User manual ASUS A7V8X-X

A7V8X-X User Guide Motherboard E1198 Checklist First Edition V1 January 2003 Copyright © 2003 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, modified or altered, unless such repair, modification of alteration is authorized in writing by ASUS; 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. ii Contents Notices ............................................................................................ v Safety information .......................................................................... vi About this guide ............................................................................. vii ASUS contact information ............................................................ viii A7V8X-X specifications summary .................................................. ix Features Chapter 1: Product introduction Welcome! ........................................................................... 1-2 Package contents ............................................................... 1-2 Motherboard components .................................................. 1-3 1.3.1 Core specifications ................................................. 1-4 1.4 Special Features ................................................................ 1-6 1.4.1 Product highlights ................................................... 1-6 1.5 Motherboard layout ............................................................ 1-7 1.6 Before you proceed ............................................................ 1-8 1.7 Motherboard installation ..................................................... 1-9 1.7.1 Placement direction ............................................... 1-9 1.7.2 Screw holes ........................................................... 1-9 1.8 Central Processing Unit (CPU) ......................................... 1-10 1.8.1 Installing the CPU ................................................ 1-10 1.9 System memory ................................................................1-11 1.10 Expansion slots .................................................................1-11 1.10.1 Configuring an expansion card ........................... 1-12 1.10.2 Standard interrupt assignments ......................... 1-12 IRQ assignments for this motherboard ....................... 1-12 1.10.3 AGP slot ............................................................. 1-13 1.11 Jumpers ............................................................................ 1-13 1.12 Connectors ....................................................................... 1-15 1.1 1.2 1.3 Chapter 2: BIOS information 2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS .................................... 2-2 2.1.1 Using ASUS EZ Flash to update the BIOS ............ 2-2 2.1.2 Using AFLASH to update the BIOS ....................... 2-4 2.1.3 CrashFree BIOS feature ........................................ 2-7 BIOS Setup program .......................................................... 2-8 2.2.1 BIOS menu bar ...................................................... 2-8 2.2.2 Legend bar ............................................................. 2-9 iii 2.2 Contents Safeguards 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Main Menu ........................................................................ 2-10 2.3.1 Primary and Secondary Master/Slave ................. 2-12 2.3.2 Keyboard Features .............................................. 2-14 Advanced Menu ............................................................... 2-15 2.4.1 Chip Configuration ............................................... 2-16 2.4.2 I/O Device Configuration ...................................... 2-18 2.4.3 PCI Configuration ................................................ 2-19 Power Menu ..................................................................... 2-21 2.5.1 Power Up Control ................................................ 2-23 2.5.2 Hardware Monitor ................................................ 2-24 Boot Menu ........................................................................ 2-25 Exit Menu ......................................................................... 2-26 Chapter 3: Software support 3.1 3.2 Install an operating system ................................................. 3-2 Support CD information ...................................................... 