K7N2M/K7N2GM

MS-6777/G (v1.X) M-ATX Mainboard

Version 1.1
G52-M6777X2

i
Manual Rev: 1.1
Release Date: May 2003

FCC-B Radio Frequency Interference Statement

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 when the equip-
ment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accor-
dance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to
cause harmful interference, in which case the user will be required to correct
the interference at his own expense.

Notice 1
The changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party respon-
sible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

Notice 2
Shielded interface cables and A.C. power cord, if any, must be used in order to
comply with the emission limits.

VOIR LA NOTICE D’INSTALLATION AVANT DE RACCORDER AU

RESEAU.

Micro-Star International MS-6777

Tested to comply
with FCC Standard
For Home or Office Use

ii
Copyright Notice
The material in this document is the intellectual property of MICRO-STAR
INTERNATIONAL. We take every care in the preparation of this document,
but no guarantee is given as to the correctness of its contents. Our products
are under continual improvement and we reserve the right to make changes
without notice.

Trademarks
All trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

AMD, Athlon™, Athlon™ XP, Thoroughbred™, and Duron™ are registered

trademarks of AMD Corporation.
PS/2 and OS®/2 are registered trademarks of International Business Machines
Corporation.
Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Windows® 98/
2000/NT/XP are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, DualNet, and nForce are registered trademarks or
trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
Netware® is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc.
Award® is a registered trademark of Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
AMI® is a registered trademark of American Megatrends Inc.

Revision History
Revision Revision History Date
V1.1 Changing nForce2 SPP NB May 2003
to nForce2 400, removing
MCP2-T SB

Technical Support
If a problem arises with your system and no solution can be obtained from the
user’s manual, please contact your place of purchase or local distributor.
Alternatively, please try the following help resources for further guidance.
h Visit the MSI website for FAQ, technical guide, BIOS updates, driver
updates, and other information: http://www.msi.com.tw/
h Contact our technical staff at: support@msi.com.tw

iii
Safety Instructions

1. Always read the safety instructions carefully.

2. Keep this User’s Manual for future reference.
3. Keep this equipment away from humidity.
4. Lay this equipment on a reliable flat surface before setting it up.
5. The openings on the enclosure are for air convection hence protects the
equipment from overheating. DO NOT COVER THE OPENINGS.
6. Make sure the voltage of the power source and adjust properly 110/220V
before connecting the equipment to the power inlet.
7. Place the power cord such a way that people can not step on it. Do not
place anything over the power cord.
8. Always Unplug the Power Cord before inserting any add-on card or module.
9. All cautions and warnings on the equipment should be noted.
10. Never pour any liquid into the opening that could damage or cause electri-
cal shock.
11. If any of the following situations arises, get the equipment checked by a
service personnel:
z The power cord or plug is damaged.
z Liquid has penetrated into the equipment.
z The equipment has been exposed to moisture.
z The equipment has not work well or you can not get it work according
to User’s Manual.
z The equipment has dropped and damaged.
z The equipment has obvious sign of breakage.
12. DO NOT LEAVE THIS EQUIPMENT IN AN ENVIRONMENT
UNCONDITIONED, STORAGE TEMPERATURE ABOVE 600 C (1400F), IT
MAY DAMAGE THE EQUIPMENT.

CAUTION: Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced.

Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the
manufacturer.

iv
 CONTENTS
FCC-B Radio Frequency Interference Statement .......................................... iii
Copyright Notice .......................................................................................... iii
Trademarks ................................................................................................... iii
Revision History ........................................................................................... iii
Technical Support ......................................................................................... iii
Safety Instructions ....................................................................................... iv
Chapter 1. Getting Started ........................................................................ 1-1
Mainboard Specifications .................................................................... 1-2
Mainboard Layout ............................................................................... 1-4
MSI Special Features ........................................................................... 1-5
Fuzzy Logic™ 4 ............................................................................. 1-5
Live BIOS™/Live Driver™ ............................................................ 1-6
Live Monitor™ .............................................................................. 1-7
PC Alert™ 4 ................................................................................... 1-8
Chapter 2. Hardware Setup ....................................................................... 2-1
Quick Components Guide .................................................................... 2-2
Central Processing Unit: CPU .............................................................. 2-3
CPU Core Speed Derivation Procedure ......................................... 2-3
CPU Installation Procedures for Socket 462 .................................. 2-4
Installing AMD Athlon CPU (Socket 462) Cooler Set ................... 2-5
CPU Clock Frequency Selection through Jumpers ........................ 2-6
Memory ................................................................................................ 2-7
Introduction to DDR SDRAM ....................................................... 2-7
DIMM Module Combination ......................................................... 2-8
Installing DDR Modules ............................................................... 2-8
Power Supply ....................................................................................... 2-9
ATX 20-Pin Power Connector: JWR1 ............................................ 2-9
ATX 12V Power Connector: JPW1 ................................................ 2-9

v
Back Panel .......................................................................................... 2-10
Mouse/Keyboard Connector ...................................................... 2-10
IEEE1394 Port (Optional) ............................................................. 2-11
USB Connectors .......................................................................... 2-11
Parallel Port Connector: LPT1 ...................................................... 2-12
RJ-45 LAN Jack ........................................................................... 2-13
Audio Port Connectors ............................................................... 2-13
Serial Port Connector ................................................................... 2-14
VGA Connector (nForce2 IGP only) ............................................ 2-15
Connectors ......................................................................................... 2-15
Floppy Disk Drive Connector: FDD1 ........................................... 2-15
Hard Disk Connectors: IDE1 & IDE2 ........................................... 2-16
Fan Power Connectors: CFAN1/SFAN1 ...................................... 2-17
Front Panel Connectors: JFP1 & JFP2 ......................................... 2-18
Front Panel Audio Connector: JAUD1 ........................................ 2-19
Front USB Connectors: USB1, USB2 ........................................... 2-20
CD-In Connector: J7 .................................................................... 2-21
Aux Line-In Connector: J9 ........................................................... 2-21
SPDIF Connector: JSP1 (Optional) .............................................. 2-21
TV-Out Connector: JTV1 (Optional) ............................................ 2-22
IEEE 1394 Connector: PORT2 (Optional) ..................................... 2-23
Jumpers .............................................................................................. 2-24
Clear CMOS Jumper: JBAT1 ........................................................ 2-24
FSB Mode Jumper: J4 .................................................................. 2-25
CPU FSB Frequency Jumper: J3 .................................................. 2-25
Slots ................................................................................................... 2-26
AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) Slot ......................................... 2-26
PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) Slots .......................... 2-26
CNR (Communication Network Riser) Slot .................................. 2-26
PCI Interrupt Request Routing .................................................... 2-27

vi
Chapter 3. BIOS Setup .............................................................................. 3-1
Entering Setup ...................................................................................... 3-2
Control Keys ................................................................................. 3-2
Getting Help .................................................................................. 3-2
The Main Menu ................................................................................... 3-4
Standard CMOS Features .................................................................... 3-6
Advanced BIOS Features .................................................................... 3-8
Advanced Chipset Features ............................................................... 3-12
Integrated Peripherals ........................................................................ 3-16
Power Management Setup ................................................................. 3-21
PNP/PCI Configurations ..................................................................... 3-25
PC Health Status ................................................................................ 3-27
Frequency/Voltage Control ................................................................ 3-28
Load Fail-Safe/Optimized Defaults ..................................................... 3-28
Set Supervisor/User Password ........................................................... 3-30
Appendix A: Using 4- or 6-Channel Audio Function ................................ A-1
Installing the Audio Driver ................................................................. A-2
Installation for Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP ................................ A-2
Using 4- or 6-Channel Audio Function ............................................... A-4
Using the Back Panel .................................................................... A-4
Appendix B: Using the TV-Out Function .................................................. B-1
Installing the TV-Out Bracket ............................................................. B-2
Connecting S-Video and RCA Cables ................................................. B-3
Display Setup ...................................................................................... B-5
Troubleshooting ........................................................................................ T-1
Glossary .................................................................................................... G-1

vii
 Getting Started

Chapter 1. Getting
Started
Getting Started
Thank you for choosing the K7N2M/K7N2GM (MS-6777/
G) v1.X Micro ATX mainboard. The K7N2M/K7N2GM mainboard
is based on nVIDIA® nForce™2 400/IGP (Integrated Graphics
Processor) & nVIDIA® nForce™2 MCP2 (Media and Commu-
nications Processor) chipsets for optimal system efficiency. De-
signed to fit the advanced AMD® Athlon™, Athlon™ XP or
Duron™ processors, the K7N2M/K7N2GM mainboard delivers
a high performance and professional desktop platform solution.

1-1
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Mainboard Specifications

CPU
h 333MHz FSB: Supports Socket A (Socket-462) for AMD K7 Athlon™ XP/
Athlon™/Duron™ processor up to 2800+ and higher (for nForce2 IGP)
h 400MHz FSB: Supports Socket A (Socket-462) for AMD K7 Athlon™ XP/
Athlon™/Duron™ processor up to 3200+ and higher (for nForce2 400)

Chipset
h nVIDIA nForce2 400 or nForce2 IGP (Optional)
- Supports DDR400 (nForce2 400 only)/333/266/200
- Supports external AGP 4X/8X
- Integrated TV encoder (nForce2 IGP only)
h nVIDIA nForce2 MCP2
- AC97 Interface supporting up to two concurrent codecs
- Ultra ATA-133 for the fastest hard disk throughput
- 6-port USB 2.0 EHCI/1.1 OHCI controller
- Internal MAC integrated

Main Memory
h 2 DDR SDRAM DIMMs to support Dual Channel DDR266/333, max. 2GB
(nForce2 IGP only)
h 2 DDR SDRAM DIMMs to support Single Channel DDR266/333/400,
max. 2GB (nForce2 400 only)

Slots
h One AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) 1.5V 4X/8X slot
h Three 32-bit PCI bus slots (support 3.3v/5v PCI bus interface)
h One CNR slot

On-BoardIDE
h An IDE controller on the MCP2 chipset provides IDE HDD/CD-ROM with
PIO, Bus Master and Ultra DMA133/100/66 operation modes
h Can connect up to four IDE devices

On-Board Peripherals
h On-Board Peripherals include:
- 1 floppy port supports 2 FDDs with 360K, 720K, 1.2M, 1.44M and
2.88Mbytes

1-2
 Getting Started

- 1 serial port
- 1 parallel port supports SPP/EPP/ECP mode
- 3 audio ports in vertical
- 6 USB ports (Rear * 2/ Front * 4)
- 1 RJ-45 LAN jack
- 1 VGA port (nForce2 IGP only)
- 2 optional IEEE 1394 connectors (Rear * 1/ Front * 1)

LAN
h RealTek RTL8201BL 10/100Mbps LAN controller

Audio
h Realtek ALC650 6-channel audio

IEEE 1394 (Optional)

h VIA PCI IEEE 1394 controller (2 ports supported)

BIOS
h The mainboard BIOS provides “Plug & Play” BIOS which detects the pe-
ripheral devices and expansion cards of the board automatically.
h The mainboard provides a Desktop Management Interface (DMI) function
which records your mainboard specifications.

