What is a bius? Other BIOS chips. BIOS hardware features

Hi all. It often happens that we need to find out what the BIOS is on the computer. You have definitely asked yourself this question at least once, or even more. You may have read on the Internet that in order to do this, you need to go into the BIOS, but you don’t know how to go into the BIOS. But to enter different versions BIOS requires you to press different keys when booting the system. But most often these keys are written somewhere at the bottom of the computer boot screen. But it may last so short that you do not have time to read what is written there. So today I will tell you how to find out what is the BIOS on the computer and how to enter it. This may make your life a little easier.

But let's understand everything in order. There is no such thing as too much information. That is why we will expand the topic a little, and I will answer some questions that indirectly relate to it.

What is BIOS?

Let's start with the fact that if you want to call yourself an advanced PC user, then you simply must know what a BIOS is. Of course, you can use a computer and play games without this knowledge, but still... let's get started.

So, what is a BIOS? Let me try to explain to you its “nature” in simple and understandable human language. In English, BIOS stands for Base Input-Output System. In other words BIOS is powerful tool on setting up computer components and managing them. The BIOS carries the minimum required functions (base), which allows all the parts and devices of your computer to work together as a single organism.

Call bios the “soul” of the computer if you want.

”, perhaps the most important question of today’s topic. And, if you don’t know how to enter the BIOS, then you are most likely new to computers. Therefore, I will try to explain as clearly as possible. Write it down.

To enter the BIOS you need to restart your computer (or just turn it on if you have it turned off). Have you ever noticed that when you turn on your computer, a screen (usually black) appears for a few seconds with a logo at the top and big amount information about the computer (processor frequency, amount of RAM, etc.)? This is it! The same portal to the BIOS!

Whatever BIOS you have on your computer, this black screen at the bottom should contain information about which key you need to press to enter the BIOS. The inscription next to it may be SETUP or BIOS or settings or something else. And most often this button will be F2, F8 or Del, but other options are also possible.

And the most important thing - to enter the BIOS settings, you must have time to press this treasured key before it starts to bootWindows with hard drive.

If you did everything correctly, then congratulations, you are now in the right place, you are in the BIOS. Most bios do not have a graphical shell, so do not be alarmed by the blue (or gray) screen and the clutter of menus on English language, this is the BIOS interface. By the way, more modern bios ( UEFI) still have graphical shell and know Russian.

Keys to enter BIOS!

I present to your attention the keys for entering the BIOS on all currently popular devices (laptops and motherboards of desktop computers). I hope there won't be any problems. It was not possible to check all the models, but the ones I checked, I was able to enter the BIOS. Plus I took information from different sources and weeded out potentially incorrect ones.

But if suddenly you were unable to enter the BIOS using these keys, then be sure to let me know in the comments. We will solve your problem and update the information. Thank you!

What kind of bios are there?

In fact, to answer the question “What kind of BIOS are there?” not that difficult because modern generation Bios are represented mainly by 3 representatives. I wouldn’t even say that they are all modern. Oh yes, they also have several versions, which depend on how ancient (or modern) your motherboard is. But in order to know how to enter the BIOS, it is enough to know the BIOS brand, but the version is not necessary.

The three types of bios I talked about are AwardBIOS, AMIBIOS And UEFIBIOS. Actually, here's some information about them.

American Megatrends Incorporated (AMI BIOS)

AMI BIOS- this is probably the oldest BIOS that can now be found in everyday life. Or as they say – not old, but experienced! American Megatrends Incorporated was founded back in 1985 (well, at least AD). Now this type of BIOS is widespread on ASUS laptops, MSI, Lenovo and some others.

Award BIOS (Phoenix BIOS)

A long time ago, in the good old days Award BIOS and Phoenix BIOS were different, competing companies. Moreover, Phoenix was noticeably inferior in position to Award. But at some point the unthinkable happened - Phoenix bought Award. Since then it has been one company that still operates under several brands.

UEFI BIOS

UEFIBIOS– this is the youngest and most modern of all BIOSes. It has GUI, and also supports many languages ​​(including Russian). UEFI BIOS is not even exactly a BIOS, but rather a successor to BIOS. Through it you can even access the Internet without starting Windows.

How to find out what BIOS is?

There are many ways to find out what the BIOS costs. For example, the simplest of them is to pay attention to the BIOS logo on the computer boot screen and compare it with those presented a little higher.

Another easy way to find out what the BIOS is is to use special programs. For example, programs such as AIDA64, Everest, CPU-Z or Speccy, as well as many others. In each of them you can find an item that contains a description of the BIOS. If there is no such item, then look in the description of the motherboard.

