Biostar P4M900-M4 User guide

P4M900-M4 BIOS Setup
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BIOS Setup ................................................................................................ 1
1 Main Menu ............................................................................................. 3
2 Standard CMOS Features..................................................................... 7
3Advanced BIOS Features ....................................................................... 9
4 Advanced Chipset Features................................................................. 17
5 Integrated Peripherals......................................................................... 21
6 Power Management Setup................................................................... 27
7 PnP/PCI Configurations...................................................................... 32
8 PC Health Status .................................................................................. 35
9 Performance Booster Zone.................................................................. 37

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BIOS Setup
Introduction
The purpose of this manual is to describe the settings in the Pheonix-Award™
BIOS Setup program on this motherboard. The Setup program allows users to
modify the basic s ystem configuration and save these settings to CMOS RAM.
The power of CMOS RAM is supplied by a battery so that it retains the Setup
information when the power is turned off.
Bas ic Input-Output Sys tem (BIOS) determines what a co mputer c an do without
accessing programs from a disk. This system controls most of the input and
outp ut devices such as keyboard, mouse, serial ports and d isk d rives. BIOS
activates at the first stage of the 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.
Plug and Play Support
This PHEONIX-AWARD BIOS supports the Plug and Play Version 1.0A
specification and ESCD (Extended System Configuration Data) write.
EPA Green PC Support
This PHEONIX-AWARD BIOS supports Version 1.03 of the EPA Green PC
specification.
APM Support
This PHEONIX-AWARD BIOS supports Version 1.1&1.2 of the Advanc ed
Power Management (APM) specification. 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 PHEONIX-AWARD BIOS.

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ACPI Support
Pheonix-Award ACPI BIOS support Version 1.0b of Advanced Configuration
and Power interface specification (ACPI). It provides ASL code for power
management and device configuration capabilities as defined in the ACPI
specification, developed by Microsoft, Intel and Toshiba.
PCI Bus Support
This PHEONIX-AWARD BIOS also supports Version 3.0 of the Intel PCI
(Peripheral Component Interconnect) local bus specification.
DRAM Support
DDR SDRAM (Double Data Rate Synchronous DRAM) is supported.
Supported CPUs
This PHEONIX-AWARD BIOS supports the Intel CPU.
Using Setup
Use the arro w keys to highlight items in most of the place, press <Enter> to
select, use the <PgUp> and <PgDn> keys to change entries, press <F1> for help
and press <Esc> to quit. The following table provides more detail about how to
navigate in the Setup program by us ing the keyboard.
Keystroke Function
Up arrow Move to previous item
Down arrow Move to next item
Left arrow Move to the item on the left (menu bar)
Right arrow Move to the item on the right (menu bar)
Move Enter Move to the item you desired
PgUp key Increase the numeric value or make changes
PgDn key Decrease the numeric value or make changes
+ Key Increase the numeric value or make changes
- Key Decrease the numeric value or make changes
Esc key Main Menu – Quit and not save changes into CMOS
Status Page Setup Menu and Option Page Setup Menu – Exit
Current page and return to Main Menu
F1 key General help on Setup navigation keys
F5 key Load previous values from CMOS
F7 key Load the optimized defaults
F10 key Save all the CMOS changes and exit

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1 Main Menu
Once you enter Pheonix-Award BIOS™ CMOS Setup Utility, the Main Menu
will appear on the screen. The Main Menu allows you to select from several
setup functions. Use the arrow keys to select among the items and press <Enter>
to accept and enter the sub-menu.
Figure 1: Main Menu
Stan dard CMOS Fe atures
This submenu contains industry standard configurable options.
Advanced BIOS Features
This sub menu allows yo u to configure advanced features of the BIOS.
!! WARNING !!
For better system performance, the BIOS firmware is being
continuous ly upd ated. The BIOS information described in
this manual (Figure 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) is fo r yo ur
reference only. The actual BIOS information and settings on
board may be slightly different from this manual.

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Advanced Chipset Features
This submenu allows you to configure special chipset features.
Integrated Peripherals
This submenu allows you to configure certain IDE hard drive options and
Programmed Input/ Output features.
Power Management Setup
This submenu allows you to configure the power management features.
PnP/PCI Configurations
This submenu allows you to configure certain “Plug and Play” and PCI options.
PC Health Status
This submenu allows yo u to mo nitor the hardware of your system.
Performance Booster Zone
This submenu allows you to change CPU Vcore Voltage and CPU/PCI clock.
(However, we suggest you to use the default setting. Changing the voltage and
clock improp erly may damage the CPU or M/B!)
Load Optimized Defaults
This selection allows you to reload the BIOS when problem occurs during
system booting sequence. These configurations are factory settings optimized
for this system. A confirmation message will be displayed before defaults are
set.

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Set Supervisor Password
Setting the supervisor password will prohibit everyone except the supervisor
from making changes using the CMOS Setup Utility. You will be prompted with
to enter a password.
Set User Password
If the Supervisor Password is not s et, then the User Password will function in
the same way as the Supervisor Password. If the Supervisor Password is set and
the User Password is s et, the “User” will only be able to view configurations but
will not be able to change them.
Save & Exit Setup
Save all configuration changes to CMOS (memory) and exit setup. Confirmation
message will be displayed before proceeding.
Exit Without Saving
Abandon all changes made during the current session and exit setup.
Confirmation message will be displayed before proceeding.

