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2 AMIBIOS
In ISA computers, the system parameters (such as amount of memory, type of
disk drives and video displays, and many other elements) are stored in CMOS
RAM. Unlike the DRAM (dynamic random access memory) that is used for
standard system memory, CMOS RAM requires very little power. When the
computer is turned off, a back-up battery provides power to CMOS RAM,
which retains the system parameters. Every time the computer is powered-on,
the computer is configured with the values stored in CMOS RAM by the
system BIOS, which gains control when the computer is powered on.
The system parameters are configured by a system BIOS Setup utility.
Historically, BIOS Setup utilities have been character-based, required
keyboard input, and have had user interfaces that were not very intuitive.
System Initialization Depending on the size of system memory, the BIOS can take up to eight
minutes to initialize system memory. The system memory must be initialized
to support ECC (error correction.) If you enable Quickboot or press the escape
(Esc) key, BIOS will display the installed memory and it will take the
following amount of time to initialize system memory:
15 – 20 seconds for 512 MB,
45 – 60 seconds for 1 GB,
2:00 – 2:30 minutes for 2 GB,
4 minutes for 4 GB, and
8 minutes for 8 GB.
If you press the Delete key during this time, BIOS will go immediately into
setup. If you want a normal boot, wait the complete time for the system
memory to initialize.
Starting AMIBIOS Setup As POST executes, the following appears:
Hit DEL if you want to run SETUP
Press Delete to run AMIBIOS Setup.
Setup
Chapter 2 AMIBIOS Setup
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