Step-by-step instructions for correctly setting up the BIOS on your computer. How to set up the BIOS to boot from a disk or flash drive Setting up the BIOS - other sections
If you purchased an assembled computer or laptop, then its BIOS is already configured properly, but you can always make any personal adjustments. When you assemble a computer yourself, you need to configure the BIOS yourself for it to work properly. Also, this need may arise if a new component was connected to the motherboard and all parameters were reset to default.
The interface of most BIOS versions, with the exception of the most modern ones, is a primitive graphical shell, where there are several menu items from which you can go to another screen with already customizable parameters. For example, menu item "Boot" opens the user to the parameters for distributing computer boot priority, that is, there you can select the device from which the PC will boot.
In total, there are 3 BIOS manufacturers on the market, and each of them has a significantly different interface in appearance. For example, AMI (American Megatrands Inc.) has a top menu:
In some versions of Phoenix and Award, all section items are located on the main page in the form of columns.
Plus, depending on the manufacturer, the names of some items and parameters may differ, although they will have the same meaning.
All movements between items occur using the arrow keys, and selection is made using Enter. Some manufacturers even make a special footnote in the BIOS interface, where it is written which key is responsible for what. UEFI (the most modern type of BIOS) has a more advanced user interface, the ability to control using a computer mouse, and also translates some items into Russian (the latter is quite rare).
Basic settings
Basic settings include time, date, computer boot priority, various memory settings, hard drives and drives. Provided that you have just assembled the computer, you need to configure these parameters.
They will be in the section "Main", "Standard CMOS Features" And "Boot". It is worth remembering that the names may differ depending on the manufacturer. First, set the date and time according to these instructions:
Now you need to configure the priority of hard drives and drives. Sometimes, if you don’t do it, the system simply won’t boot. All the necessary parameters are in the section "Main" or "Standard CMOS Features"(depending on BIOS version). Step-by-step instructions using the Award/Phoenix BIOS as an example are as follows:
Similar settings need to be made for BIOS users from AMI, only here the SATA parameters change. Use this guide to get started:
AMI BIOS users can complete the standard settings here, but the developers of Award and Phoenix have several more additional items that require user participation. All of them are in the section "Standard CMOS Features". Here is their list:
This completes the standard settings. Usually half of these points will already have the required values.
Advanced options
This time all settings will be made in the section "Advanced". It is available in BIOS from any manufacturer, although it may have a slightly different name. It may contain a different number of items depending on the manufacturer.
Let's look at the interface using the AMI BIOS as an example:
Now let's proceed directly to setting the parameters from the item :
For Award and Phoenix, there is no need to configure these parameters, since they are configured correctly by default and are located in a completely different section. But in the section "Advanced" you will find advanced settings for setting download priorities. If your computer already has a hard drive with an operating system installed on it, then "First Boot Device" select value "HDD-1"(sometimes you need to choose "HDD-0").
If the operating system has not yet been installed on the hard drive, then it is recommended to set the value instead "USB-FDD".
Also in Award and Phoenix in the section "Advanced" There is an item regarding settings for entering the BIOS with a password - "Password Check". If you have set a password, it is recommended to pay attention to this item and set a value acceptable to you, there are two of them:
Setting up security and stability
This feature is only relevant for owners of machines with BIOS from Award or Phoenix. You can enable maximum performance or stability mode. In the first case, the system will work a little faster, but there is a risk of incompatibility with some operating systems. In the second case, everything works more stable, but slower (not always).
To enable high performance mode, from the main menu, select "Top performance" and put a value in it "Enable". It is worth remembering that there is a risk of disrupting the stability of the operating system, so work in this mode for several days, and if any failures appear in the system that were not previously observed, then disable it by setting the value "Disable".
If you prefer stability to speed, then it is recommended to download the secure settings protocol; there are two types:
To download any of these protocols, you need to select one of the items discussed above on the right side of the screen, and then confirm the download using the keys Enter or Y.
Setting a password
After completing the basic settings, you can set a password. In this case, no one except you will be able to access the BIOS and/or be able to make any changes to its parameters (depending on the settings described above).