If you have already entered the BIOS and you need to find out the BIOS version, say, not for logging in, but for some other purposes, then pay attention to the very top of the page or the very bottom. There will definitely be information about the BIOS company and its current version, which, by the way, can be updated to the latest one.

Most quick way find out what BIOS you have without even looking up from reading this article - through Windows component « System Information" To do this, press the key combination Win +R and enter there next command msinfo32. A window will open with information about your system, including information about the Bios.

Windows System Information component

Also, if you disassemble your computer (or laptop) and carefully examine the motherboard (maybe even with a magnifying glass), you will find a version of your BIOS written on one of the chips.

I think I answered more than enough to the question “How to find out what BIOS is worth.” And if suddenly you still have questions, then ask them in the comments under the article.

Why do you need to know what BIOS you have on your computer?

In fact, there are quite a lot of reasons why someone would need to find out what BIOS is on their computer. And they can all be purely individual.

Here's another example. You've decided to upgrade your computer a little. And with the new components, some glitches began to appear on your computer from time to time. You read somewhere on the forums that this could be due to outdated version BIOS and that you need to update it. So you will need to find out what BIOS you have and, specifically, what version is installed. Otherwise there will be no way to update.

There can be a lot of such examples. And what should I tell you? If you are interested in your BIOS, then you probably have a need for this. Right? Although perhaps you wanted to go into the BIOS purely out of your human curiosity.

Which BIOS is better?

If you carefully read the article, then you yourself understand perfectly which BIOS is better. Of course, modern bios UEFI have a range of undeniable advantages. Let's summarize these benefits:

1. Availability of Russian language;
2. Possibility of Internet access;
3. Nice graphical interface;
4. The set of tools is tailored for modern equipment.

BIOS UEFI with Russian interface

And that's not even getting into technical features, which, of course, are improved and modified, so to speak. That's why UEFIBIOS can easily be called the best BIOS.

Exiting BIOS...

Or an exit from the matrix... Well, in general, you understand, we are completing our journey into the world of BIOSes.

Let's summarize a bit what you've learned today. You learned what a BIOS is, you learned what it is for, what types there are and how they differ from each other, and most importantly, you learned how to enter the BIOS of any version and on any device!

Congratulations! The lesson is over for today, come again!

Did you read to the very end?

Was this article helpful?

Not really

What exactly did you not like? Was the article incomplete or false?
Write in comments and we promise to improve!

Hello. This article is about the BIOS setup utility, which allows the user to change basic system settings. Settings are stored in non-volatile CMOS memory and are retained when the computer is turned off.

ENTERING THE SETUP PROGRAM

To enter the BIOS setup utility, turn on the computer and immediately press the . To change additional BIOS settings, press the combination “Ctrl+F1” in the BIOS menu. A menu will open additional settings BIOS.

CONTROL KEYS

< ?> Go to previous menu item
< ?> Move to next item
< ?> Move to item on left
< ?> Go to the item on the right
Select item
For the main menu - exit without saving changes to CMOS. For settings pages and settings summary page - close current page and return to the main menu

<+/PgUp> Increase numeric value settings or select another value from the list
<-/PgDn> Decrease the numerical value of the setting or select another value from the list
Quick Help (Settings and Settings summary pages only)
Hint for the highlighted item
Not used
Not used
Restore previous settings from CMOS (for settings summary page only)
Set BIOS secure settings to default
Set optimized BIOS settings to default
Q-Flash function
System Information
Save all changes to CMOS (main menu only)

REFERENCE INFORMATION

Main menu

A description of the selected setting appears at the bottom of the screen.

Settings Summary Page / Settings Pages

When you press the F1 key, a window appears with a brief hint about possible options settings and assignments of the corresponding keys. To close the window, click .

Main menu (using the example of BIOS E2 version)

When entering the BIOS setup menu (Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility) opens the main menu (Fig. 1), in which you can select any of eight settings pages and two options for exiting the menu. Use the arrow keys to select the desired item. To enter the submenu, press .

Fig.1: Main menu

If you can't find desired setting, press “Ctrl+F1” and look for it in the BIOS advanced settings menu.

Standard CMOS Features

This page contains all standard settings BIOS.

Advanced BIOS Features

This page contains additional Award settings BIOS.

Integrated Peripherals

This page configures all built-in peripheral devices.

Power Management Setup

This page allows you to configure energy saving modes.

PnP/PCI Configurations (Configuring PnP and PCI resources)

This page allows you to configure resources for devices

PCI and PnP ISA PC Health Status (Computer health monitoring)

This page displays the measured values ​​of temperature, voltage and fan speed.

Frequency/Voltage Control

On this page you can change the clock frequency and processor frequency multiplier.

For achievement maximum performance set the “Top Performance” item to “Enabled”.

