Contents

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

vi

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

vi

M5A78L-M LX3 Series specifications summary....................................................

viii

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

x

Chapter 1:Product introduction

 

1.1

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

1-1

 

1.1.1

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

1-1

 

1.1.2

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

1-2

1.2

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

1-3

1.3

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

1-4

 

1.3.1

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

1-4

 

1.3.2

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

1-4

 

1.3.3

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

1-5

 

1.3.4

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

1-6

1.4

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

1-6

 

1.4.1

CPU installation...............................................................................

1-7

 

1.4.2

CPU heatsink and fan assembly installation...................................

1-8

1.5

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

1-10

 

1.5.1

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

1-10

 

1.5.2

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

1-11

 

1.5.3

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

1-15

1.6

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

1-16

 

1.6.1

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

1-16

 

1.6.2

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

1-16

 

1.6.3

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

1-16

 

1.6.4

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

1-16

 

1.6.5

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

1-16

1.7

Jumpers

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

1-17

1.8

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

1-19

 

1.8.1

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

1-19

 

1.8.2

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

1-20

1.9

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

1-25

 

1.9.1

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

1-25

 

1.9.2

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

1-25

Chapter 2:

BIOS information

 

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

2-1

2.1.1

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

2-1

2.1.2

ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility...................................................................

2-2

iii