Different motherboards have different keys to press to get into the BIOS. Usually it's Delete or F1.
Most motherboards have the same few settings, maybe with different names, that can squeeze out a bit more speed.
Keep in mind that if you make a mistake, you may not be able to boot up your computer and you will be forced to physically clear CMOS memory with jumpers. Don't try this if you're not comfortable.
These settings below are based from my P4P800 motherboard's BIOS settings with PC3200 DDR ram installed.
Main:
IDE Configuration (Disregard if using SATA Raid)
- Onboard IDE Operate Mode: Enhanced Mode
- Enhanced Mode Support On: S-ATA
- Configure S-ATA as RAID: No
- IDE Detect Time Out: 35
Primary IDE / Secondary IDE (Master and Slave settings)
Everything is at Auto except...
- SMART Monitoring: Disabled (If S.M.A.R.T. is disabled from the system BIOS it will not poll the hard drive for S.M.A.R.T. attributes during system startup)
- 32Bit Transfer: Enabled (Enable for 32 bit data transfers to the CPU. Important Note: Disable if you are using Windows NT, as this may cause data corruption. (Read Microsoft's clarification on this.) If you are using 2000/XP it is safe to enable 32bit I/O, this warning only applies to the NT and NT Server OS.
Advanced:
JumperFree Configuration
- AI Overclock Tuner: Manual (if this makes you nervous, use AUTO setting instead)
- CPU External Frequency (Mhz): 200 (Only if you have a 800Mhz FSB)
- DRAM Frequency: 400 (Only if you have pc3200 DDR)
- AGP/PCI Frequency: Auto
- CPU Vcore Voltage: Auto
- DDR Reference Voltage: Auto
- AGP VDDQ Voltage: 1.50V (default setting)
- Performance Mode: Standard
CPU Configuration
- CPUID Maximum Value Limit: Disabled (Default)
- Hyper Threading Technology: Enabled (I have a HT processor, if you do not, you will not see this as a choice)
Chipset
- Configure DRAM Timing by SPD: Enabled
- Memory Acceleration Mode: Enabled
- DRAM Idle Times: 16T(if this makes you nervous, use AUTO setting instead)
- DRAM Refresh Rate: 7.8 µSec(if this makes you nervous, use AUTO setting instead)
- Graphics Adapter Priority: AGP/PCI
- Graphics Adapter Size: 128 (If you have a gig of RAM or higher, set it to 256)
- Spread Spectrum: Disabled (Enable only if you are overclocking, Disable for max stability)
- MPS Revision: 1.4 (1.4 if on NT-based O/S)
Onboard Devices Configuration (All my serial, parallel ports are disabled since I don't use them)
- Onboard AC'97 Audio: Disabled (Enable only if you do not have a PCI sound card)
- Onboard LAN: Disabled (Enable only if you do not have a PCI NIC)
- Onboard LAN Boot ROM: Disabled
- Onboard Floppy Controller: Disabled (Enable if you still have a Floppy drive)
PCIPnP
- Plug And Play O/S: No (switch to Yes only if you do not have a 2000/XP or higher operating system)
- PCI Latency Timer: Leave at Default
- Allocate IRQ to PCI VGA: Yes (For best performance, set this to Yes)
- Palette Snooping: Disabled
- PCI IDE BusMaster: Enabled
USB Configuration
- USB Function: Set this to the number of ports native to your motherboard. (mine has 4)
- Legacy USB Support: Disabled (you might need to enable this prior to installing XP, but afterwards, disable it)
- USB 2.0 Controller: Enabled
Instant Music Configuration: Disabled
Power
- Suspend Mode: Auto
- Repost Video on S3 Resume: No
- ACPI 2.0 Support: Yes (It is recommended that you enable this BIOS feature. This allows an ACPI-compliant operating system to fully control the configuration of hardware devices and their power management.)
- ACPI APIC Support: Enabled
APM Configuration
- Power Management/APM: Disabled
- Power Button Mode: On/Off
- Restore on AC PowerLoss: Power Off
- Everything else under here is disabled by default
Hardware Monitor (Helpful for showing temp and voltage)
Boot
Boot Settings Configuration
- Quick Boot: Enabled
- Full Screen Logo: Disabled
- Add On ROM Display Mode: Force BIOS
- Bootup Num-Lock: On
- PS/2 Mouse Support: Disabled (Enable if you still use a PS2 mouse)
- Typmatic Rate: Fast
- Boot to OS/2: No (Unless you are one of the few fringe users out there that has OS2)
- Wait For "F1" If Error: Enabled
- Hit "DEL" Message Display: Enabled
Exit
