Motherboard WS C246 PRO
E17297 Revised Edition V7 March 2021 Copyright© 2021 ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. All Rights Reserved. No part of this manual, including the products and software described in it, may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form or by any means, except documentation kept by the purchaser for backup purposes, without the express written permission of ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. (“ASUS”).
Contents Safety information....................................................................................................... vi About this guide......................................................................................................... vii WS C246 PRO specifications summary.................................................................... ix Package contents........................................................................................................
Contents Chapter 3: Knowing BIOS............................................................................................. 3-1 3.2 BIOS setup program................................................................................... 3-2 3.2.1 EZ Mode...................................................................................... 3-3 3.2.2 Advanced Mode........................................................................... 3-4 3.2.3 Q-Fan Control..........................................
Contents Chapter 4: 4.1 4.2 4.1.1 RAID definitions........................................................................... 4-1 4.1.2 Installing storage devices............................................................. 4-2 4.1.3 Intel® Rapid Storage Technology in UEFI BIOS........................... 4-2 4.1.4 Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Option ROM utility................... 4-6 Creating a RAID driver disk..................................................................... 4-10 4.2.
Safety information Electrical safety • To prevent electrical shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electrical outlet before relocating the system. • When adding or removing devices to or from the system, ensure that the power cables for the devices are unplugged before the signal cables are connected. If possible, disconnect all power cables from the existing system before you add a device.
About this guide This user guide contains the information you need when installing and configuring the motherboard. How this guide is organized This guide contains the following parts: 1. Chapter 1: Product Introduction This chapter describes the features of the motherboard and the new technology it supports. It includes description of the switches, jumpers, and connectors on the motherboard. 2.
Conventions used in this guide To ensure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following symbols used throughout this manual. DANGER/WARNING: Information to prevent injury to yourself when trying to complete a task. CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components when trying to complete a task. IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task. NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a task.
WS C246 PRO specifications summary CPU LGA1151 socket for Intel® Xeon® Processor E Family (Coffee Lake) / Intel® 9th/8th Generation Core™ i9/i7/i5/i3 processors / Intel® Pentium™ processors / Intel® Celeron™ processors* Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology * Refer to www.asus.com for Intel® CPU support list Chipset Intel® C246 Chipset 4 x DIMM, Max 128GB, DDR4 2666 / 2400 / 2133 MHz, ECC/ non-ECC UDIMM* Memory Dual channel architecture * Refer to www.asus.
WS C246 PRO specifications summary Realtek® ALC887 8-channel high definition audio CODEC Audio - Optical S/PDIF out port at back I/O - 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports (1 port at Type-A, 1 port at Type-C™) - 4 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports - 1 x USB 2.0 port - 1 x HDMI Rear Panel I/O Ports - 1 x DisplayPort - 1 x DVI-D - 1 x VGA - 2 x RJ-45 ports - 8-channel Audio I/O ports (5+1 Audio jacks) - 2 x USB 2.0 connectors support additional 4 USB ports (9-pin) - 1 x USB 3.
Package contents Check your motherboard package for the following items. Motherboard 1 x WS C246 PRO motherboard Cables 8 x Serial ATA 6Gb/s cables 2 x M.2 screws kits Accessories 1 x COM port brackets 1 X I/O shield 1 x Q-connector Application DVD 1 x Motherboard support DVD Documentation 1 x User guide If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.
Installation tools and components Intel® LGA1151 compatible CPU Fan PC chassis Power supply unit SATA optical disc drive (optional) SATA hard disk drive 1 bag of screws Intel® LGA1151 CPU Phillips (cross) screwdriver DIMM Graphics card The tools and components in the table above are not included in the motherboard package.
Product Introduction Product Introduction 1.1 Motherboard overview 1.1.1 Before you proceed 1 Chapter 1 Chapter 1: Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change any motherboard settings. • 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 or a metal object, such as the power supply case, to avoid damaging them due to static electricity.
1.1.2 Motherboard layout Chapter 1 Refer to 1.1.9 Internal connectors and 2.3.1 Rear I/O connection for more information about rear panel connectors and internal connectors.
