Contents

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

vi

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

vii

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

viii

M5A78L-M/USB3 specifications summar..................................................

ix

Chapter 1:Product introduction

 

1.1

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

1-1

1.2

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

1-1

1.3

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

1-1

 

1.3.1

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

1-1

 

1.3.2

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

1-3

1.4

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

1-5

1.5

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

1-6

 

1.5.1

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

1-6

 

1.5.2

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

1-6

 

1.5.3

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

1-7

 

1.5.4

Layout contents...............................................................

1-7

1.6

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

1-8

 

1.6.1

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

1-8

 

1.6.2

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

1-10

1.7

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

1-11

 

1.7.1

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

1-11

 

1.7.2

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

1-12

 

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

1-18

 

1.8.4

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

1-18

 

1.8.5

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

1-18

1.9

Jumpers

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

1-19

1.10

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

1-20

 

1.10.1

Rear panel ports............................................................

1-20

 

1.10.2

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

1-22

iii