BIOS Features Setup (Part 1)
Virus Warning / Anti-Virus Protection
Options : Enabled, Disabled, ChipAway
When Virus Warning is enabled, the BIOS will flash a warning message whenever there's an attempt to access the boot sector or the partition table. You should leave this feature enabled if possible. Note that this only protects the boot sector and the partition table, not the entire hard disk.
However, this feature will cause problems with the installation of certain software. One good example is the installation routine of Win95/98. When enabled, this feature will cause Win95/98's installation routine to fail. Disable it before installing such software.
Also, many disk diagnostic utilities that access the boot sector can trigger the error message as well. You should first disable this option before using such utilities.
Finally, this feature is useless for hard disks that run on external controllers with their own BIOS. Boot sector viruses will bypass the system BIOS and write directly to such hard disks. Such controllers include SCSI controllers and UltraDMA 66 controllers.
Some motherboards will have their own rule-based anti-virus code (ChipAway) incorporated into the BIOS. Enabling it will provide additional anti-virus protection for the system as it will be able to detect boot viruses before they have a chance to infect the boot sector of the hard disk. Again, this is useless if the hard disk is on a separate controller with its own BIOS.
CPU Level 1 Cache
Options : Enabled, Disabled
This BIOS setting can be used to enable or disable the CPU's L1 (primary) cache. Naturally, the default setting is Enabled.
This feature is useful for overclockers who want to pinpoint the cause of their unsuccessful overclocking. I.e. if a CPU cannot reach 500MHz with the L1 cache enabled and vice versa; then the L1 cache is what's stopping the CPU from reaching 500MHz stably.
However, disabling the L1 cache in order to increase the overclockability of the CPU is a very bad idea, especially in highly pipelined designs like Intel's P6 family of processors (Pentium Pro, Celeron, Pentium II, Pentium !!!).
CPU Level 2 Cache
Options : Enabled, Disabled
This BIOS setting can be used to enable or disable the CPU's L2 (secondary) cache. Naturally, the default setting is Enabled.
This feature is useful for overclockers who want to pinpoint the cause of their unsuccessful overclocking. I.e. if a CPU cannot reach 500MHz with the L2 cache enabled and vice versa; then the L2 cache is what's stopping the CPU from reaching 500MHz stably.
Users may choose to disable L2 cache in order to overclock higher but the trade-off isn't really worth it.
CPU L2 Cache ECC Checking
Options : Enabled, Disabled
This feature enables or disables the L2 cache's ECC checking function (if available). Enabling this feature is recommended because it will detect and correct single-bit errors in data stored in the L2 cache. It will also detect double-bit errors but not correct them. Still, ECC checking stabilizes the system, especially at overclocked speeds when errors are most likely to creep in.
There are those who advocate disabling ECC checking because it reduces performance. The performance difference is negligible, if at all. However, the stability and reliability achieved via ECC checking is real and substantial. It may even enable you to overclock higher than is possible with ECC checking disabled. So, enable it for added stability and reliability.
Processor Number Feature
Options : Enabled, Disabled
This feature is only valid if you install a Pentium !!! processor. It will most probably not appear unless you have the Pentium !!! processor installed. This feature enables you to control whether the Pentium !!!'s serial number can be read by external programs. Enable this if your secure transactions require you to use such a feature. But for most people, I think you should disable this feature to safeguard your privacy.
Quick Power On Self Test
Options : Enabled, Disabled
When enabled, this feature will shorten some tests and skip others that are performed during the booting up process. Thus, the system boots up much quicker.
Enable it for faster booting but disable it after making any change to the system to detect any errors that may slip through the Quick Power On Self Test. After a few error-free test runs, you can reenable this option for faster booting without impairing system stability.
Boot Sequence
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
This feature enables you to set the sequence in which the BIOS will search for an operating system. To ensure the shortest booting time possible, select the hard disk that contains your operating system as the first choice. Normally, that would be drive C but if you are using a SCSI hard disk, then select SCSI.
Special : Some motherboards (i.e. ABIT BE6 and BP6) have an extra onboard IDE controller. The BIOS options in these motherboards replaces the SCSI option with an EXT option. This allows the computer to boot from an IDE hard disk on the 3rd or 4th IDE ports (courtesy of the extra onboard IDE controller) or from a SCSI hard disk. If you
want to boot from an IDE hard disk running off the 1st or 2nd IDE ports, do not set the Boot Sequence to start with EXT. Note that this function has to work in conjunction with the Boot Sequence EXT Means function.
Boot Sequence EXT Means
Options : IDE, SCSI
This function is only valid if the Boot Sequence function above has EXT settings and this function has to cooperate with the Boot Sequence function. This function allows you to set whether the system boots from an IDE hard disk that's connected to any of the extra two IDE ports found on some motherboards (i.e. ABIT BE6 and BP6) or a SCSI hard disk.
To boot from an IDE hard disk that's connected to the 3rd or 4th IDE port, courtesy of the extra onboard IDE controller), you'll first have to set the Boot Sequence (above) function to start with EXT first. For example, the EXT, C, A setting. Then, you will have to set this function, Boot Sequence EXT Means to IDE.
