A88M-G/3.

1
Version 1.0
Published December 2015
Copyright©2015 ASRock INC. All rights reserved.

Copyright Notice:
No part of this documentation may be reproduced, transcribed, transmitted, or
translated in any language, in any form or by any means, except duplication of
documentation by the purchaser for backup purpose, without written consent of
ASRock Inc.
Products and corporate names appearing in this documentation may or may not
be registered trademarks or copyrights of their respective companies, and are used
only for identification or explanation and to the owners’ benefit, without intent to
infringe.

Disclaimer:
Specifications and information contained in this documentation are furnished for
informational use only and subject to change without notice, and should not be
constructed as a commitment by ASRock. ASRock assumes no responsibility for
any errors or omissions that may appear in this documentation.
With respect to the contents of this documentation, ASRock does not provide
warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to
the implied warranties or conditions of merchantability or fitness for a particular
purpose.
In no event shall ASRock, its directors, officers, employees, or agents be liable for
any indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages (including damages for
loss of profits, loss of business, loss of data, interruption of business and the like),
even if ASRock has been advised of the possibility of such damages arising from any
defect or error in the documentation or product.

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that
may cause undesired operation.

CALIFORNIA, USA ONLY

The Lithium battery adopted on this motherboard contains Perchlorate, a toxic substance
controlled in Perchlorate Best Management Practices (BMP) regulations passed by the
California Legislature. When you discard the Lithium battery in California, USA, please
follow the related regulations in advance.
“Perchlorate Material-special handling may apply, see www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate”

ASRock Website: http://www.asrock.com

The terms HDMI™ and HDMI High-Definition Multimedia Interface, and the HDMI
logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC in the United
States and other countries.
Contents

1. Introduction 1
1.1 Package Contents 1

1.2 Specifications 2

1.3 Motherboard Layout 6

1.4 I/O Panel 8

2. Installation 10
2.1 CPU Installation 11

2.2 Installation of CPU Fan and Heatsink 12

2.3 Installation of Memory Modules (DIMM) 13

2.4 Expansion Slots (PCI and PCI Express Slots) 15

2.5 Jumpers Setup 16

2.6 Onboard Headers and Connectors 17

2.7 AMD Dual Graphics Operation Guide 22

2.8 M.2_SSD (NGFF) Module Installation Guide 24

3. Software and Utilities Operation 27

3.1 Installing Drivers 27

3.2 A-Tuning 28

3.3 ASRock Live Update & APP Shop 31

4. UEFI SETUP UTILITY 37

4.1 Introduction 37

4.1.1 UEFI Menu Bar 37

4.1.2 Navigation Keys 38

4.2 Main Screen 38

4.3 OC Tweaker Screen 39

4.4 Advanced Screen 42

4.4.1 CPU Configuration 43

4.4.2 North Bridge Configuration 44

4.4.3 South Bridge Configuration 45

4.4.4 Storage Configuration 46

4.4.5 Super IO Configuration 47

4.4.6 ACPI Configuration 48

4.4.7 USB Configuration 50

4.4.8 Trusted Computing 51

4.5 Tool 52

4.6 Hardware Health Event Monitoring Screen 54

4.7 Boot Screen 55

4.8 Security Screen 57

4.9 Exit Screen 58

 A88M-G/3.1

1. Introduction
Thank you for purchasing ASRock A88M-G/3.1 motherboard, a reliable motherboard
produced under ASRock’s consistently stringent quality control. It delivers excellent
performance with robust design conforming to ASRock’s commitment to quality and
endurance.
In this documentation, Chapter 1 and 2 contains the introduction of the motherboard
and step-by-step installation guides. Chapter 3 contains the operation guide of the
software and utilities. Chapter 4 contains the configuration guide of the BIOS setup.

Because the motherboard specifications and the BIOS software might

be updated, the content of this manual will be subject to change without
notice. In case any modifications of this manual occur, the updated ver-
sion will be available on ASRock website without further notice. You may
find the latest VGA cards and CPU support lists on ASRock website as
well. ASRock website http://www.asrock.com
If you require technical support related to this motherboard, please visit
our website for specific information about the model you are using.
www.asrock.com/support/index.asp

1.1 Package Contents

ASRock A88M-G/3.1 Motherboard (Micro ATX Form Factor)
ASRock A88M-G/3.1 Quick Installation Guide
ASRock A88M-G/3.1 Support CD
2 x Serial ATA (SATA) Data Cables (Optional)
1 x I/O Panel Shield
1 x Screw for M.2 Socket
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 1.2 Specifications

Platform • Micro ATX Form Factor

• Solid Capacitor design

CPU • Supports Socket FM2+ 95W / FM2 100W processors

• 4 + 2 Power Phase design

Chipset • AMD A88X (Bolton-D4)

Memory • Dual Channel DDR3 Memory Technology

• 4 x DDR3 DIMM Slots
• Supports DDR3 2400+(OC)/2133/1866/1600/1333/1066
non-ECC, un-buffered memory (see CAUTION 1)
• Max. capacity of system memory: 64GB (see CAUTION
2)
• Supports Intel ® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) 1.3 / 1.2
• Supports AMD Memory Profile (AMP) up to AMP 2400

Expan- • 1 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 Slot (PCIE1 @ x16 mode)

sion * PCIE 3.0 is only supported with FM2+ CPU. With FM2
Slot CPU, it only supports PCIE 2.0.
• 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 Slot (PCIE3 @ x4 mode)
• 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x1 Slot
• 1 x PCI Slot
• Supports AMD Quad CrossFireX TM, CrossFireX TM and
Dual Graphics

Graphics • Integrated AMD RadeonTM R7/R5 Series Graphics in

A-series APU
• DirectX 11.1, Pixel Shader 5.0 with FM2+ CPU. DirectX
11, Pixel Shader 5.0 with FM2 CPU.
• Max. shared memory 2GB
• Three graphics output options: D-Sub, DVI-D and HDMI
• Supports Triple Monitor
• Supports HDMI with max. resolution up to 4K × 2K
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(4096x2160) @ 24Hz
* Only FM2+ APU can support up to 4096x2160 resolution
display via HDMI port
• Supports Dual-link DVI-D with max. resolution up to
2560x1600 @ 60Hz
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 A88M-G/3.1

• Supports D-Sub with max. resolution up to 1920x1200 @

60Hz
• Supports Auto Lip Sync, Deep Color (12bpc), xvYCC
and HBR (High Bit Rate Audio) with HDMI Port
(Compliant HDMI monitor is required)
• Supports Blu-ray Stereoscopic 3D with HDMI Port
• Supports AMD Steady VideoTM 2.0: New video post
processing capability for automatic jitter reduction on
home/online video
• Supports HDCP with DVI-D and HDMI Ports
• Supports Full HD 1080p Blu-ray (BD) playback with
DVI-D and HDMI Ports

Audio • 7.1 CH HD Audio with Content Protection (Realtek

ALC1150 Audio Codec)
• Premium Blu-ray Audio support
• Supports Surge Protection (ASRock Full Spike
Protection)
• ELNA Audio Caps

LAN • PCIE x1 Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000 Mb/s

• Realtek RTL8111GR
• Supports Wake-On-WAN
• Supports Wake-On-LAN
• Supports Lightning/ESD Protection (ASRock Full Spike
Protection)
• Supports LAN Cable Detection
• Supports Energy Efficient Ethernet 802.3az
• Supports PXE

