Table of contents

Notices ................................................................................................

vi

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

vii

Operation Safety ................................................................................

vii

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

viii

A8V-XE specifications summary...........................................................

x

Chapter 1: Hardware information

1.1

Welcome! ..............................................................................

1-2

1.2

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

1-2

1.3

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

1-3

 

1.3.1

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

1-3

 

1.3.2

Innovative ASUS features .......................................

1-4

1.4

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

1-5

1.5

Motherboard Overview..........................................................

1-6

 

1.5.1

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

1-6

 

1.5.2

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

1-6

 

1.5.3

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

1-7

1.6

Central Processing Unit (CPU) ..............................................

1-8

 

1.6.1

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

1-8

 

1.6.2

Installing the CPU ...................................................

1-8

 

1.6.3 Installing the CPU heatsink and fan.......................

1-10

1.7

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

1-12

 

1.7.1

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

1-12

 

1.7.2

Memory Configurations .........................................

1-12

 

1.7.3

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

1-15

 

1.7.4

Removing a DIMM..................................................

1-15

1.8

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

1-16

 

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

1-16

 

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

1-16

 

1.8.3

PCI slots ................................................................

1-18

 

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

1-18

 

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

1-18

1.9

Jumpers

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

1-19

1.10

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

1-21

 

1.7.1

Rear panel connectors ..........................................

1-21

iii