Asus M3A32-MVP Deluxe/WiFi-AP

The M3A32-MVP Deluxe/WiFi-AP is one of the first Socket AM2+ mainboards by Asus. It supports AM2, AM2+ and the new AM3 CPUs. The chipset is AMD 790FX. Another version of this mainboard without WiFi (M3A32-MVP Deluxe) does also exist.

lspci output
00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: ATI Technologies Inc RD790 Northbridge only dual slot PCI-e_GFX and HT3 K8 part [1002:5956] 00:04.0 PCI bridge [0604]: ATI Technologies Inc RD790 PCI to PCI bridge (PCI express gpp port A) [1002:597a] 00:06.0 PCI bridge [0604]: ATI Technologies Inc RD790 PCI to PCI bridge (PCI express gpp port C) [1002:597c] 00:07.0 PCI bridge [0604]: ATI Technologies Inc RD790 PCI to PCI bridge (PCI express gpp port D) [1002:597d] 00:09.0 PCI bridge [0604]: ATI Technologies Inc RD790 PCI to PCI bridge (PCI express gpp port E) [1002:597e] 00:0b.0 PCI bridge [0604]: ATI Technologies Inc RD790 PCI to PCI bridge (external gfx1 port A) [1002:5980] 00:12.0 SATA controller [0106]: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 Non-Raid-5 SATA [1002:4380] 00:13.0 USB Controller [0c03]: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB (OHCI0) [1002:4387] 00:13.1 USB Controller [0c03]: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB (OHCI1) [1002:4388] 00:13.2 USB Controller [0c03]: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB (OHCI2) [1002:4389] 00:13.3 USB Controller [0c03]: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB (OHCI3) [1002:438a] 00:13.4 USB Controller [0c03]: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB (OHCI4) [1002:438b] 00:13.5 USB Controller [0c03]: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB Controller (EHCI) [1002:4386] 00:14.0 SMBus [0c05]: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 SMBus Controller [1002:4385] (rev 14) 00:14.1 IDE interface [0101]: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 IDE [1002:438c] 00:14.2 Audio device [0403]: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) [1002:4383] 00:14.3 ISA bridge [0601]: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 PCI to LPC Bridge [1002:438d] 00:14.4 PCI bridge [0604]: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 PCI to PCI Bridge [1002:4384] 00:18.0 Host bridge [0600]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] HyperTransport Technology Configuration [1022:1100] 00:18.1 Host bridge [0600]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Address Map [1022:1101] 00:18.2 Host bridge [0600]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] DRAM Controller [1022:1102] 00:18.3 Host bridge [0600]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Miscellaneous Control [1022:1103] 01:00.0 IDE interface [0101]: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88SE6121 SATA II Controller [11ab:6121] (rev b1) 02:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller [11ab:4364] (rev 12) 03:00.0 IDE interface [0101]: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88SE6121 SATA II Controller [11ab:6121] (rev b2) 04:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Atheros Communications Inc. AR242x 802.11abg Wireless PCI Express Adapter [168c:001c] (rev 01) 06:08.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394) [0c00]: Agere Systems FW323 [11c1:5811] (rev 70)

PCI Express Configuration

 * Symbol: PCIEPORTBUS
 * Driver: pcieport-driver

SATA Support

 * Symbol: SATA_AHCI
 * Driver: ahci

USB Support

 * Symbol: USB_OHCI_HCD, USB_EHCI_HCD
 * Driver: ohci-hcd, ehci-hcd

ATI Technologies Inc SB600 IDE

 * Symbol: PATA_ATIIXP
 * Driver: pata_atiixp

Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88SE6121 SATA II Controller

 * Symbol: PATA_MARVELL
 * Driver: pata_marvell

Audio device

 * Symbol:
 * Driver: HDA Intel

Hardware Monitoring (Athlon64/FX, Opteron)

 * Symbol: SENSORS_K8TEMP
 * Driver: k8temp

Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller

 * Symbol: SKY2
 * Driver: sky2

Atheros Communications Inc. AR242x 802.11abg Wireless PCI Express Adapter
See the dedicated Atheros AR242x article for instructions on various driver options.

Ndiswrapper 64 bit

 * With Madwifi it's possible to make work the wireless card. Once you have loaded the ath_pci module, probably you will have problems with the DNS server. To fix it you have edit the /etc/resolv.conf file and write "nameserver" followed of the DNS IP direcction.


 * You can try the ath5k module. It only uses free software, but it can only work in managed mode (Monitor and master mode are only avaible with the ath_pci module.

I'm using a 64bit kernel/userland and I only got the wireless connection to start by using Ndiswrapper and the Windows XP x64 5.3.0.56 driver. Ndiswrapper seems to have problems with all the newer netathwx.sys DLLs (the new driver is named netathwx). Just download the 5.3.0.56 files from Atheros.cz, extract them and then execute. ndiswrapper -i net5211.inf This creates the necessary module which will be loaded when you reload the ndiswrapper-module.

