ASUS M5A78L-M LX, M5A78L-M LX V2 User Manual

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M5A78L-M LX Series

•M5A78L-M LX V2

•M5A78L-M LX PLUS

Motherboard

E6816

First Edition (V1)

August 2011

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, modified or altered, unless such repair, modification of alteration is authorized in writing byASUS; or (2) the serial number of the product is defaced or missing.

ASUS PROVIDES THIS MANUAL “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL ASUS, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF USE OR DATA, INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS AND THE LIKE), EVEN IF ASUS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES ARISING FROM ANY DEFECT OR ERROR IN THIS MANUAL OR PRODUCT.

SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL ARE FURNISHED FOR INFORMATIONAL USE ONLY, AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE, AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY ASUS. ASUS ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS OR INACCURACIES THAT MAY APPEAR IN THIS MANUAL, INCLUDING THE PRODUCTS AND SOFTWARE DESCRIBED IN IT.

Products and corporate names appearing in this manual may or may not be registered trademarks or copyrights of their respective companies, and are used only for identification or explanation and to the owners’ benefit, without intent to infringe.

Offer to Provide Source Code of Certain Software

This product may contain copyrighted software that is licensed under the General Public License (“GPL”) and under the Lesser General Public License Version (“LGPL”). The GPL and LGPL licensed code in this product is distributed without any warranty. Copies of these licenses are included in this product.

You may obtain the complete corresponding source code (as defined in the GPL) for the GPL Software, and/or the complete corresponding source code of the LGPL Software (with the complete machinereadable “work that uses the Library”) for a period of three years after our last shipment of the product including the GPL Software and/or LGPL Software, which will be no earlier than December 1, 2011, either

(1)for free by downloading it from http://support.asus.com/download;

(2)for the cost of reproduction and shipment, which is dependent on the preferred carrier and the location where you want to have it shipped to, by sending a request to:

ASUSTeK Computer Inc.

Legal Compliance Dept.

15 Li Te Rd.,

Beitou, Taipei 112

Taiwan

In your request please provide the name, model number and version, as stated in the About Box of the product for which you wish to obtain the corresponding source code and your contact details so that we can coordinate the terms and cost of shipment with you.

The source code will be distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY and licensed under the same license as the corresponding binary/object code.

This offer is valid to anyone in receipt of this information.

ASUSTeK is eager to duly provide complete source code as required under various Free Open Source Software licenses. If however you encounter any problems in obtaining the full corresponding source code we would be much obliged if you give us a notification to the email address gpl@asus.com, stating the 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........................................................................................	viii
M5A78L-M LX Series specifications summary.........................................	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 ...........................................................	1-16
	1.7.4	Removing a DIMM .........................................................	1-16
1.8	Expansion slots..........................................................................		1-17
	1.8.1	Installing an expansion card ..........................................	1-17
	1.8.2	Configuring an expansion card ......................................	1-17
	1.8.3	PCI slot ..........................................................................	1-17
	1.8.4	PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots ...............................................	1-17
	1.8.5	PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot . ..............................................	1-17
1.9	Jumpers	.......................................................................................	1-18
1.10	Connectors..................................................................................		1-20
	1.10.1 ............................................................	Rear panel ports	1-20
	1.10.2 ........................................................	Internal connectors	1-21

iii

Contents

1.11 Software support........................................................................		1-27
1.11.1	Installing an operating system.......................................	1-27
1.11.2	Support DVD information...............................................	1-27

Chapter 2: BIOS information

2.1	Managing and updating your BIOS.............................................		2-1
	2.1.1	ASUS Update utility.........................................................	2-1
	2.1.2	ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility...................................................	2-2
	2.1.3	ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3................................................	2-3
2.2	BIOS setup program.....................................................................		2-4
	2.2.1	BIOS menu screen..........................................................	2-5
	2.2.2	Menu bar.........................................................................	2-5
	2.2.3	Navigation keys...............................................................	2-5
	2.2.4	Menu items......................................................................	2-6
	2.2.5	Submenu items................................................................	2-6
	2.2.6	Configuration fields..........................................................	2-6
	2.2.7	Pop-up window................................................................	2-6
	2.2.8	Scroll bar.........................................................................	2-6
	2.2.9	General help....................................................................	2-6
2.3	Main menu.....................................................................................		2-7
	2.3.1	System Time [xx:xx:xx]....................................................	2-7
	2.3.2	System Date [Day xx/xx/xxxx].........................................	2-7
	2.3.3	SATA3G_1~6...................................................................	2-7
	2.3.4	SATAConfiguration..........................................................	2-8
	2.3.5	System Information..........................................................	2-9
2.4	Advanced menu............................................................................		2-9
	2.4.1	JumperFree Configuration.............................................	2-10
	2.4.2	CPU Configuration.........................................................	2-12
	2.4.3	Chipset..........................................................................	2-14
	2.4.4	Onboard Devices Configuration....................................	2-15
	2.4.5	PCIPnP..........................................................................	2-16
	2.4.6	USB Configuration.........................................................	2-16
2.5	Power menu................................................................................		2-17
	2.5.1	Suspend Mode [Auto]....................................................	2-17
	2.5.2	ACPI 2.0 Support [Enabled]..........................................	2-17

