Enhanced Ide Interface; Serial Ata; Expandability; Bios - Intel D915PLWD Product Manual

Intel Desktop Board D915PLWD Product Guide

Enhanced IDE Interface

The ICH6's IDE interface handles the exchange of information between the processor and
peripheral devices like hard disks, CD-ROM drives, and Iomega Zip* drives inside the computer.
The interface supports:
•
Up to two IDE devices (such as hard drives)
•
ATAPI-style devices (such as CD-ROM drives)
•
Older PIO Mode devices
•
Ultra DMA-33 and ATA-66/100 protocols
•
Laser Servo (LS-120) drives

Serial ATA

The desktop board supports four Serial ATA channels via ICH6, connecting one device per
channel.

Expandability

The desktop board supports the following:
•
One PCI Express x16 add-in card
•
Two PCI Express x1 add-in cards
•
Four PCI add-in cards

BIOS

The BIOS provides the Power-On Self-Test (POST), the BIOS Setup program, the PCI/PCI
Express and IDE auto-configuration utilities, and the video BIOS. The BIOS is stored in the
Firmware Hub.

Serial ATA and IDE Auto Configuration

If you install a Serial ATA or IDE device (such as a hard drive) in your computer, the auto-
configuration utility in the BIOS automatically detects and configures the device for your computer.
You do not need to run the BIOS Setup program after installing a Serial ATA or IDE device. You
can override the auto-configuration options by specifying manual configuration in the BIOS Setup
program.

PCI and PCI Express* Auto Configuration

If you install a PCI/PCI Express add-in card in your computer, the PCI/PCI Express auto-
configuration utility in the BIOS automatically detects and configures the resources (IRQs, DMA
channels, and I/O space) for that add-in card. You do not need to run the BIOS Setup program after
you install a PCI/PCI Express add-in card.
18