System Memory - Asus M5A97 Manual

1.4

System memory

1.4.1 Overview
This motherboard comes with four Double Data Rate 3 (DDR3) Dual Inline Memory Modules
(DIMM) sockets.
A DDR3 module has the same physical dimensions as a DDR2 DIMM but is notched
differently to prevent installation on a DDR2 DIMM socket. DDR3 modules are developed for
better performance with less power consumption.
The figure illustrates the location of the DDR3 DIMM sockets:
M5A97 PLUS
M5A97 PLUS 240-pin DDR3 DIMM sockets
1.4.2 Memory configurations
You may install 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB unbuffered non-ECC DDR3 DIMMs into the DIMM
sockets.
• You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B. The system
maps the total size of the lower-sized channel for the dual-channel configuration. Any
excess memory from the higher-sized channel is then mapped for single-channel
operation.
• Always install DIMMs with the same CAS latency. For optimal compatibility, we
recommend that you install memory modules of the same version or date code (D/C)
from the same vendor. Check with the retailer to get the correct memory modules.
• Due to the memory address limitation on 32-bit Windows
or more memory on the motherboard, the actual usable memory for the OS can be
about 3GB or less. For effective use of memory, we recommend that you do any of the
following:
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-
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• This motherboard does not support DIMMs made up of 512Mb (64MB) chips or less.
1-8
Use a maximum of 3GB system memory if you are using a 32-bit Windows
Install a 64-bit Windows OS if you want to install 4GB or more on the
®
motherboard.
For more details, refer to the Microsoft
com/kb/929605/en-us.
Channel Sockets
Channel A DIMM_A1 & DIMM_A2
Channel B DIMM_B1 & DIMM_B2
OS, when you install 4GB
®
support site at http://support.microsoft.
®
Chapter 1: Product introduction
OS.
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