Universal PCI Express slot (max. x8 mode)

This motherboard also supports a Universal PCI Express slot with a maximum speed of 2 GB/s. The operating frequency of this slot changes, depending on the type of PCI Express card you install. Refer to the table below for details.

The figure shows two graphics cards installed on the primary PCI Express x16 slot and the Universal PCI Express slot.

• We recommend that you install a VGA card on the primary (blue) PCI Express slots, and install any other PCI Express device on the PCI Express slot (black).

•Currently, only NVIDIA® SLI™-Ready GeForce® 8800 Ultra and GeForce® 8800 GTX graphics cards support 3-Way SLI™ mode.

•3-Way SLI™ mode is supported only under Windows® Vista OS. For more information, go to the NVIDIA® official website (www.nvidia.com).

•Currently, only NVIDIA® GeForce® 8500 GT, GeForce® 8400 GS, and GeForce® 8400 graphics cards support GeForce Boost function under Hybrid SLI™ mode.

•Currently, only NVIDIA® GeForce® 9800 GX2 graphics card supports HybridPower™ function under Hybrid SLI™ mode.

•Hybrid SLI™ mode is supported only under Windows® Vista OS. For more information, go to www.nvidia.com/hybridsli.

•Before enabling the HybridPower™ function, ensure that you have connected your display to the onboard VGA port or the HDMI/DVI port at the rear panel. Refer to 2.7.1 Rear panel connectors for details.

•Connect a rear chassis fan to the chassis (CHA_FAN1 or CHA_FAN2) connector when using two (or three) graphics cards for better thermal environment. See page 2-32 for details.

•We recommend that you provide sufficient power when running NVIDIA®

SLI™ mode. See pages 2-34 to 2-37 for details.

VGA configuration

PCI Express operating mode

 

PCIex16_1

PCIex16_2

PCIex16_3

 

 

 

Single VGA/PCIe card

x16

x1

x16

 

Dual VGA/PCIe card

x16

x1

x16

 

Triple VGA/PCIe card

x8

x8

x8

 

 

 

 

 

 

• When using one VGA card and a x4 PCIe card at the same time, install them to the blue slots.

•If you install two VGA cards to the blue slots and use other x4 PCIe cards simultaneously, the x4 PCIe cards will downgrade to x1 mode for optimum VGA performance.

ASUS M3N-HT Deluxe Series

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