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Upgrade BIOS
This submenu allows you to upgrade bios.

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2 Standard CMOS Features
The items in Standard CMOS Setup Menu are divided into several categories.
Eac h category inc ludes no, one or more than one setup items. Use the arrow
keys to highlight the item and then use the<PgUp> or <PgDn> keys to select the
value you want in each item.
Figure 2: Standard CMOS Setup
Main Menu Selections
This table shows the items and the available options on the Main Menu.
Item Options Description
Date mm : dd : yy
Set the system date. Note
that the ‘Day’ automatically
changes when you set the
date.
Time hh : mm : ss Set the system internal
clock.
IDE Channel 0 Master Options are in its sub
menu.
Press <Enter> to enter the
sub menu of detailed
options
IDE Channel 0 Slave Options are in its sub
menu.
Press <Enter> to enter the
sub menu of detailed
options.

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Item Options Description
IDE Channel 1 Master Options are in its sub
menu.
Press <Enter> to enter the
sub menu of detailed
options.
IDE Channel 1 Slave Options are in its sub
menu.
Press <Enter> to enter the
sub menu of detailed
options.
Drive A
Drive B
360K, 5.25 in
1.2M, 5.25 in
720K, 3.5 in
1.44M, 3.5 in
2.88M, 3.5 in
None
Select the type of floppy
disk drive installed in your
system.
Halt On
All Errors
No Errors
All, but Keyboard
All, but Diskette
All, but Disk/ Key
Select the situation in which
you want the BIOS to stop
the POST process and
notify you.
Base Memory N/A
Displays the amount of
conventional memory
detected during boot up.
Extended Memory N/A
Displays the amount of
extended memory detected
during boot up.
Total Memory N/A Displays the total memory
available in the system.

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3Advanced BIOS Features
Figure 3: Advanced BIOS Setup
Boot Seq & Floppy Setup
This item allows you to setup boot sequence & Floppy.

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Hard Disk Boot Priority
The BIOS will attempt to arrange the Hard Disk boot sequence automatically.
You can change the Hard Disk booting sequence here.
The Choices: Pri. Master, Pri. Slave, Sec. Master, Sec. Slave, USB HDD0, USB
HDD1, USB HDD2, and Bootable Add-in Cards.
First/Second/Third Boot Device
The BIOS will attempt to load the operating system in this order.
The Choices: Floppy, LS120, Hard Disk, CDROM, ZIP100, USB-FDD,
USB-ZIP, USB-CDROM, LAN, Disabled.
Boot Other Device
When enabled, BIOS will try to load the operating system from other device
when it failed to load from the three devices above.
The Choices: Enabled (default), Disabled
Swap Floppy Drive
For systems with two floppy drives, this option allows you to swap logical
drive assignments.
The Choices: Disabled (default), Enabled.

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Boot Up Floppy Seek
When enabled, System will test the floppy drives to determine if they have 40
or 80 tracks during boot up. Disabling this option reduces the time it takes to
boot-up.
The Choices: Enabled (default), Disabled.
Shadow Setup
This item allows you to setup cache & s hadow setup.
Figure 3.2: Shadow Setup
Video BIOS Shadow
Determines whether video BIOS will be copied to RAM for faster execution or
not.
Enabled (default) Optional ROM is enabled.
Disabled Optional ROM is disabled.

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Cache Setup
CPU L1 & L2 Cache
Depending on the CPU/chipset in use, you may be able to increase memory
access time with this opt ion.
Enabled (default) Enable cache.
Disabled Disable cache.
CPU L3 Cache
Depending on the CPU/chipset in use, you may be able to increase memory
access time with this opt ion.
Enabled (default) Enable cache.
Disabled Disable cache.
CPU L2 Cache ECC Checking
This item allows you to enable/disable CPU L2 Cache ECC Checking.
The Choices: Enabled (default), Disabled.

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CPU Feature
Delay Prior to Thermal
Set this item to enable the CPU Thermal function to engage after the specified
time.
The Choices: 4 Min, 8 Min, 16Min (default), 32 Min.
Thermal Management
This option allows you to select the way to control the “Thermal Management.”
The Choices: Thermal Monitor 1 (default), Thermal Monitor 2.
TM2 Bus Ratio
This option represents the frequency (bus ratio) of the throttled performance
state that will be init iated when the on-die sensor detects temperature increase.
Min= 0 Max= 255 Key in a DEC number.
The Choices: 0 X (default)
TM2 Bus VID
This option represents the voltage of the throttled performance state that will be
initiated when the on-die sensor detects temperature increase.
The Choices: 0.8375V (default), 0.8375-1.6000.

