Asus P5N73-AM User manual

Motherboard
P5N73-AM

ii
E4401
Second Edition V2
January 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 warranty or service will not be extended if: (1) the product is repaired, modied or altered, unless
such repair, modication of alteration is authorized in writing by ASUS; or (2) the serial number of the
product is defaced or missing.
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 identication or explanation and to the
owners’ benet, without intent to infringe.

iii
Contents
Notices......................................................................................................... vi
Safety information ..................................................................................... vii
About this guide ........................................................................................ vii
P5N73-AM specications 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 ASUS special features .................................................... 1-3
1.4 Before you proceed ..................................................................... 1-4
1.5 Motherboard overview................................................................. 1-5
1.5.1 Placement direction ........................................................ 1-5
1.5.2 Screw holes .................................................................... 1-5
1.5.3 Motherboard layout ......................................................... 1-6
1.5.4 Layout contents............................................................... 1-6
1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU) ................................................... 1-7
1.6.1 Installing the CPU ........................................................... 1-7
1.6.2 Installing the CPU heatsink and fan................................ 1-9
1.6.3 Uninstalling the CPU heatsink and fan ..........................1-11
1.7 System memory ......................................................................... 1-11
1.7.1 Overview ........................................................................1-11
1.7.2 Memory congurations.................................................. 1-12
1.7.3 Installing a DIMM .......................................................... 1-15
1.7.4 Removing a DIMM ........................................................ 1-15
1.8 Expansion slots.......................................................................... 1-16
1.8.1 Installing an expansion card ......................................... 1-16
1.8.2 Conguring an expansion card ..................................... 1-16
1.8.3 PCI slots........................................................................ 1-16
1.8.4 PCI Express x1 slot....................................................... 1-16
1.8.5 PCI Express x16 slot..................................................... 1-17
1.9 Jumpers ...................................................................................... 1-17
1.10 Connectors ................................................................................. 1-18
1.10.1 Rear panel ports ........................................................... 1-18
1.10.2 Internal connectors ....................................................... 1-19

iv
Contents
1.11 Software support........................................................................ 1-26
1.11.1 Installing an operating system ...................................... 1-26
1.11.2 Support DVD information .............................................. 1-26
Chapter 2: BIOS information
2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS ............................................ 2-1
2.1.1 Creating a bootable oppy disk....................................... 2-1
2.1.2 ASUS Update utility ........................................................ 2-2
2.1.3 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility................................................... 2-3
2.1.4 AwardBIOS Flash Utility.................................................. 2-4
2.1.5 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2 utility ...................................... 2-5
2.2 BIOS setup program .................................................................... 2-6
2.2.1 BIOS menu screen.......................................................... 2-7
2.2.2 Menu bar......................................................................... 2-7
2.2.3 Legend bar...................................................................... 2-8
2.2.4 Menu items ..................................................................... 2-8
2.2.5 Submenu items ............................................................... 2-8
2.2.6 Conguration elds ......................................................... 2-8
2.2.7 Pop-up window ............................................................... 2-8
2.2.8 General help ................................................................... 2-8
2.3 Main menu .................................................................................... 2-9
2.3.1 System Time ................................................................... 2-9
2.3.2 System Date ................................................................... 2-9
2.3.3 Language ........................................................................ 2-9
2.3.4 Legacy Diskette A ........................................................... 2-9
2.3.5 Primary IDE Master/Slave............................................. 2-10
2.3.6 SATA 1-4 ........................................................................2-11
2.3.7 HDD SMART Monitoring ................................................2-11
2.3.8 Installed Memory............................................................2-11
2.3.9 Usable Memory..............................................................2-11
2.4 Advanced menu ......................................................................... 2-12
2.4.1 JumperFree................................................................... 2-12
2.4.2 CPU Conguration ........................................................ 2-14
2.4.3 Chipset.......................................................................... 2-14
2.4.4 PCIPnP ......................................................................... 2-15
2.4.5 Onboard Device Conguration...................................... 2-15
2.4.6 USB Conguration ........................................................ 2-16