Mounting and Dimension

h Micro ATX Form Factor: 24.4 cm (L) x 24.4 cm (W)
h 6 mounting holes

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MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Mainboard Layout

Top: Mouse
Bottom: Keyboard SOCKET 462
Winbond
W83627HF-AW
1394 Port CFAN1

JWR1
Top: Parallel Port

Bottom:
COM A JPW1

IDE 1
VGA Port

FDD 1
J3

JTV1
nVIDIA

IDE 2
nForce2
J4
400/IGP
Top: LAN Jack
Bottom: USB Ports SFAN1

T: Line-In Realtek
M: Line-Out RTL8201BL
B: Mic
AGP Slot DIMM 1

DIMM 2
VIA
BATT
VT6307 PCI Slot 1 +

JSP1 JBAT1
nVIDIA
PORT2 PCI Slot 2 nForce2 JFP2
MCP2
J9 J7 BIOS

PCI Slot 3
Codec JFP1
USB2
JAUD1 USB1
CNR

K7N2M/K7N2GM (MS-6777/G) v1.X Micro ATX Mainboard

1-4
 Getting Started

MSI Special Features

Fuzzy Logic™ 4
The Fuzzy Logic™ 4 utility is a user friendly tool that allows users to
view and adjust the current system status. To overclock the CPU FSB (Front
Side Bus) frequency under the Windows operating system, click FSB and use
the right and left arrow keys to select the desired FSB, and then click Apply to
apply the new setup value. To enable the system running at the specified FSB
every time when you click Turbo, click Save to save the desired FSB first. If
you want to know the maximal CPU overclocking value, click Auto to start
testing. The CPU FSB will automatically increase the testing value until the PC
reboots. After rebooting, click Turbo to apply the test result. Click Default to
restore the default values.

Features:
Ø MSI Logo links to the MSI Web site
Ø CPU Speed allows users to adjust the CPU speed through CPU
Multiplier and FSB
Ø Voltage allows user to adjust the voltage of CPU/Memory/AGP
Ø MSI Info provides information about the mainboard, BIOS and OS
Ø CPU Info provides detailed information about the CPU
Ø CPU Fan Speed shows the current running speed of CPU Fan
Ø CPU Temp. shows the current CPU temperature

MSI Reminds You...

To adjust the options under CPU Speed and Voltage, use the right
and left arrow keys to select the desired value and then click Ap-
ply to run the setup value.

1-5
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Live BIOS™/Live Driver™

The Live BIOS™/Live Driver™ is a tool used to detect and
update your BIOS/drivers online so that you don’t need to search
for the correct BIOS/driver version throughout the Web site. To
use the function, you need to install the “MSI Live Update 2”
application. After installation, the “MSI Live Update 2” icon (as
shown on the right) will appear on the screen.
Double click the “MSI Live Update 2” icon, and the follow-
ing screen will appear:

Five buttons are placed on the leftmost pane of the screen. Click the desired
button to start the update process.
z Live BIOS – Updates the BIOS online.
z Live Driver – Updates the drivers online.
z Live VGA BIOS – Updates the VGA BIOS online.
z Live VGA Driver – Updates the VGA driver online.
z Live Utility – Updates the utilities online.
If the product you purchased does not support any of the functions listed
above, a “sorry” message is displayed. For more information on the update
instructions, insert the companion CD and refer to the “Live Update Guide”
under the “Manual” Tab.

1-6
 Getting Started

Live Monitor™
The Live Monitor™ is a tool used to schedule the search
for the latest BIOS/drivers version on the MSI Web site. To use
the function, you need to install the “MSI Live Update 2”
application. After installation, the “MSI Live Monitor” icon (as
shown on the right) will appear on the screen. Double click this
icon to run the application.

Double click the “MSI Live Monitor” icon at the lower-right corner
of the taskbar, and the following dialog box will appear. You can specify how
often the system will automatically search for the BIOS/drivers version, or
change the LAN settings right from the dialog box.

You can right-click the MSI Live Monitor icon to perform the functions
listed below:
z Auto Search – Searches for the BIOS/drivers version you need immediately.
z View Last Result – Allows you to view the last search result if there is any.
z Preference – Configures the Search function, including the Search schedule.
z Exit – Exits the Live Monitor™ application.
z FAQ – Provides a link to a database which contents various possible questions
about MSI's products for users to inquire.

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MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

PC Alert™ 4
The PC AlertTM 4 is a utility you can find in the CD-ROM disk. The utility
is just like your PC doctor that can detect the following PC hardware status
during real time operation:
Ø monitor CPU & system temperatures
Ø monitor fan speeds
Ø monitor system voltages

If one of the items above is abnormal, the program main screen will be
immediately shown on the screen, with the abnormal item highlighted in red.
This will continue to be shown until the condition returns to the normal status.

Adjusting Keys

Temperature Modes

COOLER XP

Users can use the Adjusting Keys to change the minimum and maximum
threshold of each item for the system to send out a warning message. Click
Temperature to select the temperature modes of either Fahrenheit (oF) or Cel-
sius (oC). The PC Alert4 icon on the Status Area will show the current CPU
temperature.

1-8
 Getting Started

To better protect the CPU from overheating, a new feature, COOLER

XP, has been added to decrease the temperature of AMD Athlon XP CPU. To
do so, simply click COOLER XP and the screen will show the Cute skin (as
shown below) with information about the CPU and chipset. Right-click the
mouse to select the skin you want to switch to.

Cute

MSI Reminds You...

1. The new feature COOLER XP will work only if your mainboard
supports AMD Athlon™ XP CPU.
2. Items shown on PC Alert 4 vary depending on your system status.

1-9
 Hardware Setup

Chapter 2. Hardware
Setup
Hardware Setup
This chapter tells you how to install the CPU, memory
modules, and expansion cards, as well as how to setup the jump-
ers on the mainboard. Also, it provides the instructions on con-
necting the peripheral devices, such as the mouse, keyboard,
etc.
While doing the installation, be careful in holding the com-
ponents and follow the installation procedures.

2-1
 MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Quick Components Guide

CFAN1, p.2-17
CPU, p.2-3
JPW1, p.2-9 DDR DIMMs, p.2-7

Back Panel
I/O, p.2-10 JWR1, p.2-9

J3, p.2-25

FDD1, p.2-15
JTV1,
p.2-22
J4, p.2-25

SFAN1,
p.2-17

IDE1/2 ,
AGP1, p.2-26 p.2-16
J7, p.2-21
JSP1, p.2-21
JBAT1,
J9, p.2-21 p.2-24
JFP2, p.2-18
PORT2, p.2-23
JFP1, p.2-18

CNR1, p.2-26

USB1, p.2-20 USB2, p.2-20

JAUD1, p.2-19

PCI 1~3, p.2-26

2-2
 Hardware Setup

Central Processing Unit: CPU

The mainboard supports AMD® Athlon™, Athlon™ XP and Duron™
processors in the 462 pin package. The mainboard uses a CPU socket called
Socket A for easy CPU installation. When you are installing the CPU, make
sure the CPU has a heat sink and a cooling fan attached on the top to
prevent overheating. If you do not find the heat sink and cooling fan, contact
your dealer to purchase and install them before turning on the computer.

CPU Core Speed Derivation Procedure

CPU Clock multiplied by Core/Bus ratio equals the CPU core speed.

For example:
If CPU Clock = 100MHz
Core/Bus ratio = 14
then CPU core speed = Host Clock x Core/Bus ratio
= 100MHz x 14
= 1.4 GHz

WARNING! Thermal Issue for CPU

As processor technology pushes to faster speeds and higher performance, ther-
mal management becomes increasingly crucial when building computer
systems. Maintaining the proper thermal environment is key to reliable
operation. As such, the processor must be maintained in the specified thermal
requirements.

AMD Athlon™/Duron™/Athlon™ XP processor with a speed of 600MHz

and above requires a LARGER heatsink and fan. You also need to add ther-
mal grease between the CPU and heatsink to improve heat dissipation. Then,
make sure that the CPU and heatsink are securely fastened and in good con-
tact with each other. These are needed to prevent damaging the processor and
ensuring reliable operation. If you want to get more information on the proper
cooling, you can visit AMD’s website for reference.

2-3
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

CPU Installation Procedures for Socket 462

1. Please turn off the power and
unplug the power cord before
Open Lever
installing the CPU.

2. Pull the lever sideways away Sliding 90 degree

Plate
from the socket. Make sure
to raise the lever up to a 90-
degree angle.

3. Look for the gold arrow. The Gold arrow

gold arrow should point to-
wards the lever pivot. The
CPU can only fit in the cor-
rect orientation.

4. If the CPU is correctly

installed, the pins should be Gold arrow Correct CPU placement
completely embedded into the
socket and can not be seen. O
Please note that any violation
of the correct installation pro-
cedures may cause permanent
damages to your mainboard.
Gold arrow Incorrect CPU placement
5. Press the CPU down firmly X
into the socket and close the
lever. As the CPU is likely to
move while the lever is being
closed, always close the lever Press down
the CPU
with your fingers pressing Close
tightly on top of the CPU to Lever
make sure the CPU is prop-
erly and completely embed-
ded into the socket.

2-4
 Hardware Setup

Installing AMD Athlon CPU (Socket 462) Cooler Set

The following instructions will guide

you through the heat sink installation
process. Please consult your agent for
the proper CPU cooler set.

1. Position your CPU cooler set onto

Apply some heat
the CPU. sink paste

2. Use one end of the clip to hook

the latch of the CPU sliding plate.

3. Hook the other latch to fix the

cooling fan set. You may need a
screw drive to press down the
other side of the clip.

4. Connect the fan to the power sup-

ply connector provided on your
mainboard.

MSI Reminds You...

Please apply some heat sink paste on top of your CPU to dissi-
pate the heat more effectively.

2-5
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

CPU Clock Frequency Selection through Jumpers

The hardware configuration for CPU clock frequency of the motherboard
is set to 100MHz by default. Therefore, to make a 133MHz CPU run at 133MHz
when it is installed on the board, you have to adjust the CPU clock frequency
through jumpers.
To set the clock frequency for the installed CPU, refer to Jumpers in
later section.

MSI Reminds You...

Overheating
Overheating will seriously damage the CPU and system, al-
ways make sure the cooling fan can work properly to protect
the CPU from overheating.
Replacing the CPU
While replacing the CPU, always turn off the ATX power sup-
ply or unplug the power supply’s power cord from grounded
outlet first to ensure the safety of CPU.
Overclocking
This motherboard is designed to support overclocking.
However, please make sure your components are able to toler-
ate such abnormal setting, while doing overclocking. Any at-
tempt to operate beyond product specifications is not
recommended. We do not guarantee the damages or risks
caused by inadequate operation or beyond product
specifications.

2-6
 Hardware Setup

Memory
The mainboard provides:
h 2 DDR SDRAM DIMMs to support Dual Channel DDR266/333,
max. 2GB (nForce2 IGP only)
h 2 DDR SDRAM DIMMs to support Single Channel DDR266/333/
400, max. 2GB (nForce2 400 only)
You can install DDR400 (nForce2 400 only)/333/266/200 modules on
the DDR DIMM slots (DIMM 1~2).

DDR DIMM Slots

(DIMM 1~2)

Introduction to DDR SDRAM

DDR (Double Data Rate) SDRAM is similar to conventional SDRAM,
but doubles the rate by transferring data twice per cycle. It uses 2.5 volts as
opposed to 3.3 volts used in SDR SDRAM, and requires 184-pin DIMM mod-
ules rather than 168-pin DIMM modules used by SDR SDRAM. High memory
bandwidth makes DDR an ideal solution for high performance PC, worksta-
tions and servers.

