ASUS M5A78LMUSB3 User Manual
M5A78L-M/USB3
Motherboard
E8017
Second Edition (V2)
December 2012
Copyright © 2012 ASUSTeK Computer Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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, modied or altered, unless
such repair, modication of alteration is authorized in writing by ASUS; or (2) the serial number of the
product is defaced or missing.
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Offer to Provide Source Code of Certain Software
This product may contain copyrighted software that is licensed under the General Public License (“GPL”)
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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).
ii
Contents
Notices ......................................................................................................... vi
Safety information ..................................................................................... vii
About this guide ....................................................................................... viii
M5A78L-M/USB3 specications summar ................................................. 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 congurations .................................................. 1-12
1.7.3 Installing a DIMM .......................................................... 1-17
1.7.4 Removing a DIMM ........................................................ 1-17
1.8 Expansion slots .......................................................................... 1-18
1.8.1 Installing an expansion card ......................................... 1-18
1.8.2 Conguring an expansion card ..................................... 1-18
1.8.3 PCI slots ........................................................................ 1-18
1.8.4 PCI Express x1 slot ....................................................... 1-18
1.8.5 PCI Express x16 slot ..................................................... 1-18
1.9 Jumpers ...................................................................................... 1-19
1.10 Connectors ................................................................................. 1-20
1.10.1 Rear panel ports ........................................................... 1-20
1.10.2 Internal connectors ....................................................... 1-22
iii
Contents
1.11 Software support ........................................................................ 1-28
1.11.1 Installing an operating system ...................................... 1-28
1.11.2 Support DVD information .............................................. 1-28
Chapter 2: BIOS information
2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS ............................................ 2-1
2.1.1 ASUS Update .................................................................. 2-1
2.1.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 ............................................................ 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 Conguration elds ......................................................... 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_1/2/3/4/5/6 ....................................................... 2-7
2.3.4 SATA Conguration ......................................................... 2-8
2.3.5 System Information ......................................................... 2-9
2.4 Advanced menu ......................................................................... 2-10
2.4.1 JumperFree Conguration ............................................ 2-10
2.4.2 CPU Conguration ........................................................ 2-13
2.4.3 Chipset .......................................................................... 2-14
2.4.4 Onboard Devices Conguration .................................... 2-15
2.4.5 PCIPnP ......................................................................... 2-16
2.4.6 USB Conguration ........................................................ 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
2.5.3 ACPI APIC Support [Enabled] ....................................... 2-17
iv
2.5.4 APM Conguration ........................................................ 2-17
2.5.5 HW Monitor Conguration ............................................. 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 Conguration .......................................... 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. Prole ......................................................... 2-22
2.8 Exit menu .................................................................................... 2-23
v
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 modications 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.
vi
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 qualied 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 qualied service
technician or your retailer.
vii
About this guide
This user guide contains the information you need when installing and conguring 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 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
M5A78L-M/USB3 specications summar
CPU AMD
®
Socket AM3+ for AMD® FX™ / Phenom™ II / Athlon™ II /
Sempron™ 100 series processors
AMD® Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ Technology
Supports CPU up to 140W
* Refer to www.asus.com for the AMD® CPU support list
Chipset AMD® 760G (780L) / SB710
System bus Up to 5200 MT/s HyperTransport™ 3.0 interface
Memory 4 x DIMM, max. 32GB, DDR3 2000(O.C.) / 1866(O.C.) / 1800(O.
C.) / 1600(O.C.) / 1333 / 1066 MHz, ECC and non-ECC, un-
buffered memory
Dual-channel memory architecture
* AMD® FX™ Series CPU on this motherboard supports up to
DDR3 1866MHz as its standard memory frequency.
