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Hardware Installation

1-3  Installing the CPU and CPU Cooler

1-3-1  Installing the CPU

A.  Locate the pin one (denoted by a small triangle) of the CPU socket and the CPU.

Read the following guidelines before you begin to install the CPU:  
•  Make sure that the motherboard supports the CPU.
  (Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest CPU support list.)
•  Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing 

the CPU to prevent hardware damage.

•  Locate the pin one of the CPU. The CPU cannot be inserted if oriented incorrectly. (Or you may 

locate the notches on both sides of the CPU and alignment keys on the CPU socket.)

•  Apply an even and thin layer of thermal grease on the surface of the CPU.
•  Do not turn on the computer if the CPU cooler is not installed, otherwise overheating and dam-

age of the CPU may occur.

•  Set the CPU host frequency in accordance with the CPU specifications. It is not recommended 

that the system bus frequency be set beyond hardware specifications since it does not meet the 
standard requirements for the peripherals. If you wish to set the frequency beyond the standard 
specifications, please do so according to your hardware specifications including the CPU, graph-
ics card, memory, hard drive, etc.

AM3+/AM3 CPU

AM3+/AM3 Socket

A Small Triangle Marking 
Denotes CPU Pin One

A Small Triangle Mark 
Denotes Pin One of the 
Socket