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3DNow!™ MVP3 BIOS Guide
| Written by: Rich "Psycho_Clown" Nelson |
| Special Thanx: Phoenix, Xraymind, Gstanfor, TanWare, and Hans Wee |
Virus Warning
Detect Boot Virus By Trend
CPU Internal Cache
External Cache
Quick Power On Self Test
Boot From LAN First
Boot Up Floppy Seek
Gate A20 Option
OS Select For DRAM > 64MB
Video BIOS Shadow
C8000-CBFFF to DC000-DFFFF Shadow
Video BIOS Cacheable
System BIOS Cacheable
Memory Hole At 15M Addr.
DRAM Page-Mode
Sustained 3T Write
Write Cache Pipeline
DRAM Read Pipeline
Read Around Write
Memory ECC Check
Linear Burst
Bank 0/1 DRAM Timing; Bank 2/3 DRAM Timing; Bank 4/5 DRAM Timing
SDRAM Cycle Length
SDRAM Bank Interleave
SDRAM MD-to-HD Pop + 1T
SDRAM Sustain 4T Cycle
Aperture Size
AGP-2X Mode Support
CPU Warning Temperature
Current CPU Temperature; Current System Temp.; Current CPU Fan Speed; Current Chassis Fan Speed; VCORE (all optional)
CPU to PCI Write Buffer
PCI Dynamic Bursting
PCI Master 0 WS Write
PCI Delay Transaction
PCI Master Read Prefetch
PCI#2 Master 1 WS Write
PCI#2 Master 1 WS Read
PCI IRQ Actived By
Assign IRQ For VGA
Introduction
Many users have reported getting outstanding results with AMD K6-X processors and super 7 motherboards, others have experienced horrible crashes and gameplay. This guide is an attempt to help those who are unfamiliar with tweaking their BIOS to get their settings at maximum performance. I've based all of this information on my FIC PA-2013 motherboard which features VIA's MVP3 chipset. Suggestions and comments are welcome as this guide is a work in progress.
BIOS Features Setup
When enabled, assigns the BIOS to monitor the master boot sector and the DOS boot sector of the first hard disk drive. If the operating system is installed for the first time, keep this feature at Disabled to prevent the errors.
The options are: Enabled, Disabled (Default).
Just as manual says, don't have this on if your installing or upgrading your OS. Otherwise, I don't think this should cause any speed issues.
This feature starts the virus scan tool to detect if boot virus in boot sector of the first hard disk drive when booting up.
The options are: Enabled (Default), Disabled.
When enabled, improves the system performance. Disable this item when testing or trouble-shooting.
The options are: Enabled (Default), Disabled.
Enable this since improved system performance is desirable.
When enabled, supports an optional cache SRAM. This feature allows you to disable the cache function when the system performance is unstable to run some software.
The options are: Enabled (Default), Disabled.
This is the function that makes the K6-X the outstanding business performer it is. Enable it.
When enabled, allows the BIOS to bypass the extensive memory test.
The options are: Enabled (Default), Disabled.
This feature makes the system bootable by the remote server via LAN.
The options are: Enabled (Default), Disabled.
When enabled, assigns the BIOS to perform floppy diskette drive tests by issuing the time-consuming seek commands.
The options are: Enabled (Default), Disabled.
When set at Fast, allows a faster access response under Protected mode.
The options are: Fast (Default), Normal.
We want faster performance, so set this to Fast.
If your operating system (OS) is OS/2, select the option OS2. Otherwise, stay with the default setting Non-OS2.
The options are: Non-OS2 (Default), OS2.
Allows the BIOS to copy the video ROM code of the add-on video card to the system memory for faster access.
The options are: Enabled (Default), Disabled.
For better performance Enable this function. However, this can cause stability issues.
Allows the BIOS to copy the BIOS ROM code of the add-on card to system memory for faster access. It may improve the performance of the add-on card. Some add-on cards will not function properly if its BIOS ROM code is shadowed. To use these options correctly, you need to know the memory address range used by the BIOS ROM of each add-on card.
The options are: Enabled, Disabled (Default).
Chipset Features Setup
When enabled, allows the system to use the video BIOS codes from SRAMs, instead of the slower DRAMs or ROMs.
The options are: Enabled (Default), Disabled.
Again, enable this for better performance, but it may cause stability issues.
When enabled, allows the ROM area F000H-FFFFH to be cacheable when cache controller is activated.
The options are: Disabled (Default), Enabled.
Enable this for better performance.
When you install a Legacy ISA card, this feature allows you to select the memory hole’s address range of the ISA cycle when the processor accesses the selected address area. Please read your card manual for detail information. When disabled, the memory hole at the 14MB (or 15MB) address will be treated as a DRAM cycle when the processor accesses the 14~16MB (or 15~16MB) address area.
The options are: 15M-16M, 14M-16M, Disabled (Default).
It saves the time to resend CAS if DRAM access in the same page (RAS); therefore, increases the system performance.
The options are: Enabled (Default), Disabled.
As the manual says, Enabling this will increase performance.
When enabled, allows the CPU to complete the memory writes in 3 clocks.
The options are: Enabled (Default), Disabled.
This will increase performance when Enabled depending on ammount of RAM in your system. However, this can also cause AGP texturing issues (such as missing pixels).
When enabled, it makes the read/write speed between the CPU and the cache RAMs faster.
The options are: Enabled, Disabled (Default).
Enabling will usually give you better performance if you have an AMD CPU with the new CXT core, but it depends on your ammount of RAM. If you have 512KB Cache on your motherboard, then Enable it if you have 64MB of RAM or less. If you have 1MB Cache, then Enable it if you have 128MB of RAM or less. If you have 2MB Cache, then Enable it if you have 256MB of RAM or less.
