ASUS H81M-K (01) PDF Document

To ensure electrical safety when handling your ASUS H81M-K motherboard, follow these precautions:

• To prevent electrical shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electrical outlet before relocating the system.

• When adding or removing devices, ensure the power cables for the devices are unplugged before connecting signal cables. If possible, disconnect all power cables from the existing system before adding a device.

• Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard, ensure all power cables are unplugged.

• Seek professional assistance before using an adapter or extension cord, as these devices could interrupt the grounding circuit.

• Ensure your power supply is set to the correct voltage for your area. If you’re unsure, contact your local power company.

• If the power supply is broken, do not attempt to fix it yourself. Contact a qualified service technician or your retailer.

Follow these operational safety guidelines when installing and using the ASUS H81M-K motherboard:

• Before installing the motherboard and adding devices, carefully read all the manuals that came with the package.

• Before use, ensure all cables are correctly connected and that the power cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage, contact your dealer immediately.

• To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from connectors, slots, sockets, and circuitry.

• Avoid dust, humidity, and extreme temperatures. Do not place the product in any area where it may become wet.

• Place the product on a stable surface.

• If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualified service technician or your retailer.

When you purchase the ASUS H81M-K, your package should contain the following items:

• **Motherboard:** 1 x ASUS H81M-K motherboard

• **Cables:** 2 x Serial ATA 6.0 Gb/s cables

• **Accessories:** 1 x I/O Shield

• **Application DVD:** 1 x Support DVD

• **Documentation:** 1 x User Guide

If any of these items are damaged or missing, contact your retailer.

Before you install motherboard components or change any settings, please take note of the following precautions:

• Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any component.

• Before handling components, use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object (like the power supply case) to prevent damage from static electricity.

• Hold components by their edges to avoid touching the integrated circuits (ICs).

• When you uninstall a component, place it on a grounded antistatic pad or in its original bag.

• Before installing or removing any component, ensure the ATX power supply is switched off or the power cord is detached. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to the motherboard, peripherals, or components.

Unplug all power cables before installing the CPU. Follow these steps to install the CPU on the ASUS H81M-K:

1. Press the load lever to unhook it, then lift it up.

2. Lift the load plate to open the CPU socket.

3. Orient the CPU correctly. The CPU has two alignment notches and a gold triangle that should align with the socket’s alignment keys and the corner marking on the socket.

4. Carefully place the CPU into the socket.

5. Lower the load plate, then push down the load lever and secure it under the retention tab.

To install the CPU heatsink and fan on your ASUS H81M-K:

1. Place the CPU heatsink and fan assembly over the CPU, ensuring the four fasteners align with the motherboard holes.

2. Push down two fasteners at a time in a diagonal sequence (e.g., top-left and bottom-right, then top-right and bottom-left) until they click into place.

3. Connect the fan cable to the 4-pin CPU_FAN connector on the motherboard.

Note: Apply Thermal Interface Material to the CPU heatsink and CPU before installation if necessary. Do not forget to connect the fan cable, as insufficient airflow can damage motherboard components.

To uninstall the CPU heatsink and fan from your ASUS H81M-K:

1. Disconnect the fan cable from the motherboard connector.

2. Rotate each of the four fasteners counter-clockwise.

3. Gently pull up the fasteners to release them.

4. Carefully lift the CPU heatsink and fan assembly off the motherboard.

The ASUS H81M-K motherboard supports two DDR3 DIMM sockets. You can install 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB unbuffered non-ECC DDR3 DIMMs.

Memory configuration guidelines:

• The system supports dual-channel memory architecture. You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A (DIMM_A1) and Channel B (DIMM_B1). The system maps the total size of the lower-sized channel for the dual-channel configuration.

• Always install DIMMs with the same CAS latency. For optimal compatibility, it is recommended to install memory modules of the same version or date code (D/C) from the same vendor.

• Due to Intel chipset limitations, DDR3 1600MHz and higher memory modules on XMP mode will run at a maximum transfer rate of DDR3 1600MHz.

• This motherboard does not support DIMMs made up of 512 megabits (Mb) chips or less.

• According to Intel CPU spec, DIMM voltage below 1.65V is recommended to protect the CPU.

Unplug the power supply before adding or removing DIMMs. To install a memory module:

1. Press the retaining clips on both ends of the DIMM socket outward to unlock it.

2. Align the DIMM on the socket. The notch on the DIMM must match the key on the DIMM slot. A DIMM is keyed to fit in only one direction.

