CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................

7

1.1

How this Manual is Organized ...................................................

7

1.2

Item Checklist .............................................................................

7

2. FEATURES .........................................................................................

8

2.1

The ASUS P3B-F Motherboard ..................................................

8

 

2.1.1

Specifications ..................................................................

8

 

2.1.2

Special Features .............................................................

10

 

2.1.3

Performance Features ....................................................

10

 

2.1.4

Intelligence ....................................................................

11

2.2

ASUS P3B-F Motherboard Parts ..............................................

12

3. HARDWARE SETUP ......................................................................

14

3.1

Motherboard Layout .................................................................

14

3.2

Layout Contents ........................................................................

15

3.3

Hardware Setup Procedure .......................................................

16

3.4

Motherboard Settings ................................................................

16

3.5

System Memory (DIMM) .........................................................

21

 

3.5.1

General DIMM Notes ....................................................

21

 

3.5.2

DIMM Memory Installation ..........................................

22

3.6

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

23

 

3.6.1

Universal Retention Mechanism ...................................

23

 

3.6.2

Heatsinks .......................................................................

24

 

3.6.3

Installing the Processor ..................................................

24

 

3.6.4 Recommended Heatsinks for Slot 1 Processors ............

27

3.7

Expansion Cards .......................................................................

28

 

3.7.1 Expansion Card Installation Procedure .........................

28

 

3.7.2 Assigning IRQs for Expansion Cards ............................

28

 

3.7.3 Assigning DMA Channels for ISA Cards ......................

29

 

3.7.4 Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) .................................

29

3.8

External Connectors ..................................................................

30

3.9

Power Connection Procedures ..................................................

39

4. BIOS SETUP ....................................................................................

40

4.1

Managing and Updating Your BIOS .........................................

40

 

4.1.1 Upon First Use of the Computer System .......................

40

 

4.1.2 Updating BIOS Procedures (only when necessary) ......

41

4

ASUS P3B-F User’s Manual