Contents

	2.5.3	ACPIAPIC Support [Enabled].......................................	2-17
	2.5.4	APM Configuration........................................................	2-17
	2.5.5	HW Monitor Configuration.............................................	2-18
	2.5.6	Anti Surge Support [Enabled]........................................	2-18
2.6	Boot menu...................................................................................		2-19
	2.6.1	Boot Device Priority.......................................................	2-19
	2.6.2	Boot Settings Configuration...........................................	2-19
	2.6.3	Security..........................................................................	2-20
2.7	Tools menu..................................................................................		2-22
	2.7.1	ASUS EZ Flash 2..........................................................	2-22
	2.7.2	ASUS O.C. Profile.........................................................	2-22
2.8	Exit menu.....................................................................................		2-23

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 modifications 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.

ASUS Recycling/Takeback Services

ASUS recycling and takeback programs come from our commitment to the highest standards for protecting our environment. We believe in providing solutions for you to be able to responsibly recycle our products, batteries, other components as well as the packaging materials. Please go to http://csr.asus.com/english/Takeback.htm for the detailed recycling information in different regions.

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 fix it by yourself. Contact a qualified 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 qualified service technician or your retailer.

vii

About this guide

This user guide contains the information you need when installing and configuring 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.

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 find 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 flyers, 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

M5A78L-M LX Series specifications summary

CPU

Chipset

Front side bus

Memory

AMD® Socket AM3+ for AMD® FX™ / Phenom™ II /

Athlon™ II / Sempron™ 100 series processors

AMD® Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ Technology

Supports CPU up to 125W

* Refer to www.asus.com for the AMD® CPU support list

AMD® 760G(780L) / SB710

Up to 5200 MT/s HyperTransport™ 3.0 interface

Dual-channel memory architecture

2 x 240-pin DIMM slots support maximum 8GB unbuffered ECC and non-ECC DDR3 1866(O.C.) / 1600(O.C.) / 1333 / 1066MHz memory modules

* AMD® FX™ Series CPU on this motherboard supports up to

DDR3 1866MHz as its standard memory frequency.

** Due to CPU specification,AMD® 100 and 200 series CPUs support up to DDR3 1066MHz. WithASUS design, this motherboard can support up to DDR3 1333MHz.

*** When overclocking, some AMD CPU models may not support DDR3 1600 MHz or higher frequency DIMMs.

****Refer to www.asus.com for the latest Memory QVL (Qualified

Vendors List).

*****Use a 64-bit Windows® OS if you want to install 4GB or more memory on the motherboard.

Graphics

Expansion slots

IntegratedATI Radeon™ HD 3000 GPU

Supports max. shared memory of 1GB

Supports RGB with max. resolution of 2560 x 1440 (@75Hz)

Supports Microsoft® DirectX 10

Supports Hybrid CrossFireX™

* Refer to www.amd.com for the discrete GPUs that support Hybrid CrossFireX™.