** Due to CPU spec., AMD® 100 and 200 series CPUs support
up to DDR3 1066MHz. With ASUS 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
(Qualied 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 3000 GPU
Supports max. shared memory of 1GB
Supports HDMI with max. resolution up to 1920 x 1200
(1080P) (@60Hz)
Supports DVI-D compliant with HDCP with max. resolution up to
2560 x 1600 (@60Hz)
Supports RGB with max. resolution of 2560 x 1440 (@75Hz)
Supports Hybrid CrossFireX™
* Refer to www.amd.com for the discrete GPUs that support
Hybrid CrossFireX™.
Expansion slots 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 slot
1 x PCIe 2.0 x1 slot
2 x PCI slots
Storage
6 x Serial ATA 3Gb/s connectors support RAID 0, RAID 1,
RAID 10, and JBOD congurations
LAN
Audio
Realtek® 8111E/F PCle Gigabit LAN controller
VIA® VT1708S 8-channel High Denition Audio CODEC
(continued on the next page)
ix
M5A78L-M/USB3 specications summary
USB AMD® SB710 chipset:
ASUS unique
features
Back panel I/O
ports
Internal I/O
connectors
BIOS 16 Mb Flash ROM, AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI v2.0, WfM 2.0, ACPI v2.0a,
Accessories 2 x Serial ATA cables
Support DVD Drivers
Form factor
- 10 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports (6 ports at the mid-board, 4 ports at
the back panel)
Asmedia USB 3.0 controller:
- 2 x USB 3.0 ports (blue, at the back panel)
Core Unlocker
ASUS EPU
ASUS Turbo Key
ASUS Anti-Surge protection
ASUS Q-Fan
ASUS AI Charger
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
ASUS EZ Flash 2
ASUS MyLogo 2
ASUS C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)
1 x PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse combo port
1 x HDMI port
1 x D-Sub port
1 x DVI port
1 x Optical S/PDIF out port
2 x USB 3.0 ports
4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
1 x LAN (RJ-45) port
8-channel audio I/O ports
3 x USB 2.0/1.1 connectors support additional 6 USB 2.0/1.1 ports
6 x SATA connectors
1 x Front panel audio connector
1 x CPU fan connector
1 x Chassis fan connector
1 x COM connector
1 x LPT connector
1 x System panel connector
1 x S/PDIF Out connector
1 x 24-pin EATX power connector
1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector
SM BIOS v2.5
1 x I/O shield
1 x User Manual
1 x Support DVD
ASUS utilities
ASUS Update
Anti-virus software (OEM version)
MicroATX form factor: 9.6 in x 9.6 in (24.4 cm x 24.4 cm)
* Specications are subject to change without notice.
x
Chapter 1
Product introduction
1.1 Welcome!
Thank you for buying an ASUS® M5A78L-M/USB3 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 M5A78L-M/USB3 motherboard
Cables 2 x Serial ATA cables
Accessories 1 x I/O shield
Application DVD ASUS motherboard Support DVD
Documentation User Manual
If any of the items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.
1.3 Special features
1.3.1 Product highlights
AMD® FX™ / Phenom™ II / Athlon™ II / Sempron™ 100 series
ASUS M5A78L-M/USB3 1-1
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 supports AMD® CPUs in
the new 32nm manufacturing process.
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.
HyperTransport™ 3.0 support
HyperTransport™ 3.0 technology provides 2.6 times more bandwidth
than HT1.0 that radically improves system efciency for a smoother and
faster computing environment.
Dual-Channel DDR3 2000(O.C.) support
This motherboard supports DDR3 memory that features data transfer
rates of 2000 (O.C.) / 1866 (O.C.) / 1800 (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.
USB 3.0 support
Experience ultra-fast data transfer at 4.8Gbps with USB 3.0 – the latest
connectivity standard. Built to connect easily with next-generation
components and peripherals, USB 3.0 transfers data 10x faster and is
also backward compatible with USB 2.0 components.
Gigabit LAN solution
The onboard LAN controller is a highly integrated Gb LAN controller. It is
enhanced with an ACPI management function to provide efcient 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 specication, 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 congurations for Serial ATA hard drives.