Associating the drivers with the access point causes problems on a regular basis, preventing the system from running constantly. After removing and reloading the ndiswrapper module you'll probably be able to start a connection, which, however, might break down from time to time, forcing you to reboot. However, restarting the system repeatedly seems to fix the problem, too ;) If anyone can find a good solution to this problem I will be very happy to be informed about it.

Ndiswrapper 32 bit
I never tried 32bit drivers for the device, but you should give ndiswrapper and the 32bit Windows drivers from Atheros.cz a try.

FireWire (IEEE 1394)

 * Symbol: IEEE1394_OHCI1394 OR FIREWIRE_OHCI
 * Driver: ohci1394

CPU
(current Bios: 2301)

For an up-to-date list, have a look at the the ASUS page.


 * AMD® Socket AM3 (newer ones with Bios 2202):
 * Athlon II X2
 * Athlon II X3
 * Athlon II X4
 * Athlon X2 5200+
 * Phenom II X2
 * Phenom II X3
 * Phenom II X4
 * Phenom II X6
 * Sempron 140


 * AMD® Socket AM2+:
 * Athlon™ X2 (with Bios 1301)
 * Phenom X3 (newer ones with Bios 1301)
 * Phenom X4 (newer ones with Bios 1301)
 * Phenom II X3 715 (with Bios 1701)
 * Phenom II X4 920/940 (with Bios 1406)
 * Sempron™


 * AMD® Socket AM2:
 * Athlon 64 X2 (6500+ with Bios 1203)
 * Athlon 64 LE (1660+ with Bios 1002)
 * Athlon 64 FX
 * Athlon 64
 * Sempron LE (1200 with Bios 1301)
 * Sempron (2100+ with Bios 902)


 * AMD Cool'n'Quiet™ Technology

Chipset
AMD 790FX / SB600

System Bus
Up to 5200 MT/s; HyperTransport™ 3.0 interface for AM2+ CPU 2000 / 1600 MT/s for AM2 CPU

Memory
4 x DIMM, max. 8GB, DDR2 1066 / 800 / 667 / 533, ECC and non-ECC, un-buffered memory Dual channel memory architecture


 * DDR2 1066 is supported by AM2+ CPU only
 * The DDR speed goes down from 1066MHz to 800Mhz if there are two 1066 dimm in one channel (since Bios 1202)

Expansion Slots

 * 4 x PCIe x16 with ATI CrossFireX™ support
 * dual x16
 * tripple x16 / x8 / x8
 * quad x8 modes
 * 2 x PCI 2.2

Support PCIe 2.0 / 1.0 Architecture Storage

Southbridge

 * 4 x SATA 3Gb/s ports with RAID 0, 1, and 0+1support
 * 1 x UltraDMA 133 / 100 / 66 Marvell® 6121 and 6111 SATA controller
 * 2 x SATA 3Gb/s ports with RAID 0, and 1 support
 * 1 x External SATA 3Gb/s port (SATA On-the-Go)

LAN

 * Marvel® PCIe Gigabit LAN controller featuring AI NET 2 Audio
 * ADI® AD1988 8-channel High Definition Audio CODEC - Coaxial / Optical S/PDIF out ports at back I/O IEEE 1394
 * Agere® FW322 supports 2 x IEEE 1394a ports USB
 * 10 x USB 2.0 ports (4 ports at mid-board, 6 ports at back panel)

Back Panel I/O Ports

 * 1 x PS/2 Keyboard
 * 1 x S/PDIF Out (Coaxial + Optical)
 * 1 x External SATA
 * 1 x IEEE1394a
 * 1 x RJ45 port (LAN)
 * 6 x USB 2.0/1.1
 * 1 x WiFi-AP Solo antenna jack
 * 8-Channel Audio I/O

Internal I/O Connectors

 * 2 x USB connectors support additional 4 USB ports
 * 1 x Floppy disk drive connector
 * 1 x COM connector
 * 1 x IDE connector
 * 6 x SATA connectors
 * 1 x CPU Fan connector
 * 2 x Chassis Fan connector
 * 1 x Power Fan connector
 * 1 x IEEE1394a connector
 * Front panel audio connector
 * 1 x Azalia Digital Header
 * 1 x S/PDIF Out Header
 * Chassis Intrusion connector
 * CD audio in
 * 24-pin ATX Power connector
 * 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector
 * System Panel (Q-Connector)

BIOS
8 Mb Flash ROM, AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.3, ACPI 2.0a, ASUS EZ Flash 2, ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3

Manageability
WfM 2.0, DMI 2.0, WOL by PME, WOR by PME, PXE

Form Factor
ATX Form Factor, 12" x 9.6" (30.5cm x 24.4cm)