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Poor BIOS

Discussion in 'Techno-Magic' started by Sydax, May 16, 2005.

  1. Sydax Gems: 19/31
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    Remove all ads!
    [​IMG] This are the specifications:
    Compaq Presario 2500
    Processor
    Model : Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz
    Speed : 2.39GHz
    Performance Rating : PR2631 (estimated)
    Type : Standard
    L2 On-board Cache : 512kB ECC Synchronous, ATC, 8-way set, 64 byte line size, 2 lines per sector

    Mainboard
    Bus(es) : ISA AGP PCI CardBus USB
    MP Support : No
    MP APIC : No
    System BIOS : AT/AT COMPATIBLE
    Total Memory : 247MB

    Chipset 1
    Model : ATI Technologies Inc RS200 CPU to PCI Bridge
    Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 133MHz (532MHz data rate)

    Video System
    Monitor/Panel : Panel plano digital (1024x768)
    Adapter : RADEON IGP 345M

    MultiMedia Device(s)
    Device : Conexant AC-Link Audio

    Communication Device(s)
    Device : Conexant 56K ACLink Modem

    Power Management
    AC Line Status : On-Line
    Battery No 1 : 100%

    Operating System(s)
    Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP/2002 Home (Win32 x86) 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 1)

    Network Services
    Adapter : Adaptador de Fast Ethernet PCI basado en National Semiconductor DP83815

    Sometimes the computer is too slow so I did a benchmark with Sandra, some results said that I have to tweak the BIOS, watching some results I realised that the pc has some options turnes off while the can be turned on to improve performance (fast-writes capcity, etc.); the problem is that BIOS has only 3 or 4 things that can be changed: type of HDD, bootable device and the ammount of memory I can take to the video card, nothing else. I tried to upgrade the BIOS but stayed the same.
    There are some things that I know that I can turn on but I don't know how because the poor BIOS settings capacity.
    Any help will be greatful.
    Thank you
    Best regards.
     
    Sydax, May 16, 2005
    #1

  2. Wordplay Gems: 29/31
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    So, is it AMI or Award BIOS? AFAIK, Award has the setting right there and it sounds kind of odd that AMI wouldn't have the same settings...
     
    Wordplay, May 16, 2005
    #2
  3. Chandos the Red

    Chandos the Red This Wheel's on Fire

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    If this is your total amount of system memory, and you are running Windows XP, another 256MB would really help if your system seems to be running a bit slow. It also seems you are missing a few MBs somewhere, so you might also have one of those onboard video controllers that shares system memory, and that could really hurt performance in your games.
     
    Chandos the Red, May 16, 2005
    #3

  4. Sydax Gems: 19/31
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    Yes Chandos, is one of those onboard video card and I can only change the amount of memory I want to share, from 8 to 64.
    The BIOS is Phoenix Technologies Ltd. version KF.F.14
    May I change the BIOS, to an Asus BIOS? Or is has to be this one? Every motherboard has to have a kind of BIOS?
    By the way, I'm going to buy another 256 module soon.
     
    Sydax, May 16, 2005
    #4
  5. Chandos the Red

    Chandos the Red This Wheel's on Fire

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    The BIOS is a ROM chip on your mainboard. Before changing mainbords, I would suggest a new video card, which you will need anyway if you want to do some serious gaming, and pop in that 256MB module. Changing to an ASUS mainboard won't help much at this point, IMO.
     
    Chandos the Red, May 16, 2005
    #5

  6. Sydax Gems: 19/31
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    Due to lack of money, I can't change anything or buy another PC, I just may buy another 256MB.
    What I tried to find out is why the BIOS setup (the 'program' you access pressing F2 or DEL key during POST) lacks options, I searched around the web but the only thing I found on manufacter's web is just circunstancial information; it seems that laptops Bios has only this kind of 'programs. So the question is the same again, every mainboard has their own Bios programs? in this case is 'Phoenix Technologies Ltd. version KF.F.14', may I change that program with another?
    Regards.
     
    Sydax, May 17, 2005
    #6
  7. Taluntain

    Taluntain Resident Alpha and Omega Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

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    No, you can only upgrade the BIOS version. The board manufacturer's site should have the latest version available.
     
    Taluntain, May 17, 2005
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  8. Sydax Gems: 19/31
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    Yes, I reached that point; regrettably, BiOS for laptos are this way :(
     
    Sydax, May 18, 2005
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  9. Kitrax

    Kitrax Pantaloons are supposed to go where!?!?

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    What do you mean by that? I updated the BIOS on my Dell Laptop not too long ago. IIRC, it's called "flashing" your BIOS...but I might be mistaken. "Flashing" your BIOS might reset everything back to the way it once was...I'm not quite sure anymore, now that I think about it. :rolling:
     
    Kitrax, May 19, 2005
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  10. Chandos the Red

    Chandos the Red This Wheel's on Fire

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    No, it doesn't any longer. I just flashed the BIOS with the newest update on my Intel D865 mainboard, (it's a Phoenix BIOS also) and it left all of my settings intact. Like you, I was quite surprised - and pleased. :)
     
    Chandos the Red, May 19, 2005
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  11. Sydax Gems: 19/31
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    I update the BIOS too with the hope that the new one has new options but stayed the same.
    My main complain is that I can't change the important things in the BIOS, like enabling 'fast-writing', enabling AGP x8, etc., when I said 'poor BIOS' I meant that: I just can change boot disk order, I can add a password, I can change the time, and I can change the amount of memory I want for the video card; that's it, nothing else, stuff to improve performance doesn't exist. I used 4 programs to make test and benchmarks and in all 4 I got results that tells me and ask me to change some setups in the BIOS for better performance; and I know I can do that because I used to do it with my former PC.
     
    Sydax, May 19, 2005
    #11

  12. Wordplay Gems: 29/31
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    Perhaps they are automatically adjusted, so why worry? If you are unsure, read what the motherboard's manual says about it and hope for the best. ;)
     
    Wordplay, May 19, 2005
    #12
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