When enabled, it makes the data read speed from memory modules to cache RAMs faster.
The options are: Enabled (Default), Disabled.
Faster sounds good, so Enable this.
This feature speeds up data read performance when it stays Enabled.
The options are: Enabled, Disabled (Default).
We can use all of the speed ups we can get, so Enable this too.
Set at Enabled, if the RAM modules support ECC function.
The options are: Enabled, Disabled (Default).
If a Cyrix/IBM CPU installed, this feature appears and it allows you to configure the CPU to SRAM data read/write mode.
If you use a Cyrix/IBM CPU, select Enabled; if you use an IDT, Intel CPU, or AMD CPU, please stay with the default value, Disabled.
Most likely you've got an AMD and WinChip processor, so Disable this.
This feature allows you to select the DRAM read/write speed.
The options are: Fast (Default), Normal, Turbo.
Hey, I like Power Rangers :). Set these to Turbo or the fastest setting available.
This feature appears only when SDRAM DIMM/s is installed (BIOS auto detection). If the CAS latency of your SDRAM DIMM is 2, set at 2 to enhance the system performance. If the CAS latency of your SDRAM DIMM is 3, stay with the default setting, 3.
The options are: 2, 3 (Default).
2 is the optimal setting, but it depends on the CAS latency of your RAM. If you are unsure of your RAMs' CAS latency you can set this to 2, but if you have any stability issues, then set this to 3.
This feature appears only when SDRAM DIMM/s is installed (BIOS auto detection). It allows you to select 2 or 4 banks when the DIMM supported to achieve a better data transaction performance. The DIMM’s manual or manufacturer will provide the specification how many banks the DIMM supported.
The options are: Diabled (Default), 2 Bank, 4 Bank.
Some users find that setting this to 4 Bank is the fastest, with 2 Bank being slower, and Disabled being the slowest.
When set at Enabled, the required time period of DATA from SDRAM to CPU will be added 1T for the system stability and compatibility.
The options are: Enabled (Default), Disabled.
Diable this as it adds a wait state.
This feature allows user to decide the SDRAM write cycle timing.
The options are: Disabled (Default), Enabled.
Again, disable this as it can add a wait state.
It allows you to select the main memory frame size fo AGP use.
The options are 4, 8, 16, 32, 64MB (Default).
This should be set to half of the ammount of what you current system RAM is (e.g. your system has 64MB of RAM, then set this to 32).
This feature allows user to select the AGP mode be to 1x or 2x when an AGP add-in card installed. However, when set at Enabled and the AGP card only support 1x mode, the system will fall back 1x mode automatically.
The options are: Enabled (Default), Disabled.
Obviously, you want this Enabled. However, if you are having troubles with your AGP video card, you might want to Disable this.
This feature allows you to set the temperature to slow down the CPU clock frequency.
The options are: Disabled (Default), MaxCooling, 53 o C/127 o F, 56 o C/133 o F, 60 o C/140 o F, 63 o C/145 o F, 66 o C/151 o F, 70 o C/158 o F.
A great function for you overclockers out there.
This feature allows end users and technicans to monitor the data provided
by the LDCM fucntion of this motherboard.
More good stuff for overclockers.
PCI/PNP Setup
When enabled, allows data and address access to the internal buffer of the system controller; so the processor can be released from the waiting state.
The options are: Enabled (Default), Disabled.
Enable this to avoid the wait state.
When enabled, the PCI controller allows Bursting PCI transfer if the consecutive PCI cycles come with the address falling in same 1KB space. This improves the PCI bus throughput.
The options are: Enabled (Default), Disabled.
Improving throughput sounds like a good thing to me :). Enable this.
When enabled, allows a zero-wait-state-cycle delay when the PCI master drive writes data to DRAM.
The options are: Enabled (Default), Disabled.
Leave this Enabled.
Enable this feature to abort the current PCI master cycle and to accept the new PCI master request, it reaccepts the original PCI master and returns the PCI data phase to the original PCI master.
The options are: Disabled, Enabled (Default).
Disabling this may increase performance, but is may cause PCI 2.1 compliance issues. Depending on the PCI cards in your system, Enabling this may also increase performance. You may need to use a benchmark utility to decide which is the optimal setting for you.
When set at Enabled, the memory controller will prefetches data DRAM if the PCI bus master reads data from DRAM.
The options are: Enabled (Default), Disabled.
Have this Enabled.
When set at Enabled, it allows a one-wait-state TRDY# response if PCI bus master writes data to target.
The options are: Enabled (Default), Disabled.
It is suggested that you leave this Enabled, but experimenting with this setting and the PCI Delay Transaction setting may help you find another way to run your PC stable and fast.
When set at Enabled, it allows a one-wait-state TRDY# response if PCI bus master reads data from target.
The options are: Enabled (Default), Disabled.
It is suggested that you leave this Enabled, but experimenting with this setting and the PCI Delay Transaction setting may help you find yet another way to run your PC stable and fast.
We suggest that you set this to its default configuration unless you are a qualified technician.
The options are: Level (Default), Edge.
I've actually found that setting this to Edge fixed compatibility issues with my Turtle Beach Montego (Aureal A3D Vortex 1) sound card. So, if you are having troubles with getting 3D sound to work, switching this to Edge may be the answer.
If your PCI VGA card does not need an IRQ, select Disabled; therefore, an IRQ can be released for the system use.
The options are: Enabled, Disabled (Default).
This will definitely help with stability issues. Enable this.
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