Rear • 1 x PS/2 Mouse/Keyboard Port

Panel I/O • 1 x D-Sub Port
• 1 x DVI-D Port
• 1 x HDMI Port
• 1 x USB 3.1 Type-A Port (10 Gb/s) (ASMedia ASM1143)
(Supports ESD Protection (ASRock Full Spike
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Protection))
• 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C Port (10 Gb/s) (ASMedia ASM1143)
(Supports ESD Protection (ASRock Full Spike
Protection))

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 • 2 x USB 3.0 Ports (AMD A88X (Bolton-D4)) (Supports
ESD Protection (ASRock Full Spike Protection))
• 2 x USB 2.0 Ports (Supports ESD Protection (ASRock
Full Spike Protection))
• 1 x RJ-45 LAN Port with LED (ACT/LINK LED and
SPEED LED)
• HD Audio Jacks: Rear Speaker / Central / Bass / Line in
/ Front Speaker / Microphone

Storage • 8 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s Connectors, support RAID (RAID

0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10), NCQ, AHCI and Hot
Plug
• 1 x M.2_SSD (NGFF) Socket 3, supports type
2230/2242/2260/2280 M.2 PCI Express module up to
Gen2 x4 (20 Gb/s)
* If PCIE3 is occupied, M2_1 will be disabled.
* Supports ASRock U.2 Kit

Connec- • 1 x COM Port Headerr

tor • 1 x TPM Header
• 2 x CPU Fan Connectors (1 x 4-pin, 1 x 3-pin)
• 2 x Chassis Fan Connectors (2 x 4-pin)
• 1 x 24 pin ATX Power Connector
• 1 x 8 pin 12V Power Connector
• 1 x Front Panel Audio Connector
• 2 x USB 2.0 Headers (Support 4 USB 2.0 ports)
(Supports ESD Protection (ASRock Full Spike Protec-
tion))
• 1 x USB 3.0 Header by AMD A88X (Bolton-D4)
(Supports 2 USB 3.0 ports) (Supports ESD Protection
(ASRock Full Spike Protection))

BIOS • 64Mb AMI UEFI Legal BIOS with GUI support

Feature • Supports “Plug and Play”
• ACPI 1.1 Compliant wake up events
• Supports jumperfree
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• SMBIOS 2.3.1 support

• DRAM, CPU Voltage multi-adjustment

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 A88M-G/3.1

Hardware • CPU/Chassis temperature sensing

Monitor • CPU/Chassis Tachometer
• CPU/Chassis Quiet Fan
• CPU/Chassis Fan multi-speed control
• Voltage monitoring: +12V, +5V, +3.3V, Vcore

OS • Microsoft ® Windows® 10 32-bit / 10 64-bit / 8.1 32-bit / 8.1

64-bit / 7 32-bit / 7 64-bit
* For the updated Windows® 10 driver, please visit
ASRock's website for details: http://www.asrock.com
*Carrizo FM2r2 processor supports Windows® 10 64-bit/ 8.1
64-bit / 7 32-bit / 7 64-bit only.

Certifica- • FCC, CE, WHQL

tions • ErP/EuP Ready (ErP/EuP ready power supply is re-
quired)

* For detailed product information, please visit our website: http://www.asrock.com

WARNING
Please realize that there is a certain risk involved with overclocking,
including adjusting the setting in the BIOS, applying Untied Overclocking
Technology, or using third-party overclocking tools. Overclocking may
affect your system’s stability, or even cause damage to the components
and devices of your system. It should be done at your own risk and
expense. We are not responsible for possible damage caused by
overclocking.

CAUTION!
1. Whether 2400/2133/1866/1600MHz memory speed is support-
ed depends on the CPU you adopt. If you want to adopt DDR3
2400/2133/1866/1600 memory module on this motherboard,
please refer to the memory support list on our website for the
compatible memory modules.
English

ASRock website http://www.asrock.com

2. Due to the operating system limitation, the actual memory size
may be less than 4GB for the reservation for system usage
under Windows® 10 / 8.1 / 7. For Windows® 64-bit OS with 64-
bit CPU, there is no such limitation.
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 1.3 Motherboard Layout

1 2 3 4 5
Keyboard

B: USB2
T: USB1
USB 2.0
/Mouse

PS2

CPU_FAN1 CPU_FAN2

ATX12V1

USB 3.1
T: USB31_TA_1
B: USB31_TC_1
DVI1
VGA1

DDR3_B2 (64 bit, 240-pin module)

DDR3_A2 (64 bit, 240-pin module)

DDR3_B1 (64 bit, 240-pin module)

DDR3_A1 (64 bit, 240-pin module)
SOCKET FM2b

ATXPWR1
HDMI

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RJ-45 LAN

USB 3.0
T: USB1
B: USB2
CHA_FAN1

26
Central/Bass
Top:
REAR SPK
Center:
SPDIF
Optical
Bottom:

USB3_3_4
CMOS
MIC IN
Bottom:

LINE IN
Top:
FRONT
Center:

Battery
A88M-G/3.1
PCIE1 USB3.1
M2_1

PCIE2 8
SATA3_7

SATA3_8

PCI Express 3.0 9

PCIE3 10
SATA3_5

SATA3_6

11
CLRMOS1

PCI1 64Mb SATA3_2 SATA3_4 12

BIOS PLED1

USB_5_6 USB_3_4
1
PLED PWRBTN SATA3_1 SATA3_3
13
COM1 1 TPMS1 1 CHA_FAN2
HD_AUDIO1

1
1 1 1
HDLED RESET
14
PANEL1

25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15
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 A88M-G/3.1

No. Description
1 ATX 12V Power Connector (ATX12V1)
2 CPU Fan Connector (CPU_FAN1)
3 CPU Fan Connector (CPU_FAN2)
4 2 x 240-pin DDR3 DIMM Slots (DDR3_A1, DDR3_B1)
5 2 x 240-pin DDR3 DIMM Slots (DDR3_A2, DDR3_B2)
6 ATX Power Connector (ATXPWR1)
7 USB 3.0 Header (USB3_3_4)
8 SATA3 Connector (SATA3_7)
9 SATA3 Connector (SATA3_8)
10 SATA3 Connector (SATA3_5)
11 SATA3 Connector (SATA3_6)
12 Clear CMOS Jumper (CLRCMOS1)
13 SATA3 Connector (SATA3_4)
14 SATA3 Connector (SATA3_3)
15 SATA3 Connector (SATA3_2)
16 SATA3 Connector (SATA3_1)
17 Power LED Header (PLED1)
18 System Panel Header (PANEL1)
19 Chassis Speaker Header (SPEAKER1)
20 Chassis Fan Connector (CHA_FAN2)
21 USB 2.0 Header (USB_3_4)
22 USB 2.0 Header (USB_5_6)
23 TPM Header (TPMS1)
24 COM Port Header (COM1)
25 Front Panel Audio Header (HD_AUDIO1)
26 Chassis Fan Connector (CHA_FAN1)
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 1.4 I/O Panel
4 6
1 2 3 5 7

15 13 12 11 10 9 8
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No. Description No. Description

1 USB 2.0 Ports (USB_1_2) 9 Optical SPDIF Out Port
2 D-Sub Port (VGA1) 10 USB 3.0 Ports (USB3_1_2)
3 LAN RJ-45 Port* 11 HDMI Port
4 Central / Bass (Orange) 12 DVI-D Port (DVI1)
5 Rear Speaker (Black) 13 USB 3.1 Type-A Port (USB31_TA_1)
6 Line In (Light Blue) 14 USB 3.1 Type-C Port (USB31_TC_1)
7 Front Speaker (Lime)*** 15 PS/2 Mouse/Keyboard Port
8 Microphone (Pink)
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 A88M-G/3.1

* It is recommended to install the USB Keyboard/Mouse cable to USB 2.0 ports (USB_1_2)
instead of USB 3.0 ports.

