STANDARD CMOS
Date and Time
definition: Allows user to set date and time
options: Any date and time the user feels like setting
results: None really, unless the user is stupid
IDE Channel settings/HDD Disk C type
definition: Hard Disk C type refers to the number of the system's primary
(master) hard drive. The default number is 47, which specify that the user must
enter the drive specifications according to the HDD manual.
options: Cyln (# of cylinders), Heads (# of heads), WPcom (Write
precompensation, useless in modern computers), LZone (same as Wpcom), Sect (# of
sectors per track), Size (Calculated from # of heads, cylinders, and sectors)
results: Allows user to set hard drive manufacturer specifications about
the hard drive to be installed in the system.
Floppy Drive settings
definition: Allows setting configuration of floppy drives A: and B:
options: 1.44 MB (3˝” floppy) 2.88 MB (3˝” floppy) or 1.2 (5Ľ” floppy).
results: Allow user to set floppy drive manufacturer specifications about
the floppy drive to be installed in the system.
Primary Display
definition: Set type of display standard being used, and in the case of
two video adapters, the primary one.
options: VGA/PGA/EGA, black/white, Mono, Hercules, MDA
results: Depending on the type of video adapter or monitor being used,
the above setting should be set in accordance with manufacturers specifications.
Halt on (post error displays)
definition: User defines if the computer will display an error message if
it encounters problems with the boot sequence.
options: Enable/Disable
results: If enabled, the computer will display an error message
ADVANCED SMOST SETP/BIOS FEATURES
Above 1 MB Memory Test
definition: Allow the user to set whether the system will check the
memory above 1 MB for errors.
options: Enable/Disable
results: Typically disabled for faster boot. Test also conducted in
HIMEM.SYS driver for DOS 6.0 with XMS (Extended Memory Specification).
Memory parity error check
definition: Enabling this feature will allow the system to test for bit
errors in the memory. Every byte will contain an extra bit to make the parity
even or odd.
options: Enable/Disable
results: If the memory fails the test then an error message will appear
stating there is a RAM failure. Most modern memory chips are of such high
quality as to make this setting obsolete.
System Boot sequence
definition: Enables user to set the order of the drives in which the BIOS
will search for an operating system.
options: A, C, SCSI/EXT
C, A, SCSI/EXT
C, CD-ROM, A
CD-ROM, C, A
D, A, SCSI/EXT (only when you have at least 2 IDE hard disks)
E, A, SCSI/EXT (only when you have at least 3 IDE hard disks)
F, A, SCSI (only when you have 4 IDE hard disks)\
SCSI/EXT, A, C
SCSI/EXT, C, A
A, SCSI/EXT, C
LS/ZIP,C
results: Each variation defines the order in which the BIOS will search
for an OS.
Swap Floppy Drive
definition: This option allows the user to switch the logical arrangement
of the floppy drives without opening the case.
options: Enable/Disable
results: Enable switches the mapped access to the two floppy drives in
the system
Boot up Floppy Seek
definition: Allows the user to set whether the BIOS searches for a floppy
in the boot process.
options: Enable/Disable
results: Enable searches for floppy, error message if not identified,
detect number of tracks (40 or 80)
Boot up system speed (fast boot up)
definition: This specifies the processor speed that the system will boot
from.
options: High, Low
results: The HIGH setting is recommended for a faster boot process. If
problems occur during the boot process the use the low setting.
External/Internal Cache
definition: Define whether the L2 cache is external or internal, often in
two different menu items.
options: Enable/Disable
results: Depending on location of L2 cache on motherboard or chip, this
setting will define that.
BIOS/SYSTEM/VIDEO ROM Shadowing
definition: Allows the user to set whether Shadowing will be used to
accelerate the BIOS read process.
options: Enable/Disable
results: BIOS are copied to the system RAM for quicker access. Improves
the BIOS performance as it is read through a 64-bit DRAM bus as opposed to an
8-bit XT bus.
CHIPSET FEATURES/ADVANCED CHIPSET SETUP
AT Bus Clock Selection
definition: Gives a division of the CPU clock (System Clock) so it can
reach the ISA-EISA bus clock.
options: CLK/x, (or CLKIN/x and CLK2/x) CLK refers to the processor speed
and x is an integer value like 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.
results: This setting is for data exchange with ISA cards. The setting
must be just right, too high or too low will adversely affect system
performance.
