Biostar P31B-A7 - BIOS User manual

P31B-A7 BIOS Manual
i
BIOS Setup.................................................................................................1
1Main Menu...............................................................................................3
2Advanced Menu.......................................................................................7
3PCIPnP Menu........................................................................................18
4Boot Menu..............................................................................................22
5Chipset Menu.........................................................................................24
6Performance Menu...............................................................................28
7Exit Menu...............................................................................................30

P31B-A7 BIOS Manual
1
BIOS Setup
Introduction
The purpose of this manual is to describe the settings in the AMI BIOS Setup
program on this motherboard. The Setup program allows users to modify the basic
system configuration and save these settings to CMOS RAM. The power ofCMOS
RAM is supplied by abattery so that it retains theSetup information when the power
is turned off.
Basic Input-Output System (BIOS) determines what a computer can do without
accessing programs from a disk. This system controls most of the input and output
devices such as keyboard, mouse, serial ports and disk drives. BIOS activates at the
first stage ofthe booting process, loading and executing the operating system. Some
additional features, such as virus and password protection or chipset fine-tuning
options are also included in BIOS.
The rest of this manual will to guide you through the options and settings in BIOS
Setup.
Plugand Play Support
ThisAMI BIOS supports thePlug and Play Version 1.0A specification.
EPA Green PC Support
ThisAMI BIOS supports Version 1.03 ofthe EPA Green PC specification.
APM Support
This AMI BIOS supports Version 1.1&1.2 of the Advanced Power Management
(APM) speci fication. Power management features are implemented via the System
Management Interrupt (SMI). Sleep and Suspend power management modes are
supported. Power to the hard disk drives and video monitors can also be managed by
this AMI BIOS.
ACPI Support
AMI ACPI BIOS support Version 1.0/2.0 of Advanced Configuration and Power
interface specification (ACPI). It provides ASL code for power management and
device configuration capabilities as defined in theACPI specification, developed by
Microsoft, Intel and Toshiba.

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PCI Bus Support
This AMI BIOS also supports Version 2.3 of the Intel PCI (Peripheral Component
Interconnect) local bus specification.
DRAM Support
DDR2 SDRAM (Double Data Rate II Synchronous DRAM) is supported.
Supported CPUs
ThisAMI BIOS supports the Intel CPU.
Using Setup
When starting up the computer, press
<Del> during the Power-On Self-Test
(POST) to enter theBIOS setup utility.
In the BIOS setup utility, you will see
General Help description at the top right
corner, and this is providing a brief
description of the selected item.
Navigation Keys for that particular menu
are at the bottom right corner, and you can
use these keys to select item and change
the settings.
Notice
zThe default BIOS settings apply for most conditions to ensure optimum performance
of the motherboard. If the system becomes unstable after changing any settings,
please load the default settings to ensure system’s compatibility and stability. Use
Load Setup Default under the Exit Menu.
zFor better system performance, the BIOS firmware is being continuously updated.
The BIOS information described in this manual isfor yourreferenceonly. The actual
BIOS information and settings on board may be slightly different from this manual.
zThe content ofthis manual is subject to be changed without notice. We will not be
responsible for any mistakes found in this user’s manual and any system damage that
may be caused by wrong-settings.
General Help
Navigation Keys

P31B-A7 BIOS Manual
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1 Main Menu
Once you enter AMI BIOS Setup Utility, the Main Menu will appear on the screen
providing an overviewof the basic system information.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Main Advanced PCIPnP Boot Chipset Performance
vxx.xx (C)Copyright 1985-200x, American Megatrends, Inc.
Select Screen
Select Item
Change Field
Select Field
General Help
Save and Exit
Exit
+-
Tab
F1
F10
ESC
Use [ENTER], [TAB]
or [SHIFT-TAB] to
select a field.
Use [+] or [-] to
configure system Time.
System Overview
AMI BIOS
System Memory
[ :00:00]
System Date [Tue 01/01/2008]
Floppy A
> IDE Configuration
Version :01.01.01
Build Date:01/01/08
Size :
System Time 00
Exit
AMI BIOS
Shows systeminformation including BIOS version, built date, etc.
System Memory
Shows systemmemory size, VGA shard memory will be excluded..
System Time
Set the systeminternal clock.
System Date
Set the system date. Note that the ‘Day’ automatically changes when you set the
date.

