ADVANCED OPTIONS. The parameters in this screen are for system designers, service personnel, and technically competent users only. Do not reset these values unless you understand the consequences of your changes.
A table at the end of this section shows values and defaults for all fields.
NOTE: This section describes all fields offered by Award Software in this screen. Your system board designer may omit or modify some fields.
Auto Configuration selects predetermined optimal values of chipset parameters. When Disabled, chipset parameters revert to setup information stored in CMOS. Many fields in this screen are not available when Auto Configuration is Enabled.
The value in this field must correspond to the speed of the DRAM installed in your system. DO NOT change the default setting of this field, as determined by the system board manufacturer for the installed DRAM. This value is access speed, so a lower value means a faster system.
The precharge time is the number of cycles it takes for the RAS to accumulate its charge before DRAM refresh. If insufficient time is allowed, refresh may be incomplete and the DRAM may fail to retain data.
Selecting Enabled inserts an additional wait state before the beginning of a memory read. The setting of this parameter depends on the board design. Do not change from the manufacturer's default unless you are getting memory addressing errors.
This field lets you insert a timing delay between the CAS and RAS strobe signals, used when DRAM is written to, read from, or refreshed. Disabled gives faster performance; and Enabled gives more stable performance.
Set the timing for burst-mode reads from DRAM. The lower the timing numbers, the faster the system addresses memory.
Set the timing for burst-mode writes from DRAM. The lower the timing numbers, the faster the system addresses memory.
Set the speed of the ISA bus here. The settings are tied to the speed of the PCI bus. If the PCI bus operates at 33 MHz, a setting of PCICLK/4 (default) would yield an ISA bus speed of approximately 8 MHz, the standard speed of the ISA bus. While most devices operate at higher ISA bus speeds, try a slower bus speed if your ISA device does not function properly at a high bus speed.
Enabled permits queuing up to four DRAM refresh requests, so DRAM can refresh at optimal times. Disabled makes all refreshes priority requests. Installed DRAM must support this feature; most do.
An alternate to CAS-before-RAS refresh. Leave Disabled unless your DRAM requires this older method of refresh generation.
Select Enabled when ECC (error-correcting code) SIMMs are installed on your system board in all rows.
The cache DRAM controller offers two refresh modes, Normal and Hidden. In both modes, CAS takes place before RAS but the Normal mode requires a CPU cycle for each. On the other hand, a cycle is eliminated by "hiding" the CAS refresh in Hidden mode. Not only is the Hidden mode faster and more efficient, but it also allows the CPU to maintain the status of the cache even if the system goes into a power management "suspend" mode.
DRAM optimization feature: If a memory read is addressed to a location whose latest write is being held in a buffer before being written to memory, the read is satisfied through the buffer contents, and the read is not sent to the DRAM.
When this option is Enabled, the chipset assembles long PCI bursts from the data held in these buffers.
DRAM optimization feature: If Enabled, full PCI-to-DRAM write pipelining is enabled. Buffers in the chipset store data written from the PCI bus to memory. When Disabled, PCI writes to DRAM are limited to a single transfer per write cycle.
When this field is Enabled, writes from the CPU to the PCI bus are buffered, to compensate for the speed differences between the CPU and the PCI bus. When Disabled, the writes are not buffered and the CPU must wait until the write is complete before starting another write cycle.
Select Enabled to post write cycles from the CPU to the PCI IDE interface. IDE accesses are posted in the CPU to PCI buffers, for cycle optimization.
Selecting Enabled allows caching of the system BIOS ROM at F0000h-FFFFFh, resulting in better system performance. However, if any program writes to this memory area, a system error may result.
Selecting Enabled allows caching of the video BIOS ROM at C0000h to C7FFFh, resulting in better video performance. However, if any program writes to this memory area, a system error may result.
The I/O recovery mechanism adds bus clock cycles between PCI-originated I/O cycles to the ISA bus. This delay takes place because the PCI bus is so much faster than the ISA bus.
These two fields let you add recovery time (in bus clock cycles) for 16-bit and 8-bit I/O.
You can reserve this area of system memory for ISA adapter ROM. When this area is reserved, it cannot be cached. The user information of peripherals that need to use this area of system memory usually discusses their memory requirements.
