The Definitive
BIOS Optimization Guide


Revision History

 

 






 

Date Rev. Changes
08-07-1999 1.0 Part I : BIOS Features Setup posted!
16-07-1999 1.01 Updated the following BIOS functions :-
  • IDE HDD Block Mode

First Comments page posted

28-07-1999 2.0 Part II : Chipset Features Setup posted!
29-07-1999 2.0 Second Comments page posted
05-08-1999 2.01 Two PDF files of the BIOS Features Setup and Chipset Features Setup (courtesy of Shane Millsom) posted!
13-08-1999 3.0 Part III : PNP/PCI Configuration posted!
15-08-1999 3.0 Third Comments page posted
16-08-1999 3.1 New BIOS functions added to the guide :-
  • Boot Sequence EXT Means
  • MPS Version Control For OS
  • Processor Number Feature
  • PCI 2.1 Compliance
  • Auto Detect DIMM/PCI Clk

4th Comments page posted

18-08-1999 3.11 Updated the following BIOS functions :-
  • IDE HDD Block Mode
  • Video BIOS Shadowing
  • Shadowing Address Ranges
  • PNP OS Installed
  • CPU L2 Cache ECC Checking

5th Comments page posted

24-08-1999 3.12 Updated the following BIOS functions :-
  • Video BIOS Shadowing

6th Comments page posted

26-08-1999 3.13 Updated the following BIOS functions :-
  • PIRQ_0 Use IRQ No. ~ PIRQ_3 Use IRQ No.
  • MPS Version Control For OS
  • Shadowing Address Ranges
02-09-1999 4.0 Part IV : Integrated Peripherals posted!
04-09-1999 4.0 Initial version of Part IV : Integrated Peripherals completed with the addition of two pages
08-09-1999 4.01 Updated the following BIOS functions :-
  • AGP Aperture Size (MB)
  • Master/Slave Drive Ultra DMA

7th & 8th Comments pages posted

29-09-1999 4.02 Updated the following BIOS functions :-
  • MPS Version Control For OS
  • PNP OS Installed

9th Comments page posted

01-10-1999 4.03 Updated the following BIOS functions :-
  • Video BIOS Shadowing
  • Parallel Port Mode

10th Comments page posted

11-10-1999 4.04 Updated the following BIOS functions :-
  • AGP Aperture Size
29-10-1999 4.1 Major update with the following new BIOS functions added to the guide :-
  • SDRAM RAS-to-CAS Delay
  • SDRAM Precharge Time
  • SDRAM Leadoff Command
  • UltraDMA 66 IDE Controller

Updated the following BIOS functions :-

  • SDRAM Precharge Control
18-11-1999 4.11 Updated the following BIOS functions :-
  • AGP Aperture Size
  • IDE HDD Block Mode
  • HDD S.M.A.R.T. Capability
  • Auto Detect DIMM/PCI Clk
29-01-2000 5.0 Major update with the following new BIOS functions added to the guide :-
  • Read Around Write
  • 32-bit Disk Access
  • PCI IRQ Activated By
  • USWC Write Posting
  • AGP 2X Mode
  • AGP Master 1WS Write
  • AGP Master 1WS Read
  • SDRAM Cycle Length
  • SDRAM Bank Interleave

Revamped descriptions of practically every BIOS feature in the guide!

21-08-2000 5.1 Ported the BIOS Features Setup to the new layout and added the following new BIOS functions to the guide :-
  • First Boot Device
  • Second Boot Device
  • Third Boot Device
  • Boot Other Device

Descriptions of other BIOS functions were also updated.

24-08-2000 5.2 Ported the Chipset Features Setup to the new layout and added this new BIOS function to the guide :-
  • SDRAM Cycle Time Tras/Trc

Descriptions of other BIOS functions were also updated.

08-10-2000 5.3 Revamped the Index by listing down all the BIOS functions according to the page they were placed in and spinning off the revision history to a separate page.

