Gigabyte GA-6VA7 User manual

BIOS Configuration
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4. BIOS CONFIGURATION
Award's BIOS ROM has a built-in Setup program that allows users to modify
the basic system configuration. This type of information is stored in battery-
backed CMOS SRAM so that it retains the Setup information when the power
is turned off.
4.1. ENTERING SETUP
Power ON the computer and press <Del> immediately will allow you to enter
Setup. If the message disappears before you respond and you still wish to
enter Setup, restart the system to try again by turning it OFF then ON or
pressing the "RESET" bottom on the system case. You may also restart by
simultaneously press <Ctrl>, <Alt>, and <Del> keys.
4.2. CONTROL KEYS
Up arrow Move to previous item
Down arrow Move to next item
Left arrow Move to the item in the left hand
Right arrow Move to the item in the right hand
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
PgUp key Increase the numeric value or make changes
PgDn key Decrease the numeric value or make changes
F1 key General help, only for Status Page Setup Menu and Option
Page Setup Menu
F2 key Change color from total 16 colors
F3 key Reserved
F4 key Reserved
F5 key Restore the previous CMOS value from CMOS, only for
Option Page Setup Menu
F6 key Load the default CMOS value from BIOS default table, only
for Option Page Setup Menu
F7 key Load the default
F8 key Reserved
F9 key Reserved
F10 key Save all the CMOS changes, only for Main Menu

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4.3. GETTING HELP
4.3.1. Main Menu
The on-line description of the highlighted setup function is displayed at the
bottom of the screen.
4.3.2. Status Page Setup Menu / Option Page Setup Menu
Press F1 to pop up a small help window that describes the appropriate keys
to use and the possible selections for the highlighted item. To exit the Help
Window press <Esc>.
4.4. THE MAIN MENU
Once you enter Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility, the Main Menu (Figure 4.1)
will appear on the screen. The Main Menu allows you to select setup
functions and exit choices. Use arrow keys to select among the items and
press <Enter> to accept or enter the sub-menu.
Figure 4.1: Main Menu
•Standard CMOS setup
This setup page includes all the items in standard compatible BIOS.
•BIOS features setup
This setup page includes all the items of Award special enhanced
features.

BIOS Configuration
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•Chipset features setup
This setup page includes all the items of chipset special features.
•Power management setup
This setup page includes all the items of Green function features.
•PNP/PCI configuration
This setup page includes all the configurations of PCI & PnP ISA
resources.
•Load BIOS defaults
BIOS Defaults indicates the most appropriate value of the system
parameters that the system would be in safe configuration.
•Load Performance defaults
Performance Defaults indicates the value of the system parameters that
the system would be in the best performance configuration.
•Integrated peripherals
This setup page includes all onboard peripherals.
•Supervisor password
Change, set, or disable password. It allows you to limit access to the
system and Setup, or just to Setup.
•User password
Change, set, or disable password. It allows you to limit access to the
system.
•IDE HDD auto detection
Automatically configure hard disk parameters.
•Save & exit setup
Save CMOS value settings to CMOS and exit setup.
•Exit without saving
Abandon all CMOS value changes and exit setup.

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4.5. STANDARD CMOS SETUP MENU
The items in Standard CMOS Setup Menu (Figure 4.2) are divided into 9
categories. Each category includes no, one or more than one setup items.
Use the arrows to highlight the item and then use the <PgUp> or <PgDn>
keys to select the value you want in each item.
Figure 4.2: Standard CMOS Setup Menu
•Date
The date format is <day>, <month> <date> <year>.
day The day, from Sun to Sat, determined by the BIOS and is
display-only
month The month, Jan. through Dec.
date The date, from 1 to 31 (or the maximum allowed in the
month)
year The year, from 1994 through 2079
•Time
The times format in <hour> <minute> <second>. The time is calculated
base on the 24-hour military-time clock. For example, 1 p.m. is 13:00:00.

BIOS Configuration
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•Primary HDDs / Secondary HDDs
The category identifies the types of hard disk from drive C to F that has
been installed in the computer. There are two types: auto type, and user
definable type. User type is user-definable; Auto type which will
automatically detect HDD type.
Note that the specifications of your drive must match with the drive table.
The hard disk will not work properly if you enter improper information for
this category.
If you select User Type, related information will be asked to enter to the
following items. Enter the information directly from the keyboard and
press <Enter>. Such information should be provided in the documentation
form your hard disk vendor or the system manufacturer.
CYLS. Number of cylinders
HEADS number of heads
PRECOMP write precomp
LANDZONE Landing zone
SECTORS number of sectors
If a hard disk has not been installed select NONE and press <Enter>.
•Drive A type / Drive B type
The category identifies the types of floppy disk drive A or drive B that has
been installed in the computer.
None No floppy drive installed
360K, 5.25 in. 5.25 inch PC-type standard drive; 360K byte capacity.
1.2M, 5.25 in. 5.25 inch AT-type high-density drive; 1.2M byte
capacity (3.5 inch when 3 Mode is Enabled).
720K, 3.5 in. 3.5 inch double-sided drive; 720K byte capacity
1.44M, 3.5 in. 3.5 inch double-sided drive; 1.44M byte capacity.
2.88M, 3.5 in. 3.5 inch double-sided drive; 2.88M byte capacity.