Load Fail-Safe Defaults

Secure default settings ensure system functionality.

Load Optimized Defaults

The default optimized settings provide optimal system performance.

Set Supervisor password

On this page you can set, change or remove your password. This option allows you to restrict access to the system and BIOS settings, or only to the BIOS settings.

Set User password

On this page you can set, change or remove a password that allows you to restrict access to the system.

Save & Exit Setup

Saving settings in CMOS and exiting the program.

Exit Without Saving

Cancels all changes made and exits the setup program.

Standard CMOS Features

Fig.2: Standard BIOS settings

Date

Date format:<день недели>, <месяц>, <число>, <год>.

Day of the week - the day of the week is determined by the BIOS based on the entered date; it cannot be changed directly.

Month - the name of the month, from January to December.

Number - day of the month, from 1 to 31 (or the maximum number of days in the month).

Year - year, from 1999 to 2098.

Time

Time format:<часы> <минуты> <секунды>. Time is entered in 24-hour format, for example, 1 o'clock in the afternoon is written as 13:00:00.

IDE Primary Master, Slave / IDE Secondary Master, Slave (IDE Disk Drives)

This section defines the parameters of the disk drives installed in the computer (from C to F). There are two options for setting parameters: automatically and manually. When defining manually, the drive parameters are set by the user, and in automatic mode, the parameters are determined by the system. Please note that the information you enter must match your drive type.

If you enter incorrect information, the disk will not work properly. If you select the User Type option, you will need to fill out the items below. Enter data using the keyboard and press . Necessary information must be contained in the documentation for hard drive or computer.

CYLS - Number of cylinders

HEADS - Number of heads

PRECOMP - Precompensation when recording

LANDZONE - Head parking zone

SECTORS - Number of sectors

If one of the hard drives is not installed, select NONE and press .

Drive A / Drive B (Floppy drives)

This section specifies the types of floppy drives A and B installed in the computer. -

None - Floppy drive is not installed
360K, 5.25 in.
Standard 5.25-inch PC-type floppy drive with 360 KB capacity 1.2M, 5.25in. 5.25" AT type floppy drive with
high density
1.2 MB recording capacity

(3.5-inch drive if mode 3 support is enabled).

720K, 3.5 in.

3.5-inch floppy drive with double-sided recording; capacity 720 KB

1.44M, 3.5in.
3.5-inch floppy drive with double-sided recording; capacity 1.44 MB
2.88M, 3.5in.
3.5-inch floppy drive with double-sided recording; capacity 2.88 MB.

Floppy 3 Mode Support (for Japan Area)

Disabled Regular floppy drive. (Default setting)

Drive A Floppy drive A supports mode 3.
Drive B Floppy drive B supports mode 3.
Both floppy drives A and B support mode 3.
Halt on
This setting determines which errors will stop the system boot when detected.

NO Errors The system will continue to boot despite any errors. Error messages are displayed on the screen.

All Errors Boot will be aborted if the BIOS detects any error.
All, But Keyboard The download will be aborted on any error other than a keyboard failure. (Default setting) Ail, But Diskette The boot will abort on any error except a floppy drive failure.)
All, But Disk/Key Boot will be aborted on any error except keyboard or disk failure.
Memory
This item displays the memory sizes determined by the BIOS during system self-test. You cannot change these values ​​manually.
During the automatic self-test, the BIOS determines the size of extended memory installed on the system. Extended memory is RAM with addresses above 1 MB in the CPU's addressing system.

Advanced BIOS Features

Fig.Z: Additional BIOS settings

First / Second / Third Boot Device
(First/second/third boot device)
Floppy Loading from a floppy disk.
LS120 Boot from LS120 drive.
HDD-0-3 Boot from hard disk 0 to 3.
SCSI Boot from a SCSI device. Boot from a ZIP drive.
USB-FDD Boot from a USB floppy drive.
USB-ZIP Boot from a USB ZIP device.
USB-CDROM Boot from a USB CD-ROM.
USB-HDD Boot from a USB hard drive.
LAN Download via local network.

Boot Up Floppy Seek (Detecting the type of floppy drive at boot)

During the system self-test, the BIOS determines whether the floppy drive is 40-track or 80-track. The 360 ​​KB drive is a 40-track drive, while the 720 KB, 1.2 MB, and 1.44 MB drives are 80-track.

Enabled BIOS determines the drive type - 40- or 80-track. Keep in mind that the BIOS does not differentiate between 720 KB, 1.2 MB, and 1.44 MB drives because they are all 80-track drives.