1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 slot

2 x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots

1 x PCI slot

Storage / RAID	6 x SerialATA3Gb/s connectors support RAID 0, RAID 1,
	RAID 10, and JBOD configurations
LAN	Realtek® RTL8111E PCIe Gigabit LAN controller
Audio	Realtek® ALC887 8-channel* High DefinitionAudio CODEC
	* Use the chassis with HD audio module in the front panel to
	support 8-channel audio output.
USB	Supports up to 10 USB 2.0 ports (6 ports at mid-board, 4 ports at
	the back panel)
	(continued on the next page)

M5A78L-M LX Series specifications summary

Back panel I/O ports

Internal I/O connectors

BIOS

ASUS unique features

Accessories

Support DVD

Form factor

1 x PS/2 Keyboard port

1 x PS/2 Mouse port

1 x COM port

1 x LPT port

1 x D-Sub port

1 x LAN (RJ-45) port

4 x USB 2.0 ports

3 x Audio jacks

3 x USB 2.0 connectors support additional 6 USB 2.0 ports 6 x SATA3.0Gb/s connectors

1 x CPU fan connector

1 x Chassis fan connector

1 x Front panel audio connector

1 x S/PDIF out connector

1 x Speaker connector

1 x System panel connector

1 x 24-pinATX power connector

1 x 4-pinATX 12V power connector

16Mb Flash ROM,AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, ACPI2.0a, SM BIOS 2.5

100%All High-quality Conductive Polymer Capacitors

(M5A78L-M LX PLUS only) ASUS Core unlocker

ASUS Turbo Key

ASUS Q-Fan

ASUS AI Charger

ASUS EPU-4 Engine

ASUS Anti Surge

ASUS EZ Flash2

ASUS MyLogo2

ASUS C.P.R (CPU Parameter Recall)

2 x SerialATA3.0Gb/s cables

1 x I/O shield

1 x User Manual

1 x Support DVD

Drivers

ASUS Update

ASUS utilities

Anti-Virus software (OEM version)

MicroATX form factor: 9.6 in x 8.0 in (24.4 cm x 20.3 cm)

*Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Chapter 1 Product introduction

1.1Welcome!

Thank you for buying an ASUS® M5A78L-M LX Series 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.

1.2Package contents

Check your motherboard package for the following items.

Motherboard	ASUS M5A78L-M LX Series motherboard
Cables	2 x SerialATA3.0Gb/s cables
Accessories	1 x I/O shield
Application DVD	ASUS motherboard Support DVD
Documentation	User Manual

• M5A78L-M LX Series motherboards include M5A78L-M LX PLUS and M5A78L-M LX V2 two models. The package contents vary from models. The layout illustrations in this user guide are for M5A78L-M LX PLUS only.

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

1.3Special features

1.3.1Product highlights

AMD® FX™ / Phenom™ II / Athlon™ II / Sempron™ 100 series CPU 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 memory support and accelerates data transfer rate up to 5200MT/s via HyperTransport™ 3.0-based system bus. This motherboard also supportsAMD® CPUs in the new 32nm manufacturing process.

ASUS M5A78L-M LX Series

1-1

HyperTransport™ 3.0 support

HyperTransport™ 3.0 technology provides 2.6 times more bandwidth than HT1.0 that radically improves system efficiency for a smoother and faster computing environment.

AMD® Cool ‘n’ Quiet Technology

This motherboard supports the AMD® Cool ‘n’ Quiet technology which monitors system operation and automatically adjusts CPU voltage and frequency for a cool and quiet operating environment.

Dual-Channel DDR3 1866 (O.C.) support

This motherboard supports DDR3 memory that features data transfer rates of 1866 (O.C.)/1600 (O.C.)/1333/1066 MHz to meet the higher bandwidth requirements of the latest operating system, 3D graphics, multimedia, and Internet applications.

Hybrid CrossFireX™ support

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

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

• Refer to www.amd.com for the discrete GPUs that support Hybrid CrossFireX™.

Gigabit LAN solution

The onboard LAN controller is a highly integrated Gb LAN controller. It is enhanced with anACPI management function to provide efficient power management for advanced operating systems.

Serial ATA 3Gb/s technology and RAID support

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

3Gb/s storage specification, delivering enhanced scalability and doubling the bus bandwidth for high-speed data retrieval and save. It also supports

RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 0+1 configurations for SerialATAhard drives.

100% All High-quality Conductive Polymer Capacitors (M5A78L-M LX PLUS only)

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

1-2	Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.3.2Innovative ASUS features

Core Unlocker

1 2

ASUS Core Unlocker simplifies the activation of a latentAMD® CPUwith just pressing a key. Enjoy an instant performance boost by simply unlocking the extra cores, without performing complicated BIOS changes.

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.

ASUS MyLogo2™

Turn your favorite photos into 256-color boot logos to personalize your system.

ASUS EZ Flash 2

ASUS EZ Flash 2 allows you to update the BIOS from a USB flash disk before entering the OS.

