Contents

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

vi

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

vii

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

viii

M3N78-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 ...............................................

1-5

1.4

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

1-7

1.5

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

1-8

 

1.5.1

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

1-8

 

1.5.2

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

1-9

 

1.5.3

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

1-9

1.6

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

1-10

 

1.6.1

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

1-10

 

1.6.2

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

1-12

1.7

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

1-14

 

1.7.1

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

1-14

 

1.7.2

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

1-14

 

1.7.3

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

1-18

 

1.7.4

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

1-18

1.8

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

1-19

 

1.8.1

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

1-19

 

1.8.2

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

1-19

 

1.8.3

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

1-22

 

1.8.4

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

1-22

 

1.8.5

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

1-22

1.9

Jumper

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

1-23

1.10

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

1-24

 

1.10.1

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

1-24

 

1.10.2

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

1-27

iii