Many invest in personal computers rather than trying to get as much performance, replace motherboards, processors, memory, graphics and more, but the vast majority of enthusiasts in this category fail to squeeze the last drop of performance system. This may be possible through a complex procedure that can only begin to optimize the motherboard BIOS. Such components are able to offer a bit more in terms of performance than by setting the “optimal defaults” or “Fail / Safe default, normal for most users.
Boot sequence
To illustrate how changes to be made easier I chose a motherboard made by Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe model, with Phoenix-Award BIOS.
To decrease the time the computer starts up and begins initializing the operating system must be made a few adjustments to the boot sequence settings. Thus the most important changes you can make is usually in the first group of settings called “Advanced BIOS Features“. The “Quick Power On Self-Test” should be activated. This leads to significant reduction of system boot time. Quick Power On Self Test “is really a quick way to test the components under the motherboard, the classical method requires a long memory test is directly proportional to the total quantity, and inversely proportional to its speed. A setting to be disabled is “Full screen logo show. This loads the primary memory of 640 KB image occupying a significant portion of it which is presented immediately after startup. Enabled, this option increases the time needed 2-3 seconds to boot operating system. Some will probably ask what is “Gate A20 Option”, so I should mention that this setting only relates keyboard controller, can switch between two distinct modes that can be used by the operating system and has no kind of impact on system performance.
Control chipset
The second chapter of the BIOS may have an impact on its performance during operation. This is “advanced chipset features.
Here are found the most important settings controlling the operation of the chipset and components with which it has a direct relationship, namely the RAM and graphics card. “Memory timings” is the section where you can make the important changes of times and operating characteristics of memory. These changes must be made in respect of the memory directly. A good case in which such changes may bring, for example, if a user decides to set the memory synchronously with the CPU FSB and memory frequency should fall for it. In this case a specific memory latency 2,5-3-3-7 400 MHz to 333 MHz is perfect 2-3-3-6 latency. This is not overclocking, the memory frequency can support each other latency.
In most cases, four types of features are available that can be modified: “Active DRAM precharge delay”, “DRAM RAS to CAS Delay”, “DRAM RAS precharge delay” and “DRAM CAS latency. “Active Delay DRAM. To understand the operation of these times must first know something about the functioning of RAM. It may be conceived as a matrix, with rows and columns. Reading or writing into RAM is enabling data columns that are needed, and then reading them in flurry. All operations have a number assigned to beat the clock. PC3200 DDR memory is driven by a frequency of 200 MHz, that is coordinated by 200 million beat the clock in one second. “Active DRAM precharge Delay time determines the number of tacturi, the rows will be active for reading. A size too big for this characteristic delay activation of other times and lead to lower memory performance. A value too low can lead to errors in reading. Ideal size for this characteristic is determined by a relatively simple formula, namely: “CAS Latency” RAS to CAS Delay 2T = “active DRAM precharge delay. For example, if we have a memory with a CAS Latency = 2 and set an SAR value to CAS Delay = 3, we have an asset value of the DRAM precharge delay = 7. But there are cases where setting this value to smaller or larger memory generates greater performance.
“DRAM RAS to CAS Delay time is measured in clock cycles or strokes between RAS and CAS signals, and occurs whenever a row is refreshed or activated. Reducing the time leads to better performance. Common values are 3 or 4, but there are two statements that support and value. “DRAM RAS precharge delay” determined number of cycles required until a new SAR operation, so by activating a new line. Most common values are three or four, but the statements that support a value of 2, this leads to an increase in performance. Forcing the memory for a value that does not support leads to data corruption in the row to be read, because it becomes inactive before the end of rewriting.
“DRAM CAS Latency” is the most important parameter of a memory, and changes have the greatest impact on performance. This setting changes the number of cycles of latency when the CAS signal is applied and until the relevant data in the memory sector are available. Also, this value determines the maximum time, the number of cycles, which can transfer the flurry of that memory segment.
In the “Advanced Chipset Features” May we find a setting for the graphics subsystem, which is called “AGP aperture size. It controls two parameters: AGP aperture size and the size of GART (Graphics Address Relocation Table). AGP aperture is a portion of system memory that is part of the range of memory that can be addressed directly by the PCI controller. Aperture memory is usually used fragmented as RAM is used by your system and then make GART address translation between physical RAM and virtual addresses used by graphics subsystem. Usually, the AGP aperture space decreases with the amount of memory present on board graphics, but is better kept a value of 64 or 128 MB AGP transfer streamlining and maintaining a reasonable size GART address. “AGP Fast Write” is another option that covers graphics subsystem, its activation leading to optimizing transfers from chip to graphics accelerator as it acts as a PCI device. Enabling this option is recommended as the performance gain is observed in readings. If there is a PCI device is no longer starts behaving normally, it should be disabled.
“AGP Spread Spectrum” is an option that is not directly related to system performance. This option out AGP modulation frequencies used to deliver electromagnetic radiation that can not affect other components. Many users do not use this option, you hear a buzz generated on-board sound card, which usually is not sufficient EMI filtering.
These are some of the most important BIOS settings that may affect a few seconds less to boot or fail to snatch a few extra points in test programs, but they should be used responsibly and repeated attempts to affect not system stability and physical integrity of components.