v
Contents
2.5 Power menu................................................................................ 2-17
2.5.1 ACPI Suspend Type...................................................... 2-17
2.5.2 ACPI APIC Support....................................................... 2-17
2.5.3 APM Conguration........................................................ 2-17
2.5.4 Hardware Monitor ......................................................... 2-19
2.6 Boot menu .................................................................................. 2-20
2.6.1 Boot Device Priority ...................................................... 2-20
2.6.2 Removable Drives......................................................... 2-20
2.6.3 Boot Settings Conguration ......................................... 2-20
2.6.5 Security ......................................................................... 2-21
2.7 Tools menu ................................................................................. 2-22
2.8 Exit menu.................................................................................... 2-23

vi
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.
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.
The use of shielded cables for connection of the monitor to the graphics card is required
to assure compliance with FCC regulations. Changes or modications to this unit not
expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority
to operate this equipment.
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.

vii
Safety information
Electrical safety
• To prevent electric shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electric outlet
before relocating the system.
• When adding or removing devices to or from the system, ensure that the power cables
for the devices are unplugged before the signal cables are connected. If possible,
disconnect all power cables from the existing system before you add a device.
• Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard, ensure that all
power cables are unplugged.
• Seek professional assistance before using an adapter or extension cord. These
devices could interrupt the grounding circuit.
• Ensure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your area. If you are not
sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you are using, contact your local power
company.
• If the power supply is broken, do not try to x it by yourself. Contact a qualied service
technician or your retailer.
Operation safety
• Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully read all the manuals
that come 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 at and stable surface.
• If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualied service
technician or your retailer.
About this guide
This user guide contains the information you need when installing and conguring the
motherboard.
How this guide is organized
This manual 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.

viii
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.
Conventions used in this guide
To make sure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following symbols used
throughout this manual.
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>
Command Means that you must type the command exactly as shown,
then supply the required item or value enclosed in brackets.
Example: At the DOS prompt, type the command line:
afudos /i[lename]
afudos /iP5N73AM.ROM
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.
NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a task.
IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task.

ix
P5N73-AM specications summary
(continued on the next page)
CPU LGA775 socket for Intel®Core™ 2 Quad / Core™ 2 Duo /
Pentium® D / Pentium®4 / Celeron®processors
Compatible with Intel®06 / 05B / 05A processors
Supports Intel®next generation 45nm CPU
Supports Enhanced Intel SpeedStep®Technology (EIST)
Supports Intel®Hyper-Threading Technology
* Refer to www.asus.com for Intel CPU support list
Chipset NVIDIA GeForce 7050 / nForce 610i (MCP73V)
Front side bus 1333 / 1066 / 800 / 533MHz
Memory Single-channel memory architecture
2 x 240-pin DIMM sockets support unbufferred non-ECC
DDR2-800 (overclocking) / 667 / 533 memory modules
Supports up to 4GB system memory
* When you install total memory of 4GB or more, Windows®
32-bit operating system may only recognize less than
3GB. Hence, a total installed memory of less than 3GB is
recommended if you are using a Windows®32-bit operating
system.
Expansion slots 1 x PCIe x16 slot
1 x PCIe x1 slot
2 x PCI slots
Audio VIA VT1708B High Denition Audio 8-channel CODEC
1 x CD Audio in
1 x S/PDIF Out connector
Supports jack-dectect and Anti Pop Function
Storage Southbridge:
- 1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66
- 4 x Serial ATA 3Gb/s devices
- RAID 0, RAID 1, and JBOD conguration
LAN Realtek RTL8201CP 10/100Mbps LAN
USB Supports up to 8 USB 2.0 ports (4 ports at mid-board,
4 ports at rear panel)
VGA GeForce 7050 GPU supports maximum resolution of
1920 x 1440 (@ 75Hz)
Maximum shared memory of 256MB
ASUS Special features ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2
ASUS Q-Fan
ASUS EZ Flash 2
ASUS MyLogo 2
BIOS features 8Mb Flash ROM, Award BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0,
SM BIOS 2.5