Memory Read Wait State
definition: Determines how long the memory controller should wait before
sending the read data to the data requester (CPU, peripherals, etc.)
options: 0 Cycle, 1 Cycle
results: The 0 Cycle option provides optimal performance but may cause
system instabilities. The 1 Cycle option causes the memory controller to wait
one cycle before sending data. This is the default.
Memory Write Wait State
definition: This Determines how long the memory controller should wait
before sending the write data to the requester.)
options: 0 Cycle, 1 Cycle
results: The 0 Cycle option provides optimal performance but may cause
system instabilities. The 1 Cycle option causes the memory controller to wait
one cycle before sending data. This is the default.
Cache Read Option
definition: Referred to as SRAM Read wait state or Cache Read Hit Burst.
Sets the specification of the number of clocks needed to load four 32-bit words
into a CPU internal cache. Clocks per word.
options: 2-1-1-1 (5 clocks to load 4 words), 3-1-1-1 (6 clocks), 3-2-2-2,
4-1-1-1, other simple integer values…
results: The lower the computer can support the better.
IDE Multi Block Mode (IDE Block Mode)
definition: This setting enables IDE drives to transfer several sectors
of data per interrupt depending on the setting.
options: Mode 0 (Standard mode transferring a single sector at a time),
Mode 1 (no interrupts), Mode 2 (sectors are transferred in a single burst, Mode
3 (32-bit instructions with speeds up to 11.1 MBps, Mode 4 (up to 16.7 MBps),
Mode 5 (up to 20 MBps)
results: The more sectors transferred per interrupt will increase the
Hard drive speed in respect to reading and writing data. Setting the too high
can cause errors with the Com, serial, ports, etc.
DRAM lead off timing/Refresh Rate
definition: This option allows the user to adjust the time needed before
the data written to DRAM can be accessed and DRAM refresh intervals.
options: 3,4 for Leadoff timing; 7.8 µsec, 15.6 µsec, 31.2 µsec, 64 µsec,
128 µsec for refresh rate.
results: Set leadoff timing to 3 for faster access to DRAM or to 4 if
there are system stability issues to be dealt with. The refresh rate determines
the amount of rows and order in which the memory will refresh. Increasing the
interval will increase performance unless taken to the extreme.
System BIOS Cacheable
definition: Enables a user to speed access to the BIOS, which may not be
necessary as the OS does not really need to access the system BIOS very much.
options: Enable/Disable
results: Speeds access to the system BIOS by caching the system BIOS ROM
at F0000h-FFFFFh
PCI Passive Release/PCI Delayed Transaction
definition: Allows the user to define whether the chipset’s embedded
32-bit write buffer to support delayed transaction cycles
options: Enable/Disable
results: Enabling this allows the chipset's embedded 32-bit write buffer
to support delayed transaction cycles This frees the PCI bus up to perform other
duties while it is processing the ISA transaction, which is buffered. This is
because ISA is much slower than PCI. It is recommended to keep this option
Enabled.
PLUG and PLAY/PCI or PNP/PCI CONFIG
Latency Timer (PCI Clocks)
definition: Allows control of the length of time each PCI device controls
access of the bus before the next.
options: 0 - 255
results: The larger the value, the longer the PCI device can keep control
of the bus, which improves bandwidth. Conversely, other PCI devices must wait
until they have access.
Slot X Using INT#
definition: Selects an INT# channel for a PCI Slot.
options: A, B, C, D, Auto
results: #A is allocated automatically. Extra channels are assigned as
necessitated by the card.
Xth available IRQ
definition: Allows selection or map of IRQ for one of the available INT#s.
1st available
options: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 1st available, NA
results: 1st available will select the first open IRQ, NA means the IRQ
is assigned to the ISA bus and not available to PCI.