** There are two LEDs on the LAN port. Please refer to the table below for the LAN port LED indica-
tions.
ACT/LINK LED

SPEED LED

LAN Port

Activity / Link LED Speed LED

Status Description Status Description
Off No Link Off 10Mbps connection
Blinking Data Activity Orange 100Mbps connection
On Link Green 1Gbps connection

*** If you use a 2-channel speaker, please connect the speaker’s plug into “Front Speaker Jack”. See
the table below for connection details in accordance with the type of speaker you use.

Front Line In or
Audio Output Rear Speaker Central / Bass
Speaker Side Speaker
Channels (No. 5) (No. 4)
(No. 7) (No. 6)
2 V -- -- --
4 V V -- --
6 V V V --
8 V V V V

To enable Multi-Streaming, you need to connect a front panel audio cable to

the front panel audio header. After restarting your computer, you will find the
“Mixer” tool on your system. Please select “Mixer ToolBox” , click “Enable
playback multi-streaming”, and click “ok”. Choose “2CH”, “4CH”, “6CH”, or
“8CH” and then you are allowed to select “Realtek HDA Primary output” to
use the Rear Speaker, Central/Bass, and Front Speaker, or select “Realtek
HDA Audio 2nd output” to use the front panel audio.
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 2. Installation
This is an Micro ATX form factor motherboard. Before you install the motherboard,
study the configuration of your chassis to ensure that the motherboard fits into it.

Pre-installation Precautions
Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard
components or change any motherboard settings.

Before you install or remove any component, ensure that the

power is switched off or the power cord is detached from the
power supply. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to the
motherboard, peripherals, and/or components.

1. Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any
component.
2. To avoid damaging the motherboard components due to static elec-
tricity, NEVER place your motherboard directly on the carpet or the
like. Also remember to use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safety
grounded object before you handle components.
3. Hold components by the edges and do not touch the ICs.
4. Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded anti-
static pad or in the bag that comes with the component.
5. When placing screws into the screw holes to secure the mother-
board to the chassis, please do not over-tighten the screws! Doing
so may damage the motherboard.
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 A88M-G/3.1

2.1 CPU Installation

Step 1. Unlock the socket by lifting the lever up
o
to a 90 angle.

Step 2. Position the CPU directly above the

socket such that the CPU corner with
the golden triangle matches the socket
corner with a small triangle.
Step 3. Carefully insert the CPU into the
socket until it fits in place.

The CPU fits only in one correct
orientation. DO NOT force the CPU
into the socket to avoid bending of
the pins.

Step 4. When the CPU is in place, press it

firmly on the socket while you push
down the socket lever to secure the
CPU. The lever clicks on the side tab
to indicate that it is locked.
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 2.2 Installation of CPU Fan and Heatsink

After you install the CPU into this motherboard, it is necessary to install a
larger heatsink and cooling fan to dissipate heat. You also need to spray
thermal grease between the CPU and the heatsink to improve heat dis-
sipation. Make sure that the CPU and the heatsink are securely fastened
and in good contact with each other. Then connect the CPU fan to the
CPU FAN connector (CPU_FAN1 and CPU_FAN2, see Page 6, No. 2, 3).
For proper installation, please kindly refer to the instruction manuals of
the CPU fan and the heatsink.
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 A88M-G/3.1

2.3 Installation of Memory Modules (DIMM)

This motherboard provides four 240-pin DDR3 (Double Data Rate 3) DIMM
slots, and supports Dual Channel Memory Technology.

1. For dual channel configuration, you always need to install identical (the
same brand, speed, size and chip-type) DDR3 DIMM pairs.
2. It is unable to activate Dual Channel Memory Technology with only one or
three memory module installed.
3. It is not allowed to install a DDR or DDR2 memory module into a DDR3
slot; otherwise, this motherboard and DIMM may be damaged.
4. If you adopt DDR3 2600/2400/2133/1866/1600 memory modules on this
motherboard, it is recommended to install them on DDR3_A2 and DDR3_
B2 slots.

Dual Channel Memory Configuration

Priority DDR3_A1 DDR3_A2 DDR3_B1 DDR3_B2

1 Populated Populated
2 Populated Populated
3 Populated Populated Populated Populated

The DIMM only fits in one correct orientation. It will cause permanent dam-
age to the motherboard and the DIMM if you force the DIMM into the slot at
incorrect orientation.

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 3
2
1

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 A88M-G/3.1

2.4 Expansion Slots (PCI and PCI Express Slots)

There are 1 PCI slot and 3 PCI Express slots on this motherboard.

Before installing an expansion card, please make sure that the power supply
is switched off or the power cord is unplugged. Please read the documenta-
tion of the expansion card and make necessary hardware settings for the card
before you start the installation.

PCI Slots: PCI slots are used to install expansion cards that have the 32-bit PCI
interface.
PCIE Slots:
PCIE2 (PCIe 2.0 x1 slot) is used for PCI Express cards with x1 lane
width cards.
PCIE1 (PCIe 3.0 x16 slot) is used for PCI Express x16 lane width
graphics cards.
PCIE3 (PCIe 2.0 x16 slot) is used for PCI Express x4 lane width
graphics cards.

PCIe Slot Configurations

PCIE1 PCIE3

Single Graphics Card x16 N/A

Two Graphics Cards in

x16 x4
CrossFireX TM Mode

For a better thermal environment, please connect a chassis fan to the moth-
erboard’s chassis fan connector (CHA_FAN1 or CHA_FAN2) when using
multiple graphics cards.
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 2.5 Jumpers Setup
The illustration shows how jumpers are
setup. When the jumper cap is placed on
pins, the jumper is “Short”. If no jumper cap
is placed on pins, the jumper is “Open”. The
illustration shows a 3-pin jumper whose
pin1 and pin2 are “Short” when jumper cap
is placed on these 2 pins.

Jumper Setting Description

Clear CMOS Jumper
(CLRCMOS1)
(see p.6, No. 12)
Default Clear CMOS

Note: CLRCMOS1 allows you to clear the data in CMOS. To clear and reset the
system parameters to default setup, please turn off the computer and unplug
the power cord from the power supply. After waiting for 15 seconds, use a
jumper cap to short pin2 and pin3 on CLRCMOS1 for 5 seconds. However,
please do not clear the CMOS right after you update the BIOS. If you need
to clear the CMOS when you just finish updating the BIOS, you must boot
up the system first, and then shut it down before you do the clear-CMOS ac-
tion. Please be noted that the password, date, time, user default profile, 1394
GUID and MAC address will be cleared only if the CMOS battery is removed.

