What types of BIOS are there? Setting up the BIOS to speed up your computer

• A person who at least entry level used or simply came across a computer, came across such a word as “BIOS”, for those who hear it for the first time, let’s explain. We’ll also look at what types of BIOS exist and how users and computer builders use it.

What is Bios in a Computer

So, the abbreviation itself comes from English B asic I nput- O utput S ystem, which literally translates as basic input-output system. It is called basic because it is a system for interacting with computer hardware or, in other words, hardware software. For example, primary interaction with the screen, interaction with RAM, interaction with the processor, interaction with controllers on the motherboard, control of the cooling system, power and power control.

Most often, BIOS is used to set boot priority, especially when you need to reinstall Windows and you need to boot from something other than hard drive, and from another device, for example, a Flash drive or disk drive due to the fact that by default in most cases the priority is to boot from the hard drive first.

Other little-known and rarely used, especially by beginners, functions are setting up computer components (bus frequency, processor frequency, cooling fan speed, etc.). Also, the BIOS checks the equipment for operability before starting the boot and, in case of problems, reports this on the screen, as well as in the form of a sequence of signals. Using these signals, the cause of the malfunction and the component of the malfunction can be identified.

Where is the BIOS located on a computer and laptop?

As for where the BIOS is located on the computer, you should look for a similar chip (picture below) on the computer’s motherboard. Everyone has probably encountered a battery on the motherboard; it is the one that is used to ensure that the clock in the BIOS does not go astray and the settings are stored.

If you suddenly configured something incorrectly in the BIOS and after that you cannot enter it. Try resetting the settings by removing the coin cell battery from the motherboard for a while.

This is what the BIOS looks like on a computer:

And here it is on a laptop:

Types of BIOS

To be precise, there are many more types of BIOS, but for clarity, let’s average them to 4 types of systems. Since they are very similar regardless of the motherboard manufacturer.

Since on different motherboards different BIOS are used, it is impossible to name a specific key to enter, it is only possible to name the most frequently used keys: Del, F2, Esc, and also during startup, look for the prompts, it will say something similar to “Press to Setup” or something then the same with the key that needs to be pressed. If you did not have time to do this, you will have to reload and try again.

Regardless of the BIOS version, navigation in all views is possible using arrows; in new versions, a mouse is also available. Confirmation is carried out using the Enter key, and exit by pressing the ESC key, after which a window usually appears asking you to save the changed settings. Also don't forget about the tips.

BIOS Features

Before listing all the features that the BIOS provides. The most popular ones should be indicated. First of all, as mentioned above, the BIOS is used to change the boot priority of devices, in which, after that, the BIOS will be transferred to execution. So that you understand what priority we're talking about, you need to understand that by default, in most cases, the first boot is from the hard drive - this means that after the BIOS, control is transferred to the hard drive. If the priority is a floppy drive or USB drive, then after the BIOS comes the device that was specified in the BIOS settings or in order from higher priority to lower priority.

In addition to this popular feature, you can also:

• Disable or connect the necessary ports;
• Set time;
• Configure, in more detail, device characteristics (power, frequency, etc.);
• Change the operating mode of devices;
• Change the cooling rotation speed;
• Track basic parameters such as temperature, rotation speed, etc.

Difference between computer BIOS and laptop BIOS

The main difference between the Computer BIOS and the same system in a laptop will be additional parameters for energy saving and power consumption, since this is very important for a portable battery device. Hence, laptops will have more options to save power, auto shutdown, etc.

If you purchased an assembled computer or laptop, then its BIOS is already configured properly, but you can always make any personal adjustments. When a computer is assembled independently, then for it proper operation You need to configure the BIOS yourself. Also, this need may arise if a new component was connected to the motherboard and all parameters were reset to default.

The interface of most BIOS versions, with the exception of the most modern ones, is a primitive graphical shell, where there are several menu items from which you can go to another screen with already customizable parameters. For example, menu item "Boot" opens the user to the parameters for distributing computer boot priority, that is, there you can select the device from which the PC will boot.