In Award and Phoenix, in order to set a password, you need to select the item in the main screen "Set Supervisor Password". A window will open where you enter a password up to 8 characters long; after entering, a similar window opens where you need to enter the same password for confirmation. When typing, use only Latin characters and Arabic numerals.
To remove the password, you need to select the item again "Set Supervisor Password", but when the window for entering a new password appears, just leave it blank and click Enter.
In AMI BIOS, the password is set slightly differently. First you need to go to the section "Boot", which is in the top menu, and there you can already find "Supervisor Password". The password is set and removed in the same way with Award/Phoenix.
After completing all manipulations in the BIOS, you need to exit it, saving the previously made settings. To do this, find the item "Save & Exit". In some cases you can use a hotkey F10.
Setting up the BIOS is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. In addition, most of the described settings are often already set by default as needed for normal computer operation.
If you were looking for BIOS settings in pictures, then you came to the right address.
The changes made will be protected by a lithium battery built into motherboard and maintaining the required parameters during voltage loss.
Thanks to the program, it is possible to establish stable interaction between the operating system (OS) and PC devices.
Attention! The present Boot network configuration section allows you to adjust parameters related to system boot speed and keyboard and mouse settings.
After finishing work or familiarizing yourself with the Bios Setup Utility menu, you need to press the hot Exit key, which automatically saves the changes made.
Section Main - Main Menu
Let's start working with the MAIN section, which is used to modify settings and adjust timing indicators.
Here you can independently set the time and date of your computer, as well as configure the connected hard drives and other storage devices.
To reformat the operating mode of the hard drive, you need to select the hard drive (for example: “SATA 1”, as shown in the figure).
- Type - This item indicates the type of connected hard drive;
- LBA Large Mode- is responsible for supporting drives with a capacity of more than 504 MB. So the recommended value here is AUTO.
- Block (Multi-Sector Transfer) - For faster operation here, we recommend selecting the AUTO mode;
- PIO Mode - Enables the hard drive to operate in legacy data exchange mode. It would also be best to select AUTO here;
- DMA Mode - gives direct memory access. To get faster read or write speed, select AUTO;
- Smart monitoring - this technology, based on an analysis of the drive’s operation, can warn of a possible disk failure in the near future;
- 32 bit Data Transfer - The option determines whether the 32-bit data exchange mode will be used by the standard IDE/SATA controller of the chipset.
Everywhere, using the “ENTER” key and arrows, the Auto mode is set. The exception is subsection 32 Bit Transfer, which requires the Enabled setting to be fixed.
Important! It is required to refrain from changing the “Storage Configuration” option, which is located in the “System information” section and not to allow correction “SATADetectTimeout."
Advanced section - Additional settings
Now let's start setting up the basic PC components in the ADVANCED section, which consists of several sub-items.
Initially, you will need to set the necessary processor and memory parameters in the system configuration menu Jumper Free Configuration.
By selecting Jumper Free Configuration, you will be taken to the Configure System Frequency/Voltage subsection, where you can perform the following operations:
- automatic or manual overclocking of the hard drive - AI Overclocking;
- changing the clock frequency of memory modules - ;
- Memory Voltage;
- manual mode for setting chipset voltage - NB Voltage
- changing port addresses (COM,LPT) - Serial and Parallel Port;
- setting controller settings - Onboard Devices configuration.
Power Section - PC Power
The POWER item is responsible for powering the PC and contains several subsections that require the following settings:
- Suspended Mode- set automatic mode;
- ACPI APIC- set Enabled;
- ACPI 2.0- fix the Disabled mode.
BOOT section - boot management
Here you can determine the priority drive, choosing between a flash card, disk drive or hard drive.
If there are several hard drives, then in the Hard Disk sub-item the priority hard drive is selected.
The PC boot configuration is set in the Boot Setting subsection, which contains a menu consisting of several items:
Selecting a hard drive
The PC boot configuration is set in the Boot Setting subsection,
- Quick Boot– OS loading acceleration;
- Logo Full Screen– disable the screen saver and activate the information window containing information about the download process;
- Add On ROM- setting the order on the information screen of modules connected to the motherboard (MT) via slots;
- Wait For 'F1' If Error- activation of the function of forced pressing “F1” at the moment the system identifies an error.