Disabled BIOS will not detect the drive type. When installing a 360 KB drive, no message is displayed on the screen. (Default setting)

Password Check

System If you do not enter the correct password when prompted by the system, the computer will not boot and access to the settings pages will be denied.
Setup If you do not enter the correct password when prompted by the system, the computer will boot, but access to the settings pages will be denied. (Default setting)

CPU Hyper-Threading

Disabled Mode Hyper Threading disabled.
Enabled Hyper Threading mode is enabled. Please note that this feature is only implemented if the operating system supports a multiprocessor configuration. (Default setting)

DRAM Data Integrity Mode

The option allows you to set the error control mode in RAM if ECC type memory is used.

ECC ECC mode is enabled.
Non-ECC ECC mode is not used. (Default setting)

Init Display First (The order in which video adapters are activated)
AGP Activate the AGP video adapter first. (Default setting)
PCI Activate the PCI video adapter first.

Integrated Peripherals

Figure 4: Embedded peripherals

On-Chip Primary PCI IDE (Built-in controller 1 channel IDE)

Enabled Built-in 1 channel IDE controller is enabled. (Default setting)

Disabled The built-in IDE channel 1 controller is disabled.
On-Chip Secondary PCI IDE (Built-in controller 2 channels IDE)

Enabled Built-in 2 channel IDE controller is enabled. (Default setting)

Disabled The built-in IDE channel 2 controller is disabled.

IDE1 Conductor Cable (Type of cable connected to IDE1)

ATA66/100 A cable of type ATA66/100 is connected to IDE1. (Make sure your IDE device and the cable support ATA66/100 mode.)
ATAZZ A cable of type ATAZZ is connected to IDE1. (Make sure your IDE device and cable support ATAZZ mode.)

IDE2 Conductor Cable (Type of cable connected to ШЭ2)
Auto Automatically detected by BIOS. (Default setting)
ATA66/100/133 A cable of type ATA66/100 is connected to IDE2. (Make sure your IDE device and cable support ATA66/100 mode.)
ATAZZ A cable of type ATAZZ is connected to IDE2. (Make sure your IDE device and cable support ATAZZ mode.)

USB Controller ( USB controller)

If you are not using the built-in USB controller, disable this option here.

Enabled The USB controller is enabled. (Default setting)
Disabled The USB controller is disabled.

USB Keyboard Support

When connecting a USB keyboard, set this item to “Enabled”.

Enabled USB keyboard support is enabled.
Disabled USB keyboard support is disabled. (Default setting)

USB Mouse Support

When connecting a USB mouse, set this item to “Enabled”.

Enabled USB mouse support is enabled.
Disabled USB mouse support is disabled. (Default setting)

AC97 Audio (AC'97 Audio Controller)

Auto Built-in audio controller AC'97 is enabled. (Default setting)
Disabled Built-in audio controller AC'97 is disabled.

Onboard H/W LAN (Built-in network controller)

Enable The built-in network controller is enabled. (Default setting)
Disable The built-in network controller is disabled.
Onboard LAN Boot ROM network controller)

Using the embedded network controller ROM to boot the system.

Enable The function is enabled.
Disable The function is disabled. (Default setting)

Onboard Serial Port 1 serial port 1)

Auto BIOS sets port 1 address automatically.
3F8/IRQ4 Enable the built-in serial port 1 by assigning it the address 3F8.(Default setting)
2F8/IRQ3 Enable the built-in serial port 1 by assigning it the address 2F8.

3E8/IRQ4 Enable built-in serial port 1, assigning it the address ZE8.

2E8/IRQ3 Enable built-in serial port 1, assigning it the address 2E8.

Disabled Disable the built-in serial port 1.

Onboard Serial Port 2

Auto BIOS sets port 2 address automatically.
3F8/IRQ4 Enable the built-in serial port 2 by assigning it the address 3F8.

2F8/IRQ3 Enable the built-in serial port 2 by assigning it the address 2F8. (Default setting)
3E8/IRQ4 Enable the built-in serial port 2, assigning it the address ZE8.

2E8/IRQ3 Enable built-in serial port 2, assigning it the address 2E8.

Disabled Disable the built-in serial port 2.

Onboard Parallel port

378/IRQ7 Enable the built-in LPT port by assigning it address 378 and assigning the IRQ7 interrupt. (Default setting)
278/IRQ5 Enable the built-in LPT port by assigning it address 278 and assigning the IRQ5 interrupt.
Disabled Disable the built-in LPT port.

3BC/IRQ7 Enable the built-in LPT port by assigning it the DS address and assigning the IRQ7 interrupt.

Parallel Port Mode

SPP Parallel port works in normal mode. (Default setting)
EPP Parallel port operates in Enhanced Parallel Port mode.
ECP Parallel port operates in Extended Capabilities Port mode.
ECP + EPP The parallel port operates in ECP and EPP modes.