Layout contents 9. System panel connector (20-3 pin PANEL) 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. Reset button Power-on button USB 2.0 connectors (10-1 pin USB1112, USB1314; 4-pin Type-A USB9) Clear RTC RAM (2-pin CLRTC) USB 3.1 Gen 1 connector (20-1 pin U31G1_12) TPM connector (14-1 pin TPM) Serial port connector (10-1 pin COM1) Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP) Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT) ASUS WS C246 PRO Page 1-17 Chapter 1 Connectors/Jumpers/Buttons and switches/Slots 1.
1.1.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) Chapter 1 The motherboard comes with a surface mount LGA1151 socket designed for the Intel® Xeon® Processor E Family (Coffee Lake) / Intel® 9th/8th Generation Core™ i9/i7/i5/i3 processors / Intel® Pentium™ processors / Intel® Celeron™ processors. Ensure that you install the correct CPU designed for LGA1151 socket only. DO NOT install a CPU designed for other sockets on the LGA1151 socket. 1-4 • Ensure that all power cables are unplugged before installing the CPU.
1.1.4 System memory Chapter 1 The motherboard comes with four DDR 4 (Double Data Rate 4) Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMM) slots. A DDR4 module is notched differently from a DDR, DDR2 or DDR3 module. DO NOT install a DDR, DDR2 or DDR3 memory module to the DDR4 slot.
Memory configurations You may install 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB and 16 GB unbuffered and ECC and non‑ECC DDR4 DIMMs into the DIMM sockets. Chapter 1 You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B. The system maps the total size of the lower-sized channel for the dual-channel configuration. Any excess memory from the higher-sized channel is then mapped for single-channel operation.
1.1.5 Expansion slots Chapter 1 Unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. Failure to do so may cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components. Slot No.
VGA configuration Chapter 1 1-8 PCI Express operating mode PCIe 3.0 x16_1 (gray) PCIe 3.0 x16_2 PCIe 3.0 x16_3 Single VGA/PCIe card x16 (Recommended for single VGA card) N/A x4 Dual VGA/PCIe cards x8 x8 x4 Triple VGA/PCIe cards x8 x8 x4 • In single VGA card mode, use the PCIe 3.0 x16_1 slot (gray) for a PCI Express x16 graphics card to get better performance. • We recommend that you provide sufficient power when running CrossFireX™ mode.
1.1.6 Onboard buttons and switches 1. Chapter 1 Onboard buttons and switches allow you to fine-tune performance when working on a bare or open-case system. This is ideal for overclockers and gamers who continually change settings to enhance system performance. Power-on button The motherboard comes with a power-on button that allows you to power up or wake up the system.
1.1.7 1. Jumpers Clear RTC RAM (2-pin CLRTC) Chapter 1 This header allows you to clear the Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM in CMOS. You can clear the CMOS memory of date, and system setup parameters by erasing the CMOS RTC RAM data. The onboard button cell battery powers the RAM data in CMOS, which include system setup information such as system passwords. To erase the RTC RAM: 1. Turn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord. 2.
1.1.8 1. Onboard LEDs Q LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, BOOT) Chapter 1 Q LED checks key components (CPU, DRAM, VGA card, and booting devices) in sequence during motherboard booting process. If an error is found, the corresponding LED remains lit until the problem is solved. This user-friendly design provides an intuitive way to locate the root problem within seconds. The Q LEDs provide the most probable cause of an error code as a starting point for troubleshooting. The actual cause may vary from case to case.
3. Q-Code LED The Q-Code LED design provides you with a 2-digit POST code that displays the system status. Chapter 1 1-12 • The Q-Code LED provides the most probable cause of an error code as a starting point for troubleshooting. The actual cause may vary from case to case. • Please refer to the Q-Code table in the Appendix section for more details.
1.1.9 Internal connectors 1. Intel® Serial ATA 6 Gb/s connectors (7-pin SATA6G_1-8) Chapter 1 These connectors connect to Serial ATA 6 Gb/s hard disk drives via Serial ATA 6 Gb/s signal cables. If you installed Serial ATA hard disk drives, you can create a RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 configuration with the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology through the onboard Intel® C246 chipset. • These connectors are set to [AHCI Mode] by default.
2. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP) This connector is for a chassis-mounted front panel audio I/O module that supports HD Audio. Connect one end of the front panel audio I/O module cable to this connector. Chapter 1 We recommend that you connect a high-definition front panel audio module to this connector to avail of the motherboard’s high-definition audio capability. 3.
4. USB 3.1 Gen 1 connector (20-1 pin U31G1_12) Chapter 1 These connector allows you to connect a USB 3.1 Gen 1 module for additional USB 3.1 Gen 1 front or rear panel ports. With an installed USB 3.1 Gen 1 module, you can enjoy all the benefits of USB 3.1 Gen 1 including faster data transfer speeds of up to 5 Gb/s, faster charging time for USB-chargeable devices, optimized power efficiency, and backward compatibility with USB 2.0. The USB 3.1 Gen 1 module is purchased separately.
5. USB 2.0 connectors (10-1 pin USB1112, USB1314; 4-pin Type-A USB9) Chapter 1 The 10-1 pin connector allows you to connect a USB 2.0 module for additional USB 2.0 front or rear panel ports. The 4-pin USB (Universal Serial Bus) Type-A port is available for connecting USB 2.0 devices. These USB connectors comply with USB 2.0 specification that supports up to 480 Mbps connection speed. DO NOT connect a 1394 cable to the USB connectors. Doing so will damage the motherboard! 6.
7. Fan and pump connectors (4-pin CPU_FAN; 4-pin CPU_OPT; 4-pin CHA_FAN1-4) Chapter 1 Connect the fan cables to the fan connectors on the motherboard, ensuring that the black wire of each cable matches the ground pin of the connector. 8. • DO NOT forget to connect the fan cables to the fan connectors. Insufficient air flow inside the system may damage the motherboard components.
9. System panel connector (20-3 pin PANEL) This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions. Chapter 1 • System power LED (2-pin or 3-1 pin PLED) The 2-pin or 3-1 pin connector is for the system power LED. Connect the chassis power LED cable to this connector. The system power LED lights up when you turn on the system power, and blinks when the system is in sleep mode. • Hard disk drive activity LED (2-pin HDD_LED) This 2-pin connector is for the HDD Activity LED.
10. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR; 8-pin EATX12V; 6-pin EATX12V_1) Chapter 1 These connectors are for ATX power supply plugs. The power supply plugs are designed to fit these connectors in only one orientation. Find the proper orientation and push down firmly until the connectors completely fit. Ensure to connect the 8-pin power plug, or connect both the 8-pin and 6-pin power plugs.
11. M.2 sockets (M.2_1; M.2_2) These sockets allow you to install M.2 SSD modules. Chapter 1 • M.2_1 socket supports PCIe 3.0 x2 and SATA mode M Key design and type 2242 / 2260 / 2280 PCIe and SATA storage devices. • M.2_2 socket supports PCIe 3.0 x4 M Key design and type 2242 / 2260 / 2280 / 22110 PCIe storage devices. • M.2_1 socket shares bandwidth with SATA6G_2 port. When M.2_1 slot runs in SATA mode, the SATA6G_2 port will be disabled.
Chapter 2: 2 Basic Installation Basic Installation 2.1 Building your PC system The diagrams in this section are for reference only. The motherboard layout may vary with models, but the installation steps are the same for all models. CPU installation • Ensure that you install the correct CPU designed for LGA1151 socket only. DO NOT install a CPU designed for LGA1155 and LGA1156 sockets on the LGA1151 socket.
Load lever Load lever Retention tab Chapter 2 Retention lock 2-2 Chapter 2: Basic Installation
2.1.2 Cooling system installation Apply the Thermal Interface Material to the CPU cooling system and CPU before you install the cooling system, if necessary.
2.1.3 Chapter 2 2-4 Motherboard installation 1. Install the ASUS Q-Shield to the chassis rear I/O panel. 2. Place the motherboard into the chassis, ensuring that its rear I/O ports are aligned to the chassis’ rear I/O panel.
Place nine (9) screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the motherboard to the chassis. Chapter 2 3. DO NOT overtighten the screws! Doing so can damage the motherboard.
2.1.
ATX power connection Chapter 2 2.1.5 OR AND • DO NOT connect the 6-pin power plug only, the motherboard may overheat under heavy usage. • Ensure to connect the 8-pin power plug, or connect both the 8-pin and 6-pin power plugs.
