Asus M2A VM User Manual

M2A-VM  
Contents  
Notices.......................................................................................................... vi  
Safety.information...................................................................................... vii  
M2A-VM specifications summary................................................................ x  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
1.1.  
1.2.  
1.3  
Welcome!...................................................................................... .1-2  
Package.contents.......................................................................... 1-2  
Special features............................................................................. 1-2  
1.3.1  
1.3.2  
Product highlights ........................................................... 1-2  
Innovative ASUS features .............................................. 1-4  
1.4  
Before you proceed...................................................................... 1-6  
1.5.  
Motherboard.overview.................................................................. 1-7  
1.5.1  
1.5.2  
1.5.3  
Motherboard layout......................................................... 1-7  
Placement direction ........................................................ 1-8  
Screw holes .................................................................... 1-8  
1.6.  
Central.Processing.Unit.(CPU).................................................... 1-9  
1.6.1  
1.6.2  
Installing the CPU ........................................................... 1-9  
Installing the heatsink and fan .......................................1-11  
1.7.  
System.memory.......................................................................... 1-13  
1.7.1  
1.7.2  
1.7.3  
1.7.4  
Overview....................................................................... 1-13  
Memory configurations.................................................. 1-13  
Installing a DIMM .......................................................... 1-17  
Removing a DIMM ........................................................ 1-17  
1.8.  
Expansion.slots........................................................................... 1-18  
1.8.1  
Installing an expansion card ......................................... 1-18  
1.8.2  
Configuring an expansion card ..................................... 1-18  
Interrupt assignments................................................................... 1-19  
1.8.3  
1.8.4  
1.8.5  
PCI slots........................................................................ 1-20  
PCI Express x1 slot....................................................... 1-20  
PCI Express x16 slot..................................................... 1-20  
1.9  
Jumpers....................................................................................... 1-21  
1.10. Connectors.................................................................................. 1-23  
1.10.1 Rear panel connectors.................................................. 1-23  
1.10.2 Internal connectors ....................................................... 1-25  
iii  
Contents  
Chapter 2: BIOS setup  
2.1  
Managing and updating your BIOS............................................. 2-2  
2.1.1  
2.1.2  
2.1.3  
2.1.4  
2.1.5  
2.1.6  
ASUS Update utility ........................................................ 2-2  
Creating a bootable floppy disk....................................... 2-5  
ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility................................................... 2-6  
Updating the BIOS.......................................................... 2-7  
Saving the current BIOS file............................................ 2-9  
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility .................................... 2-10  
2.2  
BIOS setup program................................................................... 2-11  
2.2.1  
2.2.2  
2.2.3  
2.2.4  
2.2.5  
2.2.6  
2.2.7  
2.2.8  
BIOS menu screen........................................................ 2-12  
Menu bar....................................................................... 2-12  
Legend bar.................................................................... 2-13  
Menu items ................................................................... 2-13  
Sub-menu items............................................................ 2-13  
Configuration fields ....................................................... 2-13  
Pop-up window ............................................................. 2-14  
General help ................................................................. 2-14  
2.3  
Main menu................................................................................... 2-15  
2.3.1  
2.3.2  
2.3.3  
2.3.4  
2.3.5  
2.3.6  
2.3.7  
2.3.8  
System Time ................................................................. 2-15  
System Date ................................................................. 2-15  
Legacy Diskette A ........................................................ 2-15  
Primary IDE Master/Slave............................................. 2-16  
SATA 1-4 ....................................................................... 2-18  
HDD SMART Monitoring............................................... 2-19  
Installed Memory........................................................... 2-19  
Usable Memory............................................................. 2-19  
2.4  
Advanced menu.......................................................................... 2-20  
2.4.1  
2.4.2  
2.4.3  
2.4.3  
2.4.4  
2.4.5  
JumperFree Configuration ............................................ 2-20  
CPU Configuration........................................................ 2-21  
Chipset.......................................................................... 2-22  
PCIPnP ......................................................................... 2-23  
Onboard Device Configuration...................................... 2-24  
USB Configuration ........................................................ 2-26  
iv  
Contents  
2.5  
Power menu................................................................................. 2-27  
2.5.1  
2.5.2  
2.5.3  
2.5.4  
ACPI Suspend Type...................................................... 2-27  
ACPI APIC Support....................................................... 2-27  
APM Configuration........................................................ 2-27  
Hardware Monitor ......................................................... 2-29  
2.6  
Boot menu................................................................................... 2-31  
2.6.1  
2.6.2  
2.6.3  
2.6.4  
2.6.5  
Boot Device Priority ...................................................... 2-31  
Removable Drives......................................................... 2-31  
Hard Disk Drives........................................................... 2-32  
Boot Settings Configuration ......................................... 2-32  
Security......................................................................... 2-34  
2.7  
Tools menu.................................................................................. 2-35  
2.7.1  
ASUS Music Alarm........................................................ 2-35  
2.7.2  
ASUS O.C. Profile......................................................... 2-37  
Load BIOS Profile ........................................................................ 2-37  
Save BIOS Profile ........................................................................ 2-38  
2.7.3  
ASUS EZ Flash 2.......................................................... 2-39  
2.8  
Exit menu..................................................................................... 2-40  
Chapter 3: Software support  
3.1.  
