20 ASUS P5A-VM User’s Manual
III. INSTALLATION
System Memory
III. INST ALLATION
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
Total System Memory (Max 768MB) =
NOTES
• At the time this User’s Manual was written, 256MB DIMMs are available either as
registered memory or 128Mbit DIMMs.
• DIMMs that have more than 18 chips are not supported on this motherboard.
• For the system CPU bus to operate
≥95MHz, use only PC100-compliant DIMMs.
When this motherboard operates at
≥95MHz, most system will not even boot if non-
compliant modules are used because of the strict timing issues involved under these
speeds. If your DIMMs are not PC100-compliant, set the CPU bus frequency to
66MHz for system stability.
• ASUS motherboards support SPD (Serial Presence Detect) DIMMs. This is the
memory of choice for best performance vs. stability.
• SDRAM chips are generally thinner with higher pin density than EDO (Extended
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.
2. System Memory (DIMM)
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) of either 8, 16, 32, 64, 128MB, or 256MB to form a memory
size between 8MB and 768MB. 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 “Chipset Features Setup” in BIOS setup.
Memory speed setup is recommended through SDRAM Configuration under “Chipset
Features Setup” in BIOS setup.
IMPORTANT (see General DIMM Notes below)
• To make using bus speeds ≥95MHz possible, SDRAMs used must be com-
patible with the current Intel PC100 SDRAM specification..