2.1.
2.1.7 Front I/O connector To install ASUS Q-Connector To install front panel audio connector To install USB 3.1 Gen 1 connector Chapter 2 AAFP To install USB 2.0 connector USB 3.1 Gen 1 USB 2.
2.1.
M.2 installation Chapter 2 2.1.9 Supported M.2 type varies per motherboard.
2.2 BIOS update utility USB BIOS Flashback USB BIOS Flashback allows you to easily update the BIOS without entering a bootable environment, ideal for BIOS recovery, rollback, or updates to support new CPUs. Simply insert a USB storage device to the USB port (the USB port hole marked in green on the I/O shield) then press the USB BIOS Flashback button for three seconds to start the update process. To use USB BIOS Flashback: 1. Chapter 2 2-12 Download the latest BIOS from the support site at www.asus.
Refer to section 1.1.8 Onboard LEDs for more information of the Flashback LED. 5. Wait until the light goes out, indicating that the BIOS updating process is completed. For more BIOS update utilities in BIOS setup, refer to the section 3.10 Updating BIOS in Chapter 3. • Do not unplug portable disk, power system, or short the CLRTC jumper while BIOS update is ongoing, otherwise update will be interrupted.
2.3 Motherboard rear and audio connections 2.3.1 Rear I/O connection Chapter 2 Rear panel connectors 1. DisplayPort 6. DVI-D port 2. VGA port 7. USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports 5, 6, 7, and 8 3. Intel LAN port 1 and 2 (I210-AT & I219-LM)* 8. USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C™ port C3 4. USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A port 4 9. Optical S/PDIF Out port 5. HDMI 1.4b port 10. Audio I/O ports** ® * and ** : Refer to the tables on the next page for LAN port LEDs and audio port definitions.
* LAN ports LED indications Activity Link LED Speed LED Status Description Status Description Off No link Off 10 Mbps connection YELLOW Linked ORANGE 100 Mbps connection BLINKING Data activity GREEN ACT/LINK LED SPEED LED 1 Gbps connection LAN port You can disable the LAN controllers in BIOS. Due to hardware design, the LAN1 port’s LEDs may continue to blink even when disabled. 4-channel 5.1-channel 7.
2.3.
Connect to 4-channel Speakers Chapter 2 Connect to 5.1-channel Speakers Connect to 7.
2.4 Starting up for the first time 1. After making all the connections, replace the system case cover. 2. Ensure that all switches are off. 3. Connect the power cord to the power connector at the back of the system chassis. 4. Connect the power cord to a power outlet that is equipped with a surge protector. 5. Turn on the devices in the following order: 6. a. Monitor b. External storage devices (starting with the last device on the chain) c.
Chapter 3: BIOS Setup BIOS Setup 3.1 Knowing BIOS 3 The new ASUS UEFI BIOS is a Unified Extensible Interface that complies with UEFI architecture, offering a user-friendly interface that goes beyond the traditional keyboardonly BIOS controls to enable a more flexible and convenient mouse input. You can easily navigate the new UEFI BIOS with the same smoothness as your operating system. The term “BIOS” in this user manual refers to “UEFI BIOS” unless otherwise specified.
3.2 BIOS setup program Use the BIOS Setup to update the BIOS or configure its parameters. The BIOS screen include navigation keys and brief onscreen help to guide you in using the BIOS Setup program. Entering BIOS at startup To enter BIOS Setup at startup, press or during the Power-On Self Test (POST). If you do not press or , POST continues with its routines. Entering BIOS Setup after POST To enter BIOS Setup after POST: • Press ++ simultaneously.
3.2.1 EZ Mode The EZ Mode provides you an overview of the basic system information, and allows you to select the display language, system performance, mode and boot device priority. To access the Advanced Mode, select Advanced Mode or press the hotkey for the advanced BIOS settings. The default screen for entering the BIOS setup program can be changed. Refer to the Setup Mode item in section Boot menu for details.
3.2.2 Advanced Mode The Advanced Mode provides advanced options for experienced end-users to configure the BIOS settings. The figure below shows an example of the Advanced Mode. Refer to the following sections for the detailed configurations. To switch from EZ Mode to Advanced Mode, click Advanced Mode(F7) or press the hotkey.