3-2 3.2.1 Running the support CD ........................................ 3-2 3.2.2 Drivers menu ......................................................... 3-3 3.2.3 Utilities menu ......................................................... 3-3 3.2.4 ASUS Contact Information ..................................... 3-4 3.2.5 Multi-channel audio feature ................................... 3-5 iv Notices Federal Communications Commission Statement This device complies with FCC Rules Part 15. 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. v Safety information Electrical safety · To prevent electrical shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electrical 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 adpater or extension cord. These devices could interrupt the grounding circuit. · Make sure 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, make sure 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. vi About this guide Conventions used in this guide To make sure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following symbols used throughout this manual. WARNING/DANGER: 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: Information that you MUST follow to complete a task. NOTE: Tips and additional information to aid in completing 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 websites worldwide provide updated information on ASUS hardware and software products. The ASUS websites are listed in the ASUS Contact Information on page viii. 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. vii ASUS contact information ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. (Asia-Pacific) Address: General Tel: General Fax: General Email: 150 Li-Te Road, Peitou, Taipei, Taiwan 112 +886-2-2894-3447 +886-2-2894-3449 info@asus.com.tw Technical Support MB/Others (Tel): Notebook (Tel): Desktop/Server (Tel): Support Fax: Support Email: Web Site: +886-2-2890-7121 (English) +886-2-2890-7122 (English) +886-2-2890-7123 (English) +886-2-2890-7698 tsd@asus.com.tw www.asus.com.tw ASUS COMPUTER INTERNATIONAL (America) Address: General Fax: General Email: 6737 Mowry Avenue, Mowry Business Center, Building 2, Newark, CA 94560, USA +1-510-608-4555 tmd1@asus.com Technical Support Support Fax: General Support: Web Site: Support Email: +1-510-608-4555 +1-502-933-8713 www.asus.com tsd@asus.com ASUS COMPUTER GmbH (Germany and Austria) Address: General Fax: General Email: Harkortstr. 25, 40880 Ratingen, BRD, Germany +49-2102-442066 sales@asuscom.de (for marketing requests only) Technical Support Support Hotline: Notebook (Tel): Support Fax: Support (Email): Web Site: MB/Others: +49-2102-9599-0 +49-2102-9599-10 +49-2102-9599-11 www.asuscom.de/de/support (for online support) www.asuscom.de viii A7V8X-X specifications summary CPU Chipset Front Side Bus (FSB) Memory Socket A for AMD Barton/Thoroughbred/Athlon XP/Athlon/ Duron 2.25+ GHz CPU Northbridge: VIA KT400 Southbridge: VIA VT8235 200/266/333Mhz 3 x DDR DIMM Sockets Max. 3 GB unbuffered PC2100/1600 non-ECC DDR SDRAM (Note: PC3200 maximum to 2 banks only. PC2700 maximum to 4 banks only.) 1 x AGP 8X 6 x PCI 2 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 ADI 1980 6-channel CODEC S/PDIF out interface Realtek 10/100 Mbps Ethernet PHY VT8235 built-in USB 2.0 6 x USB 2.0 ports ASUS MyLogo ASUS EZ Flash ASUS C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall) Power Loss Restart ASUS Jumperfree SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection) ASUS C.O.P. (CPU Overheating Protection) CrashFree BIOS 1 x Parallel 1 x Serial 1 x S/PDIF out (on audio model only) 1 x PS/2 Keyboard 1 x PS/2 Mouse 1 x Audio I/O (on audio model only) 4 x USB 2.0 1 x RJ-45 Port (on LAN model only) CPU/Chassis FAN connector 20 pin ATX power connector IDE LED connector Chassis Intrusion GAME port (on audio model only) CD/AUX audio in (on audio model only) Front panel audio connector (on audio model only) 1 x USB 2.0 connector supports additional 2 USB 2.0 ports (continued on the next page) Expansion slots IDE Audio (optional) LAN (optional) USB 2.0 Special Features Back Panel I/O Ports Internal I/O Connectors ix A7V8X-X specifications summary (Cont') BIOS features 2Mb Flash ROM, Award BIOS, DMI2.0, PnP, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.3, TCAV, EZ Flash, ASUS MyLogo, ASUS CrashFree BIOS, ASUS JumperFree, ASUS