ASUS M4A88T-M LE User Manual

M4A88T-M LE

Motherboard

E6074

First Edition (V1) September 2010

No part of this manual, including the products and software described in it, may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form or by any means, except documentation kept by the purchaser for backup purposes, without the express written permission of ASUSTeK Computer Inc. (“ASUS”).

Product warranty or service will not be extended if: (1) the product is repaired, modied or altered, unless such repair, modication of alteration is authorized in writing by ASUS; or (2) the serial number of the

product is defaced or missing.

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product and describing the problem (please do NOT send large attachments such as source code archives etc to this email address).

Contents

Notices ......................................................................................................... vi

Safety information ..................................................................................... vii

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

M4A88T-M LE specications summary .................................................... ix

Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.1 Welcome! ...................................................................................... 1-1

1.2 Package contents .........................................................................

1.3 Special features ............................................................................

1.3.1 Product highlights ...........................................................

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

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

1.5 Motherboard overview .................................................................

1.5.1 Placement direction ........................................................

1.5.2 Screw holes ....................................................................

1.5.3 Motherboard layout .........................................................

1.5.4 Layout contents ...............................................................

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

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

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

1.7 System memory .........................................................................

1.7.1 Overview ........................................................................

1.7.2 Memory congurations ..................................................

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

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

1.8 Expansion slots ..........................................................................

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

1.8.2 Conguring an expansion card .....................................

1.8.3 PCI slot .........................................................................

1.8.4 PCI Express x1 slots .....................................................

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

1.9 Jumpers ......................................................................................

1.10 Connectors .................................................................................

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

1.10.2 Internal connectors .......................................................

1-1

1-3

1-5

1-6

1-7

1-8

1-10

1-11

1-12

1-17

1-18

1-19

1-20

1-22

iii

Contents

1.11 Software support ........................................................................ 1-29

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

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

Chapter 2: BIOS information

2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS ............................................ 2-1

2.1.1 ASUS Update utility ........................................................

2.1.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 ............................................................

2.1.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 ................................................