P31B-A7 BIOS Manual
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Floppy A
Select the typeof floppy disk drive installed in yoursystem.
Options: 360K, 5.25in / 1.2M, 5.25 in/ 720K, 3.5 in / 1.44M, 3.5 in /
2.88M, 3.5in / None
IDE Configuration
The BIOS will automatically detect the presence of IDE/SATA devices. There is a
sub-menu for each IDE/SATA device. Select a device and press <Enter> to enter
the sub-menu ofdetailed options.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Main
vxx.xx (C)Copyright 1985-200x, American Megatrends, Inc.
Select Screen
Select Item
Go to Sub Screen
General Help
Save and Exit
Exit
Enter
F1
F10
ESC
IDE Confuguration
Configure SATA Channels [Before PATA]
Legacy IDE Channels [SATA Pri, PATA Sec]
> SATA1 DEVICE
>
>
Hard Disk Write Pr otect [Disabled]
IDE Detect Time Out (Sec) [35]
SATA2 DEVICE
SATA3 DEVICE
> SATA4 DEVICE
> IDE Channel 1 Ma ster
> IDE Channel 1 Sl ave
ATA/IDE Configuration [Enhanced]
Options
Disabled
Compatible
Enhanced
ATA/IDE Configuration
Thisitem allows you to control theonboard IDE controller.
Options: Enhanced (Default) / Compatible/ Disabled
Configure SATA Channels
Thisitem allows you to control theSATA channel configuration sequence.
Options: Before PATA (Default) / Behind PATA
Legacy IDE Channels
Thisitem appears only when “ATA/IDE Configuration” is set to“Compatible”.
Options: SATA Pri, PATA Sec (Default) / SATA Only/ PATAPri, SATA Sec /
PATA Only

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SATA1/2/3/4 Device; IDE Channel 1Master/Slave
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Main
vxx.xx (C)Copyright 1985-200x, American Megatrends, Inc.
Select Screen
Select Item
Change Option
General Help
Save and Exit
Exit
+-
F1
F10
ESC
SATA1 Device
LBA/Large Mode [Auto]
Block (Multi-Secto r Transfer)[ Auto]
PIO Mode [Auto]
DMA Mode [Auto]
S.M.A.R.T [Auto]
32Bit Data Transfe r [Enabled]
Device :
Type [Auto]
Options
Not Installed
Auto
CD/DVD
ARMD
The BIOS detects the information and values of respective devices, and these
information and values are shown below to the name of thesub-menu.
Type
Select the typeofthe IDE/SATAdrive.
Options: Auto (Default) / CD/DVD / ARMD / Not Installed
LBA/Large Mode
Enable or disable the LBA mode.
Options: Auto (Default) / Disabled
Block (Multi-Sector Transfer)
Enable or disable multi-sector transfer.
Options: Auto (Default) / Disabled
PIOMode
Select the PIO mode.
Options: Auto (Default) / 0 / 1/ 2 / 3 /4
DMA Mode
Select the DMA mode.
Options: Auto (Default) / Disabled

P31B-A7 BIOS Manual
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S.M.A.R.T
Set the Smart Monitoring, Analysis, andReportingTechnology.
Options: Auto (Default) / Disabled / Enabled
32Bit Data Transfer
Enable or disable 32-bit data transfer.
Options: Enabled (Default) / Disabled
Hard Disk Write Protect
Disable or enable device write protection. Thiswill be effective only if the device
is accessed through BIOS.
Options: Disabled (Default) / Enabled
IDE Detect Time Out (Sec)
Select the time out value for detecting IDE/SATA devices.
Options: 35 (Default)/ 30 / 25/ 20 / 15 / 10 / 5 / 0