3. Firmly insert the DIMM into the socket until the retaining clips snap back into place, securing the DIMM.

To remove a DIMM module:

1. Simultaneously press the retaining clips on both ends of the socket outward to unlock the DIMM.

2. Gently remove the DIMM from the socket. Support the DIMM lightly with your fingers as you press the clips to prevent it from flipping out with force.

Unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. To install a card:

1. Before installation, read the documentation for the expansion card and make any necessary hardware settings on the card.

2. Remove the system unit cover.

3. Remove the metal bracket opposite the slot you intend to use. Keep the screw for later.

4. Align the card’s connector with the expansion slot and press firmly until the card is fully seated.

5. Secure the card to the chassis using the screw you removed earlier.

6. Replace the system cover.

After installation, turn on the system, change any necessary BIOS settings, and install the software drivers for the card.

The CLRTC jumper allows you to clear the Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM in CMOS, which erases data like date, time, and system setup parameters. To erase the RTC RAM:

1. Turn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord.

2. Locate the 3-pin CLRTC jumper on the motherboard. Move the jumper cap from the default position (pins 1-2) to pins 2-3.

3. Keep the cap on pins 2-3 for about 5-10 seconds, then move the cap back to pins 1-2.

4. Plug the power cord in and turn ON the computer.

5. Hold down the key during the boot process to enter BIOS setup and re-enter system data.

Except when clearing the RTC RAM, never remove the cap from the default position, as this will cause a system boot failure.

The function of the audio ports on the rear panel of the ASUS H81M-K changes depending on the speaker configuration. For an 8-channel setup, you must use a chassis with an HD audio module in the front panel. The port configurations are as follows:

The LAN (RJ-45) port on the ASUS H81M-K has two LEDs that indicate connection status and speed.

ASUS EZ Flash 2 allows you to update the BIOS without using an OS-based utility. Before starting, download the latest BIOS file for the ASUS H81M-K.

1. Insert the USB flash disk containing the latest BIOS file into a USB port.

2. Enter the Advanced Mode of the BIOS setup program. Go to the Tool menu, select ASUS EZ Flash 2 Utility, and press .

3. Press to switch to the Drive field.

4. Use the Up/Down arrow keys to find the USB flash disk with the BIOS file, and press .

5. Press to switch to the Folder Info field.

6. Use the Up/Down arrow keys to find the BIOS file, then press to start the update process.

7. Reboot the system when the update process is complete.

Important: This function supports USB flash disks formatted with FAT32/16 on a single partition only. DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating to prevent boot failure.

The ASUS H81M-K features the CrashFree BIOS 3 auto-recovery tool. If the BIOS file fails or gets corrupted during an update, you can restore it using the motherboard support DVD or a USB flash drive containing the BIOS file.

Before you begin, rename the BIOS file on your USB flash drive to **H81MK.CAP**.

To recover the BIOS:

1. Turn on the system.

2. Insert the support DVD into the optical drive or the USB flash drive with the renamed BIOS file into a USB port.

3. The utility automatically checks the devices for the BIOS file. When found, it will read the file and enter the ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility automatically.

4. The system will prompt you to enter BIOS Setup to recover the BIOS settings. To ensure system compatibility and stability, press to load default BIOS values.

WARNING: DO NOT shut down or reset the system while the BIOS is being updated, as this can cause system boot failure.

There are a few ways to enter the BIOS Setup on your ASUS H81M-K motherboard.

At startup:

• Press during the Power-On Self Test (POST). If you do not press the key in time, POST will continue with its routines.

After POST:

• Press ++ simultaneously.

• Press the reset button on the system chassis.

• Press the power button to turn the system off and then back on. Use this option only if the first two methods fail.

The BIOS setup program on the ASUS H81M-K can be used in two modes:

• **EZ Mode:** This is the default screen when you enter BIOS setup. It provides a graphical overview of basic system information, such as CPU temperature, voltages, fan speeds, and memory information. It allows you to select the display language, system performance mode (Power Saving, Normal, ASUS Optimal), and boot device priority using a simple drag-and-drop interface.

• **Advanced Mode:** This mode provides advanced options for experienced end-users to configure detailed BIOS settings. It includes menus such as Main, Ai Tweaker (for overclocking), Advanced (for CPU and other device settings), Monitor, Boot, Tool, and Exit.

You can switch between modes from the Exit menu or by using the Exit/Advanced Mode button on the screen.