x
P5N73-AM specications summary
*Specications are subject to change without notice.
Rear panel ports 1 x Parallel port
1 x LAN (RJ-45) port
4 x USB 2.0 / 1.1 ports
1 x COM port
1 x VGA port
1 x PS/2 keyboard port (purple)
1 x PS/2 mouse port (green)
8-channel audio I/O ports
Internal connectors 1 x Floppy disk drive connector
1 x CD audio in connector
1 x 24-pin ATX power connector
1 x 4-pin ATX 12 V power connector
2 x USB connectors for additional four USB 2.0 ports
1 x S/PDIF out connector
1 x Chassis intrusion connector
1 x Front panel audio connector
1 x CPU Fan connector
1 x Chassis fan connector
1 x Power fan connector
1 x Speaker conncetor
System panel connector
Power requirement ATX power supply (with 24-pin and 4-pin 12V plugs)
ATX 12V 2.0 compliant
Manageability WOL, PXE, WOR by Ring, PME Wake UP
Support DVD contents Drivers
ASUS PC Probe II
ASUS Update
Anti-virus software
Form factor MicroATX Form Factor: 9.6 in x 7.6 in (24.4 cm x 19.3 cm)

ASUS P5N73-AM 1-1
1.1 Welcome!
Thank you for buying an ASUS®P5N73-AM 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.
If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.
1.3 Special features
1.3.1 Product highlights
Chapter 1
Product introduction
1.2 Package contents
Check your motherboard package for the following items.
Motherboard ASUS P5N73-AM motherboard
Cables 1 x Serial ATA cable
1 x Serial ATA power cable
1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 cable
1 x Floppy disk drive cable
Accessories 1 x I/O shield
Application DVD ASUS motherboard Support DVD
Documentation User Manual
Green ASUS
This motherboard and its packaging comply with the European Union’s
Restriction on the use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). This is in line
with the ASUS vision of creating environment-friendly and recyclable
products/packaging to safeguard consumers’ health while minimizing
the impact on the environment.

1-2 Chapter 1: Product introduction
LGA775 Intel®Quad-core Processor Ready
This motherboard supports the latest powerful and energy efcient
processors from Intel. Intel®Quad-core is based on the Intel Core
Microarchitecture process technology that allows users to step up
to new levels of gaming experience and multi-tasking performance.
Combined with 1333 / 1066 / 800 front side bus (FSB), this
motherboard guarantees enhanced user experience in the digital home
and ofce.
Intel®Core™2 Processor Ready
This motherboard supports the latest Intel®Core™2 processor in
the LGA775 package. With the new Intel®Core™ microarchitecture
technology and 1333 / 1066 / 800 MHz FSB, Intel®Core™2 processor
is designed to provide powerful and energy efcient performance.
NVIDIA®GeForce™ 7050 / nForce™ 610i
The brand new NVIDIA®GeForce™ 7050 / nForce®610i Media and
Communications Processor (MCP) features CineFXTM 3.0 Engine. This
unique combination of MCP creates a single motherboard featuring a
world-class DX9, Shader Model 3.0 GPU for faster and smooter game-
play, a high quality video processing engine for advancing quality of
video and DVD playback.
DDR2 memory support
The motherboard supports DDR2 memory that features data transfer
rates of 533/667/800 (overclocking) MHz to meet the higher bandwidth
requirements of the latest 3D graphics, multimedia, and Internet
applications.
S/PDIF digital sound ready
The motherboard supports the SONY-PHILIPS Digtal Interface function
(S/PDIF-out) through the S/PDIF interface at mid-board. It allows to
transfer digital audio without converting to analog format and keeps the
best signal quality.
High Denition Audio
Enjoy high-end sound quality on your PC! The onboard 8-channel HD
audio (High Denition Audio, previously codenamed Azalia) CODEC
enables high-quality 192KHz/24-bit audio output, jack-detect feature.
Serial ATA 3Gb/s technology and RAID support
This motherboard supports hard drives based on the Serial ATA (SATA)
3Gb/s storage specications, delivering enhanced scalability and
doubling the bus bandwidth for high-speed data retrieval and save.
It also supports RAID 0, RAID 1, and JBOD congurations for SATA
drives.