In total, there are 3 BIOS manufacturers on the market, and each of them has a significantly different interface in appearance. For example, AMI (American Megatrands Inc.) has a top menu:

In some versions of Phoenix and Award, all section items are located on the main page in the form of columns.

Plus, depending on the manufacturer, the names of some items and parameters may differ, although they will have the same meaning.

All movements between items occur using the arrow keys, and selection is made using Enter. Some manufacturers even make a special footnote in the BIOS interface, where it is written which key is responsible for what. UEFI (the most modern type of BIOS) has a more advanced user interface, the ability to control using a computer mouse, and also translates some items into Russian (the latter is quite rare).

Basic settings

Basic settings include time, date, computer boot priority, various memory settings, hard drives and drives. Provided that you have just assembled the computer, you need to configure these parameters.

They will be in the section "Main", "Standard CMOS Features" And "Boot". It is worth remembering that the names may differ depending on the manufacturer. First, set the date and time according to these instructions:

Now you need to configure the priority of hard drives and drives. Sometimes, if you don’t do it, the system simply won’t boot. All the necessary parameters are in the section "Main" or "Standard CMOS Features"(depending on BIOS version). Step by step instructions Using the Award/Phoenix BIOS as an example, it looks like this:

Similar settings need to be made for BIOS users from AMI, only here the SATA parameters change. Use this guide to get started:

AMI BIOS users can complete the standard settings here, but the developers of Award and Phoenix have several more additional items that require user participation. All of them are in the section "Standard CMOS Features". Here is their list:

This completes the standard settings. Usually half of these points will already have the required values.

Advanced options

This time all settings will be made in the section "Advanced". It is available in BIOS from any manufacturer, although it may have a slightly different name. It may contain a different number of items depending on the manufacturer.

Let's look at the interface using the AMI BIOS as an example:

Now let's proceed directly to setting the parameters from the item :

For Award and Phoenix, there is no need to configure these parameters, since they are configured correctly by default and are located in a completely different section. But in the section "Advanced" you will find advanced settings for setting download priorities. If your computer already has hard drive with the operating system installed on it, then in "First Boot Device" select value "HDD-1"(sometimes you need to choose "HDD-0").

If the operating system has not yet been installed on the hard drive, then it is recommended to set the value instead "USB-FDD".

Also in Award and Phoenix in the section "Advanced" There is an item regarding settings for entering the BIOS with a password - "Password Check". If you have set a password, it is recommended to pay attention to this item and set a value acceptable to you, there are two of them:

Setting up security and stability

This feature is only relevant for owners of machines with BIOS from Award or Phoenix. You can enable maximum performance or stability mode. In the first case, the system will work a little faster, but there is a risk of incompatibility with some operating systems. In the second case, everything works more stable, but slower (not always).

To enable High Performance Mode, from the main menu, select "Top performance" and put a value in it "Enable". It is worth remembering that there is a risk of disrupting the stability of the operating system, so work in this mode for several days, and if any failures appear in the system that were not previously observed, then disable it by setting the value "Disable".

If you prefer stability to speed, then it is recommended to download the secure settings protocol; there are two types:

To download any of these protocols, you need to select one of the items discussed above on the right side of the screen, and then confirm the download using the keys Enter or Y.

Setting a password

After completing the basic settings, you can set a password. In this case, no one except you will be able to access the BIOS and/or be able to make any changes to its parameters (depending on the settings described above).

In Award and Phoenix, in order to set a password, you need to select the item in the main screen "Set Supervisor Password". A window will open where you enter a password up to 8 characters long; after entering, a similar window opens where you need to enter the same password for confirmation. When typing, use only Latin characters and Arabic numerals.

To remove the password, you need to select the item again "Set Supervisor Password", but when the window for entering a new password appears, just leave it blank and click Enter.

In AMI BIOS, the password is set slightly differently. First you need to go to the section "Boot", which is in the top menu, and there you can already find "Supervisor Password". The password is set and removed in the same way with Award/Phoenix.

After completing all manipulations in the BIOS, you need to exit it, saving the previously made settings. To do this, find the item "Save & Exit". In some cases you can use a hotkey F10.