ECP Mode Use DMA

3 ECP mode uses DMA channel 3. (Default setting)
1 ECP mode uses DMA channel 1.

Game Port Address

201 Set the game port address to 201. (Default setting)
209 Set the game port address to 209.
Disabled Disable the function.

Midi Port Address

290 Set the MIDI port address to 290.
300 Set the MIDI port address to 300.
330 Set the MIDI port address to 330. (Default setting)
Disabled Disable the function.
Midi Port IRQ (MIDI Port Interrupt)

5 Assign IRQ 5 to the MIDI port.
10 Assign IRQ 10 to the MIDI port. (Default setting)

Power Management Setup

Figure 5: Power Management Settings

ACPI Suspend Type

S1(POS) Set S1 standby mode. (Default setting)
S3(STR) Set S3 standby mode.

Power LED in SI state

Blinking In standby mode (S1), the power indicator blinks. (Default setting)

Dual/OFF In standby mode (S1):
a.
If a single-color indicator is used, it goes out in S1 mode.
b.

If a two-color indicator is used, it changes color in S1 mode.
Soft-offby PWR BTTN (Computer soft-off)
Instant-off When you press the power button, the computer turns off immediately. (Default setting)

Delay 4 Sec.

To turn off the computer, hold down the power button for 4 seconds. When you press the button briefly, the system goes into standby mode.

PME Event Wake Up
Disabled The PME event wake-up function is disabled.

ModemRingOn

Disabled The modem/LAN wake-up feature is disabled.

Enabled The function is enabled. (Default setting)

Resume by Alarm

In the Resume by Alarm item, you can set the date and time the computer turns on.
Enabled The function of turning on the computer at a specified time is enabled.

If the feature is enabled, set the following values:

Date (of Month) Alarm: Day of the month, 1-31
Time (hh: mm: ss) Alarm: Time (hh: mm: cc): (0-23): (0-59): (0-59) Power On By Mouse Disabled The function is disabled. (Default setting)

Double Click Wake up the computer when

double click
Date (of Month) Alarm: Day of the month, 1-31
mice.

Power On By Keyboard

Password To turn on the computer, you must enter a password of 1 to 5 characters.

Keyboard 98 If your keyboard has a power button, pressing it turns on the computer.

KB Power ON Password (Setting a password to turn on the computer from the keyboard)
Enter Enter a password (1 to 5 alphanumeric characters) and press Enter.
AC Back Function (Computer behavior after a temporary power failure)

Memory When power is restored, the computer returns to the state it was in before the power was lost.

Soft-Off The computer remains off after power is turned on. (Default setting)

Full-On After power is restored, the computer turns on.

Auto Automatic interrupt assignment for PCI 1/5 devices. (Default setting)
3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15 Assignment for PCI 1/5 devices IRQ 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15.

PCI2 IRQ Assignment

Auto Automatically assigns an interrupt to the PCI 2 device. (Default setting)
3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15 Assignment for PCI 2 device IRQ 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15.

ROZ IRQ Assignment (Interrupt assignment for PCI 3)

Auto Automatically assigns an interrupt to the PCI 3 device. (Default setting)

3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15 Assignment for PCI 3 device IRQ 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15.
PCI 4 IRQ Assignment

Auto Automatically assigns an interrupt to the PCI 4 device. (Default setting)

3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15 Assignment for PCI 4 device IRQ 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15.

PC Health Status

Fig.7: Computer status monitoring

Reset Case Open Status

Case Opened

If the computer case has not been opened, “Case Opened” will display “No.” If the case has been opened, “Case Opened” will display “Yes.”

To reset the sensor readings, set the “Reset Case Open Status” item to “Enabled” and exit the BIOS saving the settings. The computer will restart.
Current Voltage (V) Vcore / VCC18 / +3.3 V / +5V / +12V (Current system voltage values)

This item displays the automatically measured main voltages in the system.

Current CPU Temperature

This item displays the measured processor temperature.

Current CPU/SYSTEM FAN Speed ​​(RPM) ( Current frequency fan rotation)

This item displays the measured rotation speed of the processor and case fans.

CPU Warning Temperature

Disabled The processor temperature is not monitored. (Default setting)
60°C / 140°F A warning is issued when the temperature exceeds 60°C.
70°C / 158°F A warning is issued when the temperature exceeds 70°C.

80°C / 176°F A warning is issued when the temperature exceeds 80°C.

90°C / 194°F A warning is issued when the temperature value exceeds 90°C.

CPU FAN Fail Warning

Date (of Month) Alarm: Day of the month, 1-31

SYSTEM FAN Fail Warning

Date (of Month) Alarm: Day of the month, 1-31
Enabled When the fan stops, a warning is issued.