2-7
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

DIMM Module Combination

Install at least one DIMM module on the slots. You can install either
single- or double-sided modules in any order to meet your own needs.
Memory modules can be installed in any combination as follows:

Slot Memory Module Total Memory

DIMM 1 S/D 64MB~1GB
(Bank 0 & 1)
DIMM 2 S/D 64MB~1GB
(Bank 2 & 3)
Maximum System Memory Suppported 64MB~2GB

S: Single Side D: Double Side

Installing DDR Modules

1. The DDR DIMM has only one notch on the center of module. The mod-
ule will only fit in the right orientation.
2. Insert the DIMM memory module vertically into the DIMM slot. Then
push it in until the golden finger on the memory module is deeply in-
serted in the socket.
3. The plastic clip at each side of the DIMM slot will automatically close.

Volt Notch

MSI Reminds You...

You can barely see the golden finger if the module is properly
inserted in the socket.

2-8
 Hardware Setup

Power Supply
The mainboard supports ATX power supply for the power system. Be-
fore inserting the power supply connector, always make sure that all compo-
nents are installed properly to ensure that no damage will be caused.

ATX 20-Pin Power Connector: JWR1

ATX 12V Power Connector: JPW1
The JWR1 provides power to the mainboard while the JPW1 is used to
supply power to the CPU. These two connectors connect to the ATX power
supply and have to work together to ensure stable operation of the mainboard.
To connect to the ATX power supply, make sure the plug of the power supply
is inserted in the proper orientation and the pins are aligned. Then push down
the power supply firmly into the connectors.

JWR1
10 20

JPW1
3 4
1 11
1 2

JWR1 Pin Definition

PIN SIGNAL PIN SIGNAL

JPW1 Pin Definition 1 3.3V 11 3.3V

2 3.3V 12 -12V
PIN SIGNAL
3 GND 13 GND
1 GND 4 5V 14 PS_ON
2 GND 5 GND 15 GND
3 12V 6 5V 16 GND
4 12V 7 GND 17 GND
8 PW_OK 18 -5V
9 5V_SB 19 5V
10 12V 20 5V

2-9
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Back Panel
The back panel provides the following connectors:

LAN
Parallel (Optional)
Mouse
L-In

L-Out

Mic

Keyboard 1394 Port COM A VGA USB

(Optional) (nForce2 IGP only)

Mouse/Keyboard Connector
The mainboard provides a standard PS/2® mouse/keyboard mini DIN
connector for attaching a PS/2® mouse/keyboard. You can plug a PS/2® mouse/
keyboard directly into this connector. The connector location and pin assign-
ments are as follows:

Pin Definition

PIN SIGNAL DESCRIPTION

6 5
1 Mouse/Keyboard Data Mouse/Keyboard data
4 3 2 NC No connection
3 GND Ground
1 4 VCC +5V
2
5 Mouse/Keyboard Clock Mouse/Keyboard clock
PS/2 Mouse/Keyboard 6 NC No connection
(6-pin Female)

2-10
 Hardware Setup

IEEE1394 Port (Optional)

The back panel provides one standard IEEE 1394 port. The standard
IEEE1394 port connects to IEEE1394 devices without external power. The
IEEE1394 high-speed serial bus complements USB by providing enhanced
PC connectivity for a wide range of devices, including consumer electronics
audio/video (A/V) appliances, storage peripherals, other PCs, and portable
devices.

IEEE1394 Port

USB Connectors
The mainboard provides an OHCI (Open Host Controller Interface) Uni-
versal Serial Bus root for attaching USB devices such as keyboard, mouse or
other USB-compatible devices. You can plug the USB device directly into
the connector.

USB Port Description

PIN SIGNAL DESCRIPTION

1 VCC +5V
1 2 3 4
2 -Data 0 Negative Data Channel 0
3 +Data0 Positive Data Channel 0
4 GND Ground
5 6 7 8 5 VCC +5V
6 -Data 1 Negative Data Channel 1
7 +Data 1 Positive Data Channel 1
8 GND Ground
USB Ports

2-11
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Parallel Port Connector: LPT1

The mainboard provides a 25-pin female centronic connector as LPT.
A parallel port is a standard printer port that supports Enhanced Parallel Port
(EPP) and Extended Capabilities Parallel Port (ECP) mode.

13 1

25 14

Pin Definition
PIN SIGNAL DESCRIPTION
1 STROBE Strobe
2 DATA0 Data0
3 DATA1 Data1
4 DATA2 Data2
5 DATA3 Data3
6 DATA4 Data4
7 DATA5 Data5
8 DATA6 Data6
9 DATA7 Data7
10 ACK# Acknowledge
11 BUSY Busy
12 PE Paper End
13 SELECT Select
14 AUTO FEED# Automatic Feed
15 ERR# Error
16 INIT# Initialize Printer
17 SLIN# Select In
18 GND Ground
19 GND Ground
20 GND Ground
21 GND Ground
22 GND Ground
23 GND Ground
24 GND Ground
25 GND Ground

2-12
 Hardware Setup

RJ-45 LAN Jack

The mainboard provides a RJ-45 connector that allows your computer
to be connected to a network environment.

Activity Pin Signal Description

Indicators 1 TDP Transmit differential pair
2 TDN Transmit differential pair
3 RDP Receive differential pair
4 NC Not used
5 NC Not used
LAN Jack 6 RDN Receive differential pair
7 NC Not used
(RJ-45)
8 NC Not used

Audio Port Connectors

Line Out is a connector for Speakers or Headphones. Line In is used
for external CD player, Tape player, or other audio devices. Mic is a connec-
tor for microphones.

1/8” Stereo Audio Connectors Line In

Line Out

Mic

MSI Reminds You...

For more information on 6-channel audio operation, please
refer to Appendix: Using 4- or 6-Channel Audio Function.

2-13
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Serial Port Connector

The mainboard offers one 9-pin male DIN connector as the serial port.
The port is a 16550A high speed communication port that sends/receives 16
bytes FIFOs. You can attach a serial mouse or other serial devices directly to
the connector.

Pin Definition
1 2 3 4 5 PIN SIGNAL DESCRIPTION

1 DCD Data Carry Detect

2 SIN Serial In or Receive Data
3 SOUT Serial Out or Transmit Data
4 DTR Data Terminal Ready)
6 7 8 9
5 GND Ground
9-Pin Male DIN Connector 6 DSR Data Set Ready
7 RTS Request To Send
8 CTS Clear To Send
9 RI Ring Indicate

VGA Connector (nForce2 IGP only)

The mainboard provides a DB 15-pin female connector to connect a
VGA monitor.

Pin Signal Description

5 1 1 RED
2 GREEN
3 BLUE
4 N/C
15 11 5 GND
6 GND
VGA Connector 7 GND
(DB 15-pin) 8 GND
9 +5V
10 GND
11 N/C
12 SDA
13 Horizontal Sync
14 Vertical Sync
15 SCL

2-14
 Hardware Setup

Connectors
The mainboard provides connectors to connect to FDD, IDE HDD, case,
modem, LAN, USB Ports, IR module and CPU/System FAN.

Floppy Disk Drive Connector: FDD1

The mainboard provides a standard floppy disk drive connector that
supports 360K, 720K, 1.2M, 1.44M and 2.88M floppy disk types.

FDD1

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MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Hard Disk Connectors: IDE1 & IDE2

The mainboard has a 32-bit Enhanced PCI IDE and Ultra DMA 33/66/
100/133 controller that provides PIO mode 0~4, Bus Master, and Ultra DMA
33/66/100/133 function. You can connect up to four hard disk drives, CD-
ROM, 120MB Floppy (reserved for future BIOS) and other devices.

IDE2 IDE1

IDE1 (Primary IDE Connector)

The first hard drive should always be connected to IDE1. IDE1 can
connect a Master and a Slave drive. You must configure second hard
drive to Slave mode by setting the jumper accordingly.
IDE2 (Secondary IDE Connector)
IDE2 can also connect a Master and a Slave drive.

MSI Reminds You...

If you install two hard disks on cable, you must configure the
second drive to Slave mode by setting its jumper. Refer to the
hard disk documentation supplied by hard disk vendors for
jumper setting instructions.

2-16
 Hardware Setup

Fan Power Connectors: CFAN1/SFAN1

The CFAN1 (processor fan) and SFAN1 (system fan) support system
cooling fan with +12V. It supports three-pin head connector. When connect-
ing the wire to the connectors, always take note that the red wire is the posi-
tive and should be connected to the +12V, the black wire is Ground and should
be connected to GND. If the mainboard has a System Hardware Monitor chipset
on-board, you must use a specially designed fan with speed sensor to take
advantage of the CPU fan control.

SENSOR
+12V
GND

CFAN1

GND
+12V
Sensor

SFAN1

MSI Reminds You...

Always consult the vendors for proper CPU cooling fan.

2-17
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Front Panel Connectors: JFP1 & JFP2

The mainboard provides two front panel connectors for electrical con-
nection to the front panel switches and LEDs. JFP1 is compliant with Intel®
Front Panel I/O Connectivity Design Guide.

JFP2
8 7

Speaker Power
LED
2 1

JFP1
10 9
Power Reset
Switch Switch
Power HDD
LED LED
2 1

JFP1 Pin Definition

PIN SIGNAL DESCRIPTION

1 HD_LED_P Hard disk LED pull-up
2 FP PWR/SLP MSG LED pull-up
3 HD_LED_N Hard disk active LED
4 FP PWR/SLP MSG LED pull-up
5 RST_SW_N Reset Switch low reference pull-down to GND
6 PWR_SW_P Power Switch high reference pull-up
7 RST_SW_P Reset Switch high reference pull-up
8 PWR_SW_N Power Switch low reference pull-down to GND
9 RSVD_DNU Reserved. Do not use.

JFP2 Pin Definition

PIN SIGNAL PIN SIGNAL

1 GND 2 SPK-
3 SLED 4 BUZ+
5 PLED 6 BUZ-
7 NC 8 SPK+

2-18
 Hardware Setup

Front Panel Audio Connector: JAUD1

The JAUD1 front panel audio connector allows you to connect to the
front panel audio and is compliant with Intel® Front Panel I/O Connectivity
Design Guide.

JAUD1
2 10
1 9

Pin Definition

PIN SIGNAL DESCRIPTION

1 AUD_MIC Front panel microphone input signal

2 AUD_GND Ground used by analog audio circuits
3 AUD_MIC_BIAS Microphone power
4 AUD_VCC Filtered +5V used by analog audio circuits
5 AUD_FPOUT_R Right channel audio signal to front panel
6 AUD_RET_R Right channel audio signal return from front panel
7 HP_ON Reserved for future use to control headphone amplifier
8 KEY No pin
9 AUD_FPOUT_L Left channel audio signal to front panel
10 AUD_RET_L Left channel audio signal return from front panel

MSI Reminds You...

If you don’t want to connect to the front audio 6 10
header, pins 5 & 6, 9 & 10 have to be jumpered in
order to have signal output directed to the rear 5 9
audio ports. Otherwise, the Line-Out connector on
the back panel will not function.

2-19
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Front USB Connectors: USB1, USB2

The mainboard provides two USB 2.0 pin headers USB1/2 that are com-
pliant with Intel® I/O Connectivity Design Guide. USB 2.0 technology in-
creases data transfer rate up to a maximum throughput of 480Mbps, which is
40 times faster than USB 1.1, and is ideal for connecting high-speed USB
interface peripherals such as USB HDD, digital cameras, MP3 players,
printers, modems and the like.

Pin Definition
PIN SIGNAL PIN SIGNAL 2 10
1 9
1 VCC 2 VCC

3 USB0- 4 USB1-
USB1/2
5 USB0+ 6 USB1+

7 GND 8 GND

9 Key 10 USBOC

USB 2.0 Bracket

Connected to USB1 (Optional)
or USB2

2-20
 Hardware Setup

CD-In Connector: J7
The connector is for CD-ROM audio connector.