Menu bar The menu bar on top of the screen has the following main items: My Favorites For saving the frequently-used system settings and configuration. Main For changing the basic system configuration Ai Tweaker For changing the overclocking settings Advanced For changing the advanced system settings Monitor For displaying the system temperature, power status, and changing the fan settings.
Search (F9) This button allows you to search for BIOS items by entering its name, enter the item name to find the related item listing. Hot keys This button contains the navigation keys for the BIOS setup program. Use the navigation keys to select items in the menu and change the settings. Search on FAQ Move your mouse over this button to show a QR code, scan this QR code on your mobile device to connect to the BIOS FAQ web page of the ASUS support website.
3.2.3 Q-Fan Control The QFan Control allows you to set a fan profile or manually configure the operating speed of your CPU and chassis fans.
Configuring fans manually Select Manual from the list of profiles to manually configure your fans’ operating speed. Speed points Select to manually configure your fans To configure your fans: Chapter 3 3-8 1. Select the fan that you want to configure and to view its current status. 2. Click and drag the speed points to adjust the fans’ operating speed. 3. Click Apply to save the changes then click Exit (ESC).
3.2.4 EZ Tuning Wizard EZ Tuning Wizard allows you to easily set RAID in your system using this feature. Creating RAID To create RAID: 1. Press on your keyboard or click EZ Tuning Wizard screen. 2. Click Yes to enable RAID. • Ensure that your HDDs have no existing RAID volumes. • Ensure to connect your HDDs to Intel® SATA connectors. Select the port that you want to set to [RAID] mode, PCIE or SATA, then click Next. Chapter 3 3.
4. Select the type of storage for your RAID, Easy Backup or Super Speed, then click Next. a. For Easy Backup, click Next then select from Easy Backup (RAID 1) or Easy Backup (RAID 10). Chapter 3 You can only select Easy Backup (RAID 10) if you connect four (4) HDDs. b. 3-10 For Super Speed, click Next then select from Super Speed (RAID 0) or Super Speed (RAID 5). 5. After selecting the type of RAID, click Next then click Yes to continue the RAID setup. 6.
3.3 My Favorites My Favorites is your personal space where you can easily save and access your favorite BIOS items. ASUS WS C246 PRO Chapter 3 My Favorites comes with several performance, power saving, and fast boot related items by default. You can personalize this screen by adding or removing items.
Adding items to My Favorites To add BIOS items: from the BIOS screen to open 1. Press on your keyboard or click Setup Tree Map screen. 2. On the Setup Tree Map screen, select the BIOS items that you want to save in My Favorites screen. Main menu panel Selected shortcut items Submenu panel Delete all favorite items Recover to default favorite items 3. Select an item from main menu panel, then click the submenu that you want to save as or press on your keyboard.
3.4 Main menu The Main menu screen appears when you enter the Advanced Mode of the BIOS Setup program. The Main menu provides you an overview of the basic system information, and allows you to set the system date, time, language, and security settings. Security The Security menu items allow you to change the system security settings. 3.5 • If you have forgotten your BIOS password, erase the CMOS Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM to clear the BIOS password. See section 1.1.
3.6 Advanced menu The Advanced menu items allow you to change the settings for the CPU and other system devices. Be cautious when changing the settings of the Advanced menu items. Incorrect field values can cause the system to malfunction. 3.6.1 Platform Misc Configuration The items in this menu allow you to change the ASPM for PCH and SA PCI Express. 3.6.2 CPU Configuration The items in this menu show the CPU-related information that the BIOS automatically detects.
3.6.5 PCH Storage Configuration While entering Setup, the BIOS automatically detects the presence of SATA devices. The SATA Port items show Not Present if no SATA device is installed to the corresponding SATA port. SATA Controller(s) This item allows you to enable or disable the SATA Device. Configuration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] The following items appear only when SATA Controller(s) is set to [Enabled]. SATA Mode Selection This item allows you to set the SATA configuration.
3.6.6 PCH-FW Configuration This item allows you to configure the firmware TPM. 3.6.7 Onboard Devices Configuration The items in this menu allow you to switch between PCIe Lanes and configure onboard devices. HD Audio This item allows you to use the Azalia High Definition Audio Controller. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled] Intel LAN1-2 Controller This item allows you to enable or disable the Intel LAN controllers.