Field Values and Defaults Auto Configuration Enabled (BIOS & Setup default) Disabled DRAM Speed Selection 70 ns (BIOS & Setup default) 60 ns DRAM RAS# Precharge Time 4 (BIOS & Setup default) 3 MA Additional Wait State Enabled Disabled (BIOS & Setup default) RAS# to CAS# delay Enabled Disabled (BIOS & Setup default) DRAM Read Burst (B/E/F) x3/4/4 (BIOS & Setup default) x2/3/4 x2/2/3 x1/2/3 DRAM Write Burst (B/E/F) x3/4/4 (BIOS & Setup default) x2/3/4 x2/2/3 x1/2/3 ISA Bus Clock PCICLK/4 (BIOS & Setup default) PCICLK/3 DRAM Refresh Queue Enabled Disabled (BIOS & Setup default) DRAM RAS Only Refresh Enabled Disabled (BIOS & Setup default) ECC Checking/Generation Enabled Disabled (BIOS & Setup default) Fast DRAM Refresh Enabled Disabled (BIOS & Setup default) Read-Around-Write Enabled Disabled (BIOS & Setup default) PCI Burst Write Combine Enabled Disabled (BIOS & Setup default) PCI-to-DRAM Pipeline Enabled Disabled (BIOS & Setup default) CPU-to-PCI Write Post Enabled Disabled (BIOS & Setup default) CPU-to-PCI IDE Posting Enabled Disabled (BIOS & Setup default) System BIOS Cacheable Enabled Disabled (BIOS & Setup default) Video RAM Cacheable Enabled Disabled (BIOS & Setup default) 8 Bit I/O Recovery Time 1 (Setup default) 2 (BIOS default) 3 - 8 NA 16 Bit I/O Recovery Time 1 (Setup default) 2 (BIOS default) 3, 4 NA Memory Hole At 15M-16M Enabled Disabled (BIOS & Setup default)
Natoma Power Management
NOTE: This section describes all fields offered by Award Software in this screen. Your system board designer may omit or modify some fields.
A table at the end of this section shows values and defaults for all fields.
Power Management
This category allows you to select the type (or degree) of power saving. See the section PM Timers for a brief description of Doze and Standby modes.
Max Saving Maximum power management. Only Available for SL CPUs. Inactivity periods of Doze, Standby, and Suspend modes are 1 minute each.
User Define Allows you to set each mode individually. When not disabled, each inactivity period ranges from 1 minute to 1 hour. Select time-out periods in the PM Timers section, on the following page.
Min Saving Minimum power management. Inactivity periods of Doze, Standby, and Suspend modes are 1 hour each.
PM Control by APM
If Advanced Power Management (APM) is installed on your system, selecting Yes gives better power savings.
Video Off Method
Determines the manner in which the monitor is blanked.
V/H SYNC+Blank System turns off vertical and horizontal synchronization ports and writes blanks to the video buffer.
DPMS Supported Select this option if your monitor supports the Display Power Management Signaling (DPMS) standard of the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA). Use the software supplied for your video subsystem to select video power management values.
Blank Screen System only writes blanks to the video buffer.
PM Timers
The following four modes are Green PC power saving functions that are user-configurable only during User Defined Power Management mode.
Doze Mode
After the selected period of system inactivity, the CPU clock runs at slower speed while all other devices still operate at full speed.
Standby Mode
After the selected period of system inactivity, the fixed disk drive and the video shut off while all other devices still operate at full speed.
Suspend Mode
After the selected period of system inactivity, all devices except the CPU shut off.
HDD Power Down
After the selected period of drive inactivity, the hard disk drive powers down while all other devices remain active.
Wake Up Events in ...
When the system is in Doze or Standby mode, you may disable activity monitoring of some common interrupt requests so they do not wake up the system.
IRQn (Wake Up Event)
The default wake-up event is keyboard activity. In the following fields, you can turn On or Off four common sources of wake-up events. For example, if you have a modem on IRQ3, you can turn On IRQ3 as a wake-up event, so an interrupt from the modem can wake up the system. Or you may wish to turn Off IRQ12 (the PS/2) mouse as a wake-up event, so accidentally brushing the mouse does not awaken the system.
Power Down ... Events
The On and Off settings of the following IRQs have the opposite effect of the settings in the previous Wake Up Events fields.
IRQn
Setting any IRQ listed below to On exempts activity of the IRQ from waking up the system or resetting its inactivity-period timer. When set to Off, activity of the IRQ resets the timer or awakens the system.