Aux Line-In Connector: J9

The connector is for DVD add-on card with Line-in connector.

SPDIF Connector: JSP1 (Optional)

The connector is used to connect SPDIF (Sony & Philips Digital Inter-
connect Format) interface for digital audio transmission.

J9
R
GND
L

JSP1 Pin Definition JSP1

1
PIN SIGNAL

1 VCC 3 J7
2 SPDIF
R
3 NC
GND

L
Connected to JSP1

SPDIF Bracket

2-21
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

TV-Out Connector: JTV1 (Optional)

The mainboard optionally provides a TV-Out connector for you to at-
tach a TV-Out bracket. The TV-Out bracket offers two types of TV-Out
connectors: S-Video and RCA Composite connector. Select the appropriate
one to connect to the television and the television will be able to display PC’s
information. For details on how to install the TV-Out bracket and configure
the display settings, see Appendix: Using the TV-Out Function.

3
5
4 1
JTV1

TV-Out Bracket

JTV1 Pin Definition

Pin Description Pin Description

1 GND 4 CVBS

2 Yout 5 GND

3 Cout

TV-Out Connector TV-Out Connector

(S-Video) (RCA Composite)

2-22
 Hardware Setup

IEEE 1394 Connector: PORT2 (Optional)

The mainboard provides one 1394 pin header that allows you to connect
IEEE 1394 ports via an external IEEE1394 bracket (optional).

1 2

9 10

PORT2

Pin Definition

PIN SIGNAL PIN SIGNAL

1 TPA+ 2 TPA-

3 Ground 4 Ground

5 TPB+ 6 TPB-

7 Cable power 8 Cable power

9 Key (no pin) 10 Ground

IEEE1394 Bracket (Optional)

Foolproof
Design

2-23
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Jumpers
The motherboard provides the following jumpers for you to set the
computer’s function. This section will explain how to change your
motherboard’s function through the use of jumpers.

Clear CMOS Jumper: JBAT1

There is a CMOS RAM on board that has a power supply from external
battery to keep the data of system configuration. With the CMOS RAM, the
system can automatically boot OS every time it is turned on. If you want to
clear the system configuration, use the JBAT1 (Clear CMOS Jumper ) to clear
data. Follow the instructions below to clear the data:

JBAT1

1 1

3 3

Keep Data Clear Data

MSI Reminds You...

You can clear CMOS by shorting 2-3 pin while the system is off.
Then return to 1-2 pin position. Avoid clearing the CMOS while
the system is on; it will damage the mainboard.

2-24
 Hardware Setup

FSB Mode Jumper: J4

This jumper allows you to set the CPU FSB mode.

CPU FSB Frequency Jumper: J3

This jumper is used to specify the CPU FSB (Front Side Bus) frequency.
Leave the jumper short connected if a 133/166MHz FSB CPU is installed. If
the CPU supports 100MHz FSB, leave the jumper open.

Open Short
100MHz 133/166MHz

J3

3
J4
1 1

3 3

User Mode Safe Mode

133 MHz 100 MHz

MSI Reminds You...

If your computer hang while overclocking, please reset J4 to
safe mode and reboot. After rebooting, enter BIOS Setup menu
to reload the BIOS Setup Defaults and reset J4 to user mode.

2-25
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Slots
The motherboard provides one AGP slot, three 32-bit PCI bus slots, and
one CNR slot.

AGP Slot

PCI Slots

CNR Slot

AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) Slot

The AGP slot allows you to insert the AGP graphics card. AGP is an
interface specification designed for the throughput demands of 3D graphics.
It introduces a 66MHz, 32-bit channel for the graphics controller to directly
access main memory. The mainboard supports 4x/8x 1.5V AGP card.

PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) Slots

The PCI slots allow you to insert the expansion cards to meet your needs.
When adding or removing expansion cards, make sure that you unplug the
power supply first. Meanwhile, read the documentation for the expansion card
to make any necessary hardware or software settings for the expansion card,
such as jumpers, switches or BIOS configuration.

CNR (Communication Network Riser) Slot

The CNR slot allows you to insert the CNR expansion cards. CNR is a
specially designed network, audio, or modem riser card for ATX family

2-26
 Hardware Setup

motherboards. Its main processing is done through software and controlled

by the motherboard’s chipset.

PCI Interrupt Request Routing

The IRQ, acronym of interrupt request line and pronounced I-R-Q, are
hardware lines over which devices can send interrupt signals to the
microprocessor.
The PCI IRQ pins are typically connected to the PCI bus PIRQ A# ~
PIRQ D# pins as follows:

Order 1 Order 2 Order 3 Order 4

PCI Slot 1 INT A# INT B# INT C# INT D#
PCI Slot 2 INT B# INT C# INT D# INT A#
PCI Slot 3 INT C# INT D# INT A# INT B#

2-27
 BIOS Setup

Chapter 3. BIOS Setup

BIOS Setup
This chapter provides information on the BIOS Setup pro-
gram and allows you to configure the system for optimum use.
You may need to run the Setup program when:
” An error message appears on the screen during the system
booting up, and requests you to run SETUP.
” You want to change the default settings for customized
features.

3-1
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Entering Setup

Power on the computer and the system will start POST (Power On Self
Test) process. When the message below appears on the screen, press <DEL>
key to enter Setup.

Press DEL to enter SETUP

If the message disappears before you respond and you still wish to enter
Setup, restart the system by turning it OFF and On or pressing the RESET
button. You may also restart the system by simultaneously pressing <Ctrl>,
<Alt>, and <Delete> keys.

Control Keys

<↑> Move to the previous item

<↓> Move to the next item
<←> Move to the item in the left hand
<→> Move to the item in the right hand
<Enter> Select the item
<Esc> Jumps to the Exit menu or returns to the main menu from a submenu
<+/PU> Increase the numeric value or make changes
<-/PD> Decrease the numeric value or make changes
<F1> General help, only for Status Page Setup Menu and Option
Page Setup Menu
<F5> Restore the previous CMOS value from CMOS, only for Option
Page Setup Menu
<F6> Load Fail-Safe Defaults
<F7> Load Optimized Defaults
<F10> Save all the CMOS changes and exit

3-2
 BIOS Setup

Getting Help
After entering the Setup menu, the first menu you will see is the Main
Menu.

Main Menu
The main menu lists the setup functions you can make changes to. You
can use the arrow keys ( ↑↓ ) to select the item. The on-line description of the
highlighted setup function is displayed at the bottom of the screen.

Sub-Menu
If you find a right pointer symbol (as shown in the right view) appears
to the left of certain fields that means a sub-
menu can be launched from this field. A
sub-menu contains additional options for a
field parameter. You can use arrow keys (
↑↓ ) to highlight the field and press <Enter>
to call up the sub-menu. Then you can use
the control keys to enter values and move from field to field within a sub-
menu. If you want to return to the main menu, just press the <Esc >.

General Help <F1>

The BIOS setup program provides a General Help screen. You can call
up this screen from any menu by simply pressing <F1>. The Help screen lists
the appropriate keys to use and the possible selections for the highlighted
item. Press <Esc> to exit the Help screen.

MSI Reminds You...

The items under each BIOS category described in this chapter
are under continuous update for better system performance.
Therefore, the description may be slightly different from the latest
BIOS and should be held for reference only.

3-3
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

The Main Menu

Once you enter Phoenix-Award® BIOS CMOS Setup Utility, the Main
Menu (Figure 1) will appear on the screen. The Main Menu allows you to
select from twelve setup functions and two exit choices. Use arrow keys to
select among the items and press <Enter> to accept or enter the sub-menu.

Standard CMOS Features

Use this menu for basic system configurations, such as time, date etc.

Advanced BIOS Features

Use this menu to setup the items of AWARD® special enhanced features.

Advanced Chipset Features

Use this menu to change the values in the chipset registers and optimize your
system’s performance.

Integrated Peripherals
Use this menu to specify your settings for integrated peripherals.

Power Management Setup

Use this menu to specify your settings for power management.

PNP/PCI Configurations
This entry appears if your system supports PnP/PCI.

3-4
 BIOS Setup

PC Health Status
This entry shows your PC health status.

Frequency/Voltage Control
Use this menu to specify your settings for frequency/voltage control.

Load Fail-Safe Defaults

Use this menu to load the BIOS default values for minimal but stable system
performance.

Load Optimized Defaults

Use this menu to load the BIOS default values that are factory settings for
optimal system operations.

Set Supervisor Password

Use this menu to set Supervisor Password.

Set User Password

Use this menu to set User Password.

Save & Exit Setup

Save changes to CMOS and exit setup.

Exit Without Saving

Abandon all changes and exit setup.

3-5
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Standard CMOS Features

The items in Standard CMOS Features Menu are divided into 11 catego-
ries. Each category includes no, one or more than one setup items. Use the
arrow keys to highlight the item and then use the <PgUp> or <PgDn> keys to
select the value you want in each item.

Date
This allows you to set the system to the date that you want (usually the current
date). The format is <day><month> <date> <year>.
day Day of the week, from Sun to Sat, determined by
BIOS. Read-only.
month The month from Jan. through Dec.
date The date from 1 to 31 can be keyed by numeric
function keys.
year The year can be adjusted by users.

Time
This allows you to set the system time that you want (usually the current
time). The time format is <hour> <minute> <second>.

IDE Primary/Secondary Master/Slave

Press PgUp/<+> or PgDn/<-> to select Manual, None or Auto type. Note that
the specifications of your drive must match with the drive table. The hard
disk will not work properly if you enter improper information for this category.

3-6
 BIOS Setup

If your hard disk drive type is not matched or listed, you can use Manual to
define your own drive type manually.
If you select Manual, related information is asked to be entered to the following
items. Enter the information directly from the keyboard. This information
should be provided in the documentation from your hard disk vendor or the
system manufacturer.
Access Mode The settings are CHS, LBA, Large, Auto.
Capacity The formatted size of the storage device.
Cylinder Number of cylinders.
Head Number of heads.
Precomp Write precompensation.
Landing Zone Cylinder location of the landing zone.
Sector Number of sectors.

Drive A:/B:
This item allows you to set the type of floppy drives installed. Available
options: None, 360K, 5.25 in., 1.2M, 5.25 in., 720K, 3.5 in., 1.44M, 3.5 in.,
2.88M, 3.5 in..

Video
The setting controls the type of video adapter used for the primary monitor of
the system. Available options are EGA/VGA , CGA 40, CGA 80 and Mono.

Halt On
The setting determines whether the system will stop if an error is detected at
boot. Available options are:
All Errors The system stops when any error is detected.
No Errors The system doesn’t stop for any detected error.
All, But Keyboard The system doesn’t stop for a keyboard error.
All, But Diskette The system doesn’t stop for a disk error.
All, But Disk/Key The system doesn’t stop for either a disk or a
keyboard error.

CPU Type/BIOS Version/System Memory/Total Memory

The items show the CPU type, BIOS version and memory status of your system
(read only).

3-7
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Advanced BIOS Features

Anti-Virus Protection
The item is to set the Virus Warning feature for IDE Hard Disk boot sector
protection. If the function is enabled and any attempt to write data into this
area is made, BIOS will display a warning message on screen and beep.
Settings: Disabled and Enabled.

External Cache
The item allows you to turn on or off CPU’s external (L2)cache. Settings:
Enabled and Disabled.

Quick Boot
Setting the item to Enabled allows the system to boot within 5 seconds since
it will skip some check items. Available options: Enabled, Disabled.