3.6.10 Network Stack Configuration The items in this menu allow you to configure Ipv4 / Ipv6 PXE support. 3.6.11 NVMe Configuration You may view the NVMe controller and Drive information if a NVMe device is connected. 3.6.12 HDD/SSD SMART Information The items in this menu display the SMART information of the connected devices. NVM Express devices do not support SMART information. 3.
The following items appear only when you set the Launch CSM to [Enabled]. Boot Devices Control This item allows you to select the type of devices that you want to boot. Configuration options: [UEFI and Legacy OPROM] [Legacy OPROM only] [UEFI only] Boot from Network Devices This item allows you to select the type of network devices that you want to launch.
Boot Option Priorities These items specify the boot device priority sequence from the available devices. The number of device items that appears on the screen depends on the number of devices installed in the system. • To access Windows® OS in Safe Mode, press after POST (Windows® 8 not supported). • To select the boot device during system startup, press when the ASUS Logo appears. Boot Override These items displays the available devices.
3.9.2 ASUS Secure Erase SSD speeds may lower over time as with any storage medium due to data processing. Secure Erase completely and safely cleans your SSD, restoring it to factory performance levels. Secure Erase is only available in AHCI mode. Ensure to set the SATA mode to AHCI. Click Advanced > PCH Storage Configuration > SATA Mode Selection > AHCI. To launch Secure Erase, click Tool > Secure Erase on the Advanced mode menu.
3.9.3 ASUS User Profile This item allows you to store or load multiple BIOS setting profiles. Load Profile This item allows you to load the previous BIOS settings saved in the BIOS Flash. Key in the profile number that saved your BIOS settings, press , and then select Yes. • DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS to prevent the system boot failure! • We recommend that you update the BIOS file only coming from the same memory/ CPU configuration and BIOS version.
3.10 Exit menu The Exit menu items allow you to load the optimal default values for the BIOS items, and save or discard your changes to the BIOS items. You can access the EZ Mode from the Exit menu. Load Optimized Defaults This option allows you to load the default values for each of the parameters on the Setup menus. When you select this option or if you press , a confirmation window appears. Select OK to load the default values.
3.11.2 ASUS EZ Flash 3 ASUS EZ Flash 3 allows you to download and update to the latest BIOS through the Internet without having to use a bootable floppy disk or an OS‑based utility. Updating through the Internet varies per region and Internet conditions. Check your local Internet connection before updating through the Internet. 1. Enter the Advanced Mode of the BIOS setup program. Go to the Tool menu to select ASUS EZ Flash 3 Utility and press . 2.
• This function can support devices such as a USB flash disk with FAT 32/16 format and single partition only. • DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS to prevent system boot failure! Ensure to load the BIOS default settings to ensure system compatibility and stability. Select the Load Optimized Defaults item under the Exit menu. See section 3.8 Exit Menu for details. To update the BIOS by Internet: Enter the Advanced Mode of the BIOS setup program.
3.11.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 The ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility is an auto recovery tool that allows you to restore the BIOS file when it fails or gets corrupted during the updating process. You can restore a corrupted BIOS file using the motherboard support DVD or a USB flash drive that contains the BIOS file. The BIOS file in the motherboard support DVD may be older than the BIOS file published on the ASUS official website. If you want to use the newer BIOS file, download the file at https://www.asus.
Chapter 3 3-26 Chapter 3: BIOS Setup
Chapter 4: RAID Support RAID Support 4.1 RAID configurations 4 The motherboard supports Intel® Rapid Storage Technology with RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10 solution. If you want to install a Windows® operating system to a hard disk drive included in a RAID set, you have to create a RAID driver disk and load the RAID driver during OS installation. Refer to section 4.2 Creating a RAID driver disk for details. The screenshots shown in this section are for reference purposes only. 4.1.
4.1.2 Installing storage devices The motherboard supports Serial ATA hard disk drives and PCIE SSD storage devices. For optimal performance, install identical drives of the same model and capacity when creating a disk array. Refer to Chapter 2 for details on installing storage devices to your motherboard. 4.1.3 Intel® Rapid Storage Technology in UEFI BIOS To enter the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology in UEFI BIOS: 1. Enter the BIOS Setup during POST. 2.