If you clear the CMOS, the case open may be detected. Please adjust the
BIOS option “Clear Status” to clear the record of previous chassis intrusion
status.
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 A88M-G/3.1

2.6 Onboard Headers and Connectors

Onboard headers and connectors are NOT jumpers. Do NOT place

jumper caps over these headers and connectors. Placing jumper caps
over the headers and connectors will cause permanent damage of the
motherboard!

Serial ATA3 Connectors These eight Serial ATA3

SATA3_7

SATA3_8
(SATA3_1: see p.6, No. 16) (SATA3) connectors support
(SATA3_2: see p.6, No. 15) SATA data cables for internal
(SATA3_3: see p.6, No. 14) storage devices. The current
SATA3_5

(SATA3_4: see p.6, No. 13) SATA3_6 SATA3 interface allows up to

(SATA3_5: see p.6, No. 10) 6.0 Gb/s data transfer rate.
(SATA3_6: see p.6, No. 11)

(SATA3_7: see p.6, No. 8) SATA3_2 SATA3_4

(SATA3_8: see p.6, No. 9)

SATA3_1 SATA3_3

USB 2.0 Headers USB_PWR Besides two default USB 2.0

P-
(9-pin USB_3_4) P+
GND ports on the I/O panel, there
DUMMY
(see p.6 No. 21) are two USB 2.0 headers on
(9-pin USB_5_6) 1 this motherboard. Each USB 2.0
GND
(see p.6 No. 22) header can support two USB
P+
P-
USB_PWR
2.0 ports.

USB 3.0 Header IntA_P_D+

ID Besides two default USB 3.0
IntA_P_D-
(19-pin USB3_3_4) GND ports on the I/O panel, there is
IntA_P_SSTX+
(see p.6 No. 7) IntA_P_SSTX- one USB 3.0 header on this
GND
IntA_P_SSRX+
IntA_P_SSRX-
motherboard. This USB 3.0
Vbus
header can support two USB 3.0
1
ports.

Vbus
IntA_P_SSRX-
IntA_P_SSRX+
GND
IntA_P_SSTX-
IntA_P_SSTX+
GND
IntA_P_D-
IntA_P_D+
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 Front Panel Audio Header GND This is an interface for the front
PRESENCE#
(9-pin HD_AUDIO1) MIC_RET panel audio cable that allows
OUT_RET
(see p.6 No. 25) convenient connection and
1 control of audio devices.
OUT2_L
J_SENSE
OUT2_R
MIC2_R
MIC2_L

1. High Definition Audio supports Jack Sensing, but the panel wire on
the chassis must support HDA to function correctly. Please follow the
instruction in our manual and chassis manual to install your system.
2. If you use AC’97 audio panel, please install it to the front panel audio
header as below:
A. Connect Mic_IN (MIC) to MIC2_L.
B. Connect Audio_R (RIN) to OUT2_R and Audio_L (LIN) to OUT2_L.
C. Connect Ground (GND) to Ground (GND).
D. MIC_RET and OUT_RET are for HD audio panel only. You don’t
need to connect them for AC’97 audio panel.
E. To activate the front mic.
For Windows® 10 / 10 64-bit / 8.1 / 8.1 64-bit / 7 / 7 64-bit OS:
Go to the “FrontMic” Tab in the Realtek Control panel. Adjust
“Recording Volume”.

System Panel Header PLED+ This header accommodates

PLED-
(9-pin PANEL1) PWRBTN#
GND several system front panel
(see p.6 No. 18) functions.
1
GND
RESET#
GND
HDLED-
HDLED+

Connect the power switch, reset switch and system status indicator
on the chassis to this header according to the pin assignments below.
Note the positive and negative pins before connecting the cables.

PWRBTN (Power Switch):

Connect to the power switch on the chassis front panel. You may con-
figure the way to turn off your system using the power switch.
RESET (Reset Switch):
Connect to the reset switch on the chassis front panel. Press the reset
switch to restart the computer if the computer freezes and fails to per-
form a normal restart.
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 A88M-G/3.1

PLED (System Power LED):

Connect to the power status indicator on the chassis front panel. The
LED is on when the system is operating. The LED keeps blinking
when the sys-tem is in S3 sleep state. The LED is off when the system
is in S4 sleep state or powered off (S5).
HDLED (Hard Drive Activity LED):
Connect to the hard drive activity LED on the chassis front panel. The
LED is on when the hard drive is reading or writing data.

The front panel design may differ by chassis. A front panel module
mainly consists of power switch, reset switch, power LED, hard drive
activity LED, speaker and etc. When connecting your chassis front
panel module to this header, make sure the wire assignments and the
pin assign-ments are matched correctly.

Chassis Speaker Header DUMMY SPEAKER Please connect the chassis

(4-pin SPEAKER 1) 1 speaker to this header.
(see p.6 No. 19) +5V DUMMY

Chassis Fan Connectors

FAN_SPEED_CONTROL Please connect the fan cable
CHA_FAN_SPEED
(4-pin CHA_FAN1) +12V to the fan connector and
GND
(see p.6 No. 26) match the black wire to the
ground pin.

(4-pin CHA_FAN2)

(see p.6 No. 20)

FAN_SPEED_CONTROL
CHA_FAN_SPEED
+12V
GND

CPU Fan Connector FAN_SPEED_CONTROL Please connect the CPU fan

(4-pin CPU_FAN1) CPU_FAN_SPEED
cable to the connector and
+12V
(see p.6 No. 2) GND match the black wire to the
ground pin.
1 2 3 4

(3-pin CPU_FAN2) GND
(see p.6, No. 3) FAN_VOLTAGE
CPU_FAN_SPEED
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19
 Though this motherboard provides 4-Pin CPU fan (Quiet Fan) support, the 3-Pin
CPU fan still can work successfully even without the fan speed control function.
If you plan to connect the 3-Pin CPU fan to the CPU fan connector on this
motherboard, please connect it to Pin 1-3.
Pin 1-3 Connected

3-Pin Fan Installation

ATX Power Connector 12 24 Please connect an ATX power

(24-pin ATXPWR1) supply to this connector.
(see p.6 No. 6)

1 13

Though this motherboard provides 24-pin ATX power connector, 12 24

it can still work if you adopt a traditional 20-pin ATX power supply.
To use the 20-pin ATX power supply, please plug your power
supply along with Pin 1 and Pin 13.

20-Pin ATX Power Supply Installation

1 13

ATX 12V Power Connector 1 4 Please connect an ATX 12V

(8-pin ATX12V1) power supply to this connector.
(see p.6 No. 1)
5 8

Though this motherboard provides 8-pin ATX 12V power connector, it can still work
if you adopt a traditional 4-pin ATX 12V power supply. To use the 1 4
4-pin ATX power supply, please plug your power supply along with
Pin 1 and Pin 5.
4-Pin ATX 12V Power Supply Installation
5 8

DDCD#1
Serial port Header TTXD1
GND
This COM1 header supports a
RRTS#1
(9-pin COM1) RRI#1
1
serial port module.
(see p.6 No. 24)
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CCTS#1
DDSR#1
DDTR#1
RRXD1

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 A88M-G/3.1

TPM Header This connector supports Trust-

P CIRST #

P CICL K
FRAM E
+3VS B

LAD0

LAD3
GN D

+3 V
(17-pin TPMS1) ed Platform Module (TPM)
(see p.6, No. 23) 1
system, which can securely
store keys, digital certificates,

GND
SERIRQ #
S_PWRDWN #
GN D
LAD1

GN D
LAD2
SMB_DATA_MAIN
SMB_CLK_MAIN
passwords, and data. A TPM
system also helps enhance
network security, protects
digital identities, and ensures
platform integrity.