1st/2nd/3rd Boot Device

The items allow you to set the sequence of boot devices where BIOS attempts
to load the disk operating system. The settings are:
Floppy The system will boot from floppy drive.
LS120 The system will boot from LS-120 drive.
HDD-0 The system will boot from the first HDD.
SCSI The system will boot from the SCSI.
CDROM The system will boot from the CD-ROM.

3-8
 BIOS Setup

HDD-1 The system will boot from the second HDD.

HDD-2 The system will boot from the third HDD.
HDD-3 The system will boot from the fourth HDD.
ZIP100 The system will boot from ATAPI ZIP drive.
USB-FDD The system will boot from the USB FDD.
USB-ZIP The system will boot from the USB ZIP drive.
USB-CD-ROM The system will boot from the USB CD-ROM.
USB-HDD The system will boot from the USB HDD.
LAN The system will boot from the Network drive.
Disabled Disable this sequence.

Boot Other Device

Setting the option to Enabled allows the system to try to boot from other
device if the system fails to boot from the 1st/2nd/3rd boot device.

Swap Floppy
Setting to Enabled will swap floppy drives A: and B:.

Seek Floppy
Setting to Enabled will make BIOS seek floppy drive A: before booting the
system. Settings: Disabled, Enabled.

Boot Up Num-Lock LED

This setting is to set the Num Lock status when the system is powered on.
Setting to On will turn on the Num Lock key when the system is powered on.
Setting to Off will allow users to use the arrow keys on the numeric keypad.
Setting options: On, Off.

Gate A20 Option

This item is to set the Gate A20 status. A20 refers to the first 64KB of ex-
tended memory. When the default value Fast is selected, the Gate A20 is
controlled by Port92 or chipset specific method resulting in faster system
performance. When Normal is selected, A20 is controlled by a keyboard con-
troller or chipset hardware.

Typematic Rate Setting

This item is used to enable or disable the typematic rate setting including
Typematic Rate & Typematic Delay.

3-9
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Typematic Rate (Chars/Sec)

After Typematic Rate Setting is enabled, this item allows you to set the rate
(characters/second) at which the keys are accelerated. Settings: 6, 8, 10, 12,
15, 20, 24 and 30.

Typematic Delay (Msec)

This item allows you to select the delay between when the key was first pressed
and when the acceleration begins. Settings: 250, 500, 750 and 1000.

Security Option
This specifies the type of BIOS password protection that is implemented. Set-
tings are described below:
Option Description
Setup The password prompt appears only when end users try to
run Setup.
System A password prompt appears every time when the com-
puter is powered on or when end users try to run Setup.

APIC Function
This field is used to enable or disable the APIC (Advanced Programmable
Interrupt Controller). Due to compliance with PC2001 design guide, the system
is able to run in APIC mode. Enabling APIC mode will expand available IRQ
resources for the system. Settings: Enabled and Disabled.

MPS Table Version

This field allows you to select which MPS (Multi-Processor Specification)
version to be used for the operating system. You need to select the MPS ver-
sion supported by your operating system. To find out which version to use,
consult the vendor of your operating system. Settings: 1.4, 1.1.

Boot OS/2 for DRAM > 64MB

This allows you to run the OS/2® operating system with DRAM larger than
64MB. When you choose No, you cannot run the OS/2® operating system
with DRAM larger than 64MB. But it is possible if you choose Yes.

Hard Disk S.M.A.R.T.

This allows you to activate the S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring Analysis & Re-

3-10
 BIOS Setup

porting Technology) capability for the hard disks. S.M.A.R.T is a utility that
monitors your disk status to predict hard disk failure. This gives you an op-
portunity to move data from a hard disk that is going to fail to a safe place
before the hard disk becomes offline. Settings: Enabled and Disabled.

Video BIOS Cacheable

Selecting Enabled allows caching of the video BIOS ROM at C0000h to
C7FFFh, resulting in better video performance. However, if any program
writes to this memory area, a system error may result. Setting options:
Disabled, Enabled.

3-11
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Advanced Chipset Features

MSI Reminds You...

Change these settings only if you are familiar with the chipset.

Current CPU Clock

It shows the current clock frequency of the CPU. (read only)

System Performance
This field allows users to control the status of system performance. Users
may select [Auto] for the most stable settings by SPD. [High Performance]
will increase the system performance but may have instabilibity problems.
[Manual] allows full customization of performance options, and is recom-
mended for experts only. Settings: Auto, High Performance, Manual.

CPU FSB Clock

This setting allows you to select the CPU Front Side Bus clock frequency.
Settings: 100~200MHz at 1 MHz increment.

CPU Interface
This setting allows you to select the CPU/FSB parameters. Settings: Normal,
High Performance. When [High Performance] is selected, the system will
use overclocked CPU/FSB parameters. Select [Normal] for normal mode
CPU/FSB parameters.

3-12
 BIOS Setup

FSB/DRAM Ratio
This setting controls the ratio of CPU FSB clock & DRAM Frequency to
enable the CPU & DRAM to run at different frequency combinations. Please
note that the setting options vary according to the CPU FSB clock preset.
Options: By SPD, 2:1, 5:3, 3:2, 4:3, 5:4, 6:5, 1:1, 5:6, 4:5, 3:4, 2:3, 3:5, 1:2.

Current DRAM Clock

It shows the clock frequency of the installed DRAMs. (read only)

Memory Timings
Selects whether DRAM timing is controlled by the SPD (Serial Presence
Detect) EEPROM on the DRAM module. Setting to By SPD enables DRAM
timings to be determined by BIOS based on the configurations on the SPD.
Selecting Manual allows users to configure the DRAM timings manually.
Options: By SPD, Manual, High Performance.

T-(RAS)
This setting controls the number of clock cycles for DRAM to be allowed to
precharge from the active state. Settings: 1 through 15.

T-(RCD)
When DRAM is refreshed, both rows and columns are addressed separately.
This setup item allows you to determine the timing of the transition from RAS
(row address strobe) to CAS (column address strobe). The less the clock
cycles, the faster the DRAM performance. Setting options: 1 through 7.

T-(RP)
This item controls the number of cycles for Row Address Strobe (RAS) to be
allowed to precharge. If insufficient time is allowed for the RAS to accumu-
late its charge before DRAM refresh, refresh may be incomplete and DRAM
may fail to retain data. This item applies only when synchronous DRAM is
installed in the system. Available settings: 1 through 7.

CAS Latency
The fid controls the CAS latency, which determines the timing delay before
RAM starts a read command after receiving it. Setting options are: 2, 2.5, and
3. 2T increases system performance while 3T provdes more stable system
performance.

3-13
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

FSB Spread Spectrum

This item is used to enable or disable the FSB clock generator’s Spread
Specturm feature. When overclocking the FSB, always set it to Disabled.
Options: Disabled, 0.50%, 1.00%.

AGP Spread Spectrum

This item is used to enable or disable the AGP clock generator’s Spread
Specturm feature. When overclocking the AGP slot, always set it to Disabled.
Options: Disabled, 0.50%.

AGP 8x Support
This item is used to control the functionality of the AGP 3.0 8x interface.
Options: Disabled, Enabled. Select Enabled only when your card supports
this function.

AGP Fast Write Support

The item enables or disables the AGP Fast Write feature. The Fast Write
technology allows CPU to write directly into the graphics controller without
passing anything through system memory and improves 8x speed accordingly.
Select Enabled only when your AGP card supports the feature. Options:
Disabled, Enabled.

System BIOS Cacheable

Selecting Enabled allows caching of the system BIOS ROM at F0000h-
FFFFFh, resulting in better system performance. However, if any program
writes to this memory area, a system error may result. Setting options: Enabled,
Disabled.

Video RAM Cacheable

Selecting Enabled allows caching of the video memory (RAM) at A0000h
to AFFFFh, resulting in better video performance. However, if any program
writes to this memory area, a memory access error may result. Setting
options: Disabled, Enabled.

AGP Aperture Size

This setting controls just how much system RAM can be allocated to AGP for
video purposes. The aperture is a portion of the PCI memory address range
dedicated to graphics memory address space. Host cycles that hit the aperture
range are forwarded to the AGP without any translation. The option allows
the selection of an aperture size of 32MB, 64MB, 128MB, 256 MB and 512MB.

3-14
 BIOS Setup

Frame Buffer Size (for IGP only)

Frame Buffer is the video memory that stores data for video display (frame).
This field is used to determine the memory size for Frame Buffer. Larger
frame buffer size increases video performance. Settings: 8M, 16M, 32MB
and Disabled.

TV-Out Mode (for IGP only)

This item is used to select the TV-out mode in accordance with your regional
TV code. Settings: NTSC-J, NTSC-M, PAL-M, PAL-BDGHI, PAL-N, PAL-
NC, Disabled. Select [Disabled] to disable the TV-Out function.

3-15
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Integrated Peripherals

IDE Function Setup

Press <Enter> to enter the sub-menu and the following screen appears:

OnChip IDE Channel 0/1

The integrated peripheral controller contains an IDE interface with support
for two IDE channels. Choose [Enabled] to activate each channel
separately. Settings: Enabled, Disabled.

Primary/Secondary Master/Slave PIO

The four IDE PIO (Programmed Input/Output) fields let you set a PIO
mode (0-4) for each of the four IDE devices that the onboard IDE interface
supports. Modes 0 through 4 provide successively increased performance.
In Auto mode, the system automatically determines the best mode for

3-16
 BIOS Setup

each device. The settings are: Auto, Mode 0, Mode 1, Mode 2, Mode 3,
Mode 4.
Primary/Secondary Master/Slave UDMA
Ultra DMA/33 implementation is possible only if your IDE hard drive
supports it and the operating environment includes a DMA driver
(Windows 95 OSR2 or a third-party IDE bus master driver). If your hard
drive and your system software both support Ultra DMA/33, Ultra DMA/
66 and Ultra DMA/100 select Auto to enable BIOS support. The settings
are: Auto, Disabled.

IDE Prefetch Mode

The onboard IDE drive interfaces support IDE prefetching, for faster
drive accesses. When you install a primary and/or secondary add-in IDE
interface, set this option to Disabled if the interface does not support
prefetching.

IDE DMA Transfer Access

This item is used to enable or disable the DMA transfer function of the
IDE Hard Drive. The settings are: Enabled, Disabled.

IDE HDD Block Mode

Block mode is also called block transfer, multiple commands, or mul-
tiple sector read/write. If your IDE hard drive supports block mode (most
new drives do), select Enabled for automatic detection of the optimal
number of block read/writes per sector the drive can support. Settings:
Enabled, Disabled.

Onboard Device
Press <Enter> to enter the sub-menu and the following screen appears:

AC97 Audio
Auto allows the mainboard to detect whether an audio device is used. If

3-17
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

an audio device is detected, the onboard AC’97 (Audio Codec’97) con-

troller will be enabled; if not, it is disabled. Disable the controller if you
want to use other controller cards to connect an audio device. Settings:
Auto, Disabled.

MC97 Modem
Auto allows the mainboard to detect whether a modem is used. If a modem
is detected, the onboard MC’97 modem controller will be enabled; if
not, it is disabled. Disable the controller if you want to use other control-
ler cards to connect a modem. Settings: Auto, Disabled.

OnChip USB
This setting allows you to enable/disable the onboard USB controller.
Selecting [V1.1+V2.0] enables the system to support both USB 1.1 and
2.0 spec. Setting options: Disabled, V1.1, V1.1+V2.0.