Creating a RAID set To create a RAID set: From the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology menu, select Create RAID Volume and press . The following screen appears: 2. When the Name item is selected, enter a name for the RAID set and press . 3. When the RAID Level item is selected, press to select the RAID level to create, and then press . 4. Under Select Disks, press and select X for the disks you want to include in the RAID set. Chapter 4 1.
5. When the Strip Size item is selected, press to select strip size for the RAID array (for RAID 0, 10 and 5 only), and then press . The available strip size values range from 4 KB to 128 KB. The following are typical values: - RAID 0: 128 KB - RAID 10: 64 KB - RAID 5: 64 KB We recommend a lower strip size for server systems, and a higher strip size for multimedia computer systems used mainly for audio and video editing. 6.
Deleting a RAID set Be cautious when deleting a RAID set. You will lose all data on the hard disk drives when you delete a RAID set. To delete a RAID set: From the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology menu, select the RAID volume you want to delete and press . The following screen appears: 2. When the Delete item is selected, press , then select Yes to delete the RAID volume and return to the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology menu, or select No to cancel. Chapter 4 1.
4.1.4 Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Option ROM utility To enter the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Option ROM utility: 1. Enter the BIOS Setup during POST. 2. Go to the Boot menu > CSM (Compatibility Support Module) > Launch CSM, then set the item to [Enabled]. 3. Save your changes and exit the BIOS Setup, then during POST, press + to display the utility main menu. RAID Volumes: None defined.
Creating a RAID set To create a RAID set: 1. From the utility main menu, select 1. Create RAID Volume and press . The following screen appears: Name: Volume 0 RAID Level: aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Disks: dssdsdsds Strip Size:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Capacity:aaaaaaaaaaaaaa Sync:aaaaaaaaaa Create volume [HELP] Enter a unique volume name that has no special characters and is 16 characters or less. 2. Enter a name for the RAID set and press . 3.
5. Use the up/down arrow key to select a drive, and then press to select. A small triangle marks the selected drive. Press after completing your selection. 6. Use the up/down arrow key to select the strip size for the RAID array (for RAID 0, 10 and 5 only), and then press . The available strip size values range from 4 KB to 128 KB.
Deleting a RAID set Be cautious when deleting a RAID set. You will lose all data on the hard disk drives when you delete a RAID set. To delete a RAID set: 1. From the utility main menu, select 2. Delete RAID Volume and press . The following screen appears: [DELETE VOLUME MENU] Name Volume0 Level Drives RAID0 (Stripe) 2 Capacity 298.0GB Status Normal Bootable Yes [HELP] Deleting a volume will reset the disks to non-RAID. WARNING: ALL DISK DATA WILL BE DELETED.
Exiting the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Option ROM utility To exit the utility: 1. From the utility main menu, select 6. Exit, then press . The following warning message appears: [CONFIRM EXIT] Are you sure you want to exit? (Y/N): 2. Press to exit or press to return to the utility main menu. 4.2 Creating a RAID driver disk 4.2.1 Creating a RAID driver disk in Windows® To install the RAID driver for Windows® OS: 1.
Multi GPU Support Multiple GPU Support 5.1 AMD CrossFireX™ technology 5 Chapter 5 Chapter 5: The motherboard supports the AMD CrossFireX™ technology that allows you to install multi-graphics processing units (GPU) graphics cards. Follow the installation procedures in this section. 5.1.1 Requirements • In Dual CrossFireX mode, you should have two identical CrossFireX-ready graphics cards or one CrossFireX-ready dual-GPU graphics card that are AMD certified.
5.1.3 Installing two CrossFireX™ graphics cards The following pictures are for reference only. The graphics cards and the motherboard layout may vary with models, but the installation steps remain the same. Chapter 5 To install two CrossFire™ graphics cards: 1. Prepare two CrossFireX-ready graphics cards. 2. Insert the two graphics card into the PCIEX16 slots.
Connect two independent auxiliary power sources from the power supply to the two graphics cards separately. 6. Connect a VGA or a DVI cable to the graphics card. 5.1.4 Chapter 5 5. Installing three CrossFireX™ graphics cards To install three CrossFire™ graphics cards: 1. Prepare three CrossFireX-ready graphics cards. 2. Insert the three graphics card into the PCIEX16 slots.
