Asus M4A78LT-M User manual

Motherboard
Motherboard
installation guide

2
E4973
Second Edition V2
August 2009
Copyright © 2009 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 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,
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SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL ARE FURNISHED FOR
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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



3
Safety information
Electrical safety
• 
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.
• 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.
• 
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 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.
• 
service technician or your retailer.

4

ASUS Motherboard installation guide 5
1.1.1 Intel LGA775 Socket
1. Locate the CPU socket on the
motherboard.
2. Release the load lever from the
retention tab and lift the load plate.
Then push the PnP cap from the
load plate window to remove
To prevent damage to the socket
pins, do not remove the PnP cap
unless you are installing a CPU.
3. Position the CPU over the socket. 4. Ensure that the gold triangle is
on the bottom‑left corner of the
socket.
Chapter 1: Quick Start
1.1 Installing the CPU
Pick and Place Cap (PnP Cap)

6 Chapter 1: Quick Start
5. Fit the socket alignment key into the CPU notch.
6. Close the load plate, then push the load lever until it snaps into the retention
tab.

orientation. DO NOT force the
CPU into the socket to prevent
bending the connectors on the
socket and damaging the CPU!
1.1.2 Intel LGA1366 Socket
1. Locate the CPU socket on the
motherboard.
To prevent damage to the socket
pins, do not remove the PnP cap
unless you are installing a CPU.
2. Press the load lever with your
thumb (A), then move it to the left
(B) until it is released from the
retention tab.
A
B
Load lever
Retention tab
3. Lift the load lever in the direction of
the arrow to a 135º angle.
4. Lift the load plate with your thumb

Load plate
4
3

ASUS Motherboard installation guide 7

socket to prevent bending the connectors on the socket and damaging the CPU!
6. Position the CPU over the socket,
ensuring that the gold triangle is on
the bottom‑left corner of the socket,

into the CPU notch.
5. Remove the PnP cap from the CPU
socket.
PnP cap
Gold
triangle
mark
Alignment key
CPU notch
8. Close the load plate (A), and then
push the load lever (B) until it snaps
into the retention tab. A
B

8 Chapter 1: Quick Start
1.1.3 Intel LGA1156 Socket
1. Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard.
To prevent damage to the socket
pins, do not remove the PnP cap
unless you are installing a CPU.
A
B
Load lever
Retention tab
2. Press the load lever with your
thumb (A), and then move it to the
right (B) until it is released from the
retention tab.
3. Lift the load lever in the direction
of the arrow until the load plate is
completely lifted.
5. Position the CPU over the socket,
ensuring that the gold triangle is on
the bottom‑left corner of the socket,

keys into the CPU notches.

orientation. DO NOT force the
CPU into the socket to prevent
bending the connectors on the
socket and damaging the CPU!
Load plate
PnP cap
Gold
triangle
mark
Alignment keys
CPU notches
4. Remove the PnP cap from the
CPU socket.

ASUS Motherboard installation guide 9
7. Close the load plate (A), and
then push down the load lever
(B), ensuring that the front edge
of the load plate slides under the
retention lock (C).
C
B
A
The Thermal Interface Material
is toxic and inedible. DO NOT
eat it. If it gets into your eyes
or touches your skin, wash
it off immediately, and seek
professional medical help.
Some heatsinks come with
pre‑applied thermal paste. If
so, skip this step.
6. Apply some Thermal Interface
Material to the exposed area of
the CPU that the heatsink will be
in contact with, ensuring that it is
spread in an even thin layer.
8. Insert the load lever under the
retention tab.

10
3. Position the CPU above the socket
such that the CPU corner with the
gold triangle matches the socket
corner with a small triangle.
Carefully insert the CPU into the

4. 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.

socket to prevent bending the connectors on the socket and damaging the CPU!
1.1.4 AMD AM2 Socket
1. Locate the CPU socket on the
motherboard.
2. Press the lever sideways to unlock
the socket, then lift it up to a 90º
angle.
Ensure that the socket lever is lifted up to 90º angle. Otherwise, the CPU will


ASUS Motherboard installation guide 11
1.2 Installing the heatsink and fan
To install the CPU heatsink and fan:
 
motherboard. There are 3‑pin (left) and 4‑pin (right) fan connectors. Only CPU fans
with 4‑pin connectors supports the ASUS Q‑Fan technology.

2. Some heatsinks will come with
pre‑applied thermal paste. If so,
do not scrape it off and remove

installation. If not, before installing
the heatsink, apply several drops of
thermal paste to the exposed area
of the CPU that the heatsink will
be in contact with. Ensure that it is
spread in an even thin layer.

directly.
3. Orient each fastener with the
narrow end of the groove pointing
outward.

12 Chapter 1: Quick Start
A
B
A
B
4. Push down two fasteners at a time

the heatsink and fan assembly in
place.
5. Connect the CPU fan cable to the
corresponding 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 and we suggest you use an omni‑
directional heatsink to gain the maximum heat dissipation area.
12
34



ASUS Motherboard installation guide 13
 
force a DIMM into a socket to avoid damaging the DIMM.
• To install two or more DIMMs, refer to the user guide bundled in the
motherboard package.
 