USB Keyboard Support

Select Enabled if you need to use a USB-interfaced keyboard in the
operating system. Setting options: Enabled, Disabled.

VIA OnBoard 1394

This item allows you to enable/disable the onboard VIA IEEE1394
controller. Setting options: Auto and Disabled.

OnChip LAN (nVIDIA)

Setting to [Auto] allows the BIOS to auto-detect the nVIDIA LAN con-
troller and enable it. Setting options: Auto and Disabled.

MAC Address (nVIDIA)

Setting to [Enabled] allows users to manually update the MAC address
under MAC Address Input. Setting options: Enabled and Disabled.

MAC Address Input (nVIDIA)

Users can key in the MAC (NV) address in this field.

Onboard Super IO Device

Press <Enter> to enter the sub-menu and the following screen appears:

3-18
 BIOS Setup

Onboard FDC Controller

Select Enabled if your system has a floppy disk controller (FDD) in-
stalled on the system board and you wish to use it. If you install add-on
FDC or the system has no floppy drive, select Disabled in this field. The
settings are: Enabled and Disabled.

Onboard Serial Port

Select an address and corresponding interrupt for the first and second
serial ports. The settings are: 3F8/IRQ4, 2E8/IRQ3, 3E8/IRQ4, 2F8/IRQ3,
Disabled, Auto.

Onboard Parallel Port

There is a built-in parallel port on the on-board Super I/O chipset that
provides Standard, ECP, and EPP features. It has the following options:
Disabled
3BC/IRQ7 Line Printer port 0
278/IRQ5 Line Printer port 2
378/IRQ7 Line Printer port 1

Parallel Port Mode

SPP : Standard Parallel Port
EPP : Enhanced Parallel Port
ECP : Extended Capability Port
ECP + EPP: Extended Capability Port + Enhanced Parallel Port
SPP/EPP/ECP/ECP+EPP
To operate the onboard parallel port as Standard Parallel Port only,
choose “SPP.” To operate the onboard parallel port in the EPP mode
simultaneously, choose “EPP.” By choosing “ECP”, the onboard par-
allel port will operate in ECP mode only. Choosing “ECP + EPP”
will allow the onboard parallel port to support both the ECP and EPP
modes simultaneously.

3-19
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

EPP Mode Select

The onboard parallel port is EPP Spec. compliant, so after the user chooses
the onboard parallel port with the EPP function, the following message
will be displayed on the screen: “EPP Mode Select.” At this time either
EPP 1.7 spec or EPP 1.9 spec can be chosen.

ECP Mode Use DMA

The ECP mode has to use the DMA channel, so choose the onboard
parallel port with the ECP feature. After selecting it, the following mes-
sage will appear: “ECP Mode Use DMA.” At this time, the user can
choose between DMA channel 3 or 1.

Init Display First

This item specifies which VGA card is your primary graphics adapter. Settings:
PCI Slot and AGP Slot.

3-20
 BIOS Setup

Power Management Setup

MSI Reminds You...

S3-related functions described in this section are available only
when your BIOS supports S3 sleep mode.

Sleep State
This item specifies the power saving modes for ACPI function. If your oper-
ating system supports ACPI, such as Windows 98SE, Windows ME and Win-
dows 2000, you can choose to enter the Standby mode in S1(POS) or S3
(STR) fashion through the setting of this field. Options are:
S1/POS The S1 sleep mode is a low power state. In this state, no
system context is lost (CPU or chipset) and hardware
maintains all system context.
S3/STR The S3 sleep mode is a lower power state where the in
formation of system configuration and open applications/
files is saved to main memory that remains powered
while most other hardware components turn off to save
energy. The information stored in memory will be used
to restore the system when a “wake up” event occurs.
Auto The system will decide when to enter S1 or S3 state.

Power Management
This item is used to select the degree (or type) of power saving and is related

3-21
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

to these modes: Suspend Mode and HDD Power Down. There are three op-
tions for power management:
Min Saving Minimum Power Management. Suspend Mode=1 Hour
Max Saving Maximum Power Management. Suspend Mode=1 Min
User Define Allows end users to configure each mode separately.

Video Off Method

This determines the manner in which the monitor is blanked.
V/H SYNC+Blank This selection will cause the system to turn off
the vertical and rizontal synchronization ports
and write blanks to the video buffer.
Blank Screen This option only writes blanks to the video buffer.
DPMS Support Initial display power menagement signaling

HDD Power Down

If HDD activity is not detected for the length of time specified in this field,
the hard disk drive will be powered down while all other devices remain
active. Settings are Disabled and 1 through 15 Min.

HDD Down In Suspend

This item determines whether the hard disk drive will be turned off during
suspend mode. Settings: Disabled and Enabled.

Power Button Function

This feature sets the function of the power button. Settings are:
Power Off The power button functions as normal power off button.
Suspend When you press the power button, the computer enters
the suspend/sleep mode, but if the button is pressed for
more than four seconds, the computer is turned off.

IRQ/Event Activity Detect

Press <Enter> and the following sub-menu appears.

3-22
 BIOS Setup

PowerOn by PCI card

This item specifies whether the system will be awakened from power
saving modes (S1, S3, S4) when activity or input signal of the specified
hardware peripheral is detected. Settings are: Enabled and Disabled.

USB Resume from S3

This item allows the activity of the USB device to wake up the system
from S3 (Suspend to RAM) state. Settings are: Enabled and Disabled.

RTC Resume
This function is for setting time for your computer to boot up. Setting
options: Disabled, Enabled.
Time (hh:mm:ss) Alarm You can choose what hour, minute and
second the system will boot up.

MSI Reminds You...

If you have changed this setting, you must let the system boot up
until it enters the operating system, before this function will work.

IRQ Activity Monitoring

Press <Enter> and the following sub-menu appears.

IRQs Activity, IRQ3~IRQ15

IRQ3~IRQ15 enable or disable the monitoring of the specified IRQ line.
If set to [Enabled], the activity of the specified IRQ line will prevent the
system from entering power saving modes or awaken it from power sav-
ing modes.

3-23
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

MSI Reminds You...

IRQ (Interrupt Request) lines are system resources allocated to I/
O devices. When an I/O device needs to gain attention of the oper-
ating system, it signals this by causing an IRQ to occur. After re-
ceiving the signal, when the operating system is ready, the system
will interrupt itself and perform the service required by the I/O
device.

After AC Power Lost

This setting specifies whether your system will reboot after a power failure or
interrupt occurs. Available settings are:
Off Leaves the computer in the power off state.
On Leaves the computer in the power on state.
Last State Restores the system to the status before power failure or
interrupt occurred.

3-24
 BIOS Setup

PNP/PCI Configurations
This section describes configuring the PCI bus system and PnP (Plug &
Play) feature. PCI, or Peripheral Component Interconnect, is a system which
allows I/O devices to operate at speeds nearing the speed the CPU itself uses
when communicating with its special components. This section covers some
very technical items and it is strongly recommended that only experienced
users should make any changes to the default settings.

PNP OS Installed
When set to [Yes], BIOS will only initialize the PnP cards used for booting
(VGA, IDE, SCSI). The rest of the cards will be initialized by the PnP operating
system like Windows 98. When set to [No], BIOS will initialize all the PnP
cards. So, select [Yes] if your operating system is Plug & Play aware.

Reset Configuration Data

Normally, you leave this field Disabled. Select Enabled to reset Extended
System Configuration Data (ESCD) when you exit Setup if you have installed
a new add-on and the system reconfiguration has caused such a serious conflict
that the operating system can not boot. The settings are: Enabled and Disabled.

Resource Controlled By
The Award Plug and Play BIOS has the capacity to automatically configure
all of the boot and Plug and Play compatible devices. However, this capability
means absolutely nothing unless you are using a Plug and Play operating system

3-25
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

such as Windows® 95/98. If you set this field to “manual” choose specific
resources by going into each of the sub menu that follows this field (a sub
menu is preceded by a “¾”). The settings are: Auto (ESCD), Manual.

IRQ Resources
The items are adjustable only when Resources Controlled By is set to Manual.
Press <Enter> and you will enter the sub-menu of the items. IRQ Resources
list IRQ 3/4/5/7/9/10/11/12/14/15 for users to set each IRQ a type depending
on the type of device using the IRQ. Settings are:
PCI Device For Plug & Play compatible devices designed for PCI
bus architecture.
Reserved The IRQ will be reserved for further request.

PCI/VGA Palette Snoop

When set to Enabled, multiple VGA devices operating on different buses can
handle data from the CPU on each set of palette registers on every video
device. Bit 5 of the command register in the PCI device configuration space is
the VGA Palette Snoop bit (0 is disabled). For example, if there are two VGA
devices in the computer (one PCI and one ISA) and the:

VGA Palette Snoop

Bit Setting Action
Disabled Data read or written by the CPU is only directed to the PCI
VGA device’s palette registers.
Enabled Data read or written by the CPU is directed to both the PCI
VGA device’s palette registers and the ISA VGA device’s
palette registers, permitting the palette registers of both VGA
devices to be identical.

The setting must be set to Enabled if any ISA bus adapter in the system re-
quires VGA palette snooping.

PCI Slot 1/4, 2/5, 3 IRQ Priority

These items specify the IRQ line for each PCI slot. Settings: 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10,
11, 12, 14, 15 and Auto. Selecting Auto allows BIOS to automatically deter-
mine the IRQ line for each PCI slot.

3-26
 BIOS Setup

PC Health Status
This section shows the status of your CPU, fan, overall system status,
etc. Monitor function is available only if there is hardware monitoring mecha-
nism onboard.

CPU Warning Temperature

This item is used to specify a thermal limit for CPU. If CPU temperature
reaches the specified limit, the system will issue a warning which allows you
to prevent the CPU overheat problem.

System/CPU Temperature, NB/CPU Fan Speed, Vcore, 3.3V, +5V, +12V,

-12V, -5V, Battery, 5VSB(V)
These items display the current status of all of the monitored hardware de-
vices/components such as CPU voltages, temperatures and all fans’ speeds.

Warning Beep
The item controls whether the system beeps when any warning such as sys-
tem overheating problem or chassis intrusion event occurs. Settings: Enabled
and Disabled.

3-27
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Frequency/Voltage Control
Use this menu to specify your settings for frequency/voltage control.

AGP Clock Control

This item allows users to set the AGP clock manually or by default. Options:
Default, Manual.

AGP Clock Value

When AGP Clock Control is set to Manual, users can key in a DEC number
between 66 and 120.

AGP Voltage Adjust

AGP voltage is adjustable in the field, allowing you to increase the perfor-
mance of your AGP display card when overclocking, but the stability may be
affected.

DRAM Voltage Adjust

Adjusting the DDR voltage can increase the DDR speed. Any changes made
to this setting may cause a stability issue, so changing the DDR voltage for
long-term purpose is NOT recommended.

PCI Clock Auto Detect

This feature enables the BIOS to auto detect PCI device and set PCI slot clock.
Options are: Enabled, Disabled.

3-28
 BIOS Setup

Load Fail-Safe/Optimized Defaults

The two options on the main menu allow users to restore all of the BIOS
settings to the default Fail-Safe or Optimized values. The Optimized Defaults
are the default values set by the mainboard manufacturer specifically for op-
timal performance of the mainboard. The Fail-Safe Defaults are the default
values set by the BIOS vendor for stable system performance.
When you select Load Fail-Safe Defaults, a message as below appears:

Pressing Y loads the BIOS default values for the most stable, minimal
system performance.

When you select Load Optimized Defaults, a message as below appears:

Pressing Y loads the default factory settings for optimal system

performance.