2.1.4 ASUS BIOS Updater .......................................................

2.2 BIOS setup program ....................................................................

2.2.1 BIOS menu screen ..........................................................

2.2.2 Menu bar .........................................................................

2.2.3 Navigation keys ...............................................................

2.2.4 Menu items .....................................................................

2.2.5 Submenu items ...............................................................

2.2.6 Conguration elds .........................................................

2.2.7 Pop-up window ...............................................................

2.2.8 Scroll bar .........................................................................

2.2.9 General help ...................................................................

2.3 Main menu ..................................................................................

2.3.1 System Time .................................................................

2.3.2 System Date .................................................................

2.3.3 Primary IDE Master/Slave, SATA 1~6 ...........................

2.3.4 SATA Conguration ........................................................

2.3.5 System Information .......................................................

2.4 Ai Tweaker menu ........................................................................

2.4.1 CPU OverClocking ........................................................

2.4.2 CPU Ratio .....................................................................

2.4.3 DRAM Frequency .........................................................

2.4.4 CPU/NB Frequency ......................................................

2.4.5 HT Link Speed ..............................................................

2.4.6 GPU OverClocking ........................................................

2.4.7 DRAM Timing Conguration .........................................

2.4.8 DRAM Driving Conguration .........................................

2.4.9 CPU & NB Voltage Mode ..............................................

1-29

2-1

2-2

2-3

2-4

2-7

2-8

2-9

2-10

2-11

2-12

2-13

2-14

2-15

2-16

2-17

Contents

2.4.10 CPU VDDA Voltage ....................................................... 2-18

2.4.11 DRAM Voltage ..............................................................

2.4.12 HT Voltage ....................................................................

2.4.13 NB Voltage ....................................................................

2.4.14 NB 1.8V Voltage ............................................................

2.4.15 SB Voltage ....................................................................

2.4.16 CPU Load-Line Calibration ...........................................

2.4.17 CPU/NB Load-Line Calibration .....................................

2.4.18 PCI/PCIe CLK Status ....................................................

2.5 Advanced menu .........................................................................

2.5.1 CPU Conguration ........................................................

2.5.2 Chipset ..........................................................................

2.5.3 Onboard Devices Conguration ....................................

2.5.4 PCIPnP .........................................................................

2.5.5 USB Conguration ........................................................

2.6 Power menu ................................................................................

2.6.1 Suspend Mode ..............................................................

2.6.2 ACPI 2.0 Support ..........................................................

2.6.3 ACPI APIC Support .......................................................

2.6.4 APM Conguration ........................................................

2.6.5 HW Monitor Conguration .............................................

2.6.6 Anti Surge Support ........................................................

2.7 Boot menu ..................................................................................

2.7.1 Boot Device Priority ......................................................

2.7.2 Boot Settings Conguration ..........................................

2.7.3 Security .........................................................................

2.8 Tools menu .................................................................................

2.8.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2 ..........................................................

2.8.2 ASUS O.C. Prole .........................................................

2.8.3 AI NET 2

2.9 Exit menu ....................................................................................

........................................................................ 2-29

2-18

2-19

2-20

2-22

2-23

2-24

2-25

2-26

2-27

2-28

2-29

2-30

Notices

Federal Communications Commission Statement

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

• This device may not cause harmful interference, and

• This device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

The use of shielded cables for connection of the monitor to the graphics card is required

to assure compliance with FCC regulations. Changes or modications to this unit not

expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate this equipment.

Canadian Department of Communications Statement

This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.

This class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.

REACH

Complying with the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals) regulatory framework, we published the chemical substances in our products at ASUS REACH website at http://csr.asus.com/english/REACH.htm.

DO NOT throw the motherboard in municipal waste. This product has been designed to enable proper reuse of parts and recycling. This symbol of the crossed out wheeled bin indicates that the product (electrical and electronic equipment) should not be placed in municipal waste. Check local regulations for disposal of electronic products.

DO NOT throw the mercury-containing button cell battery in municipal waste. This symbol of the crossed out wheeled bin indicates that the battery should not be placed in municipal waste.

Safety information

Electrical safety

• To prevent electric shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electric outlet

before relocating the system.

• When adding or removing devices to or from the system, ensure that the power cables for the devices are unplugged before the signal cables are connected. If possible, disconnect all power cables from the existing system before you add a device.

• Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard, ensure that all power cables are unplugged.

• Seek professional assistance before using an adapter or extension cord. These devices could interrupt the grounding circuit.

• Ensure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your area. If you are not sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you are using, contact your local power company.

• If the power supply is broken, do not try to x it by yourself. Contact a qualied service

technician or your retailer.

Operation safety

•

Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully read all the manuals that came with the package.

•

Before using the product, ensure that all cables are correctly connected and the power cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage, contact your dealer immediately.

•

To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from connectors, slots, sockets and circuitry.

•

Avoid dust, humidity, and temperature extremes. Do not place the product in any area where it may become wet.

•

Place the product on a stable surface.

•

If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualied service

technician or your retailer.

About this guide

This user guide contains the information you need when installing and conguring the

motherboard.

How this guide is organized

This guide contains the following parts:

•

Chapter 1: Product introduction

This chapter describes the features of the motherboard and the new technology it

supports.

• Chapter 2: BIOS information

This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS Setup menus.

Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided.

vii

Conventions used in this guide

To ensure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following symbols used throughout this manual.

DANGER/WARNING: Information to prevent injury to yourself when trying to

complete a task.

CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components when trying to

complete a task.

IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task.

NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a task.

Where to nd more information

Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and software updates.

1. ASUS websites

The ASUS website provides updated information on ASUS hardware and software

products. Refer to the ASUS contact information.

2. Optional documentation

Your product package may include optional documentation, such as warranty yers,

that may have been added by your dealer. These documents are not part of the standard package.

Typography

Bold text Indicates a menu or an item to select.

Italics

Used to emphasize a word or a phrase.

<Key> Keys enclosed in the less-than and greater-than sign means that you must press the enclosed key. Example: <Enter> means that you must press the Enter or Return key.

