):
No connection
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 assign-
ments and the pin assignments are matched correctly.
Hardware Installation- 31 -
14) F_AUDIO (Front Panel Audio Header)
The front panel audio header supports Intel High Definition audio (HD) and AC'97 audio. You may
connect your chassis front panel audio module to this header. Make sure the wire assignments of
the module connector match the pin assignments of the motherboard header. Incorrect connection
between the module connector and the motherboard header will make the device unable to work
or even damage it.
For HD Front Panel Audio:
For AC'97 Front Panel Audio:
10
9
Pin No. Definition
Pin No. Definition
1 MIC2_L
1 MIC
2 GND
2 GND
21
3 MIC2_R
3 MIC Power
4 -ACZ_DET
4NC
5 LINE2_R
5 Line Out (R)
6 GND
6NC
7 FAUDIO_JD
7NC
8 No Pin
8 No Pin
9 LINE2_L
9 Line Out (L)
10 GND
10 NC
• The front panel audio header supports HD audio by default. If your chassis provides an
AC'97 front panel audio module, refer to the instructions on how to activate AC'97 functioninality
via the audio software in Chapter 5, "Configuring 2/4/5.1/7.1-Channel Audio."
• Audio signals will be present on both of the front and back panel audio connections
simultaneously. If you want to mute the back panel audio (only supported when using an HD
front panel audio module), refer to Chapter 5, "Configuring 2/4/5.1/7.1-Channel Audio."
• Some chassis provide a front panel audio module that has separated connectors on each
wire instead of a single plug. For information about connecting the front panel audio
module that has different wire assignments, please contact the chassis manufacturer.
15) CD_IN (CD In Connector, Black)
You may connect the audio cable that came with your optical drive to the header.
Pin No. Definition
1 CD-L
2 GND
1
3 GND
4 CD-R
GA-MA790FXT-UD5P Motherboard - 32 -
16) SPDIF_IO (S/PDIF In/Out Header, Red)
This header supports digital S/PDIF in/out. Via an optional S/PDIF in and out cable, this header can
connect to an audio device that supports digital audio out and an audio system that supports digital
audio in. For purchasing the optional S/PDIF in and out cable, please contact the local dealer.
Pin No. Definition
1 Power
2 No Pin
1
2
3 SPDIF
5
6
4 SPDIFI
5 GND
6 GND
17) F_USB1/F_USB2 (USB Headers, Yellow)
The headers conform to USB 2.0/1.1 specification. Each USB header can provide two USB ports
via an optional USB bracket. For purchasing the optional USB bracket, please contact the local
dealer.
Pin No. Definition
1 Power (5V)
2 Power (5V)
3 USB DX-
9
1
4USB DY-
5 USB DX+
10
2
6 USB DY+
7 GND
8 GND
9 No Pin
10 NC
• Do not plug the IEEE 1394 bracket (2x5-pin) cable into the USB header.
• Prior to installing the USB bracket, be sure to turn off your computer and unplug the
power cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the USB bracket.
Hardware Installation- 33 -
18) F_1394 (IEEE 1394a Header, Gray)
The header conform to IEEE 1394a specification. Each IEEE 1394a header can provide one IEEE
1394a port via an optional IEEE 1394a bracket. For purchasing the optional IEEE 1394a bracket,
please contact the local dealer.
Pin No. Definition
1TPA+
2TPA-
9
1
3 GND
4 GND
10
2
5 TPB+
6 TPB-
7 Power (12V)
8 Power (12V)
9 No Pin
10 GND
• Do not plug the USB bracket cable into the IEEE 1394a header.
• Prior to installing the IEEE 1394a bracket, be sure to turn off your computer and unplug
the power cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the IEEE 1394a bracket.
• To connect an IEEE 1394a device, attach one end of the device cable to your computer
and then attach the other end of the cable to the IEEE 1394a device. Ensure that the cable
is securely connected.
19) LPT (Parallel Port Header)
The LPT header can provide one parallel port via an optional LPT port cable. For purchasing the
optional LPT port cable, please contact the local dealer.
25
1
26
2
Pin No. Definition
Pin No. Definition
1 STB-
14 GND
2 AFD-
15 PD6
3 PD0
16 GND
4 ERR-
17 PD7
5 PD1
18 GND
6 INIT-
19 ACK-
7 PD2
20 GND
8 SLIN-
21 BUSY
9 PD3
22 GND
10 GND
23 PE
11 PD4
24 No Pin
12 GND
25 SLCT
13 PD5
26 GND
GA-MA790FXT-UD5P Motherboard - 34 -
20) COM (Serial Port Header, White)
The COM header can provide one serial port via an optional COM port cable. For purchasing the
optional COM port cable, please contact the local dealer.
Pin No. Definition
1 NDCD -
2 NSIN
9
1
3 NSOUT
4 NDTR -
5 GND
10
2
6 NDSR -
7 NRTS -
8 NCTS -
9 NRI -
10 No Pin
21) CI (Chassis Intrusion Header)
This motherboard provides a chassis detection feature that detects if the chassis cover has been
removed. This function requires a chassis with chassis intrusion detection design.
Pin No. Definition
1 Signal
2GND
1
Hardware Installation- 35 -
22) CLR_CMOS (Clearing CMOS Jumper)
Use this jumper to clear the CMOS values (e.g. date information and BIOS configurations) and
reset the CMOS values to factory defaults. To clear the CMOS values, place a jumper cap on the
two pins to temporarily short the two pins or use a metal object like a screwdriver to touch the two
pins for a few seconds.
Open: Normal
Short: Clear CMOS Values
• Always turn off your computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before
clearing the CMOS values.
• After clearing the CMOS values and before turning on your computer, be sure to remove
the jumper cap from the jumper. Failure to do so may cause damage to the motherboard.
• After system restart, go to BIOS Setup to load factory defaults (select Load Optimized
Defaults) or manually configure the BIOS settings (refer to Chapter 2, "BIOS Setup," for
BIOS configurations).
GA-MA790FXT-UD5P Motherboard - 36 -
