Contents

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

vi

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

vii

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

viii

P8C WS specifications summary...............................................................................

x

Chapter 1:

Product introduction

 

1.1

Welcome!

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

1-1

1.2

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

1-1

1.3

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

1-2

 

1.3.1

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

1-2

 

1.3.2

ASUS Workstation Exclusive Features........................................

1-3

 

1.3.3

ASUS features.............................................................................

1-4

Chapter 2:

Hardware information

 

2.1

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

2-1

2.2

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

2-2

 

2.2.1

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

2-2

 

2.2.2

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

2-4

 

2.2.3

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

2-5

 

2.2.4

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

2-7

 

2.2.5

Onboard buttons and switches....................................................

2-9

 

2.2.6

Onboard LEDs...........................................................................

2-12

 

2.2.7

Jumper.......................................................................................

2-15

 

2.2.8

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

2-17

2.3

Building your computer system..............................................................

2-28

 

2.3.1

Additional tools and components to build a PC system.............

2-28

 

2.3.2

CPU installation.........................................................................

2-29

 

2.3.3

CPU heatsink and fan assembly installation..............................

2-31

 

2.3.4

DIMM installation.......................................................................

2-33

 

2.3.5

Motherboard installation............................................................

2-34

 

2.3.6

ATX Power connection..............................................................

2-36

 

2.3.7

SATA device connection............................................................

2-37

 

2.3.8

Front I/O Connector...................................................................

2-38

 

2.3.9

Expansion Card installation.......................................................

2-39

 

2.3.10

Rear panel connection...............................................................

2-40

 

2.3.11

Audio I/O connections................................................................

2-41

2.4

Starting up for the first time....................................................................

2-44

2.5

Turning off the computer.........................................................................

2-44

iii