ASUS P3B-F User’s Manual 21
3. H/W SETUP
System Memory
3.5 System Memory (DIMM)
NOTE: No hardware or BIOS setup is required after adding or removing memory.
This motherboard uses only Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMMs). Sockets are
available for 3.3Volt (power level) unbuffered Synchronous Dynamic Random Ac-
cess Memory (SDRAM). One side (with memory chips) of the DIMM takes up one
row on the motherboard.
To utilize the chipset’s Error Checking and Correction (ECC) feature, you must use a
DIMM module with 9 chips per side (standard 8 chips/side + 1 ECC chip) and make
the proper settings through 4.4.1 Chip Configuration.
Memory speed setup is recommended through SDRAM Configuration in 4.4.1
Chip Configuration.
3.5.1 General DIMM Notes
• For the system CPU bus to operate at 100MHz, use only PC100-compliant
DIMMs. When this motherboard operates at 100MHz, most system will not
even boot if non-compliant modules are used because of the strict timing issues
involved under this speed. If your DIMMs are not PC100-compliant, set the
CPU bus frequency to 66MHz RAM to ensure system stability.
• ASUS motherboards support SPD (Serial Presence Detect) DIMMs. This is the
memory of choice for best performance vs. stability.
• Two possible memory chips are supported: SDRAM with and without ECC.
• SDRAM chips are generally thinner with higher pin density than EDO (Ex-
tended Data Output) chips.
• BIOS shows SDRAM memory on bootup screen.
• Single-sided DIMMs come in 16, 32, 64,128MB; double-sided come in 32, 64,
128, 256MB.
3. HARDWARE SETUP
Install memory in any combination as follows:
DIMM Location 168-pin DIMM Total Memory
Socket 1 (Rows 0&1) SDRAM 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256MB x1
Socket 2 (Rows 2&3) SDRAM 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256MB x1
Socket 3 (Rows 4&5) SDRAM 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256MB x1
Socket 4 (Rows 6&7) SDRAM 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256MB x1
Total System Memory (Max 1024MB) =
NOTE: At the time this User’s Manual was written, 256MB DIMMs are only avail-
able as double-sided registered memory.