In order to boot from a
Options : Enabled, Disabled, ChipAway
When Virus Warning is enabled, the BIOS will flash a warning message whenever there's an attempt to access the boot sector or the partition table. You should leave this feature enabled if possible. Note that this only protects the boot sector and the partition table, not the entire hard disk.
However, this feature will cause problems with the installation of certain software. One good example is the installation routine of Win95/98. When enabled, this feature will cause Win95/98's installation routine to fail. Disable it before installing such software.
Also, many disk diagnostic utilities that access the boot sector can trigger the error message as well. You should first disable this option before using such utilities.
Finally, this feature is useless for hard disks that run on external controllers with their own BIOS. Boot sector viruses will bypass the system BIOS and write directly to such hard disks. Such controllers include SCSI controllers and UltraDMA 66 controllers.
Some motherboards will have their own rule-based anti-virus code (ChipAway) incorporated into the BIOS. Enabling it will provide additional anti-virus protection for the system as it will be able to detect boot viruses before they have a chance to infect the boot sector of the hard disk. Again, this is useless if the hard disk is on a separate controller with its own BIOS.
CPU Level 1 Cache
Options : Enabled, Disabled
This BIOS setting can be used to enable or disable the CPU's L1 (primary) cache. Naturally, the default setting is Enabled.
This feature is useful for overclockers who want to pinpoint the cause of their unsuccessful overclocking. I.e. if a CPU cannot reach 500MHz with the L1 cache enabled and vice versa; then the L1 cache is what's stopping the CPU from reaching 500MHz stably.
However, disabling the L1 cache in order to increase the overclockability of the CPU is a very bad idea, especially in highly pipelined designs like Intel's P6 family of processors (Pentium Pro, Celeron, Pentium II, Pentium !!!).
CPU Level 2 Cache
Options : Enabled, Disabled
This BIOS setting can be used to enable or disable the CPU's L2 (secondary) cache. Naturally, the default setting is Enabled.
This feature is useful for overclockers who want to pinpoint the cause of their unsuccessful overclocking. I.e. if a CPU cannot reach 500MHz with the L2 cache enabled and vice versa; then the L2 cache is what's stopping the CPU from reaching 500MHz stably.
Users may choose to disable L2 cache in order to overclock higher but the trade-off isn't really worth it.
CPU L2 Cache ECC Checking
Options : Enabled, Disabled
This feature enables or disables the L2 cache's ECC checking function (if available). Enabling this feature is recommended because it will detect and correct single-bit errors in data stored in the L2 cache. It will also detect double-bit errors but not correct them. Still, ECC checking stabilizes the system, especially at overclocked speeds when errors are most likely to creep in.
There are those who advocate disabling ECC checking because it reduces performance. The performance difference is negligible, if at all. However, the stability and reliability achieved via ECC checking is real and substantial. It may even enable you to overclock higher than is possible with ECC checking disabled. So, enable it for added stability and reliability.
Processor Number Feature
Options : Enabled, Disabled
This feature is only valid if you install a Pentium !!! processor. It will most probably not appear unless you have the Pentium !!! processor installed. This feature enables you to control whether the Pentium !!!'s serial number can be read by external programs. Enable this if your secure transactions require you to use such a feature. But for most people, I think you should disable this feature to safeguard your privacy.
Quick Power On Self Test
Options : Enabled, Disabled
When enabled, this feature will shorten some tests and skip others that are performed during the booting up process. Thus, the system boots up much quicker.
Enable it for faster booting but disable it after making any change to the system to detect any errors that may slip through the Quick Power On Self Test. After a few error-free test runs, you can reenable this option for faster booting without impairing system stability.
Boot Sequence
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
This feature enables you to set the sequence in which the BIOS will search for an operating system. To ensure the shortest booting time possible, select the hard disk that contains your operating system as the first choice. Normally, that would be drive C but if you are using a SCSI hard disk, then select SCSI.
Special : Some motherboards (i.e. ABIT BE6 and BP6) have an extra onboard IDE controller. The BIOS options in these motherboards replaces the SCSI option with an EXT option. This allows the computer to boot from an IDE hard disk on the 3rd or 4th IDE ports (courtesy of the extra onboard IDE controller) or from a SCSI hard disk. If you
want to boot from an IDE hard disk running off the 1st or 2nd IDE ports, do not set the Boot Sequence to start with EXT. Note that this function has to work in conjunction with the Boot Sequence EXT Means function.
Boot Sequence EXT Means
Options : IDE, SCSI
This function is only valid if the Boot Sequence function above has EXT settings and this function has to cooperate with the Boot Sequence function. This function allows you to set whether the system boots from an IDE hard disk that's connected to any of the extra two IDE ports found on some motherboards (i.e. ABIT BE6 and BP6) or a SCSI hard disk.
To boot from an IDE hard disk that's connected to the 3rd or 4th IDE port, courtesy of the extra onboard IDE controller), you'll first have to set the Boot Sequence (above) function to start with EXT first. For example, the EXT, C, A setting. Then, you will have to set this function, Boot Sequence EXT Means to IDE.
In order to boot from a
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