C.P.R. PCI 2.2, USB 2.0 WfM2.0, DMI2.0, WOR, WOL, Chassis Intrusion ATX form factor: 12 in x 9.6 in (30.5 cm x 24.5 cm) Device drivers ASUS PC Probe Trend Microtm PC-cillin 2002 anti-virus software ASUS LiveUpdate Utility User's manual Support CD 1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable FDD cable I/O shield Industry standard Manageability Form Factor Support CD contents Accessories * Specifications are subject to change without notice. x Chapter 1 ASUS A7V8X-X Motherboard Motherboard Info 1-1 This chapter gives information about the ASUS A7V8X-X motherboard that came with the system.This chapter includes the motherboard layout, jumper settings, and connector locations. 1.1 Welcome! Thank you for buying the ASUS® A7V8X-X motherboard! The ASUS A7V8X-X motherboard is loaded with the most advanced technologies to deliver the maximum performance for socket A processors. This motherboard is loaded with value-added features for guaranteed consumer satisfaction. Unique ASUS features such as ASUS C.O.P., ASUS C.P.R., ASUS EZFlash, ASUS JumperFree, ASUS MyLogo, ASUS CrashFree BIOS and more are included to ensure the best user experience and value in a motherboard. For future upgrades or system reconfiguration, this chapter provides technical information about the motherboard. 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 ASUS A7V8X-X motherboard ATX form factor: 12 in x 9.6 in (30.5 cm x 24.5 cm) ASUS A7V8X-X series support CD 1 pc. 80-conductor ribbon cable for UltraDMA/66/100/133 IDE drives Ribbon cable for a 3.5-inch floppy drive Bag of extra jumper caps User Guide I/O shield Check your ASUS A7V8X-X package for the following items. 1-2 1.3 Motherboard components Before you install the motherboard, learn about its major components and available features to facilitate the installation and future upgrades. Refer to the succeeding pages for the component descriptions. 1 2 3 4 5 6 14 13 7 12 8 11 10 15 16 9 17 18 19 20 25 24 23 22 21 1-3 ASUS A7V8X-X Motherboard 1.3.1 Core specifications 1 North bridge controller. The VIA® KT400 supports AGP 8X mode, 333/ 266/200MHz Front Side Bus, and the latest 400/333/266/200MHz 64-bit memory bus. CPU socket. Socket 462 (Socket A) surface mount, Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) socket for the AMD Barton/Thoroughbred/Athlon XP/Athlon/Duron Processors, with 600 MHz ~ 2.25GHz system bus. (Note: When using 333MHz FSB CPU, system memory supports DDR333 only.) TABLE 1.3.1 FSB/DDR Support Table FSB 200/266 MHz 333 MHz DDR 266 DDR 333 DDR 400 2 3 DDR DIMM sockets. These three 184-pin DIMM sockets support up to 3GB system memory using unbuffered non-ECC PC2100/1600 DDR DIMMs. (Note: PC2700 maximum to 4 banks only. PC3200 maximum to 2 banks only. Visit the ASUS website [www.asus.com] for the latest qualified DDR400 module list.) ATX power connector. This 20-pin connector connects to an ATX +12V power supply. The power supply must have at least 1A on the +5V standby lead (+5VSB). IDE connectors. These dual-channel bus master IDE connectors support up to four Ultra DMA133/100/66, PIO Modes 3 & 4 IDE devices. Both the primary (blue) and secondary (black) connectors are slotted to prevent incorrect insertion of the IDE ribbon cable. Floppy disk connector. This connector accommodates the provided ribbon cable for the floppy disk drive. One side of the connector is slotted to prevent incorrect insertion of the floppy disk cable. South bridge controller. The VIA® VT8235 integrated peripheral controller supports various I/O functions including, 2-channel ATA/133 bus master IDE controller, up to six USB 2.0 ports, LPC Super I/O interface, AC'97 interface and PCI 2.2 interface. Flash ROM. This 2Mb firmware contains the programmable BIOS program. Standby power LED. This LED lights up if there is a standby power on the motherboard. This LED acts as a reminder to turn off the system power before plugging or unplugging devices. Super I/O controller. This Low Pin Count (LPC) interface provides the commonly used Super I/O functionality. The chipset supports a highperformance floppy disk controller for a 360K/720K/1.44M/2.88M floppy disk drive, a multi-mode parallel port, two standard compatible UARTs and a Flash ROM interface. PCI slots. These six 32-bit PCI 2.2 expansion slots support bus master PCI cards like SCSI or LAN cards with 133MB/s maximum throughput. Chapter 