Frequency/Voltage Control

Fig.8: Frequency/voltage adjustment

CPU Clock Ratio

If the processor frequency multiplier is fixed, this option is not available in the menu. - 10Х- 24Х The value is set depending on clock frequency processor.

CPU Host Clock Control

Note: If the system freezes before loading the BIOS setup utility, wait 20 seconds. After this time, the system will reboot. When rebooting, the processor base frequency will be set to the default value.

Disabled Disable the function. (Default setting)
Enabled Enable the processor base frequency control function.

CPU Host Frequency

100MHz - 355MHz Set the base processor frequency value from 100 to 355 MHz.

PCI/AGP Fixed

To adjust AGP/PCI clock frequencies, select 33/66, 38/76, 43/86 or Disabled.
Host/DRAM Clock Ratio

Attention! If the value in this item is set incorrectly, the computer will not be able to boot. In this case, you should reset the BIOS settings.

2.0 Memory frequency = Base frequency X 2.0.
2.66 Memory frequency = Base frequency X 2.66.
Auto The frequency is set according to the SPD data of the memory module. (Default value)

Memory Frequency (Mhz)

The value is determined by the base frequency of the processor.

PCI/AGP Frequency (Mhz) PCI frequency/AGP (MHz))

Frequencies are set depending on the value of the CPU Host Frequency or PCI/AGP Divider option.

CPU Voltage Control

The processor supply voltage can be increased by 5.0% to 10.0%. (Default: nominal)

DIMM OverVoltage Control

Normal The memory supply voltage is equal to the nominal voltage. (Default value)
+0.1V Memory supply voltage increased by 0.1 V.
+0.2V Memory supply voltage increased by 0.2 V.
+0.3V Memory supply voltage increased by 0.3 V.

Only for experienced users! Incorrect installation may damage your computer!

AGP OverVoltage Control

Normal The video adapter's supply voltage is equal to the nominal voltage. (Default value)
+0.1V The video adapter supply voltage is increased by 0.1 V.
+0.2V The video adapter supply voltage is increased by 0.2 V.
+0.3V The video adapter supply voltage is increased by 0.3 V.

For advanced users only! Incorrect installation may damage your computer!

Top Performance

Fig.9: Maximum performance

Top Performance

To achieve the best system performance, set the “Top Performance” item to “Enabled”.

Date (of Month) Alarm: Day of the month, 1-31
Enabled Maximum performance mode.

Enabling Maximum Performance mode increases the speed of your hardware components. System operation in this mode is influenced by both hardware and software configurations. For example, the same hardware configuration may work well under Windows NT, but not work under Windows XP. Therefore, if there are problems with the reliability or stability of the system, we recommend disabling this option.

Load Fail-Safe Defaults

Fig.10: Installation secure settings default

Load Fail-Safe Defaults

Safe default settings are system parameter values ​​that are the most secure from the point of view of system performance, but provide minimal performance.

Load Optimized Defaults

When you select this menu item, standard settings are loaded BIOS settings and chipset automatically detected by the system.

Set Supervisor/User Password

Fig.12: Setting a password

When you select this menu item, a password prompt will appear in the center of the screen.

Enter a password of no more than 8 characters and press . The system will ask you to confirm your password. Enter the same password again and click . To refuse entering a password and go to the main menu, press .

To cancel your password, when prompted to enter New Password click . A “PASSWORD DISABLED” message will appear to confirm that the password has been cancelled. After removing the password, the system will reboot and you will be able to freely enter the BIOS settings menu.

The BIOS settings menu allows you to set two different passwords: Administrator password (SUPERVISOR PASSWORD) and user password (USER PASSWORD). If no passwords are set, any user can access BIOS settings. When setting a password, you must enter the administrator password to access all BIOS settings, and the user password to access only basic settings.

If you select the “System” option in the BIOS advanced settings menu in the “Password Check” item, the system will prompt you for a password every time you boot the computer or try to enter the BIOS settings menu.

If you select “Setup” in the BIOS advanced settings menu under “Password Check”, the system will only ask for a password when you try to enter the BIOS settings menu.

Save & Exit Setup

Fig.13: Saving settings and exit

To save your changes and exit the settings menu, press “Y”. To return to the settings menu, press “N”.

Exit Without Saving

Fig. 14: Exit without saving changes

To exit the BIOS settings menu without saving the changes made, press “Y”. To return to the BIOS settings menu, press "N".

13. 05.2017

Blog of Dmitry Vassiyarov.

BIOS - what is it and what is it used for?

Hello, guests of my blog.

