BIOS Setup

Biostar TPower I55 mainboard uses AMI based BIOS. As it happens almost all the time, its BIOS has a number of unique peculiarities, but the first screen is simple and clear:

“Advanced” section is split into numerous sub-sections, many of which could have been combined together as they only contain one or two settings anyway.

When we first checked out the “CPU Configuration” sub-section, we were a little puzzled. We didn’t see the common parameter that would control extended processor power-saving modes called “C-STATE”. Intel Turbo Boost technology is closely connected with these modes, so does it mean that we no longer have the ability to limit the processor clock frequency multiplier increase when Intel Turbo Boost is activated? In this case we can state right away that it will not allow us to overclock our CPU to its maximum.

We were very pleased with “Hardware Health Configuration” sub-section when it came to voltages control. We know not only the processor core voltage and memory voltage, but also a number of other voltages, including the voltage of the North bridge part integrated into the CPU.

The settings for controlling the rotation speed of the processor cooling fan have been moved to an individual sub-section. Moreover, you can also calibrate it here. In this case the board finds out the maximum rotation speed of your fan, then the setting at which it starts spinning at all and then provides you with recommended settings for these parameters. You can use the recommended ones or change something on your own, or even set one of the pre-existing modes like “Quiet” or “Performance” without even going into calibration at all.

We don’t often check the “Boot” section, only if we need to. Of course, here you can arrange the order of boot-up devices that will be checked during system start as well as a number of corresponding settings that go with that. This time I would like to draw your attention to the last item here that allows turning off the speaker beeping after successful mainboard start. Biostar TPower I55 doesn’t have a built-in speaker, but if you have connected one during system assembly, the developers offer you the opportunity to disable it in the BIOS without opening up your system case.

I am extremely pleased every time I see the manufacturers pay such special attention to little things. Unfortunately, many mainboards with a built-in speaker-beeper, there is no option that would allow you to turn it off. If loud beeping annoys you or wakes up your sleeping baby, then the only way for you in this case is to solder it off or put a sticker over it.

Well, we have finally got to “O.N.E.” (Over-Clocking Navigator) section that contains almost all settings dealing with overclocking and increasing the system performance.

In Normal mode almost all parameters are set automatically. We can go to the sub-section called “Biostar Memory Insight” to check the memory timings recorded in the modules SPD.

Moreover, we can enable or disable power-saving technologies in the “G.P.U. Phase Control” sub-section: for the CPU and for the integrated part of the North Bridge separately.

The last parameter called “Integrated Memory Test” allows configuring the built-in memory test. You can launch it on every boot-up, remove completely or launch upon F11 hot key press.