Sufficient space is provided around the CPU socket for your favorite heat
sink and fan combination (HSF) although in the photo above it does look a little
cramped with a 92mm fan. The next photo of the DIMM slots gives a better look at
that area.
As you can see from the photo there are "4’ 184-pin DIMM sockets. The slots
provide support for up to 4GB of unbuffered, non-ECC, DDR400 memory. Two PC3200
memory modules, in dual channel configuration, are shown mounted in the
appropriate slots.
Update: EVGA notified us that page 13 of their motherboard manual has been updated with the following information.
Motherboard Manual Page 13 Update
Page 14 of the manual will also be corrected as it incorrectly shows DIMM 1 being closest to the CPU socket when in fact DIMM 4 is.
As a result of EVGA's swift response, we have stricken the following paragraphs.
Although the silk-screened labeling shows the modules mounted in DIMM3 and
DIMM1, left to right, the label identifying DIMM3 in the photo is actually
DIMM2. Confusing? Well, the silk-screened labels read DIMM4, DIMM3, DIMM2,
DIMM1, left to right. Labels on DIMM2 and DIMM3 need to be reversed.
The manual also appears to be incorrect as it leads one to believe that DIMM
slots 1 and 2 are the first two closest to the cpu socket.
The color coding of the DIMM slots are actually correct and are what you need to
go by when setting up a dual channel array. DIMM #1 (yellow) is the slot
furthest away with #3 (blue) being next, then #2 (yellow), and finally DIMM #4
(blue) being located next to the cpu socket.
Compatible memory modules can be successfully set up in dual channel by using
either DIMMs 1 & 2 or 3 & 4, as stated in the manual. You just need to know that
DIMMS 1 & 2 are yellow and 3 & 4 are blue. A little confusing but the neat
little program, CPU-Z from CPUID.COM, helped sort it out.
Four compatible memory modules can effectively be set up in dual channel on this
motherboard.
PCI & PCI-Express Slots
EZ Plug
Note the 3 PCI Express full-length slots above. The top and bottom
yellow slots are PCI Express x8 (for SLI configuration) and the blue one in the
middle is a PCI Express x16 (for single card non-SLI use). The bottom (yellow)
x8 PCI-E slot effectively activates SLI when a compatible video card is mounted
in this slot, of course, along with a like card in the top (yellow) x8 PCI-E
slot with both cards connected by the SLI bridge chip. The video monitor plug is
required to be plugged in to the bottom card for SLI operation. Much simpler
than fooling with jumpers or switching cards.
Below the PCI Express slots are 3 "regular’ PCI slots to provide support for PCI
legacy devices. Located above the top PCI Express x8 slot is a small blue PCI
Express x1 slot. The 12 volt, board mounted, SLI power plug (EZ Plug) is located
just above the PCI Express x1 slot, as shown in the second photo above.
