Contents

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

vi

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

vii

M2N8-VMX 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 .......................................

1-5

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

 

1.8.3

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

1-20

 

1.8.4

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

1-20

 

1.8.5

PCI Express x8 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................................................

1-24

iii