How to configure the BIOS of your computer for a better boot? step by step guide

The BIOS is one of the most important components of your computer system as it This allows the processes necessary to boot the operating system to run correctly.. Despite its importance, many ignore that it should be properly maintained and configured in such a way as to considerably improve the initial functions of Windows or any other OS.

Configuring this component tends to confuse many since it does not have such an intuitive interface. In this case you will have to make use of your analysis and in a certain way have specific knowledge that allows you to understand everything that you will see once you are inside it, so that you do not make mistakes that can make things worse instead of fixing them. However, once you know about it, configuring the BIOS becomes a real school kid’s game.

In this article We’ll teach you everything you need to know about BIOS settings to get the best boot possible. We will tell you about everything so that by the end of the reading you will be a true expert in every sense of the word. So take note and learn from the best below.

How can we access the BIOS to be able to configure it correctly?

It is highly recommended that you learn how access BIOS before knowing how to configure it, since each manufacturer installs different versions of on their motherboards, therefore how you access it varies.

On most computers it is accessed by pressing the F12 key.just before the system starts, as well as on other computers, the keys F2, Del and many others. To find out for sure, we suggest you consult the guide or instructions for your computer, there you can find how to enter the BIOS.

Although today, many of the computers at boot show which key you should press in order to access the BIOS. However, even more important is the fact that you know that within this system you will not be able to use the mouse. It will be you and the keyboard against the world.

Steps to configure the BIOS of your computer and options to consider

In order to configure the BIOS to your liking, you need to know each of the functions, so we bring you a basic guide to most of its functions. you have to know that it all depends on the manufacturers and how they organize their options.

Each manufacturer organizes the settings differently. Although the organization that a company uses is usually almost the same, regardless of the platform. We leave you below, where these options are located, for four of the most famous manufacturers in your BIOS organization.

ASUS

• To the tweaker: CPU and memory options.
• Advanced: Chipset, storage and power options.
• Display: System health and fan speed options.
• Boot: Boot and security options.

asrock

• OC Tweaker: CPU and memory options.
• Advanced: Chipset, storage and power options.
• H/W monitor: System health and fan speed options.
• Security: Security options.
• Boot: Boot options.

gigabyte

• MIT: CPU, memory, system status, and fan speed options.
• BIOS Features: Boot and security options.
• Peripherals: Chipset and storage options.
• Power Management: Power options.

M: YES

• OC: CPU and memory options
• Settings: Chipset, boot and security options
• HardwareMonitor: System health and fan speed options

Now that you know this, it is time for you to know each of the functions within the BIOS and how the changes you make in them affect.

CPU Options

The first thing is the CPU options, which are the ones that have the most impact on the startup of the computer. The most important ones are:

BCLK/Base Clock: This refers to the main system clock. A universal way to overclock the processor is provided if the motherboard supports changing this option. All this even if you don’t have a processor that was marketed precisely for this function, as is the case with processors Intel K#.

CPU Ratio: With this you can change the frequency multiplier of the processor, this only affects the cores themselves, but not the other parts of it, such as the memory controller or the integrated GPU. Changing values ​​in the Overlock is easy, although it is only supported on the following processors.

• Intel K or X suffix processors (for example, i5-2500K, i7-4690K, i7-5960X)
• Intel Pentium Anniversary Edition (Pentium G3258)
• AMD FX/Ryzen series processors (eg FX-8350, FX-6300)
• AMD K-suffix APUs (eg A10-7850K, A8-6600K)

Spread Spectrum: This is used to propagate the electromagnetic interference (EMI) coming out of the processor over a wide range of frequencies. Does not reduce the amount of EMI, but does it can help to focus everything on the frequency of most interest.

CPU voltage: if you are overclocking it is very useful, because higher clock speeds require voltages Taller. But keep in mind that this setting has to be used very carefully, because a relatively small change can fry your computer.

Host clock / PCle clock: East is used to adjust the frequency of the PCI Express controller built into the processor. Leave this function aside unless you are messing with the BCLK, or have had stability issues.

Intel SpeedStep / AMD Cool’N’Quiet: the two options adjust the processor clock frequency to lower frequencies. If you want your processor to run at full speed, disable it.