PCI IDE IRQ Map Items
definition: Allows configuration to specify the type of IDE disk
controller and the type of slot being used. You can also specify the INT#s for
each drive.
options: PCI-Auto, PCI Slot X, Primary IDE INT#, Secondary IDE INT#, ISA
results: Auto assigns appropriate INT# channel to IRQ 14, Slot X allows
user to input slot number, IDE INT# assigns two INT channels if supported for
primary and secondary, ISA assigns no IRQ to PCI.
AT Bus Clock Frequency
definition: AT bus speed in a PCI system
options: 6 – 8.33 MHz
results: Set depending on speed of PCI bus
PCI Clock Frequency
definition: PCI bus speed in a PCI system
options: ## MHz
results: Set depending on speed of PCI bus
ISA Bus Clock Frequency
definition: ISA bus speed in a PCI system
options: 6 – 8.33 MHz
results: Set depending on speed of PCI bus
INTEGRATED PERIPHERALS/ADVANCED
Peripheral Configuration
definition: This sets the method by which the system receives the legacy
card information.
options: Use ICU, Use Setup Utility
results: the Use ICU option if there is a P-n-P BIOS that can
automatically detect and configure the system I/O devices. The Use Setup Utility
option lets the user provide the system setup information to the BIOS by using
setup utility software. If there is P-n-P, then its use is recommended.
Floppy Options
definition: Allows setting configuration of floppy drives A: and B:
options: 1.44 MB (3˝” floppy) 2.88 MB (3˝” floppy) or 1.2 (5Ľ” floppy).
results: Allow user to set floppy drive manufacturer specifications about
the floppy drive to be installed in the system.
Video Configuration
definition: Set type of display standard being used, and in the case of
two video adapters, the primary one.
options: CGA/VGA/PGA/EGA, black/white, Mono, Hercules, MDA
results: Depending on the type of video adapter or monitor being used,
the above setting should be set in accordance with manufacturers specifications.
HDD Block Mode
definition: Block mode enables data to be sent from multiple sectors at
once instead of the previous single sector method. This greatly speeds up hard
disk access. If disabled then only 512 bytes of data can be sent per interrupt
which would slow down the system. This option should be enabled, but use caution
with Windows NT because of problems with data corruption.
options: Enable/Disable
results: The BIOS will automatically detect if your hard disk supports
block transfers and configure the proper block transfer settings for it. Up to
64KB of data can be transferred per interrupt.
IDE Settings: PIO/UDMA
definition: Allows the user to set the Programmed Input/Output or Ultra
DMA mode for the master and slave devices.
options: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, Auto
results: Auto allows BIOS auto detection. Over clocking may result in a
loss of data.
USB Keyboard/Latency Time
definition: Enables and disables support for USB keyboards
options: Enable/Disable
results: Enable if using USB keyboard , disable otherwise
POWER MANAGEMENT
Enable/Disable
definition: Enables power management utilities and options
options: Enable/Disable
results: Enable turns on options
Doze
definition: Amount of time before the system will reduce 80% of activity.
options: specify amount of time
results: Amount specified defines amount of idle time before the system
reduces activity.
Standby (Stby)
definition: Amount of time before the system will reduce 92% of activity.
options: specify amount of time
results: Amount specified defines amount of idle time before the system
reduces activity.
Suspend
definition: Amount of time after the system goes in the most inactive
state possible, which is 99%. After this state, the system will require a warm
up period so the CPU, hard disk and monitor may go online.
options: specify amount of time
results: Amount specified defines amount of idle time before the system
reduces activity.
Power Button Override
definition: Allows user to decide how to boot the machine.
options: Button Only, Keyboard 98, Hot Key, Mouse Left, Mouse Right
results: Setting defines what button must be pressed to boot the machine.
SECURITY
Password-Supervisory/User
definition: Set a password that will be requested upon boot.
options: No password/Disabled (Default), Enabled
results: Improves security by giving the supervisor control over who
accesses the system and their privileges (Read-Only, Read-Write, etc.) while
they are using the system.
REFERENCES
Adrian's Rojak Pot;
www.itcp.net/~awsh/
The BIOS survival Guide;
http://burks.bton.ac.uk/burks/pcinf..._sg/bios_sg.htm
Upgrading and Repairing PCs; Scott Mueller with Craig Zacker; 13th
edition, Que Corporation; ISBM 0-7897-2542-8