Installing.an.operating.system.................................................... 3-2  
3.2  
Support CD/DVD information....................................................... 3-2  
3.2.1  
3.2.2  
3.2.3  
3.2.4  
3.2.5  
3.2.6  
3.2.7  
Running the support CD/DVD......................................... 3-2  
Drivers menu................................................................... 3-3  
Utilities menu .................................................................. 3-4  
Make Disk menu ............................................................. 3-5  
Manual menu .................................................................. 3-5  
ASUS Contact information.............................................. 3-6  
Other information ............................................................ 3-6  
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 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.  
vi  
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 adapter 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.  
The symbol of the crossed out wheeled bin indicates that the product (electrical  
and electronic equipment) should not be placed in municipal waste. Please  
check local regulations for disposal of electronic products.  
vii  
About this guide  
This user guide contains the information you need when installing and configuring  
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. This chapter also lists the hardware setup procedures  
that you have to perform when installing system components. It includes  
description of the jumpers and connectors on the motherboard.  
Chapter 2: BIOS setup  
This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS Setup  
menus. Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided.  
Chapter 3: Software support  
This chapter describes the contents of the support CD/DVD that comes with  
the motherboard package.  
Where to find more information  
Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and  
software updates.  
1.. ASUS.websites  
The ASUS website provides updated information on ASUS hardware and  
software products. Refer to the ASUS contact information.  
2.  
Optional documentation  
Your product package may include optional documentation, such as warranty  
flyers, that may have been added by your dealer. These documents are not  
part of the standard package.  
viii  
Conventions used in this guide  
To make sure 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.  
Typography  
Bold text  
Italics  
Indicates a menu or an item to select.  
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:  
format A:/S  
ix  
M2A-VM specifications summary  
CPU.  
Support AMD socket AM2 for AMD Athlon™ 64FX/  
Athlon™ 64 X2/Athlon™ 64/Sempron processors  
AMD64 architecture enables simultaneous 32-bit and  
64-bit computing  
Supports AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ Technology  
AMD Live!™ Ready  
Chipset  
Northbridge: AMD 690G  
Southbridge: ATI SB600  
System bus  
2000/1600 MT/s  
Memory  
Dual-channel memory architecture 4 x 240-pin DIMM  
sockets support up to 8 GB of unbufferred ECC/  
non-ECC 800/667/533 MHz DDR2 memory modules  
Expansion.slots  
Graphics  
1 x PCI Express™ x16 slot  
1 x PCI Express™ x1 slot  
2 x PCI slots  
Integrated ATI Radeon X1250-based graphics  
Dual VGA output support: DVI-D and RGB  
Supports DVI-D with max. resolution 2560 x 1600  
(@60Hz)  
Supports RGB with max. resolution 2048 x 1536  
(@85Hz)  
Note: DVI-D can not be converted to output RGB signal  
to CRT and isn’t compatible to DVI-I.  
Note: Max. shared memory is up to 256MB.  