C-State Options: these are the processor power levels. It would be good to keep it off when extreme overclocking is attempted to prevent the processor from changing power states.

x86 Virtualization: this helps to function smoothly on an almost native level. On Intel computers you may have the name of VT-xwhile on AMD computers, it can be found as AMD-Vand in old teams they are called Vanderpool.

memory options

Memory options directly affect short-term storage (RAM), which are essential for the proper functioning of the computer after booting.

MemoryFrequency: This sets the frequency of memory operation. Although you can’t choose an arbitrary frequency unlike BCLK.

timing values: Allows you to directly adjust the RAM timing values. This is a short list of the most important values:

• CAS Latency.
• RAS to CAS delay.
• Row Precharge Time.
• RAS Active Time.

DRAM Voltage: it is very useful if you try to overclock your RAM speed beyond its normal specification, although the values ​​should be handled very carefully because if you increase it by even a small amount, you can fry the RAM entirely and can show physical damage.

options storage

These are the options that directly affect the long-term storage of files. The most important to configure are the following:

SATAMode: this protocol allows three modes:

• SDI: This is a backward compatibility feature. It is very necessary only if the operating system does not support SATA.
• AHCI: With this you can enable all the features of SATA. If you use a modern operating system, the drives have to be left active.
• RAID: You can configure the SATA ports for the motherboard’s built-in RAID, if not, it acts as AHCI.

You must take great care of what value it has, since if it does not have an adequate value you can harm the operation of your PC.

Hard Disk SMART: With this, you can enable SMART features on drives on your computer that support it.

Chipset / Peripheral Options

These options are more related to the operation of the equipment at a graphic level. The most important aspects to configure are the following:

Graphics Adapt and Integrated GPU (IGPU) settings: is an option used for change the primary graphics adapterwhich PCI Express mode you want to use, and how much memory should be allocated to the integrated GPU.

onboard peripherals: These are some options that include an integrated audio and internet adapter. You do not need to disable them when you install other software, unless your operating system conflicts with the peripherals.

Legacy USB Support: With this you can make environments that don’t support USB use USB devices, such as older operating systems and utilities that can be run on boot. But it’s different if you have compatibility issues.

Intel and AMD Specific Features: cWith these functions you can resume hibernation and allow programs to receive updates via the Internet, while the computer is idle. The names of these functions are:

• Intel Rapid Start
• Intel SmartConnect
• AMD Dual Graphics

Power Options (ACPI)

As its name indicates, these are the options that are related to the energy consumption of the equipment. They may seem secondary but they have the ability to limit or enhance the performance of the entire computer.

S-State configuration: These are system level power states. The most used are:

• S1: With this the CPU stops executing the instructions, while the memory remains on.
• S3: RAM Standby/Sleep/Suspend mode.
• S4: Hibernate. The RAM stores in the HDD / SSD, after the system is completely powered off.
• ErP S5: This allows the PC to consume as little power as possible but not completely.

State after Power Loss: When the computer loses power, the computer does the following:

• Last State: If the PC is turned off it will remain off, but if it was on it will turn on again.
• Always off (default): The computer will be off.

Among so many functions that the BIOS has, you can also come across System Health/Monitoring settings, which has some functions that have to be treated very carefully or you can damage the PC for life. These functions are named:

• Fan Speed ​​Settings.
• Temperature Alarm Settings.
• Case Open Feature/Reset.

The same happens with the functions that configure the startup and security of your PC, whose names are:

• Fast/Ultra Fast Booting.
• Num Lock on Boot.
• Full Screen Logo.
• Boot/POST beep.
• Boot Order.
• Boot/SetupPassword.
• Secure Boot.

Is it necessary to update the BIOS or UEFI for it to work properly?

This is one of the most common questions from society when they find out about the existence of the BIOS, and the answer is yessince the whole system works together, improving the recognition and adjustments of the hardware that is installed on the computer’s motherboard.

Doing this is highly recommended as time goes on, from the time the board or kit was purchased. For example when you do it new instructions and compatibility are added for hardware that didn’t exist at the time you bought it since you probably want to install as an SSD drive, a more powerful processor or certain RAM modules.

The BIOS update It consists of describing a new block of code that contains the new instructions for the hardware of the equipment, in the non-volatile memory chip of the motherboard. With this writing of the new code block, it is done from outside the operating system.