1.3 Installing a DIMM
Ensure to unplug the power supply before adding or removing DIMMs or other
system components. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to both the
motherboard and the components.
3. Firmly insert the DIMM into the
socket until the retaining clip
snaps back in place and the
DIMM is properly seated.
Locked Retaining Clip
3. Firmly insert the DIMM into the
socket until the retaining clips
snap back in place and the DIMM
is properly seated.
Locked Retaining Clip
1. Unlock a DIMM socket by
pressing the retaining clips
outward.
2. Align a DIMM on the socket
such that the notch on the DIMM
matches the break on the socket.
Unlocked retaining clip
1
DIMM notch
2
1
Installing a DIMM on a double clip DIMM socket
Installing a DIMM on a single clip DIMM socket
1. Unlock a DIMM socket by
pressing the retaining clip
outward.
2. Align a DIMM on the socket
such that the notch on the DIMM
matches the break on the socket.
Unlocked retaining clip
DIMM notch
2
1

14 Chapter 1: Quick Start
2. Install the standoffs to the
matched screw holes on the metal
plate.
3. The I/O shield edge springs may
damage the I/O ports. Be cautious
when installing the I/O shield.
4. Position the I/O side of the
motherboard toward the rear
of the chassis and place the
motherboard into the chassis.
5. Insert and loosely tighten each

After all the screws have been
inserted, drive the screws until

• You may remove the metal slot covers for the expansion cards at the back
of the chassis before installing the motherboard. For some chassis models,

• DO NOT over‑tighten the screws. Doing so may damage the motherboard.
1.4 Installing the motherboard
1. I/O ports differ with motherboards.
Use and install the rear I/O shield
that comes with the motherboard
package only.
Some sharp edges and points
might cause physical injury. We
recommend you put on cut or
puncture resistant gloves before
motherboard and I/O shield
installation.

ASUS Motherboard installation guide 15
1.5 Installing the power supply unit
There are two kinds of commonly‑used power supply units. One is with Active
Power Factor Correction (PFC) and the other with passive PFC.
1. Select a power supply unit.


manually adjust the AC input
voltage.

Active PFC automatically corrects
the AC input voltage.
2. If you are using a power supply
with passive PFC, adjust to the
correct AC input voltage in your
area.
Failure to adjust the power
supply to the correct AC input
voltage will seriously damage
the system.

supply units can damage your motherboard and other components. Refer to the


16 Chapter 1: Quick Start
1.6 Installing an expansion card
To install an expansion card:
1. Remove the metal slot cover opposite the expansion card slot where you
wish to install an expansion card.
2. Install the expansion card and ensure that it is properly seated on the slot.
3. Screw to secure the card on the slot.
4. Repeat the previous steps to install another expansion card.
            
the motherboard user guide in case you need to configure any jumpers
after installing the expansion card.
• Refer to the motherboard user guide for the instructions of the expansion
card signal cable connection.
PCI card PCIE x16 card
PCIE x1 card

ASUS Motherboard installation guide 17
1.7 Installing disk drives
1.7.1 PATA optical disk drive
1. Remove the dummy cover and
slide the optical disk drive into the
bay.
2. Align with the screw holes and
secure the disk drive with screws.
3. Orient and plug the IDE cable into
the optical drive. The red stripe on
the IDE cable is the pin1 end and
should match the dimple marking
Pin1 on the optical drive.
4. Connect the 4‑pin power cable to
the optical drive.
5. Attach the audio cable to the
connector on the optical drive.
IDE cables are dummy‑proof. Never force the IDE cable into the connector.

18 Chapter 1: Quick Start
1.7.2 SATA optical disk drive
1. Remove the dummy cover and
slide the optical disk drive into the
bay.
2. Align with the screw holes and
secure the disk drive with screws.
3. Orient and plug the SATA cable into
the optical drive. SATA cables are
dummy‑proof. Never force a SATA
cable into the connector.
4. Connect the SATA power cable to
the the optical drive.
5. Attach the audio cable to the
connector on the optical drive.

ASUS Motherboard installation guide 19
1.7.3 Floppy disk drive
1. Remove the dummy cover and

bay.
2. Align with the screw holes and
secure the disk drive with screws.
 

red stripe on the cable is the pin1
end and should match pin1 on the

 
the connector at the back of the


20 Chapter 1: Quick Start
1.7.4 PATA hard disk drive
1. Insert the PATA hard disk drive into
the bay.
2. Align with the screw holes and
secure the disk drive with screws.
3. Orient and connect the signal cable
to the hard disk drive. The red stripe
on the cable is the pin1 end. Match
the dummy‑proof notch and do not
force the cable into the connector.
4. Connect the 4‑pin power cable to
the connector at the back of the
hard disk drive.
5. Attach the other end of the signal
cable to the corresponding slot on
the motherboard.