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 2.7 AMD Dual Graphics Operation Guide
This motherboard supports AMD Dual Graphics feature. AMD Dual Graphics brings
multi-GPU performance capabilities by enabling an AMD A78 (Bolton-D3) integrated
graphics processor and a discrete graphics processor to operate simultaneously
with combined output to a single display for blisteringly-fast frame rates. Currently,
AMD Dual Graphics Technology is only supported with Windows® 10 / 8.1 / 7 OS.

What does an AMD Dual Graphics system include?

An AMD Dual Graphics system includes an AMD Radeon HD 8000/7000 graphics
processor and a motherboard based on an AMD A78 (Bolton-D3) integrated
chipset, all operating in a Windows® 10 / 8.1 / 7 environment. Please refer to AMD
website for further information.

Enjoy the benefit of AMD Dual Graphics

Step 1. Please keep the default UEFI setting of “Dual Graphics“ option on [Auto].
Step 2. Install one AMD RADEON PCI Express graphics card to PCIE1 slot.
Step 3. Connect the monitor cable to the onboard VGA port. Please be noted that
the current VGA driver / VBIOS can allow Dual Graphics output from on-
board display only. For any future update, please refer to our website for
further information.
Step 4. Boot into OS. Please remove the AMD driver if you have any VGA driver
installed in your system.
Step 5. Install the onboard VGA driver from our support CD to your system for
both the onboard VGA and the discrete graphics card.
Step 6. Restart your computer. Right-click the desktop. Click “AMD VISION
Engine Control Center” to enter AMD VISION Engine Control Center.
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Step 7. You can also click “AMD VISION Engine Control Center” on your
Windows® taskbar to enter AMD VISION Engine Control Center.

AMD VISION Engine Control Center

Step 8. In AMD VISION Engine Control Center, please choose “Performance”.

Click “AMD CrossFireTM”.

Step 9. Click “Enable CrossFireTM” and click “Apply“ to save your change.

Step 10. Reboot your system. Then you can freely enjoy the benefit of Dual
Graphics feature.

* Dual Graphics appearing here is a registered trademark of AMD Technologies Inc., and is
used only for identification or explanation and to the owners’ benefit, without intent to infringe.
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* For further information of AMD Dual Graphics technology, please check AMD website for up
dates and details.

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 2.8 M.2_SSD (NGFF) Module Installation Guide
The M.2, also known as the Next Generation Form Factor (NGFF), is a small size
and versatile card edge connector that aims to replace mPCIe and mSATA. The M.2
Socket (M2_1) support M.2 PCI Express module up to Gen2 x4 (20Gb/s).
* If PCIE3 is occupied, M2_1 will be disabled.

Installing the M.2_SSD (NGFF) Module

Step 1

Prepare a M.2_SSD (NGFF)

module and the screw.

4 Step 2
3
Depending on the PCB type and
length of your M.2_SSD (NGFF)
module, find the corresponding
2 nut location to be used.
1

D C B A

No. 1 2 3 4
Nut Location A B C D
PCB Length 3cm 4.2cm 6cm 8cm
Module Type Type2230 Type 2242 Type2260 Type 2280
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 A88M-G/3.1

Step 3

Move the standoff based on the

module type and length.
The standoff is placed at the nut
D C B A
location D by default. Skip Step 3
and 4 and go straight to Step 5 if
you are going to use the default
nut.
Otherwise, release the standoff
by hand.

Step 4

Peel off the yellow protective

film on the nut to be used.
D C B A Hand tighten the standoff into
the desired nut location on the
motherboard.

Step 5

Align and gently insert the M.2

(NGFF) SSD module into the M.2
slot. Please be aware that the M.2
C B A

(NGFF) SSD module only fits in

one orientation.

D C B A

Step 6

Tighten the screw with a

screwdriver to secure the
module into place. Please do
D
English

NUT2 NUT1
not overtighten the screw as this
might damage the module.

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 M.2_SSD (NGFF) Module Support List
Vendor Size Interface Length P/N
Kingston 480GB PCIe2 x4 2280 SH2280S3/480G
Plextor 256GB PCIe 2280 PX-G256M6e
Plextor 512GB PCIe 2280 PX-G512M6e
Samsung 256GB PCIe3 x4* 2280 SM951 (MZHPV256HDGL)
Samsung 512GB PCIe3 x4* 2280 SM951 (MZHPV512HDGL)
Samsung 512GB PCIe x4 2280 XP941-512G (MZHPU512HCGL)
SanDisk 128GB PCIe 2260 SD6PP4M-128G
SanDisk 256GB PCIe 2260 SD6PP4M-256G

*Please note that the M.2 Socket on this motherboard supports M.2 PCI Express
module up to Gen2 x4 (20Gb/s).

For the latest updates of M.2_SSD (NFGG) module support list, please visit our
website for details: http://www.asrock.com
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 A88M-G/3.1

3. Software and Utilities Operation

3.1 Installing Drivers

The Support CD that comes with the motherboard contains necessary
drivers and useful utilities that enhance the motherboard’s features.

Running The Support CD

To begin using the support CD, insert the CD into your CD-ROM drive.
The CD automatically displays the Main Menu if “AUTORUN” is enabled in
your computer. If the Main Menu does not appear automatically, locate and
double click on the file “ASRSETUP.EXE” in the Support CD to display the
menu.

Drivers Menu
The drivers compatible to your system will be auto-detected and listed on
the support CD driver page. Please click Install All or follow the order from
top to bottom to install those required drivers. Therefore, the drivers you
install can work properly.

Utilities Menu
The Utilities Menu shows the application software that the motherboard
supports. Click on a specific item then follow the installation wizard to install
it.

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 3.2 A-Tuning

A-Tuning is ASRock’s multi purpose software suite with a new interface, more
new features and improved utilities, including XFast RAM, Good Night LED,
FAN-Tastic Tuning, OC Tweaker and a whole lot more.

3.2.1 Installing A-Tuning

A-Tuning can be downloaded from ASRock Live Update & APP Shop. After the
installation, you will find the icon “A-Tuning“ on your desktop. Double-click the
“A-Tuning“ icon, A-Tuning main menu will pop up.

3.2.2 Using A-Tuning

There are five sections in A-Tuning main menu: Operation Mode, OC Tweaker,
System Info, FAN-Tastic Tuning and Settings.

Operation Mode
Choose an operation mode for your computer.
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 A88M-G/3.1

OC Tweaker
Configurations for overclocking the system.

System Info
View information about the system.
*The System Browser tab may not appear for certain models.

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 FAN-Tastic Tuning
Configure up to five different fan speeds using the graph. The fans will
automatically shift to the next speed level when the assigned temperature is met.