The main task of the Boot section is to determine boot devices and set the required priorities.
- ASUS EZ Flash– using this option, you have the opportunity to update the BIOS from such drives as: floppy disk, Flash disk or CD.
- AINET– using this option, you can obtain information about the cable connected to the network controller.
Exit section - Exit and save
Particular attention should be paid to the EXIT item, which has 4 operating modes:
- Save Changes– save the changes made;
- Discard Changes + EXIT– leave the factory settings in effect;
- Setup Defaults– enter default parameters;
- Discard Changes– we cancel all our actions.
The following step-by-step instructions explain in detail the purpose of the main BIOS sections and the rules for making changes to improve PC performance.
Bios setup
Bios Settings - Detailed instructions in pictures
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. The BIOS advanced settings menu will open.
CONTROL KEYS
<
?>
Go to previous menu item
<
?>
Move to next item
<
?>
Move to item on left
<
?>
Go to the item on the right
<+/PgUp>
Increase the numerical value of the setting or select another value from the list
<-/PgDn>
Decrease the numerical value of the setting or select another value from the list
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 configuration options and the assignment of the corresponding keys. To close the window, click
Main menu (using the example of BIOS E2 version)
When you enter the BIOS setup menu (Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility), the main menu opens (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 the setting you need, press "Ctrl+F1" and look for it in the BIOS advanced settings menu.
Standard CMOS Features
This page contains all standard BIOS settings.
Advanced BIOS Features
This page contains additional Award BIOS settings.
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.
To achieve 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
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" high-density AT floppy drive with 1.2 MB 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 booting the system when errors are 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 abort 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 The boot will abort on any error other than a 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.
Base Memory
During the automatic self-test, the BIOS determines the amount of base (or regular) memory installed in the system.
If the system board has 512 KB of memory installed, 512 K is displayed, and if the motherboard has 640 KB or more memory, 640 K is displayed.
Extended Memory
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 Hyper Threading mode is 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 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
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
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
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 The parallel port is operating normally. (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 (DMA channel used in ECP mode)
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 your computer when you double click the mouse.
Power On By Keyboard
Password To turn on the computer, you must enter a password of 1 to 5 characters.
Disabled The function is disabled. (Default setting)
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.
PnP/PCI Configurations
Fig.6: Configuring PnP/PCI devices
PCI l/PCI5 IRQ Assignment
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)
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
Disabled The function is disabled. (Default setting)
SYSTEM FAN Fail Warning
Disabled The function is disabled. (Default setting)
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. - 10X - 24X The value is set depending on the processor clock frequency.
CPU Host Clock Control
Note: If the system hangs 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)
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.
For advanced users only! 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”.
Disabled The function is disabled. (Default setting)
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
Figure 10: Setting secure defaults
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, the default BIOS and chipset settings are loaded, 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
To cancel your password, when prompted to enter a new password, click
The BIOS settings menu allows you to set two different passwords: the administrator password (SUPERVISOR PASSWORD) and the 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".
Setting up the BIOS on a computer is a simple process in itself, but it requires certain knowledge and care, because the performance and performance of the PC depends on its result. BIOS is a group of microprograms responsible for interaction between PC components and its further loading. This set of programs is “hardwired” into a microcircuit on the motherboard.
An interesting fact is that the BIOS was developed in 1981 and has remained virtually unchanged to this day. Only in 2005 did UEFI BIOS appear, but it has yet to displace the good old BIOS from the market.
Setting up BIOS on a new computer
You have a new computer in front of you. If this is a branded computer, then most likely you will not need to configure the bios of the new computer. The manufacturer did this for you. If not, take the documentation for your motherboard and see how to get into the BIOS. Usually, during initial boot, you need to press one of the keys: Del, F2, or F10, but there are other options. Now you know how to find BIOS settings on your computer. Let's see what needs to be configured in the BIOS.