3-29
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Set Supervisor/User Password

When you select this function, a message as below will appear on the
screen:

Type the password, up to six characters in length, and press <Enter>.

The password typed now will replace any previously set password from CMOS
memory. You will be prompted to confirm the password. Retype the pass-
word and press <Enter>. You may also press <Esc> to abort the selection and
not enter a password.

To clear a set password, just press <Enter> when you are prompted to
enter the password. A message will show up confirming the password will be
disabled. Once the password is disabled, the system will boot and you can
enter Setup without entering any password.

When a password has been set, you will be prompted to enter it every
time you try to enter Setup. This prevents an unauthorized person from chang-
ing any part of your system configuration.

Additionally, when a password is enabled, you can also have Award

BIOS to request a password each time the system is booted. This would pre-
vent unauthorized use of your computer. The setting to determine when the
password prompt is required is the Security Option of the ADVANCED BIOS
FEATURES menu. If the Security Option is set to System, the password is
required both at boot and at entry to Setup. If set to Setup, password prompt
only occurs when you try to enter Setup.

MSI Reminds You...

About Supervisor Password & User Password:
Supervisor password: Can enter and change the settings of
the setup menu.
User password: Can only enter but do not have the
right to change the settings of the setup
menu.

3-30
 Using 4- or 6-Channel Audio Function

Appendix A: Using 4- or 6-Channel Au-

dio Function
You need to install the NVIDIA nForce System Drivers to function prop-
erly before you can get access to 4-/6-channel audio operations. Follow the
procedures described below to install the drivers for different operating systems.

TOPICS
Installing the Audio Driver A-2
Using 4- or 6-Channel Audio Function A-4

A-1
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Installing the Audio Driver

Installation for Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP

For Windows® 2000, you must install Windows® 2000 Service Pack2 or
later before installing the driver.
The following illustrations are based on Windows® XP environment and
could look slightly different if you install the drivers in different operating
systems.

1. Insert the companion CD into the CD-ROM drive. The setup screen
will automatically appear.
2. Click NVIDIA nForce System Drivers.

Click here

3. Click Next to start installing files into the system.

A-2
 Using 4- or 6-Channel Audio Function

Click here

4. Click Finish to restart the system.

Select
this
option

Click here

A-3
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Using 4- or 6-Channel Audio Function

After installing the audio driver, you are able to use the 4-/6-channel
audio feature now. To enable 4- or 6-channel audio operation, first connect 4
or 6 speakers to the appropriate audio connectors, and then select 4- or 6-
channel audio setting in the software utility.

Using the Back Panel

In addition to a default 2-channel analog audio output function, the au-
dio connectors on the Back Panel also provide 4- or 6-channel analog audio
output function if a proper setting is made in the software utility.
Read the following steps to have the Multi-Channel Audio Function
properly set in the software utility, and have your speakers correctly con-
nected to the Back Panel.

Configuration in the Software Utility

1. Click the audio icon at the lower-right corner of the screen. The
Master Volume dialog box will appear on the screen.

A-4
 Using 4- or 6-Channel Audio Function

2. On the Options menu, click Advanced Controls.

3. Click Advanced.

Check here

A-5
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

4. Check Rear Speakers connected to Line In and Center speaker and

subwoofer connected to Microphone for 6-channel audio output.

Check here

5. Click Close to exit.

A-6
 Using 4- or 6-Channel Audio Function

Connecting the Speakers

When you have set the Multi-Channel Audio Function mode properly
in the software utility, connect your speakers to the correct phonejacks
in accordance with the setting in software utility.

„ 2-Channel Mode for Stereo-Speaker Output

Refer to the following diagram and caption for the function of each
phonejack on the back panel when 2-Channel Mode is selected.

Back Panel
1 Line In 1
2 Line Out (Front channels)
3 MIC

„ 4-Channel Mode for 4-Speaker Output

The audio jacks on the back panel always provide 2-channel analog
audio output function, however these audio jacks can be transformed
to 4- or 6- channel analog audio jacks by selecting the corresponding
multi-channel operation from No. of Speakers.

Refer to the following diagram and caption for the founction of each
jack on the back panel when 4-Channel Mode is selected.

A-7
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

1 * Line Out (Rear channels) Back Panel

2 Line Out (Front channels)
1
3 MIC

* Line In function is converted to Line Out function when 4-Channel Mode for
4-Speaker Output is selected.

„ 6-Channel Mode for 6-Speaker Output

Refer to the following diagram and caption for the founction of each
jack on the back panel when 6-Channel Mode is selected.

1 * Line Out (Rear channels) Back Panel

2 Line Out (Front channels)
3 * Line Out (Center and 1
Subwoofer channel)

* Both Line In and MIC function are converted to Line Out function when 4-
Channel Mode for 6-Speaker Output is selected.

A-8
 Using the TV-Out Function

Appendix B: Using the TV-Out Function

You need to install the TV-Out bracket before you can get access to
the TV-out function. Follow the procedures described later to set up the TV-
Out bracket and configure the display settings. Note that the TV-Out bracket
works with the onboard graphic core. Do not insert any VGA card into the
slot while using the TV-Out bracket.

TOPICS
Installing the TV-Out Bracket B-2
Connecting S-Video and RCA Cables B-3
Display Setup B-5

B-1
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Installing the TV-Out Bracket

1. Take out the TV-Out bracket.

Foolproof
design (RCA Composite) (S-Video)

2. Locate the TV-out connector (JTV1)

on the mainboard.

3. Connect the TV-Out bracket to the

connector. Align the foolproof
design with the pin layout of the
connector to avoid mis-inserting.

4. Place the TV-Out bracket into the

first slot of your system case.

B-2
 Using the TV-Out Function

Connecting S-Video and RCA Cables

Connecting S-Video cable

1. Connect one end of the S-Video cable to the TV-Out(S) connector.

S-Video cable

2. Connect the other end of the S-Video cable to the TV.

B-3
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

Connecting RCA cable

1. Connect one end of the RCA cable to the TV-Out(C) connector. The RCA
cable usually comes with three connecotrs on both ends. The white or red
connector is for audio while the yellow one is for video.

RCA cable

White (Audio)
Red (Audio)
Yellow (Video)

Yellow (Video)

2. Connect the other end of the RCA cable to the TV.

Yellow (Video)

B-4
 Using the TV-Out Function

Display Setup
The following procedures describe display setup using Windows XP.
Windows 2000/ME/9X screens are slightly different but the procedures are
the same as described.

To enable the TV-Out function, follow this procedure:

1. Restart the computer. After

entering the Windows OS, left-click
in the window and the screen will
pop up a menu. Click Properties.

click here

2. In the Display Properties dialog

box, click the Settings tab.

3. Click Advanced to continue.

click here

B-5
MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

4. In the nView tab, click Device

Settings to set up or change
settings related to the output device
used for the current display.

click here

5. In the Device Selection tab, first

click TV and then Change
Format.

click here

B-6
 Using the TV-Out Function

6. Select your local TV format.

7. (refer to Step 4) Under Device

Settings, click Device Adjust-
ments. In the Screen Adjustment
tab, use the 4-way navigation keys
to adjust the screen position.

Click Default to restore the factory

setup value.

8. Click OK to exit.

B-7
 Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting
Q: Where can I find the model number of the mainboard?
A: There are two places where you can find the model number of the mainboard:
1. Somewhere between the PCI slots you shall find MS-xxxx or the marketing
name like “K7T Turbo”. You can also find the version number beside it. 2. At
the back cover of the user's manual.

Q: What do you mean by PCB version 1?

A: PCB is printed circuit board. Saying PCB version 1 is the same as saying
motherboard version 1.

Q: Why is my motherboard BIOS sticker "Phoenix BIOS" while I see "Award

BIOS" during system boot-up?
A: Phoenix & Award already merged as one company. All MSI motherboards
using Award BIOS come with Phoenix logo stickers.

Q: How do I know what MSI D-LED or D-bracket light mean?

A: Please follow the special tech issue, http://www.msi.com.tw/support/
techexpress/special_tech/smartled.htm

Q: I used my MSI motherboard and got an error message, "Primary IDE

Channel No 80 Conductor Cable Installed" while the system detected
hard drives.
A: This is not a problem. It merely means that you're using an ATA-66 or ATA-
100 HDD, but you're using the conductor 40 ATA-33 cable.

Q: I have high speed CPU cooling fan like Taisol CGK760092, Vantec CCK-
6035D & GlobalWin WBK38. Can I install the fan directly to the
motherboard?

T-1
MS-6737EM-ATX
MS-6777 ATX Mainboard
Mainboard

A: We strongly recommend that you do NOT connect those described CPU

fan directly to your motherboard, as it draws so much power, that it could
damage it. Please use a 3-Pin to 4-Pin Cable that comes together with the fan.

Q: Can I use more than 512MB memory on Win9x or WinME?

A: No, you can’t. You can only use more than 512MB memory on Win2000 or
WinXP. This is a Microsoft OS issue. Please check http://support/microsoft.
com/support/kb/articles/Q108/0/79.ASP

Q: I have tried to download the MSI Live Update utility from http://www.msi.
com.tw/support/liveupdate/livedriver.htm but it keeps on failing?
A: This can be solved by one of the following suggestions: 1. Dont install
zonealarm 2. Disable "WebTrap" of PC-cillion 2000 3. Disable any web based
anti-virus Software.

Q: Can Live Update Series support WinXP?

A: Live Update Series version 215 can support WinXP. Download it from http:/
/www.msi.com.tw/support/liveupdate/livedriver.htm

Q: After flashing the BIOS, my system for unknown reason fails to boot.
What should I do?
A: Please refer to the following suggestions: 1. Try the BIOS boot recovery
feature as described in http://www.msi.com.tw/support/bios/boot.htm 2. Try
to clear the CMOS If problem still persists, ask your reseller for new BIOS
chip or contact one of MSI office near your place for new BIOS chip http://
www.msi.com.tw/contact/main.htm

Q: Should I update my BIOS, once a new BIOS is released?

A: A new BIOS is usually released due to the following reasons:
1. New function is supported

T-2
 Troubleshooting

2. New BIOS source code

3. Bugs are found
4. Customer-specific request
When we release a new BIOS, there's usually a release note attached which
lists the reason for the release. Refer to this release note and decide for
yourself if upgrading to the new BIOS will be worth it. A word of advice,
though, do not upgrade to the new BIOS, unless you really have to.

Q: How do I update the BIOS?

A: Please refer to http://www.msi.com.tw/support/bios/note.htm for details.

Q: How do I identify the BIOS version?

A: Upon boot-up, the 1st line appearing after the memory count is the BIOS
version. It is usually in the format:
1. For older model number:
AG76 091096 where:
1st digit refers to BIOS maker as A = AMI(R) W = AWARD(R) P = PHOENIX
(R).
2nd digit refers to the internal chipset code.
3rd digit refers to the processor class as 5 = 486, 7 = 586, 8 = 686.
4th digit is incremental.
091096 refers to the date this BIOS is released.
2. For newer model number:
W5139MS V1.0 091096 where:
1st digit refers to BIOS maker as A = AMI(R) W = AWARD(R) P = PHOENIX
(R).
2nd - 5th digit refers to the model number.
6th - 7th digit refers to the customer as MS = all standard customers.
V1.0 refers to the BIOS version.
091096 refers to the date this BIOS is released.

