Contents

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

vii

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

viii

MAXIMUS VII FORMULA Series specifications summary........................................

x

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

xv

Installation tools and components..........................................................................

xvi

Chapter 1:

Product Introduction

 

1.1

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

1-1

 

1.1.1

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

1-1

 

1.1.2

ROG Gaming Features................................................................

1-2

 

1.1.3

ROG Exclusive Features.............................................................

1-3

 

1.1.4

ASUS Special Features...............................................................

1-3

 

1.1.5

ROG rich bundled software.........................................................

1-4

1.2

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

1-5

 

1.2.1

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

1-5

 

1.2.2

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

1-6

 

1.2.3

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

1-8

 

1.2.4

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

1-9

 

1.2.5

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

1-24

 

1.2.6

Onboard buttons........................................................................

1-26

 

1.2.7

Onboard LEDs...........................................................................

1-29

 

1.2.8

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

1-37

 

1.2.9

ProbeIt.......................................................................................

1-48

 

1.2.10

CrossChill Copper......................................................................

1-49

Chapter 2:

Basic Installation

 

2.1

Building your PC system...........................................................................

2-1

 

2.1.1

Motherboard installation..............................................................

2-1

 

2.1.2

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

2-3

 

2.1.3

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

2-4

 

2.1.4

DIMM installation.........................................................................

2-6

 

2.1.5

ATX Power connection................................................................

2-7

 

2.1.6

SATA device connection..............................................................

2-8

 

2.1.7

Front I/O Connector.....................................................................

2-9

 

2.1.8

Expansion Card installation.......................................................

2-10

 

2.1.9

mPCIe Combo III installation.....................................................

2-11

2.2

BIOS update utility....................................................................................

2-15

iii