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Limit CP UID MaxVal
Set Limit CPUID MaxVal to 3, it should be “Disabled” for Windows XP.
The Choices: Disabled (default), Enabled.
C1E Function
This item allows you to configure the Enhanced Halt State (C1E) function,
which may reduce the power consumption of your system when the system is
id le.
The Choices: Auto (default)，Disabled.
Execu te Disable Bit
This item allows you to configure the Execute Disabled Bit function, which
protects your system from buffer overflow attacks.
The Choices: Enabled (default), Disabled.
Virtualization Technology
Virtualization Technology can virtually separate your system resource into
several parts, thus enhance the performance when running virtual machines or
mult i interface systems.
The Choices: Enabled (default), Disabled.
Virus Warning
This option allows you to choose the VIRUS Warning feature that is used to
protect the IDE Hard Disk boot sector. If this function is enabled and an attempt
is made to write to the boot sector, BIOS will display a warning message on the
screen and sound an alarm beep.
Disabled (default) Virus protection is disabled.
Enabled Virus protection is activated.
Hyper-Threading Technology
This option allows you to enable or disabled Hyper-Threading Technology.
“Enabled” for Windows XP and Linux 2.4.x (OS optimized for
Hyp er-Threading Technology). “Disable” for other OS (OS not optimized for
Hyper-Threading Technology).
The Choices: Enabled (default), Disabled.

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Quick Power On Self Test
Enabling this option will cause an abridged version of the Power On Self-Test
(POST) to execute after you power up the computer.
Disabled Normal POST.
Enabled (default) Enable quick POST.
Boot Up NumLock Status
Selects the NumLock S tate after the system switc hed on.
The Choices:
On (default) Numpad is number keys.
Off Numpad is arrow keys.
Typematic Rate Setting
When a key is held down, the keystroke will repeat at a rate determined by the
keyboard controller. When enabled, the typematic rate and typematic delay can
be configured.
The Choices: Disabled (default), Enabled.
Typematic Rate (Chars/Sec)
Sets the rate at whic h a keystroke is repeated when you ho ld the key down.
The Choices: 6 (default),8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 24, 30.
Typematic Delay (Msec)
Sets the delay time after the key is held down before it begins to repeat the
keystroke.
The Choices: 250 (default),500, 750, 1000.
Security Option
This option will enable only individuals with passwords to bring the system
online and/or to use the CMOS Setup Utility.
System: A password is required for the system to boot and is also
required to access the Setup Utility.
Setup (default): A p assword is required to access the Setup Utility only.
This will only apply if passwords are set from the Setup main menu.

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MPS Version Control For OS
The BIOS supports version 1.1 and 1.4 of the Intel multiprocessor specification.
Selec t vers ion s upported by the operation sys tem running on this computer.
The Choices: 1.4 (default), 1.1.
OS Select For DRAM > 64MB
A choice other than Non-OS2 is o nly used for OS2 systems with memory
exceeding 64MB.
The Choices: Non-OS2 (default), OS2.
Small Logo(EPA) Show
This item allows you to select whether the “Small Logo” shows. Enabled
(default) “Small Logo” shows when system boots up. Disabled No “Small
Logo” shows when system boots
The Choices: Enabled (default), Disabled
Summary Screen Show
This item allows you to enable/disable the summary screen. Summary screen
means system configuration and PCI device listing.
The Choices: Disabled (default), Enabled.

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4 Advanced Chipset Features
This submenu allows you to configure the specific features of the chipset
installed on your system. This chipset manage bus speeds and access to system
memory resources, such as DRAM. It also coordinates communications with the
PCI bus. The default settings that came with your system have been optimized
and therefore should not be changed unless you are suspicious that the settings
have been changed incorrectly.
Figure 4: Advanced Chipset Setup

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AGP & P2P Bridge Control
Highlight “Press Enter” next to the “AGP & P2P Bridge Control” label and
pressing the enter key will take you a submenu with the following options:
Figure 4.1: AGP & P2P Bridge Control
AGP Aperture Size
Select the size of the Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) aperture. The aperture
is a portion of the PCI memory address range dedicated for graphics memory
address space. Host cycles that hit the aperture range are forwarded to the AGP
without the need of translation.
The Choices: 32M, 64M, 128M (default), 256M.
AGP 2.0 Mode
T his item allows you to select the AGP Mode.
The Choices: 4X (default), 8X.
AGP M aster 1 WS Wr ite
When enabled, writes to the AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) are executed
with one wait states.
The Choices: Enabled (default), Disabled.

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AGP Master 1 WS Read
When enabled, read to the AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) are executed with
one wait states.
The Choices: Enabled (default), Disabled.
VGA Share Memory Size
This item allows you to select the VGA share memory size.
The Choices: 128M (default), 64M, 256M, Disabled
Direct Frame Buffer
This item allows you to disabled or enabled direct frame buffer
The Choices: Enabled (default), Disabled.
CPU & PCI Bus Control
By highlighting the “Press Enter” label next to the “CPU & PCI Bus Control”
and press the enter key, it will take you a submenu with the following options:
Fig ure 4.2 : CP U & P CI Bus Co ntrol
PCI Mast er 0 WS Wr ite
When enabled, writes to the PCI bus are executed with zero-wait states.
The Choices: Enabled (default), Disabled.