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2Advanced Menu
The Advanced Menu allows you to configure thesettings of CPU, Super I/O, Power
Management, and other system devices.
Notice
zBeware of that setting inappropriate values in items of this menu may cause
system tomalfunction.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Main Advanced PCIPnP Boot Chipset Performance
vxx.xx (C)Copyright 1985-200x, American Megatrends, Inc.
Select Screen
Select Item
Go to Sub Screen
General Help
Save and Exit
Exit
Enter
F1
F10
ESC
Configure CPU.Advanced Settings
WARNING: Setting wrong values in below sections
may cause system to malfunction.
> USB Configuration
> SuperIO Configuration
> Hardware Health Configuration
> Smart Fan Configuration
> Power Configuration
> CPU Configuration
Exit
CPU Configuration
Thisitem shows theCPU information that theBIOS automatically detects.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Advanced
vxx.xx (C)Copyright 1985-200x, American Megatrends, Inc.
Select Screen
Select Item
Change Option
General Help
Save and Exit
Exit
+-
F1
F10
ESC
Configure advanced CPU settings
Module Version:xx.xx
Manufacturer:Intel
Frequency :
FSB Speed :
Cache L1 :
Cache L2 :
Ratio Status:
Ratio Actual Value:
C1E Support [Enabled]
Max CPUID Value Limit [Disabled]
Execute-Disable Bit Capability [Enabled]
PECI [Disabled]
Core Multi-Processing [Enabled]
Intel(R) SpeedStep(tm) tech [Enabled]
Options
Disabled
Enabled

P31B-A7 BIOS Manual
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C1E Support
C1E is “Enhanced Halt State” function, this function helps to save power and
decrease heat by lowering CPUfrequency while the processor is not working.
Options: Enabled (Default) / Disabled
Max CPUID Value Limit
When the computer is booted up, the operating system executes the CPUID
instruction to identify the processor and its capabilities. Before it can do so, it must
first query the processor to find out the highest input value CPUID recognizes. This
determines thekind ofbasic information CPUID can provide the operating system.
Options: Disabled (Default) / Enabled
Execute-Disable Bit Capability
Thisitem allows you to configure the Execute Disabled Bit function, which protects
yoursystem from buffer overflow attacks.
Options: Enabled (Default) / Disabled
PECI
This item allows you to control the PECI function for the processor which supports
Platform Environment Control Interface for betterthermal management.
Options: Disabled (Default) / Enabled
Core Multi-Processing
Thisitem allows multi-processing function for multi-core processors.
Options: Enabled (Default) / Disabled
Intel(R) SpeedStep(tm) Tech
This item allows you to enable SpeedStep technology for better power saving.
SpeedStep is a technology built into some Intel processors that allows the clock
speed of the processor to be dynamically changed by software.
Options: Enabled (Default) / Disabled

P31B-A7 BIOS Manual
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SuperIO Configuration
BIOS SETUP U TILITY
Advanced
vxx.xx (C)Copyright 1985-200x, American Me gatrends, Inc.
Select Screen
Select Item
Change Option
General Help
Save and Exit
Exit
+-
F1
F10
ESC
Allows BIOS to Enable
or Disable Floppy
Controller
Configure ITE8712 Super IO Chipset
Onboard Floppy Controller [Enabled]
Serial Port1 A ddress [3F8/IRQ4]
Parallel Port Address [378]
Parallel Por t Mode [Normal]
Parallel Por t IRQ [IRQ 7]
Keyboard PowerOn [Disabled]
Mouse PowerOn [Disabled]
Restore on AC Power Loss [Power Off]
Onboard Floppy Controller
Select enabled if your system has a floppy disk controller (FDC) installed on the
system board and you wish to use it. Ifyou installed another FDC or the system uses
no floppy drive, select disabledin this field.
Options: Enabled (Default) / Disabled
Serial Port1Address
Select an address and corresponding interrupt for the first and second serial ports.
Options: 3F8/IRQ4 (Default) / 2F8/IRQ3 / 3E8/IRQ4 / 2E8/IRQ3/ Auto / Disabled
ParallelPort Address
Thisitem allows you to determine access onboard parallel port controller with which
I/O Address.
Options: 378 (Default) / 278 / 3BC / Disabled
ParallelPortMode
Thisitem allows you to determine how the parallel port should function.
Options: Normal (Default) Using Parallel port as Standard Printer Port.
EPP Using Parallel Port as Enhanced Parallel Port.
ECP Using Parallel port as Extended Capabilities Port.
ECP+EPP Using Parallel port as ECP& EPP mode.