Document Outline

• Notices
  • Safety information
  • About this guide
  • M5A88-M specifications summary
• Chapter 1: Product introduction
  • 1.1 Welcome!
  • 1.2 Package contents
  • 1.3 Special features
    • 1.3.1 Product highlights
    • 1.3.2 ASUS Hybrid Processor - TPU (TurboV Processing Unit)*
    • 1.3.3 ASUS Xtreme Design—Hybrid Switch*
    • 1.3.4 ASUS unique features
• Chapter 2: Hardware information
  • 2.1 Before you proceed
  • 2.2 Motherboard overview
    • 2.2.1 Motherboard layout
    • 2.2.2 Layout contents
    • 2.2.3 Placement direction
    • 2.2.4 Screw holes
  • 2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
    • 2.3.1 Installing the CPU
    • 2.3.2 Installing the CPU heatsink and fan
  • 2.4 System memory
    • 2.4.1 Overview
    • 2.4.2 Memory configurations
    • 2.4.3 Installing a DIMM
    • 2.4.4 Removing a DIMM
  • 2.5 Expansion slots
    • 2.5.1 Installing an expansion card
    • 2.5.2 Configuring an expansion card
    • 2.5.3 Interrupt assignments
    • 2.5.4 PCI slot
    • 2.5.5 PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots
    • 2.5.6 PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot
  • 2.6 Jumper
  • 2.7 Onboard switches
  • 2.8 Connectors
    • 2.8.1 Rear panel connectors
    • 2.8.2 Audio I/O connections
    • 2.8.3 Internal connectors
    • 2.8.4. ASUS Q-Connector (system panel)
  • 2.9 Onboard LEDs
  • 2.10 Starting up for the first time
  • 2.11 Turning off the computer
• Chapter 3: BIOS setup
  • 3.1 Knowing BIOS
  • 3.2 Updating BIOS
    • 3.2.1 ASUS Update utility
    • 3.2.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility
    • 3.2.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility
    • 3.2.4 ASUS BIOS Updater
  • 3.3 BIOS setup program
    • 3.3.1 BIOS menu screen
    • 3.3.2 Menu bar
    • 3.3.3 Navigation keys
    • 3.3.4 Menu items
    • 3.3.5 Submenu items
    • 3.3.6 Configuration fields
    • 3.3.7 Pop-up window
    • 3.3.8 Scroll bar
    • 3.3.9 General help
  • 3.4 Main menu
    • 3.4.1 SATA6G_1~6
    • 3.4.2 SATA Configuration
    • 3.4.3 System Information
  • 3.5 Ai Tweaker menu
    • 3.5.1 CPU Level UP [Auto]
    • 3.5.2 CPU OverClocking [Auto]
    • 3.5.3 CPU Ratio [Auto]
    • 3.5.4 DRAM Frequency [Auto]
    • 3.5.5 CPU/NB Frequency [Auto]
    • 3.5.6 HT Link Speed [Auto]
    • 3.5.7 GPU Booster [Enabled]
    • 3.5.8 OC Tuner Utility
    • 3.5.9 DRAM Timing Configuration
    • 3.5.10 DRAM Driving Configuration
    • 3.5.11 CPU & NB Voltage Mode [Offset]
    • 3.5.12 CPU VDDA Voltage [Auto]
    • 3.5.13 DRAM Voltage [Auto]
    • 3.5.14 HT Voltage [Auto]
    • 3.5.15 NB Voltage [Auto]
    • 3.5.16 NB 1.8V Voltage [Auto]
    • 3.5.17 SB Voltage [Auto]
    • 3.5.18 CPU Load-Line Calibration [Auto]
    • 3.5.19 CPU/NB Load-Line Calibration [Auto]
    • 3.5.20 PCI/PCIe CLK Status [Enabled]
  • 3.6 Advanced menu
    • 3.6.1 CPU Configuration
    • 3.6.2 Chipset
    • 3.6.3 Onboard Devices Configuration
    • 3.6.4 PCIPnP
    • 3.6.5 USB Configuration
  • 3.7 Power menu
    • 3.7.1 Suspend Mode [Auto]
    • 3.7.2 ACPI 2.0 Support [Enabled]
    • 3.7.3 ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]
    • 3.7.4 APM Configuration
    • 3.7.5 HW Monitor Configuration
    • 3.7.6 Anti Surge Support [Enabled]
    • 3.7.7 NB Thermal Protect [Enabled]
  • 3.8 Boot menu
    • 3.8.1 Boot Device Priority
    • 3.8.2 Boot Settings Configuration
    • 3.8.3 Security
  • 3.9 Tools menu
    • 3.9.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2
    • 3.9.2 ASUS O.C. Profile
  • 3.10 Exit menu
• Chapter 4: Software support
  • 4.1 Installing an operating system
  • 4.2 Support DVD information
    • 4.2.1 Running the support DVD
    • 4.2.2 Obtaining the software manuals
  • 4.3 Software information
    • 4.3.1 ASUS PC Probe II
    • 4.3.2 Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ Technology
    • 4.3.3 ASUS AI Suite
    • 4.3.4 ASUS Fan Xpert
    • 4.3.5 ASUS EPU
    • 4.3.6 Audio configurations
    • 4.3.7 ASUS GPU Boost
    • 4.3.8 Turbo Unlocker
  • 4.4 ASUS Unique Overclocking Utility—TurboV EVO
    • 4.4.1 Using ASUS TurboV
    • 4.4.2 Using ASUS TurboV Auto Tuning Mode
    • 4.4.3 Using CPU Level UP
    • 4.4.4 Using ASUS Turbo Key
  • 4.5 RAID configurations
    • 4.5.1 RAID definitions
    • 4.5.2 Installing Serial ATA hard disks
    • 4.5.3 Setting the RAID item in BIOS
    • 4.5.4 AMD® Option ROM Utility
  • 4.6 Creating a RAID driver disk
    • 4.6.1 Creating a RAID driver disk without entering the OS
    • 4.6.2 Creating a RAID driver disk in Windows®
    • 4.6.3 Installing the RAID driver during Windows® OS installation
    • 4.6.4 Using a USB floppy disk drive
• Chapter 5: ATI® Hybrid CrossFireX™ technology support
  • ATI® Hybrid CrossFireX™
    • System requirements
    • Before you proceed
    • Installing AMD Chipset Driver
    • Using the ATI CATALYST® Control Center