Contents

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

v

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

vi

P8Z77-M specifications summary.............................................................

vii

Chapter 1

Product introduction

1.1

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

1-1

1.2

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

1-2

 

1.2.1

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

1-2

 

1.2.2

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

1-2

 

1.2.3

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

1-3

 

1.2.4

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

1-3

1.3

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

1-4

 

1.3.1

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

1-4

 

1.3.2

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

1-6

1.4

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

1-7

 

1.4.1

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

1-7

 

1.4.2

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

1-8

 

2.3.4

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

1-14

1.5

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

1-15

 

1.5.1

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

1-15

 

1.5.3

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

1-16

 

1.5.4

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

1-16

 

1.5.2

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

1-16

1.6

Onboard switches.......................................................................

1-17

1.7

USB BIOS Flashback..................................................................

1-18

1.8

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

1-19

1.9

Jumpers

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

1-20

1.10

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

1-21

 

1.10.1

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

1-21

 

1.10.2

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

1-22

1.11

Software support........................................................................

1-29

 

1.11.1

Installing an operating system.......................................

1-29

 

1.11.2

Support DVD information...............................................

1-29

iii