1: Motherboard Information 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1-4 12 Audio CODEC . The ADI AD1980 is an AC'97 CODEC that allows 6-channel audio playback. The audio CODEC provides six DAC channels for 5.1 surround sound, S/PDIF interface, AUX and Line In stereo inputs, integrated headphone amplifier, greater than 90dB dynamic range. (on audio models only) LAN PHY. This Realtek RTL8201BL LAN PHY supports your local area networking needs. (on LAN model only) AGP slot. This Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) slot supports 1.5V AGP8X mode graphics cards for 3D graphical applications. PS/2 mouse port. This green 6-pin connector is for a PS/2 mouse. Parallel port. This 25-pin port connects a parallel printer, a scanner, or other devices. RJ-45 port. This port allows connection to a Local Area Network (LAN) through a network hub. (on LAN models only) Line In jack. This Line In (light blue) jack connects a tape player or other audio sources. In 6-channel mode, the function of this jack becomes Bass/ Center. (on audio models only) Line Out jack. This Line Out (lime) jack connects a headphone or a speaker. In 6-channel mode, the function of this jack becomes Front Speaker Out. (on audio models only) Microphone jack. This Mic (pink) jack connects a microphone. In 6-channel mode, the function of this jack becomes Rear Speaker Out. (on audio models only) The functions of the Line Out, Line In and Microphone jacks change when you select the 6-channel audio configuration as shown in the following table: 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Audio 2, 4 or 6-channel configuration (Note:Win98SE supports 4-channel only.) Headphone/ 2-Speaker Line In Line Out Mic In 4-Speaker Line In Front Speaker Out Rear Speaker Out 6-Speaker Bass/Center Front Speaker Out Rear Speaker Light Blue Lime Pink 21 22 23 24 25 USB 2.0 ports 3 and 4. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are available for connecting USB 2.0 devices. USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are available for connecting USB 2.0 devices. Serial port. This 9-pin COM1 port is for pointing devices or other serial devices. S/PDIF out port. This port connects to external home theater systems for surround sound and enhanced 3D audio when playing DVDs or games. PS/2 keyboard port. This purple 6-pin connector is for a PS/2 keyboard. 1-5 ASUS A7V8X-X Motherboard 1.4 Special features 1.4.1 Product highlights 333MHz FSB Athlon XP CPU support AMD's Athlon XP 2800+ and all follow-up CPUs now support 333MHz Front Side Bus (FSB) for increased application program productivity and enhanced digital media experience. AGP 8X support AGP 8X (AGP 3.0) is the next generation VGA interface specification that enables enhanced graphics performance with high bandwidth speeds up to 2.12 GB/s. With a bus of 533Mhz, AGP 8X is twice as fast as AGP 4X. DDR400 (PC3200) support DDR400 (PC3200), the latest and fastest DDR memory standard, supports bandwidth up to 3.2 GB/s to provide enhanced system performance. (Note: PC2700 maximum to 4 banks only. PC3200 maximum to 2 banks only.) C.O.P. (CPU Overheating Protection): With AMD® Athlon XPTM installed, the motherboard offers automatic CPU Overheating Protection to prolong the life of the entire system. If the CPU temperature exceeds the set criteria, the PC shuts down automatically. ASUS EZ Flash With ASUS EZ Flash, you can update BIOS before entering operating system. No more DOS-based flash utility and bootable diskette required. SoundMax Digital Audio System (on audio models only) The SoundMax Digital Audio System is the industry's highest performance and most reliable audio solution for business professionals, audiophiles, musicians, and gamers. SoundMAX Digital Audio System can output 5.1 channel surround and features state-of-the-art DLS2 MIDI synthesizer with Yamaha DLSbyXG sound set, 5.1 Virtual TheaterTM and supports all major game audio technologies including Microsoft DirectXTM8.0, Microsoft DirectSound 3DTM, A3D, MacroFX, ZoomFX, MultiDrive 5.1 and EAX. Refer to section "3.2.5 Multi-channel audio feature" on page 3-5 for more information. C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall) When the system hangs due to overclocking failure, there is no need to open the case to clear the CMOS data. Simply restart the system and the BIOS will automatically restore the