Power Down & Resume Interrupt Requests
IRQ3 (COM 2 )
IRQ4 (COM 1)
IRQ5 (LPT 2)
IRQ6 (Floppy Disk)
IRQ7 (LPT 1)
IRQ8 (RTC Alarm)
IRQ9 (IRQ2 Redir)
IRQ10 (Reserved)
IRQ11 (Reserved)
IRQ12 (PS/2 Mouse)
IRQ13 (Coprocessor)
IRQ14 (Hard Disk)
IRQ15 (Reserved)
Power Management Values and Defaults
Field Values and Defaults Power Management Max Saving (Setup default) User Define Disable (BIOS default) Min Saving PM Control by APM Yes (BIOS & Setup default) No Video Off Method V/H SYNC+Blank (BIOS & Setup default) DPMS Blank Screen PM Modes 1 minute - 1 hour Doze Disable (BIOS & Setup default) Standby Suspend HDD Power Down Suspend Disable (BIOS & Setup default) IRQ3 (Wake-Up) On (Setup default) IRQ4 (Wake-Up) Off (BIOS default) IRQ8 (Wake-Up) IRQ12 (Wake-Up) IRQ3 (COM 2) On (BIOS & Setup default) IRQ4 (COM 1) Off IRQ5 (LPT 2) IRQ6 (Floppy Disk) IRQ7 (LPT 1) IRQ8 (RTC Alarm) IRQ9 (IRQ2 Redir) IRQ10 (Reserved) IRQ11 (Reserved) IRQ12 (PS/2 Mouse) IRQ13 (Coprocessor) IRQ14 (Hard Disk) IRQ15 (Reserved)
Natoma PnP/PCI Configuration
ADVANCED OPTIONS. The parameters in this screen are for system designers, service personnel, and technically competent users only. Do not reset these values unless you understand the consequences of your changes.
NOTE: This section describes all fields offered by Award Software in this screen. Your system board designer may omit or modify some fields.
A table at the end of this section shows values and defaults for all fields.
Resources Controlled By
The Award Plug and Play BIOS can automatically configure all the boot and Plug and Play-compatible devices. If you select Auto, all the interrupt request (IRQ) and DMA assignment fields disappear, as the BIOS automatically assigns them.
Reset Configuration Data
Normally, you leave this field Disabled. Select Enabled to reset Extended System Configuration Data (ESCD) when you exit Setup if you have installed a new add-on and the system reconfiguration has caused such a serious conflict that the operating system cannot boot.
IRQ n Assigned to
When resources are controlled manually, assign each system interrupt as one of the following types, depending on the type of device using the interrupt:
Legacy ISA Devices compliant with the original PC AT bus specification, requiring a specific interrupt (such as IRQ4 for serial port 1).
PCI/ISA PnP Devices compliant with the Plug and Play standard, whether designed for PCI or ISA bus architecture.
DMA n Assigned to
When resources are controlled manually, assign each system DMA channel as one of the following types, depending on the type of device using the interrupt:
Legacy ISA Devices compliant with the original PC AT bus specification, requiring a specific DMA channel
PCI/ISA PnP Devices compliant with the Plug and Play standard, whether designed for PCI or ISA bus architecture.
PCI IRQ Activated by
Leave the IRQ trigger set at Level unless the PCI device assigned to the interrupt specifies Edge-triggered interrupts.
PCI IDE IRQ Map to
This field lets you select PCI IDE IRQ mapping or PC AT (ISA) interrupts. If your system does not have one or two PCI IDE connectors on the system board, select values according to the type of IDE interface(s) installed in your system (PCI or ISA). Standard ISA interrupts for IDE channels are IRQ14 for primary and IRQ15 for secondary.
Each PCI peripheral connection is capable of activating up to four interrupts: INT# A, INT# B, INT# C and INT# D. By default, a PCI connection is assigned INT# A. Assigning INT# B has no meaning unless the peripheral device requires two interrupt services rather than just one. Because the PCI IDE interface in the chipset has two channels, it requires two interrupt services. The primary and secondary IDE INT# fields default to values appropriate for two PCI IDE channels, with the primary PCI IDE channel having a lower interrupt than the secondary.