8-channel high denition audio
Enjoy high-end sound quality on your PC! The onboard 8-channel High
Denition Audio CODEC enables high-quality 192KHz/24-bit audio
output, jack-sensing feature, and multi-streaming technology that
simultaneously sends different audio streams to different destinations.
You can now talk to your partners on the headphone while playing multichannel network games.
Chapter 1: Product introduction1-2
1.3.2 Innovative ASUS features
Core Unlocker
ASUS Core Unlocker simplies the activation of a latent AMD® CPU-
with just pressing a key. Enjoy an instant performance boost by simply
unlocking the extra cores, without performing complicated BIOS changes.
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 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 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 EZ Flash 2
ASUS EZ Flash 2 allows you to update the BIOS from a USB ash 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 efcient
operation.
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 M5A78L-M/USB3 1-3
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.
ErP ready
The motherboard is European Union´s Energy-related Products (ErP)
ready, and ErP requires products to meet certain energy efciency
requirements in regards to energy consumptions. This is in line with
ASUS vision of creating environment-friendly and energy-efcient
products through product design and innovation to reduce carbon
footprint of the product and thus mitigate environmental impacts.
Chapter 1: Product introduction1-4
1.4 Before you proceed
SB_PWR
ON
Standby Power Powered Off
OFF
M5A78L-M/USB3
M5A78L-M/USB3 Onboard LED
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 M5A78L-M/USB3 1-5
M5A78L-M/USB3
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 eight 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
M5A78L-M/USB3
PCIEX16
PCIEX1_1
PCI2
PCI1
USB78 USB910 USB1112
AAFP
ATX12V
EATXPWR
CPU_FAN
Lithium Cell
CMOS Power
Super
I/O
VIA
VT1708S
RTL
8111E/F
ASM
1042
ICS
9LPRS483
KB_USB56
SPDIF_O2
HDMI
16Mb
BIOS
SB_PWR
CLRTC
24.4cm(9.6in)
24.4cm(9.6in)
AMD
®
RS780L
AMD
®
SB710
DDR3 DIMM_B1 (64bit, 240-pin module)
SOCKET AM3+
DDR3 DIMM_B2 (64bit, 240-pin module)
DDR3 DIMM_A1 (64bit, 240-pin module)
DDR3 DIMM_A2 (64bit, 240-pin module)
SATA3G_4 SATA3G_5 SATA3G_6
SATA3G_1 SATA3G_2 SATA3G_3
AUDIO
LAN1_USB12
USB34
CHA_FAN
PANEL
SPDIF_OUT
LPT
COM1
DVI_VGA
EPU
51 32 4
11 710 9 813 12
1
6
2
1.5.4 Layout contents
Connectors/Jumpers/Slots Page Connectors/Jumpers/Slots 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. AMD CPU socket 1-8 10. System panel connector (20-8 pin PANEL) 1-25
4. DDR3 DIMM sockets 1-11 11. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB78, USB910,
5. Serial port connectors (10-1 pin COM1) 1-27 12. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT) 1-26
6. LPT connector (26-1 pin LPT ) 1-22 13. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP) 1-22
7. Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA3G_1~6) 1-24
ASUS M5A78L-M/USB3 1-7
1-27 8. Clear RTC RAM (CLRTC) 1-19
1-23 9. Onboard LED (SB_PWR) 1-5
USB1112)
1-26
1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Right
M5A78L-M/USB3
M5A78L-M/USB3 CPU socket AM3+
This motherboard comes with an AM3+ socket designed for FX™ / 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, 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.
Socket lever
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
Gold triangle
Chapter 1: Product introduction1-8
5. When the CPU is in place, push down the socket
CPU_FAN
CPU FAN PWM
CPU FAN IN
CPU FAN PWR
GND
M5A78L-M/USB3
M5A78L-M/USB3 CPU fan connector
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 M5A78L-M/USB3 1-9
1.6.2 Installing the heatsink and fan
1
3
4
5
2
Ensure that you use only AMD-certied 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
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