CPU default setting for each parameter. CrashFree BIOS CrashFree BIOS allows users to restore BIOS data from a floppy diskette even when BIOS code and data are corrupted during upgrade or invaded by a virus. Unlike other competing vendors' products, ASUS motherboards now enable users to enjoy this protection feature without the need to pay for an optional ROM. 1-6 Chapter 1: Motherboard Information 1.5 PS/2KBMS T: Mouse B: Keyboard Motherboard layout 24.4cm (9.6in) OVER_VOLT KBPWR CPU_FAN Socket 462 DDR DIMM1 (64/72 bit, 184-pin module) DDR DIMM2 (64/72 bit, 184-pin module) SPDIF1 DDR DIMM3 (64/72 bit, 184-pin module) PARALLEL PORT COM1 USBPW12 USBPW34 USB20_12 Bottom: Chipset AUX CD LAN PHY 01 23 45 Top:Line In Center:Line Out Below:Mic In PRI_IDE PCI Slot 1 A7V8X-X PCI Slot 2 FP_AUDIO MDC VIA VT8235 Chipset CR2032 3V Lithium Cell CMOS Power PCI Slot 3 PCI Slot 4 PCI Slot 5 ® Audio Codec CLRTC Super I/O GAME SB_PWR IDE_LED 2Mbit Firmware Hub CHASSIS PCI Slot 6 USBPW56 USB56 CHA_FAN ASUS A7V8X-X Motherboard SEC_IDE Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) PANEL 30.5cm (12.0in) USB3 RJ-45 USB4 Top: VIA KT400 ATX Power Connector FLOPPY 1-7 1.6 Before you proceed Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change any motherboard settings. 1. Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any component. Use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or to a metal object, such as the power supply case, before handling components 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, ensure that the ATX power supply is switched off or the power cord is detached from the power supply. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to the motherboard, peripherals, and/or components. 2. 3. 4. 5. When lit, the green LED (SB_PWR) indicates that the system is ON, in sleep mode, or in soft-off mode, a reminder that you should shut down the system and unplug the power cable before removing or plugging in any motherboard component. SB_PWR A7V8X-X ® A7V8X-X Onboard LED ON Standby Power OFF Powered Off Install only 1.5V AGP cards on this motherboard to prevent damage to your AGP card or motherboard. 1-8 Chapter 1: Motherboard Information 1.7 Motherboard installation Before you install the motherboard, study the configuration of your chassis to ensure that the motherboard fits into it. The motherboard uses the ATX form factor that measures 12 inches x 9.6 inches (30.5 cm x 24.5 cm). Make sure to unplug the power cord before installing or removing the motherboard. Failure to do so may cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components. 1.7.1 Placement direction When installing the motherboard, make sure 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. 1.7.2 Screw holes Place nine (9) screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the motherboard to the chassis. Do not overtighten the screws! Doing so may damage the motherboard. Place this side towards the rear of the chassis ASUS A7V8X-X Motherboard 1-9 1.8 Central Processing Unit (CPU) The motherboard provides a Socket A (462) for CPU installation. AMD processors offer gigahertz speeds to support all the latest computing platforms and applications. The A7V8X-X supports AthlonTM XP, AthlonTM, BartonTM and DuronTM processors. CPU NOTCH TO INNER CORNER AMDTM CPU A7V8X-X ® A7V8X-X Socket A CPU NOTCH LEVER LOCK 1.8.1 Installing the CPU Follow these steps to install a CPU: 1. Locate the Socket 462 and open it by pulling the lever gently sideways away from the socket. Then lift the lever upwards. The socket lever must be fully opened (90 to 100 degrees). 2. Insert the CPU with the correct orientation. The notched or golden corner of the CPU must be oriented toward the inner corner of the socket base nearest to the lever hinge. The CPU should drop easily into place. Do not force the CPU into the socket to avoid bending the pins. If the CPU does not fit, check its alignment and look for bent pins. 4. Once completely inserted, press the CPU firmly and close the socket lever until it snaps shut. 5. Place the CPU fan and heatsink on the CPU. The heatsink should entirely cover the CPU. Carefully attach the heatsink locking brace to the plastic clips on the socket base. With the added weight of the CPU fan and heatsink locking brace, no extra force is required to keep the CPU in place 1-10 Chapter 1: Motherboard Information