5.1.5 Installing the device drivers Refer to the documentation that came with your graphics card package to install the device drivers. Chapter 5 Ensure that your PCI Express graphics card driver supports the AMD CrossFireX™ technology. Download the latest driver from the AMD website at www.amd.com. 5.1.
Enabling Dual CrossFireX™ technology 1. In the AMD Vision Engine Control Center window, click Performance > AMD CrossFireX™. 2. Select Enable CrossFireX™. 3. Select a GPU combination from the drop-down list. 4. Click Apply to save and activate the GPU settings made.
Chapter 5 5-6 Chapter 5: Multiple GPU Support
Appendix Appendix WS C246 PRO block diagram ASUS WS C246 PRO A-1
Q-Code table Appendix Code 00 02 03 04 06 10 11 – 14 15 – 18 19 – 1C 2B – 2F 30 31 32 – 36 37 – 3A 3B – 3E 4F 50 – 53 4F 54 55 56 57 58 59 5A 5B 5C – 5F E0 E1 E2 E3 E4 – E7 E8 E9 EA EB EC – EF F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 – F7 F8 F9 Description Not used microcode CACHE_ENABLED PCH initialization CPU_EARLY_INIT PEI Core is started Pre-memory CPU initialization is started Pre-memory System Agent initialization is started Pre-memory PCH initialization is started Memory initialization Reserved for ASL (see ASL Status C
Description Invalid recovery capsule Reserved for future AMI error codes DXE Core is started NVRAM initialization Installation of the PCH Runtime Services CPU DXE initialization is started PCI host bridge initialization System Agent DXE initialization is started System Agent DXE SMM initialization is started System Agent DXE initialization (System Agent module specific) PCH DXE initialization is started PCH DXE SMM initialization is started PCH devices initialization PCH DXE Initialization (PCH module speci
Appendix Code AC AD AE AF B0 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8– BF D0 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 DA DB DC Description Reserved for ASL (see ASL Status Codes section below) Ready To Boot event Legacy Boot event Exit Boot Services event Runtime Set Virtual Address MAP Begin Runtime Set Virtual Address MAP End Legacy Option ROM Initialization System Reset USB hot plug PCI bus hot plug Clean-up of NVRAM Configuration Reset (reset of NVRAM settings) Reserved for future AMI codes CPU initialization error System Agent ini
Notices FCC Compliance Information Responsible Party: Asus Computer International Address: 48720 Kato Rd., Fremont, CA 94538, USA Phone / Fax No: (510)739-3777 / (510)608-4555 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.
Compliance Statement of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) This device complies with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada licence exempt RSS standard(s). Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.
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ASUS Recycling/Takeback Services ASUS recycling and takeback programs come from our commitment to the highest standards for protecting our environment. We believe in providing solutions for you to be able to responsibly recycle our products, batteries, other components as well as the packaging materials. Please go to http://csr.asus.com/english/Takeback.htm for detailed recycling information in different regions. DO NOT throw the motherboard in municipal waste.
ASUS WS C246 PRO Português A ASUSTeK Computer Inc. declara que este dispositivo está em conformidade com os requisitos essenciais e outras disposições relevantes das Diretivas relacionadas. Texto integral da declaração da UE disponível em: www.asus.com/support Română ASUSTeK Computer Inc. declară că acest dispozitiv se conformează cerinţelor esenţiale şi altor prevederi relevante ale directivelor conexe. Textul complet al declaraţiei de conformitate a Uniunii Europene se găseşte la: www.asus.
ASUS contact information ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. Address Telephone Fax Web site Technical Support Telephone Online support 1F., No. 15, Lide Rd., Beitou Dist., Taipei City 112, Taiwan +886-2-2894-3447 +886-2-2890-7798 https://www.asus.com +86-21-38429911 https://qr.asus.com/techserv ASUS COMPUTER INTERNATIONAL (America) Appendix Address 48720 Kato Rd., Fremont, CA 94538, USA Telephone +1-510-739-3777 Fax +1-510-608-4555 Web site https://www.asus.