Changed the revision numbering. Now, the scheme is as follows :-

  • Truly major changes like the addition of a new section will receive a full number upgrade (i.e. from rev. 3.0 to rev. 4.0)
  • Additions of new BIOS functions will increase the revision number by 0.1 (i.e. from rev. 3.0 to 3.1)
  • Updates of previously added BIOS functions will only receive an increase in the revision number of 0.01 (i.e. from rev. 3.0 to 3.01)

Added the following new BIOS functions :-

  • DRAM Read Latch Delay
  • DRAM Interleave Time
  • Byte Merge
  • PCI Pipeline / PCI Pipelining
24-10-2000 5.31 Removed the bad link to the missing Microsoft document about IDE Block Mode and 32-bit Disk Access.

Added fresh information about the risk of data loss if IDE Block Mode or 32-bit Disk Access was enabled in a WinNT machine.

09-11-2000 5.32 Added links to Microsoft articles (thanks to Ryu Connor!) regarding the following BIOS features :-
  • PnP OS Installed
  • IDE HDD Block Mode
  • 32-bit Disk Access
11-01-2001 5.4 Added the following new BIOS functions :-
  • Fast R-W Turn Around
  • CPU to PCI Write Buffer
  • PCI Dynamic Bursting
  • PCI Master 0 WS Write
  • PCI Delay Transaction

Also corrected the spacing between each BIOS function so that the descriptions will be easier to read.

14-01-2001 5.41 Added a true-life account of a video BIOS flash gone bad to the description of the Video BIOS Shadowing option.
18-01-2001 5.5 Added the following new BIOS options :-
  • PCI#2 Access #1 Retry
  • Master Priority Rotation
  • AGP 4X Mode
22-01-2001 5.6 Added the following new BIOS options :-
  • AGP Driving Control
  • AGP Driving Value
08-02-2001 5.7 Rewritten the following BIOS options with new details :-
  • SDRAM Bank Interleave
  • Fast R-W Turn Around
  • PCI Dynamic Bursting
  • PCI#2 Access #1 Retry
10-03-2001 5.8 Added three new BIOS options :-
  • Delay DRAM Read Latch
  • MD Driving Strength
  • SDRAM Page Closing Policy
12-05-2001 5.9 Added the following new BIOS options :-
  • CPU Drive Strength
  • Force 4-Way Interleave

Rewritten the following BIOS options with new details :-

  • EPP Mode Select
17-05-2001 6.0 Added the following new BIOS options :-
  • PCI Latency Timer

Rewritten the following BIOS options with new details :-

  • AGP Aperture Size
  • Spread Spectrum
  • SDRAM CAS Latency Time
  • SDRAM Cycle Time Tras/Trc
  • SDRAM Cycle Length
04-08-2001 6.1

Rewritten the following BIOS options with new details :-

  • Memory Hole At 15M-16M
  • Byte Merge
  • HDD S.M.A.R.T. Capability
  • EPP Mode Select
  • PIRQ_0 Use IRQ No. ~ PIRQ_3 Use IRQ No.
07-08-2001 6.2 Added the following new BIOS options :-
  • AGP 4X Drive Strength
  • AGP Drive Strength P or N Ctrl

Rewritten the following BIOS option with new details :-

  • Boot Other Device
03-09-2001 6.3 Added the following new BIOS options :-
  • PCI Master Read Caching
  • USB Mouse Support
  • USB Mouse Support Via

Rewritten the following BIOS option with new details :-

  • Read-Around-Write
  • Passive Release
  • OS Select For DRAM > 64MB
  • PNP OS Installed
18-09-2001 6.4 Added the following new BIOS options :-
  • Refresh Interval
  • Refresh Mode Select
  • SDRAM Idle Limit
28-09-2001 6.5 Added the Read Wait State BIOS option.

Added IBM's recommendation for the PNP OS Installed option.

Added a note about disabling PNP OS Installed when using the ABIT BP6 with Windows 2000.

Updated the Video BIOS Shadowing feature with reasons why the video BIOS should still be updated even if it's apparently only useful for DOS functions.

Added a note on why Award recommends that SDRAM Bank Interleave be disabled for 16Mbit SDRAM DIMMs.

 

 

 
 

 

 
     
   

 

 
 

 
   

 

 
 
Last Updated 28-11-2001

All trademarks used are properties of their respective owners.
Copyright © 1998-2000 Adrian Wong. All rights reserved.