Setting up the BIOS is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. In addition, most of the described settings are often already set by default as needed for normal computer operation.

Without exaggeration, BIOS setup is the basis of any computer; this is perhaps the most important process in setting up the system.

Many of you know that BIOS is a basic input/output system, on which the stability and reliability of the system as a whole directly depends. To optimize your computer and improve its performance, you need to start with the basic settings. This is where you can achieve the highest results.

And now about everything in more detail. To enter the program, BIOS setup (or Setup), just press " DEL" (or " F2") when the computer boots.

In order to return the default settings, select “Load SETUP Defaults” in the BIOS settings, the computer will reboot with factory settings.

Below I will indicate the basic settings for both modern PCs and for honored oldies that I would like to return to service.

CPU Level 1 Cache– be sure to enable this option. It is responsible for using the first level cache and significantly improves the performance of the entire system.

CPU Level 2 Cache– this parameter plays no less important role than the previous one. So let's turn it on. For reference: disabling cache memory can only be done when it fails, but this will significantly reduce the performance of the system as a whole.

CPU Level 2 Cache ECC Check– parameter for enabling/disabling the error correction checking algorithm in the 2nd level cache. Enabling this option slightly reduces performance but improves stability. If you are not overclocking your processor, I advise you not to enable this option.

Boot Up System Speed– the parameter has the value High or Low and determines the processor speed and frequency system bus. Our choice is High.

Cache Timing Control– the parameter controls the reading speed of the 2nd level cache memory. Our choice is Fast (Turbo) – high speed, high performance.

We're done setting up the processor, let's move on to setting it up RAM. These settings are either in the “Chipset Features Setup” section or here in the “Advanced” section.

DRAM Frequency– the parameter determines the speed of RAM operation. If you know this parameter for sure (usually indicated on the packaging of the memory module), then set it manually; if in doubt, select Auto.

SDRAM Cycle Length– the parameter determines the number of clock cycles required to output data to the bus after the CAS signal arrives. One of the most important parameters affecting performance. If memory allows, you need to set the value to 2.

RAS-to-CAS Delay— The number of clock cycles required for a line of data to enter the amplifier. Also has an impact on performance. Value 2 is preferred and is suitable in most cases.

SDRAM RAS Precharge Time— recharge time of memory cells. Typically the value 2 is used.

FSB/SDRAM/PCI Freq– determines the frequency FSB buses, SDRAM and PCI memory.

Memory Hole At 15-16M– the parameter is responsible for allocating part of the address space for the memory of ISA devices. Be sure to enable this option if your computer has older expansion cards for the ISA bus, for example, a corresponding sound card.

Optimization Method– the parameter determines the overall speed of data exchange with RAM. Determined empirically, starting from the highest value.

There are other parameters whose settings will significantly speed up the process of exchanging data with RAM.

The lower the value of time delays or timing (this is the slang of IT engineers and system administrators), the higher the performance, but perhaps all this will lead to unstable operation.

Experiment for your health, don’t forget that you can reset the settings and load factory settings.

CPU to PCI Write Buffer— when the processor works with a PCI device, it writes to the ports. The data then enters the bus controller and then into the device registers.

If we enable this option, a write buffer is used, which accumulates data before the PCI device is ready. And the processor does not have to wait for it - it can release the data and continue executing the program. I advise you to enable this option.

PCI Dynamic Bursting- This parameter is also associated with the recording buffer. It enables data accumulation mode, in which a write operation is performed only when a whole packet of 32 bits has been collected in the buffer. Must be included.

PCI Latency Timer– the parameter sets the number of clock cycles allocated to each PCI device for data exchange operations. The more clock cycles, the higher the efficiency of the devices. However, if there are ISA devices, this parameter cannot be increased to 128 clock cycles.

The graphics card typically has the biggest impact on gaming performance, so optimizing your graphics card settings can have a significant impact on overall system speed.

This is especially true for the lucky owners of old video cards with an AGP interface. Let's consider the main parameters.