Settings
Configure ASRock A-Tuning. Click to select "Auto run at Windows Startup" if
you want A-Tuning to be launched when you start up the Windows operating
system.
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 A88M-G/3.1

3.3 ASRock Live Update & APP Shop

The ASRock Live Update & APP Shop is an online store for purchasing
and downloading software applications for your ASRock computer. You can
install various apps and support utilities quickly and easily, and optimize
your system and keep your motherboard up to date simply with a few clicks.

Double-click on your desktop to access ASRock Live Update & APP

Shop utility.

*You need to be connected to the Internet to download apps from the ASRock Live Update &
APP Shop.

3.3.1 UI Overview
Category Panel Hot News

Information Panel

Category Panel: The category panel contains several category tabs or

buttons that when selected the information panel below displays the relative
information.

Information Panel: The information panel in the center displays data about
the currently selected category and allows users to perform job-related
tasks.
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Hot News: The hot news section displays the various latest news. Click on
the image to visit the website of the selected news and know more.

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 3.3.2 Apps

When the "Apps" tab is selected, you will see all the available apps on
screen for you to download.

Installing an App
Step 1

Find the app you want to install.

The most recommended app appears on the left side of the screen. The
other various apps are shown on the right. Please scroll up and down to see
more apps listed.

You can check the price of the app and whether you have already intalled it
or not.

- The red icon displays the price or "Free" if the app is free of charge.

- The green "Installed" icon means the app is installed on your

computer.

Step 2
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Click on the app icon to see more details about the selected app.

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 A88M-G/3.1

Step 3

If you want to install the app, click on the red icon to start
downloading.

Step 4

When installation completes, you can find the green "Installed" icon appears
on the upper right corner.

English

To uninstall it, simply click on the trash can icon .

*The trash icon may not appear for certain apps.

33
 Upgrading an App
You can only upgrade the apps you have already installed. When there is an
available new version for your app, you will find the mark of "New Version"
appears below the installed app icon.

Step 1

Click on the app icon to see more details.

Step 2

Click on the yellow icon to start upgrading.

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 A88M-G/3.1

3.3.3 BIOS & Drivers

Installing BIOS or Drivers

When the "BIOS & Drivers" tab is selected, you will see a list of
recommended or critical updates for the BIOS or drivers. Please update
them all soon.

Step 1

Please check the item information before update. Click on to see more
details.

Step 2

Click to select one or more items you want to update.

Step 3

Click Update to start the update process.

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 3.3.4 Setting

In the "Setting" page, you can change the language, select the server
location, and determine if you want to automatically run the ASRock Live
Update & APP Shop on Windows startup.
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 A88M-G/3.1

4. UEFI SETUP UTILITY

4.1 Introduction
ASRock Interactive UEFI is a blend of system configuration tools, cool sound ef-
fects and stunning visuals. Not only will it make BIOS setup less difficult but also a
lot more amusing. This section explains how to use the UEFI Setup Utility to
configure your system. The UEFI chip on the motherboard stores the UEFI Setup
Utility. You may run the UEFI Setup Utility when you start up the computer.
Please press <F2> or <Delete> during the Power-On-Self-Test (POST) to enter the
UEFI Setup Utility, otherwise, POST will continue with its test routines.
If you wish to enter the UEFI Setup Utility after POST, restart the system by
pressing <Ctl> + <Alt> + <Delete>, or by pressing the reset button on the system
chassis. You may also restart by turning the system off and then back on.

Because the UEFI software is constantly being updated, the

following UEFI setup screens and descriptions are for reference
purpose only, and they may not exactly match what you see on
your screen.

4.1.1 UEFI Menu Bar

The top of the screen has a menu bar with the following selections:
Main For setting system time/date information
OC Tweaker For overclocking configurations
Advanced For advanced system configurations
Tool Useful tools
H/W Monitor Displays current hardware status
Boot For configuring boot settings and boot priority
Security For security settings
Exit Exit the current screen or the UEFI Setup Utility
Use < > key or < > key to choose among the selections on the menu
bar, and use < > key or < > key to move the cursor up or down to
select items, then press <Enter> to get into the sub screen. You can also
navigate with a mouse.
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 4.1.2 Navigation Keys
Please check the following table for the function description of each navigation
key.
Navigation Key(s) Function Description
/ Moves cursor left or right to select Screens
/ Moves cursor up or down to select items
+ / - To change option for the selected items
<Tab> Switch to next function
<Enter> To bring up the selected screen
<PGUP> Go to the previous page
<PGDN> Go to the next page
<HOME> Go to the top of the screen
<END> Go to the bottom of the screen
<F1> To display the General Help Screen
<F7> Discard changes and exit the UEFI SETUP UTILITY
<F9> Load optimal default values for all the settings
<F10> Save changes and exit the UEFI SETUP UTILITY
<F12> Print screen
<ESC> Jump to the Exit Screen or exit the current screen

4.2 Main Screen

When you enter the UEFI Setup Utility, the Main screen will appear and display
the system overview.
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Active Page on Entry

This allows you to select the default page when entering UEFI setup utility.

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 A88M-G/3.1

4.3 OC Tweaker Screen

In the OC Tweaker screen, you can set up overclocking features.

CPU Configuration
Overclock Mode
Use this to select Overclock Mode. Configuration options: [Auto] and
[Manual]. The default value is [Auto].
Spread Spectrum
This item should always be [Auto] for better system stability.
AMD Turbo Core Technology
This item appears only when the processor you adopt supports this fea-
ture. Use this to select enable or disable AMD Turbo Core Technology.
Configuration options: [Enabled] and [Disabled]. The default value is
[Enabled].
AMD Application power Management
Application Power Management (APM) ensures that average power con-
sumption over a thermally significant time period remains at or below
the TDP for the CPU mode being used. If [Enabled] is selected, the power
consumption is reduced when overclocking.
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 Processor Maximum Frequency
It will display Processor Maximum Frequency for reference.
Processor Maximum Voltage
It will display Processor Maximum Voltage for reference.
Multiplier/Voltage Change
This item is set to [Auto] by default. If it is set to [Manual], you may adjust
the value of Processor Frequency and Processor Voltage. However, it is
APU Load-line Calibration
APU Load-line Calibration helps prevent APU voltage droop when the
system is under heavy load.
GFX Engine Clock
Use this to adjust GFX Engine Clock. The default value is [Auto].
Load XMP Setting
Load XMP settings to overclock the DDR3 memory and perform beyond
standard specifications.

DRAM Timing Configuration

DRAM Frequency
If [Auto] is selected, the motherboard will detect the memory module(s)
inserted and assigns appropriate frequency automatically.
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 A88M-G/3.1

DRAM Timing Control

DRAM Slot
Use this item to view SPD data.

DRAM Timing Control

Use this item to control DRAM timing.

Power Down Enable

Use this item to enable or disable DDR power down mode.
Bank Interleaving
Interleaving allows memory accesses to be spread out over banks on the
same node, or accross nodes, decreasing access contention.
Channel Interleaving
It allows you to enable Channel Memory Interleaving. Configuration
options: [Disabled], [Auto]. The default value is [Auto].

Voltage Configuration
DRAM Voltage
Use this to select DRAM Voltage. The default value is [Auto].
APU PCIE Voltage VDDP
Use this to select APU PCIE Voltage VDDP. The default value is [Auto].
SB Voltage
Use this to select SB Voltage. The default value is [Auto].
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41
 4.4 Advanced Screen
In this section, you may set the configurations for the following items: CPU Configu-
ration, Nouth Bridge Configuration, South Bridge Configuration, Storage Configura-
tion, Super IO Configuration, ACPI Configuration, USB Configuration and Trusted
Computing.