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•Floppy 3 Mode Support (for Japan Area)
Disabled Normal Floppy Drive.
Drive A Drive A is 3 mode Floppy Drive.
Drive B Drive B is 3 mode Floppy Drive.
Both Drive A & B are 3 mode Floppy Drives.
•Video
The category detects the type of adapter used for the primary system
monitor that must match your video display card and monitor. Although
secondary monitors are supported, you do not have to select the type in
setup.
EGA/VGA Enhanced Graphics Adapter/Video Graphics Array. For
EGA, VGA, SVGA, or PGA monitor adapters
CGA 40 Color Graphics Adapter, power up in 40 column mode
CGA 80 Color Graphics Adapter, power up in 80 column mode
MONO Monochrome adapter, includes high resolution
monochrome adapters
•Halt on
The category determines whether the computer will stop if an error is
detected during power up.
NO Errors The system boot will not stop for any error that
may be detected
All Errors Whenever the BIOS detects a non-fatal error the
system will be stopped and you will be prompted
All, But Keyboard The system boot will not stop for a keyboard error;
it will stop for all other errors
All, But Diskette The system boot will not stop for a disk error; it will
stop for all other errors
All, But Disk/Key The system boot will not stop for a keyboard or
disk error; it will stop for all other errors

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•Memory
The category is display-only which is determined by POST (Power On
Self Test) of the BIOS.
Base Memory
The POST of the BIOS will determine the amount of base (or
conventional) memory installed in the system.
The value of the base memory is typically 512 K for systems
with 512 K memory installed on the motherboard, or 640 K for
systems with 640 K or more memory installed on the
motherboard.
Extended Memory
The BIOS determines how much extended memory is present
during the POST.
This is the amount of memory located above 1 MB in the CPU's
memory address map.
Expanded Memory
Expanded Memory in memory defined by the Lotus/Intel/Microsoft
(LIM) standard as EMS.
Many standard DOS applications can not utilize memory above
640 K; the Expanded Memory Specification (EMS) swaps
memory, which not utilized by DOS with a section, or frame, so
these applications, can access all of the system memory.
Memory can be swapped by EMS is usually 64 K within 1 MB or
memory above 1 MB, depends on the chipset design.
Expanded memory device driver is required to use memory as
Expanded Memory.
Other Memory
This refers to the memory located in the 640 K to 1024 K
address space. This is memory that can be used for different
applications.
DOS uses this area to load device drivers to keep as much base
memory free for application programs. Most use for this area is
Shadow RAM.

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4.6. BIOS FEATURES SETUP
Figure 4.3: BIOS Features Setup
•Virus Warning
If it is set to enable, the category will flash on the screen when there is
any attempt to write to the boot sector or partition table of the hard disk
drive. The system will halt and the warning message will appear in the
mean time. You can run anti-virus program to locate the problem.
The default value is Disabled.
Enabled Activate automatically when the system boots up causing a
warning message to appear when anything attempts to
access the boot sector or hard disk partition table
Disabled No warning message to appear when anything attempts to
access the boot sector or hard disk partition table
•CPU Internal Cache / External Cache
These two categories speed up memory access. However, it depends on
CPU / chipset design. The default value is Enabled.
Enabled Enable cache
Disabled Disable cache

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•CPU L2 Cache ECC Checking
The default value is Enabled.
Enabled Enable CPU L2 Cache ECC Checking
Disabled Disable CPU L2 Cache ECC Checking
•Quick Power On Self Test
This category speeds up Power On Self Test (POST) after you power on
the computer. If it is set to Enable, BIOS will shorten or skip some check
items during POST.
The default value is Enabled.
Enabled Enable quick POST
Disabled Normal POST
•Boot From LAN First
The default value is Enabled.
Enabled Enable Boot From LAN First
Disabled Disable Boot From LAN First
Auto Boot From LAN First set to Auto
+You can set “Auto”or “Enabled”to boot from LAN first.
•Boot Sequence
This category determines which drive computer searches first for the disk
operating system (i.e., DOS). Default value is A, C, SCSI.
X1, X2, X3 System will first search for X1 disk drive then X2 disk
drive and then X3 disk drive.
•Swap Floppy Drive
The default value is Disabled.
Enabled Floppy A & B will be swapped
Disabled Floppy A & B will be normal definition

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•VGA Boot From
The default value is PCI Slot.
AGP VGA Boot From AGP
PCI Slot VGA Boot From PCI Slot
•Boot Up Floppy Seek
During POST, BIOS will determine the floppy disk drive installed is 40 or
80 tracks. 360 K type is 40 tracks 720 K, 1.2 M and 1.44 M are all 80
tracks. The default value is Enabled.
Enabled
BIOS searches for floppy disk drive to determine it is 40 or
80 tracks. Note that BIOS can not tell from 720 K, 1.2 M or
1.44 M drive type as they are all 80 tracks
Disabled
BIOS will not search for the type of floppy disk drive by
track number. Note that there will not be any warning
message if the drive installed is 360 K
•Boot Up NumLock Status
The default value is On.
On Keypad is number keys
Off Keypad is arrow keys
•Memory Parity/ECC Check
The default value is Disabled.
Enabled Enabled Memory Parity/ECC Check.
Disabled Disabled Memory Parity/ECC Check.
•Typematic Rate Setting
The default value is Disabled.
Enabled Enable Keyboard Typematic rate setting.
Disabled Disable Keyboard Typematic rate setting.
•Typematic Rate (Chars / Sec)
The default value is 6.
6-30 Set the maximum Typematic rate from 6 chars. Per second
to 30 chars. Per second.