Display Cache Window size– the parameter determines the size of cached memory for the needs of the video system. If your computer has less than 256 MB of RAM, set this parameter to 32 MB. Otherwise, set the value to 64 MB.

AGP Capability– the parameter determines the operating mode of the video card. The main performance characteristics of AGP video cards. Select the fastest mode – 8X.

However, not all video cards support this mode. If after restarting the computer the operating system does not load or the image has deteriorated, reduce the value of this parameter.

AGP Master 1WS Read / 1WS Write– the parameter sets the number of clock cycles of one read or write cycle. As with RAM settings, the timing parameter significantly increases process performance, but read and write operations may become unstable.

When this parameter is enabled, reading/writing will occur in one clock cycle - maximum performance. When the parameter is turned off, the system works stably, but slowly.

VGA 128 Range Attribute– turns on the data exchange buffer between the central processor and the video adapter. Productivity increases.

I also advise you to disable the AGP Spread Spectrum option and be sure to enable AGP Fast Write Capability.

HDD S.M.A.R.T Capability– the parameter enables or disables the S.M.A.R.T. diagnostic system, which warns of possible hard drive failures. It's up to you to decide whether to use this system or not. I personally turn it off, because... I use specialized software. When running, this feature slightly reduces the speed of your computer.

IDE HDD Block Mode– parameter responsible for block data transfer. Those. More information is transmitted per unit of time, which also improves system performance. Automatic determination of the appropriate parameter is possible.

IDE Burst Mode– the parameter connects the data clipboard to the IDE interface, which also increases performance.

Virus Warning– I always disable this function. It will not replace an antivirus program, but your performance will slow down.

Quick Power on Self Test (or Quick Boot)– you must enable this option to prevent testing of your computer’s hardware. There is also practically no benefit, and the resource is wasted.

Boot Up Floppy Seek– disable this option. We don't need to search for a boot floppy when the computer starts.

And most importantly, if the system does not boot after a reboot and/or goes sound signals, go back to the BIOS and load the default settings (I described how this is done at the very beginning of the article).

Or is there still one the right way reset settings - turn off the computer, unplug the power cable, open the cover of the system unit and carefully remove the battery from the motherboard, after 2 minutes insert it back, reassemble the computer and try to start it. The settings should be reset, the BIOS settings will return to default values, and the system will boot normally.

Hi all. It often happens that we need to find out what BIOS is on the computer. You have definitely asked yourself this question at least once, or even more. You may have read on the Internet that in order to do this, you need to go into the BIOS, but you don’t know how to go into the BIOS. But to enter different versions of BIOS you need to press different keys when booting the system. But most often these keys are written somewhere at the bottom of the computer boot screen. But it may last so short that you do not have time to read what is written there. So today I will tell you how to find out what is the BIOS on the computer and how to enter it. This may make your life a little easier.

But let's understand everything in order. There is no such thing as too much information. That is why we will expand the topic a little, and I will answer some questions that indirectly relate to it.

What is BIOS?

Let's start with the fact that if you want to call yourself an advanced PC user, then you simply must know what a BIOS is. Of course, you can use a computer and play games without this knowledge, but still... let's get started.

So, what is a BIOS? Let me try to explain to you its “nature” in simple and understandable human language. In English, BIOS stands for Base Input-Output System. In other words BIOS is a powerful tool for configuring and managing computer components. The BIOS carries the minimum required functions (base), which allows all the parts and devices of your computer to work together as a single organism.

Call bios the “soul” of the computer if you want.

”, perhaps the most important question of today’s topic. And, if you don’t know how to enter the BIOS, then you are most likely new to computers. Therefore, I will try to explain as clearly as possible. Write it down.

To enter the BIOS you need to restart your computer (or just turn it on if you have it turned off). Have you ever noticed that when you turn on your computer, a screen (usually black) appears for a few seconds with a logo at the top and a large number information about the computer (processor frequency, amount of RAM, etc.)? This is it! The same portal to the BIOS!

Whatever BIOS you have on your computer, this black screen at the bottom should contain information about which key you need to press to enter the BIOS. The inscription next to it may be SETUP or BIOS or settings or something else. And most often this button will be F2, F8 or Del, but other options are also possible.