ASUS Q-Fan

ASUS Q-Fan technology intelligently adjusts the CPU fan speed according to system loading to ensure a quiet, cool, and efficient operation.

ASUS Anti-Surge Protection

This special design prevents expensive devices and the motherboard from damage caused by power surges from switching power supply (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.

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.

ASUS M5A78L-M LX Series

1-3

ErP ready

The motherboard is European Union´s Energy-related Products (ErP) ready, and ErP requires products to meet certain energy efficiency requirements in regards to energy consumptions. This is in line with

ASUS vision of creating environment-friendly and energy-efficient products through product design and innovation to reduce carbon footprint of the product and thus mitigate environmental impacts.

1-4	Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.4Before 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.

SB_PWR

M5A78L-M LX PLUS

ON OFF

Standby Power Powered Off

M5A78L-M LX PLUS Onboard LED

ASUS M5A78L-M LX Series

1-5

1.5Motherboard overview

1.5.1Placement 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.

1.5.2Screw 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.

M5A78L-M LX PLUS

1-6

Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.5.3Motherboard layout

1	2	3	4	5	6
				20.3cm(8.0in)
				20.3cm(8.0in)

KBMS
	KBPWR		EPU
	KBPWR		ATX12V
COM1
VGA	LPT	USBPW1-4	SOCKET AM3+	(64bit, 240-pin module)	(64bit, 240-pin module)
				A1	B1
USB34				DIMMDDR3	DIMMDDR3
LAN1_USB12					EATXPWR
		CPU_FAN			EATXPWR

ICS 9LPRS483

AMD®

5SATA3G

AUDIO

CHA_FAN

760G

PCIEX1_1

RTL

8111E

SATA3G

PCIEX16

Super

M5A78L-M LX PLUS

AMD®

16Mb

I/O

CLRTC

BIOS

PCIEX1_2

SB710

Lithium Cell

CMOS Power

SATA3G_2

SATA3G_4

ALC

PCI1

USBPW5-10

887

SPDIF_OUT

SPEAKER

AAFP

SB_PWR

USB910

USB78

USB56

SATA3G_1

SATA3G_3

F_PANEL

24.4cm(9.6in)

1.5.4Layout contents

Connectors/Jumpers/Slots

Page

Connectors/Jumpers/Slots

Page

1.Keyboard power (3-pin KBPWR)

1-19 8. System panel connector (10-1 pin F_PANEL) 1-24

2.	USB device wake-up (3-pin USBPW1-4,	1-19	9.	Speaker connector (4- pin SPEAKER)	1-24
	USBPW5-10)
3.	ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin	1-22	10.	USB connectors (10-1 pin USB56, USB78,	1-25
	ATX12V)			USB910)
4.	CPU and chassis fan connectors (4-pin	1-26	11.	Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT)	1-25
	CPU_FAN and 3-pin CHA_FAN)
5.	AMD CPU socket	1-8	12.	Onboard LED (SB_PWR)	1-5
6.	DDR3 DIMM sockets	1-11	13.	Front panel audio connector (10-1 pinAAFP)	1-21
7.	Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1-6)	1-23	14.	Clear RTC RAM (CLRTC)	1-18

ASUS M5A78L-M LX Series

1-7

1.6Central Processing Unit (CPU)

This motherboard comes with an AM3+ socket designed for FX™ / Phenom™ II / Athlon™ II /

Sempron™ 100 series processors.

TheAM3+ socket has a different pinout from theAM2+/AM2 socket. Ensure that you use a CPU designed for theAM3+ socket. The CPU fits in only one correct orientation. DO NOT force the CPU into the socket to prevent bending the pins and damaging the CPU!

1.6.1Installing the CPU

To install a CPU:

1.Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard.

M5A78L-M LX PLUS

M5A78L-M LX PLUS CPU AM3+

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 fit 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 fits in place.

The CPU fits only in one correct orientation.

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

Small triangle

Gold triangle

1-8	Chapter 1: Product introduction

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.

CPU_FAN

GND

CPU FAN PWR

CPU FAN IN

CPU FAN PWM

M5A78L-M LX PLUS

M5A78L-M LX PLUS CPU fan connector

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

ASUS M5A78L-M LX Series

1-9

ASUS M5A78L-M LX, M5A78L-M LX V2 User Manual

1.6.2Installing the heatsink and fan

Ensure that you use onlyAMD-certified 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 fits 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.

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