ECS P55H-A2 User Manual

Preface
Preface
Copyright
This publication, including all photographs, illustrations and software, is protected
under international copyright laws, with all rights reserved. Neither this manual, nor
any of the material contained herein, may be reproduced without written consent of
the author.
Version 1.0
Disclaimer
The information in this document is subject to change without notice. The manufac-
turer makes no representations or warranties with respect to the contents hereof and
specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any
particular purpose. The manufacturer reserves the right to revise this publication and
to make changes from time to time in the content hereof without obligation of the
manufacturer to notify any person of such revision or changes.
Trademark Recognition
Microsoft, MS-DOS and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
MMX, Pentium, Pentium-II, Pentium-III, Celeron are registered trademarks of Intel
Corporation.
Other product names used in this manual are the properties of their respective
owners and are acknowledged.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installa-
tion. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if
not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful inter-
ference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference
will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful
interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one
or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna
• Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver
• Connect the equipment onto an outlet on a circuit different from that to
which the receiver is connected
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help
Shielded interconnect cables and a shielded AC power cable must be employed with
this equipment to ensure compliance with the pertinent RF emission limits governing
this device. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the system’s manu-
facturer could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

ECS P55H-A2 Specifications

General

Brand	ECS
Model	P55H-A2
Category	Motherboard
Language	English

Summary

Chapter 2: Installing the Motherboard

Safety Precautions and Case Selection Criteria

Essential safety measures and guidance for choosing a compatible computer case.

Physical Motherboard Installation Steps

Instructions for mounting the motherboard into the computer case.

Installing Essential Hardware Components

CPU Installation and Overclocking Safety

Procedures for CPU installation and precautions for overclocking.

Detailed CPU Installation Procedure

Manipulating CPU Socket Lever and Inserting CPU

Step-by-step guide for CPU socket lever operation and CPU placement.

Installing DDR3 Memory Modules

Memory Module Compatibility and Configuration Recommendations

Details memory specifications and optimal slot population for performance.

Installing Serial ATA (SATA) Hard Drives

SATA Connector Information and Drive Installation Guide

Information on SATA connectors and steps for installing SATA hard drives.

Connecting Case Components to Motherboard

ATX Power Supply Connection Procedures

Instructions for connecting the main 24-pin ATX power supply cable.

Power and Fan Connector Pinouts

ATX12V, CPU Fan, System Fan, and Speaker Connector Pinouts

Details pin assignments for various power and fan headers.

Detailed Power Connector Pinout Diagrams

ATX 24-pin and ATX 12V Power Connector Pin Assignments

Front Panel Header Functionality and Connections

Front Panel LEDs, Switches, and Header Pinouts

Chapter 3: Using the BIOS Setup Utility

BIOS Setup Utility Introduction and Standard Configuration

Overview of the BIOS setup utility and its default settings.

Method for Entering BIOS Setup

BIOS Navigation and CMOS Reset Procedures

BIOS Navigation Keys and CMOS Reset Steps

Standard CMOS Setup Details

System Date, Time, and SATA Device Configuration

Advanced BIOS Setup Options Overview

Thermal Management, CPU Features, and Boot Order Settings

BIOS Configuration of System Features

CPU, Intel VT, EIST, TurboMode, APIC, and eJIFFY Settings

Advanced Chipset and Integrated Peripherals Setup

Memory Remap Feature and Peripheral Configuration Options

BIOS Settings for Onboard Peripherals

SATA Mode, Audio, LAN, USB, and COM Port Configurations

BIOS Power Management Setup

ACPI Suspend, Wake-on-Ring, PCI/LAN Wake-up, and RTC Alarm Settings

BIOS PCI/PnP and System Wake-up Settings

PCI/PnP Configuration and USB/PS2 Wake-up Options

BIOS PC Health Status and Fan Control

Hardware Monitoring and Smart Fan Control Configuration

BIOS System Component Monitoring and M.I.B. II Settings

Component Status, Intelligent BIOS II Overview, and DRAM Configuration

BIOS Performance Tuning and Overclocking Settings

Performance Level, DRAM Frequency, and Overclocking Functions

BIOS Voltage Settings and Loading Default Values

DIMM Voltage, CPU VTT Voltage, and Loading Default Settings

BIOS Password Management

Setting and Managing Supervisor and User Passwords

Saving and Exiting BIOS Setup Utility

Procedures for Saving Changes or Exiting Without Saving

Updating the Motherboard BIOS

Chapter 4: Using Motherboard Software

Software DVD/CD-ROM Contents and Automated Installation

Installing Motherboard Software via Drivers Tab

Navigating Setup, Browsing CD, and Utilities Tab Options

Motherboard Software Installation Methods

Running Setup Wizard and Manual Driver Installation Procedures

Chapter 5: Intel® Matrix Storage Manager RAID Configurations

Prerequisites and Initial Steps for RAID Setup

Items required and initial configuration steps for setting up RAID.

Accessing and Navigating the RAID BIOS Utility

Entering and Navigating the Intel Matrix Storage Manager

Instructions on how to access and use the RAID BIOS interface.

Creating RAID Volumes

Selecting RAID Level, Disks, and Setting Volume Capacity

Procedures for choosing RAID level, disks, and defining volume size.

RAID Volume Creation Confirmation and Information

Confirming RAID Creation and Displaying Volume Information

Steps for confirming RAID creation and viewing the resulting volume details.

Deleting RAID Volumes and Data Loss Warning

Steps to Delete RAID Sets and Confirm Action

Instructions for removing RAID volumes, including confirmation steps.

Resetting Disks to Non-RAID and Exiting RAID Utility

Procedures for Resetting Disks and Exiting Setup

How to revert disks to non-RAID status and exit the RAID manager.

Chapter 6: Setting Up eJIFFY

Introduction to the eJIFFY Fast Boot Utility

eJIFFY Installation and Activation Process

DVD Activation and BIOS Configuration for eJIFFY

eJIFFY Configuration and System Restart Post-Installation

Setting eJIFFY Language and Restarting the Computer

Accessing and Using the eJIFFY Environment

Entering eJIFFY and Navigating Boot Options

Guide on how to launch eJIFFY and select boot options.

Chapter 7: Troubleshooting Common PC Issues

Start-up Problems During PC Assembly

Diagnosing and resolving issues encountered during initial PC assembly.

System Power-Up and Fan Operation Troubleshooting

Steps to troubleshoot systems that fail to power on or have fan issues.

Troubleshooting Display and Shutdown Issues

Diagnosing No Display Problems and Sudden Shutdowns

Guidance on resolving issues where the system powers on but shows no display or shuts down unexpectedly.

Troubleshooting Post-Use Problems and Maintenance

Resolving Issues After Prolonged Use and General PC Care

Addressing problems after extended use and providing maintenance tips.

PC Maintenance and Environmental Precautions

Best Practices for Motherboard Care and Operation

Basic Troubleshooting Flowchart and Steps

Step-by-Step Guide for Diagnosing PC Problems

A visual flowchart to assist in troubleshooting common PC issues.