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MS-6777 ATX Mainboard
Mainboard

Q: After I flashed the BIOS and rebooted the system, the screen went blank.
A: For AMI BIOS
Rename the desired AMI BIOS file to AMIBOOT.ROM and save it on a
floppy disk. e.g. Rename A569MS23.ROM to AMIBOOT.ROM
Insert this floppy disk in the floppy drive. Turn On the system and press
and hold Ctrl-Home to force update. It will read the AMIBOOT.ROM file
and recover the BIOS from the A drive.
When 4 beeps are heard you may remove the floppy disk and restart the
computer.

For Award BIOS

Make a bootable floopy disk
Copy the Award flash utility & BIOS file to the said floppy disk
Create an autoexec.bat with "awdfl535 biosfilename" in the content e.g.
awdfl535 a619mj21.bin
Boot up system with the said floppy (it will take less than 2 minutes before
screen comes out)
Re-flash the BIOS & reboot.

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 Glossary

Glossary
Glossary
ACPI (Advanced Configuration & Power Interface)
This power management specification enables the OS (operating system) to control the
amount of power given to each device attached to the computer. Windows 98/98SE,
Windows 2000 and Windows ME can fully support ACPI to allow users managing the
system power flexibly.

AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port)

A new, high-speed graphics interface that based on PCI construction and designed
especially for the throughput demands of 3-D graphics. AGP provides a direct channel
(32-bit wide bus) between the display controller and main memory for high graphics
quality and performance.

Bluetooth
Bluetooth refers to a worldwide standard for the wireless exchange of data between two
devices. Bluetooth requires that a low-cost transceiver chip be included in each device.
The tranceiver transmits and receives in a previously unused frequency band of 2.45
GHz that is available globally (with some variation of bandwidth in different countries).
In addition to data, up to three voice channels are available. Each device has a unique 48-
bit address from the IEEE 802 standard. Connections can be point-to-point or
multipoint. The maximum range is 10 meters. Data can be exchanged at a rate of 1
megabit per second (up to 2 Mbps in the second generation of the technology).

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)

On PCs, an essential software that contains all the control code of input/output inter-
face (such as keyboard, disk drives, etc.). It executes hardware test on booting the
system, starts the OS, and provides an interface between the OS and the components.
The BIOS is stored in a ROM chip.

Bus
A set of hardware lines within the computer system, through which the data is trans-
ferred among different components. In a PC, the term bus usually refers to a local bus
that connects the internal components to the CPU and main memory.

Cache
A special memory subsystem that is used to speed up the data transfer. It stores the

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MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

contents of frequently accessed RAM locations and the addresses where these data
items are stored.

Chipset
A collection of integrated chips designed to perform one or more related functions. For
example, a modem chipset contains all the primary circuits for transmitting and receiv-
ing data; a PC chipset provides the electronic interfaces between all subsystems.

Clock Cycle
Clock cycle (or tick) is the smallest unit of time recognized by a device. For personal
computers, clock cycles generally refer to the main system clock, which runs at 66
MHz. This means that there are 66 million clock cycles per second. Since modern
CPUs run much faster (up to 533 MHz), the CPU can execute several instructions in a
single clock tick.

CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor)

CMOS is a widely used type of semiconductor, which features high speed and low
power consumption. PCs usually contain a small amount of battery-powered CMOS
memory to retain the date, time, and system setup parameters.

DRAM (Dynamic RAM)

A most common type of computer memory. It usually uses one transistor and a
capacitor to represent a bit. As the development of technology, the memory type and
specification used in computer becomes variety, such as SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, and
RDRAM. For further instruction, please see the table below:

Dynamic RAM (DRAM) Memory Technologies

Type First Used Clock Rate Bus* Width Peak Volts
Bandwidth
FPM (60,70ns) 1990 25MHz 64 bits 200 MBps 5v
EDO (50,60,70ns) 1994 40MHz 64 bits 320 MBps 5v
SDRAM (66MHz) 1996 66MHz 64 bits 528 MBps 3.3v
SDRAM (100MHz) 1998 100MHz 64 bits 800 MBps 3.3v
SDRAM (133MHz) 1999 133MHz 64 bits 1.1 GBps 3.3v
RDRAM (Direct Rambus) 1999 400MHz 16 bits 1.6 GBps 2.5v
DDR SDRAM (100MHz) 2000 100MHz 64 bits 1.6 GBps 3.3v
DDR SDRAM (133MHz) 2000 133MHz 64 bits 2.1 GBps 3.3v
* Memory channel width (64 bits started with 75MHz Pentium)

Source: Computer Desktop Encyclopedia

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 Glossary

ECC Memory (Error Correcting Code Memory)

A type of memory that contains special circuitry for testing the accuracy of data and
correcting the errors on the fly.

EEPROM
Acronym for Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory. An EEPROM
is a special type of PROM that can be erased by exposing it to an electrical charge. Like
other types of PROM, EEPROM retains its contents even when the power is turned
off. Also like other types of ROM, EEPROM is not as fast as RAM. EEPROM is
similar to flash memory (sometimes called flash EEPROM). The principal difference is
that EEPROM requires data to be written or erased one byte at a time whereas flash
memory allows data to be written or erased in blocks. This makes flash memory faster.

EIDE
Short for Enhanced IDE, a newer version of the IDE mass storage device interface
standard developed by Western Digital Corporation. It supports data rates of between
4 and 16.6 MBps, about three to four times faster than the old IDE standard. In
addition, it can support mass storage devices of up to 8.4 gigabytes, whereas the old
standard was limited to 528 MB. Because of its lower cost, enhanced EIDE has
replaced SCSI in many areas. There are four EIDE modes defined. The most common
is Mode 4, which supports transfer rates of 16.6 MBps. There is also a new mode,
called ATA-3 or Ultra ATA, that supports transfer rates of 33 MBps.

EISA (Extended Industry Standard Architecture)

EISA is a standard bus (computer interconnection) architecture that extends the ISA
standard to a 32-bit interface. It was developed in part as an open alternative to the
proprietary Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) that IBM introduced in its PS/2
computers. EISA data transfer can reach a peak of 33 megabytes per second.

ESCD (Extended System Configuration Data)

It is a format for storing information about Plug-and-Play (PnP) devices in the BIOS.
Windows and the BIOS access the ESCD area each time you re-boot your computer

External Cache
Short for Level 2 cache, cache memory that is external to the microprocessor. In
general, L2 cache memory, also called the secondary cache, resides on a separate chip
from the microprocessor chip. Although, more and more microprocessors are including
L2 caches into their architectures.

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MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics)

A type of disk-drive interface widely used to connect hard disks, CD-ROMs and tape
drives to a PC, in which the controller electronics is integrated into the drive itself,
eliminating the need for a separate adapter card. The IDE interface is known as the
ATA (AT Attachment) specification.

IEEE 1394
A new, high speed external bus standard, also known as FireWire or iLink, which
supports data transfer rates of up to 400 Mbps for connecting up to 63 external
devices.

Internal Cache
Short for Level 1 cache, a memory cache built into the microprocessor. The L1 cache is
also called the primary cache.

IrDA (Infrared Data Association)

A group of device vendors, including computer, component and telecommunications,
who have developed a standard for transmitting data via infrared light waves. This
enables you to transfer data from one device to another without any cables.

IRQ (Interrupt Request Line)

IRQs are hardware lines over which devices can send interrupt signals to the
microprocessor. When you add a new device to a PC, you sometimes need to set its
IRQ number by setting a DIP switch. This specifies which interrupt line the device
may use. IRQ conflicts used to be a common problem when adding expansion boards,
but the Plug-and-Play specification has removed this headache in most cases.

ISA (Industry Standard Architecture)

ISA is a standard bus (computer interconnection) architecture that is associated with
the IBM AT motherboard. It allows 16 bits at a time to flow between the motherboard
circuitry and an expansion slot card and its associated device(s). Also see EISA and
MCA.

LAN (Local Area Network)

A computer network that covers a relatively smaller area, such as in a building or an
enterprise. It is made up of servers, workstations, shared resources, a network operat-
ing system and a communications link. These individual PCs and devices on a LAN are
known as “nodes”, and are connected by cables to access data and devices anywhere on
the LAN, so that many users can share expensive devices and data.

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 Glossary

LBA (Logical Block Addressing)

Logical block addressing is a technique that allows a computer to address a hard disk
larger than 528 megabytes. A logical block address is a 28-bit value that maps to a
specific cylinder-head-sector address on the disk. 28 bits allows sufficient variation to
specify addresses on a hard disk up to 8.4 gigabytes in data storage capacity. Logical
block addressing is one of the defining features of Enhanced IDE (EIDE), a hard disk
interface to the computer bus or data paths.

LED (Light Emitting Diode)

A semiconductor device that converts electrical energy into light. Since it lights up
(usually red) when electricity is passed through it, it is usually used for the activity
lights on computer’s component, such as disk drivers.

LPT (Line Printer Terminal)

Logical device name for a line printer; a name reserved by the MS-DOS for up to three
parallel printer ports: LPT1, LPT2, and LPT3. It is frequently used by the OS to
identify a printer.

Overclocking
Overclocking is resetting your computer so that the microprocessor runs faster than the
manufacturer-specified speed (for example, setting an Intel 166 MHz (megahertz)
microprocessor to run at 200 Mhz).

PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect)

A local bus standard developed by Intel that first appeared on PCs in late 1993. PCI
provides “plug and play” capability and allows IRQs to be shared. The PCI controller
can exchange data with the system's CPU either 32 bits or 64 bits at a time.

PnP (Plug and Play)

A set of specifications that allows a PC to configure itself automatically to work with
peripherals. The user can "plug" in a peripheral device and "play" it without configur-
ing the system manually. To implement this useful feature, both the BIOS that sup-
ports PnP and a PnP expansion card are required.

POST (Power On Self Test)

During booting up your system, the BIOS executes a series of diagnostic tests, include
checking the RAM, the keyboard, the disk drives, etc., to see if they are properly
connected and operating.

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MS-6777 M-ATX Mainboard

PS/2 Port
A type of port developed by IBM for connecting a mouse or keyboard to a PC. The
PS/2 port supports a mini DIN plug containing just 6 pins. Most modern PCs equipped
with PS/2 ports so that the special port can be used by another device, such as a
modem.

RAID
RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks; originally Redundant Array of Inex-
pensive Disks) is a way of storing the same data in different places (thus, redundantly)
on multiple hard disks. By placing data on multiple disks, I/O operations can overlap in
a balanced way, improving performance. Since multiple disks increases the mean time
between failure (MTBF), storing data redundantly also increases fault-tolerance.

SCSI
Acronym for Small Computer System Interface. Pronounced "scuzzy," SCSI is a par-
allel interface standard used by Apple Macintosh computers, PCs, and many UNIX
systems for attaching peripheral devices to computers. SCSI interfaces provide for
faster data transmission rates (up to 80 megabytes per second) than standard serial and
parallel ports. In addition, you can attach many devices to a single SCSI port, so that
SCSI is really an I/O bus rather than simply an interface.

USB (Universal Serial Bus)

A hardware interface for low-speed peripherals such as the keyboard, mouse, joystick,
etc. USB provides a maximum bandwidth of 12 Mbit/sec (Mbps) for connecting up to
127 peripheral devices to PC. USB features hot swap capability and multiple data
streams, allows external devices to be plugged in and unplugged without turning the
system off.

Virus
A program or a piece of code that infects computer files by inserting in those files
copies of itself. The virus code is buried within an existing program, and is activated
when that program is executed. All the viruses are man-made, and often have damaging
side effects.

WLAN
Acronym for wireless local-area network. Also referred to as LAWN. A type of local-
area network that uses high-frequency radio waves rather than wires to communicate
between nodes.

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