<Key1>+<Key2>+<Key3> If you must press two or more keys simultaneously, the key names are linked with a plus sign (+). Example: <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<D>

viii

M4A88T-M LE specications summary

CPU AMD® Socket AM3 for AMD® Phenom™ II / Athlon™ II /

Sempron™ 100 series processors Supports 45nm CPU Supports up to 125W CPU AMD® Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ Technology * Refer to www.asus.com for the AMD® CPU support list

Chipset AMD® 880G / SB710

System Bus Up to 5200MT/s; HyperTransport™ 3.0 interface

Memory Dual-channel memory architecture

2 x DIMM, max. 8GB, DDR3 1866(O.C.)/1333/1066MHz, ECC, non-ECC, unbuffered memory*

* AMD

AM3 100 and 200 series CPUs support up to DDR3 1066MHz. ** Refer to

www.asus.com for the latest Memory QVL (Qualied Vendors List). *** When you install a total memory of 4GB or more, Windows®

32-bit operating system may only recognize less than 3GB. We

recommend a maximum of 3GB system memory if you are using a Windows

32-bit operating system.

Graphics Integrated ATI Radeon™ HD 4250 GPU

Dual independent displays support:

• HDMI and D-Sub

• DVI and D-Sub Supports HDMI™ with max. resolution up to 1920x1080p

Supports Dual-link DVI with max. resolution up to 2560x1600 @60Hz Supports D-Sub with max. resolution up to 2048x1536 @85Hz

Supports Microsoft® DirectX 10.1, OpenGL 2.0, and Shader Model 4.1, Universal Video Decoder (UVD) 2.0 Hardware Decode Acceleration for H.264, VC-1, and MPEG-2 Maximum shared memory of 1GB Hybrid CrossFireX™ support* * Refer to www.amd.com for the discrete GPUs which support Hybrid CrossFireX™.

Expansion slots 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot

2 x PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots 1 x PCI slot

Storage / RAID AMD® SB710 southbridge:

- 6 x Serial ATA 3Gb/s connectors support RAID 0, RAID 1,

RAID 10, and JBOD congurations

- 1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 connector

LAN Realtek® 8112L Gigabit LAN controller featuring AI NET 2

(continued on the next page)

M4A88T-M LE specications summary

Audio Realtek® ALC887 8-channel* High Denition Audio CODEC

USB 12 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (6 ports at the mid-board, 6 ports at the

ASUS unique features

ASUS exclusive overclocking features

Other features 100% All High-quality Conductive Polymer Capacitors

- Supports Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, and Front Panel Jack-Retasking (HD mode only)

- Optical S/PDIF Out port at back I/O * Use a chassis with HD audio module in the front panel to

support an 8-channel audio output.

back panel)

ASUS Green Design

- EPU-4 engine

ASUS Exclusive Features

- Core Unlocker

- ASUS Anti-Surge Protection

ASUS Quiet Thermal Solutions

- ASUS Fanless Design: Heat sink solution

- ASUS Q-Fan

ASUS EZ DIY

- ASUS O.C. Prole

- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3

- ASUS EZ Flash 2

- ASUS MyLogo 2™

Intelligent overclocking tools:

- GPU NOS

- TurboV

- Turbo Key

- Auto Tuning (* adopt fast mode)

Precision Tweaker 2

- vCore: Adjustable CPU voltage at 0.003125V increment

- vChipset (NB): Adjustable chipset voltage at 0.01V increment

- vDIMM: Adjustable DRAM voltage at 0.01V increment

SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection):

- HT frequency tuning from 100MHz up to 550MHz at 1MHz increment

- PCIe frequency tuning from 100MHz up to 150MHz at 1MHz increment

Overclocking protection:

- ASUS C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)

(continued on the next page)

M4A88T-M LE specications summary

Back panel I/O ports

Internal connectors 3 x USB 2.0/1.1 connectors support additional 6 USB 2.0/1.1 ports

BIOS 16Mb Flash ROM, AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI 2.0, WfM 2.0, ACPI 2.0a,

Manageability WOL by PME, WOR by PME, WOR by Ring, PXE

Accessories 1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 cable

Support DVD Drivers

Form factor MicroATX form factor: 9.6 in x 8.8 in (24.4 cm x 22.4 cm)

1 x PS/2 Keyboard / Mouse combo port 1 x Optical S/PDIF out port 1 x HDMI port 1 x DVI port 1 x D-Sub port 1 x LAN (RJ-45) port 6 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports 3 x Audio jacks