For example, let's look at how the BIOS is configured on an Asus computer. This is AMI BIOS version 02.61. We get into the BIOS by pressing the "Delete" key. The MAIN section will open. Here you can set the date and time, as well as configure hard drives and CD-DVD drives. Please note: on the left side of the screen there is a hint which keys can be used to control the BIOS. Left-right arrows switch sections. You can use the up and down arrows to move between items in the section. The Enter key enters the selected setting item. You can save the settings using the F10 key.
1. In the MAIN section we can see information about the processor, BIOS version and RAM size. To do this, you need to enter the System Information item. In the Storage Configuration item, you can configure the operating mode of hard drives. Here you can set the SATA configuration mode to IDE or ACHI. In IDE mode, you can install an old operating system like Windows XP on your computer. To install modern operating systems, ACHI is set.
2. Advanced section. Here we are interested in the USB configuration settings item. In this section, you must enable the USB ports by selecting Enabled and set the highest data transfer speed (HighSpeed). It is better to leave the remaining settings in the Auto position.
3. Another computer setup via BIOS is performed in the Power section. Here we are interested in the Hardware Monitor item. It displays the temperature of the processor, as well as the number of volts supplied by the power supply. Here you need to enable intelligent cooler control. In the CPU Q-Fan Control menu item, select Enabled.
4. Next, let's see how to configure the computer's bios in the Boot section. Here we set the download from a particular device. When your computer has more than one hard drive, you need to select the drive from which to boot from in the Hard Disk Drives item. In the Boot Device Priority item, select the device from which the computer will boot (for example, a hard drive).
5. In the Boot Setting Configuration section, enable NumLock in the Bootup Num-Lock item (select ON). We also select to quickly boot the computer in the Quick Boot section. In the Security section you can set a password to enter the BIOS.
6. Exit section. Here we save the settings. If you configured something incorrectly, you can set the standard settings.
A laptop is built on the same principle as a regular computer. Accordingly, it also has a BIOS. To get into it, you need to press one of the F1, F2, F10, or ESC keys, depending on the motherboard manufacturer. In principle, the BIOS of all laptops is very similar, so it will not be difficult for you to understand how to properly configure the BIOS on a laptop.
According to this scheme, you perform step-by-step setup of the BIOS on your computer. We learned how to configure the bios of an asus computer. In order to better understand what and how to configure, it is recommended to watch a video on how to properly configure the BIOS on a computer.
Setting up BIOS on an old computer
There are no fundamental differences between the BIOS of the old computer and the new one, so setting up the BIOS in the old computer is carried out according to the above scheme. The only difference is that on an old computer you cannot set it to boot from a flash drive - only from a CD-DVD or hard drive.
In order to install an operating system on an old computer, you need to configure the BIOS.
Let's see how to configure the BIOS in pictures for an HP computer. Here we configure the hard drive in the IDE and boot from CD-ROM. That's it, you can start installing the operating system.
Have you reconfigured your BIOS but can't install Windows? The cost of installing an operating system by a specialist can be found here. Read about how to set up the Internet on your computer yourself.
UEFI setup
We looked at how the BIOS should be configured on a computer in its classic form. Modern computers use UEFI - a system that is completely different from the old BIOS, but has the same functions. In fact, UEFI is a simple operating system with a graphical interface, so you can easily figure out how to configure your computer through the UEFI BIOS. UEFI has the same tabs as in a regular BIOS, you can select the Russian interface language, boot order, etc. For clarity, you can watch a video of setting up the BIOS on your computer.
Conclusion
As you can see, setting up a computer through bios is really a simple process. The answer to the question “how to configure the BIOS on an asus computer” is given above. This is also easy to do on computers from other manufacturers. All settings are the same. Also now you know how to properly configure bios on a laptop. It is best to perform BIOS settings using the manual for your motherboard, which describes how to set up the BIOS on your computer in pictures. This article provides recommendations for typical BIOS settings. If something goes wrong, you can always return to factory settings - to do this, you need to remove the battery on the motherboard and insert it back after 10 seconds.