And most importantly - to enter the BIOS settings, you must have time to press this treasured key before it starts to bootWindows from hard drive.

If you did everything correctly, then congratulations, you are now in in the right place, you are in the BIOS. Most bios do not have a graphical shell, so do not be alarmed by the blue (or gray) screen and the clutter of menus on English, this is the BIOS interface. By the way, more modern bios ( UEFI) still have a graphical shell and know Russian.

Keys to enter BIOS!

I present to your attention the keys for entering the BIOS on all currently popular devices (laptops and motherboards of desktop computers). I hope there won't be any problems. It was not possible to check all the models, but the ones I checked, I was able to enter the BIOS. Plus, I took information from different sources and weeded out potentially incorrect information.

But if suddenly you were unable to enter the BIOS using these keys, then be sure to let me know in the comments. We will solve your problem and update the information. Thank you!

PC/Laptop Motherboard	BIOS	Entering the boot menu	Key to enter BIOS
MSI motherboards	AMI	F11	DEL
Gigabyte motherboards	Award	F12	DEL
ASUS motherboards	AMI	F8	DEL
Intel motherboards	Phoenix Award	Esc	DEL
AsRock motherboards	AMI	F11	DEL
ASUS laptops	AMI	Esc	F2
Acer laptops	Insyde H2O	F12	F2
Acer laptops	Phoenix	F12	F2
Dell laptops	Dell	F12	F2
HP laptops	Insyde H2O	Esc, then F9	Esc, then F10
Lenovo laptops	AMI	F12	F2
Samsung laptops	Phoenix Secure Core	Esc then Esc	F2
Sony Vaio laptops	Insyde H2O	F11	F2
Toshiba laptops	Insyde H2O, Phoenix	F12	F2

What kind of bios are there?

In fact, to answer the question “What kind of BIOS are there?” not that difficult because modern generation Bios are represented mainly by 3 representatives. I wouldn’t even say that they are all modern. Oh yes, they also have several versions, which depend on how ancient (or modern) your motherboard is. But in order to know how to enter the BIOS, it is enough to know the BIOS brand, but the version is not necessary.

The three types of bios I talked about are AwardBIOS, AMIBIOS And UEFIBIOS. Actually, here's some information about them.

American Megatrends Incorporated (AMI BIOS)

AMI BIOS- this is probably the oldest BIOS that can now be found in everyday life. Or as they say – not old, but experienced! American Megatrends Incorporated was founded back in 1985 (well, at least AD). Now this type of BIOS is widespread on ASUS laptops, MSI, Lenovo and some others.

Award BIOS (Phoenix BIOS)

Once upon a time, in the good old days, Award BIOS and Phoenix BIOS were different, competing companies. Moreover, Phoenix was noticeably inferior in position to Award. But at some point the unthinkable happened - Phoenix bought Award. Since then it has been one company that still operates under several brands.

UEFI BIOS

UEFIBIOS– this is the youngest and most modern of all BIOSes. It has a graphical interface and also supports many languages ​​(including Russian). UEFI BIOS is not even exactly a BIOS, but rather a successor to BIOS. Through it you can even access the Internet without starting Windows.

How to find out what BIOS is?

There are many ways to find out what the BIOS costs. For example, the simplest of them is to pay attention to the BIOS logo on the computer boot screen and compare it with those presented a little higher.

Another easy way to find out what the BIOS is is to use special programs. For example, programs such as AIDA64, Everest, CPU-Z or Speccy, as well as many others. In each of them you can find an item that contains a description of the BIOS. If there is no such item, then look in the description of the motherboard.

If you have already entered the BIOS and you need to find out the BIOS version, say, not for logging in, but for some other purposes, then pay attention to the very top of the page or the very bottom. There will definitely be information about the BIOS company and its current version, which, by the way, can be updated to the latest one.

The fastest way to find out what BIOS you have, without even stopping to read this article, is through the Windows component " System Information" To do this, press the key combination Win +R and enter the following command there msinfo32. A window will open with information about your system, including information about the Bios.