1 x COM connector 1 x IDE connector 6 x Serial ATA 3Gb/s connectors 1 x System panel connector 1 x CPU fan connector 1 x Chassis fan connector 1 x Front panel audio connector 1 x S/PDIF out connector 1 x LPT connector 1 x 24-pin EATX power connector 1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector

SM BIOS 2.5, ASUS EZ Flash 2, ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3

2 x Serial ATA 3Gb/s cables 1 x I/O shield 1 x User Manual

ASUS utilities ASUS Update Anti-Virus software (OEM version)

* Specications are subject to change without notice.

xii

Chapter 1 Product introduction

1.1 Welcome!

Thank you for buying an ASUS® M4A88T-M LE motherboard! The motherboard delivers a host of new features and latest technologies, making it another

standout in the long line of ASUS quality motherboards! Before you start installing the motherboard, and hardware devices on it, check the items in

your package with the list below.

1.2 Package contents

Check your motherboard package for the following items.

Motherboard ASUS M4A88T-M LE motherboard Cables 1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 cable

2 x Serial ATA 3Gb/s cables Accessories 1 x I/O shield Application DVD ASUS motherboard Support DVD Documentations User Manual

If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.

1.3 Special features

1.3.1 Product highlights

AMD® Phenom™ II / Athlon™ II / Sempron™ 100 series CPU

ASUS M4A88T-M LE 1-1

support

This motherboard supports AMD® Socket AM3 multi-core processors with unique L3 cache and delivers better overclocking capabilities with

less power consumption. It features dual-channel DDR3 1333 MHz

memory support and accelerates data transfer rate up to 5200MT/s via HyperTransport™ 3.0-based system bus. This motherboard also supports AMD® CPUs in the new 45nm manufacturing process.

AMD® 880G Chipset

The AMD® 880G Chipset is designed to support up to 5200MT/s HyperTransport™ 3.0 (HT 3.0) interface speed and PCI Express 2.0

x16 graphics. It is optimized with AMD’s latest AM3 multi-core CPUs to

provide excellent system performance and overclocking capabilities.

DDR3 1866(O.C.)/1333/1066 support

This motherboard supports DDR3 memory that features data transfer

rates of 1866(O.C.)/1333/1066 MHz to meet the higher bandwidth

requirements of the latest 3D graphics, multimedia, and Internet applications. The dual-channel DDR3 architecture enlarges the bandwidth of your system memory to boost system performance.

DVI support

DVI (Digital Visual Interface) provides high visual quality for digital display devices such as LCD monitors. The interface of this motherboard supports dual display output on both HDMI/DVI-D and D-Sub.

HDMI support

HDMI (High-Denition Multimedia Interface) is a set of digital video

standards that deliver multi-channel digital audio and uncompressed digital video for full HD 1080p visuals through a single cable. Supporting HDCP copy protection such as HD DVD and Blu-ray discs, HDMI provides you with the highest-quality home theater experience.

8-channel high denition audio

The onboard 8-channel HD audio (High Denition Audio, previously codenamed Azalia) CODEC enables high-quality 192KHz/24-bit audio output and jack-detect feature that automatically detects and identies what types of peripherals are plugged into the audio I/O jacks and noties

users of inappropriate connection, which means there will be no more confusion of Line-in, Line-out, and Mic jacks.

Serial ATA 3Gb/s technology and RAID support

This motherboard supports hard drives based on the Serial ATA (SATA)

3Gb/s storage specication, delivering enhanced scalability and doubling

the bus bandwidth for high-speed data retrieval and save. It also supports

RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 10 congurations for Serial ATA hard drives.

S/PDIF out connector at the back panel

This motherboard provides convenient connectivity to external home theater audio systems via the optical S/PDIF (SONY-PHILIPS Digital Interface) out connector at the back panel. The S/PDIF transfers digital audio without converting it to analog format and keeps the best signal quality.

Chapter 1: Product introduction1-2

PCI Express 2.0 support

This motherboard supports PCI Express 2.0 devices for double speed and bandwidth which enhances system performance.

100% All High-quality Conductive Polymer Capacitors

This motherboard uses all high-quality conductive polymer capacitors for durability, improved lifespan, and enhanced thermal capacity.

Hybrid CrossFireX™ support

ATI Hybrid CrossFireX™ technology greatly boosts graphics performance with an onboard GPU and a discrete graphics GPU.