Storage  
ATI SB600 chipset supports:  
-
1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66/33 interface for two  
(2) hard disk drives  
-
4 x Serial ATA 3 Gb/s hard disk drives supporting  
RAID 0, RAID 1 and RAID 10 configuration  
High Definition Audio  
Realtek® ALC883 High Definition Audio 6-channel  
CODEC  
Supports Jack-Sensing, Enumeration and Jack-Retasking  
technology  
Supports S/PDIF out interface  
LAN  
USB  
PCIe Gigabit LAN  
Supports up to 10 USB 2.0/1.1 ports  
(continued on the next page)  
x
M2A-VM specifications summary  
Manageability  
WfM2.0, DMI2.0, WOL by PME, WOR, PXE, WOR by  
PME  
Special features  
ASUS Q-Fan  
ASUS C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)  
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3  
ASUS EZ Flash 2  
ASUS O.C. Profile  
ASUS MyLogo2™  
ASUS Music Alarm  
BIOS features  
8 Mb Flash ROM, Award BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0,  
SM BIOS 2.3  
Rear.panel  
1 x Parallel port  
1 x LAN (RJ-45) port  
4 x USB 2.0 ports  
1 x VGA Out port  
1 x DVI-D port  
1 x PS/2 keyboard port  
1 x PS/2 mouse port  
6-channel audio ports  
Internal.connectors  
1 x Front panel audio connector  
1 x CD audio in connector  
1 x CPU fan connector  
1 x Chassis fan connector  
1 x Floppy disk drive connector  
1 x COM connector  
1 x Primary IDE connector  
1 x S/PDIF Out connector  
1 x System panel connector  
4 x Serial ATA connectors  
3 x USB 2.0 connectors for 6 additional USB 2.0 ports  
24-pin ATX power connector  
4-pin x ATX 12V power connector  
Chassis intrusion connector  
Power Requirement  
ATX power supply (with 24-pin and 4-pin 12 V plugs)  
ATX 12 V 2.0 compliant  
Form.Factor  
uATX: 9.6 in. x 9.0 in. (24.5cm x 22.9cm)  
Support CD/DVD  
Device drivers  
ASUS PC Probe II  
ASUS Live Update utility  
Anti-virus software (OEM version)  
*Specifications are subject to change without notice.  
xi  
xii  
This chapter describes the motherboard  
features and the new technologies  
it supports.  
Product  
1
introduction  
1.1  
Welcome!  
Thank you for buying an ASUS® M2A-VM 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  
Cables  
ASUS M2A-VM motherboard  
1 x Serial ATA signal cable  
1 x Serial ATA power cable  
1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 cable  
1 x Floppy disk drive cable  
Accessories  
I/O shield  
Application CD/DVD ASUS motherboard support CD/DVD  
Documentation User guide  
If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.  
1.3  
Special features  
1.3.1  
Product highlights  
Latest.processor.technology..  
.
.
.
.
The motherboard supports AMD socket AM2 single-core Athlon 64/ Sempron and  
dual-core Athlon 64 X2/Athlon 64 FX processors with 2MB/1MB/512KB L2 cache,  
which is based on 64-bit architecture. It features 2000/1600 MT/s HyperTransport  
Bus, dual-channel un-buffered DDR2 800 memory support and AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet  
Technology. See page 1-9 for details.  
AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet Technology  
..  
The 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. See page 2-21 for details.  
1-2  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
AMD®.690G..  
and.ATI.SB600.chipsets..  
.
.
The AMD 690G Northbridge is the latest AMD chipset designed to support  
800/1000MHz HT(HyperTransport) interface speeds, Microsoft® DirectX 9.0, Pixel  
Shader V2.0 and dual VGA outputs, and max. shared memory up to 256MB.It  
features the integrated ATI Radeon X1250 Graphics. See page 1-24 and 2-23 for  
details.  
Surroundview  
The Surroundview function provides four independent monitors display with an  
additional ATI VGA card for multi-tasking.See pages 1-20 and 2-23 for details.  
DVI Interface  
.
DVI (Digital Visual Interface) provides high visual quality of digital display devices  
such as LCD monitor. The interface of this motherboard supports dual VGA output  
both DVI and RGB and is HDCP compliant allowing playback of HD DVD and  
Blu-Ray Disc.. See page 1-24 for details.  