PnP/PCI Configuration Values and Defaults
Field Values and Defaults Resources Controlled By Auto (BIOS default) Manual (Setup default) Reset Configuration Data Enabled Disabled (BIOS & Setup default) IRQ 3 assigned to PCI/ISA PnP (BIOS default) Legacy ISA (Setup default) IRQ 4 assigned to PCI/ISA PnP (BIOS default) Legacy ISA (Setup default) IRQ 5 assigned to PCI/ISA PnP (BIOS & Setup default) Legacy ISA IRQ 7 assigned to PCI/ISA PnP (BIOS default) Legacy ISA (Setup default) IRQ 9 assigned to PCI/ISA PnP (BIOS & Setup default) Legacy ISA IRQ 10 assigned to PCI/ISA PnP (BIOS & Setup default) Legacy ISA IRQ 11 assigned to PCI/ISA PnP (BIOS & Setup default) Legacy ISA IRQ 12 assigned to PCI/ISA PnP (BIOS & Setup default) Legacy ISA IRQ 14 assigned to PCI/ISA PnP (BIOS default) Legacy ISA (Setup default) IRQ 15 assigned to PCI/ISA PnP (BIOS default) Legacy ISA (Setup default) DMA 0 assigned to PCI/ISA PnP (BIOS & Setup default) Legacy ISA DMA 1 assigned to PCI/ISA PnP (BIOS & Setup default) Legacy ISA DMA 3 assigned to PCI/ISA PnP (BIOS & Setup default) Legacy ISA DMA 5 assigned to PCI/ISA PnP (BIOS & Setup default) Legacy ISA DMA 6 assigned to PCI/ISA PnP (BIOS & Setup default) Legacy ISA DMA 7 assigned to PCI/ISA PnP (BIOS & Setup default) Legacy ISA PCI IRQ Activated by Level (BIOS & Setup default) Edge PCI IDE IRQ Map To PCI-AUTO (BIOS & Setup default) PCI-Slot1, PCI-Slot2, PCI-Slot3, PCI-Slot4, ISA Primary IDE INT# A (BIOS & Setup default) B, C, D Secondary IDE INT# B (BIOS & Setup default) C, D, A
Natoma Integrated Peripherals
NOTE: This section describes all fields offered by Award Software in this screen. Your system board designer may omit or modify some fields.
A table at the end of this section shows values and defaults for all fields.
IDE HDD Block Mode
Select Enabled only if your hard drives support block mode.
IDE PIO Modes (Primary/Secondary; Master/Slave)
The four IDE PIO (Programmed Input/Output) fields let you set a PIO mode (0-4) for each of up to four IDE devices that the internal PCI IDE interface supports. Modes 0 through 4 provide successively increased performance. In Auto mode, the system automatically determines the best mode for each device.
On-Chip PCI IDE (Primary/Secondary)
The Natoma chipset contains a PCI IDE interface with support for two IDE channels. Select Enabled to activate the primary and/or secondary IDE interface. Select Disabled to deactivate this interface, if you install a primary and/or secondary add-in IDE interface.
PCI Slot IDE 2nd Channel
Select Enabled if you install a secondary add-in IDE interface in a PCI slot.
Onboard FDC Controller
Select Enabled if your system has a floppy disk controller (FDC) installed on the system board and you wish to use it. If you install an add-in FDC or the system has no floppy drive, select Disabled in this field.
Onboard Serial Ports (1, 2)
Select a logical COM port address for the first and second serial ports. The second serial port offers these additional options:
Select a logical LPT port address for the physical parallel port.
Select an operating mode for the onboard parallel (printer) port.
EPP (Extended Parallel Port) ECP (Extended Capabilities Port) ECP+EPP |
Bidirectional port Fast, buffered port Fast, buffered, bidirectional port |
Select Normal unless you are certain your hardware and software both support EPP or ECP mode.
Select a DMA channel for the parallel port for use during ECP mode.
Field Values and Defaults IDE HDD Block Mode Enabled (Setup default)
Disabled (BIOS default) IDE PIO Modes Primary Master Auto (Setup default) Primary Slave Mode 0 (BIOS default) Secondary Master Mode 1 Secondary Slave Mode 2 Mode 3 Mode 4 On-Chip Primary PCI IDE Enabled (BIOS & Setup default) Disabled On-Chip Secondary PCI IDE Enabled (BIOS & Setup default) Disabled PCI Slot IDE 2nd Channel Enabled (BIOS & Setup default) Disabled Onboard FDC Controller Enabled (BIOS & Setup default) Disabled Onboard Serial Port 1 COM1/3F8 (BIOS & Setup default) COM2/2F8 COM3/3E8 COM4/2E8 Disabled Onboard Serial Port 2 COM1/3F8 COM2/2F8 (BIOS & Setup default) COM3/3E8 COM4/2E8 HPSIR ASKIR Disabled Onboard Parallel Port 378/IRQ7 (BIOS & Setup default) 278/IRQ5 3BC/IRQ7 Disabled Parallel Port Mode Normal (BIOS & Setup default) EPP ECP ECP+EPP ECP mode use DMA 1 (BIOS default) 3 (Setup default)
Copyright © 1996, Award Software International, Inc. All rights reserved.