Setting wrong values in this section may cause

the system to malfunction.
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 A88M-G/3.1

4.4.1 CPU Configuration

Core C6 Mode
Use this item to enable or disable Core C6 mode. The default value is
[Enabled].
Package C6 Mode
This item appears only when you enable the item “Core C6 Mode”. Use
this item to enable or disable Package C6 mode. The default value is
[Disabled].
Cool ‘n’ Quiet
Use this item to enable or disable AMD’s Cool ‘n’ QuietTM technology. The
default value is [Enabled]. Configuration options: [Enabled] and [Disabled].
If you install Windows® 8.1 / 7 and want to enable this function, please set
this item to [Enabled]. Please note that enabling this function may reduce
CPU voltage and memory frequency, and lead to system stability or com-
patibility issue with some memory modules or power supplies. Please set
this item to [Disable] if above issue occurs.
SVM
When this option is set to [Enabled], a VMM (Virtual Machine Architecture)
can utilize the additional hardware capabilities provided by AMD-V. The
default value is [Enabled]. Configuration options: [Enabled] and [Disabled].
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43
 4.4.2 North Bridge Configuration

IOMMU
This allows you to enable or disable IOMMU support.
Primary Graphics Adapter
This item will switch the PCI Bus scanning order while searching for video
card. It allows you to select the type of Primary VGA in case of multiple
video controllers. The default value of this feature is [PCI Express]. Con-
figuration options: [Onboard], [PCI] and [PCI Express].
Onboard Graphics
Select Enable/Disable/Auto for the onboard graphics.
Share Memory
This allows you to set the share memory feature. The default value is [Auto].
Configuration options: [Auto], [32MB], [64MB], [128MB], [256MB] [512MB],
[1GB] and [2GB].
Onboard HDMI HD Audio
This allows you to enable or disable the “Onboard HDMI HD Audio” fea-
ture.
DVI Function
Use this to select DVI function when you install the DVI to HDMI adapter
to DVI port. Configuration options: [as Dual Link DVI] and [as HDMI]. If you
select [as Dual Link DVI], you can use Dual Link DVI monitor without au-
dio function. If you select [as HDMI], you can use HDMI monitor with audio
function. The default value is [as Dual Link DVI].
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 A88M-G/3.1

4.4.3 South Bridge Configuration

Onboard HD Audio
Select [Auto], [Enabled] or [Disabled] for the onboard HD Audio feature. If
you select [Auto], the onboard HD Audio will be disabled when PCI Sound
Card is plugged.
Front Panel
Select [Auto] or [Disabled] for the onboard HD Audio Front Panel.
Onboard LAN
This allows you to enable or disable the onboard LAN feature.
Good Night LED
Enable this option to turn off Power LED when the system is power on.
The keyboard LED will also be turned off in S3 and S4 state.
The default value is [Auto].

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 4.4.4 Storage Configuration

SATA Controller
Use this item to enable or disable the “SATA Controller” feature.
SATA Mode
Use this item to adjust SATA Mode. The default value of this option is [AHCI
Mode]. Configuration options: [AHCI Mode], [RAID Mode] and [IDE Mode].

If you set this item to RAID mode, it is suggested to install SATA

ODD driver on SATA_5, SATA_6, SATA_7 and SATA_8 ports.

AMD AHCI BIOS ROM

Use this item to enable or disable AMD AHCI BIOS ROM. The default
value of this option is [Disabled].
SATA IDE Combined Mode
This item is for SATA_5, SATA_6, SATA_7 and SATA_8.
Use this item to enable or disable SATA IDE combined mode. The default
value is [Enabled].

If you want to build RAID on SATA_5, SATA_6, SATA_7 and

SATA_8 ports, please disable this item.

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

Use this item to enable or disable the S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analy-
sis, and Reporting Technology) feature. Configuration options: [Disabled],
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[Auto], [Enabled].

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 A88M-G/3.1

4.4.5 Super IO Configuration

PS2 Y-Cable
Enable the PS2 Y-Cable or set this option to Auto.
Serial Port
Use this item to enable or disable the onboard serial port.
Serial Port Address
Use this item to set the address for the onboard serial port.
Configuration options: [3F8h / IRQ4] and [3E8h / IRQ4].
Parallel Port
Enable or disable the Parallel port.
Device Mode
Select the device mode according to your connected device.
Change Settings
Select the address of the Parallel port.

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47
 4.4.6 ACPI Configuration

Suspend to RAM
Use this item to select whether to auto-detect or disable the Suspend-to-
RAM feature. Select [Auto] will enable this feature if the OS supports it.
Check Ready Bit
Enable to enter the operating system after S3 only when the hard disk is
ready, this is recommended for better system stability.
Deep Sleep
Configure deep sleep mode for power saving when the computer is shut
down. We recommend disabling Deep Sleep for better system compatibil-
ity and stability.
Restore on AC/Power Loss
This allows you to set the power state after an unexpected AC/power loss.
If [Power Off] is selected, the AC/power remains off when the power re-
covers. If [Power On] is selected, the AC/power resumes and the system
starts to boot up when the power recovers.
PS/2 Keyboard Power On
Use this item to enable or disable PS/2 keyboard to turn on the system
from the power-soft-off mode.
PCI Devices Power On
Use this item to enable or disable PCI devices to turn on the system from
the power-soft-off mode.
Ring-In Power On
Use this item to enable or disable Ring-In signals to turn on the system
from the power-soft-off mode.
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RTC Alarm Power On

Use this item to enable or disable RTC (Real Time Clock) to power on the
system.

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 A88M-G/3.1

USB Keyboard/Remote Power On

Use this item to enable or disable USB Keyboard/Remote to power on the
system.
USB Mouse Power On
Use this item to enable or disable USB Mouse to power on the system.

ACPI HPET table

Use this item to enable or disable ACPI HPET Table. The default value is
[Enabled]. Please set this option to [Enabled] if you plan to use this moth-
erboard to submit Windows® certification.

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 4.4.7 USB Configuration

USB 2.0 Controller

Use this item to enable or disable the use of USB 2.0 controller.
A88X USB 3.0 Controller
Use this item to enable or disable the use of USB 3.0 controller.
Legacy USB Support
Use this option to select legacy support for USB devices. There are four
confi guration options: [Enabled], [Auto], [Disabled] and [UEFI Setup Only].
The default value is [Enabled]. Please refer to below descriptions for the
details of these four options:
[Enabled] - Enables support for legacy USB.
[Auto] - Enables legacy support if USB devices are connected.
[Disabled] - USB devices are not allowed to use under legacy OS and
UEFI setup when [Disabled] is selected. If you have USB compatibility is-
sue, it is recommended to select [Disabled] to enter OS.
[UEFI Setup Only] - USB devices are allowed to use only under UEFI
setup and Windows / Linux OS.
Legacy USB 3.0 Support
Use this option to enable or disable legacy support for USB 3.0 devices.
The default value is [Enabled].
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 A88M-G/3.1

4.4.8 Trusted Computing

Security Device Support

Enable or disable BIOS support for security device.

