Contents

Safety information......................................................................................................

vi

About this guide.........................................................................................................

vii

A85XM-A specifications summary............................................................................

ix

Package contents......................................................................................................

xii

Chapter 1:

Product introduction

 

1.1

Special features.............................................................................................

1-1

 

1.1.1

Product highlights............................................................................

1-1

 

1.1.2

ASUS DIGI+ VRM...........................................................................

1-2

 

1.1.3

ASUS Exclusive Features...............................................................

1-2

1.2

Before you proceed......................................................................................

1-4

1.3

Motherboard overview..................................................................................

1-5

 

1.3.1

Placement direction.........................................................................

1-5

 

1.3.2

Screw holes.....................................................................................

1-5

 

1.3.3

Motherboard layout..........................................................................

1-6

 

1.3.4

Layout contents...............................................................................

1-7

1.4

Accelerated Processing Unit (APU)............................................................

1-7

 

1.4.1

APU installation...............................................................................

1-8

 

1.4.2

APU heatsink and fan assembly installation....................................

1-9

1.5

System memory..........................................................................................

1-11

 

1.5.1

Overview........................................................................................

1-11

 

1.5.2

Memory configurations..................................................................

1-12

 

1.5.3

Installing a DIMM...........................................................................

1-16

1.6

Expansion slots...........................................................................................

1-17

 

1.6.1

Installing an expansion card..........................................................

1-17

 

1.6.2

Configuring an expansion card......................................................

1-17

 

1.6.3

PCI slot..........................................................................................

1-17

 

1.6.4

PCI Express x1 slot.......................................................................

1-17

 

1.6.5

PCI Express x16 slot.....................................................................

1-17

1.7

Jumpers

.......................................................................................................

1-19

1.8

Connectors..................................................................................................

1-21

 

1.8.1

Rear panel ports............................................................................

1-21

 

1.8.2

Internal connectors........................................................................

1-23

1.9

Software support.........................................................................................

1-29

 

1.9.1

Installing an operating system.......................................................

1-29

 

1.9.2

Support DVD information...............................................................

1-29

Chapter 2:

BIOS information

 

2.1

Managing and updating your BIOS.............................................................

2-1

 

2.1.1

ASUS Update utility.........................................................................

2-1

iii