ASUS P5N73-AM 1-3
1.3.2 ASUS special features
ASUS Q-Fan
ASUS Q-Fan smartly adjusts the CPU fan speeds according to the
system loading to ensure a quiet, cool, and efcient operation.
ASUS MyLogo2™
This feature allows you to convert your favorite photo into a 256-color
boot logo for a more colorful and vivid image on your screen.
ASUS EZ Flash 2
ASUS EZ Flash 2 is a utility that allows you to update the BIOS without
using an OS-based utility.
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2
ASUS CrashFree BIOS2 is an auto-recovery tool that allows you to
restore the original BIOS data from the support DVD when the BIOS le
is corrupted.

1-4 Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.4 Before you proceed
Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change
any motherboard settings.
• Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any component.
• Use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or 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.
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 must 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.
P5N73-AM
R
P5N73-AM Onboard LED
SB_PWR
ON
Standby
Power
OFF
Powered
Off

ASUS P5N73-AM 1-5
1.5 Motherboard overview
Before you install the motherboard, study the conguration of your chassis to ensure that the
motherboard ts into it.
Ensure that you unplug the power cord before installing or removing the motherboard.
Failure to do so can cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components.
1.5.1 Placement direction
When installing the motherboard, ensure that you place it into the chassis in the correct
orientation. The edge with external ports goes to the rear part of the chassis as indicated in
the image below.
1.5.2 Screw holes
Place six screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the motherboard to the chassis.
Do not overtighten the screws! Doing so can damage the motherboard.
Place this side towards
the rear of the chassis
P5N73-AM
R

1-6 Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.5.3 Motherboard layout
1.5.4 Layout contents
P5N73-AM
19.3cm (7.6in)
24.4cm (9.6in)
SATA1
SATA4
SATA2
SATA3
PWR_FAN
CHA_FAN
EATXPWR
USB56 USB78
AAFP
MCP73V
DDR2 DIMM 1 (64 bit,240-pin module) DDR2 DIMM 2 (64 bit,240-pin module)
CR2032 3V
Lithium Cell
CMOS Power
PCI2
PCI1
PCIEX16
PCIEX1_1
CD
AUDIO
USB34
LAN1_USB12
CHASSIS
SPEAKER
ATX12V
R
FLOPPY
Super I/O
CPU_FAN
SB_PWR
CLRTC
SPDIF_OUT
RTL
8201CP
VIA
VT1708B
LGA775
PS/2KBMS
T: Mouse
B: Keyboard
COM1
PARALLEL PORT
VGA1
PRI_IDE
F_PANEL
8Mb
BIOS
Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED Page Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED Page
1. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V) 1-24 9. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB56, USB78) 1-22
2. LGA775 CPU Socket 1-7 10. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP) 1-23
3. CPU, chassis, and power fan connectors
(4-pin CPU_FAN, 3-pin CHA_FAN, 3-pin PWR_FAN)
1-21 11. Optical drive audio connector (4-pin CD) 1-22
4. DDR2 DIMM slots 1-11 12. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT) 1-20
5. Floppy disk drive connector (34-1 pin FLOPPY) 1-19 13. System panel connector (10-1 pin F_PANEL) 1-25
6. Chassis intrusion connector (4-1 pin CHASSIS) 1-23 14. Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC) 1-17
7. Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1-4) 1-21 15. Speaker connector (4-pin SPEAKER) 1-24
8. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_IDE) 1-20 16. Onboard LED (SB_PWR) 1-4