Anyone to modern man It’s worth knowing what a BIOS is on a computer. After all, without it, a computer is a simple set of pieces of hardware. It is important to be able to understand this issue in order to independently configure the system and determine which components are faulty. Knowing your BIOS will help you understand your computer better. This article will be somewhat superficial.

Just about the incomprehensible

The subject of our conversation is English abbreviation, which stands for “basic input/output system”.

This translates to basic input/output system. By the way, in Russian it is correct to pronounce “bios”, but the word “bios” has already become established in the slang of IT people.

This concept means a set of microprograms that implement software for working with computer components and those connected to it peripheral devices(printer, modem, etc.). That is, in other words, this very BIOS determines and starts the operation of all devices on your computer - this is the main function.

If it is not there, then the hardware of your computer will simply not be detected and will not start.

This is roughly what it looks like software part bios:

An analogue of BIOS is faster and more modern technology, which works in 64-bit mode, while BIOS works mainly in 16 and 32-bit mode.

This is what the software part looks like:

Physical parameters

Where is the bios located? In the motherboard, which is quite logical, because it is the motherboard that is responsible for the operation of all elements of the computer.

There are 2 types of BIOS chips:

• EPROM Old model. Its contents may be removed from exposure special device with ultraviolet radiation.

• EEPROM Modern option. Its contents can be erased with a special electrical signal. Moreover, even if the chip is not removed from the system unit.

What else should you know about BIOS? That it has its own small battery. It looks like a lithium coin and can have different capacities (80-230 mAh).

This element feeds the CMOS memory, where custom parameters and BIOS settings. The battery has a lifespan of several years: over time, it depletes and must be replaced.
If she sits down, there will be no fatal consequences. Minimum: settings will be reset, which will have to be restored manually after replacing this part. Maximum: programs will start to glitch and the computer will not start.

What does the BIOS do?

When you press the computer's power button, it reads the BIOS code from read-only memory (ROM) and writes it to random access memory (RAM). Then control is transferred to the BIOS itself, which:

• Checks equipment for functionality;
• Analyzes settings from ROM and applies them;
• Looks for the bootloader code in the master record on the hard disk or on the boot disk in the CD-ROM/floppy disk/flash drive/on the network;
• Transfers the code to the RAM;
• Shifts further control to the bootloader.

Without these steps, your computer will not start. If some part is broken or there is a system failure, the BIOS will tell you about it at the initial boot stage.

Features available to you

WITH using BIOS You can:

• Set the time;
• Set download priority;
• Set power options for hardware;
• Turn on/off this or that equipment.

How to work in BIOS?

Entering the BIOS is very simple - when rebooting or starting the computer, hold down the Delete or F2 key (depending on the type of motherboard). To control you, you will need only a few buttons: arrows to move between sections, Enter to enter them and apply settings, ESC to exit.

In addition, you can return to factory settings using the F9 key, and confirm new parameters using F10. By the way, in new BIOS versions you can control it with the mouse.

Let's go through some of the tabs:

But don't forget to put the CD-ROM in the “2nd Boot Device” (“Second Boot Device”) column in case you ever have to boot the system from an optical disk.

The “Advanced” and “Security” tabs can be left untouched. The first is responsible for the operation of the equipment. The second is for computer security, but for home use these settings will not be useful to you.

That's all that the average computer user needs to know about the BIOS.

See you on the pages of our blog.

We all have at least the slightest idea about how a computer works. We know that when you turn on the computer, the operating system loads. But not everyone knows what happens before loading operating system. This article will discuss what BIOS is, its functions, and how it works.

When you turn on the computer, even before the operating system loads, it enters BIOS operation, who is responsible for starting the computer, testing computer components, setting the parameters of these components, and performing input/output functions.

Without BIOS computer won’t understand where to load the operating system from, how to regulate fan speeds, what parameters to start computer components with...

The BIOS is written to a flash memory chip.

You can enter the BIOS after turning on the computer by clicking DELETE key, F2, or another. This must be indicated in the instructions for the motherboard.

Basically, you need to enter the BIOS and configure it when installing an operating system and repairing a PC. Remember that incorrect BIOS settings can damage your computer.

What functions does the BIOS perform?

• Starting the computer and testing its components. The so-called POST procedure. This procedure starts immediately after turning on the power button. The program checks all computer components and configures them, preparing them for work. If a fault is detected, the POST procedure displays a message or beep.
• Configuring system parameters. BIOS Setup. In BIOS Setup, the user can change device parameters and configure part of the system or the system as a whole. For example, increase the speed of RAM, overclock the processor. Boot from an optical disk (Required when installing the operating system).
• Support for input-output functions with interruptions for the keyboard, video card, hard drive, input-output ports... Actually, this is where the general idea comes from BIOS detection as a basic input/output system.