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 4.5 Tool

System Browser
System Browser can let you easily check your current system configura-
tion in UEFI setup.
OMG(Online Management Guard)
Administrators are able to establish an internet curfew or restrict internet
access at specified times via OMG. You may schedule the starting and
ending hours of internet access granted to other users. In order to prevent
users from bypassing OMG, guest accounts without permission to modify
the system time are required.
UEFI Tech Service
Contact ASRock Tech Service if you are having trouble with your PC.
Please setup network configuration before using UEFI Tech Service.
Easy RAID Installer
Easy RAID Installer helps you to copy the RAID driver from the support
CD to your USB storage device. After copying the drivers please change
the SATA mode to RAID, then you can start installing the operating sys-
tem in RAID mode.
Easy Driver Installer
For users that don’t have an optical disk drive to install the drivers from
our support CD, Easy Driver Installer is a handy tool in the UEFI that
installs the LAN driver to your system via an USB storage device, then
downloads and installs the other required drivers automatically.

UEFI Update Utility

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Instant Flash
Instant Flash is a UEFI flash utility embedded in Flash ROM. This conve-
nient UEFI update tool allows you to update system UEFI without entering
operating systems first like MS-DOS or Windows®. Just save the new

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UEFI file to your USB flash drive, floppy disk or hard drive and launch this
tool, then you can update your UEFI only in a few clicks without prepar-
ing an additional floppy diskette or other complicated flash utility. Please
be noted that the USB flash drive or hard drive must use FAT32/16/12 file
system. If you execute Instant Flash utility, the utility will show the UEFI
files and their respective information. Select the proper UEFI file to up-
date your UEFI, and reboot your system after the UEFI update process is
completed.

Internet Flash
Internet Flash searches for available UEFI firmware updates from our
servers. In other words, the system can auto-detect the latest UEFI from
our servers and flash them without entering Windows OS.
Network Configuration

Internet Setting
Use this item to set up the internet connection mode. Configuration
options: [DHCP (Auto IP)] and [PPPOE].
UEFI Download Server
Use this item to select UEFI firmware download server for Internet Flash.
Configuration options: [Asia], [Europe], [USA] and [China].

Would you like to save current setting user defaults?

In this option, you are allowed to load and save three user defaults
according to your own requirements.
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 4.6 Hardware Health Event Monitoring Screen
In this section, it allows you to monitor the status of the hardware on your system,
including the parameters of the CPU temperature, motherboard temperature, CPU
fan speed, chassis fan speed, and the critical voltage.

CPU Fan 1 & 2 Setting

This allows you to set the CPU fan 1 & 2 speed. Confi guration options: [Full
On] and [Automatic Mode]. The default is value [Full On].
Chassis Fan 1 Setting
This allows you to set the chassis fan 1 speed. Confi guration options: [Full
On], [Manual Mode] and [Automatic Mode]. The default is value [Full On].
Chassis Fan 1 Temp Source
Select a fan temperature source for Chassis Fan 1.
Chassis Fan 2 Setting
This allows you to set the chassis fan 2 speed. Confi guration options: [Full
On], [Manual Mode] and [Automatic Mode]. The default is value [Full On].
Chassis Fan 2 Temp Source
Select a fan temperature source for Chassis Fan 2.
Over Temperature Protection
Use this item to enable or disable Over Temperature Protection. The
default value is [Enabled].
Case Open Feature
This allows you to enable or disable case open detection feature. The
default is value [Disabled].
Clear Status
This option appears only when the case open has been detected. Use this
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option to keep or clear the record of previous chassis intrusion status.

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4.7 Boot Screen

In this section, it will display the available devices on your system for you to config-
ure the boot settings and the boot priority.

Fast Boot
Fast Boot minimizes your computer’s boot time. There are three con-
figuration options: [Disabled], [Fast] and [Ultra Fast]. The default value is
[Disabled]. Please refer to below descriptions for the details of these three
options:
[Disabled] - Disable Fast Boot.
[Fast] - The only restriction is you may not boot by using an USB flash
drive.
[Ultra Fast] - There are a few restrictions.
1. Only supports Windows® 8.1 UEFI operating system.
2. You will not be able to enter BIOS Setup (Clear CMOS or run utility
in Widows® to enter BIOS Setup).
3. If you are using an external graphics card, the VBIOS must support
UEFI GOP in order to boot.

Boot From Onboard LAN

Use this item to enable or disable the Boot From Onboard LAN feature.

Setup Prompt Timeout

This shows the number of seconds to wait for setup activation key.
Bootup Num-Lock
If this item is set to [On], it will automatically activate the Numeric Lock
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function after boot-up.

Full Screen Logo
Use this item to enable or disable OEM Logo. The default value is [Enabled].

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 AddOn ROM Display
[Force BIOS] - The third-party ROM messages will be forced to display
during the bootsequence.
[Keep Current] - The third-party ROM messages will be displayed only if
the third-partymanufacturer had set the add-on device to do so.

Boot Failure Guard

Enable or disable the feature of Boot Failure Guard.
Boot Failure Guard Count
Enable or disable the feature of Boot Failure Guard Count.

CSM (Compatibility Support Module)

CSM
Enable to launch the Compatibility Support Module. Please do not disable
unless you’re running a WHCK test. If you are using Windows® 8.1 64-bit
and all of your devices support UEFI, you may also disable CSM for faster
boot speed.
Launch PXE OpROM Policy
Select UEFI only to run those that support UEFI option ROM only. Select
Legacy only to run those that support legacy option ROM only. Do not
launch?
Launch Storage OpROM Policy
Select UEFI only to run those that support UEFI option ROM only. Select
Legacy only to run those that support legacy option ROM only. Do not
launch?
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Launch Video OpROM Policy

Select UEFI only to run those that support UEFI option ROM only. Select
Legacy only to run those that support legacy option ROM only. Do not
launch?

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4.8 Security Screen

In this section, you may set or change the supervisor/user password for the system.
For the user password, you may also clear it.

Secure Boot
Enable to support Windows® 8.1 Secure Boot.

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 4.9 Exit Screen

Save Changes and Exit

When you select this option, it will pop-out the following message, “Save
configuration changes and exit setup?” Select [OK] to save the changes
and exit the UEFI SETUP Utility.
Discard Changes and Exit
When you select this option, it will pop-out the following message, “Discard
changes and exit setup?” Select [OK] to exit the UEFI SETUP Utility
without saving any changes.
Discard Changes
When you select this option, it will pop-out the following message, “Discard
changes?” Select [OK] to discard all changes.
Load UEFI Defaults
Load UEFI default values for all the setup questions. F9 key can be used
for this operation.
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Contact Information
If you need to contact ASRock or want to know more about ASRock, you’re welcome
to visit ASRock’s website at http://www.asrock.com; or you may contact your dealer
for further information. For technical questions, please submit a support request
form at http://www.asrock.com/support/tsd.asp

ASRock Incorporation
2F., No.37, Sec. 2, Jhongyang S. Rd., Beitou District,

Taipei City 112, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

ASRock EUROPE B.V.

Bijsterhuizen 3151

6604 LV Wijchen

The Netherlands

Phone: +31-24-345-44-33

Fax: +31-24-345-44-38

ASRock America, Inc.

13848 Magnolia Ave, Chino, CA91710

U.S.A.

Phone: +1-909-590-8308

Fax: +1-909-590-1026

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