ASUS P5N73-AM 1-7
1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
This motherboard comes with a surface mount LGA775 socket designed for the
Intel®Core™2 Quad / Core™2 Duo / Pentium®D / Pentium® 4 / Celeron®processors.
• Ensure that all power cables are unplugged before installing the CPU.
• Connect the chassis fan cable to the CHA_FAN connector to ensure system stability.
• Upon purchase of the motherboard, ensure that the PnP cap is on the socket and the
socket contacts are not bent. Contact your retailer immediately if the PnP cap is missing,
or if you see any damage to the PnP cap/socket contacts/motherboard components.
ASUS will shoulder the cost of repair only if the damage is shipment/transit-related.
• Keep the cap after installing the motherboard. ASUS will process Return Merchandise
Authorization (RMA) requests only if the motherboard comes with the cap on the
LGA775 socket.
• The product warranty does not cover damage to the socket contacts resulting from
incorrect CPU installation/removal, or misplacement/loss/incorrect removal of the PnP
cap.
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
1.6.1 Installing the CPU
To install a CPU:
1. Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard.
Before installing the CPU, ensure that the socket box is facing towards you and the load
lever is on your left.
P5N73-AM
R
P5N73-AM CPU Socket 775

1-8 Chapter 1: Product introduction
3. Lift the load lever in the direction of the
arrow to a 135º angle.
4. Lift the load plate with your thumb and
forenger to a 100º angle (4A), then
push the PnP cap from the load plate
window to remove (4B).
Load plate
PnP cap
4A
4B
3
5. Position the CPU over the socket,
ensuring that the gold triangle is on the
bottom-left corner of the socket then t
the socket alignment key into the CPU
notch.
Gold
triangle
mark
Alignment key
CPU notch
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.

ASUS P5N73-AM 1-9
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.
DO NOT eat the Thermal Interface Material. If it gets into your eyes or touches your skin,
ensure that you wash it off immediately, and seek professional medical help.
Some heatsinks come with pre-
applied thermal paste. If so, skip this
step.
To prevent contaminating the paste, DO NOT spread the paste with your nger directly.
7. Close the load plate (A), then push
the load lever (B) until it snaps into the
retention tab.
A
B
This motherboard supports
Intel®LGA775 processors with the
Intel®Enhanced Intel SpeedStep®
Technology (EIST) and
Hyper-Threading Technology.
1.6.2 Installing the CPU heatsink and fan
The Intel®LGA775 processor requires a specially designed heatsink and fan assembly to
ensure optimum thermal condition and performance.
• When you buy a boxed Intel®processor, the package includes the CPU fan and
heatsink assembly. If you buy a CPU separately, ensure that you use only Intel®-certied
multi-directional heatsink and fan.
• Ensure that you have installed the motherboard to the chassis before you install the
CPU fan and heatsink assembly.
• If you purchased a separate CPU heatsink and fan assembly, make sure that you have
properly applied Thermal Interface Material to the CPU heatsink or CPU before you
install the heatsink and fan assembly.
Your Intel®LGA775 heatsink and fan assembly comes in a push-pin design and requires no
tool to install.

1-10 Chapter 1: Product introduction
To install the CPU heatsink and fan:
1. Place the heatsink on top of the installed
CPU, ensuring that the four fasteners
match the holes on the motherboard.
1
1
B
B
A
A
A
A
B
B
The type of CPU heatsink and fan assembly may differ, but the installation steps and
fucntions should remain the same. The illustration above is for reference only.
3. Connect the CPU fan cable to the connector on the motherboard labeled CPU_FAN.
DO NOT forget to connect
the CPU fan connector!
Hardware monitoring
errors can occur if you fail
to plug this connector.
P5N73-AM
R
P5N73-AM CPU Fan Connector
2. Push down two fasteners at a time in
a diagonal sequence to secure the
heatsink and fan assembly in place.
Orient the heatsink and fan assembly
such that the CPU fan cable is closest
to the CPU fan connector.