The BIOS, as we have already said, is stored on a flash memory chip. Accordingly, the BIOS can be rewritten and flashed. This means that more will be written in its place a new version. Due to this, errors present in its earlier version are corrected, and new functions or support for new devices are added.

Each motherboard model mainly has its own BIOS version, which takes into account all the parameters and functions of this motherboard. For example, new processors and more have entered the market early version BIOS does not support them. Flashing is done and new processors can be used. The manufacturer's website should indicate which errors have been fixed and which features have been added in the newer firmware.

To power our memory chip, on which the BIOS is stored, a 3-volt battery is used. She is also responsible for the operation of the clock. It is required to be installed on all motherboards. You can get to it by opening the side wall of the computer. When the battery is discharged and no longer performs its function, every time you turn on the PC, all BIOS settings are lost and the time is reset to zero. That is, the battery is responsible for the safety of BIOS parameters, including the BIOS parameters entered by the user. In addition, due to a low battery, the PC often does not start, and users think that it is the power supply or the computer’s power button that is to blame. In this case, you need to buy a battery and replace it with the old one. After this, you need to set parameters, if necessary.

How do you start a computer and test its components? POST procedure.

After turning on the power button, the power supply starts up first. If all supply voltages are normal, then the central processor receives a turn-on signal. CPU tests itself. After this, the RAM memory is tested. Next begins initial test gland. On at this stage When errors are found, a sound signal appears because the video system has not yet been initialized. The BIOS then looks for devices that may need to boot their own BIOS. Such a device is a video card. Then peripheral devices such as a mouse and hard drive are initialized and configured. Then the BIOS, in accordance with its own priority, selects the device specified in the BIOS in order to start loading the operating system from it. It finds the operating system boot sector on this device and calls the operating system loader. Then the operating system loads. That's how important the BIOS is.

You should also know that entering the BIOS can be password-protected. This is done to prevent you from making changes. You can fix this either by using a BIOS clear jumper (not installed on all motherboards) by connecting the connectors with a screwdriver, or by removing the battery and inserting it back. All settings will be reset.

We hope this article gave you answers to your questions.

Basic input-output system or BIOS (Basic Input-Output System) intended for an initial check of the functionality of the equipment when starting the computer. If this test runs without errors, the BIOS transfers further control of the hardware to the operating system loader.

The entire BIOS market in the world is divided between three major players:

American Megatrends Inc, which produces

Intel, which developed and produces for motherboards own production:

Phoenix Technologies, which produces Phoenix Award BIOS(other brand - Award BIOS):

Modern successor to BIOS – UEFI, the name of which is translated from English as “advanced firmware interface”. Was originally created by Intel. But, five years later, the project was transferred under the wing of the Unified EFI Forum, the organization that has since been responsible for its development.

BIOS allows ask quite wide range initial settings operation of the hardware of your computer or laptop. To the most frequently used can be attributed:

• Setting independent date and time parameters;
• Selecting a device to boot (hard drive, CD-DVD-ROM, flash drive);
• Enable or disable the motherboard's built-in hardware.
• Speed ​​up OS loading by disabling some POST tests.

For advanced users, many provide the opportunity to more fine-tuning settings computer hardware. These include:

• Changing the processor clock frequency;
• Changing RAM timings;

The main differences between UEFI and the “legacy” version of BIOS

Technical differences between BIOS and UEFI are quite large; for ease of perception, the main ones are collected in a table:

In modern motherboards it is present by default, but in some cases users try disable it to avoid some problems when installing 32-bit or non-32-bit Windows operating systems systems.

How consequence such a disabling will cause a notification about using the “legacy mode” BIOS to appear in the system properties. In fact, this means that if the motherboard has a more advanced UEFI mode, the BIOS is used to boot the OS and, therefore, MBR breakdown hard drive.

What does the BIOS look like and where is it located?

BIOS chip located on the motherboard and usually its installation location can be found in the supplied documentation. You can also find this microcircuit by its characteristic signs.

In most cases, next to it, on the motherboard case, is installed CMOS battery, characteristic round shape. Some hardware manufacturers additionally supply a BIOS chip holographic sticker with its name.

Of course, the battery is needed not only to make it easier for the user to find a chip with a hardwired BIOS. Main her task consists of providing non-volatile power supply, allowing save the settings for a long time.

It is for this reason that if you remove the battery from the motherboard for 15-20 seconds, “ reset to zero» BIOS, or in other words, return it to factory settings.

For the same purpose, a special jumper jumper. Changing its position gives the same result - returning to factory settings.

Finding a jumper on the board is quite simple; usually manufacturers mark it with the appropriate inscription (“CLR_CMOS”, “CCMOS”, “CLRTS”).