• Hybrid CrossFireX™ is supported by Windows® 7/Vista OS only.

• Refer to

www.amd.com for the discrete GPUs which support Hybrid CrossFireX™.

1.3.2 Innovative ASUS features

GPU NOS

ASUS GPU NOS technology intelligently detects graphics loading and automatically boosts performance for the most demanding tasks. It provides you with a faster reaction time for an excellent graphics performance.

ASUS TurboV

Feel the adrenaline rush of real-time OC-now a reality with the ASUS TurboV. This easy OC tool allows you to overclock without exiting or

rebooting the OS; and its user-friendly interface makes overclock with just a few clicks away. Moreover, the ASUS OC proles in TurboV provides

the best O.C. settings in different scenarios.

ASUS Turbo Key

ASUS Turbo Key allows you to turn the PC power button into an overclocking button. After the easy setup, Turbo Key boosts performances without interrupting ongoing work or games, simply through pressing the button.

Auto Tuning

Auto Tuning is an intelligent tool that automates overclocking to achieve a total system level up.

Core Unlocker

ASUS Core Unlocker simplies the activation of a latent AMD® CPU.

Enjoy an instant performance boost by simply unlocking the extra cores, without performing complicated BIOS changes.

ASUS M4A88T-M LE 1-3

ASUS Anti-Surge Protection

This special design protects expensive devices and the motherboard from damage caused by power surges from switching power supply unit (PSU).

ASUS EPU

ASUS EPU is a unique power saving technology that detects the current system loadings and adjusts the power consumption in real time.

ASUS Q-Fan

ASUS Q-Fan technology intelligently adjusts the CPU fan speed

according to system loading to ensure a quiet, cool, and efcient

operation.

ASUS EZ Flash 2

ASUS EZ Flash 2 is a user-friendly utility that allows you to update the

BIOS without using a bootable oppy disk or an OS-based utility.

ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3

ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 is an auto-recovery tool that allows you to

restore a corrupted BIOS le using the bundled support DVD or a USB ash disk that contains the BIOS le.

ASUS O.C. Prole

The motherboard features the ASUS O.C. Prole that allows you to

conveniently store or load multiple BIOS settings. The BIOS settings can

be stored in the CMOS or a separate le, giving you the freedom to share

and distribute your favorite settings.

Precision Tweaker 2

Allows you to ne-tune the VCore voltage in 0.003125V steps, VChipset (NB) voltage and DRAM voltage in 0.01V steps to achieve the

most precise setting for the ultimate overclocking conguration.

C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)

The BIOS C.P.R. feature automatically restores the CPU default settings when the system hangs due to overclocking failure. C.P.R. eliminates the need to open the system chassis and clear the RTC data. Simply shut down and reboot the system, and the BIOS automatically restores the CPU parameters to their default settings.

Green ASUS

This motherboard and its packaging comply with the European Union’s

Restriction on the use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). This is in line

with the ASUS vision of creating environment-friendly and recyclable

products/packaging to safeguard consumers’ health while minimizing the

impact on the environment.

Chapter 1: Product introduction1-4

1.4 Before you proceed

Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change any motherboard settings.

• Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any component.

• Before handling components, use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or a metal object, such as the power supply case, to avoid damaging them due to static electricity.

• Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them.

• Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded antistatic pad or in the bag that came with the component.

• Before you install or remove any component, switch off the ATX power supply and detach its power cord. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to the motherboard, peripherals, or components.

Onboard LED

The motherboard comes with a standby power LED that lights up to indicate that the system is ON, in sleep mode, or in soft-off mode. This is a reminder that you should shut down the system and unplug the power cable before removing or plugging in any motherboard component. The illustration below shows the location of the onboard LED.

ASUS M4A88T-M LE 1-5

1.5 Motherboard overview

1.5.1 Placement direction

When installing the motherboard, ensure that you place it into the chassis in the correct orientation. The edge with external ports goes to the rear part of the chassis as indicated in the image below.

1.5.2 Screw holes

Place six screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the motherboard to the chassis.

DO NOT overtighten the screws! Doing so can damage the motherboard.

Place this side towards the rear of the chassis.