Windows System Information component

Also, if you disassemble your computer (or laptop) and carefully examine the motherboard (maybe even with a magnifying glass), you will find a version of your BIOS written on one of the chips.

I think I answered more than enough to the question “How to find out what BIOS is worth.” And if suddenly you still have questions, then ask them in the comments under the article.

Why do you need to know what BIOS you have on your computer?

In fact, there are quite a lot of reasons why someone would need to find out what BIOS is on their computer. And they can all be purely individual.

Here's another example. You've decided to upgrade your computer a little. And with the new components, some glitches began to appear on your computer from time to time. You read somewhere on the forums that this could be due to outdated version BIOS and that you need to update it. So you will need to find out what BIOS you have and, specifically, what version is installed. Otherwise there will be no way to update.

There can be a lot of such examples. And what should I tell you? If you are interested in your BIOS, then you probably have a need for this. Right? Although perhaps you wanted to go into the BIOS purely out of your human curiosity.

Which BIOS is better?

If you carefully read the article, then you yourself understand perfectly which BIOS is better. Of course, modern bios UEFI have a number of undeniable advantages. Let's summarize these benefits:

1. Availability of Russian language;
2. Possibility of Internet access;
3. Nice graphical interface;
4. The set of tools is tailored for modern equipment.

BIOS UEFI with Russian interface

And that's not even getting into technical features, which, of course, are improved and modified, so to speak. That's why UEFIBIOS can easily be called the best BIOS.

Exiting BIOS...

Or an exit from the matrix... Well, in general, you understand, we are completing our journey into the world of BIOSes.

We can summarize a little what you have learned today. You learned what a BIOS is, you learned what it is for, what types there are and how they differ from each other, and most importantly, you learned how to enter the BIOS of any version and on any device!

Congratulations! The lesson is over for today, come again!

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Today I will dwell in more detail on what types of BIOS there are, because it is difficult for a novice user to understand this. Although, in fact, everything is quite simple - you just need to understand it a little. Moreover, despite the differences in appearance, in terms of setting up functions and principles of operation, they are all similar. I will tell you what types there are and show it all in pictures.
On current moment There are 3 main types of BIOS, differing by manufacturer.

1.AMI BIOS

American Megatrends inc. - This is probably the oldest developer. AMI BIOS was running back in my childhood on ancient 286 and 386 computers. Then, for some time, this species disappeared. But recent years appeared again, and AMI is the most common type of BIOS on ASUS, MSI, Lenovo laptops. There are currently two main branches:
- version 2.XX. It looks like this:

This version of AMI BIOS differs from all others in the structure of the main menu and the gray-blue color scheme.

This branch is already externally and in its structure more reminiscent of the classic input-output system from AWARD.

2. Phoenix BIOS, aka Award

Previously, these were two different companies, each producing its own system. Avard's system has been the market leader for many years. But the Phoenix BIOS was not particularly popular among motherboard manufacturers. But then interesting events happen - AWARD Software was purchased by Phoenix. Now it is one company. Here are a few brands:
- Award BIOS

There are almost no differences between them - the interface is completely identical. There is, however, an exception - the Phoenix-Award version for laptops. She looks very similar to AMI:

Today, this type of BIOS is used on 90% of desktop computer motherboards.

Intel puts its own branded BIOS on its branded boards. Or rather, it’s not exactly theirs - it’s a modified version of AMI. Until some time, motherboards had the Intel/AMI 6.0 version, and later, when it was even more significantly redesigned, the options were changed and the interface was redesigned - this type of BIOS began to be called Intel.

The latest versions generally became visually more similar to UEFI and were called “Intel Visual BIOS”:

4.UEFI

I'll probably start with the most modern look BIOS - UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface). This is not even a variety, but an heir or successor, as you prefer to call it. UEFI is the next step in BIOS development. Now, in fact, it is no longer just an input-output system - it is more like operating system both externally and internally.

Finally added mouse support! Among the key features are an extensible set of capabilities, a pleasant visual interface, the ability to securely boot “Secure Boot”, ease of updating the firmware, and fast loading of the operating system.