DDR2 memory support  
.
.......  
The motherboard supports DDR2 memory which features data transfer rates of  
800MHz/667MHz/533 MHz to meet the higher bandwidth requirements of the  
latest 3D graphics, multimedia, and Internet applications. The dual-channel DDR2  
architecture doubles the bandwidth of your system memory to boost system  
performance, eliminating bottlenecks with peak bandwidths of up to 12.8 GB/s.  
See page 1-13 for details.  
PCI.Express™.interface..  
The motherboard fully supports PCI Express, the latest I/O interconnect  
technology that speeds up the PCI bus. PCI Express features point-to-point serial  
interconnections between devices and allows higher clockspeeds by carrying data  
in packets. This high speed interface is software compatible with existing PCI  
specifications. See page 1-20 for details.  
Serial ATA 3.0Gb/s technology  
......  
The motherboard supports next-generation SATA hard drives based on the new  
SATA 3.0Gb/s storage specification. The onboard ATI® SB600 allows RAID 0, RAID  
1 and RAID 10 configurations for four SATA connectors. See pages 1-27 and 2-25  
for details.  
ASUS M2A-VM  
1-3  
Gigabit LAN solution  
..  
PCI Express Gb LAN controller delivers transfer speeds up to ten times faster than  
conventional 10/100/1000 Ethernet connections. Gigabit LAN is the networking  
standard for the early future and is ideal for handling large amounts of data such  
as video, audio, and voice. See page 1-23 for details.  
6-channel high definition audio  
.
Onboard is the Realtek® ALC883 High Definition Audio 6-channel audio CODEC.  
This CODEC is fully-compliant with Intel® High Definition Audio standard (192 KHz,  
24-bit audio). With the CODEC, 6-channel audio ports, and S/PDIF interfaces,  
you can connect your computer to home theater decoders to produce crystal-clear  
digital audio.  
The Realtek® ALC883 CODEC comes with a software application that features  
jack detection to monitor the plugging status of each jack, impedance sensing to  
determine audio device classes, and pre-defined equalization for various audio  
devices. See page 1-23, 1-30, and 3-3 for details.  
USB.2.0.technology.  
.
The motherboard implements the Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 specification,  
dramatically increasing the connection speed from the 12 Mbps bandwidth on USB  
1.1 to a fast 480 Mbps on USB 2.0. USB 2.0 is backward compatible with USB 1.1.  
See pages 1-22, 1-24 and 1-29 for details.  
1.3.2  
Innovative ASUS features  
.....  
ASUS Q-Fan technology  
The ASUS Q-Fan technology smartly adjusts the CPU fan speeds according to the  
system loading to ensure quiet, cool, and efficient operation.  
See page 2-29 for details.  
ASUS Music Alarm  
Wake up to the music of your choice instead of the irritating sound of an alarm  
clock. The ASUS Music Alarm gives you a personal wake-up call with your favorite  
CD music without having to enter the OS. See pages 2-35 and 3-4 for details.  
1-4  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
ASUS O.C. Profile  
..  
The motherboard features the ASUS O.C. Profile that allows users to conveniently  
store or load multiple BIOS settings. The BIOS settings can be stored in the  
CMOS or a separate file, giving users freedom to share distribute their favorite  
overclocking settings. See pages 2-37 for details.  
ASUS.MyLogo2™.  
This feature allows you to personalize and add style to your system with  
customizable boot logos. See page 2-33 for details.  
ASUS.CrashFree.BIOS.3.  
..  
The ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 allows users to restore corrupted BIOS data from a  
USB flash disk containing the BIOS file. This utility saves users the cost and hassle  
of buying a replacement BIOS chip. See page 2-10 for details.  
ASUS.EZ.Flash.2.  
EZ Flash 2 is a user-friendly BIOS update utility. Simply press the predefined  
hotkey to launch the utility and update the BIOS without entering the OS. Update  
your BIOS easily without preparing a bootable diskette or using an OS-based flash  
utility. See pages 2-6 and 2-39 for details.  