Chapter 1: Product introduction1-6

1.5.3 Motherboard layout

1.5.4 Layout contents

Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED Page Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED Page

1. CPU and chassis fan connectors (4-pin CPU_FAN, 3-pin CHA_FAN)

2. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V)

3. AM3 CPU socket

4. DDR3 DIMM slots

5. Serial port connector (10-1 pin COM1)

6. LPT connector (26-1 pin LPT)

7. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE)

ASUS M4A88T-M LE 1-7

1-22 8. Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC) 1-19

1-23 9. SATA 3Gb/s connectors (7-pin SATA3G_1~6) 1-25

1-8 10. System panel connector (20-8 pin PANEL) 1-26

1-11 11. Standby power LED (SB_PWR) 1-5

1-27 12. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB78, USB910,

USB1112)

1-23 13. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT) 1-28

1-24 14. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP) 1-28

1-27

1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU)

This motherboard comes with an AM3 socket designed for Phenom™ II / Athlon™ II / Sempron™ 100 series processors.

The AM3 socket has a different pinout from the AM2+/AM2 socket. Ensure that you use a

CPU designed for the AM3 socket. The CPU ts in only one correct orientation. DO NOT

force the CPU into the socket to prevent bending the pins and damaging the CPU!

1.6.1 Installing the CPU

To install a CPU:

1. Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard.

2. Press the lever sideways to unlock the

Socket lever

socket, then lift it up to a 90°-100° angle.

Ensure that the socket lever is lifted up to a 90°-100° angle; otherwise, the CPU will not t

in completely.

3. Position the CPU above the socket such that the CPU corner with the gold triangle matches the socket corner with a small triangle.

4. Carefully insert the CPU into the socket until it ts in place.

The CPU ts only in one correct orientation.

DO NOT force the CPU into the socket to prevent bending the pins and damaging the CPU!

Small triangle

Chapter 1: Product introduction1-8

Gold triangle

5. When the CPU is in place, push down the socket lever to secure the CPU. The lever clicks on the side tab to indicate that it is locked.

6. Install a CPU heatsink and fan following the instructions that comes with the heatsink package. You can also refer to section 1.6.2 Installing heatsink and fan for instructions.

7. Connect the CPU fan cable to the CPU_FAN connector on the motherboard.

DO NOT forget to connect the CPU fan connector! Hardware monitoring errors can occur if you fail to plug this connector.

ASUS M4A88T-M LE 1-9

1.6.2 Installing the heatsink and fan

Ensure that you use only AMD-certied heatsink and fan assembly.

To install the CPU heatsink and fan:

1. Place the heatsink on top of the installed CPU, ensuring that the heatsink ts properly

on the retention module base.

• The retention module base is already installed on the motherboard upon purchase.

• You do not have to remove the retention module base when installing the CPU or installing other motherboard components.

• If you purchased a separate CPU heatsink and fan assembly, ensure that a Thermal Interface Material is properly applied to the CPU heatsink or CPU before you install the heatsink and fan assembly.

CPU Fan

CPU Heatsink

Retention bracket

Retention Module Base

Retention bracket lock

Your boxed CPU heatsink and fan assembly should come with installation instructions for the CPU, heatsink, and the retention mechanism. If the instructions in this section do not match the CPU documentation, follow the latter.

2. Attach one end of the retention bracket to the retention module base.

Chapter 1: Product introduction1-10

3. Align the other end of the retention bracket to the retention module base. A clicking sound denotes that the retention bracket is in place.

Ensure that the fan and heatsink assembly perfectly ts the retention mechanism module

base, otherwise you cannot snap the retention bracket in place.

4. Push down the retention bracket lock on the retention mechanism to secure the heatsink and fan to the module base.

5. When the fan and heatsink assembly is in place, connect the CPU fan cable to the connector on the motherboard labeled CPU_FAN.

DO NOT forget to connect the CPU fan connector! Hardware monitoring errors can occur if you fail to plug this connector.

1.7 System memory

1.7.1 Overview

This motherboard comes with two Double Data Rate 3 (DDR3) Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMM) sockets. A DDR3 module has the same physical dimensions as a DDR2 DIMM but is notched differently to prevent installation on a DDR2 DIMM socket. DDR3 modules are

developed for better performance with less power consumption. The gure illustrates the

location of the DDR3 DIMM sockets:

Channel Sockets

Channel A DIMM_A1

Channel B DIMM_B1

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