Contents

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

vi

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

vii

M2A-VM specifications summary................................................................

x

Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.1

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

1-2

1.2

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

1-2

1.3

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

1-2

 

1.3.1

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

1-2

 

1.3.2

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

1-4

1.4

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

1-6

1.5

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

1-7

 

1.5.1

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

1-7

 

1.5.2

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

1-8

 

1.5.3

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

1-8

1.6

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

1-9

 

1.6.1

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

1-9

 

1.6.2

Installing the heatsink and fan........................................

1-11

1.7

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

1-13

 

1.7.1

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

1-13

 

1.7.2

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

1-13

 

1.7.3

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

1-17

 

1.7.4

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

1-17

1.8

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

1-18

 

1.8.1

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

1-18

 

1.8.2

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

1-18

 

Interrupt assignments...................................................................

1-19

 

1.8.3

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

1-20

 

1.8.4

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

1-20

 

1.8.5

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

1-20

1.9

Jumpers

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

1-21

1.10

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

1-23

 

1.10.1

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

1-23

 

1.10.2

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

1-25

iii