C.P.R..(CPU.Parameter.Recall)..  
The C.P.R. feature of the motherboard BIOS allows automatic re-setting to the  
BIOS default settings in case the system hangs due to overclocking. When the  
system hangs due to overclocking, 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 default setting for each parameter. See page  
1-21 for details.  
ASUS M2A-VM  
1-5  
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 should shut down the system and unplug the power cable before  
removing or plugging in any motherboard component. The illustration below  
shows the location of the onboard LED.  
SB_PWR  
M2A-VM  
®
ON  
Standby  
Power  
OFF  
Powered  
Off  
M2A-VM Onboard LED  
1-6  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
1.5  
Motherboard overview  
1.5.1  
Motherboard layout  
22.9cm (9in)  
CHA_FAN  
PS/2KBMS  
CPU_FAN  
KBPWR  
T: Mouse  
B: Keyboard  
ATX12V  
DVI  
VGA  
USB34  
SPDIF_OUT  
USBPW1-4  
LAN1_USB12  
AMD  
690G  
Top:Line In  
Center:Line Out  
Bottom:Mic In  
PCIEX16  
M2A-VM  
RTL8111B  
PCI1  
ATI  
®
SB600  
8Mb  
CR2032 3V  
Lithium Cell  
CMOS Power  
BIOS  
PCI2  
PCIEX1_1  
ALC883  
SB_PWR  
USBPW5-8  
USB56  
USBPW910  
CHASSIS  
CLRTC  
PANEL  
COM1  
AAFP  
CD  
PWR_FAN  
USB78  
USB910  
ASUS M2A-VM  
1-7  
1.5.2.  
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.  
1.5.3.  
Screw.holes  
Place six (6) 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  
M2A-VM  
®
1-8  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
1.6  
Central Processing Unit (CPU)  
The motherboard comes with a 940-pin AM2 socket designed for the AMD  
Athlon™ 64 X2/Athlon™ 64/Athlon™ FX/Sempron™ processor.  
The AM2 socket has a different pinout from the 940-pin socket designed for the  
AMD Opteron™ processor. Make sure you use a CPU is designed for the AM2  
socket. The CPU fits in only one correct orientation. DO NOT force the CPU into  
the socket to prevent bending the connectors on the socket and damaging the  
CPU!  
1.6.1.  
Installing.the.CPU  
To install a CPU.  
1. Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard.  
M2A-VM  
®
M2A-VM CPU Socket AM2  
2.  
Unlock the socket by pressing the  
lever sideways, then lift it up to a  
90°-100° angle.  
Socket.lever  
Make sure that the socket lever is lifted up to 90°-100° angle, otherwise the  
CPU does not fit in completely.  
ASUS M2A-VM  
1-9  
3.  
4.  
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  
socket until it fits in place.  
Small.triangle  
Gold.triangle  
The CPU fits only in one correct orientation. DO NOT force the CPU into the  
socket to prevent bending the pins and damaging the CPU!  
5.  
6.  
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.  
Install a CPU heatsink and fan  
following the instructions that came  
with the heatsink package.  
7.  
Connect the CPU fan cable to the CPU_FAN connector on the motherboard.  
CPU_FAN  
M2A-VM  
®
M2A-VM.CPU.fan.connector  
Do not forget to connect the CPU fan connector! Hardware monitoring errors  
can occur if you fail to plug this connector.  
1-10  
Chapter 1: Product introduction  
1.6.2.  
Installing.the.heatsink.and.fan  
The AMD Athlon™ 64/Sempron™ processor require a specially designed heatsink  
and fan assembly to ensure optimum thermal condition and performance.  
Make sure that you use only qualified heatsink and fan assembly.  
Follow these steps to install the CPU heatsink and fan.  
1.  
Place the heatsink on top of the installed CPU, making sure that the heatsink  
fits properly on the retention module base.  
The retention module base is already installed on the motherboard  
upon purchase.  
You do not have to remove the retention module base when  
installing the CPU or installing other motherboard components.  
If you purchased a separate CPU heatsink and fan assembly, make  
sure 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 Module Base  
Retention.bracket  
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.  
ASUS M2A-VM  
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